According to Please Understand Me II
The Rational (NT) in me loves “big picture” strategic thinking but tends to ignore basic details and risks. I got into rehabbing/flipping houses because it’s a great way to make big chunks of cash and then use that cash as a down payment on income producing property and retire young. The strategy was sweet but the execution was not so smooth.
The Artisan (SP) in me loves deal-making, creativity and freedom of action but tends to be too impulsive and inconsistent. That’s why I went ALL-OUT negotiating creative deals with sellers using 100% leverage and taking on 8 projects in 4 states at the same time. It was definitely the typical READY-FIRE-AIM approach of an Artisan.
Acting on my impulses is great for jumping on opportunities and trouble-shooting problems but not so good when it comes to signing and sticking to contracts, follow-through, commitment, responsibilities, etc.
On top of that my logical strategic Rationalist side sometimes clashes with my impulsive happy-go-lucky Artisan side. So I often end up analyzing something for too long only to get sick of being paralyzed by the decision and making an impulsive move in some direction. Then the analysis kicks-in again and I wonder if I made the right choice. So I then quit the course and try the other alternative to make sure I’m getting the best deal. Unfortunately I end up sabotaging opportunities this way. That’s something I really need to work on.
The extroverted (E) side of the personality is why I am out here blogging and feeling comfortable in the spotlight. Hopefully through this exposure I can teach people a thing or two (what NOT to do). My tough-minded side (T) is why I have such thick skin and able to handle the criticism.
Good thing I’m married to a Inspector Guardian (ISTJ). She balances me out and completes me (when we’re not fighting over the differences - she doesn’t like the spotlight at all, she is very careful and has a big need for security and stability).
Google the terms I used above to get an idea of what all that means and let me know if you agree with my assessment.
Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?
121 Comments
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:33 am
where are you on the myers-briggs exam?
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:03 am
To an extent, yes. Those personality markers can indicate which way you’ll trend generally, but shouldn’t absolutely predict what you’ll do in specific future situations. Nor (you knew this was coming) should they serve as excuses for what you’ve done so far.
They can change over time, too. I understand you getting ambiguous readings because I started out, the first time I took the test, as an INFP. These days, I consistently test as ISTP. Only the introvert and perceiving attributes have stayed constant. I think switching out the NF for the ST indicates I’ve toughened up as I’ve got older. Big surprise!
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:42 am
Oh yeah DR. CASEY, it explains a lot. Please explain more about G’s ‘ISTJ’ personality type BALANCING YOU. I’m not a doctor and don’t play one on tv either. But she allowed you to put your ‘entreprenuer skills’ to work. Hell, she participated in them by signing documents to assist your ‘great way to make big chunks of cash’. Also, could you please explain what type of cultural influences there may have been that influenced your action. I could go on and on, but YOU are NOT RATIONAL in any of your thought processes.
As long as you’re making a psychological diagnosis, please do one on why people visit your blog. Do tell me why in the *&%# am I looking at your site? What’s in it for me? I know that your readers have ideas. But I’d rather hear from you without input from your readers.
February 3rd, 2007 at 4:30 am
I would say definitely ES_P. E because you have looked for and gained a lot of exposure through the blog and your story. _S_P because you are self admittedly impulsive when making decisions. I would say _ _ F _ because I see a lot more emphasis on feelings than on planning and analysis.
ESFP
February 3rd, 2007 at 4:45 am
ISTJ? Inspector Guardian?
She clearly hasn’t inspected much of your real estate “handy work”, and she has guarded you from jack-s*** . I doubt she’ll be much of a guardian when CashCall comes knocking either.
February 3rd, 2007 at 4:57 am
NO MATTER WHAT YOU TEST, YOU STILL IN DENIAL STAGE,
YOU ARE STILL IN CASEYLAND..
DR. FILL
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:05 am
Casey, how are you going to use this information moving forward?
FT
http://www.MillionDollarJourney.com
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:14 am
Casey, nobody normal would try and explain themselves this way. I - I can’t even start to say what is wrong with this post. You should never be trusted with ANYTHING. Not EVER. You think you can write up some pop-psychology management “analysis” of the way you are and that’s some kind of explanation for your gigantic failures? You can’t even see how stupid this makes you look.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:20 am
Casey, in the “it’s all about me” department, you are off the charts.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:34 am
Okay, You took the Myers-Briggs test. I took a couple during my leader and group theory classes when I was in college.
Remember, this doesn’t justify your actions. It just gives you some insight as to your personality. The question is: do you want to stay this way or do you want to become something else? If you want to stay who you are you should find a career that fits your personality. If you want to stay in Reality then you should adjust your personality to meet the needs of being a realtor.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:44 am
“Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?”
