How to Trade Your Way to a $5MM / Month Company (Part 1)
Ever wish building a successful business was as simple as following a checklist? I know the feeling. When I started out, I wanted a clear path—something that would cut through the noise and show me exactly what to do next.
This article is part 1 of a 3-part series where we break down the exact path to scaling a business to $5M in monthly recurring revenue. In the past we crossed 7 figures annually. So this $5M / month thought exercise is meant to help you and us understand what it takes to scale not just to not just 7 figure per year, but 7 figure profit per month.
(at 20% net margins, that = $5MM revenue)
You’ll learn how to set a clear target, map your path, and keep moving forward—even when things get tough. I will show you:
- How a simple mindset shift can turn daunting goals into clear, actionable steps.
- Why this “cliche technique” of working backwards unlocks your fastest path
- How to set milestones that keep you moving
- What separates real progress from wasted efforts (and how to stay focused on what matters)
Ready to take the first step? Let’s get started...
Want to build a high-converting sales funnel—without the trial-and-error guesswork and expensive mistakes? Download our free checklist: 11-Point Perfect Sales Funnel Checklist and discover how to create custom funnels that convert, stand out from competitors, and scale your business without the overhead.
Success Requires Paying the Price
One of my core beliefs: you can have anything you want in business or life—if you’re willing to pay the price. That price may be time, money, or energy, but it always involves a series of decisions and sacrifices.
As I always say, "You can have anything you want so long as you’re willing to pay the price for it." By the end of this article, you’ll know how to apply this to your own goals—whether that’s $100,000 per month, $5 million, or more.
Define Your Tactical Success
Before you do anything, define what tactical success means for you. For me, it’s a specific target—maybe financial freedom, maybe $5 million in monthly recurring revenue.
But tactical success won’t make you whole as a person. "It’s not going to heal any past pain or insecurities you may have." It’s about objectively achieving a measurable business or financial goal.
Still, the work to get there? That’s the part that transforms you.
Make Success Specific and Measurable
Write down your goal.
- Is it $10k per month?
- $100k?
- More leads, more email opt-ins, more website traffic?
- Or something even bigger?
The following image highlights how writing down goals dramatically impacts success. It shows that while 83% of people have no goals and see little progress, 14% keep their goals only in their heads and are about 10 times more successful.
But the real breakthrough comes from the 3% who write down their goals—they are shown to be 30 times more successful. The act of putting goals into writing creates clarity, focus, and accountability, turning vague ambitions into measurable targets.
"You need to define what tactical success actually looks like in terms of the objective goal for you." Be precise.
My Journey: From Struggle to Growth
When I began, my back was against the wall. I went all-in on info products and courses—curious if I could build a profitable business this way.
"The first year, we generated nearly $50k in revenue from courses and book sales." We were getting 30–60 opt-ins per day, with 12% of new subscribers buying. The average buyer was worth $42–$43.
But living in New York, some months brought $5,000+ in revenue, others just $1,300 or $2,000. That wasn’t sustainable.
After a year away from services, we relaunched our done-for-you sales funnel service. Month one: $7k. Month two: $14k. Within six months: $31k in monthly recurring revenue.
Set and Adjust Your Goals
Early on, my only goal was to make money. I set incremental targets: $10k, then $20k, then $30k. Each time we hit a milestone, I’d raise the bar.
Looking back, I could have saved months if I’d started with a specific, ultimate goal—like $100,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
The next image emphasizes research showing that setting goals that are challenging yet achievable can improve performance by up to 90%. The visual of a person piecing together a target highlights how clarity and structure turn vague ambitions into concrete objectives.
When your goals are both specific and realistic, they not only provide direction but also increase motivation and focus, making consistent progress far more attainable.
"When you start with an ultimate goal in mind, if you continue that strategic line of thinking, it's going to force you to think backwards."
Reverse Engineer Your Path
Work backwards from your desired outcome. Define the inputs—actions, resources, time—that will get you there. There are infinite ways to spend your time, delegate, or invest.
The image that follows illustrates the process of backcasting: starting with a clear vision of the future and then mapping a path back to the present.
Step one is to envision the future—your ultimate goal. Step two is to outline the milestones and immediate actions required to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
This structured approach helps turn a distant vision into a series of actionable steps.
Ask yourself, "What actions will I take, and what inputs will I put in, so that it becomes unreasonable for me not to achieve my goal?"
The path you choose is the price you pay. Choosing the right price and sequence of actions maximizes your probability of success.
Maximize Your Odds, Not Guarantees
There’s no guarantee of the future. You can’t predict everything. But by using judgment, breaking your goal into actionable steps, and focusing on what matters, you stack the odds in your favor.
Speed is your friend. Move fast, learn quickly, and adjust as needed.
Execution Over Everything Else
"Execution is so important." But execution is easier with a clear target and path.
The image from Gartner below highlights the top challenges organizations face when executing strategic objectives:
- ambiguous responsibilities (34%)
- inability to cascade objectives to teams and individuals (22%), and
- lack of clear priorities (14%)
These barriers often separate strategies that succeed from those that fall short. Clear ownership, alignment, and prioritization are critical to moving from plans to results, reinforcing why execution isn’t just about effort—it’s about structure and clarity.
Every time we hit a goal, I pushed for the next milestone. I avoided busywork and focused on actions that made it unreasonable for me not to succeed.
Action Steps You Can Use
- Define your tactical success—be specific and measurable.
- Work backwards from your goal to identify the required actions and resources.
- Set incremental targets to keep momentum and motivation high.
- Be willing to pay the price—whether that’s time, money, or effort.
- Stay adaptable and adjust your path as you learn what works.
This isn’t just theory. This process helped me turn Growbo into a multi-million dollar business—even during a global crisis.
"You can have whatever you want, but you must be willing to pay the price and walk one of those paths."
Apply these principles to your own goals, whether you’re starting out or aiming for your next milestone.
Focus on What Truly Matters
Don’t drown in busyness. Focus on the actions that make your success inevitable. Be strategic. Stay focused. Keep moving.
If you want help executing, consider getting support from a team that can handle the details—so you can focus on the big picture.
Are You Ready to Start?
Before you do anything else, write down what tactical success means to you. Start working backwards from that goal. Maybe you already have a goal. Maybe you’re already on your path. That’s great.
But clarity and execution are your best allies.
If you want to focus on strategy and let someone else handle the marketing details, check out Growbo. We give you a complete marketing team with 13 skill sets, so you can focus on the big decisions.
No hiring headaches. No management needed. Just delegate, and we get it done.
In the next part of this series, I’ll show you how to use financial modeling and spreadsheets to create your step-by-step path to tactical success.
For now, get clear on your goal, and start mapping your path.
Keep Growing, Stay Focused,
Image Credits:
1. https://carminemastropierro.com/smart-goals/goal-setting-statistic/
2. https://healthyhappyimpactful.com/goal-setting-statistics/
3. https://secure.cybercoders.com/insights/how-to-reverse-engineer-your-path-to-success/
4. https://emtemp.gcom.cloud/ngw/globalassets/en/articles/images/three-key-challenges-impacting-successful-execution-of-strategic-objectives.png
