How Changing My Thoughts Took Me From Dead End Job To Self Made Millionaire
39-year-old Wesley Virgin is a self-made millionaire, investor and United States Army veteran, who is inspiring people around the world with his story of ditching a comfortable and predictable six-figure job as a computer engineer to pursue true wealth and freedom as an entrepreneur.
It is a modern day example of someone building up the courage to jump off a cliff and build an aeroplane on the way down, and accomplishing it. Now he has made it his mission to help others break free of their fears, and help them realize the opportunities and lifestyle they will miss out on if they do not follow their dreams.
Every successful, self-made entrepreneur has had a “light bulb moment” where they were able to see a need in the marketplace or a new angle to approach solving a problem that paved the way for them to become successful. Wesley Virgin attributes his success to a change in thinking he experienced moments after reading Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker and realizing he would never be able to live a truly prosperous life trading time for money at a job, even if it was a high paying job.
He had to make a dramatic decision, live the rest of his life working for a boss and wondering if he could have done better, or take the risk of quitting his six-figure job to pursue true freedom, wealth and prosperity. He quit that job seven years ago and has since done over $30 million dollars in sales, employees 10 people, has more than 5,000 agents promoting his brand, and helps feed more than 300 underserved families in his hometown of Houston, Texas. He even teaches nearly all of his secrets for free in his trainings. Here is his exclusive interview:
There are many rags-to-riches stories out there. What makes yours unique?
My story is unique because unlike many of the entrepreneurs these
days that are glorified for starting in their parent's garage or
sleeping on their friend's couch and then coming up with the next big
thing, I actually experienced some success going the traditional route.
Experiencing that version of success actually held me back from living
up to my full potential.
My dad got me a computer when I was 8 years old, and for the next ten years, I learned that machine front to back. Eventually, I attended college and earned a degree in computer engineering. In fact, after college, I got a job making six figures per year using my degree. All these things sound positive and are most people’s American dream, but it was actually completely holding me back from my destiny.
The best thing that ever happened to me was getting fired from a job I was very loyal to. And this is where most people are in life; comfortable until something happens. I realized that a job was a false sense of stability. My boss had one bad day at work and fired me on the spot for something that was completely out of my control even after seven years of loyalty and friendship. So how is that stable? I was making six figures a year, but constantly on the phone or in meetings and did not even have time to enjoy the money.
I knew there was more to life, and luckily a higher power knew that I was destined for more too because if my job had stayed stable, I would probably still be there, trading time for money until I was just old enough for them to throw me to the curb. Now I own my own fitness and coaching products that have made me a millionaire, and I have made it my purpose in life to find those people who are comfortable but know they deserve more, and show them how to achieve it and have it all.
You are a self-made millionaire. As someone who made it, how important do you think passion is and what role did it play in your success?
Passion is very important and if you don’t possess it, you will inevitably quit. No question about it, if you do not love what you do, you will throw in the towel, every time. That is why most people fail. Their why is not strong enough.
I was guilty of it too. Before becoming an entrepreneur, I was happy to be paying my car payment, travelling for work, and making six figures. But being just happy enough was not enough to keep that sustainable. You have to be driven by something more than money to make it.
Many entrepreneurs and business coaches teach that tenacity is the quality an entrepreneur needs the most. Do you agree?
No! My philosophy is this. A successful entrepreneur must have two types of beliefs. He must first believe in his product or service, and more importantly, he must believe in himself.
Most people’s biggest fear is public speaking. Having a background in computers, I am guessing you were an introvert. How do you go from an introvert to an extrovert—and why is this so important in terms of success?
To transition from an introvert to an extrovert was easy for me, I thought about the pain of staying an introvert and all the amazing life experiences I would miss out on, all because I was afraid to open my mouth.
It may sound cliche, but everything you want is on the other side of fear. The work you love to do and wish you could do full time is on the other side of fear. The husband, wife or ideal partner that you want, is on the other side of fear. The vacations for your family, the material things, the non-material goals, the body of your dreams, is all on the other side of fear. It is not hard to overcome when you have the encouragement from others who have broken through and gotten to where you want to be. That is why I am so committed to helping others break through, and embrace being an extrovert.
The media often frames entrepreneurs and business people as greedy, or selfish. How do you balance selfish and unselfish needs, and where do you draw the line? How important is a charity to you?
