TRANSFORMING ADVERSITY INTO PURPOSE

The TDM Story

In the whirlwind of the past year, we found ourselves standing at a crossroads.

Both personally and professionally, it was a time of unprecedented challenges that tested our resilience and determination.

It's not easy for us to openly recount this, but it's a story we feel compelled to share. We've delved into the depths of our souls during the darkest hours, struggling at times to find a way forward.

Our successful property development business Fiducia faced an unrelenting onslaught—rising costs, supply and labor shortages, government restrictions, soaring interest rates, and plummeting market values. Yet, these challenges were not just the crux of the issue.

The fear and greed of others had infiltrated our world, overwhelming everything we had worked for. Our skills seemed meaningless, our integrity questioned, and we were under constant scrutiny with seemingly no allies by our side.

Our mental health hung by a thread; our nervous systems were frazzled. We took everything personally, because we care deeply.

This was compounded by the responsibilities of raising a family, managing a business, navigating life's obligations, maintaining friendships, and mustering the strength to face each day with a smile—while watching our teenage daughter suffer through relentless bullying, a painful ordeal that felt like a nightmare.

It was soul-crushing.

How could two individuals who had come so far, who showed up each day, feel so utterly defeated?

We know we were not alone in this.

Many of us have faced similar adversity.

But here's the silver lining: It wasn't our first trial. We founded Fiducia in 2004 and persevered through multiple property cycles, including the global financial crisis—an era we remember as "doing projects for practice."

Amidst all of this, two significant observations emerged:

1. Property: A Source of Resilient Wealth Despite the challenges, our property developments continued to yield profits. We relearned that property is an enduring source of asset wealth and income, and we continue to build.
2. Redefining Values Our values, both in business and personally, underwent a transformation. This shift paved the way for a new perspective and a powerful question: What's next?

As we dissected this question, we acknowledged that property development is our calling, our passion, where our expertise shines—despite the doubts that had plagued us.

Our values had evolved, revealing a path to making a difference in an uncharted territory most developers couldn't take on. It was the juncture of purpose and potential, an opportunity to tackle Australia's housing supply crisis, particularly the Missing Middle.

March 2023 a transformative decision was made. We reclaimed our property business from the public listing, determined to forge a new vision on our terms, guided by our aligned values.

Yet, we recognized that this journey couldn't be a solitary one. Just as we sought change for ourselves and our family, we knew there were others yearning for a similar shift.

Embracing change, we sold our family home, relocated our business from the city, enrolled our bullied daughter in homeschooling, and embarked on a fresh, liberating chapter.

Looking back, we understood that our survival through the darkest days hinged on developing a daily consistency of habits for well-being—mindset, biology, physiology, nutrition, movement, energy—a toolbox of new and old knowledge all coming into practice.

Ticking Off Values, Embracing Service

We embraced all our newfound values: property with purpose, impact investing, corporate freedom, family safety and happiness, and optimal health.

And then, the final piece emerged—service.

How could we leverage our 2 decades of property development experience, all the learnings, mistakes, wins and knowledge into serving, educating and guiding others? Not only in developing property, but developing the best version of themselves.

And, The Development Mentor was born.

What's certain is this: from the challenges of these last 12 months, we've fashioned an uncharted path deeply aligned with who we are, and we are EXCITED!

And now, as we stand at the intersection of experience and aspiration, we invite you to join us.

Ben & Marie

Your Journey Awaits

Our journey isn't just about us; it's about you—your dreams, your growth, your impact. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of property development, build impactful projects, create value driven wealth.

• Is now the time to cultivate the skills and knowledge that build prosperity for you and your family?
• Is now the time to summon the bravery to walk away from something that no longer serves you and embrace the unknown?
• Is now time to get the help to navigate a challenging or distressed transaction?
• Is now time to bridge the divide between where you are and where you want to be?

The Development Mentor stands as a testament to what's possible.

Join us and discover what’s possible for you.