How I Built A $1M Business From This Starbucks

Summary

Pat Walls shares his inspiring journey of building a million-dollar business, 'Starter Story', while working a full-time job. He overcame self-doubt and utilized deep work sessions at a local Starbucks to lay the foundation of his venture. Through consistent effort, strategic marketing, and a pivotal sponsorship deal, he transformed his side project into a successful business, ultimately resigning from his job to pursue his dream full-time.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The story is about Pat Wall's journey to building a successful business, 'Starter Story', from a small idea to a million-dollar venture.
• 🕒 Pat started his business while working a full-time job, only dedicating 2 hours a day to his entrepreneurial aspirations.
• 🤔 Pat struggled with self-doubt and the fear of the unknown, which was symbolized by the daily walk past a Starbucks where he intended to work on his business.
• 📚 The book 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport inspired Pat to focus and commit to his project, leading him to establish a contract with himself to work at Starbucks.
• ⏱ Pat used a timer to work in focused 2-hour sessions, which helped him enter a state of 'flow' and make significant progress on his business idea.
• 🌱 The consistent daily effort led to the creation of 'Starter Story', a platform sharing stories of successful online businesses, which eventually attracted an audience.
• 📈 After several months, Pat's persistence paid off when one of his stories went viral, significantly increasing his site traffic and newsletter subscribers.
• 💰 Pat monetized his newsletter through sponsorships and affiliate marketing, which allowed him to start earning revenue from his project.
• 💌 A life-changing email from the CEO of Clavio, offering a $112,000 sponsorship, validated Pat's business idea and provided the funds to consider leaving his full-time job.
• 🔮 The decision to quit his job and focus solely on 'Starter Story' was driven by a desire to build something for himself and not to live with the 'what if' of missed opportunities.
• 🏆 The story emphasizes the importance of taking action, focusing on a goal, and the potential for success that comes from daily dedication and hard work.

Q & A

What was the initial challenge that Pat Walls faced when starting his business?

Pat Walls faced the challenge of self-doubt and a lack of time due to his full-time job, leaving him with only 2 hours a day to build his business.

What was the turning point that helped Pat overcome his self-doubt and start his business?

The turning point was reading the book 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport, which made Pat realize the importance of focus and led him to create a contract with himself to dedicate time to his business idea at Starbucks.

How did Pat Walls utilize the limited time he had to work on his business idea?

Pat Walls used the 'deep work' concept to focus for 2 hours a day at Starbucks, which eventually led to the creation and growth of his business.

What is the name of Pat Walls' business and what is its purpose?

The business is called 'Starter Story' and its purpose is to share case studies and business breakdowns of successful online businesses started by people like Pat, to help others learn how to build their own businesses.

How did Pat Walls monetize his business initially?

Pat Walls initially monetized his business through a sponsorship deal with a company called Clavio, which offered him $112,000.

What was the significant amount of money that Pat received from a sponsorship deal, and how did it impact him?

Pat received $112,000 from a sponsorship deal with Clavio. This amount was life-changing for him, causing him to feel like a millionaire and ultimately deciding to quit his full-time job to focus on Starter Story.

What was the pivotal moment that led Pat to resign from his full-time job?

The pivotal moment was when Pat received the $112,000 sponsorship deal, which validated his business idea and gave him the confidence to go all in on Starter Story.

How did Pat Walls describe his journey from the initial idea to building a million-dollar business?

Pat described his journey as a series of daily actions and deep work sessions at Starbucks, learning from case studies, and eventually receiving a life-changing sponsorship deal that led him to quit his job and fully commit to his business.

What is the main message Pat Walls wants to convey to his audience through his story?

The main message is the importance of taking action every day, dedicating time to work on your dreams, and being open to opportunities that can lead to success.

How did Pat Walls' daily routine at Starbucks contribute to the growth of his business?

Pat's daily routine at Starbucks allowed him to focus deeply on his business idea, leading to the creation of valuable content, building an audience, and eventually attracting a significant sponsorship deal.

What is the role of 'flow state' or 'deep work' in Pat Walls' success story?

