Those who talk about how much money they have really don’t have any. -Unknown

By now you’re probably familiar with all those gurus and conference speakers who promote their secrets in just about every media format imaginable – books, CDs, eBooks, videos, conferences, etc. A lot of these people definitely have some good tips that can at times be highly inspirational, especially when they claim that anyone can get into the investment properties arena if they establish good credit and have a plan. It’s that simple, right? If only! Many of these “gurus” can accurately be called scam artists, but with so many of them around, who do you believe?
Well, try these on for size:

• Warren Buffet
• Bill Gates
• Donald Trump
• Robert T. Kiyosaki
• Peter Lynch
• Jim Kramer
• Anthony Robbins
• Suze Orman

Visit this site to check out some ratings: John Reed

While it’s certainly okay to explore what some of the gurus say (both fraudulent and useful), just keep in mind that the best way to make money is by saving money, working hard, and taking educated risks. There are no short cuts or get rich quick schemes that actually work. You’ll just have to find what method works for you, whether it’s consistently researching property, seeking out good partners, or whatever else.

Many of these “gurus” can be identified easily. They’re the ones driving fancy cars, wearing exorbitantly expensive clothing, and using such terms as “lazy way,” fool-proof,” “painless,” “gold mine,” “easy,” and several other terms that suggest laziness and ease of profitability. If their programs, courses, or other alleged “help” sounds too good to be true, it is. These are the people employing “risk free” and “bulletproof” ways to con you out of money.

QUOTE: “The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” -George Bernard Shaw

Often times, you’ll never spot a wealthy person (or a practical guru, for that matter) in a crowd. That’s because they’ve been driving the same old car for years, wear slightly drab clothing, and act out other habits that don’t noticeably reflect their substantial bank account. These people do not flaunt their wealth in ostentatious displays, or spend money on unnecessary items that won’t return a profit in the future. No, they grasp a bigger vision in life, one that is dictated by the understanding of making money by saving money.

However, unlike the claims most fraudulent gurus boast, there are no “cookie cutter” approaches, so what you’ll want to do is see what works best for you. Who knows? Maybe you can drive a nice car and wear expensive clothes. The important thing to remember, though, is that you must have a plan and know your priorities before visiting a new car dealership. Without establishing these, you’ll be driving your Maserati nowhere fast.

So how do you know what works best for you? For starters, you’ll need to increase your comprehension in all realms of real estate knowledge. Doing so will help you make better decisions in the future and therefore give you more confidence. Read numerous articles, essays, or books written by different real estate and/or investing experts. Get a broad perspective by reading more than one author. Each author might have a different spin on the same idea, so you’ll want to cover all the bases. Because different people have different ways of doing the same thing, you’ll eventually find which method works for you. Explore and experiment.

Perform a search on Google using any of the names listed above. Maybe you want to learn about a specific aspect of investing, so include that word in your query as well. While searching, you’ll discover additional tips, advice, and methods for building wealth that will lead you to other useful information. You might even come across other helpful people. Not all of their ideas will make sense to you, which is perfectly normal, but many of their words are inspiring and will make you think.

For Example

‘It's better to hang out with people better than you ... Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you'll drift in that direction.’ ~Warren Buffet

How interesting! You might wonder what he means by “better.” And how do you interpret that word and the implications that are involved? Try not to get offended, though. Just perceive remarks such as those from different perspectives to achieve a wider understanding.

Warren Buffet has many great ideas, one of which is this: whatever you’re doing, pretend as if someone will read about it tomorrow morning on the front page of the newspaper. If you find yourself in a situation where you question the moral consistency of your decision (“Is this the right thing to do?”), then use that moment of hesitation as your guide. Tell yourself, “Everyone who reads the paper will learn about this decision tomorrow.” In other words, use good sense.

Another great idea of Buffet’s is only investing in things that you understand. If you don’t understand something, then research it! But don’t stop there. Learn a little more about the topic so you feel more confident about the industry and the direction in where it’s headed. Buffet spends most of his time reading and researching other possibilities, looking for a vital piece of information that will show him that a company or business has value.

In addition to your own personal research, you’ll need to ask lots of questions. Participate in online forums and maybe even send an E-mail to a reliable and dependable expert. You never know what kind of information will come your way, so keep your eyes and ears open. You should even ask your parents, neighbors, friends, people at the coffee shop, and anyone else that might not at first appear to be a likely source of information. You’ll quickly discover that everyone has some sort of knowledge that might be useful. You’ll never know if you don’t ask. See what Latin Dad has to say as well.

Helpful Books

• Rich Dad, Poor Dad - by Robert T. Kiyosaki
• Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving - by Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, Bruce Patton
• Bargaining for Advantage : Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People - by G. Richard Shell