Arvid Kahl talks about starting and bootstrapping businesses, how to build an audience, and how to build in public.
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226: Paul Millerd — Walking The Pathless Path
Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by societal expectations?Today, I’m talking to Paul Millerd, author of “The Pathless Path.” We talk about hustle traps, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and our obsession with productivity. Learn how to connect with yourself, rediscover leisure as a positive force in your life, and find "the others."Discover how to expand your horizons and find your own way in life, all while building and teaching in public.Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd/The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/paul-millerd-walking-the-pathless-path/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/14e38471The video: https://youtu.be/fqAN89v8DQ4You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - Introduction. (00:52) - Finding the pathless path. (07:04) - Taking action will lead to more action. (11:01) - Goals and aspirations. (17:08) - Leisure and Laziness. (24:09) - Generosity and not focusing on numbers. (27:57) - Why money doesn’t matter (33:44) - How writing helped me make sense of life. (38:28) - How to avoid bullshitting yourself. (43:08) - How to live your life. (50:34) - Finding Paul
225: Twitter Teardowns: 3 Low Hanging Fruit to Massively Improve Your Twitter Presence
Discover how to make your Twitter profile a promise of a fruitful long-term relationship with your future followers. Today,. let’s explore the biggest misconceptions surrounding Twitter profiles and how optimizing your profile can turn visitors into followers. From the purpose of your profile to the importance of using real estate wisely, you’ll find the common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them. My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/twitter-teardowns-3-low-hanging-fruit-to-massively-improve-your-twitter-presence/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/20b5a449The video: https://youtu.be/_Ia8dnuXOg8You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
224: Dr. Julie Gurner — Founder Mental Health 101
"Imposter syndrome isn’t just a moment of self-doubt — it’s all-encompassing. It prevents founders from taking action, from taking a risk in the first place."This week, Dr. Julie Gurner shares with me how high performers combat the challenges founders commonly face. She’s a performance coach and Doctor of Psychology. We’ll talk about dealing with imposter syndrome, burnout, how to deal with the avalanche of advice on Twitter, and why it is so hard for founders to cope with stress.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-julie-gurner-founder-mental-health-101/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb3e42caThe video: https://youtu.be/RjIZ8g0sxZwYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - How common is Impostor Syndrome? (02:42) - How social media can impact your business (08:00) - Vulnerability is not just a means of sharing negative feedback (13:33) - Diversity & Building in Public (17:54) - How to avoid falling into the Impostor Syndrome (22:35) - The importance of taking incremental steps (26:29) - Optimizing your business (32:18) - The importance of meditation (37:15) - The importance of having a routine that you enjoy (44:02) - The problem with the word "expertise" (47:43) - The importance of confidence in entrepreneurship (51:07) - Incorporating philosophy into your own life
223: How to Build in Public Without Revealing Too Much
Sharing your journey as an entrepreneur can be scary, but it's a great way to connect with your audience and demonstrate your expertise. Let's explore the difference between sharing business insights and trade secrets, and construct a Share/Don't Share list to help you decide what to share with your audience.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-to-build-in-public-without-revealing-too-much/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ed43fa8The video: https://youtu.be/iq_DetrM-DEYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
222: Joe Masilotti — Building in Public and Monetizing Open Source
Joe Masilotti is the founder of RailsDev —a reverse job board— and a Turbo Native consultant. In this conversation, we explore Joe Masilotti's philosophy on entrepreneurship and his focus on empowering software developers to find work. Joe's approach to monetizing Open Source is particularly interesting: he gives away his product for free with an eventual revenue share. We delve into the various marketing strategies that Joe uses for his different business ventures, including cold emailing, content marketing, and live coding. The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/joe-masilotti-building-in-public-and-monetizing-open-sourceThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ebd473b8The video: https://youtu.be/uxfUZ31QYGYYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - Introduction (04:00) - B2B vs. B2C (08:12) - How to monetize? (14:24) - Reverse job boards (19:27) - Coding in public. (25:06) - Transparency (32:23) - Monetizing open source projects (37:57) - Selling the business (44:48) - The ideal future (49:25) - Overlap between marketing and cold email marketing (56:30) - Building in public and empowering people
221: Why Entrepreneurs are Choosing 'Short-Lived Businesses' Over 'Forever Businesses
If you're an entrepreneur looking to start a digital business, you might be tempted to aim for a "forever business" right from the start. However, pursuing this approach can be dangerous. Today, you'll learn how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of digital entrepreneurship, build successful businesses that serve your customers and owners, and avoid the pitfalls of pursuing a "forever business" from day one.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/why-entrepreneurs-are-choosing-short-lived-businesses-over-forever-businessesThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e1eb3929 The video: https://youtu.be/lzYc5ArzTsw You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!
