Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain

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Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain Page 22

by Ryan Blair


  The irony is that while my personal life had hit bottom in the wake of my stepfather’s death, everything else—my career as an author, fatherhood, and our company’s financial goals—all came into focus. One event summed up the extremes going on in my life at the time: delivering a eulogy to several hundred friends and family members at the funeral of the man who taught me everything about finance, as I was making the biggest financial gains of my lifetime.

  In the midst of this, my family was simultaneously coming together and falling apart. We rallied around my mother as she went into a rapid downward spiral caused by a broken heart, and we knew that no matter how overwhelming our grief was, it was nothing compared to hers. She’d lost her soul mate.

  Just as I landed in Michigan I got word from my sister and brother in law. My mother had fallen down a flight of stairs, and had been found lying with a cracked skull on the marble floor in the foyer, twelve hours later.

  I rushed back to Los Angeles.

  My mother is a beautiful woman, slender and fair-haired. She used to get pegged for Farrah Fawcett when the actress was in her heyday. And my mother knew she was gorgeous; she used to make us crazy spending three hours in the bathroom getting ready when we were kids. I walked into the hospital and there she was; nothing could have prepared me for the sight. Her head was shaved, and all her blond curls were gone. Half of her skull had been removed and she had a row of staples and stitches that spanned from her forehead to the back of her neck up where they’d performed a marathon surgery, 10 hours long. There were tubes and wires coming in and out of her nose and throat. The doctor told me point blank that my mom had a 1 percent change of coming out of the coma; the brain damage was severe. And even less than 1 percent chance, if she did come back, of ever having a life worth living.

  My mother is the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She’s my hero. She taught me to love and to be positive no matter how bad our situation seemed. Most important my mother always taught me that when you fall down, you get back up, and you stand strong. When I was a kid and I’d hurt myself, my mother would make me stand up. She’d say, be a man. You’re stronger than that. This is a woman who worked a job at a local deli making minimum wage to support her family. I remember her stepping in front of my father and taking beating after beating so that I wouldn’t have to. She had no resources to provide for us, but she still sacrificed herself to make sure we had a chance. I remember visiting her in hospital after my father gave her a near death beating and when she finally stood up to his evil rage with the courage of a woman without fear of life and death, and her coming to see me in jail when I’d started making bad decisions of my own. It broke her heart because I wasn’t living up to the potential she told me I had.

  If it weren’t for her example of strength, I wouldn’t be here now and, I wouldn’t be able to go on now. After I got the news of my mother’s condition, I immediately reached out to my ViSalus family via my Facebook page and asked for their prayers and support while my mother was having brain surgery and I was on a five-hour flight to see her. The longest five hours of my life. I sat there crying, thinking about all the times we had together, all the times we might not have together, thinking my son will never know his dad’s parents, and that I could have been a better son myself. I mourned the fact that my poor mother had been lying on that floor for twelve hours without help as she slipped away, not into the next world, but to a middle world where she couldn’t experience heaven on earth, or beyond it. I prayed for a miracle.

  I had a hard time asking for the help of the thousands of people in my network, because I didn’t want pity. I wanted their energy, I wanted God to hear, and I wanted my mother to feel 10,000 prayers, because it was all I could do. I was helpless and just as my mother taught me when “you’re helpless, get on your knees and pray.”

  The whole reason I wrote this book is to share the mind-set and philosophies that have gotten me through the toughest times in my life, so that I could have a life worth living. If you take anything with you from this book, take this: whether adversity is self-imposed, attracted, or swiftly delivered by God himself, know that you are being battle tested, and strengthened for a purpose greater than you can understand. With each successive hardship comes the endurance to overcome even bigger storms. God knows what battles I’ll have to fight next in my life, but I know that I’ll be ready.

  We don’t know whether or not my mother is coming back. Before this, I never knew what hope meant. I do now, because I know that my faith gives me hope that she will recover or I’ll see her in the next life. And I’ll spend the rest of this life making her proud of her son.

  I hope you embrace every battle-test with a similar philosophy. On to the next one, because no matter how successful you are, you have to take every last day and live it as if you had everything to gain.

  SUPPORT THE BOOK!

  If you liked the book, tweet the following: Loved@RyanBlair’s book Nothing to Lose.

  Become a fan: www.facebook.com/ryanblair.fans.

  Contact me at [email protected].

  For behind the scenes footage of the writing of this book, interviews, lifestyle and business tips, subscribe to my private video vault at www.nothingtolose.com.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  There are many people in my life whom I want to thank. Everything I have learned, I have learned from someone. I first want to thank God for giving me the faith necessary to overcome many obstacles. And second, I thank my entire family because they are the people who kept me from the edge of many cliffs. Kasie Head for giving me the greatest gift I have ever known, my son, Ryan Reagan Blair. My mother, Erla Hunt, and my late stepfather Robert Hunt, for leading me out of adversity and being role models. Thank you, Stephanie Gager, the best big sister a little brother could have. My grandmother Wini, for instilling in me spirituality and teaching me unconditional love.

