“You can choose to lead, or not. You can choose to have faith, or not. You can choose to contribute to the tribe, or not.

 “Are there thousands of reasons why you, of all people, aren’t the right one to lead? Why you don’t have the resources or the authority or the genes or the momentum to lead? Probably. So what? You still get to make the choice.”

 —Seth Godin, “Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us,” p. 146

 Are you looking for a good leadership book to read to start the New Year? This is a good one; better than I thought it would be. If you have ever attended one of the Prosperity Summits co-sponsored by REIC, you may remember how many times Garrett White said the word “tribe.” When I attended my first Prosperity Summit, Garrett probably said the word “tribe” at last twenty times. Because he said it so many times, I became curious about 1) what a tribe is, 2) how to create one myself, 3) how to become a tribe member, and 4) what the big deal is.

Garrett read this book and began to understand the power of a tribe. I read this book and began to understand the power of a tribe. You will, too.

What do tribes have to do with real estate? In a word, nothing. But that’s not important. The way tribes tie into what we do here at REIC is this: when you have extra income produced by real estate, you have extra time; if you have extra time you can help the world by living your soul purpose. Those you affect, help, work with, lead, etc. while living your soul purpose are your tribe. Real estate is the tool used to finance your soul purpose so you can build a tribe.

Make the choice to read this book this year. It can change your perspective on many different topics. The year is fresh; opportunities to lead a tribe abound. Don’t let the year slip by without doing something great!

If you are interested in reading my full book review, click here.

“Our society is afflicted by a spirit of thoughtless arrogance unbecoming those who have been so magnificently blessed. How grateful we should be for the bounties we enjoy. Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief. We have seen our beaches, our parks, our forests littered with ugly refuse by those who evidently have no appreciation for their beauty. I have driven through thousands of acres of blackened land scourged by a fire evidently set by a careless smoker whose only concern had been the selfish pleasure gained from a cigarette.

“Where there is appreciation, there is courtesy, there is concern for the rights and property of others. Without appreciation, there is arrogance and evil.

“Where there is gratitude, there is humility, as opposed to pride.

“How magnificently we are blessed! How thankful we ought to be!”

 —Gordon B. Hinckley, “‘With All Thy Getting Get Understanding’,” Ensign, Aug 1988, 2–5

Last year, I wrote an article titled “Thanksgiving Day – The Forgotten Holiday” to pay homage to a holiday that is about more than good food, family, friends, and a post-turkey nap. The very foundation of the Thanksgiving Day holiday is to feel and show gratitude for what and whom we have in our lives. It is not an accident or a coincidence that Thanksgiving Day is celebrated after the years bounty is brought into storehouses. It is at this time of year especially that our ancestors were able to take a step back and actually see a physical manifestation of not only the fruit of their labor, but physical, quantifiable proof of their abundance. I hope that as you read this post, you will think about the things and the people that you are most grateful for and express your gratitude for those blessings.

What are you Grateful For?

Start with a surface-level list of items you use every day that makes modern life great. Your list may look something like this:

• House(s)
• Car(s)
• Cell phone
• Laptop or desktop computer (or both)
• High-speed internet
• Wireless internet access
• Post-It notes
• Cable TV
• NetFlix
• The latest Harry Potter movie
• Josh Groban’s new album

I encourage you to use the above list to get yourself thinking of all of the gadgets, tools, and entertainment sources that make your daily life better.

Next, create a list of ten (10) people in your life that make getting through the day-to-day bearable. Include family members, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances to get started. Feel free to add more lines yourself.

1. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
3. __________________________________________
4. __________________________________________
5. __________________________________________
6. __________________________________________
7. __________________________________________
8. __________________________________________
9. __________________________________________
10. __________________________________________

Next to the person’s name, identify why you are grateful for them. What have they done for you in the past year that allowed them to show up on your gratitude list? If there are multiple reasons, list all of them.

This is when this exercise will get fun—for you and for those people on your list.

By the end of Thanksgiving Day, contact the people on your list, tell them about what you did, and express the gratitude you feel towards them. I would be extremely surprised that the opportunities you create to show gratitude will end badly. On the contrary, these opportunities will likely be among the most memorable of the year, for you and those you are grateful for.

