Posted on Monday, 15th October 2007 by admin
I realize most blogs are topic-specific, but my life is a panoply of interests & experiences, and my blog has to mirror that. Here’s an overview of how we got here:
1982 I’m a 8lb. 7oz. blank slate of sexiness for God to work with.
1983 My mom enters my name into a national Wonder Bread drawing for a racing go-kart. I become the youngest winner in national Wonder Bread drawing history. I can’t remember, but my victory speech was probably brief and unintelligible.
1989 My family buys our first computer, a blazing IBM 286. One of the first things my 2nd grade brain thought was a good idea was transcribing an entire book about dinosaurs word-for-word. This would prove to be the first of a lifetime of random personal challenges I would set for myself.
1994 I win my school Spelling Bee then subsequently get destroyed at the regional competition by kids who remembered to pick up the study guide the month before.
1997 I go on my first mission trip to St John, in the Virgin Islands. I start taking God seriously for the first time, and I discover a passion for experiencing other cultures.
2000 My high school volleyball team wins the state championship. I wish we had a documentary film crew following us through the tournament because we were Buster Douglas-level underdogs the entire time. And we had some blinding banana-yellow uniforms.
2001 In Los Angeles for a weekend, I convince my mom that this was our one chance to be contestants on The Price is Right. She can think of 100 things she’d rather do, but she comes along. I get called to the stage and subsequently win the Showcase Showdown, walking away with $24,000 in Bob Barker’s booty.
June 2003 I fly to Amsterdam to surprise my then-girlfriend with an engagement ring that she picked out. She tells me she’s not ready to get married so I just hang out for the next 5 days then fly home. I’m about 35% heartbroken, 65% confused, and 100% glad I got to go to Amsterdam.
2003 I’m offered my dream job. Interning for the Philadelphia 76ers three days a week. It was my dream job for about 3 weeks, then I realized I was driving 4 hours round trip to work and I wasn’t getting paid.
June 2004 Having graduated college and feeling the call of the adventure, I pack a bag and jump on a plane for Honolulu. I discover there’s no better feeling in the world than the payoff after taking a bold step of faith & successfully conquering the butterflies of the unknown.
August 2004 My net worth in the low double-figures, I take the first job I can find - a security guard for some new show ABC is doing called “Lost.” After one week of the 6pm to 6am shift, I realize I have to find another job. This “Lost” show will be a flop anyway. Who gets lost on the north shore of Oahu??
September 2004 I’m offered a job at an IT firm specializing in asset management. Suddenly I’m making $40,000 a year. Anyone want to go out on Friday?? I’m buying!
July 2005 I meet the girl that will forever change my perspective on the possibility of one finding a soulmate.
January 2007 I realize that I live in Hawaii, I’m working 8-5, I can literally see people surfing out the window from my cubicle, and I am in my cubicle. The term cubic-hell becomes a realization, and I’m on a mission to get the mo-eff out of there.
February 2007 I marry the aforementioned perspective-altering girl and we throw an incredible wedding with 300 people for $6500. Beat that.
June 2007 My co-worker, Justin, knows of my cubic-hell predicament and invites me to a three day real estate investing seminar thrown by the Rich Dad institution. This weekend changes the course of my life in a tremendous way*, but they sucker us out of $24,000 in “continued education.” I remain pissed at myself to this day. Not that the education was bad. I just could have gotten it for 1/10th of the price.
September 2007 While trying to build our fledgling real estate investment business, out of our own necessity we discover an incredible system for generating property leads. Justin & I postpone our investing efforts temporarily as we build and market this system to other investors. I discover the heretofore unrealized goldmine that is internet marketing.
October 2007 Due to our unique lead generation system, I’m accepted to attend a think tank with the top 40 virtual real estate investing minds in the country. For the first time, I truly understand the value of rubbing shoulders with great people, several of which have fortunately since become mentors and/or joint venture partners.
February 2008 I leave the corporate world for good. I also hire my first two virtual assistants, forever changing the model by which I’ll do business & live life. I come to understand the power of outsourcing in enabling me to work ON my business instead of IN my business, and to free up time to enjoy family & life.
September 2008 We hit a large revenue target for the year and buy a significant chunk of ownership in one of the fastest-growing social networking platforms on the internet.
December 2008 Time to give back big time. We partner with RealEstateInvestor.com on an online fundraising initiative and raise $27,600.00 in 30 days for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. One of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
2009 The story continues. Top secret big things in the works…
* It was at this point I realized that the rich truly live in a different mindset and a different paradigm than the poor and middle-class. I understood that if I was ever going to be able to provide for my family as much as I want, live my passion for traveling the globe, and give money away freely and often, I would have to align myself with this paradigm and start surrounding myself with people who were already living it.
Posted on November 6th, 2008
Gotta love the hometown boy makes good stories man… congrats to ya on your success the last year!
Hey, we’ve gotta meet up sometime soon… I’m trying to cut down on my consulting biz so I can concentrate more on my online biz… that’s where the life is huh?
Chat soon buddy,
- Trevor
Posted on December 3rd, 2008
Hey Andy great “behind the music” piece! I am truly impressed with what you have done over the last 18 months! The contacts you have made and the products that you have puit together are remarkable. I am getting ready to launch a few real estate investing based products (ebook “Wholesale Smarts” and a few video based training courses.I have wholesaled over 450 properties over the last 5 years and am ready to help others replicate my systems and success as profitable wholesalers. Any advise for me in the affiliate marketplace!? You can check out one of my squeeze pages at http://7SecretsVideo.com Andy, you are a fast paced ride to the top of the real estate “guru” class! Here’s to continued success my man!
Posted on December 16th, 2008
Hey man! Wow. I can’t believe what I am reading!!! Who would have thought that my main-man-3-point-shooting-GENIUS would have turned into such an big business man! I’m impressed. My big question for you now, which is one of the same questions I have always asked you, Are you happy?
I’m in Real Estate now as well, and I would LOVE to chat with ya. Kick me an email with your number, and I’ll give ya a call!
Congrats again Brother! My Love and Joy to ya as always, My Good Friend!!
~BS
Posted on December 24th, 2008
@BS - The internet is the ultimate medium for so many things, including reuniting long lost high school friends.
I’m very happy. Will get in touch with you directly.
Posted on December 24th, 2008
@BS - The internet is the ultimate medium for so many things, apparently including reuniting long lost high school friends.
I’m very happy. Will get in touch with you directly.
Posted on March 8th, 2009
What I really want to know is how frequently you surf up there on the north shore and then… how much time have you spent in the pipeline?
Posted on March 10th, 2009
Hey Andy,
Great to read more about who you are buddy.. also awesome to see you mention us in your last update.
Awesome to know you bro!
Colin
Posted on May 16th, 2009
What a great read. To blessed is a wonderful thing. Knowing you are in God is even greater. Please tell me how I can become of part of blessing.
Thank you, Dorothea
Posted on May 16th, 2009
Sorry,
What a great read. To be blessed is a wonderful thing. Knowing who you are in God is even greater. Please tell me how I can become a part of this blessing and team.
Thank you, Dorothea
Posted on June 11th, 2009
Hey Andy,
That’s a great story man. It’s been a while. When am I going to see you in PA again.
Posted on September 7th, 2009
Wow, you’ve lived what would take most people 306 YEARS to experience! Thanks for sharing.
I am dying to know what the ‘mysterious’ social media site is? That is way cool.
Blake Templeton