Almost a lifetime ago - 18 years today - I officially marked the founding of BiggerPockets

Starting a hobby website while working as a full time teacher was one thing.

Two years later taking the risk to quit my job to become a full time startup founder was the craziest and smartest thing I ever did. Maybe not crazier than moving to California to dive deeper into the entertainment business, but I digress…

While I struggled for quite a long time before the business really took off, I was able to live my life on my own terms. I got to be my own boss and although I worked absolutely crazy hours, I never felt the stress of a crappy boss or pressure to act under some artificial timeline. I built at my own pace and designed a business with a mission and values that were important to me.

It became more than a website - it became a brand and an ideal. The impact of the site, the podcasts, the dozens of books, the videos can’t be measured in KPIs alone, but must be measured by lives changed for the better.

As a result, BiggerPockets helped transform an industry.

Where previously competitors were weary of one another, we helped people learn that coopetition was a better model - one where people could compete AND cooperate for mutual benefit. We took power from those who made information inaccessable by opening the doors and making sure real estate investing knowledge was free.

Over the years, the mission to democratize knowledge so anyone, anywhere, regardless of income, education, age, or any other demographic, could learn to build wealth, has resulted in countless lives being changed for the better.

Not only have we helped individual investors around the country and work, but we’ve moved markets.

I’ve always wanted to calculate the actual economic impact of the business - I’m sure the true number would blow everyone’s minds.

Beyond that, we’ve helped transform neighborhoods, built communities and so much more.

It has been almost 4 years since exiting the day to day and stepping away. Like any 18 year old, it has continued to mature and to life a life of its own.

While my personal contributions to the business are today marked by occasional phone calls and quarterly board meetings, I hope my personal stamp will continue to last for the next 18 years and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who believed in me.

In the early years, that was mostly strangers, as most of my friends thought I was nuts, but the coolest part is that today, many of those strangers are my closest friends.

Finally, if you’re dreaming about starting some crazy idea - whether it be a small business, a startup, a real estate investment, or anything else, I encourage you to take a chance.

Life is too short to life without taking some risks.

And no one wants to live a life full of regrets.

Besides, you’ll never know if that hobby or idea can become a success if you never give it any real effort. You may fail, but at least you will have taken your shot.

Good luck!