Mark Willis Borum

3X Founder (8-figures, 7-figures, and a flop)
Alum: Teachable, Fullscreen, Reelio
Current: Partnerships @ Nift
Side Projects: and

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

I made $159,012.16 *on the side* last year.

I did it without leaving my W2 (I love my job) or interfering with the work that I do there.

When I first got interested in side hustles, I had a hard time figuring out where to start.

I know others feel that same frustration 🧵👇

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@chamath You know that it’s going to cost nearly that much to outfit the $400M jet that was gifted to Trump from a foreign nation. We’re footing the bill for him to use this jet personally. No wokeness involved. But, I don’t see you speaking out on the impact here.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

The biggest difference between the “haves” and the “have nots”.

The “haves” are taking action. The “have nots” aren’t.

Action is the great divider between the life you want and the life you get.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

Stop trying to achieve work / life balance.

Balance assumes everything is given equal distribution.

Instead focus on prioritization.

What takes priority? When?

Family? Work? Health?

Focusing your efforts on your priority at that moment, will give the outcome you want.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@megynkelly Of everything happening right now, this is what disgusts you? THIS??? Give me a break

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@elonmusk Giving you more tax breaks will probably help that, right? 🙄

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@thesamparr I was trying to do this a while back, but ran into limitations based upon the size of the books. How were you able to upload an entire book?

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@OneJKMolina Model

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@benkellyone Freedom

[Ad Professor @The_AdProfessor]

The funniest social media ads of all time:

1. IKEA

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@elonmusk Shes not transgender. More than 1.7% of the global population have a variation of sexual development like being intersex. Stop being a bigot.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@ChandlerReedSMB Would love a copy of the model. Thanks!

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@elonmusk Tell me you’re a scared racist piece of shit without saying you’re a scared racist piece of shit.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@RMHildebrandt Send! Thanks, man!

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@minds_eminent Written by someone who’s never started a conversation with a stranger?

[GREG ISENBERG @gregisenberg]

How to build a cash-flowing internet business in 2024 with 13 steps:

(i don't know how long this playbook lasts but it works now so here it is)

1. find a growing subreddit with less than 75k members
2. use AI to figure out their biggest problems
3. sort problems by how easy it is to create an MVP
4. create short form video to build audience on 1 platform
5. convert audience to private community or lead magnets
6. build product with no-code/ai in 30 days or less
7. use AI to build creative/landing pages that speak to the subreddit (@DesignScientist)
8. sell product to audience (waitlist only at first)
9. use profits to fund PPC (@imboringads) and AI-assisted SEO (@boringmarketer)
10. make mvp more defensible
11. raising vc is optional
12. throw irl events, make people love the brand
13. retire on a beach, acquire a sister brand or do this blueprint again.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@andruyeung Energy is contagious. Good or bad. If you want your world filled with good energy, it starts with you.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@sweatystartup Shoulda stayed at my Airbnb it’s 15 min away

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@andruyeung 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

50 hours on the toilet???

This stunt launched a multi-million dollar business you've likely never heard of.

In 2012, armed with nothing but a vision for global sanitation and a crowdfunding campaign, Simon Griffiths sat on a toilet for 50 hours.

His reason?

Launch his company, Who Gives A Crap, with a bang.

So, he livestreamed himself sitting on the toilet and wouldn't move until he hit his Indiegogo target of $500K in funding to create an eco-conscious toilet paper with a global mission.

I'll be honest about 50 minutes in and my legs would be jell-o.

But, Griffiths didn't just talk sh*t, he put his money where his mouth was.

And, the brand became more than a marketing story due to their ideals.

Who Gives A Grap is focused on two things:

1. Environmental sustainability:
↳ Products are made from environmentally friendly materials, such as bamboo and recycled paper, rather than virgin wood pulp.

2. Build toilets & improve sanitation:
↳ 50% of all sales go to aid in the sanitation crisis that plagues more than 2.4 Billion people who don't have access to a toilet.

And, that's allowed them to build a tribe of users who continue to help the company grow.

He bootstrapped the company for 9 years to more than $20M in profits and a recent capital infusion of $41.5M to further his global mission.

What is that mission?

Sell enough toilet paper to drive billions of dollars in donations to ensure everyone has access to clean water and sanitation.

Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs:

1. Mission alignment matters:
↳ Build for the greater good and there will be people who can get behind that vision.

2. Identify your marketing moment:
↳ You may not need to sit on a toilet for 50 hours, but think through what allows you to stand out in a sea of noise.

3. Validate before investing:
↳ There were more than 2.5M rolls of toilet paper pre-sold and $500K raised in his Indiegogo campaign.

4. Be Bold, Stay Patient:
↳ Dare to challenge the status quo. Swing for the fences. But, also realize it's a marathon, not a sprint.

So whatever you're investing yourself into, remember it’s not just about what you make, but what you make possible.

[Mark Willis Borum @MarkWi11is]

@gregisenberg Never… But, I’ve also sold a lot of them when working in the advertiser/influencer space and have seen the results. The numbers still back out to make it worth it, so I have to think I’m not the rule, but the exception.