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5 months to make 10k per month

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

Oilman

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Longtime lurker first time poster. I currently work in the oil industry. Its dangerous work and only motivation to get out.

I am on track to start my own digital marketing firm. I'm posting everyday. I started programming in March 2019 and am getting the hang of it. This is what I did today:

Kept practicing programming.
Listened to business advice. The whole reading stuff is pointless without ruthless execution.

By the end of this week I hopefully will have a site to advertise to businesses. Anything that moves me in that direction.
Thanks for reading!
 
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NMdad

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Glad you stepped out of the shadows, former lurker!

Quick question. My hunch is that the oil & gas industry has tons of money, and as an INSIDERS, you're probably in a position to spot industry-specific problems they'll pay to solve (and/or already know industry INSIDERS who could tell you what problems they want solved). So, why are you focusing on digital marketing & programming?
 

Oilman

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Glad you stepped out of the shadows, former lurker!

Quick question. My hunch is that the oil & gas industry has tons of money, and as an INSIDERS, you're probably in a position to spot industry-specific problems they'll pay to solve (and/or already know industry INSIDERS who could tell you what problems they want solved). So, why are you focusing on digital marketing & programming?

Yes, oil and gas has tons of money. I'm just entry level and I make about 50K, some of the other guys I work with make 120K total package. It's sad to see them satisfied at 120K and I'm fairly young. If I were to go this route I network with my coworkers and kiss up to my supervisors, which I'm already doing. Fun fact is in my particular field I have a "Charlie Townsend" (Charlie's Angels reference) and eventually I want to work my networking on him. His job is extremely stressful and it's not uncommon to see people in his position party hard and drop dead at 50. So far I leave the guy alone and do my own research before bombarding him with questions. I've thought about going into equipment sales but I want a high payday.

With that being said the industry is going to get remodeled once AI and automation advances. I think it will be 10 years before the labor force gets cut. In the short term I can network my way into making websites for big oil (I think I saw this idea in Fox's thread?).

I will announce this straight up reading only gets you so far. Just put in elbow grease. I've listened to a fair amount of podcasts, read TMF , etc and want to make 10K per month. MonetizeMore's interview with Tropical MBA inspired me to take action and stop passively waiting. This is going to be at least 5 months (but I hope sooner!). The only silver lining with my job is I might be able to leverage everything to sell to big wigs aside from that I'm indifferent to the work. We work in snow, torrential pour, and freezing temperatures. We only stop when lightning is spotted. Obviously people get hurt and die in this industry. All the more motivation to bust a$$! Today's my day off:

Today's agenda:
* Keep practicing coding.
* Set up Odesk
* Look for freelancers to pay for work
* Do Jordan Harbinger's networking course. I've been hitting up old contacts for weeks and cold emailing.
* Do more research on establishing prices for my services.
* Work out with a buddy of mine I haven't talked to in a while. Give him my spiel and get a referral.

Tomorrow's agenda (which will be updated)
* Maybe set up business bank account. I live in a high tax state so ideally this bank account has to be established in a low tax state. I'll get back to the forum on this tomorrow.
 

Danczyk

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It seems like you try to do it all by yourself. Why don't you focus on the thing you do the best? For example the coding part is not one of them. I agree 100% that you should be able to read a code if you are trying to sell websites but you need months to be able to get good enough to work as a professional.

I have been in your shoes before I learned how to code, give me a design and I could put it on your browser in no time but honestly it wasn't the best time investment in my case. (I must admit I had fun on the way and also had a lot of frustrations)

The best ROI would be focusing on sales, making connections and building trust. I would kill to have your connections.

Please keep informing us about your journey.
 
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Oilman

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^
I plan on outsourcing work eventually. Coding is too much of a entry level type task.

Yesterday was my day off and I didn't accomplish everything I said I would. My schedule is so crazy since I work the graveyard shift and it's more time efficient to type this out then to type on my phone.

Today's agenda:
Look up web programming with xyz language
Rehit contacts
Set up Odesk account
Have list of people I can hire for programming
Have list of people I can hire for graphic design
 

Oilman

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The end goal of all this is to eventually leave my job. Not sure if I stated this already but I have experience in entrepreneurship and have failed multiple times. I'm due and in business you just have to be right once and you hit the jackpot! Everything at the moment is dynamic. It doesn't help me that even though I'm new to my current job some of my coworkers yesterday told me I might get let go. Forgot to mention: I was late to my job one time and my supervisor was cool with it. If it ever comes down to it and I have a very important task in my side business to complete I'll tell them I'm sick. Can't repeat this enough once you control your own destiny you ride off on the highway into the sunset!

Today's agenda:
* Study programming. Current program I'm under I'm hitting a bottleneck task. Current task the book says is to study a particular topic for a week. Even though I started about a month ago I'm picking up the topic fast. What confused me in a mere 2 weeks ago doesn't anymore. VERY COOL!
* MASSIVE outreach:
Formed a mastermind group yesterday. While I've joined some groups in my area my hectic schedule gives me ZERO control over attending. I might do phone conferences with MY group. We might have to wear uniforms in MY group. OWNERSHIP. I will grow this one out and it gives me tons of benefits such as ability to network my way into a job if I get fired at my current one. I've tailored my cold email pitch to each subgroup as well as continued Harbinger's course. I got a couple calls to make today and tomorrow.

