^ I was just going to link to that. ^
Help other people with their problems, your problems soon disappear.
—Jim Rohn
Last edited:
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- Thread starter TheProcess
- Start date
- NOTABLE! HOT! MINDSET
Help other people with their problems, your problems soon disappear.
—Jim Rohn
I am in financial sales. I have a very positive views of real estates.
It is just a business that will stay with us next 50 years.
Couples need to buy flat when they get married. People love to invest in them.
If you build a client base and serve them well for the first few years the referral will come. But it takes a few years of grind. And you are 20. Time is our your side. Go call your uncle and speak to him.
I think your better off with a job, not exactly a bad thing. Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone.
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Sounds like you overthinking too much and you get yourself dependent on other people's advices. I would recommend you for the following 3 months not to read or watch or hear any business related topics. You have to grow up and try to figure out the things for yourself. The world needs solutions and you need your free space of mind. With no external sensory overload of ideas and opinions other people have. Learn to create a healthy attitude of "I don't care and it is important for me because I'm the only one who understands why". No matter what kind of solution you will find then, you will put automatically a philosophy inside your creating and you could have an positive impact on others. This is one way on how to create green value. Maybe you could find another way, share it with others and inspire them to follow your way.
No matter in which life situation you are right now. Stop right now and learn to think for yourself. Your thoughts are not your enemy. Hear them, love them but also proof them with a healthy attitude of scepticism. This could be a way for you to be successful. To find this out you have to walk for own alone.
Action faker
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Andy Black
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What will you do to make a sale this week, or at least help someone?
- Thread starter
- #64
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Well I was very inspired by the YouTube thread, and it's something that I've been wanting to do for a very long time now, and I think I have the potential to be good at it. So I'm going shopping tomorrow to get a camera and tripod and the rest of the equipment that I would need to start filming. After that, my focus will be on creating my first video.
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I've been struggling to think of ideas since I finished reading Unscripted and Fastlane last week. I spend hours every day on my laptop trying to come up with ideas.
Everything I think up, I consider "does this provide value?" do a bit of research around the topic and come back with "no."
I posted a thread before that I had an app idea but I've decided to abandon it for moral reasons. Essentially my idea was to make an app to track celebrities. Integrate the google maps API into the app and users would post pins where they've sighted "X" celebrity and only the most recent one would get pinned to the map. I decided that celebrities are likely already bothered enough while out in public and I didn't want to contribute more to that. I thought it would have been a good money maker idea, and it would provide value to those obsessed with celebrities, but the outcome for those celebrities would likely be negative.
Every idea even if it's small I come back with "this doesn't provide value" and I'm back at the beginning. I'm starting to get disheartened because I have no specific industry or anything I would like to target. I just randomly think of things but never anything that solves an actual problem or provides value.
A business HAS TO solve a problem or provide better value than something else if it is going to make a difference, so it's very important to have that.
I'm in my mid 30s with a lot of life experience in several fields and still struggling to come up with ideas. It's hard to imagine how people do it. Maybe I am just in the wrong mindset. I don't know.
I am rambling now. I'm not sure I have advice for you other than not starting a youtube channel unless you really think your content really provides value to people, otherwise it will remain in obscurity as the platform is massive.
Everything I think up, I consider "does this provide value?" do a bit of research around the topic and come back with "no."
I posted a thread before that I had an app idea but I've decided to abandon it for moral reasons. Essentially my idea was to make an app to track celebrities. Integrate the google maps API into the app and users would post pins where they've sighted "X" celebrity and only the most recent one would get pinned to the map. I decided that celebrities are likely already bothered enough while out in public and I didn't want to contribute more to that. I thought it would have been a good money maker idea, and it would provide value to those obsessed with celebrities, but the outcome for those celebrities would likely be negative.
Every idea even if it's small I come back with "this doesn't provide value" and I'm back at the beginning. I'm starting to get disheartened because I have no specific industry or anything I would like to target. I just randomly think of things but never anything that solves an actual problem or provides value.
A business HAS TO solve a problem or provide better value than something else if it is going to make a difference, so it's very important to have that.
I'm in my mid 30s with a lot of life experience in several fields and still struggling to come up with ideas. It's hard to imagine how people do it. Maybe I am just in the wrong mindset. I don't know.
I am rambling now. I'm not sure I have advice for you other than not starting a youtube channel unless you really think your content really provides value to people, otherwise it will remain in obscurity as the platform is massive.
