Kasra Dash, a self-made millionaire at the age of 26, has shared insights into his journey of acquiring valuable skills through online video tutorials.
Hailing from Livingstone, Scotland, Kasra overcame academic challenges with a determination to learn, adopting a “fake it until you make it” approach.
As part of the YouTube generation, he delved into countless tutorials and motivational speeches, particularly focusing on strategies for earning through SEO.
Reflecting on his journey, Kasra remarked, “Education was not my strong suit – but I’d still get things done.”
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“Growing up, my family weren’t rich, we didn’t have a lot of money and I was taught to work hard for the things I wanted.
“When I started getting into graphic design as a teenager and wanted a good computer, my parents told me I’d need to earn the money for it.
“So I started buying very cheap cars on Gumtree auctions for £400-500 and my dad would loan me the money.
“I’d fix them up on my parent’s driveway and then sell them on for a profit.
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“That was my first take on digital marketing; I’d market the cars online and earn good money from it.
“I bought my first computer with the cash and then started doing web design.
“I blagged that I had experience and then taught myself how to do everything on YouTube.
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“I just learned on the internet and taught myself the job.”
Kasra continued his side hustle while studying interactive media marketing at Edinburgh Napier University but realised that he’d already covered much of the course content.
After completing his studies in 2018, he made the decision to allocate a portion of the funds he had amassed from his profitable endeavors.
“I generated the majority of my income by disseminating knowledge – individuals would engage my services as a consultant. While pursuing my studies in interactive digital marketing, I realized I had already acquired a substantial amount of knowledge through self-education via YouTube.
My understanding of the subject matter was well-rounded due to years of independent online learning. Initially, my earnings stemmed from website design.
Subsequently, I saved a significant portion of those earnings and invested in a link-building agency, as well as a software business – the latter of which was recently appraised at £4.6 million.”
Since his earliest ventures into entrepreneurship, which involved selling refurbished vehicles, Kasra has amassed a fortune and now relishes a lifestyle that includes extensive travel.
He has since become a globetrotter, delivering speeches at various events and conferences worldwide. “I used to watch individuals online and draw inspiration from them – now, I find myself in a similar position, speaking at events such as Affiliate World Dubai and the Chiang Mai SEO Conference.
Interestingly, I often find myself among older attendees. Occasionally, I am the youngest person in the room, imparting knowledge to industry veterans on modern digital marketing techniques.
My travel schedule is quite hectic; last month, I visited Dubai, and in April, I will be in Vietnam. Additionally, I have engagements scheduled in Estonia and Germany for June.”
His parents have been a constant source of support throughout his journey. “My parents have always been incredibly supportive – my father, in particular, is a hard worker, and he instilled in me the value of diligence.
He takes pride in witnessing my global travels and participation in prestigious events.”
In addition to his professional commitments, Kasra places a strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. “To maintain balance, I prioritize my health and well-being. I begin my day at 5 am with gym sessions before heading to the office to oversee operations across multiple companies, including a link-building agency called Searcharoo and a marketing agency named PromoSEO.”
He emphasized, “To achieve significant financial success, one must possess a high tolerance for stress. My lifestyle entails a considerable amount of stress, which may not appeal to everyone, but it’s what drives me forward.
I firmly believe that stress levels directly correlate with one’s potential for success. If you can only handle minimal stress, your prospects for success are limited.
Without my current endeavors, I would find life mundane. I thrive on mental stimulation and challenge.
Despite my intense work ethic, I still make time to enjoy life. While I work hard, I also know how to party. However, I prefer occasional extravagant celebrations with friends over frequent weekend outings.
I set specific goals for myself, such as committing to daily gym sessions for two months, followed by a well-deserved holiday. Being self-made and self-taught has undoubtedly influenced my strong work ethic.”
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