The Investor Lab

Resource Links: The Investor Lab Website (https://theinvestorlab.com.au) The Investor Lab on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/theinvestorlab/) Dashdot Buyers Agents Website (https://www.dashdot.com.au/) [FREE BOOK] Limitless: The Renegade’s Guide to Building Wealth Through Property (https://www.renegadespropertybook.com) 10 Tips to Combat Uncertainty and Overwhelm – FREE Resource The Road Less Stupid - Keith J. Cunningham (https://www.amazon.com/Road-Less-Stupid-Keith-Cunningham/dp/0984659269) Real wealth starts from the inside. In today’s environment, we need to focus on a sense of wellness and our ability to think clearly, strategically, and tactically, and that starts from having a lot more calm and certainty in your life. Today’s episode is all about the tools you can use to overcome that overwhelming feeling of uncertainty. We talk about how to create a routine, different health, wellness, and mindfulness tactics for better productivity, how to adjust with working and living in the same space, and how to focus on using your time now to accelerate your position and prepare for the future. Whether you’re into properties or just wellness in general, this episode was made with you in mind. Sound bites & sound advice: Overwhelm and anxiety are a byproduct of uncertainty. [09:00] Create routines, plan your days to the minute, and stick to it. [11:32] Mental resilience starts with mental health. [14:54] Start a home exercise challenge. [16:13] Focus on your diet and your health. [21:00] Create a daily reading goal. [24:36] If you’re working from home, create a clear distinction for work times & spaces. [26:07] Don’t overload yourself with things in an attempt to fill a void. [28:32] Start a daily journal - it only takes 5 minutes! [31:06] Set aside a dedicated “thinking time” each day. [35:08] Create action lists but DON’T take them all on simultaneously. [37:39]   If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast with others you know will benefit from the show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resource Links: The Investor Lab Website (https://theinvestorlab.com.au) The Investor Lab Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/theinvestorlab/) Dashdot Buyers Agents Website (https://www.dashdot.com.au/) [FREE BOOK] Limitless: The Renegade’s Guide to Building Wealth Through Property (https://www.renegadespropertybook.com)   The industry is going through a market shift, and it’s understandable that you may have plenty of questions or concerns. In this episode, we cover questions like, what happens when property prices go down, what if I can’t find tenants (or if I have them but they can’t pay), what happens if I lose my job, and many more. We also touch on how to elevate your thinking, help you move fluently in the industry and succeed long-term. Whether you’re thinking about investing, have already started, or well further along, this episode will be incredibly valuable for you! Sound bites & sound advice: Don’t panic when you first purchase a property! [05:30] What do you do if property prices go down? [07:04] Learn to surf the waves and think long-term [09:08] How can you secure tenants? [10:00] The right purchase will be valuable if you ever lose your job [11:22] What if you’re ready to invest or purchase a property? [13:15] There will be plenty of opportunities to come… so be ready! [14:40]   If you liked this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, tune in, and share this podcast with others you know will benefit from the show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The current SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic is a world-altering issue. Aside from the obvious morbidity and mortality, the fear pandemic seems out of proportion to the infectious pandemic. Consequently, there has already been a severe impact on the share market, shop fronts, consumer expenditure as well as the social ramifications resulting from isolation. Now more than ever people need a critical analysis of the financial effects of the global crisis, and they need a sense of community in this time of forced solitude. This episode will satisfy both of these requirements. How? Through a webinar inviting discussions about the current state of affairs and the impact it has on property portfolios, and by creating a digital connection between people. Goose and Gabi field questions from concerned current and prospective investors on the coronavirus crisis and seek to divert thought to building towards a future we want to live in because the world isn’t ending. It is not the apocalypse. We will get through this. What we are experiencing now has happened before and it is temporary. Join The Investor Lab as they first address self-care before opening up the floor to you, the listeners, for a Q&A. They provide an assessment of the current market as it stands, and where they see it heading, and the things that we can do to support each other and the community during this time. Key Points: The role of social media in the fear pandemic Looking beyond health to the global financial