A decent paying job is always something to be grateful for. But some people hunger for greater things and are destined for more… and they KNOW it.
Do you relate to that?
Awhile back I got this note from a customer, Mr. Ken Heikkila:
“If you or your associates should ever have a dark moment about whether or not you make a difference, call me because of you, my life has changed 180 degrees in just over three months from hopeless despair to the very real possibility of making a living at the dreams and passions that were such a huge part of my lfe 25 years ago but halted abruptly by injury.”
Ken’s father, an immigrant, was a hard-working man who never understood his son’s passion for music and considered Ken a “floating bum.” So Ken put himself through music school and went on to master classical guitar and win a national competition.
Shortly after that he was diagnosed with severe tendonitis which forced him to put down his instrument. Meanwhile he and his wife, both artists, were working odd jobs. Barely hanging on, barely paying the bills.
When Ken mastered his instrument, he developed a unique fingering technique that made fast progress possible. Ken was scouring the Internet trying to figure out how to make some dinero when it occurred to him that he might be able to teach his method online.
“I stumbled onto your web site, Perry, offering your free five day course to Adwords. It was like finding an oasis in the desert.
“I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was actually at a point in History where selling information was possible. OK, it will take work and effort but I wasn’t afraid of that.
“Now I had to borrow some money from my Parents just to eat. You’re probably thinking ” money from his parents?” and guessing that that was not a pleasant experience. Remember the floating bum thing? This time it was ‘Making money on the Internet ? That’s just a hobby that might get you an extra fifty bucks a month for something if you want it. Forget it and go take a REAL job.’
“My response: ‘Now I have two reasons to prove my parents wrong.’
“I’ll make a living on the Internet *and* with my love of Music !”
Ken adds, “I’ll never forget this interview with Paul Simon. The interviewer asked what was the one thing he wished for, what with all the fame and wealth from his song writing, etc., he replied, with tears in his eyes, “That my father would just once, pat me on the back and tell me I did good.” I mean, he could barely get the words out.
“Today, I called my parents up and said, “With the 40% increase in my Technical method eBook sales per month over the last four months, I am now netting just enough money to live on and I’m having emotional, life altering conversations with people who have purchased my method all over the world.
“And for the first time in 25 years, feel like I’m doing exactly what I should be doing and making a living at it.”
That was 3 years ago.
Ken has gone on to apply musical virtuoso discipline to his PPC campaigns, his landing pages, emails and copy. He’s bonded with thousands of aspiring classical guitarists who are also taking old hopes and dreams and breathing new life into them.
In the time since Ken has gone on to make a very comfortable income teaching classical guitar on the Internet. To prove to his parents and to everyone else that his dreams were more than just fairy dust.
Teaching people like Ken to navigate the treacherous waters of entrepreneurship – being entrusted with the honor and privilege of doing that – THAT is what I’m thankful for today. I’m thankful that hundreds and thousands of people are able to share stories like Ken’s with us here at Planet Perry.
And I’m thankful for you, dear reader, for being on this strange and dangerous journey with me.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Perry Marshall
Share This Post
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.
22 Comments on “Thanksgiving and the Emancipation of an Artist”
Hi Perry,
What’s Ken’s website address?
Cristian
http://www.masteringthefivedisciplines.com
wow, this is truly inspirational!!!
Due to frustration,i have long given up on Internet Marketing to pursue something more advance offline. But i do keep up with the news letters you send and hope fully oneday, i would make a success story of this Internet Biz.
Thanks for keeping the faith.
Tony Ibeh
Very inspiring and touching story.
I think we would all be better off if we were more thankful for what we did have than complain about what was missing from our lives. Being thankful for what we have opens a pathway to doing and therefore acquiring more. Complaining about what we don’t have keeps us stuck where we are.
Thanks for sharing Ken’s story.
Perry
I have been online in the internet marketing community for over a year now and have been reading the advice and thoughts of many people.
You are something very special in this niche within a niche.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for that thoughtful and heartfelt article.
hello out there Perry i hope you `re well, well my story is quite difficult because(everything has come all ofd a suden iand was not prepared at all) the thing is fromso much visiting pages i have been selected as one of most visisted mail on web sistem, till reaching beeing the most visited one , the thing is that as i had not a penny , i am running the risk of losing sveral prizes for not hving money on me , fortunately i think i can count on some friends and partners that will help me because they are forced to , so i ust wait for one of them to act.
and they told me they will
Perry,
I can surely connect with this, as I work through the challenges I currently am facing. But I know that if I hang in there and keep at it, slow and steady wins the race. I read all your material, and although your prices are high, there is tons of free material (like this blog and emails) from you that keeps me motivated and going strong. Soon I too will be well enough off to attend any seminar or planning strategy of yours.
Happy Thanksgiving
Hi Perry,
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
Thank you for sending the perfect email at the perfect time … every time.
Emancipation of an Artist – just the thought of it is inspiring and cause for Thanksgiving.
Georgia Roulo
Happy Thanksgiving, Perry and All!
Many Blessings,
Paul
Perry, your gift for storytelling is undoubtedly a gift from God. Through your stories I learn, and oftentimes (like this story), I cry.
Thanks for being Perry.
I am thankful that I have a mentor from afar,(you)that inspires me to continue doing something that most people don’t understand. In my darkest moments, I sometimes find an email from Perry in my inbox. More often than not, it provides a commodity that is more valuable than I can express.
HOPE
THANK YOU PERRY!
Like a lot of folks right now, I am barely squeaking by (on ss), sometimes not knowing where my rent is coming from.
But I am thankful for every day I get up, albeit a little older. I give a smile when some one will take it and I take a smile when someone will give it.
I am thankful for my family and friends and for living in a free country.
I wish you all a Great Holiday Season!
as a guitarist i would love to have a look at his site, is it poss to let me know?
Thanx
andi
Andi, it’s http://www.masteringthefivedisciplines.com
What a great story Perry!
I have been in your list for a bit over 1 year, and it always gives me so much excitment and pleasure to read your emails, specially around the Holidays! You have a gift! Thanks for sharing it with us.
A bit of my story: I used to be a struggling multilevel marketer: overworked, stressed, broke and very unhappy. One day I found Mike Dillard and he led me to you and your story of the “main reason why people buy a screw driver”
I’ve made you my mentor since then, I’ve studied you silently and thanks to that I’ve made of PPC advertising my best ally to overcome the frustrations of my mlm business.
I couldn’t have done it without you.
Anybody seriously considering succeeding online should turn to you first.
Happy Thanksgiving Perry and everyone else in the US.
Thanks for all you give us.
God bless you!
Romy
Lovely example and sentiment. On this Thanksgiving day let’s give thanks like Lincoln said, to God for watching over us.
Thank you Perry.
I left a very well paying job as marketing director in a mortgage bank because I hate what’s happening in the industry. I want to help people not take advantage of their misery. I’ve been preparing for over a year to start my online business but there are days I have fear and doubt that I’ll make it. This story is incredibly inspiring! When I hear stories like Ken’s I know I can make it too. Thanks for sharing it especially on this day of Thanksgiving. I’m truly thankful for all the blessings God and our country has given me. Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Perry!
You left us(me at least) hanging … what was Ken’s dads response?
Did he acknowledge his sons achievement?
Best,
Leroy
Leroy,
Ken’s dad died about a year ago. He got a partial acknowledgment. Not what he truly desired but his dad did see him succeed. More of that story is told here:
http://www.perrymarshall.com/release-of-a-son/
Nice!
Thank You for Sharing, Perry.
Have A Wonderful Thanksgiving with Your Loved Ones!
~Sunny :)