Before you read my blog I just wanted to say that the response to my last video blog has been quite overwhelming. The volume of emails has astounded me. So I am working on something more comprehensive than just a superficial reply to ensure those of you who can relate to what I have discussed will get the help you need. I’ll video blog something tomorrow but I am working on a separate video series to walk those of you who would like help through how to get healed. I am also considering running a weekend for those of you who would like some hands on assistance. This will be a no cost workshop to help you work through your issues. If this would be of interest to you then please email me.

September 06.
I’ve been talking to some people recently and on several occasions heard comments like “I fell on hard times” or a negative event has “come out of nowhere”.

Now I know that things do just happen and we need to be prepared for left field events but I also believe that frequently bad things happen to people for the same reason good things don’t happen to them.

We let the tide of life dictate our circumstances. We never experience the thrill of conquering a fear or growing in our ability to handle wealth, or even enjoy a richer more intimate relationship because we never push back against the current.

Let me ask you a question. How will you ever know what you are capable of unless you try something you’ve never done? How will you ever know what your current ceiling is unless you get a ladder that reaches to that ceiling.

And if you try and fail once does that make you a failure?
If you just answered “Yes” or “Maybe” to this question then your head space is very bad. My friends we need to understand that it is ONLY when we fail that we learn how to succeed. The most dangerous people are those who have not yet had something go wrong for them. My bankruptcy taught me more several years ago than I ever could have learnt if my first business had been a raging success.

You can tell a child over and over agian not to touch things that are hot, but the first time they get burnt they now know what hot means and they are self motivated to not touch too hot again.

As investors we need to understand this. Every left field event is an opportunity to learn and grow. In fact I would go so far as to say we need to create opportunities when we are at risk of failure. IF YOU WANT TO GROW.

I have recently become much more aggressive in my property trading, to see where my ceiling is. You’ll hear about it here when I find it but my point is not that I’m taking bigger and bigger risks, although I might be.

My point is that as I push myself I am finding abilities I never knew I had. I am creating wealth to pour in Fiji I never thought possible. I only know this is possible because I am trying to do it. Does this make sense??

What are you not enjoying because you are not trying?
What freedom are you not experiencing because you haven’t resisted the current?
What dreams are dead in your heart because you won’t give yourself permission to rise above your current circumstances?

As someone once said. “The harder I work, the luckier I get”.

Till tomorrow, Dean

From 06/09/2006

Every now and again someone asks you a question you’ve never been asked before. Well today Jess asked me with a totally straight face. “This all sounds so amazing and I like you and everything but how do I know you’re not a hoax?”

I didn’t know what to say really. After some contemplation I replied, “Don’t know!!”

Given the fact that unlike many “public profile” investors I publicly state my balance sheet and discuss actual numbers on specific deals I have done, it’s obvious I have nothing to hide. Verifying my investing integrity takes about 30 seconds, so it was a strange question.

I’ve been dwelling on it all afternoon and realize that what she was really saying was,

“The thought of achieving total financial freedom like you have in under 2 years is so outside of my world view that my brain is rejecting this information”.

So that I can understand, and it made me wonder how many of us think the same way. How many of us really believe what we read and hear when it comes to others successes?? Even if you work with people who have achieved or used to work with people who don’t work with you now because they are free, does that even compute with you?

This is an important question for me because I only talk about what I have done in the hope it will inspire others to try. But if people simply think “this is too good to be tru”, then am I wasting my time? As much as I love communicating with you all I do have other things I could be doing. So if sharing my life with you is not productive then I have people to love, places to see and a wife to hold instead, of blogging here!!

But the feedback you give me indicates that for some of you at least my ramblings are an encouragement, so I will keep doing them.

Today was another interesting property day. I discovered some land I have under contract has an unusual zoning and instead of being a 700K profit deal is now potentially 2 million. Don’tcha hate it when that happens?

And that is my point actually about the too good to be true thing. Too many people think it’s unreal or impossible. I find I fall over it everyday.

