Explore every episode of First Class Founders: Creators | Solopreneurs | Personal HoldCo
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02 Nov 2022
Trailer: First Class Founders
00:04:13
Welcome to First Class Founders!
So why should you listen to FCF? Well, if you're an entrepreneur, you know how valuable concepts, mental models, and frameworks can be when faced with a complex problem or decision.
It's like being able to phone-a-friend (name that game show!) and ask them how they would deal with this situation. Well, just imagine if you had not just one friend, but many friends who you could call on to guide you through all types of difficult decisions.
In fact, the most successful business minds like Charlie Munger, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk all have a collection of mental models that they call upon when needed. They are able to reframe situations and see the world through a different lens than most of us.
And that's where First Class Founders comes in. The goal of this podcast is to equip you with a menu of mental models and frameworks so that you too can master the art of decision making and become a better problem solver in your business and personal life. But wait, there's more.
These concepts, mental models, and frameworks may look good on paper. But they aren't very useful when you don't apply them in real world scenarios.
That's why on each episode, I introduce these frameworks and mental models and apply them in the real world. Whether that's in business or personal life, it's important not only to know these models and frameworks but know WHEN and HOW to use them.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E1: How do you turn your passion into a business? Today, we discuss frameworks that might help you identify your passion and turn it into your next side hustle. And who knows? Maybe it might grow into something much bigger than you imagined.
*** TOPICS: Concept of Time & Money (0:49) Time and money are the two most influential forces in our daily lives. Changing our perspectives on these two concepts can stretch our minds and reevaluate what we're doing on a daily basis.
Reframing Money (2:30) Someone mysteriously wires you a cool $10 million. How would this change your life?
Reframing Time (3:31) There's been a major scientific breakthrough and now anyone can live forever. How would this change the way you live? How would you be spending your time?
How Urban EDC Started (5:41) I pulled out my credit card statements from the past 30, 60, 90 days and looked through to see if there were any patterns. I noticed that I loved spending my hard earned cash on small, pocketable, well-made goods such as leather wallets, fancy bottle openers, titanium pens, even desktop toys like spinning coins. This gave me a clue into what niche and community I could get into.
Exercises for Identifying Your Passion (6:19) Jot down any trends or spending categories that you notice going over your credit card statements. How are you spending your time? You can audit your own time and see if there's overlapping interests between your spending habits and how you're spending your time.
The Hedgehog Concept (7:48) This concept is from Jim Collins, arguably one of the most impactful business thinkers today. Draw three circles overlapping one another: Your Passions, Your Strengths, Your Economic Engine. Once you find yourself in the middle of all 3 circles, you're golden.
Real World Examples Using Hedgehog Concept (11:18) You're a big wine lover. If you enjoy writing and have a knack for great writing, you can become a wine critic and start reviewing different wineries. You're a Fantasy Sports fanatic. You could create an app or start a podcast.
Using Hedgehog Concept for Employees (12:15) Ensure that each one of your employees is in a position they're good at, in an industry or company that they're passionate about, and the role should make sense financially for the company.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E2: Can you guess what the single most important indicator of success for companies is? Let's take a deep dive into the concept of the 20 Mile March from business thought leader Jim Collins and how it can become an absolute game-changer for your company.
*** TOPICS: Intro to 20 Mile March (1:03) Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, while others do not? The most important character trait that every 10X company exemplified was discipline: being able to hit certain key metrics on a consistent basis.
Characteristics of 20 Mile March (2:03) 20 Mile March has two important types of self-imposed disciplines: commitment to hit your goals even during the most difficult conditions, and the ability to hold back during times of exuberance even though it might be tempting to extend further.
Short Story of 20 Mile March (3:17) Roald Amundsen vs. Robert Falcon Scott: 1911 expedition to become the first men ever to set foot on the South Pole. Which team made it?
Weekly Drops for Urban EDC (5:47) We have a weekly cadence on Wednesdays called the Gear Drop as our 20 Mile March.
Increasing Accountability for Team (6:52) Our 20 Mile March also increased the level of accountability for the entire team without much management overhead. Also, our team is distributed and our 20 Mile March keeps everybody accountable to each other, and to the success of the company. Everybody is on the same page on what their responsibilities are each week so we don't skip a beat. Our 20 Mile March is the heartbeat of our company.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Secrets of Compounding: How to Leverage Time to Grow Your Business
00:10:17
E3: Time can either be your friend or an enemy depending on how you utilize it. So how can you tell if time is working for you or against you?
Let's discuss the power of compounding and how important it is to have time on your side.
*** TOPICS: Four Types of Leverage (2:21) Labor, Capital, Code, Media. Labor and Capital requires permission. Code and Media are permission less.
Time as Amplifier of Leverage (3:33) Time is the amplifier of the leverage you are currently deploying.
How to Start a Company Using Leverage (4:15) You raise funding, which is essentially other people's money. That's capital leverage. Now, you go out and recruit the smartest people to help build a team around you. That's labor leverage. Now, your team writes code to solve a particular problem for your customers. This enables your company to serve many customers all at once. Finally, you document your journey and share it with your target audience in a blog, YouTube channel, a podcast, wherever your potential audience may hang out. This is Media leverage.
How to Start a Company Without Leverage (5:03) You have an idea for a business. You bootstrap it using your own money. You don't hire anybody else. You don't share what you're doing and keep everything to yourself. As time passes, what's going to happen?
Using Leverage as a Bootstrapped Company (5:35) You can hire offshore virtual assistants for your back office operations. You can get a loan from the SBA to help you expand your business. You can look for different types of software to help you streamline your operations. You can start documenting your business journey and sharing it with your audience.
Time as Your Enemy (6:21) It's possible to have time work against you. Time is the amplifier of leverage. If you have a negative flywheel, you need to identify it immediately and take steps to get out of it.
Power of Compounding (7:45) If you were given a single dollar bill today, and that dollar doubled each month, you would have a little over $4,000 after the 1st year. After your 2nd year, you would have close to $17 million dollars.
Warren Buffett's Net Worth (8:34) 99.7% of Buffett's wealth came after his 52nd birthday.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E4: Constraints vs. Bottlenecks - what's the difference? Knowing the differences between these two and understanding how each of them can impact your business both positively or negatively depending on how you look at it.
*** TOPICS: Bottlenecks vs. Constraints Overview (0:53) Constraints allow you to create boundaries and rules in which you can unleash your creativity. Bottlenecks are found within the boundaries through constraints and they slow down your business.
What is a Bottleneck? (1:48) Bottlenecks can be anything that slows down the flow of your business from input to output. Your job as the operator of your business is to remove the bottlenecks in your business.
Common Bottlenecks for Small Business Owners (3:51) For most entrepreneurs, they are the bottlenecks in their own business. If you're working in the business, you may not even realize that you are the bottleneck. To increase output and increase productivity, you will need leverage.
What is a Constraint? (5:34) Constraints are necessary components for creativity to flourish. Constraints are the pre-requisite to creating something out of nothing. You need constraints. You can use limitations and constraints as tools to unleash your creativity.
Turning Constraints into Opportunities in Your Business (6:20) When hiring Fulfillment Associates for our 3PL business, we had difficulty finding the right candidates on the labor market. Working with state-run organizations, we were able to find reliable staff members who were excited to be working with us.
Creative Cash Flow Strategy (8:19) Cash is another common constraint. You could do a pre-order so that you can collect pledges prior to placing an order with your manufacturer. This way, you can test the demand for the product prior to placing a large order.
Getting Banned from Facebook Ads Overnight (9:29) Through Facebook ads, we hit record sales. Then, a week later, we got banned and lost our primary growth engine. Our sales fell drastically. So what did we do? We diversified and found other growth channels to grow.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
The Pros and Cons of Bootstrapping vs. Fundraising
00:11:59
E5: When does it make sense for you to bootstrap your business? And when should you raise funding? We're talking about the classic question of bootstrapping vs. fundraising. After making this important decision myself, these are the main considerations that you need to know and they may not be what you think.
*** TOPICS: Stakeholders Deciding Your Company's Future (1:22) Who are the decision-makers in your business? If you want full control over the future direction of your company, bootstrapping is the way to go.
Ty Haney & Outdoor Voices (2:46) Outdoor Voices, an athleisure apparel brand, was one of the hottest direct-to-consumer startups at one point. At one point, Outdoor Voices had 130 employees with 11 brick-and-mortar stores nationwide. Outdoor Voices had raised more than $60 million in VC funding. Mickey Drexler, famous for building both the Gap and J. Crew into retail icons, invested in the company and served as chairman of its Board of Directors. Haney and Drexler had conflicting views on the company's future. Eventually, this divide drove Haney out of her own company.
Lifestyle Business (5:05) If you're bootstrapped, you decide how you want to design your own life and how your business fits within it. As the primary decision maker, you choose how fast you want to grow.
Type of Business You Are Building (7:03) If you are starting a company in a market that’s already well-established, it's better to bootstrap. If your company is changing or completely reshaping an industry, you may need to raise VC funding so that you can deploy as much leverage as possible.
Blitzscaling (8:42) According to Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn and Partner at venture capital firm Greylock, blitzscaling is what you do when you need to grow quickly.
Optimizing for Money vs. Time (9:05) A bootstrapped company needs to prioritize cash flow and preserve capital above everything else. A venture-backed company’s top priority is growing as fast as possible at all costs in a race to become the industry leader.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E6: What do Patagonia and Richard Branson have in common? Likewise, how about Amazon and Elon Musk? We'll compare these two companies and two remarkable billionaire entrepreneurs. I'll also discuss strategies on how to differentiate yourself when you're a bootstrapped company by referencing Seth Godin's purple cow concept. Last but not least, we'll introduce and apply the mental model of First Principles Thinking and how you can use it to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.
*** TOPICS: Patagonia (1:56) Founded in 1965 originally as Chouinard Equipment, the company was an early pioneer in the sustainability movement. Today, Patagonia still exemplifies this important mission of protecting our planet with innovative initiatives.
Amazon (3:17) Amazon was born during the frenzy of the dot com era in the 1990s. Amazon grew at all costs without much consideration for the harmful environmental impact of its growing logistics business, or even for its own employees.
Seth Godin - Purple Cow (6:17) To build a remarkable company that stands out from the crowd, you have to embody strong values that make your company unique and special.
Henry Ford (7:50) Henry Ford once said, "If I had asked what people wanted, they would've said faster horses." Ford mass-produced the first automobile thinking in first principles.
First Principles Thinking (8:07) Thinking from first principles allows you to think outside the box and see what is possible using a whole different approach.
Ray Kurzweil (11:14) Ray Kurzweil thinks that humans are approaching an inflection in longevity, hitting longevity escape velocity.
Elon Musk (11:56) Elon Musk is an entrepreneur who often thinks in first principles, coming up with the concept of the Hyperloop while working on Tesla and SpaceX. Musk is pushing into new frontiers that have yet to be explored by humanity.
Richard Branson (12:34) Richard Branson is another successful entrepreneur. Utilizing Seth Godin's purple cow concept, his publicity stunts and framework for launching businesses in well-established industries is very different from the way Elon Musk approaches business building.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E7: How do you create that perfect customer experience? Also, should you ever fire your customers? What about the popular saying "the customer is always right"? Plus, I introduce a simple framework for customer service that will change the way you think about customer experience.
*** TOPICS: Who is Your Customer? (1:36) A customer is any person or business that is paying for your product or service. Always ask yourself - Who is your customer?
Airbnb's Superstar Experience (2:56) If you want to build something that’s truly viral, you have to create an absolutely incredible experience that you tell everyone about. Reverse engineer the hypothetical ten-star experience.
When You Should Fire Your Customer (6:45) Entrepreneurs fall into the trap of putting too much weight into the monetary side of a deal and not enough consideration for the other variables in play. I've made this mistake myself and I learned the hard way when it comes finding the right partnerships.
Lesson Learned (7:50) At GrowthJet, we should have fired one client earlier to avoid the headaches that we had to endure in the aftermath. The important lesson here is that you can and should fire your clients if they're being problematic to you or your team or compromising the integrity of your service or offering.
Finding Sponsors For Your Newsletter (10:25) Thinking from first principles allows you to think outside the box and see what is possible using a whole different approach.
Customer Experience Framework (12:58) What is the function of customer service within this customer journey? Customer support exists to fill in the gaps between your customers' expectations in their journey of what should have happened vs. the reality of what actually happened.
Pareto Principle - 80/20 Rule (15:32) 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. In other words, a small percentage of causes have an outsized effect.
Business Ops as a Production Plant (16:15) Imagine your entire business operation as a production plant. When something breaks, it increases your overhead cost. You want to catch your problem early. The further you catch your bottleneck, the bigger the cost of fixing it.
Steve Wynn's Daughter's Half-Eaten Croissant (18:28) This story demonstrates an important point in designi
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E8: Gather up your to-dos for the week! We'll go over the Eisenhower Matrix, finding your lead domino, timing your tasks, blocking & tackling, and last but not least, we'll discuss how you can multiply your time. Ready?
