“Real” Estate Entrepreneur

Tell me what are you doing?  Are you in control of your life in 2010?  Mind, body, and spirit, what are you doing?  My wife and I are working out 5 to 6 days a week for body.  Mind, we are both getting back into school, I am going for my Masters in Leadership Coaching Psychology and she is finishing up her Poli Sci degree for law school yay;) and spiritually we have been going to church a couple of times a month to a non denominational christian church and are looking into maybe going to a buddhist group once a month or so.

So now that you know that I am trying to better myself, what are you doing?

Please comment!!!  We can motivate each other.

Tags: charleston real estate, Motivation, Personal Growth
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REAL ESTATE ENTREPREURS HELLO!

Well, first of all if you havent watched my new baby please watch the video blog below as she is the cutest.

I just wanted to hit on a couple key points today.  I wanted to tell you how great of a job you are doing and how proud I am to have you read my thoughts.  Just by reading this, I know that you are just like me in the fact that we want more out of life and we are willing to work for it.  If that isnt a description of you, PLEASE STOP READING THIS!!!

I have an appreciation like no other for people like us.  I just hope you realize that we are in the worst economy since the GREAT DEPRESSION right now and if you are still standing tall with your own business, keep it going!  When the market and economy turns we will be an unstoppable force.  Here in Charleston, In 2007, there was around 7000 Realtors in the area and now we are under 2000 with a bunch of inactives.  What does that tell you?  That those of us that are left are willing to put in the work!  Stop a second, give yourself a pat on the back!  Congratulations! 

Well, with that being said, if you know of anyone that wants to buy or sell here in Charleston or wants a renter or anything, let me know, we can all use a bit more business.

Keep working hard and believe in abundance!  Believe in the universe and believe in yourself.  Love everything and everyone!  Be kind, rewind and all of that too!

Tags: charleston real estate, Motivation, Real Estate Entrepreneur
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So this is a very important post to me and I wanted to go briefly over it with you.  Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to meet with some very important people and these meetings have been vital in my growth as an adult as well as a real estate entrepreneur. 

At one time, I was getting personal advice from a man who won the entrepreneur of the year award by a major entrepreneurial organization, had exposes in upper end magazines, and was an overall great individual.  I am still in contact with a President of a local bank  and was on an acquaintance relationship with the Lt Governor of the State.  How did all that happen? Well, people like me and I am a helpful person.  Eventually, it just ended up happening and I am very grateful for all of my experiences.  One of the greatest experiences I have ever had has been to sit down multiple times with an actual billionaire who made his money in real estate.  I wanted to share just a bit of this information with you.  Would you like to learn something?

This man, was so brilliant that I couldn’t even understand the way that he thought.  All I know was that I was so awestruck at the time spent with him that it took me years to even grasp his words.  He thought on so much of a greater level than I have ever seen.  We talked about world economics and he even warned me about this recession that we are currently in.

He warned me of over leverage and what it was causing which was all correct and he also explained to me this.  He explained that it doesn’t matter how much money you make this year or even over the next couple of years.  What matters is how much money you have in ten and twenty years.  What he meant is what is happening to everyone right now.  All of these real estate “millionaires” had so much and now that  the market has corrected they are losing everything.  Now I over leveraged a bit but not to the point where we were not able to manage through the down times.  We are actually still able to grow and put money away but had I now been given that information, perhaps we would be in the same position that 12.5% or 1 in 8 people are in these days; foreclosure.  I hope that it is not too late for you and just heed those words.  A self made BILLIONAIRE is definitely someone to listen to.  Thanks a bunch Jack

Well, there are a couple points to this post.  First of all, I have experienced great success from all that I have learned and what I continue to learn from everyone in my life.  From people with more real estate experience than me to watching my four year old little girl and how she enjoys life and everyday experiences. 

The point that I was trying to show in what I had learned from Jack was that it doesnt matter how much money you make this year.  If you lose it in a year than you might as well never have made it. 

So good luck, make mistakes and keep pushing forward.

Tags: charleston real estate, Motivation, Real Estate Entrepreneur
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This one is something that I have struggled with for years and something that I am finally beginning to understand.  Ill start by saying I was hanging out with a buddy of mine the other day who is much farther in real estate entrepreneurship than I am annd is also a mentor.  check out his website www.woodruffinvesting.com

Well, he was talking to me about my team and how I need to use delegation to create efficiency.  Well I am new to the team concept let alone delegation.  I have always been the type of person that would work twice as hard to make sure something was done correctly.  That often times meant doing it myself.  While that works well in the beginning you will eventually get to the point where you dont want to work from sun up to sun down 7 days a week and you may begin to resent your business, your dream.  Now why on earth would you ever want to resent your dream. 

