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Conscripted

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Hello everyone.
I'm Bill.
I've been lurking around for a couple of months. I've posted a few times and decided that it's time to introduce myself.

I've spent the last 246 months straddling the sidewalk and slow lane while serving in the US military. 20.5 years is a long time to run the same treadmill. Six months ago I started to see if there were alternatives. I discovered many great books including TMF and Unscripted . I also discovered that I don't have to live in a world of scarcity.

I recently had a chance to spend a few weeks at home with my wife and son. I loved being around every day. My wife's health isn't good and my son is autistic. Being home every day enhanced everyone's life. My goal is to never have to work outside my home again. I need to be around when they need me (which is frequently). I guess that's my "WHY".

I'm currently searching for my next path. I know that real estate will be a part of my future. Before I can begin to develop a rental portfolio I need to pay the bills. I'm trying to decide how to replace my full income after I retire. The deficit is expected to be around $3,500. I've been reading posts here about importing products and selling them online. I'm hoping to learn more about that. I'm also considering going the arbitrage route. I'd love to hear from people who have been successful with either. Once I decide on where to put my energy I'll have a few months to work on it before I actually retire.

I've found a few threads about purchasing an existing business.

I think this forum is really special. I've already spent many hours reading the great posts here. There is so much information available here it's overwhelming.
 
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lowtek

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Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story.

If time constraints are really an issue, you'd probably be better served buying a business... but this also quite difficult as there are many pitfalls.

As far as importing, it's not really feasible to be making $3500 a month in a few months. It's going to take 1 - 2 years to get to that point, and that's if you do everything correctly. Just the process of importing from China alone takes months.

I'm not hoping to rain on your parade, I just don't want you to have false expectations.

Is there anything for which you can consult from the home? Slowlane service businesses really are the fastest way to get rolling as you can brute force the process by cold outreach at a large volume.
 

Entre Eyes

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Welcome and thanks for your service my friend. I would focus on listbuilding in that industry. Regardless of what you promote later you will have access to a targeted audience that trust you and ready to buy what you have based on the helpful tips you provided.
 

Conscripted

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I just re-read my post. I guess I didn't say everything as well as I wanted to. I've got so many thoughts and emotions that are fighting to be expressed. Here is what I know for certain.
  • I've got between 4 and 18 months to figure out what the next phase of my life will be
  • I need to be around to help my wife and son
  • I don't want to work a traditional 9-5
  • My mind is currently blind to many of the opportunities I know are around me

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story.
I'm really glad this forum exists. There is so much to learn.

I'm not hoping to rain on your parade, I just don't want you to have false expectations.
No worries. I don't have a parade yet. Those were just two things that I found interesting. I'm only beginning to understand what is possible. I grew up really poor and I've still got that mindset that I'm working to overcome.

Is there anything for which you can consult from the home? Slowlane service businesses really are the fastest way to get rolling as you can brute force the process by cold outreach at a large volume.

I'm currently giving this a lot of thought. My initial answer is "NO" but that can't be right. I suspect I have a lack of imagination on how my skills might be marketable to some task other than a 9-5.
 
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Last edited:

Walter Hay

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As far as importing, it's not really feasible to be making $3500 a month in a few months. It's going to take 1 - 2 years to get to that point, and that's if you do everything correctly. Just the process of importing from China alone takes months.
I have many of my book readers who have made a lot more than $3,500 in a few months. Usually it has been a result of thorough market research, but in some cases it has resulted from the new importer seizing an opportunity when his small venture showed him a huge market.
In this post Success Story: Importing I describe the success of someone who started small and within 5 years had a turnover in excess of $1million.

A success story with results in a very short time frame can be seen here:
GOLD! Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist


I grew up really poor and I've still got that mindset that I'm working to overcome.
I also grew up very poor. You can see my story here:
FEATURED USER Walter Hay, Imp/Export Extraordinaire (Vandalay Industries)
I think the fact you you have joined the Forum shows that your mindset is already changing. If you can endure over 20 years in the military, you can do anything you put your mind to. :smile2:

Walter
 

BellaPippin

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Welcome and thank you for your service! I can relate to being blind to all the options that are available, or not even thinking of certain skills you have but you "don't think of". Keep digging! Keep checking all the Notable and Gold threads. People have made it in so many different ways, it's not impossible to do it from home at all.
 

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