Stop grading your life with someone else’s scoreboard. Measure the gain from where you started, not the gap from an ever-moving ideal. Net worth looks shiny, but it’s your growing capacity to replace income that buys time, options, and peace. In this chapter, Kevin shares the story of bombing a big keynote and the hard, holy pivot that followed: stop chasing applause and start seeking the quiet approval of heaven. From there, we reframe progress in practical, Moneyball terms: measure your gains instead of the gap, ditch the scoreboard for a map, and prioritize income replacement over on-paper net worth. You’ll hear real investor stories (wins and gut-checks), why cash flow isn’t the only profit center that matters, and how to grow a self-sustaining “real estate orchard” one micro-win at a time—so you can move steadily toward economic independence without swinging for fences you don’t need.
00:00 – Kevin vs. the “Hank Smith Jr. effect”: when imitation ruins authenticity—and what fixed it
02:24 – Seek the quiet applause of heaven; measuring progress, not people
04:47 – A recipe for despair: external validation and risky, look-at-me goals
07:04 – The Gap and the Gain: why measuring backward fuels momentum
09:27 – Ditch the scoreboard, grab a map: progress > points
11:48 – The net worth illusion: why income replacement is the real flex
14:11 – Steve’s Harley story: let real estate buy the toys
16:38 – It’s a Wonderful Life: getting out of the gap and into gratitude
19:00 – Client “Rand”: doors obsession → setback → sustainable singles
21:13 – Cash flow isn’t everything: mini profit centers and smarter tradeoffs
23:35 – John & Judy: 10-year journey, $2M equity, and a purpose-aligned plan
25:55 – Designing income with 1031s, refis, and right-sequenced moves
28:09 – Start now: micro-wins to economic independence
30:20 – The orchard model: seeds, seasons, and compounding growth
32:46 – Chapter recap + reflection prompts to reframe your progress
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Chapter three, reframing progress. General principle, measure progress, not shortcomings. The stage awaits. Hey, it's me, Kevin again. Allow me to take you back to a rather unforgettable day when I was thrown into the speaker big leagues in Idaho. Picture this, an event jam packed with heavy hitters in the religious motivational world.
And there I was scheduled to close the show right after the legendary Hank Smith Jr. Hank, who boy, he is a wizard with words. He can weave a story that has the audience leaning forward spellbound that wham hits him with a punch line that brings down the house followed by a truth bomb that could bring tears to their eyes. mean, the man is a roller coaster of emotions and people love the ride. So there I was tucked among the cables and microphones and the audio visual control box.
watching Hank in awe and suddenly I feel like my talk needed more. More jokes, more memes, more Hank. Out came the laptop and I frantically started to Hankify my presentation. Slides changed, punch lines were added, all in a desperate attempt to replicate Hank's magic. But you know what they say about imitation? It's often just a pale shadow. My new found, inspired by Hank version of my talk bombed. It flopped.
It failed. I'd forgotten the very style that had gotten me to the stage, trying to walk in shoes that weren't even mine to walk in. The silence after I finished was deafening. There was a smattering of polite claps, some awkward chuckles, and the sound of my heart sinking. Was this the end of my speaking career? But then, like a whisper in the wind, a divine realization hit me. Seek the quiet applause of heaven instead of the
thunderous ovation of the crowd. It wasn't about mimicking Hank or craving the applause. It was about being true to myself and my unique journey. needed to align with my values, my conviction to a higher power and my personal mission, not conforming to an external standard I had imposed on myself. It was about embracing authenticity and doing what's right simply because it's right, not chasing the fleeting validation
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accolades or attention from those I barely knew in the audience. It's a lesson I've carried with me ever since. The constant comparison to others or to some arbitrary ideal, that's a road to nowhere. It's like chasing a mirage. You'll only end up lost. We all have our paths and it's essential to recognize and celebrate them rather than fall into the trap of keeping up with the Joneses. I often think of a quote from President Ronald Reagan that Steve has in his office.
quote, there's no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit close quote. It's a nudge to focus on the journey, the real progress, the micro wins rather than the fleeting thrill of applause or validation. That day in Idaho, it was a failure. Sure. But it was also a micro win, a small but significant step toward understanding myself better. And that's what it's all about. Cherishing the journey, not just aiming for the destination.
