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What one year on this forum can do

wade1mil

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A little over a year ago, a series of events led me to The Millionaire Fastlane and this forum. I was researching books on Amazon and TMF was recommended in the “Customer who bought this also bought this” section. Reviews were insane (and for good reason), so I had it sent to my Kindle. I read the book in three days and then jumped on the forum. Here is what I have learned from the book and the forum in my first year:

If You Haven’t Made Millions, You Don’t Know How.
I came to the forum thinking I knew how to make money. I was 30 years old and nowhere close to a million in net worth. I gave my advice (which is just another term for “my ignorant opinion”) on things I had no business talking about. When someone who did know what they’re talking about tried to give me advice, I shrugged it off like they were trying to screw with my master plan. It was the thread that JackEdwards posted about his diary of opening a new business that made me realize I had no clue about being an entrepreneur. Since then, I’ve literally told myself, “SHUT THE F&*% UP” so that I can actually soak up the advice people give me. It’s not until you admit you don’t know how to do something that you can start understanding how it’s done.

Most Ideas Are Worth Nothing.
A good idea in the hands of a person not capable of producing is worthless. It’s like giving a 3-month-old baby a handgun. An ordinary idea in the hands of a person capable of producing massively is priceless. It’s like giving a third degree black belt a broomstick. Pay attention to how successful people on this forum think. There was a thread a little while ago about a mobile pizza franchise and the whole ideas was dismissed in 30 seconds by a successful entrepreneur. A lot of people interested in the idea would have spent weeks of time or maybe wasted money pursuing this venture. To be quite honest, I still don’t think about business as clearly as I’d like, but pay attention to the reasons why these people say yes or no to a potential business. While doing this, pretend you have no idea what you’re talking about so you actually learn something.

Just Because You Don’t Like Working At A Job, Does Not Mean That You’re An Entrepreneur.
Some people complain about their mundane job, their horrible boss, their crappy pay, their horrible stress and their hate toward working a 9-5. I couldn’t agree more, but that alone doesn’t mean that you’re an entrepreneur. Maybe you’re just a crappy employee and a lazy a$$ that wants everything done for them. I played professional baseball and was a damn good pitcher. Considering there are 300 million people in America and less than 5,000 professional baseball jobs at any given time, I was in the top 99.998% of baseball players in the country. Being good at business has proved to be WAY harder than that. It’s not even close. If you can’t survive a 9-5, good luck growing a million dollar business.

Making Millions Is A Process, Not An Event.
MJ discusses this in TMF and on this forum. A lot of people who haven’t made millions in the past dismiss this because they feel as though they are the “chosen one.” They think that this only applies to “normal people” and think, “But I’m an entrepreneur.” I’d like to point out that this applies to something else as well. I’ve probably read about 25 books about business and personal development and I’m sure there are people that have read a lot more than I have. I was always looking for that one motivating quote, that one piece of advice, that one bulleted list of actions steps to take that pushed me over the ledge into piles of cash I don’t even know what to do with. That quote, that advice, that list… doesn’t exist. Quit searching for that one tiny thing that all of a sudden transforms you into Donald Trump. Anyone who says it was this one little thing that made them millions is forgetting to point out the other 10,000 things they learned from the books they’ve read and the failures and the successes they went through. Until we can download information into our brains like in The Matrix, learning is a process as well.

Nobody Cares About How Bad You’ve Had It
Don’t use your past as an excuse. Nobody cares how bad I’ve had it. Nobody cares that you grew up in a tough neighborhood or you’re homeless and 18. I feel bad for you, but I’m not going to write you a check. You have two options. One, keep complaining and stay where you are. Or two, do something to get out. One of the most annoying things about social media is that people complain too damn much. The next time I see a Facebook post that says, “I’m so sick of my job,” I’m going to vomit on my computer. If you’re so sick of it, then get off Facebook and go apply somewhere else.

(continued...)
 
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wade1mil

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(continued...)

You Are The Only Person Who Can Get You Where You Want To Go
I’m calling myself out here. Don’t know why. Don’t care. Maybe this will help somebody. I (unknowingly) came to this forum as a hardcore wantrepreneur. I had some ideas, but had no clue where to start. Last year, two members – Kung Fu Steve (hiyaaa!) and JackEdwards – kindly offered to help me out. We talked a little bit about some things I could do and some steps I could take. When Jack and I were talking about one business idea in particular, he threw out a very large number - $500 million annually. I called some people and did some research, but that’s when the wantrepreneur in me kicked in. I wanted to talk to successful entrepreneurs about business, but when it came down to it, I was all talk. Sorry for having wasted your time gentlemen, but it was necessary for me to take the step from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur. Listen, somebody can lead you in the right direction, but you’re the only one that can do anything about it. Nobody is going to do it for you. You have to do it yourself. Vigilante posted about how sometimes we make things way harder than they actually are. It's very encouraging for those that are scared to take the next step.

