Patrick McGinnis: I learned the hard way that having one job wasn't enough. I was working on Wall Street [at AIG], moving up the corporate ladder in a job I liked and that paid me well. Then, in 2008, AIG [received a government bailout], and my group … was put up for sale. When the AIG bonus scandal took place … I realized that my résumé, which I had worked hard to stuff with all the right brands, now had a scarlet AIG at the top. It was an eye-opening experience for me. I decided I needed to be more diversified and do things on the side. I started not just investing but [also] advising, exchanging my time for sweat equity. Then I worked on starting some things and putting together real estate deals. Now, five years later, I have a portfolio of 15 investments that are worth well over 15 times the amount I put into them. And it's been really enjoyable.
