How I Turned $49 Into a Life I Love

Read time: 2 minutes

I made $49 in six months.

That’s it.

Half a year into building my coaching business, and all I had to show for it was a single $49 payment.

Not exactly enough to live on.

I remember staring at my bank account, my stomach twisting. The deal I made with my father was simple…

I had 12 months to build something that could sustain me.

And here I was, halfway through, barely scraping together enough for a nice dinner.

I was failing. And I felt it.

Not just financially, but mentally.

I was questioning everything.

Was I even capable of doing this? Did I make a mistake? Was I delusional to think I could build a Life on my own terms?

I remember the fear started creeping in.

I was watching my peers climb corporate ladders, making stable salaries, while I was still sitting in my father's house, trying to figure out how the heck to turn $49 into something real.

But here’s what I didn’t realize at the time:

I wasn’t just failing.

I was building.

Because even though I had almost nothing to show for it on the outside, something far more important was happening inside.

I was becoming the kind of person who could succeed.

I was learning how to trust myself, even when there was no external proof.

I was developing the discipline to show up, even when no one was watching.

I was putting in the reps — day after day — when quitting would have been easier.

I was becoming before I was achieving.

And now?

That $49 turned into something real.

I’ve built a business that not only sustains me — but allows me to give back.

And that part?

It's what means the most.

Because I’m not just doing this for me.

I’m doing this for my family — the people who believed in me before I ever believed in myself.

I’m doing this for my partner — the person who has been by my side through it all.

In fact, as I write this, I’m on a plane, flying to a surprise destination for our anniversary. A trip that I paid for entirely.

The flights, the hotel, the experiences — covered.

Because years ago, I told myself:

One day, I want to be able to do this.

And now, I can.

Not because of luck. Not because I waited for the “right” time.

But because I refused to quit when quitting felt like the logical option.

I’m sharing this with you because I want you to know — this kind of transformation is truly possible.

But it starts with one thing:

A reason.

If you don’t have a reason, you’ll quit when it gets hard.

If you don’t have a reason, you’ll stop at $49 instead of pushing through to something greater.

So, ask yourself:

What’s the real reason behind what you’re building?

Because if your reason is strong enough, you’ll always find a way.

Thanks for reading! Happy Saturday.

Much Love,

Julian

PS. I love writing these letters, and I want them to speak directly to you. So, tell me — what’s something you’d love to see me dive into? Reply to this email, and let me know.