Reality and Goal Setting

   During my research for real estate I frequently run across sites and gurus who often identify the importance of having a clear vision of goals and making measurable progress toward them.  A goal I set last year was to obtain my real estate license by the end of 2019.  

   Unfortunately, I did not meet this goal on time.  

   Am I disappointed?  

   Yes – I wish I would have been able to tell you that in the middle of December I successfully took my test. 

   During the fourth quarter of 2019 I did accomplish several other important steps necessary in becoming a real estate agent and investor.  I contacted a nationwide real estate agency and ordered the testing books from them. I also had an interview with the person who on-boards their new agents at the local office. That was terribly exciting and felt like I was making measurable progress.  

   In November I went to a real estate investors meet up at a local bar. It was excellent. I heard people talking the language that I have been reading for the last 10 years, making deals, and actually doing the things (investing in real estate) that I want to do in real life.

   Even though I did not meet my goal, I am not allowing myself to be overly critical of this failure.  I have a full time job outside of real estate and I coach youth hockey. My family is incredibly important to me, and I need to spend time with them.  Finally, the one thing that was taking up the majority of my spare time is that I was attending graduate school for my 9-5 job.  

   I have often set goals that are not realistic, but I do not want to lower my expectations.  Sometimes I hit my goals, and sometimes I am going to miss. For example, I was able to achieve certification in my 9-5 in just over a year (and would have been faster if it wasn’t for the speed of government), when I was told it would likely take three to five years.  

   The goal of earning my real estate license was not achievable within the timeline I set.  One of the benefits of being middle age, is that I am (slowly) realizing missing a goal is not a terminal failure.  Right now I am extremely excited about studying for and obtaining my real estate license, but I am not going to lose sight of what is most important.  

I have set these goals for 2020: 

• Acquire my real estate license by May 1st 
• Participate in three real estate transactions within the year
• Obtain a cash flowing rental property within the year

   Ultimately I have to remember that this is not a one year all or nothing experiment, but there are many things that I have to accomplish one little step at a time in order to be successful.

So how do you eat an elephant?  

One bite at a time.