Hello everyone on the fastlane forum,
This is going to be my story, telling (broad-line) details about myself, so a lot (especially the first part) is going to be in the "I" form, as it is the way I experienced it. It includes the events that lead to my way here on the forum, not the entire process behind it. It is a long story on it's own (and sometimes a bit ranty, as it involves my experience/feelings along the way). The objective is to give you a broad overview of my life prior of me joining here whilst giving you a bit of an impression about my character. Every comment is welcome, don't try to spare me in any way it's about the feedback and things I need to work on. This is one step in my process I felt I needed to take.
If you think the story is too long here is the "chapters" you can skip to them if you like:
1. Intro
2. Childhood
3. Choosing entrepeneurship
4. Failures
5. How I got in touch with this community
6. Some idea's so far
7. Concluding
1.
I'm Etienne, 21 years old from the Netherlands. I have been trying to follow the road less travelled all my life, starting off young to always be the biggest hellraiser in class. I eventually graduated high school (higher general secundary education) at 16, and decided (always being disappointed in the learning facility's available, as I learned much more outside of classrooms etc.) to quit and finally make a honest living working hard in construction, working hard and hoping to work towards my own company. As I was advised (since at first I wanted to join the army for the sake of adventure) to learn a trade first, to have something to fall back on, I did, so I started working in construction at first, then switched to one of my (perceived) "dream jobs" as a bricklayer/gardener (someone that paves and builds your garden for you). Also doing roadwork and paving of brick streets (infrastructure in general) for the company. Effectively joining the grind as a sidewalker/slowlaner. Don't get me wrong I love learning new things & skills, as I do and achieve, not sitting at a dusty desk thinking of a way to get out of there.
2.
Now some background on my personal situation. I was raised in a broken home (my parents divorced when I was 6, then fought over custody, which my mom eventually won in a 70-30% split). This was the start of my dad's decline, he started his own company and got annihilated in the last economic crisis, raising me to never endeavour on the path of entrepeneurship as it would make me poor. On the other hand my mom & stepdad raised me to work hard and follow your goals and dreams, my mom saying "life is just a big monopoly game, you just need to learn how to get good at it & then play it to your best means". My stepdad motivated me to the fullest of his ability's (he was not totally able to anymore trough multiple medical conditions since I was 11), eventually motivating me to get the job in construction to learn how to work on a rythm and with discipline and to get experience in general. I also got my financial education from them, as my stepdad used to own a big company, which he sold and then (kind of) retired. Kind of a Robert Kiyosaki "Rich dad, Poor dad" situation going on there...
3.
Anyway my stepdad passed away a year ago, upon which my mom moved away to the holiday house and me having to live with my dad fulltime (yes I didn't buy/rent an appartment yet, because all my time was consumed by my job. (usually 04:00-17 or 19:00 workdays, not always sleeping home as I sometimes had to sleep on the job, which was the case when my stepdad was admitted into hospital just before he passed) And me not having a relationship left me with the choice of either living at home and have some company or living on my own & getting a cat...). This life event after having lost my granddad and brother in law in the same half of the year let me astray on the working long hours and saving up for better times path. I realised that spending time with the people you like and love is a way bigger life goal than chasing money, a lesson my stepdad also preached. A lesson that he will never be able to repeat or explain futher upon, to my displeasure. Also in this time I lost my drivers licence due to DUI (shoutout to @MJ DeMarco I know how it feels, luckily I didn't crash my dream car, but it was a possibility). My decision was clear, I need to better my ways and change. How would I be able to get a (legal & contributing, not devious & extortionist (way easier by the way, also risky & unreliable)) business launched, contributing to people rather than just pushing things that they might not want in the end.
4.
