Connect, share wins, swap ideas, and chill with fellow community members

Member Lounge

But let me ask you something… do you actually need to be?

I’ve been around business for a long time. Started a few, sold a few, and failed more times than I can count. That’s part of the game.

I didn’t grow up with money. No safety net. No magic piggy bank waiting for me. My parents immigrated from a small Caribbean country, and if I wanted anything, I had to work for it. I got my first job cleaning yards and, as a teenager, worked at a local theater just to have a little cash in my pocket.

And I know what it feels like to work all week and still not have enough.

As a young adult, I remember nights where dinner was ramen and a beef patty. Check it…we figured out you could buy a cheap box of frozen patties, heat one up, and suddenly it felt like a full meal. My girlfriend at the time, now my wife, and I made it work.

So yeah, I’ve learned a lot along the way. And there are a ton of lessons I could share. But there’s one idea, one shift, that changed everything for me.

When I first got into business, I was chasing the big hit. 

“What’s the idea that’s going to make me rich?”

That mindset led me straight into unrealistic expectations, overthinking, and paralysis. I was stuck trying to find the perfect idea instead of building any idea.

There’s always that story of someone hitting the lottery in life. But we all know that’s not the plan. That’s luck.

Real businesses take time, money, and resources. And unless you’re already plugged into a millionaire network, you’re probably not starting there.

I didn’t need to make it big. I just needed to cover my bills.

If I could build something that paid for my life independently, I could buy myself time, space, and freedom. And that would unlock everything else.

What I really needed wasn’t a million dollars.

Cash flow is simple. Money coming in versus money going out.

If more is coming in than going out, you win.

So I sat down and did the math.What do I actually need to live?

It was way less than a million dollars. Not even close. Now suddenly, the goal wasn’t some massive abstract dream. It was real. Measurable. Achievable.

I didn’t need a million dollar business.

I needed a business that could consistently cover my monthly expenses.

At first I covered 10 percent….Then 20 percent….Then 60 percent.

And something interesting happened…. As that number grew, my stress dropped and I felt more in control.

I had more mental space. I could network more, learn more, and take smarter risks.

And naturally, my income grew because of it. My first business wasn’t my dream business. Not even close.

But it became the foundation for everything that came after.

With blockchain, Circle has built a stack that makes it easier than ever to create real, scalable business models from day one.

Add AI into the mix and it’s kind of wild what’s possible.

The version of me grinding through ramen dinners would’ve thought this was science fiction.

You don’t need to wait years to get started anymore.

You can build faster, test faster, and earn faster.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Home

Forum

Events

Content

Courses

People

Contributors

Albums

Groups

Chat

Channels

Arc Apps

Help

Join the global network of builders developing the Economic OS for the internet. We’re reimagining how value moves, creating the tools that make the economy work for everyone.

Arc House

Join a global network of builders developing the Economic OS for the internet. We’re reimagining how value moves, creating the tools that make that economy work for everyone. 

Arc House | Build the economic OS for the internet with us

Copyright

Terms of Service

Privacy

Code of Conduct

Login to the The Arc Community Hub community to connect with others, attend community events, and more!

Login or Sign Up for even more

To unlock all parts of the community complete your profile using verifiable and real information.