Author Archive
The Art of Prescreening
Posted on September 18, 2017 byIn this article, we’re going to be discussing one of the essential skills you must possess if you’re going to be successful in this real estate (or any other) business. When you master this skill, you’ll be MUCH more efficient with your time, reduce frustration & anxiety, and keep your self-respect and motivation. Sound good?
Of Course, I’m Talking About How To Properly Pre-screen People.
We all know that the first thing we need in any business is LEADS – people who have raised their hands to signal that they’re interested in either our product or service…or are at least interested in getting more information about it. In real estate, this could simply be a list of people who either want to sell their house or buy a house. Read More→
Land Trusts! What You Need to Know to Get Started
Posted on August 10, 2017 byLand Trusts are one of the most confusing and often misunderstood aspects of real estate investing.
In this article, we’re going to discuss a few basic, essential things you should know about Land Trusts if you’re buying & selling houses, are concerned with privacy, and/or want to enhance your estate planning.
I’m often asked about these wonderful ‘things’ called Land Trusts, and the techniques & benefits that are associated with them. As a land trust expert, it’s an AMAZING feeling to have the knowledge & confidence to be able to use them correctly. Would you like to have that awesome feeling? Great! Keep reading…
There are SO many benefits you get by taking title to property in a Land Trust. Let’s look at a few of the benefits associated with these entities and WHY it’s vitally important for you to be familiar with them, shall we? Read More→
So! What Do YOU Do For a Living?
Posted on July 13, 2017 by“What do YOU do for a living?”
Those words can strike fear and paralysis in the hearts & minds of the tragically unprepared. If you’re newly in business for yourself, or have just never really gotten your head properly wrapped around HOW you should respond to this powerful question, you’re sunk. Handle it the right way, and you’ll be rewarded with confidence, respect, and a fatter bank account.
And that’s exactly what we’re going to cover in this article. So shut off your Facebook & keep reading…
It never fails. You’re out at a social event, taking a flight somewhere, or maybe you just strike up a casual conversation with someone somewhere sometime. If you’re both adults over the age of 25 or so, the question eventually comes up, “What do you do?” Read More→
The Carrot? Or the Stick? Which Do THEY Prefer? – Part 2
Posted on June 8, 2017 byIn Part One of this article, we discussed YOU and why you do the things you do. Specifically, we talked about WHY people do or don’t do things for two primary reasons: To gain pleasure or to avoid pain. This is also known as the Carrot or the Stick – the carrot is something good that we want, while the stick represents the pain we don’t want.
We also mentioned a few common things that most people in this world want/desire, like love, money, and good health as well as a few things that most people don’t want/are afraid of, like fear of missing out, getting hurt, rejection, or clowns. ;)
Finally, we talked about some stuff that you might not like – why you may not be as successful as you’d like to be, or why you don’t always do some of the things you know you should be doing.
In other words, we started with YOU. Still stuck on that? Ok, go back and read the article again. But if you’re ready to move on, let’s go… Read More→
The Carrot? Or the Stick? Which Do YOU Prefer?
Posted on May 9, 2017 byIn this article, we’re going to discuss something vitally important that may very well help you understand a LOT about yourself and everyone around you on this planet. Yes, that includes dealing with sellers, buyers, private lenders, and even those alien creatures we love to call tenants. Also-your mother, brother, father, sister, sons and daughters, uncles, best friends and distant relatives.
So You might NOT want to read this article… Unless you want to discover the secrets behind the reasons WHY people DO or DON’T Do the things they do…or don’t do.
It all comes down to TWO things. The Carrot and the Stick.
The CARROT represents something GOOD that we WANT, while the STICK represents something BAD that we DON’T want. Read More→
Unplugging… To Recharge (Revisited)
Posted on April 12, 2017 byAs I write these words, I’m overlooking the crystal-clear blue-tinged waters of the Caribbean. The boats in the marina are docked and their crews are scurrying about in preparation of the day’s activities. The weather here in Curacao (a Dutch Caribbean island just north of Venezuela) has been exquisite, as my slight sunburn indicates. It should be about 82 degrees here today, while back home it’s a balmy 30 degrees.
