Müslüm had built a solid reputation in the real estate industry
He knew the local market in Gaziantep, Turkey, inside and out.
But there was one problem: he was dangerously overconfident.
How did Müslüm end up locked in a car with two angry customers?
👉 Keep reading to learn more about their story.
👤 Who is it?
Müslüm Bahçeci is a mechanical engineer. After working at Gülsan Holding and Turkcell Corporate Services, he came to realize an uncomfortable truth: he was deeply unhappy. So he left a stable career in engineering and began selling SIM cards door-to-door for Turkcell.
Some time later, he spotted an opportunity in the real estate market and co-founded 3 Bay Gayrimenkul with two friends from high school.
Today, 3 Bay Gayrimenkul is one of the most well-known real estate agencies in Gaziantep, with a team of 20 consultants and 19 years of experience.
FuN: What is your personal definition of failure?
Müslüm: Failure isn't about losing money or a deal falling through. The worst kind of failure is the humiliation of proving that you were wrong in front of the people who trusted you.
In my world, there's nothing worse than feeling ashamed. Throughout my career, I've turned down very important assignments just to avoid that feeling.
Failure, in this sense, occurs when your arrogance blinds you to reality. You miss opportunities not because you lack skills, but because your own prejudices close doors on you.
The real screw-up isn't out there—it lives within your own biases.
FuN: What was the context leading up to this story?
Müslüm: When this story took place, I was already a well-known and respected real estate professional in Gaziantep. I knew 90% of the villas in the city, who lived in them, and their market value.
I had built a reputation for closing deals and for my in-depth knowledge of the local market. I was proud of my track record, my network of contacts, and my ability to understand clients. I was the kind of person others would recommend, saying, “If you want to sell a villa, go to Müslüm Bahçeci.”
I felt self-assured, successful, and—as I would later discover—dangerously overconfident.
I had been hired to sell a villa located very close to my office. I had the exclusive right to market the property.
There were two groups interested in buying it: the first consisted of two sisters and their brother, who ran a business together; the second had been referred by a colleague.
The first group (my clients) was very interested, but they were negotiating from a fairly low offer. I was convinced that I could handle the process and secure the property for them.
My goal was to close the sale of a high-value villa and earn a commission from both parties.
💣 The Real Fckup*
Müslüm: The second group of buyers (the one my colleague had brought) wanted to meet face-to-face with the sellers to negotiate.
I dismissed my colleague with utter arrogance:
"Relax, I have the exclusive rights. Those people can't afford it. Nothing's going to happen with them. Trust me."
I was convinced that they didn't pose a serious threat and that my clients would eventually settle on the right price.
I even told the sisters:
"Even if I show this house to 2,000 buyers, the price isn't going to go down."
The real screw-up happened when my colleague's client (the second group of buyers) sat down directly with the seller—without me in the picture—and closed the deal.
FuN: When did you realize it was a failure?
Müslüm: I was driving with two of the sisters: one was in the passenger seat and the other was in the back.
I had to tell them that the villa they wanted so much had just been sold to another buyer.
That was the moment I came face to face with reality.
I had promised them that the house would be theirs. I had told them not to worry.
And now I had to let them know that the other buyers had just put down a deposit.
I was just thinking:
"How do I break this to them gently? How do I tell them without them hating me?"
FuN: What was going through your mind at that moment?
Müslüm: I was completely embarrassed.
The humiliation was unbearable, especially since avoiding embarrassment has always been one of my deepest personal values.
In fact, he even secretly prayed that the other buyers' loan applications would be rejected, just so he wouldn't have to face that moment.
I tried to stay calm and keep the situation (and the steering wheel) under control, but inside I was falling apart.
The weight of my own arrogance and overconfidence was crushing.
I knew full well that I had brought that situation upon myself by underestimating the competition and overestimating my ability to control the outcome.
The sale went to someone else.
I didn't win anything at all.
And he was stuck in a car with two angry customers.
FuN: How did customers react when they found out?
Müslüm: The reaction was explosive.
One of the sisters punched the dashboard and shouted:
"You stole our dream! What kind of real estate agent are you? You tricked us!"
The other sister was crying in the back seat.
The insults began, and some were even directed at my mother.
They yelled at me for what seemed like between seven and ten minutes.
Finally, I lost my patience and yelled at them:
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!"
At a volume that could probably be heard throughout the city.
FuN: How was the situation solved?
Müslüm: Right then, there was nothing to be done.
The sale had already been finalized, and there was no way to reverse it.
I apologized and let the customers vent all their frustration until they calmed down.
The villa already had new owners; the market continued to grow, and business carried on.
What I did do was turn that experience into a professional and personal lesson that I now actively share with colleagues, young professionals, and anyone else who wants to hear it.
Instead of hiding my failure, I decided to use it as a teaching tool.
I confronted head-on the prejudice that had caused it all: the very same bias that led me to rule out the second buyer was what caused me to underestimate the competition and overestimate the control I thought I had over the situation.
That realization was the first step toward my recovery.
💡 In conclusion
Müslüm: "Bury your prejudices."
FUN: Unquestioned biases limit good decision-making. Promote inclusive hiring, diverse perspectives, and a culture of curiosity to build stronger teams and find more innovative solutions.
Müslüm: "Never assume the outcome before it happens."
FUN: Assumptions can become blind spots. Test your ideas with data, seek out diverse perspectives, and stay open to results that challenge your expectations.
Müslüm: "Don't chase after easy money."
FUN: Sustainable success is built through perseverance, not shortcuts. Prioritize long-term value over immediate profits to strengthen trust, resilience, and lasting growth.
Müslüm: "Always ask yourself what makes you different."
FUN: Your greatest competitive advantage is what sets you apart. Identify and strengthen your organization’s unique capabilities to create lasting value for both your employees and your customers.
Müslüm: "Stay open to opportunities that come from unexpected places."
FUN: Innovation often comes from the least obvious sources. It fosters curiosity, collaboration across different areas, and a diversity of perspectives to uncover opportunities that others might overlook.
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