Episode 107: How to Be Debt Free With Marcus Garrett

Acquania Escarne 0:04

You are listening to the Purpose of Money podcast, a podcast where we talk about ways to build wealth and create more freedom in your life today. I am your host Acquania Escarne.

Acquania Escarne 0:19

Hey guys, welcome back to the Purpose of Money Podcast. I'm super excited because today we're going to talk to Marcus Garrett about how to get out of debt and create tonnes of side hustle income. Marcus Garrett is from the streets of great state of Texas, and he obtained a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration, and has work experience as a certified internal auditor, financial and data analysts. He is also a millennial who's gotten himself out of debt, he had 30,000 in debt, and he got out of it in just a few months, 36 months or so. And he managed to build affiliate income through email marketing, and in one year amassed a quarter of a million dollars. So we're gonna get into how did he do all of this so that you can use these gems to get out of debt and create your side hustle income to Hey, Marcus, welcome to the Purpose of Money. How are you doing?

Marcus Garrett 1:18

I'm doing well. Thank you for having me.

Acquania Escarne 1:20

Thank you so much for being a guest on the show. You have a very interesting story. And you've been in quite a few spaces I've seen from your bio, CBS News, USA Today Market Watch money, like you're all over. Tell us a little bit more about you though. So before we hop to what you do now and how you got over 30,000 in debt, I'd love to know what was the money like for you when you were growing up?

Marcus Garrett 1:52

It's been a fascinating journey. I'll start with a recent examples on people on my community newsletter. I've reached that point in influencer threshold where your your your profile starts getting copied. And so I had to Facebook pays me I've been an influencer there for like two years, I got my bank account, my state ID, I think even had my passport. And I had to prove that I was myself. And it's a very humbling journey, because I'm going out here, like you said, looking for those articles. And some of them were a little bit old. And I was like, Man, am I am I worthy enough to be called at influence and in 2023, and I've passed up all these opportunities to write I know, we're gonna talk a little bit about freelance writing. So it's fascinating. I'm like, all these things aren't that important until they are so my most recent journey is brewing the Facebook and Instagram that I am myself and anybody tried to sell you crypto scams was not the market scared of which there's only one.

Acquania Escarne 2:45

Oh, man, and I hate that. Because sometimes Facebook makes it very difficult to prove who you are. And then they never let you talk to a person. So you can prove your person. So it totally, it confuses me as to how they come up with this criteria, what they need, what they don't. And I've actually been in battle with meta to prove me right, like I was in charge of my own Facebook page for the Purpose of Money. And then they implemented dual authentication requirements. And I didn't see the notice, because I had someone else helping me manage my ad account and my page. So they didn't tell me either. They just told me when I got shut out, right, like, Hey, you can't access your page anymore, because you didn't do dual authentication. So I immediately set it up, but then was required to go through the process to confirm identity. And even after I confirmed my identity, they still argued that there was someone on my account, who needed to take ownership of it before they can give ownership back to me. But the person was like, I'm not seeing this Facebook account on my account, I don't have access to it anymore. Like I'm not even on it. So I was literally struggling to find a person who could be in charge of it until I could get promoted back to Administrator instead of the employee with no rights. And I never figured it out, to be honest. So I just came up and was like, Facebook's not my platform anymore. Let me focus somewhere else. But I love that. You've, you've, you've reached that point. That I also tend to notice is the influencer hotspot when they start to clone your page pretending to be you. But I just still feel like they need to find a solution to that because there are people who are falling for it. I have another friend in our community of you know, people of colour who deal with personal finance, and she has a huge following like, I think 100,000 or so, but somebody contacted her after they had given a scammer $30,000 And I was like, how do ya how do you get a stranger you've never seen on $30,000 And then, even afterwards, I just don't know. I don't know how to worse.

