Finally you begin to realize that the safest thing you can do feels risky and the riskiest thing you can do is play it safe. - Seth Godin / Tribes

I recently completed reading the book Tribes by Seth Godin. A unique, but practical look at the world we live in and the need for leadership. The citation above has stuck with me since I read it last week. It just won’t go away.

This reality is that we need to realize that “playing it safe” is in and of its self risky. There is no sure thing. The world we live is subject to rapid change, much faster then we even realize and is often out of our control. To expect the status quo to remain isn’t very realistic. It’s in fact safer to expect and plan for change and embrace it.

Most all of us have felt some discomfort, particularly in the past year or two. Over the years I’ve had people approach me and ask my input on issues they are facing in their lives. Some are entrepreneurs who have felt the sting of a shifting economy and the challenges of a struggling business. A few have been at a crossroads in their personal lives.

For some of us, continuing on the road we are on feels risky, when maybe staying the course makes the most sense. For others, we are stuck in a spot, paralyzed by fear, unsure what to do, even though we know we need to do something. We see that from time to time with our home buyers. Some of them know they need to make a move, but a move feels risky. For others, they recognize the riskiest thing is to do nothing.

Expect change, expect some risk, really it’s OK. Embracing a certain level of risk maybe the new security? I’m interested in what you think, is playing it safe really safe?

Brian Gentry ~ Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

Brian Gentry  - Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

So this past weekend, my family and I participated in the Tesoro Refining March Point Run.  It’s a great event in the Skagit County and Whidbey Island area.  Inexpensive, healthy fun for the whole family, all the proceeds go to the United Way, plus they feed you! 

The first thing we did was the Kids ½ Mile, which I ran with my 4 year old daughter Bella Kate (BK).  Her first distance race!  I think her parents were more excited for her then she was, but she was enthusiastic and doing well.   Then as we rounded the corner toward the finish line, BK told me she was “done”.  Really?  We were a mere few hundred feet from the finish line!  This must be time for a fatherly pep talk… so ensued the classic discussion about how we “finish what we start”.  So with a little encouragement, a few cheers from the sidelines, off she went and finished in a respectable 6^th place in the 5 and under category.

The Finisher!

So then it was time for Dad (Me) to run in the 10k race.   I’m a recreational runner, not hard core, but over the past couple years I’ve ran some road events, including a few half marathons.  So a 10k should really be pretty straight forward.  Off I go, feeling pretty good, coming up to the first hill, then less than two miles into a 6 plus mile run, my heart rate shoots up… I actually felt like I might pass out…  I had hit the wall.

I stopped and started walking.  Feeling a bit dejected, my ego a bit tarnished, trying to figure out what was wrong with me, then all of a sudden I actually found myself thinking about quitting the race.  Quit?  Reasonable thought, I didn’t feel well, we had bit fighting a bit of a stomach bug during the week, may have contributed to my current condition.  There were plenty of good reasons to quit, to give up, try it another day.   In fact some might call that decision an act in sound judgment.

Then I thought back to a conversation that I had with a little 4 year old girl just a half hour earlier.  “We finish what we start”.  How could I look BK in the eyes and say Daddy didn’t feel well so he quit?  I just keep walking all the way to the next water station.  Took in some water and walked a little more, realizing that I’ve got to finish this race one way or the other…  so I started running again.  I’d love to say I ran the rest of the way, came in first, went home with the big trophy!  What really happened is that  I ended up walking a few other times as well, but in the in the end, I ran across the finish line with BK running out to meet me and cross the finish line with me. 

It was a terrible run time, but an amazing lesson.   Finish what you start… no matter what I’m doing, I find it feels the sweetest when I finish.  It may not be the prettiest finish, there may be a few bumps, scrapes along the way, detours, maybe you’ve got to come up with a “Plan B” or “Plan C” but get it done.   

Personally and professionally, there have been quite a few times over the years where “getting it done” seems nearly impossible, quitting seemed like the most prudent option.  Collectively as a family and as a company we have had to make some adjustments to “get it done”, but we are resolute in finishing what we have started.  As we endure, endeavor to overcome, it’s amazing how you begin to see the rewards beginning to appear.  I’m grateful that my little girl reminded me of this key principal… finish what you start.  I am excited to see what is going to be meeting me at the finish line.

