I hardly ever send personal emails on Sundays.
However, I had something on my heart and after my morning tea, I drafted up an email, that’s quite lengthy actually, but I was spilling myself into it. I shared things I haven’t told people before.
I could not believe the response I got. I had email after email after email come back with people relating to my story. They could see themselves in that story, one way or the other. So, I decided to post it here.
I will not break anyone’s trust by naming names here or sharing other’s stories in emails to me. If you would like to share your story or you have a comment you’d like to make, feel free to share it in comments.
Here’s my email:
______________________________________
Hi,
It’s Sunday. I normally do not send out
personal emails on Sundays but my heart
was heavy and I wanted to share a phone
call with you I received yesterday.
The heaviness comes from knowing that
this is typical of so many families and
individuals who are terrified to do
anything in terms of starting their
home based business.
I was laying awake last night thinking
how grateful I am for taking action in
changing my situation and if people
only knew what was possible and could
get out of their comfort zone, what a
difference it would make in their lives.
So I want to share some info with you
that I haven’t shared before.
The phone call I received yesterday . . . . .
It was an individual that I spoke to
when I first got started in Global
almost two years ago. He was looking
at joining but said he didn’t have
the money.
At that time, I sorta related to him
because I didn’t have the money either.
The only difference between the two of
us, are three things:
1) I found a way to get started
regardless of not having the money
and he didn’t.
2) I wanted a change more than he did.
3) I had a bigger mindset than he did.
I was scared stiff but I knew the
alternative was bankruptcy.
***At that time I was facing bankruptcy
and had $110K in credit card debt
alone. This is from living on credit
cards to stay out of bankruptcy court
when my real estate business
crashed in 2006. I had business
obligations that had to be paid.
***I had to put my start up costs on two
separate credit cards, which was the
last of my credit. That meant, if I wanted
to eat, it would be going to a food pantry.
***I had just come out of a failed home
business because I had made wrong
choices about the company, product,
mentor and marketing strategies. That
tuition (not failure) ran me $35K.
***I was trying to keep 3 properties afloat
because I couldn’t rent them.
***I was eating rice and popcorn
because it was cheap and went a long
way in keeping the hunger pains away.
***I was picking up coins I found on
the walkways and thinking to myself,
“am I this desperate?” Yeah, I was.
After all, if I found just .49, it would
buy a small bag of rice.
***I went from a high 6 figure earner
in real estate to low 5 figures overnight.
Now I could hardly survive. I really
didn’t want to file bankruptcy.
***I was selling anything I could, canceling
TV services, cutting back on everything
I possibly could.
I began generating income with my GRN
business. It wasn’t everything, but it was
sure a start in the right direction. I was
able to eat properly and I began to
chip away at these credit card bills.
My business grew in relation to my
mindset and skillsets.
This individual calls me about every
6 months ago to see how I’m doing
and he shares that he’s still on my list,
he’s watching my videos, he comes to
my trainings, and he’s been following
my journey. I always share with him
that I’m so glad I took action to get
started. He’s never ready to get
started because he still lacks the
money to do so.
We hang up, I continue to learn and
grow, continue to implement what I
learn, create new content, start new
blogs, make more videos, attend
events, go to seminars, network with
more successful people than I am
and be about creating my success.
Well, back to my phone call . . . .
This man called me yesterday. He’s
still in the exact same position he
was almost 2 years ago when I
first talked to him. He’s still
waiting for the money to show up
so he can get started.
I hung up the phone and
just pondered for a minute of
all that I’ve accomplished in
that same 2 year period.
I had the same fears, but I
didn’t allow that to stop me.
I was financially worse off than
he was, but I didn’t allow that
to stop me.
The difference was . . . .
I wanted a change in my life so
badly that I would do whatever
I had to, to ensure that happened.
* I became a study of success.
* I changed my mindset through personal development.
* I implemented what I learned.
* I failed forward.
Even during this economy, my
business has continued to grow.
I stroked a check paying off
another credit card that had a
balance of $6,993.52 just this
morning.
*Today, my credit card balance is down to $41K.
*I’m taking vacations,
*I don’t consult my checkbook before going out to dinner
or buying an outfit, or having my hair done or giving to
a good cause, or deciding to take a trip.
Have I arrived yet? No.
My goal is to be completely
credit card debt free by
this time next year. I’m
still maintaining properties
that I cannot sell because of
the economy. Otherwise, my
debt would already be paid off.
If you knew my monthly outgo
each month you’d suffer from
jaw drop so I’ll spare you the
details.
In the meantime, this man
who I spoke to two years
ago, 6 months ago and
yesterday, is still in bondage.
Because Ashley is starting
her senior year, I’ve had to
stay somewhat grounded.
She will be in college next
year, then I’m off to travel
the world.
