Life Or Fiction?

I've been playing the game Cashflow 101 a lot lately. If you are unaware, Cashflow 101 is a game that was created by Robert Kiyosaki to use as a tool for teaching the general public about investing. But can a game really teach how to invest in the real life?

Mr Kiyosaki's game as a few advantages. Firstly as described in the cone of learning, there are a few ways of learning, each with different success. The study shows that we retain less in passive forms of learning such as reading, listening to a lecture, to watching a demonstration as oppose to an active form of learning such as giving a talk, simulation to doing the real thing.

The best way to learn is by doing the real thing. But if we are uneducated, there can be serious risks in trying to learn to invest by trial and error. Which is the next best advantage of the game, it provides a safe environment to simulate deals in investing. That is the reason, Cashflow 101, is used as a training tool.

You start by randomly selecting a "life", you may be a Doctor to a Mechanic. Your income and expenses will vary depending on your job. Although a Doctor as a much higher income, he also as substantial student debts and lives in a more expensive house then the Mechanic. Very much like real life. We tend to live at the extreme of our means. When our income increases, so does our style of living.

From there we fill out a financial statement to match the "life" we picked. Even when they were deeply into debt, Robert and his wife Kim, always employed the use of an accountant to know what there exact financial situation was. When facing difficult financial times, most of us try to ignore the issues and hope things will work out. Robert and Kim chose to look at the problem head on in order to find a solution.

The game start in the inner circle called the rat race. As described by Wikepidia:

A rat race is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. It conjures up the image of the futile efforts of a lab rat trying to escape while running around a maze or in a wheel. In an analogy to the modern city, many rats in a single maze expend a lot of effort running around, but ultimately achieve nothing (meaningful) either collectively or individually. This is often used in reference to work. 

We work hard long hours for the goal of a paycheck. We then spend that paycheck to acquirer the things we need or want and then have to do it all over again to maintain that life style. That is an honorable way of living. The only problem is that if something happens and the employment is terminated for whatever the reason, it becomes impossible to maintain our life style. Many of us, following this life style, will never be fully prepared to retire, let alone retire comfortably.

The goal of the game is to escape the rat race by becoming financially independence. To accomplish that, the player needs to accumulate enough passive income to cover their total expenses. Passive income will come in the form of the cashflow of rental properties and/or businesses.

When someone new starts to play cashflow for the first time, they automatically play the game the same way they live their lives. Non-investors concentrate on small deals and only use the cash they have on hand to secure investment. In that manner, they will probably be able to secure a few small investments but they would need to play for a very long time in order to secure enough for their financial independence. In comparison to real life, if following that tactics, the course of our professional life will have ended before accumulating the necessary cashflow. Although, any passive income is good and will offer some financial relief.

The more they play, new players will discover that in order to exit the rat race, they will need to acquirer more capital to purchase the deals or to get comfortable with debt. Very much like investing in real life. Robert Kiyosaki as made using debt very uncomfortable by making the interest rate at 10% a month. That's right, a month! That would be 120% a year. That portion of the game is a little unrealistic, but the purpose of this is to get the players to really confront their fear of debt. The biggest obstacle in being successful investors is our mindset, and fear and doubt will keep our mindset on the wrong side of the quadrant (see this past post to learn more about the different cashflow quadrant).

I have taken many different investment courses now, in both the financial market (stocks) and for real estate investing. Still, I try to play the Cashflow game weekly. You see, seeking financial freedom and embracing debt to reach that goal if very much against the normal way of thinking. I use the Cashflow game as a way to keep my mind sharp in figuring out creative solution to acquire investment deals, as well as keeping my  mindset on the right track.

I strongly recommend you play the game as often as you can. Change the rules around a little to keep the play interesting and challenging. You may want to join a Cashflow Club. They can be found in almost every city around the world.

Inspirational Corner: Pain or Passion

Last fall I met a fellow student that had bought real estate investing courses. He was very excited and nervous about the new endeavour. His current position at work was about to be dissolved and the future was unsure.

Lately, I found out he quit investing in real estate all together. I was surprised. He had seemed so motivated. Turns out he was no longer at risk of losing his job. With that he lost his motivation. His partner however kept going. In less then a year he as wholesaled fourteen deals. He's doing amazing!! Even seeing first hand such success wasn't enough to have my friend re-invest his time into real estate.

