8 More Lessons from Shaan Puri to Transform Your Business (Part 2)

If you read yesterday’s email, you know what’s coming.

If you missed it, you can find it here.

Let’s dive straight in.

10) Listen to the nerds, even if you’re the coolest guy around.

If you followed lesson 9 from yesterday’s email, you’re already surrounding yourself with the right people. But some of them might be nerds.

When Shaan was building his businesses, some of his friends were obsessed with crypto. “Crypto this, blockchain that. This is SICK!”

Shaan thought they were crazy.

“Let’s focus on what matters,” he’d say.

But he learned the hard way: those nerds were onto something big.

Find the nerds in your circle. Listen to them. They often spot opportunities others miss.

And while you’re at it, listen to the nerd inside you too.

I’ll explain…

11) Stop chasing money. Earn it instead.

Success isn’t about a number in your bank account. It’s about the freedom to define your life.

Do so much “cool shit,” as Shaan puts it, that if you went back in time, your younger self would be envious.

How do you get there?

By letting your curiosity guide you. Find what excites you, what you’d pursue relentlessly just because you love it. In other terms? find your inner nerd!

12) Start with a 1-page kickoff document.

Before launching a business, Shaan recommends creating a simple, 1-page document.

Include:

• Your goals. (see lesson 11)

• Your anti-goals. (Do you really want to spend every weekend 2,000 miles from your family?)

• Your assumptions. (What do you believe will happen if you succeed? How will the business be run?)

Review it every 6–12 months. This helps you spot what’s working and adjust what isn’t.

13) Reverse engineer the business.

Let’s say you want to sell your newsletter business for $10 million.

If newsletters typically sell for a 10x profit multiple, you’d need $1 million in annual profit to hit that target.

With high profit margins (let’s assume 90%), your revenue needs to be approximately $1.11 million per year ($1 million ÷ 0.9).

Now comes the challenge: brainstorm at least 10 ways to reach that revenue target.

Whether it’s growing your audience, creating premium products, or launching sponsorships, the plan starts with understanding your goal and reverse engineering your path to it.

14) A creative way to find business ideas.

Need inspiration?

Check out online business brokerage sites like Flippa. You’ll find businesses for sale in every niche imaginable.

It’s a goldmine of ideas and motivation.

15) Don’t grow your chicken sandwich from scratch.

Shaan shared the story of a guy who spent 2 years and $2,000 to grow, raise, and source every ingredient for a chicken sandwich.

While it was an artistic endeavor, it’s a terrible approach for business.

Instead, clone proven systems. Find what works for others, learn from it, and adapt it to your style.

16) Learn by doing.

No course, book, or YouTube video beats hands-on experience.

Start. Fail. Learn. Repeat.

17) Business is your gym for personal growth.

Just like you hit the gym to stay fit, you build businesses to level yourself up.

Business isn’t just about making money. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself.

18) What’s your next era?

Every time you hit a milestone, ask yourself: What does the next era look like for me?

Your seasons will change. So figure out where you are now, and where you’re heading next.

One Last Reminder

Yesterday, I shared with you an offer to work with me.

Here’s the deal, simplified:

• I’ll write 5 custom emails worth $100 each in value.

• Your investment? Just $1.

• If you’re not satisfied, I’ll refund your $1, no questions asked.

The offer is limited to 2 people only.

You should have a list that you engage with (at least an email a week) and a tested or strong offer to sell.

If you’re interested, reply to this email or contact me at [email protected], and let’s get started.