Share your experiences with us! Add a comment about your experience on the comment form below.

Happy Thanksgiving!

REIC’s corporate office is located in Orem, UT. Orem and Provo, UT comprise the 2^nd largest Metropolitan area in Utah (the largest is Salt Lake County). I received an e-mail the other day containing a fascinating local real estate statistical report produced by a local real estate firm, and I’d like to share some of that information. Because of the population density and relative economic strength of the area, these current real estate statistics are an interesting read.

Over the last 180 days, our local real estate statistics look like this:

Active Properties: 3,055
Median Price: $214,900
Average Price: $295,357
Median CDOM: 116

Under Contract: 649
Median Price: $214,900
Average Price: $250,863
Median CDOM: 81

Sold Properties: 52,511
Average Price: $216,598
Median CDOM: 61

There are 23 ZIP codes in Utah County where residential real estate is actively being sold. Of the 23 Zip codes, only 3 have experienced an increased median sold price. The rest have dropped—some of them significantly (Alpine, UT: -23.4%; American Fork, UT: -14.5%; Mona, UT: -52.9%; and Mapleton, UT: -12.2%).

Amid the general economic gloom, the report provides a few bits of information that we Utahans can be proud of:

1. Utah is ranked #1 in a major economic outlook report by the American Legislative Exchange Council. I have personally never heard of them before, but the information came from the third edition of the “Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index.” Next in line were Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota, and Florida.
2. Utah is the 2^nd healthiest state in the Union, following Vermont as the healthiest state. Utah was ranked 5^th last year, so we have improved a bit since then.
3. Utah is ranked #1 in Forbes Magazine’s “The Best States for Business and Careers.” A high ranking like this one should bring businesses and jobs to Utah. That would be great for our local economy!

 As a real estate investor, knowing the statistics provided above for your local area will help you to make better deals when you buy local real estate. Contact your realtor for information related to your local statistics.

Source:

Collette-Marti, Lorna; Craig Collette. The Collette Team: Bi-Annual Real Estate Market Report. Equity Real Estate. November 2010.

Today being Friday and all, I thought I would surf through news websites to see if anything interesting was going on in real estate news. As it turns out, I found an interesting nugget written by Alan Zibel from the Wall Street Journal. The article is titled, Home Prices Decline in Nearly Half of Metropolitan Areas.

The point Zibel makes in the article is that median home prices are still falling all across America. Home prices fell in 76 out of the 155 (or about half) areas that are tracked by the National Organization of Realtors. These numbers are for the third quarter 2010.

The reason? The government tax credit that was provided to mostly first-time home-buyers ended, so fewer people are willing to buy a home. Also, because multiple banks had fraudulently filed foreclosure documents on a huge number of homes, the investigation process has deterred would-be foreclosed property buyers.

This is good because it means that the real estate market is still producing great real estate deals for REIC clients and investors. When banks figure out their foreclosure problems, foreclosure numbers are expected to rise. This means that REIC will be able to keep providing inventory for their Strait Path, Strait Path Outright, and Strait Path Accelerate programs.

“Principle-centered people are constantly educated by their experiences. They read, they seek training, they take classes, they listen to others, they learn through both their ears and their eyes. They are curious, always asking questions. They continually expand their competence, their ability to do things. They develop new skills, new interests. They discover that the more they know, the more they realize they don’t know; that as their circle of knowledge grows, so does its outside edge of ignorance. Most of this learning and growth energy is self-initiated and feeds upon itself.”

—Stephen R. Covey, Principle-Centered Leadership, p. 1

 If you have been a member of REIC for a while you are familiar with the program. Your membership fee brought about a learning curve which, for some of our members, is huge and intimidating. For others, it is simple and common-sense. For everyone, though, it is a great learning experience.

 One of the main features of this experience is the actual education our members receive through the coaching sessions. Our coaches are very well versed in all components of the Strait Path process. They know it so well because they have done it themselves, and because they have taught it to so many people. It is difficult to teach a subject well without knowing it intimately.

