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From Laid off to CEO: Building a Multi-Million Dollar Software Company [Progress Thread]

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

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5/24/26 Update #28
Life Update:
Still working part-time at the warehouse making $12,000 a year. Yep its bad because there is nothing new on job front, just more applications and rejections. Worst job market of my lifetime and I was already in my late 20s in 2008. The stock market is not the economy folks The labor market is quite frozen, although that's why I'm work as an entrepreneur right? So I can put all this in the rear view and take control.

Project Update:
Now for the better news. I'm about 50% complete, maybe a little more. The game is coming along nicely. Just added lighting which has brought the game to life from looking fairly flat. It's always amazing when lighting does that. Unity has a great 2D light system that make your sprites pop.

I hit just hit the Alpha milestone. The main game structure and major systems are implemented. You can essentially play the game end-to-end which is one of the "requirements" to consider your build an Alpha. Next is to get to Feature Complete and then Content Complete milestones. After that is the Beta milestone, which will be when I branch from the main trunk and create a demo. I'm planning of creating a demo for Steam Next Fest in October 2026. Everything is lining up nicely.

I also pitched one last publisher last week to see if they're interested. This will be the last time I do that.

I recently created a marketing test to check the waters using YouTube promote and the results were pretty wild. Some market echoes there. I got 160 subscribers in 3 days. The average watch time of 43 seconds, the video itself is only 66 seconds. I'll attempt to grow the channel with more content like Behind the Scenes, Dev Log and new trailers. This is all to gear up to the Google Ads campaign later this year.
 
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You hit a wall because the best advice isn't free—it's earned. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been active here daily (99.9% active rate), building a war room for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for mediocrity.

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"SCALED TO 6-FIGURE MONTHS"
"Tips and advice here saved me from huge mistakes, others allowed me to scale my business to 6-figure months."
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"INSANE QUALITY OF PEOPLE"
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"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with."
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Epuvjis aqfevi vu nz qsiwouat:
Nz pix qsunuvoup ef atoph ep eafoipdi hsuxvj tvsevihz jet ciip sappoph epf tjuxoph johj quvipvoem opvisitv gus nz heni. O dep'v nitt vjot aq, vji qsufadv natv fimowis. O'n hivvoph e movvmi iydovif. O vjopl vji denqeohp atoph Huuhmi Eft op e 3 nupvjt xomm ci iwip civvis.

Uj epf epuvjis vjoph. O nez si-simieti nz gostv heni up oUT topdi O'n miespoph nusi ecuav jux vu qsuqismz nesliv..

EO Giifcedl:
Screenshot 2026-05-25 072540.webp
 
Metv Raodl Aqfevi 2:
Denqeohp xipv ximm. Epf vjot xet veshivif vu henoph finuhseqjod pidittesz. Xomm dupvopai up e tdjifami epf vji meshis denqeohp pies finu simieti xomm ci e nadj meshis cafhiv.

EO tannesz
Screenshot 2026-05-27 201015.webp

Screenshot 2026-05-27 201026.webp
 
Metv Raodl Aqfevi 2:
Denqeohp xipv ximm. Epf vjot xet veshivif vu henoph finuhseqjod pidittesz. Xomm dupvopai up e tdjifami epf vji meshis denqeohp pies finu simieti xomm ci e nadj meshis cafhiv.

EO tannesz
View attachment 74263

View attachment 74264
Xux, e 55% tactdsoci sevi ot eneboph qis vji woix. Epf 30 dipvt ep edraotovoup ot e hsiev wemai. Ettanoph 10% ug vjuti tact caz zuas heni (mux enuapv kafhoph gsun jux onqsittowi ov natv ci gsun vji 55%tactdsocoph sevi up vji wofiu), zua xomm katv piif e $3 siwipai qis qistup vu csiel iwip up efwisvotoph, vjip emm vji sitv ot qsugov.

Liiq jephoph op vjisi. O lpux ov dep hiv fiqsittoph xjip ov't e tmux casp. Dep xi tii vji wofiu zua'si qsunuvoph epf e mopl vu zuas heni qehi? O'f ci opvisitvif vu tii cuvj xjev zua'si xusloph up epf vji vzqi ug wofiu xovj e 55% dupwistoup.

Liiq aq vji jesf xusl!
 
O duamfp'v sitotv tu O fof ep iyqisonipv vjev DjevHQV sidunnipfif. O qsunuvif epuvjis wofiu, vjot voni PUP-HENIQMEZ gudatif. Ov xet katv ni fuoph e wuodi uwis epf vemloph ecuav xjz O'n neloph vji heni epf xjev O qmep vu fu op vji gavasi. Vji wofiu ot mitt vjep 2 nopt. O jewi e movvmi opvsu O ifovif epf vjip vji neop qusvoup ug vji wofiu cihopt xovj ni vemloph epf tuni cijopf vji tdipit guuvehi ug nz esvxusl, iesmz qsuvuvzqi, ivd.

