Winners of the Project Mojave Contest . . . A Video on What the Hell Project Mojave IS (And a Bunch of Other Stuff)

Hey, it’s Clay here, and I’m getting ready to open the doors to Project Mojave today (Tuesday) . . . at 4:30 Eastern (1:30 Pacific).

I hope you’re getting ready to KILL it with your freedom business.

Anyway, I’ve got lot’s of great stuff in this blog post for you today… like…

1. I’m announcing the winners of the Project Mojave Contest

2. A short video interview by Cody McKibben that explains who the HELL I am and what the heck Project Mojave is fundamentally about (at its core).

3. Lot’s of other cool stuff.

But before I get to that, I want you to know . . .

The Main Purpose of Project Mojave

The main purpose of project Mojave is to SHOW YOU (side-by-side with me in the trenches) how to create a business that allows you to work when and how you want, spend more time with family, and that enables you to live a life of massive personal freedom.

Project Mojave was created after it became clear to me that . . .

• Too many people get up in the morning dreading their upcoming work day.
• Most people will retire from jobs that they dislike (as much as the ones they have now).
• Too many people’s jobs are the #1 life-sucking force in their lives.
• We’re going to take a very new approach to teaching and learning and I think you’ll be in for quite a few surprises.

Anyway, Project Mojave is, quite literally, a project. And over the course of 3.8 months, I’ll be building a Freedom Business *alongside* YOU. So as you’re building a freedom business, I will be too.

In fact, I’ll be selecting someone’s business idea . . . and turning it into a successful AUTOMATED business. In my “spare time.” And showing you what I’m doing.

We won’t ONLY be *teaching* Project Mojave members how to build a Freedom Business.

We’ll be showing them as well. (While I’m building a Freedom Business, you will be also).

I’m going to literally build a successful business right before you eyes, while you’re also building one.

Anyway, In Project Mojave, I’m Going to Show You . . .

• How to use market research to get over your fear (of failure, going broke, pain etc.).
• Step-by-step instructions to begin a very small but profitable business to ease into making money.
• How to try new business ideas before you develop a product.
• How to figure out the business ideas you can start — with your skills — and actually be excited about for years to come.
• How to find reliable sources of income that don’t monopolize all of your free time.
• Detailed instructions on how to discover profitable markets and niches that others are overlooking (and that can fund your freedom for years).
• How to decide which of your ideas will likely be the MOST profitable and succeed.
• How to eliminate much of the uncertainty involved in starting a business and launching a product.
• How to figure out which of your skills are sufficiently developed to finance an independent lifestyle.
• A step-by-step blueprint for testing whether or not people want to BUY the product you want to make.
• How to “run” with your business ideas and make them profitable as quickly as possible.
• How to specifically focus your time and energy so that you’re not wasting time or resources.
• How to determine the best way to market your business (SEO, Adwords, etc.)
• And really, there’s a lot more. But you’re find out more when we start accepting new Project Mojave members.

Who The Hell I am, And What the Hell Project Mojave is About

If you’re still wondering what the hell Project Mojave is about (and who the hell I am), then this video is probably the #1 piece of launch content you should watch. Hands down.

Winners of the Project Mojave Contest Announced

We had SO MANY ridiculously good entries for the Project Mojave contest.  And thank YOU for all the amazing and thoughtful entries.

Picking two winners was *very* difficult.

But after lots of reading and thinking, I chose the winners around 2AM this morning.

Anyway, if you get a chance, it would mean a lot to me if you could take a quick sec and congratulate the winners in the comments section on this page.

Winning Entry #1: Tim Kerr

I’m working full time in sales and studying part time, and it’s killing me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, my family and my studies, but my wife accuses me (rightly so) of spreading myself thin. I’m a drummer and musician at heart, and my first love is to play and teach drums and percussion. I was self-employed in that capacity for a number of years. The money wasn’t fantastic and the work was inconsistent, but I loved it.

The kids were a major factor in my deciding to put that aspect of my life aside for a season and earn a full-time wage. When my daughter came along three years ago, I decided the best thing to do was to shelve the gigs and teaching, and work full time. My main reasoning was that my family depended on me for an income because my wife was no longer working. Now, I earn enough to get us by, but not much more.

We’re not poor, but we’re not exactly getting ahead, either. I don’t hate my job, the company I work for is fantastic, but it’s not where I really want to be.

Talking of freedom, I want some! I work retail hours. I work Tuesday to Saturday. I see my kids for an hour or two in the morning and another hour or so at night.

