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Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips

How Dr. Ali Abdaal Quit His Job, Grew His YouTube to 2.6M Subs & Is Now Doing $4M+ a Year #2023

Marketing School - Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Tips

Eric Siu and Neil Patel

Business, Marketing, Careers

4.61.4K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2022

⏱️ 32 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In episode #2023, Eric talks with Dr. Ali Abdaal about how he quit his job, grew his YouTube to 2.6m subs, and is now doing $4m+ a year. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Ali had been a practicing doctor for only two years. For Ali, it seemed logical to use YouTube to reach a broader audience and introduce them to the educational content he was already producing for aspiring doctors and YouTubers. Since then, Ali’s side business has grown substantially. In our conversation we talk about Ali’s experiences growing up in a family that expected him to be a doctor, how reading The four-hour workweek changed his life, and why teaching is his truest passion. Today’s episode is jam-packed with insightful anecdotes and advice on how to excel at life and business, so make sure you tune in to hear it all! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:20] Today’s topic: how Dr. Ali Abdaal quit his job, grew his YouTube to 2.6m subs and is now doing $4m+ a year. [01:20] Get to know today’s guest, Dr. Ali Abdaal, and how he went from being a doctor to a creator. [03:15] What Ali's YouTube channel focused on when he first started it.  [05:51] How Ali’s side hustle earns him $3 million a year and why YouTube forms the foundation for it. [06:58] Ali’s plans for the future and why teaching is his true passion. [09:05] Why Ali has an aversion to traditional goal setting, and how he prefers to structure his aspirations. [11:08] Why Ali’s current top priority is writing a book that he is proud of.  [12:07] How Ali’s business has grown and it’s main sources of revenue. [13:48] Some of the core lessons Ali has learned in his transition from creator to entrepreneur. [17:31] The book that Ali is currently working on and why it’s important to him. [20:30] The two podcasts that Ali is a part of and why he enjoys it.  [22:08] Some of the ways to grow your podcast audience. [24:15] How Ali learns and retains information based on the medium he’s using. [27:26] Ali’s favorite book of 2020. [28:38] Ali’s most important business tool.  [30:12] That’s it for today, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe! [30:12] Go to https://marketingschool.io/live to learn more!   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:   Ali Abdaal: https://aliabdaal.com/ Ali Abdaal on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOae5nYA7VqaXzerajD0lg Ali Abdaal on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliAbdaal The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/ The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/ Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business: https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837 The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Obsessions-Extraordinary-Executive-Leadership/dp/0787954039 Not Overthinking Podcast: https://notoverthinking.com/ Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal Podcast: https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/ The Great CEO Within: The Tactical Guide to Company Building: https://www.amazon.com/Great-CEO-Within-Tactical-Building/   The Ideal Team Player: https://www.amazon.com/Ideal-Team-Player-Recognize-Leadership/ Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling: https://www.amazon.com/Storyworthy-Engage-Persuade-through-Storytelling/ Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life: https://www.diewithzerobook.com/welcome   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to Marketing School, the only podcast that provides daily top-level marketing tips

0:06.4

and strategies from entrepreneurs that practice what they preach and live what they teach.

0:11.8

Let's start leveling up your marketing knowledge with your instructors Neil Patel and Eric

0:16.8

Sue.

0:19.1

We got a special message from our sponsor.

0:22.8

If you want to rank higher on Google, you got to look at your paid speed time.

0:27.3

The faster your website loads, the better off you are.

0:30.1

With Google's Corvital update, that makes it super, super important to optimize your

0:34.1

site for low time.

0:36.3

And one easy way to do it is use the host that Eric and I use, DreamHouse.

0:40.8

So just go to DreamHouse or Google it, find it, check it out, and it's a great way to

0:45.7

improve your low time.

0:47.7

Hey, it's Eric Sue, just a quick heads up.

0:50.8

We are looking to hire amazing talent at my ad agency, Single Rain.

0:55.7

So you can just go to SingleGrain.com slash careers, again at SingleGrain.com slash careers.

1:01.0

We're hiring up for roles in sales, in creative, in data, and in paid, in SEO, in conversion

1:09.4

rate optimization.

1:10.4

Again, just go to SingleGrain.com slash careers to learn more.

1:13.2

All right, guys, before we start, we got a special message from our sponsor.

1:19.0

If you want to rank higher on Google, you got to look at your paid speed time.

1:23.5

The faster your website loads, the better off you are.

1:26.3

With Google's Corvital update, that makes it super, super important to optimize your

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