Most of you know that I’m a voracious reader and I love to learn about all sorts of topics – nutrition, physiology, endocrinology, language, investing and so much more! After finishing my manuscript at the end of September, I was most excited about having more time to listen to (and read) books!
If you’d rather listen to this blog than read it, please click play. Otherwise, keep reading below.
The other day, while listening to a book about real estate investing (a personal passion of mine), I heard something that I was immediately excited to share with you!
Let me set the stage. This guy wanted to get started with real estate investing but he didn’t have any money. In fact, he was struggling to pay his bills each month. One of his biggest bills was his truck payment. He owed more on his fancy truck than it was worth. He decided to sell the truck to reduce his monthly expenses. But…
He didn’t know how to sell a truck he didn’t own (the bank still owned it). In money-speak, he was upside down on the truck. He owed more than he could get for it.
He wanted to do a private sale because he’d get much more money for his truck than if he traded it in. But, he felt stuck because he knew he wouldn’t get what he owed for the truck. Without paying off the loan, he couldn’t get the title. Without getting the title, he couldn’t sell the truck to a private buyer.
He didn’t know what to do, but he didn’t throw his hands up and decide it couldn’t be done. Instead…
He told himself, “I don’t know how to sell this truck when I’m upside down on it, but I know how to vacuum the truck and that’s free.”
He cleaned it out and cleaned it up.
Then he thought, “I don’t know how to sell this truck when I’m upside down on it, but I know how to take some pictures of it and that’s free.” He took the pictures.
Next he thought, “I don’t know how to sell this truck when I’m upside down on it, but I know how to create a Craiglist ad and that’s free.” So, he did.
He proceeded on like that, doing the next small step and not worrying about how to figure it out first.
Sure enough, he learned as he went and he sold the truck.
Trucks and loans aside, his point is much greater than the truck.
You might not know how to lose 40 pounds. That doesn’t matter. You can eat one fat loss friendly meal.
You might not know how to get out of your funk, but you can choose gratitude right now, in this moment.
You don’t have to figure it out. You just have to take the next step.
I didn’t know how to write a book, but I knew how to come up with a list of topics.
I didn’t know how to write a book, but I knew how to summarize the message I wanted to deliver with a book.
You can take your next step, right now. Stop holding yourself back because you don’t know how to complete the 4th, 7th or 200th step.
Stop holding yourself back because you anticipate some future obstacle.
Just do the next thing right now. Vacuum the truck.
Love this as I do with all of the topics you publish on the pod cast and the blog. One step at a time, one small choice and one focus. I have vacuumed off 70 lbs since August of 2016. I had no idea really, but I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. So I took myself off to the Y for the first 15 to 20 then got serious with CrossFit in April, 2017 and now I say Oh, Okay vs No I can’t in the early days. I am strong, healthy and have learned to take impeccible care of myself. That means many things from a great mani/pedi to a really hard work out. I am happy and confident. Crossfit has helped me reach those goals, and so many more things. The list goes on and on. I belong to an awesome gym in Advance, Nc. Torque Athletic Performance and Crossfit Polydamas. My coach Jessica Barber is a blessing as is her husband Adam – my daughters coach. My daughter is a D1 Softball Player at Appalachian State University. She is a catcher and starter – simply awesome. She inspired me to join, functional movement for people of all ages. Mom you can do it she said…
I anxiously await my Monday and Thursday Pod cast. What will EB say to me today… How relevant and appropriate it always seems to be.
Thank you for all that you do. You are a blessing and inspiration to those that want to change.
Best regards,
Dianna Dodd
Congrats on your amazing progress! Stay in touch!!!