First Class Founders: Creators | Solopreneurs | Personal HoldCo

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)

Make it Your Mission to Serve Your Tribe (17:25)

Gathering Feedback  & Earning Referrals (19:49)

Ask Me Anything (22:55)

***
LINKS:

Episode 23 - Grow Your Newsletter Fast: Secrets to Skyrocketing Your Subscribers

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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)

***
LINKS:

Episode 22 - Newsletter Success Launch Plan: 4 Effective Strategies to Kickstart Your Newsletter

Episode 23 - Grow Your Newsletter Fast: Secrets to Skyrocketing Your Subscribers

Arvid's Podcast: The Bootstrapped Founder

Follow Arvid on Twitter

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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)

How to Tease Out Your Content Regularly (4:59)

Using Lead Magnets (9:27)

Use Referrals to Boost Subscribers (10:11)

How to Set Up a Proper Referral Program (10:48)

How to Grow with Other People's Audiences (12:52)

Paid Advertising (13:22)

Cross Promotions (14:10)

Cross Promo Partners: What to Look For (19:14)

Use Single Opt-In (19:58)

Ask Me Anything (21:53)

***
LINKS:

Newsletter Blueprint

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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)

How to Choose Newsletter Topics (3:06)

How To Get Your First Subscribers (3:55)

Building in Public (5:46)

Newsletter as a Start Up (9:03)

3 Questions to Ask Yourself (9:25)

Content is Everything (10:45)

Content + Distribution = Growth (14:18)

Pass the 'Regret Test' (17:27)

Ask Me Anything (17:54)

***
LINKS:

Sign up for Beehiiv
Episode 13 - Rag to Riches: How I Built a Successful Business from Scratch
Episode 14 - I / We / They Framework: 3 Simple Steps to Growing Your Business
Pedi-Derm Bum Paste

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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)

Build Trust, Familiarity, and Authority (13:51)

Creating Your Value Ladder (14:12)

Ask Me Anything (18:36)

***
LINKS:

Episode 12 - How to Find, Nurture, and Grow Your Audience in 2023

JOIN: First Class Founders Premium Membership

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CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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)

Ask Me Anything (19:31)

***
LINKS:

The UnNoticed Entrepreneur Podcast

JOIN: First Class Founders Premium Membership

DOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)

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FOLLOW / REVIEW:
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CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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)

Benefits of Building in Public (21:26)

Ask Me Anything (25:48)

***
LINKS:

Kevon's Book: Find Joy in Chaos
Follow Kevon on Twitter
Build in Public Mastery

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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.

***
TOPICS:

Rise of Solopreneurship (1:46)

Two Hidden Costs of Flying Solo (6:03)

Strategies on Hiring Your First Employees (11:04)

The Important of Your Zone of Genius (12:11)

Hiring Freelancer vs. Hire Employees (14:34)

Ask Me Anything (19:45)

***
LINKS:

FreeUp
Shepherd

Episode 3 - Secrets of Compounding: How to Leverage Time to Grow Your Business
Episode 14 - I / We / They Framework: 3 Simple Steps to Growing Your Business

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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.

***
TOPICS:

What is Collaboration? (2:30)

How to Collaborate Successfully (2:41)

Collaborating on Distribution (6:25)

Collaborating on Product (6:57)

Ask Me Anything (15:12)

***
LINKS:

The Success Journey Show

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***
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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...

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.

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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.

Episode you might like:

Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at Beehiiv

From Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry

...