Warning! Long Post Ahead!
So I have been lurking on the forum for about a year (Actually a year today funny enough!). I’ve posted 32 times not counting this one. Thanked 6 times. Almost all of the posts I’ve made suck. Really just lame stuff like “Is this Fastlane?†and other links to articles. Did I add value? Not really.
I’ve read hundreds of posts here both new and legendary ones. There really is some absolute GOLD in here and it’s free! But there is also a bunch of crap stuff that pollutes any free forum. There are some great posters and some spammers/whiners/lurkers (like me) that contribute nothing valuable but expect you to give us the world and the keys to wealth.
So here are some random observations that I have gathered over the last year about people on the forum, business ideas, and in general:
There’s more but you get the idea. So what am I going to do next? Lurk around the forum for another year and get nothing accomplished? No. I have had enough.
I’m going to lay out some things publicly that I haven’t really discussed with many people besides some close friends. Why? This is as good as place as any to lay it on the line and get some honest feedback (I hope).
Some background: I used to have a millwork and door business that supplied products to custom home builders. Housing market went ka-boom and I got out of the industry totally. I have been an at home dad for the last 2 years. My business and my wife and I had to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy a little over 2 years ago. I sold my house on a short sale for a huge loss while it was in foreclosure.
Pretty much lost all the money that I had. Since the BK I haven’t incurred any debt whatsoever but I haven’t saved hardly any money either.
I tried to keep up with Joneses and got burned deservedly. I’ve chased many easy money opportunities. I lost money on all of them. I’ve chased money and not looked to solve problems and needs. Had to learn the hard way I guess. But every decision that I made was made by me of my own free will. No one had a gun to my head. My life, my choices my consequences. I accept that.
I’ve tried to make money online through a fitness blog, Amazon, Clickbank, Adsense, other affiliate programs and made about $1500 in 2 years. Terrible. I’ve bought programs and courses on all kinds of things. I’ve stopped doing this now though. Staying up late and being armed with a credit card was not a good combination.
So now what? I have been out of a “job†for 2 years. I can’t say that I’ve missed one either. But I definitely have the desire to create something that will useful to the market. So here is my idea that I am going to execute: I am going to start a business called The Fashion Mobile.
The Fashion Mobile is going to be a new type of retail store/outlet. Essentially it is going to be a chic boutique in a truck. Kind of like a food truck but I’ll be selling fashion accessories, clothes, purses and jewelry instead. A mobile retail store/boutique.
I am going to build a retail business called “The Fashion Mobile†into a profitable business by executing a plan to make shopping for hip, fashionable accessories fun, easy and affordable. I will sell on locations (events, fairs, etc.), at home parties and have an online store.
So how is this a Fastlane business? Here are my thoughts on that. I am going to document the process of how I started this business from concept, to roll out, to operation. Once I have the store running and the process down I am going to either franchise the concept or create a guide on how to do it and sell that guide. Essentially this will be like opening a retail store but without the higher expense of a brick and mortar space. Instead it will be in the back of a step van converted into a boutique.
CENTS Evaluation:
NEED – I say Yes: Does the market need another place to buy stuff? Probably not...but I am approaching this from the point of view of helping other people start a retail store, work from home and online sales businesses. I want to develop the process so that I can sell that information to someone else who could replicate the business as either a franchise or a licensee. Also, down the line, the opportunity will be there to manufacture private label products that are sold in The Fashion Mobile exclusively and to actually outfit the trucks and sell them to others.
With the popularity of “flash sales†and “pop-up shops†increasing this business can fulfill those consumers’ demands of getting a good deal or going to a flash sale. It can also let someone host at home shopping parties (like purse parties, jewelry parties, etc.) and make some income. Lastly, I would offer a website that would allow you to sell the merchandise online too.
ENTRY – I say Yes: It won’t be easy for everyone to get started in this business. You have to buy a step van, convert it into a store, get permitting to sell all over, incorporate a business, buy inventory, set up an online store, etc. Given the size of the step van and that I will be doing a lot of this work myself I am budgeting $15K towards this startup.
So the road of “mobile retailers†won’t be that crowded. It is getting popular in California, NY and Boston and some other locations. But it is definitely in the infancy period. Can anyone do this? Yes they could. But I think that the idea is relatively new so that will scare a lot of people off. So I want to develop the process and then franchise/license it to others.
