Podcast

The "Both/And" Entrepreneur: Building a Real Estate Portfolio Without Quitting Your Job

Guest: Abbas Bandali (Principal Site Reliability Engineer & Business Owner) Theme: Wealth Building, Career Management, Real Estate, Work-Life Balance

In the world of entrepreneurship, we are often sold a dramatic story: "Burn the boats." We are told that to build a serious business, we must quit our jobs, risk everything, and go "all in."

But what if that is a false choice? What if the secret to sustainable wealth isn't about choosing between stability and risk, but finding a systematic way to have both?

In this episode, Phani sits down with Abbas Bandali, a Principal Site Reliability Engineer who has spent the last two decades successfully managing a dual-track life. By day, he maintains a high-level career in tech. Simultaneously, he has built a robust portfolio of businesses—including car washes, storage facilities, and commercial real estate—without ever resigning from his W-2 job .

This is a masterclass in the "Both/And" philosophy: How to use a corporate career as a financial engine to fuel a business portfolio, and how to use business ownership to buy freedom within your corporate career.

The Origin: From "Cutthroat" Fears to Seeking Freedom

Abbas’s journey spans three continents—born in Tanzania, educated in the UK, and eventually settling in the US .

Interestingly, Abbas initially avoided business. Growing up, he viewed business as "cutthroat" and potentially ethically compromising compared to a professional career . However, after entering the workforce, he realized a different kind of restriction: the corporate ceiling.

"Do I see myself doing this for the rest of my life? Working for somebody... and then take a holiday whenever I want instead of having to put in a request for PTO?"

The turning point came in 2004 (and later 2014) when helping his father invest in a business for visa purposes. Abbas realized he didn't have to follow the "cutthroat" model—he could design a business approach that fit his own values of patience and ethics .

The Strategy: How to Balance a Job and a Business

Most people struggle to balance a side hustle with a job because they choose high-labor businesses. Abbas developed a specific set of criteria to make the "Both/And" lifestyle sustainable.

1. The "Individual Contributor" (IC) Career Path

Abbas made a strategic decision in his tech career: he avoided the management track. By staying an Individual Contributor (IC), he maintained his passion for hands-on engineering while avoiding the political and emotional drain of corporate management .

Because his businesses provided financial security, he didn't need to chase promotions for money. This gave him the autonomy to enjoy his job without being desperate for it.

2. Business Criteria: "The Customer Does the Work"

When selecting businesses, Abbas looked for models that minimized labor—the most expensive and headache-inducing line item in the US.

  • Car Washes & Storage Units: He specifically targeted self-service models where the customer performs the labor, or the service is automated .

3. The "Triple Net" Real Estate Strategy

As his portfolio grew, Abbas transitioned into Triple Net (NNN) Properties.

  • The Concept: You own the building (e.g., an AutoZone or Dollar Store), but the tenant pays the rent plus all property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs .
  • The Benefit: While the returns might be lower (7-8%) than a high-risk startup, the income is passive and stable. You don't fix toilets; you just collect checks. This stability creates the perfect counterbalance to a busy tech job .

The "Anchors and Engines" Framework

Abbas attributes his success to a personal framework he calls "Anchors and Engines". To move forward without capsizing, you need both stability and propulsion.

The Anchors (Stability)

  • Patience: Rejecting the "get rich quick" mentality. He views wealth building as a 20-year journey, not a 2-year sprint.
  • Faith: Using spiritual grounding to maintain perspective—remembering that money is temporary and ethics are permanent .
  • "Live and Let Live": Letting go of the need to be the "best" at everything. He accepts being a "jack of all trades" to maintain balance .

The Engines (Propulsion)

  • Grit: The ability to "go through the mud" and handle the inevitable operational problems of business ownership.
  • Multitasking: Mastering the art of context switching between his tech role, his business decisions, and his family life .

Building a Legacy: The "Warrior in a Garden"

Abbas isn't just building wealth for consumption; he is building capability in the next generation. He actively involved his children in his businesses—having his daughter handle QuickBooks and his son help with repairs—to teach them the value of labor and ownership .

He closed with a powerful philosophy on humility and preparedness:

"I'd rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in war."

By building financial strength, community connections, and spiritual grounding, he strives to be capable of handling whatever life throws at him (the warrior), while choosing to live a peaceful, productive life (the garden).

Resources & Concepts Mentioned

  • Triple Net Lease (NNN): A lease agreement where the tenant is responsible for all property expenses, including real estate taxes, building insurance, and maintenance.
  • SBA Loans: Small Business Administration loans used to finance business acquisitions.
  • The "Individual Contributor" Track: A career path focused on specialized skills and execution rather than personnel management.
  • Websites: Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool (Abbas's early learning resources) .

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Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. The experiences of the guest are unique and are not indicative of future results for any other individual.

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