$2.18 Million in Income & $632,842 in Profit in 2019 My 1st Year in Business, with Lyme Disease AMA

[Rivoli]

2020 will be a lot more stable,

Who’s gonna tell him?

 

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[halfstepdown88]

Coinfection : Lyme malaria
Did 7 sessions in nyc and further 7 in ireland. Most people need to do a series of treatments to eliminate symptoms one by one.
I went to practitioners... You can get buy magnets and do some treatment on yourself but it is limited in what you can achieve.
Never used rife but another friend who had Lyme did... Didn't get results either until doing biomag.
There are some guys in ireland specifically treating Lyme using biomag.
Best of luck

When you say Lyme Malaria, do you mean Babesia? Or you actually had malaria?

I tried searching for that doctor on Google but there were multiple Garcia's. Do you have a website for him?

I never give a s*** how much anyone makes - the important part is challenging yourself and taking control.

Congrats man. Hope that is 10M in 2020 instead.

Thank you sir!

Man!!! That's some crazily inspiring story you've shared.
Achieving all that despite the MAJOR health challenges you had...that would probably have knocked out 95% of people from running their business.
Double thumbs up to you!!

I'm just curious as to how you are positioning the operation of your solar sales company.

Are you selling the solar systems under your own brand name (so that the installer comes and installs it as a white label service under your brand name, giving the users the impression that the installation is done by your own sales company).

Or you're selling it as a marketer/affiliate for the installation company (where the installation company come and install it under their own brand name, and you simply collect commissions for the sales).

Our shirts, badges, etc. all have our company name, but the contract they sign and the truck that shows up has the installer name. I have multiple different installers.

We position ourselves as a solar broker and we can give them what is best for their house.

It's actually really nice because sometimes they'll say they want to talk to one company or another to see what deal they have, and I just pull up that portal on my computer and show them right then and there.

Dramatically eliminates them needing to talk to someone else when I can show them exactly what that someone else has and sell them that if they want it.

 

[halfstepdown88]

Who’s gonna tell him?

Haha, yeah C0VlD-19 has complicated things a bit.

 

[Rivoli]

Haha, yeah C0VlD-19 has complicated things a bit.

Don’t worry man.
Sounds like you had a solid business.

Eat your competitors lunch while they suffer

 

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[pumpking]

Thanks for sharing your story. I can somewhat relate to your experience, nowhere near the same level... but in 2014 I had a surgery that went less that perfectly and I ended up experiencing mild levels of chronic pain for 6 months. It really put me in a funk and it was difficult to focus on being productive or having goals. So I tip my hat to you for being so successful despite your hardship!

Here are my AMA questions.

- As a broker, how do you justify your markup to your customers? Are they unaware that you are reselling the services of others?
- Ever have one of your contractor solar installers pick a bone with you, or are they generally happy to have the extra biz?
- Related to the previous questions, what do you consider to be your business differentiation? E.g. you knock on my door, is the reason I'm buying from you because you're standing there with a low-touch solution ready to go? (I'd probably be tempted btw)
- As a broker of these services, what has been the most difficult part of the business? (It doesn't sound like sales is hard Maybe I'm wrong?)

 

[Genius01]

Our shirts, badges, etc. all have our company name, but the contract they sign and the truck that shows up has the installer name. I have multiple different installers.

We position ourselves as a solar broker and we can give them what is best for their house.

It's actually really nice because sometimes they'll say they want to talk to one company or another to see what deal they have, and I just pull up that portal on my computer and show them right then and there.

Dramatically eliminates them needing to talk to someone else when I can show them exactly what that someone else has and sell them that if they want it.

Nice positioning.
Makes sense to be in a broker's position so you can advise on multiple options depending on the clients needs and preferences.

So, for generating your revenue....that means your clients pay the installers, and then the installers pay you a commission for referring the client to them.
Or do you charge the clients a broker's fee, sort of like a consultancy fee for advising them on the best solar solutions for their specific needs.
Or both?


And on further thoughts, aren't you in direct competition with the installation company's own salesmen, or they don't have their own salesmen (they don't do direct sales to consumers)?

Because if they do direct sales, what stops their own salesmen from going to the clients directly so they don't have to pay you a commission?
And what stops the clients from going directly to contact the installation company even after you've showed them the deals the installation company has to offer?

Just wondering, trying to understand your business model, as the concept of a solar company operating primarily as a sales company is new to me. I've always thought solar companies necessarily handled both sales and installation at the same time.

 

[halfstepdown88]

Nice positioning.
Makes sense to be in a broker's position so you can advise on multiple options depending on the clients needs and preferences.

So, for generating your revenue....that means your clients pay the installers, and then the installers pay you a commission for referring the client to them.
Or do you charge the clients a broker's fee, sort of like a consultancy fee for advising them on the best solar solutions for their specific needs.
Or both?


And on further thoughts, aren't you in direct competition with the installation company's own salesmen, or they don't have their own salesmen (they don't do direct sales to consumers)?

