Persistence Trumps Talent: Interview with Dr. Shaan Patel, Founder and CEO of Prep Expert

I recently went one-on-one with Dr. Shaan Patel, founder and CEO of Prep Expert. Shaan is the author of the new book Prep Expert Digital SAT Playbook: Winning Strategies to Achieve Your Dream Score.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Shaan: It's my pleasure, Adam. My journey began in my parents’ motel in Las Vegas, where I grew up. The turning point came when I managed to improve my SAT score from average to perfect, which opened the door to numerous opportunities, including admission to prestigious universities and scholarships. This experience was the cornerstone for launching Prep Expert. The challenges I faced, such as 100 rejections from top literary agents and publishers who said the SAT prep market was too competitive for me to enter, taught me the importance of perseverance, innovation, and focusing on delivering real value to students. Overcoming these obstacles has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Shaan: To grow Prep Expert, I focused on three key steps: innovation, quality, and marketing. Firstly, I developed unique teaching methodologies and proprietary strategies to differentiate our offerings. Secondly, we ensured the highest quality of instruction by hiring instructors who scored in the 99th percentile on their exams. Finally, leveraging digital marketing and media appearances, including my time on Shark Tank, significantly increased our brand visibility. For others, my advice is to focus on creating a unique value proposition, maintain uncompromising quality, and embrace innovative marketing strategies to reach your target audience effectively.

Adam: What were the best lessons you learned from your experience on Shark Tank?

Shaan: Shark Tank was a phenomenal learning experience. The most significant lessons were the importance of clear, concise communication, the value of preparation, and the necessity of a compelling story. Being able to succinctly articulate the value of your business and your vision is crucial, especially under pressure. Moreover, preparing meticulously for every possible question helped me navigate the pitch confidently. Lastly, a personal story resonates with both investors and customers, making your business more memorable and appealing.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Shaan: My top sales and marketing tips are to focus on solving a real problem, utilize storytelling, and leverage social proof. Ensure your service addresses a genuine need in a way that's both innovative and effective. Use storytelling to connect emotionally with your audience, making your brand more relatable and memorable. Lastly, social proof, such as testimonials, reviews, and media mentions, can significantly enhance credibility and trust, driving sales more effectively than traditional advertising.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Shaan: Effective leaders are visionary, empathetic, and resilient. A visionary leader sees beyond the current state, inspiring others towards a compelling future. Empathy allows leaders to understand and connect with their teams on a deeper level, fostering a supportive and motivating environment. Resilience is critical to navigate challenges and setbacks without losing sight of the goal. To elevate leadership skills, continually seek feedback, invest in personal development, and prioritize the well-being and growth of your team.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?

Shaan: Building, leading, and managing effective teams require clear communication, trust, and empowerment. Start by establishing clear goals and expectations. Trust your team by delegating responsibility and encouraging autonomy, which fosters a sense of ownership and accountability. Empower your team members by providing the resources, support, and encouragement they need to succeed and grow. Creating an environment where feedback is valued and successes are celebrated will also contribute significantly to team morale and productivity.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?

Shaan: First, always be learning. The landscape in any field is constantly evolving, so staying informed and adaptable is key. Second, focus on impact. Whether it's through your product, service, or leadership, strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Lastly, cultivate resilience. Challenges and failures are inevitable, but how you respond to them determines your long-term success. Embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Adam: What do you hope readers take away from your new book?

Shaan: From my new book, Prep Expert Digital SAT Playbook, I hope readers gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategies and mindsets required to excel on the new Digital SAT. I aim to demystify the test, providing actionable advice that students can use to improve their scores significantly. Ultimately, I want readers to feel empowered, knowing that with the right preparation and resources, achieving a top score is within their reach. This book is more than just about test prep; it's about setting a foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Adam: What are the keys to acing standardized tests? What is the future of standardized testing?

Shaan: The key to acing standardized tests is to apply perfect strategies on perfect practice questions. I believe the perfect strategies are the perfect-score strategies we teach our students at Prep Expert. I believe the perfect practice questions are the ones produced by the test creator since those will be the ones most similar to the ones students will encounter on test day. The future of standardized testing is bright. Colleges are realizing they made a mistake with going test-optional. They are seeing classes with worse outcomes and realized that removing standardized tests actually disadvantaged low-income students even more. That’s why there is a major trend among top colleges now to bring standardized testing requirements.  

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Shaan: "Persistence trumps talent." This advice has been a guiding principle for me. Talent is important, but without persistence, it's easy to give up in the face of challenges. It’s persistence that pushes you through to success.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Shaan: Yes! Pick up a copy of Prep Expert Digital SAT Playbook to ace the new Digital SAT.


Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.

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