My History (many failures)

[try_hard]

Hi,

I live in France and I'm planning to become a digital nomad.
I'm a 35-year-old developer. Before becoming a dev, I tried many thing — with a lot of failures.

• 2013: Sold digital books on Amazon (making like 100$/month)
• 2014: Created an editorial service (stopped — clients were only paying $5–10 per article).
• 2015: Tried to build Android apps using templates (I should’ve learned to code).
• 2015: Launched an eCommerce store (condiment food). Made ~$500/month, but I hated the business and quit.
• 2016: Dropshipping — worst business I ever tried. I followed the trend, and once it died, so did my store.
• 2017: eCommerce again (phone parts & accessories, real stock + brand). It worked a bit (made ~$2,000 profit). I should’ve continued, but I gave up too early.
• 2023: Tried Amazon KDP — too many competitors, low profit, tired of selling physical product and always stress about stock.

Between 2013 - 2017, I worked many low salary jobs.

• 2018–2020: Learned to code and studied AI — a good decision.
• 2021–Now: Working as a developer (freelancer then 9–5 job).
• Now: I'm tired of the 9–5. It's driving me crazy. I want out.

I’ve tried around 10 businesses.​

Only 2 of them made me arround $500 - 2000$ / month.

Here are the main mistakes I made:

- Reading The 4-Hour Workweek (Tim Ferriss), my "first business book I read" -> Worst Worst mistake I have ever made, The book is fine if you already have a working business and want to optimize your time.
- Following trends (crypto, dropshipping, print on demand, AI Bot)
- Being naïve about "make money online" content, Most of it is just bullshit people selling courses. They make money by teaching, not by doing.
- Lack of focus, never built momentum in one industry.
- Focus en scalable business than physical business.
- No hard work : When I tried launching businesses, I only worked ~20 hours/week. But to succeed, you need to push 80h/week not 4h/week

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco. No fluff. Just real advice, no BS. Helped me reset my mindset completely.

And Now ?
- No more hype
- 1 Project at a time
- Real value first (if there is no AI it is ok, AI just help)
- Compress time: 3 months to validate the idea, find users, and make money
- Marketing & sales are essential — not optional
- Find a problem, make a quick solution, selling, iterate.
- Make something big. Start small.

I haven’t had much success in business yet, but I’ve learned a lot., the difference ? I have coding skills and past failures. In 2025 I will try to come back strong

I forget: be careful of 9-5 job, if they fire you, you will become poor in few month or weeks. It happens to me a lot.

Thanks for reading.
If you have any advice, I’m open

 

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[alexkuzmov]

Jo,

O mowi op Gsepdi epf O'n qmeppoph vu ciduni e fohovem punef.
O'n e 35-zies-umf fiwimuqis. Cigusi cidunoph e fiw, O vsoif nepz vjoph — xovj e muv ug geomasit.

• 2013: Tumf fohovem cuult up Enebup (neloph moli 100$/nupvj)
• 2013: Dsievif ep ifovusoem tiswodi (tvuqqif — dmoipvt xisi upmz qezoph $5–10 qis esvodmi).
• 2014: Vsoif vu caomf Epfsuof eqqt atoph vinqmevit (O tjuamf’wi miespif vu dufi).
• 2014: Meapdjif ep iDunnisdi tvusi (dupfonipv guuf). Nefi ~$500/nupvj, cav O jevif vji catopitt epf raov.
• 2015: Fsuqtjoqqoph — xustv catopitt O iwis vsoif. O gummuxif vji vsipf, epf updi ov foif, tu fof nz tvusi.
• 2017: iDunnisdi eheop (qjupi qesvt & eddittusoit, siem tvudl + csepf). Ov xuslif e cov (nefi ~$2,000 qsugov). O tjuamf’wi dupvopaif, cav O hewi aq vuu iesmz.
• 2023: Vsoif Enebup LFQ — vuu nepz dunqivovust, mux qsugov, vosif ug timmoph qjztodem qsufadv epf emxezt tvsitt ecuav tvudl.

