There’s no denying that being an entrepreneur is hard work. It’s supposed to be like that though… it’s almost like a selection process.

Choosing this particular path is a brave move, because you have essentially said to society ‘no thanks, I’ll do it my own way’ and have chosen to dance to your own beat. The right ‘path’ can be a life-changing one that provides money and freedom in abundance for those who crack the code and finally break free.

The problem I have seen time and time again is that many people pick the wrong ‘path’; ultimately ending up unhappy, tired, overworked, stressed and severely lacking in time, energy and money. Their dream ends up in tatters.

In fact, some ‘entrepreneurs’ would actually be better off if they gave up on the dream and eliminated the stress in their lives by going and working for someone – and there is NO shame in this whatsoever.. .in fact, it makes perfect sense in a lot of cases…

But for some reason, whether it be it..
Stubbornness…
Pride…
Self belief…
Or simply refusing to ‘roll over and die’, admit defeat and give up..

There’s a glut of entrepreneurs all over the world who subscribe to the ‘we win or we learn’ philosophy and treat every failure as a step closer to success. Which is an admirable trait.

For others, the failures can be laid at the feet of simply not having access to the tools they need to make their dream a reality, be it down to lack of clarity, lack of skills or lack of knowledge – they go from one project to another.

Or worse?

They try to balance multiple projects at once, but make the same mistakes over and over..
But it needn’t be like this – because success is available to anyone who can follow just a few simple rules

Let me level with you:
My Facebook group ‘Coffee with Dan’? Was set up for me and me alone.

It was for my own accountability; and was looking to trade what I knew in business and marketing for them keeping me accountable…

But then others decided they wanted accountability too, and to learn how I had mastered how to ‘Get Sh*t Done’ as well..Then It all went a bit batsh*t. Lol.

What had set out to be a group of 15-20 people, is now a thriving community of individuals who are not afraid to break stuff/ask questions/make mistakes/get help/have fun while doing it.
It’s like my home from home, and many other people feel the same way too.

Now it stands as an organically grown community of over 12,000 people who are either business owners, or are in employment and trying to build their own ‘thing’ in an attempt to escape the grind and live life according to their rules.

It still gives me a giggle how a simple plum like me can have success normally reserved for ‘smart people’, simply by making a few key decisions in life and then more importantly – taking action.

You have to understand, I’m no different to you.. I’m just as guilty as you are for getting the dreaded shiny object syndrome and wanting to go ‘balls deep’ on a million things at once, just ask my mentor, Dexter, how often he had to threaten me in the past with ‘unique’ punishments just so I don’t deviate from the plan.

Speaking of my mentor Dexter, making the decision to get a coach/mentor (who is MUCH further up the ladder of success than I am) involved in the business decisions in my life, is one of the aforementioned key decisions that has made an incredible difference to the rate at which I’ve grown as an entrepreneur.

Why?

Because who you hang around with matters FAR more than you realise-
even those closest to you right now could be holding you back from success

As humans we are conditioned to be cautious…
Take care…
Don’t talk to strangers…
Play it on the ‘safe side’…

All the things our ‘well meaning’ people tell us, but that ultimately squash creativity, dampen the desire to push boundaries, and scale down big hairy ass goals of epic proportion. When you have someone close to you (or even worse, someone ‘unqualified’ online) putting doubt in your mind or telling you ‘NO’ without reasons; the idea of carrying the risk of failure squarely on your own shoulders can be daunting, overwhelming and downright scary.

Have you ever wondered if your loved ones and those people who, in their eyes, ‘have your best interests’ at heart – are actually scared you’ll achieve what they never had the confidence to themselves, or what will happen to THEM if you succeed?

Of course they’d never admit that, and I’m not suggesting you should probe them and fall out over it…

But the point I’m making is that the opinions and experience of others can either consciously or subconsciously shape the way you approach your life and with what level of grit and determination you apply.

And trust me, I’ve been there.

While I’m lucky to have had nothing but the full unwavering support from my parents, including the sales legend that is ‘Big Pappa Nige’, I have taken a few calculated risks in my life to get where I am…I was down to my last £10 note, but it now sits in a frame next to a photo of me and Gary Vaynerchuk

It’s been a whirlwind few years for me.

Just 4 short years ago that I had a bunch of credit cards maxed out to over £27,500 and a job that was slowly crushing the life out of me. The crippling credit card repayments meant I often had to make a decision:

Do I put fuel in the car?
Or go to the supermarket at closing time to buy some of the food reduced to ‘bottom dollar’ prices?

Walk or starve.
Fun choice eh?

Things had to change.

I couldn’t go on like this so I decided to take action and throw myself in at the deep end.

There was a job for a copywriting apprentice for Ryan Levesque, and even though at the time I had about 5 weeks of ‘proper’ copy experience under my belt? I thought fuck it – go for it. After a brutal assault..on him (a combination of emails, videos, direct mail and phone calls), I managed to get my foot on the lowest possible rung and once I had?

I was determined to prove my worth.

I basically just pimped myself out and properly earned my stripes, writing seemingly endless amounts of copy in whatever timescale was required (usually a very tight one, because reasons). I took each and every project and assignment and didn’t once question anything.

