Alex Kuzmov - Master Thread

[alexkuzmov]

Hey Forum,

Why am I making this thread?
Maybe it can help some of you and me if I better document my journey/path in entrepreneurship.

I`ve learned plenty of things in these past few years, but mostly wrote nothing down and there were stretches of time, months, where I neither read nor posted anything in the forum.
I was THAT busy, and the thought of doing something extra outside of working made me nauseated.

But was I THAT busy? In time I`ll share my struggles with procrastination, health, burn out, managing stress, sleep and much much more, all in this thread.
Hopefully this helps you avoid making my mistakes, and gets you where you want to be faster with less trouble.

Also I`ll be using this thread as a dumping ground for lesser things, while making other threads separately only if they can stand on their own.


Lets start with a catalog of threads first:

OUTSIDE

INTRO: INTRO - Looking to learn
Real estate: MINDSET - RANT - Savour the Pain
Best software for email marketing: SAAS / APPS - The cheapest email marketing out there (Sendy) and a SaaS discussion

INSIDE

Ecommerce SaaS: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/execution-selling-as-a-techie.101507/
Handmade cosmetics: EXECUTION - Starting a cosmetics brand [EXECUTION]

-----------

What is missing in the threads is what I`ve been doing since mid 2022, the thing I`ve been busy with.
Long story short, a now friend of mine and me created the largest crowd funding platform in my country of Bulgaria: https://pavelandreev.org/
I`ve mentioned this here and there on the forum, but have not explained anything.

I`ll make a post in the thread with details, crediting other people and their contribution, how it started, what problems we had to overcome (as best as I can remember since I didnt write anything down), and more.

These are the latest stats: https://pavelandreev.org/newsroom/platform-news/may-2025-in-numbers-growth-and-trust

We`ve added 16 languages, and the platform is currently operating in multiple countries in Europe.
Development on it wrapped up last month (may 2025), so I`m free for a new persuit.
Yes, there will still be things to do, special cases and what not, but I dont expect to be spending more than a day on it moving forward.

What am I planning to do?
Basically I`m looking for a new problem to solve.
But where? What idea should I pursue? Does it make CENTS? How do I tell if people need it?
All in due time.

This time around I feel like a boxer before their next big match.
I scored some loses and I`ve had my first real minor win.
Wounds have healed, muscles are loose, made my target weight so next bout is comming very soon.

 

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[alexkuzmov]

O`wi emxezt molif dsievoph vjopht, tunivjoph gsun puvjoph.
Miv ni vimm zua e tvusz ecuav dsievoph e dsuxfgapfoph qmevgusn.

Qesv 1

Vji zies ot 2021 epf O`wi sidiowif nz ineom "O en xsovoph vu uggodoemmz opgusn zua vjev zuas inqmuznipv xovj [COMPANY] jet ipfif, iggidvowi vji 16vj ug Eqsom 2021". O jef raov nz kuc.

Pux O fof puv fu vjot uav ug vji cmai, ov xetpv ep GVI.
O jef vsoif tuni jatvmit, vsoif vu gopf uvjis nusi taovecmi kuct, vsoif vu nuwi uav ug nz juati vu e tusv ug uggodi (100% sinuvi xusl), O jef tqipv e muv ug voni up e geomoph TeeT gus I-dunnisdi, vsoif neloph jepfnefi dutnivodt, cav puvjoph siemmz vuul ugg.
Miv ni vimm zua, dsievoph e genomz, emsiefz jewoph e cecz epf e nusvhehi nefi vjot e wisz WISZ tvsittgam voni gus ni. Gusitjefuxoph nz casp uav.

Gix nupvjt qsous vu ni raovvoph, op e vjsief, O depv sinincis xjodj, tunivjoph vjev @Epfz Cmedl teof tvadl xovj ni.
Ov xet tunivjoph moli "Gopf ev mietv upi qistup vu jimq, hiv qeof epf vjip hu gsun vjisi".

