My 10 Year Anniversary of being Fired

I just realized that the closing for Oaks of Timbergrove will be on the 10 year anniversary of when I was fired from Exxon... July 18, 2012 at 5:30PM

So I wanted to send this note today, while the emotions are fresh and just say thank you to everyone who has invested, supported and mentored me over the years.

Thank you to those investors who have trusted me and my team to do what's best for each investment. It hasn't always been pretty, especially on the first couple of deals, but we always got it done.

To this day, it is still the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me both financially and mentally.

It was a huge hit to my ego because on paper, I had done everything right.

I had won the project recognition award the last two years in a row for being the best technically, only to get let go.

It was the first time I was ever ashamed to be around my parents and friends. I rented an apartment with random roommates and played video games for 6 months, almost 24/7. I hid from the world...

Unfortunately, but really fortunately, for me, I had already purchased my first apartment complex with the majority of the money I had saved while overseas...

And that complex was now negative cash flowing with some major issues which forced me to stop feeling sorry for myself and redirect my energy to turning this property around and saving my butt.

In retrospect, I now know the reason I got let go was that entrepreneurs don't do very well in a corporate culture like Exxon's.

But seriously , what are the odds that we would be closing on a property exactly 10 years to the day that my corporate world as I knew it ended.

I really feel invigorated to do something special on this one. Its exciting because we are already talking about the redevelopment options but now...

Now I feel like its more than an option. Its a opportunity to prove myself... Its an omen..

I shouldn't be here today. If not for multifamily, I would have just got another job somewhere else.

I actually did get a job 6 months later. And wouldn't you know it, I got let go after a year when they were bought out.

And then I got another job for 2 months as a Private Jet broker and quit...after that I knew this was my only path, sink or swim.

Since high school, I spent the first 10 years learning to be an engineer and working in corporate America.

I spent the following 10 years learning about multifamily and entrepreneurship while also building a great company.

I now have a company of 56 amazing people and we are on a journey to build one of the great multifamily companies of America. Like all things built to last, you have to spend a lot of time on the foundation and that's what we have been doing the last 5 years.

Multifamily literally saved my life and gave me financial security. Today, nothing makes me happier than being able to help other people achieve that same financial security.

Because its not always about being able to quit your job and retiring early.

Sometimes its just about being able to work a job that you truly enjoy doing, regardless of the pay.

Or knowing that if you do randomly get let go, that you have options and you don't need to just take any job that will pay the bills, because your bills are already paid :)

Thank you for listening to my emotional rant. Its been a heck of a ride these last 10 years and I know this closing day on July 18, 2022 will be a very special one for me. Tears will be shed. I hope you will join me at the closing table.

Invest for tomorrow,

Joseph Bramante, CCIM

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