In this episode, I share what I learned from investing $45,000 in Alex and Layla Hormozi’s VAM Workshop. The event focused on scaling businesses from $3 million to $100 million using their Value Acceleration Method framework.

I break down the biggest lessons I took away in marketing, sales, and general business strategy. From optimizing conversion rates through structured testing to motivating sales teams with weekly incentives, I cover practical insights that can be applied to any business.

I also talk about the importance of delegating effectively and mentoring your team beyond just their work roles. If you’re trying to scale your business or just looking for better ways to optimize what you’re already doing, this episode has plenty of actionable advice.

(0:00) - Introduction
(0:18) - What We're Going to Cover
(0:45) - What is the VAM workshop?
(4:31) - Marketing Frameworks
(23:38) - Sales Frameworks
(45:25) - General Business Lessons & Realizations
(56:04) - Was the VAM event worth it?
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✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started. https://startwritingonline.com

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🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: https://yt.startwritingwithai.com

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://yt.startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📰 Subscribe to Dickie's Digest here: http://dickiesdigest.com

Here's the full software list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZK4gJIiSeL-GMKk3AQHAAuRuejHpK6qfqd3cn7Uzyjc/edit?usp=sharing

Running a $500K/month digital writing business requires the right tools—but is spending $8,215/month on software necessary? In this breakdown, I go through every tool we use for marketing, sales, automation, content creation, and team management, explaining why we use it and whether it’s essential. From email marketing and payment processing to AI-powered automations, this video reveals how we streamline operations, save time, and maximize efficiency. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimize your software stack, this deep dive will help you make smarter decisions for your business.

(01:10) Marketing & Sales

(17:52) Course Hosting & Payments

(24:57) Operations

(41:11) Written Content

(46:45) Media Production

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✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started. https://startwritingonline.com

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com

👻 Want me to be your ghostwriting mentor? Apply to join our Premium Ghostwriting Academy: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=$100kCommunityYT&htrafficsource=youtube_organic

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: https://yt.startwritingwithai.com

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://yt.startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📰 Subscribe to Dickie's Digest here: http://dickiesdigest.com

Join Digital Air for behind-the-scenes build process access: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L5_KViOHFMEOCJ-ixKu5X3Enez2RLyu9YtilwPlW9VI/edit?usp=sharing

In this video, I break down what we’re building, who it’s for, and the three-phase roadmap (Ideate, Validate, Scale) to make an online community successful. I also share key lessons from past community-building mistakes, how we’re avoiding churn, and the survey + onboarding strategy to ensure you create something truly valuable. If you're looking to grow a thriving online community, this is the blueprint. Stay tuned for real-time updates and insights!

(01:40)  The Education + Mentorship + Community Model
(07:27)  Where This Community Fits in Our Business
(12:53)  Three Phases to $100K/Month: Ideate, Validate, Scale
(18:03)  Avoiding the Mistakes That Cause Community Churn

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✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started: https://yt.startwritingonline.com

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com

👻 Want me to be your ghostwriting mentor? Apply to join our Premium Ghostwriting Academy: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=$100kCommunityYT&htrafficsource=youtube_organic

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: https://yt.startwritingwithai.com

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://yt.startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📚 For more information on my books, businesses, and other writings, visit my website: https://www.nicolascole.com

Watch 12 Lessons from Alex Hormozi’s Scaling Workshop: https://youtu.be/7x5AWRo_y0E

Scaling to $1M per month didn’t go as planned. In this video, I break down the last four months of our business journey what I aimed for, what went wrong, and the biggest lessons I learned. From scaling our acquisition and sales teams to optimizing marketing funnels, I share the key mistakes that slowed us down and how I’m applying these lessons.

—

(02:03) - The Three Key Pillars: Marketing, Sales, and Fulfillment
(07:27) - Hiring Mistakes and Unexpected Churn
(14:25) - Cold Traffic Funnels vs. Warm Traffic Funnels
(29:38) - Top 10 Lessons from This Journey
(37:42) - Why Failure is Part of the Process

—

🔗 Other videos I think you'll enjoy:

Everything I Learned In 2024 Condensed Into 2.5 Hours: https://youtu.be/FFqg1UlrSg4

The Goal-Achieving Hack I Wish I Knew Earlier: https://youtu.be/tHuJYsBZzcc

How To Generate 100+ VIRAL Content Ideas In 15 Minutes: https://youtu.be/HwQ_TpKW1uk

—

✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started. https://startwritingonline.com

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com

👻 Want me to be your ghostwriting mentor? Apply to join our Premium Ghostwriting Academy: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=BTSCoachingYT&htrafficsource=youtube_organic

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: https://yt.startwritingwithai.com

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://yt.startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📰 Subscribe to Dickie's Digest here: http://dickiesdigest.com

Ever wondered what it takes to run a $6M/year coaching business? In this video, I take you behind the scenes of my group coaching business, Premium Ghostwriting Academy (PGA), breaking down our organizational structure, revenue strategy, and key performance indicators (KPIs). You'll see how we generate and retain clients, optimize team performance, and scale operations all with a clear framework for decision-making. Whether you're starting out or scaling your business, this deep dive will give you actionable insights to apply right away. Let’s get into it!