Brian Gentry ~ Landed Gentry Homes & Communities

I’m sure this is one of the thousands of blog posts honoring the great John Wooden, who passed away at the ripe age of 99 this past Friday, June 4^th.  Coach Wooden was a man who left a legacy that has spanned generations, I think it could be safe to say that his life impacted millions of people in the US and around the world.

I wasn’t even alive when Coach Wooden led some of the great UCLA championship basketball teams in 1960’s and early ‘70’s, in fact he coached his last game a few months before I was born.  That said, his influence is peppered throughout dozens of books and articles I have read over the past decade, and most of these readings had nothing to do with sports.  The business, management, leadership and faith world found John Wooden because he taught timeless principals. 

He was a teacher at heart, a man who got his professional start educating high school boys in the 1930’s and  continued teaching and influencing others through the first decade of the 21^st century.  He was a part of writing several books, even in his late 90’s!  A true teacher is a lifelong learner and he was no exception, as he put it: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”.  Building value in himself and others was instilled in him from a young age.  When he graduated from grammar school his father, Joshua Wooden, gave young John what has become known as:  

John Wooden’s Seven Point Creed

• Be true to yourself.
• Make each day your masterpiece.
• Help others.
• Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
• Make friendship a fine art.
• Build a shelter against a rainy day.
• Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Legend is that he carried the Creed on a slip of paper in his pocket and referenced it daily.   Imagine building your life on values such as these, in a focused, on purpose way?  If he was 13 when his father shared these nuggets of wisdom with him, Coach Wooden would have based his life on these principals for approximately 86 years, much longer than the average person in the US will even live. It is no wonder success followed John Wooden wherever he went.

There is so much more to say, but what strikes me the most is how he lived.   He lived a simple, humble life, focused on relationships, faith and contributing to others.   A man who poured out wisdom and encouraged character in the people he came in contact with whether in person or through his writings.   I aspire to live a meaningful life, an impactful life with my family, my relationship and in our daily activities as Landed Gentry.  As a people and as a nation we have been blessed to have had a leader such as John Wooden as part of our national fabric.

Coach you have made a difference, far greater than you may have ever known.  John Wooden has not left us, his impact will always be with us, he simply got called up to the pro’s.

John Robert Wooden   (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010)

Link to New York Times Obituary: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/sports/ncaabasketball/05wooden.html

“Sometimes the right thing and the hard thing are the same thing. I read that on a tea bag.” – Liz Lemon

Life is full of hard decisions.  We all face hard challenges at some point, honestly those hard choices are probably more regularly then we would like.  Tom Peters put it this way “If you’re not scared you’re not growing”.  That said I know a lot of us are growing, maybe more often then we would care for.

It seems as though life’s choices really don’t get any easier.  Sure sometimes, certain decisions are clearer than others, but in today’s environment, uncertainty seems to prevail.  Yet there are people who are making decisions now.  What is the difference? What has allowed them the clarity they need to move ahead?

So what is the right decision for you? Maybe it’s time to weigh out the pros and cons and decide what you really want. What do you need to be doing to make your life better?  Hard questions, but needed questions.  I know Kendra, myself and others at Landed Gentry have been seeing this from some our customers theses past few weeks.  There is a bit of anxiety, but they are making the changes they need to, to make their life better for themselves and their family.  Living in indecision can in and of it’s self be a decision, but I’m finding that ultimately we all really know what we want.  Now we just need to have the courage to make it happen, one decision at a time.  Because most of often, the right choice and hard choice are in fact the same thing.

I love it when our beautiful area gets noticed!  Sunset Magazine wrote a wonderful feature article on the Skagit Valley and the Tulip Festival that is going on through the entire month of April.  Click here to read the article.

Come visit us at one of our new home communities,  Montreaux in Mount Vernon or Fairway Point in Oak Harbor, during the month of April and we will give you 2 free passes to Tulip Town.  What an excellent way to spend a day…view the tulips, experience the Skagit Valley and see some Landed Gentry homes too!  For more details on our open house hours and locations visit www.LandedGentryHomes.com or call Kendra at 360-661-3821.