I was driving through Ngaruawahia 2 weeks ago. I decided to stop and find an agent and just ask what property was doing in the area. Found a new agent who was delighted to give me a tour of the town and show me some property. A week later she rings me with a block of land I might be interested in. Now my philosophy is to take massive action immediately, especially with a new agent, and do your homework afterwards, so I got the land under contract same day. By the next day the vendors were trying to cancel the agreement, but it was too late, they had already signed.

So today I find out there is 2 MILLION DOLLARS profit in this deal, with a time frame of about 2 years. Would you like to make 2 million dollars over the next 2 years? Do you believe you could? Are you willing to try? Are you willing to try to believe that with the right help you could possibly maybe have a go at it??

Nah you’re probably right, I’m probably lying. It IS just too good to be true!! Dean Letfus, Ollie Newland, Bob Jones, Ron Hoy Fong, Sean Wood, Lisa Dudson, Robyn Grinter, Steve McKnight, Matthew Gilligan, Brad Sugars, Dorien and Rineke Forster, Rick Otton, Dolf De Roos, Mike Yardney, Colm Dillon, Peter Aranyi, Garth Melville, Grant Clifton, Fritz, Trish, Muzza, Ivan, Mike Reeves and the hundreds and hundreds of our friends, peers and students, we’re all self deluded.

Have to go, my nose is growing

So since writing that blog Jess has her first rental and is building a MDU and here dad is doing a 7 unit subdivision in Auckland. So I guess I answered their questions!!

Must tell you of another event that relates to all this as well. At my trading workshop in Auckland one of the attendees was talking to another about me. He didn’t know that the other party knew me personally. During the conversation the guy accused me of being a scam artist and that I was just ripping people off and none of the money I got went to Fiji etc.etc. My friend took some exception to this, apprently so much so that he expected the other guy to complain and try and have him thrown out.

Anyway when I heard of this I thought:
A: I was really hurt I guess that someone would think that of me for no reason.
B: Why would he pay to come if he thought that was true?
C: Given that he could go and see the Fiji projects with his own eyes and see where the money is being spent why say stuff that was crap?
D: Given what people were saying about how good they thought the event was, why was that not causing him to rethink his position??
E: Most importantly though I thought how sad that someone was so self destructive and negative that they would live their life like that. He can never fulfill his potential with a head full of poison like that. Imagine his self image!!
And for more on that you’ll have to watch the video!!
Until tomorrow this is me.

PS I am speaking in Havelock North tomorrow evening, hope to see you there!!

Havelock North Community Centre
7.00 – 7.30pm Socialise
7.30p.m. meeting starts

Update from 05/09/2006

I hesitate to mention this as it may sound terribly arrogant. That is not my intention. I mention it only to encourage us all to pursue our real dreams and not accept the norm, nor remain in our comfort zones.

One of the things my wife and I struggle with in our lives is a shortage of friends. Not people who like us or would come for dinner, but people who we can actually do stuff with.

I remember hearing Phil talk about this at an event a long time ago but I never understood it till recently. As a result of working very hard in IP we are now in a position where we can choose what we do and where. Raewyn has been overseas on holiday for over 3 months of this year and I travel regularly to Fiji. We would love to share more time with friends but all our friends are working 50 hours a week, 50 weeks a year and can’t join us anywhere. As a result we do most things by ourselves.

Simply put, there are not enough of us financially free to be able to enjoy life and each others company. We need more of you to get a good result so we can all go to Fiji together, for as long as we like.

My challenge to you today is to give yourself permission to think like this. Start to believe that you COULD retire in a couple of years. Dare to believe that you COULD choose exactly how to spend a day.

Sadly even many of the wealthy people today have no life. They work and work and work and work. Raewyn and I choose to live today to the full, and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. Work??, sure but work as little as possible and achieve the biggest possible result. How? By taking massiveaction when required, then enjoy the fruit of it.

