Conversations Changed My Life

Conversations Changed My Life

Wholesaler · Charleston WV · Member since 2026 · 219 posts · 120 votes

A few years ago, I was working a full-time job, delivering pizzas, and trying to figure out how to build something bigger for myself.

I didn't come from a real estate family.

I didn't have a huge network.

I didn't have a lot of money.

What I did have was a willingness to learn, take action, and keep going when things didn't work the first time.

Along the way, I learned something that changed everything:

Deals don't come from knowing the most.

Deals come from conversations.

The better I got at talking to people, following up, building relationships, and understanding what sellers actually needed, the more opportunities started showing up.

Today, I've had the opportunity to work with homeowners, investors, agents, and entrepreneurs across multiple markets.

I've built partnerships, helped people solve property problems, and launched a small group to help other investors in overlooked markets realize they can build something real too.

I'm still learning.

Still growing.

Still making mistakes.

But if there's one thing I've learned, it's this:

You don't have to start with everything figured out.

You just have to start.

What's one thing you've accomplished that seemed impossible a few years ago?

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Victor PatelBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2022 · 133 posts · 86 votes
1mo

Great post. One thing I'd add is that consistency beats talent in this business.

Over 30 years ago, I came to the U.S. as an immigrant with very little. I worked full time while attending college full time, paid international tuition, and spent years navigating immigration challenges. Real estate wasn't an overnight success—it was built one conversation, one relationship, and one setback at a time.

Looking back, what once seemed impossible wasn't buying investment properties or becoming a broker. It was simply believing I could build a life that looked completely different from where I started.

For anyone just starting out: don't compare your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 20. Keep learning, keep showing up, and keep talking to people. You never know which conversation will change the trajectory of your life.

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  • MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    3mo

    Great post and many congratulations for taking charge of your future without family assistance or guidance. I've always said networking may sound corny but without that inside advantage from contacts I have nurtured I wouldn't have made nearly as much at my job or with my RE investments. 

  • G. Brian DavisPro Member
    Investor · Hatboro, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 842 votes
    3mo

    That’s exactly it.

    For me, it was figuring out how to get started in real estate with almost no experience. At the time, it felt impossible, but having conversations, asking questions, and taking action got things moving. It’s never about knowing everything up front; it’s about starting and learning as you go.

  • Wholesaler · NM · Member since 2026 · 14 posts · 7 votes
    2mo

    Glad on your progress Travis.

  • Victor PatelBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2022 · 133 posts · 86 votes
    1mo

    Great post. One thing I'd add is that consistency beats talent in this business.

    Over 30 years ago, I came to the U.S. as an immigrant with very little. I worked full time while attending college full time, paid international tuition, and spent years navigating immigration challenges. Real estate wasn't an overnight success—it was built one conversation, one relationship, and one setback at a time.

    Looking back, what once seemed impossible wasn't buying investment properties or becoming a broker. It was simply believing I could build a life that looked completely different from where I started.

    For anyone just starting out: don't compare your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 20. Keep learning, keep showing up, and keep talking to people. You never know which conversation will change the trajectory of your life.

  • Danielle DalyPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
    1mo

    Travis - this is such an inspiring post! Thank for sharing. This sentence really stood out to me: 

    "What I did have was a willingness to learn, take action, and keep going when things didn't work the first time."

    That my friend will take you far!

    Deals do indeed come from conversations as you mentioned. When I started investing several years ago, I knew absolutely NOTHING about real estate yet decided I was going to buy a house and utilize the house hacking strategy (which I learned from BiggerPockets). 4 years and a few properties later, I think back to the early days of learning about real estate and there's no doubt I learned the most from talking to other investors at meetups! 

    Best of luck as you continue along the path!

  • Member since 2022 · 66 posts · 68 votes
    1mo
    Everything worthwhile I've ever accomplished seemed impossible at one point.  When I was cleaning cars in my parents driveway with windex and turtle wax I borrowed from my Dad, having my own business seemed impossible.  When I established my business in 1996, building a cash reserve and buying property for a car wash seemed impossible.  When I convinced a bank to fund a new car wash build, coming up with the first mortgage payment seemed impossible.  When I was evicted from my rented car detailing garage and my business partner left abruptly with no notice, continuing alone seemed impossible.  When I found my first 8 plex, completing the deal seemed impossible.  When I found my 6 plex, obtaining owner financing seemed impossible.  When I refinanced with them recently, instead of using a bank, I thought: 'is this gonna be possible???".

    When you have drive and commitment, you find a way to make things work.  You drive to your business 7 days a week for decades, until you finally can cut back to 6.  Once you cut back to 6, you endure customer comments like : " i never see you here anymore!! must be nice to be the boss!!".  ( you should come by on Sundays and see me then!).
  • Amit PatelBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Bartlett, IL · Member since 2025 · 141 posts · 57 votes
    1mo

    That is a powerful reminder. Conversations and consistent follow up really do open more doors than any single strategy or piece of knowledge.

    One thing that felt impossible years ago was building a property management operation that could reliably serve both local and out of state owners while keeping the day to day manageable. At the start it seemed like every new property brought a new set of problems and it was hard to see how the systems and relationships would ever scale. Looking back, the steady conversations with owners, tenants, vendors, and other investors were what made the difference.

    Still learning and adjusting every year, but the progress comes from staying in those conversations and treating people well over time.

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