Why investors should take a leaf out of the athlete’s playbook

“Using the sportsman analogy, how many successful athletes do you see without a coach?” Mr Waters queried.

Taking it one step further, he posited: “How many successful executives and businesses do you see without some sort of team environment that are giving them special counsel?”

Coaching, counselling, advising – whatever you want to call it, Mr Waters said the same approach should be taken when you are investing, whether that be in property, shares or even fine art.

“If you’re not constantly aware of your own scenario and your own circumstances and ‘being coached’, then you’re not really investing,” he argued.

While both Mr Waters and Mr Kumar concede that there are many things investors can’t control when dealing in property, they do believe that “an appreciation and understanding of where you are and having the right team around you will ensure you make the right decision at the right time”.

And while being “coachable” is a very good attribute to have, the pair also acknowledge it isn’t the only characteristic that makes for a good investor.

“No matter what the asset class is, those without the discipline lack the overall result,” Mr Waters divulged.

And while pointing out athletes for their coachability, he also looks to Defence Force personnel as epitomising what it takes to be a good investor.

“I could hand-on-heart say that every one of [our] clients that are in the Australian Defence Force are fantastic investors … because they’re methodical, they’re regimented, they’re disciplined,” he shared.

“They’re also goal-orientated and they’re outcome-orientated – and they hold themselves accountable!”

All in all, when it comes to becoming a good property investor, Mr Waters believes: “It always comes down to aptitude mindset.”

You can listen to the full conversation – and find out why property and portfolio life cycles are important here.

Mr Waters and Mr Kumar have previously given advice on how property investors can be best placed to tackle a challenging market.

To ensure investors are well-educated and well-equipped, they have also outlined a number of ways that investors can achieve long-term success within their property journey.

The pair have even taken the time to unpack the psychology required to conduct “future-focused investing”.