Chris Bruce's REI Blog

Start Designing Your Life

Chris — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:27:10 +0000

A mentor of mine once said “Stop DESCRIBING your life, and start DESIGNING it!”

Those were powerful words that really hit home for me. You see, I’ll bet I’m not much different than you and can find myself in the middle of a pity party before I know it. You know, it’s like those times your day got off to a terrible start and the first chance you get you’re compelled to share your experience with someone else. Can you believe it took me an hour to get here this morning! And then, I finally get here and some jerk is in my parking spot! This whole tirade can carry on and on, and in most cases, what does the other person say in response? You think that’s bad – wait till you hear about what happened to me!

That’s exactly what I mean when I said describing your life. Have you had similar experiences?

My goal today is to persuade you to see that by designing your life rather than describing it, you’ll be able to live happier, healthier and more fulfilled days.

Have you ever wondered what the catalyst or spark is for all of your feelings, actions and results? It’s actually your thoughts. There’s a reason 2 people can experience the exact same event and have 2 completely different reactions to it, and it’s because of the thoughts they attach to it.

Albert Einstein once said the most important question a person can ask is “Is this a friendly universe?” My take on this is that we all have a choice in how we perceive the events and circumstances we face. Another of my mentors Jack Canfield describes himself as a Reverse Paranoid believing that the world is plotting to do him GOOD!

Over the past decade or so I’ve invested a large amount of my time and money into my own self education. In that time I’ve discovered 2 simple ways to more consciously design my life.

The first key is to have goals. Without clearly defined goals you are destined to wander aimlessly through life, or at best play a role in helping fulfilling someone else’s goals and dreams.

In numerous studies, and indeed in my own life, the simple act of putting goals down on paper dramatically increases the likelihood of them being achieved. Tony Robbins says that people will overestimate what they can accomplish in a year, but grossly underestimate what they can accomplish in a decade. So write your goals down, and then make continual small progress towards their achievement.

The second key to designing your life is to feed your mind. If you’ll treat your mind the way you should treat your stomach and give it the right fuel it’ll reward you tenfold. One of the best analogies I’ve ever heard to help illustrate this point came from another of my mentors, Raymond Aaron. He said to think of your mind like a fertile patch of soil. If you want that soil to produce a beautiful flower garden what must you do? You have to plant seeds, and then nurture them with water, fertilizer and ample sunlight. Now let me ask you a question. If you don’t plant seeds and nurture them, is it true that the soil will remain in it’s original state? Anyone who’s ever done any gardening knows that the answer is absolutely not. If you aren’t proactive and look after that plot of soil, before you know it, it’ll be an overgrown patch of weeds. Your mind behaves in much the same way.

That’s why you must continually feed your mind with positive, stimulating, uplifting, thought provoking materials. The 3 best ways I’ve found to do this are:

1) Seek out and surround yourself with positive people

2) Turn your vehicle into a university on wheels. Listen to educational audio programs instead of Talk Radio and Top 40

3) Read more, and watch TV less

An interesting survey conducted in 2003 revealed that one third of high school graduates will never read another book again in their lifetimes! On the flip side, nearly every successful person I’ve studied or met has been a voracious reader.

In closing, I’d like to persuade you to take a more active role in designing your life. If you have goals for this lifetime, and I’m quite sure you do, I want you to take some time in the next 24-48 hours and write down a list of 10 goals you’d like to accomplish in the next 3 years or less.

Second, I want you to carve out a few minutes a week to read a book that can support you in achieving those goals. It can be a biography, a personal development related book, or just a book on a subject that interests you. Did you know that by reading just 10 pages a day, you’ll complete 10-15 entire books in one year. That’s a far cry better than never reading another book again. Learn from the materials you read, and discover ways to implement the lessons in your own life.

It is my wish that from this day forward you seek to DESIGN YOUR LIFE instead of simply describing it!

by: Dan Giercke

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Guy Goes From Negative -$30 in His Bank Account to $20,602

Chris — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:36:30 +0000

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3 Guaranteed Tips to Making Yourself Believe You Are Happier

Chris — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:23:48 +0000

True happiness is kept within ourselves. So the best way to insure you believe in happiness is to first look at what you already have access to, inside of you. Read over the 3 guaranteed tips to make yourself believe you are happier and then take a moment to think about how you could implement each technique into your life.

