I remember that day very clearly. I waited with anticipation, and apprehension for 3:00 pm to arrive. I was so excited that I arrived 10 minutes early even though I only lived 4 minutes away. The date was July 23, 2002. 68402 was the Cessna 152 I was about to fly for my Private Pilot's license exam. Aside from my wedding day and the birth of my children, NOTHING exceeds the sense of accomplishment I felt that day.
"Congratulations. You are now a private pilot."
Those words still ring in my ear. It was the culmination of a lot of work. The direct result of careful planning, much study, learned execution and faith in the flight instructor I had hired to guide me through the process.
My instructor was Felicia Barton. I've since lost track of her. But I'll never forget her. "Airspeed. Center line." "Airspeed. Center line." "Emergency. Where will you land?" Those words of hers ring through my ears to this very day with every flight I take. Even while driving my MINI. I purposely live close to small airports and watch as many approaches/take-offs as I can. I mentally fly every single day.
Why am I writing about flying?
Because it is really no different than what the newer real estate investor goes through when they are getting started. You step out on faith and the first thing you decide is that you are going to do it.
The next thing that any prudent flight student will do is carefully choose their flight instructor. Your life will literally be in that person's hands for years and years to come. After all, it is the training that will come back when you need it most. Or it wont. It just depends on whether you had a great flight instructor...and whether or not you were a great student.
Little successes will build on top of other small successes. When that plane lifted off the ground for the very first time under my control Felicia took the wheel as I followed along. She was talking to the tower, adjusting the throttle. Following directions. Turning to 270. Adjust mixture level. Head on a swivel to look for traffic. Trim needs adjusting.
My head was swimming. Would I ever learn to do all of this? And all at the same time?
You never stop learning to fly. You never stop learning about real estate investing. To me, with my life experiences, they are practically the same. Both allow freedom. Both require planning. Both allow the chance to soar. Both can cause ruin.
Choose your path carefully. Plan. But step out. The sense of accomplishment in knowing that I can fly is unbelievable. Knowing that I am taking steps to have wealth that will allow me to retire comfortably and that I can leave for my kids will be like that July day. "Congratulations. You are a millionaire."
Reprinted from my other blog at BBQ Capital.
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