I’m kinda dumb – or at least, I was my first year in business.
I’ve always been kind of a perfectionist when it comes to my work. I have high standards for myself and the content I share with you.
The problem was that I would always try to do EVERYTHING myself.
I wanted to write my blog posts, edit them, code my website, write books, edit podcasts, create videos, answer emails, do social media, and the list goes on…
At first, I was able to handle all of that work, but soon, I ended up becoming overwhelmed. I got burnt out.
Like most things in life, I thought it was mainly a failure of willpower. I needed to work harder.
This is a rookie mistake!
All of the great achievements in our society were accomplished by a team of people, not one person.
The reason I was burnt out was because I was doing too many things and taking on tasks that didn’t come naturally to me. I realized, I needed to change.
Did you know that there is ONE MAJOR COMMONALITY among all of the successful crowdfunders that have come on my show?
When I asked them how they were able to see so much success on Kickstarter, they all said… “Yeah man, I had a great team. You gotta have talented people.”
Todays video is all about how to build a team around your Kickstarter campaign. You can watch it below.
When I started to build a team for my own business, I was able to focus on what I’m good at!
I began to build systems that would handle work flow and make it easier for me to get a lot of things done (without being burnt out).
These systems are extremely valuable. They leverage my time. They let me put out blog posts, podcasts, and YouTube videos for you.
I also came to realize that if I wanted to improve my work, then I’d need to go beyond my basic understanding of writing and speaking. I’d have to seek out mentors who knew more than me.
Mentors Will Accelerate Your Progress
I know a lot, but I don’t know everything.
Part of growing my own brand was a willingness to put my own ego aside and seek out teachers and mentors that could fill in the gaps in my own skillset.
Those mentors don’t have to physically be there with you. You could learn from books, podcasts, training courses, virtual coaches, and more.
Part of assembling a team around your Kickstarter campaign is also bringing people on who have experienced the process before. This is a surefire way to make sure you stand a good chance with your fundraiser.
Just think about it… when have you performed BEST in your life?
I don’t know about you, but I performed pretty well on all the sports teams that I was a part of. I hated it, but I did do well in school when I had a teacher I liked.
Of course, I’m ambitious, but I also benefit from having people around me that make me want to strive for more. They show me what’s possible. They get me motivated.
Yes, mentors will accelerate your progress by giving you access to non-public strategies, tactics, and resources.
However, good ones will also unlock an even more fierce competitive drive within you. They’ll demand more from you.
A Team Lets You Do Things Beyond Yourself
With your skills, temperament, and natural inclinations, you can only do so much on your own. You only have so many hours in your day.
With a team, you’ll be able to accomplish things that you would not be able to do yourself.
(I’m very stubborn, so I’d probably say something like…)
“Well yeah, but I could learn how to code, or do ___. I can figure it out myself.”
The problem with this approach is that it spreads yourself too thin. You can’t be the best at six different things. You’ll see the most productivity and results when you stick to what you’re good at.
If you fail to delegate tasks and bring on team members, you’ll end up wasting a lot of time. Money is simply a way to speed up time. The older I get, the more I realize I need to use my time wisely.
When you think about it, raising six or seven figures on Kickstarter seems much more attainable when you have a team of five people. This team will:
- Give you a larger network to draw from
- Help you brainstorm things you haven’t thought of
- Unlock new skills that will improve the quality of your product
- Make it easier to juggle multiple tasks
- Motivate you towards a goal
As an entrepreneur, it is your job to assemble this team. The main function of an entrepreneur is to assemble a team and raise capital.
I know… it sounds kinda boring, right?
Who wants to have to manage a bunch of people? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a manager.
What I love most about my job is writing and speaking. That’s my craft man! That’s my painting or my jazz. It’s what I’m passionate about.
However, in order to do what I love, I also need to take the responsibility of setting up the systems to enable my team to succeed (and for me to life the lifestyle I want).
This is the price of owning your own online business. Your own business gives you tons of rewards. The price is that you must rise to the occasion and build an effective team around yourself.
Seeking Out Help Is Your Secret Weapon
I’m not a fan of absolutes, but I am a fan of helpful mindsets.
A helpful mindset or belief system is there in order to improve your performance. You consciously realize that you’re adopting a mindset that is only to be used in the case of business or achievement.
It would be unhealthy if you use this mindset in your personal life, but by living by it in your business life, you’ll see more success.
That mindset is… success at any cost.
Yes, you should be 100% ethical, but beyond that… success at any cost.
That means that if seeking out help will cause you to raise an extra $500, you’ll do it.
One book, one podcast episode, one insight could be responsible for thousands in pledges and sales.
I don’t care how much I spend on self-education, as long as there is ROI.
I bought a book one time, implemented some of the strategies, and ended up improving my sales by 10%. That book more than paid for itself.
Success at any cost, even if that cost means admitting you need to get better at something.
It’s hard to admit that you can’t just willpower through everything. You need a team of talented people to stand the best chance of success.