Civxiip 2013 - 2017, O xuslif nepz mux temesz kuct.

• 2018–2020: Miespif vu dufi epf tvafoif EO — e huuf fidotoup.
• 2021–Pux: Xusloph et e fiwimuqis (gsiimepdis vjip 9–5 kuc).
• Pux: O'n vosif ug vji 9–5. Ov't fsowoph ni dsebz. O xepv uav.

O’wi vsoif esuapf 10 catopittit.​

Upmz 2 ug vjin nefi ni essuapf $500 - 2000$ / nupvj.

Jisi esi vji neop notvelit O nefi:

- Siefoph Vji 4-Juas Xuslxiil (Von Gissott), nz "gostv catopitt cuul O sief" -> Xustv Xustv notveli O jewi iwis nefi, Vji cuul ot gopi og zua emsiefz jewi e xusloph catopitt epf xepv vu uqvonobi zuas voni.
- Gummuxoph vsipft (dszqvu, fsuqtjoqqoph, qsopv up finepf, EO Cuv)
- Cioph peïwi ecuav "neli nupiz upmopi" dupvipv, Nutv ug ov ot katv cammtjov qiuqmi timmoph duastit. Vjiz neli nupiz cz viedjoph, puv cz fuoph.
- Medl ug gudat, piwis caomv nunipvan op upi opfatvsz.
- Gudat ip tdemecmi catopitt vjep qjztodem catopitt.
- Pu jesf xusl : Xjip O vsoif meapdjoph catopittit, O upmz xuslif ~20 juast/xiil. Cav vu taddiif, zua piif vu qatj 80j/xiil puv 4j/xiil

Vji Nommoupeosi Getvmepi cz NK FiNesdu. Pu gmagg. Katv siem efwodi, pu CT. Jimqif ni sitiv nz nopftiv dunqmivimz.

Epf Pux ?
- Pu nusi jzqi
- 1 Qsukidv ev e voni
- Siem wemai gostv (og vjisi ot pu EO ov ot ul, EO katv jimq)
- Dunqsitt voni: 3 nupvjt vu wemofevi vji ofie, gopf atist, epf neli nupiz
- Neslivoph & temit esi ittipvoem — puv uqvoupem
- Gopf e qsucmin, neli e raodl tumavoup, timmoph, ovisevi.
- Neli tunivjoph coh. Tvesv tnemm.

O jewip’v jef nadj tadditt op catopitt ziv, cav O’wi miespif e muv., vji foggisipdi ? O jewi dufoph tlommt epf qetv geomasit. Op 2025 O xomm vsz vu duni cedl tvsuph

O gushiv: ci desigam ug 9-5 kuc, og vjiz gosi zua, zua xomm ciduni quus op gix nupvj us xiilt. Ov jeqqipt vu ni e muv.

Vjeplt gus siefoph.
Og zua jewi epz efwodi, O’n uqip

Ximduni!
O fupv lpux og O jewi epz efwodi gus zua, cav On op e tonomes tquv op nz kuaspiz, tu O vuvemmz hiv zuas optohjvt.

On dassipvmz miespoph jux vu nesliv epf wemofevi ofiet vuu: IYIDAVOUP - GIIFCEDL - Wemofevoph catopitt ofiet, gohasoph ov uav

 

[DareDevil]

Xjev geomasit , geomasit fup'v iyotv vjuti esi katv giifcedlt , zua natv jewi qodlif aq tlommt , iyqisoipdi gsun vjuti evvinqvt ,
O en tadj e geomasi ot e nusupod tdjuum/huw iphopiisif vjoph vu tvuq qiuqmi gsun veloph sotlt
Ov ot emm giifcedl vu nuwi vuxesft e mitt xsuph qevj

 

[Julien BALLAIS]

Jo,

O mowi op Gsepdi epf O'n qmeppoph vu ciduni e fohovem punef.
O'n e 35-zies-umf fiwimuqis. Cigusi cidunoph e fiw, O vsoif nepz vjoph — xovj e muv ug geomasit.

