I was never one of those “Dear Diary” types, but I love to read memoirs. This blog, BusinessToInvestment, was set originally to be my notes for the journey for a million dollars in 2 years or less. It’s been almost 6 months now and we have a few websites making money, but by and large, we’re not near the million dollar level we’ll need to hit YET!
I had to take my focus, and the focus of my team at LatAmConnect.com off of this project to fix problems with my two more active ventures: TaxLoopholes and my new tax services company, DKTaxServices.
Unfortunately, the passive income generators have suffered because of that. Today I was feeling down about it.
And then just now, I stumbled on a post I wrote on 5/24/08. It was the summary of where I was at that point and a reaffirmation of why it was so important 3 months ago. Everything I wrote in that is still true. It’s been 3 months since I wrote it, but I still feel that sorrow and loss that I did over a company that meant everything to me. I’m trying hard to not create the lessons or meaning off of it that I see my clients struggle with. In other words, I hear my clients struggle with issues today because of things that happened to them years ago or perhaps not even to them, but to their parents. I don’t want David to suffer because I made some choices in what lessons I choose to make to give meaning to what has happened.
Not sure that’s still clear. At a seminar, I might ask “What is holding you back?” and hear, “My dad lost everything because a partner stole from him.” or “Why can’t you have a relationship?” and hear, “My parents got a divorce and it was the worst day of my life when they told me.” (By the way, Richard and I are definitely NOT getting a divorce. If anything, the struggles over the last 10 months and the loss have brought us closer than ever before.) For my clients, it’s so real to see them hold back again and again because of the lessons that they or others took from a bad experience. Then, they have to undo that lesson, if they can, and try to rebuild a new one. How much easier to just never had that limiting belief to begin with!
So my more positive lessons: I have discovered the depths of loyalty and friendship from people who really matter in my life. I had some people leave who didn’t have the courage or character to stay, and that’s okay. I’ve made some amazing connections - Jorge and his crew at www.LatAmConnect.com. Brilliant programmers and innovators for a fraction of what you’ll pay in the US. The most amazing thing is that they will work with ME. These guys are phenomenal. And Rob Fore, wow! He’s coming to speak at my October Tax Strategy Camp and I feel so blessed that he even takes my phone calls. If you can make it to the event, you’ll see what I mean. He understand the whole Internet marketing model and makes tons of money, out of nothing. You have to see it to believe it. He doesn’t sell anything. He doesn’t have a building. He doesn’t have an inventory. He just makes money.
None of this epiphany would have occurred if I hadn’t gone back and read my old blog posts. Someday this will be a book. I don’t know the ending yet. But I know the setting - it’s the dawning of the Information Age. It’s still brand new and an amazing frontier for anyone who takes a step forward.
Thank you to all who visit here and leave comments. It’s the highlight of my day.
And, hey, if you don’t have one already - start your own blog about your own wealth journey.
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
>>..journey for a million dollars in 2 years or less.<<
I have observations/notations, but they are far from coherent thoughts yet. I continue to ponder!
First, there’s that disparity between the numbers who were attracted to the challenge, and the numbers who are working it. I can only say I find it interesting; I don’t know what it means. LOL!
Maybe it was the $1 million goal? I don’t know. It was intimidationg?
Or, maybe the discrepancy in numbers comes because the people who took the challenge were those willing to take action, no matter how it turned out. (The image I have in my mind, in a battle, is of the few brave soldier souls and their commander who are willing to charge up the hill into uncertainty.)
Everyone learning and traveling the e-path would probably agree, it’s not as easy as the revenue paths our our past. Still, for me, I would not trade this e-experience for anything. It is rigorous, challenging, and enlightening.
So, –to continue my vague thoughts– I wonder if maybe the surprise secret lesson of this journey is not so much about the money, but about commitment, character, and action…???
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:10 am
That’s profound Beta J. I like the comment about commitment, character and action.
I started out thinking it would be “start a few Internet businesses” but it has evolved into a journey of self-discovery and realization that the old Industrial Age economic system is crumbling. It’ll shore itself back up again, I’m confident. But this IS the warning. It’s the few tremors before the big earthquake, the tiny cracks in the dam, the unlocked door before you walk into a house that’s been burglarized.
If I were to describe the image, it’s more like an Indiana Jones-type action figure running for the door as the floor collapses beneath him.
