The Humbling Hustle #7

Turning a Page

Every story has chapters, and lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to turn a page. For me, the start of college again feels like the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and begin fresh. Taking a moment to redefine my goals, what I want to build, and how I want to grow in this next season.

For the first half of this year, my Amazon business was one of the biggest parts of my journey. Running it taught me discipline, patience, and how much effort it actually takes to make something work online. From researching products and building listings to running ads and managing customer expectations, I got a crash course in the multidimensional aspect of entrepreneurship. Recently, I decided to sell that business. It wasn’t an easy choice, but it felt like the right one, it gave me closure on one chapter while freeing up space to focus on new goals.

Here’s the reasons why we sold it:

1. First, the online arbitrage model never truly fit my style. It required endless research and, because I was selling other people’s products, I had very little control over the listings. Anytime we found a product that was generating solid profits, a stronger Amazon account would kick us off the listing, or the margins would collapse as other sellers swarmed in with better wholesale prices. It became a cycle of chasing opportunities without long-term stability.

2. As our arbitrage products fizzled out, we made a strategic pivot. We began working with small businesses in our community, offering a subscription model where we would list their products on our Amazon account and manage their online presence. While we tried with a few businesses, only one client found real success. Over time, his products made up nearly all the sales on our account. At that point, it made the most sense to sell him the account directly. It was a natural exit as we were already looking for a way out.

3. On top of that, I realized the importance of reallocating my time and focus. With college beginning and new ambitions on the horizon, I wanted to free up my energy for opportunities that aligned more with my long-term goals.

4. Finally, it came down to opportunity cost. The effort it would take to sustain the business didn’t compare to the potential of exploring new ventures and growing in other fields, particularly those connected to my academic and career path.

I learned a lot from our Amazon business though… I experienced the dynamic between risk and reward and felt first-hand how it felt like when a risky investment in inventory went bad and when it become profitable. It also taught me that customer service is crucial. At times it can feel like babysitting, dealing with small complaints and constant nagging, but customers truly value someone who takes care of their problems. Even if it doesn’t feel like you’re being fairly compensated for that effort in the moment… good customer service always pays off in the long run.

Another lesson I took away is that I value having control and ownership over my work. With online arbitrage, it often felt like we were at the mercy of Amazon or bigger accounts that could easily undercut us and profit off the same listings we worked hard to find. That dependence never sat well with me, because I want to build something where the results of my effort are mine to keep, not dictated by someone else’s platform. So although, running an Amazon account for online arbitrage is a business it doesn’t feel like a true business-minded business in my perspective.

Keeping that perspective in mind, I wanna move forward… with college starting, my focus has shifted a little. I want to use this time to build a stronger foundation for myself. My goals now are bigger than just making sales online. I want to prepare for law school, sharpen my entrepreneurial skills, and start laying the groundwork for the kind of ventures that I’ll be proud to run long-term.

I also want to grow personally. Part of turning a page is not just about chasing new ideas, but about becoming more disciplined, more consistent, and more intentional in how I spend my time. This is the best time for it… to explore, experiment, and test myself, but also to step up and move closer to the person I want to become.

This is why selling the Amazon business felt right. It was just the closing of one chapter so I could start writing the next. And I’m excited to see where this new page takes me.

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