Investing in Yourself

A famous quote by Benjamin Franklin says, “An investment in yourself pays the best interest.” From my personal investing experience, that adage could not hold any more truth. As a real estate investor, you must always be developing yourself, heightening your standards, and making the necessary changes to grow and thrive. I have seen many people neglect personal development and wonder why they’re not making any progress and they even take steps backwards.

Here are a few important personal development tips every real estate investor should follow:

1. You Need to Set Goals

If you are not goal setting everyday, you are putting yourself at a serious disadvantage. When setting your goals, figure out daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals and the most important part is to physically write them down. By writing them down, you are engraining the information deeper into your subconscious mind. There have been tons of studies out there proving how programming your subconscious will have huge positive impacts on your life and help you to achieve your maximum levels of output.

Personally, I write down my goals twice a day. I keep my goals in a journal, where I look back and review my progress, wins, and losses. Doing this will give you a better idea and what you need to change your results and it will focus your mind on tackling these achievements. My favorite book on goal setting and maximizing your potential is The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone. Check it out.

2. Reading is Key

I used to absolutely hate to read. It was boring and I felt it was a waste of time. Then I realized most successful people are avid readers and if I wanted to be in the same boat, I would have to learn to love it. After about a year of forcing myself to read, I got used to it and actually enjoyed it.

Now, I currently read 1-2 books per week and I am learning more than I ever have in my life in formal education. It doesn’t cost much to buy a few books and get after it, and the payoff is well worth it. You don’t have to be a fast reader, just put in the time and actually apply the knowledge you’re learning. The old saying that knowledge is power is only true if you apply that knowledge to a focused vision consistently. Grab a good nonfiction book, take notes, and apply the knowledge. If you are completely against reading, try podcasts or audiobooks.

3. Create Good Habits

Actions create your habits and habits create who you are and what you will become. It’s a pretty simple concept but it’s so often overlooked. Some people go through the motions and are wasting so much time trying to reach their goals. Creating good habits, whether it be time management, following through with important actions, or writing your goals down everyday, shapes what your future will become. Being aware of the actions you're taking everyday can help you to ditch the bad habits and create positive ones. 

Many people are subconsciously doing the same things day after day and not spending time to correct poor habits. If you can actively focus on becoming better and creating positive habits, your life will be much more fulfilling and purposeful. One of my favorite books on creating positive habits is called No Excuses by Brian Tracy. 

Conclusion

I hope these tips can help to expedite your process of becoming a great investor. I value personal development and love learning how I can better myself to live a more purposeful and impactful life. When Michael Jordan was asked how he became the best basketball player in the world, he said “I don’t compete with other people, I compete with me”. Adopt that same mentality and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.