Congratulations to Randal Pinkett - Apprentice # 4 !!!!!

YEAHHHH BABY!

I jumped up with excitment after the awaited words - YOU'RE HIRED by Donald Trump on Thursday night December 15, 2005. No I wasn't hired but the 2nd best thing happened - Randal Pinkett was!

He is a native of Newark NJ and one of my business partners went to school with him in Rutgers University. Also he is a neighbor of mine. I thought that the 2nd runner up Rebecca was extremely good in her last task but like Randal said, "there is only one Apprentice!"

Although there is some outrage for Randal not asking Rebecca be hired I believe there are a few factors why she shouldn't have been:

* Her record was 1-2 versus Randal's 3-0.
* Her first loss she was loyal to Toral who not only did a dismal job but also created a question on Rebecca's leadership and decision making ability.
* Rebecca's first win was task 11 in which it was only Randall and Rebecca on the same team.
* All of Randal's suite mates respect him and his style of leadership. In fact 14 of the 16 other candidates agreed that Randal should be the apprentice.
* Randal has years of experience in the real world in leadership while Rebecca is focused more in media.
* Randal shined from Day 1 as he established himself as a major player in contributing to every team he is on.
* Alla, though she is abrasive and head strong, has a better record and exhibited stronger abilities as a leader in many of the tasks.
* There were other 2nd runner ups just as qualified as Rebecca such as Jennifer M in Season 2 or Tana in Season 3 (yes she has tough last task but her record is better than Rebecca).
* Randal was right - there is only ONE Apprentice. This is the reason for the show. It would dilute his win and his achievements.

Here are Apprentice related links:
Randal's website
http://www.randalpinkett.com

Official NBC Apprentice Website
http://www.nbc.com/The_Apprentice_4/

Yahoo Apprentice Website
http://apprentice.tv.yahoo.com/trump/04/

Thanksgiving 2005!

It has been a long month as many of the deals that I have been working on has not moved much or have died. It feels like I am spinning a bunch of dishes on some poles and sooner than later the dishes just spun out and cracked. For a time, it was a relief but also much disappointment.

I felt "when is this business really going to take off?". After a day of centering myself by taking a break by going to the Hudson Trail in NJ, I was reminded about the simple joys in life that don't cost money but instead just requires an open heart.

It is good and I gives thanks for the simple things in my life:

* My family - although it seems that there is continual disagreements as usual, I love my family and knowing that it gives me a reason to wake up.

* My friends - they are good and knowing them sharpens me to be a better person, it is truly a gift to have friends that don't necessarily criticize but instead support

* My God - having this life is a gift and I give thanks to God for it, it is very simple for me to forget where things have come from and it is a good to be reminded that life and beauty and love comes from the Source in life.

* My life - it has been a year of learning and creating, there are times that I don't but I am encouraged by times that I remind myself of the life that I have is a good life, going to the Great Life really focused on self love and to appreciate the value that I am and I show up in this life.

* My health - I know that I abuse my body from time to time whether it be an extra hour in the gym or the late night munchies but I am thankful for how it is good that I can walk, talk, exercise, and still be young in the things that I do


Oh.. the list can go on and on but I appreciate the blessings that I have in life. Things are much easier when I see life with a childlike playful attitude and show up in life with all the joy, love, and faith to enjoy it!

Maintaining a Positive Attitude by Brian Tracy

Maintaining a Positive Attitude

By Brian Tracy

When I was 21 years old, a friend of mine and I decided to go off to see the world. Many of our friends were going to Europe and hitchhiking around with rucksacks. We decided to be different and go to Africa.

We had no idea how serious and how difficult this adventure was to be. As we drove south across the Sahara Desert, we encountered endless problems, any one of which could have finished our trip ... or our lives.

The prospect of getting across that immense desert was so daunting, it could have stopped us dead in our tracks. Instead, we learned a lesson that turned out to be one that I have since applied to every aspect of my life.

The French, who had controlled Algeria for many years, had marked a path across the desert with 55-gallon oil drums spaced exactly five kilometers apart. As we came to an oil drum, the next drum would pop up on the horizon and the last oil drum would fall off the horizon, as if shot in a shooting gallery. Wherever we were, we could always see two oil drums - the one we had just left and the one we were headed toward. And it looked like our journey was never going to end.

We could have thrown up our hands and said, "This is impossible!" But we didn't. We adopted a Positive Mental Attitude and realized that to achieve our goal, all we had to do was take it one step (one oil barrel) at a time.

A Positive Mental Attitude is indispensable to success. By focusing on doing what lies clearly at hand ... by taking the step that appears immediately in front of you ... that will automatically lead you to the next step, and the next, and so on. Eventually, you will find yourself where you want to be.

