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(Radio interview) How to quickly get started in business

Andy Black

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Nicoknowsbest

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Great lessons learned, thank you for sharing @Andy Black!

Thinking of the metaphor Andy used towards the end, speaking of low hanging fruits while ignoring the ones already falling out of the tree...

I have been a tree shaker for years. I not only reached for the high hanging fruits, I also tried getting fruits off trees that don't even produce fruits. In some moments, I even tried to plant trees so I can grow them and harvest its fruits later.

Oh well...

People who start out tend to get so busy with "analyzing" the market that they don't see the forest for the trees. They get overwhelmed with learning new skills, developing strategies, setting up goals...

...only to stop soon after.

Action faking doesn't produce results.

The best way to kick-start your process, get real results and compress your learning is by doing one simple thing.

Go out and help someone with what you already know today.

Trust me, it's that simple. Why I know? I ignored my own skill set for years. I thought I had to learn X first, get better at Y and finally start doing Z. Turns out that I can help people and create value for them with what I already know, with what I am already good at.

"But it's not fastlane..." True. Not in the beginning. That's why there is process. If you respect the process, you'll quickly move, develop and refine your offer. People will tell you what they need, because they finally have someone who listens.

Wondering how you could potentially scale this? Paul Graham suggests: "Do Things That Don't Scale".

Gary Vaynerchuk focused on the fact that "1 > 0".

Both enjoyed vast success.

So, go out and help someone today. Do it and see what will happen.
 
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Fox

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Andy you have to change that Soundcloud pic! :woot:

Screen Shot 2016-06-11 at 6.10.13 AM.png
 
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mayana

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Trust me, it's that simple. Why I know? I ignored my own skill set for years. I thought I had to learn X first, get better at Y and finally start doing Z. Turns out that I can help people and create value for them with what I already know, with what I am already good at.

Bingo! Many people really do already have skills that they can use to help others. You don't have to have 11 degrees in a discipline to know it better than most people and be able to help a nice-sized market with their problem.

This is actually how I came to do what I'm doing now. I just made a list of all the things that I know how to do, eliminated the ones that I hate doing, checked the markets for those remaining skills, came up with a system to fill the market need that could be scaled, and then validated the ideas.

I, too, ignored the things that I already knew how to do. I thought I had to come up with some kind of magical, ground-breaking idea. And when I finally learned my lesson, I am literally kicking myself for not doing this 10 years ago. Actually, I was doing it 10 years ago, but not in the way that I am now.

(Note that I say things that "could be scaled". The focus at the beginning is making sales. No need to worry too much about actually scaling - but it's good to at least have a vision of how things could be scaled from the beginning. The vision will probably change over time, but that's okay.)
 

nradam123

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I went through the whole interview, I think you told me in PM about this interview you did. Thanks for sharing it.

Things I need to do today lol are -
1) Update my clients frequently so that they know their job is taken care.
2) Think from their shoes and not from mine. This is going to change my copywriting, emails and conversations SOO much. I heard even Gary Vee talking about the importance of EQ compared to IQ in the world of business. Especially because IQ is commoditized due to Internet, and we have a super-knowledge-buddy to answer a lot of questions we might be having.
3) Genuinely care for my clients business.

And lol this can even work with girls i will be seeing.
And even to my friends and family.

This is basically about being a really good person. I like it.
 

Andy Black

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Bump... with a better subject line.

I guess "Radio interview about AdWords and Business" just wasn't click-baity enough.
 

Andy Black

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Andy you have to change that Soundcloud pic! :woot:

View attachment 12560
Haha. Not if it means I have to take myself seriously!

I even want to make that my LinkedIn profile picture.

EDIT: Thanks for sharing it on Facebook btw. Just spotted that.
 

JokerCrazyBeatz

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Man I'm listening to this inverview over again . Man this clarified SO MUCH for me . I will now opporate 100% differently . Somebody make this a gold thread . There almost is TOO much value in this interview lol
 
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Fox

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- Soundcloud has a large photo when shared so plenty of space to advertise your business/show

- Your views are quite high on that SoundCloud compared to some of your YouTube clips (not referring to the quality just that it is getting listened to/shared a more)

- You can use it to encourage people (I am no longer calling them traffic!) to find your other material.

- I can help you make up one of these if you want...

