Hello everybody!
For the last 3 months I've been working on a small project of mine, made a quick sample of the product and this week I got the first presale! It's the first time I've commited long enough. Tiny baby steps every day after work (if possible. Some days I really didn't have anything to do. Those days were the HARDEST!) and now I am here. I can't believe it. A stranger wants what I am offering. I sent him the bill and he paid it. He gave me his money! I finally have confirmation that I CAN make something for other people. It's not just an illusion or a dream any more. It's real life!
Who am I?
28yo guy from Estonia. Forum member for a bit over a year I think. Have been working abroad for the most of my life - carpenter work, loghouse building etc. Never in a big corporation, so I'm not familiar with the typical corporation work bullshit. Can call myself lucky I guess. Now I am working in a furniture installing business. But we don't have much work at the moment, so I've been sitting at home for the last month. But it's okay, because I have more time to work on my project.
None of my closest friends or family members are entrepreneurial-minded. And it is sad. They're so comfortable just working every day, while I only want to be free and own my time. And nobody will stop me.
Definitely had more difficult childhood than most. Had to deal with a lot of pain and grief and I think this has made me a lot stronger, more resilient and stubborn. I dare to dream and I know what I want in life. The best thing is I know what needs to be done to get those things. Been thinking about a different life for 2 years now. Started to educate myself, reading books, been making huge progress working on my mindset. Before that period I was a loose cannon, partying and drinking all the time when I was on holiday from my job in Norway. Now hadn't had a drink since August last year.
I'm a huge animal lover. My bunny is actually my inspiration for this project.
Love working with my hands and have made many cool woodworking projects. Maybe this is the reason why I like physical products (not in the omg-I-have-to-buy-all-the-shit-in-the-world way). I just like the idea of people having something I made at their homes bringing them good emotions.
I've semi-tried some things before like handmade furniture, diary-planner, 2sizeIn1 water bottle, FB Ads and definitely some other stuff. But I never really commited or I lost interest really soon. Maybe I didn't believe in the things that I did. And I definitely cared too much about other peoples opinion. This time I finally turned to the market and I only care about the market's opinion.
The product and journey so far
It's a physical product and it's personalised for each individual. Some things I have to manufacture and import from Asia, other parts are done here in Estonia and some is done online by other people. It is really personal and quite unique. Also my target groups are willing to spend more because they're more emotional (I love psychology!). It is definitely not a need but a want. But most of the needs are wants anyway
I got the idea for this product when I was lying in bed in Brussels, Belgium. We were working there, installing furniture in a hotel. Got so excited I couldn't sleep for the next 2 hours! It's an upgrade for the similar products out there. Simple idea really.
Wrote down some points, what it should look like, what I need to buy etc. Ordered samples from different manufacturers. It took around 1.5 months to make the first prototype. I think I spent around 600€ (now it's way over 1K). It was really difficult to work on this while I was away with my slowlane job. Couldn't do much, had so long days and I was so tired and felt so alone. Was waiting the samples, didn't know if I was waisting my time or not, couldn't get any feedback. When I had days like this, I started writing. Just a small simple text to remind myself why I'm doing this project, why I am here working away from home and family, what happens if I fail etc. This really helped me through this many times. And finally things got better.
When I had my sample ready and I was back home I showed it to people in one FB group and many people said they'd buy it. In my head I was developing it further all the time. Now it has changed a lot and I have to thank the marketplace. They said what they like and what they don't like. In fact now the product is not so complex and it's cheaper for me to make, and much less time consuming for me. Now I only need to do some work online, pick up other parts from the city, pack it and send it.
I have 200 units being made in China at the moment. I paid the deposit and the other 2/3 I will pay when they're ready to ship it. I am working together with an Estonian logistics company and they will handle the transport. It's a bit more expensive but they have partners in China and I pay for the transport when the goods arrive to Estonia. So it's not so risky for me and will be a lot easier.
So what about CENTS?
Of course I was keeping the commandments in mind. But it did not cripple me as I just needed to get my feet wet finally and cut the crap. Actually it doesn't violate any of the rules. It is a bit harder to scale because it is personally made for each customer and takes some time to make it. But there are millions of potential customers for me. Can I figure out how to scale it if needed? F*ck yeah. I've figured out many things in my life! And all the people who have seen it, love it.
Finally I am working on something that don't need a lot of my time. And definitely no average Joe can just start the same or better business just like that. It takes some time and money and a lot of patience.
So what's next?
I have some orders coming in from my friends in the next couple of weeks, when they get their salary or whatever. They definitely want it. In the meantime I am hoping everything goes well with the production in China and hope to get it done next week. Posting regularly on social media groups and showin it to my friends. Not building my FB page or website yet.
I need to have a package custom-made because there's no good size for it (it's quite big). This is the next big task. Working on this mainly this week. Can't wait to finish the first order and send it to my customer!
And then I need to meet my boss to find out when is the next project for the furniture company. I can work the next month or so but after that when the goods are arriving I need to be in Estonia and start taking bigger steps! So if everything goes well I will take the summer months off from work (I have some savings and sold my Chrysler too
, don't have a car now) and commit myself only for this thing. Not thinking about millions (Ok, maybe sometimes when I'm on one of my long walks) but just about the next sale. And then maybe one day I've covered my expenses.. And maybe one day there's a tiny profit.. and so on. And if I F*ck it up and fail then I'll start another project. Simple.
Thanks for staying with me. I hope it's not difficult to read or understand, my english is not perfect.
This forum truly is an amazing place. Can't thank you enough @MJ DeMarco and other members too of course! You have helped me to change the way I think and with this I will change the course of my life. And for that I am forever grateful.
Holy cow, my first sale ever - F*ck YOU, SCRIPT!!!