Read close, There isn’t any balance, because you cannot measure how selfish or unselfish you are. Selfish is looked upon negatively, but my thoughts are this, You cannot help another person climb to the top until you have climbed and reach the peak yourself. You must always take care of yourself first, regardless of the painful stories you will hear from others, who will beg and plead for your time and money. Remember, you can not help them until you help yourself, or in no time you will be right there next to them with nothing. I love helping people help themselves through my programs.
Charity is a very important driver for me. As a matter of fact, I have personally fed and continue to feed 300 homeless Houstonians under the bridge every Sunday for the last 3 years. Contribution equals fulfilment.
But here is the most important takeaway, I am able to help feed them because I am able to first feed myself. If I was not “selfish” enough to look out for myself first, I would be right there with them needing help, instead of being able to help. It is through first succeeding, that you are able to then help others.
My dad got me a computer when I was 8 years old, and for the next ten years, I learned that machine front to back. Eventually, I attended college and earned a degree in computer engineering. In fact, after college, I got a job making six figures per year using my degree. All these things sound positive and are most people’s American dream, but it was actually completely holding me back from my destiny.
The best thing that ever happened to me was getting fired from a job I was very loyal to. And this is where most people are in life; comfortable until something happens. I realized that a job was a false sense of stability. My boss had one bad day at work and fired me on the spot for something that was completely out of my control even after seven years of loyalty and friendship. So how is that stable? I was making six figures a year, but constantly on the phone or in meetings and did not even have time to enjoy the money.
I knew there was more to life, and luckily a higher power knew that I was destined for more too because if my job had stayed stable, I would probably still be there, trading time for money until I was just old enough for them to throw me to the curb. Now I own my own fitness and coaching products that have made me a millionaire, and I have made it my purpose in life to find those people who are comfortable but know they deserve more, and show them how to achieve it and have it all.
You are a self-made millionaire. As someone who made it, how important do you think passion is and what role did it play in your success?
Passion is very important and if you don’t possess it, you will inevitably quit. No question about it, if you do not love what you do, you will throw in the towel, every time. That is why most people fail. Their why is not strong enough.
I was guilty of it too. Before becoming an entrepreneur, I was happy to be paying my car payment, travelling for work, and making six figures. But being just happy enough was not enough to keep that sustainable. You have to be driven by something more than money to make it.
Many entrepreneurs and business coaches teach that tenacity is the quality an entrepreneur needs the most. Do you agree?
No! My philosophy is this. A successful entrepreneur must have two types of beliefs. He must first believe in his product or service, and more importantly, he must believe in himself.
Most people’s biggest fear is public speaking. Having a background in computers, I am guessing you were an introvert. How do you go from an introvert to an extrovert—and why is this so important in terms of success?
To transition from an introvert to an extrovert was easy for me, I thought about the pain of staying an introvert and all the amazing life experiences I would miss out on, all because I was afraid to open my mouth.
It may sound cliche, but everything you want is on the other side of fear. The work you love to do and wish you could do full time is on the other side of fear. The husband, wife or ideal partner that you want, is on the other side of fear. The vacations for your family, the material things, the non-material goals, the body of your dreams, is all on the other side of fear. It is not hard to overcome when you have the encouragement from others who have broken through and gotten to where you want to be. That is why I am so committed to helping others break through, and embrace being an extrovert.
The media often frames entrepreneurs and business people as greedy, or selfish. How do you balance selfish and unselfish needs, and where do you draw the line? How important is a charity to you?
Read close, There isn’t any balance, because you cannot measure how selfish or unselfish you are. Selfish is looked upon negatively, but my thoughts are this, You cannot help another person climb to the top until you have climbed and reach the peak yourself. You must always take care of yourself first, regardless of the painful stories you will hear from others, who will beg and plead for your time and money. Remember, you can not help them until you help yourself, or in no time you will be right there next to them with nothing. I love helping people help themselves through my programs.
Charity is a very important driver for me. As a matter of fact, I have personally fed and continue to feed 300 homeless Houstonians under the bridge every Sunday for the last 3 years. Contribution equals fulfilment.
But here is the most important takeaway, I am able to help feed them because I am able to first feed myself. If I was not “selfish” enough to look out for myself first, I would be right there with them needing help, instead of being able to help. It is through first succeeding, that you are able to then help others.
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