Why people succeed – now there’s a question to kick off your 2014… I love it when in search for truth we overcomplicate things, and in the process remove ourselves infinitely further from the very truth we seek.  This is nowhere truer than in the field of motivation/success – it seems that each new flavor of the month coach in an effort to “prove” himself comes out with a new and improved method for success, each more intricate and complicated than the last…

MY MOTHER TOLD ME

One of my mother’s favorite go-to sayings is: Quit Looking for Brains Up Your Butt and those who know my mother well, know that “butt” is not the term she’s likely to use… 🙂

WHAT SHE MEANS BY THIS

The most powerful apparatus known to mankind is the human mind.  This is a blessing and a curse because engaged positively our mind allows us to achieve heights, however, the opposite is also true.  We can, just because it fits our narrative, convince ourselves that something is right and true even if it’s not – this is dangerous, and this is how I perceive the modern motivational industry.

Keep it simple – Stupid; that’s my mother’s message to me and my message to you.  And guess what, some of the smartest people who ever lived spent themselves pursuing truth through simplicity.  Henry David Thoreau, for example, went to live into the forest in an effort to simplify existence and reconnect with truth through isolation; he wrote about it in Walden.  The famed investor Warren Buffett reportedly has 3 trays on his desk into which he sorts all investment proposals that come before him: YES / NO / TOO DIFFICULT, which would indicate that “too difficult” is the polar opposite of “yes” in Warren’s mind.  Simplify – this is the name of the game of truth indeed!  Simplicity and truth go hand and hand…

WHY PEOPLE SUCCEED

Well – that’s the million dollar question the answer to which is truly a bottomless pit of opinions, which is likely why there is a multi-billion dollar self-help industry in the country.  Perhaps, in the interest of tuning out the hype we can simply consult the learned minds that came before us.  And if we do, I think we will realize that in lieu of pondering success, what successful people have done through the ages is identify reasons for failure instead.  There are only two, and the rationale is simple – avoid failure and success will take care of itself.  So –

WHY DO PEOPLE FAIL?

Here’s what people infinitely smarter than I say on the subject:

“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”

~ Buddha

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up…
~ Thomas Edison

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”

~ Winston Churchill

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

~ Wayne Gretzky

“No one made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”

~ Edmund Burke

“Nothing in this world can take place of persistence.  Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.  Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.  Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.  Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.  The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

~ Calvin Coolidge

SO…

The above quotes suggest in ways more eloquent than what is accessible to this author that there are only 2 reasons for failure.  One – not starting; two – not finishing what you’ve began!

Yes indeed – it takes courage to get under way in a new endeavor; to throw yourself into the rink with the wolves who want nothing more than to swallow your pride and dignity – but you must if you are to avoid failure by default.  Similarly, it takes herculean effort at times to finish what you start – again, you must!  Let us not waste time with the liberal arts explanations and hand-holding.  The truth is not easy, but indeed it is simple:

SUCCESS = courage to begin + determination to finish

The rest is just white noise…well – may be not quite.  My own experience tells me that in the world of Real Estate Investing one other element is necessary to achieve success.  Allow me to bore you with one more quote:

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

~ Derek Bok

Yes indeed my friends.  I’ve often said and will continue to say – real estate investing has but 2 speeds, and you don’t want to find out how quick the reverse can move…

This is why I created the Cash Flow Freedom University – to help new investors shorten the learning curve and avoid the pitfalls.  I priced CFFU at $295, which I dare say, in the world of real estate educational material is on the very bottom of the scale – I wanted for anyone who wants this type of education to be able to afford it.

But – it’s now the new 2014; a time to start again – to start fresh, and I am excited to be able to make you this offer:

ENROLL BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2014

AND PAY ONLY $235

THAT’S 20% OFF!

That’s right – all of the enrollments that come-in prior to January 31st will receive a refund of $60 within 72 hours of the purchase.  This is what I can do to help you on your way to a successful and profitable 2014.  If you’ve been waiting for the right time, this is it!

Good Luck with all of your endeavors in 2014, and please let me know if I can be of any help!

Ben

Photo Credit: h.koppdelaney via Compfight cc