Thread: 1 YEAR: Where are YOU?

hmmm.... here are a few fun ones off the top of my head...

• Started building my *dream* home
• Got some Sheep
• Knit my very first pair of socks
• Touched a Whale
• Started a new project
• Met Sharon Lechter
• Wrote ... well... okay... first drafted... a book
• Visited the Copper Canyon

Thanks for the question Russ. Fun exercise!

In March had the privilege of meeting a group of the most intelligent, creative, resourceful, and generous people I've ever known. Last July I would have never even conceived of some of the things I now know. Thank you to you all.

I joined exactly 6 months ago, so I'm half a year behind, but I have:

1. Improved my post quality (see my first).
2. Bought my first rental property
3. Incorporated my first business,
4. Registered almost 20 domains and begun development on 12,
5. Started a blog,
6. Started a book, and
7. Found out I'm going to be a father (oh, didn't I tell you?).

It's been a big year, so far.

In the last year we have completely changed the way we look at money.

1. We discovered this site!!!!!!!!!!
2. We have consolidated all of our credit cards which freed up about 500 a month
3. Bought our second rental property
4. Made a PLAN for wealth
5. Enjoyed about 6 or 7 weeks in Corpus Christi enjoying the waves and fishing. Vacation is a must for us.
6. Developed a mindset for doodads. If the passive income can't pay for it we can't afford it.

All in all this has probably been the best year for us financially. We now control about 320k in real estate with about 70k in equity. In our world of teaching this is unheard of. Both vehicles are paid for. It has been a great year!

Great stuff!

rcardin-- a PLAN!!! Made me get all choked up!

PEERless- WOW-- congrats. Not sure if this is your first. Bringing a kid into my life was the single best thing I've ever donee-- nothing else even comes close.

ATW- You knit a pair of socks? How cool! (been reading a book about voluntary simplicity, perhaps?)

Runum-- your presence here is appreciated more than you will ever know. But a list.

WE WANT LISTS!!!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

-Russ H.

Choked up? Nothing a cold beer and a good steak won't cure.

Thanks Russ. You deserve all the credit!

Originally Posted by Russ H

WOW-- congrats. Not sure if this is your first. Bringing a kid into my life was the single best thing I've ever donee-- nothing else even comes close.

It is my first and a huge surprise. Not part of my PLAN, but it can be rewritten. Due in mid-February.

Originally Posted by Russ H

ATW- You knit a pair of socks? How cool! (been reading a book about voluntary simplicity, perhaps?)

-Russ H.

I was actually finishing up the second sock in the pair at the get together.... a few people sitting close to me got a chuckle!!!

More recently, at the loopholes event, Jorge got a chuckle out of the dishrag I was working on.

Originally Posted by PEERless

It is my first and a huge surprise. Not part of my PLAN, but it can be rewritten. Due in mid-February.

Aw - - a big Congrats!!!

Great idea, Russ! +++

This one really made me think. It also caused me to go back and re-read some of my earlier threads to see where my head was a year ago (kinda cool in itself).

My favorite part is that it happens to be July and I have yet to revisit my annual goals (I write them out in Jan and always say I am going to do twice a year but rarely do). This thread forces me to do that mid-year check.

Let’s do this every year on the anniversary, ok?


· Posted for the first time on an internet forum
· Achieved full company financial statements in Quickbooks (this was huge for me)
· Purchased 15-20 single family homes
· Improved business credit and obtained a few LOCs
· Spent a couple weeks in Italy
· Ran the Broad Street Run (10 miles) with my best girlfriend in the world.
· Met a really cool group of people – in a format I never even dreamed possible (even met one of them in person today)!
· Renamed an old, inactive, business entity for a new business venture


I feel like I have learned a ton this year and I can honestly say that a good bit of it was due to this forum. The really cool part is that I learned about topics I may have never otherwise explored. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to post here.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!



.........and Congrats Peerless!!

Originally Posted by rcardin

All in all this has probably been the best year for us financially. We now control about 320k in real estate with about 70k in equity. In our world of teaching this is unheard of. Both vehicles are paid for. It has been a great year!

My wife (a teacher) has only a few teacher friends that know what we own for rentals. Having said that, they probably don't really know the true value of what that means (millions worth) with half being equity. They hear whispers and see me drive my P-car on occasion, but don't realize that our family is nothing like most of theirs (although we tend to look like it is).

So what have I done so far this year...............not much

- started and currently in the middle of a 1200 sqft addition to our house.
- finally finished off (insulate, drywalled, car lift and climate controlled) my detached garage, only 6 years after building the shell!
- looks like my rock band is getting back together.
- been to the track a few times (no more fun until the house is done)


been kinda a bummed year for me. Not liking the current economic state of the union, which has me being overly concerned and ultra conservative. Not in the mood to stick my neck out for any more RE investments at this point (and this should be the time I go hog wild....just not feeling like it). Been dreaming of selling everything and just going a completely new way in my life (try something completely different......like law school). Just generally unfocused and in an anxious funk lately. All my "fiends" are investment challanged so I don't have much support around to prop me up. It'll pass in time I'm sure.................

Well...

-I've increased my free time
-picked up some domains and developed a few
-started doing some writing, mostly articles
-learned a lot about online marketing
-set up a home office

Originally Posted by Russ H

Great stuff!

rcardin-- a PLAN!!! Made me get all choked up!

