Let me ask you something—have you ever hit a wall so hard that it made you stop and re-evaluate everything? That moment where you realize, “This isn’t working, and I need to make some serious changes, fast.” I’ve had those moments in my life, and during a recent conversation with Andrew Deutsch, founder of the Fangled Group, I saw that same experience mirrored in his story.
Andrew’s journey is the kind that makes you rethink how you approach both life and business. He was once a guy flying 300,000 miles a year, constantly on the go, eating himself into oblivion, and on a path to burnout. The turning point? It was as simple as a pair of pants splitting on a flight from Mumbai to New York. Sometimes, the most embarrassing moments can be the wake-up call we need.
Andrew didn’t just shift his health—he shifted everything about how he approached business and life. His story is one that any entrepreneur can learn from. Let’s dive into two big lessons I took away from our conversation.
Stop Thinking Like You’re the Customer
One thing Andrew said during the interview that really stuck with me was, “You are not your market.” Simple, right? But think about how often we assume that if we like something, then our customers will too. Andrew broke it down like this: when you’re building a business, especially in marketing, the first mistake you make is thinking your personal preferences represent the entire market.
He shared an analogy about opening a record store back in the day (remember records?). “If I opened a store with only the music I liked, I’d be out of business in a week,” he said. The same goes for any business—if you’re only catering to what you like, you’re leaving out a massive chunk of your potential customers.
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- You’re not the center of the universe. Your taste and preferences are just that—yours. Your market might want something totally different.
- Find out why people buy from you. It’s not always what you think. Andrew learned that his client’s customers didn’t care about the high-quality steel they used; they cared that when they had a problem, someone picked up the phone and solved it quickly.
- Strategy before tactics. Don’t just jump into creating flashy things like websites or ads before you’ve figured out what actually resonates with your customers.
Health Isn’t Just Personal, It’s Professional
Andrew’s “pants-splitting” moment wasn’t just a funny story—it was a wake-up call. “I was in eight countries in one week,” he shared. “I was so big, I couldn’t bend down without splitting my pants. That was the moment I knew I had to get my life under control.”
His story got me thinking—how many entrepreneurs push themselves to the brink, thinking they can just keep going, even when their bodies (and lives) are screaming for a break? Andrew’s decision to prioritize his health didn’t just make him feel better—it completely transformed how he approached his business.
Once he lost 160 pounds and started focusing on his personal well-being, he found a new level of clarity that helped him grow his company. “You can’t run a business if you’re running yourself into the ground,” he said, and man, isn’t that the truth?
What I Learned from His Experience:
- Your health impacts everything. You can’t give your best to your business or your family if you’re exhausted and unhealthy.
- Change can start from the smallest moment. For Andrew, it was splitting his pants. For you, it might be missing an important meeting or feeling winded after a flight of stairs. Don’t ignore the signs.
- Clarity follows well-being. Once Andrew took care of himself, his ability to make smart decisions in his business skyrocketed. It’s amazing how much better we can function when we aren’t constantly exhausted.
Reflections from the Interview
After talking with Andrew, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the lessons he shared. It’s not just about business strategies or making money—there’s a deeper message here about aligning your life and work in a way that actually works for you, not against you.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- You need to get out of your own way. Don’t assume your customers think like you. Get curious about what they actually want.
- Take care of yourself first. If you’re burned out, it’s only a matter of time before everything else follows.
- Don’t be afraid to pivot. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is admit that something isn’t working and make a change, whether it’s in your personal life or business.
- Be flexible, not rigid. In business, success comes from adapting to your market, not sticking to what worked for you in the past.
- Authenticity wins every time. Andrew’s approach is all about honesty—if he can’t help you, he’ll tell you. That kind of transparency is what keeps customers coming back and referring him to others.
Final Thoughts
Andrew’s journey is a reminder that success isn’t just about working harder or pushing through burnout. It’s about being smart, staying flexible, and making sure you’re taking care of the most important asset you have—yourself.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or just someone trying to figure out your next step, his story shows that sometimes, the path to success starts with a good, hard look at what’s not working in your life. If you’re willing to be honest with yourself, make the necessary changes, and focus on what truly matters, you’ll find that the rewards come naturally.
If you want to dive deeper into Andrew’s story and hear more about how he’s helping companies grow, check out the full episode of Never Been Promoted: How to Convert Every Touch into a Voracious Advocate with Andrew Deutsch
CONNECT WITH ANDREW DEUTSCH:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-deutsch-2445936/