OK, granted that’s pretty dramatic and I know there are a lot of readers here and at TaxLoopholes, particularly in the midwest, who are saying “Huh?” I suspect though if you’ve had a business in California, Arizona, Florida, Colorado or Nevada or any of the other hard hit states, you’ll know what I mean.
It will stabilize, I’m certain. Consumer confidence will rise with a new administration, I’m certain of that too. And, like other economic downturns in the past, the American citizens and the government will spend our way out of this crisis.
This was the warning sign. The times are changing. Two books for anyone who is interested in what is going on: “The Worldly Philosophers” and “The Sovereign Individual”. Change is rarely orderly.
And at the same time there are phenomenal opportunities to be part of this new economic surge. There is no clearcut roadmap. It’s the time for leaders and innovators and risk takers. And there is indeed gold in them thar hills.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Interesting imagery!
They kind of both involve uncharted territory, danger, death, and a certain rightness or virtue of purpose.
Hmm!
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
I was hoping when I volunteered for this challenge that there was a clear road map.
However if it was easy then everyone would be doing it. I’m learning, meeting new friends, and challenging myself every day.
I will keep plugging until this goal is hit.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I am full of similies and metaphors today. It’s like the pioneers who set out for the west in their covered wagons. I’ve always been fascinated with the people who do that. I’ve traveled part of the trail in Nevada (on horseback) and it’s very inhospitable. Why did they leave everything for such a dangerous excursion? For many, I think they thought it was the only true hope for their family. They were trapped where they were with little possibility for advancement. The wild west offered adventure and a shot at riches, or at least land.
They had maps, kindof. There were false trails and attacks. They fought the elements. Some made it, some did not.
Maybe that’s us on this new adventure. And the answer is to just keep going.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I look back on the trail as often as I remember to do so. I can’t measure my progress against the horizon; the horizon never gets any closer. I DO look back on where I’ve come from; that’s what makes me smile inside and gives me the courage to go forward.
I love roadmaps, clearly marked trails, a recipe to follow. But we are pioneers in an emerging age. The Industrial Age has passed and we are emerging into an age of Knowledge. There are no “permanent” roadmaps that I can find, but a lot of wonderful trails to follow, and some of them are really proving to be fruitful.
It has been 5 months since some of us took the $1M in 2 years or less challenge. The journey is very much like pioneering into unknown territory, or at the very least, following a temporary trail and then forging ahead into territory with no promises attached.
Diane, if you are referring to Heilbroner’s “The Worldly Philosophers”, I just pulled my copy off the shelf. I read this some years ago at another major crossroads. It was invaluable then and deserves a fresh read now.
One support that is helping me now is a mastermind group that I have had for a little over a year. There is something so very powerful about a collective support team. About 10 short days ago, I faced an obstacle in the growth of my business (well, truth be told, if was my own mental block about some old nonsense that I had been carrying around for at least a couple of decades) and my mastermind partners gently, but firmly, gave me their perspectives. It served to remove the distorted vision I had and allowed me to transition into a new frame of mind. This has propelled me into a forward motion.
I am not “there” yet, either. I AM, however, on the most exciting and rewarding path I have ever experienced. The framework, the foundation, the strategies are being built. I’m sure that increases the degree of success. Oh, just learned today that the root word of “strategy” is Greek, meaning “the art of the general”. How cool is that?
August 24th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Christine, Yes, I am talking about Heilbroner’s book. I think it needs an update now as we move from Industrial Age economics to Information Age economics.
Still, I’m going back to it more and more to read about the upheaval for so many people as civilization moved from Agricultural economics to the Industrial Age. There were a lot of people who became desperately poor as all the rules changed. Others made huge amounts of wealth.
Often the keys to understanding our present lie in the past. I believe the same thing is happening now and will continue to happen. Is the end here? No. In fact, I think we’ll have a couple of respites during this period. Most likely we’ll see some return to consumer confidence after the election. The real estate market is expect to begin growing again late 2009 for most locations. And then, in 2011, we could see another real estate downturn (unless the government intervenes). That’s when the vast majority of ARMs adjust.
In general, though, I believe the times are changing. A new generation, Gen Y, will soon be making their appearance and they are very, very different from Baby Boomers. And, they are just as big in numbers. They will be just as big a force of influence as the “pig in the python” Boomers have been.
And here is my heretical statement: I think real estate investing will become a niche market. The real money now and in the foreseeable will be made in virtual real estate.