Real Deal REInvestor Network

I've been thinking these past days over a common saw in the motivational arena; that old principle that people only make serious changes in their lives through inspiration or desperation.

 Why is it such an ingrained part of human nature and human life that so often it takes hitting ROCK BOTTOM to instill a fierce enough desire to go TO THE TOP to really get people to TAKE ACTION?

 Now, I'm beginning to understand "people" but some persons I'll never understand...

 Catch the difference?

 "Motivation" is great, but we all know it's not enough, by itself to cause any lasting change for the better in our lives. True and lasting positive change comes down to something less external than just motivation to keep the wheels moving on a car that's physically breaking down.

 Motivation may be a powerful fuel, but the engine that will drive you to success is not it; in my mind, that engine is inspiration, and that comes from within.

 We must all seek out those things that inspire us and keep them close! Find other people that inspire us. Put ourselves in places where we get inspired. Choose to align ourselves with inspirational visions.

 Isn't it AMAZING how in just a few years we as human beings have the power if we focus on what we want rather than what we don't have, we possess the ability and the power to literally transform our lives and lifestyles...to grow...to change our beliefs (think), our perceptions (feel), our behavior (act), and thus completely and totally change our RESULTS (lifestyle)...isn't that amazing we can do it just like that?

 Literally from depressed, dead broke and busted to happy, rich and successful. From a life of violence and drugs to one of compassion and leadership.

 From a dead-end boring existence where one just plods through the day to one where only adjectives of the infinite variety can hope to capture the sheer breadth of possibilities open to you. From spiritual bankruptcy and sin to a closer communion with our Maker and those with whom we share this spinning dirtball we call home.

 No matter where you find yourself today, here and now know this:

 We can grow.

We can change.

We can expand.

We can build wealth.

We can make a difference.

We can draw closer to God.

We can create a lasting legacy that is bigger than ourselves.

 Radical change can’t come from motivation alone, though.

 In a few years with the right environment, it's very much possible to do it if you’re truly inspired. And for most people to have it seem like magic...

 It's all about finding yourself and finding the correct vehicle to help get you from where you are to where you want to be.

 I have found that I can get myself to take action toward my goals only when you ask yourself this question: "When now are you ready to take action?"

 To the 3% who DO....here's to you.

 What works for me I hope will for you too!

 

Near the end of the printed version of Russell Conwell’s speech “Acres of Diamonds,” there’s a classic description of Conwell recalling the preparation for an earlier oration by the mayor of Conwell’s small hometown as the mayor “adjusted his spectacles and leaned over [the table] for a moment and marched back on that platform, and then came forward like this—tramp, tramp, tramp.” 

“The road to wealth, is as plain as the road to the mill.” It is there for all of us. We just need to choose it, and obey by the laws of gaining wealth. Below are the thirty-seven laws I have extracted, from PT Barnums , “The Art of Money Getting”. Law # 1 – income must be greater than your expenses. Track your needs and luxuries for two weeks, to get an idea of where you are spending more, and could be saving. Law #2 – Do not cheap out on something that will gain you more than the cost. True knowledge is far greater than the cost of it. Law #3 – Do not bother to keep up with the Jones’s. Nor should you be bothered by feeling judged by others. Be more frugal in your items of ownership. Law #4 – Keeping up with the Jones’s , does not make you equal. Law #5 – Like attracts like. You cannot be on the road to wealth, if you overspend all the time. Overspending leads to poverty. Law #6 - when accumulating wealth, it is important to still live within your means. Law #7 – Good health is more important than wealth. Good health is also the basis for happiness. Law # 8 – The Laws of Health = The Laws of Nature Law # 9 - Even the wealthy cannot escape the laws of nature and physics. Law # 10- The “sin of ignorance” will not transcend the laws of nature. Law #11- addictions violate the laws of nature, and will cause muddled thinking, and judgements. One must have a clear brain, and plan to be successful and accumulate wealth. Law # 12- Follow your gifts and passions to find your vocation Law #13 – Practice your vocation in the right location. The wrong location can kill your vocation. Law #14 – Do not get into debt. Money is an excellent servant, and a horrible master. Law #15 – Nothing grows so faithfully as money working day and night, that is secured. Law #16 – Perseverance, also known as self-reliance, is critical to financial success, and can be learned. Law # 17 – Commit 110% to your cause, and have faith Law # 18 – Gain knowledge everyday, especially in your business. Know your business thoroughly. Law #19 - Exercise caution in laying out your plans, but be BOLD in executing them! Law #20 – Never have anything to do with an unlucky man, or place. Like begets like, and if he is unlucky, it is for a reason. Law #21 – Hire good help, that is faithful and loyal. Law #22 – Study Human nature. It is a key to your growth and development. Law # 23 – the best way to acquire wealth, is to make it yourself. You will know the value of experience. Law #24 – the greatest ambition is to excel in your profession. There is always room at the top, even if the basement is crowded. Law #25 – Everyone should learn a trade, so that if the tides change, you have another means of making money. Law #26 – Dreams must be brought to life, through action Law #27 – Focus!!! Scattered minds miss many golden opportunities. Law #28 – Use Systems – they can bring balance to your life, as long as you are not anal with them. Law #29 – Read the newspapers to keep up with business info and trends. Law # 30- Invest your money wisely, moderately and/or philanthropically Law #31 – Indorse with caution Law #32 – Marketing & Advertising is essential to business. Law #33 – Treat your customers as you would like to be treated (the golden rule) Law #34 – Be charitable, and give from the heart. Law #35 – Do not gossip about your business or money matters. Law #36 – Make your money honestly. IT affords you the gratification of blessing our race, by enabling you to enlargen the scope of human happiness and human influence. The desire for wealth is nearly universal, and none can say it is not worthy, provided you, accept its responsibility, and use it as a friend to humanity. Law #37 – Money Makers are the benefactors of our race. Without them, many of our churches, colleges, and museums, (to name a few) would not have been built. Quoting Shakespeare, “He that wants money, means and content, is without three good friends.” I'd like to live life with all three, what about you?

