I am an aspiring writer (who isn't?) who discovered Brandon Sanderson's work the way many of us did: through reading his completion of WoT and loving it. Yes, even Mat. Maybe especially Mat.
After that, I immediately launched myself headfirst into Mistborn, then Elantris, then every shred of anything Sanderson I could find. I experienced a sweeping revival of my love of fantasy thanks to these books. I barely understood or appreciated worldbuilding before my career as a cosmerenaut, but I haven't looked back since.
Other than that, my claim to fame is that Brandon Sanderson once told me I looked familiar for some reason at a signing for "The Alloy of Law."