Posted by Hank FL on October 27, 2003 at 19:26:52:
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Real Estate Investing is Just Like Weight Loss… - Posted by Bill Bronchick
Posted by Bill Bronchick on October 27, 2003 at 14:15:36:
The following will appear in my next newsletter…
It started as a rethort, but ended up an article.
“Real Estate Investing is Just Like Weight Loss:
It takes effort on your part (but a guru or two can help)”
It amazes me how many people get started in real estate investing, only to fail when the going gets tough. As soon as someone discovers they can?t get rich in a week or two, they are on to the next ?hidden guru? secret. It?s the same as weight loss - everyone talks about it, many try it, but few succeed. There are thousands of ?get rich quick? and ?get slim quick? gimmicks. No wonder both the real estate investing information and weight loss products industries make BILLIONS!
Weight loss isn?t easy? ask anyone who has tried it. However, the concept of weight loss is very basic - burn more calories than you ingest and your body will react accordingly. Unless you have a medical disorder, this formula works for just about anyone. Simple as it may be, the formula is HARD, meaning it takes a lot of DISCIPLINE AND HARD WORK. So, the weight loss industry has offered us thousands of ways to make it easier. Many of these solutions do work, but they only work if you put forth effort.
Now, let?s start with the premise you don?t need any of these ?solutions? to make real estate OR weight loss work for you. You can eat less calories, go walking or jogging every day and you will lose weight. But, having knowledge of the caloric content of different foods is relevant. Also, for many people, knowing the carbohydrate content is relevant. Having the advice of a physician, dietician and personal trainer will help you prevent injuries and maximum your effort. But, the bottom line is not just knowing, but DOING. You can?t blame the diet if you don?t stick to it. Many people have successfully lost weight using the ZONE, WEIGHT WATCHERS, ATKINS and other similar plans. Many have failed, likely because they didn?t stick to it, not because the plan isn?t effective.
Likewise, the real estate investing business is simple, but it isn?t easy. It takes a lot of work. Having a proven ?system? or plan helps, but only if you stick to it. If the diet plan says, ?exercise 3x times per week?, you can?t be sloppy about it and expect results. It?s like the people reading a book on the recumbent bike at the gym - if you can read, you?re not working HARD ENOUGH. Likewise, people call newspaper ads and say ?hey, you wouldn?t want to sell me your house cheap, would you?? This is not DOING it is TRYING. You have to give 100% to a particular plan or formula before you say, ?this stuff doesn?t work.?
Many people who are interested in weight loss join a gym or hire a personal trainer. From personal experience, I can say that both are great for weight loss. But, the weeks I didn?t show up, it was a BIG WASTE OF MONEY! The same thing goes for a real estate training system or mentor program - if you don?t put forth any effort, it won?t work! And, of course, you?ll likely get bitter about all the money you spent and blame the guru. After all, it can?t be YOUR fault!
That brings us to another topic - the ?scam? side of the real estate and weight loss business. Sure, the ?magic pills? that melt off fat are probably a scam. These snake oil salesman are offering the lazy and desperate people a solution - no work and results. Hah! If you bought into this scam you deserve to be parted from your money. Likewise, any real estate guru who promises riches with no work is also a scam. My favorite promise is ?no selling involved? - that?s the ?big lie? No business can be successful without a certain amount of selling their product or service to customers - period! So, while there is a dark side to the weight loss and real estate investing information businesses, I assert that most people fail at both because of their own lack of action, not the fault of the ?systems.? If you aren?t willing to work, another weight loss program or real estate seminar won?t get you any more results than you are currently getting - save your money and take MORE CONSISTENT ACTION with what you are currently doing.
However, if you are willing to work hard and take a lot of consistent action, a guru or program will likely give you more results. If you bought a book, course or program and already have results, another program, course or book will likely give you tools to get MORE RESULTS. I often hear about successes people have with my real estate programs, but few of them are FIRST TIME successes. They are most often people who have already been successful, and, using my tools, became MORE successful. If someone asks me whether my program will make them successful, I ask, ?what other programs have you bought?? If they have already spend thousands on other programs and have done NOTHING, I discourage them from buying mine. These people are looking for the elusive ?missing key? that all the other programs left out. More than likely, the missing key is lack of action on their part.
If you aren?t willing to take action on a massive scale, you won?t get more results by buying more products. If you have the discipline to work hard and take consistent action, then products and services will help you get there faster. Whether you are looking to get rich or lose weight, the bottom line is YOU.
Real Estate Investing is Just Like Weight Loss… - Posted by Jorge
Posted by Jorge on October 27, 2003 at 18:59:56:
William,
I just moved down here a couple of months ago to Denver from Albuquerque and I want to find out some info on your real estate club. So I can get started learning as much as I can about flpping here in Denver or rehabing. Any info would be nice.
Thank you,
Jorge
Real Estate Investing is Just Like Weight Loss… - Posted by Hank FL
Posted by Hank FL on October 27, 2003 at 15:39:43:
Good post.
This wouldn’t have started out as a response to the post, “Tell me if this program will work for me”, would it ?
Anyway, I enjoyed this post of yours and am reminded to get beck on your e-mail list. Your periodic mails were good reads. My old e-mail address was wrecked by a virus. Is it possible to get the “back issues” I missed ?
OK, I’m going to have a little fun with this RE/diet concept.
Nick Sidoti = Richard Simmons - Hey, both are really frenetic in their presentations.
John Reed = Dr. Phil - Would you take advice on how to be thin from a fat guy ? Similarly …
I’m trying to think of who I can pair up LeGrand with and all I can come up with is that when I close my eyes and turn on a Ron tape, he sounds like a dead wringer for Joe Namath. They both pronounce their Ls exactly the same way.
Re: Real Estate Gurus - Posted by Bill Bronchick
Posted by Bill Bronchick on October 27, 2003 at 15:53:10:
And, Bill McCorkle would be like Tony Little?
Re: Real Estate Gurus - Posted by Andrew
Posted by Andrew on October 28, 2003 at 11:45:01:
HA, McCorkle! I think i still have his course laying around somewhere. He was the 2nd “guru” I ever heard of. The first was Tom Vu. I wonder who he would be like? I just saw his commercial about a month ago too. Looked like the same commercial i saw 11 years ago.
Re: Real Estate Gurus - Posted by RichV(FL)
Posted by RichV(FL) on October 27, 2003 at 19:52:48:
Bill,
LOL. Good ole William McCorkle from Orlando FL. Boy I havent heard that name in these parts since the late 90’s.
If my memory serves me I think he is doing 20 years.
Regards,
RichV(FL)