The Journal of the Daily Adventures of Indiana-Joe

I'll check out those links... sounds very helpful, thanks!
Buyers list is coming along well and I'm networking to build local power team. Have a call list set up to maximize my small day time window for phone calls.
You know, I'm so busy with my day job 'seems I can't get my work done! Attainable goals and good organization will solve that though.
Thanks again, and Keep Smiling!
Chris L.

Another day down my friend and the opportunities are still knocking on my door but I'm learning to answer them one at a time and not have them bumrush me and drag me down instead sort through what I can use NOW and what I can use LATER. It is a learning process step by step day by day. I see you are still making great strides in the business everyday I can only hope to be where you and a lot of other DG members are today. It's just amazing at what can be done when you put a little action into the equation.....Thank you Joe I admire your hard work and see that you are a true role model for this business as well as many others and am glad to have the ability to see your experiences whether they be successes or failures I can always take lessons and learn from the wise and well experienced! And you know what I like that you mentioned the fact of " A little planning can go a long way" because there are people I know that just don't seem to grasp that and from my military experience you have always always have got to have a plan somehow someway....or sometimes the mission you want to execute won't turn out as you thought. It's the PLAN of action that helps one to succeed, not always the main ingredient but an important one to say the least.

.....Thanks for stopping by the daily adventure. The deals are everywhere and I just wish I could find more than 24 hours in a day. The weather has been something else, from coast to coast, even up in Cananda. I think I am do for a sunny trip to a warm island in the South Pacific. Hope your having a great week! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...Each day just do one or a few things off the to-do list and you are making great progress. As we discussed the buyer's list is always going to be a work in progress as the list gets updated each month. Just like any good team of buyers you will have drops and pick-ups for your list. Keep doing all the right things and as you network you will find more and more buyers. Don't forget about contacting current landlords that advertise places for rent. Makethe most out of each day, even it is only 1 hour of available free time. Your efforts will pay big future dividends. Keep up the great work! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

P.S. I hope you did not get too much of that snow. February 1 is a few days away so we are at least half way through winter.

...Thanks for stopping by the daily adventure. It is true that sometimes we encounter feast and famine potential deals. There are many weeks I can't keep up with all the leads that come in but I do my best to sift, sort and screen through them. That is where it is always important to make sure realtors only send you the deals in which meets your criteria. Then try to find a process to sort through the other deals as they come along.

The quicker you are at analyzing and seeing the potential benefits of the deal, the more you can review. The key is alawys thinking if I get this deal what is my exit strategy. ask yourself, "what would I do with this deal if I can lock it up"? Once you know that, you can refine your process and be on your way. Keep up the good work. Each day you are building on your knowledge to ensure a solid foundation. Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

.....Today was overcast and cooler. I still decided to head out into the new frontier and take a look at 12 different properties. It only took a little over 3 hours to run through the homes. There were a few that might be potential deals if yo get the home at the right price. It never hurts to make an offer because you learn with each offer you make.

One of the primary keys is to try to find the most motivated sellers. When you do, low offers can get accepted. Don't forget to look for hidden value in a property and look for what other might miss. For example, one property was in a slightly more rural area. However, the road was expanding form 2 lanes to 4 lanes due to the traffic. This could be a prime property for advertising because of the traffice. Could a small billboard generate additional revenue if htis was a buy and hold property?

Make sure you review a lot of potential deals, run the numbers and make a lot of offers. Each offer will teach you something to better prepare you for futre offers. Make the most of this week before you know it February is right around the corner.

I want to wish success to the new friends I made this week. You can do it as we saw many opportunitites within yoru area. Review the deals, run the numbers and take action by making offers. You can do it! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." ~ Dale Carnegie

.....I can't believe Thursday is here already as another week in 2011 is in the history books. I am looking back and determining what weeks have been a little more productive then other weeks. What can I do to become a little more efficient at what I do each week? The more efficient the more I can accomplish.

Remember a little organization goes a long way. A tip I can offer is always think about what you need or what you need to accomplish. Go in with a gameplan and accomplish as much as you can by gathering the information you need to make better decisions. The more you can leverage yor time the better off you will be because each day you get closer to where you want to be.

