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The F*** You Moment

Matthew Smart

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Hello Fastlaners!

My name is Matt. I recently had my F*** You moment while listening to a Joe Rogan podcast with David Goggins (if you need motivation, you should watch/listen). All my adult life, I've felt like I want and am capable of more. However I'm now 30 and I'm realizing that voice in my head that keeps saying "one day Matt! Soon you'll be living the good life" might need a reality check. It will never happen unless you start taking action. Which I'm sure everyone here knows is easier said than done.

While I was in HS, my dad started investing in real estate as a side hustle. By time I was in college the business had become his main source of income. I learned a lot about investing and even put some of my inheritance from my Grandparents into a multi unit rental property with him. Unfortunately, the business of flipping houses wasn't generating enough income, so he had to back to his day job. I've spent most of my 20s studying and learning finance. I started trading options and joined a prop firm in Tampa a few years after college. In 2015, there was a flash crash and I got my a$$ handed to me. After that, I ended up joining a small advisory firm. Now, living in Chicago, I spend most of my days in a cube living for the weekend. I have bills to keep up with and recently had my side hustle income stop. The world of Finance has a very clear ladder to climb. And although I do find the business interesting and I am climbing that latter efficiently, in the back of my mind... I know its not what I want. If I'm being honest, I've had a entrepreneurial fire building in me since college.

Anyways, with the help of friends (tagged below), family, and David Goggins, I've been working on developing an idea I have for a business. I joined the forum to hopefully help me along the way (make decisions, contacts, tips for business development, scaling, etc..)

Again, thanks for taking the time to read and let me introduce myself! "Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds you back. For your own will is always within your control." - Seneca
 
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lowtek

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Goggins is one of those people that could very well be out of a comic book or work of fiction. When I want to feel inadequate, I go watch that interview.

Thanks for sharing your story, sounds like you've had quite a bit of experience.
 

Greg R

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Hello Fastlaners!

My name is Matt. I recently had my F*** You moment while listening to a Joe Rogan podcast with David Goggins (if you need motivation, you should watch/listen). All my adult life, I've felt like I want and am capable of more. However I'm now 30 and I'm realizing that voice in my head that keeps saying "one day Matt! Soon you'll be living the good life" might need a reality check. It will never happen unless you start taking action. Which I'm sure everyone here knows is easier said than done.

While I was in HS, my dad started investing in real estate as a side hustle. By time I was in college the business had become his main source of income. I learned a lot about investing and even put some of my inheritance from my Grandparents into a multi unit rental property with him. Unfortunately, the business of flipping houses wasn't generating enough income, so he had to back to his day job. I've spent most of my 20s studying and learning finance. I started trading options and joined a prop firm in Tampa a few years after college. In 2015, there was a flash crash and I got my a$$ handed to me. After that, I ended up joining a small advisory firm. Now, living in Chicago, I spend most of my days in a cube living for the weekend. I have bills to keep up with and recently had my side hustle income stop. The world of Finance has a very clear ladder to climb. And although I do find the business interesting and I am climbing that latter efficiently, in the back of my mind... I know its not what I want. If I'm being honest, I've had a entrepreneurial fire building in me since college.

Anyways, with the help of friends (tagged below), family, and David Goggins, I've been working on developing an idea I have for a business. I joined the forum to hopefully help me along the way (make decisions, contacts, tips for business development, scaling, etc..)

Again, thanks for taking the time to read and let me introduce myself! "Nothing truly stops you. Nothing truly holds your back. For your own will is always within your control." - Seneca

@Matthew Smart and I have known eachother for a year or two and instantly connected on real estate and investing topics. Occasionally getting coffee or playing tennis.

I've been trying to convince him to come to the forum for a while and now he is finally here.

@kristinr

Welcome Matt!

Real estate and stocks where cool, now it's time to move on to something faster.

Go fast and hard with your idea Matt. You know im going to be on your a$$ like @ZCP was to me.

Don't let me see you slacking.
 
