Power Reads: 5 Interesting Articles That Will Help You This Week
/Each week, I select a few articles that rise above the fray and hopefully help you on your journey in leadership and the CRE world. They pull from one of four "corners": corporate real estate, technology, management science and anything positive. Each day we can become a better version of ourselves.
1. If Your Co-Workers Are ‘Quiet Quitting,’ Here’s What That Means
Not taking your job too seriously has a new name: quiet quitting. The phrase is generating millions of views on TikTok as some young professionals reject the idea of going above and beyond in their careers, labeling their lesser enthusiasm a form of “quitting.” It isn’t about getting off the company payroll, these employees say. In fact, the idea is to stay on it—but focus your time on the things you do outside of the office.
“The videos range from sincere ruminations on work-life balance to snarky jokes. Some set firm boundaries against overtime in favor of family. Others advocate coasting from 9-to-5, doing just enough to get by. Many want to untether their careers from their identities.”
Of course, every generation enters the workforce and quickly realizes that having a job isn’t all fun and games. Navigating contemptible bosses and the petty indignities that have always been inflicted on the ranks of working stiffs has never been easy. And many people who say, when they’re young, that they don’t care about climbing the corporate ladder end up changing their minds.
2. Malcolm Gladwell slams working from home: ‘What have you reduced your life to?’
Author Malcolm Gladwell thinks that remote work is hurting society and that a recession will likely drive employees who are “sitting in their pajamas” back into the office.
“The bestselling author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point” grew emotional and shed tears as he told the “Diary of a CEO” podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett that people need to come into the office in order to regain a “sense of belonging” and to feel part of something larger than themselves.”
“It’s very hard to feel necessary when you’re physically disconnected,” the Canadian writer said.
3. Reibus CEO John Armstrong: 'Everything starts with your people and your culture'
Supply chain technology startup Reibus is the No. 2 fastest-growing company in metro Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. It experienced 700% growth in 2021 and expects to achieve 500% growth this year, CEO John Armstrong said in April. Last year, Reibus recruited 100 employees.
“Reibus raised $75 million led by SoftBank Vision Fund at the end of 2021, pushing its valuation to $750 million at the time. The company is a marketplace for industrial materials companies.”
Atlanta Inno talked to CEO John Armstrong about the company's growth.
To this day, some of my closest friends are people I met at various jobs over the course of my career. Before the pandemic, every day I looked forward to seeing friends at work, going out to lunch, getting coffee, being in meetings together, and having impromptu hallway conversations. These friendships transformed what work meant to me — it wasn’t just work, it was life.
“In sociology, the “proximity principle” describes the tendency for people to form interpersonal relationships with those who are nearby. We often become friends with people we encounter regularly, energizing and bringing joy to each other and sharing a smile, an inside joke, or drinks after work.”
It turns out these friendships really matter for employee engagement. A now-famous Gallup survey found that employees who have a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be engaged at their job. For years prior to the pandemic, companies benefited from the proximity principle. Many leaders further invested in office layouts, micro kitchens, and team events to encourage even more shared moments and were rewarded with a workforce that was highly engaged.
5. Meet Cowarehousing, Industrial Property for the Little Guy
Coworking, which gives office workers the ability to share space when they need it, has spawned a parallel concept catching on in the industrial market: cowarehousing.
“Targeted at a growing class of startups and entrepreneurs, cowarehousing provides smaller-scale warehouse suites within a single industrial property. The idea is also starting to lure large companies as a more flexible and short-term solution to supply chain uncertainty and a tight industrial real estate market.”
Though still something of a niche, cowarehousing caters to investors interested in the fresh potential of flexible workspaces combined with an intense demand for ordering goods online.
Your success blesses others. I wish you a great and hugely impactful week!
