The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

Thanks MJ!

T. Despain

New Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
200%
Nov 6, 2017
5
10
35
Scottsdale, AZ
Hello Everyone,

Im so happy to finally be in a position to make my intro post! I joined the FastLane Forum almost 7 months ago after reading Unscripted . I have probably read it 5 times since then! I didn't want to be one of those guys that declared freedom from my job only to disappear from the forum a week later back to another job. I decided to accomplish something and then make my introduction.

My name is Tyler Despain and I am turning 30 next month, and I live in Scottsdale, AZ. I am proud to say that in the last 7 months since I first joined, I have started a successful enough business that I was able to quit my job, drop out of school, and I am currently making more money than I have ever made. On top of all that I even have time for my "passion company" on the side.

1 year ago I was in college for Robotics Engineering. I was obsessed with getting perfect grades and I was working a full time job for a weapons designer. I had just taken a semester off from school to try to gain residency in Arizona because I was sick of paying out of state tuition. When the semester was over I was on the fence about returning back to school because I was having so much fun designing and making products to sell on the side.

It was around this time that I was introduced to MJ DeMarco and his incredible view on life. I took another semester off to think about things, but knew in the back of my mind that I would never return. I was obsessed with the idea of being an entrepreneur!

I was always trying to better my life by locking myself in my office and studying for days at a time. I was sleeping about 4 hours a night because after work I would come home and work on launching side companies. My first one was a wood sunglass company that actually did pretty well despite them being way to complex and time consuming to make. I was constantly buying new equipment, learning new programs, and scouring the internet for new skills to acquire. This went on for years (even when I was in school).

7 months ago, I was just about to the end of a rather promising new wallet design that I had been working on manufacturing and bringing to market. This is when a golden company opportunity fell into my lap! ...And by that I mean that I had spent the last 3 years acquiring all the perfect skills, equipment, and knowledge necessary for this particular company to "fall into my lap." Just like that, over the next week my life changed and I haven't gone to work another day since!

I just can't help but think of the gum ball analogy in Unscripted . Good things happen when YOU create opportunity in your life. Since then I have been keeping my same hectic work schedule and habits to ensure that my company succeeds. I was even able to carve out some time to launch my wallet on Kickstarter yesterday where it raised over $1,300 the first day!

I would just like to say thank you to MJ DeMarco. I thought I was doing all the right things but it wasn't until I read your book that everything was put into perspective for me. I never would have been able to take advantage of this golden opportunity if I hadn't already decided to leave school and focus on making it as an entrepreneur.

I Have found, and used a lot of helpful posts on this forum and would like to do my part to give back where I can. I would like to offer my help to anyone that has questions about product prototyping. I have a lot of experience and would love to help! 3D rendering programs, 3D printing, CNC milling, mold making, etc.

If anyone would like to check out my Kickstarter campaign The Aluminum Vector Wallet I would love any feedback you might have to make it better!
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited:

MJ DeMarco

I followed the science; all I found was money.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
445%
Jul 23, 2007
38,076
169,482
Utah
Damn!

Very impressive, and local too!

Hope to see more of you around here.
 

Brjohn

New Contributor
Read Unscripted!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
157%
Oct 9, 2017
7
11
24
Illinois
That wallet is pretty cool. Definitely has a bit of a wow factor to it.
How are you marketing your kickstarter?
 

scott.legendre

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
235%
Aug 5, 2013
82
193
38
Awesome!

Now that I think about it, I've had cards slip out of my wallet when i pull it out, due to the usual wear and tear and stretching of the card slots. Neat idea!
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

T. Despain

New Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
200%
Nov 6, 2017
5
10
35
Scottsdale, AZ
That wallet is pretty cool. Definitely has a bit of a wow factor to it.
How are you marketing your kickstarter?

Thanks! Just social media so far although I have had several people contact me on the subject. Still researching a good company to go with.
 

The EL Maven

No longer life's passenger
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
319%
Dec 3, 2015
83
265
Welcome! Just the sort of introduction we all love to see and wish we could make ourselves.

I watched the video, here are my thoughts.
1. Great to see a young energetic guy in his workshop solving problems
2. Wait, the problems weren't really highlighted but I found one myself during your description
3. When you mentioned the slim design, that solves a problem, especially now that it's summer time. My freaking wallet isn't quite the George Castanza thickness, but it's bulky and I hate the look of having it in my pocket - this is one of the problems you solve. A second problem you also alluded to, which is thieves getting your CC info off your RFID chips. A third problem you solve is in your story below when the sunscreen exploded in your bag and destroyed the leather.

I'd love a leather look, but then the first 10 backers will get even better with the walnut wood design. Is there a way to create a similar look easier than wood?

Hope to read more and perhaps have my own Vector wallet someday.
 

T. Despain

New Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
200%
Nov 6, 2017
5
10
35
Scottsdale, AZ
Welcome! Just the sort of introduction we all love to see and wish we could make ourselves.

I watched the video, here are my thoughts.
1. Great to see a young energetic guy in his workshop solving problems
2. Wait, the problems weren't really highlighted but I found one myself during your description
3. When you mentioned the slim design, that solves a problem, especially now that it's summer time. My freaking wallet isn't quite the George Castanza thickness, but it's bulky and I hate the look of having it in my pocket - this is one of the problems you solve. A second problem you also alluded to, which is thieves getting your CC info off your RFID chips. A third problem you solve is in your story below when the sunscreen exploded in your bag and destroyed the leather.

I'd love a leather look, but then the first 10 backers will get even better with the walnut wood design. Is there a way to create a similar look easier than wood?

Hope to read more and perhaps have my own Vector wallet someday.


Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! That was exactly what I was looking for. You brought up several great points for me to add or fix in my campaign.

I was thinking about doing a poll on social media to see what the top choices are on color or material and then adding the top two to the existing line. For a wood or leather look I could always anodize the aluminum brown. I think that would appeal to more people that don't want a flashy or colorful wallet, while still keeping the durability and RFID blocking abilities of aluminum.

Thanks again! That is the first constructive feedback I have had so far.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

More Intros...

Top