A recipe for despair. Many of us tend to look for external validation in our achievements. This craving for approval often prompts us to measure our worth based on others' perceptions. However, this cycle can become hazardous as we find ourselves continually pursuing the next big thing for validation and worth. At DfY, Dunphy Real Estate, we frequently encounter clients harboring extensive financial aspirations. Some want to make millions overnight.
while others aim for a vast property portfolio within a few years. These lofty aspirations are exciting, but they often stem from a desire for external validation, a need to demonstrate their success to others. This approach can lead to unnecessary risk-taking and potentially cause financial distress. It's crucial to understand that success isn't about how much money you amass or the number of properties you acquire, but whether you're meeting your personal financial goals and crafting the life you desire.
It's not about keeping up with the Joneses or impressing others, but about shaping a fulfilling and meaningful life for yourself. Rather than constantly comparing ourselves to others, it's important to concentrate on personal progress. We should question whether we are making strides towards our financial goals, creating a lifestyle that brings joy, and building a legacy for our loved ones. These are the considerations that should influence our decisions. When you stop focusing on the scoreboard and start centering on your journey, you can savor the wealth building process.
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You can cheer for each micro-win along the way, knowing that you're advancing towards your goals. And upon reaching those goals, you can feel a satisfaction and fulfillment that no amount of external validation can offer. Often, we look at our past accomplishments as a benchmark for future achievements. While acknowledging and learning from our past is essential, we must be cautious not to let it constrain our future potential. Rather than comparing past achievements with future aspirations, we should approach the future with gratitude and anticipation.
Focusing on the future with a sense of gratitude opens up to possibilities. We start to see each step forward as an opportunity to learn, grow, and craft the life we desire. Instead of pressuring ourselves to outdo our past, we can greet each new challenge with excitement and confidence. At DFY, we encourage clients to embark on their financial journey with this sense of gratitude and anticipation.
Each property purchased, each dollar saved, each decision made is a stride toward financial independence. Instead of persistently comparing themselves to others or their past selves, we motivate our clients to celebrate each micro-win and revel in the journey towards their goals. As you set off on your financial journey, remember that the scoreboard does not determine your worth. Your value isn't based on the number of properties you own or the sum in your bank account. Your worth is defined by who you are, the impact you make,
and the life you create for yourself and your loved ones. So stop focusing on the scoreboard and start carving out your unique path to success. The Gap and the Gain. One of our favorite books on personal growth and achievement, The Gap and the Gain by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan, offers a unique perspective that aligns beautifully with our conversation about reframing progress. The authors postulate that you can either measure your results by looking at the gap
that remains between where you are and where you want to be, or by the gain you've made from your starting point to where you currently stand. The constant pursuit of what's yet to be achieved can put you on a relentless treadmill of dissatisfaction, as you may end up always feeling that success is just beyond your reach and completely ignoring the successes or micro-wins you've already had.
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This is because the ideal you're chasing keeps moving further away as you grow and evolve. It's what Sullivan refers to as being in the gap. On the other hand, appreciating the progress you've made and the strides you've taken towards your goals or being in the game, not only fosters gratitude, but also generates positive energy that can fuel your future progress. This perspective resonates profoundly with our focus on micro winning and measuring personal progress. Just as measuring our gains,
encourages positivity and further achievement, celebrating each micro-win reinforces the sense of accomplishment and motivates us toward consistent and stable growth. This focus on the gain rather than the gap liberates us from the perpetual chase for validation and societal approval, allowing us to truly enjoy the journey. By emphasizing what has been accomplished, we naturally foster a sense of fulfillment and contentment. This positive mindset then propels us forward, inspiring further achievement.
