New Year's Resolutions for your REI Business

[C.J. Lauria]

This is the time of year that we reflect on the past year and look forward to the coming year where we can make improvements. Why not do this with your REI business?

As an REI mentor with apprentices all over the U.S., I hear my mentees goals and they often sound much like:

• Do more wholesale deals in 2014.
• Double my number of flips.
• Acquire more rentals for my portfolio.
• Try my hand at my first commercial deal.
• ...and so on.

I would like to address some fundamental goals that can insure your success in whatever branch of the REI business you venture next year. In doing this, I want to discuss three points that will insure failure. Then we can talk about turning it around and into success. Napoleon Hill once stated that the three things that guarantee failure are:

1. Inability to get along with others
2. Quitting when the going is hard
3. Inability to make decisions quickly

Look around you. Think of all those who have enjoyed great achievements...in or out of the REI business. Do you see a common thread among them? Yes. They all have similar attributes. I call that their winning attitude. So let's re-frame this information into your 2014 new year's resolutions. Suppose you resolve that "in 2014 I make it my resolve to:

1. improve on my interpersonal relations. I will seek to understand people before seeking to be understood. I will begin with only pure intent and never compromise good REI business ethics for the sake of making a buck. Rather, I will manifest a demeanor that attracts people to my REI business."
2. develop more resiliency in my personality. I will seek to find solutions where I formerly dwelt on the problem and used it as an excuse to quit. I will think about the many famous people like Abraham Lincoln who would have never given up just because things were difficult. Then I will imagine myself having the joy and satisfaction of enduring trials and persisting even when the obstacles were too high to jump over."
3. display more courage and confidence in my abilities and that of my team. I will not be the type of person who has to 'feel for the floor before getting out of bed.' I realize that that was a silly habit and I will not fall back into that behavior. From now on I will work hard, once I have done my due diligence, to be decisive and move ahead.

Now, with this in your arsenal of personal development, you may be ready to move forward with the development of your REI business in 2014. Decide now to make it happen. It's going to be a very good year.