Last night, I was on the expert panel at the Charleston Real Estate Investing Association meeting. There were seven of us on the panel and each time a question was asked, we would go down the line and answer it. I thought I would share a few of the questions that were asked and my answers . . .
What was your biggest challenge?
I took this to mean, “What was my biggest challenge when getting started?”
Two things here:
1) Self Limiting Beliefs
One of the self limiting beliefs that I had to conquer was in reference to my age. I got started investing when I was still in college at the age of 22 . . . and I look young for my age. Soooooo, I could have passed for 16 probably.
Getting past this mental roadblock was one of the first challenges that I had to face. I eventually realized that it was all in my head. If I thought it to be a limiting factor, it was.
Which reminds me of the classic quote from Henry Ford, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”
No matter what your age, background, race, gender, or financial situation . . . you can become a real estate investor! Period!
2) Taking the First Action
For me, making that first phone call was difficult and I procrastinated for months. But, it didn’t have to be because I’m the one that made it that way.
No matter how “educated” you are . . . your true education as a real estate investor starts when you make that first call, kick off your marketing plan, go on your first appointment, make your first offer, and close your first deal.
You’ll learn far more through the action you take than studying concepts, techniques, and theories.