You Are a Badass at Making Money

SUCCESS STORY: IF SHE CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU.
Linda, 50, now owns a marketing agency that bills $1.5 million annually and her only
formal education is cosmetology school:
I started my career as a cosmetologist and now I’m an expert in marketing/legal
compliance. I own a marketing agency and we bill $1.5 million annually in services. I
always believed I would be successful, even when I opted for beauty school over
college.
My personal motto is: “Limitations are self-imposed.” One of my best friends
passed away when we were in our early twenties. I was determined not to squander
my life. My friend would never have a chance at life, so I decided to dive into things
with full conviction. I outworked everyone and would do whatever it took to get a job
done. In the early days, I would work sixteen-hour days without blinking. I would
“shadow” senior management on my day off to learn more. I watched how deals were
negotiated and gained knowledge far beyond my title and pay level. I pictured myself
running the meetings and cutting the deals. I didn’t do vision boards, etc.—but I
pictured myself as a successful professional.
I was actually very successful as a hairdresser, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted
to do. I saved my money so I had a buffer to last a few months, packed my car, and
moved 1,500 miles away from home. Everyone told me I was crazy. The move led me
to a job as a VIP tour guide at Universal Studios. I had the pleasure of spending the
day with countless celebs, movie executives, and CEOs. The funny thing is, I was
busted broke! Doing hair paid much better. I used my vantage point as a tour guide to
pinpoint a marketing department where I thought I could be a good fit. Boom—Special
Events . . . I basically got to throw parties for a living. With time, my salary steadily
increased.
I never doubted that I would be a success. The thought of failure never crossed
my mind. Simply believe and be willing to work hard, REALLY hard, to overcome
obstacles. If you don’t believe success is possible, it isn’t. I defied all the odds.
Harvard-educated lawyers ask me for my opinion. Sometimes I chuckle to myself—if
they only knew my formal education stopped at cosmetology school!

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