So, have YOU taken a vacation recently? Did you have the chance to get away and do something fun, relaxing, or otherwise fulfilling lately? If not, why not? There have been countless studies done and research conducted that prove that people who take the time to take vacations live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Google that if you don’t believe me. Or ask the guy who sold us our timeshare (I’ll get back to you about that). Read More→
The Less You SAY The More You Make: How To Get Rich by Keeping Your Big Mouth Shut!
Posted on March 8, 2017 by“Blah, blah, blah!”
That’s what we hear when most people talk. And sometimes that’s what other people hear when WE talk, too.
Have you ever noticed that most people think of what they’re going to say, rather than listen to the person who is talking? But when it comes to negotiating, that can be a HUGE mistake! Here’s why…
Let’s say you’re talking to a seller about their house, and when you ask them to describe their situation, they just seem to go on & on about how wonderful the house is, the gossip about the neighbor, how their health is failing, etc.
A lot of people will be thinking how boring or irrelevant that is, and just want to get to the numbers, or instead – talk about themselves. Am I right??
But if you do that, you might just miss out on a very important detail you need when it’s time to negotiate a decent deal with them. Read More→
Talent vs. Skill
Posted on February 9, 2017 byQuick question for you: Are you talented? Or do you have skills? THAT is the question of the day.
And before you answer that, let me define what they each mean, because it’s vitally important to know the difference between the two. :)
Then after we define the difference, we’re going to help you leverage one in order to maximize the other so that you’ll be able to get whatever you want with minimal effort. Sound good? Let’s get started…
What is TALENT? Simply put, it’s what you’re born with. Your God-given gifts. Your natural tools. For example, the ability to run really fast or sing extremely well. Other examples would include being mathematically-inclined, naturally charismatic, graceful & coordinated, or naturally artistic. Read More→
“I Can Tell By The TONE of Your VOICE!” Aka Ninja Influence
Posted on January 11, 2017 byLast month, we talked about the words we use and how powerful they are. This month, we’re going to take it to the next level.
So there’s a famous study that was done a while ago by Dr. Albert Mehrabian, that showed that only 7% of our communication is conveyed through words, 38% is from our vocal tonality, and the rest (55%) is through ‘nonverbal elements,’ such as your posture, gestures, and facial expressions.
Based on what I wrote in my last article, I believe that our words represent a lot more than only 7%, but that’s not what this article is going to be about. No, in this article, we’re going to get into that other stuff – specifically: Tonality – HOW we say what we say.
Call me crazy for trying to write about something you HEAR. Obviously, this would be a lot easier for me to demonstrate in a video, or on an audio recording. But we don’t have that luxury here, so I’ll just have to flex my writin’ skills! Read More→
The Words We Use
Posted on December 8, 2016 bySTOP what you’re doing and read this. I promise that it’s worth it.
You have more power in you than you know. Right now, you have the ability to change someone’s life, starting with your own. And starting now – in this moment – you’re about to learn some secrets that can produce powerful results for you.
The “Big Secret” is this: The words you choose to use every day are vitally important. To you and everyone around you.
Words have power. They have the power to uplift. They have the ability to motivate, to inspire, to elicit emotion. Words can make someone laugh, cry, or smile.
For example: A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Why the long face?” LOL Read More→
Fail Forward – FAST!
Posted on November 9, 2016 byHey, guess what? I Want You to FAIL!
“Say what now? Fail? But failure is a bad thing, right? That’s what they taught me in school…AND in my job! And all my friends make fun of each other when we fail.”
Yes. Exactly. So what?
I’d like you to think back to when you were a kid. Everything was new to you in the world. You really had to learn things for yourself… How to eat, drink, think, walk, talk, and interact with stuff, right? If you can’t remember any of that, just watch kids.
