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Build & Launch
Build & Launch episodes
- EP20: Life vs Projects
In this episode he talks about balancing our creative projects with getting out and living your life.
Ultimately, I believe that relationships are more important than the things we make.This week's project
Weekofhustle.com - commit to building your project in a week. Start on a set date, and launch 7 days later.
Show notes
- Follow me on Twitter: @mijustin
- Rate and review the show
- Join the newsletter
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
9 min - EP19: Eating my own dog food
Justin is recording on the road from Edmonton, Alberta.
In this episode: with only 4 days to work, Justin launch the first product of Season 2? See what it's like to eat your own dog food.This week's project
Back in Season 1, Carl and Justin created a WordPress plugin that allowed you to create your own online course, and sell it using Gumroad.
For this week's project, Justin decided to eat his own dogfood, and use the plugin to host his own online course. He had 4 days to re-build the course in WordPress, and launch it.
Announcement: next week's project
weekofhustle.com
Show notes
- See it live: Build Your Audience course
- Get the ProductPress plugin and build your own course
- Bead update
- Documentary: Metal Evolution
- Cover photo by cartese
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Join the newsletter
- Help the show: leave a review!
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
13 min - EP18: Announcing Season 2
Here’s the deal: normally with this show I announce a new project on Friday, and I ship it on the following Thursday.
Today is March 16th, 2015. I’m going to Vegas on April 12th for MicroConf and don’t want to launch anything that weekend.
That gives me 4 weeks, to launch 4 new projects.
Let's do this.This week's project
I’m going to do a short week and try to launch something this Thursday. That gives me only 3 days.
I'll be using ProductPress to re-launch my course, Build Your Audience, using WordPress instead of the expensive platform it's currently on.You can sign-up for the waiting list here: justinjackson.ca/audiencecourse
Show notes
- Follow me on Twitter: @mijustin
- Rate and review the show
- Join the newsletter
- Read my blog post: You Need Help
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
11 min - EP17: We did wreck a few things
I give an update about the bachelor party (many soda pops, no one got hurt, everyone came home safe).
Product update
Carl and I received a cease-and-desist email for Productify. We've re-named the product ProductPress.
Future Products
- WeekOfHustle.com
- JustinJackson.ca/Course
Advice for people building their first product:
- Start small, and start now.
- Choose an idea that people want: something that will help you make your first dollar on the internet.
- Set your own goals: don’t compare yourself to others.
Your first step should be to create a landing page:
- Headline: You are this kind of person, with this kind of problem.
- Subheadline: This product will solve this problem this way.
- Email waiting list sign-up form.
Show notes
- A few photos from the bachelor party: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo3
- Interview with Dan Martell
- Leave us a review on iTunes
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Join the newsletter
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
12 min - EP16: How do you launch if you don't have an audience?
How do you launch if you don't have an audience?
Your product needs a target market, and you need a way of reaching that target market.
Derek Moreno and Hassan both asked this question.Questions about the Build & Launch experience
Mike Dario asked:1. What was the biggest challenge?
Find the time and energy each day, for sure. Staying focused and on-task.
2. How did you track the changes each day?
I used Sprintly (project management software). I'd log in each day, look at what I had to do in my backlog, and do that.
3. What was one thing you'll change for next season?
I'd like to do the "next iteration" sprint for each of the projects. Example: for Network Effects, I'd go out and try to get the first 10 customers in a week (record my sales calls, etc).
4. Did any of the projects seem too small, too big?
Network Effects and the WordPress plugin were definitely big projects; but the hardest was probably writing the book by myself.
5. What was the hardest part about teaming up?
Giving up control. In the past, I've been a lone wolf. Sharing everything with a partner was hard at first, but definitely a good decision in terms of our ability to get things done.
6. Why did you start Build and Launch?
I really wanted to kick my own butt into gear. I knew that committing to building and launching something every week would force me to just do it.
7. What type of project would be too big?
Most software projects I think are too big. A really long book (100+ pages) would be difficult as well.
8. In what ways was a weekly sprint helpful for these particular products? Harmful?
It was really helpful in terms of focusing on creating the smallest, tiniest version of each project. Not much harmful actually.
