Earthshaker
New Contributor
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2021
- Messages
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Hello Fastlane forum! I wanted to introduce myself and my background.
Pro-ish Skier:
I am from a small college town, I grew up with a very comfortable childhood. As a kid I dreamt of being a pro skier, and although I chased that dream for a while I quit in my early/mid 20's after a couple injuries. Maybe I could have achieved my goal, but I failed in 2 areas. First, I limited my risk because I was 'smart' and wanted to save my body for my professional career, and therefore never became a leader on jumps. Second, I never marketed myself. Instead, I ignorantly thought skill was the only thing that mattered. While my 'crew' was racking up sponsorship deals, I was beating them in competitions with little to show for it. Even though two of the best skier marketers were in my 'crew' I tried to ride their coat tails instead of taking initiative.
Taste of Entrepreneurship
After skiing, I returned to College and became a Deans List student (it is amazing what drive and focus can do). It was at this time I participated in two of my most successful ventures to date. First were pink tshirts with what would be called swine flu memes printed on them... if I only knew our future in 2020. I broke even on that endeavor, but I soon started buying old bargain-bin football jerseys from a local store, and reselling them on e-bay. I made great margins, usually doubling my cost, but only certain numbers were in demand.
Becoming a Good Engineer
After a small taste of success I decided it wasn't an 'honest or sustainable path' so I quit the business ideas. Coming from a college town, all my role models and my hero were also college degreed, so I thought that was the best path. I spent more time on engineering classes so I could 'get a good degree' for my father and 'get a good job.' The irony is, I bought a brand new car during the first month of my new job, then sold it within a year and started down the financial guru path. My life goal was frugality and my career goal was founder or CEO.
Compound Frugality
The next available step was frugality, and the rabbit hole of Dave Ramsey, Mr. Money Mustache, and many others. I saved 65%+ of my income and annoyed the crap out of my girlfriend at the time, until she broke up with me after 5 years of compulsive frugality.
The Corporate Ladder
All the while, I was working on raises and climbing the corporate ladder. The increased pay was nice, but I was constantly stressed out trying to manage customer's needs with corporates cost cutting and over-promising. Instead of pandering management, I would be honest or check out. I was in a dying industry, and eventually they let me go during a merger.
I ALWAYS wanted to be a CEO
I enjoyed my time off (about a month) before I found a new gig. It was a lean company where I was the only engineer, salesperson and executive type of talent. The company was exceptionally hard hit by the pandemic. I've added a lot of value, and learned a lot too. We have over 15x'ed their opportunities, but the owners cannot get out of their own way. We're making progress, but it is slow. I figure if I can have an impact here, I can have a greater impact with control of a company. But, the CEO title has no value to me anymore... I'd rather have control so I can move more quickly, test what works and what doesn't.
Content Creation
I have started in the content creation business in a new, up & coming industry. I'm tired of old shrinking business. My goal in 2022 is to influence 100,000 unique individuals. I'm at just over 1,000. I have one orange gumball, but not going to share links here because I don't want to sully my results.
My Whys
I'm sure I've got a lot of votes against me. I hope you think I'll fail too, I really do. It's been the best fuel lately. Some of my entrepreneurship whys:
- Inspire others to earn from a technology breakthrough
- Teach others what the future will look like in certain industries
- Free my family from indentured servitude. They're hard workers and deserve to create value for themselves, especially my sister & her kids
- Give others the opportunity to join a new, growing industry
- Free my GF and family from employment slavery, spend more time with my GF, and we can spend more time with our future kids
- To earn my freedom
- To have the time to learn skills I've always desired to learn: languages, (proper) strength training, cooking, pilot license, golf
- To prove people wrong about their impression of me. I want my former bosses and colleagues to make up 'lucky' stories around how I'm free and they're still slaves to their job
- To learn valuable skills I can apply for the rest of my life
I am excited to meet you all, and thank you for making this intro long form. Also, thank you MJ for your books.
Pro-ish Skier:
I am from a small college town, I grew up with a very comfortable childhood. As a kid I dreamt of being a pro skier, and although I chased that dream for a while I quit in my early/mid 20's after a couple injuries. Maybe I could have achieved my goal, but I failed in 2 areas. First, I limited my risk because I was 'smart' and wanted to save my body for my professional career, and therefore never became a leader on jumps. Second, I never marketed myself. Instead, I ignorantly thought skill was the only thing that mattered. While my 'crew' was racking up sponsorship deals, I was beating them in competitions with little to show for it. Even though two of the best skier marketers were in my 'crew' I tried to ride their coat tails instead of taking initiative.
Taste of Entrepreneurship
After skiing, I returned to College and became a Deans List student (it is amazing what drive and focus can do). It was at this time I participated in two of my most successful ventures to date. First were pink tshirts with what would be called swine flu memes printed on them... if I only knew our future in 2020. I broke even on that endeavor, but I soon started buying old bargain-bin football jerseys from a local store, and reselling them on e-bay. I made great margins, usually doubling my cost, but only certain numbers were in demand.
Becoming a Good Engineer
After a small taste of success I decided it wasn't an 'honest or sustainable path' so I quit the business ideas. Coming from a college town, all my role models and my hero were also college degreed, so I thought that was the best path. I spent more time on engineering classes so I could 'get a good degree' for my father and 'get a good job.' The irony is, I bought a brand new car during the first month of my new job, then sold it within a year and started down the financial guru path. My life goal was frugality and my career goal was founder or CEO.
Compound Frugality
The next available step was frugality, and the rabbit hole of Dave Ramsey, Mr. Money Mustache, and many others. I saved 65%+ of my income and annoyed the crap out of my girlfriend at the time, until she broke up with me after 5 years of compulsive frugality.
The Corporate Ladder
All the while, I was working on raises and climbing the corporate ladder. The increased pay was nice, but I was constantly stressed out trying to manage customer's needs with corporates cost cutting and over-promising. Instead of pandering management, I would be honest or check out. I was in a dying industry, and eventually they let me go during a merger.
I ALWAYS wanted to be a CEO
I enjoyed my time off (about a month) before I found a new gig. It was a lean company where I was the only engineer, salesperson and executive type of talent. The company was exceptionally hard hit by the pandemic. I've added a lot of value, and learned a lot too. We have over 15x'ed their opportunities, but the owners cannot get out of their own way. We're making progress, but it is slow. I figure if I can have an impact here, I can have a greater impact with control of a company. But, the CEO title has no value to me anymore... I'd rather have control so I can move more quickly, test what works and what doesn't.
Content Creation
I have started in the content creation business in a new, up & coming industry. I'm tired of old shrinking business. My goal in 2022 is to influence 100,000 unique individuals. I'm at just over 1,000. I have one orange gumball, but not going to share links here because I don't want to sully my results.
My Whys
I'm sure I've got a lot of votes against me. I hope you think I'll fail too, I really do. It's been the best fuel lately. Some of my entrepreneurship whys:
- Inspire others to earn from a technology breakthrough
- Teach others what the future will look like in certain industries
- Free my family from indentured servitude. They're hard workers and deserve to create value for themselves, especially my sister & her kids
- Give others the opportunity to join a new, growing industry
- Free my GF and family from employment slavery, spend more time with my GF, and we can spend more time with our future kids
- To earn my freedom
- To have the time to learn skills I've always desired to learn: languages, (proper) strength training, cooking, pilot license, golf
- To prove people wrong about their impression of me. I want my former bosses and colleagues to make up 'lucky' stories around how I'm free and they're still slaves to their job
- To learn valuable skills I can apply for the rest of my life
I am excited to meet you all, and thank you for making this intro long form. Also, thank you MJ for your books.
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