RIZWAN RAWJI – Managing Director of Landmark
How would you describe your business strategy?
Once you make a commitment, that’s it, you have go all the way. That’s my philosophy. I don´t operate like a fox, my modus operendi is more like a hedgehog. One project, and you carry it through. Usually a fox has many thoughts but doesn’t accomplish a thing. I could’ve taken on several other projects, maybe by partnering with other investors. I’ve seen a lot of people trying to do ten projects, which is the fox philosophy, but I haven’t seen them finish anything. And I’m talking about guys with private money, not big institutions. So they come, they stay in hotels and make offices out of their rooms, and then fly back to London. But I have yet to see any of these guys be successful. The only way a small investor like me can make it on this market is to play the niche game, stick with what you know. We’re office developers and we stick to it. I’m not pursuing housing or industrial and I stick to the area where I am. But Greg Kowalenko and I have gone one project at a time. We have a similar philosophy, maybe because we’re both Virgos.
Why have you been successful in Prague?
We’ve been honest with each other. When you do business, it’s teamwork. If you give respect, you’ll get respect. You can have tons of brilliant ideas and all, but it’s more important for your company should have this nirvana, I call it, a good feeling.
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