How I’m Trying to Build My First Million-Dollar Business (And What You Can Learn From My Messy Journey)
A day in the life of an indie builder chasing big goals with small steps
I’ve got a simple plan: become a millionaire by 2026. Sounds crazy, right? Maybe it is. But instead of waiting for some big investor or lucky break, I’m betting on two things my on-ground knowledge and digital tools that don’t cost a fortune to start with.
This isn’t a polished success story. It’s me documenting what I’m doing daily the mistakes, the random bans, the product experiments and hopefully turning them into lessons that can help you if you’re building your own thing.
Lesson 1: Start Where Capital Is Low
I could have chased an offline business, but honestly, the entry cost is brutal. Renting space, hiring, logistics it eats you before you even start. That’s why I’m focused on the digital side first. Lower capital, higher speed.
👉 Takeaway: If you’re starting out, don’t overcomplicate. Go where barriers are lowest. The offline world will still be there once you’ve built digital leverage.
Lesson 2: Make Things Simpler, Not Flashier
Today I was tweaking the UI/UX of my habit app. My goal? Fewer taps to create a habit. Because people don’t want “cool features,” they want things to just work with the least effort possible.
👉 Takeaway: Every extra click loses a user. Reduce friction first, polish later.
Lesson 3: Social Media Is Brutal, But Necessary
Reddit banned me for the fifth time this time for just… commenting. The account was only 1.5 months old, maybe 12 comments total. Shadow banned anyway. I’ve raised an appeal, but the point is: I don’t know Reddit’s strategy, I’m basically a layman there.
👉 Takeaway: Social media isn’t fair, but you still need it. Learn each platform’s rules early. And never rely on one channel diversify or you’ll keep starting from zero.
Lesson 4: Keep Shipping, Even If It’s Not Perfect
My other project, a productivity timer app, is already live on the App Store. It works, but I want to launch a major update this week:
Lo-fi music support
Motivational stories with daily push notifications
Animations for focus mode
Portrait + landscape flexibility
It’s not about having the “best” app. It’s about making it just useful enough for someone to say, “yeah, I’ll use this every day.”
👉 Takeaway: Don’t wait to launch until it’s perfect. Launch, then improve.
Lesson 5: Automate Early, Learn Along the Way
I’ve been testing Firebase automation for dynamic content (like sending motivational stories directly into the app with deep links). Honestly? I don’t know it all yet. But that’s the point learning by doing.
👉 Takeaway: Don’t fear tools you don’t fully understand. Use them, break them, learn them. Automation can save you later.
Why I’m Still Pushing
Some days it feels like chaos. Freelancing, banned accounts, unfinished apps, revenue that doesn’t add up. But here’s why I’m still building:
Because every failed attempt sharpens the next one. Because one day, one of these apps might click. And because building even in the mess is better than sitting on an idea that never sees the light of day.
If you want to check out the apps I've made so far, here are my apps links!
I'm currently working on an app that will help you boost your productivity. There's another one that's live on the Play Store, but I'm thinking of giving it a little makeover. If you'd like to check that out too,
here’s the link: PromiseJar! It lets you track promises with your friends and family.
I'm all ears for any feedback you might have I'm open to making changes! The current star of my creations is HabiTide!
Closing Thought
So if you’re reading this and trying to start your own thing, here’s the truth: it won’t be clean, it won’t be linear, and it won’t look like those “$100K in 30 days” posts. But that’s fine. The only way forward is messy progress.
What’s one messy lesson you’ve learned from your own journey?