25-year-old Who Earns Half A Million Per Year Proves That No One Is Too Young To Be A Real Estate Investor
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October 12, 2022
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This millennial will inspire you with his quest for financial independence. Sahil Mehta earns $515,000 a year flipping houses in addition to his full-time job at Golden Gate Sotheby’s.
Mehta grew up in a low-income household. He moved to California at 16, where he started college and graduated early to launch a successful career in real estate. Today, he has already put five rental apartments into the real estate market in Berkeley and has been able to make a profit from them.
He acknowledges that prospective investors require substantial capital even to enter the game. One essential thing he considers in investing his money is making deposits into a personal retirement account. Now, Mehta puts a lot of money into himself and puts away about $10,000 monthly for real estate investments.
The 25-year-old also invests $1,500 per month, while most financial advisers recommend saving 10% to 15% of income for retirement. Brilliant move to put some of it in an IRA, where it can multiply at 6% to 8% every year.
O’Leary, chairman of O’Shares ETFs and a judge on the new CNBC show “Money Court,” was impressed by Sahil Mehta’s connotations to stock market strategies. “That’s what you’re putting aside for your nest egg when you turn 65.”
In a world that often values practicality over creativity, it can be challenging to pursue our passions and follow our hearts. But for Kelly Bit, the founder of SUBLIMA, it was a calling that she couldn’t ignore.
After years of working as a financial news journalist, Kelly realized that she missed the creative arts as a major part of her life. She started spending her free time making jewelry, and the intentional lifestyle switch brought her a lot of fulfillment.
SUBLIMA is a sustainable, handmade jewelry brand, referencing subliminal messages that produce hidden feelings in our everyday lives. Art imitating life.
In this article, we will explore Kelly’s journey of following her passions, the artistry and intentionality behind her jewelry, and how she is bringing her love of art and design to the world through SUBLIMA.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
I’ve always loved crafting. I’m an only child, and when I was very young, I spent a lot of my time drawing or creating cardboard models of things that I found delightful. I’ve always been captivated by beautiful forms and well-loved objects in our every day and creating artful homages to them.
During my career as a journalist, I missed crafting and the creative arts, so I started spending my free time making—drawing, painting, sewing, and creating jewelry. I wanted to invest in one of those hobbies in a more disciplined way, and I saw jewelry as having commercial prospects. I enrolled in metal smithing and wax carving classes after work, and that’s what gave me the skills and confidence to start a jewelry brand.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
I love commemorating ordinary moments of delight by capturing something of their essence through elevated and artful jewelry that I make by hand.
I have many delightful memories centered around food and the people I enjoy it with, so that’s one reason why many of the pieces are Asian food inspired. I also tend to notice beautiful and aesthetic aspects of food all the time—like the way milk tea splashes with movement, or the mesmerizing repeating folds of dumplings—so those types of details make me want to highlight how interesting they look through an unexpected art medium.
The way that I make my pieces is by carving wax by hand to create wax prototypes. The prototypes are then molded, and from the molds, the pieces are cast in recycled brass or sterling silver and polished and assembled by hand.
HER APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY IN MAKING JEWELRY
The casting company I work with, which is based in midtown Manhattan and family-run, uses a New York-based company called United Precious Metals to recycle their metal and for purchasing refined recycled metal to use in new castings.
In choosing to partner with my casting company, their ability to source recycled metals was important, and I love how I’ve been able to offer sustainable jewelry since day one. It’s important to me because using recycled metals compared to newly mined metals reduces greenhouse gas emissions and conserves natural resources. And I’m thrilled with the quality of the pieces—the recycled brass and sterling silver are both beautiful bright colors, and I provide a polishing cloth to keep the pieces shiny forever since none of the casted pieces are plated.
WHAT SHE HOPES TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER DESIGNS
I love seeing how different people style the jewelry and how they implement their vision of themselves—what they want to project into the world through their self-expression—using the jewelry as part of their toolkit.
My general hope is that the pieces can be marveled at as wearable works of art and that conceptually they serve as a reminder to see an elevated beauty in everyday moments. For some styles, like those based on Asian food or other cultural motifs, I’d love for people to wear them with a sense of pride or appreciation of Asian culture.
WHAT SETS SUBLIMA APART FROM OTHER BRANDS
Aesthetically, I aim to make jewelry that looks unlike anything else in the market, at once striking and timeless, with quality that lasts a lifetime. My designs are unusual and eye-catching, somewhat abstract, and can be styled as edgy or classic. Executing these concepts while drawing inspiration from my Chinese American heritage and Asian culture helps set SUBLIMA even further apart from the rest.
The rise in anti-Asian hate after the pandemic made me turn specifically to Asian culinary delicacies as a source of inspiration, to create symbols of cultural pride by elevating the beauty of Asian food through the art of jewelry in a highbrow way, and it’s not something that I’ve seen done by other artists.
