We change direction a little for the next few weeks in this series. Before now we have heard from many that have achieved wealth or financial independence by being full-time in property. Get ready as for the next few weeks we hold panel discussions with some ‘second-steppers’ this week and next, followed by some ‘newbies’ after that.
Join Carl Gilbert, Anthony Boyce, Omanice Olusola, Sven Chesters and Daniel Riley as we host a panel discussion together. Part one gets us going with some intros, outline strategies and some of the personal development approaches that our panel are deploying to take their property journey to the next level.
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Carl Gilbert - Linked In Email
Daniel Riley - Email
Sven Chesters - Email
Monice Olusola - Email
Anthony Boyce - Web Email The Property Thing Group
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Transcription of the show
We change direction a little for the next few weeks in this series. Before now we have heard from many that have achieved wealth or financial independence by being full-time in property. Get ready as for the next few weeks we hold panel discussions with some ‘second-steppers’ this week and next, followed by some ‘newbies’ after that.
Join Carl Gilbert, Anthony Boyce, Omanice Olusola, Sven Chesters and Daniel Riley as we host a panel discussion together. Part one gets us going with some intros, outline strategies and some of the personal development approaches that our panel are deploying to take their property journey to the next level.
Property Chatter
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Property Voice podcast. My name is Richard Brown, and as always, it's a pleasure to have you join me again on the show today. Well, we're still in the middle of the series on going full time in property. And what I wanted to do towards the end of the series is just have a couple of panel discussions. You might imagine, with certainly me involved, that these panel discussions can perhaps run on a bit, so perhaps schedule it to be a one episode per panel discussion. But it's actually turn into two, for two to two groups.
The first group of which we're going to share today, what I call the second-steppers. So these people are pretty much full time in property in one form or another as you're going to here. We have Carl, we have Anthony, we have Monica, and Sven, and Daniel joining me for a panel conversation. So I think I've likened it too there's some way down the track. I'm not quite ready to put their feet up on the beach, sipping pina coladas. And I think I literally do use that reference. But they're working and they're hustling and they're at it, if you like.
So we've obviously been speaking to a few people up until this point, who've generated a substantial wealth or income stream through property and probably can put their feet up on the beach actually. So this group here, the group of five who joined me today, they're all part way down the track. So we're going to get a slightly different perspective and that's the point of this. There's going to be two parts of this particular conversation and we get into some really interesting points about background, and personal development, and growth, what to look out for. So I hope you're going to enjoy this panel conversation.
In a couple of weeks time, obviously after the part one and part two, we're going to share here, we're going to actually have a conversation with who I call the newbies. They're not really newbies, but they perhaps, trying to get full time, trying to make it happen. So we're going to have a little bit of context, if you like. We've looked back at people who've done it and how they got there. We're looking at people who have started already and are some way down the path and then we're going to bring it to a close by looking at some people who are just starting out. And hopefully, at the end of all, that we'll draw some conclusions entitled together. So there we go, enough from me, let's cue in the conversation for part one of the panel discussion with the second-steppers right now.
Richard Brown:
Hi everybody. Good to see a nice sprinkling and group of people. Bright, sparkly, happy people in front of me here. How are you all? Are you good?
Sven:
Yeah. Very well. Thank you.
Carl:
Very well, thank you.
Monica:
Well thank you. Well thank you.
Richard Brown:
Fantastic. Well this is going to be something of an experiment. We're midway through the series on The Property Voice Podcast all about going full-time in property. And what I've got to do with this episode is a bit of panel discussion from, I kind of loosely calling you Second-Steppers, maybe that's not... I'm trying to use a property reference, Second-Steppers. So not quite at the stage yet where you can put your feet up and relax with the cocktails on the beach, which I kind of did double check before I came on here, I don't think anyone's quite in that category yet, are they?
Sven:
No.
Carl:
Not quite.
Monica:
Not not not..