impact of Coronavirus Taking care of your physical and mental health first and foremost Looking at the situation as a positive call to action Taking stock of what is really important in your life right now How COVID-19 is like pressing a big reset button Dealing with tenants being unable to meet rental payments for some time Building strong relationships and extending care and consideration in a time of need The reality that we probably are already in a recession, and does that matter? Maslow’s hierarchy - a theory of human motivation. Levelling up in this global crisis It’s not possible to pick the bottom of the market in real estate Links: The Investor Lab Facebook group Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here at The Investor Lab, we are always spruiking property, both residential and commercial, as investment opportunities. But what about looking at the business of building itself? Who better to chat to than a successful builder come entrepreneur who has built high-end homes and a high-yield business. Further to this, she has consciously decided to cap yearly profits in order to maximise her enjoyment from her builds and thus her life which is perfectly aligned with our outlook on wealth-building here at The Investor Lab. Rebeka Morgan is the co-founder of BuildHer Collective - an organisation focussed on building women builders to empower them to renovate their forever home, renovate for profit, and build from scratch. They also offer courses and mentorship, take building a step further with their Inner Circle where they train people up on developing for profit, and deliver informative, entertaining parcels of building know-how via their weekly podcast, Building with BuildHer. Rebeka’s building passion started from a very early age but became a profession in her early 20’s where she turned a residential house into a high-yield rental return rooming house in Berwick. Her success has continued throughout her career including most recently where her last 6 BuildHer projects have broken suburb sale records. Join Rebeka and Goose as they chat about equity versus cashflow, strategically capitalising in lucrative areas, avoiding the banks for finance, and the female experience in the male-dominated building industry. Key Points: Picking your building depending on how long your cash will be tied up for Prioritising equity capture vs cashflow strategies The dependence of capital on the suburb your project lies in Equity funding vs standard property finance via the banks The different development lending options available Defining your unique value proposition and creating a “one-off” property that sells high What inspired Rebeka to start BuildHer Collective Why BuildHer Collective helps women only The disparity between males and females in the real estate industry generally Why women are suited to project management The benefits of a Mastermind group There’s no one “right” strategy: it’s about understanding where you are and setting realistic goals Identifying your weaknesses and back-fill with sourced talent Links: BuildHer Collective website Building with BuildHer podcast The Investor Lab Facebook group Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website End Quote: “If you can get your kids out the door with their shoes on and their lunches and on-time to school, you can project manage a build”   ― RebekaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March madness is well and truly upon us: stock shortages, Coronavirus, rates cuts, and property price surge. This creates turbulence in the investment market resulting in both misfortune and opportunity for wealth. Separate to the direct effect these events have on the market is the psychological impact - the emotional human reaction - which often far surpasses the expected logical outcome. Predicting this response and acting on those predictions for the purposes of creating wealth in the midst of hysteria is very difficult to the point that it creates volatile decision making - not unlike #toiletpapercrisis. The Investor Lab duo Goose and Gabi have raided aisle 5 and are flush with metaphorical toilet paper to wipe away the unwanted filth in today’s investor’s market leaving you with a clean path to wealth. Key Points: First home buyer scheme impact Massive stock shortages in Australian broadacre farming The effect that the coronavirus is having on the marketplace worldwide How the RBA cash rate decrease has affected the economy Just as markets change, so should tactics and strategies The importance, now more than ever, of being an informed investor Building your growth and your wealth according to the “seasons” Making your move when everyone else is fearful The type of property that makes for a good purchase in times like this Links: Books: “The Intelligent Investor - The Definitive Book on Value Investing” by Benjamin Graham NEWLY RELEASED BOOK from Dashdot: “Limitless - The Renegades Guide to Building Wealth Through Property” Limited time offer: first 100 buyers get the book for free (just pay shipping) The Investor Lab Facebook group Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website End Quote: “If you plant your seeds in the wrong garden, or don’t tend to them in the right way, they will not sprout, and you’ll find yourself with a baron patch of dirt”   ― GooseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone needs a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (or BHAG) - a term coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their classic business book, ‘Built to Last’. These are not your ordinary business goals - these are meant to seem unattainable. They are meant to scare you and push your limits. The journey may seem fraught with peril but the destination occupies a high-ranking spot on your bucket list. But we’ve heard this before: “Set a goal and achieve it!”