Muhammad Naeem Sikandar

Amazon seller and course creator

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Muhammad Naeem Sikandar is a course creator. Sikandar was born in Peshawar. His father was a government employee.

Early life and background

Sikandar was born in Peshawar. His father was a government employee. His father died in 2004, when Sikandar was in eighth grade. He has said he had to transfer his father's pension to his mother. He felt he had to make money to buy a home at least for himself, his siblings and his mother, and he said that as everyone grew up, they could not keep living in one room. [1]

Education

Sikandar attended nursery at one school and later studied at another. He passed an entry test and joined seventh grade at a school. He completed grades eight to ten at a school. He topped his FSC exams and won a gold medal. [1]

Sikandar won a scholarship to UET. He held three scholarships at the same time at UET and ranked in the top five of its computer systems engineering department. He has said he first used a computer when he went to UET Peshawar. He bought a Dell Inspiron 15 for 50,000. [1]

Sikandar was admitted to electronics engineering at a campus in Abbottabad. He has said it was his first exposure to homesickness. He joined a talent hunt program run by IBA. He considered opting for a BBA in Karachi and has said he may not be a computer person. An older cousin told him computers had a large scope nowadays. He considered how he could earn money during his graduation. [1]

Publishing and courses

Sikandar opened his first Kindle publishing account around 2010. He has said he built early books by copying article text into them, and that he initially sold books written by other people. He has said the same book sold for 2.99 dollars and even 99 cents. He has said Amazon notified him that his account was being suspended for plagiarism of copyrighted material. He has said he had about 420 books at one point. [1]

He has said he made up to 30,000 dollars a month at one point. He launched five courses in one year, and he has said about 10,000 students took his short courses. He agreed with a partner that the partner would handle marketing while he made the courses. He has said the income was split 50-50 with his partner. He learned English while teaching Western students. [1]

Amazon products and brand sales

Sikandar has said he started a plastic meat claw product with about 500 dollars. He followed a course exactly by the book for his first product launch. He has said an Amazon course cost about 2,997 dollars. He has said his fourth product, an infuser water bottle, sold about 5,000 units. He has said five of 15 products on a shortlist were not profitable. [1]

He has said he was the only seller capturing 70% of the market's sales for one particular product. He has said he was ranked for about 10,000 keywords on Amazon. He has said his product was a best seller for two years. He has said he spent 20% of his profits on marketing. [1]

Sikandar has said he sold a ten-product brand for $1.2 million in February 2017. He sold the brand through a broker to a US buyer. He has said he built a second brand and sold it for $2.5 million after about a year. [1]

He has said he sold a posture corrector brand to a publicly listed company. He has described Covid as a blessing for his business. He has said he crossed 2.5 million dollars in a single month for one product. He has said the next valuation at which a deal would close was 16.5 million dollars and no less. He has also said he received $13.5 million in two days. [1]

Other activities

He has done some projects in real estate. He said he is good at operations and at running a business. He has said he is based in Dubai. [1]

Views

Sikandar does not agree that every successful person can teach. He says a teacher should charge what their value is and deliver that value. He says two people each built a great ecosystem by empowering their students. He has said the way Amazon was sold was a Ponzi scheme. He says the people he discusses have done good, and also bad. [1]

He says he refuses to accept criticism that names a problem without offering a solution. He says that in FSC, students are simply told what the answer is and to write that. He says he was never allowed to think differently. [1]

He said the goal was to make more and more money. He says he has stopped selling success stories. He has spoken with over 300 people and at least 200 businesses in three years. He says the people who play the long game sustain their businesses. He says he would not change his choices, looking back. [1]

Timeline

2004
His father died, when he was in eighth grade.[1]
2010
Opened his first Kindle publishing account, around this year.[1]
2017
Sold a ten-product brand for $1.2 million, in February.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2023-11-01 From copy-pasted Kindle books to a $16.5M Amazon exit Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Where did Muhammad Naeem Sikandar study?

Muhammad Naeem Sikandar won a scholarship to UET and ranked in the top five of its computer systems engineering department. He topped his FSC exams and won a gold medal. He was also admitted to electronics engineering at a campus in Abbottabad.[1]

Where is Muhammad Naeem Sikandar from?

Muhammad Naeem Sikandar was born in Peshawar. He has said he first used a computer when he went to UET Peshawar. He has also said he is based in Dubai.[1]

What is Muhammad Naeem Sikandar known for?

Muhammad Naeem Sikandar has said he sold a ten-product brand for $1.2 million in February 2017. He has also said he sold a posture corrector brand to a publicly listed company. He has said he built a second brand and sold it for $2.5 million after about a year.[1]

How many students took Muhammad Naeem Sikandar's courses?

Muhammad Naeem Sikandar has said about 10,000 students took his short courses. He launched five courses in one year. He agreed with a partner that the partner would handle marketing while he made the courses.[1]

How did Muhammad Naeem Sikandar start in publishing?

