The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

The Undercover Billionaire: Building a $1m business in 90 days

Jay_Robles

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
100%
Jul 17, 2019
2
2
I had thought about a similar concept for YouTube before - drop a web designer (me) in a city with less than $1,000 and you got to survive by selling online projects. Document the whole process and repeat a few times in different regions of the world.

They took things a little further ha.

That’s not a bad idea, I would definitely watch it.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

FeaRxUnLeAsHeD

Silver Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
203%
Nov 27, 2014
343
697
USA
So much negativity in this thread..

For those who are shouting "It can't be done!!" - Watch the damn show and find out. You'll at least learn a thing or two.

For those on the other end shouting "Yes it can be done, you just don't think it can because of your loser mindset" (paraphrasing here) - Have some empathy for people who are on this forum trying to figure it out.

99.99% of people will not be able to make $100 into a million dollars in 90 days, and it isn't because of their mentality. If it was that simple, that "anyone who worked hard enough could do it", then poverty would be eradicated (or significantly reduced since some people still wouldn't believe it's possible or give a care if they have to work hard).

The real challenges (which have already been discussed) are how this guy is going to get his living situation taken care of (cost of living, food, etc) while he figures out what he's going to do with his time (since the $100 is pretty irrelevant). I'd laugh if it was just a huge flop and he realized "well, this is why people who only have $100 can barely make ends meet" and then he goes and donates a few million or something.

I remember reading something similar on the internet, probably on this forum. If you dropped a multi-millionaire in the US and asked them to restart, most of them could get back to a million, largely due to their mindset, their tools, skillsets, network, etc. Most people lose to themselves thinking it's not possible, and others are just dealt a really shitty hand. Mark Cuban talked about it on a podcast where he said becoming a billionaire again would take a lot of luck, but a millionaire would be easy - and he'd start by getting a sales job during the day and bartending at night.

What is more likely to happen in this show is the guy leverages existing tools/networks (and honestly, nothing wrong with that) to raise some additional funding and/or finds something he can become a part of to quickly grow over the next 3 months to generate a million bucks. Maybe some internet business too.

I'm honestly a huge fan of this forum, but some of these posts above are embarrassing. Stop attacking each other and start helping.

Edit: Apparently Stearns business went bankrupt last month (look it up) - maybe needs the cash so decided on a tv series.
 
Last edited:

Merlox

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
100%
Jan 11, 2016
32
32
It's extremely hard to make a million in 90 days unless... you know people with money willing to invest in your idea. I'd probably spend those days ideating and preparing a seriously good project that needs financing and they reach out to all the investors I could find to ask them for money. At some point someone will invest if the project is valid and has a great potential.

However your reputation and what you're building have to be top notch to convince those smart individuals to give you their valuable money. I think it's doable, very hard but worth it.

We should all try to do it in our own places and share the lessons after those 90 days.
 

Dufresne

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
138%
May 5, 2018
8
11
I think the goal is to get a $1MM valuation, not necessarily make $1MM in 90 days. So depending on the industry multiple, cash flow, IP and other factors, the business could be losing money and still be worth $1MM. I'll note this is taking place in my hometown which is undeniably cool. I'm not sure how much of it is staged but love Stearn's hustle and willingness to do whatever job is needed.

Surprised at the business that was landed on but I'm hopeful it is a success (No spoilers of course). Episode 2 is on tonight, 10:00 EST in the U.S.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Devampre

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
119%
Jan 6, 2016
251
298
29
Canada
Got around to watching the first episode. Feel him on the initial pains of making those small profits and sleeping in the truck.

Honestly, him making that initial $3300 to be able to live more comfortably for the next three months is what I am excited for. If he can make a profitable business of any sorts after that, I will be impressed. Even if his business has under a million dollar valuation I don't consider this challenge a failure (despite the terms.) I'm excited merely by seeing his process.
 

