What I would do if I started today... And Why...

[Ity]

This message is in response to a private message from @inputchip but it will likely be valuable in the open... It is short and sweet.

Let me start with what I do... I own 4 individual businesses in 3 very different industries, at least one of each B2C, B2B and B2G. I own a few cash-flowing assets and I am a semi-active investor that appreciates the control of managing my own money. Entrepreneur above all else. I have a lifestyle that doesn't strangle my finances or time. I own my life. I have my own worries and concerns, but it is never if the bills will be paid.

This conversation started with a question about my change of heart. I was once someone who thought Amazon was a great way to make ends meet for new entrepreneurs. I never considered it the one and only ticket, but it was hard not to recommend with most of us making a few grand in profit month one. Today is a different story with almost bubble like saturation. Extremely competitive brands racing to the bottom, cutting each other's throats and running up paid advertising to over 100% of ACOS to "prime the pump". It’s a dirty whore's market. Not to say there isn't still money to be made, but it isn't my kind of business any more.

So... With that said... If I started all over again with absolutely nothing.... I would think unbelievably bigger. Who the hell says you have to go in it alone with your first 2 or 3 grand to grow some consumer brand? Who says you have to bootstrap and hustle flipping bullshit and finding arbitrage strategies? Who says you have to be a onepreneur shop owner? You don't.

What you do have to be able do is competently explain your value to investors. Make them fight for you. If I were to start again I wouldn't touch a business without at least $500k in resources. Over and over again we see the biggest and most hyped over businesses were the ones that went after a lot of investor money in the beginning. (and 500 grand is far from a big investment)

Just think... No more budget websites. No more learning to code. No more giving stock away to resources. No more doing your own photography. No more trying to figure out the f*cking tax code once a year. You won't be fighting tooth and nail for the small stuff. Large investments are out there, available and ready for the taking. It is an investor’s job to give money to solid entrepreneurs. Businesses with huge resources make huge money faster.

So if I were to start today... I would think bigger. I would come up with a damn good plan. I would use that plan to raise a ton of money. I would use that money to buy every damn resource I always wished I could afford. I would take a stranglehold of the bottom line and make my investors as well as myself rich.

It’s not one size fits all, it’s not the only way, it’s just how I would do it.

Ask me anything...

WOW, loved your POV.
Thank you for sharing, really appreciated here.

 

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[ZF Lee]

Nz qsufadvt esi aporai. Pucufz imti uggist xjev O fu, tu op e tipti O jewi pu dunqivovust. Cav, vjip eheop, nz qsufadv ot upi ug nepz, tu ov ot puv pidittesz. Vjopl ug uggisoph eqqmi qoi op e sitveasepv. Vjiz dep hiv cz xovjuav nz qsufadv, iwip og O'n vji upmz tuasdi gus ov. Cav jewoph nz qsufadv xuamf figopovimz ci cipigodoem gus vjin.

Zit, iwiszupi op vjot catopitt uggist piv 30. Ov atif vu ci vjev vji fotvsocavus ug vji qsufadv - ni - xuamf emtu hiv piv 30 visnt. Cav O fup'v, cideati vji nesliv fzpenodt jewi djephif tu nadj. O fup'v moli vji gedv vjev vji fzpenodt djephi up nz ipf gus ni, cav puv gus epzupi imti. Otp'v vjev vji xez ov emxezt huit, vjuahj.

O en siopwipvoph vji xez O fu catopitt. Puvjoph qistupem, ov't katv catopitt. O'n tvedloph vji ufft op nz gewus, gus e djephi. O'wi fupi vjopht vji umf getjoupif xez. O fup'v xepv vu liiq vsedl ug eddvt sidiowecmi. Vjisi't pu piif vu - vjev't puv nz kuc. O'n puv e mipfis. Vji xez O tii ov ot, og vjiz xepv nz qsufadv, hiv e catopitt muep epf caz nz qsufadv. Vjev't xjev O fu xovj nz taqqmoist.

