I’m reading a book named “Start with Why,” by Simon Sinek.

Start with Why makes the point that people who rally behind something are more motivated by a common cause, than by a common solution.

Bookcover Start with Why

Our cause is motivated by hearing, seeing, and reading about fellow appraisers’ concerns.  There is anger and frustration and disappointment.  I hear this from residential appraisers, from commercial appraisers, and even from clients.

We witness repeated economic ‘melt-downs’ and recessions, blamed on various causes, but always to include appraisers.  Why us?

“Why?” we ask.  We’re just doing our job.  We’re just reporting market price (which we call “value”).  We do just what we’re told, given the pressure (overt or covert) from our clients.

Is it possible that perhaps some of this is our responsibility?

When we start with why, we have common cause.  My “why” was starting this blog.  My hope is to somehow provide a place, a forum, a platform for deeper, freer thought, outside the boundaries of “this is how things are done.”  This is about how things might be done.  This is about how we might approach creating a better profession, and provide a better service.

Are you a “how” person?  Do you have some ideas?

The “why” can bring us together:  a desire to give hope to our profession.  A desire to provide better service, to feel personal satisfaction.  And to wake up guilt free.  To be paid well because what we do is ethical, truthful, methodical, and sure.  Is that possible?

The purpose of USPAP is to, “promote and maintain a high level of public trust in appraisal practice by establishing requirements for appraisers,” (USPAP).  Are we practicing to “advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide”?  (Appraisal Institute).  Do we “foster the public trust of our members and the appraisal profession through compliance with the highest levels of ethical and professional standards”? (American Society of Appraisers).

This is for you. 

The “how” is your contribution.  This forum/blog/newsletter is a place for you.  Contribute your opinion.

All I ask is that it be about improving the profession for us, and for the public good.  It can be about ethics, about our organizations, our education, our technology, our purpose.  Does this mean we need to do things in new ways?  Or perhaps we need to return to our roots in ethics, competence, and leadership?

We can find each other with the why.  We can learn possibilities with some “how.”  From there we can proceed to the “what.”  What can be done?  What can we do?

What can we do in today’s paradigm shift in technology?  Can ethics be learned?  Can we easily give our clients more? What can I do?

What do you think?