COTD goes to Ray in PA:

"The money is made in getting deals, not mowing lawns like a 12-year-old."

Today I was teaching my 11 yo grandson how to mow!

BRAD

I do want to be clear.

If you are perfectly happy having one, two or even three rentals, you don't need to improve your game. There is absolutely no shame in owning three rentals and your own home. You have a part time job which will spin off some cash on the side.

If you are happy mowing grass and are near me, please find me. I'll give you even more work to do for the little money that you are happy with. This week we have a move in and move out and a closing to tackle. Mowing grass doesn't help with any of these three sometimes costly events.

So if you are bending over and picking up dimes and leaving dollar bills, either you are 1) crazy 2) don't care about money 3) don't know how to find your next deal 4) afraid of rejection 5) Just enjoy getting sunburned and bit by ticks.

I have three yards mowed by others. I have three that I still attend to. (Mother-in-law, storage buildings and empty lot my father owns)

Have had people mowing it in the past. I was happy enough to pay someone to just knock them down. Last two guys I hired either beat the buildings up or were so dangerous with the mowers that I couldn't keep them on board.

Tried to hire a neighbor kid that lives less than two blocks from all of them. He wanted $60 a yard. These are small in-town yards. He thought landlord = big money.

Still trying to find someone, but until then I will pick up the pennies.

From pulling the loaded trailer out of my drive to returning is less than an hour. I use that as an excuse to mow my yard, which is much bigger.

I think, Ray, what gets a lot of people here is the "you SHOULD do this..." statements instead of the softer "you COULD try this..." It's just the phrasing.

I am not here to even say should. Teaching a child how to mow is commendable. The work ethic is incredible. And with landlords being independent and self-sufficient people, work ethic can take you far. But in with self sufficiency, is trap that I have to do it all.

Teaching them how to spot a sales lead will probably make the child more money over a lifetime than mowing, plumbing, construction and all the trades. The trades are awesome, but learning where opportunity is coupled with having money work for you (instead of working for money) - is even more powerful.

My 11yo grandson just wanted to learn how to drive the riding mower now that he is TALLER than Wifey! and can reach the pedals! Too big to ride on my lap anymore.

So I showed him how to "mow" and he had a fun time "driving" a powerful machine.

Then I paid him $10. "For having fun driving??" Yes.

"That was way easy".

Then we talked BUSINESS. How he could mow for other people and make money like I did at his age. (basic Grandpa "Back in my day" talk :)

We talked about WHO to approach, use THEIR mower because his Dad does not own a mower and hires out their yard, how much to charge...the BUSINESS of mowing.

I think most entrepreneurs started young - mowing, raking leaves, delivering newspapers (what's a newspaper?).

BRAD

"But in with self sufficiency, is trap that I have to do it all."