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0$ to 1000000$ in 12 Months! (Ride Along)

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

mdmetelus

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The Master Plan:

  1. 0 to 1K with freelancing,(3 months)​
  2. 1k to 10K with Info Biz,(2 months)​
  3. 10K to 100k with FBA,(4 months)​
  4. 100k to 1M with Shopify, (2 months)​
  5. 1M to 10M with Wholesaling. (1 month)​

The idea is not about using one business as a trampoline to get into another business. Actually, they are all interconnected. It's really about organically growing a business.
1 directly lead to 2.It is easy to create an info product with your freelance experience. You can also sell it to your freelance clients. Also, the money from freelancing can be used as seed money for your info biz. (You need at least 1k for paid traffic, funnel software, etc before you can make any money in info biz)After it succeeds it'll become a passive income.
Then you can focus on FBA which takes lots of time and money. The info biz takes care of your bills and costs associated with FBA.
Once you created a strong brand in Amazon then you can create a dedicated Shopify store. After that, you can move to wholesale. You should remember that 3, 4 and 5 are for the same product. They are not separate businesses.
This way we can hit the 1 million (or 10 million) mark in 12 months.

The idea is simple but not easy. Come and join the ride!

WOW thats a really busy plan... there must be some way to simply you goal, as there is just too much going on in my humble opinion.
 

Vairavan

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WOW thats a really busy plan... there must be some way to simply you goal, as there is just too much going on in my humble opinion.
I'm not going to do all at once. Now my only goal is to make money freelancing. Once
I hit my 1000$ target,I'll move to info biz.
 

Tourmaline

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Don't mean to rain on your parade, but ask yourself if you are focusing on the money.
 
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Vairavan

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Don't mean to rain on your parade, but ask yourself if you are focusing on the money.
Off course I'm not solely focusing on money. I'm also creating value. But it's impossible to not think about money when you're cash tight.
 

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Perhaps I missed where you talked about what your greater mission is, how you've found a market with a need that you're adding value to.

Really, JAJT said it quite well, no need to repeat

Although yes, when you're cash tight all you think about is money. 100% true.

How many business owners have you spoken to in person and offered your copywriting services to?
 

Vairavan

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Perhaps I missed where you talked about what your greater mission is, how you've found a market with a need that you're adding value to.
I've left out something in my intro. After reading Fastlane I went into a problem-solving mentality.I looked around for problems and brainstormed solutions that could become a solid business (CENTS framework). In fact, I had a notebook full of ideas. But all of them are cash-intensive.

For example, I had an idea for a biryani shop. Some background: India doesn't have national food. But biryani comes close. Every region has its own version of biryani. People are so obsessed with it nowadays. I even know some people who eat biryani for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But there is one problem. In a restaurant, you've to wait at least 30 minutes to get yourself a biryani. I thought if I started a QSR for Biriyani it'd become an instant hit. But I calculated it'd take at least 35K $ to start it. Exactly one year after I got that idea, someone started a QSR for biryani. It became an instant hit. Now they have 30 outlets and raking in millions of dollars in revenue. It's very painful to see someone take your idea and make millions with it. If I had the capital I'd have launched it before them.

I was hopeless about raising capital. Then I came across Gary Halbert letters and he said if you've no capital and you want to make million dollars, info biz is the way to go. I thought if I made a million-dollar with info biz then I can use that money to fund my other cash-intensive ideas. You can read the rest of the story in my intro. Maybe I lost my Problem-Solving / Value creating mentality after reading Gary Halbert.
 
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Tourmaline

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Why is it painful?

Gary Halbert is a classic, though today...information has to be really great to be able to get much for it. Lots of brands are providing lots of information for free in order to provide value and serve as lead generation.
 

BD64

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It's very painful to see someone take your idea and make millions with it. If I had the capital I'd have launched it before them.

You don't own the idea. You weren't the first one to think about it and you weren't the one who executed on it. There have been much bigger, more capital intensive businesses launched by founders who didn't have the money - that's the point of fundraising.
 

