Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa March 2016 | Page 66

INSIGHTS

Property

Investment

as an alternative way of thinking
PIERRE VAN DEN BERG

A

lready from an early age, many young people
either set their minds on, or are expected
to engage in further education straight
after school. A university degree is still seen as the
ultimate, hopefully leading to an interesting and
successful career, and to retire reasonably wealthy by
age 50 or 55. Not much wrong with this, if that is
what one really wants? Except that school-leavers are
often not sure of their future and get caught up in this
“establishment” way of thinking, ending up in the
wrong career, or not completing their studies or not
finding a job. Is this way of thinking not very limiting?
Does this develop and encourage entrepreneurs and
potential property investors? How do we change our
mindset and so influence our children?
Is it not time to seriously think of alternatives or
additional options? Is it not time to teach our young
people financial intelligence [not taught at school
or university] at an early age? It is an incredible
drawback for a child to grow up financially ignorant.
How does a good financial education compare to
a university degree? I believe that with financial
intelligence the chance of early success and wealth
creation [securing a passive income, only “good” debt,
etc.] is far better compared to a career stemming from
the establishment mindset mentioned earlier.
We cannot all be entrepreneurs, but this is where
PROPERTY INVESTMENT offers an alternative.
Whether you are currently a property investor or not
– how much are you doing to introduce, guide and
encourage young people in this option? What if we
could identify and guide young potential property
investors to this alternative way of thinking and
planning their careers? They may still study, perhaps
with extra intention and motivation after finding
their niche, perhaps in a different study direction to
what would have been previously considered by the
establishment way of thinking.
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MARCH 2016 SA Real Estate Investor

Buying property straight after school or studies
is unlikely to happen for young people, but we
can influence them to an alternative mindset and
dramatically increase their chances of becoming
financially secure at an early age in the following
ways:
1. Instill in children from as young as possible
the mindset that it is not necessary to work till
the age of 50 or 60.
2. An amazing life of financial independence can
be created following your own dream instead
of being solely dependent on the job market or
the salary from a boss.
3. Establish the goal of becoming a successful
property investor at an early age.
4. Put all your effort into realising this dream
and believe you can become financially
independent by age 30 to 40.
5. Nurture the interest in property by following
knowledgeable and successful people. Read,
watch, listen and educate yourself as much as
possible

RESOURCES
thankstoproperty.com
www.reimag.co.za