Lewis Howes had a major breakdown about 13 years ago. He had just begun his career as a professional football player, playing in the Arena Football League. But a devastating wrist injury ended his prospects. “I felt like my life was over—my whole dream shattered,” he said in a recent interview. He was fresh out of college. With no money or job, he ended up living in his sister’s house. “I remember being very angry, upset, [and] depressed for about 1 1/2 to 2 years. I kept thinking, ‘Why did this happen?’ The thing I love so much, I care about so much—I don’t get to do it anymore.” He was stuck, but knew he didn’t want to be in that situation forever. One day, Howes decided to seek out people on LinkedIn, then a nascent platform, and ask them about how they found success. Surprisingly, many people replied with …