Confessions of a Real Estate Operator

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever had your noodle flipped? Something that has happened that made you think in a entirely new way? I have. Everyday. But the first one, when I was little, was perhaps the most meaningful, if only because my family reminds me of it to this day! Let me explain.

Our kitchen table was bigger than me. I could crawl under, over all around with no problems. Why, then did one day my head start hurting whenever I ran underneath it? I cried and cried. At three years old, I couldn’t understand this change in my life. I had to get my toy! What was stopping me? I was getting bigger and the table wasn’t! What the heck? I would hit my head against the tabletop as I ran around. Ouch! My parents explained what I needed to crouch, but I guess I had to figure it out on my own. I also think my sister made me run under the table on purpose. Bump! Owwee! I cried. She always got a laugh out of that! Much to my parent’s dismay! What the heck was wrong with me? I would get a huge knot on my noggin! Right idea, wrong methodology! I had to use my head in the right way as the wood was stronger than little ol’ me! Who knew? I had to use my mind to solve the problem! After a couple times of this, I learned. Maybe a bit hard headed, maybe a bit stubborn, but I learned.

Mom loves to tell this story. Rather humbling. Ah, such is life. Reflecting about this humorous story, I’ve often wondered if maybe this little gem has shed some light onto who I am today. Looking back is great to see where we have come from to where we are presently. Back then, I didn’t know that I was growing. I was getting bigger, stronger, faster. But I didn’t know. How could I know I was growing if I had no baseline to measure from? I had to learn new things if I going to get the prize. It was then, that I learned to solve the problems before me if I was to get the reward.

Today, I realize I have to change as I grow to let me accomplish what it is that I want. In this particular circumstance, as a little kid, I wanted to be able to chase my sister, the dog, and my toys without getting hurt! I don’t like obstacles! Simple. Once I figured out how to accomplish this goal simply by crouching, life was good again. It is often a simple, overlooked solution that solves our problems in life.

My family will say that I am a very determined person and persistent. I have to try things my way. I will sometimes fail, but I will try and try again till I succeed. This one simple lesson, learned so long ago, set me on a path to always grow. To always bust through, to achieve the next level. It is life changing to accomplish a given goal, once thought impossible.

It is most difficult to see past our present circumstance. Not much different from when we were three years old. It begins with a realization that something is amiss in our lives. A belief that there is something more for us: A life well lived, that we can create our future. How does your future look to you? What do you see yourself doing? Tomorrow? Next year? Ten years from now? Maybe you are happy with your present circumstance. Or more likely, maybe you want a life that fulfills the burning light of your soul. Maybe that very question, or yearning has led you here today to holding this book in your hands.

With faith, a goal, a willingness to learn from our mistakes, and time we can accomplish anything it is in our will to do. If I can do it, you certainly can too. You can then see and experience the world from a new level. Hopefully, busting any walls and glass ceilings with the power of our minds!

You can do it.

CHAPTER 1

DISCOVERY!

1990’S teens.

Other boys had Playboy; I had the Montana land magazine. This magazine had hundreds of pictures and captions of properties for sale across Montana and beyond. It was fodder for a boy’s overactive imagination. The descriptions and poor, grainy black and white photos would occupy my mind for hours and hours. I would devour every new issue with the attention I would later spend on girls. Fortunately, I eventually learned, it was easier to figure out real property! I would dream of owning the largest ranch, or biggest farm, or the place that had a mountain range to call my own! I would show dad a property I liked, and he would say, That’s nice son, but how will you make it pencil? His way of asking what price makes sense? What kind of return could it generate? What was there to create value, etc.? I don’t know, was my default mumble. Surprisingly, this answer didn’t impress my dad. There was no end to my thoughts. But no matter how beautiful, how cool or how many acres it was, the question became very clear, How will it, pencil? That one simple question has shaped my thinking.

Road trips with my dad to look at a farm or ranch were always fun. Dad loved to look at different places. To see how different operations were ran and maybe come up with some new ideas as well. He liked to talk with locals and see what was new and exciting. Dad rarely bought. It was a question of financing! But that didn’t mean we couldn’t learn new things that had immediate practical applications on the home farm. But these trips, to me, meant more than just looking at cool new places. Sometimes we went fishing and camping too! The coolest part? Dad would sometimes buy me a pop at the gas stations we came across. We didn’t have a lot of money, so getting a pop was a special treat! Plus on these trips, we always had white bread, mayo and bologna sandwiches! Yum. Usually, it was just my dad and I. I didn’t have to share with my sister! All I had to do while driving around looking at a green field and chewing on my sandwich, was, furrowing my brow and say knowingly, Well, how is that gonna, pencil?

Grownups smiled at me when I said that. Big words for a 10 year old, I guess, or maybe they knew something I didn’t know? On the way home, with the countryside flying by, I pondered what those words really meant. Between the warm sun, sleepiness and worrying about the ice melting in my pop was enough to make my brow really furrow. Lost, I was, deep in my thoughts.

Fast forward to college.

Student, vagabond, wanderlust and dork summed up my life. I need a direction in my life. College was fine, but wasn’t giving me the answers I sought. My dad understood I was at a crossroads. Looking for something to apply myself to, but not knowing or seeing what opportunities were before me. I knew I wanted to be successful, rich and happy. But I didn’t know what that actually represented. How to put a mere abstract thought into context? What does this picture look like to me? How do I get there from here? My starting point was quite simple. I didn’t want to have to keep eating the leftovers in my parent’s fridge, although mom’s cooking is delicious. I wanted my own fridge filled with delights, and wanted to devour the leftovers at my parents as a treat, not a means to survival! The other thing I wanted? A nice car that was reliable. Pretty basic, real needs that seemed easy to fix. But with college debt and a full class load, my jobs, I had three, weren’t really getting me ahead. And even the pursuit of the college degree, while I wanted it, wasn’t really leading me anywhere in particular. How was that gonna pencil? Was I gonna have to get a full time job doing something I didn’t really care about?