IGNORE THE PESSIMISTS AND MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY CRISIS The year 2020 dawned without the usual sense of hope and optimism that accompanies the arrival of a new year. A heartbroken nation was still struggling to contain devastating bushfires that had burned through millions of acres of land, destroyed thousands of homes and buildings and resulted in 34 deaths. We barely had time to draw breath when ominous images emerged of armed patrols in the streets of Wuhan in China, trying to contain the spread of a new and deadly virus. By late January, the first case of coronavirus had been recorded on our shores.
Things were looking grim, if not dire, according to the majority of commentators. Certainly, the arrival of COVID-19 in Australia was cause for significant concern but not for John Fitzgerald who labelled some of these forecasts as ‘preposterous’. John knew it was time to act. Now was not the time to pull down the shutters, it was time to embrace opportunity and he would ensure JLF clients were the ones to benefit. As the pandemic raged, virtual and online communication became more important than ever.
Within weeks economists, politicians and the media combined forces in an effort to convert us into a nation of doomsday preppers.
This was a tool John and the team at JLF already used extensively but during the pandemic they increased them substantially.
The headlines were filled with dire predictions about COVID-19 cases exploding, with some politicians claiming this country would have millions infected and to expect between 50,000 and 250,000 deaths within 12 months.
John began a weekly webinar series in March to counter many of the claims being made about the likely impact of COVID on the property market and urged clients to ignore the noise, look at the numbers, examine the facts and make the most of the extraordinary opportunities being presented.
The same ‘run-for-your-life’ experts were suggesting the economy was about to fall off a cliff, we were heading for a recession or worse, unemployment would skyrocket and property prices would plummet. 12
Now with the benefit of hindsight, we take a look back at what the headlines said, what John said, and what actually happened.