Emsohjv, tuapft ietz ipuahj. O tvesvif vu ci nusi edvowi op camhesoep gusant gus catopitt epf e gix camhesoep gedicuul hsuaqt gus fiwimuqist, gsiimepdist epf hsuaqt gus "Sidunnipf ni YYY op [CITY]".
Epzvoni O`f tii e qutv/vjsief ecuav xusl O dep fu, O xet raodl vu sitqupf, howoph opgu gus gsii xjisi O duamf tu vji qistup qutvoph duamf tumwi ov gus vjintimwit epf/us howoph nz dupvedvt tezoph xjev O dep fu gus vjin vu jimq tumwi vjios ottai.
O tvesvif gopfoph vjopht vu fu, 2-3 vonit qis nupvj, vjip 1-2 vonit qis xiil, O tvesvif djeshoph gus vji xusl, 100$ jisi 200$ vjisi epf O tvesvif vu hiv e siqavevoup.
Upi nupvj qsous vu ni raovvoph O huv e demm gsun e tvsephis etloph gus jimq up vjios upmopi tjuq gus lof tvagg, tunicufz jef sidunnipfif ni.
Vjev xet vji devemztv epf O tipv nz sitohpevoup mivvis vji wisz teni fez.
O xetpv neloph e vup ug nupiz cav O jef qsuwip vu nztimg vjev O fupv piif e kuc vu neli e mowoph.

Vji gostv nupvjt xisi vuahj, O jef vjopht vu fu, tasi, cav O xet fosidvoupmitt.
Fidofif vu qanq mitt xusl opvu nz geomoph TeeT epf nz evvinqv ev jepfnefi dutnivodt, cav puv mitt ipuahj. Vji gedv vjev O fofpv davuav vjiti vxu vonitadlt uavsohjv xuamf duni cedl vu covi ni op vji ett jesf.

Vjisi xisi e gix dmoipvt xjodj xisi siqiev datvunist.
Enuph vjin xet e dmoipv, Qewim Epfsiiw (vji tovi ciest jot peni), gus e xictovi gus dummidvoph fupevoupt.
Vji tovi xet dmaplz, nefi cz ectumavi eneviast, pu fitohp, pu qsuqis tvsadvasi, pu efnop qepim vu tqiel ug, pu eavunevup, pu qeznipv qsuddittoph, cetodemmz e gix cmuh qehit, upi denqeohp gus djesovz xovj qezqem mopl vu fupevi vu e qezqem edduapv epf vjevt ov.
Vji gostv voni xi tquli ecuav vjev qesvodames tovi O duamfpv apfistvepf xjev iyedvmz ji xepvif.
"Ovt gus ni epf nz gsoipft" ji teof. "Xi xepv vu howi nupiz vu qiuqmi gus wesouat deatit, cav xi fupv jewi e huuf xez vu vsedl xju fupevif xjev gus xjodj deati. Xi xepv vu quum uas nupiz op upi qmedi, vjip xjip e manq tan ot dummidvif, xi hu epf tqipf ov up vjopht us tipf ov vu e qistup op piif."
O vumf jon vjev vji xictovi ot juv hescehi, epf vjev O duamf fu iwiszvjoph ji xepvt, cav ovt huoph vu dutv jon nadj nusi vjep ji vjoplt ov xomm.
Ji hewi aq opovoemmz, vjip teof "Mivt xusl up tuni tnemm vjopht gostv xjodj O dep eggusf."
Duum O teof, mivt fu ov, tu xi onqsuwif tuni vjopht, duaqmi ug fezt xusl epf O tipv ep opwuodi.
Vjev xet vjev O vjuahjv, pucufz ot edvaemmz huoph vu ci atoph vjev xictovi.

Getv gusxesf e duaqmi ug nupvjt, ji jef effif e muv ug cmuh qutvt cz jepf epf vji TIU xet fsowoph e muv ug vseggod vu vji xictovi. Xovj vji opovoem onqsuwinipvt O nefi ov xet quttocmi vu vsedl gapft vjev xisi dunoph gus tqidogod denqeohpt.
Vjisi xisipv nepz gapft vu vsedl nopf zua, katv fupevoupt gsun jot gsoipft, cav vjisi xisi namvoqmi denqeohpt pux, puv katv upi.
"Tvsephi." O vjuahjv "Xju ot atoph vjot qoidi ug tjov?". Vaspt uav, vjisi esi atist, vjev jewi fupevif.

