WHAT do YOU do when you start to lose focus, and slip?

really great post to learn from each other what each does to stay focused!!
marc for me as anyone else we do get down sometimes so the trick is to set your mind back to that feeling or stage where you were at when you were at your BEST . YOU HAVE TO THINK HOW YOU FELT,STOOD,ACTED, TALKED, maybe how you dressed,FEEL that feeling that u want to get back by talking to someone positive,reading your positive posts that u statred[by the way thanks for that]another great post!! i do it by reading books such as the laws of success,volume 1,2,3,4 AND just getting on this site and reading/studying or any books,tapes,cd's. also indiana joes what is your song can bring you back to the "moment". cant wait to hear what others say!!again great p[ost marc!!

As Dean recommended in his book I count my blessings and realize quickly how blessed I am. I like to surround myself with positive people and create good memories to look back on. I exercise regularly (walking 5 mornings a week when the sun comes up) and find that I have more energy and my outlook is more likely to be positive on walking days.

Dean's book, this website and the edge are also amazing tools to get myself back on track when I feel that I'm floundering.

I look back on one of my biggest personal accomplishments and remember that there was a time when things were extremely challenging and I had doubts about myself (but never gave up) I credit my success back then to educating myself, surrounding myself with positive and intelligent people who knew more than I did.

Last but not least I can always run things by my husband, he is one of the most positive people I know and has a wonderful way of finding humor even in tough situations. Laughter helps!

Lea Nichols
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Couldn't hold it back; big smile....wanting to call someone walking out of the title office/closing last week; deal 10!! Real estate has literally changed our lives forever; just go find a deal..
grady

I get these feelings every other day. The thing is that I have all day to do this. I was lucky enough to be able to collect unemployment from a job I hated and now I have freedom to do this. I get down when I realize that I have all the time in the world and can't take advantage of this down market. I am down to take my marketing to another level so hopefully that will get me over the edge.

As far as what keeps me going are a few things. Just last week I was stressed out from this so I took a 3 day break and went out of state. I came back and was focused again, sometimes you take 1 step back to be able to take 3 forward. I am reading a book called "The Power of Positive Thinking" and have "Think and Grow Rich" audiobook when I ride around looking for houses.

Another strong motivation for me is that I come from nothing. I am hispanic where it is some how acceptable to be poor and go through life miserable. My big family is how they live their life and I want to show them that you can go far if you work hard and push . I am sure other people are going through this so just use that as motivation and surround yourself with good people.

Marc

Have you ever heard of the Secret? Either in book form or the movie. It's a great way to recoup your positvie atitude. I'm going through a rough patch in my life right now and I plan on watching the movie again to help me through this. I watch it from time to time cause it's real easy to forget and let life get in the way.Find the book and or the movie. The movie is the bomb cause the people in it tell you the way to make life work and are very inspiring.

sue

Hi Marc,

That was a great question. I felt the same way just last week. After I read Profit from Real Estate, I felt like I would be the next Dean Graziosi or Donald Trump. I had so much motivation because I know that I can do what he taught in the book.

But, when I sat around and didn't take action, all of my motivation went right out the window. It's alot easier said then done when people tell you to "just do it" or "just get out there" or "take action" etc.

However, if you do what I did, it becomes a whole lot easier to keep your motivation. Just find a "real estate buddy". Even if it's someone who is also just starting out, it helps to speak with someone on a regular basis and keep eachother moving forward. You can set goals with eachother, challenge eachother, make recommendations for eachother, etc. Sometimes, I just ask my "buddy" what they would suggest I do for the next day. We've all read Dean's books and really have all the info we need. So, if your buddy were to ask you what he should be doing, you'll know exactly what to tell him. And, if you both get stumped, you can always come back to dg.com and ask one of the experts.

So, I think your first step should be to find someone to communicate with. It helps if they're close by, but they don't have to be. Oh, and check out this thread from Steve's journal. I think he and his "buddy" are definitely helping eachother.

http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/25993/...

Good luck,

Felicia

Thanks for asking that question Marc. I was feeling the same way and decided to come on the site to get some motivation. Some of the answers to your question helped get me thinking positive again and hopefully it will for you too. We are all in this together! Hang in there bro, we can do this!

It is so important to keep the faith! I believe the good guys always win. I believe effort and determination will always lead people to success. If it was easy everyone would do it. The great thing everyone does not have Dean's books and the DG website which makes the DG students the favorites!

"Failure is only a fact when you give up. Everyone gets knocked down, the question is: Will you get back up?" - Eleanor Roosevelt

Good luck with real estate investing! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

all awesome stuff!!!I really hope this forum also helps everyone...Me and a friend have our positive question of the day almost everyday...I mentioned that I think in my Positive thoughts forum, but that helps me...
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/everything-else/27081/pos...

