As we set out to launch the all new Lifeonaire.com recently, there are many things new about Lifeonaire that the world will soon be introduced to. It’s a new season in the life of the company. A season where we anticipate and expect tremendous growth—it’s sort of a new beginning. For years God has been preparing the foundation, teaching me, stretching me, guiding me and correcting me as I have been bringing the Lifeonaire message to the world.
I recall it was very tempting for a time to go back in time and to take the Faith Corner articles I’d written years ago for the Flipping Homes website that I founded back in 2001 to help populate this new Lifeonaire web site. But then I felt challenged to focus on the future, not on the past. It’s not that the past was bad, it was very good. It is why Lifeonaire exists today, and the past helped to form what Lifeonaire has grown into today.
The “Faith Corner” controversy…
I remember when I decided to add a “Faith Corner” to my original website, I was told it would be the death of my business—that my website would never grow and that I should take it down. The arguments coming at me seemed very compelling, but there was one thing that the well-meaning naysayers didn’t consider:
It was God who put it on my heart to have a “Faith Corner” on the website, and it was Him I wanted to please.
It’s also why I currently host routine faith-based Foundation group calls at no cost each month. I hope you can join me for one sometime. 🙂
What I didn’t know…
I didn’t know much about running a website at the time. I knew little about websites or digital marketing, and I made many mistakes. But in spite of all my mistakes, I remember how the website just exploded into a powerhouse—a friendly watering hole for real estate investors all over the U.S. to come, learn, share and grow together.
It wasn’t my large team with internet savvy, nor was it our super advanced, hi-tech website. It wasn’t the professionally written copy and incredible articles that made us grow, because we had none of that. I am 100% convinced that it was the heart of Jesus that drew people to that website. Thousands of people came every day. A thriving community of investors came together through our forum and many of them are recognized as the most influential people in the industry today.
God also put something else on my heart…
In August of 2003 he gave me this word Lifeonaire.
It was a word I didn’t really understand when it came to me. I’d never heard of anything like it before, but it intrigued me. It’s a word that’s been a burden and a blessing to me ever since that day—a word I’ve had to not only learn about, but something that I’ve had to experience myself before I could be ready to share it with the world.
One thing I did understand clearly was that I’d been given stewardship over something powerful—a concept that didn’t come from me, but was being offered to me, and I was being asked to share it with the world.
At first, I thought it was so big that I needed to steer away from real estate investing and create a whole new platform to share Lifeonaire with the world. Initially, while sharing Lifeonaire it was with whoever would listen and it flipped (no pun intended) their worlds upside down. The Lifeonaire message challenged the mindsets that we, as a culture, have adopted. There were some who wanted to run from it, and others who wanted more of it.
I had a difficult time in the early days trying to bring the message to the whole world. It wasn’t working. I didn’t have the same credibility I’ve enjoyed within the real estate investing community with others outside that community.
One day during my quiet time, I was asking God about the difficulties I was having with bringing the Lifeonaire message to the people, and he brought back to my mind a discussion I had many years ago with a mentor and friend of mine, who is also a pastor. I was telling him how I was feeling sort of guilty with how much money I was making as a real estate investor at the time. I was earning more in a month then most people earned in a year.
Then my friend asked me a question I didn’t see coming…
“Steve, if you made, say, $30,000 a year…would real estate investors listen to you or even pay much attention to you?”
To which I replied, “No, of course not.” Then he said…
“What if you made $30,000, $40,000 or more per month? Would you have their attention then?”
“Of course.”
And his next statement is the reason why I’m here today—it’s powerfully shaped my life in a way that has brought so many blessings into my life. He said…
“Steve, there’s a reason why you are being blessed with the income you have—it gives you a credible voice of influence in an industry that I can’t effectively reach. Never forget from whom your blessings are coming, Steve.”
I was deeply challenged in that moment, and knew exactly why God was blessing me.
Outside real estate circles, very few people knew who Steve Cook was at that time. But now I had a much clearer understanding of the plans that God had for me. I didn’t know exactly how life would unfold, nor did I see in advance some of the big trials that would come my way as I followed God down this path. And I certainly couldn’t have imagined the wonderful blessings that I would experience along the way either.
But I did know that God would be with me. And he has been.
God has been faithful.
