How real estate investing is like "The Wizard of Oz"

Yes, life is like a box of chocolates and real estate investing can be approached as in "The Wizard of Oz".  (After all, that movie had the first real "housing crash", right?)

All kidding aside, here is what I mean:

- When Dorothy met the Tin Man, he was rusted stiff, and she had to free him by applying oil to his joints.  Much in this manner, some new investors are frozen with "analysis paralysis".  They want to get started, but aren't sure what to do, so they do nothing.  As Brandon Turner mentions in his blog post, the only step you need to get moving is the NEXT one.

- The Scarecrow was looking for a brain.  What he didn't realize is that he had one all along.  Real estate investors need to use their brains (logic, facts, and numbers) over a pure simple "gut" feeling that they are "sure" to make money on a deal.

- The Cowardly Lion was afraid of everything.  Being a real estate investor means that you need to sometimes make bold moves and not be afraid to try new things.  Go to local real estate meetings, network with other investors, talk with buyers, call up lenders and other private money providers to talk about funding, etc.  You can't get too far if you don't have the courage to put yourself out there.

- When the group met the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, he turned out to be just a regular guy.  This is just like the people you read about on the Bigger Pockets forums and blog posts who have had a lot of success.  They are just regular people too, who took steps like the Wizard did to make his own success.

When real estate investors overcome their self-doubts, they, too, will become the Wizards of their own Oz.