Three Things I Wish I Knew When I Started in Real Estate Investing (Gabby's Version) | Gabby Hillier | Real Estate Investing Canada

🎧 Three Things I Wish I Knew When I Started in Real Estate Investing (Gabby's Version) Real Estate Investing Morning Show – Hosted by Wayne & Gabby Hillier Back from a weekend full of soccer, snow, Family Day, and Costa Rica countdowns, today's episode took a powerful turn. Wayne shared his three lessons last week. Today was Gabby's turn. And if you're a newer investor, this one might hit harder than you expect. This wasn't about multifamily vs. single family. This wasn't about cap rates or BRRRRs. This was about mindset. Identity. Growth. And comparison. 🧠 What You'll Learn in This Episode Why tenant problems are not your personal responsibility How to separate empathy from business decisions Why growth requires a different version of you How discomfort builds confidence Why comparison silently kills momentum How social media is being used backwards by most investors Why staying in your own lane is the fastest way to reach your goals 1️⃣ This Is a Business — Their Problems Are Not Yours One of Gabby's biggest early lessons: "This is a business, and all the problems my tenants face are theirs, not mine." That doesn't mean you stop being empathetic. But it does mean: Their car breaking down is not your emergency. Their employer paying them late is not your financial burden. Their personal crisis does not override your systems. Early on, it's emotionally exhausting. You feel responsible. You question yourself. But here's the shift: You can care without carrying. If bending the rules benefits your business, do it strategically. If it doesn't? Stick to your systems. That's not cold. That's disciplined. 2️⃣ Growth Requires a Different Version of You This business will change you. If you want your portfolio to grow, you must grow. There is no way around it. Gabby shared something powerful: You must become comfortable being uncomfortable. Wayne reframed it: It's not about tolerating discomfort. It's about building confidence. Every uncomfortable decision: Builds proof Builds experience Builds healthy ego Builds certainty that you can handle hard things And once you've handled something a few times? It no longer rattles you. That anxiety you felt in year one? It barely registers in year five. Not because you're hardened. Because you're stronger. 3️⃣ Comparison Is the Killer of Success This was the mic-drop moment. "Comparison is the killer of success." In today's world, this is harder than ever. Social media: Shows highlight reels Shows "100 doors in 12 months" Shows "3 properties in 3 weeks" Shows everyone "winning" But here's what happens when you compare: Your confidence erodes Your motivation drops Your happiness declines You forget your own goals You start driving someone else's route. And that's when you hit the ditch. Stay in your lane. If your goal is 3 rental properties, own that. If your goal is 30, own that too. "Only" and "small" are comparative words. If you stopped comparing, your goals would feel sufficient. 🚫 Social Media Is Being Used Backwards Most people use social media to compare. But it's actually a marketing tool. You're not supposed to log on to measure yourself against others. You're supposed to: Share your confidence Share your journey Market your belief in yourself Instead, most people: Scroll Compare Doubt Shrink It's backwards. Use it to build your brand, not destroy your confidence. 🎯 The Real Mentorship Lesson The tactical stuff? Deal analysis Financing structures BRRRRs Market data That's easy. The hard part? Helping someone rediscover the confidence they lost years ago. The belief. The "I can do this." Because that's what determines who endures. And endurance is rare. 👥 About Your Hosts Wayne & Gabby Hillier are full-time real estate investors and coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Through their REI Masters Mentorship Program, they help Canadians build long-term wealth using rental properties, BRRRRs, flips, joint ventures, and creative real estate strategies. New episodes every weekday morning featuring real stories, coaching moments, and tactical investing advice. 💡 Resources & Contact Learn about our Mentorship Program: www.reimasters.ca Bookkeeping & tax help: www.finngo.com/rei Submit a question: [email protected] 🤝 Thanks to Our Sponsors 🏠 Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor 🌐 calvinrealty.ca 📊 Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax – Investor-Focused Accounting Firm 🌐 www.finngo.com/rei 💼 Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group – Investor-Focused Brokers 🌐 www.kbmortgages.ca 📧 [email protected] 🏫 Edmonton Real Estate Investing Course Thinking about investing in Edmonton but not sure where to start? Our 8-week Edmonton Real Estate Investing Course gives you a clear blueprint to invest with confidence, including: 🔹 Why Edmonton is one of Canada's strongest cash flow markets 🔹 The economic drivers shaping Edmonton's growth 🔹 How to analyze neighborhoods for cash flow and upside 🔹 The five main asset types and how they perform 🔹 Tenant selection strategies that protect your returns 🔹 How to buy rental properties that actually make money 👉 Learn more and register at: www.reimasters.ca If you take one thing from today: Write this down. Comparison is the killer of success. Stay in your lane. Build your confidence. And endure.