How I Lost Everything (Yep, EVERYTHING) and Somehow Ended Up Here

1995: When I Thought I Had it Made

Let’s be real for a sec. In 1995, I thought I was unstoppable. I was 28, running shops and warehouses, actually calling myself a millionaire (yeah, I cringe looking back too).
I’ll never forget the night the internet showed up and basically wrecked my whole “empire.” I went from hot shot to sitting alone in my dusty office, surrounded by stuff nobody needed anymore. It felt like someone just erased years of work with one click.

I still remember thinking, “Dude, is this it? Did I peak before 30?”
Not gonna lie, I wanted to run away and just give up.
But nah. That’s not who I am.

Honestly, Online Side Hustles Saved My Ass

Man, I tried everything. Course after course, late-night infomercials (don’t judge), YouTube “gurus” promising quick money… I swear I wasted thousands. Some days I just felt stupid, like maybe I didn’t have what it takes.

But here’s what nobody really tells you:
If you’re under 40 and not earning money online, you’re basically playing life on hard mode.
With prices going up, rents off the charts, and jobs feeling shakier than ever, it just doesn’t make sense to depend on one paycheck.

Best thing I did? Started a side hustle online, even when I was completely lost.

Don’t just take my word for it: 15 Best Side Hustles for 2025

Where Are You on This ‘Wealth Wheel’?

I noticed everybody, me included, seems to go through a few stages. If you’re reading this, you’re probably somewhere on this ride too.

Stage 1: The “I’ll Start Tomorrow” Crowd

I swear, 55% of people never actually start. That was me, hesitating, overthinking every possible way to fail. Social media is full of “secret methods” and it’s honestly paralyzing.

Here’s how I broke out:

• Tried Fiverr first — just to see if anyone would pay for my so-so Photoshop skills.
• Checked out Upwork even though I had zero confidence.
• Eventually, I realized you don’t need to be a genius to sell something online.

Don’t love client work? You don’t have to!
You can actually sell real products and let automation handle the boring stuff.

Check this if you want a head start: Start Dropshipping for Free (Shopify Blog)

Stage 2: Ugh, Why Am I Only Making $50/Month?

Let me be SO honest. I was stuck at $50 a month for what felt like forever.
One week I tried dropshipping, the next I was obsessed with print-on-demand, then ebooks… just bouncing and getting nowhere.

The truth: They all work.
I was just quitting too soon, always chasing “the next big thing.”

What really helped? Focusing on something simple and sticking to it, no matter how awkward or slow it felt.

These were game-changers for me:

• BuildYourStore.ai — Yup, AI practically built my store for me.
• Shopify’s $1 for 3 Months Deal — Saved my broke butt so much cash.
• AutoDS — Let this thing handle inventory and shipments.

You could seriously start a store while you wait for DoorDash. No excuses.

Want proof? Watch this and see how weirdly easy it can be:
How AI Built My $10K/Month Shopify Store

Stage 3: Passing That $50 Hurdle (Actually Feels Amazing)

Once you’re making even $51 a month, it hits different. Trust me, most people never see an extra hundred bucks from their side hustles.
So if that’s you — you’re ahead already.

Here’s how I actually started making more:

• Niched down like crazy (selling to “everyone” is the worst advice).
• Posted something ALL the time, even dumb stuff (consistency is gold).
• Shared real stories, unboxing fails… nobody wants fake “polished” junk.
• Begged my friends to review and use my product. (Sorry, Mike.)

If you need ideas: 30 Side Hustle Ideas (Shopify Blog)

And if you want a step-by-step:
How AI Created My Entire Shopify Store

Stage 4: The “Wait, Am I Elite Now?” Moment

Honestly, most folks will never get here. I almost didn’t, either. It’s so tempting to grab your first profit and blow it all at the mall.

What switched things up?

• Reinvesting every spare dollar into ads or better tools
• Finally paid my friend for content instead of free pizza
• Tried new things, embarrassed myself on TikTok, whatever

Want the full rundown? Automate Your Ecommerce Store with AutoDS

If You’re Scrolling, You’re Still Early (But Not For Long)

Seriously, I’m not anyone special. I just kept showing up even when it felt pointless, even when my first video flopped so hard I wanted to delete it.
Six months from now, you’re either gonna be super proud you started today, or low-key wishing you did.

Just start. Even if it’s messy or feels weird. Record a goofy intro, set up that store, get your first awkward sale — then just keep showing up.

If I can do this (after practically losing everything!), so can you.
And hey, if you make it big, shoot me a message. We can laugh at our old failures together.

Final push: YOU GOT THIS. Don’t quit.
And if you need extra hype, check this out:
How I Built a 6-Figure Store With AI (YouTube)