On this page you can do three things:
1. Read the testimonials for the product. Look at the comments.
2. Add your own testimonial in the comments.
3. Click here to read more about—The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up A Business.
Warm regards
Sean D’Souza
P.S. In case you have any questions, please email me. I do answer every email.
I’ve had a successful consulting business for many years, although my marketing sucked. But my new startup is in a completely new business where I had the technical expertise, but I was worried about traction.
I wrote a book and published it on Amazon.I’ve had good reviews but not really a lot of traction in my business. So, I was worried that perhaps I’d have lackluster response in my business and get nowhere.
So even though I like Sean&’s stuff I wasn’t sure it would help me.
As a result of listening to the series:
I have very specific monetary goals that are quite modest. But it doesn’t matter how modest if I don’t make progress, then I’m sunk. Sean showed me that I need to think of this as a 5-year strategy. And my first necessity is to build a following. So, because of this series I’ve started laying out a strategy for how to develop the business. The timeline is not the most important but getting the business pieces in the right order is. I think because of the startup and the sequence course I have a strategy that might work.
The specific feature I liked most about the series:
It’s hard to say. My favorite lessons were 2 and 3. The idea of leveraging time and Finding the Big Shortcuts in 2 really appealed to me. I’ve been adding this stuff in my personal life recently and looking to put it into play in the new business. But it’s the learning strategy in lesson 3 that really appealed.
Probably because I started drawing again after many years of letting it lie fallow. And I’;ve been doing it in 10-minute increments. The things I have gotten the most out of is the concept that I won't be able
to be an overnight success and that I need to leverage the time I have better.
Three other benefits:
1. From your stuff I’ve noticed a strategy behind your work. This is no surprise
because you don’t hide it! Seeing it, though, makes things more believable and
develop more confidence in the small steps I’m taking. And it’s making me read the Brain Audit, yet again.
2. Recognizing that being comfortable (lesson 4) is my procrastination trigger. I’m enjoying what I’m doing, and I’ll do the business stuff tomorrow. This is a big benefit.
3. That I really don’t understand marketing from a practical, hands-on approach. I understand it intellectually, but I really run into issues doing what is laid out in Lesson 5. I listened to this lesson more than any of the others because my resistance was so high, I didn’t want to disturb myself. I finally got that I’ve got to do these steps. And no matter how scary or disturbing of my comfort I must learn to do this. And it also shows me that I need 5000bc more than the next program I wanted to buy. Oh my.
I would recommend this product:
Yes. This series forces you to look at the process of your business: from designing your reasons of existence; to the creation of products based on need; to learning how to manage your time; to dealing with the real issue behind procrastination; to the process and mindset behind finding and dealing with your clients. There are also small gems that bleed over into your private passions that are quite helpful.
The start-up business series provided the overarching principles of starting a new business. It deals with the mental struggles and helps you answer why you want to start a business in the first place.
The specific feature I I iked most about the series.
Why philosophy matters. It’s your business, and it’s important to find your philosophy to keep you motivated and don’t chase after things someone else believes are important.
Three other benefits
—Focus on a recurring boring problem.
—Be a GPS.
—How to minimize feeling like an imposter and see yourself as an expert.
Yes, I would recommend this product. If you’re thinking about starting a business this series shows you a way of thinking that will help you gain clarity with all the things that go through your head.
Thank you, Sean.
I enjoyed your webinar series and teaching. You gave a very usable, comprehensible approach to starting up. I particularly like your insights and deconstruction of topics.
Thanks again!
Charley Martin
USA
Sean got me thinking by saying to start with one client. Today, I noticed that everyday this week, I have had ONE client. One was what I considered a “REAL” client.
The other days, I had small purchases on my ecommerce store. I had written a nice “Your Order Shipped” automatic email telling customers to be sure and call with anything they weren’t sure about, and each customer wrote me a short note back. I replied and they replied.
One placed an additional order. Today, I had a short consult and sent her a written care plan- an 800 word article all about her, really- and she wrote back thanking me, saying it’s nice to have notes to refer back to after a consult.
