When I first went into business for myself I had no idea what I was going to be put through.
I just wanted to make a little extra money.
I knew it was going to be work but I tried to find something that wouldn’t take up all my extra free time.
So, I bought some candy vending machines.
That sounded like a simple and easy business.
To be honest, it was a ridiculous amount of work and time to get that candy company going.
The company I bought the machines from sent 65 candy machines to my house and I put them in the garage where they took up almost all the space.
It was November in Salt Lake City, Utah and my detached garage was not heated.
I spent hours out there in the cold putting the machines together and then taking them to businesses where they would let me set them out.
I was forced to give up comfort and leisure time in order to get and keep things rolling.
I took on debt and the candy business brought in more income but not the amount I had hoped or planned on.
I learned a lot about business, finances, and people during this time.
Even though I was selling candy out of machines, every business is still a people business.
Presentation and perception is truly everything.
I had machines stolen and vandalized at times and I found myself looking for something more lucrative with fewer headaches.
A few months later, I was introduced to the world of digital marketing and finally began to see the potential for wealth creation and the ability to create something unique and important.
I had an impression at this time, that by the end of figuring out how to get rich doing what I love, I would sacrifice everything I had.
I ignored the thought and continued pushing forward.
I accumulated more debt as I continued to pay for products and services that were helping me to learn new skills and improve my mindset.
Even though I could see the impending debt problem, I felt that I would somehow figure it out at some point and everything would be ok.
I was spending most nights after work in my office reading, studying, and working on my computer.
I completely stopped playing video games and gave up family parties, college football games, and activities to keep things moving forward.
It was difficult and something that I missed, but I felt that I was working toward something bigger and better.
I knew if I could just keep going a little further, then I would be able to use the automation of the internet to create an income that would free up that time again and allow me to spend my days doing what I wanted with the people I love.
I completely ended relationships with people I cared about and missed out on many great times.
I was forced to give up my motorcycle in order to keep moving forward.
The time I spent riding was my stress relief and solace from everything and now that was gone.
I sold my house that I loved.
I watched my credit deteriorate until it was worthless and finally reached bankruptcy.
I seriously lost almost every part of the life I had before starting on this entrepreneurial journey of wealth and purpose.
People thought I was crazy and needed to stop and cut my losses.
They asked me when I would finally give up.
I just put my head down and kept pushing and pushing and pushing.
I found myself in the middle of yet another divorce.
It seemed I had hit rock bottom.
However, nothing could be further from the truth.
The feeling of losing everything had come true.
It had been a prophecy.
However, I also lost the weight of despair, mediocrity, and feeling like I didn’t deserve happiness.
Many of the parts of my life that I gave up were weights keeping me from where I was trying to go.
My relationships didn’t align with who I had become and they didn’t fulfill me anymore.
Much of what I sacrificed were parts of me that were negative and pointless endeavors for someone looking to create wealth and a better world.
It was hard as hell while I was going through it.
I felt alone and wondered many days if I would ever break through and reach my goals.
I was walking through fire and though it was painful, just like steel, it was making me stronger and sharper.
My emotional and mental toughness grew in leaps and bounds.
I found the chaos of transition, hardship, and uncertainty to be my new allies as I used them as trampolines to sink in and let them propel me to new heights.
After all this, I started truly having the success I desired.
It just took. much longer and much more from me than I anticipated.
Although, I am now reaching goals I have been working years to achieve, I still have not arrived.
In fact I feel more motivated than ever to push myself because I can see that I am leveling up and being the person of impact I always saw in other great men and women, but didn’t believe was possible for me.
I also realized that everything I had feared happening to me as I gave up things, relationships and time either didn’t happen or wasn’t really that bad.
I could live like that forever if I needed to in order to survive.
That was an incredible and freeing realization.
So much of what I believed I needed was a lie.
In fact, the simpler my life became, the more carefree I felt.
I sacrificed everything and it was the most beautiful thing and the best gift I could have ever given myself.
Everything I held tightly in my fist for fear of losing it, had become like sand and slipped through my fingers.
What I didn’t realize was how light my hands would feel afterward.
If you seek purpose and fulfillment, you may be required to give up everything you have and know.
I hope you are strong enough to get through and see how incredible the other side is.
Thank you for reading.
Phillip Adams