Just Start Real Estate with Mike Simmons

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Today I want to talk about something that was impressed upon me very early on in my career and that I still think is incredibly important. I'm talking about being a connector.

Real estate is a very social industry and there are always people who need help with something and people who have someone in their network who can be of assistance. A connector is someone in the middle between an individual who has a need and an individual or company that can solve that need. The best connections are ones that are mutually beneficial to both the person in need and the person with a solution.

My mentor is an incredible networker and he  mentored many people in my local real estate community. He knew that everyone had their strengths and weaknesses and he was able to connect people. On more than one occasion, he connected me with people who could help me with something in my business or with people who I had the ability to help.

I always make an effort to connect people who would benefit from knowing each other. Today, I had a listener contact me through email asking for help starting his business. I'm always excited to help my listeners take their first steps in the business. This particular listener was interested in investing in big multi-family buildings or commercial properties. That's not my area of expertise, but luckily I interview many very successful investors on this podcast, so I was able to put him in touch with one of my past guests, who would be able to give him great information and guidance.

Coincidentally, today someone I know in the industry connected someone to me who they felt I could help. And not only can I benefit this person, but they will also be helpful to me and my business. It was a great win-win connection, and I look forward to sharing more information about it on the show.

Now, as much as you should always try to help people who reach out to you, the worse thing you can do is pretend to have knowledge that you don't have. A new investor seeking your help is at your mercy in many ways, and they don't know if the advice you're giving them is valid and valuable. If you fake expertise, you're not only hurting that person that you're supposed to be helping, but it will almost certainly reflect poorly on you. This industry is a small place and you always want to be making friends.

When you are a connector and you connect two people for the mutual benefit of both, it elevates your status with each of them. I always appreciate when people recommend me to others or offer me a recommendation for a specific need. Everyone wants to be associated with a connector.

More episodes from Just Start Real Estate with Mike Simmons