🔥 [Firefighter to Funnel Builder] The Hero's Journey Framework

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29d ago (edited) in Intro's & General Discussion

Hey Prime Movers,

At the Selling Online event, we were introduced to the Hero's Journey Framework, thanks to Russell Brunson. As I listened, I couldn’t help but see how my own story fits right into that narrative. So, I figured I’d share my journey with you through that lens, to give you a sense of WHO I AM and WHY I’m here.

Phase 1: Separation from the Ordinary World

When I was a teenager, I wasn’t exactly the best kid. I ran with the wrong crowd and did a lot of things I’m not proud of. By the time I was 20, I was on a path to NOWHERE. I didn’t go to college, was living paycheck to paycheck, and had NO GOALS, NO DIRECTION, NO PURPOSE in life.

Then one day, I made a decision. A SINGLE DECISION that would change EVERYTHING.

I DECIDED to stop doing all the stupid things that had gotten me to that point. I DECIDED to stop hanging around people who dragged me down and instead sought out those who would LIFT ME UP. I made the COMMITMENT to become a career Firefighter, no matter what it took.

I wanted more than just to exist. I wanted to live a life that had MEANING, made a DIFFERENCE, and impacted others. I wanted to live a life that I could be PROUD of. So, in 2001, I started down that path.

It wasn’t easy, but through HARD WORK, DEDICATION, and SHEER WILLPOWER, I was able to change the course of my life. I became the man I knew I was meant to be. Eventually, I became a Firefighter, and it’s been a fulfilling and rewarding career. I’ve experienced a level of SATISFACTION and PRIDE that most people never get to feel.

Phase 2: The Journey, the Conflict, and the Villain

But by the end of 2018, something was missing. Life was good—I had a GREAT JOB, a WONDERFUL FAMILY—but deep down, I wasn’t completely fulfilled. I felt like I needed to do more, but I didn’t know what. I felt like I was capable of more, but I didn’t know how to unlock it.

Then one day, I was reading a book and came across a quote that hit me like a ton of bricks: “DO SOMETHING THAT SUCKS EVERY DAY.” 💥

It made me realize that I had become too comfortable. Too many people get stuck in a routine—wake up, go to work, come home, have dinner, go to bed—day after day after day. It’s like running on autopilot, and it’s no wonder time seems to fly by as you get older. People get stuck in their COMFORT ZONES, but there’s NO GROWTH in comfort. Growth happens when you PUSH YOURSELF, when you’re willing to be UNCOMFORTABLE.

So, I started thinking, “Damn, I’m TOO COMFORTABLE.” I hadn’t challenged myself enough. I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge, so I decided to do something that I knew I sucked at—RUNNING. 🏃‍♂️ That day, I went out and painfully ran 10 miles. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m TERRIBLE at running, but when I finished, despite the pain in my knee and the stiffness in my back, I felt... AWESOME!

That’s when it clicked. I WANTED MORE of that feeling. MORE of that challenge. So, I decided to make 2019 the year that would SUCK. I created a list of challenges that would force me out of my comfort zone. I called it my “SUCK LIST.”

I had NO IDEA at the time just how much this journey would TRANSFORM ME. By the end of the year, I had completed almost every challenge on that list, plus a few extras that I added along the way. I learned that by constantly putting myself in uncomfortable situations, I was able to transform into someone who could look at an IMPOSSIBLE task and BELIEVE it was possible.

I became the person who says, “YES, I CAN DO THAT,” instead of, “No, I can’t.” My eyes were opened in 2018, and that led to the “SUCK LIST,” which led to me figuring out WHO I AM and WHAT I’m truly capable of.

These challenges allowed me to DISCOVER MYSELF. They forced me out of my comfort zone and helped me BREAK FREE of the false beliefs that had been holding me back. Through the PAIN and the DISCOMFORT, I found my HEROIC SELF.

Phase 3: The Mentor/Expert/Guide

By the end of 2019, I had to ask myself, “NOW WHAT?” What was I going to do with all of this? I began to search for my PURPOSE.

For a long time, I didn’t have an answer. All I knew was that I was on a JOURNEY of discovery. I kept asking myself, “WHY?” One day, I sat down to write, and the answer came to me.

