[TFLF Call Replay] - For teens & students getting started

[Andy Black]

Hi all.

@Lawtiti (who changed his forum name to @Chet Shen) created a Meetup Thread a few days ago and had a Zoom call with @ZCP who gave advice on getting started etc.

I offered to do a Zoom where I'll go through some of the main things I think holds people back when getting started, and how to get over them.

Feel free to bring questions or ask them in this thread.

If you're interested in joining then just reply below.

I'll record it and post it to this thread.

It will start at 10pm Dublin time (9pm GMT I believe). Knowing me it will likely go on for more than an hour.


1) Full call uploaded here:

View: https://youtu.be/6p3tDtYnl7s


2) An 8 minute section from the start of the call:

View: https://youtu.be/Hy1shfNiy1k



I started pulling some YouTube shorts out of this now. There's no need to pull funny faces when YouTube picks stills from your video as the thumbnail!


3) Short: Beware Limiting Beliefs:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/fl7GEogsrhE?feature=share



4) Short: A Simple Trick To Overcome Imposter Syndrome:

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/yS5UCJkUbFI?feature=share

 

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[Chet Shen]

My takeaways:
-Help people.
-Learn from action
-Communication is the number one thing to learn when in teen years
-What is the number one thing to do today?



Notes from the AMAZING call:

Problems:
-If you're stuck, ask yourself: "If I only have one question what would I ask? What's the ONE thing I need to do?
->Makes things unnecessary & easy to figure out
-What's the problem right in front of me?
->Overthinking is the art of solving problems you don't have
-Sometimes you have to ask yourself one simple question to get you unstuck
-> e.g. have you made any sales yet?

School:
-You are trained to research, format, hand in once and get it marked
->School is about Go away & study ->format ->write down ->rearrange
- You get no chance to redo it
-> It's more on learning, but you have to APPLY it. Learn from action.
-We've been trained to research and to get certifications
-We've been conditioned to learn/research/find certifications
->Imposter syndrome - no confidence on yourself
-School is not fit for business
-> School conditioned you to plan everything first, plan this and that before you even begin
->just start learning from taking action
-Don't overrate grades. Focus on providing value and helping other people.

Helping People:
-People think they're not confident enough
-just help people
->Just let people know
->Ask the people around you, do you need help? Do you know anyone who needs help?

-Don't learn from books, you haven't learn something yet unless you applied it/ taken action.

-Get out there, try to help people. Even for free

-Put people first. Money is proof of helping people

-Andy Black asks himself everyday:
->Is this what I'm doing will help anyone? Am I helping one by doing this?

-Have diesel & coffee.
->Diesel meaning transport, to get there. Coffee meaning chatting, having something in common to chat about.
->Doesn't have to be in person
->When @Andy Black talks to people:
->he doesn't have an agenda & he leans into a topic that they are interested in.
->Something that can spark them up. Encourage people to chat.
->He's positive and "lives in a sunny little world" lol

-Help/serve people. Figure out how to get paid. figure out how to help/serve more people.
->Don't be naive
->Book called "Give and Take" by Adam Grant. There are three types of people:
->There are 3 types of people: Givers (people who gives), Matchers (people mirrors you) and Takers (people who takes)
->People who give, don't give too much. Don't be a doormat.

-Put people first. Focus on other people

-Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person closest to you.

-Everyone has challenges, see how you can help out.

Opinions on drop shipping :
-Drop shipping leans more on "selling the dream"
-> Usually doesn't fulfill needs
->First thing that people go to but usually doesn't add value
->Good experience to learn business
->Don't go drop shipping because of those "youtube videos"
-It's how you start. Are you helping people? Why are you doing this?
-> To solve a need in your area? In the world? Or just fulfill your dream of making passive income?
-It's another means to deliver value


Limiting Self Beliefs :
-If you don't think you're enough, just say you're enough cuz you say you're enough
-People don't start business because they don't think they're smart enough
- Problem -> Theory -> result -> assess
-You're enough, just do it
->First things first. Do the thing that is right in front of you
-Go have conversations with people
- Don't do something because of people saying that you have to do this or that
->Are you sure you have to do this?
->Limiting beliefs


"Sales" :
-All about I'm here to help and relax you
-Eat what you kill
-Sales is a screening process
->Finding the one who is interested and those who don't
-4 things to get referrals:
->Say what you're gonna do, be on time, be competent and have manners.



