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 90,000 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.

What do you need?

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
369%
May 20, 2014
18,726
69,156
Ireland
I need a logo!

I need a mentor!

I need a website!

I need more money!

I need to go on a course!

I need a business partner!


Is it possible to run a business without all the things we think we need?

Maybe we're putting all these things in our own way?

To prevent us from starting? (aka procrastination).

To prevent us from shipping? (aka perfectionism).

Because we think we'll fail if we launch?

Because we don't think we're enough?


Whenever I find myself saying "I need ..." I catch myself and wonder:


Do I REALLY need it?

Is it possible someone else has done without it?

Is it possible *I* can do without it?




The only thing we need in business are sales/customers.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

MJ DeMarco

I followed the science; all I found was money.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Rat-Race Escape!
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
446%
Jul 23, 2007
38,256
170,745
Utah
Well, I still haven't found an entrepreneur who started his/her business with no money at all... I think it's a myth that you don't need money to make money.

Because you believe that, you're right.

And your excuse keeps you comfortably pleasant with that reality.

Oh well, there's always a 9-to-5 Monday thru Friday for the next 50 years.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
369%
May 20, 2014
18,726
69,156
Ireland
you cannot build an enterprise with no money

If you see 10 white swans in front of you, can you conclude that all the swans in the world are white? All it takes is one black swan on the other side of the world to prove you wrong.

It's so easy to disprove a sweeping generalisation - you just have to find one black swan.

It's so hard to prove a sweeping generalisation - you have to find every single swan in the world and show they're all white.



you cannot

I've learned to be wary of people who use the phrases "you need to", "you should", "you must", "never", "always", or "cannot". Such bold and declarative phrases usually indicate the limits of that person's experience. Even if I do believe something to be true, the older I get the more I'm inclined to guide someone to the truth than make a bold statement.

Be careful of the words you use. They don't just affect the people around you - they also affect you.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right." (Henry Ford)

 

Nicoknowsbest

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
396%
Mar 31, 2014
460
1,820
Austria
Yes, you can do freelancing, publish ebooks, sell old stuff, etc.
But you cannot build an entreprise with no money.

You also cannot build an enterprise overnight with all the money in the world.

There are more than enough living examples (especially here on the forum) that will confirm that it is possible to start with almost 0.

Freelancing is better than a job, right?

So what's wrong with starting at one end of the sliding scale (employee < freelancer < contractor < agency < marketplace) and through...

...process...

...your personal journey...

...and massive development...

...you "suddenly" end up on the other end of the sliding scale and become an overnight success after years of hard work.

I think you confuse events and processes.

Or maybe you are afraid to start?

Don't be!

(Over)Think less, do more.
 

mindfulimmortal

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
236%
Mar 3, 2011
173
409
Las Vegas
I need a website!

I need more money!

I need to go on a course!

I need a logo!

I need a business partner!

I need a mentor!


Is it possible to run a business without all the things we think we need?

Maybe we're putting all these things in our own way?

To prevent us from starting? (aka procrastination).

To prevent us from shipping? (aka perfectionism).

Because we think we'll fail if we launch?

Because we don't think we're enough?



Whenever I find myself saying "I need ..." I catch myself and wonder:


Do I REALLY need it?

Is it possible someone else has done without it?

Is it possible *I* can do without it?




The only thing we need in business are sales/customers.

A wise old business mentor advised me:

1. Find Customers First

2. Customers are the most important thing is business, but getting the product or service right is the hardest thing.

3. You must speak to a customer at some point, if you make that the first thing, you save incalculable time and money.

4. For new business, you must compete on design, not price.

5. Research will lead only into known markets. Finding new business is a matter of “search and learn” tactics.

6. You need no money to start up a business, you need customers. if you need money, you have no customers. If you have customers, you need no money.
 

Raoul Duke

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
323%
Feb 26, 2016
2,211
7,150
Well, I still haven't found an entrepreneur who started his/her business with no money at all... I think it's a myth that you don't need money to make money.


tenor.gif
 

Timmy C

I Will Not Stop!
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
231%
Jun 12, 2018
2,931
6,756
Melbourne, Australia
Alright guys, what i thought i needed below!

