About High Road Papers

You’ve stumbled across a brand new site. Congratulations?

So, what is the High Road Papers about?

That is a fair question. I don’t really know. Yet!

Here’s the deal… If you know me, then you probably know I spent almost seven years of my life working at Zillow (the big giant real estate website–which you’re likely well aware of). My role there was “Director of Industry Outreach,” which not surprisingly consisted of reaching out to the real estate industry.

A large part of that job was responding to brand mentions in the mainstream and social media space, especially mentions from Zillow’s primary customers–real estate brokers and agents.

If you’re in the real estate world, you’re also likely well aware that some in the industry don’t care for Zillow. A very vocal minority professes what can only be described as hate for all things Zillow.

I got to deal with those people.

I’m talking about blood vessels bulging, frothing at the mouth, anger (and a healthy dose of misunderstanding) for anything and everything Zillow did, said, or imagined.

Like getting an email with…

I can find where your pretty daughter lives and take out my frustrations on her.

Or public Tweets and posts like…

Why don’t you do us all a favor and have another heart attack. Maybe the next time the results will be different.

I have been called a “shill,” a “sellout,” and a “loser” (and a “looser” too) more times than I can count.

Pretty ridiculous stuff, to be honest. It was… challenging to deal with.

Enter the high road

I pretty quickly realized that I needed to learn how to deal with the vitriol being spewed before I hurled myself (or someone else) out of the 31st-floor window of the Zillow offices. I mean, one can only get virtually whacked across the head so often before they lose their shit.

It took a while, but once I realized that “taking the high road” was the most effective way to deal with the angry horde, my work life became easier and more enjoyable. My cardiologist also appreciated the positive effects on my blood pressure.

It turned out that taking the high road works well in life, too.

Stay with me…

I love to write. I’ve threatened many times to write a book about the trials and tribulations faced while managing Zillow’s brand and reputation. Reputation management is important for any business, especially in today’s world with a 24-hour news cycle—a world where anyone with a keyboard and Wi-Fi can be a publisher.

I also love to help people, and I think the high road “philosophy” (for lack of a better term) can help people in business and their lives.

So here we are, with a platform to do just that.

There will be my writing, sharing of other’s writing, and maybe some excerpts from the upcoming book. I have no idea if there will be an audience for this content (though I think there should be), and honestly, I don’t really care. Non-writers may not understand it, but I need a place to get this stuff out of my head and onto “paper.”

So, here we are. Welcome to the High Road Papers. Let’s see what we can do with this thing.

JT

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