How A 19-Year Old High School Drop Out Helps Businesses Scale To 6-7+ Figures

All right everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host Tyler Wagner. Today I have Conan Shah with us. He is a 19-year-old high school dropout, now runs a marketing agency called Upscale Marketing that mainly helps gyms and e-com businesses scale to 6 to 7 plus figures. So welcome to the show, man.

Thank you so much for having me, man. Thank you.

Of course, pumped to have you here. I love the dropout part. I dropped out of college, so you're a little ahead of me. I like it. You figured it out sooner.

Yeah, so I started off generally when I was like 16. Yeah, and I read a book called Rich Dad Poor Dad and it just changed my life. They're like, I didn't like school after that. Like, I was a flunk after that. Like, I took AP classes. Yeah, and then after that it was literally nothing. Like, I had literally— my average went from like As to literally C's within a week.

Nice, got it, dude. Well, you figured out what was important. That's a great book as well. So, so we'll start with the first one. First one I got is, what is the best story from your life that has an underlying valuable message?

So if you don't know, I'm an immigrant. I wasn't born in this country. I came to this country when I was 11 years old. I didn't know English. I didn't have like nice shoes to wear, like In my gym classes, I used to wear boots. Like, we didn't have anything. Like, we were poor mentally and like actually money-wise. So like when I was in 7th grade, I like, I always like thought to myself, like, who was successful in my family? Like, who is that person? Like, and I always thought about it and there was nobody. So from that day on, I told myself, I am going to be that person. And from now on, afterwards, not a single person in my family will suffer the way we suffer financially, mentally, or anything else like that.

Yeah, I love it, man. And where, where are you from?

Pakistan originally.

Pakistan. Got it. Okay. So dude, 11, nice. I gotta do— you speak English really well.

Like, yeah, I learned it within a year. Like, my teacher's like, did you speak 'English before?' I'm like, 'Nope, didn't know a single word of it.' They're like, 'What? Are you crazy?' Like, I don't know, it's just my thing. Like me, like when I obsessed with something, I want to learn it fast. I want to learn it. I'm like, 'What's next? What's next? What's next?' Totally.

Yeah, yeah, you don't— I don't even pick up really on an accent or anything. So I don't know, that's just cool. Um, so next part, uh, what is the most valuable piece of information we should know that's within your expertise or industry?

So as you know, I run a marketing agency right now. So I tried many businesses like e-commerce and whatnot. Like, I went in debt when I was 16, literally. Like, my mom had to help me out, like, get out of that stuff. But it was like entrepreneurship testing me. But nowadays, like, while running my agency, it's all about sales and delivering results. So it's all about the outreach, getting those clients. And then delivering such, like, over-delivering the results that they even get you more clients. So those are the two pieces, like, I can give to anybody. Like, those are the two main things you should be good at. Number one is sales. Number two is actually over-delivering the stuff. And they're like, holy crap, like, this thing works. And this dude is like, like, bringing us so much revenue through social media and marketing and ads and whatnot. And I think just those So those two things are very important.

Absolutely, man. And then what's your best piece of overall business advice?

I would say learning and growing, and there's usually like four different categories that go into this. Number one would be your mindset, right? So if you're not growing, you're, you're just going to die out. Number two would be sales. Always learn sales. Like, I didn't know sales. I didn't know how to communicate. I don't know how to sell, all this stuff. Number 3 would be marketing. Learning marketing, learning how to like, and especially like direct response marketing. So basically like learning Facebook ads and stuff, email marketing, whatever, stuff like that helps you so much when you are a young person. Like, I don't know what I could do to make money. Like, I don't know. Like I thought like you have to be like some old person, like get to like a certain age. So I learned marketing very early. And number 4 would be strategies, like learn like strategies, business strategy, how to do things. And a book I would recommend is Blue Ocean Strategy, which is amazing book.

So, okay, so before we dive into the next one, I'm just curious, so like if you were to give us some tips, like how do you help these gyms and e-com businesses scale to 6, 7 plus figures? Like what are you doing for them? And is there any like common traits you see as to like, so I don't—

okay, so here's the certain things I look for in the gym or e-com businesses. Like, I won't take on a business if it's starting out, if it's a new business. I want a business who's doing at least between $300,000 to literally $5 million in revenue, right? It's between that. So I know they're like, they're doing something good. And also they're not leveraging social media. Like, it's all like word of mouth and all that. And like, I go see them, like, huh, what could How can I help them? Like, and like, literally, it's like I see their social media and I'm like, can I really help this business? Because if I can't, I will not take them on. It's not about the money, it's about helping them, right? Yeah, that's what makes me happy. So basically, let's say it's an e-commerce business, online business, or even if it's an offline business, I might take it to like online, like You know, like, this is a point where social media is so big nowadays. Everybody buys on social media. When somebody's like, have these like brick-and-mortar stores and they don't know what to do, that's where I come in. I'm like, hey, let me build you an online store. Let me build you a Shopify store. Let me put your products on Amazon and whatnot and allow me to sell it for you. And here's what I charge on a monthly basis.

Yeah, gotcha.

Yeah.

So you— so you're— yeah, I understand. So you're looking for a business that already has some success because that means that they're doing something right. Good product, most likely. And then you, you check their social medias and you're like, listen, okay, this business, if they're doing $300 grand, they could be doing $2 million. They just gotcha. So if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be?

Let's see.

