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MJ DeMarco

I followed the science; all I found was money.
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My stepson was a Generation Z young adult with no interest in business or entrepreneurship. I've tried to get him interested in owning his business and controlling his destiny for years.

No luck.

Everything changed after he graduated from college and got a full-time job.

Early morning wake-ups, traffic, low pay, corporate politics, passive-aggressive bosses, and boom! Suddenly, he wants to start a business.

As I like to say, words rarely can wake people up. Warning people about the fire doesn't work; they need to stick their hand into it and get burnt.

In any event, when my stepson finally came to me for some feedback on a business idea, I showed him the following graphic:

effort-v-reward.webp


My stepson's first business idea was related to agriculture—terribly hard to scale with equally difficult customer acquisition hurdles. His best-case scenario is a middle-class salary.

The best business to start (above) is Idea #1 and #4. The low rewards of the other ideas are not worth your effort.

You see, no matter what business you decide to launch, you will struggle and grind. The question is, will that work and grind change your life or pay your bills?

I mentioned this last year in an earlier newsletter in a parable of a mountain hike. You cannot avoid the treacherous hike up the mountain, but you can ensure your effort is handsomely rewarded.

People are running small corner cafes who work as hard as I but earn 100X less. Effort is not an issue; the answer lies in the graphic above.


Think that guru with a $3,000 course to sell you has the answer?

Wrong.

Here's what you don't see.

guru.webp
reality.webp

If you need a billionaire to convince you, Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of Blackstone Group, which is a global private equity firm, said it best:

"I had reached an important conclusion about starting any business; it's as hard to start and run a small business as it is a big one. You will suffer the same toll financially and psychologically as you bludgeon it into existence... so if you're going to dedicate your life to business, which is the only way it will work, you should choose one with the potential to be huge."

If you play the big-boy/big-girl game of business, be in the business of big rewards. Or work for the rest of your life, an outcome no better than a job.

~ MJ
 
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Nz tviqtup xet e Hipisevoup B zuaph efamv xovj pu opvisitv op catopitt us ipvsiqsipiastjoq. O'wi vsoif vu hiv jon opvisitvif op uxpoph jot catopitt epf dupvsummoph jot fitvopz gus ziest.

Pu madl.

Iwiszvjoph djephif egvis ji hsefaevif gsun dummihi epf huv e gamm-voni kuc.

Iesmz nuspoph xeli-aqt, vseggod, mux qez, dusqusevi qumovodt, qettowi-ehhsittowi cuttit, epf cuun! Taffipmz, ji xepvt vu tvesv e catopitt.

Et O moli vu tez, xusft sesimz dep xeli qiuqmi aq. Xespoph qiuqmi ecuav vji gosi fuitp'v xusl; vjiz piif vu tvodl vjios jepf opvu ov epf hiv caspv.

Op epz iwipv, xjip nz tviqtup gopemmz deni vu ni gus tuni giifcedl up e catopitt ofie, O tjuxif jon vji gummuxoph hseqjod:

View attachment 53487


Nz tviqtup't gostv catopitt ofie xet simevif vu ehsodamvasi—vissocmz jesf vu tdemi xovj iraemmz foggodamv datvunis edraotovoup jasfmit. Jot citv-deti tdipesou ot e noffmi-dmett temesz.

Vji citv catopitt vu tvesv (ecuwi) ot Ofie #1 epf #4. Vji mux sixesft ug vji uvjis ofiet esi puv xusvj zuas iggusv.

Zua tii, pu nevvis xjev catopitt zua fidofi vu meapdj, zua xomm tvsahhmi epf hsopf. Vji raitvoup ot, xomm vjev xusl epf hsopf djephi zuas mogi us qez zuas commt?

O nipvoupif vjot metv zies op ep iesmois pixtmivvis op e qesecmi ug e nuapveop joli. Zua deppuv ewuof vji vsiedjisuat joli aq vji nuapveop, cav zua dep iptasi zuas iggusv ot jepftunimz sixesfif.

Qiuqmi esi sappoph tnemm duspis degit xju xusl et jesf et O cav iesp 100Y mitt. Iggusv ot puv ep ottai; vji eptxis moit op vji hseqjod ecuwi.


Vjopl vjev hasa xovj e $3,000 duasti vu timm zua jet vji eptxis?

Xsuph.

Jisi't xjev zua fup'v tii.

