Let me ask you something: Have you ever felt like life was playing a twisted game of Jenga with your finances, pulling one block out at a time until it all came crashing down? I have.

Back in 2019, I had cracked the code of daily online earnings. Money wasn’t just coming in—it was sprinting. Picture this: A digital marketing agency humming along like a well-oiled machine, a fashion e-commerce store for ladies that made cha-ching sounds every time I checked my phone, and a pig farm. Yes, a pig farm.

Life was not just good; it was a champagne-popping, road-tripping, new-car-smelling dream. Revenue? I was easily netting a million a month. My accountant would have been proud if I’d had one. But why bother planning finances when money just kept rolling in like clockwork, right?

I was also deep in the academic writing business, running essay mills like a boss. I had direct collaboration with Sam—then Product Manager at EssayPro and now the company’s CEO. Together, we helped grow EssayPro into a $30M-a-year empire. It was like playing Monopoly but with real money.

But here’s the kicker: We didn’t just work hard—we played hard. Think lavish lifestyles, exotic vacations, rented penthouses, and more champagne than a Formula 1 podium. For us in the academic writing industry, the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t a crisis; it was Christmas.

Why? Because universities went online, and professors were too busy dodging the “deadly virus” to give meaningful lectures. The floodgates of academic assignments opened wide, and we were there to cash in.

I won’t lie—those were some wild times. But just when you think you’ve got the game figured out, life likes to throw a plot twist.

 

The Big Plunge

Let me tell you something about timing: It’s everything. And in 2020, my brother and I decided to quadruple our pig farm business to hit a quota of 250 sows. Ambitious? Sure. But when you’re riding high, why not aim higher?

We met our quota in less than a year. But here’s where things went south: So did everyone else. The market flooded with pigs faster than bacon grease slides off a pan. Prices plummeted, and suddenly, our dream farm turned into a money pit.

While we were burning through 50,000 shillings a week on commercial feeds, customers were ghosting us. Pork lovers apparently went on strike that year. I sold my share to my brother and walked away, nursing a 2.5-million-shilling loss.

But it wasn’t just the pig farm. Academic writing, my golden goose, got roasted. Enter ChatGPT, the AI that could write essays faster than a caffeinated college student. Clients realized they could save their hard-earned dollars and skipped paying us altogether.

In less than a year, two of my primary income streams went poof. But my lifestyle? That stayed constant.

 

Denial Ain’t Just a River in Egypt

Here’s the thing: When you’re used to living large, downsizing isn’t easy. I kept spending like I was still rolling in dough. Call it optimism, call it denial—I thought the slump was temporary. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.

My fashion e-commerce store, Ayenia, was the last beacon of hope. But then Google decided to play God with its algorithms. My organic reach tanked, and with it, my revenue. Suddenly, my “passive income” wasn’t so passive anymore.

In total, I lost over 1.2 million shillings trying to keep Ayenia afloat. That’s when reality hit me like a freight train. I was bleeding money from every direction.

 

When Rock Bottom Becomes a Springboard

Here’s what they don’t tell you about hitting rock bottom: It’s actually a pretty solid foundation. Once you’ve got nowhere else to fall, the only way is up.

So, I took a deep breath, accepted my losses, and did what any stubborn entrepreneur would do—I started over.

That’s how Captain Eric Woodworks was born. Yep, I traded pigs for custom beds. And let me tell you, building a business from scratch while drowning in debt is not for the faint of heart.

But you know what kept me going? Mental toughness.

 

Mental Toughness Is Your Superpower

Let’s get real: Life will knock you down. Sometimes it’ll feel like you’ve been hit by a truck, and sometimes it’s more like death by a thousand paper cuts. Either way, what separates winners from losers is how they respond.

Here’s what I learned about mental toughness:

1. Accept Reality Quickly
   The faster you accept that things are bad, the faster you can start fixing them. Denial only prolongs the pain. When I lost my pig farm and my e-commerce store, I didn’t waste time playing the blame game. I owned my mistakes and moved on.
2. Stay Calm Under Pressure
   When I was down to my last shilling, I didn’t panic. Okay, maybe I panicked a little. But then I got to work. Mental toughness isn’t about never feeling scared; it’s about doing what needs to be done despite the fear.
3. Learn From Failure
   Every loss taught me something. The pig farm? Timing is everything. Academic writing? Diversify your income streams. E-commerce? Never rely solely on one platform’s algorithms.
4. Focus on What You Can Control
   I couldn’t control Google’s algorithms or the rise of ChatGPT. But I could control my next move. That’s why I poured all my energy into Captain Eric Woodworks.

 

Irony, Humor, and Lessons Learned

Looking back, the irony of it all is almost laughable. The guy who once popped champagne like a rap star is now a furniture maker with sawdust in his hair. Life has a funny way of humbling you.

But you know what? I wouldn’t trade those losses for anything. They taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and a whole new appreciation for the value of hard work.

Also, let’s be honest—there’s something poetic about going from raising pigs to making beds. I mean, one literally leads to the other, right?

 

Where Am I Now?

Fast forward to today, and Captain Eric Woodworks has netted over 3 million shillings in turnover in less than a year. It hasn’t been easy—think loans, debt financing, sleepless nights, and endless learning curves.

But every step of the journey has been worth it. Why? Because I’m not just building furniture; I’m rebuilding my life.

 

Your Turn

So, what’s the takeaway here?

Life will knock you down. You’ll lose money, face setbacks, and question your choices. But you know what? That’s the price of admission for a life worth living.

The question isn’t whether you’ll face challenges—it’s whether you’ll rise above them. And trust me, you can.

If I can bounce back from losing millions, you can survive whatever life throws at you. So, get out there, embrace the grind, and remember: mental toughness is your greatest asset.

Oh, and if you ever need a custom bed, you know who to call. 😉