There is only two things that motivate us. Pain or Passion. That's it.

Sometimes, life happens and we end up in a corner. We either push ourselves out of it or succumb to the circumstances. People have accomplished incredible things when there was no other way.

Or if you desire something enough, that it's always on your mind, you'll do what it takes to obtain it.

When pain is your motivation, to keep the momentum going the source of motivation would need to eventually change to passion, Because pain doesn't last. That's the reason we should concentrate on the WHY, what you wish to accomplish. Passion will not burn forever, it needs to be cultivated. Purposely kept in focus.

Pictures from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Inspirational Corner: In Time

Have you seen the movie In Time?

In this movie, people have discovered a way to live for eternity. All they need is to have time. In fact TIME as become the new currency.

There is still a big gap between the poor and the rich. The poor live day by day hoping they will find, earn or steal more time in order to survive the next day. Every expenses is closely monitored as a simple bus ride could make you run out of time. The poor do everything quickly since time is everything and they are in short supply. The rich have a distinct relax pace since they have a few life times worth of time.

I found it interesting, the importance we place on money is very much as the importance the movie placed on time. The only people constantly concern with money are those who are always on the brink of running out. Closely keeping track of pay dates and account balance. For those who money is not an issue, they concentrate their energy on the relationship in their life instead.

Wouldn't you want to not have to worry about running out of time? We all have the same ability to educate ourselves in money matters. Learn to become financially independent and take control of your time.

Inspirational Corner: Mondays

I attended an event and there was a group discussion on how a real estate investor fills his or her day. One comment in particular stood out to me.

This particular gentleman's neighbour was financially free. He noticed him mowing his law on a Monday afternoon. He said, "I'm trying to fit in all of my chores and my entertainment on the two days that are allowed to me (weekend), and here is my neighbour doing the same chores in the middle of a week day"

The term "Weekend" is not in the vocabulary of the financially free. - Kim Kiyosaki

One of the most freeing feeling of not having a nine to five J.O.B. is that when all of my friends and family on facebook post on Sunday all of those depressing pictures of the next day being Monday, it does not matter to me. Monday is just an other day just the same as Sunday for me.

Financial freedom is more then just having money issues taken care of. It's also the freedom of your time, to use as you choose. To mow the law in the middle of the week on a sunny afternoon if you so choose.

Inspirational Corner: Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

In my line of work I come across a lot of financial independent people. They are nothing special, simple the same as the rest of us. They do seem to be more relaxed and overall a little happier. How can this be, money doesn't buy you happiness. This weekend I was working with such a person and she had a great way of explaining. Out of the 100% of stress in life, 80% of it can be resolved with money. So if you've educated yourself about money and it is no longer an issue, you can use a 100% of you energy to resolve the 20% of stress left in your life which is the stuff that really matter. That would be your relationships with your friends and family and such matters.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to see the bight side of life in all situation because such a large portion of life's stress at been taken care of.

Inspirational Corner: Single Parents

I am very fortunate! I have great kids and an amazing husband. But even though my kids are great, they are time when motherhood gets difficult. My oldest love to have things his way, and loves to argue when he doesn't get it. It's been great to have my husband to back me up or to be tagged in if I need a break.

Single parents, like my sister, do not get that option to tag out. Unless the kids are sleeping, there is no downtime. I tip my hat to all of those men and women.

Some single parents out there are also dealing with the added stress that is thrown at them from the other parent. Some parents, although could not make things work out with each other still make a great team when it comes to parenting their children. But sometimes we have a parent lash out to the other through the child. I've seen single parents that although are been put through hell by the other parent, only speak well of them in front of their children. To those single parents, I bow down to you.

To my sister Jinny, my friend Leslie and to all single parents out there, I bow to your strength.

Inspirational Corner: Show Me The Money

I was talking to someone about education for real estate investing. He was concern about the high cost of the courses up front, which is a legit concern. He was also concern about the amount of the presentation that was spent on motivation, he said my motivation is "Show Me The Money", the presentation should be about showing the money. I asked if he meant an example on paper. He said no, helping us to make a deal and prove that you can make money.

Here is the main problem with that, as far as I'm concern. If you are looking to learn to become a real estate investor and you can only be motivated by the money you make you will never be successful.

If you are unable to keep yourself motivated during the learning process, or during mistakes you have made, you will never reach a level where you can be successful. You will quit at the first hurdle. That is why to have a high success rate for a real estate investing education company, the screening process should cut out the non motivated. Their likeliness of success is low and they might as well save their money.

Inspirational Corner: Tanner Bros. Ice Cold Lemonade

The lemonade stand as been the business that started it all for a lot of entrepreneur. It's the perfect kid's business. It's great when parents will get involve and support their children's introduction to entrepreneurship by helping them make a stand and by being their best customers. This morning I came across a lemonade stand business brought into the digital ages.

The Tanner Bros. Ice Cold Lemonade business as it's own facebook page. Informing it's followers of when their stand is open for business and when they close due to supply depletion.

These parents have inspired me to look outside the box when it comes to the traditional kid run business. What a perfect way to teach our children about marketing, supply and demand, and so on. I hope it also inspires other parents out there to do the same for their kids. Lets give them an advantage into the real world of business.

Inspirational Corner: Shin & Chan Kawaguchi

This week for Inspirational Corner, I would like to talk about a couple that are a great source of inspiration to me. They are the perfect success example for the Rich Dad Education courses for real estate investing.

Shin and Chan Kawaguchi sign up with Rich Dad Education in April of 2012. In their first year they completed fifteen real estate deals. They didn't waste any time, and they seized opportunities where they found them. In fact their first real estate deal after the classes was with a modular home that they got under contract for nothing. That's right $0. They covered the cost for mobile home park until they could sell it to a new buyer.

Their second deal was a flip. This deal was one where they got to learn a lot. They had decided to handle the renovation themselves. They quickly discovered the disadvantage of taking on such a project. Although they had partners to share the work load, having all their free time tied up in this project was getting in the way of other opportunities that would come their way. Unfortunately, when deciding to get a contractor and leaving the hiring to their partner, they also discovered the additional trouble that can be associated with hiring mediocre help. The flip was still a success and the property looked amazing in the end.

Like great investors, they learned from their misfortunes and applied what they learned to their future deals.

Shin left is work as an engineer of eight years and is now investing in real estate full time. He said it's taking a while for that to sink in, it is still feeling like an extended vacation to him. They are also expecting their first baby. What a great gift for that child to be born in a family where both parents can be present. And what a big help for the new mother to have her husband available to offer a helping hand when the adjustment to the new life can be the hardest.

If you would like to find out a little more about Shin and Chan's first real estate deal you can view the past Q&A with a real estate investor taped on July 30th 2013 HERE.

I am excited to see what else this amazing couple will be accomplishing because they are well on their way for great things.

Inspirational Corner: Daily Motivation

Motivation doesn't last. I know, neither does bathing; you have to do it daily. 

Every day you should work on your motivation. It's easy to lose the drive, to take a break. But if you do, it's twice as hard to restart. So how do you keep yourself motivated when you are starting to fade? Here are 16 tips to stay motivated and on track.

1. One Goal: If we try to accomplish too much at one time, we will feel overwhelmed. We will suck our motivation and energy dry. Concentrate on one goal and one task at a time.

2. Inspiration: Seek out inspiration. People who have accomplished what you seek to do or who are on the same path as you are great source of inspiration. Seek them out, read their blogs, books, or magazine articles.

3. Get Excited: That can be a tough one. How to you get excited when you lost your motivation. Well by seeking inspiration from other in tip #2 build on it. Visualize yourself and situation once you have accomplished and succeeded your goal. Talk about it and get excited about it.

4. Build Anticipation: Plan your starting point. Mark it on a calendar, plan for what your first actions steps will be and build the anticipation. You could just start today, but the chances are you would stop just as easily. But by building up the anticipation, making your starting date important, carefully planning you plan of action you are increasing you chances of success.

5. Post Your Goal: Print you goal, just a few words in big letter and post it where you will see it regularly. At home and at work. This will help you keep focused and the excitement high.

