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How an elite sporting mindset helps you become a top 1% property investor

09 MAR 2026 By Robyn Tongol 2 min read Investor Strategy
In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, SPI managing editor Liam Garman sits down with James Nelis from The Nelis Group to discuss how elite sport discipline and having a champion’s mindset build a powerhouse property portfolio.
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Nelis, a former semi-professional Australian Football League (AFL) player, draws on 15 years of experience in elite sport to show how discipline, strategy, and resilience drive successful property investing.

Similar to training, Nelis champions the “one percenters” approach, proving that tiny, consistent actions compound into major property wins.

A key takeaway from Nelis’ strategy is “sequencing versus timing,” encouraging investors to focus on their stage in the financial journey while using a “Moneyball”-style approach to let data guide, not dictate, their investment decisions.

Nelis also warns investors against overcommitting, recalling a period of over-leveraging during rising interest rates to stress-test financial limits.

 
 

He also stresses the need to manage ego and emotion to avoid short-term market swings from derailing long-term plans, while building a diversified portfolio in which each property serves a clear purpose for sustainable growth.

If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

RELATED TERMS

Property
Property refers to either a tangible or intangible item that an individual or business has legal rights or ownership of, such as houses, cars, stocks or bond certificates.
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