Coffee With Dan

Do you ever feel like this?

Are you constantly looking at your posts and worried that you aren’t getting enough comments and likes?

Worried that what you post or email is going to ‘expose’ you somehow as a fraud or fake (even though you know your shit)?

Do you see people who you know aren’t as talented/skilled as you do better than you and it hammers you down?

Is there a constant fear that you simply aren’t good enough?!

Let me tell you something

EVERYONE feels like this at times, ESPECIALLY Entrepreneurs…

Fuck even I do, probably more often than you think!

I’m constantly trying to improve or better myself; as well as what I offer

When you start out it seems like everyone is better than you, and you look at people who are doing better than you and think

‘Fuck, I could never be like them’

Then you start to grow and things start to get better – you get traction and likes and sales

Good times

Shall I tell you what’s an absolute shit lord?

When you have been around for a little while

You’re no longer ‘new kid on the block’ (so you have lost that ‘bright shiny object’ side of things)

Yet you aren’t the ‘establishment’

You feel pressure to keep up with the new people who have entered your world, have to deal with the backstabbing and the gossip and people trying to bring you down…

(That last one is especially hard when it comes from people you trusted or once classed as friends…it happens)

…yet you haven’t quite made it to the point when your name and reputation can bring in the bacon day after day

Such is the world we have chosen

I would say it’s the curse of the entrepreneur to never feel like they are good enough…

Never satisfied…

Always wary of what’s going to ‘attack’ next…

It’s why I wanted to write this today

Most days?

I feel like I can crush pretty much anything (or, if needed, anyone)

But the downside of having what I have (a painfully good visual and emotional memory & hympomania combined, too long to explain here) is that I can’t unsee or unhear what I hear

Every single day I my mind whirrs; juggling the value I add, my competitors, my own inner monologue, some fucked up internal ‘rating’ against every single area of my life

It is – to be honest – both relentless and at times exhausting

It doesn’t stop

And after hitting high after high after high (epic new 121 client, getting my new book sorted, the amazing Free Shit Friday) – I thought

Fuck, what now?!

(And fortunately now sans vodka and with a Clear mind I can move this on fast, and I’ll share how I do it soon)

So if you are feeling like this?

Let me tell you this is fucking normal; I have been in a room when I was starting out with 6, 7 and even a few 8 figure earners

And over drinks and quiet conversations the self doubt and negative self talk is something all of us face

I wanted to share this here as many of you are stating out, and equally many you are valiantly trudging on in your journey

Yes it will be tough and yes there are times where you will doubt yourself, your worth and your ‘value’ to the world

I wanted to say you are not alone

I can teach you all social media skills, copywriting, sales, advertising – whatever

But if YOU don’t believe in yourself?

You’re fucked

I know this as there have been multiple times I have wanted to give up and if it weren’t for the support and belief of others…I likely would have

So yes use this group and its denizens to learn and skill up and connect and make money

But the power in this tribe is the fact you have TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU, to keep you going

Stay strong

You ARE good enough

You got this.

read more

Who are you – and would you like to find out?

This is me according to the 16 personalities test (which you can take here and would love to know your results/thoughts: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test)

As you can see even the sum on the first page kinda sounds like me

But this test was a ‘light build’ moment for me a year ago (along with the KOLBE strengths finder)

Why?

Because I simply stopped focusing on the Shit I wasn’t good at

Me?
I’m ideas
I’m passion
I’m gut feeling
I’m energetic
I’m into people and connecting

Systems
Structure
Solitude

Less so

So I now know what areas I need to add in personally and professionally

This has helped me dial in who I am as a person as well as to recruit the right people into my world

Would love to see what this group is made up of – as well as my fellow oddballs!

🙂

Oh, it also gives you your idea personal match too – I’m suited to at INTJ apparently

So who are you then?

Was the test (also known as meyers-Briggs) right?

Anything give you an ‘aha’ or ‘fuck…’ moment?!

Have fun and try not to be too weirded out when it nails you!

read more

The less you give a fuck, the more fun, money, and opportunities you make

Let me state this before I go on:

(and you know this)

NONE OF YOU ARE GETTING OUT ALIVE

Unless Musk finds a way to get us downloaded via some jack in the head

When you’re gone?

