From Cubicle to Freedom

1. From Cubicle to Freedom. How I build a life on my own terms

Chapter 1. The power of a positive mindset

Have you ever felt like there’s a bigger purpose to your life? A reason why you’re here on this planet? I’ve been pondering this question for as long as I can remember, and it’s something that crosses my mind every day. We live in a world full of debates, where people argue about everything from the shape of the earth to the best way to live our lives. But one thing we all have in common is the desire to be happy and independent.

Chapter 2. The art of living your dream

It’s hard to put into words the feeling of being on your first backpack trip. It’s a mix of excitement, wonder, and the thrill of the unknown. I was able to fully immerse myself in the experience without the burden of financial stress. Quitting my job was a risk, but it paid off in a way that I couldn’t have imagined. Of course, there was a catch. I couldn’t live off of that backpacking trip forever.

Chapter 3. Learning from Failure, the key to success

During our journey as entrepreneurs, my friend Ralph and I learned a lot about taking risks and making things happen. Despite not having all the necessary skills at the beginning, we were determined to succeed with our platform, Rentsy. We knew that there was a problem that we could solve, and we had a good understanding of our target audience. However, our platform didn’t grow as much as we had hoped.

Chapter 4. Hustling and grind, Building a life on your own terms

During those times of uncertainty, I had to be resourceful and creative. I couldn’t rely on a steady paycheck and income from tenants, so I had to find other ways to make money. I remember doing odd jobs here and there, like illegal taxi driving at night and being an Airbnb host and guide, just to make ends meet. Becoming an Airbnb host was one of the best decisions we ever made.

Chapter 5. The Company you keep, How to choose the right friends and partners

I believe that friendships are an essential part of our lives, but it is true that not all of them are meant to last forever. As I have grown and changed over the years, I have realized that I have taken different paths and developed different values, leading to a natural drift in my relationships. When I look back, it can be difficult to name five close friends who have remained close throughout the years.

Chapter 6. The Network effect

Networking is a critical aspect of achieving success in both personal and professional life. Imagine walking into a room filled with 50 strangers who have no common interests or connections. In such a situation, people may approach you and ask about your story, but without any shared interests, the conversation may not go very far. The real value of networking lies in meeting new people who share your interests or who can help you achieve your goals.

Chapter 7. Slow and steady wins the race, embracing the journey

In my experience, it’s common for people to use others’ lives as a benchmark for their own success. They may compare their own age and accomplishments to those of others, leading to feelings of inadequacy or a lack of direction. However, I believe that every person is unique and has their own individual path in life, with their own set of talents and opportunities. Some individuals are born with a natural talent for singing or playing an instrument, while others may excel in sports and have the opportunity to pursue a career as a professional athlete.

Chapter 8. Overcoming insecurities, Finding confidence and success

Insecurities are a common experience for many people, and they often stem from experiences that have left emotional scars. For example, if you have been in a relationship with someone who hurt you deeply, it is natural to carry those wounds with you into your next relationship. Similarly, if you have been bullied or discriminated against, it can affect your self-esteem and make you feel insecure in social situations. There is no one specific cause for insecurity, as many factors can contribute to it.

From impulsive to intentional, Making better decisions

I have always been an impulsive person, never making concrete plans, but it has made me the person I am today. Like most people, I have fired off an email, said something I didn’t want to, or even booked a flight and left the next day on a whim. I think we are all victims of impulsiveness, it’s just how our brains work. When you try to think about what to say next, you’ll be surprised that there’s no clear answer.

Happiness is a choice, Creating your own joyful life

I believe that pockets are meant to put things in, and wallets and bank accounts are meant to be filled with digits and paper bills. In my case, my pocket is not empty or filled, but it’s enough to live from. I don’t need too much to live from, and I consider myself a simple human being who lives pretty minimalistic. In the past, I have lived in countries with just a backpack that contains all the essentials.

Chapter 4. Hustling and grind, Building a life on your own terms

During those times of uncertainty, I had to be resourceful and creative. I couldn’t rely on a steady paycheck and income from tenants, so I had to find other ways to make money. I remember doing odd jobs here and there, like illegal taxi driving at night and being an Airbnb host and guide, just to make ends meet.

Becoming an Airbnb host was one of the best decisions we ever made. At first, we were hesitant about opening our home to strangers, but after doing some research and seeing the potential to earn some extra income, we decided to give it a try. We put in the time and effort to make our space inviting and comfortable for guests, and it paid off. We started getting bookings, and the positive reviews started rolling in. This experience taught us a lot about how business works. We learned how to provide great customer service, how to handle difficult situations, and how to market our space effectively. We also discovered that being a good host is not just about providing a place to stay, but also about creating a memorable experience for our guests. Overall, it was a rewarding experience that taught us valuable skills that we can apply to other areas of our lives.

But even with these side gigs, I was still struggling to keep up with my bills. That’s when I realized that I needed to focus on our startup product if we were ever going to make a real living out of it. We had to stop treating it like a hobby and start taking it seriously as a business. So, we put our heads together and started developing a more concrete plan for our product.

