Nat Eliason
Deep Dive on Nat Eliason
Read it here on my website! Nat Eliason Deep Dive
Introduction
Nat Eliason is known for his success as an entrepreneur, writer, and now author.
From a young age, Nat was excited about the idea of working for himself, which set him on a path full of ups and downs, as well as valuable lessons. Nat’s story isn’t just about the businesses he built or the money he made, but the passion, resilience, and constant learning that drove his entrepreneurial journey.
Nat’s entrepreneurial path began at Carnegie Mellon. At first, he pursued traditional jobs in finance and consulting but quickly got bored with those roles. This pushed him towards entrepreneurship instead. During an internship, he started reading entrepreneurship books on his Kindle. This sparked his interest in doing something more entrepreneurial which led him to a startup weekend in Pittsburgh, where he started his first business. This experience then got him and his business into the Alpha Lab program. This was the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
After a short time at a small tech company in Austin, TX, Nat made a bold decision. He used his savings to travel to Argentina for a while to try out the digital nomad lifestyle. This risky move allowed him to reflect on his career goals, which eventually led him to found Growth Machine, a content marketing and SEO agency.
Through his entrepreneurial journey, Nat has obtained a wealth of knowledge that he shares with others through his blog, book, and his social media. His advice covers topics like starting a blog, building a business, and investing in oneself. Nat’s story is a great example that true success is about finding fulfilling, sustainable work – not just financial gain.
In this article, we will explore Nat Eliason’s journey in detail, uncovering the key moments, decisions, and lessons that have shaped his career. By the end, you will have a thorough understanding of who Nat is, what drives him, and the wisdom he has to offer to future entrepreneurs.
Nat’s Success Story
Nat Eliason’s entrepreneurial journey is a great example of his ability to adapt and think strategically. After realizing that traditional jobs in finance and consulting weren’t for him, Nat explored entrepreneurship through books and podcasts. This lead him to taking a leap and starting a business during a startup weekend in Pittsburgh.
His entrepreneurial journey had officially begun.
Nat’s first significant entrepreneurial venture was Growth Machine, a content marketing and SEO agency. The idea for Growth Machine came from Nat’s deep understanding of SEO and content creation, skills he had honed through his personal blog. He started by offering SEO services independently, and soon his one-man operation was making $25-$30k a month.
As demand grew, he transitioned Growth Machine into an agency, hiring a team to scale the business. This increased operational complexity and costs, but we’ll get to that later. Despite the extra headaches with managing a team, Nat remained committed to producing high-quality content which set Growth Machine apart from other agencies.
But Growth Machine was more than just a financial success for Nat – it also became a platform for him to experiment and learn. By developing efficient systems and processes, Nat was able to scale the agency’s content production to over 100 high-quality articles per month. This was fueled by his deep expertise in SEO and content marketing, as well as his innovative approach to client work and team management.
As Growth Machine scaled, Nat realized the importance of maintaining revenue efficiency. He found that even as the agency generated substantial revenue, his solo projects like launching online courses could be even more profitable with fewer headaches. For instance, his Roam course alone brought in $800k in a year with no employees, highlighting Nat’s knack for maximizing income while minimizing overhead. This experience underscored the value of creating a lean, efficient operation – rather than simply growing the agency. Nat recognized that sometimes a smaller, more streamlined business model could be more beneficial both financially and operationally.
Nat’s venture into the world of tea with Cup & Leaf (his company) showcased his versatility as an entrepreneur. By leveraging his deep understanding of marketing, Nat was able to build another successful business in a completely different industry. Cup & Leaf not only broadened his portfolio, but also provided valuable insights into product-based businesses. Specifically, the company used content marketing strategies to drive sales. This versatility and adaptability have been hallmarks of Nat’s entrepreneurial journey.
Nat’s success story is not just about the businesses he built or the money he made, but about his journey in finding work that he finds fulfilling. His journey from a dissatisfied consultant to a successful entrepreneur and writer is proof that following one’s passion and continuously learning and adapting pays off.
In summary, Nat Eliason’s success story is a blend of strategic thinking, risk-taking, and a commitment to high-quality work. Nat’s ventures, from the content agency Growth Machine to the tea company Cup & Leaf, demonstrate his diverse interests and ability to excel across different industries.
Through his journey, Nat has not only built successful businesses but also shared invaluable lessons and insights that continue to inspire and guide aspiring entrepreneurs.