Richard Brown:
But you're not complete new beginners. You're already working, either directly in property or in a field connected to property, with the intention probably generating a substantial part of your income, or indeed wealth through property. Is that right?
Anthony:
Yep.
Monica:
Yeah, that would be correct.
Richard Brown:
So we're in the right place then? Okay, with the right people, so that's the first thing to do. So what I thought we'd do, is perhaps go round the table, which is always a bit difficult because who knows when to speak, but just go around the table, just do a real quick introduction. Who you are, where you come from, what sort of... Just here you're at right now with property would be really helpful. Just to warm us all up so that we know when we start asking question, "Ah, that's where that person comes from. I know what that means now." So, anybody want to go first? I haven't got a running order, let's see how this works.
Sven:
Ah, yeah I'll go first, if you like?
Richard Brown:
Go for it, Carl. Oh.
Sven:
So, I'm Sven, been in property for about eight years or so now. Started off with my business partner just doing some flips. Did a couple of flats and then into bungalows. And did about maybe eight bungalows, sort of two bed bungalows. Just small things really. Started overlapping them and then went into conversions, did a few conversation sort of into flats. And now going onto new builds. Just started off with the first one.
Richard Brown:
Fantastic. I don't know if you did it by choice or not, Sven, but I think your video camera was switched off there, just to let you know.
Sven:
Was it? Okay. I'll try to get it back on.
Richard Brown:
But we didn't see you when you were talking, but maybe if you can get it working, you just give us a quick wave. It's not working yet, by the way.
Sven:
Okay, I'll look at that.
Richard Brown:
Not a problem. alright. So thanks, Sven. So basically... And how long did you say you've been involved?
Sven:
It's been about eight years with my business partner, I did one flat before that and then we started the business in 2013, so it's seven years.
Richard Brown:
About seven years then? Okay. Fantastic. So we just migrated up and doing some conversations and developments more recently.
Sven:
Yeah. Yeah. Just a small parish we've just started.
Richard Brown:
And just before we move on from you, Sven. Is there anything else that you do perhaps, on other days of the week maybe?
Sven:
Yeah, so before this year, I was sort of doing property full-time, whereas a bit more like a builder. So I was actually hands on and then doing the project management, but as things have slowed down for various reasons, one being my business partner wants to sort of come out of the business. I've now actually had to go back on the building site for other people from Monday to Thursday. So doing architectural metal work, steel erecting, from Monday to Thursday, and then like I said, on property on a Friday, which definitely keeps me busy.
Richard Brown:
I'm sure it does, I'm sure it does. Well, we'll maybe come back to that and how the journeys have changed a bit. But thanks, Sven, for sharing. Appreciate that. So now that we've got the first one out of the way and we know what to expect, whose happy to go second?
Monica:
I'll go second. Hello everyone, my name's Monica. I've been in property probably about 15 years, dabbling in it, trading up from my own properties, keeping them and then transferring those ones over to single lets and then well moving them over to HMOs. My husband and I work quite closely together, he does the sort of the building works, site management works, and I kind of help with project management here and there. So it's something that we are particularly hands on with and it's something that we really need to step back from for numerous reasons.
Monica:
We're not getting any younger and we really want to spend our lives making some kind of a difference really, not just making money, which is very, very important, no doubt, but I don't know whether you come to that stage in life when you realize life is more than just the money, it's about the impact, it's about helping other people to, I don't know, achieve their own dreams, and helping others along the way, making a difference. And that's been a powerful kind of drive of both my husband and I to look at what we're doing and how we're doing it, and seek to change that. To be far more passive in our focus and that in itself has been a challenge, but it's hugely revealing. I could go on... I've been part of Richard's apprenticeship program, which has been quite revealing, let's put it that way, and rewarding, may I add? And yeah, here I am.
Richard Brown:
Thank you, Monica. I mean, I have to dive into a couple of things. So you basically are self-managing landlords, aren't you?
Monica:
Very much so.
