Lex DeVille
Sweeping Shadows From Dreams
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
LEGACY MEMBER
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
It's really strange how nerve-racking anxieties pop up when we least expect them. But if there's one thing I've learned since joining this forum, it's that action must continue, even in the face of fear & failure.
Courage + Willpower + Action + Endurance = Progress
Not sure why these little formulas help so much. But I'm kind of a big picture thinker. If that's how you think then maybe you'll find it useful too. Anyway, after nearly a year of freelancing and recovering from my last great failure, I'm finally ready to leap from the cliff again. (No, not literally)...
Progress threads are really useful for documenting progress and showing us how far we've come. Even in times of failure we can look back and discover how much we truly learned & how much we grew. But even better than that, there's one reason above all to write & follow progress threads.
It's the chance to help someone else no matter where they're at on their journey.
We never know who our words will help. We never know who will read exactly what they need to hear at exactly the right moment, and we never know just how those words might transform their lives forever.
And that's why despite a fear of failure, I'll put this out there - so maybe you find something useful, or empowering in my words - maybe you find something that changes your life and makes all the difference, or something that helps you overcome some obstacle in business no matter how big or small .
Maybe you just find something that helps you take the next step...helps you keep going...helps you get through a rough day, and press forward. Whatever it is, if you're helped even in the most insignificant way because you read this thread, then I'll consider it a win.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Idea: I posted the idea over 2 years ago in the INSIDERS. It's kinda funny because had I taken more action back then, I might be exactly where I'll be 2 years from now. At the same time, even if I had taken more action, there's a strong chance I still would have failed, because I didn't have the right mindset. That's also why I'll succeed now.
So, what I'm doing is giving people what they want. Training they won't find anywhere else, in skills that aren't taught in schools or books, or by anyone really. The end result is to create a unique, and highly valuable set of courses for young entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants to break free from the 9-5.
It's not entrepreneur training. It's entrepreneur practical skills training. You won't learn how to build a business, but you might learn to make one grow.
Target Market
• (Any) Young Entrepreneurs
• Salespeople (B2B)
• Transitioning Service Members
• Military Spouses
Some of the Subjects:
• Influence & Persuasion
• NLP Copywriting
• Personality Marketing & Selling
• Professional Coaching
• Self-Development / Empowerment
• Tactical Psychology Consulting
Barriers to Entry
To teach these subjects requires knowledge that takes time to gain and is only picked up through a combination of study & practical experience. I spent 10+ years on this and some of my subjects don't even exist yet (beyond the realm of my mind) so it isn't possible for anyone else to teach them.
The second barrier is that I'm not just building some fly-by-night training website. Early next year when things are operational I'll seek licensure through the State of Texas as a Texas Workforce Commission regulated school. This is an extremely complicated and tedious process that I've worked on for months. There's strict requirements for every aspect of a state regulated higher-education institute, and for that reason it's a strong barrier.
The third barrier is the ultimate lurker stopper.
In the final phase I'll seek national accreditation through one or several U.S. accrediting bodies. What makes this such a powerful barrier is that in addition to being extremely complicated, virtually all accrediting agencies require the school to have operated for a minimum of 2 years. Sorry lurkers.
Need
Most of these skills aren't taught in schools, and can't be paid for with federal funding of any kind. I know because I searched long and hard to find online training the VA would cover. So, I spent thousands and thousands out of pocket, despite the government handing me like $100,000 for school...jeez government, get with the program!
The short version is: People who need advanced training but can't afford to spend thousands out of pocket.
Control
I'll use multiple platforms to find leads, but in the end they all funnel to a website and all training is hosted in-house on a fully functional e-learning platform.
Scale
The potential for scale is pretty limitless. The training is unique and solves many business needs + accreditation brings federal funding and gives people ways to afford useful training instead of the crap taught in traditional schools.
Time
Two years is a long time to wait, so I won't wait 2 years to launch...The first course launches later this month, followed shortly by others. This way I can transition to full-time focus on the business and start to rely more on course income than freelance jobs.