No — it doesn’t EXPLAIN your behavior, it CATEGORIZES your behavior. You have misinterpreted the cause and effect.
In other words, you seem to be thinking “I am an artisan, therefore I tend to be impulsive.” When the truth is “You tend to be impulsive, which gets your classified as an artisan.”
You seem to be looking to use your myer-briggs test as an excuse. You cannot blame your personality for your problems, acting as if your personality is a separate entity from yourself.
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:15 am
If you spent half as much time looking for a job as you do on self assesment and blogging, you would have the answer to your problems…
GET A JOB!
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:37 am
“The strategy was sweet but the execution was not so smooth.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the early winner of the Understatement of the Year Competition.
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:41 am
“Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?”
Don’t even try to use this as a crutch/excuse. Maybe it explains your buffoonery, but it doesn’t condone it. Big difference!
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:01 am
None of this is going to get you out of your hole. Obvious inability to focus on the most important matters facing you. There’s a term for that…avoidance disorder?
But rather that change the subject, tell us why Duane moved on…
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:14 am
Is anybody on the internet running odds on Casey’s fate? Over-under on how long until he’s bankrupt? Arrested? How many charges?
It may be a little morbid but there’s probably more interested money in that than a couple hundred a month for this blog.
And if Casey truly believes in himself, believes he can pull through this thing, if there’s enough money involved he could make a few strategic bets on himself -the underdog- and come out of this way ahead. He’s been doing nothing but gambling in RE so far. Why not actually gamble? He’s literally got -nothing left- to lose.
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:17 am
Well, good thing that’s settled then.
These tests aren’t really too far from ‘the devil made me do it.’ ‘I couldn’t help myself, I’m an Artisan!’
They don’t ‘help explain your behavior/attitude’ at all. We know your behavior and attitude, and at best those tests just give a current snapshot of you. If I’m handed a photo of you covered in manure, I know your state at the moment the picture was taken, but I don’t know the cause.
Was there an accident on the highway? Did you slip and fall? Did you smear it willingly all over yourself?
You must understand that for the why of how you behave, that test tells you nothing. You don’t act impulsively because you’re ‘An Artisan.’ Instead, some test called you An Artistan because you act impulsively.
You have and will continue to act impulsively, because you refuse to act any other way. This is completely within your control; how you act is voluntary. The fact that virtually no one would volunteer to act the way you do is why we keep suggesting seeing a psychiatrist. It’s even possible that how you act isn’t voluntary, which is why folks like me suggest you’re unwell.
This test does not absolve you. Do NOT use it as a way to take away your responsibilities and further cede control of your life.
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:51 am
Someone has WAY too much free time on their hands.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:07 am
“Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?”
Why are you taking exams instead of trying to save your financial status and marriage?
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:14 am
blah, blah, blah….just another way to waste your time and not get at the real issues..like…..GET A JOB!!!
Do you know how many people are out working today?? yes, a Saturday!!
And you decide its a good time to take a personality test…..no freaking wonder you are in the situation you are in!
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:14 am
Sounds to me like you’ve described a psychopath with a gambling addiction. May I suggest dialing 1-800-BETS OFF…
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
Now I know what to do when I get insomnia. All I have to do is come to this blog and read it. It will put me right to sle….zzzzzzzzzz
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 am
So what? I’m ENTJ. And I’m sure there’s a bushel load of ENTP and ESTPs who aren’t about to lose everything — like you are.
How is knowing this information going to help you out of the mess you’re in?
Not one iota.
Man. This is getting too painful to watch.
Talk about fiddling while Rome burns.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:58 am
Tibetan monk say:
Casey still not take ADD test. Casey not need to.
http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm
Casey still not say whether he insure houses.
Casey brain broken.
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:12 am
How’s AbleBuyer.com and BuyingApartmentBuildings.com coming along? You mentioned a while back that you were going to have those up and running….yet, there is nothing happening there.
Could it be, that this is just one more thing that you have started and won’t follow through?
Have you followed up with the Utah wrap? What is happening?
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:16 am
myers-briggs? You need the DSM-V.
But seriously, those personality tests are all meaningless, predictive mumbo-jumbo.
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 am
J ust
A bout
M y
B logging
A dventures
J ust
U selessly
I
C reate
E ntertainment
Special note: Casey, you should try an ‘all criticism’ day, where you criticize everything and everyone you encounter.
But don’t keep it organic.
Start with your most recent episode with Duane, then Prleachbeeyatch and let fly at us haters.
Then, watch your comments soar.
(Disclaimer: Consult with a legal professional BEFORE acting, regarding slander and libel etc)
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 am
That book and stuff like it is codswallop. See this link for example: http://skepdic.com/myersb.html. Stick to science, not new age.
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:39 am
Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?
Don’t you have more urgent matters at hand?
