#126: Building to Serve

We know him as the founder of Dell Computers — but before all that, there was a summer job, a newspaper hustle, and a level of strategic thinking that most 16-year-olds (and honestly, most adults) wouldn't even think of. In this episode, I walk you through a wild but true story of how teenage Michael Dell made the equivalent of $68,000 in just a few months... selling newspaper subscriptions. Yup. No computer, no tech — just a clever use of publicly available data and pure hustle. _ Key Takeaways Why saturated markets are actually full of opportunity — if you know how to niche within the niche The genius data-driven strategy Michael used to target his ideal customer How he scaled that simple job into a small operation (and what that means for your business) 4 key lessons you can apply today whether you're running ads, selling offers, or building your audience   _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok   _ Here's how I can help you: Master digital marketing, generate leads, and scale with paid ads. Enroll Now & Get Early Bird Pricing The Growth Community - Strategies, resources, and expert insights to optimize and grow. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mm Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - High-level support to refine funnels, ads, and scale efficiently. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mentorship _ _ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts [CLICK HERE] "I love this podcast so much!" If that sounds like you, please take a moment to rate and review the show— Your support keeps this podcast going. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! _

Abu talks about how growth and achieving goals often involve discomfort and challenges. _ Key Takeaways stop starting and stopping 3 types of accountability for success how to raise your baseline effort adopt a 'second try' mentality   _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok   _ Here's how I can help you: Master digital marketing, generate leads, and scale with paid ads. Enroll Now & Get Early Bird Pricing The Growth Community - Strategies, resources, and expert insights to optimize and grow. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mm Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - High-level support to refine funnels, ads, and scale efficiently. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mentorship _ _ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts [CLICK HERE] "I love this podcast so much!" If that sounds like you, please take a moment to rate and review the show— Your support keeps this podcast going. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! _

The update includes thoughts on transitioning back to a nomadic lifestyle after five years of having a home base in Miami and Atlanta. Abu discusses the pros and cons of being nomadic, such as increased creativity and the challenges of maintaining a routine. Additionally, they talk about updating their 'operating system' and focusing on consistency to rebuild momentum. Upcoming projects mentioned include relaunching the marketing accelerator _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok   _ Here's how I can help you: Master digital marketing, generate leads, and scale with paid ads. Enroll Now & Get Early Bird Pricing The Growth Community - Strategies, resources, and expert insights to optimize and grow. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mm Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - High-level support to refine funnels, ads, and scale efficiently. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mentorship _ _ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts [CLICK HERE] "I love this podcast so much!" If that sounds like you, please take a moment to rate and review the show— Your support keeps this podcast going. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! _

In this episode, Abu discuss the common pitfalls business owners face when they attempt to scale their businesses too quickly. 00:00 Introduction: The Pitfalls of Rapid Scaling 01:03 The Dangers of Scaling Too Quickly 02:17 Personal Experience: Learning the Hard Way 03:00 Refocusing on Service Over Scale 04:33 Practical Steps to Stay on Track 06:23 Conclusion: Building a Purpose-Driven Business _ Key Takeaways (fill it in) _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok   _ Here's how I can help you: Master digital marketing, generate leads, and scale with paid ads. Enroll Now & Get Early Bird Pricing The Growth Community - Strategies, resources, and expert insights to optimize and grow. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mm Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - High-level support to refine funnels, ads, and scale efficiently. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mentorship _ _ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts [CLICK HERE] "I love this podcast so much!" If that sounds like you, please take a moment to rate and review the show— Your support keeps this podcast going. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! _

In this episode, Abu discusses the often overlooked downsides of outsourcing for entrepreneurs and business owners. While acknowledging the potential benefits of outsourcing, Abu delves into common issues such as the complexity of managing outsourced tasks, the importance of having a clear vision and roadmap, and the hidden challenges of onboarding and communication. _ Key Takeaways 00:00 The Pitfalls of Outsourcing 00:33 Common Misconceptions About Outsourcing 01:58 When Not to Outsource 03:37 Hidden Challenges of Outsourcing 06:39 Effective Outsourcing Strategies 08:25 Final Thoughts on Outsourcing _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok   _ Here's how I can help you: Master digital marketing, generate leads, and scale with paid ads. Enroll Now & Get Early Bird Pricing The Growth Community - Strategies, resources, and expert insights to optimize and grow. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mm Mentorship/Advisor/Consulting - High-level support to refine funnels, ads, and scale efficiently. https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/mentorship _ _ Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts [CLICK HERE] "I love this podcast so much!" If that sounds like you, please take a moment to rate and review the show— Your support keeps this podcast going. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! _

