Mentors Magazine: Issue 3

MENTORS MAGAZINE | EDITION 3 | 83

value to human beings or to the earth?'
And so, for some people, adding value
might be being a palaeontologist, or being
a marine biologist, and studying dolphins
and aquatic life. If I was not doing what I
am doing now, that’s what I would be do-
ing. With a name like Noah, you want to be
with animals.

So, do you see what I am saying? It’s not all
about the money and it’s not all about
finding a passion per se. But I like to look at
it that way, how do I want to add value to
whatever it is that I am doing? And even if
you are working in a job... if you are work-
ing in a job right now and you are saying
'god I really want to start my own busi-
ness'... How do I want to add value? Be-
cause that’s the only way you are going to
make money, money comes from value, it’s
not the other way around. So, I feel that
that’s a stronger question for someone to
ask.

Neil: I think it’s a, it’s flawed advice really
isn't it? Because your passion might be
something that you cannot make money
out of, for a start, which is obviously a bit
of a dead-end.

Noah: So, a good example possibly is like
an artist... you know if I am an artist and I
am painting, that’s my passion, well great
how am I going to make money? So then
having that question, 'well how can I add
value?' That’s going to lead you I think to
ways that you can monetise that, that you
can make money because as I just said,
money comes from perceived value. So, I
think that will enable you to... it’s just a

stronger question to be able to get to your

goals.

Neil: Yes, absolutely and I think your 'why'

comes in to it as well, doesn't it? You have

got to have a strong 'why'? Which again I

suppose is the value thing, at the same

time isn't it?

Neil: Noah, what I would like to do now is

to talk about the entrepreneurial journey

a little bit more with you. Is culture im-

portant from the beginning in a business?

Noah: I feel it really is and let me explain

why. Even when I started, it was just me in

my college dorm room many years ago, al-

most two decades now that I have been

doing this online and helping folks and

teaching people.

I realised that the number one most im-

portant thing was customer service. And I

don't know where that idea came from, I

certainly did not invent it, but I just... I had

a knowing inside of me that if I take care of

my customers, they will take care of me.

And as the years went on, I saw how lousy

customer service is on the internet. I mean

it’s just horrendous.

And so, I mean I have been in conversa-

tions with marketers and they say things

like, 'well we are ok with the 50% refund

rate.' And I am like, 'are you insane? I

mean that is the dumbest thing I have ever

heard.' But frankly, they are just making so

much money, they really do not care. And I

am like, 'man that just sucks.' So, I said,

'listen, I am going to take care of my cus-