business needs you to be focused on what is at hand. NO. 2 Are the people teaching the course people I would like to be like in five or 10 years? If you are going on a journey with these instructors, the odds are that your brain is going to spend a lot of time focused on them and their attitudes toward business and life. Make sure those people and attitudes are things you feel good about imitating, emulating, absorbing, or becoming. NO. 3 Do I have the time and money to spend on this opportunity? Money is only part of the equation. Real estate education is incredibly important, but sometimes you will find that you need to wait on some opportunities. Ask yourself how the expense will affect your family and your budget. There are seasons when you will have to prioritize time as well as money. Wait until your family will not suffer if you are not physically available to start attending educational events every weekend! NO. 4 Is my business ready for this at this time? Sometimes, you will encounter an opportunity that seems incredibly exciting, but your business will not be at the level necessary to truly take advantage of it. When this is the case, spending money on that opportunity is foolish because you will not be able to leverage the information you access during the event. NO. 5 Can I be an asset to the community I plan to join? There are many masterminds and master- classes out there filled with wise and experienced investors. It is tempting to join the most successful and experienced groups possible— as it should be. However, it is important to understand the priori- ties of the group and its members. If
there is a leadership group dedi- cated to educating and guiding newer investors, that is great. You can definitely be a contributing asset to that group. However, if the group is comprised of experienced inves- tors who are supposed to provide each other with professional-level insight and support or even financial support, as some investment groups desire, then you cannot expect to be an asset if you do not bring those qualifications to the table. NO. 6 Can this opportunity help me solve an existing problem or shore up an existing weakness in my business? Your business will have ongoing strengths and weaknesses, and those strengths and weaknesses will not always be the same. Ask yourself and answer with brutal honesty: Will this opportunity help me solve something I am dealing with right now? If the answer is negative, then you must seriously consider whether this is the right time to take advantage of the opportunity. FIND THE SILVER LINING IN EVERYTHING No matter how carefully you scrutinize an educational opportunity, there will be occasions when you misjudge its fit for you. Sometimes, you will attend an event and find that you are far, far out of your current league. This can be devastating, because you may feel insecure or even unworthy of being there. Naturally, this will affect your ability to learn what you can at the event and network effec- tively. Never let feelings like this control your educational experience. Remember, you paid to be there and they took your money. Even if you do not have the experience or wealth of
others attending, the hosts believed you could benefit. It is up to you to make the experience as beneficial as possible. Typically, the best “default” mode when you find yourself in this type of situation is to focus first on networking. You can always benefit from meeting new people in the industry and making a positive, memorable impression on them. Work hard to remember names and faces, ask questions that show you are interested in the answers, and try to figure out ways your businesses might be symbiotic. This is also a good policy when you find yourself in a situation where you may be far more qualified or experienced than the others at an event. Being generous with your time and attention—even if you would not have chosen to be in that situation had you been better informed—is always a good option. Be positive in every circumstance. Do not belittle your own abilities any more than you would belittle those of others. Just be glad to be in the place you are at the moment. That is an investment that will always pay off. •
Tom Olson is the founder and president of the Olson Group Network, which includes Conduit Capital, Good Success, Olson Group, Olson Property Services, Olson
Construction Management Services, and Sarah Jo, LLC. He is the author of multiple popular books for entrepreneurs and investors, including “The 30-Day Good Success Journey,” “Active Turnkey: The Best Way to Buy Rentals,” and “Investors vs. Contractors.” Olson hosts The Good Success Podcast, a popular podcast for investors and entrepreneurs dedicated to achieving true lasting financial success as well as true personal and professional fulfillment.
thinkrealty . com | 29
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter