Unlocking Simplicity: Demystifying Entrepreneurship with Insights from Adam Hudson

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As human beings, we tend to unnecessarily complicate matters. I believe at the core, this propensity stems from our innate fear – fear of the unknown, or fear of failure, or fear of inadequacy. This is a reality that entrepreneurs grapple with routinely. Consequently, this frightening reality often makes prospective entrepreneurs take pause, allowing these fears to take root. Yet, the truth is, being an entrepreneur is actually quite simple.

I learned this from Adam Hudson, who is now a life coach after an incredible career as a serial entrepreneur and best selling author. He enlightened me about just how simple being an entrepreneur can be. To be clear, I'm not suggesting that being an entrepreneur is easy – quite the contrary, it's arguably one of the most demanding paths one can tread. But, it's not as complicated as it might initially appear. You don't have to be a genius or rare. Simply by understanding the fundamentals of life, you can find the golden opportunities to succeed as an entrepreneur.

I first learned about Adam Hudson through Instagram. I was scrolling away when one of his talks popped up on my screen. He said something that had me immediately DM'ing him to see if he'd be willing to sit down for an interview. “The gravity of average is so strong.” This powerful phrase resonated deeply with me, and since Adam has been invited to speak on stage with industry icons like Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, Grant Cardone, and Gary Vaynerchuk, to name a few, I knew he could teach me how to fight that gravity.

Adam Hudson's first business experience came at twenty one, selling personal development courses for an American company. I was curious to know how at the young age of twenty one he successfully convinced people to buy personal development courses. Success as entrepreneurs (and content creators) hinges on cultivating relevance and authority. But at a young age it's hard to be an authority, so I wanted to get Adam's advice specifically for young entrepreneurs and content creators trying to build credibility. “If I was a young person now, I would be focused, not so much on the word authority, but on the word trust. How do I get people to trust me over time, and that is by being authentic and real for a sustained period in a reliable way.” Sustained period being the operatives words. So many people on social media offer a quick fix, but there are no shortcuts in business. Building trust is a long game, and on social media that means showing up every day, bringing a balance of value and vulnerability in your content. Contrary to what many people think, you don't need a degree to be an authority in your field when starting a business or building a social media platform. Being authentic and providing value to your target audience is how you win the long game.

Take Adam for example, he later started his own animation company with no degree and no experience in the animation business. Sounds insane, but at the time, he saw an opportunity in Los Angeles to offer companies like Google cheaper alternatives to animated videos they already needed. So, he picked up his life and moved from Australia to Hollywood and opened his studio. He outsourced the sales, the animation, and the voiceovers and became the conductor of his business. “A degree doesn't matter. You're not going to be the guy doing the drawing. You're not going to be the guy that does the animating. You're not going to be the guy that does the voiceover. Because if you are, you couldn't scale anyway. An entrepreneur is somebody who conducts the solution but isn't part of the solution.” When you think about it that way, entrepreneurship is the ultimate democratizer. You can be anything and do anything with little to no experience. They key is to identify opportunities where others cannot. In just two years after opening his studio, Adam secured some of America’s largest brands as clients, including Canon, MasterCard, McDonald’s, and many others. His business generated millions of dollars between 2011 and 2015 by the time he sold it and moved back to Australia.

Before this interview (and even during), I was victim to overthinking. I thought, “how can I train myself to see these golden opportunities? How do I connect the dots when others can't?” I asked Adam for his advice, since clearly he's got that ability, and his answer surprised me. “It's just common sense. Can you do a better, faster, cheaper job, and can you get rich from it? That's it.” As humans we spend so much time in our head that we lose sight of what's right in front of us. By paying closer attention to your day-to-day and the fundamentals of life, you'll see things much more clearly. “Start to with what you think about money? What is your relationship with money? What do you think is a lot of income? And then get your calculator and work it out” (He recommended this compound interest app, which makes it so easy for anyone to start understanding money).

Adam's insight was very eye opening for me because it seems so contrary to what everyone else is saying. I hear so often that when starting a business you have to start with your mission and purpose. But Adam is encouraging us to look at the realities of life around us. What is our environment and how do I succeed in it? What vision do I have for myself in the future? Where do I live? Do I go on vacation? These are the questions he wants you to be thinking about, and once you have those answers, map it out. This will allow you to see life clearly and the golden opportunities within it. It's that simple.

Those of you who have been following me for a while now know that I always finish my interview by asking what are that founder's non-negotiables. What routine(s) do they have that keep them sane and grounded? Adam's are two fold: Constantly be learning, and exercise. “I set aside minimum an hour per day for growth. I'm constantly seeking out people that inspire me. I'm constantly trying to grow because I actually love it.” He encourages all entrepreneurs to fall in love with learning, whether that's podcasts or books (he gave a ton of amazing recommendations which I have linked below), just learn voraciously. Adam's second non-negotiable is exercise. “You cannot be successful in my mind if you're not well.” Adam gave this amazing example that I encourage all of you to think about as this article comes to a close.

Would you trade your life today for Warren Buffet's? You'd be worth $100 billion, but you'd be 93. I said no, which means I value the next 60 years of my life at more than $100 billion which is more than a billion dollars a year. If you said no too, are you acting like your life is worth a billion dollars a year?

Comment below your answers and go follow Adam on Instagram for amazing daily tips for entrepreneurs. Also, check out his book if you're thinking about selling your products on Amazon.

Adam's book recommendations:

1. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - James Clear
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! - Robert T. Kiyosaki
3. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future - Peter Thiel

Adam's Instagram recommendations:

1. Adam Sosnick - Finance tips
2. Konstantinos Synodinos - Social Media Marketing tips

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