The excitement of new year resolutions and thoughts of conquering the world have begun to diminish while another week in the second month of this year begins.

I started out my real estate newbie journey looking for a way to spend more time with my daughter. Exactly one year ago, I walked into my first Nouveau Riche meeting with that exactly on my mind. How can I make tons of money while being able to stay home with my baby (then only 8 months old). I finally have that. Well, the staying home part. I've moved about 80% away from my marketing executive role, cut my expenses dramatically enough to live on just my husband's salary, halted any unnessary spending, and am now spending about 85% of my awake time each week with my daughter. I've become jealous of my time and have said "no" to many business building activities and have said "yes" to tickle wars and reading stories and playing with play dough.

How does a work-a-holic turned mom-a-holic balance today's wonder years with tomorrow's golden eggs? That is my personal journey and current struggle. I've asked for advise from several sources. Self-made millionaire and founder of MillionaireMom.com, Joyce Bone, advised early in this year via Twitter: MillionaireMoms @renewbie "I feel for ya! Been there. Figure out cash needs & work only enough to fill it until your toddler goes to school. Time goes fast!" I appreciate the advise and to be honest, that simple short conversation gave me the permission to just be "mom" and not kill myself trying to accomplish more than what I could handle. But now realizing that I've set some pretty high expectations not only for myself, but for my career goals, my family, and how I plan to give back and help others in need, I know that my life is not just for me and I can't really wait another 3- 6 years (depending on whether we have another baby!) until they go to school. Today, in my Mastermind group, I posed my struggle to the group. One person advised, "Think about your efforts into your business as doing it FOR your daughter. That will make it worth it." Great advise again. But how to implement it without feeling torn between both!

So here is what I'm proposing. I want this blog to be filled with quality content that will aid you (and I) in becoming a successful real estate investors. But I will also add from time to time how I'm accomplishing it while still being able to spend the majority (more than 65%) of my time being a mommy to my toddler. Imagine, if I can do it, there is no reason a full-time employee/ part time investor, stay at home mom like me, college student, recently unemployed, or anybody else can't do it. If there is something that I'm learning from successful real estate investors through my podcast interviews and one on one meetings is that "Systems, Systems, Systems!". So here's to learning how to implement such magical machines! Tomorrow, I air my podcast interview and adjoining blog post with John Dessaur, multi-millionaire and successful real estate investor, but I will detail soon some ideas to how to make it all happen and look forward to your suggestions and comments.

Here's to Education, Wealth, and Freedom! - Flower De Raadt