Marcus Garrett 5:13

That's why I start there. As far as I know, my stories aren't that nefarious shit, I actually found out because a noble number of people, this has been applied to Facebook, like the founding of Facebook now meta. So I've ignored it over the years and like, people want to duplicate me, you know, if they're not causing any harm, what, who cares? And they started contacting people, like you said, asking for money. In this case, someone said they were this is a crypto scam or something like that. So I'm like, Well, I can't be in a personal finance space with somebody using my likeness, that name so in fake crypto, and then I assume it was a guy because he started flirting with women. So then women are like, Why are you I'm like, yo, why are you buddy? I'm like, yo, yo, yo, yo, that is not me. You know, that's Marcus Garrett or Russia, Marcus, dear, the markets gear has been over your mind has been is happily married? Yeah, you're gonna have to, I guess I should have taken it more seriously when I had an opportunity to. And it's kind of a twofold journey. Now, when I'm trying to verify and prove myself to Facebook, I'm like, Man, I wish I had written more articles. So Facebook would see these articles from 2023. Because you know, Facebook, like, man, these old articles these Ain't you? Just funny, you know, coming full circle. And I'm actually reading a book, Simon Sinek right now, "Find Your Why" just really kind of figuring out what's my plan and path for 2023. So this whole thing has just been an intersection of madness that has kind of really grounded me in where to go to next.

Acquania Escarne 6:42

I love that actually love that book. So I will definitely drop it in the show notes. But finding your why is so important because it helps you focus and stay focused. And there's another book I recommend. Oh, it's the one by Keller Williams and one of his partners with Keller Williams is the huge in the real estate space. He wrote a book, your one "Finding Your One Thing", and like literally honing that one thing to perfection, and then you use the income from that one thing to build other streams of income. So knowing your lane mastering it, and then expanding so I love both of those books. And we'll leave notes, the links in the show notes. So let's hop back to your journey. Let's backtrack. You were in debt before and then you wrote a book get out of debt or die trying? How did you get 30,000k in debt? And what were some of your strategies to get out of it?

Speaker 2 7:42

The 15 minute version is I spent it was about $30,000 in debt, and I accumulated $26,000 of that and about a 72 hour period. And it sounds more grandiose than it is I graduated college with about $9,000 of debt I was 22 years old. And I got an offer for what is now kind of seamless consolidation loan to me is just some pretty marketing with, you know, a bunch of probably persons of colours on the front. So kudos to their marketing team. And I was like, All right, and I think I signed up for it must have been somewhere between 15-18,000 I'm like, I'm gonna consolidate all this debt. And in my mind, I'd never had a job making more than $7 an hour, I was like, I'm gonna pay off all these creditors. I'm gonna you know, I got a business degree now. So I'm about to be out here with his wife parties with P Diddy, you know, putting the game on his ear. And it didn't quite work that way. My first job was $19,000-19,600. And I remember so specifically because it was so low. I got my consolidation loan in the mail and they sent the 22 year old a 30,000 Okay, $18,000 check at that time, and I was like, you know, it's time to buy some stuff. That's what 22 year old me did. I didn't pay I think I paid off one credit card. It was three credit cards, none were maxed out. I'm like, really proud of them. Like none were Max, though, you know whether that rock bottom. So long story short, bought a car with rims. I tell him his 20s. But I think there was 17. And before it was all said and done, you know that 80% interest loan that a lot of people have a story about it. I had $30,000 of debt to the 72 hour period in a great story, which I continue to tell to this day. And then when I finally got serious about getting out of debt, I ended up living the story which will become the book debt for your diatribe.

