Glen Armstrong is a property investor and consultant, best known for helping hundreds of people invest in property. Ahead of the launch of his new book, You Too Can Become A Property Millionaire, Armstrong shares his top tips for entrepreneurs.
1. Streamline your processes and systems
If you know that your office systems, accounting system, bookkeeping and property management are running smoothly, you can concentrate on those IGT (income generating tasks) of the business. Getting bogged down in penny tasks simply steals your time – and that is far too valuable to waste!
2. Change your mindset
Remove yourself from everyday noise. If that means employing a Virtual Assistant, then go for it. Success is not about just following a formula or having a proven strategy; it is equally about the sort of person you are, your values, and your mindset. Many of us have been unhelpfully programmed by negative relatives or childhood experiences which can stand in the way of us achieving their full potential.
3. Enter the No Excuse Zone and rewrite your story
What is your story?
We all have one. Our story is what we tell people to justify the fact that where we are today is not our fault, it was somebody else’s. If it wasn’t for them, for the economy, for the change in the market or whatever, we would now be successful. Oh yes! But before you tell your story again, and get those knowing nods and sympathetic words from the people around you, I have to tell you that is a No Excuse Zone. Please leave your story behind and leave your excuses in the cloakroom; this is not the place for them.
You probably don’t want to hear this, but you are who you are, where you are and what you are as a result of all the hundreds and thousands of decisions you have taken over the years. Every time you chose the easy option, rather than the right option, every time you bottled it, every time you didn’t do what your gut was telling you that you should, has brought you to this moment. Each decision builds on the previous one, and that is why you are here.
But here is the good news. The past is the past. There is no use looking back and saying, “If only…” It is too late! What you can change is your future. What happens from here on, you can do differently – if you choose to!
4. Rely on your own good judgement
I always say that the secret to success is having good judgement. In my workshops and training events, people ask me, “So where can I learn to have good judgement?” to which I reply, “Good judgement comes from experience.” They then ask, “So where can I get experience?” You get experience from making poor judgements and making mistakes – and learning from them. Of course, another way to reduce your mistakes is to learn from a mentor and to learn from their experience.
5. Work with a mentor you respect and trust
You can attend courses and conferences and feel inspired and motivated at the time, but then you get home and distracted by work and daily life. Your good intentions are lost. To help you stay focused, group mentorship programmes provide ongoing support and training. They are a combination of education, brainstorming, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen your business and personal skills. You can also work on a one-to-one basis with your mentor to develop a personal business plan, set goals and objectives, and monitor and discuss problems, obstacles, and successes. Review your previous goals and achievements, and keep you going when times get tough.
Glenn Armstrong is the director of Property Investment Training Company and lives in Milton Keynes. He has a track record of entrepreneurialism, and his rags to riches experience, and learnings along the way, are detailed in his new book: You Too Can Become A Property Millionaire.