6. Commit Publicly: Nobody wants to look bad in front of people. If you share your goal with others you will be more likely to stick to it just so that you don't have to tell them you didn't accomplish it. But what a satisfaction it would be to let them know you've reached your goal and succeeded it.

7. Think About It Daily: We have started to accomplish that by posting your goal. Dedicate a portion of time everyday to your goal. Actively think about your goal and what you are doing to reaching it.

8. Get Support: You will be more likely to succeed with a support group behind you. There is no reason you have to go at it alone. You will be more likely to burn out that way. Seek out people who will support your goal and/or are achieving to complete the same one. They can be either in the real world, online or both.

9. Realize Motivation Will Come And Go: Motivation is like a tide, it will come and it will go. Be aware of this so that when your motivation is low you will know it will come back. Keep on task, continue to think of your goal and to seek out to your support group.

10. Stick With It: Do not quit. Even when your motivation is low but sure to keep moving forward. When your motivation is high go full speed ahead. Be sure to keep going don't give up.

11. Start Small, Really Small: The grand view of your goal may be so big that it will be intimidating and scare you off. Don't be overwhelm on all that there is to accomplish. Start with small task for now, and slowly grow from there.

12. Build On Small Success: Take the time to acknowledge your small success, and take that feeling of accomplishment and move forward with you next small goal.

13. Read About It Everyday: To help keep you motivation high read about the topic of your goal daily (books, blog or magazine). Be careful that what you read is positive and about your specific topic.

14. Call For Help When Your Motivation Diminish: The best thing you can do when your motivation is low is to call for help. Reach out to someone and get to the point "I'm loosing my motivation, help me out". Feel free to email me if you feel a slump coming on.

15. Focus On The Benefits, Not The Difficulties: Where your focus is aimed will have a big impact on your motivation. If you focus on the hurdles in your way over the benefit of overcoming them, your journey will seem harder even though the task to be accomplished would be the same.

16. Squash The Negative Thoughts With Positive One: Become self-aware of negative self talk. When you start noticing your inner chatter is negative, mentally stop yourself and replace it with a positive one. If you catch yourself thinking "This is so hard" replace it with "I can do this".

I hope these tips helps you stay motivated. One last advice, on your facebook page "like" Zig Ziggler, Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki. Every day they post motivational quotes and pictures. Might as well pepper your life with random motivation.

Inspirational Corner: Katie O'Brien

Some of you may have attended the 2013 Fast Track Rich Dad Advisor Event  in Edmonton back in April. You would have had the pleasure to hear Katie speak. Katie is currently working with Rich Dad Education and is a Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor as well as a Stock Investor as well as Gold and Silver.

Katie took her first courses in 2007 with Wealth Intelligence with Russ Whitney. Rich Dad was not yet integrated into Canada at that time. She took a more entrepreneurial approach and started a vending machine business. She increased her credit card balances every six months and regularly applied for new credit cards as she was taught in her courses to fund her new business (she is still regularly contacting her credit card companies to increase her borrowing power).

A few months later, she was asked to join the with the Wealth Intelligent Academy when they merging with Rich Dad. She took on a management role in the Preview division. She set her personal goal to obtain up to ten credit cards. She purchased her first home using RRSP for her 5% deposit, this property was meant to be her first rental but due to changes in circumstances she ended up moving in. She attended a quick visit to the UK were she met with "Women In Wealth". She was inspired by them and reassured that she was on the right track.

In 2009 she organized an interview with Robert to discuss Canadian economics to spread Robert's knowledge in the Canadian market and economic. During that time she was also dealing with Still's disease (a form of juvenile arthritis). She was equally scared of both the state of her health and her upcoming interview with Robert. She had been told by the assistant that she should expect to have 15 minutes of his time. The interview ended up lasting 4 hours. Katie was a long time fan and close follower of the Rich Dad Philosophy. He asked Katie to also interview him again along with Kim. He took the time to do this during the Rich Dad Conference in Orlando Florida. Katie was awed by Robert's and Kim's connection and bond to each other.


Katie has pretty much worked in every role with the Rich Dad Education company in Canada. She is guided with her motivation to inspirer people to grow and to be able to live the life that they really want. To see them overcome their adversities when they believe they can't.

