Off Your Ass and On Your Feet!

Very rarely in life do you find things of value, that just appear without you taking action. Whether you want a certain outcome, income, a specified level of security/protection, job, life partner, domicile (fancy word for house),or overall mood you're going to have to take the appropriate actions.
Sedentary people who live the mantra "good things come to those who wait" don't realize those "good things" are the crumbs and leftovers, left behind by those who got off their ass to achieve great things. "Success is your duty, obligation,and responsibility."- Grant Cardone (if you're reading this and don't know who he is fix it now... I'll wait.)
For those that had to look up the creator of that amazing quote welcome back, (and you're welcome) for the rest of you once you commit to that as your new mantra you'll experience life at levels you never even knew possible before (hell maybe even 10x levels.) The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure https://www.amazon.com/dp/0470627603/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_Lt5kwbFCRWZR8 Comment and suscribe because the funnel is opening 6 days a week.

An Appropriate Solution for the Jon Jones Situation

By now close to everyone has heard that UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones failed his prefight drug test for cocaine metabolites. The promotion has already released a statement touting their support as rightfully they do! However there's an issue other than his personal well being (which is important), and the fact he fought with stimulants in his system. Supporting Jon Jones the man has absolutely nothing to do with the title. There's a fight scheduled later this month between Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Alexander Gustaffson that was a #1 contender fight should now be for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship! Not an interim championship or anything of that nature! When Jones can prove himself healthy and ready to be a representative for the company he can return and be reinstated as champion (if he chooses to stay at LHW). Thus setting up a unification but with whomever the champion may be at that point. Also it could be the break in action for him to move up (some would say finally) as there is maybe only one or two new fights at LHW. This is a proactive approach and not reactive... Something the Zuffa needs to try more often... If something occurs and Jones return doesn't happen it won't need to be addressed, because there's already a champion!

Bootleg Real Estate Investing Must Go

Bootleg Real Estate Investing Must Go

     I've seen enough of this crap and hopefully the rest of the actual real estate professionals will take a stand and speak up also! Real estate investing forums are great when used correctly, but the "newbie investors" are starting to become the many. I have no problem with new people getting into the business the right way or even cheaply. The issue I have is people hear "take action" and jump directly into ruining lives and half-assed running a business! Newsflash if you don't know the very basic details to your business you can't run one!
     The way people are starting a business now is ridiculous! They hear a basic overview of what many of us do & see the income/lifestyles we get to live and then decide they're one of us! It's like eating at a Burger King and then going to the grocery store buying some hamburger, hamburger buns, a bag of French fries, paper plates, and declaring yourself a restauranter! Sounds silly right? One it is silly and two sadly that $25 is more than most people want to put into their new real estate business.
     If you're going to get into this wonderful business don't go it alone on advice from some under moderated forum. At least find someone reputable to talk to that can help guide your path. If someone is telling you to advertise another person's deals without expressed written permission don't listen to them! They're the exact type of dumbass you need to avoid! (<<< that's for Nasar) Please do not promise people in dire financial  situations that you can help them if you don't know what you are doing from start to finish! The thing that most people do not realize is "promised money" is "spent money" to average people.
     I'll close with this get guidance, marketing, marketing and more marketing, and then close deals & get paid often!

CM Punk Plus UFC Equals Opportunity???

     So the UFC signed CM Punk recently and every one seemingly has an opinion on it. I understand it honestly they're a huge company with a ton of shows and very few drawing cards.               
     Anyone can say whatever they want about the UFC and their business practices, but their main purpose is to sell tickets and get viewers to make money! How they share the money is another issue entirely (see any of the  500+ articles about the UFC class action lawsuit filed today 12/16/14).
     A different perspective from a marketing guy though is how signing CM Punk can create an entirely different revenue stream for the company. Millions of people love to watch the UFC, but honestly between Pay Per View, The Ultimate Fighter, UFC On Fox, UFC on Fox Sports 1,and Fight Pass it's a ton of the same thing over and over. Having something new and fresh to market couldn't hurt even if it is a slightly borrowed concept. A few years ago Strikeforce had A Challengers series which featured amateur as well as up and coming fighters competing to fill up undercards. The UFC could take this concept and use it once a month in the place of a "light card". To find/build the future stars of the sport, let contracted guys who aren't placed on televised portions of most shows be seen , and get ratings from random guys with names (i.e. athletes, actors, television personalities, etc) who train in MMA! CM Punk will likely look the part of a fighter when gets in there, but does he really belong on a televised event with the typical UFC quality of fighter against another 0-0 guy most likely no one has ever heard of?
    So I hope Dana White remembers this was my idea haha... In the mean time you can follow me on Twitter @GH620 find me on cyberdust hookvcg (which is awesome get it if you don't have it Mark Cuban is behind it BTW) or add me on LinkedIn and Facebook as Greg Harris (because it's my name).
PS If you're really nice you can like me as Greg L. Harris on Facebook!