I know you're still— you're, you're young, but you're even young yourself, like when you were 4.

No, like I would probably say don't focus too much on the money, but rather helping people. Because like when I was like 16, it was like all about the money. Like I had to make it like, oh my God, like I wanted something and I'm like, huh, how can I get it? Right. So I'm like, okay. Like I used to like wash cars, go to people's houses, knock on people's door, be like, hey, uh, let me clean this and let me clean that, whatever. But after a while, like after I started making some money, it didn't fulfill me. Like it did not make me happy. It gets boring after a while. So what I would say to my younger self is like, it's not about the money, but rather focus on helping others. That will eventually make you way more than what you like ever thought of.

Absolutely, man. I agree. And then, so perfect lead way. Next one is, in your opinion, what's the key to happiness?

It's basically like pretty much what I stated above, like helping people. But there's another thing, like it's key to happiness for me. And it's like, when I get depressed and, you know, entrepreneurship is like the biggest test of your life. Like that thing makes you depressed. Like even like a couple of days ago, I was like pissed at myself and whatnot, but what makes me happy is actually consistent work.

Yeah.

If I know I'm not doing enough, I'll fall into depression like nothing. Like it's, it's like quick. Like I'm like, oh my God. Like, I go in stress mode. I'm like, oh my God, I need to do this, that, that. Oh my, I'm missing out on so much. What makes me happy is actually keep working. And what is my end goal? And then I just reverse engineer from there. Right. So constant work makes me happy. So that's all I got.

Dude, no, you know what? We're like similar. Like I, uh, cause a lot of people will be like, dude, you work too much. I'm like, dude, but I actually like what I'm doing. Like, I actually like it. And I'm like you too. Like, I don't even know how people do it. When I was younger, I used to be able to do it, but like, if I'm like sitting on the couch for like more than like 10, 20 minutes, like I will start to like be like, what the hell am I doing? Like, and so like depression or any of those like things, they come when I'm not doing something, like when I'm not working. So working actually makes me happy. I know that sounds like weird to a lot of individuals, but like I love it. I mean, this is the truth. So, um, so my next one for you is, uh, so obviously I'm sure you read a lot of books. Um, so what is the best book that you've read and what's the number one thing you learned from it?

All right, so it's probably the first book I ever read. So if you know, I hated reading and never read a school book, like even like when I never like even immigrated to this country, back there I used to have straight Fs But since my grandpa was the principal of the school and he owned the school, I get to pass up the grades, right? Because over there they don't let you like, no, you fail, you just stay there, right? But since like my grandpa was like, he owned the school, he's like, just let him go, whatever, right? Like, I was never a good student. So it was, I was 16, it was the summer, I was working on like a summer job. I hated my guts out of it. And I just grabbed the book from the library and it was called Rich Dad Poor Dad. And I read that thing and literally it stated stuff like school isn't it. Like you got to learn like financial and accounting and all that stuff, right? So I'm like, huh, okay. So I'll look into this. And then I started reading like other books, like 48 Laws of Power. Um, um, what is that?

48 Laws of Power. That'll mess with your head a little bit.

You know, like I read one law and I'm like, I gotta think for this one for a week.

Yeah, that book is wild, man. Was that one of the— so wait, was that one of your first ones? 48 Laws?

It was probably like my third book.

Wow, dude, that's, that's wild, man. I can't imagine that being like my third book. Like, I actually just finished that like a couple months ago, and I probably— I've read like hundreds of books. Like, I do audiobook, and my first one was actually 4-Hour Workweek. I feel like it's like a true thing, like, and that book got me to drop out of college. After reading that book, I dropped out of school, out of college. So it's like, it's, you have a similar story. It's like, dude, these books like literally will change the way you think and you realize like, dude, you're like being pro in school. It programs you to go into the rat race. And then once you like read a book like Rich Dad Poor Dad or 4-Hour Workweek, you're like, dude, I don't need this. Like, I can go So it's just cool that one book had that profound of an impact on you. So my next one, what's your favorite quote and why?

My favorite quote, uh, all right, so, "How you do anything is how you do everything." And I literally, it's on a poster right there. I know like you can't see, but it's like, like over there.

Nice. Yeah.

Yeah. So it's a poster. I I stamped it on the wall and like, it relates to me so much and it changed my life a lot in a way. It's like, I can tell if your life sucks or like, you're mentally like, there's weeds in your mind or stuff like that. Like even like, I don't have a car, like I don't drive, but like I take Uber everywhere, right? And when I take an Uber, I see people's car and if it's dirty, I know how their life is.

I feel you.

I go to people's houses and I see their room and I'm like, okay, I can already tell whether this person is having a good life or a bad life.

Yep, I agree.

Yeah, so how you do one thing is how you do everything.

Yep, 100%, man. Um, so dude, it was fun as hell, dude. 19, it's just awesome to see.

Yeah.

Um, so last one, where can our listeners, uh, I'm sure a lot of them, you know, are interested maybe in your services, but like, where can our listeners connect with you and then find what you do online?

Um, if you just search up my name, it just comes up. But, uh, I'm on Instagram a lot. It's literally Conan Hustler. Okay, Conan Shaw, which is my actual name. You can also go on my website, www.conanshaw.com. So that's where you can find me. Hit me on Facebook, Instagram, whatever, and I'm on all those platforms.

Awesome, brother. Well, thank you again for coming on.

Thank you so much for having me.