Tell us about yourself?
For more than 20 years, I worked across mining, construction and engineering. Like many people in these industries, I worked hard, earned a good income, and spent plenty of time away from my family. When you’re earning good money, it’s easy to think you’re doing well financially. The pay comes in, the bills get paid, you buy a home, maybe invest in a property or two, and life keeps moving.
What changed?
Over the years, I started asking myself a different question: What am I building outside of my wage? That question eventually changed my life’s direction. I started investing in property in my early twenties. I certainly didn’t have everything figured out. I made decisions, learnt along the way, and gradually began to understand the difference between simply earning money and building assets that could generate income themselves.
Lots of miners have real estate - why was your journey different?
As I mentioned earlier, I did what a lot of miners do and bought a home and an investment property, but eventually, my journey led me to commercial property. Buying my own commercial property was a big step. Uncertainty and plenty of questions followed — especially when making investment decisions during COVID. But it also completely changed the way I looked at property.
How did it change your view of property?
Instead of thinking only about capital growth, I began looking more closely at tenant quality, lease terms, annual rental increases, net income, and how an asset could provide another income stream outside my everyday wage. That became a turning point and a career change after more than 20 years because eventually, I moved into commercial property full-time and became a Commercial Property Buyer’s Agent.
That’s a big change …was it hard?
Starting again in a completely different industry wasn’t easy. I went from an environment I knew extremely well into one where I had to build a new business, new relationships and a reputation from the ground up. But I also realised that my previous career hadn’t been wasted. In fact, it became one of my biggest strengths.
How did a history in mining help?
I understand what it’s like to work long hours. I understand rosters, time away from family and the opportunities that can come with earning a high income. I also understand how quickly the years can disappear while you’re concentrating on the next shift, the next roster and the next pay. Which was the idea behind “The Next Shift”
What is “The Next Shift”?
It’s not simply about commercial property. It’s about starting a conversation. Understanding a good income on its own doesn’t automatically create financial freedom. What we choose to do with that income while we’re earning it varies, but it can have huge rewards. For some, that means paying down debt. For others, it might mean shares, residential property, commercial property, superannuation or building a business. There isn’t one answer that suits everybody.
What is your key message?
What matters is having a plan. Eventually, whether through retirement, family circumstances, health, a career change, or simply deciding we’ve had enough, we all work our last shift. Mining can provide an incredible income and opportunity that many Australians don’t have, so the question is:
What will you have working for you when that day comes?
I want to share my own journey — including the lessons I’ve learnt along the way — and help people better understand commercial property and the role it can potentially play in creating another source of income. I’m not here to tell people what to buy. I’m here to educate, answer questions and hopefully get people thinking differently about what they’re building for their future. Because sometimes changing your financial future doesn’t start with buying an investment.
It starts with a conversation.
John Herman will be hosting a seminar at Emerald Mayfair Tavern on 1st October at 6.30 pm and in Blackwater on Thursday 15th October.
To schedule a free initial meeting, click here or click here for contact details
John and Golden Triangle Group are paid supporters of Shift Miner.