A community builder in the career space asked me for some advice and I thought it would be awesome to get your take on this too. The value is helping jobseekers triple their interviews with AI workflows, networking sequences, career coaching, interview prepping, and a supportive community keeping each other accountable until the job is landed. He’s considering the following revenue models for his Skool community and course. Which would you advise? Any other suggestions also welcome. Thanks for your insights.

Building a fortune requires leverage. Without it, you're limited by your own time and resources. There are three main sources of business leverage: capital, people, and products with no marginal cost of replication. • Capital gives you the resources to invest in growth. • People can amplify your efforts and skills. • Products with zero replication costs, like code and media, can be sold multiple times without added expense. Identify which type of leverage you need most and focus on building it. With the right leverage, your business can grow exponentially. Prompt to ace this: "Construct a meticulous step-by-step guide to determine the optimal type of leverage needed for a (specific business model or industry e.g., tech startup, retail) and how to effectively acquire it. Begin by assessing the current business structure and objectives to pinpoint where leverage could have the maximum impact. For capital leverage, guide through avenues such as venture funding, loans, or angel investing, detailing the pros, cons, and how to approach each. For labor leverage, delve into strategies for scaling workforce efficiently—whether through outsourcing, automation, or hiring—with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness and skill alignment. For products with zero replication costs, explore digital products or scalable service models that can be easily replicated without additional costs. Include detailed action steps for transitioning to a software-based service if applicable, or developing digital products that meet market needs. Conclude with a comprehensive evaluation plan for each type of leverage, incorporating metrics for success, timeline projections, and adaptation strategies based on market response and internal feedback loops." Benefit: This prompt not only helps identify which type of leverage—capital, labor, or products—is most beneficial for your specific business context but also provides a detailed roadmap for acquiring and implementing this leverage to maximize growth and efficiency.

People often view sales as a second-class skill, but I'm here to tell you that it's a superpower that can transform your startup, marketing, and life. I've spent the last 5 years in sales, and I've learned that it's not about being pushy or scammy. It's about understanding people, building trust, and facilitating their journey to success. Here are some key takeaways from my experience: • Sales is about empathy and observation: You can't teach sales in school; it's about learning by doing and being empathetic. • You're always selling: Whether it's an idea, product, or service, you're always selling something to someone. • Be a doctor and coach: In sales calls or demos, you need to understand the customer's needs and guide them to success. • Facilitate, don't sell: In modern sales, you're not pushing products; you're helping customers choose the right fit. • Build trust, don't push to buy: Research, be honest, and build rapport to establish trust with your customers. • Tell a story, don't take orders: Create an emotional connection with your customers by telling a story that makes them the hero. • Articulate value, don't discount: Show the ROI, and only offer discounts when there's a multi-year commitment. • Disqualify hard, don't be greedy: Focus on the right customers, and don't chase bad fits that can lead to unhappiness. • Need analysis is key: Describe the customer's problems better than they can, and they'll assume you have the best solution. • Have fun: Sales is about connecting with people, so make it enjoyable and create a wow factor. • Delight customers post-sales: Follow up, stay in touch, and ensure customer satisfaction. • Smart follow-up is crucial: Restart conversations with genuinely interesting information, not just generic check-ins. • Build genuine relationships: Care about your customers, solve their problems, and talk about more than just weather and work. • Surprise and delight: Provide resources, support, and surprises that exceed customer expectations.

My local shopkeeper was having a tough time paying the bills. He was losing $10,000/mo. I suggested he use AI to improve his business. He took my advice. And spent $20/mo on a Gemini Advanced subscription. His business totally transformed. Now, he's losing $10,020 every month.

Consumers love authenticity. Lessons to learn here from Patagonia's "Back in business" notice. On a side note: My LinkedIn is active again, and I'd love to connect with you all: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintinlylekruger/