By Minh Pham, Author/ Investor/ Mentor, www.GuaranteeProfits.com

Using Automatic Payment System for Hassle-free Management

This is the easiest way to collect rent from Tenant/Buyers and not only will it automate your system, it will save you time and eliminate your landlording headaches!

If you are still collecting rents the old fashioned way, the future is now. Eliminate late payments!!! Instead, start telling all Tenant/Buyers that they never have to worry about late fees. Paying rent automatically each month worry free is done with our Automatic Payment System!!!

Rents are automatically withdrawn from Tenant/Buyers bank accounts and directly deposited into your property's bank account.

Here are the benefits:

* Eliminate the headaches of collecting rent

* Eliminate time spent depositing checks

* Receive timely payments

* Provide Tenant/Buyers with a convenient payment method

* You will be able to identify payment problems immediately, quickly filter out problem payers.

* You will save collecting or chasing down rents. No longer do you have to play the "wonder and wait" game of whether rent is coming in the mail.

* This provides a good accounting system with records of ‘on-time rent payments’ so Tenant/Buyers can have a solid ‘track record’ to present to lenders as they get financing.

Simply find out from Tenant/Buyers when they apply for your property which checking account they will be using during the term of the rental, and request their permission to draft that account on an agreed upon date of each month. Once again, we want to reiterate that Tenant/Buyers know this procedure is your "standard" method of rent collection.

It's important that you present the check draft selection as a "normal" or "standard" collection method with advantages to the Tenant/Buyers. The more you treat this as a standard collection method, the more your Tenant/Buyers will embrace and actually like the convenience of the idea. Tenant/Buyers will not have to waste time each month writing out checks and rushing to get them delivered in time to avoid a late fee. In fact, the Tenant/Buyer will not have to worry about late fees at all. In addition, the Tenant/Buyer is required to allow us to draft their bank accounts for rent because it’s part of the ‘Rent Credit Agreement’ they signed with other agreements and disclosures before moving into our properties.

When a regular tenant pays late under the old fashion way of sending in their rent check they have to pay the additional late fee. This is an opportunity to mention to your new the Tenant/Buyer that they can avoid such fees in the future by using our Automatic Payment System. This encourages many Tenant/Buyers to convert from the old-fashioned rent collection method mentality to the new.

Here’s how it works

First, you get authorization from the Tenant/Buyer to use our Automatic Payment System with our ‘ACH Authorization’ form they sign with the Lease Agreement paperwork along with their ‘void’ check. The rent is drafted automatically from one of our vendors (www.NAIL-USA.com , www.ClearNow.com, or www.PayLease.com ) and the money is directly deposited into your business/property bank account. Then your ‘Online Billpay’ pays the Seller’s mortgage and the difference as your monthly CASHFLOW stays in your bank account. With our Automatic Payment System, you have no extra costs for software or hardware that is often required with other systems. If your bank does not have ‘Online Billpay’ consider a bank that does. You live in the ‘Information Age’. If your bank is not up to date with technology, you need to consider a bank that is. Plus, you need a bank that will incorporate your system of collecting rents and you need a bank that has ‘Online Billpay’ capabilities. Some of our vendors even pay the mortgage directly and give you the difference between your mortgage obligation and the rents, giving you Cashflow.

The main point is that the Automatic Payment System is the way of the future for rent collection and this is one of the ways we automate our systems for ‘Hassle-free Management.’ Other industries, such as health clubs, cable, auto, internet, insurance, and other service industries have used this method of payment collection successfully since the 1970s. You are now encouraged to make your life easier while you get your rents on time, every time and this allows you the ability to enjoy the lifestyle you always dream of.

By Minh Pham, Investor/ Mentor/ Author, www.GuaranteeProfits.com

Do you get sick of hearing those fast pitches for “quick wealth” on late night TV or seminars that those gurus speak of? Well, you should if you are not achieving the wealth they are talking about. So if you want to achieve the success and wealth that you desire you must set yourself up for little victories. Those little victories will amass into huge success, which in time will be the “Penthouse Suite,” you dreamed about.

Everyone knows that there is the “Pie in the sky,” the riches and the lifestyle we all desire but to be realistic before you dream about the “Penthouse Suite” let’s get to the “Second Floor.” Perhaps that is the miscommunication in most real estate sales literature and the fact is that you must understand the little steps you need to take to get to the 2^nd floor and once you get there then get to the 3^rd floor and then to the 4^th floor and so on and so forth. You need a plan of action that will get the “little successes” so that it will carry you to the next level, once you learn how to do that, you will continue to progress until you get to the Penthouse Suite. Success is a journey. That’s certainly the case when investing in real estate, so in your travels to wealth let’s get over your initial hurdle.