If you know something really deep enough, it probably will do well.
It is a hyper-competitive market these days and you will realize a pattern.
The person who has success in sharing food was a former chef.
The person who has success in weight management theme is still actively participating in competition.
The person who has success in sharing science topic...and science fiction/conspiracy- not really a scientist but was a former programmer who is a science topic hobbyist.
The person who has success in sharing entrepreneurship topics were business people who are still active.
.....
Hopefully spurring him on with insults, if he doesn't take offense to it, I will keep calling him an action faker until he either gets offended and does something to prove me wrong.
Otherwise I unfortunately get to say '' I told you so '' Anger is one of the greatest motivaters in the world.
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ZCP
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Read Rat-Race Escape!
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Read Unscripted!
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@sparechange challenge: .... find two or three? .....maybe they are solid, maybe they changed your life. .... put them for others to find or me to send a link like @Andy Black does sometimes.
(damn @ZCP always handing out things to do..... :/ )
(damn @ZCP always handing out things to do..... :/ )
Andy Black
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Only sometimes?
Update? @TheProcess
Wil22
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Great idea and advice
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You want to know the beauty in your message?
Its that you know what you dont know what you want.
Knowing what you dont want is the key to knowing what you do want.
Ie. I dont want to be broke and homeless? BANG! reverse it. You just discovered you want to be rich and have a safe place to rest each night.
Dig deep. The answer is always inside you. You dont find what you want. You discover it. There is a difference.
Andy Black
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Ah yes. Reminds me of this video in this thread:
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Alexesther
New Contributor
You did not have your F*ck that moment, it will come ..
I took a quick look through your threads just now.
Your intro:
INTRO - Hello, I'm lost right now. I'd love advice.
Hey all. I’m not sure if if I should be posting this in my introduction but I need advice right now. I’m 19. I just finished my first year of university studying business. I have no idea what I’m doing with my life right now. A few years ago, I read books like The Millionaire Fastlane , and...www.thefastlaneforum.com
You felt lost and wanted to quit college.
Fortunately, you decided not to quit.
You tried Lex's Upwork tutorial, but gave up the same day.
NOTABLE! - SIDE HUSTLE - Lex DeVille's 2019-22 Step-By-Step Upwork Tutorial for Brokeass Bootstrap Beginners Who Need Cash Now!
Thank you for your interest in joining Upwork. We have reviewed your application to join, and regret to inform you that we are unable to accept your Upwork freelancer registration at this time. Please do not consider this a reflection of your abilities [...] Great. I followed the guide. Nice...
You started a progress thread and got some really good advice.
EXECUTION - 19 year old's entreprenuerial journey starting from the bottom
I first read TMF 2 or 3 years ago. During this time, I have not made progress in terms of financial independence. However, I have done things like go from a skinny-fat socially awkward teenager to a person who regularly goes to the gym and who is comfortable talking to people. But I want more. I...
You had a minimum wage job as a dishwasher and landed a better-paying job that allowed you to work from home on a company laptop. This sounds like a dream to give you the flexibility to pursue entrepreneurship.
The job apparently brought you good things.
You don't have a clear goal and don't really know how to set one.
Your schedule is not very disciplined.
You do have high expectations for yourself.
You realize that you need discipline and work ethic.
You've actually had a bunch of really good contacts with potential mentors.
You experience a fair amount of anger at times. This reduces your ability to produce.
You've asked for a fair amount of advice.
HOT! - Saved up 3 thousand dollars and I don't want to make a mistake. Looking for advice.
I'm 19. Been working during the summer. I have saved up about 3 thousand dollars. However, I've very tempted to spend half of that on a shitty car, another 5 hundred dollars on some clothing (since I have absolutely no wardrobe), and the other thousand on other things I want (such as getting a...IDEA - Would like some feedback on this business idea
Hi all, The other day I was talking with some friends when I came up with a business idea. For context, I'm a college student. I asked myself: "What is something that all college students want?". They want to have access to parties and social events. I thought, why not create an app that...IDEA - FTE - What to do after you have an idea?
So I know this question is extremely basic. I've read both of MJ's books. But can someone please explain to me what it is that I need to do exactly after I have an idea. Currently, I have an idea for a website/app/social platform. It's very unique. There's nothing like it after doing a little...EXECUTION - Next Steps for my Online Business?
