In this captivating episode, Demousselle takes us on an exhilarating global journey, recounting her upbringing and educational pursuits in France, her ventures in the United Kingdom where she worked in a local bar, and her role as a timeshare exchanger in the United States. Having now made Australia her home, she has broadened her horizons, immersing herself in the world of advertising and co-running the thriving property consulting business, One Level Up, with her partner. Join us as we explore the diverse chapters of Demousselle’s life, from intentional adventures to impactful contributions in the dynamic realms of business and property development.

Timestamps:
00:01:26 | Unveiling One Level Up: A Dynamic Property Development Consultancy
00:03:07 | From Paris to Australia: A Stalled journey
00:04:50 | Bouncing Through Memories
00:08:50 | From Law to Marketing: A Journey of Choices
00:13:20 | Travelling and Experiencing the World
00:17:05 | London Bars and City Trails
00:18:41 | Vegas Ventures
00:22:19 | A Return to Roots: Advertising Ventures in France
00:23:37 | Breaking the Stalling Point
00:25:17 | Dependence Down Under
00:28:22 | Driving Success: Partnering in Property Ventures
 
Resources and Links:

 
Laurence Demousselle 

The stalling was more around, and really, I had a lot of time to think about it. It was, I think, just leaving everyone that you love behind. And I was just not ready to do this because Australia is so far away versus the U.K. or the U.S.. And so the first time I met Nat, my partner, really Australia was one of the first conversations [that we had] because suddenly I didn't have that fear anymore, and then she also found someone to go back with. So really, everything came into play, and then there was no stalling anymore. 

This is Property Investory where we talk to successful property investors to find out more about their stories, mindset and strategies. 

I’m Tyrone Shum and in this episode, we’re here with Laurence Demousselle who runs a property consulting business, One Level Up, alongside her partner. Get ready to dive into Demousselle’s captivating journey—from studying law in France and working in the U.K. and the U.S. to making the bold and exciting leap to move down under.  

Laurence Demousselle offers a glimpse into her dynamic role as a property development consultant at One Level Up, a business she co-founded with her partner. With a focus on duplexes, they lead clients through the entire process from strategy formulation to successful property sales, making each step of the journey as exciting as the end result. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Both my partner and I work on the business; she's the one doing most of the work at the moment, and we basically help clients identify what strategy they should be [using]. Well, they actually come up with their strategy, but we're here to find a site that will be desirable for them. 

We work with the consultants such as the architect, the builder, the private certifier—anyone that's really involved in the process. Then, we help them as well develop [the property]. So, we've been doing duplexes, and so far this has been working well for us and our clients. And then we'll go all the way to the sales process. So really, a day will depend on what stage we are in that process. 

Tyrone Shum:   

That's wonderful. And just roughly, how many kinds of projects are you running on average at this point? 

Laurence Demousselle: 

The idea is three per year. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Nice. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Not finishing, but having, you know, different stages; having three. We don't want to be a multi-millionaire type of business; we want to do it ourselves because we know the quality that we bring to that. So three—for now anyway—it's a good scale for us. And we've got actually three right now on the plan.

Demousselle unfolds her vibrant childhood in a town near Paris, transitioning to exploring life abroad in the U.K. and the U.S., fueled by her passion for travel. However, the prospect of moving to Australia initially posed challenges, leading to a period of thoughtful hesitation and stalling. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I grew up in France, so I'm French and Australian now. I'm from a town that's close to Paris, so I always said I'm from Paris; it's just easier. I come from a loving family and I had a really good childhood. 

My parents had some experience in property—but really the mum-and-dad negative gearing type of experience, which was working for them. 

Tyrone Shum:   

And this is in Paris, by the way?

Laurence Demousselle: 

Yes. Well, in France; all of this is in France. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Wow. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And then I've always wanted to live abroad. I stayed in the U.K. and the U.S. for a while, and then I thought about Australia. But [with] Australia being so far away from France, you can't just go back for a weekend. I think I was stalling. Like, I didn't want to come alone. 

And so I stayed in France for a while, and then I met my partner. So we met a little bit late, I guess, in life. But I think it was for a good reason because she was the one putting us on the path of that consultancy in property development. And that has changed our life. So I'm actually really grateful that I stalled, because it turned out to be really good. And we've been here together in Australia for nine years.

