As the reporter left, I sat there with my head in my hands wishing I hadn’t opened my big mouth. Here I was, just 26 years old, telling an old home town reporter that I was going to build the most successful real estate company in the state in just 5 years, from scratch.
It really hadn’t occurred to me that the most respected and successful company in Indiana had been around for over 100 years. I had just moved to Indianapolis for the opportunity to build my own company and I didn’t know a soul. I was young, cocky and ready to claim my stake even though I didn’t know the difference between a profit and loss statement vs. an accounts receivable statement.
I had never balanced a checkbook let alone build and run my own company.
In any case, it was November 1986 and that’s what came out in the paper the next week because of the lack of control between my head and my mouth.
In the past when I got a bit ahead of myself, I just put my head down and starting selling. Selling was easy for me, building and running a company was a whole different animal.
At the time, our RE/MAX Of Indiana headquarters consisted of one executive office in a shared office suite setup, with a shared secretary that answered the phone for 15 or so different businesses.
Up until that time, I was a pretty successful real estate agent in Toronto Canada. I had moved to Indiana to try my hand at building something for myself, something that if I did it right, would provide me with a bright future and hopefully a chance to become the millionaire I so desperately wanted to become and wrote about in my goals 5 years earlier. Although I only went to grade 11, the wonderful mentors I had told me that I had within me more than school could ever do for me. For whatever reason, I decided to believe them, more than the insecure feelings I felt about myself.
So, with my insecure head up high and the RE/MAX concept as my ally, I started to set up appointments with managers and owners of every real estate company in the state. I started with the big boys first, the guys who were already #1 and #2 in the state and who were already doing billions in sales and had over 1,000 sales people.
The first meetings were disastrous, they politely laughed and escorted me out of their offices. Their attitude was, we already have what you are trying to build from scratch so why do we need you?
They couldn’t see past their own success to the future and hence were closed minded from the get go.
It wasn’t more than 4 months of daily prospecting and sharing my vision and story that I got a call from one of the top managers in the state. After our first meeting I knew I was onto possibly the first and biggest deal of my very young career. After several months of discussions we snagged one of the biggest fish in the pond and were on our way. Within 30 more days another unhappy manager called from the #2 company and he expressed interest as well. It wasn’t before long that he and another group purchased the franchisee rights to several more areas. This allowed us to gain credibility and traction.
At the end of the first, year we had 97 sales people at our awards banquet and we were off to the races.
No matter where I turned, everyone thought that we were going to go bankrupt within short order. That made sense since I later found out that two other people prior to me had owned the RE/MAX region of Indiana and both failed!
Regardless, in this case my ignorance proved a strength as I didn’t really care what had happened in the past. I was prepared to surge forward and build my company.
For me it was simply a matter of sharing with enough people the vision of a better future for themselves and then exceeding their expectations month in and month out.
The next challenge for me was to learn how to run a business and to understand all the moving parts. At first it was overwhelming, especially since I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
For a while it seemed as if I bought myself a job that was strangling me. Not only did I have to sell, I had to deliver all the promises I made, take care of legal, and make sure finances were in order. That was just the beginning. What it takes to build and run a 100 person operation is vastly different than a 1,000 person operation.
To help me deal with the growth and education I needed, I formed a mastermind group made up of some very successful regional owners in the RE/MAX organization. These individuals helped me shave years off my learning curve and saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars in mistakes. It also helped me build an organization that does 6 billion a year in real estate sales today.
I learned a very valuable lesson, specialized knowledge is worth its weight in gold.
From those early days of not knowing what to do, to today where I feel comfortable on stage teaching business owners how to build their companies while living an extraordinary life, it all boils down to finding what you love to do, becoming excellent at it and as you do, telling the whole world about it.
What’s the point of the story?
Go after your dreams with passion and purpose even if you don’t know how you’ll achieve them. The answers will show up along the way.
Wishing you the very best,
John
87 Responses to “Go after your dreams despite uncertainty – A true story of mine”
Leave a Comment
Hi friends,
Here is another video that demonstrates the power of human potential. You will be amazed! If you have the confidence and proper mindset, you can achieve anything.
Click here to see the video on Ben Underwood, the boy who sees without eyes.
12 Responses to “The Power of Human Potential”
Leave a Comment
Dear Friends,
First and foremost, to all of you in the United States: Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!
I mentioned the other day that I would be posting info on two books that friends of mine wrote, which I recommend you read. Well, here is the second one.
My buddy Joe Vitale was just on the Donny Deutsch show last night and his book “The Key” is absolutely worth getting. If you read below what Joe created for you to read, you’ll have more than enough info to determine if the book is for you
What is “The Key”?
By Joe Vitale
- “Come on, does the Law of Attraction work or not?”
- “Why does it seem to work sometimes, but not *all* the time?”
- “Why is there at least one stubborn problem in my life that just won’t go away, even when I throw all the self-help methods at it?”
- “Is ‘The Secret’ hope or hype?”
I keep hearing those questions.
Maybe you are asking them.
I’ve addressed all of them in my latest book, “The Key: The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want.”
Before you rush out to get the book today from http://www.unlock-the-secret.com/ or http://www.bn.com/TheKey or from your local book store, let’s look at why “The Key” is important to you.
Truth is, “The Key” explains what I regard as the fundamental error in virtually all self-help programs.
In short:
- *Anything* will work when you are in alignment with your goals.
- *Nothing* will work until you get in alignment with your goals.
- “Alignment” means your conscious and un-conscious mind want the same thing.
Most people are not in alignment with what they say they want, so they end up blaming their lack of results on everything from the movie they watched, the book they read, the therapist they saw, the self-help program they tried, and so on.
But the real problem isn’t out there.
The real problem requires inner “clearing” work.
How do you get in alignment so you can have, do, or be virtually anything?
How do you get your conscious intent and your un-conscious counter-intent to agree?
How do you “get clear” once and for all?
With “The Key.”
“The Key” is the missing secret to knowing how to consciously co-create circumstances.
It’s the final piece to the puzzle.
Get the book from this link and also get freebies:
http://www.unlock-the-secret.com/
If you know you can achieve more but can’t seem to make it happen, “The Key” reveals the psychological and unconscious limitations that are holding you back.
Inside every person — yes, even you — are subconscious “counter-intentions” that can sabotage you and prevent you from getting what you truly want.
Why else would you declare on New Years Day your intention to go to the gym more often but by the third day of the new year you can’t recall where the gym is located?
Your un-conscious counter-intention was stronger than your conscious intention.
“The Key” reveals ten proven ways to remedy this situation, aligning your conscious and subconscious beliefs once and for all.
Actress Jessica Biel said, “For those of us who loved The Attractor Factor and The Secret, Joe has done it again. The Key is the how-to book that makes the ‘law of attraction’ come alive!”
Actress Cathy Lee Crosby said, “Joe Vitale’s energy and enthusiasm for life jumps off every page of his new book, The Key. He leaves no stone unturned in explaining exactly how to attract everything you want in your life. The words ‘I love you’ have taken on a whole new meaning. Bravo!”
Get “The Key” from this link and also get cool bonuses –
http://www.unlock-the-secret.com/
Still not sure if you should go get the book right now?
Then let me be a little more in your face about this, so you truly get how important this book is to you.
As you know, I’m in the movie “The Secret” as well as “The Opus” and “Try It On Everything.”
I’ve been on Larry King’s television show twice.
I’ve been in The New York Times and Newsweek.
I’ve stood my ground and declared that the Law of Attraction is a law, and that everything you are getting is coming to you because of what *you* are doing inside yourself.
You may be doing it un-consciously, but you’re doing it.
Many people don’t like to hear this, because it means you are 100% responsible for your life.
But if you want to change, if you want to attract more of what you prefer, then it’s time to wake up.
