The seminar format is the modern vehicle for adult learning and educational advancement. A few days at the most, are all that is required at any one time. The working adult can arrange a short leave without disrupting his or her life much – surely not as much as taking a night school courses over an extended period of time or an entire semester of class work. The adult coming to a seminar is generally thirsty to learn, more concerned about obtaining specific answers to specific problems than with diplomas or credentials.

Adults who do not understand the value of education are skeptical about education sources which are not conventional or mainstream, or “respectable” enough to have huge campuses and recognized diplomas. However, when it comes to obtaining information and knowledge about wealth, the only diploma that counts is the one that expands your net worth. If that were the criterion for college diplomas there would be few universities in this country!

You may have already attended one of the smorgasbord of money-making seminars offered weekly around the country; no doubt you have at least seen some of their advertising. My first contact with these maverick seminars happened 12 years ago, in 1994. As a budding real estate investor, I was reading and studying everything I could get my hands on. I had purchased a course from Dave Del Dotto, who turned out to be a false guru; I purchased the Carlton Sheets course, only to find out years later when I attempted to put his concepts and practices into use, that he too fell short of the credibility line; I bought countless books on investing, financing, taxes and real estate analysis. When my opportunity came to attend a seminar held by Ron LeGrande in Clearwater Florida, on creative real estate investing, I jumped at it. As I remember, with tuition and travel expenses, the cost came to about $1,000.00. It was money that I seriously did not have at the time, but I was so compelled to attend that course because I knew it was knowledge that I needed to obtain.

In retrospect, that seminar was the turning point for me. In all of my educational training, no one had ever dared say that a person could become wealthy in ten years or less, starting from scratch. Le Grande calmly told us how he had done it himself. And he showed us how we could do it. He shared his techniques of creative financing that quite literally stunned me. I had never thought about financing in a creative way before. I, like many others, believed it took money to make money and the money had to be yours and if you didn’t have the money you weren’t going to make any!!!!!

I spoke with countless other attendees over those three days, and found out that there were other seminars being held around the country, and especially in Florida that dealt with this business of real estate investment. I went to see Russ Whitney in Sarasota, Mark Haroldson in Orlando, Robert Allen in Jacksonville, and A.D. Kessler in St. Petersburg. I learned a lot.

But what I noticed about every seminar was, they were great at getting you in the door and getting you literally salivating about getting started, but the information they gave was watered down. If you wanted the details… you had to buy the books and tapes and CD’s for many additional dollars. Yes, they were teaching credible and useful information, but the purpose of the seminar was not really to educate you, it was to sell the books and tapes and CD’s. Many of the “gurus” offered Boot Camps, where you actually went out with the guru and bought properties. These boot camps would cost, at a minimum - $3,500.00, and this was back in the ‘90’s.

I attended quite a few seminars and bought quite a few of the courses they offered – at great expense. But the knowledge that I gained at the seminars gave me the confidence to strike out on my own. And I began to develop techniques of my own which I have expanded into my own system of learning. The motivation to action that I now have came from attending those little-known, relatively “unrespectable” seminars taught without much fanfare in hotel conference rooms throughout the state of Florida. It has come by rubbing shoulders with the other investors and entrepreneurs that I came into contact with at those seminars.

I want to explore with you, the three principles of education which I believe will guide you in your search for knowledge and by which you will be able to judge what you learn:

PRINCIPLE #1: IF YOU THINK EDUCATION IS EXPENSIVE ~ TRY IGNORANCE!
That statement is attributed to Derek Bok, past president of Harvard University, but I am tempted to alter it slightly to make it more relevant to the goals of learning to create wealth: “If you think the right kind of education is expensive, try ignorance.”

The seminar approach to adult education can be extremely efficient. However, although seminars take much less time, they can be quite expensive. When you add up the tuition, travel expenses, hotel costs… it’s easy to drop $1,000.00, as I did at my first seminar. Add to that, the cost of the books and tapes and CD’s… and before you know it, that 3 day seminar costs $2,000.00. But I must say, that three day seminar, along with the books and tapes and CD’s, taught me more about creative finance techniques and the business of real estate investments than you can imagine.

Going to experts is expensive…very expensive. But it is infinitely cheaper than getting a degree from the school of hard knocks! My trips to the experts cost me perhaps $5,000.00 over a two year period. I learned how to avoid the mistakes which they had paid dearly for. As a result, I have reaped a very admirable monetary harvest.

What happens at a seminar is much more than the mere one-way transfer of book knowledge. The person who attends a seminar removes himself temporarily from the seduction of the world and allows himself to be totally immersed in a new philosophy. In such an environment, a person’s mindset can be unfrozen and allowed to refreeze with a new set of correct principles. The seminar allows for give and take of question and answer that allow you to apply the information to your own situation.

At a seminar, the student can engage in a two-way transfer of information not only with the instructor but also with fellow students. You can hear “testimonies” of those who have already used the new information. You can ask questions and defuse insecurities. You can establish channels of friendships, people to call when you have questions or problems.

In short, what is taught at the seminar is not the most important thing that takes place at the seminar. The networks that are set up, the questions that are asked, the confidence gained and the courage to invest the time and money are the real bonuses. Don’t forget, the right kind of education is expensive, but it is the shortest distance between poverty and wealth.

PRINCIPLE #2: LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS BUT DON’T PRAY TO THEM!
Hero worship is one of the many signs of poverty-mindedness. The best teacher is not a camp maker but a camp breaker. He doesn’t want (or need) disciples to be huddled around the warm campfires of his specialized knowledge. He would rather motivate those he teaches to break camp and move on up the mountains that we have all been put here to climb. If he has done his job well, he will soon be unemployed.

In fact, nothing would please the good teacher more than for you to become your own expert.

PRINCIPLE #3: BECOME YOUR OWN EXPERT!
Ultimately, when it comes to creating wealth, you have to become your own expert. You can draw upon the collective wisdom of other experts but you will still be responsible for incorporating the information into your own investment framework.

How do you become an expert? Well, I can only suggest what has worked best for me. Jump in with both feet and get started today. Attack it with all the passion and focus you can muster.

I urge you to study everything written on the subject of real estate investments, attend whatever seminars you can and want to attend, pick the brains of whatever experts you find credible and helpful, then sit down and organize your knowledge. Set up your business, write down your goals and plans, establish your network of colleagues and experts and GET MOVING!

QuadReal Investment Group, Inc. will begin giving a series of half-day seminars twice each month, beginning in January 2007 and continuing through September 2007. The seminars will address the following real estate investment topics:

See the special pages added to our Resource Center at www.quadreal.com for all the details and locations for each seminar. Each seminar will have guest speakers who are experts in their field and will provide you with detailed and invaluable information designed to make you a better and more prosperous real estate investor.

The cost of each seminar includes the course manual and all the information, forms and accessories you need to get started. There is nothing else to buy…no hidden costs. Sign up for all 9 seminars and save 20% off the total tuition costs…and… receive a Hewlett-Packard Business Calculator as our way of saying thank you for giving QuadReal Investment Group, Inc an opportunity to be of great educational assistance to you.

The course material is very thorough and sophisticated and delivered in a format that can be easily absorbed by the novice as well as the experienced investor. The entire series of seminars are also available on CD & DVD at each seminar or on our website should you not be able to attend.

Don’t miss these very important and highly educational series of seminars. Call us today at 352-465-7574 or visit our website at www.quadreal.com for complete details.