Have you ever watched a kid learn how to walk? They fall down a lot, don’t they? But here’s the truly interesting thing: They don’t stay down. They don’t listen to their well-meaning friends who laugh at them, and they don’t care what grade they get.
No, they stand up, wobble around a bit, and fall down. Then they stand up again, wobble some more, then put one foot out and take a step! Read More→
Having FUN While Getting it DONE!
Posted on October 10, 2016 byWelcome back! In last month’s article, we discussed how it seems like there are a lot of people who are having a really hard time taking the action they need to take in order to have success. Based on my experience & observations, I theorized that a big reason for this is not just because of the inherent fears that people have, but also because many people seem to believe that the actions they need to take are going to be painful, or at the very least – not fun.
So we began by talking about one of the most common activities that a lot of people seem to have challenges with: Talking on the Phone with Sellers and other people! The first thing that needs to happen is to change your mindset before you even begin to make your calls.
The last thing we discussed was how to use a cheap, simple kitchen tool (a 3-minute hourglass egg timer) to determine whether the person with whom you’re talking is going to waste your time or not. Go back to last month’s publication and re-read that if necessary.
Now, in this article, we’re going to finish up by learning some cool new tips on how to make taking the actions that you know you should be taking a lot more FUN! Ready? Ok, here we go… Read More→
Having a Hard Time Taking Action? Let’s Make it FUN Instead!
Posted on September 7, 2016 byEvery week, I have the pleasure of mentoring some wonderful people who are in the process of mastering the art of real estate investing. We work on the basics of marketing, making offers, talking to sellers & buyers, deal structuring, how to write up contracts, etc.
Once the essential elements and techniques are understood, a game plan has been developed, and the student knows WHAT to do & HOW to do it, the only thing left to do at that point is to…TAKE ACTION!
And this is often where the problems occur. Taking action. Why is that part so hard for so many people?
Could it be that we’re afraid of the unknown? Or maybe because we think that we have to give up something we hold dear in order to be successful? Or perhaps it’s the fear of success itself that holds so many people back?
Whatever the case, I’ve noticed that it’s a real issue that truly stands in the way of potentially massive, life-changing experiences and success. Read More→
What’s It Gonna Take? How to Finally End Procrastination & Take Action!
Posted on August 9, 2016 byThis article was not easy to write. In fact, it was one of the more challenging articles I’ve written in a while. Why? Because it deals with something that’s not easy for us to talk about: The reason why most people don’t take the action they know they should so that they can have the success they say they want to have.
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. It’s an old-school, classic, tried-and-true principle: If you want to have success, you’ve got to work hard to make it happen. And hard work means taking action.
Why do you think most people don’t take the action that needs to be taken? I believe it comes down to two things: 1. Lack of Knowledge, or 2. Abundance of Fear. Read More→
Hungry? Have Yourself a Nice Communication Sandwich!
Posted on June 8, 2016 byYou’re going to learn something very useful by reading this article.
This “something” is so valuable that you might want to use it for the rest of your life.
But before you learn what it is, let me start by saying…
The older I get, the more I realize things.
While that statement/observation could apply to just about anything…or anybody, I’d like to use this article to point out how it relates to people’s everyday communication skills.
We live in an age of instant information…yet people these days don’t seem to have any patience to communicate properly. We abbreviate stuff, like lol, brb, and wtf.
We text. We Tweet. We post. We share, and we like. What’s up with all the cat videos?
With so much information all around us, bombarding our everyday lives, it’s easy to understand why we need to curtail our communication. We just don’t seem to have the time to talk with most people the way we used to. Read More→
Magic Websites to Find Motivated Sellers – for FREE!
Posted on May 10, 2016 byEveryone knows that the first thing we need to do to be successful in real estate investing is to find the Holy Grail of real estate: The Motivated Seller.
