I recently celebrated four years since I first began to think about what would eventually become Big Brand System.

Back in 2009, I had no idea if it would work. I just knew that I wanted to serve a group of people who were under served, and in need of help.

They were smart, and they were successful in other areas of their lives. But when it came to marketing their businesses, they weren’t sure how to take the first steps, or what to do once they got going.

They had the equipment right in front of them: their computers, their life experiences, their willingness to learn.

But they needed help learning the basics and building on what they learned.

But … would they listen to me? I wasn’t so sure.

For one thing, I’d never written before. Oh sure, I wrote emails and letters, and came up with an occasional headline or tagline for a client.

But stringing together paragraph after paragraph for a full blog post or newsletter article was something I hadn’t done, and wasn’t sure I was capable of.

Sometimes, though, the message you’re carrying is more important than the fear you feel.

{Click to tweet}

You forge ahead with the faith that somehow — despite your lack of experience — you’ll figure it out.

But let’s get back to you. Here’s why you’re my hero.

In the early days, as I muddled through learning how to set up a blog, posting regularly, and setting up my email marketing, your encouragement and enthusiasm kept me going.

The notes of thanks, the comments on the blog and your social media messages pushed me along and kept my spirits up.

Then, as I started putting together products to meet your needs, something even more important happened.

I started to see what you were really made of.

You see, it’s not easy to learn something new. But I watched as you tackled the unfamiliar with an upbeat attitude.

I admired how you had the courage to go back to feeling like a beginner, even when you were accomplished in so many other areas of your life.

My admiration grew as I saw you get results from your efforts.

• You published the ebook you’d dreamed of, and suddenly you could say “I wrote the book on …”
• You drafted and followed a marketing plan which kept your efforts on track
• You regularly created graphics for your business, even when you claimed “no artistic talent”
• Your website — which you’d struggled to create — was finally online, and you knew how to keep it up
• You took the first steps toward creating an email marketing strategy so you could build a list of prospects and keep in touch with them

All this while juggling:

• Raising a family
• A second job
• A chronic illness (personal, or a family member’s)
• Single parenthood
• Feeling like you were “too old” to learn something new (one of my recent customers just turned 86: you’re not too old)
• Living full-time in an RV
• Stress caused by financial worries

I stand in awe of you. And I want you to know that your courage — and your results — are what keep me going.

I’ll never tire of seeing the transformations take place, knowing that my work played a small part in making them happen.

I say small part, because in the end, you’re doing the work.

Against all odds, despite feeling pulled in all directions by your life’s circumstances, you’re making the time to learn, grow, and expand your business.

You are my hero. Don’t ever forget it.