Episode 13
with Simone Douglas
In this episode of Confident Networker, Simone sits down with Jason Wright from BNI Achievers.
Connect with Jason here:
https://www.facebook.com/jason.wright.52493
https://www.facebook.com/EssentialPropertyManagement
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-wright-73175045/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/essential-property-management-limited
https://www.instagram.com/jasonwrightagent/
https://www.instagram.com/essentialpropertymanagement/
If you’d like to attend a Chapter meeting, you can book your spot here: https://bnian.com.au/chapter/bni-achievers/
Chris Irving 0:00
Welcome to the confident networker with your host Simone Douglas. In each insightful episode, she chats with one of the leading people from the BNI and business world.
Simone Douglas 0:11
Alrighty, so on this episode of the confident networker podcast, I’m joined by my very good friend Jason wright from essential property management, Hellooo.
Jason Wright 0:20
Hello there.
Simone Douglas 0:21
Thanks for coming along today. Thank you. So Jason is a member of BNI achievers, though meets on Wednesdays at 7am. Just for the listeners who don’t know you as well as I do. How long have you been in BNI? For
Jason Wright 0:35
In February next year, it’ll be two years. That’s still pretty new.
Simone Douglas 0:40
Gone very quick for me. Global pandemic, you know, those kinds of things. But um, so tell us a little bit about your business. What it is that you do. It’s evolution, because I know you’ve had some pretty extensive growth recently.
Jason Wright 0:56
Sure. So mum started our business about 12 years ago, I joined the business. Wow, 12 years ago, actually, in February in October. So mum must have started at nearly 13 years ago, I joined the business and we grew really rapidly, just her and I in our lounge room. And at one stage, we had six people in our team, Mom and I always said that if we weren’t getting along or defective, our moms and our relationship, we would
Simone Douglas 1:27
choose not to work.
Jason Wright 1:28
Correct. And so we made that decision back in early 2015, and started the breakdown or separation or split of our company. At that time, I was offered an opportunity to go and work for 10 days in commercial property management, in Queensland. So I did that. If you’ve ever been to the Sunshine Coast, you see that ocean and I saw that ocean. And that was that. And I spent five years on the Sunshine Coast. And that was the best thing I did for our company for myself. And for my mom’s and my relationship. Yeah. And I realized that my mum was right, I did have tons to learn. And I went and learned it myself. Without my mum fixing my mistakes all the time, and put lots and lots of money into my personal and professional development of my own money rather than my mum’s and it changed everything. And so I came back into the business very early in 2019. With the idea of mum retiring. During that process, we realized she doesn’t want to retire. So rather than me buy her outlets doubled or nothing. And so we put the business on the line to acquire another business. And that’s supposed to settle this coming Monday, but that’s been delayed about a month. But we’ve tripled the size of our business. So by Christmas this year, we’ll be at 1000 properties under management with a team of 10. And that’s really
Simone Douglas 3:05
pretty significant. Yeah,
Jason Wright 3:07
It’s exciting. The future is exciting
Simone Douglas 3:10
Ooh, so how important that is networking to your business?
Jason Wright 3:15
I think it’s extremely important. And the reason I think it’s really important is because networking is a group of people that trust you, that do your advertising for you. And so it allows me to do day to day stuff. The one thing I love about BNI is I rock up to an appointment, where it’s been referred to me within BNI I know I’m getting the listing I like I know, I’m not being competed against Yeah, I know, I’m not going to be asked about reducing my fees, because someone else has raved about me before I get there.
Simone Douglas 3:53
Well, and it’s you know, that’s so true. Because like, sometimes people will send me a message. And they’ll be like, you must know, a property manager. And I’m like yup, need to go speak to Jason. And it is it’s like it’s an easy, easy deal. They’re just like Simone said, I need to talk to you.
Jason Wright 4:12
Correct! That’s exactly right. And they, you know, they they’re prepared to listen to your advice. And the other great thing about them is they usually people that are experiencing real pain points, hence the conversation. So the fact that I get the immediate What’s your pain point? Yeah, this is how we fix it. That changes everything.
Simone Douglas 4:37
Yeah, I think to like, I often find that referral business the pipeline from meeting to decision is just like this so much shorter. In terms of you know, those things like different when pick the making an introduction, it’s a long term thing, but in terms of networking What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever been given?
Jason Wright 5:09
Probably, and probably from you, which is just going and listen about what I can do for them. I think the mistake that people make when they’re networking is what I can get from the person Vs What can I do for you, so that you feel obligated and obligated is probably the wrong word. But they, if I help them with authenticity, they they helped me in return.
