5 Things I Am Most Grateful For

This week we celebrated Thanksgiving here in the United States. The annual holiday celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Americans generally believe their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people.

History lesson over.

This past year has been tough for many people. If you are a real estate investor then it might have been really tough with all the challenges the sector is facing from the combo of high-interest rates, operating costs, and insurance costs with lower rental rates in some markets.

Any person who says they are in real estate and smoothly sailing is either not really "involved" in real estate, is lying, or is a magician.

The reality is times are tough and will remain tough for at least the next year. However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be thankful for this past year.

So in the spirit of being a glass-half-full type of guy, I wanted to lay out the 5 things I am most grateful for in this past year.

• Family: This is all-encompassing from the parents who raised me, to the siblings I grew up with, to the new family I have started with my wife, son, and furry son as well. My family is my why and gives me the motivation to keep trying every day despite all the obstacles in my way.

• Health: Tony Robbins said it best "A healthy person has a thousand wishes, a sick person just one.” Good health is the most precious resource a person can possess. Times are stressful whether it is dealing with challenging real estate investments or a one-year-old uncontrollably crying. If my family or myself were struggling with any health issues then those would distract from the objectives of fighting through these challenging times.

• Mental Health: Okay I know the prior point was about health, but given this world still only sees health as physical health as the only thing that matters, I want to put a special emphasis on mental health. Talking about our mental health is still viewed as taboo, but the sad fact is that nearly 40% of the population suffers from some sort of anxiety, depression, or stress. Most of us try to manage this on our own, but we need to be willing to be vulnerable and discuss our feelings that are not visible to others. I am proud of the fact that I was able to open up the first Ellie Mental Health here in Massachusetts earlier this year as we strive to help that 40% of the population that needs help treating the struggles that life throws at them.

• Diversification: Robert Allen has written a few books around the theme of Multiple Streams of Income. Even though I love investing in real estate it does not mean that it is my sole source of income. I still maintain a healthy investment in the stock market and have grown my passive income streams from just large apartment buildings, to Airbnb rentals, coaching programs, and as a business owner. By having multiple streams of income I am able to minimize my risk exposure when times are tough and max out my leverage when times are great

• Knowledge: Stop me if you have heard either of these quotes: Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress in every society, in every family. - Kofi AnnanOrReal knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance. - ConfuciusOur world is inundated with distractions, fake news, or entertainment that doesn't grow our minds. I am grateful that in this past year, I have been able to read around 20 books and listen to hundreds of podcasts that can help me learn and grow each day. I even started a book club earlier this year to help others acquire the same knowledge. Should you ever want to join that club or get a book recommendation then please don't hesitate to message me or schedule a quick 15-minute call to discuss.

There you have it.

What is your top 5?

About the author:

Dan Cosgrove is a partner at Anthem Capital.

Dan is a native of Cincinnati and is based out of Boston with his wonderful wife, cute baby, and a dumb dog named Waffles.

He is an entrepreneur and real estate investor who would love to connect to see how he can add value and joy to your life.