Passion

• Its hard to get great results doing something that you are not passionate about. Sometimes we want top results but we don't give 110% effort or enthusiasm. How can we expect a better result, pay, bonus, review, or a better relationship, better friendship, better anything....if we don't put in 110%? A friend of mine went on several job interviews for jobs that he didn't want. He wanted the money, not the job. He was not passionate about his career, he was passionate about getting more money so that he can pay more bills. Needless to say he didn't get any of the jobs.
• Its hard to fake being passionate about your work, or your relationships. Why not just find something you are really passionate about, and find a way to make money doing what you love?
• Example- I was always fascinated with real estate. I remember being 12 years old, looking through the real estate classifieds, and learning to calculate profit and loss on multifamily dwelling rental properties. I did this from when I was 12 until I was 30. I spent my Sunday mornings searching for properties in the Daily News, even though I was 12. I guess I was fascinated with my parent's landlord - a Greek immigrant that owned several apartment buildings in Astoria, Queens. I also loved going to collect rent with my uncle and grandparents who owned buildings in Brooklyn. Imagine me,12 years old, and collecting rent. What a rush!
• When I was 26 I bought a 6-family building in Brooklyn and sold it for a huge profit 2 years later. But instead of re-investing the money in my passion for real estate, I sank it and lost it in the stock market - which I was never passionate about. I listened to others advise me about money, when I should have followed my heart.
• Several years go by, and I open my real estate office, re-discovering the boyhood passion I had lost. Now, I'm in the midst of a few real estate short sales, flips, and I am looking to buy a shopping plaza. I'm also selling my house for more than twice what I paid for it, and buying a new house in long island for 35% below market value. The boy in me is alive and kicking, and its an incredible feeling to wake up looking forward to going to work and finding new ways to make money. I'm looking forward to collecting rent again.
• Some of us don't know what we're passionate about. I'm passionate about making money from real estate. But I spent years at jobs in apparel, retail, and planning. Why did I deny myself my passion? Its makes no sense to me at all. The same friend I mentioned is passionate about physical fitness, martial arts, helping young people, and entertainment. But instead, he's looking for a job in the exciting world of purchasing. After he finds a job in this field, he's going to start losing interest in about 4 months, and start giving less and less of an effort. Then he's going to look for another job, probably in the equally exciting world of accounting. My suggestion? This fellow needs to do what he loves on the weekends or nights, until he can find a way to make money at it. If he's passionate about martial arts, then he's going to be great at it, and people will automatically start asking for private lessons or for him to open a school. It will work out, it always does because one's level of passion determines one's level of commitment and enthusiasm. He's also passionate about entertainment, but he does nothing to submerse himself in that field in order to learn the entertainment business. His excuse is the same as everyone else's - I don't have the time, I don't have the money, my spouse is holding me back, etc. The only thing stopping him is fear. Fear of change, Fear of success.
• Its always hard to stop a Corvette going 90 miles an hour. Its always easy to stop a beat up Chevy going 20 miles an hour. When you're passionate about something, you're like a fast sports car. Besides, who wants to be a beat up Chevy their whole life?

Don't Live a Mediocre Life

• At some point in our life we become accustomed to mediocrity. A mediocre cup of coffee. A mediocre raise. A mediocre performance at work. A mediocre relationship. We know that we are capable of putting out excellence, but why bother? We know we can do so much more with our lives...but for what result? I know someone that is fed up with living in mediocrity, but is scared to do something about it. Change is hard, especially, when you are the one that needs to be changed. Life can get away from you if you don't steer in the direction that you want to go.
• Ever drive your car without holding the steering wheel? In a matter of seconds you're headed in a direction that you did not choose. Same with life. Going through life without making a decision is the same thing. If you didn't decide to be unhappy, or poor, or unsuccessful, or where you are today, then you got here because you simpy didn't make a decision (didn't hold the steering wheel.) Some of my friends are Ivy Leaguers, or have masters degrees, or have lots of money, but can't steer in the direction of their desire.
• Make a decision. Decide to be happy. Decide to be a success. Decide to be rich. Decide to help people that need your help. Decide to move every day at least one step in the direction that you WANT to move in. Take control of your destiny. Take control of your steering wheel. Decide where to go, and do one thing every day to move in that direction. If you can't do anything, start by visualizing your happiness for half an hour daily. Thats a pretty powerful start. Keep a journal to keep track of your movement in the direction of your choosing. Hands on the steering wheel starting today. This is how I started. This is how I got here. It works.