Flying Solo

Good Monday Morning Folks.

I would like to ask a question. What’s your reaction to this statement?

Anyone in the UK can achieve any non-physical objective thathe or she desires.

Which of these reactions was closest to yours?

- Yep, sounds about right.
- Of course that can’t be true or we’d all be rich and successful.
- Errrr…let me think about it.
- Too simplistic - needs more qualifying.

Okay, this is hardly a pivotal moment in your life and you just want to read on, but your response says more about your character than you might expect so I’ll come back to it.

I maintain that there is very little to stop any normal, healthy child born anywhere in the UK from developing in which ever direction he or she cares to follow. Or achieving any objective that he or she truly desires and is prepared to work for. The hindrances are likely to be social, parental or environmental, rather than the brain with which we were born. It’s well understood that we only use asmall proportion of our brain’s capacity. So once we have identified our target, we just have to train ours how to achieve what we desire by exercising it like any other muscle. By making it think, question, challenge, and reason.

I’m sharing this with you because I hope that you all carry on making your investments long after I blog-off at the end of this month. So I’m telling those of you who have set your sights on investing in property, that you can do it very successfully (as you can do most things you set your heart on) providing you are prepared to work at it. If you are still unsure, it could be due to the two greatest hindrance that you have already encountered – your up-bringing and your education.

We are all a result of how and where we were raised. For good and ill. Just as we are a result of the education that shaped our formative years. According to yours, you may have to fight against those early influences to break away from the destiny that others set for you.

I’ve never used this blog to vent my feelings about non-property subjects, but I will state nowthat the educational system here in the UK is cheating too many young people. It does not provide the developing mind with what it really needs to succeed in later life. And it’s ignoring some howling long-term problems. The national curriculum is too focussed on the very short term needs of political parties, to ensure that our children get the most appropriate education for their future (or that of the country). If anyone wants to take me to task about that statement, please feel free to email me and I’ll explain or debate the subject so that I can now move on.

(Before you write, consider how many well-known entrepreneurs left school at fifteen with no qualifications).

Since education is failing many of us and our intrusive Government is strangling the Brit’s natural instincts for invention, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurism – we have to fight back and do it ourselves by developing crucial skills. I’d shortlist them as…

Self-awareness; fiscal-awareness; determination; a work ethic; curiosity; attention to detail; self-confidence and our sense of logic.

The last two are probably the most important, of which ‘logic’ is the driver because it’s the key that unlocks most doors. And warns which you should avoid. As long as you keep applying logic to everything that you see, do and experience, you will ultimately reach your goal. Logic tells you what you need to know then where to find it. Logic provides you with direction through the minefield of good and bad advice. And the good and bad people providing it. That train of thought will indicate what you need to research – what talents you need to hone. One of which is how to question everything - mostly, yourself. Logic should tell you always to be self-critical because that’s your first step to correcting your weaknesses. That process should inevitably build your self-confidence.

My investment system provides an appropriate example. It’s an entirelylogical process. It’s built with various well-understood practices assembled into what I term ‘a system’. I didn’t invent the component parts of that system, I just organised them into a logical order after research and the application of logical thought.

Some of you will already be self-developing while others will dismiss this as of no significance and carry on as you always have. And many of you will fall between the two poles. Fine. Each to their own. But for those of you who I am still talking to, your self-awareness is absolutely crucial. Questioning what you are doing and how you are doing it is like laying your foundations before you can build your future. Which brings me back to where I started this blog.

When you read the question at the top of the page, how did you react? Did you give it a moment’s thought or did you read straight on? If you responded, would you answer the same way now that you have had time to consider? Or are you stubborn so wouldn’t reconsider as a matter of principal?

If you didn’t take time to answer, why not? Are you someone who skims over the surface? Too impulsive maybe? Do you rush at everything so never see any subject in depth? Are you simply not a detail person so you don’t tackle anything with enough real consideration? Or perhaps you thought the question was stupid – not worthy of your consideration. You’re not interested, so you don’t care one way or the other.

Only you will know, but it’s why I stated that your answer says more about your character than you might expect. Admittedly this was one small, insignificant question with no long term repercussions either way. Certainly not life-changing or with a multi £,000 price tag if you got your response wrong. So, in effect, it’s of no consequence whatsoever….or is it?

Have a goodweek y’all.

John