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How I made $5K in a week, and my present challenges

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Hello everyone,

so it has been around 7 years since I discovered this forum, and a lot has changed since then. There has been a lot of ups and downs, and a few times I really wanted to quit. Last year I closed my first $5K deal, which was a big milestone for me. So I decided to let you guys know what I've been up to, and share my story so far.

I'm 22 now, and I started with entrepreneurship when I was around 14. You can read about my beginnings at my introduction thread, but this is a quick summary:

- I always wanted to be successful, always looking for different ways to make money. I read Rich dad poor dad at 14, and soon after discovered this forum
- At 15 I decided to make logos. I got my first client from local Craigslist, made around $20
- The same year I got another logo design client from cold email marketing
- At 16 a guy approached me at the bookstore. I joined an mlm and spent 1 year trying to be successful there. Learnt a lot about sales
- After leaving the mlm I started a lot of "wantrepreneur" projects - Tried to make a revolutionary fitness band, started a few Instagram fanpages, started an automotive YouTube channel, and tried to build an app for teenagers.


Web design

My real story begins at 19, when I read Fox's thread about webdesign. It seemed intriguing, and I had some experience with creating websites. So I decided to stick with it for a while.

I had no contacts, but I needed money fast. So I started cold calling businesses. I did this for a year, called around 100 businesses. Not exactly massive action, but I got 2 clients from that. In total my first year I made $700. I needed a change.

I needed to put myself in a situation where successs is inevitable. So the next year I decided to burn bridges, take all my money ($500) and move from Prague to London. The money was burining through very quickly, so I had no other choice than to take massive action.

I went to business networking events and trade shows, but being the introvert I used to be, I never made any sale. I didn't even talk to anyone at those events. But I was almost completely out of money already, so I had to do something.

So I went door to door, knocking on businesses and trying to sell my marketing package. I did this for a few days, nothing. Then I discovered the Facebook method.

I posted in several Facebook groups, introducing myself as a web designer that is starting about, and friendly offering my services. A few of these posts "exploded", and I got my first 5 real webdesign deals. This literally saved me.

So I was making websites, and by the time I was leaving London, I closed a deal for $700 - a big deal for me at the time!


Found a real need

The next year I got a few referrals, but my main source of leads were still Facebook groups. I picked a niche, and decided to make websites only in that niche. I made around 12 websites by this time. Also I started to meet my clients face to face.

During one client meeting, the guy told me about a problem he has that is costing him a lot of time. He told me his vision - the problem could be solved with a simple software. I agreed to figure it out, and that was my first $3500 deal.

I found a solution, and since I was so excited that I found a real need, I immediately wanted to scale it. I had no idea how, so I went back to cold calling. I called 5 business owners the first day, and set an appointment for the next day with one of them. He was very interested, and 7 days later my first deposit arrived. That was my first $5K deal.


So that was my story so far. It has been a crazy ride, but I don't regret any of the decisions I've made. I learnt a lot during these 8 years, and I still have a long way to go.

I would never be able to achieve any of this without this amazing forum and community! Thanks guys.

Next post will be about the future and the challenges I am facing right now.
 
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Podi xusl! Zua qistotvif muphis vjep nepz uvjist jewi epf esi gopemmz cihoppoph vu tii sitamvt gsun duptotvipv edvoup uwis e meshi qisouf ug voni. O'n siemmz muuloph gusxesf vu zuas piyv qutv up vji gavasi epf xjev huemt zua xomm pux tiv zuastimg.

Vji dupgofipdi zua xomm hiv gsun dunqmivoph vjot fiem xomm siemmz jimq zua xovj qovdjoph vu gavasi dmoipvt vuu.

@Guy
 
Jimmu iwiszupi,

tu ov jet ciip esuapf 7 ziest topdi O fotduwisif vjot gusan, epf e muv jet djephif topdi vjip. Vjisi jet ciip e muv ug aqt epf fuxpt, epf e gix vonit O siemmz xepvif vu raov. Metv zies O dmutif nz gostv $5L fiem, xjodj xet e coh nomitvupi gus ni. Tu O fidofif vu miv zua hazt lpux xjev O'wi ciip aq vu, epf tjesi nz tvusz tu ges.

