“I’ve got to BREAK FREE!”
07: This edition took me a while. I couldn’t write about something I wasn’t “living”.
Yet…
Sometimes, a good ol’ kick in the booty is what you need to get started.
This one’s about:
Where to go from here.
An awakening.
"Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go"
Only when we’re simultaneously running from a cat WHILE chasing cheese…
We run the fastest.
Sometimes, a journey’s motivation strengthens with fear.
When we distance FROM SOMETHING AND RUN TOWARDS a goal is when we move our fastest. Keen on progress.
“Shedding” our “former selves”.
This transformation reminds me of:
“Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.” - Tony Robbins.
What was my kick in the booty, then? From earlier?
Well, if you must know, I have an unfortunate ailment (I won’t be fully sharing).
It gets worse over time without direct treatment, or care, and right now?
Right now, I need to act. I must move swiftly, but not without purpose.
This poses a several problems. Here’s one most know well:
(Besides my health degrading)
I need more income. Who doesn’t, right?
One of my biggest income sources is from my ghostwriting clients.
(On reddit, X, FB and IG. It also comes from thrift store/garage/yard sale flipping.)
But, if I’m going to expand my network, and gain trust AND authority?
AND get those 1-3 monthly clients for a significant financial leap we talked about in my last newsletter?
…I need to work in public. I need something tangible I can show others.
I need to be proactive, not reactive.
How will anyone believe you can get them results? (besides testimonials and referrals?)
Well, that’s just it, I’ve grown comfortable waiting on clients.
It’s ultimately their projects, their work, not mine.
Yes, I contribute to it. Sure, it can be considered my work, but it’s not directly mine. It doesn’t have my name on it.
(Which is the point.)
I need my own product or service generating my own leads, not only by word of mouth:
My own networking opportunities from MY public body of work or relationships.
Since I never built a frictionless and direct method for new clients to hire me?
I don’t have a clear vehicle I can use to compensate myself with MY time and energy.
(Like what I mentioned in my last edition. My current system KIND of works like that, yet, not quite.)
I’m always on someone else’s time or referral.
(It’s good when it’s good, but if it’s not? I feel helpless.)
I can’t fully showcase my private client work, so it’s like I’m at square one.
The steps I’ve taken to building my own body of work are:
Writing this newsletter.
YT, IG, FB, and X. Less so Pinterest. Not yet TikTok.
IG and FB are experiments.
Leftover from my candlemaker cousin, she hired me as a ghostwriter, but has since quit.
I’ve pivoted it to Self-improvement, writing, solopreneurship, etc.
(I’ve used it to practice.)And, my current research database offers.
But, it’s not enough, and I can do better. Provide more.
How can I create value, gain traction, and give it a “life of it’s own”?
“Why not start with who you are, and what you do?”
I WOULD! To be honest, I’ve been struggling with authenticity.
It’s complicated for a few reasons:
My ghostwriting clients are private
[AKA: NDA’d (non-disclosure, can’t tell anyone.)]
I’m in another business arrangement I’m not comfortable publicizing… yet.
What do I do?
How do I “prove” my authority and gain the trust of complete strangers?
How do I illuminate beyond the smoke and mirrors as a ghostwriter?
(Besides asking who I know and content systematizing my methods, describing what I do, etc…)
Provide value, sure. But how?
I have an idea, and you’re coming along for the ride.
“You can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it.”
“I love learning on the job while I ghostwrite.” - Me
Dickie Bush has also said as much.
The work he’d be doing for clients was what he was already doing for himself.
Distilling quality information into a lovely package. (Podcasts, YouTube videos, etc.)
Similar, for me. Now what?
This newsletter is meant to dictate a journey to learn from, and I don’t think I’ve delivered.
I NEED to DO something. I WANT to be authentic, but I can’t EXACTLY show off my current body of work in it’s entirety.
As Alex Hormozi says, “Do cool shit, then talk about the shit you do.”
Right, b-but I… uh… Okay, screw it.
Build a project AND REPORT about it. Create to iterate, publicly.
Show my work.
Then, funnily enough… the timing couldn’t be any better…
A Chad Kimball YouTube video auto played during my study session.
As an Otaku… I gave him a try and he blew my mind.
(Wow, how can I sound LESS salesy? I’m not associated with him.)
He says there’s tons of businesses, near you, right now, that need websites.
He claims we could make a 1k a week and possibly more with this method.
As usual, I was skeptical, but… it’s true about businesses not using websites.
They either don’t have one or it’s bad / doesn’t work.
SEVERAL businesses in ALL niches. (Accountants, Mechanics, Bakeries, Candlemakers, etc.)
I can’t believe they ONLY use social media, along with their regulars and word of mouth.
I thought it was A MUST to have a website for physical locations.
I thought, “Google My Business runs the world.”
Surely, ‘they’ required a website when you signed up for a physical location, right?”
WRONG. Not sure why I thought it worked this way…
Usually, The Chamber of Commerce in your city displays new businesses in your area.
But, why would they require a website to sign up?
Then… it hit me.
(Once I got over the “brick and mortar thing.”)
I’m in a similar boat.
