Just the other week my wife and I went out to look for a Christmas tree.  We walked about a mile and a half up hill in the snow with no shoes.  Just kidding.  I joked with my wife when we came up the hill to find that there was a grove of trees.  I told her that I would probably have to cut the true down myself and drag it away.  More times than not there is truth in jest.  My mini prophecy came to pass when we got to the owner.  He handed me a hand saw and gave me a look like, "GOOD LUCK CHUCK".  My wife and I walked into 2 groves to find the tree she liked.  Pulled back the branches and went to work.   Now mind you I love Christmas but my wife really loves Christmas.  She was not going to be disappointed.  And for all men when your wife is happy...you know the rest.  So I started to saw at the base of the tree, and mind you I've never done this before living in NY all my life.  In NY you might set it on fire but not cut it down.  Anyway, here I am living in Pa sawing a tree down for Christmas.  Back and forth with the saw and everything in me starting to ache.  I have a new respect for those who do it for a living.  Cutting down a tree sounds easy but when the temp is dropping and it is getting dark and you are on your knees in wet dirt and snow, it becomes a challenge.  I was cutting for close to 45 min and trying to keep my cool under pressure.  I had determined that I was not going to let this tree beat me.  I was going home with what I came for.  I stopped cutting and found that I was half way through it.  I caught a vision of myself walking home with it.  You have to have a vision of success and now was not the time to quit.  

How can one apply this to real estate investing and any challenge for that matter.  Get a vision of success and do not quit when it gets difficult.  it is easy to quit when it gets tight.  But if you have a vision and a purpose that is bigger than yourself, anything can be accomplished.  Providing for my wife and children and actually being there to enjoy them is what this business allows.  I'm not working for someone else and making their dreams come true but all my efforts are to benefit those I care about.  Vision and purpose can take you where no one has gone before.  

And yes, we did walk away from that field with our tree.  My wife was glad to push it and yell, "TIMBER"!!!  She was helping me to see where the saw was when I lost my spot near the base.  It was almost no light by this time and it gets hard to see at night.  She's also my business partner and it is great to have someone you trust to help you keep your vision.  And be part of the reason for your purpose.  Especially in those dark times.  Like being in a field after everyone else has left before you. Someone said that nice guys finish last.  But you know what, they finish!

DON'T QUIT, KEEP YOUR VISION AND PURSUE YOUR PURPOSE!!!

Merry Christmas