Starting Point REI Journal

Not sure if this decision is right or wrong...But I jumped. I have holding a conversation via email with a young lady about a house in a small town not but about 25 miles from me.....and I had been kind of holding back b/c I had decided that I would focus on education and not try to jump out half together.

Well problem is the more I read here on DG.com I felt like I didn't need to let this one go...if nothing else but for the experience notch on my belt for gaining comfort on speaking via phone or emailing sellers. So right or wrong I set an appt to speak via phone tomorrow...Experience is the best teacher and I am ready to learn.

Glad to see you back and posting again. I know that last year was filled with its share of tough times for you and your family. I sincerely wish you nothing but the best in 2011.

Great news about your car loan!! Now that IS a good way to start off the new year

I couldn't believe when I read how you organized your bills because I do mine the same way with the folders that have pockets for both personal and business expenses. I guess great minds think alike LOL. For the business I keep all my receipts on one side and totals for monthly expenses on the other. I keep an excel spreadsheet for each month and another spreadsheet that totals the monthly expenses for the year. On January 1st these totals are ready for our CPA.

Did you get your bandit signs yet? I'm looking forward to hearing about your bandit sign campaign. We kept a sheet with the locations of each sign so that we could remember where all of them were when we picked them up.

How exciting that you have started talking with homeowners! I'm looking forward to hearing how these conversations progress.

Lea

sometimes experience is the best teacher. might as well step out and take the chance. sending good thoughts your way for the phone call.

OMG Lea I am so honored that you have stopped by again to my journal....Yes last year was way more then I ever thought I would go through...But God has really been good to my family and because of His grace and strength we landed on our feet and we are ready for what God has for us.

Yes we did get the bandit signs and we are going to start our campaign this week. We are still waiting on our truck so we are not wanting to go to fast but, we are making your plans now. I will keep you posted.

I love the way you have the business expenses organized...I am going to combine that with my personal...I did read on the site about keeping track on the location of the signs so we are ready for that.....Not sure what works best either placing on poles or using the sticks and placing in the ground. We also put together a phone script for whomever answers the phone that way we can find out how they heard from us ie. truck sign, bandit sign, facebook/twitter, phone book or person. We are really trusting God to go the next level.

I'm Ready for Results in 2011 and thank you for your well wishes.

Thank you for your encouragement. I look forward to your words...they just provide so much to me.

That step seemed so easy after you getting your first deal. I know it is all lining up for us

I did it, I got out of the boat and spoke to my first sellar on the phone. We had been emailing for a while and finally made contact.

She and her x-husband purchase this house on l/o with a title dead filed
Prior to our conversation she had not put much thought into l/o to another buyer. So we talked awhile and I explained what I was in needed of, she did not have much answers to my questions b/c I presented something new to her....but after our conversation she did say she would speak to the x and get back with me....OMG what a rush. I love it and I want to continue.

Oh well today I will be reading on dg.com and 2 books that I am reading one of Dean's and one on L/O.....I will also be completing my vision board for 2011 and clarifing my goals.

I am ready(SCREAMING to the UNIVERSE) to God and my angels. I am officaly I REI....Deals here I come.

I just got the quote on a newsletter email I just got and I thought I would post it here...it is super great.

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you'll make one" - Elbert Hubbardt

Today is a study day for me, I have gather so much information and just haven't slowed down to talk at the minimum half in....so I have set aside a few days in my week to do just that study and take notes also I review information I have taken in from this site, other sites, and webinars. I hope this allows me to gain understanding. (in all getting, get an understanding -God's word not mine)

Just wanted to log my actions.

I haven't heard back from the lady I talked to this weekend about her house. I am going to send her a follow up email tonight just to touch base. Since she was unclear on what they really want I figure I still have some of a change. (Wish me luck)

Results in 2011!

Congratulations on talking to your seller!! I'm looking forward to hearing how she responds to your e-mail and am wishing you luck

Lea

are you trying to confuse me??? i'm here in your journal thinking there's a new person posting in your journal and then i figure out it's you!!! good picture. sounds like you are doing very well.

I had to post a pic of me to show my face to others that don't know me, I have found in social media people like to chat with someone that the feel like they know.

I hope appearing to be someone new is a good thing. I am ready from big things.

My studies are going really well. I am learning alot and I am excited for what is to come.

I have set the goal of 5 L/O deals this year. I think that is good for my first year. I actually have my first 2 T/B and I am so excited about that. Funny is they are both interested in 2 different areas of town...and wouldn't you know it the areas I have not even really dug into....I know a little bit about both of them b/c I leave near by....(Singing, I so excited, I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it) Lol!!

I listended to a call replay by Joe McCall last night and he made me think my plan over again, I have not decided but, he said I need to get on the phone now and not be waiting until I understand it all.....I hear so much about REI moving too soon and not make the right decisions b/c they don't know enough.

So for now I am going to start studying the 2 parts of town that I have the T/B for I need to increase my knowledge of the areas. I also plan to get on the phone calling FRBO properties (Per Wendy Patton suggestions) Wendy says those are the best conversions and Joe mentioned that system too.

