I’ve been pondering lately what we should do when the world is uncertain.

Right now there is global conflict, price increases, businesses struggling, people confused about what they should do and when.

Plenty of my client conversations have elements of confusion, fear and worry about risk.

But as always, I look to the people and businesses who shine in these scenarios, and I wonder why they thrive when others contract.

It’s almost always about collective mindset, positive action, risk mitigation and creating something valuable.

And then having the conviction to continue moving forward with the plan when times are tough.

I still remember a conversation the My Mortgage leadership Team had in the middle of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

“Should we hire two people, not one?”

There was uncertainty.

Confusion.

We were in unchartered territory with a pandemic and an uncertain property market

If things didn’t improve, we didn’t need anyone new on the team

If they went back to the way they were, we needed one

We hired two.

The market exploded. We needed three.

But the confidence to make that call, with a strong culture, a positive way of delivering our product and the feeling that we could weather any of the storms together with our combined skillset was invaluable.

I’m reflecting a lot on that at the moment in conversations with people.

Most “overnight successes” in property and the investment world in general are made in uncertain times.

Decisions that are against the grain when everyone wants to run in fear.

But buying your first home, or a property with good fundamentals in the right area that meets your long term goals, is almost always going to see you win in the long term.

At the moment you could say there are headwinds. Interest rates perhaps on their way up, the market fairly flat, an upcoming election, not as much demand and therefore less action.

But all of those headwinds are also opportunities for the right mindset.

• Interest rates are still lower than the average of the last 10 years

• The market has more certainty when it’s flat

• An election brings promise as well as uncertainty

• Less action also means less competition

So if you are “on the fence” about making a decision, think about how you can move forward positively.

Take action.

Whether it’s to seek out a bit more knowledge, reach out to a professional or move your plans forward.

Mindset makes millionaires, not the ups and downs of a market.