Where I'm At
✔ Placeholder website ready
✔ Domain & logo purchased
✔ Base level marketing started
✔ Course catalog 90% finished
✔ First course 90% finished
✔ Accountant prepping records to prove business stability
✔ YouTube Channel Launched
✔ Social Marketing set up (mostly linked together to avoid multiple posts)
✔ Using the Nonovels LLC with new name (Should cut back on time remaining for accreditation)
✔ Hired freelancer to build custom audio material to increase value & for lead-gen
Next Steps
• Build email list
• Launch first course
• Open website
• Seek crowdfunding early next year (accreditation & licensing is expensive)
• Expand marketing efforts
Other Challenges
• Attending college full-time to finish degree in Psychology
• Attending another expensive advanced personality training course
• Writing copy full-time to keep business income stable
• Accounting (ugh, need I say more)
• Making better videos & vocal training
• Getting enough sleep (damn cats)
• Getting enough work done
• Not getting enough work done
Things I Find Incredibly Helpful
✔ Frequent workouts & stretching
✔ Daily meditation (less than 10 minutes)
✔ Standing often & getting a few minutes of sun
✔ Doing tasks that require heavy thought first thing in the morning
✔ Daily checklists that keep progress moving forward
✔ Getting outside perspectives since I'm too close to the project
✔ Hot showers & anything that brings focus to the present & out of the mind
✔ Reading 10 pages a day (for the slight edge effect)
✔ Asking others to ask the hard questions or point out weak points so I can fix them early
✔ Swallowing my pride, controlling my ego, connecting with others
Goals
• Help entrepreneurs everywhere
• Finish my 5 year plan and finally move near the mountains
• Finally create a business with a Fastlane mission & purpose
Okay, that's enough for now. Spending too much time writing, not enough time copywriting...
But before I go - just wanna mention that I'd love to have you along for the ride, and hopefully help you in some way, and if you wanna be a part of this and see where it goes, then please feel free to tag along. Maybe I'll help you. Maybe you'll help me. And maybe...if we're lucky, we'll help someone who doesn't even know where to start.
Thanks for reading.
Just doing it.
(Swallows pride & clicks post)
Courage + Willpower + Action + Endurance = Progress
Not sure why these little formulas help so much. But I'm kind of a big picture thinker. If that's how you think then maybe you'll find it useful too. Anyway, after nearly a year of freelancing and recovering from my last great failure, I'm finally ready to leap from the cliff again. (No, not literally)...
Progress threads are really useful for documenting progress and showing us how far we've come. Even in times of failure we can look back and discover how much we truly learned & how much we grew. But even better than that, there's one reason above all to write & follow progress threads.
It's the chance to help someone else no matter where they're at on their journey.
We never know who our words will help. We never know who will read exactly what they need to hear at exactly the right moment, and we never know just how those words might transform their lives forever.
And that's why despite a fear of failure, I'll put this out there - so maybe you find something useful, or empowering in my words - maybe you find something that changes your life and makes all the difference, or something that helps you overcome some obstacle in business no matter how big or small .
Maybe you just find something that helps you take the next step...helps you keep going...helps you get through a rough day, and press forward. Whatever it is, if you're helped even in the most insignificant way because you read this thread, then I'll consider it a win.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Idea: I posted the idea over 2 years ago in the INSIDERS. It's kinda funny because had I taken more action back then, I might be exactly where I'll be 2 years from now. At the same time, even if I had taken more action, there's a strong chance I still would have failed, because I didn't have the right mindset. That's also why I'll succeed now.
So, what I'm doing is giving people what they want. Training they won't find anywhere else, in skills that aren't taught in schools or books, or by anyone really. The end result is to create a unique, and highly valuable set of courses for young entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants to break free from the 9-5.
It's not entrepreneur training. It's entrepreneur practical skills training. You won't learn how to build a business, but you might learn to make one grow.