Question:
Why do non-profits suck at getting back to you? Is it because funds are limited or no motivation to push forward? Part of me is saying "Listen here [expletive] I'm going to barrel through and take your organization to the next level but this is a 2 way street!!! CAPEESH????." The other half of me is "Yeah I'll invest a couple more hours talking to a brick wall AND work for free???". If I didn't delete this email I would have showed you all this pathetic exchange I had with someone at a Boys and Girls Club where I told her I wasn't going to talk to a brick wall.
 
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Andy Black

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Oilman

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This is valid criticism. At my current job 75% of the day is me sitting down and doing work on my business. While dangerous my job really is that easy. I bookmarked your links. My valid fear is jumping too soon and eventually having to reapply to another job once my current contract ends. Like I said I used to own businesses before and failure does happen.

Conversely at the end of the day fear is fear. You make a compelling case for me to tell my employer I won't be back after my contract ends. Title of this thread is 10K per month in 5 months so I really have to hop to it.... I've told businesses like certain co-living companies that I honestly don't know when my business will be ready. The mindset is definitely there.

I wonder if there’s too much studying and learning going on?

How will you find your first client (free or paid)?

You don't need to be an expert

What if you already know enough?

Spend your money on diesel and coffee
 

Cvince

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Sounds like your doing an excessive amount of research. I think you should start taking more action rather than all these courses.

You don't even have to code your first website. You can always just buy a template off of themeforest.
 
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Andy Black

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You make a compelling case for me to tell my employer I won't be back after my contract ends. Title of this thread is 10K per month in 5 months so I really have to hop to it...
I'm not suggesting you leave your job. Plenty of people have built businesses while working a job. I'm not suggesting you don't leave your job either. I'm suggesting you put down the books and start helping folks now.

You don't need to get to 10k/mth in 5 months either. If you want this side-hustle to sustain you then you just need your monthly earnings to cover your expenses (minus any runway you've saved). And be stable enough for you to be comfortable jumping ship - which will mean different things to different people.


All I meant was... Who will you help this week? Will you help people when you're studying?

Other threads to check out (although I'm wary of turning you into a consumer) is:
 

Oilman

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Genius. I made a website before but that thought never crossed me. I'm fairly tech savvy and the older people that own businesses aren't. I am sitting on my hands fellas I know what I got to work on tonight....

My overall plan is to expand services but no time like the present but to find clients NOW.

Sounds like your doing an excessive amount of research. I think you should start taking more action rather than all these courses.

You don't even have to code your first website. You can always just buy a template off of themeforest.

Hopping on Craigslist

From Fox's thread:
In general 1-2k for a one page website, up to 6k for a six page website, 10-15k for something that will take over two weeks.
I think its a bargain for the results I get and the level of detail my sites have when they are finished.

If you have a lead then get in touch over PM and if it works out I will give you 20%. That means you have actually talked to someone in a company and you have them warmed up to the idea of a new website.

As for finding companies that could need a new website its very easy. In fact its probably one of the easiest services to find potential customers for.

Job formula: Google... "niche industry" + "local town" and go through the first few pages of results. Anything that looks below par is suitable. I try go for companies that are clearly doing well but haven't updated the website in 3-6 years. You can usually tell by the date in the footer.
 

Cvince

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Genius. I made a website before but that thought never crossed me. I'm fairly tech savvy and the older people that own businesses aren't. I am sitting on my hands fellas I know what I got to work on tonight....

My overall plan is to expand services but no time like the present but to find clients NOW.



Hopping on Craigslist

From Fox's thread:
In general 1-2k for a one page website, up to 6k for a six page website, 10-15k for something that will take over two weeks.
I think its a bargain for the results I get and the level of detail my sites have when they are finished.

If you have a lead then get in touch over PM and if it works out I will give you 20%. That means you have actually talked to someone in a company and you have them warmed up to the idea of a new website.

As for finding companies that could need a new website its very easy. In fact its probably one of the easiest services to find potential customers for.

Job formula: Google... "niche industry" + "local town" and go through the first few pages of results. Anything that looks below par is suitable. I try go for companies that are clearly doing well but haven't updated the website in 3-6 years. You can usually tell by the date in the footer.

I suggest making a mock portfolio if your going to be charging agency rates. Setup a few demo sites to show clients. As for lead gen, nothing better then the old fashioned way when starting off. Setup an excel sheet and cold call through yellow pages.
 
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Andy Black

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Don't try and go for a big rate first time out. Just get someone to bite and do a nice simple site for them. Don't underestimate the effect that even getting $200 will have on you. This will give you the belief that you can do it. Then you'll gnash you teeth at the amount of work you do for $200. But you'll be out of the starting blocks and learning what you need to solve the problems in front of you.

You may have a chuckle at this:
 

MattR82

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I used to work in oil and gas. Money is good but yeah, I don't blame you for wanting to get out.

