Hi, I'm AJ — and I built this for you
I started Nakikiramay PH with nothing but a laptop, a lot of uncertainty, and the stubbornness to keep going. I was figuring out branding, content, and sales on the fly. Within a month, I had 6-digit sales, mind-blowing for someone who had no prior experience in business. This is proof that you don't need to be an expert to start. You just have to be willing to learn and take the next step forward.
Where I Started
What You'll Find Here
I created Build with AJ because I wished someone had shared the real stuff with me when I was starting out. Here you'll find the early struggles, the small wins, and everything in between — honest advice and practical steps so your journey is a little less lonely than mine was.
My Journey
I launched Nakikiramay PH in 2022 without a big audience, just one product I believed in: a grief journal. I didn't know if people would buy it, but I just decided to push through despite the uncertainty. Building the brand wasn't a straight line. It was late nights, second-guessing, and learning to trust the process even when nothing was working yet.
Growth
Early Challenges
I launched without an audience, without a big budget, and without knowing if anyone would care. There were weeks where I almost convinced myself to quit. But every small win — a first order, a kind comment, an appreciative message from a buyer— kept me going.
Lessons Learned
The biggest one: stop waiting until you feel ready. I wasted months overthinking my branding, my content, my "niche." The moment I started shipping instead of planning, everything changed. That's the lesson I want to pass on to you.