Calling you out?
Hey there, JP Moses here — but only for a minute…
I’m here today to introduce one of AwesomeREI’s extraordinary investor contributors: Awesome Alex.
Alex is taking over this blog post space, and I thought you might want to know a little about him before you dive into the awesomeness he’s going to share.
Some of you are familiar with him already from our Daily Dose of Awesome emails. So for those who aren’t, meet Awesome Alex — genius investor, fantastic writer and smart businessman.
The Man Behind This Awesomeness…
Alex earned a BS in Economics, and then an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Southern California in 1992 and immediately put it to work — with 25 successful years of experience in investment banking, corporate finance, business operations, and information technology.
While living in Michigan, he got started in rental real estate investing in 2004 as a way to create a safety net for his family when the automotive industry there started to crash and burn.
Alex began by buying single-family houses and quickly built a nice portfolio of cash-flowing rentals, eventually shifting to apartment buildings. He certainly is not a bragger, but I think it's important to note that he’s had tremendous success — in the millions — which speaks to his credibility and longevity in the industry.
He’s written books and founded two remarkable companies — one is a real estate education and training company, the other is a private equity fund. When he’s not crushing REI, he’s a husband, dad of four, community supporter and volunteer.
And with that, I’m think it’s time to turn it over to the well-accomplished Awesome Alex. Enjoy…
Heya…
You know, I hate talking about new year’s resolutions. I think they’re stupid.
Why?
Because if it's so important to change something, why do we have to wait until the page on a calendar flips? Why not make an April 4th resolution or one on October 10th?
I just don’t get it.
So, here's a suggestion for you: make 2 very important resolutions – today — regarding your real estate business… especially if you’re a newer player in the real estate game or have yet to feel great about your accomplishments or progress so far.
If that’s you, I’m talking directly to you…
So, why 2?
Because if you’re new in the business, or you’ve been in for a while and are just spinning your wheels, then there are really only 2 things that you need to do. And they don’t include attending yet another “free” seminar by that traveling TV guy or dropping a wad of cash on another coaching program.
2 things. That’s it. They are…
1. Dive into the Deep End
Let me be blunt — you need to get moving. I mean today. Not this afternoon. Not after dinner. Do something — right now — that’s specifically focused on putting money in your pocket.
The road to success in real estate investing is littered with the bodies of people who are still looking for one more book; or one more seminar; or just one more nugget of information that will give them the critical mass necessary to take the first step.
With all the information out there, it’s an easy trap to fall into.
Let me give you an example…
Back in early 2008, I decided that I was going to buy my first apartment building. I attended a couple of seminars; attended a couple of local networking groups dedicated to apartment buildings; bought some books and courses.
Then I got busy looking at apartment buildings. All told, I spent about 90 days learning, and then closed on my first building (20 units, $900k) in less than 90 days after I finished learning, using none of my own money.
And I knew absolutely zero about apartment buildings when I started the process.
My point isn’t to brag. Far from it. I know people who bought bigger and better apartment buildings much quicker than that.
No…
My point is that some time later, I ran into a group of people who had attended the very same apartment seminars and networking groups that I did back in 2008. Not one of them had ever even gone out and looked at an apartment building, much less bought one.
I asked them why. Every single one of them said that they just didn’t “feel like” they had enough information to get started. 7 years later.
The knowledge gap that you have before you may seem like the Grand Canyon. It’s not. It’s a gap the width of a sidewalk crack.
So get your butt in gear. Right now!
2. Take Massive Action
I had heard about this “massive action” thing multiple times when I was just getting started in real estate investing, but I had no clue what it meant.
So I did what a lot of investors do — I dipped my toe in the water and proceeded with extreme caution. Why? I have no idea. Fear, probably.
So I did my direct mail. I made my ridiculously cautious offers. I turned the crank on my business at a rate that was comfortable for me.
And after 2 full years in the business, what did I have? 3 measly rental houses and 1 wholesale deal under my belt. That’s it.
I was disgusted at the end of the second year when I looked back at how little I had accomplished and all the time I had wasted. And right then and there I decided to change things. I joined an active local real estate networking group. I carved out more time to spend on my business. And I started treating it like a business.
