Ditching Hourly

By Jonathan Stark

For solo professionals who want to make more and work less without hiring.... more

· Business

4.7

5555 ratings

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FAQs about Ditching Hourly:

How many episodes does Ditching Hourly have?

The podcast currently has 405 episodes available.

Ditching Hourly episodes:

November 18, 2025Shachar Meir - How To Go Solo After 20 Years In Corporate (And What To Expect)
Solo data advisor Shachar Meir (ex-Meta, ex-PayPal) joined me on Ditching hourly to share the details of his transition from being a manager in massive corporate environments to becoming a successful solo consultant.
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(01:05) - Shachar's Professional Background
(03:47) - Transition to Solo Entrepreneurship
(13:51) - First Steps as a Solopreneur
(15:59) - Landing the First Project
(20:25) - Facing the Challenges of Solopreneurship
(25:11) - Navigating the Steep Learning Curve
(26:17) - The Importance of Networking and Mentorship
(29:52) - Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Growth
(33:25) - The Art of Content Creation
(43:18) - Financial Stability and Client Acquisition
(51:47) - Final Thoughts and Advice
Shachar's Links
LinkedIn Profile » https://www.linkedin.com/in/shacharmeir/
YouTube Channel » https://www.youtube.com/@shacharmeir
...more
54min
November 11, 2025Tim Dietrich - Lessons Learned from Decades of Surfing Tech Waves
(NOTE: this ep was recorded in October 2025, but I didn't get around to publishing it until March 2026. It was WILD listening to the AI portions of the conversation five months later - post OpenClaw.)
Old friend and self-described “workaholic” developer Tim Dietrich joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his journey from FileMaker freelancer to the undisputed SuiteQL expert in the NetSuite ecosystem — a niche so specific that the platform itself became his marketing engine.
We also dig into what happens when AI comes for your platform and how to think about the next wave.
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction
(00:53) - Tim's Background
(03:02) - Early Career and FileMaker Days
(06:08) - Transition to NetSuite
(16:02) - SuiteQL and SQL Integration
(21:00) - Positioning as SuiteQL Expert
(30:03) - Managing Demand and Consulting Opportunities
(34:39) - Current Client Work and Scaling Back
(36:01) - The Rise of AI in NetSuite
(50:27) - Comparing to Other Waves and Platforms
(01:05:37) - Exploring Monetization Strategies
(01:22:31) - Future Trends and Opportunities
...more
1h 33min
November 04, 2025An Insider's Perspective with Pranav Kale: Jonathan Stark's Journey to Ditching Hourly
Big Idea archaeologist Pranav Kale joined me on Ditching Hourly for a reverse interview about my journey to the center of the solar system.
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:39) - Pranav's Evolution and Current Focus
(03:01) - Jonathan's Epiphany on Hourly Billing
(06:26) - The Trust Fracture in Hourly Billing
(07:45) - Jonathan's Problem-Solving Journey
(16:59) - The Move to Rhode Island and Finding the Solution
(22:38) - Implementing Value-Based Pricing
(26:30) - Content Creation and Teaching Others
(30:35) - Understanding Business Personality Types
(31:08) - The Journey to Writing a Book
(31:56) - Transitioning to Advisory Roles
(32:37) - The Impact of the iPhone Announcement
(33:37) - Responsive Web Design and Consulting
(35:46) - Facing Criticism and Adjusting Messaging
(39:50) - Finding the Central Theme
(53:06) - The Importance of Differentiation
(59:53) - Concluding Thoughts and Advice
...more
1h 1min
October 28, 2025Joel Clermont - The Pros And Cons Of Selling Software Development As A Subscription
Laravel expert Joel Clermont joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he and his co-founder run their successful dev subscription business.
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Introduction
(00:16) - Joel's Background and Business Model Transition
(01:54) - Launching the Dev Subscription Model
(04:47) - Marketing and Initial Success
(07:44) - Client Profiles and Demand
(11:19) - Managing Client Expectations and Scope
(18:58) - Onboarding and Project Management
(21:21) - Handling Messy Projects and Infrastructure
(25:06) - Client Capacity and Longevity
(26:47) - Exploring Client Sizes and Ideal Fits
(28:39) - Balancing Workload and Client Expectations
(32:06) - Ensuring Client Satisfaction
(34:47) - Managing Work and Time Effectively
(43:11) - Challenges and Downsides of Subscription Model
(47:54) - Marketing Strategies for Developers
(52:52) - Conclusion and Resources
Joel’s Links
Joel’s website » https://nocompromises.io/
