Transcription
I heard that you started investing in property when you were 17. Is that right? >> That 17. Yeah. >> Can you tell? >> It feels like a long time ago. >> How does a 17-year-old start investing in property? I started work the week I turned 16. It was my mom really helping me realize that it was time. And [music] I just realized, okay, it's time. It's my turn really. As of today, we have five service accommodation apartments. [music] And then we also have a hotel that has 11 bedrooms split across two buildings. Turnover, we're averaging [music] around 30 a month. >> Wow. >> And then profit wise, it's averaging 9,600 over the year. And I think that it's really important, no matter what your age you are, to just start. There's no too old or there's no too young. You just have to start and you have to keep going.
Hello and welcome to Samuel Lead Success Stories. I'm here with my very good friend Rosie Highland. Um, thanks so much for joining us today, Rosie. How are you feeling? >> I'm feeling really good. >> Yes. You've always had this really calm demeanor, which is what I really like about you. >> Thank you. Hard work done. [laughter] >> Uh, okay. So, great. So much to talk about, so much to unpack here. We're going to start off with um sort of before you joined the academy. Um, you know, I sat down with your mom, Ashley, last month, and we went through her story, which was really cool. So, if you haven't seen it, um please do go back and watch um Ashley Highland's uh success stories. And um something that I found was really interesting which I didn't know >> was that you were homeschooled. >> I know. It's a crazy fact, isn't it? >> It is. And you guys don't really talk about it that much. And you know, Samuel and Russell and Tiffany talk about homeschooling a lot. I find it fascinating. I don't have kids. Um, so I always thought it was um I always sort of had this preconception of what homeschooling was and then just seeing the leads as children. Um, there's nine of them now. Um, you know, so yeah, >> they're so sweet, respectful, um, and social and um, you know, smart. >> Uh, and and so it was really great when Ashley told me about you. And it was really great when Ashley told me that um, she had homeschooled you guys because I'm like, "Oh, well, I know Rosie." And it's really cool to see somebody as a grown adult. So, if you don't mind, can you just tell us a little bit about what that was like growing up? >> Of course, I can. It was such a great experience being homeschooled because it gives you the freedom to really focus down on the subjects that you know you're really going to benefit from while you still get to learn all the core values and like all the essential things, you know, like math, English, you're still always going to need. Math, improperity, they're like buddies, you know? >> Yeah. Um, [snorts] but something I was really interested in when I was a kid was like lots of history. So what was great about homeschooling is that if you wanted to go to a museum or to go to a certain historic place, you didn't have to go on a school trip. So you could actually go enjoy the place. And like there was this great time where we were going to so many museums and we'd essentially get like private tours could be we'd go during the weekdays and there'd be no one there. It' just be the tour operator like do you guys want a little free tour? >> Yes. It was so cool. It was absolutely brilliant. >> Oh, that is really cool. I didn't even think about that aspect of the freedom during the week to go >> all the offseason holidays as well. Like going to these amazing places as a child. Like I've traveled all across Europe. It's it's one of my favorite spots to go to like France, Barcelona, Greece, Greek food. >> It's brilliant. >> Yep. Well, that's really cool. And um now you're a fully grown adult, just turned 20. >> I know. This is really all so crazy. Okay, so um I heard that you started investing in property when you were 17. Is that right? >> That 17. Yeah. >> Can you tell? >> It feels like a long time ago. [laughter] >> It's absolutely crazy. >> Okay. So, can you just tell us a little bit like how does a 17-year-old start investing in property? >> Well, the reason I was able to invest so young is because I started work the week I turned 16. Week I got my first bank account bank account job and I just grew from there. I shifted around from a few places where like like everybody's first job you start in hospitality like a cafe or something simple like that. >> Yeah. >> I did that for a little while and then I was poached from there to work a digital marketing apprenticeship and that was absolutely amazing. It sort of unlocked a whole different um work space for me where I could be more creative in an actual like corporate environment which I thought was so interesting when I was so young as well cuz no one ever really could figure out how old I was. >> I used to have such long hair as well and it was like I'd be wearing actually this shirt cuz it's one of my favorites and I go in type on my little laptop all day and just get to be creative in that space and it was quite cool. And then I moved on to like different projects with different companies and I found a really um really well-paying job actually when I was 17 and I stayed there for quite a while um up until I left there to do property full-time and that's how I funded some of my first few projects. >> Okay. So tell me about what was your first project then? >> My first project was with Ashley, my mom. She's my business partner. We went in together on our first service accommodation units. I was in this lovely town called Lewis, a beautiful teabed. Um, is that in Brighton? >> No. So, Lewis is in Sussex. It's just outside of Brighton. It's very like a little historic town. >> And we we started that one together >> and it was a beautiful spot. We didn't end up keeping it just because of a contractual issue which um we learned from that mistake. It's never happened again. But um it was just a really really good experience to then build the foundations for keep growing and growing. We were able to build from there. >> Yeah. And it was a rent to rent. >> It was a rent to rent. >> How many bedrooms? >> It was two. >> And so what kind of turnover did it have? Did it make? >> Well, we only had it for three weeks. >> Oh, okay. [laughter] >> That's where it was a little bit annoying. [gasps] >> Yeah. >> So, we had it we essentially really had to fix it up cuz it was um [snorts] sort of just a bit worn. >> Yeah. >> But once it was repainted and like just had a little bit of TLC, it >> was beautiful. It was like it was in a very historic building. So it had these nice original features and the view across like Lewis town was very beautiful. >> But um since we left that project, we then got lots of experience in a very short time. So we took all the furniture and all the finishings that we put in and then put it straight into another service accommodation unit and just kept moving forward. >> Right. >> Because you can't stop you can't stand still. >> No, definitely not. If you're standing still, you're almost going backwards, right? >> Exactly. >> So yeah, that's great. And you have to learn from your experiences, right? Your mistakes, the good stuff, the bad stuff. Learn from everybody else and then, you know, get the next deal. Get the next deal and and scale and get a slightly bigger deal and a slightly bigger deal. And we'll talk about your bigger deals that you're dealing with now in just a bit. Um, so yeah, that's great.
