From Uncertainty to Success: My Remarkable Journey
Life has a way of throwing challenges at us, but it’s how we navigate through them that defines our ultimate success. For me, my story is one of transformation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to taking charge of my future. From the comfort of Montreal, Canada, to the success of multiple businesses and hundreds of students, my journey is a testament to the power of seizing opportunities and having the courage to change direction when life demands it.
What started as a typical upbringing, followed by an education at university, took a drastic turn when the pandemic hit. The pandemic didn’t just change my daily routine—it changed the course of my entire life. It was during these challenging times that I made the pivotal decision to drop out of school, pivot to e-commerce, and ultimately build a multi-million dollar business empire.
This blog post will take you through my incredible journey, how I went from uncertain times to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and what you can learn from my story. Get ready to be inspired.
Key Takeaways:
Shifting the Narrative: Life often throws challenges at us, but it's how we respond that truly defines our journey.
The Impact of the Pandemic: How the global crisis led me to pivot from a traditional career path to building multiple businesses.
The Power of Opportunity: Understanding the booming opportunities that emerged during uncertain times, like Amazon's rapid growth during the pandemic.
Commitment to One Path: My decision to fully commit to my entrepreneurial journey, leaving traditional education behind.
Building a Seven-Figure Business: My progression from a side hustle to a thriving e-commerce and education empire, making millions in revenue.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Key Takeaways
Life Before the Pandemic
Pandemic Reality Check
The Turning Point: Dropping Out of School
Discovering E-Commerce and Amazon
Building from Zero to Seven Figures
The Education Journey
The Power of Dedication
Overcoming Doubts and Building Leverage
The Four Stages of Life: A Framework for Personal Growth
Focus on Impact and Building Relationships
What You Can Learn from My Journey
Conclusion: Embrace the Journey of Growth
Life Before the Pandemic
Born and raised in Montreal, I had a very traditional upbringing. I attended elementary school, high school, and even college, just like most kids do. There was nothing particularly extraordinary about my early years. Like many others, I followed the prescribed path—go to school, get a degree, and eventually step into the corporate world. I went on to attend university, where I pursued finance at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB), a well-regarded institution in Montreal.
Before the pandemic, my life was that of a regular student, trying to follow the rules and achieve success by ticking the traditional boxes. But then the world changed—everything shifted. The pandemic hit.
Pandemic Reality Check
The world was thrown into chaos when the pandemic swept across the globe, and no one was prepared for the economic and societal impacts that followed. As a student, I was suddenly faced with unexpected challenges.
Like millions of others, I was confined to my home with curfews imposed by the government. The traditional avenues that had once been available to me—going to the gym, attending school in person, and meeting with friends—were all stripped away. While people across the globe were struggling with mental health challenges and uncertainty, I realized something crucial: the world around me was changing, and so should I.
I came to a harsh but important realization: I never wanted to be in a position again where my income, my mental state, and my physical state were dictated by external factors. The pandemic had exposed the vulnerability of relying solely on traditional structures, such as corporate jobs and schools, which were beyond one’s control.
At the same time, I noticed something else. Despite the world slowing down, there were companies that thrived during the pandemic, one of which was Amazon.
The Turning Point: Dropping Out of School
After spending years pursuing a degree in finance, I found myself questioning everything. I was paying tuition for online courses with recycled content that I felt didn’t deliver the value I expected. The thought of continuing down the traditional academic path seemed irrelevant when compared to the possibilities that were opening up in the world of e-commerce.
By the time I was two semesters away from completing my degree, I made the decision that would change the course of my life: I dropped out of school. The idea of working a corporate job and following the well-worn path that had been laid out before me no longer felt fulfilling. Instead, I wanted to create my own path and build something that wasn’t reliant on outside forces.
I made a commitment to myself that there would be no Plan B. There was only one plan: to make my entrepreneurial journey a success.
Discovering E-Commerce and Amazon
As I mulled over what to do next, I began to notice one clear trend during the pandemic: people were spending more time online, particularly on platforms like Amazon. Businesses were suffering, but Amazon seemed to be thriving. In fact, Amazon saw extraordinary growth during the pandemic, with sales skyrocketing to $21 billion. To me, this was a revelation. Instead of seeing Amazon as just a giant corporation that was dominating the market, I decided to turn the tables. I thought, “Why not make money with them rather than just spend money?”
It was this shift in perspective that led me to pursue e-commerce. I began studying how Amazon worked and how I could leverage its platform to build my own business.
The more I learned, the more it became clear that Amazon represented a massive opportunity. By diving into the world of e-commerce, I could create a business that was not bound by the limitations of the traditional job market or corporate life. I could build something on my terms, with the freedom to shape my future.