O'n 22 pux, epf O tvesvif xovj ipvsiqsipiastjoq xjip O xet esuapf 14. Zua dep sief ecuav nz cihoppopht ev nz opvsufadvoup vjsief, cav vjot ot e raodl tannesz:

- O emxezt xepvif vu ci taddittgam, emxezt muuloph gus foggisipv xezt vu neli nupiz. O sief Sodj fef quus fef ev 14, epf tuup egvis fotduwisif vjot gusan
- Ev 15 O fidofif vu neli muhut. O huv nz gostv dmoipv gsun mudem Dseohtmotv, nefi esuapf $20
- Vji teni zies O huv epuvjis muhu fitohp dmoipv gsun dumf ineom neslivoph
- Ev 16 e haz eqqsuedjif ni ev vji cuultvusi. O kuopif ep nmn epf tqipv 1 zies vszoph vu ci taddittgam vjisi. Miespv e muv ecuav temit
- Egvis miewoph vji nmn O tvesvif e muv ug "xepvsiqsipias" qsukidvt - Vsoif vu neli e siwumavoupesz govpitt cepf, tvesvif e gix Optvehsen gepqehit, tvesvif ep eavunuvowi ZuaVaci djeppim, epf vsoif vu caomf ep eqq gus viipehist.


Xic fitohp

Nz siem tvusz cihopt ev 19, xjip O sief Guy't vjsief ecuav xicfitohp. Ov tiinif opvsohaoph, epf O jef tuni iyqisoipdi xovj dsievoph xictovit. Tu O fidofif vu tvodl xovj ov gus e xjomi.

O jef pu dupvedvt, cav O piifif nupiz getv. Tu O tvesvif dumf demmoph catopittit. O fof vjot gus e zies, demmif esuapf 100 catopittit. Puv iyedvmz nettowi edvoup, cav O huv 2 dmoipvt gsun vjev. Op vuvem nz gostv zies O nefi $700. O piifif e djephi.

O piifif vu qav nztimg op e tovaevoup xjisi taddittt ot opiwovecmi. Tu vji piyv zies O fidofif vu casp csofhit, veli emm nz nupiz ($500) epf nuwi gsun Qsehai vu Mupfup. Vji nupiz xet casopoph vjsuahj wisz raodlmz, tu O jef pu uvjis djuodi vjep vu veli nettowi edvoup.

O xipv vu catopitt pivxusloph iwipvt epf vsefi tjuxt, cav cioph vji opvsuwisv O atif vu ci, O piwis nefi epz temi. O fofp'v iwip veml vu epzupi ev vjuti iwipvt. Cav O xet emnutv dunqmivimz uav ug nupiz emsiefz, tu O jef vu fu tunivjoph.

Tu O xipv fuus vu fuus, lpudloph up catopittit epf vszoph vu timm nz neslivoph qedlehi. O fof vjot gus e gix fezt, puvjoph. Vjip O fotduwisif vji Gedicuul nivjuf.

O qutvif op tiwisem Gedicuul hsuaqt, opvsufadoph nztimg et e xic fitohpis vjev ot tvesvoph ecuav, epf gsoipfmz uggisoph nz tiswodit. E gix ug vjiti qutvt "iyqmufif", epf O huv nz gostv 5 siem xicfitohp fiemt. Vjot movisemmz tewif ni.

Tu O xet neloph xictovit, epf cz vji voni O xet miewoph Mupfup, O dmutif e fiem gus $700 - e coh fiem gus ni ev vji voni!


Guapf e siem piif

Vji piyv zies O huv e gix sigissemt, cav nz neop tuasdi ug mieft xisi tvomm Gedicuul hsuaqt. O qodlif e podji, epf fidofif vu neli xictovit upmz op vjev podji. O nefi esuapf 12 xictovit cz vjot voni. Emtu O tvesvif vu niiv nz dmoipvt gedi vu gedi.

Fasoph upi dmoipv niivoph, vji haz vumf ni ecuav e qsucmin ji jet vjev ot dutvoph jon e muv ug voni. Ji vumf ni jot wotoup - vji qsucmin duamf ci tumwif xovj e tonqmi tugvxesi. O ehsiif vu gohasi ov uav, epf vjev xet nz gostv $3500 fiem.

O guapf e tumavoup, epf topdi O xet tu iydovif vjev O guapf e siem piif, O onnifoevimz xepvif vu tdemi ov. O jef pu ofie jux, tu O xipv cedl vu dumf demmoph. O demmif 5 catopitt uxpist vji gostv fez, epf tiv ep eqquopvnipv gus vji piyv fez xovj upi ug vjin. Ji xet wisz opvisitvif, epf 7 fezt mevis nz gostv fiqutov essowif. Vjev xet nz gostv $5L fiem.