Ask yourself these questions to see if you are doing the things necessary to achieve your goals:

Am I getting enough leads from my marketing and advertising?

Don’t keep your business a ‘secret’ and unless you ‘put the word’ out that you are a real estate investor and you are open for business, the world will not know to call you to buy their houses. Thus, to get going as a real estate investor, you have to have potential houses to buy in your ‘pipeline’ of business. So focus on getting enough leads through your marketing and advertising that will warrant appointments to see homes and sellers. From those appointments, you’ll close a certain percentage of those sellers.

Am I closing enough deals?

The one thing that investors should focus on with any technique or investing style is not the 10 deals a month fantasy that you think you must have to be successful. Just focus on getting the first deal done. That one deal may take a month or it can take one year, but the key is that you need to get this first deal in order to get the 2^nd deal. All the successful investors started out just like you with the first deal and they built on that.

Am I making any money at this?

You aren’t going to make any money nor do you deserve to make any money until you focus once again on getting that first deal completed. Another mistake that investors make is that they quit too soon. They spend lots of time on one technique whether it be Lease Options, Foreclosures, Notes, Rehabbing, or a number of different methodologies out in the marketplace and they then move on to the next fad or hot craze simply because they see other investors who are successful at it, while abandoning the one technique they started with because it did not come soon enough. It’s almost like the “flavor of the month” club. Focus is the key and once you become proficient at one technique you are able to do it in your sleep. And if you can do it in your sleep and can do it with ease, you are then making lots of money. If you are making too much money then perhaps you may want to diversify simply because you are bored with it. It is critical to focus on the process and the results will be there, but don’t focus on the money. Money is just a by-product of your activities; the activities will generate the desired results.

Is Real Estate investing too tough right now?

As an entrepreneur you must understand that you have to make money in “up” and “down” markets. The question is not “Is this the right time to invest in real estate?” You must understand that starting a business is hard and your mind needs to know right away that starting your own business is really hard. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. You can’t go into business for yourself with false notions. Investors need to realize and accept this right at day one. This will probably be one of the hardest things you will do in life. Remember the old saying, “if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.” It is also important to understand that you have to be optimistic and believe in yourself and to have faith to know that you can be successful. Thinking that it’s too hard will possibly discourage you from giving it a try. On the flip side, some authors tout that it’s easy and wealth is something that you can achieve with little money and little time. It’s not that way either. You have to understand this. Reality is somewhere in the middle, it takes a more time and a more money to be successful. So know this fact and know what’s involved to he successful and you won’t set yourself up for unrealistic expectations.

I don’t know what I should be focusing on to achieve my goals?

When you set clear goals and become determined and purposeful, backing those goals with unshakable self-confidence, you develop a game plan or a task list which you must complete in the order of its importance or priority. When you take complete responsibility and accept ownership, without making excuses or blaming others, you experience a sense of control that leads to the personal power that is the foundation of goal achievement.

One of the easiest and most effective ways of ensuring the proper use of your time is to block out each week’s calendar to concentrate on critical activities. Start with the list of your essential tasks as you plan each week, write them down and go over them often. Be sure that you schedule the time for all of the vital tasks – those you don’t enjoy as well as those you like doing – before turning to the “nice to do” activities. Those “nice to do” activities are activities you enjoy but may not necessarily be the priorities.

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You need to focus on the right priorities. One of the universal challenges for investors is managing the competing demands on their time. One common time trap is focusing on the things you like to do and procrastinating about the activities that may be essential to your success but aren’t in your comfort zone. For example, you could set aside 10 to 11 a.m. each morning to call prospects and 11 to 12 p.m. to contact referral sources. Then that’s what you must do because it’s in your calendar. Remember, “plan your work and work your plan”.

What are your monthly, weekly, daily, hourly goals?

What activities do you need to be doing to generate those results?

How many phone calls, signs placed, flyers passed out, referrals given, letters sent, ads run, networking meetings attended, do you make each day/week/month for the sole purpose of scheduling an appointment with someone who has a need of your services? Whether it will be with sellers, buyers, investors, alliances (attorneys, mortgage brokers, realtors, appraisals, contractors, etc.) or others who can help you in your business? How many of those people want to have more conversations with you?

