They can because they think they can.

Virgil

Some friend of my father one day said: Let me share a personal example to demonstrate the power of our thoughts. In the 1970s and early 1980s, I observed many people in my area (Long Island, New York) who were making a lot of money by purchasing homes for investment purposes – and renting them out.

The homes were appreciating in value considerably each year. Sure, there were the usual headaches of having to deal with tenant problems, but the return these investors were getting was incredible!

Well, I kept thinking that I should start buying some investment homes. But I never took any action because I continued to doubt myself. My thinking was dominated by all of the things that could go wrong.

Simply put, I had a lousy attitude. And with a negative attitude, is it any wonder that I never took the first step?

However, after I started reading books and listening to tapes on the power of attitude and belief, I decided to change my attitude about real estate investment. In the summer of 1986, I decided that before the end of that year I would purchase two investment homes. This time, I wasn’t going to allow any negative thoughts to creep into my mind.

For six months, I focused my thinking on one thing owning two investment homes. I wrote down my goals several times each day and referred to them often. I believed, at the deepest level of my being, that I’d own two homes before the end of the year. In the evenings and on weekends, I went with real estate agents to look at homes.

I personally visited about 100 homes and researched hundreds of others.

In the fall of 1986, I purchased an investment property. What a great feeling of accomplishment – to do something that I wouldn’t allow myself to do before. But I still had work to do. And on December 29, just two days before the end of the year, I reached my goal and bought the second investment home. As I look back at why I was able to purchase the real estate in 1986, while I “couldn’t” do it in the years before then, the answer is clear. In 1986, I believed that I could do it.

I had an unshakable positive attitude that propelled me forward to reach my goal. This entire experience was tremendously valuable to me. In fact, it was priceless… because it taught me that you can achieve your goal when you believe in yourself and keep your thoughts focused on the positive.