How I Built a $15k/mo Business in 117 Days Working <4 Hours a Day

Most entrepreneurs read stories like this, get a dopamine hit for 48 hours, then go back to scrolling and staying broke.If you're still here, this isn't inspiration—it's your exact map.I was you 117 days ago: 9-5 drone, $2k in savings, 50 tabs open on "side hustle ideas" that never shipped. Four failed businesses behind me (one burned $8k). Then I cracked execution. No VC, no team, no hacks—just brutal discipline.Result: $15k/mo passive(ish) from affiliates, a $297 course, and Beehiiv subs. Working 3–4 hours/day max.This is the day-by-day breakdown. Steal it. Apply it. Or close the tab and stay average. Your call.The Brutal Truth Before We Start99% fail because they chase motivation, not systems. I didn't "get lucky." I built a machine:Wake at 5 AM, ship by 9 AM.One revenue task daily—no more.Delete distractions until $10k/mo.If that sounds too hard, this post isn't for you. Bookmark it for 2026.For the 1%: Let's build.Days 1–30: The Foundation Grind (From $0 to $500/mo)This phase is 80% mindset, 20% action. Most quit here because it's boring. I didn't.Day 1: Kill the VampireDeleted TikTok, IG, Netflix. Replaced with Atomic Habits audiobook (finish in 7 days). Downloaded Notion Built my first dashboard: Revenue tracker, habit checklist, "Hell Yes" audit sheet.Win: Felt like a prisoner freed. Revenue: $0.Days 2–7: The 5 AM Ritual Lock-InAlarm across the room. 5:00 AM wake → cold shower → black coffee → one revenue task (cold DM 5 founders on X: "Saw your post—here's how I fixed X for Y"). No phone till 9 AM.By day 7: 3 replies, one affiliate sale ($47 from a tool rec).Tool: Use Tally.so for DM scripts.Days 8–14: Content Machine v1Wrote my first "pillar post" (this one's #1—3,500 words on execution). Posted on Beehiiv. Repurposed into 7 TikToks (60s hooks: "If you skip this habit, stay broke"). Drove 150 visitors → 42 subs.Revenue spike: $200 from Notion referrals (No longer available).Days 15–30: List ExplosionLead magnet live: The 1% Execution Playbook (grab yours free below). Pinned on X, bio link everywhere. Cold DM'd 50 more. Hit 500 subs. Affiliates rolled in: $500 total (Beehiiv recs paid $300 alone).Key Lesson: Revenue isn't sexy—it's 1 DM at a time. Track everything in Notion.End of Phase 1 Stats:Subs: 500Revenue: $500/mo run rateHours/day: 3 (1 deep work, 2 promo)Biggest Kill:* Shiny object syndrome. Said no to 3 "opportunities."Days 31–60: Momentum Machine (From $500 to $3k/mo)Now we scale without burnout. Focus: Automate wins, cut losers.Days 31–37: Email Sequence MagicSet up 5-email welcome flow (value bombs + soft upsell). Open rate: 74%. 20% clicked to paid ($9/mo tier: daily prompts).Revenue: First $97 course sale (simple Notion pack: "Execution OS").Days 38–45: Viral Short-Form AssaultBatch-recorded 30 TikToks/Reels: Hooks like "Delete this app or stay poor." 10k views total → 200 subs. One video hit 50k (the "5 AM shame" one).Pro Tip: Use Opus Clip (affiliate: $20 off) to auto-edit long-form into shorts. Saved me 10 hours/week.Days 46–60: Affiliate EmpireDropped links in every post:Notion: $10–50/sale (hit 20).Beehiiv: $50–500/referral (3 big ones).Riverside.fm: $250/podcast tool sale.Total: $2.5k new revenue. Passive now—old posts still convert.End of Phase 2 Stats:Subs: 2,000Revenue: $3k/moHours/day: 3.5 (added weekly audit)Biggest Kill:* Overthinking. Shipped ugly templates first.Days 61–90: Scale Without Breaking (From $3k to $8k/mo)Efficiency mode. Outsource low-value, double down on high-leverage.Days 61–70: No-Meetings WednesdaysDeep work only: Wrote 10 pillar posts (batch Sundays). Repurposed to X threads (one got 10k impressions). Subs +800.Revenue: Course sales hit $1.5k (added upsell: $197 accelerator).Days 71–80: Metrics Monday RitualTracked: Revenue, subs, quits. Cut email tool (switched to Beehiiv fully). Added high-ticket affiliate: HighLevel ($500/sale—landed 2).Tool: Google Sheets + Zapier (free tier).Days 81–90: Community SparkStarted X space: "Weekly Grind Check-In." 150 attendees. 50% subbed. Emotional hook: Shared my Day 1 fail (lost $2k on bad ads).Revenue: $4.5k (sponsors sniffed authority).End of Phase 3 Stats:Subs: 5,000Revenue: $8k/moHours/day: 3 (outsourced VA for DMs, $5/hr)Biggest Kill:* Burnout. Added 10k steps daily walks for ideas.Days 91–117: Freedom Phase (From $8k to $15k/mo)Passive ramps up. You're now a machine.Days 91–100: Product Ladder LaunchDropped $997 course: "60-Day Execution Accelerator" (playbook + prompts + audits). 15 sales ($15k gross).Marketing: Email blast + 5 TikToks. Conversion: 8%.Days 101–110: Sponsorship Door OpensBrands hit my DMs (productivity apps). First $1k sponsored post. Rule: Only if it fits the grind.Days 111–117: Optimize & RepeatAudited everything. Cut 2 affiliates (low convert). Added printables ($27 each—$2k passive). Hit $15k run rate.Final Stats:Subs: 10,000+Revenue: $15k/mo (60% passive)Hours/day: <4Net Worth Bump: +$45kThe 9 Brutal Rules That Made It HappenThese aren't optional. Print 'em.Execution > Ideas: Ship 80% done. My first course? Basic slides. Sold anyway.Daily Revenue Ritual: One money task before coffee. DMs or content—pick one.Distraction Blackout: No social till $10k/mo. Use Freedom app (affiliate link).Public Shame: Post daily wins/fails on X. Accountability = rocket fuel.Energy Audit Weekly: Log drains (meetings? Cut 'em).Batch Everything: Content Sundays, DMs Mondays.Rejection Celebration: 10 nos = party. Landed my first sponsor this way.Metrics or Die: Track opens, clicks, sales. Adjust weekly. Reply to this post or hit my DM: What's your Day 1 win? I'll shout out the best ones.18,000+ executors already grinding. Join us.Stop consuming. Start executing.JeffGrindDiscipline.com

Jeff Bandy

Nov 19, 2025

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1 min read