He was paralyzed after a drunken fall at 17.
Then became $1 million in debt.
But 3 powerful lessons helped him build
the largest debt collection firm in the U.S.
And by 47, he was worth $3.5 BILLION.
Here's the incredible, untold story of Bill Bartmann 🧵
Then became $1 million in debt.
But 3 powerful lessons helped him build
the largest debt collection firm in the U.S.
And by 47, he was worth $3.5 BILLION.
Here's the incredible, untold story of Bill Bartmann 🧵
First, you need to understand where Bill came from:
Extreme poverty. One of 8 children.
By 14, he was homeless, living on streets, and joined a gang.
By 17, he was a full-blown alcoholic.
Then tragedy struck – just the beginning of his journey...
Extreme poverty. One of 8 children.
By 14, he was homeless, living on streets, and joined a gang.
By 17, he was a full-blown alcoholic.
Then tragedy struck – just the beginning of his journey...
After falling down stairs drunk, Bartmann crushed his spine.
Doctors delivered the verdict: permanent paralysis from waist down.
He would never walk again.
But Bartmann refused to accept this reality.
What he did next defied medical science:
Doctors delivered the verdict: permanent paralysis from waist down.
He would never walk again.
But Bartmann refused to accept this reality.
What he did next defied medical science:
Against doctors' orders, he began a secret, grueling regimen to regain movement.
Starting with trying to wiggle a toe. Months of effort followed.
The impossible happened – Bartmann not only walked again, he earned a black belt in karate.
This was just his first comeback:
Starting with trying to wiggle a toe. Months of effort followed.
The impossible happened – Bartmann not only walked again, he earned a black belt in karate.
This was just his first comeback:
Determined to reinvent himself, Bartmann got a job at a pig slaughterhouse.
He used that money for his GED, college, and eventually law school.
From paralyzed alcoholic to licensed attorney.
But the universe wasn't done testing his resilience:
He used that money for his GED, college, and eventually law school.
From paralyzed alcoholic to licensed attorney.
But the universe wasn't done testing his resilience:
After success as a lawyer, Bartmann built a million-dollar-a-month business manufacturing pipes for oil rigs.
Then the oil market collapsed.
In 30 days, revenue plummeted from $1M to ZERO.
His company folded. Bankrupt, owing $1 million
But instead of giving up...
Then the oil market collapsed.
In 30 days, revenue plummeted from $1M to ZERO.
His company folded. Bankrupt, owing $1 million
But instead of giving up...
Bartmann had a breakthrough.
He spotted an FDIC ad auctioning delinquent loans – debts already gone bad.
With nothing to lose, he asked the same bank he owed $1M to for $13,000 to buy bad debt.
Their response changed everything:
He spotted an FDIC ad auctioning delinquent loans – debts already gone bad.
With nothing to lose, he asked the same bank he owed $1M to for $13,000 to buy bad debt.
Their response changed everything:
They said yes.
With that $13,000, he bought bad loans and turned it into $64,000.
But his innovation wasn't just collecting debt – it was HOW he did it.
Instead of threats, he treated debtors with dignity.
The results were revolutionary:
With that $13,000, he bought bad loans and turned it into $64,000.
But his innovation wasn't just collecting debt – it was HOW he did it.
Instead of threats, he treated debtors with dignity.
The results were revolutionary:
He called debtors "customers," not deadbeats.
If they couldn't pay everything, he asked what they could afford.
He restructured debts in manageable ways.
This approach wasn't just ethical – it was profitable.
By 1997?
If they couldn't pay everything, he asked what they could afford.
He restructured debts in manageable ways.
This approach wasn't just ethical – it was profitable.
By 1997?
His company CFS had become a colossus:
• Owned HALF of America's bad credit card debt ($15B)
• Helped 4.5M consumers resolve debts
• Never sued a consumer
• Employed 4,000 people
But his it's his resilience and story that truly set him apart..
• Owned HALF of America's bad credit card debt ($15B)
• Helped 4.5M consumers resolve debts
• Never sued a consumer
• Employed 4,000 people
But his it's his resilience and story that truly set him apart..
The lesson from Bartmann's journey?
Resilience isn't just survival – it's transformation.
Every setback provided the blueprint for his next breakthrough.
His story proves three critical truths about adversity:
Resilience isn't just survival – it's transformation.
Every setback provided the blueprint for his next breakthrough.
His story proves three critical truths about adversity:
1. Face adversity directly - don't run from it.
2. Never waste energy blaming others.
3. Learn from every experience - especially painful ones.
But there's a 4th lesson that's equally powerful:
2. Never waste energy blaming others.
3. Learn from every experience - especially painful ones.
But there's a 4th lesson that's equally powerful:
He shared his story with the world.
Bartmann's transparency about falls & rises created something powerful:
Trust.
His approach wasn't just innovative – it was authentic.
And that authenticity became his greatest asset...
Bartmann's transparency about falls & rises created something powerful:
Trust.
His approach wasn't just innovative – it was authentic.
And that authenticity became his greatest asset...
In today's world, sharing your journey builds trust at scale.
Founders who share their insight & expertise:
• Connect with ideal clients
• Build authority that drives growth
• Turn experience into intellectual property
All while they sleep...
Founders who share their insight & expertise:
• Connect with ideal clients
• Build authority that drives growth
• Turn experience into intellectual property
All while they sleep...
Your experiences are your most valuable currency.
Not sharing them leaves money on the table.
But the challenge for busy founders?
Finding time to transform experiences into content that connects.
Fortunately, there's a solution:
Not sharing them leaves money on the table.
But the challenge for busy founders?
Finding time to transform experiences into content that connects.
Fortunately, there's a solution:
Founders: We’ll build your personal/company brand on 𝕏 (and beyond) without you lifting a finger.
To date, we've already helped 140+ founders get 3+ Billion combined views.
Interested in how we can do this for you? Book your free discovery call here: form.typeform.com/to/JWuXNkxQ?ut…
To date, we've already helped 140+ founders get 3+ Billion combined views.
Interested in how we can do this for you? Book your free discovery call here: form.typeform.com/to/JWuXNkxQ?ut…
Thanks for reading! A bit about me:
In 2023, I was a banker in London when I found the opportunity of the decade: Personal Branding.
So, I dropped everything to build @ThoughtleadrX — a premium media agency designed to build personal and company brands.
Follow me for more content like this!
In 2023, I was a banker in London when I found the opportunity of the decade: Personal Branding.
So, I dropped everything to build @ThoughtleadrX — a premium media agency designed to build personal and company brands.
Follow me for more content like this!
Video Credits:
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youtube.com/watch?v=dcZrCp…
youtube.com/watch?v=ze8jAo…
youtube.com/watch?v=xk-Fhq…
youtube.com/watch?v=u4tWui…:
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