*** TOPICS: Eisenhower Matrix (1:31) The Eisenhower Matrix will help sift through which tasks you're supposed to be working on so that you can make the most out of your day. The core essence of the Eisenhower Matrix is to filter through which tasks are either important or urgent so that you can prioritize your tasks.
Lead Domino (5:33) Determine which specific one task will help completely eliminate the rest of the tasks on your list. If they can not be completely eliminated altogether, then look for the one task that will essentially be your "lead domino" that will make all the other tasks on your list easier.
Timing Your Tasks (8:11) Did you know that there's a 2-hour window every day where doctors deliver more fatal doses of anesthesia before surgery? In the same two hours, Danish students score significantly lower on standardized exams. Likewise, during these two hours, CEOs are more likely to say things they may later regret on quarterly earnings calls which can cause their stock price to plummet. Can you guess which 2-hour time period this is?
Blocking & Tackling (13:16) Schedule uninterrupted time into your calendar. Turn off all your notifications, put your phone on Airplane Mode, close all your other windows, and just concentrate on your task at hand.
Multiply Your Time (16:35) Rather than asking “What’s the most important thing I can do today?”, reframe the question to “What’s the most important thing I can do today that would make tomorrow better?” In other words, by thinking about how we use our time today, we can free up our hours in the future.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
The Billionaire Mindset: 5 Ways Billionaires Think Differently From Millionaires
00:20:14
E9: How do you level up from millionaire to billionaire? We discuss the 5 mindset differences between a millionaire and a billionaire. By the end, you'll have the playbook for jumping from a millionaire to a billionaire.
*** TOPICS: Impact Over Money (1:40) Billionaires measure their success in units of impact vs. units of money. They are motivated to hit a certain milestone whether that's feeding a billion people, in the case of motivational speaker Tony Robbins. Or Marc Lore, who is now on a mission to build a new utopian city called Telosa. Or Elon Musk, who wants humanity to colonize Mars through SpaceX.
Constant Learning & Self-Improvement (3:44) Bill Gates takes an entire week off to read every year. Billionaires are hungry for knowledge. They study historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, and others to learn the fundamentals of achieving success. Grant Cardone also believes that there is no such thing as burnout from working too hard. He believes that you're not getting enough unexpected wins in your work which is causing you to feel burnt out.
Thinking Bigger Using Leverage (7:51) Billionaires are tackling the world's largest problems. So naturally, they use more leverage than anybody else in the world. They are running multiple businesses at the same time, leveraging a great team to make it all happen.
Optimizing for Time (9:35) Millionaires have a tendency to save money whenever possible. Billionaires optimize for time instead. Billionaires plan out for several decades in advance. Jeff Bezos infamously kept reinvesting Amazon’s profits back into the business for decades despite shareholder pressure to become profitable.
Contrarian Approach to Decision-Making (15:06) Billionaires are constantly assessing risk vs. reward and limit their downside as much as possible while leaving the upside unbounded. They are calculated in their risk-taking. Yet, once they find an asymmetric risk/reward payout, they go all in. Millionaires diversify their investments into things like index funds to reduce their risk but billionaires put their eggs in a few baskets and watch them very closely.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E10: What exactly is luck? Luck is commonly defined as, "success or failure brought on by chance rather than through one's own actions." In other words, luck is a matter of chance. It's the element of unpredictability in life. And it's something that we can't control. Or can we? Some people seem to be luckier than others. Is it possible to create your own luck? The answer is yes. And today, we're building your very own "luck playbook".
*** TOPICS: 4 Types of Luck (2:06) There are four types of luck: blind, serendipitous, expertise, and idiosyncratic.
Blind Luck (2:15) Blind luck is how we typically define luck. It's winning the lottery. This is accidental luck. There's not much you can do to sway blind luck in your favor.
Serendipitous Luck (2:32) We're adding movement into the equation. You generate a lot of energy. You start things. This increases the likelihood that you might get lucky. How so? Well, instead of relying on blind luck, you put yourself in a position that helps facilitate serendipitous interactions and force yourself to find luck.
Expertise Luck (3:44) You may notice that something lucky might be happening where others may not notice them at all. You put in many years specializing and becoming an expert in a particular industry, and you're able to capitalize on that knowledge and eventually create your own luck because you can see trends emerging before anybody else.
Idiosyncratic (4:51) This is the hardest kind of luck because you need to build a unique character, a unique brand, and a unique mindset. This is the most powerful type of luck because luck finds you not the other way around.
Increasing Luck Surface Area (6:55) You can build your own "Luck Playbook" by finding a community, gaining trust within that community, and becoming an expert within that community.
How I Created My Own Luck (13:05) In October, 2011, I flew across the country to California to break into the emerging startup scene in San Francisco. I eventually ended up working at a cryptocurrency company. Working here. I saw the exciting new opportunity in digital currencies and decided to invest in cryptocurrencies.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
The Hidden Advantages of Building a Podcast Audience
00:18:35
E11: Podcasting has seen continued growth year over year and it looks like the growth is here to stay. I'm here to tell you my top 5 reasons for why everybody should consider having a podcast whether that's for your own business or for your own personal brand.
*** TOPICS: Podcast Growth Statistics (1:26) Since 2006, there's been a steady rise of Americans who have listened to a podcast in the past. It's grown so much that big media companies are now spending a lot of money to produce podcast-only shows.
Most Important Factor for Podcast Success (3:39) The most important factor in your podcast's success is consistency. And what’s the secret sauce for consistency? You genuinely have to enjoy the art of podcasting.
Your Own Audience (5:47) Podcasting is owned media. Just like how you own all the email subscriber data if you have a newsletter, podcasting is similar in that it's a platform-agnostic medium that will live in perpetuity. This is very different from platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Paid vs. Earned vs. Owned Media (6:58) At the top of the funnel, you have paid media. Next level down from paid media is earned media. Earned media is essentially any online word of mouth. Owned media is any online property that you control and is unique to your own brand.
Leaving Behind Legacy (9:24) An RSS podcast feed cannot be taken down unless you decide to take it down yourself. First Class Founders will continue to evolve as I evolve as an entrepreneur. I love being able to share my journey and thoughts with an audience in real time.
Media Leverage (10:55) There are four types of leverage: Labor, Capital, Media, and Code. Someone can listen to this exact episode tomorrow, or in 10 years. Over time, this exact episode can be listened to over and over again.
Monetary Potential (13:02) Subscription-based podcasting can be a great business. There's very little overhead. There's no physical inventory. There's no growing labor cost and infrastructure cost. Once your show grows, you will have predictable recurring revenue.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E12: The creator economy has exploded. It's more important than ever to build an audience. I've built a simple 5 step framework to help you find, nurture, and grow your audience. By the end of this episode, you will know how to build your audience AND grow a loyal following through engaging content. I'll break down what type of content you need to post for which segment of your audience.
*** TOPICS: Find Your Voice (1:31) Find your own unique voice. You don't wanna be just another creator in a sea of content creators. This is not how you'll be able to build an engaging audience. Why should anyone listen to you? Do you have an important message for your audience?
Identify Communities (5:47) Go where your audience is. Communities can be found anywhere from in-person meetups to online forums to Twitter groups. Identify and go where your future audience hangs out.
Deliver Value to Communities (7:01) Add value to each community. Establish your authority in that community. Once you've established your reputation within that niche, you can start broadening your area of expertise.
Content Structure (14:09) Your content should have an enticing hook, which is your beginning. Next, we have the main body of your content. Don't forget to keep your content interesting by using metaphors and telling stories. Humans are wired to remember stories. Finally, we have the end. This is where you summarize the main points of your content in an easily digestible way so that your audience can quickly sum up your content in a few words. You should also have a call to action for your audience.
Content Breadth vs. Depth (16:22) A broad type of content is something that's relatable to more people. This increases your potential reach and variety. Showcase your creativity and knowledge with content that goes deep. As part of your content strategy, you need both broad content and specific content. Broad content for relatability across a wider audience, specific content for building authority within your current audience.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Rag to Riches: How I Built a Successful Business from Scratch
00:32:05
E13: I'm taking you on a personal journey of how I moved to the Bay Area 11 years ago with just one suitcase. I had no job and no place to live. So how did I bootstrap my business to where it is today?
*** TOPICS: First Side Hustle (2:46) My first side hustle was in freelance writing. I wrote for a popular personal finance blog. I was paid $25 per article.
One Way Ticket to San Francisco (8:59) I landed in San Francisco with just 1 suitcase. I slept on the floor in my friend's tiny apartment. My back hurt after 2 weeks. I had no choice.
Partying with Coolio (10:15) I attended SXSW in Austin, Texas. Coolio was performing at one of the parties hosted by our company and he needed a place to stay so he stayed with us. It was out-of-this-world.
Crazy Bootcamp (12:06) For 12 weeks straight, I studied from Mon-Sat, 8am-9pm. At the end of those 12 weeks, I was fluent in Javascript. I was seeing code in my sleep.
Working at Ripple (14:56) Ripple hired me as an early employee in early 2014. I worked with some of the smartest people I've ever met. The technology was advanced for its time. I knew I was working on something that could be huge one day.
Crypto to Knives (17:01) Blockchain Engineer to Online Knife Seller. My colleagues thought I was crazy. I worked tirelessly day in and day out and launched on October 9th, 2015 to crickets. Not a single sale for the first 3 days.
Celebrity French Bulldog (22:20) We took home a French bulldog named Humphrey. His videos went viral. He quickly gained more than 100k followers on Instagram.
Launching Dog Boutique (22:56) My wife quit her job and launched Spotted By Humphrey, a dog boutique selling playfully curated dog accessories and apparel with Humphrey as our Chief Marketing Officer.
Launching a 3PL (23:56) Our colleagues kept asking us to help with their fulfillment. We started taking on clients. Before we knew it, we had paying clients for a company we hadn't even named.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
I / We / They Framework: 3 Simple Steps to Grow Your Business
00:20:46
E14: Today, I'm sharing a framework called the 'I / We / They' framework that I developed to help me gain clarity on what I need to work depending on the stage of my business. I wish that someone had taught me this framework 7 years ago when I first became an entrepreneur.
*** TOPICS: I / We / They Framework (2:09) There are 3 parts to this framework: Experimental, Operational, and Scaleable, corresponding to I, We, and They respectively.
Experimental Phase (2:26) The Experimental phase of your business starts with yourself. This is where the "I" portion of this framework comes into play. It's characterized by building your audience and validating your ideas. During this phase, you're trying lots of new things. You're still exploring what might work and that's OK. This phase tends to have the greatest fear of failure and self-doubt as you'll have more questions than answers.
Operational Phase (6:12) You need to create three primary systems: lead-generation, value-delivery, and overall operations. Build an all-star caliber team around you to help you with these 3 processes. Work with them carefully and refine these systems over time. Mentor your team and teach them everything you know about your business.
Scaleable Phase (15:03) So your business is growing and you’re working with your team to build out processes and systematize your operations. Now, it’s time to empower your team. What motivates employees is the autonomy to make big decisions for the company. Ownership over creation. Ownership over decision-making. Ownership over action. The biggest growth levers in my own business happened when I let go of control and delegated the decision-making process to my team.
Strategies for Delegation (16:45) Encourage your team to brainstorm solutions first. Then, give feedback on the decisions that your team makes. If you must come up with the plan yourself, get your team's buy-in so that they feel ownership over that decision. And lastly, trust your team to make the right calls, but it doesn't hurt to verify first. By doing this, you're eliminating your own decision-making bottleneck at the company and also empowering your employees. Elevate the key operators in your business to take the reins from you.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Building an Unforgettable Brand Identity: Sandy Chung of Spotted By Humphrey
00:19:34
E15: Sandy is the Founder of Spotted By Humphrey, a dog boutique curating playful dog goods for good dogs. The shop has grown tremendously since its launch in 2018. Sandy and Humphrey were even invited down to Los Angeles for a segment on Shopify's YouTube channel. This was a professional studio set with camera crew, backstage make-up artists, and real actors and actresses on the set. Sandy's secret to growth has been building a strong brand identity. She built an audience over 150k followers across all social media channels and today, she's going to share her framework for building a successful brand.
*** TOPICS: Definition of Brand (2:38) A brand is a feeling that consumers get when they're interacting with you. So it's something that's not definable by the company to the extent that a brand is defined by the relationship between the company and its customers.
Framework for Creating a Strong Brand (4:32) Step 1: Identify your values. Step 2: Live your values consistently. Step 3: Be open to adapting your brand values.
Identify Your Brand Values (5:56) Start with yourself. Think about how you see yourself as a brand, what values you live by, or simply just how your friends might describe you.
Stay Consistent with Your Brand Values (8:53) Every touchpoint in the customer experience should embody these values. Think of the colors on your website, the tone of your social media posts, or the way that your emails look. So the more consistent they are, the more effective you'll be at reinforcing those values.
