2023 Recap: Business Wins and Lessons + Future Goals (Our Plan To $10M)
Dec 21, 2023
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In this episode, the hosts reflect on their business wins and lessons from 2023, which include launching a successful group coaching program and doubling business profit. They discuss the importance of hiring and training a sales team and building a content supply chain. They also emphasize the value of surrounding yourself with an all-star team and the power of cross-collaborations. They share insights on the benefits of working in defined sprints and the importance of in-person meetups. Overall, they look forward to their future goals in 2024 and beyond.
Working in defined sprints with clear start and finish lines helped us set specific goals and stay focused on achieving them within a designated timeframe.
Reinvesting in the business and viewing every reinvestment as a positive step forward allowed us to take bold steps and push the boundaries of our growth.
Building and surrounding ourselves with an all-star team played a crucial role in our success, as their expertise and contributions elevated the business to new heights.
The power of cross collaborations with other creators amplified our reach, enriched our content, and offered valuable insights for our audience.
Experiencing slogs or difficult periods proved to be necessary before making significant progress or leveling up, providing valuable lessons and propelling us forward.
The significant impact of audio and video content in deepening resonance with our audience inspired us to prioritize and leverage these mediums in the year ahead.
Deep dives
Working in Defined Sprints with Clear Objectives
This year, we recognized the importance of working in defined sprints with clear start and finish lines. This allowed us to set specific goals and focus on accomplishing them within a designated timeframe. For example, when launching new products like the Premium Ghostwriting Academy or Full Stack Writer, we set strict deadlines and worked relentlessly to meet them. This approach helped us stay focused and motivated during the sprint and ensured that we achieved our desired outcomes.
Every Reinvestment into the Business is Positive
Throughout the year, we learned the importance of reinvesting in the business and viewing every reinvestment as a positive step forward. This mindset shift allowed us to invest in areas like hiring and training a sales team, building a paid newsletter, and refining our content strategies. By believing that these investments would yield positive returns, we were able to take bold steps and push the boundaries of our growth.
Surrounding Ourselves with an All-Star Team
One of the most significant insights we gained this year was the importance of building and surrounding ourselves with an all-star team. As we hired and onboarded new team members, we saw how their expertise and contributions elevated the business to new heights. Maintaining a strong team culture and empowering each team member played a crucial role in our success, allowing us to scale and tackle bigger challenges.
The Power of Cross Collaborations
Through collaborations with other creators like Ali Abdul, we experienced firsthand the incredible power of cross collaborations. These collaborations not only amplified our reach and exposure, but also provided valuable insights and perspectives. Building connections and partnering with like-minded individuals enriched our content and offered valuable takeaways for our audience. We plan to further explore cross collaborations with other creators in the year ahead.
Slogs are Necessary Before Taking the Next Level
We learned that experiencing slogs or difficult periods is often necessary before making significant progress or leveling up. This was evident during periods like Max Payne Month and the decision to reevaluate our business model. While these moments were challenging, they provided valuable lessons and set the stage for accelerated growth and transformation. Embracing the challenges and persevering through the slogs ultimately propelled us forward.
Deepening Resonance through Audio and Video
We discovered the significant impact of audio and video content in deepening resonance with our audience compared to just written text. Through podcast episodes and video interviews, we found that our messages and ideas had a greater impact when conveyed through audio and visuals, allowing for a more immersive and personal connection with our audience. This realization has inspired us to prioritize and further leverage audio and video content in the year ahead.
Learning from an All-Star Mastermind
Joining an all-star mastermind provided incredible value and lessons that normalized success for us. Collaborating and learning from other successful entrepreneurs gave us insights into new strategies, ideas, and approaches. It also expanded our perspectives and pushed us to think bigger. Participating in masterminds is something we plan to continue, as the knowledge and experiences gained have been invaluable.
Setting Clear Constraints for Effective Scaling
We recognized the importance of setting clear constraints as we scale our business ventures. These constraints help guide decision-making and focus efforts in the right direction. By defining specific boundaries and guidelines, we can proactively manage growth and optimize resources. Setting clear constraints allows us to maintain better control and drive intentional progress in the year ahead.
Building a Content Supply Chain
We refined our content creation process and developed a content supply chain, ensuring that our ideas and insights are efficiently transformed into various formats and distributed across different platforms. This streamlined approach allows us to effectively repurpose content and maximize its impact. We will continue to refine and evolve our content supply chain to reach a wider audience and achieve our content goals.
Rest Period and Intensity
During a rest period, it is important to consciously embrace the rest and recharge, rather than fall into unproductive habits. By recognizing the upcoming period of intensity and setting a starting line, individuals can fully rest and prepare for the next phase of productivity. This awareness applies to both personal and professional life, allowing for a more peaceful and strategic approach.
The Power of Immersion
When learning a new skill or pursuing a goal, immersing oneself in the subject for a focused and concentrated period of time can lead to rapid progress. Immersion beats consistency in the beginning stages, allowing for a steep learning curve and greater mastery. By investing a significant amount of time and attention, individuals can quickly internalize knowledge and build a foundation for success.
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In episode 29 of Espresso Hour, Ship 30 for 30 Captains Dickie Bush and Nicolas Cole walk through the wins, lessons, and realizations they gained over the course of the year.
(00:00) Intro (01:13) 2023 Wins (04:53) Launched a successful group coaching program (11:37) Built our first asynchronous product in a month (15:07) Doubled the business profit (21:07) Hired 7 team members while maintaining performance culture (28:18) Experimented with different podcast styles (31:37) Built our V1 dream production studio (34:59) Built a paid newsletter to $250k in ARR (38:32) Learned the power of cross-collaborations (43:49) Learned how to hire & train a sales team (45:23) Refined our content supply chain (48:44) 2023 Lessons & Realizations (50:18) Work in defined sprints of monk or maintenance mode (54:33) Every reinvestment into the business is positive if… (55:56) The importance of surrounding yourself with an all-star team (57:09) You’re a fixed number of hours away from anything (1:02:38) Every leap of progress came from IRL meetups (1:03:25) The value of a mastermind is normalizing success (1:06:04) “Slogs” are necessary (1:07:36) Audio and video develop more resonance (1:08:10) Paying for the ideal scene (1:09:49) We can build anything we want (with constraints) (1:10:28) 2024 and beyond
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• Follow Dickie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dickiebush • Follow Dickie on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/dickiebush
• Follow Cole on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nicolascole77 • Follow Cole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolascole
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