丫丫爸爸的博客

As I walk the Final 30 Feet once again, I reflect back on how a comedian made all the difference in the world for my business and real estate ventures, and more importantly, how it will make a difference for you.

Wow, it seems everyone I bump into this summer has an opinion on the real estate market: It’s a bubble; there are too many condos; there are not enough condos; it’s going to collapse; it’s a great opportunity; it’s better to rent than buy… and on and on.

As I write this I am sitting on the patio of the local Starbucks (supposed to be prepping for a meeting) and I overhear a conversation at the next table. The subject? No, not the weather or hockey – it’s real estate again. As I listened I both chuckled at the mistaken myths they were sharing AND was a little saddened as they were making big decisions based on these often repeated myths.

With candor, one young 20-something is sharing her enthusiasm/opinions on real estate. In just 5 minutes she included:

• “You won’t believe the deal I can get on a time share in the Okanagan – for only $80,000 I get two weeks a year at NO CHARGE. That’s like a free holiday every year! The rest of the year it is rented out. Too bad it isn’t by a ski hill but summer should be great!”
• “Downtown Vancouver is not that expensive – my friend has a 380 square foot condo and only pays $1,400/month rent.”
• “My friend really wants to get a place in the states ‘cause (sic) the dollar is so strong – I told him it was a great idea and that a bunch of us should pool our money then share the profits ‘cause there is no tax as a Canadian down there.”

From the gist of the conversation it was clear than no-one at that table had any experience with even one real estate transaction, yet they were speaking in declarative statements as if their comments were written in stone. They say confidence is good, no matter how mis-informed – I disagree.

This one young lady’s declarations were so strong, her friends were accepting them as real estate gospel (even those substantially older than her). She even stated clearly that she hadn’t ever bought a property, but had read a “Ton” (sic) on it so she knows how it works. Although not lacking in confidence, what she lacks is what I call The Final 30 feet experience. Missing this critical piece to the success puzzle makes her confident declarations and opinions so very dangerous.

You’re right, a few people having a conversation about real estate is not overly “dangerous”. We all have to find our way in the world by making mistakes and learning from them. However, it does get dangerous when I start to hear misinformation and opinions coming from people calling themselves ‘real estate experts’ who also lack The Final 30 Feet experience.

The Final 30 Feet Experience

My understanding of The Final 30 Feet all began while listening to Buddy Hackett (veteran comedian) warning a young and upcoming comic on how to deal with the mountains of advice that TV executives, promoters, friends and family will give her as she builds her comedy career. Buddy’s advice was simple yet profound: “Listen politely, smile and allow them to feel helpful… then turn around and seek out and take advice only from those who have walked The Final 30 Feet.”

The obvious follow-up question was: “What do you mean the Final 30 Feet?”When I heard the answer, I saved it and have used it ever since. Buddy said:

“Only take advice from those who have walked the final and most important 30 feet from backstage to alone in front of a mic with nowhere to hide. Then, and only then, will you know the advice comes from reality and not theory. They’ll understand the emotions, the work it takes to get it right. They’ll have made the mistakes and created the laughs, not just read about how to do it.”

This truism can be transferred into any business, career or investment decision. He is, in essence, saying that there are enough inexperienced pretenders out there who can and will steer you wrong (even if they are confident that their opinions are correct). Be very careful to choose advisors whom have The Final 30 Feet experience with the subject you need input on.

Back to the conversation at Starbucks. I’m sure that young lady thought she was repeating truths; she wasn’t deliberately misleading her companions. However, without having bought, owned, managed or experienced a lot of real estate transactions in all market conditions she truly didn’t have The Final 30 Feet of experience – standing alone with the emotions and realities.

Book theory, number analysis, charts and graphs mean very little if you haven’t experienced what it really takes to be a great investor. Books, friends and ‘experts’ can give you theories, math equations, opinions and analysis, but in the end theories are just that – theories. Veteran investors know there is no theory when you are in the trenches making real life decisions.

That is why Buddy Hackett’s Final 30 Feet advice has served me so very well as I built my business and real estate portfolio into what it is today. I continually sought out people who had already achieved what I wanted to achieve, who had solved the problems I wanted to solve, and who had made the mistakes I wanted to minimize. I let the inexperienced share their theories and opinions, I politely smiled, then quickly moved on.

So as you move forward in your real estate, your investments, your life, please keep the Final 30 Feet rule in mind. If someone has real life provable experience (both good and bad) in a subject you need answers on, seek them out for advice. What you will find is that those with the Final 30 Feet experience are often more difficult to find than the empty theorists (who have never left ‘back-stage’, leaving them with lots of time to post, share and pontificate). Let these empty theorists have their say. This is your cue to smile, turn on your heel, and speak to those who have taken that critical 30 foot walk. Your business, your real estate and your ‘future you’ will thank you for it.

• 《两条腿走路: 工薪階層地產投資实例和指南》加拿大版
• 《两条腿走路: 工薪階層地產投資实例和指南》美国版

• 《北美奶爸育儿记》加拿大版
• 《北美奶爸育儿记》美国版