“That’s the difference between success and trying something and actually doing something. When you make your mind to do it and that you’re going to do whatever it takes, I mean whatever it takes, success will come find you. That’s the point.” – Corey Peterson

Corey Peterson is a self-confessed country boy, and started of with simple beginnings in West Plains, Missouri. He grew up on a farm and is quite proud of his upbringing because it made him the successful man that he is today. Despite not having a college degree, this did not stop him from pursuing his goals and pushing further into becoming the “Big Kahuna”. In his early years, he became a car salesman, but his wife didn’t want to marry a car salesman, so he made some calls, called in a few favors and was able to book an appointment for a restaurant manager position which eventually he got. Then he dabbled in selling groceries to the restaurant but he didn’t stop there. Before he got married to his wife, his mother invited them to a vacation and went on a trip with her and his step-father, Bruce to Kauai, Hawaii. His step-father had a house, cars, and the life and found out his success came from real estate. This is where his love of the power of real estate investing began.

Of course it’s not always in seventh heaven. In his Multifamily Podcast episode 6, he talks about how doubts entered his life and how he resolved it. “Let’s put it this way. They are the ones that are the most agitators. They say probably sometimes the meanest things. It’s very hurtful. It can be very hurtful until you understand why they say the things that they say.” Peterson talks about how some hurtful words from friends and family, mainly family that can make you doubt yourself. When you share your dreams with people and you say, “I want to be a real estate investor. I’m going to go buy an apartment.” People look at you and sometimes they’ll say, “How will you do that? You can’t do that.”

In the beginning these kind of words will definitely hurt you. But when you come to learn why friends and family say the things they say, you realize that all they’re trying to be is the voice of reason, a failed attempt in protecting you.When you dream big, it’s like climbing a cliff, and there’s a fear that you might fall. They say these things to deter you so you don’t get hurt. Peterson emphasizes that we should not be easily affected with these words because in his experience, he realizes that friends and family are in reality, not qualified to give business advice. Almost 99% of the time they are not, and initially they will come from a background of ignorance, with just one thing in mind: They’re going to really try to derail you in that dreams and goals because they don’t want you to get hurt.

Unfortunately it does not stop there. He shows us how harsh people can be as talks about what he calls the Crab Theory. When you put one crab in a bucket it gets out. You put two crabs in a bucket and they stay in the bucket. Why? It’s because the second crab is always pulling that first crab down, the one that’s trying to escape. The second crab will pull him back in the bucket. Sadly, this problematic situation occurs mostly with the people you are with. Simply put, they want to pull you down because they don’t possess the dreams, aspirations and that great motivation that you have in achieving your dream. They dislike the feeling of someone getting ahead of them so they pull you down. Yet you still acquire that desire to go to the next level.

He knew that he really wanted to fulfill his dreams, so he decided to be careful in who he shared his life goals with. He shares that if you’re going to look for a counsel, make sure to share it with someone knowledgeable about the field. If you’re asking about business advice and real estate advice, go share it with another real estate professional, someone that is very successful who definitely possess the right entrepreneurial ideas.

It’s very important to cultivate your mind in the direction you want to go. We think of our dreams like plants. At the start, these plants have no roots. If you were to share that plant and someone just steps on it, it’s not going to grow back. You can only sustain if you have a very good root system. So in the event that someone tries to ruin you, intentionally or not, you have to be prepared in making your roots stronger. One key is not to take things personally.

In his short video “Believe”, he further encourages us to dream big and believe in yourself. That in times of doubt, the most important person that you have to convince is the man or the woman in the mirror. Remember the time when we were young and used to dream that we could be and do anything? Deep down in our adult bodies, we yearn for that voice, for that person to come back and dream again. This desire should not be forgotten. Despite having people stepping on our dreams, we should always shine and boldly proclaim what you want to do to yourself. “…when you believe you can, when you want something that bad, that’s when your life will start to change. I’m here to encourage you, to let you know that you can have anything in your life you desire or dream.”