Tyrone Shum:   

Demousselle fondly recalls her vibrant childhood in France, highlighting her deep passion for basketball and engaging in spirited rounds of her beloved French card game, adding an exciting and competitive touch to her memories. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I played basketball quite a lot; I enjoyed it a lot. I was playing basketball up to four times [a week]. It was a small town [where I grew up], so everyone was kind of looking [and] watching the games. So it was a really lovely, good team. And when I came here, I tried to have that again, but it's a different spirit. There [were] only just games, only competition, [and] not so much practice, so I miss that a lot. But I still play basketball. 

Tyrone Shum:   

That's great. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

So that's a big one for me, basketball. And then from a family perspective, even when my sister and I moved out, we were regularly going back to the family home, I guess. And one thing that we do a lot is we play cards. So it's usually, you know, a family lunch or something; [it] always ends up with hours of playing cards [together]. 

Tyrone Shum:   

What kind of card games did you play? 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Well, I think it's a French card game, and it's called Tarot, which is the same name as the astrology stuff, but that's not what it is about. We usually play [with] five people, and yeah, the best player wins. We are really competitive. 

Tyrone Shum:   

I can imagine. You got to tell us, what is this Tarot game? I'm curious now. How does it work? Just in summary. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Oh, wow. So obviously, there are, you know, standard rules in any game, but it also brings in strategy. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

It also brings in experience, which will help with strategy because the more you play, the more strategic you can be. When you play with five people, you have a team player, but you only know that during the game. So what's interesting is there's a part where it's kind of unknown, and then you kind of know who you play with, and it's about collaboration as well. 

So you have strategy, collaboration, a bit of mystery and competition. I just love it. 

Tyrone Shum:   

That sounds like a really fun game. Now I'm gonna look it up and find out how to play them. That could probably be another episode in itself. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

It would be, it would be. 

Tyrone Shum:   

I guess you mentioned that you love playing basketball. You're quite tall for a female, and I'm assuming that's probably one of the advantages of being able to play basketball because then you can actually easily jump up. Can you dunk?

Laurence Demousselle: 

I cannot. I wish I could, but there's not a lot of ladies in the world that actually could. So no, I don't have that privilege. 

But yeah, I guess my size was definitely a benefit. But you don't have to be tall to play basketball. There [are] plenty of good players that as long as they are really good at driving very quickly or shooting from far behind, then they can make a career in it.

Tyrone Shum:   

Absolutely. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

[Indiscernible] is good, but it's not a mandate.

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah, absolutely. Did you ever consider wanting to play basketball professionally? Or was it just a sort of a hobby?

Laurence Demousselle: 

It was more of a hobby. I wasn't as good as [others]. I played in a national team, but not the one [where people] are getting paid like you see in the Olympic Games or anything. I think, with my level, I played as high as I could have back in the day. But it was more of a hobby than anything. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah, that's good. It's always good to have a sport or some kind of hobby on the side. Because it's easy as we get older to get stuck in work, and then you go, what's the point of doing all this? It gives you a nice balance.

Laurence Demousselle: 

Most of the team players that I used to play [with] 20 years ago are not only not playing at all but haven't touched the ball for a very long time. When I came back home last year, [one of them] was like, 'Oh my God, I haven't touched the ball for three years'. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I'm not good anymore at it'. But I have my ball, and I play once a month or something, just shooting. 

Tyrone Shum:  

Demousselle reflects on her journey, growing up in France, initially pursuing a law degree, and later making a significant shift to a career in marketing. This decision proved fortuitous as her path in online advertising facilitated her move to Australia, emphasising the crucial role of timing and perspective in shaping her life’s trajectory. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I stayed in France until I was [either] 22 [or] 23 [years old]. Then I stayed in the U.K. and the U.S.; that was probably just two years or something. Then I went back to Paris for many years and then came back to Australia. So there was a big gap between my last trip abroad and then Australia. 

And then all of my studies I've done [have been] in Paris, or in France, I should say. I've got a Bachelor's Degree in Law because I wanted to be, you know, a lawyer.

