When my dad passed away, he didn’t leave me money, property, or any of the usual things you might expect. What he left me was something much more personal and, at the moment, worth $0—his collection of external hard drives, packed full of online business courses he’d spent decades collecting.
To him, those courses were goldmines of opportunity. He believed they held the secrets to financial independence and stability. To me, at first glance, they were just a chaotic mess of files. But now, I see them for what they are: my inheritance. And it’s up to me to make that inheritance worth something.
This is the story of how I’m taking the only thing my dad left me and trying to turn it into $100K, or more.
The Man Behind the Files
My dad was an interesting character. I truly admired that man. He was the kind of person who could master anything he set his mind to. An INTP like me, he was introspective and quiet but incredibly passionate. He could listen to a song on the radio, pick up any instrument around him, and play it like he’d known it forever. He built the house we lived in almost entirely by himself. And when he wasn’t working or playing his steel guitar, he was devouring the latest course on making money online.
For years, he invested tens of thousands of dollars in programs on affiliate marketing, SEO, e-commerce, you name it. He believed that financial independence was the key to freedom in a world where stability can disappear in an instant.
But here’s the thing: I think he took those courses more for me than for himself. He’d send me links, talk about strategies, and ask me what I thought. The latest online business course he was taking was his favorite thing to talk about when we connected, and he always tried to rope me in. He wanted me to have the tools to create something stable, something of my own.
Losing Him
I spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas with my parents after not visiting for a few years. My dad had been having some health issues—vision problems, trouble using one of his hands, little things we suspected might be mini-strokes. But he talked about how he had no plans to leave us anytime soon.
A few months after I got back home, I woke up to missed calls and texts that I knew meant bad news. My dad had suffered a massive stroke. He was rushed to the ER and then transported to another hospital for surgery. I drove nine hours to be there, and when I saw him, he was awake but not the man I’d always known. I had to leave the room so he didn't see me break down. I still don't want it to be true.
My dad had always been so strong, but now his left side was paralyzed, his speech was slow and slurred, and he struggled to communicate. The next day, he was even worse.
Doctors told us we had to decide whether to try painful interventions with no guarantee or send him to hospice. My dad hated hospitals. He hated doctors. He just wanted to go home, but that wasn’t an option anymore. After the hardest conversation of my life, my mom and I decided on hospice.
I stayed with him until the end. I told him he could rest now and that I’d figure out a way to be okay. And this is part of how I’m doing that—using what he left me to create something meaningful.
The Inheritance
When I left to return home, I didn’t take much. My mom, who’s disabled, needs what little he left behind. The only thing I took was his steel guitar pick and his external hard drives, over a dozen of them.
When I finally opened all of them, I was amazed. There were tens of thousands of dollars worth of programs from some of the best online entrepreneurs. Terabytes of programs on affiliate marketing, SEO, e-commerce, email marketing, you name it. One even had my initials on it, filled with the courses on building an online business and personal development that he thought suited me best.
But it wasn’t just the value of the courses that hit me. It was how much of my dad was in those files. Notes he had taken, tools he’d created, everything tailored around my life, my interests, and my goals. He had been curating resources with me in mind, based on what I was doing in my life at the time. He’d taken these courses not just to learn for himself, but to create something for me. He knew me so well, and he always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.
A small sample of the dozens of courses and files I inherited
That’s why I can’t let these drives gather dust. I can’t let all that potential go to waste. This isn’t just about learning or starting an online business. It’s about honoring my dad’s legacy, the connection we had, and creating the inheritance he always wanted for me—by building something out of these files.
The $100K Goal
Here’s the plan: I’m going to dig into these hard drives, go through these courses, and implement what I learn. I’ll share insights, strategies, and lessons along the way as I figure out what works and what doesn’t.
My goal is to turn this digital inheritance—these files currently worth $0—into a $100K+ business. I don’t know how long it’ll take or exactly how I’ll do it, but I’m documenting every step of the journey here.
Why This Matters
This blog isn’t just about business; it’s about transformation. It’s about taking something intangible and turning it into something real. It’s about honoring my dad’s legacy and proving that the knowledge he left me has value—both financially and personally.
Join Me
This is going to be messy, exciting, and probably a little unpredictable. But I hope you’ll follow along as I navigate this journey. Whether you’re here for the business tips, the story, or just a little inspiration, welcome.
This is my digital inheritance journey. Let’s see where it goes.
Do You Have a Story?
Have you ever had to start from scratch or build something meaningful out of what felt like nothing? I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment below and share your journey—I can’t wait to connect with you!
