Turn feedback into rocket fuel

This is the biggest question that I get in response to the newsletter:

“Why are you using Beehiiv to send Margin Makers and not HighLevel?”

The truth is, there are a few capabilities that HighLevel doesn’t have when it comes to operating and growing a newsletter.

One of those is that Beehiiv has this awesome feedback feature.

At the end of every newsletter, readers get to weigh in — You can vote “EPIC,” “It was okay…,” or “Do better.”

And you know what? Those “Do better” votes?

They're my favorite.

Sure, it might sound like a buzzkill.

But honestly, they're the fuel that's been driving our business growth. They're the voice in my head that never settles, always pushing for better…

Today in 5 minutes or less:

✔️ Embrace the gap, gain momentum

✔️ A Humble Pie story

✔️ iDentity and the Apple Effect

EMBRACE THE GAP, GAIN MOMENTUM 🚀

Picture this: a chasm stretches between where you are and where you want to be. 🕳️

This isn't just a void; it's a space brimming with potential, growth, and transformation. 🌀

Welcome to the Gap and the Gain, a realm where ambitions and reality coexist, each driving us to become better.

One of the core values that has served my business for over a decade now is “Make It Better.”

🧭 Naming core values is critical in shaping how you do business. These are the compass guiding our every decision, ensuring we align our actions with our grander vision.

When we send out a Margin Makers newsletter, we almost always get at least one “Do better” response.

To be honest, I'm kind of delighted by it.

Inside of Beehiiv, feedback is totally anonymous. So, I don't even know who’s telling me to “Do better”...

But I'm going to tell you who I imagine.

When I see a "Do better" vote, I don't see a hater. Instead, I envision my good friend and fellow SaaS CEO Dar Holdsworth submitting it.

I imagine Dar cheering me on and saying, “Do better! I believe the best is yet to come! I believe you have the potential to do even more!”

I don't take “Do better” as an insult.

Now, I don't know if it's the same person or if I offend one new person every single week… 🤷

But I've started to believe that there’s one person slightly smirking as they cheer me on saying, “I know you can do better.”

I use every piece of feedback as fuel in our journey of constant improvement.

Here are some real-life case studies that have inspired me to do better. Hopefully, you think it's epic, but as always, I don't mind if you believe I can do better.

A HUMBLE PIE STORY 🍕

Let's say you're in a consult with me, and you ask, "Matt, what's the secret to continuous growth in business?"

My first piece of advice? Master humility. It's a tough pill to swallow, but it’s essential for true progress.

Let's talk about Domino's, a company that turned humility into its secret ingredient for success. 

Picture this: It's 2010, and Domino's is the underdog of the pizza world. Their stock? In the gutter. Public opinion? Even lower.

Customers compared their crust to cardboard, and the sauce? Let’s just say "ketchup" was a kind term…

But then, Domino's did something radical. They didn't just reinvent their pizza; they reinvented their narrative.

They aired an ad that was less of a commercial and more of a confession. They addressed the criticism and pledged to do better. This wasn't just an apology; it was a revolution wrapped in mozzarella and marinara.

Here's where the magic happened. Domino's didn't stop at the apology. They overhauled their menu and improved every aspect of their pizza. But the way they communicated this to the world – that's where the real transformation occurred.

They turned their biggest weakness into their most compelling story.

⏩ Flash forward a few years, and it's a whole new ball game. Domino's went from the pizza place of last resort to a market leader. Their stocks soared from a measly $12 to a whopping $450.

They didn't just catch up to the competition… They raced past them, leaving a saucy trail of success in their wake.

So, what's the takeaway? In business, as in life, it's not just about making things better.

It's about owning up, stepping up, and showing up. Domino's taught us that humility can be the most potent ingredient in the recipe for success.

They showed the world that sometimes, admitting you were serving cardboard can be the first step to delivering gold.

iDENTITY AND THE APPLE EFFECT 📱

Now, let's shift gears to a titan of the tech world – Apple.

They’re a perfect example of our second secret to continuous growth in business: Identity.

Picture them in 1997: on the brink of bankruptcy, a fallen giant gasping for air. Yet today, they're a beacon of innovation and one of the most valuable companies on the planet.

Along came Steve Jobs, not with just a new product line, but with an ear to the ground, listening, really listening to what the crowd whispered.

Apple's pivot wasn't just about sleeker iMacs. It was about aligning their tech to the beat of their customers' hearts.

What unfolded next was nothing short of alchemy. Apple products transformed from mere tech wonders to emblems of creativity and cool.

Owning an iPhone or a MacBook echoed more than tech preference. It became a statement of who you were, a blend of tech-savvy and trendsetting.

But here’s the kicker – this transformation was fuelled by relentless customer feedback. Apple's knack for tailoring their narrative to resonate with user aspirations turned their story from near-failure to folklore.

So, what's the golden nugget for SaaS CEOs? It's this: your product's greatness isn't just in the coding; it's in capturing the identity of your users.

Dive deep into their feedback, understand their identity aspirations, and voilà, you're not just selling a service, you're curating an experience.

In Apple's footsteps lies a roadmap for SaaS growth – one that underlines the power of customer feedback in shaping a brand that's less about the tool and more about the story it tells. 

Craft a service that doesn't just fit into your customer's day but fits into their self-image. Now, that's a strategy worth biting into. 🍎

We've journeyed from Domino's humility to Apple's identity, but the real MVP of this narrative?

Feedback.

It’s the cornerstone of transformation – for both this newsletter and your SaaS business.

Just like Domino's turned crust into crusade, and Apple spun identity into innovation, your audience’s thoughts can transform your brand.

And who doesn’t love a good, old-fashioned comeback story?

Have feedback of your own? An 'Epic' or a 'Do Better'? Bring it on. Hit the poll below – it's quick, it's anonymous, and it's your chance to shape the future of Margin Makers. 👇

Let's close the gap, harness the gain, and build businesses that are not just operated, but celebrated. 🎉 

To profiting more and working less. 💸 

-Matt

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🧬 23andMe fell from $6 Billion to nearly $0. This is why the once-hot DNA-testing company is struggling to profit.

👑GOLDEN NUGGET OF THE WEEK 👑

Being in the SaaS world, it’s hard not to know Noah Kagan and his most recent business AppSumo. He just released his book Million Dollar Weekend, and I think it’s a great read (or listen) for anyone needing the roadmap to launch and grow fast.

You can grab his book here: https://amzn.to/3SfXjKS

📝 If you want my notes and takeaways from the book, just reply to this email and I’ll send you a loom and share my Google doc.

READY TO JOIN THE HL PRO TOOLS FAM?

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🌟 Get branded support for your HighLevel agency @ hlprotools.com. We give you all the tools you need to kick SaaS, complete with personalized branding that will make you feel like a boss.

🌟 Join our Facebook group and connect with other CEOs who are revolutionizing the game by sharing insider tips and tricks that will make you feel like a true industry leader in no time!

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