DoTheWork

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You don't own the idea. You weren't the first one to think about it and you weren't the one who executed on it.
Another thing to considered here is that just because someone successfully made millions with "your" idea doesn't mean you would have.

There could've been 1,000 other entrepreneurs with this same idea, but maybe they all failed. Maybe there's a big roadblock for those trying to create this that held 999 of these entrepreneurs up, but only one was able to overcome it.

Additionally, who said all is lost? Maybe you have something additional you can offer that they aren't. That's a great way to take them over.

Many successful businesses aren't creating something new, but rather adding value to already existing and implemented ideas.
 
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Vairavan

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Why is it painful?
They're praised in almost every business publication in India. If I started before them maybe I'd be in their place. Now I never know.

Gary Halbert is a classic, though today...information has to be really great to be able to get much for it. Lots of brands are providing lots of information for free in order to provide value and serve as lead generation.

Yes. But today people are suffering from information overload. If we can remove the clutter and give them a step by step formula, they'd buy.
 
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Vairavan

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You don't own the idea.
Yes. But if I executed on it and failed, I wouldn't have cared about their success. But now I never know. I can't justify that idea couldn't have worked. Because it did.
 
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Vairavan

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Another thing to considered here is that just because someone successfully made millions with "your" idea doesn't mean you would have.

There could've been 1,000 other entrepreneurs with this same idea, but maybe they all failed. Maybe there's a big roadblock for those trying to create this that held 999 of these entrepreneurs up, but only one was able to overcome it.
True.

Additionally, who said all is lost? Maybe you have something additional you can offer that they aren't. That's a great way to take them over.

Yes. Now they lost focus.They're selling everything from Pizza to Sandwiches. They've diluted their brand.If I started a brand with a sole focus on biryani I may succeed. But, it requires capital.That's why I'm so obsessed with money.
 
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Tourmaline

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Do you already make a killer biryani? Why don't you make money selling biryani? It's rice and cheap cuts of meat plus spices, gotta be some profit.

omg, make me some rib-eye biryani. Or pork belly biryani.

Now that'd be a biryani I'd buy.
 

Vairavan

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Do you already make a killer biryani? Why don't you make money selling biryani? It's rice and cheap cuts of meat plus spices, gotta be some profit.

omg, make me some rib-eye biryani. Or pork belly biryani.

Now that'd be a biryani I'd buy.
I could if I sold in a pushcart. But for getting a lease, furniture, etc the costs add up.

BTW, the biryani you could get in the USA is nothing compared to the authentic biryani you get here. Every city has its own version of biryani. There are over 650 brands around the nation according to some statistics. But like I already said in almost all of them you've to wait for atleast 30 minutes.QSR solves that problem.
 

Tourmaline

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I can't imagine that India's food regulation is that strict. What if you did something like cook out of your kitchen and sell directly to people or houses or people at work or other food establishments to help raise money? Gotta find ways to figure it out with what you got!

I'm quite aware that biryani is like curry so to say, every household probably has their own variation and every city/region/state does too.
 
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Vairavan

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What if you did something like cook out of your kitchen and sell directly to people or houses or people at work or other food establishments to help raise money? Gotta find ways to figure it out with what you got!
It can be done. But the taste of biryani is not my USP. It's the way of delivering it. Packaging it in a box is my concept.
 
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iLoveLife

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I forgot I have an account here and the title of this thread caught my attention for sure.
I also read your intro and one line really caught my attention
"P.S.It's 4 years since I dropped out. If I can't also make money by freelancing then I've to hang myself to death."


I really hope you don't mean this , if you are serious you should seek therapy or support.
Now let me give you a little back story. I quit my first job after college because it was just a nightmare and I spent almost 3 years after that having nothing to show for it before things started to get better. and now I'm on my way to my 3rd venture which is a passion of mine because I fell into depression after succeeding in my 2nd one.


I think most if not everyone who succeeded after struggle expected it to be euphoric experience, there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You need money for food , shelter and provide for your loved ones. thats it!



