G Letter
September 2014
Your Journey To Financial Freedom & Independence Starts Now
When I was four years old, I noticed a price tag inside the cover of a children’s book I was reading, I thought to myself, “Wow, book equals money.” So I got a stack of white paper, a stapler, a magic marker and a box of crayons and then painstakingly copied the entire book, page by page (words and pictures). When I finished my masterpiece, I went door to door trying to sell my ‘re-created’ book to neighbors. This was the first of many business ventures I’ve attempted over the years--some were successful, but many like this one were not. I believe that perseverance above all else is the key to success because successful people never give up and just outlast everyone else.
When I was growing up, I loved music and sports. I played soccer competitively and was an accomplished violinist. I was also fiercely independent and hated to play by other people’s rules. After missing several rehearsals a few weeks before a European tour, I was kicked out of the New Jersey Youth Symphony—I’d have to wait years to get another chance to travel overseas.
After finishing college, I wasn’t sure what career path to take. I wandered from one unfulfilling corporate job to another. The pointless meetings, stifling bureaucracy and office politics made me sick. I stumbled onto real estate accidentally 15 years ago and, in my free time, began amassing a small portfolio of properties by partnering with other people who had money to invest. Although I was earning a six-figure salary as a director at a Fortune 100 company, I was miserable—it was time for a change. My mom thought I was crazy, but in 2002, I took the plunge and became a full-time real estate investor. Now that I control my time, thanks to real estate, I’ve travelled to every continent on earth, I spend several weeks every winter in South America and I volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and a local homeless charity in my community. I also get to indulge my lifelong love of music by performing live on a regular basis, both as a solo artist and as the founding member of the funk fusion band, GMJ Groove. What would you do if you had more control of your time?
The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does.
— James A. Michener
Real estate, like all endeavors, has its share of challenges and frustrations, but I’ve learned to enjoy the ride—the ups, the downs, the smiles and the frowns. I think you’ll find that most things in life that are worthwhile require some effort, and I’m here to help you leverage real estate to make your dreams come true. I love to teach and I have hundreds of former students throughout the United States and Canada. Many of my students have found success investing in real estate, earning extra income buying and selling property for profit and building wealth over time with rental properties. One of my former students recently founded a Montessori School for kids in Jersey City. I started this newsletter to share what I’ve learned about real estate with you because lifelong learning has been one of the keys to my success. I share real estate tips and market insights in The Real Estate Insider that you can immediately put to use and in every issue, I answer a real estate question from a subscriber like you.
Welcome to the Real Estate Insider family—I’m glad to have you on board. Your journey to financial freedom and independence begins now. Buckle up—I guarantee it’s gonna be a fun and fulfilling ride.
