First Step Entrepreneur

By Art Harrison

This is just the audio from my YouTube videos.

I'm Art, I've been starting businesses for 25 years. Some worked, most didn't. Right now I'm building something called First Step Entrepreneur

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FAQs about First Step Entrepreneur:

How many episodes does First Step Entrepreneur have?

The podcast currently has 62 episodes available.

First Step Entrepreneur episodes:

September 01, 2025Being Authentic Is Your Superpower (Even When It's Weird)
"♪Time to make a video!♪ Wait, is there anything in my teeth? No, those are all right..."
That's actually how this episode starts - with me being completely myself, weird jingles and all. Because if I'm going to talk about being authentic, I might as well show you what that actually looks like.
Here's what nobody tells you about authenticity in business: being weird isn't a liability, it's your competitive advantage. In a world where everyone tries to say the right thing and be the safe choice, authenticity becomes instantly memorable.
Real examples from the episode:
How radical transparency built stronger investor and customer relationships in my last business
Why trying to be "professional" was costing me more energy than just being myself
How my quirks became business advantages (the things I was hiding became reasons clients chose me)
Key insight: "Your competitors can copy your pricing, your services, your marketing messages, even your business model. But they can't copy your authentic self because there's only one of you."
What authenticity actually means (and doesn't mean):
It's not an excuse to be a jerk or unprofessional
It's not about oversharing personal information
It IS about building business around who you actually are
It IS about making your differences part of your competitive advantage
The authenticity framework:
Inventory your quirks - what makes you different?
Find the business advantage in each "weird" trait
Lead with these differences instead of hiding them
Your weirdest traits are often what make your business irreplaceable. Stop trying to fit in and start figuring out how to monetize what makes you stand out.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/KG2MMty0N4c
If you're tired of hiding who you really are:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
8min
August 29, 2025This Is What Success Actually Looks Like (I'm Not That Impressive)
Take a long, hard look at me - this is what a "successful" entrepreneur actually looks like. I'm not that impressive.
I don't wake up at 4 AM, I don't have a perfect morning routine, and half the time I have no idea what I'm doing. Yet I've built and sold multiple businesses. Here's why that should encourage you.
What success really looks like:
Normal people making imperfect decisions
Lots of uncertainty and making it up as you go
More luck and timing than anyone wants to admit
The gap between where you are and where successful people are is smaller than you think. You're probably more ready than you realize.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/24-QLOXZYcs
If you think successful people have it all figured out:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
8min
August 27, 2025My Friend Told Me My Thumbnails Suck (And He's Right)
Sometimes the feedback that stings the most is the feedback you need to hear most.
My friend looked at my YouTube thumbnails and basically said they were terrible. He was right, and I knew it, but hearing it out loud still hurt. This episode is about that moment when someone tells you the truth you've been avoiding.
Why this matters for anyone building something:
How to separate useful criticism from noise
Why your ego is often your biggest business liability
The difference between feedback that helps and feedback that hurts
Sometimes being wrong about small things saves you from being wrong about big things.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/TiNEgCiSi4s
If you struggle with criticism:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
5min
August 25, 2025Why There's No Step-by-Step Guide to Your Success
A friend came to me asking for the exact formula I used to build my business. Here's the problem: there isn't one.
Everyone wants the universal playbook, the step-by-step system that guarantees success. But that's not how business works, and pretending it does keeps you looking for shortcuts instead of building skills.
What you'll learn:
Why following someone else's exact path usually fails
How to adapt principles instead of copying tactics
Why your unique situation requires a unique approach
Success isn't about finding the right map - it's about developing the navigation skills to create your own path.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/EASRz77N6D0
If you're ready to stop looking for shortcuts:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
11min
August 22, 2025You Don't Lack Confidence - You Misunderstand What Confidence Is
Most people think confidence means feeling ready before you act. That's completely wrong, and this misconception keeps capable people stuck for years.