       Throughout the years I’ve struggled with myself in the way that I had the habit of starting something and not finishing it. I would make-up excuses and reasons of why I should stop doing whatever I was doing; whether it was a painting I was finishing, landscaping at home, going to college, or even writing a blog. I would always quit before it was time. Perhaps I was settling for what was more comfortable? Maybe I was afraid of success? Or maybe I was just being lazy? Whatever it was, it was draining me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I would think things like, “What if I sold my painting and someone wanted me to paint 15 more for them? Then I’d really have to hustle and take my hobby more seriously.” Or I would say, “What if I actually do finish college and graduate? Then I’d have to do hours and hours of internships, and then I’d have to go to 500 interviews before someone would finally decide to take a chance and hire me.”
       All of these reasons were negative and pathetic excuses. This way of thinking had been holding me back all my life. I don’t know why I thought this way or what might have happened to me when I was younger to cause me to think so negatively and lack the self-confidence that I needed to excel and see things through. It’s a mystery even to me. But as of this day, I choose to change my way of thinking because ultimately, by the grace of God my way of thinking will change the way I am living.
       This is my Declaration of Independence! A declaration that will now define who I am and who I want to be. For far too long I’ve made decisions where I settled for less. These decisions have not only held me down but have also held down those around me, and those who depend on me. No more. No more procrastinating. No more fearfulness for it is fear that will now be my guide and my motivation.
       This is my declaration of independence! By the end of this year 2011, I will complete the MMM Challenge with HONORS. With the help of my mentors I will close at least 5 wholesale deals (or more!), 2 lease option deals and by end 2012 I will be crushing the local real estate market. I will be living like God intended me to live, and my family and loved ones will see that one does not have to live poorly and miserably for the rest of their lives. They will know that we have a choice and that we can re-define our lives. We have the power to break the mold and we can re-shape out own lives and destinies into whatever we wish them to be-should we make the sincere decision to commit to our own success and happiness.
       This is my declaration of independence! I declare independence from fear, poverty, negativity and all other things that have held me back from true success and brought me down. No more will these people, things, and thoughts govern my life and my destiny. I declare my life my own! I declare my destiny my own! And as such I will shape my life as I see fit, and right now-success seems to fit me pretty darn well.