Life is not about perfection, life is about progression and I am okay with not being perfect (her disease is presenting a lot of limitation to her physical life). In twenty years, you will still find me on the stage, still not perfect but I would have progressed. - Katie O'Brien

Inspirational Corner: Misook

I was thinking of what I wanted to post about for today. So I thought to myself, what inspire me? and then it was clear. My classmates! Other Rich Dad students. Keeping in touch with them, rejoicing in their successes and learning from their hardship is one of my biggest motivation. There are a few who's story have been truly inspirational for me.

Such a person is Misook. She moved to Canada from Korea in 1998. She didn't know the culture, and very little of the language. Her determination and hard work as made her thrive regardless. By the year 2000 she bought her own home. She was telling about that experience one day; she didn't have credit in Canada. The money she made from her work she kept in cash or sent home to help support her family back in Korea. She was determined to buy the house and when from bank to bank until a bank manager kindly took her under her wing. She explained to Misook that firstly she should not be walking around with so much money in cash and sent her to a "B" lender.

I can imagine that the interest was astronomical but Misook was proud that she had bough her first home. That is something that some Canadians will never accomplish in their whole life. I didn't know Misook back then but I am also proud of her for that accomplishment. Later on she sold her property and bought a new house in Sylvain Lake in 2005.

She signed up with Rich Dad Education in April 2012. Took her first course in May. In the first seven months she attended eight courses. Looking back now, she admits that it may have been too much too fast and if she was to do it again she would probably give herself more time in between.

She took the lease option course in October of 2012 and had her first deal set up in December of that year. That's amazing!!! She as been concentrating on lease option/rent to own ever since been active in finding tenant buyers and placing offers. In fact she was sending in an offer just today.

I feel I should mention that Misook is not going at this alone. Her husband, Jon, as been supporting her in her education and lease option business all along. They make a great team and I consider myself very lucky to be able to consider them both friends.

If you wish to know more about Misook's rent to own business, please contact me and I will forward you her information.

Inspirational Corner: Are You About To Throw In The Towel?

It is so easy to throw in the towel, in fact you probably won't even notice you have. You'll just slowly dwindle into inactivity. To keep going towards achieving your goal it's a commitment, it's work. It is a lot easier to throw in the towel because there is really no throwing involve. It's just a lack of activity. You simply stop trying, or slowly trying less and less as you go.

So have a look at your dedication and motivation, is it still there? Are you still doing what needs to be done to move forward towards your goal? Are you loosing momentum?

The most important thing to keeping your motivation and momentum going is simply realising if it's dwindled.

So I invite you to take a moment and evaluate your situation. Are you still on track?

Inspirational Corner: Organization

At the very best, I can only consider my organizing type as organized chaos. But lately it's been only chaos. My desk as become a dumbing zone for school papers, receipts, notes, books; you name it, it was on that desk.

It's almost July now, so half way through the year, and I've yet to do any bookkeeping for 2013. Not only that but I notice that is slows down my productivity a lot. I had been using my lap top in the living room since there was no room on my desk and the distraction have definitely been there.

So today, I decided to regain control. It took almost all day, but I can now see my desk. In fact I'm posting this post from my laptop that is sitting comfortably onto the desk. I still have three piles of paper to go through but my Real Estate pile is done.

I don't know how you are filing your paperwork, but here are a few folders I have.

• Numbers to be run
• Pending offers
• Rejected offers

For each purchased properties I have

• Mortgage
• Insurance
• Purchase contract / negotiation
• Leases
• Property Management

For each corporations I have

• Legal document
• Bank statements
• Invoice/receipts

Then other odd folders

• Investors
• Tenant Buyers
• Invoice/Receipts to be paid
• Invoice/Receipts to be scanned

I also put all paperwork on past accepted deals that didn't pan out together with a cover sheet with any notes about the deal. What went wrong, what should be changed in the future is anything and so on.

Now that I can clearly see all that I have accomplished in the past, it makes me feels like I've been slacking off a little in the present. I've created a new To Do List and I seem rejuvenated and ready to go.

This is what my desk felt like:

This is what I wish it looked like:

But this is what it actually is (by the way BIG improvement from this morning):

Inspirational Corner: A Leopard Can't Change His Spots

I wish I was rich.