Instead Of Turning $8.13 Into $1 Million, Start With $100
Thanks to Biophase’s post, I’ve only recently adopted this mindset. There isn’t a person registered on this forum that wouldn’t want to make (possibly another) $1 million. A lot of people (including myself) have said they want to go from nothing to millions in a year, or by a certain age or whatever. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make $1 million in a year. The problem is, if you haven’t made $100 from a business then maybe you should start there first. Or $1,000 or $10,000 or whatever your number is. Start with by walking a lap before you enter the Boston Marathon. When you hit your goal of $100, congratulations! Now make a new goal of $1,000. When you hit that goal, move on to $5,000, and then $10,000 and so on until you hit $1 million. There is a great side effect to this way of thinking that Biophase pointed out and that is you give yourself more opportunity. If your goal is to make $1 million, you will look past a business selling, say, Ping-Pong balls because you think it could only make a few thousand a month. Guess what? A few thousand a month will help pay your bills and fund your million-dollar business venture. Figure out a way to become financially free making $3,000 selling Ping-Pong balls and you’ll have all the freedom to start any business you want. Thanks to ton of help from Vigilante and Biophase, I have been working on starting an online business for which my goal is making $1,000 by the end of August.

If You Want To Know Something Simple, Google Is Your Friend.
This forum is unlike most forums. A lot of new people will ask very basic questions like, “How do I start an online store?” You aren’t going to get good answers to questions like that. There are probably 500 million places you can find this answer. Start reading and you’ll find out how to start an online store. Ask well thought out questions to get well thought out answers.

Some Threads Should Be Required To Read
Snowbank made a post a long time ago about getting free mentoring on this forum. When you have some down time, you need to read the posts from the top members of this forum. Go down to the bottom of the home page and look at the names under the “Members TOP SPEED Reputations” list. Click on each of their names (and MJDeMarco) and then click on the “Find Latest Started Threads” link on the left side of their profile. Read each one of these posts because there is a ton of information available. A lot of it won’t apply to you, but some of it will and you’ll get an adrenaline rush.

It’s okay to make mistakes, say stupid things, whatever. It’s all part of learning. Hopefully these few things I’ve learned over the past year can help you get there faster. And thank you to everyone that has helped me get to where I am. Cheers!
 
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Vigilante

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This thread could be immediately elevated to sticky status in my opinion. Everyone should read this when they are new to the forum.
 

MJ DeMarco

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Legendary post. Likes+Speed.
 
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MJ DeMarco

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Vigilante

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There are currently 185 users browsing this thread. :)

This reminds me of the Jerry McGuire manifesto. Some times, when you break through to a new chapter in life, when you can capture that and share it with other people, your break through can change THEIR lives. I suspect that is what is going to happen with this post in the days, weeks and months to come.
 

AllenCrawley

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Jake

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Great post Wade!
Figure out a way to become financially free making $3,000 selling Ping-Pong balls and you’ll have all the freedom to start any business you want.
Exactly what I am trying to do right now. I make more than that now "a lot" more than that now. I'm not bragging when I say that and it's peanuts compared to some on this forum but I make a good slowlane paycheck. The problem is..I don't have freedom..ANY freedom. Well, I get 6 weeks a year of freedom but besides that I'm stuck on a tiny compound in the middle of Kabul. Sure I get out once in awhile and get to fly around on helicopters which is loads of fun but all of my time is spent in a place I don't really want to be. Now that I'm in Kabul the helicopter flights are far less frequent so my level of enjoyment has decreased even more.

I bring this up because it relates to your post. Millions aren't my current objective. I want the 3000 a month. That brings me the freedom to leave here and focus on doing my own thing. Actually a little over $4000 because I can tap an additional source. I lived off of savings when I left Iraq, I soon found out that savings bleed quickly without income. I'm trying to do it smarter this time.

Excuses..maybe. I'd like to think I'm playing it smart but with each passing day it's one less day I have to do what I want, 1 less day I get to spend with my family.

$3000 a month without a time card...objective #1. Even $1500 I'll begin to question being here..but $3000 is the goal.
 
