Repeat after me: Always get a signed contract. Why? ‘Cause if it ain’t in writing, it didn’t happen! Trevor Mauch, the CEO of Carrot, learned this the hard way after seeing his father lose big money on a handshake deal. Listen in to hear what Trevor learned about contracts and insurance, and learn the tools he uses to stay inspired, energized, and pushing forward with gratitude every day.  Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone, and never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com. If you’re tired of doing real estate alone, enroll in Leigh Brown University and be sure to use your special “CSIRE” discount code at checkout for $10 off your subscription. Time Stamped Show Notes 00:45 - Introducing Trevor, the CEO of Carrot and an online marketing expert for real estate investors and agents who lives in Roseburg, Oregon 01:30 - He started investing as a college student; he’s a buy and hold investor and usually invests in rural places and places he has lived 03:40 - The hardest thing about the first property investment 04:00 - He was worried about not being taken seriously and couldn’t get a loan because he was young and didn’t have credit 04:50 - He realized that other people had done it before, so he figured out that there must be a way; he had to get over limiting beliefs  5:50 - He’s good at building businesses and has picked up properties every 2-3 years or so 06:30 - The vacation rental market and COVID 6:33 - Mid-April cancellations were happening at a fast pace, but now his vacation rentals are getting booked up faster than ever; it may be the best year yet 06:45 - He has commercial buildings, too, and wants to be a part of changing their downtown from the inside out 08:00 - Trevor’s CSIRE story 08:12 - His dad’s deal in Klamath Falls, OR was for a historical building, an old Ford auto dealership from the 1930s; it was Egyptian themed 8:40 - His dad tried to make it an event center; it was a handshake deal with no contract 09:05 - Within 6 months, the business partner filed that he had no claim of ownership for the property, and a snowstorm hit and destroyed ⅔ of the property 09:36 - HIs dad had put in a few hundred thousand dollars at that point and ended up losing the property 09:50 - The lesson 09:55 - No matter how smart you are, or how much you trust your business partner, always get a contract signed 10:55 - Get insurance and make sure the appropriate names are on the policy 11:40 - Roseburg, OR; an amazing gem with two rivers running through the town 12:20 - They have lots of outdoor activities like fly fishing and cycling, and have about 35 wineries 12:50 - The Vision Story 13:05 - Trevor does a Vision Story where he envisions everything he wants to experience in the future 13:35 - He gets excited about his own story; ten years ago he imagined the exact home and view he enjoys now 15:10 - He reads his vision story on a quarterly basis so he can get to where he wants to go 17:00 - On gratefulness 17:25 - His previous companies didn’t energize him and he didn’t feel grateful for what he had 17:45 - He created the Energy Audit to determine what’s giving and taking energy in his life 19:00 - He can then determine what to delegate and what to spend more time doing; this is inspired by Dan Sullivan’s Strategic Coach tools 21:03 - How to reach Trevor; go to Carrot, check out his podcast CarrotCast, and find him on Facebook Free Live Training: How to Attract Your Best Clients by Flipping Your Marketing to "Evergreen" 3 Key Points Don’t let limiting beliefs stop you from having a big vision. Set a timeline for your goals.  Get contracts!