Have you ever heard a variation of the above, perhaps in reference to a work colleague? I have. Too many times.

It might seem cute, smart or tough to the cool kids but, at its best, it’s what you’d expect from shameless, tacky, sad, out-of-touch business dinosaurs whose management skills have been left behind in an era of misogyny and no respect.

Now I’m not saying every real estate business is ablaze with the same archaic ethos on how to treat their team members, but I can still see some burning embers and smouldering ashes on the horizon. And those embers and ashes need to be starved of the oxygen that fuels them, and some urgent back burning done, to prevent any future conflagration.

Currently, there are two very bright and very big red flags being waved at the real estate profession in Australia, and I have a genuine concern way too many in our profession are turning a blind eye and hoping those waving flags will go away.

For those still in ostrich mode, the breaking news is that those red flags are going to get bigger and the ramifications for those who choose to ignore them are perilous.

RED FLAG #1: Changes to Workplace Health and Safety Laws are effective from April this year.

Amended Work Health and Safety Regulations prescribe how businesses must identify and manage hazards and risks to workers’ psychological health and safety.

From April 1, business owners need to consider and review approaches to managing psychosocial risks and fostering mentally healthy workplaces. All staff must be able to enjoy a mentally

healthy work environment and return home at day’s end free from mental health challenges caused in or by their workplace.

The days of bullying, exclusion, imbalance, disrespect, and not providing team members a physically and mentally safe work place are over. No more talk of ‘teaspoons of cement.’ No more turning a blind eye to workplace conflict. No more acceptance of abusive language or advances from clients and customers being directed at your staff.

If you’re not sure if something is or isn’t right in your business, consider this test: Can you justify any of your actions by finishing the statement with, “Your Honour”? For example, “Yes, I told Sharon that when Landlord Joe called her a ‘useless mole,’ he was just venting and to just ignore it because he always speaks to our staff that way and he means well, Your Honour,” or, “Yes, I told Julie to just nip up and mop the floors and give the bathroom a clean before she left for home the other night, even though it’s not in her job description, Your Honour.”

RED FLAG #2: The continuing diminishing number of Property Managers entering our profession, and the alarming increase in the rate at which existing Property Managers are evacuating the profession.

In the context of those two massive red flags, the figures below from a survey of 773 Australian Property Managers should have almost every real estate business owner reaching for the Ventolin and breaking out in a cold sweat.

Reader discretion warning.
You may wish to get a cold cloth before you read on.

The survey shared:

53% of Property managers surveyed said they struggle with mental health issues and switching off after work

37% of property managers completely agree their job offers good career opportunities, down from 56% in 2018.

52% of property management offices have changed software over the past two years. Only 34% of property managers believe they have the tools they need to do their job properly.

Only 34% believe they have been given the training they need to successfully manage their role.

And wait for the crème de la crème.

60% of Property Managers say the biggest challenge of the job is dealing with aggressive or abusive landlords or tenants and…wait for it…only 38% of principals agree with that.

Do you hear the alarm bells and see the ticking time bomb here?

Seems to me that adopting a strategy of telling people to take ‘a spoonful of cement’ and harden the f#ck up in the current, or for that matter, any environment might not be the wisest of strategies.

It’s crystal clear to me that the workplace model in property management in our fine land is, in the main, broken; not irreparably, but definitely on life support and in need of urgent surgery. And it’s only a matter of time before the first significant claim is awarded against an ignorant business for not putting someone’s physical and mental well-being at the forefront of their obligations to employees.

It’s not just in the treatment of people in the workplace. It’s also about what’s expected of them in the workplace.

If you’ve
…been avoiding training new people up until now; or
…relied on poaching staff from other businesses by offering them more money but not giving them an enriched role in the business (and yes, I recently read a statement saying, “I don’t train property managers; I poach them instead.” WTAF); or
…been OK with overloading your PMs with unfulfilling work; or

…thought to yourself or expressed out loud that people just need to ‘harden up’ in your business; then…

there’s a very large karma bus headed your way.

The obligation moving forward will be to send staff home in the same fit mentality they came into work with, and that could mean restructuring an entire business so that they’re not overworked and realistic expectations are set and met by all parties.

