Hey all, I'm a 25 yr old Designer/Developer in America. I have a well-paying (but not elite) job but can't stand working for other people. I want to start my own business and eventually retire to pursue passions and travel. Life is short and I want to make the most of it. Here's my story.
I grew up in a middle-class family and got a great education. When I was a teenager, my dad lost his job as his industry was suffering. He started his own business as at-home travel agent. My mom started her own at-home business, a home daycare when I was even younger. I really admire that about them and also find the same entrepreneurial spirit inside myself. Having just finished TMF , I now see that although they both get to "be their own boss", they aren't detached from time and still have to put in the hours to get paid. They're not fastlane.
I went to a great tech university and studied digital art and programming. I've done game dev, web dev, 3d modeling, Augmented Reality, graphic design, and even some illustration. I went ahead and got my Masters from the same university after working for a year, and got tuition covered by working part-time as a Graduate Research Assistant program. During this time, I saw the degree as a chance to get ahead in my career path, which I had decided would be as a web designer/developer. I finished my Masters a year and a half ago, and I started working full-time soon after.
One of my major life goals is to become financially independent. I discovered the concept of "FI" maybe 2 or 3 years ago on reddit and it really changed my outlook on life. I am someone who values independence and freedom, and suddenly I had a clear goal.
I learned a lot about personal finance and investing. I have a sensible budget, a nest egg of savings, and a healthy amount in investments. No major debts except a low-interest car payment that I can afford. Overall I'm in good financial health and have been focusing on investing and career development. I have been learning new skills related to my field, with the intent to further my career. My goal was to shift into the blockchain industry, as I have been interested and researching the technology for a while now. I see demand causing salaries in that industry to rise rapidly.
But making a higher salary was always a means to an end. I wanted to make more so I could invest more, and get out of the rat race once I had enough. But after reading TMF , I realize that this isn't the best plan. I'd still be trading 5 for 2 and I'd have to be exceptional to rise to the top of these companies where the real money is made. And investing in markets isn't enough either. I own cryptos and hope for outsized returns there but it is all speculative at the end of the day.
I just finished the book yesterday, after finding this forum a couple weeks ago. I have Unscripted but haven't started it yet, will read it soon. Now my mindset is about finding a business that is truly fastlane and satisfies CENTS. I have a couple ideas in mind related to blockchain technology and decentralized apps. I'm still in the ideation phase. Keeping my ears open for "open roads" that people might lead me to.
If anyone has advice or resources on performing market research and developing business models I would appreciate it. These are skills I am still developing.
I'm more of a lurker on most forums than an active poster, but I can see there is a wealth of knowledge here and hope to contribute back when I have things to share.
Nice to meet you all.
- Ani
I grew up in a middle-class family and got a great education. When I was a teenager, my dad lost his job as his industry was suffering. He started his own business as at-home travel agent. My mom started her own at-home business, a home daycare when I was even younger. I really admire that about them and also find the same entrepreneurial spirit inside myself. Having just finished TMF , I now see that although they both get to "be their own boss", they aren't detached from time and still have to put in the hours to get paid. They're not fastlane.
I went to a great tech university and studied digital art and programming. I've done game dev, web dev, 3d modeling, Augmented Reality, graphic design, and even some illustration. I went ahead and got my Masters from the same university after working for a year, and got tuition covered by working part-time as a Graduate Research Assistant program. During this time, I saw the degree as a chance to get ahead in my career path, which I had decided would be as a web designer/developer. I finished my Masters a year and a half ago, and I started working full-time soon after.
One of my major life goals is to become financially independent. I discovered the concept of "FI" maybe 2 or 3 years ago on reddit and it really changed my outlook on life. I am someone who values independence and freedom, and suddenly I had a clear goal.
I learned a lot about personal finance and investing. I have a sensible budget, a nest egg of savings, and a healthy amount in investments. No major debts except a low-interest car payment that I can afford. Overall I'm in good financial health and have been focusing on investing and career development. I have been learning new skills related to my field, with the intent to further my career. My goal was to shift into the blockchain industry, as I have been interested and researching the technology for a while now. I see demand causing salaries in that industry to rise rapidly.
But making a higher salary was always a means to an end. I wanted to make more so I could invest more, and get out of the rat race once I had enough. But after reading TMF , I realize that this isn't the best plan. I'd still be trading 5 for 2 and I'd have to be exceptional to rise to the top of these companies where the real money is made. And investing in markets isn't enough either. I own cryptos and hope for outsized returns there but it is all speculative at the end of the day.
I just finished the book yesterday, after finding this forum a couple weeks ago. I have Unscripted but haven't started it yet, will read it soon. Now my mindset is about finding a business that is truly fastlane and satisfies CENTS. I have a couple ideas in mind related to blockchain technology and decentralized apps. I'm still in the ideation phase. Keeping my ears open for "open roads" that people might lead me to.
If anyone has advice or resources on performing market research and developing business models I would appreciate it. These are skills I am still developing.
I'm more of a lurker on most forums than an active poster, but I can see there is a wealth of knowledge here and hope to contribute back when I have things to share.
Nice to meet you all.
- Ani
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