Therefore, instead of continuously comparing ourselves to others or obsessing over the gap between our current status and our lofty ambitions, let's focus instead on our gains. Let's appreciate how far we've come from our starting point, relish each micro win and continually strive to shape our unique path to success. By doing so, we can not only transform our lives, but also positively impact those around us. Ditch the scoreboard and get a map.
While sports serve as a handy metaphor for life, the reality of life, filled with its peaks and valleys, emotional challenges and financial hurdles, extends far beyond the parameters of points, goals and runs. Considering everyone is engaged in a unique game with varying timelines and strategies to win, it seems futile to apply a universal standard scoreboard. As we emphasized in the previous principle, life is a journey.
brimming with opportunities for joy and fulfillment, often more so than at the anticipated destination. If we adopt this perspective, replacing the traditional scoreboard with a map appears a more fitting analogy. Scoreboards tally results, whereas maps guide journeys. Scoreboards fixate on the end result, whereas maps concentrate on progression. Maps provide a comprehensive view of not only your destination and the progress made to date,
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but also, and maybe most critically, the route to traverse from point A to point B. Therefore, instead of treating your life as a perpetual contest with yourself or others, always measuring your shortcomings on a scoreboard, we propose viewing it as a voyage that can be charted on a map. Every facet of your life, including the ambition to attain financial freedom through real estate, is much more a voyage than a finish line. Why is that?
Because as long as you're alive, you're evolving and every single stride on this path represents a micro win. The net worth illusion. One of the most common measures people refer to while glancing at their metaphorical scoreboard is their net worth. A value calculated by considering all our liabilities, assets and bank balances expressing our worth in monetary terms. In a seminal 1996 book, The Millionaire Next Door,
Thomas J. Stanley delved into various facets of lives led by paper millionaires, individuals boasting a net worth exceeding a million dollars. He scrutinized elements like the cars they drove, their clothing and accessories, their shopping preferences, and the nature of their residences. Subsequently, he examined similar aspects for those he labeled as the quote, real millionaires or the quote, millionaire next door. People who could halt working this instant and still uphold their existing lifestyle indefinitely.
Will it astonish you to learn that as research conclusions align with the principles in this very book, your net worth and apparent affluence do not necessarily represent your actual wealth or lifestyle. It's your residual income that sustains your living standard that truly matters. A host of figures in the media, on social media, and within the personal development and seminar circles are eager to define the meaning of wealth and income generation for you. Forever in search of audience approval,
they frequently display their success and parade their extravagant lifestyles. There were times when entire seminars were devoted to real estate gurus performing such antics. Let us be clear, appearances can be deceptive. We recall an Instagram post by popular YouTube real estate expert. He was pictured in his least convertible, flinging money with one hand while clutching a stack of bills with the other.
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On closer examination, really just zooming in on the picture, it was apparent that the pile of money was mostly one dollar bills or perhaps even paper cut to resemble dollar bills with a few genuine notes on top for appearances. This same guru holds live events where he dumps hundreds of thousands of dollars in an empty kids pool for a few event attendees to quote play in on stage. The idea is that event attendees are supposedly overcoming limiting beliefs about money.
a little insider information for you. The money he used was not even his. He had one of his devotees who won a large sum of cash from a settlement years earlier use his money instead. It was an elaborate facade of smoke and mirrors. Just because you don't fit the mold of social media influencers, market investors or other individuals flaunting luxury cars, grand houses and high end brands doesn't mean you're not on track to live the best, most fantastic lifestyle you aspire to. If you desire those luxuries, all power to you.
This book and the Moneyball real estate approach will guide you there. We aim to highlight the distinction between genuine wealth and high income, which often results in extravagant expenditure, leaving little to spare. Now don't misunderstand us. We're not here to critique your spending habits. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the finer things, but when you splurge on expensive items, ensure you can truly afford it. If that upscale house, that luxury car, that fancy boat or other high-end item,
doesn't strain your finances to the extent you have nothing left to save and invest, then go for it. Money is meant to be enjoyed both now and in the future. We're not propagating minimalism. mean, unless that's your thing and that's your preference and that's fine. We're underscoring the significance of balance and moderation. This enables you to enjoy your hard earned money later too. That's the essence of the money ball real estate philosophy. mantra has always been if you crave something pricey, get it. But first ensure that you have the real estate income to cover it.