I can’t be sure, but I doubt your Myers-Briggs results mean much to Wells Fargo.
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
send this to wfb and countrywide, they’ll forgive you. NOT.
As a lender, i don’t really care the who/what/why of my obligor. I just want my friggen money.
Kapeesh?
February 3rd, 2007 at 9:53 am
Does the fact that you have identified your personality change the fact that you are over TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT??
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
No, this does not explain your personality. Your personality has not had a chance to shine through your personality disorder.
Only after a proper diagnosis (advice you ignore), proper treatment (therapy and medication), will the people around you be able to experience the real you.
Until that happens we can only appreciate watching the symptoms.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:21 am
Hang in there. This will all end soon.
Live for today, not the dim promise
Of tomorrow; stay on the course
Of life that is your destiny.
Sacrifice your time and talent; devote
Energy to your accomplishments, come what may
Realize that a light shines at the end of the tunnel.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:32 am
Hasn’t this guy been nabbed yet? I hadn’t visited this site for over a month, come back to check and find him still rambling on with the same lunatic drivel: “doing sweet deals”, “my team of advisers”, “passive income”, and on and on. Meanwhile he appears to only be mooching and sucking cash from anyone who gets anywhere near him.
And meanwhile the $2.2 million meltdown continues (probably $2.4 million by now given the accumulating interest, non-payments and the housing market slump). Jesus, what’s it gonna take to arrest this guy?
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:36 am
Have you addressed your stubbornness as part of your personality? You’ve received excellent advice from various people, but have failed to show you’ve acted on it one way or another.
Time is short for you to deal with this mess. I hope you seriously considered what I emailed you the other day and have already acted on it.
This situation has a great potential to ruin your life. Stop making excuses or waiting for a miracle to come save you. Save yourself. You know how. Just do it!
Nigel
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
..really - another thing to take your eyes off the real issues…who cares what type of personality traits you have..your deep in debt ..no way out…and your giving us some dreamy personality analysis ..really casey …please dont keep insulting us with this bs
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:45 am
Casey,
If you suck at something and you know it, you need to hire someone that is good. For example, that is why I use attorneys so often these days. Its just that they know more about the law than me, but a good attorney will pay attention to the details that I tend to overlook. When I started out in RE I used to think attorneys were largely a waste of money. After 18 years of experience, I certainly don’t think that way now.
Also, even when hiring experts, it does not hurt to check their work, as they often overlook things.
In your case, I can tell you suck evaluating properties, and consistently way overpay for everything. You need to find an honest CCIM or appraiser who can guide you with this. On a more positive note, you seem to be good at locating sources of creative financing, which will only help you if you don’t blow they money when you get it.
No offense, but you totally suck at market timing as well, acting surprised that Sacramento market is now crashing. How could you not see this was coming? You should be reading economist’s reports like Bruce Norris and Robert Campbell. Even Kiyosaki said housing was going to crash, and you kept on buying more.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:51 am
Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?
Yes, but the real question is, so what? Explaining your behavior doesn’t solve the problems your behavior caused. And it doesn’t excuse them, either.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:59 am
You like self tests ? Well here are a few I found for you:
http://www.nerdtests.com/mq/take.php?id=1390
http://www.nerdtests.com/mq/take.php?id=8215
http://www.nerdtests.com/mq/take.php?id=10753
Post the results please
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:32 am
you may be suffering for BDTP
(Blogger Delusional Type Personality)
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:59 am
The enneagram personality sytem better describes you. I agree you are an ENTP inventive type, but I also think you are a 3 with a 2 wing, a self-preservation-social variant, and suffer from narcisstic personality disorder(NPD). You’re too consistently confident in yourself to be bipolar. You always think that no matter how bad things get somewhere some way you’ll come out on top.
http://ocean-moonshine.net/e142857369/
http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
“I got into rehabbing/flipping houses because it’s a great way to make big chunks of cash and then use that cash as a down payment on income producing property and retire young.”
Casey,
You still don’t understand that “cash flow” is a guru myth.
“make big chunks of cash” requires knowledge and luck.
You are a lightweight who went into the boxing ring with a heavyweight, got pummeled, and before you have even recovered from your injuries you are ready to jump back in the ring. Continue to lick your wounds and find a different sport.
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:58 pm
N’s - intuitives - are a small percent of the population. I’m an ENTP but near the middle of the scale on E vs. I and so am also close to an INTP. I think you are much more likely to be an ESTP than anything else based on what you’ve written. An ENTP would have all the possible risks of a project worked out before getting into it, though we also like risk. It’s easy to get distracted as an EP that’s for sure! Being an extrovert does help you see the opportunities out there.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm
After all of the free legal advice given here, I can only guess at what the armchair diagnois will be.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Did you pay good money for “Please Understand Me II” when you can take a good Myers-Briggs test and read about all the personality types online for absolutely free? I hope not, especially given your current cash flow situation. Also, it isn’t right to blame your personality type for your problems. Plenty of NT’s pay attention to details, especially since it is mastery of those details that give NT’s true mastery over whatever their field is. Like pretty much everyone else who has left comments on this site, I seriously recommend getting some mental health care and getting out of the real estate business as quickly as you can.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
“Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?”