Since the pandemic, and even before, there’s been a growing and palpable demand for Asian products and stories. There’s an appetite for consumer brands to create products that help reinforce the emotional connection to identity and culture. The way that I’ve been doing that with SUBLIMA is a two-pronged approach: first through visual representation, and more meaningfully, I’ve pursued partnerships with local nonprofits serving the Asian American and Chinatown communities here in New York. Since 2020, SUBLIMA has donated $65,000 to nonprofits supporting NYC’s Chinatowns, after-school programming, affordable housing, and food security.
KELLY’S VISION FOR SUBLIMA
My long-term vision is to be the premiere jewelry brand for Asians and Asian Americans and to have the jewelry represent not only high art but humanism and community impact.
One of my biggest desires and goals is for my work to gain more exposure so that its inspiration and aesthetic beauty reach more people. That means collaborating with more organizations and people who share SUBLIMA’s values, being part of events where I can meet people and build connections, getting my jewelry into more stores, and working with more cultural gatekeepers, such as editors or stylists, to spread the word.
Nhut Cao is living proof that with consistency and the right plan, you will get there.
Despite facing numerous challenges while chasing his true calling, Nhut “Justin” Cao refused to be defeated by setbacks and never lost sight of his goals. His story is not simply about winning, but also about not letting the failures hold him back. You may want to grind harder after reading about his life.
In 2014, Nhut Cao made a life-changing decision to leave his home in Vietnam and move to the United States. Despite being deeply familiar with and accustomed to his old life, he made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and start a brand new life from scratch. He got into a decent college, and earned scholarships, hoping to follow the traditional American dream of getting a stable 9-5 job and settling down. But that kind of path didn’t make him happy.
So he dropped out of school and decided to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. He tried many different businesses – from garage sale hunts, reselling and flipping items, tutoring, nail tech, and selling goods from America to Vietnam.
One day, he decided to take a leap of faith and entered into Amazon FBA. Despite all the negativities circulating on the internet about Amazon FBA that time and his fear of failing, he still risked everything to go for it.
Follow along as we delve into Nhut Cao’s journey towards pursuing his dreams.
I SAW MANY PEOPLE BUILDING AN EMPIRE ONLINE BACK THEN WITH A HIGH 5 TO 6 FIGURES MONTHLY — AM I BEING TOO LATE TO THE PARTY?
I learned about Amazon FBA through a stranger in an online forum, the BrickSeek Deals Group for resellers. I always wondered how he could make money flow into his wallet so easily.
It didn’t take me long before I searched “How to sell on Amazon” on Google and Instagram. I saw many people building an empire online back then with a high 5 to 6 figures monthly. The first thing that came to my mind at that time was “Am I being too late to the party?”
I fell deeper into the rabbit hole and found myself searching Youtube on how to get started. But the more I looked, the more I stumbled upon negative opinions, including:
“Amazon is overly saturated,”
“It’s impossible to make money with Amazon FBA in 2015”
“Don’t try or you’ll dive straight into failure!”
As a young entrepreneur, I was too scared to fail at that time, so I blindly believed them.
I delayed my plan until two years later, after the burnout of being constantly on-the-run sourcing for products through garage sales, going to Walmart at 1 am trying to snatch some discounted laptop BrickSeek deals to only make an insignificant amount of profit, I was mentally and physically exhausted from the reseller hustle and being the one-man team from sourcing to listing, fulfilling orders to customer services. I escaped the rat race with the hope of earning my time back for my family and loved ones, but this life is draining me even more.
I finally gave in to the idea of risking it all to Amazon FBA. I remembered telling told myself:
“After all, what do I have left to lose as an immigrant? Nothing.”
“I don’t want to keep trading my time for money as a reseller.”
“I don’t want to continue being a one-man team doing all the work myself. If I ever fail, I still have time to make it back with more experience rather than regret not doing it”
Then I scooped up all of my savings and liquidated everything I had to start my Amazon FBA. And the rest was history.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT BEING AN IMMIGRANT? WE DON’T GIVE UP EASILY.
It was not as easy and beautiful as many other Amazon gurus portrayed it to be on social media. I was constantly making a bunch of mistakes as a new seller and sometimes fell into the trap of self-doubting for not being able to make it drift in.
I learned everything I could from Youtube. I bought courses. I signed up for classes. But after all the hard work, there was still no sign of payoff. But you know what is the beautiful thing about being an immigrant? We don’t give up easily.
I paused to rethink all of my problems and tried to seek credible information from books and the internet to solve them. Then it finally hit home to me that maybe I was too invested in the ‘how’ when instead I could start with the ‘who’.
So I started to widen my circle, find more people who were truly making money on Amazon FBA and work for them for free. In exchange, I could build a long-term, win-win relationship with them. I could ask them for help and be always surrounded by experienced sellers.
But certainly, success won’t come overnight. There were days, weeks, and even months of not seeing any progress or result. I couldn’t find a product. I couldn’t make a sale. Being overwhelmed with bad reviews no matter how much I tried to improve the quality.
I applied many methods to overcome the challenges, such as celebrating even the smallest wins every day; or breaking my biggest goal into smaller, more manageable ones. However, the principle that helped me the most during this trying time was the 1% each day approach.
Even on the most exhausting days, I am committed to spending at least 15 minutes on my business. By consistently dedicating time to my store, I developed a habit of working towards my goals, which can help me stay motivated and focused even during challenging times. And as I made progress, I found that my motivation and momentum increased, making it easier to stay on track and achieve even more.
