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Read as Dave Lindahl gives a great JobShadow about his career in real estate.  You can find Dave on his website at www.rementor.com and on his Twitter feed in the sidebar of this interview.  

What do you do for a living?davelindahl

I am a real estate investor, President and founder of many companies from real estate brokerage, to
the leading education company in the northeast, and president of a large management company. I am
a best selling author of 6 books.

How would you describe what you do?

I am passionate about teaching people how to buy real estate. Having purchased over 7000 units
and with over 300 employees working for me in various companies, teaching has always been a passion
of mine.

Of special interest is to help people to reach their goals and teach them the steps to reaching those
goals.

Marketing is one of my passions, and realizing the full effects of correct marketing is very rewarding.

What does your work entail?

My work is to maintain and grow my education company and provide a great working environment for my staff.

What’s a typical work week like?

My day starts out very early in the morning. I have conditioned myself to only open emails certain
times of the day.  I work on tasks that must be completed by the end of the week, so I will put together my top five things I want to complete and go about the steps to making it happen.

How did you get started?

I was a singer in a rock band.  I then went on to owning a large landscaping company, which was lucrative, but only in the spring summer and part of the fall.  It was very seasonal coming from the northeast.

I started to do clean outs for people who were flipping properties, and then went to Home Depot University and learned how do sling a hammer and do what was necessary to flip some small multi family properties.

I bought up the city of Brockton, and when the time was right, sold some of them and bought multi-family properties in emerging markets. I noticed when I bought property in Brockton it was very low and inventory was high, but started to sell the properties when inventory got very low and the prices were very high.

Then my emerging real estate market ideas really exploded and I was able to do a bunch of 1031 exchanges in emerging markets buying larger properties.

What do you like about what you do?

The best part of my position is I have changed many lives, I have given many people hope for their
future. I have given many people a safe place to live and work.

What do you dislike?

I wish there were more of me so I can take advantage of the many opportunities around me. My time is
limited, and family is the most important thing to me.  I do not like missing any family obligations.

How do you make money/or how are you compensated?

I make money with everything I do. I get compensated by closing multi family properties, flipping properties, coaching people, investments, commodities, gold, silver, oil and gas.  I am an entrepreneur.

How much do you make?
$0-25,000 ____
$25k-$35k ____
$50k-75K ____
$75k-100k ____
$100-$200k ____
$200k-$300k ____
$300k+ ____

Additional comments: Short and sweet in one deal, one acquisition fee, was in the range of $650K, I did it and you can do it too. How much money I make doesn’t matter, it is how much money can you make that counts.

How much money did/do you make starting out?

I started out with credit cards.

What education, schooling, or skills are needed to do this?

I have constantly educated myself throughout the years.  If it will improve my business and I don’t know
it, then I will go and get educated. I went to Northeastern University, studied economics, got a BA
but then went on to the Harvard Business and got my degree. It was a goal I wanted to achieve, and now I am teaching my students what I have learned.

What is most challenging about what you do?

Taking action, getting over the fear of a mistake, building a team.

What is most rewarding?

Hearing of my students successes, helping others, changing lives, and making a difference.

What advice would you offer someone considering this career?

Don’t wait, do it now.

How much time off do you get/take?

As much as I want.

What is a common misconception people have about what you do?

Most people are stuck, they don’t think they can do it. I am no different than they are. I just took action.

What are your goals/dreams for the future?

One of my goals is to build orphanage in Ghana and help under priviledged people.
I have traveled to Africa and met with the King and want to help and teach them.

What else would you like people to know about your job/career?

Get educated, because once you have the knowledge and the confidence it will set you free to explode your wealth.

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