How to launch a side business (while having a job)

I got entrepreneurship backwards.

I thought it was all about writing business plans, doing market research and picking a fancy logo.

It’s actually about so much more: facing rejection, understanding customer needs, and embracing the courage to ask for help.

This week on The Examined Life Podcast, we’re joined by serial entrepreneur and author Noah Kagan.

We ask the question:

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My top 3 takeaways

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​Important things are scary. Jump anyway.

Fear, uncertainty and the scarcity mindset. These forces drive us to be 100% sure before taking action. Instead of more time “researching,” jump off the diving board. It’s not as scary as you think.

→ Watch the clip
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Nobody cares about your solution

There’s a famous saying in business: 'it’s a solution in search of a problem.' Same thing with your idea. Do you know if it’s an amazing solution for something that isn’t really a problem?

→ Watch the clip​
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Failure is a feature, not a bug

Failure is defeating. It saps your energy, brings you down and feeds your self-doubt. But learning to accept, and even enjoy, failure is the key to eventual success.

→ Watch the clip​

From our sponsors:

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My favorite quote: What’s holding you back isn’t as scary as you think

Why this episode matters to me

I spent years as a wantrepreneur.

I did lots of meta work: thinking, researching and writing business plans instead of taking action.

It wasn’t until I realized how I could help solve people’s problems that my business began to take off.

I put myself out there and faced rejection, understood my customer’s needs and just started experimenting.

And all of a sudden, I became an entrepreneur.

If you want to dig deeper

I wrote a deep dive on learning to love rejection. Noah’s book Million Dollar Weekend is a kick ass book on entrepreneurship and launching a side hustle.

Love letters from our fans

Here's a message from a founder who just sold his company for 8-figures:

"Was watching your video with your money manager last night"

Hope you enjoy the episode,

Khe

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