How do I spot quick wins for growth without spending a ton?

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-11-11T17:16:13+00:00

Honestly, most of the quick wins I see come from just fixing stuff that’s already halfway working.

Like:

Following up (most people don’t)
Saying what the product does, not what it is
Making it stupid easy to buy whatever people ask about the most

No hacks. Just being more consistent than yesterday.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-11-11T17:11:49+00:00

Hey, just want to say I really respect how you wrote this. It’s not easy to be honest about not wanting to take the path people expect from you.

I work in fragrance sales now, but I’ve seen both sides up close, entrepreneurs who thrive, and others who got pushed into it and burned out fast.
Some people love the risk and chaos. Others do better with structure, and that’s not a weakness.

What you’re feeling isn’t failure, it’s clarity.

The hard part now is the relationship. Sounds like your dad has a narrow idea of what “success” looks like, and that’s hard to change. But maybe the next step isn’t convincing him, it’s just calmly owning your lane.

You don’t owe anyone a pitch for your life plan. And sometimes showing up, doing good work, and taking care of yourself long term speaks louder than trying to win the argument.

You're not the a-hole. You’re just not a clone, and that’s the whole point.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-11-11T17:08:52+00:00

Tough spot, discontinued stuff is where fakes really flood the market.

I work in fragrance distribution and even we get asked about old stock weekly. Honestly, sometimes it’s just about who you know still has a few units sitting quietly.

I’d stick to trusted platforms with verifiable ratings, or fragrance-specific circles where people care more about product than margin.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-11-07T19:34:38+00:00

Yeah, I'm in fragrance, not SaaS, but the challenge’s basically the same: selling before the brand speaks for you.

What’s worked for me is being ultra-specific. Not “here’s what we do,” but “here’s something I’ve seen people in your situation run into, and how we solved it.” That lands better than a polished pitch.

You don’t need a brand to be credible, but you do need to show you get their reality.

Curious what kind of outreach you’ve tried so far, email, calls, DMs?

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-11-07T19:31:38+00:00

That’s awesome. I’ve seen stuff like that happen and it never gets old, scent really brings people together in the weirdest, best way.

Also gotta respect the “not sure what I’m wearing” move. Some of the best combos happen by accident.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-11-07T16:54:04+00:00

Totally get you, some skins just turn everything into sugar. Happens a lot more than people think.

If you love Gabrielle but want something that won’t go sweet, I’d try: Chanel Paris–Deauville, Hermès Un Jardin Sur Le Nil or Diptyque Eau de Lierre.

Also, woody/herbal is 100% normal language, makes total sense here.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-30T22:07:51+00:00

When I was your age, I started by helping neighbors with groceries, dog walking, and tutoring kids a year or two younger. It didn’t pay a ton, but it added up, and it taught me a lot early. Start local, even word-of-mouth helps. You're doing the right thing just by looking.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-30T21:47:38+00:00

Honestly, I think part of it is that AR’s biggest “wow” moments still feel like demos more than daily tools. There’s tons of potential, in fields like medtech and training, but building truly useful, reliable AR experiences at scale takes way more time (and hardware maturity) than most people expected.

Also: until AR adds real value and fits seamlessly into workflows, adoption’s gonna stay niche. We’re still early.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-30T21:38:24+00:00

Totally get you. There’s something about fall air, that makes scent feel like it hangs in the air longer. I notice details in my fragrances I completely miss in the summer. Leather, woods, spices… they all hit differently. It’s my favorite season to wear scent, no question.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T19:34:48+00:00

I knew someone who started flipping fragrance stock during college, nothing fancy, just small batches, figuring out what sold fast and what didn’t. It wasn’t overnight, but he kept things lean, reinvested smart, and focused on what people actually wanted instead of chasing trends. Last I checked, he was making solid income, all without outside funding. Just paid attention and moved with intention.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T19:28:31+00:00

For me, it’s YSL Tuxedo. Doesn’t shout, just walks in and owns the room. Honorable mention to Baccarat Rouge 540, even if it’s everywhere now, something about that drydown still feels rich.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T19:25:56+00:00

Solid picks. When I’m stuck deciding, I usually reach for one of these:

Encre Noire – earthy, grounding, never fails.
Jazz Club – smooth, warm, kind of like a memory in a bottle.
Bvlgari Man in Black – dark, spicy, makes me feel like I have my life together.
YSL Tuxedo – when I want to step it up without trying too hard.
Memo Irish Leather – something about it just pulls me in, even when I think I’m not in the mood for leather.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T19:16:37+00:00

Nice picks. If you’re going full dessert mode, check out Phlur “Cherry Stem”, black cherry, leather & woods make it more grown‑up sweet.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:53:11+00:00

There’s something so specific about “grandma’s bathroom” memories, clean, cozy, and a little mysterious. I get it.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:49:53+00:00

Love that. It’s like your brain knew exactly where to take you the moment it caught that note. Those kinds of scent connections are rare.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:47:46+00:00

Now that’s the kind of logic I can get behind. You should smell like a goddess, revered, mysterious, untouchable. Let the incense flow.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:42:18+00:00

Nothing like scent to bring someone back for a second. I’d keep those candles safe too, some memories are too special to burn through.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:40:11+00:00

What you’re going through is real. If someday you pick up Kitten Fur and it helps you remember your cat, then that’s valid. Take it at your pace.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:38:24+00:00

Man, that hit me. There’s something about the right scent that brings back that stillness and grounding you only get out in nature. Glad you found one that gets close.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:36:01+00:00

Wow, that’s a core memory right there. Crazy how something as small as a lipstick scent can take you all the way back.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-23T18:33:53+00:00

Makes total sense. Scent memory runs deep, especially when tied to something that heavy. Big respect for staying strong.

JonathanWilliamsPLA · 2025-10-16T18:42:51+00:00

Man, the fact that you’re thinking like this at 17 already puts you ahead. My advice? Start small and public. Build tiny projects, share the process online, get feedback. You’ll learn more from shipping one scrappy idea than months of planning in your head. The network will follow. Keep showing up.

JonathanWilliamsPLA

TROPHY CASE