Everyone loves a deal. 20% off, special low-price, one time only, free, bonus, extra, 2 for 1, get the 3rd copy free – these are just a few of the words that grab our attention.
Just today I received an email from one of the most ingenious magicians out there offering a special price for one of his most amazing tricks.
I debated for 20 minutes or so but the one-day only finally got me and I sent off for yet another magic trick.
There’s something inside all of us that just can’t pass up a great deal.
Coupon clipping for many countries isn’t a big thing but in the US it’s a big deal. Many years ago I clearly remember signing up for the Los Angeles Times simply to get their Sunday coupon section.
That alone was worth the subscription.
And ever since the crash of Lehman Brothers in 2008 coupon clipping has skyrocketed.
Enter Groupon.
Started just two years ago it has grown exponentially and is set to become a publicly traded company in the upcoming months.
From 0 to over a billion is just less that 24 months – that’s pretty crazy even with the previous success of other internet giants Google and Facebook.
In fact, it’s the fastest growing company ever.
Wow.
And for a few lucky people that means 9 zeros in the account once the company goes public.
Ironically though, the founder himself will not be the largest beneficiary. Eric Lefkofsky, who seeded Groupon’s with its first million dollars, stands to earn a cool $4 billion.
He didn’t create the company. He didn’t assist in its growth.
He simply found a good company and chose to invest in it.
Many people think that to become rich one has to build a company, become a rock star, win the lottery or rob a bank (I’m kidding about the last one).
There is no one size fits all when it comes to wealth but the closest I’ve come across was best explained by my mentor Jim Rohn who often said the secret to acquiring wealth was best explained by Jesus, the master teacher, who put it this way – “Find a way to serve the many, for service to many leads to greatness.”
Or as Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
People love deals and that’s precisely what Groupon has allowed millions of people to do by saving money on everything from apparel to amusement parks to fitness memberships.
We sometimes think that so-and-so was the chance of a lifetime but the fact is that there’s another amazing opportunity laying just around the corner.
Now all we have to do is find it.
Eric Lefkofsky found one. Bill Gates found one. Warren Buffet found one.
The hunt is on.
Good luck.
Adrian Shepherd