I’m naturally a “burrower” when I sleep.  I nestle under covers & quilts turn to my side and grab memory foam pillows to prop my head in the perfect position.  I love that feeling of security, warmth and comfort and it is a place in which I feel most protected.

A few days ago while I was talking to a new joint venture partner, I referenced my sleeping pattern as an analogy for why it took me this long to invest.  I told him “For the longest time I hid beneath layers of blankets (excuses) and once I was settled into my comfortable position (lifestyle) I was so careful (fearful) of any moves that would make me uncomfortable (take risk – explore – action). “

When the ‘alarm’ (opportunity) went off, I continued to hit the snooze button (was happy doing the same thing over and over).  “Just a few more minutes (next opportunity)  I would tell myself – well guess what, those ‘minutes’ turned into years and decades of squandered wealth.”

The reason I avoided creating a successful future is simple.  It was going to be uncomfortable, it would sometimes be unforgiving & I was already set in my ways, why bother??

So you may ask what made me finally choose to ‘get up’ and ignore the snooze?  How did I fight through the anxiety of planting my feet in a cold new world giving up my secure income with my business?

I VISUALIZED THE ALTERNATIVE.

My forty years continued to bring me the same results over and over because I continued to do the same thing I had always done.  Same routine, same excuses and the exact promises to myself  such as “I’ll start next year once I get my stuff in order”. 

I was unhappy, stressed, exhausted, bitter, working long hours and still had financial challenges.  I was surrounded by negative people every day and brought that home to my family – which wasn’t fair to anyone. I literally hated going to work…and I OWNED THE COMPANY.

So the alternative was easy for me to see…A BETTER ALTERNATIVE.

Who was I fooling, up to then what I really had been doing was not working right?

I remember the day I told my wife “tomorrow it’s all over” meaning I was selling the business, I was out.  She asked “what are you …um WE going to do?”  I told her “I’m going to invest in real estate”.  The puzzled look on her face was scary.  She realized I knew nothing about it but also knew I had the courage to walk into unforeseen territory and learn to emerge a winner.

In my experience those looking at new ventures have a primary way of looking it: “What if it doesn’t work?”  When you start with a negative mindset from day one, I think it has a lot to do with your outcome.  I remembered this with all my businesses and the ONLY one I truly envisioned differently was my very first at eighteen years old.  The passion to succeed was part of my nature and I drove forward every way I could until I accomplished it.

Here is another key point – HOW do you know when you ARE successful?

Back then I had a clear VISION of what success meant to me.  It was having my own radio mix show – live on air.  Once I got there the passion was over…things began to dwindle and although I went on several years later as a world-wide remix producer…it was not going to be my final success chapter.

I burrowed for many years after that trying to expand in the same industry, but I set expectations.  I set final points that would force me to make decisions should it not work.  I refused to continue trying to make something work with zero results.

It’s YOUR CHOICE to CREATE your future.

You are the only one who must live with your decision or indecision.

I commend my wife (and my two children) for supporting me to take on this venture.  My back against the wall was the only way to succeed. Visualizing how NOT taking DIFFERENT action was exactly the remedy I needed.

What it is for you may be different, but I’ll bet you can relate to this post in some way.  Admit your fear and how you burrow under excuses to avoid investing in Real Estate or for that matter, just beginning to move away from something you do not enjoy doing.  That could be your job, your relationship, your investments whatever.   Now, get over it and look at your life five years from now if you decide to change.  You already know what happened by NOT changing.