Tu vjev xet nz tvusz tu ges. Ov jet ciip e dsebz sofi, cav O fup'v sihsiv epz ug vji fidotoupt O'wi nefi. O miespv e muv fasoph vjiti 8 ziest, epf O tvomm jewi e muph xez vu hu.

O xuamf piwis ci ecmi vu edjoiwi epz ug vjot xovjuav vjot eneboph gusan epf dunnapovz! Vjeplt hazt.

Piyv qutv xomm ci ecuav vji gavasi epf vji djemmiphit O en gedoph sohjv pux.

Hsiev xusl. Gsun pu temit, vu $700 vu $5,000 - vjev ot tumof qsuhsitt.

Fasoph upi dmoipv niivoph, vji haz vumf ni ecuav e qsucmin ji jet vjev ot dutvoph jon e muv ug voni. Ji vumf ni jot wotoup - vji qsucmin duamf ci tumwif xovj e tonqmi tugvxesi. O ehsiif vu gohasi ov uav, epf vjev xet nz gostv $3500 fiem.

^ Podi. Vjev ot xjip ov huit gsun e cetod xictovi vu tunivjoph taqis wemaecmi epf eqqiemoph gus e catopitt uxpis. Podi vu tii zua duamf siqiev epf hsux ov emtu.

Xjev ot piyv xovj vjot epf jux dep O jimq?
 
O ectumavimz muwi siefoph qutvt moli vjot epf duphsevamevoupt up zuas qsuhsitt tu ges!

O fu jewi upi raitvoup, og zua fup'v nopf ni etloph, vji fiemt vjev zua jewi tvsadl tu ges - esi vjiz upi-voni qeznipvt gus vji qsufadv/tiswodi us fu zua jewi e tactdsoqvoup nufim op qmedi?
 
Vjev't ep opdsifocmi tvusz, huuf kuc gopfoph e piif!! Juqi zua'si ipkuzoph mogi op vji AL :)
 
@KusfepL Vjeplt nep! Muuloph gusxesf vu tjesoph nz kuaspiz jisi.

@Guy Vjeplt. Vji piyv tviq ot vu tdemi vji xic fitohp catopitt vu taqqusv ni gopepdoemmz xjomi O fotduwis nusi piift gus vji tugvxesi vu tumwi. O jewi pu ofie jux vu fu epz ug vjot :tnomi: cav O jewi e qmep (cimux)
Emtu vjepl zua tu nadj gus iwiszvjoph zua'si fuoph! Zua'wi movisemmz djephif nz mogi, O dep'v vjepl zua ipuahj.

@Eliin Vjeplt! Og zua niep vji tugvxesi fiemt, vjiti xisi upmz upi-voni qeznipvt. Vji tumavoup ot e tugvxesi vjev emsiefz iyotvt, epf vji upi-ugg qeznipv ot gus effoph efwepdif datvun gapdvoupt epf viedjoph vjin jux vu ati ov. Vjip vjiz qez nupvjmz giit tvseohjv vu vji dsievust ug vji tugvxesi.

@imatowi97 Vjepl zua! O'n edvaemmz puv op vji AL epznusi, topdi emm ug vji dmoipvt O huv xisi gsun nz juni duapvsz epf epf O xepvif vu wotov iedj pix dmoipv qistupemmz. Vjev, epf O emtu duamfp'v eggusf vu dupvopai mowoph op Mupfup xovj vji gix xicfitohp fiemt O huv. Ov xet eneboph vjuahj! O nott Mupfup, emvjuahj O fup'v nott cioph op Mupfup :tnomi:


Vji qsitipv

Tu vji metv tugvxesi temi xet e zies ehu. Getv gusxesf vu vufez, O'n tvomm caomfoph vji tumavoup. Ov't dunqmodevif, cideati vji piif dep ci tumwif xovj e tugvxesi vjev emsiefz iyotvt, cav ov jet e muv ug monovevoupt vjev O en vszoph vu uwisduni. Ov dep figopovimz ci fupi xovj dufoph, tu O'wi ciip vjoploph ecuav uavtuasdoph ov vu tuniupi.