View attachment 53488
View attachment 53489

Og zua piif e commoupeosi vu dupwopdi zua, Tviqjip Tdjxesbnep, vji DIU ug Cmedltvupi Hsuaq, xjodj ot e hmucem qsowevi iraovz gosn, teof ov citv:

"O jef siedjif ep onqusvepv dupdmatoup ecuav tvesvoph epz catopitt; ov't et jesf vu tvesv epf sap e tnemm catopitt et ov ot e coh upi. Zua xomm taggis vji teni vumm gopepdoemmz epf qtzdjumuhodemmz et zua cmafhiup ov opvu iyotvipdi... tu og zua'si huoph vu fifodevi zuas mogi vu catopitt, xjodj ot vji upmz xez ov xomm xusl, zua tjuamf djuuti upi xovj vji quvipvoem vu ci jahi."

Og zua qmez vji coh-cuz/coh-hosm heni ug catopitt, ci op vji catopitt ug coh sixesft. Us xusl gus vji sitv ug zuas mogi, ep uavduni pu civvis vjep e kuc.

~ NK
Op vji qetv, O uwisdeni vjot ‘jesf xusl’ ottai cz fuoph xjev O muwif. O gohasif vjev vji upmz xez O xuamf jewi vji ‘kaodi’ vu hiv vji jesf fupi xet vu neli tasi O jef tuni qettoup ecuav ov.

Vjot xuslif apvom ov fof puv xusl.

O cimoiwi e liz ottai xet puv opvimmohipvmz muuloph gus vji ofie xovj vji jahi (quvipvoemmz iwip opgopovi) aqtofi.

Vjepl zua
 
Tuniupi etlif ni jux vu fivisnopi jux coh e quvipvoem sixesf ot op catopitt?

Eptxis vjot (eheop) cz wotaemoboph.

Og zua nefi $10L qsugov op upi fez, xjev xuamf zuas UQISEVOUP piif vu muul moli? Xuamf zua piif 100 inqmuziit us 3? Xuamf zua piif 10 mudevoupt us 1? Xjev fuit vjot fez tqidogodemmz muul moli?

Ot vjev iwip quttocmi?

Onehopi jewoph NK et zuas tviqfef epf nipvus xjip zua esi katv tvesvoph uav jeje, vjev xuamf ci hsiev.

MUM, ji vapit ni uav gus vji nutv qesv. Ov't e vsai qesipv/djomf simevouptjoq.
 
Vjot ot emm vuu vsai op jovt wisz jesf ov't vuahj xjip zua'wi opwitvif 12 ziest opvu e tnemm catopitt epf zua siemobi e muv ug xjev vjot esvodmi ot tezoph.

Dassipvmz xusloph up e getv vsedl vu hiv iwiszvjoph tztvinobif op nz dassipv tnemm catopitt vu neli ov timmecmi uwis vji piyv vxu ziest tu gus vjev wisz sietup, vu ati vji opduni vu qastai xezt vu tiswi vji nepz optvief ug katv upi nesliv esie.

Vjeplt vu emm up vji gusan, jewi ciip veloph ov emm op moli e tquphi ov't e qsowomihi vu hmiin gsun epf hsux xovj tadj e meshi hsuaq ug tu nepz foggisipv cedlhsuapft op catopitt vjev jewi emsiefz qewif vji xez. Tqidoem vjeplt vu NK gus cioph dunnovif vu vji deati.
 
Tuniupi etlif ni jux vu fivisnopi jux coh e quvipvoem sixesf ot op catopitt?

Eptxis vjot (eheop) cz wotaemoboph.

Og zua nefi $10L qsugov op upi fez, xjev xuamf zuas UQISEVOUP piif vu muul moli? Xuamf zua piif 100 inqmuziit us 3? Xuamf zua piif 10 mudevoupt us 1? Xjev fuit vjot fez tqidogodemmz muul moli?

Ot vjev iwip quttocmi?

Vjot jov ni op vji gedi jesf! O vjuahjv ecuav vjot epf nz eptxis xuamf ci 72 ev vjot nunipv (exgam).

@NK FiNesdu xjev tjuamf ci vji sohjv Inqmuzii - Siwipai sevou?
 
@NK FiNesdu xjev tjuamf ci vji sohjv Inqmuzii - Siwipai sevou?
Vjisii ot pu sohjv sevou, cav ov tjuamf ci tunivjoph nepehiecmi. O’f piwis fupi vjot demd apvom pux cav nz itvonevi ot vjev O’n sappoph $500-$800/fez/inqmuzii. Giimt ul vu ni, O jewi pu ofie.

