🔵 Compass Guidebook: Learning by Doing Pt1

Estimated Read Time: 6min

TL;DR

• Why I ditched my fancy business name (and why you might want to)

• The proven learning method that beats courses every time

• Why your imperfections are actually your superpower

Hey there rebel learner! 👋

Ever hear that statistic that people remember 75% of what they actively do, but only 5% of what they hear in lectures?

Well, I learned this the hard way when building my business, and today I'm going to share how "learning by doing" transformed my entire approach to entrepreneurship.

The Leap That Terrified Me

A few years ago, I made a decision that shook me to my core. After running multiple businesses with fancy names and logos (including a marketing agency with a full team), I took the biggest risk of my career: I put my own face on the brand.

Yeah, Joshua Hale—front and center. No fancy brand name to hide behind. Just... me.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

We’re heading into an era of endless AI-generated content, faceless brands, and corporate spin-offs screaming “authenticity.”

But do you really know who’s behind those businesses? Their values? Their motives?

The Most Uncomfortable Career Move That Paid Off

Here’s the real thing: Even with years of marketing and business experience, stepping into the spotlight felt like walking onto a stage naked. But all those “failed” experiments from the past? They’re now my superpower.

Because when you’re learning by doing:

• Every mistake becomes a lesson

• Every ‘failure’ becomes a case study

• Every stumble becomes a story that resonates with others in the same boat

The Courage to Be Seen

(Warning: Sht’s About to Get Real)*

Let’s be honest: becoming the face of your brand takes more courage than any strategy I’ve ever tried. Research shows the people who build the strongest connections believe they’re worthy of being seen—even when it’s terrifying. They get that vulnerability is what makes them trustworthy.

When you step into the spotlight as yourself, there’s no corporate logo to absorb the hits. Your failures? They’re all yours. Your struggles? Everyone sees them. Your journey? It’s out in the open.

But the twist? The very things that make you want to hide are what make people trust you. Your imperfections become your power. Your struggles become your story. Your vulnerability becomes your strength.

What Nobody Tells You About Personal Branding

After years of active experimentation, here’s what I finally learned: People aren’t hunting for perfection—they’re craving authenticity. In a world drowning in AI-polished content, being truly human isn’t just your key differentiator—it’s your superpower.

Your First Active Learning Exercise

Instead of just reading this email, let's put learning by doing into practice.

Here's your hands-on exercise:

1. List your "failures" and what they taught you

2. Think about how those lessons could help others

3. Try sharing just ONE of these insights publicly (even if it's scary)

Need a little push? Use this prompt with your favorite AI tool:

Drop this in your AI (free at chat.com)

You are a Personal Brand Clarity Coach helping entrepreneurs find their authentic voice. Analyze my answers to create a compelling personal brand foundation. First, ask me these questions one at a time:

What failures or challenges have I overcome that taught me valuable lessons?
What unique perspective or approach do I bring to my field?
What transformation do I want to help others achieve?
After I answer, identify my most compelling story and suggest 3 ways I could share it authentically to build trust with my audience.

Pro tip: The real magic happens when you align these three things—and actually do something with them. That’s when you stop selling services and start sharing solutions.

Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to take this one step further with “learning by teaching,” a supercharged method to master your expertise while building serious authority. Spoiler: Your so-called “failures” are about to become your greatest teaching tools.

Here's to being brave enough to be seen,

-Joshua Hale

P.S. Hit reply and tell me about one thing you learned by doing that no course or book could have taught you. I read and respond to every message, and your story might help inspire others in our community.

P.P.S. Remember: The discomfort you feel when putting yourself out there? That's not a sign you're doing it wrong. It's proof you're finally playing big enough.

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