Hi all,
This thread is my accountability log. Even if nobody reads it, I need somewhere outside of my weekly reflections to document my journey. Writing this will hopefully keep me more honest, give me a place to track progress, and maybe, just maybe, resonate with someone else walking a similar path.
Right now it’s 8 pm, I’m sat in a co-working space listening to Bonobo Kong, no context, just to paint the scene, and I thought, what better time to put out my first forum post.
But truthfully, I’m still nowhere near where I want to be.
I also learned the hard way what burnout feels like. I had no systems, no processes, and I worked myself into the ground multiple times. Looking back, I realise I was running on hustle and not much else. It taught me a crucial lesson, build the business to work for you, not the other way around. The E-Myth, Systemology, and a few other books were a big help in making me realise this.
So I started. No safety net, just a willingness to crash, burn, and learn.
I know niching down is a major key to scale and freedom in the agency game, but right now I’m focused on learning the craft, refining processes, and building confidence in delivery.
My current checkpoints:
There’s a quote I always keep front of mind:
“Freedom does not come automatically, it is achieved. And it is not gained in a single bound, it must be achieved each day.” – Rollo May
This post is part of that discipline. If I hold myself accountable publicly, maybe it’s the extra push I need to:
Thanks
This thread is my accountability log. Even if nobody reads it, I need somewhere outside of my weekly reflections to document my journey. Writing this will hopefully keep me more honest, give me a place to track progress, and maybe, just maybe, resonate with someone else walking a similar path.
Who I Am
Originally from the UK but now living in Bali, I’ve been traveling with my laptop for the past 5 years, chasing freedom and trying to build businesses that could sustain the lifestyle I want.Right now it’s 8 pm, I’m sat in a co-working space listening to Bonobo Kong, no context, just to paint the scene, and I thought, what better time to put out my first forum post.
But truthfully, I’m still nowhere near where I want to be.
My Past
Over the past 5 years I’ve tried a lot of different ventures:- Built an e-commerce brand to £200k in revenue over 2 years. Not wildly profitable, but it funded my travels.
- Dabbled in dropshipping, print-on-demand, and Amazon FBA.
- Got somewhat involved in crypto.
I also learned the hard way what burnout feels like. I had no systems, no processes, and I worked myself into the ground multiple times. Looking back, I realise I was running on hustle and not much else. It taught me a crucial lesson, build the business to work for you, not the other way around. The E-Myth, Systemology, and a few other books were a big help in making me realise this.
Why an Agency?
At the start of 2025 I decided to go all in on building a digital marketing agency. I had no experience running one, but I’ve always been drawn to marketing and had the skillset from my past ventures. After meeting a couple of successful agency owners last year, I was blown away by what was possible. The lifestyle, the systems, the scalability, it just clicked.So I started. No safety net, just a willingness to crash, burn, and learn.
Where I Am Now
- Agency started: March 2025
- Today’s date: 12th September 2025
- Clients: 5
- MRR: £2,372.50
My Model
Right now it’s just me doing everything.- Outreach: Cold email (about 1,260 a week from 9 mailboxes) and cold calling if emails are quiet.
- Sales process: Discovery call → Strategy call → Close (usually the second or third call once I’ve done my research).
- Delivery: Me. No niche yet, generalist approach as I learn.
I know niching down is a major key to scale and freedom in the agency game, but right now I’m focused on learning the craft, refining processes, and building confidence in delivery.
Why £10k?
I’ve dreamlined what I’d need to change my life, and £10k/month is that number. It gives me freedom, options, and breathing room. It’s the milestone where I can start shifting from working in the business to building something sustainable.My current checkpoints:
- £1,000 [✔]
- £2,000 [✔]
- £3,000 [ ]
- £4,000 [ ]
- £5,000 [ ]
- £7,500 [ ]
- £10,000 [ ]
Mindset
One thing I’m taking seriously this time is balance. I know I have a tendency to burn myself out. Now I’m focused on execution, rest, and consistency.There’s a quote I always keep front of mind:
“Freedom does not come automatically, it is achieved. And it is not gained in a single bound, it must be achieved each day.” – Rollo May
This post is part of that discipline. If I hold myself accountable publicly, maybe it’s the extra push I need to:
- Show up when I don’t feel like it
- Get to the gym consistently
- Stick to the weekly tasks I set
- Earn weekends off knowing I’ve moved forward
What’s Next
I’m not sure yet how often I’ll update this, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or just whenever something meaningful happens. I’ll share:- Wins
- Losses
- Lessons learned
- Performance updates
Thanks
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