Joel’s books » https://masteringlaravel.io/books
Joel’s courses » https://masteringlaravel.io/courses
Joel’s community » https://masteringlaravel.io/community
...more
54min
October 21, 2025Eleanor Mayrhofer - Productized Web Design
Digital marketing strategist Eleanor Mayrhofer joined me on Ditching Hourly to describe exactly how she productized her web design services.
Links:
Eleanor's website » https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/ditching
Eleanor's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanormayrhofer/
Chapters:
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:14) - Eleanor's Background and Business Model
(00:52) - Straight to Non-Hourly
(02:01) - Starting a Solo Business During COVID
(02:44) - Initial Market Approach and Challenges
(03:48) - Developing a Productized Service
(04:25) - Current Business Model: Website in a Week
(05:31) - Client Interaction and Project Scope
(09:40) - Copywriting and Strategy Sessions
(16:31) - Handling Project Scope and Client Expectations
(21:24) - Marketing and Client Acquisition
(23:20) - Client Commissions and Referrals
(23:40) - Subscription Maintenance Services
(24:53) - Positioning and Target Audience
(25:53) - Overcoming Launch Procrastination
(27:11) - Client Collaboration and Revisions
(28:55) - Technical Setup and DNS Challenges
(31:25) - Post-Launch Support and Testimonials
(33:13) - Pros and Cons of Productized Services
(36:55) - Sales Process and Lead Time
(38:55) - Long-Term Plans and Project Juggling
(41:01) - Avoiding Boredom with Productized Services
(42:20) - Conclusion and Contact Information
...more
44min
October 14, 2025Erin Halper - Pro Tips for Building and Sustaining a Thriving Online Community
Founder of The Upside, Erin Halper, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share her pro tips on creating and sustaining a premium online community.
Erin's Links:
Erin's community » https://betheupside.com/
Erin's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhalper/
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:19) - Erin Halper's Background and The Upside Community
(03:19) - Challenges and Evolution of The Upside
(07:24) - Starting and Running a Community
(09:18) - Best Practices for Community Management
(24:08) - Pricing Strategies for Independent Consultants
(30:19) - Navigating Agency Subcontracting
(30:52) - Building and Scaling Your Business
(31:42) - Lifestyle and Impact in Consulting
(33:00) - Celebrating Wins and Community Support
(34:26) - Visibility and Positioning
(36:03) - Pricing Strategies and Market Shifts
(37:47) - Maintaining Boundaries in Community
(40:30) - Application Process and Membership Cap
(43:40) - Quarterly Open House Strategy
(47:18) - Onboarding and Member Matching
(55:26) - Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information
...more
57min
October 07, 2025Coaching Call with Communications Consultant Lynn Safranek
Communications consultant Lynn Safranek joined me on Ditching Hourly to learn how to apply value pricing to an industry where the consultant can't control the outcome.
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:11) - Understanding Upstream Contributions
(00:23) - Lynn's Background and Expertise
(01:05) - The Value Pricing Dilemma
(01:21) - Client Communication Challenges
(02:45) - Media Engagement Strategies
(05:01) - Defining Client Needs and Goals
(08:08) - Crafting Effective Messaging
(14:32) - Measuring Success and Impact
(20:42) - Leveraging Media Coverage for Nonprofits
(21:26) - Budget Autonomy of Communications Directors
(22:41) - Crafting Compelling Stories for Donations
(24:33) - Exploring Budget Scenarios for Media Hits
(26:03) - Creative Strategies for Media Attention
(26:58) - Evaluating the Impact of Media Hits
(29:21) - Developing a Comprehensive Media Strategy
(31:35) - Reverse Engineering Media Success
(38:40) - Thinking Beyond Traditional Roles
(42:35) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Lynn's Links:
Lynn on LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnsafranek/
...more
47min
September 16, 2025Diane Whiddon - Branding in the Age of AI
Brand strategist and founder of SwayRise Creative, Diane Whiddon, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about how adding a discrete - and legitimately useful - AI-based productized service to her branding business tapped into a longstanding demand in her client base.
Diane's Links
SwayRise Creative » https://swayrisecreative.com/
Content Creator Lab » https://aicontentcreatorlab.com
Chapters
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:34) - Diane's Background and Career Journey
(01:44) - Discovering Value Pricing and Meeting Jonathan
(03:44) - The Impactful Discovery Call