9. How did your wife handle this experience?
Lol. I'll have to get her on the show and have her talk about her side. ;)
10. How much after work time did you devote to this?
An average of 2 hours a day (14 hours a week). Most of this was after work, with big chunks on weekends.
Season 1 launches
- The Build & Launch podcast
- The Product Hunt Handbook
- Network Effects: a web app for notifying groups via SMS
- Irresistible Podcasting
- Productify: Gumroad plugin for WP Membership Sites
Show notes
- Heading to Banff this weekend
- Interview with Paul Jarvis
- Mike Taber's Single Founder Handbook
- Leave us a review on iTunes
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Join the newsletter
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
11 min - EP15: The only thing that matters is doing the work
Justin responds to listener questions:
Question 1: How do you decide if an idea is worth launching?
The product founder doesn't push an idea on the people. Instead, the people provide the inspiration for the product.Your product idea really has to be something that people want. You can't force your idea on people, hoping that they'll buy.Question 2: How do you build products if you have kids and a full-time job?
The only thing that matters, is the work – when you’re building a product, there are a lot of things you can spend your time on: tweeting, answering email, fiddling with analytics. No procrastinating. Building a product is like pushing a rock uphill: your whole focus should be getting that rock to move a little farther. Everything else is a distraction.Question 3: What outside material are you allowed to use in a podcast?
In copyright law, there is something called Fair Use. However, it's application is complicated. For example, if I wanted to use a heavy metal track, there's a few things that might affect me using it under Fair Use: am I earning revenue from the podcast? Am I stealing business from the copyright owner? How much of the podcast does the copyrighted material take up (ie. 8 minutes of a 10 minute show?).
Season 1 launches
- The Build & Launch podcast
- The Product Hunt Handbook
- Network Effects: a web app for notifying groups via SMS
- Irresistible Podcasting
- Productify: Gumroad plugin for WP Membership Sites
Show notes
- We Are Not Normal People: Barber story
- End of an Era: "All that matters is the work"
- Heavy metal song: All for One, by Striker (from their City of Gold album)
- Fair Use for podcasts
- Leave us a review on iTunes
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Join the newsletter
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
11 min - EP14: I want candy
7 days ago, Carl and Justin set off on an adventure to build a unique WordPress plugin in one week.
Also - kids or no kids?This week's project
The inspiration for this project came in August, after I launched my course. The course platform I was using was expensive. I was being charged $130 / month + 4% of course sales + transaction fees! Since August I've had to pay $1,288.00 to that service. If I'd used Productify, I would have paid only $39. ;)
What I really wanted was to host my course myself on WordPress, but sell it using Gumroad.
"This is the product I'm most excited about. I want this. I have told so many people that I want this kind of product." - Paul Jarvis
When I shared the idea with Carl Alexander he had an idea of how he could build it (without using a SaaS backend). So we did!We shipped it!
Check us out on Product Hunt!
Sad news and good news
This is supposed to be the last episode of Season 1. But you folks have been so awesome of joining this journey, and sharing your journey, so we're going to keep this going.
While I get ready for Season 2, we're going to do two Q&A episodes:- Tuesday, March 3, 2015
- Friday, March 6, 2015
Ask your questions by sending me an email, or getting me on Twitter.
Season 1 launches
- The Build & Launch podcast
- The Product Hunt Handbook
- Network Effects: a web app for notifying groups via SMS
- Irresistible Podcasting
- Productify: sell your WordPress content using Gumroad
Show notes
- "Welcome to Canada" song - Five Iron Frenzy
- Review the show - I might read it on air!
- Get all the stats - join the newsletter
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Follow Carl on Twitter: @twigpress
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
13 min - EP13: The Art of the Hustle
This week he's working on a WordPress plugin with Carl Alexander. They're hoping to ship it on Thursday; will they make it?
