Sometimes you need to reach rock bottom, go all-in, or simply decompress

[Greg R]

It's a beautiful morning.

Starting a progress thread because I am feeling a little selfish and inspired today.

This post is directed to those just starting their entrepreneurial journey. I hope you can find some value here.

If you work a full time job and are completely stuck trying to get out. This post is for you.


A couple things that I would like to get off of my chest before I begin.


1) Right here. Right now. I am publicly announcing that I am discontinuing the blog and am no longer going to write for Cure Rabbit Ears.

This is probably going to make a lot of forum members happy

I am now part of the blogger statistic that I swore I'd never be. And I'm okay with that.

The website was only a distraction and is no longer in line with my Fastlane goals.


2) Instead, when I feel the need to write, I will post here- on the forum.

After all, I started the blog to help others and I feel as though this would be the best place to share all of my future content (if any).


Enter the process and backstory.

Rocky. Confusing. Punishing.

Trying to be stoic through it all, I've found that in order to endure the process of being an entrepreneur you have to be~ sort of a masochist.

My path to un-riches went something like this:

1. Sophomore year of high school, I started playing poker and thought I was going to be the next Jesus Ferguson.
2. Played poker throughout college- chasing the dream of one day going pro. If I wasn't playing a cash game in my dorm room, I was playing online.
3. Graduated college. Unemployed. I had more money in my online poker account than I did in real life. That was until I lost a $4,000 all-in hand against pro Scott Fischman playing Omaha. Busted. Quit playing poker.
4. Shortly after, I reached rock bottom. No job, credit cards maxed out, living with the parents.

It was time to pick myself back up.

About a year after I graduated, I found a job in the field that I studied in college.

I started reading self help books; how to pickup chicks, how to live a wealthy life, personal finance, entrepreneurship, etc..

Shortly after all of this, I finally saw progress from hard work; hot girlfriend, making decent dough, said goodbye to the parents... moving up in the world (relatively speaking of course).

I also realized that I loved the subject of money.

After focusing on getting out of debt and budgeting, I started learning about investing: retirement plans, trading stocks, and Real Estate.

It took me a couple years to figure out that I didn't really like trading stocks. It reminded me of my old gambling days a little too much and distracted me heavily from my day job. My yields were not sufficient enough to make it worth the many hours that I put in.

So I started investing in Real Estate. I bought a few rental properties. I also did some rehabbing and renting for an investor. Because of this, I started a small property management company to manage these properties and to see if I would even really like it. So far, I have made no attempt to expand this property management company~ probably a direct reflection of how much I enjoyed it.

Sorry for making 10 years feel like 2.

Through all of this fog, I also tried out blogging and have tested a few business ideas that I chose not to pursue. I've realized that online biz is not in my wheel house and would rather use it as tool rather than have it be my whole business model.

Currently I am in the middle of decompressing and taking sometime out to enjoy life.

I've never thought of myself as the guy who just starts a bunch of things and doesn't finish them. That is until I started taking the entrepreneurial route.

As part of decompressing, I wanted to share and reflect what I've learned through this whole process.

• Trying to start a business while working a full time job is not an endeavor for the faint of heart. Investing is one thing, but starting a biz is like putting your mind, body, and soul on the proverbial sacrificial alter. It takes passion and drive. It takes knowing why you are doing what you are doing.
• Don't be afraid to quit and cut your losses. Failure is just part of the game. Make mistakes. Learn and move on. You know that you have something special when you can fail many times (like I did) and still have you head in the game. What I want from life hasn't changed since I started. What has changed were the paths that I've chose to get there. I want to live the fastlane just as much as or more than anyone else on this forum. I am literally willing to give up everything to get there. It is a life goal and I won't stop until I get there.
• That being said, it's the process. You must know that repeated action and learning is what is going to get you to where you want to be. Believe it and live it. I don't watch T.V. and drink beer every day when I get home from work. Instead I read, test business ideas, look for opportunities...
• There are many people like you out there. "You are not alone." The transition from slowlane to fastlane is one hell of a haughty roller coaster. This forum has taught me to enjoy the ride.

Since this is a progress thread, I plan on writing updates on: my transition out of the slowlane, my fastlane transformation, and what I've learned along the way.

Cheers.

Edit: I've learned a few other things about myself throughout this whole process;

• Internet business may not be my strong suit and moving forward with one would be fighting the current for me
• I also realized that I am a fixer rather than a starter. Meaning that my personality suits fixing a failing asset rather than creating a new one.

Now it is really time to hone in on opportunities that play to my strength like some of those in the forum have advised. @SteveO @Vigilante @Andy Black ... Thank you again for the guidance.

 

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