I recently sold my first startup for a moderate amount of cash. At first, I was quite happy to earn real cash from my business endeavor, but upon further reflection, I felt somewhat confused.
The issue was the modest sale price. When I envisioned selling businesses, I expected an exit in the millions, which is still a fraction of my ultimate financial goal.
This led to deeper contemplation. I had dedicated nearly a year to this project and the return was just a moderate sum. At this rate, I doubted if I would ever reach my goal of earning $100 million before turning 30.
Seeking clarity, I embarked on some research, hoping to determine if I was on the path to success. What I found was intriguing. Many of the successful individuals I admire achieved their status through a series of smaller triumphs.
For instance, Elon Musk began by selling his first internet company, X.com, before venturing into groundbreaking projects like Tesla and SpaceX. Similarly, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, launched his journey by selling a modest mobile SNS prior to establishing ChatGPT. It appears that many successes are built on previous, smaller accomplishments. While my initial success may seem minor, I believe it marks the beginning of my own journey to greatness.