Your BIGGEST "There's no way I can do this whole REI thing"

[Alexander Alguire]

As I am in the process of getting educated and either finding a lender who will lend to me, or a partnership/other sort of creative way to buy, I had a total "how the hell am i going to do this moment" last night that kept me up. I know that these thoughts can easily progress to "I can't do this", and i know that many successful people do at some point have them, BUT they overcome them! So i'm all ears on hearing what your biggest "I can't do this" moment was, and how you got through it! One of my biggest curiosities about people is how they handle adversity on an individual basis. Thank you, and looking forward to reading and responding!

[Brian Gibbons]

Garbage in, Garbage Out (GIGO)

You always find the finest fishing holes in places where the average person is afraid to go.

All problems are disguised as opportunities.

The future you see is the future you get.
How many millionaires do you know who have become wealthy by investing in savings accounts? I rest my case.
Success will come when you choose to feed your dreams and starve your doubts.
Words transform. Speak only with a good purpose. Say only things that serve you and others. Choose your words wisely.
In todays uncertain economy, the safest solution to be wealthy, be in total control and enjoy freedom for you and your family is to have multiple streams of income.
Don't think of your goals - think FROM them. Tap into your genius.
Fear begins to melt away when you begin to take action on a goal you really want.
Your life~the way it looks today is a result of your choices...What will you choose today for your tomorrows?
Life is a mirror. You get what you see. If you project anger into the mirror, that is what you get back. If you project joy into the mirror, it reflects joy right back to you. Failure for failure. Success for success. What you project is what is reflected back to you.
Don't wait to buy real estate. Buy real estate and wait.
The fundamental level of success is doing the hard things first - If you go for the feared thing first, then the rest of the day is easy.
Many things can make you rich, but only a few things can enrich you
No matter what your product is, you are ultimately in the education business. Your customers need to be constantly educated about the many advantages of doing business with you, trained to use your products more effectively, and taught how to make never-ending improvement in their lives.
Your current thinking got you here. Only new thinking will get you out.
Money is one of the most important subjects of your entire life. Some of life's greatest enjoyments and most of life's greatest disappointments stem from your decisions about money. Whether you experience great peace of mind or constant anxiety will depend on getting your finances under control.
Creating success is a tug of war between your mind and your heart-your fears and your dreams. If your fears win, you lose.
Don't let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you're crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you're lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you're greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn't understand.
Your goal, as a creative investor, is to launch your ship into financial orbit ... and then put it on automatic pilot.
What kind of believer are you? Do you believe IN God?. Or do you believe God? There is a major distinction. People who believe in God, simply acknowledge the existence of a Higher Power.  People who believe God believe Him enough to do what He says.
Pursuing your passion is fulfilling and leads to financial freedom.
When you change your NOW story, you instantly change your past story and your future story.
Successful people rely heavily on their mentors. Ordinary people don't. It's that simple.
Whatever you focus on, expands. If you see the world through your dreams, prosperity materializes before your very eyes. If you see the world through your fears, poverty multiplies all around you.
You're not selling products. You're creating relationships.

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It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.

I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacation with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change

From testimonials and personal experience we have enough information to conclude that IT'S POSSIBLE TO DESIGN AND LIVE AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

Don't set your goals too low. If you don't need much, you won't become much.

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.

If you wish to find, you must search. Rarely does a good idea interrupt you

The problem with waiting until tomorrow is that when it finally arrives, it is called today.

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.

Those who will not read are no better off than those who cannot read.

You cannot succeed by yourself. It's hard to find a rich hermit.

Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.

Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average.

Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.

Learn to hide your need and show your skill.

Riches do not come by crossing your fingers and walking through the day hoping. Riches and wealth comes from well-laid plans.

Be a student, not a follower. Take interest in what someone says, then debate it, ponder it, and consider it from all angles.

Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is poverty. Ignorance is devastation. Ignorance is tragedy. And ignorance is illness. It all stems from ignorance.

Change and everything will change for you.

I remember saying to my mentor, 'If I had more money, I would have a better plan.'
He quickly responded, 'I would suggest that if you had a better plan, you would have more money.'
You see, it's not the amount that counts; it's the plan that counts.

Make rest a necessity, not an objective. Only rest long enough to gather strength.

You cannot make progress without making decisions.

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.

You have to do more than you get paid for because that’s where the fortune is.
Things will always go wrong so ride through your difficulties and learn from them.

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I posted this many years ago...

“You must be the person you have never had the courage to be.

Gradually, you will discover that you are that person, but until you can see this clearly, you must pretend and invent.”

Paulo Coelho

Here is a personal story.

I was in a bar, and I just lost my job. I am 56 now, but at the time I was 25, fresh out of the US Marines. The year was 1983. Interest rates were high, over 10%.

