Introduction
Building a successful 3D modeling business from scratch after a layoff might sound impossible, but Matt’s story proves otherwise. In this candid interview, we explore how he transitioned from a landscape designer employee to generating over $80,000 in freelance revenue within two years. Learn his exact cold outreach strategy, pricing evolution, and the mindset shifts that made it all possible.
Founder Success Story QnA
Could you please give an introduction about yourself?
I’m a landscape designer who joined The Real World two years and a couple months ago—it was right at the beginning, November of 2022. I was working as a landscape designer at a few companies locally which weren’t really going anywhere, and I always kind of disliked having a job and having bosses. I joined not really knowing how much work it was going to be to get something going, but I got everything all set up and took the courses. Funny thing is, I joined at the end of November, and January 5th I got laid off from my job. I was like halfway set up and thought, “Okay, well I have to figure out how to make this work now.” I basically just put everything into it, working all day—literally all day for months—just trying to get as much money as possible. It was really slow at first, and I was working on this terrible laptop that I thought was going to melt or something. It just took months of struggle, but eventually it started turning, and I started making more money than I had been at whatever job I was at. That’s where I’m at now—working with people all over the country, upgraded all my equipment, and actually kind of know what I’m doing now. Whereas when I was working under supervisors at jobs, I kind of wasn’t really learning that much.
Was there a specific reason for the layoff, or was the company just doing badly?
The reason they gave me was just because it was winter—it’s a landscape company. But to be honest, I kind of understand why they did it. I felt like I was hired with them having use for me, and I just didn’t really make them very much money. I probably cost more money than I made them, so when they were getting rid of people, I was one of the people that they chose.
What made you decide to join The Real World back in November of 2022?
I think I saw—I can’t remember what video it was—but I saw just a video talking about it. I was like, “Okay, well I want to make my own money.” I’d been watching Andrew Tate videos and seeing the whole controversy, trying to figure out what his deal was. I guess I just started liking what he was saying, and when I heard him talk about it—he was with a whiteboard explaining how money works—I was just like, “I don’t want to work, I don’t like working jobs, I want to work for myself.” This sounds easy, I’ll just go join this thing, and in a couple months I’ll be making way more money—twice as much as I’m making at this job probably. It didn’t work out exactly that way, but I’m glad eventually.
Which campuses did you join when you first got into The Real World?
I don’t remember what it was called back then, but it’s the SMCS campus now, and also Business Mastery—the one with Arno. Those are the two I really spent the most time in, but the freelancing campus (I think it was just the freelancing campus back then) is where I’ve spent 95% of my time.
What did you apply from the lessons, and what did you end up building for your own service?
It taught me literally how to put together an Instagram page and how to actually use Instagram and start messaging people—how to message them, how to follow them, like a few of their posts, and send them a DM, then how to follow up. I mean, it’s taught me a lot of different stuff I couldn’t even begin to bring it all up, but kind of just also how to be disciplined about a lot of things and how to approach working with businesses—overdeliver, be consistent, stuff like that.
In terms of a skill, did you end up doing a skill you already knew, or did you learn a new skill within SMCS?
I already knew the skill, which was actually 3D modeling and 3D rendering. I already just knew that from the jobs that I had been working.
How did you actually apply it? Did you build a personal brand or did you do cold DMing?
I do cold DMing. I built an Instagram, just post my work. I had a logo that I made like years ago that I just kind of slapped on there, and literally just started posting stuff that I had made and reaching out to people.
How many outreaches did you need to do before you got your first client?
I’m not actually sure how many I sent out. I have no idea—not even a rough guess. Maybe I want to say like 150 to 200, but I really have no idea. The first ones that I sent out were terrible. They were like essays, just gigantic blocks of text to people that couldn’t even use my service. I was sending stuff to people whose pages weren’t even in English—they’re in Spanish, and I can’t speak Spanish. It felt like a lot, but if I went back and looked at it, it’s probably be like 50 or something. But it felt like a lot.
What was that like actually getting and acquiring your first client?
The first one—it felt, I don’t want to say amazing, but it definitely gave me a lot of hope because, like I said, I had gotten laid off, so I was pretty desperate for money. The first invoice I ever sent out was for $87.50 on PayPal. It was really not great, like a starter client—cheap work. But I also was like, “Somebody’s going to pay me,” because it was half. I did the deposit, so $87.50. I’m pretty sure it’s half of $150 or something like that. The motto is basically like: if I can do this once, I can just do this a bunch of times and make enough money.
