My Greatest Loss
One of my first memories in life was my greatest loss. This happened somewhere around 2 or 3 years old. My favorite book at that age was The Little Engine that Could. I must have brought that book everywhere with me-so it came to pre-school on that fateful day.
Mom picked me up but placed the book on roof of the car-then drove off. The book disappeared and I was distraught. We looked around everywhere back then, but couldn’t find a replacement copy. I don’t remember the details of the event or the time period, but I still feel the sense of great loss. That feeling of loss exceeds any of the monetary losses I’ve experienced (some of which exceed 6 figures).
Alas! A Lifelong Win!
“I think I can-I think I can-I think I can-I think I can-I think I can-I think I can-I think I can-I think I can-I think I can.” This is all I remembered from The Little Engine that Could. What a fantastically strong belief system to install in the mind of a 3 year old! Most of my life, this mantra has applied: “I think I can!”
Faced with any challenge, “I think I can!” Considering executing that first fix & flip, “I think I can!” Build a $15M development, “I think I can!” Hoping to win that next deal, “I think I can!” Once any challenge has been met, this becomes, “I know I can, because I’ve done it before.”
(Aside, as I researched an wrote this, I am now realizing my mom might has simply gotten rid of the book to avoid my likely endless requests for her to read it to me… As an adult, I’d completely understand this now if that was the case. You can see why if you read it yourself.)
I Think I Can – MAKE A DEAL!!
Here’s an example of how this created the life I live now. I am a Deal Maker. Any deal begins with: “I think I can win this deal,” and therefore I make an offer. If you don’t believe you have a shot at winning the deal, you’ll never make the offer.
Further down the track on Deal Making is your follow up. Again, “I think I can win this deal,” and therefore, I follow up. If you don’t believe you have a shot at winning the deal, you’ll never follow up. In Diamond Equity’s experience, about 45% of deals occur 30 – 1,819 days after the offer is made. That is a long, strategic follow up cycle requiring a strong belief system to stay the course.
Next time you consider a deal, remember, “I think I CAN win this deal” and MAKE THE OFFER! And when the offer isn’t immediately accepted (which is 99% of the deals that get done..), remember to follow up diligently and earn that deal!
