Introduction
My companies have generated over $115 million in sales.
And in the next few minutes, I’m going to break down exactly how to make your first million — even if you have zero followers, zero funding, and zero business experience.
The best part?
With AI and tech making people lazier than ever, the market is wide open for anyone who’s actually willing to apply themselves. The barrier to entry has never been lower. But most people don’t hit $1M because they’re thinking too big, too fast.
So here’s the roadmap, broken into 3 simple phases:
- Phase 1: $0 → $1K
- Phase 2: $1K → $100K
- Phase 3: $100K → $1M
Let’s dive in.
How to Make Your First $1M in 3 Simple Phases — Even If You’re Starting From Zero
Phase 1: Making Your First $1,000
Most people overlook this phase, but it’s the most important because it builds your confidence.
In fact, making your first $1K has nothing to do with what you’re selling — and everything to do with who you’re becoming.
When I started, I worked normal jobs:
- Waiting tables
- Selling door-to-door security systems
And while they weren’t glamorous, they taught me skills I use to this day:
- Reading people
- Selling under pressure
- Building confidence
If you can’t confidently communicate and sell, you won’t make money — no matter how good your product is.
So if you’re starting from scratch, pick a job that forces you to talk to people. Learn how to influence, build rapport, and sell. That’s your foundation.
Phase 2: $1K → $100K
Once you’ve got your first $1,000, you’ll feel the shift.
That abstract goal of “being a millionaire” starts to feel real.
Now it’s time to get strategic.
🔑 Step 1: Create an Irresistible Offer
To scale fast, you need two things:
- A clear outcome people want
- A price point that pays you well
You need to tie your offer to one of these three things:
- Health
- Wealth
- Relationships
Nobody wants a “fitness program.” They want to look good shirtless.
Nobody wants a “business coach.” They want to make more money.
Nobody wants a “therapist.” They want better relationships.
Sell outcomes, not processes.
If you don’t have a skill yet?
Cool. Start here:
- What are you naturally good at?
- What do people ask your advice on?
- What challenge have you overcome?
- What would you teach your younger self?
Still stuck? Go learn something useful.
➡️ Try Udemy.com or Allison.com and pick up a skill in 30 days.
There are no excuses in 2025.
🔥 Step 2: Use the $100M Offer Formula
Here’s the formula I use to make any offer better:
(Desired Outcome x Believability) ÷ (Time Delay x Effort)
Example:
- “Lose 20 lbs in 90 days through dieting” = low believability, slow, hard
- “Lose 20 lbs instantly via liposuction” = high believability, instant, effortless
Now obviously you can’t promise miracles — but you can make your offer easier, faster, and more believable without compromising integrity.
Make your promise as bold as you can fulfill.
💰 Step 3: Price High — Or Pay Later
When I sold $47 fitness guides, I was broke.
When I switched to $1,500+ programs, I hit $10K months fast.
Why?
Because high ticket gives you margin.
Margin gives you leverage.
I’d rather close 6 clients at $1,500 than try to sell 212 people at $47.
Most broke entrepreneurs sell cheap and wonder why they’re still broke. Shark Tank is full of people like that—working 90 hours a week for 5% profit margins.
Don’t be one of them.
Phase 3: $100K → $1M
This is where it gets fun.
You’re making good money.
Now, you just need to scale what already works.
🔁 Step 1: Speed Up What’s Already Working
Most people try to “add more” — new products, new funnels, new platforms.
Wrong move.
Instead, do what’s already working, just faster:
- DM outreach
- Sales calls
- Closing deals
You can:
- Work more hours
- Hire someone to help
- Start running paid ads
Simple math:
If one DM → $3,000 sale, and you want $900,000 more?
That’s 300 more sales = ~3,000 booked calls = ~30,000 DMs.
Break that up with help from a team or ads, and it’s 100% doable.
🧠 Step 2: Build Leverage Through People
At some point, you’ll max out. That’s where I was — 16-hour days doing everything myself.
The key to hitting $1M+?
Hiring.
Start by:
- Making an application that filters out unqualified people
- Interviewing based on cultural fit (not just skill)
- Creating SOPs (standard operating procedures) with video walkthroughs
Hire people who think like you, not people you have to babysit. That’s how you scale without losing your mind.
Final Thoughts: Millionaire Status Isn’t Complicated — It’s Sequential
You don’t have to be famous.
You don’t need investors.
You just need to follow the process:
✅ Build confidence through people skills
✅ Package a valuable offer tied to health, wealth, or relationships
✅ Charge premium prices
✅ Sell it consistently with DMs and calls
✅ Then hire and scale
That’s it.
Let’s get to work.
— Tanner Chidester
CEO, Elite CEOs