Acquania Escarne 9:23

Okay. Okay. So what are your go to first steps when you want to get out of debt? So you acknowledged you had a problem? You've gone into debt in 72 hours, and then those those checks were due. Right. So those creditors were looking for their money. So what were the first steps you took,

Marcus Garrett 9:43

I think surprising to most people is to stop. I didn't stop but after that a lot of people are like, Oh, well, you know, you figure it out at 23. It was 27 before I got serious about a plan because I think people can relate to this now especially if we are going into a recession. It's impressive As of how long you can make a minimum payment on a credit card or debt, without realising the tsunami of debt that's going to be coming your way. So I was just making the minimum payments, and I was happy because I thought I had more money than I did. And I was living, you know, a life that looked good, until I reach rock bottom. And it all the science tsunami for me was I missed one payment. And that credit card must have had, it had 1000s of dollars of debt on it, but I know, I'm not gonna say the name, the way for them to sue me the way I've been talking about them over the years. But I do know the interest rate went from 18, or whatever it was to 29.9% overnight. And it was a card that I'd had since college since I was 18. Since they had me sign up in the mall, like so many other 18 year olds that are now illegal, the walk through the mall, they signed me up for three credit cards. And I was like, I'm just gonna call my boys. You know, this is obviously a misunderstanding. I was like, Yeah, I need this. I need as interest rate, lower guys, I can't make this, I could barely make the minimum payments. And they're like, you know, basically, we're like good luck below where we see our payment next month. And so I made a series of both immature and ignorant, closing this card, you know, like I'm bringing this, I'm bringing this company down to his knee. So I closed the car messed up my credit score, but I call that night rock bottom, that was the night I was like, I'll never be in this position again. So in my book I go over for but to be quick over two. So what I did at that time is just put A plan together. And I feel that most people have never done this. They've never sat down and in ran all the numbers. I remember I was on that phone call. And he's like, you know, what's your credit score? I think the only thing I knew was my home address. He's like, what's your credit score? How much income do you have? What is your debt duration? I couldn't answer none of these questions. It was embarrassing, you know, and, you know, I'm already ticked off, I'm already in a bad situation. And I'm sure he's just going through his industry, script or whatever. But like, it really just ticked me off. That was like one of the worst experiences of my life. Every time I tell this story, I just, you know, I feel my temperature rise, and I can just feel myself getting hot all over again. So number one, I put a plan together that night. And to give you all some concept, I went to Yahoo, I only think Google existed. So like, you know, I've had some time to make mistakes trials and tribulations and get this right. Step four. Obviously, skipping to three is once you've gotten a little bit more advanced, what I recommend people do today, and they're pretty ubiquitous now you can find them everywhere is to get a debt to income calculator or a paid out gackle, a bank rate hasn't great tools, it's actually the same one I used. And guess that was oh nine I actually don't even remember when that was I was 27. And so to really put together a plan and know how much money you should be paying each month to get out of debt, you need a debt calculator. And now I just tell people to jump to that step. Because it's the step people fear the most. And yet, it is the most important to know what you really owe, and how much you're really going to have to pay every month to get that.

Acquania Escarne 12:53

That's really good. And I do have a go to debt payoff calculator that I will put a link to in the show notes. But I agree with you, because that gives you full visibility on how long you're going to pay that debt. And it also shows you the interest, you're going to end up paying. And so if that number scares you, you can increase your payments, so you pay it off faster. Or you can figure out what should be the best attack plan, you know, like attacking your higher interest at first and maybe doing the Avalanche or snowball methods to get out of debt as a whole. But I agree with you a plan is essential, because without a plan, you're planning to fail. And you are not clear on what's happening. And so at least a plan gives you something to follow, and some understanding. So I think that's really good. And I agree when you're creating that plan. And once you're like I want to get out of debt, definitely stop accumulating it if possible, and then prioritise your payments based on your plan. Right. So knowing visibly, the debt is going to cost you this much in interest, and I'm going to have to make these monthly payments. And realistically, can you do that? So what were some of the things you did to accelerate your debt payment being paid off so quickly? I know that you are a writer as well. But was freelance writing literally done because you were looking to pay off debt? Or is that a skill you discovered later?