Richard Brown:
And also the project management and your husband doing some of the actual construction work on some of the refurbs and stuff you've been doing?
Monica:
Yes, that's right. Yeah.
Richard Brown:
Pretty much in the business then, I guess.
Monica:
1-0-1. 1-0-1. I don't think we could be anymore in the business than we are, so it's a business that we love. We do enjoy what we do. But not just that there has to be a better of doing it, there is (silence) pursuing that. And also, just like I said before, seeing how we can make that difference really in life. Yeah.
Richard Brown:
Good. I want to just pause a little bit with you in particular on this make a difference thing, I don't know if there's anything you want to share at this point, don't worry if you don't, but do you want to give us a clue what that might look like?
Monica:
Well, to say I haven't thought about this, it's something that plays on my mind greatly and ever more so now. But I just think that individuals, especially young people, they have so much going for them and it's about how do we facilitate that opportunity for them to grow and make an impact. And I think that if an individual has a secure base, a secure home, and has opportunities in their lives to build their skills, and people to speak into their lives, they can make a massive impact. Not just in their own personal lives, but in the community. So I'm looking at housing and sort of educational fund, whereby individuals are able to have homes that they help construct and they leverage their knowledge and expertise that they have gained during that process to go on and improve their lives. So yeah, there's a lot there.
Richard Brown:
Just a small goal then really, yeah? No, it's brilliant. We'll probably get into later about perhaps how things change along the way. You mentioned you've been involved for 15 years, we'll maybe come back to this for everyone, but you've already given us an insight there that things can change along the way.
Monica:
Absolutely.
Richard Brown:
And you still take on big goals and visions even though you've been involved for a while.
Monica:
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Richard Brown:
Thank you for that. So we'll probably dive a bit deeper. But I'm going to just say, Carl, I saw you put your hand up there and you tried to get in before Sven. crosstalk 00:09:08, should we get you in? Let's get you in.
Carl:
Oh, okay. All right. Yes, I'm Carl Gilbert, I live in Basingstoke. Some of your audience might remember I was on your podcast, having done your apprenticeship. The bulk of professional career was working in IT as a project manager, that was for about 15 years or so. I've been involved in property for about 10 years, working on smaller projects gradually building up a portfolio. Fairly passive in certain aspects, so the last few yeas I've been more active and getting more involved and immersing myself in property knowing that I've kind of tested the water and it's something that I've always wanted to be more involved with.
Carl:
So in early 2019, my hand was forced slightly with some life changing events, whereby I had an opportunity to go full-time in property, which I took having then shortly afterwards did your apprenticeship. So mostly last year was training and strategizing and kind of trying to formulate a path to follow, which was really the bulk of the apprenticeship. So that was very, very useful. And then coming into this year, really putting my strategy to action, which is commercial conversions, primarily office to residential. So a solid year so far working to find opportunities and building my network. And so where what's brought me to here now.
Richard Brown:
Is what brought you to here now, yeah exactly. So yeah, it's interesting, you were careful with how you explained that, I'm not going to push, but sometimes we get pushed into a certain direction lets say because of life events or a boss who perhaps wants to take control, I know that's not what happened with you here particularly, but sometimes would you say it was a necessary push?.
Carl:
It was, because there was more of a catalyst. So I had plans to go full-time in property and I had already decided to join your apprenticeship with that view in mind, with that goal in mind. So I think I was fortunate in that I had the means to give myself a runway to put my plans into place and bring about change. Yeah, it was... I refuse to go through that again. Made the most of the opportunity, made the most of bad situations.
Richard Brown:
Yeah. I think that's a recurring theme with a lot of people who are either full-time in property or aspiring to be, is kind of making the most the opportunities or perhaps the reverse is to... Yeah. Sven, what's the phrase? Come on, I bet Anthony's got a phrase for me. I don't know why I'm picking on you Anthony for that comment, but I'm probably just looking at a segue to bring you into the conversation as well.
