Mitch Vandergunst

Mitch Vandergunst is a real estate investor from Exeter, Ontario.

Growing up, Mitch Vandergunst played hockey extensively. He played minor hockey, then moved on to AAA hockey, and ended up playing for his hometown junior league team at the age of 16. Every year from there he made a step up, going from Junior D, C, B, and then ultimately to Junior A. From there he went to the SPHL, the Southern Professional Hockey League, and then managed to work his way up to the East Coast Hockey League which is a well-known and an even better league. Through rising through the ranks in hockey, Mitch Vandergunst gained a strong work ethic that he would carry with him into his career in real estate investing.

Mr. Vandergunst has been involved in real estate since he completed college, but is now putting even more of his attention on working in real estate. He started his own company called the Emvy Group, Inc to invest in real estate. He plans to buy and hold properties and to flip properties as well. He has been investing in apartment buildings. Currently, Mitch Vandergunst has about 30 units. Mitch’s father was an entrepreneur

Where did the idea for your career come from?

I wanted to create my own company because I love the idea of working on my own goals. I saw my dad working for himself in his company and that helped me to understand what it takes to be an entrepreneur. I like the freedom of it and how you set your own limits and where you want to go. I am such an active person and I don’t see myself fitting into a typical 9-to-5 type of job.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I wake up early and get in a workout right away. I will then answer emails and talk with my father to see what is going on with him for the day and see if he needs me to do anything for him. Then I try to tackle my own schedule from there. I make a lot of phone calls to vendors and to some the guys I have working for me to make sure they are busy with the projects we have going on.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life based on what I want in life and how successful I want to be. I focus on the things I am passionate about.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I am excited about being an entrepreneur and working for myself. I have purchased a few apartment buildings and putting a deal like that together has been pretty exciting for me.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I try to stay focused on the tasks that will move things forward for my company. I stay humble and learn what I can from my mentors, my tenants, and everyone that is involved in my business. Treating everyone right and make sure everyone is happy makes me more productive in my business.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Always treat people the way you want to be treated. Listen to the people that have more experience with what you are doing.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

In my hockey career, I did as well as I did by working hard, not because of how skilled or how gifted I was. A lot of people would disagree and would say you have to be skilled or naturally talented. I was a little bit skilled, but I feel I made it as far as I did because of hard work.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Be organized and know where you are going.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Having a week plan, a month plan, a year plan, and a five-year plan. If I make sure I am always hitting those milestones I set up for myself, then I will continue to be successful.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I made a rash decision once just because I wanted something and because I was competing with other people. But it was a decision that did not line up with my long-term goals for myself, so I let the deal fall through.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

One business idea I would give away is to design a skate blade that doesn’t cut you. I’ve had this in my head for years after seeing the injuries and big lacerations they have caused.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I have bought gift cards for homeless people.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

My iPhone and Google both help me to be productive. I also use Excel quite a bit.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I enjoyed Tough Guy: My Life on the Edge by Bob Probert. He was a professional hockey player that struggled with addiction. I am always inspired by the stories of people that went through rough times and seeing how they overcome it.

What is your favorite quote?

“Wherever you are, be all there.” Jim Elliot.

Key Learnings:

• See the good in every situation.
• The second you think you are better than someone, you are already under them. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.
• Surround yourself with the people who are striving to be better and who will push you outside of your comfort zone.