Today, I want to tell you the story that isn’t so fun to tell.

In 1995 I lost my business, both my cars and wound up $60,000.00 in debt.

As a bonus, I got to feel like a Grade A Loser for the rest of the 90’s while I did everything I could to keep food on the table.

For many years after I struggled to find meaning as in . . .

Why did this happen to me?

As I have hinted many times in this blog, God and I drifted. We didn’t have a falling out, I just didn’t feel like hanging out with him.

I’m not proud of what I just wrote, but it’s a sad testimonial to where I was at.

I felt my prayers were going unanswered . . . specifically that whole “Why me?” thing.

Several years later, I received my answer and it was quite simply this . . .

There is no meaning to crappy like that but . . .

There are lessons!

Here are mine

1)    I stopped hunting and relied on my existing book of business. I had a incredible  book of business and felt that servicing them was THE only thing. I had 2 companies relocate and one company go out of business and lost $1,500,000.00 within 6 months. And here’s the kicker . . . it was too late to scramble and start hunting new business. I kind of felt like Bruce Willis did at the end of “The Sixth Sense” when he realizes that he’s been dead all along and at the same time awkward like the interview portion of Jeopardy but I’m digressing.

Note: This my friends is why you absolutely must build your army before you need them.  Today, I put a great deal of effort into this activity . . . Why? Because I don’t ever want to be in that position again!

2)    I learned that I could put up with an inordinate amount of crap! I worked night jobs, delivered pizzas and had to work for some people who seemed to take pride in demeaning me for the few dollars an hour they paid me. This is when I learned to be a street fighter. Not in the, “I just kicked someone’s ass” sense, but in the “If I want to live to see another round, I better learn to take a punch” but . . .that sort of makes you a glorified punching bag so I had to learn to go after what I wanted and let go of all the “why me” stuff every time I scraped my knee!

3)    I learned about generosity and encouragement. I could tell you dozens of stories ranging from things my family did, to someone trading in their own food stamps to buy my family food. I never forgot it!

Here’s a part of the story that I like to leave out: For some of us, there is this low point where we feel we don’t matter and that somehow we don’t deserve better.

That’s when the encouragement works its charm.

I truly believe there is a special place in heaven for those who see the light in someone who hasn’t yet seen it in themselves.

Fast forward to a key note speech I was about to make back in 2005 for 500 sales reps.

It was 5 minutes until I was going to be up on stage and the meaning I was searching for finally came . . .

I needed to go through what I went through in order to appreciate and respect my business, my family and my life to be able to . . .

Help others to do the same!

Or maybe so I could respect my business, my family and life 🙂

It was in that moment of realization that the meaning I had found was upgraded to purpose!

Thanks for letting me bend your ear!

Have Paul Speak At Your Next Event!

Email me for speaking engagement rates and availability paul@yoursalesplaybook.com