Purchase a single-family residential property or a few of them that generates sufficient cash flow to pay for that luxury item. Let the house finance the asset. Steve here. I've always had this thing for motorcycles, especially Harleys. I love them so much that I've even taken my kids on cross-country Harley trips because they all ride now too. Let me take you back to the early days of my real estate journey when I found myself caught in a delightful dilemma. With a stash of money I had set aside,
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I found myself tantalizingly close to buying a motorcycle I'd had my eye on. But then, something extraordinary happened. Rather than yielding to temptation, I took a deep breath and chose the path of discipline. The ways of the Moneyball real estate investor. Instead of impulsively buying the motorcycle, I set aside a little more money, took a little more time, and identified a purchase-worthy Moneyball real estate property. It was the perfect fit, generating just enough cash flow to cover the payment for my new motorcycle.
Did you catch that? By letting real estate foot the bill, I didn't just get the bike, I bought an appreciating asset that continued to grow in equity. It was like having my cake and eating it too, with a sweet cherry of tax benefits on top. The motorcycle was mine, but so were the financial advantages that came with smart investing. That decision, guided by principle and foresight, not only put me on the road with my dream bike, but also set me on the path to financial success and freedom. It's a ride I'll never forget.
What you should avoid is squandering your money on luxurious items that your bank balance suggests you can afford, leaving your future self with zilch. Possessing enough cash for something isn't synonymous with affording it. Your wealth isn't contingent on how it appears to others. If you're on course to replace your income, thereby truly retiring, you are wealthy. Despite the title, Micro Wins to Millions, you may never need to amass millions. Focus on income replacement.
and you will be moving in the right direction on your wealth journey. Your affluence isn't tied to your job, career trajectory, or the head start you may or may not have received in life. Regardless of who you are or where you stand today, with the money you currently possess, the relationships you've built, and the experience you've gained, we assure you there's a pathway to income replacement via Moneyball Real Estate. Wonderful lives don't fit into scoreboards.
Persistent scoreboard checking is a surefire path to despair. A remarkable instance of this can be observed in the timeless classic favorite. It's a wonderful life. In the movie's opening sequences, George Bailey, the main character is fixated on the scoreboard. When his company plunges into a crisis and he faces potential arrest due to a blunder, he drowns his sorrows in a bar and contemplates ending his life. In the nick of time, Clarence, a guardian angel prevents.
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his suicidal attempt. The character, George Bailey, spirals into a dark abyss primarily because he never appreciated the journey he's embarked upon. I feel like in this part of the book I should do my feeble Jimmy Stewart impression. Merry Christmas, you old building and loan. You're welcome. Okay. Instead, he's consumed by angst about the destination.
When he finally learns to value his life for what it is rather than lament on what it's not, abandons his obsession with the scoreboard and begins to relish the journey. His problems are miraculously solved. The moral of the story couldn't be more explicit. And we've witnessed this lesson unfold in reality. One of our clients, a nurse felt he was lagging in retirement savings and believed real estate investment was beyond his reach. After coming across our radio ad, he reached out and we helped him identify untapped resources.
He hadn't even considered by leveraging equity from his primary residence. He invested in several properties through us transitioning from incessant scoreboard checking and perpetually feeling like a loser to focusing on scoring single points in the present moment. He started working toward long-term victory today. He's on track to build the portfolio. He needs to retire comfortably in about 15 years. That encapsulates what the money ball real estate and the micro wins to millions mindset is all about.
It's concentrating on the readily available at-bat resources to methodically work toward your goals, one base hit at a time, without the relentless urge to scrutinize the scoreboard. Real estate application of principle. It's not productive to compare the state of your real estate portfolio or financial life with the portfolios or financial journeys of others. Appreciating each individual bit of progress in your personal portfolio journey
fuels you to continue to achieve more. The pitfall of obsessive scorekeeping. Here's a compelling example of the negative implications of obsessive scorekeeping demonstrated by a client of ours. Rand, who's a client of ours, embarked on his real estate journey with an unquenchable thirst for success, measured by DOORS, the term in investment real estate for units with revenue potential. He spent years absorbing knowledge at real estate investor association meetings, conferences, and other educational events.