Kak

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
493%
Jan 23, 2011
9,678
47,666
34
Texas
I would totally be going a private label route instead of building this infrastructure and permitting. I'd ride the coattails of the businesses that have already taken care of that stuff.

Then I would simply be willing to hustle the hell out of the sales to the biggest distributors.

Also, you could probably, at this point, with him in micro brews, conservatively call it a 6-7x multiple. It is one of those industries I like to call "investor crack."

All of that said he needs annualized net income of between $143-167k... Which means $36-42k worth of net income over his 90 days to call it a "million dollar business."
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited:

1step

Gold Contributor
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
231%
Dec 4, 2012
1,038
2,396
Kentucky
I would totally be going a private label route instead of building this infrastructure and permitting. I'd ride the coattails of the businesses that have already taken care of that stuff.

Based on the permitting timeline at the end of the episode I would say that may push him towards Private Label, don't see how else he could get it done. Seems like the right call based on his timeline.

All of that said he needs annualized net income of between $143-167k... Which means $36-42k worth of net income over his 90 days to call it a "million dollar business."

I listened carefully to the intro this time and he says if the business doesn't make $1,000,000 in 90 days ("if it's a penny short of $1M") he will personally put $1,000,000 into the business after the 90 days. I obviously don't remember the exact words but it definitely seemed like his goal is to generate $1M in 90 days.
 

SkyLake

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
134%
Nov 29, 2016
107
143
Is he not allowed to use his existing skills? Not his network, but his skills (sales, tech etc.).

If he's actually a billionaire it would be simple and easy for him to make 1M cash in a few months. Just his skills would be easily worth that.


If he can't tap into existing skills, what is he supposed to do? Make survival money and then start a new business, but still can't tap into his existing skills/knowledge?

IMO, even his beliefs about what's possible and what not is just as important as skills/knowledge/network.

And the basic business principles are the same everywhere and with everything. Which this guy would be a master of.

It probably makes a better drama when he's starting with little things that would be below most people. Would be more interesting if he was allowed to tap into his skills already.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited:

Vigilante

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
596%
Oct 31, 2011
11,116
66,265
Gulf Coast
Once someone has the right mindset they will see opportunities everywhere they go. To me that is the biggest takeaway from the show so far.

I recently took my family to an event that was geared towards kids in the local area. That event had thousands of people there... and had 3 venders besides food sellers... 3! and their variety consisted of 3 separate items!

I spent all day (while waiting in lines) writing down products that would sell, looking up prices on dhgate, aliexpress, etc. and compiling a list of workable items. 2 days later I contacted the person running the event and asked them about being a vender for next years event. I then went on Facebook... and found 20+ similar events that were niche specific and would lend themselves easily to carrying specific products.

This could literally be done by anyone who has a credit card and lives anywhere close to a city. Find niche events, get a location at that event, order items from China (or the dollar store like the guy on the show did) and profit.

Many people who watch this show will keep making excuses why they can’t do it just like they made excuses before they spent an hour watching the show.

I am exhibiting at a women's expo this fall because I have a product they all would want. Cost of entry was next to nothing, and out the backside we will have done the equivalent of what the undercover billionaire did on St. Patty's Day.

Because I can.
 
D

Deleted43013

Guest
I'm currently watching a show on Discovery Channel called "The Undercover Billionaire."

The premise is they drop a billionaire in a random city with a truck and 100 bucks and he bets he can build a million dollar business in 90 days.

I thought that was cool and I should share.

Uh huh, thanks for the ad too...TV sucks, literally
 

Kak

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
493%
Jan 23, 2011
9,678
47,666
34
Texas
Uh huh, thanks for the ad too...TV sucks, literally

Ok, thanks for your valuable opinion.

So simple, yet so profound. I can already tell you are going to be a stand out member here.

It is not as if I am advocating for some mind rot netflix binge for crying out loud. The premise of this show is educational and it has entertainment value.

Let me ask you a question Patrick... Would you watch a Ted talk or do those suck literally too?

Also do you know what literally means?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited:

Vigilante

Legendary Contributor
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
596%
Oct 31, 2011
11,116
66,265
Gulf Coast
Uh huh, thanks for the ad too...TV sucks, literally

What a GREAT second post. The value you have added here since you joined in 2016 has been nothing short of spectacular. Since you average a post every two years, I look forward to your next tidbit of wisdom in 2021.

I have never seen a TV suck, but if you say it literally does I have no reason to doubt you, but I would like to see a video if you care to back up this assertion.
 

Dan_Cardone

Losers make excuses. Winners find solutions.
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
360%
Jul 23, 2019
331
1,192
Is he not allowed to use his existing skills? Not his network, but his skills (sales, tech etc.).

If he's actually a billionaire it would be simple and easy for him to make 1M cash in a few months. Just his skills would be easily worth that.


If he can't tap into existing skills, what is he supposed to do? Make survival money and then start a new business, but still can't tap into his existing skills/knowledge?

IMO, even his beliefs about what's possible and what not is just as important as skills/knowledge/network.

And the basic business principles are the same everywhere and with everything. Which this guy would be a master of.

It probably makes a better drama when he's starting with little things that would be below most people. Would be more interesting if he was allowed to tap into his skills already.
I think hes trying to use a strategy that most of the middle class, non entrepreneur, viewers can identify with.

Offering business consulting or taking a sales position is something most the viewers wouldn't understand or be intersted in. Trying to flip cars, houses, and sell beer? Right up their alley.

Im still convienced the whole reason he tried to sell dog toys individually was part entertainment and part humanizing himself to the viewers. A perfect businessman who cant fail at anything isn't interesting or relatable.

We have to see him struggle, fail, and eventually overcome obstacles to be entertaining. Remember, its TV so its goal is first and foremost to entertain.
 

MakeItHappen

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
191%
Apr 12, 2012
635
1,216
One of the principles of his whole life: "Find your buyer first, and the rest will fall in place."

This right here will cut out so much bullshit and avoid paralysis by analysis that most people (I don't exlude myself) fall for.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

SkyLake

Bronze Contributor
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
134%
Nov 29, 2016
107
143
I think hes trying to use a strategy that most of the middle class, non entrepreneur, viewers can identify with.

Offering business consulting or taking a sales position is something most the viewers wouldn't understand or be intersted in. Trying to flip cars, houses, and sell beer? Right up their alley.

Im still convienced the whole reason he tried to sell dog toys individually was part entertainment and part humanizing himself to the viewers. A perfect businessman who cant fail at anything isn't interesting or relatable.

We have to see him struggle, fail, and eventually overcome obstacles to be entertaining. Remember, its TV so its goal is first and foremost to entertain.

That's what I was thinking.

Thing is, I don't see why offering consulting and other 'high level' gigs have to be considered something so extraordinary that most people can't understand.

Beliefs like this are one of the reasons most people are stuck in the slowlane or can't grow their business to the next level. People are conditioned to never leave their comfort zone.

It would have been more interesting - for me at least - if this guy walked into businesses and sold them business solutions. Virtually every business needs a better copy, more clients/customers, better optimization, a better website, better seo, better social media or whatever.

But I get it.. drama sells, and what better drama than being (not really) homeless and doing things below most people and then somehow he ends up making a million-dollar business all in 90 days.
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
One of the principles of his whole life: "Find your buyer first, and the rest will fall in place."
I love this.


Some of my favourite quotes:

"Help the people in motion." (Amy Hoy)
Help the people already spending money to solve whatever problem you also solve.

"Your market is an established cashflow." (The Tropical MBA)
Your market isn't a demographic, it's the people already spending money.

"Find the starving crowd." (Gary Halbert)
If you're selling hot-dogs then having a starving crowd is the most important ingredient to your success.
 

