Being part of this event was incredibly humbling and a reminder of why I’m so passionate about my work. Beyond Barriers wasn’t just a celebration; it was a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of women entrepreneurs.

The Power of Community and Empowerment

From the moment I arrived, the energy was palpable. The event was filled with women who had chosen to take control of their lives through entrepreneurship. When I gave the opening remarks, I shared the mission of the Center for Entrepreneurship and our commitment to supporting women who are striving to make a difference, not only in their own lives but in the lives of those around them.

For me, it’s always been about more than business. It’s about empowerment, confidence, and helping people discover their own potential. Seeing how these women had transformed was incredibly rewarding and reinforced my belief in the importance of community and support in entrepreneurship.

Demo Day: Stories of Resilience, Impact, and Innovation

The heart of the event was Demo Day, where participants presented their business ideas and shared the stories behind them. Every single woman I spoke with had a unique story, filled with challenges they had overcome to turn their ideas into reality. The pride and sense of accomplishment they felt were contagious, and I was reminded of the power of resilience.

Some of the moments that stood out to me included:

• Personal Journeys of Strength: Many of these women had faced personal hardships, but rather than giving up, they had chosen to turn those experiences into strengths. They demonstrated resilience in its purest form.
• Commitment to Community: These entrepreneurs weren’t just building businesses; they were making a difference in their communities, creating jobs, and supporting local artisans. Hearing them speak about their vision and their impact was moving.
• Innovative Approaches to Business: From using traditional crafts to tech-based solutions, the creativity and innovation they showcased were inspiring. It was a reminder that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for change.

Each presentation reinforced my commitment to supporting initiatives like this. Seeing these women succeed felt like a shared victory, and I left Demo Day filled with hope for what they’ll accomplish in the future.

Leading a Masterclass on Entrepreneurship

One of my contributions to the event was leading a masterclass on entrepreneurship. I wanted to share the practical lessons I’ve learned over the years and, more importantly, encourage these women to trust their instincts and believe in their own strength.

During the masterclass, I focused on:

1. The Courage to Begin: Taking that first step is often the hardest part, especially when the path is filled with uncertainty. I shared how essential it is to trust the process and to view challenges as part of the journey.
2. Crafting a Personal Brand Story: I spoke about the power of an authentic brand story. Each of these women has a unique journey and a personal why that drives them. I wanted to help them see how those stories could be a powerful part of their brand.
3. Understanding Market Needs: I emphasized the importance of knowing their audience and tailoring their products to meet real needs. This is especially critical for entrepreneurs who want to make a social impact.

The participants engaged actively, asking thoughtful questions and sharing their own insights. Seeing their enthusiasm and desire to learn was incredibly rewarding, and I left the session with a renewed appreciation for the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences.

Looking Forward: A Vision for Growth and Impact

Reflecting on Beyond Barriers 2024, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such an impactful event. It’s reinforced my commitment to the work we’re doing with the CSUF Center for Entrepreneurship and to expanding our reach.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to focus on a few key areas:

• Storytelling and Marketing: I believe that helping these women develop storytelling and marketing skills will empower them to scale their businesses and reach wider audiences.
• Expanding to More Regions: This experience has inspired me to think about how we can extend this program to more regions, making resources and support available to women who may not have access otherwise.

Attending Beyond Barriers reminded me why I love what I do. It’s not just about business; it’s about helping people find their voice, realize their potential, and make a lasting impact. I look forward to continuing this work and supporting these remarkable women as they break down barriers and pave the way for others.

When we invest in people—especially women—we invest in a better future. I’m honored to be part of that journey.

“Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both. People with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life.” — National Institute of Mental Health

My OCD took on many forms, including:

• Repeating the last syllable of words
• Rereading sentences repeatedly
• Spending hours arranging our welcome mat until it was just right
• Repeating prayers hundreds of times each day
• Checking and double-checking my bedroom door to ensure it was locked

OCD is often called the doubting disease because individuals affected are constantly plagued by a feeling that something is "just not right." These obsessions compel them to repeatedly engage in rituals (compulsions) until they feel a sense of calm. However, this calmness is short-lived as doubt begins to creep in once again.

While you may logically understand that these rituals are irrational, the worry and anxiety persist until you perform the checking behavior. Living with OCD is exhausting. However, looking back, I now see it as a gift that set me on the path of personal development.

Over the past 20 years, I have devoted my time to finding tools to “fix myself” and rewire my brain. I have read books, taken courses, tried prescription medication, explored Plant Medicine, and even practiced Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE). Through this journey, I have gained a deeper understanding of what worked for me and hopefully, what can work for you.

I firmly believe that when harnessed properly, OCD can be a superpower. It allows you to obsessively focus on a goal until it is achieved. With the right tools, I am confident that you can rewire your brain, overcome suffering, and thrive.

Most importantly, you can be free.

How I’ve Rewired My Brain — The Tools

Photo by Vanessa Serpas / Unsplash

Mindset Training

During high school, my dad gave me the book "Your Erroneous Zones" by Wayne Dyer, which introduced me to interrupting negative thought patterns and the possibility of rewiring my brain. After weeks of practice, I noticed a shift in how I perceived myself, replacing previous fears with conviction and confidence. This newfound freedom kickstarted my personal growth journey, and I've never looked back.

Since then, I've immersed myself in books on mindset. Here are the ones that have had the greatest impact on my life:

• "Solve For Happy" by Mo Gawdat
• "Your Erroneous Zones" by Wayne Dyer
• "Awaken The Giant Within" by Tony Robbins
• "Already Free" by Bruce Tift
• "The Surrender Experiment" by Michael A. Singer

Advanced version: Take self-improvement intensives such as Unleash The Power Within (UPW). Consider these as sprints where you can make significant shifts in a condensed period of time.

Photo by Sigmund / Unsplash

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

My only regret with therapy is that I didn't do it sooner. In college, I visited a therapist who specialized in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). According to the Mayo Clinic, "CBT helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way." My therapist acted like a coach, helping me identify self-defeating thought patterns and providing tools to replace them with constructive ones.

During our sessions, we practiced running anxiety scenarios. For example, I would pick up the phone and cancel a meeting that I didn't want to attend while in her office. I would sit with the wave of anxiety as she watched me make the phone call, ensuring that I didn't give in and hang up. Over time, I developed a greater ability to tolerate uncomfortable emotions and became more confident as a result.

If you're interested in finding a therapist, here are some great resources:

• What is CBT?
• ICOCDF.org
• How to find a good therapist?

Note: Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) is supposed to be very helpful for people experiencing OCD. I haven't done it in an official capacity, but have heard great things about it.

Photo by Jr Korpa / Unsplash

Plant Medicine

"Psychedelics, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine or the telescope is for astronomy." — Stanislav Grof.

Nothing has transformed my life quite like plant medicine. Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins and MAPS.org show the profound effects that psychedelic compounds like Ayahuasca and Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) have on people suffering from treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.

A few years ago, I participated in my first Ayahuasca ceremony. With a journal and a healing intention, I took the plunge. Over the next two days, I was guided through a profound experience where I worked through traumas and faced my deepest fears. During this journey, I encountered my seven-year-old self and expressed my love for him. I embraced him, reassuring him that he was safe. In the end, I gained a deeper understanding and acceptance of myself and others.

The results have stayed with me. Tics that I used to have are gone. I used to stutter, that’s gone too. I feel less anxiety and a deeper calm. Needless to say, my OCD has never been the same.

Starter version: If psychedelic experiences aren't your thing, you can try visiting a Sensory Deprivation Tank. It offers similar effects without the whole spiritual trip.

Please note that I am not a medical professional, and the information shared here is based on my personal experiences, not medical advice. Plant medicine can be immensely beneficial, but it's crucial to approach it with caution and informed awareness to mitigate any adverse effects. It's important to thoroughly research and understand plant medicine before considering its use. Below, you'll find some valuable resources to guide you.

Resources:

• "How to Change Your Mind" — Michael Pollan
• MAPS.org
• Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research
• Psychedelics 101 — Tim Ferriss

Photo by Finde Zukunft / Unsplash

Stream of Conscious Journaling

When I'm feeling anxious, nothing helps me more than doing a "word vomit" on paper. This is called stream of consciousness journaling. Essentially, you take a piece of paper and for the next 10 minutes, write down every thought that comes to your mind. You jot down all your fears, anxieties, and angry thoughts that arise. It's essential to remember that just because you think something, doesn't mean it's true. The key is not to filter your thoughts. Once the time is up, you're free to continue with the rest of your day.

Often, those thoughts bouncing around in your head just need to be released. Starting your day with this activity gives you a clean slate and can do wonders for intrusive thoughts, frustration, and many other things.

Resources:

• Ommwriter - App for freeform writing
• Binaural Beats for Focus - Spotify Playlist

What’s Next?

The principles and tools I mentioned don't just work for OCD. They work for anyone trying to shift their way of thinking. They work for anyone looking to change their thought patterns.

I spent years trying different tools, and my goal was to provide you with a curated list of the best ones, the ones that were real game changers. Try them out and see which ones have the most impact on your life.

Remember, it is possible to rewire your brain.

Thank you and much love,

Victor Macias

I've been delving into the Lean Startup concept, with the primary takeaway being the necessity for rapid learning, experimentation, and testing. This realization made me reflect on my personal brand and the fact that my learning curve is a bit sluggish.

My website traffic is minimal. Although my LinkedIn following is slowly growing and my email open rates are encouraging (suggesting value creation), I'm not seeing conversions into sign-ups for my training or classes.

Maybe there's a disconnect in my value proposition – they're not interested in my offerings. Perhaps my target audience isn't a match. Or, maybe my content isn't as valuable as I think it is. Regardless of the reason, the bottom line is the same - I'm in the dark because I don't have enough traffic to test my hypotheses. If I genuinely want to understand what's working, I need to drive more traffic to my site.

The Power of Volume

Photo by freestocks / Unsplash

Entrepreneur Alex Hormozi's insights on the power of volume reminded me of this. He emphasizes the concept that success often requires doing more. He shares a story of promoting a gym with flyers on cars. Despite his efforts, he received no responses. When he discussed this with his coach and revealed he had only posted a hundred flyers, he was advised to think in the thousands. This was a light bulb moment - the tactic wasn't the problem, but the volume of implementation was.

Contemplating this made me question: What if I'm already executing the "right things"? Maybe my strategy is sound; I just need to amplify it. It's not about doing something different but increasing the volume of what's already working.

Potential Changes and Outcomes from Increased Volume

I began to wonder about the consequences of multiplying my LinkedIn posts by 10 or even 100. Would that irritate people or make me seem like a spammer? What if I sent out 3 or 4 emails a week instead of just one?

Might I annoy some people? Possibly, but I would also accelerate my learning process. I'd quickly identify which content and emails connect and inspire action, as well as which offers are attractive and which aren't.

I thought about other methods to 10X my volume. Paying for ads could be educational, driving a thousand people to my site in a couple of days could help me know who my customer is, what lead magnets work, what emails are effective, and so on.

Enhancing Value through Volume

Photo by Alexander Grey / Unsplash

Then I asked myself: what if I scaled my content production by 10X? Would the quality decline? Would I start churning out less valuable content? I used to think so, but then I remembered an insight from Gary Vee. Your audience determines the quality of your content, not you. Ever poured hours into something you thought was fantastic only to hear crickets upon release, while a less time-consuming piece gets an outstanding reception? This helped me realize that quality doesn't necessarily decrease with volume. In fact, ramping up your output can improve your content quality over time.

By multiplying your content by 10 or even 100, you discover what types of content succeed more quickly. This feedback allows you to fine-tune your strategy to produce more of what works. Now, I'm excited to implement this at a holistic level.

The Question of Scaling

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko / Unsplash

Having decided that scaling is the pathway to speed up learning and make my experiment in funnel marketing effective, the next question is what and how to scale.

Here's my breakdown of the main marketing channels and potential plans for expansion:

• Emails: Double the frequency with a weekly roundup.
• Blog Posts: Increase production and posting frequency from 1 post to 5 posts per week.
• LinkedIn: Increase posts in groups, experiment with slide decks, comment on 30 profiles, and host weekly video calls.
• Explore other content options: Film daily videos for LinkedIn and produce YouTube videos.

Now the question is: how can I create 10X more content without investing 10X more time? A few strategies come to mind:

• Batching: Allocate more time to create multiple posts at once.
• Aim for 70% readiness: I can publish content that is about 70% ready (even if it has minor errors).
• Leverage technology: Utilize AI to assist with brainstorming, editing, and outlining.
• Implement a content calendar: By planning the number of posts needed in advance, I can focus solely on creation.

Speeding up the Learning Process

So, that's going to be my approach for the upcoming weeks. I plan to 10X my volume with the goal of rapid learning and iteration.

My proposed method: Drastically increase volume to stress test and see what "breaks." Once I identify these areas, I can adjust my content more rapidly.

Will this approach work? I can't say for certain, but it seems logical. If you do more of what's already working, at an exponential rate, things are bound to shift. As these changes manifest, it's essential to learn, discontinue ineffective strategies, and amplify those that work.

They’re often a list of other people’s priorities. Tasks get added at a faster rate than those finished leaving you with a constant feeling of incompleteness. This affects your sense of accomplishment and ability to “turn off” from work.

To-do lists are helpful for capturing ideas and open loops. This is great for getting things out of your head quickly and reducing stress. However, the lack of prioritization makes them less usable the larger they get.

As your list grows, you switch from executor to task manager. You look for tools and software. You waste time categorizing and organizing and spend more time managing the tasks on your list than actually doing them.

When you have a long to-do list, it becomes easy to procrastinate. This is because the sheer tasks are overwhelming. Also, there are many tasks with different degrees of scope that are mixed in together.

A better solution is The Someday/Maybe list. It allows you to capture what’s in your head quickly (reduces friction). Prioritization happens separately, typically in a daily review, where you’ll choose what’s most impactful action items. It also removes the commitment associated with the tasks on your list. This reduces overwhelm because it increases your feeling of freedom of choice. The commitment comes in the daily review when you choose what you’ll actually execute.

How to Use a Someday/Maybe List

Instead of using a To Do List, work from a Someday/Maybe list. This serves as a Master list for capturing thoughts while separating the decision-making from the act of executing. This frees your mind from overwhelm and the nagging feeling of incompleteness.