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Likwid24

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Awesome post Wade! Speed + likes + Thank You for taking your time to write that. :welldone:
 
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jljtech

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Fantastic post! This is one of the many reasons i frequent this forum. Thank you MJ for creating this Forum and thank you to everyone like Wade who contributes. Like minded people sharing insights, tactics, experience and observations. Great Job. Speed +++
 

socaldude

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NICE....awesome post wade. I can't for you to post a "what two years on this forum can do".
 

theag

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great post, I can relate to what you're saying. I feel like I made some of the same learning since I began reading here a year ago, but still don't have everything internalized. thanks for posting this! speed++
 
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The-J

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Amazing thread. I can totally relate. It's been almost a year for me, too, but the difference is, I didn't have the extra years of experience in the world that you do. I've still got a long way ahead of me but I already feel it: I'm on the right track for Fastlane success, even though I'm currently trudging in the Desert of Desertion.

Everyone should read this thread when they come in.

Speed+

Also, you played pro baseball?! That's pretty awesome!
 

BeingChewsie

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Anyone who says it was this one little thing that made them millions is forgetting to point out the other 10,000 things they learned from the books they’ve read and the failures and the successes they went through. Until we can download information into our brains like in The Matrix, learning is a process as well.

You got it! It takes time to learn and success is born out the repeated application of that knowledge.

Sue
 

The-J

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Just Because You Don’t Like Working At A Job, Does Not Mean That You’re An Entrepreneur.
Some people complain about their mundane job, their horrible boss, their crappy pay, their horrible stress and their hate toward working a 9-5. I couldn’t agree more, but that alone doesn’t mean that you’re an entrepreneur. Maybe you’re just a crappy employee and a lazy a$$ that wants everything done for them. I played professional baseball and was a damn good pitcher. Considering there are 300 million people in America and less than 5,000 professional baseball jobs at any given time, I was in the top 99.998% of baseball players in the country. Being good at business has proved to be WAY harder than that. It’s not even close. If you can’t survive a 9-5, good luck growing a million dollar business.

This part right here is worth its weight in gold. If making a million dollars was easy, we'd be a nation of millionaires. I still fear that I'm in the 99%, that I'm not able to do it. But ever since I read RDPD at 14, I've just been obsessed with the idea of building and having a machine that will provide value and, in return, give me a reward. But I have to build it, people have to see it, people have to use it, people have to like it, and it has to benefit them to the point where they are telling their friends about my machine. Not only that, it has to outperform other machines like it.

I would love to have a job right now, don't get me wrong. But as long as the machine works for others and beats the other machines out there, the machine will pay me back, and building that machine is what I am passionate about.

Off to build my machine.
 
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socaldude

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This part right here is worth its weight in gold. If making a million dollars was easy, we'd be a nation of millionaires.

That was a great observation that wade made. If you can't roll with the punches in a job what hell makes you think you can take on the dragon in Entrepreneurship? Just because you hate jobs doesn't mean the alternative(entrepreneurship)is the right fit for you.

And this whole "i'm gonna go from zero to a million in a year" type of crap that pops up a lot here on the forum needs to stop. I admire the determination but the cold hard truth is that its just an action fake. The first time I had 5k nicely stuffed in a savings account, it felt great. Zero debt. Zero pressure. Even though it wasn't a lot of money, I was planting a seed that had the potential to grow into a big a$$ oak tree. That idea alone was exciting to me. Seriously how about eliminating debt then saving intervals of say $100 or $1k. I managed to save up a little over 80k in about 3 years. And man i look back and i realize even that was a shit load of sacrifice. Staying away from malls. eliminating desire for useless gadgets. sticking with a little 4 cylinder car instead of the nice mustang or camaro.

Also did you play in the minors or majors?
 

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Great collection of principles dude! I can totally relate as well. I feel being a member of this great community conditions the mindset of a value creator and a producer more so than reading any book, even the fastlane itself.

Its kind of like going to the gym I would say. You start out as being interested in becoming the big guy, but just going occasionally with your skinny friend (read broke/unambitious) won't help at all. When you are hitting it daily surrounded by the guys benching 250 you get that drive and dedication (and the mindset of a value creator) Might sound stupid but I think that's a good analogy?? :cool:

love this forum and everybody here. Speeeeed!
 

William

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Thanks for taking your time to share this! This is an awesome post! Value!!!!
 
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wade1mil

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Thanks for the love everyone.

It's been almost a year for me, too, but the difference is, I didn't have the extra years of experience in the world that you do.

As nicely as you put that, it still makes me feel old :)

Also did you play in the minors or majors?

Minors. I tore a ligaments in my elbow in spring training and somehow still managed to make the team. This was my one life goal and I wasn't gonna let that stop me. Pitched through it as much as I could before being released. Got to play with Rickey Henderson, Darrell Evans and a few others Major Leaguers along the way. Best experience of my life.

Speed given! Awesome thread! I am still quite new to the forum so this thread helps a lot!

That's kinda why I wrote this. I hope it helps.
 

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