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Every two weeks, I share my writing on investing, career transitions, meaningful work, parenting, living intentionally, and other topics that engage me.

In my fifties, I'm still trying to figure stuff out.

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Wants List

Sam Tackeff writes an excellent and prolific newsletter called “Good Things with Sam Tackeff.” I read it every Sunday and encourage you to subscribe here.

While I regularly enjoy Sam’s writing on a wide range of topics, the tail-end of a recent essay particularly resonated with me. After recounting her experience successfully requesting a discount at Target, Sam reminds her readers (in bold for extra oomph), “You don’t get what you don’t ask for.”

Sure, it's not a new idea, but the message’s simplicity drew me in.

I decided to ponder it for a moment. The message hit me because the topic was familiar territory. I haven’t always articulated what I wanted, and I've occasionally dealt with feelings of regret or resentment when I hadn’t spoken up on my behalf.

After a few seconds, I exhaled and reset. I figured I’d done enough introspective work on this difficult topic (100% passive, for the record). My focus shifted back to reading the rest of the essay.

But then, in the final paragraph, Sam pulled me back in when she referenced a related essay she wrote last October called “A List of Wants and Needs.”

Intriguing. I clicked the link.

The October essay described Sam’s process and reason for writing a list like this. And then it went further. She included her actual list itself. It was awesome.

The list was custom-crafted. Each item came to life through the use of specific language and useful detail. The collection of wants revealed much about Sam’s priorities and what matters to her. It was honest, transparent, and reflected depth of thought.

Above all, this list was uniquely Sam’s.

I loved how bold ideas that sound crazy in our heads seem increasingly likely once affirmed in writing. For example, Sam writes, "I want to collaborate with: Adriene Mishler, Tim Ferriss, Selena Gomez, Serena Williams, Martha Stewart, Brené Brown, Samantha Brown (yep, the travel one!)."

Totally. Why not?

The next morning, inspired by Sam’s piece, I began drafting my own list.

I started working across some broad areas I regularly monitor in Notion: family, relationships, career, finances, travel... At first, the asks were small. But eventually, I allowed myself the freedom to access more boldness, which felt pretty good.

If I can't clarify what I want from the world and what I want to give to the world, how could I possibly begin to prioritize my goals, actions, projects, or commitments? Wants are foundational. Nothing is off-limits.

Since launching this exercise, I've revisited the list a few times and will continue to refine it over the coming weeks.

Your List

Are you tempted to create your own list?

Give it a try.

But before you do, be forewarned. It’s harder than you think.

With each item added, your inner critic gets activated, challenging whether it’s right for you to want such a thing. Maybe you should want something more? Maybe something less? Are you being selfish? Materialistic? Perhaps selfless?

Once you have a list, Sam rightly encourages her readers to share it with others. I haven’t done this yet, but I see the merit of doing so. After all, the point is to ASK for what we want.

Sam writes, "One of the reasons that I make lists like this? To help create and clarify my own priorities. The nice thing is, if I really want something - I have the power to take action on making it happen. I can tell someone. I can pick a next step. If something feels daunting, I can take the smallest step forward. Or I can take a leap."

As you think about whether you’d like to do something similar, consider the following benefits:

• Clarity and Focus - When you express what you want, you gain clarity. The process forces you to articulate your thoughts and identify what truly matters to you. You might even ask why certain items emerge.
• Accountability - Sharing your goals with others creates accountability. It pushes you to take action because others are aware of your intentions.
• Attracting Opportunities - Expressing your desires openly can attract opportunities and resources. People can’t help you if they don’t know what you need. It’s surprising how often opportunities arise simply because you voiced your ambitions. Serendipity can be amazing, but something it needs a catalyst.
• Building Relationships - Being open about your goals can strengthen relationships. It fosters trust and encourages others to share their aspirations. People who know your goals are more likely to support and work with you. This works in personal and professional contexts. Communicating clearly is always better than operating on assumptions. My wife regularly reminds me she’s not a mind reader.

Conclusion

Expressing what you want is more than just stating your desires. Similar to the writing process, crafting your list will help distill your thinking. And it's fun and motivating. By then sharing your wants with others, you deepen relationships and vastly improve your odds of success. Not only do I feel I know Sam better after reading her list, but you can bet I'm thinking of ways to support her efforts.

As I mentioned, I’ve started my own list of wants and will share it when it’s done. If you have or write a list of your own, I’d love to see it.

In closing, if you need motivation, just remember Sam’s line (again, in bold), “You don’t get what you don’t ask for.”

Other Stuff

Points and Cash Back: The Rise of Loyalty Programs in Multifamily This Thesis Driven essay provides a helpful overview of this segment for those interested in learning more about Circa and Stake. Stake's focus on "cash back" rewards and the acquisition of Circa to manage delinquency highlight its goal of becoming a renter-focused financial institution, challenging traditional banking services for renters.

​Read the article (10 mins)

What will the pullback in multifamily construction permitting mean for the rental market? This report is interesting for several reasons: 1) despite the largest multifamily supply additions since 1986, national rents barely fell and are now rising to new all-time highs nationally (see next section), 2) higher interest costs and uncertainty (including longer delays - see chart below) have led to a collapse in permits for new projects, 3) supply additions are not delivered equally across the US, but concentrated in highest demand markets most likely to absorb the supply over time. All in, a persistent shortage of housing looks set to intensify over the next few years.

​Read the report (7 mins)

Rents Rise as Demand Balances Supply Growth The latest Yardi Matrix Multifamily National Report for May is described as a "mixed bag" by its authors. Strong demand from a healthy economy offsets large supply additions. Average asking rent rose for the fourth month and hit an all-time high of $1,733, up .6% y-o-y.

​Read the report (11 mins)

How to Build an AI Data Center A neat look at the physical realities that enable data growth. Data center construction is increasing rapidly due to massive demand for capacity. Data centers require large amounts of power and need help finding available electricity. These challenges will only intensify as the rise of AI will lead to even larger and more power-intensive data centers.

​Read the article (16 mins)

And a Farewell Photo...