| Hey,
Quick question for you:
Do you have everything you want in life right now?
Instead of yelling at your computer "NOOOO ANDY," (I have great noise-cancelling headphones — I won't hear you) I want you list out the top three things you want in life here:
1. 2. 3.
Now, I want you to look at your list and remove anything that has to do with money.
Did you remove one (or two...or three)?
Well, my friend, that right there is the reason why you don't have absolutely EVERYTHING that you want. You're motivated externally.
He's a little story
about a friend of mine…
We'll call him "Brian."
Brian is freakishly fit. Like you know that one guy that looked like they pumped air into their arms and you can't help but stare? The one that makes you second-guess that donut you're stuffing into your mouth?
Yup, that's Brian. He rocks (and makes me feel extremely self-conscious).
Well, a few years back Brian decided to write an ebook on his journey to getting fit. Now keep in mind, Brian is not a writer. He's a fitness buff that likes to lift heavy things all day; you know, a real meathead.
But he's so passionate about wanting to help people and he knew he had a message that he needed to get out to the world, soooo one day, he finally decided to put muscley fingers to the keyboard and write.
It wasn't easy.
I think he quit something like 29 times over 2 years, and basically had a thesaurus attached to his hip. After writing, deleting, rewriting, deleting, rewriting again, he finally completed his book.
And to make matters worse, when he finally put his life's work out there for people to buy... he made almost no sales. I'm pretty sure the few sales that did trickle in were his close family and friends.
But, Brian wasn't discouraged.
Instead, he wrote another book, this time on willpower. And, despite his own personal willpower, it didn't perform much better. Womp womp.
So he wrote a third book. You get where I'm going…
But then, something
interesting happened.
About six months later he was headed on a road trip from our lovely town of San Diego to Reno, Nevada (don't ask me why he wanted to leave — it's paradise here). Anyways, just before he left, he created his first promotional campaign for his book series.
During the almost 10 hours it took to drive, he sold 22,397 copies of his books. WHOA.
So what did he do?
He posted an Instagram video of him doing 100 burpees in a gas station parking lot in Nevada to celebrate (seriously...can this guy just eat a donut once in his dang life?!)
But that's just Brian...he's a freak; the real question is...
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
Because...
He had a burning desire to help the world and share his message. And well, he's a meathead that just doesn't know the word "quit."
He did not have a goal of becoming a best-selling author. He did not want to become rich and famous. He did not seek out a massive 3-book publishing deal. He did not plan on touring or signing book covers.
He just wanted to share what he knew.
His ambition was simple. It was unconstrained by expectations of wealth, or being the next "guru," or any of the confusion that attends creating "A Big Splash."
When he sat down... years ago… he wanted to do exactly 2 things:
- Inspire
- Teach
Now, more than 20,000 people are being motivated and learning from him. And, they're paying him for the privilege of that experience. For his Perspective.
Repeat after me:
You don't have to be great to start, but you've got to START to be GREAT.
As I sit watching Brian's ridiculous video of him jumping up and down in a parking lot covered in gum and gasoline, I wonder...what if he hadn't done it?
What if he'd stopped after his
first book made almost no sales?
Or his second one?
What if you are reading this now, but don't think you're great, so you haven't had your start?
- What if you knew how to cultivate a thriving indoor garden, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you knew how to repair a window that had been shattered by a stray golf ball, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you knew the secret to repairing your marriage, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you saved 21% on your tax bill this year, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you paid for your child's education without debt, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you repurposed old clothes into the hottest new fashions for 50 cents, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you created hundreds of DELICIOUS vegan recipes, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you overcame a debilitating illness, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you made a million dollars in three years, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you trained your staff 13% faster and cheaper, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you traveled the country for a year on $12 a day, but you didn't tell anyone?
- What if you lost 59 pounds in 90 days, but you didn't tell anyone?
But... What if you do?
"Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."
I'll say it again:
You don't have to be great to start, but you've got to START to be GREAT.
If you're ready to tell your story, to share what you've done and what you've learned...well you really ought to check this out.
XOXO Andy
P.S. So full transparency, this is a promo for Eben Pagan's free video series. (The same Eben who has created dozens of best-selling online courses, digital products, and books. He has over a million paying customers (!) and he knows how to explain exactly how to do it yourself.)
He is releasing a course later this month, but right now he has a free video series that will walk you through why so many people are online now and buying knowledge, how to identify the most valuable knowledge that you have, and how to get started putting together your own online course, book, or teaching product.
You'll ALSO get (for free) a PDF summary and exercise to identify YOUR big idea, so you can create a book or other digital information product with it — and then sell it online.
Even if you never plan to buy his course, Go watch his videos now, because they will help you discover your big idea — something that you're truly passionate about — and it may just help pay the bills too.
P.P.S. Just promise me when your knowledge product is a huge success...you'll eat a dang donut to celebrate. | 
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