The role of 'flow state' or 'deep work' in Pat's success story is crucial as it allowed him to be highly productive and focused during his limited time, which was essential for the rapid development and growth of his business.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 From Doubt to Success: The Birth of Starter Story

Pat Walls shares the inspiring journey of building a million-dollar business, Starter Story, while working a full-time job. Initially plagued by self-doubt and unsure of how to start, Pat found motivation in the book 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport, which led to a commitment to focus for two hours daily at a local Starbucks. This disciplined routine allowed Pat to develop the idea for Starter Story, a platform sharing success stories of businesses. Despite the business not generating income initially, Pat's persistence paid off as the audience grew, and eventually, a sponsorship deal brought in significant revenue, validating the business idea.

05:00

💼 The Turning Point: A Life-Changing Sponsorship Deal

The narrative continues with Pat's unexpected sponsorship offer from Clavio's CEO, which amounted to a staggering $112,000. This life-altering event prompted a critical decision for Pat—whether to continue with the safety of a regular job or to fully commit to the entrepreneurial venture. After months of contemplation and reflecting on the initial motivation behind Starter Story, Pat decided to resign from the full-time job and dedicate all efforts to growing the business. This bold move set the stage for Starter Story's evolution into a million-dollar success, illustrating the power of taking action and embracing opportunities.

Keywords

💡Business

A business refers to an organization or venture created for the purpose of making a profit by providing goods, services, or both to consumers. In the video's theme, the business is the central focus as it is the vehicle through which the narrator achieves financial success and personal fulfillment. The script mentions the narrator starting a business that eventually makes over a million dollars a year.

💡Self-doubt

Self-doubt is a psychological state where an individual questions their abilities or has a lack of confidence in themselves. In the context of the video, self-doubt is a barrier the narrator initially faces, feeling suffocated by it and doubting their capability to build a successful business.

💡Deep Work

Deep work is a concept introduced by Cal Newport in his book of the same name, referring to a state of focus where an individual can perform cognitively demanding tasks without distraction. The narrator credits the practice of deep work, facilitated by the focused environment of Starbucks, as a turning point in building their business.

💡Flow State

Flow state is a mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment. The script describes the narrator experiencing a flow state during their deep work sessions, which contributed to their productivity and progress.

💡Starter Story

Starter Story is the name of the business the narrator builds, which serves as a platform for sharing success stories and strategies of other businesses. The term is used in the script to illustrate the brand and the mission of the business, which is to inspire and educate others about entrepreneurship.

💡Monetization

Monetization in the context of a business refers to the process of generating revenue from the business model. The narrator discusses the journey of monetizing Starter Story through sponsorships and affiliate revenue, which is a key aspect of turning the idea into a profitable business.

💡Case Studies

A case study is a detailed analysis of a specific instance of a business or situation used for illustrative or educational purposes. In the script, the narrator uses case studies to learn from other businesses and applies those learnings to grow Starter Story, emphasizing the importance of learning from others' experiences.

💡Sponsorship

Sponsorship is a form of marketing where a company provides financial or other support to an event, organization, or individual in exchange for some form of recognition. The script mentions a significant sponsorship deal from Clavio, which provided a substantial amount of funding for the narrator's business.

💡Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where businesses reward affiliates for each customer brought in by the affiliate's marketing efforts. The narrator mentions using affiliate marketing as one of the revenue streams for Starter Story.

💡Resignation

Resignation is the act of formally indicating one's intention to leave a job or position. In the video, the narrator's resignation from their full-time job represents a pivotal moment, symbolizing their commitment to pursuing their business venture full-time.

💡Validation

Validation in a business context refers to the confirmation or affirmation of the viability or success potential of an idea or product. The narrator describes receiving validation for Starter Story through the growth of their audience, viral stories, and successful monetization efforts.

Highlights

Pat Walls built a million-dollar business while working a full-time job, using only 2 hours a day.

Overcoming self-doubt was a critical part of Pat's entrepreneurial journey.

The idea for Starter Story originated from Pat's own questions about starting a business.

Pat's daily routine involved passing by a Starbucks, symbolizing the unknown and his fear of starting his business.

Reading 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport helped Pat realize the importance of focus in achieving hard tasks.