YOU CAN DO THIS ALSO. IT IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. But to achieve it MUST start with you being willing to entertain it as a possibility. Go on, dare to believe that you could really, really, really live the life of your dreams. Figure out what it is you DESIRE, not what you thin is possible or what you feel “duty bound” to do.

Actually duty bound is a good phrase. We are, many of us, in real bondage to things we feel we should or must do. Time for a change. Are you willing to join me?? I hope so!!

PS. We now have dates and venues for WGTN & CHCH Property Trading events. Please join us. Info HERE

It takes a lot of getting used to, being recognised as a result of publicity.
In the last year I have been on national television, spoken to many thousands of people in seminars etc. and been in the Herald and PIA mags.

Now I don’t care about being recognised at all but the funny thing is how differently people treat you. I have had people come up and shake my hand in a real estate agents office today who were “amazed to actually meet me”, like I was Princess Di reincarnate. Even some of our immediate family are stunned and speak to us differently. Weird huh??

I really don’t get it. Why does someone become “special” because they get their name in the paper. I think it says a lot about our need for heroes that we deicde that people who have received some recognition are somehow better than us. It helps us deal with our own insecurity perhaps. I have also noticed how differently I think about people I used to consider “stars”. As I get to know them personally I find them to be “normal”, just like evrybody else

Anyway let me put the myths to death. I am not special, I am still overweight and balding and I smell bad if I don’t shower regularly. Being in the Herald changes nothing except the size of ones head and then only if you let it. Fortunately with ears as large as mine any size head looks small.

My only claim to fame I believe is that I take consistent “massive action” and when you do that you will get results.

Finally on the property front I find myself in subdivision mode again at the moment. I have secured more land in Ngaruawahia so I now have 23 houses to build!!

I find this to be a new level of perturbation. I always vowed I would never trade property and I now do it almost daily. I also vowed I would never ever do developments and I currently am definitely doing 1 and have several more under contract. So never say never I guess.

On another note it was my pleasure to have dinner with another trader on Saturday who had attended my workshop. It was fascinating listening to her speak of her attitude and habits relating to investing. It was like listening to myself. She follows exactly the same things I know and teach. Know an area like the back of your hand, find a good agent, put your profits into good quality buy and holds.

Anyway I have to go, Elvis is complaining that we’re out of corn chips and ET still doesn’t have his license to drive to the shops. See ya!!

September 3 2006

One of my favourite online haunts has had a lot of discussion around the value, or lack of value, of mentors in the last few days. Some people are saying that people who use mentors are lazy or ….. well mostly lazy.

Sadly I meet people most days who have stuffed themselves up in varying degrees through not using a mentor, or at least getting a good education.

Today I met a former associate of my wife who bought a 20sqm apartment off the plans 3 years ago and now has to sell a pos cashflow pretax IP to fund the huge loss they are facing on their unrentable apartment. Had they gotten some sound coaching they A: probably would never have bought the lemon and B: could have found a much better exit strategy.

Then tonight I had dinner with a couple who keep buying IP’s at full retail and are now asking why they can’t keep investing. I have to get them to probably sell off properties at the wrong time to get them in a position to take more action because they are ignoring a 101 investing rule. Namely that you make your money when you buy below valuation.

My wife and I have had success in property by getting a good education, finding people who were more successful than us and learning from them and always being open to learning more.

In 2 years my wife and I have spent way over twenty grand educating ourselves. It’s been the best investment we could have made because we are now way over four million dollars better off then if we hadn’t spent the money and found mentors.

The Kiwi DIY attitude, when it comes to investing, is in my opinion the worst advice of all. Do you want to retire? Do you want to be able to choose when to get up, to go to your kids events during the week, to travel whenever you want?? Do you really really want to be free, emotionally, relationally, fianncially?? Well then invest in yourself. If property is your bag, get the education, get the help you need. Don’t just try, DO IT!!!

As I prepare the material for the final presentation of my workshop I am trying to ensure the most important and valuable information is covered. I take this very seriously as I want to be remembered as an educator who provided the best possible assistance to others. The comments from those who said the Auckland workshop was the “best event they had ever attended” was exactly what I hoped to achieve.

