It’s no secret that there’s a dark side to information marketing in the real estate investment profession. It’s unavoidable; any industry rife with profit and opportunity that attracts dabblers and newcomers will attract shysters and charlatans too. It’s an amazing business as long as you can avoid the pitfalls and misleading information.
With no shortage of gurus and experts ready to take advantage of ambition and avarice promising a steady supply of secrets and short-cuts to success, that’s often easier said than done.
Seek Value, Not Secrets
You’ve no doubt heard the saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” No matter how hyped the premise or the promise – any high priced workshop, boot-camp or seminar is going to disappoint if you think you’re going to crack the code of success.
There is no code, just hard work, perseverance and bit of logic. Look for learning opportunities that offer specific skills and strategies you can use for your business and stay away from sweet talkers. By focusing on the value you expect to get from a seminar or workshop, you’ll be less likely to overspend on the experience.
Legitimate Learning
While one way to avoid losing money on learning would be to stick with what you can find for free, that’s certainly not advisable. Not only is it a time consuming way to accumulate knowledge, you’ll be limited to working with older information.
While you certainly do want to start reading all the articles and books you can find in the library or online, eventually you will want to invest in further studies. This is where you want to be careful where you seek your continuing education.
Stick with Established Venues
Take advantage of the fact that successful professionals looking to give back to the community through training tend to go through established agencies to do so. You’ll want to focus on finding reasonably priced adult education and trade association seminars, rather than falling for the glitz and glam of fly by night presentations. Some organizations to consider include the Appraisal Institute, or the CCIM Institute.
Release the Pressure
Even with the best of intentions, you may inadvertently end up attending a swindler’s session rather than a serious seminar. A low on strategy, high on pressure approach to presenting may be your first clue that things may not be what they seem. Resist the urge to buy the back of the room sales special and make sure you’re removed from the contact list before you make a hasty exit.
