🏔 Let's Get Uncomfortable

Fear.

Fear of rejection.

Fear of failure.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of being an inconvenience.

We’re about to solve all of those in about 3 minutes. Let’s do it…

But first, a quick reminder that if you enjoy these emails, feel free to forward them along to a buddy. The more the merrier 🤘

Alright, let’s do it…

This week, I’m reading a book called Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan and I must say - it’s a MUST read for any entrepreneur.

Noah was the 15th employee at Facebook, the 3rd employee at Mint.com, and the founder of multimillion-dollar company AppSumo. The guy knows business.

He also knows how to fail.

(Imagine getting fired by Mark Zuckerberg and losing your equity in early stage Facebook… Had to have hurt.)

Anyway, Noah’s book is filled with practical, actionable advice; for starting a business, but also for becoming the type of person who actually does start the business.

He has a theory that the #1 indicator of success is the willingness to ask and fail, which leads into a concept he calls “Now not how.”

The gist is this: You don’t need a business plan. You don’t need an office. You don’t even need a product. Just start and, if it’s a worthwhile business, it’ll figure itself out.

Alright, this sounds terrifying, right? I mean, there’s security in knowing what our next step is.

In order to combat this, he challenges every reader to “The Coffee Challenge.”

The idea is simple:

Every time you go buy a coffee (which, for me, is wayyy too often), ask for 10% off.

Don’t say anything else. Don’t justify it in any weird way. And don’t speak to fill the awkward gap of silence. The goal is literally to get rejected.

Just ask for 10% off and see what the barista says.

Newsflash: they’re going to say no.

Double newsflash: that’s the point!

See, the more we get used to hearing the word “no,” the more comfortable we get with asking, taking risks, and going out on a limb despite what Mother Nature’s “follow the herd” mentality might have us think.

See, when I first tried to do this, I made up a TON of excuses to not do it…

“They’re going to spit in my coffee.”

“They don’t get paid enough to put up with this.”

“The people behind me are going to think I’m weird.”

But in reality what has happened almost every single time (~10 times now), is:

1. They literally try to give me 10% off by asking if I’m military, a teacher, etc. (I’m not.)

2. They tell me no, laugh, and then ask me why I asked.

3. I explain it to them and then they say something like “Wow, that’s interesting. What’s the name of the book?”

And guys, I’m telling you… it’s been life changing. It’s freeing. It’s like I can finally be unapologetically me.

It is slowly breaking me out of the vicious 26-year old cycle of “Fear. Inaction. Subpar results. Repeat.”

Challenge for You

You didn’t think you were going to get out of this just by reading about The Coffee Challenge, did you?

Nope. Here it is. I am formally challenging you to take up The Coffee Challenge.

Yes, you.

(This newsletter only has like 14 subscribers so if you want me to call you out by name I will 😂)

The next time you go to a coffee shop or restaurant, ask for 10% off.

Here’s the good news: The world isn’t going to end and nobody is going to care. Nobody is thinking about you. They’re thinking about what you’re thinking about them.

Here’s the better news: Afterwards, you’re going to be addicted to the feeling of asking for what you want. You’re going to feel like you can finally step into the person you were always meant to be.

It’s going to invigorate that kid-ish part of your soul that gets excited about your dreams.

It’s simple, but it’s not easy.

It’s awkward, but it’s worth it.

It’s not normal, but you don’t want to be normal anyway, do you? Of course not! So it’s time to go do something that’s not normal.

You can do this!

Want more?

Guys, I actually just put out a little Youtube Short about this (and about what else I’m learning in Noah’s book)! It’s less than 60 seconds long. I’d be super grateful if you:

1. Clicked that little button below

2. Liked the video

3. Subscribed to my channel

Thanks in advance!