I am off to take a look at another new market. Each time I accesss a new market I learn new things from the people I interact with. Don't be afraid to ask questions because each day you will leqarn from your actions. I hope everyone is having a great week, taking action and making deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision." ~ W. Clement Stone

Hey JOE I just thought I let you now today is Friday.

...Thanks for stopping by the daily adventure. When you are retired it is hard to keep track of the day of the week. Also, when traveling, there are many different time zones. Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

.....Friday is here and its time to take a look at a few more properties. It was interesting to see the variety of properties on the market and how much work was needed at various homes within the same price point. Some sellers will list hoems that need updating and not consider other homes that have sold or currently on the market.

As you do you great search for that next deal, make sure you knwo your market. What is on the market and what has sold at what price and in what length of time. The betetr pulse you have of the market will enable you to make betetr offers and be able to get better deals.

I have made several new friends this week and I am mazed at their passion, desire and drive to succeed in real estate. It is so awesome to see people learn and than immediately apply what they learned. It is also great to interact with other that have such a passion for real estate.

Make sure you do your homework on your market. Knowledge will go a long way in getting and creating deals. Each deal you run the numbers on can be a lesson for the next deal. If you want it to happen, take action! Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

...The day was blistery cold with blowing snow and temperatures grasping for +5 Farenheit degrees (that's negative 15 degrees Celsius!). What better day then to head out into the elements and look at some prospective real estate deals. The key that we always find is there are deals everywhere...North, South, East and West!

As we looked at the prospective deals, some of my new friends became exicted just thinking about the possibilities. Real estate investing can be all about the right MINDSET. Be open and think creatively. If you have the right mindset you can see things that other don't see and lockup deals that others may miss!

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to visit a new place and meet several new friends this past weekend. They will be successful real estate investors that are motivated and eager to succeed. They have the knowledge and they will apply it to achieve their goals.....one deal at a time!

The past few days have been very productive. I am very proud of each of my new friends and I look forward to seeing them at the EDGE event and hearing about their real estate progress and deals! You can do it! Yes, even in the Winter (and yes even when there is no Chinook wind to warm things up). Keep up the good work and keep moving forward! Believe and Acvhieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"An uncle of mine emigrated to Canada and couldn't take his guitar with him. When I found it in the attic, I'd found a friend for life." ~ Sting

....Sunday is here as the weekend and January is almost over. The forecast is for SNOW followed by more snow, buckets of snow, even a blizzard of snow, wind and drifts! (not the tasty treat at Dairy Queen) Better get to the grocery store before all the milk and bread and wiped clear of the shelves. Isn't funny how people take action when snow is coming? Everyone is concerned about not being able to shovel their way out. This is suppose to be a major storm, a storm for the ages. I have a better appreciation for the snow plow drivers!

The funny thing is how perception can change a person to take action. Snow can change someone's plans for the day. In this same way, a person's thoughts can be changed based on a belief. For example, if a seller is not getting offers on their home, maybe they believe the home might be over priced. This could be the case or maybe the home is not being marketed appropriately.

Do your best to understand what motivations are of sellers. Once you do you will close more deals. It can take time and practice but you will get better with everyone you speak to and every deal you creatively try to do. Are you filling your lead funnel? Realtor leads, bandit sign leads, signs, ads, passing out business cards, calling FSBOs? How are you filling your lead funnel?

Monday is a day filled with activity as I am off to see a few power team members and follow-up on several more offers. Make the most out of your week as February is on the horizon! Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
“If you wish others to believe in you, you must first convince them that you believe in them” ~ Harvey MacKay

Joe Don't forget to vote for the winners of the EDGE2011 contest.

.....Thanks for stopping by the daily adventure. I will try to take a look at the information this week. Have a great week. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....The weather forecast is for a massive blizzard stretching a number of states. Some weather people are calling it "the storm of the century"! It is forecast to start on Tuesday with more than 2 feet of snow and winds of 50 MPH. It is amazing to see how many people were stocking up at the grocery store. I have Spring fever and I am looking forward to visiting with some DG friends in sunny Florida.

At times you wonder why you live where you do and why you battle the snow and elements of the Winter season. We can live anywhere we choose. Real estate investing can change all that. Real estate can give you choices of where to live and where to vacation. If you want to change your situation then make the most out of your real estate investing time. The climate of choice is upt to you whether you prefer hot, cold or some where in between.

