Real estate investing is a great way to generate wealth. For me it is a sure way of building your wealth steadily from scratch until you reach the level of Property investment gurus like Donald Trump. If you are a fan of this tycoon, you will see that he started very small without much capital to his name. You too can do the same if you follow the same strategies this great real estate mogul pursued.

Over the years I learnt that, the major reason most people are not interested in a real estate investing is because it requires a lot of money. The thought of the amount of money required in buying a residential home is scary and most of us are still paying for our home mortgage. This thought really gets people scared in venturing into this lucrative sector.

Real estate investment is very rewarding, however, it is not easy to do, as it requires, besides a lot of money, a solid and credible credit record. Despite this real estate investing success is possible in any economy on the planet. Many people think (wrongly) that you can only succeed in real estate investment when the economy is good.

In reality, struggling economies are the best for property investment. When an economy is poor, you are likely to get property at discounted prices. This is very true as most people holding property investments may want to dispose their investment to attend to other pressing matters.

Smart investors usually pour in money in an economy like this as they know when the economy starts picking up their investment will also steadily increase in value. Property investment is a capital intensive investment. However, there are several strategies one can use to enter this lucrative sector. You can be successful in real estate investing no matter how much money you have on your own.

Depending on the state of your country’s economy, there are many strategies you can employ to use other people’s money to buy property. If your credit rating is good and you have good recommendation from your business connections a private lender may let you use their money to invest in property at minimal interest rates.

I will critically look at various ways; you can enter this market with minimal investment in my next post. I will be sharing strategies that I have used to build my two mini shopping complexes with minimal investment on the ground.

To your Success!!!!

Over the years both developed and developing economies have experienced a surge of home-based businesses. This has been partly attributed to lower overheads and startup capital making them easier for entrepreneurs with limited capital to start. If you are thinking about starting a home-based service business, here are a few tips for getting started on the right foot.

What is a service business?

Service businesses are those that provide help to others. This can be anything from mowing the lawn to managing business accounts. The basis of a successful service business is one that satisfies a need. In order to identify an existing gap in the market which is your neighborhood, you may need to conduct some market research to discover the top service needs and then figure out which one you can provide.

Benefits of a home-based service business

There are several benefits to running a home-based service business. First of all, you can run the business from your home. Since you already pay a mortgage, utilities and car payments, the only thing you need spend money on now is the equipment for your business. And, running a service that began as a hobby means you already own most of the needed equipment.

Secondly, a home-based service business requires low overhead and startup costs. We alluded to the startup costs above and the low overhead means no employees but you. The key to keeping the overhead low is taking on only as many projects as you can safely and efficiently handle by yourself.

Home-based service business options

As I mentioned earlier, you can run the service business out of your home. Establishing a website for selling your services lowers the overhead even more and maximizes your profit. With the Internet as your potential customer base, the opportunities are endless for marketing and finding clients. Below are some home-based service options.

Virtual assisting has taken off in a big way in the last ten years. Using a computer, fax machine, telephone, and Internet access, you can perform various administrative duties for large and small companies. You are paid for the work that you do so there is no extra charge for the company. Virtual assisting skills run from transcription to accounting to managing email and company websites.

Transcribing services is a profitable venture. Medical offices and businesspeople are always in need of someone to transcribe their audio or video files. It is far easier and less time consuming to record an interview or dictate a medical procedure. Your job will be to turn that file into a document for patient charts and online use by various businesses.

Ghostwriting is the process of writing articles, novels, eBooks and more for an individual or a company. Using your writing talent, you can make a lot of money creating literary works (print and electronic) for others who need them.

I will give you hints on how to get started in my next post.

To your Success!!!

Would you like to realize your goals? Maybe you’d like to run your own business, expand your material possessions, or succeed in the arts. There is no one path to the pot of gold, but many people of all backgrounds have successfully found it.

Whether you want to follow the ways of the great financiers, the famous politicians, or the dynamic movie stars, there are common modes of behavior each of them followed. And in many cases, they have shared their secrets so YOU CAN FOLLOW THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

“If you wish to know the road up the mountain, ask the person who goes back and forth on it,” said the ancient sage, Zenrin. What better way is there to know the secrets than to ask those who made it? What goals do you want to achieve? And what amount of effort can you commit?

You may want money for the extra things in life, money to build a corporate empire, or money to support yourself while you pursue the fine arts. Perhaps you’d like to take the risk to start something new in your life. You may want to open your own business, devote your energies to an artistic career such as acting, or reap the benefits of your yearly endeavors with fabulous vacations several times a year.

What will bring you happiness? The satisfaction of success takes many forms. Not only are people seeking financial fortunes, but also the ancient goal of peace of mind.

Do you worry? You might be concerned about your health or your family’s well-being. You may be anxious about the added expenses of education, medical bills, or the steady increase of cost of living.  There are ways out of the endless cycles of worry, stress and anxiety. Right now, you can rise above the whirl of survival to achieve the accomplishments you dream of!

When you’re for-real ready to put your whole effort into realizing your goals, YOU WILL SUCCEED.

What are Riches?

“Had I but plenty of money, money enough to spare,” wrote Robert Browning. And money is the greatest attribute of riches. A universal desire, money is the materialization of riches, the stuff that makes the rest possible.

Are you looking for financial security? For retirement, for education or leisure? Riches are the overflowing abundance of material possessions- houses, cars, boats, furnishings- everything you ever wanted.

Centuries ago, Horace wrote, “By right means, if you can, but by any means, make money.” For many people it is a path towards happiness, a cure-all for worry and peace of mind.

For others, riches come in the form of satisfaction and personal independence. Satisfaction comes from accomplishment in employment or attaining goals. It is that feeling of contentment and confidence from a good task well done. Riches are closely linked with success.