Finding needs:
-How can I help or create a product for this problem?
->Go on facebook/ nextdoor/ any social media app & see what people are talking about
->e.g. Dogs missing ~Can you invent a product? Thief breaking homes ~ Can you invent an alarm?
-You can use facebook ads/ ads spend to presell before you even order
-> arbitrage
-You will find your need when you get out of your comfort zone


Teenagers:
What skills should teens learn first?
Communication
-People buy from PEOPLE - not salesman
-> IF you can chat and enjoy, its good
->Have an interest to talk about
->People will match up your expectations. If you thinking people are interesting, they will be.
->Just enjoy life
-You don't NEED to be employed first to start a biz
-There's nothing wrong with a job
->Just help people



Procrastination:
Procrastination and Perfection are like little cousins:
->Procrastination: Put off starting
->Perfection: Put off finishing

Procrastination:
->Listen to your gut. What do you don't want or don't like?
->A little bit of knowing yourself a bit
->You could be scared of something -> Just accept it
- Am I doing people a disservice by not doing that?

Quitting Your Job:
-Keep your job and keep working until your business income matches to what your job gives
->When your business income is more than your expenses
-If you quit now, how can you last?




Awesome books and websites to visit:
Website - Alignable - small business networking
Website - AndyBlack.net - Andy Black's website
Books - Give and take by Adam Grant - About givers and takers

 

[Andy Black]

Video is processing on YouTube.
I'm heading to bed now!

View: https://youtu.be/6p3tDtYnl7s

 

[ZCP]

Nice work @Andy Black !

For those that were on the call .... get to F*cking work. start helping people. start DOING.
Andy invested in you so you would go out and create / do / help.

you don't need to read another damn word. you don't need to process. you need to go TAKE ACTION and HELP OTHERS.
let's go. get to it.

but zane! i don't know what to do! ...... good. go help one person.
but zane! i know what to do, i just don't know how to do it ....... good. find one person that does it and go help them.
but zane! i want to make more excuses ........ good. that means your bitch voice is scared. it's afraid you are about to do something amazing and is doing its best to hold you back. listen to your boss voice. go get something done. now.


(@BigRomeDawg maybe we can borrow some of andy's stuff? and remind me to do a video of this post)
@Andy Black let's you and I do podcast later this week? maybe @BigRomeDawg can moderate?

 

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[farahead]

My key takeaways


In school you are taught that you only have 1 attempt, therefor you master everything and spend exessive amouts of time learning. You cannot learn from your mistakes and redo it.
In business its completely different. You act, get feedback (assess), you adjust your strategy. (3As system)
You cannot get paid for what you have learned, you are paid for the output.


Overthinking creates problems you dont have yet. I dont know X, what if Y, i never worked with Z.
Stop it and just act.
Just say to yourself I am enough.


Money is proof you helped someone.
Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Be a giver. Train the help muscle
Is the thing im doing right now going to help someone?



Dont come across as "salesy", be a peer to people.
Be geniunely interested in people.
Make effort to meet them.

Resources mentioned:
The one thing - gary w keller
(do the most important thing, dont get stuck designing logo and a slogan. Do the thing will make the most difference

Give and take - Adam Grant
Be a giver, help people and they will help you. (on bottom and on the top of any company there are givers, to be the giver on top you must also regulate your giving - dont keep giving to someone who never gave u anything back)


Focusmate - Virtual coworking for getting anything done
you will be randomly paired up with someone and have a meeting with them, good accountability system and also to meet people. (you both say what you want to accomplish during the meeting, can be 25, 50 or 75 minutes) and you work together

​

 

[PRT]

Thanks for the call Andy & Lawtiti! I had my mindset shifted a ton.

Here are the notes on the tidbits that I picked up during the call:

The One Thing - Solve the One Thing that’s holding you back right now avoid overthinking and solving all of your future problems

Just go do it - execution is not planning and researching everything beforehand, you’re not working on a school project, you must learn by doing

I’m not good enough - ”Before I make websites for other people I need to make a website for myself” - Just say “I’m good enough because I say I am”

Interact more - Let everyone know what you’re doing then ask: Do you know anyone who needs help with this

Good question to ask yourself starting out: how can you make 1 sale this week?

The skill teens should learn: communication - “People buy from people”, take an interest in other people

Stopping procrastination - Hop on accountability call (good resource: focusmates.com)

These were the main ideas I picked up when I asked my question:

Cold calls go into the void unlike a thread that will show goodwill - help people and be seen helping people and people will come to you

Maybe instead of cold calling: Go into facebook groups help people, and then give value for free

Thanks everyone for the meeting!