My mission is to awaken the world with the message that there is a missing secret to success.
It’s “The Key.”
“The Key” is for YOU.
Please get it, read it, and use it.
Use it to help yourself…use it to help your family and friends…use it to help the planet.
Or –
Or don’t get it and don’t use it and keep wondering why some people are reporting miracles using the Law of Attraction and others think it’s all nonsense.
Who is right?
Find out for yourself.
Get the book and your bonuses from here -
http://www.unlock-the-secret.com/
Expect Miracles.
Love,
Joe
PS – “The Key” will also be available on audio, read by me. Search iTunes, www.audible.com or look for the CD set on Amazon.com or http://www.bn.com/TheKey It should be in book stores soon, as well.
14 Responses to “What is “The Key”?”
Leave a Comment
Hey Friends,
I am going to recommend a couple books this week to you that I think many of you might enjoy. Both of them are friends of mine so here is the info about the first one. It’s really quite serious and funny at the same time.
Part of “Having It All” is achieving good health and positive relationships.
A team of medical experts, comedic writers and relationship coaches have written a truly unique new book that can make a huge difference to anyone who’s ever suffered the pains of PMS:
The Princess and the PMS: The PMS Owner’s Manual and The Prince and the PMS: The PMS Survival Manual is launching this week!
This hilarious and empowering two-books-in-one delivers a one-two knockout punch to PMS with a double-dose of laughter, encouragement and cutting-edge coping strategies for women who suffer from the monthly malady-and all men within earshot. This book answers every question women have about their cycles (and every question men have been dying to ask but not willing to die asking plus PMS survival techniques).
Chock full of laugh-out-loud humor and the best medical advice from top specialists, there’s no other book like it.
The book is only $14.95 at http://www.pmscentral.com/owners_manual.
The Princess and the PMS is the perfect gift for any woman 18-50 and any man who suffers from second-hand PMS.
To your (thanks PMS) health!
John
10 Responses to “The Princess and the PMS: The PMS Owner’s Manual”
Leave a Comment
Great news…I’m happy to announce that today is the official launch of my newly revised book, Having It All: Achieving Your Life’s Goals and Dreams!
In it, you’ll learn specific strategies and a step-by-step process for achieving the life of your dreams—all distilled and proven from my own real life experiences. I’ve even included templates and examples for you to begin to plan the life of your dreams in all 5 areas of your life.
In addition to the two brand new chapters – Your Powerful Brain and The Laws of Earning Money, here’s a tiny sample of the practical, inspiring information you’ll find in “Having It All: Achieving Your Life’s Goals and Dreams”: (and when you visit that page, you’ll see lots of great bonus gifts you can have for free, when you get your copy of the book)
- You will master how to “train your brain” to achieve the life of your dreams.
- You will uncover and eradicate hidden beliefs and unwanted habits that have blocked you from being truly happy and achieving your potential.
- You will learn the formula to determine exactly what you want in each area of your life, and be guided through a step-by-step plan for achieving it!
- You will discover how to overcome the “terror barrier” of fear that has kept you from achieving all that you most want in life.
- You will be taught how to stay calm with laser focus in today’s fast paced environment.
- You will know at last how to apply the Law of Earning Money so that you can significantly increase your income in the next 12 months!
Visit www.JohnAssaraf.com/youcanhaveitall now to see the great gifts I’m giving away today to celebrate the launch, and also the great gifts my friends are giving too!
20 Responses to “Having It All: Achieving Your Life’s Goals and Dreams – Launches Today!”
Leave a Comment
If you want one year of prosperity, grow seeds. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want a lifetime of prosperity, grow your self-worth.
— Chinese proverb
What is money, really, and what are the laws of earning money?
This happens to be one of my favorite topics because money is easy to come by if you do a few things right, and it will forever elude you if you do a few things wrong…
…To finish reading, download this brand new chapter The Laws of Earning Money with my compliments, from my upcoming book- Having It All: Achieving Your Life’s Goals and Dreams – launching November 13th worldwide!
