Hello Reader, from your friend Nick Gray, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party (paperback or Audible) and Founder of Museum Hack.

In this issue: 79 real tasks for my VAs, the hidden danger of friendships, a new business model, an endearing 17-minute podcast about middle school love, a story of a family office scammer, people in NYC talking about how much money they make, why we messed up on vaping policy, and more.

Why you’re getting this: I'm Nick Gray and this is my Friends Newsletter. I send this every month to interesting people I’ve connected with and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can un-subscríbe any time and I won't be mad. I won't even be notified!

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Random Links

✅ 79 Tasks for My Virtual Assistants: Real World Examples​

New article I just published! See an updated list of actual examples for things I get help with.

🪑 CSC Generation is a billion-dollar home brand. Why haven’t you heard of it?​

"Really interesting profile of a business I'd never heard of but is quickly buying up (or attempting to buy) established players in home decor and furniture," via Austin H. from WFU

💰 27 People on the Streets of New York Talk About How Much Money They Make​

New York Times article with salary numbers and cute illustrations.

🔍 Inside Wealth-Conference Con Man Anthony Ritossa’s Wild Web of Lies​

Wild story of an alleged family office scammer, via Blake Eastman.

💕 Heavyweight Short: Jesse & Tori​

A heartwarming (if painful or awkward) 17-minute podcast short real life story about middle school love, via Xanthe.

⚡ The Hidden Danger of Friendships​

"A study from New England Journal of Medicine showed the spread of obesity through social networks. Data proves that if your friend becomes obese, then YOU are 45% more likely to gain weight over the next four years."

💨 Vaping: The Great Innovation Public Health Failed to Embrace​

"Electronic cigarettes have become the most important tool in the battle against cigarette smoking since Surgeon General Luther Terry first warned of their risks in 1964."

👟 7 Small Trade Show Booth Ideas for 2023​

Most small business owners first exhibit in 10x10' spaces at a trade show. See a few layout ideas and lots of photos here. I wrote this article and it is very niche, but I love trade shows because you get so many new leads (if you do it right).

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79 Tasks for My Virtual Assistants

New article! I think almost every small business owner, self-published author, influencer, or high-performing executives should hire an assistant.

But what does my team of virtual assistants actually do for me for 60 hours per week? And how could you use one?

I shared 79 actual tasks that my VAs have done over the past two weeks in this article. Perhaps it will give you an idea of things that you can delegate.

• ​Daily Tasks​
• ​Scheduling Tasks​
• ​Administrative Tasks​
• ​Email Tasks​
• ​Book and Author Tasks​
• ​Website and WordPress Tasks​

Read the article

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Easy Ice: A Unique Business Model

For my business nerd and finance friends: I saw an Easy Ice truck in NYC!

I'll tell you why this is very interesting. I wrote an article a few years ago about how a debt-finance group called a BDC (Business Development Company) made over $32,000,000 on their Easy Ice investment.

But you have to know about "ice as a service" because I had never considered it.

Here’s how the Easy Ice business model works:

• Hotels and other businesses can either buy and manage a huge ice machine,
• Or business owners can just pay a monthly fee to Easy Ice to rent it.

Read about their business model, and how a BDC made over $32M financing it, in my article.

Read the Article

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Quotes

​This on Instagram. Or see more of my favorite quotes on my blog.

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The End

Thanks for reading my Friends Newsletter.

I've been experimenting with short 30-second videos on my TikTok account, my Instagram account, Facebook, and even my YouTube account. Tell me any suggestions for new videos I should make?

OK! Have a great week.

🤠 Nick Gray

p.s. Here's the About Me on my website if you forgot who I am. We met [HOWWEMET GOES HERE].