So, starting with dropshipping (multiple websites), it might have been a good niche but due to my mismanagement it blew up in my face, twice... (also the idea of selling another brand was not the best start either). My idea was flawed and as I later discovered the CENTS principle was nearly calling the police as it felt really violated... The stock brokering scheme I had involving compound interest fell trough nicely (altough it made a profit). Then I moved in the jewelry business (I still have a project running on that), buying lesser known gem's at auction and reselling them (not very profitable on it's own). I learned adding value could help but when I learned this the gold price started to go up, making the concept I had in mind (placing the gems on a gold ring) unvaluable as my "value add" suddenly was a big & more risky investment in a time when jewellry (a complementary good) isn't on peoples buying list). Then we have my lovely retail business which I started buying overstock and then pushing it down peoples stomach, it involved quite the big marketing/cold calling/mailing (unsollicited & starting off humiliatingly unprepared). So, I had followed all the "guru" tips & BS I could find around (only being sane enough not to buy into their programs or taking out big loans to start off...). Leaving me quite pissed off & out of options, turning back to my old friend education again, searching far & wide for some (cheap or free) knowledge (hey, don't judge, the Dutch are known to be cheap & always in need for free stuff or a sale). Doing all the ventures whilst working a busy job, leaving me with 2-6 hours of sleep at most.
5.
And at my moment of, just F this I'm going to scam everyone very hard and very good and very wide to make me very very rich... I found... TMF (yes MJ, the title implies the easy "get rich quick scheme" indeed as you stated in your book, guess I combined the right keywords... The message on the other hand changed my ways). Devouring the book within a month whilst taking notes (I took some time off to focus my energy on improving my situation & train of tought, now targetting myself instead of scamming) and look who we have here, my old entrepeneurial/learning spirit kicked in. Ever since I first started doing work & "hustles" on my own I dreaded bosses, being bossed around etc. It took me a while to adjust in the new environment of work. From my 17th and on I had started doing my own landscaping projects on the side, but as TMF made me realise, this will make me work hard IN my company but not ON my company, also chasing money. Also it made me realise the reasons why my businesses failed, and how I can improve myself on those points. Becoming intrested as TMF proved not to be an upselling scam and also shared the message of my (basic) financial knowledge, and teaching how to apply certain things more usefully. UNSCRIPTED was next on my list, which I'm still reading. But I'd rather get busy and read/learn-on-the-way as I usually do, my only problem or be it my contemplating time, the bloody pandemic... The past months left me action faking as I was trying to set my mind straight, converting myself not to chase or scam my way to the money, but actually going to provide value and making the lives better for people. Frankly the idea is more appealing to me as I'd rather be the "hero" of the people I help than to be a momentarily or fake "hero" like the "guru's" I was contemplating on copying.
So the big question for me was the past couple of weeks, in the events and aftermath of covid... what value can I, or better said we provide as I hope that you guys will give me feedback and support along the way. As will I try to give the most information that I can provide and try to share (which is one of my weaker points, as I'm kind of a lone wolf, contradicting my extrovert character COMPLETELY...). Just this post is a step for me to just admit that I'm a screw-up learn from all the stupid stuff I have done and build something out of it. Starting out & again is the hardest part, I have been trough all the 3 B's the couple of weeks, as I was staring myself blind upon the "golden goose" of idea's, convincing myself that I was in fact, doing something... I have a tendency to go fast & hard, sometimes just too much for myself to handle. It landed me in my current job tough, which I have kept as the "plan B" (I don't like plan B's, but my brother & father both recommended me to start something that works next to my job instead of quitting and jumping into the next abyss to figure it out as I go, seems like the right thing). Altough my dad added that he didn't see me pulling anything off, which really had me on the edge of quitting anyway and jumping.
6.
Going back to the idea phase, I have some prospect on starting out as a DJ, as I could collaborate with a friend of mine, he has some quality's of my "bad side" and vice versa. This sounds more like a "do what you love" thing, but if the brand and (tweakable) music style catches on, it could be an instant fastlane. I just need to get started on that but my problem is that I see it as a side hustle thing "just for fun" hence no brand or mastered song has been released yet... Or I need to learn everything and take control totally, but that leaves me with the "mentor that doesn't have time" problem...
Next on the list, I have kind of shot down this one already, but; starting my own construction company, as there are a dime a dozen but the market needs them to be a cent a dozen. Problem is, with this market downturn I don't see any real customer potential in the (1-3 year) future, since most money for landscaping and garden improvements are spent from complementary budget, which dries up with the covid (aftermath) crisis... That would leave me high and dry competing in a saturated market (as all those companies did too in the last economic crisis that more than halved the Dutch construction industry) which lead to the industry only recovering to a reasonable price range just in the past 1-2 years. (yes I started in the industry at a low wage, battling the crisis and learning hands on working hard on "..." jobs for "..." prices... All because I saw potential in the industry, not realizing yet that the big profits are never made by the employee...)
