I spent a week meeting NYC's elite. Here's 5 lessons they taught me.
Executive Summary
A My First Million episode (Episode 839) in which hosts Sam Parr and Shaan Puri discuss what Shaan learned on a week-long trip to New York City. Shaan organizes the lessons under five key phrases: trust as a service, marketing, proximity, city brands, and what is it really. He describes visiting comedian Hasan Minhaj's office, a coach who spent a million dollars learning from top coaches, how cities work as brands, a marketer's idea that everybody wants something, and a book discussion at the end. Sponsor: HubSpot (My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast), with Hampton and others promoted in the description. PARTIAL COVERAGE: this note is based on the opening, the proximity section, a middle section on city brands and coaching, a marketing section, the closing book discussion and the description, and does not cover every point in the roughly 62 minute conversation. All stories and views are the speakers' own and are not independently checked.
Key Takeaways
Five key phrases
Shaan says his trip lessons are trust as a service, marketing, proximity, city brands and what is it really.
Proximity
Shaan says proximity means being closely together, and he describes visiting a comedian's office where the team works side by side.
Substance over office polish
Shaan quotes the comedian as saying a glass-walled office with fancy matcha means you have lost the plot, and that the work is handwritten scripts and sticky notes.
Spending on your craft
Shaan says an executive coach spent about a million dollars of his own money on immersive training with some 15 of the best coaches in the world.
City brands
Shaan says only a few cities have a brand, and New York has a look, a feel, a sound, an attitude, loyalists and haters.
Everybody wants something
Shaan quotes a marketer who says to know who you are selling to, such as the famous who want privacy or the rich and unknown who want fame.
Sell one word
Shaan says it helps to know the one word you are ultimately selling, and he says his podcast sells inspiration.
The Conversation Breakdown
Five key phrases
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says his trip lessons are trust as a service, marketing, proximity, city brands and what is it really.
Proximity
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says proximity means being closely together, and he describes visiting a comedian's office where the team works side by side.
Substance over office polish
⏱ Untimed topicShaan quotes the comedian as saying a glass-walled office with fancy matcha means you have lost the plot, and that the work is handwritten scripts and sticky notes.
Spending on your craft
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says an executive coach spent about a million dollars of his own money on immersive training with some 15 of the best coaches in the world.
City brands
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says only a few cities have a brand, and New York has a look, a feel, a sound, an attitude, loyalists and haters.
Everybody wants something
⏱ Untimed topicShaan quotes a marketer who says to know who you are selling to, such as the famous who want privacy or the rich and unknown who want fame.
Sell one word
⏱ Untimed topicShaan says it helps to know the one word you are ultimately selling, and he says his podcast sells inspiration.
Core Frameworks & Ideas
Proximity - Shaan's recurring idea
Working physically close to people creates chance encounters and mutual help.
Know what they want - the marketer Shaan quotes
Each customer group wants something different, so the product and pitch should match.
One word you sell - Shaan's framing
Reduce your offer to a single outcome such as safety, time or inspiration.
Actionable Next Steps
- ✓Look for ways to work physically near people you learn from.
- ✓Ask what the equivalent of an expensive, serious investment in your craft would be.
- ✓Write down what each of your customer groups most wants.
- ✓Treat all stories and figures as the speakers' own and check them before relying on them.
Notable Quotes
“Proximity is being closely together.”
“Everybody wants something.”
“You've already lost the plot.”
The One Thing to Remember
Shaan Puri shares five lessons from a week in New York, from the value of working in close proximity to how cities and products work as brands.