But there is much more to a Positive Mental Attitude than this. You can have a positive attitude that immediately disappears in the face of adversity ... or you can have an attitude that is so strong, you are able to remain positive, cheerful, and optimistic, no matter what.

Of course, this isn't as easy as it sounds. Because we are all faced with four obstacles that tend to get in the way of our maintaining a Positive Mental Attitude: fear, worry, anger, and doubt.

We are afraid that we will lose our money, waste our effort, or forfeit our emotional or physical investment. If we are not careful, we start thinking of our potential losses rather than focusing on our potential gains.

Fear triggers worry, and we begin to use our power of imagination to create all sorts of negative images that interfere with our ability to perform effectively.

Fear and worry create anger and doubt. Instead of constantly moving forward in the direction of our dreams, we turn ourselves into victims and begin to blame other people and other situations for our problems.

There are six things you can do to eliminate these obstacles and develop a Positive Mental Attitude:

1. Instead of worrying about who did what and who is to blame, focus on where you want to be and what you want to do. Get a clear mental image of your ideal successful future, and then take whatever action you can to begin moving in that direction.

2. Focus on the solution instead of wasting time rehashing and reflecting on the problem. Solutions are inherently positive, whereas problems are inherently negative. The instant that you begin thinking in terms of solutions, you become a positive and constructive human being.

3. Assume that something good is hidden within each difficulty or challenge. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a major proponent of positive thinking, once said, "Whenever God wants to give us a gift, he wraps it up in a problem." The bigger the gift you have coming, the bigger the problem you will receive. And if you look for the gift, you will always find it.

4. Assume that the situation you are facing at the moment is exactly the right situation you need to ultimately be successful. This situation has been sent to you to help you learn something, to help you become better, to help you expand and grow. One of the affirmations I have learned to use is this: "Every situation is a positive situation if I view it as an opportunity for growth and self-mastery." You cannot say that without thinking positive thoughts, feeling positive emotions, and seeing positive actions that you can take.

5. Assume that every setback contains a lesson that is essential for you to learn. Only when you learn this lesson will you be smart enough and wise enough to go on to achieve the big goals that you have set for yourself. If you are busy looking for the lesson, you cannot simultaneously think about the difficulty or the obstacle. And you will always find the lesson.

6. Whenever you have a goal that is unachieved, a difficulty that is unresolved, or a problem that is blocking you from getting where you want to go, sit down with a pen and piece of paper and make a list of every single thing that you could possibly do to resolve the situation. As you write, all kinds of insights and ideas will pop into your head.

A Positive Mental Attitude is indispensable to your success. And all it takes is for you to always take these six actions that are consistent with achieving your goals rather than actions that make you feel the negative emotions of worry, doubt, anger, and fear.

---

Today's Action Plan

Remember ... you can choose to be positive and constructive in dealing with any adversity. So, starting today, promise yourself that whenever you're faced with a difficult situation, you will sit yourself down, think it through, and then deal with it one oil barrel at a time.

Philadelphia Deal - DEAD! :(

Been working on a rehab deal to get it going. Found it on a website and spoke with the owner. He is a very good and honest man and I told him that I can close the deal. The #s are:

Acquistion: 79K
Closing costs: 25K
Rehab: 100K
Borrowing $ Costs: 15K
Marketing Costs: 12K
After Repair Value: 300K
Selling Costs: 8K

Gross PreTax Profit: 61K (in 6months)

I am sure that I left out some costs but either way it would have been a decent deal. I found out due to issues with my other rehab deal in Graduate Hospital requiring more cash to get it done I will not be able to get this done. I want to beat myself up for this but I am more disappointed that I will not be able to close this deal from the seller who is becoming a friend.

What I am learning:

* Don't overpromise what you can or can't do. Just be open and tell them you will do your best to produce.
* Keep an eye for the big picture but keep the small detail in mind.
* Put as little non refundable downpay (I am losing $2K on this).
* Things do not go perfect in anything but it doesn't mean that you can't smile and just move on.
* Stay focused and keep working on making things happen. If I relax then things will be pushed out.

Right now the Graduate Hospital deal looks ok. We are lining up things. Today I found out that there may be a deal in Brooklyn NY in my home borough. I am excited about it as it can be really something new and beautiful. I love making new things. In the old comes something new.

How Good of a RE Investor are you? Find out!