I just did the work

Honestly? I can say that this punishing induction period I endured was worth far more to me than any kind of physical payment. Getting to see what goes on behind the doors of a 7 figure? business model, and witness first hand how smoothly everything runs with solid, time served systems in place AND be a part of it?

It was any eye opener to say the least.. .learning the process of writing copy, launching businesses, creating books that went best seller and setting up a digital agency – plus getting to take a look behind the scenes – was invaluable.

After successfully working with Ryan for around 18 months or so, I was hooked on learning from those who were working at a level I aspired to and getting the financial reward to go with it.

Soon after, I dived in with both feet and learnt from the likes of Doberman Dan, Ryan Lee, Ben settle about all different areas of marketing, sales and generally commanding your worth. Equally I have spent a crazy amount of money on courses, masterminds and coaching groups. On the last count it has surpassed a low six figure sum (I’ve stopped adding it all up as I continue to further my knowledge.. in niches as diverse as stand up comedy these days.. lol)

However the heading at the start of this paragraph is also true, and both of them are mounted above my TV in the living room. When I lost everything in my late 20’s, I had to take a job as a doorman to make ends meet.

One day I was given a £10 note as a tip when I was working after perhaps one of the most unpleasant nights of my time there (I had to help unblock something called ‘an eviscerator’ and create my own bio hazard suit out of refuse bags. I affectionately call this time in my life ‘shit gate’…now)

On that particular day I made a promise to myself that this would be my lowest point and the £10 note was symbolic in representing that. I said to myself if I ever spent it? I had failed.

I simply had to pull myself out of the hole I was in.

And the Gary Vaynerchuk reference?

Well – as you do – in the middle of writing my bestselling book ‘How To Be F*cking Awesome’ .. I put together my first ever live event where Gary gave a keynote speech to all Coffee with Dan members. This was the pinnacle (at the time) of my entrepreneurial journey.

Putting these two together where I see them every day is a lasting reminder of where I’ve come from and what can be achieved when you get the help you need, are surrounded by the right people, and you do the work..

Being consistent and doing the work, as well as mimicking the habits of industry ‘players’ like Gary, were the foundations of the what I have now.

But for some?

That alone is not enough
They want that extra level…
They see the value in going that extra level further.
They want the ‘shortcut’…

But before we go any further: if the idea of being part of a tight knit community of experts, coaches and entrepreneurs who ‘have your back’ 24/7 doesn’t seem like an important thing, then there’s no need for you to read a single word more.
This isn’t for you..

While ‘Coffee with Dan’ (CWD) is my baby and will always be an awesome group for people to dip in and out of as they please.. .In my experience, the quality of ANY group exponentially increases when its members are invested in some way.

In CWD the willingness to help others is clear to see. The time and information given freely among the community just because its members are keen to help each other and give back in whatever way they can?
on another level.

Truly I’ve not seen anything quite like it online.

Yet it’s these observations that gave me the desire to create something that far outweighed what I could provide with all my training and motivation. Something where a tight, curated and vetted group of individuals could support each other and be supported. Where expert help in a variety of business and personal development areas was on hand for anyone that wanted it, whenever they wanted it.

Can you imagine what that would be like?

Hanging around with people who get what you’re about, a place where you rub shoulders with experts in-

-Sales Funnels
-Social Media
-Tech Issues
-Copywriting
-Getting Customers
-Charging higher prices
-What to do when you’re in a funk
-Dealing with overwhelm
-Achieving your goals and doing what you said you would
And the list goes on and on…

Can you imagine what that would do for your business? For your life? (As well as strategically working on the one ‘secret’ often overlooked by many entrepreneurs, which has been key to my success, and could be yours too…but more on that in just a moment)

When you are part of a community like that, there’s no more travelling the lonely path by yourself, wondering if you should try this or if that will work…

There’s no more being reluctant to innovate your systems for getting clients, or how you sell to them, in any way, you know, just in case.

In fact? I think it would be a winning combination..

In the interest of my ethos of ‘just do’: I stopped imagining what that would be like and actually created another, more focused sub group on top of Coffee with Dan nearly 2 years ago.

Now I’m not going to give it the classic ‘It’s the sort of group I wish was available when I was starting out..’
But the whole ethos behind Espresso with Dan, is that it’s like Coffee with Dan, but on steroids. When you’re inducted into the community, you’ll find an eclectic mix of entrepreneurs that ‘get sh*t done’ along with all the tools you need to solve business problems, get clarity on your issues or simply have somewhere you can speak freely about your issues…

That, and the ‘secret’ itself.
What is the secret?

Without you?
NOTHING happens.

Listen I know how to write sales copy, I’ve been trained by some of the best in the world, so I thought I would wrap this up with some genuine truths. Much of what you see out there – whether that be other groups, products or coaching missing out on the key ingredient and that ingredient is YOU.

Because I don’t want you to be a version of me

I want to equip you with the tools and trainings you need to grow…
I want you to provide you with the support you need – when you need it…
I want give you a place that you call your entrepreneurial ‘home…

And if you’ll let me, and are willing to take – right now – a leap of faith and join me? I’ll do exactly that