Anyway in trying to prepare the most important material I am reminded of the importance of knowing what is really important and “keeping first things first”.

I have 5 kids and a wife whom I adore. I would die for any of them without a moments hesitation, because they are the important things in my life.
I serve a God whom I also love and because of my relationship with Him there are many things I don’t do, and values I choose to live my life by, because He is the most important part of my life.

There are many things I do because I love doing them, like playing the guitar, teaching others about property, writing as I am here, investing and so on. However these things are not an important part of my life. They are significant but NOT important if that makes sense. If they caused me hardship or affected my ability to pursue the more important things above, I would stop them immediately. I don’t need more money or property. By that I mean if I had no money or no property at all i would not let that get in the way of pursuing that which is really important.

If I had nothing I would have less choices perhaps but I would be just as happy. Having God, Raewyn and Peter, Zharna, Maria, Melody and Chrissy in my life. I don’t need to be popular, look good, or be put on some pedestal.

What I do need is to love, be loved, find an avenue to serve others and leave a meaningful legacy.

I share this with you because I think it’s important to understand that whilst we might pursue freedom financially, and that is a good thing, we need to remember that it is not that important, compared with the real, real issues.

I had the great privelege of my first Helicopter flight today with my 3 younger girls. That was important. I will treasure those memories till I die.

I must thank Nigel and Rianne for their amazing kindness in creating this opportunity for us. It was a “random act of kindness” that is not taken for granted!! You guys rock!!

I watched the doco on Prime recently about the Madrid Bombings. After interviewing the woman who had her leg blown off I turned to Raewyn and said, “And we worry about going into overdraft”

I hope and indeed pray that as you finish reading this you’ll leave the computer and go and kiss your spouse, hug your kids while they sleep, ring that relative you haven’t spoken to for too long, and remember to make the main thing, the main thing.

Video’s back tomorrow YAY!!

Plenty of people talk about win win solutions but in reality when you look at their lives and investing they are typically win lose, they win, everyone else loses.

“Get all you can, can all you get, sit on the can and poison the rest” is not only selfish, it actually prevents the perpetrators success.

My experience is that there is always a win win solution, what Dr Stephen Covey call “third alternative” solutions.

My latest deal yesterday is a good example of that concept. I have a couple of favourite agents who regularly bring me deals and one of them had rung me with a property that was kind of for sale, but vendors in no hurry kind of thing. After visiting the property I knew it was potentially a 3 unit site with each section being worth at least 500K.

I offered them 825K and they countered at 925K. I knew the deal was good so I paid their price and we agreed on 12 months settlement.

So firstly the vendors had won. In fact they had kind of changed their mind about selling so they countered at a high price hoping I would go away so to get their price was fantastic for them.

It turns out the agent was in love with the house, unrestricted sea views in Howick, and asked if he could buy the house if I was going to subdivide. The next day he bought me a cash offer for the “to be subdivided” section and confirmed his purchase of the house.

So now the agent is winning. He has vendors that love him, got a great commission on the sale AND commission on the section and gets to buy a great property at a good price.

I was originally planning on keeping the property. My surveyors report said I could potentially build 7 apartments on the site so it became enormously more profitable than I thought when I bought it. HOWEVER as the agent who bought me the deal wanted to buy it off me and he found me a buyer immediately for the sites I decided this would be the right thing to do, a third alternative solution.

Am I winning? Well for a total outlay of $40,000, in 6 months I will have my $40,000 back plus an additional $300,000 in the bank. So yeah, you could say I am winning. You see I believe passionately that if we will operate on win win or no deal, everybody can win every time.

There are too many people in the world who already feel like losers, I refuse to create any more of them.

Since I wrote this originally last year I have found that in fact win~win or no deal creates more opportunity and more money than any other paradigm. Over and over again I am able to pay asking or even above often on deals and still make money deal after deal after deal.

What originally started as a “challenge to see if it was true”, has now become one of my core beliefs, passionately held and totally committed to.