I wouldn’t have such a good feeling if I didn’t have the framework of “JUST ONE CLIENT.”
Donna Bruschi
NY, USA
I have a story to tell.
Eight months ago when I joined 5000BC I had no intention of starting a business. I just wanted to hang out with cool kids and improve my writing. I am a writer and I want to write cool books 😎 and want to be able to sell them. Sean convinced me that the best way to learn is to teach what you want to learn. So I announced a course ‘Life Story Blogging’ at the local U3A.
Six people joined.
Two weeks later face-to-face classes got suspended due to pandemic lock-down but I continued through Webinar. Three people stuck with me. Yesterday I did the last class of ten-class series. I got glowing testimonials from them. I created course notes as PowerPoint slides and gave it to them after each session.
They loved the simplicity of them.
I didn’t make any money from the course but learned a lot. I learned how to do webinars, on my own, in a day (imagine the things you can do when put on a spot) which has opened me to a whole lot of new future possibilities).
Most of all my confidence is an all-time high.
Just three non-paying clients have got me started on the path I wanted so much to be on. Now rather than writing cool books I am planning to write simple courses, teaching one skill at a time. That is cool in itself. Local writer centre and U3A are my waterholes at the moment.
From Monday I am starting the Article Writing course with Sean, with the goal of writing on Medium, a bigger waterhole.
I just wanted to share my story to say how important it is to put your learning into practice straight away. I am a big believer that the world belongs to those who take action.
Neera Mahajan
NSW, Australia
neeramahajan.com
1. What were the obstacles that would have prevented you from
buying–The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up (6 part webinar series)
– I was familiar with many of Sean’s ideas on the presented topics and already bought into his philosophy. But I think my biggest doubt was about the outcome of the series. I wanted to avoid information and get to some concrete results after attending.
– Another doubt was about where do I stand in the business starting journey. I sort of started, but my consulting is more of a side gig rather than a full-time endeavor. So I was not sure how applicable this series is going to be for my situation.
2. What did you find as a result of listening to the series?
I am glad I took part in the series. The series helps answer the why-questions about starting-up business. Like why it is important to create more time. Understanding these concepts is crucial, in my opinion, to get through the mental struggle of starting-up. It helps diffuse self-doubts and provides inspiration to keep going. It also ties business to life. And this may be a bit philosophical but is very important because business is part of life. We work to live and not the other way around.
3. The specific feature you liked most about the series.
Now I have new ways to look at common questions about moving ahead. Even though I have seen many concepts before, e.g. 3-prong system, there was a new layer for them in the webinar series. Besides, there were brand new ideas for me, like time management approaches or starting from 1000 vs. starting from 0 or the importance of the philosophy. While some of these concepts may not be immediately implementable, I find it valuable to know about them. So that I can use them when I have a need.
4. Three other benefits?
– Reinforces understanding of concepts seen in other courses/products/articles.
– What’s up group. Gets you out of the vacuum and provides an area to hang out with people going through the same pains of starting up. Seeing other people struggle the same or more makes me realize that struggle is a normal part of starting up.
– Also simply getting to know people. I know I can relate to people more after seeing them speak during the webinars. Some of them I would want to continue communicating while others not. In any case, it helps to make connections outside of my usual circle.
-The ability to ask Sean questions life has a lot of benefits. Just being able to voice your question and speak in front of an audience (virtual but nevertheless) is a boost of confidence. Plus it saves a lot of time searching for answers by getting a detailed response from Sean.
5. Would you recommend this product and why?
– This series provides a good overview of the whole “start-up your business” idea. It gives the inspiration to get/keep going, explains why certain challenges happen, e.g. like getting stuck. And the series explains the methods to get over these challenges. The first webinar provides a specific result – defining your first/second level problems. So that every participant will walk out with a specific result.
