Sometimes, the most mundane occurrences can set you off on a learning curve. Even though I am primarily a property investor, I have learned that sound yet flexible business systems are vital to cope with changing circumstances. Systems must be adaptable, if they are not, then an unforeseen problem may completely defeat you, and we all know opportunities spring from the creative thinking that a challenge can initiate. Read the rest of this entry

You know how it is when you get to any big event. You arrive and find yourself stuck in a human equivalent of a herd of sheep – maybe a shoal of fish would be a better analogy in the circumstances, being directed from one queue to another when you suddenly realise that you can’t remain immune from one basic human need. If you’re feeling lost and wondering what on earth I am wittering on about, it boils down to the most fundamental human need of all – to go to the loo! Read the rest of this entry

For years I have understood that what you focus on is what you get. From a theoretical perspective easy to understand – from a practical implication (for me) sometimes harder to achieve or maintain Read the rest of this entry

Which sports person are you? If not one of these then who and why? Read the rest of this entry

Played my favourite game last night … Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow Game. I go to an “official” club run by Kurt Won held at Gloucester Road in London. As part of the total learning experience we get to watch a short video recorded by the great man himself. Last nights question was how are you playing you financial game … as a winner or someone afraid? Read the rest of this entry

After 10 days of hard labour (and I don’t mean just planting pansies or weeding – I mean hard labour shifting 12 tonne of soil, railway sleepers, bricks, pots, and rubble by hand and with a “digger”) I know two things; Read the rest of this entry

I spent all last weekend murdering Vine Weevil Grubs in my garden pots. Somehow over the last two and half years where I have been so busy either buying and building my property portfolio, or writing a book about how I used Other People’s Money or setting up a training business ….. I had forgotten about my garden and how much pleasure I got from it.

I suppose there are two clear messages for me – first about not forgetting the simple pleasures in life – like pootling around in your own garden and also if you don’t tend to your garden – the Vine Weevils will! Read the rest of this entry

What a bizarre experience last week. I went to visit my daughter Charlie at university which then included the inevitable request to play taxi – so off we headed to the local supermarket to buy all the heavy things that were such a chore to bring home on public transport.

I was still on crutches as I couldn’t walk Read the rest of this entry

Do you acknowledge all those that help you ?

When the caller started the conversation with “John recommended that I talk to you about ….” my first thought was who was John – which John. As the call progressed and developed into a serious business enquiry rather than just a conversation I knew that I would ask the caller for John’s full name. Read the rest of this entry

I was just catching up after a weekend training event as you do … no email just focused on clearing the paperwork when the phone rang …. As it so often does when you are busy The lady on the other end asked politely was I free to talk and of course I said yes because you never know what the conversation might be about until you start it.

Some 30 minutes later we have agreed a one hour Skype call in March after my holiday to finalise plans for me to source her an HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) in Liverpool part of a “guaranteed” rent scheme. The return on her investment is likely to be 16-25%, there is also the opportunity to reinvest some of her funds in a joint venture meaning that she will keep her capital and be able to buy another cashflowing – high returning investment every 9 months or so – very exciting.

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