Part 4b: The Waterfalling Estate (The Finale)
What is this place Patrick? I said.
He responded, “It’s called the San Diego Safari Park. We’ll be spending a few hours here.”
It was my final presence practice coaching session for the year. Just a day earlier, I had received the scary news that Sothebys intended to sue me for over $6mm if I did not follow through with my purchase of the Waterfalling Estate.
“Why don’t you go ahead and turn your phone to silent for the next two hours until lunch”, he said.
Such a simple request right? But, oh, the power of that damn device residing in our pockets. It has the capability to bring both the best and worst news. The duality is mind boggling. No wonder its addictive powers.
In my case, it felt like a heavy cloud in my hand. The news it brought yesterday was all bad, and in this moment, was unresolved. Regardless, I heeded my coach’s wishes, turned it to silent and placed it deep in my pocket like a heavy weight.
After a solid two hours of walking through the park discussing and activating presence, we sat for lunch.
Sensing my thirst, Patrick said, “Go ahead. You can look at your phone. This is a good time for that.”
Pulling it out as if it was the key to the Universe, I hurriedly checked my text messages.
Oh, what’s this? I thought. The realtor for the seller of the Waterfalling Estate said she had promising news. One day earlier I had accused her of being in cohorts with Sothebys and the seller. I threatened to sue her and everyone involved in the deal.
This was my one regretful Ego led misstep after making the calm decision to leave the Eckhart Tolle seminar to walk to the beach to sit with my emerging pain body.
On my way to the solitude of the beach, my Ego insisted that it would be a great idea to call everyone to yell at them. Fortunately for me, nobody was answering, which enraged my Ego even more.
The realtor was the one poor soul who answered my call. How dare she answer on the third ring!, my Ego screamed in my head!
She had to endure what must have sounded like a lunatic. Once I finally let her speak, it became clear that she was not aware of Sothebys Notice of Default Letter. I spent the next five minutes apologizing. I kept my newfound belief that I am not my Ego’s thoughts to myself.
This prompted me to put my phone away and recommit to my plan of sitting in the beach working through my pain.
Fast forward less than 24-hours later. I asked Patrick for permission to call the realtor.
On my call, the realtor says, “The owner feels badly about what Sothebys is doing to you and wants you to know he had nothing to do with it. Further, he is willing to carry back (this means he was willing to act as the lender) if you will are willing to stay in escrow and make him an offer!”
Completely taken off guard by this latest development, I calmly responded. Well, that’s very generous of him. I can do this, but I’m doubtful he will like my offer. I kniw exactly what it needs to be and it will be asking a lot of him!
“What offer do you have in mind?” The realtor said.
I replied, I need him to carry back 80% LTV at 5% over three years until interest rates decline and I can refinance, and take him out.
The best offer I had from a lender thus far in this crazy inflation time, was 65% LTV at 9.2% interest. So this, would be considerably better and enticing enough for me to reconsider.
“Ok, I’ll communicate your offer. Thank you Eric.” the realtor replied.
Before I hung up, I felt compelled to apologize once again for my behavior the day before in my triggered state. While my Ego only wants to be right and feel superior, my Soul knows when it is in the wrong and needs to ask for forgiveness.
“That sounded promising”, Patrick said.
After filling him in, I asked him to help me access the situation from a presence practice perspective. As my best friend, he was already up to speed on everything. He knew that I made a firm decision to step away from this purchase for good reasons. What he would say next I did not expect.
“You made the courageous decision to pass on this property for all the right reasons. You identified it as an Egoic purchase. No way you would have made that soulful a decision just one year ago” Patrick said. “Now, the Universe has decided to reward you by giving you the property anyway, at a lessor price and on your terms!”
I stared at my best friend as my heart filled with gratitude for our friendship, his coaching, our five years journey coaching bliss together, this epically soulful day and his words.
He could tell by my warm knowing smile exactly what I needed next.
“Eric, do you know how to differentiate between something being guided from your Ego versus your Soul?” Patrick gently asked.
My silence gave him my answer.
Patrick then proceeded to give my greatest presence practice coaching wisdom to date. And one that will guide me the rest of my life.
He said, “The Ego wants grandiose. The Soul wants a grand adventure! Find a way to make this property a grand adventure and you will find peace, joy and self-love.”
Two months later on January 13th, I took possession of the Waterfalling Estate on behalf of twenty-two souls.
Who are these twenty-two souls? Very close friends, my wife, former mentees in Bliss Champions, other badasses in the personal development world that I admire, close friends who have asked me to mentor them on real estate over the years, family members, and my beloved staff that helped me create Bliss Island. Even the realtor was invited! Every last one hand-picked by me. For the lion’s share, the Waterfalling Estate would be the first piece of real estate they had ever owned!
My investor pitch, “I am going on a Grand Adventure. Would you like to join me!”
It was by far the mightiest, easiest and fastest raise of capital in my entire professional career.
Thank you Universe! Thank you Patrick Combs. Thank you Soul. Thank you to all who said YES!
