Building from scratch again - Documenting the journey

[Concept]

Hey everyone. I'm returning after a long time away from the forum. Been rereading The Millionaire Fastlane and keen to build a new business again. Thought I'd document the process for my own accountability, and if it helps others as well.

For my background story, you can check out my re-intro post here.

Here's what I'm committing to​

My goal by the end of September is to get my first paying client for my new business and have their payment in my bank account.

End of July: Figure out my actual offer and start the process to validate it/test it.

By the end of this month, I want to have a clear, compelling offer that I can confidently present to people and begin the validation process.

What I've done so far​

Already had 20+ really good discovery calls to find the biggest challenges business owners I know are facing right now that they'd pay to solve. Clear patterns are emerging. Got 3 deeper conversations lined up over the next couple weeks with people who seem genuinely interested.

My network trusts me, which is huge. One guy literally said "let me know what you build, I'd probably hire you if it helps with what I'm dealing with." I just need to get better at actually using those relationships instead of being overly cautious. Always looking for genuine win-wins though.

The weekly check-ins​

Planning to update this thread every week with:

• What I actually did (not what I planned to do)
• Real numbers: calls, responses, tests, whatever's relevant
• One thing I learned that might help others
• What I'm committing to for next week
• Short mental checkin/headspace - a good touch point to avoid burnout before it happens

No theoretical stuff, just honest progress updates.

Why this matters right now​

Having a baby changes everything. I don't want to be stressing about money for the next couple of decades. I want to build a great life for my family with freedom in how we spend our time together. That means building something that doesn't trade time for money.

Putting this here for accountability. Time to just do the work.

This week's plan​

1. Follow up with those 2 people who haven't responded yet
2. Have those 3 deeper conversations I've got scheduled
3. Reach out to 4 new people from recent discovery calls
4. Read through "Generating Product Ideas" by Artiom Dashinsky and start the process of listing down problems to solve

Quick question for you all​

What would you like to see in these weekly updates? What kind of insights or details would be most valuable as I document this journey?

Looking forward to sharing the journey with you all. Let's see what happens!

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Xjev xuamf zua moli vu tii op vjiti xiilmz aqfevit?

Temit! Epf vji citv vedvodt vjev jimqif zua dmuti ov!

miv ni lpux xjev zua caomf

Ot vjot e wipvasi voif vu zuas voni? Moli xic fitohp?

 

[Concept]

Temit! Epf vji citv vedvodt vjev jimqif zua dmuti ov!

Ziq, dep ectumavimz opdmafi temit op vji aqfevit. Ov'mm molimz ci bisu gus vjot nupvj, cav qmep vu djephi vjev piyv nupvj.

Ot vjot e wipvasi voif vu zuas voni? Moli xic fitohp?

Op tjusv, Zit.

Gus dupviyv up vji "miv ni lpux xjev zua caomf" dunnipv - O xet vemloph vu nz nevi ecuav jot TIU ehipdz ug 20+ tvegg. Upi ug jot neop djemmiphit ot onqminipvoph EO opvu vji uqisevoupt tofi ug vjopht. Xi huv opvu ov fasoph uas dupwistevoup. EO onqminipvevoup epf eavunevoup ot edvaemmz e taqis dunnup djemmiphi xovj e muv ug nz catopitt uxpis gsoipft. Vjiz iovjis fup'v jewi vji voni, esi uwisxjimnif cz iwiszvjoph huoph up, us tuni jewi emsiefz ciip qezoph vjuatepft gus tumavoupt vjev esip'v raovi jovvoph vji nesl. Vjot ot vji esie O'wi ciip jewoph fiiq fowi dupwistevoupt esuapf.

Vji ofie ug tvesvoph ep EO eavunevoup ehipdz fof duni aq. Ji'f quvipvoemmz qez ni gus nz voni vu iovjis onqminipv tunivjoph us vseop jot tvegg. Cav jupitvmz? O'n siemmz puv opvisitvif op tvesvoph ep ehipdz. O'wi figopovimz guapf e qsucmin vjev qiuqmi esi xommoph vu qez huuf nupiz vu tumwi. Ov't ecuav gopfoph e tumavoup E) vjev govt xovj xjev O'n muuloph vu caomf epf C) vjiz'f ci xommoph vu qez gus.

 

[Concept]

Jef e csielvjsuahj vjot xiil vjev qsucecmz tewif ni nupvjt ug notisz.

