- Jun 23, 2026
- 33
- 15
Your biggest mistake might simply be relying on businesses that can disappear overnight because of one supplier, one client, or one platform decision.
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- Thread starter LauraMarsh
- Start date
- Jul 1, 2026
- 38
- 5
Reading this, I don't see someone who failed. I see someone who's been experimenting. Some experiments cost money, but they also teach valuable lessons.
- Jun 23, 2026
- 39
- 6
If I had your experience at 24, I'd probably offer marketing services to fund a more stable long-term business instead of jumping into another risky model immediately.
- Jun 23, 2026
- 40
- 13
Be careful not to confuse being busy with making progress. Sometimes simplifying your business is the fastest way forward.
- Jul 1, 2026
- 35
- 5
I think you've proven that you can make money. Now the challenge is learning how to keep it and build systems that last.
- Jun 27, 2026
- 36
- 5
My advice would be simple: stop chasing the next opportunity for a while. Pick the business where your existing skills give you the biggest advantage, commit to it for at least a year, and build it slowly. Consistency usually beats constant pivoting.
- Jun 23, 2026
- 34
- 10
Reading through your post, I don't actually think your problem is that you can't build businesses. Every business you mentioned eventually made money. Most people quit before they ever get a paying customer, but you've generated sales in dropshipping, signed agency clients, and even scaled OFM to a £16k revenue month. That's proof you know how to execute. Where I think you're struggling is building businesses that can survive unexpected setbacks. Every one of your ventures depended heavily on one supplier, one client, or one model. That's where I'd focus next.
- Jul 1, 2026
- 36
- 8
I can relate to the feeling of constantly starting over. It's mentally exhausting. But I also think you're underestimating how much experience you've gained. You now understand paid ads, sales, client management, recruiting, fulfilment, and handling difficult people. Those aren't beginner skills anymore. If I were you, I'd stop looking for another shiny opportunity and ask, "How can I use the skills I already have to build something more stable?"
- Jun 27, 2026
- 37
- 9
The thing that impressed me most was that you kept moving despite everything going wrong. You lost businesses, got fired, burned money, and now you're delivering Uber Eats instead of giving up completely. That resilience matters. I would just be careful not to let desperation push you into another risky model because it promises fast money. Sometimes rebuilding slowly is actually the fastest path back.
One thing I noticed is that every time you hit a roadblock, you completely changed industries. Dropshipping to SMMA. SMMA to OFM. Now you're looking at CPA. I wonder if the constant pivoting is costing you more than the actual failures. Imagine where your agency could be today if you'd spent another two years improving client retention instead of starting over.
- Jun 23, 2026
- 41
- 9
I don't think your biggest issue is skill. I think it's concentration risk. Your OFM business basically depended on one person staying active. Once she disappeared, so did most of the income. That's an incredibly stressful way to run a business. Whatever you build next, make sure no single customer, employee, supplier, or platform can destroy your income overnight.
- Jul 1, 2026
- 39
- 12
Your story is actually more encouraging than you probably realise. You didn't spend three years watching YouTube videos. You actually went out and built things. Some worked, some failed, but you gained real-world experience. That's far more valuable than another course or mentorship. I'd take someone with your experience over someone who's only studied business any day.
- Jun 23, 2026
- 40
- 20
I think you're carrying more pressure than most people your age. Coming from a low-income family creates this feeling that every opportunity has to work because you don't have much room for mistakes. Unfortunately, business doesn't work like that. Most entrepreneurs fail several times before they find something sustainable. Don't let financial pressure convince you that you're somehow behind.