b'How to Legally Raise Private MoneyStop and think about this. Write it down and practice saying it in front of a mirror. This mind-shift is crucial to your success as a syndicator. You need to replace any mental image you may currently have about asking for money with the image of a well-dressed Wall Street investment banker or stockbroker. What do they do? Do they ask for money? Sure, but they are in the business of offering investment opportunities. They offer investors the opportunity to increase their wealth by investing in something that will provide a return of their invested dollars. You are simply offering an alternative to the stock market or other traditional investment vehicles that investors both want and need in order to achieve their financial goals! Bankers want to lend money to people who dont need it. You shouldnt act like you are desperate for money. An air of indifference will go a long way toward attracting investors. People want what they cant have.A good way to approach new investors is to say, I dont have anything I can offer you right now, but I may have some future opportunities once we get to know each other better. Not only will this approach help you comply with some of your legal obligations regarding pre-existing relationships that we will cover later, but alsoif done rightit will place you in a position where investors will be pursuing you to be included in future offerings. Wellcoverthestepsindevelopinginvestorrelationshipsinalater chapter. For now, flip the switch in your mind: You are not asking for money, you are offering investment opportunities that your investors want and need. This includes your family, friends and even the extremely wealthy. Once you have successfully changed your thinking in this way, talking to prospective investors about your investment opportunities will become much easier. If you dont believe me, take a poll among people you know and ask them what kind of returns they are currently making on their invest-ments. Their numbers may shock you, as they are likely to be much lower than you expected, and they may be much lower than what you would be willing to offer. Doing this exercise is important for two reasons. First, it will give you confidence that your opportunity is better than what your investors cur-rently have, and second, it will help you determine what kind of returns 14'