ChrisV

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
225%
May 10, 2015
3,141
7,055
Islands of Calleja
Last edited:

Dan_Cardone

Losers make excuses. Winners find solutions.
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
360%
Jul 23, 2019
331
1,192
My thoughts on episode two:

My father is retired but flips quite a few cars a month for "fun money." I'm by no means an expert on flipping cars but I know this much....

It rarely happens that easy or with that much of a profit margin.

Its not rare to have 20 people call and say they want to look at a car before one of them actually shows up. Maybe thats what happened on the show too and they didn't show it but but I'm skeptical.

That said, even if the producers are faking some stuff, flipping cars is a good strategy but dont think its normal to go that easy or smooth every time.

Second thought, how much money is he spending on gas driving around everywhere?

Third thought, $1000 to speak to a lawayer for 30 seconds to tell you something a Google search would reveal in the same time? His lawyer is raping him worse than mine does me! Lol. Hoepfully it was just edited down for brevity; I'm sure it was.

Not as good as the first episode but it was enjoyable. I very rarely watch TV (I may have been a Game of Thrones addict though) but ill likely finish out the season.
 

Process

Silver Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
224%
Jul 19, 2017
273
611
Solving Pain
How did he get a hold of an Escalade for only $1500 from some dealership?

Also, how did he get away with driving and selling (apparently) unregistered cars?
 

SDE

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
518%
Jul 9, 2018
261
1,351
It's amusing to read some of the replies in this thread.

We can box them into two groups.

Group 1:

"Well, nothing is real in reality shows"

"He got people to help him when the camera goes off"

"It's staged"

"FAKE''

Group 2:

"So, is this how his mind works?"

"Oh... how he's going to tackle that?"

"Wow, that's a great principle"

One sees the show like any other reality TV shows, thinking it's just another entertainment where everything is staged, while the other looks for the process behind the billionaire's actions.

This thread is a great opportunity to evaluate our mindset and see where we stand.

P.S. Everyone knows he is going to create a $1M valuation company or else they wouldn't have produced the show in the first place. So I am watching to see the 'how' and 'why' behind his actions.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Primeperiwinkle

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
320%
Nov 30, 2018
1,645
5,261
Ehhh... I’m up late again. You’ve been warned.

@KnightByDay @fishgodeep

This could be the next challenge. For those of you who have completed the last one... *COUGH

Whatcha think guys? The thing is, just like for muscle growth, I don’t think you should set the bar quite that high. It’s too high. You don’t give a guy who doesn’t lift a 300lb dumbbell. But let’s look at the ratios.

I’m relatively sure that the ppl who succeed at 75hard already have some track record of succeeding at consistent workouts, consistent reading, consistent dieting and consistent .. consistency for a fraction of the time.

{I hope I’m making sense here. Every time somebody attempts the challenge they’re building up those muscles of willpower and endurance. So quitting when you’re exhausted actually MAKES A LOT OF SENSE so you can regroup and try again and be even stronger. }

Help me out with this weird theory guys.

A billion is a thousand times bigger than a million. This tv reality show challenge guy is tasking himself with making a fraction of his highest total earnings.

Okay.. the most I’ve ever made was 85k a year at my brick and mortar. To get MY SPECIFIC CHALLENGE AMOUNT I need to do some math. A thousand into my current Highest Income Earned is 8,500.

So enter in your HIE (ever) _____ multiplied by 0.1 = your specific challenge amount

HIE x 0.1 = Your 90 Day Business Goal

Everybody with me? I hope so. Sometimes I can do math and sometimes I can’t.. it’s a crapshoot.

My theory is that by challenging ourselves at a level that just barely exceeds what we’re already capable of we will push our money-making willpower muscles to exhaustion without injuring our psyches.

Because in this thread I’m seeing very successful ppl, slightly successful ppl and UNsuccessful ppl. Since I’m in that middle group I’m really most interested in getting us stronger. How do we exercise the small amount of faith and willpower and focus we have? We challenge ourselves!

So now we gotta goal and a timeline. 90 days. Any other parameters? We should be clear.
 
