Thanksgiving Weekend Project
Ah, the start of the holiday season – gifts, days with family, lots of food and (gasp!) writing goals for 2005!
Let me make a confession here and get it over with: I hate writing goals! I cannot read any motivation books because they all insist that writing goals is the first step toward really becoming successful.
There is nothing more dreadful to me than starting at a blank computer screen, forcing myself to come with up with a plan for the next 12 months – with deadlines! Because nothing will happen unless we have a deadline. Deadlines are the best, most effective invention for people like me. Otherwise nothing will ever happen.
But last night I read something truly profound, on the last page of Forbes magazine The 400 Richest People In America (Hint: lots and lots of them have one thing in common: real estate). On the last page, a quote by Oprah Winfrey, one of the great entrepreuners of our time (forget the daily talk show stuff; The Lady is a genius when it comes to discovering hidden opportunities in businesses and people. I mean look at Dr. Phil!)
Here is the quote:
“I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if doesn’t, I’ll create something else. I don’t have any limitations on what I think I can do or be. “
- Oprah Winfrey
So here is my take: whether I like or not, it is hard to do anything worthwhile in my life or to make difference in other’s life or give back if I don’t have a plan. So in the next three days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – I am going to sit down and write my personal (family, vacation, education) and business (acquisition, new ventures, big deals) goals for my real estate business.
I suggest, in entire humbleness to you, that you do the same.
Waiting for December 31st is an exercise mostly wasted. Write them now, then look over them over the next 30 days and craft a plan – with monthly and quarterly deadlines. You will be amazed how much you have going on in your real estate business in three short months if you do so – today and not delay in anymore.
Comments
Mark,
Wow, what a great year it has been!! I can't say thank you enough for being an unbelievable guide, success mentor and friend to us over the last year. We have grown and learned a great deal in realestate investing and will continue to do so through your methods. I look forward to continuing a life long relationship with you, Derrick, Nora and the entire WBG team.
Best Wishes in 2005 !
Sincerely,
Nick Mackris
NEMA Capital Group
Posted by: Nick Mackris | November 26, 2004 01:27 PM
Hey Mark,
Just wanted to say these are some powerful words. I am currently on my Honeymoon and all I can do is write goal after goal. I am more focused now that I have a Wife, 3 daughters to support. With your help and the help of the others we will exceed all our wildests dreams.
Just wanted to say thanks, I may not always say it but we are like batman and robin. I do not think either one of us would be thinking about the monumental goals that we have expressed to each other. Tell Nora, Hailey and Sage I said Hi. Oh, by the way I was here and I saw a marketing ploy that would have brought Dan (the Man) Kennedy to tears. It was awesome.
See You Bright an early on Monday.
Posted by: Darrick Scrugggs | November 26, 2004 06:06 PM