FROM FIELD TO
BOARDROOM
THE DL
ISSUE 18 QUARTER 1 2017
Brad Anderson | Going The Distance By Matthew Krause , Krause Interior Architecture Inc .
Going the distance and making the big plays as a wide receiver is key .
You must give it your all and push yourself to the limit in every play to make the difference . The same can be said about working in commercial real estate . If you cannot show up and go the distance , you ’ ll have a hard time succeeding – making that big play . When given the topic of how sports relates to business , there are a small few that can discuss the parallels in the way Brad Anderson can . A native to Arizona , Brad is extremely passionate about the community and what he does . Not only is he a successful 30-year veteran in the industry , he is also a former professional football player for the Chicago Bears when they won Super Bowl XX .
Matthew Krause ( MK ): Thank you for sitting with me ! Now I have to ask , when did you start playing football and how did you start getting involved ?
Brad Anderson ( BA ): I was pretty active as a young kid , anything involving sports I did . Most of my peers participated in every sport they could – whatever the season - whether baseball , basketball , football , track , I participated in them all . I was fortunate enough to experience some success in most sports . It wasn ’ t until college that I had to really focus on one sport - football . But technically speaking I didn ’ t start playing tackle football until 8th grade , played all the way through high school , college and then professionally .
( MK ): What college did you attend and what was your experience like ?
( BA ): University of Arizona in Tucson . My college experience was awesome . I had the good fortune to have many mentors at that time who encouraged me to stay focused on not only excelling in football but also obtaining a degree .
( MK ): Is that when you got into Commercial Real Estate ?
( BA ): No … I received my degree in Business Administration focus with an Accounting major . I thought I was going to get into public accounting , or some type of investment banking when I was done playing football . Ha-ha , of course back then I didn ’ t really think I would need to get into business , I just thought I would play football forever , retire and relax . Maybe focus on my golf game or some other leisurely sport . Life didn ’ t quite work out that way . Haha ! ( he smiles )
( MK ): So how did you decide to get yourself in commercial real estate ?
( BA ): Well , I decided after I was released by the Bears that I better start focusing on something other than football ! Public accounting was definitely an option , yet I was real curious about banking . But the more and more I was talking to people , researching many different opportunities , commercial real estate began to interest me . It was just talking with people - like this conversation here - that were willing to talk to me and encourage / inform me of what the opportunities were .
( MK ): That ’ s great that you left yourself open to those possibilities .
( BA ): Well , maybe a little luck was involved too . I wasn ’ t sure what I wanted to do post football . But I needed to figure it out ! Might include widening the field in order to allow soccer games during footballs offseason .
( MK ): Where there any principles or skills through football or any other sports that have benefited you ?
( BA ): A lot of parallels . I think probably the biggest one is discipline . Discipline to learn , work hard , and practice your trade . Those three areas were a difference maker for me .
( MK ): Besides discipline , what other parallels do you see with business and sports ?
( BA ): I am a big believer in a team . Athletically I was fortunate enough to be on some pretty good teams . The players on those teams made me better at what I did . In a similar way , I see that same parallel here at CBRE . Probably the big reason why I haven ’ t ever left is that we have some really talented brokers at this company . They make me better . I have always been able to
learn , grow , and benefit from those around me .
( MK ): Are you competitive in nature ?
Brad Anderson CBRE
( BA ): Unfortunately , or fortunately , yes . ( he smiles ) At CBRE , you better bring your A-game and have a very strong backbone ! Our culture is extremely competitive . Although I don ’ t believe this ( competitive ) environment would work for a lot of people , it is one of the main reasons I ’ m here . The environment makes me want to show up every day and compete .
( MK ): How do you build that strong competitive team and a loyal one ?
( BA ): That ’ s a hard question to have a clear answer . For me personally what I look for more than anything is character and commitment .
You can learn skill sets , but certain things like discipline , loyalty , or business ethics-you can ’ t teach these things . That is what will make a successful person and a successful team .
( MK ): When it comes to your team and you need that long Hail Mary touchdown , what makes that person you would go to who they are ?
( BA ): I am part of a very diversified team . All of my teammates are hard workers , and care about what they are doing . Many of the skills I naiopaz . org / dl
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