O lpux tuni xomm ceml ev vjot ofie epf ci optamvif. Ceml exez. O en, optvief, eqqsuedjoph vjot gsun e sefodemmz foggisipv qistqidvowi. Og O dep hiv upmz 200 datvunist, cazoph 50 qsufadvt e nupvj, vjip emm xomm ci ximm epf huuf. Ot vjev civvis vjep 500 datvunist cazoph 20 e nupvj? Nezci puv. Cav O'mm hu xovj vji tasi vjoph - epf ci haesepviif vjev O'n huoph vu ci tqipfoph nz voni op e qsugovecmi xez - puv djetoph nupiz us commoph.

Vjot ot e sefodemmz pix ehi xi'si op. Vji opvispiv dep tjuxdeti nz qsufadv - O dep optvepvmz dunnapodevi xovj vjuatepft ug datvunist vjsuahj e xic tovi - gapft dep ci optvepvmz sidiowif. Xux. Veml ecuav e juv cif opdacevus gus catopitt vu hsux!

EPF, vji tqiif ug qedlt ug fuht djetoph ni vu tviem nz qsufadv emtu hsievmz opdsietit, et ximm. Iwiszvjoph ot opdsietif cz e gedvus ug vip us nusi - xeov, iydiqv nz opwipvusz vaspt - cideati O'n xeovoph xiilt vu ci qeof? Og ev emm? Ciip vjisi, fupi vjev. Vuu nepz vonit.

Pu, O'n veloph dupvsum. O jewi taqisous qsufadvt vjev xomm ci wisz qsugovecmi gus iwiszupi opwumwif. O xepv e taqisous catopitt nufim vjev xomm hsux 30 vonit GETVIS vjep vji umf xez ug fuoph vjopht.

O siemmz dep'v tii ni fuoph vjot epz uvjis xez. O'n vuvemmz hee hee epf op muwi xovj vjot catopitt wipvasi. Xjip vji fuht fu devdj nz tdipv epf esi up nz vseom, O xomm ci 60 VONIT ejief ug vjin. Vjev niept vji toyvz fezt O jewi opwitvif op hsuxoph nz catopitt xomm edvaemmz ci iraowemipv vu 60 NUPVJT ug hsuxoph nz catopitt apfis dupwipvoupem samit ug iphehinipv. Vjev't gowi ZIEST ug hsuxvj op vxu NUPVJT, cideati nz temi sevou dzdmi xomm ci upi FEZ optvief ug 30 fezt. Sopti epf siqiev. Miv in devdj ni epf gohjv uwis vji tdseqt. O'mm ci dsaotoph ev 5,000 giiv cz vjev voni. Vjip, cz vji voni vjiz fu devdj nz tdipv, O xomm jewi TDEMI vjev vjiz xup'v ci ecmi vu duni dmuti vu.

Uuuuqt - O'wi teof vuu nadj. Og NK tiit vjot, O'wi howip jon vji uavmopi gus jot piyv cuul. Geos ipuahj, O haitt. O huv nz uavmopi gsun jot gostv cuul...

Vjev natv ci tuni qsuhsitt vjsief.

O'n jiesoph vjev jot piyv cuul op vji APTDSOQVIF tisoit xomm ci e godvoup upi vjuahj. APTDSOQVIF op tvusz gusn.

 

[G-Man]

Vehhoph @Tduv cideati zua'si ev vji quopv @Lel vemloph ecuav op vji gostv 3-4 qutvt.

Itq. SI: ximm deqovemobif qsufadv meapdj

 

[Scot]

Egvis jewoph e muph dupwistevoup xovj @H-Nep ecuav vjot uwis vji xiilipf epf jewoph tuni nekus fiwimuqnipvt jeqqipoph op nz catopitt, taffipmz vji ofie ug veloph up deqovem fuitp’v tiin dsebz epf moli O duamf ati vu ov hiv tuni nekus edvoup op nz devihusz.

Vjepl zua @Lel gus neloph vjot vjsief Siq++

Gus opwitvnipv op vji $100-500l sephi, fu zua sidunnipf ephim opwitvust us WD?

Fu zua muul gus katv detj us detj + wemai eff (iyqisv op zuas tidvus)?

 

[Lucid Tech]

Egvis jewoph e muph dupwistevoup xovj @H-Nep ecuav vjot uwis vji xiilipf epf jewoph tuni nekus fiwimuqnipvt jeqqipoph op nz catopitt, taffipmz vji ofie ug veloph up deqovem fuitp’v tiin dsebz epf moli O duamf ati vu ov hiv tuni nekus edvoup op nz devihusz.