My purpose is to SPREAD THE INFECTION of BECOMING. Becoming your BEST SELF. Becoming your HEROIC SELF. Becoming a LIGHT for others who are in the dark. Becoming a KILLER of lesser selves.

THAT is my mission. THAT is my aim.

Now that I know WHO I AM, what I’m capable of, and WHY I do what I do, the next question is, “HOW?” How do I spread this infection? How do I hone my message to be like the LIGHTHOUSE BEAM? How do I find those who are in the dark and be the GUIDING LIGHT they need to reach safety?

That’s what led me here, to the Prime Movers Community and this Event. Over the last several years, I’ve been a follower of Russell Brunson and have FULLY embraced his mission. I did the OFA Challenge back in February 2019—yes, the one with Steve Larsen and his twitching eye. 😂 Love that guy, by the way.

During the challenge, I was blown away by the 10X presentation. I was nodding along, saying “YES!” to everything. I went ALL IN and bought the offer...only to do NOTHING with it.

At the time, I was dabbling in REAL ESTATE on the side and thought I’d use ClickFunnels to bring in clients and generate leads. I started to build several funnels but NEVER LAUNCHED them. I went through OFA several more times, each time thinking, “This is it,” but I’d always get stuck and move on to the next SHINY OBJECT.

Shiny object syndrome got me good, and over the next several years, I bounced from one thing to the next. I was driven by the idea of being a SUPER SUCCESSFUL AGENT, but deep down, I didn’t have the passion for it. What I really loved was HELPING PEOPLE and learning about MARKETING.

The whole time, I kept following Russell. When ClickFunnels 2.0 came out, I went ALL IN again, thinking, “This time it’s going to work. This time it’s going to be different.” But I became just a CONSUMER, constantly watching training videos, reading books, listening to podcasts...but never really TAKING ACTION.

Then Russell did a dramatic demonstration on his birthday and pitched Funnel Hacking Live 9. I bought the ticket, not knowing at the time that it would be one of the BEST DECISIONS I’ve ever made.

Over the next several months, I consumed all the past FHL presentations, all the while asking myself, “WHAT IS IT? WHAT am I an EXPERT at? I’m just a FIREFIGHTER...”

And then, the LINCHPIN BOOK came out. I read it in ONE DAY, and something clicked. I thought, “I’m passionate about HELPING PEOPLE, LOVE MARKETING, and I’m FASCINATED by funnels...why don’t I just BUILD THEM for other people?” 💡

So I started studying the Linchpin Framework, going through the Funnel Builder Training again, but this time with the mindset of a Funnel Builder, not just someone trying to find his way.

By the time Funnel Hacking Live came around, I had a pretty solid understanding of how to build funnels. While at the event, I met several people and helped them with questions about funnels. I was DIGGING IT and realized that I was on the right path!

I walked by the Funnel Builder Booth several times, but finally, I said to myself, “If you’re SERIOUS about building funnels, you owe it to your customers to be THE BEST.” I went and talked to Miguel, got set up, and as soon as I got home, I purchased the program and got to work.

Phase 4: The Achievement

Since then, I’ve been building out all the required funnels and am about halfway through the program. My goal is to complete all the training and earn my MASTER FUNNEL BUILDER CERTIFICATION, and I’m LOVING every minute of it.

But...I still haven’t built a funnel for anyone else.

Then this event happened, and I DECIDED to go ALL IN!

I wanted to LEARN all I could, CONTRIBUTE all I could, and BUILD as many RELATIONSHIPS as I could—not knowing the impact it would have on me.

I’ve gained clarity on my DEFINITE PURPOSE, engaged with so many like-minded people, and LEARNED so much from the event. It feels like everything has come together, and I have CLARITY like I’ve never had before.

I feel SUCCESS at my fingertips. I feel the DRIVE, the ENERGY, to BECOME. 💪

So, here I am NOW. I’m not going anywhere. I’m BECOMING.

If you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU! 🙏 You’re one of the ones who has driven and motivated me in ways you’ll never understand, and I owe you so much. I hope someday I can repay you.

Here’s to the JOURNEY!!! 🚀

#PakulaPost #TheJourney #ValuePost

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