Tyrone Shum:   

A lawyer. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Yeah, helping everyone. And then, you know, the movies tell you something, but it's not always the reality. So, I decided… And because I wanted to live abroad, I didn't think that law was actually the right vehicle, so I changed my orientation and then went into marketing; [for] which I've got an MBA. And then actually, afterwards, again, I was grateful to have made that big decision because that's how I got to Australia.

Tyrone Shum:   

Okay, tell us a little bit more about that. So you got a marketing degree when you actually went overseas?

Laurence Demousselle: 

Yeah, well, not right away. But when I had all of that, I started my career in advertising; online advertising, specifically. There's a different branch within online advertising. It's actually a lot broader than we think. And then I started to work in different areas within marketing; some people [may] know Google Links, for example, or the Facebook campaign, I would have done that. 

And then I specialised in another area that's called programmatic. I started that career in [the] programmatic space back in Paris. And then in the same company, I was able to transfer here in Australia to build the team here. So that's how there was a connection here, because it was MBA marketing, cool online advertising; do this, this, and this specific job, and this specific company was able to get me to Australia. 

So when I moved, I already had a partner, [and] I already had a job. The only thing that was missing was the house, right?

Tyrone Shum:   

It was all lined up; it was perfectly there. So all you had to do was just action it. That's amazing. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

That's exactly right. So again, going back to the stalling—  I know that we'll talk about mindset later on, but that patience, it's not natural; like I'm impatient by nature. Really, with years later, you understand why it was important to have everything in place. So that's just another example of why time really told me that it was the right decision back then.

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah, it's always hindsight, isn't it? When you look back, that's when you go, 'Ah, it all makes sense now'.

Laurence Demousselle: 

That's right. 

Tyrone Shum:   

At that point in time, it's like 'I want to get it done, I want to get it done, I want to get it done'. But no, you can't.

Laurence Demousselle: 

And you're full of doubt like, is that the right career for me? Is that the right change in, you know, studies? Am I wasting my time?

Tyrone Shum:   

Did you ever go back to law? 

Laurence Demousselle: 

No, no. You know what's easy? Well, again, that [degree] helped me with reading contracts and stuff like this now—like building contracts or sales contracts and stuff like that. I wouldn't be a lawyer, but I understand the documents a lot better.

Tyrone Shum:   

Definitely. All of these skills that we pick up in life somewhere upon wherever we step, we always seem to come back to use them. Whether it be in our personal life or in our business life. So it looks like [that] law [degree] has definitely contributed. 

So how long were [your] studies in the U.K. to get your marketing MBA?

Laurence Demousselle: 

So I studied in France. I think I ended up finishing my studies [when] I was like 23 or 24 [years old].

Tyrone Shum:   

Still quite young then. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Then I went abroad. Then I really started my career in advertising, and then came here. So nine years ago, I was like 33 [years old] or something. 

Tyrone Shum:  

Motivated by an unwavering desire to travel and experience different cultures, Demousselle always harboured a dream of venturing abroad. She unfolds her journey, recounting how she carefully selected the U.K. and the U.S. as initial destinations. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Well, it had to be an English-speaking country because that's the only real language that I can speak; I learnt Spanish, but I really suck at it. So, [an] English [-speaking country it] had to be. And I really enjoy speaking English, so [an] English [-speaking country it] had to be. And then, obviously, the U.K. is very convenient. [If you're] coming from France, you just take the train, and three hours later you're in London, so convenience was really key. 

It was the first time I was going to leave my family, you know, for that period of time. So [the] UK was really an obvious choice. And then, back in the day anyway, the U.S. was kind of a big thing; everyone wanted to go to the U.S. or whatever. I wanted to be in another country as well, so the U.S. was again the obvious second choice for the second trip. 

And then I started to get really serious with my career in advertising, and then I knew I wanted to go somewhere else; it would have been Canada if it was not for the weather. Because I hate the cold. And that's when I started to think about Australia. I didn't know much about it, to be honest. It was more around, I know that it's sunny, I know that there [are] beach[es]. And, yeah, that's when I really thought about going there.

But I didn't do much research, to be honest. I was kind of [like] alright that's going to be my next country. Then I had a visa to come here, [but] I didn't use it.  

Tyrone Shum:   

Wow. Okay. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Going back to the reason, I think that's because I was just a bit scared to come alone, so I just didn't use it. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And then I had a partner visa to come here.

