Self-improvement
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Personal Development
Personal Finance
Ecommerce
Financial Success
Today's my birthday!
I turn 27.
To celebrate, here are 10 lessons I learned from going from a broke alcoholic to a millionaire in three years.
These are not your typical "life lessons" either, these are unique lessons I learned from my own experiences.
[THREAD]
I turn 27.
To celebrate, here are 10 lessons I learned from going from a broke alcoholic to a millionaire in three years.
These are not your typical "life lessons" either, these are unique lessons I learned from my own experiences.
[THREAD]
1. Going From 0-$20k/Month is the Best Part
When I first got into the business, I longed for the $100k months.
"When I hit that number, I'll feel fulfilled and accomplished", I told myself.
The truth?
Hitting $20k per month was actually more fulfilling than $100k per month!
When I first got into the business, I longed for the $100k months.
"When I hit that number, I'll feel fulfilled and accomplished", I told myself.
The truth?
Hitting $20k per month was actually more fulfilling than $100k per month!
Why?
Going from 0-$20k/month invokes a complete paradigm shift in your mind.
A whole new world opens up.
Your perspective on life and money changes forever.
You realize that it's possible to make more money than your 9-5 while working less.
Going from 0-$20k/month invokes a complete paradigm shift in your mind.
A whole new world opens up.
Your perspective on life and money changes forever.
You realize that it's possible to make more money than your 9-5 while working less.
And that realization is incredibly exciting.
In fact, it's life-changing.
It gives you hope that there's more to life than the corporate rat race, and that having money AND freedom is possible.
So it's a far more exciting experience than hitting $100k or even $200k/month.
In fact, it's life-changing.
It gives you hope that there's more to life than the corporate rat race, and that having money AND freedom is possible.
So it's a far more exciting experience than hitting $100k or even $200k/month.
2. You Won't Lose Your Friends
Everyone always says when you "make it", your friends will talk shit about you and abandon you out of jealousy.
If that's happening to you, you just have bad friends, and they weren't worth keeping around to begin with.
Everyone always says when you "make it", your friends will talk shit about you and abandon you out of jealousy.
If that's happening to you, you just have bad friends, and they weren't worth keeping around to begin with.
I certainly did not lose my friends when I started seeing success.
In fact, my friendships grew stronger because I was able to use my experiences to give guidance to friends in need and help them during tough times.
I was able to help my friends reach new heights.
In fact, my friendships grew stronger because I was able to use my experiences to give guidance to friends in need and help them during tough times.
I was able to help my friends reach new heights.
I'll never forget what one of my best friends said to me:
"Keval, I hope you know, you're an inspiration."
That was a monumental moment in my life because it made me realize the power I had.
I could inspire positive change in others.
There's no other better feeling than that.
"Keval, I hope you know, you're an inspiration."
That was a monumental moment in my life because it made me realize the power I had.
I could inspire positive change in others.
There's no other better feeling than that.
3. At a Certain Point, More Money Doesn't Do Much For You
We live in a world where everyone keeps telling us more is better.
More friends. More women. More money.
More, more, more!
Guess what?
More is not necessarily better.
Especially in regards to money.
We live in a world where everyone keeps telling us more is better.
More friends. More women. More money.
More, more, more!
Guess what?
More is not necessarily better.
Especially in regards to money.
After I hit $20k/month, I went after $50k thinking that would fulfill me even more.
It didn't.
So then I went after $100k.
That didn't either.
So then I went after $200k.
Guess what? That didn't either.
I sort of hit a mid-life crisis at that point.
It didn't.
So then I went after $100k.
That didn't either.
So then I went after $200k.
Guess what? That didn't either.
I sort of hit a mid-life crisis at that point.
"What's the point of all of this?"
That's when I realized:
I didn't actually need more money!
More money wasn't improving my lifestyle anymore. It had diminishing returns.
So I stopped trying to scale for the sake of scaling.
And decided to just enjoy what I built.
That's when I realized:
I didn't actually need more money!
More money wasn't improving my lifestyle anymore. It had diminishing returns.
So I stopped trying to scale for the sake of scaling.
And decided to just enjoy what I built.
4. Material Possessions Don't Make You Feel Better
I had a massive chip on my shoulder when I got into the online business game.
Four years ago, NO ONE thought much of me.
I was an alcoholic, I failed out of college, I had no direction in my life — I was a failure.
I had a massive chip on my shoulder when I got into the online business game.
Four years ago, NO ONE thought much of me.
I was an alcoholic, I failed out of college, I had no direction in my life — I was a failure.
As soon as I started to see success, I was ready to show everyone up.
I bought a Tesla, a Rolex watch, I spent thousands on shoes, Gucci this, Gucci that, etc.
And I flexed that shit.
Truthfully, "I'm better than you," was what I tried to get across.
But guess what?
I bought a Tesla, a Rolex watch, I spent thousands on shoes, Gucci this, Gucci that, etc.
And I flexed that shit.
Truthfully, "I'm better than you," was what I tried to get across.
But guess what?
It didn't make me feel better.
None of those material possessions I bought did anything to cure the hurt I still felt inside from my past.
That's when I realized:
Firstly, no one gives a shit if you're flexing big purchases. You come across as egotistical and unlikable.
None of those material possessions I bought did anything to cure the hurt I still felt inside from my past.
That's when I realized:
Firstly, no one gives a shit if you're flexing big purchases. You come across as egotistical and unlikable.
People are too absorbed in their own worlds anyways. No one is thinking, "Oh wow, he/she has money now, I wish I treated him better." People simply don't care.
And secondly, trying to fix the internal with the external doesn't work.
My past had emotionally hurt me.
And secondly, trying to fix the internal with the external doesn't work.
My past had emotionally hurt me.
But I had to face those demons head-on, and do a lot of hard work to help me let go of that pain and move on.
This is where I advocate for therapy and tell you firsthand that you're not weak for having to talk to someone about your problems.
Therapy changed my life.
This is where I advocate for therapy and tell you firsthand that you're not weak for having to talk to someone about your problems.
Therapy changed my life.
5. Stay Humble Through it All
I'll never forget the day when my bank account hit 7-digits.
(I know, I know, I shouldn't have been that liquid)
"I'm the man!", I thought to myself.
I've always had a bit of an ego, but it went to a different level at that point.
I'll never forget the day when my bank account hit 7-digits.
(I know, I know, I shouldn't have been that liquid)
"I'm the man!", I thought to myself.
I've always had a bit of an ego, but it went to a different level at that point.
I thought I could walk on water!
It's great to be confident, but when that confidence becomes arrogance, it's time to check yourself.
And I definitely needed to check myself.
I just didn't feel like myself.
I had to take time to step back and really re-evaluate my behavior.
It's great to be confident, but when that confidence becomes arrogance, it's time to check yourself.
And I definitely needed to check myself.
I just didn't feel like myself.
I had to take time to step back and really re-evaluate my behavior.
And when I killed that ego a little bit — by realizing that money doesn't really define a person's worth — that newly-found arrogance began to subside.
And in place of that arrogance, humbleness set in and I felt much prouder of who I was and the values I stood for.
And in place of that arrogance, humbleness set in and I felt much prouder of who I was and the values I stood for.
6. Burn Out is Real
Hustle culture is only promoted by people who've never actually hustled in their life.
You can't hustle 24/7, like people tell you you're supposed to, without burning out.
Trust me, I tried it.
And I sure as hell burned out.
Hustle culture is only promoted by people who've never actually hustled in their life.
You can't hustle 24/7, like people tell you you're supposed to, without burning out.
Trust me, I tried it.
And I sure as hell burned out.
When you're waking up NOT excited to work on your business, that's a sign that you're burned out and things need to change.
You need to force yourself to turn off your brain at certain points and pretend like you don't even have a business.
Give yourself weekends off.
You need to force yourself to turn off your brain at certain points and pretend like you don't even have a business.
Give yourself weekends off.
Take vacations. Watch Netflix. Go to the movie theatres. Play Call of Duty.
Learn to relax, because your future performance depends upon it.
Remember, business is a long game.
If you're burning out in Year 2, you're going to have a hard time hitting Year 10.
Learn to relax, because your future performance depends upon it.
Remember, business is a long game.
If you're burning out in Year 2, you're going to have a hard time hitting Year 10.
7. Entrepreneurship is Lonely
When you're running a successful business and literally making 10x a normal salary, it gets harder to connect with most people.
I'd say this is the worst part of entrepreneurship.
Your lifestyle is just so different from most.
When you're running a successful business and literally making 10x a normal salary, it gets harder to connect with most people.
I'd say this is the worst part of entrepreneurship.
Your lifestyle is just so different from most.
You don't have a boss.
You don't have coworkers.
You don't have to get up at 7 am to get ready for work.
You're not worried about spending several hundred dollars on a night out.
And it actually kind of sucks, to be honest.