Is the company you work for massive or are you with a small contractor? Hopefully it's a small contractor and you can get your start with them.

What are their business goals? How can a website help them? What do they like and hate about their current website? Is there a big contract they are gunning for in the next 12 months?
 

Oilman

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This is a big company with operations all over the world. I can try to work my way up with a technology tact but success won't happen within a year. Don't get me wrong I'm typing this while I'm sitting around doing nothing.

I used to work in oil and gas. Money is good but yeah, I don't blame you for wanting to get out.

Is the company you work for massive or are you with a small contractor? Hopefully it's a small contractor and you can get your start with them.

What are their business goals? How can a website help them? What do they like and hate about their current website? Is there a big contract they are gunning for in the next 12 months?

I appreciate the comments everybody but I'm changing tacts. I'm about to get off work and go to sleep. I've spent 3 hours looking for clients for web development. Only found 2 people. Ideally would like to get referrals from friends since I have been burned freelancing before. Besides web development there isnt anything else I can provide people for digital marketing.

I have to make calls with certain gatekeepers once I wake up. I have an idea I've been saving up for years. If all goes well I'll use marketing skills on my own business and not have to convince people.

Still trying to leave my job eventually..
 
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Andy Black

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Besides web development there isnt anything else I can provide people for digital marketing.
I think you’re looking at this backwards. Just get chatting to local business owners. Some will want a website, others a Facebook page, others some images for their Facebook ad campaigns, etc.

You’ve listened to the first radio interview in my signature right?
 

Oilman

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The pressure is on in this thread. I love it. I'm not following through with this agency. I'm not even sure if I should keep studying programming but that's just something I'll have to think about tonight.

If I truly want to make money by the end of next week this is what I will do:
Buy wholesale and knock on doors and sell my products. Once I get a couple weeks under my belt I'll report back.

This tactic isn't going to make me rich initially but it gets my feet wet. Eventually I want to scale up and sell to businesses and hire salespeople.

Thank you everybody!
 

Stargazer

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I think you may wish to review the industry again with a different head on.

I will give you an example.

I met a Kenyan in the UK near where I live who was a forklift truck driver. Dead end job according to him.

So he is Kenyan and he knows about forklift trucks (as in more than any average person would)

And this little place called Africa happens to be the fastest growing place on the planet building warehouses along the roads the Chinese are building.

The big warehouses will have the latest kit but the smaller ones popping up will not be able to afford them. They need second hand ones yet there is no real second hand market yet by default.

Whereas in UK there is a large second hand market by default.

So he now buys the replaced ones from his employer rather than the company selling the new ones as he pays more for them, plus other warehouses plus ebay etc etc, sticks them on a container and ships to Africa.

Oh yes; he gets the order from Africa first, then gets the forklift truck so it is not like buying product then having to sell them, it is the opposite way round.

The only reason I had this idea for him is that I notice that practically every African adult living in the UK is shipping stuff from shops straight to Africa. Food, electrical items,cars etc etc

If you have any African people living near you (Not African Americans) you will find they ship stuff on containers to Africa. Could be as simple as American Cookies.

Back to you. You work for a major player.

Therefore they have the latest kit and upgrade it on a regular basis.

So what happens to the old kit?

That is just one way of looking at your current industry with a different head on.

Dan
 
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Cvince

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The pressure is on in this thread. I love it. I'm not following through with this agency. I'm not even sure if I should keep studying programming but that's just something I'll have to think about tonight.

If I truly want to make money by the end of next week this is what I will do:
Buy wholesale and knock on doors and sell my products. Once I get a couple weeks under my belt I'll report back.

This tactic isn't going to make me rich initially but it gets my feet wet. Eventually I want to scale up and sell to businesses and hire salespeople.

Thank you everybody!

A great start is to go to a janitorial cleaning company and buy deadstock multi-purpose cleaning wipers. When I was in Highschool I was buying packs of 120cloth for $3 each, and I was selling them for $20/pack d2d. I could easily sell 2-3 packs/hour on any given day.
 

NMdad

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I think you may wish to review the industry again with a different head on.
Agree. Too often, I see people who hate their job and want to ditch it, but ignore the fact that they have valuable industry knowledge. The grass is often very green right under your feet.
 

BlokeInProgress

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Agree. Too often, I see people who hate their job and want to ditch it, but ignore the fact that they have valuable industry knowledge. The grass is often very green right under your feet.

Yeah, I also agree with you. With that, people often leave because of what they don't want instead of what they want.
 
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HG123

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I think you’re looking at this backwards. Just get chatting to local business owners. Some will want a website, others a Facebook page, others some images for their Facebook ad campaigns, etc.

You’ve listened to the first radio interview in my signature right?

Also pursuing this avenue of fastlane-ship and just heard your interview.

" I fell into my business by trying to help somebody I already knew, I didn't decide 'oh, I want to learn how to build websites' "

I also learn the same way. If there is genuine value and a need to what I'm producing my understanding of the enabling skill set is far more thorough.

Thanks Andy.
 

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