Weekly Wisdom #254 - Leopards Changing Spots

We couldn't agree more with Dean assertion that you need to face your fears..we expected that our limited retirement income would not support our active lifestyle.....since our educational experience with Dean we are more secure in our future...yes, taking the first step was a bit scary...fear does love to raise his head but with what we have learned from Dean and what we have achieved so far has blown us away...I would like to encourage every one to face their fears...take the mentoring program and run with it...there is others out there in the organization that can help you...in the last 100 days in what we have achieved has more than convinced us that we can do it...21 real estate investments and counting...

It hit home when you said talked about putting up signs and get calls back, but not calling them back.

I have done this (and still do) and linking more pain to inaction than action reminds me of AR. Back to the CDs and back to ACTION.

Thanks for the reminder

Randy

Since working with the new found real estate information obtained from Deans courses my old fears are falling to the wayside. The more fears you face the easier it is to face the next fear. Thanks for the new way of life.
Bob Criss

When necessary but i don't like it at all. I keep my eye on the goal and go forward... Thanks! to be there !

I use to get aggravated when trying to get my point across, especially knowing I'm right. I recently heard from someone very special that instead, if I send love by repeating in my mind 'I love you' to that person, regardless of what's happening, until I really feel love for that person, then the result would be a positive action by that person exactly in favor of my original communication.
I tried it and it works like magic.

Thank you for the wonderful insight in your teachings
Mauricio

Dean, I hope to one day become as passionate as you are for all of us in finding what keeps us away from taking that first step. I too hate confrontations. I have always been a "people pleaser". I am learning to not to be that way by saying "NO" more often like Andrea would say, lol. I really am so grateful for you and this DG family on here and IE that I feel I am among my closest friends and family! Thanks Dean, you are one-in-a-million!

Norma Ybarra

Hi Dean, thank you for sharing your weekly wisdom. I have started working on my fears like getting to a point then getting busy and not following thru. I took it to the next level, I quit my full time job that I was with for so long and made time for our business. Since I have done that as of July 31st, we are so much further along in our RE business. I used to make my husband call people back because I didn't want to mess up talking, however, I had to face that fear and the other day he came in while I was on the phone negotiating a deal and educated another investor about several issues in a nice way, but I gained control of the conversation. I have never really been afraid of doing anything in my life, but when we started our RE business my life went in a different direction. All of the sudden I was scared to talk to people... my husband looked at me and said seriously, you are the social butterfly in this marriage. He took the calls and death with the issues I was having, but I now have no problem talking and actually really found out how to have fun with it.

Tina

Never one to start a fight, I won't run from one either! Like you, Dean, I have a strong preference for harmony and tend to avoid confrontation; always seeking peaceful resolutions whenever possible. But although I'm certainly not one to start a fight, my instinct for self preservation and self worth is strong...so instead, I will STAND MY GROUND.

Some of the things I'm scared of:
making offers, joining REI clubs, calling up a cash buyer and saying the wrong thing, even writing a post here - this is my first post.
By continuously working on myself, changing my thoughts, attaching pain to inaction, I'm no longer going to be afraid to talk to someone, whether making that offer, networking at an REI club, or even speaking to that cash buyer. I know with loads of practice I'll improve dramatically.
Thanks Dean. I feel better already. - Scott

Today's weekly wisdom hit home!i have been doing a lot of soul searching and realized that I don't care for confrontation too much either! The biggest thing I don't care to confront is my my own fears and mistakes. I have read two complete book in a week that deal with the inner person so I can get some courage to step up and do the things I really wanna do(real estate). I have listened to your weekly wisdom video for almost 2 years and I am ashamed to say procrastination and fear has been winning. I am attending my first DG PRESENTATION FRIDAY IN PASADENA,CA. THANKS FOR THE MOTIVATION TO CHANGE THOSE SPOTS DEAN.

Great stuff Dean! I too have spent most of my life avoiding confrontation if at all possible. It wasn't always possible, because of the responsibilities inherent with my positions; however, it was never easy to do. Thank you for giving us a way to overcome our fears. Pain is a great motivator and if used properly can benefit us like nothing we ever believed possible.
My biggest fear surrounding real estate investing has to do with having my wife as a business partner. She suffered a head injury 22 years ago which resulted in damage to the portion of her brain associated with memory, organization and cognitive abilities. I'm afraid that I will not be up to the challenge of doing all those tasks she is unable to do because of her limitations and that I will fail her and ultimately our business as a result. I love my wife and desperately want her to have something in place that will support her after I'm gone. Social security won't do it; so it's up to me put things in place that will give her what she needs in the future. Fear of not being able to do that keeps me frozen at the starting line, unsure of what direction to go or if I will even run when the starting shot is fired.

