Take The Shot Champion
I was telling the story of how I purchased my first piece of real estate to someone today. (I will share that story in another blog post - back to this one for now.)It was a friend of mine from church who is going through some diffciult times and wanted to know 1) how I put a plan together and 2) how much money did it cost me?
Short answer: No plan and no money got me my first duplex back in 2002. As I was telling him the story, I thought to myself that if I didn’t actually do the things I’m describing, I would not believe it. The reason I say this is because I often get the look from people that says “I know you wouldn’t lie to me but somehow all these stories you tell about yourself don’t seem possible - at least not for one person to have gone through all these different situations in life.
I feel guilty sometimes that I have had the pleasure of experiencing life. I have taken HUGE risks and quite honestly, sometimes come up on the wrong end, but I wouldn’t change it for anything because in the long run, Every Day Is Saturday and I get to be a full time father & husband - fired up! And for icing on the cake, I get to speak around the world, giving my testimony about chasing your dream. I now earn more in an hour than I use to earn in a month as an executive. I have to pinch myself when I think of the last sentence but suffice to say- it is the result of much pain and discipline.
I am where I am today because I didn’t want to feel a certain type of pain and that is the pain of regret. The regret of seeing my daughters walk down the aisle at their high school graduation and wonder where was I? What was I doing all these years when they were growing up? Who raised them? Why was I so addicted to my job and not equally committed to my family?
When you reach the same level you’ll have your Every Day Is Saturday moment as well. I had mine at the age of 37 - Thank God. He was looking out for me and used my daughter Madeline as a voice to get through to me. Lots of executives read my blog and listen to my podcasts but can’t pull the trigger just yet. They send me emails saying “Sam, keep it coming brother. You’re dead on but I just have to get through one more year at work and save some more money for college.”
Those are good reasons and I’m not one to advocate going jobless when you have mouths to feed. However, if you’re earning significant income already you must have marketable talents. The question is: When are you going to begin believing as much in yourself as others currently believe in you? When you stop making execuses like “My spouse says” or “My friend says” or “My doctor says” you can start saying the words that will really get you motivated to move; “My dream says” There is no question you will be successful as an entrepreneur. The question is simply “Will you take the shot or are you going to pass?”
Go for it Champion
Sam
July 14th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
hi sam
spoke with bernie this morning and he is awestruck by your success. great job young brother
July 19th, 2008 at 3:45 am
saw you in waikiki at the hilton took a lot home with me .i will stayed keyed in to your message finally sat down watcht the secret food for thought were have i been all these years take care champion.