I created an online business with my cofounder a few weeks ago. I'm 20, he's 21. So far, we've done some market research, an experiment to test our idea, wrote a 10 page business plan, created a prototype website, and applied for funding. We have also had a chance to speak with a lot of people...Legal Question - Someone building our website for free
I started an online business a few weeks ago. The long-term vision of the business is to have it become some sort of a social platform. For now, however, we just want to create a website. An acquaintance/friend of mine has agreed to create the initial website for us for free. My cofounder...
You started a business! Yay!
EXECUTION - A Platform for Challenges - My Business
Hello everyone reading! I created an online business with my cofounder a few weeks ago. So far, we've done some market research, an experiment to test our idea, wrote a 10 page business plan, created a prototype website, applied for funding, and interviewed several potential CTOs. The...
That was April 22, 2020.
By April 28, you and your cofounder had already decided to part ways.
On May 4, you were still excited about the business and asking about how to build your social media presence.
SOCIAL MEDIA - MARKETING - Launch coming up. How do I build a social media presence?
I started an online business about a month ago. The long-term vision is to have it become a social platform. It's a minimal viable product (MVP). We are trying to launch as soon as we can. I believe that before we launch, we first need to create buzz, and creating a social media presence. What...
By May 6, you were losing interest. You're not even really sure why or what to do about it.
And on May 12, you shared your observation that you work better with others.
I Can't Work Alone... Only With Others
I've noticed that I can't work alone. I start thinking instead of doing. I start over analyzing every single decision and start doubting myself. But when I work with others, or with a partner, everything is put into perspective. It's almost as though I don't want to let my partner down, or my...
Here's what stands out to me the most from all this. This is the common thread I see running through your posts.
I think you struggle with self-motivation. And that defeats your progress, which leads to self-hatred and beating yourself up.
(I say this out of kindness, not out of accusation or "piling on" to the self-beating you're already giving yourself. I am very similar. I know how it feels. I know how frustrating it can be to just not be able to MAKE YOURSELF DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.)
So - here are some practical thoughts that I think can help you get out of the negative feedback loop you're currently stuck in, and change it for a positive one.
[edit: This posted prematurely while I was still fleshing out my thoughts on #2]
- You will likely continue to experience failure and frustration until you man up and develop self-discipline. It is urgent that you do this now. Otherwise, you could end up twice your age, still leaning on other people to crack the whip over you to get you to produce. 40-year-old you WILL NOT FIND THIS FUN. I would recommend a dopamine fast to kick off the process. Hike the Appalachian Trail or something. Get yourself outdoors and away from devices and TV, at least for a few days. Detox your brain from the dopamine drip you've been feeding it. Dig up the soil and plant a garden. Whatever. Interact with the physical world, not the digital one, for a few days.
- Design a setup where you can START winning and KEEP winning. Find the smallest possible WIN that contributes to your goals. In your old execution thread, your "WIN" that you were working for was "Making a sale." No. Break it down further than that. What do you need to do prior that sale, in order to lead up to a sale? Who do you need to BE in order to get that sale? Maybe you say, "OK, my win will be waking up at 6:00 AM every day for a week." No. Break it down even further, because waking up like that is not going to be a slam dunk. So you say, OK, my win will be waking up ONCE at 6:00 AM. No. Break it down even before that. Because you'll be going to bed too late to get up at 6:00 AM. So you say, "OK, my win will be to go to bed by 9:00." But then, you're not going to be tired at 9:00, so you're going to be tempted to stay on your computer. So you back up to the REAL step. "OK, my win will be that every time I catch myself wasting time on a distraction, IN THAT SAME MOMENT, I'm going to STOP and do something productive." (Define what it is so it's concrete. Also define a reward, and deliver that reward to yourself consistently. Even if it's just a silly reward like one chocolate chip.). NOW you're on track. This is defining your wins in a direction that will serve you.
- Verbal thrashings will not make you more productive or more motivated. What you're trying to do is alternatively hype yourself up into action (works for a while and then fails) and then scold yourself for not acting up to your standards (works for a while and then fails). This is not the solution.
- There may be a biological component to what you're experiencing. The way you describe yourself sounds similar to ADHD. Read about the executive function in the brain. Your executive function is the part of you that says, "OK, I'm going to do this now." You maybe be struggling to get the executive function to turn on. If this is the case, there are two easy ways to self-medicate. Try experimenting with yourself with these two things to see if it helps. One is caffeine. Try drinking coffee shortly before doing a task you struggle with. See if this improves your ability to DO what you've DECIDED to do. The second one is vigorous exercise (whatever level of physical exertion that will leave you breathless and sweating). Try exercise immediately before you sit down to do something that requires focus.
- There may be a psychological component to what you're experiencing. I suspect depression. There is so much help to be found in therapy, and the outcome can be removing that mysterious inner "boredom" that causes you to reject idea after idea.
- There may also be an inner resistance to the idea of what "working" and "adulthood" means. I have had to deal with this. Everything on the inside of me would be screaming, "NO! I don't consent to this. I want to be GREAT! I want to do things that are COOL! I want to be amazing! I reject drudgery! I reject monotony. I'm not ok with the next few decades of my life being dedicated to toiling and slaving away." It can be very difficult to come to terms with this, square your shoulders, look work in the face, and say, "OK. This is my existence until I make it. Deal." Work is not fun or pretty or sexy. It's the RESULTS of work that we like. As children, we enjoyed the results of our PARENTS' work without having to put in the work. As adults, we don't get to skip ahead to the results. It's a rude awakening.
Thank you for this! Amazing value!!
Also it's really savvy of you that you pinpointed a neurological component on this as well (e.g. ADD). People with ADD or ADHD literally process the world differently so the executive function presents a MAJOR challenge — often times they or others say: "you just lack motivation" or "I can't ever get anything done, maybe I'm just lazy"... which is sad because with the right techniques (like some of the above)and/ or medication (Concerta or any of the ritalin cousins) and/or exercise (to pump more oxygen to the brain), folks with ADHD/ADD can and do make excellent entrepreneurs!
That's because of the flipside of the same coin (since stimuli is filtering much faster to their brains) there a lot of creativity ready to be unlocked.
Aside from this point, I loved in general how you brought up the value of agency — e.g. taking responsibility for your own destiny. Thanks again for spending the time to do this post.
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
133%
- Oct 28, 2020
- 6
- 8
This is an answer to a question I didn't even have the words to ask. ThanksI took a quick look through your threads just now.
Your intro:
INTRO - Hello, I'm lost right now. I'd love advice.
Hey all. I’m not sure if if I should be posting this in my introduction but I need advice right now. I’m 19. I just finished my first year of university studying business. I have no idea what I’m doing with my life right now. A few years ago, I read books like The Millionaire Fastlane , and...
You felt lost and wanted to quit college.
Fortunately, you decided not to quit.
You tried Lex's Upwork tutorial, but gave up the same day.
NOTABLE! - SIDE HUSTLE - Lex DeVille's 2019-22 Step-By-Step Upwork Tutorial for Brokeass Bootstrap Beginners Who Need Cash Now!
Thank you for your interest in joining Upwork. We have reviewed your application to join, and regret to inform you that we are unable to accept your Upwork freelancer registration at this time. Please do not consider this a reflection of your abilities [...] Great. I followed the guide. Nice...
You started a progress thread and got some really good advice.
EXECUTION - 19 year old's entreprenuerial journey starting from the bottom
I first read TMF 2 or 3 years ago. During this time, I have not made progress in terms of financial independence. However, I have done things like go from a skinny-fat socially awkward teenager to a person who regularly goes to the gym and who is comfortable talking to people. But I want more. I...
You had a minimum wage job as a dishwasher and landed a better-paying job that allowed you to work from home on a company laptop. This sounds like a dream to give you the flexibility to pursue entrepreneurship.
The job apparently brought you good things.
You don't have a clear goal and don't really know how to set one.
Your schedule is not very disciplined.
You do have high expectations for yourself.
You realize that you need discipline and work ethic.
You've actually had a bunch of really good contacts with potential mentors.
You experience a fair amount of anger at times. This reduces your ability to produce.
You've asked for a fair amount of advice.
HOT! - Saved up 3 thousand dollars and I don't want to make a mistake. Looking for advice.
I'm 19. Been working during the summer. I have saved up about 3 thousand dollars. However, I've very tempted to spend half of that on a shitty car, another 5 hundred dollars on some clothing (since I have absolutely no wardrobe), and the other thousand on other things I want (such as getting a...IDEA - Would like some feedback on this business idea
Hi all, The other day I was talking with some friends when I came up with a business idea. For context, I'm a college student. I asked myself: "What is something that all college students want?". They want to have access to parties and social events. I thought, why not create an app that...IDEA - FTE - What to do after you have an idea?
So I know this question is extremely basic. I've read both of MJ's books. But can someone please explain to me what it is that I need to do exactly after I have an idea. Currently, I have an idea for a website/app/social platform. It's very unique. There's nothing like it after doing a little...EXECUTION - Next Steps for my Online Business?
