Work Ethic Disappointment (JJ 653)
Work Ethic Disappointment
Transcript:
Jack Butala: Jack and Jill here.
Jill DeWit: Good day.
Jack Butala: Welcome to the Jack Jill Show. Entertaining real estate investment talk, I’m Jack Butala.
Jill DeWit: And I’m Jill DeWit, broadcasting from sunny Southern California.
Jack Butala: Today Jill and I talk about work ethic disappointment.
Jill DeWit: It’s funny when you say the word disappointment.
Jack Butala: I feel compelled to quote my partner Jill.
Jill DeWit: Uh-oh.
Jack Butala: In her immediate question before the show, “What the heck could you possibly mean by work ethic disappointment?” And here’s my answer. All the people in our group who are knocking it out of the park, us included, financially buying and selling houses and land have this level of work ethic that they bring to the table long before they ever choose to get involved in our group. And it’s really, really disappointing when I see people who are incredibly talented and really bright that just don’t have that work ethic discipline.
Jill DeWit: You’re right.
Jack Butala: And I’m going to plug my heritage a little bit here. A lot of people from the Midwest seem to have a level of work ethic that I see not as prevalent as people from the core East Coast and West Coast.
Jill DeWit: Careful.
Jack Butala: That’s why this show’s going to be funny-
Jill DeWit: Careful.
Jack Butala: … ’cause Jill’s going to get into it with me.
Jill DeWit: Don’t dig a hole.
Jack Butala: Before we get into it, let’s take a question posted by one of our members on the jackjill.com online community, it’s free.
Jill DeWit: Okay, this I recall you showing me, because this was awesome. This is not so much a question, this is so much a sharing some valuable knowledge and information to our folks. So we have two members, Daniel and Miriam, who are working together, they’re a team, partners, and they share this so I’m just going to read what they did. It said, “After scrubbing a number of lists, we have slowly developed a simple scrubbing checklist. We wanted to share that with other investors that may just be starting off, or those who would like a step by step guide to make life easier. Here is a little video introduction about the scrubbing checklist.” And then, “click here,” and it links to their video. And, “And then here is a link to the Google Docs. Click here.” Links to a beautiful step by step thing when scrubbing-
Jack Butala: It’s really detailed and amazing.
Jill DeWit: So good. If you have any additional questions or thoughts, feel free to reach out anytime, we’ll do our best to help where we can.
Jack Butala: So what happens is, and thank you so much fellas for doing this, what happens is that when you pull up a data source, like [Real Classed 00:02:38] or Data Tree or any other data sets that you use, you start with the universe of properties in any given geographic area. So let’s say all the properties in Scottsdale, Arizona, or all the properties in Mohave County, Arizona, or Manhattan, New York or anywhere in the country. And you have to scrub down from there to get to the owners where you think they’re going to respond to some letter. And that’s what these people have addressed in a truly mechanical and interesting way. We all have a little bit of a different take on it, but if you’re brand new it can be daunting. So go to Land Investors and keyword search “Miriam,” M-I-R-I-A-M, and you will eventually find it.
Jill DeWit: Well and let me … was this in a … this might be in a pro forum, so I don’t know-
Jack Butala: Oh, oh sorry, yeah.
Jill DeWit: … so let me back up here.
Jack Butala: Forget what I said then.
Jill DeWit: So like Jack’s saying, these are people in our community who have learned from us and our stuff, how we scrub our lists, and they just made another list and kinda put their flair on it. And we have a open environment in our online community and then we have a closed environment on our online community. I’m not 100% sure which one this came from, so I was sharing, if you go look for this and you can’t find it, that’s why.
Jack Butala: Blame Jack.
Jill DeWit: Blame Jack, or become a member. And the point for me here is, a) awesome job, b) thanks for sharing, c) that’s why we’re here and our community’s doing so well. We have-
Jack Butala: Yeah, Jill.
Jill DeWit: … created, by design, a wonderful community where we all work together and help each other out. ‘Cause you know what? At the end of the day, we all know there’s enough property to go around. We got this. And all we’re doing is helping each other do bigger and better deals together. I will get off my soapbox now.
Jack Butala: Here’s some funny stuff that Jill says around the house for no reason. “You got this. You got this.”
Jill DeWit: I do. Sorry.
Jack Butala: “Hold please.”
Jill DeWit: I do that too.
Jack Butala: “I’m cooking right now, hold please.”
Jill DeWit: “I’m cooking right now.” I don’t say that often.
Jack Butala: Here’s how I … Those two phrases could easily be something else and this is how I grew up.
Jill DeWit: Oh boy.
Jack Butala: “Shut the hell up and sit down, I’m cooking.” Jill says, “Hold please.”