What did you actually do for them?
They were architects and they did barndominiums—which are big houses that are shaped like barns. It’s a very weird thing, but I guess they’re really popular in Texas. They had a 3D model of one of their designs, and they sent it to me. I put it in my rendering software and made it look nice, basically.
Was it just right timing?
No, I don’t think so. Actually, it was because I said it might increase your sales, and they were like, “All right, well we’ll try it.” That was pretty much how it was. It was cheap enough to just give it a try. They used me for like three or four projects like that, but then eventually just kind of died off.
How much did you start charging later as you got more confidence?
I started with that client—my first good client that I still work with—at $300 to $400 per project at the beginning. I kept upcharging him though, which really wasn’t good. I’m surprised he continued working with me. I was like, “This would be $50 more dollars for this revision, this one will be $75 more.” I don’t do that anymore. I just tell them it’s going to be this much money. But anyway, $300 to $400, and now two years later I’m doing more like $800 to $900. I’ve gotten so much faster at it—a project that used to take me two or three weeks of constant work will take me like a couple of days.
What kind of projects do you work on now?
There are actually three main kinds, but two main ones. The first is where somebody has a design, and I talk with them about what the design will be, what all the materials will be, what the plants will be. They send me pictures of the property, I model the whole property, and create their design in a 3D model so they can basically either sell it or sell the project. If it’s a $100,000 project, it’ll win them the project if the homeowner likes it. Or they can use it to show their customer what the project will be, make changes, and plan. The second kind is I actually make the design, and those ones are the highest I’ve charged—$2,500 for one of those. I mostly do those in California and British Columbia. I didn’t know how to do that until I started this online. I didn’t know how plants worked, didn’t know how to design anything, but I met this client who mentored me and taught me everything.
Did you get any referrals, or have all your clients been just through outreach?
I got one referral. One. The rest cold outreach, basically.
In total since you began the 3D modeling and rendering, what have you made so far?
It’s something like $80,000 or $90,000. The first year I made $38,000, which was okay. Last year I made around $45,000. Then this year so far I’ve made $13,000. I’m aiming for $60,000 this year. Yeah, in total that’s something like $80,000.
Do you have a job on the side then while you’re working on something else?
No, this is the only thing I do. I also play music and make money through that once in a while, but this is the main thing. I purely sustain myself off this. I don’t have any other job.
What does your average day look like now compared to before you joined The Real World?
Right now my days are super weird. I have some personal responsibilities that I attend to during the day, so I actually don’t start work until 6 o’clock at night usually. I’ll get up at like 7 or 8, take care of what I need to take care of, then start at 6 and just put on focus music or white noise and work until two o’clock in the morning. Before my days got all crazy, I used to get up at six, run to the park half a mile away, do chin-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, and squats, run back, do my outreach stuff, then my morning routine, then work from 9 to 5, have a few hours for family, then get back on at like 8 or 9 and do outreach, then sleep.
What kind of impact has Andrew Tate had on you?
I definitely would be doing something different for money, but also I kind of lump him in with people like David Goggins or even Jordan Peterson or Wim Hof. All these people I listen to on the internet are kind of like weird outliers, but they have their entire philosophy. His is very much: work very hard, say things you believe even if they’re controversial, always do the courageous thing. A big thing was “Stand by Your Word.” If I told somebody I’m going to do something, I have to do it. I’m not perfect about that, but it’s helped me in business. If I told somebody, “This will be $200 and I can get it done in 3 days,” and then I realize that was way too low and I need more time, I’ll just stay up until 6 a.m. and do it. Also, just do stuff that sucks because that’s good for you.
Where do you see your life heading, and what plans do you have for short-term, medium-term, and long-term?
Short-term: I just hired an outreach person, so I’m going to basically have enough work to keep me way too busy right now. I’m starting to charge the prices I need to make good money, but I want to make it so I have way too much work and way too many opportunities and see how much I can even charge. Medium-term: This year I want to start doing local projects where I’m working with contractors and onsite, putting projects together. Long-term: I’m not really sure. I don’t want to build a big giant business. I’m not really a business person. I just kind of want to have two or three or four people that I work with and take care of them.
How old are you?
28.