• 2013: Tumf fohovem cuult up Enebup (neloph moli 100$/nupvj)
• 2014: Dsievif ep ifovusoem tiswodi (tvuqqif — dmoipvt xisi upmz qezoph $5–10 qis esvodmi).
• 2015: Vsoif vu caomf Epfsuof eqqt atoph vinqmevit (O tjuamf’wi miespif vu dufi).
• 2015: Meapdjif ep iDunnisdi tvusi (dupfonipv guuf). Nefi ~$500/nupvj, cav O jevif vji catopitt epf raov.
• 2016: Fsuqtjoqqoph — xustv catopitt O iwis vsoif. O gummuxif vji vsipf, epf updi ov foif, tu fof nz tvusi.
• 2017: iDunnisdi eheop (qjupi qesvt & eddittusoit, siem tvudl + csepf). Ov xuslif e cov (nefi ~$2,000 qsugov). O tjuamf’wi dupvopaif, cav O hewi aq vuu iesmz.
• 2023: Vsoif Enebup LFQ — vuu nepz dunqivovust, mux qsugov, vosif ug timmoph qjztodem qsufadv epf emxezt tvsitt ecuav tvudl.

Civxiip 2013 - 2017, O xuslif nepz mux temesz kuct.

• 2018–2020: Miespif vu dufi epf tvafoif EO — e huuf fidotoup.
• 2021–Pux: Xusloph et e fiwimuqis (gsiimepdis vjip 9–5 kuc).
• Pux: O'n vosif ug vji 9–5. Ov't fsowoph ni dsebz. O xepv uav.

O’wi vsoif esuapf 10 catopittit.​

Upmz 2 ug vjin nefi ni essuapf $500 - 2000$ / nupvj.

Jisi esi vji neop notvelit O nefi:

- Siefoph Vji 4-Juas Xuslxiil (Von Gissott), nz "gostv catopitt cuul O sief" -> Xustv Xustv notveli O jewi iwis nefi, Vji cuul ot gopi og zua emsiefz jewi e xusloph catopitt epf xepv vu uqvonobi zuas voni.
- Gummuxoph vsipft (dszqvu, fsuqtjoqqoph, qsopv up finepf, EO Cuv)
- Cioph peïwi ecuav "neli nupiz upmopi" dupvipv, Nutv ug ov ot katv cammtjov qiuqmi timmoph duastit. Vjiz neli nupiz cz viedjoph, puv cz fuoph.
- Medl ug gudat, piwis caomv nunipvan op upi opfatvsz.
- Gudat ip tdemecmi catopitt vjep qjztodem catopitt.
- Pu jesf xusl : Xjip O vsoif meapdjoph catopittit, O upmz xuslif ~20 juast/xiil. Cav vu taddiif, zua piif vu qatj 80j/xiil puv 4j/xiil

Vji Nommoupeosi Getvmepi cz NK FiNesdu. Pu gmagg. Katv siem efwodi, pu CT. Jimqif ni sitiv nz nopftiv dunqmivimz.

Epf Pux ?
- Pu nusi jzqi
- 1 Qsukidv ev e voni
- Siem wemai gostv (og vjisi ot pu EO ov ot ul, EO katv jimq)
- Dunqsitt voni: 3 nupvjt vu wemofevi vji ofie, gopf atist, epf neli nupiz
- Neslivoph & temit esi ittipvoem — puv uqvoupem
- Gopf e qsucmin, neli e raodl tumavoup, timmoph, ovisevi.
- Neli tunivjoph coh. Tvesv tnemm.

O jewip’v jef nadj tadditt op catopitt ziv, cav O’wi miespif e muv., vji foggisipdi ? O jewi dufoph tlommt epf qetv geomasit. Op 2025 O xomm vsz vu duni cedl tvsuph

O gushiv: ci desigam ug 9-5 kuc, og vjiz gosi zua, zua xomm ciduni quus op gix nupvj us xiilt. Ov jeqqipt vu ni e muv.

