“You need to stop being a nice guy.”

That was the wake-up call I got from CJ, the CEO for Eric Thomas, and it changed everything for me. In the latest episode of Let’s Talk Marketing, I’m pulling back the curtain on why so many entrepreneurs—myself included—get stuck in a “death trap” of our own making.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/U7IXOGIL0i8

If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels despite working 24/7, your business model might be the culprit. Here is how to stop being “nice” to your excuses and start building a brand that actually works.

I’m going to give you five ways to get unstuck and put yourself where you want to be. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s worth it.

5 Tips to Help Your Marketing as an Entrepreneur

1. Escape the High-Production Trap

When making a video, we often think we need the fanciest gear or a Hollywood-level set to be taken seriously. Let’s keep it real.

Trying to stay “polished” is a marketing trap that keeps you in a small pond.

Authenticity beats production value every time.

People don’t want a script; they want a solution that makes sense to them.

When you show up as you are, that’s more believable.

Marketing Tip: create content that is common and normal to you. It’ll be great for viewers to see and get to know you and your environment. For them, this is insider behind-the-scenes footage.

2. Stop Copying the “Gurus”

It’s easy to look at guys like Grant Cardone or Dean Graziosi and think, “I just need to do what they do.” Stop. You have my permission to quit copying.

When you mimic someone else’s style, you also inherit their problems without their infrastructure- and you don’t want that.

Your business must reflect your lifestyle and unique voice.

Also, you don’t know what gives them their conviction. You only know what they tell you, but only they know their “why” of what drives them.

Lastly, they’ve had the right circumstances and positioning to place them in that scenario. You need to create the same opportunities for yourself.

Marketing Tip: your lifestyle is a powerful, authentic tool. Hence, why you should share times when you’re doing nothing with some thoughts to traveling. Don’t always make your platforms a highlight reel of vacations, happy moments, and celebrations.

3. Shift from Employee to Entrepreneur

This issue is a hard one for most, because the biggest hurdle isn’t your bank account- it’s your mindset. An employee waits for instructions; an entrepreneur creates them.

If you’re still treating your business like a 9-to-5 where you’re just the “hardest worker,” you’ve created a job, not a company.

You’re responsible for every single task, and it’s going to burn you out if you maintain that employee mindset. Here’s where the mindset shift needs to occur.

Hire help and delegate tasks you’re not good at.

On a personal level, this was hard for me, but I realized I wasn’t ever going to have that level of experience and passion, so it was easier to let go.

Why?

You want to grow the company to afford you the lifestyle, so it’s not another “job” you created for yourself.

As a precautionary warning, I had to inform folks that we needed to operate differently. Whenever I wear my project manager hat, I’m not the “nice guy” everyone loves. I’ve surprised some folks, but they understood it was all about achieving the necessary results.

Marketing Tip: a good example of this is when I step in as a fractional cmo, this is where I’ve handled major marketing decisions from an idea and executed them. I delegate SEO, design, and website development because my specialty is strategy.

4. Align Your Model with Your Life

Your business should support your life, not consume it.

Are you building a “hustle” that requires you to be “on” 24/7, or are you building a system that allows for freedom?

If your current model requires you to sacrifice your peace of mind to turn a profit, the model is broken.

But here’s the thing, it’s easy to build this model. When you have a grind, hustle, and push-through mentality, the work piles up, and you’re buried.

Delegation is key. Delegation isn’t just about people, but also about the right tools.

Marketing Tip: one of the best tools that has helped my clients is the GoHighLevel CRM. I’ve used it for my email distribution, lead forms, social media manager, and more. As an affiliate, I have my clients use it, too, and it makes it easier for them to see the actions.

5. Define Your Real Avatar

No, we’re not talking about the movie. Your avatar is your ideal client.

So, who are they?

You can’t sell to everyone.

When you try to be “nice” to every potential lead, you end up with a diluted brand. Defining your client avatar specifically allows you to speak directly to the person who actually needs your help- and is willing to pay for it.

Your brand isn’t for everyone, so create it for those who will use it and love you for it. As the “nice guy” doing the work, “nice” doesn’t pay the bills. I had to learn that the hard way. The business you created needs you to be the person to keep it alive and going.

Believe in your solution that’s missing in the marketplace. You’re moving people from pain to pleasure because of your value proposition.

When all these steps are applied, have faith in what you built.

Stepping out on faith means trusting that your authentic style is enough. Stop trying to be the “polished” version of someone else and start being the powerhouse version of yourself.

Ready to dive deeper and see my experiences?

• Check out My YouTube Journey Playlist for a raw look at how I’m evolving.

• Explore more Marketing Tips to help refine your strategy.

It’s time to move from surviving to thriving. Let’s get to work.

If you need help, hit me up.

Nathan A Webster, MBA

Founder, NDUB Brand of NW & Associates, LLC