On my previous post I shared how I became an Attribute Investor in Blisspreneurs. I ended my post by sharing which investee has produced the most goosebump moments thus far. But there is so much more to this story that I wrote a Part 2.
I chose Dave Muntner as the investee that had provided the most goosebump moments volume wise. Dave would be the first to admit that he is just getting started in his musical career so second base is still way ahead of him. But boy oh boy does he keep piling on the singles! Instead of naming himself Davey Harris (his stage name) it should be Momentum Dave. He’s like Wade Boggs - a virtual hit wonder. One day soon he’ll be a Home Run hitter too! You heard it here first. I love you and our story Dave. I think you are the very best I have ever seen at gratitude. Simply put, you make me feel seen.
Now, I would like to share who my funds’ other biggest R.O.I.’s have been thus far, in five different categories.
One, the most amazing goosebump moment so far. That goes to Mike Whitlatch. I wrote about the moment in great detail in a previous post. If you have the time, and you missed it, it’s worth the read.
Mike is my favorite kind of investee. He’s an underdog. He’s massively inspirational. He has more grit in his pinky than most people have in their entire bodies. He doesn’t quit!
Mike has overcome so many obstacles that Davey Harris should write a song about him. In fact, this might be my best idea in awhile. Stay tuned……There is no quit in Mike and my bet on him has produced many magical moments because of the adversity he regularly overcomes.
If you don’t scroll back to find the story of my best R.O.I. Moment, just know this, Mike came all the way back from a very dark place to find it in him to voluntarily offer up these words over coffee the week I came to visit his new business in Sedona Arizona. While looking at one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen he said to me, “I can’t believe this is my life!” And he wasn’t just referring to our view in that moment. He meant all of it!
Just remembering this moment gives me goosebumps and brings tears to my eyes. It was one of the most joyful moments of my life. I’ll never forget it. One of the biggest paychecks I have ever received!
Well, I can believe that this is your life Mike. You’ve earned every inch of it and so much more. I love you brother! If I had a son I would want him to have your grit.
Two, the most creative and boldest! This award easily goes to my wife Lori Lochtefeld and her creation of Selfieville. I will always hold the highest regard for how big my wife went with her creative bliss journey. She astounded me and everyone who witnessed it.
Plus, she returned all the invested capital in less than two years AND provided the maximum return from her investment type (debt investment). I would have been happy with all the joyful moments she got to enjoy as well as her thousands of customers, let alone mine. Huge R.O.I. I love you to the moon Lori.
Three, the fastest success story proving that joy can be anyone’s if you can just find the belief and courage to commit. This goes to Yanik Silver. Yanik made his vision happen as fast as Usain Bolt ran the 100 meter dash in the Olympics. He created the Cosmic Journal which got picked up by a major publisher just a few months after self publishing the first 888 copies. Why that specific number? You need to ask Yanik to find out the answer. I guarantee you’ll learn something new about the Cosmos.
A goosebump moment I’ll never forget was when I received a copy of the book in the mail. On the inside of the cover, he wrote a letter of sincere gratitude and in bold put: #1 of 888. It was such an honor. I just sat and wept tears of joy for what seemed like an hour.
The first copy should have gone to him, but I’ll gladly accept it as one of the greatest gifts I have ever experienced. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it. I keep it in my office as a trophy of sorts. Like Lori, he too returned all his investment capital and provided an excellent return.
Fourth, the most impactful investment. The entity I invested in that has had the greatest impact while also giving me the most goosebumps moments. This easily goes to my investment in Bliss Champions.
Yes, this is my personal development retreat/coaching company co-owned with Patrick Combs, but what you don’t know is that in 4+ years I have never taken one penny of income from my beloved company. Now, this does not mean that I haven’t been paid handsomely. 100% of my paychecks come in the form of inspiration, goosebump moments, beauty and gratitude. A little investment capital pushed us to incredible heights.
Bliss Champions is the vehicle that finds Patrick and I investees while also serving it’s primary purpose to inspire people to discover and follow their bliss. I’m comfortable saying that we are the best in the world at this specific niche. Joseph Campbell would be proud if he were alive today to witness our work.
So far this entity has graduated 173 customers and generated a million dollars in nearly five years. From purely a numbers perspective, it’s my smallest company out of the twenty-three I currently own. These are not overly impressive numbers if you are measuring success by money or numbers only. But, I would put our little company up against any other in the world if the measurements were purely goosebump moments.
We have managed to recruit 173 souls to experience our message. This has given us the opportunity to coach them up and re-release them into the world knowing how to follow their bliss and access their aliveness. Some are crushing it, others are making good progress. Some are admittedly still stuck looking for the courage to believe in themselves. But, whether our recruits have summoned the courage yet or not, they all know the path. Patrick and I did our jobs. The journey is not ours to take.
The goal of Bliss Champions is for each customer to commit to their bliss, feel alive again and eventually astound themselves. Once they do, we announce them within our community as Bliss Stars. A simple yet very meaningful honor.
I love my business partner and best friend Patrick with all my heart. He’s literally the perfect partner for this journey. If you ever read ‘Atlas Shrugged’ by Ayn Rand, Patrick is John Galt and I play the role of Francisco d'Anconia.
Last but not least, award number five. This goes to my favorite investment for sentimental reasons. I invested nearly half the fund so my mentee Chris Duggan could buy my mentor Phil Jones’s 20 year old travel company. Pretty big risk on my part but I had every reason to say heck yeah to this investment.
As you know from my long form writing style, I’m a man of many words. But for once, I’m at a loss for words on what this investment means to me. I will just say that it ties together thirty years of my life in such a beautiful way that it makes my heart sing. It’s a blessing. I love these two guys with all my heart and I’m 100% certain that they love me back. And, it just so happens to be on its way to becoming the greatest R.O.I. money wise as well.
Revenue of the company grew from $8mm to $16mm in the last two years. This company alone will return all of the capital invested from the fund by the time it’s done. I guess you can say they are the funds first Unicorn.
Not bad for two inexperienced Attribute Investors counting moments as their primary motivation for investing.
Thanks for reading this post. It was a joy to write.
