Dean Graziosi Weekly Video Blog #42 - One Small Step at a Time

I haven't even got the book yet and I've already found an REO for 67,500. I know how to do all the research from my job.
My story? I got hurt working my second job - 14 hr days. I still was not getting ahead, bill collectors harrassing me, had to have surgery.
I was fresh out of knee surgery and all I could do is sit. Just sit. Bill collectors ringing my phone constantly. Well one morning I happened to wake up at 4am and couldn't go back to sleep so I turned on the T.V. (I Never watch T.V. in the morning)and there was Dean. That show gave me motivation to get up (carefully) and redirect my life. I realized -working 14 hours a day, still in debt and getting deeper- that the tredmill I was on wouldn't give me the financial abundance I want.
I am in the business of making other people money through real estate. It's time I made myself money.. Thanks

Dean, thanks for the encouragement and the reminder that success begins with small steps. As newbies, my sister and I have joined the Success Academy, talked with a realtor, identified several buyers, attended an investors club meeting, discussed business setup with a tax advisor and reserved our company name with the Secretary of State's department, checked out toll-free numbers, and designed our business card. Seems like business setup is taking a long time, but we think a good foundation is worth the effort. Can't wait to make our first deal!

I am a Newbie - 1)Fully reading the book. 2)Interviewing 4 RE Agents (w/more to do). 3)Attempting to structure a deal/offer to Apt. Complex Owner & Bank on possible Pre- Forclosure. These are big steps, I can't fail since I will learn so much from the experience. This is what I focus on.

Met with my real estate agent today and shared Matt's 25:1 strategy. Plateau/pat-on-the-back/blue ribbon! He had a question tho. With any purchase contract that he's ever written up it has included buyer financing info but if i'm buying the home to assign it within 30 days or void the agreement, then how would my agent explain that to the seller's agent considering that i'm not qualified for the purchase amount?

My small victory was joining and going to several Rei Club meetings and getting to meet local real estate people at all levels of investing; as well as getting a buyer list from this group. That strategy came thru the books and reading this site.

You have it exactly........

I did not even think of buying both of your books,
or my gathering phone numbers of "We Buy Houses"
signs or driving in my area and checking out signs
by houses as accomplishments.

I have been one of those who always wanted big results
so quickly, I overlooked the small things and how
much they really mattered.

Thanks Dean, and please keep the encouragement and
cheering up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gayle D'Addario

How do I view prior blogs on this site?

Tried to check out "Why short Sales Work"
got "Not Open to Comments"

I want to see this one, have a friend that
has been sitting on a foreclosure that is a
Short Sale listing through a real estate agent
with not bites at all.....only 1 "very interested" that went nowhere.

Do I attempt to get the attention of their Real
Estate Agent to your method of working Real
Estate Investing?

Gayle D'Addario

My first small step was actually reading your books and following the action steps at the end of the chapters. Some times this was easy and sometimes hard but it did get me my first deal and now I am not homeless! Thanks Dean.

I want to tell you a story about small steps. I call it "The Baby and the Rattle"

You see there is a long staircase and at the top of the staircase is a rattle. At the bottom is a baby. Well, this baby wants the rattle SOOOOOOOOO badly that the baby is willing to climb this HUGE staircase to get it. But,the first few times the baby tries, the baby tries to take 2 and 3 steps at a time. Consequently the baby kept falling and tumbling back to the floor. Finally, the baby stopped worrying about how many steps to take,kept an eye on the rattle and crawled just one step at a time...one hand..then the other...one leg...then the other. Well, before the baby knew it, the rattle was in the baby's hands and the giggles and laughter could be heard through the house.

The point is probably clear but basically, I keep my eye on the prize and take just one tiny step at a time. I mean, if I look at all the steps at one time, I will scare myself to death and keep falling. But, when I think of only that tiny step I need to take, I think "well, that's not too bad. I can do THAT!" So, I do it and I know I am one step closer.

