One of my students hit the skids financially, dropped out of Roundtable (my highest level coaching group) and just sort of vanished for almost 2 years.
He was mostly working in the real estate business, which as you know started to slide in ’07. He was raking in cash for awhile. But then he started missing payments and then disappeared.
He had come to a 4 Man Intensive, won a prize in the Bobsled Run and come to one Roundtable meeting.
All I knew was he was having money troubles…
I had no idea.
Just got this amazing email from him the other day, wanting to get back in the groove and asking us to work with him on a payment plan.
Richard from Florida. Here’s his amazing story:
“I took some really hard knocks. I had to sell everything of value including my car and move into a room for rent in someone’s house. I even had to sell my wife’s wedding ring and send her back to work to help support us.
For a few months my wife had to feed us on $20 a week. Whatever was cheapest per pound that week, That’s What We Ate. I may never eat cabbage or carrots again!
Somehow we found a way. We moved to the city and rode bicycles for the last year. We went to work and we worked hard. I had to ride my bicycle for an hour to get to work because it took two hours on the bus. Then I had to ride home after a 12 hour day.
Because of my work ethic and what I learned from you in the Bobsled Run and the Round Table, I was able to move up quickly. The company I worked for needed higher quality leads for less money from their Google campaign and they got it.
My pay increased rapidly because I was more valuable than just a salesman. I taught them things about Google that they did not know and they paid me well for it. I know the value of what you taught me. It got me through.
It has made me so much more than just a salesman. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
The one good investment I made when I was rolling in the dough, spending my money like some kind of drunken sailor with no regard for my families security, was with you.
That knowledge can not be taken from me and I was able to sell it to those in need. Assisting them in improving their business and learn a new business for myself and my family. pay of my debts, save some money and start a new business.
We found opportunity in a business that we love that is easy for us. We have learned some great things about money and true financial fitness. We have always known how to attract money, now we understand the value of keeping it.
We are still living in that room for rent for $400 a month including utilities. We will continue to live here until we are truly financially fit. We used to think a big income made us financially fit. We thought we could spend big because we were big earners. Than the drought came and we had no water to get us through. I will not let that happen again.
This has been the most fruitful time of our relation ship. We learned lessons about money and strength that our parents just did not teach us. We learned how to have fun without funds. It has been an adventure of epic proportions. Our bond has super power.
I know this course will assist me in getting back on track and I must be there. Please assist me in making this happen.”
Richard
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
62 Comments on “Total Financial WIPEOUT”
So, how about an update on Richard?
I’ve been in contact with him. One will be forthcoming.
Been there. Still recovering.
In my case ex-wife used it as the excuse to bail she had been looking for since we got married.
Love your inspiration and appreciate your value add.
Hey Perry,
At first I thought you are writing about me…haha…man it seems we all go through very similar stories don’t we…and why does it always feel like we are the only ones going through this? Its (in a positive way) good to see other people going through similar life events and yes your teachings are being put to some great uses here in Serbia where I am currently stationed for some much needed re-calibration in spirit. Much Love!
Much love! Be strong.
In the world of business advice (and the morality that goes with it step-for-step), there is no one else like Perry Marshall.
I have been through good and bad moments in my life, although business principles (instead of techniques that come and go) helped me to overcome the problems.
I learned a lot of useful things from Perry, like Adwords, but Im most grateful to him for teaching principles.
I sild hosting, done affiliate marketing and currently im into real state with my website: http://quierovendercasa.blogspot.pe
Through the years, i learned that it is impossible to have success if you dont dig deeper than the rest, so i selected a
very big market and stick with it no matter what.
Results are coming veey slowly, but that is the very nature of a super competitive market, it is necessary investment in time and money you have to make to succeed.
Going through the wringer, is a great experience. I have followed your e-mails since the early days and can vouch for their honesty . I was made bankrupt with wife and two babies. I even went to Amway to suck the Kool aid . We didn’t loose the house but came very close to it. We slowly put things back together, I set up another workshop and its now world famous. Thats twenty two years later.
Its not how you fall down that matters its how you dust off and get up. Having done that, you become “case hardened” to adversity, bankruptcy doesn’t scare me anymore.