. How is this vulgar-sounding acronym any different? BHAGs address life goals, not tick off your fridge to-do lists. The time-scale is a decade, not a week or a year. Tangible, material motivation is often incorrectly set as the goal as opposed to innovative, compelling, and exciting life changes. After debating whether “balmy” means hot or cold and admitting to stocking inferior quality “guest coffee”, Goose and Gabi team up to discuss BHAGs and the rules when it comes to setting them, goal setting in relationships, discipline and even share their 25-year BHAGs. Invest in your goals before investing in your wealth. Key Points: Tactics, strategy and vision - and not in that order Setting goals and the power of writing them down Introducing Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (or BHAGs) courtesy of Jim Collins BHAGs are meant to be out of reach though still physically possible Answering the question: “What does your life look like in 10/20/30 years?” Getting excited about your goals and leveraging success from the excitement Remember: “What would you do if you didn’t have to work for money?” is an entirely different question from “What would you do if you had 1 million dollars?” Exploring goals in the context of relationships BHAGs are achieved in timescales measured in decades, not weeks or years Critical analyses and course-corrections are paramount: reassess daily/weekly Goose and Gabi’s 25-year plan Do not google “What’s a good BHAG?” - your goal is your own. Get uncomfortable now to achieve what you want later Links: Books: “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” - Jim Collins & Jerry Porras “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” - Jim Collins “Loving What Is: Four Questions that can Change your Life” - Byron Katie Dashdot’s 25-year Goal Setting template: pdf download here The Investor Lab Facebook group Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website End Quote: “You can’t score a goal if you have no idea where the goalposts are” ― Goose “Until you are prepared to go within, you will go without”   ― Yogi BhajanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The braver investors among us have fantasised about diversifying their portfolio to include not only residential investment cashflow but also commercial. However, making the step into the commercial investment property market can be a formidable one and one that must be well informed. For the average investor, this may not be possible due to the high deposits and commercial loan interest rates involved, as well as the knowledge gap between residential and commercial investing. Nonetheless, there exist tremendous opportunities to increase your investment portfolio cashflow if the informed investor expands into the commercial arena. Goose discuses the pros and cons of commercial investing, compared with residential, to get you started in this potentially lucrative investment avenue. Key Points: Commercial investing outperforms residential for rental yield and offers longer leases Issues with commercial investing include Uncertainty finding a good commercial property Higher required deposit Lending terms usually include a higher interest rate (reflecting higher risk) Longer wait time to secure a commercial loan Vacancy rates can be much longer than residential (industry and location dependent) Residential: investing in people Commercial: investing in the longevity of a business Impact of online shopping on the long-term viability of a commercial asset Tenants have a vested interest in maintaining the commercial property Residential investing is about equity, commercial is about cashflow Links: The Investor Lab Facebook group Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website End Quote: “If Your Only Tool Is a Hammer Then Every Problem Looks Like a Nail”   ― Mark Twain (among others)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transformation and change can often be born out of adversity as many listeners, I’m sure, can attest to as well as our own Investor Lab host Goose. Learning life lessons in unexpected places can afford you great benefit .if the life lessons are in fact learnt Our guest today is Andrew Sparks, Goose’s co-business mastermind and the street-smart entrepreneur behind FitGro with an unlikely beginning. To summarise, Andrew dropped out of school at age 15 and pursued plumbing establishing