Ha ha, you’re still going bankrupt, and I’m enjoying the trainwreck as it happens.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 pm
i do not beleive any of this..you just need to do what need to be done.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 pm
My personality is Inventor Rational (ENTP) and Promoter Artisan (ESTP) too!!!
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Here’s the characterization I come up with for your personality:
DILS (delusional. irresponsible, lazy, stupid). If you want I can send you the quiz.
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Ho Ho Ho It’s Santa Flipper Clause
Casey,
The blog is starting to slow down abit. I have a suggestion that will pick things up. I think you should attempt to purchase another house and blog about the experience. Make sure the new house has a chimney so that Santa Flipper Clause can visit you at Christmas time.
Santa F. Clause
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
who cares….how are the people in your utah wrap house doing? have you resolved the problem?
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Sounds like you got some insight into your personality from these tests. But one thing that had an impact on your real estate adventure, the biggest thing that had nothing to do with you, or your personality. The market died within two weeks. Many of us LL’s are in a mess, most probably not as bad as you because we started years ago when property was cheaper. But it does sound like you went wild with it all.
Have you ever added up how much income you have loss by not renting out these houses during the last ?? months.
I would suggest you try adding up what you could of gotten for rent on each house and multiply the months they have been sitting there empty.
Most of us LL’s always rent the house out first no matter what is happening-foreclosure or not- even a BK.
Gypsy
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
You know a good BK free option to clear this mess is to sue the people who sold you the RE flipping courses. If you can proove they made any claim about making money by following their advise (something no accredited University will do), that opens the liability door. Not only for the ~$30K course fees, but the ensuing financial damage as well.
Just a thought…
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Now you are reaching for content!!
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Very productive use of your time. So much better than getting a job and paying back every dirty penny.
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I mentioned Carl Jung before on this blog. I had written posts about you projecting your shadow amongst other items.
Carl Jung invented the concept of personality types. You should read more about him.
February 3rd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
If I knew you in person, Casey, I’d be SHOUTING at you by now.
Go to a MEDICAL DOCTOR. If necessary, get a referral to another MEDICAL DOCTOR, a PSYCHIATRIST (not a “counselor” or “psychologist” or “therapist”: PSYCHIATRISTS are MEDICAL DOCTORS) or maybe a NEUROLOGIST. FOLLOW THROUGH. FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR’S ADVICE. REPEAT IF NECESSARY. The EXTREMES of your behavior might indicate a serious MEDICAL CONDITION that may be TREATABLE, not just your “I yam what I yam” personality type. For your own sake and your family’s, you need to rule that out by getting a DIAGNOSIS from a PHYSICIAN.
Also get a LAWYER, as in ONE YOU PAY FOR, and FOLLOW YOUR LAWYER’S ADVICE.
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Why are you erasing my posts? You don’t the like truth?
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I would have assumed you were a classic ENFP instead.
February 3rd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Since you chose to moderate my first post, try this clipped version on for size:
There’s about to be a new “Inspector Guardian” in your life. One you won’t like, with hairy arms and a bad attitude.
I can feel your audience leaving…
February 3rd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
How many sides do you have? Are you one of those 12-sided dice used for Dungeons & Dragons? What’s wrong with just being a person, instead of some personality category?
February 3rd, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Excuses? To us, the everpresent reader? Give me a break. This is nothing but a pathetic excuse. I’m sure you could show this to your lenders and others you have cheated and lied out of money, and I’m sure that will help “explain” why.
Do any of those personality traits offer solutions to your problems? No. Quit wasting your GD time on this crap, and get your butt to work. On something. ANYTHING.
Do any of your personality traits show you that you have squandered the opportunities and the relationships you have formed, and then destroyed.
Sure glad you took the time taking that test instead of actually working.
In a word. Pathetic.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Whoops. Sorry. I thought this was a home foreclosure site.
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:06 pm
You owe 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS and you’re wasting your time with this psycobabble baloney??????
You are NUTS!!!!!!!!!
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
No.
No it doesn’t.
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
hows that only positive comments allowed moderation going for ya?
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
All of this is useless to you in the short term, and probably the long term.