PEERless- WOW-- congrats. Not sure if this is your first. Bringing a kid into my life was the single best thing I've ever donee-- nothing else even comes close.

ATW- You knit a pair of socks? How cool! (been reading a book about voluntary simplicity, perhaps?)

Runum-- your presence here is appreciated more than you will ever know. But a list.

WE WANT LISTS!!!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

-Russ H.

Alright, here it is:

Took a tour of the NE United States and Toronto
Bought and rehabbed my first REO and multi-family property
Increased my rental property holdings from 4 to 7 units
Began negotiations for 5 more units
Bought several domains
Began development of my first forum
Learned about other forms of investing
Survived the month from hell(April)
Learned how to market my rental properties
Learned how to put together a presentation for banks for investment financing
Joined my local REI group
Walked away from my JOB
Re-established a working relationship with my dad after 30+ years



Congrats Peerless

Wow, great post Russ!

Wow a whole year has already gone by. It's so interesting to take a moment to reflect on where we've all been in the past year. I said it before at the B&P, and I say it whenever I reference this group to others: "you guys have changed my life." I know it sounds cliche, and without cheapening my message of thanks to you all by using a cliche, let me add a little more to it: "The quality of a community is in direct proportion to the quality of its members; however, before I stumbled down this rabbit hole I would never have dreamed that I would have come across a place that was nuturing, challenging, motivating and clarifying. Everyone here serves as not only a solid foundation for this forum and community but has been my sounding board, my mentor, my tough-love sage and even my friend.

To say that the past year has brought a lot of clarity my way would be an understatement. So here's my list:

- Started a website with WildAmbitions that should (fingers crossed) launch at the end of this month. So we've completed everything that goes along with that: forming an LLC, BP, checking account, the business model, site design and flow, (which has been like giving birth to a bowling ball) the marketing plan, our newsletter, article writing, blogging and starting a forum.

- Actually got on some social networks, and found that they aren't just for 14 year-olds or child molesters. Who knew?!

- Decided to change the cabin plan from acquiring cabins and managing them, to developing a website around the concept.

- I have taken a deep interest in everything having to do with online marketing and site design (this is probably the BIGGEST challenge, as I am starting from scratch with my learning!)

- Got clear on what my plan is.

- Fully embraced the difference between RDPD ways of acquiring assets and the fastlane way of acquiring assets/starting a business.

- Learned a whole new way to play Cashflow. (For those of you who didn't go to the B&P last year, you MUST come this year- just learning this alternative way to play Cashflow will blow your mind, and if you apply the principals learned, you will recoop the expense of the B&P in no time flat!)

- Expanded my thinking in about 30 different directions.

- Got clear on what I really enjoy doing (I would have never thought in a million years that I would enjoy online marketing/writing as much as do.)

- After many, many hours and emails finally created a site that will be phase one or a two phase marketing effort.

- Decided to develop the idea of our site.

- I quit my job to work on our site full-time.

- Have expanded my horizons to think that anything, anywhere is possible.

- Realized the importance and power of like-minded people.

- Pretty much stopped watching TV and read a lot more- about a book a week now.

- Started cooking more, and realized that I really, really enjoy cooking! It's a zen-kinda thing for me. My new favorite dish? Gnocci with gorgonzola.

Overall, I feel like I know who I am and what I want to be when I grow up. ...I just have this whole sense of peace, like I'm finally on the right track. It's such a relief not getting side tracked by all the opportunity out there and being able to focus. Scattering my energy like I had been was exhausting!

I can't wait to see what this coming year brings!

Spend about 3 days on the ebiz threads. Do a site search for domains. That should get you going- and once it does, it will blow your socks off!

1. Got Engaged
2. Quit My Job
3. Moved Across the Country
4. Bought A New House
5. Started a Real Estate Business (Including Offers on Investment Properties)
6. "Met a really cool group of people – in a format I never even dreamed possible (even met one of them in person today)!" <-- I agree with this one from Phlgirl

Originally Posted by JScott

6. "Met a really cool group of people – in a format I never even dreamed possible (even met one of them in person today)!" <-- I agree with this one from Phlgirl

Haha...from her offer on the forums and your Facebook status, that was my guess!

First of all, congrats PEERless!

Anyway, back on-topic. I just wanna say "thanks" to all of you here. You've all helped me in some way, shape, or form, and I genuinely appreciate it.

Here's my list:

• Got my act together in school and put up a 3.84 GPA this year (average of between an A- and an A) after having a 3.1 and 3.0 freshman and sophomore years.
• Gained clarity about my future. I now KNOW what I want to do when I'm older -- hell, I want to do it NOW! -- but I want to be a real estate investor. To get to that point, I'm going to start an eBiz and work my way around the real estate industry.
• I've learned how to live life. Thank you, Fastlaners! I know the 9-5, same crap everyday gig isn't for me, and now I know there's another way!
• I've continued being a good person, and I've tried to stay how I am regardless of what gets thrown at me. (I actually think this is kinda interesting, so I'm gonna make a separate thread about it.)
• I've met (well, indirectly, but hopefully that will change at next year's B&P) people that give me faith in mankind. Like I said before, you guys know what life's about, and just being in this kind of environment makes me feel good.
• I've begun development of a website that I truly believe in. It's about freakin' time I took action!

Thank you all. It's a pleasure to share this great place with you!

Special thanks to MJ and the moderating team, too!

Bump, only 10 lists? Out of over 1000 members? Come on let's see them.