220: Simon Høiberg — Building a SaaS That Works for You
In this episode, I interviewSimon Høiberg, an active software engineer, founder, and YouTuber. Simon shares his strategies for balancing his roles as a creator and maker, and discusses the importance of incorporating personal experience into his content. He also delves into the power of intrinsic motivation and joy in entrepreneurship, and how he gamifies his life to prioritize these elements. The conversation touches on topics such as productivity, mental health, team management, and burnout prevention.Join me and Simon for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, content creation, and personal growth. Be inspired by Simon's passion for empowering entrepreneurs, and learn how you can incorporate joy and intrinsic motivation into your own entrepreneurial journey.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/simon-hoiberg-building-a-saas-that-works-for-youThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/05f2d837The video: https://youtu.be/U0cUsvxHtn0You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - On not burning out (04:53) - Coding mindset for entrepreneurs (09:38) - How to pick the right social media management tool. (14:14) - THe power of community (21:18) - What does a good lifetime deal look like? (24:53) - Allow customers to leave your product. (31:58) - The funnel and the web. (37:24) - Sharing your journey and success. (42:07) - How long does it take to build a youtube channel? (45:38) - A day in the life of an entrepreneur without burning out. (50:52) - The importance of having an empty calendar.
219: ∀𝑦∃𝑥 ≠ ∃𝑥∀𝑦: The Dangerous Misconception Founders Have About Their Market
Have you ever searched for the perfect resume to get hired? Or tried to create a product that appeals to everyone? This essay explores the logical fallacy of wishful reasoning and the importance of picking a niche. Discover why building a successful product means addressing a specific set of needs for a particular group of customers, and why a well-defined niche is the best place to start.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-dangerous-misconception-founders-have-about-their-market/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e22791e5The video: https://youtu.be/jRc37k7I46s You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!
218: Evelyn J. Starr — The Evolution of a Brand
Evelyn J. Starr is a brand-building expert. We talk about finding the right niche, having a community-centric long-term perspective, and how brands evolve —you might call it “grow up”— over time. Here’s Evelyn.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmEvelyn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynJStarrThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/evelyn-j-starr-the-evolution-of-a-brand/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/69cc34f4The video: https://youtu.be/CTKESAugLP8You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - What’s the biggest misconception about building brands? (01:44) - Do other brands influence the perception of your brand? (06:26) - What is the core of your business’s brand? (10:11) - How to pick a niche that is just right. (16:34) - What is too big of a niche to start a business? (21:46) - The evolution of a brand over time. (27:53) - What’s the difference between a serious brand and an adult brand? (33:19) - Tips on how to find your fans. (37:30) - The importance of having a differentiator in the space. (40:26) - Most people want to help. Most of the time you’re going to get a yes. (47:13) - The importance of being relatable to your audience.
217: The Flip Side: When Not to Build in Public
Building in public is a popular trend in entrepreneurship. However, it may not always be the best approach. Entrepreneurs should consider their personality traits, the nature of their business, and their competitive advantages before deciding whether to adopt this approach. Building in public is about generosity, transparency, and community, and can be a powerful way to gain customers' trust, build a brand, and grow a business if these values align with the business model and personal style — but not always.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-flip-side-when-not-to-build-in-public/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/815ae514The video: https://youtu.be/GoJB6ngrS1M You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!