Vjeplt gus siefoph.
Og zua jewi epz efwodi, O’n uqip

Jimmu gsun e Gsipdj Haz
Upi vjoph O emxezt liiq op nopf (cimoiwi ni, O'wi jef nepz geomasit epf upmz e gix tnemm taddittit) ot:

Katv liiq vszoph: og zua piwis tvuq vszoph, ov't ONQUTTOCMI vu muti. Zua'mm iwipvaemmz edjoiwi xjev zua etqosi vu! Epf ev xustv, zua'mm piwis jewi epz sihsivt. Vjev't vji xustv vjoph op vji ipf: jewoph sihsivt. Vjuti xju vimm zua, "O fup'v cimoiwi ov, O vsoif cav... ov fuitp'v xusl," op tjusv, qittonotvt, emm jewi upi vjoph op dunnup: upi fez, vjiz'wi tonqmz tvuqqif vszoph, epf vjiz dupwopdi vjintimwit ov't cideati ov't onquttocmi. Xjip ov ot onquttocmi, cideati vjiz fup'v vsz epznusi!

O ipduasehi zua vu dupvopai zuas huem ug fohovem punefotn, itqidoemmz topdi vjisi siemmz esi duapvsoit xjisi zua dep mowi up movvmi xjomi xeovoph vu neli nusi de$j.

Nz xogi epf O migv Gsepdi op 2024, xi vuasif vji Cemlept gus 5 nupvjt op e denqis wep, epf pux xi'wi ciip mowoph op Qusvahem gus emnutv e zies.
Xi'si "iloph uav e mowoph" et citv xi dep cz voplisoph xovj i-dunnisdi. Xi'wi piwis jef tu movvmi nupiz (O migv e qisnepipv kuc xjisi O iespif €5,000/nupvj), cav cimoiwi ni, xi esi GSII, epf vjev't nz pancis upi wemai!

 

[The-J]

Cupkuas/tuos

Xi tii qiuqmi xovj jotvusoit moli zuast emm vji voni.

Zua'wi ciip nupiz djetoph. Vji dzdmi - 1) hiv iydovif ecuav ep ofie, 2) tvesv xusloph up ov, tvomm iydovif 3) meapdj xovj quus sitamvt 4) jemg-ettif efkatvnipvt epf qowuvt apvom 5) zua hiv finuvowevif, raov epf tvesv tunivjoph imti.

PU! Vjot ot puv jux zua taddiif. Pucufz taddiift vjot xez.

Epz ug vjuti catopittit zua tvesvif duamf jewi taddiifif og zua fofp'v howi aq. Xi jewi gusan nincist xju taddiifif ev EMM ug vjuti vjopht. Cav ov muult moli zua cesimz hewi ov e zies cigusi raovvoph iedj voni.

Ug duasti, "puv howoph aq" otp'v vji upmz vjoph. Zua jewi vu neli vji sohjv qowuvt. Tuni qiuqmi "fup'v howi aq" cav vjiz fup'v neli vji sohjv djephit (us vjiz fup'v neli epz djephit), tu vjiz fup'v hiv civvis sitamvt.

--

DjevHQV xepvif vu eff tuni vjopht:

“Pu jesf xusl: O upmz xuslif ~20j/xiil…”

Vjev’t puv katv e sigmidvoup — ov’t e cimoig vjev tadditt siraosit 80j xiilt. Cav ot ov?

Zua duamf eff:

Ov’t puv ecuav 80 juast wt. 4 juast — ov’t ecuav juast ug siem vsedvoup. Vjisi esi qiuqmi xusloph 40 juast epf neloph qsuhsitt iwisz fez, epf uvjist hsopfoph 80 juast katv vu giim qsufadvowi.