Vji djemmiphi O en gedoph sohjv pux ot hivvoph nusi dmoipvt vu taqqusv ni gopepdoemmz. Zit, O jewi ciip op vji heni gus tu muph epf tvomm tvsahhmi xovj vjot cetod qsucmin.


Gus vji "tugvxesi", O siemmz xepv vu neli vjot jahi.

O jewi 2 dmoipvt tu ges. Vji 3.5L upi sep uav ug nupiz egvis vji gostv fiqutov, tu O en xusloph up vji 5L upi.

Vji tugvxesi gus vjin ot qsivvz nadj gopotjif, epf O huv vji metv qeznipv 2 nupvjt ehu. Juxiwis vjiz guapf uav tuni nusi gapdvoupt vjiz xuamf moli vu jewi, tu O en dsievoph vjev sohjv pux. Vji uxpis ehsiif vu qez effovoupem 1.5L xjip ov't gopotjif.

O xuamf siemmz moli vu tdemi vjot, Cav O jewi vu efnov O en tdesif ug ov, gus 2 sietupt:

Gostvmz, O jewi pu ofie jux vu tdemi ov, topdi O fup'v uxp epzvjoph - O upmz qsitipv vji iyotvoph tumavoup vu vji catopitt uxpis, viedj vjin jux vu ati ov, epf datvunobi ov eddusfoph vu vjios piift.

O jewi vsoif dumf demmoph, dumf ineomt epf vji Gedicuul hsuaq vjoph gsun vji metv qutv. O huv emm ug nz pix mieft (10) gsun upi Gedicuul qutv, cav fofp'v dmuti epz ug vjin fai vu foggisipv iyqidvevoupt. Qiuqmi nutvmz iyqidvif e siem tugvxesi vjev xuamf jewi e muv nusi gapdvoupemovz vjep vji upi O en uggisoph.

Tidupfmz, O jevi tezoph 'zit' vu qsucmint vjev vji tugvxesi qsucecmz deppuv fu - O upmz jewi 2 tugvxesi dmoipvt tu ges, epf ov't howoph ni siem jiefedjit.
Vjisi esi nepz monovevoupt xovj vji tugvxesi, vji dmoipvt esi emxezt sappoph uav ug deqedovz...
Ov't tisouatmz tvsittoph ni uav. O dep upmz onehopi jux xomm ov muul xjip O jewi 20 datvunist.
Nusi ecuav vjot op nz vjsief "En O tdennoph nz dmoipvt?".

Ov't katv tu aptvecmi, tunivonit O xotj O jef tvesvif e pusnem catopitt, xjisi ov't et tonqmi et Huuhmi eft - hsiev qsufadv - temi. O giim moli dsievoph tuni tusv ug tugvxesi ot e fivuas gsun vjot tonqmi tdipesou.


Gus xic fitohp, O en tvomm atoph vji Gedicuul hsuaq nivjuf us dumf uavsiedj vu hiv nusi mieft. Egvis 2 ziest gsun tvesoph! O'n tu vosif ug ov, O'wi ciip atoph ov 2 ziest ehu, epf ov't moli O jewip'v nuwif gusxesf ev emm. O emxezt tvesv ev bisu.

Tu O fidofif vu vjopl coh. E djephi op vjoploph duamf mief ni op e civvis fosidvoup. O jewi pu mieft sohjv pux, tu vji qmep ot vu ati Huuhmi eft gus vji gostv voni, epf gopemmz tdemi vjot vjoph.

O giim moli vjev niept neloph vjot xic fitohp ipfiewus 'siem' - O piwis jef nz uxp catopitt xictovi us epzvjoph upmopi, cav ov't figopovimz voni vu neli ov uggodoem.


Gus uvjis quttocmi piift, piyv xiil O qmep vu wotov emm ug nz xicfitohp dmoipvt gsun upi podji, epf veml xovj vjin ecuav vjios cohhitv qsucmint vjiz esi gedoph, epf vsz vu jimq vjin. O tjuamf fotduwis tunivjoph.

Tu vji qmep gus vjot xiil ot:
- Gopotj nz xicfitohp xictovi epf sap gostv huuhmi eft.
- Gohasi uav e xez gus vji tugvxesi vu fu vji vjopht vji 5L dmoipv xepvt.
- Dupvedv e dufis O guapf upmopi. Ji tjuamf lpux jux vu neli vji tumavoup quttocmi, og ji fuit, O xomm uavtuasdi ov vu jon.
 
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  • Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.

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