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Mihalsky's journey to liberty

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

Mihalsky

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
59%
Jan 10, 2021
17
10
Łódź, Poland
Hi All,

Some days ago I introduced and described myself and now it's a moment to start execution log for my way to partial liberty. In first post, I will try to introduce you to the idea, my approach and background. I hope this thread to become a room for super interesting discussions but my main goal is to register my steps and actions, have a place to share thoughts, keep positive my motivation and dedication as I know that without results I disappoint quickly.

BACKGROUND
Currently, it's my 4th year of being supervisor of bigger (30) or smaller (9) team in logistics and procurement. The job is quite challenging and time consuming (unpaid overhours), the workload of activities or some "urgent" points are making me very stressed, having problems with eating, not having time for my wife or hobbies. But I feel responsibility for operations and these folks that are in my team, that's how I am. The salary is not bad as per Polish conditions but I know on the same position in my city, you can earn few hundreds more in other companies. Right now I have quite inspiring, experienced and open boss

THE IDEA
My idea is to join forces with brother-in-law who has been doing PVC ponds and swimming pools - he covers the pond or the pool with PVC hydroinsulating liner. He offers me a training, going with me for few first works, lending hot-air machine to weld liner together and even a van car until the moment I earn for them. In next posts I will do SWOT and CENTS analysis of this business and me joining it.

MY GOAL
My first milestone that I want to achieve is to have an occupation that will let me keep (more or less) the same standard of living as I have now but let me work much less and less stresful. This is what I need now, really...I am 28yrs old and I feel quite burnt and like this work is eating me from inside. My current status is: no debt (and never before), have a place to live, some savings, one holidays / a year with wife, few pleasures during the year like solo, one day trip on motorbike or track day - that's all.

In next posts I will acquaint you with the details of idea, do some analysis and show first steps that I have already done
Keep fingers crossed for me and hear from you in the thread!
 
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TheKingOfMadrid

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
265%
Dec 14, 2020
127
336
I think you're actually in a good position if things go your way.

What a lot of people in your position try to do is 'Go for glory' with one big idea, but you're taking the time to first get yourself into a better career that will enable you to work on super ideas later down the road.

I do keep my fingers crossed for you, let us know how it the CENTS evaluation works out - I actually made a thread that includes some good pointers for that.
 

Mihalsky

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
59%
Jan 10, 2021
17
10
Łódź, Poland
I think you're actually in a good position if things go your way.

What a lot of people in your position try to do is 'Go for glory' with one big idea, but you're taking the time to first get yourself into a better career that will enable you to work on super ideas later down the road.

I do keep my fingers crossed for you, let us know how it the CENTS evaluation works out - I actually made a thread that includes some good pointers for that.
Heh, that was my approach too - one golden shot and no need to work for the rest of your life...
I need to wake up and mature :)

CENTS evaluation will be also interesting for me, it's my homework. I have already thought about it but I need to put it on paper and write here. Thanks for a hint, @TheKingOfMadrid , I'll look for your thread
 

Mihalsky

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
59%
Jan 10, 2021
17
10
Łódź, Poland
LOG 1

There is few days after my start. I decided to start professional Instagram. I read first simple rules of hashtags and when to send posts. I invented simple name, uploaded logo, completed configuration then bio. My first photo is uploaded from pexels - it shows beautiful swimming pool in some tropical location.

I decided to add 8 hashtags connected with design and construction of a new house . Total numer of posts in these 8 hashtags is only 5500 - didn't I choose too poor. Maybe more popular hashtags would have been better...
What I understood now is that people checking hashtags "buildingahouse", "newhouse" might not be in my target group. I think that now I should use # connected with already built homes with nice gardens to target audience that is looking for new entertainment. Or what are your ideas?

For that moment I posted some comments under other's photos and then we had some conversation. In my profile I have only few likes and no followers or comments under my photos. But I am still patient, I will go similar way few next days - if nothing changes then I will modify approach

On weekend I will post promoted announcement on Polish analog to craigslist or gumtree. My brother-in-law is already posting his ad there and he's got majority of calls via this ad.

From the time perspective nothing extraordinary happened, simple execution but there was one moment when I got super excited. It was the first time when I was marked in other's posts asking for some advices about pools, water heating and winter maintenance. This paid off hours spent on backend work in the Instagram profile

What do you think about this start?
 
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Mihalsky

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
59%
Jan 10, 2021
17
10
Łódź, Poland
CENTS analysis

CONTROL - as per MJ DeMarco's thread, saying that Control means Is there one person or entity that can instantly kill your business with one decision? - I can answer "no".

Swimming pools or ponds will be built on private premises, in your own garden. In my imagine I just see a situation when by governmental policy you cannot built one because of some water saving law or anti-plastics law (the liner is made of PVC).

Of course, the means to got an order can be limited or stoped - gumtree closed or liner supply chain blocked. But for now, I do not see any other obstacles .-

ENTRY - there are two aspects: money and skills.
Money: to weld PVC liner well you need specialistic machinery. Manual equipment starts with few hundreds of $, you need two to make sure that it won't break down while you're on the job. But using manual one means low effectivity. That's why it is recommended to have one automatic welder. Used ones costs approx. 2000$, new one 10k$. I will be in good position, because brother-in-law will rent me one for free at the beginning. The same with a van for the beginning.
Skills: to do swimming pools or ponds you need some general technical incline, building skills and, of course, welding skill to bond liner together. This last part is the most important because
- the liner can be expensive and you do not want to burn it
- pools is something "luxurious" and should last many years, thus weld quality must be excellent
- you cannot leave any leaks. Leaks mean complaint of customer and dissatisfaction and no word-of-mouth marketing

There are few other players on the market that share total number of orders. Some of them specialize only in liner, some of them do turnkey pools. My idea is to firstly focus on getting any orders, make them perfectly and then think about development

For today only first two letters from CENTS. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. And feel free challenge my analysis and approach as I might not be exhaustive
 

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