So you might want to take your goal down for your own good.
I'd also recommend checking seth godin's the dip, it sounds like you partially suffer from sunk cost fallacy, you've gone too far on your plan to quit. but sometimes it pays off to take a step back , a week off ( on the beach if possible with no TV , social media or phone ) and examine your decisions , most often you will find the answer within you.



I don't think anyone here is rooting for your failure, and there is some tough love , don't take it personally.
If by any chance you didn't reach your goal at the end of the year and still consider suiciding, just imagine how it would leave your parents, personally I've gone through all this shit just to provide better life for my parents and I'm sure you feel the same way so don't make it worse by taking the easy way out , you will stop your suffering only to make their lives a living hell.


I'm sure you can still make achieve great things with the right mindset , even if it means quitting something , taking a step back and reflect only to start again stronger.
Goodluck
 

Vairavan

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I really hope you don't mean this , if you are serious you should seek therapy or support.
No, I'm not going to do it. I was really frustrated back then.

Now let me give you a little back story. I quit my first job after college because it was just a nightmare and I spent almost 3 years after that having nothing to show for it before things started to get better. and now I'm on my way to my 3rd venture which is a passion of mine because I fell into depression after succeeding in my 2nd one.
Thanks, man. It gave me some hope.

it sounds like you partially suffer from sunk cost fallacy

I think it's true. I've spent so much time and money in it. I can't just leave it and get a job.I'm also confused as hell.


personally I've gone through all this shit just to provide better life for my parents

I'm happy to hear this. I also want to do this.
 
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Kevin88660

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Kevin88660

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I've left out something in my intro. After reading Fastlane I went into a problem-solving mentality.I looked around for problems and brainstormed solutions that could become a solid business (CENTS framework). In fact, I had a notebook full of ideas. But all of them are cash-intensive.

For example, I had an idea for a biryani shop. Some background: India doesn't have national food. But biryani comes close. Every region has its own version of biryani. People are so obsessed with it nowadays. I even know some people who eat biryani for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But there is one problem. In a restaurant, you've to wait at least 30 minutes to get yourself a biryani. I thought if I started a QSR for Biriyani it'd become an instant hit. But I calculated it'd take at least 35K $ to start it. Exactly one year after I got that idea, someone started a QSR for biryani. It became an instant hit. Now they have 30 outlets and raking in millions of dollars in revenue. It's very painful to see someone take your idea and make millions with it. If I had the capital I'd have launched it before them.

I was hopeless about raising capital. Then I came across Gary Halbert letters and he said if you've no capital and you want to make million dollars, info biz is the way to go. I thought if I made a million-dollar with info biz then I can use that money to fund my other cash-intensive ideas. You can read the rest of the story in my intro. Maybe I lost my Problem-Solving / Value creating mentality after reading Gary Halbert.
Hm..I see. You are confused by guru advice.

I would just recommend you to observe and listen to what the current market players are saying and doing. It would be more useful to read someone who wrote years ago about “this is the holy grail to achieve xxxx.”

The reality about business today is that money is not a big impediment to stop you from business success. If you have not just a good idea but demonstrated that you have the skill and ability to run it, it is not that difficult to find investors’ money to invest in your venture.

If you are serious about QSR go work in a QSR for two years. This is not a new industry like internet in the 90s where no one expect you to have prior experience because your competitor does not have it too! You need to pick up the skill of branding, location choice( big thing) and many other industry specific skills. Then you will be more credible in raising money.

I think you need to read less guru books but more about what is going on right now in business and industry/business common sense. Then you have a realistic expectation on what you can achieve and what you should do first.
 
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Vairavan

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Hm..I see. You are confused by guru advice.

I would just recommend you to observe and listen to what the current market players are saying and doing. It would be more useful to read someone who wrote years ago about “this is the holy grail to achieve xxxx.”

The reality about business today is that money is not a big impediment to stop you from business success. If you have not just a good idea but demonstrated that you have the skill and ability to run it, it is not that difficult to find investors’ money to invest in your venture.

If you are serious about QSR go work in a QSR for two years. This is not a new industry like internet in the 90s where no one expect you to have prior experience because your competitor does not have it too! You need to pick up the skill of branding, location choice( big thing) and many other industry specific skills. Then you will be more credible in raising money.

I think you need to read less guru books but more about what is going on right now in business and industry/business common sense. Then you have a realistic expectation on what you can achieve and what you should do first.
But if I worked for 2 years the opportunity will be lost. Already there are many Biryani Startups mushrooming in India.

 

Kevin88660

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But if I worked for 2 years the opportunity will be lost. Already there are many Biryani Startups mushrooming in India.

There is never short of business opportunities. You will have new ideas later.

This is not a winner take all business. There is nothing stopping you to start nasi biryani qsr to compete with them. Any other quick food service is a competition in this brutal space. That is whats going on in the customer’s mind. “Well the biryani yesterday was not that, cheap, let me try the new murtabak shop next door today.”

Unless you can get yourself a brand like Macdonald there is no loyalty and negligible first mover advantage.

You cannot say that taste do not matter. I am not a play in the F and B but as an experienced customer, I do have much to say. In Singapore everyone eats out. No one cooks. Eventually profitable quick service food all have a similar value proposition- Above average taste at average price. During lunch and dinner time you see long queues of people to buy them even though the owner have hired a lot of staffs to prepare the food as quickly as possible.
 

Vairavan

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There is never short of business opportunities. You will have new ideas later.

This is not a winner take all business. There is nothing stopping you to start nasi biryani qsr to compete with them. Any other quick food service is a competition in this brutal space. That is whats going on in the customer’s mind. “Well the biryani yesterday was not that, cheap, let me try the new murtabak shop next door today.”

Unless you can get yourself a brand like Macdonald there is no loyalty and negligible first mover advantage.

You cannot say that taste do not matter. I am not a play in the F and B but as an experienced customer, I do have much to say. In Singapore everyone eats out. No one cooks. Eventually profitable quick service food all have a similar value proposition- Above average taste at average price. During lunch and dinner time you see long queues of people to buy them even though the owner have hired a lot of staffs to prepare the food as quickly as possible.

Thanks a lot. I never thought of this way. Now I understand I'm competing with every restaurant out there.

I didn't say taste doesn't matter. I don't believe it's not a great differentiator. There many local restaurants in India which serves very tasty biryani and they've cult-like followings. Many people travel from other cities to eat at them. Most of them are family-run and are all lifestyle businesses. They have no plan of expanding. I believe I can easily license their recipes and with my QSR concept, I can easily succeed.
 
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Kevin88660

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Thanks a lot. I never thought of this way. Now I understand I'm competing with every restaurant out there.

I didn't say taste doesn't matter. I don't believe it's not a great differentiator. There many local restaurants in India which serves very tasty biryani and they've cult-like followings. Many people travel from other cities to eat at them. Most of them are family-run and are all lifestyle businesses. They have no plan of expanding. I believe I can easily license their recipes and with my QSR concept, I can easily succeed.
Why not work for them?

You need to work for them to test your hypothesis. Basically you are not launching a new product. You are selling the same product but increasing its turn over rate in a restaurant- serving more customers at one table during a specific time frame. This is a question on operational feasibility. You do not know the constraints until getting involved in it at a deep level.
 

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You're already getting distracted again by the whole biryani drama.!

When do we get to hear about your upwork dollars?
 

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You're already getting distracted again by the whole biryani drama.!

When do we get to hear about your upwork dollars?
Thanks, man! I lost track for sometimes. Now I'm working on my profile and portofolios.I've also sent some proposals. I'll update after I start making money.
 
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Vairavan

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Why not work for them?

You need to work for them to test your hypothesis. Basically you are not launching a new product. You are selling the same product but increasing its turn over rate in a restaurant- serving more customers at one table during a specific time frame. This is a question on operational feasibility. You do not know the constraints until getting involved in it at a deep level.

Thanks bro. But I've decided to focus on freelancing for now.
 

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Update:

Posted here about writing free copy for a portfolio.As always got some bashing. Nonetheless got few offers.

Posted the same with slight modification on Reddit.Got 8 offers.

Now going to work on it.
 
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