Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship 1935: [Part 2] Inventory Management And How To Handle Cash Flow For An Online Store by Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job
Jan 17, 2026
Steve Chou, an e-commerce entrepreneur and founder of MyWifeQuitHerJob.com, shares his insights on building sustainable online stores. He discusses the perils of relying solely on platforms like Amazon and emphasizes the importance of diversifying sales channels. Steve advocates for prioritizing lifestyle goals over rapid business growth, warning of the stress that can come with aggressive scaling. He also discusses practical strategies like avoiding loans for inventory and focusing on efficiency to create a less stressful, more manageable business.
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Protect Sales By Owning Your Channel
- Avoid relying on Amazon as your only sales channel and diversify to your own web property.
- Use your own site to keep predictable sales and avoid being banned or losing ranking unexpectedly.
When Big Orders Meet Platform Risk
- Steve describes placing large vendor orders and then watching sales or listings tank unexpectedly on Amazon.
- He recounts friends who lost listings or accounts after bad batches and negative feedback.
Growth Adds Hidden Stress
- Rapid exponential growth brings added stress, overhead, and risk that often outweigh lifestyle benefits.
- Ask whether growth serves your lifestyle or simply increases sleepless nights and financial exposure.