2021 has been the best year of my life...
So here are 21 things I learned, that you can use, to make 22 yoursππ½ππ½ππ½
So here are 21 things I learned, that you can use, to make 22 yoursππ½ππ½ππ½
1/ The MOST important thing you can do for entrepreneurial success: Just Start DOING something.
Doing is NOT planning, thinking, ideating.
Doing IS selling to customers, making a website, buying a domain.
Trust me, just do⦠all will become clear shortly.
Doing is NOT planning, thinking, ideating.
Doing IS selling to customers, making a website, buying a domain.
Trust me, just do⦠all will become clear shortly.
2/ It really is EASIER than ever to START a business.
Shopify, NoCode, Stripe, Aliexpress, Hubspot, etc. The internet has really come into its own and everything is connected and working together.
Even things that took a week 10 years ago now take a minute. It's incredible
Shopify, NoCode, Stripe, Aliexpress, Hubspot, etc. The internet has really come into its own and everything is connected and working together.
Even things that took a week 10 years ago now take a minute. It's incredible
3/ The most important and hardest part of entrepreneurship never changes: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
Find great people to build/partner with or...
Invest your time and energy in coaching, teaching and developing people.
The latter is the only sustainable advantage in business.
Find great people to build/partner with or...
Invest your time and energy in coaching, teaching and developing people.
The latter is the only sustainable advantage in business.
4/ Continually build self-awareness.
Seek out feedback.
Notice the voice in your head.
Challenge your stories. Especially those you hold most dear.
Pick up on your patterns.
Seek out feedback.
Notice the voice in your head.
Challenge your stories. Especially those you hold most dear.
Pick up on your patterns.
5/ I thought I would do number 4 for a few years and then "be good"
Another thing I learned this year is like much of life, #4 is a lifelong practice where improvement is the only goal. You never "arrive"
Make it a habit vs goal.
Another thing I learned this year is like much of life, #4 is a lifelong practice where improvement is the only goal. You never "arrive"
Make it a habit vs goal.
6/ Related: embrace your human-ness. It is normal to have fears, self-doubt and at times question the very nature of what you are doing.
Despite all my "success" in life, '21 reminded me that I'm not "above" feeling fears, making mistakes and not knowing the answer.
Despite all my "success" in life, '21 reminded me that I'm not "above" feeling fears, making mistakes and not knowing the answer.
7/ Everyone has an unfair advantage. Find yours and build around it. It will make things easier.
Your unfair advantage could be your network, some knowledge you have or an experience few others understand.
Start with yours and build around it.
Your unfair advantage could be your network, some knowledge you have or an experience few others understand.
Start with yours and build around it.
8/ It IS easier the second time around.
Lots of people ask me this and I wasn't sure what to expect. But it IS easier.
Why? You know more people (recruiting, selling, fundraising), you've woken up to disasters before, you've made the mistakes already.
Lots of people ask me this and I wasn't sure what to expect. But it IS easier.
Why? You know more people (recruiting, selling, fundraising), you've woken up to disasters before, you've made the mistakes already.
9/ Learn to improve the skill of Asking Questions.
This has come up in the podcast, interviews and in getting to know others. A skill I know is important but still consider myself a C+ at.
I'm at my best when I simply tell myself: be curious, drop your agenda.
This has come up in the podcast, interviews and in getting to know others. A skill I know is important but still consider myself a C+ at.
I'm at my best when I simply tell myself: be curious, drop your agenda.
10/ The most liberating phrase for an entrepreneur (or almost anyone): "I don't know if this is going to work." Or just "I don't know"
I WANT to build something big, but I can't be sure if it's going to work or how to do it.
"I don't know" opens up curiosity and action.
I WANT to build something big, but I can't be sure if it's going to work or how to do it.
"I don't know" opens up curiosity and action.
11/ The best entrepreneurs and leaders can jump between levels seamlessly.
Strategic: Markets, Trends
Initiatives: Focus on organic search
Tactical: Writing an email or ad copy
If you notice you struggle or default to one "level," keep practicing that one.
Strategic: Markets, Trends
Initiatives: Focus on organic search
Tactical: Writing an email or ad copy
If you notice you struggle or default to one "level," keep practicing that one.
12/ Related to #11, before questioning your strategy or initiatives, GET TACTICAL.
