Business or Fatherhood - The Pandemic Decided.
December 15, 2019
My world officially changed forever. My son was born and I immediately felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. Requiring me to be a better human, a better husband, and an amazing father to a life that I wanted to bring into this world.
I was finishing 2019 as my best year financially, extremely excited to go into 2020 with a newborn and support my family into the next chapter of our lives. We kept to ourselves initially during a very bad “flu” season and we were parenting by ourselves.
We planned out the first few months of parenting, when he would go into daycare, and how my work was not going to take a hit as I didn't want to lose the momentum I had worked so hard to finally see.
That flu season actually turned into COVID season
Both my fatherhood & business plans were immediately jolted when the entire world shut down. I knew that I needed to remove the distractions and understand what items I could control in my world and implement. I had been an entrepreneur far longer than I was a father and figured I would understand the overlap and execute.
Empathy. Leadership. Honesty. Discipline.
- Empathy: Understanding your client’s needs is far more important in getting to the end result. If I do not understand how a transaction affects you, your family, and your partnership, then I truly can not be an advisor. As a father, understanding and satisfying your children’s needs will lead to a stronger relationship in the moment and for the long run.
- Leadership: My clients look to me as their guide that will give them the best chance of reaching their end goal. Sometimes that involves tough conversations, but a leader needs to be the visionary that is seeing several steps ahead. Children are sponges. They look to their parents to teach them how to navigate the world. As they start to see the end result of their parent’s vision, it's that much more rewarding for everyone.
- Honesty. Real Estate is full of contracts and it is very important to be transparent and honest with everyone you come across. This is how we create a healthy work environment with all parties to a transaction because the truth always comes out, one way or another. Modeling honest behavior to your child is a no-brainer. Having your child trust you is a key factor in building a lifelong relationship with anyone, especially your children.
- Discipline: I only had ~4 hours of uninterrupted work during any given work day. Within these 4 hours, I needed 100% efficiency. I knew that the best return of my time investment was getting on the phone and generating business. I was making nearly 50 calls per day setting up Zoom meetings while my son was napping. If you have done business with me during that year, you probably heard a newborn scream in the background. Teaching your children discipline is a foundational lesson. This is something they should learn at a young age that will set them up for success in every aspect of their lives. They understand their world far more than we give them credit.
In 2020, I doubled my income.
I was spending 6 hours per day with my son. He saw me every morning, every nap time, and every bedtime. I am proud because being a very present & engaged father is one of the most rewarding feelings I could have ever asked for.
The Pandemic decided both BUSINESS AND FATHERHOOD for me. What did it decide for you?
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Frederick Douglas
Justin Ferguson is a Multifamily Specialist in Marcus & Millichap's Southern Virginia Office. He prides himself in helping corporate professionals, private investors, REITS, developers, and syndicators strategize and maximize their returns to grow their portfolios at faster, more efficient rates.