How many people are you calling that say "Thank you very much. But we're not interested." and the call ends in under 10 seconds? A thank you note will make you stand out from the crowd and if you follow-up with a meeting or phone call, you build that relationship further. You know the #1 Rule in business. “If they like you, they will do business with you.” It’s hard to do business with people that they don’t like or know. So take the time to build relationships.

How many people are you calling on whom you've spoken to numerous times before, but they never did business with you? Why continue calling people who don't do business with you? Maybe it's time to stop playing the game: "the person who dies with the largest database wins." We live in the Information Age and it’s a smart business decision to continue to update your database and send out mailers (postcards, letters, etc.) to those prospects who are “on the fence” and may use your services later on. It's also OK to throw away names of people who don't want to do business with you, or aren't available to take your calls. The lifeblood of a business is NEW customers, so if you are not getting the calls you need to fill up your sales pipeline perhaps you are not marketing effectively enough. It’s time you evaluate what you need to do to get your phone ringing.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing well, and should be benchmarked. Daily, weekly and monthly results should be recorded and tabulated. By blocking out time this way, you can impose that extra bit of discipline to increase the likelihood that essential activities take place. If you want to get organized and make your life and business more efficient, get the ACT! 6.0 Software, this helps you plan your business and it keeps track of your sellers, buyers, and other key business relationships. By far, this is THE MOST IMPORTANT SOFTWARE ON MY LAPTOP AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

So if you want to be in the Penthouse Suite emulate Champions like Tiger Woods. His ability to concentrate is legendary. He knows what he wants and he doesn't stop until he gets it.

Tiger has a saying, "My Will Moves Mountains,” and he means

* Focus

* Dedication

* Commitment

* Persistence & Perseverance

Tiger knows what he wants. He has a target. He sets goals, creates a plan, and then accomplishes them. Tiger believes he can do anything if he puts his mind to it. Nothing is insurmountable. No mountain is too high. No river to wide. No golf course is too tough.

What about you?

What are your goals, dreams and desires?

What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to accomplish?

There's an old saying, "When a man knows what he wants, he will move heaven and earth to get it."

What mountains do you want to move?

Where is your focus? Your commitment?

When you do something, completely sell out and be totally committed to it. Make a commitment to put forth honest effort by learning the trade and skills needed to be excellent in this business. Don’t just be good. Don’t be better. Be the BEST and the best will come out of you.

Some people say "You can be an overnight success in real estate investing." That's flat out wrong!!! What they mean is “over many nights.”

Remember that you need to keep telling your mind, especially when times get tough, why you are doing this in the first place. Remember, you are creating a better future for you and your family. Going back to work for someone else is not an option for you. Just visualizing yourself at the mercy of others controlling your life, playing corporate politics, driving 2 hours through traffic each day, asking for a raise that you know you deserve but didn’t get, spending less time with your loved ones, and reporting to incompetent bosses should be sufficient motivation to keep your mind focused on your goals.

So in your pursuits of reaching the Penthouse Suite let’s use those “nightS” (and dayS) to do the daily tasks that will allow you to get to the Second Floor and once you learn how to do that (the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, etc.) then the Penthouse Suite can be reached in due time.

Pham, Mentor/Investor, www.GuaranteeProfits.com

I know some of you dream of quitting your J-O-B and being financially independent. What better year to do it than this year. So, how do you become financially independent? Well, let’s do the math:

Example:

An average person’s monthly expenses $3,000.00

Cashflow* from a property using

Lease Purchasing technique

($250.00 average per property):

$250.00 x 12 months $3,000.00

(*Cashflow is the difference between the seller’s mortgage payments and what we charge in rents. Example: $1,400.00 Monthly Rents - $1,150.00 Seller’s Mortgage Payments = $250.00 Cashflow)

So in 12 months of acquiring one property per month (if you are doing this business part-time) you can acquire 12 properties to be financially independent based on the above example in one year.

Or if you want to do it in 6 months that’s just 2 houses per month.

Or in 3 months then that’s just 4 houses per month.

Now you get the idea. The best part is that it doesn’t even take into consideration the upfront Option Consideration which is “non-refundable” and goes right into Hip National Bank, i.e., cash in your pocket!!!! Cash you can use to pay off some debts and/or invest into your real estate investing business!!!