Evolve Your Brand Values (13:28) It's only natural that a brand changes and evolves over time like humans do. It doesn't have to be drastic as a complete rebrand. It's really important to continuously observe the trends within your industry and assess what kind of changes feel appropriate to your brand.
Audit Your Brand Values (17:48) If you have a business, when was the last time you did an audit on your brand values? Visit them now and update them.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Harnessing the Power of Habits to Compound Success
00:19:36
E16: Most of us know already that personal habits are important in our daily lives. But as a creator, how important are daily habits to master your skills? Having the right habits in place ensures that you're always moving towards accomplishing whatever you want to achieve. I'll reveal the most effective methods to form good habits and break bad ones. These are tried and true tactics that I have tested for myself.
*** TOPICS: Importance of Habits (1:32) Everybody has habits. Habits are important because they become second nature. Habits compounded over a long period of time makes a huge difference.
Tom Brady, J.K. Rowling, Ed Sheeran (3:23) Think about someone who has achieved success in any career. A professional athlete like Tom Brady, a bestselling author like J.K. Rowling, or a popular musical artist like Ed Sheeran. They didn't get there overnight. It took them decades to hone in on their craft through habits.
My Own Daily Habits (6:25) Personally, I can make a good habit or break a bad one in about 30 days. So each month, I do my best to replace one bad habit with one good one, which will result in good habits stacking on top of each other over time. Each small consistent action from these habits will compound on top of each other leading to powerful long-term.
How to Break Bad Habits & Create Good Habits (13:09) Here are four effective strategies for habit formation. The first is making the trigger for the habit easier to access. The second strategy is breaking down the activity into its smallest actions. The third strategy is increasing accountability. Finally, the last strategy is to reward yourself whenever you perform an action that you don't necessarily enjoy.
Compounding Life-Changing Habits (17:17) When you compound the right habits consistently over time, you can make incredible progress on your life goals. Break down your goals and start implementing daily habits using these four strategies. Habits are very personal. What works for someone else may not work for you, and vice versa. Remember, habits are so powerful because they can automate behaviors that we want to implement. Master your habits and you'll compound results. Simple as that.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Collaborate To Dominate: Effective Strategies to Grow Your Business
00:18:31
E17: We're talking about a growth strategy that not a lot of creators are taking advantage of to help you grow. I'll tell you what it is and how you can do it effectively to grow your audience and increase your authority at the same time. This is a powerful tactic that I'm using personally in my own e-commerce business to supercharge our growth. By the end of this episode, you'll be well-equipped with a new tool for taking your business to the next level.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Debunking the Myth of Solopreneurship: Why Flying Solo Will Hurt Your Business
00:23:14
E18: Today, we are debunking the myth of solopreneurship. Yes, there are a lot of benefits to being a solopreneur. But nobody talks about the downsides of solopreneurship. I'm here today to expose the truth. I know because I was also a solopreneur when I first started my own business back in 2015. But since then, I've scaled up my team and my company has grown with it.
By the end of this episode, I'll show you how you can still enjoy the benefits of solopreneurship while removing the roadblocks that come with being solo. I'll explain how you should approach your hiring strategy and where you should look to find your best employees.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Grow Your Audience Through Authenticity: Kevon Cheung of Public Lab
00:28:27
E19: Kevon Cheung is the author of Find Joy in Chaos: How to Build Your Twitter Presence So Connections and Opportunities Come Find You. He's widely recognized as a thought leader in finding your voice and making meaningful connections online. Kevon has a unique framework called the PIERS framework, which he uses as a personal identity guideline for developing his online persona. He'll break down this framework which will explain why he uses a broccoli emoji as part of his online identity.
*** TOPICS:
Why Build An Audience? (1:40)
How to Survive the Early Days of Building an Audience (4:13)
Why Your Circle of Friends Evolves Over Time (6:15)
How to Develop an Authentic Voice (8:34)
Framework For Developing an Online Identity (11:04)
Secrets to Building Meaningful Relationships Online (18:39)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Why Building an Audience Isn't How to Start Your Business
00:23:06
E20: In this episode, I talk to Jim James of the UnNoticed Entrepreneur Podcast about the struggles I had during the early days of launching my first business, Urban EDC. I also discuss a mini framework for those who are just starting out that will help you grow right off the bat. Lastly, I share with you the one thing every business needs to increase loyalty with your customer base and succeed over the long haul.
And of course, we end this episode with another question from our community about how to drive traffic effectively to a new brand's website to generate sales. My answer is probably not what you expect. Stay tuned until the end to find out!
*** TOPICS:
How I Built An Audience (2:22)
Why Your Audience Are NOT Your Customers (4:11)
Why You Should Never Launch with Friends & Family (4:52)
Building Accountability Through Feedback Loops (6:49)
Strategies for Launching Your Brand (8:17)
Building Your Product Through Your Community (10:59)
How to Promote Your Brand in the Beginning (13:03)
Why B2B Marketing Is Different Than B2C (14:33)
Why Feedback Is Critical For Your Business (16:45)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Increase Customer Lifetime Value with Discovery and Trust Engines
00:21:52
E21: Having an audience doesn't necessarily translate into building your business. So how do you find your audience, then nurture them into paying customers? What about enhancing your offers to your existing customers to increase customer lifetime value? Today, we're talking about your your discovery engine, your trust engine, and last but not least, your offer value ladder: what it is, why it's so important, and how you can segment your customers with offers they simply can't refuse.
By the end of this episode, you'll have a much better understanding of how to attract, nurture, and increase the lifetime value of your customers.
*** TOPICS: Your First Steps After Launching Your Business (1:13)
What is a Discovery Engine? (2:38)
Examples of Discovery Engines (3:10)
What Is a Trust Engine? (6:48)
Lesson Learned: Getting Banned on Facebook (8:20)
Why You Need to Get Your Audience Off Social Media (9:07)
Example: Urban EDC's Trust Engine (11:06)
Alternative Trust Engines: Webinars & Trade Shows (12:44)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Newsletter Success Launch Plan: 4 Effective Strategies to Kickstart Your Newsletter
00:23:08
E22: Emails. They seem so old-school, right? You have to first write who you are sending them to. Then you write why you're sending them. Then you write what it is all about… So boring! And yet, as of November 2021, Substack had over a million paying subscribers and the top 10 authors on Substack collectively make $20 million per year. If that alone doesn't change your perception of regular ol' email as a powerful business on its own, maybe you should stop right here. Still here? Good. Because I'm devoting the rest of the episode to telling you how you can launch a successful newsletter.
*** TOPICS:
Growing Business of Newsletters (1:00)
Who Should Have a Newsletter? (1:53)
How Many Subscribers Should You Have Before Launch? (2:38)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Grow Your Newsletter Fast: Secrets to Skyrocketing Your Subscribers
00:24:59
E23: Do you already have 50-100 subscribers for your newsletter? Do your subscribers LOVE the content you’ve been putting out? Are your subscribers frequently sharing the content you send in your newsletter?
And yet, if the number of subscribers for your newsletter doesn’t seem to be growing the way you thought it would and you just can’t figure out a way to grow your newsletter’s subscriber numbers, then you’ve come to the right episode of the right podcast!
This is the second of a two-parter on launching and growing your own newsletter business. So, if you haven't heard the previous episode yet, you should probably go check that out first.
Okay, so, assuming you have followed all the previous instructions to a tee, you should now have a newsletter with about 50-100 subscribers who all LOVE your content and frequently share it with others. Now, you need to get new people, more people, to subscribe and grow your newsletter.
Now, how do you do that?
Well, that's precisely what this episode is going to be all about - finding new subscribers and growing your newsletter! Strap in - I promise you this is gonna be a mind-blowing ride!
*** TOPICS: How to Bring Over an Existing Audience (3:14)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Life-Changing Wisdom with Arvid Kahl: From Selling a SaaS Startup to Becoming a Creator
00:36:54
E24: Today, we're talking to Arvid Kahl, the co-founder of FeedbackPanda, a SaaS startup that was acquired by SureSwift Capital. Arvid shares insights about selling his SaaS business, and then more importantly, his current content strategy, which he seems to be slowly building into another successful business venture, this time as a creator.
On this episode, we touch upon a wide range of topics such as the shift in the economic mindset that comes with selling a business for a large sum, Arvid's content strategy, which Arvid sums up as, "adding tiny things that already fit into the existing system."
We discuss how his small weekly blog grew rapidly and acquired a massive following, how he deploys the same content to four separate content delivery mechanisms with great success. And finally, how he effectively uses AI as a writing buddy to augment his content tasks.
*** TOPICS: Bootstrapping Feedback Panda to $55k in MRR (2:13)
Selling Feedback Panda for "Life Changing Amount" of Money (5:12)
How Selling Feedback Panda Changed His Approach to Work (7:23)
How Arvid Started Writing Online (8:58)
Why Arvid Backdated His Content on His Blog (10:00)
How Arvid Boosted His Credibility Online (12:13)
How Arvid Started His Newsletter (15:33)
Why Having a Regular Cadence For Your Newsletter is Important (16:40)
How Arvid Launched His Podcast (18:33)
Arvid's Process for Content Distribution (19:00)
How Arvid's New Podcast Format Accelerated His Podcast Growth (22:17)
How Arvid Sources New Content Ideas (23:00)
Arvid' Most Popular Podcast Episodes and Why (24:25)
How Arvid Uses ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence (26:26)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How To Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Million Dollar Business as a Creator
00:26:37
E25: Do you currently have a side-hustle that you enjoy building? Or, do you WISH you had a side hustle? How do you make your first million dollars from it? I'm going to tell you exactly that - how to make your first million dollars from your side-hustle.
On this episode, we'll cover how to CHOOSE a suitable side-hustle, how to BUILD your side-hustle, and finally, how to MONETIZE your side-hustle.
*** TOPICS:
What is a Side Hustle? (2:11)
Your Unique Life Experiences Are a Goldmine For Information (3:42)
What Can You Teach Others? (4:28)
James Clear, Ryan Holiday, Nick Huber, Justin Welsh, Justin Moore (5:22)
Figure Out a Niche You Can Own (6:11)
Build in Public (9:36)
Build a Tribe that Trusts You (13:32)
How to Collaborate with Other Creators to Grow Your Audience (15:49)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Create Your Own Luck as a Creator: Justin Gordon's Incredible Journey From Training NFL Pros to Venture Capital to Full-Time Creator
00:35:48
E26: Justin Gordon went from training alongside elite athletes such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees to working with an amazing community of entrepreneurs and founders as the Director of Marketing and Communication at a VC firm called Vitalize VC.
He's also the creator of a popular podcast and newsletter called Just Go Grind. I spoke to Justin about his journey from the world of personal fitness to venture capital and came away with a ton of amazing insights such as the similarities between athletics and entrepreneurship, how he applies his learnings as a fitness trainer in the VC world, how he built a network of founders through his content creation, how his podcast got him hired at his current role, and finally what he considers to be the most important quality for an entrepreneur to have.
Also, I'll share some of Justin's thoughts on the Silicon Valley bank fiasco that has been unraveling for the past few weeks and his thoughts on how founders can survive in the current uncertain fundraising climate.
*** TOPICS: Training Elite NFL Athletes Like Drew Brees & LaDainian Tomlinson (3:51)
Launching a Personal Fitness Business (5:25)
Joining an E-Commerce Company (6:24)
Why Justin Got His MBA in California (7:02)
How Justin Started His Podcast (7:42)
How Justin Got His VC Job Through His Podcast (8:16)
Two Types of Personal Trainers (9:18)
Similarities Between Elite Athletes & Top Entrepreneurs (13:05)
Mailchimp Founder, Ben Chestnut (14:47)
Small Businesses vs. VC-Backed Companies (15:14)
When Fundraising, Narrative Is Just As Important As Traction (16:28)
How to Navigate Silicon Valley Bank Fiasco (22:05)
Fundraising During Market Turmoil (23:11)
Gobble Founder, Ooshma Garg (24:04)
Knowing What Levers to Pull as an Entrepreneur (26:10)
Making Game Time Adjustments on the Field (27:57)
Calendly Founder, Tope Awotona (30:25)
Paul Graham, Founder at Y Combinator: Relentlessly Resourceful (31:10)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E27: Three months ago, I decided to launch the First Class Founders newsletter.
Problem is, I had no subscribers, no list, and, essentially, no idea what to do or, even, where to begin!
Today, my newsletter has over two thousand subscribers. It has an open rate of 40% and a 10% click-through rate. In case you are wondering, yes, that IS indeed a high number. How did I achieve this? What did I do that was so effective? What's my secret sauce?
Get ready to take notes because I plan to reveal all my secrets to you today!
DISCLAIMER: Twitter just updated their API pricing plans impacting many of the tools mentioned in this episode. This is a fast-changing development so please check the individual websites for updates on how each tool is handling this situation.