Steve Baughn in our office is an amazing photographer.  He e-mailed me these pictures of the tulips last year and I thought you might enjoy seeing them too!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Kendra

It’s always nice when a small builder like Landed Gentry is mentioned in the news.  We were so excited to learn that Brian is featured on the front cover of this months Skagit Business Pulse talking about the green building practices Landed Gentry implements on a daily basis.  The Business Pulse did a prominent article titled, “Built Green Homes, Quality construction with less ecological impact.”   In addition to Landed Gentry, they interviewed other local builders and how they are implementing the “Built Green” trend that reaching Skagit and Island counties.

The majority of our homes at Landed Gentry, whether officially certified “Built Green” or not, qualify for a two star rating.    Being good stewards of our environment while still providing affordable homes for our community is important to us…it was great being able to share our concept with the readers of the Business Pulse.

Brian Gentry showing how permeable asphalt works at our Oak Street Community in Burlington.

Kendra Gentry-Decker walking through the front door at our model home at Montreaux in Mount Vernon.

As I mentioned last week, I’m really proud of our team at Landed Gentry and the way our staff contributes to the community. Well, for the second week in a row the contributions of our team made the news! Jeremy Fogle and Mike Anshutz got some great recognition for their contributions to a project at the Help House in Oak Harbor. This food bank makes a real difference in the lives for many families on Whidbey Island. Several of our trade partners contributed to the project as well. Great work guys!
More great press on how the people at Landed Gentry are making a difference in the lives of people our region. Way to go Jeremy and Mike!
Read the article from the Whidbey News Times here:
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/85109207.html

Barb Adams presenting the $25,000 donation to Friendship House in Mount Vernon.

I’m really proud of our team at Landed Gentry and the way our staff contributes to the community.  It’s not often that the things our team does becomes front page news.  Barb Adams, our transaction coordinator/warranty administrator/ general right-arm for Brian won prize through Wells Fargo that allowed her to designate a $25,000 gift toward the Friendship House, a homeless and transitional housing shelter in Mount Vernon.

Well, this act did become front page news.  Great press on how the people at Landed Gentry are making a difference in the lives of people our region.  Way to go Barb!

Read the article from the Skagit Valley Herald here:

http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/fundraising_major_donation_puts_friendship_house_back_in_the_black

What a gorgeous sunny day we had today!  I snapped a few pictures when I was walking around our Montreaux neighborhood this morning that I thought you all would enjoy.   Have a wonderful week!

Kendra

Two young deer passed through Montreaux this morning. They must like the sunshine too!

Mount Baker was so bright and crisp this morning...I had to take a picture

The trees are getting ready to bloom...I can't wait!!!

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”

- Alexander Graham Bell

My daughter Bella Kate showing us how well she can focus at her recent birthday party.

Concentration and focus seem elusive.  Soon as the craziness of the holidays is past, many of us take the time to vision what we see for ourselves in the new year.  It appears good, often a stretch, but attainable.  Now here we are a few weeks into the new year and all the normal demands of life are upon us.  Those visions of the hope and promise of the new year seem much tougher then we thought.

These past few weeks, we’ve chatted with dozen of couples and individuals who are trying to see what this year holds for them as well.  Often when they come see us at Landed Gentry it is all about fulfilling or exploring that vision of getting into that more manageable, newer and efficient home.  The home that fits the lifestyle they want and maybe need to live.  It’s can be a big shift for some, others don’t hesitate to take make the changes they need to make.  We helped two families purchase new homes in the first week of the year.  They see effort worthwhile.  Good interest rates (even if they are just looking at bridge financing), the unprecedented $6500 Federal Tax Credit for existing homeowners, and pretty amazing pricing for new homes. 

For me the personal demand of life are never ceasing; from being part of building the family business, working with our customers, to helping my wife Alexis manage a home and a growing family, to just taking the time for self care.  Each of those segments need attention, the best attention I can provide.  So I need to focus and concentrate upon the work at hand.  When I do, I am generally impressed with results.

That vision you had a few weeks ago of how you saw your life this year, it’s still there, it’s still worth the effort. Make the time to focus on the goals, they things that are important to you.  You might even impress yourself.