At the end of the lease term there is still more good news. If the Tenant/Buyer decides to purchase the property then you make an additional $10,000-$15,000 (this is an average, but we have more from the Back-end sale of a transaction) equity earnings at the settlement (Back-end profits).

If you want to build wealth the Cashflow can make you financially independent; the upfront Option Consideration can give you spending cash; and the Back-end profits can make you WEALTHY!!!

Best of all, you do it with no money of your own (except for marketing expenses), no bank loans, no fix-ups, quick turnaround, no landlording headaches, and very little risk!!!

I know many readers do not believe me so the only way you can understand this truth is to do one yourself. Try one yourself and you will be convinced that investing in real estate using Lease Purchasing or other creative real estate investing techniques is a very smart way to wealth. Or just ask some of my successful students who are now believers.

The Cost in Real Estate Investing

Someone recently asked me “I have little money, bad credit, little time, no real estate experience, and am looking to get started in real estate investing. How do I do it given my circumstances?”

In creative real estate, you don't need many of the traditional things such as money to make money. You also don't really need great credit (or in my strategies, you don’t need any credit to invest in real estate). There are ways to get around some of these roadblocks, but you do need time. Time to understand the business, time to get focused, and time to take action. Take everything away and that's all you have. So really what is it that you need? You have to have a desire to make it, a willingness to win.

That desire is something that does not happen overnight. Figure for the average investor, if you are willing to put forth about 20-30 hours a week to learn and do some of the things to get your business going then you will make it. Do this for about 3-6 months without quitting, without getting paid, or without complaining then you will have a chance.

Most people that succeed in anything know that they will make it even before they make it. It's called ‘vision’ and most successful people have this trait and you will too if you want to be a part of this group. If you think this business is tough, you are right. If you think this business is easy, you are right also. But remember that it only matters what you think, so study hard and get the right mindset and you will convince yourself of anything. But, if you are looking for a quick fix, get rich over the weekend, type of luck in real estate investing, then don't waste your time here. There is no such thing as luck, just effort that produces results which only looks like luck. You and I know that with enough effort anything is possible.

I started out, just like most beginners hungry for an opportunity, no money, no credit, no knowledge, no experience, no connections, and no luck, but what I learned is that this business is a great one. I tried many different types of businesses before and also have a financial planning background. I found that this business allows for you to have a good lifestyle, financial independence, and the ability to help countless people while enjoying yourself. Basically, it allows you true freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. No rush hour traffic, no boss, no office politics, and no worries. And of course with all great things in life there is the sacrifice, so if not with money or credit then with time and desire. I hope this article helps you get on to the road to wealth and I wish you all the best!

By Minh Pham, Author/ Investor/ Mentor, www.GuaranteeProfits.com

When you are getting started make sure you have the right expectations. You must understand that starting your own real estate investing business is hard. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. You can’t go into business for yourself with false notions. Investors need to realize and accept this right at day one.

If it were Easy, Anybody Could Do It:

Real estate investing will probably be one of the hardest things you will do in your lifetime. “Difficulty” is in the eyes of the beholder. Having a passion for some particular niche in real estate investing is the secret of always having endless energy to expel in the process of attaining the success level you desire. Rewards come after focused work. Getting comfortable with the overall process, as your learning curve gets shorter and shorter and shorter, as your productivity gets higher and higher and higher, as you monthly income becomes greater and greater and greater, in due time. Remember the old saying, “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.”

But, Remember the Alternative:

You need to keep telling your mind, especially when times get tough, (and they will, at certain intervals of your learning curve) why you are doing this in the first place. Remember, you are trying to create a better financial future and lifestyle for you and your family members. Going back to work for someone else is not an option for you. Just visualizing yourself at the mercy of others controlling your life, playing corporate politics, and reporting to incompetent bosses should be sufficient motivation to keep your mindset focused on your mission’s goals, until you attain them to your satisfaction.

Excuses, Excuses and MORE Excuses:

Listed below are Excuses that many people believe. As a result they never become successful real estate investors. Some people may disagree, but these Excuses accomplish one thing and one thing only. Choosing to believe in these Excuses are only grand excuses, sugar coated behind ones inner fears — that keep someone from getting started in real estate investing. These Excuses stop them right in their tracks before they can get their first deal and they wonder “why” they are not successful in real estate.

Excuse #1:

You need (your own) MONEY to make MONEY.

