“Your mind is your biggest asset and enemy.”
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Faran Malik, the visionary founder of FCI Group, a trailblazing real estate concierge firm. In this insightful conversation, we delve into the journey of Faran Malik, a tech professional turned real estate entrepreneur, and explore the remarkable success of FCI Group.
With a burning desire to build something of his own and make a positive impact, Faran made the bold decision to transition from a lucrative tech career to the realm of real estate.
Founded on the principles of innovation, integrity, and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, FCI Group stands at the forefront of real estate syndication, empowering accredited investors to tap into little-known, highly lucrative opportunities.
Throughout this interview, Faran shares his compelling insights on a range of topics, including the company’s unique services, the secret to employee happiness, and the challenges faced in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
Join us as we uncover the captivating story and entrepreneurial wisdom of Faran Malik, a true visionary shaping the future of real estate investment.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Faran Malik: Coming from a tech background, leaving an excellent salary to jump into real estate is one of the most complex decisions I’ve ever had to make.
But I’ve always wanted to build something of my own and help people, so I founded FCI Group. A real estate concierge firm that helps accredited Investors invest in little to no competition, highly lucrative multi-family and commercial real estate assets.
We solve the problem by working with some of the top development companies in the nation.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffett, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Faran Malik: Knowing I have limited time with him in the elevator, I will quickly introduce my company and what we do.
It will be along the lines of, “We are a leading real estate syndication firm that specializes in identifying, acquiring, and helping investors invest in high-quality real estate properties across the nation.
We have $10 Million in the pipeline, and our most significant strength lies in our ability to navigate through complex real estate deals.” Since Warren has a real estate portfolio, and I understand his challenges and how hard it can be to find good deals, I would recommend some of the deals FCI is working on, giving him value and hoping in exchange, I receive his loyalty.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, are an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle to keep talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued, and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are you adapting to the current shift we see?
Faran Malik: I believe it all comes down to choosing the right talent and giving them the tools to do their jobs as well as having faith in them. Especially as a startup you need to pick the right team who has the ability to follow your vision and leadership.
We all have good days and bad days, but consistency between the teams helps us get closer to our goals one day at a time. I try to make sure that all of the talents I work with are heard so they aren’t undervalued or misunderstood. As a leader, that’s my responsibility.
Here is a two-fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Faran Malik: “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins is one of my favorite books. During some of the most challenging times in my life, I read this book, and it helped me keep going. In the book, Goggins talks about having the ability to find just a little bit more within yourself.
He also explains how we tend to give up on what we are doing when we are only 40% done, even though we have another 60% within us to keep going. We just need to find it within ourselves.
Coincidentally, this is also the book I have gifted the most because of how valuable I find the content. It serves as a reminder of how important consistency is, even when we don’t see results as quickly as we would like.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Faran Malik: During my time working in Disaster Zones, I learned the art of working with limited resources, with a language barrier, most of the time. I’ve learned that you have to work and try to make a difference no matter what the circumstances are at times.
The biggest challenge for my team and I at the moment is educating investors on finding the right deals that fit their Investment needs. It sounds easy, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. We create opportunities for our investors by creating a custom approach to their specific investment style.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Faran Malik: Finding the right talent and having the capability to effectively lead and manage teams that can execute on your mission and vision and setting goals that align with your values and company’s needs.
This is one of the most challenging parts, along with simultaneously dealing with your internal mental conflict between the right decisions for the organization to grow and prosper. “Your mind is your biggest asset and enemy.”
What does “success” in 2023 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Faran Malik: It all comes down to setting up hard-to-attain goals for myself. I always like to underpromise and over-deliver in my personal and professional life, which translates to the quality of the work I like to deliver.
I am known for setting the standard for everyone around me. “Success” for me looks like helping as many people as I can, giving them the knowledge and tools to succeed, and generating more revenue for FCI.
I celebrate my wins as much as my failures. When I fail, I like to take a break, relax, and enjoy a box of chocolates to remind myself I am happy, healthy and everyone is safe around me. Reminding myself that everything is okay and that tomorrow is a new day.
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Faran Malik for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Faran Malik or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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