Marcus Garrett 14:18

So the four steps from the book The debt is actually an acronym. Now I've released the second version of 2020. The original was 2016. So D is defined the Plan E is established the Plan B is build a budget, like you said because a lot of people have a plan to fail because they have no plan in action. And then T is to trust the process. Now you've got to plan around how long it's going to take for you to get out of it that I I would say I stumbled into freelance writing. My my brother in law kind of says that I'm Forrest Gump in my way through life. It's just I just kind of stumbled into what have fortunately been I stumbled up. I stumbled for it and stumbled my way into being fraudulently copied on Instagram now so who knows what's next. And so I don't think freelance writing was it means I did eventually get paid by it. But I got into freelance writing by blogging at that time, like, whoa, everyone my age, it felt like it is just talking about like what was going on in my life. It was the start of the influencer generation had I known it. But you know, just like my life is interesting, and other people need to know about it. In hindsight, it's just the life of some 27 year old living in Denver. About 10,000 people a month showed up to read it. And then a team of seven black individuals reached out to me as like, Hey, we're starting up like this Voltron team over here, writers that you want to move over here. And through that I started getting paid by some classics now Madame Noir, and just going around to blogs, like here's a talent that I have, but I do. I feel like we were the start of a millennial. We were the start of the senior millennial to be technical. The influencer the slasher generation, I think what is normal now, like the Instagram or scummy LinkedIn where everybody has 20 job roles in their title. I think we were the beginning of that. And we didn't realise it. So I just did it as a means of something I enjoyed, which I happen to derive passive income from. And I'll kind of end with where we begin. Now that I have a business in my second year, this would be 2023 is my second year and incorporated business in my name. Now is really I'm kind of unpacking what a business plan looks like. And how is this a sustainable model? We started with you know, made six figures in sales and lobby layup and you can retire off that. So did I, NO you cannot. Turns out so now I'm looking at like, oh, like if I want for me. The kind of lifestyle that I want to have I should very caveat that is I'm looking at a seven figure business. So how does mark is scale a seven figure business and then I am circling back on reading those same MSNBC and CNBC articles as everybody else. Oh, he made six figures and seven months. I was like, that sounds good. I'm trying to recreate those models in my business. I'm just looking at TaskRabbit earlier. But for the one that you were speaking to, it was lucrative affiliate contracts, which I still get, and I built a sales funnel page. I can't say I, once again, working with a great partnership team, my graphic designer, which you can see at themarcusgarrett.com built out an amazing sales funnel. And we just we had an amazing 16 month right now I'm chasing that hike. And like you said, you get to the top of the mountain to realise there are more mountains to climb.

Acquania Escarne 17:32

Mm hmm, absolutely. But I like I just want to kind of pick apart some of the things you said because, you know, I started freelance writing in 2015 when I started doing reading articles myself, and I noticed this one article that said Americans do not have $500 saved for an emergency. So for most Americans, unexpected car repair medical expense throws them off budget, and they suddenly find themselves getting payday loans or using credit cards. So I started a savings challenge on Facebook, to get people to save money each week. And then I said, Oh, let me throw in some more tips. And then I was like, This is really fun. So just like you I found a passion. I didn't even know I had, I enjoyed it. And then I said What else could I do to help people? Now you did what most people did and created a blog. I actually took three years before I did that step because I thought to myself, why don't I make money writing for someone else? Like I love to write about money. And I didn't have a platform. So I was like, let me look for other platforms. So I literally Googled how do you become a freelance writer and Google said go to Upwork you know, create a freelance profile start writing some articles for individuals for free, get that real estate on online? Well, I got really lucky in that I put a profile on fate on Upwork found a person looking for freelance writers, it was the perfect match, shout out to Damien Peters of Wealth Noir. And literally he hired me and we wrote together for five years. Before I decided I don't want to do freelance writing anymore. I like to do email marketing instead. But I but it's writing is writing for me it is something I love. But I love how you went into it for the passion, which is how most people discover things they can do all day if they needed to. And they don't feel like they did it all day, you know. But now you're turning that passion into a legitimate business. So what are some of the things can you describe a little bit more as far as a sales funnel and like, where did you find the products that you were willing to promote to your audience? How did you know that that was what you wanted to sell versus it taking every single opportunity

