Key Idea #1: Buy Real Estate. Fess Parker came to Hollywood from Texas. He said it was his father who always put a high value on real estate.

Topic for Discussion: Why do so many business owners own their own buildings?

Answer: To be in control of overhead, to build up assets and to define their company's image. We have all seen or heard about the evil landlord, right? You lease a space, you build your business in the location, the landlord sees you making money, the landlord doubles your rent.

Tracy Myers of The Advertising Arts College told us, "In 1987 we were tired of leasing. We wanted to buy our own building. It was great. We were no longer having to deal with landlords and rents, and it was a very, very good move on our part. " Tracy ended up selling her company for double digit millions and the new owners had to lease space from her!

After 15 years of paying rent to landlords, Joan Keller of Le Travel store, figured they should buy their own building. They bought an old two-story building in an historic business district because they believed the neighborhood would be revived with help from city planners, the city council and other merchants. We learned that Carol and Dean Schroeder bought the building that houses their retail store when they first opened. Marc Katz tells of buying the building first, then opening his deli. If you plan to stay in one place for a number of years, it's better to own than rent.

Steve Hoffman, founder of Modern Postcard was told by his CPA to that it was time for him to build his own building. The CPA had watched Steve lease space for years and spend plenty of money to upgrade it to his standards.

We know that creating high quality operating space matters to every business owner we have studied here, however, Modern Postcard stands out because the leadership places a high value on beauty, ambiance and aura. As a photographer of real estate since 1976, Steve has seen world-class architecture and world-class locations.

The building was positioned so that everyone can enjoy a view of a small man-made lake and the Pacific Ocean. Most all of the public space is walled with glass. This means most every meeting and dining experience is full of sunshine. Executive offices are on the outside parameter of the building but the interior walls of these offices are glass so that employees who don't have a ring-side seat can still enjoy the view.

The employees running machinery are in a space with a solid wall, however, they can raise large doors to fill much of their areas with sun.

The materials that are timeless and aesthetically pleasing. At the entrance, the hardwood floor is warm in contrast to the concrete and stainless steel railing.

The grand staircase invites everyone who walks through the door and having two stories means most people never get into an elevator. The palette is neutral. We find only gray and black with clear glass lantern-like light fixtures. There is nothing hanging on any wall because each wall is a sculpture itself. It took plenty of brain-power and love for Steve to achieve the result everyone enjoys today.

You may know about the time when Dr. Jonas Salk was struggling with his idea to find a cure for polio. He went on a retreat to Italy and stayed at the Abbey of Assisi. In a speech he made to the American Institute of Architects in the early 1990s, Dr. Salk said he came up with his vaccine at the Abbey and was convinced that the architecture had something to do with his mind being unlocked in some new way by the inspiration of the Abbey's architecture.

In 2003, the American Institute of Architects announced the establishment of the Academy on Neuroscience for Architecture. Architects and Moms know that people behave differently in different environments. The challenge for all of us who ask people to work a long, productive day is to create the space that is most conducive for it.

You think about it: Can you or should you develop your own work environment? Take an inventory of your work place. How does it make you feel? Are you proud of it? Do you feel more energy or less energy when you walk in the door? Ask the people who work with you to tell you how they think the workspace affects them emotionally. What action can you take to create a place worthy of 1/3 of a person's life?