Experts Forget Basics

Shaan Puri reflects on the challenge of helping beginners start businesses, realizing that what seems obvious to experienced entrepreneurs can be overwhelming and intimidating to newcomers. This insight came from his experience helping his personal trainer start a newsletter business.

Key Points:

• Expert's Misconception:

  • Initially thought people weren't taking action because they were lazy
  • Realized people weren't lazy, but rather afraid and confused
  • Most potential entrepreneurs are actually working harder than him in their day jobs

• The Real Barriers:

  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of looking dumb
  • Confusion about where to start
  • Overwhelmed by technical jargon and processes

• Expert's Perspective vs. Beginner's Reality:

  • Experts casually throw out terms like:
    • "Spin up a landing page"
    • "Set up on Beehive"
    • "Scrape email lists"
    • "Run Facebook ads"
  • Beginners have never done any of these tasks before

• Solution Approach:

  • Break down tasks into small, daily assignments
  • Give one clear task per day
  • Make each task manageable (about an hour of work)
  • Treat business coaching like personal training:
    • Daily "business workouts"
    • Clear, specific instructions
    • Patient, consistent guidance

• Key Learning:

  • Success requires staying patient with beginners
  • Need to recognize the gap between expert knowledge and beginner understanding
  • Important to provide structured, step-by-step guidance rather than overwhelming advice