You know what? I remember when um you know I've [snorts] known your mom for a few years now and Ashley would hop up on stage and she would talk about heritage properties >> and um historic properties and I loved gray two listed everything even though it's like all red flag stuff for investment purposes but I'm like they're just so gorgeous. >> Um is it hard to differentiate you know how Samuel says um it's formulas over feelings. Is that hard to do? It was it was for me. It was at the start, I would lie to you. Because I'd see such a gorgeous old place and fall in love with it, but then it wouldn't stack. >> Yeah. >> Some of them would, but some of them wouldn't. And it really is a numbers game where if it's not perfect, you just move on. >> Mhm. >> It's a numbers game. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Keep finding the next one, the next one, the next one, until you find one that you love with. And the numbers stack and then it's like it's the magic property. You've got one. >> Yeah. Great. Okay. And then you join the academy, right? Yeah. >> And so was that was that your mom saying you have to, you have to or was that you saying I want to, I want to? >> It was a mix of both. It was my mom really helping me realize that it was time cuz I had been in property um probably for about a year just in between my job cuz I was working full-time um while we did our first couple of units. And I got to this point where it was so busy. I was working all the time and I just realized, okay, it's time. It's my turn really to join and get the training. That were on the same level like with education wise and that it just really helped so much. Honestly, if I had been outside of the academy but still on the same track, I wouldn't have grown as quickly as I could have. I'd be 25 sitting here probably. >> Mhm. So, just for summary purposes, how many properties do you have managing, purchased? What does that all look like in [snorts] a in like a one-s sentence snapshot? >> That is a great question and it's one of my favorites. So, as of today, we have five service accommodation apartments. And then we also have a hotel that has 11 bedrooms split across two buildings, nine in one, which is by the seafront, and then four in the other one where I've got my apartment block on the top and rooms on the bottom. And we also have a BRR project we're doing for a client where we found them this beautiful heritage property >> and we're going to project manage the refurb over this winter as a little project. >> Is it hard to hand over those properties to an investor and not take them on for yourself? >> Oh my god, that one was >> Yeah. >> Oh, it was so beautiful. >> Oh, [sighs] >> but then I I still get to be involved in it. And this client as well, I'll tell you, he's such a lovely person and he's someone who's been staying in one of our units for like nine months, nearly a year now. And we've grown this really good relationship and it's just a wonderful collaboration where I can be involved in him moving back to the UK cuz he's from Australia. He used to live here, >> but he moved to Australia for love and then they passed away and so he came back >> to, you know, be back in his hometown. >> Yeah. This city and just being able to really be involved and just see how much he can grow and build his community again. It's wonderful. >> Back in the UK. >> Back in the UK. Does he have multiple properties or is this kind of his first investment adventure? [snorts] >> It's the first house he's owned, but he has had like multiple business. So, okay. >> So, he's he's on the same level as us, right? >> Like couple years down the line. So if this works out, he could possibly continue purchasing properties where you would continue sourcing and managing. >> Great. Okay. You know, it just takes that into contact with him. Yeah, >> he's a brilliant guy. >> Amazing. Okay. So, what kind of um what kind of, you know, profit are you and Ashley making a month from all of your different lines of property businesses? >> Okay. So, turnover, we're averaging around 30 a month. >> Wow. And then profit wise is averaging 9,600 over the year. >> Yeah, that's normally how it works out, isn’t it? Especially because our outgoings are so high, aren't they? >> Oh my gosh, with all my rent to rents, rent is is my biggest expense. >> I had a property for where the rent was £3,900 a month. >> And anyways, I don't want to talk about that property anymore, but needless to say, I don't have it um anymore. But yeah, you know, like those those expenses can get out of hand. What kind of tips could you give somebody who doesn't have your kind of experience to help manage our expenses? >> From a rentto- rent perspective, your main outgoing is obviously rent. But one other really big one is your cleaning fees. >> So, I've been quite smart with it from, and I've learned from experience about using cleaning companies, which will cost you more, but it'll be less hassle. You'll be a little bit more hands-off. I'm very hands-on with my projects. Like, at the minute, I cannot be replaced, and Ashley cannot be replaced. And that's something we're working on systemizing over the winter. >> But cleaning costs. So I hire all my cleaners directs. I've got 14 lovely cleaners now. >> Oh my gosh. >> Most of them are students. >> They're like contractors, individual. Okay. >> Yeah. So they they're all self-employed and then they invoice me for their work, but I tell them how much we pay them. Yeah. >> So we've got a price list. >> Yeah. >> And you said they're students mostly. So do you go out and advertise at the local schools? I do. Universities. >> Well, not at the specific universities. What I did is I made a poster, some proper oldfashioned marketing. [laughter] I made a poster on Canva and I used a really cool template and I said students wanted for cleaning jobs and I put my personal number on it. >> Yeah. >> And I went down some of the like really popular cafe