I have made a decision to change my thoughts on the things I do not like to things I like.

*calling Realtors, to make offers
*calling buyers, to make wholesale deals
*follow up ...follow up with Realtors, buyers & sellers!

Thank you for your weekly wisdoms. I have a problem of letting people of doubt pulling me back I take 1 step forward and 2 back. I am going to make a commitment to not worry about the doubters and start running full speed when people tell me real estate won't work I need to keep moving forward and prove them wrong. Thank you for your inspirational videos.

I was so scared for full two years. I was afraid to succeed. I was reading, analyzing, buying courses and having every excuse in the world not to do a deal. Until I finally did it. I have closed on multiple deals in multiple states and I feel free!!

It built my confidence and it feels amazing. I allowed myself to succeed.

Thank you Dean for being an inspiration.

P.S. there is never such thing "too many cash flow properties"....

"Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection we can catch excellence" Vince Lombardi

I was supposed to start Registered Nursing School next week with all my college friends, and fearing I made the wrong choice. Yet, only one month into Dean's program I have 10 buyers on my buyers list, more than anyone had at boots on the ground, these 40-60 year old people asking me for advice on how I got just 10 buyers on my list. Do you know what I said? I was scared, I was shaky and I just picked the phone and called these investors who had business in my area. I feared taking the chance in the unknown , but I did it! I put out bandit signs, ghost ads, and called the mentors hotline and after I put there contact information and criteria on paper all this adrenaline rushed through my veins like I ran a mile in 4.5 minutes. These men and women were so scared to do these things. At 25 years I told myself, set a goal to be retired in the next five years. Would I been able to do this if I was a RN? The fear is did I make the right choice? But as I grow older, the less scared I want to feel about my future. By working harder and being smarter to erase my fear of not reaching my tangible goal!

What I want to change.. is all about me.

I cannot even afford to buy a decent laptop for my daughter, and finally I am doing something for the first time that Dean has been telling me to do for my own sake for the past seven months. As a shameful parent, here I am..trying to win a laptop instead of trying to work my butt off to fill up the buyers bucket as well as the sellers bucket!
This is me. That's why I want to change myself.
Please renew me, DEAN!

Hi Dean,
I've been brought up as a peace maker in my family; it just means im always a buffer between my siblings' arguments. I'm program to make peace; not to raise my opinions to make more battle.
I have to face it. Thank you Dean.
jodie

In my life I have succeeded in sports, at work with several different employers, at church and with my children without reaching my true God Given Potential, it’s so dag gum frustrating watching so many others succeed with less talent and less ability. Not to boast, I just know it's there. Talking to complete strangers about real estate, cold calling people on craigslist, visiting people whose homes are in foreclosure, breaking down the normal barriers is as easy as breathing air, but being my own boss, starting my own company frankly scares the hell out of me. My family needs for me to succeed financially, my friends need me to succeed as well as all the people I know now and all the future people's lives that will be blessed when I succeed. When I succeed many others will as well. I'm getting closer; I've almost got this thing defeated. As I was typing I think I discovered a part of the problem, I haven't found the need to desire it as much as your successful students no matter the obstacles. I'm so grateful for their successes, it has given me hope. Thanks Dean for all your insight.

Being Scared has cost me so much in my life and I'm just realizing the total cost of letting it win. Well not anymore!
Thank you so much for all that you are!

I am really scared of sounding stupid to others about real estate but if I don't start nothing will ever change. So now is the time.
I am so grateful to all your lessons that you share.

Dean thanks for sharing some of your properties.
Can we purchase your properties if we have a hard money lender? I know you said be a cash buyer but I'm just starting. I have a long list of lenders just need the deals.
Thanks for your time.

Hey Dean, I am a leopard with changed spots.... after seeing your blog I have new life to actually start doing the things I need to get me my first deal done. Instead of fearing talking to agents and FSBO'S and to just start marketing, I am going to "JUST DO IT", by thinking about how great the end result will be. You've made me very happy and got me thinking, HHHMMMMMM.......

Thank you very much Dean.
It was a pleasure meeting you in person at the Buying Summit in Vegas this past weekend.
I too am not crazy about confrontation but worse than that is my hesitation to act caused by two things. Analysis paralysis and by fear.
Luckily I took a massive step forward at the Summit, overcoming both problems to purchase my first 2 properties.
Once again, Thank You. For both the world class nature of the Buying Summit and the outstanding content in your Weekly Wisdoms.