To Your Success,
Hector Torres

Most of you, don’t know it, but I gave up a lot to go to this event in Orlando. As you know my birthday was July 6th. But what most of you don’t know is that it was my 50th birthday this year. As a result, my Husband (Russ) was planning a surprise party the same weekend as the Orlando event, for me. Russ had flown in my son from Vegas, and my grandson from NYC to come celebrate with us. He also coordinated the party with his brother and wife, flying in for their summer vacation, coming from Alaska. When I told Russ, that I was going to Orlando for a real estate seminar this past weekend, he was not at all supportive about it. He made several attempts at getting me to cancel my plans and stay at home for my surprise party, without giving away the secret, but failed. Finally, with all other options exhausted, he told me what he had planned for me. At that point, we had open discussions, and I had to make a choice. It was a difficult decision. I made the decision to cancel the party, and go. I figured, I could still visit with my out of town guests, when I got home; and I could always have a party next summer to celebrate my 50th outgoing year, or my 51st birthday, or heck – I could even wait 5 years and throw myself an AARP party. This was too important to my development to miss. After changing all our party plans, I found out the Directors were not going to be there. “Did I make the wrong decision?” I started to ask myself. Should we get the party back on? I could wait until August, and go to California, when all the directors will be there. I finally decided, I could no longer live with one leg over each side of the fence. It was time to DECIDE. Am I going to commit to this investing, or am I going to make excuses about not going? I decided, it was now or never - and I was going to be all in! I still had a few moments of concern and regret, but for the most part, I reconciled within myself, and I moved forward. Did I regret it? HELL NO!! Let me say that again – HELL NO!!!!! It was the one of the best things that ever happened to me. This weekend affected me so deeply, in ALL levels of my life. What happened this weekend? I fell in love this weekend!! I fell in love and had a life changing event this weekend! I fell in love with a Semi Good-Looking Guy, and a Freakin’ Puerto Rican! I fell in love with these two guys, their business, and what they stand for. Prior to this weekend, I had hopes that Rick & Danny were the “Real Deal”. . . . . But if you have any concerns like I did initially; Let me tell you - rest assured your weary minds!! There is absolutely NO need for your concerns. These guys are the “Real Deal”. They stand for integrity, hard work, joy, prosperity, and sharing their wealth and talents with others. In fact, they stand for these things so much, it just Oozes out of them! Never have I connected with mentors, teachers, or gurus in the way that I did, over this weekend. The seminar that was taught was AWESOME! The first day of the seminar, our syllabus, was a high level vision, about everything we have been working on, in our menternship. Rick & Danny taught us how essential our marketing projects are, and how it is all inter-connected. They taught us other ways to market, (things we have not done yet). But most importantly, they gave us a very clear picture of the marketing component of their business, how critical it is to all businesses, and how we can implement it in our own businesses. All the dots, were truly connected! On Sunday, we got into their commercial and financial strategies. This information was new to me, and it was very well explained to us. Now their entire business model, makes complete sense to me. I can’t wait to start investing with them, and bringing other investors to the table. Being with Rick and Danny brings out the best in you. You want to be a better marketer and investor. You want to be a better person. When you are with them, you can tell they enjoy life, and they are infectious. They have given me an incredible gift through this menternship, and this weekend’s live event. They moved me out of potential and into “Action”. They moved me out of “Wanting” and into “Doing”. If you did not get a chance to attend this weekend’s live event, then book your flight and hotel now for the next event. IF you put it off, the rates will only go up. Commit to yourself now, and ask “How can I go?” instead of “Should I go?” You owe it to yourself to experience this business, and these relationships. It is time to COMMIT to YOURSELF, and DECIDE to go NOW. You WON”T regret it!! WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP, TO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS? To Rick & Danny - I love you , man!!!

My story begins at my first job right out of school in the early 70’s.  I had made the decision to pursue a job in Information Technology (at the time, it was simply called computer programming).  I started with a small insurance company in Wisconsin that was looking for ways to automate their processes.  Believe it or not, insurance applications were submitted on paper, sent to the “data entry” department which was made up of key punch operators entering data into punch cards that were read into a computer for processing. 

I was blessed with the opportunity to work directly with IBM to replace the key punch process with online terminals.  This became an exciting relationship as IBM was looking for a “beta” partner for their new terminals and they offered resources that I worked with side by side to create the first online insurance processing center.

We became the show case for IBM and before I knew it, we were providing testimonials and demonstrations of what could be done with this new technology.  Insurance companies from around the world were visiting our offices including a company from Sweden that left me a little wooden horse as a token of their appreciation that still stands on my desk to this day.

That was the first two years of my career which gave me great pride since my aunts and uncles always claimed my dad’s children wouldn’t amount to much.  My dad worked three jobs to put food on the table and we weren’t afforded a lot of opportunities … but what we all learned was a work ethic to do what you need to succeed. 

These first two years set the stage for the rest of my career as I was recruited by other insurance companies for process reengineering or entity startup and integration projects.  However, somewhere along this journey, my career took me out of the rewarding roll of project development and reengineering and moved into an Executive roll of data stewardship, bureaucracy, regulatory compliance, privacy and security.  It just wasn’t fun anymore and after 30 years, when I fell victim to a merger and acquisition that left me standing on the outside for the first time in my career, I embraced the opportunity to reinvent myself and pursued real estate investment.

This was GREAT!  I was reenergized and filled with passion to learn anything and everything there was to learn in real estate and in 2006 I began to amass our real estate empire, buying into every strategy that was promoted.  I was buying foreclosures and REOs from the bank and keeping them for rentals in markets I believed would cash flow.  I was investing in land development, preconstruction, apartment conversions, commercial development and a development project in Costa Rico.  I was so focused on “building” this empire that I never stopped to look at the risks and warning signs that were starting to appear about the real estate market and when it crashed, I drove our real estate empire right off the cliff ….. Without a safety net.

