The Path To Profit starts with adversity and ends with struggle. Can you pay the billionaire fare to cross the river of profit?
Source: Self Taken Picture of Author & Kevin Harrington promoting their co-author book "Many Paths To Profit". Property of Author. Unauthorized use or distribution prohibited. All Rights Reserved.
THE TRUTH OF SUCCESS
We are told the journey of success is not determined by its traveler. The destination many travel to in their mind is only valued by them if their arrival to their destination is celebrated by others. Many define how to measure success through the error of third-party validation. No one can ascertain for certain our stories, experiences or lessons will be celebrated. Often our lives remain unknown and uncelebrated. People are entitled to their opinions on who and what to celebrate.
Myriam’s dictionary defines opinion as a view, judgment or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter (2). Many opinions are based on the opinions of others. These opinions originate from the person’s mind not any verifiable source.
When you become a best seller…things change. When you become a two-time best seller with a billionaire a strange evolution happens.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT ME
I have been called a millionaire. I have been called an entrepreneur. I have been called a scammer. I have been called a father. Many called me friend. Some called me a hustler. Others alleged I was a criminal.
Today few call me brother. Even fewer call me partner. One calls me husband. What a person calls me is usually based on their opinion of me. Sometimes fact. But rarely is a title given to me based on fact.
Myriam’s dictionary defines opinion as a view, judgment or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter (2).
Presently, I am called a two-time international best seller and co-author with the original shark from shark tank, Kevin Harrington. This title is a fact. If you don’t know Kevin he’s a serial Entrepreneur For 50+ Years, Inventor of The Infomercial, Shark On Shark Tank, and did Over $6 Billion In Sales From Fortune 100 companies to startups. Kevin helps companies of all sizes grow and scale their business.
Today my title is different than yesterday. Today my title is based on fact not opinion.
WHAT DOES MY TITLE MEAN
My title doesn’t mean anything. Throughout your life the value people ascribe to your name will change. At one moment you will be a hero. Another moment a villain. In between your rise and fall you might be an inspiration. There are many values people assign to you.
Presently, I am called a two-time international best seller and co-author with the original shark from shark tank, Kevin Harrington. This title is a fact.
Your worth is the same. The lesson in this article is very important. The point of my article is concise. Read the next line carefully. It will shape your life. I promise.
Self-worth is contained intrinsically within you and value is what others think you are worth to them.
Since we are entrepreneurs, we typically imagine the worth we provide measured in dollars. In this sense, we must review how people affix numerical values to us. Market Value is defined by the price buyers are willing to pay for an asset (your knowledge or expertise) in the marketplace or the price that is currently offered (or paid) for an asset (your knowledge or expertise) (3).
THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT LISTENING TO OPINIONS
The inability for the outside world to influence your self-worth is a fact. What is also a fact is the outside world’s ability to influence your opinion of yourself.
Remember, opinions are not facts. Opinions are beliefs held based on observations and perceptions not yet proven.
Your opinion and their opinion about yourself are both unproven things about your worth.
HOW AN OBSERVATION CAN FOOL YOUR PERCEPTION
I can observe a shadow in the night and determine this shadow is a person hiding. I can then run and slam my door to get away. I can tell everyone someone is waiting outside. Only to discover through the camera that it was from one of my statues on the side of my house.
Our observations are often incorrectly assessed. The perceptions we have cannot always be relied upon. This is why proof of your gut is so important. Your gut is wrong a lot. In fact, studies suggest a possible reason for people going with their gut has to do with anxiety disorders and depression that is improperly managed by the body in the ‘gut-brain-gut communication’ (4).
Your gut feeling might just be your inability to handle your own anxiety.
Who you are is often not the opinion someone has of you through their outside perceptions. The reality of who you are is proven by fact. The label some people give you is often an opinion. This is true for the value they assign.
Throughout my personal experience I have discovered it is rare for a customer of any brand, product or service to research and prove the product or service they consume is the best.
Many customers simply try a product or service. If they like the experience they have with the product or service, they base their approval on their personal experience. This is called an “opinion”.
When many “opinions” come together a consensus happens. If the consensus is positive some people use it to substantiate their “value” of something or someone. When the consensus is negative the same people use it to substantiate the “de-valuation” of something or someone.
RUMORS & ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT FACTS
I personally held on to my belief of evidence. I knew I had accomplished many measurable things. Amid an SEC lawsuit and a subsequent indictment, I knew I sold over a quarter billion dollars of real estate successfully. I knew I raised money for a biotechnology company which successfully signed a partnership agreement with the US Department of Agriculture. I knew I filed a tax return where I successfully reported over 3mm USD in gross earnings in one company and 1.8mm gross earnings in another well after the alleged events.