And because of all that, without even knowing it, I had taken “massive action.” How ’bout that!
When I looked back after year 4, I was blown away. I was up to 11 rental houses, I had done 3 profitable flips, and I had done another 10 wholesale deals, even though flips and wholesaling weren’t even my focus. The most amazing thing, though, was that pretty much all of that activity had occurred within a short 16-month window.
That’s massive action. And it built an awesome foundation for my future investing.
Hey, you. Yeah, you…
If you’re just starting out or if you’re looking to do a reset — this is me calling you out…
I don’t care what your LLC name is. I don’t care if you have business cards. I don’t care if you have an 800-number vs. a local number, or if you know what contracts to use. All of that is meaningless window dressing and none of it matters because it won’t put one dime in your pocket.
What you need to do is get going and start making a mess. Today. As in right now. You can figure out how to clean it up later.
After you’re done counting your Benjamins. 😉
Get ‘er done,
—Alex
P.S. Let's hear your thoughts. Can you relate? Or perhaps, Alex made you realize a thing or two?
I am definitely ready to get started here and now!
Its 12:36 am in Florida and I can’t help but dive in !!!
You are so real!! I love it… I’m in my 50s, I have all was been interested in real estate, and have attended a many of seminars… Yet never doing any thing, because of the money.. I always thought it needed to come directly form my pockets.. And as a single mother I never saw a way that could happen… Thanks to folks like you now I know better and I’m ready to dive in.
Well ; Let’s get it done
let’s go!!!
I’m retired and ready to put the time an effort to make big $$$
I done RE appraising and working all the time, I retired an ready to make $$$.
I am so excited to get started, especially when I have all the resources at my fingertip.
I going start my real estate career now.
I don’t recall how many hotels I’ve been to over the years. I do remember giving my money away without all the support and hand holding I was promised. I can also relate to seeing people later who were as gun ho as myself and they now work at Walmart. I feel a little bit accomplished because I went and became a REALTOR. But If I’m honest, the money I make is laughable. How far did I really come? Hoping this helps turn things around.
I am selling mobile home in parks. Real estate is almost the same transaction! The difference is the park?. I think real estate is much easier, because there’s no park rent!…
I have spent a a lot of time and money on lots and lots of shiny objects, with no worthwhile results. I feel like by now I should know just about everything a person could know about Real Estate. I believe the problem is information overload, like 3, 1000 piece board puzzles mixed up in one box. Where do you start?
For quite a while I have been seeing Lee Arnolds programs, and recently became aware of his ministry.
I am not even sure of what I did to get it but, I recently received a copy of Lee Arnold’s book “The Circle of Wealth”. I am about half way through it and It has been opening my eyes to what I have been and what I truly should be.
As a matter of fact I read yesterday that I need to take advantage of opportunities that come up, quickly and I was extremely surprised to find this offer the very next day.
The book has been a great inspiration and after watching and listening to Lee and Alex it is plain as the nose on my face, that this is the program and the organization that I have been looking for.
So thanks gentlemen and my God bless you for the work you do. sO LET’S GET STARTED i CAN’T WAIT.
Iam very excited to get my 1st deal done I’ve already located several deals that I can get started with and I even have a qualified buyer how do I get the funding?
New member here and very excited to be on the investing edu side of the biz. I’m a niche girl, I love niches and when I looked for it in 2006, i got into the foreclosure market, then a year later became a short sale negotiator and loved it. I mastered it before the 2008 crash hit so the work load blew up after that. Then I kinda burnt out from it after 6 years and went back into web design and graphics until …..the itch came back and I wanted to find my RE niche again. I just got the email for this and thought it’s time to get back into REI and here I am ready as ever. Look forward to meeting other members and getting to know Awesome REI team.
Finally, put a deal there, and i buy it and i sell it and do 3 more today, Coolest setup even for a 70 year old car mechanic!
Aloha ..i dont know anything about realestate..can you tell or what to look up or start off as a nobody to this?
Can’t wait to get started thanks for the great opportunity
I did the exact same thing you guys did and nothing get me anywhere but sitll looking I hope this is it!
