I know this is a marketing blog, but it is also a tool to empower people on their path to extra-preneurship (or entrepreneurship).
And this is a short story about one lie and my first $10K in a month as a solopreneur. The lie was told when I was 23 y/o, and I earned my first $10K in a month when I was 26 y/o.
The important thing is in between. Let’s read this story together.
If you are new here, start by reading this short story first: How I Won the Lottery Without Getting Lucky.
I did my bachelor’s degree in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and right after that, I moved to the capital city of Bulgaria – Sofia, to look for a job.
As far as I can recall, it took me three months, no experience, and a lie to land my first job in a relatively new, Bulgarian IT company. I was one of the earliest employees. If you take a look at my LinkedIn profile, you will figure out which is the company.
Anyway, the position I applied for was as a personal travel manager for the company, as most of its clients were German. And believe me, there was a lot of traveling going on. So to get that job, I went through 4 interviews.
I have never worked as a travel manager or travel assistant in my life, but there I was, determined to get the job. And at the moment I got out from the first interview, I knew that I would get the job.
I had one advantage over the whole department, including the CEO (yes, my last interview was with him, as it turned out that I will have to arrange all of his travels, too). The advantage – I had just finished my bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management. I had something they didn’t, and I used it. I had knowledge in the field of travel systems; they couldn’t even comprehend what I was telling them during the interviews.
They would ask me something like, “Have you ever worked with this travel system?” And I would answer, “Are you crazy? That system is so outdated. I have worked with the latest travel systems such as “X, Y, Z” which are the top systems in the world.” Fresh out of school. I knew a thing or three.
And I’m telling you, I was so confident in all four interviews that it was impossible for them even to assume that I have never seen how a travel system works, except for the picture in my student books. And I am not proud of lying, I am just telling a real story, one of the best in my life to get me where I am today.
And I don’t want you to think that it is OK to lie during an interview. However, when you have already built the knowledge in a niche for so many years, and you are confident that you can excel in a job, once given the opportunity, then you can be whoever the fuck you want.
You can be Mila with “9 to 5” or Mila with her “first $10K after quitting 9 to 5.” Your life is your responsibility, including lying for a job, so be cautious when lying. 🙂
And not long after I quit that job, I earned $10K in a single month. I poured everything I knew about SEO and niche websites into one project. Topical knowledge in a niche, focused work, and confidence in my skills. Exactly the same three skills that land me the job. Same scenario.
The moral of the story for me is: You act Now, to have your Tomorrow, the way you always Wanted. It could be 9 to 5, or it could be you, as an extra-preneur.
I will cite once again one of my favorite thoughts about living a life without regrets:
Follow my heart
and be myself.
A life without regrets
regardless of consequences.
That’s how I wanted to live.
Have I been committed?
So, have you been committed, donuts?
End of story.
🙏 Enjoy my Donuts about Marketing newsletter. I’m always open to feedback and suggestions. I also share my struggles and success on TW, IG, LIN.