Anthony:
So you want my intro then?
Richard Brown:
You can skip my question, my leading question, and do your intro.
Anthony:
Well, Anthony Boyce is my name. I've been property investing for probably about four and a half years, just come up to five maybe. I've been an architectural technologist or designer for probably 18 years, sort of during obviously the investing time as well. So I guess I've been working at kind of doing what I'm doing now for myself and property investors and just never really thought about getting involved myself and it was only when it kind read Rich Dad Poor Dad that I kind of sort of took a look at myself and decided to pull my finger out and get going. From there I go buy-to-lets, HMOs, serviced accommodation. I started The Property Thing with, as Richard said, Paul Million, who was on here the other day. And yeah, just at that point now where things are finally starting to... The projects are getting bigger, a bit more juice on them. So yeah, commercial conversions, doing a little bit of new build as well. Yeah, so just bigger, more attractive, returns really. So yeah, fingers crossed next year I will be on the beach with the mojito or whatever.
Richard Brown:
Don't you have a beach up in Darlington? I'm pretty sure you do, don't you?
Anthony:
Do I have what? Sorry.
Richard Brown:
Got a beach up in Darlington?
Anthony:
A beach? Well, only when they put one in the marketplace, but that's just sand from the local River Skerne or something like that, I don't know.
Richard Brown:
No worries. Yeah. Just to clarify as well, are you still doing the architectural technician stuff alongside property investing?
Anthony:
I am. I am. Yeah. So I did want to kind of make a jump from the architectural stuff into just full-time property, but I've gone full-time in my own firm, March, just before corona hit. So yeah, I'm full-time property, but I have to do a hell of lot more work with the architectural side than I was initially planning to do anyway. So yeah, a bit of everything still.
Richard Brown:
It's interesting we've already heard a couple of people saying they're doing more than one thing. They're working in property, working on a business separate to that, or they've got a runway, as Carl referred to, so it's not just make that giant leap and just shit or bust, it's like perhaps there is more of a migration path sometimes.
Anthony:
Yeah, I think so. Initially when I was employed I'd kind of done that scaling back, so I'd gone from a five day week, to a four day week, down to a three day week, and then when I've gone full-time on my own business, it's gone up to a seven day week again. It was kind of working out as you're reading books, you scale as you develop a bit more portfolio income, but yeah, it's gone full circle so I'm just flat out now. Yeah. I maybe shouldn't have been on this podcast actually, I'm not a good advert at the minute.
Richard Brown:
No, I think you are. I mean, we're trying to get authentic, real case studies. And I think you're definitely one of them, a real authentic case. So thanks for coming and sharing. And I think, there's a saying isn't there? That someone who wants to run their own business will work 80 hours a week for themselves to avoid working 40 hours a week for someone else.
Anthony:
Yeah. That is very true, isn't it? Yeah.
Richard Brown:
Totally. Cool, we'll come back to that story I'm sure. You mentioned one book already, Rich Dad Poor Dad, I think a lot people... Some nods there? People read that book?
Daniel:
Yeah.
Monica:
Yeah. Many years ago now, but yeah.
Richard Brown:
Daniel, you said yeah. So let's get you into the conversation. Let's hear a little bit about yourself.
Daniel:
All right, well, I'm Daniel Wester Bolton, Greater Manchester. I actually got into property accidentally. I put a deposit down on half-built house with no roof on. And I spoke to a developer bloke who I know and I said, "Will you just have a look at it me for me?" I didn't know what I was doing, I just had spare time because I had company running that I owned, I didn't really need to do much, I was just sort of overseeing it. So I thought I'll have a go at this house. I'm a bricklayer by trade, but I'm not been into it for quite a while. And it turned out the counter had been exposed for a while, so there were big red flags. So I ended up just throwing the towel in, I just left the deposit and I asked the guy, I thought I could of calm myself big time there, so I said, "Have you got anything on going at the minute?"
