This website was designed to be a resource for start up and small business owners to assist in personal and business growth. I always wished a site like this existed thats why I decided to create it myself as a place for those entrepreneurs who are serious about growing as person and growing their business.
Below is a short back story about myself and why I decided to make this site.
The year is 2004 and I was only 20 years old. I was student at the local community college taking a variety of classes in different fields; Trying to figure out what I wanted to do while also working a full time job as an assistant for a criminal defense attorney. I was going to school with no direction while working for someone else and I felt lost. I was doing what I was “supposed to be doing ” according to everyone else.
I have never been one to follow the crowd or do what everyone else is doing. And I knew deep down that the path I was on was not going to make me happy, so I decided to drop out of college and focus on working.
A year later in 2005 the the markets were hot and I saw opportunity when I started a side hustle with a little portable power washer cleaning outdoor patios for a small chain of restaurants that a friend worked at. In a short period of time I was getting referrals to other restaurants. At this period of time was also the time they were giving away cheap loans for everything. So with making a little extra side money, I decided to get myself a house, a truck, a motorcycle, and some new credit cards. Life was good for a 21 year old (who had a lot to learn ) As I gained a few new clients, I decided to quit my job at the law firm and make my side hustle my full time hustle. I was making enough to pay the minimum on my bills but as 21 year old I was also looking for fun and credit cards paid the way to fun with a low monthly payment. Fast forward a few years to the 2008-09 financial crisis happens. What I thought was a great mortgage at first was an adjustable rate mortgage and slowly every couple month my payments were getting more and more expensive. To make it worse I was losing customers since they were losing revenue and I was one the first cuts they made to save money. I was making less as my expenses were more expensive. I slowly destroyed my credit while trying to keep everything afloat first defaulting on my credit cards, then on my vehicle and finally my house.
My girlfriend (now wife) and I found a new place to rent and completely reliant on her income (she must really like me). I continued to hustle and find businesses that still needed my services regardless of the state of the economy. Still I was heavily dependent on the girlfriends income (did I mention she must really like me).
I soon realized that while I had started my own business it was a business that just created a job for me. I became determined to grow my business. But how was the question. I decided I was going to find a book and start there. Now at this time I couldn’t remember the last book I had read and even if I could that book wasn’t by choice but a requirement of schooling. So I did some searching online and I finally settled on Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. I thought this was it all I have to do is read this book and I will get rich. I didn’t get rich, but this book opened up the doors for me, I realized I enjoyed reading and learning when it was I am doing it for myself. Soon I was reading forums and blogs searching for recommendations on books about personal and business growth. I was consuming all I could but finding time to read while working on my business was at times tough thats when I discovered Audible.com
As I started to learn more and grow my business I found myself scouring the web looking for that next best anything to help me grow. I kept thinking to myself there has to be others out there that are on this same path for growth. I wished there was a place that had tools and resources that I could connect with to help me grow. I could not find this place. Over 15 years later I have read and listed to 100’s of books, tried dozens of different software and services and decided to make this place a reality. This site will not be for everyone, but I know there are many of you out there that will benefit from the resources provide. I will alway be pursuing my passion to continue learning and growing and this site will evolve and grow as we move forward. I look forward to sharing, teaching and learning from all of you.
– Brandon Carnicle