shoots in Brighton. >> Very trendy where all the young people hang out. >> Yeah. >> And I handed it out to all of the people that I could find where they would take one. >> You physically handed them out? >> Physically handed them out. >> Oh, that is old school. And I made posters as well and asked, "Would you mind taking a few of these? Do you have any flatmates? Do you have any friends who are looking for work?" You know, most of them said yes. But um all of them took something either a poster to put in the window or some flyers to hand out for people. >> Oh, great. And that's where you, you know, accumulated the majority of your cleaning staff. >> And is it hard to manage so many different people? Like isn't it like hiring like 14 different companies instead of like, wouldn't it be easier just to deal with one person? >> It is. But one of the reasons we hire so many people is because I really wanted to give back and give people the opportunity to work in the industry that I am because finding a job when you're like that age, 16, 17. Some of my workers are like they're 16, 17 years old, but they're brilliant because they're so ready for work and some of them is their first job. But I wanted to make sure that I'm supporting the younger generation, >> right? >> I say the younger generation, I am the younger generation. >> You just [laughter] became not a teenager. So, oh my gosh, >> but you are, you know, you are more than your years. So, um well, that that's really great. And you know what, that's a really great tip for other people, too, because you know, the the thousands of people in the academy and one of the biggest um uh I guess um >> difficulties running a service accommodation comes down to the cleaning team. Very big. Yeah, we're so dependent on them and the costs can get out of hand, too. >> So, uh Well, that's great. Okay, perfect. Um I have a question. Um you [laughter] so um coming into the academy as the daughter of somebody who everybody knows. [laughter] >> Was it difficult to come out of Ashley's shadow and and build a brand for yourself and identity for yourself? >> To be honest, Ashley made that very easy for me. She was really, really good. And something some people have picked up on as well is I don't call her mom when we're at work. >> I know. I noticed that. >> And some people find that really funny, but like when we're at work, she's not my mom. She's actually >> yes >> when I'm when we're at work I'm not Rosie my daughter it's Rosie >> um but she did make it quite easy in that aspect where she was really supportive but she didn't cuddle me which I think was very very important so I wasn't stuck by her side but I was welcome to come and find her during networking things where if I wanted to in be introduced to people she was talking to I could go and say hi or if she wanted to come speak to the group that I was connecting with she could obviously come and say hi to me as well >> just while we were networking and connecting with all these brilliant people. It It was actually pretty okay to come out of my shell and just [clears throat] >> sort of keep going and just really >> I don't know the word for it. Just >> it flowed. >> Yeah. >> It had flow. So that's good way to say it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um and that's great. And I think that really boils down to the mutual respect you both have for each other, right? Massive respect, >> right? She doesn't treat you like a child and you don't treat her like a overbearing mom. [laughter] You are friends. >> I think that's great. Um, and so when you started working together, right? >> Um, did you ever butt heads? Were there any big, [laughter] oh, I want to hear it. Give me the juicy juicy gossip of what it's like to work with your mom. >> It's really really fun and we make each other laugh a lot. So, we don't have to worry about each other's egos as well when we're like talking to each other, which if you work with new business partners, you know, you're going to have that that period of like bit, how are they going to react to this? Oh, what are they going to say? H. So, it takes out all that indecision where she and I, we're able to decide on something straight away. We're like, "Okay, I think this, you think this, let's do this." Some of the things we do heads on is design aspects. >> Yeah, totally. >> So, for this [laughter] for this BRR project we're going to be doing for this lovely person or for [snorts] some of our service accommodation units, paint colors is a thing. >> So, I we'll choose two very similar colors and I found we will always disagree on them. >> Really? >> Yeah. Colors. [laughter] >> Colors are very important. >> Colors are very important. They make the space. See, I like color drenching, which is a term where you paint >> every single thing inside the room, like the back of the door, the skirting, the crown molding, the ceiling the same color, and it just really makes the space feel bigger >> because some of our units are a little bit smaller or they're more heritage properties where like it's different design or like in the building we're in, you know, it's very tutorish. We've got some Victorian places. You got to be creative with space. Yeah. >> So, color drenching is a really good way to just maximize like the feel of the room. >> Mhm. >> But yeah, sometimes you but on paint colors, but it always gets worked out and then the best color comes out on top, not whoever pushes their opinion forward, >> which is really good. Um, it's never anything really serious with our heads on. It's all smaller things that will have a big impact on the projects that we're doing together, but it's not it's never a shouting match, which is good. >> Right. [laughter] Do you work all day every day? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We all do, don't we? But the greatest part is that we love it. >> I do. It's very rewarding. >> Right. >> Very, very. So, like even when I'm at this c the um [snorts] the service accommodation course this week, I'm helping out with a few of the training advisers. It's stuff like where I'll have to step out, take a call because we've got a guest who's having a few issues and stuff like that and I'm going to have to forward their number to Ashley so that she can help out while I'm not there this week. >> And cuz she's working my job >> she she's doing two things. >> So that's really interesting. So I was wondering who does what. Do you do you have it written down or do you just have an understanding? >> We should have it written down and I recommend that to anyone that's going into a partnership. >> Yeah. >> Write it down. Have a contract. >> Mhm. Um, but we don't we don't have any, which we should we should for convenience wise. >> How do you split the profit? Is it 50/50? Does one person do more than the other? Are you both equal amounts of cash investment in >> cash investment? I believe we're around even for our projects. Some of it I've invested into one thing, some of it she's invested into other thing with family money. Um, [snorts] profits wise, most of it we've kept in the business for now, just so we can do more things. So, that's how we were able to take on our lovely hotel in Brighton. >> We're able to keep profits in our, you know, service accommodation business over like the last year and a half and then put that money towards taking it on. >> So, that that's been our strategy, but we use our business to take the stress out of our lives quite a lot. So a really simple things like paying for the window cleaners out the business >> because that can be done as business expense. >> Yeah. >> So stuff like that. >> Um so now that you've got your very [snorts] solid portfolio of properties, um what is in the future for you? Um what kind of projects do you want to look at? >> That's a really good question. We want to buy something. >> Yeah. >> I'm not sure what, but we know that's on the cards for us in the spring and then over the winter we're going to be looking at a few more service accommodation units. The ones that we choose not to take on but there are still really good deals we'll be passing along to friends and selling us deals. So you got to keep an eye out for that. Great. >> So you'll see us doing that over the winter as well. >> Yeah. >> And then we're systemizing the business that we currently have to free up our time. So we're going to have time. >> We're going to have a bit more freedom with money and it's just it's going to flourish. >> Right. >> Yeah. You mentioned um packaging and selling deals and um so I heard that you sold how many deals? Three deals. >> Three deals. Yes. >> And you made how much from three deals sourcing? >> 25,000 selling three deals. >> Like that's insane. Okay. You have to tell us how you did that. What kind of deals were they? >> Okay. So, two service accommodation deals and the BR project. >> Okay. >> We found these two service accommodation units. They were both two beds in the same building and they were two-bedroom apartments converted from a commercial unit. [snorts] And the land lady is our landlady's land lady. So that that natural connection was just there. >> Our land lady to land lady. >> I know. But like the chain just keeps going up and up and up. You never know who you can be connected to. >> It's so you already know. >> It's so true. >> That's my big piece of advice actually. Tell everybody what you do. >> Y >> everybody. That's how we found most of our units. It's all direct landlord. >> Mhm. So we don't have many through agents. >> It's all through the natural connection. >> Yeah. >> So there was two units there which we sold as a deal through the virtual inner circle actually. >> Oh really? Tuesday night 7 p.m. [laughter] >> That one was done through virtual inner circle with someone we'd connected with before. He's a really really lovely person. >> So walk me through it. So you're on this one hour Zoom. It happens every week. You say hi I'm Rosie. This is what I'm doing and I found a deal. And then during that hour or somebody reached out to you afterwards, but they were an academy member, an investor. >> Well, the thing is Ashley did the inner circle meeting. She is a natural seller. She's very very It's so easy for her. It just rolls off the tongue >> in a very good way that's not like the hard sell. >> Yeah. >> No, it's very much the hardell. >> Yeah. [snorts] We here to give a service, right? We are here to make other people money. >> Exactly. You giving people the opportunity. >> Yeah. >> And that's how I think of it. >> Yeah. um she met them on a Zoom call in one of the breakout rooms and she mentioned that she had these two projects that she was looking to pass on to another member or to another person who's looking to buy them and [snorts] it was one of the people in the breakout rooms that reached out to her literally a few moments after the meeting and we were in a Zoom call with them the next night doing like the wow presentation. >> Yeah. >> And then the next day after that we took them for a first viewing on the project. We'd already done a viewing obviously. I took them for viewing. Took the contracts with us. Made sure it was all the the tees were dotted and the eyes were crossed all the way around. >> Um but yeah, it was from the inner circum online meeting. It was two days >> until they were sold officially, >> keys in hand. >> And then so those were two flats. And how much did you charge for the sourcing fee? >> 6K. >> 6K. >> Okay. 6K in the bank. Was that the first deal that you've sold? It wasn't the first deal that we'd sold, but it was the first one where we were able to make sure it stayed. >> Okay. >> So, with deal sourcing, you do have some that will fall out of bed, but that's natural for the business, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that is natural. Um, for anybody who's listening, deal sourcing is very active. Um, it's fast and you need