 

[Andy Black]

Expanding on what was mentioned in the call:

1. Spend your money on diesel and coffee
2. When your back's against the wall...
3. How to use forums (and Facebook groups)
4. What do you need?
5. Sales is a screening process
6. Just start already
7. Clarity of Purpose (Get Your Goal Right)
8. Stop Building Stuff

 

[PRT]

Nice work @Andy Black!

For those that were on the call .... get to F*cking work. start helping people. start DOING.
Andy invested in you so you would go out and create / do / help.

you don't need to read another damn word. you don't need to process. you need to go TAKE ACTION and HELP OTHERS.
let's go. get to it.

After the call I joined a couple facebook groups, I got someone interested for a free website.

I'm working on it right now. Even if I'm not getting paid for it, at the very least I'm getting experience, a portfolio website to show to others, I'm helping someone in a fb community, and I could possibly get referrals.

Let's go, get up and take action. Start delivering, you're good enough already.

 

[Chet Shen]

Notes:

1) I've no idea how many will turn up, or the max number of people I can have on a Zoom call.

2) @Lawtiti's thread:

MEETUPS - Weekly Meetup Accountability Call Megathread

I've figured out that since no one wants to start an INSIDERS call or just too busy to start one, I might as well do it. I have limited knowledge on business but I'm willing to start a call to invite people to talk about themselves. My goal is to hear people's progress and to learn from them...

www.thefastlaneforum.com

3) I'll add some talking points later on when I prepare for it.

I have posted this thread link into the discord so everyone can see as an extra. I have some questions ready for you. Here are some:
-What're some mistakes you see most fastlaners do when they're starting out?
-What would you say to your 18 yr old self
- Is there something that you remind yourself everyday? What is it?
- What are some key factors to starting a business strong?
- How can us teenagers start to help people? And why?
- How do you help people and have a profitable business?
-What skills should every teenager learn before business?
- Does everything come naturally when you're in "momentum"?
-What's your advice on teenagers wanting to get rich quick as fast as possible?
I might change or add more questions but thats all i got rn

 

[Spenny]

Thanks all, great session. Here are my biggest takeaways:

- "I am enough". You can do it, don't knock yourself down a peg believing you can't
- you don't need to "learn" before you start. Just do & you'll pick it up.
- be aware of people putting limiting beliefs on you, you shouldn't "need" to do anything before you get started. (e.g go get a job to start a business, some some experience first)

 

[farahead]

Thank you Andy for taking your time! I will try to answer some questions aswell so you wont spend an eternity in this thread replying.

Good night for now! Thank you everyone for showing up

 

[Andy Black]

Thanks a ton for doing the call andy,
the information was pure gold!

I attended the call but had to leave in between as my mum started yelling "What are you even doing at 2:40 am!?"

anyways, I watched the call on youtube.
The call helped me clear my windshield, had a lot of questions and doubts which got explained in the call.

Yesterday I asked my father if I can make a website for him and he said yes! working on it currently.
this would look good on a portfolio and maybe I can get some bucks too... (who knows)

Also, I've joined some FB groups, but I got a restriction of 2 days from joining any group which doesn't makes sense. What I found by looking at the groups is that there are A LOT of people promoting their web design services, It's very competitive in big groups, so I'll have to go deep and find specific groups which are not filled with spam.

Well done following the Mother Theresa quote in my signature.

What I found by looking at the groups is that there are A LOT of people promoting their web design services, It's very competitive in big groups, so I'll have to go deep and find specific groups which are not filled with spam.

How do you stand out from all the spam?

As I mentioned it on the call: Help people. Be seen helping people.

Promoting your services in a spammy way is unlikely to help people, and unlikely to help the group owner get the type of engagement they want.

I think it's down to the intention of the group owner. If it looks like they're trying to create a non spammy group then it could be a good community for you to learn and network in ... just remember that your goal is to build relationships and create win-wins, NOT to generate leads.

 

[Andy Black]

The call is in about 90 mins.



I'm trying to keep a note of all the questions. I'll review them 30 mins before the call, after putting a couple of kids to bed.

From this thread and the replies to the Calendly questions:

What's your main question about getting started in business?

Already started, but curious how your mindset/business changed or needed to change as your business grew. From starting out to hiring people under you and beyond there seem to be different “seasons” as Hormozi calls them. When i started my business, i made things too complicated and did too much stuff that wasnt just helping people. As ive grown, my business has actually gotten more simple because im focused on less. However, to hit the next level i think i need to start adding more channels and team memebers. I think this discussion would be relevant to this talk because when people first start their business, there can be a lot of “I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING [XYZ COMPETITOR] DOES” feelings, when really you just need to start small and carefully grow. But being “bad” or “small” can be seen as a bad thing and throw people off. Or at least it did for me lol. Thanks for organizing this call, I think a lor of people will benefit from it!

