Dean Graziosi Weekly Wisdom #155 - Real Results Require Right Actions

I too at times have felt myself wanting to deviate form your guys system, mainly out of fear or laziness. Thanks for the reminder and for keeping us on track.

-E

People gets discouraged when they think things are not working the way is supposed to. Really follow the techniques you teach us.

Dean, thanks for another great video. You are absolutely right about the different signs. When we first started we followed the advice of your coaches, but the advice we followed was the part about having signs made for us, (pre printed) and your other student was right - they didn't work. But now, we're going to try it again and make them ourselves, just like you said to, yellow poster and black marker.

Believe in God, He Believes in You!

Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees...thanks for the reminder!

I had 100 yellow 18 x 24 bandit signs sitting in two boxes in my office, another two boxes of wire stakes, two big fat Sharpie markers at the ready--and still I kept stepping over and around all those boxes on my way into and out of my little home office.

I was working up the courage to set out some signs...even picked a date on the calendar...then, Dean, I saw your video last week about what to write on the sign (including a $ price $ ) So I did what you said and put 25 of my 100 signs in the back of the car and took off.

It was still light outside when I arrived at my target zip code (an hours' drive from my rural home) but I was so darn nervous I kept driving up and down streets scouting for good spots...I already KNEW what would be good spots...I WAS JUST STALLING! Then finally it started to get dark and I figured it's now or never.

So I focused on major intersections (on the near side of a traffic light) hoping to catch the line of sight from slowing or stopped traffic. I also made use of school zones where the speed limit is just 15mph.

After placing a few signs, I pulled to the side of the road near a shopping center to regroup and look at my map. Suddenly a police office appeared at my window and freaked me out. I had such a guilty conscience and wondered what trouble I might be in. As it turned out, he was doing a welfare check on me and asked if I needed help finding something. I briefly told him I was scouting for properties and that normally when I come out alone on Friday nights I bring my Doberman with me...but I didn't say anything about the signs.

Then to my surprise, he starts giving me addresses of properties that are vacant and getting trashed by vandals. Later, I got really mad at myself, because I was so consumed with fear and trepidation, that I totally missed a GREAT OPPORTUNITY...if I'd had my wits about me, I could have given that officer my business card and put him on my power team as a "bird-dog". I swear, I could just kick myself.

Anyway, I eventually moved on and put up more signs, but we were on the tail end of a storm and it was really, really cold. So I told myself, "You can't go home until you put out at least half the signs" with plans to put out the rest the following Friday.

Well, here it is Monday morning and from just 12 signs, I got 4 calls Saturday--all lease option prospects. I was glad to get such a good result from so few signs, but disappointed that none were cash buyers. Then on Sunday I got 5 calls, two of which were cash buyers...whoohooo. But only one of those two cash buyers was an investor--the other is looking for a good deal on a personal residence.

So this is a real life result in just the last 3 days, and I haven't even put all my signs out yet!

I think putting an actual price on the sign makes a huge difference. To figure out how much to set my price, I looked at the REO comps for that zip code and used a figure just a hair below the comps--that way I knew I had an enticing, yet realistic figure.

In the end, I've adopted a new mantra:
Do what you fear until you no longer fear it,
and a new slogan...like both Dean and Nike say:
JUST DO IT!

Thanks, Dean, for always speaking what's on your heart. It's usually what we need.

Do you know how many people you helped by this one blog alone? You and your team are the greatest!

Dean - I must say, my first response is to smile knowingly. I'm a teacher above all things - and this is a very common, very frustrating situation.
I'm one of those very obedient people - so I generally do as told - but when it is something I don't like to do - I can get lazy. Good reminder for us all.
I was in a class with a successful investor (with a product to sell of course) He kept saying "Don't think - just do what I tell you. There are 2 ways - your way and my way. With your way you will hit a brick wall and fall on your face. With my way, which I have been doing for 30 years - you will succeed" A bit harsh - but it makes the same point.
Folks, don't reinvent the wheel. Use the one that rolls! Roll onto success!!

This works! But what I see so often are new investors that just go out and blast out 25 offers at 50% off list and expect something to happen. It does happen, a lot of angry realtors and sellers!!
Dean, you said it when you said start with 300 to get to the 25 and make intelligent offers based on the numbers! So really the system is 300 to 25 to 1.
I know for a fact that this works. I did what you and the academy teach. This is how I learned to evaluate properties, not just spew out 25 ridiculous offers.

Dean, you are the best!! Thanks for everything you do!

Michael Mangham
MD Home Acquisitions LLC

Robert,

With the bandit signs, put them up on poles in high traffic areas Friday evenings & go pick them up Sunday night. The sign Nazi's don't work weekends, so any missing ones will be from "do gooder" citizens on patrol. But you shouldn't have to worry about getting city workers calling if they are only up from Fri to Sun night.

You should also use a local voice mail number (Google numbers are good) instead of your cell number.