For me, when I start getting frightened, I know that it means I am looking at too many steps at one time and need to break it down into smaller, easier attainable steps or goals.

My cousin told me this story when I was frightened of going to work and I never forgot it! I hope this story helps some of you too! Good luck and Happy Trails everyone!!!

Fredda

I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it.

This is my first post since buying Dean's book 2 weeks ago. I have been listening to messages, reading the emails, and exploring the site. Enjoy watching and listening to the blogs. They inspire me to keep going and encourage me to go out and be successful. Your so right Dean, just giving up is not the answer! I'm a little nervous to take another step. I've been researching taxsaleslists.com. My next move is to figure out the 20% downpayment issue and then start putting in some offers. Wish me luck everyone!

Suzanne

I have a tendency to push myself so hard that I burn out and get discouraged when I don't reach goals that I have set for myself.

After a divorce and being a single mom trying to provide, trying to figure out and reach my goals, and find some kind of balance in life I loose sight of things I have accomplished. Thank you Dean for that blog today because I was there. And thanks to all the other blogs on this site. I know I am not alone.

Dean, your awsome and you have a great group of people here at this site. Just when I am ready to give up on my dreams, you all, everyone always give encouragement.
Thanks to everyone here.

The greater the goal the longer the journey.
One step at a time with your eye on the prize.
Everything good and bad is a learning experience. Build your endurance on it give credit where credit is due, Especially the person in you. Perservere and there will be a breath at last when you are there.

Dionnie

1. Ordering Dean'sook fron infomercial
2. Learn as much as I can about real estate
3. Calling real estate agents
4. Telling friends and family what I'm doing
5. Really thinking of myself as a real eatate
investor
6. Talking with a seller about his property
7. Network with investors
8. went to Real estate meetings

And Now I am looking to understand the Real Estate Laws of my state so I can Go to the next step.
this to me is just the beginning..

Thank you Dean For keeping us motivated

God Bless

I remember like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday morning and I was watching Dean on T.V. for the second time. I am a real estate broker so I am current with the market prices. Dean said something that really stuck to me. "You may have to put an offer on many properties before you get the one accepted but it will happen." That was motivation for me and my husband and IT JUST MADE SENSE. We did it, we were able to buy a two unit property in the city of Chicago for $7,250.00. Everyone I tell that to is so amazed. Most of all we are so thankful and grateful for Dean for the motivation. Now that I actually have the book we are putting even more things in motion.

It's a challenge for me to simply stay the course. I read "Profit from RE" a couple months ago and then ordered "Be a Real Estate Millionaire" that I finally received yesterday through Amazon.
Upon completing "Profit," I had searched several realtors to find a couple, looked at a couple hundred properties in an area I want to invest in, but came across an obstacle: financing that stopped me dead in my tracks. Then all types of excuses kept me frozen.
However, I've realized that I have been taking baby steps--maybe not consistently every single day but at least I'm farther than I would have been before reading the first book I received.
To create consistency, my goal will be to spend an hour a day doing REI activity in addition to reading "Be a REM," the second book I ordered.
Then, at least, "the baby" will learn to crawl, then walk--so to speak.

My first plateau, like many others, was to pick up the phone and order the book. Since then I have ordered the "homestudy course" and recently entered the success accademy. These steps took a lot of thought and faith, and I had to overcome my fears. I am now in the proccess of creating my investing buisness and have yet to make my first deal. Thanks for all you do Dean!