America Just Isn't Asking The Right Questions

Normally when I choose to write something here it's mostly a light hearted or business related post... This time that's far from the case! I've always been of the belief that most problems can be solved or corrected by asking a few specific questions. The trick is asking the right questions to get the answers, and often times simple solutions that you are seeking. Take the current hot button issue of Mike Brown being killed by a police officer (Darren Wilson) for example. Regardless your stance on the issue you can't deny it was preventable especially when it comes to the fallout... For example here are the questions that truly need answers.
1. Why do patrolling officers need more than two bullets in their gun to drive around?
They are all trained with their weapons, and should know their effective shooting distances ... Thus they can subdue any legitimate threat within two bullets and if they can't they shouldn't even have a gun! (By the way an unarmed "suspect" that's over 8 feet away isn't a legitimate threat that would require immediate lethal force.) You don't see educated deer hunters firing arrows 70 yards through the trees or taking 700 yard shots with a rifle in the direction of the highway do you??? No which is why a trained marksman shouldn't ever have to fire 4-10 shots at one guy. If more than two bullets are required get backup first and load your gun second.
2. Why is the media reporting slanted?
Each network takes their own slant on how to report human interest stories and tragic events? The only thing they seemingly agree on is as a majority it's non-whites or extremist groups that care which is complete nonsense...
3. Why do Blacks even have spokespeople?
Seriously people why is this a thing??? Al Sharpton is not a sane voice of unity ever. No other race has a singular "voice" on any issue that gets invited for every crisis situation. Jesse Jackson got ran out of town 3 months ago for soliciting donations, but you keep letting Al in the forefront? STOP IT! Is there one person speaking for all of the immigrants? Is there anyone speaking for all white people or even one for both sides?
4. Why Hurt Themselves?
Throughout history when someone is hurt or killed by someone of another race people "unite" and take part in rioting, looting, and general destruction of their own community? Every business they destroy is taking food out of the mouth of an innocent person or child, every case that is torched is stopping someone from getting to work to pay their bills, and with every smoke cloud and act if violence the value of their very own property goes down! Yet the explanation people give is "violence didn't l doesn't solve anything."  What if someone humanized every situation to it's very core? Is there justice or honor to be found in destruction and directly starving children? Do you like the fact your hundred thousand dollar house is now worth sixty thousand dollars?
5. Why Are There Premature Press Conferences?
Any time something occurs there is a press conference within an to inform everyone of the details of situations... In most cases these days the initial press conference turns out being an overload of misinformation. Once you change details nobody trust anything except the definitively known facts (a white cop killed an unarmed black young man in this instance) which leads to unnecessary outrage. If people took the necessary time to gather facts and prepare unwavering details it would go a long ways to suppress undue restlessness. Why would anyone want to be the McDonald's of mass information? Anytime they try to rush through a hundred things they screw it up too...

Are You Really Negotiating???

Are You Negotiating?

Okay your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you I am really blogging about real estate! I have been busy with lots of different things including talking to some of you via email, phone, twitter, google hangouts,Facebook, et cetera (yeah that’s how you actually spell etc.) and on down the line! Yet I haven’t forgotten any of you or wholesaling real estate during any of all this, nor have I forgotten how to write at a level most people could never dream of!

In talking to so many of you it has once again been brought to my attention that for some reason there are investors out there that don’t realize that it’s pretty much mandatory to negotiate. I’m not saying that everyone should take my approach and negotiate everything business related, but you could learn a few things from some tips I use day-to-day. (Personally I negotiate prices on everything I use from pens and pencils to the paper for my printer.)

Tip # 1- Every seller you talk to is essentially after the most money they can get.

As a real estate investor when you go to “buy” a house the seller wants as much as they think they can get! Whether you are a wholesaler or whatever this is a fact. They want the most cash out of this asset that they are selling to you. It’s not rocket science! If they realize it’s run down they will say hey I’m “giving it at this price” sometimes that may be the case, but even still negotiate! It doesn’t matter if you only end up squeezing a mere thousand dollars off the asking price that’s where the difference in your bottom line comes from. If you do one house a month which isn’t big time by any means a grand more on your profit each deal is 120 thousand extra in your pocket over the next ten years!

Tip #2- Make sure you pay attention to others negotiations!

Here is something I have noticed throughout my dealings with buyers the one’s that don’t negotiate from your asking price any are usually the one’s who don’t end up buying! I don’t care if you have an in demand “perfectly priced” property and getting your asking price isn’t a problem they shouldn’t just accept your price as the gospel. If this keeps happening and you actually do close them like this regularly then your asking price is too low! It’s not greedy for me to say this the important part of entrepreneurship is having a grasp of the concept that you making money is just as important as anything else! The “freedom” of working for yourself doesn’t mean anything if you can’t afford to pay your bills.

Tip #3- The fear of speaking up will kill your business!

I know anyone who tries to do even part-time investing is actually trying to bring as many leads as they can in. The way I look at is don’t waste any of your marketing efforts! If a seller contacts you and their price is just outrageous try to do a quick negotiation anyways! You have them on the phone or are emailing them anyways why not just “Speak Up” and ask for something more favorable! Even if you hear no at least you heard something! This is actually a scientifically based thing here. For every rebuttal someone hears there will be a reaction and in more cases than you realize that reaction will be the seller caving in quickly to get some actual favorable terms out there!

Inspiration For Innovation Can Come From Anywhere

Over the years in several different aspects of business more than a few very wise people have referred to me as a marketing genius which I greatly appreciate. The often unrealized fact about most of my best innovative marketing ideas and systems is that they usually already existed in some form in another capacity!
There are ideas that can improve your business all around you if you pay attention! I am big on trying new things to differentiate myself from the pack! Especially on the real estate side of marketing. The inspiration for voice recorded direct mail was from Christmas cards!
I'm also big on tracking the performance of marketing. There is no reason for wasted motion,energy,or most importantly money! I know a bunch of people attempt to track results by having multiple phone numbers and websites for their varying ad pieces. This can get expensive or even confusing quickly! How did I get the idea to just put a numerical code with each one to simplify the process, and also allow me to try multiple ads at once? The system came from Pizza Hut coupons! It's saved me thousands of dollars yearly on phone services,web costs for unnecessary websites,& non producing direct mail. Plus saved many hours from being wasted on posting Craigslist ads that just don't convert!
Chances are your million dollar idea or lifestyle creating idea to reach your goals already exists you just have to recognize it!