I created an online business with my cofounder a few weeks ago. I'm 20, he's 21. So far, we've done some market research, an experiment to test our idea, wrote a 10 page business plan, created a prototype website, and applied for funding. We have also had a chance to speak with a lot of people...Legal Question - Someone building our website for free
I started an online business a few weeks ago. The long-term vision of the business is to have it become some sort of a social platform. For now, however, we just want to create a website. An acquaintance/friend of mine has agreed to create the initial website for us for free. My cofounder...
You started a business! Yay!
EXECUTION - A Platform for Challenges - My Business
Hello everyone reading! I created an online business with my cofounder a few weeks ago. So far, we've done some market research, an experiment to test our idea, wrote a 10 page business plan, created a prototype website, applied for funding, and interviewed several potential CTOs. The...
That was April 22, 2020.
By April 28, you and your cofounder had already decided to part ways.
On May 4, you were still excited about the business and asking about how to build your social media presence.
SOCIAL MEDIA - MARKETING - Launch coming up. How do I build a social media presence?
I started an online business about a month ago. The long-term vision is to have it become a social platform. It's a minimal viable product (MVP). We are trying to launch as soon as we can. I believe that before we launch, we first need to create buzz, and creating a social media presence. What...
By May 6, you were losing interest. You're not even really sure why or what to do about it.
And on May 12, you shared your observation that you work better with others.
I Can't Work Alone... Only With Others
I've noticed that I can't work alone. I start thinking instead of doing. I start over analyzing every single decision and start doubting myself. But when I work with others, or with a partner, everything is put into perspective. It's almost as though I don't want to let my partner down, or my...
Here's what stands out to me the most from all this. This is the common thread I see running through your posts.
I think you struggle with self-motivation. And that defeats your progress, which leads to self-hatred and beating yourself up.
(I say this out of kindness, not out of accusation or "piling on" to the self-beating you're already giving yourself. I am very similar. I know how it feels. I know how frustrating it can be to just not be able to MAKE YOURSELF DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.)
So - here are some practical thoughts that I think can help you get out of the negative feedback loop you're currently stuck in, and change it for a positive one.
[edit: This posted prematurely while I was still fleshing out my thoughts on #2]
- You will likely continue to experience failure and frustration until you man up and develop self-discipline. It is urgent that you do this now. Otherwise, you could end up twice your age, still leaning on other people to crack the whip over you to get you to produce. 40-year-old you WILL NOT FIND THIS FUN. I would recommend a dopamine fast to kick off the process. Hike the Appalachian Trail or something. Get yourself outdoors and away from devices and TV, at least for a few days. Detox your brain from the dopamine drip you've been feeding it. Dig up the soil and plant a garden. Whatever. Interact with the physical world, not the digital one, for a few days.
- Design a setup where you can START winning and KEEP winning. Find the smallest possible WIN that contributes to your goals. In your old execution thread, your "WIN" that you were working for was "Making a sale." No. Break it down further than that. What do you need to do prior that sale, in order to lead up to a sale? Who do you need to BE in order to get that sale? Maybe you say, "OK, my win will be waking up at 6:00 AM every day for a week." No. Break it down even further, because waking up like that is not going to be a slam dunk. So you say, OK, my win will be waking up ONCE at 6:00 AM. No. Break it down even before that. Because you'll be going to bed too late to get up at 6:00 AM. So you say, "OK, my win will be to go to bed by 9:00." But then, you're not going to be tired at 9:00, so you're going to be tempted to stay on your computer. So you back up to the REAL step. "OK, my win will be that every time I catch myself wasting time on a distraction, IN THAT SAME MOMENT, I'm going to STOP and do something productive." (Define what it is so it's concrete. Also define a reward, and deliver that reward to yourself consistently. Even if it's just a silly reward like one chocolate chip.). NOW you're on track. This is defining your wins in a direction that will serve you.
- Verbal thrashings will not make you more productive or more motivated. What you're trying to do is alternatively hype yourself up into action (works for a while and then fails) and then scold yourself for not acting up to your standards (works for a while and then fails). This is not the solution.