Daniel:
And he had a site in Bolton, very nice site, some bespoke houses more or less, four to 5,000 square feet, underground parking, conservation area, a gated development, really nice thing. So I asked if I could just come and mimic his site manager for while, just free of charge really, just to learn. His site manager ended up leaving, so I become his site manager. After about, well a few years, I come out of the deal and now I've gone onto something smaller because it was very difficult there. Now, in a middle of a commercial conversion, just commercial to residential.
Daniel:
A few sidelines as well, a friend of mine has asked me to project manage a couple of apartments for him, so I'll do that. And also looking at creating a fund at the minute to buy below market value properties wholesale, and then selling them retail. Either through sources, back on auction, develop them ourselves and then we share that, so that's what I'm on with at the minute. Plenty.
Richard Brown:
Well, I was just about to say that, but there's quite a lot of different strands to what you've just talked about. And a lot of that has emerged quite recently as well, I think, isn't it?
Daniel:
Yeah. Yeah. Since being on the apprenticeship program really. It's opened my eyes into what you can do. Do you know I never knew it was possible to do the things that are possible. Do you know I come from a small town and if someone said you can earn a million pounds quite easily, I would have thought they were just talking nonsense, thought it was lies. But I think if you get a few good solid people around you who you trust, I'm not saying it'll be easier, but it's definitely doable. You know we ain't running around like an absolute lunatics working 400 hours a week, these things are possible.
Richard Brown:
Yeah, some really interesting things you just said in that share, the whole thing about what's possible and having good people around you for a start, but the other thing is you said that you, well, I don't know if you said, but I think you've taken the approach, and you've definitely said with the development project, that first one, that luxury development, that you became the site manager. I mean, that you were effectively managing that site for quite some time I believe. Is that right?
Daniel:
Yeah, about two and a half years it was. Yeah. And it was very, very difficult because when you're a bricklayer and you know about bricklaying and about your job, so when you've got underground basements leaking, tanking systems, dealing with... You know there were three million pound price tags there, these were up in the north. So you can imagine the neighbors weren't just your average neighbors so they'd write essays to the council about the smallest things. Plus we were in a conservation area so it was just a very delicate site. It was basically jump in at the deep end and in a big way. Not just in the deep end, in the sea.
Richard Brown:
In the big wide ocean.
Daniel:
There were a few sharks kicking about as well.
Richard Brown:
Although now, I believe that you're project managing and probably, I don't know if you're still on the tools a little bit with one of the projects at least, that you're running now.
Daniel:
Yeah. Yeah. Well, with the lockdown it was hard work to get trade so I thought why not. You can't stand still really.
Richard Brown:
Yeah. Brilliant. Okay.
Daniel:
Well, I could have done but weren't have got anywhere...
Richard Brown:
Yeah, I know, we may come onto it later, but I not that you don't like to hang about lets say that, and you do like to plan your time in your day and be very, very active.
Daniel:
I have got a very strict routine, but I function best doing that. I'm at 10 to five every morning, I do meditate, go for a run, throw some sprints in there, learn something new, so that's before six o'clock, or half six at the latest. Listen on a book on the way to work, do the working day, so you know the normal working day, that a normal person will do, come home, meditate again, try and learn something new, Josh about with the kids, do your family life, and then read before you go to bed. Just try and consume as much knowledge as I can.
Richard Brown:
Anybody else have that sort of routinized approach including both work or business activities, family, and personal development?
Anthony:
I've considered myself, I should start it, but...
Richard Brown:
You should start it, should you?
Anthony:
Well I've always, I've start reading books and things like that who say about the routine and I can see a massive benefit in it, but yeah, I get maybe a couple of weeks in and disappears. So yeah, it's something I'd like to get into my life, but with everything down at the minute it's difficult to do.
