Q. 1 – Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans- Our business focuses on real estate investing. We do a mix of buying and selling of residential properties, land investing, and long-term property holding. We’re based out of Mt. Juliet and buy houses in and around Nashville, Clarksville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville in the great state of Tennessee.
Q. 2 – Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans- I’m a marketer by background, but I’ve also spent a lot time in the non-profit space. I think that combination of knowing how to connect our message with the world along with our desire to see the world be a better place is what shapes how we run our business.
Q. 3 – What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans- I’ve always loved real estate investing. After we returned to the States I had an opportunity to jump in on some house projects and was hooked right away. Since then we’ve been working on honing our process and model around what works best for our context. In real estate investing you constantly have to have your “head on a swivel” because the dynamics are constantly changing. We try to be thoughtful and innovative about how we approach our work.
Q. 4 – What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans- Your first deal, first step will be the hardest but you have to do it. Don’t rush out and do it haphazardly, but you have to take the first step. The second step is equally as important. With the first step, you just have one foot in, but with the second step you’re in with both feet and it’s sink or swim time. Have plan, but be flexible.
Q. 5 – What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans- Adaptability to your surroundings is a must. The world of business is constantly changing with economics, populations, culture, and disruptions, you have to always be ready to change and adapt. Commitment is a huge skill. In most entrepreneurial tests they show that it’s often just downright dogged determined people that become successful at their businesses. You have to be committed and stick with it. Lastly you have to be able to make good relationships. Sales and good relationships are the key to driving your business, especially in the first stage where you may not be able to hire a team.
Q. 6 – How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans- 8-12 depends on the week.
Q. 7 – To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans- Being adaptable and attentive to what’s going on. Building relationships and constantly looking to how we can add value.
Q. 8 – How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans- We love SEO, Adwords and social media accounts. We’ve found that combination of organic and paid traffic can be a huge boon for our business.
Q. 9 – Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans- We were self funded at first, but have recently taken on some different investors for specific projects. We work to have the investors come in on specific timelines with targeted returns. We obtained these investors through our personal relationship network (friends, family, colleagues).
Q. 10 – What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans- Stay committed and focused, but be adaptable.
Q. 11 – Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans- We hope that we’re working on the business and not in the business to the extent that it’s more of a semi-passive income stream.
Q. 12 – Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans- We really like the models of several other companies out there. Our favorite might Joe Fairless and his best ever series because he adds a lot of value to others for free.
Q. 13 – What motivates you?
Ans- We’re motivated to make a difference in the world because of our faith. This drives into doing good work, helping others, and building resources that we can use for our families and to give to other generously.
Q. 14 – What are your ideals?
Ans- We believe in honesty and the golden rule of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. We try to treat the people we work with with respect and honor, rather than just a means to an end.
Q. 15 – How do you define success?
Ans- Having enough to support ourselves and give to others. Maintaining our integrity and values above all things.
Q. 16 – What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans- When we are able to help people get out of a tough financial situation and it’s a win for all people involved.
Q. 17 – What type of culture exists in your business/company?
Ans- We put all our effort into what we do and try to have regular times of evaluating how things are going so we can move and adapt when necessary.
Q. 18 – In one word, how would you characterize your business life?
Ans- Busy
Q. 19 – If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans- I would have started doing this business sooner.
Q. 20 – What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans- Our fear is that our revenues won’t come in and we’ll be in financial trouble. We manage the fear by focusing on what we have to do in order to make our revenue figures.
Q. 21 – If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans- Jesus. Whether people “believe” in Him or not, He certainly turned the world upside down and offered us a vision for a life that is different than what convention would have us seek.
Q. 22 – Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans- Joe Fairless
23 – What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
Ans- E-myth.
Q. 24 – What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans- We’ve gotten carried away sometimes with all the hype in many of the podcasts about how others are having so much success. This has caused us to make some decisions that haven’t had the greatest financial returns.
Q. 25 – What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans- Spend time with family, serve at church and in other places, kiteboard, biking.
Q. 26 – What makes you happy?
Ans- Time with God and with my family and friends.
Q. 27 – If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
Ans- Not sure I’d add on to these questions…they’ve been great! Maybe…how does your business “give back”?
Q. 28 – What would be your answer to question 27?
Ans- We get to help people all the time with their tough financial situations and relieve a lot of stress. In some cases we’ve even gone for 0 profit or even a loss in order to help others.
Company Detail:
Company : Middle Tennessee Home Buyers
Address : 11205 Lebanon Rd, Suite 37 Mount Juliet
City : Tennessee
State : USA
Zip : 37122
Phone : (615) 492-6199
Email : reblaine@gmail.com
