Case For Quitting Your $100k Corporate Job with Stig Brodersen of We Study Billionaires

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01/24/16 • 20 min

SaaS Interviews with CEOs, Startups, Founders

Ep141 Stig Brodersen holds a master’s degree in Finance, has studied Business Analysis at Harvard University, and he’s the co-founder of the BuffettsBooks.com educational site. During graduate school Stig co-founded a consultancy firm, providing clients with legal and financial advice relating to personal finance. Upon graduation Stig sold his shares in the firm to become a commodities trader in one of Europe’s leading energy trading companies. Now, Stig works as a college professor teaching a variety of courses including financial accounting, investment and economics. Stig also owns the investment company Stig Brodersen Holding.

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3 Key Points:

“If you can’t be the person that you really are [in a workplace], you should leave for the sake of everyone.”
“Success is probably the simplest thing in the world. You just have to do the same thing as successful people and then stop doing the same thing that unsuccessful people are doing.”
Being a commodities trader is a strenuous, long hour job that pays a lot of money.

Episode Notes:

01:00 – Nathan’s introduction to today’s show
02:00 – Stig joins the show
02:27 – “Always be good to other people.” – Easy to say, hard to practice
03:56 – Million monkeys flipping coins, one should be lucky – a Warren Buffet metaphor
04:40 – Stig quit his job as a commodities trader to teach and run a podcast
05:23 – Being a commodities trader involves working very long hours
06:08 – A trader gets a base salary and a bonus which is usually more appealing than the base salary
06:49 – Stig made between 200K and 400K on his base salary as trader
07:25 – As a trader, Stig dealt in energy like stocks. He started in 2011 and quit in 18 months
08:43 – “If you can’t be the person that you really are, you should leave for the sake of everyone.”
09:09 – Luckily, Stig didn’t struggle with paying rent or food in his off period
09:47 – His living expenses per month was a few thousand dollars
10:25 – Something that stuck with Stig: “Success is probably the simplest thing in the world. You just have to do the same thing as successful people and then stop doing the same thing that unsuccessful people are doing.”
11:31 – Nathan and Stig discuss audio equipment
12:46 – Stig makes money in Denmark teaching making 6-7K a month
13:51 – Stig discusses his podcast and having a co-host
16:41 – Famous Five

Famous 5

Favorite Book?— The Snowball – by Warren Buffet
What CEO do you follow?— Warren Buffet
What is your favorite online tool?— Boomerang
Do you get 8 hours of sleep?— Often, but less on the weekends.
If you could let your 20 year old self know one thing, what would it be?— Don’t worry Stig, you won’t be single for the rest of your life.

Resources Mentioned:

Growth Geeks – The way Nathan hires growth hackers on a per project basis for things like info graphics, blog posts, and other growth projects
The Investor’s Podcast – Stig Brodersen’s podcast
The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life – Book Stig stands by
Tap Dancing to Work – Another book Stig stands by
Eddy Communications – Nathan’s audio/studio team
Want to learn how to go from $0-$10k/mo in revenue fast? Join Nathan live on the Starter Tribe Beta free workshop.

Listen to The Top if you want to hear from the worlds TOP entrepreneurs on how much they sold last month, how they are selling it, and what the...

Click here to join the top tribe and instantly learn how Nathan made his first $10k at 19 years old: http://nathanlatka.com/startertribelive

3 Key Points:

“If you can’t be the person that you really are [in a workplace], you should leave for the sake of everyone.”
“Success is probably the simplest thing in the world. You just have to do the same thing as successful people and then stop doing the same thing that unsuccessful people are doing.”
Being a commodities trader is a strenuous, long hour job that pays a lot of money.

