Pay It Forward: "Dream Big And Don't Ever Let Anyone Discourage You"
"You can achieve anything when you commit yourself to it, work your hardest, and operate with complete integrity," says Shlomi Avdoo of Avdoo & Partners.
Shlomi Avdoo is the founder of Avdoo & Partners, a design and development company. Avdoo has a great love for the industry and a passion for collaborating with various partners to develop projects that create a positive impact on a neighborhood and a community.
What has been the biggest challenge in your particular role and how have you overcome those obstacles/? The biggest challenge as the founder of the company has been finding talented candidates who are driven to excellence while still having the right personalities to fit in well with our tight-knit team. It is important to me to find people who take pride in their work and the work of Avdoo & Partners. Confident, committed individuals who are aligned with our mission. To overcome this, I have learned to become more patient and set achievable expectations.
What about your role at the company are you most happy with? It’s really everything. For me, this is not a job. It is my passion that I love and enjoy every single day. Of course, some days come with challenges but, I love working and collaborating with my team, knowing that our product will eventually have a daily impact on someone’s life, and our job is to make sure that it is only a positive one.
What is the best piece of advice you have received that has helped you succeed in your industry? And do you have any advice specific for the next generation? This industry is very complex, since we oversee both development and construction internally there are thousands of puzzle pieces that need to run parallel and come together with precision. It is easy to make mistakes, which can be very costly. One person I met in this industry, who was years my senior, told me that in this business, it is best to walk and not run because if you run, there is a greater chance you will fall, and it will hurt. Meaning you take the time to thoroughly think out every decision you make and always look five steps ahead to see what impact your decision will have on other items in the future.
My advice is to dream big and don’t ever let anyone discourage you from thinking that you cannot succeed in this industry because you don’t have the experience or capital. You can achieve anything when you commit yourself to it, work your hardest, and operate with complete integrity.
Would you advise any younger person to begin a career in CRE? Yes, but be ready to make many sacrifices to succeed.
What would you advise them to do to get a foothold in the industry? Start at the bottom and work yourself up. It’s the best way to learn every aspect of this industry that has many layers to it. It may take time, but you will have invaluable knowledge that will give you an advantage over others that are looking for shortcuts.
How does this advice differ from what you may have received when you were starting out? I was not fortunate to have known anyone in the industry to give me much advice. But if there is anything I can say, it’s that no one is born knowing everything. Everyone makes mistakes. Wisdom comes from making mistakes, quicky adjusting, and learning from them. Experience is invaluable.
In your opinion, what take-a-ways did we learn from the COVID-19 crisis? COVID has forced us all to stop, pause and put life in perspective. From a real estate viewpoint, it showed us what’s important to have in a home, what that home should look like, and how important it is to live in a home that offers access to natural light, green areas, and outdoor spaces.
What the residential real estate market will look like next year? Very Strong.
And, in your opinion, what specific neighborhoods are an especially good investment right now? There is tremendous value in Boerum Hill, Park Slope, and the future of Gowanus.
How does coming out of the pandemic change the way people buy real estate in NYC indefinitely? Buyers are looking into larger spaces, homes that are functional with access to natural light and outdoor space, with a focus on health and wellness. People prefer to live in less dense buildings and neighborhoods, with the ability and space to work from home.
Find more CRE career advancement tips and inspiring stories from industry leaders in our Pay It Forward series.