- There may be a biological component to what you're experiencing. The way you describe yourself sounds similar to ADHD. Read about the executive function in the brain. Your executive function is the part of you that says, "OK, I'm going to do this now." You maybe be struggling to get the executive function to turn on. If this is the case, there are two easy ways to self-medicate. Try experimenting with yourself with these two things to see if it helps. One is caffeine. Try drinking coffee shortly before doing a task you struggle with. See if this improves your ability to DO what you've DECIDED to do. The second one is vigorous exercise (whatever level of physical exertion that will leave you breathless and sweating). Try exercise immediately before you sit down to do something that requires focus.
- There may be a psychological component to what you're experiencing. I suspect depression. There is so much help to be found in therapy, and the outcome can be removing that mysterious inner "boredom" that causes you to reject idea after idea.
- There may also be an inner resistance to the idea of what "working" and "adulthood" means. I have had to deal with this. Everything on the inside of me would be screaming, "NO! I don't consent to this. I want to be GREAT! I want to do things that are COOL! I want to be amazing! I reject drudgery! I reject monotony. I'm not ok with the next few decades of my life being dedicated to toiling and slaving away." It can be very difficult to come to terms with this, square your shoulders, look work in the face, and say, "OK. This is my existence until I make it. Deal." Work is not fun or pretty or sexy. It's the RESULTS of work that we like. As children, we enjoyed the results of our PARENTS' work without having to put in the work. As adults, we don't get to skip ahead to the results. It's a rude awakening.
cv_guimara
New Contributor
Jee @Bekit nailed it with this response. Even as a bystander on the thread i got so much out of this feedback, amazing contribution.I took a quick look through your threads just now.
Your intro:
INTRO - Hello, I'm lost right now. I'd love advice.
Hey all. I’m not sure if if I should be posting this in my introduction but I need advice right now. I’m 19. I just finished my first year of university studying business. I have no idea what I’m doing with my life right now. A few years ago, I read books like The Millionaire Fastlane , and...
You felt lost and wanted to quit college.
Fortunately, you decided not to quit.
You tried Lex's Upwork tutorial, but gave up the same day.
NOTABLE! - SIDE HUSTLE - Lex DeVille's 2019-22 Step-By-Step Upwork Tutorial for Brokeass Bootstrap Beginners Who Need Cash Now!
Thank you for your interest in joining Upwork. We have reviewed your application to join, and regret to inform you that we are unable to accept your Upwork freelancer registration at this time. Please do not consider this a reflection of your abilities [...] Great. I followed the guide. Nice...
You started a progress thread and got some really good advice.
EXECUTION - 19 year old's entreprenuerial journey starting from the bottom
I first read TMF 2 or 3 years ago. During this time, I have not made progress in terms of financial independence. However, I have done things like go from a skinny-fat socially awkward teenager to a person who regularly goes to the gym and who is comfortable talking to people. But I want more. I...
You had a minimum wage job as a dishwasher and landed a better-paying job that allowed you to work from home on a company laptop. This sounds like a dream to give you the flexibility to pursue entrepreneurship.
The job apparently brought you good things.
You don't have a clear goal and don't really know how to set one.
Your schedule is not very disciplined.
You do have high expectations for yourself.
You realize that you need discipline and work ethic.
You've actually had a bunch of really good contacts with potential mentors.
You experience a fair amount of anger at times. This reduces your ability to produce.
You've asked for a fair amount of advice.
HOT! - Saved up 3 thousand dollars and I don't want to make a mistake. Looking for advice.
I'm 19. Been working during the summer. I have saved up about 3 thousand dollars. However, I've very tempted to spend half of that on a shitty car, another 5 hundred dollars on some clothing (since I have absolutely no wardrobe), and the other thousand on other things I want (such as getting a...IDEA - Would like some feedback on this business idea
Hi all, The other day I was talking with some friends when I came up with a business idea. For context, I'm a college student. I asked myself: "What is something that all college students want?". They want to have access to parties and social events. I thought, why not create an app that...IDEA - FTE - What to do after you have an idea?
So I know this question is extremely basic. I've read both of MJ's books. But can someone please explain to me what it is that I need to do exactly after I have an idea. Currently, I have an idea for a website/app/social platform. It's very unique. There's nothing like it after doing a little...EXECUTION - Next Steps for my Online Business?
I created an online business with my cofounder a few weeks ago. I'm 20, he's 21. So far, we've done some market research, an experiment to test our idea, wrote a 10 page business plan, created a prototype website, and applied for funding. We have also had a chance to speak with a lot of people...Legal Question - Someone building our website for free
I started an online business a few weeks ago. The long-term vision of the business is to have it become some sort of a social platform. For now, however, we just want to create a website. An acquaintance/friend of mine has agreed to create the initial website for us for free. My cofounder...
