FACILITYCalgary publisher Mark Kolke, discusses his conversations
June 3, 2014
I interview people who interest me. Some people, or their PR folks, have urged me to interview them – because they want to promote their company. I don’t respond well to that. I seek out people who are making a difference in this city, people who are walking a challenging path, people who have overcome difficulties, people who are strong, people who are proud and people who – quite often – do so well out of the spotlight. I seek them out because I like them, admire them or because I am insanely curious about them.
Let me explain …
When I began the FACILITYCalgary newsletter fifteen years ago, I had no idea if it would last, what form it would take and that it would become a stand-alone business. None. I had relocated to Calgary after twenty-seven years in Edmonton. I came back to Calgary for a 2nd marriage (that didn’t work out), with an expectation that business would continue to be strong here, that my skills and experience would make it easy to make inroads in the Calgary market, as a niche player with specialties in office, industrial and institutional real estate and P3’s (public-private-partnerships). In that regard I could not have been more wrong – driven in part by the difficulty of trying (for the first year) to be active in both markets at the same time.
The by-product of that process was to spend a lot more time wearing out shoe-leather learning the Calgary market, meeting landlords and developers, getting to know the physical market by doing the basics, learning the inventory and developing new relationships. Competitors are many, young, aggressive and smart. It was no easy task, mixtures of good and bad luck, life-style changes (a 2nd divorce) and fascinating projects kept my plate full . . .
But I digress … . Back to the newsletter. I found acceptance of a weekly digest of what was happening in Calgary with a wide audience. Lots of decision makers, and watchers of decision makers, subscribed. Calgary centric, oil & gas centric, commercial real estate centric would characterize the readership. Toronto, Montreal, New York, Vancouver and Edmonton. And, over time, lots of subscribers from all over the planet – commercial real estate investors, financiers and users. Oil & gas folks get their oil & gas news from other sources, but they get their commercial real estate news here. Commercial real estate folks and market watchers get their industry news from many sources, but they get their oil & gas news and Calgary trends here.
What has made FACILITYCalgary successful? I think there are three factors aside from my initial shameless marketing of my own services: consistency, brevity, simplicity. Simple format, easy to find things you like. Not everyone reads it for the same information or for the same reasons. A steadily growing readership is my measuring tool. I’m a self-trained journalist, a commercial real estate marketer and I try not to promote companies, points of view or anyone’s agenda in a favourable light {for that, I have sponsor/advertisers who pay for that promotion}.
I’ve always been looking to expand the scope and appeal of he newsletter – to make it more relevant to readers, and to grow the readership which makes me happy and makes our sponsors happy. To that end, the first of these CONVERSATIONS was published Oct. 30, 2012. Many thanks to Adam Pekarsky for being my first subject. You were both brave and kind (we should do a follow-up some day soon).
I haven’t counted, but I think I am past ninety interviews now. I believe the writing has improved, my interviewing skills have improved and my interviewees have co-operated incredibly to make this weekly feature a joy to do and a compelling part of the weekly read. Feedback from readers has demonstrated that, for many, it is the first item they read each Tuesday morning. Thank you for that.
And thank you to those interviewees – you share with our readers. I want to know, and I believe our readers want to know, what makes you tick, what makes your business click, what got you to where you are, how was your journey and what have you learned from the path you’ve taken. Most of the interviews I’ve done have been published. Some haven’t worked out as well as I’d hoped. Sometimes that was a result of who I interviewed, sometimes it was my own lack of preparation. I’ve learned that I like interviewing a lot (my interview heroes are Peter Gzowski, James Lipton, Charlie Rose and Anna-Maria Tremonti). I try to learn as much as I can about my subjects – from birth up to now, get a sense of what has contributed to their success, what has made them into who they are as well as what has brought them to where they are. Those conversations take 75-90 minutes most times, sometimes less but more often much longer. Some are over breakfast, some over lunch – some on Saturday mornings. It is difficult to poach time from busy people in the middle of the day. I am so very grateful to those who’ve let me invade their space, probe their minds and motives and tell their stories. I appreciate their kindness and am often amazed by their vulnerability. I’ve learned a lot.