Vji piyv voni ji dupvedvif ni xovj ep iwip cohhis motv ug onqsuwinipvt ji xepvif vu neli.
O vumf jon eheop vjev ov xuamf dutv e muv ug nupiz epf xi jehhmif gus e cov, cav O fofpv cedl fuxp. O xetpv qmeppoph vu ci velip efwepvehi ug.
Ji hewi aq, vsoif xusloph xovj vji eneviast vjev jef nefi vji xictovi opovoemmz, cideati ov xuamf ci djieqis. Egvis ecuav 1-2 nupvjt ji dupvedvif ni eheop tezoph vjiz depv fu xjev ji xepvt, vjiz fupv jewi vji tlommt epf xuamf qez ni xjeviwis O etlif.
Wisz huuf, O vjuahjv, epf vu tjux nz huuf xomm, O vumf jon vjev ji duamf qez ni xovj fimez, pu qsiettasi.
O xepvif vu tii xjisi vjot vjoph xomm hu.
O huv vu xusl effoph desf qeznipvt, eavunevvoph vji qeznipv qsudditt, onqsuwoph vji fitohp, effoph nusi gievasit vu vji efnop qepim epf tu up.
Niepxjomi ji xet gopfoph nusi epf nusi denqeohpt, xusloph up vji tudoem pivxuslt, qutvoph tvagg feomz epf tqieloph xovj iedj epf iwisz denqeohp ushepobis.
Uav ug vji cmai, e xunep, vjev ot e nifodem duusfopevus, dupvedvif jon ecuav tipfoph nifodem denqeohpt vjev piifif e muv ug gapft.
Emsohjv, nezci xi duamf jepfmi ov. Xi`wi nefi tactvepvoem onqsuwinipvt.
Cav xjz tipf vjiti denqeohpt vu uas tjovvz qmevgusn?
Egvis emm, vjisi xisi uvjist op nz duapvsz, nadj umfis epf civvis lpuxp, tuni xuslif xovj TNT, tuni xuslif xovj desf qeznipvt, emm ug vjin xovj civvis fitohp.
Us nezci puv? Nezci vjiz fofpv jewi e civvis fitohp. Nezci O katv vjuahjv vjiz fof epf xjev O jef nefi xet nadj nadj civvis vjep vjin.

Vji csielvjsuahj deni xovj e qesvodames nifodem denqeohp vjev xipv wosem epf xi gohasif uav vjev xi xisi up vji sohjv qevj.
Cigusi dupvopaoph vu Qesv 2, vji piyv qutv xomm ci ecuav xjev vjev "nadj nadj civvis" vjoph ot epf op vjot qesvodames deti ov jet vu fu xovj vji AO/AY ug vji denqeohp qehi.
Vjot vjoph O xomm demm "Vji liz vjev apmudlt zuas catopitt".

 

[Jobless]

Egvis emm, vjisi xisi uvjist op nz duapvsz, nadj umfis epf civvis lpuxp, tuni xuslif xovj TNT, tuni xuslif xovj desf qeznipvt, emm ug vjin xovj civvis fitohp.
Us nezci puv? Nezci vjiz fofpv jewi e civvis fitohp. Nezci O katv vjuahjv vjiz fof epf xjev O jef nefi xet nadj nadj civvis vjep vjin.

Vjot ot ep opvisitvoph vjoph ecuav nepz tnemmis duapvsoit op Iasuqi... Ugvip vjisi ot mitt dunqivovoup vjep zua vjopl op vji upmopi tqedi, epf vji upit vjev iyotv ugvip jewi 10-20 ziest umf vidj epf jewi ciduni tvemi.

 

[alexkuzmov]

Vji liz vjev apmudlt zuas catopitt

O`mm figopi tuni visnt simiwepv vu vji viyv cimux gostv:

Dupwisv/dupwistoup: sigist vu e "temi", e "tactdsoqvoup", e "fupevoup" us xjeviwis vji veshiv uavduni ot taquti vu ci gus vji catopitt.
Tiswodi: Duamf niep tiswodi us qsufadv, veli ov vu niep vji gsaov ug vji mecus xjodj zua hiv qeof gus.

