received a PM from a member that made me think back. Please share your experiences here.

[Rich Weese]

I received a PM from a colleague. I hadn't seen him on here for awhile. He was asking for my book, and I told him I had run out and would eventually be putting it on line as an E-book. Then , he told me he had lost his job, and had been struggling to stay afloat. I know there are a lot in same boat, and sometimes we forget them.
It made me think back to 35 years ago, and a bad time for me and my family.
I had just had my 3rd child in Dec 1974. I managed a janitorial franchise company (Environment Control) for someone else, and was the 3rd rated franchise in the country, out of 73.
The owner called and wanted to come talk to me. He FIRED me on the 16th of Dec., 1974 ! 2 weeks after baby was born. 3 kids under 4 and Christmas 1 week away.
This was my low point, fired as a janitor! In my book, I explain that 5 years later, I was retired, and a multimillionaire.
The fellow that fired me, came by a couple years after firing me, in about 1976 , asking me for a job. I told him firing me was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I hired him. He did pretty well.

Sometimes the darkest hour is just before dawn.(cliche) I don't know if I would've ever gotten to where I did, without that setback. I know there are other stories out there, where the darkness turned to light. Share them on this thread to help inspire those that could use the help in this present situation. Good luck to all. Rich in 95 degree SWFL.

[Wes S.]

I like this post and stories like this b/c they will inspire a person. Not sure if this is what your looking for but I'll throw in my story so far...

I started my business (outside of RE)after frustrations with my old boss and the sales compensation structure...And I'm hard wired to be an entrepreunuer anyways...

I was 22, had $3,000 in savings but a $650 Mortgage payment + $150 Car Payment + Living Expenses...basically less than 3 Months till Broke.

Quit on a Monday, got home and was in my business b/c I had it all set up already. Came out of the shoot firing and made more in the first 3 months ($50K) than with old boss in the last 1.5 years. Ended up getting Sued for $25k on the 3rd month...paid her off and had to move my business 50 Miles away. I though it was the end of the world at the time, which it was a pain in the neck. Started to get into RE around 23/24 and....

Here I am almost 4 years later, moved 4 more times since being sued, got married to my high school sweetheart. I have the SAME growing business, 10 Rental Units cashflowing at 19%, 10 more Properties in Pipeline & just sold a Forclosure Fixer Upper for a $34k profit.

I'm not a millionaire yet but I'm on my way. In the little I have acheived, I think it has to do with:
- FAITH
- ATTITUDE & Positive Thoughts
- Having the balls to go after what you want and not settling for mediocrity!
- The Books you Read
- The People you Associate with and Listen to...(I think you have to have a filter on your ears on what you will 'store' in your mind or 'throw away')
- Strategize on what you want, make a list, plaster pictures all over your fridge, mirror, car steering wheel and visualize it all the time.

I definitely agree with RIch that Money isn't everything & in the end its really going to come down to 'How have you Positively Impacted other people with your Actions or Money?'

IMO, Opportunities are everywhere and things happen for a reason...just take a step back, look at the bigger picture and you'll see it or...you will realize it years later.