Muhammad Naeem Sikandar opened his first Kindle publishing account around 2010. He has said he built early books by copying article text into them. He has said he had about 420 books at one point.[1]

References

  1. From copy-pasted Kindle books to a $16.5M Amazon exit . Thought Behind Things , 2023-11-01.
Show the source passages (72 statements)
  1. He was born in Peshawar. I was born in Peshawar
  2. He attended nursery at a school. International Model School nursery wahan se padhi
  3. He later studied at another school. phir Sir Syed Public School se padhi
  4. He passed an entry test and joined seventh grade at a school. Unique Academy thi. Wahan par main saatvi jamaat mein gaya aur maine jo ek exam hota hai entry test type assessment usmein maine qualify kiya
  5. He completed grades eight to ten at a school. 8th, 9th, 10th maine wahan se padha, Peshawar Public se padha
  6. He topped his FSC exams and won a gold medal. phir Alhamdulillah FSC mein bhi top kiya, gold medalist
  7. He won a scholarship to UET. phir UET mein bhi scholarship mil gayi
  8. He was admitted to electronics engineering at a campus in Abbottabad. Abbottabad wali branch mein wahan par mera hua tha electronics engineering mein
  9. He has said it was his first exposure to homesickness. woh home sickness ka exposure first time tha
  10. He held three scholarships at the same time at UET. I was the only student jo ke teen scholarships leta tha at one single time UET mein
  11. He ranked in the top five of the computer systems engineering department at UET. I was like in top 5 in the computer systems engineering department
  12. He joined a talent hunt program run by IBA. main beech mein IBA chala gaya, unka ek program tha National Talent Hunt Program
  13. He considered opting for a BBA in Karachi. Karachi mein BBA tha, agar main opt kar raha tha toh woh BBA ke liye kar raha tha
  14. He has said he may not be a computer person. main shayad computer computer ka banda nahi hoon
  15. An older cousin told him computers had a large scope nowadays. Yaar mere ek bade cousin hain Khurram Shahzad Chhapra unka naam hai, toh hamare sabse bade cousin hain toh unhone kaha yaar aaj kal computer ka bada scope hai
  16. He first used a computer when he went to UET Peshawar. I used computer for the first time when I went to UET Peshawar
  17. He bought a Dell Inspiron 15 for 50,000. 50,000 ka mujhe abhi bhi yaad hai. Dell Inspiron 15 maine liya tha
  18. He considered how he could earn money during his graduation. agar main paise banana chahoon during graduation toh kis tarah banenge
  19. He felt he had to make money to buy a home at least for himself, his siblings and his mother. I had to make money to make like to buy a home at least, right? For me, my siblings and my mother
  20. He said that as everyone grew up, they could not keep living in one room. Ek room mein kal sab bade ho jayenge, jawan ho jayenge, kab tak ek room mein rahenge
  21. His father died in 2004, when he was in eighth grade. walid sahab ki death basically 2004 mein ho gayi thi when I was in eighth grade
  22. His father was a government employee. walid sahab jo the, woh sarkari mulazim the
  23. He had to transfer his father's pension to his mother. abbu ki pension ammi ke naam pe transfer karne ke liye
  24. He opened his first Kindle publishing account around 2010. maine first time Kindle ka account banaya, Kindle publishing, KDP Amazon. Sahi hai? Back in the days like 2010 mein hi tha
  25. He has said he built early books by copying article text into them. Aur self-improvement search bar mein likho, 10 articles aayenge, copy paste karke book mein daalo, upload kar do 20
  26. He has said Amazon notified him that his account was being suspended for plagiarism of copyrighted material. Amazon ki taraf se ki bhai, your account is being suspended aur aap plagiarism kar rahe ho, copyrighted material
  27. He has said he had about 420 books at one point. meri takreeban 420 kitabein thi us waqt
  28. He has said he made up to 30,000 dollars a month at one point. I made like up to 30,000 dollars a month at that time
  29. He launched five courses in one year. Kar karate paanch courses maine ek saal mein nikaal daale
  30. He has said about 10,000 students took his short courses. jo short courses ke mere student the, toh give or take they were like 10,000 students
  31. He has said the income was split 50-50 with his partner. 50% hamare partner ne liya, 50% maine liya
  32. He agreed with a partner that the partner would handle marketing while he made the courses. you take care of the marketing part and I will take care of the course part
  33. He learned English while teaching Western students. Aur wahin se maine English seekhi thi. Ki jab baari aayi yaar ki ab sikhana hai, goro ko sikhana hai
  34. He has said he initially sold books written by other people. True, initially I sold the books which was the work of other people
  35. He has said the same book sold for 2.99 dollars and even 99 cents. we were selling the same book for $2.99 and even 99 cents
  36. He has said he started a plastic meat claw product with about 500 dollars. Meat claws, ek product hoti hai jo aap plastic ki hoti hai, haathon se woh chicken aur meat ko pieces karne ke liye use karte ho. 500 dollar se literally start kiya
