Ring ring ring….”Hello?”  “Mr. Carotta, this is the doctor’s office calling, we need you to come into our office asap.  You might want to bring someone with you…”
There were two major phone calls I received in 2008.  That was the first one.  I had been in denial for over a couple of months that I should see a doctor.  When I went into see the doctor that day, I knew my life was about to change. The moment the doctor told me that my tumor markers were high, was a day I will never forget.  It was the day I thought my life was really taking a turn for the worse.  What I didn’t know was that it was actually the second phone call that I received in 2008 that I really won’t forget; it was on that day that my life took a turn for the best.

After being diagnosed with cancer and having surgery to remove the tumor in 2008, I found myself having a hard time physically getting out of bed and mentally trying to stay motivated.  After all, I couldn’t go to work and earn a living; I had little energy to eat; and I was about to lose my car because I couldn’t afford to make payments.  It was then recommended to me that I read the Four Hour Work Week. I should mention that at that time the only thing I had ever read was a sports magazine.  Reading isn’t for me, and I would much rather see the movie.  I also struggle with a learning disability and have a hard time comprehending things as I read them.  That being said, I was given the book the next day.
I remember the first time I opened the book and saw the words “I have seen the promise land and there is plenty to go around”. That sentence alone was enough to make me want to know more about what Tim had to say.  After reading the book, I decided to prove to myself and others that this idea would work.  I was so confident that I decided to video my day-by-day process on my hand held camera.  I figured if I didn’t achieve my goal, I would at least have a video to look back on and determine why.  Not only did I reach my goal, I achieved other goals and overcame the many challenges that stood in the way.   I was so happy with my results that I also sent the video to bestselling author, Tim Ferriss.  Getting confirmation from the author is great, but proving that others can do it, is icing on the cake.  Turns out, I changed my 9-5 lifestyle, I get to enjoy life to the fullest, and I talk all about it on this site.
I made a 45 day goal to achieve the 4 hour work week lifestyle, and instead it took me 60 days.  Either way, it was enough to get me out of bed and forget about that first phone call and remember the 2nd one!
That was the second call in 2008 that I will never forget, November 03, 2008 at 5:00 pm.
“Hello?”  “Aaron this is Tim Ferriss, I just want to congratulate you on kicking ass, I mean I just wrote the book, you actually did the work”
Proof that one bad call can always lead to a good one.

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