(04:05) - Departments & KPIs

(09:17) - Org Chart

(12:31) - Marketing & Brand

(14:09) - Sales

(16:16) - Operations

(18:59) - Client Success Team

(25:18) - Calendar Audits

(30:01) - Project Prioritization

----------

✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started. https://startwritingonline.com

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com

👻 Want me to be your ghostwriting mentor? Apply to join our Premium Ghostwriting Academy: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=BTSCoachingYT&htrafficsource=youtube_organic

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: https://yt.startwritingwithai.com

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://yt.startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📰 Subscribe to Dickie's Digest here: http://dickiesdigest.com

If you got value from this video, I know you'll like these 12 Lessons from Alex Hormozi’s Scaling Workshop: https://youtu.be/7x5AWRo_y0E

---

🔗 Other videos I think you'll enjoy:

Everything I Learned In 2024 Condensed Into 2.5 Hours: https://youtu.be/FFqg1UlrSg4

The Goal-Achieving Hack I Wish I Knew Earlier: https://youtu.be/tHuJYsBZzcc

How To Generate 100+ VIRAL Content Ideas In 15 Minutes: https://youtu.be/HwQ_TpKW1uk

---

✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started. https://startwritingonline.com

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com

👻 Want me to be your ghostwriting mentor? Apply to join our Premium Ghostwriting Academy: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=BTSCoachingYT&htrafficsource=youtube_organic

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: https://yt.startwritingwithai.com

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://yt.startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📰 Subscribe to Dickie's Digest here: http://dickiesdigest.com

👻 Become a Premium Ghostwriter: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=HormoziBreakdownYT&htrafficsource=youtube_organic

At the beginning of this year, I attended Alex and Leila Hormozi's Scaling Workshop. In this video, I'm diving into my main lessons and realizations from the event, as well as what this means for my company in the upcoming year. If you're looking to scale, evaluate your company, or improve your business no matter where you find yourself - take these insights and apply them for yourself.

(00:37)  Lesson 1
The Fastest Moving Entrepreneurs Are Obsessive Resource Allocators

(04:09)  Lesson 2
$3m To $10m EBITDA Is Where The Majority Of The Value In A Business Is Created

(07:00)  Lesson 3
LTV:CAC Are Two Metrics You Must Have Staring At You

(10:04)  Lesson 4
You Need A Single Dashboard With The Most Important Metrics In The Business

(12:03)  Lesson 5
Leveling Up In Business Is Transitioning To Selling To People To Selling To Employees

(14:10)  Lesson 6
Brand Is The Best Way To Improve LTV And Reduce CAC At The Same Time

(16:02)  Lesson 7
Every Single Thing In Your Business Is Trainable, You Just Lack The Skill Of Training

(18:54)  Lesson 8
The People Doing It At The Highest Level Have An Obsessive, Intentional Standard

(20:04)  Lesson 9
Past $3-5m In Revenue, Anything "New" Starts With "Who" Not "How"

(23:33)  Lesson 10
Excellence Is A Remarkably High Number Of Extremely Small Details Done Well

(26:23)  Lesson 11
Any Change You Make In A Business You Should Expect A 20% "Decrease" In Performance To Start

(28:07)  Lesson 12
The Ultimate Size Of The Business Is The Sum Of The Intelligence Of It's People

🔗 Other videos I think you'll enjoy:

Everything I Learned In 2024 Condensed Into 2.5 Hours: https://youtu.be/FFqg1UlrSg4

The Goal-Achieving Hack I Wish I Knew Earlier: https://youtu.be/tHuJYsBZzcc

How To Generate 100+ VIRAL Content Ideas In 15 Minutes: https://youtu.be/HwQ_TpKW1uk

---------------

✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started: [https://startwritingonline.com](https://yt.startwritingonline.com/)

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: [https://www.ship30for30.com](https://www.ship30for30.com/)

👻 Want me to be your ghostwriting mentor? Apply to join our Premium Ghostwriting Academy: https://join.premiumghostwritingacademy.com/

