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In Participation In A Podcast, The Billionaire Founder Of Wise Up Detailed How Long It Would Take To Achieve R$ 1 Million In Different Scenarios — Including Starting From Scratch, Without Money, Contacts Or A Social Network
During his participation in the podcast RENDAH, businessman Flávio Augusto, founder of Wise Up and former owner of Orlando City, answered a classic question in the business world: what would he do today to achieve R$ 1 million if he had to start from scratch — without money, without contacts, and without his current influence on social media.
Right at the beginning of the conversation, Flávio asked to refine the question and clarify the conditions of the scenario.
From there, he detailed four different possibilities to reach the first million, varying according to the available resources.
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With his current network of contacts, he says he would need only one hour to reach the amount.
If he only relied on his Instagram profile, a few days would be enough.
With the knowledge he has today, but without a network or reach, the timeframe would rise to about three months.
Finally, in the most challenging scenario — without networking, knowledge, or social media — Flávio estimates it would take him three years to reach the goal, retracing the same path he took in the past.
Education And The Internet: The Most Viable Starting Point
When asked what business he would start from scratch, Flávio was straightforward: he would invest in education and do everything online.
However, he highlighted that this doesn’t mean he considers the sector the best for entrepreneurship. “In reality, I don’t really think it’s the best business,” he stated.
According to him, if he could go back in time with his current knowledge, he might enter the financial sector, create a bank, or invest in business models like Software as a Service (SaaS), due to its long LTV (Lifetime Value) — which can reach 50 years —, the interesting average ticket, and its high liquidity.
The education sector, while being the foundation of his journey, presents significant challenges.
Flávio classified it as a “hard” market, with low LTV in Brazil and tight margins. “I learned to make money in this sector, but it sells much more than it delivers,” he summarized.
Criticisms Of Formal Education And The University Model
Flávio also seized the opportunity to criticize the traditional education system.
He pointed out that formal education, especially in the field of business, has very low quality and does not provide the necessary tools for entrepreneurs.
He emphasized that universities are more relevant in scientific fields, such as medicine and technology, where they can still produce useful knowledge for the market.
Even so, Flávio does not discourage academic education. His children attended university and one of them completed a master’s degree in the United States.
His wife also has two degrees and several master’s degrees, and he himself states that he enjoys studying — although he does not believe that the formal path is the best option for those seeking business growth.
Mentoring And Practical Learning: More Effective Pathways
The businessman argued that, in the business world, mentoring and practical experiences are much more effective than traditional courses.
To illustrate, he cited the example of an entrepreneur who already earns R$ 20 million a year: for him, it makes no sense to seek a postgraduate degree expecting to reach R$ 50 million. “It’s much easier to pay for mentorship from someone more successful,” he stated.
Lessons On Discipline, Effort And Mindset
Throughout the conversation, Flávio also drew a parallel between personal discipline and financial success, while commenting on his own journey with health.
He shared that he has lost 33 kilos and still intends to shed eight more, but emphasized that “it’s much harder to lose weight than to make R$ 1 million.”
The phrase reflects one of his main messages: achieving big goals — whether in body, business, or life — requires process, consistency, and prolonged effort. For him, making money does not depend solely on an idea or opportunity, but on a solid entrepreneurial mindset, built with learning, practice, and patience.
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