Do you pour "tons" of hours into your work, yet you’re “stuck in place”?
(In life? Me too.)
You’ve no time for anything else? No idea how to start changing it?
I know the feeling. I’ve spent most of my time creating for others.
(Ghostwriting for clients)
Which means, writing this newsletter is…
Starting over.
But not really!
The good news is, NOTHING is wasted! I’ve learnt so much, it’s life-changing…
(YouTube Short, Robert Greene.)
It’s decided to start, but I’ve ran into an issue:
It’s tough to balance the work I do for others (ghostwriting, etc.) | Along with my accounts that I’m growing. |
|---|
…what if the solution has already been found?
I’m learning this week to MAXIMIZE my time:
The problem isn’t the amount of time we spend, but how that time is used.
Especially in an environment where your time is not predefined.
Dickie Bush suggests, "You need a vehicle where more effort leads to more income."
He believes we all need a side hustle and I do too.
Everyone CAN and SHOULD TRY running their own business.
BECAUSE
You cannot improve your relationship with money in a W2 job, because more effort and more time...
does NOT lead to more income.
I’ve found this to be true in most cases.
(There’s always exceptions.)
“…the beautiful part about starting a business is:
your belief around money becomes the bottleneck to its growth.”
Woo! BANGER quote.
For example, if I’m a freelancer:
I don’t see the same opportunities that a solopreneur who works 4 hour days would.
I’ll only see THROUGH the LENS I’m comfortable using.
It’s hard to see anything else if I’ve romanticized the “how” and not the why.
The “bottleneck” to growth as Dickie referred to.
I’m dealing with this myself, so, I know.
It’s a lot of negative self talk, but that’s what writing this newsletter is for.
To address and overcome this.
Another example of something I might not think to do, is productize myself.
“I HAVE to do it myself!” (No, you don’t.)
What if we hired someone capable and taught them?
They’d learn to do some (or all) of our tasks the way we’d do it.
Thus, giving us more time to spend with loved ones or ourselves?
How then, do we batch our work and time effectively?
What if I’m a 9 to 5’er?
I’m confined to the hours I’m allowed to work for a set pay I’ve agreed upon.
What if I don’t think to do *client work on the side, since my work is strenuous?
When I clock out, I clock out, right?
On the bright side, what if…
I’d only need *2-3 clients to replace my current income, and/or exceed it?
(Dan Koe, “Zero To $1 Million As A One-Person Business (Working 2-4 Hours A Day)“)
For most, that’s enough for reasonable financial freedom. Even better?
What about 1 or 2?
(Dickie Bush, Callum Johnson, “How To Quit Your Job & Make $10M As A Digital Writer (Without Any Chance Of Failure)”)
How do we start making the most of our time?
(Even if we have a W2 job?)
Where and how we focus* our time is pivotal.
(*I’ve written a previous edition subtitled FOCUS)
Alex Hormozi's wisdom rings true:
It doesn’t matter what you deserve, it’s about the RESULTS of your effort.
(Another example of his belief.)
I transform my time into compounding value by:
Networking IRL
Socials (no ads)
Writing frameworks
Content scheduling apps
YouTube videos/shorts/reels
Let’s start with writing, because, writing:
is in EVERYTHING.
Dm’s, comments, social media posts, proposals, scripting, you name it!
It’s all writing.
Dan Koe says it’s all we need to get started.
(timestamped, “Zero To $1 Million As A One-Person Business (Working 2-4 Hours A Day)“)
However, before I list my favorite writing frameworks…
Apply the “80/20 Rule” to our DAY
Get the “most bang for your buck,” AKA LEVERAGE.
I thought the cat reminded me of Simba.
Our time is saved using frameworks and content scheduling.
It means more of our time for family, fun, whatever we want.
Or, to run another business if you have another job.
We start with longform content for our content system.
Break it down into various social media posts dependent on the platform.
Listicle
A list of tools, programs, newsletters, anything!
For example: “My top 3 social media scheduling apps are…”A Story
What are the various lessons in your story? What IS a story structure?
For example:
1) In the “Boy Who Cried Wolf”, there are at least three perspectives.
(The boy, the town, the wolf.)
2) Story Framework:
Pain/Attention - use a personal story, or start with a problem.
Agitate - share how things got worse and what happened to you/someone.
Intrigue - show them a new perspective to think about that’s intriguing.
Positive Future - show the future benefits associated with the intrigue.
Solution - bring clarity to how they can achieve a positive future with a solution.An Observation
What’s something cool or interesting you noticed?
For example:
1) Your story can be or end in an observation.
2) “Social media doesn’t come easy for some.
NON-STOP, DAILY posting about JUST their product. SMH.
USE your account like a HUMAN.
That’s WHY I created Longazine. (made up product)
Pop in your stories, newsletter or video, and BAM.
It’s HOW you get AUTHENTIC content like no tomorrow.”Contrarian Take
What’s a commonly held belief about the topic that’s wrong?
For example:
Do you think virality alone equates to success on socials?
NAH. Helpful, niche content and a targeted audience.
Build a community.Past vs. Present
How has this topic changed over time?
For example:
In 2017, I was in line for food pantries.
reddit + video games, all day.
At bars, playing free poker.
In 2024, I work from home as a ghostwriter.
Still on reddit + other socials for work.
Free poker led to professional relationships.
I am thankful.A Thread
On X, break it down into 280 character increments, then post.
For example:
Transcribe your meeting, interview, YouTube video or story into content and literally, POST IT.
Take your newsletter or a section of it, and copy and paste it!
Link back to it in the comments.
Social media platforms tend to decrease the reach of the post if it links users off platform.Past/Present vs Future
Make a prediction about how this topic could change over time.
For example:
1) When he first started, YouTuber MrBeast scheduled videos years into the future. Video time capsules.
2) 15 years ago, I barely knew what a “bitcoin” was.
15 years from now, I bet my kid will ask me for some.Teardown
“Tear down a company or person who is doing a good job and share your analysis.”
For example:
Justin Welsh is everywhere, and it’s proof of his hard work.
He’s crushing YouTube despite NOT having a channel.
He radiates experience, productizes his knowledge, and the best part?
He gives it away for free.
He’s the blueprint for solopreneurs everywhere:
- no ads
- good content on socials
- “deplatform” AWAY from socials to your site or email list.
- repurpose your longform content
- know your target audience
- share what you know/show your work
He has a 95% profit margin rate for a good reason.
He delivers on both his free and paid content, and updates his course even after you’ve bought it.
Value, what’s not to like?An Analysis
Similar to a teardown, analyze the industry or another topic.
For example:
What are two things the creator economy thrives on?What makes the industry set to grow to 480 BILLION by 2027?
Authenticity and Transformations. Why?
They go hand in hand: They’re living proof of their lifestyle.
The “new rich” aren’t selling “products.”
They’re selling experiences and stories with clear audience benefits.
Seth Godin, Jerry Weissman, and Gary Vee have all said the same thing:
The audience wants to know what’s in it for them! Make it clear.
Does your product or service get them closer to their dream life? How?
Does it save them time or money? Does it help them stand out?
How can your experience guide them? Does it add value?
That's why the industry is booming. Helpful doses of change.
Provide value by guiding others towards their goals.
How did you help yourself? You’ve lived your story.
Start with what you know, it’s true to you.
MORE
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!