Real confidence isn't about knowing what you're doing - it's about believing you'll figure it out. I went from being one of two employees to leading a team of 100+ people in under two years. Did I know what I was doing? Absolutely not. But I had the confidence to try anyway.
What this episode breaks down:
Why "fake it till you make it" misses the point entirely
The difference between confidence and competence (most people confuse them)
Why waiting to feel ready guarantees you'll never start
How rejection actually builds confidence instead of destroying it
Why smart people often struggle with confidence more than others
The brutal truth: Every successful person you admire was making it up as they went along. The only difference is they started before they felt ready.
Key insight from the episode: "Real confidence isn't knowing ahead of time. It's believing in yourself and believing that with enough time, you'll figure it out."
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/BgdbS7Yt5so
If you're tired of waiting to feel ready:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
11min
August 20, 2025The BIGGEST Lie About Hard Work (And Why I'm Actually Lazy)
I'm actually extremely lazy. This might sound weird coming from someone who built multiple businesses, but it's true - and it's why I've been successful.
The biggest lie about entrepreneurship is that you have to grind 24/7 to make it. That's garbage. Smart entrepreneurs find ways to work less, not more.
In this episode:
Why "hustle culture" is designed to keep you busy, not successful
How being lazy forces you to find efficient solutions
Why working harder rarely leads to working smarter
This isn't about being unproductive - it's about being strategically lazy so you focus on what actually matters.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/aFgeIsfRld0
If you're tired of hustling without results:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
17min
August 18, 2025Do You Want to Be Right or Get Results? (You Can't Always Have Both)
Smart people have a dangerous habit: they'd rather be right than effective.
I spent years being right about why certain business strategies wouldn't work instead of testing them. Turns out, being intellectually correct doesn't always translate to business results.
In this episode:
Why intelligence can become a business liability
The difference between being right and being useful
How to choose effectiveness over ego
This hits close to home if you're someone who prides yourself on thinking things through. Sometimes thinking less and testing more gets better results.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/IkCEq_DWsxs
If you're tired of overthinking instead of testing:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
13min
August 15, 2025I Lost $9 Million - What Nobody Tells You About Startups
Most startup stories are highlight reels. Here's the real story: we went from a $60 million valuation to selling for $10 million in about two years.
This isn't a sob story - it's reality check about what building a business actually looks like:
How we went from 100 employees to a fire sale
What I learned about business cycles and timing
Why I still don't regret any of it
The startup world loves to romanticize both spectacular success and spectacular failure. The truth is usually messier and more instructive than either narrative.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/76vlbRqbXuk
If you want honest talk about building businesses:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
15min
August 13, 2025I Posted My Calendar on LinkedIn and Offered to Talk to Anyone
I did something that felt uncomfortably vulnerable: posted my calendar on LinkedIn and offered to talk to anyone who wanted advice.
Here's what happened and why it matters:
Why I decided to make this offer (hint: it wasn't altruism)
The unexpected responses I got
What this taught me about business development
Sometimes the best market research comes from just asking people what they need. This episode is about the messy reality of trying to understand your audience by actually talking to them.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/4uk0PzDfmVQ
If this approach interests you:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
10min
August 11, 2025Here's My Dream and the Steps I'm Actually Taking to Achieve It
I'm building First Step Entrepreneur in real-time, and instead of pretending I have it all figured out, I'm sharing exactly what I'm doing and why.
This episode breaks down my actual process:
What First Step Entrepreneur is trying to solve
The specific steps I'm taking to build it
Why I'm being transparent about the uncertainty
Most people share their strategy after they've succeeded. I'm sharing mine while I'm still figuring it out. Maybe that's useful if you're building something too.
Original YouTube video: https://youtu.be/53lWUvFknAU
If you're building something yourself:
🎯 Free Challenge: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com/free-challenge
🚀 Full Program: https://www.firststepentrepreneur.com
This podcast is the audio version of the First Step Entrepreneur YouTube channel.
...more
13min

FAQs about First Step Entrepreneur:

How many episodes does First Step Entrepreneur have?

The podcast currently has 62 episodes available.