A Little Roto Tilling

As I sit here wondering what, in my world, is worthy of a column, my mind keeps wandering. Artificial intelligence. Advanced manufacturing. The seemingly remarkable strength of the industrial real estate market. Training the next generation of commercial real estate professionals. The economy. Interest rates. Foreign wars. Supply chains. It is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
 
Normally, I would pick one subject, dig into it, and share my thoughts. This week, however, I have decided to do something different. Instead of grabbing a shovel and digging one deep hole, I am reaching for the roto tiller. I am going to stir up several patches of soil and see what grows.
 
Artificial intelligence is no longer something on the horizon. It has arrived. Every week another platform promises to make us more productive, more informed, and more efficient. I have embraced it as a tool, not a replacement. It helps me organize thoughts, summarize information, and even challenge my own assumptions. What it cannot do is replace experience, judgment, relationships, or trust. Those qualities are still earned the old fashioned way.
 
Speaking of change, manufacturing continues to surprise me. For years we heard about factories leaving the country. Today I see companies investing in automation, robotics, and advanced production techniques. Many manufacturers are expanding because they want greater control over their supply chains and want production closer to their customers. That trend has created opportunities throughout Southern California’s industrial market.
 
The industrial real estate market has also shown remarkable resilience. While headlines often focus on office vacancies or uncertainty in other property types, industrial space continues to benefit from strong underlying demand. Yes, tenants are becoming more selective. Yes, some markets are seeing more available space than they did a year ago. Even so, well located industrial buildings continue to attract attention from both users and investors.
 
One topic that has become increasingly important to me is training. After more than four decades in commercial real estate, I have learned that experience is valuable only if you are willing to pass it along. Watching younger professionals develop confidence and competence may be one of the most rewarding parts of this business. Knowledge does little good if it stays locked inside one person’s notebook.
 
Then there is the economy. Depending on which report you read or which television channel you watch, everything is either wonderful or headed for disaster. Reality usually lives somewhere in the middle. Business owners are still making decisions. Companies are still expanding, consolidating, buying, selling, and leasing. They simply want more information before making those decisions. Uncertainty has not stopped activity. It has simply lengthened the decision making process.
 
Finally, there is the rest of the world. International conflicts, changing trade policies, and political uncertainty remind us that commercial real estate does not operate in a vacuum. Decisions made thousands of miles away often find their way into conversations around conference tables here at home. Markets dislike uncertainty, but they also have an incredible ability to adapt.
 
Perhaps that is the common thread running through all these seemingly unrelated topics. Adaptation. Whether it is technology, manufacturing, commercial real estate, or our personal careers, those who continue learning and adjusting are usually the ones who thrive.
 
Sometimes it is healthy to put away the shovel and pick up the roto tiller. You may not dig as deeply, but you uncover a lot of interesting ground.
 
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104. His website is allencbuchanan.blogspot.com.