Sharing experiences is a great way to learn

[Account Closed]

A thought came to mind while reading posts today. How do new investors learn the ropes? One way is perhaps by sharing experiences and what has been learned along the way. It is a great use of the forums and new and experienced can give further feedback.

[Jerry Puckett]

I was very fortunate. I got hired by a family friend to answer the phone for her investment company. She gave me a cell phone and a heads up when new marketing went out. All I did was pre screen calls and set appointments. Maybe 10 hours a week most weeks. It was just supposed to be part time until I could find a job.

Well a new job never came. It's pretty tight out there right now. I was so good at establishing rapport with the folks that were calling, that she started taking me on appointments with her. Then she taught me how to drive the comps. Our arrangement changed to me getting a commission for each deal done.

In the mean time, she opened her library to me and I started soaking in all the timeless principles of buying right. There were motivational CDs, Sales Mastery, Negotiating, Over coming Objections. On and on. Each time I was able to take a step up, she stepped back a little. Even allowed me to make some silly mistakes so that I would learn to never do that again.(never even THINK the word retail around a seller! Always write the phone number down rather than trusting your @#$% cell phone)

But then we started moving into areas that she had no expertise with. That's when I found Bigger Pockets. So much information right at my finger tips. Not to mention the potential bennefits of the networking. It's also very validating for me to read a post from some one with so much more experience saying exactly what I would have said. Probates weren't even on our menu till I joined that group. I'm going to make an offer on a probate house this afternoon.

Now I do the marketing and negotiating. I get commissions on the front end and the back. What ever leads I pass to others we split the income generated. I've spent a year getting a quality education and got payed to do it. When it's time to step out on my own, I believe I'll be ready. In the mean time, I really enjoy playing it forward and passing on my lessons right here in these forums.