At the bar was this smiling guy, and he said,

"Who just died?"

I looked at him. He must have smelled the self-pity on my face.

Here is what just happened to me.

I worked for a small firm in Constriction Engineering Products, Johnson Controls, that sold air and water control equipment to large apartment and commercial building contractors. My math and science background helped me.

But the J O B paid $400 a week and was an advance on future commissions. I had over $10K in commissions due to me, and asked my boss for my commissions now. He laughed, and said I would get paid when he got paid.

I got in an argument with him and he fired me.

So this guy at the bar said to me,

"Tough break. What are you gonna do now?"

"Look for work I guess," I replied.

So he says, "You like real estate?" You like solving problems for people?"

I was taken aback by that comment. Was this guy trying to hire me or what?

I smiled, and asked him, "are you looking hire someone?"

He chuckled, and said, "Well, I'm always looking for great salespeople that hustle."

Here's what happened. The man's name was Glenn, and he owned a real estate investment company.

He never called it a real estate investment company, he called " a place where we solve problems for people."

The thing that was amazing about Glenn as he knew a little bit about everything and I mean everything.

He knew about business, legal issues, tax issues, marketing, sales, promotion, networking, and most importantly he knew about people (psychology).

The first thing he did was tell me that I have two ears and one mouth, and I should listen more than I talk.

Second thing he did was have me read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

Then he taught me how to set appointments was home sellers, go out to their home, and write up a letter of intent to purchase or lease.

He said to me, "your job is to bring me potential home sellers will consider a creative offer."

I was very confused the first few months working there. I did know what a wraparound mortgage was, or subject to, or subordinating notes, or lease option assignments.

So I stumbled along.

What allowed me succeed was Glenn had an awesome direct mail marketing machine, and even had an appointment setter, so I just needed to get my car and go talk to 3 to 4 sellers everyday. I'd use the same presentation with everyone. And I've get them all letter of intent to buy for cash or on terms.

One of the things Glenn told me was "some will, some won't, so what!"

What that means is that some sellers will do what you want to them to do, and some will not.

The law of large numbers cures all problems.

What surprised me even more is that some sellers would call the office, in 3 to 6 to even 12 months later, because they appreciated my first meeting with them.

Especially some sellers that were very angry with me in the beginning, called me names, said things like "you just try to rip me off!!"

In my first six months I must have seen 20 people a week, 80 a people month, almost 500 people in that six months. I think we did three to five houses a month grossing between $5-$10,000 per house, and I didn't make that money, Glenn did.

The arrangement for pay for me was I would make $500 cash every week, that's cash. No benefits and no 401(k). Was it legal, I don't know. I didn't own the business. I was hired hand.

After a few months, Glen said "you're do a good job keep it up. I'm going to give you a few more duties. I want to be able to travel so you can run the office while I'm gone."

I was scared at first, having never run a business. I was like the security of a paycheck.

But I loved being able to make decisions, being the captain of my own ship.

I think what made me more pissed off than anything though was making $500 a week, and making bank deposits of 10,000, 20,000, even 30,000 a week.

So after to have years of making $500 a week cash, and living frugally, I said the following to Glenn,

Glenn, I've "I learned so much here. You taught me about sellers, buyers, legal, tax, marketing, there is no way I could have learned this in school.

"I saved up some money and start my office. I wont compete with you. I'd like to give you four weeks notice."

Glenn leaned back in his swivel chair, smiled and said,

"Brian, you're irreplaceable here. You came to me knowing nothing and now you know everything you need to know. You never asked for a raise or a partnership stake in the business.

I can honestly say that without you over the last two and half years I would not have made the kind of money that I have. I have two things to say to you before you go onto greener pastures."

My God I was really nervous. What was Glenn going on to say?

"The first I want to ask you is, what took you so long?"

Then he laughed.

"I expected you to hang in there for about six months and move on.

You're really smart and you should have started your own business long ago."

"The second thing I want to tell you is I'm going to give you a bonus, (he takes out his checkbook, and writes this check out) "and I don't want you to look at it until you sit down to car and drive away, deal?"

I said, "deal!"

I got to my car, exhale, and take the check out of my pocket.

It was for $15,000.

Back in 1985 that was a lot of money.

In the memo I remember what was written,

"for my good friend Brian."

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With everything I learned over that 2 1/2 years, it didn't take me long to be profitable.

I got a modest office space, with neighbors that were white-collar professionals, and attorney and CPA.

I had a secretary part-time for 3 months, then full time.

And Glenn even took me to lunch every week, said he missed me.

That first business was very special to me.

I have had several businesses since then, but that first one was my favorite.

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My wish for all that reads this is I hope you find your "Glenn" and you bust your tail working and reading. And learning.  And Doing!