I received my MAI designation today. It was a great feeling. I should have completed the requirements back in the late 1980's when I had more hair. A special thanks to Gary DeWeese, MAI, CRE and his comprehensive exam prep webinar and materials.
So what took me so long to get my eduMAIcation? Inertia I guess. I could say my path was interrupted by many years of working very hard in my appraisal career, but that's lame. I just didn't place value on formal education after college. However, over the years I certainly have changed my viewpoint.
When I think of higher education, I recall Steve Job's 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. The following are excellent excerpts worth repeating from his speech: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."
Mr. Job's closing of "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish" is very similar to the fictitious Dos Equis character - The Most Interesting Man in the World who elicits coolness by saying "Stay Thirsty My Friends."
When I completed my training to 1st degree (shodan) black belt in Shuri-Ryu karate, I thought I reached the highest level of knowledge of my particular Okinawan martial art. However, I humbly later realized that it was just the beginning as shodan translates to "master of the basics."
I believe that's how a MAI designation should be viewed, a master of the basics. I've talked to other MAIs who obtained additional letters after their names such as CCIM, CRE, SIOR, etc. They have the hunger for additional education, whether it's appraisal related or other topics that interest them. Be proud of your MAI but seek out additional education. The Appraisal Institute certainly provides a more than ample formal curriculum.
Informal sources of education may be helpful to augment the formal channels, including entrepreneurial books, professional mentors and soliciting "best practices" for your appraisal firm with people outside of the appraisal industry. Consider becoming an expert professional public speaker.
I have a hunger for technology, systems and their integration to substantively improve the customer experience with the quality, efficiency and delivery of my appraisal product. However, your goal might be very different. But find a goal that gets you up in the morning, don't settle for professional autopilot.
If you have been in your career a long time, myself included, you start to feel like you know everything. You don't. There is always ways to improve your appraisal career. Incremental and continued improvement should be your education mantra. At first, going back to basics seems like a setback. However, I believe those who are the most humble and open to new ideas have a competitive advantage, especially in light of some negative trends in our industry.
So being proud of my new shiny designation, I'd like to start by giving back through AI's program for designated members to serve as advisers for candidates for designation. Stay Thirsty My Friends!
