When Ryan Maddings was five, his father passed away. He joined the Marine Corps at 18 and was wounded in Iraq six months into his first tour of duty. With “a little bit of shrapnel” in his back, he returned to Iraq two years later.

Eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Maddings came home only to fall into bankruptcy and debt – more than a million dollars’ worth, he said. “I had no hope, really.”

The greatest piece of advice Maddings has received? Be persistent.

“No matter how hard life gets, don’t quit,” he said. “I made a promise to myself that I’m going to be successful someday and that, whatever it takes, I’m going to continue to invest in myself and I’m going to nourish every little sprout I have, no matter how big or how small.” That’s why Maddings is a regular at Dani Johnson’s seminars, where he’s been able to share the story of his financial – he’s out of debt – and personal redemption.

“It’s not about me being a fan, a groupie,” he said. “It’s about me getting results to show people the system works and that they can change their life.”