🧠 ​​This One Move Became My Highest ROI Decision Ever

Welcome back to the 93rd edition of Nord Media

Before we get started, is there anything specific you want to learn about? Let me know, as always, I appreciate all of you who reply each week and share feedback with me.

Running an eCommerce brand can feel like a solo sport.

You’re making high-stakes decisions with limited inputs, everyone has an opinion, but very few have context… and when things break, it’s on you to fix them. Fast.

I remember feeling that chaos at the start of my journey. No matter how much I read about the subject or listened to podcasts from the greats, I couldn’t find the exact clarity I needed. I didn’t know where to turn for practical advice or fresh insight. 

Everything felt like trial and error.

That changed when I joined my first real community of entrepreneurs. It wasn’t some massive mastermind or networking event. It was a small group of builders who genuinely cared.

Everyone was in the trenches, testing ideas, making mistakes, figuring it out in real time. We weren’t competing. We were trying to help each other win.

For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was doing this alone. I could talk openly about what wasn’t working, ask dumb questions without judgment, and get real feedback from people who understood the pressure.

We all wanted the same thing: to grow faster, with fewer missteps and to build something meaningful without burning out in the process.

This experience shaped how I think, how I test, and how I build, and it taught me something I still believe today:

Access to the right people beats access to more playbooks.

What I Learned from Community Gave Me More Than Any Course Ever Did

I’ve bought the courses, listened to the podcasts, and watched probably close to a 1000 YouTube breakdowns.

But none of them ever gave me the kind of clarity I got from being in a room with other operators who were actually doing the work.

Community gave me what content never could. 

Context.

That context completely changed how I make decisions, how I prioritize, and how I grow.

Here’s what I started gaining the moment I plugged into the right group:

• Fresh insight without the fluff

I didn’t have to sort through hours of theory. I got straight answers from people running tests right now and sharing real results.

• Faster pivots

When a channel started underperforming or an offer flopped, I could drop a message and get three smart responses before I even finished rewriting the copy.

• Perspective I didn’t know I needed

I’d bring a challenge to the group and someone would call out something I hadn’t even considered. That saved me from chasing the wrong problem more than once.

• Better execution across the board

Creative testing, retention plays, hiring, finance, … every part of my business leveled up because I was learning from people who had already solved what I was struggling with.

• Confidence in my direction

The second-guessing faded. I had people around me who weren’t guessing and it helped me stop guessing too.

There’s only so much you can figure out on your own. 

The right people make you sharper, faster.

Not all communities are created equal. Do your research

Investing in the right network can unlock massive growth, but just because a community has a paywall doesn’t mean it’s worth paying for.

There are hundreds of groups out there right now. Some incredible, others just overpriced Slack channels with no real value.

I’ve joined both. And trust me, the difference is obvious pretty quickly.

Before you commit, ask around. Talk to people who’ve actually been in the group. See what kind of results or connections they got from it.

You’re not just buying access, you’re buying proximity to experience, insight, and execution.

Here’s what I look for before joining any new community:

• Who’s in the room?

Are members actually operating at the level you want to get to? Or is it mostly noise and surface-level conversation?

• Is it curated or open-door?

Great communities are built intentionally. If anyone can join with a credit card, chances are the value isn’t tightly protected.

• How active is the group?

A dead forum or thread isn’t going to help you when you’re troubleshooting a real issue. Look for consistent, high-signal engagement.

• Are the conversations tactical or just hype?

Look for real discussions about what’s working, what’s not, and what people are actively testing. Not just “who’s crushing it” screenshots.

• Is there actual support or structure?

Office hours, accountability check-ins, and breakout pods all signal a group designed to drive value, not just collect fees.

Joining the right community isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s one of the best long-term investments you can make if you take the time to vet it properly.

Bonus Ways Community Gives You Leverage

Most people join a group expecting tactical advice, and while that’s valuable, there are a few underrated advantages that hit even harder over time:

• Hiring becomes easier

Need a media buyer, dev, or retention lead? The best referrals often come from private groups where people vouch for who they’ve actually worked with.

• Warm intros to tools, agencies, and vendors

Instead of gambling on cold outreach, you get recommendations from people who’ve already tested and negotiated with the same partners.

• Better deal flow

Whether it’s co-marketing, white-labeled products, or investment opportunities, doors open faster when you’re connected to serious operators.

• Emotional ROI

It’s easy to underestimate how much faster you move when you feel understood. That alone can shift your entire mental bandwidth.

If you’re scaling something ambitious, the right community helps you sustain growth.

Closing Thoughts

I truly believe that one of the biggest factors behind my success came from the communities I joined along the way.

Not just for the tactical advice but for the people, the perspective, and the push when I needed it most.

A few key takeaways:

• The right people will help you move faster and avoid mistakes you didn’t even see coming.
  

• You don’t need to be in 10 groups, just one that actually adds value.

Vet every community like you would a hire. It should save you time, not drain it..

If you’re interested in joining a vetted and value-driven group of top-tier operators, I highly recommend checking out Workspace6.

You can try it for yourself for just $1: Workspace6

Want to learn more? Connect with me on social 👇
LinkedIn • Instagram • Twitter 

Thank you for reading! I appreciate you.

Sincerely,
Kody

Disclaimer: Special thanks to WorkSpace6 & Superfiliate for sponsoring today’s newsletter.