Whoa … we lost EVERYTHING!  But that’s OK!  I know I was successful once, and I know I could do it again.  BUT, I made a fundamental mistake.  Rather than approaching new ventures in a position of confidence, I was pursuing them in a mode of desperation.  I started chasing shinny objects and unicorns that made promises of recovering what I had lost in a short amount of time.  These unicorns were presented as Bulk REO tapes and commodity transactions for Gold and Oil.  The reality is … “There is no quick fix” and it was going to take hard work and determination to recover what had been lost and achieve the goals I had lost sight of.

At the end of 2010, I made the fundamental decision to go back to the basics of real estate investing and laser focus on a single strategy … one with reduced risk and could leverage OPM to begin our recovery.  My research for this strategy led me to a course that initially appeared to provide the coaching I was searching for to regain my confidence at an affordable price to reenter the real estate market.  However, the first weekend seminar quickly revealed that in order to “qualify” for the coaching program, I would have to buy the next two levels of training that would total approximately $20,000.

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  That’s it … I QUIT!  I could no longer take my family down this black hole of real estate gurus and I was going to have to reenter Corporate America and find a J.O.B.  WELL, I now thank God for putting me at that fork in the road.  All things happen for a reason and as I started to look for JOB opportunities, I stumbled across the Facebook link and/or email that talked about an intern/mentorship opportunity with a national real estate company and the rest is history!

I also need to thank my WIFE who has been an absolute rock through this whole experience.  Not once has she blamed me for destroying our goals for early retirement and philanthropy … nor has she ever berated me to get a JOB.  Instead, she has reminded me of how unhappy I had become in Corporate America and she did not want to see me stop “Three Feet From Gold”.  She encouraged me to learn from the experts, shadow what they are doing and regain my confidence to become successful again through the only real method to success of blood, sweat and tears.  There is no such thing as GET RICH QUICK in the real world.

I am renewed by the same energy I once felt for the opportunity I had early in my career to work side by side with IBM to develop a business opportunity that benefited each other.  Once again, I am blessed with an opportunity to work side by side with the experts at the HIS Real Estate Network to build business opportunities in Real Estate that I KNOW will benefit all parties.  I will be forever indebted to and thankful for this opportunity offered by Danny, Rick and the Directors, Sam, Dana, Jo and Alex.  God Bless You All!