Pat made a contract with himself to start his business at Starbucks, setting a timer for 2 hours of focused work.

After one month of consistent deep work, Pat had a name and concept for his business, Starter Story.

Pat launched Starter Story with a few stories, attracting a few hundred visitors to the website.

Starting a newsletter helped Pat gain his first 100 subscribers after two months.

One of Pat's stories went viral on Reddit, significantly growing his audience and newsletter subscribers.

Pat began monetizing Starter Story through sponsorships and affiliate revenue after four months.

Pat's business received a life-changing sponsorship offer of $112,000 from Clavio's CEO.

The $112,000 sponsorship validated Pat's business idea and led to a decision to quit his full-time job.

Pat's decision to go all-in on Starter Story was driven by a desire to build something for himself.

Starter Story now contains over 4,000 case studies and business breakdowns of successful online businesses.

Pat's story emphasizes the importance of taking action every day to create opportunities for success.

Pat's business now makes money through affiliate marketing and other deals.

Pat Walls' journey from a regular job to a million-dollar business owner was marked by consistent effort and seizing opportunities.

Transcripts

all right what's your story 6 years ago

I started a business today that business

makes over a million dollar a year but

what nobody knows is that I built it

inside of a Starbucks at the time I was

working a full-time job I'm still

working my 9 to-5 job right here and

that left me with only 2 hours a day to

build the business of my dreams but

there was still one problem I was

suffocated by self-doubt I didn't

believe I could do it then I found

something that would change my life

forever today I'm going to tell you that

story I'm Pat walls and this is my

starter

[Music]