Tyrone Shum:   

That worked out perfectly then. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

That's exactly right. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah, because a lot of people would die; they want to get a visa. It's not easy to get a visa to Australia

Laurence Demousselle: 

It was a working holiday visa, you know the one that you've got a timeframe to work. So it was a good visa but it was not a work visa where you know you're settled and you're here for you know how many years. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

So it was a good but not perfect visa. 

Coming up after the break, Demousselle reveals the intriguing reason behind her initial hesitation to make the move to Australia. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

It was, I think, just leaving everyone that you love behind. And I was just not ready to do this, because Australia is so far away versus the U.K. or the U.S. 

She delves into the initial challenges she encountered upon relocating to Australia alongside her partner. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I ended up being very dependent on my partner, because obviously she lived here for a while; she knew how the city worked, and all of the administrative stuff. 

The pivotal moment when she and her partner embarked on their property journey. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And she was looking online, and then she saw a network where you can make more money through property—but not just investment, actually being active in property. So we went to one day of that network, and then we signed up for the program on the same day. 

And that’s next. I’m Tyrone Shum and you’re listening to Property Investory.

Tyrone Shum:   

Demousselle reflects on her six-month stint working in London, where she embraced a typical bar job and explored the city, immersing herself in its vibrant atmosphere and discovering the joys of independence in a new environment. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I think I stayed there for like six months, and the job I had was your typical bar, you know, waitress [job]. So it was not my first job, but it was my first job abroad and had nothing to do with advertising. So working in a pub, meeting people, serving beers, and then discovering London. I love London.

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah. So it was more for travelling then, I guess.

Laurence Demousselle: 

Yeah.

Tyrone Shum:   

More to explore and do.

Laurence Demousselle: 

And being dependent really in another city. Can I sustain myself?

Tyrone Shum:   

And did you? That's probably a good question.

Laurence Demousselle: 

I did put on a little bit of weight, I have to admit. But it was a great experience.

Tyrone Shum:   

So six months, where did you go in London?

Laurence Demousselle: 

That was 20 years ago. 

Tyrone Shum:   

I love these stories. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I just visited… I don't think I went out of London that much, but I stayed in London and visited as much as I could back then. [I] went to Greenwich, which I actually enjoyed. And now I actually live in Greenwich, in a suburb called Greenwich in Sydney.

Tyrone Shum:   

What a coincidence.

Laurence Demousselle: 

I cannot remember. I think I saw some musicals and stuff like [that]. But there's nothing that really comes out that much. But I know, going out with co-workers, and stuff like that, I really enjoyed [that], and just walking in the city, [which I] enjoyed. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Demousselle reflects on her one-year experience working in the U.S., where her job involved selling and exchanging timeshares, connecting with French-speaking clients, and gaining insights into the travel industry. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

In the U.S., [my] second job abroad, [it had] nothing to do with advertising but [it] did with sales, because the job was not so much to sell timeshares but more exchange timeshares. So there were people [who] already [had] timeshares. Hopefully everyone knows what timeshares are.

Tyrone Shum:   

For the listeners that don't know, [you] may as well explain what that is.

Laurence Demousselle: 

Timeshares are basically like someone will own a weekend at a specific resort somewhere in the U.S.. And then they've got that week to use every year, and if they don't want to use it, they could exchange that week in order to get a week somewhere else. So you might have something in Las Vegas, for example, and next year, you just want to go skiing in the mountains. So you will try to swap. 

And so my job was to find something that the customer wanted. And they wanted French-speaking people because they had some French Canadian [clients]; [there was] not a lot to be honest, that was probably 2% of the calls that we had. 

Tyrone Shum:   

An advantage for you though. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

But it was good for me. Even though that was not [about] advertising, it was about selling, and you know, in every job you kind of do a little bit of selling anyway. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yes. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

So that was good in that sense. And then [the] industry being travelling[-based]. That's really what I enjoyed as well.

Tyrone Shum:   

Did you get to do any of the travelling yourself, or were you mostly just based in the U.S. for the calls and everything?

Laurence Demousselle: 

I was just based in the U.S. I did take a one-week [stay] in those resorts that we were promoting in Hawaii. So at the end of my trip, I just went there to celebrate the year.

Tyrone Shum:      

Nice. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Before coming back home. 

