The presenter asked, “By show of hands, who out there has a 5 year plan?” About 200 of us were all packed inside a mid-sized training room at my company headquarters. I raised my hand. Looking around it surprised me that most of the audience had their hand up also. Apparently everyone these days Read more about Your 200 Year Plan: Your Legacy[…]
Did you know, today… – You’re probably going to get richer! Because statistically, Monday is the most likely day of the week that the US stock market will rise, rather than fall. – We’re probably in for good weather, too… Mondays have the least chance of rain! – There will be 384,701 babies born today. Read more about Today Statistics – Pre-Christmas…[…]
What is Financial FOMO? You’ve probably heard of regular FOMO, which is the fear of missing out. It’s when you worry or have anxiety about missing out on fun and memorable experiences in life. What about Financial FOMO or Investing FOMO? Financial FOMO is a little more specific to money and investing. It’s when you Read more about Financial FOMO: What, Why and How To Avoid It.[…]
When I was little, my Mum used to sneak love letters into my lunch box. It was embarrassing as a kid… I’d pull out my sandwich at school and the wrapper would have a big “I LOVE YOU” written across the top. Sometimes she’d draw love hearts all over my bananas and oranges with a Read more about Some Friday Love…[…]
Change your attitude = Change your life! November 2009, exactly 10 years ago… I was sitting in my tiny apartment on a Friday night, feeling alone and sorry for myself. It had been a long and crappy work-week, and I was exhausted and frustrated about where I was in life. My friends invited me Read more about Changing My Attitude… Changed My Life![…]
Watching long distance runners, there are 2 different ways people finish a race… Amateur runners, when they are about 100 yards from the end and the finish line is in sight, they start to slow down. They are so happy they’ve made it, they jog or walk through the finish. Professional runners do it differently. Read more about Sprint through the finish?[…]
Cooper (my dog) is such a wise animal. Today, he’s sharing with you his top 3 secrets on how he wakes up each day excited, happy, and content. (These tricks work with both dogs and humans…) 1. Know your purpose: My job every day is to patrol the street, protect the house, and make Read more about 🐕 Dog Knowledge 🐕[…]
Good morning! Here’s 5 quick stories from my recent Meals on Wheels adventures… – Last week I delivered to an old lady, and when she answered the door she had no pants on. Instead of acting shy or apologizing, she just smiled and shrugged her shoulders as if to say, “I don’t really feel like Read more about More fun volunteering stories![…]
“We become what we repeatedly do” I came across this quote recently and it reminded me to review my daily habits. I gotta keep the good ones and shed the ones that no longer serve me! As part of this, I have stopped drinking for the past couple weeks. It hasn’t been hard at all, Read more about 18 Days Healthier and $90 Wealthier![…]
Think of Monday as a tool. A day that is on your side. A day that most people dread or disregard. Thinking the opposite of most people gives you an advantage. Monday is a day to not just get ahead, but to get miles ahead. A day to be unstoppable. Ready to kick some ass Read more about Monday is on your side[…]
Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful Mexican holiday to remember and celebrate friends and family members who have passed away. This is my second year building an ofrenda at home. Sitting here by the peaceful candlelight, I’m thinking two things: – First, I’m thinking about the great lives these loved ones lived. Some of Read more about The dead need us, just as much as we need them[…]
Today is Halloween! And there’s some weird stuff going on tonight… – Americans will spend about $8.8 billion in preparation for Halloween tonight 🤮. – 22% of Americans will go to a haunted house attraction. – And 80% of those haunted houses are operated by charities! (It’s a good thing, because they generate ~$300mil Read more about Halloween – Statistics in the USA – 2019[…]
The Pessimists are always right! (in the short term) – Guest post written by Joel’s Dad! – Do you ever get tempted to divide everyone up into optimists and pessimists? Optimists are always looking on the bright side; “glass half full”, ready to accept even the smallest chance of success against the odds. Read more about The Pessimists are Always Right (In the Short Term)[…]
You get what your work for, not what you wish for. Back in my early 20’s, I used to hate Mondays. I sat in my cubicle at work just wishing my life would be better. Week after week, nothing improved. As I grew older I changed my attitude towards “work”. I realized my chances of achieving the things I wanted Read more about Replace Wishing with Working[…]
Steve: Hey Joel, can I borrow $50,000? Joel: Ah… that’s a lot of money… What are you gonna do with it? Steve: Well, I have an opportunity to buy a rundown house. My plan is to fix it up, put a renter inside, and then sell it to another investor as a “turnkey” rental Read more about Accidental Hard Money Lending[…]
FIRE is not a single point in time. It’s a lifestyle. If you follow a basic set of money rules it will lead to a financially successful life. The same thing can be said about TIME. To me, 5am is not a single point in time, or a number on a clock face. It’s a Read more about Classic “Money Rules” Applied to TIME[…]
