Business Tao with George Kao

I see a lot of aspiring business owners doing this:You’re waiting until you’re “ready” before you take the leap.A dear client asked me about the “thin line between readiness and procrastination.”After coaching hundreds of business owners, I can tell you this: ​Chances are, you are being fooled by your own brilliant mind. Feeling of “lack of readiness” is usually procrastination.**Here’s the truth:I rarely feel “ready”.When I started writing this article, I felt maybe I wouldn’t have enough to say… maybe I should do more research or journaling or give it a few more days (or weeks) before I’m ready to start writing this.When making a video — at the moment I press “record” I feel like I could’ve spent another hour thinking about the topic.When I launch a course, I know I could spend several more months (or years!) researching the topic… but I remind myself that whatever I already know will be helpful to the students. We are usually much harsher on ourselves than our students / clients are.The founder of Linkedin, Reid Hoffman, famously said this:If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.**I feel embarrassed often… because I create often.Every book that I publish, I feel slightly embarrassed by… but the reality is that if I waited until a book was “ready” I might never publish. Thankfully I do publish, because book after book, each one is getting better. I can always re-publish and re-launch a 2nd edition later… and I am already planning for it!Every course that I teach, I’m embarrassed by, but I also get feedback that makes the course better, year after year.I’m doing this for the long term journey of growth, not just short-term experiences of posting, publishing, launching.The creative process, the reality of building an authentic business, requires this continual practice:Transform fear into Love.I feel that we are being called by Spirit to recognize when we are feeling afraid in the creative process, and instead, reinterpret that emotion. Turn “fear” or “lack of readiness” into one or more of these…ExcitementPassionServiceCurious self-explorationAdventure**Transform hesitation into Action.If I am creating something, and I feel hesitation, I now interpret it as a signal to take action, to just do it. To take the next step. To write the next sentence. To click “record” on the video. To press “publish”.It is a daily creative practice: transmuting fearful hesitation into loving action. Bit by bit, piece by piece, we become more courageous. We get wiser through action and experience.A little-known fact is that the creative person’s doubt and “lack of readiness” never goes away. We simply get better at recognizing it, and transmuting it into creative action.So there’s only one thing to do:Start today.Bias yourself toward action, doing what you are afraid of, knowing that it can be interpreted as excitement, passion, service. Go ahead and write, speak, publish, launch, etc… do the thing that puts your work into the marketplace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

An audience member wrote the following to me, and maybe some of you can relate…“I long for the ability to create without any thoughts of money…to create because I love it… to take real time off when I need it… to try new things and build in more hobby time into my life. Everything I create is because I love it, but I tend to always have that background question: ‘Will it make me money?’ I want to get to a place where I feel I can try things and fail and be totally fine with it…”This video is my response. I hope you find it helpful as well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

A few years ago, I stopped marketing to the reptilian brain. My conscience could no longer tolerate it… By “lizard brain” I mean the parts within people that are governed by fear, greed, and impatience. To see a real example analyzed, see here: To get more sales, market to the “lizard brain”…? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

“I’m hoping that I can find a way to weave things together in a way that makes sense, resonates with buyers, feels enjoyable, and generates income.” — a client said. “That’s a lot of pressure on yourself,” I thought. Who says you need to weave all your interests together in a way that makes sense to anyone else, except for yourself? (You can have the most complicated vision of your work, as long as it makes sense to you.) What if being financially successful — and happy in your work — doesn’t require the integration of your various interests? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Trying to attract with visuals tends towards a shallower engagement with one's audience… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

When you create something and people don't get it, you shouldn't quit. You simply need to test more ideas. This is why I believe in the importance of the 3 stages of content creation: 1. casual, prolific, exploratory. 2. improve on what's liked.3. integrate and productize. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

I don't believe your email list is your most important business asset... It's really about having a genuine connection with your audience and treating them with respect. That's why I don't use deceptive tactics like "lead magnets"... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

There's too much mercenary marketing advice out there. Even if it might get us a few more clients in the short-term, we don’t want to put more negativity into the world. Instead of selling to a client's "pain points", there is a better way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

You don't need to prove yourself as #1 in your field, or best selling author or any kind of puffery. All those tactics will feed your "fixed mindset". Instead, demonstrate your real expertise by showing up consistently to talk about about what's working for you now, and what you're learning. When people see that you are consistently in the practice of improving in your field, you naturally gain trust. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Years ago, I championed the idea that all knowledge should be freely available online, aiming to accelerate humanity's progress. When I actually tried it, I learned two valuable lessons -- (1) free courses resulted in lower engagement and commitment from participants, and (2) my motivation waned without the reciprocal energy of paid exchanges. This experience, coupled with the disappointing experiment in using Patreon, gradually shifted my perspective. I now seek a middle way. I hope to integrate generosity and sustainability. I now advocate for (fair) pricing of courses. It's important for boundaries, self-worth, and the support of small creators. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com