Robert's Journal - "The Daily Dose"

Voice to text??? Are you kidding? I absolutely dislike checking my voice mail. I want this voice to text thing!

I have Cricket for a service provider so I dont think they offer that.

Oh well.. How would it text inaudible noises such as laughing or mumbling? I ask because i dont remember what i said.. haha. Im telling you, im not very good at leaving messages.

If they have it great....

It picks up everything pretty good but it's not perfect. I'll warn you though.... ITS ADDICTIVE. Once you try it, you will not go back, so you are stuck with the additional fee. Mine is like an extra $6.95

Let me know what you find out...

Good night!

Hey Robert,
I hadn't checked into your journal in awhile as I had been just touching in and out of the site very quickly over the recent few weeks. Seems you are quite busy with your "day job." Most of us forget you actually have two tax seasons!

And I'm so sorry that you've had so much difficult personal news of late.

When you have the "lull" between the end of tax extension season and the beginning of the next tax season, I look forward to hearing more about your RE adventures!

Take care,
Nancy

Hey there....

I know the feeling about just checking in here and there. Just what I got to do right now with everything! Thanks so much for the thoughts and well wishes. It's people like you that make this website such a great resource for support and motivation.

Once I get thru this next week, I'll definately be back to my old self and you will probably get sick of hearing from me again!! lol

Take care and thanks for thinking of me!!

OK, it has been 15 days since I last posted in my journal.... Did anybody miss me? lol

I know I missed all you great people out there and despite all the struggles that have come my way, I'm adamant that I get back into consistently writing on the bloggs, journal, etc.

Since it is after 2:00AM right now, I think I'll catch you all up on another day though.... lol Big day tommorrow so I definately need the rest.

Everyone have a great Tuesday!!

Take care..........

Time is money? It never seems like there is enough time or money to get things done. Glad to see you are back on-line and ready to take action. We hope the real estate investing has been moving forward. Good luck on your future deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hi Robert,
Just getting caught up on your journal. You are a busy guy and it is football season to boot. How is your real estate investing going what strategies are you using right now? Good luck with all you endevors.
And I have to say GO HAWKS!

Donna

Glad you are back

I'm getting there.... slowly, but it's coming along. It's just so hard to balance the REI thing with my 4 girls and then all the pressures of being a CPA.

Especially with clients that take their very sweet time to get me paid... Now, I trully understand what they are going thru, but when I tell someone I'll pay them by a certain date, I make sure that happens... Unfortunately, I have long time clients (ones who could normally pay me within days), literally taking upwards of 7 months to chip away at their bill. And, at the same time, have the gall to get upset with me when I explain that I need to focus on paying projects when they are available. Once I have finished that project, I'm more than happy to jump back into their work on the condition of good faith and some sort of payments made in the long run. I mean, I can't make it any more fair than that.... Right??

Anyway, thank you all for the nice words AND I have missed YOU!! If only I could do this fulltime! Someday.... Someday soon!

Take care & God Bless!

Hey Robert,

Focusing on "cash buyers" sounds pretty smart to me! There's plenty of gall-filled people out there, so don't worry about people with unjustified expectations. You have to take care of your business and family, so it sounds like you're doing a great job of helping your slow-payers realize where they place themselves in your priorities by their actions.

I bet your experience with these clients will turn into an advantage in your real estate business. Your practices and procedures in how you operate will benefit. Good luck, and enjoy!

Tom

Hey Tom....

Thanks for your kind words... I definately try to do right by others and give out a lot of "good faith" out there but unfortunately in these desperate times, it tends to get taken advantage of...

I don't want to change the way I am but boy its tough these days!! lol

Take care and keep up the great job with the 100 day challenge!

Hi Robert,
I've just journeyed your journal and I've literally laughed and cried. You are an engaging writer and a good man who will make things happen! Wow, no one can say life is for the faint of heart - it is just painful sometimes. Thankfully there is bliss as well.

