Win $300 Cash By Sharing YOUR Story!
If I have to isolate the ONE thing that had a profound impact on me and dramatically transformed my life, it’d have to be my discovery of Direct Response Marketing.
Self discipline, a good attitude, a nutrient dense, healthy diet, regular exercise and a will of steel, NLP…nothing came close to the surreal experience of having the somewhat super human ability to ‘manifest’ income at will.
Working 60 minutes a day or less, generating up to $500k a month from my online and offline companies… and having a wonderful wife and son at the age of 29.
And to think it all started when I was studying in Boston, living in a one bedroom apartment so tiny that you couldn’t swing a cat in.
Even up till now, I always pinch myself now and then to make sure I’m not just dreaming.
Well, that’s my condensed story on how marketing changed my life, but what’s YOURS?
Share your story in the comments section below.
If I consider your story to be the ‘best’, I’ll send you $300 cash via Paypal.
The deadline for posting your story is midnight on the 23rd of June.
The winner will be announced on this blog on the 24th of June.
So what constitutes a ‘good’ story?
Well, my judging criteria includes “emotional detail, degree of transformation, and specificity”.
There is no limit on ‘length’. You can write as much as you feel is needed to win. : - )
But needless to say, your story should be REAL. Otherwise, you’re missing the point.
As a reference point, I’ve included the famous “T.J Rohleder” rags to riches story below, and it is one of the stories that goes into my books under the WOW category.
Here’s T.J’s story:
“Back in 1987, I had hit a dead end. I was working ridiculously long hours in a dead end job as a carpet cleaner.
Every day when I put on my overalls to go and clean one grimy carpet after another, I dreamed of how I could make my fortune …. and actually go and live in one of the million-dollar homes I had the pleasure of cleaning the carpets of every few days!
From cleaning carpets…. to making over 100 Million in 20 years!
I was sick of having to turn up and start working when someone else said so, and then keeping at it until it was time to go home.
Because I was paid per job, I often had to work long hours cleaning stubborn stains out of people’s carpets … long after most people would be putting their feet up after a long day at work.
After 10 years in the carpet cleaning business, I got a loan from the bank to buy myself part of the franchise my company had set up, and to buy another van which a friend of mine took on to help me out with the jobs.
I thought that being my own boss and having an employee to help me out would help me free up some of my time and give me some extra cash to start enjoying life, but little did I know…
I soon found that owning my own business and having an employee gave me an even bigger headache. Now I was responsible for everything: van maintenance, vat returns, covering my colleague for vacations and sick days…. the list was endless.
The bills still continued to mount up every month and this was made even worse by the fact that I had borrowed a lot of money to buy the franchise and was sinking further and further into debt. I couldn’t anywhere near afford the holiday my wife and I so desperately needed, or afford to stop driving my carpet cleaning van everywhere, and actually buy a car!
Bored, Tired, Frustrated…..
I was sick of seeing life pass me by, while we struggled to get by on what we earned, and I had sleepless night after sleepless night worrying about how I would ever clean enough carpets just to break even and begin to get out of debt.
In a nutshell, our lives were ones of stress, and a huge amount of frustration.
If you currently work for someone else or own a traditional business, you’ll know what I mean…. an endless cycle of getting up in the freezing cold and driving through rain soaked, traffic clogged streets to get to a job you hate… and all the while your life just slips by….
All I wanted was a happier, wealthier life for myself and my wife, and to live in a much more relaxed way.
But I couldn’t see how we could achieve this without working long hours… I just wanted something we could start up ourselves, something which required very little in the way of start-up capital… where we didn’t have to employ any staff… where we didn’t have to commute… but which would enable us to make the kind of money we could only dream of, yet still have the time to enjoy it!
I began to think we would never get out of the rut we were in….
After a few months, we still hadn’t got anywhere in our search and were feeling very depressed.
I thought perhaps we were just chasing after an impossible dream and were just kidding ourselves.
That was when I started sending off for ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes through the post.
Soon our mailbox was stuffed with dozens of letters, promising us all the money we could wish for, if we just copied out a chain letter and sent it off to one hundred people on a special list - all of whom would then send us $50 back…. you get the picture…
And I admit that I fell for a few of these scams, so desperate was I to make money.
I thought perhaps I was just plain unlucky… all of the things I came across sounded so great, but when it came down to it, the reality was different… at least it was for me.
I was at my wits end, and nothing was working…. so just how did I go from this to making 16,000 in my first month?
A figure which then grew to over $100,000 per week using this simple system, plus several other techniques which can enable you to literally explode your profits, all the while operating this from the comfort of your own home.