Now where I see the need arise is in elderly housing & care, as the biggest population group is in the (nearly) retired people, who will need to be looked after. I have done some research on it, most of them want to grow old (and die) in their own homes, unwilling to sell their house that they have worked hard for. Getting into this market and establishing a monopoly (which will take some time), will to my estimates be profitable within 3-10 years. I should look into this a bit more as to who I should serve (companies that give care, or the elderly themselves, what will be the need that I can provide for)
Another option is, using the capital I have & maybe a (business) loan to buy an existing company offered at a reduced rate on the marketplace (provided it is not riddled with debt). Then go and develop the company into something better (avoiding the start-up work, and improving my chances of succes exponentially). It still will be a hard road because it involves me learning to drive whilst the car is already moving, but heck that sounds like the fun part. Another extra motivation would be that I have money invested (and maybe an extra loaned amount), which drives the motivation not to quit "putting myself on dead ground". If I were to start a start-up the bailing opportunity's are way higher (in my opinion/experience).
I want to avoid "idea jumping" but I first have to make an action plan with the goals etc. in mind, maybe search a partner to team up with & get things done! Provided that these things have a future in them after the government finishes launching anti-virus restraints.
7.
Well this just my brief introduction on my story, how I got here and what's kept me busy the past time. I have come to the conclusion that I don't want to get back to my job, but in the short run I will have to do it. Also it might help me shine perspective on some needs, uncovering them etc. I will however go back on a reduced number of days, or not at all if they want to push me back into the long grind, in which case I have to dig into my savings. Maybe a job in another branche will help but the job market during the crisis isn't that good, will have to find a solution to that as my resume isn't the most appealing one out there (no degrees etc.). It is going to be either me figuring it out all on my own whilst paying some experts and looking on over their shoulder how to do it, or doing it all by myself using the internet wherever possible.
What would you guys do if you were in my shoes?
This is going to be my story, telling (broad-line) details about myself, so a lot (especially the first part) is going to be in the "I" form, as it is the way I experienced it. It includes the events that lead to my way here on the forum, not the entire process behind it. It is a long story on it's own (and sometimes a bit ranty, as it involves my experience/feelings along the way). The objective is to give you a broad overview of my life prior of me joining here whilst giving you a bit of an impression about my character. Every comment is welcome, don't try to spare me in any way it's about the feedback and things I need to work on. This is one step in my process I felt I needed to take.
If you think the story is too long here is the "chapters" you can skip to them if you like:
1. Intro
2. Childhood
3. Choosing entrepeneurship
4. Failures
5. How I got in touch with this community
6. Some idea's so far
7. Concluding
1.
I'm Etienne, 21 years old from the Netherlands. I have been trying to follow the road less travelled all my life, starting off young to always be the biggest hellraiser in class. I eventually graduated high school (higher general secundary education) at 16, and decided (always being disappointed in the learning facility's available, as I learned much more outside of classrooms etc.) to quit and finally make a honest living working hard in construction, working hard and hoping to work towards my own company. As I was advised (since at first I wanted to join the army for the sake of adventure) to learn a trade first, to have something to fall back on, I did, so I started working in construction at first, then switched to one of my (perceived) "dream jobs" as a bricklayer/gardener (someone that paves and builds your garden for you). Also doing roadwork and paving of brick streets (infrastructure in general) for the company. Effectively joining the grind as a sidewalker/slowlaner. Don't get me wrong I love learning new things & skills, as I do and achieve, not sitting at a dusty desk thinking of a way to get out of there.
2.