Really cool game!


http://3form.net/mansion_impossible

Classic: The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

One of the great classics by famous speaker and writer Earl Nightingale:

http://members.audiogenerator.com/postcard/?2961666

Rise Early and Catch the Golden Worm

By Michael Masterson

I zonked out at 10:00 last night and woke up seven hours later. I got up and stepped into the shower. Forty-five minutes later, I was in the office. It's 7 o'clock now, and I've already done 16 things.

For me, going to bed before midnight had always been unthinkable. It was capitulating (see Word to the Wise, below) to a dull life. But as someone's mother once told me, nothing good happens after midnight. And it's true. Ask yourself: Name one thing that you do and/or enjoy more after midnight that you can't do/enjoy better the following morning? No ... not even that!

Every successful businessman I know (or have read about) gets up and gets to work early. It's such a universal trait of accomplished individuals, I'm tempted to say it is a secret for success. "Early to bed and early to rise," Ben Franklin said, "makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." I used to think that was propaganda from a Puritan. Now, I think it's an observation from a very wise man.

Healthy, wealthy, and wise. Today, let's talk about how getting up and getting to work early helps you achieve those goals - since my guess is that's the primary reason you read ETR every day.

In my experience, there is no better time to collect your thoughts and plan your day than early in the morning when the office is quiet. Not only are you undisturbed by phone calls and interruptions, but ahead of you is the potential of an unopened day. The solitude promotes a kind of relaxed, contemplative mood. You feel free to think in an expansive way. Later on, when the place is noisy and the pressure is on, it's difficult to pay attention to what's important. You feel your attention drawn in several directions at once. You feel the pressure of deadlines. And you may be hit with bad news, which could put you in a bad, unproductive mood.

A Near-Perfect Morning Routine

Over the years, I've studied hundreds and experimented with dozens of time-saving techniques and organizational systems. The simple three-step program that follows is the best of the best.

Step One: Getting Healthy (6:30 to 7:00)

The first thing I do every day is run sprints. After a four- or five-minute warm-up, I run eight 50-yard dashes, with 30 seconds of rest in between. Then I do a serious 10-minute stretching routine (yoga moves, mostly). Finally, a cold shower and a fresh set of clothes.

The whole routine takes about 30 minutes, but it will completely renew and invigorate your health. This workout is a condensed version of everything I've learned about health and fitness for the past 45 years. (I got interested in the subject when I was 10!) And it has dramatically improved my health. For example, I no longer have the back, shoulder, and neck pain that troubled me for so many years. I am as strong as I was when I was playing football in college. And I rarely get sick. (You'll learn all about this program and why it works so well from ETR's health expert, Jon Herring.)

Step Two: Planning Your Day (7:00 to 7:30)

I didn't always plan my days. I managed to get rich before I developed this habit. But since I've learned how to plan, my productivity has quadrupled. If you use this system, I'll bet you see the same improvement in your own life. I begin each day with a list of "to-dos" that I've usually created the night before. I add to that list by going through my inbox and selecting any items that are important enough to make it to my daily list. After my list is completed, I highlight all tasks that help me accomplish one of my major long-term Life Goals.

I used to scan my e-mail for things to do, but found that I couldn't resist the lure of trying to "knock off" a bunch of little things that wasted my time and drained my energy. Now, I scrupulously avoid e-mail in the morning. In fact, I don't even open it up.

I check phone messages and faxes and add any important items to my daily task list. Again, I don't respond to anything at this point. My job is simply to organize it all, to figure out what I will do today and what I can delegate or do later.

Now, comes the fun part. I get out a clean sheet of paper - or even an index card - and write the date on top. Referencing all the inputs I have just gathered, I select 15 to 20 that I intend to accomplish before the end of the day.

Be realistic when you do this. There is no way you can do more than 15 or 20 significant things in a 10-hour day. And you don't have to work more than 10 hours a day to accomplish everything you need.

Of the 15 or 20 items, highlight four or five of them. These should all be "important-but-not-urgent" tasks. (The urgent tasks you have to do. The important-but-not-urgent tasks are the ones that will advance your Life Goals. They are critical to your success, but you will almost certainly fail to do them unless you make them a priority. That's why you are highlighting them.)

To the right of each item, you might want to indicate how much time you think it will take. (I run a subtotal of the accumulating times to the right of that so there is some relationship between what I want to do and how much time I have to do it.)

As a general rule, it's a good idea to structure all of your tasks so that none lasts more than an hour. 15-minute and 30-minute tasks are best. If you have something that takes several hours to do, break it up into pieces and do it over a few days. It will be better for the extra time you give it ... and you won't get crushed on any one day.

This whole process takes less than 30 minutes, yet it saves me hours of wasted time every day. More importantly ... it helps me focus on what is truly important to my career. (At the beginning of the week, when I'm creating a weekly task list in addition to a daily one, I allocate an extra half-hour. Once a month, I create a monthly list that takes another additional half-hour.)