1. What were the obstacles that would have prevented you from buying–The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up? I am self-employed as a solicitor (attorney) in a small firm that has been going a long time (100+ years) in a small town in a rural area. I’ve seen possible opportunities for starting up associated businesses but I was not sure whether this course would be too ‘basic’ or whether it would seem to have universal application. I have known Sean as a teacher for a few years and over several courses, so I was confident that I would find the course interesting and engaging but I wasn’t sure that the subject matter would be that relevant to someone who is already in an ongoing business or whether the material would only seem to be applicable to certain types of business (e.g. product-based businesses as opposed to service-based).
2. What did you find as a result of listening to the series? I found it really helpful to get an overview of many different aspects of starting a business, including choosing your topic, clarifying the philosophy behind your business and the attainment and application of expertise. The course is taught to a clear structure, with incremental learning, frequent summaries and lots of opportunities to ask questions. The presentations are always absorbing and the emphasis on frequently-changing images – many of them Sean’s own cartoons – rather than blocks of text, allows the concepts to sink in gently. It also means that re-watching the presentations is never a chore. There’s a lot of material packed into each Session and you probably need to watch each one at least 3 times to begin to get the full benefit from it. It may be that each time you just come away with one “big idea” but that’s enough when you can so easily go back and watch again. I had this experience, for example, with the concept of business philosophy (and how you get to your own one) and again, towards the end of the course, with the realisation of the central importance and enduring power of referrals as a source of business. I wanted to go away and think about those things immediately and come back to take in other elements from these particular presentations later.
3. The specific feature you liked most about the series. The thing that stands out for me is that it proved to be a good back-to-basics for someone with an existing business (emphasising the word “existing”) – almost a kind of “health check” as to the fundamentals that need to be in place and being nurtured and developed. It provided me with new ways of looking at my business – finding some gaps to be filled and some opportunities to explore.
4. Three other benefits?
(a) Sean was always on hand to answer questions in the WhatsApp group, and before and after each Session. I contributed very little but I found the discussions entertaining and educational, and they also helped to develop a sense of community among the people taking the course. Others on the course were very generous in sharing their learning outcomes and summaries of what they had taken from particular topics.
(b) Related to (a) but the fact that it’s easier to keep applying yourself to learning concepts if you feel others are clearly engaged in the same process along with you – the “if you want to go fast, go alone but, if you want to go far, go in a group” approach. The “group” course structure made it more likely each person would complete the course.
(c) It has got me thinking more about related businesses that could be started up, what they might be and how they would work (for example, one is a sort of lifestyle website for the local area we serve which could have possible spin-off benefits in terms of attracting interest from people who may wish to move to the area and who would then need services we offer such as house buying). In other words, the course has provided me with a lens or, maybe better, a framework within which to analyse the “pluses” and “minuses” of possible business ideas.
5. Would you recommend this product and why? I would recommend the Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up a Business because I think it can help you at any stage of business – whether you are starting up or whether you are well past that stage. It deals with big concepts that you may not have noticed or at least articulated up to now and it also has granular, practical advice on things you should be doing now day-to-day (and things you should avoid). Sean always provides practical advice with real enthusiasm, which is inspiring. At the same time, he never avoids the difficult issues or makes you think that you can somehow make it all happen without hard work. He makes it seem manageable and helps you to see how to approach these things in a way that minimise the risk of you becoming overwhelmed – which is bound to be a risk if you’re trying to start a business.
I find that I have undervalued the importance of simplicity or elegance in learning…and your webinar today was an example that simplicity (or maybe narrowing to three topics) has maximum value. It was digestible like your writing and courses – and I have clear ideas and focus from the webinar. It was the right balance.
Today was a good reminder of starting somewhere and moving forward to Fluency – not Expertise as a focus. And it’s okay to learn as you go, then produce as you learn…(why didn’t I think of that?)
It was powerful to hear you talk about being a doctor and healing the patient the first time analogy… I’m not a university professor who needs to fill months of content for one topic! That’s a big unlearning for me from running corporate universities and attending university as models of education.
I loved seeing the 13 point system at work in the webinar and your examples were refreshing! I see how it applies to Presentations, and now Articles, even the potential for info products…workshops, etc.
