Vision & Hustle: Jordi's Blueprint for Building a Thriving Business

With a background far from business, Jordi's entrepreneurial spirit started at 24. Inspired by a YouTube video offering business ideas, he set his sights on Etsy. The journey wasn't easy - mastering new skills, overcoming mistakes, and facing competition became his early hurdles. But Jordi persevered, prioritizing action over perfection. His relentless approach, focused on "hustle hard, fail fast," fueled his growth despite occasional setbacks.

Jordi's key to success is a simple recipe: hard work, a focused vision, and embracing the financial rollercoaster. He emphasizes staying present, believing in the long game, and avoiding the trap of chasing too many opportunities. Jordi's journey from outsider to Etsy entrepreneur proves that dedication and a strong work ethic can pave the path to success.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how it led you to where you are now?

My background has nothing related to entrepreneurship. I did a Sport Management Master's degree and only worked one year in this field. I also worked as a teacher for three years. But since I was 24 years old, I was very attracted to starting my own business. 

What inspired you to start your business?

My girlfriend inspired me to start my own business. She is a successful KDP author, and I was stunned by the way she was living—extremely free, with a lot of money. I couldn’t believe it was possible. That’s what motivated me to start seriously.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Just by watching a YouTube video that was giving some business ideas for 2022. Then I did more research and found that Etsy was a good starting point. 

Did you face any challenges or obstacles during the early stages, and how did you overcome them?

Yes, a lot. I had to learn many skills, I made many mistakes that were costly in time and money. Some people copied me, and I had some personal problems as well. I don’t really know how I overcame them actually. I just tried and tried, and in the end, it finally ended up working. So maybe perseverance. 

What strategies did you use to grow your business?

My strategy is very simple: One direction - Hard work - Action over perfectionism. I just follow this framework. I know I make more mistakes than other entrepreneurs, but I produce faster too. That’s my strategy. 

What tools do you use for your business?

My tool stack includes:

• Notion (organization)

• Canva (Design)

• Figma (Design)

• Typefully (X)

• Envato (YT)

• Senja (Reviews)

• Midjourney (Design)

• Everbee (Etsy analytics)

• Etsy, Lemonsquezzy (Sales)

• Framer (Website) 

What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an entrepreneur?

The lack of security is one of the biggest challenges I face every month. Sometimes you have a good day with $300, then the next day only $35. It’s better now, but at the beginning, that was influencing my daily mood and my productivity. If you want to become an entrepreneur, you have to embrace the rollercoaster, but that’s not for everyone. 

What lessons have you learned from these challenges?

That we need to focus on the present moment and the big picture. When I zoom out, the results are actually quite good. 

Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back and start over?

I think if I changed anything, I would probably make the same mistakes again haha. But one thing I would have liked to change is to create a clearer direction first and only having one. By having multiple possibilities, I became an opportunist sometimes, and ended up losing time and effort for nothing. I would have focused on one thing at a time instead of multiples. 

Is there any particular mindset or approach that you believe is crucial for entrepreneurial success?

I have a strong belief in hard work and direction. For me, if you work a lot in the right direction, it’s impossible not to have results. This belief has been increased by my Etsy experience. When I saw some traction, I started a monk mode and worked 10-12 hours per day pretty much every day for 2-3 months. And I got results very quickly. That was the first time a business actually worked for me. That’s why I have this strong belief.