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all to pursue a sizable real estate portfolio. When Rand came to us in his early 20s, we advised him to start small, purchase a primary residence, rent out the basement, and then leverage the equity growth to accumulate moneyball properties. We saw a clear path for Rand. With a slow and steady approach, he could retire in his 40s. Heeding our advice, Rand purchased a primary residence and began renting out the basement, but the taste of residual income was more intoxicating than he had anticipated.
and he wanted more and he wanted it faster. Abandoning a moneyball plan, he opted for higher risks in hopes of higher rewards. Joining forces with a southern-based investment group, Rand invested heavily in multifamily properties, sinking hundreds of thousands of dollars into the project. Allured by the prospect of owning an extensive number of doors, he continued to funnel funds into repairs despite the properties draining his resources without generating returns.
His ambition clouded his judgment until he discovered dishonest dealings by his investment partners. Realizing the folly of his ways, he withdrew from the venture, his portfolio shrinking from over 20 doors to just two single-family residences. This bitter experience was a lesson in humility for Rand, as well as a wake-up call to the importance of focusing on small, consistent victories. He had swung for the fence and struck out.
But in doing so, he learned to appreciate the wisdom of the slow and steady wins the race type philosophy. Rand's journey serves as a reminder that real estate investment is not a sprint, but a marathon. Striving for unreachable ideals and unnecessary risks can obstruct progress, especially if we lose sight of our unique paths and purposes. By embracing a mindset that celebrates incremental progress and the small victories we achieve along the way, we set ourselves up for sustainable success.
rather than momentary triumphs. Sometimes wisdom lies not in chasing grand slams, but in appreciating the beauty of well-played singles. It's all about the journey, not just the destination. And for Rand, the journey continues with a renewed focus on what truly matters in the world of real estate investment. With a renewed focus, Rand recently closed on two Moneyball properties and will likely still retire in his 40s, but perhaps in his late 40s now.
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So you see, if we persistently attempt to assign scores to everything, we risk overlooking excellent opportunities. For instance, we employ a property analysis tool to gauge the potential of investment properties for our clients highlighting key numbers. We explore this a lot more in principle eight. Among these figures is the cash flow, also known as the anticipated profit post deductions like mortgage repair reserves, property management expenses, and other costs from the rent. We've observed that for most aspiring investors,
Decisions to purchase properties often hinge solely on projected cash flow. However, such an approach fails to capture the comprehensive value that an individual property can add to your financial life when you play moneyball real estate. Last chapter, we talked about the mini profit centers of which cash flow is only one. A property might indeed be a valuable investment for a combination of other reasons and potentially deliver a better overall financial gain than a property solely evaluated on higher cash flow.
We invariably urge our clients to thoroughly assess every property to chart out the ones that will best aid them on their journey to financial independence. Suppose you own a property generating a modest cashflow, maybe only a hundred dollars a month or possibly none at all. If you're fixated on your yet to be accomplished multimillionaire status, this scoreboard obsession might keep you from seeing additional possibilities. For example, if refinancing a property, even at a higher interest rate enables you to withdraw enough cash to
purchase a lucrative second property? Shouldn't you consider it if you're focused on the journey and not on the score? In most cases, our answer is a resounding yes. You're accumulating additional micro-wins by acquiring more properties, which is far more significant than the immediate score of a higher cashflow from a single property. We aren't suggesting that you abandon tracking your progress entirely, but caution against an unhealthy obsession with minutiae. Prioritize measuring the gain and planning your next micro-win over score tallying
as a comparison. Celebrate your progress and rejoice in how small victories steer you closer to the big win you're striving for. From uncertainty to confidence. Our amazing clients, John and Judy, were in their 50s back in 2013 when they began their journey with Dunphy Real Estate. John, now 67, was feeling a little defeated in a recent game plan review session we'd conducted with him. His portfolio was not where he'd hoped it would be 10 years into the adventure.