Last edited:

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
370%
May 20, 2014
18,566
68,699
Ireland
It's amusing to read some of the replies in this thread.

We can box them into two groups.

Group 1:

"Well, nothing is real in reality shows"

"He got people to help him when the camera goes off"

"It's staged"

"FAKE''

Group 2:

"So, is this how his mind works?"

"Oh... how he's going to tackle that?"

"Wow, that's a great principle"

One sees the show like any other reality TV shows, thinking it's just another entertainment where everything is staged, while the other looks for the process behind the billionaire's actions.

This thread is a great opportunity to evaluate our mindset and see where we stand.

P.S. Everyone knows he is going to create a $1M valuation company or else they wouldn't have produced the show in the first place. So I am watching to see the 'how' and 'why' behind his actions.
Yes, I spotted that split too.

What is he thinking? WHY is he thinking it?

What and why are more important than how.
 

ZF Lee

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
180%
Jul 27, 2016
2,840
5,113
25
Malaysia
How did I miss this thread...

On the other hand, I never knew that reality-themed business shows could get that detailed, since the days of The Apprentice.

Will have to just force in more time to watch.

I think there could be other mini-series on YouTube for reality business challenges as well.
Just got to dig.

The real challenges (which have already been discussed) are how this guy is going to get his living situation taken care of (cost of living, food, etc) while he figures out what he's going to do with his time (since the $100 is pretty irrelevant). I'd laugh if it was just a huge flop and he realized "well, this is why people who only have $100 can barely make ends meet" and then he goes and donates a few million or something.
For food, I guess if I were tossed into a new town, I'd have to spend quite some time to search out cheap places to go to, to buy groceries.

Here's a video I have posted on TFLF before on ultra-budgeted cooking.
He'd at least need a small place to cook and wash, a pot and pan and a few utensils.

View: https://youtu.be/UKfmRhfuI8g


And for place to stay, if not in the vehicle, might have to look at a couch surfing site, holler on the Facebook rental groups...takes some time that could have been spent on getting the sales up.

Then it could end up straying a bit from the 90-days limit, but IMO, it's alright.
Quite acceptable for me.

P.S. Everyone knows he is going to create a $1M valuation company or else they wouldn't have produced the show in the first place. So I am watching to see the 'how' and 'why' behind his actions.
I'm curious to know if he will take on investors when later he has some profit records as proof of execution. Would definitely help to boost the valuation.

And where he will find the investors...typically should be outside of his own network, just even the plateau.

All of that said he needs annualized net income of between $143-167k... Which means $36-42k worth of net income over his 90 days to call it a "million dollar business."
Wonder if at the end of the show, if he will sell the business, or just keep it with his other businesses, and continue growing it.

If he sells the business, then it'll take some time for both parties to negotiate, and he has to keep the sales levels decently up...?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

ZF Lee

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
180%
Jul 27, 2016
2,840
5,113
25
Malaysia
My theory is that by challenging ourselves at a level that just barely exceeds what we’re already capable of we will push our money-making willpower muscles to exhaustion without injuring our psyches.
The question is this:

Where are our limitations? At which point do our resources time out?

To discover that, we've got to just do stuff.

So now we gotta goal and a timeline. 90 days. Any other parameters? We should be clear.
Haha...we're talking constraints?

Probably it would be great to discover what's the expected average time of how long clients will take to pay us, how long to get supplies ready, and then to deliver.
 

Primeperiwinkle

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
320%
Nov 30, 2018
1,645
5,261
The question is this:

Where are our limitations? At which point do our resources time out?

To discover that, we've got to just do stuff.


Haha...we're talking constraints?

Probably it would be great to discover what's the expected average time of how long clients will take to pay us, how long to get supplies ready, and then to deliver.

Nooo why does that matter? This challenge implies you can’t use ANY of your previous contacts or network at all. You gotta start with $100 and whatever your brain has in it, a laptop and your car.

