You've chosen a different path.  You had hope for a better future for yourselfand your family.  So you opted for theindependence of real estate investing. The boundless opportunity to earn what you're worth and not what amarket segment report says your time is worth. Yet, you may feel yourself falling into the same trap.  Here's how to claw your way out and rise tothe top.

You've read countless real estate rags to riches stories andthey've shown you that more is possible than you're achieving right now.  These stories all have one thing in common:Anyone that succeeds in real estate or in life succeeds not primarily becausethey come across a secret never before discovered technique that allows them tosucceed.  They succeed because they getup off the couch and get started.

It doesn't matter if you still work a full time job andinvest on the side or you've had some investing success.  Dust off your dreams, refine or redefine yourgoals and work your plan.  This is anexciting time in real estate.  Millionsof dollars can be made if you take action today.  Don't wait for next week to do what youshould be doing right now.  You've heardthe expression, ?Winners never quit and quitters never win.?  An updated statement should be, ?Winnersnever quit and quitters never start.? 

What is your plan?  Ifyou're not sure, figure it out.  Go backto your foundation and start doing something proactive on a daily basis topropel you closer to real estate investing success.  Look at some listings or drive by a few propertiesyou'd like to look at. Get the ball rolling. As you start moving, you'll feel the fire coming back into youreyes.  You'll start getting excited.  Ride that wave of excitement and see how farit can take you.

Make an offer on a few properties.  If you hear the word ?no? don't automaticallyassume that you're personally being rejected. Ask plenty of questions and listen to the answers.  Most of the time the owner will choreograph asolution that will make the purchase possible. Will you succeed every time?  Yesyou will.  If you define success aslearning something that will help you on future deals I guarantee you willsucceed every time.  You won't closeevery deal you try.  But each experiencewill show you a new perspective and give you additional insights that could helpyou devise an alternative that might be acceptable to that particular seller.  If it doesn't work, file the experience awayin your mind for the future and move on to the next deal.  That small success will eventually result ina property in your portfolio and a check in your bank account.

Whatever you do, take the positive energy you've gained andkeep moving.  An object at rest tends tostay at rest; an object in motion tends to stay in motion.  Move on to the next property and challengeyourself to see how far you can take the process.  Success is just around the corner.  If you're parked, you'll never find it.

Success is simple; mediocrity is hard.  You read that right.  Mediocrity is hard.  It's a difficult existence to sleepwalkthrough life knowing that it doesn't get any better than it is right now.  It may be difficult to hoist yourself up offthe couch, but it's a whole lot easier than going through life knowing that allyou have to look forward to in the next 40 years is a ride in a hearse and amillion years of pushing up daisies.

Instead, live up to your full potential as a real estateinvestor.  Achieve your dreams, changeyour income tax bracket, and give yourself the kind of life you've dreamedabout.  Not a life of mediocrity, butrather, a life of distinction that allows you to be and achieve everything youhave hoped and planned for: A life you can call your own ? a life you can spendwith those you love.