You’re gone

🙂

I am judged – rightly so – by those who only know the surface; don’t know my backstory, previous successes or only have interacted lightly

I’m whimsical

I’m daft

I don’t take anything overly seriously

(Side note: I DO take shizzle seriously when it comes to peoples investment, family, friends, partner – if I had one that is – I swear to fuck I attract fucking nutters lol; but that’s not for now)

Now I say this as – quite frankly – AN OVERLY EMOTIONAL EMPATHETIC MELT

I have had to learn to control my emotions

Now?

Good shit
Bad shit

All the same

Had a lovely mid 5-figures drop into my account courtesy of Stripe and some consulting gigs last week

Cool

Had to block someone who I used to have feelings for and saw a post where someone gave me some shit (was sent to me)

Cool

Easy come
Easy go

Of course, good shit is better than bad shit – but equally, they are both shit (that sounded better in my head…)but I don’t get overly excited or bothered or happy or sad about anything anymore

And as a result?

I’m now pretty chill

Very at ease in my own company

Don’t need anyone or anything to make me happy

I’m in control

Something I like doing makes me happy, adds value to my life, helps my clients out, makes the universe a better place

Well, I do more of that

Something or someone in my life pissing me off/sapping my energy, behaviours of mine holding me back, or generic bullshit

I either fix it or get rid of it

I don’t feel much anymore

It’s all just – well – things and stuff

if you are living a good life, giving back, having fun and not hurting anyone

That’s good shit as far as I’m concerned

I just wanna check out of life more in the black than green, have made a difference, provided for my nearest and dearest and the main thing

— for me —

Is to of had a giggle doing it

I won’t be serious

I can’t be fucked

I don’t want to adult

It’s boring as shit

That’s why I want to live in a hotel, ride motorbikes and do silly things while dressed in unicorn attire

I care about providing, making others happy and doing a good job

I don’t really give a fuck about anything else

I’ll do me

You do you

If I can help you ‘do you’ better

Then that’s cool

If you think I’m a massive cock womble and you would rather learn from a ‘book/lambo/garage’ based wanker?

Then that’s cool too

I have never liked being told what to do – and yet that is what we are conditioned to do so from a young age

Do as we are told
Colour in between the lines
Don’t step out of line

Get the fuck

As long as I’m not harming anyone – I’ve always thought I’ll do whatever the fuck I want to TBH

Fanks

And the more I have been like this?

The better life has got

yes bills have to be paid

So have taxes

You’re a part of society so you kinda have to chip in

But outside of that?

Don’t take this shit so seriously

No one really gives a fuck anyways – the only person who is worried about you looking like a tit most often is you

And those that give you shit?

Let me tell you this from 4+ years of doing the online thing

They aren’t around
No one invites them to anything
Their impact is about as noticeable as a gnat in the ocean

I’ve had my share of shit bags, and at best they are scraping a living of have their handful of shit bag followers who suck up to them

They ain’t worth your time

And if you ignore them they are like a dog turd in a field; soon it starts to decompose and your view – in time – becomes shit free

🙂

My advice?

Care about what’s important
Look after the right people
Make sure YOUR cup is filled first
Stop giving a fuck about shit that ain’t important

and

Go have some bloody fun youtube

😘

read more

Want to change your life for the better?

Wouldnt it be great is you could just do a thing once and then your life was better for good.

Unfortunately it’s something you have to keep on working on.

The good news I’ve found that there’s really just 4 things you’ve got to work on

Health, Wealth, Connectivity & Productivity

Health

This is all matters related to your physical and mental health; including exercise, mobility, sleep, nutrition and hydration

Wealth

Business revenue generate, sales, products launched and personal wealth – can also include savings. In reference to debt also

Productivity

Daily/weekly/monthly routines in place and adherence, systems used/in place, outcomes relative to inputting hours work (e.g. are you working smart or hard) – overall ‘implementation’ focus

Connectivity

Can be a mixture of quality time with friends/family/loved ones, social events in relation to time spent working/on own, hobbies, meditation/down time, Rest & relaxation, non-social media contact

Keep an eye on how you’re doing with those, top up by taking action in the areas needing a little extra attention and you’re sorted.

It’s really that straightforward.