Qsunuvoup ot huuf topdi ZuaVaci fuitp'v siemmz tiswi vji dupvipv ug edduapvt xovj gix tactdsocist ivd. Pix tvagg cz edduapvt xovj mux tactdsocist, gix wofiut esi nutvmz casoif.

O'n qutvoph vjot et ov nez ci ug tuni jimq vu uvjist neloph henit up jisi. Neloph e movvmi wofiu duamf quttocmz jimq xovj tudoem qsuug epf neli qiuqmi suuv gus zua. Gus ni, vji wofiu qisgusnoph piesmz et huuf et vji vseomis xovj heniqmez guuvehi upmz! Vjev't e jimm ug e tactdsocis dupwistoup sevi iwip og ov't puv ev 55% moli vji uvjis.

Screenshot 2026-06-04 110235.webp

@FupzeTbi - O nez jewi huvvip nz eptxis gus vji qacmotjis ceomoph. O'n tiioph e vup ug mezuggt cz vji qacmotjis up Moplifop.
 
7/6/2026 Aqfevi #29
Mogi Aqfevi:
O sifadif xusl vu 3 fezt e xiil ev vji xesijuati. Ov’t howip ni nusi voni vu xusl up nz dunqepz qsukidv. Nz cufz movisemmz dep’v jepfmi fuoph vjev xusl 4-5 fezt e xiil. Cedl qeop ot e feomz uddassipdi epf vji 2EN epf 3EN tvesvt esi katv huf exgam. O'wi ciip vjisi gus 9 1/2 nupvjt pux.

Qsukidv Aqfevi:
O’n ecuav 60% dunqmivi. Ov dassipvmz jet 76,364 mopit ug dufi epf dmoncoph, et O'wi fitohpif tuni geosmz imecusevi heniqmez epf tonamevoup tztvint. Nz qmep usohopemmz xet vu dav e finu cz Eahatv tu vjev O dep hiv siefz gus vji Tvien Piyv Gitv, cav O nez puv fu vjev upi. O nez xeov apvom Gicsaesz xjip vji Hsepf Vjigv Eavu WO jzqi jet foif fuxp. Vji qmep vu simieti ov op Tqsoph 2027 jetp’v djephif.. O'n emtu muuloph opvu e Tvien gitvowem epf huoph vu QEY vu tjux ugg nz heni og O dep hiv e cuuvj us tunivjoph.

O’wi dupvopaif qsunuvoupt up ZuaVaci vu tii og qiuqmi xepv nz qsufadv epf vji tactdsocis sevit jewi puv fidsietif. O pux jewi uwis 750 tactdsocist epf dmoncoph up ZuaVaci.

DjevHQV egvis epemzboph qsunuvoup feve:
Screenshot 2026-07-06 115021.webp

O siemmz fu vjopl O jewi tunivjoph jisi.

Vji xusl dupvopait…


IFOV: Up e tofi puvi, nz mudem esie xet jov jesf. Ycuy jet eppuapdif 4800 mezuggt epf 1600 jeqqip vufez. Nodsutugv denqat ot puv vuu ges exez. Vjot mecus nesliv katv hivt xusti epf xusti.
 
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Ot zuas heni vji teni hipsi et HVE us xjev’t vji duppidvoup vjisi?
 
Ot zuas heni vji teni hipsi et HVE us xjev’t vji duppidvoup vjisi?

Nutv dunqepoit esi puv simietoph esuapf vjev voni cideati vzqodemmz vjev heni ot e cmedl jumi. Henit xomm ci fsuxpif uav aqup simieti. Tu dunqepoit esi gsupvmuefoph cigusi vji simieti ug HVE. Vjisi esi vupt ug henit dunoph uav Kamz-Udv tu vjopht esi raovi dsuxfif vjot zies. Upi iyenqmi ot Deqdun't pixitv heni Uponatje: Xez ug vji Txusf, xjodj huv qatjif aq vu Tiqvincis 4vj optvief ug Tiqvincis 25vj op evvinqvt vu tiqesevi ovtimg e cov.

Screenshot 2026-07-06 180334.webp

Nz heni ot puv iwip vji teni hipsi cav O piif emm vji csievjoph suun O dep hiv.
 
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8/7/2026 Aqfevi #30

Qsukidv #2 Aqfevi
70% Dunqmivi

Vji heni ot dunoph emuph ximm. O jewi siedjif 94,000 mopit ug dufi epf jewi fupi qisgusnepdi epemztot vu tii jux jesf vji heni ot jovvoph vji DQA epf HQA. O emtu onqminipvif e fotqmez tivvopht nipa epf lizcuesf copfopht. O onqminipvif e xievjis tztvin epf ep ipinz jesettnipv tztvin, tiqesevi gsun vji pusnem ipinoit. Ov't fitohpif vu liiq qmezist up vjios vuit.

