Nick, I've watched many videos and podcasts about e-commerce, email marketing, and retention, and I want to start a business, but my lack of English speaking confidence stops me. I can read, listen, and write well, but speaking is a disaster. How can I overcome this? Should I just start a business, get on calls, and try to close deals, or practice speaking daily? How would you handle this?

#263 · the dumbest automation still makes the most money

Nick, I've watched many videos and podcasts about e-commerce, email marketing, and retention, and I want to start a business, but my lack of English speaking confidence stops me. I can read, listen, and write well, but speaking is a disaster. How can I overcome this? Should I just start a business, get on calls, and try to close deals, or practice speaking daily? How would you handle this?

The reality is you spent the last few months watching videos, podcasts, and asking ChatBT about this business model. You could have spent that same amount of time actually talking to people on phone calls and learning how to articulate the benefits of your service, which would have improved you far more. If you don't have something pushing you—like a constraint or a fire constantly scaring the hell out of you before every call to make your English better—it's just not going to get better. I'd recommend improving your English in a structured guided way: work on articulation, fluency, accent, and so on, as well as your business model. But the best way to get better at what you want to do is simply doing more of it, not reading about it. So start, get on calls, try to explain and close deals; practice will improve both your English and your business.

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Related answers

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How important is speaking English well when dealing with English‑speaking customers?

English is crucial for business—it's the de facto language of commerce, and even non‑English speakers learn it to deal with higher‑GDP customers. Improve your English, but don’t over‑invest time; a focused daily chunk is enough. (Side note: growing on YouTube requires being a YouTuber first, using hooks, click‑bait titles, and leveraging AI news.)

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Would you recommend starting an agency like yours if English isn’t my first language, considering potential language barriers during sales calls and client closures?

You don’t need to be a native English speaker to run an agency. I was born in Germany and only started speaking English around age 14, and I’ve built my agency without problems. If you can’t hold a fully professional conversation, you can focus on leads in your own country. In Germany, businesses often need services like yours because they’re less familiar with AI and automation. You don’t need extraordinary English to sell, but speaking the client’s preferred language does help. There will always be a slight disadvantage if you’re less comfortable than the client—maybe a 1 % edge case where it even helps—but generally you’ll have a harder time expressing yourself. Learning English expands your market to a wider audience with more money, since most technology and communication are in English and most money is allocated in English‑speaking countries. The trade‑off is the time and energy you must invest in learning and communicating in a language you’re not comfortable with, versus staying in your native market where the audience may have less money and require more education. Overall, I recommend you go for it.

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youtube ↗Mindset

What’s the best way to improve speaking skills, and can you lose the ability if you don’t practice?

Speaking is a skill like any other. My door‑to‑door experience—knocking on 500‑1,000 doors a month, about 50‑80 a day—gave me the repetition that built articulation. The best way to improve is to combine that volume with some review or coaching; more volume can solve the strategic gaps others try to fix with less volume. If you can’t afford a public‑speaking class, just pick up the phone and pitch 200 people a day. Your brain is a sponge for inputs and outputs; with enough practice you’ll reach the same competence. People who win by volume tend to be more competent than those who just follow a guru. And yes, you can lose the ability if you don’t use it—use it or lose it. After a dry season, jumping back onto a sales call or seminar feels difficult, but just like a heart surgeon needs their first surgery, you need to get back into it.

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youtube ↗Lead Generation

How can someone from a developing nation with limited English earn trust from US business owners on a tiny budget, and should they focus on cold emails or optimizing freelance profiles?

The more important question is how someone from a developing nation with limited English can earn trust from US business owners on a tiny budget. Two immediate respect earners are: first, demonstrating physical discipline like being visibly fit, which signals dedication; second, learning the language of the market you want to serve. Speaking English (or the target language) builds trust because people inherently trust those who communicate in their language. Even in a post‑AGI world, translation won’t be instantaneous, so investing time to learn English the old way shows real value and commitment. Practically, spend about 30 minutes a day improving your English—immersive resources can make rapid progress. Package your offer in simple, easy‑to‑understand terms, give value up front, and show you understand the client’s busyness by being proactive: identify how you can deliver value in their organization and start delivering it without asking for permission, then keep them updated on the results. This approach builds trust and credibility even with a limited budget.

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