Hey guys, thanks to the whole team I will DEFINITELY be utilizing and I’m diving in head first. Procrastination has never been huge for me, but I think everyone is guilty of some level of it; that will not be the case for me any longer. Funding was one of my huge hurdles and I have access to that now. You guys are creating a monster, and I look to be posting my success stories (plural) in the not so distant future. Thanks again.
Excited to be here!
Excited to be on board!!
As someone coming out of education, this is really brand new to me, but I believe with my faith in God, the support offered here in “the deep,”and my willingness to take massive action, I can finally see success in real estate.
Thanks.
Hi Alex I am very excited I’m committed and I’m ready to get started
Oh Alex thank you. Were have you been all this time Im searching for you. Lets get going IM ready to make some dents in the REI business. No time to waste. I want to see the dime not the Time.. lol. Got it?.. The dime.. no wasted time!
On my way I have taken the first step now move forward
Thank you Alex, it is time for me to rock and roll! I have spent 30 years taking classes and seminars. I have wasted a lot of money! I am ready to rock!
Hi! Alex Edwin Peete on March 31 I jump in the lake I am 73 on fix income and had to borrow fund to get started I don’t have time to play.
I would Like TO get marry again, but if you buy a cow for milk and butter, you got to be able to FEED IT. looking to buy a small home NEED TO GET DOWN PAYMENT, so I need to make real Money.. LET ROLL
i believe all the support and resources are provided with this program. I’m all in ! Success is inevitable !!!
Thank you Mr. Larry for this motivation, I can’t wait to get into the the training, I am ready.
I just would like some help and guidance with getting my first deal to fix and flip, wholesale, broker or whatever comes my way. I’m very anxious about getting started because I would like to possibly retire and invest in real estate full time.
Hi Alex I’m hitting a brick walls I have a property in Detroit I’ll pay for it right now I’m just paying the taxes on the property now I want to rehab it and make it two unit but it’s hard to get the funds in order to do that and I have the opportunity of buying some lots and I know within a couple of days if I have it what can I do to start have an income coming in because my income is going fast
Good day, I am so jazzed about getting started. After the training, replaying video, taking notes & keeping up with JP’s jokes, I want to see myself in 6 months or sooner.
Thank you so much.
Ray
Hello Alex stuck in a rut bought a duplex 2009 not moving like i hoped ready to get moving
Keith
Greetings mentors,
I need no excuse to be playing with great coaching and the motivation is ALL on me so let’s roll here ,, please lead the way
Alex, can’t wait that was my last of my money to invest in your program. Let’s get started for 2021.
I am in the same boat. Had to squeeze and squeeze to come up with the money.
Hey Alex looking forward to the challenge.
Cannot wait to get into the training, I have waited long enough
I think what we need!. Real good teacher. Teaching step by step
I am really looking forward to a bright and prosperous future working with you Alex!
I’m ready, and willing!
Thank you for all the enthusiasm on your presentation I am very excited about how I want to start right away. I been waiting for a real opportunity to get me out of my frustration of doing everything to survive.
Looking forward to getting funding. Banks are impossible to work with and hard money lenders have cheated us in the past. WHAT TO MAKE MONEY NOW !!!
Im brand new for now, I have watched some of my friends ,start and win, and left their job, now its my turn, finally not afraid to find a deal, because i have access to funding, I lost out on fantastic deals because of no funding,i’ve had friends with tons of money but they were satisfied with stupid returns from CD’s , Like 1800 return on 360000 in a year ,What are you nuts? their response was just as stupid. Good bye to all of them Start a New with smart People and money!!!!! Yeah
Hello, I have been trying to reach you for a couple days to see about getting a refund, because I am not made to do Real estate! There is to much much information to go over and I live by myself and I just don’t have the time to really concentrate on the info that I need to start making a better income. Thank You.
Hi Alex. Thank you……Been looking for a chance to get ahead. Been the 9 to 5 road. It was good but
not a way to get ahead.
Ok Alex, it took me a few “think about it’s” before signing up. I don’t move real fast, but I’m ready to go.
I here you !!been there and done that! had enough of doing nothing lets rock
Looking forward to a bright future with your help
Im ready Alex, this is new to me , but with the help and new information, great
Hi Alex, glad I joined the family, looking forward to getting started.
