Comments on: How to Start a Private Equity Firm – and Why You Probably Shouldn’t

By: M&I - Brian

M&I - Brian — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:20:05 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. Get a job or internship marketing a product or service, or create your own product/service and market it. Courses and training will not help with this - you need practical experience.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 01:43:46 +0000

In reply to M&I – Brian.

Hi, thanks for the insights.

What do you think is the best way to master marketing?

I really liked what you said about master sales in all 3 formats – never thought about it that way. I’d imagine that the best way to master sales in each format is a lot of real life reps + mentorship + tight feedback loop = get a sales job and have the best guy in the company give you a lot of feedback.

Regards.

By: M&I - Brian

M&I - Brian — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 19:02:56 +0000

In reply to Youssef. Learning how to sell and market are useful skills anywhere. The main difference in emerging markets is that there's still more of an opportunity to start PE funds (going back to the original topic of this article). But it doesn't change the fact that you want to use your university years and 20s/30s to develop useful, marketable skills that put you in a position to earn a high income in any industry.

By: Youssef

Youssef — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 22:35:12 +0000

In reply to M&I - Brian. Is this applicable also in emerging markets, like in the middle east ?

By: M&I - Brian

M&I - Brian — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 22:29:37 +0000

In reply to Richard Vanderb. Thanks! Glad to hear it. There are some better niches in PE for sure, but, overall, I just don't think the industry is going to repeat the run it had between 1980 and 2020.

By: Richard Vanderb

Richard Vanderb — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:01:12 +0000

Think this is the most honest advice I have ever read on careers in general and PE specifically.
I am a CFO and worked with multiple PE’s and did a divestment&carve-out of for a BU at an oil major, think I have seen my share of PE world and investing. Although considering alternative steps now in my career, I did think about what has been stated at the end of the blog. For younger people, the advice is absolutely spot on.
On terms of environment for PE investing I agree, but disagree when you are looking at certain niches. Bit of a higher risk to bet on a niche, but again that also depends on the underlying fundamentals.
But all in all, very fair advice you are sharing here. Cannot argue about that.
And BTW, I basically never leave comments on blogs….

By: M&I - Brian

M&I - Brian — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:27:29 +0000

In reply to Max.

REPE is a bit different because funds are often smaller since properties are worth less than companies, and people can sometimes get in and start funds with less experience.

I still think it’s quite difficult to start any type of PE fund and make it work, but it’s a little more feasible in RE, especially if you have a track record of successful JVs. The macro environment might be less of an issue in RE as well, depending on your property/strategy type.

By: Max

Max — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 22:36:34 +0000

Very useful insight.
Does the advice also apply to setting up a real estate private equity fund. I’m considering setting one up after a few successful joint venture deals but thought it could make more sense to setup a fund, which could give some flexibility on the nature of acquisitions and also move a lot quicker to close deals as opposed to ventures are tied to specific acquisitions and could take time to structure for every deal.
I am based in London, oxbridge background but do not have any of the experience you have listed just to be clear.

By: M&I - Brian

M&I - Brian — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 01:20:53 +0000

In reply to Cam.

Sales and marketing are the best. Learn how to sell on the phone, face-to-face, and in writing (email, online, etc.) because most people cannot even do one of those well. Doing all 3 well will give you a huge advantage. Also, learn how to build a brand for yourself and become known for something specific so that you don’t even have to sell – you want people to come to you for needs X, Y, and Z.

Basically, focus on everything that professors and students at “elite universities” ignore but which are essential to career success. For more suggestions, see this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Education-of-Millionaires-audiobook/dp/B0073J4FRA

There are also technical skills like programming, Excel/VBA/SQL, etc., but these are easier to learn independently outside of actual work experience.

By: Cam

Cam — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:13:03 +0000

Do you have specific examples of the best marketable skills to develop in your 20s?