Tasks and open loops sit on your list until you decide to turn them into actionable items. This frees up valuable bandwidth and reduces stress and overwhelm. It also removes friction which makes it a system you’ll stick with.

Here’s the process:

• Whenever you have an idea or task that pops into your head, capture it.
• As requests come in via email, work, etc, add those to your Someday/Maybe list.
• Use a centralized tool to capture everything - I use the Things App, but it can be a simple notebook.
• Once a week, go through your list and select your top 3 priorities.
• Every day, go through your weekly list and choose your top 3 priorities.
• Complete your most impactful task before lunch
• Crush the day!

The Someday/Maybe list is a great option for managing tasks while reducing stress. It keeps things flexible while leaving your big decisions for your daily review.

See, the thing is, most of the things we take as 'normal' – like that 9 to 5 grind – are just leftovers from the industrial revolution. Even our productivity is a square peg forced into a round hole, like trying to be a rockstar at 8 am when you're a night owl at heart.

But what if I told you that there was a better way? Challenge the norms and rewrite the rules to match your lifestyle, all while getting more done and enjoying the ride. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, I'm here to share with you how I managed to do things differently, transforming my life, and boosting my productivity in ways I never thought possible.

This post is all about that – the principles and methods I've used to design my days, reducing stress, injecting joy, and making time for what matters. So, grab a cup of coffee (or beer, whatever floats your boat), and let's dive into how you can plan your perfect day.

💡

Even if you have a day job, or a schedule filled to the brim with appointments these principles will help get more done in less time and enjoy more of the journey.

Align with Your Chronotype

To plan your optimal daily schedule, it's crucial to understand and align with your Chronotype. Most of us work against our biological clock, causing us to perform below our full potential. Once you understand the "when," the "what" falls into place, and you can start creating a day that feels right.

Here’s how:

• Take the free chronotype quiz
• Reflect on your daily energy levels and identify when you're most alert and productive.
• Reschedule activities to match your energy levels. If you're a morning person, schedule demanding tasks early. If you're an evening person, reserve deep work for later in the day.
• Check out your ideal Chronotype schedule here.

Schedule Your ‘Life’ First

Too often, our work ends up taking over our daily schedule. It's an easy trap to fall into, but by planning personal activities and relaxation first, we're actually fostering a healthier work-life balance. This strategy helps reduce stress and enhances overall satisfaction. Don't just take my word for it - productivity guru Neil Fiore, author of 'The Now Habit', argues that prioritizing fun leads to greater effectiveness in work. Plus, research supports this, showing that those who enjoy the most success make a conscious effort to allocate time for leisure and enjoyment.

Here’s how:

• Throw away your traditional calendar and create an Unschedule.
• Block out time for activities that make you happy or help you relax.
• Purchase experiences in advance to make it more likely you'll follow through.
• Schedule recurring appointments for fun activities.
• Set aside a budget specifically for fun, guilt-free activities.

Work Around Your Strengths

Each of us is gifted with unique strengths and talents. When we gear our tasks towards these strengths, productivity goes through the roof. Not only does the quality of our work significantly improve, but we also find a whole lot more joy in what we're doing (Easy is life showing you what to add).

Here’s how:

• Discover how you’re wired and turn strengths into superpowers.
• Identify your highest leverage tasks that utilize your unique strengths.
• Choose one or two daily practices that leverage your strengths and schedule them into your calendar.
• If you're a morning person, consider doing these tasks first when willpower is highest. If you're an evening person, align these tasks with your peak energy period.

Plan By Sequence, Not Time

Rather than a rigid time-based daily schedule, consider ordering your tasks by priority and energy level. This provides flexibility and reduces stress, especially when unexpected events disrupt your plans.

Here’s how:

• Identify your top three most important tasks of the day (Related: Goal Setting How-To: Transform Your To-Do List with the 3-3-3 Rule).
• Once identified, perform these tasks in order of importance.
• Keep moving from one task to another without strict time constraints. This offers a sense of freedom and flexibility in your day.

Ideal daily schedule template

You do not need a rigid hour-by-hour calendar. Use this template to turn the four principles above into an ideal daily schedule.

1. Chronotype block: Note whether you are a morning person or an evening person, and put demanding work in your peak energy window. Take the chronotype quiz if you are not sure.
2. Life-first blocks: Block time for rest, fun and personal activities before you fill the day with work. An Unschedule can help.
3. Strengths block: Choose one or two daily practices that use your strengths, and place them in your peak energy period.
4. Sequence, not the clock: List your top three tasks for the day and do them in order of importance, without strict time constraints.

If you want to batch a whole day around one kind of work, I also use day theming.

Designing your perfect day might seem impossible at first, but with a little bit of introspection and the right planning tools, it's entirely achievable. By understanding your body's natural rhythms, prioritizing fun, leveraging your unique strengths, and planning by sequence, you'll set the stage for a fulfilling, productive, and less stressful day.

Remember, your ideal day won't look like anyone else's—and that's okay. This process is about making the most out of your days in a way that aligns with your lifestyle, preferences, and goals. As you start to implement these principles, you'll likely find your days becoming more enjoyable and productive.

So, what are you waiting for? Use these principles as a guide to design your perfect day, and start experiencing more joy, fulfillment, and success in your life. The only person who can make your perfect day a reality is you!"

As you know, we've been diving into the flavorful world of healthy snacks. We recently ran a survey with a focus group that represents our target audience. We've run the numbers, and we're seeing some interesting trends emerge.

The Survey Results

Photo by Firmbee.com / Unsplash

Our audience has made it clear they have a taste for healthier snacks. We're seeing a lot of interest in low-sugar, low-carb, and organic options. This comes as no surprise - everyone wants to munch guilt-free, right?

But there's a twist: Our audience is craving flavors that resonate with their roots. They're after that nostalgic taste of home, with a healthier twist.

So, how do we go from all this rich data to a bag of crunchy, crave-worthy snacks? That's the golden question and where the culinary magic happens.

Finding a Base

The first stage is understanding the base for our product. We're considering a variety of options, each with its unique benefits. Some might surprise you!

Beyond the base, we're exploring a whole pantry of exciting ingredients. Think, unique flavor profiles, and even some unexpected additions that not only add to the taste but also pack a nutritional punch.

The journey to create the perfect healthy snack is far from over, and we're learning and tasting as we go. It's all about trial and error, and of course, a whole lot of fun.

Can't wait to share more snackable updates with you soon. Keep your eyes peeled for the next edition of Startup Notes!

Action items:

• Finalize the product concepts
• Connect with food scientists
• Move forward with branding

Do you have any wild ideas for a snack or a mystery ingredient you'd love to see in a snack? Let us know in the comments.

I knew I had to take a different approach. I noticed a trend in what the productivity pros were doing at the time. Many of them focus on just 1-3 things per day. For example., Tim Ferriss, uses a postcard he tucks into his pack pocket to limit his to-do list. Leo Babauta of Zen Habits picks his top 3 tasks (he called them MITs - Most Important Tasks). I wondered, what if I did that, but on a macro scale? I call it the 3-3-3 rule. It's how I redefined my approach to goal setting and it's how I plan my quarter, week, and day for maximum output.

The 3-3-3 method: 3 quarterly outcomes, 3 weekly priorities, and 3 daily goals

• Quarterly - Every Quarter, I block some time to plan. I go through my notes, calendar, and someday/maybe list and pick 3 outcomes that would change everything in my life.
• Weekly - Every week, I look at my Quarterly and choose 3 key things I can get done that will move me closest to my quarterly outcomes.
• Daily - Every day, I choose 3 tasks that will help me reach my weekly outcomes.

And that's it! My days link to my weeks, my weeks link to my quarter and I get my most impactful stuff done without the stress and overwhelm.

The Benefits of The 3-3-3 Goal Setting Method

• It increases effectiveness - By limiting your outcomes, you're forced to prioritize and choose what really matters to you. This increases focus and helps overcome procrastination.
• It creates space for life to happen - By reducing tasks to the top 3, you're able to win the day early. This adds flexibility in your day for unexpected interruptions or just fun, relaxing time. It also allows you to say YES to more in your life.
• It allows for guilt-free fun - Once you've accomplished your top 3 tasks for the day, you've won. You can feel confident that your weekly outcomes will forward and ultimately your quarterly outcomes too. The rest of your day is free for you to do whatever you want. The guilt and "should's" in your day diminish allowing you to be present and enjoy relaxing. (Related: Guilt-free play fuels quality work)

3-3-3 method template

Use this fill-in to plan 3 quarterly outcomes, 3 weekly priorities and 3 daily goals (3 goals a day).

This quarter's 3 outcomes

This week's 3 priorities (the 3 things that move you closest to those outcomes)

Today's 3 daily goals (3 goals a day that help you reach this week's priorities)

How the 3-3-3 method differs from other 3-3-3 rules

The 3-3-3 method in this post is a time management system: 3 quarterly outcomes, 3 weekly priorities and 3 daily goals. It is not the 3-3-3 anxiety grounding rule (notice 3 things you see, 3 you hear and 3 ways you can move your body), the popular 3-3-3 workout split (3 strength days, 3 cardio days and 3 rest or recovery days), or the 3-3-3 dog adoption guideline (give a new dog 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months to settle in).

And that's the 3-3-3 method. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. I promise it's a game-changer. It will simplify your life while allowing you to focus on what's most important. Plus, you'll enjoy more guilt-free fun. If you want a lighter list, I also wrote about why a Someday/Maybe list can work better than a long to-do list, and how to make steady progress toward your goals. Let me know how it goes.

However, you don't have to be a billionaire CEO to take advantage of the benefits of this strategy. Whether you're a founder, a freelancer, or a busy parent, Day Theming can help you achieve more flow states, reduce decision fatigue, and prioritize what's important to you.

In essence, it turns chaos into harmony, one day at a time.

What is day theming?

Day theming is a productivity framework that assigns each day of the week to a type of work. Instead of switching between small tasks all day, you commit one day to one large project or area of focus, so you can find more flow and reduce decision fatigue.

How Does Day Theming Work?

Day Theming is task-batching on steroids. When you perform task batching, you group similar tasks together and work through them in a devoted block of time – whether it's running errands or returning phone calls.

Day Theming is a macro approach. Instead of focusing on small tasks, you focus on large projects or areas of focus and commit to doing just one for the day. For example, Mondays may be for administrative tasks and Thursdays could be reserved for creative brainstorming.

Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk are known to use Day Theming to effectively run multiple companies. In an interview with Forbes, Musk said he works at SpaceX on Mondays and Tuesdays, at Tesla on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and then returns to SpaceX on Fridays. Dorsey, during his time at Twitter, would divide his days across company functions. For example, Mondays were for Management, Tuesdays for Product, Wednesdays for Growth, Thursdays for Partnerships, and Fridays for Company and Culture.

Either way, the benefits are clear...

• More flow states - Day theming encourages you to batch similar tasks together without interruptions. This single-focused method encourages you to get into flow states. This can help you increase your productivity to get more done in less time.
• Less decision fatigue - Day theming allows you to create a consistent rhythm to your work schedule which removes the need to make decisions. Every time we have to decide what to work on, we create decision fatigue which affects our ability to solve complex, important problems. However, when we determine what types of work to do ahead of time, we’re more able to focus on the execution of the work in that slot. This allows us to perform better and do better work.
• Prioritize what’s important - The biggest advantage of batching work ahead of time is that it allows us to prioritize the work that’s important to us. By carving out a slot in your calendar daily, you make sure that you’re setting time aside to accomplish what’s important to you. You design your day for success.

Here's a step-by-step guide to making Day Theming work for you:

1. Identify Your Themes: Begin by listing out all of the tasks and areas that require your focus throughout the week. This could include admin tasks, projects, meetings, creative tasks, and personal time. Group these tasks into broader themes. For example, 'Planning and Strategy,' 'Project XYZ', 'Meetings and Calls', 'Admin and Errands', etc.
2. Assign Themes to Days: Once you've identified your themes, assign each to a specific day of the week based on their importance and your energy levels throughout the week. For example, I block Mondays for Admin and Planning, Tuesdays and Thursdays for Meetings, and Wednesdays and Fridays for creative 'Deep Work'.
3. Set Clear Boundaries: Make sure that each day is specific to the theme. This means avoiding the urge to switch tasks. Remember, the goal here is to reduce the cognitive load between switching tasks and to allow yourself to get into a flow.
4. Be Flexible: Life doesn't always go according to plan. Fires and unexpected events will arise. In these cases, it's important to be flexible and adjust your day as necessary. The goal here is progress over perfection.
5. Tweak and Refine: After implementing Day Theming for a few weeks, review your schedule. Notice when you're most effective. Also, pay attention to the days that are least effective. Use this information to tweak and refine your schedule. This is an iterative process.

Remember, the goal of Day Theming is not to pack your schedule with as much work as possible. It's about being effective and creating space for focused work, minimizing distractions, and prioritizing what's important.

Try Day Theming in your life and let me know how it goes.

Welcome to VictorMacias.com, my personal blog. My name is Victor Macias, and I am a serial entrepreneur, startup coach, and Shark Tank alum. I've built multiple 6 and 7-figure businesses and I'm passionate about helping others create life on their terms.

I created this page to help new visitors discover the most popular content and resources. If you'd like to say hello, visit the Contact page. You can find more of my bio here.

Resources & Guides

• Presentation - How I Raised Six Figures from Crowdfunding for My Startup

Top Posts

• From Strengths to Superpowers: Unleash Your Full Potential Through Daily Practice
• The Power of When: Find Your Chronotype and Take the Quiz
• Slow Down to Go Fast: Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast
• Living a Goalless Life: Why Life Without Goals Can Work
• Do more quality work with the Unschedule
• Five Ways to Get Your First 100 Customers For Your Startup With $0 Budget
• Crowdfunding for Startups: How We Raised Over $100,000 on Kickstarter (Includes Successful Templates, Tools, etc.)
• How to Get a Startup Business Loan with No Money

Stay in Touch

You can follow me on LinkedIn. Or send me a note.

