Coffee With Cole: The Digital Writing Podcast
Episode: My Weekly Schedules From Age 24 To 34
Host: Nicolas Cole
Release Date: September 11, 2024

In this insightful episode of Coffee With Cole, host Nicolas Cole delves deep into the evolution of his weekly and daily schedules over a decade, spanning from his mid-twenties to his early thirties. Through a candid recounting of his personal and professional journey, Cole shares invaluable lessons on productivity, work-life balance, and the art of scaling a business without sacrificing personal well-being.

1. Early Career and Rigid Routines (Age 24-25)

At 24 years old, Cole was balancing a full-time job at an ad agency with his passion for writing. His schedule was meticulously structured:

• Morning Routine:

  • 6:30 AM: Wake up, shower, and engage in a 10-minute meditation.
  • 7:00 AM: Simple breakfast, typically a bowl of oatmeal.
  • 7:20 AM: Commute to work via a 7:30 AM train, spending an hour both ways reading and writing due to the absence of internet at home.

• Workday:

  • 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM: Ad agency duties, initially as a copywriter, evolving to encompass various roles including sales, client management, and hiring. Despite initial boredom, Cole reframed his tasks as skill-building opportunities.

• Evening Routine:

  • 5:00 PM: Post-work writing sessions on Quora.
  • 7:00 PM: Quick dinner followed by an hour at the gym, maintaining his bodybuilding regimen.
  • 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM: Dedicated writing time for his memoir, Confessions of a Teenage Gamer.

Notable Quote:
"The routine that works for one person might not work for someone else. The goal is to figure out the right things to work on, make time for them, and prioritize them correctly."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

2. Transition to Full-Time Ghostwriting (Age 26)

By 26, Cole took a bold step: he quit his full-time job to focus entirely on ghostwriting. This decision was fueled by his growing success on platforms like Quora and the income generated from writing columns for Inc. Magazine.

• Financial Strategy:

  • Secured a steady income by writing daily columns, which paid based on page views, averaging around $1,500 per month initially.

• Challenges Faced:

  • Health Issues:
    • Developed a herniated disc, resulting in chronic pain and the cessation of his gym routine.
  • Isolation:
    • Lacked a social outlet after quitting his job, leading to increased stress and loneliness.
  • Work Overload:
    • Managed multiple roles single-handedly, from client acquisition to ghostwriting, leading to burnout.

Notable Quote:
"Time is the core resource. A lot of success comes down to your ability to work on the right things, make time for them, and prioritize them correctly."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

3. Scaling the Ghostwriting Agency (Age 27-28)

Recognizing the potential to scale, Cole partnered with a close friend to transform his solo ghostwriting efforts into a full-fledged agency.

• Growth Trajectory:

  • Rapid expansion from just the two founders to managing a team of 23 full-time writers, editors, and salespeople.
  • Revenue Milestone: Built a multi-seven-figure ghostwriting agency within a year.

• Operational Strain:

  • Quality Control:
    • Rapid hiring led to inconsistent quality, forcing Cole to personally revise dissatisfied client pieces.
  • Health Deterioration:
    • Overworking resulted in health issues, including shingles, and exacerbated his existing back problems.

Notable Quote:
"Whenever you hear people talking about the perfect routine, remember there is no perfect routine. It’s about working on the right things in the right order."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

4. Hitting a Breaking Point and Reassessment (Age 28-30)

By age 28, the relentless pace took a severe toll on Cole’s health and personal life. The ghostwriting agency, while financially successful, became unsustainable:

• Health Consequences:

  • Constant pain from his herniated disc and a weakened immune system led to hospitalization for shingles.

• Personal Sacrifices:

  • Lost his social life and strained his long-distance relationship.
  • Relied heavily on caffeine and neglected his physical well-being.

• Business Implications:

  • Despite increasing revenue, all other aspects of his life were in decline, revealing that financial success alone was unfulfilling.

Notable Quote:
"You are your business's most valuable asset. Building a business that destroys your health, sleep, and relationships isn't a good business."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

5. Rebuilding and Prioritizing Health During Covid (Age 30)

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic provided Cole with an opportunity to reassess and rebuild his life and business:

• Business Downsizing:

  • Made the difficult decision to let go of 90% of his team and clients, a move that seemed fortuitously timed as the pandemic would have otherwise severely impacted his agency.

