Marcus,

Thank you for sharing this amazing story. I'm just a small town WordPress freelancer who is feeling the very real struggle but from a different angle. While you have the benefits of being close to those who are immersed in WordPress, I am extremely isolated. The struggle is real.

Currently I am in the midst of re-designing my own freelance business website. Until just the past several months, I have spent the last 6 years attempting to draw in clients that would be willing to pay me for my talents. While I'm nowhere close to your level of expertise, I have struggled to teach myself as much as I can about the WordPress ecosphere and bring my skill-sets to the levels they are now.

I am fortunate that my wife has supported me all the way and place her utmost faith in my capabilities. Just like any other freelancer, my goal is to separate from my current full-time gig to take on my dreams of being a successful agency. However, the process has been slow. I have unfortunately been nearly giving my services and talents away for mere pittance.

But my drive to continue to push towards the level of success is as high, if not higher than it always has been. If I may, let me add that I feel deprived of two of my favorite podcasters when you and Jeff miss a week due to other commitments or other related type issues. I place as much value in this podcast as well as the other one you co-host on as much as I value my business. The amount of information that I have been blessed enough to absorb through both of them is beyond any dollar amount I could even begin to place on them.

My ultimate goal is to acquire enough decent playing clientele over the next several months that I can re-invest it into your online membership coach courses. I know that I need to take my design and development capabilities to a new level. I realize the importance that membership sites hold and have across the Internet. While I have toyed with BuddyPress (half-butted at best,) I realize there is so much more that I need to learn. I know that you are the only person who can take me into the right direction to realize this vision.

Don't ever underestimate yourself and continue to press forward. Even if nobody else realizes the amazing talents that you bring to the table, you can bet this small town Arkansas boy more than appreciates what you bring to the WordPress community. If I was a rich man, I would certainly be at any event you were speaking at just so I could pack down my notepads and any electronic devices I could with your information.

I am going to tell you that when I heard the remark "that you felt you were at the end" resonated through my soul! I felt almost like I had just lost my best friend or a member of my family. Again, I'm just an unknown nobody located in Arkansas who places more value in the level of your expertise that you can begin to fathom.

To both you and Jeff, my prayers for the both of you is that you begin to realize a level of financial growth that you have never dreamed of.

Maybe someday in life I will be blessed enough to meet you two remarkable gentlemen.

Respectfully,

Greg Hyatt