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Check out our favorite ChatGPT prompts for writers: [https://startwritingwithai.com](https://startwritingwithai.com/)

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: [https://typeshare.co](https://typeshare.co/)

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Here's a crash course on how to turn timeless storytelling frameworks into game-changing ChatGPT prompts: https://startfictionwritingwithai.com/

📚 For more information on my books, businesses, and other writings, visit my website: [https://www.nicolascole.com](https://www.nicolascole.com/)

Subscribe to Dickie's Digest here: http://dickiesdigest.com

Download the Yearly Review guide here: http://theyearlyreview.com
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/FFqg1UlrSg4

Reflect with me on everything I learned and experienced in 2024 in this comprehensive yearly review. From visiting 10 countries across three continents and learning to DJ in Amsterdam to hitting personal and financial milestones, this video recaps it all. I'll walk you through my personal and business highlights, the lessons I’ve learned, and my biggest takeaways to inspire your own growth in the year ahead. With timestamps provided, you can jump straight to the sections that interest you most. Let’s dive into a year of challenges, wins, and the insights that made this quite the year.

(1:45)  My Yearly Review Process

(5:13)  Personal Recap
(6:01)  Visited 10 countries on 3 continents
(9:50)  Slept in 21 different apartments/hotels/houses across the world
(12:35)  Learned to DJ in Amsterdam
(15:03)  Hit a record net worth, record income, and record spending
(24:15) Passed the first full year mark without my dad
(29:09) Experienced the most mental & emotional stress I ever have in a year (and expanded capacity as a result)
(37:58) Celebrated my first 1-year anniversary
(43:15) Learned to box with immersive 1:1 training
(45:13) Provided significant support for my mom, my sister, and my girlfriend
(51:08) Struggled to make consistent health & fitness gains during the year

(55:30)  Business Recap

(56:42)  Grew our top line by roughly 40%
(1:03:15) Grew the team from 13 to 28 members
(1:09:50) Wrote the least “new” content I have in my 4 years of writing
(1:15:36) Learned to operate and grow with paid ads
(1:23:08) Relaunched Ship 30 as an async digital product
(1:27:52) Launched an overhauled version of our PGA curriculum
(1:29:58) Added a new 1:1 CSM division with 6 new CSMs
(1:32:51) Added 4 new closers to expand the sales team
(1:37:42) Launched our best digital product yet for Black Friday
(1:39:19) Hit $1m in a month for the first time ever

(1:44:49) Lessons & Realizations

(1:45:48) #1 The most expensive tax is not from the government, it’s an unmade decision.
(1:50:27) #2 There is no right path, just bags of benefits and bags of problems. The only wrong choice is making no choice.
(1:53:42) #3 Satisfaction = reality - expectations
(1:59:37) #4 The most empowering belief you can have is viewing every problem in your life as a personal skill issue.
(2:03:55) #5 If you want to change a habit, chunk up a level and treat the cause of the habit, not the symptom.
(2:07:56) #6 The more you look for confirming evidence, the more you will find it (good or bad).
(2:10:28) #7 Your relationship, your business, and your health are mere reflections of your internal state.
(2:14:08) #8 The main problem keeping you from ascending to the next level (in any domain) will be present no matter the vehicle.
(2:18:21) #9 Generalities create anxiety, specifics create direction.
(2:22:27) #10 Life is about learning the same lessons multiple times, just at different levels of significance.

(2:28:25) Goals for 2025
(2:29:07) #1 Build daily ~30-minute meditation habit
(2:29:51) #2 Build daily schedule with no work meetings until 1 PM to allow for a morning of mobility, meditation, writing, and my daily workout
(2:30:49) #3 Lean down to 190 lbs (from 210) while maintaining strength levels
(2:31:31) #4 Improve RHR to below 50 BPM
(2:32:00) #5 Heal nagging knee injury to allow for pain-free lower body exercise
(2:32:46) #6 Build business to consistent $1m/month at 50%+ operating margins
(2:33:46) #7 Learn Spanish at conversational level to allow me to fully communicate in any South American city
(2:34:28) #8 Publish 12 YouTube/newsletter/podcast episodes breaking down my key personal frameworks for iteration in all areas of life
(2:35:24) #9 Publish my first live DJ set on YouTube
(2:35:50) #10 Reduce my average monthly spending by 25% to reign in subtle lifestyle inflation
(2:36:43) #11 Establish weekly CBT routine with a trained therapist
(2:37:28) #12 Purchase my first apartment in a major city to begin building a home base

(2:39:42) Closing Thoughts
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How I can help you:

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