Because if they do direct sales, what stops their own salesmen from going to the clients directly so they don't have to pay you a commission?
And what stops the clients from going directly to contact the installation company even after you've showed them the deals the installation company has to offer?

Just wondering, trying to understand your business model, as the concept of a solar company operating primarily as a sales company is new to me. I've always thought solar companies necessarily handled both sales and installation at the same time.

Clients pay the lender, the lender pays the installer, the installer pays the sales company.

If the client pays cash, then they pay the installer/contractor directly.

The installation company doesn't have their own salesmen, just sales companies. Sometimes you run into issues with sales companies selling for the same installer competing for the same client.

There's no point in the client going directly to the installation company, it doesn't make a difference.

 

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[Genius01]

Clients pay the lender, the lender pays the installer, the installer pays the sales company.

If the client pays cash, then they pay the installer/contractor directly.

The installation company doesn't have their own salesmen, just sales companies. Sometimes you run into issues with sales companies selling for the same installer competing for the same client.

There's no point in the client going directly to the installation company, it doesn't make a difference.

Thanks for the clarifications, that clears up my questions perfectly.

The installation company doesn't have their own salesmen, just sales companies. Sometimes you run into issues with sales companies selling for the same installer competing for the same client.

Lol, the bolded makes me laugh.
That will be a bit of a funny scenario to have.
It will probably boil down to personal relationships and who forms the best connection with the client.

 

[paulan]

Hey,

How is your business goes and your health so far?

 

[alexkuzmov]

View attachment 30459
2019 was an intense year - I had to buy out a shady business partner for $50,000, had to prevent the biz from destructing from and fire a narcissistic VP of sales, and I've had very harsh up and downs with Lyme disease.

I feel like I should have made a million in profit, but I know I'll hit that in 2020.

I hit these numbers in the screenshot above by starting my own solar sales company.

Primary source of lead generation is door-to-door.

The main things that helped me were my expertise in solar sales (I was the number 1 in the country at one point when I was selling for SolarCity back when they were big), rereading John Maxwell's books over and over for leadership, and pure, raw, persistence and never giving up.

The level of chess I had to play with some people, business partners, installer relationships, then certain pathological liars / salespeople that were highly manipulative, juggling all aspects of the business, hiring, running meetings, etc. was intense, but I believe this is what I was made for.

2020 will be a lot more stable, since now that I've enacted a healthy culture of integrity and fun yet highly productive environment, some of the reps are now developing into leaders themselves so the organization will organically grow.

The only main thing that is weighing me down now is my best manager and now dear friend just got cancer for the 3rd time and is most likely terminal.

I wanted to post this up here since I can't really talk about the fine details or how much I have actually made anywhere else. $632,842 in profit for 2019 was an OK amount and I am going to be hitting at least $1 million in profit next year, and even more if my manager doesn't die.

Let me know if you have any questions or feedback on my journey.

P.S. I'm already at $144,000 in profit for this year, 2020.

Awesome thread!
Sorry to hear that you've had to deal with Lyme disiese. The thing s you've said made me feel less weird about my obsession with hygene and insect safety lets say.

As for the solar sales, how can brokering the sale be so lucrative?
Makes me think that there are many products, not just solar panels, which people may want to have/use in their house, but they just dont buy because of how difficult that proccess is.
What do you think?
Can this business model be replicated for a wide array of products?

 

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[lovetodance]

Learning process. Complete obsession. That's all I do, all day, every single day.



I can't imagine what I would be capable of right now without Lyme.

You are the true inspiration for me! Thank you for sharing...I m now on the crossroads in my life and at the beginning of my Fastlane journey. Yes, I’m scared, because I’m very shy from nature and yes, is easier to say I do not know, but your words really gave me a good kick “Learning process. Complete obsession.” THANK YOU!!!

 

[Lyinx]

Well, I don't just have Lyme. I have Bartonella, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (30% mortality rate if untreated), EBV, Babesia, Mycoplasma, and a bunch of other viruses.

My uncle has a few of those, but add epstein barr and jacobson's? To the mix, plus a few others that I couldn't remember. The pain was in so much pain, the doctor said he should be laying flat on his back, not running an international company (small, but thousands of customers)
He was finally told that he has 18 months to live, unless he retires and moves to a driver climate (lived in PA)
Now he lives in Hawaii and does things that you wouldn't have believed...

 

[Tiago]

Hey @halfstepdown88, I was just talking with a friend, and she also has Lyme disease. She's been struggling with it for the last 7 years, but she said the thing that got her 75% was bee venom therapy.

Maybe this could be helpful to you.

 

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[Karl Anderson]

Everyone that has been trying Lyme disease treatments and not healing please look into Mold Illness and research “extreme mold avoidance”. Not saying you don’t have Lyme disease but mold may be what’s preventing you from healing.