Put ALL of this stuff aside and find a way to support yourself. How cavalier and arrogant you’re being; and doing personality exams and blogging about your narcissistic experience is so incredibly worthless.
but, you won’t get it. you won’t see all of this, or figure it out. you’re going to learn it all the hard way, because every entry here shows you have not learned a thing from your recent experience.
how painful life’s going to be for you in the coming years. how very, very, unnecessarily painful.
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Does that help explain my behavior/attitude any?
Nope. It’s just another excuse.
And as a rational myself, I can tell you you’re anything but.
February 3rd, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I doubt this will make it through the mod(s) but here it goes:
You’re a FIF: Flake-Illogical-Fraud.
Flake: You fail to perform even the most basic tasks of business, investing or day to day admin. You even admit to this. You have grandiose fantasies of some expert team handling all the ash and trash for you. You fail to realize that a) You can’t afford a team b) Your team would fleece you of every dollar you have c) You have no business for a team to manage d) No team of real, honest experts would put up with your flakiness(Amy, Duane, NLL etc etc etc etc) e) You’ve told us in the past that you’ve ignored the advice you’ve been given.
Illogical: You can’t grasp the concept that your “sweet deals” not only suck in execution, but in strategy as well. You don’t need to run a Tim from MBA spreadsheet to realize that paying zero down on an overpriced house, blowing the cashback on vacations, JJ etc, not having any income for mortgage payments on the vague hope of selling for a profit in a declining market.
Fraud: You lied. Repeatedly. By your own admission.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
The fact that you take the time to take these tests and interpret their results says far more about you than any of the results themselves.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
I am genuinely interested in hearing how you can justify reading books like that and spending time thinking about what kind of personality you are when you don’t even make time to open mail that contains things like notices of foreclosure on properties that you own.
You spend too much time admiring the size of the hole in the dam instead of searching for something with which to plug it.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:24 pm
The problem is you are focusing on things that don’t really matter.
These labels are just a crutch/excuse.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and a personality type doesn’t explain why someone is unable or unwilling to be responsible in life.
I have mental/psychological disabilities, but I don’t spend all day making excuses. I mean my “personality type” is to think complex thoughts to myself and never leave my basement.
If everyone just focused on their innate tendencies, no one would ever get anything done. Real people take ACTION and don’t dwell on this stuff.
February 4th, 2007 at 1:42 am
Casey, don’t listen to the naysayers. They’re just upset that you’re now literally thisclose to putting everything together and cranking out a couple of sweet deals.
I have to admit, I thought things were pretty bad when you were out writing about partaking of a Jamba Juice, or Denny’s, or your warm family Christmas while your assets were becoming a bit more … distressed. I was about ready to throw in the towel when you got into that childish back-and-forth with the No Limits Ladies. I was even about ready to finally give up on you when even Duane pulled out.
But then, I read the latest entry. And now it is all so clear to me. You finally understand who you are. And in that is success. You just need to ride this one out a bit longer, make those sweet deals, and set things straight. Then, your deal pipeline will take you where you want to go.
The kind of self-awareness you have now shown us means that things can only get better. Now go kick some a$$!
February 4th, 2007 at 3:03 am
http://img252.imageshack.us/im.....seyls9.jpg
February 4th, 2007 at 5:11 am
They’re back! http://www.nolimitsladies.com
PS Ever figure out the difference between your needs and your wants?
February 4th, 2007 at 6:08 am
go for it!
February 4th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Casey,
Where have you been? We haven’t seen you in our Sacremento location for two days. We have a sweet deal waiting for you. Buy one wheat grass shot at 30 dollars and get 5 dollars in cash back.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Casey,
I’ll do a little analysis for you for free:
You think that you can turn a few sweet deals and retire at 24 and you believe it to the point where you’ll destroy everything, including your family, friends and financial future to accomplish it.
Your fantasy is not real and the steps you continue to take further prove how far your existence is from reality.
You are functionally insane. The choice of becoming less insane is not an option for you without professional help. You will need to first learn why you think it is a viable goal to retire at 24. Think about what you can offer the world and what you can contribute for the rest of your life. A real adult and meaningful life is centered around giving, not taking.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:08 am
The Myers-Briggs and similar tests are fun and can provide good insight into one’s personality, although they have their obvious limits. Their best application isn’t necessarily understanding yourself, but other people and how various personality traits interact. In my own experience, using them as tools to improve relationships at work and in my relationship has been helpful, although certainly not an end in itself.
I’m an INTP, BTW. When I first got tested at 19 or 20 and I started reading the description, it was like reading a user’s manual on myself. But that was just a starting point for understanding myself and the world around me.
It seems to me that one of Casey’s core problems is that he confuses a “means to an end” with the end result. Or to put it another way, Casey doesn’t recognize a tool as tool; rather, he seems to expect to find fulfillment simply from holding the tool, rather than successfully using the tool to achieve some worthwhile purpose. Whether the tool is money or a personality test, Casey seems more intent on acquiring the tool than using it effectively.
