The speaker transformed personal adversity into entrepreneurial success by building a $400 million business from a wheelchair, overcoming initial financial struggles and doubts.
The firm focuses on value-add investment strategies by enhancing underperforming assets and leveraging economic insights to identify profitable opportunities amid market challenges.
Deep dives
Entrepreneurial Journey and Challenges
The speaker shares the evolution of their entrepreneurial journey, which includes founding and managing multiple companies while overcoming significant personal challenges. Initially starting their businesses from a wheelchair, they detail the difficulties faced along the way, particularly during the early phases when financial uncertainty loomed large. The firm evolved to manage over $400 million in assets, but success was not instant; it took years of persistence and careful investment in small assets to scale effectively. The narrative emphasizes that the journey was marked by fear, insecurity, and the need to adapt to changing market conditions.
Investment Strategy and Value Creation
The firm employs a value-add investment strategy, primarily focusing on acquiring underperforming assets and improving their operational efficiencies. By finding struggling properties and implementing fundamental business practices, such as improved communication and effective management, the firm has significantly increased asset value. The speaker illustrates this by referencing early investments in poorly managed storage facilities, where the simplest changes led to remarkable improvements. This approach of turning around neglected assets laid the foundation for the firm's growth and expansion into various sectors.
Navigating Market Challenges and Opportunities
The discussion covers the firm's resilience during economic downturns, particularly during the 2008 recession and recent market shifts. The speaker emphasizes their strategy of leveraging economic insights to identify arbitrage opportunities, especially in real estate assets that were undervalued during crises. By taking calculated risks and investing in technology and operations, the firm has positioned itself to thrive while competitors struggled. This foresight has allowed for strategic acquisitions and growth, even amid broader industry challenges.
Life-Altering Experiences and Company Mission
A significant turning point in the speaker's life came following a serious health crisis that left them paralyzed and prompted a reevaluation of their priorities and mission. This experience fostered a strong dedication to financial independence and the desire to help others achieve similar security. The firm now aims to create opportunities for individuals to invest and participate in wealth-building endeavors, reversing the growing disparity between asset owners and the rest of society. Ultimately, the speaker highlights the importance of community and shared success as central to the firm's identity and operations.
1.
From Wheelchair to Success: Navigating Business Challenges and Investment Strategies
I grew a $400 million business from scratch, in a wheelchair, and starting around the Great Recession. Almost everything was against me from the beginning. People told me my business would fail and my assets were worthless; banks laughed us out the door when we asked for funding. Then, suddenly, one day, my business needed to run on its own when I became paralyzed, unable to move, talk, or do anything but blink. So, how did I do it?
Today, I’m breaking down my $400 million company, how we make money, what we’re invested in, the teams doing the work, and how you can do the same and build a business that gives YOU ultimate financial freedom. We started this business during tough times, when getting money to fund self storage facilities was almost impossible. I’m sharing the creative way we came up with cash by recycling our capital so we never ran out.
Running a multimillion-dollar business is great, but at some point, you will run out of hours in the day. I’ll give you the exact breakdown of how my team runs the businesses for me and why having complete control over your business will stop you from growing, make your life harder, and limit your success. This is a peek behind the curtain of a company most people never get to see—and I’m sharing everything with you in this episode.
Insights from today’s episode:
How I built a $400 million self storage business with ZERO investing experience to start Why we’re buying (a lot of) real estate right now (and why we always do in recessions) Getting the funds for your business and my strategy to recycle limited capital How my company runs without me and why you NEED to make sure yours can do the same The “smaller” businesses we have that produce over $5 million per year in revenue
