Systems of Equality

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 15:51:24 -0400

I had a system with everything in of equal importance, so I wasn't bound by the "latest and loudest" mentality. I was free to spend time on what mattered as opposed to only what was in front of me at the time.

The problem? It didn't work. I didn't incorporate a system of priorities. When everything had equal importance I assumed that I would naturally see the priority. I was wrong. I just worked on everything instead. I removed the urgent and emotional priorities and never added my own.

I simply need to control which ones seem loudest. I need to make that decision myself.

The Secret to Success

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 20:08:44 -0500

This is not an over-hyped, cliché of an article. This is also not a self-help article. This is simply a reflection - my personal thoughts of why some are successful and most are not in an email written to my friend, and business partner, Michael Nelson. The secret simplifies to just one basic truth:

“That's the secret, the secret that we were talking about Michael, the one difference that turns people who know what they're talking about, but aren't effective, compared to the people that get stuff done.

The secret is that we do it, we do. Everybody else doesn't. They watch get home from work and watch television, they spend their evenings at the bar, they go to Hooters to watch football on television. Nobody, does anything. They just let life happen. Nobody stands up and says, "You know, I'm going to actually do this, because I want to."

You might ask someone an off the wall question, like: "Hey, lets go to Dubai next week." And instead of hearing a reply like, "No, I don't think I will. I have a more logical plan that will get me there in 3 months and 14 days," you hear instead, "I can't." So you ask, "Why not?" and they'll stammer back with, "Oh, because…"

Nobody does anything. Every reason is an excuse. If its anything out of the ordinary, it just can't be done. And thats the secret: We do. We do anything that it takes; and occasionally some extra things that doesn't take us to where we want to go but we do for the sake of, 'we wanna do it' - and that what makes the difference.”

Adverbial Error

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:03:52 -0500

The frequency of adverbial error is beginning to overwhelm me. I have dived into the rabbit hole and am realizing how many infractions are used on a regular basis.
(for example: Fidelity, Regina Spektor - 1:18  The Listening, Lights - 0:24).
I know an argument is that language errors are only relevant when they inhibit communication - as long as I know what you're talking about, than it doesn't matter. I have to beg to differ; Wasserman once said, "our linguistic boundaries may become the boundaries of our actions, shaping rather than reflecting our actions." Philosopher Gross also said, "language determines thought." My cognitive capacity is controlled by my understanding, and power over, my language and vocabulary.
Please help me both refine my existing vocabulary and grammar and bring new words and techniques into the mix (like Pukka! which means "genuine and authentic")

Success and the System

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:24:38 -0500

These words are fitting. They powerfully resonate within my own life.

People tell me it can’t be done: creating success in my own ways. That I shouldn’t try to fight the system. It is powerful - can’t deny that. This piece of paper the world demands: a degree. I won’t argue. I’ll simply reflect and observe.

But I see the world in different ways. I acknowledge the world as it is and appreciate a system that, for so long, entangled me. I simply choose differently. I will not fall back onto a job for fear of loss. My need for security is met with my confidence and unwavering persistence. There is no other option. I have dreams. Furthermore, I have a plan and timeline for which to reach them.

Naturally, most will be against what I’m doing. They will say, “Be realistic. It’s not likely for you to succeed where so many have failed.” This is because they themselves have failed (or failed to try).

People care about my future, and for that I am grateful. But stop worrying about me. I’ve had this conversation countless times with every color of personality. I write not in jest. Rather, I seek to express my thanks and tell the world about what passes through my mind in these moments we share. If you’ve talked with me about the choices I should make, I thank you. This is what I’d say if I believed you could understand and appreciate my path.

Here’s to the crazy ones.

Cold Calls: What Not To Do

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:17:49 -0500

I’m learning how to call on and collect information from prospective home sellers. The following is a rough transcript of a conversation I had with one such seller. I’m a work in progress:

Me: “How much do you owe on your house?”
Bad move, on my part: asking this question too early in the conversation. It’s important to build rapport with the owner before asking the more in depth questions.

Prospect: “I’m sorry, I really need to check with my sister before answering such a personal question.”
Bummer. The conversation sounds over at this point. How will I salvage this? Spoiler: I don’t.

Me: “Yes, I spoke with you sister, Jody about an hour ago. She asked me to call you to find out a little more about the house.”
Considering the rocky start, I think this last line was well-played...