Episode Notes:

01:00 – Nathan’s introduction to today’s show
02:00 – Stig joins the show
02:27 – “Always be good to other people.” – Easy to say, hard to practice
03:56 – Million monkeys flipping coins, one should be lucky – a Warren Buffet metaphor
04:40 – Stig quit his job as a commodities trader to teach and run a podcast
05:23 – Being a commodities trader involves working very long hours
06:08 – A trader gets a base salary and a bonus which is usually more appealing than the base salary
06:49 – Stig made between 200K and 400K on his base salary as trader
07:25 – As a trader, Stig dealt in energy like stocks. He started in 2011 and quit in 18 months
08:43 – “If you can’t be the person that you really are, you should leave for the sake of everyone.”
09:09 – Luckily, Stig didn’t struggle with paying rent or food in his off period
09:47 – His living expenses per month was a few thousand dollars
10:25 – Something that stuck with Stig: “Success is probably the simplest thing in the world. You just have to do the same thing as successful people and then stop doing the same thing that unsuccessful people are doing.”
11:31 – Nathan and Stig discuss audio equipment
12:46 – Stig makes money in Denmark teaching making 6-7K a month
13:51 – Stig discusses his podcast and having a co-host
16:41 – Famous Five

Famous 5

Favorite Book?— The Snowball – by Warren Buffet
What CEO do you follow?— Warren Buffet
What is your favorite online tool?— Boomerang
Do you get 8 hours of sleep?— Often, but less on the weekends.
If you could let your 20 year old self know one thing, what would it be?— Don’t worry Stig, you won’t be single for the rest of your life.

Resources Mentioned:

Growth Geeks – The way Nathan hires growth hackers on a per project basis for things like info graphics, blog posts, and other growth projects
The Investor’s Podcast – Stig Brodersen’s podcast
The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life – Book Stig stands by
Tap Dancing to Work – Another book Stig stands by
Eddy Communications – Nathan’s audio/studio team
Want to learn how to go from $0-$10k/mo in revenue fast? Join Nathan live on the Starter Tribe Beta free workshop.

Listen to The Top if you want to hear from the worlds TOP entrepreneurs on how much they sold last month, how they are selling it, and what the...

Previous Episode

undefined - How To Launch Your First Conference with Ryan Moran of Freedom Fast Lane: Financial Freedom, Personal Growth, and Extraordinary Living

How To Launch Your First Conference with Ryan Moran of Freedom Fast Lane: Financial Freedom, Personal Growth, and Extraordinary Living

Ep140 Ryan Moran of Freedom Fast Lane: Financial Freedom, Personal Growth, and Extraordinary Living

Ryan Daniel Moran is one of the most sought after and well respected leaders on entrepreneurship in the marketplace. He is best known for helping businesses develop their million-dollar plan, getting rapid results, and investing the profits for passive income. Ryan is recognized for cutting out the fluff and creating the “fast lane” to results without compromising your lifestyle or being a slave to your business.

Click here to join the top tribe and instantly learn how Nathan made his first $10k at 19 years old: http://nathanlatka.com/startertribelive

3 Key Points:

‘Real companies’ that have potential for growth offer products and services that are independently sought by customers. Not just from websites like Amazon.
If you want to have an exit with a cash flow business, you need to build it like to acquire customers and influence the marketplace.
For the younger viewers, you don’t have to do something the way everybody says you should, you can blaze your own path.

Episode Notes:

01:00 – Nathan’s introduction to today’s show
01:30 – Ryan joins the show
02:40 – To sell on Amazon, one should focus on ranking high on search keywords
03:25 – ‘Real companies’ offer products and services that are independently sought out by consumers – not just on Amazon
03:41 – Ryan’s team’s total topline revenue in October: 500K
04:06 – Primary expense of being in a products business is usually cost of goods sold (COGS)
04:45 – For Ryan and his team of 6, COGS is around 30% (in the ballpark)
05:40 – Costs include salary, sales, and advertising
07:08 – For publicity, Ryan’s team often sponsors athletes or bloggers
07:54 – Ryan’s primary focus is to scale into new areas and to find new ways to capture customers once they purchase through Amazon
08:42 – Ryan’s team will put things in their packaging in order to direct attention to some of their other products
09:05 – Some examples of what are put in their product shipments
10:18 – Ryan’s team nets just under 50% of their topline revenue of 500K
11:03 – Ryan and how he sold his yoga products business
13:14 – Selling a cash flow business is possible but not easy
14:30 – If you want to have an exit with a cash flow business, you need to build it like to acquire customers and influence the marketplace.
16:00 – Details on Ryan’s next conference
17:55 – Famous Five