From my perspective, the significant difference between property managers are those who can do higher-level tasks – building relationships, growing and retaining business, maintaining a client’s asset, and negotiating with tenants – and admin roles whose tasks can include lease preparation, bonds, maintenance scheduling, and tradesperson follow-up. And, honestly, the advances in proptech have enabled the idea of a global workforce for even a single business owner.

Property managers are locally-based face-to-face relationship specialists within a real estate business, and should be treated and paid accordingly. Admin roles, which aren’t public-facing, can be in-house or, more often than not, outsourced; in many cases, to VAs in a very efficient and cost-effective manner.

My crystal ball doesn’t show that the industry is going to be flooded with thousands of new property managers anytime soon.

So that means, treasure the ones you’ve got and treat them a whole lot better than many have been treated up to today. Start preparing to train the next generation of property managers. Restructure the department’s workload so the appropriate people are doing the appropriate tasks, so specialists are doing specialists’ work and admin tasks are being done by admins.

Invest in your team’s ability to deal with conflict and how to look after their mental health by booking them into specialty events like Hayley Mitchell’s PM Reach Mindset – Wellness – Resilience Events

You’ve got to start today. Otherwise, you may be facing a very expensive claim against you and your business soon.

Not sure where to start when it comes to using VA’s effectively and outsourcing those admin tasks?

There are options aplenty!

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Join my webinar The Challenge Of Change and How To Stay Relevant

Visit Cloudstaff or join me on a study tour to Cloudstaff’s HQ in the Philippines in either November or December to see how hundreds of Australian businesses like yours have lowered the red flags in their businesses.

Or keep handing out those cups of cement, and let me know how that strategy turns out for you.

I was on the receiving end of some really tough feedback from a close business colleague of mine recently. He’s not one to mince words and the feedback he delivered hit me in the face with a chair. (Figuratively of course, no chair or face was actually harmed in the delivery.) And his feedback hurt deeply, because it’s an approach on life I’ve prided myself on for decades.

The two words he delivered were simple, but cutting. His hurtful words? “You’ve changed.”

To add some context, I’d like to think I’ve earned a trademark as a guy who challenges the status quo. If there’s some zigging going on, I’m zagging. If the invitation says black tie, I’m the guy in the open neck shirt and colourfully patterned jacket. If they tell me no, I’m looking for the yes.

I’ve never been one to adhere to weary meaningless traditions just because that’s what they did in the good old days. Hey, if we all were inflexible to change, we’d be driving horses and carts to work and we’d have to trek to the thunder box in the back yard for our daily ablutions.

So, to be told that I’ve changed hit me pretty hard, and had me reflecting on his words.

Take this quiz with me. (And if you’re not sure if you can answer the questions, you may need to phone a friend.)

1. Have you ever thought or said, “Get off my lawn”?
2. Do you find yourself thinking, “Kids these days…”
3. Do you find that it now takes you all night to do what you used to do all night?
4. Have you contemplated yelling at a cloud?
5. Do your dentures glow in the dark?
6. Do more than two body parts complain when you get out of your chair?
7. Have you ever started a sentence with, “Back in my day…”?
8. Have you ever justified something in your personal or work life with, ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it around here’?
9. Do you find that you hate noisy bars and restaurants, but your TV is turned more than halfway up?
10. Have you ever muttered under your breath, “Bloody P platers”? Bonus questions:
11. Do your more-than-amply-bushy eyebrows bristle when somebody says something about Boomers?
12. Have you ever mumbled, “These young people need to toughen up. Back in my day, interest rates were 17%.”

If you’ve answered or even nodded yes to any of these questions, you won’t need Google or WebMD to diagnose you’re suffering from a severe case of Old Farts Disease.

Those of us with OFD may feel resigned to their destinies.

It’s too easy for people of my vintage to lose their flexibility, not just in body, but in mind, spirit, and business. It’s too easy to just take the same road to work every day, break for lunch at noon, and watch the news at 6pm every night with a warm cup of Milo.

Fear not, my fellow follically challenged friends. There is hope on the horizon, although the sun may be appearing to set faster on our particular horizon.