I still lose focus sometimes, but like all of you said, everyone does...Just gotta keep moving, and figure out what works for you so you do keep moving

You acknowledge the slip and keep moving forward and the most important is not to spend the energy saying to yourself. If I did this, It could of been that. Start as many times as it takes. My best creations comes from what some would call a mistake! It's all about the attitude in which we choose to look at things. Be prepared to stumble. That is when we discover! Focus on getting past this point that so many never go beyond. Push forth with whatever you have to go beyond. Dare to be different. Build an invisible circle around you until you get to where it is you want to be. Here's the time being selfish is not a bad word. Get into you! Whether it is with music, or what ever it is you like to do, that brings you inner peace. Let go of the baggage. Speaking for myself because I can only judge me. Learn how to move the biggest obstacle out of the way. Me! Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. Utilize the tools that we have. Most of the time what we think we need has been there all along. We have to learn how to make changes in our daily routine. Do something outside the comfort zone. If you wake up everyday doing the same thing, of course the results will be just that, the same. Put the effort into changing the direction. Most of all learn to believe in your own capabilities. Why should anyone think you can when you don't? Set goals. If you don't know where it is your going, How do you expect to get there? This is a once in a life time opportunity. Keep focused. We have been Empowered! Walk and Talk with Faith. Continued success.......Lubertha

Sometimes when pressure builds up and I cant focus, I look back at the reason why I started this in the first place. If you can remember your "WHY" then it might make it easier to battle through the tough times. Try to remember your goals. That always helps me. Maybe it will you to.

Fear Not,
Jeff

Thats a great question. I've been trying to get the wheels turning for about 8 months now and the lug nuts seem to keep falling off...lol

One of my motivations is the movie "The Pursuit of Happiness" by Will Smith
based on a true story of a single parent who went homeless and went on to be very successful. Thanks for your geat post.

I come here. Literally every source of live REI encouragement I have connected with is from this site, from Dean on down..

Hey Marc, I Just think of my current job and bills. That is more then enough to refocus me
On the serious side ( not that i wasn't serious ) I just listen to a blog from Dean and his spirit just pumps me back up!! Then i think of what i want to accomplish with the rest of my life and off i go.
Remeber what i keep telling yo.
Never ever give up and never let anyone tell you cant do it.
You can have anything you want in life, as long as your willing to work for it.
Richie.

I think of my current situation & the people I would like to help, if
I were financially able, it just breaks my heart when I can't help
someone or a family who really needs it. Right now I am working alone, the agent I chose decided this wasn't for him, but I don't let
that stop me. I keep going.

The theme echoed by everyone relevant to your question is the importance of refocusing on the reasons why the whole process began in the first place. Like Lubertha said,we have been supplied with the box of tools. All we have to do is take action, get the tools out and begin the job. In the beginning, I experienced setbacks, but never made that hinder my progress or desired goal. When I am down, and get up and shake myself off, and pledged that I will not return to the life I had before. God will not leave of forsake us, and has promised to take care and he never lies or goes back on his word. I am not saying that challenges will not try to deter us, and if it does, like many others have mentioned, watch a good movie or read a good book. Now this is our secret, for Lubertha and myself, we pride ourselves at singing songs in all the keys available, songs from the good old days, some of these songs we have posted on the DG site. They were not place there by chance, but by careful thoughts of where we go from here. Let not the cares of this world keep us down. Find a great buddy that speaks your language, and you should know what I mean, NO NAYSAYERS. May we all acquire a piece of the AMERICAN DREAM. God Bless.

Sandra

what I carry on me is a pair of dog tags that reads mistakes is the secret to success and the second one has a picture of my family I look at it when i'm down and thinking of my future that it's going to get better if I applied my self.

One thing out of many I do is look back at why I want this to work out for me...

In my group of friends in school, I was always the one who would do anything for people to laugh at...I would act crazy, or do something stupid for a laugh...Still do, cause I like fun...When people laugh, it means they are enjoying themselves...
I hated school, so I did my own thing, and grades weren't important to me
-so those two things came out that I would make nothing of my life according to them
-I was the "dumb one" of our group of friends...The one who wouldn't go far in life...the one who people thought wasn't going anywhere after school...

Looking back at it, I have always laughed cause I have had them fooled...I have done so much more than all of them already...And not even with my real estate stuff...Just in general...Just that I got out on my own, got over obstacles that they wouldn't even dream of...Learned from mistakes, where they are still making the same mistakes they have made a bunch of times...I am so much smarter than I portrayed myself...Granted, I am not the smartest guy, believe me I know...but i do know what I want...I don't give up...and video games, collecting cds, playing girls, being immature is NOT my thing...

success, persistence, proving people wrong that don't think I can do something, helping others IS my thing

So when I get off track, I just remember, I want more in my life, and can't let the naysayers prove themselves right...Granted, now i don't care about what they say, or said about me, but i like pushing myself past what others expect or think I am capable of...

when I first read the post you just wrote, it gave me déjà vu. It sounds just like another person we know who's gone on to be a multi-millionaire with REI. With that attitude, sir, you are destined to make it! Thank you so much for being such a great example on this site, and I wish you MUCH success! And soon!

your friend,

Rina

thank you Rina...I appreciate your post...And that makes me feel really good...

Success to me doesn't mean making a million dollars year 1...Success to me means doing something to move forward everyday. That is all that success is to me...and by that definition, I am already very successful.

and by being successful everyday, it mean bigger success follows down the road...

your friend,

Marc

Hello my dear friend!

