On a mission to become a better writer, thinker, and entrepreneur • Ex-dentist, now building an internet business (at ~$500k/year)
How to make better business decisions (a story about my first book)
|
Earlier this year, I started writing my first book. My first challenge was deciding what to write. I had two choices:
The difference might seem minimal, but the vibe is completely different. One is focused on beginners who have zero clue what they want to do (like me as a dentist). The other for people passionate about building a writing-first business. Now, ‘old’ Kieran would’ve spent months trying to decide. I live in my head, so overthinking is my middle name. But I’ve realised how much energy we waste going around in circles, trying to make the perfect choice.
So I decided Digital Freedom and started writing. I had a blast writing 3/4 of the first draft. But I hit pause for 2 months to build my latest course, Productize Your Knowledge. During that time, my enthusiasm for Digital Freedom dropped. “Oh god, here we go again—classic Kieran changing his mind.”My inner critic remarked. All that writing ‘wasted’. But your intuition exists for a reason. And mine was screaming that I had picked the wrong book. Why? Because whilst I told myself Digital Freedom had the highest chance of ‘impact’, really—I was focused on fame. It had a much wider reader potential, which was blinding my judgement. Because the best writing (and business) comes when you build what YOU wish existed. And I love to write. I want a business driven through the written word, one where I make a real impact with my ideas. Hopefully you do too. So instead of continuing down the wrong path, last week, I started again. New promise, new outline, new ideas. But this email isn’t just about book choices. It’s about how to make smarter decisions.Because execution is everything. Working hard is pointless if you work on the wrong things. Now, whilst I didn’t let myself overthink (good), I did let myself overwrite (bad). I could’ve saved a tonne of energy if I paid more attention. In retrospect, the signal was obvious. Early into Digital Freedom I wrote a section on selecting your content type. As you can imagine, my sections on video and audio were flaccid. But I came alive when I spoke about writing. My mind had told me where to start. But my curiosity was telling me where to go. Which leads me to my point: Reader, the key to making great decisions is to act, reflect, and course correct.The last point is most important. To get what you want from life you must be willing to burn things down. I learned this as a dentist. I spent 5 years ignoring my gut feeling that I was in the wrong career because I was scared to lose my safety, security, and status. But quitting to write was the best choice I’ve made. And I’ve been quitting things ever since.
So, what choice are you wrestling with? Maybe it’s choosing your niche. Or creating an offer. Decide a direction and run a 30 day experiment. Each week, pause and reflect:
Treat every decision as an experiment. You will be wrong many times. But wisdom comes from suffering, and judgement is a by-product of making (and learning from) your mistakes. Hope this helps, Kieran P.S. There is no ‘wasted time’ either. Every action is a vote for the person you want to become. Every step sharpens your skills, every lesson improves your ideas. The worst thing you can do is nothing, so don’t let yourself overthink. And on that note… A quick favour: I want to write the best book possible for you. For that, I need to hear what you want. Would you mind taking 2 minutes to fill out a questionnaire? It would help massively with making sure I deliver. When you submit your answers, I’ll also send you a chapter of the book for free—just leave your email at the end. Thanks in advance: |
Kieran Drew
On a mission to become a better writer, thinker, and entrepreneur • Ex-dentist, now building an internet business (at ~$500k/year)
Before we dive in: Increase your profit (without needing more customers) Craig Shoemaker has helped me and other 6- and 7-figure entrepreneurs run more profitable education businesses. He’s built a great mini-course just for my readers. You’ll see 5 simple systems to make more money without chasing new leads. GET THE MINI-COURSE NOW ‘I can’t take this job.’ My boss’s face dropped. It’s September 2nd, 2021. I was meant to start work at a premium cosmetic dental clinic, with as many clients as...
Before we dive in: I started posting on Substack!: I’ll be sharing more long form content there combined with my short form stuff from X. So if you’re looking for a one-stop shop, it’s a good spot (although these emails are the priority). Would love to connect: FIND ME ON SUBSTACK Last week, I recorded a 35-minute video sharing an overview of my business. (There’s a link at the bottom of this page.) Over 200 people downloaded it on social media. But as I scrolled through the replies I read...
Before we dive in: I’m releasing a free course! I quit my 9-5 on September 2nd, 2021. To celebrate, I’m writing a 14-day email course called The Business of Writing. It is everything I wish I knew about starting and scaling a writing business. To get it, hop on the waitlist by clicking the link below. It will only be available once. SIGN UP HERE It’s 2020. I’m stuck in morning rush hour, listening to James Clear discuss his writing journey. I’m excited. But as the episode ends, I sigh. I...