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. Here’s When Experts Say Things Could Get Back To Back To Normal After Coronavirus

While the vast majority of experts agreed widespread immunization— roughly 70% of the population, epidemiologists believe—is the best way to beat the coronavirus pandemic, there’s uncertainty as to when that scale of vaccination can be achieved.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease official in the U.S., told CNN on Sunday that he sees the country returning to a more normal version of life by between April and July, if “the overwhelming majority of people” elect to be inoculated.

Ugur Sahin, a co-founder of BioNTech, Pfizer’s partner in developing its vaccine candidate, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that he believes that things could feel more normal in a year’s time, and thanks to vaccine efforts “we could have a normal winter next year.”

2. The Upside of Your Public Speaking Jitters

Contrary to popular belief, the secret to confident public speaking is not about getting rid of your nerves. The key is to reframe your anxiety as excitement.

Professional performers know that a certain amount of nervousness can be incredibly helpful. It keeps you focused and prompts you to spend your time preparing as opposed to procrastinating. As a former opera singer turned speaker, entrepreneur, and singer/songwriter, I’ve mastered physical and mental techniques that help me center myself and prepare to perform at my best in front of thousands of people. I now coach clients through a pre-speech ritual that includes breath work and visualizations to calm any nerves and get into the right mindset to deliver a presentation with confidence and authenticity.

A few years ago, my team and I led a leadership communication training for a large financial institution. One banking manager in particular was incredibly anxious about public speaking. Despite the fact that she had a warm personality that lent itself well to speaking, the idea scared her to the point of near paralysis.

3. The Coming Evolution in Warehouse Development

As consumers demand faster deliveries, warehouse operators are making investments to keep up.

Already they’re buying technologies like automated storage and retrieval systems. Soon, drones and autonomous vehicles will likely contribute to more efficient and responsive supply chains and greater productivity for industrial assets, according to a new report from NAIOP.

But logistics technology won’t be the only innovative upgrades. According to report authors, Steve Weikal, lecturer, researcher and CRE Tech lead, MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab, and James Robert Scott, lead researcher, MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab, innovative approaches to distribution are driving the adoption of multistory warehouses and micro-distribution centers.

4. Race for Space Pushing Up Suburban Rents

Big companies that own single-family homes are raising rents at the fastest rate since they emerged from last decade’s foreclosure crisis, capitalizing on a rush for suburban housing.

Though millions of Americans are still struggling to pay rent and at risk of eviction, the bet on six-figure-earning suburbanites by companies such as Invitation Homes Inc. and American Homes 4 Rent has so far been pandemic-proof.

Occupancy of the hundreds of thousands of houses collectively owned by these companies is at record highs. Timely payments are in line with historical rates. Tenants are accepting rent increases instead of moving out. New renters hunting for home offices and outdoor space are paying up to move in.

5. This U.S. Region Will Pay You $10,000 To Move There (And Give You A Bike, Too)

These days, it’s not just about making a fresh start. By making a big move, you might be able to get rich at the same time. Northwest Arkansas has just announced that it will pay new residents $10,000 to move to an area that is known as one of the best places to live in America, thanks to its low cost of living, outdoor activities, world-class arts institutions and a per-capita income that’s 14% higher than the national average. It’s similar to programs created by a village in Italy, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the state of Vermont, which have all made headlines by offering to pay people to move there.

The latest get-rich-quick scheme has been created by the Northwest Arkansas Council, which is investing in a plan to lure new residents. The council hasn’t revealed how many applicants it will accept, but it is putting more more than $1 million toward the Life Works Here initiative.

In addition to the $10,000 stipend, the perks will include a street or mountain bike so that new residents can explore the area’s 162 miles of paved trails and 322 miles of mountain biking trails, not to mention the Ozark Mountains. Not into biking? You can choose an annual membership to one of the local cultural institutions like the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which was started by Walmart heir Alice Walton, America’s richest art collector.

Your success blesses others. I wish you a great a hugely impactful week!

Ken Ashley