What the Senior Living Industry and Sports Have in Common

If you know basketball – heck if you know sports - you know the name John Wooden. Perhaps most recognized as the head basketball coach at University of California at Los Angeles where he led the Division 1 college team to 10 NCAA national championships in a 12-year period (including seven in a row), won a record 88 consecutive games, and was named national coach of the year six times. As a basketball player for Purdue, Wooden was the first player to be named basketball All-American three times and received numerous titles and awards. In 1960 he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach in 1973 – only two others have achieved this distinction. 

So, what does John Wooden have to do with senior living? More than you think!

You see, Wooden was hugely successful as a player and coach but it had less to do with a 28.5-inch orange ball and more on his faith, hard work and willingness to listen and learn. Wooden approached life, on and off the court, as a student. Acquiring knowledge and skills from each experience. He embraced challenges, didn’t shy from mistakes or failures but only saw them as learning opportunities. He had a strong value system. Was known for his loyalty, enthusiasm, and industriousness. He built a “Pyramid of Success” – a series of traits that built up to competitive greatness. Practical and motivational in every step, these life lessons are applicable to everyone, in any industry. And, from my perspective, even more so in senior living.

Why? While many may categorize senior living as a sub-market of real estate industry, in fact it is first and foremost a human services industry. One that best thrives on a solid company culture that includes strong values, unwavering commitment, inspired people, customer-focus, dedication to being financially responsible and above all listening and learning from our customers.

Approximately a year and a half ago, I took the helm as president at MBK Senior Living, a division of Tokyo-based Mitsui & Co., LTD. From our division office in Irvine, California, we own and manage 34 senior living communities across six western states. In addition to a strong reputation in customer service, quality care, innovative programming and beautiful living environments, MBK Senior Living has in place an aggressive, strategic growth plan to meet the demands of existing seniors and aging baby boomers. In fact, in 2018 alone we added 12 new communities and hundreds of new team members to the MBK Senior Living family. While a component of our growth plan is to acquire and/or build well-designed, high-quality senior living communities in desirable locations, our real potential for growth and success is being built on a company culture and commitment to those we serve – our residents and our team members.

Much like John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success,” Our Commitment represents MBK’s pursuit, purpose, principles and core values. Our Commitment embodies the high-standards and expectations we have for our company, our team members and our communities. When in action (and it’s witnessed in action daily), Our Commitment delivers amazing results – happier, healthier residents, greater peace of mind, invigorated and enhanced lifestyles, increased self-esteem, well-trained and professional team members, caring and compassionate team members, genuine relationships, trust, respect, loyalty – the list goes on and on.

Hand-in-hand with Our Commitment, MBK Senior Living embraces a philosophy called “Yoi Shigoto.” Simply translated from Japanese it means “the good work,” but what it represents for MBK is a resolve to do good work that benefits our residents, their families and our team members. Here, Yoi Shigoto is our on-going vow to do the right thing and to do right by the customers we serve and our teams. And, we believe that through an honest, persistent mission of “doing good” that company profits will follow. It’s an important by-product of doing good but it’s not our motivation.

Another aspect of Yoi Shigoto is the purposeful intent to positively impact our local communities and even the world through selfless endeavors, striving to make a difference and by working together. We have implemented hundreds of Yoi Shigoto initiatives, contributed thousands of dollars and service hours to hundreds of charitable organizations – touching the lives of veterans, at risk youth, homeless, foster children, individuals and families living with cancer and Alzheimer’s, and so much more. 

And, not to be cliché, but “what blesses one, blesses all.” In living and practicing Our Commitment, our team members and company have achieved remarkable results. A few examples:

.        Great Place to Work Institute awarded MBK Senior Living with a Great Place to Work certification after surveying 1,000 MBK team members, evaluating more than 60 elements of team members’ experience on the job.

.        During our company annual retreat, the MBK leaders participate in a volunteer “Yoi Shigoto” activity to build 200 “Joy Jars” for the Jessie Rees Foundation. A fabulous follow-up to last year’s activity in which we partnered with Together We Rise to was build skateboards, bikes, and duffel bags to benefit and transform the way kids experience foster care.

·        Other Yoi Shigoto partnerships included Habitat for Humanity, where we built playhouses for local youths; and Boys and Girls Club where we built/donated bicycles.

·        In July 2018, The Firs residents and team members raised $2,500 (which MBK Home Office matched) for Team Amarah Kendall’s cancer support fund.

·        Chancellor Gardens hosted the community’s Annual BBQ and Bake Sale with proceeds benefitting various charities such as the Clearfield Police Department, Labs for Liberty, and Christmas Box House. This year, they raised $1,800 and their fundraising efforts even made the local news.

·        Our community, The Wellington, in Salt Lake City, received its seventh Best of State Award this year for demonstrating excellence and producing superior results and outcomes.

·        As a company, we raised $12,000 as a gold sponsor at the 2017 Alzheimer’s Walk in Irvine. This year, our fundraising goal is $15,000.

·        And, just this month we closed on our largest property acquisition in company history, acquiring  nine new communities in Arizona, California and Washington.

Which brings me back to the legendary John Wooden. He once was quoted saying, “I worry that business leaders are more interested in material gain than they are in having the patience to build up a strong organization, and a strong organization starts with caring for their people.”

While our industry certainly revolves around real estate, as I said before – it is first and foremost a human services industry. It’s always about the people in this industry and how we can enthusiastically serve and support them. At the end of the day our residents and their families are the customers. We put them at the forefront.

But we also have an endless quest to build a strong organization that comes with finding the properties to own and manage, and finding the right talent and right people to join our team. People who share our value system, work hard, care deeply and have a passion for excellence. I’m immensely proud of the MBK team we have but with our aggressive growth plan, we’re always seeking to find more talent to add to our team.

Echoing Coach Wooden, “I’d rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent.” At MBK Senior Living, talent translates into a person’s aptitude of accountability, continuous improvement, effective and responsive communications, care that is delivered with integrity, dignity and compassion and the ability to effectively and positively contribute to a team.

Do you have that talent? If so, visit us online to earn more about the career opportunities available. Visit one of our communities, speak with one of our directors and learn more about MBK’s Commitment, company culture and the spirit of Yoi Shigoto. What you may just find is that the job you’re seeking is seeking you at MBK Senior Living.