Week 1

Hey - not everyone has to do this. But if I have paper available while I listen, I take quick notes while I listen since I know I need to be making a post.



Here is a shared document on my current notes since I'm listening to an episode tonight: docs.google.com/document/d/1znQOxttDRGpwCEH1L_2EDjVk5wHKDl_m9A9StqXh6zY/edit?usp=sharing

Here is my post for the Tao of hustle
favorite take away's are 1. ask yes or no questions 2. you get a skill set by doing, by attacking it aggressively and continually.
questions are as follows 1. What is the best way to define what you are doing? is there a set of three points to cover or something like that? or do you just walk through it every time? Question 2. How do you make your content the best?

-These are my take-aways
~Definition is incredibly difficult! Just recognizing and validating that explains quite a bit of stress in my life. I can do a better job providing clear definition for others when needed. I can also do a better job delegating this to others when appropriate. Allowing others to provide their own definition could be empowering for them, as well as reduce unproductive stress for me.

~ second pod cast: The first 3 meat and potatoes all seem to be about simplifying and focus. Focus on gaining a foothold in a narrow, focused market. Develop a simple sound bit to describe what you do in 3 seconds. And focus your life on the main thing, let the rest go. Simplifying and focusing, even in my daily life, would be very helpful, and is actually probably necessary to pursuing any type of growth.

One other question has to do with energy typing. In the tao of the hustle, it seems obvious that Ian and Dan are type 3. Although the principles would certainly hold for all energy types (everyone must invoice. period.) I wonder if hustle might look different for the other types. I've just been pondering that, and it seems relevant since not all of us are type 3s.

Stephen, thinking about your second set of questions, I think capturing your audience begins with defining who they are. The better and more clearly you know who you want to reach the more likely you to do so.

Those are really good questions and those take away's are really good to. my question to your question is do you have any idea on how the energy typing would look like? if so can you give any examples?

Stephen, it sounds like you are feeling the tension between being concise and also being thorough. I often feel that tension when answering "what do you do?" with MA. I do have a one sentence answer, but it isn't a thorough answer. However, if the other person asks more questions, I can take more time to answer their question with details. It is a dialogue dance, I follow the other person's cues to know if they desire a more thorough answer or not. Often people only want to know more as it relates to them personally. (That is true for me too, I only want the information I can personally connect to.)

So. You have a high value for thoroughness. But in an initial exchange of information, the higher value should probably be concise. There is a time and need to be thorough, but not in initial communication.

That said, the more thoroughly you think through what it is you do, the more succinct you can be in your answer.... if you are willing to do the work to get a solid, one sentence answer.

One other idea. You can have different answers for different people, or in different contexts. For instance, my MA business might be a health care consultant, a wellness coach, an internet personal shopper, an Unfranchise owner...... each answer would be of interest to different people, so I follow the cues and the context to help me know which answer to give. It isn't all that complicated. The work has been in coming up with a few one sentence answers that flow comfortably in conversation. I did have to work on that.

on the energy typing, yes it does resonate with me but i feel more like the type three in the focus. i feel like in a short period of time i could work hard and efficiently but daily steps are harder for me. which is weird considering that i am type 4

Stephen - Different methods are needed for different vehicles. This outline helps:

A Framework For Helping Others To Understand Your Business Challenges

Try to keep it relevant, quick (under 1 minute), and interesting.

My [company name] helps [customer segment] do [solved pain point] by [the thing you do]. Our approach is unique because [your USP, something remarkable!].
Our main website is , we have [number of employees], [sales figures], and [other relevant data, users, etc].
Our biggest challenge, and what I’d like to receive your help today in is [biggest challenge].
We’d like to achieve , and .

Making your content the best is subjective. The best to who?
Good content should make peoples life better by the end of it...for whatever reason.

My favorite way to make good content is by just making content. You get better the more you do it. My second is by "benchmarking" - finding out someone who your market loves and copying what they are doing. (Not what they are saying - but the quality of what they are doing).



You capture an audience by understanding existing desires that they already have, giving them a voice and then linking them to something that you are doing that makes their life better.
You find the best partner by having a clear objective and goal - and finding someone that brings something to the table that you don't have that agrees with your vision, principles and purpose.

I would say a "partner" at this point is more applicable to you knowing different people work in different strengths and finding smart people to ask questions from and hang around. If you want a good marriage - ask someone with a good marriage. If you want money advise - ask someone who is good with money. etc...

1. You are the common denominator in all of the stress and drama in your life.

This is probably my favorite take away.

This is huge and will help your life a ton because it keeps you focused on the things you can control. People worry about three things. Their stuff. Gods stuff. Other peoples stuff. Nearly all stress and unhappiness in life comes down to you worrying about something that isn't your stuff. You worrying about Gods stuff or other peoples stuff. When you start doing that - you will stop enjoying life. Because you can't control it.

Your life gets alot easier when you realize problems around you can be traced to how you react to things and how much you get into other peoples stuff instead just worrying about your own stuff - regardless of what other people do or don't do.

