When I teach I am often asked by younger or new students "What is the secret to success?"
Now that I have reached the age where I know and have experienced many things, I now know the answer to that question.
The answer does not apply just to real estate or to property management, but across most lines of work. In my career I have been in the Air Force, worked for the government, worked in restaurants as both employee/management/owner, taught college and private seminars, played semi-pro sports, worked retail-a wide variety of jobs and the concept is the same in all of them.
The answer? Just Show Up! You don't believe it? Watch. Listen. Think about it.
- I used to work all the floor time I could, just feeding off the call-ins and walk ins. I caught many clients who were not served by just showing up. One bought a beer/wine carryout for cash for almost a million dollars.
- I went with a friend to a softball semi-pro traveling tournament and 3 guys overslept and a team needed 1 guy or they forfeit. "Hey pal, can you just play for us so we don't forfeit?" Sure-why not? Bottom of the 7th-down 2 runs with 2 outs and 2 guys on base and my turn. As my teammates already were putting all the gear into bags to drive home I drove a ball into the bleachers in right field for a walk-off winning home run. I played with them for 3 years.
- I was working in a restaurant when the manager got in a fight with his boss and stormed out. "Hey kid-can you work this register? Can you call and make sure all the employees come to work and lock up tonight? Two-weeks later: 'Hey Dennis-how would you like to manage this place?"
So you do have to have education, and some skill, but more importantly you have to show up! Not once, not twice, everyday! The rest we can teach you!
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