Adam Kinsey is a Chattanooga real estate developer and entrepreneur, focusing on urban and mixed-used projects. In the last 20 years, he has been involved in over $300 million of development projects, including the redevelopment of the Chattanooga Choo Choo complex. These projects have helped transformed communities by putting an emphasis on living, working and playing in downtown settings.
What books have you read and recommended to others that influence your leadership style and how you've developed your career?
During the summer of 2020 I read "Atomic Habits" by James Clear and really enjoyed it. It is by far the book I recommend the most. If you are looking to start a good habit, break a bad habit or just want to examine what you do during the day and how you live your life, it is a great book! I also love the author's weekly newsletter and Twitter account that keeps you engaged and motivated. I wish this book was around 20 years ago when I was younger. Although not intended, I think the book also works for the professional setting in the principles it sets forth of how and why you do things and what to put in place, or remove, to make habits or processes stickier.
The book that I have gifted to my team the most is "Setting the Table" by Danny Meyer. I love how Danny has used his restaurants to bring public spaces and parks back to life, and I feel we did that with the Chattanooga Choo Choo redevelopment. It's also important that team members remember to have fun, engage with the guest and think outside the box.
What books have you recently read for pleasure that you're telling others about?
This is probably an odd one, but I enjoyed "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel. It's interesting to read about how different people approach money and the wins and losses they've had. Wealth can be defined differently by all people and it can happen overnight or over decades. This is a great book about the slow and steady.
What is next on your to-read list?
The book I'm currently reading, and making a ton of notes on, is "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant" by Eric Jorgenson. I typically read business books, but I'd love to make my way to "Falling" by T.J. Newman. I've heard great things.