Just think about it. What is something that has been stressing you out? Its probably you worrying and thinking about how other people should be doing certain things with their lives.




Ask people questions to discover there problems. Everything else is a guess and tons of people spend a ton of time building without verifying...and its a waste. Once you ask and have a general idea - find what people are already doing in that niche and rip, pivot jam. (We will listen to this episode this week).

The sky is the limit with packaging. Get your problem and solution first...packaging will follow. There are more ways than ever to leverage time and energy.

If there isn't a direct field, you can always create one. Expert perception is just that. If you've brought them from a level 2 to a level 3 - you are an expert. The typing lady (can't remember her name) is good...but definitely not a true expert in her field. She one of thousands...she has just done a better job identifying how to link her markets desire to what she knows.

The hook is the important part. Even if you aren't the best - they won't find the best if the best doesn't bring a good hook. And when they do find the best - they will still view you as the "connector" and expert. Because you were their first. Mike Dillard is another example.



All types need to get stuff done. Doing is king. Good question...as long as it doesn't stop people from doing. Each type should learn how they best accomplish things...and the potential weaknesses. (Perfection, not finishing, 10 minute focus, 35 hour focus...) and accommodate accordingly. Good summary on the 2 types. What about 2 and 1?

Also - pretty darn sure Ian isn't a three. Much of Dan and Ian's podcast personality is learned skill that they accomplished by...DOING.

When you take action you have tangible to measure and improve with. When you always prepare - you miss that important feedback loop.



Thanks.

Those are great points Johnathan

My questions are at my age should I be looking at making a business and if so what kind.

Hello all. Excited to be able to squeeze this in between finals.

My takeaways and questions:

From the Tao of the Hustle;
1.) Learn by doing- not just by reading or listening. Hustle = implementation.
2.) Hustlers correlate actions with results. Keep doing till you get something done.

a.) when is it safe to take a risk and start doing?
b.) where can I learn more about invoicing and would it be practical/useful for me at this present time?

From the Drama Denominator;
1.) You can't be everything for everyone; so don't try. Know and be only You.
2.) narrow down your niche- be an authority in a single area rather than a little bit knowledgeable in a lot of areas.

a.) how do you draw a line of what type of responsibility (extra baggage) is okay (or necessary) to carry up the mountain and what is not helpful and/or harmful?
b.) how could I narrow down my blog to a specific niche? Where would I begin?

Free Money takeaways for fun:
-bossocks. I'm totally saying that in the future.
-there are apparently two ways to pronounce niche. Good to know.
-da'BOMB is apparently still an "in" phrase.
-"I value your opinion."



Excited to finish reading all of your posts!
-ljh

So what your saying is you get your wise action by 1 take action. 2 examin said action. 3 make changes that need to be made. 4 repeat process? I like that process. It is simple and focused. that leads to another question I have. Where do you start? I often feel overwhelmed and end op just putting it off cause I have trouble knowing where to start.

I see very big picture I have a very hard time narrowing it done to a list of things to do. In the past I have worked hard for awhile but the big picture seems no closer to being achived as when I started. It causes me to loose focus and drive. I find myself in a rut. A better way to phrase that question would be. How do you guys keep a focus and drive when results are not being achived as fast as expected/wanted?

Great explanation of the process.

You start with a piece of paper. For example...come up with five ideas. Start asking questions about them and exploring them. See if any stick out. Keep going until you have 1 or 2 keepers.

What are your skills?
What do you enjoy?
What skills do you want to expand?

There are THOUSANDS of ideas. In the entre community there are more ideas than people that can do them.
Remember - many of the skills that are needed can be subcontracted out.

The Foundation takes people without an idea and gets them into the software industry.
The rough way they do it? They have them call chosen industries (yours could be lawncare...or others) and ask people where they use excel. They ask if they enjoy it. Why they use it. Etc...

In almost every circumstance excel could be replaced with specialized software that does better. They partner with the companies to build a business model and prototype design.

Pre sell it. Then take all that cash and hire the experts to build it out in the real world. The real skill was finding the real problem that people will pay to solve. If you can do that...you can do anything. Because people will pay in advance to solve their real horrible problems.

---


You start with better expectations. Both you and I are dreams that have unrealistic expectations. You refine your process so you continually focus on what gets results. You have goals that are deeper than immediate money (skill development...network growth...etc...).

For example with Kiteletter: Expanding my skills. My network. 1000 day expectation. (see week 2's assignment). Even if Kiteletter takes longer (or fails) I'm getting better at everything I'm doing and expanding my skills to continue to expand what value I can offer and get paid for in the future. Everything I do is an investment in myself. It still is hard...don't get me wrong. But those things help.


Also - there are more and more tools and methods that are speeding up the process. Dan and Alex started an entire business in 7 days a few weeks ago and tracked everything and blogged about it each day. Thats incredible.


I can help you with feedback on your ideas whenever you want.