Morning Folks!!
I have been saying since the spring when things were the darkest that 2014 was going to be a great year. I think most can see that we have turned the corner in the economy. Not for the average man on the street. But business is back and it is only a matter of time before things improve for those that know what opportunity looks like and doesn't look like.
It was 30 years ago, in 1984 that I went into business for the first time by myself. This after being fired from the job I loved and had been doing for over 10 years. That was a very hard breakup. Took me a while to get over it. I told them, "I could follow a leader but I could not follow an asshole." Termination letter to follow.
See they hired some pipe smoking know-it-all after I took them from obscurity to $12 Million/year with warehouses in key regions, showrooms at the major markets and growing at a rapid pace. But they wanted even more even tho they were doing so well.
Something I brought to the attention of the owners before he was even hired was the fact that here is a guy 55 with a great resume that never held a job more than 2-3 years. I saw it as a red flag. They just laughed at me. Bad move guys. That moron led them right out of business in less than 2 years. A rapid pace in the wrong direction.
So April 1984 was the last time I worked for anyone else but myself. And by May 1984 I was in business. I still remember my first trip to Asia by myself several years later. I was second guessing my decision even driving to the airport. $10,000 was the cost of that trip. $10,000 that I did not have. 8 mortgage payments. All on a credit card.
And then something quite miraculous happened. As I got off the exit to the airport I found myself sitting right next to a truck from that company that fired me. The company's name was faded away as they went out of business a while before that. But like an old u-haul now being used privately, that baby was there and it was like a guiding light. What were the chances?
That doubt left my body and was replaced with something quite euphoric and I have never looked back since then. My life completely changed after that moment. To this moment and beyond. I went from being timid and scared to being Rocky on top of those steps during that 2 week trip.
I learned about business from going to 55 different industry tradeshow. Different industries, different, people, different companies, but almost all the same. But it has been 25 years since I stopped doing the "Show circuit" until......2004. Shortly after my sale of men.com for $1.32 million that helped give some credibility to domains and their resale values and TRAFFIC was born.
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. will turn 10 years old in October. Guess we have to have a HUGE party at the Fontainebleau to celebrate! Come one, come all.
Next Thursday begins year #19 for me doing this. Quite a ride! And there is not a doubt in my mind that the best is yet to come. Not a one. So 2014 will also be the eve of my 20th year since registering my first domain. It just gets more exciting each and every day from here as whatever I saw then is still fully on track for that specific time and date.
The 5 year anniversary of the stock market lows of 2009 and we open 2014, at a record high. 2014 is set to be a stunner of a year. Easily the best year since 2007. Not for all regions. Folks are on the move. It is visible down here in Florida. I have never seen so many people fleeing the high tax states and relocating to Florida and making it their primary residence. They did the math. They can live GOOD here for FREE just with the tax money they save. They have no choice.
I think there are one or 2 more Anniversary's but not for today.
So as we all wind down for the year, just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year's and the most wonderful 2014 you can possibly imagine, create and have.
To your Health!! Cheers!
Rick Schwartz
Recent Comments