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Started By
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re: Business owners, tell the tale of your early days and when you found success
Posted on 4/7/24 at 10:01 am to Fat Bastard
Posted on 4/7/24 at 10:01 am to Fat Bastard
Yo!
Still have online courses, but revenue as dropped off a cliff since I am not giving it any attention. I need to just sell and be done with it.
I still have some properties (4) and in the middle of an airbnb renovation but wanting to sell all of those as well.
The contracting biz needs all my attention.
And yep, still in Colombia. Attached is a picture I just took. Love it here.
LINK
Still have online courses, but revenue as dropped off a cliff since I am not giving it any attention. I need to just sell and be done with it.
I still have some properties (4) and in the middle of an airbnb renovation but wanting to sell all of those as well.
The contracting biz needs all my attention.
And yep, still in Colombia. Attached is a picture I just took. Love it here.
LINK
This post was edited on 4/7/24 at 10:38 am
1
Posted on 2/23/26 at 1:24 pm to Thundercles
Doubts are part of the process. I remember thinking I’d made a huge mistake for the first six months, but once that first major contract landed, everything clicked. Wouldn't change a thing.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 1:25 pm to BottomlandBrew
That is a powerful story about the grit it takes to keep a family legacy alive. Transitioning from a service-based model to manufacturing is a massive leap, especially when you're under the pressure of a personal guarantee and payroll deadlines.
It sounds like having that specific banker in your corner and the support from EO were the real turning points. Most people don't realize that family business "gravity" is real—it's tough to step in when you didn't plan to, but clearly, your perspective from your previous career helped you navigate that transition.
It sounds like having that specific banker in your corner and the support from EO were the real turning points. Most people don't realize that family business "gravity" is real—it's tough to step in when you didn't plan to, but clearly, your perspective from your previous career helped you navigate that transition.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:18 pm to TheOcean
quote:
Running a couple business has allowed me to become a multi millionaire by 35. It's extremely stressful and time consuming, but great if you want to be your own boss.
Don't know why you're getting so many downvotes, but owning your own business is how you get wealthy.
Wife retired at 50 and sold her business for 7 figures. Barely 7 figures, but still counts. Health issues played a role in her decision, but she hasn't had to work in 20 years. Be sure and get a private, occupation specific disability plan while you're young and save/invest aggressively.
There is more stress and responsibility is much greater, but so are the rewards. In 20 years, we have created generational wealth and secured a luxury early retirement.
There have been times I was beat down and tired, but I've never regretted it.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:26 pm to Thundercles
quote:
when you found footing, and anything you'd change.
We were aggressive savers and investors, but I would have spent less and saved even more during our boom years. Take on as little debt as possible and try to find every tax loophole you can.
Don't burn yourself out. Take time off. I went too hard my first few years without even realizing it and I think it cost me in the long run. I'll burn myself out, go into a funk, rebound and then repeat. I'm trying to pace myself, but I keep getting things I can't turn down dropped in my lap. I feel like I enjoy my success less than anyone else. Wish I could give you some great advice on how to avoid this trap, but I haven't figured it out yet.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:38 pm to SmackoverHawg
quote:
but I would have spent less and saved even more during our boom years.
quote:
Don't burn yourself out. Take time off. I went too hard my first few years without even realizing it and I think it cost me in the long run.
So which is it
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:44 pm to JohnnyKilroy
I don't know. That's why I said I'm still figuring it out!!!
Two things I'd keep the same is flying first class on long trips and having a personal tailor that comes to me.
Two things I'd keep the same is flying first class on long trips and having a personal tailor that comes to me.
This post was edited on 2/23/26 at 2:48 pm
Posted on 2/24/26 at 6:17 am to Thundercles
I got laid off 2x in 4 years when I started an entry level job.
Then couldnt find work.
Opened a small business in the car industry.
4 years later, Came close to losing everything.
Got completly smoked and was in over my head.
In debt heavly.
Started over in another industry.
Work as a hourly employee now.
Still want to make another jump though.
I only found failure.
Just got cut yesterday from the crew I work with as well.
So. Yeah.
It hurts, It took me a while to realize, that business failure was all on me.
It took years to recover.
Then couldnt find work.
Opened a small business in the car industry.
4 years later, Came close to losing everything.
Got completly smoked and was in over my head.
In debt heavly.
Started over in another industry.
Work as a hourly employee now.
Still want to make another jump though.
I only found failure.
Just got cut yesterday from the crew I work with as well.
So. Yeah.
It hurts, It took me a while to realize, that business failure was all on me.
It took years to recover.
This post was edited on 2/24/26 at 10:56 am
Posted on 7/20/26 at 5:27 pm to Thundercles
My biggest doubt was whether there would ever be enough customers to make it sustainable.
It grew through small wins rather than one big breakthrough. Looking back, I would’ve invested in systems earlier. Once we were managing dozens of LEIs for clients, tracking renewals manually started eating too much time and made missed deadlines a real compliance risk, so we moved that work into LEI admin .
It grew through small wins rather than one big breakthrough. Looking back, I would’ve invested in systems earlier. Once we were managing dozens of LEIs for clients, tracking renewals manually started eating too much time and made missed deadlines a real compliance risk, so we moved that work into LEI admin .
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 5:04 am
Posted on 7/20/26 at 5:38 pm to SmackoverHawg
quote:read the thread title. The read his answer.
Don't know why you're getting so many downvotes
Posted on 7/20/26 at 5:51 pm to BamaCoaster
quote:winning an award for selling insurance is on par with cops winning awards for writing brake tag tickets
Won a couple of awards.
Posted on 7/20/26 at 6:00 pm to SuperSaint
quote:
winning an award for selling insurance is on par with cops winning awards for writing brake tag tickets
Weird bump, but the awards were:
-Business of the year with the coastal Alabama chamber out of 1100 businesses, after a hurricane
-Emerging small business of Alabama with under 10 employees due to our portal for clients and dtc (direct to consumer) rater, where businesses and drivers could shop their rates on our website
Posted on 7/20/26 at 6:53 pm to I Love Bama
What online courses are you selling and what platform? 30+ years in commercial banking and I’ve put together a few. Just trying to find the launch platform and marketing play. So many out there.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 6:24 am to Im4datigers
quote:
What online courses are you selling and what platform? 30+ years in commercial banking and I’ve put together a few. Just trying to find the launch platform and marketing play. So many out there.
It was real estate related but AI completely killed it. Ironically, AI killed one of my biz while skyrocketing the other.
My gvt contract biz is doing 16mm this year and I would say half of those awards are due to AI.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 6:33 am to I Love Bama
quote:
It was real estate related but AI completely killed it. Ironically, AI killed one of my biz while skyrocketing the other. My gvt contract biz is doing 16mm this year and I would say half of those awards are due to AI.
Yeah I hear you. I hope what I’m trying is niche enough and different and takes a lot of real life experience that’s within it to make a difference. Feel like AI can come up with any information but tossing in human experience and real life examples might be the difference. Who knows. Cheap to create so only out some marketing dollars if it doesn’t work.
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