This changes EVERYTHING! Is Lyme Disease an Environmental Illness? (Must Listen!) | Mold Avoidance with Bryan Rosner

If you are new to the concept of mold avoidance, PLEASE listen to this episode - especially if you have Lyme disease! I was on a major roll when I made this, and I think it has a LOT of really paradigm-shifting information. Share this with your Lyme friends who are in the throes of Lyme...

lymebook.podbean.com

Also you can look into Erik Johnson and read his book: a beginners guide to mold avoidance

Take a trip to New Mexico camp out for a week or 2 and see if you feel better. ( NM is one of the best places for people with mold illness particularly Taos or Sante Fe NM are known good locations)

mold can be your problem even if you don’t see it or live in a “dry climate” most of CA is bad any big city is bad Phoenix is bad. it’s mold related toxins not just mold. But once mold is addressed everything else gets better.

you have to go to pristine locations to turn on detox.

there’s a Facebook group called “practical mold avoidance” that I highly recommend

don’t trust doctors that say you don’t have a problem with mold. This is different than mold allergy.

trust me it’s saved my life and I thought it was Lyme disease for years

I think MJ DeMarco may have this issue that’s why he improved his health when he came to Phoenix years ago when Phoenix was less populated and toxic. Now it is a very bad city for this condition. I’m curious if his health is still good now. I thought I had the seasonal depression thing or low vitamin D etc but it turns out that mold illness toxins are worse in the winter months!

 

[halfstepdown88]

Hey,

How is your business goes and your health so far?

Health was doing good until end of October I got infected with something new, and then I got C0VlD-19 at the beginning of December which set me back.

I'm made 1.1 million this year for myself, so biz is good.

My uncle has a few of those, but add epstein barr and jacobson's? To the mix, plus a few others that I couldn't remember. The pain was in so much pain, the doctor said he should be laying flat on his back, not running an international company (small, but thousands of customers)
He was finally told that he has 18 months to live, unless he retires and moves to a driver climate (lived in PA)
Now he lives in Hawaii and does things that you wouldn't have believed...

I have EBV as well. Viruses are tricky bastards, especially lipid-enveloped ones.

Hey @halfstepdown88, I was just talking with a friend, and she also has Lyme disease. She's been struggling with it for the last 7 years, but she said the thing that got her 75% was bee venom therapy.

Maybe this could be helpful to you.

I've known about Bee Venom Therapy for a long time, just seemed like a hard therapy to perform so I never got deeper into it.

Everyone that has been trying Lyme disease treatments and not healing please look into Mold Illness and research “extreme mold avoidance”. Not saying you don’t have Lyme disease but mold may be what’s preventing you from healing.

This changes EVERYTHING! Is Lyme Disease an Environmental Illness? (Must Listen!) | Mold Avoidance with Bryan Rosner

If you are new to the concept of mold avoidance, PLEASE listen to this episode - especially if you have Lyme disease! I was on a major roll when I made this, and I think it has a LOT of really paradigm-shifting information. Share this with your Lyme friends who are in the throes of Lyme...

lymebook.podbean.com

Also you can look into Erik Johnson and read his book: a beginners guide to mold avoidance

Take a trip to New Mexico camp out for a week or 2 and see if you feel better. ( NM is one of the best places for people with mold illness particularly Taos or Sante Fe NM are known good locations)

mold can be your problem even if you don’t see it or live in a “dry climate” most of CA is bad any big city is bad Phoenix is bad. it’s mold related toxins not just mold. But once mold is addressed everything else gets better.

you have to go to pristine locations to turn on detox.

there’s a Facebook group called “practical mold avoidance” that I highly recommend

don’t trust doctors that say you don’t have a problem with mold. This is different than mold allergy.

trust me it’s saved my life and I thought it was Lyme disease for years

I think MJ DeMarco may have this issue that’s why he improved his health when he came to Phoenix years ago when Phoenix was less populated and toxic. Now it is a very bad city for this condition. I’m curious if his health is still good now. I thought I had the seasonal depression thing or low vitamin D etc but it turns out that mold illness toxins are worse in the winter months!

Mold will definitely mess you up.

 

[Genius01]

Health was doing good until end of October I got infected with something new, and then I got C0VlD-19 at the beginning of December which set me back.

I'm made 1.1 million this year for myself, so biz is good.

I have EBV as well. Viruses are tricky bastards, especially lipid-enveloped ones.

Wow. You've really been through a lot of health challenges.
You must be a true fighter to pull through all of these.
I hope you've recovered from this latest set of infections (or at least are recovering fast).
Hopefully this would be the last of them.
Wish you all the best.

 

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[Ronak]

What's your overall closing ratio and how does it compare to the industry overall? As far as facebook goes, what kind of lead costs were you getting?

 

[Tiago]

If you want, I can connect you to her. She would be happy to tell her experience in doing it. Just send me your email via PM and I'll make the intro.

P.S.: She also runs a very successful business, so I think it would be interesting to know the perspective from another entrepreneur.

 

[JasonR]

Sorry to hear about the health troubles but congrats on the success.

What software are you using to generate the P&L, etc.?

 

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