216: Jack Ellis — Taking on Google as a Bootstrapper
Today, I’m talking to Jack Ellis, the co-founder of Fathom Analytics, a privacy-conscious web analytics business that I personally use for all my web properties. The company that Jack co-founded with Paul Jarvis competes directly with Google on their linchpin advertising product. That’s a pretty high order. We chat about Jack's role in a growing successful software business and just how much he hesitates to go from coder to manager. We dive into choosing reliable dependencies to power an always-on SaaS business and how to deal with migrating customers from Google to Fathom.Here’s a deep dive into a successful technical SaaS business. Here’s Jack Ellis.Jack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackEllisMy new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jack-ellis-taking-on-google-as-a-bootstrapper/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/cda46335The video: https://youtu.be/oGjrUs0JB8wYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comThis interview is sponsored by Acquire.com
215: In Pod We Trust: How Creators Can Best Juggle Credibility & Sponsored Content
People would rather sift through fake AI results than see yet another ad. Something is happening in advertising, and the creator economy is affected greatly.The shift towards trust-based advertising is a wake-up call for founders and creators when crafting their marketing strategy, as honesty, integrity, and trust are now essential components of a successful approach to outreach.Here are the steps that you need to take to keep up with this development.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/in-pod-we-trust-how-creators-can-best-juggle-credibility-and-sponsored-content/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7ff5761eThe video: https://youtu.be/AZFbKUSmq_IYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!
214: Fatih Kadir Akın — Selling a Global Sticker Business
When Fatih started his sticker business Stikkernet, his peers asked him, “You’re a developer; why don’t you write this from scratch?” His response? “Why should I?”Today, I'm talking to my dear old friend Fatih Kadir Akın — or fka for short. We discuss his unexpected journey of building a successful business out of a simple idea. Fatih shares his experience with building Stikkernet and how he grew his audience through community building. We chat about the challenges of logistics when shipping internationally and how Fatih found solutions that worked so well it lead to an exit.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/fatih-kadir-akin-selling-a-global-sticker-business/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/155fff77The video: https://youtu.be/ijU4vYrBDwoYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comThis interview is sponsored by Acquire.com (00:00) - Introduction (02:51) - Stikkernet (10:05) - How Fatih became a sticker expert in Turkey (18:28) - The perfect product for community-based marketing. (29:02) - Sticker Mule (33:03) - What is developer relations? (38:17) - Do you still get to code? (41:52) - Community-building (47:54) - The pressure of starting a business.
213: The Rubber Band Effect
What happens when we encounter something so novel that our minds can't fully comprehend it? Today, let’s explore the "Rubber Band Effect" and how it impacts both journalists and entrepreneurs alike. Learn how to build products that fit seamlessly into your customers' workflows and how to effectively communicate the results your product can achieve, without overwhelming them with the complexity of the underlying technology.The Ai researcher's video "The A.I. Dilemma": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQMy new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-rubber-band-effect/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ad970e30The video: https://youtu.be/iHxd1iKI970 You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!
212: Dagobert Renouf — The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship
“As an entrepreneur, you need someone you’ve been through shit with already” — and that’s exactly why Dagobert and Lucie are the perfect power couple co-founders. I chatted with @dagobertrenouf about overcoming struggle, growing a business together, and dealing with the lack of motivation when things get complicated.We discuss the power of Twitter and building an audience before creating a product. Dagobert shares his personal journey with Logology and how he lost motivation before finding inspiration from his Twitter community. He also talks about the importance of understanding customers' problems before building a product and how he plans to apply this lesson to Logology 2.Hope you’re ready for an emotional journey of entrepreneurship. My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dagobert-renouf-the-emotional-journey-of-entrepreneurship/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2b57060d The video: https://youtu.be/4aOLgJC8CKUYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comThis interview is sponsored by Acquire.com