Seven things I learned hitting my first mil in crypto and investing:
1. Paper gains aren't real money. If you don't lock in profits, the market will wipe them out eventually.
2. First $100k is hell. First mil is hard. After that, things compound. Capital, network, deal flow — suddenly the game tilts in your favor instead of against you.
3. Saying no is how you protect your stack. FOMO in a 24/7 market will drain your account. 95% of hyped plays are garbage.
4. Cheap hires cost way more than you think. Cutting corners on key people costs 10x in cleanup and missed opportunities.
5. Cash flow funds the big bets. Build steady income first. Then use house money to swing for the fences.
6. Fix your tax setup early or pay later. Unstructured gains get destroyed. Get real CPAs and legal entities before the money hits.
7. Know why you're doing this. For me it's family. Markets crash. Deals fall apart. When it gets brutal, knowing who you're fighting for is the only thing that keeps you going.
1. Paper gains aren't real money. If you don't lock in profits, the market will wipe them out eventually.
2. First $100k is hell. First mil is hard. After that, things compound. Capital, network, deal flow — suddenly the game tilts in your favor instead of against you.
3. Saying no is how you protect your stack. FOMO in a 24/7 market will drain your account. 95% of hyped plays are garbage.
4. Cheap hires cost way more than you think. Cutting corners on key people costs 10x in cleanup and missed opportunities.
5. Cash flow funds the big bets. Build steady income first. Then use house money to swing for the fences.
6. Fix your tax setup early or pay later. Unstructured gains get destroyed. Get real CPAs and legal entities before the money hits.
7. Know why you're doing this. For me it's family. Markets crash. Deals fall apart. When it gets brutal, knowing who you're fighting for is the only thing that keeps you going.