Become a money magnet

When my sons were little they were like most kids.  They saw something, they wanted it.  Fortunately for them, they never did the screaming "I want it, I want it" in a store.  I could look at them if they even got close to a tantrum and they would turn into little soldiers.  Quiet, and at attention.  In that, I was blessed.  It was what I called the Clint Eastwood stare.  My wife had the same stare. 

On the flip-side, I didn't want them to think they couldn't receive "stuff" except for birthdays and Christmas, so I did something to help them learn how to acquire their "wants" that were reasonable.  I taught them to become money magnets.  What? Money magnets. 

When I was a young real estate investor I taught classes to help people learn how to create wealth through real estate investing.  I would only take 20 students at a time.  So, the sessions were intimate.  One of the first things they would say to me was,"Nobody in my family is wealthy.  Why would I become wealthy?"  To which I always responded, "Why not?"  Most millionaires in this country are first generation millionaires.  It always starts with somebody.  Why not you?

Here a few of the thoughts I taught my sons and my classes.  If you're going to be financially indepenent, or if you're going to be successful in business you need to develop a mindset of expectation:

• Expect it.  If you think you'll never be financially independent, you probably won't.
• Expect money to come to you.  My oldest son caught on to this one early.  He must have been less than five when my wife had him out shopping.  He asked for something.  His mother said, "Find the money."  He went on a search at a 3.5 foot level.  In a few minutes he had the coins he needed to buy whatever the item was.  Where did he get them?  He found them on the floor of the store. How?  He expected to find them, and he did.
• Expect business to come to you.  If you have an expectation, your senses will be more attuned to opportunities.  You'll begin seeing opportunities everywhere. I not only have an expectation, but I've refined that to the level of expectation. 
• Expect people to be drawn to you who need your services.  I picked up a new client the other day because of a guy who was logging.  What does that have to do with someone needing my services?  His fiance' needed to sell her house.  In our conversation he opened up about that, and I stepped through the door.  The irony is that a couple had just stopped me in a store a few days before, and they need a house, but they have a limited budget.  This house fits the bill.
• Expect your training to make you a "go to" person in your field.  Pick what training you take with the thought in mind that this is for the client.  A lot of Realtor certifications are for the Realtor.  If you are selling properties to non-Realtors you should find out how to better meet their needs.  I just accepted a short sale on Sunday.  The couple called me about the listing and said, "We heard that you could make this happen."  I listed it Monday.  I'm meeting a client on Thursday night to sign a contract.  I make things happen.  Be the go to person.
• Expect results.  Don't ever go into a listing, a contract or any real estate deal with an expectation of failure or problems.  You are a problem solver.  Problem solvers solve problems. 
• Expect success.  Successful people don't leave the house in the morning hoping things will go well.  They leave knowing things will go well.  If things go sideways, they right them and move on to a successful conclusion.  They are always anticipating the next step, the next phase of a project, the next move of a client, a colleague, etc.  They have an expectation of success, and it comes to them.  I ran into a colleague recently that said she was so excited that we were going to do another deal together.  She said, "It is always such a pleasure working with you.  I know it will be successful and painless every time."  Expect Success!

Financial independence, success in business and in life all start with healthy expectations.  When you live a life of expectations you change the way you see and carry yourself.  You're not expecting others to make you successful, you're expecting success to come to you because of your mindset, your talents and your  skills.  If you have a mindset of success you will gravitate toward success.  If you have a mindset of failure, you will gravitate to failure.  Trust me, I've had success, and I've had failure.  Success is better.