Jumping In With Both Feet — RYAN KNOWLES BEST

Blogging used to be something that, in my mind, only Soccer Moms with too much free time on their hands did. That was until I realized that many successful business people and thought leaders, including a few whom I highly respect – Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Fredrik Eklund and more, – also blog. I started to think it could be a fun way to share a little bit about my life, who I am, and what I care about, with you.

I hope that within my words there is something that will engage, inspire, enlighten or uplift you. If I can make you laugh or make you think, then I’ve done enough. And I hope that that will be enough to keep you around and keep you reading.

Real Talk

We have just entered the sixth month of the year, a staggering thought considering that New Year’s Eve feels like it was just YESTERDAY. If you’re feeling like the year is running away from you, don’t fret (yet)! In my experience, the first part of the year tends to speed by… until about June, when days are longer and things slow down for the summer. Now is a great time to revisit goals for the year, make adjustments where necessary, and recalibrate to make sure you’re on track to hit the targets you set.

In real estate, we have historically had our own version of the summer slowdown, as families tend to go on vacation, parents change jobs, kids enter or change schools, all of which puts buying or selling a home a bit on the back burner. In recent years, however, the summer season has been quite busy with lots of high end rentals and even sales. Buyers these days have different needs and some of the old customs are being bent, modified or completely thrown out the window. Some of you might remember the $7-million-dollar penthouse in Ocean Club that I sold a couple years ago. Well guess what, that record breaking sale took place in “slow” August. :)

The Bahamas’ luxury market is driven primarily by foreign buyers, mainly from Canada, Europe/UK and the US. Our tax-friendliness, proximity to the US, stable government, and high standard of living make us an attractive island destination. Instability in certain parts of Europe, volatility in the stock market, high tax regimes, and other factors are causing global buyers to look at more friendly environments where they can invest their hard-earned wealth. Happily, The Bahamas is still very high on their list.

Having said that, we are still in what is called a “buyer’s” market, which means that there is far more supply (number of properties actively listed for sale) than there is demand (number of buyers ready to purchase those properties) at the moment. If you are a seller who wants or needs to sell a property this year, you will live or die by the price sword. Simply creating a price out of thin air and expecting a happy-go-lucky buyer to pay it will not work. Buyers are smarter than ever (due to easy access to information), have more choices than ever (due to globalization), and they will only purchase if they feel they are getting good value for money. As Daniel Pink reveals in his breakthrough book “To Sell is Human” – which I read this month (you should too!) – we are no longer in an age of “caveat emptor” (buyer beware), it is now “caveat venditor” (seller beware).

Where in the World

Those who know me know that traveling is one of my big passions. I never feel freer or fuller than when I travel, and many times the best part of the trip is the return flight home, when I have a million thoughts racing through my mind about how I can start a foundation, transform my business or generally improve the world. Simply put, travel inspires. If this blog does nothing else, hopefully it inspires you to travel more, as that action in and of itself will bring out the best in you, in my humble opinion.

Funnily enough, I’m actually writing these very words on a return flight home from Europe, where I spent a few days on business in Paris and London. Paris has to be the most magical city in the world. The history, the romance, the mystique…. I mean really!! IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER. I was fortunate enough to stay in a mansion house and get a taste of authentic Parisian living – at the highest level – for 3 days. Say what you will about the French but they know how to live well perhaps better than any other nation on earth. They even have a term for it: l’art de vivre.

London is also a great city. Such history and grandeur, order and opulence, fantastic architecture which is becoming more diverse every year, and as wide an array of food choices as any major city. One of the best meals I’ve ever had was at the Nobu in Mayfair and to this day I can still remember the succulent black cod miso melting in my mouth. It was then that I understood the term MOUTHGASM.

Where are you off to next? Any big travel plans? What’s your favorite destination? I’d love to know!

Prêt á Manger

This is the section where I can talk about food: how much I love it, which restaurants are my faves, and how bad I am at cooking (which prompts me to eat out far too often).

Earlier in the year, I got to try out my friend Theo’s new restaurant in New York City, appropriately called Theo’s :). Located in the Upper East Side on the corner of 62nd Street and 3rd Ave, it’s a contemporary Greek spot with a diverse menu, oyster bar, and a relaxed vibe with just the right mix of sophistication thrown in. Definitely check it out if you are in the city and if Theo is there,
tell him I sent you!

Closer to home, I have officially rekindled my relationship with Mahogany House, after having cheated for a while with its sibling Shima which opened next door to lots of fanfare last year. While I still like Shima, Mahogany is an all-around better choice. About 10 of my friends and I recently had a “just because” dinner at Mahogany House and it was FAB. A great dinner with friends is one of the nicest experiences we can have. Mouthgasm alert: the shellfish risotto ;)

So Lit(erature)

I try to read two books a month, which doesn’t always happen. Ok, it never happens. But at least I try! And you know what, setting this high goal propels me to read at least one book a month. It’s like shooting for the stars and landing on the clouds. Not a bad place to land at all, right?

The simple act of reading a book changed my life a few years ago, when I read “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne. I had always believed in myself growing up, but after reading the book and understanding the Law of Attraction, I was able to use my beliefs to transform my actions, in a way that I didn’t know how to beforehand. The results were stunning and immediate and my life has never been the same since. The key to the Law of Attraction is that it’s not a one-time thing, you have to consistently use it to keep yourself moving in the direction of your dreams. This is the not-so-easy part, but it’s also the part that will ensure success at the end of the day. So if you believe in the Law of Attraction let’s do it together, ok?!

Book Picks of the Month

Great read if you are in the sales business. Great read even if you’re not.

The book talks about the importance of selling in our daily lives, how we’re all in sales whether we think we are or think we aren’t, and how we can get better at it using simple techniques, some of which come naturally to us.

Touching novel about a family and the changes they go through across a couple decades. Gripping, raw, relatable, and heartbreaking. It’s a big one (over 600 pages) but it’s worth the commitment.