How I Made My First Million-Dollar Deal Happen

12 Sept 2025 · 12 min
12:03

Dean Graziosi recounts, from memory, his first million-dollar real estate deal ~30 years earlier when he was in his mid-20s. He describes buying and subdividing swampy/undeveloped parcels in a small town, solving drainage, negotiating seller-financing with an elderly owner (Mark Miller), selling small parcels to neighbors to remove opposition, and ultimately selling the development to a buyer from New York (Joel) for a total of $1.3 million. Key lessons emphasized: be willing to do uncomfortable work, innovate where others see problems, ask directly, use creative financing and presales, and persist despite naysayers.

Questions this video answers

$1.3 million

Mark Miller

A buyer named Joel (from New York City)

About 30 years ago (he was in his mid-20s at the time)

Chapters

More from Dean

11:07
youtube.com

Stop Worrying (It’s Stealing 5 Years of Your Life)

5d ago
0:30
youtube.com

Get better at handling frustration

1w ago
0:16
youtube.com

Don’t let the loud minority stop you

1w ago
0:21
youtube.com

Visualize the year you want to have

1w ago
0:51
youtube.com

Face the problem before it becomes a crisis

1w ago
0:28
youtube.com

Want Bigger Success? Solve Bigger Problems

1w ago
0:12
youtube.com

You find what you’re looking for online

1w ago
0:19
youtube.com

I didn’t have to repeat my parents’ story

1w ago
0:44
youtube.com

Delete Instagram App Between Posts

1w ago
0:15
youtube.com

Get amazing at what you’re already good at

1w ago
0:18
youtube.com

Honesty is attractive

1w ago
See all content