You read that right.
It’s true.
This week, someone left a comment on my latest YouTube video letting me know that I wasn’t a fighter pilot.
And he’s right.
I wasn’t a fighter pilot.
From 2003-2011, I served as a Weapons Systems Officer in the US Navy.
That means I rode in the back seat of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, where my role was to manage… the weapons systems.
Here’s the exchange word for word:
Him: You aren’t a fighter pilot, bud.
Me: Thanks for letting me know. I’ll be sure to tell the guy in the picture.
Him: Later in the video you say you were a NFO/Weapons systems officer. So why say you are a fighter pilot?
But he isn’t the only one.
Occasionally, I get comments on my Instagram, Facebook, and other social media calling me a fraud.
People take the time to stop scrolling to warn other potential victims that I am a scammer.
It would be easy to say that it doesn’t bother me, and that I’ve learned to just let it roll off my back.
But if I’m being honest, sometimes it hurts. Some days, it gets under my skin.
Despite how it may look from the outside, it’s not easy for me to put myself out there on social media. It’s not easy to hit send to thousands of newsletter subscribers every week.
It’s definitely not easy to record a 20-minute video while staring into the camera, trying to connect with an imaginary audience. My fear of rejection kept me from starting my YouTube channel for over two years.
Every time I publish a piece of content, I put a little part of my heart, a tiny piece of my soul, out into the world and expose myself to the harsh judgment that awaits.
And it’s hard. Some days, I feel like the man in the arena, wiping the blood from my face only to stand up again.
Why would someone take time out of their day to accuse me of being a fraud when they’ve never met me, listened to a single piece of content, read a single newsletter, or attended a single session of my mastermind?
But then I remember.
As you read this, I’m snowboarding in the backcountry of British Colombia at the legendary Baldface Lodge.
Two years ago, on this same trip, my friend and YouTube legend, Dan Martell, said something that shook me to my core.
“How long are you going to continue to play small?”
He let that sink in. Dan delivers tough love like very few people I’ve met.
“You have knowledge, wisdom that you’ve earned through blood, sweat, and tears, and you know it can help people. You have access to a device in your pocket that can reach millions of people by pressing a button.”
Now I was starting to get really uncomfortable.
“You know that your journey, your story can help people get out of pain. And you’re telling me you’re not willing to share that with the world because why? Your ego? You’re being selfish.”
His words cut deep. And then he said something that changed my life.
“It’s not about you.”
And in that instant, I knew.
He was right. I said I was being humble and that posting about my success on social media felt like bragging, but that wasn’t it.
I was afraid.
I was being selfish.
So I got home from that trip and got to work. And I’ve been at it every day since.
I got busy building the community, the playbooks, becoming the person I wish I had when I was going through my darkest times.
Two years later, I’ve done it.
This morning, as I boarded my flight for Canada, I received the following message from a member of my community, who has two very young children:
“Hey buddy, I wanted to share this with you because this is something that just came to me. Mike, the power of your group is way more than just Unbreakable Wealth. Two weeks ago, on your call, Beau told me that his mom has a place in Gulf Shores. We woke up this morning. No running water in our place. Snow everywhere. I texted Beau and asked if there was any chance your mom’s place has running water? Now it’s 9:45 am. We’re moving to Beau’s mom’s penthouse because we have no running water at our place. All because of your group, I met Beau, and that allows me to now take my family, my children to the safety of running water, which is crazy. Thank you.”
My eyes filled with tears.
I’m living into my purpose every single day. I’m doing what I was born to do.
The comments from people whom I’ve never met?
Today, they sting a little less because of the people I have met.
If you are stuck, if you are discouraged, if you are feeling down about yourself, if you got a shitty comment on your new YouTuve channel, here’s my message to you:
Keep going.
It’s worth it.
Because it’s not about you.
To us, the builders –
mb