*** TOPICS: Great Content is Not Enough (3:41)
Using Beehiiv to Swap Recommendations (5:42)
When Swapping Recs: Growth Rate > List Size (7:00)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
EAR$ Framework and Monetization Strategies for Creators with Jeremy Enns, Podcast Marketing Expert
00:34:36
E28: Jeremy is the Founder of Podcast Marketing Academy, which is a podcast growth and marketing company helping scrappy podcast centric brands, networks and creators punch above their weight.
Today, I speak to him about the four key aspects of his excellent EAR$ framework: Exposure, Attraction, Retention, and Monetization. We also dig into how Jeremy implements them for his own content, and how you can implement them for your content.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Power of Newsletters: "I think that's a way easier ask just because of how we treat newsletters like we don't expect an immediate thing. It's almost like I'm going to subscribe now, and I know that I'm going to get the next newsletter."
— Jeremy Enns (9:44)
Optimizing Lead Magnets for Higher Conversion Rates: "I realized, like, I have kind of like a messaging problem and maybe a design problem where it doesn't feel legitimate or hooky or compelling enough. And that needed to change if I wanted to get more people onto the list."
— Jeremy Enns (13:09)
*** TOPICS:
How Jeremy Got Into Podcasting (3:10)
Introduction to the EAR$ Framework (6:11)
How to Get Your Content Exposure (7:04)
Using Newsletter For 'Exposure' to Podcast (8:31)
How to Attract Your Ideal Audience (11:41)
How to Retain Your Audience (15:22)
How to Analyze Retention For a Podcast (18:06)
Why a Big Audience Doesn't Translate to Sales & Monetization (23:34)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Surprising Lessons Learned From Amazon's "Customer Obsession"
00:27:14
E29: Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon, is worth $125 Billion.
And, the one thing he is famously known for is his "customer obsession." In fact, Amazon strives to be 'Earth's most customer-centric company.' And yet, my own experience revealed a different side of Amazon.
Today, I want to take a slight detour and talk about an incident that happened to me, which had me re-evaluating my understanding of good customer service. Particularly, since it has to do with my interactions with Amazon, which prides itself as the Earth's most customer-centric company.
My run-in with Amazon taught me five valuable business lessons. I will share with you both the journey that led me to this understanding and the lessons we can all learn from. By the end of this episode, you'll have a firm grasp of a few key principles to help you treat your customers right.
*** TOPICS:
Amazon's Customer Obsession (2:19)
Communicate Issues Properly with Customers (6:15)
Design a User Journey That Makes Sense (8:03)
Who Owns the Customer Journey? (11:51)
Don't Lie To Your Customers (15:58)
Treat Your Loyal Customers Like Royalty, Not Crap (21:44)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
HustleGPT: The Viral ChatGPT AI Experiment That Took Twitter by Storm With Jackson Fall
00:39:36
E30: Ever since ChatGPT was released to the public, people have used it for a wide variety of interesting experiments. Today, I'm speaking to Jackson Fall, the man behind the recent success of HustleGPT.
At the time of recording, Jackson's Twitter thread about HustleGPT, his unique entrepreneurial experiment with ChatGPT had nearly 16,000 retweets, 103,000 likes, and well over 22.5 million impressions. It created a sensation among founders and entrepreneurs and got noticed by CNN as well.
I ended up discussing a ton of stuff with Jackson, including:
- Tips and tricks to effective prompt engineering - The secret sauce to his explosive growth on Twitter - How he conceived of HustleGPT and how he plans to grow it - How he built a community around the viral phenomenon of HustleGPT
*** EXCERPTS:
The Fascinating Social Experience of Prompt Engineering: "What is so cool about this whole idea of prompt engineering is it's an incredibly social experience... It feels like I'm finally in Harry Potter or something and I'm like casting spells."
— Jackson Fall (13:26)
ChatGPT as a Life Coach: "I want you to ask me three questions from each of these ten categories that I can fit my life into...And then I want you to take those responses and ask me a bunch of questions about comparing where I am now in my life versus where I want to be in my life."
— Jackson Fall (17:02)
Going Viral on Twitter: "For the first three or four days, every single time I refresh my notifications, it was like 100 new people followed."
— Jackson Fall (26:39)
*** TOPICS:
Introduction to ChatGPT and example use cases (3:38)
Who is Jackson Fall and what does he do? (4:47)
What is HustleGPT? (5:13)
How did HustleGPT reshape the use case of ChatGPT? (5:59)
Some of Jackson's other experiments with ChatGPT (7:50)
Prompt engineering involved with HustleGPT (11:22)
The 3 elements that caused Jackson's tweet to go instantly viral (20:55)
Could THIS be the secret to gaining followers on Twitter? (23:12)
The 4 elements necessary to build a thriving online community (27:42)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
From Pool Store Boy to Serial Entrepreneur: How Matt Giovanisci Built a Multi-Million Dollar Niche Business
00:25:49
E31: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work FOREVER in the same industry where you got your first-ever job? Well, Matt Giovanisci doesn't need to imagine it. Because that is exactly what he has been doing since he was 13 years old.
Over the years, Matt grew steadily within this industry and eventually ended up launching Swim University in 2006. Swim University caters to a very specific niche - homeowners with pools and hot tubs. According to their 'About' page, "Swim University has made pool and hot tub care easy for more than 10 million homeowners." Matt has mentioned on his website that Swim University makes over $250,000 a year!
You must be very curious about how exactly Matt went from pool store boy to the owner of a niche business that has served more than 10 million homeowners and made several millions of dollars in revenue!
Let's find out!
*** SPONSOR: I love using Riverside.fm to record all interviews. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
Carving Out Your Lane: "It's one of those businesses still to this day where I am trial and erroring my way through a profitable lane that's carved out kind of just for me...this is our lane, and we stick to it."
— Matt Giovanisci (8:44)
Growing Moneylab: "This year is the year where I grow Moneylab and maybe take another 10 to 20% of the revenue share between those two businesses."
— Matt Giovanisci (16:25)
*** TOPICS:
Matt’s introduction and history (0:14)
How Swim University began (0:41)
Matt’s current workload, revenue streams, and future projections (6:32)
Using the Swim University model to launch RoastyCoffee and Brew Cabin (12:54)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Musician to Serial Entrepreneur to LinkedIn Creator: How Sam Browne Grew His Audience 100X in 1 Year
00:32:51
E32: Sam Browne is a musician at heart and an entrepreneur by trade. Sam is also the founder of Haro SEO, which is a search engine optimization firm that involves getting backlinks from high quality domains by helping a reporter out.
Sam is also a well known LinkedIn creator who grew from 500 to 50,000 followers in just one year. He's now planning a course for entrepreneurs on LinkedIn.
So how does someone who started off as a musician become an entrepreneur skilled in such diverse industries? What was the journey that took Sam from playing in bands as a high schooler to a serial entrepreneur with multiple successes under his belt?
Let's dig in...
*** SPONSOR: I love using Riverside.fm to record all interviews. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Reality of Starting a Business: "I'm 15 years into this now. I had absolutely no clue what the hell I was doing for at least the first five years. No clue."
— Sam Browne (27:38)
Choosing the Right Business: "...think really hard. As much as you want to think about where the money is, and that's an important consideration, too. Think about what you want your day to look like, because whether you're selling vacuum cleaners or you're selling laser jets, ultimately you're probably going to be dealing with you're going to have emails, you're going to have clients coming in, you're going to have complaints, you're going to have fires to put out. So think about the types of fires you want to be putting out."
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Surprising Lessons From Top Creators: Insights from Jennifer Phan, Founder & CEO of Passionfroot
00:32:50
E33: Today's guest is Jennifer Phan, Founder & CEO of Passionfroot, a platform which is aiming to become the operating system for creators.
Jennifer has worked with some of the biggest creators including Arvid Kahl, Michael Houck, and Ali Abdaal.
Being at the epicenter of the creator economy, she knows a thing or two about becoming a successful creator.
So, what are the secrets to becoming a successful creator?
Let’s find out.
*** SPONSOR:
I love using Riverside.fm to record all interviews. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
How Being a Creator is like Being an Investor: "As a creator, you can actually apply exactly that kind of investor and portfolio mindset and place a lot of smaller bets, try a lot of different platforms where you create content."
— Jennifer Phan (7:56)
The Ups and Downs of Entrepreneurship: "I think we're on a very good track. I think it's this roller coaster, right? Like one day it's like amazing, everything looks great. The other day is when a user churn is like, oh my God, how are we ever going to make it?"
— Jennifer Phan (28:44)
Building Resilience: "You're supposed to feel one third of your time great, one third of your time and one third of your time future. And that shows that you're out of your comfort zone."
— Jennifer Phan (29:34)
*** TOPICS:
How Jen went from VC to creator to founder (4:07)
Similarities between VC investments and creators' small bets (7:56)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Build a Million Dollar Audience with Podcast Legend David Hooper of Big Podcast
00:35:09
E34: Today's episode is a masterclass in audience building by none other than podcast legend David Hooper. He's worked with big clients including AT&T, RunDMC, Victoria's Secret, and Fedex.
David and I spoke at length about how his career shaped up over the years and discussed several things, such as how living and growing up in the Music City influenced his career, the long journey from a college radio host to podcast marketing consultant, ideas and strategies to grow a big audience, which he picked up from his years in the radio and podcasting business, as well as several anecdotes from his interactions with celebrities in the music business.
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR:
I love using Riverside.fm to record all guest interviews like this one with David Hooper. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
Building a Smaller But More Engaged Audience:"You can be more successful having a smaller operation. So that's kind of the counterintuitive thing for podcasting that I think people miss."
— David Hooper (27:55)
The Power of Niche Podcasting: "But I will tell you that I've gone with the production that I've done as niched down as a per neighborhood podcast only for this neighborhood. And we have made more money CPM cost per thousand out of any other thing I've ever been involved with."
— David Hooper (28:38)
***
TOPICS:
[00:07:03] David Hooper: From American Bandstand Fan to Radio Jock [00:08:35] People Don't Care About Your Stuff As Much As You Do [00:11:12] From Radio to Music Conference to Podcasting [00:15:49] Lessons for Founders: Pivoting for Audience Engagement [00:17:40] Be Open and Flexible in Your Creative Journey [00:21:40] Winning by Twinning: Be Relatable, yet Aspirational [00:27:12] How to Increase Your Sponsorship CPM by Niching Down
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Newsletter Growth Secrets: Don't Make These Costly Mistakes
00:31:25
E35: Today, I am sharing my learnings growing my newsletter. I'll tell you five key lessons from my journey to getting 3,000 subscribers in just 5 months for the First Class Founders newsletter so that you don't have make costly mistakes.
I'll lay out specific and actionable tips about what to look for while promoting your newsletter, how to spend your money wisely, where to spend your money wisely, and the one thing you need to have in your branding and messaging.
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR:
I love using Riverside.fm to record all guest interviews. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
Cross Promotions: "Trying to cross promote your newsletter before reaching 3, 000 subscribers doesn't result in a big uptick in your subscriber numbers."
— Yong-Soo Chung (13:09)
Swapping Recommendations: "Swapping recommendations helps your newsletter grow rapidly because you're no longer constrained by the same constraints that applied when you were doing cross promos."
— Yong-Soo Chung (15:28)
*** TOPICS:
[00:05:48] Growing via Twitter ads. [00:07:19] How to auto-DM your followers. [00:13:09] Cross-promotions not effective before 3k subscribers. [00:14:50] Swapping recommendations is magical. [00:19:24] Beehiiv Boosts: New channel for growth? [00:24:02] Consistency in voice, branding, and messaging. [00:29:34] Bonus lesson: Build in public.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Secret Recipe for a Successful Content Creator: 7 Key Lessons with Clint Murphy
00:39:14
E36: What's it like to go from 0 to 300k+ followers in 2 years? Clint Murphy, the host and creator of The Growth Guide podcast and newsletter, did exactly that. Clint is the Chief Financial Officer at Mosaic Homes, a Real Estate Development company. But, what I’m most impressed by is Clint’s audience growth, which has skyrocketed over the past 2-3 years. Clint is a master at audience growth and lucky for you, I invited him on to this podcast to tell us all about it. This is a masterclass in personal brand growth. This is one episode you don't want to miss.
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR:
I love using Riverside.fm to record all guest interviews like this one with Clint Murphy. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
Audience Building Flywheel: "And so the flywheel is, as we grow the social media, the access to guests increases. As we have larger and larger guests, the threads that we write on social media to promote the episode get more eyeballs because people wanna learn lessons from those people that you had on the show...Until they're both growing bigger and bigger."
— Clint Murphy (8:32)
Viral Networking: "And so what you do is you create a network of friends. I'm gonna share your stuff. You're gonna share my stuff. We share each other's stuff. We lift each other up. We get it in front of more eyeballs."