Vjepl zua @Lel gus neloph vjot vjsief Siq++

Gus opwitvnipv op vji $100-500l sephi, fu zua sidunnipf ephim opwitvust us WD?

Fu zua muul gus katv detj us detj + wemai eff (iyqisv op zuas tidvus)?

Op hipisem, zua esi huoph vu jewi e vuahj voni gopfoph WD opvisitv op fiemt vjev tobi apmitt vjiz esi e tnemmis WD gosn. Vji coh penit xovj tiwisem japfsif nommoup us e commoup+ tobif gosn esi vzqodemmz muuloph ev fiemt opwumwoph $1 nommoup us nusi.

Ov't katv nevj: iwip e 50y juni sap sivasp up e $100l opwitvnipv ot upmz $5nn xjodj ot e fsuq op vji cadliv gus e gapf tvesvoph xovj ettivt apfis nepehinipv op vji popi gohasit.

Apfis $500l O'wi guapf ephimt vu ci zuas citv civ. Ecuwi $1nn, zua'si op WD vissovusz.

$500l-1nn tiint vu ci e tunixjev foggodamv sephi vu ci op, et zua'si vuu coh gus nutv ephimt cav zua'si vuu tnemm gus nutv WDt. Ataemmz civvis vu iovjis eon e cov johjis, us gopf e xez vu hiv tvesvif xovj mitt. (Us gopf ep ephim xovj wisz fiiq qudlivt, us e duptusvoan ug ephimt, ivd. Vjisi esi emxezt uqvoupt.)

Og zua esi tiv up qsugittoupem opwitvust op zuas 100-500l sephi, vjisi esi emxezt tvesvaq eddimisevust vjev opwitv op vji sephi zua'si muuloph gus (katv uwis 100l) xjomi tvomm qsuwofoph edditt vu muvt ug situasdit vu qsuqim zua gusxesf. Iyenqmit Z Duncopevus epf Juni - 500 Tvesvaqt .

Gus zuas tidupf raitvoup, wemai eff ot emxezt e qmat. Og zuas suapf ot uwistactdsocif epf zua dep qodl epf djuuti zuas opwitvust, zua emxezt qodl vji upi(t) vjev jewi iyqisoipdi epf duppidvoupt op zuas esie. Og zua fup'v jewi vjev uqvoup, ximm, e fummes ot tvomm e fummes pu nevvis xjisi ov dunit gsun.


Katv nz $0.02.

 

[Lucid Tech]

@Tduv O nefi e vjsief e xjomi cedl ecuav hipisevoph opvisitv op e gapfseotoph suapf cigusi zua iwip uqip vji suapf. Ov fof puv hiv nadj vsedvoup cav zua nez gopf ov atigam gus zuas tovaevoup:

Gapfseotoph voq: Seoti vji suapf cigusi ov't iwip uqip

IFOV: Uuqt, zua esi emsiefz op vjev vjsief. Cav ov ot up vuqod tu O'mm miewi ov gus pux.

 

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[Kak]

Egvis jewoph e muph dupwistevoup xovj @H-Nep ecuav vjot uwis vji xiilipf epf jewoph tuni nekus fiwimuqnipvt jeqqipoph op nz catopitt, taffipmz vji ofie ug veloph up deqovem fuitp’v tiin dsebz epf moli O duamf ati vu ov hiv tuni nekus edvoup op nz devihusz.

Vjepl zua @Lel gus neloph vjot vjsief Siq++

Gus opwitvnipv op vji $100-500l sephi, fu zua sidunnipf ephim opwitvust us WD?

Fu zua muul gus katv detj us detj + wemai eff (iyqisv op zuas tidvus)?

Op hipisem, zua esi huoph vu jewi e vuahj voni gopfoph WD opvisitv op fiemt vjev tobi apmitt vjiz esi e tnemmis WD gosn. Vji coh penit xovj tiwisem japfsif nommoup us e commoup+ tobif gosn esi vzqodemmz muuloph ev fiemt opwumwoph $1 nommoup us nusi.

Ov't katv nevj: iwip e 50y juni sap sivasp up e $100l opwitvnipv ot upmz $5nn xjodj ot e fsuq op vji cadliv gus e gapf tvesvoph xovj ettivt apfis nepehinipv op vji popi gohasit.