Everyone loves a bargain. If you find a good real estate deal, the money will find you. Ask a seasoned investor and they will tell you that lack of funds is never an issue. A lack of good deals always becomes the issue! If you can negotiate a good price on a house, you will find plenty of partners willing to put up the money. I know this is true because when I first got started I didn’t have any money. In fact, I borrowed money to buy my first 100 bandit signs. So you can throw this excuse right out window — right now, because it’s simply not true. Sure, it will be harder to get started without money than it is with it, but I can prove to you that not having money is not a factor in succeeding in real estate.

If you lack money, you can start as a ‘Bird Dog,’ this is a duty for someone who just identifies opportunities for investors. There is no money required to do this, just sweat equity and some of the tasks may be in the form of driving around neighborhoods looking for vacant or dilapidated houses or by cold calling homes that are listed for foreclosure auction.

Another level up from a ‘Bird Dog’ would be to be a ‘Wholesaler,’ where you are more involved in the deal process but there is usually not a lot of money needed for this. As a ‘Wholesaler’ you are doing the negotiations as if you were going to buy the property yourself, but your intention is to ‘flip’ the property to investor willing to buy it and pay you an assignment fee. At most you may need earnest money deposits when you put a contract on a house to buy. Even so, if you have a settlement agent/attorney you normally use, you can give them the earnest money deposit when the contract is ratified, thus there is no money required unless you have a deal. If you have a contract, your money is guaranteed because if you purchased at the right price (at enough of a discount to wholesale to a rehabber/investor), you can get your money as fast as 24-48 hours so the earnest money will not be such a great factor for not being a ‘Wholesaler.’

You Have to Begin Teaching Yourself to Think “Creatively”

You lack such funds as to not even afford to have a computer. If you don’t have a computer, I’d suggest that you buy one, in due time. There are numerous deals out right now where you can get a computer for no money — if you sign up for Internet service access — for three years at $21 per month. Yes, I know you can get free Internet access on MSN or other providers, but if that’s the only way to get yourself a computer, do it. The payment is equal to four fast food extra value meals per month. Plus, it’s a deductible expense if you use it for business! If you still can’t afford one this way, don’t worry. Plan on buying a computer as soon as possible — after your first deal. You can finance a computer at your local electronics store. If you can’t do that — visit your local library where you can use their public computers (at usually 30-60 minute intervals) and tough it out until you get one. Actually using the local branch of your town’s library is an excellent place to work, and you can check out free books on negotiating, salesmanship, real estate, business best-practices, and other topics that can help you as a real estate investor.

Excuse #2:

I have NO CREDIT.

In this business, good credit helps, but you don’t need “good credit” to make money in real estate investing. Lease Purchasing, flipping properties and other creative techniques, will allow you to buy real estate without good credit. Of course, it helps to eventually establish a good credit standing, but it’s not a show stopper!! You can always use a partner who has good credit, if the deal is real sweet and you want to buy the house.

You can’t allow bad credit or no credit — to stop you from taking action. When I bought my first house, I had hardly any money in the bank and had been self-employed. So no income was coming in at the time this deal came along. Hey, if I can do this, you can too. I will show you how. I will disclose techniques to you that you can use with no credit. I want you to repair your credit as quickly as possible, but bad credit will not keep you from getting started in this business. In the meantime, you can work on fixing your bad credit — so you can use it as an asset in the future.

Excuse #3:

This stuff DOESN’T work!

At one point everyone on Earth thought that the Earth was flat. We know today that this paradigm is false. So, just because everyone thinks that Lease Purchasing and other creative investing techniques don’t work, this doesn’t make it a true statement. The idea you must get into your head is that 90% of the people out there are non-affluent. So why would you want to listen to them in the first place? It makes more sense to listen to the 10% who are affluent (successful entrepreneurs). So, if 90% of the people say it doesn’t work, you can be darn certain that it will work. Be unconventional in your thinking. You will achieve what conventional thinkers never will achieve. It’s called “financial independence” and “wealth.”

Modern real estate investing thrives on doing things smarter, not harder. In addition, here are some facts about real estate investing. Real Estate has produced more wealth than any other single industry in the history of mankind, in the Middle Ages and in modern times, as well.

Here are a Few Facts about Real Estate Investing:

1. Its simple. It's easy to understand. It's tangible.

2. Real estate holds its value pretty well and often grows in value at a pace faster than inflation.

3. It is capable of producing phenomenal profits — when bought and sold right.

4. Real estate is a great cash-flow vehicle, as you can generate nice monthly payments that could potentially replace your dependency on a 9-to-5 job’s paycheck.