A few years back when I was learning how to meditate, I started by meditating for just one minute per day.  After showering, I set a timer for one minute and meditated. After one week, I increased from one to two minutes. After a few weeks, I was meditating consistently for 20 minutes per day. The act of starting was enough to build the momentum to build a new behavior.

Now take this concept and apply it to your own work. Is there a project you’re dreading? Is there a priority you keep putting off? Make it so small, so small that it’s laughable if you don’t do it. Seriously, set a timer for 2 minutes and get started.

Here are a few more ideas:

• Want to work out > Drive to the gym parking lot.
• Want to write a 1000-word article > Write for just 2 minutes
• Want to film videos for social media > Take your phone out and talk for 30 seconds (save the video to your drafts)
• Want to learn a new song > Practice one chord per day

With procrastination, the biggest barrier is just starting. By using the 2-minute rule, you'll lower the stakes and take action which will build momentum. If you're stuck just focus on starting.

Much thought is placed on “what” to do and “how” to do it. We believe if we just do what successful people do - wake up at 5 am, meditate, grind, we’ll be successful. However, an often-overlooked question must be answered to radically transform your life. That question is “when.” As Michael Breus, author of The Power of When says, “When is the ultimate lifehack.”

The Power of When quiz (free chronotype test)

Breus developed a simple test to identify your chronotype. Take the free quiz at thepowerofwhenquiz.com, then use your result to plan your day around your type.

You can also view a chronotype ideal schedule and schedule your day around it.

Since you were a baby, an inner clock has been keeping perfect time. This clock regulates everything from your creativity, body temperature, focus, and sleep. Being misaligned with your bio clock can be devastating to one’s physical, mental, and emotional health.

Most of us work against our biological clock. We work when we should rest. We eat when we should fast. We check email when we should be focused on deep work. This misalignment causes us to perform below our full potential. (Related: From Strengths to Superpowers: Unleash Your Full Potential Through Daily Practice)

Understanding “when” allows you to do “what” effectively. Small tweaks like when you have your first cup of coffee or when you check Social Media, can sync the rhythm of your day with that of your biology. Everything will start to flow smoothly and feel easier. You’ll be healthier, happier, and more productive.

From “What” to “When”

Photo by insung yoon / Unsplash

According to Breus, humans fall into one of four chronotypes. A chronotype is a grouping of the general timing of your biological clock. Each chronotype is named after an animal embodying similar characteristics with the main difference being their sleep drive.

The Four Chronotypes

• Dolphins: Dolphins sleep with half their brain at a time. While one half is resting, the other is alert on the lookout for predators. This aligns with insomniacs: smart, slightly neurotic with a low sleep drive.
• Lions: Lions are morning-oriented hunters. This animal aligns with early risers with a medium sleep drive.
• Bears: Bears are great sleepers and hunt anytime. This name is perfect for optimistic, go-with-the-flow, folks who prefer a solar-based rhythm and have a high sleep drive.
• Wolves: Wolves are nocturnal hunters. This animal aligns with people who are extroverted, get their best ideas at night, and have a medium sleep drive.

Embracing your unique chronotype can lead to significant improvements in your productivity, well-being, and overall happiness. By understanding your natural biological rhythms, you can tailor your daily routine to optimize your performance and energy levels. Don't be confined by conventional wisdom—discover your chronotype, make the necessary adjustments, and unlock your true potential.

“It is far more lucrative and fun to leverage your strengths instead of attempting to fix all the chinks in your armor. The choice is between multiplication of results using strengths or incremental improvement fixing weaknesses that will, at best, become mediocre.” - Tim Ferriss

If you want to be exceptional you need to practice. Jerry Seinfeld famously said that he still writes comedy every day. As accomplished as he is, he still makes time to practice his craft daily.

Daily practice is what separates the good from the great. It’s what turns your strengths into superpowers. Follow the process below to develop your own.

Step 1: Discover your strengths

In order to discover your strengths I recommend you take a personality test. I like PrinciplesYou.com by Ray Dalio. It's free and gives a great breakdown of your strengths and how they can be applied in your life. Find themes and use those as a guide for the next step.

Related: Don't fix your weaknesses, create guardrails instead.

Step 2: Choose a strength to develop

Look at your list of strengths and choose one to develop. Choose the one that you feel you’re strongest in right now. For example, if you’re great at coming up with ideas, focus on that one.

Step 3: Choose an input activity

Find an activity that, if done daily, would help you develop that strength. For example, one of my strengths is ideation. My input activity is writing. Writing is thinking on paper. Therefore, the more I write, the more ideas I’ll have.

💡

Have trouble finding an input activity? Ask Google. Type, “how to become better at (insert strength).” You should find a lot of ideas, tools, and practices you can use.

Related: Track inputs to increase your odds of success

Step 4: Turn it into a daily practice

Turn that activity into something you do each day. Place it in your calendar and turn it into a daily recurring event. This is where the magic will happen.

For example:

• Strength: Ideation
• Input: Writing
• Daily practice: Write daily from 9 am-12 pm

Daily practice has the power to turn your strengths into superpowers. Follow the steps above to see exponential growth. The key is to be consistent Small improvements lead to greatness over time!

Ray Dalio, the legendary billionaire Hedge Fund investor says,

"Instead of expecting yourself or others to change, I've found that it's often most effective to acknowledge one's weaknesses and create explicit guardrails against them."

Weaknesses uncover your blind spots. Through personality assessments, I discovered that I’m a strong creator and a poor implementor. This means I love starting projects but struggle to finish them. With this awareness, I now bring on a project manager to implement my ideas and hold me accountable for deadlines.

Weaknesses reveal what you should not be doing. What you don’t do is often more important than what you do. For example, I’m an impulsive decision-maker. Therefore, I make a rule to wait at least 24 hours before making important decisions. This guardrail protects me from making decisions before thinking them through.

How to create guardrails:

1. Discover your weaknesses [[How to discover your weaknesses]]
2. Create a rule (Eg. Wait at least 24 hours before making a BIG decision.)
3. Delegate or hire someone (Understand your weaknesses and fill the gaps with technology and/or people)
4. Automate with technology (Eg. I struggle with routine tasks like grocery shopping. I can automate by putting items I buy often on Amazon Subscribe & Save.)

What does slow is smooth, smooth is fast mean?

It means that to make real progress, you first slow down and focus on effectiveness. When you rush, you often waste energy without moving forward. A smoother, more deliberate pace leads to fewer mistakes and, over time, faster progress.

Where the saying comes from

The saying is widely attributed to the U.S. Navy SEALs, which is how I refer to it in this post. I have not found a single confirmed originator, and similar wording also appears in other military training.

"Being busy is most often used as a guise for avoiding the few critically important but uncomfortable actions." - Tim Ferriss

When we rush, we often waste energy without making meaningful progress (What you do is more important than how much you do). Slowing down allows us to focus on what truly matters for our business, relationships, or personal growth (the 80/20 principle).

This Navy Seals motto is a reminder that sometimes we need to pause and reflect before moving forward. Slowing down helps us see through the noise, be more effective, and make a real impact. Effectiveness is about taking the right actions that move us toward our goals.

Some benefits of slowing down include:

• Improved clarity: Slowing down allows you to see what really moves the needle, helping you prioritize tasks and make better decisions.
• Conserved energy: When you slow down, you reduce unnecessary exertion and can direct your energy to more productive tasks.
• Fewer mistakes: A more deliberate pace leads to fewer errors, which saves time and resources in the long run.

In conclusion, slowing down is about becoming more effective in our actions and choices, ultimately leading to faster progress and greater success. Embrace the power of slowing down to enhance your effectiveness and achieve your goals.

I'm launching a new startup. I plan to share lessons learned weekly in a section called Startup Notes. I'll share progress, updates, and lessons learned along the way.

Things learned this week:

• I know the market I want to serve and I understand the opportunity. However, I want to get a clearer idea of which product to develop. I'm creating a customer survey for this.
• I used ChatGPT to help me create a Customer Survey
• I sent a survey last week and got 27 responses. You can take the survey here.
• I've gained a lot of insight into the buying habits and preferences of my customers. I expect to have 3-5 potential product ideas within the next week or so. To help with this, I'm going to create a follow-up survey.

Your outcomes don't come from goals, they stem from your actions. If you focus on the right inputs, the outputs will take care of themselves.

"You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear

Letting go of goals does not mean you stop accomplishing things. If you go outside and walk for 20 minutes turning in different directions, you'll end up somewhere. It might not be a destination you planned for, but it could be better. Plus, you'll enjoy the journey more being surprised along the way.

What is life without goals?

A life without goals means you focus on actions and systems, not fixed outcomes. You live in the moment, do what excites you and choose the next best opportunity, instead of working backward from a plan you made up.

Can you succeed without goals?

Yes. Letting go of goals does not mean you stop accomplishing things. If you focus on the right inputs, the outputs take care of themselves, and you can still reach meaningful outcomes without the stress of traditional goal-setting. And if you do want goals, I share a simple 3-3-3 method I have used.

What does a life without goals look like?

Photo by NEOM / Unsplash

A goalless life is about living in the moment, doing what excites you, and choosing the next best opportunity instead of pursuing fixed outcomes. Paul Graham, co-founder of Y-Combinator – the startup accelerator responsible for companies like Stipe, Airbnb, and Dropbox – says,

"Instead of working back from a goal, work forward promising situations. This is what most successful people actually do anyway."

What happens when you release goals?

• You open yourself to new opportunities that wouldn't be possible with a fixed outcome.
• You explore new territory and become curious.
• You enjoy the journey, not the destination.
• You experience peace - Frustration happens when things do go as expected. If you let go of expectations, there's nothing to be frustrated about.

The Goalless Life

Instead of waking up each morning and working from a set of goals try the following...

• Live moment to moment
• Do what excites you
• Try guilt-free play
• Let your values guide you
• Do what's easy
• Get curious
• Say YES
• Select the opportunity that provides the most opportunities

A a goalless life opens the way serendipity, curiosity, and enjoyment in your journey. By focusing on moment to moment living, excitement, and values, you can achieve incredible outcomes without the stress of traditional goal-setting. Embrace exploration, adaptability, and openness to new experiences see what surprises lie ahead.

Filling in your gaps increases your bandwidth. It also shortcuts your success because you don't have to learn everything yourself (Stop trying to learn everything yourself).

There's an incredible array of tools that can cover your weaknesses and help with areas like copywriting, accounting, admin, etc. When technology won't do it justice, hire people. You can hire on a project or contract basis (Upwork, Fiverr), or hire directly.

First, you must [[Identify your weaknesses]].

Here are just a few ways…

• I’m speaking up more and sharing my opinion
• I’m requesting what I need from my relationships
• I’m setting clearer boundaries
• I’m feeling less guilt
• I’m more relaxed around strangers.
• I’m loving my kids more deeply
• I’m feeling happy… genuinely happy.

The thing is, these things are just happening. I’m not proactively doing them. They’re a direct result of feeling a deeper sense of love for myself.

Here’s how it works:

• 3 times per day you stand in front of a mirror and you repeat the phrase “I love you” 10 times.
• Do it right when you wake up, after lunch, and before bed.
• Stand about 6 inches from the mirror and look into one eye.
• Sit with whatever feeling comes up
• Repeat for 45 days.

At first, it felt weird. I had a hard time telling myself that I loved myself. I would cringe and look away from the mirror. Each time, I would bring my attention back and repeat the phrase “I love you.” Over time, it got easier and I started feeling the sensation of love every time I said the phrase.

Thru this experiment, I realized that, as much as I was loved by the external world, I didn’t truly love myself. Deep inside, I didn’t feel I was deserving of love. I was more comfortable beating myself up and telling myself that I wasn’t doing enough.

With this practice, I learned to open up and not just accept love, but welcome it into my life. I’ve learned that being loved is 100% dependent on what I do and not on external conditions. I control how I feel inside and that’s a beautiful thing.

I think you should try this and be consistent over 30 days. Your life will change. I also wrote about why self-love is critical for long-term success.

How to practice self-love:

• Schedule more guilt-free play into your life (Guilt-free play fuels quality work)
• Try the Unschedule
• Pick up a hobby and (Diversify your self-esteem)
• Think progress over perfection
• Try the 45-Day Self-Love Experiment

When a task is easy, it can be accomplished with minimal friction and even become enjoyable, leading to repeated execution and the formation of a new habit. Therefore, to create a new habit, seek ways to make the process simpler. (Make your habits so easy that it's laughable if you don't complete them.)

How to make it easy:

• Shrink the task: Break up a large task into its sub-components. Writing an article can be broken down into freewriting, brainstorming, first drafts, and final drafts.
• Use the 2-minute rule: If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it now.
• Create an Unschedule: Schedule guilt-free play into your calendar first. This removes an underlying cause of procrastination reducing resentment toward work, and improving the quality and motivation to work. (Do more quality work with an Unschedule)
• Track your habits: Daily tracking shortens the reward feedback loop making you more likely to stick to your goals. (Track inputs to increase your chances of success)

Examples of input activities:

• Input (writing) vs Output (book)
• Input (prospecting) vs Output (clients)
• Input (dieting) vs Output (six-pack abs)

For better goal achievement, implement the following daily input tracking method:

1. Identify your primary goal.
2. List the inputs (systems) related to your goal.
3. Create a spreadsheet to track these inputs daily.
4. Develop a habit of listing and tracking your inputs every day.
5. Regularly evaluate progress and adjust as needed to stay on track with your goal.

Tools to track inputs:

• Spreadsheets
• Habit tracking apps

By prioritizing guilt-free play, you remove the underlying causes of procrastination and reduce resentment toward work, improve your quality of work, and increase your motivation to work.

Here's how it works:

1. Schedule guilt-free play first - Schedule fun first. Work and everything else fits around it.
2. Work in 30-minute increments. The key is to just get started. Make your habits so easy that it's laughable if you don't complete them. Once you've built momentum, it's easy to keep going.
3. Log your work. Record every 30 minutes of uninterrupted quality work onto your Unschedule. This gives you a greater sense of accomplishment in your day (less guilt).