53 Responses to “The Laws of Earning Money”
Thank you John; I love your material. I have posted a review on http://www.guruadvisor.net and hope more of your fans do the same.
Hello John,
In the book “Having it All”, You mention a man with a trunk full of hundred dollar bills. What business was he in that he carried that amount of cash around in the trunk of his car? Just curious.
Fantastic website, must come back here , very interesting content, bookmarked your blog
regards fuserarvh
Leave a Comment
Hey friends,
Have you ever been in an argument with a friend or family member and you just couldn’t get on the same page? Have you ever tried to get someone to see your point of view and they just couldn’t? Well it may be as simple as which part of their brain they are “seeing” from.
Take 2 minutes to look at this example from the Herald Sun and see if you can see both examples. It’s a perfect explanation of how people can look at the same thing but see something different.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22556281-661,00.html
Enjoy!
John
70 Responses to “Learning to see more”
hello john, thak you for your attention.I hope that you send me more Emails.your way is saintly. thanks alot.
hello john, thak you for your attention.I hope that you send me more Emails.your way is saintly. thanks alot.
One of the coolest optical illusions I’ve ever seen. I saw her clockwise at first, and couldn’t see how it could be otherwise u ntil I focused on her foot, and where i was percieving it moving behind her ankle, I told myself it’s moving toward me. After several times repeating this, it was as if she kind of hopped,and started turning the other way.
One of the coolest optical illusions I’ve ever seen. I saw her clockwise at first, and couldn’t see how it could be otherwise u ntil I focused on her foot, and where i was percieving it moving behind her ankle, I told myself it’s moving toward me. After several times repeating this, it was as if she kind of hopped,and started turning the other way.
Interesting note which some of you may not believe, but I can see her rotate either way at will. Is this possibly due to Holosync?
Interesting note which some of you may not believe, but I can see her rotate either way at will. Is this possibly due to Holosync?
Yea I tried it again today and I cannot see her turning anti-clockwise. I even tried to turn my fingers anti-clockwise and no go. I can see how it possible that you can see her turning anti, but I can’t convince my brain or my eyes that it does. So I only see her turning in one direction. Clockwise..
Yea I tried it again today and I cannot see her turning anti-clockwise. I even tried to turn my fingers anti-clockwise and no go. I can see how it possible that you can see her turning anti, but I can’t convince my brain or my eyes that it does. So I only see her turning in one direction. Clockwise..
Hi John,
Thanks for pointing the site out to us. However, I can’t for the life of me see it turn anti-clockwise. Can you or anyone else tell me what that means? It’s kind of freaking me out that everybody else can see the dancer go anti-clockwise but not me….
Thanks!
Hi John,
Thanks for pointing the site out to us. However, I can’t for the life of me see it turn anti-clockwise. Can you or anyone else tell me what that means? It’s kind of freaking me out that everybody else can see the dancer go anti-clockwise but not me….
Thanks!
This was an amazing feat. I noticed when I tilted my head I had a different perspective and she changed her direction. OK John what does all this mean and how can we use it? I’m anxiously awaiting your next email! Thank You!
This was an amazing feat. I noticed when I tilted my head I had a different perspective and she changed her direction. OK John what does all this mean and how can we use it? I’m anxiously awaiting your next email! Thank You!
I`ll try. Like left from 3 – 9 on the watch
I`ll try. Like left from 3 – 9 on the watch
I didn’t see it at first…..But then I did….How does that happen?
I didn’t see it at first…..But then I did….How does that happen?
This is amazing. I am very a very analytical, left-brain person and it was no surprise to start off seeing the dancer turn counter-clockwise. It wasn’t until looked away and noted in my peripheral vision that she changed directions! It’s been fascinating to change the direction at will. The process is very similar to seeing auras. The eyes get a little strained, but what incredible excitement when you see it appear right before your very eyes!