I went to go meet with another real estate agent to discuss strategies for submitting offers. We are submitting more offers this week. I hope everyone had a productive January as we head into the month of February. One month for the Year 2011 is in the books! Have a happy, productive February and get the month off to a fast start. That sunny vacation might be just around the corner. Have a great week as you pursue that next deal. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
“To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I hope you make through this storm. You know that a lot of people will want to sell thier home this spring to move to a warmer place after a long winter.

Steve

....Warmer climates are very appealing right now whether it be Hawaii, Florida, California or Arizona. Some parts of the Chicagoland area had around 2 feet of snow. I hope winter moves by fast. Have a great week. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...February is here and so is the forecast for the snow storm fo the century. Every news channel is warning us over this storm that is headed our way. This might be a good time to stay in and catch up on paperwork or update the schedule for the next few weeks.

Each day can be an adventure so lets see what this week might have in store. I hope everyone is having a great week. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the day:
"I think there is something, more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision." ~ W. Clement Stone

....The blizzard of 2011 did hit and it sure packed a mean punch. The chicago airports closed on early Tuesday afternoon as it began to snow, and snow and snow! It snowed sl much per hour that the snow plows stopped plowing because they could not keep up. Schools in the area were closing for the week. These areas are all metropolitain cities us to the snow, but this was too much snow to keep up with.

The key with anything that happens, is deal the best with the hand you are dealt with. Sometimes things may not go the way you want them to but how your handle yourself will let you and others know what you are made of. Bes the first on your block to make tracks in the snow and see where it leads you.

I hope everyone is having a Happy Groundhog's Day whether you are getting snow or not. Try to deal up some deals this week. You never know what a fresh blanket of snow may cover or uncover. You can do it. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it." ~ Patrick Young

Just wanted to say hi-I've been reading your blog since I joined the DG Family; also watched you and your wife on the Edge 10 video, and read about your story in Dean's book. Needless to say, it is very inspiring, and I have learnt a lot from you-hopefully it will show soon when I start getting some deals done.
thanks for sharing your knowledge!

valerie

....The day started out with sunshine and it was a lot different than the snow and cold that was left behind in Chicago. It is a wonder how people choose the areas of the country they live in and the Winter season is always a time for us to think about warmer more vibrant places. When we have a chance to visit these other places,especially during Winter, it is a real treat.

I was able to meet some new real estate investors in another area today and it was great to see such enthusiasm and desire to learn about real estate. It is always fun to see a new area and learn a new market and make new friends. I even had an opportunity to meet other DG Members. Later in the day, we met Denny and Lea (fracarell789) for dinner. It was a great time as we discussed real estate investing. It is always nice to spend time with others that have a passion for real estate.

The weather in the evening was picture perfect as I headed back and reviewed my contacts during the day. I setup a game plan for the next few days and we worked the plan. Many of the new investors were anxious as we were going to be reviewing deals and touring properties in the local area. Once again it confirmed to me that there are deals every where you just ave to be looking for them. Have a great week. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
“The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.”
~ William Shakespeare

....Thank you for stopping by my daily adventure journal. I appreciate all the nice comments and we are very happy to share tips and strategies with others that are own their own adventurous journey. I appreciate you taking the time to make a post on my journal. It is always nice to hear from other DG Members across the country.

We credit our success to Dean's books, programs and events. They have made such a difference in our life and we are so grateful we can give back and hopefully help others along the way. Each day is a new opportunity to learn and grow as a real estate investor. We look forward to reading about your progress and future deals. You can do it! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

.....Friday is here and it is the first Friday of February. Time to make the most out of our weekend. We were contacting some realtors in the local area and there were several that were not interested in showing properties over the weekend. A few did not even return the call or send information that they promised to send. Sometimes people can do you a favor even before you begin to work with them.

Remember a key to your success is having the right power team members on your team. They have to have knowledge but drive and ambition is important characteristics as well. Sometimes people are upset becuase the market is not booming like it did years ago. They can't get past that today requires more effort to get the job done. Find hungry, ambititous power team members and they can make all the difference in the world.

I took a look at various properties today. There was everything from clean and green to trashed and cluttered. The key is to see beyond the clutter. When you hear about positive points see if the points are positive. I heard one person comment how the property was only 2 miles from the beach. Yes, 2 miles not 2 blocks (big difference) especially with traffic. Two miles could still take 15 minutes or longer in heavy traffic. Listen to selling points but be sure to determine if it is truly a selling point or not.

