Dave struggled as a student. Stories of the Great Depression and the end of World War II made him frugal and focused. He followed the advice of several self-help books. His first major step towards getting his own life right was by choosing real estate for a career, where judgement, common sense, and a good plan were more valuable than the world's idea of "school smarts." Dave realized throughout his life that he could turn his perceived weaknesses into advantages: He overcame his timid nature by "acting as if" he had courage. He dealt with his dyslexia by attempting fewer things, staying organized, keeping his life simple, and gathering more and better information before he made decisions. Because he couldn't process as much information at one time as many of his competitors, Dave was cautious about the number of properties he could handle. As a result, he survived the three real estate recessions when many of his more capable competitions failed. To offset anxiety, he exercised hard and often. By staying fit, he was able to ride dirt bikes over thousands of miles of fabulous trails in many parts of the world. At 70+, Dave runs the Great Silverado Foot Race and rides many of the most scenic and challenging mountain bike trails in the country. For his profession, he worked for companies that constructed buildings for retail chains and would allow him to take most of his pay in partial ownership of the buildings. That gave him the highest long-term growth potential with the least risk. Twenty-five years later, with the mortgages paid off, the properties generate cash flow every year. His wife, Dianne, handled the kids and the house and kept their lives in balance. That allowed him to accumulate wealth, head a charity, and mentor youths and adults in prisons and halfway houses. His joy is helping others increase their potential and enjoyment of life.