This is amazing. I am very a very analytical, left-brain person and it was no surprise to start off seeing the dancer turn counter-clockwise. It wasn’t until looked away and noted in my peripheral vision that she changed directions! It’s been fascinating to change the direction at will. The process is very similar to seeing auras. The eyes get a little strained, but what incredible excitement when you see it appear right before your very eyes!
I had no problem switching her back and forth at will. Very interesting obserrvations.
I had no problem switching her back and forth at will. Very interesting obserrvations.
Go after your dreams…http://youtu.be/t8zMxWZO_ZY
Thanks John. I was on here looking for something to jump out at me and the weird part is I just passed my real estate test in march and hadnt been able to start selling yet due to the start up fees and all that good stuff, Real Estate wasn’ t on my mind just my lost soul looking for a way to make something happen great for me financially, but glad I clicked here to read your story.
Just take it one step at a time. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step.
I don’t know. Sometimes success sound too overhealming. That scares me a lot.
you need to know the rules and laws that govern your field of dreams and act with integrity and honesty, Beware of the double-speak and the insiders that rig the game. From one who has been there.
That was really inspiring John, thanks for sharing your story. That made me re-think of the goals I have put up this year and going after them no matter what. Make it a great day.
Very inspiring John! If only we knew where we would be 5, 10, 15 years down the road if we followed through with our dreams! Too many people give up too early and never realize their dream was truly within reach.
All good things,
Vanessa Bamback
This was really motivational thanks John
Sounds to good to be true.
VERY interesting ,,DIG a big hole ,, then jump in and see IF you can climb out now thats GUTZY! thanks John
Great story, sometimes ignorance really is bliss. If you had known of the previous hardships with that particular company do you think you would have done anything differently?
Thank you for this John… I was about to let it go….phew!!!
This is great John. I think what may have “appeared” cocky was not, it was that you were in touch with your potential and knew that you had what it took and by the grace of GOD your fearlessness paid off.
[...] Ever since I saw him featured in the film ‘The Secret’, John Assaraf has become my favourite entrepreneurial role model. In ‘The Secret’ he spoke about how using ‘Vision Boards’ helped him focus on and achieve his goals and intentions. That day, I became really excited about the power of ‘Vision Boards’ and have been using that technique to help identify and achieve my goals ever since. I’m a big fan of anything John has to say about business and personal development. Here is a great article by John, one of his own personal stories about following your dreams no matter what. Go to article here. [...]
Thank you for the reminder and encouragement to forge ahead!
Thank you for sharing your story, and for motivating those that want to achieve their dreams!
Hi John!
The secret is very god.Take care.
Your old friend from
Sweden.David.
Hi John!
The secret is very god.Take care.
Your old friend from
Sweden.David.
We need to understand that the power of incredible success is already alive and well in each of us. We need only to tap into this incredible resource to set the wheels of success and abundance in motion.
I’m currently costing a television program which involves young people and I know beyond question it WILL be an international phenomenon.
Each day (often several times) I visualise a warm and mutually beneficial association with some of the most successful and influential people on the planet.
My intentions are clear and unambiguous and although I don’t have all the logistics at hand, I do know I will be successful because what I envisage comes from a good place and involves warmth and abundance.
The cost of the project is irrelevant – it’s the outcome which holds the key and in the incredible friendships I make along the way will be the open door to the many other projects I have in my portfolio.
Ideas never move from that realm until we put our intentions into action by communicating them – to our hearts and to the Universe. We have to make that link to open the door.
It’s never about what we do that holds any real substance or importance, but the power of the intention we have in the execution of our plan and the colour and clarity of the outcome will enable our spirits to fly.
Stay well and happy.
With gratitude,
Kieran
We need to understand that the power of incredible success is already alive and well in each of us. We need only to tap into this incredible resource to set the wheels of success and abundance in motion.
I’m currently costing a television program which involves young people and I know beyond question it WILL be an international phenomenon.
