Sucess is the..

Thank you so much for sharing, My wife and I are in a similar position and are simply tired of just getting by. God has blessed us all with the gifts and talents to overcome adversity, even if the adversity is first getting over ourselves. We have attended a few RE investing courses and workshops over the last 6 years and have just recently realized that the only way to become successful at RE investing is to dive in. We also just joined the success academy and plan on using the coaching and expertise to make this year the greatest and most successful year of our lives.
We look forward to hearing about your journey with PMI and Deans Success Academy

Good Luck

You people here are just amazing! This is my first experience with being involved with any kind of website interaction/dialogue. The support and positive energy that is available here too, is unbelievable. What a blessing! taking a chance and responding to an early morning infomrecial (4:00am. Hawaii Pacific Time)!? God can work through early morning/late-night infomercials??

Thanks again and a warm Aloha to you!

Ok, Kinda lost here. Trying a new trail. I saw in some others journals that they have consecutive pages(pg. 1,2,3...) of their journals listed on the post directory when you open "Members Journals". How do you do that? Mine seem scattered and random. In fact, I can't seem to find some past journal post's that I think were posted? Any tips would be appreciated. Will keep investigating also. This is just the greatest bunch of fun! Think I've found another "hobby". Don't really like using that term as this is turning into a great way of living. ("lifestyle") Still kinda lost on bloging vs journaling too!?
Also, I am still figuring out how I know if I got a response or a pm, or if it's not really necessary to reply to the "comments". ( is that kind of a personsl message?)I feel that it is, because you take the time to read a post out of the hundreds that are up, and comment on it. It takes a lot of time just writting one, much less reading others and taking the time to comment on them. Maybe it's just beginners anxiosness? I really do hope that I am not being selfish and just posting and writing and journaling away like some kind of "posting hog" I just signed up with the DG orginization and my expeience here has been just incredible! - 5-Star, upper deck and first class. I want and hope to reciprocate the same. So much support,encouragement and motivation is given "freely" here. I will do my best to contribute the same.

Aloha to you all!