Everybody is in a unique place in life. Some of us have our health, some of us have more free time than others, some of us have more resources than others... that's just the way it is. The challenge is for each of to not compare ourselves to other people who are in a different situation. Instead, let's figure out: how can we make something tiny, and put it out into the world?Adam Clark, from last week, talked about what he would do differently:
Pick something small you could launch in a week. That momentum of launching is really, really powerful.Great quote from James Altucher:
"I try to improve myself 1% a day. It seems small, but over a year it makes a big difference."Project update
- We're combining two different platforms: Gumroad which allows makers to sell digital goods. On the other side we have WordPress, which is a publishing platform.
- The plugin we're building allows you to sell the content you create on WordPress using Gumroad.
- Check it out at www.getproductify.com.
- We've been hustling hard and have the main functionality in place.
- We still have a lot of work to do on creating a great user experience, plus more work to do on our launch strategy.
Previous week's launches
- The Build & Launch podcast
- The Product Hunt Handbook
- Network Effects: a web app for notifying groups via SMS
- Irresistible Podcasting
- Productify: sell your WordPress content using Gumroad
Show notes
- Carl Alexander
- Jim Gaffigan, Mr. Universe
- There are 110 reviews in iTunes! Leave your own review here.
- Sign up for the launch list for the WordPress plugin.
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Follow Carl on Twitter: @twigpress
- Join the newsletter
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
12 min - EP12: You gotta know when to hold ‘em
How do you know when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em and when to walk away?
Also: Justin announces the new Build & Launch product for this coming week. It's something we've never done on the show before...Launch notes: Irresistible Podcasting Course by Adam Clark
Today's episode is a crossover episode with Adam Clark's The Gently Mad ep 33.- Did nearly 5 figures in pre-sales in December
- When we last left our hero, Adam Clark, we had an honest discussion about the real challenges of building a product.
- Adam had been really honest in these episodes so far; this week he gets even deeper. Here's what you don't know...
The next Build & Launch project
This week Justin is partnering up: this time with fellow-Canadian Carl Alexander. Carl lives in Montreal, and is really talented developer.
This week's product: a WordPress plugin that interfaces with Gumroad. We've talked about Gumroad before: they allow makers to sell digital products directly. This plugin will allow makers to sell membership sites, courses, etc... built on WordPress using Gumroad as the payment processor.
Previous week's launches
- The Build & Launch podcast
- The Product Hunt Handbook
- Network Effects: a web app for notifying groups via SMS
- Irresistible Podcasting
Show notes
- Like the show? Leave a review!
- Shake it like a polaroid picture
- Follow me on Twitter: @mijustin
- Join the newsletter
- Blog post: This is real life
- Blog post: The principle that changed my life
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
16 min - EP11: I'll be your birth coach
This is the show where we build and launch something every 7 days. In this episode Justin does a mid-week checkup with Adam to see how he's doing with his podcasting course.
Once you've promised the world that you're going to make something, that's when things get scary. Because now you have to make it. Most of us would rather create things in our cave and not launch, because that's safe. It's time for you to go public.Community updates
- Marc Eglon built Letterlist.com
- Robert is launching Emails that Win on Feb 18.
- Seth Werkheiser has an awesome email newsletter called Skull Toaster. Every week he sends out heavy metal trivia + music picks.
This week's project
Listeners have asked me to do a "Build & Launch sprint" where I help someone else launch a product. So this week, I'm working with Adam Clark, to help him launch is course called Irresistible Podcasting.
Action steps: what to do when you feel overwhelmed
- Get things out of your brain, and on to paper, or into project management software (we used Sprintly).
- Start now, and start small. Get the first thing on your list done. Just sit down, turn off Twitter, turn off your phone, and get the work done.
Previous week's launches
- The Build & Launch podcast
- The Product Hunt Handbook
- Network Effects: a web app for notifying groups via SMS
Show notes
- Follow Justin on Twitter: @mijustin
- Check out Gumroad's 30 Day Challenge
- Email Justin at [email protected]
- Get on the mailing list to get all the launch stats
- Cover image by Teza Harinaivo Ramiandrisoa
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
14 min
About Build & Launch
From the publisher's feed
A weekly podcast focused on shipping small projects.
Every week I'll take you on an adventure of launching a new project. You'll hear the launch stats, hurdles I had to overcome, and how you can learn from my mistakes.