WELCOME NOTE
Catching Up with David!
Hi everyone, David here, the co-founder of JaGaApp. 🙂
It was quite a while since I’ve written something for you guys. My editor was insisting encouraging me to write the opening newsletter for 2023, so here we are.
To me, new years are symbolic. It represents new beginnings, new challenges, and new approaches to how we view our career, relationships and life!
In the context of our neighbourhoods though, 2023 was welcomed by the annual general meetings (AGMs) that were concluded in the final weeks of 2022.
Many of our clients held their AGMs recently, and some of you may have recently been nominated or elected to be your neighbourhood’s new committee.
If this was you, congratulations!
Thinking back, it’s been two years since I joined my neighbourhood committee – something that did not cross my mind as something I’d do, throughout my ten-year tenure (the word play was intended) as a resident in the neighbourhood.
As someone who works closely in the property management industry, I often encounter residents who are unhappy with the way their communities are being run, but are hesitant to get involved as decision-makers themselves.
I think most of the concerns are valid, but I’ll be detailing some common objections I’ve heard, and my thoughts on how to overcome them.
Read on to find out!
CORNER TALK 🗣️
4 Common Objections
We often hear that committee work can be time-consuming.
I’m not denying it, but I’ve also found that when you’re working with like-minded neighbours towards a common goal, you can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time.
Having systems/models in place also shortens our decision-making process, and you’ll realise that you do not actually need to spend a lot of time doing committee work. As James Clear says in Atomic Habits: “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Remember, it’s all about managing your time effectively. There’s always room for meaningful work.
I think being Asian also means we generally are more avoidant towards conflicts and confrontations.
However, it’s important to remember that confrontations may not be a bad thing! This is especially so when everyone is aligned towards wanting to make the neighbourhood a better place for all.
Facing and addressing conflicts head-on can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation for different perspectives, and ultimately, to a stronger and more cohesive community.
As a fellow committee of mine said: “Working together towards a shared goal is often the best way to resolve differences and find common ground.”
This is a common concern, but the truth is that you’ll learn a lot just by getting involved in the committee.
It’s actually as simple as that! While I may be serving clients in the property management industry, I had limited knowledge on it until I joined my committee too.
I say this to the JaGaCrew a lot too so I’ll say it here, one way to reframe these thoughts was to think of the involvement as a form of learning experience.
Do not learn then contribute, contribute while you learn!
If you’re willing but unsure where to start, consider becoming a subcommittee and be involved in a project or two, for a start.
And hey, it’s totally okay if you are! We often get caught up in our daily routines and not think about getting involved in our community.
That said, if you are a resident of a neighbourhood, I encourage you to consider the positive impact you could have for being a committee member.
You’ll have a say in how your community is run, build relationships with your neighbours, and make a difference in your community. Isn’t that pretty awesome?
It’s all about the “Care” spirit – we have to “Jaga” ourselves and each other all the time. When we don’t care about global warming, equal rights, or our own homes, we’re as good as dead.
Ending Note
I hope my little sharing has given you some perspective on being a committee member. Whether you’re too busy, lack the knowledge or experience, or are just not that interested, there’s always a way to make it work.
Remember, a little bit of effort can go a long way in making your community a better place for everyone.
So, let’s make 2023 the year of getting involved! Who knows, you might even have a blast working with your neighbours. And, don’t forget to use JaGaApp as your tool to stay connected with your community, to get real-time updates, and to make it easy for you to make a difference.
Lastly, for those celebrating, Happy Lunar New Year!
(P/S: My team came up with a pretty cute “fortune telling” mandarin orange for the upcoming Lunar New Year. For good fortune, check it out HERE!)
And before you go, write in to us below and tell us about your experience as a committee member!
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