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Our team worked with John to refocus his mindset and helped him recognize the series of micro wins he'd accumulated over the years. Soon enough, he began to see how exceptional his journey has been. John was focusing on the scoreboard, on the hoped end destination. John was in the gap. Initially, John and Judy purchased three properties in Arizona between 2013 and 2014. They decided to sell these assets in 2018 and 2019 to broaden their holdings by purchasing some properties in Florida.
In 2021, they took advantage of market trends and refinanced their three Florida properties to both lower their interest rates at the time and acquire three more properties. They also lowered the interest rate on two properties in Utah, including their primary residence. These strategic moves came as a result of the constant guidance from D.F.Y. As we sat with John and Judy, we marveled at how they'd used Moneyball Real Estate with our guidance over the years to turn their initial investment in real estate into a robust portfolio.
with current equity valued at $2 million. Recently, John lost his job, which paid him $120,000 annually. Facing financial uncertainty, John considered taking an $80,000 per year job, even though he wasn't excited about it. Simultaneously, John found immense joy in helping an 84-year-old man with a wood carving business, a father-like figure to him. After several comprehensive meetings,
We devised a strategy for John and Judy that went beyond the real estate investment. We incorporated tax considerations and future income needs into their plan. Our approach was sell one of their older properties every couple of years and reinvest in a newer property in an income generating market. By doing so, they could tap into their accumulated equity through partial 1031 exchanges, thereby setting up a regular income stream. This plan enabled John and Judy to balance their immediate cashflow needs with long-term financial stability and growth.
Not only would they be protected against inflation, but they would also have resources set aside for healthcare and other retirement expenses. John decided to turn down the $80,000 job and retire, focusing on what truly makes him happy. The strategy provided them with the financial confidence they needed to move into this new chapter of their lives. Through a series of small but calculated decisions, and after years of micro wins,
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John and Judy managed not only to lay the bricks for a secure financial future, but also to lay the groundwork for a lasting legacy for their loved ones. John moved out of the gap and into the game by focusing on the progress their portfolio had made. And it resulted in a massive life altering shift, proving once more that over time, micro wins can indeed create big results, even millions. The journey to economic independence. The path to achieving economic independence and enduring success in real estate investing
requires a fundamental mindset shift and a steadfast commitment to a set of pragmatic steps. Initiate your journey by establishing clear long-term aims, such as owning 10 single-family investment properties to replace your income, or maybe owning and controlling a million dollars of real estate and then gaining a million dollars in equity. Understand that this endeavor is more akin to a marathon than a sprint, and the process of building enduring wealth necessitates time, patience, and discipline.
Segment your long-term ambitions into smaller, more manageable milestones that act as the micro-wins crucial to reaching your ultimate goal. Develop a feasible plan to accomplish these milestones and adhere to it consistently, making necessary adjustments along your journey. Remember, slow and steady progress is more sustainable and less risky than the pursuit of fast, high-risk gains.
Regularly track your progress toward your long-term ambitions and smaller milestones, acknowledging and celebrating each micro-win as it's achieved. This habit not only keeps you motivated, but also underscores the significance of each small stride. To stay on the right path, engage with like-minded individuals who echo your long-term vision and dedication to your lasting success. The exchange of experiences, learning and support can be priceless. Never cease learning about real estate investing, personal finance and wealth building strategies
The more extensive your knowledge, the better equipped you'll be to make informed decisions and remain committed to your long-term goals. By adopting these practical steps and shifting your focus from short-term wins to long-term achievements, you'll lay a solid foundation for lasting wealth and economic independence, one micro-win at a time. Grasping the difference between on-paper millionaires and actual millionaires is crucial. If you're not a millionaire yet, the discrepancy boils down to time and assets.