to you can sell it, but then it needs to get over the finish line, too. And that doesn't fully f fall on you. It could be that the investor wasn't the right investor. um didn't have funds in place or they weren't qualified. >> Exactly. Well, it was referencing with the other ones. They just couldn't get around to referencing from the company's perspective. The actual investor was fine. The referencing company wouldn't accept them. >> Okay. >> That was a whole different thing, but >> Okay. So, then >> we still talk to them. >> Okay, great. Still can. >> So, how did you make another 19 grand dealing? >> So, the rest came from the BR projects, okay, that we're doing for um this lovely person. Mhm. >> I'll tell you how we found it. [laughter] >> Okay. >> He came to us because he was [snorts] selling his house in Australia. It's a lovely beach property, like million pound house. It's very beautiful >> in Australia. >> In Australia. Yeah. So, other side of the world, literally. [laughter] >> Um, he was selling his house, but he was he'd been living with us for about 6 months at that point in one of our units just as like a normal person and really enjoying Brighton cuz he's a football fan. >> Like, oh, okay. So he's like a long-term >> longterm >> guest in an essay. >> Exactly. >> Got it. Okay. And he's a [snorts] football fan. >> He's a football fan. >> Okay. >> So that's why he'd move back to Brighton for the football team cuz he'd been watching it from Australia at like 4:00 a.m. cuz you cuz the hours are swaps. >> So he'd moved back to England and was looking for a place, but he wasn't having any luck. So he approached us. We'd been keeping contact with him, taking out him out for coffee, things like that. And he told us he was selling his house. I'd like to find a house in the UK. Will you find me one? >> Wow. >> She's like, it's a golden question. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> I will find you a house. [laughter] >> I will find you your perfect house. >> Yeah. >> So, we build him. He paid us a little bit of a different fee. He paid us 1K to go and find a house, >> but he said that we didn't have to refund him if we didn't find one. So, that was just to go and look. And we knew that we thought it was going to be a longer hunt because he had very specific criteria about the location. Um, but in the end, we only did two days of viewing before we found the perfect Perfect One. >> No way. >> And it was on the exact street he wanted. Yeah. >> It was the last house on the road that hadn't been refurbed. So, the values can be absolutely wonderful once it's done. >> How big is the house? >> It's a two-bedroom house. >> Okay. But it's got a basement that's ab massive and two reception rooms and a kitchen >> and a lovely little garden cuz he's got a dog as well. >> Oh, love dogs. >> Um Okay, great. So that's that's 19 grand worth of sourcing. >> Yeah. So 10% of the purchase price. >> So it's a it's a half a million pound house. Okay. >> Before the refurb. >> There you go. Okay. >> Because the location. >> So 10% of that no 2% 2% of the purchase price. >> Mhm. and then 10% of the refurb cost. The refurb is estimated about 100,000. >> Okay. >> So, it's going to be a really big project. >> So, 600 grand in for your investor and GDV >> the GDV I believe is about 750. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> He must be very excited about that. >> He's going to be very excited. He doesn't he's not going to sell it though. >> No, of course. >> It's going to be it's going to be his forever home. Really? Yeah. Exactly. Because that's his that's exactly what he wanted and you delivered. Um, >> he's going to have a lot of equity in the house though. If he ever decides to sell, he's going to, you know, he's going to be very happy. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> With how it finishes. But he wants to do it in the style that I like as well, which I like very much heritage properties. That's kind of like my dream style to live in my own home. >> Um, in a very like English country house in the city. >> Oh, so nice. Are you project managing that as well? And so, um, how do you find all the builders and the trades people and everything? like are you the main contractor? Do you bring some a whole team in? How does that work? >> Well, that's what we're figuring out at the minute. We're yet to start the build because he's just completed on the house. >> It's very exciting. >> But he's had to go back to Australia just for a family matter for a little bit. So once he gets back, get the keys, get in, and then we're going to start with the builds and the re the refurb. On your question about do we find the builders or do we just find like management thing? I think we're more likely to get individual builders and individual companies just so we can really keep an eye on how this house is going to be done because it's gonna be very high standard. >> Yeah. >> So instead of like, you know, a modern refurb, it's going to be very well styled like a magazine home. >> Great. Well, we were at Willingham House a couple days ago. >> Yes. >> And so did you like get any tips from that kind of decor? I did. >> Yeah. >> I love Willingham House. I did my ACPP, the accelerated coaching performance program there, the Sammy Leads. So, I was able to see it before it got all shiny like when it was still dust covered. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Construction site >> basically. Yeah. [snorts] >> And seeing it all done up is just beautiful. It's very It's very inspiring. >> Yeah. >> Actually, the room you stayed in >> Oh, my room was the best. The deluxe room. Oh my gosh. With the freestanding bathtub right beside the bed. >> That's one of his requests for his house that he wants. So, I've got my eye out on Facebook Marketplace for like a vintage one or a secondhand like really heritage one. >> Yeah. >> Oh, nice. I have one of those freestanding um bathtubs in my six bed holiday in the Lake District. We finished the loft and then I wanted one of those there because because with the loft with the the um Apex, right? And then you just it's a little bit you can't fit [snorts] really a a shower, >> but you can fit a bath. >> Okay. So, so that's great. Would you be looking at taking on more of those types of um transactions with investors? Like do you have the time or inclination? >> I think the refer projects was just a little bit of a passion thing for us where we'd been wanting to do something ourselves like that for a long time and the opportunity came to do it for our client and we just really wanted to >> nurture that relationship. So, we decided to take it on, but I don't think we're going to do a lot of refer projects. We're going to be more focused on service accommodation because that's our jam, you know. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. >> Um, how did this investor who was living in Australia find you? >> Through Airbnb. >> He booked he booked for three month, not three months, three weeks through Airbnb and then we'd taken him out for coffee. Like we'd been chatting with him. >> Why do you normally take out your guests? >> So why did you take him out? >> We just connected with him because my mom [snorts] actually she's from America which she probably covered in her interview. Um, so we were able and we've got family in Australia. Like I've got family, friends, people that, you know, we're living in their house currently, but they moved to Australia, so we went to live in their house. >> Like a house swap. >> We did. We literally did a house swap. >> I love it. >> Yeah. Except we weren't living in [laughter] Australia. >> Um, so we were able to connect about the whole, "Oh, you're in this area in Australia. Oh, I've got lovely friends over there. Oh, here's what it's like. Here's what it's like." And like it's stuff where you know we drop him off some like little British things like I don't know biscuits or something. Or we'd send him like the little football leaflets. If I'd find them across town I just slip them under the door. [snorts] >> So just little touches in his direction to keep in touch be like hey we're still here. We're still here. >> Yeah. >> Stuff like that. And then mom did take him out for coffee because you know he was thinking about staying longer. So they were having a little planning meeting about um okay you're going to be here for a while. What do we need to change? Do you need more bookshelves? Because he used to have bookshelves. So, he's like me, avid reader. He has filled that flat nearly to the ceiling with books. >> So, really, >> that's something I've got to keep in mind when we're building his house to build in a library. >> Mhm. >> I'm actually I just viewed a property, a commercial residential, and the ground floor used to be a bookshop. And I walked in and you can see like the skeleton of the bookshop there, right? My gosh. >> Yeah. It was really cool. Um, okay, great. You know what's so amazing about that is the little touches, the um the in-person relationship building that you and your mom are so good at and you identify it. Did Did your mom Okay. So, yesterday or two days ago. >> Mhm. >> Samuel sends into the all um all staff group chat a screenshot of conversation between Samuel and your mom Ashley. >> Yeah. Oh, you don't know this? >> No. No, I don't know. So Ashley sends a picture breakfast at Willingham the next morning. She takes a picture of gluten-free cereal and she sends it to Samuel and thanks him and says, "I don't know who did this, but I just want to thank you. It's these little things. I've had such an experience, an ordeal um with my health, with my um >> yeah, >> yeah, with her health and um digestion, I think maybe." Anyhow, so she was she was grateful and he put that into our group chat and he's like um we we need to you know remember all these little details, right? Yeah. And then I was like that's Adam Fox the manager. I sent it to Adam. I thanked Ashley for taking the time to recognize when we've done a good job. >> Right. >> Everyone loves to hear when they've done a good job. That's why like reviews are so good. >> I know. >> Yeah. I'm I need to leave leave Willingham House a review for Adam because that was >> Oh yes, that would be great. He would love that. Thank you. Yeah. >> Um, okay. So, let's actually talk about the inner circles. You're So, you're one of the leaders. Uh, you're one of five leaders for Brighton. >> Yeah. It's a thriving location. It's a great cool location, too, right? You just changed venues. Um, I was there what in March, I think. >> Yeah. Right at the start of the year. >> At the other one. And so, now you're at which location? >> The Old Ship Inn in Brighton Seafront. >> The famous Old Ship Inn. >> It is. Winston Churchill stayed there quite a bunch. in church historic place. >> Yeah. And so and so you've already had your f one of your first meeting there. How did that go? >> It went really well. >> One of the things about the old venues that they would sometimes have a band playing downstairs which make it a little bit difficult to hear. >> So we swapped it up. Went to the old ship in um one of our leaders Camden found that location and he did all the research and the planning for it. Yeah. So that was really good and we were able to lead the meeting and it just be one thing about Brighton is we're not like uptight stiff collar you know corporate meetings. It's very relaxed. >> There's no big pressure to be perfect the entire time you're there. You're basically there to connect with the people around you because we get a lot of people from London as well. It's to build your team if you have business in Brighton >> because not a lot of academy members actually live in the Brighton city. >> I don't. I live outside like half an hour away but all my stuff is in Brighton. I'm there practically every day. So, it's really about building your power team down in