  I also want to thank the people most responsible for making this book a reality, my writer-in-chief Shannon Constantine Logan for helping me put my stories and philosophies on paper. Don Yaeger, thank you for having the confidence in me to pass up many projects to make this book happen. I’d also like to acknowledge Dave Moldawer from Penguin and Kirby Kim of William Morris Endeavor; Dave for believing in me enough to publish me, and Kirby for being a good agent; as well as Emily Angell, Adrian Zackheim, and the sales and marketing team at Portfolio. Coach Dale Brown, I appreciate you for your mentorship and for introducing me to Don and Coach John Wooden, two people who have added indescribable value to my life. Tiffany Brooks, Erica Jennings, Matt Sinnreich, Jade Charles, John Laun, Karl Stedman and Joe Perez.

  Many thanks to my partners in ViSalus—Todd Goergen, Nick Sarnicola, and Blake Mallen—thank you for bringing me on as a partner and for companies. You guys are the most talented and dedicated people I’ve ever worked with. I also want to thank the ViSalus Employees & Executive team, ROPART Asset Management, and the Blyth team. I’d like to acknowledge the Nothing to Lose book launch team, Daniel Decker; Ashley Huebner; Bryan Stafford; Andrew Sandler; Vertical KI; Jace Perry; Fortier PR; Julian Chavez; Andy Jenkins; Allison McLean; and Jacquelynn Burke. Also, Stuart Johnson and the teams at Video Plus, Success Magazine, and Direct Selling News.

  Last, I want to thank every person who ever invested in my ventures; it is because of your willingness to take a risk that the entrepreneurial world goes round.

  SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  To the ViSalus leaders who made history and promoted the Body-By-Vi Challenge, without your sacrifice and hard work, none of this could happen; Jake Trzcinski; Ethan Lanagan; Nick Sarnicola; Pete and Nicole Bunting; Richard Pala; Mike Craig; Jason Silverthorn; Kyle Pacetti Jr.; G.J. Reynolds; Tony and Rhonda Lucero; Vicki Meyer; Charles Carver; Timothy Kirkland; Jason O’Toole; Gaudia Chevannes-Aquart; Damien Canerot; William Nissen; Cheri Hays; Kalani Lagao; Ali Sharareh; Dale Croy; Bryan Bellville; Jeremy Gilchrist; Mike and Robin Gunn; Shirley Wrenn; Dan Hardy; Matthew Britt; Mysti Wehrum; Laurie Crowe; Brian Cummi
ngs; Robert Lukas; Tina Hicks; Tony Lucero; Tony Belden; Rob Hamilton; Scott Whitney; Ashley Riggs; Derrick Carter; Tito Aleman; Rhonda Flowers; Ron and Belinda Pruett; Shelly Goschka; John Evans; Tanis MacDonald; Paula Foeller; Robert Long; Neil Bellville II; Alan Welch; Chad Robbins; Shanda Whitney; Aaron Fortner; Matt Ward; Kevin Merriweather; Kristy East; Jenny Lynn; Bob Bearden; John Turner; Kevin Sergent; Ken Logan; Michael and Saritza Dobson; Hazen Christensen; Elaine Lynas; Philip Watson; C. Annette Whitney; Michael and Linda Knuth; Freddie Melero; Archer Elliott Jr.; Susan Pacetti; Phil Taneda; Lorna Humenny; Casey Baker; Tara Wilson; Trish Courchaine; La Donna Wade; Robert Medina; Tracy Pouliot; Dale Peake; Donna Allen; Kelly Thayer; Holley Kirkland; Jeni Briscoe; Dan Mount; RJ Barros; Rassami and Kevin Raymer; Eric Pope; Sylvain Laplante; Jorrick Battle; John Chionidis; Gustavo A. Munguia; Tyler Howard; Lori Petrilli; Billie Lukas, and the entire ViSalus community for believing in a vision greater than all of us.