That’s what I meant... or is the laptop making it too easy? Hmm
 

ZF Lee

Legendary Contributor
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
180%
Jul 27, 2016
2,840
5,113
25
Malaysia
Nooo why does that matter? This challenge implies you can’t use ANY of your previous contacts or network at all. You gotta start with $100 and whatever your brain has in it, a laptop and your car.

That’s what I meant... or is the laptop making it too easy? Hmm
A laptop is a must, especially if you want to catch up on Facebook groups to research, buy and sell.

Think its acceptable for the challenge.

I'm now watching smatterings of the show on YouTube now though, and it seems he's doing everything on his phone. I saw a brief snapshot of what looks either like a Facebook buyer group or Craiglist.

I'm looking at one such vid now. Pretty much sums up the notable points of discussion here in this thread.

EDIT: Yeah, the front image for the video has quite a negative headline, but overall, the YouTuber's comments are overall positive.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dviw7yVIiDU
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

FreakyThomas

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
123%
Jun 26, 2017
201
248
34
Nice, France
Just saw the 2 episodes, I thought it was a lot of fun !
Can't wait to see the next one !
One thing I noticed also, and Felix Dennis insist a lot in his book too, is betting on human capital
I think it's a really great shortcut to scale and a necessary step in growing a business. What do you think guys ?
 

shaitand

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
155%
Aug 15, 2019
11
17
The guy reviewing this is a moron and I wouldn't listen to a word he says. He knows hes landing in PA because it literally shows the planes GPS as they are descending.

As for the rest of your comment about whether it is worth the investment. So far there has only been 1 episode. The first episode was ok, a lot of it was setting up for future shows so I think it would be tough to say at this moment whether it is worth the investment. The premise and first episode are interesting enough that I will watch the rest of the show to find out.

Yeah, we've had three episodes now and there are definitely some issues both with what we've seen and what they've revealed we are going to see. SPOILERS ahead I guess?

His first concept was to steal things from unguarded property and sell them. Tires specifically but in general he looked for things to take. He considered a set in a dumpster which would likely be legal but otherwise he looked on railroad and other not currently occupied properties. The tires he ultimately found and sold for $1600 weren't abandoned in trash so that is a first degree misdemeanor in PA, if he'd gotten just $400 more it would have been a felony offense. Most wealthy people have a zero tolerance and crucify them view of thieves and he is advocating stealing railroad property on the first day.

The unlicensed streetside vending was also illegal even if just a fine.

His used insurance and only paid a $250 co-pay for what was almost certainly several thousand dollars worth of ER care needed because was living out of that truck.

He hasn't been paying for gas. He wouldn't have gotten through his first week without gas and his entire initial plan was to burn it up like crazy driving around to steal other people's stuff and sell it.

He is parking vehicles on someone's property by the road to sell them without consent or payment. Again, a run down building doesn't make it public property. You can't just derive value from it without consent.

They didn't actually show his conversations with his "team" and how he convinced them to work without payment but working without payment is a labor law violation. He needs to pay all of them, including himself and not just the future ownership stake he indicated he wasn't going to tell them about. If he is actually getting them to work on such terms he and they are likely to run afoul of the IRS since they are dodging social security, employment taxes, etc.

When he rented his apartment they also glossed over the standard requirement for proof of income that is 3-4x rent or deposits for utilities.

His current plan is to increase capital by gathering a $10,000 for a house. Someone who is that level of poor and unemployed couldn't qualify for a mortgage with or without a downpayment.

The biggest cheat is probably the camera crew and documentary cover though. The SBDC is a great resource but they aren't going to put in that kind of time and personal attention for most people walking in the door. The business owners, potential hires, were probably at least partially swayed by him being worthy of that kind of attention and by the fact they are getting free advertising.

So a real person would be broke, dehydrated and possibly dead or have a bill for several thousand dollars, fined, and in jail doing what he has done by episode 3.
 

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

Latest Posts

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top