Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Succeeding!

As a real estate investing teacher, way too often, I forget how scared Kim and I were when we first started buying investment real estate.  We didn’t know the language, the techniques, the paperwork, the steps – nothing!

For example, in 1997, when we first heard a speaker talk about a creative deal structure called Subject-to deals, I remember writing Kim a note during the presentation that read: No seller would ever agree to this.  It’s got to be illegal!  Boy, was I wrong.  Not only were Subject-to deals legal, they were done all the time.

Fast forward one year: After getting some good been-there-and-done-that education, we were doing Subject-to deals on a regular basis.  Heck, when we bought our horse ranch in Adairsville, Georgia, it was a Subject-to deal.

Whenever you’re doing something new and different, you will be scared, uncertain and anxious.  These aren’t fun feelings to have.  We usually associate these feelings with something dangerous – something that could do us harm.  Therefore, all too often, we refuse to do the things that generate these bad feelings.

The sad part is, by letting these feelings overtake us, we don’t live up to our full potential.   We don’t start that new business, or skydive, or ask that special person out on a date, etc.  Instead, we sit at home in our safe cocoon while the world passes us by.

This was happening to Kim and me concerning technology.  Sure we had a computer, but it was nothing more than a glorified word processor.  We knew technology was leaving us behind, but we were too scared and uncertain to make any changes.

Then Jody Maffetone, our wonderful (Kim told me to add “handsome” – he looks like Vince Gill) computer guy, talked me into getting an iPhone.  It was a game changer.  Then he got us to switch from a PC to a MacBook and iPad.  Suddenly, we were learning cutting-edge technology stuff – like how to turn it on!

Another area where we are way behind is with our websites.  We have THE WORST websites on the planet.  For years, Kim and I have been talking about redoing them.  But because we were too scared of making a mistake, nothing got done.

Finally, last weekend, we attended Dustin Griffin’s (AtlantaREIA.com) WordPress seminar.  WordPress is a website/blog site builder.  Yes, WordPress is hard for us to learn.  Yes, we were terrified of being the stupidest people in the class.  No matter, we attended the course and learned tons!

That brings us to Don DeRosa (DonDeRosa.com).  After buying our iPad, we met with Don.  He has some incredible applications that are fundamental game changers for real estate investors.  When he showed us what an iPad could do, we realized that the iPad will change the world of real estate investing – the same way a financial calculator and cell phone has.

When it comes to new things like real estate investing, websites, computers and iPads, don’t let the fear of failing prevent you from trying something new and different.  Lord knows I’m always the dumbest guy in class – but I show up anyway…and isn’t that what really counts?

Bill & Kim Cook are a husband and wife real estate investing team. They live in Adairsville, Georgia and have been investing in real estate since 1995. They specialize in buying single-family homes, mobile homes and mobile home parks. They also run North Georgia REIA and teach folks how to successfully invest in real estate.