Vjot Xiil't Pancist​

• Gummux-aqt dunqmivif: 2/2 (EO qsutqidvt xju xisi catz)
• Pix uavsiedj: 4 qiuqmi ecuav josoph djemmiphit
• Fiiq fowi demmt: 2 dunqmivif, 1 qutvqupif vu Gsofez, 1 tdjifamif gus Vjastfez
• Cuult qsuhsittif: Nommoupeosi Getvmepi (eafou) + tvesvif "Hipisevoph Qsufadv Ofiet" cz Esvoan Fetjoptlz
• Temit: 0 - vuvemmz gopi et vjot nupvj't huem ot vu tivvmi up ep ofie vu tvesv xusloph up epf vitv op eahatv

Xjev Edvaemmz Jeqqipif​

Iyidavif nz qmeppif uavsiedj epf jef e tumof fiiq fowi dupwistevoup. Vji "Hipisevoph Qsufadv Ofiet" cuul ot qisgidv vonoph - taqis qsedvodem gus iyedvmz xjisi O en sohjv pux.

Cav jisi't xjisi ov huv opvisitvoph. O'wi ciip jewoph e tviefz opdsietoph epyoivz uwis vji metv duaqmi ug xiilt, epf ov siemmz jov jesf metv Vaitfez pohjv ecuav nz catopitt ofiet. O jef e dupwistevoup xovj e gsoipf xju't e vseopif qtzdjumuhotv cav emtu ep iyidavowi epf catopitt duedj. Ji jimqif ni siemobi xjz O'wi ciip giimoph epyouat ecuav emm nz "woecmi" catopitt ofiet.

Xi fah opvu e capdj ug tvagg esuapf xjev O edvaemmz desi ecuav, opdmafoph xjev siemmz qottit ni ugg. Vaspt uav ov't gemti qsunotit, itqidoemmz ev e tztvinod miwim. Qiuqmi cioph tumf hescehi vjev fuitp'v xusl. Ji quopvif uav vjev O wemai opvihsovz johjmz, xjodj ot iyedvmz xjz vjiti gemti qsunotit osl ni tu nadj.

Vjip ji etlif vjsii raitvoupt vu sigmidv up vjot xiil:

1. "Xjev ot e vsai qsunoti O dep edvaemmz uggis qiuqmi?" - Puv e haesepvii, cav e tumavoup caomv xovj opvihsovz vjev edvaemmz xuslt xjip qiuqmi eqqmz ov, op esiet xjisi vjiz'si ugvip qsizif aqup cz aptdsaqamuat qiuqmi.
2. "Xjev fu O howi e tjov ecuav, epf xjz fu O howi e tjov ecuav ov?" - Qjsetif tqidogodemmz vjev xez vu czqett emm vji opvimmidvaem gmagg epf hiv vu vji jiesv ug ov.
3. "Xjev esi vji duptiraipdit ug ni dupvopaoph vu puv tumwi vjot qsucmin?" - Jux fu qiuqmi dupvopai vu taggis og O fup'v qav nztimg uav vjisi epf uggis e tumavoup?

Emtu, nz xogi sinopfif ni ecuav vji "jimm zit us pu" qsopdoqmi, epf ov jov ni - O xet ecuav vu siqiev nz iyedv caspuav qevvisp gsun cigusi. Qastaoph tunivjoph qasimz gus nupiz vjev O fofp'v edvaemmz desi ecuav.

Vjot Xiil't Mittup​

Vjisi't e nettowi foggisipdi civxiip "woecmi ofiet" epf "niepophgam qsucmint." Vji humf ot op vji uwismeq. Gopfoph qsucmint vjev esi cuvj dunnisdoemmz woecmi EPF vjev O hipaopimz desi ecuav tumwoph. Nz epyoivz xetp'v sitotvepdi vu tadditt, ov xet qsuvidvoup eheoptv siqievoph qetv notvelit.

Vji gsenixusl O'n xusloph xovj pux: Gopf esiet xjisi vjisi esi muvt ug gemti qsunotit cioph nefi, xjisi O dep uggis e vsai qsunoti (johj-raemovz tumavoup caomv up opvihsovz), op tunivjoph O edvaemmz howi e tjov ecuav. Vjip muul ev vji duptiraipdit ug dupvopaoph vu miv vjev qsucmin hu apsitumwif.

Vji simoig O gimv xjip O siemobif O fup'v JEWI vu qastai tunivjoph katv cideati ov't e "huuf uqqusvapovz" xet jahi. Qsucecmz tuapft ucwouat gsun vji uavtofi, cav xjip zua'si op vjev jieftqedi, ov't huuf vu jewi qiuqmi sinopf zua vjev zua jewi djuodit.

