So now, as President of Partners Trust, I carry that same burning desire to win that can sometimes warp my perception. We’ve been in business for approximately seven months and I’m already frustrated that we are not on an equal footing with the companies that have been in business for years and years. And although I realize the task is impossible at such a tender point, part of me is crazy enough to think we can do what has taken others years of either organic growth or acquisition of smaller companies to amass their market share.

I analyze my competitors and look to find each and every edge I can conceive to not only level the playing field but to outperform them with every step.

With so many details, ideas and systems that we are implementing all at once, I want it all to come together perfectly, without a flaw.  (Candidly, it can be quite tiring.) I realize constantly, that while most of the day goes well and we are growing in leaps and bounds, there are elements – such as a functionality of our listing syndication (which as I write this, is not delivering as promised) – that hit snags when you least expect it.

These specific sorts of details work my nerves the most because we are relying on certain outside vendors to execute the plans that we promote to our clients. And when even a short-term failure occurs, I look at it as undermining our effectiveness as well as our integrity to uphold all the services we say we deliver to our clients.  Services, that when working, set us apart with advantages that our competitors do not offer.

I realize that the only way we can compete effectively is to use our nimble position and our flexibility to offer a package of services and follow-up that larger companies are simply to big to coordinate. And where a competitor can boast 2,550 agents up and down the California Coast, we must better define that with each of our 23 associates, we are better positioned to attend to the specific needs of each individual we have the opportunity to serve.

As I continue forward with this company, I realize that I must look to gain some altitude or be crushed under the self-imposed weight of my urgency to be the best option for both agents in the business and our clients. And in those rare and quiet moments of reflection, I know that we are poised for excellence based on our philosophical commitment to raise the awareness and professionalism of our business. As if just beating the big boys wasn’t enough, we’re charged to do it from a higher consciousness.

But that’s another segment in the series to come. We invite you to follow the course we are charting and would appreciate your feedback as we evolve.

“Life in the Startup Lane” is a series of posts chronicling our progression as a company. Please click here for additional segments.

I love it.

And for those of us who love being cover band singers minus the cover band, there are two different ways you can get your sing on.  One is the more traditional form of karaoke where you and some friends rent out a booth and take turns crooning to each other.  The other, which I consider to be the only real way to do it, is dive bar karaoke.

Take a run-down bar with two beers on tap (if you’re lucky), sticky carpet saturated in spilt beer, dingy lighting (not on purpose, but because half the bulbs have burnt out), and, please, cash only.  Add a big screen TV and a couple monitors.  Throw in a makeshift stage with hand-me-down microphones.  And, finally, a computer chocked full of your favorites from “867-5309 (Jenny)” to “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” and you’ve got yourself a prime spot for amateurs getting their moment in the spotlight, seven days a week, from nine-to-close.

Bring your A-game to these great spots:

#5 -Backstage Bar and Grill (Culver City) – It’s cramped, loud, and has an extensive song book.  So, pretty much exactly what you’re looking for in a karaoke dive bar.  It usually has a diverse and energetic crowd, which makes for a nice variety in song choices.

#4* – Caffe Brass Monkey (Koreatown) – A Los Angeles staple.  This hotspot hosts karaoke every single night of the week and boasts one of the best songbooks I’ve ever seen.  Always a great crowd – no matter what the night – eager and willing to sing along with you and provide ego-boosting applause after your rollicking rendition of “Living on a Prayer.” (Also, prepare to hear crickets if you get into the extended version of “Whole Lotta Love.”) Get there early and put your name in as soon as you sit down otherwise you might be waiting quite a while to sing.  Great spot for parties as they take reservations for tables (which usually gets preferential treatment by the karaoke DJ).

#3 – Sports Harbour – (Marina Del Rey) – There will always be a special place in my heart for this wannabe sports bar, as it was the first place where I was introduced to karaoke here in Los Angeles.  No stage.  No dancing room.  And no real area at all that one would expect would be used for karaoke at all – you’re forced to stand in the wide walkway between the front area and the back room that houses the pool tables and arcade basketball.  And, it’s only available on Tuesday nights.  But, perhaps that’s what makes it such a great spot to visit, assuming you can handle making it into work the following morning.  A few years ago, this would’ve been my #1 pick without a doubt, but it has fallen off lately.  Even still, the DJ is one of the friendliest around and always remembers a face (sometimes even your name).  If you’re with a few friends and you’re looking to sing a bunch of songs, this is still the place to go.  It’s hit-or-miss with the crowd, but on a good night, there are some interesting characters who will surprise you with their vocal prowess.  Free drinks have been known to reward the best singers of the night.

#2 - The Gaslite (Santa Monica) – This place takes it up a notch and combines karaoke with a dance party.  Throw in a steady influx of college students from UCLA and you’ve got yourself a volatile cocktail of fun.  Gaslite also has a true stage, putting you high above the crowd who – provided you pick the right song – will be shaking and grooving right in front of you as you belt out the tunes making you truly feel like you’re THE show in town.  Singing “Sweet Caroline” will guarantee you high fives and maybe even a new best friend (for the evening).

And, now: the NUMBER ONE karaoke dive bar on the Westside:

Boardwalk 11 – (Palms/Mar Vista) – This place has it all.  True, it’s not quite dingy enough to be a true dive bar, but don’t let that stop you.  With it’s lounge vibe, expert DJing skills by Justin (who keeps the songs moving without much buffer in between), a prompt waitstaff who will surprise you with their vocal chops, and a giant stage replete with a stool for those “More Than Words” moments and two mic stands for those “Dude Looks Like a Lady” performances, Boardwalk 11 has it all.  It’s also the biggest venue on the list and takes some courage – liquid or otherwise – to get up there, but the experience is totally worth it.  If you’re looking to be a rockstar for an evening, this is where you want to go.