I hope to talk to this man
one more time as I prepare
to see the world. It will be
just under three years.
I will have gone from $110K
in credit card debt and eating
popcorn to being debt free
and traveling the world in 3
years. You may not think
that to be a big deal, but to
me, it is. We all measure
success differently.
If I do get the chance to talk
with this man, I suspect he will
tell me he wants to get started
someday, as soon as he finds
the money to do so.
Nothing will happen in your
life to change your situation
until you decide to make a
move.
Entrepreneurship is NOT
for everyone. It takes a
mindset and the willingness
to learn how to market.
But with those two ingredients,
you can do anything.
I’m a 50 year old baby
boomer for goodness
sake. I knew nothing
about computers when I
started.
What I did know, is I absolutely
knew where I wanted to be in
my life and it wasn’t at bondage
and struggle level. I’m a free
spirit and needed to be free.
I have found that.
I just wanted to be
authentic with you, allow
you to see that I’m still
on my journey and hopefully
my story will inspire you.
We all have a story. What’s yours?
Debbie
________________________________________
If you are willing, I’d love to hear about your journey. Others would love to hear about your journey. If we would all just be a little more authentic, quit the hype junk, start helping each other and support each other, for goodness sakes, the world would be a much happier place and more people would find the courage and commitment to succeed.
If you have already arrived in your journey and have all you dreamed about, I’d love to hear about that. It’s stories like yours that I soak up and take encouragement from.
If you’re still on your journey like I am, let’s connect and support each other.
If you’re still on the sidelines watching your life pass by, I don’t know what else I can tell you. I will continue to encourage you to soul search about what you want in life and to go after it. I will share with you strategies and marketing to help you succeed, but you have to do your part. You have to bring desire, vision and energy to get it done.
When my journey is more complete, I’m thinking of writing a book about it. There’s so much more nobody knows about my story and I hope to inspire a lot of people.
Blessing to you.
Leave your comments 🙂
Wow, that was inspiring. I think many people, including myself can relate to an extent to what you went through.
Totally agree with the fact that sometimes when you know you should do it – you should do it. What stops many is FEAR. I’m glad to have you as a mentor Debbie because you stare FEAR in the face and proceed along your journey.
All the best –
Nic
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for your story. “Heavy hearted” is a good description of how I feel when so many I know are still in the same place or worse.
When I left the x I had not much–high school education, plus courses of all kinds because I love to learn. Think I had $50 and had been out of the workforce for 16 years.
Too many details to go into, but took upgrading, landed a job, bought a condo, sold during the height of the bubble, met both go-getters and marginalized people. It’s the people with either depression or brain injuries, or born deficient–so many people are on meds–that I feel for. But observing them over the years there are recurring themes of “unable or unwilling” to make it.
Funny, those who struggled perpetually were an inspiration compared to some “normal” well-meaning close friends & relatives who said “don’t do it” “you’ll never make it” when I bought real estate, and feared for my financial stability when I made a big move home across the country. I think I had 10 nay-sayers…
There comes a point where you realize how precious time is and there are all kinds of people to help who are stepping up, pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and these kinds of people in business make us come more alive, get more done and eventually help the “poor in spirit” in a larger, more sustaining way.
Fortunately I have some friends that believe in me…I’m pretty much a hopeful realist. And I’ve noticed that the high-powered people I know are funny and kind, and love serving others, getting involved, initiators and great to be around–they need help, too!
So, I pick and choose bit more carefully these days, having a new vision. Why should I let down successful people who have taken the time to help me out?
Anyway, I gave huge amounts to charity and spent all my money getting set up, but cash seems to show up…painfully I must admit that I’m a couple of years older than you but have only about a dozen years experience of handling money. May seem like a long time, but it’s not really.
If only those “fraidy cats” knew that benefactors will show up and say a word, give help, guidance…we don’t need to be grasping toward any one person because help, money always comes when we step out in faith.
And to tell you the truth, I didn’t know how to play the corporate game…whenever it was my fault, or my volunteer’s fault I just took the blame…weird thing was others are gentler and forgiving than if you try to hide or deny it (which was the corporate culture). I figured my job was to make others look good. Funny how it made me look good instead.
I admire you a lot. You’re getting what you want with a lot of hard work and perseverance. I to am working to improve my life and finances. I have met so many wonderful and helpful people in the Renegade Program and I will succeed.
Joan
Hi Joan,
Yes, you will succeed. Be patient with yourself and take consistent action. Let me know if I can ever help you. 🙂
Debbie
Cathy,
I love your positive attitude and energy. It’s a shame that those you love the most, don’t fully support you. I can see you are a giver, you have such a big heart. No doubt you have much to offer those who join you in business.
Thank you for your valuable contribution to this thread.
Debbie