Advice For A Young Entrepreneur – Trade Your Work For Leverage

After the first day of our SF Summit, I was walking to the local pub with one of the youngest members of our community.
He asked me if I had any advice for someone in his position – young, eager and fresh off a few recent failures.
When you’re between the age of 18 and 22, it’s hard to know what to do. In the world we live in, it seems like everyone else is getting a dream life but you’re not. It can feel isolating and disheartening. I know that’s how I felt for most of my twenties, at least.
What I told him wasn’t the usual “fail more” or “small steps” – I told him to start doing free work for someone who is absolutely crushing it.
In this video I explain why.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. We live in a world where everyone is trying to do everything on their own. That is not a winning strategy. The more we find ways to come together, the more we all come out on top.
2. There were 6-8 people at the conference that are crushing it. Like…crushing it. But they still have problems in life and in business. While money might not be an issue, something like creating content might be.
3. I urged this guy to reach out to some of these top entrepreneurs and find out what they need help with.
4. Then start working for free to help them. Build their FB following. Reach out to influencers. Create operating procedures. Whatever it is they need, do it for them.
5. By doing this, the top people will naturally start to help the young person. That’s how it goes.
6. Continue doing this for 3-6 months without asking for anything then request a weekly call for 20 mins where you can ask questions.
7. Your acceleration will be through the roof.

It’s hard to think on a long term timeline, especially when you’re a teenager. But I’ve also found that thinking short term is a byproduct of not having a winning strategy.
Offering to work for free, at least for a while, gets you in the door to people who can give you a shortcut through their knowledge, connections and inspiration. That’s how it works. That’s how it’s always worked.
The business is obsessed with independence for better or for worse. The more you can drop the walls and serve others, the more you open yourself to the leverage that people can provide.
Rock and roll,
CT