You've written about building the REI group GAIN AZ, as a local I am very interested - can you share the where/when/how on the group? Thanks. To borrow the term Louisa used earlier -the BIG stories are quite a "blog draw" (is that right..?), along with the forming cast of characters!
Thanks for you work here,
Liz

(I better go back and check out the family pic-I somehow missed it)

OK, It is really time to get serious about this REI thing, stand up, take some action, and go for it! Who is with me??? I have been serious up to this point, but my direction has been primarily focused on having a hard money lender available at any time... It has since appeared that Mr. Big, is apparantely just a lot of "Big Hype" which gets me knowhere....

So, I'm going back to the basics. Adding to the buyers list as much as possible. Then focus on finding great properties that I can somehow obtain at 35 to 45% below current FMV. Acquire it on assignment, and then pass it along to one of my buyers. I believe that once these type of deals start to roll with some consistency, the cash investors and even possibly "MR BIG" may come back into the picture. As this happens, ZI just might be able to transition back into the purchase mode and setting them up with renters or lease option tenants.

Easy.... Right??

I'm smart enopugh to know that is definately not the case, but I have to believe optomistically this way. Law of attraction, here we come...

I love your attitude and your outlook and enjoy reading your journal. I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress and success! I wish you the very best in REI and all that you do.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

IM WITH YOU!! i like your statement lets get serious and take action !! lets get out there and turn some deals,make it happen!! DO IT!! I GET FIRED UP WHEN A GO GETTER LIKE YOURSELF gets that fire in your veins!!i know you will make it happen bud !! dont let up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys have always been so supportive to everyone... Thanks...

I feel so overwhelmed with everything, but I have to find a way to keep taking some sort of action on a daily basis. Positive, positive, positive!!!

Everyone have a great Thursday!

Hey - I just found your journal! Now I have you bookmarked
I KNOW you can make this happen! Just keep focused on the future you want for your wife and those beautiful little girls of yours! That is where you'll find the extra energy to find the extra bit of time to take action steps. With your busy life you probably dont have too much free time to trade off for real estate - but anywhere you can it will move you forward. Even if it keeps you up later than you'd like (which it did me..and I LOVE to sleep ) I just keep imagining that day in the NEAR future where I dont have to have that 5am alarm anymore and I'll be working for myself! So keep up that fabulous attitude you have going on right now and go for it!!
Love,
Laura

Thank you so much Laura!!

I seriously think that right now, without the great support from everyone here on DG, I would put the REI thing on hold...

BUT, I know that I can't do that. You are absolutely right... Time is so difficult right now, tack on the stress of everything, and what do you do? The only REAL thing I know I can not do right now is stop. I will continue to be active, I will continue to build buyers lists, I will continue to just "TAKE ACTION", and undoubtedly something positive will start to happen.

There is a great lessson in today's journal for everyone. We all have issues, problems, not enough time, etc. But that is definately not an excuse. Yes, we need to number one, take care of our family obligations for sure, but always take a small step with REI everday, in one way or the other! Even if it's just reading these blogs becuase at a minimum, it keeps you involved and more than likely, motivated! Many people out there give up after one or two failures.... Not that there is anything wrong with these individuals becuase it's basically "human nature" to do so. But you should never think that you are the only one... Look at some of the most influential people on this planet, especially in business, and I would bet that they have endured many failures, but never gave up. Don't give up.... Just move on, move forward, and someday you will find that success you trully deserve!

I wish this for all of you, so NEVER give up. I know all too well, this is very hard to do, but we can all do it. No doubt!!

Take care and have a blessed Sunday!

Hey everyone...

Just wanted to check in wish everyone a blessed holiday. I have been spending a lot of time with my family and catching up on as much work as possible to get ready for year end and of course, tax time!

On the REI side, I have been dipping my hand in every so often but realize I need to make it over some big hurdles right now before I run the whole track meet so to speak. I would love to hear from as many of you as possible and see how you are all doing, so definately leave me a note! I will make a much more concierted effort to back into the flow of things and spend much more time online.

Once again, I wish you all the best and a tremendous 2010!

Take care & God Bless

Good to see you online! I've been wondering what you've been up to - other than chasing around your beautiful daughters Wishing you a wonderful holiday as well, and a very prosperous and joyous 2010!

Good to hear from you too!! Things have been rough so I'm definately looking forward to a new year for sure.