The Unschedule guidelines:

1. Schedule only: Previously committed time such as meals, sleep, meetings, free time, rest, reading, social time, lunches, dinners with friends, fun with kids, fitness activities, routine structures events (commute time, classes, doctors appointments).
2. Log time after you've worked in your calendar in 30-minute increments of interrupted work (Deep Work, Pomodoro Technique).
3. Reward yourself with a break or change to a more enjoyable task after each period worked.
4. Keep track of the number of quality hours worked each day and each week
5. Always leave at least one full day a week for recreation and any small chores you wish to take care of.
6. Before deciding to go to a fun activity or social commitment, take time out for just 30 minutes of deep work.
7. Focus on starting - Replace all thoughts of finishing with "When is the next time I can start?" (Track inputs to increase your chance of success)
8. Think small
9. Keep starting
10. Never end "down - Never stop work when you're stuck or when you have open loops.

The tenets:

• Don't work more than 20 hours per week
• Don't work more than 5 hours per day
• You must exercise, and play for at least one hour per day.
• Take at least one day off per week
• Focus on starting with just 30 minutes of quality work

For example:

• Don't commit to working out, commit to one pushup every morning.
• Don't commit to flossing, commit to flossing just one tooth.
• Don't commit to changing your whole diet, start with breakfast first.
• After that, momentum takes over and you can "scale" your habit.

We often see pain as a sign that we're pursuing something worth doing. If it hurts, it must mean we're growing. If it's painful, it must mean that we're making progress. What if resistance was life showing you want you should remove? What if instead of fighting resistance, we used it as a cue to let go?

Here's why:

• Resistance means you're forcing an outcome
• Resistance takes more energy
• Resistance means you're operating from weakness.

Here's why:

• If it's easy, it means you're good at it:  What comes easy for you may be difficult for someone else. Public Speaking might be easy for you while someone else might have trouble putting two words together. This is a sign that Public Speaking is a strength for you. (Related: Strengths are revealed in the commonality of your successes)
• If it's easy, it means you like it: If you're good at something, you're more likely to stick with it until you see results. (Related: Build new habits by doing what's easy)

Why don't we do this?

• We correlate pain with value -  We're taught that for something to be valuable it must cost us something, typically in the form of mental or physical pain. For this reason, we undervalue that which is easily achieved. (Related: The things we value appreciate).

How to add more "easy" into your life:

• If it feels good, do more of it
• Take the path of least resistance (link)

Here's what's happening this week:

• The Power of Saying YES: How Juggling Multiple Projects Unlocks Your Productivity
• I gave a presentation for CSUF's Startup Incubator on Crowdfunding (The video and deck below)
• Using ChatGPT for conducting effective Market Research
• I found a new tool to get survey responses quickly

The Power of Saying YES: How Juggling Multiple Projects Unlocks Your Productivity

Photo by Julian Lozano / Unsplash

Are you feeling overwhelmed, yet still feel like you're not reaching your full potential? What if I told you that the secret to skyrocketing your success and productivity lies in adding even more to your plate?

It might sound counterintuitive, but this idea, inspired by the concept of multithreading from modern computing, suggests that rapidly switching between projects allows you to make progress on multiple fronts simultaneously.

David Allen, a leading figure in productivity, claims that with today's technology, humans can effectively manage 50-100 projects at once. This means that most people are performing well below their full capacity.

Here's why this works:

• Expand your opportunities: By drawing on diverse sources of inspiration and cultivating multiple projects, you create synergy between them. One project feeds another, and by saying yes to more, you increase your chances for success.
• Benefit from compounding learnings: When you encounter challenges, having another project to turn to helps prevent setbacks from becoming crushing defeats. The success and knowledge gained from one project can also positively impact others.
• Enjoy more consistent successes: With multiple projects at various stages, you'll experience regular achievements.

Key takeaways:

• Say YES to more things
• Take on more than you believe you can handle
• If you're feeling overwhelmed, hit the gas and accelerate out of the dip.

CSUF Startup Incubator Talk: Crowdfunding - How I Raised Over $100K on Kickstarter

I gave a talk this week for CSUF's Startup Incubator. The topic was, How I Raised Over $100K in Crowdfunding. You can find a video of the presentation below. I've also included the deck.

Download the Presentation

Using ChatGPT for Market Research

I'm working on a new startup idea (I'll share more about this later). Part of my focus at the moment is on Market Research. Last week, I used ChatGPT to help me create a survey and the result was amazing!

💡

Here was my prompt: "Create a survey for me that helps me figure out which type of product to create in X industry."

New Tool: Pollfish

I've been trying to figure out how to speed up my Market Research so I can move into R&D. I came across Pollfish, a website where you can pay for quality customer surveys.

How I Can Help

Whenever you're ready, here's how we can work together:

• Grab time with me for a 1:1 session on startups, crowdfunding, growth, or anything else. Click the link above to book a FREE 30-minute discovery call.

A winning idea targets the right opportunity, aligns with your strengths, and connects to a larger purpose.

Missing any of these elements can lead to a dead end. Perhaps you pursued your passion, only to realize there's no money in it. Or you chased an opportunity for money but lacked the skills to succeed. Even worse, you might have succeeded, only to feel empty and discover it wasn't what you truly wanted.

In this article, I'll guide you through my three-step framework for generating a winning business idea. It's called...

The OSP Method

Opportunity, Strength, and Purpose

Step 1: Find an Opportunity Worth Pursuing

Photo by Dylan McLeod / Unsplash

Identifying the right business opportunity is crucial for success. Without the right opportunity, strength and passion don't matter. This must be your driving force which everything else ties into. Consider these five factors to determine an opportunity worth pursuing.

A. Growing market

Is the market growing? Will it expand over time, reaching more customers and markets? This is essential for long-term success. When we started our cookie company, the keto market was growing. We were among the first keto snack in the industry. Three years later, keto snacks were mainstream being sold at Costco, Wholefoods, and Target.

Quick tools & tactics:

• Google Trends: Analyze search data to gauge interest in a topic over time.
• Market research reports: Read industry-specific reports from sources like IBISWorld, Statista, or MarketResearch.com. Many of these sources are paid, but you'll learn a lot from their free information too.
• Industry blogs and news: Stay updated with publications such as TechCrunch, Fast Company, and VentureBeat.

B. Early-Stage

Are you at the tipping point of something new? My successful ventures in the keto and men’s grooming space caught a growing market at its inception. For example, men's grooming was popular in Europe but was still taboo in the United States. Publications like GQ and Esquire wrote mostly about style. I took this opportunity to dive into the grooming space. Once it grew in the US, I was ahead of the curve.

Quick tools and tactics:

• Product Hunt: Discover new and innovative products and startups.
• Kickstarter and Indiegogo: Monitor crowdfunding platforms for emerging ideas. (Read: How I Raised Over $100K on Kickstarter).
• Startup accelerators and incubators: Follow organizations like Y Combinator, Techstars, or 500 Startups for the latest startup trends. CSUF has an incubator specializing in Social Entrepreneurship.

C. Sustainable

When choosing your opportunity as yourself if it's part of a larger macro trend or just a fad. You don't want to spend time and money on a startup that goes away like the Snuggy.

Quick tools and tactics:

• Pew Research Center: Access reports and data on social, demographic, and economic trends.
• TrendWatching: Get insights into consumer trends across industries and regions.

D. Profitable

Can you make money doing it? Ensure the business opportunity has the potential to generate a strong profit margin. The higher the profits, the more you can invest in growth.

Quick tools and tactics:

• Industry benchmarks: Compare your projections with industry benchmarks from sources like BizMiner or BizStats.
• Pricing strategies: Research pricing strategies in your industry to ensure competitive pricing while maintaining profit margins.

E. Competitive Advantage

Can you offer something unique that differentiates your product or service from competitors through innovation or quality of service? Can your idea be easily replicated? Your competitive advantage helps determine your staying power and ability to succeed.

Quick tools and tactics:

• SWOT analysis: Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Value Proposition Canvas: Develop a strong value proposition that sets you apart from competitors using the Value Proposition Canvas by Strategyzer.

Step 2: Align with Your Strengths

Photo by Miguel Bruna / Unsplash

Regardless of how great an opportunity is, if you don't have the necessary strengths, you're unlikely to succeed. You'll need to find tools or team members to fill the gaps.

"It is far more lucrative and fun to leverage your strengths instead of attempting to fix all the chinks in your armor. The choice is between multiplication of results using strengths or incremental improvement fixing weaknesses that will, at best, become mediocre. Focus on better use of your best weapons instead of constant repair.” - Tim Ferriss

Use this five-step process to find your strengths:

1. Look at your history: Examine past successes and achievements to identify areas where you've excelled and demonstrated expertise. As Tony Robbins says, "Success leaves clues."
2. Ask friends and family: Gain objective insights into your strengths by seeking input from those who know you well. Survey your five closest friends and ask them what they think you're good at. Also ask, what they think you could improve.
3. Take personality tests: Utilize assessments to better understand your personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses. I like PrinciplesYou and 16Personalities.
4. Find themes: Analyze recurring patterns across your achievements and experiences to pinpoint where your strengths lie.
5. Assess your resources: Identify unique advantages, such as financial assets, valuable connections, or other resources that can contribute to your success.

Step 3: Align with Your Higher Purpose

Photo by Jamie Street / Unsplash

Passion is critical to the success of any business. Passion is your "why" that will keep you going when times are tough. To tap into your purpose, use this framework (modeled and tweaked after Tim Ferriss’ Dreamlining Framework):

Answer the following questions:

1. If you could have anything in the world and there was no way for you to fail, what would you want?
2. If you had $10 million and all the resources in the world, how would you spend your time?
3. Once you have your answers, ask Why three times. Get deep until you've reached you can't answer the question anymore. Here is where your purpose lives.
4. Summarize your answer and turn it into a statement. For example, mine is, "I empower entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential."

An idea is considered a winning idea once it goes through these three steps: opportunity, strength, and purpose. If your idea overlaps these three circles, you're on a good path to success.

**Stay tuned for an upcoming post on how to test and validate your idea to maximize your chances of success.

We've rebranded our newsletter to better serve bootstrapped solopreneurs and startups like you. Whether you're a long-time subscriber or new to our community, get ready for valuable insights, tips, and strategies to fuel your entrepreneurial success.

Let's dive in! 💥

Hello, Bootstrappers! 👋

Welcome to the first edition of 'Bootstrapped: The Ultimate Newsletter for Solopreneurs & Startups by a 7-Figure Shark Tank Alum.' Today, we're exploring a critical topic for any new venture: acquiring your first 100 customers without spending a dime! 💸

1. Leverage Your Existing Network

Utilize the relationships you've built with friends, family, and acquaintances to gain your initial customers. These people already know and trust you, making them more likely to support your project.

Quick tactics:

• Create a contact list of close friends and family
• Design a personalized outreach message
• Use this template to introduce your product/service
• Ask for referrals and make it easy by providing a pre-written message they can send to others

2. Tap Into Marketplaces

Existing marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and Udemy offer a ton of potential customers searching for products or services similar to yours. By listing your offerings on these platforms, you can leverage their massive user bases to attract customers. You can also discover the buying habits of your customers making future outreach strategies more effective.

Quick tactics:

• Research relevant marketplaces and select the best fit for your product/service
• Focus on SEO and create high-quality listings to improve visibility
• Monitor customer reviews and feedback to refine your offerings
• Utilize demographic data from these platforms to better understand your target audience and improve your marketing efforts

3. Collaborate with Brands

Even if you're just starting, other brands may be interested in partnering with you if your product complements theirs. Collaborations can increase exposure for both parties, expanding your potential customer base.

Quick tactics:

• Use Buzzsumo to Identify 10 brands in your niche with around 10K followers that share a similar target audience
• Use this template to reach out to propose a mutually beneficial collaboration
• Make it easy for them to say yes by providing any necessary promotional materials

4. Run Contests

Contests can generate buzz around your brand and attract potential customers. By giving away something related to your product or service, you can ensure that you're drawing in the right audience while simultaneously building your email list.

Quick tactics:

• Set up a giveaway using a tool like KingSumo, offering a prize that aligns with your brand
• Promote the contest through your personal network, social media, and any relevant online communities
• Collect email addresses from participants and follow up with personalized, nurturing content to convert them into customers

5. Guest Post

Guest posting on relevant blogs and media outlets is an excellent way to showcase your expertise and establish credibility in your niche. This strategy allows you to leverage the existing traffic of these platforms and attract potential customers.

Quick tactics:

• Identify relevant blogs and outlets with an engaged audience that aligns with your target market
• Connect with writers and editors on social media to build relationships
• Study their writing style and preferences to create a tailored, high-quality guest post
• Offer a pre-written article that fits their outlet's theme, making it easy for them to say yes and publish your content

Remember, persistence and creativity are vital in securing your first 100 customers. Keep refining your approach and exploring new tactics, and soon you'll have a growing customer base and a thriving startup!

Until next week, keep bootstrapping! 👊

Victor

P.S. If you found this week's newsletter valuable, please share it with two friends who might benefit.

In 2016, my co-founder Kristoffer Quiaoit and I were baking low-carb cookies in his mom's kitchen. Mom loved them. So did everyone else we shared them with, and influencers were posting photos before the cookies were even for sale. That buzz pushed us toward crowdfunding for startups like ours.

As we looked to expand beyond our home kitchen, we needed to find a way to raise more cash. That's when we considered crowdfunding for our startup.

We studied other successful campaigns and reverse-engineered their success. We figured, if we could raise an extra$5,000, we'd be able to rent a bigger kitchen and expand our operations.

What happened next, surprised us...

In our first Kickstarter, not only did we exceed our funding goal of $5,000, but we raised over $21,495. A year later, we launched a second Kickstarter and raised $79,187 bringing our total crowdfunding to $100,682.

Our first Kickstarter: $21,495 raised

Our second Kickstarter: $79,187 raised

As bootstrapped entrepreneurs, this was huge for us. It became the fuel we needed to "kickstart" our business and get to the next level.

In this article, I'm going to share exactly what we did to go from zero to $100,000 in crowdfunding for our business. This post includes templates and tools we used to grow and promote our campaigns so you can copy exactly what we did.

What is crowdfunding for startups?

Crowdfunding is a popular method for raising funds for a project or business by gathering contributions from a large number of people, typically through an online platform like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or GoFundMe. There are also equity crowdfunding platforms like Wefunder and StartEngine.

Is Kickstarter good for startups?