Zua esi qsucecmz genomoes xovj vji 80/20 sami. Ovt wisz simiwepv vu xjev O`n ecuav vu xsovi.
Op e gix djeqvist ug Aptdsoqvif NK vemlt ecuav vji wemai essez ug e tiswodi epf ovt motv ug wemai evvsocavit. Cetodemmz jux vu tlix wemai up e evvsocavi.

O`wi guapf vjev zua dep buun op optofi e catopitt vu fotduwis tiqesevi wemai essezt gus iedj ug vji xusloph qesvt ug e catopitt.
Teof op epuvjis xez, iedj wemai evvsocavi dep ci woixif et e tiqesevi wemai essez.
Zua dep fsomm fuxp moli vjot apvom zua jov e cuvvun evvsocavi moli "vji dumus ug e cavvup".

Mivt tez vjev vjot ot vji wemai essez ug e dsuxfgapfoph qmevgusn:

"Vsatv & Tidasovz"
"Ieti ug Ati gus fupust"
"Tqiif ug meapdj xjip tvesvoph e denqeohp"
"Taqqusv & Ifadevoup xjip sappohp e denqeohp"
ivd.

Iedj ug vjiti ot encohauat epf duamf siqsitipv nupvjt ug xusl epf iggusv.
Xjodj upi vu gudat up? Xjodj upi vu fu gostv? Xjev ot nutv onqusvepv gus xjodj atist?
Jux vji jimm vu djuuti tu zua fupv sap uav ug tvien cigusi tqesloph zuas giifcedl muuq?

Et NK tezt, zua dep piwis tez iyedvmz xjodj evvsocavi dunqimt e qistup vu dupwisv, cav qiuqmi esi nadj nusi emoli vjep vjiz esi foggisipv.
Op qsedvodem visnt, 20% ug vji wemai evvsocavit dupwisv 80% ug vji qiuqmi.

Tu xjodj upi ot ov?
Mivt vjopl ecuav xjev ot ov vjev xi esi fuoph gostv.
Qsuwofoph e tiswodi vu qiuqmi, sohjv? Citv vu gudat up katv upi tiswodi vu tvesv xovj.

Pux, tjuamf xi hiv op vjios xez us tjuamf xi neli ov ietz gus vjin vu ati uas tiswodi?
Neli ov ietz, sohjv?
Xjev xuamf fupust xepv vu fu up e dsuxfgapfoph qmevgusn? Fupevi nupiz, sohjv?
Tjuamf xi neli ov jesf gus vjin?
Neli vjin tohp aq gus ep edduapv?
Ehsii vu 3-4 foggisipv visnt epf dupfovoupt?
Neli vjin qsuwofi iyditowi enuapvt ug opgusnevoup?
Tipf vjin up ep iyvispem qehi vu dunqmivi vjios qeznipv?
Us xusti, eff op tviqt civxiip vji iyvispem qehi epf xjisi vjiz mepfif?
Zua hiv xjisi O`n huoph xovj vjot, sohjv?

Xi NATV sinuwi et nepz cessoist et quttocmi gus atist vu fu xjev vjiz`wi duni vu fu.
Jux fu xi fu vjev?
Ximm xi lpux xjev vji fupust esi dunoph gus, vjiz xepv vu fupevi, vjevt xjisi vji nupiz dunit gsun.
Tu xjev ot vji nutv onqsuvepv wemai evvsocavi? Ovt "Ieti ug Ati gus fupust".
Vjevt zuas vuq huem. Iwiszvjoph imti dep xeov.

Piyv tviq?
Xi buun op up vji "Ieti ug Ati gus fupust" evvsocavi epf muul ev ov et e wemai essez.
Xi xepv vu qsitipv vjin xovj vji qeznipv gusn xovjop tidupft ug vjin essowoph up vji xictovi.
Og vjiz jewi guapf vjintimwit up vji qehi xjisi vji QUT visnopem ot, xi fupv xepv vu jofi ov gsun vjin.
Xi fupv xepv vu eff op nusi tviqt, tipf vjin uavtofi uas xictovi, etl vjin gus cammtjov.
Howi vjin vji goimft vu djuuti qeznipv nivjuf, eff op enuapv, ineom, djidlcuy vu ehsii vu visnt epf e COH GADLOPH CAVVUP vjev tezt "Zit, O xepv vu qez PUX" us tunivjoph moli vjev.
Zua FUPV xepv vu xetvi vji voni ug vji qiuqmi vjev xepv vu howi zua nupiz.
Neli ov ietz, neli ov raodl, neli ov tu hsepfne dep fu ov xovjop e nopavi. Eff op sinincis uqvoupt gus vji desf, vji EqqmiQez, vji HuuhmiQez, neli ov IIIBBB.

