Apologize in advance for venting!!!

I can totally relate! I have to do this on my free time too, which is only weekends because my job drains me too, sometimes I can't do it then because I'm playing a gig, like this weekend (God, I miss the days I had the luxury of time). So now when I do have the time, I try to work smarter not harder. Have your realtor send you listings you can look at and make offers on them. Just do it, the escape clauses are there if you need to back out of a deal. Force yourself to do it, or you'll NEVER get out of that j.o.b. (also known as rat race). Always keep your eye on the prize, no matter what happens at work. I know it's easier said than done, but you have to do it for YOU! I hope this helps... Hang in there!

If you think that everyone who invests in real estate just does it full time from the get go your wrong. Let me tell you how I got started.

I got started by investing 450 miles from where I lived and I was working 55 housr every week! I did this for over two years. Here is what my schedule looked like. Monday through Friday I worked from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Then from 5:30 to 12:00p.m. every night I called that my 2nd shift. That was time spent looking at properties on the internet, studying demographics, reading books, etc.--every night. I would put on a pot of coffee and when it was gone I would try to get some sleep. Then on Friday nights after work I would drive 450 miles(7 hours) to the area where I would invest so I would usually get there at 1:00 a.m. then I would get about 4 hours of sleep and I would get up and look at about 20 properties where I physically walked through the properties. It would take all day. Then on Sunday I got up and worked on properties that I bought or lined up supplies that were needed for the guy I had helping me rehab. Or I would show and manage the properties. I would do that until 5:00 p.m. and then I would get in my car (exhausted from the weekend) and I would drive 7 hours back home so I would get home at 1:00 a.m. then I would get some sleep for about 3 hours so I could get back up and repeat the process. I never once complained because all I could see were my goals and dreams coming true. I ran this schedule for over 2 years! Now I am financially free and it's great. Nothing came easy for me. I was totally broke but just running for my dreams so it did not matter. I gave up everything I did at the drop of a hat. I quit dating, I quit my friends, I quit the dart league (where I was the top player in the league), I quit riding motorcycles, I quit all of my free time, I quit T.V. and radio, I quit everything I did except real estate. I made a commitment and stuck to it. I gave up everything in the short term to have everything for the rest of my life. It was worth it. I wasn't easy to buy over 30 properties in less than 3 years living 450 miles from home with no money but it was worth. My advice is this--totally sell out and one day you will have all of your time back.

I gave up my friends, watching tv, hanging out at work, everything and anything that took me away from real estate investing. I live, breathe and eat real estate. I don't regret it or complain either, because I keep my eye on the prize. A life of freedom, because I know it's worth it!!!

Many do not want to give up their old life to create a new. Most people do not like change but certain changes are necessary to find success. If you keep doing the same thing and expect different results you get the definition of insanity. Though you may not need to change your friends you may need some change.

This is a good place to vent because, unlike the regular friends in our lives who (meaning well) usually sympathize and KEEP us in our limiting state of mind, our DG friends can relate to what we're going through and yet CHALLENGE us to overcome our obstacles.

I hear ya on the frustration part, but I'm certain you can overcome if you decide to MAKE it work.

In the past 6 months I have not necessarily had to "give up" any of my good friends (just the "time" spent), but I have added a whole new group of people to my life (DG family and coaches) that focus my attention on REI and DOING/learning/growing each day. Although I admit I have had a DG addiction (LOL), it is part of what has re-shaped my mind into a successful Real Estate Investor that I will carry with me now for the rest of my life. It has spilled over into my everyday conversations with people, and I find myself not only using it for myself, but helping others in their own housing situations (when appropriate), to which I find them responding with gratitude and relief.

Like rhuges, Elena, CBR, and jjensen have said, DON'T give up, and DEDICATE the part of yourself that you need to in order to make this work for you! The time you would spend fretting or wishing, put that constructively into you REI and thinking positively. YOU can make it in this business, just like so many of us are. There are so many here who are living proof (just like Dean) that nothing can hold you back if you don't let it.

I wish you well, Shaun. Hope you don't feel picked on. You know how family is, they say it like it is. LOL

God bless,
your DG sis,

Rina

As always-this is the place to come for my inspiration boost!
Just one question to you, cbrpower - why did you have drive 450 miles to invest instead of doing it closer to where you lived? I'm curious because I'm beginning to feel that my immediate area is just not prime for finding the deals and that I, too, might need to expand my target area and start studying new places farther from home. Thanks everyone for always being here

I didn't give up my friends, my friendship is for life because I truly do cherish ALL my friends. But as Rina said, I changed the amount of time I spent with them or talking to them so I could put MORE time into real estate. I did sift out the nay sayers because that mentality is NOT mine and it would bring me down to that level. But my dear friends are ALWAYS going to be just that!

I don't think anyone took that the wrong way. You are one of the most special friends a person could have, and it's obvious from all your posts that you would never "dump" someone for monetary gain.
But like you said, no listening to the naysayers, and "time" IS important.

Bless you,

Rina

P.S. I didn't mean to sound critical of anyone.

You know me so well. That's why WE will always be sistas my dear. It's a bond that can NEVER be broken!

Love you sister,

To answer your question go to this post.

http://www.deangraziosi.com/node/1072

that should explain it.

Thanks for that link. I read the entire thread - very helpful. It takes alot of courage to invest so far from your home. I cant imagine not being able to be there everyday working and/or seeing how the work is going! But I am going to start investigating trends in surrounding areas and am certainly willing to work on finding a long distance team should I find someplace like where you are investing!