We researched our target market and identified their pain points. We worked on developing a unique selling proposition and a marketing strategy to get our product out there. Not only that, but we also reached out to mentors and other

entrepreneurs to get their advice and feedback. It wasn’t easy, but with each step, we were making progress towards our goal.

Looking back, I’m grateful for those tough times. They taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and determination. They also made me appreciate the successes we’ve achieved so far even more. And now, as we continue to grow our business, I know that we’ll face more challenges along the way. But with the lessons we’ve learned and the skills we’ve developed, I’m confident that we’ll be able to overcome anything that comes our way.

In my experience, hustling has been a way of life since a young age. I learned that it can mean different things to different people, but for me, it started as a way to make some extra cash. My uncle’s connections in the gaming business allowed me to jailbreak my PS1 console and play downloaded games. Recognizing the potential of this idea, I started copying the disks and selling them to my friends for a few bucks. It turned out to be a hit, and before I knew it, everyone around me was playing downloadable games.

What I loved about hustling was the sense of entrepreneurship it gave me. I learned how to save my profits and reinvest them into my business, which proved to be invaluable later on as I embarked on bigger ventures. I realized that hustling is all about being resourceful, taking risks, and seizing opportunities when they arise. It’s not always easy, and there are certainly risks involved, but the rewards can be great for those who are willing to put in the work. Hustling gave me a sense of pride and taught me valuable life lessons that I still carry with me today.

When I was running my gaming business, things were going well and I was making good money. However, everything changed when a new console hit the market and everyone started buying it. Unfortunately, the discs I was selling were no longer compatible with the new console, so I had to shut down my business. It was a tough lesson to learn, but it taught me the importance of being adaptable and adjusting to changes in the market.

This experience also made me reflect on the darker side of hustling. When I was a teenager, I used to hang out with a group of local friends, who introduced me to some less-than-ideal habits. We would spend our days on the streets, playing basketball and skateboarding, while listening to music and smoking marijuana. Looking back, I realize that this wasn’t the best way to spend my time or the best influence on my life.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand that hustling isn’t just about making money or surviving in difficult circumstances. It’s also about making wise choices and surrounding yourself with positive influences. It’s important to be resourceful and take risks, but it’s equally important to do so in a responsible and ethical manner.

Nowadays, I approach hustling with a different mindset. I focus on creating value for others and contributing to society positively. I still take risks and seize opportunities, but I do so with a greater sense of purpose and a commitment to making a difference.

I used to spend a lot of time with some friends from the neighborhood. We hung out every Friday, and it felt like we were part of a tight-knit family. However, things took a dark turn when drugs started to become a regular topic of conversation. We would discuss which strains of marijuana we should get for the night, such as Purple Haze, White Widow, or Bubble.

At first, it all seemed harmless, but as time went by, our drug use escalated. We began supplying to others, and even some of our friends from Austria asked me to bring some for them. My family used to visit Austria from time to time, so I saw an opportunity to make some extra money. I smuggled a few grams of marijuana into Austria to sell, and it turned out to be a profitable business. I was able to sell it for four times the amount I bought it for, and it felt like easy money.

Looking back, I realize how dangerous and foolish my actions were. I allowed myself to be influenced by my surroundings and the people around me. I got caught up in the thrill of making quick money, without considering the long-term consequences of my actions. It’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way, but it’s one that has stayed with me and helped me to make better decisions in the future.

When I reflect on my past, I realize how much my life changed after I made the decision to leave my group of friends who were heavily involved in drug smuggling. At the time, I felt like I needed to belong and be accepted by them, but I knew that I had a bright future ahead of me and getting involved with drugs was not worth risking it.

It started innocently enough, with smoking marijuana with my friends and supplying it to some customers, but it quickly escalated to smuggling drugs from country to country. The more I was exposed to it, the more I realized how dangerous and risky, it was. I didn’t want to end up in jail, with my future ruined, so I made the difficult decision to cut ties with my friends.

After leaving the group, I started to reflect on my choices and felt ashamed of wasting my youth like that. I knew I needed to make a change in my life and surround myself with better influences. I decided to enroll in college and focus on developing new skills that could lead to a better future.

I started to learn web design and development because I believed that was where the future was headed. It was a challenging journey, but it was worth it. It allowed me to channel my energy into something positive and productive. Looking back, I’m grateful that I had the courage to make the tough decision to leave my old friends behind and start a new path.

I remember when I was in college, I realized that the digital world was going to be huge, and the only field of study that interested me was IT media technology. It turned out that my prediction was right, and technology started to develop rapidly. While my peers were out partying, I would stay at home and spend hours learning more about the latest technologies, jail breaking, and testing software.

Eventually, I began to network and was fortunate enough to land my first customer. I recall the girl was looking for someone to design a website for her jewelry business and asked if I could help. Although I had no prior experience working with real clients, I pretended that I did and quoted her a price of 100 euros. I wasn’t entirely sure how much I could charge, but I didn’t want to lose my first customer, so I decided to offer this price.

It took me a few nights to create a simple website for her, but when I finally finished, I felt a sense of pride in myself for earning money honestly. This experience taught me that taking risks and putting myself out there can lead to great opportunities, even if I don’t have all the answers at the beginning.