Much has been studied, discussed
and written about the personal
and professional development of the next generation. With seemingly
much more structured developmental
programs available, this group is also the
product of the technology boom that has
expanded its informational reach and its
almost constant stream of communication. So with these newfound skills, how
are young professionals assessing career
choices?
“Without question, there are a number
of factors in play, starting at an early age,
that serve to develop a sense of interest,
priorities and expectations,” says Matt
Baldwin, a multihousing specialist with
CB Richard Ellis in Tampa. “Many of the
young people of today have the advantage of being exposed to a much more
diverse spectrum of people, places and
opportunities than perhaps our parents.
With that, we see a broad base of possibilities. However, the journey in many
ways also serves to reinforce the
fundamentals of previous generations
that interestingly become increasingly
important.”
Smart Business spoke with Baldwin
about his development and path to a
commercial real estate career.
What were the factors that started to shape
your future ambitions?
Well, certainly my parents and family
are at the very core of my personal development. Education was always a key fundamental, and we were competitive at
just about everything. Along the way you
begin to measure yourself against the
increasing universe of people around
you. Academic achievement is very qualitative in structure and measurement.
Athletics are similar in that success or
failure is easily benchmarked. Both serve
to fuel the competitive instinct while also
making clear what work needs to be
done to achieve personal goals. I feel fortunate that both my educational and
sports experiences gave me the confidence to put few, if any, limitations on
myself.
Was a career in commercial real estate an
initial goal?
Actually, no. My initial attraction was
for the banking industry, which I saw as
the common element behind every business venture. The ability to look at various scenarios and address the capital
structure led me to a position with a
large institution firm. While I enjoyed
that experience, it became apparent that
the industry was very structured in
approach and career path. At the same
time, the information and technology
community was exploding. Like many
my age, we saw a very fluid environment
and one in which seemingly unlimited
opportunity was producing incredible
wealth. My second stop was with one
of the best known information search
platforms.
How did these opportunities reinforce or
challenge your career path?
While both were very satisfying in
many ways, the dynamics of the ‘real
world’ also began to shape both my personal and professional life. As friends
married and started families, I saw yet a
new set of priorities as well as the challenges of balancing both family and
career. Measurement of success was now
more aligned to those who had a lifestyle
that wove health, family, career and community together. When that combination
was right, life seemed enriched. On the
other hand, when it was not, it was
apparent that the toll was heavy on the
individual as well as the family. The
expectations and even a sense of entitlement that is created in the academic
environment were certainly challenged
by the many factors that can influence
one’s perspective and decisions.
Does commercial real estate now meet your
expanded priorities?
I believe it really does. First, while
there are certainly no short cuts to dedicated effort, this business offers a degree
of flexibility that allows me to govern my
day to a large degree. This gives me the
ability to adjust, be it for a client’s needs
or for a personal matter. On the personal
side, this is very important to my wife
and me as we have interests and friends
that we enjoy together. On the professional side, results are only limited by
your own effort and of course the cyclical market conditions of the time.
Additionally, the learning process is
ongoing. While there is certainly some
redundancy in process, every transaction brings its own unique characteristics to the table. This continuum allows
me to build on my past base of experience while looking forward to the energy of a new challenge. So be it personal
or professional, while much has changed
for the next generation, many of the fundamentals remain the same. Collectively
this all contributes how we view and
contribute to our community. I truly
think we will all benefit from the best of
each generation.
MATT BALDWIN is an associate with CB Richard Ellis’s Private Client Group specializing in multihousing. Reach him at (813) 273-8458 or [email protected].
