Every time someone comes to me and says, “I'm thinking of starting an online business so I can reach the whole world…”
My response is always the same: That’s a great vision but it’s the wrong plan.
Because the reality is, if you want to become the biggest band in the world, you first have to become the biggest band in Liverpool...
In other words, if you want to build a global business, you have to start building it from the closest perimeter that you can: Your town or the neighborhood you live in.
A global business only works if it’s scalable. But, in order to build a scalable business, you first need to create the scale-ready algorithm. And the best way to do that is to follow what I call the 3D model.
Here’s the 3D model in a nutshell: 1) Do it, 2) Document it, 3) Duplicate it.
First, find ONE person who needs what you’re offering and prove that you can actually deliver the result. That’s your N of 1 study.
Second, while you’re doing it, make sure you document everything.
Third, after you’ve done it successfully with one person, then you must prove you can duplicate the results with 10 people... and then with 100 people after that. All the while you’re still documenting everything. From your success rate… to the outcomes… and so on.
But you’re not finished yet…
When you’ve proved you can duplicate the outcome with 100 people within the boundaries of your area…
When you’ve proved you can duplicate the outcome with 100 people within the boundaries of your area…
Now you must prove you can do the same in another town. And after that? You must prove you can do it in 10 other places. And after that? You’re good to go.
Sounds like a lot of work but here’s the thing…
You don’t want to expand too soon before your algorithm is 100% ready. Because when you’re going too fast your failure rate increases exponentially. And it becomes distracting and discouraging…
So you want to break it all down into manageable chunks, move as fast as you can while documenting and duplicating what you’re doing…
The good news is, you only need to do these steps once.
After that, you've built yourself a solid foundation with a long runway... something that's going to be here 20, 30, even 50 years from now.