Earlier this year I cancelled my Amazon PRIME membership. It’s not because I’m disgruntled or didn’t enjoy their service. I’m actually a huge fan of Amazon. My reasons for cancelling were: I realized the “benefits” of PRIME membership can easily be found elsewhere – free shipping, fast shipping, convenience, streaming, etc. is not unique Read more about Dumping Amazon PRIME[…]
I hate leaf blowers. Every Monday my gardeners come and fire up 2 loud leaf blowers. They circle around my house blowing all the leaves, dust, sticks and rocks away from my yard and straight into my neighbors yards. A couple days later, my neighbor’s gardeners come. They fire up their leaf blowers and blow Read more about I hate leaf blowers. — Don’t become one in life.[…]
self·motivation noun Ability to do what needs to be done, without influence from other people or situations. “Dan completes all his tasks by 3pm on Mondays and leaves the office early to hang with his kids. His secret is self motivation and staying away from others with bad attitudes.” Cousin Dan at Everest Base Read more about Are you self-motivated?[…]
It’s a fact… People have a better chance of reaching their goals if they commit to them publicly. That way, others can hold them accountable. So… I want to share one of my new personal goals with you in hopes that you hold me accountable and keep me on track. My Goal: To get a Read more about Let it be known…[…]
Property Managers are the backbone of your buy & hold rental business. While you’re sitting back and counting your money, they are watching over your affairs and handling all the dirty tasks that you don’t want to do. Finding a good property manager however, can be a hard task. There are hundreds of management Read more about Hiring a Property Manager? – Ask These Questions…[…]
Dr. Seuss is a legend. Got troubles today? Go get your baseball bat. Don’t run away… Run towards your problems and tackle them head on. Confront the bully. Stand up for yourself. The sooner you roll up your sleeves and get involved the sooner it will be over. Happy Monday. It’s clobbering time!
Last night my wife and I started watching the movie Yes Man. Have you seen it?… I won’t ruin the storyline, but I have a challenge for you: Start saying YES to things you’d usually turn down or say no to. Here’s what will happen… – You’ll expand your comfort zone and realize it’s much Read more about Say YES to more things![…]
Beyond the literal definition of Financial Independence, there’s a deep and personal meaning this term holds. Every time I ask someone “What does FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) mean to you?” I hear a unique and individual answer. It’s interesting hearing everyone else’s response. Most people describe freedom, flexibility and custom lifestyles, but no Read more about What does Financial Independence mean to you?[…]
A few people asked for an update on my volunteering efforts. Here are the highlights… Summary: It’s been about 3 months, I volunteer only 1 day per week at Meals on Wheels in Santa Monica. My job is to drive around and deliver meals to people who can’t source food for themselves. Some clients are Read more about Volunteering Updates…[…]
OK, so you’ve read about these so called ‘syndications’ and think you may want to give it a try… You’ve got a spare $50k in your checking account and feel bad that it’s just sitting there not earning any interest. Your friend one day says “hey, I know a guy that’s buying a mobile Read more about Syndications for Beginners: How to Vet Sponsors & Deals[…]
Monday Mindset: I used to dislike Mondays. A lot of people do. I used to wake up and think of the bad things the day would bring. I pictured all the crap I didn’t like about my work, life, or other people. And instead of changing the things I didn’t like about my life/work, it Read more about 20 x Mondays left this year[…]
Houston, we have a FIRE problem… Check out the results below of a recent survey: Are you as shocked as I am!!? 43% of people said they would rather be financially independent and miserable vs. broke and happy. Ouch! Why would anyone want to be miserable vs. happy? Since when does a big bank Read more about Financially Independent and Miserable 🙁[…]
Surfing is a strange sport. About 99% of time is spent paddling and waiting, and only 1% actually standing up and riding waves. Sometimes I’m in the water for 2 hours and only catch 4-5 waves. This can be frustrating for beginners and bystanders to understand. Why go through hours of pain only to get Read more about The Surfer’s Secret[…]
Today, keep these 3 wise monkeys in mind… Speak no evil: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Office gossip, yelling at traffic, phone etiquette, etc.. Be kind when you speak! See no evil: If you’re looking for flaws, you’ll find them. Instead, focus on the beauty around you and keep Read more about 3 x Monday Monkeys[…]
Yesterday morning I went surfing. I was sitting pretty far out, things were fairly calm, until I noticed a dark, blurry presence in the water next to me. Oh shit,.. I hate that feeling… Could it be a shark? Is it my time to go? I moved very slowly. Leaning down on my board ready Read more about Hello darkness, my old friend[…]
Newbie: “Real estate investing sounds so cool! How many rental properties do you own?” Me: I own 22 toilets. Newbie: “Huh? I was asking about your rental houses.” Me: I know. Let me tell you. Somewhere in Texas, there are 22 toilets that I own. Right now, and throughout the day, people are shitting in Read more about How Many Toilets Do You Own?[…]
It’s easy to stand out on Mondays. Be different, be happy, and don’t let anything (or anyone) get you down. Happy Monday, make it a good one!
