Today’s feature is someone I have long admired, Jay Thompson. Most would describe Jay as a real estate industry icon. His undeniable charm and logical way of approaching the most complicated of situations made him an admired and respected Director of Industry Outreach at Zillow for years. Jay has a knack for telling it like it is, yet remaining respectful throughout. Something many people struggle with. Although Jay has retired, we still find him as an ever-present figure in real estate. He still fiercely defends the company he devoted much of his career to and still drops plenty of logic on the interwebs. When he’s not schooling people on basic human decency online, he is found traveling the world (except during a global pandemic) with the love of his life, Francy. Get to know the guy we think is pretty darn amazing below.
With a new “smart” something coming out almost every day, what products amaze and astound you?
Not so much a product, but Amazon with their ability to deliver just about everything, right to my front door, still freaks me out. I’m trying (again) to teach myself guitar, and yesterday, I needed a pick. So I grabbed my phone, ordered a 15-pack of guitar picks for $4.88 and two hours later some dude dropped them off at my front door. How the heck does that happen? It’s amazing if you think of the logistics and infrastructure that goes on behind the scenes. It’s also a huge driver of today’s “on demand economy” and influencer of consumer expectations, and that folks is what will drive our economy, and your job.
What kind of projects would you like to do more of?
I have more writing projects than I can count. This has become problematic as the easy way out is not working on any of them. Time to prioritize, get energized, and put pen to paper. Hands to keyboard. Whatever.
What is something you’re really proud of? Why?
Here’s a cliche answer, but it’s the truth. I’m really proud of both my kids. They turned out to be functioning adults who positively contribute to society (most of the time). This despite countless lapses in my parental judgment and skills. Life isn’t easy. Parenting is hard, and it comes with no instruction book. While I certainly can’t take credit for everything they’ve become, I did have some influence and could have screwed it up worse than I did. They’re wonderful humans that I’m quite proud of.
What are you going to be doing in 5 years?
Honestly? What I’m doing now. Being in a good place helps. As long as I’m physically able, I’ll travel as much as I can. Part of me wants to buy an RV and see this wonderful country. Part of me wants a place on the Texas Gulf Coast where I can fish any day I want to. What am I going to be doing in five years? Living and loving life!
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read/seen this week?
Being a bit of a news junkie in the middle of a global pandemic leaves no shortage of interesting things to read. I’ve tried to find most of my information from scientific and technical sources. One super-interesting “genre” for me has been accounts from those directly involved—nurses, doctors, and patients. Like this fascinating insight from a friend of a friend who is in government quarantine in Shanghai: https://www.facebook.com/craig.tafel/posts/10158163147869660
What’s an average day look like for you?
Before or after coronalife? Let’s go way back to “normal times”—say a month ago. A typical day in my retired life started off with a walk to the beach. I’’m fortunate to live a couple of blocks from a little municipal beach on the Puget Sound just north of Seattle. Every morning I walk down the beach to my rock, which is curved almost perfectly to match my ass. Here I sit and meditate for 15 - 30 minutes. Every day, rain or shine. Then I read, write, edit photos, maybe take a nap. I walk for 30 mins to three hours a days, depending on weather and mood. Walks are where I take photos, and just let my mind wander. Since I’m retired, I don’t have a job that consumes time, so I’m filling my days with things I enjoy.
The coronavirus pandemic with it’s stay in place restrictions is a whole new story. I don’t do well confined within walls. My beach is closed, my walking time is spent avoiding humans. The introvert in me is comfortable, that extroverted part, not-so-much.
With a million things happening at any one moment, how do you manage your time?
Poorly. I manage my time poorly. Time management has been a weakness of mine as long as I can remember (and I turn 60 later this year). Fortunately, my wife excels at it. I’ve gotten a little better about using a joint calendar with her, but that’s really the extent of my lame time management skills. DIligent and excruciating keeping of a to-do list is the only way I could juggle a busy schedule. I hate everything about it, but have to force myself to do it. There’s no magical app that works, for me.
What’s the best and worst thing about getting older?
This is the year I turn 60, and I’ll be honest—I’m not a fan of the whole sixty thing. It’s made me think a lot though, and that’s a good thing. The best thing about getting older is I’ve run out of fucks to give. Sorry for the blunt language, but that’s just what it is. It’s not that I don’t have a care in the world, there are things I care passionately about, I’m just finally old enough to realize you can’t please everyone and sometimes it’s OK—healthy in fact—to just not give a fuck.
The worst thing about getting older is the 60-year-old body can’t always cash the checks the 35-year-old mind is writing.
What do you regret never starting/doing?
My parents offered piano lessons. I declined. That was a big mistake. So was not going to medical school.
What risks are worth taking?
Love and happiness. Those are the two things that matter most, so they are worth taking risks for. I can’t tell you exactly what risks to take, but I can tell you that if you have the opportunity for more love and happiness in your life then you take that opportunity, even if it entails some risk. The rewards are infinite.