Hey there! Today, I want to share an incredible personal story from Stephen Somers. You might remember him from his previous post on how to quit your job and build an amazing side income on Amazon. Let’s dive in!
Winston Churchill once said that success is moving from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm. My journey as a musician was a total flop. My 9-5 job was a rough ride, but I eventually left and found solid ground. In my third venture, I finally achieved the success I had hoped for in my earlier attempts. The lesson here is to keep trying and never give up. Remember, giving up is not the same as hitting the restart button.
I’m Stephen Somers, and this is my journey to complete lifestyle freedom.
Being an entrepreneur is incredibly rewarding. Many people think starting a business will lead to instant success, but the reality is quite different. About 90% of new businesses fail within the first year, and many don’t make it past five years. That’s why so many aspiring entrepreneurs give up quickly. But for me, I was starving for success and willing to do whatever it took to create the life I knew I was destined for.
This isn’t a ‘rags to riches’ story, but rather my real-life journey with actionable tips on how I escaped the rat race, left my 9-5 behind, and became a successful entrepreneur.
Along with my business partner Robert, I co-founded Marketplace SuperHeroes, an 8-figure online education and service platform. At MPSH, we teach people how to start and grow global Amazon businesses selling ‘boring’ products, as well as other wealth-building strategies like side hustles. Over the past seven years, we’ve grown from a single online program to a full-fledged business with over 100 team members and over 8,500 Heroes in our community. We’ve also built a global freight company, a comprehensive software suite, and multiple 7-figure service-based companies—all aimed at helping our members build and scale their businesses efficiently and effectively.
My journey began over 10 years ago when I was working as a data processor at a government department. It was a boring job, and I was desperate to move my life forward. I was making a modest $20,000 a year and felt completely lost. My dream of becoming a musician hadn’t worked out, but I knew I was destined for more. I wanted financial freedom and dreamed of having my own business.
I didn’t come from an entrepreneurial family and didn’t have supportive people around me. But I had the fire inside and was determined to figure it out. I realized that if I wanted something, I had to make it happen.
**Action Tip #1: Success Is A Decision**
Most people want to be successful, but their actions don’t reflect that. Decide to be a success right now.
None of the people around me had ever strayed from the typical path of school, college, and a well-paying job. Any idea I shared about my entrepreneurial dreams sounded crazy to them. But after reading books like “The Four Hour Work Week,” I knew there was a way to achieve the freedom I was looking for.
After 18 months of searching, I found the answer in physical products. I didn’t have to be an expert; I just needed to find real assets and build a real business. My aunt introduced me to Robert, who was already selling products on Amazon and eBay. I worked alongside him for a few months for free, learned the ropes, and eventually quit my job to work with him full-time. This experience laid the foundation for many successful online businesses, including Marketplace SuperHeroes.
**Action Tip #2: Mentors**
I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing mentors. A mentor speeds up the learning process by challenging you and giving you the space to discover answers for yourself. Robert was that mentor for me, and together we developed our unique system, which became the foundation of Marketplace SuperHeroes.
Our core program teaches people to sell ‘boring’ products on Amazon—items that are high-profit and sell consistently. This approach means less competition and more profit. We also created a freight company and a service business to further support our community members.
**Action Tip #3: Problems = Opportunities For Growth**
The best entrepreneurs solve problems. People buy products or services because they solve their problems quickly. Our Marketplace SuperHeroes program provides a proven process for building a profitable Amazon business. Our freight company and ecosystem offer additional services to help our members grow their businesses effectively.
At this point, we’d built a coaching business, an international freight company, and a service business—all from a single course. But for us, success isn’t about Lambos, yachts, or penthouse suites. It’s about time and money freedom. I can play golf on a Tuesday afternoon, pick up my son from preschool, or play video games on a Monday morning. That’s the real measure of success.
**Action Tip #4: AND Not OR**
Your ‘eggs’ should never be in one basket. Everyone should have more than one source of income. It’s crucial to diversify your income. For example, build an Amazon business AND invest in cryptocurrencies. Have a 9-5 job AND a side hustle to learn new skills and increase your income.
That’s my entrepreneurial journey so far. It’s been far from a perfect path, but I’m constantly growing and striving to impact as many people as I can. Life, progress, and growth are not linear. Some of my biggest successes came right after setbacks. Remember, it’s all about the peaks and valleys on your way to the top of your mountain.
What does success mean to you? What are you doing to reach it?