Dear All,
Through our lens, what we ‘know’ and what we ‘want’ to know can result in differing attitudes and outcomes.
The need for a lens may be due to how we prefer to source information, personal safety, past education, trauma, status, heritage, privilege, lack of resources, social headlines, generational teachings, and more.
Consider a discussion with two or more… that difference in attitudes can show up as resistance, friction; loud, personal, and at times confronting. Attitudes may determine what we acknowledge, and when that reality collides with entrenched views, the reactions can be uncomfortable and potentially hurtful.
In this article, I write about ‘no lens’ with the help of the phrase ‘imagine others complexly.’ I also keep the context to residential housing and home loans.
Imagine others complexly
The phrase was coined by American author John Green. I first heard these words spoken by Jonathan Antoine, an English classically trained tenor, at the end of his performance of Can You Feel The Love Tonight (The Lion King).
‘I would really like for people to think about — to ponder — is the idea of imagining others complexly.
Every single person that you pass in the street, they have as varied, storied and exciting of a life as you do. So, treat them that way. Please.’
I will always be thankful to Jonathan Antoine. Hearing these words, perhaps the timing, coming after the song, the tone of his voice, or the message itself—shifted something within me and gave me a profound sense of awareness (though this is not the place for me to be overly personal).
For me, imagining others complexly is about openness, a discovery and an adventure that leads to new experiences, the unknown, and new knowledge.
For example, imagine the head of a research centre submitting results month after month, year after year, that only confirm what we already know. One would ask: where are the discoveries? Where is the new knowledge?
It is not just about a false pretence of being present (please read the related article: Direct Presence – a self-care mental thought tool). It is also not about learning a “how-to” script or engaging an assistant or AI agent to have these discussions on one’s behalf. Importantly, it is not about leaning into any lens—how could it be, when we are all different?
Imagining others complexly builds understanding within the social fabric; I believe that, on the other side of experience, lies new knowledge, though reaching it requires love, which becomes easier when we engage without a lens.
Systems create outcomes and a disconnect
Systems are ordered, consistent methods used by administrators for a number of reasons, including the ability to increase volume, scale, KPIs, safety, profits, etc.
Both the real estate and home loan systems are delivering exactly what is designed, built, and managed. Below is the priority of a typical system:
1.Practice > 2. Process, and then 3. People
The key driver is point 1: control the outcomes. These systems mean and demand that people follow a process.
Caution: Over time, systems become entrenched in achieving the key driver, point 1, thus creating a disconnect from the feelings, present needs, and wants of people. Also, the outcomes of a system—whether through government intervention, grants, shared equity, low-deposit loans, guarantees, higher-LVR lending, SMSFs, help from mum and dad, no LMI fees, and other incentives—may cause more harm than good. (Refer to related article: The Critical Half of Housing Affordability: The Exit)
Why? Because a system is control, and people are free spirits; tomorrow, their needs and wants may be different. It is not about being different for the sake of it—we are all different.
I have personally heard the despair and distress applicants share with me. The priority of these systems is creating an increasing disconnect. People are not connected to people.
A way to connect
Imagine others complexly. No “how-to” scripts. It starts with care and respect. Below is the priority order:
1.People > 2. Process, and then 3. Practice
The priority is people, their feelings, needs, and wants. The business delivers the services. The outcome from this system means businesses would need to follow a process to achieve practical outcomes.
Key driver: care, respect, and knowledge needed.
We can Do Real Estate Better
Life does not ask for permission or wait for universal consensus or comfort. New ideas are created because the old ones stop being fair or stop being good for all stakeholders.
Our economy includes our social fabric. AffordAssist challenges the “Sameness Equation” — and through social enterprise, we can do real estate better.
Regards
AA
B2B – AffordAssist facilitates and oversees the governance process. Are you a mortgage broker, lender, developer, real estate agent, affordable housing advocate, or housing minister? We welcome your collaboration. Join us in our mission to expand access to home ownership. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
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