Richard Brown:
And I know-
Daniel:
It just keeps growing organically. Do you know if you'd told me 10 years ago that you'd be reading books, I'd tell you, you're talking nonsense. I think I got level two on my GCSEs for reading because I hated it with a passion, but now I love it because I know what you can achieve through the learning.
Richard Brown:
Brilliant. What-
Anthony:
I think it's the time you get up in the morning, that's the worry.
Daniel:
I would get up at five, but that 10 to five, I've got to brush my teeth and getting my running gear on, so that gives me 10 minutes. I'm like a Swiss watch.
Richard Brown:
What about, and I think Carl and Monica you were about to speak, I can't actually see Sven, I don't if your cameras working.
Sven:
Is it down again? Sorry.
Richard Brown:
It's okay-
Sven:
Today it's been a bit dodgy.
Richard Brown:
Who else wants to add to this part of the conversation about habits, routines, and development?
Carl:
I was just going to say that routine has been one of the biggest challenges that I faced, certainly during the lockdown, and in working on this full-time you lose the structure of kind of going to work. So having a routine in the mornings has really helped. And using my calendar a lot, so I like to fill up the calendar. So I've got a weekly planner, a weekly schedule that lays out my week on ideal basis, and then each day, or each night before, I'd fill in my calendar as per my schedule of what was coming up, that helps.
Richard Brown:
Yeah.
Monica:
Yeah.
Richard Brown:
And that personal... Carry on.
Monica:
No, I was just going to say that I suppose at the end of the day, you get to know yourself, don't you, when you peak and when you're not so productive. And I have to go with Daniel here, I'm a four, five o'clocker in the morning kind of individual. Meditation for me is kind of prayer and kind of listening to anything that's soothing. I love podcasts, I consume podcast creative, things like that, and audiobooks. But yeah, I think for me personally, it's about being... We're very conscience of things that are happening around us, but I think when we're attentive, we're feeding our subconscious as well and that's like our super power, isn't it? It kind of gives us that boost.
Monica:
We don't see it all the time or feel it, but it's there helping us along the way. So I think for me personally, having a routine, being mindful about what allow to kind of flow between my ears is extraordinarily powerful because otherwise I'm just prone to the drift, which can be really and it can be a rapid slide. So yeah, having structure, just knowing when you're at your best, and doing your high level activities first and being persistent about that is something that has been very helpful. I think, was it Brian Tracy? Did Brian Tracy eat that frog or whatever?
Speaker 7:
Yeah.
Monica:
It's hard, but I think the rewards are there, yes, when one contends with this. That's my experience anyway.
Richard Brown:
Brilliant. Well, there's something of a pattern or theme emerging. And, Sven, I wanted to bring you in, I don't know if you're still there. I think you probably.
Sven:
Yeah, I'm still here. I'm still listening.
Richard Brown:
So what about the idea on habits and personal development? You got any thoughts on that?
Sven:
Yeah, I agree that everyone has their own sort of the best time of day for them. Mine's the morning as well, sometimes I have to leave for work at 05:30, so. Daniel said 10 to five, so that's early enough, when I tend to go to work. But I think it's a good book, Atomic Habits, James Clear. And I took quite a lot from that. And just about once you start habits, it's actually easier then to connect them up to other habits and thought habits, then turn into large habits. And that's when you sort of compound effect. And that's when you really start to get things done.
Richard Brown:
Well.
Sven:
And another sort of thing I took from, I think it was Tim Ferriss, probably the four hour work week. Where he says to make sure you know what's important for that day, and do that first before anything else, so that stops procrastination.
Monica:
Yeah.
Sven:
And once you've done the most important things, the sort of things you need to do, then the rest of the day is not so important.
Richard Brown:
Very interesting. As I say a bit a pattern there. I think one of my favorite quotations comes from a guy, and I may have said it before, sorry if I'm repeating myself, it's Charlie Tremendous Jones. And he said, "We'll be the same person as we are in five years time, but for the books that we read and the people that we meet," but words to that effect. And of course, I think books mean your kind of learning resource and the people that we meet is kind of networks. So it's funny actually, coming back maybe to Anthony because he's got dirty great big sign behind him. Let's just a look at what it says, Anthony, first of all.