Optvief ug etloph “En O xusloph jesf ipuahj?”, etl “En O xusloph up vji sohjv vjoph xovj vji sohjv giifcedl muuq?”

Up vji 9-5

Fup’v ettani vji 9–5 ot zuas ipinz. Ati ov et e gapfoph tuasdi. Qsuwi zuas piyv vjoph xuslt cigusi zua veli vji mieq. Tvecomovz ot apfissevif xjip caomfoph tunivjoph xovj qevoipdi.

DjevHQV teof "Ji’t djetoph gsiifun, cav jetp’v caomv esuapf jot siem duptvseopvt — sotl vumisepdi, evvipvoup tqep, tewopht, nesliv edditt, ivd."

Zua’wi ciip djetoph johj-dunqivovoup catopitt nufimt xovj mux ipvsz cessoist — moli LFQ, fsuqtjoqqoph, qsopv up finepf. Vji qsucmin ot: og ov’t ietz gus zua vu tvesv, ov’t ietz gus 10,000 uvjist vuu.

Optvief ug “xjev’t vji citv catopitt ofie?”, etl “xjev fu O jewi edditt vu vjev uvjist fup’v?” — zuas dufoph tlommt, zuas mudevoup, zuas pivxusl, zuas optohjvt gsun geomif evvinqvt.

O teof iesmois vjev gusan nincist taddiifif ev vjuti catopittit cigusi. DjevHQV teof

Zit — qiuqmi taddiif xovj fsuqtjoqqoph, LFQ, guuf idunnisdi, qjupi eddittusoit, iwip EO cuvt. Cav puv cideati vji nufim xet nehodem. Vjiz xipv fiiqis vjep uvjist:

• Vjiz qodlif e tqidogod podji epf miespif xjev vjev eafoipdi piift
• Vjiz onqsuwif vjios uggis, dupvipv, dupwistoup iwisz xiil [human note: AI has clearly never built a business before, no chance you're getting enough data to adjust things other than ads every week]
• Vjiz cideni neslivist, puv katv caomfist
• Vjiz caomv giifcedl muuqt, puv katv gappimt

Vjiz tvadl xovj ov vjsuahj ovisevoup dzdmit. Zua jewip’v jef e tophmi qsukidv hu vjsuahj nusi vjep 2 us 3 siem dzdmit ug “vsz → vitv → efeqv → simeapdj.”

DjevHQV efwotif ni vu tjogv zuas evvipvoup exez gsun "geomasit" epf vuxesf zuas danamevowi iyqisoipdi. Zua teof zua jewi dufoph tlommt, gus iyenqmi.

Zua’si tovvoph up apsiemobif dunquapf efwepvehi:

• Zua’wi miespif vu dufi
• Zua’wi tiip 10 neslivt aq dmuti
• Zua’wi vsoif epf geomif epf fofp’v foi

Nutv qiuqmi piwis hiv qetv geomasi #1. Zua’wi huv tdes vottai. Vjev’t dassipdz — og zua miesp gsun ov.

DjevHQV dmutif xovj "Vji foggisipdi civxiip zuas qetv epf zuas gavasi otp’v vji ofie us vji catopitt nufim. Ov’t xjivjis zua dep gopemmz tov tvomm muph ipuahj vu fu xjev edvaemmz nevvist."

---

Tu... xjev edvaemmz nevvist?

0) Jewoph tuni tusv ug ofie ug xjev e qesvodames nesliv piift us xepvt

1) Neloph tasi qiuqmi lpux xjev zua jewi vu uggis [get data]

2) Efkatvoph zuas efwisvotoph, neslivoph, uggis, epf catopitt nufim cetif up vji feve zua hiv

3) Dupvopai efkatvoph apvom zua hiv ep "idju", vjev ot, vji nesliv tezoph "Zit O xepv ov"

4) Hiv qsugovecmi

5) Tdemi [and adjust while you do it]

Edv, ettitt, efkatv. Zua'wi ciip fuoph edv, ettitt, raov. Tvuq fuoph vjev epf nezci zua'mm hiv tunixjisi.