— Clint Murphy (12:00)
*** TOPICS:
[00:05:27] Reverse Engineering Goals for Success [00:08:32] Creating a Flywheel to Grow Your Audience [00:10:52] Mindset: Be Willing to Suck For a While [00:20:11] Differences Between LinkedIn vs. Twitter [00:21:55] How to Choose the Right Platform For Your Content [00:25:33] Focus on the Long Game for Growth [00:26:15] Focus on Process, Not Results - Your Inner Scorecard [00:34:56] 7 Lessons for Successful Content Creation
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
From Investment Banker to Creator: The Story of How Khe Hy Carved Out His Unconventional Entrepreneurial Path
00:53:07
E37: Khe Hy and I have A LOT in common. Khe is also the son of immigrant parents. And like me, Khe also decided to quit his Wall Street finance job to venture off into entrepreneurship. My conversation with Khe proved to be incredibly illuminating and I found his life to be a rich treasure trove of stories and life-lessons.
I spoke to Khe about his journey of becoming an entrepreneur: from being one of the youngest Managing Directors at the prestigious private equity firm BlackRock managing a fund of hedge-funds to starting his own newsletter, to quietly offering his services as a business coach, to becoming the founder and CEO of his own company, RadReads.
Today, Khe shares many life-lessons he learned while going down his unconventional entrepreneurial path.
*** SPONSOR:
I love using Riverside.fm to record all guest interviews like this one with Khe Hy. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
Why Material Success Doesn't Always Equal Happiness: "But my happiness...baseline level of happiness, didn't really change much."
— Khe Hy (5:09)
The Benefits of Not Niching Down: "I'm gonna share things that I'm interested in, and they're gonna change because I'm gonna change."
— Khe Hy (12:39)
Establishing Authority: "When you write about a certain topic over and over and over and over again, you become an authority, or people deem you an authority."
— Khe Hy (25:25)
Challenge of Converting Your Audience to Customers: "People could love your stuff, but getting them to open their wallets and, like, buy something from you is a completely different ballgame."
— Khe Hy (41:58)
***
TOPICS:
[00:03:12] Khe's Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur [00:08:01] Accidental Newsletter Becomes Huge Success [00:11:27] Long-Term Success Means Sticking with It [00:25:25] Repetition Establishes Authority [00:28:24] CEO Struggles as Creator Economy Declines [00:46:15] How to Find your True Work, Passion and Focus
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How the Top 0.1% of Newsletter Creators Are Skyrocketing Their Growth with Chenell Basilio of Growth in Reverse
00:41:07
E38: Want to know how the top 0.1% of creators grow their newsletter? Today, we’re joined by Chenell Basilio, the creator behind Growth in Reverse.
Growth in Reverse is a newsletter that deep dives into newsletter creators with over 50,000 subscribers. Chenell spends over 40 hours per week researching one creator each week.
During my conversation with Chenell, she didn’t hold anything back.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
What Chenell’s Research Process Looks Like
How to Build Your Tribe of Like-Minded Creators
How Chenell Has Built Her Audience Growth Flywheel
5 Types of Newsletter Formats That Chenell Recommends
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR:
I love using Riverside.fm to record all guest interviews like this one with Chenell Basilio. Try it out 100% free here and when you're ready, use the code FIRSTCLASS to get 20% off any paid plan.
*** EXCERPTS:
Building Connections: "But from the outside looking in, it looks like you had them before or you got lucky or something like that. But it's really just like a consistency of showing up week after week and creating consistently that people will start to notice you and, you know, you create those relationships."
— Chenell Basilio (22:22)
Growing your Social Channels with Twitter: "The power of spending 2 to 3 hours a day on Twitter, like, constant find these people, engage with them, share their stuff, and then they're gonna return the favor eventually once they see you there enough."
— Chenell Basilio (31:51)
Maximizing Audience Reach: "Getting in front of those other audiences is really, really important."
— Chenell Basilio (34:59)
*** TOPICS:
[00:05:36] How Chenell Found Her Unique Niche [00:13:04] How Chenell Leverages Popular Creators for Exposure on Twitter [00:18:05] Explanation of Chenell's Deep Dive Research Process [00:22:22] How Newsletter Creators Create Distribution [00:27:11] 5 Categories of Newsletter Formats for Creators [00:29:37] Creators Need: Consistency, Quality, and Niche [00:33:00] Expand Audience with New Verticals
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
$250 Million Dollars in Sales: Colin Chung's Copywriting Secrets Revealed
00:38:37
E39: Imagine your work has contributed to a quarter billion dollars in sales. You read that right. Quarter of a billion dollars. That’s $250 million.
Today, we’re joined by Colin Chung, a copywriter who not only knows how to write amazing direct response copy, but he knows how to get the largest clients in the business.
Over the last 15 years, Colin’s clients include: Agora, Jim Kwik, John Carlton, Brian Tracy, and Ava Jane’s Kitchen. He’s the unsung hero behind many of YOUR favorite brands. So, what are the key ingredients for amazing copywriting? And perhaps more importantly, HOW did he exactly land these big time clients?
I speak to Colin about:
Getting Into the Right Rooms
Why Funnels Aren’t Great for Freelancers
WhyHarnessing a Growth Mindset Is So Critical
His 3-Step Framework to Write Copy That Converts
This episode is a gold mine for not learning to become a better writer, but how to grow your business.
*** SPONSOR:
Big thanks to Growth Tribe for sponsoring this episode! I highly recommend this free weekly newsletter for anyone looking to start, grow, and monetize a one-person business.
*** EXCERPTS:
Funnels for Freelancers: "If you're a direct response copywriter and you're looking to land those 8, 9, 10-figure clients in the direct response world, they're not reading your blog. They're not reading your Twitter. They're not reading your email newsletter. Like, there's no reason for you to be building a funnel." — Colin Chung (18:42)
Getting Into the Right Rooms:"It's not who you know. It's who knows you." — Colin Chung (22:37)
*** TOPICS:
[00:05:37] How Colin Got Laid Off and Chose Copywriting [00:12:16] How to Find the 'Right Room' to Grow Your Business [00:18:42] Funnels Aren't Necessary For All Freelancers [00:26:19] 3-Step Framework for Great Copywriting [00:32:23] Why Harnessing a Growth Mindset Is Key
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Lessons from 2,000+ Startup Founder Interviews with Entrepreneur Andrew Warner of Mixergy
00:36:19
E40: What would you learn if you had the chance to speak to over 2,000 startup entrepreneurs including the founders of Airbnb, Reddit, and Zapier?
We are talking to Andrew Warner, the serial entrepreneur, storyteller, podcast host, and author extraordinaire. After conducting over 2,000 interviews from startup founders, Andrew recently published a book called "Stop Asking Questions!" which I read from cover to cover. I invited him on the podcast so I could… ask him a LOT of questions.
During our conversation, Andrew and I spoke about his life as an entrepreneur and went into some amazing details about:
All his past ventures - including the one that failed
Why he thinks the current startup ecosystem has matured too much
His current partial-hiatus and what he plans to do next
His secret to conducting great interviews
This is an inspiring conversation that you won't want to miss!
*** SPONSOR:
Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
Affiliate Marketing Growth: "What if we pay people 10¢ every time someone sends out their website?" — Andrew Warner (14:12)
How to Succeed as a Founder: "If you could live your contradiction fully and still be aware of the world around you, you win." — Andrew Warner (27:28)
*** TOPICS:
[00:06:31] How Andrew Hacked J. Crew's Return Policy to Launch His Startup [00:07:35] Spending $2-3k on Envelopes for Software-on-a-Disc Business [00:11:04] Building a 'Jokes and Trivia' Newsletter to $30M [00:14:12] How Andrew Boosted Growth via Affiliates [00:20:40] How Andrew Lost $300,000 From His Business [00:22:30] How Andrew Pivoted Mixergy [00:26:54] Lessons Learned From Interviewing Founders [00:29:14] Embrace Your Weirdness to Stand Out
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Unlocking the Power of the MAPS Framework: Mindset ➜ Audience ➜ Product ➜ Scaling
00:39:21
E41: Today, I reveal how I built my business, which generated $20 million in sales with my proprietary MAPS Framework – Mindset, Audience, Product, and Scaling. It's everything I know about entrepreneurship distilled down to one simple framework which you can use to build your own business.
Today, I'll cover:
My MAPS Framework and its Components
Why Developing a Winning Mindset is Important
How to Build the Right Audience For Your Business
Why Creating a Clear Mission at the Beginning is Crucial
This is my life's work distilled down into one powerful episode.
*** SPONSOR:
Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
Building Your Mindset: "Money and fame should never be the underlying motivation for starting your business."
Learn Along The Way:"Be stubborn in your vision of where you want to be in the future but flexible in how you get there."
Growth Channels: "The gist of it is this - there are exactly five growth channels for every online business: partnership or collaboration, virality or earned media, organic traffic or SEO, paid ads or performance marketing, and direct sales."
*** TOPICS:
[00:01:57] Inside the MAPS Framework and Its Components [00:10:19] How to Leverage Social Media to Grow Your Business [00:14:29] Why Developing a Winning Mindset is Important [00:15:04] How to Locate the Right Audience For Your Venture [00:25:04] Creating a Clear Mission at the Beginning is Crucial [00:31:15] How to Scale Your Business Sustainably
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv
00:40:09
E42: Tyler Denk is the Founder & CEO of Beehiiv, an email service provider that's taking the newsletter industry by storm. If you are a regular listener, you already know that I use Beehiiv for the First Class Founders newsletter and I am incredibly happy with it.
Tyler and I spoke about:
His thoughts on the future of newsletters
His role as the Growth Engineer at Morning Brew
His first venture during his college days - VentureStorm
What separates the great newsletters from the rest of the pack
This is a captivating story you don't want to miss!
*** SPONSOR:
Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
Building in Public: "I think fundamentally people align more with an individual person than a brand and kind of like self nominating myself as the face of the brand, being able to talk about the ups and downs of the business, what we're prioritizing, what's working, what's not working, sharing revenue numbers, sharing growth numbers, but also sharing things that we had tried that didn't work out." — Tyler Denk (24:41)
Future of Beehiiv: "We're looking to be acquirers. I believe we are the innovators in the space. We have a tremendous nucleus of talent. We have a very, very ambitious roadmap. And if Mailchimp could sell for $12 billion for what they accomplished, I think what we're building is far more ambitious and powerful than what they have built. And so we're looking to be innovators in the space. We're looking to make acquisitions. We're not looking to be acquired." — Tyler Denk (35:49)
*** TOPICS:
[00:05:13] Tyler's Impressive Work Ethic [00:07:24] VentureStorm: Tyler's First Startup [00:09:08] How Tyler Grew Morning Brew to 3.5 Million Subscribers [00:14:46] Beehiiv's Early Days [00:22:36] How Beehiiv Grew So Fast Organically [00:24:41] Why Tyler Builds Beehiiv in Public [00:25:37] What All Successful Newsletters Have in Common [00:31:00] Tyler's Advice For Founders
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Threads vs. Twitter: Why Meta's Latest Launch is Making Waves in the Social Media World
00:33:28
E43: 'X' formerly known as Twitter, has a new rival in town.
Led by Mark Zuckerberg, Threads has taken the world by storm, and while the initial rush has died down a bit, its impressive launch is worth a deeper dive.
A platform where conversations feel more personal, intimate, and casual, like catching up with an old friend over coffee. That's exactly what Threads brings to the table.
And believe me, it's a game-changer!