Failures and Lessons
Nat Eliason’s entrepreneurial journey has included important failures that taught him valuable lessons. These experiences show how challenging entrepreneurship can be, but also the resilience needed to succeed on this path.
One of Nat’s early setbacks occurred shortly after graduating from college. His first job in marketing at a small tech company in Austin, TX, ended abruptly when he was fired after a falling out with the founder. This experience was a harsh introduction to the professional world, but it prompted Nat to take bold steps. Instead of seeking another job immediately, he decided to spend his savings on a nomadic adventure in Argentina, embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. This risky move allowed him to reflect on his career goals and eventually led to the creation of Growth Machine.
In the realm of cryptocurrency, Nat experienced both triumphs and significant setbacks. While he made substantial profits, he also faced severe losses due to the volatile nature of the market. Being hacked and dealing with the unpredictable swings of crypto investments taught him important lessons about risk management and the need for caution in speculative ventures. These experiences highlighted the importance of understanding the risks involved and being prepared for potential downturns.
Running Growth Machine also brought its own set of challenges. As the business grew, Nat faced the emotionally taxing process of layoffs. Unlike firing underperforming employees, layoffs due to economic downturns or strategic mistakes impacted individuals who were contributing positively to the company. This taught Nat about the real responsibilities of entrepreneurship, particularly the impact of business decisions on employees’ lives.
Additionally, Nat discovered that not all aspects of running a business were enjoyable. The operational complexities and increased headaches of scaling Growth Machine did not always translate into proportional financial gains. This realization led him to pivot towards more efficient solo projects that better aligned with his personal strengths and goals.
From these failures and setbacks, Nat learned several key lessons:
1. Resilience is Crucial: Facing setbacks is an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey. How one responds to these challenges is what defines long-term success.
2. Risk Management: Understanding and managing risk is essential, especially in volatile markets like cryptocurrency. It’s important to be prepared for potential losses and to approach speculative ventures with caution.
3. Value of Free Work: Many of Nat’s opportunities came from free work, such as his initial blogging efforts and pitching articles for free. Providing value without immediate financial return can lead to significant long-term gains.
4. Operational Efficiency: Scaling a business comes with increased complexities and headaches. Sometimes, smaller, more efficient operations can be more rewarding both financially and personally.
5. Alignment with Personal Strengths: It’s important to pursue work that aligns with one’s strengths and interests. Nat found greater satisfaction and success in solo projects and writing, which better suited his skills and preferences.
6. Importance of Team Management: Managing a team involves real responsibilities, including the difficult decisions related to layoffs. It’s crucial to remember the impact of these decisions on employees’ lives.
Nat Eliason’s journey demonstrates that failure is not the end but a part of the process that leads to growth and better decision-making. His ability to learn from these experiences and adapt has been a key factor in his continued success.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
Nat Eliason’s entrepreneurial journey has provided him with a wealth of insights that he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs. His advice is practical, rooted in his experiences, and aimed at helping others navigate the complexities of building a successful business.
1. Be Certain About Your Path: Nat advises aspiring entrepreneurs to be sure they truly want to pursue entrepreneurship. He stresses that while entrepreneurship can look glamorous, it involves high risks, long hours, and significant stress. It’s essential to ensure that this path aligns with your personal goals and work preferences.
2. Understand the Realities of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is a high-variance job with the potential for both significant success and failure. Nat emphasizes that it’s not the only way to achieve financial success, fulfillment, and respect. There are many ways to accomplish these goals without starting your own business.
3. Clarify Your Daily Work Preferences: Before diving into entrepreneurship, take the time to understand the type of work you want to do every day. If you are motivated by solving specific problems, then starting a business might be the right path. However, it’s crucial to be clear about your daily work preferences and ensure that entrepreneurship is the best way to achieve them.
4. Develop Hard Skills: Nat stresses the importance of acquiring valuable hard skills such as sales or programming. These skills make you a more effective entrepreneur and reduce the need to hire others to fill gaps in your abilities. Being self-sufficient in critical areas of your business can be a significant advantage.
5. Don’t Pursue Entrepreneurship Out of Obligation: He cautions against pursuing entrepreneurship just because it seems like the expected or fashionable thing to do. Your decision should be based on a genuine desire to create and solve problems, not on external pressures or societal expectations.
