Over the last DECADE… I have had instances of game changing gold that have occurred due to the forum.
The first person I ever met from the forum was @Runum I credit him with pushing me out of my comfort zone at the time and meeting with him and his wife for dinner. I kid you not, at the time, I was hesitant to go to dinner with someone I met on the internet. At this dinner, he encouraged me to step further out of my comfort zone and attend the annual “summit” at the time called Beer and Pancakes.
Back then, it wasn’t fancy, or official, like it is today. We stayed at a Days Inn in Scottsdale. At the time there was a requirement for everyone to present something of value. We spent the days with presentations and the evenings smoking cigars by the pool. (much like the new summits)
I was still a baby entrepreneur and couldn’t hold a candle to some of the other attendees, so I put together a presentation on the value of golf for networking and general golf etiquette. I attended as a forum nobody. I did bring like 50 cigars to hand out though.. MJ was even there briefly and I shook his hand, but, once again I was a nobody and there’s no way he remembered me.
I took three big things away from that experience…
1. A thirst for more and an understanding of that possiblilty.
2. Some tools I hadn’t been using that would help me.
3. I met Dave, @Vigilante and he encouraged me to start another business.
Over the following months, Dave literally mentored me on the creation of that business and within a few weeks after launch it was already making more money than my energy brokerage company I had at the time. That company, didn’t go crazy, but did end up making more than a half a million dollars for me. Then, Dave even bought the company. That company helped me get through the infancy stage of entrepreneurship in utter comfort. To date it was one of coolest parts of my story that is still unfolding.
That isn’t the only accolade I can give to this forum, but it is a perfect example of the power here. We are a product of our experiences. When we experience something, it becomes wisdom. Wisdom that we wouldn’t otherwise have gotten. Exposure to people viewing the business world in a different way than you are is incredibly valuable.
I also met @GPM along the way. We have worked together on various projects and he is now like my Canadian brother. He has been here a few times and I have been there. When he was moving, I literally flew up to Canada to “help,” but mostly chill.
Even the radio show was something @Vigilante pushed me to do. I was NOT someone that would have historically done anything like this. The first of my audience came from the forum.
@MJ DeMarco has claimed the forum is a little like Match.com, where basically once someone experiences success, they often leave. To me, the people that do leave are doing so at their own expense. They are leaving these potential game changing tidbits on the table.
Sure I spend a lot of time just screwing around and enjoying the camaraderie here. But, every once in a while, a nugget of wisdom get’s dispensed because of this amazing network. Every once in a while, a friendship is built that could last a lifetime.
Over the last couple of months, I have built a friendship with @thechosen1 who works for his family company, also in a heavy industry, a company markedly bigger than mine. We have mostly just shot the shit, but when it came down to business, he sees his business world in a different way than I do. There’s huge value any time that happens. I may have helped him with a few things, I don’t know, but he tremendously helped me.
Basically, he recommended one software, something of a procurement network for our industries. He said it should be a big deal for us. Believe it or not, I blew it off for weeks… I figured it was some bullshit for enterprise companies with more employees than dynamism… But here I was, today, and something clicked in. I finally decided “I should really give that a shot.” I didn’t even know what it was, but started doing some research…
HOLY CRAP!! Where has this been all my life??? I believe it will be responsible for millions of dollars in sales for my company. The opportunity is insane and the foundation of these friendships, opportunities, and wisdom that was eventually exchanged, was this forum.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THIS PLACE.
I think we should all share our stories, to the extent you are willing, about how this place has affected your business journey. If anything, to preserve this vibrant community and make people think twice about pulling a match.com. You get out what you put in in business, life and the forum.
The first person I ever met from the forum was @Runum I credit him with pushing me out of my comfort zone at the time and meeting with him and his wife for dinner. I kid you not, at the time, I was hesitant to go to dinner with someone I met on the internet. At this dinner, he encouraged me to step further out of my comfort zone and attend the annual “summit” at the time called Beer and Pancakes.
Back then, it wasn’t fancy, or official, like it is today. We stayed at a Days Inn in Scottsdale. At the time there was a requirement for everyone to present something of value. We spent the days with presentations and the evenings smoking cigars by the pool. (much like the new summits)
I was still a baby entrepreneur and couldn’t hold a candle to some of the other attendees, so I put together a presentation on the value of golf for networking and general golf etiquette. I attended as a forum nobody. I did bring like 50 cigars to hand out though.. MJ was even there briefly and I shook his hand, but, once again I was a nobody and there’s no way he remembered me.
I took three big things away from that experience…
1. A thirst for more and an understanding of that possiblilty.
2. Some tools I hadn’t been using that would help me.
3. I met Dave, @Vigilante and he encouraged me to start another business.
Over the following months, Dave literally mentored me on the creation of that business and within a few weeks after launch it was already making more money than my energy brokerage company I had at the time. That company, didn’t go crazy, but did end up making more than a half a million dollars for me. Then, Dave even bought the company. That company helped me get through the infancy stage of entrepreneurship in utter comfort. To date it was one of coolest parts of my story that is still unfolding.
That isn’t the only accolade I can give to this forum, but it is a perfect example of the power here. We are a product of our experiences. When we experience something, it becomes wisdom. Wisdom that we wouldn’t otherwise have gotten. Exposure to people viewing the business world in a different way than you are is incredibly valuable.
I also met @GPM along the way. We have worked together on various projects and he is now like my Canadian brother. He has been here a few times and I have been there. When he was moving, I literally flew up to Canada to “help,” but mostly chill.
Even the radio show was something @Vigilante pushed me to do. I was NOT someone that would have historically done anything like this. The first of my audience came from the forum.
@MJ DeMarco has claimed the forum is a little like Match.com, where basically once someone experiences success, they often leave. To me, the people that do leave are doing so at their own expense. They are leaving these potential game changing tidbits on the table.
Sure I spend a lot of time just screwing around and enjoying the camaraderie here. But, every once in a while, a nugget of wisdom get’s dispensed because of this amazing network. Every once in a while, a friendship is built that could last a lifetime.
Over the last couple of months, I have built a friendship with @thechosen1 who works for his family company, also in a heavy industry, a company markedly bigger than mine. We have mostly just shot the shit, but when it came down to business, he sees his business world in a different way than I do. There’s huge value any time that happens. I may have helped him with a few things, I don’t know, but he tremendously helped me.
Basically, he recommended one software, something of a procurement network for our industries. He said it should be a big deal for us. Believe it or not, I blew it off for weeks… I figured it was some bullshit for enterprise companies with more employees than dynamism… But here I was, today, and something clicked in. I finally decided “I should really give that a shot.” I didn’t even know what it was, but started doing some research…
HOLY CRAP!! Where has this been all my life??? I believe it will be responsible for millions of dollars in sales for my company. The opportunity is insane and the foundation of these friendships, opportunities, and wisdom that was eventually exchanged, was this forum.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THIS PLACE.
I think we should all share our stories, to the extent you are willing, about how this place has affected your business journey. If anything, to preserve this vibrant community and make people think twice about pulling a match.com. You get out what you put in in business, life and the forum.
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