The $36 Bank Account That Changed Everything

I was sitting in a borrowed suit, tags still on, about to interview at Microsoft with $36 in my bank account.

What happened next taught me the most important lesson about taking action when you're terrified.

But let me back up and tell you how I got there.

I grew up in Milwaukee in an extremely religious family. Think of the most controlling religious environment you know, now multiply that by ten. Everything was dictated: what you could do, who you could be friends with, where you could go.

And nobody left.

I was the 11th of 11 children, and I watched my ten older siblings fighting for scraps, accepting limitations, living small lives because that's what was expected. But there was something in me, like a fire, that always wanted more.

I didn't know what to do or where to go. I had no one to ask because everyone I knew believed the same things about what life should look like. But I could see what the rest of my life would be if I stayed, and the pain of that future finally became bigger than the pain of leaving.

And on that drive, I discovered something else: it takes a lot of courage to drive into the unknown, but freedom was on the other side so why not risk it?

Fast-forward a few years. Through a series of connections and opportunities, I found myself wanting something that felt impossible: a job at Microsoft.

I was broke, more broke than broke. I had $36 in my bank account. But I wanted that opportunity so badly I could taste it.

Here's where most people get stuck. They ask, "How?" How do I get this opportunity? How do I qualify? How do I make this happen when I have no money, no connections, no obvious path?

But I asked a different question: "WHO?"

Who did I know who could help? Who had connections? Who could guide me?

I remembered someone I'd met at a networking event who worked at Microsoft. I reached out: "Hey Derek, you probably don't remember me, but I have an interview at Microsoft tomorrow and I was wondering if you could share some advice?"

His response changed everything: "Are you kidding me? This is a very big deal. Do you realize what's on the other side of a yes?"

I said no.

He asked, "Do you know anyone who makes over $100,000?"

Uh, no.

"Have you ever made over $100,000?"

I had $36 in my bank account!

I followed Derek's advice exactly. Got called back for a second interview. Then came the call.

I'll never forget where I was on the rooftop of my apartment building, so scared I could barely breathe. When the woman's voice came on the line, I was sure I was about to have my inadequacy confirmed.

Instead, she said: "Everyone really liked you. We'd like to offer you the role."

Then she told me about "the package." Base salary, on-target earnings, and $30,000 in equity at the largest software company in the world.

That Microsoft interview taught me everything I now know about Stage 2 of the Activation Methodology: Take Courageous Action.

Here's what I learned:

Courage isn't the absence of fear—it's action despite fear. I was terrified every step of the way, but I kept moving forward anyway.

Ask "Who, not How." When you're stuck on how to make something happen, shift to who can help you make it happen. Your network is your net worth, but more than that—your connections are your pathway to possibility.

You have to take the step first, then the world responds. I didn't wait until I felt ready or qualified. I took action with $36 and a borrowed suit, and the universe met me halfway.

Help is available, but you have to ask for it. Derek didn't just give me advice—he gave me a roadmap. But none of that would have happened if I hadn't been brave enough to reach out.

That interview didn't just get me a job, it changed the entire trajectory of my life. It led to sales leadership roles at EMC, Oracle, and eventually Google. It opened doors to speaking opportunities, coaching hundreds of executives, and building the life I have today.

But none of it would have happened if I had waited until I felt ready, until I had more money, until I was "qualified."

Sometimes the biggest opportunities come disguised as the scariest decisions.

What's your $36 moment? What's the courageous action you've been avoiding because you don't feel ready, don't have enough resources, or don't know how it will work out?

Your assignment: Identify one person who could help you with your "impossible" goal. Reach out to them this week. Ask for advice, not for a job or a favor—just guidance from someone who's been where you want to go.

You don't need a perfect plan. You just need the courage to take the first step.

P.S. That borrowed suit? I kept it for years as a reminder that sometimes you have to invest in the person you're becoming before you become them. What investment in your future self are you avoiding? Reply and tell me—I read every email and often respond with specific guidance.