Young man has started learning about real estate investing. He has read books and attended seminars that put on by some gurus who make more money selling information about real estate investing than they do investing in real estate. I am impressed with the young man's initiative and attitude, he is taking the action and willing to learn more, which is more than most people will do.

Old man owns his own house. Young man wants to buy real estate as an investment, no matter it is apartment buildings, office buildings or houses, it is that type of stuff. Well, old man has no experience in this area.

During the conversation, old man says to young man "Are you still going to attend more of those real estate nonsense seminars?"

By "nonsense" I know old man was referring to attending the "get rich quick" type seminars and not a condemnation of real estate investing. But he forgot one thing; those seminars came across as a condemnation of the young man's process of educating himself towards to learn something new, something that could improve his life and the lives of his family.

Unfortunately, you probably already see there are many people are like that in your life. You may be a person like that in someone else's life as well. People in your "box" don't want you getting out!

You know the type of person that I am talking about here - people who negative towards to others whomever want to improve their life, to be different, to stand out, and to be more successful than they ever are.

I heard a great analogy for this by attending a free investment seminar. I knew the speaker would be advocating some risky financial moves, but I figured that since I was in the seminar and learn the business myself, I might be able to learn something useful and something new, eventually I did.

In many cases, people that you are associated with are mostly probably just like you. Your guys have similar educational with similar families and income background, when you talking to each other, you guys coming up with similar ideas. You live in houses and drive cars of similar value. You attend the same church, your kids attend the same schools and you shop in the same stores.

One could say you guys are in the same "box" or rut.

Unfortunately, the "instructions" on how to get out of your "box" are posted on the "outside" of your "box" where you can't read them. You need someone who has already made it out to help you, to help you "read" the instructions so you can get out too.

Only with the help of successful person who already made it is not enough. You will also need to deal with your "boxmates" by yourself, you have to deal with those who would rather you stick around with them, and to keep them company in their sad little "box."

In listening to the conversation between old man and young man I immediately flashed on the image of young man - he may starting to climb out of the box, the old man is trying to reaching up and grabbing him by the belt to pull him back in.

It is sad to say but it is all too common to see in the daily life. If any of this sounds familiar to you, you might have some hard decisions to make.

Understand that to get out of the 'box' is not a day or two days task, it takes time. If completely getting rid of a negative person from your life is not possible (e, g: spouse, relatives, employer, friends) then you have to clam up about your goals, dreams and desires.

You can discuss them only with people who will support you, or preferably with people who have already done what you want to do.

Thus, no matter what you want to accomplish or whatever you want to achieve, like to have a better lifestyle, get out of debt, starting your own business, going back to school, investing in real estate, mystery shopping, losing weight, taking piano lessons or anything else, just take action, simply get it started and keep the pie hole shut, otherwise you will forever stuck at 'Think' outside the box instead of 'Get' out outside the box.