After 25 years in this game, I’ve learned that building a real business is exactly like completing The Legend of Zelda - every level you unlock makes the next challenge not just possible, but inevitable.
This week, I’m sharing the epic quest progression that took me from a simple scraper concept to a £120k revenue-tracking platform in just 390 commits.
In This Issue
The 390-Commit Journey from Tutorial to £120k Platform
Why Business Growth is Like Playing Zelda
From Simple Scraper to Revenue Intelligence
The Power-Up Moments That Changed Everything
Next Week: How I’ll Deploy My First AI Agent
The Legend of Business Development
Like Link starting with a basic wooden sword, I began this platform journey with a simple concept: scrape some data, generate a report.
But here’s what 25 years of business has taught me that no tutorial ever could: every level you complete just reveals the next inevitable challenge.
Level 1: The Simple Scraper (Commits 1-50)
Started with basic web scraping. Thought I was building a quick tool.
Reality check: Discovered I was actually building the foundation of something much bigger.
Level 2: The Data Problem (Commits 51-150)
Raw scraping wasn’t enough. Needed structure, storage, processing.
Power-up unlocked: Django models and proper database architecture.
Level 3: The Intelligence Layer (Commits 151-250)
Data without insight is just noise. Built analysis engines.
Boss battle won: Turned scraped data into actionable business intelligence.
Level 4: The Revenue Reality (Commits 251-350)
Intelligence means nothing without financial impact. Added revenue tracking.
Achievement unlocked: £120k+ in tracked client revenue across 47 businesses.
Not just a tool anymore. This is a complete business operating system.
Current quest: AI agent deployment and automation at scale.
The Zelda Principle of Business Growth
In Zelda, you can’t just run to the final castle. You need the right equipment, experience points, and power-ups from each level.
Business works exactly the same way.
You can’t skip from “I have an idea” to “I have a £120k platform” without completing every intermediate level. Each commit, each feature, each client teaches you something essential for the next stage.
The Power-Up Moments That Changed Everything
The Scraping Revelation (Commit 23): Realised I wasn’t just collecting data - I was building competitive intelligence.
The Django Decision (Commit 67): Moved from quick scripts to proper framework. This single decision enabled everything that followed.
The Client Integration (Commit 134): First time a client’s actual business data flowed through the system. Changed from “tool” to “platform”.
The Revenue Connection (Commit 203): Started tracking actual money, not just metrics. This transformed client conversations.
The Intelligence Layer (Commit 298): Built analysis that reveals insights clients couldn’t see themselves.
What This Means for You
Whether you’re building a platform, growing a business, or solving client problems, the Zelda Principle applies:
1. Respect the progression
Don’t try to skip levels. Each stage teaches essential skills for the next.
2. Collect the power-ups
Every small win, every solved problem, every satisfied client is equipment for bigger challenges.
3. Embrace the boss battles
The hardest problems often unlock the most valuable capabilities.
4. Keep the end goal visible
Link always knows he’s heading to save Zelda. Keep your ultimate vision clear.
The Current Quest
Right now, I’m at the start of Level 6: AI Agent Deployment.
Next week, I’ll share how I’m building my first autonomous AI agent that will handle routine SEO analysis while I focus on strategy and growth.
This is where the real adventure begins.
This Week’s Quick Win
The 5-Minute Power-Up: Review your last 6 months of business progress. Identify your “levels” - the distinct phases where you gained new capabilities.
Understanding your progression pattern helps you predict what comes next.
P.S. Next Week
I’m deploying my first AI agent into the platform. Not just using AI tools - actually building autonomous agents that work while I sleep.
The technical approach and business implications are fascinating. Can’t wait to share the results.
P.S.S. Want My Complete Framework?
My Business Growth Package includes the exact system that transformed my approach from random tactics to systematic growth. £50k of experience for £47.
Get it here →
Hit reply and tell me: What “level” are you currently working through in your business? I read every response.
Tony Cooper
We Build Stores
🏆 Helping UK businesses win online since 1999
