You'll think I made this story up, but it's 100% true.

I'm working for Tweeter. I've been selling home theaters for seven years. During this time, I've attended five colleges and was at my sixth. Then I read Rich Dad Poor Dad.

You mean there's an alternative to working a job? Awesome. After reading a bunch of books, I have the game plan. Start a self-sustaining business, re-invest that money in real estate or the stock market, repeat. What kind of business should I start?

A pet sitting company. Perfect. There's low overhead and I like dogs. In three months I accomplish the following: lots of research, form an S-corp, trademark Gopher Dogs, make a website and logo, more research, and made fliers and business cards. All while working full time and taking 12 course credits.

I launch by distributing my fliers in newspaper boxes and dropping off business cards to vets offices. My pricing is competitive, we offer more services than the competition, and my logo is super sweet. I'm going to be rich! After two weeks, we had zero clients.

I feel that the concept is sound, and it will take off. I just need to spend more time "marketing". So against the wishes of my wife, I quit Tweeter on my birthday and drop out of school mid-semester. I had to burn my ships. I was so naïve, and I've never looked back.

Back to two months ago...

I spend no more than 5 hours per week dealing with my business. I'm happy with where I'm at. I hang out with my devastatingly handsome son during the day while my wife makes the real cash at a nine-to-five. I spend my nights reading RSS feeds, surfing the web and tinkering with WordPress and PhotoShop. I'm also planning my next big move, I just don't know the what, who and the how.

I know the why. I need to create, innovate, and be in the flow as often as I can. I need to take risks and fail. I want to change the way people think. I want to be a part of something that's so much bigger than me, working with smart and creative people. I want to give my kids opportunities I never had.

I'd also like to change the world. I don't feel that I have yet. I volunteer with Lives Linked, which is a non-profit company that educates local 10th graders about world poverty. I help out by putting together five-minute videos designed to grab their attention so they're more receptive to the messages the teachers present. It's a blast, but I know I could (and should) be doing more.

I'm racking my brain searching for the answer to this question. I want direction and accountability. I need to work with someone whom I look up to. I have to apprentice with someone who "gets it". I need a mentor.

Since I have all this new found time, I might as well think big. Heck, why not think absolutely huge? Who cares how long it takes? I don't want to work with some shady guru, I want to work with the best. And who might that be? You guessed it. Seth Godin.

He's been an inspiration to me for three years. He could teach me how to align my passion for marketing, love of technology and thirst for knowledge and use it to make a difference. I'd help him in any way that I possibly could. In exchange he could help me find my calling.

With my new Seth knowledge, I'd actually know how I could help people with game changing projects. I could share my knowledge by mentoring. I could speak at SXSW. I could build massively sticky tribes that empower it's members to make change. I could hang out with the guys and gals that are changing the world like Merlin Mann, Tim Ferriss, Gina Trapani and Matt Mullenweg.

Life will be so cool. I now have the what and the who. I just need the how.

The plan is to write my Seth-like insights, gain a readership, grow my online presence, and have a killer idea (or two) that would prove I'm worthy. I start a blog at HireMeSeth.com. I buy the Seth Action Figure. Seth sits on my external hard drive (still does) at the corner of my monitor. When I am stuck I can always look at his shiny plastic head and ask "WWSD?" (still do)

In a year I will write a short story on my experiences over the past four years, have it professionally printed at Lulu.com and send it off to New York. I'm hitting my stride and feeling great. Then as plans often do, real life came knocking and my plans go up in flames.

I'll give you the abridged version of the past two months: I submitted a digital resume to two top-notch creative companies that weren't hiring. They appreciated my enthusiasm, but no interview. FAIL. I started a digital handyman service in four days and landed a big client. WIN.

I entered a "Sticky Business" contest over at MenWithPens.com. I have this idea that I can get 12-16 bloggers together, and have them compete for traffic. They'll have varied topics. They'll learn how to generate great content, and learn where to promote themselves. They'll raise money for their favorite charities. They'll build up armies of fans with their Ning.com sites. They'll get booted off Survivor style. I'm getting off track...

...and my life seems to be back on it. For the last couple weeks I kept telling my wife that something big was going to happen. Then I opened my RSS reader on Tuesday morning. It's all been a blur since then, which brings us to this very moment. I guess my wish came true. I've submitted my application to work with Seth.

Crazy, huh?

I don't know many people. I'm not the guy with 100+ facebook friends. I don't have a steady blog. And I don't use Twitter because I'm ADD, and I'm afraid that would be the end of my productivity.

Ironically I lead a few tribes at the moment. I started a social network for Charlotte dog owners and a Meetup group for web designers.

I'm also the guy who started the Ning site. What an amazing mini culture that's formed over there. There's intelligent, passionate, respectful and well written discourse. There's a TON of peer support. There's connections being made. Most importantly, there's amazing people participating. That's been the best part of this entire experience.