Business Builder Academy
Dropping out of UCLA and starting a business was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Not because it solved all of my problems and certainly not because it made me instantly wealthy. No, dropping out of college to start my first business was such a great decision because of the way it forced me to think- and I'll be reaping those rewards for the rest of my life!
Eric Curry’s Pets (2013-2021)
You see, to me nothing is more important than family. And because I started my first business more than fifteen years ago, if I want to take time off to be with the people who matter most, it's as simple as asking that guy in the mirror- and he always says yes!
Starting my first business in 2013, moving it a year later and then selling it in 2021 before starting my next business certainly taught me a ton, to put it lightly. This is the system I refined throughout the years; the foundation of what I call Business Builder Academy:
Set-Up- Website, socials, insurance, business license, email suite. Yes, this step is important, but not as important as the next one. Don't waste so much time (and money!) making sure every inch of your website is perfect to the point that you never bring in a single client. Done is better than perfect and the strive for perfection only serves to paralyze.
Clients- I really like what Mark Cuban says: unless you have a duplicatable, scalable, consistent way of bringing in clients, you don't have a business, you have a hobby. This is why I'm so glad Instagram was barely a thing when I started Eric Curry's Pets: it forced me to get off my rear end and find people willing to pay for my services, instead of foolishly believing they'd find ME. Sure, nowadays there are a few people and companies who find my tours on social media, but that's just the gravy on top.
The Native Experience (2021 - Present)
Strategize- The thing is I started my first business out of complete desperation, and a little bit of ego: I had no Plan B and I was determined to make this work. This is where my system truly began to take shape
Network- Have you heard the saying "it's lonely at the top?" The truth is, entrepreneurship can be incredibly lonely. In my case, it was downright depressing. Imagine leaving the structure and comfort of the classroom (and student loans!) for the instability of the "real world"? These days I am so incredibly grateful for that discomfort; actually, I'd go as far as to say that I've realized just how dangerous "comfort zones" truly are. They are stagnant, miserable places where nothing grows, lovingly decorated with our excuses and laziness. That's
And there's a reason why the very first episode of The Eric Curry Show is quite literally titled Network ASAP!
Invest- I started thinking about retirement in my early twenties and opened a brokerage account and several retirement accounts. And maybe that's why those years were so stressful! But the other day I logged into a retirement account I hadn't touched in more than five years and my jaw hit the floor when I saw how much money was in there. Is this what they mean when they talk about the power of compounding interest and exponential growth?
Business Builder Academy, by Eric Curry Co. LLC
Indeed, I can say with my full chest that dropping out of UCLA to begin my first business was one of the most consequential decisions I made in my entire life. Most importantly it got me started, a place many people don't ever reach. I am genuinely so excited to see where this incredible journey of entrepreneurship will take me next!
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In 2026 alone my family experienced three monumental occasions and I was able to be fully present with them because I got off my rear end and stopped trading time for money many years ago. If you're ready to take control of your life, I'd invite you to join Business Builder Academy, the rough framework of which I've described above. Be well!