This signed photo by the original "Rudy" is one of my fondest possessions. The story of how I got it moves me and pumps me up every time I think about it. I think it's fitting to bring it up here, as well as a unique challenge I'm kicking off to provide relentless inspiration and motivation for those who are strapped for money for SF4. I don't need to do this, but want to to help others achieve more financial independence. You know, teach 'em how to fish instead of give 'em a fish...
The Story:
Before I worked at a ~Fortune 10 company I was recruited to by a former client (and eventually quit to work for myself), I worked in business development. Each year, about 300 managers and salespeople would go on a trip with no expenses barred. The trip was always capped off by a surprise guest speaker. To our surprise delight, the original Rudy Ruettiger from the famous "Rudy" Notre Dame football movie was our speaker this time. The room went nuts when he was announced. He had everyone's full attention.
Fun fact: Rudy is a movie that makes me cry every time.
After a riveting speech, he ended his presentation by holding this exact photo above up in front of the crowd. He asked the entire room "What do you do when you want something?"
Plenty of hands went in the air, he called on them, and politely told them that their responses were not what he was looking for. Everyone was buzzing and brainstorming to figure out the answer in order to win the prize. People kept guessing, and they were all wrong.
After watching this, a light bulb instinctively went off in my head. I was so convinced that it was the answer that I didn't even hesitate or think. I simply stood up and walked through a long row of people to the isle, and then right up to Rudy to grab the photo from his outstretched hand. He gave me a look, and then announced to the entire room of managers, the CEOs, and salespeople from around the world that I was right.
^If this seems obvious, put yourself in that environment, and see if you have the awareness and balls to walk up to a celebrity in front of 300+ of the most influential people in your company. It was either going to be success or be the laughing stock, but I knew I was right.
Rudy shook my hand and signed this photo for me, one of my favorite things. What was even better was that while I was working through the isle, a girl up in front saw me and tried to cut me off. That was lame and I'm sure management saw her tackiness, but Rudy still gave me all the credit. I led and she followed.
When you want something, go get it.
Tying This To SteemFest...
I've heard many people say they can't go to SF4 this year due to the costs. That's understandable, but I don't get a strong sense of resilience that most want to do something to overcome that challenge. Unless you're a trust fund baby, nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. These things need to be earned, and they sometimes call for some overtime.
To lead by example, and show that "where there's a will, there's a way," I'm starting my own challenge to earn $2,000 from scratch to fund my trip. Previous efforts won't count. Scratch means ground zero.
If I succeed, I'll go to SteemFest... If I don't, I won't.
Accountability is everything.
While costs are not a roadblock for me, I'm going to "act as if they were” to demonstrate how I’ll generate these funds by thrifting around my city.
To those who don’t don’t follow me, I quit my corporate job ~4.5 years ago and now make solid money by selling free household items I find in my city's curb recycling. The money is steady and I love helping the environment. However, my initial roots were in hustling thrift stores. I've shied away from this over the years because there really isn't the need anymore. I dabble from time to time, but just for fun. I still have plenty of old thrifting inventory I'm still trying to sell, but I'm not refilling the pipeline much. Google image search Steemmatt and Thrifting to see plenty of older examples.
While not everyone has access to nearly unlimited free quality household inventory on their curbs, I'd imagine that many would have access to thrift stores. These are places where a trained eye can find arbitrage opportunities in the 5-20x range with ease if you know what you're doing. Extremely profitable finds are always possible, and that's what makes it fun for me. For example, I've bought things and sold them for $14 > $1,010, $1 > $400, $17 > $715, and $10 > $585, to name a few top of mind.
So... I'm going to go outside of my comfort zone and hustle the stores like I used to... often 10-15 stores a day. I’ll track my progress/profit only until I reach $2,000 to cover my trip. If I fail, I won't go. There has to be a positive reward and negative consequence, or else there's no point.
Normally, I wouldn't need to do this, and it'll be a lot more legwork than I'm used to in my current routine... but it's all about overcoming obstacles right? I'll still exercise daily, play baseball all Sunday, have my weekly baseball hitting session, play drums in the studio, be social, and do my regular recycling efforts at night.
Recycling revenue/profit will go towards my life expenses, and 100% of new thrifting profit will go towards SteemFest. I could've made this easy for myself and made this about only curb recycling, but I want to grow here, not take easy street. It's $2,000 in new thrifting PROFIT by November 2nd or bust.
The formula is easy. The x-factor is EFFORT. Effort = results.
I'll proceed to answer these questions below to get in the SteemFest mood, and then head out to hustle the thrift stores for a few hours. When I'm done, I'll hit the gym, and then it'll be up to me to list anything I find ASAP to get the real work underway --- selling for a profit.
Road To SteemFest Questions:
- Are you going to Bangkok because, like me, expect to find a crypto babe wealthy as hell and win her heart?
I'd be crazy to rule out meeting someone who shares the same values and ideals, and what crypto resembles is a part of them. Finding a compatible match is hard these days. Wealth means nothing to me if they don't have a kind, caring and giving heart, but it's a nice-to-have if they've showed the determination and drive to build their own financial success from scratch.
- So you want to attend SteemFest 4 because you need funding for one of your projects?
Nope. I'm not in it for the money. However, if a project is brainstormed there, it's a good opportunity to speak with people in person about potential partnerships that make sense for all parties to help with its success. I've always wanted to promote physical fitness, recycling, and independence from the rat race.
- Do you want to go to Thailand so you can meet a whale who can get you out of anonymity?
SP and titles mean nothing to me. Mutual respect and interest to build relationships is my goal. I want to go and meet people who see eye-to-eye, those who don't classify or prioritize others based on their SP holdings. To those who find SP important, you're shooting yourselves in the foot. Kissing ass gets you know nowhere but looking weak. I respect large SP holders for sticking it out through the bear market, but many of us have in crypto, just not in Steem.
- Is this trip your opportunity to go to a new country and explore its touristic spots and get to know the local culture?
Yes. I didn't travel enough in the past and find that the majority of my fondest memories in life are precisely from these factors. I'm not the fondest of my current city's culture and landscape, so getting a look at life outside of my metropolis is very refreshing. I grew up on a rural victorian apple orchard and can only handle concrete for so long without needing a breather. I also love how people in foreign countries can often be very laid back, peaceful, friendly and open-minded.
- Is jumping on a plane to this Steem massive meet up your chance to meet all those people you spend countless hours a week conversing and fooling around in the different chat rooms?
Of course. This is the main benefit for me. SteemFest3 was quite a memorable experience, and that was when I barely knew anyone. After another year, I've built some good rapport with people I'd love to see again. On the other hand, not everyone has stuck with Steem, or I've learned who I specifically want to hang with this time.
- What are you going to SteemFest for? Business or Pleasure?
Business (F)or Pleasure. It's all for the fun, camaraderie, to be surrounded by the same unified energy as last time, and to make new friends. I engage on the Steem blockchain for the social aspects and benefits, not as an investor.
Some recent resale post examples if you're new to my blog:
- My latest curb recycling post with a list of others.
- My last thrifting post. *I don't post on this often, but this will change.
If you like the concept of my challenge, reply below and let's join forces to get some extra cash in your hands to make SF4 a possibility. I'll lead by example as often as I can, and your support will help to keep me on track as well.
Thank you,
Off to the thrift stores now with my metro card, phone and wallet for a full frontal assault! Stay tuned for my results.
"Do what you want, do what you need to get done. Find a way to do it." - Rudy Ruettiger
