| have heard about the risk-takers, the | | | | "Yes," he smiled, "if you put it that way then I did |
| entrepreneurs, who despite huge hardships, made | | | | do a few things right. I am actually quite well-off |
| it big in their career through their courage and | | | | and should trust myself a bit more." |
| tenacity. They are success stories we love to | | | | Dear reader, the most successful people, in any |
| hear and which we draw inspiration from. | | | | field and in any part of this world, at best are |
| These people are not all politicians or celebrities or | | | | right about 51% of the time! |
| sports athletes. In fact, they were the ones we | | | | Some very successful CEO's of larger companies |
| went to school or grew up with. They could be | | | | will tell you that only one in three decisions they |
| found right in our neighborhood and you, the | | | | make is any good. |
| doctor, most likely is one of them too! | | | | If you want to win the "Formula One" car racing |
| On a daily basis, we see examples of such people. | | | | world championship you need not even have to |
| They work very hard and are willing to take risks | | | | win a third of the races. |
| to achieve their goals. While others are contented | | | | We constantly elect presidents with barely, very |
| with an average income and career, they strive | | | | barely 50 % of the votes, and that my friend are |
| for the stars - they are usually the | | | | 50% of the people showing up for voting, which |
| above-average performers in their fields. | | | | brings the real number he needed to become the |
| But then, this is also what happens on their way | | | | most powerful man in this country to what? It is |
| up: they have accumulated some materialistic | | | | surely not half! |
| stuff, like a house, some money, reputation, etc. | | | | This story is about changing the successful action |
| and they start to change their operating basis - | | | | of being aggressive and taking some risk after |
| big time! | | | | having had some success to being careful and |
| What took their place is nothing but a fear of | | | | logical. |
| losing some of what they already have and a | | | | Some doctors told me they had so many bad |
| fear of looking stupid if they fail. Those fears | | | | experiences with vendors, consultants, buying |
| paralyze them, making them inactive and pathetic. | | | | new equipment etc, but in most cases I see |
| Welcome to the rat race of the 95% of all people | | | | those doctors having a far, far above income |
| everywhere. | | | | than the ones who made almost no investments, |
| A client of mine was talking to me about a | | | | in new equipment, or consulting, or otherwise |
| real-estate deal of about $500,000 which he could | | | | trying to grow. |
| make right now, or perhaps $1,500,000 in about | | | | The fear of losing is equal to having already lost it. |
| 10 years. | | | | Fear, as many a philosopher has said, is what you |
| He was a bit confused and torn about what to do. | | | | have to fear. |
| When I told him that he should not worry too | | | | As Robert Kiyosaki in his book "Poor Dad and |
| much and do what would indicate to him, he told | | | | Rich Dad" said: |
| me that his instincts in matters of real estate | | | | "I have never seen a successful man who did not |
| could not be trusted since he had made so many | | | | lose a lot but have seen many poor people who |
| bad decisions. | | | | never lost anything." |
| "Hmm," I said, "tell me how much real estate | | | | So please, do yourself a favor: if you have been |
| equity do you own right now, about 2 million or | | | | aggressive and lost some or even a lot, keep |
| more?" "Yes," he said, "more than two million." | | | | being aggressive and keep losing some. And if you |
| I said, "Considering that with only real estates, not | | | | have been the careful one who wants to never |
| to count your other successes, you are in the | | | | lose and turns over every stone 3 times before |
| upper 1% of Americans, you must have done | | | | embarking into something, start losing a bit. |
| really badly." | | | | Because you really lose by not reaching for all |
| He was quiet for a few seconds and realized. | | | | your dreams with all you got. |