How to Start a Business With Zero Skills (And Make It Work)
Imagine dropping out of school at 16 with nothing to your name, facing real struggles, and then building multiple million-dollar businesses in under five years. That's Daniel Dalen's story. He went from broke to success, lost it all at 25, and climbed back up. His path shows that you can escape a dead-end job or a school system that feels like a trap. You just need the right steps.
In this post, Daniel shares his eight-stage blueprint. It works for anyone starting from scratch. You'll learn how to define what success means for you, understand your strengths, and build a business that fits your life. These steps come from his real experiences, including tough lessons from failures. Whether you're just curious or ready to act, this guide gives you a clear path to freedom and a business that lasts.
The steps include:
- Define your rich.
- Figure out what makes you you.
- Use your leverage.
- Grasp business basics.
- Choose the right model.
- Soak up knowledge like a sponge.
- Pick partners and build a team.
- Create an endless feedback loop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3HPphB6X8U
Step 1: Define Your Rich
Daniel's journey started simple. He came from a loving family but had no money or clear path. His success graph looks like this: a steep rise to millions before age 25, a crash back to living in his parents' room, and then another climb to the top. That rollercoaster taught him one big truth. Rich isn't just the high point or the low. It's everything in between.
Think about your own goals. You might aim for $1,000, a million, or even billions. But what happens after you hit that number? Daniel forgot to ask that early on. He chased money but found happiness in experiences, the people around him, and the lessons learned along the way. Once you reach a goal, you must do good with it and repeat the pattern. This keeps the process meaningful.
Start by writing down your financial goals and achievements. List them out. For example:
- Earn $100,000 a year.
- Buy a home in a place I love.
- Start a business that runs without me every day.
Now go deeper. What comes next? Picture life after those wins. What will your day look like? Daniel knows people who made tens of millions but felt empty. They worked nonstop to get there and had no plan for after. You hit a wall of "what now?" To avoid that, plan your post-goal routine now. Want to stay fit? Build a loving relationship? Enjoy nice clothes or small treats? Don't wait. Keep these in your life during the grind.
Challenges will hit hard on the way up. Days of 18-hour work mean skipping workouts or time with family sometimes. But never sacrifice them consistently. Balance keeps you going. Daniel learned this through his ups and downs. He cares about you watching and wants you to build a life that feels right, not just a bank account.
Focus on two main areas first: life and money. Life goals shape everything. Where do you want to live? Do you crave travel on a whim, space in nature, or the buzz of a big city like Hong Kong? Maybe split your year between Indonesia and somewhere else. Get specific. This gives you options and freedom.
Then tie in financial goals to support that life. How much do you need to feel comfortable? It could be $10,000, $100,000, or a million. The number doesn't matter as much as matching it to your vision. For Daniel, it's about location freedom and caring for family and friends. Without people to share success, it's pointless. Like sitting in business class on a crashing plane, it feels off.
Why Rich Is Personal and Shaped by Learning
Money can't buy everything. True love needs effort, not cash. Fitness demands discipline, not shortcuts. You might buy stuff like a car, but then it scratches, and you spend more fixing it. That stuff ends up owning you. Love adds value; fitness builds strength.
Daniel's insights hit home because rich means different things to everyone. If you've never left your hometown, you might not know that rich could mean traveling to Australia or Hong Kong. New places open your eyes to possibilities you didn't know existed. Keep learning on this path. It helps you redefine what rich looks like for you.
The younger crowd has it easy with the internet. In five seconds, you scroll YouTube for business tips. But don't follow those blindly as your main guide. Rich is very personal. Daniel's version differs from a stranger on the street. Tailor it to you. Skip the generic success formulas. Make it yours.
Step 2: What Makes You You
Daniel's content style began with a whiteboard, just like this talk. It forced him to map out who he is. You can do the same. Grab paper or a board and start. This list changes over time, so revisit it often.
For Daniel, it's a mix of skills and values. He speaks Chinese, which sets him apart. He knows software inside out, from building companies to self-teaching code. Design comes naturally, thanks to his architect dad who sketched in his office. He loves storytelling, pulling people into his world. Family tops the list, along with friends and his partner. These traits make him confident and proud.
Pride matters. When Daniel thinks about speaking Chinese, he remembers the time and energy he poured in. Software? Same deal. Family? It's what he's most grateful for. Even sitting here sharing his story helps others feel capable. You get that spark too when you own your strengths.
Now apply it to you. Write your name at the top. Add bullet points for unique things. What skills do you have? What values drive you? What brings joy? Dig deep. Everyone has something. If your list feels empty, treat it as a fresh start. That's exciting. It means you can aim for future skills you want. Be honest about where you stand now versus where you want to go. That balance builds real understanding.
