Who Am I & Why I Started Writing
My name is Quadir Russell. I just turned 25, and one of my biggest goals this year is to start documenting my day-to-day more intentionally for a few reasons.
First and most importantly, these first 18 months as an entrepreneur have been filled with mindset shifts and rapid learning. My goals are evolving constantly, my ideas are changing, the target is always moving. Being able to look back at my thoughts and headspace, through the highs and lows, will give me clarity and perspective on how I’m growing, both personally and professionally.
Secondly, in doing this work, I’ve come to realize that a lot of people my age are deeply interested in business ownership. They love the idea of being their own boss, but they’ve been led to believe the risks of starting a business are too high. By seeing me do it, some of them have started to believe it's more attainable than they once thought. This blog gives me a place to share the realities of entrepreneurship, offer transparency about the risks (which I wish someone had been more honest with me about), and dive into the technical side of acquisition entrepreneurship.
Finally, I’m starting this blog to kick off my content creation journey. I’ve never been an introvert, if you know me, you know I never stop talking, but for some reason, getting on camera just hasn’t felt natural yet. If I had to guess, I think it's because I put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve first. There's a part of me that feels I haven’t “made it” yet and therefore have no place teaching or speaking publicly. But writing feels like a natural first step to start connecting with others who think like me.
So, with all that said, here are my three pillars for this blog — and every piece of content I write will anchor back to one of these:
- Documentation – Writing down my thoughts and mindset in real time, so I can look back later and reflect on how my perspective changes over time.
- Education – Sharing how business buying works, why I believe it's the most overlooked form of investment, and showing others what’s possible.
- Connection – Building community with others who are already in the space or are looking to enter, so we can talk through the ups and downs of this journey (and sometimes other topics I just find interesting).
My Journey to Entrepreneurship
One thing about me: I have no problem admitting when I don’t know something. But once I believe in something, it’s hard to change my mind. One debate I always come back to is the classic “nature vs. nurture” conversation. Are people born with talent, or are they shaped by their environment? For me, it’s not even a debate. I believe — with a few exceptions — most people are born with relatively equal mental ability, and what separates people is their environment. Too often, we hear things like “I’m just not good at math” or “I’ve never been book smart.” Those aren’t facts — they’re beliefs. Beliefs formed by what people are told, what they’re exposed to, and what they internalize.
When I was young, I excelled in school. Not because I had some rare natural gift, but because I was always told I was smart. My parents reinforced that from early on. So when I ran into something hard, I didn’t give up. I worked through it. Because why wouldn’t I? I was smart. That belief became a part of my identity. It wasn’t “if I’ll figure this out,” it was “how fast can I?”
That mindset of believing I can figure out anything became the foundation for everything I’ve done since. Even when I was 16, I was experimenting with business ideas. One of my earliest ventures was reselling custom socks. I’d buy a pack of white Nike socks, convince my sister (the artistic one) to dye them, and let her keep a few pairs for herself (which she never sold — she just gave them away). I’d flip the rest for $15 a pair to my teammates (triple the cost of the pack) and I loved doing it.
When I was 13, it was shoveling snow. When I was 11, it was selling gum at school for a quarter a piece. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. And because I’ve always believed in myself, I never saw a reason why I wouldn’t succeed at whatever I decided to take on.
My First Big Move: Buying a Student Rental in College
My first major project came in my senior year of college, when I bought a student rental property in Troy, NY.
I had the idea back in junior year, when I moved off campus and started doing the math on how much my landlord was probably pocketing from renting a house to me and my friends. (Of course, I wasn’t yet thinking about all the actual expenses of renting to 8 football players…) But I couldn’t shake the idea.
From that point on, I became obsessed. I’d scroll Zillow with a friend of mine, even though neither of us had any money. We’d still analyze every listing, calculate rent potential, and imagine how we’d finance it.
Fast forward to January of my senior year. I’d saved up money from my summer internship and side jobs. One day, I came across a listing that checked every box:
- 5 minutes from campus
- 3 minutes from the bar
- 6 bedrooms
- 2,200 square feet
- Plenty of parking
I had no clue how I’d pay for it. I didn’t understand the closing process. I had no idea how much the renovations would cost or if I’d even get it rented in time.
But I didn’t hesitate. I scheduled a walkthrough that day and put in an offer that night.
In just over two months, I closed on the house. And shortly after that, I got it fully rented for the next school year.
I tell that story for a reason: what we believe about ourselves matters more than anything else. The people who think they can and the people who think they can’t are both right. I’ve always been someone who thinks I can. Not because I had it all figured out, but because I’ve never been afraid to start. Limiting beliefs are the silent killers of potential. Most people don’t fail because they tried and came up short, they fail because they never even gave themselves the chance. They overthink. They doubt. They wait for perfect conditions.
But the people who end up doing great things? They’re not always the smartest or the most prepared. They’re just the ones willing to bet on themselves.
So if you’re sitting on an idea, act on it. Don’t wait for permission. Move fast. Trust that you’ll figure it out. You don’t need all the answers — you just need the belief that you can find them.
That’s the mindset that launched my journey into entrepreneurship.
And it’s still what drives me today.