Back to basics

3 minute read time

Today’s issue: Homelessness, boring-basics, and X accounts.

Let’s just say I hit a(nother) wall this week. Burnout and pity parties don’t exactly scream ‘inspirational content’. But good news, I’m tired but too stubborn to quit.

So I did some surface-level introspection and wanna share it with you. But because even I get bored reading about myself and it’s supposed to lowkey be about YOU, I’ll keep it down to three sentences:

Before my ‘wantrepreneur’ era, I was working with a fortune 5000 CEO, and before that I was… well, homeless. I didn’t follow other entrepreneurs strategies because I didn’t know people shared that type of information online. I saw a problem and went to work on social media because — people.

Feels like a lot of newsletters (that I’ve since unsubscribed to) just talk strategy. Okay, totally get the ‘what do I get out of it’ but how many of these are you actually trying, let alone need right now?

But more importantly, what are the fundamentals of your craft of the problem you are currently trying to solve? Are you trying to improve on them or nah?

I know I’ve been switching strategies, tactics, and whatever lies between them. Maybe there’s some self-doubt or sexiness in different.

But getting out of living in a car had a boring-but-effective playbook that I’m using again.

My basic playbook

• What are you interested in? Passion is cool, but what are you doing when you’re supposed to be working or bored?

• Stalk the ‘competition’ (but not creepy): Who's in the game? What problems do they solve? How do they talk, and who are they talking to?

• Listen to their audience (because they will be the ones paying): What are people saying in comments and reviews? Who engages the most? What are their common traits?

• Identify the gap: What are people talking about that brands aren't addressing? Talk about it forever… kinda.

• Test, refine, repeat: Build some X accounts, see if the gap I think exists is real. Refine my content based on audience response.

• Target outreach: Instead of Fiverr, I’ll be targeting communities my ideal people hang out. Not spamming.

• Cold DM's are back. I message people I wanna work with based on how they are online and only pitch if I think I can help them. In fact my method is eerily similar to Aaron someone you should know. Read it on X here.

There is nothing sexy there, but you were warned.

Here’s what I didn’t know — only 3% of people are looking to buy in any market, 17% open to buying and looking for information, 20% problem aware but not looking, and 60% aren’t problem aware. (Thanks Sabri Suby)

So I’m starting fresh on X to test this playbook all over again. If you are curious or want to follow along and see it unfold here’s the accounts:

Roastmydeck: This account will be all about pre-seed decks for consumer brands. Think of it as a public design roast session where I learn from VC feedback. It’s an attempt to help founders land that coveted first meeting. Monetization idea: Subscription-based pitch decks and resources.

Mustlikebrands: Here, I'll document everything I learn about marketing and branding from the consumer side. Basically, it's a love letter (or hate letter?) to consumer brands that will inform my future ideas for marketing.Monetization (idea): Brand strategist. Considering I was a brand director once shouldn’t be that much of a shift.

P.S. I’m starting it the day you read this.

In case you missed the question… I’m curious (seriously)

What are the fundamentals of your craft? Are you still trying to improve them or nah?

Did you make it this far? Thank you for reading this! It means at least one person gets some value here. I’ll be sending another newsletter on Friday called ‘do you want help’. Here’s a sneak peak: