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The 100 Million Dollar Man

by Harlan
25 replies
I just spent the day with one of my coaching clients. I do some copy for them too.

It's a 100 Million Dollar company. They are a huge branding type company and I'm introducing them to direct response and guerilla tricks to boost response.

There's a reason I'm posting this.

You see the head of the company was my student when I was a high school principal. Now, it's nearly 30 years later and he's hiring me to work for him.

Okay, what does this have to do with you.

Simply put. This guy was THE WORST student in junior high and high school. He was mercy passed all the way through.

I pulled strings to get him into college but he dropped out before his senior year.

Today, his company is seriously making 100 million dollars a year and it's doing even better.

They market with PPC and affiliate marketing. They told me today their top affiliate gets 70K each week.

The lesson of this story is it doesn't matter where you come from.

In the world of business, street smarts often count more than book smarts.

The company owner likes to joke that today, all the smart kids who passed with flying colors now work for him.

He's a seriously smart marketer. Gives a ton to charity.

Take a message: no matter who you are and what you think your restrictions are - you can make it.

Never ever give up.

Peace.
#100 #dollar #man #million
  • Profile picture of the author Louise Green
    That's a really inspiring story Harlan.

    Thanks for sharing.

    I do believe it's true, street smarts count more than book smarts sometimes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shaleniie Devi
    Thanks for this Harlan.

    I should get my mum to read this. She's always lecturing me on the finer points of getting a job and working my way up the ladder. It's not her fault though, our society has been conditioned this way. The pressures of education being the only way for survival in life.

    I don't get how when you venture out on your own, people try to stop you or just think you're going to end up a loser or you're nuts BUT when your persistent efforts start raking in the big money, everyone's suddenly "I always knew she could do it" and want to be as closely associated with you as possible.

    Reading about people like your 100 Million Dollar Man serves as inspiration to me knowing that I have done the right thing by choosing my own path. All I need to do is keep walking on my path and not diverge back to the common path. Things will work out.

    As Robert Frost said "I'm taking the road less traveled"

    Shaleniie
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  • Profile picture of the author Keyseed
    If people think that they have restrictions,... the very thought of restrictions can limit there success. The question should not be who is going to let me,
    The question is, who's going to stop me?
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  • Profile picture of the author FredJones
    Yeah, that is the best thing - keep one's eyes open in real life and make best of opportunities - no matter whether you could or could not read your favorite books or make your eyes red from reading heavy books.
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  • Profile picture of the author kenny5
    Awesome post! And so true
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    • Profile picture of the author Harlan
      Through it all, through all the people who told him he was a loser and stupid, he always believed in himself.

      You should too.

      Peace.
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      Harlan D. Kilstein Ed.D.
      Free NLP Communications Course at http://www.nlpcopywriting.com
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      • Profile picture of the author Matthew Moyer
        When you have no money it doesn't matter what you think
        it's a restriction.

        Can't look at zero dollars and zero cents and go geez I wonder
        what kind of advertising I should spend it on.
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        • Profile picture of the author Lance K
          Originally Posted by Matthew Moyer View Post

          When you have no money it doesn't matter what you think
          it's a restriction.

          Can't look at zero dollars and zero cents and go geez I wonder
          what kind of advertising I should spend it on.
          It's a restriction because you're asking the wrong questions of yourself.
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          "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
          ~ Zig Ziglar
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      • Profile picture of the author Sojourn
        I always wonder how much something like this has to do with how we teach our kids. I understand that you can't really make public schools cater to the needs of each individual child, but kids DO learn in different ways. Perhaps the traditional methods just weren't the best for your friend so his scores appeared one way when, in reality, he was obviously bright. Thank goodness he didn't listen to those who told him otherwise!

        I have one son who tests as talented and gifted, yet he's in summer school every year, barely making grades, and we're literally dragging him from one grade to the next. I know his learning style is just different from the mainstream. I just hope it all catches up with him some day to even a small degree of the success your friend has had!

        And you made one comment that probably makes the most difference of all:

        Originally Posted by Harlan View Post

        he always believed in himself.
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  • Profile picture of the author tomcam
    Oh, and gardening. That was my first job. Not pleasant, to me. Promised myself that if at all possible I would never, ever mow a lawn or clean dog**** off my shoe again. I now quite happily pay $800/month to have my largish lawns taken care of. The second part of the promise means that my kids don't get any pets larger than a goldfish, sadly, but at least it gives them something to look forward to when they grow up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    A nice, inspirational posts. Thanks Harlan. I use my thank you button on it but I used up my allotment about an hour ago.
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  • Profile picture of the author yoessan
    Interesting story. I considered myself to be a "book smart" guy.

    As of last month, I force myself to get dumber by stop reading books and stop thinking about things.
    And guess what, my IM income doubles of what it used to be.

    So I've learn that knowledge will help you finish your works easily but works itself will generate money and experience to generate even more money...
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  • Profile picture of the author olubaba
    Thanks for your post. Today I setting up a website for a guy that dropped out of school, he's running a Multimillion business in my town.

    It will be great to dissect such men and know what makes them to conquer where others are barely getting by.
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  • Profile picture of the author f4ll3rs
    This is really nice. Thank you for sharing. It is the common case of who will be the last to laugh. You're right. Never give up. And those who think they're so good may think twice before underestimating someone else.
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    • Profile picture of the author sandra.IMqueen
      Harlan, thanks for the 100million dollar man story what an inspiring tale.

      Your story speaks volumes about the kind of man you are and shows the power of believing in yourself.

      I love the entrepreneurial ADD comment, sounds like this gentleman really knows how to get the best out of people. In truth a standard education isn't for everyone and I am glad he found his way to learn. He has made the world a much better place by pursuing his dreams.

      I wish you both continued success.
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  • Profile picture of the author bettersocial
    the supposed "dumbasses" are the ones who are actually the smartest in most cases.

    If you want to make a $100k p.a., you can become a good student, go to a good school, and get a good job. End of the story.

    But to make $10M p.a., you need something beyond book knowledge, something that comes naturally to you, something that just can't be learned.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marketstriker
      Originally Posted by sashas View Post

      But to make $10M p.a., you need something beyond book knowledge, something that comes naturally to you, something that just can't be learned.
      Of cause you must behave independently as a unique person, but I believe that you can learn everything. No matter what natural qualities and skills you have you can gain it through constant self-development and self-awareness. I think this 100 million guy realized some smart rules of the life which helped him to achieve the success during self-awareness time.
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  • Profile picture of the author mawhitney
    Very inspiring! I agree. Never give up. The worst that could happen is that you become successful.

    Thanks again,
    Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Good one Harlen. thank you for sharing.

      What i get from this is not so much inspiration. I get a little information. Don't be afraid to put thos smarter than you to work to help you achieve Your goals. As you said he hires the best of the best.

      I study interesting stuff. It is quite easy for someone to outsource Almost everything they need done. While focusing on what they do best. The Guy your telling us about seems like he hires the best and contract the best. Well he did hire Harlen.
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  • Profile picture of the author wave3
    An inspriring success story for sure -- thanks for sharing. We all need inspiration from time to time!

    thanks!
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