1. Appreciation- is available to everyone; it is an amazing ability to make yourself believe you are happier. I know, because I use it.

Tip: Start thinking about appreciation has an ability; like a supper power, you will be more apt to call upon it and use appreciation as something that gives to strength.

Appreciation grantees your happiness, because when you appreciate something, you think about the benefits. When you think about something giving you a benefit; it is more than likely you will feel happier.

2. Positive thinking- is also available to everyone as well. I believe positive thinking does need to be turned into a habit to make yourself believe you are happier, therefore you should implement something into each day that brings you positive thoughts.

Tip: Listen to one positive story in the first part of your day or read a quote. I have used this technique for the past 17 years and it really works.

Positive thinking grantees happiness because, just by thinking about the positive side of things, it makes you feel good inside which will more than likely bring you more happiness.

3. Let go- anyone and everyone can and should learn how to let go. When you can let go you will feel stress, worry and fear fall away from your mind.

Tip: Someone asked me why whenever they forgive someone it never really sticks; negative feelings always seem to resurface. I told them that it is true, negative feelings will continue to resurface and the only way to truly forgive is to re-forgive. You cannot stop negative feelings from creeping back into your life, but you can re-address them and deal with them when they do arrive.

This type of approach to letting go will guarantee more happiness in your life because, you will feel happier will less stress, worry and fear about the things in your life you cannot change, but you can only forgive, by letting go.

There are 100′s of ways to make yourself believe you are happier the 3 tips I suggested is a good place to start.The most important thing to remember is that once you start to believe you are happier you will be.

By: Wendy Mickle

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Evaluating A Property: What to Look For?

Chris — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:44:12 +0000

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Sandy C flips a house & makes over $64,000 less than 60 days

Chris — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:10:24 +0000

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Why You Should Never Be Who You Are Not

Chris — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:10:58 +0000

This is why you should never be who you are not. An attempt to copy someone you admire is not real. It is pretending. Who you really are is within you. You can try to capture some of others qualities, but you have to personalize them and make them yours. Copying how others’ make their living probably will not work because they are suited to their personality and not yours.

Attempting to be who you aren’t should never be done. This is why. Everyone is unique. You have to build your life on what you are, not what others’ are. You have to discover who you are and take advantage of it. When you have worked for a while you should get a feel for what comes naturally and you do well in. Discover your passion and work in the field that thrills you.

It is like working a puzzle. There are many different professions.You have to find the one that fits your personality, and your talents. Look for one that does not require the type of work where your weaknesses are. When you do what, you love, everything falls into place. You look forward to going to work. You develop your own way to do things. You become known for having a special talent.

Talent comes from within you. It is a gift from God. Trying to be who you aren’t will be out of Sync with who you are. You have to discover the gifts your creator gave you. Attempting to emulate others is telling God that you are ashamed of the gifts he gave you. He determines when and where we live, who we are, and what abilities we have (Acts 17:26). Let him direct your life.

We can learn from others. We can do what they do, and have their outlook on life, but we must do it our way. Let your own instincts and feelings direct you. What you do must come from your own heart and not someone else. It must be from your thoughts and desires. When you develop your talents, your passion will direct you to do what comes from your gut feelings.

This is why you should never be who you aren’t. You do not have the abilities, feelings, and other qualities that others do. You have your own and they are all you need. Learn who you really are and celebrate. You are a person created to fulfill a specific purpose. You can only fulfill that purpose by following your heart and instincts.

By: Lynn Bradley

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Make BIG Money

Chris — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:27:52 +0000

Everyone has a comfort level in which they live and work. It is determined by several factors and can be changed with practice and time. We have a choice of what we do each day, how we spend our time, and how much money we make.

This may come as a surprise to some people who are convinced their income is someone else’s choice, not theirs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your income is the result of one thing and one thing only…

What you choose to do with your time

“But Ron, you don’t understand. I have a job. I’m not in control of my salary; my boss is. He tells me when to come to work and how much I can make.” I guess you’re right. You’re not in control and maybe you never will be.

