jerred

the power of overdoing it

jerred · November 14, 2024

When I first started, I thought every other entrepreneur knew something I didn’t.

They were more advanced.

They knew systems, numbers, marketing, sales…

What I found out, seven years later, was they didn’t know anything.

Most of them weren’t good at any part of running a business.

Most of them got lucky and couldn’t replicate their success.

But, I didn’t know that.

So I overdid it for seven years.

I learned systems, numbers, marketing, sales…

I thought I was catching up.

I was surpassing.

I was planting seeds that would take a long time to grow but once the seeds took root, I leapt over every mentor I had ever looked up to.

I’m not writing this to talk about how awesome I am.

I’m not that awesome.

I still have a lot to learn, but the lesson is in overdoing it.

An incorrect assumption lead to a journey of mastery.

The journey I am still on today.

So if you are going to go for something, go for it.

Swing for the fence.

Become the professional.

Learn more than you have to.

Pursue mastery.

Overdo it.

Try harder,

saying ‘no’

jerred · November 14, 2024

Saying no is hard.

There are two types of ‘no.’

There is tactical ‘no’ when someone is trying to steal your time.

Then, there is strategic ‘no’ to opportunities.

The first ‘no’ takes practice.

We don’t want to let people down or feel uncomfortable.

We say ‘yes’ when people ask for a minute here and a minute there.

Eventually, you realize time is the only currency and is more valuable than anything else.

the tactical ‘no’

Mastering the tactical ‘no’ is slightly uncomfortable, but not all that bad.

You have to find a way to be tactful with ‘no,’ but once you master that skill, it’s easy.

Example:

Person #1: "Jerred, let’s hop on a quick 30-min call to discuss."

Me: "Before we schedule that call, put all your thoughts in an email and shoot it my way. We can decide next steps from there."

Person #2: "Let me buy you a cup of coffee and pick your brain."

Me: "Let me know exactly what you may need help with right now and I’ll send a few resources your way."

I love helping people. Honestly, I do.

But people rarely need my undivided attention to solve their problem. When people ask for help and want resources from me, I normally put some amount of work back on them. I.e.; write an email with organized thoughts, critically think about what your current issue is, or read this book before we chat.

If they can take that first step, I may take the next step.

If they can’t take that step, they never really wanted help. They know they need help, but they aren’t willing to take action.

And, if that’s true, time with them will not be well spent for either party.

the tactical ‘no’ framework

[!simple framework]
if someone asks for your time, give them work.

Now, let’s move to the strategic ‘no,’ as this one will never be easy. Ever.

the strategic ‘no’

Hard work will yield results. Always.

The problem is where you focus that effort.

For example…

I know how to market and sell things.
I know how to run a business.
I know how to work hard.
And I like coffee.

Maybe, I should work hard, create a business, and market and sell COFFEE!!!

I have no doubt I would succeed, to some level, in selling coffee.

But I shouldn’t sell coffee.

That’s a strategic ‘no.’

That’s also an easy example.

But what if you have a successful brick and mortar business and now you want to focus your time and attention on growing an online business?

You would succeed at some level, no doubt.

But the quote, "the man who chases two rabbits catches neither," is always in the back of my mind.

The strategic ‘no’ is much harder because you aren’t wrong in saying ‘yes.’

You will succeed.

But at some point, you have to move from checkers to chess.

Can you say ‘no’ to a six-figure opportunity to pursue a seven-figure opportunity?
Can you say ‘no’ to a seven-figure opportunity to pursue an eight-figure opportunity?
Can you say ‘no’ to an eight-figure opportunity to pursue a nine-figure opportunity?

Here’s what I’ve learned with strategic ‘no’ so far.

the strategic ‘no’ framework

[!simple framework]
First, know your goal.

Second, assess your current opportunity vehicle (your business type and potential).

Will it take you to the goal?

If no, change opportunity vehicle.

If yes, then focus on nothing else.

The above is unbelievably difficult.

