Hi Michael,

> I'm big on checklists as opposed to plans -
> a plan is an intention a checklist is a
> must-do.

> Pilots file a flight plan before take-off
> and go through a checklist. One is an
> intention which can change almost as soon as
> take-off has ended. The other is a MUST and
> cannot be avoided otherwise flight cannot
> take place.

Michael, thanks for mentioning this!

One thing I've noticed, Michael, is that you're very good at efficiency! This is something I can learn from myself....

I've used checklists, though I don't do it all the time. However, when I do use them, I am generally much more efficient and organized. I'm going to take some inspiration from your post and use them more often!

Following this advice will no doubt help with our achievement and success, for those who don't do this regularly. :)

> In Creating Wealth, by Robert Allen, you get
> to see the checklist he uses to make the
> buying of real-estate an easier less
> emotional thing.

> The "plan" is to buy real-estate
> for little or no money down. The checklist
> is the HOW of it.

Sounds great! I don't have that book. Do you recommend it? :)

(By the way, I've just recently come across a new book which is partly about a "no money down" technique for buying houses for Aussie laws. The technique uses option contracts. It's called "Australia's Money Secrets of the Rich!" by John R. Burley with Bruce Whiting. I haven't read it all yet, but it looks pretty good. There doesn't seem to be an American version yet, but I expect one will be coming out eventually. Some authors seem to use Australia as a "testing ground" for their books -- to iron out the bugs -- and I think this is what John R. Burley is doing.... John R. Burley is an American, that's why I think this is probably the case.)

> I see a flow chart as a progressive
> checklist. You cannot proceed until the
> conditions have first been met.

That's a great insight! I never thought of it like that, but you're right -- it is like a more sophisticated, more flexible version of a checklist!

I've never made a flowchart for any of my projects, but your posts, Gordon's and John's have got the wheels in my head spinning! :)

> P.S. While I see a Flow Chart as a handy
> thing which can be used to help achieve your
> goals, I also see it as a tool which can be
> used to help weigh up the feasibility of
> businesses or ventures you may be
> considering - sitting down creating a flow
> chart forces you to ask a lot of questions
> and to answer them.

> Like Dien could create a Flow Chart to see
> what he needs to do to make an Investors
> Club a reality.

> I also see that a Flow Chart could be used
> with the POA to cover the exits.

Michael, these are all great ideas. I can see how they'd help immensely with bringing something from conception to reality, as well with achieving efficiency, and helping with decision making.

Thanks, those were great posts!

- Dien