SUMMARY: It’s been 16 months We’ve opened 8 new credit cards Received $6,565 in signup bonuses and rewards travel We paid $457 in membership fees so far A whopping $149,000 in total available credit lines Starting credit score = 764 Current credit score = 810 I’ve been taking notes every time I applied for a Read more about Credit Card Hacking – Personal Summary, Timeline & Notes[…]
🇺🇸 Today is Independence Day! 🇺🇸 Here is what we crazy American’s will get up to… – We will eat A LOT of hot dots today… About 150 million. – 37 million hot dogs will have come from Iowa. – And 70% of the lettuce in our salads was grown in California! – 26% Read more about 4th of July – Statistics for 2019[…]
There are downsides to owning out of state rental properties. Some of them can be combated with careful planning and extra ongoing efforts, while others are simply unavoidable. None of my rental properties are even remotely close to where I live. (In fact, the closest property I own is 1,463 miles away – just a Read more about The Downsides to Owning Out of State Rental Properties (And How to Deal With Them)[…]
Today is my first shift volunteering at meals on wheels in west LA. I’ll be driving around lunches and dinners to people who can’t leave their house. I haven’t volunteered my time since… well… actually I’ve never volunteered before. Well, better late than never! I’m not sure what to expect, not sure who I’ll meet, Read more about Volunteering – better late than never[…]
The Happiness Permit Today, I am holding a happiness permit! What’s a happiness permit? It’s an invisible permit that lets me be positive and optimistic all day long. – I’m allowed to be happy – I’m allowed to celebrate – I can to look forward to today’s events – Whatever it is that I Read more about Happiness Permit[…]
Hello and good morning to you! You know how sometimes on Fridays if you work really hard you might get to finish early and leave at 3 or 4pm for an early weekend…? Well have you ever tried doing that on a Monday? It’s totally possible. And even more fun than Fridays. They say that Read more about Mondays belong to the go-getters![…]
“Dude, how much did it cost you to take a year off work?” This is the question I asked my cousin many years ago. My cousin is now 35, lives in New Zealand, and has taken 2 separate 12 month career breaks to travel the world, spend time with family, and just enjoy Read more about How Much Does 1 Year Off Work Cost?[…]
Most of my surf sessions are between 5 and 7am. The conditions are perfect, there are no crowds, and it’s a great way to start the day. But it can be scary… Because when you’re in the ocean before sunrise, it’s completely dark, you’re all alone in open water, and all you can think about Read more about Most Sharks are Actually Just Dolphins or Seals[…]
Food is a necessity in life. Water is a necessity. Shelter is a necessity. These are the basic things we need to survive. But after these must-haves are covered, what is the next priority on the list? For my wife and I, it’s alcohol. At least that’s what our annual spending reports tell us. Read more about Alcohol and Finances[…]
It seems like a pretty easy rule to follow. People usually don’t intend to be assholes. But for some reason it ends up happening from time to time. It happened to me the other day… I caught myself being rude for no reason. So I drew the below flowchart to help remind me of this Read more about Rule #1: Don’t be an asshole.[…]
I never went to college. It’s not because I didn’t have the time or the money… It’s because I didn’t have the patience or maturity. Back then, I was an ungrateful little shit with a bad attitude towards education. I was convinced that school was for fools. In hindsight, the only fool was me. I Read more about No College Education – No Worries![…]
Standing out on Mondays is easy!… (Just do the complete opposite of what all the regular people do) – Be alert while others are sleepy – Smile and be happy while others are grumpy – Get stuff done while others are procrastinating – Work hard while others are hoping and wishing life will magically get Read more about How to STAND OUT on Mondays[…]
Yesterday I got some bad news. I was turned down for a job I applied for. Not just any job, this one I would have been perfect for, and I was very very very excited about the position and company. Rejection sucks! I’ll be honest with you guys… I feel pretty shit right now. And Read more about Rejection: Disaster or Opportunity?[…]
I’ve learned many life lessons from my dog. He is so wise. The latest thing he’s been teaching me is how to: Wake up happy and charge head first into every single day. It doesn’t matter what day it is, doesn’t matter what the weather is like, doesn’t matter what the stock market is Read more about Wake up and CHARGE the day![…]