Is dropshipping/eCommerce a dumb shortcut that a lot of people try to take, avoiding the process and go for a quick buck? At what point would you suggest someone quit their job if they want to enroll the fastlane? As a 20 year old with no responsibilities?

The initial starting point of a business after i have learnt my high value skill.

How to do the work that is required? (how do you defeat procastrination) ?

Do you need to be employed first to do a business?

I'm doing Web Design right now since I know I have the skills needed to add a lot of value to businesses. My main question is how I should do my prospecting and reach-out for my first few clients. I also currently have a lot of time on my hands (summer vacation) so I also am not sure what exactly I should be spending my time on.

How do I know if my business has a good score on MJ's CENTS framework? I feel the need for control and certainty so much that I don't take action unless I'm absolutely sure I will get positive feedback.

-What're some mistakes you see most fastlaners do when they're starting out? -What would you say to your 18 yr old self - Is there something that you remind yourself everyday? What is it? - What are some key factors to starting a business strong? - How can us teenagers start to help people? And why? - How do you help people and have a profitable business? -What skills should every teenager learn before business? - Does everything come naturally when you're in "momentum"? -What's your advice on teenagers wanting to get rich quick as fast as possible?

-What skills should a person acquire before starting a business? Example: to avoid money-chasing. -What do you think about Dropshipping as a path to acquire skills/provide value? My gut: It feels like you shortcut the real progress and instead go for a quick buck. -Scarcity mindset around money is a problem for me, is there a framework, or a way to look at money to remove it?

What are some life changing resources / items under 100$ that made your life / business significantly better? What advice do you wish that you would have heard sooner. Most of the teen fastlaners never had a FTE, do you think its still possible to succeed without it? What is some advice to them? What is the quote that more people need to hear. What are some traits you see among people that guarantee failure? (in life / in business) Is there something you disagree with that is in MJ's books? Is there anything you would like to add to MJ's books that is essential for success? What is commonly given out advice that you don't find helpful at all?

What skills would you learn first if you were starting again? What are the biggest mind shifts that made you successful? Why people stay stuck on their path to fastlane and what to do to unstuck yourself?

What's your biggest struggle at the moment?

Disclipline and letting go.

Creating systems that consistently and profitably bring on happy customers

Don't know if the path that I'm currently on will get me to where I want. (Quit job, 23k saved, SleepMask eCom business)

How ill integrate my skills into the world of business properly. I want to engage more actively instead of being more passive through things like reading.

Being focused, i keep getting distracted. How can you achieve extraordinary level of focus.

Juggling studies with business

Prospecting, reaching out to people and trying to get them to say yes.

"afraid" to just take action to get started, planning only instead of going out there and getting market feedback/validation, and executing the process.

 

[farahead]

Woah! Count me in.

Here are questions that came into my mind

What are some life changing resources / items under 100$ that made your life / business significantly better?

What advice do you wish that you would have heard sooner.

Most of the teen fastlaners never had a FTE, do you think its still possible to succeed without it? What is some advice to them?

What is the quote that more people need to hear.

What are some traits you see among people that guarantee failure? (in life / in business)

Is there something you disagree with that is in MJ's books?

Is there anything you would like to add to MJ's books that is essential for success?

What is commonly given out advice that you don't find helpful at all?



Looking forward to this. Thank you Andy!

 

[Andy Black]

Rats I didn’t make it— it’s about to end. I’ll have to listen to the recording.

We ended up chatting for a couple of hours. The recording is processing on Zoom at the moment. Tomorrow I'll post it to YouTube and Soundcloud.

 

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[DreamLund]

Fantastic intiative from both Andy and Lawtiti

Loved every second of it, pure value!

 

[Chet Shen]

There's a load of questions I didn't answer, and whenever I hop calls I realise I could talk for ages.

I'm thinking of trying to answer questions one at a time or in groups in short videos or something. Or maybe try to do a load in an hour one evening?

And maybe audio version for those who might prefer to listen on the go?

Curious what format folks would prefer.

Just another call again that will be great. A call with teenagers that asked that question. Love that call! Would love to join again!

 

[BellaPippin]

Got it. I'll upload the call from Sunday to my SoundCloud!

Hi Bella. Did you get to watch it all? I couldn't find the audio file for the recording on Zoom and haven't figured out how to strip the audio out of the video.

Curious what your main takeaways were and what you'll do differently going forward.

