If we go back to February 2023, is where I first introduced to Digital products.

TBH, I don't f*cking believe selling digital product will help me escape my miserable 9-5 work.

My mindset was, "How tf selling templates and guide will makes me money? It sounds so stupid"

Until I make my first dollar from my free products that I gave away. Then I started to believe that this is real.

Fast forward to six months, I already made over $10,000 solely from digital product business. But it didn't happen by accident. It's was a journey full of failure, self doubt, and hard earned insights that shaped me and helped me move forward, one step to another.

Maybe you're as confused as me back then. Sitting on the other side of the screen with the same desire I had. To change things, create things and make things happen.

Let me share with you 5 biggest life lessons I learned in hard way which is not only helped me grow my income, but also changed me as a person.

1. Work smart, not work hard

Work hard is good, but if you're a creator, then you need to work smart. Find smarter ways to achieve your goals faster and but with less effort. For example, instead of sending 100 emails manually, learn tools that could help you send 1000 emails at one click. It’s about working smart, not just hard. Balance strategic thinking with execution.

2. Learn and execute at the same time

You don't have to become expert to start. Apply what you read/watch. Practically follow what it taught you. Its a process of learning as well. Just like how I master using Notion and sell it as template. I'm not waiting till I become good to sell templates. Its more like try and error. And fix what's wrong from time to time. This makes me fully master Notion in less than a month!

3. Don't afraid to take a risk

Staying in your comfort zone won't take you anywhere. You'll be stuck there forever. Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if you’re unsure. One step you take will open 100 opportunity doors. If you fail, you can always start again but this time you'll become stronger than before.

4. It's okay to make mistakes

Most people confused, they're afraid to make mistakes because they thought making mistakes = failures. You need to change your perspective because mistakes aren’t setbacks, they’re lessons that you earned. Every time you fail, you learn something valuable. Accept that mistakes are part of the process, and use them to improve. Growth comes from learning through failure.

5. It's not about money

Getting money surely makes you happy. But chasing money alone won’t make you fulfilled. Focus on your passion, your purpose, and things that truly matter. When you do that, success will come naturally and money will follow later.

Final words

Life’s a journey, packed with endless lessons and the occasional misstep. There’s no final destination, no ultimate “I’ve made it.” Instead, we just keep moving, learning, stumbling, and getting back up. Wisdom and knowledge don’t come with shortcuts, and there’s no promise that what works today will matter tomorrow.

So here’s my tip for you: always keep looking for ways to grow. Stay curious, keep learning, and embrace every chance to improve. That’s the real key to success, wherever life takes you.

I hope these 16 lessons brought you some clarity and a fresh perspective.

Until next time—catch you next week!

Regards,

Ukiyo

P.S.S. Want to build your digital product business?

I launched a mini guide "Beginner guide on How to start Digital Product Business with $0". It's a step-by-step where I show you my framework on how I build $5,000/month digital product business from scratch.

You can get it for free here 👇

Click here to grab my step-by-step guide

0 comments

6 reasons why Threads way better than Twitter/X

Become a creator without showing face. Is it possible?

What's best digital products to sell 2024-2025?

We only have 80+ days before 1st January 2025

Hurry up! Only 8 spots available to claim $25..

See all posts from HyeUkiyo