"Move fast and break things" (aka. MFABT for the remainder of this post) was originally coined by Mark Zuckerberg for his internal Facebook team regarding design and management. But it has since become a catchphrase for how many start-ups and entrepreneurs think about "disruptive" technology. More is better. Dominate at all costs. Worry about lines and red tape and protocol later. We'll address later what got broken and its consequences on communities and people's lives.
In our field, Airbnb MFABT. And plenty of other participants are following in line.
But as many of us are starting to realize, MFABT isn't always a sustainable plan when it comes to actual neighborhoods where we live and conduct business. Using a platform that MFABTs comes with strings attached, especially when the MFABT'er doesn't have your best interest in mind (my concerns video here).
The longer we go not combatting the effects of MFABT, the greater we increase our risk.
So in trying to think how we -- the professional side of the industry -- can combat the barrage of negative repercussions, and do so on an individual level, I think a good mantra is to go completely opposite...
Instead, can we move slowly and fix things?
How to Move Slowly and Fix Things (aka. MSAFT?)
1. Competitors: any owner or manager in town looking to do things the right way should be embraced, collaborated with, and supported. Anyone MFABT should be encouraged (first) about doing things the right way (positive encouragement can go a long way). And if it's obviously not working the MFABTs should be ostracized. Use strength in numbers to MSAFT together. THIS is the art of social change: people seeing you perform a pro-social behavior pressures others to adopt.
2. Guests: get as close or as "proximate" to your guests as possible, both with pre-arrival communication (email/phone/text/talking head video) and on-the-ground once they arrive. It also helps to explain what you ARE NOT. "If you're looking for a fly-by-night crash pad where you can host parties or make noise, this is not the place for you."
3. Homeowners: Homeowners need to understand the cost of MFABT on their property and the power/profitability of MSAFT long-term. Do a survey to truly gauge their understanding of your service BEFORE taking on the property. And send them examples of MSAFT any chance you get to reiterate that slow and steady wins the race.
4. Neighbors: Forge real relationships with neighbors: give them a call: invite them to coffee: bring them avocados or marshmallow peeps: make sure they know you're not MFABT and they can call you ANYTIME. This also comes in very handy when one of your rentals almost burns down (thread).
Some other MSAFT techniques we've featured in previous week's newsletters:
In our field, Airbnb MFABT. And plenty of other participants are following in line.
But as many of us are starting to realize, MFABT isn't always a sustainable plan when it comes to actual neighborhoods where we live and conduct business. Using a platform that MFABTs comes with strings attached, especially when the MFABT'er doesn't have your best interest in mind (my concerns video here).
The longer we go not combatting the effects of MFABT, the greater we increase our risk.
So in trying to think how we -- the professional side of the industry -- can combat the barrage of negative repercussions, and do so on an individual level, I think a good mantra is to go completely opposite...
Instead, can we move slowly and fix things?
How to Move Slowly and Fix Things (aka. MSAFT?)
1. Competitors: any owner or manager in town looking to do things the right way should be embraced, collaborated with, and supported. Anyone MFABT should be encouraged (first) about doing things the right way (positive encouragement can go a long way). And if it's obviously not working the MFABTs should be ostracized. Use strength in numbers to MSAFT together. THIS is the art of social change: people seeing you perform a pro-social behavior pressures others to adopt.
2. Guests: get as close or as "proximate" to your guests as possible, both with pre-arrival communication (email/phone/text/talking head video) and on-the-ground once they arrive. It also helps to explain what you ARE NOT. "If you're looking for a fly-by-night crash pad where you can host parties or make noise, this is not the place for you."
3. Homeowners: Homeowners need to understand the cost of MFABT on their property and the power/profitability of MSAFT long-term. Do a survey to truly gauge their understanding of your service BEFORE taking on the property. And send them examples of MSAFT any chance you get to reiterate that slow and steady wins the race.
4. Neighbors: Forge real relationships with neighbors: give them a call: invite them to coffee: bring them avocados or marshmallow peeps: make sure they know you're not MFABT and they can call you ANYTIME. This also comes in very handy when one of your rentals almost burns down (thread).
Some other MSAFT techniques we've featured in previous week's newsletters:
- Moments of Engagement: Curate special interactions in which you win over guests, turning them from stranger to friend (and reviewer/repeat/referral booker). Moments of engagement are interactions that connect us: the openings for lines of communication and meaningful relationships (that generate dollaz).
- Be Picky: being picky is about defending your earned position in the marketplace and choosing quality over quantity.
- Small Changes Mount: Small incremental changes in pricing and price structure can yield significant cumulative returns over the course of the year. The better your track record, the more bold you can get with these kinds of changes. You don't need software to do this: you need conviction.
- Build Trust: Trust comes when a vacation rental host is genuinely more interested in ensuring that the visitor has a great vacation than in getting them to book his or her property. The vacation rental business that builds the most trust, wins.
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