Cease fire! I can feel the tension in your fingers leaking out through your keyboard as you prepare to give me a verbal lashing regarding how I alone made the decisions that led me to where I am today. I agree, I just wanted to get your attention. Also, fair warning, there’s going to be a bit of a rant here as I get a lot off my chest and organize my thoughts.
TLDR Version: This thread signifies my commitment to becoming wealthy, a set of goals, and briefly lists some of the projects I've tried (and failed). Nice to meet you!
I recently started reading TMF and finished it the next day. Finally, someone speaking my language. TMF hit on all the ideologies I’ve pieced together throughout my short years trying to figure out ‘how to get rich’, then expanded on some of the points I was missing. For me it’s not about making a ton of money, but that I don’t want to sell my time to someone else so I can build their dreams for them. Yuck.
I am 22 now, and for the past 4 years I’ve been trying to find ways to start a business and create passive income so I can gain my freedom. Well, sort of trying. I mostly squandered those 4 years getting drunk, chasing girls, and playing video games, while half-assedly working on side projects. Being blessed enough to get full ride scholarships, it wasn’t until recently that the frustration of selling your life for money became apparent to me. There’s nothing I despise more than knowing I am going to sleep early tonight so I can wake up before the sun, groggy eyed, weave through traffic and spend another day talking to assholes who can’t understand our product, fueling someone else’s journey down the fastlane.
Up to now, one of my biggest detractors to success has been commitment. I keep my finances on a short leash, but I love to wander onto the sidewalk and escape into video game worlds. I know fully well that will never lead me where I want to be. Neither will the slowlane. Graduating Magna Cum Laude toting two shiny bachelor’s degrees, one of which is with honors, has allowed me access to an amazing position as an entry level customer support agent. Depressing, honestly. I am using this thread as announcement of commitment moving forward. To do whatever it takes to learn how to reach my goals. Speaking of which, maybe it’s about time I put together some concrete goals.
Goal 1: Escape selling 40 hours a week to others.
Income I need to reach freedom at my current standard of living: $2000/month (before taxes)
Vehicle to Achievement: Although I would much rather be in control, the options I’ve seen unfold mainly consist of hitchhiking until I can put together a small nest egg or take the time to develop a skill that will allow me to pursue my bigger projects. Although I’m aware hitchhiking and using someone else’s system to profit won’t make me the big bucks, it will likely be what I need to get myself off the ground.
Timeline: December 2015
Goal 2: Ability to skip work whenever and not worry about money.
Income Needed: $10,000/month (Roughly)
This does not mean that I can spend like a madman and not pay attention to purchases, but that I don’t have to sweat over expenditures I make. Essentially, the start of an escape from the penny pinching slow lane. If I want lobster, well hell, I’ll get lobster, and it won’t be a big deal because I’ll be making enough money to be fine with it.
Vehicle to Achievement: Once I get enough money to make a downpayment, I would love to purchase a rental property like a duplex, see how generating rental income feels and if it is a good fit for me. Expand or not from there to increase cash flow. In addition, I will be using money made from the previous goal to create a business that gives me control over an asset I can grow and develop.
Timeline: 25th birthday or before (August 2017)
Goal 3: Lamborghini Diablo + Luxury (Complete Freedom)
Income Needed: $200,000/month (maybe? This is an amount of money I’m not familiar with at all.)
Like MJ, I’ve long been enamored with the Lamborghini style. To me, being able to purchase one will indicate I have achieved a level of success that allows me complete freedom. The ability to pursue anything that interests me. That’s really what my whole journey is all about.
Vehicle to Achievement: Sell an asset to create massive income or have enough passive income from business(es) to cover everything. Use of the Law of Effection.
Timeline: 27th birthday or before (August 2019)
This is the first time I’ve ever sat down to try and create a list of goals like this, if you have feedback please let me know. I would really appreciate it.
Now I know there must be serious flaws in the projects I have been pursuing, otherwise I would be making money. I am going to list the endeavors I have tried so far and what I’ve learned. Any feedback or ideas would be appreciated.
Personal Work YouTube Channel
Concept: Showcase my personal rap and poetry talents
Lessons: I’m wasn’t nearly as good at those arts as I originally thought, putting something out purely for entertainment is difficult. I was being selfish, wanting to show off my work, offering the potential consumer very little.