A tale of when I wanted to quit, but stuck it out . . . This event happened many moons ago, but nonetheless, it was a defining moment in my life. I started playing field hockey in 7th grade. It was my first time on team sports. I was pretty athletic, but up until that point, all my sports had either been individual, or neighborhood pick-up games. I continued playing through high school. When I was in the 11th grade, I was cut from the team. I was cut from the team, and did not even see it coming. During tryouts, I was a little nervous about being cut, because I knew I was not the best player; but I also had a pretty good idea of how the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams were going to be formed. Since there were only 3 grades in our high school, and I was clearly better than any of the sophomores, I really thought I was pretty safe at making the JV team. NOPE. My name was not there on the Junior Varsity list. I could not believe it. My teammates could not believe it. It was like having a dagger put through my chest. My teammates told me to go talk to the coach. I went to the varsity coach and had a talk with her. The varsity coach told me, I was good enough to play on JV, but not on Varsity. However, she also decided, She would rather have my slot opened on the Junior Varsity team for a younger player, or a Senior, whom she preferred. She would use the Senior - Patti, on JV¸ to deepen her Varsity bench, or bring her up due to team injuries. I was very sad, and hurt. I just wanted to go home and cry. My fall schedule had suddenly changed, but I had already planned on staying after for practice. Since I missed the bus and had to wait for a ride home, I walked to the store with my ex-teammates for our usual afternoon snacks and break. While at the store, someone told me they thought they heard that Patti was going to quit. She wanted a varsity position and was not willing to play on JV. Man, I wanted that position. With the encouragement of my teammates I decided to speak to the coach and ask her for a position back on the JV team. I was scared out of my wits, but decided I had nothing to lose. I really did not expect anything but, “I’m sorry, I’d rather a sophomore on the team, than you.” SO after our walk to the store, and a couple of trips to the bathroom, I finally found the courage to go into speak to the coach. I told her, I had heard that Patti was thinking about quitting. She told me, that Patti was not just thinking about it, but that she had actually already quit. Right away I had a flood of emotions – I was equally relieved, and petrified. From fear, I clenched my fists at my side, took a quick breath and decided now was the time to go for it. “Coach”, I said. “ I would like Patti’s place on the team.” She then asked me if I was willing to work hard for it, and dig deeper than I had before. I assured her I would. I walked out of my coach’s office, with my dignity and my position back. I ran to tell my teammates and get changed for practice. Needless, to say, my abilities, and my confidence grew over that year. My coach was also my gym teacher. She saw me grow aggressively in the sports arena. We had co-ed gym, and she saw my attitude about making sure I could not be beat in sports, “just because you are a guy”, mindset. You might beat me, but I was going to give it my all and go out dying! I learned, that in order to get the ball against a guy, you needed to throw an elbow or two to keep the guys out of your space. When they figured out you were serious, they would give you a little space to see your abilities. When they figured out you were good enough, they would leave you alone. I started to play co-ed pick-up volleyball after school w/ many of the top male jocks, AND I held my own! By springtime, I found my groove. I was confident, and good. In several of my gym classes, some of my male jock friends had tried to get beat me in several sports. I usually ended up taking one or two of them out, during the gym period. The male coaches of the school, started coming over to me and my coach, asking me to take it easy on their athletes. My coach/gym teacher was psyched! She knew something I didn’t. She knew that my greatest foe on the field, had been my lack of confidence. She also knew that with my new found confidence, I would be a different and better player on the field! She told me several times, she could not wait to see me on the field, my senior year, practically guaranteeing me a spot. In August, my senior year, I made the team. But just one day after the cuts were made, my coach announced she was leaving the team, and going to coach Bentley College, effective tomorrow. She explained how this was a great opportunity, and promotion for her. “Are you kidding me?” I thought. Needless to say, everyone else on the team had the exact same thought. For the next three weeks, we were more or less self-coached. We finally got a coach, but our team was not real confident in her, or her abilities. She was young, and had not even coached a team yet. We figured we were doomed for the season. Last year’s team was incredible. But we had lost all the star players, over half the team, and a great head coach. Behind our new coach’s back, we decided as a team, that if nothing else, we would have a great camaraderie, and make sure we had fun. We wanted to win a few games, and set a team goal of winning 50%. We had a coach that was in it, at least for the season. By the time we had played five games, we had a few weeks with our new coach. Just before we got off the bus, she stood at the front of the bus. She said, “Ladies, this is a significant game. You have a record of 2-2-1. You have two wins, two losses, and one tie. It is time now to make a decision as a team. Do you want to have more wins, or losses? Or do you want to add another tie, which is not even like playing a game? But you have to decide now, and that will determine how you play. ” That struck a chord with me. I got up, and said, “You know what girls, coach is right. Let’s go out and play our heart out today. Let’s make