Well, here is what I have found in delegation.  I now delegate the smaller prospecting and the renovations to our properties so that I am able to focus on the bigger paychecks of listings and the investment management.  I now have buyers out looking for investment property and mobile homes while I am able to keep the big ball rolling and growing. 

My buddy told me to use this delegation as  a tool to manage time and its working.  Right now I am writing this while on the phone negotiating a short sale.  This is something that I am unable to do if I am out putting up bandit signs or answering calls from unqualified leads.  Start thinking of your business as a business and begin to grow.  Dont go wild though, dont over extend.  I like to think of it as taking just a bit bigger than baby steps. 

Well this is a short one, get out and do something!!!

Make Mistakes!!!

Tags: charleston real estate, managing, Motivation, Real Estate Entrepreneur
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Here is a great topic ladies and gentlemen.  Are you ready to become more productive?  If you are like me than you sometimes have a problem with productivity.  Some people call it, “spinning your wheels”, “moving fast and getting no where”, or even “Im working as hard as I can and not making it happen“.  Well, these are all words of a frustrated individual and I am going to share with you what  sometimes helps me to get through these times.

First of all, realize that this happens to everyone.  We are entrepreneurs and we face struggles.  If this was for everyone than we wouldnt be the exceptions we would be the rule and we would have to find something else to do, right?

Now that you realized, calmed down, and are thinking clearly; be honest with yourself.  What is it that you arent doing, I know, I know you arent achieving but what arent you doing?  Either because you dont want to (that part sucks) or because you have delegated that part to someone who is unable to handle the responsibility.  Did you figure it out?  I am betting that you did.

Well, I was listening to some Tony Robbins and he was talking about how he made it in his business.  It was at the birth of his new son, much like where I am in my life ( I am waiting on a daughter to be born anyday) and he didnt like his living arrangements.  I live in a WIP (work in progress – as one buddy of mine calls it) and I am not ok with that.  I am a real estate entrepreneur and deserve to live like I work as hard as I do.  In fact, I would say that I HATE this house! 

I HATE this house much like Tony Robbins hated his living arrangements when he went from $38k to $1,000,000 in a year.  Now I make plenty enough funds to qualify as a real estate entrepreneur as I am sure you do as well but  I have developed such a hatred for this house and how I force myself to live.  I have developed a list of the mediocrity that I have allowed myself to become content with and how that contentness and mediocrity disgusts me.  You may be thinking, well I am fine with being content, and this post may not be for you.  How can you be fine with being content?  Being content means to not be happy yet not sad.  So you are fine with your life being filled with nothing.  That is at least how I feel about it.

The remedy that I have found is in reading this list everyday and becoming upset with my life to the point where I want to work harder to achieve.  My family deserves more than I am giving and I have a larger role to play in life than the “buy a house, have some kids, get old, and die” mentality.  I am here to make a difference.  What about you?

Make up your list and keep adding to it.  Dont be content and read it every morning.  Realize why you are not ok with your life and what more you need to have.  Well, Get to it, stop reading and start writing, I am changing your life right, make sure you come back and say thank you!

Tags: charleston real estate, Motivation, Real Estate Entrepreneur, tony robbins
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Have you ever asked yourself this question?  As an entrepreneur, a real estate entrepreneur, I used to ask myself this question all of the time.  It wasnt until recently that I finally figured it out.  People have talked to me and given their points of view and countless of people have asked me.  Until I figured it out I was kind of oblivious to the simplicity of this answer.

First of all, lets talk a bit about you and how you are feeling if you still find yourself asking this question a lot.  Well, keep in mind that I used to always have this feeling so I know what you are going through.  Realize how you would feel if you had a boss to answer to as well.  Not going to happen is it?

Do you find yourself prospecting until you are sick of it?  As much as you love your job you should be doing it until you are sick of it. 

Are you caught up in the systems of the business rather than prospecting? 

Have you looked at what you are really doing? 

 Do you get mad at the business and sometimes ask yourself if a regular job would be more enjoyable?  Getting a paycheck week after week and not having to worry about making sales?

Are you a always positive or do you find yourself bouncing from highs to lows like you are on a life rollercoaster? 

Well, if that sounds like you dont get upset and realize that you are in a place where most people have gotten to and quit or have pushed through and made it to that next level.  I dont claim to be any type of guru like so many of my peers but I do claim to do pretty well in this business.

So calm down, relax and take a breath.  I am about to give you the MAGIC ANSWER to all of your problems.

