Sometimes, when we are our lowest, it may feel very hopeless – but the beautiful thing about hitting our lowest point is that the only place to go from there is up and onward.
A 21 years old, Harry Sanders became a living example of that concept. In a few short years, he went from being homeless and living under a bridge to becoming a multi-millionaire!
Nobody would have ever thought he would be homeless
When he was 17, Harry dropped out of school and soon ended up homeless and alone. But only a few years earlier, no one who knew Harry would have thought that it would happen to him.
At only 13, after witnessing the downfall of his father's boat licensing business due to badly executed SEO services, Harry decided to learn about SEO in order to help him.
Learning everything on his own, he was able to help his father and eventually, was even offered his first job at the age of 14.
“I was basically part time at school, part time at work, and even working on my laptop whenever I got the chance at school,” he told Forbes. “I was obsessed with SEO.”
At 16, he had come to manage the company’s entire search division and eventually, decided to quit school to start his own business called StudioHawk.
Watch this Goalcast video if you need an insane motivation boost:
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At 17, everything changed
It turns out that Harry had been too ambitious for his young age and was not really prepared for the trials of leading a company. It was a brilliant idea, but starting a new business is hard and very lonely. He soon put every dollar he had into the business and couldn’t even afford to eat.
I’d spent most of my money on computer parts and sunk the rest into the business before it all went belly up.
At the same time, his parents divorced and his mother, now single, was not able to support him. At 17 he found himself homeless on the streets of Melbourne. He would couch surf and feel like a burden to his friends. Housing authorities sent him to live in a home with heroin junkies,
"It was terrible... to be honest I didn't think it would be as bad as it was," Harry said.
Every youth homeless shelter I approached rejected me and the only one that took me placed me in a share house with heroin addicts who would punch the wall at night and scream abuse.
Harry Sanders to Daily Mail
"Stranded, and not wanting to go back to another housing agency, I ended up staying under a bridge for a few days getting leftover food from the likes of Bakers Delight," he added.
Rock bottom made him do it
"Once I had hit that rock bottom it was almost good in a way as I knew the only place to go from there was up," Harry revealed.
And so, he gave himself a chance--the only chance--to get himself out of the bad situation he was in. Desperate to build a clientele and network, he started offering his services for free, hoping to convince anyone to hire him.
“I started really hustling to get my first few clients, telling them I would get them to the top for free and they could pay me after,” he told Forbes. “I was regularly putting in 100 hour weeks getting them top rankings so that I could get some money coming in.”
The important part was to be given the chance to prove himself.
I worked ridiculous weeks, cold calling, hustling, literally just anything I could to get those first clients in the door, because I knew that I could do great work for them, I just had to get them in the door first.
The journey was not easy
"The first year was a real struggle. I was on my own, and I had no idea the journey I chose to embark on," Harry explained. "It was a very daunting and lonely experience, but it helped me grow and taught me a lot about myself."
As time went on, the tide changed. He started to get new clients, including big companies. Suddenly he was pulling a profit and seeing success. He hired his first staff member--and then, 8 more a year later.
“Once I had that team of passionate individuals around me things really began to take off as we fed off each other’s passion and enthusiasm,” Harry said. “I'd gained strength from where I'd come from and never wanting to go back there. Now what gives me strength is my team. I couldn’t do without them."
Just a few short years later, Harry has a team 10 employees and his company's annual projected revenue is $1.3 million. He is now, at a very young age, one of Australia's most successful young entrepreneurs and is the youngest board member of the AWIA (Australian Web Industry Association).
He shares his incredible wisdom
Despite being young, Harry has lived through a lot. That's precisely why he wants to share his wisdom with the rest of the world.
Honestly the biggest thing that made the change for me was just saying yes.
"Putting up my hand to do things, scary things that I didn't want to do but did because I knew they were good for the business," he continued. "Take every good opportunity you can!"
At the end of the day, "the biggest difference between those who are successful and those who aren't isn't intelligence, it's people's willing to just start and fail along the way."
The high points of life aren't as great if you haven't experienced the low.
Harry Sanders
More inspiring journeys:
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.