If your opportunity vehicle is too small to achieve your goals, you need a new opportunity (business).

That’s incredibly hard…

If your opportunity vehicle is correct, you have to say ‘no’ to anything else.

That’s incredibly hard….

i.e. the brick and mortar business shouldn’t start the online side of the business until you realize your current opportunity is maxed out.

Saying no is hard, but necessary.

try harder,

157: How To Run a Black Friday Sale

jerred · November 14, 2024

The Significance of the Holiday Shopping Season

The holiday shopping season, particularly the day after Thanksgiving, presents a unique opportunity to significantly boost your revenue. My own experience underscores this: I once missed out on an estimated $1.4 million in revenue by not engaging in holiday sales for eight years. This taught me the critical importance of this peak shopping period in the digital commerce landscape.

Reasons to Engage in Holiday Sales

While some companies like REI opt out for brand alignment reasons, for most small to medium enterprises, this period offers a valuable chance to attract new customers and increase sales. If you’re undecided about participating, consider it as a strategic move to expand your customer base, especially if your business hasn’t yet reached major revenue milestones.

Effective Strategies for Holiday Sales Success

1. Attracting New Business: Use this time as an opportunity to convert hesitant prospects into customers. Offer them something valuable at a lower barrier to entry, allowing them to experience your product or service without the usual financial commitment.

2. Offering Unique Deals: Avoid simply reducing prices on existing products. Instead, create special packages or exclusive products that are only available during the holiday sales. This strategy prevents frustration among your existing customer base and adds an exclusive touch to your offers.

Implementing Your Holiday Sales Campaign

Audience Segmentation and Communication:

Segment Your Audience: About a week before the sales start, segment your audience by interest in your deals. This can be done through email interactions where customers can opt-in to receive your promotions.
Customize Your Communication: Tailor your outreach based on the level of interest. You can either reach out to your entire list or only those who expressed interest. This targeted approach reduces the risk of annoying customers with irrelevant offers.

Email Strategy:

Initial Announcement: Kick off early on the morning after Thanksgiving, outlining all deals.
Daily Follow-Ups: Send daily emails throughout the weekend, highlighting different aspects of your deals and using ethical marketing tactics like limited quantities to create a genuine sense of urgency.

Ethical Marketing and Lessons Learned

The biggest lesson from my holiday promotions is the importance of ethical marketing. Any scarcity tactics used should be genuine—never sell more than you’ve advertised. Maintaining integrity with your customers is crucial.

By adopting these strategies, you can ensure that your holiday sales are both successful and respectful to your existing customer base. Remember, the key is not just in the deals you offer but in how you engage with and respect your customers throughout the campaign.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

apple podcasts, jerred moon, better human business podcast

spotify podcasts, jerred moon, better human business podcast

overcast podcasts, jerred moon, better human business podcast

Time-Stamped Show Notes

[00:00:30] Introduction to Black Friday strategies and personal experiences.
[00:01:30] Insights into the potential revenue from Black Friday and why it’s essential to participate.
[00:02:30] Detailed discussion on strategies for attracting new business and selling unique offerings.
[00:03:30] Steps to effectively segment and communicate with your audience for Black Friday.
[00:04:30] Email strategy specifics for maximizing Black Friday sales.
[00:05:30] Closing thoughts on the importance of ethical marketing and maintaining customer trust during sales events.

156: I broke my own rule while building a personal brand…

jerred · November 12, 2024

The Evolution of My Personal Brand

When I started focusing on my personal brand, my primary tools were short-form content on platforms like Instagram and regular newsletters. These mediums allowed me to express my thoughts directly and maintain a genuine connection with my audience. Everything you see from me, from Instagram posts to newsletter content, is crafted by me, ensuring that it resonates with who I am and what I stand for.

The Mistake of Misaligned Focus

However, as I immersed myself more into content creation—hiring video editors, focusing on scripting, and planning for a YouTube channel—I realized I had veered off course. My focus had shifted from what originally mattered: growing my newsletter and directly engaging with my audience. Instead, I found myself consumed by the need to perfect my content creation skills.

