I started my career in 1997. It was great at first but from 2002–2007, I faced evictions, had mental breakdowns, and I’m still recovering from some bad spending choices.

However, I stuck with it. It’s now 2016 and I’ve been steadily raising my income at a good clip for the past six years, I currently make as much as I did when I was working in the big law firm, and I have my own LLC, an accountant, and part-owner of a management and consulting firm.

It took a long time and I’m 42…and I feel like I still have a LONG way to go. Remember this feeling when you get out of the dark. You’ll look back and realize it was worth the fight.