Live your best life Nairobi Africa

He does investing, and if you know anything about investing, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. And so some people invest for the first time and they don't win. They what? Lose. And when they lose, they get shaken up and then they don't do any investing anymore. But the long-term investors, the real winners, are committed to doing the investment when sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. This gentleman, he's what I call— everybody say unshakable. Say it again, unshakable. He's what I call the unshakable investor. It doesn't matter if he wins, he's in the game. If he happens to lose, he gets back in the game. If he gets knocked down, he gets up again. There's a Chinese proverb that says, get knocked down 7 times, stand up 8. So I like this gentleman I'm bringing to the stage because he's been knocked down, but he's back up. Give him a round of applause. Hello, hello, hello! Hello! Let's do it! Dr. Wes Strange. 32 years ago, I prayed to be right here, right now, on this stage. 32 years ago, I told and asked God, "Help me become the guy that can transform individuals." This stage didn't exist. Dr. West didn't exist. But I knew that somehow, someway, I had something inside of me that people would want to learn from. In 1994, I asked God for a partner. I said, Lord, I need a spouse. I can't do this by myself. I need to find somebody that has the vision, the power, the the passion to make sure that I am everything that I'm supposed to be. All right. And he gave me that one right there. All right. We are celebrating 31 years of ups and downs. Yeah. And let me share that story with you. In 1994, in the US, real estate mortgages was the best thing going on. Interest rates were low, everybody was refinancing, and people were buying houses. But I knew that that wasn't the calling that I was set out to do. I set up a program that was working with individuals that had been turned down by other companies. If you had bad credit or no credit, you couldn't get a loan. If your job wasn't stabilized, if you hadn't been on it for a long time, if you hadn't had savings, you couldn't get a loan. And because interest rates had dropped, 99% of the lenders out there was taking the people that had perfect credit, good job history, and giving them great rates. But there was another group of individuals that were being turned down. And so myself and my spouse, my wife, founded a company to work with those individuals to ensure that they had the opportunity They have the American dream just like everybody else. Home ownership. And so we would work with them and we'd help them create credit. We would look at their utility bill, their car insurance, their phone bill. It didn't matter. Anything they paid on for 30 days— a 30-month payment, 30-day payment for over 12 months, we added to their credit report, creating credit for them, getting them approved and getting them American home ownership, the American dream. And we were doing well. In fact, when we did that for one person, they told everybody they knew, and we were the go-to company. We were doing business with over 252 lenders, meaning we had every program out there for every need. And we ensured that if you work with us And we told you you would be a homeowner. You were a homeowner, and we were living a great life. We built a big custom house. We had a 50-foot yacht. Wow. We had it all. We were changing lives. Our lives were changing. Had two little kids. And then in 2008, the real estate crash hit. Everything was taken away. We lost it all. Now mind you, we had a big house, a 50-foot yacht, fancy cars, money, money, money. It was like we went to work every day printing money. And then all of a sudden, the kingdom was broke. There was no money. We lost it all so bad that we sold the house, we sold the boat, we sold the RE/MAX franchise, we sold the title company, we sold the mortgage company, and still didn't have enough money. We had to move into a family house because we couldn't pay rent. We had to use a family vehicle because we couldn't afford our own. Saturday night at midnight, I would go to the local grocery store because back then they had newspapers, and then the Sunday paper was coupons. And I put a dollar and a quarter in that little machine, open that door, pull 4 or 5 newspapers out and take all the coupons out. Then I set the newspapers back in. I needed those coupons. I needed the milk. I needed the eggs. I needed the bread. I needed to feed my family. They But here was the tough thing. I had a wife and two little children that thought I was the best there ever was. I was their hero, and now I was a zero. Inside of me was pain you cannot imagine, disappointment, embarrassment. I felt this Every day I had to look at them, and it wasn't easy. Many, many, many days I wanted to end it all. I wanted to be done with the pain. They would be better off without me. But see, I still believe in two things. I believed in a God that created me, that created me to be great. He had a purpose and a plan. We talked about it all day today. You have a purpose and a plan. I believe that. I believe that God saw in me something special, something great. So then I said, you know what, there's no way he brought me all the way