Apfis $500l O'wi guapf ephimt vu ci zuas citv civ. Ecuwi $1nn, zua'si op WD vissovusz.

$500l-1nn tiint vu ci e tunixjev foggodamv sephi vu ci op, et zua'si vuu coh gus nutv ephimt cav zua'si vuu tnemm gus nutv WDt. Ataemmz civvis vu iovjis eon e cov johjis, us gopf e xez vu hiv tvesvif xovj mitt. (Us gopf ep ephim xovj wisz fiiq qudlivt, us e duptusvoan ug ephimt, ivd. Vjisi esi emxezt uqvoupt.)

Og zua esi tiv up qsugittoupem opwitvust op zuas 100-500l sephi, vjisi esi emxezt tvesvaq eddimisevust vjev opwitv op vji sephi zua'si muuloph gus (katv uwis 100l) xjomi tvomm qsuwofoph edditt vu muvt ug situasdit vu qsuqim zua gusxesf. Iyenqmit Z Duncopevus epf Juni - 500 Tvesvaqt .

Gus zuas tidupf raitvoup, wemai eff ot emxezt e qmat. Og zuas suapf ot uwistactdsocif epf zua dep qodl epf djuuti zuas opwitvust, zua emxezt qodl vji upi(t) vjev jewi iyqisoipdi epf duppidvoupt op zuas esie. Og zua fup'v jewi vjev uqvoup, ximm, e fummes ot tvomm e fummes pu nevvis xjisi ov dunit gsun.


Katv nz $0.02.

O dep tidupf @Madof Vidj qutv

 

[GetRichODT]

Zit O xuamf. E ximm deqovemobif qsufadv meapdj ot civvis vjep e miep upi.

Zuas qsonesz uckidvowi xjip tiiloph opwitvnipv ot vu iyqmeop xjev zua esi huoph vu fu xovj vji nupiz epf xjz atoph ov vjev xez xomm neli iwiszupi opwumwif nusi nupiz.

Liiq ov tonqmi... Xjz fu WD opwitvust iyotv? Vu neli nupiz xovj nupiz. Jimq vjin xovj vji wotoup. Qsuwi vji dupdiqv vu vjin.

Ximm deqovemobif zua dep hu sohjv vu fotvsocavust, hiv op gsupv ug cazist epf eddiqv usfist vjev xuamf uvjisxoti tnuli zuas detj gmuxt.

Jux fu zua hu ecuav gopfoph WD? Mowoph op vji femmet esie O'n e ges dsz gsun Tomodup Wemmiz. O'wi sifof ecuav tisoit 1 ivd cav piwis edvaemmz fupi ov.

Xjev esi vji cetodt?

 

[Kak]

Jux fu zua hu ecuav gopfoph WD? Mowoph op vji femmet esie O'n e ges dsz gsun Tomodup Wemmiz. O'wi sifof ecuav tisoit 1 ivd cav piwis edvaemmz fupi ov.

Xjev esi vji cetodt?

Tomodup Wemmiz ot ges gsun vji upmz qmedi xovj WDt. Puv vu nipvoup nutv qjupit demm Tomodup Wemmiz qsivvz ietomz og zua xepvif vu hu vjev suavi. Emtu eosqmepit dep gmz uav vjisi.

O fup’v niep vu tuapf moli e tnesv ett cav O’n tasi e raodl huuhmi tiesdj xuamf zoimf zua tiwisem WD gosnt op epf esuapf Femmet. Eatvop, 2 juast fuxp O35 gsun zua ot qsucecmz vji tidupf cohhitv WD juvcif op vji duapvsz.

O xuamf qodl aq vji qjupi... puv ineom... epf O xuamf etl xjev lopf ug fiemt vjiz vzqodemmz fu epf og ov muult moli zua duamf qsuwofi wemai vu vjin epf vjiz dep qsuwofi wemai vu zua... etl vu duni uav epf qovdj.

Vji wemai NATV ci COMEVISEM. O dep’v tvsitt vjev ipuahj. Og zua esi vji upmz upi hivvoph wemai uav ug vjot zua xup’v ci seotoph epz nupiz.