At least, not without a major attitude change. Listen, if you’re reading this article, it means you know the opportunities available to you as a real estate entrepreneur. So if you’re still employed, you’ve chosen to do so. No one forced you. It’s your decision and therefore you have chosen to exchange dollars for time, which is a sure-fire recipe for being broke.

Does this mean I think everyone should immediately quit their jobs and start investing real estate? Absolutely not. This business is not for everyone. Being in any business for yourself is also not for everyone. Is Real Estate Investing For Me?]

However, if you’re reading this, my guess is you’re not in that group. You want more out of life than a dull job, and you want to see some real money for a change. Am I right?

Maybe you aren’t employed anymore and you’re feeling pretty smug because you’re now on your own, flying free. No job! No boss! No traffic jams! No one giving you orders! Well, congratulations!

But before you get too full of yourself maybe we’d better look a little closer. You see, there is a down side. You have no job which means no paycheck and no boss making decisions for you. You’re on your own to decide what you do every day and worse. No one to blame when you screw up.

It’s you against the world. You’re on fire. You haven’t been this excited in a long time. No place to report in the morning. You can do what you darn well please. You see, my friend, that’s what scares me. What will you do with all this new-found freedom? How long will it be before you fill your days up with activities that accomplish nothing except filling your days?

If you’re not careful your poor time management habits and low expectations will lead you right back to doing no more than just making a living. You’ll replace your old job with a new one and simply change bosses. A new dufus will replace the old one.

Have I hurt your feelings? Tough! Get over it. Remember, I’m on your side. We’re in this together, and it’s my job to help make you better than all the employed or unemployed drones just drifting out there waiting to die.

Just because you don’t have a job anymore doesn’t mean you’re going to be rich. Rich people don’t waste all day thinking like a job slave and spend their time killing time. The rich focus on what produces the most revenue with the least work.

I’m no different than you…

If it will make you feel any better, I’m no different than you. I wasted a lot of years killing time. That’s why I’m so adamant that you don’t do the same. So, let’s talk about getting off to a good start. If you’re way past a start, let’s discuss amending your ways so you can begin making more money.

Incidentally, that has nothing to do with having more time. It involves using that time the best way you can. Whether you’re part time or full time you, have a choice of the deals you participate in.

You can either make a few thousand dollars because you feel comfortable with the easy stuff, or you can make a hundred times more on the same deal using no more money or extra time to do so. Again, you get to choose. No one else. Let me explain.

Get out of your comfort zone!

For years I dealt with low-priced junkers, usually in low income areas. I’d either wholesale for $2,000 to $6,000 or retail for $15,000 to $20,000. It was all I knew, my comfort zone. The thought of buying anything worth over $60,000 petrified me. I wouldn’t even let myself think about it.

I was happy making two or three times over what I used to make from my job so why bother doing anything better and upset the apple cart? Besides, I had bought and sold hundreds of houses. I had to be smarter than anyone else I knew.

The more money I made the more I allowed myself to think bigger. Gradually I learned there was more to the business than cheap junkers and small dollars. I began to learn the “pretty house” business. My threshold kept rising higher and higher as I learned that it’s just as easy to make more as it is to make less.

Now, you may be thinking it was easier to make more because I had more to work with. That’s the same stupid thinking which held me back all those years. Here’s some hot news right off the wire:

If you can’t make money without money,
You can’t make money with money!

Recently I decided to work some deals with students in all parts of the country. When I see them at events I make them the offer to call me to discuss those larger house deals they’re presently throwing away, because the numbers scare them. I tell them if the deal was doable, I might agree to be their partner.

Consequently, some called me with deals. At this time, I have about ten or fifteen deals in various stages of production. Let me use a couple of deals to prove my point. In many cases, including yours my friend, it’s not the lack of money holding you back, it’s the lack of knowledge on how to structure the deals so you don’t need money!

by: Ron Legrand

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Stop Planning

Chris — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:19:10 +0000

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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Do You See The Obstacle Or The Goal?

Chris — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:12:32 +0000

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. ~Henry Ford

What happens for you when you get a great idea about something you want to do-a new business, a creative project, a vacation and so on? If it really is a great idea for you, you likely feel a sense of excitement about it. I’ve learned that my feelings of excitement let me know that this idea is a good one for me-that it is on the right track regarding what is in my highest good.