Breaking news, my friends. If you’ve spent your life whinging about ‘the minorities’ having too much of a say and you’re now at least a sexagenarian, guess what – we Boomers are now in the minority.

So, are you now:

Talking about and receptive to ideas your family or kids may have around climate change, mental health, or supporting a different team (whether that’s in footy or around sexuality)?

Talking to staff or work colleagues in an open and respectful manner around work-life balance, working from home versus working in the office, three-day versus five-day work weeks, and overall working hours?

Sharing roles – are they good, bad, or indifferent about them?

How are you staying relevant? Are you attending industry events? Are you listening to new podcasts or subscribing to different newsletters? How do you embrace new ideas?

In the real estate business, especially, you have to keep an open mind, have a preparedness to embrace change, and a insatiable passion for growth.

Register here for this information packed webinar on October 4th where I’ll be discussing these things more in-depth. Or, if you insist on being old school and seeing things in the flesh, join me on my next tax- deductible study tour to the Philippines in early November or December where I’ll be presenting on 5 new old ways of doing business that helped me and will help you stay relevant in this faster-paced world.

Well, in my world, there’s initially lots of sobbing and tears, deep feelings of overwhelming sadness, intense helplessness, and hopelessness the likes I’ve never felt in my 63 years on this planet.

To be told that your greatest ally in life has been given the news that their magnificent life of service to their family and community is drawing to a premature inescapable end is confronting and devastating. It’s simply impossible to commit the breadth and depth of my wide ranging emotions to print. There simply aren’t sufficient words that can appropriately describe the sadness, pain, grief, fear of loss, anger…the list goes on.

And then you take a moment to stop having your own pity party. You take the time to spend 2 moons in the other person’s moccasins. You listen to the words of comfort from the one person whose words have consoled you from the very first tear you ever shed when you fell from your push bike. Warm words of wisdom from the person who made things OK when you lost your first dog. Guidance from the loving human who put your broken heart back together from the pains of first love. That reassuring voice that whispered ‘everything will be ok,’ and it was. The warm loving strength from the person whose perfectly tuned heartbeat gently rocked you to sleep when all hope in your life and your loves seemed lost.

Just as my magnificent Mum has done for the last 63 years of my life, she yet again inspires me by calmly, warmly and lovingly sharing with me that whilst she felt some sadness that her time on earth might be closing, and that it was closing well before she’d hoped it would be because she’d hoped to have been able to spend more time travelling the world with her amazing ‘First Mate’, Graham, my Mum shared that even after being given the worst news imaginable that she was at peace with her world and her Lord. Mum shared that she was thankful to have had reigned proudly, brilliantly, and lovingly as the grand matriarch to her close and extended family, and was thankful for her incredible life and for the opportunity to be a person who faithfully served her community in her time on this earth.

That my friends is courage at its finest. Those are the words, actions and the key character traits of one of the finest leaders I’ve ever had the honour to work under and alongside.

Mum’s inspiring courage, and her immediate instinct in the moment to worry more about those around her rather than to consider her own emotional pain from having been given the news that most of us would dread yet again, show that great mums like mine continue to teach us important life lessons. Even at 87.

My Mum has lived a life filled with incredible optimism. She has weathered storms that would leave others marooned on the rocks or run aground on a lost island. Her trademark Teflon coating has helped her blaze a trail for her sisters, her community, her Lord and for social justice.

Having closed my short-lived pity party down, and yet again having been inspired by my Mum’s true grit and eternal optimism, I found myself trying to understand my role in the road that lays ahead for us all.

How does a Son deal with the impending loss of his amazing Mum?

Well, in my crazy world and having been inspired by Mum’s love of all things music, parties, and community, throwing a party seemed like a perfectly appropriate ‘Brewer’ thing to do.

With time being of the essence and with my wonderful co-conspirator Tara on the team, we set about putting together a fitting shindig that would call on Mum’s community, her church, her friends and her family to come together for a day of appreciation, music, accolades, celebration, and to honour a life lived to the absolute max. Armed with a clear mission and a deep passion to give her community an opportunity to shower Mum with some much needed love we set about putting together a very special day that would hopefully give my Mum the biggest group hug ever seen and some reasons to smile at a challenging time in life..