Totally get it! Thanks for putting it so beautifully, Alex!
Now I gotta make my first move … on a Sunday… let me go figure out what that next move is … watch this space!
I’m the guy of mindset that nothing beat failure but a try, I’m ready to jump in water sink or swim Let’s get it
Ready to take massive action and take this to the moon!!
I look forward to finding invertors, learning what they want, and then going out and getting it for them. Amen!
This year is the end of a karmic cycle in my life and I have to start all over from scratch in all areas of my life.
Burn the boats! I’m ready to make a mess. I’ll clean it up later.
Yes Alex you just have to stop thinking if i can do this and just make an effort give it a try
Ready to jump in and learn everything I need to know to be successful at this thanks Alex!
Thank you Alex, funding and teaching is what I needed, I’m going to be one of many great real estate investors in the city of Detroit. I’ve been going back and forth for weeks trying to decide if I should sign up for this, finally took the leap of faith and I’m ready‼️
I’ve been tinkering with Real Estate Investing off and on for 10+ years. The bottom line was it always came back to finding the funding. Period!
Let’s just do the damn thing…!!!
I, Too am ready to get started
JUST DO IT IS MY MOTOR AND I LIKE TO BE ABOUT IT AND NOT JUST TALK ABOUT.
I am so ready to start a new chapter in my book!
i could write a book on all the failed dreams Lets write a new book!!!
Let’s work it.
Ready, let’s start. Looking forward to your help and guidance in making this happen.
Yes, I’m a newbie. I will do whatever it takes with the guidance and awesomeness of the whole team. Thanks in advance.
I hear you and I am taking the action. Spent years on class after class, book after book, seminar after seminar. Until I had a 40k deal slip out from my hands because of no funding. Did I get frustrated enough to want to really take further action. I look forward to the challenge. Thanks
I need help with financing. I have an offer and acceptance. I have the skills and mindset. I have an accounting background and have helped small business owners build their businesses for the past 30 years. I have no problem with
taking a calculated risk. I need someone to help with my first flip (this one).
I am ready to get started
Right now, am going to work since I know there are funds available to do deals.My problem has been lack of funds and fake lenders all over the place.
I am not much of a talker, but a doer, lets build a community together because we need each other to make this work we were never put on this earth to do this alone!
I always wanted to invest in real estate but was held back due to low credit and funding. You guys seem to be the real deal. I am ready to take action with some more education.
I’m ready to get started!
Hello Alex. I have 23 years experience selling Manufactured Mobile Homes in parks. I do the finance, escrow etc. I know with your help, i can make happen this business. Only i need to learn just one time the full transaction and after i will do my own the next?…
I’ve already had some successes in REI. Done some flips, started with full gut remodels. Totally jumped in with both feet. It was a bit messy but learned a lot. Have a few rentals but looking to add another direction and strategy.
This somewhat applies to me. I’ve made the resolutions and will post my REI progress in two weeks. Thanks!
I was a remodeler before covid struck and I repaired a bunch of fix and flips for folks. Now I can’t do any of this anymore because of what covid did to me. So my hope is to dive into this program and pray I didn’t waste my money that I needed to pay a bill with on a quick talking promise that doesn’t pan out. I’m all in hoping for help and results, so let’s do this!
You bring up a lot of memories in regards to spending money on seminars, video modules and never see a profit. When, in fact it was the lack of action and commitment from the beginning. This time around I will make sure that I get my ROI.
Alex, I hear you. I have very little money (lost everything in ’08). I am doing a total reset. I am all in.
I also lost everything in 2008 including a job as a RE Appraiser… lets roll!!!
Making a mess is mess is more than just stuff.
it is progressive and intentional dynamics.
There is power in asteroids colliding in the Milky Way,
that is for sure.
Hi alex im new to REI and i am very nervous about it but i gey it sink or swim just get in the pool….i all in
Let’s Rock!
Yes I hear you, Alex is a beginner, brought a lot of books and tapes, and never got off the ground, I look forward to the challenge, am all in, I have nothing to lose.
Hey Mr.Larry thank you for your in put i did the same thing bought tapes and books never got off the ground