Jill DeWit: Wait, here’s … I want a Jack one, I want a Jack one.
Jack Butala: Hold on, this is a compliment to you.
Jill DeWit: Okay.
Jack Butala: “You got this.” Meaning, whatever I’m trying at, I’m dismally failing at.
Jill DeWit: Right.
Jack Butala: So in my childhood it would have been, “You’re good for nothing.”
Jill DeWit: Oh.
Jack Butala: Jill says, “Hold please.” “You got this.”
Jill DeWit: Can I share some things that say around the office and the home? Which is, number one, of course we all know, “Word calories.” And number two is, “Get to know your equipment.” And usually when he says it, it doesn’t come out at all like that. It’s pretty mad.
Jack Butala: [inaudible 00:05:39] really get to know your equipment.
Jill DeWit: Or get the hell out of here. That’s really what it’s … Wait, another one of my favorites is, “This is sounding like a diaper change.”
Jack Butala: Yep. Here’s another one that I love. Everyone’s so sick of hearing. Next topic.
Jill DeWit: Yes, yes.
Jack Butala: A question quickly can become a vent. V-E-N-T. Not E-V-E-N-T.
Jill DeWit: A rant. R-A-N-T. On that note, can we please get to the topic?
Jack Butala: How do we twist a Jill compliment into a Jack disaster?
Jill DeWit: What? Was that compliment? My stuff?
Jack Butala: “Hold please.” Is a beautiful, wonderful thing that you say, I love it.
Jill DeWit: I thought you were making fun of me.
Jack Butala: No, I love that you have these little snippet things that are just … The kids love it too.
Jill DeWit: I thought-
Jack Butala: “Hold please.”
Jill DeWit: … you were making fun of me.
Jack Butala: No.
Jill DeWit: Okay, sorry, I take that back.
Jack Butala: “You got this.” That’s a good thing, Jill. They’re good things.
Jill DeWit: Oh I thought you were making fun of me there too.
Jack Butala: Uh-uh (negative).
Jill DeWit: Can you be more vague?
Jack Butala: It’s a cute little sentence of encouragement. Mary Poppins would say it.
Jill DeWit: I know, that why I thought you were poking at me.
Jack Butala: I’m not poking on it. Jill I’m serious.
Jill DeWit: Oh.
Jack Butala: Those are good things, that’s what makes you very unique. Most people are really angry.
Jill DeWit: Okay. Well thank you, I appreciate that.
Jack Butala: Next topic? Speaking of anger …
Jill DeWit: … and taking things wrong, out of context.
Jack Butala: Work ethic disappointment. This is [inaudible 00:07:14] to the show. In the line of business that were in, we get to meet a lot of people and work with a lot of people who bring a lot of different stuff to the table. And one of the things that we can’t teach and a lot of people fail because of it, is work ethic. Regardless. What’s so funny?
Jill DeWit: I’m sorry, you’re just making-
Jack Butala: You can laugh out loud.
Jill DeWit: … you’re just making me giggle. Oh God, if we could teach this, we would be trillionaires or I don’t know what.
Jack Butala: Work ethic …
Jill DeWit: Yes.
Jack Butala: … is very tough. Work ethic I define as, you just won’t quit.
Jill DeWit: You can’t teach it.
Jack Butala: You don’t know when you’ve been beat, where you just get up and keep moving forward-
Jill DeWit: You’re right.
Jack Butala: … no matter what. So I’ve seen more people recently that are so incredibly intelligent but they just, for whatever reason, they just don’t have the work ethic or the stick to it, there’s a million words for it, to actually get through actually completing their first mailer. Because once you complete your first mailer, in my opinion, and you get all … a bunch of people calling you back, telling you that you’re some version of the devil, and then you get a couple of people calling you saying, “Man, you’re timing’s perfect, I would love to sell you this property for this price. This price is perfect, tell me what to do next.” And then you actually own a piece of property for the first time. It’s truly an amazing … You’re either addicted or you hate the process. One of the two. Vast majority of people get addicted, like me. But you’ll never get to that point unless you overcome all the little things that happen along the way. And this is not mailer or Land Academy or real estate specific, it’s everything. It’s just the way life is.
Jill DeWit: Do you think it’s nature or nurture?
Jack Butala: I think it’s absolutely nurture.
Jill DeWit: What?
Jack Butala: And I think most things are nature.
Jill DeWit: I think it’s nature. Well that’s funny.
Jack Butala: I think it’s absolutely … the vast majority of it is how you are raised.
Jill DeWit: Seriously?
Jack Butala: Yeah, and how you saw your parents and what your parents work ethic is. Absolutely.
Jill DeWit: All right, that’s where you go East Coast, West Coast and then the Midwest, because you think it’s nurture.