to here just to get me to here. There has to be more. So that's number one, I believe in God. That he's in control of everything. And then number 2, more importantly, please, me. I knew I had— I knew since I was little I was going to be something. I told God 32 years ago, I want to impact and change lives. I'm not doing that now. I can't even put gas in the car. What is going on? Day in and day out, I struggled with this. Losing it all, not knowing what tomorrow was going to bring. And I read the Bible every day. I prayed to God every day, said, help me understand, because I was angry, I was mad, I was pissed. Why would you take me this far, give me all this? We were doing everything that we said we would do. Why would you take it all away? See, God didn't. Life happens. Life happens. So every day for the next 7 years, I prayed, Lord, give me strength, push me along, open doors when they're ready to be open. And then I would look in the mirror and I would say, if it's going to be, it's up to me. There's nobody going to do this for me. Nobody's going to do it for you. We've all said it on the stage. If it's going to be, it's up to me. I did that every day for 7 years, and slowly doors started opening. Nothing major, but each door opened to a new room. A room that I didn't even know existed. And in 7 years, I was able to regroup, rebuild, and start another company. And I started that company saying, you know what, we're going to do it different this time. We're going to make sure that if there's a real estate crash, no big deal. If there's a financial crisis, no big deal. I'm not going to lose money this time. I'm not going to lose everything that that we— God and I— built. Maybe I screwed up last time, but I know one thing, I'm going to learn from my lessons. Because I know two things: God is in control, and if it's going to be, it's up to me. And we're going to change lives along the way. So we started a company in 2015 called Global Integrity Finance, and I put integrity in there because integrity has always been my middle name. And so it's global eternity finance. So we started building, and we were investing in real estate with a safety net. See, every time I bought property or I lent money on a deal, I would use my money, but then within 30 days I would sell that off to Wall Street. We had what we call no buyers who would buy those loans. I closed 8, 10, 15, 20 million in loans and and then I sell them off and get my money back. I was smart, I thought. I put everything in place to make sure that I never went through that crisis again. In 2019, we were voted Private Lender of the Year by the National Private Lender Association. We were climbing the ladder. We were the go-to. In 2022, We were voted Inc. Magazine's top 100 fastest-growing companies. But here's the story. As we're growing, as we're building, as we're protecting everything, the real estate market is amazing, everything's going great. March 13th, 2020, another crisis hits. Remember? Everybody remember what happened in 2020? COVID, right? COVID. And guess what? We had just funded on March 9th, I had just funded $8.7 million in loans. I had a capital market, a Wall Street company, a hedge fund to buy those loans from me. I had commitment letters from them. But on March 13th, I get a call and they say, We're not buying loans. We're not buying any loans. COVID's coming. We don't know what it's going to do. We don't know what's going to impact society, the economy, the stock market. We're not buying any loans. I said, you know what, that's good, that's fine, I'm good with that. Just buy these $8.7 million because that's my money, I need it back. Buy this loan that you committed and then we'll stop funding. This is gonna— listen, we're not buying any more loans. I said, I get it, I get it. Buy these loans that you have— I have a contract on for you to buy, and we'll be done. And they said, you're not listening to me, we're not buying any loans, you're stuck with them. I hit my knees. I don't know about you, I didn't have $8.7 million just to give away. That was our company, that was our finance, that was everything, that was payroll, that was everything. Again, I'm right back to where I was. I'm like, you gotta be kidding me, what are you doing? I, Hugh, got very angry, very mad, very irritated. With God, with life, with anything I could be mad at. And for 30 days, I went to the office and I closed myself in my office and I sat there and I stewed over it all. And I would tell myself, you know what, God, I, I trust you, I believe in you. I— we pray every Monday morning before we have a sales meeting. I push it to every person I know. I am trying to change lives and you keep taking my knees out from underneath me. What the heck is going on here? And after about 30, 45 days, this lady that God gave me, she walked in my office and said, you know what, fix it. You are the man, the God-man, for me and for the kids. You are the owner of this business, and you are the only one, because you teach it, you preach it. If it's going to be, it's up to me. Then go out there and fix it. Turn this thing around. And she walked out, and I said, really, God? Really? Are you kidding me now? I mean, here was my biggest cheerleader And now she tell me, 'Quit powering.' She's