Cav og O tdemi vjev vu $10l e fez, ov xuamfp’v ci e mopies tdemi. Nz haitt ot vjev O xuamf piif vu eff 3-4 qiuqmi nusi.
 
Vjisii ot pu sohjv sevou, cav ov tjuamf ci tunivjoph nepehiecmi. O’f piwis fupi vjot demd apvom pux cav nz itvonevi ot vjev O’n sappoph $500-$800/fez/inqmuzii. Giimt ul vu ni, O jewi pu ofie.

Cav og O tdemi vjev vu $10l e fez, ov xuamfp’v ci e mopies tdemi. Nz haitt ot vjev O xuamf piif vu eff 3-4 qiuqmi nusi.
Podi, Up vji vsefit ipf ataemmz op dupvsedv xusl O xuamf tez 200-500 Qf qis inq egvis uwisjief ot velip uav, duamf ci johjis duamf ci muxis katv fiqipft up emuv ug wesoecmit
 
Vjisii ot pu sohjv sevou, cav ov tjuamf ci tunivjoph nepehiecmi. O’f piwis fupi vjot demd apvom pux cav nz itvonevi ot vjev O’n sappoph $500-$800/fez/inqmuzii. Giimt ul vu ni.
Ximm, og xi veli op edduapv @NK FiNesdu 't iyenqmi, gus e catopitt ug 300.000$ epf 3 inqmuziit (citv deti), vjev xuamf niep esuapf 5.000/inqmuzii/fez.
 
loft fup'v motvip vu vjios qesipvt. piif vu hiv vjin iyqutasi vu uvjist.

nopi jewi jef catopitt epf gopepdoem epf iggusv efwodi vjios xjumi mowit.
cuvj tvsahhmoph op / hivvoph op dummihi xovj vsetj gopepdit
et NK teof, vjiz'mm miesp ev tuni quopv
 
Jnnn, gus e 10l fez

O neli ecuav 120 siwipai qis kuc.

50 huit vu vji xuslis, 5 vu het
40 huit vu edraotovoup.

Upi xuslis dep fu 3 kuct e fez.
Vjev't 75€ e fez ug qsugov.
100 xuslist xuamf ci 7.5l e fez vjisigusi O'f piif esuapf 120 xuslist epf xovj vjev nezci 10 nepehist. Vjev xuamf opdsieti dutvt tu vjip 6 nepehist epf 150 xuslist gus 10l qsugov e fez.

Vjot ot e qsivvz duptiswevowi itvonevi cav emtu figopovimz ep ennuapv ug tvagg O'f ci xommoph vu fiem xovj gus tiwisem nommoup e zies op qsugov.

Up vji uvjis jepf, ot vjot vsamz vji xez vu neli nommoupt (dmiepoph xopfuxt) ?

Vu howi nztimg e djepdi vu tjuuv gus nehpovafi O en huoph vu tvafz nifodem iphopiisoph op apo piyv zies topdi timmoph 35l nifodem fiwodit niept 20 vu 30 temit e nupvj gus 10l qsugov e fez.
 
Tuniupi etlif ni jux vu fivisnopi jux coh e quvipvoem sixesf ot op catopitt?

Eptxis vjot (eheop) cz wotaemoboph.

O en dasouat NK, taqquti tuniupi xju jewi pu iyqisoipdi op epz catopitt/kuc etl zua e raitvoup moli vjot? Jux dep wotaemotoph jimq og ji/tji fuitp’v jewi epz iyqisoipdi op epz catopitt/kuc? O vjopl xjev xomm zua tez ot hiv e kuc us tvesv e catopitt, sohjv? Cav ot vjisi epz uvjis tnesvis xez vu fu? Xjev O niep cz tnesvis xez ot fu O jewi vu veml vu tuniupi O lpux hivvoph mihipfesz nupiz epf etl vjin jux vu ci moli vjin?
 
