One accusation I hear sometimes is that I “silence my critics.” It is worth addressing because the truth is very different.
Criticism is fine. In fact, I welcome it. I have had plenty over the years. Sometimes I have disagreed with it and other times it has helped me reflect and improve. That is what being in business is all about. You put yourself out there and people will have their opinions.
But there is a world of difference between criticism and false allegations. Criticism is saying you do not like my teaching style or you think my approach to property is not for you. Allegations are saying I am a criminal, that I have scammed people or worse, sending disgusting images to my wife or making threats against my family.
That is not criticism. That is harassment and defamation.
When things crossed that line I acted. Not to silence critics but to protect truth, my customers and my family. And when we acted we saw results:
- One online abuser was traced by the police, prosecuted, and left with a criminal record, a fine and 500 hours of community service.
- Major newspapers and even the BBC were forced to change or remove wording after publishing false claims.
- Another individual was served with court proceedings and ended up having to pay damages and give a public apology.
- Several others were issued legal letters and removed their comments immediately.
- Some ignored proceedings and received default judgments against them.
- Others agreed to face me in open debate where we could disagree publicly and then shake hands which is the way criticism should be handled.
These are real wins and they show that the truth matters.
Every single one of the people I have successfully taken action against were not customers. They were trolls and agitators with their own agendas, thinking they could hide behind a keyboard. My customers are busy building successful portfolios while the trolls are left with criminal records, damages bills or public apologies.
Of course, defamation law is complicated and not every claim comes off. We have withdrawn some cases because of the complexities around proving damages post by post. But having said that, we have been to court many times and we have never lost.
There have also been times when I deliberately chose not to take legal action for compassionate reasons. Not every situation is black and white and sometimes the right thing to do is to show restraint rather than force.
So do I silence my critics? No. Free speech is important.
People can disagree with me, they can dislike me and they can debate me. But nobody has the right to spread lies that damage lives.
I will always stand up for my family, my customers, my staff, my company and the truth. Not to silence criticism but to make sure lies do not win.
I want to thank those who have been standing with me from the beginning. I have now been a full-time property investor for seventeen years, which is over half my life, and I have been running property education for a decade. I am grateful for my amazing customers and my brilliant staff who have made all of this possible. Because I have been through it all, I am now able to help people who are blowing up their own businesses and building their futures with confidence.
