# Summary: In Episode #167 Ari speaks with [Eelco DeBoer](http://www.eel.co/), a Dutch serial entrepreneur who got his start in online business selling hip-hop CDs and other wares over eBay. Since then, Eelco has grown into one of Holland's most prolific digital businessman, with no less than six different companies to his name. **Special Announcements:** ## Fuel the Fire Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank. ## [Harvard Hijinks](http://helmsociety.com/ari-meisel-ceo-roundtable-nc/) Come watch Ari regale a roundtable of avid [Helm Society](http://helmsociety.com/) listeners with the lessons of Less Doing on September 9th from 10AM to 2PM in Cambridge, MA. ## Subscribe to the Podcast or [Leave Us a Review!](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ari-meisel-less-doing/id605938952?mt=2&uo=6) Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you're not already a dedicated follower. **Time Stamped Show Notes:** - 29:00 – Introduction of internet entrepreneur [Eelco DeBoer](http://www.eel.co/) - 29:30 – Eelco defines his business background—it all started with hip hop records - 31:38 – For five years, Eelco sold thousands and thousands of products on Ebay and other online platforms to make money - 32:18 – Information products slowly became Eelco's bread and butter - 33:33 – Strategy wasn't a part of Eelco's development—in some sense, success just fell out of the sky based on what Eelco needed and enjoyed doing - 34:10 – Eelco labored furiously to educate his customers so they would buy from him - 35:30 – The main resource Eelco used to build his business?—pure luck - 36:45 – Europe still struggles with accepting Entrepreneurship - 38:45 – Why Eelco focuses his operations on Holland as opposed to the globe - 40:50 – The absence of a business model can provide a certain level of freedom and flexibility that's empowering - 42:50 – Exciting marketing tools and technologies on the horizon - 43:20 – The great thing about Facebook is – in a short amount of time – you can reach large volumes of your ideal audience - 44:30 – Forget investing in real estate, invest in virtual real estate - 45:20 – Bridging the gap between followers and buyers - 46:10 – Just because something is simple doesn't mean it's a bad idea - 46:25 – Business is two things—sowing and reaping—most people are only good at one or the other - 48:06 – Eelco's _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_ - 48:14 – Switch off the internet - 49:29 – Give away your password to your Facebook account to someone you trust - 50:50 – Exercise and outsource your discipline - 52:05 – [Eel.Co](http://www.eel.co/) **7 Key Points:** 1. Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones. 2. Like it or not, luck will play some role in your success. 3. Invest in virtual real estate. 4. To create a winning business, you don't necessarily need a business model. 5. Follow your passion and it will lead you places you never thought possible. 6. Social media marketing is shockingly under-utilized. 7. Business is two things: reaping and sowing. **Resources Mentioned:** - [The Annoyance of the Unread](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/05/why-some-people-cant-stand-having-unread-emails/394031/) – An Atlantic article using science to explain why unread emails are so annoying - [Right Signature](https://rightsignature.com/?ref=producthunt&utm_content=buffer38ea2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer) – Quick and easy digital document signing - [Lollie.biz](http://lollie.biz/?ref=producthunt) – Same idea as Bump-Sale—every time someone buys your product, the --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message