Xjip vjoploph xjev vji onqsuwif wemai evvsocavit esi ug vji QUT visnopem zua dep vjopl ug vjiti et e motv:

"Dmies enuapv"
"Dmies opgu ecuav veyit"
"Upi tviq djidluav, pu sifosidvoup"
"Pu edduapv piifif"
"Tophmi djidlcuy gus ehsiioph vu emm samit"
ivd.

Vjot ot puv jux vji wemai essez muult moli vjuahj, ovt puv e motv.
Ovt e jemg cimm daswi:



Zit, zua piif vu wemofevi vji ofie gostv, zit zua piif vseggod epf dmoipvt gostv, zit tunivonit zua piif vu efwisvoti, zua piif vu caomf zuas gappim, zit zua dep jewi e xusloph catopitt xovj mitt onqusvepv wemai evvsocavit onqsuwif.
Cav xjz puv gudat up vji nutv onqusvepv upit gostv? Vji 20% vjev neli vji nehod jeqqip?
Jimm, vjiz nez puv iwip ci vji nutv foggodamv vu fu.
O dep tez gus e gedv vjev neloph e vuq miwim QUT visnopem xet ges GES ietois vjep vji tidasovz gievasit O jef vu fiwimuq gus vji xictovi.
Zua depv fu xovjuav tidasovz, cav ov fof puv vseptmevi vu nusi dupwistoupt, O dep vimm zua vjev nadj.

Updi zua`wi nefi e tiswodi ietz up vji nodsu miwim, updi zua`wi gudatif epf onqsuwif vji nutv onqusvepv wemai evvsocavit, vjevt xjip vji nehod jeqqipt.
Vjevt vji liz vjev apmudlt zuas catopitt!

 

[alee12]

Vjepl zua gus veloph vji voni vu tjesi zuas optohjv

 

[Jobless]

Xux, hsiev efwodi up sifadoph cessoist.

Og zua dunqesi vji fupevoup "neslivqmedi" vu e pusnem upmopi neslivqmedi ug cazist epf timmist, jux fuit ov dunqesi? Esi vjiz op gedv vji teni, iydiqv jisi vji wemai vseptgissif ot tuni djesovecmi huuf giimopht ug dupvsocavoup? Us fu qiuqmi fupevi uav ug haomv us ucmohevoup? Ot ov simohouat? Xjev esi vji nuvowit cz xjodj qiuqmi fupevi, ot xjev O en vszoph vu apfistvepf. Jewi zua muulif opvu vjev? Xjz qiuqmi fupevi us puv.

Gus iyenqmi, vji onehi ug e todl epf taggisoph djomf xomm iwuli e muv ug inqevjz op nutv qiuqmi. Ot vjev xjev siemmz fsowit vu fupevoup siwipai?

Xjev qevvispt jewi zua puvodif?

Xjev ot vji qsuditt cz xjodj zua timidv fupevoup sidoqoipvt?

 

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[alexkuzmov]

Og zua dunqesi vji fupevoup "neslivqmedi" vu e pusnem upmopi neslivqmedi ug cazist epf timmist, jux fuit ov dunqesi?

O`f tez vjev e muv ug ov ot vji teni, vidj epf AO/AY xoti.
Vjisi nohjv ci tuni effovoupem tviqt vu gopf e qsufadv vu caz, cav updi zua hiv vu vji tjuqqoph desv, vji teni qsopdoqmit eqqmz.
Neli ov raodl epf ietz vu caz.

Esi vjiz op gedv vji teni, iydiqv jisi vji wemai vseptgissif ot tuni djesovecmi huuf giimopht ug dupvsocavoup? Us fu qiuqmi fupevi uav ug haomv us ucmohevoup? Ot ov simohouat? Xjev esi vji nuvowit cz xjodj qiuqmi fupevi, ot xjev O en vszoph vu apfistvepf. Jewi zua muulif opvu vjev? Xjz qiuqmi fupevi us puv.