If you adopt this simple organizing and planning system every morning, you will see how well it works. Before your colleagues, competitors, and coworkers are even sipping their first cup of coffee, you'll have figured out everything you need to do that day to make you healthier, wealthier, and wiser. You will know what to do, you will know what your priorities are, and you will already be thinking about some of them. You will not have to worry about forgetting something important. And you will have a strong sense of energy and excitement, knowing that your day is going to be a productive one.

Step Three: Giving Your Day a Boost (7:30 to 8:30)

Here's the best step. Select the single most important task of the day - the one, highlighted task that will best help you accomplish your most cherished Life Goal - and get to work on that.

Don't worry if something else is more pressing. Don't pay any attention to what everyone else wants you to do. Heck, it's not even 9:00 a.m. yet. It's your time, so spend it on yourself!

If you are having trouble figuring out what your most important task is, ask yourself this question: "If I knew I was going to die in a week, which task would be most important to me now?"

Start with that task. Chances are, it will be something that moves you toward a goal that you have been putting off for many years. There is something in your mind that has so far made it difficult for you to accomplish it.

Don't worry about the negatives. As I said, this time is for you.

If you spend the first working hour of every day on something you deeply care about, it will give you more energy and a better feeling than you can possibly imagine. How do I know this is true? Because it's how I feel every time I do it.

This little three-step program is a truly health-giving, wealth-making, life-changing routine. It has totally transformed my life. I am sure it can do the same for you.

Remember, the entire three steps will take you only two hours. If you start working at 6:30 (and you should!), you'll have done more by 8:30 than your friends, colleagues, and competitors do all day!

Try it tomorrow and tell me if it doesn't work wonders for you!

A Clever Way to Keep Track ...

This system can be complemented by a file-indexing system that a famously organized newspaper publisher showed me several years ago. It requires two accordion folders - one with a pocket for each month and another with pockets for 31 days.

As you go through your e-mail or read correspondence and memos, put aside anything you want to follow up on. Place it in the first accordion folder - in the pocket of the month in which you intend to address it. When that month arrives, there will probably be 30 or 40 sheets of paper stuffed inside. You sort through them and place them in some kind of manageable order in the second accordion file - in each of the days of the month. Then, as each day arrives, you simply extract from that day's pocket the material you've filed there. This is a very easy way to keep track of all your vital data and correspondence without resorting to large, messy stacks of paper.

Success Is What Happens When You Do a Little Bit Extra Each Day

I suppose it's possible for success to come in a single windfall, but most often it arrives bit by bit. My three-step morning routine is a way for you to make yourself super-healthy and give yourself a significant advantage over the people you compete with.

It actually gives you four advantages. You are smarter, fresher, and more enthusiastic - which makes you feel better and enjoy your work. You get a whole lot more accomplished than you would otherwise. You drastically reduce or (some days) eliminate emergencies that interrupt you and drain your energy. And, most important, you spend a much greater percentage of your time doing things that move you along toward the goals you desire.

Today's Action Plan

There is something about getting to work earlier that seems wiser, nobler, smarter, or just plain more industrious than working late. Getting to work earlier says something about being energetic, organized, and in control. Staying late leaves the opposite impression: that you are diligent but disorganized, earnest but erratic, hardworking but a drudge.

In How to Become CEO , Jeffrey J. Fox puts it this way:

"If you are going to be first in your corporation, start practicing by being first on the job. People who arrive at work late don't like their jobs - at least that's what senior management thinks. ... And don't stay at the office until 10 o'clock every night. You are sending a signal that you can't keep up or your personal life is poor."

So here's your Action Plan for today. I want you to figure out what time, on the average, you have been getting to work each day. And I want you to promise yourself that you'll get there at least 30 minutes earlier from now on. An hour earlier is better

Don't fool yourself. If you've been trying to get to work by 8:00 but get there at that time only two days a week, admit that your starting time is 8:15 or 8:30. Then fix your new objective.

Thirty minutes a day multiplied by 50 weeks is 125 hours of extra work. That gives you more than a two-week advantage over those you are competing against. You can accomplish a lot in two weeks, so don't underestimate what this will do for you.

It's not just about doing extra stuff. It's about getting a jump on things. Getting in early makes you better prepared, more thoughtful, better organized, and more effective in every area of your life.

Early to bed, early to rise. It will make you healthier this year ... and wealthier and wiser too.