Simone Douglas 5:37
Well, absolutely. And they remember, I think the thing is, you know, when you and I have running Facebook chats these days, or text message, or whatever else it might be, but it’s it’s fostering and creating that relationship where you know, you can lean on each other and ask an honest question, get an honest answer is just as invaluable.
Jason Wright 5:57
Which is the second thing that I was gonna say, which I think I’ve learned from myself, which is truly just honesty and integrity. And I say to people, it’s my best quality. It’s my worst quality.
Simone Douglas 6:10
I have the same problem.
Jason Wright 6:12
You absolutely know where you stand with me every minute of every day. And sometimes that’s good. And sometimes that’s bad. Yeah. But I do it with the absolute intent of us both improving.
Simone Douglas 6:24
Yeah, absolutely. Which is great. What is the best introduction or referral that you’ve received so far? And why?
Jason Wright 6:33
Funnily enough, and I don’t know if you recall, but one of your referrals, yeah. came to me from came to me, because I’ve gone completely, Alex. Yeah. Alex is, was selling his apartment. Yes. So I had it listed for rent. Yeah. And then the selling agent in our chat. Nick sold it, but because I Oh, because normally a selling agent rarely refers to a property manager because they have that in their own office. So it’s considered a conflict, however, because I was already in he honored that. Yeah. And gave me the buyers contact. So I got the buyers contact. That buyer and I have become incredible, Almost, I would say friends, he has heard he had previously bought two other properties. Yeah. Prior to meeting Nick, which I now manage. He’s got two since that day which I know manage. He’s on the way to his six purchase. And he’s referred me a friend who’s purchased in one of the buildings he’s purchased in. So that’s one one lead by chance from you. That became a lead from a referral from Nick, has led to seven management.
Simone Douglas 8:06
Wow. That’s really how they and I work so that you make the introductions without knowing where things are gonna go in life. So I love that story. It’s great. And I had no idea. I do remember, like, I have a vague recollection ever saying, Oh, yeah. But I’ve picked that up for management after it was sold. But that, yeah, that was about it. So what has been or what is the thing that you look forward to the most in this kind of structured networking environment? That is your BNI chapter?
Jason Wright 8:38
Well, I think what appealed to me in the very first instance, because BNI is not the first chapter I’ve been to I did a couple on the Sunshine Coast with less structure. And I hate structure that I perform best and best within structure. I’m a deadline guy. If you give me till midnight, I’ll do it of 11:59
Simone Douglas 9:06
Oh, so it’s not just me.
Jason Wright 9:08
so you know, so 80% of the arguments in my office between my mom and I are about the fact that she does it on Monday, when it’s due on Friday, and I do it on Friday. It’s due on Friday. But it’s the same for BNI, I do it and I deliver on it because it’s an obligation that I agreed upon. So as long as you follow the structure, you’re good. You’re render results.
Simone Douglas 9:39
So if you bumped into somebody at a networking event, it wasn’t BNI and I went, Yeah, I’ve been invited to this BNI thing. I don’t know if I’m gonna go now. What kind of advice would you give me?
Jason Wright 9:51
Well, I think I’m just going to repeat myself to be honest, which is if you perform best under pressure and you take achieving Your goals because you’ve set them for yourself or been set them by someone else, then BNI is absolutely the right thing for you, if you go about your life generally, and don’t achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself, because you don’t take the goals you set yourself seriously. And that probably isn’t.
Simone Douglas 10:23
That makes sense. I think too. I’m what I liked about it when I found BNI, nine years ago, you know, and I love always love saying, you know, I was invited by someone who had fired, which is hilarious. Why should maintain relationships? Don’t ever burn your bridges? Because he just don’t know. So when I say five, we decided he’d find success elsewhere, collaboratively. But I just went, Oh, my God, there are rules to this thing. There’s there’s a system I can you know, all of a sudden networking is not so confusing or terrified. Because I’m actually an introvert. I don’t like I don’t people very well, at volume at all. I do now because been given me rules of engagement. That’s fine. If I know what the rules are, I’m all good. So I got really excited about this accountability. I have to list things that I have to do. That’s great. I still flee by the seat of my pants in terms of timelines, because you know, absolutely. But yeah, I but I mean, the other thing, too, is, you know, what, if I have been invited to this BNI thing, I think I’ve got no intention of joining it. Do you still want me to come and visit your chapter?
