No Way Back: Building a Media Company from a Veranda at 23

[Segawa]

It feels terrifying. Uncertain. I feel like going back — but there’s nothing left behind. The only way is forward.


Good day Fastlane Members, here is my story.


I dropped out of school in 2023 because I didn’t want to waste my life in a system I hated.


I had days when I sat in class with hunger gnawing at me — not because I lacked appetite, but because I had no money. Even at home, things weren’t any better. I love reading books, and around that time I came across certain ones that criticized the school system. They strengthened my belief that this path wasn’t for me.


A family friend offered me a job as an IT administrator at his school. I saw it as an opportunity — a catalyst to drop out and apply what I’d learned as a computer science student.


But it didn’t take long before I burned out. I was overloaded with responsibilities, acting as the IT instructor for the entire school. At the same time, my life was in chaos. I was disorganized, addicted to bad habits, and I would spend all my monthly salary in a single day.


Eventually, I lost the job. My boss told me to go back to school.


I tried graphics design next, but the person I worked under treated me like a slave. I was barely surviving.


There’s a lot more I could say, but I’ll share details as the thread goes on. I want to thank @Gypsy for the encouragement and support.


Later, I tried learning how to braid women’s hair and do pedicures and manicures. But I wasn’t focused — and I failed again.


Then I came across a video: “From Flat Broke to Filthy Rich” by MJ DeMarco. That video humbled me. It opened my eyes to something I had been missing. I always wanted “white” and clean things — I hated anything dirty.


But I realized I had to get my hands dirty. I had to drop my pride.
So I became a security guard. I worked that job for 7 months. During that time, I started organizing my life. And I learned a lot:

• I am responsible for my life. No one else — only God above me.
• There is freedom in humility. I wanted to stay on TV without food. But once I humbled myself and worked as a guard, I started meeting my needs.
• I learned the value of time. I couldn’t move anywhere I wanted — my job needed me to be present.
• I learned to plan. Now I know what I want, and how much it will cost.

Eventually, I wanted more freedom. I decided to try sales and began learning how to become an insurance agent.


But that didn’t go as planned. My boss was relocating, and I wasn’t confident enough to start on my own.


So I went to work with my uncle in a video library. I had some freedom — but I felt suffocated. My uncle wanted things done his way. I couldn’t be myself.


Then I looked at my life. I’m 23. I told myself, “It’ll take time to learn something new — but I’ve already spent 3 months here. Why not use this time to build something of my own?”


That’s when I decided to start a media company.

My mission is to take out corrupt media — the kind that promotes lies, lust, and confusion — and replace it with truth, love, compassion, and what is right.

I want to build a media company that will one day take 30% of global media — but I’m starting on a verandah.


When the time came, I used the little money I had to buy a computer. And just last week, I rented my first space.


Today, I’ve begun. I’ve had only one customer so far, and two others came to ask. I’m still at the beginning. I’m terrified, uncertain — but also hopeful.


I’m not going back.

 

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