Chapter Summary
In this chapter, I share the story of my early life—growing up in a chaotic household with little money, living in tents, and facing daily struggles at school. Despite these hardships, I developed a relentless work ethic and an eye for opportunities.
From selling pork "futures" to catching and selling rattlesnakes, I was always on the lookout for ways to improve my situation and help my family.
These early ventures taught me valuable lessons, like the importance of pivoting when a plan doesn't work out, which I learned when I shifted from selling rattlesnakes to breeding and selling rats.
This experience laid the foundation for what I call the "Rattlesnake Strategy"—a method of identifying opportunities in the overlooked spaces where others see only problems.
As I moved on to more sophisticated ventures, I applied the same principles I learned as a teenager. I built and sold businesses by recognizing patterns, creating systems, and capitalizing on the unmet needs of customers.
This approach culminated in the creation of Affiliate Traction, a digital marketing venture that disrupted the nascent affiliate marketing space and led to a successful exit in a $925 million transaction.