I also loved the idea that the sequence is what is asked for from repeat clients, and that I get to choose what sequence to follow. I’m also clear that there’s many, many moons of work ahead after this single webinar. I’m also clear that I won’t see the big picture of my work until the mystery unfolds itself, and that’s just fine.
As you know, the power of the copywriting example to the individual products for leverage was much clearer and helpful for me to see and was something I really needed to understand.
…but the most powerful aspect for me was the last answer you gave to my last question – what doorway to start with…the one I’m most enthusiastic with…and that will always stick with me for the rest of my life…
I’ve felt I need to ‘shed’ old work expertise I felt obligated to use because of my tenure and investment acquiring it all but it’s run it’s course and your answer is really making me look at what I’m most enthusiastic about. Brilliant!
Finally, and most surprising to me, is that with what you presented, I think about questions related to the content today, and I find that if I remember or reflect on what you talked about, I can answer my own question!
My application:
Pick a doorway. Start small. Collect in one place. Do it every day.
Thanks,
Chris
1. What were the obstacles that would have prevented you from
buying–The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up (6 part webinar series)
Geez, where do I start? I have a confession to make. I have shiny object syndrome. I always have and am still struggling (although less after The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up) with this debilitating affliction. I have been employed and “self-employed” off and on since 2003. Self-employment has been littered with ideas started and ideas not finished…mostly because I have shiny object syndrome. So when Sean’s email popped into my email inbox announcing the launch of The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up my eyes lit up initially, and then the weight of my shiny object syndrome (and the long and winding road littered with business ideas…aka baggage) came crashing down on me. To say I was skeptical would be putting it very mildly. My history with Sean (and Renuka) spans more than a decade. I know what they put out is quality stuff…books, webinars, online (live) courses, home study courses, membership communities…I’ve bought it all. And they deliver what they say they will deliver, and they do so in a structured and organized manner. And so, despite the weight of my “baggage” and associated skepticism, I pulled the trigger…again.
2. What did you find as a result of listening to the series?
The title of the webinar series is The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up. So my expectation was I was going to get big picture stuff related to starting up a new business. And with Sean (and Renuka), big picture stuff does not mean fluff. All five sessions were detailed, structured, and organized. And all five sessions delivered on the critical thinking (yes…a lot of thinking should go into starting a business) stages required for a successful start-up. Collectively, the five sessions provided a framework needed to tackle the broad strategic actions required to successfully launch a new business. As always, they delivered.
3. The specific feature you liked most about the series.
There was excellent value in all five sessions. The one session that particularly hit close to home (because I have shiny object syndrome) is the 5th…How to deal with being stuck or frozen. I know I will re-watch/listen to this one a lot because it tackles the main symptom (being stuck/frozen) of my shiny object syndrome directly. If you take this webinar series and you suffer from this particular symptom, you will find some of the concepts (Time vs Energy, Power of the Timer, Preparation for example) illustrated will help you overcome being stuck/frozen…if you use the concepts.
4. Three other benefits?
1. Structure – as in all Psychotactics products/services, Sean/Renuka implemented structure in this webinar series. The key is using that structure to execute.
2. Session #5 – Execution – Working the pathway…great session as well. It will really help me identify my key services, but also it will help me map out future service/product rollouts from those key services.
3. Session #3 – Getting to expertise…Sean does a great job of outlining how to deal with a particular psychological ailment of many who are starting up a business…the fear/awkwardness/unease of thinking you’re a fraud because of your perceived lack of expertise.
5. Would you recommend this product and why?
Definitely. Even if you already have a business, taking this webinar series will help in launching new products/services. If you don’t have a going concern at this point, then yeah…you should definitely hit the buy button on this one.
6. Anything else you would like to add?
Nope…other than thanks Sean and Renuka for always delivering excellent value!
Everyone has a blueprint of how they got ‘successful’, and I know that it’s based on their experience. I am interested in principles (not blueprints) that can be applied to a range of businesses. And knowing Psychotactics as I do, I knew that’s what I’d get. No boring ‘step by step’ system that is straight jacket when it comes to execution.