Dishonorable Mention – Dimple’s (Burbank) – I know that this place is all the way over in Burbank, but people everywhere talk about Dimple’s when someone mentions karaoke.  Don’t listen to them.  Trust me, it’s not worth it.  Overpriced, impersonal, ridiculous dress code (someone tell the owners it’s not a club, it’s a karaoke joint), and a horrible floorplan, Dimple’s just doesn’t make the cut.

I’m always game for trying out a new karaoke venue, so if you have a solid recommendation, please let me know.  Until then, see you at the Boardwalk.

*Gets knocked down a spot for being all the way over in Koreatown and having terrible parking.

Each and every one of our Associates holds themselves up to the highest standards, and agrees to provide the best results possible.

The Trust Agreement that we have composed reinforces these values. In signing this agreement, the Associate declares their commitment for the highest quality care they can give for their client:

“Each member of Partners Trust is considered part of a team that understands Trust is hard earned and easily lost. We recognize that earning the trust of our clients comes from honoring each and every commitment we make on our client’s behalf. We acknowledge and accept this responsibility, confident that the culmination of these efforts will produce excellent results for our clients.”

If you’re curious about our Trust Agreement, I encourage you to stop by our office and have a look around. We’ll be happy to introduce you to the team and show you how we do things here at Partners Trust.

They call it Dogtown. The birthplace of skateboarding. Located on the beachfront just south of Santa Monica, Venice has been through quite the transformation in the past decade, rising up to become an eclectic neighborhood that is the most visited destination in Los Angeles with over 16 million tourists a year. For locals and visitors alike, Venice has something for everyone.

Ocean Front Walk is a stretch of pavement along the three-mile length of Venice Beach, lined with funky shops, cafes and vendor booths. Colorful street performers and artists entertain visitors who walk, run, bike ride, skateboard, Rollerblade and even roller skate by. (Yes, people actually still roller skate, and you can, too!) If you’re in town on vacation and looking to pick up some unique trinkets for friends and family back home, this is where you’ll find them – from hand-drawn caricatures to local jewelry.

For those interested in staying in shape (or at least watching people get fit), there is the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym – which attracts hard-body exhibitionists working out for all to see – as well as a gymnastics playground, handball courts, paddle tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, and a skate-dancing plaza. There are also a number of different bikes available for rent (my favorite spot is Venice Bikes and Skates on Washington Blvd.) so you can cruise the miles of paved, beachfront paths.

Once you’ve gotten all the sun and sand you can handle on Venice Boardwalk, venture down Abbot Kinney Boulevard to check out its great shops and restaurants. Stop into Primitivo for wine and tapas, Joe’s Restaurant for a romantic dinner, Lilly’s French Cafe and Bar for their Happy Hour gourmet snacks, or Wabi Sabi for sake and the freshest sushi. You can spend an entire afternoon exploring different stores, bookshops, eateries, salons, bars and coffee shops. If it feels like you’re actually walking through someone’s neighborhood passing by people who live there, it’s because you are! The diverse mix of people is truly a delight to experience.

Another way to get look at all of what Venice has to offer, you might be interested in the Venice Beach Walking Tours, which is the brainchild of Jeffrey Solomon, a well known insider who has called Venice home for more than 40 years – so you know that you’ll be getting the “not-found-in-a-book” information about the area’s history. Each Venice Beach Walking Tour includes a tasty lunch at the famous Danny’s Venice Beach Bistro and Bar, known for their “Plunge” Dip sandwich. For more information on the Venice Beach Walking Tours, email info@venicebeachwalkingtours.com.

So, whether you’re in California for the first time and looking to check out the beach or you’ve been to Los Angeles a number of times but want to try something different, Venice has much to offer no matter what your looking for.

Image via Wikipedia

For starters, a site is always more helpful when it’s community-oriented. And I mean genuine community; as in, the professionals who are writing articles and shooting videos, actually live or work in the area (as opposed to some national chain that’s attempting to write locally).

Remember “location, location, location?”  Now, it’s “community, community, community!”

This is even more true for Los Angeles, which is really an insider’s town. With LA, you have to know about the best neighborhoods and businesses and schools — it isn’t always readily apparent.  In more condensed, vertical, pedestrian-oriented cities (New York, San Francisco, etc.) it’s easier to see what’s-what, but in LA, it helps to have many good resources so that you can stay in the loop!

Additionally, a site has to have “stats.”  Pie charts, graphs, spreadsheets — in whatever form they come, statistics have to be a part of a good real estate website. If for no other reason than to monitor their investment (their current home), people need to check-in from time-to-time with what the current average days on market are, what the average price per square foot is, and the overall size of the current inventory of available homes in their own area.

Speaking of statistics, perhaps the easiest way to talk about the how-and-why of creating great online tools for our neighbors, is to reveal some stats; so, consider this: after the online fake-junk registrations are filtered out (for example, when ‘Mickey Mouse’ registers for a weekly neighborhood housing statistics newsletter), then 75% of all remaining registrations and inquiries to a real estate website are from people who will buy a home in the next 22 months.

At Partners Trust, we understand this to the depth of our bones: people are online now. They are researching. And they need assistance.

We take this so seriously, that a significant portion of our business model is constructed specifically to provide free content and tools to our local buyers and sellers in order to help them make good decisions, sound investments, and have the smoothest transactions possible.

Is a there a particular tool that our site does not yet offer? Is there a community resource that you always thought would be great, but doesn’t yet exist?  Let us know in the comments section below — maybe we’ll add it to our repertoire of growing services!