- PPF Points
- 2,100
Year 1: Confused. Year 2: Focused. Year 3: Profitable. My Entrepreneur Story
When people talk about “becoming an entrepreneur,” they often fast-forward to the highlight reel — the freedom, the sales, the laptop lifestyle.
But let me tell you the truth most skip:
Year 1 was chaos. Year 2 was clarity. Year 3 finally paid off.
This is the unfiltered version of my entrepreneurial journey — not just the wins, but the lessons, struggles, pivots, and breakthroughs that shaped me.
If you're at the start (or stuck in the middle), this story is for you. I hope it gives you both a mirror and a map.
Let’s rewind.
Year 1: Confused (The Hustle and the Headaches)
The Dream
I started like most people do: fed up with my 9–5, daydreaming about freedom.
I wanted to be my own boss. Set my own hours. Work from anywhere.
The idea of building something that was mine burned in my chest every morning I commuted to work.
So I jumped.
No savings cushion. No backup plan. No real skill set.
Just a dream, Google, and a pile of YouTube videos.
The Reality
The first year was brutal.
I tried everything:
- Freelancing on Fiverr
- Dropshipping cheap gadgets
- Affiliate marketing (without a clue)
- Starting a blog with no traffic
- Running ads I didn’t understand
- Buying courses I never finished
Every week, I was onto the next “easy win.”
I made $19.42 my first month online.
Then nothing for weeks.
Then $100 from a freelance gig that took me 20 hours and a full mental breakdown.
I was grinding 12-hour days with no real results. I had a Google Doc called “Next Big Idea” filled with 50 things I never finished.
I wasn’t building a business — I was chasing dopamine.
The Lessons
- Not everything online is a business.
- Shiny object syndrome will bankrupt your time.
- If you're saying yes to everything, you’re moving in circles.
What I lacked wasn’t effort — it was direction.
Year 2: Focused (The Strategy Shift)
The Breaking Point
Halfway through year two, I hit a wall.
Burned out. Broke. Embarrassed.
I remember staring at my bank account after another failed launch and thinking:
That night, I almost applied to go back to my old job.
Instead, I opened a blank page and wrote:
That moment flipped the switch.
I didn’t need to try everything.
I needed to pick one thing — and go all in.
The Pivot
I doubled down on freelancing.
Why? Because I had some writing skill. Clients were already asking. And it paid faster than digital products.
So I:
- Cleaned up my offer
- Learned how to position myself
- Started pitching consistently
- Delivered real results
- Raised my rates (terrifying, but worth it)
Then I took everything I was learning and started documenting it.
- Twitter threads
- Blog posts
- Mini case studies
- Behind-the-scenes videos
I stopped chasing. I started building.
And slowly, it worked.
The Growth
By the end of year two:
- I had 5 consistent freelance clients
- I was making $3,000–$5,000/month
- I launched a simple product from my freelance system — and made $800
- My Twitter audience grew from 300 to 5,000
- I finally believed: this is possible
Not because I “hacked the algorithm.”
But because I focused, simplified, and got consistent.
The Lessons
- Clarity comes from commitment, not thinking.
- You don’t need 10 income streams — you need one that works.
- Simplify to amplify.
Year 3: Profitable (The Business Breakthrough)
From Freelancer to Founder
In year three, I stopped thinking like a freelancer — and started acting like a business owner.
That mindset shift changed everything.
I stopped just trading time for money and started creating leverage:
- Productized services (clients pay for outcomes, not hours)
- Digital products (turn my frameworks into tools for others)
- Affiliate partnerships (earn while serving my audience)
- Email list building (own the connection, not just rent it from social media)
I hired a VA to handle admin. I created better systems. I invested in coaching (finally a course I actually finished).
And I started thinking long-term: What kind of business do I want in 3 years? 5 years? 10?
The goal wasn’t just income anymore. It was impact + freedom.
The Numbers
Here’s what year 3 looked like by the end:
- Revenue: $12,000–$15,000/month
- 3 digital products launched
- 1 small cohort course with 20 students
- Email list: 7,500 subscribers
- Twitter audience: 18,000+
- Worked 25–30 hours a week
- Took a real vacation (without checking Slack)
More importantly?
I was finally in control.
Not just of my time or money — but of my mission.
The Lessons
- Business is a skill set, not a personality trait.
- Leverage = freedom.
- Build your audience while you build your offer.
10 Lessons That Got Me Here
- Pick one thing. Master it. Then expand.
You can pivot later. But first, earn the right. - Document everything.
The journey is the content. And the proof. - Charge based on value, not hours.
Clients don’t want time — they want outcomes. - Don’t build in silence.
Share your process. It builds trust, audience, and sales. - Learn sales, not just skills.
Being good at what you do means nothing if no one knows. - Protect your focus like your future depends on it.
Because it does. - Ignore followers. Build relationships.
100 true fans > 10,000 passive likes. - Create systems before you scale.
Chaos doesn’t magically fix itself with growth. - Invest in tools that save you time.
Your time is your most limited resource. - Your story is your superpower.
Use it. It’s what sets you apart.
🛠 My Toolbox: What Actually Helped Me Grow
Here are some of the most useful tools and platforms I used during these 3 years:
- Notion – For planning, journaling, and documenting my processes.
- Twitter – My main platform for building an audience.
- Beehiiv – Simple, clean email marketing and newsletters.
- Gumroad / Lemon Squeezy – To sell digital products easily.
- Loom – For quick videos and client communication.
- Calendly – To automate calls and scheduling.
- Airtable – For tracking content and growth metrics.
No fancy tools. Just consistency with the right ones.
Final Thoughts: What I’d Tell Year 1 Me
If I could sit across from the “Year 1” version of me — broke, overwhelmed, doubting everything — I’d say:
There is no straight line. No overnight win. No magic formula.
But if you stick with it — simplify, serve, and show up — it gets better.
Confusion gives way to clarity.
Clarity gives way to strategy.
Strategy gives way to results.
And one day, without even realizing it, you wake up profitable.
Not just in income.
But in time, freedom, purpose, and confidence.
P.S. If you're in year 1 or 2 and need help picking your focus, monetizing your skills, or building your audience — I’ve created a free 5-day email roadmap based on everything I’ve learned.
Just reply “ROADMAP” or subscribe [here].
You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s build something real — together.
