My wife and I are going through the book The Purpose Driven Life right now, and in our reading last night I saw a really interesting statement:
“Your value isn’t determined by your valuables.”
Very simple, but profound. Frankly, it’s a lesson I need to learn a little better: To be less materialistic and more eternal (or at least long-term) focused.
I know this has little to do with real estate investing on the surface, but if you think about it, most investors are in the business not because they want to pay the bills, but because they have dreams of the wealth that real estate is good at creating.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting the nice things in life. I’ve just determined to do my best to keep my eye on the actual prize a little better. If this thought is helpful to you, I’m really happy. If it’s not your cup of tea, don’t worry: I’ll be back on real estate topics later today!
Have a good one! — Bryan Ellis
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19 Comments So Far»
This is so very true. In today’s society there are may real estate investors that are so focused on “winning”, The big cars and wealth related things that they lose focus and wind up in some cases where they crash and burn out in the chase. But a good set of value based goals and a distinct focus on them can be much more rewarding.
Bryan,
I came across this poem several years ago.
____
It’s How We Spend Our Dash
I read of a reverend who stood to speak
at the funeral of his friend…
he referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning….to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth…
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard…
are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
(You could be at “dash mid-range.”)
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives…
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile…
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy’s being read
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
By Lynda Ellis
If your faith is in JESUS alone. Just come out and SAY IT! His gift and promise of “eternity” is my only true WEALTH. The other stuff won’t be going with me when it’s over.
So true Doug. Thanks for your thoughts. — Bryan Ellis | FreeRealEstateTraining.com
Hi Bryan,
This is exactly my cup of tea. The goal is how I stand before God when I meet him. I don’t want to do anything that will hurt anyone and benefit from it. My goal is to be debt free and live a life that I am able to help someone in need without a second thought. I am not looking for a mansion, for The Lord tells me I will have one when I see Him in Heaven. What I want is to relieve as much stress in my life and do something that will make a great income but will also benefit and teach others. God tells us to only ask - I believe that when we ask our hearts have to be truly - truly right. I know that is why certain things have taken longer for myself - because I needed to change and still need to. The Purpose Driven Life is a Great Book. I want to recommend another Great Set of Books. The Science of Wallace D. Wattles. It includes the Science of Getting Rich, The Science of Being Well and The Science of Being Great. The titles are a bit misleading, but the end result of each book is an amazing one. If you read them - let me know your thoughts on them. My goals are toward a better and brighter future with God as my Brightest Light. Thanks Byan - I can’t tell you how you just made reading your daily info that much better. You are truly a reason God sent me here and I pray you and your family are always Blessed By God.
Janet - thank you for your kind words! — Bryan Ellis | FreeRealEstateTraining.com
Just so everyone knows, I had a private email from a woman who strongly objected to this type of content on my blog. I asked her to post her message to me so that everyone could see it, and she declined.
I do agree with the objection in one way - I don’t have any intention of allowing this website to become primarily focused overtly on religion or spirituality. But I do think there’s more to life than thinking about money all of the time, so I’ll continue to make posts like this from time to time.
Hi Bryan,
Just wanted to say once again that this site is refreshing and one of the problems with society today is they have taken GOD out of the mix. when you have faith and do the right things and give back you truely are blessed 2 fold. Some of us have to take a step back sometimes to appreciate what we do have
God Bless
trish
well bryan, i have read 2 of these controversial messages you have posted here and i think you have things in order the way they should be. when people object to you talking about things other than real estate, perhaps you are hitting a nerve? whatever, i know for a fact that everything else is easier when the focus is on the really important things. you are hitting my nerves and i thank you for the effort at refocusing my objectives. keep hitting me where it hurts.
Thanks Bryan - just read the book by Chuck Colson - Good Life. If anyone has captured the meaning of reaching for power & material things (of which he found lifeless meaning), this man should know. Balance is a hard line to walk, but worth the effort.
I will continue to read your blogs, as I now know where you are coming from!!
Thanks Mike in California
“there’s more to life than thinking about money all of the time, so I’ll continue to make posts like this from time to time.”
I’m NOT offended, really, that this person finds offense at the hint that there may be “Something” more important we should BUILD our future and hopes on than the financial “reality” we can “attract” on our own. We all have to be faced with that heavy preponderance some day. We’ll do well to weigh it out.
Life needs a Foundation.
Google- “the Stone that the builders rejected”
Besides, what will we have the power to “attract” when our life is ended?