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Suzanne Bazemore

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Welcome to the Forum, @Matthew Smart ! Sounds like you have an interesting background in both finance and real estate. I would think that would be helpful whatever direction you take.
 
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Matthew Smart

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Goggins is one of those people that could very well be out of a comic book or work of fiction. When I want to feel inadequate, I go watch that interview.

Thanks for sharing your story, sounds like you've had quite a bit of experience.

@lowtek Totally agree!
 

Matthew Smart

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Dec 4, 2018
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@Matthew Smart and I have known eachother for a year or two and instantly connected on real estate and investing topics. Occasionally getting coffee or playing tennis.

I've been trying to convince him to come to the forum for a while and now he is finally here.

@kristinr

Welcome Matt!

Real estate and stocks where cool, now it's time to move on to something faster.

Go fast and hard with your idea Matt. You know im going to be on your a$$ like @ZCP was to me.

Don't let me see you slacking.

@Greg R Glad knowing you got my back! Have a conference call today with partners to discuss getting this thing going!
 

Suzanne Bazemore

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While I was in HS, my dad started investing in real estate as a side hustle. By time I was in college the business had become his main source of income. I learned a lot about investing and even put some of my inheritance from my Grandparents into a multi unit rental property with him. Unfortunately, the business of flipping houses wasn't generating enough income, so he had to back to his day job.
It's interesting to me that, if you are 30, and the real estate market crashed in 2008, that would have happened when you were in college. I wonder how that plays into your dad's decision that the RE market wasn't generating enough income? I think there were a lot of lessons to be learned from that crash. I think you should ask your dad how that related to his decision to get out. Maybe you could learn from his mistakes, and don't repeat them (if he even made mistakes, maybe he didn't, but it's interesting that his exit coincided with the crash possibly.)
 

Matthew Smart

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It's interesting to me that, if you are 30, and the real estate market crashed in 2008, that would have happened when you were in college. I wonder how that plays into your dad's decision that the RE market wasn't generating enough income? I think there were a lot of lessons to be learned from that crash. I think you should ask your dad how that related to his decision to get out. Maybe you could learn from his mistakes, and don't repeat them (if he even made mistakes, maybe he didn't, but it's interesting that his exit coincided with the crash possibly.)

@Suzanne Bazemore The crash 100% played a roll. But I don't think that should be an excuse. He would have done things differently. He purchased his first multi-unit apartment building when I was in grade school. He realized if he wanted to leave his day job, he would need to flip houses. Around that time, flipping houses was becoming a "get rich quick" scheme. It's similar with the stock market... Everyone see's bitcoin going to the moon and they think "I got to get in!" Obviously, he didn't see how big the housing bubble really was. But in all honesty, the market didn't need to put him out of business. My dad never saw the benefit of outsourcing his workload. When a tenant would move out, he would be the one ripping out the carpet, painting the walls, buying new appliances, etc. When it came to flipping the houses, me, my friends, and occasionally a specialist would come lend a hand. He is very handy, a perfectionist, and a hard worker. But when it comes to business, he can be shortsighted. The first flip we did took over a year. Can you even call it a flip at that point? He would renovate his rentals when a tenant would move out and the place would be like the 4 Seasons when he was done. I fresh coat of paint probably would a sufficed majority of the time.

The thing is... He put in the time. He read a shit load of books. We would go to seminars and listen to professionals speak on their real estate empire success stories (right before they'd try to sell you something). But his strategy just didn't pan out. There are other lessons too. We both learned from them. He is partnering with me on this new business venture and we'll keep those lessons fresh in our mind.
 

Suzanne Bazemore

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There are other lessons too. We both learned from them. He is partnering with me on this new business venture and we'll keep those lessons fresh in our mind.
I am glad y'all are still working together on your RE ventures. The reason I asked is because, when I was a little girl, I learned some lessons vicariously through my dad, and now I want to invest in real estate, and my son is interested in learning with me, but we will use my money. I share an interest in real estate with him and in writing with my daughter. I enjoy having these adventures with my kids, and I want them to learn with me, not do something that makes them give up on their dreams. Thank you for sharing your story.
 
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