{"id":7639,"date":"2009-04-01T09:04:47","date_gmt":"2009-04-01T16:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/?p=7639"},"modified":"2009-04-01T09:04:48","modified_gmt":"2009-04-01T16:04:48","slug":"an-open-letter-of-apology-to-chaz-berman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/7639\/an-open-letter-of-apology-to-chaz-berman\/","title":{"rendered":"An Open Letter of Apology to Chaz Berman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ten years ago, as Director of National Accounts for MyPoints.com<\/a>,\u00a0 I found myself smack dab in the middle of an eerily similar boom-to-bust cycle we’re experiencing in real estate today.<\/p>\n

Back then, MyPoints could do no wrong. \u00a0 Advertisers were lining up to spend money with us. Investors were throwing millions of dollars our way.\u00a0 We were partying like AIG executives – it was pretty sick. \u00a0 Fun, but sick.<\/p>\n

My boss at MyPoints was Chaz Berman<\/a>.\u00a0 During our meteoric rise, Chaz made promises that ultimately he couldn’t keep.\u00a0 Promises of increased pay.\u00a0 Increased responsibility.\u00a0 I was on track for a VP Title and VP Bucks.\u00a0 (Important note:\u00a0 I was already very well compensated and had more responsibility than I could handle.)<\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2009, the roles have reversed.\u00a0 Instead of being the employee, I’m the employer.\u00a0 Instead of taking directions, I’m giving them.\u00a0 Here are the lessons I’ve learned from sitting on both sides of the table.<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0 Most employees are ungrateful whiners.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And looking back on my tenure with MyPoints, I was as whiny and ungrateful as anyone I’ve ever managed here at Top of Mind Networks<\/a>.\u00a0 Instead of focusing on what earned me promotions, money and praise in the past, I started letting some unrealistic promises made in a 180 degree different environment dictate my work ethic and my demeanor.\u00a0 I took my job for granted.\u00a0 I failed to realize that I was truly blessed – making a six-figure income, living in beautiful San Francisco, selling a killer product, etc.\u00a0 As market conditions deteriorated, so did my attitude.\u00a0 And for this, I owe MyPoints.com and especially Chaz Berman my sincere apologies.\u00a0 Chaz, you were in a no-win situation and you were dealt a “Pai-Gow” of a hand.\u00a0 I’m glad to see you still thriving today – you deserve it.<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0 Most employers stir the pot.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing stokes the fire of negativity within a company more than a lack of transparency and communication.\u00a0 In hindsight, I believe MyPoints did a poor job of setting expectations with employees – at every level of the company.\u00a0 Perhaps the fact that we were a publicly traded Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ten years ago, as Director of National Accounts for MyPoints.com,\u00a0 I found myself smack dab in the middle of an eerily similar boom-to-bust cycle we’re experiencing in real estate today. Back then, MyPoints could do no wrong. \u00a0 Advertisers were lining up to spend money with us. Investors were throwing millions of dollars our way.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,29],"tags":[307,306,131],"class_list":{"0":"post-7639","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"hentry","6":"category-general","7":"category-group-therapy","8":"tag-leadership","9":"tag-management","10":"tag-transparency","12":"no-featured-image"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17967,"url":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/17967\/overnight-news-the-best-proxy-signal-for-how-safe-you-are-from-coronavirus-could-be-how-many-pairs-of-sunglasses-you-own\/","url_meta":{"origin":7639,"position":0},"title":"Overnight News: The best proxy signal for how safe you are from Coronavirus could be how many pairs of sunglasses you\u00a0own.","author":"Greg Swann","date":"March 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cSunlight is the best disinfectant.\u201d So said Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. It's a metaphor about transparency, but those sorts of metaphors work \u2013 and stick around in memory \u2013 because they are radically true. And never so much as now is sunlight infection's best enemy: I live near the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Group Therapy"","block_context":{"text":"Group Therapy","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/category\/group-therapy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ya think it's easy?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/BHBNewTopImage-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18349,"url":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/18349\/overnight-news-well-masks-and-the-diagnostic-test-dont-work-but-at-least-the-vaccines-dont-work-either\/","url_meta":{"origin":7639,"position":1},"title":"Overnight News: Well, masks and the diagnostic test don\u2019t work, but at least the vaccines don\u2019t work,\u00a0either.","author":"Greg Swann","date":"July 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Among American religionists, the most vaccine-resistant turn out to be the atheists. I don't like most atheists \u2013 too often Ci pedantic assholes \u2013 but this is an outcome easy to foresee: People habituated to making critical distinctions are not going to be early-adopters on anything. Festina lente all damn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Group Therapy"","block_context":{"text":"Group Therapy","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/category\/group-therapy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ya think it's easy?