It's been so long since I've frequented The Fastlane Forum that I felt compelled to write a new introduction. Hopefully you guys will have me back 
. Here's a brief synopsis of where I've been and where I'm going.
Ages 0-17
Nothing too profound happening here. Lower-middle class family. Not poverty, but closer to poor than to the true middle-class. Oldest of 5 kids, do the math. I was always smart, but probably a little too ADHD. My mom would never let them put me on any medication, though, because she said she didn't want me to act like a zombie. Anyway, I got good grades...mostly As, some Bs. I always felt like I could probably easily get all As if I could actually care about anything I was learning.
Ages 18-21
The worst years I've had. Life hit me hard. I came from being popular and a standout in high school to nobody really giving a shit anymore. These years are tough. It seems to be that most people view this age range as too young to really take serious but too old to feel bad for. You aren't a kid anymore and I learned that. During this time period, I tried college...I failed at college...I tried college again...I failed college again. I hated the people, I hated the classes, etc. I dropped out twice and became ineligible for the academic grants I received.
I tried everything. I went to so many bullshit interviews, I brainstormed so many scams and get rich quick ideas. I got my real estate license and tried that. I was so lost. I had potential, but that's about it. All of this confusion and hopelessness wasn't helped by the fact that I had a couple close friends die, my parents get divorced and a plethora of other dumb things.
Sad, right? Well, at least it doesn't last forever...
Ages 22-25
This is about the time when I woke up and said F#@! THIS. Coincidentally enough, this is the same time I joined The Fastlane Forum. I think I stumbled across it by Googling something along the lines of "I want to be successful no matter what". MJ was just getting started with his book back then and it seemed like a pretty friendly place, so I stayed. I still had no idea what I wanted to do, by the way, but I was determined, if nothing else.
At this same time, I decided to sign back up for college. I failed at it twice before, and lost my scholarships, but found out that I could still go back for free after all. I guess growing up poor my whole life did help me in this case. I accumulated a total of ZERO credits my first two tries at school. The next 120 should be a breeze...
Fueled by like-minded people on the forum, motivational stories and just an unrelenting desire to be better and take care of my family...I actually stuck everything out this time. I banged those goddamn 120 credits out, 18 credits per semester (12 is full time) and worked full-time while doing it. I became really interested in online business after joining this forum and decided that's what I wanted to really do. I was waiting tables at night and saving my tip money to invest in my business.
Here's something I learned about myself during this time period...I'm probably too confident. If I heard someone did something in 2 days, I think to myself, "wow...well that means that I can do it in 1". I'm usually wrong, but I think that stubbornness and confidence helps sometimes. I make this point because I really thought I would have this whole thing down and be rolling with one year. WRONG. I'm 4 years in now and have gotten MUCH better, but I'm still learning.
How much money did I make in the first 4 years? Honestly, not much...but it gets better.
THE PAST 1 YEAR
Okay, so now I graduated. I really want to run my own business, but I have no money. I decide to use that degree I worked so hard for and get a job. I took a job at JP Morgan as a stock analyst. Here's the tricky part of taking a job...the security feels good. I never had money my whole life, so getting a reliable $2,500 every 2 weeks felt good. I admit it. However, I was absolutely NOT happy here. The 60+ hours a week left me miserable and I came home every night exhausted and passed out.
I made sure I told myself that taking the job would only be a means to an end. I would save up (better/more) money and use it to invest in myself. I actually did do that. A couple months ago, I guess someone above me noticed I was pretty good and actually offered me a better, higher paying job within the company. That felt good because I finally got some validation. What felt better was turning it down. I had been building my business up little by little this entire time and was finally ready to dive in head first and take a huge risk. I figured that if I put as much time and effort into my business, as I did at work, I would kill it.
I gave my notice. Instead of starting in the new position on the first day of the 2nd Quarter 04/01, it was day 1 of being my own boss...FOR REAL this time.
Excuse me for not coming back until now, but for the last month I have been putting every waking second into this. I'm actually working more hours than I was in Investment Banking...but it feels SO much better and more fulfilling. I'm off to a great start so far. My goal for the first few months was to at least equal what I was making at work and then start to make more a little bit down the road.
I'm actually doing BETTER ALREADY and the upside/potential is ridiculous. I use the lessons I learned here every single day. I'll take any project that comes my way that can make money, but I'm always trying to flip that project into RESIDUAL income. I'm working my a$$ off to get my residual income working for me, so I can make money while I sleep. I don't want to trade my time for money and I damn sure don't want to sit in that cubicle ever again.
I'm sorry if I rambled, but I'm just excited for this next chapter of my life. I've come a long way and I'm proud of myself. I can just FEEL IT, when I think about what comes next. I AM SO CLOSE.
