New from Ft. Lauderdale / Broward

[Michael S.]

Howdy everyone,

New BP member here. I've been lurking and reading all that I can, I figure it's high time to say hello.

I've definitely taken a roundabout path to get here. I attended college and grad school and studied a lot of fluffy liberal arts (history major). Grad school was great but I didn't see myself fitting into the corporate world or "getting a job." My parents are both institutionalized professionals and always pestered me to just "get a job" but they also sheltered me a great deal, so I was actually pretty unaware of any alternatives. I knew there was something else out there, I just didn't know what it was or how to reach it.

Just before finishing grad school I met the love of my life who comes from an entrepreneurial family and she really expanded my way of thinking. Around the same time I read RDPD and I immediately became determined to escape from the rat race and not end up like my parents--nearing 70 and still having to work to pay all the bills.

I'd taught myself enough about web technologies to start my own full time freelancing business from scratch. I had no idea if I would be able to make ends meet, but I remained persistent. I saved up just enough to feel comfortable investigating where I could invest some money when I had to move urgently.

The move took a huge financial toll but I ended up lucking out geographically. A colleague from my freelancing business (and also, coincidentally, a Kiyosaki follower) mentioned the REI group near my new home was one of the top clubs in the country.

Three days after my move, I went to my first REI club meeting. The intro speaker mentioned they had a mentoring program and I had chance to grab a private word with him afterwards. He urged me to apply so I could start doing deals. I immediately went home, filled out the application, interviewed a few days later, and was accepted!

I perused a wealth of introductory material over the 2012 holidays and started the new year by beginning to make offers. I still have yet to complete a deal, but I'm being diligent with my offers and follow ups.

I really think my freelancing has given me a leg up in the persistence and rejections departments. Some days I would send out 50 bids on web projects and not even get a single reply, but ultimately I made it work. I feel like wholesaling and flipping distressed properties will be similar. I'm at the point now where I'm tempted to feel discouraged but I just get out there every day and do it.

I'm interested in learning how to hone my skills and networking with other investors (local and otherwise). Most of all, I want to share my experiences and learn from the experiences of others.

Thanks for reading and see you around the forums!