Tyrone Shum:    

In which part of the states did you stay in?

Laurence Demousselle: 

It was in Las Vegas. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Oh, okay. That's a very unusual place to be living in.

Laurence Demousselle: 

I know, and I wouldn't recommend anyone to really live there; go there three days, that's totally fine and good enough. But I chose the job rather than the location. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Ah, got you. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Because I got [in touch with] a company to help me find a job and the first one [they found] was in the right location, it was in New York, but the job itself was nothing that I wanted to do. It sounded really boring. So I refused that. 

Then the second one was this one working in sales in travel. Yeah, that's in Vegas, but you know, I said 'yes' to the job because the following job I would have to say 'yes'. Because there are so many jobs they can really give to you. So I just thought I'd take that one. So I'm glad I did.

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah, it sounds like a great experience. How long were you in the U.S.?

Laurence Demousselle: 

I was there for a year. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Okay, so that's a pretty fair amount of time. So you would know Las Vegas pretty well. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Again, 20 years ago, so hopefully, it has changed. [There are] probably new hotels and stuff like [that] there. 

Tyrone Shum:   

It's always changing. They're always adding more to it because it attracts a lot of people. But it's just crazy how you just walk out of the airport, and there are poker machines everywhere. Pretty unusual.

Laurence Demousselle: 

And obviously, we don't have any of this in France, because it's a very specific location where you can gamble, right? So that was really new to me. And then actually, when I came to Australia, I thought there were poker [machines] everywhere in pubs as well. So it's a bit different but not that different.

Tyrone Shum:     

Yeah, that's very true. You're right about that. But there is a limited amount of pokies and machines because they have licenses behind them. It's crazy. 

Tyrone Shum:  

After spending a couple of years abroad, Demousselle returned to France to make her mark in the advertising industry. During her time back home, she met her partner, a significant factor that motivated her decision to finally move to Australia and put an end to any hesitation. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

It was really to start my career in advertising. So I stayed there for like probably six years or something before we came to Australia. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Okay. Did you move back home with your family or did you actually stay [by] yourself?

Laurence Demousselle: 

I had an apartment, a tiny apartment in Paris, and then I met Nat.

Tyrone Shum:   

That's nice. Very good. So both you and Nat were actually in Paris or in France together. And then that's when... 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Every topic, there's a story. It's getting very personal, but Nat was actually [from] Australia. She was there for 15 years or something before we met. So again, the universe brings us together. I wanted to come here but not alone; she was a little bit sick of Australia after [being here for] like 15 years, [so she] came back just for a break, and then we met. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Wow. That is great. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And then we came here together. See, just when everything comes into place, it's just funny. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Demousselle reflects on the internal struggle she faced in contemplating a move to Australia, primarily due to the distance from loved ones. However, meeting her partner and finding mutual support alleviated her fears, leading to a decisive and smooth decision to move, despite the emotional challenges of leaving family behind. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

The stalling was more around, and really, I had a lot of time to think about it. It was, I think, just leaving everyone that you love behind. And I was just not ready to do this because Australia is so far away versus the U.K. or the U.S.. And so the first time I met Nat, my partner, really Australia was one of the first conversations [that we had] because suddenly I didn't have that fear anymore, and then she also found someone to go back with. So really, everything came into play, and then there was no stalling anymore. 

Tyrone Shum:   

That was an easy decision. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

We just made sure that our relationship was strong enough, and it was, and then we came here.

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah, and how did the family feel when you told them? I can see your face. [laughs]

Laurence Demousselle: 

Not happy. From the mindset perspective, I still have to work a little bit on the guilt because I feel guilty. These are my decisions, so it's not stopping me from making these decisions, but [there is] certainly a weight on your shoulder because you're hurting people. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yeah. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

People who love you. So I'll make sure that I'm on the phone every week or so with my parents at least, and I've been back a few times. 

Tyrone Shum:   

She reflects on her initial dependence on her partner when transitioning to her new life in Australia, relying on her partner’s familiarity with the city and the Australian lifestyle. However, work offered a similar platform and a sense of familiarity, contributing to a smoother transition. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I think I ended up being very dependent on my partner because obviously she lived here for a while, she knew how the city worked, and all of the administrative stuff. So I was very dependent on her on a day-to-day basis, or I made myself dependent or I just let go because, you know, it was already a big change for me. So I just thought I'd delegate that side of life. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Yes. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And then for work, it was the same platform, [and] it was the same language because I had European clients back at home. So I was writing in English quite a lot; not speaking that much. So that helped me focus on work and putting all of my energy into this. Because different clients; [there are] different ways of working.