- vacuum sealer
- council approval
- website
- menu
- logo
- adwords campaign
amongst other things i am sure!

What did I actually need though?

I suggest you take a look at @Andy Black signature.
“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” (Mother Theresa)

Is it really that simple? i need all this stuff that can't be right!!

Yes....it is that simple that is all you need to do start providing value for free, help one person at a time, watch the magic happen. You do not NEED what you think you NEED.

By focusing on helping people and not about getting money, it literally fell into my lap.
 
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
369%
May 20, 2014
18,726
69,156
Ireland
First I would like to make my own website. Then increase visitors onto it. Applying for adsence and start earning from it. :)
The best advice I heard about using Adsense to "monetise" visitors to your website was: Don't.

If you get people to your website who click ads to leave, then you've generated leads for those AdWords advertisers who's ads were on your site, and you've hopefully helped your visitors solve their problems.

Is that really the best way you can help your visitors solve their problems?

Do you really want to crack open the champagne when someone leaves your site?

Don't get me wrong... I've worked in a business making €30-50k gross profit a day from Adsense, but we were buying €120k a day of visitors from Google. I wouldn't go down this route unless it's at scale, and even then I'd use the revenue from Adsense to subsidise the AdWords costs so that we're generating other leads for free.
 

TonyFish6379

Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
259%
Feb 27, 2016
17
44
Kuwait
I need a website!

I need more money!

I need to go on a course!

I need a logo!

I need a business partner!

I need a mentor!

I NEED a time machine to go shove this post in my own 22 year old self's face.
Yes, this is a real crippling means of prohibiting forward movement.

I was victim to it myself. Trying to figure out what I "Thought" I needed to know before becoming successful.
Like there was this mystical, missing piece of information that would allow me to move forward despite the obvious - work, planning, execution and the willingness to fail.

Fail, who wants to do that? LOL

SMH at my younger self.......

The only thing we need in business are sales/customers.

Wish I would have had some reality based (Hard Truth) mentoring like this back then.

Thanks for this post @Andy Black It really hit home for me.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Scot

Salad Dressing Empire
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
473%
Jul 10, 2016
2,974
14,055
Florida
Yes, you can do freelancing, publish ebooks, sell old stuff, etc.
But you cannot build an entreprise with no money.


I see you've got the "I've Read the Millionaire Fastlane " badge on your profile.

And you're sure... 100% SURE you can't think of ANYONE who started a successful business without startup money...
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Nicoknowsbest

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
396%
Mar 31, 2014
460
1,820
Austria
"I am enough. Because I say I am." - @Andy Black

You told me this line a few times already, but I didn't really get it until a few days ago. For years, I have been struggling with the following two topics, only to realise that the only person I needed to ask for answers was myself.

Permission:
I thought in order to be able to do/sell something, I'd have to take courses, get diplomas, reach expert status, etc. If you help people with what they need, all this becomes less relevant. Help people achieve their goals and the rest follows automatically. You don't need to ask permission from anybody - just do it.

Validation:
I was waiting for people to see me as a legitimate business owner. For that, I rented an office. Hired freelancers and virtual assistants. Worked to be busy, but not really progress. Printed business cards that I didn't even hand out. Built websites nobody visited. Only to be still treated like an external worker bee who companies don't have to pay social insurance for. Once I took the decision that I am a peer, a business owner, no matter what, the way people interact with me improved dramatically.
 

REV5028

Silver Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
274%
Oct 29, 2022
296
811
32
New Mexico
@Andy Black thanks for this thread and your thread on "what if you already know enough" - they really helped me get over some mental hurdles.

After accepting that I know enough to get started and provide value, and after letting go of thinking I need so many things to be successful, I've started to work on the actual product and deciding how to make it the most useful/best it can be for others, how it can stand out from what's already out there.

I had my skills ready to go and a process in mind, all I needed was...

That's when I realized that I already had more than adequate resources at my disposal. That's when I realized that my process was built on a process that I learned 15 years ago and was surely outdated. That's when I realized that I now have a great opportunity to add a new tool to my skillset, an opportunity to learn and grow (how fun and exciting?!).

