Before I go to a business dinner, I pull up the menu and make my selections in advance.
At the meal, I stare at the menu like everyone else, but I am thinking about the conversation...not the food.
Head in the game.
Ken Ashley
29.2K posts
Ken Ashley
@kenashley
Tenant rep broker with over $4.6 billion in volume. I help companies make excellent real estate decisions. Best selling author theprescription.pro
- How it started: An industrial broker, valeting cars at night, with a pregnant wife. Super stress. I couldn't sleep at night. How it's going: 29 years @CushWake and very happy with my platform. Now office and industrial. I'm ambidextrous :) My oldest son is now married, a
- I was young in my career and as I was leaving a voice mail for a prospect a senior broker walked by and stopped to listen to me. After I hung up, I looked his way and he was shaking his head. "What?" I said. "If you want your call returned, speak slowly, clearly and leave
- When you make the sale, leave. Walk out of the meeting, leave the video call or hang up the phone. Be friendly about it, of course, but everything you say after "yes" can lead to an eventual "no." When they agree, don't give them any reason to disagree going forward.
- I was new in commercial real estate and I got a job valeting cars at night to help us get by. And I was terrified. I thought someone from the real estate community would recognize me and I would be the laughing stock of CRE. Now, many year later, I know the OPPOSITE is true.
- Young people in commercial real estate brokerage: You are starting at the right time of the cycle. I'd rather you start at the bottom and ride things up. Than start at the top and ride them down. Get after it!
- I told my wife I accepted a commission only commercial real estate job. Then she told me she was pregnant with our first. I became a stress monkey and busted it! 25 year later my wonderful son is graduated college and working in....commercial real estate.
- Spoke with a very senior broker in San Francisco yesterday. The City is turning around with stunning speed - new Mayor is helping hugely. And AI companies have MILLIONS of square feet of office requirements. Long SFO.
- When the economy is absolutely blowing and going again, remember how you felt in 2025. Build your house on rock. Pay off debt and save, save, save.
- I have a confession. I've been in commercial real estate for 3 decades. Put 4 kids through school and fed my family. And I don't play golf.
- You are at a cocktail party. You see a friend of yours. That friend is talking to the biggest name in the room - the CEO/Host/Big deal. Do NOT walk up to your friend and try and start a conversation. Wait until the convo concludes with Big Deal. Public service
- Just me and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy hanging on a DAL flight to Atlanta. What a cool dude! Yeah! Flavor Flav!