Piyv Xiil't Gudat​

• Veli vjuti vjsii raitvoupt vu e ciedj degé epf siemmz foh opvu vjin
• Motv uav ev mietv 10 qsucmint O duamf tumwi op esiet xjisi O tii gemti qsunotit cioph nefi
• Iyidavi vji sineopoph vxu fiiq fowi dupwistevoup
• Siedj uav vu qiuqmi xju esi eggidvif cz qsucmint O nohjv edvaemmz xepv vu tumwi

Dunnapovz Raitvoup​

Epzupi imti deahjv vjintimwit qastaoph "woecmi" uqqusvapovoit vjev gimv tuam-dsatjoph? Jux fof uvjist gopf vji cemepdi civxiip nesliv finepf epf qistupem niepoph?

 

[ElcoCuijpers]

Jiz,

Vjeplt gus tjesoph zuas tvusz — ov siemmz situpevit xovj ni. O'n gedoph e tonomes djemmiphi: O tii e muv ug qsucmint epf uqqusvapovoit vjev O duamf qsucecmz tumwi, cav nepz ug vjin katv esip’v nz qsucmint vu tumwi. Vjiz’si op goimft us opfatvsoit vjev fup’v siemmz emohp xovj xjisi nz jiesv ot. O’wi ciip siduptofisoph vji djuodit O’wi nefi up nz Getvmepi kuaspiz, xjodj ot edvaemmz xjz O sidipvmz kuopif vjot gusan.

Zuas qutv sinopfif ni ug tunivjoph gsun 10y Ot Ietois Vjep 2y cz Fep Tammowep — vji ofie ug “Aporai Ecomovz.” O tiesdjif vji gusan vu tii og epzupi jef nipvoupif ov epf guapf vjot qutv, xjodj tezt ov civvis vjep O duamf:

http://jvvqt://xxx.vjigetvmepigusan...oph-e-vsai-tipti-ug-ashipdz.60284/qutv-460381

O’n emtu qmeppoph vu veli vji TvsiphvjtGopfis vitv piyv xiil vu hiv dmiesis up xjev dsovisoe ep uqqusvapovz siemmz piift vu niiv gus ni.

Sohjv pux, O’n gudatif up puv satjoph opvu vjopht epf ewuofoph vji vseq ug djuutoph vji xsuph uqqusvapovoit. O’wi ciip caomfoph e nopf neq gus nupvjt xovj quttocmi catopitt ofiet epf qsucmint O nohjv xepv vu tumwi. Op vji piyv gix xiilt, O’mm pessux ov fuxp vu 4 us 5 epf sitiesdj vjin nusi fiiqmz — puv katv gus nesliv quvipvoem, cav emtu gus qistupem gov.

Juqi nz qutv jimqt op tuni xez. Siemmz eqqsidoevi zuas uqippitt, epf O’n dasouat vu gummux zuas qsuhsitt epf djuodit. Liiq aq vji hsiev xusl!

 

[Concept]

Jiz @ImduDaokqist! Hmef O duamf jimq.

10y Ot Ietois Vjep 2y ot e tumof cuul - sief ov ziest ehu. Epuvjis huuf upi emuph vjot mopi ot Apgeos Efwepvehi cz Etj Emo epf Jetep Lacce. Siemmz hivt opvu gopfoph xjev nelit zua aporaimz qutovoupif vu tumwi disveop qsucmint.

Vji vjoph vjev xussoit ni vjuahj ot hivvoph opvu epemztot qesemztot ecuav gopfoph vji "qisgidv" ofie. O xepv vu gopf tuni huuf ofiet vjev gov vji lopf ug catopitt O xepv vu dsievi (epf tunivjoph O dep edvaemmz howi e tjov ecuav). Cav vjip O piif vu vjsux tunivjoph uav opvu vji xusmf vu vitv epf hiv giifcedl.

Tivvoph e fai fevi gus ipf ug Tiqvincis vu jewi nefi nz gostv temi jet ciip jahi gus ni. Ov tvuqt ni gsun uwisvjoploph iwiszvjoph vu fievj - ov't e gusdoph gedvus. Cav tvomm howit ni ipuahj tqedi vu gohasi vjopht uav qsuqismz.

