People generally get into real estate investing because they want to make money. Great, right? But here’s the thing. Making money is only part of the equation. You also have to learn how to keep it and manage it. And in order to do that you need to have a wealthy mindset.

No one is born with an innate ability to manage and grow money. While we all have different resources and different opportunities available to us, I firmly believe that everyone has the ability to learn how to manage money and control their spending so that they can live a financially comfortable life. You just need to be willing to take the time to study and understand it.

In order to develop this “wealthy mindset,” there are a few things you should do.

Define your wealth

What does wealth mean to you? Is it money, lifestyle, or is it more specific? Maybe it’s having a certain amount in the bank, or maybe a legacy that you want to pass down to your kids. For real estate investors, it could be a certain number of properties or the overall value of a portfolio that helps you define your wealth. Regardless, if you don’t know what wealth means to you you won’t be able to achieve it. Don’t just guess – give it serious thought so that you can pursue your goal in a focused way.

Learn about money

This can never be overstated. If you want to be wealthy you need to learn about money. Learn how it works, what it can do, and where you should invest it. Take the time to study it. Take a course, talk to wealthy people and ask their advice, speak to a financial planner. Don’t be shy or embarrassed! Money can be a confusing topic and since we don’t learn much about it in school we have to find other sources of information. Do it, and do it now.

Be appreciative and optimistic

Attitude is everything, and sometimes it’s easy to believe that you’ll never be wealthy and that other people will always have more than you.  But it’s so important that you turn this thinking around and start appreciating what you have, and also start believing that it’s possible to get more. Simply put, if you perceive yourself to be poor and lacking in opportunities, you won’t work to improve your life. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Focus on the positive and what you already have, and things will look a lot brighter.

Reinforce your beliefs with actions

Thinking one way and acting another won’t do you any good. In order to develop a wealthy mindset, you need to be constantly reinforcing your beliefs about money. If you want to build wealth you need to learn not to spend money just because you have it, and always focus on return on investment.

Find like-minded people

Not everyone you spend time with needs to have the same amount of money that you do. They can have far more or far less, but it’s important that they have a somewhat similar attitude. Spending time with someone who doesn’t respect money and spends it frivolously can have a negative impact on your own spending. Spending time with like-minded people will help you stay the course.

Stay the course

No matter what, never waver from your wealth-building goals. Changing your mindset and your attitude can be challenging. It takes time, but you’ve decided what’s important to you and only you can make these things happen.

Finances can be complicated and it’s up to you to determine the best procedures and techniques for growing your own wealth. But you can’t underestimate the importance of mindset and attitude when it comes to creating and maintaining long-term wealth. It’s not about being smart, and it’s not even about education – it’s about having the right mindset that will lead you to make smart decisions.