Thanks! :coolgleamA:
. Here's a brief synopsis of where I've been and where I'm going.Ages 0-17
Nothing too profound happening here. Lower-middle class family. Not poverty, but closer to poor than to the true middle-class. Oldest of 5 kids, do the math. I was always smart, but probably a little too ADHD. My mom would never let them put me on any medication, though, because she said she didn't want me to act like a zombie. Anyway, I got good grades...mostly As, some Bs. I always felt like I could probably easily get all As if I could actually care about anything I was learning.
Ages 18-21
The worst years I've had. Life hit me hard. I came from being popular and a standout in high school to nobody really giving a shit anymore. These years are tough. It seems to be that most people view this age range as too young to really take serious but too old to feel bad for. You aren't a kid anymore and I learned that. During this time period, I tried college...I failed at college...I tried college again...I failed college again. I hated the people, I hated the classes, etc. I dropped out twice and became ineligible for the academic grants I received.
I tried everything. I went to so many bullshit interviews, I brainstormed so many scams and get rich quick ideas. I got my real estate license and tried that. I was so lost. I had potential, but that's about it. All of this confusion and hopelessness wasn't helped by the fact that I had a couple close friends die, my parents get divorced and a plethora of other dumb things.
Sad, right? Well, at least it doesn't last forever...
Ages 22-25
This is about the time when I woke up and said F#@! THIS. Coincidentally enough, this is the same time I joined The Fastlane Forum. I think I stumbled across it by Googling something along the lines of "I want to be successful no matter what". MJ was just getting started with his book back then and it seemed like a pretty friendly place, so I stayed. I still had no idea what I wanted to do, by the way, but I was determined, if nothing else.
At this same time, I decided to sign back up for college. I failed at it twice before, and lost my scholarships, but found out that I could still go back for free after all. I guess growing up poor my whole life did help me in this case. I accumulated a total of ZERO credits my first two tries at school. The next 120 should be a breeze...
Fueled by like-minded people on the forum, motivational stories and just an unrelenting desire to be better and take care of my family...I actually stuck everything out this time. I banged those goddamn 120 credits out, 18 credits per semester (12 is full time) and worked full-time while doing it. I became really interested in online business after joining this forum and decided that's what I wanted to really do. I was waiting tables at night and saving my tip money to invest in my business.
Here's something I learned about myself during this time period...I'm probably too confident. If I heard someone did something in 2 days, I think to myself, "wow...well that means that I can do it in 1". I'm usually wrong, but I think that stubbornness and confidence helps sometimes. I make this point because I really thought I would have this whole thing down and be rolling with one year. WRONG. I'm 4 years in now and have gotten MUCH better, but I'm still learning.
How much money did I make in the first 4 years? Honestly, not much...but it gets better.
THE PAST 1 YEAR
Okay, so now I graduated. I really want to run my own business, but I have no money. I decide to use that degree I worked so hard for and get a job. I took a job at JP Morgan as a stock analyst. Here's the tricky part of taking a job...the security feels good. I never had money my whole life, so getting a reliable $2,500 every 2 weeks felt good. I admit it. However, I was absolutely NOT happy here. The 60+ hours a week left me miserable and I came home every night exhausted and passed out.
I made sure I told myself that taking the job would only be a means to an end. I would save up (better/more) money and use it to invest in myself. I actually did do that. A couple months ago, I guess someone above me noticed I was pretty good and actually offered me a better, higher paying job within the company. That felt good because I finally got some validation. What felt better was turning it down. I had been building my business up little by little this entire time and was finally ready to dive in head first and take a huge risk. I figured that if I put as much time and effort into my business, as I did at work, I would kill it.
I gave my notice. Instead of starting in the new position on the first day of the 2nd Quarter 04/01, it was day 1 of being my own boss...FOR REAL this time.
Excuse me for not coming back until now, but for the last month I have been putting every waking second into this. I'm actually working more hours than I was in Investment Banking...but it feels SO much better and more fulfilling. I'm off to a great start so far. My goal for the first few months was to at least equal what I was making at work and then start to make more a little bit down the road.
I'm actually doing BETTER ALREADY and the upside/potential is ridiculous. I use the lessons I learned here every single day. I'll take any project that comes my way that can make money, but I'm always trying to flip that project into RESIDUAL income. I'm working my a$$ off to get my residual income working for me, so I can make money while I sleep. I don't want to trade my time for money and I damn sure don't want to sit in that cubicle ever again.
I'm sorry if I rambled, but I'm just excited for this next chapter of my life. I've come a long way and I'm proud of myself. I can just FEEL IT, when I think about what comes next. I AM SO CLOSE.
Thanks! :coolgleamA:
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