What often happens next?

One of two experiences might occur:

Thoughts and images pop into your mind of all the obstacles-of how hard it will be to accomplish what you want to do.
Thoughts and images pop into your mind of how to achieve what you want-regardless of any challenges that might come up.

Which one most often happens for you?

Focus on Obstacles

Does the part of you – your wounded self, who is afraid of mistakes and failure – take over? What does this sound like?

I don’t have what it takes to make this happen.
I don’t want to make a fool of myself.
I don’t have the money to make this happen.
It’s too much work. I feel tired already.
It’s too hard.
I will never find the time for this.
It will never work-it’s a bad idea.
What if I fail-then what?
Who am I to think I could do this?
Other_____________________________.

How do you feel when you tell yourself these things? What happens to the excitement? Do you end up feeling down and discouraged? I’ve learned that feeling down and discouraged is my inner guidance letting me know that my thinking is off course. I’ve learned not to pay attention to negative thoughts-to say to my fearful wounded self, “I’m not listening to you. You don’t know what you are talking about.”

Focus on the Goal

As I said, when I’m excited about an idea, I know that this is my inner guidance letting me know it is a good direction for me. I trust my excitement, and I also trust that my inner guidance lets me know I’ve gotten away from what is in my highest good, when I focus on obstacles and feel down or discouraged.

Focusing on the goal, and the excitement about the goal, is what opens me to the ideas of how to get there. In my experience, it is this excitement and openness that help me find the way to do it. Some call this “The Law of Attraction”-that like energy attracts like energy. I have found it to be invariably true that focusing on my excitement about an idea brings me what I need to carry my idea into fruition.

My inner thought process, instead of focusing on possible obstacles, goes something like this:

“I REALLY want to do this! What do I need to do to make this happen? How can I learn what I need to learn to achieve my goal? Who can be of help to me?”

Once I see a direction, then I often pray for the people and situations to come into my life to support me in my goal. I have complete trust that this will happen-and it always has. However, it’s rarely instant. I have to stay focused on the goal rather than on the obstacles, and maintain my level of excitement about the idea, no matter how long it takes.

Henry Ford faced many obstacles before he invented the Ford. He went bankrupt before he was finally successful. We all know what would have happened if he had allowed the obstacles to stop him.

By: Margaret Paul Ph. D

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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How Real Estate Can Increase Your Income

Chris — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:17:36 +0000

Real estate gives various opportunities for people to increase their income and live a happier life. In fact, it is the considered as amongst the best possible way to increase your wealth.

The economic crisis that has spread its feet throughout the world has created a sense of insecurity among the people. Less and less people now prefer being a realtor. People doing jobs now feel a kind of insecure about their job.

As far as real estate is concerned, it is one of those rare professions that has sustained the times of economic difficulties. The main reason behind the survival of real estate is that many people are selling their homes to deal with their financial troubles. It is expected that there will be a new group of realtors in the near future.

Flipping a house for the sake of earning profit is also becoming very popular these days. This gives a person an excellent opportunity to make a living for his family and earning profits too. In fact, more and more people are considering real estate as their full-time profession.

There are several people who have shifted to a new place and are in search of a home. Whenever a person takes a home, some home improvements need to be done. People are willing to pay a little higher for the home that best suits their requirements and that need no repair work to be done. As a realtor or agent, you can earn a decent amount of profit here. The house purchased by agents can be sold at a high profit margin after doing some home improvement work. You will have to invest some amount on home improvement initially, but you can easily get back your invested money by selling your home at a higher price.

Another way of earning money through real estate is by renting property. It is very popular these days. People, who cannot afford to purchase a home, take homes for rent. There are many people who live away from their home for the sake of their job. These people prefer to live in rented apartments. Hence, you can easily get tenants for your property. However, before allowing any person to be your tenant, you must carefully check his/her background. Always make it a point to enter into a valid agreement with your tenants to avoid any kind of problem in the future.

Real estate is a very lucrative profession and you can definitely use it to increase your income. However, you must be very careful and keep your eyes wide open to observe every movement that take place in the market.

By: Daniel E Zane

C-Bruce "Mr RE Swag"™
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