$4.90 to $10K: How I Built a Sustainable Business as a Solopreneur
Cracking the Code to Solopreneur Success
The Start of My Solopreneur Journey
Every great story starts somewhere.
For me, it began in August 2023 with a $4.90 sale on Gumroad.
It wasn’t life-changing money, but it proved one thing:
if I could make $1, I could make $100,
and if I could make $100, I could make $1,000.
That belief unlocked endless possibilities and laid the foundation for my solopreneurship journey.
Driven by the conviction that solopreneurship is the future of business, I took my first steps into this exciting world.
And let me tell you, it’s been a whirlwind of breakthroughs, challenges, and incredible growth.
How It All Began
Sometimes to create something new, you need to take bold steps into unfamiliar territory.
I spent over a decade in the vocational training industry in Singapore, where I got really good at curating curriculum, training people and setting up systems.
Then I noticed something important.
More and more people were starting to run businesses by themselves. At first it wasn’t fully sustainable at all simply because no one person could do the entire spectrum of work required in a business.
But when AI, particularly ChatGPT was introduced, one-person business became viable.
Here’s a quote by OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman:
“In my little group chat with my tech CEO friends, there’s this betting pool for the first year that there is a one-person billion-dollar company. Which would have been unimaginable without AI and now will happen.”
Here’s what this means for you and me.
It's now possible to make money profitably and sustainably, all by ourselves.
It's becoming the new way of doing business.
One-person businesses are the future.
So I decided to create a training program to help people start their own businesses, purposefully, profitably and sustainably.
But there was a problem - people weren't sure if they could trust my advice since I hadn't run a one-person business.
And what did I do about it?
I started my own solopreneur journey!
In mid 2023, I made this big change that proved I knew what I was talking about and changed EVERYTHING.
Chronology of My Solopreneur Journey (2023 - 2024)
Here’s a table that lays out every significant milestone I’ve done in my solopreneurship journey, organised chronologically for clarity.
Check out the full table in Notion with clickable URLs here.
Check out the full table in Notion with clickable URLs here.
Milestones and Breakthroughs
I will briefly touch on some of the significant milestones:
Launching Digital Products: My First Big Leap
From August to November 2023, I committed to launching at least one digital product every week.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing—burnout crept in, and I struggled to focus amidst 101 competing ideas.
Yet, this period was transformative.
By November 2023, I had hit my first $1K in sales revenue, proving to myself that persistence pays off.
Big 5: Achieved my First $5K Month
In February 2024, I achieved a significant milestone: $5K+ in sales revenue in just one month.
This was a game-changer for me, not just financially but also in terms of confidence.
During the same month, I launched my first eBook, Fastlane Business with AI: Launching Your Business in 48 Hours with Artificial Intelligence.
If you are reading this post, you’ve probably seen or read this book because I used this book as a lead magnet to encourage readers to subscribe to Solopreneur Code.
This book was written before August 2023 but had been sitting on my computer for months because I didn’t think it was ready.
Finally launching it was a liberating experience.
The eBook is designed to help aspiring solopreneurs harness the power of AI to get more done, launch their businesses faster, and start earning—even if they feel stuck or overwhelmed.
It reminded me that “done is better than perfect” and that taking action is the first step toward success.
The Game-Changer: Solopreneur Success OS
In September 2024, I launched my first premium product, Solopreneur Success OS, designed to help aspiring solopreneurs streamline their processes and achieve their goals.
It wasn’t just another product; it was the culmination of everything I had learned up to that point.
The response was overwhelming—I made $3,713 in just 24 hours.
This success solidified my belief that digital products are one of the best ways to build an online business while helping others solve real problems.
Other Reflections
This chronological breakdown shows that the solopreneurship journey is full of ups and downs, but every challenge leads to growth. My biggest takeaways are:
Start small, but start somewhere: My first $4.90 sale became the spark that ignited this journey.
Burnout is a reality: Having a structured system like Solopreneur Success OS is critical for avoiding overwhelm.
Community is key: Building the Solopreneur Mastery Club (SMC) has shown me the power of shared learning and support.
Building a Thriving Solopreneurship Ecosystem
Solopreneur Mastery Club (SMC) Singapore
In February 2024, I took my mission to the next level by co-founding the Solopreneur Mastery Club (SMC) in Singapore.
Together with Dr. (h.c.) Raymond and Dr. (h.c.) Jennifer, we envisioned SMC as the go-to community for solopreneurs worldwide.
Our flagship offering, the Solopreneur Mastery Programme, empowers members with tools, strategies, and insights to build thriving businesses aligned with their passions and purpose.
Solopreneur Success Series
As my journey continued, I felt the need to create a comprehensive resource for solopreneurs.
That’s when the Solopreneur Success Series was born. You will read more later on when I talk about my burnout in late 2023.
This series includes:
Solopreneur Success OS (Launched in September 2024): Flagship product in the series.
My Ikigai (Launched in October 2024): Helping solopreneurs discover their purpose.
Solopreneur Success Checklist (October 2024): A step-by-step checklist to stay on track.
Solopreneur Success Blueprint (November 2024): A strategic framework for building a business.
Solopreneur Success Playbook (Coming Soon): Actionable strategies for success in long form writing.
Solopreneur Success Hub: Your FREE one-stop resource for solopreneurship.
Solopreneur Success Second Brain: The all-in-one system to run your business & life.
These products aren’t just tools—they’re the manifestation of my passion for helping others navigate the solopreneurship landscape.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Burnout is Real
In late 2023, I learned the hard way that doing too much at once can derail even the most motivated solopreneur.
