This real estate book review looks deeper at Soul Mandate, by Lew Geffen. This book is a colourful memoir, rather than a property investment guide like Jason Lee’s Making Money out of Property in South Africa. It divulges Lew Geffen’s personal life and professional journey in one of South Africa’s top real estate companies.
A brief synopsis
Soul Mandate uncovers Lew Geffen’s personal journey of becoming a well-known figure in the real estate world. Soul Mandate is available to buy at Wordsworth. It homes in on Lew’s experience creating and heading up a successful real estate brand. The obstacles, revelations, and philosophies that formed his career are spotlighted and no personal detail, it seems, is spared. Readers are provided with a window into the evolution of a real estate agency and the mindset that kept going. Some of the more personal details in it are not for the faint of heart, however!
It’s a different kind of real estate read
If you are seeking actionable investment strategies or property investing advice, this might not be the right book for you. Soul Mandate doesn’t aim to teach you how to invest wisely in property. If you are seeking actionable investment strategies or property investing advice, this might not be the right book for you. Lew Geffern has made sure the memoir is a page-turner packed with scandalous, and often salacious details. He does not shy away from sex, drugs, or close family conflicts, but rather revels in them. This means some readers will be unable to put it down, while others will find it difficult to get past the lewd Lew and on to the amazing insights into the building of an iconic South African real estate brand.
Soul Mandate suits readers who want to know more about the intricacies of this industry at a particular point in South African history. You get a picture of this larger-than-life titan of the real estate world, who brought the international firm, Sotheby’s, into his brand in South Africa. The book contains many deeply personal stories, some quite shocking and scandalous. Lew Geffen imparts unique real estate insights that look beyond the figures and property deals, focusing on relationships, leadership, and resilience in tough times.
Leadership and perspectives on real estate
One of the core focuses of Soul Mandate is on what it takes to be a certain type of leader. Lew Geffen offers readers valuable insights into Lew Geffen/Sotheby’s that reveal how decisions are made at the top. You will also learn how he built a reputable brand within a competitive industry. What he encountered along the way emphasises the importance of having drive and vision, being adaptable, and excellent people management skills to achieve long-term success.
One of Lew Geffen’s talents is writing property sale adverts
Lew Geffen was well-known in the industry for writing exceptionally witty real estate adverts that translated into strong property sales.
Here is an example of one of his adverts selling a property in Houghton, Johannesburg. It hadn’t been looked after well by the previous tenant and had a very bad smell in the house:
“At R200,000 this home is a fumigator’s nightmare. At R100,000, this home is a perfumed garden. All it needs is a good wash. Agent will supply gas masks.” (Lew Geffen, Soul Mandate: Page 130).
The advert was intriguing and eye-catching, and as a result, the showday was full. The property sold at the asking price of R200,000.
A Window into the Industry
For readers who want to know more about the life of a South African real estate giant, Soul Mandate offers a peek behind the scenes. It showcases the pressures one can feel, the inherent responsibilities, and, at times, the personal sacrifices Lew made. This is not normally discussed in real estate literature.
The thoughts uncovered in Soul Mandate make it an inspiring read for aspiring real estate agency owners or business owners. Just be warned that you will have to look past the scandalous details of Lew’s personal life. The insights into Lew Geffen/Sotheby’s provide a unique window into a massively successful brand.
Final Thoughts
This real estate book review shows that Soul Mandate is a reflective and interesting memoir. It is not a practical property investment guide. While it’s not ideal for property investing advice, it delivers a rich story laced with leadership insights. It also provides real estate industry perspectives and an entertaining storyline. If you want to understand more about the people and experiences in Lew Geffen’s real estate world, and learn more than just numbers, this book is worth a read. If you’re put off by smutty stories, it won’t be your cup of tea.