He’s been my friend through thick and thin. He’s loved me even when I’ve been undeserving of it, and he has brought me here today, to this new season in my life and in the life of Lifeonaire. I’m looking forward to seeing how God moves, and how he uses the Lifeonaire message to change lives and to draw others closer to Him.
I hope you’ll join me in the journey.
Blessings,
—Steve
This was truly inspiring. I’m a newbie investor looking for the right direction as well. Thank you!
Cyril,
We are always trying to point people in the right direction. I hope you make the most of what we have to offer.
Blessings,
Steve
Steve, thanks for all that you have done with Lifeonaire. My life has truly changed for the better. And I remember those days with the forum. We had an awesome online community. I wish that we could somehow have something like that again. Thanks again, Bryan Lynchard a.k.a. rehabber7.
Bryan,
I’m with you, I really miss those days as well. But I do want to encourage you, let’s make this blog active. Simply replying to this blog is very helpful and will begin to gain more and more traction. We’ll continue to work on creating the best community that we can.
Blessings,
Steve
Steve, I’ve been with you going all the way back to when you had that 3-way website partnership – probably around 2003. I even remember reading your posts and learning from you on that “other” forum. Looking forward to much more.
Thanks Steve. In my reading this morning I found this which seemed appropriate: “Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”
Proverbs 15:30 NIV
http://bible.com/111/pro.15.30.niv
Sean,
Thank you for the encouraging word. I’m guessing that you are someone who reads Proverbs each day. Proverbs 1 on the 1st, and Proverbs 15 on the 15th. Hence sharing this scripture 🙂 Great way to increase in wisdom.
Blessings,
Steve
Steve,
I can not say enough what meeting you and learning about Lifeonaire has meant for our family. Your faith calls and the morning faith time at the Lifeonaire retreats give deepening relationships with all of us. The fact that this was God lead, inspired and birthed is the solid foundation that most companies choose to ignore… thank you for listening to Him, and to ask Him for direction, and to put it into action.😊
Making our last farm payment this afternoon! 😀 Thanks be to God and Lifeonaire!
Trish
Trish,
I’m so proud of you and Matt and how far you have come. This is incredible news.
Blessings,
Steve
Thanks Steve! It’s fitting I read this article today since we are blessing our two younger children today through our church. Lifeonaire has changed my outlook on life and have been trying to encourage my wife to listen to the audiobook. I believe it will make our family stronger and happier! Thank You!!!
Tony,
Share it, pass it along. Your family will be stronger for it. Surround yourselves with others who are also passionate about living life.
Blessings,
Steve
Great post Steve! Sharing…
Amen – blessed to have known you all these years!
Great Post Friend!
Great article. It is awesome to see how far God has brought you. Continue to use the platform He gives you to influence others to become followers of Christ.
Remember the past with your sights to the future!
Awesome Steve. I keep you in my prayers. I know your upcoming revitalization will bring wonderful help to many. I am rethinking everything because of you and your team ! Bye Bye rat race !! I’m stepping off the train !
Bernard,
I love it.
Bye Bye rat race!! I’m stepping off the train!
Never heard that one before. May have to use that one some time in my teaching.
Thank you for your prayers and please share the message. I find that for those who share it, it’s easier for the to live it.
Blessings,
Steve
Steve,
While it was through Real Estate Investing that my husband and I were introduced to Lifeonaire, where my vision has taken me is not Real Estate Investing, but Life Investing.
I now call myself a Chief Life Officer. Lifeonaire coaching helped me find the courage to retire from my J-O-B and follow my vision. We moved to Florida to be able to be available to help both sets of parents. In the two years we’ve been here we’ve lost my father-in-law and taken my mother-in-law into our home and under our wing, and our daughter and her daughter also live with us. We have our stumbles from time to time, but we are forging a new household and home. I’ve also steppead up to help my paents on a number of occasions when they’ve needed it. I could not have been present and available to help our aging parents and our granddaughter if I was still working my J-O-B.
Our bank account may not be large, but our hearts are filled. The role of CLO (Chief Life Officer) is challenging, but I’m stretching to reach my vision of having our home be the “family homestead”.
Thank you for helping me find my vision.
Lil,
It is so incredible to see how your life was so positively impacted. Thank you for sharing with us all.
Blessings,
Steve