One of the many things Mum has taught me is, ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get.’ And so, with those words of wisdom ringing in my ears, I set about doing some ‘asking’…

The first ‘ask’ was to find a place to party. In Mum’s case, none better than the Old Shire Clerks Cottage of which she had Chaired the restoration. Tick!

Next up, we needed some entertainment to keep the spirits high and to honour Mum’s lifetime love of music. A musical career that had seen her travel far and wide as an accomplished cabaret singer. A few phone calls later and we’d acquired the services of an 18 piece showband, my wonderful nephew Mikey and his melodic Mate Seamus on guitar, and the multi talented brilliance of the amazing Laura Doolan.

And just for the hell of it, we also scored the plucking extraordinary Don Lewers for a couple of cameos on banjo.

Musical talent acquired. Tick!

Mum’s life of community service has gone largely unrecognised. I simply don’t have the space on this page to detail what Mum has achieved for her community, her church and people in times of personal crisis. And whilst Mum has been awarded by HRH Queen Elizabeth II with a Silver Jubilee Medal and been recognised by Quota as their Woman Of The Year, it was a tremendous moment to receive a call from Joan Pease MLA – Member for Lytton advising she wanted to induct my Mum into the Hall of Fame as a Bayside Great. Tick!

A bit more work, and I was reduced to ugly tears on hearing that retiring Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, Philip Aspinall, had arranged for one of his Bishops to hand-deliver a letter of appreciation, love, thanks, and of faith to Mum at our event. Tick!

My own magnificent children Sam and Lauren agreed to honour their Nanna by MC’ing the afternoons festivities. A joyful, loving character building experience for them both, and a display of love and appreciation to their Nanna that has forever captured her heart. Tick!

All we needed was a gathering of people to shower my Mum, the kids Nanna Iris, and little baby Sydney Iris Brewer’s Great Grandmother with love. Tick!

And with all that organised to run like clockwork in just 2 weeks of preparation, we just needed someone we know and respect to capture the loving stories and memories on video for Mum (and family) to enjoy and reminisce on during times of reflection on Mum’s wonderful life. Thank you, Graham Werner. You nailed it. Tick!

What ensued was a day I know warmed my Mum’s heart. It was a long overdue day to honour an amazing human.

And yes, It was yet another lesson to me on what’s truly important in life. It was a graphic smack in the face with the back of a chair for me on just how many times I’d put business ahead of family. The one too many times that I’d brushed one of Mum’s kind dinner invitations aside because I was too tired, too busy, or too lazy to savour more magical moments with my Mum while I could. And so I continue to learn to be a better human because of her teachings. And I hope in some way she’s teaching us all with her dignity, optimism, and her fierce fight for her life.

There are so many stories to tell of my Mum, and I suspect there’ll be a book at some stage. But for now, please enjoy a few video and photo snippets of the day of appreciation in honour of my beautiful Mum. <3

Don’t miss Lauren’s beautiful words of love and appreciation at the 25.38 minute mark

March 14 2023:

A very warm and kind presentation to Mum of a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Wynnum Rotary Club

Address to Rotary Members by Club President

“For our newer members, a very brief history lesson.
Rotary was founded in Chicago USA in 1905 by a
gentleman by the name of Paul Harris.
A Paul Harris Fellow award (or a PHF as we
generally call it) is a highly esteemed recognition of
people who have done extraordinary things, and
these awards carry our founder’s name. A PHF is
awarded to someone who has given service above and beyond what is
considered to be the “norm”, usually for a prolonged period of time, for the benefit of the
community and the world at large. Recipients may be from within our Rotary Club members and
partners, or someone in our community.
As our members are aware, we recently started planning an event to recognise community
members with Paul Harris Fellow awards, with a presentation evening to be held later in the year.
Very early in the process of planning the Community PFH night, we received a nomination for Iris
Brewer to be recognised for her work in the community.
In view of her personal circumstances, we are presented Iris with her award last week, ahead of
the event later in the year.