Well, I would like to say that it was from a stroke of genius on my part, but in actual fact, it was from something I stumbled across purely by chance….
At about the same time as I was sending off for all of the ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes I told you about, my wife Eileen noticed a small advertisement in our local newspaper, for a course on how to make money using a new and little known system which would show us a genuine way to make money, without any of the usual ‘get-rich-quick’ nonsense.
I was sceptical to say the least, especially after all of the other unsuccessful attempts we had had, but in the end I thought ‘what the heck’ after Eileen persuaded me to give it a go.
As soon as we received the course, we were amazed at how simple it all looked, and how easily we could run the system it described from home.
At last! This was something we could make money with from home, and still have the freedom and time to really enjoy life!
Basically, it involved selling information products, which we printed off ourselves on a very temperamental clackety-clack printer (remember, this was the 80’s!), and then sold through cheap classified ads and simple direct mail.
We were shocked at just how easy it was to run, especially as we were able to run it ourselves, literally from our kitchen table.
The only problem was that due to all of our other failed attempts at making money, we were sinking into debt fast.
To add to all the stress, I had recently had to spend more money to buy new carpet cleaning equipment, so we decided to sell my old rust-bucket van to a friend of mine, to get the little start-up capital we needed to put the plan into action….
We got $300 for it, and this is what we used in the beginning, to eventually go to over $100 Million in less than 20 years.
We went from zero to $16,000 a month!
Our lives were instantly changed in our first month! Before long, we were making more cash than we ever dreamed possible…. It was amazing!”
Edward Han said:
My life started with my first job in manufacturing plant where I was in charge of service and maintenance for electrical and electronic machinery. It was smooth sailing with a monthly income of 3.5 - 5K. Then came an unreasonable boss replacement who did not know much about management and staff relationship. His method of service and maintenance was simply annoying and waste of time. He loved to ask me to replace used component for those that broke down even though it was made known to him that it won’t last a week. I hated doing a service job knowing that it would need attention again in a week. Had many unhappy incidents with him even I had the job done.
The day came when he asked me to do another colleague’s job when my colleague wasn’t even transferring to another branch as I was told. That was the last straw when I decided to hand in my resignation and pursue what I love the most - computers! So with some savings, I ventured with build personal computers and selling parts. For the first year, it was terrible as sales wasn’t good and funds running out. Being self-employed, big corporations do not have confidence and they rather get computers from big computer shop instead. After struggling for 2 years with good service records, finally I have built trust with big corporations and making orders.
I have learnt the lesson in business that we should give more than we are expected of from service and you will soon be rewarded. So looking back at 1987 when I first started my business, I have travelled a long way to be what I am now even though I am not rich but a happy person doing what I love most in my life. I guess I am one of the lucky person that can venture on what I like most and be my own business.
That is my short story of how I ended up being a self-employed businessman.
Shirley Everingham said:
I started on the internet when I was 70, as I wanted to make enough money to live on ,so that I could get off the aged pension.
I am now 81, and still trying to make money on the net, but so far have failed to make enough to live on, but I am still persisting as I hate to give in and be beaten, but it is so hard when you are older and cannot grasp many things that could help, but of course the biggest barrier is not having enough money to advertise.
I realise I will have to give up in the next couple of years to pay my Bank cards off, as I would hate to leave any debts behind.
When the time comes I wish to [have a clean slate] as the saying goes, so that I can rest in peace, but I do hope this will happen so that I will have a couple of years to enjoy some real money , before I depart, so please wish me luck,
Thankyou Shirley Everingham.
Shirley Everingham said:
I think it is a wonderful thing you are doing ,by wanting to help people , I would be equally pleased to get help and advice , so that I could make much money with my programs, thanks again,
Shirley.
Anthony Smith said:
I had no money, no life, no job, no friends, no positive role models, and a very low self esteem. I was depressed, felt bad all the time, and didn’t care about my future. In fact, I got Ds and Es all throughout high school. This was my life from the time I was a freshamn in high school — and in my senior year I was a complete and total “loner”.
Popularity was a myth to me and I finally graduated with a 1.3 GPA! Absolutely TERRIBLE! Now, fast-forward four years later to quickly see…
“A Lifestyle To Die For! That’s Right! I’m A Local Celebrity, Perform In The Most Jam-Packed Bars And Clubs Around The State, Regularly Get Featured On The Airwaves of The Most Popular Radio Stations, And Have An Absolute *BLAST* Entertaining Some Of The Biggest Crowds Around — It’s The Time Of My Life!”
How Did I Do It? The Answer Will Surprise You. It Was Just SO EASY! So Grab A Glass Of Your Favorite Beverage, Pop A Squat, And Let Me Embellish The Amazing Secret That Changed My Life!
