TLDR;
Jay Yang discusses the power of permissionless action, emphasizing that success often comes from having the courage to try new things without waiting for approval. He shares his journey of cold emailing CEOs, building businesses, and creating content, highlighting the importance of preparation, continuous learning, and building meaningful connections. Jay introduces practical frameworks like the TAG method and the concept of "selling your sawdust" to encourage listeners to take initiative and create their own opportunities.
- Overcoming invisible permission structures by taking initiative.
- The importance of continuous learning and adapting to new information.
- Building meaningful connections through empathy and providing value.
Jay's Journey [0:00]
Jay Yang's journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he decided to change his habits and explore ways to make money online. He started a YouTube music promotion channel, which led him to discover content creation, copywriting, and online business. Inspired by a comment on one of his videos, he realized he could impact and inspire people through his work. This realization fueled his passion for understanding the psychology behind behavior change and personal growth, setting the stage for his future entrepreneurial endeavors.
Beehiiv Cold Email Strategy [5:00]
After experimenting with various online ventures, Jay sought advice from his mother, who suggested gaining experience by working for a company he admired. Lacking a resume or formal credentials, Jay created a pitch deck with three project ideas for Beehiiv, a newsletter platform he used. Instead of asking for a job, he offered to work for free if they liked his ideas. This proactive approach impressed Beehiiv's CEO, Tyler, leading to an internship where Jay developed a course to help users maximize the platform.
Two-Week Sprints [7:00]
Working at Beehiiv taught Jay the importance of tracking output and operating in a fast-growing startup environment. He learned the concept of two-week sprints, which significantly increased his productivity. By setting hard deadlines, he forced himself to complete tasks more efficiently, leveraging Parkinson's Law to maximize his output. This experience doubled or tripled his work productivity.
North Star Vision [10:00]
Now a 19-year-old college freshman, Jay is in a learning phase, guided by a "North Star" vision that includes a fit body, calm mind, loving home, meaningful work, and financial security. He evaluates opportunities based on whether they align with this vision, avoiding choices driven solely by short-term financial gains. Jay emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision to guide decision-making and ensure opportunities contribute to long-term goals.
Breaking Permission Structures [13:00]
Jay discusses how societal conditioning and traditional education systems create invisible permission structures that limit people's potential. He uses the analogy of an elephant tied to a twig to illustrate how early limitations can lead individuals to believe they are incapable of breaking free. Jay encourages people to challenge these self-imposed limits, try new things, and realize that many opportunities are available if they simply try the handle.
Preparation vs. Procrastination [18:00]
Jay distinguishes between preparation and productive procrastination, emphasizing that preparation is a hidden superpower when combined with action. He likens preparation to positioning in Tetris, where being well-prepared allows you to capitalize on any opportunity. The key difference lies in taking action and implementing learned skills and knowledge. Learning, to Jay, is about behavior change, and preparation is only valuable if it leads to creation and implementation.
Working with Noah Kagan [22:00]
After his internship with Beehiiv, Jay connected with Noah Kagan, the founder of AppSumo, by offering upfront value. He created a 19-slide pitch deck deconstructing Kagan's social media and email funnel, along with nine ready-to-publish pieces of content. This proactive approach impressed Kagan, leading to a paid trial and eventually a role as his head of content. Jay emphasizes the importance of doing the work upfront to demonstrate value and make it easy for others to say yes.
The Learning Machine [29:00]
Jay describes the concept of becoming a "learning machine," inspired by Charlie Munger, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and studying the greats. He advocates for reading biographies to learn from the experiences of successful individuals and applying those lessons to accelerate personal and career growth. Jay introduces the "monkey research method," which involves studying influential figures in your field and tracing their inspirations to uncover valuable insights.
Ignorance Deb [31:00]
Jay explains the concept of "ignorance debt," coined by Alex Hormozi, which refers to the cost of not knowing how to achieve your goals. He argues that investing in oneself and acquiring skills early in one's career can pay down this debt and accelerate earning potential. Jay uses the analogy of working out to illustrate that laying a foundation of knowledge and skills is essential before attempting to "max out" and achieve significant success.
Learning in Public [34:00]
Jay discusses the benefits of "learning in public" through consistent content creation, such as his newsletter. He emphasizes that teaching is one of the fastest ways to learn and that writing solidifies understanding. Jay encourages people to lean into their obsessions and create content about what they naturally enjoy, making the process sustainable and engaging. He shares that his content is derived from what he reads and does, simplifying and articulating those lessons in a compelling manner.
The TAG Method [37:00]
Jay introduces the TAG method for forming meaningful connections, which involves targeting individuals one to two steps ahead of you, auditing their work to understand their needs, and gifting them value upfront. He also highlights the Ben Franklin effect, where asking for a favor can create a positive connection. Jay emphasizes the importance of giving and collaborating, rather than competing, and creating value for others to build strong relationships.
Being an Initiator [44:00]
Jay discusses the importance of being an initiator in life, taking action and creating opportunities rather than waiting for them to come. He emphasizes that those who take initiative and embrace uncertainty are more likely to achieve exceptional success. Jay shares historical examples of individuals who took initiative to create their own opportunities, such as Taylor Swift moving to Nashville and Steven Spielberg making himself useful at Universal Studios.
Content Marketing Strategy [49:00]
Jay distinguishes between outbound and inbound personal marketing, highlighting the importance of creating content to attract opportunities and build a personal brand. He shares how his content has helped him build a six-figure ghostwriting agency without any outbound outreach. Jay encourages listeners to overcome the mindset block of feeling unqualified and to share their personal stories and experiences, focusing on how they've done things rather than prescribing how others should.
Selling Your Sawdust [52:00]
Jay introduces the concept of "selling your sawdust," which involves leveraging the byproducts of your work and sharing them with others. He uses the example of a woodworker selling sawdust and a business making bagel chips from unsold bagels. Jay encourages listeners to document their routines, learnings, and processes, sharing them online to attract serendipity and opportunities. He emphasizes that what is obvious to you may be amazing to others.
Action Framework [55:00]
Jay provides a simple action framework for listeners to implement immediately, emphasizing the importance of clarity and intentionality. The framework involves four steps: defining your North Star vision, identifying the skills needed to achieve it, determining who to connect with to learn those skills, and outlining the actions needed to connect with those people. He challenges listeners to take one step forward today towards their North Star vision.