Everything thing that I have read tells those that seek wealth that it is their duty to give back when they attain it. I think it is ok to want to have the bills paid, to be comfortable, to be able to do traveling especially later in life. However, I feel there are those that spend spend spend on themselves and never think of others. Never offer any of their time or their precious wealth to a good cause. I hear “I am retired” or “I can’t afford it” and yet the next day leave on a cruise. I feel this is the real shortfall of wealth. Before each of us came to this life, we decided with God and our guiding angels what life we would live, who we would become. I think we also have choices to make while we are here. To want to become wealthy is not wrong, it is what we do with that wealth that is important. Look at Bill Gates. Mega wealth and had to retire to take the job of managing the money he gives away!!! Can you imagine?! Going to the office and making sure the money you are giving away gets sent out to the right charity!!
I don’t believe Jesus came to save us. I believe he came to show us how to be kind, to love one another, to help one another. He asked the wealthy to share what they had, to not be unkind to those that did not, to treat those with less with more kindness.
For me, that is my goal to achieving wealth. Sure I want to help me but I also want to be able to help others that are deserving of it also. I want to be able to say that I made a difference in someone else’s life by making their life here a little easier.
I am not relgious, I am a spiritualist. Take it for what you want.
Always good to hear difference of opinions!!
To you, Bryan, for all that you share!!
Thanks!
I agree with the spirit of what you’re saying, while vehemently disagreeing with some of the details. But this website is about real estate investing, so we’ll save that discussion for another time. — Bryan Ellis | FreeRealEstateTraining.com
I guess it is your website and you have a right to “vehemently disagree” with my opinion. But, I come here for the real estate investing not religious training. I was only sharing my thoughts. Next time will keep my mouth shut. Have a great 4th and what it stands for.
Karen - I hope you won’t “keep your mouth shut”. I posted your comment because I thought it was a useful contribution, even though I disagreed with part of it. So please, continue to comment whenever you like! — Bryan Ellis
Bryan,
Amen, and thanks for this whole website, and all the posts. I did not know you were a believer, and that makes this website all the better!
Awesome comments everyone (believers and non)–especially Doug on the “what will we attract when our life is ended” comment. Now I know what to say to everyone who has fallen under the “The Secret” spell. . .only Jesus is the answer, truly our saviour, and the real prize in life and in death.
Bryan, keep up the good–I mean excellent work!
Caroline
Thank you for your very kind words Caroline! But don’t give me too much credit - I am a believer, but not very good at it a lot of the time
— Bryan Ellis
Pretty powerful stuff. who knew real estate discussion could get so heated!! I have observed that you can real your goal a lot less painfully when faith is involved. I have been in training sessions where spirituality was omitted and it was very different from when it is included.
I LOVE the Purpose Driven Life! It’s one of my ALL TIME favorite books. It all gets down to What are YOU living for? Possessions? Popularity? Are you going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or are you going to be driven by God’s purposes for your life? Go make a positive difference in someone’s life today.
Bryan…another EXCELLENT book to consider on your life journey is “Wealth Conundrum” by Ralph Doudera. He was a very successful money manager who investigates the secrets of wealth….whether you have too much or not enough.
Well said Bryan. I just joined your blog last week and I am having a blast. I can’t stop reading your past blogs and was intrigued by the one titled: “Internet Secrets For Real Estate Flipping (Wholesaling) Nationwide” - Posted June 12th 2008 http://realestate.bryanellis.com/58/internet-secrets-nationwide-wholesaling/
Please direct to the video that shows exactly how to put up a website like yours and kindly show ushow to do this without having to pay anyone to “host” my website!
Avi
Thanks again,
Avi
Bryan-True story. I spent 25 plus years accumulating a $6m net worth thru real estate. Completely missed my two daughters growth to maturity-I was too “Busy-Important”. Gave half of it to the banks and the other half to the ex. Now I’m trying to create a relationship with my daughters and for no good reason it seems to be working.
Hows that for wasted time between the dashes.
And I still love real estate-what’s with that?
Bryan,
Thank you for the good words of wisdom. Every once in a while we all need it to become “enlightened” as to why we should all be doing what we are doing in the first place. Yes it’s just not all about the big bucks.
Sherril
Bryan,
Your comments are very appropriate and it is awesome to see that even after tremendous success that you have not forgot what is ultimately why we are doing all this. It is wise to have a balance between working hard in real estate and understand what will matter in the long run.
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