“The second button literally makes or breaks the shirt. Look at it, its too high, its in no-mans-land. You look like you live with your mother!"  
-Jerry Seinfeld to George Costanza  

Fans of "Seinfeld" will recognize the above lines from the first and final episodes of the iconic show. And I have to tell you, Jerry Seinfeld was absolutely correct; the second button really does make or break a shirt. For something so small, it can really make the difference between a favorite shirt and one that remains in the back of the closet. 

For instance, I have a white shirt that I just don't wear very often. Since it is my only casual, cotton, white, button-down shirt, I end up wanting to use it a lot. Then I put it on (again) and realize (again) that it just doesn't feel right. So, back in the closet it goes. 

What's wrong with it? Yep, the second button! If I button it I look like someone from the Geek Squad. If I don't button it, it looks like I never left the 70's and 80's when the way unbuttoned shirt was "in" for men. So, the white shirt only comes out a couple of times a year when I am in some type of dire need for a casual white shirt.  

Isn't is amazing how such a small thing can have such a big effect? 

The same thing is true in your career isn’t it? 

Throughout my career in residential property management, I’ve noticed that when most people missed receiving their secret shop bonuses it was normally because they forgot to follow-up. Think about it…a one minute phone call, or the two minutes it takes to send a follow-up email, stood between them and a bonus or a great "shout-out!" from their manager. It's the little things, right?

Have you noticed that the one day you forget to bring your name tag is the day the regional manager visits your community? Or the one time you forgot to walk the tour path before taking a client out, is the day “Harold the Great Dane” leaves his mark on the sidewalk. It's the little things, right?

I can remember being careless writing the details of a service request, only to have both the resident and the technician mad at me because I didn’t take care of the little things. 

What are the little things that you need to be aware of?

- Maybe you need to focus on how you set an appointment on the phone

- Perhaps it’s building your confidence so that you can ask for the sale. 

- Maybe it’s just asking, “Do you have any pets in your apartment?”

- How about checking to see if your manager is busy before you barge in and want to talk about your weekend?

- Maybe you need to set aside 10 minutes each day to take a look at your guest cards and follow up with former clients. 

- What about wearing a tie to work? Or even just ironing your shirt? 

Whatever it is, think about the little things, like the second button on a dress shirt. It may seem like a small deal, but it makes a huge difference. 

Believe me, I know!