5. Real estate investing has a residual income potential: you do the work once and continue to get paid — many months and years later.

6. Real estate can provide a high return, maintenance and management free investments for people who've accumulated cash by investing in mortgages secured by real estate, or buy creating your own note with owner financing.

7. Real estate has a preferential tax treatment allowing for valuable write-offs, and tax deferred treatment for profits from capital gains on sale of the property.

EXCUSE #4:

I’m AFRAID to LOSE money in real estate.

In order to do this business — you must accept risk-taking. Your mind needs to realize and accept right away that starting your own company, especially from scratch, involves risk. If you are adverse to risk, chances of you surviving in this business will probably be very slim. But taking risks can actually help investors adhere to the “failure is not an option” thinking. In order to become successful — you must take some calculated risks.

There are risks in any business start up and expansion. But real estate is one of the safest investments to be involved in when you do your research correctly and especially when you buy at a discount. The stock market is beyond your control. Savings, CDs and money market funds won’t give you enough return — to make money. You have to be willing to take a calculated risk to make money. The more you educate yourself about creative real estate investing techniques, some of these technique requires no money, no bank liabilities and no fix-up. So make sure you become a continual student of the real estate business, constantly learning and improving your knowledge level — and you will realize that your risks are minimal, when compared to other business models.

If you visit with any knowledgeable real estate investor, then compare the cost of starting a real estate investing company versus some other type of business, you will see that a real estate business has far less connected risk factors which can bring about negative cash flow and/or the dreaded reality of “under-capitalization,” meaning insufficient positive cash flow to advance forward without retreating into a negative cash flowing status.

I want to be upfront with you that you will need some marketing dollars — at the very least — to successfully launch your real estate business, in the majority of situations. You also need to have a long-term vision for your on-going real estate venture and at lease give the mission a good 6 to 12 months to make it work out, eventually, all in due time via following my systematic approach. Otherwise, your money (i.e., dedicated marketing money in your operational budget) will have been wasted, along with your invested time.

I know this fact, but most individuals initially interested in real estate investing, that it takes, at least some money, initially to make money as a real estate investor. I don’t mean to scare anyone away, but let’s compare a real estate investing business to a restaurant/carry-out food service business model. Did you know that it takes at least $30K to break even each month in a carryout food service business? That’s not including the 15-hour days and the initial investment of $120K down payment, with great credit for a bank to even lend you the money needed to open it up and get started in the food service business. Additionally, we are talking about a good long 1 to 3 years until the net profits really being to trickle in, if you can survive to stay in competition and in business.

My father-in-law is currently running this type of business model and he tells me how fed up he is with the restaurant business model, and that’s why he’s decided to get started as a real estate investor, as I have invested some of his money into our on-going rehab projects. He sees the huge ROI-yield and profitability rewards, with minimal risk involved in real estate, compared to his restaurant business or other business models he has been involved with in prior years.

The bottom-line: Real Estate Investing is the BEST GAME (BUSINESS MODEL IN TOWN) when you really start to compare RISKS vs. Returns!!!

EXCUSE #5:

I have NO TIME.

This is NOT true. Don’t ever let this stop you. We all have plenty of free time. You don’t realize how much free time you do have. You’re about to find out just how much free time you do have for making money in real estate investing. Each person living has the exact same number of hours, 24, each day. It’s how we use our time that counts most.

Everyone is busy, of course, without saying. Busy is as busy does. Busy with doing God knows what, but everyone is always busy — especially in our society where everything is so rush--rush. “I’ve got a job, a spouse, kids, ball practice, PTA, working late, etc. with very little time on my hands.” But take a moment to reflect about just exactly what you’re busy doing — and you can see that actually most people are not all that busy.

You will learn to prioritize your time, to even be more productive in less time than it took you to be real busy, which paid you very little in return for all your time invested, in just being too “busy” for your own good.

Take TV time, for example, which is the biggest time-waster of all time-wasters. Throw out your television set and you’ll have all the time you’ll ever need in real estate investing. Seriously!! People spend an average 3 hours per day, non-engaged, in front of the tube. They spend even more time on their weekends, chilling out in front of the TV set. I’m going to say something here that may seem a bit radical to you. GIVE UP YOUR TV—for 4 to 6 months!! If you are watching various TV programming, such as the NEWS, it’s pretty much fear-based and negative reporting. This type of negative stimuli does not help you be positive-based, proactively engaged and focused to be productive with your time, nor for getting closer to your life goals, unless it’s to watch TV programming, while snacking on chips and sipping sodas for hours on end. Get off the couch, turn OFF the TV set and get out into the street looking for real estate deals!