Kickstarter can be a good fit for a startup when you have a clear funding goal, a community that already cares and a product that tells a strong story. It is often most effective for smaller-scale projects looking to raise seed money. If you do not have a strong network or following yet, build that first.

Crowdfunding a food business

We used Kickstarter to crowdfund a food business twice, raising $21,495 and then $79,187, for a total of $100,682. We were baking low-carb cookies in a home kitchen and needed cash to expand. One reason the campaigns worked is that we targeted a specific niche, keto, and already had people talking about the cookies before they were for sale.

Is Crowdfunding Right For Your Business?

In order to determine whether crowdfunding is right for your business, you need to consider a few factors, including your goals, resources, and audience. Here are some key questions to ask yourself when evaluating whether you should pursue crowdfunding for your business:

• What are your funding goals? Crowdfunding is often most effective for smaller-scale projects looking to raise seed money. If you need to raise a large amount of capital, crowdfunding may not be your best bet.
• Who's your target customer? The most successful crowdfunding campaigns tend to have a pre-existing community or audience that is willing to support the project. If you don't have a strong network or following, you should prioritize that before attempting to run a campaign.
• What product are you selling? Crowdfunding tends to work best for innovative tech products, creative products, social impact products, and niche and consumer products. I'll go into more detail further down the post.

The Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding

Pros:

• Access to funding: Crowdfunding gives you an opportunity to raise funds for a project or business when you might not have access to traditional forms of financing (Related: How to Get a Startup Business Loan with No Money: Tips and Resources).
• Concept validation: Crowdfunding can be a great way to gauge interest in a product, and can provide valuable feedback on whether there is a market for your offering.
• Community building: Crowdfunding can be a great way to create a community around your product. It's also a great way to build a foundation of customers that you can nurture and will help grow your business.

Cons:

• No guarantee of success: Your crowdfunding campaign may not be successful, and it can be challenging to predict how much money will be raised or whether your funding goal will be met.
• Time-consuming: Running a successful crowdfunding campaign requires a lot of time and effort, from creating an effective pitch to managing the campaign and fulfilling rewards.
• Fees: Crowdfunding platforms typically charge fees for hosting campaigns. Platform and payment processing fees can range from 10% and above on successful campaigns.

What Products Perform Best?

The types of products that tend to perform best have a clear value proposition and a strong story. Here are some examples:

• Technology products: Products like smart home devices, 3D printers, and Virtual Reality products have performed well in the past.
• Creative projects: Crowdfunding platforms work well for creative projects like independent films, music almost, and art. These types of projects often have a dedicated fanbase that's eager to support and bring the project to life.
• Social impact projects: Campaigns that focus on social good such as environmental issues and social justice can be very successful.
• Niche Products: Products aimed at specific hobbies or interests tend to do well. One reason why our campaigns performed well was that we targeted the specific Keto niche.
• Consumer products: Projects that solve common problems in a unique way tend to perform well on crowdfunding platforms. For example, new kitchen gadgets, fitness equipment, or travel accessories.

The Keys To Crowdfunding Success

The 20% of actions that yield 80% of your results.

The real work of crowdfunding success begins long before you ever launch your campaign. You cannot just launch and hope that people will come. In my experience, 80% of your results will come from what you do in this phase.

How to run a successful Kickstarter campaign in 5 steps

Step 1: Define Your Outcome

Before you get started with your campaign, it's essential that you define your outcome. Crowdfunding can serve many purposes beyond simply raising funds. You can use a crowdfunding campaign to generate buzz for your startup, validate your market, launch a new product, and more.

The strategies you follow will depend on what you're looking to accomplish. By identifying your goal, you can create a launch plan that aligns with your broader business objectives and speaks directly to the needs of your market.

Be specific

Be specific and avoid vague goals like, "I want to raise as much money as possible." Instead, define what you're looking to achieve and how you'll measure success.

Know your numbers

Understanding your numbers when it comes to crowdfunding for your startup is crucial. If you set your goal too low, you may not receive the needed capital to achieve your goals.  Ask yourself the following questions to get a clear understanding:

1. What is the minimum you need to raise to achieve your desired outcome?
2. Do you know your cost per unit? How does an increase in order quantity affect these numbers?
3. Have you factored in shipping costs and the platform fees (Usually 10% and above on successful campaigns)

Step 2: Craft Your Story

Your crowdfunding campaign's success largely depends on how well you communicate your story. A compelling story is essential to engage your audience emotionally and encourage them to support you. To help craft your story and the following questions:

What's your why?

What makes your story unique? Is there a mission or purpose that goes beyond the product you're selling? If so, tell that story. For example, our story was not about cookies, it was about improving people's health by making it easy to cut out sugar from their diets.

What's your hook?

To stand out, you need to find a way to hook your audience and get them to stop in their tracks. Our hook was based on introducing, "The World's Best Tasting Low Carb Cookie." It was a bold claim, but we believed it.

The Hero's Journey

Your pitch video is one of the most important elements of your campaign and it's a direct extension of your story. In order to tell a better story, study The Hero's Journey. It's the framework used to create some of the best movies of all time. Pixar uses it, George Lucas uses it, and countless others because it works.

Step 3: Build Your Community

Before we launched our Kickstarter campaign, we started building a community. While we were still baking in mom's kitchen, we used our startup capital to bake cookie samples. We found the top influencers in the keto space and sent them free samples. We knew that if we could just get them to taste the product, they'd fall in love with it.

Find the influencers in your category

We went on Instagram and searched for any account with the word #keto in it. We added them to a list and used Klout.com to see their reach and engagement (Note: Klout is no longer in service, you can use BuzzSumo.com for similar information). We added them to an excel sheet. We filtered by engagement first, then reach. Just because someone has a large following doesn't mean that it's a real community.

Reach out

We found keto-friendly accounts and started sending DMs. To be clear, Keto was still a new niche and we had the advantage of being an early mover in the category.

We sent a message similar to this:

Hey [insert name], I hope you're well. I'm reaching out because I love your story. I see that you're [insert specific thing they're doing] and  I think it's truly inspiring.

My partner and I are on a BIG mission to help the world cut out sugar and we'd love to send you some of our keto cookies to try. They're soft, buttery, and delicious.  If you like them, we'd love it if you could share them. If not, it's ok no pressure.

Good luck in all you do and wish you continued success. If you're interested, please reply with your best shipping address and we'll get them out ASAP.

I crafted two follow-up messages that would be sent three and five days later. If they didn't respond after the third message, we moved on.

Become friends

Whether they posted or not, we stayed in touch. We followed their social accounts, engaged in comments, and kept them updated on our progress. This would pay off in the long run because they became a part of our journey.

Step 4: Study the Winners

If you want to truly succeed in your crowdfunding campaign, it's a good idea to study those who've already been successful. By analyzing winning campaigns in your niche, you can gain insights into what worked well and model those same strategies for your own campaign.

Find the top-funded campaigns in your niche

1. Look at most funded - https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/most-funded
2. Look at recently funded - https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/most-funded
3. Filter by your niche
4. Start with the top 10

Analyze their campaigns

Next, it's time to analyze the campaigns of the top performers. Look at each one and ask yourself the following questions:

• What hooks are they using for their campaigns?
• What do their videos look like?
• What was their funding goal?
• What rewards and incentives did they use to increase contributions
• What things do all of these campaigns have in common?
• Who are the outliers and why do you think it worked?

Find relevant media outlets

I picked up this hack from Tim Ferriss' Hacking Kickstarter article and it's a genius way to see what media outlets have promoted a campaign. It's called 'reverse image lookup,' and here's how it works:

1. Go to the pages of the top 10 Kickstarter campaigns in your niche.
2. Download and save 3-5 images from their campaigns to your desktop.
3. Open Google Image Search
4. Upload the image
5. Click on Find Image Source

What you'll see next is a list of the blogs, media outlets, etc. that have used this image in an article or post. Next, add them to your media list.

Step 5: Effective Media Outreach

Now that we've done the work of studying the winners in our niche, it's time to reach out to people who can help us promote our campaign. Here are some steps to follow for effectively reaching out to blogs and media to help promote your campaign

Focus on 10

We're going to take a sniper approach and focus on tailored messaging. Choose five writers who are the most relevant to your campaign and study them. Follow their work, and create a dossier of their writing style, topics they cover, and any personal information you can find that might help you personalize your pitch.

Follow them on social media, comment on their posts, and engage. Prioritize giving value and become friends.

Leverage shared connections

Cold emails have a very low conversion. If you want to increase your chances of being covered, leverage your existing connections and get an introduction. You may have more connections in common than you expect.

Use LinkedIn to see if you have any shared connections with the writers you're trying to connect with.

Here's how to do it:

1. Search for the blogger/writer on LinkedIn
2. Scroll to "Connections" and see if you have any mutual connections
3. If you do, connect with the mutual connection and ask if they can introduce you to the blogger/writer
4. If the mutual connection agrees, they can send an introduction message or provide you with the blogger/writer's email

Send targeted messages

After you've received a warm introduction, you can reach out with a message like this:

Hello [Writer's Name],

I hope you're well. I was referred to you by [Mutual Conection's Name], who mentioned you two know each other from [Shared experience]. I'm a big fan of your work on [Outlet Name].

I especially love your coverage of [insert example] because [insert authentic reason]. I see that you've covered a few crowdfunding campaigns and was hoping I could share my upcoming project with you.

My team and I are currently preparing to launch a crowdfunding campaign for [insert], and we're on a mission to [insert mission]. I believe this aligned well with your platform and similar coverage of [similar campaign name]. I would love to get your feedback and potentially discuss any opportunities for coverage.

I understand you are likely busy, so I have included a brief summary of our campaign below to make it as easy as possible for you to review:

[Brief summary of campaign, including unique features and benefits]

If you have a few minutes to chat about the campaign or if you have any questions, I would be more than happy to discuss this further. Please let me know if you are interested in learning more about our campaign, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Follow up

Follow-up is king here. Most of the people you reach out are very busy. Even if they have every intention of helping you, it may get lost in the shuffle. Craft a first and second follow-up message and send them every 2-3 days if you don't hear back.

Make it easy to share

If you want to increase your chances of being covered, you need to remove as much friction from the process. Make it very easy for them to turn your campaign into a story.

A few ideas:

• Write a sample post in the style of their blog
• Link to assets folder (Dropbox or directly to your crowdfunding page)
• List key details: When it launches, your funding goal, etc.

Crowdfunding for startups can be an effective way to raise funds, validate your market, and create a community around your products. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be ahead of 99% of the people who run crowdfunding campaigns. However, it’s important to note that crowdfunding requires a lot of upfront work and preparation. With the right strategies, you can leverage crowdfunding platforms to stake your startup to the next level.

Want me to teach this to your team? I also lead a workshop on how to raise six figures on Kickstarter.

Polamalu's leadership as a defensive player led the Steelers to seven playoff appearances, five division titles, and two Super Bowl championships. In 2010, he was named Defensive Player of the Year, thanks to his impressive stats, which included seven interceptions for one touchdown, a sack, and 63 tackles.

Despite his on-field reputation as the "Tasmanian Devil," known for his explosive impact and range, Polamalu is kind and soft-spoken. I had the opportunity to talk to him about his motivations for success, including his faith, humility, and what truly matters in life.

What's your personal belief that helps you stay motivated and push forward?

TP - "I would say, just be yourself. I guess, maybe, cliché as that sounds or easy, identify with yourself, who you want to be. A lot of people who are not confident in themselves or have no identity are always trying to look for inspiration from other people. When the truth is really within them and finding themselves."

How can parents instill values in their children when they can afford to give them everything they want?

TP - "That’s a good question. I think the more important things, though, are to have a faith foundation. I think that if you have a general understanding of the foundation of faith that your family has, that’s where all your values should be. It should be centered around it."

How would you say that respect and respecting others has helped you in your career?

TP - "I don’t think the mentality should be how it can further your career. I think it’s just a general welfare of love for mankind. It’s not only respecting. I think it’s easy to be cordial and talk to people that can do things for you."

"Respect is also how you act when you’re away from your wife, for example, or when you’re away from your parents. When you make good decisions and you act properly, that’s a sign of respect for your parents. There’s different forms of it and to value true and authentic respect has got to be more holistically approached in your entire life rather than just, what people refer to as, the cordial meeting. It’s very respectful but how do you act when nobody is around. How do you treat your wife when you’re not around your wife or your parents."

How do you stay humble and balance that with your drive to win and be the best?

TP - "I honestly would say that I’m not a humble person. I know people that are authentically humble. Humility and pride are something that I struggle with but there are people that are authentically humble that I know and I’m far from that."

Troy Polamalu's success on and off the field has been shaped by his belief in being true to oneself and having a foundation of faith. Respect, according to Polamalu, is about how you behave when others are not looking. Polamalu's insights offer a valuable perspective on achieving success with dignity and staying grounded in the face of fame and fortune. We wish Troy success in all he does.

This interview was originally posted on my former website Male Standard.

As a world-renowned entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and inspiration to millions of Latinos, Nely Galán is here to dish the dirt on how to learn from her trials and tribulations, and take inspiration from her many challenges, it happens to the best for a reason.

I hope you’ll enjoy this deeply revealing and honest interview as much as I did!

How did your rise to Latina Mogul start?

When I was little, like many immigrants, my parents were people you had to translate for and help manage their affairs. Without knowing many other Latinas or Latinos in our new community, I became the “CEO” of my family. In hindsight, when looking at the puzzle that is your life, these events all make sense. It can be frustrating when you are younger having to always rise to the occasion to help them with adult tasks all of the time, but really, it’s preparation for a life of leadership.

When I talk to other Latinos, I always say, “In your pain is your answer.” Even though it can seem horrible at the time, or we have trouble identifying with things that happened to us when we were little, in the end, it all makes sense. Everything that happens to you when you are younger is preparing you for certain things; so that you can prepare for the bigger mission of life. I had a couple of bad things happen to me when I was in high school that really changed my vision for life.

Can you share one of those experiences with us?

