Former Worker Bee

Starting a business has been chaotic, yet exciting. In the beginning, my motivation level was extremely high. I was consuming everything I could get my hands on about real estate investing. Things were so out of balance for me that I didn’t know what my next move should be; I mean I was all over the place. I read a lot. I listened a lot. I went to seminars, webinars, teleseminars and one-day workshops. I had papers everywhere! My desk, reflected my life, I was…a mess. And let’s not talk about how much email I was getting. My inbox was ugly!

I was seeking something from these seminars, webinars, teleseminars and one-day workshops; something other than information. I was seeking the “magic pill.” That’s right; it’s all coming out now (again). I wanted to find an easier route. I’m not naive. I know that the people in the real estate infomercials on their yachts are selling the dream. They don’t talk about the hard work. They don’t mention how it could take 100 leads to find one deal; and that is when the frustration comes in. Defeat starts lurking around. Soon after, we quit. Why? Because…it doesn’t work—or so you think. Maybe I will try something else. When that “something else” becomes a challenge, the next thought is “This doesn’t work; maybe I should try the next hot thing.”

My awakening came when someone told me I needed to stick with one thing, learn as much as I can about that one thing. Execute. Accomplish. After I’ve mastered that skill, then move on. I was like “oooOOOh that makes sense.” I kept that in mind as I worked on my business plan. Speaking of business plans, I finished! Well, you’re never really finished. Business plan expert Tim Berry recommends a lean, flexible plan that is revised often.

My business plan took so long because I was trying to follow a standard plan and it just wasn’t working for me. The plan I have in front of me is made just for me, it is my guide to success. Using it is essential to arriving at the desired destination; keeping in mind that continual revision is a must.

So, what’s next? Now, I can work my plan. It’s time for some massive action. I have continued to save 10 percent of my income for future investments. I have decided to invest that money in marketing. After all, marketing is like the meat and my service is like the salt and pepper.

Just to recap: I think success happens when opportunity meets preparedness. There is no magic pill that will make me successful. There is not a seminar that I can go to that will make me successful overnight. Learning, persistence, faith and revision are the key.

This week’s agenda:

Re-read The Top Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class by Keith Cameron Smith. Keith recommends his readers read this book once a month. Since I missed reading it in September, I am going to make sure I read it this month.