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Posted over 7 years ago

I Probably Don’t Want Your Business.

     There are articles and posts almost everywhere offering tips on how to reach more customers or get more people to click through to your copy. You have seen the headlines that use the pattern. You can see great examples on the tabloids at the checkout line of the supermarket. They are quite common because they work. Examples certainly do well on this site: 15 Reasons Why You’re Not Rich, The 3 Mistakes Even Wealthy People Make, The Truth About Investing, The Best Advice About blah, blah blah…. If your goal is to increase your views or sell advertising space these are the best types of headlines to use. If your goal is to rise in the search rankings or gather more comments—use these types of headlines. They work.

     I never use these types of headlines. Why? It isn’t because I don’t like seeing that my articles received a lot of views or comments—I do. It is fun watching the numbers rise when I post a popular blog. It isn’t because I don’t appreciate when someone clicks through or signs up for a program through my affiliate link (I only have one). Getting checks one wasn’t expecting never gets old. It is because that is not the primary reason I post my blogs. I am posting to share a bit about the way I look at business and, hopefully, to help someone with an interest in my topic of the day. I am not trolling for customers but I may be open to meeting a partner.

     Some of my blog articles, maybe this one, will alienate a fair number of people who read them. I am giving potential partners a look at what they might be getting if they contact me. Those who think they wouldn’t be a good fit with my style are probably right. If my writing discourages them from contacting me—I can live with that. I prefer long term partners, people that recognize my strengths and weaknesses, people who want and appreciate honest answers, people who give honest answers in return. If you are just starting out I am usually happy to help by answering some questions but I have neither the time nor the inclination to work with people who are not willing to accept advice if it does not agree with their ill-informed opinion or, to at least to take the advice seriously. (Discard it if you wish, I certainly am not an expert on most things, but if you seek my advice and ignore it or ask the same question multiple times hoping that I will finally give you the answer you were seeking you will be disappointed.) If you are a rookie I am probably not a good partner for you. It doesn’t hurt to introduce yourself but you will have better results if you wait until you have completed a few projects successfully before you pitch me one.

     Investing relationships are more than just one time sales to me. They are enduring. They lead to levels of trust which allow my partners and I to place large sums of money at risk on complicated projects. I prefer to work with people I know. Often, they are people I have met at REIA meetings. They are people who share their successes and failures openly. They are people who are helpful. They are people who show that they can trust their partners. They are people who are able to complete projects even if they take an adverse turn. I am not looking to work with someone who is attracted by a click bait headline. I am not looking to work with someone whose feelings are easily hurt by honest criticism nor with someone who cannot reach a fair resolution if a dispute arises. If that is you, I probably don’t want your business.



Comments (4)

  1. @Jeff Rabinowitz

    I share your view on partnerships.  I've very recently entered into a couple of purchases a City over with a couple of young fellows I met through BP ... this was after several months of getting to know one another.

    I am more interested in working with folks who have complimentary views, skills and experience and whose investing objectives, if not congruent, are at least not tangental to mine, than I am with having partners roll in with a chequebook.  


    1. @Roy N., we live on different sides of a border but we are not all that far away from each other. In the unlikely event you start investing on my side please look me up. I have considered investing on your side a few times (primarily to increase my options should I decide to move quickly) but I am not likely to pull that trigger.


  2. I have seen you at the MREIA and am looking forward to more stories with Jeff on the podcasts. Your name comes up every where I go it seems, so one day I hope to be able and bring you a deal. I would like to meet with you just to get a feel for what you really like, it seems you are in to everything. 

    As far as the writing above, that really chimes though with me. I really don't like most people so it makes this business a little tougher for me but I figure that means the relationships I do create will be good ones, instead of trying to make everyone happy


    1. Wow, Josh. Thanks for your kind words. MREIA is one of the REIA meetings that I attend frequently. I have been fortunate to have known Wendy for a while. I was at the Renegade Detroit Investors meeting yesterday. There are 2 other REIAs I also attend frequently. Please introduce yourself next time we cross paths--I am usually fairly easy to pick out of a crowd. If there is an opportunity to do business that would be great.

      As far as Storytime With Jeff. The first episode appears to have been well received. I expect another edition will be published Thursday. (I know you are familiar with my Damn the Recession facebook page--I plan to post links there.) The format will revert to my original concept for the podcast after that. (I deviated from my concept on the first episode--that is actually fitting for me.) If there is interest this may become a regular feature.