Target Market
• (Any) Young Entrepreneurs
• Salespeople (B2B)
• Transitioning Service Members
• Military Spouses
Some of the Subjects:
• Influence & Persuasion
• NLP Copywriting
• Personality Marketing & Selling
• Professional Coaching
• Self-Development / Empowerment
• Tactical Psychology Consulting
Barriers to Entry
To teach these subjects requires knowledge that takes time to gain and is only picked up through a combination of study & practical experience. I spent 10+ years on this and some of my subjects don't even exist yet (beyond the realm of my mind) so it isn't possible for anyone else to teach them.
The second barrier is that I'm not just building some fly-by-night training website. Early next year when things are operational I'll seek licensure through the State of Texas as a Texas Workforce Commission regulated school. This is an extremely complicated and tedious process that I've worked on for months. There's strict requirements for every aspect of a state regulated higher-education institute, and for that reason it's a strong barrier.
The third barrier is the ultimate lurker stopper.
In the final phase I'll seek national accreditation through one or several U.S. accrediting bodies. What makes this such a powerful barrier is that in addition to being extremely complicated, virtually all accrediting agencies require the school to have operated for a minimum of 2 years. Sorry lurkers.
Need
Most of these skills aren't taught in schools, and can't be paid for with federal funding of any kind. I know because I searched long and hard to find online training the VA would cover. So, I spent thousands and thousands out of pocket, despite the government handing me like $100,000 for school...jeez government, get with the program!
The short version is: People who need advanced training but can't afford to spend thousands out of pocket.
Control
I'll use multiple platforms to find leads, but in the end they all funnel to a website and all training is hosted in-house on a fully functional e-learning platform.
Scale
The potential for scale is pretty limitless. The training is unique and solves many business needs + accreditation brings federal funding and gives people ways to afford useful training instead of the crap taught in traditional schools.
Time
Two years is a long time to wait, so I won't wait 2 years to launch...The first course launches later this month, followed shortly by others. This way I can transition to full-time focus on the business and start to rely more on course income than freelance jobs.
Where I'm At
✔ Placeholder website ready
✔ Domain & logo purchased
✔ Base level marketing started
✔ Course catalog 90% finished
✔ First course 90% finished
✔ Accountant prepping records to prove business stability
✔ YouTube Channel Launched
✔ Social Marketing set up (mostly linked together to avoid multiple posts)
✔ Using the Nonovels LLC with new name (Should cut back on time remaining for accreditation)
✔ Hired freelancer to build custom audio material to increase value & for lead-gen
Next Steps
• Build email list
• Launch first course
• Open website
• Seek crowdfunding early next year (accreditation & licensing is expensive)
• Expand marketing efforts
Other Challenges
• Attending college full-time to finish degree in Psychology
• Attending another expensive advanced personality training course
• Writing copy full-time to keep business income stable
• Accounting (ugh, need I say more)
• Making better videos & vocal training
• Getting enough sleep (damn cats)
• Getting enough work done
• Not getting enough work done
Things I Find Incredibly Helpful
✔ Frequent workouts & stretching
✔ Daily meditation (less than 10 minutes)
✔ Standing often & getting a few minutes of sun
✔ Doing tasks that require heavy thought first thing in the morning
✔ Daily checklists that keep progress moving forward
✔ Getting outside perspectives since I'm too close to the project
✔ Hot showers & anything that brings focus to the present & out of the mind
✔ Reading 10 pages a day (for the slight edge effect)
✔ Asking others to ask the hard questions or point out weak points so I can fix them early
✔ Swallowing my pride, controlling my ego, connecting with others
Goals
• Help entrepreneurs everywhere
• Finish my 5 year plan and finally move near the mountains
• Finally create a business with a Fastlane mission & purpose
Okay, that's enough for now. Spending too much time writing, not enough time copywriting...
But before I go - just wanna mention that I'd love to have you along for the ride, and hopefully help you in some way, and if you wanna be a part of this and see where it goes, then please feel free to tag along. Maybe I'll help you. Maybe you'll help me. And maybe...if we're lucky, we'll help someone who doesn't even know where to start.
Thanks for reading.
Just doing it.
(Swallows pride & clicks post)
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