Status: Active
www.youtube.com/donovonjenson
Music Promotion Youtube Channel
Concept: Host contests by bringing together producers and artists and offer promotion as a reward
Lessons: Still not enough value for the customer. They do a lot of work and I expected them to promote themselves. Also, way too much individual work uploading their songs one by one. However I did find that engaging individuals does a lot to encourage use of the product.
Status: Scrapped
www.youtube.com/therhymesanctuary
How To YouTube Channel
Concept: Teach people how to rap and write poetry. I just decided to start releasing these videos on the same channel I was using for my personal work. I found a decent amount of success (currently 250,000 views and 2,250 subscribers) but realized it’s extremely difficult to gain wealth because Youtube has all the control.
Lessons: Hard to make money when you don’t have control. Thinking what benefits the consumer is ultimately how you get people involved. If you are going to put something out, put enough time into it to ensure it is produced in high quality. It is possible to get traction in a market that already has competitors as long as you execute well.
Status: Active
www.youtube.com/donovonjenson
T-Shirt Dropshipping Store - Forums
Concept: Entice various forums to let me sell t-shirts of their brand by pitching it as giving them free advertising at no cost.
Lessons: Though I found site owners that were potentially interested, there was really no market for this. Any forums with enough brand loyalty/users that would actually make this a worthwhile endeavor were already selling their own merchandise.
Status: Scrapped
T-Shirt Dropshipping Store - SnapMerch
Concept: Utilize the audience from the YouTube channel to sell hip-hop themed T-shirts. If I get traction, move onto a platform I control, and find better product distributors.
Lessons: Still a work in progress, I haven’t converted any sales, still working on why.
Status: Active
http://snapmerch.storenvy.com
Music Promotion Website
Concept: Make a radio player that plays independent music
Lessons: Having a partner is hard, relying on others takes control from you. Having the right vision can bring support from interesting places. Word of mouth is the best source of advertising. (P.S. This is the project I would really like to have take off and fully invest in a monogamous relationship with)
Status: Active
http://noteis.us
I know there is a lot here, and I don’t know if I really expect anyone to read this. I mostly wrote it for myself, again, to clear my head. However, if you do manage to trudge through this entire thing, feedback and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I’m glad to be here and plan on quickly becoming a regular.
Finally, wanted to thank MJ for his book and heavy involvement in the forums. You’ve done a lot of good for a lot of people.
/rant
TLDR Version: This thread signifies my commitment to becoming wealthy, a set of goals, and briefly lists some of the projects I've tried (and failed). Nice to meet you!
I recently started reading TMF and finished it the next day. Finally, someone speaking my language. TMF hit on all the ideologies I’ve pieced together throughout my short years trying to figure out ‘how to get rich’, then expanded on some of the points I was missing. For me it’s not about making a ton of money, but that I don’t want to sell my time to someone else so I can build their dreams for them. Yuck.
I am 22 now, and for the past 4 years I’ve been trying to find ways to start a business and create passive income so I can gain my freedom. Well, sort of trying. I mostly squandered those 4 years getting drunk, chasing girls, and playing video games, while half-assedly working on side projects. Being blessed enough to get full ride scholarships, it wasn’t until recently that the frustration of selling your life for money became apparent to me. There’s nothing I despise more than knowing I am going to sleep early tonight so I can wake up before the sun, groggy eyed, weave through traffic and spend another day talking to assholes who can’t understand our product, fueling someone else’s journey down the fastlane.
Up to now, one of my biggest detractors to success has been commitment. I keep my finances on a short leash, but I love to wander onto the sidewalk and escape into video game worlds. I know fully well that will never lead me where I want to be. Neither will the slowlane. Graduating Magna Cum Laude toting two shiny bachelor’s degrees, one of which is with honors, has allowed me access to an amazing position as an entry level customer support agent. Depressing, honestly. I am using this thread as announcement of commitment moving forward. To do whatever it takes to learn how to reach my goals. Speaking of which, maybe it’s about time I put together some concrete goals.
Goal 1: Escape selling 40 hours a week to others.
Income I need to reach freedom at my current standard of living: $2000/month (before taxes)
Vehicle to Achievement: Although I would much rather be in control, the options I’ve seen unfold mainly consist of hitchhiking until I can put together a small nest egg or take the time to develop a skill that will allow me to pursue my bigger projects. Although I’m aware hitchhiking and using someone else’s system to profit won’t make me the big bucks, it will likely be what I need to get myself off the ground.