Do your parents have opinions on what you’re doing?
My dad encourages me. He had a business when I was growing up. My mom encourages me too, but they both are kind of like, “You could probably make a lot of money if you get a job and it would be really secure and stable.” I always tell them I think I can make a lot of money with this. They’re like, “Okay, you should see how much you can make at a job.” My dad will be like, “When you own your own business, people respect you more.” They support me but want me to do the safe practical thing.
What advice would you have for people unsure about joining The Real World?
I would say spend the $50 and see if you can make $50. If you can’t make $50, then just quit—well, I would say don’t just quit, but I mean it in the sense of like you can make $50 in a month if you really try. If you don’t try and you’re just like “Oh, this is a scam,” then find something else to do. It’s not a scam. I had my own worries about that coming into it, and I just genuinely tried. It did take me more than a month to make $50, but by the time I really needed to make money, I was able to make it in a couple weeks because I was trying really hard. Your boats were burned—you didn’t have another choice.
Matt’s 3D Modeling Business Stats
Matt has built a freelance 3D modeling and rendering business generating over $80,000 in revenue since starting in January 2023. His income progression shows consistent growth, with plans to scale to $60,000 annually.
- Total revenue: $80,000+ since January 2023
- Current project rates: $800-$900 per rendering
- Design projects: Up to $2,500 per project
- Worked with 99% cold outreach, 1% referrals
- Hired first outreach person to scale in 2025
| Year | Revenue | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 (First Year) | $38,000 | First client at $87.50 |
| 2024 (Second Year) | $45,000 | Rates increased to $300-$400 |
| 2025 (Current Year) | $13,000 so far | Targeting $60,000 total |
| Project Range | $87-$2,500 | From basic renders to full design |
| Hourly Commitment | 40-60 hours/week | Full-time freelance schedule |
Matt’s Method
Matt’s approach combines technical expertise with systematic client acquisition. He leveraged existing skills while mastering outreach and business fundamentals through disciplined execution.
- Used existing 3D modeling and rendering skills from landscape design jobs
- Built Instagram portfolio showcasing previous work and new projects
- Implemented cold DM outreach: follow, like posts, then send personalized DMs
- Started with low pricing ($87.50) to gain testimonials and prove concept
- Gradually increased rates every 3-5 projects as portfolio strengthened
- Focused on overdelivering and consistency to retain long-term clients
- Hired outreach assistant to scale lead generation in year three
Matt’s Tools
Matt’s 3D modeling business runs on a lean but effective tool stack focused on client acquisition, project delivery, and payment processing.
- Instagram: Primary channel for portfolio showcase and cold outreach
- PayPal: Invoicing and payment processing for all client transactions
- Zoom: Client consultations and project kickoff meetings
- 3D Rendering Software: Unspecified professional software for visualization work
- Focus Music/White Noise: Maintains concentration during 6 PM to 2 AM work sessions
Key Notes
Critical insights from Matt’s journey from layoff to successful 3D modeling business owner.
- Persisted through 150-200 outreach messages before landing first $87.50 client
- First messages were “terrible essays” sent to wrong-language accounts—iterate quickly
- Layoff became the forcing function that accelerated his entrepreneurial timeline
- Rates increased 10x from initial projects ($87) to current standard ($800-$900)
- Specialized in landscape design and barndominium rendering for architects
- Now transitioning from solo operator to small team with first hire
Get Started in Just 5 Steps
Follow Matt’s proven framework to launch your own 3D modeling business without a large budget or existing client base.
- Step 1: Identify your skill—use existing 3D modeling expertise or learn through online courses
- Step 2: Create Instagram portfolio with 10-15 best work samples and professional logo
- Step 3: Research 50-100 target clients daily (architects, designers), follow and engage with their content
- Step 4: Send personalized cold DMs after 2-3 genuine interactions—keep messages brief and value-focused
- Step 5: Start at competitive pricing, deliver exceptional work, raise rates 20-30% every 3-5 projects
Conclusion
Matt’s story demonstrates that building a successful 3D modeling business doesn’t require a massive following or sophisticated tools—just persistence, skill, and systematic outreach. By leveraging existing abilities and committing to daily action, he transformed a layoff into a six-figure freelance career. His journey from $87.50 projects to $2,500 designs proves that consistent execution and client-focused delivery are the real keys to sustainable growth.