Source: FanArt
Originally posted on mattward.io
Get rich or die trying — that’s a common mantra among entrepreneurs, gangsters and drug dealers.
I know that was my mindset. How can I hustle my way to a million bucks?
That was the question I asked myself every day, and night.
Looking back, this was the wrong question to ask. But as Kanye says:
“Money ain’t everything, not having it is” — Kanye West
When you’re broke and need a quick buck fast, nothing else matters. Food, shelter, survival… these are all dependent on wealth. And the poor rarely plan in advance — it is all hand to fist.

Short term cash vs. long term success
After graduating college I moved to Southeast Asia to save money. In “digital nomad” hubs like Chiang Mai, Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I easily get by on $1000/mo. That drastically increased my runway to figure out what I was doing.
Living among hustlers, I quickly learned the world of internet marketing. I saw the fads, the trends, the ups and downs and the “success” of many lifestyle businesses.
After building the #1 crowdfunding podcast (only to realize that people looking to raise money couldn’t pay), I subsequently sold the business to an agency. They monetized better, dealing with professional creators looking to raise $100k+. As for me, I’m not an agency guy (not a great manager and hate dealing with clients).
The Amazon “pivot”
It wasn’t exactly a pivot, but I followed the money. I saw folks preaching Amazon FBA (fulfilled by amazon) as the business of the future. Just source and manufacture products, sell on Amazon and you’re set — and here is XYZ course on how to make millions.
Like many struggling for dough, I was intrigued. While in China designing a convertible laptop case/standing desk hybrid, I decided to give FBA a go. With weeks between finished prototypes, living on the couch with 3 Chinese roommates I’d met online (that didn’t speak any English), I had some free time. I researched the market, found a niche and got started on Amazon.
Things went fast. Prior to launch I’d listened to every podcast and read every guide about selling on Amazon (this was spring of 2015).
After launching my 1st product and pushing the limit on rules and algorithms, my sales started to take off. I was quickly overwhelmed and needed to scale up. What started as an $8k investment in product quickly became a thriving business, fueled by Amazon. I started the FBA ALLSTARS podcast, an avenue to share my story and strategies and get consulting clients. That quickly grew that to a top 3 show.
And I needed a tagline, so I said “Step One to 7 Figures.” I set a crazy goal of a 7 figure exit after only a year…. And I somehow pulled it off.
There was just one problem….
The shortsighted gold rush
I thought I had it all figured out.
I’d built a successful, profitable business. I’d built a top podcast that more than covered my expenses (allowing me to re-invest 100% into the business). But I was so dumb…
The big money isn’t in the business, it is in the tools.
As a seller and a podcaster, I used tools to run my business and manage a large operation with a small staff. And I profited as an affiliate, recommending the tools I loved — the money was good.
But the better business was the software (or scammy make money online courses which I’d never touch).
Many of my “friends” in the business built very successful SaaS companies, practically overnight. I helped sellers with SaaS products go from beta to 1000s of monthly paying customers, shortsightedly missing the opportunity.
And the Amazon opportunity was and is enormous. But I missed the jackpot, because I couldn’t see the big picture….
$100, $200, $500k MRR — I know and helped at least a dozen startups hit these and higher milestones....