Timeline: December 2015
Goal 2: Ability to skip work whenever and not worry about money.
Income Needed: $10,000/month (Roughly)
This does not mean that I can spend like a madman and not pay attention to purchases, but that I don’t have to sweat over expenditures I make. Essentially, the start of an escape from the penny pinching slow lane. If I want lobster, well hell, I’ll get lobster, and it won’t be a big deal because I’ll be making enough money to be fine with it.
Vehicle to Achievement: Once I get enough money to make a downpayment, I would love to purchase a rental property like a duplex, see how generating rental income feels and if it is a good fit for me. Expand or not from there to increase cash flow. In addition, I will be using money made from the previous goal to create a business that gives me control over an asset I can grow and develop.
Timeline: 25th birthday or before (August 2017)
Goal 3: Lamborghini Diablo + Luxury (Complete Freedom)
Income Needed: $200,000/month (maybe? This is an amount of money I’m not familiar with at all.)
Like MJ, I’ve long been enamored with the Lamborghini style. To me, being able to purchase one will indicate I have achieved a level of success that allows me complete freedom. The ability to pursue anything that interests me. That’s really what my whole journey is all about.
Vehicle to Achievement: Sell an asset to create massive income or have enough passive income from business(es) to cover everything. Use of the Law of Effection.
Timeline: 27th birthday or before (August 2019)
This is the first time I’ve ever sat down to try and create a list of goals like this, if you have feedback please let me know. I would really appreciate it.
Now I know there must be serious flaws in the projects I have been pursuing, otherwise I would be making money. I am going to list the endeavors I have tried so far and what I’ve learned. Any feedback or ideas would be appreciated.
Personal Work YouTube Channel
Concept: Showcase my personal rap and poetry talents
Lessons: I’m wasn’t nearly as good at those arts as I originally thought, putting something out purely for entertainment is difficult. I was being selfish, wanting to show off my work, offering the potential consumer very little.
Status: Active
www.youtube.com/donovonjenson
Music Promotion Youtube Channel
Concept: Host contests by bringing together producers and artists and offer promotion as a reward
Lessons: Still not enough value for the customer. They do a lot of work and I expected them to promote themselves. Also, way too much individual work uploading their songs one by one. However I did find that engaging individuals does a lot to encourage use of the product.
Status: Scrapped
www.youtube.com/therhymesanctuary
How To YouTube Channel
Concept: Teach people how to rap and write poetry. I just decided to start releasing these videos on the same channel I was using for my personal work. I found a decent amount of success (currently 250,000 views and 2,250 subscribers) but realized it’s extremely difficult to gain wealth because Youtube has all the control.
Lessons: Hard to make money when you don’t have control. Thinking what benefits the consumer is ultimately how you get people involved. If you are going to put something out, put enough time into it to ensure it is produced in high quality. It is possible to get traction in a market that already has competitors as long as you execute well.
Status: Active
www.youtube.com/donovonjenson
T-Shirt Dropshipping Store - Forums
Concept: Entice various forums to let me sell t-shirts of their brand by pitching it as giving them free advertising at no cost.
Lessons: Though I found site owners that were potentially interested, there was really no market for this. Any forums with enough brand loyalty/users that would actually make this a worthwhile endeavor were already selling their own merchandise.
Status: Scrapped
T-Shirt Dropshipping Store - SnapMerch
Concept: Utilize the audience from the YouTube channel to sell hip-hop themed T-shirts. If I get traction, move onto a platform I control, and find better product distributors.
Lessons: Still a work in progress, I haven’t converted any sales, still working on why.
Status: Active
http://snapmerch.storenvy.com
Music Promotion Website
Concept: Make a radio player that plays independent music
Lessons: Having a partner is hard, relying on others takes control from you. Having the right vision can bring support from interesting places. Word of mouth is the best source of advertising. (P.S. This is the project I would really like to have take off and fully invest in a monogamous relationship with)
Status: Active
http://noteis.us
I know there is a lot here, and I don’t know if I really expect anyone to read this. I mostly wrote it for myself, again, to clear my head. However, if you do manage to trudge through this entire thing, feedback and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I’m glad to be here and plan on quickly becoming a regular.
Finally, wanted to thank MJ for his book and heavy involvement in the forums. You’ve done a lot of good for a lot of people.
/rant
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Last edited:
Good luck!