2nd Philadelphia Rehab - 3bd / 1ba

2nd Philadelphia Rehab 3bd / 1ba

Update:

10/5/2005 - Spoke with my partner. The contractor working on this is asking for $2k more to "finish" this. It will take at least $8K to complete this job and he says he will "honor" his word to finish this job. It is hard to believe as this job was supposed to be finished in July! It is obvious that he has given up on this project and has even misappropriated the funds for the heater. Supposedly he is waiting for his "friend" to fix it. There are alot of lessons to be learned here. Right now looking for a new contractor to finish this up.

5/12/2006 - Partner and I have been busy and now we have a reliable but not the best contractor to finish this up. It is a pain but we are looking to sell or rent out for a year and then sell.

12/19/2006 - We have finally made all the necessary repairs. This deal has been a very challenging one due to budget overruns and lack of a good contractor who does a complete job. We needed to hire handyman / laborers to get the job done. There is alot to be learned. We are using one of the top realtors in Philadelphia to market this for 3 months to see if we can snag a good buyer.

9/12/2007 - FINALLY the property sold... BUT at a loss :( Due to many things especially the budget, time, and rip off contractors this was a very painful lesson. It convinces me more to be on top of my game. I was marketing in the various papers in Philadelphia and most of the residents in Philly do not have cash or do not have the credit to close. The cash was the most important part. Right now it is a long arduous thing. I can't believe it is 2 years since we did this.

What's An Investor? by billionaire Mark Cuban

I was reading some posts and I journeyed to self made billionaire Mark Cuban. He wrote his observations on what is an investor compared to other types of creating wealth such as a "speculator".

Check his blog:

http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000660060351/

Do You Fear Success Quiz?

Interesting quiz to know if your fear prevents you from succeeding.

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/quizzes/careers/fearsuccess_quiz.html

Leaving a Legacy - Principles to Live By by Jim Rohn

(excerpted from Jim Rohn's Twelfth Pillar of Success: Legacy, Part Two of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)

You know me, I am a philosopher. I love principles. Yes, actions are great and I talk about them regularly, but the important stuff is what lies underneath--the principles.

Here are what I consider to be the principles that we must commit to if we are to leave the legacy we desire:

1. Life is best lived in service to others.

This doesn't mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. It does mean that in all things we serve other people, including our family, co-workers and friends.

2. Consider others' interests as important as your own.

Much of the world suffers simply because people consider only their own interests. People are looking out for number one, but the way to leave a legacy is to also look out for others.

3. Love your neighbor even if you don't like him.

It is interesting that Jesus told us to love others. But he never tells us to like them. Liking people has to do with emotions. Loving people has to do with actions. And what you will find is that when you love them and do good by them, you will more often than not begin to like them.

4. Maintain integrity at all costs.

There are very few things you take to the grave with you. The number one thing is your reputation and good name. When people remember you, you want them to think, "She was the most honest person I knew. What integrity." There are always going to be temptations to cut corners and break your integrity. Do not do it. Do what is right all of the time, no matter what the cost.

5. You must risk in order to gain.

In just about every area of life you must risk in order to gain the reward. In love, you must risk rejection in order to ask that person out for the first time. In investing you must place your capital at risk in the market in order to receive the prize of a growing bank account. When we risk, we gain. And when we gain, we have more to leave for others.

6. You reap what you sow.

In fact, you always reap more than you sow--you plant a seed and reap a bushel. What you give you get. What you put into the ground then grows out of the ground. If you give love you will receive love. If you give time, you will gain time. It is one of the truest laws of the universe. Decide what you want out of life and then begin to sow it.

7. Hard work is never a waste.

No one will say, "It is too bad he was such a good, hard worker." But if you aren't they will surely say, "It's too bad he was so lazy - he could have been so much more!" Hard work will leave a grand legacy. Give it your all on your trip around the earth. You will do a lot of good and leave a terrific legacy.

8. Don't give up when you fail.

Imagine what legacies would have never existed if someone had given up. How many thriving businesses would have been shut down if they quit at their first failure? Everyone fails. It is a fact of life. But those who succeed are those who do not give up when they fail. They keep going and build a successful life - and a legacy.

9. Don't ever stop in your pursuit of a legacy.

Many people have accomplished tremendous things later on in life. There is never a time to stop in your pursuit of a legacy. Sometimes older people will say, "I am 65. I'll never change." That won't build a great life! No, there is always time to do more and achieve more, to help more and serve more, to teach more and to learn more. Keep going and growing that legacy!

These are core principles to live by if you want to become the kind of person who leaves a lasting legacy.