  37. He followed a course exactly by the book for his first product launch. woh black hat side par unka woh Amazing Selling Machine course aa gaya, woh pada, exactly by the book usko follow kiya, apni pehli product launch ki
  38. He has said an Amazon course cost about 2,997 dollars. woh course jo tha na Amazon ka, woh give or take tha kuch 2,997 dollar ka
  39. He has said his fourth product, an infuser water bottle, sold about 5,000 units. Fourth product, infuser water bottle, was a huge success and start made a lot of money selling that product, literally like 5,000 units
  40. He has said five of 15 products on a shortlist were not profitable. maine short list kiya 15 product mein jis mein se paanch profitable nahi thi
  41. He has said he sold a ten-product brand for $1.2 million in February 2017. 10 product ka brand I sold it for $1.2 million in 2017 February to a US client
  42. He sold the brand through a broker to a US buyer. So I was good enough to sell my business through a broker to a US buyer
  43. He has said he built a second brand and sold it for $2.5 million after about a year. After six months started another brand, sold it for after one year for $2.5 million
  44. He has said he sold a posture corrector brand to a publicly listed company. Truvio, jo ke public listed company ko maine bechi, posture corrector, back brace
  45. He has described Covid as a blessing for his business. Covid was a blessing for our business
  46. He has said he crossed 2.5 million dollars in a single month for one product. I crossed $2.5 million a single month for just that one product
  47. He has said the next valuation at which a deal would close was 16.5 million dollars and no less. The next valuation that if you want to close will be $16.5 million and no less than that
  48. He has said he received $13.5 million in two days. I get like $13.5 million in two days
  49. He attended a four-day mastermind in Las Vegas. maine ek chaar din ka mastermind wahan pe Las Vegas mein attend kiya
  50. He has said the idea of doing a podcast came to him one day. phir ek din khayal aaya ki podcast bhi karte hain
  51. He said he is good at operations and at running a business. I realized ki yaar that is not my cup of tea. I am good at operations, I am good at running business
  52. He has done some projects in real estate. real estate mein kuch projects kiye
  53. He has said he is based in Dubai. abhi bhi main waise based out of Dubai hi hun
  54. He has a second YouTube channel under his own name. mere ek dusra YouTube hai jo ki mere personal naam se hai
  55. He has said he was the only seller capturing 70% of the market's sales for one particular product. I was the only seller ke jo ke us particular product ke liye puri market ka 70% sales jo hai woh capture kar raha hai
  56. He has said he was ranked for about 10,000 keywords on Amazon. I was ranked for literally 10,000 keywords on Amazon platform
  57. He has said his product was a best seller for two years. Meri product do saal tak best seller thi
  58. He has said he spent 20% of his profits on marketing. main apne profits ka 20% budget jo tha na, woh marketing ke liye dedicated tha
  59. He said the goal was to make more and more money. The goal was to make more and more and more and more money
  60. He says he has stopped selling success stories. maine success stories bechna band kar di hain
  61. He has spoken with over 300 people and at least 200 businesses in three years. having done a mini MBA over the last 3 years, talking to 300 plus people and at least 200 plus businesses
  62. He says the people who play the long game sustain their businesses. what I have seen is the people who play the long game sustain
  63. He says two people each built a great ecosystem by empowering their students. Yes, Sunny made a great ecosystem, Saqib made a great ecosystem by empowering the students
  64. He has said the way Amazon was sold was a Ponzi scheme. The way that this sold Amazon was a ponzi scheme
  65. He does not agree that every successful person can teach. main is baat se bhi agree nahi karta ke har banda jo ke successful hota hai woh teach kar sakta hai
  66. He says a teacher should charge what their value is and deliver that value. if you feel like you are worth 10000 dollars charge that right but you should be providing that 10000 dollars value
  67. He says he refuses to accept criticism that names a problem without offering a solution. I refuse to accept people telling me what the problem is I want them to follow that up with a solution
  68. He says that in FSC, students are simply told what the answer is and to write that. FSC ka agar aapko idea ho toh zahiri tor par aapko bas keh diya jaata hai this is the answer yahi likhna hai
  69. He says he was never allowed to think differently. Main mujhe to kabhi different sochne diya hi nahi gaya
  70. He says he would not change his choices, looking back. But now looking at back, I still wouldn't change it
  71. He says the people he discusses have done good, and also bad. All I am saying they have done good, but you have to agree that they have done bad
  72. He hosts the Naeem Sikandar Podcast. Muhammad Naeem Sikandar is the Host at 'Naeem Sikandar Podcast'.