Today I have the opportunity to meet the man who has influenced my life more than anyone else. That’s right, the guy who has influenced me perhaps more than anybody is someone I’ve never met. They wouldn’t recognize me in a crowd (unless they spotted me excitedly waving like some kind of freak show). They won’t read this post with misty eyes, and they won’t be telling their friends about their talented protege.

So how am I going to meet him? Well I’m stopping by his office in Nashville Tennessee. I’m going to sit in the lobby of his paid-for building and listen to him host the radio show that got me hooked on all this stuff. His staff tells me he comes out during breaks to meet people who stop by.

In case you haven’t guessed (I dropped a big clue in that last paragraph), it’s Dave Ramsey. Dave (as we call him around our house) has had a profound and lasting influence on my in so many areas. Here are a few of the big ones:

Money

Of course the first thing I learned from Dave was how to handle money properly. His wisdom about personal finance is second to none and his methods work. Dave taught me how to manage my money in such a way that I am virtually guaranteed to reach the lofty level I aspire to.

Since becoming debt-free my wife and I have been able to get out of jobs that weren’t a good fit and go after our dream lifestyle. I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to be able to do that!

Success

If you’re unfamiliar with Dave’s story he was a self-made millionaire twice before he was 40 (yep, that means he lost everything the first time). Anyone who can do that has racked up a phd level education in what it takes to succeed.

It was Dave’s influence that first turned me onto Success Magazine (my top resource by far. Go get it today!). He also opened my eyes to the importance of character and integrity in high level achievement (not always so clear with all the short cuts you see widely used).

Reading

Dave is fascinating to listen to because the wisdom of years and years of constant reading poured out of him. He made it clear the importance of reading to opening doors for you and launching you to your biggest potential.

Thanks Dave! I’m on pace to top 20 non-fiction books this year!

Leadership

Dave is a talented leader and someone I’ve learned a lot from observing. In a world where people think you’re crazy for not using credit Dave built a thriving business on being different. He knew the way to handle money properly, and despite experts constantly hurling rocks his way he continues to lead people to freedom.

I’ve always admired Dave’s willingness to take bold actions about what he feels is right and encourage us to come along. In 2008 he led an amazing event helping people gain a realistic perspective on the credit crisis, and just a couple weeks ago he held another event teaching families how to take control of their futures.

Who has had the biggest impact on your life (other than family)?

[box]I’m not gonna lie, this was a hard post to write because Dave has had such a huge impact on my life. It kept getting longer and longer and longer and less organized. If you haven’t listened to this guy I highly recommend it! Changed my life![/box]

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