Q&A - Should You Drop Out Of School?

Summary

In this Q&A session, the host discusses strategies for finding e-commerce clients, his journey starting an agency as a high school student, and balancing school with business aspirations. He also shares insights on managing different businesses, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling current responsibilities while pursuing passion projects. The host reveals his focus on building a legacy with his education company, Green Seal, and candidly discusses tools and routines for maintaining productivity on challenging days.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The speaker has moved to a new villa in Cape Town and has a video tour available on the main channel.
• 🔔 To get questions answered, viewers are encouraged to subscribe and turn on notifications due to the irregular schedule of Q&A sessions.
• 📈 The speaker discusses various methods for finding e-commerce clients, emphasizing the importance of organic outreach and the use of Instagram's suggested pages feature.
• 👕 The speaker shares personal experience starting an agency at 16, highlighting the importance of balancing school and business responsibilities.
• 🤔 The speaker advises against dropping out of school or leaving a job just because of initial success in business, emphasizing the need for a proven track record.
• 💼 The speaker's main business, IG Media, is described as a 'cash cow' with high profit margins, funding a luxurious lifestyle.
• 🏫 The speaker's passion business, Green Seal (greydon.com), is an education company with lower profit margins due to significant operational costs.
• 🛍️ The speaker mentions a clothing line, Gadji, aiming for seven-figure revenue within a year with a 50% margin, focusing on brand equity rather than immediate profit.
• 🛑 On days when feeling tired, the speaker suggests adjusting the workload, planning for easier tasks, and incorporating exercise and meditation to reset energy levels.
• 🥂 The speaker mentions the impact of alcohol on sleep and productivity, and how managing such indulgences can affect work performance.
• 📝 When discussing service terms with clients, the speaker recommends informing them of a three-month minimum commitment right after they agree to the service, followed by a month-to-month rolling term.

Q & A

What is the easiest method to find e-commerce clients as suggested in the script?

The easiest method suggested is using Instagram by finding an ideal brand, using the 'suggested pages' feature to discover similar accounts, and evaluating potential clients based on their followers, content quality, and engagement.

How does the speaker describe their outreach method for finding clients?

The speaker describes their outreach method as very organic and old-school, preferring personal connections over automated processes, although they acknowledge various methods and tools like mydogip or IPS.

What percentage of the speaker's clients come from outreach, and what percentage from ads?

The speaker mentions that 10% of their clients come from outreach, while 80% come from ads they run, with the remaining 10% from referrals.

How did the speaker manage to start an agency while being a high school teenager?

The speaker started the agency at 16, balancing school with building the agency during any free time, improving skills, reaching out to clients, and setting proposals, often sacrificing sleep and focusing on the business outside of school hours.

What advice does the speaker give to high school students interested in starting an SMA?

The speaker advises high school students to fulfill their current responsibilities and focus on the agency during free time, emphasizing the importance of not dropping out of school or college without having a solid track record and proving the business's viability.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of education and building a business?

The speaker believes in the importance of education and does not recommend dropping out of school to start a business. They emphasize the need to have a stable business that can cover expenses before considering such a step.

What are the margins for the speaker's IG media advertising agency?

The margins for the IG media advertising agency are between 75% and 85%, taking into account the costs of a full-time team and other operational expenses.

How does the speaker view their Green Seal (greycalm) business in terms of legacy and profit?

The speaker views Green Seal as their legacy business, focusing on long-term impact and education reform rather than short-term profit. They are reinvesting heavily in the business and do not expect significant profit for several years.

What is the speaker's approach to managing their businesses when feeling tired or unwell?

The speaker suggests planning for low-energy days by scheduling easier tasks and adjusting the workload accordingly. They also recommend activities like exercise, yoga, meditation, and cold showers to reset energy levels during the day.

What strategy does the speaker use for setting client expectations regarding contract length?

The speaker informs clients about a three-month minimum contract after they agree to the service, positioning it as a more flexible alternative to the industry standard of 12 or 6-month contracts.

How does the speaker approach the topic of alcohol consumption and its impact on work?

The speaker acknowledges the impact of alcohol on sleep and work performance, suggesting that while occasional drinking is part of enjoying life, it's important to manage expectations and workload on days following alcohol consumption.