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If you're a student trying to get ahead, forget chasing millions or waiting years to “make it.” The real challenge? Making your first $10,000.
When I was 18, I didn’t have money, a degree, or fancy connections. But I had drive—and that’s what pushed me to focus on that first 10K. Not millions. Just 10K. That’s the number that changed everything for me.
It wasn’t about the cash, it was about proving to myself that making money is a learnable skill. Once I cracked it once, I knew I could do it again. And again. And eventually scale it into something serious.
If I had to start all over again with zero, here’s exactly how I’d do it—step by step.
Forget the Flashy Stuff — Start Simple
Most people overcomplicate this. They jump into crypto, or day trading, or whatever their friend made money on. But those things usually need big capital—or a whole lot of luck. You shouldn’t be relying on that.
What you really need is something that starts with almost nothing and puts cash in your pocket every day. After trying almost everything, I’ve found that there are only four real options that work at the start. Here they are.
1. In-Person Services
This is your quick cash option. Think car washing, delivery driving, dog walking, personal training, videography, nail design—stuff like that. It sounds basic, but it works.
I did it. I used to walk around fancy neighborhoods and offer to wash people’s cars. I’d look for houses with clean gardens but dirty vehicles. If they care that much about their garden, I figured they’d want a shiny car too.
And I was right. I got paid the same day. But here's the issue: these gigs are limited by your area, and you're trading time for money. Some months were great. Others? Not so much.
Still, if you want to get started fast, this is a no-brainer.
2. Local Products
Here’s where you sell things you make—like baked goods, handmade crafts, art, model kits. I gave this a shot too. I took my car wash profits and started building model airplanes, then sold them at my RC Flying Club on weekends.
I loved doing it—but honestly, the money wasn’t great. Materials were expensive, and there weren’t enough people willing to pay what I needed. So if you're doing it for fun or passion, sure—it works. But don't expect to get rich.
3. Global Products
Now we’re getting into the serious stuff: clothing brands, dropshipping, reselling sneakers, print-on-demand.
I went all in on this. I even flew to China to get my model airplanes manufactured and sold them worldwide. It was slow at first. Most of the money went right back into buying more stock. I’d sell 10, use the profit to buy 20 more, and so on.
That cycle continued for a while—but once it picked up, it started working. If you’re patient and willing to reinvest for a few months, this one can really pay off. It’s probably the laziest way to make money once it’s running.
4. Online Services (Best One for Students)
This is where I’d start today—no question. Online services are things like copywriting, video editing, running ads, designing thumbnails, managing social media.
Why is this the best? Because you get global reach AND you keep most of the money. You don’t need inventory. You don’t need to wait weeks. Just learn a skill and start offering it.
Margins are massive—sometimes 70 to 80%. And you can get started right now.
Find Your Skill — Don’t Wait Forever
Now you might be asking, “What should I offer?” Start with these three questions:
- What are you good at?
- What do you enjoy learning about?
- What problems do businesses have that you can solve?
Where those overlap—that’s your sweet spot.
And don’t wait until you’re perfect. Start offering your services before you feel ready. Charge less than the market rate and earn while you learn.
Use the Skill Pyramid to Scale
To turn your skill into a real income, you need four things:
1. Positioning
Don’t be a generalist. Focus on solving money problems for businesses.
Businesses think differently than individuals. If they make $50K a month, paying you $2K is no big deal—if you help them make more. Think like this:
- Instead of editing videos for random YouTubers, edit for creators selling products.
- Instead of making random thumbnails, be the go-to designer for a creator with a big following.
- Instead of writing blog posts, write high-converting landing pages.
Go where the money is.
2. Leverage
Don’t charge by the hour. Charge based on results.
If you run Facebook ads, don’t bill $30/hr. Charge based on how much money you bring in. If you do social media, don’t just schedule posts—drive real results.
Businesses pay more when they see a return. That’s how you become an investment, not an expense.
3. Reach
Don’t just chase clients—make them come to you.
One guy was posting movie poster designs on TikTok. I found him while searching. He wasn’t even selling anything. But his stuff blew up. His inbox got flooded with DMs, and eventually, I helped him turn it into a business. Now he works for me and others.
The lesson? Post your work.
Even if it’s just for fun. Show what you’re learning. You never know who’s watching.
4. Automation
Most people fail because they’re disorganized—not because they lack talent.
Clients care more about reliability than anything. The people I pay thousands to aren’t always the best—they’re just the most consistent.
Use tools like Odoo CRM to stay on top of your work. Track clients, set reminders, schedule calls, and never miss a deadline. That’s what makes people trust you—and come back again and again.
Don’t Waste the Money — Invest It
Once you’ve hit your first $10K, you’ve got options. But don’t blow it on designer gear and nights out.
Here’s how I invest:
High-Interest Savings Account
Boring but essential. This is your emergency buffer. It’s not for big returns—it’s so you don’t have to sell investments when things go wrong.
Index Funds
Super low effort. I invest in the S&P 500 and total market ETFs like VTSAX (US) or VWRL (UK). Long term, these build real wealth.
Individual Stocks
I started here. It helped me learn. If you’re curious, buy small amounts and track your results.
₿ Crypto
I was skeptical at first, but now I hold Bitcoin and Ethereum. Just be careful, go slow, and only invest what you can afford to lose.
Final Thoughts
Your first $10,000 will be the hardest—but it’s also the most important. Once you prove to yourself that you can make money, everything changes.
Start simple.
Pick a skill.
Offer it.
Deliver value.
Stay consistent.
Don’t overthink it. Just start.
If you want to learn how I invest in all the things I just talked about, I’ve got a video for that—but don’t click yet. Subscribe first if you’re serious about growing your wealth.