A while back (20Years) an investor in my fund asked me to become CFO of a small but rapidly growing oil tool company he was CEO of. I said thank you but I really wasn’t interested. He then went on to tell me the package he was offering (half million salary, guaranteed bonus, stock options, etc) and showed an analysis his comptroller worked out concerning how much wealth I would accumulate under different scenarios. When I still declined he couldn’t understand and asked why. I said “because I’m a real estate guy”

A few years later we had financed the real estate for a fast growing chain of auto repair specialists. The CEO asked if we'd finance the equipment, as the ROI was substantial. I said no, and referred him to an equipment leasing/financing company. When he asked why we wouldn't consider equipment finance I said "because I'm a real estate guy".

Recently my business partner came across an opportunity to invest in a medical device manufacturer that he believed would create ultra significant wealth for him. He asked if I was interested in co investing with him and when I said no, he asked why I wouldn’t even look at it. I said “because I’m a real estate guy”

Yesterday, I was asked by a young(er) associate in our syndication company how I would feel if an investment that I passed on because it wasn’t real estate turned out to make everyone who invested mega rich. I said it wouldn’t affect me at all. He asked how could it not affect me? I said “because I’m a real estate guy” .