Why some people get faster results online
And how you can replicate their strategies.
Anytime my growth slows down, I feel like the world stops and all that exists is me and the slow, too slow, almost non-existent uptick of subscribers.
Why?
Aren’t?
They?
Subscribing?
All the nasty voices in my head gather around and put on an acapella show. A one. A two. A one, two, three, four…
You’ve lost it.
You’ll probably never get it back.
All success you’ve achieved was purely luck
and now everyone knows you’re good for nothing.
Yes, you’ve lost it.
Shalalalalala.
I start looking at what people growing faster are doing. I start to question every decision. Should I write about the topics they write about? Who even cares about my topics?
Should I work harder, even though I know it would be unsustainable? Should I use more social media platforms?
Then, the moment I run out of ideas about what to change about myself, I realize I really shouldn’t change anything.
I can grow faster while still being me.
Secret to Success: Why others are growing faster and how to learn from them.
In this newsletter:
Speed is overrated. Direction is underrated.
Sometimes, they’re lucky. Here’s how to use their luck to succeed faster.
Sometimes, they have a lot of previous experience. Here’s how to use their experience to succeed faster. For paid subscribers only.
Sometimes, they work harder than you do. Here’s how to use their amazing productivity to succeed faster. For paid subscribers only.
Sometimes, they work smarter than you do. Here’s how to use their intelligence to succeed faster. For paid subscribers only.
Speed is overrated. Direction is underrated.
Flash news: whoever you are, whatever you do, there will be moments of big hits and fast growth (of boosted stories or viral posts), and there will be quiet moments. World-stopping moments of acapella singing.
We all have them. Your role models have them. They, too, compare themselves to someone who’s growing even faster or makes more money or has more results.
They, too, have unsubscribers and refunds and shitty days.
What separates the big success stories from the one-hit wonders is how they handle those moments. The big success stories focus on direction. Yes, they know speed is important, but only if they’re going the right way.
That’s how they remain at their best for the next growth opportunity they know is coming.
But say you have the direction figured out. (If you don’t, read Clarity for Solopreneurs). Say you’re ready to learn how to grow faster. Say you really want results to come now.
What do these fast-growing people do and how can you learn from them?
Glad you asked.
Sometimes, they’re lucky.
No one can predict a trend.
Maybe some marketers can make educated (lucky) guesses sometimes and fabricate virality, but that’s not a reliable skill.
Did you know that Michael Burry, the financial expert who predicted the financial crisis in 2008, has since predicted 10+ financial crises, none of which has happened?
So. Sometimes people get lucky. I don’t want this to sound the wrong way. These people still work hard and have top-level skills, but a big part of their success is that their topic/product/service happened to be exactly what the collective consciousness wanted.
What to learn:
When Russel Brunson, founder of ClickFunnels, first started growing his e-mail list, Google Ad Sense arrived. Russel almost switched directions. Who needs a stupid e-mail list when his friends were making ridiculous money launching sub-par websites, bringing in traffic and getting people to click on ads?
That’s when Russel’s business coach said “NO! Don’t get distracted, Russel, the money’s in the list.
Years later, Ad Sense is far less profitable, Russel’s friends have long spent their money and Russel has an 8-figure business. He often says his best-converting marketing channel is his e-mail list.
If you notice someone else is growing fast, DO NOT change your focus just to copy their results. You can be smarter about using their success.
Write one piece on that topic and tag that person. They may share it.
Interview that person so that your audience learns from their success.
Invite that person to work with you: design a product together or have them write a guest post for you.
Just get in touch and congratulate them. It’s always smart to build connections online, even if you can’t see an immediate benefit. Who knows, you may even find a friend.
Sometimes, they have a lot of previous experience.
Lee Child has written 20+ Jack Richer books, most of which have hit the NYT Bestsellers list.
He famously writes without outlining his novels — he just sits in front of a computer and produces awesomeness.
If you hear this story taken out of context, it’s easy to go “WHOA! So it’s possible!”
Then your next thought is, “Why can’t I do that?”