Finally, in 2019, I was able to bring in close to $500k in revenues by 2019, thankful that I didn’t give up on myself.
STRATEGIES TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN THE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AMAZON, ACCORDING TO NHUT
Put data over emotions: When making business decisions, it’s important to rely on data and facts rather than emotions or assumptions.
Surround yourself with experienced sellers: Building a network of experienced sellers can provide you with valuable insights and knowledge that can help you make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.
Enhance your social presence: Building a strong social identity can help you connect with your customers, build brand awareness, and enhance trust.
Stay away from selling me-too products: Selling unique or innovative products can help you stand out in the crowded Amazon marketplace. Focus on offering something new and different that solves a problem or fulfills a need for your customers.
Do not rush into the game without researching: Never think that you have known it all. There’s always something to learn, especially in the ever-changing environment of e-commerce like Amazon.
MAKING MONEY IS NO LONGER MY PRIORITY
As a seasoned Amazon FBA seller, making money is no longer my priority. Instead, I’m driven to give back to my community. As the saying goes, we attract what we want, and I have been fortunate enough to connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for helping others.
My team in Vietnam connected me with local authorities to aid those in need and support me in every step of this ‘paying it forward’ journey. I am also proud to say that my mentees have used the financial power they earned by learning from my secrets, to donate to many less fortunate lives. Isn’t it incredible how we can use our skills and resources to make a positive impact on the world around us?
TAKE A CHANCE
If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self to trust in his abilities more. When I was starting, I got scared by all the negative things people were saying about Amazon and ran away in fear of failure. But once I learned to trust in myself, even when things were tough and I wasn’t making money right away, I was able to stay focused and keep pushing forward.
And that’s also what I want to say to anyone who’s still scared to take a chance. The hardest thing to overcome usually isn’t a lack of money or support from others – it’s the doubts and fears in your head. But you have to step outside of your comfort zone to make progress and grow.
So take that chance – believe in yourself, and remember, life starts outside your comfort zone!
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has increased the obstacles facing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women-owned enterprises.
Despite being a fast-growing group of business owners, AAPI women confront structural challenges and have limited access to capital, which is made worse by the pandemic’s effects on sectors like dining, retail, and personal care services. According to Hello Alice, their access to financial resources is further hampered by language problems and a lack of banking connections.
AAPI women have borne the harshest economic consequences of the Covid-19 crisis, including business closures, job losses, and increased caregiving responsibilities. However, data on their experiences remains limited and fragmented. AAPI Women’s Equal Pay Day highlights the persistent wage gap, with AAPI women earning $0.92 for every dollar earned by white men, according to the National Women’s Law Center. This wage gap, if unaddressed, could result in AAPI women losing around $267,000 over a 40-year career.
AAPI women also face significant challenges in accessing grants, loans, and capital, despite their entrepreneurial potential. Only a small fraction of federal funding provided through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program reaches AAPI-owned businesses.
FoundHer, a small business accelerator founded by Gloria Lau and Bella Hughes, aims to bridge this funding gap. It focuses on Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian women entrepreneurs in Hawaii, providing non-dilutive grant funds and resources to support their businesses.
Historical patterns indicate that women of color, including AAPI women, are often the first to feel the negative effects of economic downturns and the last to recover, but despite all the obstacles, AAPI women entrepreneurs exhibit resilience and resourcefulness.
Heritage Kulfi, a premium ice cream manufacturer known for its South Asian-inspired flavors, has been selected to participate in KeHE elevate, a program by KeHE Distributors that connects emerging brands with retailers across the country.
Founder and CEO of Heritage Kulfi, Mansoor Ahmed, explained that the brand was created to address a gap in the mainstream market by offering classic South Asian flavors and a creamy, traditional kulfi.
Mr. Ahmed emphasized the use of high-quality, authentic ingredients and traditional methods in crafting each flavor. Drawing from his personal nostalgia for the South Asian cuisine and desserts of his childhood in New York, he confidently developed a product that he knew others would enjoy as well.
Kelly Stockdale, KeHE’s senior category manager, stated that for a brand to be selected for the emerging brand program, it must offer something new and unique. Heritage Kulfi stood out due to its distinctive flavors, attractive packaging, and the growing consumer demand for experiencing diverse tastes. KeHE’s sales team and retail partners voted to include the premium ice cream brand in the program.
Heritage Kulfi takes pride in its handcrafted production process. According to Food Business News, the company simmers locally sourced ingredients overnight, caramelizes and browns the cream’s milk proteins before freezing, resulting in a dense, creamy texture with rich dairy notes.
Their range of flavors includes Alphonso Mango, Cardamom Chai, Coconut, Earl Grey, Pistachio, Rosewater, Saffron, Vanilla Bean, Malai Sweet Cream, and Almond Blossom. Additionally, Heritage Kulfi is actively developing vegan and dairy alternative options.
The company aims to leverage this opportunity of being selected by KeHE to expand its distribution from the Northeast and Midwest regions to nationwide coverage within the next two years.