Because we're human and need connection.
You don't have coworkers.
You don't have to get up at 7 am to get ready for work.
You're not worried about spending several hundred dollars on a night out.
And it actually kind of sucks, to be honest.
Because we're human and need connection.
But the benefit is that you're forced to expand your network to meet other entrepreneurs who live in a similar manner.
And through that, I've met some of the coolest people ever who I would've never known if I didn't take the plunge into entrepreneurship.
This makes up for it.
And through that, I've met some of the coolest people ever who I would've never known if I didn't take the plunge into entrepreneurship.
This makes up for it.
8. People Do Come Out of the Woodworks
Since I've grown my personal brand, I've gotten numerous DMs from old high school, college, and work acquaintances congratulating me on my success.
People who I hardly even talked to or were friends with.
Since I've grown my personal brand, I've gotten numerous DMs from old high school, college, and work acquaintances congratulating me on my success.
People who I hardly even talked to or were friends with.
And their messages of congratulations always ended the same:
"Let me know if you're down to jump on a call sometime soon so I can pick your brain about some of this stuff."
In the beginning, I actually did jump on calls with these people because I wanted to help.
"Let me know if you're down to jump on a call sometime soon so I can pick your brain about some of this stuff."
In the beginning, I actually did jump on calls with these people because I wanted to help.
"Maybe we'll end up being friends and do business together", I naively thought.
Firstly, none of these guys ever wanted to be friends.
They just wanted what I had.
They certainly didn't care about me.
Secondly, no one ever did anything with the information I gave them!
Firstly, none of these guys ever wanted to be friends.
They just wanted what I had.
They certainly didn't care about me.
Secondly, no one ever did anything with the information I gave them!
Value received for free ultimately ends up being valueless and rarely acted upon.
So at the end of the day, I just wasted a whole lot of my time.
Nowadays, I just tell people I'm busy.
I keep my circle super tight, as I've learned who my true friends are.
So at the end of the day, I just wasted a whole lot of my time.
Nowadays, I just tell people I'm busy.
I keep my circle super tight, as I've learned who my true friends are.
9. Keep an Eye on Your Mental Health
Business is draining.
It's far from easy, and it's certainly not for everyone.
You need to be working to improve the strength of your mind every single day, or you will lose yourself.
I felt a lot of anxiety early on, to be honest.
Business is draining.
It's far from easy, and it's certainly not for everyone.
You need to be working to improve the strength of your mind every single day, or you will lose yourself.
I felt a lot of anxiety early on, to be honest.
I often questioned if I was cut out for what I was doing.
"Man, an office job would be so much easier."
I had days when I wanted to just roll up in bed, and close my eyes for the entire day.
I was mentally weak, and I needed to do something about it.
"Man, an office job would be so much easier."
I had days when I wanted to just roll up in bed, and close my eyes for the entire day.
I was mentally weak, and I needed to do something about it.
So I established a solid gym routine.
I started supplementing with vitamin D, vitamin B12, and magnesium.
I stayed hydrated.
I ate right.
I let go of the things I couldn't control.
I realized that, by nature, business goes up and down. There's no linear growth.
I started supplementing with vitamin D, vitamin B12, and magnesium.
I stayed hydrated.
I ate right.
I let go of the things I couldn't control.
I realized that, by nature, business goes up and down. There's no linear growth.
And ultimately — this feeds into the last lesson — I just did my best.
10. Just Do Your Best
This is the most important lesson I learned of all.
Just do your best.
Look, at the end of the day, we're just human.
As much as we'd like to believe we're Superman, we're not.
10. Just Do Your Best
This is the most important lesson I learned of all.
Just do your best.
Look, at the end of the day, we're just human.
As much as we'd like to believe we're Superman, we're not.
Even if I have a bad day in the office, I look myself in the mirror and ask one simple question:
"Did I do my best?"
Did I give it my all?
If the answer to that question is yes, I'm content.
It's unrealistic to think that we're going to crush it every day.
"Did I do my best?"
Did I give it my all?
If the answer to that question is yes, I'm content.
It's unrealistic to think that we're going to crush it every day.
No one does.
So, again, just do your best.
And let the cards fall where they fall.
Because at the end of the day, if you're doing your best and giving it your all, that's all you can really ask of yourself.
Thank you for reading.
So, again, just do your best.
And let the cards fall where they fall.
Because at the end of the day, if you're doing your best and giving it your all, that's all you can really ask of yourself.
Thank you for reading.
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