When the Student is Ready, The Master Appears - Shane’s Story

During my 17 years in formal education spanning primary, secondary and tertiary I had many good teachers, indeed many outstanding teachers – and in my experience the attribute that separates the ordinary from the extraordinary teacher is always attitude and in this case their attitude to their subject and also the learner.

However, the first teacher that I had who was truly inspirational, I met at the age of 22. At the time I had just completed my BA in e-commerce and if the truth be known, I spent more time during my college life working on building sites than studying for my degree. I had a passion for building and property, though I had no formal education in same.

While I was in college a friend gave me a book called Rich Dad, Poor Bad by the Japanese American Robert Kiyosaki. This book had a profound influence on me as I had dreams of becoming a millionaire. Growing up things were difficult financially, though we received all the love in the world from our parents – it provided me with a motivation to become financially free.

So, in September 2004, a friend of mine had told me about a Business Education Forum called ICES running in the city centre. I decided to check it out but was quite nervous entering the room. At 22, I must have been the youngest in the room by about 15 years, everyone in suits, something I didn’t own at the time.  That night, I met one of the Directors of the group, a Roscommon man,  Mr. Tony Reid and I began a journey with Tony, who became, my friend, my mentor, my confidant and my teacher. 

Tony and I hit it off immediately — he ‘took me under his wing’ and indeed my life changed forever the day I met Tony — that is no exaggeration. I was in a very bad space in 2004, I was addicted to cannabis and a very ill young man. Day by day I got better as Tony helped me to deal with my addiction. One year later, after alot of hard work and determination I kicked the habit. This was one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life. I would hear Tony saying "you are the average of the 5 people that you hang around most" — this got me thinking that perhaps I was hanging around with the wrong crowd so I meet some new people and I am now the average of a better 5 people.

Tony taught me about business and property. He taught me everything he knew and he was very knowledgeable. He was also a man of the highest integrity and had the best values I had ever seen in a person. We were regularly in contact bouncing ideas off each other he encouraged me to follow my passion which we both knew was property, play to my strength and let my light shine.

My life improved dramatically over the next few years, I set goals for the first time and set about achieving them one by one. I played to my strengths and purchased a number of run down houses, refurbished them and let them out. My attitude also improved and I travelled a lot, I have read close to 80 business books which is something I would never have done previously. More importantly, I became a more considerate person, as the consideration which Tony showed to me, I attempted to show to others.

Tony Reid, died suddenly on Christmas eve 2008 and the attendance at his funeral was a reflection of the calibre of the man he was. Indeed, it is was obviously that he was not just a teacher and mentor to me, but to many hundreds of young people in his native Roscommon through his work in Foróige, where he was a Youth Leader for many years. Hundreds of them lined the streets of Loughlynn for his removal and funeral as their final show of respect for an extraordinary man.

This year, I has set up a business in the Property Maintenance and Refurbishment (FixMyHouse.ie).  I know it will be a success as every day, I try to implement one of Tony’s guiding principles, Add Value and the Customers will come.

I am deeply grateful for having the opportunity to know Tony, and I know for me, there will never be another Tony Reid. I miss him deeply but I hope someday, I will be able to do for someone what Tony did for me.

Shane Kelly