I just received the following message this morning that made my day. The message said:
“In 2004 we got coffee and you told me about Rich Dad / Poor Dad. In 2008 you advised me and I bought my 1st condo 70% of market value. In 2009, inspired by your success, I bought my first 2 family. I just sold it and it’s given me >1 year of financial freedom to follow my startup passion.
Thanks for the advice and inspiration over the past few years. I wouldn’t have done it without your influence.
Slava”
The message is short and to the point but extremely powerful as at demonstrates what it takes to be successful.
Advice
Everyone gives advice but you have to be selective about whose advice you choose to follow. I personally seek advice from mentors who have whatever it is I am searching for and looking to achieve. If I was looking to lose weight I would seek out someone who has lost weight and has the body that I want to have. I would look for someone who has already gone through the process, they have gone through the ups and the downs, and they achieved the result I am looking to achieve. Obviously then, it would make sense that I would listen to their advice. Similarly, Slava was looking to invest in real estate. He saw and wanted something that I had achieved, so he asked for advice.
Action
Equally important though, Slava not only asked for advice from the right source, he listened to the advice and took action. Too often we search for advice but then do not take action on it. You commonly hear successful people talk about the importance of having coaches and mentors. In addition to having a coach or mentor, successful people also take action on advice they receive.
Stay Focused & Committed
You’ll notice that Slava’s journey started in 2004 and his big victory came in 2012…..8 years later! I know Slava has had additional successes during this time frame as well as breakdowns and obstacles that have shown up. The key is staying focused and committed to the goals you set for yourself. Especially in today’s society, we are often looking for the “next big thing” or “shiny object” to chase or pursue. When we don’t get immediate results or we find out that it’s going to be harder than we thought to achieve our goal, we start to look for the quick fix or the next big thing that is going to give us everything we want right now. The problem is that doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as an overnight success. What you end up doing when you chase the next big thing is actually creating more obstacles to achieve your original goal. Chasing the next big thing takes you off track. Achieving your goals takes courage, commitment and dedication to stay the course.
Inspiration
Slava mentions his gratitude for inspiration. Inspiration is so important to achieving your goals because guess what….it’s not easy! If it was really that easy everyone would achieve their goals! Inspiration is what keeps you going when you feel like stopping. When you reach the point where you think you can’t go any further, you are ready to throw in the towel, inspiration is what propels you back into action. Inspiration allows you to think the impossible and it’s what has you be crazy enough to go out and make the impossible, possible.
To Your Success!