Kendall

Wow Dean - as I was listening to your blog I was thinking " he is right on target" I think too many people think they can buy a book or cd (yours or anyone else) and once they are done with it they are sure the phone will ring off the hook with deals. What they don't get is you still have to WORK at it. Once you get into your own groove - granted you don't have to work as hard - but you do have to want to work to succeed, not just think it will be handed to you on a silver platter. I have been working very hard since we went to the event in April. There were many times I thought " man I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels today". but the next day I would get up and something would happen that I had set in motion a week before and had forgotten about. You just gotta keep in the game!!. You're never going to hit the home run if you don't get go up to the plate and strike out once in a while. I went through at least 20 Realtors before I finally found one that gets what I do ( or maybe it was after 20 times I finally figured out what to say.. I'm not sure which one) but the point is I went up to bat. Even when I felt down I still tried and guess what??? One day I got my first deal.. I know some people think.. well you were really lucky.. let me tell you - luck had very little to do with it. I went out there and pounded the bricks and now it is starting to pay off. It wasn't easy but WOW was it worth it!! Sorry to have rabbled on but I just had to but in my $.02 worth..

Debby

Dean, Fantastic Blog

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will. George Bernard Shaw

I want to thank you for taking the time and dedication to write such incredible books for your students.

Today, I just received your books Be a Real Estate Millionaire, Profit From Real Estate Now, and Totally Fulfilled. Be a Real Estate Millionaire is an excellent read. I should be finished by midnight tonight. I will start on Profit From Real Estate Now tomorrow. As for Totally Fulfilled, I should start that by Tuesday of next week.

I personally want to thank you for all the good information, personal experiences, encouragement, and swift/kicks that remind us that we are only human.

A good reminder is the quote, thanks Indiana Joe, I have not failed, and I have found 10,000 ways that do not work, Thomas Edison.

This reassures us that we must be determined, persistent, committed, and never give up hope. We need to start each tomorrow anew, where today we made an error.

I am very excited and can’t wait to get the Creative Real Estate ball rolling. Yes, it will take time, effort, and stamina to stay in the game. It is so easy to just give in, to quit, but a lot harder to stay committed.

The end results can be phenomenal, just look at the students featured in the testimonials. They were only human, but were committed to see the end result. And that is where I want to be, on a win-win ending.

May God Bless you Dean – please continue to stay in the game for us, and with us. We truly appreciate you.

You have to believe in yourself 
when no one else does. 
That's what makes you a winner. Venus Williams

Thank you again,

Stay Focused, Francesanne

I purchased your books when my parents told me that everything on tv is a rip off i know that if i follow ur techniques i will succeed but thats my wat i overcame thank you and cant wait to try it out!!!

Another great Blog!
I guess my "blue-ribbon moments" would include
1. ordering your books
2. reading them twice and taking notes
3. joining the Success Academy
4. forming my LLC
5. started passing out my business cards
6. i refer to myself as a Real Estate Investor
7. bought the EDGE course and watched every
minute.
8. study every free minute i have
9. driven neighborhhods and looked for houses
10. have started looking for a house for a friend

Thanks Dean for all that you do for all of us!

Rick Merritt
Trident Realty, LLC

And If I don't succeed I will try try again. I heard once a long time ago that one has to fail before you can succeed. And I have been through many failures throughout my life that I cannot count how many. And besides failing I have also lost thousands of dollars. But each and every time I had to pick up where I started and keep going forward again.

I would say that my biggest plateau that I did was convincing wife to letting me join the success academy even tho she is still very skeptical. I finished the Profit From Real Estate Now, I called and met with 5 Real estate agents and a broker, seen dozens of homes, been to many investor clubs, sent ads to craigslist and making postcards and placing them on doors, made business cards and have around 25 on my buyers list.
I can just taste success coming soon! Failure should not be an option.
Thanks Dean!

Arnold Castillo

Hi Dean and DG Family,

I was very inspired by your blog and all of the comments that have followed. I am in the same situation that many of you and, for that matter majority of Americans-- I am unemployed, behind on bills, credit is not horrible but not the best and I have a young son to provide for. I ordered Deans books b/c I wanted something better. Here are my small steps toward success:

1) Ordered Dean's books after looking at the infomercials many many times

2) Got really excited about what I was reading (just like Dean said) and called some realtors.

