It’s pretty amazing how much can change in a decade.
10 years ago (in 2010), I was not in a good place.
I was a freelance copywriter, taking on small projects just to pay my bills.
I also had one client that I was doing SEO for who paid me like $3500 a month.
Which was good money for me.
But I fell into the trap of being content with this.
I wasn’t pushing myself…
I wasn’t growing…
I was just kind of coasting.
But while I was coasting, I had a rude awakening.
In the span of a week, my SEO client fired me…
…My girlfriend who I had been dating for 3 years (and who I was planning on marrying) came home from work one night and said she didn’t want to be with me anymore.
And to make matters worse, that same night Lebron James decided to leave Cleveland and go to Miami (I grew up near Cleveland, so I’m a huge Cavs fan).
Basically it was the week from hell.
My whole life fell apart.
My girlfriend moved all of her stuff out of our apartment and into her new place.
I had nothing but an air mattress to sleep on.
What’s funny is that the air mattress had a hole in it from my dog stepping on it.
So I had to wake up like every 3 hours to pump the damn thing back up.
It was brutal.
I remember feeling like I had no hope.
I was alone.
And I remember really doubting myself as an entrepreneur.
The self doubt I battled for years was really creeping in.
I started to wonder if just had gotten lucky before with my business stuff.
I thought maybe I didn’t actually know what I was doing.
For a brief moment I even thought about giving up on the whole entrepreneur thing and getting a real job.
Hell, I even considered moving back to Sandusky and living with my parents to save money.
But I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t bring myself to tuck my tail between my legs and give up.
Like I said, all this happened 10 years ago…
And I was thinking about how different my life is today.
Cause since then I’ve built 4 multi-million dollar companies.
One of which was a $23 million dollar business when I sold my stake in it.
I’ve personally made millions of dollars.
And today I get to teach copywriting and marketing to some of the best marketers in the world.
If you would have told me this would happen in 2010, I would have never believed you.
I would have thought you were nuts.
But it happened.
And I think it’s a good example of just how much can change for you in a decade.
So whether you’re where you want to be…
Or you feel like you have a long way to go…
Just know that it’s possible to get there.
And to do it YOUR way.
It might take a few years…
But I’m living proof that you can do it.
That’s all I got for ya today…
Here’s to a good 2020 for us both.
– Justin
P.S. – Speaking of changes over the last decade…
I posted this pic of me on Instagram today…
That’s me back in 2010 on the left.
And me last night on the right.
Too funny…
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