Coach Mullen, regret she left us, and show her, we don’t need her!” Turns out, we won that game. It was a very difficult game. The other team was a dirty, extremely aggressive, but also a very skilled team. They almost beat us with their cheap tricks, trips, and punches. We held our heads high, we did not stoop to their level of playing, and kicked our determination up a notch. When we walked off the field we walked off bruised and beaten, but nonetheless victorious. With our victory, came more determination. After that win, we gave ourselves a team pep-talk before every game, and we won the rest of our games in our regular season. We ended up in a tie for first place, in the first division of the state of Massachussetts. We went to the play offs. After the first play-off game, I started to get run down. I got a cold, but I kept on practicing and playing. This was our season, and I did not want to let my teammates down. The substitute player for my position, was excited for the opportunity to play for me. She made sure to give her best, at all of our practices. As the playoffs went on, my cold got worse. I developed bronchitis, and then pneumonia. I would be running down the field, coughing, and hacking, during the games. My teammates knew I was sick and learned not to pay attention to me, but the other teams were initially be very concerned for me. My last 4 games were physically awful. When we had a penalty, or timeout, I was usually over the side line, vomiting. It got to the point, that my grandmother, and mother could no longer watch me play. They were too worried I was going to need an ambulance, to take me to the hospital. Looking back, it’s quite funnyy though - I remember looking at my team in a huddle between halves, and they were very intensely listening to coach. I, on the other hand, was intensely heaving up half a lung. At the quarter¬-finals, during our pre-game warm up; I was thinking I feel really crummy. I don’t think I want to play today. What does it matter if I quit playing for the remainder of the season? No one will blame me, they all know I have pneumonia. In fact, they have all told me, I should rest on the sidelines, and let my back up, Lisa play for me. As I was having all this self-talk in my head, Lisa came in line behind me, and said, “You know, Alis, if you don’t want to play, or if you feel you need a rest at anytime in the game, let me know. I am happy and ready to help you and the team out.” She was being a great team player, but that was just the kick in the butt, I needed. That comment instantaneously changed my attitude. I sucked up, all the pain, fatigue, and difficulty breathing I was having, and I made the decision, I was going to play. Not only play, but play well, and not give Lisa the satisfaction of playing for me. The poor kid, she never knew what hit her! The ironic thing about that game . . . it was the longest game on record in the state at that time. We played two 45 min halves, as usual, but we tied 1-1. Because it was the playoffs, we went into overtime. I had played the entire 90 minutes of the game. Regulation rules state, if you played the last ten minutes of the second half, you had to play in the overtime¸ with no substitutions. Little did I know that I would end up playing, a double overtime, and then sudden death. I played field hockey for 2hrs 18 min. WITH pneumonia! By the time we got to the sudden death round, I was not the only one on the field, who didn’t care which team won. Most of the players on both teams, just wanted SOMEONE to score, so we could stop playing and go home! We all knew we had played our best, and at that point, that was enough personal satisfaction. Fortunately, for the Woburn Tannerettes, one of our forwards, was a little hungrier than anyone else, and scored the winning goal - by shear drive. Thank God, the game was over! We played two more games, and we won them both. We were Division I State Champions, and I had played every minute of every playoff game. After winning our Final game, we had a huge team party and sleepover. I went to the party and tried to sleepover, but I was just too sick. I left the party, and went home sick, in the middle of the night. I ended up missing the following week of school, and most of the school honors and banquets for the team. I did make it to the Fall Season Sports Banquet, though. We were awarded our various trophies, rings, jackets, etc. for being the Division One State Champions. At that banquet, I was surprisingly awarded the largest trophy in all the fall sports teams, from the Mayor. It was the Unsung Hero’s award, in memoriam of his late wife. It was a very touching moment. I also found out, my team unanimously voted me the recipient. I wanted to give up a couple of times in my field hockey career. • When my coach didn’t think I was I was good enough for the team, I didn’t think I was good enough for the team. I wanted to just crawl under a rock, and not re-approach her. • When I was sick with pneumonia. I just wanted to go home and get in bed. But I am so glad I did not give up. Those were defining moments in my life. Lessons learned from them: • Get Clear about what you want, and ask for it. • If you don’t ask, you’ll never get it. • If you are not willing to speak up for yourself, you cannot negotiate on behalf of yourself. • You reap what you sow. • Action is all that matters – taking action started building confidence. • Humility is power, I was humbled enough to want to do better. • If it ain’t fun, it ain’t worth doing. And most importantly, Unity is the ONLY way. We were a team without any stars, and without a coach. But our determination, and team spirit, is what got us to winning the state title. Because we had no stars, we learned how to play to everyone’s strengths, and to protect each other’s weaknesses. As a team, we became the “Queen of Victory.” This has recently become a mantra of mine, to increase my inner strength. I am a Queen of Victory! Long Live the Queen!  PS I am not telling you what year that was, since some of you were not even born yet! LMAO

