Jeremy Britton started his first financial planning business at age 19 and went on to own six more financial planning businesses, as well as several retail businesses. His first investment book won a Money magazine award and became an international bestseller. This opened up opportunities to speak on many stages, as well as birthing a weekly radio show in NYC for two years, and a TV show in Australia.
A serial entrepreneur and investor, Jeremy provides advice to business owners in more than a dozen countries, and currently serves as the CFO of BostonCoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency mutual fund.
In addition to making money for himself and others, Jeremy likes to give it away, having supported the education of over 200 000 children in third-world countries.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up writing a book?
My parents were both schoolteachers. I grew up middle-class with a great “schooled” education on how to be the same as everyone else: work hard and get a good job. After quitting university to follow my Hollywood dream, I met several millionaires and entrepreneurs and decided to start my first financial planning business at age 19. This business failed, as I was book-smart but not street-smart. I found coaches and mentors with entrepreneur (not employee) mindsets and went on to create several successful startups.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
The aim of my first book was to turn ordinary consumers into extraordinary investors; using the same skills they use when choosing products and brands, but instead, choosing their own stocks. This book created many millionaires, became an international best-seller, won a Money Magazine award, and opened the opportunity to speak on many stages around the world.
My second book aims to enlighten employees and business owners on how to think and act like an entrepreneur: work significantly fewer hours, make more money, and becoming happier.
What are the top three tools you are currently using to write, publish, and promote your books?
My first book was created when I was very inexperienced, and I did my own typing, cover design, editing, publishing, sales, and promotion. It was a huge effort both before publication and for some years afterward. Now that I have learned the hard way, I outsource many tasks, such as transcription, editing, cover design, and publishing/distribution. Employees work hard; entrepreneurs delegate.
Writers can use a VA or transcription service such as Upwork to have audio recordings typed up, or they can try Otter.ai to have a computer do it. I have found people on similar gig sites to create cover designs and publish in hard copy or create ebooks on Amazon.
What were the top mistakes you made writing or publishing your book?
As above. I made the mistake of trying to save money and do everything myself. It took a lot more time, as I had to learn the skills before completing the tasks. It also took time away from things that were more fun, or more profitable. Just because you “can” does not mean you “should”. A writer would be best served by doing the tasks they do best and delegating the rest.
When will you consider your book a success?
I consider any of my books a success if it has changed the life of a single person. Feedback from readers of my first three books indicates that many people changed the way they invested, changed the way they did business, and changed the way they lived their life. I am sure that in the past, you have read a book that changed the course of your life, but you never emailed the author to let them know. Few people give feedback, and many authors will never know the full extent of the impact they have had, but if you can change one life, it was a successful venture.
Can you share a snippet that is not in the blurb or excerpt?
If you can choose one brand of toothpaste or shampoo over another, then you can safely invest into stocks, or cryptocurrency. You can use a 9-point template for stocks or a 4-step protocol for crypto and fare better than 99% of investors. If you can imagine working a business which you love for 4 hours a day and making twice as much money, it’s possible, as there is already someone else doing it.
What advice do you have for new authors who want to write and self-publish their first book?
Don’t just think outside the box, act outside the box. I was a first-time author and totally unknown, so publishers would not publish me and bookshops would not stock my books. I drove to every bookstore within 3 hours from my home, and secretly placed six copies of my book on their shelves.
I hounded journalists to cover the points in my book, and advised them that the book was stocked at XYZ bookshop (even though it was not part of official inventory, it was just left on the shelves). Eventually, people started to demand a copy from their local bookstore, and the businesses had to call me to order stock.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before publishing your first book?
I wish I had known one simple piece of advice from an entrepreneur: Do what you love and outsource the rest. It may cost a little, but it saves time, saves headaches, and over time will be a great return on investment.
Can you share some of the marketing techniques that have worked for you when promoting your book?
