Name:
Seth Thomas Lane
Birthdate:
January 16, 1979
Where were you born?
Alachua General Hospital, Gainesville, FL
What are your community activities? (church or faith-based involvement, local, regional and national professional organizations, non-profits, etc)
Current positions include:
City of Gainesville Plan Board
Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association Board of Directors
Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee Member
United Way Community Investment Team Member
American Heart Association – Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team
Previous Positions Include:
City of Gainesville Community Development Review Committee (2011)
City of Gainesville Development Review Board (2009-2013)
List any awards you have won for community service:
No community service awards to date … but the day is young.
What is your definition of success?
In essence, being happy is truest form of Success. Beyond that, I define success as maintaining a balanced life in a continuous journey toward self-discovery and improvement.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
I have been primarily self-employed since I was 28 years old. During that time, I have had the privilege to positively impact many organizations. I am fortunate and thankful for that experience.
How do you exemplify the spirit of a Forty Under 40 professional?
I love pushing myself out of my comfort zone for the betterment of my community, my family, and my career. I am always excited for the opportunity to assess challenges facing our community and helping develop ways to solve those problems. Similarly, in my career, I am constantly seeking ways to do things better for my clients; through personal improvement and innovation within my industry.
Businessperson who has most inspired you:
My business partner, Nick Banks, is the business person who most inspires me. Nick is able to continuously innovate our business while being focused on our clients and how we serve them. This mix of practicality and vision is rare and it is inspirational to witness. He is a friend and a mentor.
Best advise ever received:
Hmm… Two pieces of advice really stick out:
Seth Godin wrote: “If it’s a new problem, perhaps it demands a new approach. If it’s an old problem, it certainly does.” This has stuck with me for a long time and inspires me to challenge conventional wisdom without fear of failure.
The other, which I am paraphrasing from the words of my Grandfather, was this: “Gratitude, Humility, and Patience are the only characteristics that matter. People will notice if you have them or if you don’t; everything else is trivial”
Greatest professional challenge:
The commercial real estate business has been largely unchanged for a very long time. It is a business that is ripe for disruption. Positioning Front Street to push that evolution is a professional challenge that will never cease.
First job:
I was a bike duster and lunch fetcher at Primo Bicycle works during a summer in high school. They made me ride a giant tri-cycle called “Mr. Scary” to pick up lunch every day. It was a great job.
What color crayon would you be? Why?
Front Street Green – 167/162/0 – I am passionate about the company and the future it holds …. To me, it’s the only color that matters.
Favorite after-work drink:
Mostly beer, but I am sucker for good Gin.
If I had a magic wand, I’d:
I would use it to relive my greatest memories.
What is your favorite Gadget?
My blue-tooth speaker … it is always on, especially after work.
How long have you been in Gainesville?
Aside from 18 months between 1997 – 1999, I have been in Gainesville
What do you love most about Gainesville/Alachua County?
I love the passion that many people share for this community. A community is nothing more than the people who invest their time and talents into it. I am thankful to be a part of such a dynamic and talented community.
Three things people would be surprised to know about you:
I played poker for income during college and grad school
I have written over 50 songs and have recorded a full length record
I have hiked all over the world including Mt. Kilimanjaro, The Inca Trail, The Swiss Alps, and Hawaii
Advice you would give a younger you:
Take a deep breath and relax; everyone is making it up as they go.