Now some background on my personal situation. I was raised in a broken home (my parents divorced when I was 6, then fought over custody, which my mom eventually won in a 70-30% split). This was the start of my dad's decline, he started his own company and got annihilated in the last economic crisis, raising me to never endeavour on the path of entrepeneurship as it would make me poor. On the other hand my mom & stepdad raised me to work hard and follow your goals and dreams, my mom saying "life is just a big monopoly game, you just need to learn how to get good at it & then play it to your best means". My stepdad motivated me to the fullest of his ability's (he was not totally able to anymore trough multiple medical conditions since I was 11), eventually motivating me to get the job in construction to learn how to work on a rythm and with discipline and to get experience in general. I also got my financial education from them, as my stepdad used to own a big company, which he sold and then (kind of) retired. Kind of a Robert Kiyosaki "Rich dad, Poor dad" situation going on there...
3.
Anyway my stepdad passed away a year ago, upon which my mom moved away to the holiday house and me having to live with my dad fulltime (yes I didn't buy/rent an appartment yet, because all my time was consumed by my job. (usually 04:00-17 or 19:00 workdays, not always sleeping home as I sometimes had to sleep on the job, which was the case when my stepdad was admitted into hospital just before he passed) And me not having a relationship left me with the choice of either living at home and have some company or living on my own & getting a cat...). This life event after having lost my granddad and brother in law in the same half of the year let me astray on the working long hours and saving up for better times path. I realised that spending time with the people you like and love is a way bigger life goal than chasing money, a lesson my stepdad also preached. A lesson that he will never be able to repeat or explain futher upon, to my displeasure. Also in this time I lost my drivers licence due to DUI (shoutout to @MJ DeMarco I know how it feels, luckily I didn't crash my dream car, but it was a possibility). My decision was clear, I need to better my ways and change. How would I be able to get a (legal & contributing, not devious & extortionist (way easier by the way, also risky & unreliable)) business launched, contributing to people rather than just pushing things that they might not want in the end.
4.
So, starting with dropshipping (multiple websites), it might have been a good niche but due to my mismanagement it blew up in my face, twice... (also the idea of selling another brand was not the best start either). My idea was flawed and as I later discovered the CENTS principle was nearly calling the police as it felt really violated... The stock brokering scheme I had involving compound interest fell trough nicely (altough it made a profit). Then I moved in the jewelry business (I still have a project running on that), buying lesser known gem's at auction and reselling them (not very profitable on it's own). I learned adding value could help but when I learned this the gold price started to go up, making the concept I had in mind (placing the gems on a gold ring) unvaluable as my "value add" suddenly was a big & more risky investment in a time when jewellry (a complementary good) isn't on peoples buying list). Then we have my lovely retail business which I started buying overstock and then pushing it down peoples stomach, it involved quite the big marketing/cold calling/mailing (unsollicited & starting off humiliatingly unprepared). So, I had followed all the "guru" tips & BS I could find around (only being sane enough not to buy into their programs or taking out big loans to start off...). Leaving me quite pissed off & out of options, turning back to my old friend education again, searching far & wide for some (cheap or free) knowledge (hey, don't judge, the Dutch are known to be cheap & always in need for free stuff or a sale). Doing all the ventures whilst working a busy job, leaving me with 2-6 hours of sleep at most.
5.
And at my moment of, just F this I'm going to scam everyone very hard and very good and very wide to make me very very rich... I found... TMF (yes MJ, the title implies the easy "get rich quick scheme" indeed as you stated in your book, guess I combined the right keywords... The message on the other hand changed my ways). Devouring the book within a month whilst taking notes (I took some time off to focus my energy on improving my situation & train of tought, now targetting myself instead of scamming) and look who we have here, my old entrepeneurial/learning spirit kicked in. Ever since I first started doing work & "hustles" on my own I dreaded bosses, being bossed around etc. It took me a while to adjust in the new environment of work. From my 17th and on I had started doing my own landscaping projects on the side, but as TMF made me realise, this will make me work hard IN my company but not ON my company, also chasing money. Also it made me realise the reasons why my businesses failed, and how I can improve myself on those points. Becoming intrested as TMF proved not to be an upselling scam and also shared the message of my (basic) financial knowledge, and teaching how to apply certain things more usefully. UNSCRIPTED was next on my list, which I'm still reading. But I'd rather get busy and read/learn-on-the-way as I usually do, my only problem or be it my contemplating time, the bloody pandemic... The past months left me action faking as I was trying to set my mind straight, converting myself not to chase or scam my way to the money, but actually going to provide value and making the lives better for people. Frankly the idea is more appealing to me as I'd rather be the "hero" of the people I help than to be a momentarily or fake "hero" like the "guru's" I was contemplating on copying.