Tyrone Shum:   

What about [the] time zone difference? So you were coming to Australia to help set up their Australian version here, but did you still need to work the European hours?

Laurence Demousselle: 

Not too much. I was [making] some calls from time to time to get some support, but the people that I worked with on a daily basis were literally in my office, in the office that we had. I should have said that I worked in Havas, which is a big corporation, and I was just one member of this. So there was already a structure around me, just not in my specific department. 

So I came into a team, but it's not the team that was going to help me with the job that we had. So there was some structure already.

Tyrone Shum:   

In her first year in Australia, Demousselle faced intense work demands but found relief when her parents visited, prompting her to quit her job temporarily and later secure a new position in her field, where she has remained for over seven years. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

That first year was tough, mostly because of work; because I was the only one. So the workload was actually incredibly high.

Tyrone Shum:   

Oh, wow. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And then, when my parents came to visit and obviously travel—my parents love travelling. So when they go somewhere, they will just stay six weeks or something. 

Tyrone Shum:   

That's great. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Now that they're retired anyway. So when they came, I just said, 'You know what, I'll just quit this job, spend time with you, and I'll find another job afterwards in that area of my expertise', right? So having my parents come, and having the pressure of the work that I had a bit removed, yes, that was just fine then. And then I found a job fairly easily afterwards, and I've been in that same job for seven years now.

Tyrone Shum:   

Even though her partner had property experience, it wasn’t their influence that brought her into the scene; rather, it was her partner’s desire to expand and explore more. Taking the lead in their property journey, her partner delved into online opportunities, eventually discovering a network event and program that propelled them into the realm of active property development. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

My parents have inherited from properties as well, so I think they have two. And it's a topic that everyone kind of knows, whether or not you're actually investing or not. This is a topic that everyone talks about, especially here in Australia. 

It really [be]came a vehicle for us to move to the next step. My partner worked in the home environment her entire life. She was selling antiq[ues] back in the day, [and] she worked for luxurious home furniture companies as well. And then, yeah, that was great, but surely there's more to it, right? 

She's really the driver; she's in the driver's seat, and I'm a very good co-pilot, but she's the driver of that journey, right? And she was looking online, and then she saw a network where you can make more money through property—but not just investment, actually being active in property. So we went to one day of that network, and then we signed up for the program on the same day. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Excellent. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

That was mid-2017, so that's two years after we came here.

Tyrone Shum:   

Yep. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

And we got educated, and then we saw some very good case studies or stories about people who've stopped working for someone because you're never going to get rich by working for someone. So that's kind of working for yourself; it's hard, but there are, you know, benefits to it. So we were talking about this, and then Nat quit her job and really focused on that. She's literally a full-time consultant now. 

Tyrone Shum:   

Excellent. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

Well, I'm here to support [her] for now, and we've had great success. It is a slow process because when we talk about development, it takes at least two years. So, there's [only] so many you can do at the same time. You [also] have to have investors or clients anyway to help. But so far, everything that we've touched has been a success, so we're very grateful. 

In the next episode of Property Investory, Laurence Demousselle discusses her first property development experience and the hardships and challenges she faced. 

 

Laurence Demousselle: 

That first deal was the most challenging one, not only because it was the first, but because the builder was incredibly hard to manage.

She reveals how a habit developed during COVID-19 has allowed her to enhance her knowledge and understanding of the property system. 

Laurence Demousselle: 

I'm not so much of a reader, but I like to listen. One habit we got from COVID when we were all locked up, the only thing you could do really was go for a walk. [So when] we started to walk every day and listen to podcasts or books through audiobook [apps] and stuff like that. 

She emphasises the importance of self-belief and a strong mindset to support your goals.  

Laurence Demousselle: 

So we all have luck, but it's one of the two words that I'm stopping myself from using because, you know, again, going back to the mindset, it's about creating your own opportunities, right? And if you do create them, then it's no longer part of luck.

 

And that’s next time on Property Investory.