Jack Butala: I’ll give you an example-
Jill DeWit: All right.
Jack Butala: … geography based example, and it’s not necessarily work ethic but it shows the difference. I went through a … my sister still lives in Michigan and I went to visit her and we went to a Triple A baseball game and we sat in the outfield because that’s where the cheap seats are, which was grass. And we all sat there and the game ended and everyone left and there was not one speck of trash left anywhere in that whole-
Jill DeWit: Really?
Jack Butala: Yeah. You and I know, we go to a million baseball games in Arizona during spring training, and there’s nothing but trash everywhere.
Jill DeWit: Right.
Jack Butala: So there’s some huge core value differences, and work ethic type differences based on geography. And no one here can tell me that the East Coast is clean, ’cause it’s a disaster.
Jill DeWit: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jack Butala: A disastrous mess.
Jill DeWit: I don’t know what the beaches are like there, our beaches are pretty clean here. We have a pretty good pride of community, I guess, and our environment, here where we live. I don’t … I’m trying to think if we’re … I know it wasn’t always like that, it’s changed.
Jack Butala: People on the West Coast, I’ve noticed … and this is not a judgment, it’s just an observation … tend to live in front of each other. And people in the Midwest tend to go back into their cave. At least a certain portion of the day and do stuff. But everyone out West, I don’t know if it’s Hollywood or what, seems to just …
Jill DeWit: Interesting.
Jack Butala: They want to put on a show in front of the next person.
Jill DeWit: Very interesting. Like open up the windows-
Jack Butala: Yeah.
Jill DeWit: Open up the doors. For me, I see it as inviting. I just want to hang out with everybody, I’m a people person. I don’t see …
Jack Butala: I think a lot of work gets done, regardless of what you’re working on, when you just close the curtains and sit down in front of the computer or whatever you’re working on, by yourself, quietly, and get a bunch of stuff done and regardless of how it looks. Regardless of the quality of the office space, regardless of the quality of the people who are working for you, or not working for you. You just actually sit there until you get it done to your satisfaction. That’s what I think work ethic really is. Like, “Yep, it’s done and I love it.”
Jill DeWit: That’s interesting.
Jack Butala: I can tell you’ve actually never thought about this before, which is kinda making my point.
Jill DeWit: What? Jack! I can’t believe you said that.
Jack Butala: “You got this Jill. You got this.”
Jill DeWit: Oh my goodness. What the heck? I can’t believe you just said that, that is so not true. I first would like to add-
Jack Butala: You know I have nothing but liquid respect for you.
Jill DeWit: I do.
Jack Butala: You know that.
Jill DeWit: But you know what’s funny about this? I really was sitting here going into this show, thinking it’s nature, it’s nature, it’s nature, get over it. It’s just how you are, you’re born that way. But now I’m actually changing … You’re making me re-think this, because you know what? I was raised by two Midwest parents.
Jack Butala: I know. Although I never met your father, I know …
Jill DeWit: Yeah.
Jack Butala: … based on the stories that there was no lack of work ethic there.
Jill DeWit: None. No, the guy did not know really how to call in sick. There was like …
Jack Butala: Which is why I think you have it.
Jill DeWit: Yeah. You just don’t stop.
Jack Butala: Your parents did that when you were little, when you were really, really young.
Jill DeWit: That’s what I was thinking, and they did do a good job of instilling responsibility and chores and things like that. You just don’t think about it, you just …
Jack Butala: I think it’s tragic in the industrial age here, we’re coming off of it I guess, we’re probably technically out of it, where parents just … They just get up in the morning and go to work and their kids just don’t have any real example except for what goes on in school, to see any type of work ethic.
Jill DeWit: Oh, true.
Jack Butala: I think in the agricultural era, the kids worked alongside their parents, until, probably until they got it done, and I think that sets a good example.
Jill DeWit: I think one thing though that kids do see that makes a difference, is if their parents do get up and go to work. Seriously. If they see their parents leaving consistently all the time, Monday through Friday, they’re not late, they have their briefcase, they’re ready to start their day. I think that’s a great foundation. I don’t think that that’s something to sneeze at.
Jack Butala: It’s better than doing nothing but I still think they don’t know where the heck they’re going and what they do or any of that. Especially when they’re real little.
Jill DeWit: The kids or the parents?
Jack Butala: Maybe, you know …
Jill DeWit: “Well, I’m going in again today. Not sure what I’m really getting done. I don’t know what’s really happening.”
Jack Butala: “All I know is I’ve got to get the hell out of here, right?”
Jill DeWit: That’s true, that’s right. “Daddy leaves earlier and earlier to work.”
Jack Butala: All these things are taught, I believe, at an extremely young age, before five. Before they’re at the age of five.
