AI & The Human Touch

Fun fact - most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by January 12th, so this seems to be a great week to double down on my goals. Naturally,  I aim to have vacancy rates lower than my holiday weight gain, but what matters on this forum is my commitment to posting more valuable content.  To that end, I’m committed to expanding my horizons beyond industry jargon.

I’m honestly disappointed in myself for not fighting the vocabulary zeitgeist. Reflecting on past years ("unprecedented times," anyone?), and the current lexicon favorites “lack of inventory," "flight to quality," and "interest rates" – I want to avoid the ubiquitous and trite.

If the temptation to follow the crowd didn’t come easily enough, we’re at the precipice of a new frontier with AI-generated content where AI comes pre-packaged in the most basic technology stack. It’s in your phone, car, and probably in your toothbrush.

Workflow optimization and laziness look more like identical twins known only by different names.  Just try to read a commercial property description that does not use the words “boasts” or  “prime”.  These buzzwords have been used by human real estate agents long before AI, but now they are in nearly every commercial property description.

For fun, consider a difficult property to sell then run it through your AI of choice.  I chose an old strip club for this test and prompted the AI for a description. In the blink of an eye was the outcome:

“The space radiates features like an open floor plan with ample room for dancing, socializing, and showcasing performances from a main stage and intimate corners. The property boasts a unique atmosphere and is equipped with an impressive number of sturdy and stylish poles that are perfect for aerialists and provide extra roof support.”

It’s not just property descriptions that lack originality, follow-up emails are the worst.  I was sending e-mails in 2022 that began with “I hope this finds you well”, thinking I had a unique personal approach, and I now regret it like an early 90s cheerleader regrets using Aqua net.

In 2025 the struggle is not knowing what to say but how to say it in the most authentic, effective, dare I say, human way.   If it all sounds the same, how do we know what is good?

My New year's resolution isn’t to dump on the proliferation of AI, rather, it’s to learn how to use it with the same discipline a skilled surgeon would use a scrapple, and not like a kindergartener with a butter knife asking for your lunch money. So how do we lean into the benefits of AI, and simultaneously develop a unique voice in the marketplace?

I believe that discipline begins with a greater self-awareness: Understanding my values, beliefs, and motivations by dedicating time to be introspective and honest about my strengths and weaknesses.  I’m not an attorney, tax genius, or an architect.   I’m a broker, so that means inviting these essential vendors into the deal-making process earlier helps me focus my time and talent on where I can create the most value for the client.

As a communicator, storyteller, and glorified mail carrier tasked with bringing more retail to the planet, I also believe that utilizing AI can and will create additional value for my clients.  Despite my cynicism about the output from AI in property descriptions, I am quite optimistic these tools will yield better outcomes.

In 1892, John Froelich invented the first gasoline-powered tractor.  In 1893, did his neighbor consider him to be lazy and unworthy of being called a Farmer?  This led to increased productivity. He could cultivate more land, plant faster, and harvest larger crops. The tractor led to the development of a wide range of other mechanized equipment like combines, plows, and seeders. This further reduced labor needs and increased output, which ultimately reduced food shortages.

I guess you could say I’m mid-life adjacent.  I firmly believe that developing a reputation for skill and expertise has been preceded by overcoming difficulties and showing tactful ingenuity.  If it were not for the hard work of the past, I would not be able to enjoy the good work of the present.  The proliferation and use of AI are going to be a strength to some and a weakness to others.

In his famous speech at Rice University on September 12, 1962, John F. Kennedy eloquently spoke to the importance of pursuing challenging goals. "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Kennedy elaborated that difficult challenges serve a greater purpose. He believed that hard goals "will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills"

He framed challenging endeavors as opportunities for growth, stating such challenges are:

• Ones that we are willing to accept

• Ones we are unwilling to postpone

• Ones which we intend to win.

  
  

To illustrate this point, Kennedy referenced the famous mountaineer George Mallory, who, when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, simply responded, "Because it is there." AI is here.  It is not just a tool to climb the mountain, it may also be itself a mountain to conquer.

A day may come when we have taught AI to do all the work, and should I be so lucky to be alive, I hope to be outside with a shovel or plow, embracing the beautiful struggle of life I have yet to cultivate.

I’ve met a lot of wealthy people who are deeply insecure as well as some low-income earners who live with the kind of self-respect and peace that few possess.  My goal this year is to dedicate more time to my inner circle of fellowship and less time on the screen.  More time is engaged in developing personal relationships where everyone is comfortable being open and honest with others, fostering deeper connections and trust.

It does not take a supercomputer to know that true wealth resides in human connection, inner peace, and self-respect.  I may or may not get better at trading real estate deals, but if I do get better at sharing human empathy and creativity and carrying the load of another person's struggle, then I suspect I will have accomplished my goal.