One of the main things that sets you aside as a landlord, real estate investor and entrepreneur, is that you have vision.  You create new futures, new goals, new, renewed and improved properties, beautiful environments and other happy living circumstances.  You are a leader.

Most people only see what’s in front of them.  Most people find it difficult to envision a future that is not already there.

Entrepreneurs see things that are not there yet and then make them come into being.

Here’s a couple of examples from my own family:

My Dad was always considered a “wild man” because (among other things) he believed in his visions of the future and took big risks to make them happen.

Dad never waited for permission, agreement or approval.

He used to drive through Kanab, Utah on his way to boat at Lake Powell or vacation in Phoenix.  Dad just loved the Kanab town and red sand.

So he bought 500+ acres of it.

Our family all thought he was out of his mind.  My Mom actually went on strike for a couple of years.

The people in Kanab thought that the sage brush and red sand was only good for grazing cattle.

But Dad envisioned a bridge across the river, a beautiful subdivision of acre-plus ranchettes and his very own “No Bull Ranch” with three canyons backed up to BLM land that goes forever.

And that’s what exists there now.

Before that, Dad had a landscaping business and a nursery on a few acres in West Valley City, Utah.  So naturally, he decided to bulldoze it and build 90 apartment units.

One day Dad was out on his tractor grading the land in preparation for building, when a black limo pulled up out front and a man inside asked one of Dad’s workmen where the owner was.  The workman pointed to Dad on the tractor, and the man from Aetna said “give him the loan.”  (This actually happened in the real world!)

Entrepreneurs have vision, and the leadership to make that vision come into existence.

My inspiration for this New Year 2015 post was a podcast I just listened to by Eben Pagan.  Eben says:

“As an entrepreneurial leader you are the keeper of a very special flame — the vision of a better future….  As the leader, your ability to envision a better future and then translate that vision to others is priceless.”

Eben also points out that it’s key to keep believing in yourself and the future you envision:

“Even.  When.  Other.  People.  Don’t.”

[By the way, if you haven’t subscribed to Eben’s podcasts you are missing out on some wonderful entrepreneurial leadership that will inspire you to grow your business to the next level in 2015.  I highly recommend it.]

Remember this quote from Steve Jobs?

“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Could there be any better example of leadership and entrepreneurial vision than Steve Jobs?

So let’s make this personal.  What can we envision in 2015:

• That would enhance the lives of our tenants?
• That would enlarge our cash flows?
• That would improve the value of our property?
• That would contribute positively to the neighborhood?
• That would build our business and our estate?
• That would “put a dent in the universe?”  (Steve Jobs)

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of work to do!

So here’s to you and me having some wonderful visions of a better future in 2015.  Let’s get out there and bring them into existence.

Photo credit: colemama via photopin cc