A founder cashed out his 401(k) at 24 to start his business and didn't pay himself for years, thinking it was noble. He learned from mentors that paying himself first actually reduced his stress and let him take bigger risks. Now with personal payroll in place, he's targeting a million-dollar month in September.
I got to make sure my employees get paid first, right? You taught me I had to take care of me and my family next. I went so many years with no payroll, just taking what I need to survive. I thought I was being selfless, right? I'm so good. Look at me. I'm a business guy. Back to the business. No, I didn't quit my job and risk everything I had. I was 24 years old when I started. I cashed out my 401(k), which you're not supposed to do, but I did it anyways. Cashed out any stocks that I had and I said, I'm going to do this or go broke. I could always always get a job. And it's like, so to go through all that, risk everything, to not take a paycheck at the end of the month, that's a problem. So you taught me that I got to start paying myself. And ever since then, I mean, I've been paying myself and it makes the days a little bit more enjoyable, right? And makes my life a little bit happier. I'm not stressed about money right now. You know, if something were to happen or something were to go wrong, we're okay. And not to mention now, I know that my family's okay, I can now press the business a little bit harder. Let's take a little bit more risk right now. And that's kind of been our model last couple months is press, press, press. September is the month and we're, you know, we want to do our first million dollar month in September. We might hit it, but September is going to be the million dollar month. But like I said, I would never be able to do those things or take those risks unless I made sure I was okay first.