I have also been studying Dean's last book to get more familar with Greg's process....OMG I wish he had a journal. Once I get in the academy so I can chat with him on the call. Soon and very soon.

It is so funny you alwasy hear how you have to have a WHY big enough to carry you through the bad and low times. Well it is so true....But today my way has been enhanced just b/c we are having our first snow of the new year and I am unable to work b/c I can't get out of my neighborhood.....thing about it F/T REI are not out trying to dig their car out to get to work they are at home sleep or up but they are working and making money as we speak.

Thanks God for speaking to me through the SNOW. Today I will be on the grind - studying, posting ads, calling and contacting sellars/buyers and moving forward in my REI and the why is simply FREEDOM of it all.

Loving Life!!!!

talked to my daughters this morning and they had that snow in Tulsa too. their husbands couldn't work today. so, fun day at home to do what you all want. we are getting it ourselves. it is snowing and blowing right now and i don't think the roads are too great. i hope you enjoyed your wonderful day at home to work on REI. blessing!!!!

So I ended up getting a ride in to work b/c no one showed up for their shifts and that is the joy of management. So I have been at work now since 10am and it is 1:40 CST and I will be here til about 7:30am.

Oh boy, well I did take a break to get back plugged in.

I will post another to tell of my progress today.

I have a total of 13 inchces in the front of my house. I wish we could post pics..I did post some on FB- find me if you haven't I am - Erika Brown Coleman. Alot of me and a little of REI......

So once I got a bigger view of my why today, I got busy...well that is until I got a ride to work b/c no one else showed up....Another story or read the post to Linda above this one or maybe you already have. LOL!!!

Well prior to be leaving for work I sent 3 emails to sellers and started working on my yellow letter direct marketing campaign....I am so excited. I will be off tomorrow for real so I plan to continue on this project with my total of 25 contacts per week. I am following the lead, no need in rewriting the script everything that I have read from Matt Larson to Linda to many others the ratio of 25:1 is the hot ticket...so I am now on that same page starting today.

I will keep you posted on how it works for me.

Hope everyone is having a super great day/night depending on when you are reading my post.

So this has been a crazy week d/t the 10-13" of snow Oklahoma received....I ended up working over night and Tuesday which caused me to do much of nothing but sleep Wednesday..I was sluggish for the rest of the week but managed to get a mail out of note cards to 5 preforclosure homes. We also did a mail out for the Home Renovation/Repair biz (thank you cards to past clients). No bandit signs d/t the weather so have to move it to next Friday's To Do List.... I am really ready to get those up and see what becomes.

I made contact with 2 Agents today, I have always had soooo much fear about contacting Agents in the past I only made contacted with the ones I know and others I would send an email. In the past I have not gotten any response. So this time I sent text messages and one I had the wrong # funny how I got it off the website, so I sent her a message on Twitter. Still waiting on a response from that.

Because last week was so crazy I also need to get some cleaning done so while I cleaned I listened to all my empowering conversation DVD.....OMG what a rush.

So I reviewed my goals for this month and got them posted. Not bad for one heck of a week.

Tomorrow family Super Bowel Party....So till Monday.

you might want to contact Keller/Williams for REA's. i hear they are usually investor-friendly. my friend in Broken Arrow uses a REA from K/W and they have always been happy with her.

So tomorrow looks like it is going to be another Snow Day and I actually have the option to stay home....so with that in mind I am prepared to do some studying and make contact with FRBO. I am focusing on building my buyer/tenant list and also some deal. I will be doing some mail outs.

Since I was not able to take advantage of the SFL system that Dean offered I have been looking into some of the others that are out there. I like the way these system help you get moving. And take some of the grunt work..I know it is an expense but it could very well pay for itself.

I did meet a lady today which I actually already knew her I just didn't know her and her hubby flip properties. So has we spoke I found out that they were looking to add to the properties, so we are schedule to chat so I can get some particulars and add them to my list. She is used to doing more like assignment deals where I just pass her a potential but, I am hoping to try an wholesale to increase my intake. So that was a good move....just started running my mouth....and there you go.

Oh well just going to keep plugging away. Alot ahead of me.

I had to stop before I started, I had so much running through my head but, I was not getting anything done.

I had list of numbers and books of notes but, no action. So I had to stop and pray and really seek the Lord to make sure this was the direction that I was to go in....Now I know that it is and now I have to clear up my goals and start making my moves slow and steady.

It if funny how when you think you are waiting on God but, you find out He is waiting on you...waiting on you to make the first step and keep moving. You can only read and post so much when you are not doing any true action. You can not get hung up when people don't respond to your mail-outs, emails, or phone calls. You just have to keep moving.....it is a number game...the more you do something the better you will become and the information you get out the quicker things will start happening for you...

So I'm moving forward and I am not going to take on more then I need to but I am going to seriously move forward.

Thanks for being there and listening, I appreciate your words of truth...they want hurt. I am not sensitive.

i've been there and done that. in a way, i thought it was keeping me safe and secure, but that was a lie. i had to start stepping out and doing something and now i am. in fact, my phone keeps ringing and i'm ready to shut it off for the night.