6. Value Free Work: Nat highlights the power of free work in building a career. His early blogging efforts and free articles led to numerous opportunities, including internships and business ventures. Providing value without immediate financial return can open doors and build a solid foundation for future success.
7. Invest in Yourself: One of Nat’s core pieces of financial advice is to invest in yourself. He believes that personal development and skill-building can yield better returns than traditional investments. This approach has guided his decisions throughout his career, from his time in Argentina to his ventures in cryptocurrency and beyond.
8. Focus on Sustainable, Fulfilling Work: Nat encourages entrepreneurs to look at their work on a long-term timescale. Finding work that is not only financially rewarding but also emotionally fulfilling is crucial. For Nat, writing has been the most satisfying pursuit, providing both financial returns and personal satisfaction.
9. Be Prepared for the Challenges: Entrepreneurship comes with significant responsibilities, including managing a team and making tough decisions like layoffs. It’s essential to be prepared for these challenges and understand the impact of your decisions on your employees’ lives.
10. Build Efficient Operations: Scaling a business can introduce complexities and headaches. Nat found that sometimes maintaining a smaller, more efficient operation can be more beneficial. Focus on creating a business model that maximizes revenue while minimizing unnecessary complications and costs.
11. Leverage Your Strengths: Identify and leverage your unique strengths. For Nat, writing has been his key strength, allowing him to create valuable content that drives his business success. Understanding and utilizing your strengths can set you apart and lead to more sustainable success.
12. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Entrepreneurship is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Nat’s experiences highlight the importance of staying flexible and open to new ideas. Whether it’s shifting business strategies or exploring new markets like cryptocurrency, being adaptable is crucial for long-term success.
13. Quality Over Quantity: Emphasize quality in all aspects of your business, from product development to customer service. Nat’s commitment to high-quality content has been a cornerstone of his success with Growth Machine. High standards help build a strong reputation and foster long-term relationships with clients and customers.
14. Find Your Community: Building a network of like-minded individuals can provide support, inspiration, and opportunities. Engage with other entrepreneurs, share experiences, and learn from each other. A strong community can be a valuable resource on your entrepreneurial journey.
By incorporating these lessons and advice into your own entrepreneurial endeavors, you can navigate the challenges of building a business with greater insight. Nat Eliason’s journey offers a wealth of practical wisdom that can guide others towards achieving their own version of success.
Starting a Blog to Change Your Life
Starting a blog can be a transformative journey, as Nat Eliason’s experience shows. His blog attracts 10,000 to 20,000 readers daily and generates over $10,000 a month, sometimes reaching $60,000.
This blog has been a cornerstone of Nat’s career – it led to his first marketing internship, helped launch his side hustles, and eventually enabled him to found Growth Machine, a content marketing and SEO agency.
Nat emphasizes that building a successful blog isn’t easy but a well-developed blog can serve multiple important purposes. It acts as a resume, real estate, a time machine, and a second brain – helping the writer clarify their thoughts, share knowledge, and build a reputation.
Nat didn’t consistently see over 100 daily visitors until nine months after starting. The key to success, he says, lies in persistence and continuously publishing valuable content.
Regularly publishing content over the long term helps build audience traffic, which Nat considers the most valuable. This traffic consists of readers who visit because of the author’s unique voice and insights. The ultimate goal is to cultivate a loyal readership that will engage with all new content, opening doors to various opportunities.
To grow your blog, leverage at least one active social media channel and an email newsletter. Nat suggests tweeting about your activities, readings, and thoughts to attract like-minded followers. Engaging with others on social media will help your following grow over time. But it’s important to note that building a meaningful audience takes time, and the early stages may feel unrewarding.
Monetizing a blog should come after building a substantial audience. Most people focus on ads and affiliate revenue. Instead, Nat advises focusing on creating valuable content that builds sustainable traffic. Once you have an audience, revenue will follow naturally. The main areas of monetization include affiliate sales, advertising, and products.
For affiliate sales, recommend products you genuinely use and believe in. This keeps your content authentic. Ads are less effective for personal sites, but platforms like Medium offer an alternative. The Medium partner program pays based on reader engagement allowing you to republish articles without cost.
Ultimately, the goal of monetizing a blog should be to make a decent amount of money from work you enjoy, without compromising the quality and integrity of your site. Supporting yourself financially through your blog is best achieved by creating products for your dedicated audience. This approach ensures long-term sustainability and satisfaction in your blogging journey.