Anthony:
Yeah.
Richard Brown:
So what is The Property Thing first of all?
Anthony:
Well, it's a property network, property and business networking event that we set up the North East of England, in Darlington. Mainly I'd seen... I'd been to the events, like the PPNs and the PINs and that kind of thing in the area, really enjoyed them, learnt a lot of valuable knowledge, met a lot new contacts, very useful. But they all shutdown, so we kind of didn't have our little boys club or anywhere to go and crash at, so we decided to put our own on and it's worked brilliant to be honest, so far, other than lockdown kind of putting the skids on it at the minute.
Anthony:
So yeah, just looking forward to starting that up again really. So the people, just having a chat with people like yourselves, there's stuff that you find out, little ideas and new strategies and just little things like that, that can lead to great opportunities. So yeah, I'm a big fan of networking in a face-to-face environment, I'm still weird with the old Zoom thing, it's bit, I don't know, just the time delays and stuff. But yeah, looking forward to the people interaction again.
Richard Brown:
We might all have to get used to the Zoom thing, but let's see. Yeah. But yeah, I mean, well you got Atomic Habits on your reading list now if you didn't have it before.
Anthony:
I'm sure I've downloaded it already.
Richard Brown:
So we've talked a little... And that's a segue in. So I've brought you in specifically because you're running a networking group. And a couple of people have touched on having people around you. Let's just dive into that a little bit more. So this kind of networking and then this support lets say, or professional support and teams around us. What are your thoughts that? What have you learnt since you've gone so far down the track? And anyone can dive in if they've got something to say on that part of it.
Monica:
I've got something to say on this one. I recently joined the Mastermind group, and I've sat back and I've seen the level of activity. And I must say I was or have been taken aback.
Richard Brown:
In a good way or a bad?
Monica:
In a good way. In a good way. But there could have been two outcomes from that. There could have been total overwhelm, "Oh, my goodness. What have I been doing? I really need to sit up here, how am I going to rise to what's been going here?" Or, as I have come to now embrace, "Monica, you need to tie up your shoelaces and you need strap yourself up and raise the gate." But that's been as a direct result of kind of putting myself out into the unknown for me. And that's sort of kind of being around others who have interest in property, not just property, but it covers the whole sphere of life really, and that's been kind of... I mean, it's been more than what I thought it would be, in the sense that I thought it was very much going to be property focus, but because the... I suppose, because the diverse nature of this particular Mastermind group, it's challenging on many, many fronts.
Monica:
And it's a good thing because I strongly believe it's going hold me up in several areas of my life, not just professionally, but also personally. So in the answer to Richard's question, surrounding yourselves with other like-minded individuals is very powerful. There's that saying, isn't there? That when you walk beside somebody your speed adjust to their speed. Do you see what I mean? And that's what I'm hoping is going to happen here, that I'm going to speed up a bit. So yeah, that's me.
Richard Brown:
That's a really good contribution, thanks Monica. Anybody else on this theme? Don't have to... About working?
Anthony:
Well, I thought you said something really important there and it kind of goes back to the networking as well. I mean, I'm a big believer that yeah, you surround yourself with the right people and good things happen to you. And I guess that's kind of what's happened to me. Just from going networking and surrounding yourself with others that you're looking up to. I mean, to say his name again, Paul Million, he's got quite a nice portfolio, whereas when I started networking I probably had, what, one or two properties. But just by being around those sort of people you kind of, your mindset lifts to that kind of level as well. And then just all of sudden things start happening. So yeah, big believer in surrounding yourself with the right people on that one as well. So whether that's in Mastermind or networking or paying for mentorship from someone who's already at that level, but yeah big benefits in that anyway.
