"Bob Mann"
Bob Mann

In previous posts I’ve mentioned Frank McKinney, the “daredevil” real estate developer who builds over-the-top ultra-luxurious mansions for billionaires along Florida’s Palm Beach coast.  He also is a passionate humanitarian who builds entire villages for the “poorest of the poor” in Haiti (and was doing so for several years before the earthquake).  Oh, and just for fun, he spends several months each year training for the ultra-brutal Death Valley “Badwater” run, a 135-mile summer affair where temperatures can reach 120 degrees F (he’s already completed it four times and will go for number five this July).

This video shows off Frank’s latest masterpiece (which is currently on the market if you’d like to make an offer.  But, as the old saying goes, “if you have to ask what the price is, you probably can’t afford it”:-)  Not only is Acqua Liana the pinnacle of luxurious oceanfront living, but it’s also the largest “green” home ever built.  I’d be a little nervous about those 24-foot-high windows in a hurricane, but I’m sure Frank has figured all that out and has exceeded whatever is required by code.

Frank’s own personal story is a classic example of how one can turn one’s life around—in a big, big way—despite having all the odds stacked against you.  As a teenager in Indiana he was a real loser, a very below-average student who got into all kinds of trouble and made life miserable for his parents and everyone around him.  Then Frank  moved to Florida and as he gradually began to realize what he was capable of doing, he took action and did it!  He started in the real estate development business by renovating small older homes and eventually (as a result of making very smart business decisions) progressed to building coastal mansions worth tens of millions of dollars—and, incredibly, building them “on spec” without having a buyer in advance!

Frank has been one of the major sources of  ”success” inspiration for me ever since I saw him speak at a seminar in 2003.  He’s written several books about his philosophy of business—and life—from which the profits all go toward funding his home-building foundation in Haiti and other charitable causes. He has a very comprehensive website detailing all his activities (including the “Badwater” race) at www.Frank-McKinney.com.  Check it out—and prepare to be inspired!

Copyright © 2010 by Bob Mann