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About Mike
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Hi,
I’M MIKE DRIGGERS
Over the last several years, I am frequently asked about my entrepreneurial journey and my career as a serial entrepreneur, so I figured I could share that journey with you here.
At the age of 12 years old, I started my entrepreneurial path with a lawn care business. We lived in a trailer park in Texas where there were mostly military folks. I would get paid to mow their lawns and then I would turn around and hire my friends to do the work. I just managed the process and made some money doing it and not having to do the hard labor (this is where I discovered to work smart and not hard).
At the time, I did not know really what I was doing, it just seemed right so I kept doing it. I did not even know I was in business or even the word entrepreneur. I did this for several years until my family moved to California.
By the age 14, I started a business with BMX bikes. We would do stunts on BMX bikes for fairs, trade shows, events, and sports demos (this was before “extreme sports” came around). During this time, I lived in Scotts Valley which is 20 minutes from Santa Cruz, CA (this was a culture shock and a half). We were called Chain Reaction and we did events everywhere entertaining thousands of folks. This is where I discovered that I liked entertaining people and caught the bug and did not even know it.
At a very young age, I had started learning martial arts from my dad, who was a 2nd dan black belt at the time. This is where I started to learn concepts about discipline, mindset, patience, humility, and a few other things that were not so pleasant principles – OUCH! (I think my dad put me in martial arts so he could get away with child abuse. LOL. Just kidding, my dad is cool). However, I did not take it seriously until we moved to California (around age 14).
By the time I was 16, I had achieved my black belt and over the years I received my 3rd dan black belt (fancy name for BAD ASS!! LOL) and along the way, I learned 5 other different martial arts (this is where I started to learn about setting goals).
I would literally sell soap around the neighborhoods. I then met a guy that ran the local 7-Eleven. I made a deal with him that I would give him half the profits (this is where I was learning negotiation and joint ventures and not knowing it). He agreed and said OK. I was literally ignorance on FIRE. I would sit there and show folks the power of S8 soap and brush my teeth with LOC. I would take orders then I would give them to my grandfather. Then I would fulfill those orders. Funny thing is, my family would call the people and invite them over to learn about a business opportunity. The people that were interested ended up being on my team and consuming the products. The others would just continue to buy products from me.
Around the age of 15 to 16, I was introduced to the direct sales industry by my grandfather, uncle, and my parents. I did not know what the industry was about. At the time, I wanted a special bike that would cost over 2k (a lot back then, it is equivalent to 6 or 7 grand in today’s dollars). I did not have the money so my grandfather and uncle said you should get a job. I was like, what’s that and where do I go? They said well, you could sell soap! Not knowing what it was about, I said OK. There I went door to door selling soap (S8 soap & LOC). If you have not figured it out, the company was called Amway.
During this time, I learned the concept of being an entrepreneur. I also discovered an amazing concept called personal development which changed my life forever. I started listening and reading books (sometimes); I hated reading but LOVED listening to audio tapes. We would also go to live events to see amazing speakers and learn a lot of amazing information. I was constantly feeding my mind. One day, we attended a special event in Portland for the Amway company. I had no idea why or what it was about. I just thought this was some more personal development I could eat up.
There must have been over a thousand people at the event. I was brought up on stage because I hit the rank of “ruby” in the company (at the time I had no idea what that was but went on stage anyways). When I went up on the stage, the whole room lit up with cheers and I received a standing ovation because of my age and the rank I hit. Folks, it was at this time I FELL IN LOVE with the stage! By the age of 17, I had a thriving business. I was going to school, still doing BMX, selling soap, and I was teaching and running a martial arts school (learning multi-tasking at the MAX). This is also where I discovered that I love teaching and helping people.
I would teach martial arts to kids (learn more patience) and women’s self-defense.
I also had dropped out of school at this time (yes, I know it’s sad). I did go back a couple of years later and actually graduated with a 4.0, so not too bad, you will see below. The school system at the time did not keep my attention span. I wanted to have fun. I was making great money. I wanted to branch out.
I had moved over to San Jose, CA (45 minutes from Scott’s Valley). After shortly moving there, I met these guys that were into what I was into and listening to, which was called rockabilly – or 50’s music style for those that don’t know what rockabilly is. You know, “Stray Cats”. They had a band at the time called the “King Pins” and I started hanging out with them, going to all their shows. I eventually started to work with them and was co-managing, managing, promoting, marketing, and selling the band (this is where I really got a taste for gorilla marketing tactics). The band won a popular TV show called the “Gong Show” and won 100k. After winning, we were touring all over the United States. We played and opened for several popular big-name bands (including the “Stray Cats”).
At the age of 19, I met two gentlemen who had changed my life in the direct sales industry (this is where I learned about PIVOT). As usual, I was out selling my soap and ran into a group of people. They had this special alarm that would click to your belt and if you were attacked you would pull this cord on it and it would set off this LOUD screeching noise. I asked them what it was and they told me it was a personal alarm. I thought instantly this would be great for my women’s personal defense classes. I asked if there was a way that I could sell them.
They told me there was and that they were having a special event to launch in the area. They invited me to attend. So, I did. When I arrived, there were several other folks there and I was not clear on what it was I was attending, but it looked fun. We all sat down and then they introduced one of the guys I had met. He came up and started to do his presentation. He started to draw circles on this whiteboard and as I sat there, I said to myself, HMMMM this looks familiar.
I discovered it was another company that had different products but ran the same way as my Amway business. SO, I joined on the spot and started to promote this program. People thought I was crazy, they ridiculed me, and said it would never work. This is where I learned that people that seem to be your friends may truly not be and can or will backstab you. Not sure why it is, but it is that way. People can get jealous, I guess! Not sure, but I did not care, I was moving forward and man was I glad I did (this is where I learned about gut instinct and doing some research).
The company was called Quorum, a direct sales company with electronics (this is where I learned that even electronics are consumables). The owner was from overseas; however, they had a local presence. This did not matter though, because the two gentlemen, Jeff Olson and Eric Worre, took me under their wing and taught me this industry. I built a large team with them and was holding my own events across the U.S. and teaching others how to do what I was doing (here is the trainer/teacher in me).
Then at the age of 21, Jeff and Eric left the company to start their own. The company was called TPN (The Peoples Network).
This was around the time when satellites were just starting to hit the market. I am sure you saw them; they were HUGE! The company provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week inspiration, education, and motivation through the satellite channel with our very own satellites that were compact and small. We also provided a monthly DVD and audio package with workbook materials. We also would host live events in our area with the major thought leaders at the time.
They were folks like Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Les Brown, Tom Hopkins, Todd Barnhart, Tony Alexander, Jeffrey Gitomer, and many more. This is where I fell in love with the speaking, training, and coaching world and wanted to do it myself. Although, at the time, I was better at marketing the speakers than I was with my own program. I was not sure what or how I was going to do it, I just knew that I needed to.
Nothing starts until YOU start. Now it’s up to you to activate your calling and your potential. Discover what you’re truly capable of and live the life that you desire.
Your story, experiences, lessons are gifts to share with the world and have tremendous value for someone else. It’s time to create a massive impact in the world with “YOU”. This is and will always be your uniqueness and competitive edge; put it to work now and you’ll be rewarded and fulfilled with abundance.
May You Be Blessed & Highly Favored With Incredible Success,
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