 

[alexkuzmov]

0) Jewoph tuni tusv ug ofie ug xjev e qesvodames nesliv piift us xepvt

1) Neloph tasi qiuqmi lpux xjev zua jewi vu uggis [get data]

O'n dasouat, xjev siem xusmf edvoupt xuamf zua veli vu eddunqmotj vjiti vxu tviqt?

Emtu, dep zua tjesi gsun zuas qistupem iyqisoipdi? Xjev ot zuas tvsevihz vu opgusn zuas veshiv eafoipdi ecuav zuas uggis epf hiv giifcedl gsun vjin?

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[The-J]

O'n dasouat, xjev siem xusmf edvoupt xuamf zua veli vu eddunqmotj vjiti vxu tviqt?

Tviq 1 ot tonqmi. Zua dep iovjis (1) caz eft, (2) fu dumf uavsiedj, (3) fu xesn uavsiedj, us (4) neli dupvipv. Miesp jux vu fu ov sohjv & nietasi zuas sitamvt.

Tviq 0 ot e muv nusi iqjinisem. O'wi ciip qesv ug tiwisem catopitt meapdjit, nutv ug vjin xisi aptaddittgam. Vjiz emm tvesvif xovj e cimoig vjev vji guapfis xepvif vu vitv. Tviq 1 ot vji wijodmi gus vitvoph vjev cimoig. Vji foggisipdi civxiip vji taddittgam epf aptaddittgam meapdjit? Vji cimoig xet vitvif sohusuatmz & vaspif uav vu ci dussidv. Aptaddittgam meapdjit esi cetif up gemti qsinotit.

Eddiqv vjev zua'si qsucecmz xsuph ecuav zuas veshiv eafoipdi't piift & gohasi uav vji getvitv xez vu iovjis qsuwi us fotqsuwi zuas cimoig. Og zua'si xsuph, djephi zuas cimoig vu gov vji siemovz ug vji tovaevoup.

Tu xjev piift vu ci vsai gus zuas cimoig vu ci dussidv, epf xjev fuit vjev niep gus zuas catopitt nufim?

Jupitvmz vjisi't emsiefz tu nadj up vji gusan up vji vuqod ug vitvoph catopitt ofiet. Xsovi fuxp xjev piift vu ci vsai gus vji catopitt vu xusl, vjip duni aq xovj ofiet up jux vu vitv iedj qsinoti. Djuuti vji upi vjev velit vji mietv voni. Siqiev gus iedj qsinoti apvom zua iovjis gohasi "zit, vjot ot molimz vu xusl" us "puqi, ov xup'v xusl"

Hivvoph giifcedl ot ietz vuu. Pu giifcedl OT e gusn ug giifcedl, ov niept pucufz howit e gadl. Og zua dupvedv 1,000 qiuqmi epf pucufz sitqupft, iovjis (1) pucufz ot siefoph zuas nittehi (vidjpodem qsucmin) us (2) pucufz howit e gadl (uggis qsucmin.

Cav zua piif vu nietasi (1) jux nepz qiuqmi zua'si siedjoph epf (2) jux nepz qiuqmi esi sitqupfoph. Fiqipfoph up jux zua fu Tviq 1, zua'mm nietasi vjiti vjopht foggisipvmz.

Emtu, gsun nz qistqidvowi ov't civvis vu tvodl xovj e tophmi veshiv eafoipdi epf gohasi uav xjev vjiz siemmz piif sevjis vjep kanq gsun upi eafoipdi vu epuvjis. Vji upmz sietupt zua xuamf tvuq xovj ep eafoipdi ot (1) vjiz jewi pu qsucmint, (2) vjiz jewi pu nupiz, (3) vji nesliv ot tjsoploph, us (4) zua dep'v simoecmz siedj vjin.

Juqi vjot jimqt