right, because see, right then and there, right then and there, it hit me like a brick. There's nothing in this world that can take me down because I got God on my side. There's nothing in this world that can take me down Because I got God. And so we went around the office and we said, faith over fear, faith over fear, we will not let COVID destroy us. And within 30 days, I turned that company around. We got back up, we picked ourselves up, we started doing business, and today we are one of the most profound investors in real estate. COVID comes and goes, the market opens back up, and like I just shared, in 2022, one year later, we were voted from E Magazine's Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Real Estate Investing. You see, at that moment in time, I realized the only way I was able to overcome these hurdles, these obstacles, It's because of 3 things that each and every one of you have: mind, spirit, and body. If we are not mentally sound, spiritually sound, and physically solid, life will kick your butt. Life will happen and you will give up. You'll quit. I will teach and preach and tell people, you know what, I grew up as a— at 10 years old I started wrestling. Wrestled through high school, wrestled through college. And the one thing that I always, always knew— you can't lose if you don't quit. You can't lose if you don't quit. And every time life was kicking me down, I could have laid there, I could have quit, I could have gave up. Sometimes I wanted to. But see, I knew I had responsibilities. I knew I was given a purpose that we've been talking about. I knew that there was something bigger and better in store for me. And you know what it is? It's standing on this stage right here today, preaching and teaching and letting people know you have the same opportunity. You have the same Bible. You have the same passion. You have the same dream. But you know what's more important? You have the same God. Yes! You have the same ability. I know every one of you. I've been in Kenya now for 1 week. And I've met how many people? I don't know, 200, 300 people, and it's the same everywhere. You all have so much fire, so much passion, so much love. It's unbelievable. And so when I stand here, I say, you know what, 32 years ago I asked for this opportunity, not for me to teach you, for you you to teach me, for you to show me what it really means to be devout, for you to show me what it means to have a fire inside you that says, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yes, I see fire in every one of you. I see power, passion, and opportunity. You don't even see Yes, I stand here today very successful only because of two things: because God is in control, I trust and believe that, and number two, I believe in my ability because he made me. He made me. Every one of you had that same fire, every one of you had that same passion, and I'm here today to say that I am here to make sure you see what what you have in front of you. Thank you so very much. Let me give a few people in the takeaway— say right now, I know Takeaway from that? Can you guys please stand up? Let's hear this takeaway, please. Oh my goodness. Faith over fear. Faith over fear. And number 2, you are your own enemy. You get in your own way. So become unstoppable, be relentless, and never give up on you because when you know who you are and whose you are. Nothing else matters. Everybody say, "Shake 'em up!" Shake 'em up! Shake 'em up! My take is challenges and failures is inevitable, but the only way is how you react to them. And believing in myself and believing in God that has a purpose and plan for everything I do. Thank you. Thank you very much. If it has to happen, it's up to you. Come on, yeah, don't be— it's up to you. And for us young people, he has put it very well: choose your partner wisely. Hallelujah! Toby, you reminded me that no matter how many times I get knocked down, when I start over, I'm not starting from nothing. I am starting from all that experience, and nothing's going to stop me. Toby, that's his video. That's his video. Amazing. And one thing I'm taking is live your best life now, no matter what happens. Never give up, keep doing it, and then one day it's going to be there, and another day, and another day. Absolutely. Yeah. Take this: in every challenge, God is in control. Hello. Hello everyone, my name is Susan Kamau and my tip is never give up. He has encouraged me so much because I'm an aspirant in Embakasi and I was like maybe I will not get this seat because I have fear, but he has encouraged me to go fight a cowardly lion, and I know I'll win. Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you. My takeaway is just very simple: you can't lose until you quit. That's right. And I'm not going to lose because I'm not quitting. Because I believe there's a God in heaven, and I believe in myself. Thank you, sir. Hi, I just wanted to say, you know, it all began with a periodical. That's what it all began with. But being able to get up, get down, and get back up Get back down and get back up. It's wonderful. It is wonderful. That's right. It all begins with "there is more." Good job. Give them a round of applause. Thank you. Thank you. That was fantastic. And listen, listen, you guys know how I do it. It's time for lunch.