• Focus Shift:

  • Prioritized personal well-being over aggressive business growth.
  • Reinvested time into writing his next book, The Art and Business of Online Writing, and resumed his gym routine.

• Simplified Routine:

  • Structured his days to balance minimal client work with personal projects and health.

Notable Quote:
"Working on the right thing is much more important than working hard. It’s better to move slowly in the right direction than quickly in the wrong direction."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

6. Launching New Ventures and Achieving Sustainable Growth (Age 31-34)

With a renewed focus, Cole embarked on launching two new ventures: Ship 30 for 30 with Dickie and Category Pirates with Christopher and Eddie.

• Strategic Approach:

  • Emphasized deliberate and measured growth to avoid past pitfalls.
  • Maintained a balanced routine that integrated work, health, and personal life.

• Achievements:

  • Ship 30 for 30:
    • Grew into the fastest-growing writing community and challenge on the internet, generating over a million dollars in revenue within the first year.
  • Category Pirates:
    • Established as a Top 5 business-paid newsletter on Substack, monetizing through subscriptions and book replications.

• Final Adjustments:

  • In 2023, Cole chose to focus solely on Ship 30 for 30, exiting Category Pirates to concentrate on what brought him the most joy and aligned with his strengths.

Notable Quote:
"The simpler the schedule, the more progress you can make. Focus on fewer things and execute them effectively over a week rather than fitting everything into a daily routine."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

7. Establishing a Balanced and Effective Routine (Age 34)

By age 34, Cole had honed a balanced routine that supported both his professional ambitions and personal well-being:

• Daily Schedule:

  • 6:30 AM: Wake up and start the day.
  • 8:00 AM: Batch client calls and meetings.
  • Noon - 4:00 PM: Deep work sessions focused on business development and creative projects.
  • 4:00 PM: Gym or physical therapy to maintain health.
  • 6:00 PM: Wrap up work tasks and close out the day.
  • 7:00 PM: Dinner with his wife and dog.
  • 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Evening work sessions on new curricula or digital products, or personal downtime.

• Weekend Routine:

  • Saturdays:
    • Dedicated time for personal writing and side projects.
  • Sundays:
    • Reflective sessions to prepare for the upcoming week, including scripting and content planning.

Key Principles:

• Right Things Over Hard Effort:
  • Prioritize tasks that align with long-term goals rather than mere hustle.
• Self as the Most Valuable Asset:
  • Maintain health and personal relationships as foundational to business success.
• Flexible Yet Structured Weekly Routines:
  • Adapt routines to the evolving needs of the business while ensuring personal well-being.

Notable Quote:
"Effort is not the measure for success. It’s about working on the right things. It’s better to move slowly in the right direction rather than quickly in the wrong direction."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

8. Key Takeaways and Final Insights

Nicolas Cole wraps up the episode with profound lessons drawn from his decade-long journey:

1. Prioritize the Right Tasks:

   • It's essential to discern and focus on tasks that drive meaningful progress rather than getting lost in mere activity.

2. Self-Care is Integral to Success:

   • Without maintaining personal health and relationships, business success becomes hollow and unsustainable.

3. Embrace Flexible Routines:

   • As businesses grow and evolve, so should your routines. Weekly structures offer the necessary flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.

4. Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Hustle:

   • Sacrificing personal well-being for short-term gains can lead to burnout and diminishing returns. Sustainable growth requires a balanced approach.

5. Acceptance of Imperfection:

   • There is no "perfect routine." The goal is continuous adjustment and alignment with evolving personal and professional goals.

Final Quote:
"The perfect daily and weekly routine doesn't exist. You have to figure out what works for you by focusing on the right things and adapting as you grow."
— Nicolas Cole [00:00]

Conclusion

Nicolas Cole’s episode, My Weekly Schedules From Age 24 To 34, serves as a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs and writers striving to balance personal aspirations with professional demands. Through his candid narrative, Cole underscores the importance of adaptability, self-care, and strategic prioritization in building a fulfilling and successful career. His journey from a rigid, overworked schedule to a balanced, flexible routine offers valuable lessons on the true meaning of productivity and success.