Each day (often several times) I visualise a warm and mutually beneficial association with some of the most successful and influential people on the planet.
My intentions are clear and unambiguous and although I don’t have all the logistics at hand, I do know I will be successful because what I envisage comes from a good place and involves warmth and abundance.
The cost of the project is irrelevant – it’s the outcome which holds the key and in the incredible friendships I make along the way will be the open door to the many other projects I have in my portfolio.
Ideas never move from that realm until we put our intentions into action by communicating them – to our hearts and to the Universe. We have to make that link to open the door.
It’s never about what we do that holds any real substance or importance, but the power of the intention we have in the execution of our plan and the colour and clarity of the outcome will enable our spirits to fly.
Stay well and happy.
With gratitude,
Kieran
I have put this page on my desktop to remind me that I CAN DO IT. I’m about to take a leap of faith into unknown territory and become the “best” in an industry that means alot to me. I cross my fingers for myself and am ever so glad that I put this blog on my desktop at work. Hopefully, if all goes to plan and I become that “expert” I won’t have to be in this job again. BTW I had a bad headache before I read this, and now … hey it’s gone! Must be something in the brain chemicals. Thank you. Rosie
I have put this page on my desktop to remind me that I CAN DO IT. I’m about to take a leap of faith into unknown territory and become the “best” in an industry that means alot to me. I cross my fingers for myself and am ever so glad that I put this blog on my desktop at work. Hopefully, if all goes to plan and I become that “expert” I won’t have to be in this job again. BTW I had a bad headache before I read this, and now … hey it’s gone! Must be something in the brain chemicals. Thank you. Rosie
[...] http://www.johnassaraf.com/blog/2007/11/30/go-after-your-dreams-despite-uncertainty-a-true-story-of-... [...]
Hi Jacques, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the emails that you receive. Glad you changed your mind!
Hi Jacques, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of the emails that you receive. Glad you changed your mind!
John, thank-you so much for sharing this story. It truly was inspirational – even at 61.
John, thank-you so much for sharing this story. It truly was inspirational – even at 61.
After twenty years in the world of work and an experienced entrepreneur, I am just now learning to trust myself with my passion. Thank you
After twenty years in the world of work and an experienced entrepreneur, I am just now learning to trust myself with my passion. Thank you
John,
Another great inspirtational story. Thank you for all your hard work and research it has already made a huge impact on my life. I am 27 years old and am on the way to being a huge success at a young age and maybe even a good story to put in your next book.
John,
Another great inspirtational story. Thank you for all your hard work and research it has already made a huge impact on my life. I am 27 years old and am on the way to being a huge success at a young age and maybe even a good story to put in your next book.
I have your having it all program and I am working toward building my passion into a profitable business thanks for giving me the courage.
I have your having it all program and I am working toward building my passion into a profitable business thanks for giving me the courage.
Can I just say to Edgar s. Rulona, who said most of us don’t have overwhelming self confidence. The law of attraction, the book “The Secret” and all of John’s teachings explain to us that we are alreading in possesion of every great trait you could possibly imagine to want, it is not about having it, it is about coming into realization of what you already have.
Can I just say to Edgar s. Rulona, who said most of us don’t have overwhelming self confidence. The law of attraction, the book “The Secret” and all of John’s teachings explain to us that we are alreading in possesion of every great trait you could possibly imagine to want, it is not about having it, it is about coming into realization of what you already have.
Hi John great story, I’m in the process of setting up a web-site, and I’m going to follow my dream, this is one idea I’m not letting slip away, I’m going to follow through with it, I know I’m onto a winner, and reading your inspirational story is exactly the type of encourage ment i need.
Thank you,
Scott
Hi John great story, I’m in the process of setting up a web-site, and I’m going to follow my dream, this is one idea I’m not letting slip away, I’m going to follow through with it, I know I’m onto a winner, and reading your inspirational story is exactly the type of encourage ment i need.
Thank you,
Scott