OfflineWell, I'm starting this journal to signify my newest endeavors in REI. I've now OFFICIALLY conquered wholesaling and can add that to my list of real estate accomplishments. It took 27 deals that DIDN'T close to get ONE that did.
You can go see all my history and you will learn a lot from my trials and tribulations in REI in my first journal. (http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/43252/...)
The most important thing to remember is that GIVING UP IS **NOT** an option. This business is very cutthroat. There are people that will throw you under the bus in a heartbeat. And, the more money you make, the more people want a piece of it. Hardcore determination, persistence and perseverance are what you will need to make it in REI. This is not a get rich quick scheme, this is a 'work hard to make it and turn yourself into a success through your hard work' to set yourself free course of action. I am not saying this as a discouragement, but rather to be realistic and let you know, yes, this can be done, but no, don't expect it to be easy and for it to be handed to you. EXPECT to fail a lot. Failure means only one thing.... you've gained a lot of experience and are on your way to success. It does NOT mean 'this doesn't work so I'm going to give up'. NO GIVING UP, remove the words from you vocabulary!
Also, I want to share another great resource you may have overlooked. Dean has many wonderful books. 4 of them deal directly with real estate, so you may think they should be your focus, but Dean has one more book that is a MUST read for your success. This book helps develop YOU for success. Dean writes in a such a down to earth and brilliant manner that this is a very fast, but very far reaching into your soul read. Be SURE to read TOTALLY FULFILLED! (more info on the book here: http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/totally-fulfilled/72344/d...)
No matter where you may be on your journey, I recommend that EVERYONE do the '7 levels deep exercise' right here on this site (http://www.deangraziosi.com/emd/videm/7levels) Go do it now, it will be an eyeopening experience and a great action step for you to take.
And now, I will transfer the last couple of entries from my prior journey over to this journal. 
I've been up to a lot lately. I returned from Dean's area manager training. What an experience. I was once intimidated to be able to turn a property within 30 days with a full rehab; I now have been shown a whole new light; and I don't have to burn out contractors to do it. What a relief!
After the mastermind, I moved too fast and built a team up from the bottom only to totally burn it out. I ended up losing my whole team there. But I won't do that again, because I now know secrets to getting A players.
I decided to see if I could finally get down wholesaling here in Southern CA for good; and I've done really well at it. The thing about investing here is that every deal presents a unique set of issues that I need to deal with each time. Its excited because its always different, but it is also extremely time consuming. So, I decided to go out and commit to being an area manager.
I will succeed this time for sure. It is certain I will succeed! I have more tools at my disposal than anyone I know. I can do this remotely. I can do this effectively. I'm extremely good at what I do. I love to be creative and develop systems, but I just wasn't having the time to do it. I now have so many systems put in place by the best of the best; Matt Larson. I have no where to go but up.
I may have to start over and simplify some things. But that's ok. I thrive on excitement and challenge.
God willing, Nothing is going to prevent me from making it happen!!!!
Hi Tammy,
I'm so proud of you! You're such a caring person. I read the 826 posts on your first journal “Tammy's Journey to Refinement and Freedom Great Things are Here!” and recently finished this journal. You deserve a lot of credit for your accomplishments! The perseverance, courage, determination, and passion you exhibited while overcoming great difficulties are to be commended! It was not easy, you took on a huge challenge and achieved great success! I admire so much your aptitude for REI, intelligence and creativity as you pursued deals and dealt with challenges. You're such a hard worker and you NEVER give up! Thank you for your candor and for articulating so well your struggles and successes. We all benefited from openness and courageousness. Thank you for your poetry and for keeping your dreams alive (see post 137.)
As you're well aware CA is a hard place to be a real estate investor and wholesaler. I've worked very hard to establish my business foundation. I've set up a CA. LLC, joined the Tax Club and My Corporate Record Pro., joined and completed the Success Academy, RBBP, EDGE 2010 & 2011 (online), took hundreds of pages of notes, asked the advisors hundreds of questions, attended dozens of REICs, networked with over 100 cash investors, contacted over 200 real estate agents, worked with 10 RE agents, submitted dozens of offers using transactional funding POFs and $1,000 EMD, signed a profit sharing contract with one of my cash investors, networked with real estate attorneys, contractors, architects, title and escrow companies. I researched properties at the Dept.of Building and Safety, County Court House, Planning Dept. and Assessors Office. I contacted 100 banks inquiring about their negative assets, spent hundreds of hours online searching for properties at dozens of websites and running the numbers on properties, visited dozens of houses with RE agents and estimated repair costs, called for rent ads, FSBO's, “driving for dollars”, marketed to investors, estate sales etc.
I should be proud of “my accomplishments” but they mean NOTHING if I can't get any deals done. Every offer I submitted I lost to another buyer who was faster and offered more. I want to be a SUCCESSFUL real estate investor and finally get my first deal done!
The Southern California cash investors I've networked with on my buyers list (over 100) have a vast range of interests. I'm a honest, hard working and would be HAPPY to split my profits with you if we could get a deal done!
Thanks,
Greg
Thank you so much for your encouraging and uplifting words! It looks like you have been just as busy as I have; this area is DEFINITELY not for the light of heart.
I would love to invite you (and anyone else in our area reading) to our REIC this TH at 7pm in Fountain Valley. Its a no nonsense group with practical information for how to make it in this market and area. It took me almost 3 YEARS of tweaking Dean's material to find what worked here, but I have figured it out; and now the market is changing yet again. So staying on top of everything is a constant learning experience.
KUDOS to you for tackling all the areas of RE. You WILL make it happen with persistence! You just have to tweak for our area.
May God bless your journey and reward you handsomely!
~T
I am recruiting people for a big endeavor I'm undertaking to move to the next level. Been comfortable too long, time for a big change up! I'm building a team and we're starting from the ground level. Rebuilding and refocusing towards the next level. I'm looking for YOU if you are a go getter that isn't afraid to put in the work to succeed and to fail a lot along the way. If you can't handle a lot of failures before success, this probably isn't something for you. Other qualities I'm looking for are:
ALERT
CURIOUS
RESPONSIVE
ACTION TAKERS
RESOURCEFUL
FUN
TEACHABLE
WORKS WELL UNDER PRESSURE
ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS QUICK
SYSTEMATIC
TRANSPARENT
HIGH STANDARDS
INTEGRITY
NEVER GIVES UP
INSPIRES
RECORD KEEPING
DOCUMENTATION CONTROL
DETAIL ORIENTED…. BUT RESULTS ORIENTED
DISCIPLINED
DEDICATED
PERSISTENT
FOLLOW UP
ASSERTIVE
BOLD
FEARLESS (OR ABLE TO OVERCOME FEARS)
WHAT TO EXPECT
FUN environment
REWARDING experience
TOP NOTCH training
CARING approach
FAST TRACK to results
ACCOUNTABILITY
NO WORRYING ABOUT circumvention and people wasting down your contract
I will see everyone who's going AT THE EDGE!
See you at the EDGE!
Michael
Knowledge is power, but execution trumps knowledge. Tony Robbins
http://www.mdhomeacquisitions.com Seller site
http://www.mdhomeacquisitionsbargainhouses.com Buyer site
http://www.mdhomeacquisitionshousehunter.com Bird Dog Site
http://www.mdlodeals.com Tenant/Buyer site
This is indeed an exciting time of year!!
Hi Tammy,
The reason for this note, your notes were always very inspirational, but they are not to be seen any more.
If you start writing again it will inspire lots a of newbies and not so successful people like me.
Regards,
Bimal
Wish Everybody a great success in their Real Estate Business