Unfortunately, I just topped off the ice cream with a big cherry on top by having an accident late last week!! I'm doing well physically, but it looks like they are going to "total" out the vehicle. That means if I'm lucky, I may get 3 or 4k, but I can't afford to have another payment to make each month. Looks like I'm going to see what Santa can bring me for Christmas to drive for a couple grand. Yes, I would love to get a new vehicle, but priorities, priorities, priorities!

Wish me luck... lol

I hope you too, and all the other members of the DG website have a trully wonderful holiday and new year!

Good Bless You All!

Take care,

Robert, I am sorry to here about your accident, but glad to here you are ok. Remember God has a plan for us. The obstacles that come into our lives only make us stronger. You might figure out how to get by right now when money is tight, Then later on when you find a great deal in REI You will alrady know how to tighten your budget and make it happen. I myself have obstacles, I have beem Laid off for one and a half years. I know of people in my trade ( sheet metal workers ) that have been in the trade longer and got laid off after I did, that have lost their homes. I have done better than they have because I started investing in real estate 20 years ago. I have not done as well as Rina or Indiana Joe or Matt Larson but it has Enable me to weather this storm so far. God has allowed me during this time off to find the DG family back at the end of September of this year. Now I have this tremendous sight to go to, learn all kinds of new ways that other real estate investors are using successfully. By reading these journals and blogs I have been out looking at properties an making offers. None have been accepted yet but eventually they will. I have felt in my heart that when REI starts working for me, that everything will start coming all at once. The snowball effect, the more you roll that snowball the bigger it gets, the same for real estate. It will do you the same way . Keep posting in your journal I trully enjoy reading it. I am looking forward to reading about your first deal, And sorry mister big didn't work out for you. Take this time and enjoy your family an d the hloidays. ----------- Kolby

Glad to hear you are ok from the accident. "things" can always be replaced....I too, am looking forward to ringing in the new year and moving onward and upward in every aspect of my life! Here's to joy and prosperty for all of us!
Love,
laura

Nice journal. Keep up the great work.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and words of encouragement. Many people, not just those in DG alone, do need some type of encouragement, especially in this time of crise with the economy and so forth. Have faith ya'll and ultimately, you will see some positive enter your life!

Unfortunately my 2009 has been filled with nothing but issues, problems and perhaps most noteably for me personally, just a truly overwhelming feeling of fear... I have never been so scared in my life, but I will and never have forgotten anout faith. At least my family is healthy, stong, and kicking!!

I di want to thank God so much for looking after my parents last Saturday night. We had just finished celebrating our Christmas with the famil which was a great day. I got a phone call early the next morning that my parents had just gone thru a "Home Invasion" later that night. Fortunately, my parents were fine and thank God they heard something, becuase these guys had gotten into my dad's garage, used his drill and drill bits to dry to drill thru the locks to get into the house. When that wasn't working, they went into the small ladder crawlspace from withing the garage and literaly had the "balls" to start drilling thru the walls and then literaly quicking in the drywall to get into the second story part of the house. They probably needed 5 more minutes to ultimately get completely into the house. Again, thank God my parents heard what was happening and started to make a ruccss, becuasue boy did they run after that. I'm trully grateful my father did not get into aposition to run into the guys or be cornered by the four of them, becuase with four of them, they ultimately would have over powered him and guite honestly proably would have killed him. Fortunately it never escallated to that point!!! They are save and we spent all day Sunday replacing the wall, locks on all the doors that had been attempted to be drilled out, etc.

Overall, point is that as the econmy worsens, this type of thing will probably get more and more common; so all of you please protect your family and your home to the utmost degree.

I wish all of you a truly wonderful holiday season and the best New Year ever!!! I know I for one is really looking forward to a new fresh start in 2010!

Take care and God Bless you all!!!

How awful, thank God your parents are OK. Wow, what an awful experience for them to go through and I can imagine how you felt for them.

Also I'm sorry about the accident and damage to your car but am glad that you weren't hurt.

