A Journey of Growth: From Academia to Online Entrepreneurship
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Chapter 1: My Beginnings
I am on a quest for mindful growth and independence as a content entrepreneur, a father, and a human being.
Born on March 7, 1982, in Northeast Italy, I still call this place home—not out of preference, but because I largely inhabit the online world, where I strive to reach my full potential. My journey is extensive, so buckle up.
Winning the Parental Lottery
Although my family wasn't affluent, they understood the importance of education. This led them to purchase a Commodore 64 in the '80s. While I didn't use it for anything serious—mostly just playing cassette games—it became the gateway to my future.
My father worked in sales and often needed to prepare charts at home. Consequently, we always had a computer or laptop, unlike many of my friends. By the '90s, I finally had my own PC—well, shared with my brother. A fortunate twist came when a relative gifted me a modem in my early teens. I quickly became the go-to techie in my class, always knowing where to find things online, from MP3s to games—always on the right side of legality!
Academic Success Without Fortune
Regrettably, like many Italians of my generation, I missed the Dotcom boom, a missed opportunity that still haunts me. I immersed myself in success stories of young entrepreneurs who struck it rich online, and I often wonder, "What if?" My fascination with computer programming grew, as it seemed the pinnacle of creativity—like giving birth to something new. Unfortunately, I was too focused on my studies in high school and missed the chance to develop essential skills.
The Inevitable University Choice
Choosing computer science as my university major felt almost predestined. I opted to stay close to home, not wanting to burden my parents financially, who would have supported me far beyond their means. In hindsight, I realize I was acting out of fear—fear of change and, more importantly, fear of failure.
Attending a small university limited my growth, but I did meet my future wife there!
Chapter 2: A Risky Path
During my master's thesis, I discovered my passion for research and decided to pursue it. However, in Italy, the path to becoming a researcher is far from glamorous. Advancement relies on competitive exams, called “Concorsi,” which offer limited positions every few years. Many aspiring researchers spend years in temporary roles, waiting for their chance.
The bureaucratic and nepotistic nature of state-owned universities only complicates matters. Yet, I was captivated by the prospect of being at the forefront of innovation, brainstorming solutions, and networking at conferences.
I was thrilled to be accepted into a Ph.D. program and shared the news with my mother, tears of joy streaming down my face. But soon, that excitement morphed into despair.
A Dream Shattered
My research turned out to be incremental rather than groundbreaking, and my supervisor lacked the emotional intelligence to inspire us. The atmosphere was toxic, with teams fighting over scarce funding. I entered during a period of low funding, which hampered my work and prevented me from attending conferences.
Ph.D. programs in Italy typically last three years, but halfway through, I considered quitting. However, my marriage at the time made me think twice, as I felt I could only handle so many life-altering decisions at once.
Eventually, my lack of enthusiasm resulted in a lack of productivity, forcing me to extend my Ph.D. for an additional year without pay.
Seeking a New Dream
As I neared the end of my Ph.D., I began searching for opportunities to work from home. In 2010, this often meant sifting through low-quality offers like data entry or network marketing. So, I turned my gaze to the English-speaking web, where I discovered "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss, which changed my life.
This book opened my eyes to the potential of leveraging online business models, and with newfound knowledge, I began exploring blogging.
Chapter 3: Embracing Blogging
For many, blogging represented an easy path to success, and I was no exception. However, my passion for learning and teaching meant that creating informative content felt like a perfect fit for me.
I went through the familiar exercise of identifying my passions and eventually launched a blog focused on photography. Having only picked up my first DSLR camera less than a year before, I quickly improved and received positive feedback for my work.
Inspired by the success of digital-photography-school.com, I noticed a gap in the Italian market and created FotoComeFare.com.
The Thrill of Success
The excitement was palpable as my initial articles garnered enthusiastic comments, validating my writing style. I quickly realized that the competition was weak, lacking conversational tone and basic SEO strategies.
Monetization through ads, affiliate marketing, and eventually an ebook felt almost magical. I launched my first ebook just before a holiday trip with my wife, and to my delight, sales notifications poured in. At its peak, my site attracted 300,000 monthly page views—a significant feat in Italy.
People even began to recognize me in real life, and I received messages from a former professor who learned from my content. I was also expanding my email list, which eased the process of selling products.
However, growth eventually stalled. Although I knew how to maintain revenue, I felt the urge to explore new avenues.
Finding My Mission
For four years, I had absorbed countless podcast interviews with entrepreneurs, gaining insights into their business and personal development strategies. I wanted to bring this perspective to the Italian market, where the entrepreneurial spirit was lacking.
In late 2014, I discovered another podcaster had launched a show similar to what I envisioned. Instead of competing, I reached out to form a partnership, believing that collaboration would be more fruitful.
Though I enjoyed the collaboration, we made several missteps, leading to lackluster growth. The digital entrepreneur audience in Italy is limited, and podcasts never gained traction as a medium. We often chased new ideas but failed to maintain focus.
Surviving 2020
When 2020 hit, the world changed dramatically. The Italian government imposed strict lockdowns, affecting everyone’s lives and businesses. Many of our audience members struggled with reduced incomes and family responsibilities, making it increasingly difficult to sell our products.
Despite our efforts, subscriber engagement dwindled, and we faced uncertainty about the future. We realized we needed to refine our message and explore new directions.
Embracing a New Niche
We decided to focus our content on creating and monetizing information products, recognizing that our message was diluted by trying to cover a broad range of topics. While audience engagement improved, overall numbers declined.
As of summer 2022, we continue to navigate how to monetize this newly engaged audience, all while questioning whether this niche is too small.
Exploring New Horizons
The second part of our strategy involved venturing into the English-speaking market. My affinity for English—gained through years of self-directed learning—made this a natural choice. My business partner, living in Bali, also had to learn English, and we initially struggled to find our niche.
Eventually, I turned to Medium, hoping to assess my English writing skills and build my personal brand. Writing felt less daunting than filming videos, and the platform offered built-in distribution.
By the way, I became a father in 2019 after years of struggles with assisted reproduction, and it has been the best decision of my life. My son, Leonardo, is both a source of joy and a daily challenge, inspiring me in ways I never imagined.
Thank You!
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you found any insights in my journey, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to sharing more about my experiences in the future!
Chapter 4: Insights from My Journey
In this video, Alberto Cabas Vidani shares his insights on writing in English to establish a small online business, providing valuable tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Join Alberto Cabas Vidani in this episode of the "Coach Me to Lead" show, where he discusses the challenges and triumphs of leading in the online business space.