 If a member plows through our coaching program, they are done in 3 to 6 months. But their game plan covers a ten-year period. So, what can our members do to keep the enthusiasm they experienced during their coaching alive over their ten-year game plan period? I have a few suggestions:

1. Read one good book per month – There are literally thousands of good books available that will keep your love of learning alive during your game plan period. We have started providing you with title suggestions, and will continue to do so at the rate of one to two titles per month. Pick a subject that you would like to dive into and start reading.
2. Contact your coach regularly – Your membership provides you with coaching for life. Most of that will be done soon after becoming a member, but in order to stay grounded in your goals, meet with your coach at least once per calendar quarter. Calling your coach once per month will give you the opportunity to see if we have anything new going on. Based on past experience, it is likely that something interesting has happened.
3. Read through your game plan – Doing this will keep it fresh in your mind and help you to stay on track.
4. Utilize opportunities to learn – Opportunities to learn are all around us. Seek them and you will find them. When you find an opportunity, see it for what it is: an opportunity. Not all opportunities need to be taken in order for you to continue your personal growth while you are on the Strait Path to Real Estate Wealth.

 By following these four simple suggestions, a couple things will happen. One is that they will soon become a habit. Then the fruits of these efforts will fulfill what Covey stated above: growth energy that is self-initiated will feed itself. When that begins, hold onto your hat because it is going to be an interesting ride!

 Comments? Add them below.

The Biology Of Belief: Unleashing The Power Of Consciousness, Matter And Miracles by Bruce H. Lipton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Biology of Belief was written to convey “ground-breaking work in the field of new biology.” The author, Dr. Bruce Lipton, certainly has the educational and professional background to deliver this new information. He taught at two medical schools and performed some of his cell research at Stanford University. However, some readers may be disinterested in reading this book simply because the information ‘should be presented in a medical or peer-reviewed journal if the information is accurate and credible.’ I can appreciate this view, but on the other hand, the medical world may not be prepared to accept the information Dr. Lipton includes in these pages.

Lipton begins his treatment of the subject on the right foot: discussing his background, his research, and how and why he became so interested in cellular research. He also discusses at length his dissatisfaction with the dominant paradigm in his profession. It is widely accepted in the scientific community that DNA pretty much rules the roost, so to speak. It is “biology’s Central Dogma…The dogma is so fundamental to modern biology it is essentially written in stone, the equivalent of science’s Ten Commandments. The dogma, also referred to as ‘The Primacy of DNA,’ is a fixture of every scientific text” (61). This is the paradigm that Lipton argues against.

In order to solidify his point with his readers, later in the book, Lipton has to explain the foundation of his subject, so he discusses at length DNA, cellular proteins, cell biology, and a new field of scientific inquiry called epigenetics. While the average reader may look at this information and think, “that just sounds like reading a science textbook,” in a way, it is. However, Lipton has to talk about it (and does so using language that most readers will easily understand) in order to get to the topic in Chapter 3: the cell membrane. DNA enthusiasts believe that the true “brain” of each individual cell is the nucleus of that cell. The nucleus contains all genetic material, so this makes sense. But Lipton contends that the cell membrane is the actual “brain” of every living cell. This shift in thinking is foundational in Lipton’s premise: that we have the power to actually change our biology simply by believing that we can.

Lipton’s journey towards understanding the new biology next took him into the world of physics—specifically, quantum physics, or quantum mechanics as it is commonly called. Quantum mechanics has been around since the days of Einstein’s famous equation: E = mc2. Lipton avoided this field of study as much as possible when he was a biology student because “…almost all of my peers avoided it like the plague. Quantum physics was shrouded in mystery—we biology majors were convinced that it was very, very ‘weird’ science. We thought only physics majors, masochists, and outright fools would risk five credits on a course whose premise was, ‘Now you see it, now you don’t’” (95).

Quantum mechanics deals with matter at the sub-atomic level. Remember learning about atoms in school? Quiz question: atoms are made up of what? If you answered protons, electrons, and neutrons, you are correct! If not, most people probably didn’t either. It has probably been a while since you even thought of the word “atom.” Do you remember what protons, electrons, and neutrons actually are? If you said positively, negatively, or neutrally charged particles, you were correct again. If not, well, life goes on. The point is this: atoms are simply small bits of energy, and everything in our universe is made up of atoms. So, at the atomic level, human beings, along with everything else, is composed of energy.