Your gut feeling might just be your inability to handle your own anxiety.
During the following year of my arrest, amidst the worst accusations imaginable, I was able to successfully gross six thousand dollars short of one million dollars in my project management company.
These are measurable facts. These are not perceptions. Allegations of self-enrichment were based on perceptions and observations. I believe most investigators went with their gut. He looks like it must be him. We already established gut feelings are often not based on facts. I knew this. I could prove it to myself. So, I walked through my challenges as if what was said about me was an opinion.
Opinions can change. Facts do not.
This is not a method of bolstering my credibility nor is it a measure of self-righteous cathartic speaking. I am not trying to highlight who was right or wrong. The point of disclosing these things is to teach you something.
YOU ARE ALWAYS WORTH SOMETHING
I held on to the reality, “I am worth something despite everyone devaluing me.”
I proved it.
“You are worth something despite everyone devaluing you.”
Prove it to yourself.
Every single one of you reading this article knows something. You all have accomplished something. You can prove it. You can show it. Your accomplishments are worth something despite the value people assign to you.
Diamonds were once considered less valuable than pearls (5). Think about that for a minute. You find pearls at Kohls outside the jewelry glass case now. No one is watching whether you take pearls or not. The diamonds? You must get permission to view them. They are behind the glass. Everyone makes sure you don’t steal diamonds.
Focus on your worth. Forget the value. You can prove worth. Value is assigned by opinion. The marketplace is largely opinions. Opinions can change. Eventually, worth pairs with value.
Want a six-figure value? Find a six-figure worth inside yourself. Your worth exists. Unfortunately, my secret for six figure items will not be discovered in this free article. You must pick up a copy of my international best-selling book “I Made It Then I Didn’t” or order “Many Paths To Profit” for that.
The concept I teach in this article is free. My personal stories are not. Don’t let pennies get in the way of dollars. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Buy my books today to discover your worth. I think your worth a whole lot more than what people value you.
To Your Knowledge Success!
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Sources
1) The life of Christopher Knight Lopez a Professional Hustler turned International Best Seller and Published Author of “I Made It Then I Didn’t”.
2) Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2024. Definition of Opinion. Searched on 3 August 2024. Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opinion
3) Financial Edge Training. “Market Value”. Collin, Victoria. April, 2021. Link to Training: https://www.fe.training/free-resources/valuation/market-value/
4) Front Behav Neurosci. “Gut Signals and Gut Feelings: Science at the Interface of Data and Beliefs”. Holzer, Peter. 2022; 16: 929332. Published online 2022 Jul 5. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.929332. PMCID: PMC9296981. PMID: 35874652
5) SSEF (SCHWEIZERISCHES GEMMOLOGISCHES INSTITUT. SWISS GEMMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. INSTITUT SUISSE DE GEMMOLOGIE). The Value of Pearls. “A Historical Review And Current Trends”. Dr. Akitsugu Sato & Dr. Laurent E. Cartier. 2022 May/June.
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Not a form of investment advice. Please consult a professional registered to give you advice about your individual circumstance. This article is for educational purposes and entertainment purposes only. Please do not email the author about advice on investing or strategies on making investments.
About Christopher: Christopher Knight Lopez is a Professional Hustler turned International Best Seller and Published Author of “I Made It Then I Didn’t” and Co-Author with Kevin “The Shark” Harrington “Many Paths To Profit”. Christopher has opened over 7 businesses in his 15-year career. Christopher’s purpose is to take advantage of various market-driven opportunities. Christopher is a certified Master Project Manager (MPM), and Accredited Financial Analyst (AFA). Christopher previously held his Series 65 securities license examination and was a Master Financial Planner (MFP). Christopher also held his General Lines — Life, Accident, Health & HMO. Christopher has managed a combined 286mm USD in reported Assets Under Management & Assets Under Advisement. Christopher has work experience in 33 countries, raised over 50mm USD for various businesses, and grossed over 13.0mm in his personal career. Christopher worked in the highly technical industries of: biotechnology, finance, securities, manufacturing, real estate, and residential mortgages. Christopher is a United States Air Force Veteran. Christopher has a passion for family, competitive sports, fishing, martial arts and advocacy for entrepreneurs. Christopher provides self-help classes for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Christopher’s passion to mentor comes from belief that entrepreneurs need guidance. The world is full of conflicting information about entrepreneur identity. See more at www.christopherklopez.com.
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