Mike Black who went homeless as a social experiment

In 2020, Mike Black made a move that shocked the world. Mike Black who went homeless as a social experiment

He drained his bank account to zero, walked away from his seven-figure business, and went homeless—all to prove that anyone can rise from rock bottom with just a phone and sheer determination.

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The challenge? Make $1 million in 12 months. The stakes were high, but Mike was all in.

The early days were brutal. Mike slept on benches, hungry and doubting himself. But failure? Not an option. He knew this journey was bigger than him—it was about inspiring others and showing what’s possible when you refuse to quit.

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After days of struggle, a stranger on Craigslist offered Mike a lifeline—a place to crash in an RV. It wasn’t much, but it was a chance. A chance to rethink, regroup, and get to work.

Mike got creative. Flipping free items from Craigslist, taking odd jobs, and hustling day and night, he started piecing together a way back up. But just as things started to look up, rock bottom hit again. His bank account overdrew, and Mike found himself sleeping in a roach-infested RV.

Most would have given up by then. But Mike? It only fueled his fire. Comfort became the enemy. And the struggle became his greatest motivator.

A $1500 marketing gig came through, giving Mike the break he needed. With every penny saved, he moved into a shared room, scrimping and sacrificing. And then, a full-circle moment: Mike bought the RV back for $2K and repaid the kindness from that Craigslist stranger.

With a small safety net in place, Mike zeroed in on building a scalable e-commerce business. But not just any business—one that had heart. He launched a coffee brand for dog lovers, donating proceeds to animal rescues.

The sacrifices were huge. Mike rented out his room and lived for free, pouring every spare dollar into the business. There was no Plan B—this was it.

But life had more challenges in store. Mike’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. His world shattered, but Mike knew his dad would want him to keep pushing. So, he dug deep, channeling his pain into purpose.

And then came another crushing blow. Mike was diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases and a tumor, leaving him in daily agony. He could barely function, yet doubt was never an option.

A message from a stranger hit Mike like a ton of bricks: His story had inspired someone to choose life when they were on the edge of ending it. That’s when it all clicked. This wasn’t just about hitting $1M. It was about impact, inspiring others to believe in their own comeback.

Though Mike didn’t hit the $1 million mark, he still achieved the impossible. He made $65K—an impressive sum for someone who started with nothing. More than that, he built a viable business in weeks, overcame unimaginable odds, and touched countless lives along the way.

In the end, Mike learned that money comes and goes, but the impact? That lasts forever.