CONTROL – I say Yes with a caveat: I will control the business and work for myself. I will have to transition from buying merchandise from vendors to being the vendor myself but that will take time. So right out of the gate I will be at the mercy of the wholesalers that I have to buy actual products from.
SCALE – I say Yes eventually, initially only a little: Starting a retail store will definitely be limited in scope. I mean I will only be able to sell to a certain number of people. I do live in a large metro area (Twin Cities in MN) so that helps. And offering home parties will expand that opportunity also. Getting an online store set up will also be key to be able to sell more product all the time.
From page 237 in the books about accessing the Law of Effection: Create a retail store and franchise it. That is the ultimate goal of this venture.
TIME – I say Yes - eventually: I totally understand that in the beginning I will be doing all the day to day stuff and putting in a lot of time and work. I know that. I need to do that so that I can detail and fine tune the process and document it. With the end in mind, I will work hard now to do this so that I can work less later while the process/system replaces me. It will be tough I have no illusions about that. But you have to start somewhere.
If you have read this far, thank you. I really want to hear what you think of the idea. Please bust my balls and post any comments, suggestions, criticisms or praise and I will answer them. I am going to post updates on this venture as I go (may start a new thread for that) but I want to accountable to someone besides myself. Even though I have never met any of you I will listen to what you have to say and value your comments because we share the same mindset. Thanks for listening and wish me luck!
David
So I have been lurking on the forum for about a year (Actually a year today funny enough!). I’ve posted 32 times not counting this one. Thanked 6 times. Almost all of the posts I’ve made suck. Really just lame stuff like “Is this Fastlane?†and other links to articles. Did I add value? Not really.
I’ve read hundreds of posts here both new and legendary ones. There really is some absolute GOLD in here and it’s free! But there is also a bunch of crap stuff that pollutes any free forum. There are some great posters and some spammers/whiners/lurkers (like me) that contribute nothing valuable but expect you to give us the world and the keys to wealth.
So here are some random observations that I have gathered over the last year about people on the forum, business ideas, and in general:
- A lot of people want it (the idea, money, success, etc.) handed to them on a f’ing platter. Like, if they had it they would become Fastlane real fast. They want the event not the process.
- The idea that you’ve come up with is so awesome that you can’t tell us what it is. This is one of the most common ones I see. That’s what I thought too. But I’ve come to realize that the idea of something, by itself, is WORTHLESS! F’ING WORTHLESS! Because 99% of the time the people who post something about an idea will never, ever, ever execute the idea well enough to make it. I fall into that category. My execution sucks that’s why I haven’t accomplished anything meaningful in the last year.
- As unbelievable as it sounds, it appears that many people here haven’t read the book! Or they read it and didn’t understand it because it blew their mind. I read it and it makes perfect sense but it has taken me way too long to absorb and digest the incredible knowledge in it. Re-read the book confused people.
- People are lazy (including me) and think they are entitled to wealth because they are alive and on this forum.
- New posters hardly ever stick around.
- New posters who “get it†stick out like a sore thumb.
- People who have been here for a long time really want to see people succeed.
- Like it says in the book the execution of an idea (that the market wants/needs) is what matters. Talking about it doesn’t matter.
- People (like me) have “Tekel Syndrome†(page 306 in book) but don’t want to admit it because it’s embarrassing to admit that you are an idiot.
There’s more but you get the idea. So what am I going to do next? Lurk around the forum for another year and get nothing accomplished? No. I have had enough.
I’m going to lay out some things publicly that I haven’t really discussed with many people besides some close friends. Why? This is as good as place as any to lay it on the line and get some honest feedback (I hope).
Some background: I used to have a millwork and door business that supplied products to custom home builders. Housing market went ka-boom and I got out of the industry totally. I have been an at home dad for the last 2 years. My business and my wife and I had to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy a little over 2 years ago. I sold my house on a short sale for a huge loss while it was in foreclosure.
Pretty much lost all the money that I had. Since the BK I haven’t incurred any debt whatsoever but I haven’t saved hardly any money either.