Some of us are aware that Iris and her family had a successful real estate business in the Bayside
area. Via this nomination, we have also come to learn Iris has been involved in numerous
community activities and projects since the 1960’s. However Iris played crucial roles in 3
particular projects, and they are:
Meals On Wheels: Iris organised a few friends (of which some we most likely Rotarians) and her
Church to establish the first Meals on Wheels service into our local community. A vital service that
has benefited many elderly and disadvantaged citizens for many years.
Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre: Iris was one of 3 major forces behind the establishment of the
Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre. Wynnum apparently used to have an old smelly building in Tingal
Rd where the Leisure Centre now stands. Iris and her cohort saw the potential on what the site
could be used for. Again, Iris organised some friends, opened a thrift shop in Florence St called
“The Box” and raised the money to build that centre as you see it today. On opening Day, it was

completely debt free. She was an integral part of the establishment of the centre, liaising with
Council and finding the funding source.
(Iris and family, you may not be aware that our Club currently hires the area below the rear of the
Leisure Centre to store our equipment.)
The Shire Clerk’s Cottage: On the day the Leisure Centre was opened, Iris had the opportunity to
speak to the Council about the near derelict old cottage next door. The council of the day didn’t
appreciate the history of the cottage. Iris informed the council of it’s historical value, and
requested permission to restore it. Permission was duly granted with a 100 year lease for $1.00.
Iris chaired a committee to restore the cottage and the rest is history.

There are other tales about Iris’s other talents as a singer and entertainer.
One in particular, PP Eric Batten recounts the history of the Rotary Concert
Band, which had about 45 players back in its day. The Salvation Army asked
the Rotary Concert Band to play Christmas Carols in front of the Pelican’s
Nest. Rotary then asked Iris to take the microphone and lead the singing that
made the event a big success.

Iris, it is people such as yourself who are the cornerstone of community. The local Wynnum &
Manly Community has a lot to be thankful for what you have done. Call it your legacy, if you will.
Until now, most of us here in this room (and I dare say most of the local
population) had no idea of your valuable contributions to this community, and
we figure it’s time for that to change.

Thanks to Graham, Michelle and Lauren for being able to attend the meeting for
this presentation. Iris is also well known to some members of our Rotary
family – in particular Graham & Audrey Pearson, Rev Sandy & Judy Marshall,
and Eric Batten. It is lovely for you all to be here to share this moment with
Iris.
In conclusion, Iris, it’s with very great pleasure that our club now you with this award and
commemorative pin”

The End Of An Era – April 24 2023

It is with heartbreaking sadness and deep personal loss that I share that my amazing Mum, Iris Ena Brewer, passed away at 5.30am yesterday morning April 24 2023.

My Mum was an eternal optimist and tower of strength her entire life, but more so over the last 4 months as she fought an insidious cancer that had invaded her body.

Mum lived an incredible life of service. She excelled at everything she did.

Cabaret Singer, Fundraiser, Real Estate Agent, Auctioneer, Community Worker, Marriage Counsellor, Dressmaker, Photo Colourist, Church Leader…and the list goes on.

But most of all, she was my Mum. Mum has been my guiding light for my entire 63 years. Never wavering. Never questioning. She’s been there every step of the journey to dust me off, straighten me up, and point me back in the right direction.

She’s been an incredible Grandmother to Sam and Lauren instilling them with amazing values and life skills that only a Nanna can impart.

Mum left us on her terms yesterday. As the ambulance arrived to take her from her home to hospital, her Priest anointed her forehead with oil and read Psalm 6 to her. It was a warm, special moment.

Mum was pain free, at total peace, and ready to go. She spent less than less than 18 hours in hospital before her Lord called her home. There were no words left unsaid. She knew she was loved, and we knew that she loved us.

Our hearts are broken and we will miss her so very much.

A celebration of her life will be held in Wynnum at St Peter’s Church next Tuesday, May 2, at 10:30am.

A little-known fact is that Mum was a cabaret singer, musician, and recording artist. In the musical archives, I found Mum, in concert for the ABC, singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” If you’ve got 3 minutes, please take the time to enjoy her beautiful voice while viewing some snapshots of her incredible life.

Iris Brewer’s Funeral Service – St Peter’s Church – Wynnum – May 2nd 2023 – Peter’s Eulogy