The 10 Strangest Secrets About Millionaires

When I was 21 years old, I believed in an idea that would

change the world.

It was an idea that seemed too far-fetched, but still seemed

possible if I was willing to work steadily toward it. This particular

idea was simply about the teachings that were omitted from our

educational system.

After reading as many books as I could find, I learned quickly

that there were many subjects that schools didn't teach. They

included the following subjects: time-management, earning

money, making decisions, setting goals, building and

maintaining relationships, etc.

Because I devoted myself to this simple idea, it made me a

millionaire by age 24. In my personal life, I've found that there

were 10 strange secrets about millionaires. Once you see these

common trends, you'll be able to leverage all your current

opportunities.

Become a Student

In every spare moment I had, I studied these subjects

voraciously, seeking precepts that aligned with the truth. When I

commuted to work, gym, and school, I would listen to audio

programs, absorbing as many ideas as I could about these

subjects. I also attended 20 seminars in my first year.

My mind started to change as I looked at myself and those

around me. I realized that I wasn't satisfied with my position, but

how would I change it? Even though I was in college, I wasn't

sure if school was the answer, especially since I wanted to start

my own business.

Decide to Do Something

I had to make a decision. Soon after, I quit my MBA program

and began giving hundreds of free speeches. I did whatever I

could to get the word out. In my first two years, I spoke at more

than 500 live events, most of which were unpaid engagements.

Even as I worked 18 hour days for 7 days a week, I was sick to

my stomach about how I would be paid. At the time, I lived off of

credit cards and peddled my book in speeches. In some

instances, I sold my book door-to-door. I also became a master

salesman when I sold everything in my house!

Do Whatever it Takes

I thought success was for older people. Since I was in my early

20's, I wasn't sure if it could happen. The majority of audience

members were twice or three-times my age. I thought they knew

much more than me, but I still showed up. Most of the time,

I drove over two or three hours to get to my speeches, even

dealing with snow or torrential rainfalls.

One time when I visited New York City, I gave a speech to one

old man. When I came out of the speech, I found out that my car

had been towed, which cost me $300. What's more, I was

deeply saddened to find a $500 parking infraction on my wiper

blade for making in an illegal spot. Essentially, I waited all day

and paid $800 to give a speech to this one old man.

Paying the Price

Between my speeches, I would sweat in my used wool suit and

tie as I knocked on doors to sell my book. The people at most

homes would shut the door as I pitched my product, if they

answered at all. I would sell five to 10 books per hour, but it was

brutal. At the time, I thought the task was never-ending, despite

the decent profit.

Another time, I had to give five speeches on four different

subjects. That day, I was awake from 4 am to 6 am -- a 26 hour

day. I had no money or food, but I had common sense. Since

most hotels served hors d'oeuvre while they held their

networking functions, I ate their "freebies" whenever I could find

those meetings.

Competence Breeds Confidence

Within a year, I went from stuttering, stammering, and stumbling

with my words to giving a 20-minute speech without notes. As

my competence grew after every speech, so did my confidence.

In my second year, I was able to masterfully give all-day

seminars to hundreds of people at a time.

Soon enough, my financial situation got better and I didn't have

to use credit cards anymore. However, I would still be late with

my bills every once in a while, which drove me insane. How did I

work all day, but not make ends meet? Why didn't I have a

surplus for my services?

How to Increase Your Wealth

Because of this immense struggle to support myself, I began a

side business, Dignify Designs, which took off faster than I

would have expected. The idea came when I did a lady's

resume for free. After she secured her job, she only paid me

$25, but told all of her friends about me, which brought me new

clients.

As my company grew, I hired a dozen people in my first

year. Between speaking and writing, we helped many people

write and publish their books, create websites, and utilize social

media. Since forming the company, my team has branded

thousands of people who’ve been able to start and grow the ir

businesses.

The Legitimate Dilemma

During that time, I had a legitimate dilemma: Should I grow to a

multi-million-dollar business or should I pursue my purpose of

spreading the message about true education?

The answer was BOTH. As I funded myself with Dignify

Designs, my income exploded, making me a multi-millionaire in

the process. Of course, as a byproduct of my success in

business and my experiences, I was also highly sought out as a

speaker, since people loved my speeches, articles, and videos.

Big Breaks Will Come

Along the way, several big breaks came when I started writing,

speaking, and consulting on bigger platforms. Instead of

reaching hundreds or thousands each month, I was now

reaching millions. It was a dream come true, especially after all

the blood, sweat, and tears.

Eventually, the grind paid off as a multitude of people started

coming to me. It was a great relief and I began to realize my

value to society. Because of these expanded opportunities, it

has given me to priviledge, power, and platform to share my

passion with as many people as I can.

Money Follows Passion

I learned that when you do what you love, the money will follow.

When you start reaching for people's hearts, rather than their

wallets, you'll be more successful. Love has a very attractive

force that magnetizes people in your direction. Love and money

go together. In fact, money is the highest expression of love.

Fortunately, I have the privilege to work at any time I want. I can

afford to sleep in on most days and even take a year or two off.

However, it came at a great price that only few people are willing

to pay. When you do what you love and love what you do, you'll

have more freedom than what money can buy.

My Biggest Secret

No one knows what is yet to come in the future. We can only go

as far as we can see. However, you must have faith in yourself,

your community, and everyone else. You must believe in

yourself and know that everything that you want (and more) will

happen in your favor, as long as you believe it.

How do you find the answers in life? I can tell you what my

biggest secret is: Trust in a power that is greater than

yourself. It's a simple answer, but it is the truth. Once you do,

you'll never be afraid of pursuing the impossible because you

know that everything will work out in the end.

If you believe in yourself, everyone will believe in you.