I tried to keep up with Joneses and got burned deservedly. I’ve chased many easy money opportunities. I lost money on all of them. I’ve chased money and not looked to solve problems and needs. Had to learn the hard way I guess. But every decision that I made was made by me of my own free will. No one had a gun to my head. My life, my choices my consequences. I accept that.
I’ve tried to make money online through a fitness blog, Amazon, Clickbank, Adsense, other affiliate programs and made about $1500 in 2 years. Terrible. I’ve bought programs and courses on all kinds of things. I’ve stopped doing this now though. Staying up late and being armed with a credit card was not a good combination.
So now what? I have been out of a “job†for 2 years. I can’t say that I’ve missed one either. But I definitely have the desire to create something that will useful to the market. So here is my idea that I am going to execute: I am going to start a business called The Fashion Mobile.
The Fashion Mobile is going to be a new type of retail store/outlet. Essentially it is going to be a chic boutique in a truck. Kind of like a food truck but I’ll be selling fashion accessories, clothes, purses and jewelry instead. A mobile retail store/boutique.
I am going to build a retail business called “The Fashion Mobile†into a profitable business by executing a plan to make shopping for hip, fashionable accessories fun, easy and affordable. I will sell on locations (events, fairs, etc.), at home parties and have an online store.
So how is this a Fastlane business? Here are my thoughts on that. I am going to document the process of how I started this business from concept, to roll out, to operation. Once I have the store running and the process down I am going to either franchise the concept or create a guide on how to do it and sell that guide. Essentially this will be like opening a retail store but without the higher expense of a brick and mortar space. Instead it will be in the back of a step van converted into a boutique.
CENTS Evaluation:
NEED – I say Yes: Does the market need another place to buy stuff? Probably not...but I am approaching this from the point of view of helping other people start a retail store, work from home and online sales businesses. I want to develop the process so that I can sell that information to someone else who could replicate the business as either a franchise or a licensee. Also, down the line, the opportunity will be there to manufacture private label products that are sold in The Fashion Mobile exclusively and to actually outfit the trucks and sell them to others.
With the popularity of “flash sales†and “pop-up shops†increasing this business can fulfill those consumers’ demands of getting a good deal or going to a flash sale. It can also let someone host at home shopping parties (like purse parties, jewelry parties, etc.) and make some income. Lastly, I would offer a website that would allow you to sell the merchandise online too.
ENTRY – I say Yes: It won’t be easy for everyone to get started in this business. You have to buy a step van, convert it into a store, get permitting to sell all over, incorporate a business, buy inventory, set up an online store, etc. Given the size of the step van and that I will be doing a lot of this work myself I am budgeting $15K towards this startup.
So the road of “mobile retailers†won’t be that crowded. It is getting popular in California, NY and Boston and some other locations. But it is definitely in the infancy period. Can anyone do this? Yes they could. But I think that the idea is relatively new so that will scare a lot of people off. So I want to develop the process and then franchise/license it to others.
CONTROL – I say Yes with a caveat: I will control the business and work for myself. I will have to transition from buying merchandise from vendors to being the vendor myself but that will take time. So right out of the gate I will be at the mercy of the wholesalers that I have to buy actual products from.
SCALE – I say Yes eventually, initially only a little: Starting a retail store will definitely be limited in scope. I mean I will only be able to sell to a certain number of people. I do live in a large metro area (Twin Cities in MN) so that helps. And offering home parties will expand that opportunity also. Getting an online store set up will also be key to be able to sell more product all the time.
From page 237 in the books about accessing the Law of Effection: Create a retail store and franchise it. That is the ultimate goal of this venture.
TIME – I say Yes - eventually: I totally understand that in the beginning I will be doing all the day to day stuff and putting in a lot of time and work. I know that. I need to do that so that I can detail and fine tune the process and document it. With the end in mind, I will work hard now to do this so that I can work less later while the process/system replaces me. It will be tough I have no illusions about that. But you have to start somewhere.
If you have read this far, thank you. I really want to hear what you think of the idea. Please bust my balls and post any comments, suggestions, criticisms or praise and I will answer them. I am going to post updates on this venture as I go (may start a new thread for that) but I want to accountable to someone besides myself. Even though I have never met any of you I will listen to what you have to say and value your comments because we share the same mindset. Thanks for listening and wish me luck!
David
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