Setting Limits That Work
As the president of a successful commercial
real-estate company, opportunities are endless for Gary
Rappaport. Operating out of the Washington, D.C. area,
The Rappaport Companies have experienced great success
over the past 20 years. Why then, does Gary feel the
limitations he has set make him the success he is
today?
The answer is simple: Without the limitations he
puts on his business, he would lose the valuable time he
spends with his family. This family, consisting of wife
Daphne, and daughters Debbie, 23, Stacy, 20, Chloe, 8 and
Jessica, 2, is the most important aspect of his
life.
So how does Gary, who manages 23 shopping centers,
750 tenants, 30 employees and works 12-hour days, find
the time for everything? "It's important to keep a
balance in one's life," says Gary. "You can achieve
satisfaction through running your own business, and you
can achieve satisfaction through the happiness of having
a wife and children."
This balanced life is not an easy task, reports
Gary. For example, Chloe has numerous activities to
attend during the school year and summer vacation. One
way he tackles this difficult problem is through keeping
the lines of communication open with his wife. This
allows him to gain the necessary perspective when setting
his weekly schedule. Because Daphne formerly worked as an
employee of The Rappaport Companies, the process is
easier. She can understand the schedule Gary deals with,
while appreciating the importance of family.
Because of this, the times Gary is not at the
family dinner table come few and far between. Every night
Gary has a date at 7:00. He rushes home from work to
enjoy a dinner with his wife and daughters. He uses this
time to catch up with Chloe and to spend time with the
quickly growing Jessica. Though his older children have
moved out, he pays careful attention to the time he
spends with them, too. Stacy, who attends The University
of Miami, only lives in D.C. during the summer. She and
her father meet once a week for a dinner alone. Debbie,
5th-grade teacher in D.C., comes over to Gary's house
with Stacy every Sunday for brunch or dinner.
Another important aspect is Gary's relationship
with his wife. He and Daphne make a special point to
never lose sight of their relationship as a married
couple. Whether through taking vacations alone, or
spending time talking after the kids have gone to bed,
the couple make a point to appreciate what they
have.
So how does Gary keep his work and life in constant
balance?
When looking at his company, he defines what it
can do, then what he wants to do. The two are not the
same because he knows he could lose out on family
time.
"There's always that opportunity waiting to grow,
but one must not let that get out of control," Rappaport
says. "The maximum amount of work to be taken on must be
set up before letting things get carried away. If that
boundary is acceptable for everyone, then it will work. I
set a maximum and a minimum in both my business and
personal lives. This is how I know where I'm gong to
go... with balance."
Interview
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August 2000 NFC
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Issue Highlight -
Homeward Bound
