That was the original intent of signing letters “sincerely”. It means, everything you’ve just read isn’t full of BS. It’s all true and we’re not fudging anything or misleading in any way. There is nothing hidden under the surface that isn’t pure.
Certainly people can fake actions for a brief stint. However, over the course of a short time, we all act sincerely. Who and how we are is revealed in all sorts of ways. Yet, what peaks my curiosity is the motive driving them. Take my excursion last night. If you evaluated my trip to PonyBoy to watch/listen to Wood Willow, you might deduce I liked that band or location. I don’t. On both counts. Hadn’t experienced either before last night.
I was there simply for a new experience.
I don’t know how you could conceive that from simply observing my actions? Whereas tonight, I am going to see one of my all time favorite bands, The Revivalists. I will be there singing along with lots of evidence that I love them.
Both of these musical ventures are without wax. Though the surface behavior is quite similar, the meaning behind them is entirely different. Which creates a bit of a dilemma in giving such weightiness to actions.
How do we extract MOTIVE from others’ endeavors?
Instigating Ideas…
1. Share with somebody one of your core strength/weakness attributes.
2. Go see a live show.
3. Consider signing your emails “without wax”.
4. Evaluate where your words and actions differ; and what steps to take.
Another curious challenge is that you and I can easily justify our behaviors. From our perspective, we’re generally acting in the most sensible or reasonable way. And if we’re not we have a good reason. If you’ve ever been pulled over for speeding you know exactly what I’m talking about. Most of the time, the law doesn’t care about motive.
There’s no seeking to understand. No grace or mercy. 100% judgment by the action itself. That stance keeps our world safe and orderly.
It’s just like our strengths/weakness. Actions/motives can be of service or of detriment. I’m just going to try to keep mine without wax.
I am self taught in the real estate game. It’s always been a side-hustle for me. I landed on the buy-and-hold strategy, because I didn’t have any handy-man abilities to be a flipper. I didn’t havethe cash to be an investor. I didn’t have any partners to go in on multiplex units.
I chose real estate in 2001 immediately following the internet stock crash of 2000. I saw a few friends who thought it was guaranteed money lose big. I realized that wasn’t the game for me because it always felt like gambling.
But with real estate I grasped that everyone had to live somewhere, whether owning or renting. I knew there would always be a demand. However, that was about the extent of it.
Take big risks, on little knowledge.
What makes any risk risky is the lack of certainty or guarantee. Add to that an unawareness about what could go wrong and a willingness to attempt emerges. Of course, I read a lot to try to get up to speed. Back then there was a website that was a message board of landlords sharing their experiences, documents, strategies and thinking. I lived on it.
I tell the story in my Unlocking an Ownership Culture message about the first rent house I ever bought. I’ll never forget it. I put $15,000 down to buy it. It felt like a huge step of faith.
Little Knowledge + Big Risk + Cash Spent = Forced Growth
Ascertaining Risk
If I lose everything I’m risking, will I be OK?
Am I willing to learn the details?
Do I know where the people I trust stand?
If I gain everything I hope to, will it be satisfying?
Does it compromise my emotions too much?
Risk is scary. If it’s not, then it’s not risk. We’re actually proactively creating a scenario where failure can consume us. Risk is actively pursuing a course that potentially creates loss in our life, that if we didn’t, we’d retain what we already possess. As humans we are wired to value much more what we currently have, then what we could gain. It’s our old friend Loss Aversion.
What are you presently involved with that could cause loss in your life?
Risk is energizing. Of course we don’t make these efforts to lose. The sheer force of hope that permeates a risk generates juju in our soul that is vibrantly compelling! Once decided and invested, new life erupts. Our imaginations spin, our energy spikes and our willingness to sacrifice surges. It’s healthy to regularly have risks in play.
What endeavors are you attempting that conjure giddy anticipation and strength to persist?
Risk is enlarging. Expanding our capacity is only achieved in a few ways. Venturing beyond safety accelerates our development, which impacts our life in more ways than just the area of risk taken.
Instigating Ideas…
1. Evaluate the current risks you’re taking and determine next steps.
2. Reflect on a risk that turned out successful and ascertain why.
3. Consider your next risky move.
4. Who needs encouragement from you to take a step of risk?
The work involved with no guaranteed return is a testament of belief. Our conviction is embedded in our soul enabling us to do what others might not think is reasonable or possible. What I’ve found to be a different sensation is when the success of our risk is more dependent on someone else, than ourselves. Partnerships can take your breath away.
In business, as in adventure, once we accomplish one level of daring, there’s something in the human spirit that wants to reach for a greater feat. Once initiated we find ourselves hanging on to the unexpected twists and turns blazing a new path incites.
I’m excited to see what comes of this new real estate venture. It’s in a space I know, but an entirely different side. The risk is significant as is the learning and return. I hope you have some healthy risks in play too.