Jettison the Candy Canes

Just a few short weeks until Xmas. Every year I try a strategy with my boys. I get one of those mini-candy canes and I put it in a highly visible spot in our home. I tell the boys when thet see these candy canes that if they wait they will grow and Grow and Grow. My plan is that every few days I get a bigger candy cane and trade it while they are asleep so eventually they would have one of those massive candy canes. It would bring out this wonder and awe of a mysteriously growing candy cane and an element of perseverance.
Now of course all they can think about is that little one before their eyes. So far no matter how well we lay out the plan they jettison the plans for a taste of that little candy cane.

I have experienced this on several levels with many people. One thing that I know about myself is that I REALLY believe in people and I want to see them succeed. Often times I have sat down with a person and helped them discover some personal goals. In doing this I have watched some pretty amazing and inspiring plans laid out BUT in the midst of tough times people jettison themselves from those plans. Challenges come and panic sets in and quick decisions are made that throw everything out the window. So this leads me to a few questions

1. How many times in our lives do we jettison ourselves from a preferred future in a moment of difficult times?

2. When are there moments when we exchange a better future to ease that sense of panic or fear?

3. Why do we avoid fear?

4. Are we aware that in the middle of those moments of panic those are the moments where we are able to find solutions and breakthrough?

In your dark moment... don't panic ... don't jettison yourself on the eve of your breakthrough?

Just maybe ... just maybe tomorrow morning there will be a bigger candy cane.

And Now for something Completely Different

I haven't really allow this side of my life to be expressed on this Blog ... I am an avid entrepeneur. I love to see ideas become reality and then monetized. I am always exploring ideas and finding ways to create wealth. Maybe in the near future you may see a blog dedicated to this avenue of my life, I am bouncing some ideas around about starting a group of entrepeneurs that want to create wealth together and explore and pursue ideas. These things are important to expanding our 'kingdom' influence

But for now I thought I would post this article that I wrote for another entrepeneurs blog. This is one strategy that I have found to be working well.

Give it a read...



6 Simple steps to Creating your wealth.

There are a variety of options to build a wealth portfolio. I have a strategy that I have done that is working well, has marginal risk and would be considered a conservative approach. My primary residence is my source of building a portfolio. When I purchase a home I have a certain criteria that I follow. There a different options here depending on your own preference. I focus on new homes but it can be done with older homes... Just more hassle. A caveat must be laid out here... It does not always work as planned so a person must be ready to hold on to a place if needed.

1) Look for a new development in a community that is growing. New developments tend to want to get some of their first units sold. So pricing is aggressive and a quick research study will show that your best opportunity is in phase 1. The last place I bought I got a 3000 $ gas card as well as a good price. I bought the first place in the whole complex (keeping on top of the emerging developments always helps).

2) The strategy is to decide before you even move in what your magic number is. How much equity gain is worth the flip. My number is usually 40000 this will cover all your legal fees as leave you with some good coin.

3) Timing - when the market has grown and your equity is where you want it begin to shop around and kick the tires on some deals. Be prepared to move quick if need be. Our last place sold in 1 showing.

4) always always always... Buy something that will fit in with market demand. Don't buy a one bedroom condo in a community that is built towards young families. 2 bedroom townhomes 1200 -1300 square feet are good items right now because the market caters to first time buyers who probably will not want much more or can't afford much more.

5) Keep it rollin...try as much as possible to roll your gains into your next purchase. I have not done this in every case simply because I wanted to do other ventures but as much as possible let that money roll into your equity. You decide what that means for you... I like to risk and try new things thus I have lost a lot of money as well as made a fair sum.

6) Stick to the plan do this strategy every 12-18 months depending on the market and you should be able to have next to 500,000 after about 6-7 years ... Provided you keep rolling and do your homework.I have done this threetimes in the last 24 months and have grossed over 115,000.

Love to hear your thoughts...

What is your Question

I hear many times in many conversations with people emerging, submerging, diverging, or other [insert your own] a common thread. I am not sure where it comes from but its a common thread. "I want to know my purpose" "Discover what your purpose is and you will live a fulfilled life." This seems a bit of a myth to me.

We spend a lot of time in our lives looking for 'OUR DESTINY.' BUT I want to encourage you Rather than look for your purpose look at all the questions that you have... about life, about God, about whatever. Sift through all of those questions and find one. I would think that even more important than discovering what your purpose is, is discovering what your question is. What is your big question? The question you always come back to regardless of the shifting landscape of circumstances in your life. When times are good... the question is there... when times are Bad the question is there.

What is your question? that might shed a light on your life journey more than you think. Your questions say much about you and how you see you world. There is no such thing as a wrong question.

Some might say "Who Am I?" for others it might be "Am I good enough?" For others it might be "What next?" or Why?

Take a moment to think it through and then if you dare... Post your question?

FYI - for all you who like to 'fix' others please refrain ... the purpose of this exercise is one of self discovery in a learning community.

Uncertainty

I figure with some blogging happening on truth and certainty . I want to mention I think that the most certainty I have on anything is that we are in times of uncertainty.

Within uncertainty it is more important to identify direction rather than destination. Goals should be replaced by ethics, and transparency enables leadership and management to face uncertainty & complexity in an unknown future.

We must learn how to thrive and grow in uncertainty rather than trying to find certainty.

Agree disagree?

'Nothing' is the space for everything. Live with Negative Capacity

Oh and BTW I am very excited that Kim has decided to enter the world of Blogging