Prospect: “I really should speak with her. I don’t know who you are and you’re asking me how much I owe on my house. That’s information you just don’t give out over the phone. Let me check with her.”
But it doesn’t work.

Short story: I played this game more as a formality. Browsing through online public records, I had my answer in under five minutes.

Moral(s) of the story:
1) establish a relationship before asking for anything
2) there’s always another way.

Delayed Gratification - The Imperative Difference

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:32:11 -0500

New video coming to you from my office, the local Starbucks.

*Correction* This is the first video since we’ve moved TO Conyers FROM Peachtree City (backwards in video).

“...I wanted to refresh you on a commitment I made about my life; it was on my way home from Babson on the airplane. I wrote a long paragraph [my creed and my commission] and posted it on the homepage of my personal website www.coryost.com:
“The most appropriate question is now, what will it take to get there?[where I want to go]. The first step is embracing uncompromisingly my new lifestyle.”
In pace with that, I moved from Babson, back down to Peachtree City. I started a gold business with Michael Nelson; we’ve sold our vending route; now I live in Conyers. I’m living in Conyers because its the best place for the real-estate work that I want to do. I’m putting my short-term gains on hold for the longer ones. Delayed gratifications. Right now, the house that I’m living in only has sub-flooring, no carpet or hardwood down. The tile in broken in the shower, so water leaks out when I shower, so we got a gym membership at LA Fitness to make sure that I at least shower once a day. And we’re spending every single day not goofing around at home; not sitting around at home playing video games; not hanging out with friends at Starbucks; but we’ve implanted ourselves into the heart of Dan’s business, into the heart of our new business. We’re spending every light hour either meeting with someone, spending time with Dan at Starbucks learning, or calling potential clients to see if we can’t interest them in one of the houses we have for sale. So I believe that is one of the biggest first steps, is delayed gratification and uncompromisingly embracing our new lifestyle. Meaning, even though the house isn’t the Taj Mahal, we’re making that choice in order to go where we want to go, and I think thats where the difference lies.”

Dealing with Loss

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:59:23 -0400

We lost hundreds of dollars in cash, ounces of gold, and a complete kit for buying/testing gold. Initially, we were upset, and it began to impair our ability to move forward. But we began to rationalize through the situation to make the most of it.

We took the opportunity of looking for it, to set up some of our 100 new road signs, pass out our cards, and visit every garage sale in that area. While our loss was an isolated, singular event, new business is a compounding effect. For every sign we install, we reach an audience measured daily in the thousands; for each card we pass out and piece of gold we buy, we encourage one person to share us with multiple others.

Buying Gold: Other People’s Time

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:46:37 -0400

This video briefly talks about how we are taking our successful gold venture, and expanding it, using people working with us (and less of our own time) to accomplish even greater things. Although we make less per item, we are making more than the difference up with the increased volume. We are doing more, with less, and using other people’s time and resources to do it, and those people are being rewarded for their time and efforts as well.

Transcription:
“Hi, I’m Michael Nelson, one of the writers for Taikun Life. One of the ways we’ve been supporting ourselves for the past half year is by buying and selling gold jewelry. Unlike conventional gold investments, we buy it and turn it for a quick profit, instead of holding on to it for many years or many months. It's been working pretty well, but we realized, we’re limited. We’re only two people, and we can’t tackled an entire state. So we’ve been outsourcing our labor to individuals in certain cities, around Georgia, to buy gold for us. We make a smaller percentage per buy, but we’re making much more.”

Real Estate: The Start of a Long Journey

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:08:30 -0400

“I am Cory Hewett and this is the first video blog entry we've posted. So far, this blog has been comprised of articles written universally, sharing our mindset and perspectives. This entry is to chronicle the specifics of our newest endeavor: real-estate. Michael and I met an investor, Dan Swaney, at the real-estate investor meetings we attend. While most who attend earn their livings rehabbing and flipping houses, Dan has a different angle. The first house we tried to buy had a $30k spread, but required a $150k capital investment and for us to do all the labour. We will learn how save someone from foreclosure, and buy their house for $.20-30 on the dollar, using the new $8k tax credit to make money on the front end and the instant equity in the home to make even more on the back end. We are learning as if we were trying to drink from a firehose. Our first step is to understand how to Invest in Debt and the time value of money. I'm ready to get learn!”