Yes, energy. “Einstein revealed that we do not live in a universe with discrete, physical objects separated by dead space. The Universe is one indivisible, dynamic whole in which energy and matter are so deeply entangled it is impossible to consider them as independent elements” (102). Lipton argues that the current medical educational system and profession is “…trained to view the body only as a physical machine that operates in accordance with Newtonian principles…However, because of their Newtonian, materialistic bias, conventional researchers have completely ignored the role that energy plays in health and disease” (102). Because our biology is based on energy at the atomic level, human beings have the power to manipulate their biology for their own good by learning to manipulate that energy. Case in point: the placebo effect.

In order to avoid giving away the rest of the story, I will conclude my review here. While it is true that Lipton’s arguments would be “easier to believe” had his findings and conclusions been published in a medical or scientific journal, he uses recent, documented scientific research to back up his claims and conclusions. Overall, Lipton proved his point and piqued my curiosity. The book is well written and follows a thought process that is easy to follow. Oh, and another thing, you do not need to brush up on physics or cell biology to get through this book.

I would suggest this book to anyone, whether you are a skeptic or a believer in alternative healing methods. In a world that requires major medical innovations, alternative healing methods may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Dr. Bruce Lipton may, by the final page, make you a believer.

View all my reviews

—Thomas Jefferson

“The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read.”

—Abraham Lincoln

I am excited to announce that REIC is adding a new feature to its blog repertoire: book reviews. The books that I will review are hand-picked from our staff and Kris Krohn himself. They will mostly be non-fiction, business, mindset-related, and motivational in nature. Some works of fiction will be included, and some books dealing with spirituality will also be included. We believe that there are literally hundreds of books available that were written to benefit their readers in a multitude of ways. Among them are:

1. Mindset: REIC encourages its members to eradicate negative thoughts and issues from their minds and their lives so they will have more time and power to focus on specific and collective prosperity.
2. Motivation: Our membership program includes motivational, one-on-one coaching sessions that help our members understand who they are and what their soul purpose is. The books I will review will accomplish the same goal.
3. Education: Collectively, books hold millions of juicy tidbits of knowledge that can be accessed at any time. Some tidbits are passed by during a first or second reading. When you begin a library of your own, you have the opportunity to revisit your books over and over again, thus gleaning as many tidbits as you can throughout life.
4. Wisdom: Possessing knowledge is great, but possessing wisdom is even better. The difference is that wisdom is the correct application of the knowledge you have gained. Possessing knowledge is worthless if you fail to apply it correctly. Authors tend to serve their wisdom to their readers on a silver platter, as it were, thus simplifying the execution of the advice given. This simplification process allows their readers to convert knowledge into wisdom faster.

There are so many books out there to choose from that most people have no clue where to start. Some people will not read anything unless it is recommended to them by a close friend. Well, I hope you will begin considering me your closest “book buddy,” beginning right now. In an effort to recommend the best of the best to our members and readers, I will personally read one to two books per month (depending on how long they are), write a truthful review of what I learned from the book(s), and post the reviews on this blog and other places. That way, you will know where to turn for accurate, reliable information concerning what to read and what to avoid. I don’t plan on reading anything that is a waste of time, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself reading everything I review. Good books are easy to come by.

I will post my reviews the last Friday of every month, beginning October 2010 (that is this Friday, Oct. 29). If you like reading and need another list to work on, get ready for some good stuff. If you avoid reading anything because you “have better things to do,” this is your opportunity to begin growing in many different directions.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you here again this Friday!

—Josh Nuttall

“What you have to realize is that a mentality of growth is the only way you’re going to stay in business and find your freedom. To get out of the chaos and find your freedom, you have to grow, period…When it comes right down to it, you don’t really have a choice; if you don’t grow, you will die. Business is dynamic. It is not static. Every day, your business is going to change, and there’s nothing you can do about it. The belief that somehow you can maintain your status quo is false.”

—Clate Mask and Scott Martineau, Conquer the Chaos: How to Grow a Successful Small Business without Going Crazy, p. 48

Making constant progress is not only important in business, it is important in all aspects of life.