Power to your elbow Perry
Great to hear from you, David!
Perry, I can’t thank you enough for sharing these types of stories with us because I too am going through what is absolutely the toughest and worse time of my life, and I’m no spring chicken. What is so useful and powerful with you posting these kinds of stories, at least for myself, is that I’ve just gone through a spell where I have felt like a complete failure, as if I were the only one to have had these things happen to them and I’ve felt so shameful of myself for having let them happen and have come close to losing all hope. However, in reading stories like this, I realize what I’m going through is actually life knocking me down and that it’s my God given right to either stay down, or to pick myself up and fight back, because if all these other people can do it, then I at least have a shot in doing it as well. Through reading stories like this, I feel as if I’m slowly obtaining the strength to start pushing off the ground, instead of feeling hopeless, lying in a sea of pain and shame (BTW the shame hurts so much more than the pain).
Thank you once again.
Strength and honor!
Thanks for the share Perry. The financial headgame is so important to get right and if you skill up there is no reason why things won’t turn round over time.
Thanks again.
Richard
“Tough times don’t last but tough people do”.
Alright if you’re a ‘tough’ person.
Can’t change the tough situations so easily…
So learn the traits of the ‘tough’.
And good luck with that.
Yep, put me on the list who have been through the pain.
I found (the REAL hard way) that in my weakest moments is when God is at his strongest for me.
So – did I sit on my freckle in my ’40 years in the wilderness’ — waiting for God’s toughness to get me out of the pickle?
No way! I got out there and hustled my backside off!
All the way being lead by that well known verse…
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13)
Cannot explain it at all with intellect.
It is as it is. God pulls me through.
Today? I’m blessed in more ways than I ever dreamed possible.
Final word…
“There but for the Grace of God go I”.
PS Love your posts Perry — all of ’em.
Thank you. Strength and Honor.
I have been through a very similar time in my life. The economic downturn did hurt a lot of people. Very inspirational story! Thank you!
Perry, we were both in Dan Kennedy’s mastermind together when my personal situation turned on its head. I had an impressive liquid cash balance in my checking accounts, multiple properties, large stock portfolio, 3 exotic autos, mansion, etc. Divorce struck and other legal problems…it all crashed. The private components are not important. What is important is what one does when the chips are down. As you know, I am a 6th degree black belt and have been able to transfer that mental toughness to my life and get up when I was punched squarely in the face. I leaned back with the towel and blood running out of my nose, wipe it off and get back in the ring. As long as I never allowed a knockout to take place, I would be able to recover. Your student appears to have done the same. He survived the beat down, but was able to use the valuable teachings you provided to get back on track. Please keep these very real stories as motivation for us all.
Mitch,
Great to hear from you (and great to see you in Utah awhile back). That martial arts toughness is a future saver and a game changer. Thanks for staying hello.
Thank you Richard for sharing your story. I wish you the very best in your journey. I, too, am trying to work my way back up.
Also, thank you Perry. You don’t get this type of information anywhere else – part of what really sets you apart and why I listen to and apply (as best I can) what you have to say.
Wayne
I am impressed that he is still going. Lots of folks today are rolling over and making the government take care of them. My hats off to you. The harder you work the luckier you get.
Thanks for sharing . I especially liked this: “We learned how to have fun without funds.”
Better than having funds but no fun!
I remember many times when Carlos Gallego learned from you that it meant a lot. But of course, you are an expert magnificent, yet is a handicap for those who have not mastered the English language we lose the learning curve. Would be no possibility of someone close to you, translate his books and blogs to learn their techniques us Hispanics?
If you know someone who could do the translation, we would consider some kind of relationship or arrangement.
Did he go back to real estate?
I don’t know, but I doubt it.
Great and inspiring story!
I wonder what is the year when this post was published…
Have to thank you, Perry for changing my life course! Somehow I became a PPC consultant after your 80/20 (2012) course and a lot of free material from you. It’s just a beginning, I’m still in that cube that prevented me to come to London for workshop.
Still hope to meet you one day!
Elena
And I hope to meet you!
yeah, right. You won’t learn till you realize what money worth.