Financial Philosophy
Nat Eliason’s financial philosophy combines traditional financial wisdom with unconventional strategies, emphasizing the importance of self-investment, managing risks, and understanding the nuances between income generation and wealth creation. Here are the key aspects of his approach to personal finance:
Starting a Business vs. Freelancing
Nat argues that starting a company is rarely the most effective way to make money. He highlights that if you possess the skills to start a business, you could often make more money by freelancing or consulting. For instance, a developer earning $150,000 a year at a tech company could potentially charge $150 per hour as a freelancer, making $216,000 annually with a full workload.
Income Generation vs. Wealth Generation
One of Nat’s core financial lessons is distinguishing between jobs that generate income and those that create wealth. While most jobs provide a steady paycheck, they don’t offer opportunities for wealth creation. True wealth comes from owning assets that generate revenue passively. For example, developing a product like a Shopify app might take years to match a freelancer’s income, but it can create substantial wealth once it starts earning passively.
Nat explains this concept using a quote from Naval Ravikant: “Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. Money is how we transfer time and wealth.”
Self-Investing
Nat advocates for leveraging available funds to invest in entrepreneurial projects that can yield higher and faster returns than traditional investments like stocks and bonds. For example, he invested $4,000 in creating an app, which now earns $120-160 daily. This return far surpasses the typical gains from stock market investments.
He stresses the importance of using one’s skills to create wealth rather than relying solely on long-term market investments, which may take decades to yield significant returns.
Financial Planning Steps
Nat’s approach to entrepreneurial personal financial planning involves several key steps:
1. Cash on Hand: Maintain six months’ worth of living expenses in an accessible account to cover regular expenses and provide a safety net.
2. “Oh Shit” Fund: Set aside an additional three months’ worth of expenses for emergencies, ensuring financial stability during unexpected downturns.
3. “Fuck It” Fund: Save periodically for spontaneous or non-essential purchases, allowing for financial flexibility and guilt-free spending on indulgences.
4. Long-Term Investment: While Nat reduces his focus on traditional long-term investments, he still allocates a small portion of his savings to retirement accounts, serving as a last-resort safety net.
5. Entrepreneur Fund: Create a dedicated account for entrepreneurial projects. This fund is used to finance business ventures, and the goal is to keep it actively working on generating new opportunities.
Budgeting and Productivity
Nat critiques traditional budgeting, arguing that meticulous budgeting often limits potential upside and eats into productive time. Instead, he suggests implementing 80/20 saving rules, automating savings, and focusing on making unproductive time productive. By freelancing or engaging in side hustles, one can turn previously unproductive time into income-generating activities.
Nat shows that increasing the ROI of your productive time can significantly boost income. For example, a good freelance writer can increase their rates over time, substantially raising their earnings.
Anti-Budgeting Approach
Nat proposes an anti-budgeting approach where spending money strategically can free up more time for productive activities. For example, paying for grocery delivery can save time that can be used to generate more income than the cost of the delivery service.
This approach aligns with his broader philosophy of focusing on activities that increase income and wealth rather than merely cutting costs.
Lessons from Personal Experience
Nat’s personal financial journey includes unconventional decisions like spending his savings to travel and explore his passions after being fired from his first job. This risky move allowed him to build Growth Machine and his blog. This turned his $30,000 savings into significantly more through entrepreneurial success and taking a risk.
He believes that traditional financial advice, like locking up funds in retirement accounts, may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with entrepreneurial aspirations. Instead, using funds to invest in oneself and one’s projects can yield higher returns and provide greater psychological and emotional benefits.
Summary
Nat Eliason’s financial advice blends traditional wisdom with innovative strategies. He shows the importance of self-investment, strategic risk-taking, and balancing income generation with long-term wealth creation. His experiences demonstrate that unconventional financial decisions, when well-executed, can lead to substantial rewards and personal fulfillment.
Nat on Writing
Nat Eliason has a profound understanding of what makes writing truly great. He believes the highest compliment a writer can receive is that a reader couldn’t put the book down.
Nat describes this quality as “invisibility.” Great writing is invisible; it immerses the reader so completely that they forget they’re reading. Instead, their mind seamlessly hallucinates the story, making it feel like their own imagination. This invisibility is achieved when character development, plot, and conflict are believable and feel like they could have happened naturally.
To illustrate this, Nat compares two sentences:
• “I know,” he said angrily.
• “I know,” he grunted through gritted teeth.