This event happened many moons ago, but nonetheless, it was a defining moment in my life. I started playing field hockey in 7th grade. It was my first time on team sports. I was pretty athletic, but up until that point, all my sports had either been individual, or neighborhood pick-up games. I continued playing through high school. When I was in the 11th grade, I was cut from the team. I was cut from the team, and did not even see it coming. During tryouts, I was a little nervous about being cut, because I knew I was not the best player; but I also had a pretty good idea of how the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams were going to be formed. Since there were only 3 grades in our high school, and I was clearly better than any of the sophomores, I really thought I was pretty safe at making the JV team. NOPE. My name was not there on the Junior Varsity list. I could not believe it. My teammates could not believe it. It was like having a dagger put through my chest. My teammates told me to go talk to the coach. I went to the varsity coach and had a talk with her. The varsity coach told me, I was good enough to play on JV, but not on Varsity. However, she also decided, She would rather have my slot opened on the Junior Varsity team for a younger player, or a Senior, whom she preferred. She would use the Senior - Patti, on JV¸ to deepen her Varsity bench, or bring her up due to team injuries. I was very sad, and hurt. I just wanted to go home and cry. My fall schedule had suddenly changed, but I had already planned on staying after for practice. Since I missed the bus and had to wait for a ride home, I walked to the store with my ex-teammates for our usual afternoon snacks and break. While at the store, someone told me they thought they heard that Patti was going to quit. She wanted a varsity position and was not willing to play on JV. Man, I wanted that position. With the encouragement of my teammates I decided to speak to the coach and ask her for a position back on the JV team. I was scared out of my wits, but decided I had nothing to lose. I really did not expect anything but, “I’m sorry, I’d rather a sophomore on the team, than you.” So after our walk to the store, and a couple of trips to the bathroom, I finally found the courage to go into speak to the coach. I told her, I had heard that Patti was thinking about quitting. She told me, that Patti was not just thinking about it, but that she had actually already quit. Right away I had a flood of emotions – I was equally relieved, and petrified. From fear, I clenched my fists at my side, took a quick breath and decided now was the time to go for it. “Coach”, I said. “ I would like Patti’s place on the team.” She then asked me if I was willing to work hard for it, and dig deeper than I had before. I assured her I would. I walked out of my coach’s office, with my dignity and my position back. I ran to tell my teammates and get changed for practice. Needless, to say, my abilities, and my confidence grew over that year. My coach was also my gym teacher. She saw me grow aggressively in the sports arena. We had co-ed gym, and she saw my attitude about making sure I could not be beat in sports, “just because you are a guy”, mindset. You might beat me, but I was going to give it my all and go out dying! I learned, that in order to get the ball against a guy, you needed to throw an elbow or two to keep the guys out of your space. When they figured out you were serious, they would give you a little space to see your abilities. When they figured out you were good enough, they would leave you alone. I started to play co-ed pick-up volleyball after school w/ many of the top male jocks, AND I held my own! By springtime, I found my groove. I was confident, and good. In several of my gym classes, some of my male jock friends had tried to get beat me in several sports. I usually ended up taking one or two of them out, during the gym period. The male coaches of the school, started coming over to me and my coach, asking me to take it easy on their athletes. My coach/gym teacher was psyched! She knew something I didn’t. She knew that my greatest foe on the field, had been my lack of confidence. She also knew that with my new found confidence, I would be a different and better player on the field! She told me several times, she could not wait to see me on the field, my senior year, practically guaranteeing me a spot. In August, my senior year, I made the team. But just one day after the cuts were made, my coach announced she was leaving the team, and going to coach Bentley College, effective tomorrow. She explained how this was a great opportunity, and promotion for her. “Are you kidding me?” I thought. Needless to say, everyone else on the team had the exact same thought. For the next three weeks, we were more or less self-coached. We finally got a coach, but our team was not real confident in her, or her abilities. She was young, and had not even coached a team yet. We figured we were doomed for the season. Last year’s team was incredible. But we had lost all the star players, over half the team, and a great head coach. Behind our new coach’s back, we decided as a team, that if nothing else, we would have a great camaraderie, and make sure we had fun. We wanted to win a few games, and set a team goal of winning 50%. We had a coach that was in it, at least for the season. By the time we had played five games, we had a few weeks with our new coach. Just before we got off the bus, she stood at the front of the bus. She said, “Ladies, this is a significant game. You have a record of 2-2-1. You have two wins, two losses, and one tie. It is time now to make a decision as a team. Do you want to have more wins, or losses? Or do you want to add another tie, which is not even like playing a game? But you have to decide now, and that will determine how you play. ” That struck a chord with me. I got up, and said, “You know what girls, coach is right. Let’s go out and play our heart out today. Let’s make Coach Mullen, regret she left us, and show her, we don’t need her!” Turns out, we won that game. It was a very difficult game. The other team was a dirty, extremely aggressive, but also a very skilled team. They almost beat us with their cheap tricks, trips, and punches. We held our heads high, we did not stoop to their level of playing, and kicked our determination up a notch. When we walked off the field we walked off bruised and beaten, but nonetheless victorious. With our victory, came more determination. After that win, we gave ourselves a team pep-talk before every game, and we won the rest of our games in our regular season. We ended up in a tie for first place, in the first division of the state of Massachusetts. We went to the play offs. After the first play-off game, I started to get run down. I got a cold, but I kept on practicing and playing. This was our season, and I did not want to let my teammates down. The substitute player for my position, was excited for the opportunity to play for me. She made sure to give her best, at all of our practices. As the playoffs went on, my cold got worse. I developed bronchitis, and then pneumonia. I would be running down the field, coughing, and hacking, during the games. My teammates knew I was sick and learned not to pay attention to me, but the other teams were initially be very concerned for me. My last 4 games were physically awful. When we had a penalty, or timeout, I was usually over the side line, vomiting. It got to the point, that my grandmother, and mother could no longer watch me play. They were too worried I was going to need an ambulance, to take me to the hospital. Looking back, it’s quite funny though - I remember looking at my team in a huddle between halves, and they were very intensely listening to coach. I, on the other hand, was intensely heaving up half a lung. At the quarter-finals, during our pre-game warm up; I was thinking I feel really crummy. I don’t think I want to play today. What does it matter if I quit playing for the remainder of the season? No one will blame me, they all know I have pneumonia. In fact, they have all told me, I should rest on the sidelines, and let my back up, Lisa play for me. As I was having all this self-talk in my head, Lisa came in line behind me, and said, “You know, Alis, if you don’t want to play, or if you feel you need a rest at anytime in the game, let me know. I am happy and ready to help you and the team out.” She was being a great team player, but that was just the kick in the butt, I needed. That comment instantaneously changed my attitude. I sucked up, all the pain, fatigue, and difficulty breathing I was having, and I made the decision, I was going to play. Not only play, but play well, and not give Lisa the satisfaction of playing for me. The poor kid, she never knew what hit her! The ironic thing about that game . . . it was the longest game on record in the state at that time. We played two 45 min halves, as usual, but we tied 1-1. Because it was the playoffs, we went into overtime. I had played the entire 90 minutes of the game. Regulation rules state, if you played the last ten minutes of the second half, you had to play in the overtime¸ with no substitutions. Little did I know that I would end up playing, a double overtime, and then sudden death. I played field hockey for 2hrs 18 min. WITH pneumonia! By the time we got to the sudden death round, I was not the only one on the field, who didn’t care which team won. Most of the players on both teams, just wanted SOMEONE to score, so we could stop playing and go home! We all knew we had played our best, and at that point, that was enough personal satisfaction. Fortunately, for the Woburn Tannerettes, one of our forwards, was a little hungrier than anyone else, and scored the winning goal - by shear drive. Thank God, the game was over! We played two more games, and we won them both. We were Division I State Champions, and I had played every minute of every playoff game. WHEN I WANTED TO QUIT After winning our Final game, we had a huge team party and sleepover. I went to the party and tried to sleepover, but I was just too sick. I left the party, and went home sick, in the middle of the night. I ended up missing the following week of school, and most of the school honors and banquets for the team. I did make it to the Fall Season Sports Banquet, though. We were awarded our various trophies, rings, jackets, etc. for being the Division One State Champions. At that banquet, I was surprisingly awarded the largest trophy in all the fall sports teams, from the Mayor. It was the Unsung Hero’s award, in memoriam of his late wife. It was a very touching moment. I also found out, my team unanimously voted me the recipient. I wanted to give up a couple of times in my field hockey career. When my coach didn’t think I was I was good enough for the team, I didn’t think I was good enough for the team. I wanted to just crawl under a rock, and not re-approach her. When I was sick with pneumonia. I just wanted to go home and get in bed. But I am so glad I did not give up. Those were defining moments in my life. LESSONS LEARNT FROM NOT QUITTING: Get Clear about what you want, and ask for it. If you don’t ask, you’ll never get it. If you are not willing to speak up for yourself, you cannot negotiate on behalf of yourself. You reap what you sow. Action is all that matters – taking action started building confidence. Humility is power, I was humbled enough to want to do better. If it ain’t fun, it ain’t worth doing. And most importantly, Unity is the ONLY way. We were a team without any stars, and without a coach. But our determination, and team spirit, is what got us to winning the state title. Because we had no stars, we learned how to play to everyone’s strengths, and to protect each other’s weaknesses. As a team, we became the “Queen of Victory.” This has recently become a mantra of mine, to increase my inner strength. I am a Queen of Victory! Long Live the Queen! PS - I am not telling you what year that was, since some of you were not even born yet! LMAO

