Bill the Billionaire – Learning from Bill Bartmann
Updated (April 5th): Bill is giving out a free audio program on his website. Check him out at his website.
I really like Stewart’s blog about Bill Bartmann, especially his quote:
“Everything in life is a choice. We are the result of all of our choices. Choose wisely.”
You may argue that you can’t choose your parents, your gender or your race. Yes you are right. I didn’t choose to be a Chinese woman or choose to come to the U.S when I was 16. But so what? Just because a few people made choices on your behalf doesn’t mean you can’t make any decision for the rest of your life.
I remember Bill Bartmann shared his story about losing three and a half billion dollars over night. Yes $3,500,000,000! One of his company executives committed fraud behind his back and this not only caused his company to close down, but also caused the government to immediately freeze all of his assets overnight. In addition to that … he was charged with 69 felony counts! Can you imagine that happening to you? He had a choice. He could plead guilty to a misdemeanor to a lesser charge or he could fight the 69 counts and face up to two hundred some odd years of prison. His final decision was to fight. He made the choice to defend his innocence.
Bill said, ‘Make your own decision. No one can talk you into anything you don’t want. No one can make you give up.’ He chose not to be a victim and he believed in the impossible. After an intense 89 day trial, the impossible came true. The jury found Bill not guilty. He was innocent!! He won the trial. He did not get any of his money back, but he got his dignity back and the determination to start all over again at the age of 56. How many of us have ever experienced something like that? I know I have not.
“Everything in life is a choice. We are the result of all of our choices. Choose wisely.”
I choose to take control of my life. I choose to live my passion everyday. I choose to be a speaker and author. I choose to live my purpose everyday instead of wishful thinking. I choose to be confident. I choose to smile. I choose to forgive. I choose to say no. I choose to be happy.
How about you?
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