We’re here! We’re now officially into the year 2020. I distinctly remember the year 2000. Everyone was worried that the Y2K bug was going to mess up all computers. Thankfully, it was just a blip – probably because very smart people worked on mitigating the problem before it became a catastrophe.
But now we’re already in 2020. That’s 2 decades that have passed since the year 2000. I’m 34 years old and I’ll be turning 35 in 5 days…
The Day I Quit Golf
It’s funny how I just wrote in my previous post how much peace I felt but then today I feel anxious. I started the morning early playing golf with my buddy Jason. Our tee time was 6:40 am and it was in Lakewood so I had to be up by 4:30 am. I had slept at 1:00 am the night before, unintentionally.
My goal was to sleep before the new years count down but I ended up getting motivated about another business, Muze, and I had to get the thoughts down on here before I’d forget. It was a business my friend Aeron and I discussed, but it wasn’t something he wanted to pursue anymore. I felt it was a good evolution to Stationgeek/Minidesk (not sure what to call it yet) so I want to take it on.
Feeling the exhaustion from lack of sleep, freezing to death from the morning’s cold winds, and playing a terrible round of golf (so bad I wanted to quit golf all together) my morning was already starting out pretty bad. We ended up only playing the front 9 and left. I went back home and got more sleep.
WeWork – American Express Global Access
After getting up and eating, I went to WeWork Burbank to use my Global Access I just activated through my American Express Platinum card. The place is stunning and pretty inspiring but there is no coffee and no one is here. I guess I didn’t get the memo that people don’t work on New Years’.
So back to my anxiousness. I think it’s from just looking at my finances. I’ve spent a lot of money on Yellowstone and I have significant investment into Bitcoin. With that much cash outflow and little inflow, I feel a bit of the financial stress.
I feel like I’m also putting on myself to work really hard again, trying to make things succeed on my own. I think I need to heed the words in Psalms 37 and to not worry or fret. To trust in the Lord and He will do it. To delight in Him, and He will give me the desires of my heart. To be still and wait.
I guess because it’s the beginning of a new year/decade, I feel I need to furiously start working more on Unwage and get my other businesses going. But why shouldn’t I rest on the New Year instead of trying to make everything happen in my own strength? I do feel guilty not working, thinking I’m lazy but I don’t think that’s the case. I need to learn how to rest and know when to work hard.
Business Updates:
Yellowstone
The store has been progressing nicely. I added new organizing shelves with bins in them for all the keys and inventory. I also bought custom window blinds for the front of the store so that I can block out the sun and also use it as a backdrop for the vinyl marketing designs I’m going to create.
I also purchased security cameras and installed them around the store. I have pretty much an entire visual of the store in real-time in my office in the back. I really like how it turned out. I really like my set up. It’s almost like I get paid to work while I get to work on Unwage in the back.
I’m almost at the point where I can hire two part-time employees. I still need to pay off an inventory loan I took out to buy inventory and some more tools but everything is coming together. Once I pay off the loan, hopefully, in 3 months, things will start being smoother and I’ll actually start making money with employees on board.
Unwage
I’m finally working on Unwage again. I did a small redesign on the site, stripping away parts of the business I’m just not able to get to yet. One thing I’ve learned building the store is that you just can’t do everything at once. Have a vision in mind and start building out piece by piece. I’m the type where I want everything done right away, but cashflow is important. If you spend too much and take too much time, you’ll burn out before you even start making money.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is still in its second accumulation phase in this next bull market run. It’s finding solid support in the 7k range. At these prices, I’m eager to buy more but so much of my capital is already in Bitcoin and also the store. One possibility for me is selling Yellowstone and taking the profits and putting it into Bitcoin before the halving. I don’t know how likely that would be but it would be something I’d really consider because I’m not sure how the economy is going to be moving forward.
The minimum wage is going to continue to increase to 15 dollars an hour by 2023. That’s going to put a strain on small businesses. Either they are going to go out of business or drastically increase their prices to absorb the wage hike. But with price increases, less customers buy. Either way, it’ll be a strain on small businesses and I’m not sure I want to be part of it when it does happen.