Jill DeWit: Yeah, they see it, they get it. I know.
Jack Butala: Right.
Jill DeWit: Do you know what’s funny about this? I’ve worried about this with our children, especially number three, because he was the youngest-
Jack Butala: Yeah, me too.
Jill DeWit: … during this whole last couple of years phase that we’ve been doing. And I worried that, because we always … we do a pretty good job I think of … Well I don’t know, we might do a crappy job, but …
Jack Butala: I’m sure we do.
Jill DeWit: I think in my mind, it’s good … of having fun with the kids. We aren’t constantly working. If anything, I don’t want the kids to know if it’s hard or any problems that … I want the kids to see us, when we’re home, having a good time with them. And we’re home a lot. I very rarely have a child walk in my office at home and I say … I certainly don’t have a sign on the door. The door’s not closed. They can pretty much come in and ask me anything at any time so I’ve tried to make sure that … Do you know where I’m going with this?
Jack Butala: Yeah.
Jill DeWit: Okay. That-
Jack Butala: Where are you going?
Jill DeWit: I don’t know, I kinda lost it myself. Wait, my point is …
Jack Butala: It’s easy to send the wrong message with the right intention.
Jill DeWit: Right. If you work from home and you’re available for your kids and they say, on a Tuesday because they had a half day, “Let’s go for a bike ride.” And you go, “Sure.” I don’t want them to send the message that nothing gets done.
Jack Butala: Right.
Jill DeWit: That I don’t have a good work ethic, that I’m also just able to goof off, or want to goof off, which I really do-
Jack Butala: Me too.
Jill DeWit: … but my work is more important.
Jack Butala: You know if the kids are getting good grades, number three is getting great grads and he’s a good kid, I’m not too worried.
Jill DeWit: Right.
Jack Butala: But I completely share … we’ve never talked about this … completely share your concern.
Jill DeWit: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jack Butala: But the way computers are, specifically the kids are what? 14 or 15.
Jill DeWit: 14.
Jack Butala: But the other two kids, they’re so much older. The level of freedom that computers afford you now, especially in a work environment, working from home is very realistic. Doing a real estate deal in Maine for us, is ridiculously realistic right now. Never having to go there and getting it done in a week and a half.
Jill DeWit: Right.
Jack Butala: So maybe that’s the message now. That responsibility requires even more work ethic.
Jill DeWit: It does.
Jack Butala: And focus, because of the bike thing you just said.
Jill DeWit: Yes.
Jack Butala: So maybe that’s the message we need to be delivering and maybe we do, maybe we don’t, I don’t know.
Jill DeWit: Maybe we’re trying right here. If anyone is still listening.
Jack Butala: I know that I developed this whole podcast so that we actually could avoid real work, I know that.
Jill DeWit: I do know that. You’ve done a very good job with it. So that’s good. I think we conveyed our message.
Jack Butala: I think we’ve done it again. Spent another 20 minutes listening to the Jack Jill Show. Join us tomorrow where we discuss meeting people, employees and sellers from where they come.
Jill DeWit: And we answer your questions. If you have one, post it on jackjill.com
Jack Butala: You are not alone in your real estate ambition.
Jill DeWit: Yep, 20 minutes you’ll never get back.
Jack Butala: You know, I’ve spent … Some people I deal with, whether they’re employees, not so much employees but … So I see members, especially that I have calls with, they’re so talented but just can’t for some reason sit and look at themselves in the mirror and say, “No matter what happens, I’m going to get this first mailer out. And no matter what happens, if that mailer doesn’t work the way I wanted it to, I’m going to send another one out, and another one, and another one until we own a bunch of property and we’re re-selling it …” And until the pistons actually fire. That first piston needs to fire to get the other ones going.
Jill DeWit: That’s true. You know I was just thinking, we met with one of our members here, locally, recently and I think he said it took him a couple mailers to really get it, and I’m like, “That’s good that you didn’t stop.”
Jack Butala: By the third one, he’s killing it.
Jill DeWit: Right, “Yeah, this one kinda bombed.” I said, “What did you, under … ” Usually it’s a quick thing, “What happened?” “Oh, I overpriced.” Or, “I under priced.” Whatever it is, usually know right away. So that’s fine, so you don’t stop there, you figure out what it is and move on, like you were saying.
Jack Butala: Right.
Jill DeWit: And some of the smartest people sometimes have trouble with that.
Jack Butala: Exactly.
Jill DeWit: I get it. Hey, share the fun by subscribing on iTunes or wherever you’re listening, and while you’re at it, please rate us there. We’re Jack and Jill.
Jack Butala: Jack and Jill. Information …
Jill DeWit: … and inspiration …
Jack Butala: … to buy under valued property.
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