Really looking forward to the new week and seeing what my new outlook and strategy will bring! This has been an incredible journey so far and I am only just beginning. SO much has happened. Ok, no closed deals yet and I can't see anything happening iside of my 30 day membership timeline, but I really don't care much about that. What I do care about is the fact that I am going about this, this time,( more about that a little later)with more commitment and seriousness than the effort I put in earlier in my life. So far, I've pretty much brought myself up to the point of where I had been with another orginization in another time, and now have the chance to go "all the way" ( a closed REI deal). You know, the last orginization I was with had great information, a support department, advanced programs available. Lots of similar stuff that the DG orginization has, but Deans' is different.There was no "internet" then I believe. I don't think cell phones were even around, and could you imagine any computers that may have been out at the time. However, even without the technology - 0 down,real estate investing with creative financing was alive and well. I am going to journal my first experience with a real estate investing orginization so I have something to compare with when I start getting successful and close deals.(WIth Dean Graziosi and family!)
Back in 1992; WA state,middle of a nasty divorce (1'st (only)marriage)), away from family and friends for the first time in my life. Sitting in an empty shell of a house that we just had bought and remodeled (s43rd and M. Tacoma WA.)I can still see it on Google Earth!($250,000.00)debt load. Ex. had taken credit cards out in my name and charged up a storm. (I never had a credit card in my life before then)house going into foreclosure and we are now sepparated. ( She, a flight attendant at the time so she found some other place to stay.)Facing a chapter 13 bankruptcy in MY name so she wouuld sign off the divorce papers. (Marrige counseling did not work and she had a real nasty credit card spending issue - me? I had my own issues so needless to say, we had a tough start going into this.)But I digress.
What am I going to do? Had to get out of the house for one so I got myself an appartment. I was sitting up watching late night TV one night-contemplating some scary stuff! and a guy comes on- 0 down real estate!, stop working for Uncle Sam and give yourself a huge raise today!, get on the road to being finacially independent right now!. Seminar at the Tacoma Sheraton on.... I was desparate. Spinning out and with a chapter 13 bankruptcy on my head; I didn't really know what that meant except it was bad,real bad, creditors calling me at all hours of the day/night at home, and at work-even showing up at work!,never felt so alone and well....alone.
Took a chance. I stayed and listened to the pitch. They gave away just enough information to get me excited. Now the part where you decide if you are serious about changing your life. Yea, of course I am! why would I be there listening to this if I weren't?!
Info packet and membership for all these "strategies" - I think to the best of my knowledge... "ONLY" $400.00 - $600.00 dollars. "a bargain for what you will ultimately receive"! A lot of money for me at the time. Was if real too? I don't remember it there was a money back clause but I was still nervous about forking over that much. "Charles Givens Wealth Building Orginization"
Charles Givens even had best sellers out, maybe even a couple at the time. Never heard of him,seen the books on the shelves (not that I ever was in that section)nothing,however...
I took a chance, I paid my monies,joined the orginization, and proceeded to follow their instructions. They had a hotline for questions and advanced programs. I think a bonus was membership to the "real estate hotline".Much similar to the PMI program. Part of the bonus? They would work with you till you closed your first deal!
Ok too late to make a long story short, but here goes; Guess what? It worked, it was real, it was worth every penny and more. The "wealth building" information helps me to this day. Baisic tax strategies that boost any "conventional job's" paycheck. How to use "credit". Not getting ripped off buying an auto,low interest credit cards and how to use them,and finally - remember I said "Wealth Building" orginization? Well the MAIN strategy - (they call all this info I just mentioned "strategies") The MAIN strategy; REAL ESTATE INVESTING. "The BEST way to the path to finacial freedom". "Financial freedom". I love this term, as we now live in an age where the world (our nation?) is no longer willing to take it.(Financial Slavery) Maybe that was a wrong way of putting it. I think what Dean had mentioned earlier is true, "you get used to it." Becomes the "norm" The economy sucks,oh well... Deans latest videos on cycles. Back in 1992 looking at Deans graph ("Profit from real estate right now"), that's exactly when I joined the "Givens" orginization. Real estate was at a low, in fact I think "Charles" message was, "there has not been a better time in our history....." and a... if not now, then when? message, which is an eternal truth. How do you argue and eternal truth?
I missed the boat on that. The most important part of the program. That is the part I left out. If I had acted on it then? Dean mentions all this stuff in his blogs, videos, ads. Man, for me this is almost a biblical message. In fact, it is. I'm like a Noah so to speak. The only difference? I got a chance to see what life would be like NOT listening to the "message".
This time around? I am NOT missing the boat. I am NOT!
Too much writing on the wall. I even got a chance to see the proof. I worked with an investor who like Dean, found out on his own, that real estate invesgting is a sure path to finacial success. His (my investor friend) strategy is buy and hold but he has other investor contacts that he's passed deals onto.(He works for himself!)I did give it a try with the Givens orginization to be fair to their program and to make a statement that I know real estate investing works. I'ts no scam. I got close, real close but dropped the ball and ethical behavior- that is the key. Unethical? Lots of that going around. Look where we are now because of unethical behavior in the real estate industry. Affected us globally!?
Since this is "my" journal, I am not going to feel guilty writng a "novel" here, in fact, isn't that what a blog is too? and is that why there is a thing like Twitter?(keep it short?) Still trying to figure it out here.hmmm.
Just excited though. The length of this journal will probably discourage anybody from reading it. It's been very, very, complimentary and flattering however, to have all of you that have "posted comments" and given me so much encouragement and motivational replys. THANK YOU!. I hope that this part of what I write does not ever become redundant(gratitude). God please protect me from ever getting to be like that. Jumping in and doing the same though(commenting on others sites).Hope this info helps someone to see that this is definately THE TIME. This is definately THE PROGRAM, and that with all the help available - you can't fail. I take that back- You can fail. You(I) fail when I(you) give up on (your)myself. Been there, done that. Doing something different today. Honored to be on this journey with you all!

Wow! that's a long one!

Lester,

I did read your long entries in your journal and they are very interesting. Congratulations for joining this site and the Success Academy; just make sure that you keep taking action every day, because there may be moments when you will think that it doesn't work, but if you are truly motivated and committed, you will succeed.

Wishing you success,
Valerie

Flitting all around this site like a jack rabbit on caffine overload, what fun!!!! Ok , gotta run, got a pretty big day ahead and need to get going. What a concept!? I actually look forward to the day now, instead of wishing it were over before even getting it started! Thanks!

