Paul Kühne's Linkedin Analytics

I was featured in Upwork's 2024 Impact Report. Let that sink in: 1 of only 5 entrepreneurs selected from a pool of 18 million worldwide. That's the top 0.00001%. For someone who started with zero business connections, mentors, or funding whatever the business model of success you've been taught said you need; I didn't have it. This isn't just recognition, it's validation of a contrarian approach to entrepreneurship. I know a thing or two about falling within the sub 1% of the exception. When I left my senior data scientist role and its 6-figure compensation package, I knew the odds: • 20% of businesses fail in their first year ~ Chose no on this • 50% fail within five years ~ Passed on this • 70% fail by their tenth year ~ Will happily be passing on this too :0 Yet I walked away from security because I understood something fundamental: Life is a series of calculated risks. My job isn't to avoid risk, it's to systematically eliminate it through precise execution, learning, and adaptation. If you are thinking about entrepreneurship here is my methodical risk-reduction system: 1. Distribution: Chose upwork for its merit-based structure (eliminating network risk). The platform becomes your network when you don't have one. Merit-based opportunities mean your work and results speak louder than your connections 2. Value Architecture: Developed service offerings with 3x ROI guarantees (eliminating value risk). Refining my value proposition 1 million times over, perfect your craft until partners can't imagine working with anyone else 3. Continuous Learning: Invested 60% of early profits into skill development (eliminating competency risk). Every dollar in the early days goes back into yourself or the business, getting smarter, sharper, and building infrastructure that can run without you. 4. Delivery Excellence: Built systems with 86% client retention (eliminating revenue volatility). Being a trustworthy partner is everything in service businesses, companies are trusting you to build value; honor that trust religiously The results matter man... Two initial upwork clients became the foundation of what's now a 7-figure business where: • Delivered solutions having reached 1.2M+ end users globally • We've maintained ~4.9/5 client satisfaction over the last 5 years • We've been able to donate to some of our favorite mission-driven organizations along the way This journey isnt for everyone.. But it's also incredibly fun. If you're early in your journey, I wont say you will be successful but i can say youll never know unless you try. Shout out to upwork for giving me a platform when I didn't have one. For the other entrepreneurs out there share your best keep secrets in the comments :)