Until next week, let's do something remarkable!
Jim Rohn

Day of Rememberance - September 11, 2005 NYC

My photo album of this day

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20947237@N00

Success is Easy, But So is Neglect by Jim Rohn

excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed audio series)

People often ask me how I became successful in that six-year period of time while many of the people I knew did not. The answer is simple: The things I found to be easy to do, they found to be easy not to do. I found it easy to set the goals that could change my life. They found it easy not to. I found it easy to read the books that could affect my thinking and my ideas. They found that easy not to. I found it easy to attend the classes and the seminars, and to get around other successful people. They said it probably really wouldn't matter. If I had to sum it up, I would say what I found to be easy to do, they found to be easy not to do. Six years later, I'm a millionaire and they are all still blaming the economy, the government, and company policies, yet they neglected to do the basic, easy things.

In fact, the primary reason most people are not doing as well as they could and should, can be summed up in a single word: neglect.

It is not the lack of money - banks are full of money. It is not the lack of opportunity - America, and much of the free World, continues to offer the most unprecedented and abundant opportunities in the last six thousand years of recorded history. It is not the lack of books – libraries are full of books - and they are free! It is not the schools - the classrooms are full of good teachers. We have plenty of ministers, leaders, counselors and advisors.

Everything we would ever need to become rich and powerful and sophisticated is within our reach. The major reason that so few take advantage of all that we have is simply, neglect.

Neglect is like an infection. Left unchecked it will spread throughout our entire system of disciplines and eventually lead to a complete breakdown of a potentially joy-filled and prosperous human life.

Not doing the things we know we should do causes us to feel guilty and guilt leads to an erosion of self-confidence. As our self-confidence diminishes, so does the level of our activity. And as our activity diminishes, our results inevitably decline. And as our results suffer, our attitude begins to weaken. And as our attitude begins the slow shift from positive to negative, our self-confidence diminishes even more... and on and on it goes.

So my suggestion is that when giving the choice of "easy to" and "easy not to" that you do not neglect to do the simple, basic, "easy"; but potentially life-changing activities and disciplines.


To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine. Subscribe at: www.jimrohn.com or send an email with JOIN in the subject to: subscribe@jimrohn.com

Hurricane Relief - What Can I Do About it?

I spent 2 hrs online in the middle of the night instead of doing some work to look at the situation down in the New Orleans area from the wake of Hurriance Katrina. It is what it is. My faith in God has left me to still say God is God and God is in control. At the same time I look into myself ask how I am accountable for what is happening. I have spent time on foxnews.com and cnn.com informing myself. I have prayed and now see that the rescue operations current needs are cash. In that light I have donated. If you are inspired to be accountable with me you can donate or find more information at:

http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/katrinadonations.shtm

1st Deal in Philadelphia

In Fall of 2004, I went to the Tax Deed Sheriff Sale in Philadelphia and bidded on a property in University City in Philadelphia.

How did I find it?
One of my friend's brother works in UPENN and just rode a bike and told me that he would live in the area as it was close to DREXEL UNIVERSITY. It was a shell that was completely boarded up or so I thought.

I went to the sale with a MAB or Maximum Allowable Bid of $27K as my initial comps were about $80K ARV or After Repair Value and thought that with sight unseen it was only about $15K to $20K of work. I did one drive by and it was an interesting area as around the corner was student rentals and even further was a school for the blind and various churches around. After the auction someone told me properties are going for 40K around the area - fixed up! I nearly choked when I heard that.

At the auction, I went head to head with a student who pushed the #s from 18K all the way to about 25K and .. I WON! It was the first bid out of 2 other bids that I made that I won! It was a great feeling and I was shaking after I went to the front to pay it off.

Excitingly we went there and opened the house and to my horror saw that the back extension was torn down with a wide gapping hole. Asking for a quick idea of how much it would be repaired for, a investor told me he can get a crew to do it for $36K.

In the meantime, I had an architect go through to draw plans on rehabbing the property. I have shopped the plans to over several contractors with prices from 45K to 120K !!!! Right now I plan to start rehab with my partner in the next 3 months as summer of 2005 is over but I believe I want to get ready for the spring time.

8/30/2005 - went to Philly with my friend and they are pricing the work out as they are contractors from NYC. I asked a realtor about how much is the value of this property and they said about 110K after fixed up with minimal "wow" factor. Just something clean. This is a big contrast to supposed comps around 40K last year! Talk about bad information.

9/29/2005 - I have taken over several construction bids on this. The range is from 35K to 120K! Suffice to say that one of my friends said it can be done for $50K without landscaping in the back. Another contractor told me if that they can do it they love to see the work done that low! Right now the shell is sitting and appreciating slowly but surely. In the future, I would be able to sell it as a shell but the creative part of me wants to do something for the community so I am still accepting bids. The insurance carrier hasn't gotten back to me on covering this shell.