A little change in "circumstances", but I am not letting it distract me this time around, so I must be "determined" and "focused", because this would have really bugged me before, and it would have been a big issue. The "mentor" I thought I found, may not be all that she professes to be. I know, you gotta be real careful out there. There are a LOT of **** types who "portray" themselves as a certain thing but......there are also some good people out there too. while doing the excercise of building my "buyers list" I have contacted some really helpful people. My "network" of REI types are staring to grow and I can see how this can work now. This system is much more focused and organized as I have ever set myself up to doing anything - business or otherwise. My "life" is becomming "organized" now, and I have "purpose","direction","goals" and a "plan" to carry it out. A "percise" well organized plan to help me achieve my definite purpose. Not the "shotgun let life end up where it may-whatever, pipe dream, hope against hope, wistfull day-dreaming" I had become so used to. I have in my "success portfolio" right next to my ultimate "goal" ( I was going to say "dream" )a pocket folder with motivation stuff I clip from magazines and other media. I have been more aware of this one since joining the DG orgaization. ""Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory., Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." "Sun Tzu"
Thanks all!

From what I can see you have at least two different ones, this one and the one where you talked about losing long entries.
Pick one of your journals to stay up-to-date with so all your entries and comments are in one journal in a chronological order.
Regarding pages, a new page is created whenever there are more than 30 posts on a page.
So when you get 31 posts you will see at the bottom page 1, page 2.
30 posts on page 1 and the 31st one on page 2. I think you get the idea.

You're making great progress, keep it up!

Dean has laid out his strategies for us to follow; and if we do it diligently, and with a plan, we will achieve success.
It is exhillarating, and there is so much to learn and to do; you have to make the most of every hour of the day!

learning and progressing every day,

I have enjoyed reading your posts (long and short ). Dont worry about how long your entries are. While our journals are for others to read as well, dont ever discount how valuable they are just to yourself as a place to put your thoughts and goals in writing, which is a very powerful tool in itself. After a year when I went back and re-read my own journal I was amazed at all i had come through during that time. Revisiting all my thoughts, fears, successes, failures, etc was really something! So keep posting to track your journey - just dont forget to get out there and take action to make change!

You are ALL so amazing! Amazing. I am truly humbled by the reaching out of support that is available in this organization. Heck, The REI stuff is turning out to be just a little side benefit of joining DG's "family" here-NO, not to try to get off track or minimize the mission here. ( I am on a MISSION! ) I am just in amazement in the transformation that is taking place in my persomality. I don't know if I mentioned it before but up until I came across and joined the DG family my life was just a series of tragedies,recovering from tragedies,when recovered-just "existing" "making a "living"!? existing and making ends meet so I could do it again the next day. Amyway, I hated to get up in the morning. I had no "hope" except daydreams of "stumbling across" some kind of fortune. No motivation to get out there and "claim success". No self confiednce, self- esteem a wreck (self-esteem? whats that?) I did have a lot of self-loathing. Pretty depressing stuff... sorry. I guess in a sense I HAVE stumbled across that fortune. Not the siver platter I used to define it as but a REAL connection to a "fortune" operative word is REAL. The GOOD stuff........ getting over being a "recluse", (I was actually proud and protective of that self-image) I look FORWARD to waking each day, I have direction and purpose in life now (goals) and every minute of my conscious moments I am aware of those goals- what I am or am not doing to reach them, actually "feeling" the successful outcome of achieving these as the goals are reached, and even the ones that are targeted for the "future", weird!?, I get beaming smiles from pretty girls and the confidence to strike up a conversation with them, my fear of socializing is diminishing by the day, I am actually picking up the phon when it rings ( I used to screen the calls and only return what was neccessary for my business, or, absolutely necessary so no one would file a "missing persons") I had no reason to screen my calls- no bill collectors/angry ex/stalker/whatever. Many,many, many more changes. I am hardly recognizing who I am - are becoming-am becoming. I am not the same person I was last year.
Thank you all. Thank you so much! Thank you.

Double entries with two journals started. I really don't want to abandon either one of them but I think this is interupting the "flow" of how I am keeping track of things - kind of "scattered"!? I think I may actually end up concentrating on one or the other. Part of the "leaning curve" I guess.