Over the past 5 years, I've spent over $50,000 pursuing time freedom through a personal business.

$50k that I didn't have.

$50k that wound up on some credit cards and in some personal loans. (On top of the almost $150k in student loans, we'll talk about those some other time.)

The problem is I was looking for done-for-you solutions or quick big-money solutions.

I wanted someone to hand me a personal business that was all prepped and ready to go and wrapped up in a pretty bow.

I wanted to start and own a personal business that had all the hard work done.

Some examples that I purchased:

• A pre-made Shopify drop-shipping store

• An Amazon FBA business

• A niche website-building program

• Many copywriting courses & programs (to the tune of at least $20k)

• An affiliate program with paid traffic

• and others

Those are the ones I remember. (I spent a couple of hours one day calculating the cost because I was curious.)

In all that time, spending all that money, I found things that worked, but nothing I wanted to work on.

Then came November 2021.

I joined a free 3-day coach training program hosted by Rob Dial.

I went through the program, loved it, and then jumped on a sales call for the full program.

That was the moment my life shifted for the first time.

In 2022, I went through three critical shifts in my life.

1. I settled in to focus on my mindset around not only my personal business but my life.

2. I learned about building in public and the power of the digital tool stack.

3. I discovered the concept of the one-person business and writing to myself.

Shift 1: Focusing on my mindset in both my business and personal life.

I had this idea in my head that to be successful meant having money. Being raised in a capitalist economy in the upper-working class will do that to you.

I went through the program with Rob Dial and the primary focus was my mindset.

And I had never given much thought to mindset of any type.

I went to college, got two degrees, and started working.

That was my path.

But the program challenged me.

They honed in on who I was as a person and what I could provide to those following behind me.

I spent the first half of 2022 focusing on my mindset.

Journaling. Meditating. Visualization. Physical exercise.

All in waves–this was still new to me–but showing up nonetheless.

And the one quote that sticks with me to today is important.

“What is the cost of NOT investing in yourself? Six months will come and go either way.”

Shift 2: Building in public and the power of the digital world.

I’ve started a blog. I’ve self-published a novel. I’ve only ever released finished products, free from as many errors as possible.

The idea of building in public was not something I had thought about.

Letting others see your mistakes and unfinished items isn't something I did.

After joining Ship 30 with Dickie Bush and Nicolas Cole, building in public became the foundation of my writing.

I just needed to start. Regardless of how crappy the posts were, how unfinished they were, post.

Just show up.

And I took from Ship 30 the idea to practice progress, not perfection.

This was also the first time I had started to learn about no-code tools that would make running a business easier.

This removed a barrier that I used all the time.

I always said I needed to make sure it looks good. That I know how it works. That I can make changes I need to.

No-code tools in the digital stack took away one less roadblock–gave me one less excuse to use.

Shift 3: Building a one-person business focused on writing to my past, present, and future self.

My only concept of business was one that had a dozen employees who were working for me on some product or service I created.

Dan Koe, when I found him on Twitter, blew that out of the water.

The idea that you can build a successful business with only you was novel to me.

I had never considered a business where it was only me.

Paired with ideas from others like Sean Anthony, Daniel Throssell, and Justin Welsh, things were coming together.

The first key point was identifying the one-person business as the new standard for me.

Building a one-person business that focused on taking my experiences in pursuit of time freedom into the world was the way forward.

But the second key point here was finally nailing down the ideal prospect: me.

The current population of the world is estimated to be over 8 billion people.

Even if 1% of the world's population were in circumstances somewhat like mine–that’s 40 million people I could help.

So, why not write to myself about my journey? Why not share my lessons learned in public?

The core message right now is simple:

No matter what you do, the first version is going to be crappy.

That’s good. Now you’ve got the bad stuff out.

Take what you completed and iterate. Improve on it.

Do it again and again. Show up for yourself.

Six months is going to pass regardless.

You can stay where you are or you can be further down the road.

You can practice perfection and remain stuck in place, paralyzed by putting something incomplete out into the world–

Or you can practice progress and move forward.

Consistency and direction are critical, but they can’t come into play until you’ve started.

So, focus on you.

Document your progress toward a meaningful pursuit.

In this new year–just start.

With love and a sense of urgency.

- Jeff