It might sound melodramatic to say that I died on August 11th, 2009, but it definitely felt like I did.

It was on that day that my real estate business – which I’d poured my blood, sweat and tears into for almost a decade – closed.

I started it when I was just 21, and worked my tail off 100 hours every week to build up a company with 100 agents and employees and two offices in different markets.

Then all that hard work went down the drain.

When it came crashing down, I thought my life was over. I went from being a respected entrepreneur in my marketplace to being attacked by ex-employees, former friends, strangers, and the local media.

It’s not fun to wake up to front page newspaper articles about you. And for awhile, it felt like everyone was coming at me. After years of having no failures, it was all foreign and disorienting. I didn’t even feel like leaving the house …

But when I was at my lowest point, several people came into my life to give me a lift when I needed it most. They asked me to hop on the phone with them, or get out to a coffee shop to talk. They become friends, coaches and mentors who I’m grateful to still have in my life today.

Even though I would experience more heartbreak a few years after that (I went through another stumble in 2012, after which I left real estate for good), having positive people around me made all the difference.

Eight years later the memories from that business closure remain, but they’re distant. Like scars. They’re visible, but they don’t sting as much.

Looking at the positive, I got lessons that I could have never learned from any book.

It’s funny how life works out, but you wouldn’t be reading this right now if I hadn’t failed in 2009.

If on August 11th, 2009 you told me that I’d be where I’m at today – with a successful six-figure online coaching business and having fun working with people all over the world, I would have called you nuts.

By failing, it forced me to get resourceful and eventually start a coaching business, and I can say that I’m much happier (and less-stressed) now than when I was in real estate!

I tell you this story to let you know that if you’re going through challenges at the moment, all hope is not lost. There’s a silver lining somewhere in your situation, but you have to stick it out to find it.

I’ve got no offer and no pitch for you today. If this helps give one person a lift when they need it, then I’m happy,