1/5/2006 - I have been calling various lenders for a acquistion and rehab loan. I visited the house and a few people have taken off the wood and went inside without closing the property up. I am going to get it boarded in a week.

CREATING OPPORTUNITY by Jim Rohn

CREATING OPPORTUNITY

An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile of scrap metal and sees the making of a wonderful sculpture. An enterprising person is one who drives through an old decrepit part of town and sees a new housing development. An enterprising person is one who sees opportunity in all areas of life.

To be enterprising is to keep your eyes open and your mind active. It's to be skilled enough, confident enough, creative enough and disciplined enough to seize opportunities that present themselves...regardless of the economy.

A person with an enterprising attitude says, "Find out what you can before action is taken." Do your homework. Do the research. Be prepared. Be resourceful. Do all you can in preparation of what's to come.

Enterprising people always see the future in the present. Enterprising people always find a way to take advantage of a situation, not be burdened by it. And enterprising people aren't lazy. They don't wait for opportunities to come to them, they go after the opportunities. Enterprise means always finding a way to keep yourself actively working toward your ambition.

Enterprise is two things. The first is creativity. You need creativity to see what's out there and to shape it to your advantage. You need creativity to look at the world a little differently. You need creativity to take a different approach, to be different.

What goes hand-in-hand with the creativity of enterprise is the second requirement: the courage to be creative. You need courage to see things differently, courage to go against the crowd, courage to take a different approach, courage to stand alone if you have to, courage to choose activity over inactivity.

And lastly, being enterprising doesn't just relate to the ability to make money. Being enterprising also means feeling good enough about yourself, having enough self worth to want to seek advantages and opportunities that will make a difference in your future. And by doing so you will increase your confidence, your courage, your creativity and your self-worth - your enterprising nature.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine. Subscribe at: www.jimrohn.com or send an email with JOIN in the subject to: subscribe@jimrohn.com

August Update - What Have I Been Doing?

* Learning whatever on the different corporate entities to shield me from liabilities as I have been doing it as a sole proprietor. I have came down to incorporating as an LLC and it being taxed as a corp (whether S or C).

I received alot of assistance from this thread:
http://dealmakerscafe.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=394

I am also consulting a CPA that I found from a referral.

* Working on getting my 1st rehab done in Philly. The contractor has not met our deadlines and is at the point where he underbidded and is working slower as he is looking for money to complete this project. We had a sticky meeting in which my partner and I are considering looking for someone to complete the work. The work is coming along but just slow. The contractor says he will not make any profit but he is completing it because he said that is what he would do.

* Finding deals in Philly for my contractor friend. I would put them up but I will wait until we are on the way. I want to put examples on what is going on rather than possibilities.

* Talking to my Great Life Buddies - we are living :) Things have been good and seeing them living is great. We have a special unsaid connection but for the most part it is a great memory in my life. We are all living and growing. Some are more happy and some of us are so busy that we don't have time to know if we are happy or not.

* Enjoying the NYC summer as I met one of my goals in watching the Shakespeare in the Park. It is really great! I am going to miss this summer.

SUPER SIZE ME

SUPER SIZE ME

Thought provoking documentary on the way modern man eats. After watching this film, I had to put down my double cheeseburger from McDonald's! Here are some factoids from the website:

* each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant

* In 1972, we spent 3 billion a year on fast food - today we spend more than 110 billion

* McDonald's feeds more than 46 million people a day - more than the entire population of Spain

* French fries are the most eaten vegetable in America.

* You would have to walk for seven hours straight to burn off a Super Sized Coke, fry and Big Mac.

* In the U.S., we eat more than 1,000,000 animals an hour

* 60 % of all Americans are either overweight or obese

* One in every three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime

* Left unabated, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America

* Obesity has been linked to: Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease, Adult Onset Diabetes, Stroke, Gall Bladder Disease, Osteoarthritis, Sleep Apnea, Respiratory Problems, Endometrial, Breast, Prostate and Colon Cancers, Dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, breathlessness, Asthma, Hyperuricaemia, reproductive hormone abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome, impaired fertility and lower back pain

* The average child sees 10,000 TV advertisements per year

* Only seven items on McDonald's entire menu contain no sugar

* Willard Scott was the first Ronald McDonald - he was fired for being too fat

* McDonald's distributes more toys per year than Toys-R-Us

* Diabetes will cut 17-27 years off your life

* McDonald's: "Any processing our foods undergo make them more dangerous than unprocessed foods"

