I bought a FAKE Rolex... and it changed my life!

Summary

The speaker shares their journey from wearing a fake $20 Rolex to purchasing a genuine rose gold Daytona Rolex for over $30,000 impulsively at an airport, symbolizing their leap into success. They reflect on the importance of projecting an image of success to gain confidence and how it helped them in their real estate career. The speaker also emphasizes the value of finding common interest groups to network and build a successful career, highlighting the story of an agent who runs with the blind and built a thriving business through it. They conclude with the bold move of their company's first office, taking over the Tommy Hilfiger headquarters in SoHo, as a statement of their ambition and success.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker initially purchased a fake Rolex for $20, thinking it would help him appear successful and boost his confidence in his early career.
• 💰 The speaker's first genuine Rolex, a rose gold Daytona, was impulsively bought at an airport for over $30,000, reflecting a shift in his financial situation and mindset.
• 🏢 The speaker believes that success in real estate, especially in New York City, is associated with material symbols like Rolex watches, which he initially couldn't afford.
• 👕 He describes his early struggles, living in Koreatown and sharing a bathroom with many others, contrasting with the image of success he aspired to project.
• 🤔 The speaker reflects on the psychological impact of wearing a fake Rolex, comparing it to wearing shapewear for self-improvement and motivation.
• 🏋️‍♂️ To overcome his lack of connections, the speaker joined multiple gyms to meet potential clients and build relationships, highlighting the importance of networking.
• 🏡 He emphasizes the value of finding common interests and building genuine relationships, rather than just selling, to attract clients in real estate.
• 💼 The speaker's real estate firm started during the COVID-19 pandemic, choosing to project an image of success by leasing a prominent office space in SoHo.
• 🌐 He mentions the changing perceptions of success, noting that in 2020, social media presence and actions are more telling of success than material possessions.
• 🚀 The speaker encourages finding and leveraging unique interests to create a niche and build a client base, using the example of an agent who runs with the blind.
• 📈 Success begets success; projecting an image of success is crucial, as it can attract more opportunities and clients, according to the speaker's experiences.

Q & A

What was the cost of the narrator's first Rolex watch?

The narrator's first Rolex watch, which was fake, cost him twenty dollars.

Why did the narrator initially buy a fake Rolex watch?

The narrator bought a fake Rolex to project an image of success and to boost his confidence in the early stages of his career in New York City.

How much did the narrator spend on his rose gold Daytona Rolex?

The narrator spent just over thirty thousand dollars on his rose gold Daytona Rolex.

What was the narrator's motivation for buying the expensive Rolex at the airport?

The narrator made an impulsive purchase to project an image of success and to embody the success he aspired to achieve.

What was the physical effect of wearing the fake Rolex when the narrator was sweaty or wet?

Wearing the fake Rolex would turn the narrator's wrist green due to the plastic material when he got sweaty or wet.

Why did the narrator believe that wearing a fake Rolex could help him become successful?

The narrator thought that by wearing the fake Rolex, he could build himself up to the point where he could potentially afford the real thing, similar to how shapewear can make one feel better.

What was the narrator's living situation when he first moved to New York City?

The narrator lived in Koreatown, sharing a bathroom with 17 other guys, and was not from New York City.

How did the narrator meet potential clients in the beginning of his career?

The narrator met potential clients by going to multiple gyms around New York City, where he could help people out and build friendships that could lead to business.

What strategy did the narrator use to find a common interest group in New York City?

The narrator used gym memberships in various locations to find a common interest group and meet people who could potentially become clients.

How has the perception of success changed since 2008 according to the narrator?

The narrator suggests that society has become less materialistic since 2008, with success now being associated more with actions and social media presence rather than material possessions like watches.

What was the narrator's approach to projecting an image of success for his real estate firm?

The narrator chose to lease the entire Tommy Hilfiger headquarters in SoHo, a four-story building, to project an image of success and ambition for his real estate firm.