Overwhelmed isn’t the word

[Alyssa Jones]

Well I can start by saying hi , so hi. Alyssa is my name. Just turned 22, college drop out as of recently. Got a full ride scholarship to play ball and study. I worked tirelessly, gave everything I had for this sport. But I never did it for myself, I did it for others. Hated school even at my youngest and eventually started hating people. I know , I know... some of your are probably like what the HECK! I would have killed for a free education. I get it.

I have different goals and ambitions. Making this decision cut basically everyone out of my life. Even the closest person to me. My father. Kicked out, on the street. Never did I think in a million years life would be what it is today. But I found something that’s worth it to me. I found this place, bigger pockets, I found real estate. No this isn’t a sob story, I’m sure it’s similarly to some people on this app. But I guess there goes my questions and concerns. How did you guys do it. Sometimes I find myself so overwhelmed. I get the same answers and it’s just people boasting on themselves. Knowing damn well a lot are given hand outs.

I’ve been studying real estate and speaking to people for the last 7 months. Fell in love. I know my potential, I got sick of people telling me what my potential was and where it can lead me. .

I just started my credit. So it’s about 3 months old. I have no debt. Too stubborn to work under someone, as far as commercial stores and retail. I want to flip my first house just like everyone just starting out. Do I do this with a partner ? Do I venture on my own. I have little savings, I’m black , I am a lesbian and I feel I have everyone and thing against me. I worked so hard for others, I don’t want to work hard for myself.

This is my mind currently, guidance would be appreciated, real guidance, real people who have real stores of failure and success. Steps on how. I know not everyone is going to go through the same things or follow the same paths. I didn’t and I might as well make something out of it , right ?

[Todd Rasmussen]

@Alyssa Jones

Objectively, this sounds like a colossally poor decision by you. One I made about your age.

The really only question I hear out of this is, how did you do it?

Long story short, we worked our butts off and to this day don't waste a dollar.

For you to succeed you have to do the following:

1) Don't assume that people with less than you are victims of circumstance nor that those with more than you were given something along the way. In fact, I'd venture a guess that a free college education is about as much of a leg up as you can ask for in life.

2) Stubborn is a nice way to say pride. Check it and go get a job working for someone else. If you don't have the discipline to hold down a retail job, you won't have the discipline to work for yourself.

3) Make and stick to a budget that puts money away every month.

4) Start a side gig. Build on your strengths, being good enough to play college ball means you should be able to tutor kids around where you live. Personal sports coach or running a camp is a minimal start up cost type enterprise which sounds perfect for a 22 year old.

5) Attend real estate meetups, network, continue to build your knowledge. Find investors and learn everything you can. Find a way to bring value to one of them, and that will lead to them bringing value to you. Something like this has the chance of funding your ambitions the fastest.

6) If you get a chance to get a job doing something that can develop some synergy with your real estate ambitions take it.

7) Continue to build your credit. Leverage will be the way you can scale income streams in the future.

In the meantime, work as hard as you can, as long as you can, as soon as you can, while spending as absolutely little as you can. Every dollar you keep a hold of today will be worth thousands in the future.

Understand that you are walking away from a situation where you probably brought tremendous value; to a situation where frankly, you bring none currently. Being a successful real estate investor starts with being a successful adult. What you want doesn't matter anymore. It is only what you are willing to and can do. The starting point is the least significant consideration in determining what your net worth will reach. As a black lesbian, should I treat you better or worse than I treat any other aspiring investor? Are you more or less capable than a different race or oriented person? The answer to both of those questions is not applicable. It doesn't matter and no-one here cares. For the extreme outlier racist or homophobe you most assuredly will meet in your life, why would you let someone's opinion of you affect who you are or where you are going? Especially some kind of malcontent like that?

Having given up your biggest advantage already, your second biggest advantage is your age. Most people don't think about their financial future until their cost of living out paces their social security checks. Even a minimally successful investor starting at your age can secure financial independence. We'll be here for our 2 cents along the way. Luck is a lie. Good fortune.