* The World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic

* Eating fast food may be dangerous to your health McDonald's calls people who eat a lot of their food "Heavy Users"

* McDonald's operates more than 30,000 restaurants in more then 100 countries on 6 continents

* Before most children can speak they can recognize McDonald's

* Surgeon General David Satcher: "Fast food is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic"

* Most nutritionists recommend not eating fast food more than once a month

* 40% of American meals are eaten outside the home

* McDonald's represents 43% of total U.S. fast food mark

Japanese Marketing Video - Using Humor to Sell *smile*

Very Funny Japanese Ad., you can't guess what they're selling until
the last few seconds.

http://www.ad-awards.com/inc/video.swf?id=116

Transforming Bad Habits by Brian Tracy

Transforming Bad Habits

by Brian Tracy

The habits of success have been studied by great thinkers and philosophers for at least 2,500 years. After personally studying the subject for more than 30 years, I have identified seven habits that you need to develop if you want to perform at your very best in everything you do.

1. You need to become goal-oriented - dedicated to setting and working from clearly written objectives every day of your life.

2. You need to become results-oriented. This involves two practices. The first is the practice of continuously learning so that you become better at what you do. The second is the practice of time management - setting very clear priorities and then concentrating single-mindedly on the most valuable use of your time.

3. You need to become action-oriented - the most important habit for material success. This is the ability to get on with a job and get it done fast. You need to overcome procrastination, push aside your fears, and launch yourself 100% toward the achievement of your goals.

4. You need to become people-oriented. Virtually all of your happiness in life will come from your ability to get along well with other people. And getting along well with other people is based on a set of habits that you learned, or failed to learn, in childhood: patience, kindness, compassion, and understanding. But it is never too late to develop those habits. . And the more you practice them, the more you will internalize those qualities and actually become the person you want to be.

5. You need to be health-oriented. This means that you must make a conscious effort to eat the right foods in the right proportions. You must exercise on a regular basis to keep your body young and fit. And you must get enough rest and enjoy leisure activities that will enable you, in combination with diet and exercise, to live a long, full life.

6. You need to be oriented toward honesty and integrity. In the final analysis, the character you develop as you go through life is more important than virtually anything else. You set very clear values for yourself and you organize your life around your values. You develop a vision for yourself and then you live your life consistent with your highest ideals. You never compromise your integrity or peace of mind for anyone or anything.

7. The seventh habit that you need - the one that guarantees all the others will happen - is that of self-discipline. Your ability to discipline yourself, to master yourself, to control yourself, goes hand in hand with your success in every area of life.

My favorite definition of self-discipline comes from Elbert Hubbard. He said, "Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

Every one of the habits I identified above - goal orientation, result orientation, action orientation, people orientation, health orientation, honesty, and self-discipline - can be developed. Following is a seven-step method you can use to make any or all of those habits a permanent part of your character and personality.

1. Write down the habit as a goal in the form of a present tense, personal, positive affirmation. For example, if you want to develop the habit of self-discipline, you would write, "I am an extremely well-disciplined individual in everything I do."

2. Repeat that affirmation as often - and with as much enthusiasm - as possible. The more times you repeat it, the more likely it is that your subconscious mind will ultimately accept it and begin to adjust your thoughts, words, and behaviors to be consistent with it.

3. Visualize yourself as if you already had the new habit pattern. Imagine yourself as already being exactly the person that you want to become. Remember, your subconscious mind is activated and programmed by mental pictures. All improvements in your life and character begin with an improvement in your mental images. Use visualization on a regular basis in conjunction with your positive affirmations.

4. Emotionalize the affirmation and the visualization. Take a few minutes each day to actually experience the feeling of being the excellent, outstanding human being that you have decided to become.

5. Launch into your new habit with conviction. (See Word to the Wise, below.) Assume the role, acting as if you had been hired to perform it in a movie or play. The more you behave exactly as if you already had the habit, the more you actually become the person you desire to be.

6. Tell others that you have decided to develop this habit. When you tell others about a goal, you motivate and encourage yourself to achieve it. You also force yourself to consistently act in accordance with your new resolutions ... because you know people are watching.

7. Review your progress on a day-to-day basis. At the end of every day, briefly recap your behavior to see if you are living in a way that is consistent with the values and habits you are trying to develop. Give yourself points when you are strong, and be patient with yourself when you slip from time to time.

It's not particularly easy to change yourself. But with patience, determination, and persistence, you can do it.

TODAY'S ACTION PLAN

In today's main article, Brian Tracy identified seven habits of successful people. How many of them do you already have? How many do you need to develop? Take charge of your future by making the decision, right now, to make each and every one of them an integral part of you.