Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa July 2014 | Page 21

UPFRONT
goal into the logical conclusion of following a series of
steps - or developing the play.
However, bear in mind that the game plan will have
to be adapted during play. On the soccer pitch, things
can change in an instant. No two games are ever the
same. You have to keep your eye on the ball all the time.
You have to be prepared for any eventuality.
Similarly, in property investment, no two investments
are ever the same. You need to be flexible and able to
adjust the game plan to allow for changes in the playing
field. This includes protecting your assets in a trust,
keeping reserves for everything, never overstretching
your cash flow and keeping your eye on the market.

Lesson 4 – It’s a team sport, but...
Many painful moments during World Cup games
highlight the crucial importance of being part of
a team. And the team is not only the players, but
the entire team of behind the scenes people whose
contributions culminate in goals on the pitch. No-one
can do everything alone.
This is also a crucial success factor in property
investment. You cannot do everything alone. You need
a team of experts. Mutually beneficial partnerships
leverage creativ it y, experience and resources.
Collaboration reveals better and more efficient ways to
achieve the goal.
In soccer, perhaps the most important person is the
coach. He is the one that defines the strategy, harnesses
the strengths of the players and compensates for their
weaknesses. But the coach does not run onto the field
to try and score the goal himself. Instead, he is keeping
his eye on the bigger picture, making strategic decisions
and coordinating the tactical moves that could win – or
lose – the game.
“Soccer is different from other team sports in that it’s a
collaborative effort, but also relies on individual athleticism
and intelligence” - TRECKER.
Carefully select your property investment team to
maximise your own capabilities and time and then
provide to your team the strategic guidance that will
win the game. Keep an eye on the bigger picture, direct
the strategy, and coordinate the team’s efforts towards
the same goal.
www.reimag.co.za

Lesson 5 – Play!
Knowing how to invest in property, knowing how
to create wealth, knowing how to achieve financial
independence is not the same as investing in property,
creating wealth or enjoying financial in dependence.
“Knowing how to score and actually scoring is not the
same thing” - FR ANCES K AZAN, talent manager and
executive coach
So what is the deciding factor between knowing how
to score and actually scoring? It is undoubtedly taking
action. Without action, nothing happens and inaction
equals losing simply because you didn’t even try...
To win at the game of creating wealth, you have to
play the game. Statistics show that only 5% of people
who know how to do something will actually put their
knowledge into action to achieve their vision, dreams
and goals. You have to put yourself in that 5%.
Knowing about property investment as a way to create
wealth, understanding the rules, and even the ability to
commentate intelligently on how others play the game,
is still not playing the game. All this intelligence is of
little use if you are not actually playing the game. You
can’t create a property portfolio if you are not out there
doing what a property investor does!
At some point in time, every property investor has to
take that first step: buying the first investment property.
It may seem a daunting prospect, but there is simply no
other way to start your own property portfolio.
There is no better time to start playing the game of
creating wealth than right now. This is because you can
always find the right property investment if you look
hard enough for it, regardless of the market conditions.
You have to take action. You have to get into the
game. If you don’t play, you can’t win. And now is
certainly always the time to take that first step.
Harness the energ y and passion of the Soccer
World Cup to up your game. Know where your goal
is, understand the playing field, create a game plan,
co-ordinate your team... and then play with the
passion that creates excellence on the field and in the
property game!
July 2014 SA Real Estate Investor

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