It’s exactly what I did! Why am I so shocked?!
But, I never used a website OR social media to land clients.
Again, word of mouth, and solid work.
By the way, completing work for a community is VALIDATING.
If you’re getting recommended, or they come back, it means you’re doing a good job.
It also means your business is setup for repeat clients or monthly payments.
More importantly, it CAN mean they tell others about you.
However, not everyone does.
(Those that do are called, OTAKU. They WILL tell others, if it’s remarkable. I’ve written about them, here)
My problem is THEIR networks have run dry.
(They’re either hermits or complacent. NO JOKE.)
Which mean, mine have too.
“You won’t know what you want out of life if you never try anything that hasn’t been assigned to you.”
Here’s what I’m doing:
Visiting and networking with local businesses: GF and I trot the town to visit those businesses in person without websites (or wonky sites), to chat! Try and catch a vibe.
We can also send a “cold” lead DM if we’ve never met them before.
However, if we know the business prior, we’ll personalize. That’ll be a “warm” lead.
For example, we’re going to offer our favorite bakery near us a website for free.
I’ll learn from our concurrent conversations with different people.
Conventions, events, etc are lucrative for networking.
We’ve exchanged information before with other businesses, those are warm leads we can also contact.
Mind you, it’s akin to “dating them”.
Getting to know them, and learning if our offers are a good fit, if there’s room to market to them, or if our mindsets align.
Sometimes, it takes a “sell” to convince them to do what they already wanted to do anyway. The sweet spot.
Worry less about the non-believers, and more about the one’s who do.
But also, make sure your presentation and product are SO remarkable, they see it your way.
(Even though they tell themselves a story you don’t have control over.)
A tricky game, us humans. It’s why authenticity works.
No need to “play” a game for them to obfuscate anyways. Be real.
We provide value before the sale when they check us out on their own.
Our socials, our website, our YouTube?
Good solopreneur content in general but also, content connecting marketing to websites.
During our talks? We learn where they’re at, and if we even can illuminate them.
Sometimes, they’re looking for more employees, not a website, etc.
It’s less about the website being the sell, and more about the site being a gateway to a better outcome if they’re ready for it.
You’re not selling the features, but the benefits of said features.AND, I already fulfill a ghostwriting role. A smooth sell, if that’s what they want.
We also don’t hesitate to network with those who do have sites.Landing page: Website Design + Marketing
→ Another step in my Solopreneur journey
→ Skill stack increase: Websites + Landing pages.
→ “Practice what you preach.” - I’ll have a site, too.CAN NICHE: “NC Website Design/Marketing”.
Podcast: Bypass the “ick” of reaching out and build a genuine network of entrepreneurs, an asset via content with value (pod), and a community.
I’ve looked around, many near me aren’t taking content seriously.
And anyone that does? Collaboration.
“A mission to inspire Local CLT entrepreneurs and businesses to take bigger leaps, together, in their journey!
To elevate each other, sharing what we know what works to encourage others to do the same.”
For example, a podcast with Samantha where she gives advice to other current and aspiring entrepreneurs on what to avoid, where to start, internships, content, interviews, getting their name out there, etc.
It allows for networking with other business owners and customers through content, locally.
Being featured means your contact information is in the description, targeted and easy to find!
You’ll also be added to a group chat of entrepreneurs who have done “the pod” on Discord or IG or Telegram or WhatsApp.
Anyone else can join too!
Doesn’t work? We pivot!Free value: for local businesses and entrepreneurs.
For example, coverage of local CLT spots that are above and beyond in service.
Collaborate with other local and global newsletters and podcasts with similar or complimentary niches.
Valuable snippets and videos from our own interviews and podcasts!
(Along with others! Can always make a culmination.)
Design a world class YouTube banner (for free) or thumbnail for their channel.
Rewriting their copy for them, with free weeks worth of social media posts for them to use.
Pointing out errors or mistakes they make on their site.
Redoing a banner, display or sign they have for free.
For example, my nearby bakery has an old school slide show on their TV. I can easily make a better version!
Making content about redesigning website concepts, website design concepts in general, etc.
Content for marketing, branding, solopreneurship, why a website is important, etc.
PDF’s, eBooks on marketing with a site, how to make content for your site, why email is a good option, etc.
And lastly… complete a finished site, and offer to transfer it to them for testimonials when starting.Framework / finished website outreach: For hot and cold outreaches we do “the work” first, offering to transfer it to them with hosting if they want!
If not, we can take care of that and list our offers.
1) Website + Branding + Hosting transferred to them
2) Website + We take care of hosting + maintenance + revisions + SEO for monthly fee.
3) Website + Hosting + SEO + Ghostwriting + Marketing + Content writing on the website for a monthly fee.
Next week, we’ll have the results of our attempts!
(I’ll be sending another one out soonish to make up for last week.)
What am I focusing on?
https://thegreengambit.gumroad.com/l/research
This is a living document (updated) for the month of February and March, but available forever.
When a new month starts, I start a new living document.
If you like my writing: This is the foundation of what I’m studying.
Join the Discord to discuss what you’re learning too!