story all right this is me in the summer

of 2017 I'm 26 years old I've got a

great job I'm making six figures in New

York City and by all accounts living the

life of my dreams but deep down I know

that something isn't right every day I

go to work and do the same same

clock in a few Zoom meetings eat lunch

write a few lines of code and clock out

this work leaves me feeling empty every

day I know this isn't what I meant to do

I know there's something missing see

here's the truth and it might be

something you felt at some point too

secretly in the back of my head I dream

about the idea of quitting my job and

starting my own business in my free time

I'm reading business books and

romanticizing about being able to wake

up and work on whatever I want but I

keep running into the same problem I

have no idea where to start how do I

find a good idea how do I know it can

make money how do I take the first step

I couldn't find this information

anywhere online and that's when I had my

light bulb moment I can turn these

questions into a product I'll just

research successful businesses write

about my findings on a Blog and share

them with others who also want to learn

and I didn't think this was going to be

a big thing I was just genuinely

interested in this stuff so this is is

the beginning of the idea but it's not

all peaches and cream from there this

idea it nags at me for months every

single day I tell myself I'll get

started on it but I never

do and this is where Starbucks comes

into play so let me pull up a map and

show you this is New York City this is

where I live this is where I work and

this is the Starbucks every day I walk

home from work and I walk by the

Starbucks and every day I tell myself

I'll stop in there order a drink sit

down and get started on this idea but

every single day I walk by that

Starbucks take one hard look at it

proceed to not go inside walk home and

watch 6 hours of Netflix and then go to

bed and I do this every day for months

this Starbucks it represents the unknown

and it's too scary for me to confront

it but everything changes when I come

across this book it's called deep work

by Cal Newport and deep work is a state

of focus that you must learn if you want

to do hard things after reading this

book I realize that I'm completely

lacking Focus so I put together a

contract with myself in this contract I

write down and I visualize tomorrow I'm

going to walk in that Starbucks I'm

going to order a coffee I'm going to sit

down I'm going to set a timer for 2

hours and I'm going to just focus that's

the contract the next day day one I walk

in that Starbucks I sit down I set my

timer and I get started all of a sudden

the timer goes off I look up and think

holy that was 2 hours that flew by

I was in Flow State I was actually doing

deep work day two I walk into Starbucks

and do it again and day three I do it

again and I don't stop every single day

I get off work walk into that Starbucks

and do my 2 hours of deep work I even

start waking up at 6:00 in the morning

and getting my deepor in before my

full-time job even starts I'm doing it

every day and it feels effortless in the

progress it starts to happen after 1

month I've come up with a name and

concept for my idea I'm going to call it

starter story and I land the domain

starterstory.com for $12 a year I launch

it with a few stories and a few hundred

people visit the website after 2 months

I've published dozens of stories and I'm

starting to find a routine the business

isn't making any money but I'm starting

to build a tiny audience I then start a

newsletter and get my first 100

subscribers after 4 months I start

working on marketing and I get my first

big break one of my stories goes viral

on Reddit and thousands of people crash

my site and join the newsletter now I'm

starting to feel like my idea is

validated after 6 months I start

thinking about monetization and how I

can make my first dollar I monetize the

newsletter with a sponsorship and I

start making some money from affiliate

Revenue now I'm starting to feel more

confident like I actually kind of get

how this stuff works and and I'm having

fun in the

process so this whole thing starts out

as a project that I didn't really expect

would go anywhere but then it gets

traction and now I'm left with a new

problem I need to figure out how this

thing can make money but everything on

the internet is about how VC backed Tech

Giants raised $100 million when I just

want to figure out how I can go from $0

a month to5 or $10,000 a month how do I

figure this out by reading case studies

about businesses that that are just a

few steps ahead of me and that's what

starter story is we have over 4,000 case

studies and business breakdowns on

successful online businesses that were

started by people like you and me in

these case studies you can see exactly

how much these businesses make and

exactly how they got started so if

you're curious on what it takes to build

a business to5 or $10,000 a month or

even a million doll online business

check out starterstory.com or click the

first link in the description we're

running a special right now for the

YouTube family so how does this turn

into a business well I'm reading case

studies about businesses similar to mine

and I realize that most of them make

their money through

sponsorships then something amazing

happens I get an email it's from the CEO

of a company called clavio they're a

huge company now but at the time they

were smaller the email says hi Pat I

love starter story and what you're doing

both the stories and sharing your

progress keep crushing it AB it's a nice

email to get but I don't really think

too much of it but as the conversation

goes on we start to talk about the

potential of clavio sponsoring the

newsletter and then he comes to me with

a number

$112,000 when I see this I don't believe

it at the time I was basically living

paycheck to paycheck so $122,000 was

more money than I'd ever seen in my life

I send in my bank details and sure

enough a few days later the money hits

my account I get the notification while

I'm at Starbucks and my heart starts

beating out of my chest I get up leave

the Starbucks and just take a walk

around the block my head is swirling

with emotions this is crazy I got

$112,000 deposited into my bank account

because of something that I built I felt

like I had just become a millionaire all

those days of waking up at 6:00 in the

morning going to Starbucks and putting

in those 2 hours of deep work this money

was the direct result of that I felt

like I was on top of the world but these

emotions of excitement of bliss it

quickly turned to fear I thought was

this email some sort of accident did I

just get lucky this $122,000

it represented a decision that I had to

make in my life should I keep playing it

safe and keep my full-time job or was

this $112,000 validation that I should

go all in on one side the devil on my

shoulder was saying go all in and the

angel was saying no keep playing it safe

and I sat on the fence for months but

then I remembered why I started this

thing in the first place I wanted to

build something for myself and not

someone else's dream I realized that if

I don't make this decision right now I

might never do it I might get old look

back and wonder what if and that was the

moment that I walked into work and I

handed in my resignation I quit my job

decided to go all in on starter story

and the rest is

[Music]

history all right fast forward 5 years

and that was the last time I had a

regular job the last time I ever got a

paycheck after that I never looked back

I never stopped building and I ended up

building starter story into a

million-dollar business I'm not going to

lie to you and tell you that it was all

easy or predictable from there I failed

a ton but when I look back the most

important thing that I did was just

going inside that Starbucks getting to

work and taking action every single day

I was giving myself a chance to become

lucky and it took me a few months to get

there but when it did when that email

came through when that $12,000 came

through I decided to go all in after

that and that is really what made the

difference that's the story of how I

built a million our business from inside

of Starbucks and I would like to thank

Starbucks for sponsoring this video just

kidding

good we're making money through a couple

affiliate deals and a few we're

making I'm making money through some

affiliate

marketing ah bro what the man get the

hell out of here I'm taking a DB