Day 15 - Teacher's Take|Week 2

The Week Reality Set In

Week 2 is complete.

Seven days ago, Ricky had $4,000 and momentum from selling the boat.

Today, he still has $4,000, no product to flip, and a clearer understanding of what building a business actually requires.

But this isn't really about the lack of progress.

This is about what happens when the initial excitement wears off and the real work begins.

The Messy Middle

Week 1 was the highlight reel:

• Boat listed
• Offers came in
• Sale closed
• Money in hand

Week 2 was the reality:

• Hours of hunting, nothing found
• Distractions (AI tools, stock market research)
• Frustration mounting
• Self-doubt creeping in

This is where most people quit.

Not because they can't do it. But because the messy middle is uncomfortable.

The excitement is gone. The results aren't showing. The work feels pointless.

But this is where the real learning happens.

What Ricky Learned This Week

Even though Ricky didn't flip a product this week, watch what he actually learned:

1. Hunting Is the Real Work

On Day 11, Ricky spent 3 hours on Facebook Marketplace and found nothing.
He felt like he wasted time.
But he didn't.

He was learning:

• What products are overpriced
• What actually sells
• How to spot deals (by seeing what ISN'T a deal)
• Market research in real-time

Most flippers look at 100 items to buy 1.
Ricky's building his eye for value.

2. Distraction Is a Symptom, Not a Solution

Day 12: Played with AI video tools
Day 13: Researched stocks

These weren't bad activities and curiosity is key to learning.

But, when the main work gets hard, we can be tempted to look for easier alternatives.

Ricky recognized the pattern.
That's growth.

3. Building Requires Definition (PURPOSE)

On Day 13, Ricky wrestled with what he's actually building:

• Skills (spotting value, selling, helping people)
• Brand (now 20 subscribers following the journey)
• Story (inspiring other young entrepreneurs)
• Relationships (Brand Ambassadors, potential sponsors)
• Experience (learning from hard days)

This clarity matters. He's not just trying to flip products. He's building something bigger.

4. Momentum Can Be Invisible

Ricky sees Week 2 as "no progress."

But the numbers tell a different story:

• Subscribers: 6 → 20 (233% growth)
• Brand Ambassadors: Formed a group
• Potential sponsor: 1 inquiry
• Daily writing: 7 more posts documenting the journey

Progress isn't always where we're looking for it.

What I'm Learning as the Teacher

• The Danger of Fast Early Wins. The boat selling in Week 1 was both a blessing and a curse.
• Most entrepreneurial journeys don't have early wins. They have months of grinding before the first success.

Consistency Beats Intensity

Ricky didn't make a sale this week. But he showed up every day.

He:

• Wrote 7 blog posts
• Researched products
• Engaged with subscribers
• Built brand awareness
• Stayed committed

That consistency will compound.

The businesses that win aren't built in the exciting weeks. They're built in the boring, frustrating, "nothing's happening" weeks.

The Pattern of Entrepreneurial Distraction

I'm watching Ricky develop a pattern:

• Day 8: Pivots strategy (helping others sell vs. just flipping)
• Day 9: Meets another flipper (good - learning from others)
• Day 10: Slow day (honest - kept showing up)
• Day 11: Frustration (normal - hunting is hard)
• Day 12: AI distraction (avoidance)
• Day 13: Stocks consideration (avoidance)

This is the entrepreneur's temptation: When progress stalls, look for shortcuts or pivots.

Sometimes pivots are smart. Often they're just ways to avoid doing the hard thing.

Ricky needs to hunt more. Everything else is a distraction right now.

The Audience Is Building Faster Than the Business

Here's something interesting:

The business: No new product, no new sales
The audience: 6 → 20 subscribers, potential sponsor interest, Brand Ambassadors engaged

Ricky's building two things simultaneously:

1. A flipping business (slow progress)
2. A media brand (faster progress)

I don't know which one will hit $1 million first. But I know both have value.

What's Next for Week 3

Week 3 begins tomorrow.

To the 20 Subscribers

Thank you for sticking with Ricky through Week 2.

I know it wasn't as exciting as Week 1. There were no sales, no big wins, just honest struggle.

But that's the real journey.

Most business content only shows the highlight reel.
We're showing the boring parts too.

Because the boring parts are where character is built.

Week 3 will be better. Not because it'll be easier, but because Ricky's learning what it takes.

Stay with us.
- The Teacher

The Numbers - Week 2 Summary

Money Spent: $65.17 (no new expenses)
Money Brought in: $4,000 (same as Week 1)
Current Capital: $3,934.83

Products Flipped: 0 (the honest truth)
Subscribers: 6 → 20 (233% growth!)
Brand Ambassadors: 4 active
Potential Sponsors: 1 in conversation

Days Until Goal: 351

Progress to $1M: 0.4% (unchanged, but lessons learned: priceless)

Follow Ricky's Journey:
Blog: flipnricky.com
Social: @FlipnRicky (Instagram | TikTok | Twitter)
Email: flipnricky@gmail.com