When our clients buy a membership and begin working with us, we tell them that we are going to help them develop a customized 10-year investing game plan that will net them about $2.5 million by the end of the tenth year. Our members are excited by that prospect and are ready to go as soon as they are officially REIC members. They love the coaching process and their coaches, and they graduate from the program having transacted some form of real estate. If all goes well, this takes place within the first six months of being members.

So what happens next?

A lot of people, because of human nature, begin to lose contact with their 10-year goal as soon as they lose contact with their coach. After making a lot of progress, both financially and with their investor mindset training, their focus wanes and they get off track. This can cause problems in the long run.

Small and Simple

Progress does not have to come in huge leaps. Progress is still progress in small amounts, too. There are hundreds of things you can do to keep progressing while you gear up to transact your next piece of real estate.

1. Read a good book: Good books can be found all over the place. They can be about business, self-help topics, or even spirituality. Need help with titles? I can give you five off the top of my head. If you don’t like to read, a huge number of books released in the past ten years have also been released as an audio book. Purchase these books to start building your personal library, or find them at your local library.
2. Find a coach or mentor: Kris is very passionate about finding a mentor to help you take yourself to the next level in any area of your life. Who qualifies as a mentor? Locate an individual that is at the top of their field and ask them to coach you. They may or may not require payment. If they do, remember that you are worth every penny. Use their insight as fuel for growth.
3. Meditate on your goals: There is power in meditation. Tap into your personal energy to create great things. Think about what you would like to accomplish. Focus your mental energies on those goals and visualize yourself attaining them. Feel the awesome sense of accomplishing those goals. Then go to work.

 Do not allow yourself to stagnate. There is no such thing as “hanging out” in life or in business. If you are not pro-gressing, you are di-gressing.

Reuters.com came out with an interesting article today highlighting “The Giving Pledge” launched by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. So far, 40 billionaires have pledged to give away most of their fortunes during their lifetime or after their deaths. As a part of this, they’ve asked these billionaires to publicly state their intention with a letter of explanation. Below, I wanted to share with you a few of the excerpts:

Laura and John Arnold, hedge fund manager: “We view our wealth in this light — not as an end in itself, but as an instrument to effect positive and transformative change.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg: “If you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing — by far — is to support organizations that will create a better world for them and their children. And by giving, we inspire others to give of themselves, whether their money or their time.”

Philanthropist Eli and Edythe Broad: “Those who have been blessed with extraordinary wealth have an opportunity, some would say a responsibility — we consider it a privilege — to give back to their communities, be they local, national or global.”

Investor Warren Buffett: “Were we to use more than one percent of my claim checks (Berkshire Hathaway stock certificates) on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99 percent can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others.”

Banker George Kaiser: “I had the advantage of both genetics (winning the ‘ovarian lottery’) and upbringing. As I looked around at those who did not have these advantages, it became clear to me that I had a moral obligation to direct my resources to help right that balance.”

There are plenty more excerpts that you can read! Just click here.

“It’s not how much money you make, but how much you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.” —Robert Kiyosaki, author, Who Took My Money?

For most investors, profitability is the primary, and in some cases sole, factor used to decide whether or not to invest in something. They fly from deal to deal with no system in place.

Like an eager puppy that runs to whoever will pet it, they rush into any deal as long as they’re convinced that it will make them money. Unfortunately for them, their profits are as fleeting as their focus. They make good money on one deal, average money on another, and lose money on the next. They’re reduced to calculating returns based on averages over time, rather than the performance of each individual deal.

Also, investors who elevate profit above all other factors are those who tend to spend money as fast as they make it. They have to keep making it in order to support their extravagant lifestyle, which creates a self- reinforcing cycle. They become addicted to money and lose the ability to put it in its proper perspective as a tool and a byproduct, rather than an end in itself.

In Strait Path real estate, we’re not just looking to make money — we seek sustainable, consistent, and predictable profits. We don’t want the highest returns — we want the best returns when considered in light of every other investment factor.

Without a holistic approach, perspectives on profit become misguided. No amount of money is worth exposure to high risk and/or creating a win-lose transaction. The more time and effort you have to spend on a deal, the less it should be worth to you. The more you must depend on appreciation, the less appealing the opportunity becomes.