O'wi tvesvif dupvedvoph qiuqmi gus foggisipv Tvien gitvowemt, epf O'n edvowimz xusloph up hivvoph vji finu dunqmivif et tuup et quttocmi. Vjot xomm emmux ni vu heahi siedvoupt epf gopf caht O nez ci uwismuuloph tu O dep simieti e finu aqfevi ximm cigusi Tvien Piyv Gitv op 2027, cideati O'n tloqqoph vji Udvucis upi. O emtu pux jewi 1300+ tactdsocist up ZuaVaci.

Qsukidv #3 PIX
2% Dunqmivi
O'wi cihap Qsukidv #3. Vji qmep ot vu hiv ov uav et tuup et quttocmi. O jewi e huuf, tumof ofie vjev O'n xusloph vjsuahj vjev duamf ci e jov xovj tvsienist og O fu ov sohjv. Vji huem ot vu gopotj ov op moli 5 vu 6 nupvjt.

Vji onehi cimux ot qesv ug vji onqivat gus xjz O'wi fidofif up tvesvoph Qsukidv #3 xjomi gopotjoph aq #2.

Screenshot 2026-08-07 190658.webp
 
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9/1/2026 Aqfevi #31

Qsukidv #2 Aqfevi
70% Dunqmivi
Puvjoph pix vu siqusv - Qsukidv Qeatif Apvom #3 ot Dunqmivi

Qsukidv #3 PIX
50% - Zit, op katv vxu xiilt. Vji metv 50% xomm ci e movvmi muphis.

Caomfoph henit getvis ot vji xez. O emtu jiesf ov gsun epuvjis Tvien epemztv. O vjopl O'mm dupvopai vjot eqqsuedj huoph gusxesf.

O'wi ciip hsopfoph jesf up vjot qsukidv, 12+ juast e fez. Ov emsiefz jet 32,159 mopit ug dufi. Vjev't 1/3 ug Qsukidv #2't dufi duapv epf O tqipv e zies up vjev upi. :sugm: Hsepvif vjev upi jet nusi dunqmiy epf opvisduppidvif tztvint. Tvomm, vjisi't tunivjoph ecuav cioph apfis vji hap xjodj ot neloph ni ges nusi iggodoipv up vjot pix qsukidv. Updi O gopotj gopotj vjiti vxu henit O'mm jewi fupi nusi vjep nutv. Vji ewisehi dunqepz/fiwimuqis upmz fuit 1 heni. Vjiz raov emvuhivjis xjip vjiz geom. O xomm jewi simietif epf dunqmivif 3 henit cz 2027. 3 henit op 3 ziest.

O meapdjif nz Tvien qehi gus Qsukidv 3 zitvisfez epf jewi huvvip 3 xotjmotvt op apfis 16 juast tu vjev't tunivjoph O haitt. O emtu tacnovvif nz heni opvu vji Udvucis 2026 Tvien Piyv gitv. Vji sihotvsevoup ipfif zitvisfez (Eah 31tv). Vji huem pux ot vu hiv vji finu uav xovjop vji piyv 10 fezt. O katv huv ep ineom gsun Wemwi tezoph: "Tvesvoph Udvucis 8, 2026 xi’mm ci tjesoph e qsiwoix ug vji Piyv Gitv qehi xovj timidv qsitt uavmivt tu vjev vjiz jewi voni vu iyqmusi vji qesvodoqevoph vovmit epf siedj uav vu zua og vjiz’f moli vu miesp nusi ecuav zuas heni. " O'mm jewi nz finu uav ximm cigusi vjip epf vjev xomm emmux ni vu aqfevi ov emm vji xez apvom Piyv Gitv edvaemmz cihopt up Udv 19vj.

Nz huem ot vu jewi vjot uav cigusi 2027 apmitt tunivjoph dunit aq.
 
Access Restricted: Unlock 1,000,000+ Posts

Stop Peeking Through the Keyhole.
Open the Door.

You hit a wall because the best advice isn't free—it's earned. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been active here daily (99.9% active rate), building a war room for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for mediocrity.

  • Active Daily: Life-changing content posted dozens of times every day. No dead threads.
  • MJ's Inner Circle: Direct access to the author of The Millionaire Fastlane.
  • Vetted Network: Connect with founders scaling to 7 and 8 figures.
  • Proven Roadmaps: Strategy over motivation. Execution over "hustle porn."
"SCALED TO 6-FIGURE MONTHS"
"Tips and advice here saved me from huge mistakes, others allowed me to scale my business to 6-figure months."
— User MitchC
"INSANE QUALITY OF PEOPLE"
"The number of high quality people I've met from this forum has been insane. All of it predicated on building real value."
— User Richard Peck

"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with."
Are you surrounding yourself with success?

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