When you add up how much TV-time you spend every week, every year or through an entire lifetime, it will astound you, if not shock & awe ya! Three hours a day (one hour in the morning and two in the evening) will give you 90 more hours per month, to invest into learning and doing high-payback real estate investing from successful deal-making. TV is one thing that can really sabotage your eventual success. If you want to get really rich, then stop watching your TV set. The rich know how important time is to be valued.

Time = Money!!

So don’t waste your time or your money. It will be hard at first, but you will eventually begin to hate TV and not enjoy watching it. Trust me, there is nothing good on TV anyway, just a lot of fear and negativity reported constantly. Take the daily news for example, everyday someone dies, gets raped, car and truck and train wrecks, apartment fires, house fires, warehouse fires, grass fires, hail storms, floods, some scam pulled by unethical idiots and on and on and on with the negativity breeding more negativity, which will ill-affect maintaining a positive-based mindset and proactive perspective on life in general.

Do You Want More Time?

Then make more time. It’s just that simple to do. If you want to increase your time bad enough you can schedule time into your life by prioritizing what is important to you. So if being “broke” is something you want in your life then don’t make any time do your real estate. But if you want to start changing in your financial lifestyle make a point to change your priorities — and to put real estate investing on the top of your list.

What’s Your Time Really Worth to You?

You must know that sacrifice is inevitable. A big component of your “failure is not an option” is engineering yourself a much needed mindset adjustment — to realize right away that certain sacrifices will need to be made along the way in order to achieve your dream. Investors who have made personal sacrifices and who have financially prospered in real estate investing, realized early on that starting and building a great business comes at a price. There are not enough hours in the day to do all the things you want to do. So, prioritize your time. You will be absolutely amazed, what your time is actually worth when strategically applied to transacting good real estate deals.

EXCUSE #6:

I DON’T KNOW ANYONE who can help me.

When starting out with any venture, it is possible to be all alone, but that is what real estate investor networking meetings are for. You should try to attend at least 2 to 4 real estate investor meetings per month if you are serious about this business. At these meetings you are building your “Core-Team” and your network of resources that will help you in your real estate business.

Moreover, when you meet these real estate-connected professionals (attorneys, realtors, mortgage brokers, contractors, etc.), at your local metro-area “investor” meetings, see what you can do to help them. Try not to go after them asking for too many favors. These professionals are busy and they do not need you nagging them to do this or that. And as a new investor, you can lose a lot of creditability going around these meetings asking for favors instead of finding ways of giving to the business, even before the business gives back to you. So, if you help them by referring business to them, they will automatically try to find ways to help you. After a while you will create this huge real estate investor network of people who understand what you do and they will start to give you resources, leads, and deals. The value of your time just goes up and up and up — all in due time.

EXCUSE #7:

I have to get a Real Estate LICENSE before I can invest in real estate.

In the securities and insurance industries (where I came from and which I have a credible background), I needed a series 6, 6.3, 6.5, as well as a Life and Health license in Maryland and Virginia, just to transact business with a client.

But in real estate, you do not need to go to school and be licensed to buy and sell houses. The neat thing is that as long as you have a sincere interest, meaning some legal right in the property, you can buy and sell as many properties as you like. If you try to go out and sell your buddy’s house by listing it in the paper, showing it to potential buyers, etc., then you need to be a licensed real estate sales associate. But as a real estate investor, you are free as a bird to buy and sell properties as long as you don’t conduct business in a fraudulent manner, you can invest in all the properties you like, because you are the ‘principal’ in the transaction.

As a successful real estate investor learn to visualize success and think of solutions instead of excuses. Investors need to visualize success at all times not failure. The Real Estate game is a constant game of Chess, which is all about making the most strategic move possible, under the conditions and circumstances faced. Your mind needs to know that although there will be many ups and downs, a light does exist at the end of the tunnel and it is bright. By visualizing success, your actions will become more confident. And increased confidence breeds success. Remember, customers or clients prefer to do business with people who are confident in what they are doing.

EXCUSE # 8:

You need experience to make good money in real estate.