The key?
Planning and Prioritisation.
By focusing on high-impact tasks, I was able to regain clarity and move forward.
The turning point came when I created a framework for success.
Instead of running on autopilot and reacting to challenges as they came, I sat down and developed a comprehensive system to address every stage of my business.
That’s how the Solopreneur Success OS was born.
What Is the Solopreneur Success OS?
Solopreneur Success OS is a step-by-step planning system designed specifically for solopreneurs.
Unlike generic business courses that cater to startups or large teams, this system is tailored to the unique challenges of solopreneurs—people like you and me who are running the show solo.
At the core of the system is the ACE Framework, which breaks down the solopreneurship journey into three actionable phases: Aim, Create, and Evolve.
The ACE Framework: Your Roadmap to Solopreneur Success
1. Aim: Setting the Foundation for Success
This phase focuses on getting clear about your goals and defining your vision for the future. Without clarity, you’re essentially driving blind.
Here’s what the Aim phase helps you do:
Define your “why” and your ultimate purpose as a solopreneur.
Set actionable, measurable goals to create a roadmap for your business.
Envision what long-term success looks like and reverse-engineer the steps to get there.
2. Create: Turning Plans into Action
In the Create phase, it’s all about execution—taking the big ideas you developed in the Aim phase and turning them into reality. This is where you build your business step by step.
Key aspects of the Create phase include:
Crafting offers and launching digital products that align with your niche.
Using AI-powered tools to simplify repetitive tasks and increase productivity.
Implementing strategies that produce consistent, predictable revenue.
3. Evolve: Scaling and Sustaining Growth
Once your business is up and running, the Evolve phase focuses on adapting to market changes and scaling strategically for long-term success.
Here’s what the Evolve phase teaches you:
How to track your progress and validate your business concept.
Techniques to pivot and adapt when challenges arise.
Methods for scaling sustainably while avoiding burnout.
Find out more about Solopreneur Success OS here.
Community Matters
Building the Solopreneur Mastery Club (SMC) taught me that no solopreneur truly succeeds in isolation.
We all need a supportive ecosystem to flourish.
Through my experience, I've discovered that surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals does more than just provide companionship.
It creates a powerful network of mutual support, where members:
share their victories and challenges,
offer valuable insights from their own experiences, and
hold each other accountable to their goals and commitments.
This collaborative environment has proven essential for maintaining momentum, overcoming obstacles, and ultimately achieving the level of success that might seem impossible when working alone.
To find the right community for your journey, consider these actionable steps:
Evaluate Community Alignment
Check if the community's values and goals match yours
Review the expertise level and experience of existing members
Assess Community Activity
Look for regular engagement and meaningful discussions
Check the frequency and quality of community events
Verify Leadership Quality
Research the community leaders' background and achievements
Observe how they handle conflicts and facilitate growth
The right community should challenge you to grow while providing the support you need.
Don't hesitate to try different communities before committing - many offer trial periods or guest access to help you make an informed decision.
Inspiring Others to Embark on Their Journey
If you’re standing at the edge of your solopreneurship journey, wondering if you have what it takes, let me remind you:
The journey begins with a single step, and continues with the next best step.
Whether it’s launching your first product, building an email list, or joining a community, every small action compounds into something bigger.
You can check out my FREE Solopreneur Success Blueprint to get you started.
What’s Next for 2025
As I wrap up 2024, I’m consolidating everything I’ve learned and preparing for an exciting year ahead.
With Asia priming its workforce for entrepreneurial challenges, I’m doubling down on Solopreneur Mastery Club (SMC), the Solopreneur Code newsletter, and the Solopreneur Success Series.
How am I going to do all these?
This Substack Note have all the answers! Check it out!
My goal will be to continue helping more solopreneurs embrace this transformative journey and build a profitable businesses that align with their passions and purpose.
Here’s a quick framework on how we can scale our income from $1K to $10K and beyond:
To hit $1K, you need to grind—create, create, and create. Nothing happens unless you take action. It’s all about putting in the work and building momentum.
To hit $5K-$10K, you need a plan—a clear roadmap to guide your efforts so you know exactly where to focus. I achieved this milestone with the Solopreneur Success OS, which gave me the structure I needed to move forward effectively.
To hit $10K and beyond, you need to automate. Without comprehensive automation, scaling becomes impossible. Automating key processes is the only way to free up your time and energy to focus on growth.
I will talk more about this in the next few newsletters. So do subscribe to be in the loop.
Final Thoughts
Solopreneurship is more than just a buzzword—it’s a movement, a lifestyle, and a path to freedom.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, success is not about where you start but how you keep going.
Ready to embark on your journey?
Let’s build an extraordinary journey together.
The journey begins with a single step, and continues with the next best step.
Interesting Substack Posts I Read This Week:
How I Plan To Exploit The Billion-Dollar ‘Creator Economy’ Opportunity In 2025 by Michael Lim
Why does every client’s request feels different by Marilyn Wo
Write2Sell: Build Your Substack Paid Offer for High Conversion Rate [with Checklist] by Yana G.Y.
The LinkedIn-Substack Flywheel 2.0: How to Move Your LinkedIn Followers to Substack by Wes Pearce
The Simplest Solopreneur Content Strategy (That Can Drive 7 Figures/Year) by Matt Barker
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Anfernee
I love reading your journey. It's a lot like mine when I started back in 2006 so it stirs fond memories!
Thank you for sharing your journey. It's so inspiring, especially for anyone starting out.