For buyers, find an agent who will pull all the recent all cash purchases (non owner occupants) off the MLS for the last 60 days. See which zip codes have the most cash sales & contact those buyers.

Those "hot zip codes" are your new farm area where you will market & find exactly the same kind of properties your new buyers want.

You can also go to your local foreclosure auction & let every buyer there know you can bring them the same kind of deals without all the risk.

I'm sure Dean covers all of this & more, but those are a few things that I know work.

Now you have a plan of attack, it's up to you.

Jay von Mohr
Mohr Equity
http://www.IncomePropertyCash.com

I have been with you Dean for about a year now.
I lny closed one deal. God knows I am really trying. but the problem is consistancy and time to do what I am supposed to do. I have to go back and start from scratch. I should use the success academy constantly. They are wonderful helpful people. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks Dean I needed this weekly wisdom this week, so much has gone on this past month that I let life take over.
I will succeed as we all will

Thanks again.

Keep up the wisdom

Huw

This was much needed and much appreciated. Do the right thing the right way!

Dean
Robert had a good point, I have seen several bandit signs posted in my neighborhood and went to put my signs up, guess what? the sign were taken down in 10 days, so tonight I will try to find a area to put up my signs, I need this to work for me quickly, lets see what happens, because I do not want to get a fine, this month I have been taken off work from my doctor. Oh Boy need to step up my game.

Regina

This is directed to "hearner" who has been having trouble with Bandit signs being stolen. My answer is put it on a T-Shirt: many T-shirts & have people WEAR them for you. May seem like a quirky idea but perhaps you could promote some family business on one side so that would help with costs. GOOD Luck & Future success!! Keep Motivated!!

Why reinvent the wheel? All I have to do is get up and follow directions! Simple as that!

Thanks Dean

tried, but I assure you it is now at the top of my list. And I will cook cornbread using my Granny's receipt and I will post bandits using yours. I saw where Randy said 90% of his deals came from bandits. Cant argue with that. Thank you.

I wrote 1 comment about bandit signs and call pinellas county it was in Florida.

Glenn

Dean,

I'm the first to agree that we tend to deviate from what has proven to work.

I will do what you suggested and I will no longer deviate from your proven recipes.

Thanks for the reminder.

-Valiant

I strongly recommend that you do NOT wait to talk to your daughter's real estate "friend".

No where in the DG program are we advised to seek out friends we may have, who happen to be agents.

Instead...keep it professional.
Do what Dean says.
Go through the step by step process to find an "investor friendly" agent...and that doesn't necessarily mean, your real estate FRIEND.

First, find out whether the information: "bandit signs are not allowed in my city" is FACT, or HEARSAY. If it's hearsay, just do your thing. If it is indeed fact, get a magic jack or google voice number (both untraceable) and put your signs out Friday night and collect them Sunday night or early Monday morning.
Cities typically do not enforce these laws over the weekend.

Dean..Dean...Dean!
You're a real stand-up kinda guy!
One that delivers unparralel value...I really needed today's weekly wisdom video. It was the missing piece that I've been banging my head about all week long.

I'm in Florida. I should be busy. I need to reread the books and info.

Dear Dean,

Thank you so much for all your REI wisdom with all of us. I haven't gotten started yet, but definitely get more stoked every time I listen to your blogs.

Warm regards,
Melissa Jamroz

Thanks. We have to get past doing it our own way and do it the way we are taught. Change is hard but, we have to learn to move ahead and trust.

Thank you so much. For me it's not that it doesn't work but 'Will it work for me?' I even had to fight 'Am I deserving of success?' Mine has been a very long battle between my ears. I am guilty of not putting out bandit signs and I know if I want to achieve my goals then I must do this; no excuses. I can say I will have some great news to share on Wed afternoon though. I think of Randy's post recently about 'anyone can do this' and that made a difference for me too. Thanks for sharing this great info.
Cathy L

Thanks Dean I understand now where to begin first. I am going to make my buyers list first and then find my real estate agent and get my houses lined up. This sounds like I can do this.

I need to make an investor list too, since I want to wholsale first until I get some money in my pocket. Seed money like 5k 10k that I can invest in fixer uppers just to get started.

This week I am going to make offers on 25 properties.

BillJ
(Huntington Bch Ca.)

What you do is invaluable! Thank you so much! I am just getting started and am learning a lot! I'm looking forward to the emails you'll be sending out in a few days!!

Thank you for caring about single moms, I am one. I have 4 kids and it is a struggle, but I am determined to change things for myself and my children!

Great Blog Dean:
I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. Sometimes, I believe it is a matter of interpretation.
Ya know, sometimes you can teach 5 different people what your know, and wind up with all of them going in different directions, and with all the negetivity out there in the world, it is easy for most to get discoursged after they have failed once or twice and say things like:" Awww, It does'nt work." Only to go back to the old ways instead of tweaking what you've already taught them until they find success.