*Not that I don't think you look good!!!*

Screen Shot 2016-06-11 at 6.24.05 AM.png Screen Shot 2016-06-11 at 6.24.30 AM.png Screen Shot 2016-06-11 at 6.24.49 AM.png
 
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WinTheDay

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Another big takeaway was observing people and actually listening to people . My new biggest thing I'm putting on my daily goals is to observe people and listen to them( not just wait for my turn to talk) . Also look for ways to help people with my knowledge .

A must listen .

Thank You !
 

Andy Black

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My take aways I responded with.......

Radio interview 1 thoughts......

  1. Felt lost when talking about Internet and your expertise

    Worried time moving and I should be doing more briefly although I know this info one word could change so much.......I guess so many single words and sentences have already proved how much time I've wasted.....I want to DO

    Genui nely she said......made me wonder if been saying it wrong my whole life.....

    Manners.....I hold doors, help carry, help "do" but no vocal manners.....sure or yep here an there maybe I'll mumble.....EXCEPT training....no problem or I say that's what I'm here for

    How's it going lil message sent to people you do......
    I feel like a number....like I could easily be read and marketed by someone like you that didn't want to genuinely help. I know you do so don't take this bad.....these are my exact thoughts as I listen

    Equal sign don't stare at mind blank....
    Makes me think of MJ's book and how it taught me how literally everything in life can be broken down as an equation with variables.....I used to never understand why I couldn't hand in a math problem with the right answer but steps wrong....never understood even point of each class until read his book....it's not what they're teaching you literally that mattters....it's how it makes you think.....why the hell couldnt one single teacher ever tell us that back then....I don't even think ey know.

    Equal sign visually gives a next step (tells you to do)

    If someone passes its worth it for you.....when I can get rid of pain for someone or a kids knee stronger so years later it's not worse.....a person stronger in order to do better in a sport....that's worth more to me than money and why I think I don't prioritize money.....this is what I wanted to be what made me great looking back on life......to accomplish for me=results in people not money

    Been arguing with mom all week and her necks been hurting.....help people is message I hear all day so I paused video to go try to release moms trigger points for half hour

    6 ways to u turn....
    I can teach 100 different people in 100 unique ways how to learn movement....each person makes me better after......one of my strong points is knowing how to adapt to what each person needs and figuring out how

    Wisdom is earned......nobody ever taught me I always THOUGHT about what should be the way to do things when it's already been done and proven in ways I didn't......know can say.....but not trust also.

    I despise the idea of selling to people's wants I want to sell what they need....this is honest

    When asked what business ideas I got excited......I want to find within ME though what I can turn into a basket under the tree....can't be not from in me though

    Love the basket idea because last week I typed up 2 pages and put it in envelopes in mailboxes

    It ended as mom came in room happiest I've seen all day
Hmmm... very interesting.

I never thought asking people "How're things going? could be seen as a tactic to open people up to subsequently take advantage of them. Obviously it could be used that way. Intent trumps all.


That's actually how I say hello to people: "Hey, how's it going?"

It invites people to reply if they want, or just say "Grand. How're you doing?"

I like chatting to people. I am genuinely interested in people's stories and want to help them if they have a problem.

... up to a point though.

Which leads to my next point:

I don't want to help people who need help but don't want to help themselves. It's a complete waste of my breath, and puts unnecessary stress on someone who was minding their own business.

That's partly what I mean by we can't sell to needs, only wants.

The other part is that you're better helping the people already in motion.

Two people could need to do exercise. One might not want to enough to do anything about it. The other might want to enough to go down the gym.

As a gym instructor your easiest sale is to the guy who wants to get fitter. This is the guy already in motion.

The only way to sell your PT coaching to the guy who needs to get fitter but doesn't want to... is to make them *want* to get fitter.

Totally possible of course, but they aren't the low hanging fruit.


Thank you for your thought provoking post.

My favourite part is how you helped your mum... someone right under your nose. Good for you.
 

Invictus

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I really loved this interview.

I know that I'm particularly guilty of falling into the trap of viewing every interaction with a client (currently freelancing) as a transaction. When speaking I tend to approach "What can I do for this person, in exchange for money." Instead, I should view every interaction with a client (and every person in general) with a "How can I help them?" mindset. Maybe we all can have a problem with putting the payoff ahead of the work.

It might help to remember that we (Freelancers especially) are only paid because we offer a way to help someone out, either in business or in life. If we can't do that, we don't deserve a paycheck.
 

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Loved it,

Takeaways:
- Remember, just help people.
- What is common sense to you, may not be common sense to others (competitors... or radio presenters)
- It doesn't take a big grand idea to make a business, just someone willing to offer help and value.