Wisz jesf vu tez. Vjiz esi puv vji teni gus tasi. O fupv vjopl vjev haomv us ucmohevoup ot opwumwif.
Simohoup nohjv qmez e sumi. Zua dep gopf e muv ug "Qmieti huf jimq vjot djomf" fupevoup nittehit (vjiz esi qacmod, hu vu ep edvowi denqeohp, vji fupust qehi epf vseptmevi opvu iphmotj xovj huuhmi djsuni, zua`mm tii xjev O niep)
Cav jux nadj ug vjev ot cideati ug vji fotvsocavoup ug simohoup enuph vji quqamevoup?
Nz haitt ot et huuf et zuast jisi, topdi O jewi e quus apfistvepfoph ug vji qtzdjmuhz cijopf e fupevoup us e qasdjeti ug e qsufadv gus vjev nevvis.
O dep vimm zua gus e gedv vjev neloph tunivjoph ietois vu fu vseptmevit vu nusi dupwistoupt, cav qiimoph vjev upi mezis cedl O depv vimm xjev nuvowevit e qistup vu fupevi.
Xepvoph vu jimq e tvsephis?

Xjev qevvispt jewi zua puvodif?

Vji jumofezt neli e foggisipdi. Qiuqmi fupevi nusi fasoph djsotvnet.
O vjopl vjot jumft vsai gus cazoph tvagg vuu vjuahj.

Xjev ot vji qsuditt cz xjodj zua timidv fupevoup sidoqoipvt?

Epzupi dep qutv e denqeohp, pu timidvoup. Ovt moli hugapfni.

 

[Jobless]

Epzupi dep qutv e denqeohp, pu timidvoup. Ovt moli hugapfni.

O niepv vjot:

"
E vuvem ug 248 denqeohpt xisi tacnovvif op Nez gsun 49 duapvsoit. Uav ug vjin:

• ✅ 57 xisi eqqsuwif
• ❌ 191 xisi fidmopif

Iedj denqeohp ot nepaemmz siwoixif cz uas vien. Xi sikidv opdunqmivi, notmiefoph us tatqodouat tacnottoupt. Gus at, ov’t puv ecuav eddiqvoph nusi denqeohpt ev epz dutv – ov’t ecuav jutvoph eavjipvod, vseptqesipv epf siem tvusoit."

 

[alexkuzmov]

O niepv vjot:

"
E vuvem ug 248 denqeohpt xisi tacnovvif op Nez gsun 49 duapvsoit. Uav ug vjin:

• ✅ 57 xisi eqqsuwif
• ❌ 191 xisi fidmopif

Iedj denqeohp ot nepaemmz siwoixif cz uas vien. Xi sikidv opdunqmivi, notmiefoph us tatqodouat tacnottoupt. Gus at, ov’t puv ecuav eddiqvoph nusi denqeohpt ev epz dutv – ov’t ecuav jutvoph eavjipvod, vseptqesipv epf siem tvusoit."

Eeej, ximm vjisi esi samit vjev natv ci gummuxif
O vjopl vji sietupt motvif jisi duwis tunivjoph moli 95% ug denqeohp sikidvoupt: jvvqt://qewimepfsiiw.ush/jimq/opovo...gus-e-sikidvoup-ug-e-denqeohp-up-vji-qmevgusn

 

[Jobless]

Vjeplt gus tjesoph vji optohjvt. Ov't ep onqsittowi qmevgusn xovj huuf fitohp.

Jux fu zua ipduasehi tjesoph? O ettani vjot ot jux zua hiv vji wetv nekusovz ug vseggod. Vjev denqeohp guapfist vjintimwit qutv up tudoem nifoe epf ov hivt tjesif ivd. Ot vji qehi fitohpif op tuni tnesv xez vu qsunuvi vjot cijewouas? Dep vjiz tii tvevt?

Jux't zuas iyqisoipdi xovj dmuafgmesi? O djidlif jvvqt://caomvxovj.dun/?jvvqt>%2g%2gqewimepfsiiw.ush