We are taught to follow a certain path and fit a certain mold, but we’ve never had more opportunity to do whatever we want, anywhere we want. If you have an idea or passion project you want to start, just do it and don’t worry about the few bucks it may cost to try or who might find out!
Josh is a lawyer by day and content creator by night. With a business degree and entrepreneurial blood in his system, he realized pretty quickly while working at his first law firm that working for others wasn’t going to cut it. So he took a unique opportunity to start his own firm and has been building it ever since.
Due to his passion for business, he then started a podcast interviewing other entrepreneurs to hear about their unique stories of how they got start and advice they’d give to others. This has blossomed into Solopreneur Grind, a content company focused on helping others quit the 9-5 life and build a business and life that they love.
This includes his podcast, daily vlog (posted in audio and video form) and email list.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
I was always interested in business – I have a b.comm and my dad and both grandfathers are/were businessmen and it just always came natural to me.
Once I built up my law firm, I realized there were lots of other people out there trying to do the same (in their own niche) or that hated working the 9-5, and I had so much to share about my experience and wanted to help. So I figured I’d start a brand creating content to help them do the same.
Not only that, there are tons of other successful entrepreneurs out there that no one hears about, but they have such awesome stories. I wanted to hear them, learn from them and share them with others (just like you do here 😀 ).
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I have a strict routine Monday-Friday, otherwise I find it hard to be productive (since I work alone). I wake up at 7am and do some stretching, meditation and a quick home workout. Then I make some bulletproof coffee, do my daily vlog (the SG Daily) and get to law firm work (check email, sales, file work, etc.).
I work out of a co-working space now and that helps a lot as well – I recommend doing the same as soon as you can afford to.
Oh and make sure not to do work in your room/bed… it usually leads to a nap or getting side-tracked.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Journaling. If there’s ever an area of my life that I need to explore more, think more about or get creative around, I schedule some time to journal about it.
And not on my laptop – take out a decent pen and pad of paper and get to work in a good working environment. You’ll be surprised at what comes out if you just write for 10-20 minutes.
Walks outside help too.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The internet/digital marketing. I love marketing and copywriting specifically, and the internet just gives you so many more unique and exciting ways to use those capabilities in creative ways. That and the fact that we can communicate with almost anyone around the world (if it weren’t for the internet, my podcast wouldn’t exist 😮 ).
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I keep a hand-written to-do list updated all day. It’s the first thing I check when I get to work and the last thing I check at night so I have an idea of what tomorrow will look like.
If you have something that tracks what you have to do and in what order, you will be more productive and efficient with how you’re spending your time.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Just try stuff that you believe in.
We are taught to follow a certain path and fit a certain mold, but we’ve never had more opportunity to do whatever we want, anywhere we want. If you have an idea or passion project you want to start, just do it and don’t worry about the few bucks it may cost to try or who might find out!
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That’s a tough one… hmmm…
I always look for the shortcut. I never make my bed because barely anyone comes in my room and I don’t need to impress myself… plus I’m just going to mess it up the next night again anyway. So I don’t bother.
Now this doesn’t always apply in business (because sometimes you can’t take shortcuts like you can in other areas), but if I can find a way to efficiently cut a corner, I will try it and see if it works. I don’t think many people take that approach but to each their own!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
A reliable morning and evening routine. They can be short and simple, but if you can find a routine that works for you it will make every day so much more productive.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Great customer service. I knew from the beginning when I started my law firm that I didn’t want to be like a traditional lawyer, making clients wait days for responses that they couldn’t understand.
I respond to my clients quickly, politely and clearly and they appreciate it and trust me for it. It’s something I recommend to everyone and continue the habit with Solopreneur Grind as well.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I’ve had many… too many to count. I tried different niches, tried starting blogs and websites and none of them panned out. Ultimately you realize that you need to use failures as lessons, and if you keep working hard then the right situation will come along and because you’ve learned all these lessons, you’ll be ready for it.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Digital marketing agency…
Pick a niche and just find all of the companies in that niche that have a crappy website or don’t post anything on social media. Charge them a reasonable fee to do it for them, monthly.
Use the success stories to find more clients, outsource the content creation, find more clients.
Rinse and repeat.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I spend very little money on myself other than food… and recently started eating healthier and some organic stuff. So I’ll say healthy food.
I wake up feeling better and more energized so I can get more stuff done.
Oh and books. I’ve never regretted money spent on a book.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
“Canned responses” from Gmail – you can find it in the settings tab and it’s free, you just have to find it and turn it on. It allows you to save emails so you can template them and send them over again.
I have a few dozen canned responses that have probably saved me 10+ hours of typing.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
This is such a hard question… I’ve read a ton and learned so much from books.
I’m going to say Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris because it breaks down interviews he’s done with dozens of extremely successful people into bite-size chapters, so you get a ton of insight in one book.
What is your favorite quote?
“Don’t speak unless it improves upon the silence”
– Gandhi
I have it engrained on the back of my money clip.
Key Learnings:
- Try things you’re interested in
- Implement a simple morning and evening routine
- Read
- Work hard and smart
- Take advantage of the internet and its opportunities
Connect:
Podcast:
Daily vlog:
Get his most recent content and free PDF here:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.