Marcus Garrett 19:54

Its interesting that you end the question that way because that's how it began. And I took every single opportunity and burn myself out it. But that's why I think it's important. I'm trying to pull out the threads as we're going through this interview of RE, for me it was really emphasising what my wife is because I could, in my, my fourth, fourth decade around the sun, reverse engineer that process that I did in my 20s. But I don't want to, nor do I really think I have the energy to do so because I remember, at least for me, the writing I was doing how long it would take to do that. And it kind of moved away a little bit that I lost my passion for still making about the same amount of money. And then as my coworker actually told me, you know, you get those golden handcuffs. So I'm making good money, I cannot deny that making good money from the nine to five, deriving little to no purpose from it. And then I have this thing that I liked, slash love deriving little money from it, or not as sustainable money compared to the nine to five that I'm making. And I think a lot of people can relate to this, I've been talking to my wife a lot about this, if it would actually be much easier just to work the nine to five it within, at least easier in that I know what that pathway looks like. And I can map it for the next 20 years. And reasonably because I'm an auditor reasonably probably within 3%. So how about myself and her how much money I'm going to make for the next 20 years. But that is not what drives me that is not what I think some people might want to focus on that and and that you can do both. So I kind of have to give that an asterix that spill. Kind of what the question there?

Acquania Escarne 21:43

No, no, I was I am just so in. This is very timely, let me just I'm gonna get into that when you're done. But this is very timely, because we have gone through a pandemic. And so many people were working their butts off at jobs they didn't like and then suddenly found an opportunity to work from home or to be remote or to incorporate things in their life they do want to do, because they realise Life is short. So it's just, it's just really interesting what you're saying. But let me let's happen to that when you finish with that.

Marcus Garrett 22:16

No, and then on. So on the other side of that I just looked at because I'm really you know, black and white. When it comes to the books, I just looked at what was deriving the most income. And I actually worked with a business coach for about I think 12 months or so. And that's another thing I like to go to. And I'm I have the privilege to be at a point where I can pay it like I'm about to go into a mastermind right now. And it just it came across my email, he's like, Hey, we're only going to work with 25. I was like, hey, wife, I'm about to expend this amount of money. wise about the card. She's like, that's fine. She's, she wasn't like, that's fine, because I'm always fascinated about something jumping into some mastermind or the other. But that's another privilege that I have here is that I can go to a graphic designer and go, Hey, build this $6,000 website, you know, because I have a nine to five, they could pay for that. And then I'll figure out how to derive sales for now what's going to derive sales might not be what aligns with my passion, it's under my purpose. It's under my business. My most lucrative sales is obviously going to be one on one coaching. But I don't particularly like doing one on one coaching, more so because it doesn't tap into my personality. My Space is not my love language, my business language, I guess, in this case. And it's frustrating to me that I write up what I think is a good plan. And usually the biggest issue is people don't follow the plan and work I'm like, Whoa, did it because you didn't do six of 10 steps. I've actually actively tried to avoid making coaching the most lucrative line item in my business second would be speaking. But as you said, the pandemic game and speaking went to zero, it was actually my most lucrative going into the pandemic.

Marcus Garrett 23:54

Some people can hear and some people I've heard I do voiceover work. But you know, voiceover work takes a long time. It's a lot of back and forth. So I just I'm looking at all these ways in which I derive known income, which ones do I want to do? And then which ones do I have to do? And for me, that's that's how you build elite at least a one man business a solopreneur business. Like I have it in an Excel spreadsheet is like 10 Give me I think it's six, six, what I'm calling KPIs key performance indicators. I'm going to focus on this year to reverse engineer that income that I was making in year one because I've started getting well I'm focused on discipline. I know what the things are that make money and then now putting them out there and a lot of people have seen that they're like you were putting out an amazing amount of content and sometimes it's not fun I think you would know as a content. There's weekends where our days I wouldn't say week is there days where I don't want to hit record. I don't hit record ain't no money go. So that's a little bit like a what it looks like on the ground. I think my top items are speakers number one to get I got a book on course coaching affiliates, which, you know, I can sell other people's courses and affiliates as well. For those who are unfamiliar affiliate link is pretty straightforward, you have a product that you can sell, if you use my link, or some people call it a referral link, I get paid an agreed upon contract or percentage for that. So pretty simple. If their book sales I make I make I make money book is probably not the best example because I just I tell people, I've loved my book, I love speaking about it, I make $4 a book, it's the list, but it's very low, I would have to sell 2000 to hit the numbers that I want to hit.

