image source: http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/
Here's Ramit's first email response to me:
On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 8:17 AM, Ramit Sethi ramit@iwillteachyoutoberich.com wrote:
- How serious are you about this?
- How open are you to listening to new ideas?
My response to Ramit:
Ramit,
- Dead serious
- Extremely open. Meaning, I'm ready to follow directions from someone smarter than myself
Ramit's response:
On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 8:34 AM, Ramit Sethi ramit@iwillteachyoutoberich.com wrote:
You say you are financially "fucked" and "desperate."
I recommend you stop pursuing starting a new business and get a better job.
My response:
Ramit,
Ok, let's see if it works.
Thank you, Leah Stephens
Ramit's response:
On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 8:34 AM, Ramit Sethi ramit@iwillteachyoutoberich.com wrote:
Write me back by Tuesday night at 11:59pm with an update, please.
My response:
Ramit,
Ok. My brain is reorganizing itself to be hired. Take
a look at my LinkedIn profile to see if I should delete stuff.
Maybe I should work at a recovery center since I used to be an alcoholic....
Please note: I didn't go looking for a better job at this point. I went looking for freelance gigs, anything that could utilize my writing and creativity. I stopped looking at jobboards, job ads, and I stopped sending in my resumes. I began searching for creative opportunities through friends, and I began using my networking skills to create my own income. One of my freelance gigs I got in March I scored just by talking to a guy on Linkedin who worked for a software company. I started wheeling and dealing, making up my own rules. In my mind, when Ramit said "better job", I interpreted that as meaning going out and finding a traditional job through the normal ways. I rejected this advice, and just started making my own income from my writing and creative talents in a kind of haphazard, scrappy way.
Ramit's response:
none.
After Ramit stopped responding to me, I wrote an update after I decided not to take his advice and instead pursue my dream of writing and creating businesses around my creative pursuits. Around March of 2017 I got a very low-paying writing job as a science/tech writer with Interesting Engineering. I also got a job as a ghostwriter for a CEO of a software company. Neither one of these freelance jobs was considered lucrative, and I was still just scraping by, making about $2000 per month. I was working my tail off, writing several articles per day on very complex subjects. It was grueling, but it was better than driving, or selling cars. My mind was happy....Then, after I found Steemit, and was making decent money, pursuing my own creative, entrepreneurial pursuits on here, I decided to write to Ramit to give him an update on my newly found gold mine:
July 7, 2016
Ramit,
I wanted to update you. I became a freelance writer 3 months ago and this month I pulled in $7500. My life has revolutionized.
I no longer do the 9-5. I'm pretty happy.
-Leah
Ramit's response:
none.
I wrote another two emails to him for reasons not even clear to myself. I think I wanted him to praise me or something. He never responded to any of them, but here they are:
July 25, 2016
Ramit,
Hey I wanted to give you another update on my finances:
I made $12,000 in four weeks on steemit.com.
I was the #1 content creator and I worked hard posting 2 high quality posts per day.
My talent and hard work paid off.
Here's the article I wrote about my experience:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@stellabelle/how-i-made-usd12-000-in-one-month-on-steemit
And just for fun, I wrote him a final email today:
Dear Ramit,
Hi, you probably don't remember me from last year. I'm now in the best financial situation of my entire life because I followed my dreams instead of following your advice. I have four different sources of income now and total creative freedom. I just wanted to update you on this development from the last year. I do want to thank you for actually replying to my emails in the past and asking me some tough questions. Those questions did enable me to double down and get serious. It was your specific advice though that wasn't useful to me.
Thanks, Leah
What do you think? Did Ramit help me help myself?
Have you ever written to a famous entrepreneur or self-help guru and received advice that helped you?
Part of me thinks I'm a total bitch for writing that final email to him. At least I'm honest. His advice was really not good for me. His questions were good, but he failed to understand my personality and how I could harness my natural creativity.
Sorry Ramit, but you didn't make me rich. I did, because Steemit was invented. Dan's invention made me rich.
Cheers,
Stellabelle