  INDEX

  accountant’s review of business plan

  acquisitions and mergers

  action words in business-model statement

  active participation in business

  adaptability

  adversity, responses to

  advertising and marketing

  brand name

  catch phrases and repeatable statements

  for creation of sales

  logo

  sales pitch

  underpromotion

  Web site

  word of mouth

  Airborne brand name

  Allen, Paul

  assets

  brand equity of business name

  certainty of

  employees

  existing business

  learning from mistakes

  location

  in network marketing business

  networks and reputable affiliations

  street smarts and nothing-to-lose mind-set

  time to master skill

  unfilled niche

  attorneys

  Bezos, Jeff

  Biel, Jessica

  Bik, Russ

  Blair, Ryan

  biological father

  to contact

  deals

  delinquency and gang membership

  dreams and premonitions

  faith in God

  learning style

  lifestyle

  nothing-to-lose attitude

  passion for computers

  purpose statement

  stepfather

  work ethic

  Blyth

  investment in ViSalus

  purchase of ViSalus

  Body By Vi Community Challenge

  borrowing. See financing

  brand name and recognition

  as asset

  catch phrases and repeatable statements

  identification with product or service

  logo

  for network marketing business

  selection of name

  Brown, Dale

  budgeting proposals

  Buffett, Warren

  Bunting, Pete and Nicole

  Business-Model Rules

  action words and active participation

  adaptability

  compensation as driver of behavior

  formula for increasing sales

  marketing to create sales

  business plans

  budgeting proposals

  determining market niche

  funding sources

  fund-raising presentation

  name of company

  for network marketing business

  operational plan

  professional review of

  proofreading

  purpose statement

  simplicity

  Small Business Administration assistance

  capital. See financing

  cash

  budgeting proposals

  dividend distributions

  forecasting of needs

  investment versus spending

  minimum standard of living

  start-up costs

  vigilance concerning

  See also financing

  cashing out

  acquisitions and mergers

  alternative to

  choosing new leader

  contract for

  deferring until fulfillment of investment promises

  direction of company and industry

  early engagement with prospective partners

  financial recordkeeping

  legacy left behind

  legal advice for

  present and future opportunities

  public offering

  retirement with tie to company/golden handcuffs

  through cash flow

  timing of

  charity work

  cause marketing

  contribution to community

  finding mentors through

  cliff vesting

  Clinton, Bill

  Collins, Jim

  common stock

  Communication and Management Rules

  analysis of failures

  asking and answering questions

  embarrassing e-mails

  emotional e-mails

  mastery and active participation

  praise and reprimand

  prioritizing tasks

  teamwork

  compensation

  alignment with company’s objectives

  deferred

  as driver of behavior

  equity in company

  expensive talent

  in network marketing

  non-salary benefits

  competitors

  confidence, projection of

  Connect Four hiring technique

  consolidated savings in mergers and acquisitions

  contribution to community

  cause marketing

  coexistence of nonprofits and for-profit businesses

  as compensation

  finding mentors through charity work

  as legacy

  as motivational driver

  convertible debt

  Craig, Mike

  Cuomo, Chris

  customers

  Customer Rules/service-orientation

  marketing to

  in network marketing

  sparking interest of

  trust in

  Darwin, Charles

  deals

  debt, convertible

  deferred compensation

  Dell, Michael

  Dilworth, Bob

  direct sales. See network marketing

  dividend distribution

  dominant strategy

  Dunlap, Judy

  education. See learning

  elevator pitch

  e-mail communication

  Eminem (Marshall Mathers)

  emotion

  in decision making

  in e-mail communications

  in hiring

  during investment presentation

  employees

  as assets

  collective passion and intelligence

  concern for company’s priorities

  critical thinkers

  entrepreneurial culture

  firing

  fraternizing with

  loss of jobs through acquisitions and mergers

  mastery of business skills

  praise and reprimand of

  smart people

  teamwork

  See also compensation; hiring

  Enspire

  entrepreneurial mind-set

  equity

  convertible debt

  as employee incentive

  in exchange for investor’s time

  ethics. See Golden Rules of business

  exit from business. See cashing out

  Facebook

  failures. See mistakes

  family-run companies

  Fecht, Jerry

  financing


  access through mentors

  anchor investors

  convertible debt

  demonstrating commitment

  first impression on investors

  from friends and family

  fund-raising presentation

  identifying sources

  personal guarantees

  projecting confidence

  realistic sales forecasts

  repayment

  reputable investors

  stock

  venture capitalists

  firing employees

  forecasting

  cash needs

  sales

  founder’s syndrome

  Fulcher, Jay

  funding. See financing

  game theory

  Gates, Bill

  Gladwell, Malcolm

  goals

  alignment of compensation with

  in purpose statement

  sales forecasts

  teamwork to accomplish

  Goergen, Bob

  acquisition of ViSalus

  on eternal nature of entrepreneurship

  on expansion into Europe

  investment in ViSalus

  Goergen, Todd

  investment in ViSalus

  on scrutinizing sellout contract

  support for Blair

  golden handcuffs

  Golden Rules of business

  Business-Model Rules

  Communication and Management Rules

  Customer Rules

  Personal Rules

  Strategy Rules

  Good to Great (Collins)

  Google

  hiring

  attitude of candidate

  of CFO

  commitment and loyalty

  Connect Four technique

  defining ideal candidate

  enhancing team

  inappropriate interview questions

  mistakes

  for network marketing

  recruiting perfect candidate

  smart and talented people

  See also compensation; employees

  home-based businesses. See network marketing

 

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