Refocusing on What Matters

The realization hit hard that while improving content quality is important, it should not overshadow my main goal. An Instagram follow might happen in a fleeting moment of interest, but gaining an email subscriber represents a deeper level of engagement and commitment. This person has chosen to let me into their daily life through their inbox—a more significant connection than a social media follow.

Strategies to Realign My Focus

To realign with my primary goal of growing my newsletter, I’ve revisited my content strategy to emphasize calls to action that lead audiences to my email list. This approach ensures that every piece of content I create has a clear purpose and contributes to my broader objective.

Lessons for Fellow Entrepreneurs

For anyone building their personal brand or business, it’s crucial to keep your end goal in focus. Whether it’s increasing direct communication with your audience or converting followers into loyal customers, understanding and staying true to your objective is key to effective brand strategy.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

[00:00:30] Introduction to the personal branding journey and current status.
[00:01:30] Overview of tools and strategies initially used for building a personal brand.
[00:02:30] Discussion on the shift of focus from core objectives to content perfection.
[00:03:00] Strategies employed to realign focus towards growing the newsletter.
[00:04:00] Advice for entrepreneurs on maintaining focus and aligning strategies with business goals.
[00:05:00] Conclusion and reminder to stay focused on what truly matters in brand building.

155: Entrepreneurial Burnout: Can it be avoided?

jerred · November 7, 2024

In my journey as an entrepreneur, I’ve faced the daunting challenge of burnout multiple times. Unlike my busy college days filled with ROTC, sports, and academics where burnout never touched me, my entrepreneurial career has been a different story. Here, I want to share my personal experiences and insights on how I’ve learned to manage and overcome entrepreneurial burnout.

Understanding Burnout in Entrepreneurship

Burnout hit me hard in my entrepreneurial career, not during my active college years. At first, I thought it might be due to having less energy or more responsibilities like family and kids, but I realized that wasn’t the whole picture. The real trigger for burnout was engaging in tasks that felt soul-sucking and not aligning with what I truly cared about.

In the early days of entrepreneurship, wearing every hat is a necessity. You find yourself doing tasks that don’t excite you because you simply can’t afford to hire help. This realization was pivotal in my battle against burnout.

My Strategy to Combat Burnout

The turning point came when I decided to take a systematic approach to understand how I was spending my time and the emotional impact of each task. Here’s the process I followed:

Audit Your Day: I started by auditing every activity I did throughout the day. For those who don’t maintain a tight schedule, jotting down every task every 30 minutes can be eye-opening. This helps in identifying what exactly you spend your time on.
Color Coding Your Tasks: After identifying the tasks, color-code them:
- Green: Tasks you love and find energizing.
- Yellow: Tasks that are neutral.
- Red: Tasks that are draining and you dread doing.
Delegate, Automate, or Delete: The goal is to minimize or eliminate yellow and especially red tasks. Delegating or automating these tasks can significantly reduce your load and help prevent burnout.

This method helped me focus more on the tasks that I am passionate about and less on those that drain my energy.

The Path to Green: Enjoying Every Task

The ultimate goal for any entrepreneur should be to turn their calendar entirely green. This doesn’t happen overnight but requires a gradual process of adjustments and realignments. For instance, tasks that once excited you might become mundane over time, and it’s important to recognize and address these shifts.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Time-Stamped Show Notes

[00:00:30] Introduction to entrepreneurial burnout and personal experiences.
[00:01:30] Discussion on the causes of burnout and the difference between college life and entrepreneurial challenges.
[00:03:00] Detailed strategy on how to audit and analyze daily tasks to manage burnout.
[00:04:00] Explanation of color coding tasks and its importance in managing energy and enthusiasm.
[00:05:00] Steps to delegate, automate, or eliminate draining tasks.
[00:06:00] Closing thoughts on achieving an “all green” schedule and maintaining long-term passion in your work.