News from the Chicago Chapter

IREM 2019 Global Summit Perspective: STAMP Advice from Business Leader Erik Qualman

By Steve Schimmel, CPM®
McLennan Property Management
IREM Chicago 2019 Treasurer

In late September, I had the privilege of attending the 2019 IREM Global Summit in San Francisco.  As always, the Summit focused on various education offerings, business training and leadership.  Erik Qualman, known by his online persona “Equalman,” was one of the keynote speakers.  Erik has a passion for online and digital connections, but what he told our crowd is simply that human connections are still king.  When you can make a personal connection someone, it is better than having thousands of LinkedIn followers.  However, if you need to make connections digitally, Erik focuses efforts on a simple Acronym: STAMP. 

Here’s what he means:

Simple. Make your connections easy. Make it easy for your recipient to understand your message.  This could involve where you deliver a message or how it is delivered.  Do you need to adjust the venue of a meeting? Is a hand-written note better than a text message for the topic? Or will only an in-person conversation be more appropriate?  Always consider the simplest way to get your point across.

True. What do you want other people to say about you?  In your interaction with others, what is it that you want them to take away?  When you are focused on the message you want them to take away, you ensure you stay true to yourself.

Action. “Fair fast, fail forward, fail better.” Sometimes we are going to need to try things that we may not be successful at.  That doesn’t mean that they aren’t opportunities to get better at connecting.  Learn from your mistakes, take risks, move forward in success and failure. Ensure you evaluate failure so you can improve because every mistake is an opportunity.  Own your failures because they are a part of your story, and stepping into your story speaks authenticity to those around you.

Map.  Ensure your destination is set but let the road that takes you to your connections be flexible.  How you end up working with that person or firm has less to do with the route and more to do with laser focus on how you will get there. 

People. You connect with others by “posting it forward” just like paying it forward. That means you can develop your online connections by being at the top of someone else’s mind.  Take time to make recommendations online, write reviews, forward articles that interest you, give endorsements.  When network in advance of your needs, you will find that your needs are quickly met by those you have worked to be involved with.