by Nathan Coumbe

Is This Book Better Than an MBA?

Colleges don’t teach you how to succeed in the business world. Business schools teach theory, case studies, and lots of accounting and finance. But what they don’t teach you is how to run a profitable, cash-positive business. 

Sadly, they don’t even teach you how to work in a business. At least not in a way that makes money for your employer.

That’s a problem. Why? Because that’s what business owners, managers, and leaders want: value-driven professionals who generate cash.

Here’s the Solution

Donald Miller has done it. He’s created a book and podcast that teach you exactly what you need to know to run a profitable business. If you haven’t yet checked out Business Made Simple, do it today!

Buy the book. For just $20 bucks, you can get a better business education in 60 days than you would spending $50,000 on an MBA. And listen to the podcast—it’s absolutely free!

Learn practical skills you need to succeed like:

  • How to write a mission statement that drives and inspires you and your team.
  • How to create a clear message that drives customers to your products and services.
  • Sales processes that actually work.
  • Execution strategies that grow your business exponentially.

What If You’re Not A Business Owner?

Maybe you’re not an entrepreneur. Maybe you just want to have a successful career as a team member or employee. That’s okay!

Business Made Simple is for anyone who’s job it is to generate cash for a business. And guess what? That’s you! Whether you’re a salesperson, marketer, customer service agent, or a janitor, this book will help you succeed at work. 

If you’re looking to stand out in your job search, get promoted, or just contribute more in your work, you need check this stuff out. Get a business education that actually pays off.

Get a copy today!

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by Nathan Coumbe

Different People See Things Differently

I’m a native of Mississippi, but I traveled to California numerous times as a teenager. Having been born and raised in the Deep South, I’d grown up saying “Yes, sir!” or “No, ma’am!” my entire life. 

(For those of you not of the Deep South, “ma’am” is a contraction of the word “madam.” You know how us Southern folk like to throw a little twang into our speech). 

In our culture, it is considered polite to use these phrases, and the epitome of rudeness should you not. 

Then I traveled to California…

You’re Being Rude

On numerous occasions, people laughed at me for saying it. A friend of mine asked, “Is that something you just say in the South?” 

I replied, “Yes, we use ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ whenever we speak to our elders. Or those we consider to be in positions of authority.”

“Well,” she replied, “when you say it, it sounds like you’re being sarcastic…like you’re mocking my parents.” 

I was completely floored. It never occurred to me that I might be coming off as rude. On the contrary, I thought I was speaking with the utmost respect by using “sir” and “ma’am”. 

Why Did I Tell You That Story?

It’s quite simple: different people see things differently. 

If you travel to Spain, you are likely to be kissed on both cheeks as a form of greeting (at least before COVID-19). In the United States, our “bubbles” are too big for something like that. We’d consider that a severe violation of our personal space. 

In some countries, it’s considered incredibly rude to “clean your plate.” Why? Because the cook will think you didn’t get enough to eat. 

It seems bizarre, right? That’s because you see things differently. 

Consider these differences when interacting with different people. Especially when traveling to different places. Or when in close contact with people of different cultures. 

We All Have a Different Noise In Our Heads

Different people see things differently. Because of this, they interpret things differently. What may seem like an empathic gesture to one person might come across as uncaring by another. 

An advertisement might be funny and persuasive to one prospect and bawdy and offensive to another. 

You might create a work of art that one person ridicules unmercifully and another describes as “a masterpiece.”

When serving or communicating with different people, think whether or not your gesture will be well-received by the other person.

If not, change gestures or tactics. 

You could easily write it off. “That person is just being difficult and unreasonable.” Occasionally, that might be so. 

But you can’t do anything about that. All you can control is what you do.

And what you can do is treat different people differently.

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by Nathan Coumbe

Your Job Is Making Money for Other People…Not Yourself

What I learned from Donald Miller this morning:

(I’m paraphrasing) The goal of any business professional is not to make a lot of money… The goal is to make a lot of money FOR OTHER PEOPLE!

How true this is for all of us in the business arena. It doesn’t matter if you’re an employee, a small business owner, or a serial entrepreneur.

Your job is to help other people make money. That’s the only reason you get paid.

As a copywriter and marketer, my sole purpose is to help my clients make more money from their products and services. It’s how the only way to measure how successful I am in my role.

Shift the focus away from yourself. Think about your employer, your customer, or your client. 

What are you doing to make them more money?

P.S. Donald Miller’s new book, Business Made Simple, launched today. If you’re ready to level up in your career or business, and become a value driven professional, grab a copy today. 

It might be the most valuable $20 you spend this year…

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by Nathan Coumbe

Coincidence on MLK Day

I bought an audiobook through Audible and started listening to it today. (It’s called The Miracle Equation if you’re curious.)

In the second chapter, the author Hal Elrod talks about how anyone who’s contributed something great to society had two qualities: unwavering faith in their mission, and the willingness to put in extraordinary effort to achieve it.

