So, you have a killer idea for a business startup. You’ve built a pitch deck, maybe even got some early traction, and now you’re ready to chase down serious capital. But here’s the thing they don’t always tell you: securing startup funding isn’t just about a polished presentation. Before any serious investor writes a check, they’re going to put your company under a microscope in a process called due diligence.
Getting an online business off the ground, especially on a platform like Amazon, involves more than just picking a product. You're building a network of partners and services that handle everything from logistics to branding. Let's break down who you'll be working with and what it really takes to get started.
If you're trading hours for dollars, you're on a treadmill, not a path to wealth. It's a simple, direct trade: the moment you stop working, the money stops coming in. I grew up hearing the phrase, “You don’t work, you don’t eat,” and it perfectly captures this trap. This kind of time-based income is a dead end if your goal is real financial freedom. It's linear and can't build wealth quickly. Sure, there are exceptions, like a top NBA draft pick with a $12 million signing bonus, but if that’s you, you probably aren't reading this.
Most people think of a side hustle as just a way to make extra cash—driving for Uber, delivering food, or picking up a few freelance gigs. But what if that’s the wrong way to look at it? A true side hustle business isn't about getting a second job; it's about building an asset that can eventually replace your first job. The key isn't just working more, but building something that can grow without you.
That feeling of waking up in a panic is the worst. Wasn’t I supposed to be doing something? Do I need to be somewhere? Did I just make a huge mistake and leave a secure, well-paying job for… this?
The doctor’s words hung in the air, quiet but heavy. “I’m going to give you a few minutes to say your goodbyes. When you’re ready, I’ll come back in the room and turn off the ventilator.”
Most of us, especially busy professionals, have our priorities completely mixed up. We chase goals, build careers, and pour energy into a hundred different things, all while neglecting the one thing that makes it all possible. It’s a lesson Warren Buffett explained perfectly to a group of college students in Omaha.
For most of my childhood, I was quietly terrified that my dad was going to die. When I was younger than ten, my siblings and I stumbled upon his secret: he was a smoker. He had probably hidden his miniature cigars from us so we wouldn’t pick up the habit ourselves, but once the cat was out of the bag, he started smoking in front of us.
There’s a powerful concept that shapes your entire life, yet most of us never think about it: your self-story. It’s the internal narrative you write about who you are, and it quietly determines your success. The good news is, you hold the pen. You can write a better story for yourself—one that helps you achieve your biggest ambitions.