My freedom is not something I take lightly. It's something that I committed to creating for myself years ago, and something that I have earned.

 

When I first made that commitment back when my kids were young, things were really tough in my life financially. And I decided that I was going to do what it takes and make this work, no matter what.

This morning, I was on a training being led by my dear friend, Mike, and he was sharing some parts of his story from back before he became a successful online entrepreneur.

 

One of the things he shared was about what he called his 'drive of shame'.

 

It was the feeling he had as he was driving home to tell his wife that his card had been declined at the grocery store and he was unable to buy the groceries needed to feed his family.

It's a story I can relate to all too well.

 

I went through a period of time when my kids were babies where I went through an abrupt divorce and became a single mom instantly.

I had to file for bankruptcy and go on food stamps. So, not being able to afford my groceries was very familiar to me, and it hit a deep nerve when Mike told that story today.

 

But then I immediately shifted into feeling grateful.

 

What immediately came to mind was an experience that I just had back in December.

 

I was driving home from Maine and stopped in New Jersey to visit some friends. I went to the grocery store there and there was a woman who appeared to be a single mom, who had a little girl in her cart, around 4 or 5 years old.

 

The little girl was talking to me in the aisle, and showing me some things. Her mom kept asking her to behave. 

I could tell the mom was overwhelmed (another feeling I am very familiar with from back in those days when my kids were little and I was on my own).

 

I continued my shopping and when I got to the register, that same woman and her little girl were in front of me in line.

 

The cashier rang her up, and when she heard the total, she started to cry. 
 

The little girl started to talk and the mom said,

"Please be quiet right now. I don't have enough money to pay for our food, so I need to figure out which items we will need to put back."

 

When I heard that, I was transported right back to those days when I was on food stamps with 2 young daughters.

I immediately responded, 

"I would love to pay the balance for you."

 

She looked at me, almost in shock, and said, 

"REALLY?!?!?"

 

I said, 

"Absolutely."

 

She was so grateful that she started to cry.

 

I felt like I was about to cry, too... but I waited until I got to my car.

 

It was in that moment that I realized how full circle things had come.

 

It had just hit me that I was able to go from not being able to afford my own groceries to being able to pay for someone else's. It felt like I had just witnessed a miracle.

 

Sometimes, once things get better in our lives, we can forget how hard they once were. Or maybe we just don't spend a lot of time basking in gratitude for how far we have come.

 

That night, that's what I experienced. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I went to my car and cried.

 

I was thinking about how, not only was I able to pay for someone else's groceries, but I was on my way home from a spiritual retreat in Maine, and I was taking my time visiting friends on my way home, because I don't have a boss and can do things on my own schedule.

 

I had achieved the freedom I set out for. I did it.

 

I did it because I committed to being able to create a successful online business so that I would never have to miss a beat in my kids' lives. 

And I did it so that I could buy us whatever groceries we wanted, at Whole Foods or wherever I felt like shopping. No food stamps required.

 

Mike has gone on to create several multi-million dollar businesses because he made the same commitment to himself and his family.

 

And he shared more about his thought process and what he did to achieve that on the webinar today.

 

He also shared the exact 7 step process that he would do today if he was starting from scratch.

 

It was so educational and so inspiring... and if you are looking to finally succeed in your online business (or start a business online), I highly recommend checking it out.

I normally only send the replay for trainings like this out to the people who registered for it. 

 

But today I'm making an exception because I realize how important this training may be for someone. It would have been a game changer for me back in those days I spoke about.

 

If you want to check it out, just reply to this email and I will send it over.