I was accused of plagiarism in my freshman year of high school; it was an all-girls Catholic school. Of course, the accusations were not true, I was actually a ‘goodie-two-shoes,’ but going to my parents with that news was difficult; the school told me I was suspended for three days. My parents told me to go back and “Ask for forgiveness.” Instead, I decided to write an article for Just Seventeen on why you shouldn’t send your kids to an all-girl Catholic school. I sent it in, forgot about it, and two days later I was approached by a very nice nun who said, “I’m sorry, you didn’t plagiarize this, it’s actually a great story, and we’re giving you an A plus.” I figured it had all blown over.

What happened next?

A few months later, I got a $100 check in the mail from Just Seventeen, telling me they were going to publish the article. When I went back to school after it was published, I was called to the principal’s office who expelled me. Again, I had to go home and tell my parents, who were freaking out. I called the Board of Ed., and I asked them, “I thought my parents brought me here, from a Communist country, for Freedom of Speech. Are they allowed to expel me?” They said technically, as it was a private school they could, but suggested doing an interview with a newspaper. So then, the local newspaper did a huge story (in a time before social media, remember); I sort of became this famous teenager fighting for my First Amendment Rights. The crazy thing is the nuns actually took me back and graduated me a year and a half early. Just Seventeen then offered me a guest editorship, which happened to be the youngest guest editorship they had given for their magazine at that time;  so all these good things happened because I stood up for myself.

How have those experiences changed your perspective?

I honestly feel as if every time something bad happens it’s for a reason; something better always comes out of it. Truthfully, I didn’t think of it as I was catching a big dream back then, they were just the circumstances that led me to where I am today. I believe they are character-building moments.

Why do you think some people find it hard to see challenging experiences as opportunities?

I think we all do that to some extent. I know I didn’t see it as an opportunity then, I really didn’t, but for me, I think the driving force back then was justice. I felt that the accusations were unjust, and I felt like I had to fix it. I think everyone has to find their avenue into the light; into why this is happening, what can I do about it, and what is the thing in me that will allow me to push forward because it’s not for everybody. Most people feel it is human to go into darkness and make excuses or see the negative, but I went into wanting to save myself. It is hard because you always have to look for the light. For me, that was thinking, “If my parents brought me to this country, and this country is all about the First Amendment, then this is who I am and what I want to fight for.”

In this interview with Nely Galán, we discovered that true success is not determined by who you aspire to be, but who you are in the present moment. Nely's rise to becoming a world-renowned entrepreneur started from humble beginnings. Through her experiences of being expelled from an all-girls Catholic school and fighting for her freedom of speech, she learned that every challenge is an opportunity to build character and grow. Nely's story is proof that with perseverance, determination and a willingness to stand up for yourself, anything is possible.

The interview was originally posted on Male Standard.

You have a startup idea and no money. I have been there. I have run a few startups using bootstrapping, crowdfunding and investment capital, so I know what each one feels like from the inside. Here is how to get a startup business loan with no money, and the options that work better when a loan is out of reach.

I’ve experienced the joys and the bumps along the way. My goal is to share a perspective from the inside and show you what I would have done differently to help you.

Can you get a business loan with no revenue?

Most traditional loans are hard to get when you have no revenue, because most loans require collateral and come with repayment terms that can be difficult to meet. A business credit card can still help in the early stages, and issuers often care more about your personal creditworthiness than your company's cash flow. Merchant cash advances and invoice financing depend on future or unpaid sales, so they are a better fit once money is already moving.

Startup business loans with bad credit

Some options are built for thinner or weaker credit files. An unsecured line of credit can fit newer companies with lower or limited credit history, if you qualify. Merchant cash advances can be easier to get for companies with poor credit, because they look at cash flow. Business credit cards usually need good personal credit (a FICO score of 690 or higher) to qualify. A personal term loan is based on your individual creditworthiness, and SBA microloans typically require collateral and a personal guarantee.

How to fund a business with no money (what I did)

I have run a few startups using bootstrapping, crowdfunding and investment capital. I launched a fashion apparel brand using pre-selling to purchase my initial inventory, and I launched my Men's Lifestyle Platform in a similar way. We also raised over $100K using crowdfunding for our cookie company. If you want the details, start with my pre-selling guide and this crowdfunding guide.

What to know before you get a startup business loan

You don't actually need money for most ideas.

I launched a fashion apparel brand using pre-selling to purchase my initial inventory. I launched my Men’s Lifestyle Platform in a similar way. Pre-selling allows you to generate cash before you make the actual product. This allows you to build a customer base and test the demand for your offer with very little risk on your end.

Money is an amplifier.

Money alone will not make your business successful. Money is an amplifier. Putting money into an unproven business concept is a fast way to burn through a lot of cash. If your business is growing, adding money to the right advertising channels can help you grow faster. Make sure your business model works before adding money to the equation.

Prove your concept first.

Have you created a minimum viable product (MVP) that your target market has proven they’ll buy? Are you solving a real problem or are you creating a solution in search of a problem to solve? A big mistake I see founders make is wasting a lot of time and money developing the “perfect” product only to find out that nobody wants it. I prefer the Lean Startup Method where you bring the customer to the front of the business development  process. You test, tweak and align with your customer's needs before investing a lot of money in product development or getting the business started.

Assuming you’re past this phase and are still looking for some funding, Here is how to get a startup business loan with no money.

Money You Don’t Have to Pay Back

Most loans require collateral and come with interest rates and repayment terms that can be difficult to meet. Fortunately, there are funding sources available that do not require repayment.

Grants

Grants are a type of funding that doesn’t require repayment. It’s money offered, by the government or agencies, designed to impact certain economic initiatives. Grants for small businesses can be appealing, but they require a lot of up-front time investment with a low probability of qualification. Some popular websites for getting grants include the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Grants.gov.

Crowdfunding

With crowdfunding, supporters contribute cash to your campaign in exchange for a perk or product. Some popular platforms include Kickstarter and Indiegogo. We raised over $100K using crowdfunding for our cookie company. In order to succeed, it’s important to have a community built before you launch. You need a compelling story and incentives that encourage supporters to contribute. While crowdfunding is an attractive source of funding for some, it’s not a guaranteed way to raise funds. You need to set and meet a funding goal for your campaign to succeed. You also need to pay a percentage of the funds raised to the hosting platform.

Money You Have to Pay Back

Business Credit Cards

Unsecured credit cards can be a useful source of cash for startups, especially in the early stages. They are relatively easy to obtain, and you can find 0% interest credit cards if you keep track of interest rates and payment due dates. A business credit card can help increase your credit score and make it easier for you to qualify for additional business loans in the future if you use it responsibly, meaning you should pay your credit card bills in full and on time each month. While cash flow is important to credit card issuers, they tend to care more about your personal creditworthiness, so having good personal credit (a FICO score of 690 or higher) is usually necessary to qualify for most cards. Business credit cards are especially helpful for startups without revenue.

Unsecured Line of Credit

An unsecured business line of credit is a renewable funding source that doesn't require you to designate a specific loan amount or put up any collateral. You can borrow up to the ceiling on your line of credit limit, or only use a percentage of the line of credit as needed. As you pay off the amount you owe, it's freed up for you to use again when you need it. Assuming you qualify, a revolving line of unsecured credit can be a great fit for newer startups and companies with lower or limited credit history who need flexibility for various expenses. Just be sure you fully understand all of the rates and fees involved each time you utilize your line of credit since the convenience comes at a cost.

Personal Term Loan

A lot of the funding you'll get will probably be a personal loan based on personal collateral. If you're looking to start, you may need to qualify for a term loan from a traditional bank based on your individual creditworthiness.

SBA Microloans

The SBA microloan program offers eligible recipients up to $50,000 toward paying for expenses related to starting or expanding a new business. These funds are disbursed through intermediary lenders in your area, who administer the loans and provide management and technical guidance as needed. SBA microloans must be repaid within a maximum of six years and most will require some form of collateral as well as a personal guarantee. Interest rates will vary based on the lender but typically range between 8% to 13%.

Other Sources

Merchant Cash Advances

With a merchant cash advance, you receive a lump sum of money in exchange for a portion of your future revenue. Instead of paying monthly interest as you would with a standard loan, merchant cash advances are repaid in factor rates — a daily or weekly percentage of your sales. Merchant cash advances can be an easy source of funding for new startups with limited time in business or for companies with poor credit. MCA loans require less documentation compared to other types of funding, as creditors can rely on cash flow almost immediately in daily or weekly remittances. MCA loans also benefit seasonal businesses and companies with low or fluctuating annual revenue.

Equipment Financing

The underwriting process for an equipment loan is a little different than that of a traditional term loan. The lender fronts you with the cash to fund up to 100% of the purchase of a piece of equipment, and the equipment itself is collateral. For that reason, lenders are just as concerned with the value of the equipment as they are with the business's financial performance. The terms of an equipment loan are based on credit (both business and personal), time in business, and how well the equipment fits into your business plan. Cash flow isn’t a major factor.

Invoice Financing

Invoice financing uses a business’s unpaid invoices as collateral. In exchange, invoice financing companies will front you a percentage of your unpaid invoices. Invoice financing companies are just as concerned with the value of the invoices as they are with the business’s finances. So businesses with limited cash flow might have an easier time qualifying for this type of loan.

Equity Investment

Friends and Family

Raising funds from friends and family can be a good option, but it's essential to establish clear expectations and not make any promises that you can't keep. Also, it's important to demonstrate traction and give them some type of equity play.

Angel Investors

Angel investors are groups of investors that invest in early-stage ventures, usually in the range of $25K. They are there to help prepare you for a later Series A round with venture capitalists. However, they take on a higher level of risk and will want a decent amount of equity in exchange for their investment.

Venture Capital

Venture capitalists can provide funding to start your business in exchange for an ownership share and active role in the company. Unlike traditional financing, venture capital invests capital in return for equity, not debt.

Venture capital focuses on high-growth companies and takes higher risks in exchange for potentially higher returns. It also has a longer investment horizon than traditional financing. Keep in mind that almost all venture capitalists will want a seat on the board of directors and will require you to give up some portion of both control and ownership of your company in exchange for funding.

In conclusion, getting a startup business loan without any money may seem daunting, but it's not impossible. Remember to focus on creating a viable business with a proven MVP before seeking funding. Then explore options like crowdfunding, grants, and personal loans. If you're willing to give up equity instead of paying back the money, consider seeking out investors. As always, weigh your options carefully and choose the path that best aligns with your goals and values. Good luck with your entrepreneurial journey!

All Content on this site is information of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. This information does not constitute professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information on the Site constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto.

I had a chance to chat with Landon Donovan a while back. We talked about meditation, self-doubt, and letting go of ego. This interview is a masterclass in what it takes to have a success mindset when you're at the top. I love it because these principles apply across all disciplines.

How do you stay focused?

"Part of it is what you do, but it is also what you get used to. It is all about compartmentalizing. I learned throughout my career how to be present in the moment. When you are present, it helps you to focus. Once you have done an experience once, it becomes easier to do it again and so it becomes no big deal. For me, I use meditation to focus on each new action."

How does meditation help you focus?

"Meditation is still taboo in our culture, but so many people do it without even realizing it. If you have ever walked on a beach and looked at the waves to relax, then you are meditating. You are present in the moment, but you are enabling the next moment to arrive. It also helps me let go of the previous moment, so I can truly focus on what is to come."

What advice do you have for those who believe they can't meditate?

"You cannot turn your mind off. It is about focusing on your breathing, accepting the moment, and allowing it to pass. It is not about trying to block something out. If you try to stop thinking, then you will not be present at the moment, and you will only be aware of trying to stop thinking, which is counterproductive. Many people wrongly think they cannot meditate when they can."

Have you ever experienced self-doubt?

"It has only happened a few times in my career. One was when I was in Germany. I was playing in a reserve team game. The Germany style of play is very structured and regimented. Whereas I was more creative and freestyle. I took 2 or 3 risks, which didn’t pay off, and I heard a very disappointed echo from the stadium, which resonated in me playing the rest of the game in fear. After the 2006 World Cup, I also felt a lot of doubt. I took a fairly public beating. For the first time in my life, I took a more general sense of doubt where I questioned if I could play soccer at all. It went beyond the game."

What does success mean to you?

"I believe that if we’re not striving to be happy, then we are not meeting the point of life. Many people are miserable with life in general, and I wonder what’s the point. We have a choice in happiness. There are many factors, granted, that we can’t choose, like where we are born or socio-economic factors, but we can choose to always be striving for happiness."

How do you find balance?

"In the soccer world, there are so many people who make what we do possible. I get so excited and proud, and happy, with what soccer has become. However, many people still bash soccer and say that we need to do more or be better, and while that is true, it is important to stop and be proud of what you have achieved. Many times we don’t appreciate a moment until it is too late."

What is a core belief that you have?

I live my life with the belief that “This too shall pass.” I don’t say it often but in hard moments, I do turn to it and it helps. I think, “life always works out.” It goes back to meditation and becoming present in every moment.

Landon Donovan's journey to success in the world of soccer offers valuable insights for anyone striving to achieve their goals. His ability to stay focused and be present in the moment helped him perform at a world-class level and overcome challenges. His motto "This too shall pass" remind us that setbacks, no matter how serious, are only temporary. Whether you're an athlete, an entrepreneur, or someone just striving for success, there is a lot to learn from Landon's story.

This interview was originally written for my former website Male Standard

The good news is, as an entrepreneur, you're not alone. Many successful people have faced similar obstacles and shared their playbooks for success.

Here are some of the best books for starting a business that I have selected.

I didn't have a lot of entrepreneurs around me when I was growing up. These books have helped me at critical moments throughout my journey and I hope they can help you as well.

Ideas and Getting Started

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Check it out here

Contrary to what the title says, this book isn't actually about working 4 hours per week. It's about maximizing your per-hour output and designing a business around your ideal lifestyle. This book gave me the courage to quit my day job and become a full-time entrepreneur. I still re-read it every three months.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Check it out here

I remember going to bookstores when I was younger with no money and hanging out for hours reading whatever business books I could get my hands on. This book taught me that your choices determine your success. It also taught me that the way to becoming successful was through entrepreneurship and investing. This is a great book for anyone starting out or thinking about entrepreneurship or investing as a path in life.