his own business at age 20. After the obligatory first overseas trip was unexpectedly extended from 12 months to 10 years, Andrew found himself a successful drug dealer in Canada before the wisdom of Tony Robbins led to the realisation that he was not living his purpose. Then came an intense period of self-discovery, investment and education culminating in the foundation of the internationally successful fitness-sector business coaching company, FitGro. Listen as Goose and Andrew discuss improbable beginnings, adaptability, and Andrew’s unique outlook on business and investing. Key Points: Tony Robbins and the 6 human needs Avoid defining labels: “I’m an addict” disempowers the individual stifling change Invest in yourself: Andrew has spent over half a million dollars on personal development Never under-estimate the ability to be adaptable Benefiting from meditation Enlist a mentor and learn from their mistakes just as much as their wisdom Beginners: know what you want and recruit help to achieve it Links: Andrew Sparks’ Company (FitGro) and Instagram (@theandrewsparks) Books mentioned in the episode: The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz As A Man Thinketh by James Allan The Investor Lab Facebook group Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website End Quote: “It really just comes back to what people need. Sometimes someone needs a baseball bat and a kick to the head. This is what you said you wanted, just go and do it!” ― Andrew SparksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the single biggest determinant of success in any field? Resilience! This is the ability to adapt to adversity, accepting a delay to gratification to achieve your desired outcome, approaching challenges as opportunities. Goose and Gabi get philosophical in this episode and draw on the stoic teachings of Socrates to interpret emotional resilience in the context of real estate investing. They delve into a large-scale study undertaken in India where despite impoverishment, happiness levels are ostensibly high. The live Q&A explores both the personal lives and stories of the minds at the investor lab as well as specific investment advice to investors just like you. Learn how to perfect resilience and experience the flow-on effects in your life, both inside and outside of real estate. Key Points: First, second and third-order consequences: short-term pain for long-term gain Life, as a general rule, is out of your control The Happy India Study - 3 principles to happiness regardless of poverty or riches: Gratitude: pay attention to what you have, not what you lack Empathy: feel what another person is feeling Mindfulness: be present in the now and focus on the moment Socrates and emotional resilience: Blessings in disguise Excessive grieving over misfortune adds to your problem Accepting your place in the world and broaden your perspective Grief stands in the way of reason Things beyond our control are neither good nor bad, they just are Morning affirmations, daily planners and nightly journals Links: The Investor Lab Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theinvestorlab/ Email us directly: hello@dashdot.com.au Dashdot Buyers Agents Website: https://www.dashdot.com.au/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who among us can truthfully say they haven’t been sold a lemon? Whether it is a car, a skincare range from that talkative exotic mall worker, or an inflated bid for your first property. We are all of us fallible and this is known to those less-than-reputable folk who seek to exploit it to their own benefit. In the world of real estate, they can take many forms and distinguishing those that are trustworthy from those that aren’t can be very difficult (from novice to expert). This scepticism breeds inactivity for fear of making a mistake or being taken for a ride. But don’t fret, The Investor Lab is here to add weapons to your arsenal to detect false prophets and cull your business circle to those who hold your best interests at heart. Learn from the mistakes of others, trust your instincts, invest in yourself via education, surround yourself with trusted advisors, and don’t lose faith in humanity. Leverage the experience of others to safely navigate the minefield that is real estate information repositories and strengthen your portfolio and investing strategy today. Key Points: Lack of integrity and how it is triggering Beware of spruikers: unwitting clients are their targets The origin of Dashdot Buyer’s Agency Deciphering truth from fact Trust your instincts and be aware of hidden agendas Failure is temporary and hindsight is 20:20 Abundance defeats scarcity Never lose faith in the human condition: innocent until proven guilty Links: The Investor Lab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theinvestorlab/ Dashdot Buyers Agents Website: https://www.dashdot.com.au/ End Quote: “I want everyone in the world to be my best friend because I want love in this world” - Goose “Nothing is ever free - you either pay for it now or pay for it down the line” - GabiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.