What a coincidence that today on Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, Mr. Elrod used him as an example.

Dr. King had unwavering faith in his mission to achieve racial equality in the United States. And he most definitely put in extraordinary effort to achieve it. At the cost of his life.

Let’s remember Dr. King’s legacy today and continue to pursue his mission with the same effort he did.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

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by Nathan Coumbe

Speak Your Dreams Into Reality Today

I got an email from the 48 Days Eagles (affiliate link) asking what my main business goal is for 2021. I thought I’d share it with you as well. So here goes:

“I want to help small businesses and entrepreneurs write better copy for their websites and marketing efforts so they can increase the sales of their products and services and grow their businesses.”

Why do I want to do this? Because if I can help others succeed in their business endeavors, they’ll be able to live out their hopes and dreams.

Now it’s your turn. Use this awesome layout to create your own business goal.

What’s your dream? Have you spoken it into reality yet?

And most importantly, can I help you with your dream or business?

Let me know in the comments!

by Nathan Coumbe

Think and Grow Rich in 2021

CLICK HERE TO JOIN US (affiliate link)

What are you excited about for 2021? One of the things I’m really looking forward to is a study of Napoleon HIll’s Think and Grow Rich. I’ll be doing this with my 48 Days Eagles Community of entrepreneurs and its founder Dan Miller, author of the New York Times Bestseller 48 Days To the Work and Life You Love.

We’re kicking it off with a family movie night. We’ll all be watching the movie online together on January 19th. Then we’ll start our study on January 25th, focusing on one chapter a month. And we’ll be meeting the fourth Monday of each month to discuss our readings.

Join us! It will be life-changing for you and me.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN US (affiliate link)

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by Nathan Coumbe

Make Money Working In Your Sweet Spot (Free Masterclass)

CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

If you’re hoping to begin living a fulfilled and meaningful life while still making a nice living for your family, you have to find your sweet spot.

We all have one. It’s the place where our passions and talents meet the world’s willingness to pay us.

My friend and mentor Dan Miller, author of the New York Times Bestseller 48 Days To the Work and Life You Love, is hosting a webinar on Thursday, January 14th to take you through the steps of determining your own unique sweet spot.

There are two times to choose from: 1pm CST and 7pm CST.

CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SPOT

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*Occasionally, I’ll create posts with affiliate links. These don’t cost you a penny but can result in a small commission for me if you purchase anything.

by Nathan Coumbe

Driving with the Rear-View Mirror

It’s how most of us spend our lives.

We make a decision, half-heartedly commit to it, and spend the entire time looking over our shoulder.

“Did I commit to the right career path?”

“What about that thing over there?”

“Maybe I made the wrong choice…”

It’s like driving while only looking in the rear-view mirror. You drive ridiculously slowly and will more than likely crash. And you never get anywhere.

Better to stare out the windshield and speed down the interstate. You can always take one of the exits if you find out you’re going to the wrong destination.

Just don’t assume you started wrong.

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by Nathan Coumbe

Are You Buying What You’re Selling?

Zig Ziglar, the great motivator and sales trainer, found a mantra in the word “enthusiasm.” To him, the last four letters stood for “I am sold myself.”

Zig was a master salesman. He knew if you didn’t believe in what you were selling, that lack of enthusiasm would come across to the prospect.

But what about when you’re not selling a product? What if the thing you’re selling is yourself, and your customer is a potential employer?

This same idea holds true in the job hunt. If you’re trying to persuade an employer to hire you, you have to believe in the product. 

If you’re a freelancer trying to convince a company to use your freelance services, you’re selling a product you must believe in. 

If you’re not enthusiastic about what you have to offer, they won’t be either.

If you don’t believe in yourself, they won’t want to buy your product. And make no mistake: you are the product. 

Grow your enthusiasm. Know what you have to offer; understand what you do best; determine how you can best serve others. And believe that it will benefit another person.

Sell yourself on you.

“You can have everything in life you want, if you just help enough people get what they want.”—Zig Ziglar

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by Nathan Coumbe

When Simple Things Are Stupid Hard

My upper back is tired. And the most strenuous thing I’ve done today is carry a few clothes to the washing machine.

Just walking around my home, trying to expand my lungs…it’s enough to leave me winded, short of breath in my dining room chair.

The simple act of chewing feels like I’m lifting a barbell with my neck. I imagine it’s the same strain I felt as an infant learning to lift my head.

Recovering from a major illness makes every little thing you take for granted feel like a Herculean effort.

Starting over with anything feels the same way. Getting laid off. Beginning a new career field. Learning a new physical skill. Getting back some modicum of physical strength and breathing normalcy…

It makes you feel inept…weak…almost helpless. “This shouldn’t be this hard,” you think. But it is.

“Should” doesn’t have any say in reality. All you can do is keep pushing, a little bit each day.

Relearn how to roll over, to crawl, to stand up, to walk…and eventually start running again.

(I was released from the hospital yesterday in case you missed my post.)

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