Now YOU Can Wake Up Every Morning Happy, Full Of Joy, And Blessed To Know That You’re Finally Alive!
Monique said:
Hi,
My name is Monique Clark and I am from New Brunswick, Canada. I am happily married to Paul, a man that I admire. We have 2 children….Matt and Emma. It was almost 4 years ago when my entrepreneurial spirit came alive. My husband Paul had lost his job of 16 years at a Paper Mill. It was very scary for us….we had just started our family then….my son was 2 years old and we were expecting our second baby.
Paul was making pretty good money at the Mill….we were very comfortable. I knew that we had to do something and do it very quickly…..the debt was increasing. We even talked about selling our house to get out of the mess we were in. I didn’t know what to do….so I got looking online for a way to even bring some cash in to take care of the bills.
I came across a business opportunity that looked Amazing…..I did my due diligence by asking a ton of questions to my Mentor and doing some of my own research. I decided that this is what I wanted to do…..now my husband didn’t think it was a good idea and not only that…..we didn’t have the money to invest.
With my Determination and Desire I set out to find the funds to invest. I went to 3 different banks for a loan and was refused all 3 times….I began to get discouraged and frustrated. Once I realized that the only way I was going to be able to get started was I was going to have to ask a family member to help me out. That is exactly what I did.
I showed my parents what I was looking at and talked to them about it. They are such wonderful parents and they could see my enthusiasm and potential to be successful. They had lent me the money to invest in my family’s future. What happened next was simply incredible…..within 5 months of working consistently I had made just over $20,000 dollars.
The knowledge and skills that I have learned in the last 4 years will be with me forever. I have so many people to thank for helping me get to where I am today, my Parents, my husband Paul, my mentors and trainers….”Thank You” Paul and I did not have to sell the house…..we are living the life we want to live and our kids have a wonderful future ahead of them.
God Bless
Monique
James said:
My story, well, I used to be a sheetmetal worker, or as we called it, a ’shitmetal worker’. You know the routine, 6am til 4pm, with the promise of a payrise one day…
I had other reams though…a buddy and me had skied all our lives, it was our passion. We’d travel all over just to clear our heads and hit the water…
On day, just before christmas time, my buddy called, he’d just moved north to warmer pastures and I was left ’shitmetal’ working, depressed and wondering what life was all about, he asked me “what I was doing?”, I responded, “working, it’s friday, just about to knock off and go have a beer!”
He said” No, what are you doing, move up here with me, we’ll start training again, and get jobs overseas skiing!”
That afternoon I told the boss I was taking 4 weeks holiday, the rest is history, after 8 amazing years travelling the world, chasing the summer, working all over the globe as a professional skier, living overseas for 6 months then back here in Oz for 6 months, I knew my life had changed forever.
It only took one word, “YES”, to take up the challenge of the unknown.
A big step to throw it all to the wind, but one that paid off bigtime!
Now, I find myself about to make that decision again…wish me luck, although I may not need it as I already know the answer…
kiansiong said:
i doubt this will work. i searching high and low finding my ways to make a living as i currently struggling for day by day basis. i getting more and more poor each day so please jo han mok, pimp my bank account!!
Teresa Cheong said:
One of the most profound changes for me in recent months is the change in mindset; from a mindset of limitation (“you can only earn as much as a wage earner”) to one of abundance (“you can be a wealth creator.”)
It is the idea that anyone – even a bloke, a non university graduate, a housewife or a retrenched worker – can create unlimited wealth - through internet marketing.
If you work hard, stay focused, adopt the right mental attitude and apply the right strategies, IM can be the greatest leveller of income and wealth disparity.
And here lies the social power of online marketing: it is within reach of everyone, including computer idiots like me.
I only started my internet marketing journey about a month ago. I’ve earned $60 so far from one blog. No poor-to-riches story to boast about (yet). But I do know of people who are already making a decent living online. So I know it is possible and within my reach.
Without a doubt, I’m going to transform myself into a wealth creator within the next six months and I’ve my 4 Ps to back me up: Passion, Purpose, Persistence and yes, Power of Prayer.
Teresa
Bak Kua Kid Make Good said:
The 1 Hour Experiential Transformation
Where It All Began
As a 16 years old kid working in a Bak Kua (Chinese Sweeten BBQ Minced Pork) Factory –“name censored”- opposite a local red-light district flipping bak kua earning $35 dollars a day, life was good… so I thought.
I walk past the back ally of the flesh trade shop-houses to work… ironically in a rundown meat factory every morning, !
Rumours has it that the peak period for the Bak Kua trade during the Chinese New Year month was often enough to cover the whole year operating cost with profits!
