Several folks have written to me to express their thanks for turning them on to different educational opportunities, and I wanted to pass on parts of our conversation because I think it may be helpful to those of you that will take the time to read this.
What do you look for in education?
Personally, I look for educational materials that I feel will be of benefit not only to me, but for my friends, clients and students as well.
As you might imagine, opportunities to acquire courses or go to seminars may not (ok, usually don’t) coincide with my current focus or schedule so even though It might not be used “right now” if I think it’s something I’m interested in and I want to take advantage of the offer, I will get it and stick it into the library. Since I have a regular habit of reading it will eventually get read. If I’m not interested, I click delete. It’s that simple!
I’m also the kind of learner that learns best “live and hands on” and I like to have the course for back-up and reinforcement, so I may jump on an opportunity and squeeze the seminar into my schedule
But what if they “sell” at the seminar?
Call me weird, I hope they do sell, because when I find something that interests me I want the person that’s showing it to me to let me know everything they know that helped them so I can have the opportunity to make a decision whether I want to take advantage of it or not. That said, if it’s nothing but sales with no content, believe me I’ve walked out of those events and made the most of it by taking the rest of the time as a mini vacation! Then I got a refund. <G>
How do you know what to get?
The way I personally do it is to listen to my “gut”, if it “feels” like something I “might” like and tweaks my interest, I’ll order it. Especially if it’s in a subject I’m already into or might like to be. When it arrives, I will go through it quickly skimming through the material and if I don’t like something, back it goes. You know if something is right for you and when it isn’t. And yet it doesn’t happen all that often that I send something back
What do you recommend?
As far as the things I recommend, I pretty much stick to things that are of interest to me and where the author is someone I know personally or belongs to my mastermind group simply because of the caliber of people that are members. I believe that they will treat people right. When I get the feeling something might be good to recommend to my customers and friends, (and believe me there are plenty of things that come across my desk that I don’t) I pass it on because over the years I’ve learned something very simple about educational opportunities:
One deal alone repaid every single dime I ever invested in my education and then some. And some, and some, and some… : ) So I’m a big believer in budgeting at least 10% of our income on education. Do you? If you’ve received my simple financial plan and are using it, you know you should be!
And because just like I learned about real estate investing, I believe you should train yourself to say “yes, I’ll take it, unless I change my mind and I can always say no later” regardless of the opportunity
That’s why we have “subject to clauses” in real estate purchase offers, which in the case of other things might be called a money back guarantee. I’ve said “no” first while wanting to “think it over” and have lost out on tremendous opportunities (super nice mobile home parks to name a few!) to someone else that had learned to say yes, get the deal tied up first, THEN look things through and think it over. If it’s not right for you AFTER you’ve looked it over, then say no and get out.
But I get so much email
I know, and I thank you for being on my list. Personally, I am on many different peoples lists because there’s NO WAY I could be aware of everything that’s going on and everything that’s available, so I look to others to make me aware, then give me an OPPORTUNITY once in a while. What I do with it is up to me. That’s why I pass on the ones that make sense: I never know what might be the thing that will make YOU your next million.
I don’t think you’ll ever go wrong when you follow my advice. It works for me.