Nick Lauer, best known as @nicklauer on Instagram, is a 20-year-old who believes life is too short for the 9-5 lifestyle. He’s generated over $1,000,000 in revenue for multiple companies, and has done it all from his expertise in business and content production.
Can you tell us a story about what brought you into Online Marketing?
I’ve been making deals ever since I came out of the womb. From selling cookie dough to converting old VHS tapes, I was absolutely hooked in making the sale. Progressing into middle school I fell in love with a game called Minecraft, and was able to monetize the multiplayer platform into a six-figure business. From there, I developed a methodology with sales on a new level, connecting with customers and clients from a caring approach.
Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson it taught you?
I made many mistakes diving into the online world at 13 years old. The Internet can be a very dishonest place, and there are a lot of phonies out there due to anonymity and the disconnect from reality. It was definitely a learning process. I was way too trusting in the beginning, sending $20,000 to a foreign account in China in exchange for advertising, paying people’s bills and getting deceived. However, through it all, the one big mistake was caring too much. During high school when I was producing more income than the average teaching salary, I let others’ perception of me get to my head. When I let go of that insecurity in my junior year of high school, things started coming to fruition. As I wanted to get outside of Minecraft, I built a personal brand around myself through YouTube and Instagram. Taking that risk was one of the greatest things I could have done. Through taking the leap of faith of showing the world who I am through social media, I was able to meet Armani Izadi. I now work with him 18 hours per day at Team 10 creating new business verticals and producing content. Investing in myself and getting out of the bubble I lived in was the key factor. Once I crossed those barriers, the sky became the limit, and I only hope to create more amazing things.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Getting involved with your best foot forward and being transparent are two very important steps. Communicate with your team, if you have one, or anyone who is in your circle of support. You have to be true to your commitments, and also have that spark of passion for what you’re involved in. Cultivating that sense of accomplishment while also maintaining a connection to your community of friends in family during downtime; that’s the secret. Schedule your time wisely, and make sure that you can deliver on your promises. If you collaborate well with the people you associate with, your time will be better spent and you will have a healthier work environment that feels like a second home. Make sure to exercise and eat healthy, training that energy will keep your body and mind up to the task. Open yourself up to criticism, test yourself, but ultimately grow from what you learn from your experience in the industry.
How have you used your success to bring transparency and growth in business?
Basically, I try to create opportunities. Making sure that my door is open to as many people as possible is essential. On top of that, getting the right talent and collaborators means that you can focus on your own strengths and others can contribute according to theirs. In multiplayer gaming, making sure I had server providers and the right people to maintain custom games were the reasons to keep an open line of communication. To make sure any endeavor is a success, risks need to be taken. Branding requires experimentation, and you need to communicate if you want that experimentation to work true to your vision.
I personally enjoy networking with a wide range of people. It works a lot like an exchange of experiences and abilities, it enhances your perspective. Surrounding yourself with trustworthy folks and being able to maintain those connections has the potential to build exposure and snowball into even more opportunities for growth. Connections within the industry depend on that element of transparency as well, so you have to be approachable and diligent. That way, you will be building a better environment to make success possible.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started my company” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
- Recognize the small victories – It is often easy to get discouraged, but one of the things that has helped me adapt is recognizing productivity, no matter the extent. Even if I’m just getting an email sent out, or completing a task for a colleague, I’m tracking these steps so I know that my time is not being wasted while managing minor tasks.
- Live each day to the fullest – Life is too short to not take advantage of every opportunity. Every day can be maximized through working consistently, and being up to date with everything going on the social media world. On a whim, on a relatively quiet day, I decided to hop on a flight to another country to gain new experiences in the business world. Although that’s a bit of an extreme example as not everyone has the ability to do this, just considering your surroundings and finding the best ways to spend your time can make it all the more worth it.
- Grow from mistakes – There is always room to learn, and mistakes can always be made on some level. Everyone is human, but you should take those instances and recognized areas where you did fail to prevent something negative. Tempering yourself around these unfortunate situations has the potential for new strategies and better ways of dealing with things. After getting scammed multiple times running an online gaming service, I discovered new ways to approach deals and finding honest connections. Gauging your expectations correctly with people, rather than putting too much trust in them, can also help a lot.
- Pursue your passions – If you commit yourself to something, you have to be motivated. In any endeavor, there will be difficulties. You need to find purpose in what you are doing, and have a clear mindset on why you are doing things the way you are. I moved across the country to work, the change in the environment was dramatic. I’m nowhere near my home, but I love what I do. Passion keeps me in touch with who I am, and the work I do compliments that, it’s an absolute blessing.
- Be true to who you are – Be honest, and don’t pretend to be someone you are not. Unless you are a shapeshifter of some sort, and can fit into all sorts of roles, you need to find a place where you fit in. Whether that is in terms of culture, skillset, or mindset, is up to you and your available opportunities. Personally, I have trusted in God to give me the strength and confidence to press forward. Try to be understanding of others and adapt, but at the same time you need to be confident in your principles to lead a fulfilling life.
You are in a position to make a lot of change. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I could start a movement, I would start one that gives people the ability to build themselves up regardless of their background. It can be difficult for someone to work towards a goal, such as a dream career, if they have difficulty finding the right opportunities or people. It prevents individuals from growing and getting the right connections, especially in times where people are too afraid to express themselves. If everyone had access to a system where they could actively pursue their dreams, gaining the right skillset and support system, the world would be even more ripe with innovators. There’s so much untapped potential in the world, and it would be wonderful if people could find more efficient ways to not only express themselves, but find a path in life that will let them ultimately fulfill their ambitions.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
You can follow me on Instagram & Twitter at: