MetalGear's Excellent Adventure

[MetalGear]

Hi Everyone,

I am going to write in this progress thread to give back to the community and to keep myself accountable.

I have found my niche products and will sell on Amazon by April.
I plan to market my product using Instagram and my landing page.

My goal with this venture is to learn about Amazon FBA, digital marketing, and to get some cash flow for other business ideas.

Right now I have an idea with only 3 SKUs, but it may grow into 10-15.
I have my product's name, logo, and am in talks with suppliers at AliBaba.

What are the bare essentials for testing the market?
With regards to my website, should I get Wordpess Premium or Business?

Thanks,
MG

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MetalGear]

Why do I feel like I have to start a Facebook to hit my fast lane? I am hesitating with my plans...

Everything feels saturated with competition and I feel like I am a second or third mover all the time.

Would love to just rip this slow-lane programming right out...

 

[GoodluckChuck]

I am no expert but the mentality i have picked up on this forum is less talk about ideas and more talk about the actions you have taken. Quit dragging your feet and get going. Make some mistakes, its ok. You will learn from them. You can't miss the shots your don't take, and you can't make them either. Something like that.

 

[Argue]

Read the book, especially chapters 38 and 39.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Tiago Ladeia]

I bet if you were back in these days, you wouldn't eíther believe that Facebook was the fast-lane. The beginning is the always worst phase of your business, because:

• You are working for US$0/hour
• You are not sure if the business will be a success or not
• You don't even know what you are doing

That being said, please go on with your reports here. I'll follow your advancements since you can always learn with somebody else.

Wish you all the luck,

Tiago

 

[MetalGear]

I have been away for a couple of months designing and talking to suppliers for my private label product.

My final design was just sent to the supplier and they are sending me an expedited sample.

I am both excited and nervous since the product will cost me a good $4000 for the minimum order quantity.

This private label idea also led to other ideas that I wrote down and am discussing with a friend.

There may have also been a young lady that distracted me for a couple of weeks in between...

What a whirlwind. Focus MG... FOCUS!

-MG

 

[KSR]

There may have also been a young lady that distracted me for a couple of weeks in between...

Ahhh women, the bane of every businessman.

In Musk's biography there's a chapter to how Talulah Riley brings out his soft side -- even though he's one ruthless mofo every other day of the week.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MetalGear]

It has been months since I updated this thread...I have a new idea after finding out the FBA business idea was not solid because of inventory and shipping costs.

I also found out that my new idea has 4 competitors in the space, some are funded and have teams.

I am on the bus wondering if I should still try to compete...doubt has kicked in and I absolutely hate it.


Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Waspy]

There is a bit in TMF if I remember correctly which mentions the fact that simply existing in a market puts off most of your potential competition (just like you)

Don't be put off by competition. They validate the market. All you have to do is add more value than them.... simple, right?

 

[Argue]

Agreed with "don't be put off by competition."

This has probably been said many times:

• Google didn't let yahoo stop them.

• Facebook didn't let the competition stop them.

• Tesla didn't let the doubters stop them.

• MJ didn't let his competition stop him from building limos.com.

• Burger King didn't let the power of McDonald's stop them.

• iPhone didn't let the smartphone market that was there stop them.

One thing you notice is that these companies added value to the market.

Don't fill yourself with doubts because how can you get things done? It's better to be relaxed and focused. For every action, there's a reaction. Keep being doubtful, you will have a medicorce business with poor execution... unless you get rid of doubt. Just add value.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MetalGear]

I am having a really crappy day.

My potential business partner and good friend isn't responding to me and I suspect that he might not be all-in for my idea.

I will have to ask him if he wants in or not because I am prepared to sacrifice for this idea...

Also, someone stole a business book from my mail. DAMNIT

 

[MetalGear]

I have made significant progress in my Fast Lane journey. I am targeting a launch of January 2018. I have learned so much.

The hardest part was deciding on a direction and putting on my blinders to everyone else's idea.

The need to digest more information and theory is also very tempting for a complete newbie.

Being process oriented and taming your need to chase what someone next to you is chasing is something I wish I learned earlier.

I need to learn to take breaks. This past week, I came home from work and I just couldn't function because of burn out.

That night, I ordered food and watched NetFlix. Today is Saturday and my brain feels like I was able to reset successfully that night.

I am back on the grind until 5PM today.

MG

 

[MetalGear]

Couple of lessons learned:

• Weekdays tend to be better for administrative tasks and lower level creativity type of work because most people have a regular job.
• Weekends are really when I can deep dive into my projects and exert a ton of creativity, some call it ooomph!
• Setup a digital filing system for files and passwords early on.
• Setup a paper filing system early on - mostly for receipts, invoices, and taxes.

MG

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[MetalGear]

I have not updated in a while...

• My dopamine levels are low and I have decided to take today and tomorrow off
• Pursued a relationship that did not last and that really burned me
• I'm letting go and just holding off on dating in general until I hit my fast lane goals
  • I just have to remind myself that I can't afford to raise kids right now anyway

• I am in the middle of contract review to build an investment property on land that I own
• I am learning PHP and Javascript and building something with a friend
• I also have pizza on the way, some Sam Adams, and am trying to pick a movie to watch
  • PM me if you have any suggestions

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

 

[MetalGear]

Did a couple of things to increase my effectiveness

• Scrambled my Facebook password so I only use it for Messenger on my phone
  • It is amazing how much I look for Facebook and social media - I was addicted and I didn't know it
• A mentor noted that he sees the people pleaser in me and that I am hanging onto stale relationships
  • These friendships also happen to be with people who are unavailable or see me as a schmuck
  • They have moved on and I am starting to finally...
• I have been waking up at 5AM to workout and learn JavaScript, PHP, and MYSQL
  • These are the two most important parts of my day
  • This is me putting my Fastlane first
• Stepping out of my usual routines to develop my craft and find myself can be lonely at times
  • Self actualization over comfort and routine
  • I am praying that the universe opens up ways for me to meet like minded and supportive people eventually