How many people has said that? Or maybe I wish I had more money. I've heard people say that again and again. Well then, be rich! Wait a minute, its not that easy!! Oh?

I work for Rich Dad Education at the 3 day basic events. We offer classes in stock trading and real estate investing. People attend our events because they want to make more money for whatever the reason. So you would think they would come to our class and all buy our courses since they want to be richer.

Well no, they don't, in fact only a small percentage of people will actually go forward. Some don't even bother attending all 3 days. So why would that be? Didn't they want to be richer? Well no they don't.... not really. They do not want to be richer, they wish they were richer. There is a big difference. The difference between wishing and wanting is the doing. If you truly want something, you will take action.

Which one are you? A wisher or a wanter? Are you taking action? If you find you are a wisher, that's okay. This is the path I have chosen to take, it's not for everyone. If you know you will not be willing to be taking the actions required to make it all the way to your goal; then don't.

Of course this applies to everything you "wish" to accomplish in life. You simply need to see if you are a wisher and a wanter.

Inspirational Corner: Money, The Source Of All Evil?

You know, when people find out financial freedom is my goal, I get mixed reaction. Most have their eyes glaze over, and a barely polite smile come across their features. To them, I'm discussing the most boring subject in the world. Ugh, finance!

Others are excited to hear about it, and are interested to hear more.

The rest, seems surprise and disappointed. They didn't realise I was evil. Because I must be evil since money is the source of all evil and I am trying to get more money.

They would believe more in working very hard for  what you get, and that you should always work hard for it. Trust me, I understand working hard, we are running a farm after all but what happens when work is no longer an option?

It's at this time that all this hard work should pay off and your start getting a pension. The problem with that is our population is getting older, and we are running out of working class to cover pensions. In fact it is no longer reliable.

When I say my goal is to be financially independent I don't mean that I wish to have seven mansions all over the world and yachts and a private jet. If that is what you want, go ahead. But to be financially independent all I need is enough passive income that will cover my living expenses. So that when I'm in a position where I can no longer work, I will still be self-reliable. I will not be a burden to the economy by demanding expensive services that the country simply can not afford not will I be an added weight to my relative.

If you learn to be financially independent, I view it as been responsible towards your country and your family.

Inspirational Corner: Inner Chatter, Is It Positive?

A fellow investor contacted me a while ago, excited about his plan of action. He partnered with an other investor and they got together and both wrote down their goals and plan of action. They agreed to keep each other accountable by being in touch once a week and going over what they wrote down.

I sent them both a message today to touch base and see how it was going. He never answered me, but she did. She said she was doing good and moving in the right direction; but confirmed that she hasn't been able to get in touch with her partner for their weekly follow up.

So what happend? Well it is my belief that it was cold feet. Once it comes to taking action it's easy to let our fears and insecurities take over. Negativity seeps in and cripples us into inaction.

Have you ever notice the inner chatter that occurs when you are about to do something that makes you nervous? Your toughs repeated in your mind becomes the behaviour. In a real estate investing, let's say you are about to send in an offer.

"Oh my, what am I doing? Is this really a good deal? Is my offer too high? It is too high! I bet it's too high and I'm about to get a bad deal. Or what if it's too low? Maybe it's too low and they'll refuse it and I'll loose the deal. Oh my, maybe I shouldn't be doing this"

 This is what I would consider to be negative inner chatter. You would be talking yourself out of the deal based only on your fears. Take control!! When the inner dialogue starts, control it's outcome. We ARE in control of our own thoughts. Use that control.

"Oh my, what am I doing? I'm about to send in an offer. All is good. I've run the numbers and they are good. I have properly set up my contract so that I have all my protective stops in place. If it's accepted I am ready to move forward. I know what I need to do. If it's rejected, I'm ready to move on to the next deal. I'm in control"



Did you notice the difference? Of course this applies to all aspect of our life. Some of us have been working on being positive, it's become a second nature to squash any negativity with controlled positive thinking. Some of us will need more practise, and our toughs will return to its negative ways again and again. Just be sure to be self aware and to purposely redirect your thoughts.

