Roger's World...

Partnerships...

We all have partners in this world.  Sometimes, as in a marriage, they work for a very long time - 30, 40, 50 years or more.  Sometimes, they last for a few weeks, or less.

I've always been fascinated with people that have been able to make relationships last so long. What is the process?  Have they aligned themselves so much with the other person and their values/beliefs/dreams/goals that it just works?  Or have they sacrificed so much of their individual sense of being in order to make it work for such a long time?  Did they get comfortable, give up on their dreams?  Or, have they really figured out some secret that I have yet to understand?  While I do have some very long and very strong friendships lasting a couple of decades, they're not certainly not like a long marriage or business relationship. 

This point was made on several occasions this past week.  One partnership that was several months in development was suddenly cut short by my partner's inability to decide and to act. Fear gripped this man, fear of losing money. So many 'what if's' occupied his thinking, that he was paralyzed from the head down. I saw it coming for a few days, and finally had to cut it off - it was a waste of time. And if I continued to nurture a person gripped by fear, I knew that I, too, would begin to fall into the same trap. So the dissolution comes with a few more lessons learned, and new opportunities unearthed.  For this I'm grateful, and re-energized!

As I continue to build my company, and grow as person, I look forward to all of the lessons that each partnership - the ones lasting a couple of minutes (like meeting people at Starbucks) or ones lasting a lifetime (people I've already known for decades) - will provide - If I'm able to keep an attitude of gratitude, and to continually ask myself the question: "What's GREAT about this??"

Please share your thoughts and insights...

Offers, Offers, Offers....

The last 2 weeks have been pretty busy in terms of the offers I'm sending out.  The big one is a 185 multi-family property near Dallas TX.  If the numbers work out, this might be a great project for me and my investors.  I'll reiterate - it MIGHT be a great project.  The reason for the skepticism is because 1) I don't know that specific area too well; 2) A trusted colleague of my cousin DOES know the area, and the industry very, very well, and was none too impressed with it.  So as I've learned long, long ago - never get emotionally invested in a property.  Ever.  This way, if it works, then great, you'll make money (hopefully!).  If it doesn't work, then the most important word to know is: Next.  Despite what some new investors believe, there is always - ALWAYS another property, and probably better than the one you were looking at.

The other property I put an offer on was another condo in the same little area of Palm Desert CA. Our 6th in this great little area. The condo does need a bit of work, but that's something I've done a bunch of.  My partner and I are very interested in these 'base hits' as my cousin calls them, to help the down time, and to build a bit of working capital for the larger projects like the multi-family units I'm interested in buying.

So in the last 6 weeks, I've put out about 6 offers on various properties - which I feel is not a lot.  But I'm amping it up.  I would ideally, like to submit 3 offers a week on either multi- or single- family properties.  This is a numbers game, and the more you offer, the more get accepted. For the other investors out there - keep it up - keep making those offers.  Something will work and you'll start making more money!

And, once again, we're always looking for partners on these projects, and willing to give up a larger portion of equity on the larger projects. If you're interested send me an email - or visit my site http://JBBHoldings.com to find out more about partnering with me. Yes - I can also help you with your deflated IRA and get it working for you, not working against you. Email me now to find out more!

And  - Keep making offers - its the ONLY way you'll get them accepted!

One of THOSE days...

Yesterday was one of those days.  One of those days that you remember where you were, what you were doing, oh so long ago. The day and place when you found out ‘The News’.  Kennedy (I wasn’t here yet). The space shuttle (each one). 911.


August 5th marks the sad anniversary of Jeff Porcaro’s passing. You may not know the name, but you’ve heard the drumming. You’ve felt the groove, You’ve heard it since you were young, and not for anything new for 17 years.


I feel the need to elaborate on who this guy was… and still is.

Jeff was one of the finest drummers of the modern age.  Respected by absolutely everyone for his abilities, and they were numerous, he is known as a musician’s musician of the highest caliber. Sony & Cher at 17, Boz Scaggs at 22, Toto, Don Henley, the Bee Gees, Steely Dan… Google him and find out for whom else he played.  You’ll get a small idea of this genius.
 I say a small idea, because if you’re not a musician, or more so, a drummer, some of what makes Jeff’s playing so special might be lost on you.  A young drummer once said that “It was easy to play those songs.  It’s nothing special.”  He hadn’t yet figured out that it has nothing to do with the amount of notes you play, but how you play each note.  And then I started to understand it.  I started to hear what it was all about.  Just about that time, Jeff passed on. He was 38. Just 3 years younger than I am today.  While I was at Berklee, I had the rarest of rare opportunities: to actually play one of His drum sets!  A red Gretsch kit with a 20’ bass drum.  My friend Abe Laboriel Jr. was close to him - Jeff was a teacher/mentor and allowed Abe the use of his kit while at Berklee.  I got to help set it up many times.  It truly was an honor.  I really wish I would’ve been a better player!  Maybe I’ll get another chance someday.


So I’ve been watching him on youtube quite a bit.  Have a listen:


None of us will ever be that good. OK - maybe if you’re Steve Gadd and you’re reading this - but nobody else.  Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE on the planet will agree with that, unless they’re on some drug that alters perception/reality. But they’ll sober up and I hope and pray that they’ll get it.  Just as I did 17 years ago.