You started a business! Yay!
EXECUTION - A Platform for Challenges - My Business
Hello everyone reading! I created an online business with my cofounder a few weeks ago. So far, we've done some market research, an experiment to test our idea, wrote a 10 page business plan, created a prototype website, applied for funding, and interviewed several potential CTOs. The...
That was April 22, 2020.
By April 28, you and your cofounder had already decided to part ways.
On May 4, you were still excited about the business and asking about how to build your social media presence.
SOCIAL MEDIA - MARKETING - Launch coming up. How do I build a social media presence?
I started an online business about a month ago. The long-term vision is to have it become a social platform. It's a minimal viable product (MVP). We are trying to launch as soon as we can. I believe that before we launch, we first need to create buzz, and creating a social media presence. What...
By May 6, you were losing interest. You're not even really sure why or what to do about it.
And on May 12, you shared your observation that you work better with others.
I Can't Work Alone... Only With Others
I've noticed that I can't work alone. I start thinking instead of doing. I start over analyzing every single decision and start doubting myself. But when I work with others, or with a partner, everything is put into perspective. It's almost as though I don't want to let my partner down, or my...
Here's what stands out to me the most from all this. This is the common thread I see running through your posts.
I think you struggle with self-motivation. And that defeats your progress, which leads to self-hatred and beating yourself up.
(I say this out of kindness, not out of accusation or "piling on" to the self-beating you're already giving yourself. I am very similar. I know how it feels. I know how frustrating it can be to just not be able to MAKE YOURSELF DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.)
So - here are some practical thoughts that I think can help you get out of the negative feedback loop you're currently stuck in, and change it for a positive one.
[edit: This posted prematurely while I was still fleshing out my thoughts on #2]
- You will likely continue to experience failure and frustration until you man up and develop self-discipline. It is urgent that you do this now. Otherwise, you could end up twice your age, still leaning on other people to crack the whip over you to get you to produce. 40-year-old you WILL NOT FIND THIS FUN. I would recommend a dopamine fast to kick off the process. Hike the Appalachian Trail or something. Get yourself outdoors and away from devices and TV, at least for a few days. Detox your brain from the dopamine drip you've been feeding it. Dig up the soil and plant a garden. Whatever. Interact with the physical world, not the digital one, for a few days.
- Design a setup where you can START winning and KEEP winning. Find the smallest possible WIN that contributes to your goals. In your old execution thread, your "WIN" that you were working for was "Making a sale." No. Break it down further than that. What do you need to do prior that sale, in order to lead up to a sale? Who do you need to BE in order to get that sale? Maybe you say, "OK, my win will be waking up at 6:00 AM every day for a week." No. Break it down even further, because waking up like that is not going to be a slam dunk. So you say, OK, my win will be waking up ONCE at 6:00 AM. No. Break it down even before that. Because you'll be going to bed too late to get up at 6:00 AM. So you say, "OK, my win will be to go to bed by 9:00." But then, you're not going to be tired at 9:00, so you're going to be tempted to stay on your computer. So you back up to the REAL step. "OK, my win will be that every time I catch myself wasting time on a distraction, IN THAT SAME MOMENT, I'm going to STOP and do something productive." (Define what it is so it's concrete. Also define a reward, and deliver that reward to yourself consistently. Even if it's just a silly reward like one chocolate chip.). NOW you're on track. This is defining your wins in a direction that will serve you.
- Verbal thrashings will not make you more productive or more motivated. What you're trying to do is alternatively hype yourself up into action (works for a while and then fails) and then scold yourself for not acting up to your standards (works for a while and then fails). This is not the solution.
- There may be a biological component to what you're experiencing. The way you describe yourself sounds similar to ADHD. Read about the executive function in the brain. Your executive function is the part of you that says, "OK, I'm going to do this now." You maybe be struggling to get the executive function to turn on. If this is the case, there are two easy ways to self-medicate. Try experimenting with yourself with these two things to see if it helps. One is caffeine. Try drinking coffee shortly before doing a task you struggle with. See if this improves your ability to DO what you've DECIDED to do. The second one is vigorous exercise (whatever level of physical exertion that will leave you breathless and sweating). Try exercise immediately before you sit down to do something that requires focus.
- There may be a psychological component to what you're experiencing. I suspect depression. There is so much help to be found in therapy, and the outcome can be removing that mysterious inner "boredom" that causes you to reject idea after idea.
