The Advice That Works in One Market and Fails in the Next
A Rule I Was Taught Early When I started out, I was told to run every project in the same order. Secure the land. Line up financing. Get permits. Then build. Do the steps out of order and you are asking for trouble. That advice is sound almost everywhere. I still follow it in New […]
The Walk I Never Skip Before a Project Starts
One Habit That Has Not Changed Every project I take on gets a site report before anything else. Engineers measure it, surveyors map it, and someone hands me a folder full of numbers. I read all of it. Then I go walk the site myself, on foot, before I sign off on a single drawing. […]
What I Would Tell Someone Starting Out in International Development Today
The Questions You Should Be Asking First If you’re thinking about entering international development work, especially in real estate and infrastructure, you’re probably asking yourself about capital, connections, and expertise. Those matter. But the questions I wish I’d focused on earlier are different. Where will you be willing to live for months at a time? […]
Something Small That Makes a Disproportionate Difference
The One Document That Changes Everything You walk into a meeting with government officials, local contractors, or potential partners. The project is ambitious. The geography is unfamiliar. The stakes are high. And somewhere in the first ten minutes, someone asks a question you cannot answer with certainty. Most people reach for confidence. They offer an […]
How Great Developers Balance Vision with Practical Execution
Big Ideas Need Strong Foundations Every successful development begins with a vision. Before there is a completed building, a new roadway, or a major infrastructure project, someone has to imagine what is possible. Vision gives people a destination. It creates excitement and inspires teams to work toward something meaningful. At the same time, I have […]
Why Reputation Is the Most Valuable Asset in International Development
Your Reputation Arrives Before You Do One thing I have learned throughout my career is that people often know something about you before they ever meet you. In international development, your reputation usually arrives before you do. When you begin working in a new country or with a new organization, people want to know who […]
What Working Across Continents Teaches You About Leadership and Adaptability
Every New Country Changes Your Perspective One of the greatest privileges of my career has been the opportunity to work in different parts of the world. Every country has introduced me to new people, new challenges, and new ways of thinking. While the projects themselves have varied, the lessons about leadership have been remarkably consistent. […]
The Power of Long-Term Thinking in International Real Estate Development
Looking Beyond the Next Project One of the biggest lessons I have learned throughout my career is that success in real estate development rarely comes from chasing the next opportunity. It comes from seeing beyond the next project and thinking about what today’s decisions will mean years from now. In this industry, it is easy […]
The Psychology Behind High-Pressure Negotiations and How Human Behavior, Perception, and Control Shape Outcomes in Critical Deal Environments
Negotiation Is Never Just About Numbers People often think negotiations are about price, terms, or structure. In reality, those are only the surface elements. The real negotiation happens underneath, in how people behave, how they interpret each other, and how they manage pressure. In high-pressure environments, numbers matter, but they do not decide everything. What […]
Making High-Stakes Decisions With Incomplete Information While Balancing Risk, Timing, and Real-World Constraints in Complex International Environments
Decisions Rarely Come With Full Information One of the first realities you accept in international work is that you will rarely have complete information when a decision needs to be made. Waiting for everything to be clear is not a practical option. In most cases, clarity comes after action, not before it. This creates a […]