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Women need to take stock and take RESPONSIBILITY! Take a look at the Ant and Grasshopper

By
Real Estate Agent with Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors BRE# 1053918

Women need to take stock and take RESPONSIBILITY!  I was in a networking meeting last night; won't say which  one.  The stories I hear are HEARTBREAKING.

 

Woman who had been married 35 years.  Stayed at home, didn't have her own IRA, didn't feel that she had any job skills, and WORRIED about her future! 

 

Highly successful woman, retired from a successful business.  Had investments, lived the good life, travelled, played golf, had fun in life.  Trusted a financial advisor, who bet everything on a B of A stock.  She lost EVERYTHING in a margin call!

 

Woman who has been retired for several years, helps other women move forward to her disadvantage.

Women who have NEVER been concerned with finances, whose husbands make the money and they just spend it.  And they have a little business on the side to reduce taxes and to network with other women.

 

And women who are STILL married after 35 years, and can't leave because they don't have the financial backing.

And of course, those women who are still waiting for Mr Right; who didn't prepare for the future because they were too busy living in the present.

 

These are just a few of the stories I heard last night.  This is why i have a PASSION for getting women (men too) involved in real estate investing.  If they can reduce their taxes, increase their cashflow, build wealth, both inside a Self Directed Retirement Account and outside so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor, they'll be ok.

 

It's like Aesop's fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper.

 

Ant and Grasshopper

 

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

And that's what I've been teaching women:  prepare for the future, live in the present, and take action for you, no matter WHAT your circumstance.

Listening to Brian Tracy, who positively HARPS on the concept:  I am Responsible.  So I said it in different ways. 

I am responsible!

I AM responsible!

I am RESPONSIBLE!

I AM RESPONSIBLE!

Sometimes followed by "Oh, S..., I'm responsible."  Then I get up and take the next step.

 

These stories are why I'm passionate about helping women in particular.  My story???  I made it through the divorce ok.  I started a business that was generating a good income.  Then my ex took me back to court for a 730 eval; where he attempted to prove me unfit as a parent.  I won the court procedure; 4 times before he gave up.

 

It cost me $600k.  Not for the fight itself.  For taking my focus off my finances.  For the loss of my business.  For the loss of my equity and for the loss of my trading account. 

And my daughter has said that, if she had gone to live with her dad, she would be dead now.  That she would rather be on the streets than live under that level of controlling behavior.  I know that I would spend the money again to save my daughter's life.

So, I started from nothing and achieved a net worth of over $600k.  Now I'm starting over after a 5 year depression. 

 

And I am GRATEFULLY RESPONSIBLE.  Why do I say it like that?  Because if I am responsible, I can do something about it.  I know the way, I've done it before and I WILL do it again.  Because I AM responsible.

 

And God doesn't waste a hurt.  I will continue to help women focus forward, to achieve their ideal life.

Women need to take stock and take RESPONSIBILITY!  And the programs I support help them to take those actions!  I teach women to invest in real estate, to use real estate as a vehicle to their success.  For those who do not want to learn, I'm partnered with successful investors who will do it for them.

Posted by

 

Cindy Logan

Realtor - Investor - Mentor - Coach - Author - Speaker

Mark1 Real Estate

CindyLoganRealEstate.com

BRE# 1053918

Nationally Representing Done for You Real Estate USA

949 354-2014

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Sandi Davidson
Florida's Realty LLC - Lehigh Acres, FL

Cindy, it is terrific women have women like you, to go to for advise and support.  Too often I feel we are our own worst enemies...trying to break each other down instead of lifting each other up.  It is all too common for women of a certain age to have been raised with a fear of anything financial.  As someone who made a significant amount of money in my past career I shudder to think about all the resources I wasted.

The good news is, it is never to late to take responsibility and take control of your situation.  This month I close on the first of what I plan to be several investment properties, with a goal of having enough property to support a reasonable retirement income. 

May 25, 2011 05:53 AM
Cindy Logan
Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors - Huntington Beach, CA

Congratulations, Sandi.  I now have 2 investment properties, working on a third.  And you are far too correct about women tearing each other down rather than building each other up.  I'm blessed to be part of groups of women who are commited to linking arms and moving forward together.

It just takes 10 houses, paid off, to generate $10,000 per month.  And, for those women who have a 401k or IRA's, they can use a SDRP to acquire real estate and build those retirement vehicles EVEN FASTER!

