If You Want to Shoot for the Stars You Might Have to Jump!

Your success in real estate investing is waiting on you, but in order to capitalize on it you have to take action.  So what’s holding you back?  Is it fear – of failure, success, or the process – or does a lack of knowledge of how to start have you glued to your chair?  If any of these issues is holding you back, keep reading because I want to help get you moving so you can reach all of your dreams.

One of the most important factors impacting your self-confidence is acknowledging that you bring specific talents and unique gifts to the investing table.  You may not be far enough along in your investing career to know what they are.  If this is the case, sit down with a pen and paper and list your talents and gifts.  Write them all down.  Each one can be utilized in very practical ways as you advance through your investing career.  It’s always a good idea to know what you’re good at – and to have an idea of areas you could use some improvement.

Your strengths are critical to your success, so make note of them.  Whenever possible, utilize your strengths.  If you discover that one of your strengths is your empathetic nature or that you’re really good at establishing rapport with people, use it every chance you get.  I’m not saying you should lay it on so thick that you make people sick.  Instead, use your strengths appropriately and correctly, but definitely use them.

If you’re honest with yourself, you also know there are areas that can use some improvement.  Instead of looking at these areas as weaknesses, look instead for opportunities to improve.  If meeting new people makes you feel ill, put yourself into social and business situations that will demand that you meet new people.  At first you may need to limit these meetings to very brief interactions, but over time, you’ll get better at the process.  Before long you’ll overcome your discomfort and you’ll begin to thrive on these opportunities.

You may be brand new to real estate investing and still deciding on how you want to proceed.  A lack of knowledge can cause you to spin your wheels or to do nothing because you’re afraid of making a mistake.  You can very easily overcome this problem by arming yourself with specific and specialized knowledge that will get you motivated and get you moving.  If you don’t know enough about the niche you are interested in conquering, read a book, follow a proven system, or tap into the help available to you from a good mentor or another experienced investor whose been there and done it.

Finally, get out of your comfort zone.  We all tend to hang out where we feel most comfortable, most accepted, and safest.  If you stay where you’re most comfortable you can’t get ahead.  Push the envelope and embrace the opportunity to blaze a new trail through uncharted territory.  If you’re comfortable, it’s probably because you aren’t being challenged, aren’t being pushed, and aren’t striving to face new challenges. There is a saying that always motivated me in my beginning days as an investor. It goes something like this: “If you continue to do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

Overcome your fears by learning more about yourself and your talents, abilities and your weaknesses.  Let the knowledge gained be the fuel you need to get you moving forward.  Don’t let complacency about anything limit you to a life of mediocrity.  You’re better than that.  Push yourself forward and claim the success that is yours.  Get up, get motivated, and start succeeding!