3) Started building my buyers list by calling the for rent ads in the newspaper--I actually had one of Nashville's well known builders call me back and wanted to work with me!

4) Started looking at properties

5) Found an abandonned property and found the owners information at the county clerks office

6) Started working with an out of town investor interested in Short Sales in the area

7) Deciding to get out of 'no go' mode b/c nothing is happening right away(I mean, really how many things worth having happen immediately)

Dean, I know you hear it often, but you really are an inspiration--you help so many people. Success is nothing without someone to share it with--you have taken that to a whole new level and we appreciate it.

Thanks,
AJ

I bought your book, found a realtor, have looked at lots of properties and I've found a couple of properties that look like good investments but can't seem to find funding. Quite honestly, I'm afraid to go further into debt. I know there are no guarantees but it would be nice not to go too far out on a limb. I have been in this 'process' for 17 months but feel as if I've hit a brick wall.
I have very strong feelings about the potential for success in this area. Maybe I AM waiting for the deal of a lifetime to be dropped into my lap...
Thanks for keeping me going, Dean.
Deb

Dean,

My Husband and I have so much faith in you. It's as though you are speaking directly to us almost all of the time. There is a higher power at work here. You are there every time I turn around, giving me encouragement. We were really hoping that we would have won the chance to get to meet you in person, but then again, I'm sure many folks were hoping for that! Good luck to the guy who won, I'm sure you will help him immensely. We need to get that 1st deal under our belts and realize that we can do this. It's really stepping out of our comfort zone in some ways, and in other ways we are so equipped to do well at REI. We look at houses all the time and run through the mental exercises of the how-to... We need to get off our butts and get that 1st deal done. We will feel so much better when we finally just do it! We need to get over our fears of the unknown. Thank you for telling us though, that the things we are doing are baby steps to that 1st deal and success.

Lisa

Dear Dean,

Hi, this is steven in fayetteville,ga, I have both of your books be a real estate millionaire and Profit from real estate right now. Your zeal and enthusiasm about being successful in real estate and in life is very inspirational I talk about you all the time at my Job at the Post Office. I am doing some things in real estate. I did talk to someone fo your real estate team about joining the real estate coaching program. They made me a good offer to get started since I didn't have the funds at the time. Just a little about me, I'll be 50 years old this year in december, I am the husband of one wife with four kids. By the way congradulations on the birth of your son Dean Jr. I have two boys 9,and11. I know this is a long comment but you really put the fire under my but to make a better future for my family. I believe if I can work with your team this year I can accomplish my goals of doing my first few deals before december and move my family out of an apartment into our first home by dec.2009. I know I don't have much time to work with but I believe it can be done. Also,Please,Please send me a copy of your new book. I also believe that knowlege plus actions = success. I watch your blogs as often as I can keep on doing what you are doing and live long and prosper. Again, I am doing everything possible to get in your coaching program. Thank you for listening to me.

Steven McColum

Hi I just purchased Dean's books. So far I have spoke to a real estate lawyer, contacted an agent, and yesterday I looked at seven properties. I haven't even read the books yet. I want to say Hi Dean I live in Hopewell Jct,

Hi Dean,
I'm looking at house now and talking with real state people about buying a house. I have no money but I'm looking.

Thanks
A. Siebert

Hi Dean,
So I'm watching my baby granddaughter as she learns to walk, and you can see her progress each day. So, I'm trying to match her energy. I'm going to end the day with at least one blue ribbon and hopefully more. Today I called my first realtor.

I had seen dean on tv twice before i decided to order it. But i steped out of my box, and ordered profit from real estate. I have read the book . I have started by looking around for my first deal, but im kinda stuck with the whole contract thing. I looked over them in the book time after time and have whent online and studied them online. I am alittle confused on how to go about putting one together. For a side note i talked with the coaches and me and my wife cant aford it or any kind of payment plan to use them. I just dont know where to start. if anyone can give me any advice please email me at