| I was reminded of my own mortality today. I guess | | | | teaching others how to do what he had done: build a |
| you can say I had a near death experience, though | | | | successful online business from scratch. For a man of |
| the death I experienced was not my own. | | | | just 34 years, he packed in decades of expertise and |
| No, I was never in any danger, nor was my life ever | | | | knowledge and he shared it with anyone who would |
| threatened. In fact, I was sitting in the air conditioned | | | | listen, including yours truly. |
| comfort of my home office sipping a nice cup of | | | | I never personally spoke or shook hands with Corey |
| coffee and watching the dogs run around the yard | | | | Rudl, but I was his customer, his student, and |
| when the moment came. | | | | ultimately an admirer. I can attribute much of the |
| The sun was shining. The birds were chirping. Life | | | | success of my own online business to Corey's |
| was going along just fine. | | | | teachings and principles. He was one of those rare |
| Death was the furthest thing from my mind. | | | | birds that you didn't have to meet to feel like you |
| Then the news came that Corey Rudl had been killed | | | | were on a first-name basis with him. Everyone in my |
| in a high speed crash at a race track in California. At | | | | little circle of internet marketing friends simply |
| the moment of his death at the young age of 34, | | | | referred to him as "Corey" and we spoke of him |
| Corey was a passenger in a Porsche that hit a | | | | warmly, as a friend and mentor. He set the bar for all |
| retaining wall at over 100 miles per hour, killing him | | | | of us. We wanted to achieve his level of success. |
| instantly and the driver shortly thereafter. The track | | | | We wanted to hit his heights. We wanted to be the |
| had been rented by a local car club so that Corey | | | | entrepreneur that he was. |
| and his buddies could take their expensive, powerful | | | | Corey had just recently married the girl of his |
| cars to the track to see how fast they could go. | | | | dreams. He was a millionaire many times over. He had |
| Corey died doing what he loved. Those closest to | | | | a big house and fancy cars and a future so bright he |
| him say he would not have had it any other way. | | | | had to wear shades. His business was thriving. Life |
| Corey Rudl was not a professional race car driver. He | | | | was perfect. Corey Rudl truly had the world by the |
| was an entrepreneur, and one of the best of his | | | | tail and there was no chance he'd ever let go. I |
| breed. | | | | imagine he was holding on tight until the very end. |
| Most of you who read this column probably have no | | | | The lessons we learn from the death of Corey Rudl |
| idea who Corey Rudl was or what he accomplished | | | | are the same lessons we always learn when |
| during his short life, and that's OK. You also have no | | | | someone so young and vibrant is suddenly taken |
| idea of the imprint he made on me and millions of | | | | from us. As entrepreneurs we should take those |
| others who make our living (at least in part) as online | | | | lessons and apply them not only to our own lives, |
| marketers. Again, that's OK. For all his | | | | but to our businesses, as well. |
| accomplishments, those who knew him well have said | | | | Lesson One: live everyday as if it is your last, |
| that Corey was more concerned about building his | | | | because it just might be. As entrepreneurs we often |
| businesses than being a public figure. By those | | | | think that our businesses have to come first on our |
| accounts, Corey never really cared about being in the | | | | list of priorities. It's not until a tragedy reminds us |
| public limelight, even though he was probably the | | | | that life is too short that we think about making time |
| most visible and successful entrepreneur in his field. | | | | for the things in life that are really important. Get out |
| Perhaps that's why Corey Rudl was so successful. He | | | | from behind your desk. Go play with your kids. Hug |
| knew what was really important when it came to | | | | your wife. Call your mother. |
| building a business. The limelight came easy to him, | | | | Lesson Two: be passionate about business, but never |
| but his focus always seemed to be on making his | | | | let it eclipse your passion for life. Corey was a true |
| business stronger, serving his customers better. He | | | | entrepreneur whose passion for business was |
| also knew that there was life beyond business, and | | | | unparalleled, but by all accounts he also knew that a |
| he pursued that life with a passion and energy that | | | | life devoted strictly to business was a life not lived to |
| most of us can only imagine. | | | | its fullest. Corey died doing what he loved. Some will |
| Corey Rudl's story is the classic entrepreneur's tale. | | | | argue that his passion killed him and in a way that's |
| He started his business from his kitchen table just a | | | | true, but I have to believe that before he knew he |
| few short years ago selling a homemade booklet he | | | | was in danger Corey had a smile on his face a mile |
| had written on how to get the best deal on a new | | | | wide. He would not have lived his life any other way. |
| car. From that modest start Corey built an internet | | | | As I finish this column my oldest daughter has come |
| marketing empire that has generated $40 million | | | | in to ask if I'd like the honor of taking her out to |
| dollars in revenue in just a few years. | | | | Sunday brunch. She's seventeen now. She has a job, |
| Corey was the definitive internet marketing guru. He | | | | a car, and a life that is very much her own. Chances |
| was young, energetic, and highly passionate about his | | | | to be graced with her presence grow rarer with each |
| business and his industry. He wrote and spoke | | | | passing week. Still, any other day I might have |
| frequently on the topics of internet marketing and | | | | weighed her invitation against the eight million |
| business success and that's where he and I briefly | | | | business-related things that need my attention. |
| crossed paths. We were both expert columnists for | | | | Today, however, the decision is easy. |
| and exchanged several polite emails, nothing really | | | | I usually end my column with the words, "Here's to |
| personal, mind you, mostly swapping compliments of | | | | your success." |
| each others work. | | | | This week let me end with, "Here's to your life. |
| Much of Corey's time in recent years was spent | | | | |