What is the subject line of the email? vs "Email is not working"
How are we targeting vs "FB doesn't convert"
What's the sales script vs "Outbound sales isn't right for our biz"
What is the subject line of the email? vs "Email is not working"
How are we targeting vs "FB doesn't convert"
What's the sales script vs "Outbound sales isn't right for our biz"
13/ Appreciation is such a powerful force.
To truly build a feedback culture: positive feedback, acknowledgements and appreciation must flow as openly as "development areas."
People learn as much from knowing what their doing right as what they could do better.
To truly build a feedback culture: positive feedback, acknowledgements and appreciation must flow as openly as "development areas."
People learn as much from knowing what their doing right as what they could do better.
14/ To feel appreciation, cultivate gratitude in yourself and your team.
Gratitude is definitely something I'm still learning about and developing...
Gratitude is definitely something I'm still learning about and developing...
But if I breathe, get super specific and imagine things I'd be sad about if they WERE NOT there, I start to feel it immensely.
Another thing that helps: I try to really tune OUT my head and tune IN my heart.
Another thing that helps: I try to really tune OUT my head and tune IN my heart.
15/ Quickbooks is still the default accounting app for starting a biz. Sorta blows my mind.
And expense management, bookkeeping etc is still a huge headache.
If you know of a solution that lets people spend money, makes categorization/mgmt/approvals easy, let me know :)
And expense management, bookkeeping etc is still a huge headache.
If you know of a solution that lets people spend money, makes categorization/mgmt/approvals easy, let me know :)
16/ Experience & Knowledge can cut both ways.
I've found my previous experience to be hugely valuable at times: e.g., GrowthAssistant sales process.
And at other times, totally destructive: e.g., Poophoria's FB strategy.
Be open to learning and knowing you're wrong.
I've found my previous experience to be hugely valuable at times: e.g., GrowthAssistant sales process.
And at other times, totally destructive: e.g., Poophoria's FB strategy.
Be open to learning and knowing you're wrong.
17/ Media is the original software. Yes, I know I am late to the party but WOWβ¦
Twitter and podcasting have blown my mind.
The power of recording and writing once and then millions of people being able to find value is just so incredible.
Twitter and podcasting have blown my mind.
The power of recording and writing once and then millions of people being able to find value is just so incredible.
18/ Speaking of Media, I am VERY bullish on TikTok. It reminds me of FB 12 years ago.
It's growing fast, unique and requires a rethinking of content and marketing. We are betting BIG on TT in 2022.
I believe it will spawn an ecosystem that rivals FBs.
It's growing fast, unique and requires a rethinking of content and marketing. We are betting BIG on TT in 2022.
I believe it will spawn an ecosystem that rivals FBs.
19/ The future of work is Hybrid. For me, nothing replaces being in person and ideating together on a white board.
The energy in a physical space is real. But, that isn't needed all day, every day.
Beyond that, full time vs contract lines are also blurring...
The energy in a physical space is real. But, that isn't needed all day, every day.
Beyond that, full time vs contract lines are also blurring...
I think the future of work will be like a bullseye target.
In-person full time team in the middle, then a circle of full time remote, then contract remote, etc.
Nailing this is a key to biz building success in the next decade.
In-person full time team in the middle, then a circle of full time remote, then contract remote, etc.
Nailing this is a key to biz building success in the next decade.
20/ The thing I am most proud in 2021: Balance is possible.
One of my biggest fears of "jumping back in" is that this time I have a family and 2 young children...
One of my biggest fears of "jumping back in" is that this time I have a family and 2 young children...
I have eaten dinner with them 5/7 nights a week, been involved in their activities and gone on vacations with them.
What has worked for me: drawing tight scheduling boundaries and letting energy from family drive work and vice versa.
What has worked for me: drawing tight scheduling boundaries and letting energy from family drive work and vice versa.
21/ The only thing that matters is your impact on others.
As @ricelias said: "Success ends with you. Significance starts with others."
My only lasting impact will be from how my work touches the lives of others and helps them in some way.
Echoing #3: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
As @ricelias said: "Success ends with you. Significance starts with others."
My only lasting impact will be from how my work touches the lives of others and helps them in some way.
Echoing #3: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
23/ If you enjoyed this thread, follow me @jspujji
I tweet advice and stories about entrepreneurship and leadership like this every week.
And don't forget to retweet this thread to share the lessons with everyone!
I tweet advice and stories about entrepreneurship and leadership like this every week.
And don't forget to retweet this thread to share the lessons with everyone!
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