(07:18) - Focusing and Scaling the Business
(15:08) - Incorporating AI into Business
(19:16) - AI Photo Shoots and Branding
(33:33) - Ethical Considerations and Client Expectations
(34:57) - Technical Aspects of AI Image Creation
(37:02) - Using Image References and Editing Tools
(37:56) - Cost and Effort of Traditional Photo Shoots
(39:15) - AI Photo Shoots vs Traditional Photo Shoots
(41:36) - The Demand for AI in Business
(42:54) - Challenges and Opportunities with AI
(47:33) - The Importance of Adapting to AI
(51:53) - Leveraging AI for Business Success
(54:13) - The Future of AI in Various Industries
(01:10:30) - Final Thoughts and Resources
...more
1h 14min
August 26, 2025Alastair McDermott - The AI Powered Thought Leader
Author, speaker, and human-first AI strategist, Alastair McDermott, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about his new book and how experts can use AI to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning.
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:46) - Alistair's Background and Journey
(03:02) - The New Book: Use AI, Stay Human
(04:15) - AI as a Tool for Experts
(06:55) - Practical Applications of AI
(10:00) - Technical Deep Dive: AI in Writing
(16:58) - Organizing and Managing AI Outputs
(23:40) - Ideal Reader and Learning AI
(24:51) - Choosing Your AI Setup: DIY vs. Subscription
(25:20) - The Importance of AI Expertise
(27:16) - AI's Role in Business and Personal Productivity
(28:25) - Challenges and Limitations of AI
(30:59) - Effective Prompting Techniques
(32:20) - Using AI for Coaching and Workshops
(35:35) - Advanced AI Usage Tips
(40:46) - Practical AI Tools and Resources
(45:28) - Final Thoughts and Resources
AI Summary
In this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark interviews Alastair McDermott about his new book, 'Use AI Stay Human: A Survival Guide for Experts in the Age of AI.' They discuss Alastair's transition from a techie background to running his consulting business, Recognized Authority, and eventually rebranding to Human Spark.AI. The conversation dives into how AI can be used to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning for subject matter experts. Alastair shares practical tips on setting up effective AI workflows, structuring prompts, and the importance of human judgment in leveraging AI for business purposes.
Alastair's Links
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Use-I-Stay-Human-Indispensable-ebook/dp/B0FDQSKZRF
Website: https://humanspark.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastairmcdermott/
...more
47min
August 19, 2025Jessica Lackey - Stop Betting On Tactics
Author of Leaving The Casino, Jessica Lackey, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the importance of understanding different business models, pricing strategies, and the concept of the 'zone of enoughness' in building a sustainable business.
(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:09) - Jessica Lackey's Background and Career Journey
(01:05) - Introduction to Jessica's Book
(03:13) - The Casino Metaphor in Business
(04:28) - Frameworks and Types of Expertise-Based Businesses
(08:55) - Pricing Models and Strategies
(19:22) - The Zone of Enoughness
(30:46) - Transitioning Business Models
(31:21) - Financial Planning and Expectations
(32:30) - Balancing Flexibility and Income
(34:28) - Optimizing Delivery for Efficiency
(40:41) - Marketing Strategies for Delivery Businesses
(42:48) - The Importance of Direct Outreach
(51:03) - Building Authority Through Writing
(54:29) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Jessica's Bio
Jessica Lackey is the founder of Deeper Foundations, a consulting and training firm that helps expertise-based business owners grow and scale sustainable companies rooted in stronger business foundations. She brings a unique blend of corporate expertise and soulful business building, drawing on an MBA from Harvard Business School, a coaching certification from iPEC, and experience at McKinsey & Company and Nike, Inc. Jessica has supported over 200 entrepreneurs through her programs, blending systems thinking, operational rigor, and deep values alignment. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband.
Jessica's Links:
Website: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lackey/
Book: https://www.deeperfoundations.com/casino
Predictable Revenue Roadmap: https://predictablerevenueroadmap.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicalackey_consulting/
...more
56min

FAQs about Ditching Hourly:

How many episodes does Ditching Hourly have?

The podcast currently has 405 episodes available.

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