This episode delves into the extraordinary life and career of Ursula Burns, the first black woman to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Starting from humble beginnings in the New York housing projects, Burns defied numerous odds and societal expectations to rise to the top of Xerox. _ Key Takeaways (fill it in) 00:00 Introduction: The Forgotten Photocopier 00:33 Meet Ursula Burns: A Trailblazer's Journey 01:30 Personal Encounter: Inspiration from Ursula 04:49 Early Life: Overcoming Adversity 05:40 Mother's Influence: Lessons from Olga Burns 08:28 Educational Path: From High School to Engineering 16:34 Career Beginnings: Intern to Engineer at Xerox 18:49 Rising Through the Ranks: Challenges and Triumphs 25:03 CEO of Xerox: Transforming a Legacy 33:12 Leadership Lessons: Insights from Ursula's Playbook 35:49 Conclusion: Reflecting on Ursula's Impact _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok

In this episode, Abu shares the real key to growing your business revenue—and it's not about getting more customers. It's about retention. Through a behind-the-scenes look at his own businesses (agency, coaching, courses, and e-commerce), he breaks down three strategic ways to increase your revenue by optimizing the customer experience you already offer. Whether you're running a product-based or service-based business, this episode gives you practical, actionable tactics to boost cash flow by serving your existing customers better—without launching something new. _ Key Takeaways (fill it in) Tap Into Micro-Segments of Your Existing Audience Use Strategic Surveys to Gather Data Level Up Your Follow-Up & Offboarding Process   _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO

This is a new series called "THE UNIGNORABLES" where Abu will be covering moves, moments, or people that are shifting business and culture. This week, Abu dives deep into the leadership journey of Brian Niccol, the newly appointed CEO of Starbucks with a staggering $96 million offer. Why did Starbucks pay that much? What makes a leader worth that kind of compensation? And most importantly—what can you, as a business owner or entrepreneur, learn from his playbook? Abu breaks down: The early career moves that shaped Brian's strategic mind. The transformation of Taco Bell into a lifestyle brand. The resurrection of Chipotle post-crisis through digital innovation and operational excellence. How Brian consistently drives billions in revenue—and why that justifies the $96M. What Starbucks is struggling with today, and why Brian is the right person to fix it. How to apply this leadership model to your own business to increase your value and impact.   _ Key Takeaways Master More Than One Discipline Innovation Backed by Results Reputation Builds Opportunity Know Your Playbook Leadership is Self-Awareness   Additional Notes ** Elon's wife, Justine talks about him mastering Engineering and Business. Here she explains: Justine emphasizes the importance of mastering two distinct skills or areas of expertise. Why? Because when you're a master in two fields — such as engineering and business — you can merge them in innovative ways that spark groundbreaking ideas   _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO   _ Follow us on social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Threads TikTok

This week, I was struck by a moment from an interview with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence while promoting Bad Boys 4. What started as a promo tour clip turned into a masterclass on what separates good from great—and it hit so hard, I recorded an entire episode about it. Here's the key idea: "The difference between 90% and 100%? It's not 10%. It's a lifetime." Let that sit with you. Video to reference: https://youtu.be/g23Os8lYZYg?si=mdWxC-LzgOdTRBNo _ House Keeping Grow your audience and revenue in under 5-minutes a week: Subscribe & Join 63k+ Readers > Got a business question? Want a second opinion? Ask Your Question Here     _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO

In this episode, we dive into what it takes to attract high-quality customers who are the right fit for your business. Abu shares how he 10X'd his leads and sales in 12 months using one powerful strategy. He also unpacks the biggest traps entrepreneurs fall into when trying to acquire new customers, how to qualify leads effectively, and why filtering prospects saves time, increases revenue, and enhances customer experience. If you're struggling with finding the right customers, this episode is a game-changer. _ Key Takeaways Not All Customers Are Good Customers Customer Acquisition is a Skill How a Quiz 10X'd Leads & Sales Why Quizzes Are Underrated Marketing Tools How to Implement a Quiz in Your Business   _ Action Steps See where you struggle with when it comes to growing your business: Take the Marketing Growth Assessment (MGA) Quiz Interested in the quiz builder we use? Get 50% OFF for the first 3 months on any plan: Get Talley Quiz Builder **NEW** Watch this episode on YOUTUBE Got a question for us? Ask it here and it may appear on an episode: Ask Your Question Here   _ Sponsored By: Power Your Launch Marketing Accelerator | Get over 50% OFF your order with this special link: https://go.poweryourlaunch.com/pylenroll Interested in sponsoring? Go here: Support Permission to CEO