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1 Year Anniversary at TFLF

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

sonny_1080

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I just popped in for a sec and got a notification that yesterday was my 1 year anniversary with the Fastlane Forum. I felt the need to take some time and journal my experience.

Last October I was halfway through my last semester in college studying Economics full-time and working full-time at a clothing store in the mall. Being self-supporting, I took my sales performance seriously and was able to fund my education without taking any student loans.

After reading TMF , I joined the forum reinvigorated to start a business. I had started (kind of) and failed (quickly) with 3 ventures before.

Long story short, TMF got me researching how to start a business - then I decided I'd work on that after I graduated college. I read Unscripted and then became so resentful at my job I could barely do it, even though it was my choice to be there.

Time passed, my sales productivity suffered, broke up with my girlfriend, moved into a dinky little apartment, got very sick in December (might've been COVID now that I think about it), and took my finals with strep throat. As soon as I got my grades and it was official that I had graduated college, I got severely depressed. This life long goal of getting a degree had been reached. It made no immediate difference in my life, and I felt like... "now what?" I popped in and out of the forum, contributing nothing and taking zero action, hoping someone would just give me the "right idea."

January came, I gave up on business. Defeated, I started looking for a job that I can apply my degree towards. 2 months passed with no new job. Here I was, a 27 year old college grad still working at the mall.

Then one day the mall SHUTS DOWN. Coronavirus. The rest is pretty much all documented in my thread: EXECUTION - To Those Panicked/Discouraged by the PANDEMIC (or New to FLF)

I woke up today cursing myself a failure again (I'm starting to get numb to it) because I learned how to make Wordpress websites and run Google Ads 7 months ago! I've only gotten 6 clients in that time! And I just lost 3! I'm not even making enough money to support myself! In fact, when I take all the money I've made (not much) and subtract it from the money I've spent on my business (new desk, printer, web hosting, etc.), it's barely anything!'

However, now that I think about it, the money I've made has completely supported my ability to continue doing business - that's cool. And I've never stuck with a venture this long before - also cool. I've learned more practical knowledge and have discovered more about myself in the last year than I have in the 10 years I spent in college - I'd have to be stupid to not attribute value to that. That's probably the most valuable thing about this last year. I've expanded my network 10 fold. My time has been used EXACTLY the way I've wanted it to be. I haven't spent an hour driving to and from a job I hate to stand there for a 1/3 of my day only to have 25% of my paycheck taxed - that's huge. In fact, I can honestly say that the last year has been the best year of my life. My business (if you can call it that) isn't where I want it to be. My money isn't where I want it to be. The level of value I contribute to society through my business isn't where I want it to be - but I'm in the game.

I have something to build on. A friend of mine came over yesterday - he's old now but his career was in business consulting. I told him about what I've been doing and as a qualified sounding-board, he told me some things that were hard to hear. He said that I have a business. That meant something to me. He said he was excited to see what happens and that he would like to be a part of it if I cared to have his help.

I spoke to another friend of mine and acquainted him with my business problems. He replied with "your just planting your foot, once your foot is planted, its off to the races." That lifted my spirits a bit.

So here we are. A year in the forum. I got a long way to go and still a ton to learn - but I'm in the game. I'm not working at a clothing store telling my coworkers my "plans to start a business." In fact, I'm gonna walk my dog and jump in a zoom meeting with some potential clients.

I'm reminded of what MJ says about process over events. Be process-minded. Well I'm in the process. I'm engaging the market with kinetic execution. I'm working on shifting my business model to provide value first and more of it. The words "the only way to fail is to give up" come to mind. Not sure where I heard that, but I'm grateful I did.

Special thank you to @Andy Black and all the other contributors here. Thank you Fastlane Forum and thank you MJ DeMarco.
 
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BizyDad

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I just popped in for a sec and got a notification that yesterday was my 1 year anniversary with the Fastlane Forum. I felt the need to take some time and journal my experience.

Last October I was halfway through my last semester in college studying Economics full-time and working full-time at a clothing store in the mall. Being self-supporting, I took my sales performance seriously and was able to fund my education without taking any student loans.

After reading TMF , I joined the forum reinvigorated to start a business. I had started (kind of) and failed (quickly) with 3 ventures before.

Long story short, TMF got me researching how to start a business - then I decided I'd work on that after I graduated college. I read Unscripted and then became so resentful at my job I could barely do it, even though it was my choice to be there.

Time passed, my sales productivity suffered, broke up with my girlfriend, moved into a dinky little apartment, got very sick in December (might've been COVID now that I think about it), and took my finals with strep throat. As soon as I got my grades and it was official that I had graduated college, I got severely depressed. This life long goal of getting a degree had been reached. It made no immediate difference in my life, and I felt like... "now what?" I popped in and out of the forum, contributing nothing and taking zero action, hoping someone would just give me the "right idea."

January came, I gave up on business. Defeated, I started looking for a job that I can apply my degree towards. 2 months passed with no new job. Here I was, a 27 year old college grad still working at the mall.

Then one day the mall SHUTS DOWN. Coronavirus. The rest is pretty much all documented in my thread: EXECUTION - To Those Panicked/Discouraged by the PANDEMIC (or New to FLF)

I woke up today cursing myself a failure again (I'm starting to get numb to it) because I learned how to make Wordpress websites and run Google Ads 7 months ago! I've only gotten 6 clients in that time! And I just lost 3! I'm not even making enough money to support myself! In fact, when I take all the money I've made (not much) and subtract it from the money I've spent on my business (new desk, printer, web hosting, etc.), it's barely anything!'

However, now that I think about it, the money I've made has completely supported my ability to continue doing business - that's cool. And I've never stuck with a venture this long before - also cool. I've learned more practical knowledge and have discovered more about myself in the last year than I have in the 10 years I spent in college - I'd have to be stupid to not attribute value to that. That's probably the most valuable thing about this last year. I've expanded my network 10 fold. My time has been used EXACTLY the way I've wanted it to be. I haven't spent an hour driving to and from a job I hate to stand there for a 1/3 of my day only to have 25% of my paycheck taxed - that's huge. In fact, I can honestly say that the last year has been the best year of my life. My business (if you can call it that) isn't where I want it to be. My money isn't where I want it to be. The level of value I contribute to society through my business isn't where I want it to be - but I'm in the game.

I have something to build on. A friend of mine came over yesterday - he's old now but his career was in business consulting. I told him about what I've been doing and as a qualified sounding-board, he told me some things that were hard to hear. He said that I have a business. That meant something to me. He said he was excited to see what happens and that he would like to be a part of it if I cared to have his help.

I spoke to another friend of mine and acquainted him with my business problems. He replied with "your just planting your foot, once your foot is planted, its off to the races." That lifted my spirits a bit.

So here we are. A year in the forum. I got a long way to go and still a ton to learn - but I'm in the game. I'm not working at a clothing store telling my coworkers my "plans to start a business." In fact, I'm gonna walk my dog and jump in a zoom meeting with some potential clients.

I'm reminded of what MJ says about process over events. Be process-minded. Well I'm in the process. I'm engaging the market with kinetic execution. I'm working on shifting my business model to provide value first and more of it. The words "the only way to fail is to give up" come to mind. Not sure where I heard that, but I'm grateful I did.

Special thank you to @Andy Black and all the other contributors here. Thank you Fastlane Forum and thank you MJ DeMarco.
I'm glad this went from "woe is me" to "hey, there's some good building blocks here". Habits are hard to build, and creating positive self-reinforcement loops is one of the hardest. (By comparison, negative self talk downward spirals are so easy to get caught up in).

I just recently posted my "one year" post, so I think it's cool you've been on here about the same time. In my post I mentioned that my first year I earned $20k. My second year I somehow scratched out a living, and my third year I started to feel comfortable. Long story short, I am doing much better these days.

But you have the fastlane fam to support you. I think your rise will be quicker.

Keep going the way you are going. Keep fighting to create the life you want to live. Remember those accomplishments you listed when your negative self talk returns. And congrats again on your accomplishments.
 

sonny_1080

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I'm glad this went from "woe is me" to "hey, there's some good building blocks here". Habits are hard to build, and creating positive self-reinforcement loops is one of the hardest. (By comparison, negative self talk downward spirals are so easy to get caught up in).

I just recently posted my "one year" post, so I think it's cool you've been on here about the same time. In my post I mentioned that my first year I earned $20k. My second year I somehow scratched out a living, and my third year I started to feel comfortable. Long story short, I am doing much better these days.

But you have the fastlane fam to support you. I think your rise will be quicker.

Keep going the way you are going. Keep fighting to create the life you want to live. Remember those accomplishments you listed when your negative self talk returns. And congrats again on your accomplishments.
Congrats! You've been making great progress, you're one of the people I have been following. Very happy for you :)
Thank you both
 
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Walter Hay

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I enjoyed reading your post. Gloomy to begin with but full of hope by the end.

When I finished reading I said to myself: "He's going to make it."

Keep up the good work.

Walter
 

sonny_1080

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I enjoyed reading your post. Gloomy to begin with but full of hope by the end.

When I finished reading I said to myself: "He's going to make it."

Keep up the good work.

Walter
Thank you Walter
 

Andy Black

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Thanks for the update and looking forward to reading your second year anniversary.

What type of hard things to hear did your business consultant friend tell you? No need for details, just broad brush strokes. Maybe we can help.
 
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Stargazer

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Presumably, before scouting around for new customers, you know exactly why you lost 50% of your customers.

Dan
 

MJ DeMarco

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Seems you're being too hard on yourself. You are making the right steps and heading in the right direction.

Congrats!
 

sonny_1080

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