Learn to Sell, Learn to Build—Then Watch Your Momentum Compound
Build It, Sell It, Repeat — The Shortcut to Being Officially Unstoppable
After 17 years of chatting with entrepreneurs on Your Partner In Success Radio, I’ve discovered a predictable tragedy: brilliant builders who can’t persuade anyone to buy, and world‑class talkers with absolutely nothing worth buying. The fix? Do both. It’s not rocket science, but it is the rocket fuel.
The Two Skills That Make Everything Else Easier
| Skill | Street Translation | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|
| Building | Turning that “wouldn’t it be cool if…?” daydream into something people can actually use. | Ideas are free. Shipping is what pays the rent. |
| Selling | Convincing the right folks (and their wallets) your creation is the answer to their 3 a.m. frustrations. | Revenue keeps the lights—and your caffeine supply—on. |
Polish Your Selling Game (No Sleaze Required)
- Lead with listening. If you’re monologuing, you’re lecturing—listen instead and prospects will hand you the script.
- Pitch the after‑photo, not the ingredients. “Spend Friday with your family” beats “Now in version 3.7 with quantum widgets!” every single time.
- Master the kettle‑boil test. Explain what you do before Grandma’s tea whistles; trim ruthlessly until you can.
- Collect objections like baseball cards. The more you have in your binder, the quicker you can flash the perfect rebuttal.
Upgrade Your Building chops (Minus the Tech‑Bro Jargon)
- Prototype like a kid with LEGOs. Snap together, see what breaks, rebuild—speed beats perfection.
- Book a weekly “tinker slot.” One sacred, phone‑free hour to try that new API or tool. Curiosity compounds.
- Document as you go. Screenshots today save headaches—and explanations—tomorrow.
- Borrow brilliance. Open‑source repos, mastermind chats, late‑night tutorials… stand on friendly shoulders.
Where the Real Magic (and Money) Happens
Instant feedback loop: Every sale doubles as a free focus group—mine it for insight.
Show, don’t slide‑deck: A two‑minute demo beats a thirty‑slide nap inducer.
Lead with Proof: “Mark went from chasing invoices for weeks to getting paid automatically within 24 hours”—much more compelling than rattling off behind‑the‑scenes feature updates.
Partner up: If calling strangers makes you twitch, team with someone who lives for it—and vice versa.
Quick‑Start Action Plan
Split your calendar: Carve out one day for deep building, another for pure selling. Guard them like the last brownie.
Run a monthly retro: Ask, “What did we launch? What did we sell? What belly‑flopped like a soggy pancake?” Adjust.
Invest in a brain boost: Grab a workshop, coach, or conference—whatever plugs your biggest skill gap fastest.
Celebrate tiny wins: Each new feature shipped and invoice paid puts wind in your sails. Momentum loves applause.
Learn to build. Learn to sell. Nail both and—trust me—you’ll be cruising so fast the speed‑limit signs turn into a blur.