I hope everyone is ready for a super weekend. The time is now to get out there and look at some deals, make some offers and lock up some deals. Be sure to take action early and often. Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
“Nothing happens by chance, my friend... No such thing as luck. A meaning behind every little thing, and such a meaning behind this. Part for you, part for me, may not see it all real clear right now, but we will, before long.” ~ Richard Bach

Denny & I enjoyed getting to meet you & Stacy. We had a fun time talking REI and learning from both of you. You & Stacy are extremely knowledgeable, creative and humble. Hope you had a nice flight back up north - stay warm! If you 2 get down this way we would love to see both again.

Lea

...We returned from sunny Florida to snow and cold. I can see where the sunshine state is always a great place to visit. We hope to get back to Florida again later this year. It would be great to get together again. Hope all your deals are moving forward. Keep up the hard work. More deals are right around the corner. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....The weekend arrived and it was a good time to take a look at a few more deals. When you run the numbers on a potential deal you always learn something about the property or even the local market area. Try to determine what might effect price both on the buying and selling side. If you are able to get the property at the right price, it gives you more flexibility when you go to sell it.

As we drove the area there were several bandit signs on busy street corners. Another approach I saw by a local investor was to put up bandit signs near foreclosed homes. This was a good idea considering that investors would drive by the cheap foreclosed homes and see the bandit signs. That was goo creativity. Sometimes by trying different things you can see what might work the best for your local area.

I want to wish my new friends good luck with real estate investing. You can do it! Stay focused, keep moving forward by building your power team and the deals will come. Be sure to share with others what you continue to learn along the way.

I hope everyone has a great weekend as you are trying to locate that next deal. Keep driving your area, working with your realtor and networking as much as possible. The next deal is right around the corner. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

As many of you know by now we have a video in the send me away contest. I want to give Joe and Stacey a big thank you for all of the inspiration they have given us. We have meet Joe in person and he is the real deal.

We droped out of Dean's site in late 2009 trying to make money in the stock market and that did not work out so well for us. Around April of 2010 we came back to Dean's site and there was this person named Indiana Joe all over this site talking about the Edge event for 2010 and just motivating everyone on this site including us. We came back on fire ready to do deals and make videos. Joe always says Believe and Achieve! and we believed and we achieved.

So to Joe and Stacey THANK YOU for all you have done for us.

God Bless you and your family.

Steve and Veronica.

....Thanks for stopping by the daily adventure journal. Congratulations on being one of the finalists in Dean's Send Me Away Contest. Good luck with real esate investing and keep making those deals happen. Each deal can be an inspiration to another DG Member. Have a great week! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

.....The weekend is just flying by as I was shoveling and digging more snow to get to my back yard. Times like this, I can't wait for July when it will be hot and sunny. I took a look at a few properties on-line and I confirmed an appointment with my realtor to check-out a few townhomes on Monday.

I have a closing coming up in the middle of the month so I have been coordinating some contractors to get this project completed. The key is to get it, get out and get the home rented. The faster we can achieve that, the more money that will be in our pocket.

Later in the day I checked the local paer and made some calls to FSBOs. It is always interesting to see what FSBOs are charging for their properties. Usually time will motivate them, but do not get discouraged if the prices are too high. Keep making the calls because the gem of a deal could be one call away. Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll

Wow ,talk about snow!! I believe we have at least 2 feet or more in the last few days.It is a good week to read and study and make calls on fsbo's and vacant homes.just got caught up on your journal joe ,been behind on posting too but back in the saddle.I noticed you have been traveling to different parts to check out deals And wondering if you are coming my way in the near future?? As you stated,there are deals everywhere and one just has to put the action in to find and make something happen.My boy is still waiting on the property he offered on.THIS PROPERTY had survey issues.
I am closing on another deal soon too.i believe this will be the 17th or 18th deal since starting deans program.
I Hope to make something happen with you this yr.I am super excited to be graced with the opportunity to learn from you,dean,the dg family,pmi and to be friends with wonderful people on this site.thanks joe for all you give and dont forget we need to own a property in the sunny islands soon !!!!! This snow and cold is gettin to me.
Jay