Richard Brown:
Brilliant. I don't know if there's more there... But there's kind of two main themes there, isn't there? Because you've got let's say, your professional team around you or your workers, so people doing the trades, people who support you on property projects, like professions literally, so there's that part of it. You could even have kind of a partner in crime, not a partner in crime, but a business partner maybe. But then there's this other bit about personal growth and development. Raising your thinking or thinking outside the box, smashing through the glass ceilings. Napoleon Hill's book, wasn't it? Think and Grow Rich focused quite a lot... Doing a lot of book references here. Sounds like a book club meeting camp. But anyway.
Daniel:
But it's also the accountability as well, Richard. You can tell yourself you're going to do X, Y, and Z, but you can also not do it and you're not accountable, whereas if you tell a group of people you're going to do X, Y, and Z, you're going to be trying not to look like clown really. You know what I mean? That's what I found anyway.
Richard Brown:
Well, it's easy to let yourself off, isn't it?
Daniel:
Yeah, of course it is.
Speaker 8:
Cool.
Carl:
One of the things I found with Mastermind and mentoring is the support and guidance you can get from those more experienced. And the confirmation and reassurance on your strategy and you're own trajectory, to get that feedback as to how you're doing, how you're performing, what direction you're heading in. Because certainly, in my case going into full-time, I didn't do that transition, I flipped from one to the other with the runways we mentioned earlier, so having the assurance that I'm kind of going in the right direction, I've got a strategy that's going to work. I mean, obviously I've got alternative options at different points, if I need to I can flex, pivot if I need to, but you have to surround yourself with people, with experience, is very beneficial.
Richard Brown:
Very good. So we've talked about kind of the personal development and networking, just maybe to round off this part of the conversation, I dare say we're going to split this into two episodes now, just so you're aware. What about professional growth and development or business development, like more formal skills lets say that? Anybody doing anything in that respect to better themselves or their business more formally?
Sven:
No, no. Nothing. Nothing.
Daniel:
Rich, my other half she set up a letting agent. So she's out going to get accredited by, I can't remember which firm it is, but alongside her I thought I'd do the qualification myself, just for the sake of it really. But little things that you take from those, the help you quite a bit. Things that you won't think about, you just jump into it.
Richard Brown:
Yeah. Yeah. Maybe not a lot of take up on that one. But I think, I became an accredited landlord with what is now the NRLA, I'd recommend that, even if you plan not to manage your own properties. Just to keep you aware of legislation. Of course, if you're going to get involved in other specialist kinds of the property business, it's probably worth getting some kind of awareness. It doesn't have to be a formal qualification, although if you were listening to the podcast this week, Damien Fogg was the guest, and he became a chartered building surveyor and he also worked in a letting agency because he wanted to see the business from the inside out. I dare say, Anthony, you're working on the inside to some extent, anyway with your architectural technician work.
Anthony:
Yeah. Yeah. Well I don't know what other people do, but I absorb, like others have already said, a lot of podcasts, Audible, I read all the industry magazines, and that kind of thing. So I guess I'm keeping up to date with what I need to know anyway. It just becomes second nature and you don't realize you're doing it kind of thing.
Richard Brown:
Yeah. And I can't see you, Sven, because I know you've got issues with the internet connection, I hope you're still there.
Sven:
Yep, still here.
Richard Brown:
Good. And maybe you've got something on this part of the segment, about your background, I guess, professionally or from a trade point of view.
Sven:
Yeah, I mean, like I said at the start, I work on building sites from Monday to Thursday. So do see the residential side of it. Excuse me. what's sometimes what's fashionable, also sometimes you can see some cost cutting ideas and also how a site is run, so the practical side of when you actually get onto site, how it's sort of structured. And probably nosier than most on site as well, so end up going in the office and just bothering people. But yeah, it's all, even though it's not quite obviously how I want it to be and it's a lot harder work, physically harder anyway. Yeah, it definitely gives you an insight on how things are on commercial, like a non-residential site.
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