That which doesn't break us, makes us stronger

I am new to this community, but love reading all the great posts.

I recently was invited to speak about why I've done so well in a down market. About a year ago I was battling cancer, broke and depressed about the future. I'm a single Mom and it was scary not knowing what was ahead. I lost my focus on the business and the same time the market was crashing here. I was ready to drop out of the business it was that bad. I was able to attend an event in California last June because my Dad gave me a free ticket and I stayed in the cheapest motel available. I joined coaching and it changed my life. I made more from June on than I ever had in my career and it opened up new opportunities for me. More importantly I was diagnosed as cancer free that August. I think the joy and relief just made me feel like anything is possible. Many people even in my own office did not realize what I went through, they just saw the success.

 I have shared everything I know with anyone I could that needs help, I believe in passing it on. I learned to do BPO's and got into foreclosures. I passed on company names to people in my office that didn't have enough money to put groceries on the table even though it meant a drop in income. When I spoke it was about overcoming challenges and reaching for your dreams. I am not personally comfortable with posting my #'s as we seem to be the only industry that likes to talk about how much we make. So I got a call this morning, someone had emailed the people from the event and had been going through my stats in MLS and doubted what I said was true. I was shocked and hurt because if you have enough time for that why not devote it to your business? Also, they hadn't correctly found all my sales and did not know about the different revenue streams I have.

I am now reluctant to attend another event I was just invited to. I admit I can wear my heart on my sleeve it's a part of who I am.I wonder, in this  this community how do you deal with this in your own business and do you have any good advice?