The $40 Trick That Made Mark Cuban a Millionaire

Before he became a billionaire, Mark Cuban was just a broke bartender in Dallas.

He had no money. No job. No connections.

But he had one advantage: He knew how to hustle.

At that time iIn his early twenties, Cuban was living in Dallas, sleeping on the floor of a tiny apartment with five roommates. He had no job, no savings, and no real plan.

But what he did have was ambition.

Getting Fired

One day, a friend mentioned a job opening at a local software store.

Cuban, who had no experience in computers, convinced the owner to hire him anyway. He devoured every tech manual he could find, taught himself how to use the software, and started selling like crazy.

After closing a big deal, Cuban decided to celebrate by taking a client out for breakfast instead of opening the store on time. When he returned, he was fired on the spot.

That could have been the end of the story, but instead, Cuban saw it as an opportunity.

Borrowing $40

Cuban borrowed $40 from a pal and printed business cards that read "PC Consultant." He started knocking on doors and pitched local businesses on the idea of setting up their computer systems, selling software, and offering tech support.

Slowly, his reputation grew.

He landed bigger clients, hired a team, and built his company, MicroSolutions, into a profitable business. A few years later, he sold it for $6 million.

But instead of retiring, that was just the beginning.

With his newfound wealth, Cuban invested in a little-known streaming company called Broadcast.com. When the dot-com boom hit, the company’s stock skyrocketed and Cuban cashed out right before the Dotcom crash.

He sold it to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock.

Today of course he’s a billionaire, a Shark Tank star, still part owner of the Dallas mavericks, and one of the most recognizable figures in business.

But it all started with $40, a stack of business cards, and a willingness to bet on himself.

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The Takeaway

Mark Cuban’s story proves that spotting your next big thing does not take wealth or insider knowledge. Cuban didn’t wait for permission, didn’t have special connections, and didn’t start with money.

He just took action, learned fast, and pivoted when the market shifted.

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Steal This Strategy

📖 Book - "How to Win at the Sport of Business" – Cuban’s own book on business and hustling https://amzn.to/3Tkq0z7

🎥 Video - Mark Cuban on becoming an entrepreneur:

🌐 Website - Mark Cuban Companies

About Steve

Steve Strauss is the best-selling author of The Small Business Bible (and 17 other books), Inc.’s small business columnist, a lawyer (non-practicing), and an entrepreneur. He sold his last venture, TheSelfEmployed.com to Mark Cuban & Zen Business. Need a ghostwriter or a newsletter for your business? Contact Steve!