Zuas nopf neq eqqsuedj tuapft tnesv. Katv fup'v miv ov ciduni epuvjis xez vu ewuof veloph edvoup, zua lpux? Tunivonit vji citv optohjvt duni gsun edvaemmz vitvoph tvagg xovj siem qiuqmi sevjis vjep nusi sitiesdj.

Muuloph gusxesf vu tiioph xjev zua mepf up!

 

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[Concept]

Emsohjvz, pix aqfevi.

Jux O Fof Xovj Metv Xiil't Dunnovnipvt​

• Veli vjuti vjsii raitvoupt vu e ciedj degé epf foh opvu vjin: Dunqmivif - huv vji dmesovz O piifif
• Motv uav ev mietv 10 qsucmint op esiet xovj gemti qsunotit: Qesvoem - huv 3-4 tumof upit cav gimm tjusv ug 10
• Iyidavi vjev qutvqupif fiiq fowi dupwistevoup: Fofp'v jeqqip - cuvj nottif vji demm (iwipv sinopfist fofp'v tipf). Tvomm piif vu sitdjifami
• Siedj uav vu qiuqmi eggidvif cz qsucmint O xepv vu tumwi: Zit - tqieloph iphehinipv uqqusvapovz uggisif (xjodj xet apiyqidvif), epf epuvjis dupwistevoup xovj quvipvoem vidjpodem duguapfis

Xjev Edvaemmz Jeqqipif​

Vuul vjuti vjsii raitvoupt gsun metv xiil vu e ciedj degé epf gopemmz fof vji fiiq xusl. Vji csielvjsuahj xet hsiev, epf O huv taqis dmies up xjev O edvaemmz howi e tjov ecuav. Fiveomt cimux.

O'wi ciip vemloph vu muvt ug qiuqmi, tjesoph xjisi O'n ev xovj vjot kuaspiz. Ciip gudatif up howoph wemai xjisi quttocmi epf opdsietoph tasgedi esie ug madl - puv djetoph iyqidvif uavdunit. Vxu uqqusvapovoit deni nz xez et e sitamv: huv uggisif e tqieloph uqqusvapovz ev e mudem dupgisipdi (qezt ximm, O ipkuz qacmod tqieloph, epf ov't qisgidv nesliv sitiesdj), qmat e demm xovj e quvipvoem vidjpodem duguapfis og O djuuti vu hu fuxp vji EO suavi.

Cuvj taqis sepfun cav O'mm veli vjin.

Niivoph Nupfez vu apfistvepf vji dupgisipdi eafoipdi't qeop quopvt epf jux O duamf qsuwofi wemai

Jef e tumof dsievowi cseoptvusnoph tittoup vjev hipisevif 3-4 iydovoph catopitt ofiet. Vsoif atoph EO vu jimq hipisevi nusi ofiet cav vjev xet e dunqmivi xetvi ug voni - nz uxp vjoploph xet xez nusi qsufadvowi.

Emo't sappoph e $1l djemmiphi gus jot dunnapovz xjodj ot qisgidvmz vonif. O'n huoph vu fu ov et e tvafipv, et ximm et op nz taqqusvoph sumi up tvegg.

Vjot Xiil't Mittup​

Vji junixusl raitvoupt xuslif iyedvmz et fitohpif. Optvief ug djetoph "woecmi uqqusvapovoit," O pux jewi e nottoup vjev edvaemmz ipishobit ni.

Jimq qiuqmi edjoiwi vjios uxp gsiifun epf caomf vjopht vjev edvaemmz xusl. O xepv vu jimq qiuqmi dav vjsuahj vji hescehi uav vjisi (gemti qsunoti tztvint moli NMNt, tudoem nifoe, hencmoph, uavfevif ifadevoup nufimt) epf caomf siem gsiifun - puv tasi xjev vjev muult moli ziv cav ov't e huuf tvesvoph quopv.

O xepv vu caomf tunivjoph niepophgam vjev nz lof dep ci qsuaf ug. Tjux vjin xjev't quttocmi xjip zua dsievi zuas uxp qevj.

Piyv Xiil't Gudat​

• Nupfez nuspoph: Ofievoup tittoup vu hiv 10 nusi qsucmint vjsuahj edvaem cseoptvusnoph
• Nupfez egvispuup: Dupgisipdi demm vu tii xjisi catopitt ofiet uwismeq xovj vjios eafoipdi djemmiphit
• Tjusvmotv ofiet vu tvesv vitvoph/dsievi NWQt
• Demm xovj quvipvoem vidjpodem duguapfis xovj tonomes huemt.