Reality Check: A Video By Mr. Rick Melero The Lessons We Can Learn By David Turner On behalf of the MMM2 Challenge Team of 33   This brief, but powerful video by Mr. Melero addresses how our subconscious plays a role in affecting our conscious. Basically, he describes the effects limiting thoughts and beliefs will have over time and what you can do to alter the overall outcome.   You see the mind is the most powerful CPU there is. This CPU inputs the data we feed it daily and stores this information. The information is processed and acted upon, thus producing an end result. It goes back to the saying 'Garbage In Garbage Out'. What this means is, if we continually input bad or negative thoughts into our brain the outcome or actions will become negative and self-limiting.   We can alter these self-limiting results by making a concerted effort to input only positive data. As we continually input this positive data the negative, self-limiting beliefs we have stored will be over written or reprogrammed.   Thus, to reprogram our minds and get the ultimate desired results there are certain steps that must be taken. The first and most powerful is believing in yourself. You must decide what it is you desire and write it down. You do this in the form of action steps using affirmations beginning with: I am, I can, and I will. Once you determine what it is you want your outcome to be, in written form, you must reprogram your CPU. You must read this new data into your brain at least twice daily out loud. Eventually, you will begin to over write the areas in your brain where the negative, self-limited beliefs are being stored.   If you take the steps necessary to reprogram yourself, you can not help but get your desired results. Our brain is that powerful. The sooner you begin this transformation the sooner you will see the results being output in clear and decisive actions.   So eliminate those negative thoughts starting now. Replace this data with the positive data (affirmations) you just developed. Input this data daily and you will no longer be a slave to your self-limiting beliefs. YOU can do this, in-fact YOU are the only one who can do this. YOU control YOUR destiny. What will YOU do next?   The full video is located here for your viewing pleasure: http://www.realdealcommunity.com/videos/view/reality-check_2138.html