Starting and managing a business is not for me. Thoughts?

[Todd Hensy]

Hey fellas!

I have been in engaged in deep reflection and being honest with myself as to why I want to buy apartments and multiplexes.  I discovered that buying apartments or multiplexes is not a good fit for my personality. The reason is because I don't like to “manage things.”  Even if I got a property management company to manage it. I would have to manage them.

Managing causes me a lot of stress and anxiety. Some are very good at managing and others fail at it.

I remember being a teacher years ago and I disliked it because most of the job entailed managing students, attending meetings, grading papers, attending parent-teacher conferences, coaching basketball, managing my time, and managing my classroom.

Teaching was like running a business 24/7.  I wasn't an effective classroom manager, however I was a decent teacher. But being a full time teacher/manager was not a good fit for me. The kids loved me, but the stress was enormous. I didn't feel comfortable with it.

After I left teaching in 2011 I felt the weight of a 100lb pack taken off me. I did return to substitute teaching and loved that much better. At the end of the day---my day was done.  No grading papers, no coaching, no managing, and no calling parents. There is no managing as a substitute teacher--except for making sure the students stay on task, are behaving etc.(some light managing). I am a good fit for substitute teaching.

So after much reflection........

I would rather “do something” and walk away from it at end of the day. I want to set it and forget it.

Create something and sell it.

Example side jobs include.....driving a limo, acting a role in a movie, substitute teaching a class, performing in a sales role, and creating something and selling it.

Ironically some people are born managers. Some learn managing and enjoy it. I am neither.

About 10 years ago I was offered a sales position for a company and excelled at it and enjoyed it. After 1 year they promoted me to manager. I failed miserably. 

This is the same for real estate. In real estate you have to "manage your property" or you will fail. Even if you get a property management company--you have to know what they are doing. 

So what are some good properties to invest in that offers ZERO managing? I like making deals. I just don't care for managing them. 

I know "as to why" I invest in the stock market. 

Thanks folks.

[Tamiel Kenney]

@Todd Hensy  Hi Jack!!  If you don’t want to manage properties or the property management company, you have a couple options.

1) Just invest passively, but if you do this you will have very little input on anything as the deal sponsor/lead investor will be the one making the decisions and you won’t be involved much in finding deals or negotiating them.

2) Become a deal sponsor yourself -- where you find deals, negotiate the deal, raise money, etc…but have a partner that you trust that likes and knows how to manage the property management company. There is nothing to say you can’t turn over the asset management to someone else.  You can be a lead investor...but then bring in someone else to be the asset manager of the property after you close on the deal.  Let me know if you need more clarity how this could be structured so you will have passive equity in the deal while someone else manages the managers.

Happy Investing!!!