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You haven't yet invested the required time to amass the necessary assets, but that's okay. The best time to start is now. That's why you're listening to this book, right? You don't need to be a high income earner or wait for the perfect job, a windfall or a promotion. There's no need to wait at all. You can start building your wealth and achieving your goals today by playing money ball real estate and stacking micro wins. Set aside your obsession with the scoreboard. Instead, focus on charting your journey to economic independence. Planting money seeds.
We love to analogize growing a real estate portfolio to cultivating an orchard. In Utah, where we reside, thriving orchards, apple, peach, cherry abound. In fact, Steve has a cherry orchard in his backyard. Just like nurturing a real estate portfolio, creating a productive orchard requires time and patience. It all begins with sowing seeds that need watering and care to develop into fruit bearing trees. As these trees yield fruit, they also produce new seeds that can be planted.
progressively expanding the orchard and generating an abundance of fruit. Consider this, given sufficient time, a single property will amass enough equity that you can leverage it to acquire another. You essentially double your real estate orchard from one property to two, thereby harvesting two potential cash flows, double tax benefits, and twice the appreciation. Your real estate portfolio grows organically over time, similar to an expanding orchard.
As an orchard's gardener, your role entails providing necessary care and patience, understanding that the majority of the growth happens naturally, even when you're not watching. Just as apples ripen over time, your real estate investments mature, irrespective of whether you're keeping a constant eye on them or not. The process of creating a self-sustaining, economically independent real estate portfolio parallels the cultivation of an orchard. Your initial investment acts as the seeds you sow.
Economic swings might require periodic financial sustenance akin to watering your orchard seeds or perhaps paying to have your trees pruned and fertilized. Recall the double digit interest rates in the 1980s. It was a struggle to keep up with the loan payments, but those who endured and continued investing in their real estate portfolios now relish substantial economic freedom. Consider posing this question to yourself.
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If you could travel back in time to 1981 and secure a worthwhile moneyball style property at a staggering 18.45 % interest rate equipped with your current knowledge and experience, wouldn't those seeds be worth sowing? Visualize the scale and vitality of your real estate portfolio and income orchard today had you taken such a step. Even if your real estate investment isn't cashflow positive for some time and requires additional financial support,
Adopting the long-term mindset of orchard cultivation will ultimately prove more profitable than most other investments. With time and dedication, your real estate portfolio, like an orchard, will grow and become self-sustaining. By persistently nurturing your real estate investments, you'll eventually create a thriving orchard that no longer depends on your direct financial support. The key lies in maintaining a long-term perspective, understanding that the journey to economic independence is a gradual yet rewarding process.
Stay focused on nurturing your investments and with time, your real estate portfolio will yield the economic independence you aspire to. Consider a past failure or setback and try to reframe it by identifying what you learned or how it helped you grow. Shifting your perspective to see failures as part of the process can lead to greater resilience and determination, turning a negative experience into a positive micro win. Chapter three, ideas summary.
Comparison as a thief of joy. Drawing parallels between your progress and others' achievements or even measuring against your ideal can rob you of happiness and satisfaction. View progress as a journey, not as a scoreboard. Envision your progress as a winding road with small, significant landmarks rather than a race with a strict win-lose dichotomy. Value income replacement over net worth. Your capacity to replace your income through strategic investments matters more than the sheer numerical value of your assets.
Cultivate your real estate orchard. Start small with just one property. Consider your investments as seeds and your portfolio as an evolving, self-sustaining orchard that will flourish over time. Chapter three, micro wins. Take a moment to acknowledge a recent micro win in your investment journey. Whether it's acquiring your first property, securing a profitable lease, or simply changing your perspective on progress, these small victories contribute to your overall success. Celebrate this achievement, not in comparison to an
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unattainable ideal, but as a meaningful step in your personalized path to prosperity. By focusing on your unique journey, you've already accomplished a significant micro win. Fill the joy of this recognition and carry it forward as you continue to grow. If adopting this mindset feels foreign or challenging, consider these questions. Number one, what fears or concerns might be holding you back from embracing this new perspective? Number two, how might reframing progress
Valuing income replacement and planting real estate seeds change your approach to your investments and life goals. 3. Are you ready to step away from comparisons and focus on your unique journey?