Make Your First $10K Directly Inspired by @MarkTilbury
Stop Struggling — It’s Time to Make Your First $10K
If you don’t want to be like everyone else — broke, stressed, and stuck in a never-ending cycle — focus on one thing: Make Your First $10k.
When I was 18, I had zero money, no degree, no fancy connections… but I did have raw ambition. Instead of dreaming about millions, I focused on a realistic milestone — $10,000. And let me tell you — that first $10k was the hardest. But once I cracked the code, everything changed.
Why? Because making money isn’t about luck. It’s a skill. And like any skill, once you learn it, you can repeat it — again and again. Here’s exactly how I’d do it again from zero, in 3 simple but powerful steps.
Step 1: Start With Services That Pay You Today
Forget crypto. Forget day trading. Forget get-rich-quick nonsense. These need massive upfront money or luck. You need something that starts small and pays quickly.
Here’s the truth: in-person services are the fastest way to earn your first few dollars. We’re talking dog walking, car washing, personal training, delivery, photography, barbering — simple stuff.
Don’t waste time on logos, websites, or Instagram pages. Just go out, find someone who needs help, offer your service, and get paid.
When I was broke, I’d go to upscale neighborhoods and offer to wash cars. I noticed people with tidy gardens often had dusty cars. So I pitched them this: “Want your car to match your garden’s vibe?” It worked. Cash in hand, same day.
Sure, it’s limited. You trade time for money and can only work with one person at a time. But it builds confidence and gets money flowing fast.
Step 2: Scale Into Local or Global Products
Once you’ve got some momentum, you can reinvest into products — either local or global.
Local products might be homemade food, art, crafts, or anything DIY. I once built custom model planes and sold them at my local RC club. It was fun, but slow. I had limited buyers and high costs.
That’s why I went global next. Global products like print-on-demand, dropshipping, or even building your own small brand let you reach anyone with internet access.
I partnered with a manufacturer in China to sell my airplane models worldwide. Sales took time, but eventually, it ran on autopilot. Global products take longer, but they’re scalable and semi-passive.
Step 3: Offer Online Services With High Margins
Now here’s the real game-changer — and the fastest path to make your first $10k: online services.
From copywriting and video editing to social media management, thumbnail design, and ad management — there are thousands of services you can offer online with 80%+ profit margins.
You combine the global reach of products with the high profits of services. You can start with zero cost, and get clients worldwide.
Here’s how to win in this space:
🔹 Find Your Sweet Spot
Ask yourself:
- What are you good at?
- What do you love learning?
- What problems do businesses pay to solve?
The overlap is where your $10k skill lies.
🔹 Position Yourself for Profit
Don’t be a random freelancer. Solve real business problems.
- Instead of editing vlogs, edit sales videos.
- Instead of writing blog posts, write landing pages that convert.
- Instead of scheduling posts, manage content that grows leads and sales.
Businesses don’t care about your time. They care about results.
🔹 Charge for Value, Not Hours
Don’t bill hourly. Bill based on ROI.
Run Facebook ads? Don’t say “$20/hour.” Say “I’ll help bring you 200 leads/month.”
Now, you’re not a cost. You’re an investment.
🔹 Attract Clients Instead of Chasing Them
You don’t need to beg for clients. Build authority through content — post on TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts — wherever your clients hang out.
One guy was casually posting cool poster designs on TikTok. I saw him, loved his work, and offered to pay him. He wasn’t even trying to sell — but his work attracted buyers.
Final Advice: Learn Fast, Earn Faster
Don’t wait till you’re “perfect.” Start now, even if you’re undercharging. The goal isn’t to get rich immediately — it’s to earn while you learn.
Everyone’s chasing million-dollar dreams. But the real flex? Make Your First $10k. Do it once, prove you can do it again, and the rest is just scaling.
Wrap-Up: What’s Next?
Pick one path:
- In-person service
- Local product
- Global product
- Online service
Stick with it. Deliver value. Reinvest smartly. And you’ll hit that first $10,000 faster than you think.
Because the hardest part isn’t the hustle — it’s believing that it’s possible.