If we let negativity control our minds it will also control our life. And just like my friend, when it comes to taking the actions to attain our goals and dream, we will talk ourselves into inactivity.

Inspirational Corner: Courage

At this point, if you have been reading my blog, you understand why mutual funds is not a good investment. Yet that is probably the majority of your investment portfolio. Along with most investors.

So why do we do it? Well because it gives us a false sense of security, it is something we know and understand. It is also something that we do not hold the reins. I think we feel more comfortable the least amount of responsibility we hold. Have you ever driven in a blizzard but felt relief because someone else was driving. The road condition where not any better, and your likelihood of crashing just as high; but that was on someone else's shoulders.

What we have learnt to do is a very sophisticated type of investing. Which is what we are suggesting you do as well. We suggest you take a hold of the wheel and get onto the treacherous road and be accountable for your financial future. Scary! I know, because we are doing it.

It's easier to be courageous when you are in a situation where there is no other options. You dedication to what you are trying to accomplish is pushed upon you. There is no other way. However it is a whole other situation when you choose to be courageous.

I describe our journey like cliff jumping. While on the ledge you just get enough "education" to know where to jump to avoid hitting the rocks, then you jump before you scare yourself out of it. I hope you can become your own motivation to make the necessary changes to accomplish what you need to do to reach your goals and dreams.

 

Inspirational Corner: Celebrate Your Success And Failures

Failures, unfortunately is a part of learning and growing. We have been conditioned to see failures of any kind as bad. In school if we got a question wrong we had points deducted. Pushing us towards perfection.

I once heard Robert Kiyosaki talk about learning to water ski. For four days he would get in the water grab the rope and fall in the water. On the fifth day, he rose above the water and water skied. A lady that was listening to his story commented "I wouldn't tell that to people." She is conditioned to see the failure first. And the fact that Robert spent four days falling in the water to her, far outweighs the fact that he succeeded at learning to water ski.

In stock trading, when we started to learn how to trade, we aim to have successful trade 60% of the time. So that means 40% of the time our trades will fail. At first it was disheartening to see all the failed trades that you tend to try and force a winning trade resulting in more loosing trades. It took us a long time to manage our emotions over the loosing trades.

In real estate, it's important to always be in a position where you are not forcing a deal. The seller has the problem, you are simply trying to resolve it for them. If you get in a position where you really want for the trade to work, you will make poor decisions.

It is also very important to look at your failures and analyse them. I've discovered through my failed deals that I need to work on my presentation skills, and that I need to broaden my network. If instead I would have seen my failures as a shameful event, I would not evaluate it and I would not learn from it.

So going forward, celebrate your success but be sure to also celebrate your failures so that you may learn and grow from them.

Inspirational Corner: Negative People In Your Life

Ever heard the saying "You are who you surround yourself with"? Ever notice how you are always down when the people surrounding you are constantly depressed.

When Adam was in surgery for his wrists. We were told that the surgery would take two and a half hours. Four hours into the surgery I had a friend call me to see how Adam was doing. I explained that he was still in surgery and that I liked to think they where just doing an extra good job putting his wrists back together. She said "Melanie, you need to prepare for the worst! He could DIE"

"..."

I said "Okay I have to go now." I know that she felt, she was being helpful. But that was not what I needed to hear. She is the kind of person, that will always plan, prepare and expect the worst. She sees the gloom in every situation. Most of our conversation includes the words "It's so hard!"

It was at that time that I knew I would be cutting her out of my life. Not obviously or hurtfully. I just simply didn't initiates the calls, I took a step back and let that friendship dwindle a little bit. I knew we had months of recovery ahead of us. Moral was going to be low enough with just dealing with the situation and I didn't want to contaminate our life with any extra negativity.

Take a look at the people in your life. Who is the one that always cheers you up and that is always smiling. That will point out the good side of any events. That is who you want close to you.

Take a closer look, who sees the gloom everywhere. Who will come running at the sign of hardship and starts complaining about life. You may want to create a little more space between that person. If that person is you; you may want to start paying close attention to your inner thoughts.

It is my belief that we control our own thoughts. If they are negative, be aware, give yourself a mental shake and seek the positive side of the situation.

It is like the Cherokee legend "Two Wolf"

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."