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Goble Properties

Ignore the Naysayers

Some of the best business advice I’ve been given is, “Ignore the naysayers.” The naysayers are the folks who are ALWAYS negative.

Most of us have an internal pendulum of confidence and fear. Our fear dreads failure, is unsure of the future, and hates risk. When naysayers talk, our fear is inflamed.

Naysayers point out the reasons to not make a business decision, and fear makes the reasons seem foreboding: the timing isn’t right, tough times ahead, not enough information, too risky, it won’t work, you can’t afford it.

Sometimes those warnings are reasonable and even accurate. There’s nothing wrong …

Goble Properties,

A Short Walk Down Goble Lane

One of my earliest work related recollections as a child is sweeping out a metal building on Goble Lane in South San Jose. My Dad purchased the property in the 1950’s to start a wrecking yard, and over the years he had built metal buildings that he leased to small businesses. We sold the property about 15-years ago.

Just recently a colleague sent a picture of Goble Lane as viewed from Communication Hill in South San Jose. The wrecking yard is gone of course, and so is the small trailer park next door. So is the concrete batch plant that

…

Goble Properties, Junkyard Management,

What’s the Worst Business Decision You Ever Made?

What’s the worst business or job related decision you ever made?

If you hesitate and can’t think of the answer right away, then here’s some advice: figure it out fast. Be completely honest with yourself.

Not understanding your poor decisions results in repeating them. You might repeat them even if you fully understand them, but you’ll at least have a chance of avoiding them if you are honest with yourself.

I like using the who, what, where, when, and why process. The who is obvious (it’s you, because you made the mistake). The what is a little tougher because, if …

Book Reviews, Goble Properties, PathLight,

Under New Management

David Burkus has written a fun book for anybody who manages people. Under New Management looks at how organizational management is changing in ways we never thought realistic. You really should get a copy of this book if you oversee any group of people.

Some of the ideas are idealistic — such as chapter one, “Outlaw Email.” Other ideas are very thoughtful and doable, such as chapter two, “Put Customers Second.” Many of the ideas, such as “Hire as a Team” and “Fire the Managers”, have been around a long time but have only recently gained steam in the marketplace.…

Goble Properties, Junkyard Management,

We Could Always Rely on Phyllis

Last week Goble Properties sold Perez Business Park in Cathedral City. It brings an end to a great experience operating the property. Perez was the perfect property type for Goble Properties: all small units, occupied by small businesses, mostly locally owned, and deeply connected to the community.

One significant downside is it means our long time manager, Phyllis, will be retiring at the end of this week. Well, retiring in the sense she won’t have a full-time job in property management. Something tells me she’s going to be an incredible volunteer for several amazing nonprofit organizations. I can’t wait to …

Goble Properties,

Every Business Owner Has a Story

Every business owner has a story. This came to light recently when Suana Hamulic sent me an email about her life. A few years ago Suana and her husband Regis leased retail space in the Hopyard Village Shopping Center, just below my office in Pleasanton, and opened a pizza shop.

Suana was born in Bosnia. Because of the horrific war, and for her own safety, she was forced to leave her home, friends, and family at age 17. She was alone with no connections. Over the next three years she managed to cross the borders of Slovenia, Austria, and eventually …

Family, Goble Properties, Junkyard Management,

Ernie Casseta

It was the late 1930’s when my Dad first came to San Jose, and one of the first friends he made was the legendary Ernie Casseta. They were part of the automotive business community that thrived along South First Street. My Dad sold parts to Mr. Casseta, who used them to fix up the inventory on his used car lot. They were lifelong friends.

I lost touch with Mr. Casseta when Dad passed ten years ago. But just recently Aimee at the Goble Properties office sent me a note saying Ernie Casseta called and he was looking for me. I …

Goble Properties, Junkyard Management,

So you want to own your business?

Goble Properties has been leasing space to small businesses for seven decades. Over the years we’ve learned a few things about the owners of small businesses, including clues about whether the owner will be successful or not. Here are ten points that I’ve found to be consistently accurate in predicting success or failure in a small business.

1. Small business owners who succeed are borderline workaholics. It’s not about putting in 8-hours a day, it’s about doing what it takes to get the job done. These are hard working people.

2. Small business owners who succeed look for every cost …