Famous 5

Favorite Book?— Straight-Line Leadership by Dusan Djukich
What CEO do you follow?— Glen Beck and Tai Lopez
What is your favorite online tool?— Ryan prefers a physical journal (probably black moleskin)
Do you get 8 hours of sleep?— Most of the time (unless the baby’s having a particular night)
If you could let your 20 year old self know one thing, what would it be?— Realize that you don’t have to do something the way everybody says it should be done. Blaze your own path.

Resources Mentioned:

Growth Geeks – The way Nathan hires growth hackers on a per project basis for things like info graphics, blog posts, and other growth projects
freedomfastlane.com – Ryan’s website
Glen Beck...

Next Episode

Art of Your First Six Figure Launch with Kimra Luna

Ep 142 Kimra Luna joins Nathan.

Kimra Luna is a personal branding and online business strategist who helps freedom-seeking entrepreneurs to stand out, captivate their audiences’ attention and monetize their authentic brands online.

In 2014 and after being on government welfare for over 41⁄2 years, Kimra defied the odds grew her business from zero to $880k in sales in the less than a year.You can find Kimra on YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and of course Facebook where she consistently provides advice and guidance to her group The Freedom Hacker’s Mastermind.

Click here to join the top tribe and instantly learn how Nathan made his first $10k at 19 years old: http://nathanlatka.com/startertribelive

3 Key Points:

Demand for sales on the internet usually grows exponentially right before closing hours.
Growing a community based on Facebook ads and other means can be achieved for less than 2$ per conversion.
For those just starting out, remember to go for it! Don’t hold back.

Episode Notes:

01:00 – Nathan’s introduction to today’s show
01:44 – Kimra joins the show
01:54– Kimra sells a signature program called Be True, Brand You
02:03 – In her first year of business, she made 880K in sales from the program
02:42 – Before the program, Kimra was a health and wellness food blogger
03:31 – Sales page for program not up currently – the program runs for short periods per year
04:00 – Kimra’s website was designed by Diane and Peach – it’s hand drawn
05:17 – Kimra goes over all her expenses for her program (facebook ads, team, copywriting, sales page, brand video, photoshoot)
07:23 – At first, Kimra’s ad revenue was used for previously familiar audiences
08:45 – In February, Kimra’s list was 10K-11K, by end of launch, 12K.
09:19 – Advertising for her webinar is kept below 2 dollars per conversion (people who saw it)
10:48 – Audience members usually purchased a product after watching 4 webinars
11:16 – 1500-2000 members register for each webinar, about half of them show up
11:30 – The webinars are about 90 minutes long and cover a wide variety of topics
12:03 – Kimra doesn’t do sales on the webinar event, but usually the demand is much more massive last minute
13:07 – Luckily because most of Kimra’s list is in her Facebook community, she doesn’t have to email much
14:03 – The 2K digital course buys into a membership site with videos covering the ins and outs of online marketing – Kimra also answers individual questions from members
16:00 – Kimra grew her group and list simultaneously
18:13 – Famous Five

Famous 5

Favorite Book?— Don’t have one
What CEO do you follow?— Nope, don’t have one
What is your favorite online tool?— Leadpages
Do you get 8 hours of sleep?— No, she’s got three children. (Whew!)
If you could let your 20 year old self know one thing, what would it be?— Go for it! Don’t hold back. Just go for it.

Resources Mentioned:

Growth Geeks – The way Nathan hires growth hackers on a per project basis for things like info graphics, blog posts, and other growth projects
Kimraluna.com – Kimra’s website
Diane and Peach – People who designed Kimra’s website
LeadPages – Kimra’s favorite online tool
Want to learn how to go from $0-$10k/mo in revenue fast? Join Nathan live on the Starter Tribe Beta free workshop.

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