There is a fine line between being persistent and being stubborn. Most of the times I cant see the line. But I know one thing about doing real estate is that Murphy’s Law is in full effect – all day and every day.

I think it was Brain Tracy who said it is not what happened to us but rather how we react to it that makes us who we are.

Truth is that I have no idea where the line is drawn but I know one thing and I think I have known it for a while in my heart but never put to words till I heard Ron Legrand say it in his own unique style – he said that he is never know anybody that has made a whole lot of money and not has lost a lot of money doing it too.

Truth of matter is that you will screw up – hell I screw up all the time – but here is the big thing that separates men from boys, ladies from girls – in my universe – one is note the mistake and most of the time is painful to do that. To look in the mirror and admit that I am wrong is not fun.

Second is to make your mistakes as quickly as possible so the bleeding is quick, relatively painless and the lessons learned are helpful in future successes.

Real estate investment at a level that I am doing right now is a good lesson in living. You can make mucho money – you can loose mucho money. You have to manage your time otherwise you will be working 90 hours per week, hating yourself and your life. You have to let failure (uh, it does happens you know!) bother you that much that it paralyzes you.

And most of all, to understand the faster you do your first deal – the closer you are to your fifth deal and so on.

The hard part is getting in the morning and not to wait for Jan 1st and make your move.

I don’t write my new year resolutions on Jan 1.

Rather in October 31st so I have 60 day head start on my goals. And believe me I am not a goal-lover. But what can you do? The rules are you want to play the game, you gotta have goals.

Next: My mentors and what to do when you have none!