Take the red pill

The changes are coming at us so fast and furious that it’s easy to get frozen into inaction. How many times have we said lately, "That can’t really be happening in America, can it? They can’t really do that, can they?" We’re all a bit uneasy because we know something’s wrong, but we don't want to face what it is.

I’m reminded of the movie, “The Matrix” when Morpheus confronts Neo with a choice – take the red pill and deal with what’s really going on, or take the blue pill and forget about the real world, just go back to what you used to believe.

I don’t know about you, but it sure would be a lot easier to take the blue pill. I’d love to go back to pretending that the government is watching out for its middle class; if you work hard and invest wisely you will succeed; and the good guys will be rewarded while the bad guys get punished. It sure would be easier if I could go back to believing that.

But now, I’m trying to operate in the real world. It’s no picnic but I’m still convinced that those who take considered action will be better off than those who are frozen in disbelief.

While we’re talking movies, remember “Titanic”? I just watched the scene again where Jack and Rose overhear the captain and the engineer conversing about what hitting the iceberg really means to their voyage. Jack gave his assessment of the situation: “This is bad.” Everyone around them was concerned with petty things that wouldn’t matter an hour later, while Jack took decisive action which ended up saving Rose’s life.

In my real estate practice I counsel people who are in various forms of hardship, and so I see firsthand the effects of inaction. You have to act while you still have options. Like the Titanic, the more the situation deteriorates, the fewer options you have. Your ways of escape are cut off one by one by the rising water and you may be forced into tragic dead-end situation where you have no more choices.

I know that some decisions are tough to make. Feeding your family or destroying your credit. Doing the distasteful thing or wishing and hoping something better will happen. Facing what feels like failure or making the best of a bad situation. Ripping off the bandaid quickly or pulling the hairs out one at a time.

I understand. Crystal and I have had to come to grips with our own situation lately and have made some really tough decisions. These true life experiences plus my extensive training as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) makes me uniquely qualified to counsel and advise you or anyone you know who is facing some hard choices. We’re all going through this together, so please don’t be embarrassed, just pick up the phone and call.