Going forward:
I dont actually think much will change going forward, this interview is a great refresher of what the book teaches but in Andy's style (and obviously with a leaning towards his specialisation). I think thats partly what I liked so much, a new or different take on the same core ideas that are shared throughout this forum.

Oh, actually that last paragraph is a lie. Half way through the interview I actually started changing my landing page based on something Andy said, so things had started changing before the end of the interview...
 

Dovahjiim

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So, I was on PM with Andy and he suggested that I listen to this interview.

He asked me about my plans to drop the 9-5 and I replied with a load of waffle about what I am doing.
I think now, having listened to this, that I was over thinking everything, trying to plan to do too much or indeed, doing nothing useful.

It's obvious to me now that someone trying to start a business needs to reach out to people first and stop thinking about and worrying about what they may or may not need. You need to stop, listen and learn first and only then should you apply yourself to the solution.

Further, contacts that you make today, people that you help, can become valuable in helping you reach more and more people in the future.

I'll openly admit that I'm a little introverted and the idea of striking up these conversations with people makes me nervous. However, as an introvert that also means that I should be a good listener. I need to learn to tune that ability and use that to my advantage. I just need to get over that initial nervousness.
 
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Florian

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The final thank you :)

My takeaway:
Again: Look to the next person nearest to you and help him/her. Just do it and see which problems are occuring you can solve :)

My actionsteps:
Go to my neighbor and ask whether I can help them

3/3
 

sonny_1080

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Learn best by doing. You want to learn to do something… find someone you can ask “hey can I try to do this for you?” Find something you can help someone with, right now. Andy found what people are searching for and then built a website around the already existing need.

"Small business that sells blue widgets… reach out to and say hey, 'I’ve done research and more people are looking for red widgets, can I run a digital marketing campaign to help you sell more red widgets?'" - @Andy Black

This whole idea of a stay-at home economy got me thinking... the home-services business will probably do well. I can google search what people are searching for most in the home-services business and reach out to companies in that space. While I finish this Udemy digital marketing course I can see if I can try to increase their online presence? One of my Dad's friends owns a plumbing company... he might be open to it.

Google GAME:
The best visitors to a website are those that are looking to buy right now. Those are the people that search -> best plumbers northridge -> takeaway: add a location to a service for most qualified prospects in your ad

Google keyword planner -> create ad in google adwords, put in credit card info, immediately delete ad so they aren’t charging you anything, access googles keyword planner
  • see related searches, target just "northridge". how many people in northridge are typing in 'x' searching for this -> the results = your ideal visitor
  • get that data and type it into google yourself
  • 4x more people will type in "electrician northridge" rather than “northridge electrician”
  • look at ads -> more local = more better -> opportunity to create an ad people will click on because the competition is narrowed down to just "northridge"
  • more specific ad = better -> FOLLOWED by specifically correlated landing page
    • Example: ad = “tax attorney northridge” -> landing page = “Are you looking for a tax attorney in northridge?”
Put yourself in the shoes of the person who is searching for you.
Give them what they are looking for.
Stop talking about yourself, help them find what they are looking for, and give it to them.

Repeat business + referrals = profit (MJ translation -> productocracy)

Politeness. Mind your manners.
I’m already assuming you can get the job done. I’m satisfied if you showed up on time, got the job done, had basic manners, and maybe added a little extra.
Its not even a matter of price.

All about putting yourself in other people’s shoes and helping them get what they want for themselves.

(Paraphrased): Never worry about numbers. Help people. Start with the person nearest you.

Just help people without expecting anything in return. If you start getting referred, then you got a business. No business card, no business name, no business logo or design.

Business is all about creating relationships with people. 60% of business (I came up with that number) is showing up on time and just getting the job done.

You’ve experienced problems and frustrations -> if you’ve gotten through them -> you can help others through it. @Andy Black says help people for free expecting nothing in return, it will create an imbalance somewhere in the universe and you’ll get it back later.

GIVE THANKS.

You're not a salesperson, you just help people.

SEE people as people.

The trick is to get started and keep going. Don’t go blank.

You've collected stories and experience -> use it to help people, share the story -> repeat

You have enough ideas. Pick top 3.

Its not about you or you’re product… its not even about what people need… Its about what people WANT.

Stop trying to generate demand -> FULFILL existing demand instead -> Put your basket under the tree and let apples fall into it -> Google AdWords

If you CANNOT get a customer you DON'T have a business. You have a HOBBY.

It’s not about you.

