Say "Yes" In 2019!

As you start the New Year today, there two key steps to a great 2019. First, reflect on 2018 and move on, and second, set your intention for 2019. Another free hint to happiness, say "yes"to more in 2019. I know first hand, from my own journey, that saying "yes"can change your life. In 2018, I said "yes" to things that were risky to me, things that were way outside of my comfort zone, and it changed me forever -- more on that later.

Reflect

As we officially kick off the new year, many people, myself included, are creating goals that they hope to achieve in 2019. There are many great books and programs available that give step by step processes to setting goals. Over the years, I think I've used some version of every one of these resources. Personally, I’ve found that setting and accomplishing a goal is less about the mechanics of the goal, and more about staying excited and having a positive mindset. Hopefully, being that it is January 1st and the new year starts today, you have already identified areas of improvement and have adopted the mindset needed to help you accomplish a fantastic year. However, if you haven’t, it’s not too late!

Take a moment to reflect on the tough times

As you start on your journey to plug away at those 2019 goals, take a moment and make sure your goals/resolutions include reflecting on your challenges and successes from 2018. I’d like to start out by saying that I know that 2018 was difficult for some of you. Perhaps you lost a loved one, a job, or a close friend. Nothing can take away that pain or sorrow, but we can always learn something from our challenges. Sometimes we don’t know that our toughest years are preparing us for something great. As Tony Robbins says, “I’ve come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.” If you can take a moment and reflect on the difficulties you may have faced in 2018, you can take those lessons with you into the new year.

Remember the high points too

Even if 2018 was a challenge, there were most definitely high points. Reflect on those high points as well and remember how you felt in those moments - what about those great times made you feel alive? Remembering those feelings will motivate you to create more of those moments in the future.

Learn and then move on

A great way to reflect on the past year is to examine each area of your life. Jot down the key areas of your life (perhaps they are; family, health, work, relationships, finances, contribution, etc.). Then, rate each area on a scale of 1-10, 1 being terrible and 10 being the best ever. While doing this, consider what factors contributed to your rating in each category. For example, what made me give myself a “3” in health this year? My 3 rating was for several reasons, one being that I was lazy about cooking healthy meals after long work days, and two, I ate out way too much, etc. By evaluating my disappointments in this category, I can enter the new year with a more specific, improved plan, rather than just claiming that I want to “be healthier.” You can ask yourself a layer of “why questions” to get some valuable nuggets that may help you overcome these challenges in the future.

Set your intentions for 2019

Reflecting on the past is extremely important, but another key to fulfillment is being able to leave the previous year behind, and start fresh. A huge component of this, is setting an intention for the upcoming year. I do this by setting a theme for my new year. In 2018, my theme was to expand and take risks. I’ve been head down, in survival mode for the past 10 years. After a challenging divorce, I was 100% focused on raising my kids. My time and energy went to supporting them and pushing hard at my corporate job. Because my family is my top priority, I am proud that I followed that path. However, in doing so, I became somewhat closed off, shrunken, and isolated. I felt that I only had so much time, and didn’t think that I could branch out, meet new people, and definitely didn’t think I could start my own business or expand my passion for real estate investing. Being that my kids are almost grown, and have lives of their own, I took on a new theme for 2018. I took my new theme on with excitement and passion. In 2018, I was focused on expanding and taking risks. I started to say “yes” to things I otherwise would not have. When I would previously say “no” to girl trips, scheduling meetups with friends, or making efforts to network, instead I started saying “yes”. I can not tell you how saying “yes” has changed my life. As an example, in February 2018, I said “yes” to getting out of my comfort zone and going to the Joe Fairless Best Ever Real Estate Conference. I had little knowledge on apartment investing, or syndication. However, from that experience, I decided to expand my real estate investing portfolio into apartment investing and syndication. Last year, I expanded my single family home portfolio to 9 rentals out of state, passively invested in apartment syndications, and dove into being involved on the general partner side of syndications. In August, I launched my new business, New Heights Investment Group, which has allowed me to share these fantastic real estate investing opportunities with my friends and family. I am truly grateful!!

Saying “yes” that day led me to many other “yeses”, and changed me.

Take some risks

Taking risks can be very scary - I know this first hand. Throughout my 10 year real estate investing journey, I have found myself face to face with fear on countless occasions. I feared that I was too old, too busy, and too inexperienced to take a huge risk like starting a business. However, I have learned to not let my emotions control me, and have adopted daily habits that have helped me gain confidence and push through fear. My son always says, “you miss 100% of the shots you never take,” funny advice coming from your kid. On a side note, that son of mine, is also passionate about real estate investing. He has been actively involved in helping property manage my rentals for the past 5+ years. I am so proud to say that in 2019, we are partnering to start New Heights Investment Acquisitions, where he will lead our wholesale and flipping business. With big risks come with big rewards, so in the new year, don’t let fear hold you back from accomplishing your goals.

Many people think that setting New Year's Resolutions is pointless, given that the majority of people abandon their goals about a month into the year. Often times, people fail at achieving their resolutions because their goals lack intention and excitement. Use reflection to refine your areas of improvement, and to develop a clear and reasonable plan of attack. Identify one thing that excites you about the future, and make that your theme for 2019. The new year is a great time to hit the reset button, and to start working towards your ideal future. I encourage all of you to enter this year optimistically, and I hope to be a part of your 2019.

Join us at New Heights Investment Group in 2019

If winning in the area of your finances is in your plan for 2019, we can help. Connect with us at https://www.newheightsinvestmentgroup.com/, where we help busy professionals build passive income, financial freedom, and wealth through investing in real estate.

Frenzied to Financial Freedom Podcast is launching in February 2019

Also, coming in February 2019, you can check out our new podcast, Frenzied to Financial Freedom. My friend and business colleague, Kristen Beatty and I are on a mission to build a tribe of fellow women who are ditching their “frenzied” lives to seek financial freedom. We will be hearing from powerhouse guests who are creating their own paths toward financial freedom. We will learn how they juggle entrepreneurial pursuits and side hustles (some while balancing their "day jobs"). We'll also hear from our favs -- those who have reached financial freedom through real estate investing. Check us out (and like us) on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frenzied2freedom/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenzied2freedom/

Twitter @frenzy2freedom