I’m Erik Huberman, and my stance is simple: momentum beats perfection. Careers are not straight lines. They are a series of quick moves, tough pivots, and compounding lessons. That’s the only way I’ve ever built anything that lasted.
The story people don’t see is the messy middle. It’s the year you make almost nothing. It’s the project you sell sooner than you planned, because it’s the right next step. Speed, resilience, and timing matter more than ego. That belief shaped every move I made.
“At 22, I made $350 and started FameWizard and pivoted out of real estate.”
My Core Argument
Start early, move fast, and don’t get precious with your plans. The market changes. Your skills evolve. The only way to win is to keep building while you learn. That’s what took me from a failed real estate bet to leading a company that has worked with thousands of brands.
“At 27, I started Hawk Media. And now at 38, we’ve worked with almost 6,000 brands, over 250 people here, and it’s gone pretty well.”
I’m not saying chaos is a strategy. Discipline is the base. But flexibility is the advantage. The path that builds momentum is often the one you didn’t map out at the start.
Proof From My Journey
At 21, I went into real estate at the worst time possible. The great recession hit. That punch forced a pivot. It was painful, and it was the best training I could have asked for.
“At 23, I realized what entrepreneurship really was as I built that company.”
FameWizard taught me endurance. Then came Swag of the Month, which I sold at 25. That exit let me join Science and help launch Ellie.com. We grew Ellie fast and sold at 26. Those moves weren’t random. Each step was momentum feeding the next step.
“At 24, we hired a CEO for FameWizard, and I moved on to start Swag of the Month.”
By 27, I launched Hawke Media. Today, our team is over 250 strong. We’ve partnered with almost 6,000 brands. That didn’t happen because I held one idea for a decade. It happened because I kept shipping, switching, and stacking wins.
What This Means For Builders
People ask if constant change creates risk. Of course it does. But standing still is riskier. Markets punish stubbornness. Customers don’t wait for your perfect plan. Iteration is a moat.
- Start before you feel ready. Momentum creates clarity.
- Pivot on facts, not feelings. Follow the evidence.
- Hire ahead of your ego. Let pros run what they’re best at.
- Ship, sell, and move. Don’t let sunk costs trap you.
- Build compounding skills. Each project should make the next one easier.
These steps help you make progress even when conditions are rough. Small wins roll up into big outcomes.
Addressing The Pushback
Some say you need one vision and infinite patience. Fair. But patience without feedback is fantasy. The market is your mentor. Iteration is how you listen. If your vision can’t adapt, it’s not vision. It’s stubbornness dressed as strategy.
The Bigger Picture
From 21 to 38, every chapter taught a unique lesson. Real estate taught risk. FameWizard taught grit. Swag of the Month taught timing. Ellie taught scale. Hawke taught leadership. The through line is movement.
If you want compounding growth, trade perfection for progress. Hire great people early. Let go of the projects that no longer serve the mission. Keep building your reps.
My call to you: pick a small, real move this week. Launch, sell, or hire. Then do it again next week. Stack the steps. Momentum is the only unfair advantage you control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know when it’s time to pivot?
Track results, not wishes. If customers aren’t buying and fixes aren’t moving the needle, set a deadline. Make a hard call based on data and runway.
Q: What if I don’t have the perfect idea yet?
Start with a small, sellable version. Shipping teaches faster than planning. Traction will shape the idea into something stronger.
Q: How do I hire before I feel ready?
Define the outcome you need, not just tasks. Bring in someone who has done it before. Let them own it and set clear milestones.
Q: Isn’t rapid change risky for brand trust?
Change guided by customer value builds trust. Communicate why you’re shifting. Keep quality steady. Consistency in value beats consistency in format.
Q: How do I build momentum from zero?
Pick one channel and one offer. Set a weekly target. Review, adjust, and repeat. Small wins compound into durable growth.