Thank you again @Andy Black
 
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Andy Black

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Bingo! Many people really do already have skills that they can use to help others. You don't have to have 11 degrees in a discipline to know it better than most people and be able to help a nice-sized market with their problem.

This is actually how I came to do what I'm doing now. I just made a list of all the things that I know how to do, eliminated the ones that I hate doing, checked the markets for those remaining skills, came up with a system to fill the market need that could be scaled, and then validated the ideas.

I, too, ignored the things that I already knew how to do. I thought I had to come up with some kind of magical, ground-breaking idea. And when I finally learned my lesson, I am literally kicking myself for not doing this 10 years ago. Actually, I was doing it 10 years ago, but not in the way that I am now.

(Note that I say things that "could be scaled". The focus at the beginning is making sales. No need to worry too much about actually scaling - but it's good to at least have a vision of how things could be scaled from the beginning. The vision will probably change over time, but that's okay.)
^^^ THIS!
 

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The biggest reason websites suck (aka How to get started in business quickly)

I did a radio interview this morning. It goes out somewhere in Dublin on Friday 03-Jun-2016.

I'm getting it transcribed, and will add the transcription to the thread.

I'll also be able to create some bullet point teasers to sell you, dear reader, on doing yourself a favour and listening to the damn thing.

Interested in your takeaways...







EDIT: Here's the second interview:
Wow great info Andy....No business cards and your a entrepreneur extraordinary. I take away from the interview a few key points.
1. Look to help first
2. Be sensitive to the customers needs
3. Give people what they ask for

I would like some feedback from you Andy. I am promoting a small business loan service. I am an independent loan broker that matches small businesses with lenders. I'm looking to to do some ppc ads to get leads and face to face contact with business owners. Do you have any recommendations on learning ppc?
 

Andy Black

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Thanks Andy, I really enjoyed the interview - including the musical interludes. It's been years since I listened to The Specials!
It occurs to me that the AdWords techniques you describe can be used to do initial idea valuation too - if enough people are searching for something, then you've probably hit on a valid market need.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the kind words @jrfkelly.

I like the music in it too, but might have to strip it out if I'm to put it up on iTunes.

There was a second interview with Mary. It's in my signature.


Yes. I use paid search to "validate" not just that there is already demand, but whether you can fulfil it, and do so profitably.

These three threads might help you:


I'm off to Google "the specials" now...


EDIT: Oh, those Specials. I thought you meant some old radio show!
 
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I'll openly admit that I'm a little introverted and the idea of striking up these conversations with people makes me nervous. However, as an introvert that also means that I should be a good listener. I need to learn to tune that ability and use that to my advantage. I just need to get other that initial nervousness.

It's not about trying to convince people that it will be fascinating to talk with you. It's about letting them know that you sincerely care what they have to say. That you want to learn more about their experiences and how they think and feel. This takes the pressure off of you to come up with something great to say. Ask questions to make sure you understand. Ask more questions to learn more. Ask if something that came to mind for you, is a useful way to think about what they are talking about. This makes for an interesting conversation!
 

Andy Black

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I'll openly admit that I'm a little introverted and the idea of striking up these conversations with people makes me nervous. However, as an introvert that also means that I should be a good listener. I need to learn to tune that ability and use that to my advantage. I just need to get other that initial nervousness.
As @Late Bloomer just replied... don't make it bigger than it is.

I go in with genuine curiosity, and a genuine desire to help.


Here's a recorded chat with a fellow forum member that someone said was a good example of just chatting with them ... (see post 7 in the replies):


And someone said this call was a good example of "conversational selling", a new phrase on me at the time ... (see post 17 in the replies):
 
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MHP368

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The biggest reason websites suck (aka How to get started in business quickly)

I did a radio interview this morning. It goes out somewhere in Dublin on Friday 03-Jun-2016.

I'll also be able to create some bullet point teasers to sell you, dear reader, on doing yourself a favour and listening to the damn thing.

Interested in your takeaways...





What were your takeaways?

What will you do differently going forward?

.
.
.

Here's the second interview with Mary:
Freedom, Motivation, and Grow What You Know


(For other recordings click HERE.)


I thought that storytelling as a teaching method was fascinating , made me think of this article :

How Inuit Parents Teach Kids To Control Their Anger

Inuits dont yell at their kids to discipline. They tell stories. So adult inuits end up never having anger outbursts like a westerner might.

Which also sort of pinged back to a brand as as story or sort of bridging to shared feeling with the customer , so the sale becomes em0tionally driven.
 
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