Clearly, this feature will continue to be an important part of my week, every week, and I hope it continues to be a happy part of yours …
And, in anticipation of being teased if I don’t, here are my answers to those very familiar questions:
How do I see business, for business – my business (commercial real estate transactions – sales and leasing, and publishing Calgary business news) in Calgary over the next quarter?
… steady. Most of my business over the last year has been with repeat customers, renewal negotiations and referrals so that might be misleading me a little. I think the retail and industrial markets will continue to be strong – as they are right now – bellwethers of the Calgary market. The office market, right now, is dicey. The velocity of transactions has slowed, not so much due to pipeline uncertainty or oilsands issues, but because people who don’t need to make a decision about space, about a move, aren’t. There is a perception that a substantial number of large-blocks of office space (head lease and sublease), both existing and under construction, on the market will push prices downward. At the other end of the spectrum, availability for small suites in good locations remains tight. I think, when you consider that number of new buildings – somebody may have built one building too many. The sky will not fall, but summer is typically slower in office markets, so things will likely not be robust in the short term …
And over the next 5 years?
… Calgary is a phenomenon. We have been relatively unscathed by world market troubles and housing markets are hot (partly a housing supply problem, partly hype). Our biggest issue will be land supply as Nenshi-Stanley influences on densification clash with developer needs to meet market demands. I think Nenshi will stay but his influence will be weak. The market will dictate. I think Stanley will be fired, as he has just about everywhere he’s worked, but his policy influences will continue as a catalyst for smarter, greener and more effective/developer friendly development constraints.
What qualities distinguish your preferred colleagues, collaborators and suppliers?
… straight talkers. People who make commitments, make promises – and then perform. Price matters, always, but quality, loyalty and performance matter more. People and companies that make it easy to do business with them. People who follow through.
What distinguishes you that causes clients to choose Mark Kolke to do business with, why have they hired me, over my competitors?
... I try to stand in their shoes, work on their requirements as if they were my own. I’m a salesman – so my nature is to take a favourable vs. unfavourable view of many things, but age/experience have led me to a place where I am mostly focused on details, details, details – because that helps me help my client make a well informed decision. It is their decision, not mine, but every client is up for grabs if their service providers can’t add value – especially in the clinches, nuances and vagaries of negotiating a deal. I love it. I’m good at it. My clients seem to like that.
What do you lose sleep over, what do you worry about?
… over the last few years, about my dad (dodgy health) who died recently at 91 – but otherwise, less than I ever have. Life’s path is crooked. I’ll explore in the dark sometimes and there is risk in that, but no cause for worry.
Who or what influenced me most – that has made a difference in your life, or that was a major turning point?
… my dad, my children (2), my grandchildren (2) and a clutch of very dear friends have made a huge impact – and given my life value. Bill Heinsen, a junior high science teacher who introduced appreciation of culture and the arts to my life; Bruce Bourne, a horrid mentor/teacher in business who taught me a lot of bad habits. Barry Brovender, a colleague and friend who has been unwavering, and kind. Friends, too many of them, who’ve gone, lost to cancer. Bill Pettigrew, who recruited me to sit on a board of an organization serving people with developmental disabilities 30+ years ago, that set me on a path of volunteer work, advocacy and giving-back service that gives me back far more than I give. Gloria Steinem - I was always a fan - so it was a thrill to meet and interview her (and I got a hug!) when she was in Calgary last fall.
Work life balance?
… what’s that? I work, write, play, work, write, play – every day of the week. I’m not unhappy at all. Public speaking. Writing a daily column and this weekly newsletter. I love to golf (not bad if I get out often enough), love to cook, love Maui, and enjoy thoroughly interesting women, good books, intense conversations and dynamic debates at dinner parties.
What do you read?
… not much fiction (but I’m writing some). I inhale news – online, newspapers. Currently working my way through Things That Matter by Charles Krauthammer and Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. I like everything I've ever read by Malcolm Gladwell, Tom Peters, Seth Godin and David Brooks.
My ride?
… the ‘greenest car on the road’ is one that isn’t in the landfill. Mine, a 1999 Olds with 266,000 km. on it. Probably something newer, smaller and possibly hybrid this fall.