As a family we have had BTL investment property for just over 14 years. Our initial portfolio of three were purchased by my husband in Bristol during the last major housing crash. These have always produced positive cash flow.
We subsequently added a further three properties to our portfolio 5 – 6 years ago when we got caught up in all the off-plan hype. These properties have just about washed their faces, but the experience was a huge learning curing for ‘how not to invest in property’. This meant when we decided it was time to invest again I attended several training courses, and spent considerable money getting my knowledge up to date. I am still a regular on training courses and attend several Property Meet events to keep my knowledge current with the latest market moves.
Since the end of January 2010 I have gone on to purchase 10 more properties for my family, to extend our portfolio to 16 and also 13 properties for my private investors through Alton Property Partners. All the properties have been purchased Below Market Value with deposits and produce very healthy cash-flows.
So what made me start investing again?
Nobody knows what is round the corner in their life; this was proven to me when I made the bold decision to resign from a senior Managerial Role in Xerox to join my husband in our Mortgage business. His business had been thriving for 2 years and there was significant workload to support us both. I had studied my Mortgage Exams in the evenings and weekends, around my job and had passed my final exam to qualify as a Mortgage Broker the day before I resigned.
However, my planning and preparation did not allow for the external factors of the Credit Crunch (and then the Recesssion). It hit us hard and soon there was not enough business activity for us both.
I had very much been brought up to be an independent female (both financially and personally) and as such I have extremely strong core values around feeling I am ‘adding value’ to both my family and others. My parents wanted me to be able to have choices in life, so having given up my career, and subsequently lost my income earning ability the feeling of ‘being carried financially’ sat hard with me.
When the opportunity came to invest for our family it was a natural choice for me to take the lead, firstly because I had the spare capacity and secondly because I had gathered a multitude of skills while at Xerox from Sales to Finance, so the fit was strong.
However, even being a strong individual, I knew I needed support. So I went about gaining my technical property investing knowledge from the courses I attended, this certainly got me up and running and started in the property investing world. However, my life experiences had already taught me that the mind is one powerful tool, which can either work ‘for’ or ‘against you’ and to maximise my potential outcome and enjoyment of investing I realised working in harmony with it was certainly the better option.
Who knows perhaps having made this decision my subconscious went into overdrive for me, but whether it was cause or effect, I made a connection with Alan Whitton of West Essex Hypnotherapy. (www.westessexhypnotherapy.co.uk). Having worked with him there is no other way to describe it other than his unique understanding of the mind or ‘Inner Game’ and the application of mental guidance has been outstanding in moving my business forward, to the next level.
Two Sides to the Investing Coin
Put simply understanding the technicalities of Property Investing is only one side of the coin,understanding and conquering your mind, so it is a supportive team member working with you is the other just as important side. Having one side without the other is a sure fire way to ‘standing still’ and not achieving your potential. All the top performance athletes have both physical skills and mind coaches, and it is the combined effect of both that makes them the stars that they are.
This might sound a bit dramatic but from my own personal experience property investing involves receiving a lot of knock-backs, standing out from the crowd and having faith in your convictions. In my view it is how you handle all these challenges that determines the level of your success. (For example; My now most supportive Estate Agent once said to me ‘I don’t like dealing with women!!’, this could have easily crushed me, as opposed to making me determined to prove him wrong!)
Several of you might have seen me up on Stage at a Progressive Property event, or on a video, or on Facebook, however in sharing my financial story I have never publically spoken about the very personal element below. However, it is a very important component of why I am where I am today, and why I feel so strongly that as women we need to master both elements of property investing (the physical and the inner game).
The absolute power of my mind was demonstrated to me about 14 years ago, based on a personal experience. At the time I managed approximately 30 people and I suffered extremely badly from IBS. My IBS started as a physical condition, brought on from a long stint of antibiotics, however it soon transformed into a mental/physical condition.
My first memory of the mental/ physical connection was while travelling on the Tube to a meeting in London, when I had a sudden need for the toilet, however the circumstances did not allow this as it was the middle of rush hour, and I was on a packed commuter train. You could not possibly imagine my tremendous fear of the embarrassment of having an accident. The circumstances were so distressing that not only did I have to contend with the symptoms of my IBS, but also the massive panic attack it brought on.
This was such an emotionally traumatic experience for me that my brain became highly effective at so say ‘protecting me’. It did this by never allowing me to step out of my comfort zone, by acting as guard over my body and preventing me from going anywhere where toilet facilities were not within easy reach.
At that time I had to travel just over 20 miles to work daily and my staff and customers were spread all over the South of England. I experienced such an intense level of anxiety going into any unknown situation that I lost nearly 2 stone with stress. Yes, my condition was physical, but the massive mind battle going on inside only exaggerated the physical symptoms. I knew this because as soon as I was secure in the safety of my home my anxiety fell away, and my physical conditions calmed down.
At a time when I should have been going out and enjoying myself, my life was placed on hold as I let the IBS rule my life for nearly 2 years. Then I decided enough was enough, it was time to become the controller of my own body and mind again. I read books and increased my knowledge on IBS and I combined this with seeking help outside the convention western medical sphere. I gained back my freedom – it was such a highly liberating feeling to know I had achieved my physical independence again!
Bringing the Physical and Mental Game together?
In the property environment I have met and spoken to many women, and it would seem there are several reoccurring themes.
Firstly from a property investing side there is the getting to grips with all the various elements, from how to find the area to invest in, to sourcing the property and working out financially if the property stacks. Confidence in one area can be counter-balanced with a lack of confidence in another area, and there is often the concern of not wanting to look stupid or silly in a mixed room by confessing you don’t know something that they think everyone else already knows.
As a classic example unless you are an Accountant, or used to doing the finances, or mortgage for your household, there is probably no reason why you would be that confident in working out the financial analysis element of investing, but it is a common fallacy to think everyone else has it under control.
Secondly, as we are naturally more emotional, we can be guilty of taking things personally which makes us question our own abilities. I know this is certainly true of me and something I have had to work on.
Thirdly, I have seen women who’s inner voice tells them their lack of knowledge and confidence will make them an easy target to be taken for a ride, or they tell themselves ‘I’m not good enough’ so instead they stay in their comfort zone and do nothing.
However, all of these issues can be overcome and I believe strongly each of us can take control. That is why the programmes for Venus Property Mentoring have been developed blending the physical and mental elements of property investing. After-all it was Albert Einstein who said
‘the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results’
Do I regret taking nearly two years to break the pattern and take positive action to tackle my IBS,…. you bet!….. it held me back on the things I wanted to achieve and do, but it has made me stronger as a result.
Success is Yours to Grasp
I really am nothing special but my focus and determination of mind has allowed me to get the ball rolling and it is gathering momentum. Setting up Venus Property Mentoring is my desire to share my story, and my learning with other women like you, to help give whatever encouragement and guidance necessary so you can step outside your comfort zone and make it happen for you.
I truly believe that as females we have a massive advantage in property investing, the very issues and self talk which can hold us back, are indeed our strongest and most powerful tools, if mastered and used in harmony. Success is ours to build and grasp with both hands.
Currently property investing is very much a man’s world, but rather than shrink back because of this, we should relish the advantage we have and embrace every opportunity to stand independent and strong, knowing we have provided for ourselves and our family and that we alone have made a difference.
I very much look forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals.