Withing you & your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

sorry to hear about your parents scare!! yes we all must take precaution and watch out for each other as this economy does bring out the bad in some!keep your head up take steps towards your goals and you will be moving forward with our support and your work ethic YOU can do ANYTHING!! best wishes for you and your family for a new and exciting year for you!!
jay

You are right Rob. With the economy playing havoc on the pockets of everyday people we must be on point as we make our daily happenings happen. Its not everyone we encounter that means us well. I am happy that GOD wrapped his loving arms around your family and protected them. Ultimately your faith in a higher being is what we all will need in our walk in life. As a matter of fact not to get religious or anything but I think through GOD all things are possible. Try not to worry about the things out of our control and do your best to stay on top of the things you can control. You seem like a good guy Rob.....Everything is going to be all right.

Best Regards,
Shane Gore

Hey Rob you in there!! Its crazy I was the last person to write in your journal however long ago and I the same guy back here trying to revive it from the cemetaries of investing journals. It has been a while since we have heard from you in the DG Family and wanted to make sure things were on the up and up.

AS the famous song says "We Fall Down, but We Get Up"

So if you can hear the tapping of the keys through my words come back to REI life and lets meet at the Edge Event 2010.

Best Regards,
Shane Gore

Hey Everyone...

I heard the echo, but it was faint way up here high on the mountain!

Thanks Shane for looking out for me. I definately appreciate it...

"We Fall Down, but We Get Up"..... I love the quote! Unfortunately, it describes my life exactly. Over the holidays, I was really down and ended up actually spending about a week in the hospital from Christmas day till almost New Years. As I have mentioned in the past, all the stress of having triplets (all 3 years old - horrible age!), running my own CPA firm, financial struggles, etc. all took it's toll on me and I finally just couldn't take it anymore. So, I finally asked for help, and checked myself into the hospital. Best thing I could have ever done becuase now I understand what I'm dealing with and have a true diagnosis, rather than just wondering why the hell I feel the way I felt. Knowing, that in its self, is trully a huge relief and takes a ton of the stress & worry off my shoulders becuase now I know what I'm battling; which is half the fight!

Fortunately, I feel like a new man, even though I understand I have a long ways to go. I'm so much happier, optimistic for the future, and motivated as hell, so look out 2010 and beyond! I'm going to continue to build my CPA practice as much as possible, and at the same time continue to take steps forward with REI. I will succeed and I look forward to the challenges that lie before me... Now, I just need to get thru this years tax season!!!

About the 2010 Edge Event... I really do want to attend but even being an early bird guy, I'm not in a position to cover the costs right now, and unfortunately, I think it will sell out soon, if not already. I have inquired of Megan to see if there was anything I could to do help and volunteer my time, especially since I'm local, but unfortunately I did not hear back anything.

In fact I was thinking, maybe we get Dean to help out and approve 1 attendance to the 2010 Edge Event for some deserving DG member. As we know, many of us are struggling out there financially, and definately can not afford the event. My idea was to maybe set up some sort of contribution fund, that all the DG members would be able to donate to if they would like. Perhaps, maybe Dean could match every dollar, or give us a significant discount for this purpose. Ideally, we collect enough funds to buy a seat for some lucky, deserving DG member. And, if we were to collect more than needed, then we could donate the rest of the funds in that persons name, to the Haiti Relief Fund or American Red Cross, or something like that. What do you all think out there? It would be a great way to give back / pay it forward, and even if everyone in the DG family contributed just $1 a piece, we could really make a significant impact. Imagine the possibilities?

Now, on the other end, finding that deserving DG member. I was thinking we could set up a journal or post where those in need could write their stories. We could have Dean and a select few people, pick the top five, and then let the entire DG family vote. Kind of like Dean's "Send me Away" promotion!! I think we could really do this and I don't believe it has been done in the past. If all goes well, a deserving person gets to go to the event, we ideally raise additional monies for charity, and might even make it a tradition each year... Please let me know what you all think out there and if the idea gets enough support & attention, we could forward it to Megan & Dean. Let's do this!!!

Thanks everybody for checking in, especially Shane. I will definately try to start getting a little more involved again, especially once I'm thru with tax season!! Indiana Joe knows exactly what I'm talking about... Take care everyone, God Bless, and I wish you all the best!