Ready?

Well Here it is…………………..

You are not working hard enough!  If you just want to work 40 hours a week and live a mediocre life, go and get a job.  A buddy of mine that is much farther in life than I am told me that it is the greatest feeling to not have to get up if he  wants to.  If he wants to leave for a week, there is no vacation or anybody to ask, he just leaves.  He told me that he felt bad when he first realized that he doesnt have to wake up in the morning and that he is able to start his days when he feels like it.  He still makes more that the general public in a month than they will make in a year.  I am not to that level but I am on my way and still pretty young.  I am 24 for those of you who are interested.

So there it is, it is no big surprise is it?  Get out and prospect everyday.  Do what you dont like until you like to do it.  STOP, Think about what you just read and get it done!

Good Luck and donate some money to the cause, this is some good information!

Make Mistakes – if you are not making mistakes you are not trying hard enough!

Tags: charleston real estate, investing, Motivation, Real Estate Entrepreneur
Posted in Motivation, Personal Growth | | 2 Comments »

Just as it is written, Google Real Estate Entrepreneur, and you will see that we are on the first page.  Pretty exciting if you ask me.  Especially if you think that we have been doing this for long.  We haven’t, we have been promoting the website seriously for only a couple of weeks.  I have read a couple of books that emphasized the importance of keywords, domain names, and content.  I guess we have a pretty good setup of them.

Some other great things have been happening for us lately.   Today, I passed my real estate broker’s exam to turn my investment company into a real estate brokerage.  This is a huge step forward for us.  It seems that as we work and follow our intuitions we take everything in stride and do very well.  I am quite happy with life right now. 

In addition to all of these great things I now have two birddogs that I am training on Friday for my first real class for our company.  If you remember I taught investment for the Star 99.7 radio stations “rags to riches” program a couple of years back.  It was a great program though it never really took off. 

Well how about some helpful tips?  Well, you need to smile.  Are you smiling right now?  Your smile is infectious and it will make everyone around you smile. 

Be very grateful for what you have, no matter how low you are there is someone that is below you and you are not in their shoes. 

Are you married?  Kiss your wife like you used to today.  Hold her for just that one extra second to let her know you care.

Go after your dreams!  There is nothing like going after your dreams, you will never feel as great as when you are in pursuit of your ultimate happiness.  Even when you achieve it, you will find that the pursuit was a great place.

You are an amazing person and all of the people in your life are fortunate to have you.

Check out my business site www.charlestonrealestateinvesting.com

Tags: Add new tag, charleston real estate, Motivation, Personal Growth
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Well, in this blog I would like to talk about the importance of having a backup plan to your real estate investments.  At this point in my life, I have a great backup due to the sporadic nature of this business.  Whether or not you make any money in a month, you still need to pay your bills.  Credit is also a huge factor in growth in real estate.  The ability to leverage, enables you to multiply your returns almost effortlessly, ha!

Personally, I am in the Air Force Reserves.  In fact, when I started I was still active duty working full time.  I wouldnt recommend anyone getting into the business, to throw away their current job to chase this career.  Unless you have a great amount of backup funds , great enough to flip a couple houses and sit on the mortgages for a while, I wouldnt give up my day job just yet.  It was a very tough decision for me when I decided to give up my full time job, in fact I was making two thirds of my income in real estate and investments and I still had a difficult time just saying goodbye to the sure paycheck.  Well, in today’s economy you may not have that same reservation about a secure paycheck with businesses closing constantly and a nationwide 10% unemployment rate.  Do you have 10 friends?  Do you know 10 families?  Somebody is unemployed and can no longer provide for their family.  Sad, isnt it?  Im sorry if that is you, really I am.

Well, to avoid being in that position, or to get out of the unemployment position, start planning.  What if, should always be on your mind.  Off the tangent now and back onto what is going on with the backup or no backup.  I have often found myself not pushing as hard as I am able to push because I had enough money for the time being.  I was content, as much as I hate that word.  Being content is the worst feeling in the world.  Why on earth would you want to be content with your life?  Being content is not being happy, it is just not being miserable.

Without a backup plan you put yourself in a dangerous position, but with a backup plan you sometimes fall into the “I am fine” mindset which takes away from your ability to succeed.  What do you think, am I off?  Do you feel like this?

So the question that I can come up with is,”Do you sink or swim, or do you wade into the water?”  They say that if you pay your bills now, you will pay your bills always, how do you feel about that?  I believe it, I know I always figure a way to pay the bills.  Should I give up the backup plan?  Let me know your thoughts and tell me how you feel.

Tags: Motivation, Personal Growth
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