And when it comes to finding that beautiful motivated seller, there’s essentially two options: FREE and PAID. Another way of saying that: TIME or MONEY.
Obviously, if you have more money than time, you’ll have more choices at your disposal. Direct Mail is most likely your highest & best choice. Hiring someone to find those motivated sellers for you would be another great option. But this article is NOT about those options. We’ll save that for another time.
No, THIS article is for those of you without the means to pay much for your marketing. This article is for those of you who are currently ‘financially challenged’ (another way of saying broke), or who have more time than money AT THE MOMENT. Read More→
How To Get Anything You Want From Life
Posted on April 13, 2016 byI almost didn’t write this article. What you’re about to discover is so profoundly – yet simply – powerful, that if you truly understand and apply these simple secrets, I can practically guarantee such phenomenal personal and financial growth over the next few months that you won’t even recognize the dynamic person you’re about to become!
Yes, these secrets are that powerful. But don’t just take my word for it. Read, learn, and apply. Then find out for yourself! Keep reading…
Now, before we get into “The Big Secret” and all that, we first have to understand something. And it all begins with you asking yourself a question. I’d like you to honestly ask yourself this: “Why don’t I have some of the things I desire from life yet?”
Why aren’t you in perfect shape? Why don’t you live in that awesome house yet? Why isn’t your bank account as big as you’d like it to be? Why do you still feel guilt? Stress? Anxiety? Why aren’t you driving the exact car you’d like to drive?
What answer did you come up with? What reasons did you give? Did you blame some outside circumstance or situation? Was it your parents’ fault? Was it Obama? Oh yeah – it was the market! Or maybe it was “The Man” keeping you down, right? Read More→
How to Master Your ADHD: Turning a Weakness Into a Strength
Posted on March 9, 2016 byIt’s a LOT more common than you might think. Many doctors label it as a ‘disease,’ and often prescribe medication as a way to make their patients feel “normal” (whatever that is).
It can drive teachers crazy, and make many seemingly normal people feel like there’s something wrong with them.
Of course I’m talking about ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Did you know that it’s a very common trait among entrepreneurs??
So if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you feel affected by it – or might know someone close to you who is. Read on…
The typical ways that this can affect you include: Having trouble focusing on one thing at a time; Constantly getting distracted by things or people; Having challenges getting back to what you were working on before you got distracted, and so on… Read More→
Squeeze Page Madness!! A Quick Guide to Setting Up Your First Squeeze Page – Part 3
Posted on February 9, 2016 byA Quick Guide to Setting Up Your First Squeeze Page – Part 3
Welcome Back…Again! We’ve been talking about Squeeze Pages – what they are, why you should care, and why they work so well. In the last issue, we covered why Squeeze Pages work so well, the required elements of one, and what it should look like. I even gave you an example of one of my kick-butt headlines that worked like gangbusters! So this month, we’ll close things out nicely, but start it off here:
What You Need To Make Your Squeeze Page
There’s a few basic, required things you’ll need in order to make your Squeeze Page work. These items include: Read More→
Squeeze Page Madness!! A Quick Guide to Setting Up Your First Squeeze Page – Part 2
Posted on January 12, 2016 byWelcome Back! If you’re just joining us, we’re talking about what Squeeze Pages are in the wonderful world of Internet Marketing. In the last issue, we covered what the heck a Squeeze Page IS & why you should care. In this issue, we’re picking up where we left off, staring with…
Why Do Businesses Use Squeeze Pages & Why Are They So Powerful?
Let’s use that example of the restaurant giving away a free dessert or appetizer. They would usually sell that item for $4-$9, right? But then what? They drop the check, collect their money & say good-bye to the customer… Hoping that they’ll come back someday soon.
These days, that’s not enough anymore! If a business is not collecting & building a list of their prospects & customers, they’re missing out on a HUGE opportunity to follow up and maintain communication with them! During that process, they can provide value and build a better relationship with their list. Read More→
