🚼 Crawl🚶Walk 🏃Run
Happy Monday!
Here is an Idea, an Action, and a Question to consider this week.
Idea
As a fighter pilot in the Air Force, I received a massive amount of training. Because, hey, you can die.
Before flying, a student completes training phases to stay safe and be effective. This "Crawl, Walk, Run" mentality ensures that every stage is mastered before moving on to the next, gradually building up the complexity and risks involved.
🧠 The Brief: The mental training. It's where the student discusses all the important variables—weather conditions, equipment checks, mission objectives, and emergency procedures. This stage is crucial for understanding the theory before a pilot even steps into the cockpit.
🕹 The Simulator: Here, the students take what they learned in the brief and apply it in a controlled, virtual environment. Mistakes can be made without severe consequences, and immediate feedback is available. This is the "Walk" phase where we start to put theory into practice.
✈️ The Training Flight: The real deal, but with safety nets. Experienced instructors accompany the students, and the missions are planned to gradually introduce real-world conditions and challenges. This is the "Run" phase where theory and practice come together.
💣 Drop Bombs: After mastering the training flights, we proceed to the ultimate test—live drops. This involves dropping actual munitions on designated targets. By this stage, the student should be fully competent and capable of handling the complexities and stresses of live operations.
Each phase is crucial, providing a solid foundation for the next. Skipping a phase or rushing through the training can result in catastrophic outcomes, not just for the student but also for the team and the mission.
As an investor-agent, you must understand the importance of rigorous training and preparation. Similar to the "Crawl, Walk, Run" mentality used in the Air Force, this approach ensures that each phase is mastered before moving on to the next.
📚 The Brief: The educational phase. This is where you read books, take courses, and familiarize yourself with essential real estate terms, concepts, and strategies. At this stage, you're laying down the intellectual groundwork that you'll need to succeed in the field.
💻 The Simulator: Virtual or paper trading. You haven't yet committed any actual money, but you're running through hypothetical deals based on real-world data. This could involve mock negotiations, analyzing actual listings, or even just planning out how you would manage a property. This is the "Walk" phase where you're learning to apply your theoretical knowledge in a risk-free environment.
🏠 The Training Property: Your first actual deal. This is where you take all the theory and simulated experience and put it into practice. Most likely, you'll start with a smaller, less complex property—perhaps a single-family home or a duplex. Or maybe you do a deal with a partner so you’re not running solo. This is the "Run" phase, but with training wheels—real money is at stake, but you're sticking to a situation you can control.
🏢 Drop Deals: Now you're ready for bigger things. Perhaps a commercial property, or even a multi-unit apartment building. You have enough experience to understand not just the rewards but also the risks involved. You're now fully capable of running complex analyses, navigating negotiations, and managing properties efficiently.
Each phase builds on the last, and the lessons you learn at each stage will serve you well as you advance to the next level. Skimping on any phase can result in costly mistakes that could have been easily avoided with the right preparation.
I know how scary it can be to take that leap of faith on your very first investment, but when you do, win or lose, you’ll be grateful you did. And like everything, the first time you invest, you will make mistakes. That’s okay! You’ll get better over time.
Preparation isn't just a step toward success—it's your secret weapon for seizing every opportunity. When you're prepared, you're not just setting yourself up to win, you're setting the stage for a legacy of victories. Keep preparing, keep winning!
Action
If you're in the Crawl Phase: Educate yourself. Take courses, read books, listen to podcasts. Become obsessed with education to build a robust foundation. Your knowledge today paves the way for your success tomorrow.
If you're in the Walk Phase: Keep crunching those numbers, analyze deals, and make offers. You're past the education stage, and it's time for practical application. Don't just dream—plan and execute.
If you're in the Run Phase: Go help those who are still crawling and walking. Lend your expertise and mentor newcomers. You can grow faster and go further if you have a team. Plus, teaching is a powerful tool for reinforcing your own skills and insights.
Question
For those of you in the Walk Phase: What’s stopping you from jumping into your first deal?
See you next week,
Matt “Roar” Gardner
Real estate investor-agent, Author of Supersonic Real Estate: Light Your Afterburner to Accelerate Your Investor-Agent Career (Coming Soon!), and keynote speaker.
PS: Never forget.