The second sentence is generally better because it shows rather than tells. It makes the reader visualize the scene, making the writing invisible. The first sentence, by telling instead of showing, makes the storytelling process evident to the reader, breaking the immersive experience.
The goal is to keep the reader within the story, not drawing attention to the writing itself.
Varied sentence lengths and word choices also contribute to this natural flow. Repeating the same structure or words makes the writing noticeable, breaking the spell of invisibility. Instead, a mix of sentence lengths and careful word selection maintains a rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without them realizing they are reading.
Nat’s insights offer valuable guidance for aspiring writers aiming to create compelling, immersive content that resonates deeply with their readers. By focusing on invisibility, showing rather than telling, and maintaining a natural flow, writers can achieve the same engaging quality in their own work.
Launching a Side Business for Free in 1 Month
Nat Eliason outlines a practical approach to launching a side business quickly and efficiently. He breaks it down for us in 5 steps:
1. Finding a Good Niche
The first step in launching a side business is identifying a niche. This involves finding a problem that people are actively seeking solutions for. Writing an article about the problem you want to solve can help gauge interest. Feedback and attention from this article can validate your idea, ensuring there is enough demand to proceed.
2. Outlining the Product
Before you start building your product, create a detailed outline. This step prevents overbuilding and ensures you stay focused on what’s necessary. Reviewing your outline with potential customers can save time and resources by confirming that the product meets their needs. A robust outline helps clarify your thoughts and makes the development process smoother.
The last thing you want to do is make something way too complex.
3. Collecting Pre-Orders
With a solid outline, you can start collecting pre-orders for your product or service. This step is crucial for validation. If no one is willing to pre-order, you may need to reassess your idea.
Platforms like Reddit and Facebook groups are excellent for testing ideas and gathering early feedback. Engaging with these communities can provide honest feedback and early adopters.
My personal favorite is Reddit – people will be brutally honest but very supportive if they like what you’re doing.
4. Building in Public
Building your product with your pre-sale customers can be a rewarding experience. It gives a sense of community and allows you to get valuable feedback during development. Creating an online forum for early customers to share updates and receive feedback can help maintain accountability and ensure the product you’re building is something people want.
5. Full Launch
Once you’ve incorporated feedback and refined your product, it’s time for the full launch. Use testimonials from pre-sale customers to build credibility and attract new customers. The feedback received during the building phase will improve the final product, making the launch smoother and more successful.
Importance of Validation
Validation is a critical part of Nat’s approach.
It ensures that your idea will make money and meets customer needs. It’s not enough for an idea to make sense in your head; customers need to be willing to pay for it before it’s fully developed.
Validation is essentially money in the bank—if no one has paid for it, it doesn’t count. This principle helps avoid wasted resources on products that don’t meet market demand.
Nat’s method highlights the importance of customer involvement from the early stages, ensuring that the product you build is something people actually want. By following these steps, you can efficiently launch a side business with minimal upfront investment and a higher chance of success.
Conclusion
Nat Eliason’s journey from an unhappy consultant to a successful entrepreneur, writer, and thought leader is a compelling story. He is a shining example of how being resilient, continuously learning, and taking strategic risks can pay off.
His experiences highlight the importance of finding work that aligns with one’s passions and strengths, and the value of learning from both successes and failures.
Through his various ventures, including Growth Machine, cryptocurrency investments, and his blog, Nat has demonstrated a unique ability to adapt and thrive in diverse fields.
His financial philosophy, emphasizing self-investment and strategic risk-taking, offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to build long-term wealth and personal fulfillment.
Nat’s approach to writing, focusing on the concept of “invisibility,” is a powerful framework for creating engaging and immersive content. His insights into launching a side business quickly and efficiently, with a strong emphasis on validation and customer feedback, offer achievable steps for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ultimately, Nat Eliason’s story is proof that pursuing work that is both meaningful and sustainable is crucial.
By following his example and incorporating his lessons, readers can navigate their own paths to success with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, writer, or someone seeking personal growth, Nat’s experiences and wisdom provide a valuable roadmap for achieving your goals.
Thanks for reading Nat Eliason’s story. I hope this deep dive on his entrepreneurial journey has provided valuable insights and inspiration.
If you enjoyed learning about Nat, let me know in the comments who you’d like me to feature next. I’m always eager to share the stories of remarkable individuals like Nat who are paving the way for aspiring entrepreneurs.
See you next week!
~ AJ