Listen to What Jason James Has To Say When He Answered the Heroes Question "When Was The Lowest Point In Your Life and How Did You Change Your Life Path To One Of Victory Over the Obstacles You Were Facing at That Time?"
Jason James: Well, the lowest point in my life was when I got my car repossessed, I had four different maxed-out credit cards, I had quit college, I lived with my parents, I had no car, no money, no job. It was a really awful, awful time.
I was actually able to join the military, which I think is one of the best decisions I ever made. I joined the Marines, which I don’t know if you know a lot about the Marines but that is one of the toughest, most disciplined branches in the world. Just the three months of the basic training itself was the most challenging time I’ve ever had in my life.
So when I had entered I was sort of in this awful place but I got a new sense of hope when I joined the military. I saw that I had a lot to offer. I have a lot to offer the world. I’m a smart person. I’m serving my country. People are writing me letters saying, “Thanks for serving. Good luck in the future.”
So I spent four years in the Marines and I accomplished a lot of great things. I was in school for 1½ years to learn my job and in my graduating class I had the second highest GPA and I had the highest physical fitness score. I got this award which is called the Warrior Award.
If you are in the Marines you will know that once you graduate from MOS school, (Military Occupational Specialist) where you get trained for a job in the military, I was awarded what is called the Warrior Award which is voted on by your peers. Your peers vote who most exemplifies what it is to be a Marine, to have honor, courage and commitment, and I was voted that by my peers. There is a very special ceremony. I was in my dress uniform and I was awarded that.
That meant a lot to me because when I joined the military a few years before that moment I was in an awful place and in two short years I was in this wonderful place. I had the envy of others. I was in great shape, I had a lot of things going for me, I had great grades in my military school, and I got this award. It’s crazy how that changed my life.
I went on to serve and then when I got out I had this really unbelievable outlook on life. I was so positive. I was ready to take something and run with it, which at the time happened to be eBay which to this day is an unbelievable quick and easy way to make money. It’s so powerful and the traffic that eBay gets, millions and millions each day. It is a powerful thing.