Developing a Mind-Set for Real Estate Investing

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How do you develop a mind set for becoming a real estate investor? The first thing you as a beginner must do is to understand that from the time you are in your mother’s womb you are being programmed into making assumptions and these assumptions become your reality. Your mind becomes like a filtering system. The information that it is transmitted to you from the world must pass through this filter


system in your mind. As it passes through, it is colored, filtered, and changed to match the assumption or the expectations you have about how the world works or ought to work.


Sometimes you have false assumptions or expectations you have to correct. The way to correct these false assumptions or expectations is to learn: (1) where they come from (2) observe. Listen to the conversations of friends, relatives, and neighbors when it comes to real estate investing. Also, notice how the wealthy folks invest as well as what happens to the wealth of those who avoid risk and cling to security? Next as a beginner, you need to replace false assumptions with true ones. There are five steps in the process of creating a mind set in becoming a real estate investor.





Step 1: Set realistic goals and Write them down


Step 2: Visualize your goals


Step 3: Affirmation of self


Step 4: Thinking in probabilities


Step 5: Take action



Step 1: Set realistic goals and Write them down. I would recommend to prepare a financial proforma on yourself. What is your financial standing at this time prior to your real estate investing career? A financial statement on what you owe and own. List 10 things that you will likely to do in your real estate investing career: a new car, a new home or a month long trip to Hawaii. Clearly write down your goals in two ways: Long-term goals (1-5 years) and Short-term goals (1-3 months up to 12 months). You need


* To set a specific date.


* Set a specific amount of money.


* Set a specific amount of cash flow.


* Detail a plan of how you will do it.


* Make a commitment to achieve your goals.


Henry Ford said “Whether you believe you can do a thing or believe you can’t, you are right.” Read your short term goal on a daily basis. You need to make a list of weekly goals and month to month goals until you fulfilled your goals. Reading your goals you will be able to visualize your success. But I like the words from Winston Churchill who said “Never, never, never, never give up!” You beginners remember these words in your real estate investing career.

Step 2: Visualize your goals. I have a friend who went to every travel agency to get pictures of places where he wanted to go to spend time and relaxation. He went to places like Mexico, Hawaii, Spain and Ireland. As he looked at the pictures on a daily, and monthly basis his mind set went into gear and he achieved his specific goals and as a reward he treated himself and his family to a month long vacation to the specific country. My friend visualized his goals. It worked for him!





Step 3: Self affirmations. An affirmation is a formal declaration. No one is born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth. Such men like J.Paul Getty, Henry Ford to name a few wealthy individuals had written affirmations that they adhered to. Self affirmations focus on the strengths of the person rather than their weaknesses building their inner person up. I will challenge each new beginner to write a 30 second commercial on yourself pointing to your strengths(how do you see yourself?) Not more than 50 to 100 words.




Step 4: Thinking in probabilities. What do the wealthy folks do that normal folks don’t do? They concentrate on probabilities for success! I like Robert G. Allen’s books, what if he didn’t want to write books on real estate investing? He wouldn’t be as successful as he is today; same is true with Carleton Sheets. These men are giving back to help others become successful real estate investors. As a beginner, Is your mind set on helping others as well as keeping your thinking ability on doing what is probability to help you gain success? A friend once told me “If you do the right thing at the right time, right things will happen to you.”





Step 5: Take action. Do what you have to do to achieve your goals as long as you are not hurting others or breaking the law. The Bible states in the book of Proverbs “Get knowledge...Get wisdom to use the knowledge.” You learn the business of real estate investing by doing it!


As a beginner, you will learn the management aspects of operating your own business and in time wisdom will be with you as you gain experience. There is a cute illustration of this Proverb: There are two small boys walking the rail road tracks across a bridge when they heard a train whistling as it approached them. The boys had the knowledge of the train whistling and they had the wisdom to get off of the bridge when the train came into the scene. Act on the knowledge you have right now and the wisdom will come to you as you gain the experience of being a real estate investor.





I hope this information will help the new folks who are interested in becoming real estate investors.

Comments(3)

  • JohnMichael1st February, 2003

    You can follow any guru you want. You can adopt any new REI concept.




    No matter what REI "religion" you follow--and there are many sound ones out there--before you can a successful REI, you must comprehend the mind-set of an investor and the people with whom you deal with.




    Clair has provided a great model for old and new investors! So basic, but so powerful.




    Great Job Clair.

    • Clair-MO2nd February, 2003 Reply

      Thank you for your kind insight on my article. I feel before a beginner starts his or her investing career they need to be aware of the mind-set of being an real estate investor in helping sellers and buyers. It is my feeling that as an real estate investor that I have a obligation to help those beginners to avoid the mistakes that I made when I was a new investor. Also, I enjoy your articles as well John MIchael, where are you located?

  • Allon16th February, 2003

    Excellent Article! Applies not only to real estate but to everything in life. Set goals and take action! Right on!

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