The Piece of Paper That Changed My Life

I still have it.

In fact, it's become a touchstone that's helped me whenever I battle self-doubt, fear and anxiety about my business.

Here it is:

So why is a check for a whopping $5.00 USD is so important to me?

Back in 2001, I quit a "safe" day job at the Associated Press to go out on my own as a freelance writer and author.

I was so scared that I remember having chest pains late one night, thinking I was going to have a heart attack at the age of 26.

(And this was before we had kids and while my wife still had a great job of her own to support us!)

Anyway, I started my own syndicated newspaper column, cold calling editors at small newspapers across Minnesota and pitching them my idea.

One of my first checks was the one pictured in this email - $5 from the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

So I got $5 per week from them, and then I'd get another $5 or $10 each week from other small papers who would publish the same syndicated column.

It eventually added up to maybe $60 or $75 per column, but I was on my way.

Based on that small success, I later created a syndicated fantasy football column using the same approach.

I cold called and emailed sports editors at newspapers all over the country to pitch it.

I started small, but eventually got my syndicated fantasy football column running in huge newspapers like the Houston Chronicle, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

I was able to charge a lot more than $5, too ... at my peak I think I made something like $500 or $600 per column every week - it was amazing!

That's why I love having this piece of paper nearby.

It reminds me of humble beginnings, and that starting, hustling and handling rejection without giving up is where the magic lies.

Whatever space you're in today, find that touchstone you need.

Remind yourself of where you came from and what's possible.

See you in the trenches!