Remember – this isn’t about taking on the world and transforming your life in a flash.

Quickest path to failure is people making grand plans they can’t stick to.

Choose one little thing that’ll improve each area then another and another.

Before you know it, these little regular check-ins become a habit and those little actions you do to work on each area compound over time

You’re gonna have to say bollocks to balance though.

It’s a myth.

Life happens.

You’re pottering along just nicely and all opf a sudden life leaps out of the shadows and bends you over.

Equally, if you’ve got big goals or you’re only just getting started you’re gonna have to make some sacrifices along the way.

You’ll push your limits.

You’ll reduce the time you have available for relationships.

You’ll find yourself making a deep investment that’ll leave cashflow a little precarious.

All for the greater good of your life and business.

It’ll only be temporary but those phases will come and go.

Try to stay too balanced and you may be sacrificing more than you realize.

BUT

If you keep these at the front of ya mind.

Regularly check in on how you’re doing in the areas of health, wealth, connectivity & productivity.

Even when you are in sacrifice mode or life comes at you

You won’t tilt too far off course in those areas and you’ll be ready to invest in them to raise their scores as soon as you come out the other side

💋

read more

I sent an email out before, I had a couple of hours to kill before a client arrived for a private consulting day.

It wasn’t anything fancy (in fact was struggling to think of anything to write), but decided to simply ask people to talk to me.

You know, tell me how they are, if they are ok – have a little whinge and moan if they felt like it (sometimes just writing it out and sharing it helps.)

Nutshell version:

I was stunned.

There are some truly awesome people, people I have chatted to here, in private, in person and Skype…and they are going through some seriously tough times.

And if you were to look at their FB profile, you wouldn’t even know there was anything wrong.

It’s so easy to project a happy, issue-free life (especially with social media) – that you would never know that someone close to you could be struggling like fuck.

I know I have been there.

There are times where I have posted up some whimsical status, ACCOUNTABILITY post, update when I have been unable to even get changed, out of bed, feed myself or face the world.

We all have problems.

And I’m not sure if it’s more a guy thing, but as a friend just told me (we were talking about some of our experiences coaching people, no names of course) – bottling that shit up will end you.

Possibly for realzies.

What’s the point of his post?

Well firstly all my energy got invested in my visitor today, so I promise I will reply to each and every email tomorrow.

Secondly; you ain’t alone.

To the ones that shared with me; I hear similar often – it happens. Being an entrepreneur is a tough fucker at times.

(In fact, it can be as unpleasant as dry ‘alternative route’ loving without even a smile or a Hank you after.)

That and I reckon we (as a group of such people’s) tend to attract hose a little free-spirited and creative – and seem like we are a little more ’emotionally dynamic’.

Now I’m not a qualified therapist, mindset coach of similar – but if you feel like you want to share, get some shit off your chest? You can email me at dan@coffeewithdan.com.

I can’t guarantee I can help but like I said before, just getting it out of your head helps.

But do me a favour?

If you are suffering a bit – call your folks, friends, partner, someone you trust on here – don’t fight on solo.

You will be amazed at the people that do care.

Normal, sweary, abusing, marketingy shizzle will resume tomorrow.

Off to recharge 🙂

read more

When people want to get more shit done – in business or life – it’s amazing how many set utterly ridiculous goals that for most people set them up to fail

Some folks?

Lazy as fuck

They NEED to go ‘all in’ for a period of time, they have not experienced the mental frazzle of overwhelm and they simply have not pushed themselves or (as many do) kid themselves that they are actually doing what they say they are

Most?

From our surveys are spinning too many plates and as a result either don’t start or think ‘fuck it’I’m done

Both not ideal…

What I’m going to show you is a version of we use in espresso with Dan, and has been adapted to create the GSD bot

(Which is actually brilliant)

I’ve made this a bit simpler for everyone who is following along so there’s no excuse to NOT do it

First set a goal for the week

Ideally it needs to be something important, business or life critical – something you may of been putting off for a while

The goal?