And at the base of this disconnect from reality is Casey’s aversion to any form of work. He seems to believe that if he finds the right tool, it will solve all his problems for him. What he fails to understand is that tools are simply productivity-multipliers: they increase the quantity and quality of one’s work. BUT WORK IS STILL REQUIRED!!!
Casey, until you grasp this fundamental truth about life/economics/etc, you are not going to successful with anything in life. In short, until you understand the basic nature of tools, you will continue to condemn yourself to being a tool yourself.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:59 am
I don’t think people realize how many companies esp large corp use some version of those personality tests and questions to make a hiring decision. Often, they are thinly veiled in a “If you were…how would you…?” type question which are scored later by HR. Whether we think they are a crock or not - some crazy version of it is being used every day to see if a person is a “good fit” for a department. God forbid companies rely on their own abilities to judge someone in an interview on their own….OIY.
February 4th, 2007 at 10:34 am
So just how much closer did this get you to resolving any of your pressing financial issues?
When I ran this for you, it came up that your a BSA. The A is for artist rather that artisan.
February 4th, 2007 at 10:58 am
It’s a shame to see the number of replies to your blog posts are down dramatically… maybe if you were showing some improvements to your situation people would come back, rather than seeing that you’re just taking personality tests & not being productive. Good luck on getting another sponsor.
February 4th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Stop using the word sweet. It makes you sound even dumber than you probably are.
February 4th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Casey - can you please tell us. Have you spoken with people who have gone through foreclosure ? Or who have been in dire straights like yourself ?
What have you learnt from them ?
Please let us know.
Also - what happened with Duane.
Loads O Money
February 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Hey Casey - why dont you get a job with a commercial real estate company, like CB Richard Ellis etc….
That way you could learn the ropes.
What are you actually doing anyway, to further your real estate knowledge ?
( By the way, your ex Dallas house has gone pending )
Loads O Money
February 4th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Every NT (we aren’t too common but tend to stick out in crowds) I’ve ever met had 10 plans for every possible situation or decision, and is only occasionally met with a negative surprise (lots of negative outcomes but the surprises are rare). Knowing the big picture doesn’t mean having a single strategy, it means knowing all of the possible outcomes and deciding that the most likely few are positive (and you have resources to deal with all the negative situations evaluated).
February 4th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Can’t wait to hear you argue this as a defense to your fraud prosecution. Heh.
February 4th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Casey- If the real estate market was not appreciating, you could expect roughly $20k per house in rehabbing gains.
If you could buy, fix, flip 4 houses per year, that would add up to about 80k per year..
IF you worked 16hrs a day at home depot (a stretch for anyone, but pakistani/korean/indian immigrants are known to do it) at $16 per/hr you would make 76800 per year, but with no RISK. The 80k in real estate gains would be open to market risk.
IF you worked that hard in a job paying more than $21/hr you would be making a 6 figure income, without any market risk on your books.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
RANDOM THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING PARADE
–If these are the POSITIVE comments, and he is filtering out the NEGATIVE comments, can you imagine what those NEGATIVE comments must be like?
–Do other readers find many of the comments as hilariously funny as I do? This is more fun than watching to a favorite sitcom.
–Tim from Monterey Bay, is there a way to post some kind of ticking debt clock, showing the daily debt total? There has long been such a clock showing the total Federal debt.
–I am a latecome to this blog. Did Casey use to have more supporters and positive commenters? Now it seems he is down to one, the ever-hopeful, babe-in-the-woods Yneone.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
BETTING POOL–
I will offer 2 to 1 odds on each of Casey’s properties currently in foreclosure that the do go through foreclosure–i.e. no rescues, no buyers, no short sales
2 to 1 odds means if you bet $5, I will pay you $10 if Casey finds buyers for his properties; you pay me $5 if they go through foreclosure.
February 4th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
ESFP
February 4th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Oh chimpCasey,
I’d much rather see a list of what you did each day.
If you are going to waste your time with surveys, I would much rather see funny ones like:
What firearm are you?
What pulp fiction character are you?
What starwars character are you?
You have done more than enough navel gazing in your life, you need to interact with the “outside world” more.
February 4th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I was serious with my comment above. Is there any place on the internet making odds on Casey, and if not, why not?
I honestly don’t understand how this blog attracts so many people trying to persuade Casey to be a productive member of society, like he’s just going to snap out of it. Pearls before swine. I firmly believe he should get some type of mental help, and it seems he has some form of gambling addiction.
But in the meantime, I’m more interested in throwing a couple of bucks here and there and take guesses at his future.
