2020 took everyone by surprise, and the events of the year took away the attention and intention of many of you. Now is the time to start being intentional – living your life by design and not by default. Don’t sit on the sidelines! Instead, maximize 2021 and get in the game investing in commercial real estate.
Maximize 2021 Living Life by Design
When you live an intentional life, people, opportunity, and resources start coming your way. What you move towards starts moving towards you. My own story is a perfect example of how this works.
Many years ago, I left my job as an engineer and began investing in commercial real estate full time. I needed to create enough income to cover my expenses and support my son, about $4,200 a month in passive income. So, I started searching for properties on LoopNet and making offers day and night.
I was on LoopNet so much that the marketing department at LoopNet contacted me to find out why. I shared my story with them and told them that I was using LoopNet to find deals. Back in the early 2000s, LoopNet used to list properties across the nation alphabetically by city. My intention was to search through and evaluate every single property on LoopNet from A to Z. It sounds crazy, but that’s how focused and intentional I was on my goal.
When I was almost through the C’s, I met a power broker who changed my life. We became friends and with the deals he gave me, I was able to create the $4,200 a month in passive income I needed. I moved toward my goal and people and opportunities moved toward me. I was living my life by design and not by default. When you’re intentional and you take action like I did, people, opportunity, and resources start coming towards you.
4 Intentional Actions that Lead to People and Opportunities
1. I made 3 offers a week: Some properties were across the country, but most were where I lived.
2. Consistently visited properties and built relationships: My son and I visited properties every Saturday and I focused on creating relationships.
3. I closed deals and got good at managing the property: I was set on reaching my goal of $4,200 a month in cashflow and I never let this goal out of my sight.
4. Spending quality time with my son was a priority: As a single parent I was able to spend time with my son Junior. Also, I included him in the business, for example part of his chores was to collect rents.
4 Actions I Intentionally Avoided
Perhaps even more important than what I did was what I intentionally didn’t do. There were some things I had to avoid at all costs to reach my goal of $4,200 a month in passive income because they were distractions. This applies to you as well if you’re going to be intentional and live your life by design.
- No big purchases.
- Say no to dating.
- No new job.
- Avoid the stock market.
So, to live my life by design and not by default I had to take action, which lead to people, opportunities, and resources coming my way. I also had to avoid certain things for a time to reach my goal.
6 Steps to Maximize 2021 as a Beginner Investor
For those of you still on the sidelines, I don’t blame you for not jumping in 2020, but this year is your year! Here’s how to maximize 2021 as a beginner commercial investor:
1. Become an intentional learner by design – Get help and learn the business by enrolling in my free course and reading my book Commercial Real Estate for Beginners. Engross yourself in this business so that you can make sound business decisions.
2. Learn how to find and evaluate deals and make offers – This is what I teach in our protégé program and this is where most people stop. They either get analysis paralysis, or their life issues become greater than their intention of creating passive income or getting their first deal done. To succeed you must be incredibly focused on the goal. My motto is:
F-O-C-U-S: Follow One Course Until Successful.
3. Hire a Good Property Manager – This is where the money is made. You must hire good property management and then close the deal. Then you can use the property manager to help you with your due diligence and plan for what lies ahead.
4. Your life issues cannot be greater than your intentions.
5. Avoid Distractions – Saying no to certain things will help you remain focused on commercial real estate and be intentional. You know what those distractions are for you, but some common distractions are; mutual funds, cryptocurrency, learning a new skill or hobby, and people in your life who are takers (who drain your energy and monopolize your time).
6. Take Care of Yourself – This is so important. You can’t live an intentional life if you’re not taking care of yourself. Get more sleep, eat better, exercise, and you need to include prayer or meditation. When you take care of your health, the rest comes together.
Following these steps will help you maximize 2021 investing in commercial real estate. Let’s be intentional and live life by design and not by default!