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that for me personally, the main questions that have led me to grow have been:

1. What if you already know enough?
2. What do you (actually) need?
3.1. What are you underutilizing? / What do you already have?
3.2. What implemented processes/ways of thinking are outdated?

3.1 also made me realize that I'm quite possibly underutilizing my network. While I could successfully do this project on my own, there are definitely some people/friends in my community that would be great to talk to or collaborate with.

Anyway, just thought I'd share where your two questions (and other forum content) have taken me so far.
 

Siberia

Surprise
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
203%
Apr 30, 2016
305
620
Siberia
I need a website!

I need more money!

I need to go on a course!

I need a logo!

I need a business partner!

I need a mentor!


Is it possible to run a business without all the things we think we need?

Maybe we're putting all these things in our own way?

To prevent us from starting? (aka procrastination).

To prevent us from shipping? (aka perfectionism).

Because we think we'll fail if we launch?

Because we don't think we're enough?



Whenever I find myself saying "I need ..." I catch myself and wonder:


Do I REALLY need it?

Is it possible someone else has done without it?

Is it possible *I* can do without it?




The only thing we need in business are sales/customers.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Andy to this question I am also another answer for everybody:

Every entrepreneur needs:

A GREAT VISION AND IDEA

BUT

ACT SMALL

and I mean micro daily habits activities.

At last the KAIZEN controll in the continuous improvement in these daily habits.

A small victories every days ....
because the VICTORIES help the VICTORIES.

In this way you capture a winning approach in everything you do (OUTPUT) that is a prerequisite to big win: achieving true goal FastLane (OUTCOME).
 
Last edited:

Siberia

Surprise
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
203%
Apr 30, 2016
305
620
Siberia
Well, I still haven't found an entrepreneur who started his/her business with no money at all... I think it's a myth that you don't need money to make money.
Friend,
the myth have your head and your experience. I have created a big business from scratch. The son happy of two workers who could not help me.
 

Nicoknowsbest

Gold Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
396%
Mar 31, 2014
460
1,820
Austria
How are people treating you differently?

Don't ask me how this works and it's just my personal perception. But once you make a decision in your head of how you want to be perceived, people change their behaviour towards you. Of course you also have to act it out. If it's only in your head, it won't help. The biggest change I have seen so far is that I have more confidence in how I want to do business.

So what's changed?
  • The "takers" disappear faster and with less strings attached these days.
    For everybody who is wondering what I am referring too when I say taker, read this thread here.
  • People get to the point quicker.
  • People respect my time.
  • People respect my rules of communication.
  • People respect my prices and my offer.
It's also a great filter for future partnerships and clients. Back in the day, I ignored warning signs and things I didn't like during a business relationship, because I was acting from a position of weakness, as @Black_Dragon43 pointed out. Nowadays, I am happy to part ways at any given point if there's something I am having doubts about. Without looking back, no hard feelings.
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
369%
May 20, 2014
18,726
69,156
Ireland
That is correct, you need the SKILLS to make sales and conversions/customers agreed.
I don't believe we need skills to be able to help people:

... and I don't believe we need "sales" or "marketing" skills either. In fact, I'm of the belief that people would do better unlearning sales and marketing and just helping folks.

I do believe many people need to get out of their own way and just go help people.
 

Timmy C

I Will Not Stop!
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
231%
Jun 12, 2018
2,931
6,756
Melbourne, Australia
I don't believe we need skills to be able to help people:

... and I don't believe we need "sales" or "marketing" skills either. In fact, I'm of the belief that people would do better unlearning sales and marketing and just helping folks.

I do believe many people need to get out of their own way and just go help people.

So true Andy.

This week i am getting further than i ever have and it's because i havent been selling at all.

"Here i did this for you hope it helps."

"Wow! you took time out of your day to do this for us?"

"Yeh i had a spare minute!"

"Cool i will give you a shoutout on our social media!"

All the way to

"Thanks for that! So what do you charge for XYZ?"
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Frankie Relax

Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
112%
May 1, 2015
84
94
34
Italy
You also cannot build an enterprise overnight with all the money in the world.

There are more than enough living examples (especially here on the forum) that will confirm that it is possible to start with almost 0.

