Steve Fillmore on Focused Positive Attitude and Beating Cancer Twice
Steve Fillmore is an Entrepreneur, speaker, and coach and beat Cancer not once, but twice. Here is his powerful and inspiring story in our exclusive interview below.
Wow Steve! What a story and thank you for this interview. I am excited to learn more about you. So, let’s get started!
Where were you born and raised, what was childhood like, and what did you want to be when you ‘grew up?’
I grew up in small town USA in Minnesota. My childhood was pretty rough to say the least. I was the only ‘ethnic’ kid in my small town. So I got bullied a lot and often. Grew up in a single parent household with my mother who worked two jobs just to support us.
What did I want to be when I grew up? Well, at the time I knew I didn’t want to be like my alcoholic father.
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What did your parents do for a living and was there any Entrepreneurship in the family?
Granted my parents were divorced; they both worked very hard and multiple jobs just to survive. I would say my mom was the most entrepreneurial as she was working multiple jobs and raising me.
She had to be resourceful as often times she would be discriminated against based on her being a minority; she was Asian and a woman.
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What became your career and what were some of the pitfalls and perks with your professional career?
Well this is a loaded question for me. Career? I never liked the word career. To me it felt way to constricting. I was always bored with staying at one job for a long period of time. I would say I’m like the “MacGyver” of sorts when it came to careers.
I have been a cosmetologist, US Navy Photographer, Casino Manager and flight attendant. School work and college were boring. So I never finished college. I always enjoyed the hands on approach to learning and advancing myself professionally.
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Ok, now the big question: When did you find out you had Cancer, and how did it come back to haunt you twice?
Cancer. Being the typical man, I ignored all the warning signs such as pain. I sucked it up for several months before the pain was not bearable and had to go see a doctor. Never ignore the warning signs that the body gives. I know this from experience.
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I love in your bio you stated that you were too busy for friends and family because of your home business, but Cancer changed all that. How so?
Well cancer forces one to STOP and deal with it. Chemotherapy alone made me have so many side effects like nausea and extreme pain.
There were moments where I wanted to give up because my body was in so much pain and discomfort.
I am blessed that I had cancer because it really showed me what is important in life.
What’s most important is the here and now, family, and just enjoying life in the present moment.
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When did you discover network marketing, what was your first two years like, and can you tell us what you would change if you started over today?
I discovered network marketing when I was 16 years old. As a young kid in network marketing I was foolish and ignorant. I spent a lot of money jumping from one opportunity to the next.
For me it took over 12 different companies before I found my home with my current network marketing company.
What would I change from what I know now? I would put self development first and foremost in building a business. When I first started I was led by EGO and the dollars.
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You promote several network marketing companies. Can you tell us how they have helped your health and finances? And, what is your favorite essential oil and seed protein?
My primary company that I have been with for over 10 years now and will be my company for life is; Young Living Essential Oils.
The essential oils were one of many healing modalities that helped during my cancer journey and has been key in staying healthy and vibrant.
My favorite essential oil would have to be any oil distilled from trees. So for example balsam fir, frankincense. They have such a soothing and grounding appeal to me. There is nothing like the fresh smell of a forest in a bottle!
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What is the biggest mistake you see new network marketers make, and how can they fix it?
The biggest mistake I see with other network marketers is that they lead with their product or service. One must lead with themselves. this business is called network marketing; not product/service marketing.
I have learned that in this industry one must learn how to sell themselves and make themselves attractive in the marketplace.
I remember this from one of my mentors. I keep in the back of my mind the 90/10 rule.
90% of the time I am sharing value into the market place. And the remaining 10% of the time I share my business opportunity.
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I love your blog! How old is it, how many posts are on it, and what is your daily traffic like?
My blog is a couple years old. And honestly I lost count of how many posts are on there.
As of now daily traffic is increasing as I promote on social media and other social groups.
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Should every internet marketer blog and why?
A blog is just another piece of the online real estate. I think of the blog as like one of the houses in the game of Monopoly. The more real estate I get out onto the internet; the more eyeballs that will see who I am and what I have to offer.
Blogging is a simple way to share value to the market place and also to build credibility. Plus it is a free way to market.
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You are also a speaker and coach. Who is your ideal client and what do you do with them?
My ideal client is someone who wants to work on becoming a better person and who isn’t afraid to make mistakes and be able to see all the blemishes in themselves and work hard to be more and change for the better.
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How has surviving Cancer changed your life and is your mission in life different now, and how?
I don’t sweat any of the small stuff and big stuff as well . the way I see it…. the powers that be gave me two chances to get it right. I am not going to screw it up and I am gonna listen to my inner guidance when it comes to life.
You have a contagious smile, has your smile always been this bright or has the hardships of life painted a bigger smile on your face?
From being bullied in school to having almost died from cancer; yes, many of my life’s hardships has shown me that I have a lot to smile about.
Life is too short to have a frown and be sad. I see in the rest of the world that it could definitely be a lot worse. I am most grateful. And from that gratefulness I am filled with joy and love.
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What is your favorite book right now and why?
My fav right now is from Tim Ferris. Tools of Titans.
I love this book as it is a collective of knowledge from various thought leaders, business leaders and other successful people in the world all in one place and in a easy to read format.
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What are your goals for 2023?
Goals for this year would be to increase in rank in my primary company. Have a my membership based health platform bringing in income excess of $25,000 year.
And to have 4 speaking engagements sharing my experience with cancer and what I did with healthy eating and mindset.
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What is your favorite quote and why?
You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday.
What it is saying is that we need to get over the past, let it go and keeping moving and focus on today; the present moment. For yesterday is long gone.
Thank you so much for this interview Steve!