Is this thing on?

Talent is only about 10%. Of course if you have none, it's 90%. But if you think you have none, you're doing the wrong thing. Drive, routine, practice, shrewdness, noticing the opportunities as they come to you, that's most of it.

Real estate is hard and lean for me right now, so I am falling back on the practice and routine part of things. I'll discuss more in a few days; I'm sure by then my insights will be funnier.

By the way, $8000 wrote me a very kind goodbye email telling me that the apartment was just too expensive but could they "bother" us (me and the biz partner) toward the end of the year should they find themselves in the market again? I was quite pleased with my instincts toward professionalism and kindness. In other words, my return email was great! Go me!