Positive Thinking for the Rehabber...
Think Like a Rehabber!

Think Like a Rehabber

Think like a rehabber for me is way better than,
What Someone Thinks I Should be Doing for Them!

What Do You Think About?

1.) A Rehabber is always thinking about their next project - Planning and Strategy
2.) What does a rehabber think about while on their project? - Creative Results!

Thanks to Bob from Michigan for asking.
He was watching me dig an access to a crawl space in amazement.

He started with a compliment stating, "Joe, I've give you a lot of credit, that's a very nice hand dug hole in the ground".

Then he asked, "what do you think about when you're digging?"

This is a rather large hole for hand digging;
five feet wide x 6 feet long, and five feet deep.
Better than 5 yards of dirt and clay I removed systematically,
with steps carved into the earth, for easy accessibility.

The purpose of this project is to replace an underground water supply line to the house in addition to creating an access to the crawlspace under the house.
The original access was 16" X 32".

After decades of rehabbing, it never occurred to me what I think about while I'm working.
I just know that I like what I do... a lot! It's down right exciting for me!

Dress Right Dress (a military term) and
Square and True is what came to mind at first.

I think about Safety First, followed by Haste Makes Waste.

I've been digging this hole for hours and although a bit tired and sore, I enjoy the project.

I dug this hole neatly, safely, without cave-ins.
Every shovel full made it into the wheel barrow.
I carved out steps as I went along,
focused at the task at hand without a worry in the world!

My mind was on the project because of One Major Factor...

Who Owns The Project?

I think like a rehabber because I own the property I'm working on.
I think like a contractor when I'm working for someone else... and I try not to do that too often, if ever, any more!

OK, digging a hole, a nice hole, so what? Because that is one of the hardest physical jobs on the body and muscles, and for some reason I was lovin-it.
I took the time to hand dig it because I had the time.
Too small of a hole for me to spend hundreds of dollars on a backhoe for fifteen minutes of digging and return the backhoe.
And besides, for me, it's great exercise. Weird but true, when I think like a rehabber, I find the positive thinking about whatever I'm doing!

If I was contracting that job for a customer everything changes...
Time is of the essence, the bid price would include a backhoe and at least one or two employees, all the thinking turns into thinking about profit and not losing money from oversight, or employees calling in sick or getting injured. Who owns the project and the property makes a huge difference!

The same exact job, done two different ways...
A rehabber who owns the property with positive thinking, enjoyment, and fulfillment, or...
A contractor working for a boss or customer and stress of the job.

Thanks to Bob for asking me the question and bringing this to my attention, I can now proudly say, "I Think Like A Rehabber".
What do you think about when you're working?

Share Your Story - click here.

Profound Realization

I strongly suggest that we do what we love to do; I've learned that from several personal development books. They've never been too clear on how to identify "what I love to do" other than if that's what you like to do, you'll know it.
I would like to add to the list of helpful ways to identify what we like to do from my above experience.

What I Think About When I'm Working?

When my mind is on my work and time passes by unknowingly, the project looks pleasing to the eye, where nobody gets hurt (safety first), and the work area is neat and tidy... I'm having a good time and nobody to bother me...Well that's why I'm a rehabber.

Alternatively, take the same job (any job); if your mind is thinking of getting off work, being somewhere else, rather be doing something else, and can't wait for a day off, etc.
Thinking about anything other than the project at hand... You probably don't like it that well, except... you’re getting paid for it?
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT! My saying as an employee used to be, "I like my work but hate my job". Actually I didn't like the work that much because it was a job; and I had to do it their way, or the highway... sound familiar?

Jobs for customers and working for employers tend to be loaded with an over shadowing threat of fear; a constant threat of termination, replacement, demotion, loss of benefits, change of location, constant jumping from one task to another before we're done with what we started, low wages and weak raises, can't take a vacation when you want it, constant criticism and lack of praise, and how about that annual review - you're OK but you can do better.
NO WONDER WE CAN'T KEEP OUR MIND ON OUR WORK.

In addition to that; a fellow employee, a disgruntled customer, a low-level boss, dumping their problems on us while we're trying to work - a serious effect of, "garbage in - garbage out".
By the way, "garbage in - garbage out" is not just about computers. If you hear garbage words into you mind, garbage out is ill feelings and lowered emotions... Cause and effect.

DISCLAIMER: It may not be all that bad. I've had a couple of really cool jobs and one really great boss.
It's just that I decided if I can choose anything I want to do, how I would do it, and who I would do it for.
Being a rehabber is for me!
Now I think like a rehabber, not like an employee or the hired help / contractor.

Intense Focus

I know I like what I'm doing when I'm so focused on my project nothing distracts me.

Working for others seemed to be full of distractions.
Positive thinking as a rehabber leads to more of the same; into the snowball effect. It just keeps getting better and better. The more I like my projects, the more projects I want to do, and of course the profits get better and better along the way.

I've learned to think like a rehabber and a real estate investor once I got serious about me. I realized that I was brainwashed to think like a stooge as an employee; that took some undoing!

The Next Project

If there is anything I think about other than the task at hand, it's usually the next project.
Think like a rehabber is about the whole house rehab project, this involves dozens of remodeling tasks. I always have a small pad with me to make a list of the materials and tools I need as I go. Proper planning of course leads to a more efficient job site.
I make notes as I'm working along; if I think of something I need to do or need to buy, I pause and write it down, and get back to my current project. Simple but effective.

When shopping for materials, I usually buy for two or three projects at a time. If I run out of materials while working one project, I can move on to the next project or any project I have materials on site for.
Rarely if ever do I stop what I'm doing on a task, go the store and buy something, to come back and continue. That's at least an hour or two hour time killer. I'll be back tomorrow and stop at the store in route to and from home.

When I think like a rehabber, because I own the property, I'm as smart as I can be!
That Job and Employer thing I seamed to hear a lot of, "good enough" or "if they don't see it, it's not broke".

Owning your own business, be it a real estate investor / rehabber business or what ever you choose, CREATIVE THINKING comes into play which is what freedom is much about.

Questions, comments, suggestions, click here.