When you are about to take a big step in your life, whether it is buying a new car, getting married, having a baby, buying a property… The people around you are obliged to give their two cents, whether they like it or not No. Sometimes it can be music to your ears, but most of the time it confuses you, discourages you, and prevents you from making the big plans you have made so far.
Does this sound familiar?
Well buckle up because you always have to be prepared for them (aka get used to it).
As Steve Jobs said, “Don’t let the noise of other people’s opinions exhaust your inner voice.” Make sure you talk to the right people. For starters, if you are sick, go to a doctor, not a lawyer. Likewise, when you want to buy investment property, talk to someone who has been there and done it, and most importantly, been successful.
You may have some advice on buying property: some recommending buying in a certain suburb for growth, others insisting on only buying negative properties for tax purposes. Long before you follow in his footsteps, ask yourself these questions; Have you achieved wealth today? Can they prove it? If you want to make a change in your life, then make sure you work for it, do your research.
Just to give some perspective, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, had the idea of having an online bookstore with millions of titles. He had just turned 30 and told his wife that he wanted to quit his job and start this crazy thing that probably wouldn’t work (as most startups don’t), but his wife told him that I would. At the time, he was working for a financial company with a boss he greatly admired. She told him that he wanted to start an online bookselling company, and his boss told him that it sounded like a great idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn’t have a good job yet. It was a difficult choice for Jeff, but he always knew he would be haunted by the decision not to try at all. So he took the less safe path and followed his passion. (Reference: World Changers – 25 Entrepreneurs Who Changed Business As We Knew It. John A. Byrne, 2011).
Amazon is now the world’s largest e-commerce company, with a net worth of $59.2 billion (as of 02/12/2015, Forbes.com).
Therefore, it is paramount that you find yourself a mentor whose footsteps you want to follow. Know who you’re talking to by learning and finding out what evidence they have (why you should listen to them). This will put you out of your comfort zone, but it’s worth learning from the right people.
TIP: Be sure to do your own research before following any advice. Sometimes even the advice of family and friends is not always right for you.