And with that comes fame and acknowledgment of position. Success might be the feeling of well-being from the rewards of good effort. Or the enthusiasm and vitality triggered by recognition. “Success is how well I enjoy the minutes,” said producer Norman Lear.

Throughout history, the people who lived with riches often achieved them by hard work, diligence and a belief in themselves. For some people, it took courage, genius and stamina. But for many others, it took nothing special but the desire to turn dreams into reality.

Whether you want millions of dollars, recognition as an artist, or personal freedom, you have the ability to make your life as rich as you want. Think about what you most desire. It may not be hard cash, but what it can buy.

Or, it may be those feelings of inner satisfaction, from creating something beautiful or strong. You may want personal independence from the work week, or freedom to live anywhere you want. You may be looking for something meaningful and significant in life- something other than things money can buy.

Whatever your goals, and however difficult they seem to be to accomplish, you have the ability to become who you want. Take a look-  can you see yourself surrounded by riches? Picture the world open and in front of you, ready to become the form of your dreams, ready to stage your desires. “Why then, the world’s mine oyster,” wrote Shakespeare, “which I with sword will open.”

Culled from my Ebook – ‘Secrets of the rich people’

Building a business is a challenging experience.  You can wake up exhilarated to begin your day and by the time you retire to bed you will be feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.  If you really want to be successful in whatever you put your mind to do, the key to success is to maintain a positive, YES YOU CAN, mindset.  This is easier said than do, isn’t it? All my life I have followed some principles I learnt from successful people. The 5 principles I follow are as highlighted below:

1. I have learnt that to be successful you need to surround yourself with successful and positive people.  The influence people have over our own personal energy is amazing.  Moods and attitudes are so easily spread – think about how much of a difference a simple smile from a stranger can make for your day and then magnify it 1000 times to demonstrate the power of positive and successful friends, family and associates.  When you have people around you who inspire you, believe in you and want you to succeed.

2. Create a mantra or an affirmation.  Repeating positive affirmations has been shown to get people through tough times and to actually help them truly believe what they’re saying. Speak positive things about yourself, Visualize that goal you intend to achieve. This way, you will keep yourself motivated and focused towards realizing your dream.

3. Capture negative thoughts.  We all have negative thoughts from time to time; however, negative thoughts and emotions can derail us and prevent us from achieving all we desire.  Of course catching those negative thoughts takes practice and persistence.  When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or having negative emotions, find a trigger to turn them around.  The affirmations mentioned above are a great way to turn the negative into the positive.  You can also find quick pick me ups like a favorite song, a walk outside in the fresh air, or some exercise to help improve your mood.

4. Set goals/intentions and then be willing to let it go.  The law of attraction says that we attract what we focus on the most.  Set your goals and intentions and then let them go.  A certain amount of faith in yourself and in the power of attraction is necessary.  Give it a try.

5. Be grateful.  Gratitude is perhaps the single most powerful and positive tool for success.  When you’re grateful for all of the wonderful things and people in your life the challenges you face seem significantly less important and are more easily dealt with.  Consider keeping a gratitude journal and make a practice of entering into it daily.  That way, when you’re facing challenges a quick peek at all the amazing things in your life will make you feel as if you can tackle anything.   Additionally, an attitude of gratitude helps you maintain a positive perspective and to face challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles.

If you follow these practical principles, i bet you every goal or dream you have, will surely come to pass.

I love a quote by Brain Tracy which says ‘all successful people men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose’.

Do you have a dream to turn what you enjoy doing into a thriving business? Support your family while being fulfilled in life? I have been pursuing my passion for over 15 years and now it is finally turning into a thriving business.

Following your passion is the only way to be successful in whatever you want to achieve. It is the only way to be thrilled with your life and the only way to be fulfilled. However, if you follow only your passion then you will most likely find yourself broken-hearted somewhere along the way. Your dreams will be just dreams if you do not follow them with a plan. When you decide to follow your passion you must make sure that your reason is always showing you the right way. When you combine reason and passion you can create a great business that you will enjoy. Here is what you need to know in order to turn your passion into a business.

Make sure that you have a passion not just a mere interest/hobby.

There is a huge difference between what we like and what we are passionate about. I like writing, it is my hobby but I am not passionate about it. The thought of spending the entire day writing is horrifying to me. Ask yourself this simple question “Am I ready to do this every day of my life for 5, 10, 20 years?” If your answer is “yes” then you have found your true passion.

Expand on your passion.

Look at your passion from different angles in order to see what the real source of it is. I have been working as a market research practitioner all my life. I thought since I enjoyed writing insightful reports and recommending marketing strategies to my clients there lay my passion. Over the years I realized, I was not passionate about this specialty, it’s not something I would do for fun. I later realized my true passion; lay in entertainment, photography, video production and developing commercial properties.

According to a recent survey conducted by Intuit – the research found out that there were 15.4 million self employed persons operating in the U.S. at the end of 2008. Further, it estimates that of the 27.2 million businesses nationwide, approximately 78.5% of those were non-employers. The term “non-employer” refers to a business that has no employees or payrolls. Hobbypreneurs are often found in all three categories of businesses (self-employed, employers, and non-employers). Intuit concluded that the hobbypreneur trend will continue to grow as a result of many factors including the use of the Internet and social networking, a growing trend toward baby boomers turning to small businesses based on their hobbies and passions and a growing interest in unusual products and services.

The good thing about businesses founded on passion, is that they last and develop faster. Follow your dreams and realize your true potential. There is a lot of potential within us which is waiting to be tapped.

I leave you with one of my favourites quotes by Abraham Lincoln – ‘you can have anything you want, if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose’.

Salute!!!!