Elizabeth Buller is the CEO of Buller Real Estate, a company that buys and sells properties and holds a rental portfolio valued at over $50 million. She started the company over 20 years ago and has grown it into a multimillion enterprise. Her business prowess is evident in how she developed the business in the early 2000s to the empire that it is today. In the early stages of the company, she brought in strategic investors that helped her capitalize on the business and expand during the real estate boom of the 2000s. She also leveraged this capital boost to develop customer service systems that cemented its long-term growth. Elizabeth’s success also has a lot to with her academic background in business. She holds a degree in business management and graduated among the best in her class. These skills helped her make the strategic moves that have helped grow the business to its current level. Besides her business prowess, Buller uses her privileged position to give back to society and has given many charities that support children from impoverished backgrounds. Her donations over the years have helped improve the lives of many, who would, otherwise, have ended up with very different outcomes.
Where did the idea for Buller Real Estate come from?
The idea was the result of my deliberate research into many industries to determine the best one for a startup at the turn of the millennium. I settled on real estate and actualized it through Buller Real Estate.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I make my day productive by delegating administrative tasks to my juniors. This frees up time to engage in activities that drive the company’s strategic direction and also meet new clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
The moment I get an idea, I run it through my team, and if they love it, I develop a proof-of-concept. It’s a strategy that has always worked for me.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I am most excited by the manner in which, the Fed is willing to support the economy through low interest rates. It is a good signal for the long-term viability of the real estate market.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I wake up early and do some aggressive cardio workouts. It really helps me start the day strong, and stay focused all through.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to believe in her dreams and pursue them without fear. A lot of times people fail due to the fear of putting dreams to action.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I believe that A.I. will replace 90% of today’s jobs by 2050. Most people don’t believe it but its happening.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I would recommend that all entrepreneurs pay their staff well. A well paid and motivated workforce can help you access your dreams faster than you can imagine.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Customer satisfaction strategy. I always make sure that each of our clients is satisfied, and so far it has worked quite well.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I had so many failures before I started this business. The worst was starting a business with high interest debt. It failed miserably and almost sunk me financially.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I hope I had one. I would have implemented it if I had it, as I am an entrepreneur at heart.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I gave it to a homeless family. I love giving and when I came across this family, I decided to make their day better, and it was a satisfying experience.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
I use skype a lot. It has been helpful in maintaining business continuity during the pandemic. I think it’s a piece of software that will be a mainstay in my life.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I highly recommend Trust the Process by Steve Covey. Its insights are an asset to all entrepreneurs.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite is “start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can” by Arthur Ashe.
Key Learnings:
• Dream big
• Research
• Be persistent
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.