Sticking to Plan A

Announcer: Welcome back to the FlipNerd.com REI Classroom, where experts from across the real estate investing industry teach you quick lessons to take your business to the next level. And now, let’s meet today’s expert host.

Franklin: Hey, how you doing? This is Franklin Cruz. I’m going to be your host for the REI Classroom. Get ready, sit back, get a pen and pencil, if not a crayon, it’s fine, and we’re going to talk a little bit about screw Plan B.

Announcer: This REI Classroom real estate lesson is sponsored by UglyOpportunities.com.

Franklin: Now, what do I mean by screwing Plan B? The biggest thing about Plan B is this. I was in the military for seven and a half years, active duty in the United States Army. I traveled all over from Korea to . . . I was a General’s aide for a little bit. I was an Army recruiter for a little bit. Then I also served overseas during the war in 2003 in Iraqi Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom.
One thing I found is during that timeframe is really when I made a solid decision to get out of the military. Actually, I started real estate back in 2000. I was just doing it part-time when I was still in the military. But 2003 when I came back from war, I was like, “Okay, this is it. This is the only thing I’m going to do is I’m going to make enough money.” At the time, it was $150,000 cash, to get out of the military 100%. But that was my only plan. It was only Plan A. That was it.
If you fail Plan A, there was no backup plan because I was like, “Look, I was just getting out of the military and that’s it. There is no other plan here. We’re going to make this thing happen and we’re going to do it. Period.” What I mean by this is Plan B, whatever that your plan is, if you’re saying, “Look, I’m really going to be a real estate investor. I’m really going to find a mentor. Or I’m really going to go out there and do a rehab.” Or whatever that is, focus 100% of your time and energy, 100% of your time in Plan A.
See, if you have a Plan B, that means you actually are planning to fall back. It’s almost like somebody who smokes cigarettes. You ever met somebody that smokes a crap load of cigarettes? Hopefully you haven’t because you love your lungs. But if you meet anybody that smokes cigarettes and they quit, they always say, “Yeah, you know I’ve been out of cigarettes for 285 days and 27 seconds.” Technically, all they’re telling you is they’re memorizing the days, and they count down when they relapse and go back to smoking cigarettes saying, “You know, I only lasted 237 days and 37 seconds,” whatever it was.
That’s the only reason why. It’s just like “Dude, there’s only Plan A. I quit and that’s it.” I’m not talking about myself because I don’t smoke. I’m a happy wine drinker and water drinker, God bless the wine. No, I’m just kidding, I’m drinking water now. But you have to look at it from a sense of, “Look, I’m 100% focused on Plan A,” because Plan B will distract you. Plan B, you’ll actually start thinking about, “Oh, my goodness, what if I do fall back? I can start doing this?” That means you’re already putting your energy into thinking about Plan B.
Again, if you want to write down whatever your plan is, whatever your goal is, whatever your aspiration is, whatever you inspire to be, whatever your passion is, write that thing down right now. Just write it down as soon as you can. That’s it. That’s your Plan A. That’s what you’re going to achieve.
Don’t even think about Plan B. Just write down one thing, and it’s the first thing that you’re already thinking about. Don’t second guess yourself. If you’re second-guessing yourself, that means you’re actually already thinking about not doing it. It’s no question. Just make that move, do it right now and you can achieve it.
Hopefully, you got something out of this little classroom. If you didn’t, definitely don’t put anything down. If you did, put stars, heart, or whatever is on there right now. Just make a comment. Say how amazing my hair is. Whatever you want, I definitely appreciate it. See you next time. Again, my name is Franklin Cruz. You can find me at FranklinCruz.com. That’s about it. See you, guys, later.

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