Generally, as you know, I am a truly positive person and like you have overcome some tremendous obstacles and like the energizer bunny just keep on trucking no matter what.

Well, things are overwhelming for me right now and one of the things that is helping me to think positive and stay focused the most right now is the support of YOU, Rasheem and some of our other DG friends.

I know that I could say this in person or in an email, but I want to take the opportunity to thank you in this public forum too.

Thank You!
Angela

Marc, just letting you know that we are here to support you every step of the way. Please revisit where you will like to reach and the time frame you will set for yourself in reaching that/those goal(s). As Lubertha, once said to me, "Sandra no pity party here, lets go". God Bless, we love you.

Sandra

Hi Marc...

I am one of the older investors here. I am 62 and still looking for deals! I went to a seminar put on by Robert Allen. This was in 1991. It was a 5 day seminar and it cost $5,000...$1000 per day. They talked all this stuff and you were ready to rocket to the moon. You were on a high you do not think you would come down from. Then...you return to your regular job and try to make a go of it while still working in your spare time. I signed up for foreclosure listings and went to the trust deed sales on my lunch hour. I would watch all these guys bidding on these foreclosures and talking on very expensive cell phones to someone telling them how high to bid. I knew I would never have the cash to bid...but I still followed them. One went back to the bank and it was a duplex. I went out and bought an instant polaroid camera and took pictures of it. I went back back for a second look and saw a guy inside painting it and knew I missed it. As I was leaving I saw another one down the street that was for sale by owner. I called my realtor for help. We both went over together to look at it. The guy got it when his father died. All he wanted was the cash from it. The realtor was not creative...but I was! Before we knew it I was telling her what I wanted to do and we were doing it. When escrow closed I got all my money back plus $5,000. I got her to take a note for her commission which I paid in full a month later. Sometimes it just takes the right time! Did I mention that this was 1994...three years after the seminar. I was determined to get that $5,000 that I paid in 1991 BACK! It took three years but I did it! Good Luck!

Tom S.

Great story of perserverence, I love it!
Angela

Hi Marc,

Newbee here...just keep pressing on. Dare to be different...simply believe. Remember Rome was not built in a day and neither are dreams. It is a process that takes time. With each and every step that you take forward you are one step closer to fulfilling your dreams.

God bless,
Jan-Michael

Marc,

I know it sounds simplistic and somewhat crass, but finding a good deal always brings me back to my first love---making money. Anymore for me, it's not even about the money it's all about the deal. Someone recently asked me which one of your deals is your favorite. Without any hesitation I blurted out, " THE NEXT ONE." I want the next one to be better than the last one, and I'm in search of that perfect deal that everyone says dosen't exist. Well I'm going to prove them wrong. Sounds greedy, well it is. GET GREEDY or Go Hungry!

In the movie " Wall Street " Michael Douglass' character Gecko said " Greed is good." Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad) echoes and quotes that sentiment in all his books, and for good reason---because he knows a little greed is imperative to being successful. You've lost your first love Marc. And METAPHORICALLY speaking you need a little greed to get your butt of the couch. Ouch! Look at poor dad he wasn't greedy enough.

So what do I do when I fall out of love. I'm meticulous about keeping goals, and because being successful requires daily preparation I update them every 3 months with a veiw out to a larger goal to be reached in 5 years. I do 3 things every day:

--1. Keep my goals in mind. ( they are taped up everywhere )
--2. Complete daily tasks. ( min. 10--the Charles Schwab method )
--3. Focus on quality and efficiency.

When I survey my goals I emotionally charge them with a companion goal that I call accomplishment/benchmark---basically I think of what will happen in the greater scheme of things if I don't acheive that particular goal. You really have to have an end in mind and FOCUS on it---hinge your goals. Know what it is that you are pursuing. If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there. And remember this, the dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.

Your question is somewhat rhetorical in that you answered it yourself, "Take action and things will happen."

I will leave you with this quote:

" Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever acheive greatly."
..........................JFK

Best regards,

southstar

The first thing I do is come to my DG Family. I read the posts on the forums. If I have question I ask it.

Then, I go to my goals and reread and edit if necessary.

Next, I review what I have been doing that is not successful and do something new.

BUT I NEVER GIVE UP - that is when you fail.
Kat

ALL AWESOME STUFF TO STAY FOCUSED!!! You guys are so great...No wonder why everyone loves this site so much...Great advice!!!Great people!!!

also another thing I do to stay focused, is just to remember what I don't want...as well as of course what I do want...But what i don't want in life keeps me pushing forward also...

If somebody already said that, which I don't think anyone did, then sorry...

You are right on the money with your statement.....Staying focus is the key point & not giving up no matter how long it takes to get there. You could never hear it enough because it's a refreshment every time you read it or hear it over & over again.....we are family here & this is how we do it to encourage one another.

Everyone Can Make A Difference!
John A.

pushing this back up, cause I have seen a couple post(and know people) who are having a tough time sometimes, and I don't want people to give up...