Success Stories
Find a Way to Keep Doing the Things You Love
I've been living a spiritually and emotionally fulfilling life for most of my adult life; my job makes my day and I love it with all my heart. I run a school for and teach at-risk high potential teenagers with behavioral, emotional and learning problems. Although it's a very trying job, it's also EXTREMELY fulfilling.
Most people think that since it's a private school with high tuition that I'm making a lot of money when in fact it's a negative cash flow enterprise. As a truly student-oriented school, all decisions are student-oriented; not business-oriented decisions. So, over the last ten years I've worked really hard (in the S quadrant, of course) yet I have nothing much to show for it financially. I've actually depleted all my savings and equity from a previous and more lucrative job.
I'd like to say that I started out in the investment arena doing all the right things. I'd like to say that I borrowed a small amount of equity from my home and bought an amazing cash flow property, which I used to spearhead me into further positive cash flow investments. This, unfortunately, wasn't the case. Instead, my venture into real estate investing started with my quest for a doodad! If you've read any Rich Dad books you'll know the definition of a doodad. If you haven't, it's something you buy (usually with borrowed funds) that is ultimately useless, or at a minimum doesn't get you any further ahead financially. In fact, it usually makes your financial picture worse, which is what it did for me.
My doodad was my desire to own a cottage. I wanted a cottage and I wanted it now, and it didn't matter who I had to borrow from in order to get it. It's hard to believe that although I was already in a predominantly negative cash flow position, I was looking at creating more negative cash flow!
When I look back I can see the obvious roadblocks, like being rejected by three lenders (even a high risk private lender); but I'd convinced myself that the cottage would be the solution to my stress. So, instead of changing directions, I decided to build a cottage instead of buying one.
From applying for credit with a third level consumer credit company, deregistering my small RRSP, borrowing from old friends and delivering newspapers in the middle of the night, I gathered enough money to buy a lot where I wanted my cottage to be located. The lot was listed for $40,000, I offered $30,000 and this offer was accepted almost immediately because most other buyers were put off by a large tree lying across the lot. I had my lot in Muskoka!
After a year of camping on the lot, I got the itch to build my cottage and nothing was going to stop me. With a high risk construction loan in place, I began planning and building. After nearly a year I had the cottage of my dreams with gorgeous lake views and a dock on the water.
If you've played CASHFLOW 101 or 202, you'll recognize the cabin on the lake as one of the dreams. You'll also recognize it as one of the doodad cards that can bankrupt you early in the game. I now realize what a gamble I took with building my dream vacation home.
Unbeknownst to me, the value of Muskoka property had increased dramatically, so when I approached the same lenders that had rejected me before for a first mortgage, I had no trouble whatsoever. I now have a property valued at $500,000, which represents a $275,000 equity gain! Although some may call it a fluke, the fact remains that I'd made an excellent real estate decision, which got me thinking more and more about real estate investing. I believe it was destiny that brought me face to face with the Rich Dad books and Darren Weeks. Through Darren's seminars and learning the Rich Dad theories via the books, games and website – as well as Darren's recent event with Robert Kiyosaki in Toronto – I've become a real estate magnet.
I've purchased 12 properties in the last year and just last week put offers on three others. I also created my own investment group and this allows me to encourage others to get into the game. Our group just launched an education and information website that includes some product sales. I'm definitely thinking business now.
This path has been exciting and rewarding – my family's financial future is now secure. All this and I've been able to teach others how to do the same thing. Perhaps the best part is that I'm now teaching my at-risk students the theories and realities of this new way of thinking. Teaching for this century, as Robert Kiyosaki says. For the first time in their lives, they understand that university doesn't have to be the answer to a financially secure future. Hardly a day goes by when they don't ask to play the CASHFLOW game after school. This makes me more proud that I can express in words.
Thank you to Darren Weeks and Fast Track to Cash Flow. Keep on teaching! I'm planning to do the same.
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More Testimonials
“CASHFLOW® Technologies, Inc., and Rich Dad's office would like to personally thank Darren for his hard work and dedication in promoting the mission of the Rich Dad Organization... ‘To Elevate The Financial Well-Being of Humanity’.”