For the last 3 months I've been working on a small project of mine, made a quick sample of the product and this week I got the first presale! It's the first time I've commited long enough. Tiny baby steps every day after work (if possible. Some days I really didn't have anything to do. Those days were the HARDEST!) and now I am here. I can't believe it. A stranger wants what I am offering. I sent him the bill and he paid it. He gave me his money! I finally have confirmation that I CAN make something for other people. It's not just an illusion or a dream any more. It's real life!
Who am I?
28yo guy from Estonia. Forum member for a bit over a year I think. Have been working abroad for the most of my life - carpenter work, loghouse building etc. Never in a big corporation, so I'm not familiar with the typical corporation work bullshit. Can call myself lucky I guess. Now I am working in a furniture installing business. But we don't have much work at the moment, so I've been sitting at home for the last month. But it's okay, because I have more time to work on my project.
None of my closest friends or family members are entrepreneurial-minded. And it is sad. They're so comfortable just working every day, while I only want to be free and own my time. And nobody will stop me.
Definitely had more difficult childhood than most. Had to deal with a lot of pain and grief and I think this has made me a lot stronger, more resilient and stubborn. I dare to dream and I know what I want in life. The best thing is I know what needs to be done to get those things. Been thinking about a different life for 2 years now. Started to educate myself, reading books, been making huge progress working on my mindset. Before that period I was a loose cannon, partying and drinking all the time when I was on holiday from my job in Norway. Now hadn't had a drink since August last year.
I'm a huge animal lover. My bunny is actually my inspiration for this project.
Love working with my hands and have made many cool woodworking projects. Maybe this is the reason why I like physical products (not in the omg-I-have-to-buy-all-the-shit-in-the-world way). I just like the idea of people having something I made at their homes bringing them good emotions.
I've semi-tried some things before like handmade furniture, diary-planner, 2sizeIn1 water bottle, FB Ads and definitely some other stuff. But I never really commited or I lost interest really soon. Maybe I didn't believe in the things that I did. And I definitely cared too much about other peoples opinion. This time I finally turned to the market and I only care about the market's opinion.
The product and journey so far
It's a physical product and it's personalised for each individual. Some things I have to manufacture and import from Asia, other parts are done here in Estonia and some is done online by other people. It is really personal and quite unique. Also my target groups are willing to spend more because they're more emotional (I love psychology!). It is definitely not a need but a want. But most of the needs are wants anyway
I got the idea for this product when I was lying in bed in Brussels, Belgium. We were working there, installing furniture in a hotel. Got so excited I couldn't sleep for the next 2 hours! It's an upgrade for the similar products out there. Simple idea really.
Wrote down some points, what it should look like, what I need to buy etc. Ordered samples from different manufacturers. It took around 1.5 months to make the first prototype. I think I spent around 600€ (now it's way over 1K). It was really difficult to work on this while I was away with my slowlane job. Couldn't do much, had so long days and I was so tired and felt so alone. Was waiting the samples, didn't know if I was waisting my time or not, couldn't get any feedback. When I had days like this, I started writing. Just a small simple text to remind myself why I'm doing this project, why I am here working away from home and family, what happens if I fail etc. This really helped me through this many times. And finally things got better.
When I had my sample ready and I was back home I showed it to people in one FB group and many people said they'd buy it. In my head I was developing it further all the time. Now it has changed a lot and I have to thank the marketplace. They said what they like and what they don't like. In fact now the product is not so complex and it's cheaper for me to make, and much less time consuming for me. Now I only need to do some work online, pick up other parts from the city, pack it and send it.
I have 200 units being made in China at the moment. I paid the deposit and the other 2/3 I will pay when they're ready to ship it. I am working together with an Estonian logistics company and they will handle the transport. It's a bit more expensive but they have partners in China and I pay for the transport when the goods arrive to Estonia. So it's not so risky for me and will be a lot easier.
So what about CENTS?
Of course I was keeping the commandments in mind. But it did not cripple me as I just needed to get my feet wet finally and cut the crap. Actually it doesn't violate any of the rules. It is a bit harder to scale because it is personally made for each customer and takes some time to make it. But there are millions of potential customers for me. Can I figure out how to scale it if needed? F*ck yeah. I've figured out many things in my life! And all the people who have seen it, love it.
Finally I am working on something that don't need a lot of my time. And definitely no average Joe can just start the same or better business just like that. It takes some time and money and a lot of patience.
So what's next?
I have some orders coming in from my friends in the next couple of weeks, when they get their salary or whatever. They definitely want it. In the meantime I am hoping everything goes well with the production in China and hope to get it done next week. Posting regularly on social media groups and showin it to my friends. Not building my FB page or website yet.
I need to have a package custom-made because there's no good size for it (it's quite big). This is the next big task. Working on this mainly this week. Can't wait to finish the first order and send it to my customer!
And then I need to meet my boss to find out when is the next project for the furniture company. I can work the next month or so but after that when the goods are arriving I need to be in Estonia and start taking bigger steps! So if everything goes well I will take the summer months off from work (I have some savings and sold my Chrysler too
, don't have a car now) and commit myself only for this thing. Not thinking about millions (Ok, maybe sometimes when I'm on one of my long walks) but just about the next sale. And then maybe one day I've covered my expenses.. And maybe one day there's a tiny profit.. and so on. And if I F*ck it up and fail then I'll start another project. Simple.Thanks for staying with me. I hope it's not difficult to read or understand, my english is not perfect.
This forum truly is an amazing place. Can't thank you enough @MJ DeMarco and other members too of course! You have helped me to change the way I think and with this I will change the course of my life. And for that I am forever grateful.
Holy cow, my first sale ever - F*ck YOU, SCRIPT!!!
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