The Dark Side of Success: My Truth Behind the 8-Figure Business

Have you heard of Mike Posner?

You have probably heard his songs like Cooler Than Me or *I Took a Pill in Ibiza. 

Cooler than me was his debut single and it was a massive hit. 

To Mike, this was his new normal. 

So when his follow-up songs, though still platinum hits, didn’t match the astronomical success of his first, he felt like a failure. Every subsequent win seemed smaller in comparison. 

I can relate to that. 

My first e-commerce venture has been an absolut unicorn: $1,000,000 in revenue in the first year, 13.8X growth in year two and on track to do over $30M in sales in its third year. 

All while being cash flow positive, no debt, no investors, and all equity in my family’s name (my brother is part owner). 

If you know anything about e-commerce businesses, you will know that most struggle to even break even on ad spend, have massive inventory issues and large overheads and are struggle to find funding these days due to economic conditions. 

But we are making money on every sale and hitting 109x ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) on Facebook ads.

We have minimal inventory issues, relatively low overheads and sell products that are a necessity so it’s more resistant to economic downturns. 

So am I just the Oracle of Online Business?

FUCK NO. 

This is a case of right place, right time, right person. 

While I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, a huge part of it was just dumb luck. 

Sure, it took persistence, smart decisions, correct execution, calculated risk taking… 

but luck is the difference between an eight-figure company and a seven-figure one.

Now, I’m going to say something that might sound ungrateful, but hear me out. 

The position I’m in isn’t one to envy. 

Like Mike Posner, No matter what I do, nothing feels like enough. 

I find myself comparing everything to the success of my e-commerce business, and even big wins feel small. 

The fear of failing—or even worse, succeeding but not on the same scale—has me trapped. 

It’s easier to stay safe, to stick with what I know, and not risk it all again. 

Why try when I’ve already “made it”?

This mindset is a self-imposed prison, and if I’m not careful, it will kill my drive.

The problem? This win has become my new normal. And with that mindset, nothing will top it. 

Now, no experience feels as good, no meal tastes as great, and no luxury seems to matter. 

It’s the classic “high school football star” syndrome—peaking too soon and getting stuck there.

So, what’s the solution? Lower my expectations? Absolutely not. 

I think the key lies in detaching from the outcome and putting my energy into the process. 

Maybe the real reward isn’t the success itself but the work that goes into it.

Or maybe it’s about changing my focus: doing something I actually want to do rather than what I feel I “have” to do.

This is probably why all these successful people turn into hippies and look inward. Once basic needs are met, life’s true desires often become more metaphysical.

I get it; if you’re hustling to grow your business or so you can quit your job, it’s hard to imagine this perspective. 

But this is what i struggle with on the daily basis, I have not figured out my path forward yet, but I will continue to write you my progress as I step forward.


- Vessal