The Rich Dad Team
Fast Track To Cash Flow is one of the most genuine educational and networking events I have ever attended. The very nature of this event brings together like-minded individuals in pursuit of increasing their wealth intelligence and ultimately their passive income. Darren Weeks inspired me to take immediate action which is truly a remarkable gift when you think about it. I developed a marketing strategy to keep my network in touch with me. I attracted 20 joint venture investors two weeks after the program when I started applying myself to networking. I am experiencing the possibilities and opportunities now that I am taking ACTION.
July Ono
“Before incorporating the Rich Dad® Poor Dad philosophies, I was an employee attempting to become a sophisticated investor. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to break free from the 'paycheck to paycheck' reality that many of us face. After attending my first Fast Track to Cash Flow Event (FTTCF), I saw the need to understand the fundamentals of business building. This is one of the many lessons I learned from listening to Robert Kiyosaki's teachings. Because of Darren Weeks and the entire FTTCF organization's effort, I will be in a position to leave my full time job in the first half of 2004. I would highly recommend to everyone who wants to take control of their financial future to attend one of these amazing events and experience firsthand the importance of playing 'Cash Flow 101'.”
Joe Iannuzzi
“When I first attended the Fast Track to Cash Flow event, I was probably the biggest skeptic of everyone. I thought Akash was insane for making me get up at 6:30 on a Saturday morning (I live quite a distance out of Vancouver) and spend my whole day there. If you remember, when we all introduced ourselves, I did say that the only reason I was there was because 'Akash made me come.'
But during the seminar, I can say that my outlook on the financial aspect of my life had totally changed. I used to horde all of my cash in low-interest term deposits but now my mind is totally focused on building a real estate portfolio and retiring off the income that will be earned. I still haven't bought my first property yet, but have looked at quite a few and made a few offers.....my goal is to buy my first unit by the end of September and hopefully add another property to that by September of next year. I haven't yet found 'the deal' but am looking all the time.
Take care, and thanks for the inspiration!!”
Meena Chima
“Previously to attending a Fast Track to Cash Flow event in Vancouver I was in the “book learning” phase in my life. After attending one of Darren's events signaled myself it was time to take ACTION and learn from those actions instead of just reading. One of the primary benefits received from this event was a Canadian perspective. His content and speakers are local professionals that know how the Canadian environment works.”
“Within 1 month, after attending my first event, I used one of the Fast Track's Real Estate advisors to help me buy my first revenue property in Edmonton. Since that time I have met an entire new group of “like minded” individuals all moving in the same direction. One of my core beliefs is EDUCATION and ACTION are 2 of the most important fundamentals needed to achieve your dreams. These 2 fundamentals are both supplied in Darren's Fast Tracks To Cash Flow Events.”
Thanks
Russell Westcott
Burnaby, BC
“Darren keeps you on your toes with his stories, motivational ideas, and easy-to-understand way of initiating the potential real estate investor in all of us. The seminar feeds you with countless tidbits of useful information that will make you hungry for more. You won't want the learning to end, and it doesn't have to, because Darren points you to enough resources to keep you going all the way to your first million. ”
Kalvin Mizzi
“Having attended Darren's Fast Track to Cash Flow event, I was amazed at what people learned from playing the CASHFLOW® game and working through the exercises Darren had us do. As a financial planner who has seen countless of financial workshops and seminars, I have yet to see a 1-day course have such an effect on people as this one had. Darren is a fantastic facilitator and great speaker. Drag yourself and your friends and family to this event!”
Gavin Radzick
Certified Financial Planner
Apex Financial Consulting
Fast Track to Cash Flow and www.fasttracktocashflow.com are not associated with and/or sponsored by CASHFLOW® Technologies, Inc. (CTI) or the Rich Dad organization. The sale of Rich Dad Products is not intended to imply endorsement by, or sponsorship, affiliation, association, partnership or joint venture with, the Rich Dad organization or CTI. Use of Rich Dad or CTI intellectual property such as its trademarks is with the permission of CTI.
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