the south, especially if you're coming from London or from the north or a little bit south or west. East or west. >> Mhm. Yeah. Great. Yeah, I love it. So, um, what kind of skill sets were you able to acquire being an inner circle leader? >> Public speaking. >> Yes. >> To terrify me. >> You're so good at it. [laughter] >> So glad. Oh my god. It used to really, really terrify me. Uh-huh. >> To the point where I I would get nervous doing the 30 secondond pitches >> to a room full of like five people. >> Oh, >> I don't need more thankfully, but like >> it's actually being pulled up on stabiliz a lot. It really helped with that. >> Yeah. >> Being able to just like switch off and not see all the people in front of me and just focus on talking through the microphone and that >> that really helped me hone down and not like word vomit everywhere, >> which I still do sometimes, but it's less. Well, [snorts] public speaking is one of the hardest things to do, which is why I was so grateful when Tatiana and Simon came as our guest speakers. And did you enjoy that exercise? Was that helpful? >> Really good. >> Great. I'm so glad. You know, we talk about property day in and day out, but we need to also talk about the other um leadership skill sets that we need, right? That will enhance our business, enhance our relationships. Um so that's great. Excellent. >> It's all about personal development. Mhm. >> And so through this whole organization, you also developed some meaningful relationships and now your boyfriend is from the academy, which is fun. Yes, he >> um and so uh do you want to talk about that a little bit or Yeah, >> he is absolutely wonderful. I've made a lot of friends through the academy as well. One of them ended up going the express route to my boyfriend, [laughter] >> which is really the express route. Um he's a wonderful deal seller and he's looking at projects up in the north. So, we've got to keep an eye out for what he's doing. >> Yeah. >> Um, what can I say? To be honest, he knew my mom first >> before he knew me, like many academy members. >> Yeah. >> So, we slowly got introduced over time. I spent more and more time together, going to the same events, the same inner circles, >> which I didn't know was him flirting with me cuz [laughter] I don't get hints. That's one thing I tell you. I do not get hints. >> Be very plain with me. >> Mhm. >> Um, so until he told me that he liked me, I didn't know. >> A That's cute as heck. >> Cute as heck. There's so many people who have gotten together um from the academy and I think it's because you know Samuel just draws in these like strong, smart, hardworking, ethical people and then we see we see you know traits that we respect in other people and we're just kind of all cut from the same cloth, right? >> Um so >> it's all about the mindset. Like I was so happy to find someone who had the same drive as me, who's had the same motivation and who wanted to do the same kind of projects and the same kind of business. >> Yeah. Because I'll be honest with you, if you look at 20-y old boys, because they're not men, they're boys. >> They're boys. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And then you look at a 16-year-old in the academy and he's a man, you know, like it's so funny. >> But mentally, it's such a different attitude. It's brilliant. >> Yeah. >> Like it's crazy. >> Yeah. >> So much better. >> Yeah. So much better. Um Okay, great. So, what do you think about all these changes happening in the academy going um from live live to virtual? I think it's going to be really good because it means that I'm going to be able to reattend the courses more often and actually keep in contact with all the new stuff that's happening. >> Yeah. >> Which it will be really good actually because you always need to keep reviewing, keep training yourself, keep staying active in your education to keep growing. >> Mhm. >> And it means that a lot more people are going to have access to the courses as well because if you're not doing them all in London, means you can get more people from the north, people from abroad as well, right? >> Because I know Samuel's branching out into Dubai and other other places like that. [clears throat] I just talked to somebody who lives in Egypt. I mean like because I do all the onboarding, right? And so there's people from Singapore, Egypt, from from other countries in the um in
Europe. And yeah, it's just it's really just exploded internationally. Um, so that's really exciting because every, um, the more people that come into the academy, the more we [snorts] all build our net worth, right? Because that's our, it's our network of people and our social life, right?
Right. I know. Mine are blended as one. [laughter]
Blended. Yeah.
Yeah. It's all my life now.
Mhm.
Yeah.
That's super cool. Um, what are some of the biggest lessons that you've learned throughout your experience, um, getting into property at such a young age, but at still such a mature, uh, mindset?
That is a very good question, and I think that it's really important, no matter what your age you are, to start. Your tomorrow starts today. So, you can't keep putting it off. You can't keep putting it off. There's no too old or there's no too young. You just have to start, and you have to keep going because you can't start and then stop. Don't start and then stop because then your progress will stop, and it'll start and it'll stop, and then you'll get comfortable, and you'll plateau.
And you'll just, you'll get, you'll stay. You'll float for a bit.
Mhm.
And you can't do that. You got to keep going. You have to take each day as it comes, and you have to build your plan, and you have to follow it. Um, Ashley introduced me to something the other day about, you know, how people do New Year's resolutions. Yeah. But it's always at the end of the year.
Mhm.
About doing your resolutions in September because by the time New Year's comes, you've already started, and you're already there.
