30 Days of Focus Can Change Your Life

Each week I'm sending you a side hustle idea, stories of entrepreneurs who’ve executed successfully, and resources to learn how to do the same

THIS WEEK'S THOUGHTS:

I am whatever you say I am… so close.

When Eminem busted out “The Way I Am”, I was hype. I was a HUGE fan and this was a genius middle finger to everyone who thinks they know him.

In an interview he said, “It’s basically saying… If you think I’m an asshole, then I’m gonna show you an asshole. If you call me a misogynist, I’m a misogynist."

He's like, "Screw it... I’m whatever you say, right?"

Here’s why I say he was close, though. While a brilliant song, it says you are going to dictate who I am.

I. Am.

These are the two most powerful words in the English language.

Don’t be like Eminem. What I, your wife, your kids, your neighbor, your boss, your [insert person here] says about you doesn’t mean jack crap.

It really doesn’t.

I am whatever you I say I am.

You are whatever you say you are. If you’re not there yet, then lean every ounce of your body into the ol’ “fake it ‘til you make it”.

Seriously.

If you want to be someone who works out, but don’t actually work out yet, tell yourself “I am someone who works out”, then start with the simplest task until you build the habit.

If you want to be someone who has an amazing marriage, but don’t actually have an amazing marriage right now, tell yourself “I am someone who has an amazing marriage”, then start with small gestures to show your spouse this is who you are until you create it.

If you want to be someone who makes and saves more money, but don’t actually do either yet, tell yourself “I am someone who makes and saves more money”, then start with implementing one small change until you notice the change in your bank account.

I. Am… whatever words you put after those two become your destiny.

As always, I'm sharing my thoughts as a way to help you. If it helps you, it could help someone else. So before diving into this week’s side hustle idea (below) feel free to share:

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SIDE HUSTLE IDEA: BUILD A COMMUNITY

Think about the one thing that gets you super jazzed. The thing that you can talk about with anyone at any time for 30 minutes straight without taking a breath.

We all have it.

For me, I geek out on entrepreneurship, marketing, self-help, and travel.

For you, it could be college sports, being a parent, hidden gems in your city, classic cars… there are as many interests as there are people on the planet.

I’m an audience member for a lot of my interests. Devouring content like locusts.

But, audiences are spectators. Communities are participants.

And people who have a legitimate interest LOVE to share that interest with like-minded people. Communities give the opportunity to learn, share, grow, and be vulnerable about the things they geek out over. This is one of the most powerful things on the planet.

With communities you can monetize through:

• Charging a low monthly subscription fee like Matt Studdert of Frontend Mentor who charges as low as $8/mo. and has scaled his “learn to code” community business to $180K/yr
• Charging a high annual fee like Sam Parr’s doing with Hampton to build an estimated $7M/yr. entrepreneur community
• Charging nothing and offering a free community to sell products like Jennifer Maker did to build her annual 8-figure business around women who like to craft

If you’re looking for great resources on building a community read, watch, absorb anything from:

• ​Tom Ross​
• ​Pat Flynn​
• ​Greg Isenberg​
• ​Jay Clouse​

Think about what you’re passionate about. Start building.

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Side hustles can eventually become your main hustle.

With a serious desire and a focused effort, you can eventually build something of value for yourself.

It may not be this week's example, but there are as many interests as there are people on the planet. And, there are as many ways to make money as there are interests.

Let's uncover yours together.

You got this!
Mark

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