PATIENCE, TIMING AND COURAGE: LESSONS FROM SURFING FOR PROPERTY INVESTING AND BUSINESS
I’m writing this from Jeffreys Bay, a place that has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
As a little boy, I came here on holiday with my family. Back then, I was not surfing. I was boogie boarding, getting thrown around by waves that felt far bigger than they probably were. I can still remember the feeling of being caught inside, tumbling under the water, and then popping up again, laughing. Even then, something about the ocean grabbed me. The rhythm of the waves. The smell of the salt in the air. The quiet that seems to settle over everything.
Years later, I started learning to surf.
And I will be honest, it did not come naturally. Living in Johannesburg means I only get to surf a few times a year. Every time I come back to the ocean, it feels like I am starting again. The paddling burns your shoulders. The timing feels off. Getting up on the board takes effort. There were many sessions where I missed wave after wave, wiped out more times than I can count, or just sat there wondering if I would ever really get it right.
But somewhere along the way, something shifted.
Surfing became more than just a sport. It became a place where I find peace. A place where everything slows down. The noise of business, meetings, decisions, and pressure fades into the background. There is something powerful about sitting on your board, looking out over the horizon, waiting. Especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sky lights up with colours that no boardroom or office can compete with. And in those quiet moments, I started realising something. The ocean teaches you.
And many of those lessons apply directly to business and property investment
1. You Cannot Learn From The Shore
You can watch videos. You can study technique. You can talk about surfing for hours. But until you get into the water, you are not learning to surf.
Property and business work the same way. You can attend seminars, read books, listen to podcasts, and gather as much information as possible. All of that is valuable. But at some point, you need to step in. You need to make your first investment. You need to start the business. You need to sign the deal. You need to feel it.
Too many people stay on the shoreline of opportunity, waiting until they feel completely ready. The truth is that you will never feel completely ready. Clarity comes from action.
2. The Right Coach Changes Everything
For a long time, I tried to figure out surfing on my own. Progress was slow. Then I got help from someone who understood the ocean, and everything started changing. My positioning improved. My confidence grew. I began catching waves I would have missed before. The difference was not talent. It was guidance.
In business and property, this principle is even more important. The right mentor or advisor can save you years of frustration. They can help you structure correctly, avoid expensive mistakes, and move forward with confidence. They see things you cannot yet see.
I often think about how many people try to build wealth on their own, when the shortcut is simply to learn from someone who has already done it.
You can do it alone. But you do not have to.
3. Waves Come in Sets — So Do Opportunities
When you sit in the water long enough, you start to notice a pattern. There are quiet moments where nothing seems to happen. Then suddenly, a set of waves rolls through. One after the other. If you are in the right position and paying attention, you can catch them. If you are distracted or out of position, you miss them.
Property markets behave in a very similar way. There are seasons where opportunities are everywhere. Good deals, motivated sellers, favourable conditions. Then there are quieter seasons where things slow down and people begin to doubt.
The mistake many investors make is that they become impatient during the quiet times and hesitant during the opportunity-rich times.
The key is simple. Stay ready. Because when the set comes, it comes quickly.
4. Timing Is Everything
In surfing, you cannot force a wave. If you paddle too early, you lose momentum. If you paddle too late, the wave passes you. You need to read the moment, trust your instinct, and commit fully.
Business and property are no different. There is a rhythm to markets. There are cycles of growth, consolidation, and correction. You do not need to predict everything perfectly, but you do need to understand that timing plays a role.
I have seen investors wait too long and miss opportunities. I have also seen people rush in without preparation and struggle. The balance is in preparation and decisive action. When the opportunity presents itself, you move.
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5. You Have To Put In The Hours
This lesson has been personal for me. Because I do not surf often, I feel the gap every time I return to the water. Improvement only comes from time spent in the ocean. There is no shortcut.
The same applies to business and property. Understanding structuring, finance, tenant management, deal analysis, and growth strategies takes time. It takes repetition. It takes learning from real situations.
People often see success and assume it happened quickly. What they do not see are the years of effort behind it. The early mornings. The late nights. The mistakes. The lessons. Those who are willing to put in the hours are the ones who build something meaningful.
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6. You Will Wipe Out – And That’s Okay
Every surfer falls. You wipe out. You get pulled under. You swallow water. Then you climb back onto your board and paddle out again.
Business and property are no different. Deals fall apart. Tenants default. Renovations go over budget. Markets shift.
These moments are not signs that you should stop. They are part of the process. The difference between those who succeed and those who do not is simple. The ones who succeed get back up faster.
7. Respect The Ocean – Respect The Market
The ocean is beautiful, but it demands respect. If you underestimate it, it will humble you very quickly.
The same is true in business and property. Leverage, debt, and growth can create incredible wealth, but they need to be handled with care. Proper structuring, strong cash flow, and disciplined decision making are not optional. They are essential.
Confidence helps you move forward. Humility keeps you protected.
8. Find Joy in the Process
This is the lesson that has probably meant the most to me. Surfing is not only about catching the perfect wave. It is about the entire experience. The stillness of the ocean. The quiet moments between waves. The connection to something bigger than yourself.
Business and property should be the same. Yes, we are building wealth. Yes, we are creating financial freedom. But if you do not enjoy the process, you miss something important.
Because the journey shapes you. It builds your character. It teaches you patience. It stretches your thinking. And in the end, that is where the real value lies.
As I sit here in Jeffreys Bay, watching the waves roll in, I am reminded that both surfing and property require patience, courage, and consistency.
You do not control the ocean.
You do not control the market.
But you do control how you prepare.
You do control how you respond.
And you do control whether you choose to step in.
For me, the choice is simple. I will always paddle out.
Read the entire article in the May 2026 Edition of Real Estate Investor Magazine.