My wife is pregnant with our third child and I wish there was something I could do to be able to help her more. My kids aren’t even at school yet, but I want to become more involved in their lives, as they won’t be young forever. I would love to be able to work from home so that I can be there to support my wife and love my kids. I would love to be able to take them on a holiday for a week or two every now and then. I want to be able to be there for my family when they need me.

Did I mention study? I’m completing my Masters in Music this year, with a view to commencing my Doctorate in Creative Industries next year. Having the flexibility to go to uni when I need to, rather than just on my one day off (which chews into more family time) is the stuff of dreams right now. I would also love to be able to work in a capacity that would enable me to take on the occasional recording session, or drum tech a festival, or (heaven forbid) small tour if the opportunity arises, or even a few local gigs here and there.

My passion is to play the drums, and to help others get better at playing also. I have already in the last year developed a drum method book, based on the last 15 years of my experience as a drummer and drum teacher. This book is essentially my “ideal” drum method book. It is designed to give a budding drummer the skills and knowledge they need in order to function as a working drummer.

I can see potential for this book to be sold online in modules in PDF and MP3 format. I can also see a number of ways that the product line can be expanded. People who buy into the book could then have member access to a library of videos and other resources to tap into. Each chapter of the book has potential to be expanded into further modules that build on what the student has already learned.

I’m not trying to sap people’s money by telling them they can have “instant results” or other crap like that. I’ve been teaching for too long to know that instant results are non-existent. Playing the drums well requires dedication and commitment. I simply want to help other people achieve to the best of their ability. I want to help average people achieve their dream of being able to play drums in a band.

I also have an idea of building drums from recycled hardwoods, but this is more of a long-term thing.

My weakness is, I have no real idea about how to put all of this together into something that will earn me an income. I play and teach well, but I’m not really business-savvy. I know I don’t know everything, and this is one massive hole in my knowledge base. I guess that would be where Project Mojave would come in. Right now I have no money to play with. I’m saving a bit here and a bit there for birthdays and Christmas, but I don’t have $10k in the bank to just throw at this thing (or even $1k. Or even $100 right now). It’s just me, doing what I can. If I can even generate a small passive income stream to supplement my current income I’ll be more than happy. Ecstatic even. Because it’s a start, and something I can build on for the future.

I also am worried about my job stability. My income is stable, but not great. I want to know that whatever I do will put food on the table for my family and ultimately bless them. I don’t want to let them down. I know Clay talks a lot about this fear, and it does have a hold on me. I’m not sure how to break it’s hold, but I know I need to.

Well… that’s my ten cent’s worth. Reading these stories is pretty inspiring. Thanks for your time.

TIM

Winning Entry #2: Charlotte

Hi Clay!

First of all, thanks for this contest and for your dedication to making Project Mojave what it is. It’s extremely exciting to watch.

I started my business, inspirIT, as a way to live my values. I’ve been working in the technology field for years, but my efforts have always gone to propping up large banks and corporations – entities which are not geared towards providing freedom for anyone.

Two weeks ago, I left my job to begin working full-time on my business. I could have used the money I was making to slowly grow my business in my spare time – but I don’t want to grow slowly. I didn’t want to keep snatching hours out of my day to grow inspirIT (I was only sleeping 3 hours a night for a while, spending every waking moment doing things like building my site, doing client work, etc). I wanted to openly declare and live my values – freedom for myself and others, the pursuit of art and creativity, and giving freely back to the world.

I’ve worked with several wonderful clients so far who absolutely rave about the service they’ve received… but I’m at a bit of a loss right now as to how to find more people to grow this thing.

This is where Project Mojave comes in. I could continue growing inspirIT by trial and error. I WILL continue to do so if I don’t get into Project Mojave. But I want to reach more of my Right People sooner. I want to be able to use my knowledge of and love for technology to free brilliant, creative people to do their best work. I want to contribute to the world by helping others contribute to the world. To do that in the best and fastest manner possible, however, I need expert guidance. Guidance in finding my Right People. Guidance in figuring out how to best help them. Guidance in providing the most value to the people I work with.

My whole soul, will, and being are invested in this project. I think my passion for technology and entrepreneurship – and for life in general – could power a city. And I’ve only found this passion and dedication increasing in the time I’ve been free from working for others. I’ll do absolutely whatever it takes to make this thing a success.

(Also, eventually I’d like to free myself up to do my most creative work – to finally finish a novel I’ve had in me since I was 12. This is also where I need your help to set up my business model in such a way as to provide maximum freedom for my own creativity as well.)

Thanks so much for this opportunity,

Charlotte