February 4th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
My diagnosis:
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), a term first used by Heinz Kohut in 1971[1], is a form of pathological narcissism acknowledged in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, in the edition known as DSM III-TR. Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by extreme focus on oneself, and is a maladaptive, rigid, and persistent condition that may cause significant distress and functional impairment.
At least five of the following are necessary for a diagnosis (as with many DSM diagnoses, they must form a pervasive pattern; for example, a person who shows these criteria only in one or two relationships or situations would not properly be diagnosed with NPD):
1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by other special people
4. requires excessive admiration
5. strong sense of entitlement
6. takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious or believes others are envious of him or her
9. arrogant affect.
February 4th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_5156356
February 4th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
MISDIAGNOSIS
I’m afraid there has been a misdiagnosis. Casey’s blogs have been reviewed by a panel of expert psychologists and psychistrists across the country, and they agree, unanimously, that his behavior and ramblings are the farthest thing from rational, and the farthest things from being an inventor or an artisan.
The correct medical diagnosis is: ISDB.
IRRESPONSIBLE, SILLY, DELUSIONAL BONEHEAD.
“Creative deals?” More like “Ridiculous scams.”
“Logical, strategic?” More like “Hopeless mess.”
Posters, this piling on is entirely justified because eventually, somehow, it may connect the lad Casey with reality.
There is no sign of this so far; he is still firmly in Caseyland. It is truly amazing; sort of an alternate universe.
To read his tortured rationalizations of his actions would truly be an interesting case study for a “mental health professional.” Any out there?
February 4th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
104. John Galt
February 4th, 2007 at 7:15 pm BETTING POOL–
I will offer 2 to 1 odds on each of Casey’s properties currently in foreclosure that the do go through foreclosure–i.e. no rescues, no buyers, no short sales
2 to 1 odds means if you bet $5, I will pay you $10 if Casey finds buyers for his properties; you pay me $5 if they go through foreclosure.
John Galt,
I will put down $500,000 on each property so that is $4,000,000 if all his properties are saved ( bought.)
Casey: When John Galt lets me know that the money is in escrow, I will buy all four of your properties…
and John-
I KKNOW WHO YOU ARE
February 5th, 2007 at 12:18 am
@ Load o Money #99
“why dont you get a job with a commercial real estate company, like CB Richard Ellis etc….”
There’s no chance in hell a CBRE or Jones Lange Lasalle would hire someone with as much baggage as Casey. Even for a job in the mail room. I work for one of Sacramento’s largest commercial electrical contractors and actually know a few people who work out of the downtown Sacramento CBRE office. They’re top talent even in relatively junior project management positions. On the credit background check alone, there’s no way that Casey could get hired; although his lack of post-secondary education would probably ensure that his resume wouldn’t get more than a 30 second cursory review by a HR clerk.
When Casey does get a dreaded “W2 job” its going to need to be for a relatively small company who either won’t dig very far into his background or might like (or pity) him enough to give him a shot (although even then, its going to be an uphill battle). But a Fortune 500 company is almost certainly out of the question.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Stop blabbering and post something worth reading
February 5th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Case,
Why don’t you just go on a Real Estate investor talk show and talk about what you have left in your portfolio and try selling it off to investors.
It’s a good thing your so young because you have the time “I guess” to screw things up for yourself so bad like you have.
Dude, obviously “by all the investors on here leaving a reply” you have a semi popular blog. Maybe you should figure out how to generate some reveune with the blog?
It’s tuff to feel any compassion for you. Your sorta the Kevin Federline of real estate investors.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Bluto, dead on.
I’m an NT myself, and no way Casey fits.
And of course, he can’t possibly be both an NT and an SP.
My feeling is that Casey is — as usual — looking for excuses.
The MBTI tools are useful in understanding yourself and the kinds of situations that would be best for you. Personally I tend to look for jobs that allow me to work from a strategic level, but not deal too much with repetitive or detail-oriented activities. When needed, I hire people or bring in partners with those talents.
BUT, the success has been because I understood myself FIRST, and picked the appropriate occupations SECOND. I didn’t jump into some occupation for flakey reasons then spend lots of time using MBTI to justify my success or failure, which appears to be what Casey has done. God knows why he picked Real Estate, but clearly he has fixated on it regardless of any talents or temperments he may have that would suggest a different profession.
So what do the various online sources recommend as careers for ENTPs (assuming Casey is one, which I doubt)?
Lawyers
Psychologists
Entrepreneurs
Photographers
Consultants
Engineers
Scientists
Actors
Sales Representatives
Marketing Personnel
Computer Programmer, Systems Analyst, or Computer Specialist
And what if he’s really an ESTP?