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
Distinguishing Features of Threads
Similarities and Differences Between Other Platforms
How to Leverage Threads to Build Deeper Connections
My Own Predictions on the Future of Meta and Threads
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR:
Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
Simplicity and Culture: "The simplicity of Threads help not only attract people from Twitter, but also ease them onto a new platform. The fact that it was incredibly similar in look and feel to Twitter was especially a genius move in my opinion." — Yong-Soo Chung (13:45)
The Next Big Social Media Platform: "So, if you're looking for a social media platform that offers simplicity and a chill vibe, Threads may just be the next big thing. Embrace this new space, rewrite your content with reduced bragging and increased authenticity, and watch your engagement soar. Let's leave behind the negativity and focus on the good bits as creators and founders. Threads is here to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate. Don't miss out on being a part of this exciting journey." — Yong-Soo Chung (14:06)
*** TOPICS: - Emphasizing the Importance of Building on Existing Successful Platforms - Culture and Authenticity on Threads - How to Focus on Authenticity and Openness on Threads - Growth Strategies and Building an Audience on Threads - Using Threads to Drive Traffic to Other Platforms - Leveraging Popular Creators' Audiences
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry
00:35:18
E44: Ever wonder what it takes to skyrocket your newsletter from ground zero to an audience that hangs onto your every word? Many creators struggle with picking the perfect niche, nailing the right frequency, and snagging those elusive subscribers. But don't worry. Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) spoke to Matt McGarry (@JMatthewMcgarry), a newsletter expert and the mastermind behind the growth of some of the most successful newsletters out there including The Hustle, Milk Road, 1440 Media, and The Daily Upside. He shared tons of amazing insights and strategies.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
Choosing Captivating Topics for Your Newsletter
Finding the Sweet Spot for Newsletter Frequency
Crafting Formats that Resonate with Your Audience
Different Strategies for Growth at Various Stages
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR:
Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Growing Potential of Newsletters: "The behavior of reading newsletters every day or every week is still rapidly growing. There's really not a lot of big newsletter companies out there. So there's lots of room for growth, and everybody's still using email. It's not quite crowded yet" — Matt McGarry (06:53)
The Impact of Deep Expertise on Newsletter Success: "The newsletters that I see that grow the fastest and that have the most success are usually started by people who have deep, deep expertise." — Matt McGarry (08:28)
*** TOPICS: - Clear Strategy for Building and Growing a Newsletter - Discussion on Newsletter Topics, Frequency, and Format - How to Acquire New Subscribers Through Paid Ads - Best-performing Ads and Platforms for Different Growth Stages - Perceptions and Trends in the Newsletter Industry
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
What the Best Creators Have in Common: Attracting Audiences, Making Your Own Luck, and Building a Strong Network
00:33:43
E45: Have you ever wondered what sets successful founders and creators apart from the rest? The reality is, many budding entrepreneurs grapple with uncertainty, indecision, and the fear of failure. It's like navigating a maze blindfolded. Entrepreneurship isn't a walk in the park. It's a rollercoaster ride filled with challenges, doubts, and uncertainties. Today, host Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) shares his hard-earned insights, drawn from his own experience and other creators he's studied over the past year.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Mastering the Entrepreneurial Mindset - The Power of Deliberate Practice and Improvement - Closely Monitoring Distribution Strategies for Content - Clear Strategy for Attracting and Engaging Your Ideal Audience
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR: Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Benefit of Deliberate Practice: "Simple practice does help you get better, but deliberate practice is where the true results reveal themselves." — Yong-Soo Chung (06:46)
The Importance of Content Distribution: "Create momentum within one platform before expanding onto others. This will make it easier to snowball your audience onto other platforms later. Think about distributing your content through both depth and width. When you're ready to expand, you'll be prepared to boost your distribution even further." — Yong-Soo Chung (22:12)
*** TOPICS: - The Power of Consistency - Mastering the Entrepreneurial Mindset - The Art of Building an Audience in Public - How to Create Your Own Luck
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Succeed as a Creative Entrepreneur with Daren Smith, Film Producer & Author, Founder of Craftsman Creative
00:32:47
E46: Ever find yourself stuck in the hamster wheel of creativity, pouring your heart into your craft, but struggling to turn a profit? It's a challenge many of us face – the journey from creator to successful entrepreneur can feel like an uphill battle.
Get ready as Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) chats with Daren Smith (@DarenTSmith), the founder of Craftsman Creative, a film producer and the author of "Five Figure Creators Build Six-Figure Businesses." Daren shares his incredible story of being broke to making it as a creative entrepreneur.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Mastering the Creative Entrepreneurial Mindset - The Secret to Success as a Creative Entrepreneur - Why Books Are "Business Cards on Steroids" - How to Build a Profitable Creative Business
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR: Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Importance of Owning Your Audience: "Get an email list, have a website, have a lead magnet. These are the four things you need to be building right now. In times of uncertainty like COVID, it's crucial to establish direct connections with your audience. Don't rely solely on social media platforms that can change their algorithms or shut down. By owning your audience, you have the power to grow your business and adapt to any circumstances." — Daren Smith (8:51)
Designing the Life that You Want:"Take the longer path to focus on your mindset, your outcomes, and build that business that's going to give you that long-term success and fulfillment that you want.' - a reminder to be intentional in creating a business that aligns with your desired lifestyle and values." — Daren Smith (28:08)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Building Powerful Flywheels: Unlocking Growth Engines for Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age
00:26:30
E47: Have you ever wondered how some creators and entrepreneurs seem to achieve incredible results effortlessly while others struggle to gain traction? The answer lies in a concept that has revolutionized my approach to business – the Flywheel Effect.
Today, host Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) dives deep into the concept of a flywheel and why every creator needs 3 types of flywheels in their business.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Three Types of Flywheels for Creators - How to Build an Audience Growth Flywheel - How to Create Endless Amount of Content via Flywheel - How the Flywheel Effect Leads to Momentum and Leverage
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR: Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
Building Your Audience First: "I emphasize the need to build your audience before designing or building your product. Once you have built up your audience, you can begin to create a product for your audience's pain points. And how do you create your first product? You need to know your audience inside out. Your product needs to cater to the desires and pain points of your audience." — Yong-Soo Chung (08:51)
The Flywheel Effect:"As we grow the social media, the access to guests increases. As we have larger and larger guests, the threads that we write on social media to promote the episode get more eyeballs because people want to learn lessons from those people that you had on the show. And so it becomes a flywheel of growing better guests. Those guests grow the podcast, and it just keeps feeding off itself. And that's the flywheel as a creator and a podcaster or a creator and a YouTube." — Clint Murphy(10:47)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Mastering the Art of Unsexy Entrepreneurship with Hold Co Owner Nick Huber, Founder of Bolt Storage & The Sweaty Startup
00:34:07
E48: Ever wonder how an "unsexy" business could lead to mind-blowing success? What if I told you someone turned a student self-storage idea into a multi-million dollar empire?
Today, Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) chats with Nick Huber (@sweatystartup), the mastermind behind the Sweaty Startup brand, the brilliant mind behind Bolt Storage, and a holding company operator. This isn't just any ordinary conversation – it's a masterclass in turning "unsexy" ideas into gold mines and transforming challenges into opportunities.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn: - How to Run a Holding Company - How to Leverage a Large Audience - How to Find Operators for Your Businesses - The Importance of "Unsexy" Entrepreneurship
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR: Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Don't Make The Same Mistakes I Did — What I Wish I Knew About Content Creation and Personal Branding
00:32:47
E49: Have you ever wondered why your content isn't hitting the mark? You're putting in all the hard work, creating content day in and day out, yet it feels like you're just shouting into the wind. Frustrating, right?
I get it. Because I've been there. I thought that just putting out great content would be enough to make me a success. But boy, was I wrong! I soon found myself posting into the void, while other creators seemingly effortlessly thrived. It was disheartening, to say the least.
Today, host Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) is taking a deep dive into his journey as a content creator. He will be sharing his six mistakes and explaining how you can avoid them.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The Importance of Building a Personal Brand - How to Build Trust, Credibility, and Connection - Building a Targeted Audience and Refining Content
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSOR: Big thanks to Swell AI for sponsoring this episode. Swell AI is like having a production assistant 24/7. If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Power of Networks: "Every creator must build a strong connection with both their followers and their network of like-minded creators to boost their content." — Yong-Soo Chung (14:41)
The Power of Mentors:"Over the course of my creator journey, I connected with several creators, many of whom became my mentors. I learned a lot from them and absorbed a lot of their knowledge and teachings. Even today, I constantly refer back to them and their words in my episodes and newsletters. Their words form the foundation of a lot of my ideas and beliefs, but that's the thing they're supposed to provide me with, just the foundation." — Yong-Soo Chung(24:00)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Mastering the Art of Navigating Unexpected Change for Success with Brad Stulberg, Best-Selling Author
00:37:17
E50: Let's be honest, change can be a real challenge for us entrepreneurs. It's like trying to catch a fast-moving aircraft without a ticket - it's confusing and can make you feel like you're just reacting, not steering your ship. This can lead to burnout, frustration, and missed opportunities.
On today's episode, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) chats with none other than the Master of Change and Best-Selling Author Brad Stulberg (@BStulberg). He shares some mind-blowing insights and frameworks to handle change like a pro in your business.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The Power of Rugged Flexibility - The Powerful Four-Piece Framework - How to Master the Art of Responsive Mindset - The Importance of Having Multiple Identities
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS: Swell AI - Want a production assistant 24/7? If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Embracing Change: "It's about skillful action. It's about knowing our values and what we stand for and then flexibly applying them. To meet the moment as things constantly and inevitably change." — Brad Stulberg (08:24)
The Importance of Balancing Focus and Identity:"If you wanna be great at something, spend a lot of time, attention, and energy focusing on that. You need to spend a lot of time in that room of your house. I'm not arguing you need to spend equal amounts of time in equal rooms. What I am arguing is you never wanna shut the doors to the other rooms. And you can emphasize different parts of your identity at different parts of your life. And to me, that is not only the key to being happy, maintaining mental health, it's also the key to elite performance." — Brad Stulberg(23:05)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
The Power of Leverage: The Hidden Strategy Behind the Richest People In the World
00:21:27
E51: Why is it that the richest people in the world work the same hours as we do, yet they make way more money than we do? What are they doing differently? The answer lies in the concept of leverage.
Today, host Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) takes us on a journey to uncover the secret behind the immense wealth and success of these successful entrepreneurs and reveals how they have been using leverage differently.
Get ready to discover how you might be wasting valuable leverage without even realizing it!
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The Four Types of Leverage - The Importance of Utilizing Leverage - How to Master the Concept of Leverage - The Power of Leverage in Entrepreneurship
This episode is not to be missed. Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS: Swell AI - Want a production assistant 24/7? If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Power of Code and Media: "The next generation of successful founders will emerge primarily from this permissionless average. The old ways of relying solely on capital and labor for leverage are no longer applicable. New ways to build products using code and media and distribute them to willing consumers." — Yong-Soo Chung (09:24)
The Power of Leverage in Entrepreneurship: "My Personal Holding Company is actually the perfect combination of all 4 types of leverage. Capital, Labor, Code, and Media. I use code and media leverage to create my businesses, I use social media to build my brand and find customers for my businesses. Then once my businesses begin taking off, I switched from the solar promotion model and infused the traditional averages of capital and labor to grow them even further. Finally, once they become somewhat sustaining, I find an operator who I can trust to run the business and hand it over." — Yong-Soo Chung(17:43)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Build a Personal Brand from Scratch with Legacy Builder, Clifton Sellers
00:34:36
E52: In today's digital age, entrepreneurs need a strong personal brand. Hands down. But how do you actually go about building one?
On today's episode, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a conversation with Clifton Sellers (@LegacyBuilder__) founder of Legacy Builder, a successful ghostwriting agency. He's the unseen hand behind some of the best content on the web. Clinton will share his insights on building a personal brand from scratch, his unique onboarding process for clients, and how he has harnessed the power of AI to grow his business.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Unlock the Power of AI - The Importance of Personal Branding - How to Master the Art of Audience Building - Content Creation Strategies for Business Growth
I promise you this episode is full of incredible insights that I just can't wait to share with you!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Gaining Traction on Social Media: "You're gonna wanna start finding large accounts that you respect in the area that you wanna be known for and you're gonna comment on their stuff." — Clifton Sellers (21:11)
The Rising Importance of AI in Society: "It would be silly of us to ignore the existence of AI and try to bootstrap and not utilize it. It's a huge massive advantage for companies, agencies, and everybody to use." — Clifton Sellers(28:55)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
The Rise of Personal Holding Companies: Exploring the Future of Entrepreneurship
00:30:58
E53: Have you ever considered setting up a business structure that could save you taxes, protect your assets, and offer countless financial advantages?
Picture this. One day, you wake up to see your bank account flooded with cash from your startup's exit. The question isn't about the money anymore; it's about what you do next. Do you jump into another startup, take a sabbatical, become an angel investor, or advise up-and-coming entrepreneurs? I've found a strategy that worked wonders for me even before I hit my jackpot - the Personal Holding Company.
Today, host Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) unveils the magic of the Personal Holding Company. It's not just for the rich and famous. It's a tool that allows you to pursue multiple interests while limiting your liability across your entire business. Find out why the future of entrepreneurship is Personal.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Introduction to PHC Philosophy - Why PHCs are Gaining Popularity - How To Get Started With Your PHC
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Importance of Entity Structure: "These are basically corporate structuring vehicles to put some distance between you, the person, and the business itself." — Yong-Soo Chung(07:48)
Converting Hobbies into Business: "If you manage to convert your hobbies into a business and establish it as an LLC within your Personal Holding Company, suddenly all your hobby-related expenses become business expenses, which means you get to write it all off while filing taxes, and with enough time and dedication, you can create a cash flow positive business out of it." — Yong-Soo Chung (14:20)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Harnessing the Power of Twitter: How to Attract and Connect with Your Target Audience (BONUS)
00:45:03
E54:
Ever felt like a stranger at a party where everyone else knows each other? That's how Yong-Soo Chung felt when he first ventured onto X.
Yong-Soo Chung stepped into X with 400 followers, hoping for connections and recognition. But instead, he found himself feeling isolated and alienated. Moreover, sharing personal tales became a venture fraught with vulnerability and fear of judgment.