Wow, I am really inspired by Richard’s story. I especially love this line…”We have always known how to attract money, now we understand the value of keeping it” Very true. That’s why many of those who hit it big suddenly goes down and loses everything. Financial literacy is very important so that we will know how to take care of our hard-earned money. It’s amazing how you have helped people, Perry. More power to you!
Just wanted to say thank you! for all the great info found on your site, even helped me with my job recently :) keep it up!
Hey everyone,
Yes, me too, I can feel the pain, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
The financial pain is sometimes unbearable! As I struggle to build my site for the long term.
Suffering through these difficulties will only make us stronger in the long run, if we persevere.
Keep going folks, we all know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Perry thanks for the inspiration.
Cheers,
Jim
Great story and one I can relate to – I disappeared off the face of the earth for 2 months when one of my businesses didn’t work out. But resilience is one of the TOP entrepreneur traits. If you don’t have it, you must cultivate it!
Great story, with more to come I’m sure. Sadly I can relate too so thanks for the positive attitude, I’ve had to look at our situation & react differently to neutralize the stress of it, but am definitely moving forward.
Richard – well done.
The true measure of a man is what he does when he has relentlessly had the crap kicked out of him. Does he wither and die or does he rise up. Men rise.
You also have a good woman to stick with you. Now kick some butt and spoil her rotten!!
I respect you. You have tremendous courage and strength.
Chris.
Here’s my big takeaway from this… hit the local market. he got a job and took over their adwords..just think of how many local businesses are trying and failing or not even attempting at all. Local business is a gold mine in this economy.
Chris
That sounds scary. Best to live within our means even if you’re raking in dough. That’s the best way to go. With more money comes responsibility as well.
Very inspirational. Congrats Richard for picking yourself up like that. The very first adwords course I bought was yours Perry back in the old days. It was a different world back then but many of those first lessons allowed me to take my business to the next level selling from a bricks and mortar location.
This story is very inspirational. It is a great lesson to learn how to live simpler and not to keep acquiring material possessions. I think America is going through some tough time and it actually bring out our strength and we re- examine out values and will become stronger.
Perry, I have a long, convoluted story. I have followed your writing and marketing style for several months. I know I want to learn from you. I know I have lots of spunk & talent. I have integrity, much experience in direct marketing. Because of health, I was away from marketing for several yrs. I wrote a long dm mss of original material, never published, want to break it up & use it as core material on web, but afraid of moving forward w/o guidance, cannot afford to pay for guidance, can we talk?
Kudos for sharing that story Richard and thanks Perry for giving us some insight.
Richard, it’s just awesome to read the work ethic paying off and bringing you back. The nice aspect about knowledge and being willing to work is it can take you much farther than just a number in a bank account.
To your continued success.
Alchemy vs. Arbitrage.
When the chips get super down, do we have a true alchemic asset, or were we simply flipping deals in a temporary environment of arbitrage.
All arbitrage comes to end. Alchemy lives on. Thank you Perry for sharing this. Thank you Richard for sharing this.
The wife and kids are the ultimate gut shot. Best of luck to Richard and anyone else going through this. I sincerely hope not to join you, but if it happens we know what gets us out:
Not our ability to flip deals, but our ability to create them.
To be clear – I credit you Perry and your newsletter 100% for supplanting the idea of modern day alchemy in my brain. I’ve got a bunch of napkins with Alchemy vs. Arbitrage philosophy on them that I put together from a recent road trip cafe. I should mail them to you.
Nick,
YOU deserve credit for framing “Alchemy vs. Arbitrage” as the two fundamental approaches to competing in business. Looking forward to hearing more of your musings on this….
Perry
Whao Richard,
Real stories like that this and others like the (Memo from a Pink Kool-aid Drinker)really humbles folks like me. They are now tattooed in my brain, personally!
it makes me to get a better perspective of what the real deal is as far as making it online.
1. You don’t read real life stories like these on any other marketing blogs.They don’t show you the other side of things.
Stories that make you say Whao, that could be me you know. Stories that make you pinch yourself and make you face realities instead of being in la la land.
And at the same time, stories that encourages you to keep on working at it(the right thing of course)
Thanks for sharing these kinds of stories with us.