Thanks Linda you are always there to encourage me either here on DG.com, email, phone, or text. You are like my REI Fairy God Mother.

Thanks for stopping by I think you are the only one that reads my postings.

I did research the stuff we talked about via email, still no decisions I just know I have to do something. Problem is money I can't find any to use to move this thing forward. And I think I am too scared to move forward with no mentor/coaching. Oh well I will talk to you later and post some more later too.

no one has ever called me a fairy godmother before. thank you.

let me tell you, i've made some real crazy mistakes, yet i'm still going. some people probably think i have a mental issue or something. if you haven't read my journal lately, check it out. i tell about what i did in there. you'll probably get a good laugh out of it, yet it looks like it will work to my benefit. i understand the money issue very well. do you have anything you can sell to get the money you need for mentoring? what about someone successful in your REI club? i know you mentioned Cory. also, what about the president of the club? you might ask if there is anyone reputable who does a little mentoring and let him know your situation. you never know....i'm still in touch now and then with my club president from Tulsa. there has to be a way!

I am so frustrated with myself and I know it is only an excuse...I see here that several in my same position have over come this same obstacle. I just don't know if I want it bad enough or what.

I keep thinking in my mind if and only if I had the money to start the mentoring program I could get started. I don't think I am a self started and maybe that is the problem...I know I want it, it just seems to be to dam much going on in my head to get focused.

Once again I am starting over and going back to reading. I know as long as I am reading I am not investing so I AM NOT a REI... And that is the part that makes me want to scream.

I have been trying to work on my contracts but, that is like looking at something foreign to me....blah blah blah..no understanding.

I just want to get started I need a simple 1,2,3 step outline....now that I can and will follow.

Oh well enough said. I just needed to get it out and and post it somewhere.

now you said it, what are you going to do about it? can you read through a contract one paragraph at a time and understand it? if you don't, then your sellers and buyers won't be able to ask you questions about it and you won't be able to explain it to them. you won't know what's in there either. i think with all these so-called "gurus" out there and the few successful investors we hear about, we have a tendency to think this is easy and we can do a few things and be in the money. that has been a real issue for me lately, although i'm now getting over it. once you're successful, it's easy to forget how hard it was in the beginning. it sounds like you are totally frustrated with yourself and you have to be kind to yourself. you don't know everything and you never will. i know you want to get to the fun part of talking to people and all, but you have to take care of the not-so-fun stuff too. i know you can do this because you've all ready done it for your family. you have gone through some very difficult times and you have made it through. you have a tough job and you do it without much thought. you help your husband with his business. most of all you trust God and have faith in Him. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! trust God to help you do what you need to and understand it along the way. be calm, take a step back and take a deep breath. if you can do what you have all ready done, you can do anything. you break it down into those steps that work best for you. yes, the coaching will be a big help, but it won't do it for you. yes, you'll have someone to kind of hold your hand for you, but it will still be you on the front lines. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

It's been awhile! So I thought I would give an update. I have a tenant buyer that has requested I help her find a house. Scary but exciting.

I have been recently working on buidling my business credit, got an account on the first try...Yeah!!

I also got my website almost complete and got it done for free...I also started a blog it is not just about REI but, about life and my journey to become better in multiple areas.

I have started working with a local mentor...I have always felt like I needed a coach/mentor to assist me with staying on track. I have this past habit of the start and stop; so I am really ready to make some changes in multiple areas of my lifes.

I'm ready for this to be our time. I ready for the abundant life in REI that God spoke of for me....

Just got off the phone with my life coach it is funny she really is not telling me anything that I don't know but, I like the accountablity and the one on one.....oh yeah and FREE...I know you get what you pay for I do belive that but, right now this is what I need. I can't wait to be able to pay for the bigger things.

So I am working with my client to find her an house...She is a single mom separated from her spouse who can't beat drugs...She has 4 kiddos, she has been on her job for 18 yrs and recently got her bachelor and currently working on her Masters...I love her story. She has agreeed to do some credit counseling with whomever I direct her too....THAT is where I need some help I am not hooked up with someone yet. ANYONE!!!

So now I am working on finding the property....I am excited now it feels real. I am working to keep my fire lite...it kinda went out in the last 6 mths just from life.

sounds great! good for you. so glad you didn't give up. you might check with your REI club about credit counseling. i found out about an IN guy from an investor friend and he is really good. if you can find someone more "local", it's usually cheaper and they are very good. if not, i have 2 national ones i can refer you to, but they are more expensive.

Hey Fairy God Mother of REI, I can always count on you for some good advice and feedback. Thanks for stopping by.....my spot! Well I have found one here local but, she doesn't have the programs that I am hearing about on the site...So that is where I am a little confused. What should I look for in the credit system to use for my L/O process. I want it to be a win/win.

Feedback feedback. Thanks

are you talking about a credit repair person? if so, i would do some checking at your REI meeting and maybe even some mortgage brokers. can you ask Cory? if you can't find anyone, let me know and i'll email the president of my Tulsa REI club. he might know of someone. they don't have to necessarily be in OKC, but if they are in OK, they are considered local. let me know.