It's like you're already three months into your plan, and you can keep going instead of it being like this massive task for you to do when there's all these holidays around, all these like big events and stuff like that. But just even if you're as young as I was when I started, I did have a lot of support because I needed it. Like [laughter] when I joined the academy, I was young. I didn't know what a mortgage was because I'd never needed one at 17.
Yeah.
Cuz who does?
Mhm.
Well, 17-year-olds should, cuz they should be in property. [snorts]
Um, [laughter] it's things like that where it doesn't matter what you don't know because you don't know what you don't know. You just have to learn, and you have to keep turning up to the events. Be in person. Be active in your membership, and just really make sure that you're adding to your community and being valuable and just, just being there.
Being there. What about if somebody doesn't have, um, the funds yet to join the academy? What could they do at home with no experience, with no cash?
That's a really great question. [sighs and gasps] That is a good question. And there's lots of online training that you can do through YouTube or through maybe different avenues of the Samuel Academy. I recommend it. It's something that's really helped me just being in the academy, but I did go, you know, through the normal route through in-person stuff, and I was lucky enough to like be able to invest in it financially. Um, there are free webinars, there's training through different training avenues. So, it's good to diversify, you know.
Keep training with different people. That's totally welcome as well. But just books. If you find a book that says property on it, buy it, read it, because it's all going to be new information to you.
Right?
And just keep going and keep learning. Find information where you can, whether it's through free stuff online, free stuff from a bookshop, or through your network. The networking meetings even outside the academy are still very, very good.
Yeah. What's the biggest lesson you've learned?
That's a really good question.
Girl, this is not my first rodeo. [laughter]
Oh, I know. I know. [gasps] My biggest lesson, just learn from your mistakes. Cuz if you learn from them, they won't happen again.
How can we, what, how can we learn from our mistakes? Like, I made a mistake. Okay, let's say I overpaid for a cleaner, and then I gave her some, um, some critical feedback, and then she quit on me. What, what is my takeaway? That has happened to me.
Oh gosh.
What's my takeaway and how do I learn from that and and not make that same mistake again?
It's all about tracking your progress. So,
Ah, very good.
This. You got to keep track of everything because that way you can find the patterns, and you can find, okay, I've done this three times, and it's still not going quite right. Let me look at my notes. Let me look at my progress. Oh gosh, that's what I'm doing wrong. And you're able to see it all written out. So, Ashley keeps notebooks.
I keep Google Docs. [laughter]
I can view on my phone, which is very me because I'm always out and about. But just tracking your projects and knowing, [snorts] okay, all of my expenses are going to this spreadsheet. All of my tasks for this week are going into this notebook. But I can see that all my progress is going nowhere.
So, I'm gonna look at my spreadsheet. I'm gonna look at my notebook, and I'm going to talk to someone in my community who may be having this problem and see how they did. Okay, they didn't have the same issue. I'm going to speak to a mentor, and I'm going to speak to more mentors till they figure out the issue and figure out where I'm going wrong so I can move forward.
I'm glad you mentioned mentors. You know, I find that there, I mean, what would we have done without the unlimited mentor calls? Honestly.
Taciana is amazing. Like, she is someone I've used a lot, a lot.
As a lawyer, the solicitor. Yeah.
She's really, really good. And also some really good people to talk about for mindset as well is Jinny and J. Oh.
Like, on quite often on Monday masterminds, we'll end up in their room, and they're very, very good at talking about it and just listening to people's stories and knowing how to give them advice and what they need to hear.
So, they do take interest like people as people, not as businesses.
Right?
So, they really nurture you.
Yeah. That's the teacher in them, right?
Yeah. Oh my gosh.
Yes. Yeah.
Great. Well, thank you so much for sitting down with us. Um, any final words of wisdom for our, um, viewers [snorts] here?
Just keep moving forward. Don't plateau. Don't stop.
Yeah.
Never stop making progress. Don't get comfortable.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's great. I love it, Rosie. Well, thanks. So, if somebody wanted to reach out to you, how would they connect with you?
I'm on Instagram. My handle is Rosie Echo Highland, or I'll link my website as well where you can take a look at my projects.
Perfect. Can't wait. Um, well, this has been Rosie Highland joining us today. Um, and I can't wait to see what happens with you in the next few years. I mean, I can't wait to see where you're going to be at age 40. Like, imagine 20 years from now, you're going to be a billionaire at age 40, by the way.
Okay. I can't.
Well, aim is 25, but.
Sorry.
Aim is millionaire by 25.
Millionaire by 25, billionaire by 40. Actually, the first million is is the hardest, right? And then after that, it just accumulates. [snorts]
Um, so can't wait. We'll party together, right?
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Thank you so much, Patricia, for having me.
Thank you, Rosie. So, if you enjoyed this, if you got some value out of it, please do, um, subscribe, like, share, comment. U reach out to Rosie. She's absolutely wonderful. Um, and then if you wanted to come to one of her inner circles in Brighton, just reach out, and she can send you a guest pass. Absolutely. Thank you very much, and we'll see you next week.
Thank you.