It’s true that good skills are needed to be successful in real estate investing. Take for example, one of the key skills needed in transacting profitable real estate deals: effective negotiating. But that doesn’t mean that a new investor (“newbie”) with no deal-making experience can’t also learn to negotiate a terrific deal the first time around! It’s simply a matter of learning what makes people act and react the way they do, while learning to master a few basic principles, tactics and strategies, along the way.

Learning how to invest right will allow you to make huge amounts of money from various real estate investments. If you learn the proper skills, you will also uncover the anatomy of a negotiation, and learn which specific maneuvers work best at the beginning, the middle and the end of the negotiating process. It’s not as difficult as you first might think when you’ve absorbed the central-core essence for negotiating deals.

There is one thing that is for sure, if you don’t get over your excuses, and there can be many more than the ones just listed, you’ll be sure to just read about success and ‘never’ truly ‘experience’ it. So go out there and start where you are, and ‘just do it.’ Success will surely follow if you believe in yourself and you back it up with a solid business plan and ACTION!

By Minh Pham, Mentor/Investor, www.GuaranteeProfits.com

What business am I in?

What is the perceived quality of the service or product I sell?

What kind of image do I want to project?

>How do I compare with competition?

What benefits do I offer my clients?

Who are my clients?

When do they buy into my service?

Why do they sell/buy to/from me?

Why am I doing this business?

10. Am I enjoying what I am doing?

The Marketing Plan – The Launch to Your Success

What strengths do I have in the marketplace?

What weaknesses do I have in the marketplace?

Strengths sellers/buyers don’t know about?

Weaknesses sellers/buyers don’t know about?

Opportunities in the marketplace?

Threats in the marketplace?

What do I have that is marketable?

What are my goals (short and long term)?

Goals are nice, but how do I reach them?

How do potential sellers/buyers find out about my company and its services? Give strategies for each market segment

Who is the competition (internal and external)?

SETTING GOALS

Average deal in my business is $ .

My average net profit per deal is $ .

Prospecting Efforts: It takes number of ‘In-Bound’ calls to identify/find one new, qualified prospect.

Marketing Efforts: I need to spend $ /month to generate one new, qualified prospect/call from prospect. (Advertising, marketing, etc.)

5.I need to see number of prospects to close one deal. In other words, I typically close/earn the business of out of prospects I am in front of. Therefore, my closing percentage is percent. (Number of sales divided by number of prospects seen.)

6.My annual income goal is $ .

7.I need to generate $ in average monthly income. (Yearly income goal-Step 6-divided by 12 months.)

8.I require (number) of monthly sales/clients to produce $ (Step 7) in average monthly income.

9.To produce (number) of sales monthly, I must get in front of _____number of new, qualified, prospects per month.

10.To produce (number) new, qualified prospects per week, I must get in front of _____number of new, qualified, prospects per week.

11.I must get (number) prospects calls per week.

12.To get (number of prospecting calls per week, I need to devote hours per week on prospecting initiatives. I also need to spend $_______ per week to generate my weekly leads.

13.I need to devote hours per day on prospecting initiatives.

14.I need to practice my skills by making ________ calls per day/week (‘Outbound’ Calls)

15.I need to get (number) prospecting calls per day that will take up ______ hours per day to screen thru those calls and see the ‘qualified’ sellers. Additional sales generating activities include PR, alliances, reading articles, attending seminars and association meetings, networking, etc. The formula does not account for residual income from Cashflow rentals.

16.I will devote additional _______ hours per week to study from my successes/ failures and well as research ways to improving my skills, team, systems, and all other aspects of my business thru reading, seminars, listening to audio programs, and networking. I will spend ______ hours each week to review my activities/plans/tasks list to ensure I am on track to reach my goals.

17.I will enjoy every moment, (Business and Life) because I need to keep a clear perspective of why I am doing this business.

Bottom Line Goals

So that you can get a better picture of what you do well and what needs improvement, please complete the following for your monthly review:

Total Dollar Forecast for this month $

How much time will I invest into my business each week ____________

How much time will I invest into my business this month ____________

Total Dollar to be invested into my business this month $

Total number of key relationships established (CPAs, Attornies, Team members, etc.)

Total number of hours spent to review/plan/learn/study the business

Total number of prospecting calls this month (‘Out-Bound’ Marketing)

Total number of calls coming from ‘In-Bound’ Marketing this month

Total number of appointments to see prospects/properties this month

Total number of offers presented month

Total number of ratified contracts this month

Total Dollar Earned for this month $

Total Net Profit Dollars for this month $