Watch for hidden influences. At 14, Daniel recalls his mom telling a friend he'd be a lawyer. If he listed that then, it would have felt true. But it was her idea, not his. Peel back those layers. Subconscious beliefs sneak in from parents or friends. Ask what truly excites you. Joy points to the real you. Avoid chasing what others expect.
Step 3: Leverage What Makes You Unique
Leverage turns your traits into business fuel. Picture two channels with top content, huge output, and big teams. What separates them? How much they play to their strengths. Lean into your leverage for fast growth. Ignore it, and you stall.
Take Daniel's Chinese skills. To grow his social media, he spotlights that. It's rare and ties to his story. Pour energy there, and results multiply. He learned this the hard way. Early on, he spread himself thin on weak spots. No big wins. Focus on what you're good at, and watch progress speed up.
Leverage isn't just skills. Sometimes it's your situation. No money? That's freedom to take risks. Nothing to lose means bold moves. Daniel shares a gardening business example. The starter had zero gear. He asked the first client to borrow theirs. They said yes. A rival charged double but carried debt from buying tools. Low costs beat high prices.
Life setups count too. Living at home cuts expenses. Use that while young. Daniel couldn't; he got kicked out and paid rent. If you have that safety net, grab it. It frees you to build without pressure. Look at your world. What can you turn into an edge?
Build leverage if needed. Qualities give you a head start, but skills take work. Start small. In tough spots, like no cash, leverage asking for help. It opens doors. Money can trap you with fear of loss. Stay creative. Your unique spot, whatever it is, drives real difference.
Step 4: Master Business Fundamentals
Business seems tough, but strip it down, and it's straightforward. Three parts make it work: people, product, and feedback. People come first. AI tries to copy human chats, but real connections drive everything. You need people to sell to, hire, or serve.
People mean your customers, team, or even users of your software. Build around them. Give them purpose. Don't just manage folks; guide the shared goal. That keeps everyone aligned.
Your product solves their needs. It could be a service, a physical item, or something that adds ease. For an email marketing agency, the product is emails that push sales for e-commerce brands. You target brands and their shoppers. Emails convince buyers to act, fixing a problem like low sales.
Feedback closes the loop. Test your idea. Send one email: zero results. That's data. Send another. Keep going until one lands, say generating $11,000 for a client. Now charge fair, like $100 for that value. Feedback tests if the problem matters and how big it is.
This cycle repeats. People + product + feedback improves everything. Layers add up: systems, hires, automation. But start simple. In the agency example:
- People: E-commerce brands and their customers.
- Product: Emails that sell.
- Feedback: Results from campaigns guide changes.
Observe outcomes to pick the right focus. Get input from real clients, not just friends or family. Steve Ballmer mocked the iPhone's price and keyboard lack. Wrong crowd. Right feedback scales your work. Business boils down to solving problems better each time.
Step 5: Pick the Right Business Model
Starting means low risk. Weigh time, money, and your network or knowledge. Everyone gets 24 hours a day, so choose wisely. Link it to your rich. A bakery in Hong Kong needs you there three or four days a week. If travel matters, skip it.
Look for recurring patterns. They beat one-offs. Daniel's business fulfills orders from China. A client with 1,000 monthly orders means steady work. At $1 per order, that's $1,000 a month. Acquire once, earn ongoing. A website build? $5,000 one time. Same client acquisition effort, but recurring sticks if you deliver well.
One-off can lead to more. Build a site for $200,000, then add hosting and marketing fees. Ad campaigns repeat monthly. Referrals grow it. Yesterday, Daniel advised on AI for book sales: $7,000 monthly flat covers costs, plus 10% per book sold. That mixes one-time setup with ongoing pay.
Think physical freedom, or really, risk and sacrifice. Bakery? Upfront cash for space and staff. Time too. Online service? Mostly your hours building skills. Risk stays low. Daniel spent five or six years testing ideas, gaining skills for big problems now. Start with time over money. Investors cut cash risk but cap your upside sometimes.
Niche ties it together. Pick one that fits your goals. E-commerce works for Daniel: fast growth, all online, lots of players. No physical spot needed. Match it to your revenue aims. Don't sell a $10,000 service to a tiny local bakery. They can't pay.
Start micro for leverage. A payment processor for everyone? Too broad. For barbers? Tailored. "We built this for you." Trust builds. Solve their pains, get feedback, expand to bakeries. Every giant started niche. Apple targeted creatives; Facebook hit universities first.