I think best case scenario is Unwage taking off and I’m in a position to sell the store. I’d be able to invest the cash into Bitcoin and then work remotely for Unwage. We’ll see how things turn out.
Trump, Impeachment, Presidential Elections, and Recessions
I’m worried about the health of the economy. We haven’t seen Bitcoin perform in a recession. With the impeachment process right now and also the 2020 elections, who knows how things are going to turn out.
I believe if Trump gets reelected, we’ll continue a bull market because it’s been what the country has been used to for the past 3 years, good or bad. I think a change in leadership will bring about uneasiness and lots of change. I don’t think it will bode well for the economy in the short run and I don’t think it will be a good thing for Bitcoin. But who knows.
I’m optimistically cautious right now. I’m preparing myself for the worst-case scenario that the economy hits the crapper and Bitcoin languishes in the sub 7k range for years to come. I’m mentally trying not to be dependent on Bitcoin taking off. I’m building businesses with my eye on the economic health of the U.S.
Liquidity is King in Recessions
I hope to have built up sufficient capital to weather the storm. Warren Buffet’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, is currently holding onto $128.2 billion in cash on hand. That’s a significant amount of liquidity. He’s preparing for a downturn in the economy so that he can buy companies at firesale prices.
That’s the same goal I have. Accumulate as much liquidity as possible while building businesses that can weather a recession. I think building a lean business in Unwage and targeting a market that has money regardless of a recession with Stationgeek/Minidesk would be the best business play.
That’s it for updates. Let’s reflect on 2019 and talk about 2020 goals:
2016 – 2019: The Process of Spiritual Maturity.
2016 – Restoration of Trust
The past 3 years, starting from 2016 have been so monumental in my growth as a person and a believer in Christ. In 2016, I quit my job at Wedbush and moved to San Diego to be part of Impact 195, a Christian discipleship program. It’s in that year that I learned to trust in the Lord again. I had lost so much hope and faith after the debacle in Japan with the fated girl I was “suppose” to marry.
Without knowing it, God used that testing as an opportunity for me to examine my own heart and trust in Him. Did I love Him and follow Him because of the things I could receive from Him, or did I love and follow Him because I loved Him for Him.
As it turns out, I didn’t realize how spiritually immature I had been at that point. It wasn’t until a total failure, embarrassment, and failure that I had an opportunity to see where my faith really was placed.
2017 – Healing and Community
In 2017, I learned about my identity in Christ and how much God loves me. There was deep emotional healing that took place. I felt more whole. It wasn’t without it’s craziness though. I had met a girl in Impact 195 and we were talking for a while, but it didn’t work out. We definitely weren’t compatible. I even went through some counseling because of it and I feel that made a difference.
My friend, a family counselor, that I went to gave me advice that I feel made a huge difference in my life. It was like she gave me the freedom to pursue the things I wanted to pursue without feeling guilty for it. She basically told me to go and do the businesses and big ideas that I had on my heart. I don’t know why but that felt freeing. It sparked a small change in my perspective and launched me into business again.
I also met some really talented and successful business people that have become close friends. It felt encouraging that these successful business people saw me as an equal and even had their own level of respect for what I brought to the table. It changed how I saw myself.
After Impact 195 completely changed leadership, I was no longer bound to the mentorship role I had signed up for. Instead, I ended up being part of the leadership team that launched a new church, The Gathering. I don’t think I felt like I fully belonged but it was nice being able to connect with some amazing people.
While being part of the Gathering, Jeff and I were working on trying to get back into network marketing. I found online marketing because of it and that’s how I started learning about building websites and marketing.
This year was also the year we discovered cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin. I had a monster run in October with cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin. It’s what allowed me to dive deep into the Bitcoin world.
2018 – Adventure
Thankfully during the bear market in 2018 I didn’t get wiped out. I took the time to study and prepare for the next bull run. Also, what Jeff and I we were working on didn’t work out but it was the genesis for this website and Unwage. I learned some incredibly important skills that are now the catalyst to everything else I’m creating.
