Have you ever won anything at an auction? I have, once: December 2015, my daughter was 6 months old. The bounty? 4 unfinished townhouses in booming Murfreesboro, TN. I would like to tell you it was a calculated risk, truth is, it was mostly instinct, impulse and a little bit of homework. If it all went south, I stood to lose most of my savings; if it worked, I could make a good return on investment and gain experience in real estate investment.

The following months were a roller-coaster of emotions. I learned on the job, worked through city requirements, the pain of finding good contractors and a bitter winter by southern standards. My wife and my little girl spent many nights and weekends picking up tools, materials, and at the end, hosting open houses.

WE succeeded. The earnings were a little lower than I anticipated; but then again, there were times through the process when I considered breaking even a win. I could tell you many details about the whole thing, but what I really want to tell you is what I learned.

1. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Some risks simply have to be taken.
2. There are enough hours in the day. I was working night shift when the townhouses project came about. I would come home exhausted but always found reasons to stay up and maximize my time. I slept, believe me I did. However, I found that there were always enough hours in my week to do something else. I took up gardening, stayed ahead of household maintenance and eventually came across the opportunity that taught me what a stretch goal is all about. 
3. It takes a village to raise a child and to build a house. It takes a village to do anything bigger than ourselves.
4. I love project management. I am excited by the big picture but my happy place is rolling up my sleeves and making it happen. Project management allows me to put together my engineering mindset and my passion for business. 
5. A little savings here and a little savings there make a big difference. I have negotiating skills that make my wife blush, this is not an exaggeration. In this case my skills paid off big time! I was able to secure contractor rates for my supplies and tools. I also provided materials for my subcontractors saving the premium they would have charged otherwise.
6. Persistence is key. I could not afford the luxury of giving up on this project, my savings were at stake; besides giving up is not in my nature. A call not returned simply prompted a follow-up, a drop by visit, etc. Through persistence I got answers to complex questions and met people willing to share knowledge with someone willing to ask for direction.
7. Challenges are more exciting when you have skin in the game. A sense of ownership absolutely changes the level of investment a person gives to a cause or project. In my real estate investment project I had my skin in the game, no doubt. I think we can feel the same level of passion and commitment at work, at least we should.

So, my goal is to pursue opportunities that stretch me, push me out of my comfort zone, even keep me up at night; as long as my village is with me, WE will get it done.

Garrett

See more pictures of the townhouses project at: seashoreunlimited.com