So the big question for me was the past couple of weeks, in the events and aftermath of covid... what value can I, or better said we provide as I hope that you guys will give me feedback and support along the way. As will I try to give the most information that I can provide and try to share (which is one of my weaker points, as I'm kind of a lone wolf, contradicting my extrovert character COMPLETELY...). Just this post is a step for me to just admit that I'm a screw-up learn from all the stupid stuff I have done and build something out of it. Starting out & again is the hardest part, I have been trough all the 3 B's the couple of weeks, as I was staring myself blind upon the "golden goose" of idea's, convincing myself that I was in fact, doing something... I have a tendency to go fast & hard, sometimes just too much for myself to handle. It landed me in my current job tough, which I have kept as the "plan B" (I don't like plan B's, but my brother & father both recommended me to start something that works next to my job instead of quitting and jumping into the next abyss to figure it out as I go, seems like the right thing). Altough my dad added that he didn't see me pulling anything off, which really had me on the edge of quitting anyway and jumping.
6.
Going back to the idea phase, I have some prospect on starting out as a DJ, as I could collaborate with a friend of mine, he has some quality's of my "bad side" and vice versa. This sounds more like a "do what you love" thing, but if the brand and (tweakable) music style catches on, it could be an instant fastlane. I just need to get started on that but my problem is that I see it as a side hustle thing "just for fun" hence no brand or mastered song has been released yet... Or I need to learn everything and take control totally, but that leaves me with the "mentor that doesn't have time" problem...
Next on the list, I have kind of shot down this one already, but; starting my own construction company, as there are a dime a dozen but the market needs them to be a cent a dozen. Problem is, with this market downturn I don't see any real customer potential in the (1-3 year) future, since most money for landscaping and garden improvements are spent from complementary budget, which dries up with the covid (aftermath) crisis... That would leave me high and dry competing in a saturated market (as all those companies did too in the last economic crisis that more than halved the Dutch construction industry) which lead to the industry only recovering to a reasonable price range just in the past 1-2 years. (yes I started in the industry at a low wage, battling the crisis and learning hands on working hard on "..." jobs for "..." prices... All because I saw potential in the industry, not realizing yet that the big profits are never made by the employee...)
Now where I see the need arise is in elderly housing & care, as the biggest population group is in the (nearly) retired people, who will need to be looked after. I have done some research on it, most of them want to grow old (and die) in their own homes, unwilling to sell their house that they have worked hard for. Getting into this market and establishing a monopoly (which will take some time), will to my estimates be profitable within 3-10 years. I should look into this a bit more as to who I should serve (companies that give care, or the elderly themselves, what will be the need that I can provide for)
Another option is, using the capital I have & maybe a (business) loan to buy an existing company offered at a reduced rate on the marketplace (provided it is not riddled with debt). Then go and develop the company into something better (avoiding the start-up work, and improving my chances of succes exponentially). It still will be a hard road because it involves me learning to drive whilst the car is already moving, but heck that sounds like the fun part. Another extra motivation would be that I have money invested (and maybe an extra loaned amount), which drives the motivation not to quit "putting myself on dead ground". If I were to start a start-up the bailing opportunity's are way higher (in my opinion/experience).
I want to avoid "idea jumping" but I first have to make an action plan with the goals etc. in mind, maybe search a partner to team up with & get things done! Provided that these things have a future in them after the government finishes launching anti-virus restraints.
7.
Well this just my brief introduction on my story, how I got here and what's kept me busy the past time. I have come to the conclusion that I don't want to get back to my job, but in the short run I will have to do it. Also it might help me shine perspective on some needs, uncovering them etc. I will however go back on a reduced number of days, or not at all if they want to push me back into the long grind, in which case I have to dig into my savings. Maybe a job in another branche will help but the job market during the crisis isn't that good, will have to find a solution to that as my resume isn't the most appealing one out there (no degrees etc.). It is going to be either me figuring it out all on my own whilst paying some experts and looking on over their shoulder how to do it, or doing it all by myself using the internet wherever possible.
What would you guys do if you were in my shoes?
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