Dean, thanks for what you do to help other people.
I know that I can not get in this , because I can barely eat. And I want to know how I could do this from home my health is very bad and I can't get out and find homes, So, if you guys read this and can tell me where I could find homes from home on the internet

For the most part I considered myself outgoing, love to network, always attending as many classes as I can. joined REIA's I'm a people person (still work as a hairstylist while learning the investing world) however when it comes to computer stuff , I could need some help. 1yr. 2 months ago I had to send my first email ( to my hml) had to learn how to network on FB ( it only took me like 6 days to figure it out. but I did it !slowly but surely been changing my panic to computers into my new everyday reality. Also I had to buy one first in order to use it. one of my clients had a 2nd hand small notebook ( I think that's how they call this thing), and traded it for 4 haircuts. it doesn't have a slot cd , so I can not use a lot of programs ( for instance I have not been able to use prop trend? since march that I attended that class . So I'm not benefiting from it.it takes me forever to write something ,because it skips letters. Although I'm greatfull for it I think you will make my day if I get to be the winner of you laptop ( I promise will take good care of it and even take some computer classes to learn how to use it)I just recently got the greatest opportunity of my life, of creating a power team for the Az area, shortly after coming back from your event (Buying summit)(5 days after)I was scared to death , again, how do I supposed to do my paper work ? Why Me ? I'm not good enough , and many other limited belifs, cross my mind for about 10 ,15 min. then reached out to friends and referrals for referrals for my team. Let me tell you within 2 days I had it all! I don't do speaking in front of groups , but let me tell you I already had a Conference meeting with them and went great! all of a sudden I'm taking on leadership like is the most natural thing on me, all I have to say taking different classes ,webinars, reia's,Buying Summits, and this group has given me the confidence I now have to make this project possible .Thank You DG!from the bottom of my heat!

This is awesome. I have been working on that since I was in high school. I have girls to thank. I really hated being nervous, so vowed to conquer that by doing things that makes me nervous to conquer that anxiety. I have been working on that in other fields since then. Occasionally, because of the people I was with, I deviated. This is a good reminder that what I need to do. So thanks Dean for this. I will try to be more active on the forum going forward regardless of promotional offers.

George

I just avoid doing things in general. I think it's fear mixed with timidity - not sure exactly what it is I'm avoiding - more of a vague sense. I'm trying to stick to a schedule of going to bed early and getting up very early - avoiding TV (can get very hooked into it) and it does help. I'm braver and more productive in the morning.

Thanks for your weekly wisdom. As usual, great stuff! Fear of making offers, negotiating, rejection or just messing up in some way is what has kept me from moving forward. Starting to look at these things as a challenge and finding excitement in overcoming these fears.

I hate making phone calls and confronting people. I put them off completely or until I no longer remember that it is relevant to my life. Thanks for the great post.

I'm reluctant to hire help in my rehabs, for fear of not getting it done right and not maximizing my profits. This makes my projects drag on too long and causes me to miss other deals.
I'm going to run the numbers to prove to myself this is actually costing me money and more importantly time.
Periodic reviews should cause enough pain to convince me of the better way being taught here.

“Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.” - Will Smith in After Earth.

I realized I had been choosing to live in fear of doing all the things necessary to make my real estate business come to life but yesterday I chose to face that fear and discovered that the fear in my head was not real. My mentor gave me an assignment 2 weeks ago to go talk to some funeral home directors in regards to estate properties.

The fear I chose to have in my mind was that the funeral home directors would yell at me to get out of their places of business for trying to take advantage of grieving families but as I found out yesterday, that scenario was all in my mind.

I went to 2 funeral homes yesterday and spoke with 2 funeral directors and both were receptive to me offering my services to purchase estate properties. Now I feel more confident to talk to more funeral directors in the future.

Now the next fear that I need to conquer is getting back in the gym!

Dean,

First, thank you for your weekly wisdom. Every Monday morning I look forward to hearing what you have to say and it invigorates me to get out there and look for deals. Two of my biggest fears are confidence and success. I am new to RE investing and I am confident that I will succeed, but my lack of confidence in making the right decisions is going to hinder my success. In my past employment, I was at the top of my game when I failed to get a promotion and it was like as a rug was pulled from under my feet. From that point on, I lost my confidence in my abilities to succeed. I don’t like failing and because of that I don’t take action as I should. I have recently worked a deal and got a house for $30k under asking price. Even with the cost of rehab, I have the potential to make at least $20k on a retail sale. Today is the last day of my 14 day inspection period and before I watched your weekly wisdom I was debating about just walking away because of my fears. I am going to face my fears head on and I will get over them!!

Thank you Dean and God Bless,
Brad W.