Acquania Escarne 25:36

You know, and that might happen. But your book is a lead generator in itself, right? Because now someone says, Oh, he's been on these networks. He also has a book less book in the speak at our conference. And oh, maybe we give everyone a copy of the book, while he's here. Right. So we we both have attended a financial conference for money nerds, where they do that all the time, the headliner speaker is also giving you a copy of their book, or aka the conference paid for, through our fees, the book, right, and that may be a part of the agreement, so I totally get it. And I'm just like you 15 year career, using my career as my first investor into my business, right, and being very strategic in that, as my investor, you're gonna pay my bills, so that I can be ambitious, outside of work and do other things. But at some point, the business had to be sell find yourself, you know, profitable, which it has been, but it took time. So I did use, you know, seed money for myself to get started to create the first website to get the domains. But then after we started generating income, the business had to support itself. So I love that. And I think that realistically, that's how a lot of entrepreneurs are made. I know it looks sexy, on social to take that leap, and, you know, wake up one day and say, I'm not going to nobody's job, I'm my own boss, but most people don't start that way. And if they do is very few, right? Who are able to really do that, without some type of system, right? In your case, you do have a spouse, I'm assuming you have a head have a roof over your head, and, you know, like the ability to lean on each other. Others may be single, and trying to figure it out life, entrepreneurship and business. But they may have the advantage of living at home, I've had a lot of guests on my podcast, who stayed home with their parents longer than most would have liked. But that's how they cut out a major expense in their lifestyle, which is living, right your housing. So there's different ways to do it. But I think those are really good tips that you gave as far as realistically looking at what skills you have, and how can they be monetized, and then creating a plan to target those. And yes, I'm a huge I do send emails to my audience, but I do promote courses for the things I don't teach. And I feel you on the coaching, like, it takes a lot of energy and strength to do coaching. And most of it is because people will do half of what you say and then expect 100% of your results. And you're like, how does that math work? That's my heart.

Marcus Garrett 28:20

It's difficult for the auditor, so my wife No, she's like, just coach, coach.

Acquania Escarne 28:25

just a lot and, and my thing is like, I'm really I like to do one on one because I do feed off other people's energy, and I love to see those success stories in one person. But these days, influencers are pushing group coaching, where you don't get that one on one attention says you're gonna get group and you're gonna put your questions in the chat and or in advance, and then we're gonna go through this hour, hour and a half together, and then I'm gonna be out and I'll see you in two weeks. And I know I just I struggle with that, because I don't thrive in that environment. And I'm just always worried about the the receiving end of it. I know for some people that is some of my clients is main business model, and it works for them. And that's great. But I struggle with the feeling good about what you're doing, because it's not necessarily your favourite way to receive information. And having that balance, I think, I think there just has to be a balance. And so I like how you also said you work with a business coach because they can kind of help you get out of your own way with things like that. Because that was my situation where I got a business coach, and that's when I hit six figures because she showed me what I needed to do, like hire staff to help me do the things that I was struggling to do because I'm not a graphic designer. I'm not a website designer. And I was trying to build my own WordPress site and she was like, Why you just don't contract that out. Like what are you doing? You know, you spent 20 hours and you could have paid someone to do it and for it. You know, or it's time for you to get a bid virtual assistant, you know, and I was like, I don't know, I don't know if I have enough money to pay a virtual assistant. And she was like, you hire a virtual assistant who can take admin tasks off your hands, and you will make more money, trust me, because you will be available to do the things you love and that make you money, right, instead of sitting here, going back and forth on email. So I think that's important. And I think even as a solo entrepreneur, you still have to think like that. Right? Like, maybe you do part time, virtual help, right? Not necessarily a full time employee, and use that to your advantage. Would you agree?