- There may also be an inner resistance to the idea of what "working" and "adulthood" means. I have had to deal with this. Everything on the inside of me would be screaming, "NO! I don't consent to this. I want to be GREAT! I want to do things that are COOL! I want to be amazing! I reject drudgery! I reject monotony. I'm not ok with the next few decades of my life being dedicated to toiling and slaving away." It can be very difficult to come to terms with this, square your shoulders, look work in the face, and say, "OK. This is my existence until I make it. Deal." Work is not fun or pretty or sexy. It's the RESULTS of work that we like. As children, we enjoyed the results of our PARENTS' work without having to put in the work. As adults, we don't get to skip ahead to the results. It's a rude awakening.
Lots of great feedback overall as well, GG guys.
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I'm just going through a tough time man. I can't always be giving out value. I wish I could, but no one should be hearing advice from me right now. I don't have any mentors or anything. I know I sound whiny but I just figured I'd post here and see if anyone has been in a similar situation.
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I like sports, but I don't like to talk about it. It's just something that I like to do.
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How old are you?
Where have you been, what have you done?
Do you go out much, see what's happening around you?
Engaged in activities with people from different walks of life?
Sports are great for that.
Ideas come from what you experience.
Get out & about, do stuff, that's where you'll find your interests, new experiences, that's where the best ideas come from.
Where have you been, what have you done?
Do you go out much, see what's happening around you?
Engaged in activities with people from different walks of life?
Sports are great for that.
Ideas come from what you experience.
Get out & about, do stuff, that's where you'll find your interests, new experiences, that's where the best ideas come from.
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Thank you! I appreciate the encouragement. I have a question.I would suggest that first of all, stop beating yourself up. You are 20, I get that you are hungry and want to jump straight into doing some cool projects, but things take time. I've been in your shoes. Everyday I was tired of being a wantpreneur, an action-faker, and it only made me more miserable, and the self loathing intensified.
It seems that your lack of clarity is originated by a lack of a clear objective. It seems that right now, your focus is "I just want to start a business that makes money", whereas your focus should be "I noticed this problem/possible improvement and I want to offer a solution". When your objective is clear, the next steps you have to take become crystal clear. MJ talks about it in this video:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19zXV4Tptcw
If your focus is on "start a business" no wonder why you can not figure out what to do next! Thats a very broad focus (Should I drop ship, learn to code, find a supplier in China, cold call businesses?) but if your focus is say "Make a device that helps you find your lost AirPods" (happened to me the last week, spent about 3 hours turning my house upside down, super frustrating, and also a potential business idea) then what to do suddenly becomes super clear! (find out if there is already an existing solution out there, figure out what could be done better, learn how something like that could be designed and manufactured, make your own design, etc.)
Note that I said clear, not easy or convenient.
It seems that so far in your entrepreneurial journey, you have started projects that are easy and convenient, not necessarily businesses that are solving a problem or focused on a need. Which is fine! You are still learning (as am I) and sometimes those projects, although not very profitable, can help with your growth. So you can later start pursuing bigger and better things.
Again, just guessing, but I get the feel like the ideas you have could actually be good, but maybe are things that are too difficult, or things you don't know how to do. But, if you remember, that IS the opportunity! Building solutions that are hard, take time, and force you to learn and grow.
Overall, from what I've seen on the last posts, it seems that you are doing fine, you are just still learning (again, as I'm also am
Perhaps you could start with a side hustle that helps/offers value to people, makes you learn new things, grow and acquire some capital that you can then use to fund other projects (note that all of this will take some time and effort!)
Keep it going man, I bet that you have already taken more action than a lot of people, you just need to shift that action into the correct things. If you ever feel down or want to talk with someone about feeling stuck just PM me. I'm not an expert by any means, but I see myself in a lot of what you said and I know how bad it can feel.
Hope that helps, have a great day
You said: "whereas your focus should be "I noticed this problem/possible improvement and I want to offer a solution""
I honestly have been thinking and I just can't think of anything. How can I go about finding problems?
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Thanks man, super helpful! I'll start looking at trying to find a skill. Not sure what it will be, but I'm searching.
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Andy Black
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Can you go through the video in the first link and report back here.
What are your takeaways?
What will you do differently this week?
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I agree, thank you!
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Linking these are helpful. Just read it. I guess the part about going all in does not make sense from me. I'll try to help people.
Andy Black
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Here's a recent thread that might help:
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