Before I built and sold multiple 7-figure brands, I made these 3 crucial mistakes that cost me tens of thousands of dollars…

I'm writing this because I hope that you will not make the same mistakes as I did.

FYI: These are the lessons my 8 and 9-figure mentors taught me after investing a lot of money into their mentorship.

Let's get ready to take note, my friends!

Just like most people, when I first started my Amazon brand-building journey, I went through failures, confusion, and painful mistakes after following the wrong guru's advice on YouTube.

I lost thousands of dollars.

And honestly… at that time, I didn’t even know what I was doing wrong.

I was simply trying to escape the rat race, 9-5, and trying to buy back some time for myself and my loved ones.

I thought if I just worked harder, launched more products, or spent more money on ads, eventually something would magically work.

But that mindset almost destroyed my business before it even had a chance.

That’s when I decided to invest into mentorship and learn from people who already built the life I wanted.

After learning from my mentor who built and scaled 8-figure brands, I realized something important:

Most Amazon businesses do not fail because Amazon is “too saturated.”

They fail because of foundational mistakes.

And these 3 lessons completely changed my life and eventually helped me build a 7-figure cash-flow business that we later sold.

1. Picking products emotionally instead of strategically

This was my biggest mistake.

My first product was fake eyelashes because I “thought” it would sell.

Meanwhile, I completely ignored:

• Search volume

• Competition

• Advertising cost

• Profit margins

• Existing brand dominance

That single mistake cost me over $6,000+… which at that time was almost everything I had as a broke 20-year-old kid trying to figure life out.

And the worst part?

It didn’t just cost me money.

It cost me months of stress, confusion, self-doubt, and questioning myself.

That’s when my mentor told me something I’ll never forget: “Stop thinking like a consumer. Start thinking like an investor.”

Most beginners choose emotional products because they shop based on feelings instead of data.

Now we use tools like Helium 10 to study:

• Monthly search demand

• Review count

• Market gaps

• Profitability

• Competition intensity

Because Amazon is not gambling.

It’s data.

And if your foundation is weak, no amount of ads can save the business later.

If your product has:
• High clicks
• High ACOS
• But low conversions…

Usually, the issue is your offer, not the ads. Most importantly, don't try to launch multiple products at the same time. Pick the strongest product and laser focus on it in the next 6 months!

2. Cheap branding becomes expensive later

Most beginners try to save money on:

• Images

• Copywriting

• Storefront

• Packaging

Huge mistake.

Your listing is your digital storefront.

You can have the best product in the world… but if your branding looks weak, customers scroll away.

Meanwhile, you’re burning thousands of dollars on PPC trying to fix a conversion problem.

One thing I learned after talking with thousands of Amazon sellers:

Customers buy emotionally first… then justify logically later.

That’s why we heavily focus on:

• Lifestyle photography

• Videography

• Better packaging

• Strong copywriting

• Product positioning

Because trust converts.

3. Only relying on Amazon PPC

Most beginners think PPC is everything.

But most successful brands we built and sold leveraged:

• Influencer marketing

• UGC content

• Tutorial videos

• Social proof

One $150 influencer video once generated more sales for us than weeks of PPC testing.

That’s when I realized: People trust people more than advertisements.

And the best part?

That same content can be reused forever:

• Ads

• Website

• Social media

• Retargeting

• Brand assets

That’s leverage.

And honestly… learning these systems from my mentor changed everything for me.

That’s why I still believe Amazon is one of the best opportunities today for ordinary people who want:

• Ownership

• Cash flow

• Freedom

• Time back with family

Because once you learn this skill once… nobody can take it away from you.

I’m sharing this not to flex.

I’m sharing this because I know there are many of you out there who still believe there has to be another way.

And you’re right.

You’re not crazy.

You just need the right systems, mentorship, and foundation.

If you’re stuck right now, just know it’s temporary.

I'm hosting a FREE workshop this upcoming Thursday @ 8 PM CST where I show you the BTS with real # and case studies to help you get started building your dream business and regain your time and financial freedom leveraging the biggest e-commerce platform in the world, AMZ.

Sign up here>>https://amzshifu.com/live-training [limited slots available]

To your Success!

Shifu Justin

Already selling on Amazon or looking to have a mentor by your side?

https://calendly.com/shifujustin/amzpassiveincome1-1

Why AMZSHIFU UNIVERSITY Exists & Our Mission:

We started AMZSHIFU with my cofounders because we know what it feels like to try and fail, again and again.

When I first began my Amazon journey, I didn’t have a mentor. I tried to figure everything out myself, spent thousands of dollars making mistakes, and learned from the wrong “gurus.” It took me years to realize that success is like climbing a mountain:

If you’ve never been to the top, how do you know which path to take?

The climb is steep, and the wrong turn can cost you months or everything. Everything changed when I invested in the right mentor who had already made it to the summit and could guide me step-by-step. That’s when my life and business transformed.

Our mission at AMZSHIFU UNIVERSITY is simple:

To give everyday people a clear roadmap, the right network, and personalized mentorship so they can build real, sustainable businesses without wasting years in trial and error.

We believe in our students. We show up for them. But they must also show up for themselves because no one can steer the ship for you.