The Art of The Start by Guy Kawasaki

Check it out here

This was one of the earlier books on entrepreneurship that I read. My biggest takeaway was the concept of launching and then fixing. Many entrepreneurs get stuck in the idea phase endlessly tweaking, trying to make it perfect. But what is really needed to succeed is the ability to launch and fix as you go.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Check it out here

Most entrepreneurs struggle because they have the startup process backward. They create a product and then go out and try to find a customer. This method usually doesn't work and ends us wasting a lot of time and money. In the Lean Startup Method, you bring the customer to the front of the process and discover their core problems. You then develop your product (solution) based on real feedback and data from your customers. This discovery process is the part most entrepreneurs skip, but I believe it to be among the most critical toward success.

Hiring and Management

WHO: The A Method For Hiring by Geoff Smart and Randy Street

Check it out here

If you're looking to hire a top-notch team, you need to check this book out. WHO outlines a process for hiring that takes longer than a typical interview. It's designed to get to know the real person behind the resume. After reading this book, you'll discover the differences between an A-player and a B-player. You'll also learn how to screen candidates that are in line with the role you're hiring for.

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

Check it out here

This book was a game changer, especially at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. I discovered that successful business owners think in terms of processes and systems. They work ON their business instead of IN it. They see their business as the product and focus on making it run like a well-oiled machine.

Marketing

DotCom Secrets by Russell Brunson

Check it out here

If you're looking into running an online business, this book is for you. You'll discover the concept of Funnel Marketing. Even if you understand bits and pieces of marketing, this book will tie everything together. You'll learn about the Value Ladder, a method that ascends your customers from free value-added products to higher-ticket products and services. There are a lot of templates and scripts to follow in this one.

Launch by Jeff Walker

Check it out here

Launch teaches the art of launching a product. The best marketers are great at creating demand even before they launch. This book teaches that framework and is the process we used to raise over $100K in crowdfunding for our cookie company.

Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon

Check it out here

Many entrepreneurs work like Picasso. They toil in secret until they finally have the "perfect" masterpiece (product) to show the world. But what if you could have seen the creative process of Picasso? What if you saw his sketches and the thought processes behind his art? There is a lot of power in showing your work and learning in public even before you "make it." This book talks about the value of documenting your work and sharing it with your customers.

Negotiation

Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

Check it out here

This book was written by a former FBI hostage negotiator and is jam-packed with practical advice.  Here are a few things I took away from this book:

• He who says the price first loses
• If you have to say the price, always start at a much higher number than you really want. It's called anchoring.
• "How am I supposed to do that?" This is a powerful question that can help you get what you want even in scenarios where it doesn't seem possible.

Mindset

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

Check it out here

I've grouped this book under mindset because that's where I've gotten the most value from it, but it's helpful across many categories. This book is broken down into Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. Tim Ferriss is an investor and entrepreneur who hosts the popular podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show. He's interviewed some of the world's top performers and this book highlights the notes and key takeaways from those interactions. It's jam-packed with practical tools and advice that you can implement right away.

Solve For Happy: Engineer Your Path to Jou by Mo Gawdat

Check it out here

This book helped me during a critical time in my life. My business was failing and I was questioning my purpose. Mo Gawdat, a top Google Executive, shares his personal story of losing his son during an operation gone wrong. He shares the anger, frustration, and powerlessness he felt at that moment. He then reveals the journey to took toward finding happiness using an analytical and practical approach, like an engineer. This a must-read for anyone seeing fulfillment and purpose in life.

Best books for starting a business with no money

If you are starting with little or no cash, begin with the books in this list that help you test an idea before you spend. The Lean Startup shows you how to bring customers in before you build. Launch is the process we used to raise over $100K in crowdfunding for our cookie company. For other ways to fund a business with no money, see my guide to a startup business loan with no money and this pre-selling guide.

Best books for first-time entrepreneurs

If you are just getting started, I would start with Rich Dad Poor Dad, which I called a great book for anyone starting out or thinking about entrepreneurship; The Art of The Start, one of the earlier books I read, about launching and then fixing as you go; and The E-Myth Revisited, a game changer at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.

In conclusion, starting a business can be tough, but reading the right books can save you a lot of heartache. These books cover a wide range of areas that are critical to master including mindset, management, and marketing. By learning from those who've already succeeded you'll set yourself up for a greater chance of success. So whether you're just getting started or looking to take your business to the next level, these books are key reading material.

Good luck and keep rockin'!

Can confidence be developed?

"I think confidence is developed, but it doesn’t mean you have to live a certain type of way to gain confidence. I also think confidence is something that’s in the eye of the beholder. Once you make the decision to be comfortable with yourself and you don’t really care what anybody else thinks, you exude a confidence that people gravitate towards. But for many people, we aren’t born a certain way or with a certain attitude; it’s a learning curve, and you have to work out what is right for you."

How can one build confidence?

"Working out builds confidence because it’s tough, but there’s a reward. There’s going to be days when you don’t feel like doing it, but you get up and you do it anyways and it’s going to pay off in the end. Just knowing that all of your work and sacrifice that you put it right now, it’s gonna pay dividends down the road. That motivates me to keep jamming and work hard."

Dealing with and handling rejection

"I’ve been in this industry for 15 years and let me tell you, it gets easier; at a young age, you’re not emotionally equipped to really handle rejection; it can be very personal. You’re like, 'Oh my God! Why didn’t they want me!?' You get in there and you put your all into it, and then to hear the constant 'No’s,' you’ve gotta have tough skin. There’s tons of auditions that I never got, but in the grand scheme of things, you can’t dwell on the past. Once you go in the room, you leave everything in there and you know you did the best job that you could, and when you crawl out of that room, you’ve got to wipe it clean and forget about it."

Leaving a lasting legacy

"What do you want your dash to be? I’m born ’87 dash question mark. That little dash in the middle is how you’re going to be remembered. That’s your time here on this earth. What are you going to do with that dash? I always try to do something meaningful with that to push forward. That’s one I like to live by. Another thing is if you’re not going all in, then you can’t expect to get the things that people that go all in get. It just doesn’t make sense. You’ve got to put it in, because other people are. How can you expect greatness if you don’t give greatness?"

My interview with Michael B. Jordan was eye-opening and provided perspective on the journey it takes to become a successful actor. Jordan's story is one of determination, dedication, and an uncompromising drive to keep growing. He has learned that rejection is not a reflection of self, but a motivator to keep going.

We look forward to seeing what new heights Jordan continues to reach!

Here are three critical assumptions that entrepreneurs must make when starting a business:

Your First Idea May Not Work

It's important to note that the idea you first have when starting your business, may not be the one that ultimately leads to success. Instagram started off as Burbn, an app that allowed users to check in at their favorite places. Twitter began as Odeo, a network where people could sign up for podcasts.

My cookie company, Nui, started off as a protein bar. Even after we pivoted towards cookies it took many versions of the recipe until we found the right fit.

The key is to be flexible and willing to pivot toward your customer's needs.

It Will Cost More Than You Think

Unexpected expenses happen during the course of starting a business. Your product development costs may be higher than expected. Your cost to acquire customers may be more expensive than projected in the early stages of your marketing. Whatever it is, be sure to budget at least 30%-50% more than you're projecting.

This buffer of cash will directly impact how you run your business too.  When you know you don't have to worry about covering the bills, you'll make better-informed, longer-term decisions. You'll switch from a scarcity mentality to one of abundance.

It Will Take Longer Than You Think

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to fall into the trap of false expectations.  I know I did, by hoping for a big exit (selling the company), I sacrificed a lot of my short-term mental well-being. I missed critical time with loved ones and burned out.

Instead, ask yourself, "What would your business look like if there was no 'pot of gold at the end of the rainbow'?" Would you run your business differently? Would you start enjoying the journey more? By answering these questions, you'll be able to shift your perspective and will have the stamina to keep going.

Learn to Love The Journey

By being aware of these three assumptions you'll learn to be flexible, prepared, and patient. All of these things will increase your chance of success. Remember, business is a marathon, not a sprint. Learn to love the journey!

• I need to focus more on the planning and strategy phase. A well-thought-out plan is essential for success. I need to make sure I have a clear roadmap for achieving my goals.
• My timeline may be off. It's possible that I am expecting results too quickly and need to be more patient. Sometimes, it takes longer to see results than we expect, and it's important to stay focused and keep working towards my goals.
• I may need to look at different inputs. In order to achieve my goals, I need to make sure I am looking at the right data and metrics. For example, if my goal is to make $5K per month in ecommerce, I need to follow the correct model for achieving that goal. This may involve setting specific targets for the number of visitors and conversion rate I need to reach my goal.

By focusing on the planning and strategy phase, adjusting my timeline as needed, and looking at the right inputs, I can work towards making steady progress towards achieving my desired outcomes.

Lesson learned:

• Color code your notes to easily distinguish between your own thoughts and those of others. I'm using the highlight color red.

I've been experimenting with Chat GPT over the last few nights and the results have been impressive. Some questions I asked it include:

• If I want to travel the world to watch WWE events while remaining productive in my work, what could that look like?
• How can I integrate Asana and Things into a seamless workflow?
• How can I share my existing daily notes online in a way that documents my entrepreneurial journey?

One process it suggested was to leverage the work I've already done by posting my archive of notes as blog posts, categorizing them by month on my blog. There is a lot of content and lessons in these notes that could also be turned into TikTok videos.

Exciting news:

I'm excited to share that I've been asked to be interviewed for Voyage LA's "hidden gems" feature.

Quick facts

• Co-founders: Victor Macias and Kristoffer Quiaoit.
• Kickstarter: two campaigns raised $100,682 in total ($21,495 in 2016 and $79,187 in 2017).
• Shark Tank: Season 10, Episode 6, aired on ABC on November 25, 2018. We asked for $300,000 for 10%.
• The deal: we landed a deal on Shark Tank. Guest shark Alex Rodriguez offered $300,000 for 25%.
• Sales at the time of the show: $1.1 million, as stated on the show (CNBC). Nui grew past that afterward.
• Today: Nui is closed. I run Santana Snacks.

The Nui Foods story

Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an entrepreneur. Something about creating a business has signified freedom and self-expression for me. Here are some of the side-hustles and businesses I’ve created over the years.

• Selling candy door to door
• Lawn mowing charging $2 per lawn
• Online Personal Trainer Hub – An online personal training platform that never quite launched (ran out of money in development)
• MaleStandard.com – a men’s lifestyle website that allowed me to travel the world and live incredible experiences.
• Nui Foods – A cookie company helping people live happier healthier lives.

Of these, Nui Foods was the one closest to my heart. What my buddy Kristoffer and I did to grow from baking cookies in his mom’s kitchen to raising $100K in Kickstarter, starting the keto snackfood movement, and ultimately landing a deal on Shark Tank changed my life forever. It was proof of what’s possible when you hustle, are resourceful, and empower a community.

I loved the friends I made, the customers I served, and the lessons I learned along the way. I learned what to do in business, but most importantly what “not” to do.

Nui cookies Shark Tank update: what happened to the company

While Nui started off strong and grew fast, we faced some big challenges. Shortly after Shark Tank, we grew faster than our operations and cash could support. We quickly ran into cash flow issues. What started with $6K could not support our growth.

Our cost structure was all wrong (we were actually losing money on each order). We hot-shotted sales and promos which devalued our brand and hurt our bottom line. We operated with a scarcity mentality and focused on surviving instead of thriving.

We did everything we could to keep Nui alive, including not paying ourselves for 9 months, but in the end, we had to face reality. Nui wasn’t going to make it. We shut down.

I filed for bankruptcy and said goodbye to my baby. I mourned and faced the reality of starting over from zero. While there were dark periods early on, this proved to be an opportunity to create from a blank canvas. That’s where things got exciting.

I realized that now I get a chance to go on a new journey and document the whole process. I get to share what it’s like to start from scratch and build something amazing…again. I get to show the pain and struggles along with the excitement and wins.

My desire is for you to see this as a sign to GO BIG. Go for the home run. Sometimes you’ll miss and it will hurt, but when you connect with the ball and it goes over the fence, it’s the best feeling in the world!

Here’s to swinging for the fences.

Mucho Amor,

Victor Macias

If you'd like me to share this story with your group, you can request a speaking date.

Is Nui Foods still open?

No. Nui Foods is closed. I run Santana Snacks, a premium organic corn chip brand I started in 2023 in Santa Ana, California.

Can you still buy Nui cookies?

No. Nui is closed, so Nui cookies are no longer sold. If you want to try what I make now, you can find Santana Snacks near you.

Nui questions, answered

Did Nui Foods appear on Shark Tank? Yes. Kristoffer Quiaoit and I pitched Nui on Shark Tank. The episode (Season 10, Episode 6) aired on ABC on November 25, 2018. We asked for $300,000 for 10% and landed a deal.

What offers did Nui get on Shark Tank? Three sharks made offers. Kevin O'Leary offered $300,000 for 2.5% plus a royalty. Barbara Corcoran offered $150,000 plus a $150,000 line of credit for 15% plus a royalty. Guest shark Alex Rodriguez offered $300,000 for 25%. We accepted Alex's offer on the show.

Why did Nui Foods shut down? Nui grew faster than our operations and cash could support, and we ran out of runway. After the show, costs and expectations went up, cash got tight, and we were losing money on each order. We stopped paying ourselves for nine months to keep it alive. In the end Nui could not make it, and we shut down.

How much did Nui raise on Kickstarter? Two campaigns raised $100,682 in total: $21,495 in 2016 and $79,187 in 2017. I wrote a crowdfunding playbook with the templates we used.

Did you know?

• Guilt-free play is one of the best things you can do to overcome procrastination?
• Producers and peak performers take more vacations, are healthier, and focus on the right things.

According to Neil Fiore, author of The Now Habit, producers understand the importance of play and enjoy it guilt-free. Instead of dreading a big project, scheduled guilt-free play lets you know that there will be rewards along the way. Thus, this method can help you stick to things long-term.

In order to do quality work, you must stop putting off living and engage in fun and relaxation. One of the reasons we procrastinate is because we fear that once we start working, we won’t be able to have fun. We learn to associate work with pain. Guilt-free play flips this on its head by scheduling the fun stuff first.

To improve your productivity, you must make your work periods shorter (less painful) and your rewards more frequent.

