Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

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You are probably sitting there wondering what on earth this article is all about. Well, it’s about excuses! Excuses are really reasons that people who generally take no action pull out of thin air because they are often too lazy to do be anything but mediocre.

I find these people particularly frustrating. In particular, someone I have known for some time has been continually asking me about property investing for several years. I have even looked at properties with them. Have they bought anything yet ? No ! Have they put in any offers yet ? No ! When asked why what do you think they say ? Here we go…

• When work quietens down I will have more time to look for a property
• Next week I will be over this cold and will have more energy to look for an investment property
• It took longer than I expected to do the shopping so I didn’t get an opportunity to look at that house you suggested
• I’m now studying part time as well as working so definitely have no time until next semester
• We always have so many social commitments at this time of year, after xmas we will get stuck into it
• We have been trying to get pregnant so our mind is focussed in that area
• Mary is really crook at the moment so I have been doing all the running around.
• Mary is pregnant now and we just can’t take the risk prior to the baby being born.
• With child care drop offs as well as work, all we want to do on weekends is relax.
• We have just had to spend $2,000 on the car, money we had put aside for an investment property.
• I’m just not too sure the market is heading in the right direction.
• I was talking to my mechanic who said shares were better than property so I am looking into that now.
• Johnny starts school next year and we don’t want the burden of an investment property.
• There are just not enough properties for sale during winter to choose from.
• I’ll wait until spring, there will be plenty of properties for sale then.
• We have decided that we will save the money we have for Johnny’s tertiary education rather than buy a property.
• Johnny’s sport commitments always seem to be at the same time as open inspections.
• We can’t save enough for a deposit.

The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on…

What frustrates me more than anything is that these people don’t realise what they could do with their lives. How much more fulfilment they could derive from every day if they just took action. I don’t care if they decide to invest in property or not. I wish they would just take action instead of being experts at making excuses. Without realising it, they are teaching little Johnny how to live his life by setting the example. Do they want a child who grows up to be an ‘ant’.

I must clarify an ant for you. I was in the car with my 5 year old daughter a few weeks ago driving through the Adelaide CBD just after 5pm. “Why is everyone wearing black and following each other ?” she innocently asked. What could I say ? I think I explained that Daddy used to wear black every day, like the people she could see, until one day he started taking action. Look at an aerial photo of the CBD at either 8.45am or 5.15pm and you will see what I mean. Black ants following the same path to and from their destination day after day after day.

She then asked me what ‘taking action’ meant. I explained that it’s about finding something you love and then doing everything you can to make it work. It’s about finding something that get’s you up in the morning before anyone else is up and keeps you from wanting to go to bed at night. It’s about finding something you are so passionate about that you smile every day when you think of the joy it gives you. It does not matter what it is, just find it. You will then take action.

The sad thing is that people are kind of brainwashed into a particular way of life by a mixture of social pressures, experiences parents provide you with and the good old television. They believe that being ‘normal’ is being successful and they will be happier if they work harder at what they are already doing.  It’s only when you break out of these pressures that you start to see people standing out from the crowd and having real fun in their lives, at the same time making a difference in the lives of others.

So what’s the point of all this ? We all have a job to do in teaching ourselves and then those of younger generations, how to find what it is that they love and then encourage them to do that, whatever it is. Teach someone how to find their passion and they will be successful. This is not about getting a good education (my wife and I discussed the other day we might be the only parents who would be disappointed if our children went to university !), good grades at school, learning to read or write, being fit and healthy. This is about finding the reason you are here and then going for it. Helping others to do the same. If we all do this the world will be a better place (with much less excuses !)

Good luck finding your passion.

Tim Ellis
Property Investor

The information provided in the Talking Property podcast is general in nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a professional advisor before making any investment decisions.

Tagged as: Mindset, Motivation