4 minute read

Ever been to an amusement park and stood in front of that terrifying roller coaster?

Remember that moment of ‘Holy shit, am I really doing this?’

That’s how investing first felt for me. At first, it was terrifying, then it was exhilarating. And now, I am part owner of three apartments all before I even bought my own single family home.

Along the journey, I danced with two investing mindsets. One was like the cha-cha with two left feet. The other? A graceful waltz to the land of financial freedom.

Learn from my mistakes and save precious time.

Analysis Paralysis

Ever found yourself 30 tabs deep into a problem that started out so simple? And, what happens? You’re overwhelmed, the browser crashes and you quit.

Welcome to the first approach to investing. Analysis Paralysis.

You learn so much, cram your brain like it’s exam night, and suddenly freeze when the real test comes.

Once, I binged on every real estate podcast, book, forum and webinar out there. One moment I was analyzing market trends, and the next, I was neck-deep in property taxes and zoning laws.

“Information is a double-edged sword. Too little, you’re in the dark. Too much, you’re blinded.” some guru I paid too much to be in their ‘mastermind’

I’ve seen friends, brilliant wizards in my eyes working at top-notch tech companies, lose their investing mojo even before starting. All because they were too caught up in the ‘what ifs’.

You see, after 6 months of binging real estate content like a show on netflix. I realized I was the most informed non-investor around.

I hadn’t invested in anything. So, I pivoted.

Learn as You Go

I dove in, made my first investment into a real estate syndication, then two, then three.

I had accomplished more in the span of a year, then I ever dreamed of.

Of course, I made mistakes and every error taught me a lesson. And, not just about what to look for, questions to ask but what was important to me. What did I value in an investment?

There’s beauty in trial and error. I believe it is the rawest form of education. You mess up, recalibrate, and dive right back in, all while hoping to catch a glimpse of success.

Find your sweet spot.

Learn enough to not blindly jump off a cliff but don’t drown yourself in so much info that you never jump at all.

Start small. Maybe start with a REIT or a smaller property. Let yourself feel the process, and over time, you’ll get the hang of it. Before you know it, like me, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come.

But, you have to take action.

Saving Time: The Ultimate Currency

Time is fucking priceless.

Time is not just money, it’s life.

And in the grand scheme of things, mistakes will happen. Investments might flop. But time lost? That’s irreplaceable.

The stories I would tell myself that I just needed to learn more, the market isn’t right, what if, what if. I look back and realize how much time I had lost to being too afraid to just jump in.

You can earn back money, but not the minutes, hours, days you lost.

So, What Now?

Sit down. Grab a beer or a coffee. Think about what’s holding you back. Is it the fear of failure? Or maybe it’s just that you don’t know where to start. Whatever it is, confront it. Talk to friends or join online communities. You’re not alone on this ride.

Take Action!

1. Reflect on what kind of investor you want to be.

2. Research, but take it one step at a time. Practice Micro-learning.

3. Talk to folks who’ve been there, done that. They’ve got stories to tell.

4. Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

Take a Chance, Make a Change

Picture this.

Every day, you’re out there, making it rain. But, imagine if your money had its own 9-to-5. You want your money to work as hard as you do, right?

Slide into passive real estate investing, and let those with the know-how run the show. Syndications allow you to leverage the knowledge and resources of an expert, without needing to waste precious time learning to do it all yourself.

Even if you’re not there yet, don’t let fear or info overload be the showstoppers. The little wins, grounded in reality, can give you the confidence to take bigger leaps.

Stay savvy, stay real, and here’s to living the life you love! 🥂

Disclaimer: Investing always comes with risks. This article is based on personal experiences and does not serve as financial advice. Always consult with a professional before making any investment decisions.