James Potter

Too Young To Know Better

When I was young, my parents did not seem to want to put down roots anywhere. I don't blame them as when I was Three, my sister died from Neaman Piks disease. She was only Seven. We seemed to move almost every other year. In high school, I just did not apply myself as I thought most of what was being taught, I would not need. I quit school going into the elleventh grade. I immediatley found a job working at a fast food restaurant doing dishes and cooking. My second year there I had managed to work up to Assistant Manager. It was a great experience that taught me a lot. The restaurant was seasonal, so in the winter I was sent around to other stores in a 200 mile radius. I was more or less filling in managing where they were short on staff.. Being a long way from home, I would be set up in cheap hotels which were paid by the company. I didn't stay past that winter as the traveling was too much and not what I saw myself doing for many years.

Millitary Experiences

I enlisted in the Air Force. It was not war time but still thought it would be good for me as I did not have a lot of structure as a child. Basic training was grueling and there were alot of mind games that were played. Most of which were from our Sergents in charge of our flight. A flight is just a term for troup. Up at 4 am for calistenics, Ten minutes to eat your meal or go without. Marching hours on end in the texas summer heat. Finally getting your locker the way it needed to be only to have a emergency evacuation. When we allowed back to the dorms, your things were thrown about and mixed with your neighbors. This wouldn't of been bad except for example, your socks and underwear needed to be folded in 6 inch sguares and look like the pages of a book. Upon completion of basic training I was sent to Beloxi Mississippi for technical school. My studies were mainly electronics. I spent most of my time studying. While I was there I had the bad luck to be in a Hurican. Durring my stay in California I recieved a call one day from an old childhood friend. He had to tell me that my brother had commited suicide. A story for another time. This is where I was first introduced to a MLM business. I basically opened the box and that was as far is it went. For the remainder of my time in  the service I spent it in California at Vandenburg which is about one hour north of Santa Barbera.

A New Man

I came out of the military with a different view on life. I found a job at a local Plastics factory where I was a machine opperator. I married my girl and with in 2 years we had our first child. It took me 3 years to get an opportunity to move up the ladder. In 5 years I was at the top of that ladder. It was as high as I could go without moving into a Supervisor position. I would have but I would of had to go to a third shift position and I was not willing to do that as my family was number one. We ahd 3 children by now, one boy and two girls. Before I knew it the money we were making with our family was just not enough. I found myself working a part time job at the same restaurant where I started my working carrier. When I wasn't working at the restaurant, I worked for cash on a relatives farm. My main job started at 7am and I worked until 3pm. I would get home and only take time to eat,  change my cloths and head to the farm where I would usually work until midnight. I was then introduced to another MLM business where I jumped right in. I had more success than the first time but not what I needed to have. Without getting into specifics, we ended in divorce and our business fell apart. After 15 years in the plastics industry I decided to move on. I had job offers from two companies in New York. One was to travel around the U.S. assembling plastic presses and the other on the east coast building and trouble shooting new presses. I didn't persue these as my children were still to young and did not want to make that kind of move. Anyway I put in my two weeks notice and moved on.

Carrier Change

I immediately started for a masonry company where we would travel all over the state. I spent one summer in this job only because I did not get to see my children much. I liked working outdoors but working in 95 degress with no clouds or wind was more heat than I cared for. I was a mason laborer supplying three masons. I then tried my luck in a local foundry where I started out with one of the hardest jobs in the plant, manual grinding third shift. I picked it up quick and started making very good money. It was phyically draining which at the time was ok as long as I made good money. Not many people stuck it out in that position as most were not willing to work hard enough to make good money. We worked a lot of six and seven day weeks. As it turns out this is where I met my second wife. We would talk on breaks or when we worked in the same area. We eventually started living together in her appartment. Since her apartment building didn't allow move ins, we invested what money I had into a trailor house. It was in such bad shape thought that we were rained on in the bedroom our first night in it. We quickly fixed it up with new windows and so on. We sold it after a year and made all our money back. We then invested in a house near where we work. It was nice but not something we wanted to live out our days in. We amde some good financial desisions and worked our mortgage down to ten years from a thirty year note in about eight years. Back to the job. I actually liked that job but after seven years of it my hands and shoulders were in bad shape. My hands were so bad that if I would pick up a spoon, I would have to put it down after two bites because I could no longer feel it. It was then that I decided I needed to move back into being a supervisor assistant as my body could not take it much longer. Six months later I earned a supervisor position on second shift. Five years of that and I was promoted to the first shift supervisor where I was to oversee all three shifts and other supervisors in the department.

A New Opportunity

One day one of by best friends from childhood called me to tell me a few business owners and himself were getting together and he wanted to invite me. I was struggling with bad sinus infections so I did not go. A month later he called me again with the same story. Now I thought I could not pass this up. He is and always has been the most successful person I know. He grew a small business into over a million dollar business. I am so glad I went as I got fired up before the presentation was over. I am so grateful he brought it to me as I have recently been laid off after fifteen years.

Where We Are Now

 My wife Wanda and I live in central wisconsin. We now live in the country on 3.5 acres. It is our dream home that we never thought we would be able to afford. We live alone now but have had most of our children come back home one time or another. We have 5 children and 8 grandchildren between us. We spend most of our time with the grandchildren of which the youngest just recently moved out. They love to come over as it is a big house with a lot for them to do. In the summer they love to spend time in the pool.  My hobbies include fishing, hunting and riding atv. Since starting our own business, It is something that we greatly enjoy working on together. This year has been a tough one with the loss of one of our son's. It has been hard at times to stay focused on where we are going but as there is nothing worse than to loose a child. Our business has helped us focus on other things and there is nothing more uplifting than helping others see and achieve their dreams. Looking foreword to helping others on betternetworker.  Best Wishes to all and let me know if I can help in any way.