Building from Zero to Seven Figures
With my newfound knowledge of Amazon and e-commerce, I took action. I didn’t waste any time. After dropping out of school, I threw myself into learning the ins and outs of running an online business. It wasn’t easy. There were obstacles, challenges, and plenty of mistakes along the way. But what set me apart from many others was my dedication and my willingness to stick with it.
In just 30 days, my Amazon business made its first $10,000 in sales. But that was just the beginning. Over the next few months, I saw significant growth. Within three months, my sales had grown to $50,000. By the sixth month, that number had ballooned to $100,000 in sales. It was clear that my commitment was paying off.
Then, in 2023, I hit a major milestone: My Amazon business grossed over $1.23 million in sales. And as I look ahead, my business is on track to reach $3 million in 2024.
This success didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen because I refused to quit. I embraced the opportunities that the digital age provided and worked tirelessly to make my business thrive.
The Education Journey
As my business grew, so did my desire to help others. I recognized that many people were looking for guidance in the e-commerce world, but they were often misled or taken advantage of by dishonest coaches and scam artists. I had experienced this firsthand when individuals reached out to me, saying they had spent huge amounts of money on e-commerce programs that didn’t deliver results.
So, I decided to start my own education company. My goal was to teach people how to build successful e-commerce businesses—without the fluff, without the scams, and without the false promises.
Today, I’m coaching 478 students, helping them learn the strategies and tools necessary to build their own businesses.
That's a lot of people, right? To say the least, and considering the capacity in which I run my business, it's not just about telling people, "Hey, take a video or watch a course and you should be good to go." It's about holding their head because, for every single one of us in this room, how you learn best is not by having someone tell you what to do, but by showing you how it works through real application. And that's something a lot of people in the e-commerce space miss out on. They want to offer a product or a solution, but they don't actually take the time or invest the effort to be truly engaged with their customers as if it were their own business.
The Power of Dedication
My success is a clear example of the power of dedication. When I made the decision to go all-in on my entrepreneurial journey, I didn’t just dip my toes in. I committed fully. By rejecting the traditional route and focusing solely on my business, I allowed myself the space to learn, adapt, and grow. I gave myself no exit plan—there was only success or failure.
This mentality is what led to my incredible growth. I didn’t let failure stop me; I saw it as a stepping stone. Every obstacle was an opportunity to learn and improve. And now, my businesses are thriving because of that relentless commitment.
Overcoming Doubts and Building Leverage
As I scaled my Amazon business, I started getting questioned. Is this real? Is it not real? And the truth is, I got audited by Revenue Tobec the first year after I started reporting my taxes. Going from earning $20,000 a year to making a lot more, they had to take a closer look at everything. But I’m not sharing that to scare you—I’m sharing it because it’s a bit outside the norm when you’re transitioning from the traditional 9-5 grind.
And let me tell you, it's not easy to get into something new. But it is worth it. It's worth it more than slaving at a job for 50 years for minimal pay, just to be overworked. By contrast, when you're your own boss, pulling all-nighters becomes something you do because you’re in control. You don't have to worry about leaving your family in a position where you don’t know how you’ll provide for them if another recession hits.
The reason why Amazon was the best entry point for me was because the model I use never requires me to hold inventory. I don’t have to pay Amazon three or four different fees for using their fulfillment warehouses. I also don’t need to spend money on apps or other tools. As a broke university student, I thought, “Why not? It’s a win-win.” If I listed a product on Amazon and no one bought it, I lost nothing.
For you all, when you're starting something new, think about how you can minimize risk. When I started, I had $500. If I’d wasted it, I’d have been in a really tough spot. So, my priority was always to minimize that risk. This is why when I invest in coaches, courses, and mentorships (I’ve spent $85,000 in the past four years), I evaluate them using three criteria that I’ll share with you.
Now, how many of you are earning less than $10,000 a month? No shame in that—it’s totally fine. Here’s the thing you need to understand: If you want to earn $10,000 a month, you need to pay your ignorance debt.
What’s ignorance debt? It’s a simple concept. If I want to make $10,000 a month, my ignorance debt is $77,000. Every month I don’t invest that $7,000, it’s costing me that $7,000 because I don’t know how to make $10,000 a month. Many people go to YouTube for answers. Don’t get me wrong, YouTube is great, but it can lead you in many different directions. If you want to save time (your most valuable asset), you have to be willing to pay with your money.
Paying with your money allows you to shorten the learning curve and get faster results. For me, getting to $10,000/month required a $10,000 investment. Once I did that, everything changed. I realized that hard work alone doesn’t make you financially free. Hard work won’t get you out of the grind. You need leverage. Leverage allows you to put in one hour of work and get $500 out of it, instead of just $20.
When I look at my Amazon business, I realize that listing an iPhone, for example, might take me 30 minutes, but that listing can sell over the next three months, and I don't have to constantly be involved.