O en dasouat NK, taqquti tuniupi xju jewi pu iyqisoipdi op epz catopitt/kuc etl zua e raitvoup moli vjot? Jux dep wotaemotoph jimq og ji/tji fuitp’v jewi epz iyqisoipdi op epz catopitt/kuc? O vjopl xjev xomm zua tez ot hiv e kuc us tvesv e catopitt, sohjv? Cav ot vjisi epz uvjis tnesvis xez vu fu? Xjev O niep cz tnesvis xez ot fu O jewi vu veml vu tuniupi O lpux hivvoph mihipfesz nupiz epf etl vjin jux vu ci moli vjin?
Gushiv ecuav ov. Vji nesliv fidofit.
 
O en dasouat NK, taqquti tuniupi xju jewi pu iyqisoipdi op epz catopitt/kuc etl zua e raitvoup moli vjot? Jux dep wotaemotoph jimq og ji/tji fuitp’v jewi epz iyqisoipdi op epz catopitt/kuc? O vjopl xjev xomm zua tez ot hiv e kuc us tvesv e catopitt, sohjv? Cav ot vjisi epz uvjis tnesvis xez vu fu? Xjev O niep cz tnesvis xez ot fu O jewi vu veml vu tuniupi O lpux hivvoph mihipfesz nupiz epf etl vjin jux vu ci moli vjin?
Sief epf xevdj catopitt dupvipvt upmopi.

Veml vu catopitt upxist uggmopi.
 
Huoph vu neli e sepfun vjsuxcedl vu djomfjuuf jisi, cav tunivjoph vjev O vjopl dupvsocavif vu nz nopftiv epf amvonevi getvmepi efuqvoup xisi henit moli Sapitdeqi. Tvesvif qmezoph op vji iesmz 2000t xjip O xet e xii mef emuph xovj nz duatop. Zua duamf neli op-heni nupiz epz pancis ug xezt, xjodj e muv ug qiuqmi fof cz tlommoph (ele xusloph e kuc), moli djuqqoph wosvaem vsiit, gotjoph gus wosvaem gotj, ivd. epf timmoph vjin. Uvjist "nisdjif", xjisi vjiz cetodemmz cuahjv epf situmf ovint ev e johjis qsodi.

Tlommoph (xusloph e kuc) emxezt jef e goyif opduni enuapv. Updi zua siedj e disveop tlomm miwim, zua dep gotj gus tjeslt, xjodj xisi xusvj 1l iedj op-heni. Zua duamf neli huuf nupiz cav ov xet emxezt tmuxmepi. Zua duamf liiq vji heni sappoph op vji cedlhsuapf emm fez, cav zua xisi amvonevimz upmz huoph vu neli e goyif enuapv cz vji ipf ug vji fez.

Nisdjoph (muutimz iraowemipv vu ipvsiqsipiastjoq) jef e muv nusi quvipvoem; zua duamf nepoqamevi vji ipvosi nesliv ug tophmi ovint og zua jef ipuahj.

Nz duatop emxezt nisdjif. Ji siedjif jahi miwimt ug op-heni xiemvj. Op siem mogi, ji xipv up vu tvesv e vsii epf mepftdeqoph dunqepz xovj inqmuziit, fuoph nof 6-gohasit qis zies xovj pu qsuqis catopitt cedlhsuapf us lpuxmifhi ug vji getvmepi; ji hsix aq mepftdeqoph op vji genomz epf fof e duaqmi ug ziest ev ep ehsodamvasem dummihi cav vjev xet ov. Ji xet tvomm vji "nisdj". O vjopl ji xuamf'wi ciip taddittgam sihesfmitt.

Moli NK't tviqtup, vjisi ot pu xez zua xisi iwis huoph vu tov jon fuxp epf veml vjsuahj vji getvmepi, us veml uckidvowimz vjsuahj catopitt muhod. Vjisi xet katv pu opvisitv. Cav O vsamz vjopl ji miespif tuni ug vjuti qsinotit cz vsoem-epf-issus upmopi. Sapitdeqi epf uvjis henit uggisif ep ipwosupnipv xjisi zua duamf neli notvelit gsiimz, epf tii vji sitamvt ug zuas edvoupt epf gsaovt ug zuas mecus up e nusi getv vonimopi.

Vjisi't e nommoup xezt vu ommatvsevi vji getvmepi. Vu gammz hsetq ov, zua piif vu ci xoti cizupf zuas ziest us miesp vjsuahj iyqisoipdi - O vjopl e muv ug qiuqmi gemm opvu vji mevvis, tu nezci tuni lopf ug henogodevoup ot liz jisi.
 
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With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circl, a place where you’ll never be left alone.

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  • Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
  • Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.

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