PERSPECTIVES
BY SARAH EDISON
The Value of Your Network
What ’ s the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word network ? Is it , excitement that you get to go meet new people ? Panic that it ’ s going to be another awkward experience where you hide against the wall trying to not talk to anyone ? Or is it more nerdy , like cables and whatever network systems are made out of ?
Well , have no fear , regardless of what your reaction to networking is . I ’ m here to remind you how important it is , especially because of how vast and every changing our industry is . Whether it ’ s your first month in the multifamily industry , your millionth or somewhere in the middle , this will be an extra special issue of Trends for you .
But first , who am I ? When I joined the multifamily industry over four years ago , I was lost . Like , really lost . My career felt flat , like I was wandering without clear direction , and I didn ’ t even know what " multifamily " meant . ( My first thought was something about multiple families living in one house .) Spoiler alert : that ’ s not it .
Once I started , though , I quickly realized I was in this big , fast-paced , lively industry with its own quirks and community , and I immediately fell in love . What really made it amazing , though , were the people . People who welcomed me , supported me , and became more than colleagues . They became my network and that has made all the difference .
Our industry is ripe with room for personal and professional growth and finding your network is a huge key to that . And I know , it can seem a bit overwhelming at first . Where do you even start ?! It doesn ’ t matter if your role is onsite or a supplier , it ’ s valuable to get to know all different people and their roles that make up this community .
The issue you are about to read is a little like dipping a toe into the Olympic sized swimming pool we call our multi ’ family ’.
So , don ’ t wait , dive into this issue and meet some of the amazing people who have grown their network and are passionate about this community . And after you ’ ve finished this issue , it ’ s your turn to get involved . You can ’ t start to build your network if you don ’ t take action . Start small — send that LinkedIn request , join a committee ( may I suggest Onsite Engagement ), or invite someone for coffee . You never know where it might lead . And remember , success is so much sweeter when you ’ re sharing it with people who genuinely have your back . We ’ re all in this together , and it ’ s a lot more fun that way !
Sarah Edison is the Director of Sales at Lyon Restoration
4 | TRENDS NOV / DEC 2024 www . aamdhq . org