Lucky Barrett
My son - Seattle 2000
This guy is going pro baseball...
In the final analysis, what matters more than those we love and the moments in our lives that bring us tears and laughter?
We only remember those things that matter.
Ultimately by learning to care and to love, we live - even if we make huge mistakes - we seem to forget the bad stuff when it is all said and done.
Little Lucky Barrett
My grandson - Montana 2004
We often don't know why we do the things we do or how we will respond to any given situation until we experience it.
What's interesting is how other's peoples' expectations of us are so much different than we thought and how a friend can flat just miss the boat about who we really are inside.
We can hurt others without knowing it when they expect us to be something that we are not. The reasons why are rarely understood until later.
Moments that matter are few and far between.
And yet the funny part is that they all matter.
Obviously, the key is living in the moment but it's so easy to miss the important things when we get caught up in details and forget that they don't really matter.
Sometimes we don't really understand what motivates us until something happens in our life that forces us to see things differently and jars us from the rut we have been in spiritually and consciously.
Often this is a trauma of some type - a death, divorce, job loss or the loss of an important relationship.
Being in the moment in our life is essential as we live each day. Knowing the reasons why and expressing gratitude for the blessings we have - on a regular basis - is so important.
I am learning to do so every day.
Recently the following quote came in my daily inspiration email. It really seems to apply here:
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." -
Albert Pike
My Reasons Why...
I have learned a lot more about his topic recently.
Over the course of 2005, there has been an amazing process of change going on for me personally. Many of the components of my daily life were brought to a screeching halt - to some degree - in the beginning of the year: financial, business relationships, real estate, marketing, friendships, my self image and self respect came into question in a big way and - virtually every aspect of my life was affected.
As a result, it forced me to really take a hard look at myself, how things work for me - or don't - and make some very clear choices about how to approach the remainder of my life.
This process was not optional - it was as if the universe reached down into my life and picked me up by the shirt collar and dropped me into a completely new space - where I was not in control any more - and said,
In many ways this was a very difficult process for me - to really let go of all the emotional baggage and be completely honest with myself.
On the other hand, looking back retrospectively, while difficult, it has been the most amazing, challenging and stimulating time of my life. I have accomplished more in this time period than I ever could have achieved otherwise and am learning how to live in the moment.
Someday I'll write a book about this experience to share it with other guys who don't get it yet. But for now it is suffice to say that my life has changed dramatically. I have learned how important it is to be aware of my reasons why every day and to live every day in awe and appreciation of life because I realize now that much of life has passed me by - "the living of it" - because I have been too busy, too often, and too wrapped up in myself to notice what matters.
I can honestly say that I have also learned to really listen to other people intently and make a sincere effort to figure out their reasons why at every opportunity. As a result of my change in attitude and greater awareness of other people, I am developing new relationships at a fast clip that are a great deal more meaningful and enriching every chance I get.
And it's amazing who I am meeting. Wow.
I have also discovered that the only way to grow personally is through relationship with other people - and this was a real mind blower for me. Books and lectures don't mean squat without interaction and application of the principles with others.
Through service to others I am finding a real joy in my life that provides a satisfaction in a way that is unprecedented - really learning the value of friendship in way never experienced before.
It is also clear that my approach to real estate investing is going to change a great deal as a result, as I move into a space of truly being of service to others in my work.
In order to accomplish this, I am learning to really listen and identify the client's reasons why, what makes them tick and how I can structure a transaction that will provide them the solution to their situation - with the by-product being a nice paycheck at the end.
It's clear - therefore - that my selling skills and abilities as an investor are going to skyrocket to a new level through approaching it all from a perspective of service to others.
Why People Do Things
A fundamental precept in selling and real estate investing is 'identifying reasons why'. For the mostpart we don't listen enough. Going over my notes from Ron LeGrand, Lou Brown and Greg Pinneo seminars, they all say,
"Ask questions and then shut up and listen."
If you listen well enough and observe closely how people respond, they will tell you what they want.
When we don't listen, we stand the chance of loosing any and everything that is valuable to us - in relationships, in business and real estate.
In real estate investing, the client will tell you how to close the deal if you ask enough questions and really pay attention to their reasons why.
Some of my reasons why are on this page.
What are yours?
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