The enjoyment of guilt-free play is part of a cycle that leads to higher quality, creative work. The cycle begins with scheduling guilt-free play which gives you a sense of freedom that makes it easier to focus on short periods of quality work.

As you get better at enjoying guilt-free play, you’ll realize that more insights come to you throughout the day. You’ll notice that playing the guitar, hanging out with friends, taking a vacation will provide insights and “aha” moments that will fuel more quality work. You’ll see that guilt-free play is quality work. It’s in the same bucket.

References:

Fiore, Neil (2007) The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play

By limiting access to your favorite things, you increase pleasure. Instead of drinking a latte every morning, try to limit it to Friday mornings. Want to indulge in a chocolate bar? Divide your treat into small pieces and eat it throughout the day. Want to make Christmas morning more exciting? Wrap a lot of small gifts instead of one large gift.

When it comes to appreciation, sometimes less is more.

Reference

Dunn, Elizabeth & Norton, Michael (2014) Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending

You’re likely to enjoy your experiences more if:

• The experience brings your closer with others.
• The experience creates stories you’ll want to share again and again.
• The experience is aligned with who you are and who you want to be.
• The experience is a unique opportunity not easily available.

Satisfaction with experiences tends to increase over time, while satisfaction with things tends to decrease over time.

References

Dunn, Elizabeth & Norton, Michael (2014) Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending

How to document:

• Start a work journal – I use Roam to document my notes, insights, tools, and lessons learned throughout the day.
• Write down your thoughts – Log them in your work journal or take a voice memo on your phone.
• Take photos – Shoot prototypes, logo concepts, meetings.
• Take videos – Film yourself working, thinking through problems, sharing insights.

While you may not share everything, the process of documenting itself has many benefits. You gain more insight into your daily work and you’ll be able to visually see your progress.

When you document, you’ll have a lot of material to choose from including journals, research, sketches, demos, prototypes, and more.

References

Kleon, A. (2014). Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

In today’s connected world, creators can share as much or as little as they want. They can share ideas, insights, inspiration or anything that’s part of their process.

By sharing your daily process, you form a unique bond with your audience. People are fascinated by how other humans think. People not only want to see your end work but want to be a part of the journey as well. So share your process and take them with you.

References

Kleon, A. (2014). Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

The same is true for self-worth. Whatever area of life you’re most invested in, will experience a large dip at some point. It’s just the way life works. Things move in cycles.

While we may not admit it, many of us attach our happiness, self-worth to external projects. When business is great, we feel great. But when it’s suffering, we feel bad and our self-worth comes down tumbling with it. A good way to counterbalance is through diversification. Instead of putting all of your self-worth in one bucket, diversify by focusing on different areas of your life like relationships, fitness, hobbies.

It’s rare for every area in your life to be “down” all at once. While sales might be slow in your start-up, you might be hitting a new one-rep max in the gym. While you may have lost a big client, you may have also just mastered a new song on the guitar. There’s always something to feel good about.

” You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather.”

OutKast, Ms. Jackson

A few days ago, I was getting ready for a huge meeting with an international distributor. I was preparing to pitch a group of investors for a much needed cash infusion and I was making huge progress toward a long time fitness goal. I was almost getting my damn six-pack!

Then Coronavirus happened and everything changed.

Almost overnight, the Expo where the distributor meeting was taking place postponed, the investor pitch was moved online with only a few people attending and my gym became a “no-go zone.”

You might be experiencing the same thing.

Schools are closed, restaurants are closed, bars are closed and many people are working from home.

The world has stopped and we’re faced with the very real possibility of being self quarantined for at least the next 14 days. And that, my friends, is where the opportunity lies.

What if this #SocialDistancing was the greatest thing that ever happened to you?

I believe that adversity reveals who you truly are. Do you quit and hide under the covers when things don’t go your way? Or do you double down, commit, and keep moving towards your goals regardless of what’s going on around you?

Are you unreasonable?

I invite you to treat these next 14 days as your personal dojo. Learn a new skills, form a deeper bond with your kids, practice the art of detachment. Whatever you do, use this situation as opportunity to create and lead.

Here’s how I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks.

My Plan For Being Unreasonable

• Work from my car – I love going to coffee shops and knocking out my most important task early in the morning. I’m still doing that, but with a twist. Instead of a coffee house, I’m dressing up each morning and going to the nearest coffee shop drive-thru. Next, I drive to a park and work from my car. Yup, I’m in slacks and a dress shirt working from my car. It’s about “showing up” even when no one is watching.
• Attend all meetings (virtually)– I’m sticking to all of my meetings but adapting them to my current situation. My business partner and I just pitched a group on investors from separate locations via Zoom.
• Workout at home – I was on a damn roll before Coronavirus (you bastard!). I was going to the gym 4-5 times per week and losing a lot of body fat. While I’m not going to a public gym anymore, I am doing home kettlebell workouts 4-5 times per week.
• Stick to my Diet – I’m craving a lot of carbs right now, but I’m committed to sticking to my low carb diet. I’m eating clean 6 days and having 1 yes day. I plan to go HAM this Saturday with lasagna, cookies, ice cream and more.

Areas To Cultivate

While I’m focusing on keeping my core routines from above, I’m using the next few days to cultivate a few areas in my life.

• Flexibility & forming a deeper bond with my kids – After I knock out my most important task from my car, I’ll head home to do some more work. I’m fully expecting my kiddos to knock on the door and want to play. Here’s where the practice comes in. I will say yes and drop anything work related in order to play with them. Get ready for some awesome hide-and-seek.
• Being a leader – There’s a lot of fear and panic in the world right now. I’m committed to being 100% responsible for those I love. I’m practicing this by posting videos on social media and helping folks see the opportunity in the current situation.

My challenge to you

Turn these next few weeks as your personal dojo. Will you learn a new instrument, form a deeper bond with your kids? Get in the best shape of your life? It’s all up to you.

Have you heard this story? There’s a donkey standing halfway between a pile of hay and a bucket of water. It keeps looking left and right, trying to decide between hay and water. Unable to decide, it eventually dies of hunger and thirst.

A donkey can’t think of the future. If he could, he’d clearly realize that he could first drink the water, then go eat the hay.

The moral of the story is don’t be a donkey.

Excerpt from Derek Sivers

I know a lot of entrepreneurs who are brilliant at coming up with ideas. But like the donkey, they struggle with choosing one to focus on. They’re scared of making the “wrong” choice and missing out on the “best” option.

In this guide, I’ll show you how I choose between ideas, what to focus on and how to structure life so you can have both the hay and the water.

1. Create a Dream List

Create a list where you write down all your best ideas (I call mine a Dream List). Every time you get a great idea, create a new note and add it to the list. I use Evernote and tag my new ideas with the keyword “ideas.”

Next, set a reminder on your calendar to review your Dream List at least once every 3 months.

Take Action – Grab your favorite note taking app and list all of your best business ideas.

2. Start Testing

Treat your idea like an experiment. Scan through your dream list and pick the idea that excites you the most. To borrow from Derek Sivers, “It’s either a Hell Yes or it’s a no.”

Take Action – Scan through your Dream List and choose one idea that excites you. That’s the one you’ll be testing.

3. Make it a Sprint

Create a 4 week sprint where you’re hyper-focused on just one idea. Block out time in your calendar to dive deep and execute on your most exciting project. If another idea comes up, add it to your dream list.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• Do you actually love this idea?
• Are you gaining traction?
• Is this a viable business opportunity?

Once the sprint is over, you can choose to keep going with that idea or start a 4-week sprint with a different idea. The key is to keep doing focused sprints of just one idea at a time.

Take Action– Commit to a 4-week sprint and work on only 1 idea at a time.

This is how you can get out of your head and into action. Do you have a business idea you’ve wanted to launch? Leave a comment and let me know. I’d love to see what you’re working on.

I got questions like…

• How much money do you need to start a business?
• How can I raise funds to start my project?
• How much working capital do I need?

What’s interesting is the assumption that it takes a lot of money to build a business. I don’t subscribe to that theory.

Nui, a startup I co-founded, grew to over 7 figures with only 3K each from my business partner and I.

The thing is, most people have the formula flipped upside down when it comes to starting a business.

They focus on the wrong things like:

• Building a perfect business plan
• Getting the “right” logo
• Searching through more and more market research

They do this only to find out that years and thousands of dollars later that no one actually wants to buy what they’re selling.

There’s a better way and that’s the magic of pre-selling. This technique allows you to test your idea early to see if it’s something worth pursuing.

Here’s how it played out at Nui:

We began by making batches of cookies in Kris’ mom’s kitchen. We got good feedback from friends and family and decided to test the idea.

We didn’t have a nice logo or fancy packaging. In fact, we were still buying our ingredients at retail and losing money on each order. That didn’t matter, we had a prototype and the goal was to see if this bad boy was gonna work.

I found a picture of a Chocolate Chip cookie on Google, created a one-page website and added a Buy Now Button to collect orders. Finally, I spent $20 on Ads to a Reddit Keto group and hit launch.

It doesn’t always have to be pretty. Here’s version 1 of Keto Kookie (Nui). We’d hand place every chocolate chip on the cookie. That was definitely Not scaleable.

That’s when the orders came in.

We had a rule…if we got 15 orders that meant that we’d be in business. Thankfully we surpassed that number in just a few days and the rest is history.

We kept building on that initial momentum and eventually used the power of pre-selling to raise over 100K from Kickstarter.

The magic of the pre-sell helped me build a business that let me travel around the world and helped me start a million-dollar business.

Pre-selling is one of the most powerful tools I’ve learned on my journey in entrepreneurship and that’s why I’m so excited to teach it in my upcoming 4-week coaching series.

I’ll be teaching a group of 30 students what it takes to go from zero to new business. I’ll share the tips, tools, and lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Class starts soon and will be limited to the first 30 students.

**Click here to learn more: </

See that clown? Yeah, I wouldn’t have hired me to watch your kids either. I was twelve years old and had just finished my babysitting certification program. I was gonna take the neighborhood of Alderdale by storm and watch every kid in town.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be an entrepreneur. Something about running my own business has given me a sense of control over my own destiny.

But what I learned is that success often looks very different from what we expect. My babysitting business never took off…

However, I did pick up clients from my lawn mowing business, cash washing business, and candy selling business.

13 years later, that skinny little kid from Anaheim built a 7 figure business and landed a deal on Shark Tank.

How often do we start with so much hope only for it to slowly fade away?

Dreams that were once in the dashboard of our lives, now relegated to the rearview mirror.

Slowly, we start to live a life of “what if.” But there are valid reasons we say: I have responsibilities, I have kids, soccer practice, a tough job, etc.

Guess what? There are people who achieve their dreams every day with exactly the same circumstances. They pursue their goals regardless of the reasons put in front of them.

Why do we do this? The answer is fear.

Fear that we’ll follow our goals and fail. Fear that we’ll take the game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and fail. Fear that others will say “I told you so.”

How To Break Through Fear

Here’s the thing, we all experience fear. A lot of times, we expect fear to disappear before we can take action towards our biggest dreams. However, there are ways to mitigate and use it to your advantage:

1. Make it small – A lot of fear comes from making a challenge very large in our minds. The next time you experience that, break that challenge down into the smallest next step. I had a goal of meditating for 20 minutes a day. In the beginning, that goal seemed very difficult to achieve. Instead, I committed to 1 minute a day until that became easy. I was then able to incrementally grow until I reached my goal. That brings me to the next point.
2. Get momentum – There’s something magical that happens when you build momentum towards something. Some times you just need a few small wins under your best to accomplish a big task. For example, I wanted to re-shape my body by going to the gym. Instead of committing to 12 weeks 5 days per week, I set a goal to go just twice. After I went twice, a gained momentum and was able to keep rockin’.
3. Throw it up on paper – I have a daily journaling practice where I “throw up” all of my anxieties and insecurities on paper. I don’t filter or edit anything. I don’t plan to ever share this with anyone. This process is incredibly therapeutic and gives me a clear head to start the day.

What’s On The Other Side of Fear?

• What happens if we take the shot and make it?
• What would life be like then?
• What’s it costing you NOT to follow your dreams?

For me, starting a business was key, because it’s a vehicle. It’s a vehicle that allows me to create a life of my dreams.

What do you really want in your life?

Travel, connection, time with your family? If you build it right, a business can support and fuel this lifestyle.

The beautiful thing is that it’s never too late to start dreaming.

• Ray Kroc franchised McDonald’s at age 51
• Martha Steward was 50 before starting Martha Stewart Living Magazine
• Gordon Bowker founded Starbucks at age 52

These are just some of the reasons I’ve decided to create my coaching series for a limited time.

I’m excited to share all of these answers and more. You’ll be one of only 30 people who I will be personally coaching on how to go from zero to launch.

Imagine, how would you feel being able to tick off items from your bucket list?

• Do you want to travel more?
• Do you wish you had time for your kids or spouse?
• Do you wish you could pay off your house?

No goal is too big or lofty to get started today. Once inside, you’ll be shocked at what success really looks like in the lead-up and why.

This is a constant struggle. I believe that in order to succeed at a high level, you need grit, consistency, and habits. The greatest entrepreneurs have all succeeded because they were consistent in their actions.

However, I have an innate desire to travel and experience new things. In fact, I get my greatest breakthroughs and inspiration when I’m away from the day-to-day grind. Is it possible to have both? I recently had an ‘aha’ moment and wondered…what if I make the novel a routine?

You might be wondering if that’s possible. I decided to try an experiment.

I built the novel into my schedule. I set specific days in my calendar reserved for variety. These are scheduled just like appointments. Think of it as a cheat day for indulgence and spontaneity.

The break down is simple: 1 day per week, 1 week per quarter, 1 month per year.

Here’s my breakdown:

• 1 Day Per Week: I work remotely every Wednesday. I choose a new city, a new coffee shop and 1 new fun activity to try.
• 1 Week Per Quarter: I’ll take a week-long remote work week. The goal here is to get an AirBnB or stay with a relative and work remotely from a new city around new people.
• 1 Month Per Year: Travel to a new destination like Japan, or Spain and work remotely from there.

The goal isn’t to break away from work. I love what I do. It’s about prioritizing what’s equally important to me: traveling, finding new adventures and finding quiet time.

Have you considered doing something like this in the past? How can you turn your passions and desired into habits?