As a result of listening to the series I learned:
Philosophy is the most important part of a business. I had thought about it, but not really thought about it. I found that without that, execution of marketing, how you build your products, how you treat your customers looks a bit chaotic, or a carbon copy of the competition.
Three other benefits?
1. The focus on the recurring boring problem was much needed. I can easily leapfrog to a solution without a problem. It was handy to reign me in
2. The GPS and the focus on the result. It was the analogy of the GPS that worked well and I hadn’t quite heard that before. It’ easy to take every customer on a tour of everything you know, but they don’t really care. They just care about what they need right now, and the GPS brings you down to earth. It helps you meet the customer where their head is at, not where yours is.
3. Sean was available between lessons to answer questions with the community. Other online training tends to dump pre-recorded lessons and have no Q&A support. Sean was there in between sessions, and the sessions were live. It felt personal – the opposite of many courses where you don’t get access to the teacher.
5. Would you recommend this product and why?
This is for people who are starting out and their heads are alive with random, pinballing ideas, but little know-how. This will hack away at the flab and give you a dose of focus, realism and inspiration about how to hit the ground running. With a live support community, I think this could be a great home study.
1. What were the obstacles that would have prevented you from
buying–The Psychology and Strategy of Starting Up (6 part webinar series)
At first it was the price tag. Why? Because I didn’t buy into it right at the first offering. As I know already nothing gets „cheaper“ at psychotactics 🙂
2. What did you find as a result of listening to the series?
The series was very liberating. Many myths were busted in my own head. Solving a „boring“ problem is not only good but profitable.
I can create now my own business world and don’t have to live according to some guru.
The framework presented in this series goes again the grain. The information hits you from an angle you’ve not anticipated.
3. The specific feature you liked most about the series.
The „Ask me any Question“ after the initial content. So many gold nuggets dropped there with great questions from an eager to learn congregation.
4. Three other benefits?
The WhatsApp group, entertaining presentation, very visual, thought provoking.
5. Would you recommend this product and why?
YES. It all starts with your thoughts and ideas. The content helps you to clear the foggy path in your head. You’ll have a much better understanding about YOUR why, how and what’s next.
The WhatsApp group is a fantastic place to bounce of your thoughts and ideas. The participants are eager to help out and share their opinion. Even friendships started there.
Don’t miss out!
When I first saw the offer for the Start up webinar, I thought to myself that I was kind of beyond the idea of starting up – after all I’ve had clients, created training and didn’t want to admit I needed help with the idea of starting over in my business and work.
Besides, I had wanted to spend my time the bigger and better courses to take with Psychotactics. Of course, after some time in 5000bc, I realized I could really use a primer, so I purchased the workshop and joined half way through not knowing what to expect.
As a result of listening to the series—I realized there are some fundamental pieces I needed to consider about my work and think through where I wanted to take the next steps in my work. This series made it possible to see what’s important when thinking about starting up a business with practical ideas and advice.
If I had just passed this off as another basic marketing series, I would have missed some major insights trying to jump ahead without considering some fundamentals. It was worth the investment and time.
specific feature you liked most about the series:
Probably my favorite part about the series is surprisingly the Q&A with Sean, both in the webinar and on What’s App. Some of my biggest aha’s happened in both of these areas with the main content as the basis for deeper conversations with Sean. As I was struggling with ideas, Sean was able to give guidance and move me forward in my work.
Other benefits:
—I also found Sean’s elegant simplicity refreshing in his content in how each webinar had a specific sequence that built over the session and gave enough concepts and ideas to move forward with each topic. I loved learning from a model of excellence in content design.
—Probably it goes without saying, but I find Sean a business genius in his thinking, approaches and content in this series (and in all his work). I found benefit learning from him in real time and seeing him use the exact same methodologies he talks about in his products.
I would recommend this series because there are some fundamental business concepts that anyone starting up a business would need to know in order to make the concrete decision to move forward in their work.
It’s not a 10x cheerleading session like most marketing trainings online – it’s simple, effective and strategic advice with real content and immediate application.
I feel a greater sense of confidence and support in moving forward with my work after this series.
Chris Montoya
Albuquerque, N.M. USA