A writer once visited Kane West’s house. As he walked in he noticed a massive poster of Kanye hanging in the living room. The writer asked, “Kanye, why do you have a giant picture of YOU on the wall?” Kanye replied, “Well, I gotta cheer for me before anyone else can cheer for me”. Read more about Cheer for Yourself![…]
It’s now been a full 12 months since purchasing the last fourplex property, and I’ve learned a TON of stuff during this time. The buildings have mostly stabilized, and my personal involvement has shrunken down to just a few hours of work per month. In this post I talk about property management, and share Read more about 4 x Fourplex Saga – (Part 3) – Property Management & Accounting[…]
In late 2018, I changed my primary investment strategy to real estate syndications. I’ve invested $100k so far across 2 different apartment complex deals, and plan to fund another 2-3 syndication projects in 2019 also. What the heck is a real estate syndication anyway??? To help answer this question I’ve asked Michael Bishop from Read more about Syndications for Beginners: What is a Real Estate Syndication?[…]
Have you ever met Richard Branson, the founder and CEO of Virgin? I’ve met him. Well, I feel like I have. Richard is one of my imaginary mentors, and we meet up every few weeks – in my mind. Now before you stop reading and conclude that I’m nuts, please give me a few Read more about Circle of Invisible Mentors[…]
I was out surfing yesterday. The weather was perfect, waves were great, and I even saw some baby dolphins jumping around nearby! I was loving life. But as I swam past a couple other guys, I overheard them talking… They were complaining that the water was too cold, the tide was too low, and they Read more about Why are you in the water?[…]
Sometimes I feel like the world‘s worst real estate investor. Even with all the books, podcasts, and knowledge I’ve consumed over the years, I still regularly screw up, waste time, lose money, and make rookie mistakes. I’m not alone… Perfect Investors: – don’t lose money, – don’t make mistakes – don’t need help Read more about Making Mistakes in Real Estate – We All Do It[…]
Do you have a really hard problem to solve? Something you’ve never done before? Pull in a team member or friend to help! Still cant solve it? Bring in another person for advice. Then more people, if needed. The more people you bring together, the bigger your invisible collective brain grows. And with enough Read more about Everything is figureoutable[…]
Three quick reminders for today: – Be present – Be proud – Be grateful It can be tough to remember throughout the day…. A buddy of mine recommends setting a few cell phone alarms at different times during the day to make sure you stop and think about things for a minute. Like the pic Read more about tres reminders![…]
Here’s a common question I get asked when people learn about my 5AM activities. What the heck do you do at 5AM every morning? The short answer is: Whatever I want! And the longer, more annoying answer is: It depends on the day. My morning routine and 5am activities change depending on what Read more about 5AM Activities – What Do You Do at 5AM Every Day?[…]
Here are some interesting statistics for you this Valentines Day: 72% of millennials say they would break up with their partner if they forgot Valentine’s Day. The average millennial spends $182 and over 27 hours planning their Valentines Day gifts for their sig-nif other. 54% of men in Italy dress up as Saint Valentine Read more about 2019 Valentines Day Statistics[…]
“Waaaah, my life is so hard. I wish I had more motivation to do my stuff.” Have you ever heard someone say this? Or have you said it yourself? Well instead of motivation, what might be needed is just a little discipline. There’s a big difference between motivation and discipline. – Motivation is fleeting – Read more about Motivation vs. Discipline[…]
Good morning and happy Australia Day!!! 🇦🇺 You may be wondering…. How do I celebrate today like an Aussie? Just do some of these things: Fire up the barbie throw some sausages/chops on it invite your mates around drink some Coopers Pale Ale play cricket in your backyard (or any lawn game that you can Read more about Happy Australia Day![…]
I don’t mean to brag… but back in the day I used to be pretty awesome at starting fights about money. My expert skills earned me 7 messy break-ups, 3 National Asshole Awards, and countless nights sleeping on the couch! Unfortunately, I’ve lost my touch over the years, and my wife and I barely Read more about How to Start Big Fights with Your Partner About Money[…]
There’s a Prostitute in My Rental Property! You’ve probably heard the saying… “Pimpin’ aint easy”… And after my recent experience I can verify that this is 100% true! Especially since I didn’t even know I was pimpin’ to begin with! I’ve been a real estate investor (please note this is just a Read more about There’s a Prostitute in My Rental Property![…]