Anthony Kolodziej
@TurnkeyChicago
Founded a local, family-owned Vending business with my wife and kids. | Former Real Estate Developer. | Helping others do the same.
The difference between employees and entrepreneurs? Employees optimize for security. Entrepreneurs optimize for freedom. I'd rather have uncertain income with certain time freedom than the opposite.
Every day is a new day. That property manager who was rude yesterday? Doesn't affect today's opportunities. Don't carry old baggage into fresh situations.
Action kills anxiety. When I got laid off in 2023, I could have panicked. Instead, I researched vending, joined a community, and started networking immediately. Movement beats worry every time.
I wake up every morning and drive my kids to school. That's worth more than any revenue milestone. Build your business around your life, not the other way around.
You don't need millions to be financially free. You need a business that covers your monthly expenses. Recurring income > big savings account.
I joined @MrPassive_ 's vending community in September 2023. 19 months later: 70+ machines & crossed $96K last month. Communities accelerate everything. Find your people.
Three questions I ask every property manager: 1. How many employees per shift? 2. What are your break room setups? 3. Who makes vendor decisions? These 30 seconds of qualification save me hours of wasted meetings.
Building a business with your kids watching changes them. My daughter hears "vending machine" in songs and gets excited. My son asks what "business development" means. They're learning entrepreneurship by osmosis.
Inventory management is everything. I know exactly what sells in each location: • Medical facilities: → 60% drinks, 30% snacks, 10% fresh food • Gym: → 70% protein items, 30% hydration • Apartments: → 60% drinks, 35% snacks, 5% essentials Stock for your audience.
I'm 40 years old. Here are 19 things I'd tell my younger self:
Everything you lose creates space for what you need. Getting laid off felt like the end of the world. But it forced me to build something better. Sometimes you need to lose grip on the wrong thing to grab the right one.
The corporate world teaches you to avoid risk. Entrepreneurship teaches you to manage it. I'd rather bet on myself than hope my boss doesn't lay me off.