At the end of 2018, I embarked on a 4-month journey into South East Asia. It’s something I’ve never done before, traveling solo and for that long. I developed Milliardco during that time. This blog has been a life support for me and has grown my confidence. Before having this site, I felt I was all over the place in the things I was learning. Now that I’ve consolidated everything I’ve been passionate about, I see the connections. I feel more competent. I feel like I’ve actually grown as a person.
I also overcame fears through that trip. I felt the world became smaller and less intimidating.
2019 – Joy & Peace
After coming back from Asia, I found what I thought was going to be a dream job at City Storage Systems/Cloud Kitchens. It turned out to be a nightmare for me. I was stressed out every single day while I was there. I quit not knowing what was next.
What was next was completely unplanned and unexpected. My mom and dad officially split. During this time I helped my dad and mom transition. I moved back to my mom’s place because financially I had just quit a high paying opportunity and hadn’t been working for two years while I was in San Diego.
But unbeknownst to me, it worked out perfectly. While at the store, I came up with the idea of Unwage. I built out the backbones of the business in 3 months. Then I had an opportunity to take over the store. I spent the next 7-8 months renovating the business and adding two new services, car keys and cell phone screen repair.
They were completely new things for me. I’ve never operated a drinking water store let alone two other services I was completely unfamiliar with. It was challenging but it wasn’t that hard. I felt all the things I learned building out websites made building out the store that much easier. I was able to do all the store build, design, prints, etc because of my combined experience building out The Nail Fix and building out Network & Market.
Now I have a great work set up. I have an office in the back and I have cash flow coming in. I get to work on Unwage full time. I’ve been able to spend time learning more about Bitcoin and honing my other business ideas.
I would not have been able to do this if I had stayed at CSS. I also finally got over the idea of having a prestigious job and title. I’m just glad I get to operate in my strengths and have the freedom to create the businesses that I want to build.
Also, my sister finally got engaged and it looks like my brother is on his way to marriage too. My mom is more settled in after the split and I’ve been able to support my dad financially. So many blessings have come my way despite what I thought was a terrible situation.
2016-2019 have been incredible. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have so much more joy and peace. I feel I’ve officially no longer feel depressed despite my circumstances not looking that much better than what it was 10 years ago. lol. I’m just thankful for where I am and how far God has taken me.
This podcast by Tim Keller is great when it comes to understanding spiritual maturity. I listened to this a couple of days ago and I felt this is exactly the process I’ve gone through. Most Christians, just like new babies grow through a similar maturation process. The circumstances will be completely different for each person, but the stages are similar.
2020 Goals and Vision
The past couples of years have been incredible. I’m looking forward to 2020. I believe God is doing a new thing. I pray that this year I’ll experience even more joy, peace, and closeness to God.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 ESV
God willing, I will see the desires of my heart to come to pass and I hope that those desires are aligned with God’s heart. I’d be thrilled to take part in it.
Focus for 2020
For this year, I’d like my focus to shift to four (really three) things:
- Yellowstone
- Unwage
- Stationgeek/Minidesk
- Software Development
Yellowstone
The goal would be for Yellowstone to be mostly on autopilot. I wouldn’t be focused on building out the store anymore. I would just do marketing and day-to-day services.
If I’m fortunate, I’ll be able to sell the store and invest in Bitcoin before it starts picking up steam. I believe we’ll reach back to the all-time high of 2017 by the end of the year.
Unwage
The goal for Unwage is getting the basics of the business built out and just to focus on content and marketing. I’d also be working on building out the services section of Unwage.
I’d like to break 100k in revenue.
Stationgeek/Minidesk
I’d like to start doing more research for the company. Check out manufacturers, designers, and put together a more comprehensive product and distribution strategy.
Software Development
I want to get more into software development. I feel handicapped without knowing actual coding. I don’t have to become a pro or anything but someone good enough to build out workable prototypes and understand how software really works.
Cheers to 2020 and the new decade!
That’s it, folks! Let’s go 2020!