So, think about how you can create leverage in your life. Are you doing something that requires you to work constantly, or are you finding ways to maximize the return for the time you invest? When I think about the businesses I run today, I always strive to scale in ways that provide long-term return with minimal ongoing effort.
For those of you who don’t have money to invest, that’s fine—I didn’t either. You’ll need to pay with your time. When I started out, I spent 30 days working non-stop to get my first $110,000. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Seven months later, I hit $100,000 a month. And last year, I earned $482,000 across my businesses. If you’d told me four years ago that I would make that much, I wouldn’t have believed it.
But here’s the key: I recognize that the only way I was able to do all this is by focusing on two things. First, paying the ignorance debt by investing in mentors and coaches. I invested $85,000 into learning from the best. And second, I focused on the Four Stages of Life that I’ll break down for you now.
The Four Stages of Life: A Framework for Personal Growth
Imagine a pyramid with four layers. Each layer represents a different phase in life, and each phase you go through will shape your path to success.
Survival: This is where many of us start. You're living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet. You’re not going on fancy vacations, you’re working just to get by. For me, this stage was about pressure. I was still living at home, working from my bedroom, and I used that pressure to fuel my desire for something better.
Comfort: This is when you’ve moved beyond survival. You’re comfortable—paying bills, taking vacations, maybe even upgrading your car or moving into a bigger home. But comfort can be a dangerous place. Once you reach this stage, it’s easy to become complacent. I’ve reached comfort now, but I’ve also surrounded myself with high-level individuals who push me to grow. My mastermind group costs $2,000 a month, and most of them are making over a million dollars a month. Comfort is okay, but you can’t stay there too long if you want to grow.
Excess: At this level, you’re living lavishly. You’re going to fancy restaurants, driving exotic cars, and your monthly expenses are substantial, but you don’t worry because your income far exceeds what you need. Few people make it to this level, but it’s all about perspective. For some, $482,000 a year seems like a lot. For others, it’s just the beginning.
Abundance: This is the level where truly successful people like Jeff Bezos, Grant Cardone, and Tony Robbins exist. Abundance is about far more than money—it’s about time freedom. It’s about creating generational wealth and having the freedom to live your life on your own terms. The key to abundance is not about making more money; it’s about buying back your time. Once you’ve reached abundance, you’re no longer working for money. You’re working for impact.
Focus on Impact and Building Relationships
As I’ve built my business, I’ve also focused on impact. Whether you're in real estate, selling products, or providing a service, it’s all about creating a great user experience and building relationships. If you’re in real estate, for example, you know the importance of referrals. If you can create meaningful relationships with your clients, they will refer you to others. This principle applies to every industry.
The same applies to my education company, which now has 478 students. In the beginning, it was just me. I worked to build real, personal connections with every student. As I got to know their lives and their goals, I was able to provide tailored support that helped them succeed. Today, I have a team of assistant coaches, but the core of my success comes from investing in people and making sure they feel valued.
What You Can Learn from My Journey
My story offers invaluable lessons for anyone considering a leap into entrepreneurship:
Commit Fully: When you commit to something, give it your all. Don’t entertain a Plan B or the thought of returning to a traditional career if things don’t work out. Give yourself no other option but to succeed.
Embrace Opportunity: The world is full of opportunities, but you need to be willing to see them. Look for the trends, the businesses that are thriving even when times are tough. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel; you just need to be in the right place at the right time.
Learn and Adapt: The journey isn’t easy, and you will face setbacks. The key is to keep learning, keep improving, and keep moving forward. Success doesn’t come from avoiding failure—it comes from learning from it.
Help Others: Success is even more fulfilling when you help others along the way. I didn’t just build my business for myself; I built it to help others achieve their goals too.
Conclusion: Embrace the Journey of Growth
My journey from uncertainty to success hasn’t been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. The path to building a thriving business, achieving financial freedom, and gaining control over your life isn’t about avoiding risks—it’s about managing them, learning from mistakes, and continually investing in your growth. The lessons I’ve shared with you today are a product of years of dedication, hard work, and smart investments. You too can achieve the same if you commit fully, leverage your time, and pay the "ignorance debt" by learning from those who’ve walked the path before you.
If you’re ready to take the next step and accelerate your own journey, I invite you to follow me on social media for regular insights and tips that can help you grow in your own entrepreneurial journey.
Additionally, if you're looking for personalized guidance and want to take your business to the next level, I’d love to have you join my mentorship program.
My program is designed to equip you with the strategies, tools, and mindset needed to scale your business and make lasting success a reality. You’ll learn proven techniques from my own experience and have access to a community of like-minded individuals who are all striving for the same goal: financial freedom and independence.
Let’s work together to build the life you deserve.
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