Challenging but not crushing; something that is possible if you pushed

Next I want you to THINK

Think of a minimum of 3 things…

…and a maximum of 5 things that you can do

EVERY DAY

Instead of chopping and changing daily, do your best to identify 3-5 things you could do every day to get your goal

For example

BIZ
– 3 email pitches a day
– one hour researching prospects and putting into spreadsheet
– 4 social media posts and one offer

^^^ simple isn’t it

You can’t guarantee your actions will achieve that goal it’s a best escuted guess

– Track it (aka write it down somewhere)
– type them up and put in your mobile phone on repeat at the same time every day (for 5/7 days)
– do what your phone tells you

Then at the end of the week, review and adjust up or down

If you achieve goals and it crushed you – maybe dial it down or, should you wish, to again if it’s mega crucial

Fuck all achieved? Don’t beat yourself up about it but recognise it didn’t work; think what did/didn’t work, adjust effort, removed obstacles etc

Action steps to get shit DONE

1 . Chose a challenging but not crushing goal you will achieve next week. Put in the comments

3. Think what you could do (same thing every day) for 5-7 days to achieve that goal. Put them in the comments

Simple eh?

Over to you…

read more

***Daily Dose Of Dan***

How are you?

Such a simple thing to say yet you know what most people say

Fine thanks

Fine

Hmmm

I spoke to someone today who I asked exactly that

How are you?

Fine was their reply

Knowing this person as I do, and know they had been going through some shit lately; I pressed on

No, really HOW are you…

Then they proceeded to tell me their woes, I happily listened, and they now fee better for habit. Someone they could talk to about it

Do you have someone in your life you should be asking this?

Do you do a lot of 121 work or coaching

Maybe ask

Email list or group – actually give a shit?

Copy this post and ask them

How are you? Is there anything I can do for you?

(You want to bond with your audience? If you mean it I have just given you a fucking huge golden nugget right there)

Do you see how many of you take ‘fine’ on face value?

It’s no different at all for your clients; for all you know you are delivering a top-notch service to the best of your abilities

You ask them for feedback

Yep, everything’s great – fine thank you

But what if they just like you and don’t want to hurt your feelings?

I know because this has happened to me

(And was the cause of my faux heart attack outside Buckingham palace last year)

Take time to speak to your spouse, loved one, clients, colleagues, friends and those you work with

How
Are
You

Simple isn’t it

I also extend the same to you

How are you?

If you feel like you need someone to chat to, I’m in all night playing DOOM and inbetween blowing the fucking faces off demon spawn (I killed one with its own arm), I’ll be pottering about on here

Hope you are having a great Saturday, heck even better a great week

But if you’re just ‘fine’

Say something 🙂

Doesn’t have to be me, but really I speak to so many people who DONT talk about things when the wheels are wobbling – that shit will simply fuck you up

Right, I just unlocked the super shotgun, Mars awaits…

read more

A list of things I don’t want to do: workout, work every day, track my macros, stretch, not drink, do mindset exercises, pitch for new business, try new things, continually learn, not chase ‘questionable’ women, eat green stuff…

Things I do?

The opposite of all of the above

Discipline quite frankly sucks balls but I do it anyways because if I don’t? I’m simply robbing from ‘future me’s happiness/success/health

Watched a video from Russel Brand that really hit the nail on the head for me

If you want a better life, body, bank balance, relationship – whatever – then discipline IS the vehicle to your destination

Some of the stuff

Sure can be fun

I’d much rather be drinking goose, being a naughty little bastard, smashing down take aways and doing fuck all except things I want

But I don’t (anymore hah) because that’s the path to ruin and honestly it makes me a selfish prick that is solely focused on the now and immediate gratification opposed to future me and the impact I can have on this world – on a micro and macro level

Let’s be honest you KNOW what you have to do don’t you, and yes it isn’t fun (especially at the start) but the benefits of a little of discipline really do outweigh the minor discomfort at the start

My advice?

Be a little real; don’t beat yourself up or try go OTT with discipline – just do the things you KNOW you need to and don’t quit because it’s not comfortable

Stay the course and reap the rewards…

read more

There is not a week that goes by the I DON’T get asked about how to get better at copywriting,

What I would do?
How I learned and so on.

So I thought I would give you a ‘quick and dirty’ version on what I would do NOW to get started quick.

