The ‘Old Normal’ – Sore Elbows and Adapting

Back in 2004 or so, my bodybuilding took an unscheduled exit off the muscle (muscle-head?) highway. Both elbow tendons finally told me to take a hike, they weren’t gonna do their part any longer. For a few months I literally winced in pain when dealing with the powder puff grips of elderly women during a courtesy handshake. Given that level of failure, you can imagine the pain generated by grabbing 100+ pound dumbbells. The party was over. It was my second bad elbow tendon experience, as I’d beat it about five years earlier with months of rest and intense physical therapy. No such luck this time. A new fitness approach had to be found.

BawldGuy Axiom: Those unable to adapt when necessary are those who cease thriving.

Truth be told, though I was wicked strong, especially for being over 50, I was never a threat to Arnold — not even in my mind. What was important was the ability to adapt to the new reality. Serious bodybuilding using the traditional methods was no longer on my menu. Even lightening the weights made no sense, as eventually I’d get stronger again, jump starting the same predictable cycle with the painfully familiar end result. What to do?

After sufficient time to gain way too many pounds, becoming shamefully overweight, I got serious again and discovered CrossFit. I adapted to the new reality. The goal never changed — I used a new vehicle while also taking a different road to get there.

Real estate investors have had a relatively smooth ride the last 40 years or so. Sure, there have been some challenging times. But ’till now all the recoveries have found property values rising to higher levels than before the downturn began. Those days have been relegated to fond memories. Most of us have read/heard the phrase “This is the new ‘normal’”. I get what they’re sayin’, but disagree — there’s really not much about it that’s new. It’s actually more accurate to say “We’re back to the ‘old normal’” with which our parents and grandparents grew up.

Some obvious changes

It’ll now take longer, sometimes much longer to grow our capital.

The passage of time will no longer suffice to produce future retirement income.

The silly practice of relying almost solely on appreciation will, mercifully, cease.

Investors must now revert to Old School analysis — Each property stands alone.

Most of all, solid Planning is now at a super premium.

Understanding your end game is now more important than ever. You’re now living in an especially made, just for you Back To The Future movie in real time. Often without knowing it, investors have relied upon, even expected their properties to rise in value year after year. In fact, their analysis bakes it in. Think about that. If an investor’s initial analysis of his acquisitions will only get him to his ‘Point B’ if he hits what the analysis assumed for appreciation, just one ‘backward’ year has an excellent chance of derailing the Plan. Adapting to what’s very quickly becoming the Old Normal is now the most valuable thing the real estate investor can do for themselves.

Financing is no longer a necessary irritation — it’s now a full blown dance with the Devil.

Understanding once and for all that real estate doesn’t have to remain local for investors. Think coast to coast.

Maybe most importantly, fundamentals have never lost their importance. They’re now Rulers of your real estate investment world.

The new reality will reward solid Planning, and strict adherence to the fundamentals — unchanged for centuries. Those who continue playing by the old rules will soon learn the penalty — and it won’t be something as simple as sore elbows.

You may contact me any day after 9 AM ’till I’m more or less done. 619 889-7100 will get ya there. Have a good one.

Related posts:

1. Grandma Was Right ‘Cuz Normal Trumps Murphy Every Time