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/BHBNewTopImage-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18083,"url":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/18083\/overnight-news-there-definitely-were-no-riots-and-thats-why-there-is-job-security-in-security-jobs\/","url_meta":{"origin":7639,"position":2},"title":"Overnight News: There definitely were no riots, and that\u2019s why there is job security in security\u00a0jobs.","author":"Greg Swann","date":"April 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"My nephew is a locksmith, so I know his children's futures are secure: Home security is a growth industry. If you live in a city where the police are afraid to enforce civil order, you need security. If you moved away, but not far enough, you need security. And even\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Group Therapy"","block_context":{"text":"Group Therapy","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/category\/group-therapy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ya think it's easy?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/BHBNewTopImage-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18015,"url":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/18015\/overnight-news-glenn-kelman-redfins-white-male-ceo-again-pridefully-sides-with-the-forces-who-will-just-as-pridefully-exterminate-his-children\/","url_meta":{"origin":7639,"position":3},"title":"Overnight News: Glenn Kelman, Redfin\u2019s white male CEO, again pridefully sides with the forces who will just as pridefully exterminate his\u00a0children.","author":"Greg Swann","date":"March 31, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Continuing his quest to be real estate's leading champion of the forthcoming anti-Ant genocide, Redfin's Glenn Kelman yesterday jumped onto the pandering-to-aggrieved-Asians boxcar bandwagon. As I've pointed out before, racism is a terrible idea for both Asians and Redfin, none of whom have any excuse for their dalliances with bigotry.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Group Therapy"","block_context":{"text":"Group Therapy","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/category\/group-therapy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ya think it's easy?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/BHBNewTopImage-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18253,"url":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/18253\/overnight-news-if-we-cant-make-faking-a-hate-crime-criminal-can-we-at-least-make-it-embarrassing\/","url_meta":{"origin":7639,"position":4},"title":"Overnight News: If we can\u2019t make faking a hate crime criminal, can we at least make it embarrassing?","author":"Greg Swann","date":"June 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThey spray-painted all over our building \u2013 in our own incomprehensible jargon!\u201d The quote is a joke, but, alas, the news story is not. If that's not a fake hate crime, bill me for one edible hat. If instead it turns out to be a fund-raiser, try to cultivate some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Group Therapy"","block_context":{"text":"Group Therapy","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/category\/group-therapy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ya think it's easy?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/BHBNewTopImage-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1086,"url":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/1086\/what%e2%80%99s-wrong-with-ziprealty\/","url_meta":{"origin":7639,"position":5},"title":"What’s Wrong with zipRealty?","author":"Russell Shaw","date":"February 27, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Some readers here may be a bit concerned that some of the writers here on BloodhoundBlog don't find and report enough negative comments about various discount real estate companies. Relax. There is more. I received the following email today from Dave Marron. As you will see, he is a former\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Disintermediation"","block_context":{"text":"Disintermediation","link":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/category\/disintermediation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"ZipRealtylogo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/ZipRealtylogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7639"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7646,"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7639\/revisions\/7646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bloodhoundrealty.com\/BloodhoundBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}