Deadly Mistakes You Can Avoid - Part 3

4. Listening to negative thinkers and "Dead Heads." Nothing kills the entrepreneurial spirit like negativity. With all the challenges you face in business, you need to keep a positive, upbeat, enthusiastic attitude about what you're doing. It's the only way you'll be able to perform at your best. Negative thinkers and "Dead Heads" will only suck the energy out of you and bring you down to their own miserable level (usually, these are people who have failed in their own lives and get off trying to make failures out of those around them). They'll make you question yourself, doubt what you're doing and, if you listen to them, eventually give up entirely. n I'm sure when you first told friends and family you were going to be a real estate entrepreneur, you heard things like, "You really believe that stuff they sell on TV?" or "You can't make money in real estate, the market's too slow." Or maybe "There's not enough appreciation to make a profit and didn't they change the tax laws or something?" n Yes, the "Larry Losers" of this world have all the answers, don't they? Meanwhile, they're working three jobs and won't answer the phone at night for fear it will be a bill collector. I don't think your true friends or your family would intentionally hurt you or bring you down. Usually they think they have your best interests at heart. However, in the process of "trying to make you see all sides" or "just giving you a few facts about the real world", they're pouring buckets of ice water on the fire you need to keep burning in order to keep on succeeding. n It may be nearly impossible to completely cut yourself off from these people. I suggest you simply tell them in firm, no-nonsense terms that you appreciate their interest, but have no use for their negative, sarcastic or skeptical comments. Sure, it can be a rough thing to do and some of them may be offended, but if they really care about you, they'll get the message. n One of the best ways to avoid negativity is to seek out positive and supportive people. Find successful people or a group with common interests where you can share ideas and discuss successes and failures with people who are genuinely in tune with what you're doing. This is where clubs and associations can play a big role. If you're not a member of a real estate association, I strongly suggest you consider joining one. Having said that, let me caution you, not all club members are doers. There are people in every group who are going nowhere and are never going to achieve anything in their lives. Pick out the winners and connect with them. When you become a successful real estate entrepreneur (and you will), one of your greatest rewards will be to share your blueprint for success with others, "What goes around, comes around." Before you know it, that sharing will attract people to you like a magnet. I can't tell you the many profitable deals that have come my way through people who wanted to hang around me because I was willing to share my knowledge.

Continued in Part 4