06/17/2024
How to save your reputation ⬇️
About 1.5 years ago, I stepped out of my business completely for 6 months. When I reflect back on that time, it was purely selfish.
I’d made enough (100 million) 💵
I wanted a break
I “deserved” a break
I was tired of being pulled in
I wanted to move on to other things
I was tired of running a team of 100
Etc. etc etc.
(When you start a business you’re doing so because you want a better life for yourself. That’s okay, it’s normal. As you mature, you’ll understand you can’t win that game and must make it about others).
So, I stepped out.
I put some of my team in unwinnable positions. I let some people stay who shouldn’t have. I hired some people who shouldn’t of been. I couldn’t be bothered with problems. I didn’t do a single ounce of work for 6 months.
Not one ☝🏻
After awhile I realized “not working” wasn’t for me. I felt worse than I ever had and was just thinking about myself all hours of the day, every day.
But by the time I came back, damage had been done.
I don’t pay attention to much of what others say around me or about me, but my reputation in MY MIND had been damaged.
- I was a bad leader
- I went from selfless to selfish
- I stopped caring about my team and clients
- Clients suffered
- My team suffered
Overall I did what losers do, and so I started losing.
It’s increasingly difficult to lead a team of 70-100 versus 3-5.
Some small business owners will never understand, but others will just shake their head and say…”I get it.”
It took a lot of time “to fix” what I’d done, but I finally got there.
- I started leading client strategy again
- I started taking high level client calls again
- I took more responsibility
Etc. etc. etc.
For example since I got back (and have given client advice) I 2xed and 5xed a clients business. Feel free to check one right below.
The RIGHT strategy can move mountains. The WRONG strategy can set you back 6 months. (I’ve seen it inside my own companies).
Katie - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p43mk9nR0JbK2fLNU0S6e0cL0-3mfgKQgmb4c8Svybo/edit?usp=sharing
I’ve also decided I’m no longer going to make choices from a place of selfishness or just “making as much as possible."
It’s okay to make a lot, but make sure your vehicle is set up correctly. That’s why I drummed up the 2 easiest ways to repair my reputation (for me) and to help at scale without quality suffering.
#1 Elite university - https://go.eliteceos.com/elite-university?utm_source=fbpost
This is $97 a month where people text me all day long and I respond with the strategy I’d use and looms. Don’t think anyone whose made what I’m making is doing that, I feel good about it.
(If ya don’t trust me you get a 7 day free trial to see. It’s pretty ridiculous).
#2 1-1 w/me (inner circle). Used to be 200k but is 60k until this next Friday (to cheap to keep there) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dVVVw9V3jnD_OBl4_owEhNVoNciXzdgmCJ_BtxHF_yQ/edit?usp=sharing
- I’ll do the calls w/you
- I’ll set the strategy
- I run the plays
Etc.
60k for what I’ve been able to do is a peasants fee, but I feel it’s the right thing I must do. It sets the precedence for how I want to lead.
if you lost respect for me I’m sorry, I lost it for myself (for awhile).
if you were hurt I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.
if you don’t know if you can trust me, I get it.
All I can say is if and when you get to that point on the mountain I was at, you’ll understand more. Nothing came from a bad place, I was just a young guy trying to figure it all out.
Businesses come and go, reputation is forever. If you get big don’t try to make everything perfect, it’s impossible. But make sure you can look at yourself in the mirror each night.
Don’t become selfish, stay selfless.
T