My clandestine method of getting my books into bookstores worked well, as I would go in with a full backpack and come out with an empty backpack. Nobody ever searches your bag when you are entering a store; only when you leave. Stealing things is called “shop-lifting”; when I gave free copies of my book to bookstores, I called it “shop-gifting”. The owners of the stores could sell the book or give it away, I didn’t care, so long as the book was out there in the marketplace.
I hounded TV stations, radio stations, newspapers both large and small, as I wanted serious readers, not just social media people. When I was covered by the press, I would give as much value as I could, so that people did not need to buy the book, but they could choose to buy it if they wanted. Nobody likes a hungry author, everyone loves to support a generous giver. I would give the name of the bookstore where I had sneakily dropped off the copies of the book, and customers would flock to the store. The first six people may have received a cheap or free copy, but after that, the stores had to call me to order more.
I also gave a lot of free talks, and at the end, offered a free signed copy of my book in return for a video testimonial, shot right there and then. These video testimonials from someone who has just enjoyed my presentation are usually only 10-30 seconds long, but they are invaluable for picking up new customers and new stockists.
If you had the chance to start your career over again what would you do differently?
If I could do it over again, I would not type a 240-page book with two fingers! I would handwrite chapter headings or summaries, dictate everything and have a professional type it up.
Can you recommend a book, a podcast, and a course for entrepreneurs and why?
One of the best books on becoming an entrepreneur is “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber. Gerber gives a lot of practical advice, whereas “Hot Frog: Cool Frog” is about the entrepreneurial mindset, not a task guide.
Another great book for authors is “How to Write a Book in 40 Hours” by Gertrude Matshe. She is a prolific author, an inspiring entrepreneur, and after reading several of her books, we became friends.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to finish writing your book?
The passion to help others is a big drive. I try to imagine the person who will benefit most from reading my book, how their life will be better after reading it, and how their life will be worse if they do not read my book. It is also helpful to have a cover design as one of the first elements, not an afterthought, and keep it somewhere you can see it, so it reminds you of the gift which you will bring into the world.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
Outsource whatever you can, and try to outsource some of the things you think you can’t. Richard Branson doesn’t fly planes or carry luggage, yet he runs an airline. Be like Richard Branson. (I actually had one of my business coaching clients write on his arm in permanent black marker, “WWBD?” for (“What Would Branson Do?”). It was very funny and surprisingly effective. Every time you do something in your business, ask yourself, can someone else do this better, faster, or have more fun doing it? What else could I be doing which is more productive?
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
The curse of being raised by two school-teachers: I am a life-long learner. I have been in the stock market since 1992 and still have not mastered the art like Warren Buffett. I have been in business for 28 years and still haven’t mastered the art like Richard Branson. In life, in business, in computer games, there is always another level. Keep learning as much as you can, for as long as you can.
If you only had 1000 dollars to promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
It’s easier now than it was 10-15 years ago, as you can write an ebook, and not have to pay for printing, shipping, or distribution. With $1000 I could probably dictate two books, pay for the transcription and publish to Amazon, then use all my spare time securing as many media interviews as it took to create demand.
What is your favorite quote?
Many people say “do what you love and the money will follow”, but if that were true, I could be paid for sitting on the couch watching Netflix. The improved quote is
SHARE what you love and the money will follow.
If you love movies, write reviews and share them. Ditto for those who love dining out, riding horses, or any one of thousands of hobbies. Whatever you like to do for fun, there is someone in the world who is being paid to do that. Find them, learn from them. Share what you love, add value to the world, and watch the money flow back.
It’s a spiritual principle common to Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions, as it is true in the physical world as well as the energetic world: whatever you send out will come back to you.
Who should we interview next and why?
- Gertrude Matshe is an undiscovered gem, and the world needs to hear more from her.
- Roger Hamilton is also a terrific author on many topics and has also become a friend.
If you ever interview Branson or Buffett, ask them what kind of meditation they do, as I would like to know.
How can we get in touch with you?
People can find me on Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Medium, LinkedIn, or anywhere on the social channels by searching for 24HourWealthCoach. I have been on the web since 1995, so you’ll find me even on Myspace 😊 . My books are on Amazon.
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