On today's bonus episode, host Joe Casabona (@jcasabona) unpacks Yong-Soo Chung's (@YongSooChung) journey, from feeling overwhelmed on X to successfully monetizing his hobbies. Not only does he share his story but offers golden nuggets on building relationships, the power of micro-communities, and a peek into X's future.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The Importance of Audience Engagement - How to Build Your Audience From Scratch - Social Media Strategies for Business Growth - The Transformative Power of Micro-Communities
This episode is not to be missed!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Building Relationships: "It's like building those individual relationships over time that compounds." — Yong-Soo Chung (16:20)
The Importance of Audience Engagement: "The premise of the show is getting tighter because I know more about my audience. And so that's another important thing to do for people who are, I guess, podcasters is generally, like, you want to continuously hone in on your target avatar and evolve with your audience and evolve this show to serve that audience, but also serve yourself too." — Yong-Soo Chung(40:09)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Five Monetization Strategies as a Content Creator with Joe Casabona of How I Built It
00:37:36
E55: Many content creators struggle with building a dedicated audience and effectively monetizing their content. Despite having quality content, they often lack the strategic framework to captivate and monetize an audience in a landscape saturated with creators.
So, how do you sift through the noise?
On today's episode, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a very special guest, Joe Casabona (@jcasabona) , the host of the popular podcast 'How I Built It.' Joe talks about his S.M.A.S.H. framework for creators, which highlights all the monetization channels a creator has at their disposal.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Creator Monetization Strategies - Why Sponsorships Don't Always Work - S.M.A.S.H. Framework and its Components - How to Master the Art of Audience Building
If you're a content creator looking for ways of monetizing your content, this episode is a must-listen!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Premium Content: "What I tell people for this is you don't need a big audience, but you need a loyal audience. People who are really love your content or conversely really hate ads, like, I know people who pay for my show just because they hate ads, the value proposition for them is that you're providing them with a little extra." — Joe Casabona (17:43)
The Power of Podcasting: "A podcast can be a great way to get people to know, like, and trust you faster." — Joe Casabona(28:23)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How I Stacked 5 Growth Levers to Grow My Newsletter to 10,000 Subscribers
00:33:27
E56: Growing a newsletter is no cakewalk.
There's the initial phase where growth is slow, and every subscriber feels like a hard-fought battle. Not to mention, the emotional and physical toll of relentless hours, strategizing, and moments of utter despair and frustration. The market is crowded, and it's tough to stand out.
How do you gain traction and grow your newsletter?
In today's episode, there's no guest. It's just me (@YongSooChung) and you. It's intimate, personal, and raw. A solo flight into the heart of what it takes to make a digital business succeed. I'll share with you the strategies I applied, the mistakes I made, and the key insights that you can take away.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The Power of a Referral Program - 5 Growth Levers of Digital Businesses - Mastering the Art of Cross-Promotions - How to Create Your Own Growth Flywheel
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Growth Lever Strategies for Digital Businesses: "The key is to know when to use which growth lever." — Yong-Soo Chung (04:14)
The Power of Incentives in a Referral Program: "Incentivizing your subscribers to bring in more subscribers is a great way to rapidly increase your subscriber numbers." — Yong-Soo Chung (20:34)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
From Bankruptcy to Millionaire in 2 Years: How Tibo Louis-Lucas Built and Sold TweetHunter & Taplio for Multi-Millions
00:36:27
E57: How did a man who declared bankruptcy turn into a multi-millionaire in just 2 years? Our guest today did just that. His incredible journey is one of resilience, innovation, and true entrepreneurial spirit.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a very special guest, Tibo Louis-Lucas (@tibo_maker), the genius behind TweetHunter and Taplio. Tibo reveals the secrets behind his meteoric rise. From understanding the market pulse, and relentless iteration of his products, to tapping into the right networks, he reveals the steps he took to sell his company for multi-million dollars after declaring bankruptcy just a few years prior.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Find Product-Market Fit - How to Grow By Acquiring Small Projects - How to Master the Art of Building in Public - The Power of MVP and User-Driven Development
This episode is not only an incredible story of resilience, it's a master class in product building!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
People Expect Reliability: "When you start having one foot on something like a Twitter or X scheduler, you need to provide awesome service. Like you need top quality products. You are not allowed to fail on posting content. Like people expect reliability." — Tibo Louis-Lucas (17:53)
Pursuing Passion: "You need to build on something that you are deeply enjoying...So you need to be so passionate that you are truly enjoying what you are doing and you are willing to do it even if you have absolutely no guarantee that it's going to work out." — Tibo Louis-Lucas (34:47)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
30 Lessons I Learned Growing My Podcast to 36,000 Downloads During My First Year
00:34:19
E58: How do you get your podcast from 0 to 36,000 downloads in just a year? I did just that!
Starting from scratch isn't easy, especially in the world of podcasting. I had zero listeners, a limited budget, and countless people saying I was doing it all wrong.
Just to give you an idea... I spent $27,000 just on production costs!
When I started my podcast journey, everyone around me had advice. Most said, "Save your money on production." But, call me crazy, I ignored them! I poured everything into 57 episodes, investing in the quality of the show.
Today, I'm revealing 30 lessons I learned growing my podcast over the past year into 5 Pillars of Podcasting.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The 5 Pillars of Podcasting - Paid Advertising vs. Organic Marketing - How to Choose the Right Guests for Your Podcast - Why 'Packaging' an Episode is More Important Than You Think
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
AppSumo - Search for "SendNow" and grab the Black Friday exclusive offer. Don't let this opportunity slip away!
*** EXCERPTS:
How I Create Content: "Writing my episodes helps me express my thoughts in a clear and concise manner. Basically, write the script as if you're writing a screenplay, because you will essentially be using the script to perform it on the mic when you record it." — Yong-Soo Chung (09:55)
Power of Podcast Listeners: "In all this time I have been podcasting, I have noticed that podcast listeners are some of the most dedicated, loyal, and attentive listeners I've come across. They're incredibly tuned into everything you say." — Yong-Soo Chung (20:10)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Go Viral on Social Media with Michelle Thames
00:36:27
E59: What does it really take to go viral on social media?
In our digital era, choosing the right platform for your business can be overwhelming. Founders face immense pressure to build a substantial online presence and audience. Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a special guest, Michelle Thames (@michellelthames), a renowned Marketing and Monetization Strategist. She is known for her influential work with giants like Toyota, Subway, and Lenovo.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Go Viral - Power of Quality Followers - Personal Brand vs. Business Brand - Master the Art of Emotional Marketing Techniques
This episode is not to be missed!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
AppSumo - Search for "ContentBot.AI" and grab the Black Friday exclusive offer. Don't let this opportunity slip away!
*** EXCERPTS:
Marketing Strategies: "I believe all marketing is the same across the board for all businesses. Right? Where it really comes into play is your specific niche and your specific target audience. Definitely, both ways of doing business, product based, service based, are successful, well, but it I think it really boils down to what platforms you're using." — Michelle Thames (06:22)
Social Media and CEOs: "You should share things, maybe you smell a new fragrance that, you know, you're putting in your product or you went to a trade show and you're trying to get new materials, things like that a CEO would be doing that people would be interested in. You never know what will relate with people." — Michelle Thames (30:30)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E60: How did a simple credit-card 'trick' post lead to massive audience growth?
It all started with my X post about living in San Francisco with a $0 salary. Yeah, you heard that right - a $0 salary in one of the most expensive cities. And guess what? People lost their minds over it. My socials were a wildfire of comments, DMs, and yeah, even some haters throwing shade.
Here’s the fun bit: I know exactly why that post resonated.
Today, I'm diving deep into the topic of finding your niche and how it can skyrocket your audience growth. I'll be sharing my journey and the three-step process I used to discover my niche, gain a 25% jump in my audience in just nine days, and establish myself as an authority in my field.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Find Your Niche - How to Leverage Your Expertise - Understand Niche Demand and Supply
This episode is a solo journey of discovery!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Finding Your Niche: "It's one thing to build up expertise in a subject and another thing entirely to be acknowledged as the expert." — Yong-Soo Chung (08:54)
Building Trust: "The secret ingredient here, and really isn't a secret to be honest, is trust." — Yong-Soo Chung (09:33)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
The Art of Storytelling: How Parker Worth Went from Broke to a $22,000 Course Launch
00:29:24
E61: Many entrepreneurs out there who are hustling to build their online presence often hit a roadblock in their creators journey. Like, they're missing a trick that could change the game for them. Growing your audience? That's no walk in the park. So many creators end up feeling stuck.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down with the amazing Parker Worth (@worth_parker), who went from being dead broke to launching a storytelling course that earned him an amazing $22,000! He shared invaluable tips and tricks that are guaranteed to skyrocket your approach to building your brand's story.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Art of Storytelling - Power of Personal Network - How to Use Storytelling for Business - How to Create Genuine Relationships Online
Trust me, this episode is the real deal.
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Power of Storytelling:"So it's like this multicentral, multidimensional skill that not only applies to communication, but in business. It's in marketing. It's in education. It's literally everywhere and it's a skill that overlaps into everything." — Parker Worth (04:42)
The Essence of Storytelling: "A story requires both a speaker and a listener, the storyteller and an audience." — Yong-Soo Chung (23:02)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Find Your Next Million Dollar Business Idea
00:24:22
E62: Ever scratch your head wondering what business you should start next? Yeah, we've all been there.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) takes us on a solo flight as he unravels the simple decision-making process that led him to create his successful businesses. From his venture into startups after Wall Street to the unexpected success of Urban EDC. He shares his invaluable insights and practical advice on identifying micro and macro forces to help you succeed, validating business ideas, and creating your luck in entrepreneurship.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Finding Your Niche - How to Turn Passion into Profession - How to Identify Micro and Macro Forces - Importance of Leveraging Social Platforms
This episode is a real game-changer!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Economic Forces and Personal Development:"Micro forces are internal motivations that add up over time and space to give you direction. Macro forces on the other hand are beyond your control and determine how much momentum your idea will have when you launch it." — Yong-Soo Chung (03:32)
Identifying Personal Entrepreneurial Opportunities: "Because what you buy is often a pretty good indicator of what might make a good entrepreneurial venture for you... Money and time are the two resources that determine literally everything about our lives. So ask yourself, what do I spend my free time doing? Chances are the answer to this question will intersect a lot with your credit card statement." — Yong-Soo Chung (06:07)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
From Hobby to Personal HoldCo: How I Built My Personal Holding Company (BONUS)
02:14:44
E63: Happy Holidays! We're taking a one-week break from our regularly scheduled programming. But, we're not leaving you high and dry this week!
I was fortunate enough to be invited to my friend and fellow entreprenuer Brandon White's (@BrandonCWhite) recording studio in Half Moon Bay a few weeks ago. If you can believe it, we talked for over 2 hours! We dove deep into several topics including the inflection points of my own entrepreneurial journey. We also went into depth about Personal Holding Companies and how Brandon essentially has one himself!
This episode brings actionable insights on audience building, creating irresistible product offers, and achieving success in the midst of uncertainty.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Importance of Networking in Business - The Importance of Building Trust Online - How to Build a Personal Holding Company - Social Media Strategies for Business Growth
This episode is not to be missed!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Importance of Delegation in Entrepreneurship:"You're monitoring, but you and you're there in case they need to. They need you for something, but you're not in the day-to-day operations, and that's where you wanna be ultimately." — Yong-Soo Chung (38:14)
Building Trust Online: "Building trust is probably the hardest thing to do online right now because there's a lot of crazy people out there, and, they're all saying crazy stuff. And if you can build trust, that will make it so much easier for you. It just open a lot of doors." — Yong-Soo Chung (01:51:20)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Build and Scale Your Business: 11-Slide Business Plan with Brandon White
00:30:11
E64: In the world of startups, everyone wants that magic formula to get their business off the ground and scaling fast.
But all too often, business plans end up as complicated, unwieldy documents that feel overwhelming to create and follow.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) goes behind the scenes with Brandon White (@BrandonCWhite). He generously shared his unique 11-slide business framework with us. Inspired by the simplicity of four baseline elements jotted down on a napkin, Brandon leads us through the ins and outs of his clever road map, unlocking the potential to simplify even the most complex of business concepts.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- 4 Key Ingredients of a Business - Importance of a Good Elevator Pitch - The 11-Slide Business Plan Framework - How to Clearly Define a Problem and Solution
Don't miss out on this one!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Efficient Business Planning:"If you can build this framework 11 slides, you basically are ready to build a new company or launch a new product or service. And you could be an intrepreneur and easily use this too. And that's sorta how it came up. It's a mix and match of all of my experience in failures and and what worked." — Brandon White (01:08)
The Four Principles:"We sit down and he pulls out a pen, flips the napkin over and he's like, writes down four things, product, people, market and financing. He said, let's build your plan right here. That was really my first lesson on the quote, air quotes for those of you listening, the modern business plan or framework." — Brandon White (05:05)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
I – We – They Framework: How I Scale My Personal HoldCo
00:28:49
E65: In today's episode, I revisit and remake one of the popular episodes to date and to be honest, one of the most important concepts that all founders should know - the I – We – They Framework, which has accelerated my business growth and could do the same for yours.
