Your Legacy, Your Freedom

Hello, we are Alan and Mel, founders of Build Your Breakthroughs

This is our Story

Alan was a high school teacher, and Mel was a Respiratory Therapist in the Washington D.C. area. Living in such an expensive city, we found ourselves caught in the grind of long commutes and the struggle for work-life balance.

After two years of preparation, Mel earned a spot at the Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University. We sold our house (a decision we now regret) and moved to Columbus. It was a transformative experience for her; she worked hard, earned her degree, and Alan continued his teaching career, this time working with adult career changers at a coding bootcamp.

In 2019, Mel landed a Business Analyst position (with a signing bonus!) in Nashville, so we packed up again and sold our condo (another regret). When COVID hit and remote work became the norm, we moved again.

Like many during the pandemic, we took on multiple jobs to get ahead. Alan worked full-time as a software developer, picked up a separate contracting role for the early morning hours, and taught on weekends,  while Mel juggled her Business Analyst role and being a mom. But when tax season hit, we found ourselves overwhelmed and burnt out, with little to show for our hard work besides missed time with our kids.

This was our breaking point. Mel dove into research and convinced Alan of the scalability and tax benefits of business acquisition. Initially, we explored physical businesses for sale locally but realized they wouldn't provide the unlimited scalability we sought. We then shifted our focus to digital assets. Although it was challenging for Alan to understand, he eventually saw the potential.

Fast forward five years: both Alan and Mel left their W-2 jobs within three months of owning their first business! Their income increased 3-5 times, allowing them to acquire multiple online ventures, build an extensive real estate portfolio, and even start a nonprofit.

Now, they frequently receive questions from friends and family about how they achieved this lifestyle, which includes traveling 8-10 weeks a year. With Alan's passion for teaching and curriculum development, they launched Build Your Breakthroughs, a series of courses on online business acquisition, real estate, and mentorship. Their goal is to foster a community of like-minded individuals eager to create their own opportunities and breakthroughs in life and career.