(BTW I have sweet F.A. ‘affiliate’ nonsense with anything below, I have simply outlined what I would invest in, ain’t
that much – all can be done for $100-$200 or so – will give you some advanced options as well)

But before I get to that, Im going to give you some tips from ME that have not only made me a better writer, means that
I get anywhere from 35-50% open rates ON A BAD DAY, and you know….make monies from writing words

Innit

#1 Write every day

This is perhaps the most powerful ‘thing’ I have done since learning the craft.

Write. Every. Day

Social media, blogs, forums, emails – whatever – just make sure that EVERY DAY you write something

It doesn’t matter if anyone reads it for starters – in fact (and I say this the same with people who are starting to do videos)
its almost BETTER that less eyeballs will be on it to stat.

Because it will be cr*p

And that’s OK

Because if you keep practising and learning – it gets waaaaaay better

#2 Fiction, Films & Comedy

When I dived balls deep into learning copy, I read nothing BUT copy books and manuals, and watched trainings

But I stopped the above

Now although I became ‘technically’ proficient at writing, my ability to wave and craft a story suffered. My copy became ‘too’ copy, if that makes any sense at all!

Now every day I do the following:

• watch one film
• read 2-3 chapters of a fiction book (fast paced ones like jack reacher, or anything with a multi-layered/character based story)
• listen to or watch stand up comedy, or a comedy podcast

What happens is I’m learning every day how to craft words in a way that keeps people reading, entertains them and helps me see how to put
words together to make them ’flow’

Tis very useful

Plus a brilliant way to start and end your day, as I do

#3 Become a student of life

I consume information from all over across a variety of topics; from history to politics to crime to quantum physics (true) to psychology to
sport and god knows how many other areas.

Think about it like this

Ever been stuck in a social or networking situation with someone who has nothing to say?

Sucks donkey sword doesn’t it!

(So, don’t be that guy/guy when you write)

As the age old saying goes: ‘if you want to be interesting, be interested’

Now this is generally in regards to when you meet other people, but it also massively applies to copy

The more you can know of the world at large, the more it bleeds into your copy AND acts as great ‘fodder’ for content

#4 sneaky headphone ‘hack’ (argh I hate it but can’t stop using that word!!) – also online version

Want to write some copy that directly speaks to your audience?

Find out where they hang out…

Get out your laptop…

Whack the headphones in…

Turn on no music…

Listen 😉

A little tactical eaves dropping on your ‘avatar’ can do wonders – can give you some great stories and ideas for what to write, as well as a business idea or two

Online business?

Well get yourself onto forums and in groups where your audience are – lurk – and keep an eye out for reoccurring topics and themes.

See any posts that have sh*tloads of comments or threads that run into hundreds or thousands?

That’s where you want to be hunting

Works like gangbusters, trust me on this

(that and there are some amazing subject lines and ideas you can ethically ’borrow’ here too!)

Right, that’s enough from me – now what I would do resource wise?

Now as a rule I would, as soon as I can, get myself some copy coaching or put myself in a place where I had access to copywriters
on a day to day basis (like Espresso With Dan – www.coffeewithdan.com/espresso)

But I would also get the following as my ‘starter pack’ – and I’ve used ALL of these

1. ALL of Ben Settle’s ebooks (they are around $5 on Amazon)
2. Doberman Dan’s ‘Rookie Copywriters Survival Guide – Make 6 Figures With Little Or No Experience
3. Ryan Levesque’s ‘ASK’ book
4. The Adweek Copywriting Handbook
5. Words That Sell
6. Web Copy That Sells
7. The Boron Letters

^^^^ get all of that and ACTUALLY read/digest/implement?

And then you are waaaaay ahead of the curve!

If you want to invest a little more I would suggest you get:

• Ben Settles Email players
• Doberman Dan’s Newsletter
• My ‘Espresso With Dan’ membership (www.coffeewithdan.com/espresso)
• Andre Chaperon’s ARM (auto-responder madness)
• The Copy Hour membership

Was that useful?

I hope so – seems to come up a lot!

But if you HAVENT started to learn copy – I really, really thing you should take the time to do so

You DONT have to ‘become’ a copywriter full time like I did, but It will have a huge impact in all areas of your life and business

As is my want to say, its ‘the tits’

😉

Dan

PS This is JUST my copy courses, have 600 books in the other room!!

read more