It was during one of the nights after closing shop that the lady boss in her 50’s decided to invite us ( the pork flippers ) to her house for a casual dinner and a swim after hard day’s work. Wow, “free dinner” I thought.. at the age of 16 earning $35 a day with transport and meal taking away $4 of your earning.. whatever free is good.
We loaded up onto the back of the lorry used to deliver frozen pork to outlets and sat on empty folded boxes, driving past the redlight district, some of us let out wolf cries at the street walkers, which probably felt disgusted seeing a bunch of teens sitting in a lorry with the brand of BBQ pork many of them had for snacks.
Glimpse of “The Rich”
Late evening, we arrived at the place I’ve came to remember so vividly till now, it has a totally different atmosphere which makes one feel… calm, serene and free.
Maybe it was the warm glow of fancy lights emanating from the base of well kept trees and sculptured bushes, maybe it was from the underwater glittering lights reflection dancing on the white washed walls of cascading waterfalls and the cool breeze from the nearby seaside.
As we walked towards the apartment block I felt that the group of us were unusually silent for 2 unspoken reasons, we were all taking in the spectacular sights of sheer opulence and at the same time, the residence was staring disapprovingly at a bunch of youngster stinking with sweaty smell of stale BBQ smoke, charcoal stains over our well used hand-me-down oversized t-shirts that make us look like little walking scarecrows.
By the time I overcame my initial fixation with the trappings of the affluent I found myself at a bright grand hall where the unmistakable whiff of shark’s fin soup and sautéed garoupa caught me. An uncontrollable growl of gastronomical juice sloshing in my stomach breaks the otherwise serene atmosphere of the room, embarrassment grew within as I thought I’ve heard it echoed through the passage way leading to the dining table.
“Eat to Live” and “Live to Eat”
The group of us sat at the dinner table as dishes were served, it smells good and the portions were bigger than what I’ve normally seen…
then I realized something..
the bowl of rice in front of me was tiny!
I stare around and true enough it’s the same for everyone else…
Phew… that’s a relief
I wondered if the wealthy eats more dishes than rice for their meals while workers like us have it the other way round.
As I dig in to the feast in front of me, I remember the mixed emotion I had then…
The big fish tasted good, seldom do I have it for any of my meals at home, maybe once during Chinese New Year… but that was many years ago.
The tangy shark’s fin soup washes down the feisty chilli crab, the one time I had shark’s fin was at a wealthy relative wedding dinner… And now they are like having it for like casual dinner?
Spoilt Brat, Bad Attitude… But Still Rich
We were about half way into dinner when someone behind me interrupted “Mommy, the house stinks!” I turned around to find a fine young lady, yakking something about filthy sandals at the doorsteps and the smell in the house…
The whole commotion ended only when my boss explained that we’re almost done with dinner and we’ll be on our way, “Just a while dear, let them finish up…” I’ve learned later that was the boss daughter from past marriage with a whole complicated story altogether..
Hands still clinging on, I quickly gulp down the remaining bit of shark’s fin soup.
That day we left halfway thru dinner, without going for the swim and with a big thought in my little mind.
The whole experience somehow connected in my little brain and made me experience for a short 1 hour in my life that those are real people, having real food and staying in what it is to me a Real Palace!
My big question then was : What does it take to live in a place like them? What do they have going for them?
Many Years, Jobs and Failed Business Later… I’ve Discovered The Keys!
That thought slipped my mind for a few years and it’s was after many years of mundane slogging, drifting from jobs to venturing into own businesses and out of business in search of that elusive financial freedom, eventually going from offline to online that I slowly started to see the big picture of what the Rich have that sets them apart from the J.O.B (Just Over Broke), the great divide between the rich-and-powerful from the man-in-the-street.
The Key was quite simple, Yet not many people have it going for them…
I realized almost ALL Rich, Powerful and Successful people I’ve met have 3 THINGS in common Working For THEM.
Cutting the story short, I will Reveal the 3 keys that have began to make my journey towards financial freedom a reality…
Remember, Once you’ve gotten it, you Have to get Them Working FOR YOU and not you working For them!
- The First Key is System…
They All have Systems working For Them, think about it, when you work in an organization, aren’t your working IN a System?
- The Second Key is People…
They All have People working For Them, aren’t you one of the people making your boss rich?
- The Third Key is Money!…
This usually comes after the first 2 are in place, The Rich make Money Work FOR Them, The Poor Works For MONEY!
Don’t get hung-up if you aren’t able to get them working for you all at once…
There you have it, the 1 hour experience that had made a big impact on my life many years ago…
Bak Kua Kid