I'm sharing this framework that I developed to help me gain clarity on what I need to work on depending on the stage of my business. I wish that someone had taught me this framework 8 years ago when I first launched my first business.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Delegate Properly - 3 Stages of Growth for Every Business - How to Promote a Culture of Ownership - What Systems You Need to Scale Your Business
This episode distills down many years of my own entrepreneurial experience into one short episode. Don't miss it!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Business Growth Phases:"In the 1st phase, you were a newborn, an infant, a toddler, flailing and grasping at everything and trying to gain a basic understanding of your business. In the 2nd phase, you're a child, making friends and allies and building relationships with the people around you, which means now it is time for you to grow, both literally and figuratively." — Yong-Soo Chung (18:28)
Building an Ownership Culture: "Each employee should believe that they own a certain part of your business, and they are a 100% responsible for that part of the business. Just make sure that you aren't causing any decision making bottlenecks at the company when you do this." — Yong-Soo Chung (25:52)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
From $0 to $10M ARR in Six Months: The Growth Playbook of Hunter Hammonds, Co-Founder & CEO of Assembly Ventures
00:31:44
E66: How did Assembly Ventures, from nothing but dreams and passion, pull in a crazy $10 million in less than six months? Call it nuts. Call it ambitious. Call it a crazy result. But it happened, my friend, it happened.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down and spills the beans with Hunter Hammonds (@_hunterhammonds), the CEO and Co-Founder of Assembly Ventures. Hunter shares his business flywheel—Strategy, Execution, and Amplification. Hunter also talks about focusing on quality over mere publicity, building long-term relationships with creators, and overall operation and HoldCo structuring strategies.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The 3 Pillars for Teams Operation - How to Scale Businesses Successfully - The 3 Flywheel Components of a Business - How to Partner Up with Large Content Creators
Don't miss out on this one!
*** SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.
GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.
*** EXCERPTS:
Effective Strategy Approach:"So I think there's a lot of trust in what we're doing right now because of the approach we've taken and the people that we chose to partner with first vs. doing something that's more of the celebrity-driven kind of vast-market creator approach." — Hunter Hammonds (15:58)
Building a Strong Brand: "So instead of us launching a new brand and that detracting from the quality, every time we launch a new brand, we're pulling that playbook into that new space, that new service, using the learnings from this new service, or how we perform this particularly new niche creative thing and using that to inform the rest of the operations." — Hunter Hammonds (17:47)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Hire the Best Operators for Your Personal HoldCo
00:24:01
E67: What if I told you hiring the right operator for your PHC could supercharge your business? But get it wrong, and it could all go up in flames. Even worse, it could get swiped right from under you. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But believe me, I've lived that story. I've spent the last four years taking notes, testing strategies, and refining my hiring process.
On today's episode, I can finally say that I know how to hire the right operator. It's a delicate balance because you need someone who's fiercely independent, but at the same time, unwaveringly loyal to you. I will also share timeless lessons and tactical tips that will help you navigate the complex landscape of hiring an operator and building a successful business.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Irony of Hiring a Great Operator - How to Identify a Great Operator - The Two Paths of Hiring an Operator - The Pros and Cons of Both Hiring Paths
This episode is a real game-changer!
*** SPONSORS:
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Entrepreneurial Spirit in Business Operations:"Because I want the operator to feel a degree of ownership of the business they're handling. Yeah. I chose my words carefully there. I want them to feel a degree of ownership, but at the same time, I also want them to be fiercely loyal to me." — Yong-Soo Chung (05:03)
Employee Profit Sharing and Loyalty: "I found that implementing a profit sharing program enhances the sense of autonomy, ownership, and loyalty almost instantly. Because I am, in fact, directly giving them a part of my business's success. Because I am, in fact, directly aligning incentives to benefit everyone involved in the business." — Yong-Soo Chung (08:35)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Master the Power of Relational Capital with Jay Abraham
00:38:00
E68: Ever wonder how to grow your business profits just by leveraging relationships and strategic partnerships?
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is privileged to have a very special guest, Jay Abraham (@RealJayAbraham), the Owner of Abraham Group and America’s Highest Paid Marketing Consultant. Jay will discuss the concept of Relational Capital, one of the most powerful, yet misunderstood concepts in business. Abraham shares anecdotes and real world examples of creative partnerships where both parties benefited mutually without exchanging money.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The 8 Different Types of Deals - How to Pitch to Potential Partners - How to Leverage Relational Capital - Why Relational Capital is Underrated
Don't miss out on this one!
*** SPONSORS:
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Power of Endorsement: "When somebody has a hard-won credibility or trust with a target audience that you also want to reach, rather than going to the outside market and speculating money on advertising, if you can first find out who already has the relationship with that audience, who's already gone through all the credibility building. You can get the benefit of all of that accrued to you instantaneously for nothing and only pay for results." — Jay Abraham (06:58)
Leveraging External Resources:"You're using everybody else's relationships with their audience, their distribution channels, their databases, their brand association, their salesforces, their retailers, their distributors, their assets, and you can get access to millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of dollars for no investment or risk." — Jay Abraham (14:24)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Million Dollar Weekend: How To Launch A Successful Business In 48 Hours with Noah Kagan, CEO of AppSumo
00:28:57
E69: Imagine creating a million dollar business in just 48 hours. Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is joined by a special guest Noah Kagan (@noahkagan), the CEO of AppSumo.com. Noah will discuss his new book "Million Dollar Weekend" and explain how he used these strategies and tactics to build AppSumo, a near 9-figure business.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Validate Your Ideas - The One-Minute Business Model - The Million-Dollar Weekend Framework - How to Scale Your Business Successfully
Don't miss out on this one!
*** SPONSORS:
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Principles of Business Growth: "You find a problem people really want, And you'd be patient to continually keep delivering for those people." — Noah Kagan (22:19)
Strategic Approach to Business Expansion: "Have a very limited amount of experiments that you think will be your future growth. And then having a list of experiments you think you can do to find those people, doing them over literally 30 days after you have business success, finding the one that works and then continuing that one." — Noah Kagan (24:06)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Get A Free PR for Your Business with Christina Nicholson
00:33:15
E70: Who doesn't like free or cheap stuff? Imagine getting more customers without spending money.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is joined by an expert in PR and earned media, Christina Nicholson (@ChristinaAllDay), an award-winning journalist. Christina will discuss why small businesses should start with local media and why earned media's credibility is its most powerful asset. She also discusses how to obtain free (or affordable) PR and how to pitch the media to get coverage.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How To Do Effective PR for Free - The Power of PR for Businesses - How to Spot Scammy PR Pitches - How to Pitch the Media to Get Coverage
Don't miss out on this game-changing episode that could redefine your approach to marketing!
*** SPONSORS:
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Strategic Business Approach: "You need to be patient, and you need to trust the process, and you need to be very focused on who your audience is and what you're putting out there, and then be ready to turn that publicity into profit because a lot of people think it just ends with the publicity." — Christina Nicholson (18:01)
Monetizing Influence: "If you are somebody who is of influence and you wanna start charging to make money, there's nothing wrong with that. You just have to tell people why you're charging what you're charging when you do offer that to them." — Christina Nicholson (27:33)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Don't Make These Design Mistakes: How to Build Your Brand Identity with Nate Kadlac
00:41:42
E71: How do you design a personal brand that truly reflects you, stands out, and captivates your audience?
Do you find yourself lost in the sea of design choices? Not sure how to align your website elements with your personal brand values?
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is joined by talented designer, Nate Kadlac (@kadlac). Nate will guide us through the crucial elements of your personal brand identity: Logo, Font, Color, Elements & Motifs, and Visual Layout. Nate will also tell us how to make key design decisions that align with our brand values for each of these elements.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- The Four Key Elements - The G.E.O.S. Framework - How to Make Key Design Decisions - How to Design a Great Personal Brand Website
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS:
Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Choosing Fonts for Personal Branding: "They don't have to be the same. I think it's it's really about what appeals to you, what speaks to you. It's just one thing to kind of know about these things that people will feel a certain way. Not that you need to make a choice based on what people feel." — Nate Kadlac (19:04)
Design Tips from Experts: "A designer's secret is that most of us never use pure black or pure white. Our eyes read better like text that's just slightly off that black end is is a little bit more readable because it's not high contrast. High contrast tires our eyes out and we want to use it for design to kind of like grab attention." — Nate Kadlac (28:31)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
How to Build and Sell a Startup with Andrew Gazdecki, Founder and CEO of Acquire.com
00:36:59
E72: When is the right time to exit a business? Sounds like a simple question, but the answer... isn't as simple.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down with accomplished entrepreneur Andrew Gazdecki (@agazdecki), the Founder and CEO of Acquire.com. Andrew discusses the strategies behind successful exits and how to position your company to be sold for the highest valuation. He also discussed how startups can be bought in as few as 30 days.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Structure Your Deals - Strategic Buyer vs. Financial Buyer - How to Get Ready to Sell Your Business - How to Find the Right Buyer for Your Business
Let's get down to business!
*** SPONSORS:
Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Startup Valuations: "You can sell it for whatever you want. You can sell it whenever you want. You can sell for $10,000,000, all cash to a private equity firm with 90-day transition period, you're out, and then you just get to do whatever you want with your life. " — Andrew Gazdecki (05:51)
Understanding Business Acquisitions: "So if you can structure, you know, an acquisition with favorable terms like that, that's the way to go. And that I'd say that's probably the most common is cash in close with some component of, maybe a little bit of seller financing at the end, 80% cash in close, 20% seller financing with 3 to 6 month transition depending on the size of the business." — Andrew Gazdecki (19:14)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
8 Unconventional Truths I Learned in 8 Years of Entrepreneurship
00:25:18
E73: Not many know it, but a lot of aspiring business owners run the risk of making expensive mistakes that could put their goals on hold before they ever take off.
So, today, host Yong-Soo Chung (@YongSooChung) shares eight important things he learned over eight years of building three businesses from the ground up. He shares how to have an exponential growth mindset, hire carefully, know when to switch between growth and preservation modes and build a strong environment for your company.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- Growth vs. Preservation - 8 Truths About Entrepreneurship - The Impact of Hiring the Right People
This episode distills down many years of entrepreneurial experience into one short episode. Don't miss it!
*** SPONSORS: Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Business Ecosystem:"Your business exists to serve three different stakeholders, vendors, employees, and customers. These there are the critical components of your business ecosystem. And the most ideal scenario is when all three of them win." — Yong-Soo Chung (13:15)
Business Growth Mindsets: "You can think of business growth as either incremental or exponential." — Yong-Soo Chung (14:46)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
Breaking Down the Personal HoldCo of Tim Stoddart of Copyblogger
00:31:15
E74: Have you ever wondered how a person can flip their life's script from constant struggles to having a multi-million dollar business?
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a rich conversation with successful entrepreneur Tim Stoddart (@TimStodz), the proud owner of Copyblogger Media. He discusses his incredible transition from a troubled youth in Philadelphia to a sober entrepreneur with a multi-million dollar Personal HoldCo portfolio.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- How to Find Your Purpose - How to Effectively Write Online - Three Criteria for Choosing Businesses - How to Replicate Models to Build and Scale Businesses
*** SPONSORS:
Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
Foundation: "I write and I delegate. I write because I think being a good writer is the most valuable skill that you could ever really have. And I delegate because I've learned that as you grow a company, it's the most foundational thing you could ever do." — Tim Stoddart (04:03)
Wealth Creation: "Here's where my head goes. I'm not bored at all. And there's a part of me that thinks you want to get out before you get bored. Right. Because then like you have leverage that you don't need to sell. Like I never want to get in a position where I need to sell something." — Tim Stoddart (21:45)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
E75: Michael Girdley (@girdley) needs no introduction. He's a HoldCo legend.
Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down with Michael to discuss how he has built a successful HoldCo. We talk about Michael's "Right People, Right Structure, Right Mission" framework, which he uses to build all of his businesses. Michael shares how to find the best people, set up your business the right way, and get everyone excited about the same goal.
On today’s episode, you’ll learn:
- PHC Organization Structure - How to Propel the Business into Gear - How to Build Your Own Holdco of Multiple Businesses - 'Right People, Right Structure, Right Mission' Framework
*** SPONSORS:
Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.
Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order.
*** EXCERPTS:
The Journey: "And what I really discovered was that there's this interesting inflection points in people's lives to when they should sign up to be CEOs of different types of businesses." — Michael Girdley (06:24)
Joyful Career: "I think what people should be doing is thinking about the life they wanna live and the things they wanna be doing, and then build companies around that... joy comes from getting to do things that you really love. So build your business around things that give you joy that you get to do." — Michael Girdley (36:40)
*** First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc.
Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more.
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