Jason Wright 11:32
The answer to that, for me is yes. And I think there are a few reasons. You’re still a consumer. And I’ve got in my chapter 13 colleagues, other than myself, yeah, that might have a product that you may need the surfaces of. And more importantly, you’re still probably in business yourself. And there might be an opportunity for one of my members to collaborate with you anyway. Because that business is not inside my chapter already. So I always think yes, and I, I’m not great at bringing visitors is my that’s one of my weaknesses, the side the thing, but I still absolutely see value, you know,
Simone Douglas 12:18
yeah, I think I get so excited about the members that I know, within the region, so and I’m probably spoiling that, you know, 180-184 members, they all meet someone, I’m like, Oh, my God. So I’m going to this chapter next week. And you absolutely need to come and meet this person, you guys will just get along. And there are so many synergies, as I always end up like going just come make this firt. I don’t care if you join often people who are invited. You try to start me to your bni , and I go, No, but I’m going next week, do you want that introduction or not? And they’re like, yeah, no, of course I do. And the amount of times, you know, hilariously that they’re emailed three days after meeting go, well, am I allowed to apply? Because quite liked it. And I’m like, you can do what you like, I’ve done what I said I would do. Yeah. So we’re good. What you choose to do after that it’s up to you? Absolutely. So I guess you know, in the context of BNI. You have this rapidly growing business like 1000 Plus Red roll coming your way into your head and systems and processes. If you could, if the right person was listening to this podcast today, and you could sit down and have a coffee with them or a glass of wine or you know a bit sit down have a real conversation, it would help you tick off a business bucket list. Who would that be?
Jason Wright 13:47
That’s a really great question. And I think there are probably two answers to it. One would be that some may anyone listening. From a business perspective that works in the Self Managed Super space? Who spends a lot of time advising clients to buy properties within their super fund or within their personal entities? They would be a terrific referring partner for me. So I’d love to talk to anyone like that.
Simone Douglas 14:22
Not to share that story, though, before we go on to the second one. Because I think this is awesome. So tell us a little bit about that company that you work for the justice self managed super funds and how many of their clients you look after so
Jason Wright 14:37
I manage about 60 clients for them right now. And in my old business model that accounted for about 25% That that came about from a client, who found me on on my pages back on possibly Yellow Pages back in the day And she said, I’m taking delivery of this brand new house. I live in New South Wales. And I said, Well, I’ll go do your I’ll go do your pre handover inspection for you. Because mum and I’ve done so many new build handovers ourselves in the past, we went there with the little red stickers, yeah, put it and sent her photos. This is before video was I think so we sent us photos. And then the self managed Superfund that she works for. Or, you know, that she was affiliated with said, Oh, you’ve got this great service. And so that led to more referrals. And now we’re their preferred supplier in South Australia, which is exciting.
Simone Douglas 15:46
And you’ve been doing that for how many years? Now?
Jason Wright 15:49
Nine..
Simone Douglas 15:50
You must be doing something. Right.
Jason Wright 15:51
Yeah. Correct.
Simone Douglas 15:52
And I love it when you find niche markets, where you just like, Yep, I own that space. And I can make whatever Provider refers me with amazing clients.
Jason Wright 16:02
Yes, correct. And the other fantastic thing is because they use a cookie cutter model with the kind of product associated with, you can take the gamble on one of them. Go like, right now the markets really hot in South Australia. So rents are going up anywhere between 40 and $80. a week. So I can test it on one and then call the other 50 owners. Really great news. And I just got $40 A week extra $50 Extra, which is and be able to set confidently because I’ve already tested it, which is super exciting.
Simone Douglas 16:42
So second request for coffee.
Jason Wright 16:44
The second request for coffee for me would be I, I’ve been on stage with Tony Robbins in the past. And it was a really life changing moment for me where I learned there’s always another way. But if the opportunity presented itself to have one on one time with him, where he wasn’t where it wasn’t intrusive. So I was able to say when there isn’t another line, you’ve exhausted everything and you just want to give up and you die. What do you do to get going?
Simone Douglas 17:29
Cool. So people I know lots of you actually know Tony Robbins quite well. So pony up. I know his schedule is busy. I’m sure Jason will make himself available in a way that otherwise if you come across a local company that deals with self managed super funds, and they want to come along adjacent we’d be happy to host them over breakfast and introduce you to some of his fellow chapter members. Or you can reach out to Jason all of his links are in the comments. Thanks very much for joining me.
Jason Wright 17:59
Thank you so much for having me.
Simone Douglas 18:00
My pleasure. I’ll talk to you guys soon.
Chris Irving 18:05
Thank you for listening to the confident networker. You can find more episodes and information at bnian.com.au/podcast
Transcribed by https://otter.ai