If there’s one important lesson we can learn from the management style of Dan Ballerini, it is to not take ourselves too seriously. This mindset has brought the real estate investor to the top of his game in southern New Jersey.
By not taking yourself too seriously, he simply means not to sweat the small stuff in your business. Perfection is an impossibility, and expecting it will only lead to disappointment, regret and self-doubt. Taking things too seriously only breeds insecurities, overthinking, and at worst, sabotaging your own success.
At 33 years old, Dan Ballerini has achieved quite a lot. From amassing quite a large number of real estate properties, to overseeing their major renovations, to providing housing for 88 families with his personal portfolio at the time of this writing. He has also created a sustainable business and provided job opportunities for individuals seeking to learn the business and advance their careers within his company.
Ballerini expressed great pride in being able to provide nice homes for so many different families in his community to live in. He started his real estate investment company during the recession, while so many other real estate investors were struggling mightily. The flood of foreclosures, combined with the constriction of lending available for residential investment properties created the perfect opportunity for Dan. He had been saving, learning the real estate business, and waiting for the bubble to burst. When his opportunity came, Daniel jumped in with both feet, and hasn’t looked back since.
Ballerini had developed a business plan to take advantage of the current climate at the time. He bought foreclosed properties which were in need of renovations, remodeled and upscaled the same, and leased them to qualified families in his community. He built his portfolio one property at a time, and truly believes that real estate is a long-term investment strategy. From a humble start in 2012, he has grown his portfolio to over $10million in property value, and doesn’t show signs of slowing down.
Most of the people in Dan’s community express their grattitude to him for affording them a chance to live in a nicely renovated home at a fair price. The neighbors are especially grateful, as most of the properties Daniel buys and renovated have been vacant and deteriorating for years. These properties have been dragging down home values in the neighborhood, and have been the eyesores of the community before Dan purchases and totally overhauls them.
At this point it seems Dan Ballerini’s focus is on future growth and expansion of his business, while continuing to help improve his community. With a staff to support his real estate portfolio, a keen business mind, and a business model built for the long haul, the future for the 33 year old looks bright. Dan recalls challenges that he has had to overcome through years, including taking on his first employee, and struggling with micromanagement which was limiting his growth potential. He says it is important to hire the right people and then give them room to grow into their roles and eventually take on more and more responsibility. This allows Dan to focus on the big picture and direction of the business, rather than being caught up in every last detail.
Surely, life has a lot to offer to people who are willing to take risks, and to take fast action on every opportunity.
There is so much to learn from the life and from the success story of Dan Ballerini. Out of these valuable learnings, one thing stood out – don’t sweat the small stuff.
Success is reserved for those who are willing to work hard for what they want, regardless of the circumstance. Success is for those who are willing to take risks, accept the bumps along the way, and learn from their mistakes.
“Don’t wait for the stars to fall before you do something about your goals. Be aggressive when the opportunity presents itself, and focus on what matters,” Ballerini said.