Ps: Glad his story is going to have a marvelous ending.
How do you folks get SEO work after having been so far in the dumps?
perrry, im in your mastermind group, but not learning much. perhaps i need to spend the $700 for an hour with you.
will take me more than a year to save it, but should be worth it.
thank you and sorry for typos, my pda isnt behaving.
tj
have you posted your questions to the forum?
Also, we do live Q&A on the mastermind calls. Next one is Monday.
Perry
Great post Perry. And to Richard: You have big courage and there’s a lesson (many in fact) some of us learned slowly, but at least we got it!
Wow, that’s scary stuff. But also inspiring. We too are hurting now, and hoping that we all pass through the storm to the calm waters on the other side.
Success to each and every one!
Ted
So often it seems in life we learn the most and can make the most change when we have to face the circumstances of our failure. That is a great story and it sounds like Richard has found out what things are really important in life and he has been given a great opportunity to be able to change things and make a difference!! Very nice!
This was truly an inspirational story. Thank you Richard for allowing others to hear, experience and learn valuable life lessons from your journey.
I am certain your future will be stronger and brighter than ever!
It is amazing what one can learn from hardship and richard is kind enough to share his.
I do agree that knowledge cannot be taken and the great part about investing funds with planet perry is that it pays long after the seminar, class, or book is over.
Thanks for sharing.
Amazing post,
Most of us have made that same mistake of overspending and not thinking about the possibility of a financial famine.
Take it as one of lifes greatest lessons, you learn from it and prosper.
Things always work out, behind every dissapointment there is always a blessing.
Truly amazing and encouraging
Hi Perry,
I hope you help Richard get there. What a powerful story. I’m very nearly in the same boat as he, except that I have a 401(k) to borrow from. Now I’m paying off the biggest monthly expenses to free up more of my paycheck.
Just dawned on me this morning also that I’ve been doing a lot of differnt things these last few months, but I don’t necessarily feel scattered. I’m focused on the goal and all the little things are coming together – like Dan Kennedy’s “The Phenomenon”.
Good for you Richard!
Best regards,
Robin
Hi Perry,
I’ve got a story like Richard as well I am sorry to have to admit.
The way back up from losing my family’s home of almost 20 years is tough and the kids and my wife are not all that happy.
I too am about to assist the company I am temping for with their Adwords campaigns that they are doing all wrong. The good news is the niche they are in is fairly much asleep as well.
Don’t get me wrong this is a niche that you would have thought knew better. It is in the financial education sector and competition is strong but there is only one in ten that has a clue how to do SEO or PPC correctly.
So off I go to a meeting with them on Thursday to see if I can help them to see how they could be improving their bottomline with optimised, split tested, continually improved (beat the control) ads in their PPC.
They are paying up to $14 a click so it is big dollars they are spending but the market is a $20 million dollar a year gig so an incremental improvement of 2% or 3% could mean millions more to the bottomline.
I thank you for your courses and materials that have helped me to get a leg back up and a foot firmly in the door to my new home (someday soon).
Cheers from Down Under,
Greg G.
The very best investment anyone can make is in their own education. Your education cannot be taken away from you – no matter what else may happen. And there is no better education than learning how to market.
You can be excellent in any field but without the knowledge to market your skills, you can go hungry.
Most people focus on making and then major in spending it. I think everyone would do well to focus a bit more on keeping some.
Great lesson.
Richard, I can relate. While we didn’t have to move into a rented room we have been through the ringer. I’ve had to empty every account, file extension upon extension on taxes, and basically start from below ground zero.
Oh and a 7 week separation from my wife and kids. The worst was the dog having to be put down.
Yes, I hear you on living way below one’s means. Living on way less than you need and true wealth has NOTHING to do with the house, cars and all that stuff. In fact, anyone who is selling that stuff as the perfect lifestyle, I’d run quickly from them.
Richard, hang in there, it does get better.
Matt Gillogly
I am not surprised you overcame your challenges, Matt. Great inspiration.
That rocks.
In Perry we trust :)
Confirmation of “Every cloud has a silver lining!”
Perry,
Did you allow him to attend at the end?
Yes, we worked something out.