How Do I Find Energy to Learn REI With a Full-time Job?

[Brent Barnes]

Hello, everybody!

I've made the decision to become a real estate investor. I'm still in the learning/education stage, but I hope to buy my first property within a year.

I am also going into my third year of being a full-time middle school teacher. I love my job, and I enjoy doing my best to be a positive role-model and educator for my students. However, I try to be an engaging and enthusiastic teacher, which takes a lot of energy, and I find it hard to leave my work at work and leave the mental baggage at school. Because I care so much and try so hard, I find myself feeling physically and mentally exhausted at the end of the day. Once I take my dog for a walk, play with him, do some cleaning, and sit down to eat dinner, I'm usually brain dead for the day! However, I know there are single parents and other extraordinary cases out there that made their dreams happen despite their circumstances!

I would love to hear from other people who have full-time jobs, who used to work full-time, or people who had other tough circumstances and how they were able to find or create the energy that they needed to pursue their REI dreams. I'm not sure if it's a mindset matter of wanting it bad enough, or maybe there is a physical remedy like exercising more often?

Any tips, tricks, mindset shifts, or other personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you :)

[Marcus Auerbach]

Originally posted by @Genny Li:

Most people who teach school have families, just like any other job, so it's hardly an unsurmountable task. First-year and second-year teaching any subject takes a lot more energy and planning than later years when you're tweaking the material.  In the third year, you should be settling into a groove.  

Mainly, though, teaching well isn't about projecting energy at students but about sound pedagogy.  You should keep in mind what students should be remembering tomorrow about what you taught them today, next week, at the end of the semester, and 10 years from now.  Teach toward that, and use assignments and tests as a means to that goal. (Having no idea what you teach, it's hard to be more specific.)  This touchy-feely nonsense about connecting and feelings is nothing more than teachers exceeding their proper bounds and usurping the parental role. Not only would it be exhausting, but it is also inappropriate and misguided, and the constant emotional demand on students feeds neuroticism in them, as well. If you teach well, you will be feeding their minds.  You would make a terrible parent to 90 middle schoolers at once, and if you try, you will hurt at least as many as you help.  You aren't their "role model."  You can make a very good teacher to them in your subject, however, and if you teach well, some students will be inspired by the feeding of their minds.

That said, your big windows for immersing yourself in something new are in the summers and over holidays. You work 182-185 days a year.  That gives you 60 extra weekdays to get up to speed on stuff that requires a lot of uninterrupted brain power.

Most of us started this way. But your question frankly makes me worry about your chances of success. At this stage you should have so much motivation that you can't sleep at night. REI is not a decision, it is rather a passion. I have seen a lot of people that like the idea of REI and the financial impact it can have, but they have zero passion for the job, so their engagement is usually short lived.