Freelancing is better than a job, right?

So what's wrong with starting at one end of the sliding scale (employee < freelancer < contractor < agency < marketplace) and through...

...process...

...your personal journey...

...and massive development...

...you "suddenly" end up on the other end of the sliding scale and become an overnight success after years of hard work.

I think you confuse events and processes.

Or maybe you are afraid to start?

Don't be!

(Over)Think less, do more.

Thank you man for your words! Rep $$ transferred to you 'cause you made me know something I didn't know, ie the sliding scale...
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
369%
May 20, 2014
18,726
69,156
Ireland

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
369%
May 20, 2014
18,726
69,156
Ireland
WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Andy to this question I am also another answer for everybody:

Every entrepreneur needs:

A GREAT VISION AND IDEA

BUT

ACT SMALL

and I mean micro daily habits activities.

At last the KAIZEN controll in the continuous improvement in these daily habits.

A small victories every days ....
because the VICTORIES help the VICTORIES.

In this way you capture a winning approach in everything you do (OUTPUT) that is a prerequisite to big win: achieving true goal FastLane (OUTCOME).
Thanks for your considered input @Siberia.

...

I can imagine someone without a great vision or idea still getting customers, while someone who does have a great vision or idea doesn't build a business - because they don't get any customers.

A lot of people won't start because they don't think their idea is unique or big enough, which is a shame because there's likely someone within 50m of them who'd give them money in exchange for their help.

...

Kaizen works for me. It's the way I prefer to work.

And sometimes I've just got to go flat out to break the back of a problem:
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Raoul Duke

Legendary Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Summit Attendee
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
323%
Feb 26, 2016
2,211
7,150
You also cannot build an enterprise overnight with all the money in the world.

There are more than enough living examples (especially here on the forum) that will confirm that it is possible to start with almost 0.

Freelancing is better than a job, right?

So what's wrong with starting at one end of the sliding scale (employee < freelancer < contractor < agency < marketplace) and through...

...process...

...your personal journey...

...and massive development...

...you "suddenly" end up on the other end of the sliding scale and become an overnight success after years of hard work.

I think you confuse events and processes.

Or maybe you are afraid to start?

Don't be!

(Over)Think less, do more.

I'm gonna go ahead and beat him to the punch. You know... the dead horse... or whatever.

Well, I still haven't found an entrepreneur who started his/her business with no money at all... I think it's a myth that you don't need money to make money.
But you cannot build an entreprise with no money.

Frankie Relax
 

Frankie Relax

Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
112%
May 1, 2015
84
94
34
Italy
If you see 10 white swans in front of you, can you conclude that all the swans in the world are white? All it takes is one black swan on the other side of the world to prove you wrong.

It's so easy to disprove a sweeping generalisation - you just have to find one black swan.

It's so hard to prove a sweeping generalisation - you have to find every single swan in the world and show they're all white.





I've learned to be wary of people who use the phrases "you need to", "you should", "you must", "never", "always", or "cannot". Such bold and declarative phrases usually indicate the limits of that person's experience. Even if I do believe something to be true, the older I get the more I'm inclined to guide someone to the truth than make a bold statement.

Be careful of the words you use. They don't just affect the people around you - they also affect you.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right." (Henry Ford)


Thank you for your reply and inspiring words!
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Siberia

Surprise
Read Fastlane!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
203%
Apr 30, 2016
305
620
Siberia
I need a website!

I need more money!

I need to go on a course!

I need a logo!

I need a business partner!

I need a mentor!


Is it possible to run a business without all the things we think we need?

Maybe we're putting all these things in our own way?

To prevent us from starting? (aka procrastination).

To prevent us from shipping? (aka perfectionism).

Because we think we'll fail if we launch?

Because we don't think we're enough?



Whenever I find myself saying "I need ..." I catch myself and wonder:


Do I REALLY need it?

Is it possible someone else has done without it?

Is it possible *I* can do without it?




The only thing we need in business are sales/customers.


I need to stay still quite in my safe uncertainty, to design the unknown part of my new Nanotech technology, to get in the shortest possible time to implement the principle of running a new product to produce, sell and distribute with my new start-up in a niche market.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

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

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top