Sales Representatives
Marketing Personnel
Police / Detective Work
Paramedic / Emergency Medical Technician
PC Technicians or Network Cablers
Computer Technical Support
Entrepreneurs
In none of these do I see the skills needed to start and complete a real estate project. I do note that the marketing theme seems to run through both of them, and the success of this blog suggests to me that maybe, just maybe, there’s something there.
Also, on a related note, there are plenty of great careers for people with mild (non-debilitating) forms of ADD without medication. I’m proof of that. Most traders I know — for example — tend to have some level of ADD, as do most pilots. ADD is also pretty common in creative professions, which again brings up that marketing theme from above…
-btc
February 5th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Casey will prosper in America eventually. He has the same attitude that I’ve seen in many US CEO’s. Passive non-involvement in the actual nuts and bolts of wealth building combined with ever the vaguely good news on his lips of “teams” working on this or that.
The getting up at 5 AM is good too. Americans, really admire “early risers” even if it makes no difference whatsoever in productivity.
All these people espousing “hard work” are blowing so much hooey. I can think of several older relatives of mine who worked hard all their life and had bupkus to show for it in the end. The way to make money right now (2007) is to set up as a military contractor and watch the bucks roll in.
Keep the bullshit flowing, Casey, you’re very much on the right track.
February 6th, 2007 at 12:54 am
J. Whittimer Lightning,
I thought the same thing when I read John Galt’s post.
John ain’t so good at math.
February 6th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
“But also not surprised you don’t find it all that useful.”
Yeah, a lot of the ex post facto classification seems to be of the sort: “Because you answered “Yes” to the questions about preferring to analyze problems, this test concludes that you prefer to analyze problems.”
The last such test like this I took was in 1970….it was the MMPI (the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, as I recall). A much longer test than the online Myer-Briggs. The “recommended careers” for me were the usual B.S.
One cannot expect such tests as these to really “get at” either core competencies or interests. They may actually do more harm than good–imagine those who picked a major in college based on what a M-B or MMPI test recommended!
“The theory says you and I are unusually self-aware, which may be why I continue to be so astounded at the fact that so many people (not just Casey) put so much effort and money into things that they just have no skills or temperment to be successful at, while I never even bother with things that I know I can’t do well. ”
Ditto for me. Nearly everything I do comes “easily,” because I generally stick to things that interest me and that I have competency in. Music interests me, for example, but I have no competency, so the most I do is noodle around with my electric guitar (never getting very far!).
Casey’s short attention span, inabilty to follow through, and gullibility (not just in real estate, but even in seeing when people are pulling his leg here), means he should stay very far away from real estate, investing, etc.
BTW, one thing about my new “INTJ” assessment that did strike me as uncannily accurate was the “J” part. J is for judgemental, which is true. I am constant underwhelmed by people around me and see instantaneously major errors they are making.
Which is very probably why am here on this blog.
So in this sense the INTJ is quite accurate about me.
–Tim
February 6th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Tim MBA,
“J” is for “judging” not “judgemental.” I find the use of the term misleading.
J’s want to judge situations and make decisions. P’s (perceivers) want to leave things open ended and maintain infinite options. Judgers want things settled, Perceivers want thing open-ended. Judgers plan. Perceivers act more spontaneously.
That said, INTJs tend to be associated with very judgemental and perfectionist personalities. I am one myself. Which is yet another nice way of saying that all these things do is neatly describe
I remember MPPI and a whole bunch of other tests I’ve been through. Mostly they were useless because they were really focused on trying to pigeonhole you into one or another “standard” job categories. Mostly I’ve tended to find myself in jobs that are outside those standard cubbyholes, and the tests give you no insights into those areas. I remember taking one that was particularly focused on business school grads, and realizing only too late that it was designed to pigeonhole you into one of about 30 different “typical MBA careers.” Everybody who didn’t fit was told they needed to focus either on “entrepreneurship” or “general management,” which was the catch-all default.
I’ve known several people who have benefitted from this stuff, mostly because it pointed out key issues that they needed to focus on to be successful, and even more so it helped their management understand what they were dealing with.
I remember one guy who worked for me who was a classic — and somewhat extreme introvert. One of the most talented guys I have ever met, but really not much of a team player. He was really frustrated because he was constantly getting dinged on his reviews because no matter what training they sent him to, he always got all 1’s out of 5 on the “teamwork” portion of his annual review, which company policies mandated as having a 20% weighting.
Since his job involved limited interaction with others, I thought it was stupid. I had him take the online test and brought it up with HR and others. In the end, couldn’t get the stupid rules changed, but knowing what I knew about him, I was able to give him some advice and eventually refered him to a former boss of mine who was willing and able to employ him for what he was really good at, and ignore all the things that he was naturally not good at. That was five years ago and last I heard he was still there, leading a small team where he can focus on the work with limited exposure to anybody outside his immediate organization.
-btc