Niche Tips for Beginners
Passion helps pick a niche. Love fishing? Spot gaps in tackle or apps for spots. It excites you, so sacrifice feels light. Risk drops when you're into it. Place niche early. It shapes your strengths and leverage.
Grow from small. Gain deep knowledge, then broaden. Underserved spots mean less competition. Research pains. Use feedback to refine.
Align all parts. Recurrence, risk, revenue must fit. Broaden after expertise. Online niches shine: easy access, quick tests.
Step 6: Be a Sponge for Knowledge
Daniel built his career by jumping into tough spots. Want $1,000? An opportunity like building a site appears. No skills? Take it anyway. Force yourself to learn or face refunds. That's being a sponge: absorb fast under pressure.
He read The Alchemist for inspiration. Opportunities push growth. Now he tells his team the same. Practical stuff matters: Framer for sites, Zapier for automation, Typeform for data. All free online.
Daniel dropped out at 16 from a small Dutch town. No English? Learned via games. No degree? Internet filled gaps. Grab chances, even if you doubt yourself. Worst case, ask for help like messaging Daniel.
Commitments add push. Charge $1,000; pressure forces you. But free works too. Reputation stakes keep you honest. Deliver or tarnish your name forever. One letdown spreads. Free lets honesty shine: "I'm learning. No pay if I fail, tip if I succeed."
Accountability commits you. Reputation compound effect lasts. Free feels gentler for newbies. Avoid big promises like "get rich quick." Help one person succeed; payment follows. Pick safe people. Nuances matter: match free to low-stakes sells.
Step 7: Build Your Team and Choose Partners
Cash flow starts, now scale. Use systems or people. Two types: learners follow steps you teach. Implementers spot ways to double size. Hire implementers high; they join if convinced.
Don't hire late. Define the role first. What tasks? Repeat processes or create new? Research needs. Biggest mistake: grab available folks, not best fits. Interview for values. Do they match your company?
Early stage, 0 to $50k monthly? Hire generalists with character. Hire character; teach skills. They self-learn in chaos. No time for hand-holding. Stuff must get done. As you hit $100k plus, bring specialists. They manage learners below, handle P&L and systems.
Founder? Move to chairman. Hire implementers who build systems, not you installing them. Stuck running ops? Wrong hires. Coachability counts. Good team members ask, "How can I improve?" Not everyone is top-tier, but seekers grow.
Partners follow people rules. Loyalty tops. Daniel faced betrayals; wrong whys caused them. One chased recognition, not work. Another fixated on money, bent morals. Ask their why: freedom, cash, fame? Match yours to cut friction.
Character matters over sameness. Different skills help, but know what drives them. Happiness sources? Chaos versus structure? Talk it out. One chaotic, one rigid? Balance via open chat. Keep it business, not personal.
Good communication seals it. Best for business mindset. Give tough feedback without offense. Discuss inequities calmly. Loyalty picks you daily. Not always friends, but alignment eases fun. All ties back: partners like spouses or team need trust.
Partnership Red Flags and Success
Wrong partners stab backs. Daniel saw it: in for fame or quick cash leads to bad calls. Open talks on shares prevent resentment. Keep it pro.
Communication makes or breaks. Zoom out on conflicts. "This hurts our goal." No blame. Chaos needs plans; structure needs flex. Resolve for the win.
People rules apply everywhere. From love to business, trust and whys align success.
Step 8: Embrace the Endless Feedback Loop
This ties it all. Revisit every step with fresh eyes. Stay aware and curious. Knowledge from this talk applies to your stage: starting, stuck, or scaling. Like kicking a rock down a road, problems pop up everywhere. Keep nudging with feedback.
Question people you sell to, products you make, teams you build. No end. Even Daniel and Simon improve daily. If your business drags, rethink actions. Apply what you learn. Get better results. One step closer.
It fits life too. Not losing what's important keeps happiness. Build with proud people, zero regrets. Outcomes point to freedom. Consume info, use it, repeat.
Things click if you persist. Believe in yourself. Daniel's goal: your happy, proud life. Stay curious. Even peaks need tweaks. Relate to your spot now. It falls into place.
Wrapping Up the Blueprint
This eight-step path goes from self-awareness to action. Daniel's from-scratch wins prove it. Simon's tips add real-world tweaks. Simple yet deep.
Grab a whiteboard today. Define your rich first. Watch the video for full details. Join Simon's newsletter for dream-building advice. Or grab his book What's Your Dream? for funding your ideas.
You can start with zero skills. This blueprint breaks the system. Share your first step in comments. What's your rich look like?
In closing, Daniel's story reminds us: success builds on people, persistence, and personal truth. Follow these steps, stay curious, and watch your business grow. You've got this. Thanks for reading; now go build.