May 25, 2011 06:09 AM
Gail C. Harris
Resource Network, LLC SFR, AHWD, ACRE, SMAR Board Director - Chesapeake Beach, MD
Reach the BEACH with Gail C. Harris (cell: 703.868

It's really important that woman know they can stand on their own two feet.  Younger women who stay home with the kids need to makek sure their husband pays for an IRA; something of her own.  I was single  until I hit 46 so when I got married I did so with my husband's buy in to continue to let me handle the money!! :)

May 25, 2011 07:22 AM
Cindy Logan
Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors - Huntington Beach, CA

Very wise, Gail!  Ya know you can use your ira's to invest in real estate, right?  And yes, let's educate the younger women.  That seems to be the challenge.  When I was 26, I had my own rental investment house, I had been investing in the stock market since I was 20, and I had retirement savings.  All that became community property when I sold it during the marriage to set up my now ex-husband's biz. 

I made poor choices, and I was still OK until the 730 eval.  That was the most difficult time in my life.

May 25, 2011 07:47 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Cindy, I am so impressed at what you have said here. We women have really not helped ourselves, I think about that all the time. I have a childhood friend who is an attorney in Boston, she writes books about women and finances.

What a great thing you are doing indeed.

May 25, 2011 03:04 PM
Cindy Logan
Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors - Huntington Beach, CA

Thank you, Andrea!  I would love to see women invest for themselves.  I think our education serves Realtors, because if they can get their clients educated and investing, they could list and sell a lot more properties.

May 26, 2011 07:55 AM
TERI LINDSAY
Reno, NV
STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.

Cindy, I am "one of those" who is starting from scratch! After 37 yrs. of marriage, I left.... he had a new "girlfriend", and thought he had fallen in love.... she didn't! Anyway, I am responsible for what I have created.... I created exactly this.... and I am happier. I have to figure out how to generate an income to support myself. I have put my best creativity forward and have followed my passion..... home design, interiors, landscaping. If I could figure out how to incorporate music into staging, I would be the happiest "lifestyle merchandiser" in the industry.  HMMMM.... that's a new concept to staging, and I just now thought of it..... music for showings..... see, my mind is ALWAYS working! Now I just need a CD producer......HA!

Jun 12, 2011 09:04 AM
Cindy Logan
Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors - Huntington Beach, CA

Teri, there's music that enhances the mood.  I think that is a fabulous idea!  Determine what music influences good feelings, what odors (like baking brownies) influence good feelings, then put together a Realtor Care Package for listing and selling, that could get the home sold faster.  What a Grreat Idea!!!!!  Start small; just burn a cd from music you already have.

 

And I understand starting over.  It's where I was in February 2009.  I'm out of the valley.  Progress, not perfection.  Wishing you all the best.

Jun 12, 2011 09:27 AM
TERI LINDSAY
Reno, NV
STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.

Cindy.... taking this idea a step further....how about subliminal messages such as "this is your new home", "the asking price is perfect"..... "make an offer now".....HA!

Also, just to note, taking responsibility for myself, and knowing that I created my situation to exit my marriage let my ex "off the hook", and helped me to release SO MUCH anger. We are friends, spend time together (helping family and friends and our boys) and he supports me financially, the best he can, for now. I need the help until my income "kicks in".

Jun 12, 2011 10:17 AM
Cindy Logan
Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors - Huntington Beach, CA

Teri, I thought about this.  And I'm not sure subliminal messages are legal or ethical.  However, I thought of it!  Thinking, oooh, this is a cool idea.  Um... maybe not.

So great that you're releasing anger, and that you and he can be friends.  That's wonderful.  My ex and I are still not friends.  I can tolerage him now, though.

Jun 13, 2011 05:32 AM
TERI LINDSAY
Reno, NV
STAGELIGHT HOME STAGING CO.

Hi Cindy.... was this a "typo" or a "Fruedian slip":" tolerage"...... just wondering???? Maybe you have  created a new word for dealing with "ex's"! HA!

Jun 13, 2011 02:43 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Cindy and this is a wonderful post and some wonderful comments ...

Your post has been featured at one of my favorite groups at AR ...

SELF HELP ADVICE AT ACTIVERAIN

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Vegas Bob ;o)

Jun 21, 2011 02:01 AM
Cindy Logan
Mark 1 Real Estate Advisors - Huntington Beach, CA

Thank you, Vegas Bob.  This is my passion; making a difference.  So, yes, it fits in Self Help.

Jun 21, 2011 03:37 AM