I did! No worries the good thing about YouTube premium is I can close the app and play in background so I just played it from here and listened

Don’t be too disappointed but my main takeway/what clicked the most for me was your initial thoughts on how we get trained to do all the research up front.

Theoretically I knew it’s trial and error but my subconscious mind has been fighting it still, keeping me at the learning stage looking for courses and trying to know more before I act. When you guys said it it really sunk in that I’m wasting time at this point.

“I’m enough because I said so” I need to apply that too. I’m waaaay too much inside my own head, and looking for problems that haven’t even happened yet, and using that as an excuse to generate anxiety and stay still (again, subconsciously because nobody does it on purpose.)

If you guys do another call I’d love to be there, I’m down to share all I’ve read so far and about the things I’ve done so far, if it helps the younger folks. n_n

 

[Tomco]

Meant to reply much sooner, but been caught up with work recently. Just wanted to post a quick thank you for those who started and participated in the call. As someone who's in the early stages of entrepreneurship, I find it highly valuable when others clarify things better.

Essentially, in the words of Andy himself, focus more on the Who and why, and the what and how will naturally fall into place. It's that straight forward. Although I haven't made that coveted first sale yet, I've since focused more on my social skills (I was more of a shy, timid and reserved kind of guy) improving my communication with others.

And it really does work. As Andy points out in the vid, it creates this nice bubble where you view the world just a bit brighter.
An example from my personal life: Since I changed shifts for the summer (hence why I'm busier), I get to work on the outside kitchen, doing pizza. So now I had the opportunity of meeting tons of new people whom I didn't even know were working with the same company. So I took it upon myself to learn the names of each and every one of them. And it works wonders. People now start calling me by name, and some of them even approach me and we start little conversations here and there (what Andy mentions as well, finding that thing where the person is the most interested in).

I feel like I'm taking the slow and steady approach in this. Sometimes it feels like I'm running around with no clue what I'm doing. But by focusing on being sociable and helping others, I guess the other things just fall into place.

 

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[Andy Black]

I've created a Calendly link to the call HERE.

 

[xShepherdx]

I’ll be there.

Can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday evening than hanging out with some future fastlaners.

 

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[BellaPippin]

I’ll try to be in, if I’m home!!!

 

[RicardoGrande]

Would love to pop in, looks like the calendly isn't accepting new sign ups?

 

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[Isaac Odongo]

Will listen to the recording.

Thanks in advance.

 

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[BellaPippin]

Rats I didn’t make it— it’s about to end. I’ll have to listen to the recording.

 

[ErickMendez]

I wasn't in the call but from the youtube video alone it gives you a bunch of amazing ideas.

Just here to say thanks for uploading and sharing your content with us.

 

[Andy Black]

There's a load of questions I didn't answer, and whenever I hop on calls I realise I could talk for ages.

I'm thinking of trying to answer questions one at a time or in groups in short videos or something. Or maybe try to do a load in an hour one evening?

And maybe audio version for those who might prefer to listen on the go?

Curious what format folks would prefer.

 

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[PRT]

Good work.

Help people, and be seen helping people. Good things start happening.

What type of Facebook group was the person in who raised their hand?

As you suggested in our conversation on TFF (writing it here as well for others), I've joined a couple local business groups as well as "sideways" services groups, such as Copywriting, Google Ads, Facebook ads, etc.

They were from a local area business group.

 

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[BellaPippin]

There's a load of questions I didn't answer, and whenever I hop on calls I realise I could talk for ages.

I'm thinking of trying to answer questions one at a time or in groups in short videos or something. Or maybe try to do a load in an hour one evening?

And maybe audio version for those who might prefer to listen on the go?

Curious what format folks would prefer.

Honestly I’ll kill for anything worthwhile to listen while on the elliptical. Just got home from my month trip to Argentina so I’ll be listening to the call as soon as I get to the gym.

 

[Absar]

Video is processing on YouTube.
I'm heading to bed now!

View: https://youtu.be/6p3tDtYnl7s

Thanks a ton for doing the call andy,
the information was pure gold!

I attended the call but had to leave in between as my mum started yelling "What are you even doing at 2:40 am!?"

anyways, I watched the call on youtube.
The call helped me clear my windshield, had a lot of questions and doubts which got explained in the call.

Yesterday I asked my father if I can make a website for him and he said yes! working on it currently.
this would look good on a portfolio and maybe I can get some bucks too... (who knows)

Also, I've joined some FB groups, but I got a restriction of 2 days from joining any group which doesn't makes sense. What I found by looking at the groups is that there are A LOT of people promoting their web design services, It's very competitive in big groups, so I'll have to go deep and find specific groups which are not filled with spam.

 

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