Speaker 2 30:41

Yeah. It's not ingenious, but actually heard a few years ago, and it's, you know, you hear something and you might not be mature enough to, to run with the advice. But someone said, just make it easy to for people to pay you. And I was overcomplicating building websites, and do I use stripe or PayPal? Just stupid questions that really just procrastination, to allow me to procrastinate. But then I just built out a landing page, I use a book me, but the software you should be agnostic to. And it's like, here's the services I offer. And here's the price points, I offer those services, no discounts, no coupon pass discounts and coupons stage. And that's cool. If I'm not the one for you, there's a there's 15 years of free stuff out here with my name, but that Facebook doesn't believe is me. But I assure you it was written by the Marcus Garrett. And you know that that's also an avenue that you take podcast is free as well. But if you want to work with me, as you said, individually, I do group coaching as well. These are their services here where they could find me, here's a very simple, easy way to to pay me and then I do a lot of the behind the scenes now because I think that intimidates people, too, is like, you go here, click this, buy this, and I'll send everything to you enrol you to all the classes. I do agree people should just show up and be successful.

Acquania Escarne 31:50

Yes, yeah, I love that. So the name of the podcast is called the Purpose of Money. So I do ask all of my guests this question, what is your purpose for money?

Marcus Garrett 32:00

I'm glad you asked. Because I can tie it to my wife statement, my current wife statement, I won't curse on this show. And honestly, I'm still working through it. I'm on page 100 to 200 of the book, but my wife statement is to reach financial freedom. So I can do whatever that I want you. Okay, yeah. And you talk to a little bit about your listeners. And I just, I'm at a point in my life where I want to control my my journey, my destiny, what I do, and when I do it, how I do it, and why I do it. And I came to that through the pandemic, during an interview, which I bombed did not get the job. And I remember the first question was, what excites you about this position, and I was a deer in headlights, because nothing, nothing beyond the paycheck. I'm only here to make. You know, that's not appropriate for an interview. So I was like, where's the job description? And I left that interview bomb the risk because you know, you stumbled out of the gate. And I remember I was I was so upset, like, what kind of stupid How dare they asked me to quit? Why would I be excited about it? Who cares? I filled out a job description you clearly you think my resume aligns. But I thought about that for weeks. And I was like, you know, am I going about my entire life wrong, only pursuing jobs for money. And it ultimately ended up to this journey we are here today brings us to present day but I pivoted like that month, because it just put me in such a reflective phase that maybe I should look for more from life than just Monday to Friday and jobs I'm not excited about.

Acquania Escarne 33:28

I love that. Yeah, do what excites you and get money. So you can do whatever you want. I love that it's a great answer. And here's the truth. So thank you so much Mark. It's it's been a really good conversation just to kind of recap your debt journey, some tips to get out of debt, on your own timeline, because you made the plan, you got to get out of it. And then talking about how you've been able to monetize your skills. I think this will be really valuable to my listeners. Before we go, can you please share all of the links or the main one that people can go to and find you.

Marcus Garrett 34:02

I send people to one place I want to be a hypocrite from earlier so they can find everything from coaching to the podcast. The podcast is The Marcus Garrett Show where you learn more, earn more and save more at themarcusgarrett.com. If you happen to be listening on a podcast platform right now, just look me up at The Marcus Garrett Show.

Acquania Escarne 34:17

I love it. If you liked this show, guys, don't forget to like it. Review it five stars if you can, and share it with those who need to hear it. Until next time, keep building generational wealth.

Acquania Escarne 34:31

Thank you for listening to the Purpose of Money podcast. For more resources and information check out my website thepurposeofmoney.com and while you're there, please sign up for our newsletter so you have the latest information on new episodes and blog posts. Until next time, keep creating freedom in your life today.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai