Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Startup Secrets with Activision Co-Founder Howard Marks

Welcome back to another episode of Leveling Up hosted on Clubhouse! Today’s guest is Howard Marks, the legend behind Activision and Acclaim who has recently been pioneering crowdfunded investing with his company StartEngine. We also open up the floor to a bunch of different people in the Clubhouse chat who ask brilliant questions all centered around building a successful startup, from how to land funding to defending yourself from the competition. Tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

Resources From The Interview:

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How I Sold $65,000 of Books Using Clubhouse

While Clubhouse might not as big a thing that some have been professing it to be, that does not mean that it has no use to you and your business. In today's episode, Eric explains how he used the Clubhouse app to spark $65,000 worth of book sales and the smart methods he used to up-sell certain customers. Tuning in you will hear about NFTs, what it takes to build Clubhouse credibility, and more!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:11] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
• [00:29] The rooms that Eric hosted on Clubhouse to boost his sales of Leveling Up.
• [01:31] Time that Eric spent building relationships on Clubhouse in early 2021. 
• [02:15] How Eric redirected conversations on Clubhouse to the bulk orders page on his website.
• [03:50] The possibility of selling NFTs on Clubhouse and the money that is currently being made.
• [04:44] Concerns about the future of Clubhouse and why it might not beat out its competitors.
• [05:04] We'll see you tomorrow! 

Resources From The Interview:

• Leveling Up

• Giselle Ugarte
• Leveling Up Bulk Order 

• Time Magazine 

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

• Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes

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Connect with Eric Siu: 

• Growth Everywhere

• Single Grain

• Eric Siu on Twitter

What Is The Creator Economy?

Today’s episode is all about the creator economy and what this means for you. Listening in, you’ll hear about the recent success of platforms such as Cameo, Substack, and Clubhouse and how more and more money is going to the creators themselves. We talk about how being a creator and being an entrepreneur are increasingly becoming the same thing and discuss our fundamental desires to create, the many existing channels through which we can create, and how, by making a small investment of time every day, you can become a successful creator. Be sure to tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:16] An introduction to the creator economy.
• [00:23] The recent success of platforms such as Cameo, Substack, and Clubhouse.
• [01:03] How more and more money is going towards the creators themselves. 
• [01:20] How the creator is becoming an entrepreneur, and the entrepreneur a creator.
• [02:20] What “creator economy” actually means.
• [02:55] How the system is reversing: Now you build up an audience and then you build up the business.
• [03:08] The growing trust in individuals and the growing distrust in large conglomerates and government. 
• [04:00] The four forms of leverage: code, capital, labor, and media
• [04:45] The fundamental human desire to create things.
• [04:50] The things we want to achieve through creating.
• [05:14] The many opportunities currently available for those who want to be creators.
• [05:35] The creation versus consumption ratio.
• [06:06] The time investment required to become a successful creator.
• [06:25] Like and subscribe for more!

Resources From The Interview:

• Cameo
• Substack
• Clubhouse
• Garry Tan on LinkedIn 
• NBA Top Shot

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

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• Growth Everywhere

• Single Grain

• Eric Siu on Twitter

Why Clubhouse Is NOT The Next Big Thing

Despite us investing a significant amount of time on Clubhouse this year, there are good reasons to believe that the new platform will not, in fact, be the next big thing. The chief reasons for this come down to the amount of hours that are necessary to gain any sort of traction, and the competitors that are rising up to challenge Clubhouse in the drop-in audio game. Tune in to hear all about why you can still use Clubhouse, but should avoid going all-in on it.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:15] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
• [00:22] The amount of time Eric has spent on Clubhouse early in 2021.
• [00:46] Drops in engagement with the platform and the spike in Clubhouse's competitors.
• [01:27] The difficulty of establishing a user base and how this counts against Clubhouse.
• [02:29] How copying occurs across these social and business platforms.
• [02:37] The drop-in audio revolution; no going back from here!
• [03:28] Healthier usage hours and managing the way to interact sustainably with the app. 
• [04:21] The ratio of time to value on Clubhouse; difficulty in weighing the immediate benefits.
• [05:29] Don't forget to subscribe!

Resources From The Interview:

• Clubhouse
• Mark Cuban
• Fireside

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

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• Growth Everywhere

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How to Use AI to Generate Copy for Ads, Social and More with Paul Yacoubian

Welcome to the first episode of Leveling Up which is being hosted on Clubhouse! Today’s guest is Paul Yacoubian, Co-Founder, and CEO of Copy.ai. Generating quality content is a huge part of any marketing endeavor, which is why it can be so time-consuming. This problem is slowly fading away though thanks to Copy.ai, which leverages OpenAI’s GPT-3 language-generating library to generate all your content for you! Our conversation with Paul is all about the applications for Copy.ai, his philosophy of building in public, and what libraries like GPT-3 mean for the future of education and business. Paul talks about some of the use cases of Copy.ai, highlighting how it can help users run different copywriting tests very quickly and is a great way of building an audience organically for smaller businesses who can’t afford paid ads yet. Paul also does a great job of explaining the evolution of OpenAI’s GPT libraries and just how high-quality the language generating tools they offer are becoming. We then tackle the subject of building in public, and Paul weighs in on his method of doing this as well as the benefits it offers for building an audience and attracting investor capital. In the last part of the episode, we open up the floor to some of the other participants in the Clubhouse group, and talk about how GPT-3 heralds a future where kids will be building successful companies and retiring before they finish high school!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:41] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
• [00:56] An intro into Copy.ai and the copywriting services it offers by leveraging GPT-3.
• [02:40] How Copy.ai helps users generate new post or advert copy variations for them to test. 
• [04:44] An explanation of GPT-3, a language generation AI tool that powers Copy.ai.
• [08:44] The argument for building in public; how Paul has followed Elon Musk’s example.
• [14:22] Metrics Paul shares in his monthly reports and the role this plays toward building in public.
• [15:45] Growth rates and MRR for Copy.ai. 
• [16:35] Paul’s thoughts on the sustainability of a business leveraging an open-source AI.
• [18:45] Social media channels Paul is showing up on to build his organic reach. 
• [19:30] Free trials Open.ai offers and how they make money via month-to-month and subscription packages.
• [22:17] Business trends like the creator and passion economy that Paul is excited about. 
• [17:05] Why Paul’s favorite business book is Rich Dad Poor Dad.
• [18:38] A business tool of Paul’s which is a recent favorite.
• [24:08] The easiest way to find Paul online and learn more about Copy.ai.
• [24:25] Eric Wu talks about how he is using GPT-3 on this episode’s Clubhouse group.
• [28:51] The percentage of articles we read on the internet that are AI-generated.
• [29:21] How the best content creators are using GPT-3.
• [31:08] A few examples of creative copy written by Copy.ai.
• [33:06] The next leap of AI-generated content and how Copy.ai will leverage that.
• [34:29] What AI-generated content means for the school syllabus and the future of business.
• [39:29] How kids will retire before finishing high school and where they should go to learn business.
•  

Resources From The Interview:

• Paul Yacoubian on LinkedIn
• Paul Yacoubian on Twitter
• Copy.ai
• OpenAI
• Elon Musk
• Eight Sleep
• Slack
• Eric Wu
• Chris Lu

• Must-read book: Rich Dad Poor Dad

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

• Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes

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Connect with Eric Siu: 

• Growth Everywhere

• Single Grain

• Eric Siu on Twitter

How to 10x Your Performance with Better Sleep with Eight Sleep CEO Matteo Franceschetti

There are three pillars of health: Nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Arguably, sleep is the most foundational of the three because eating well and moving your body can only be effective when you are well-rested. Leading the sleep-tech charge is Eight Sleep, a company specializing in smart mattresses. CEO Matteo Franceschetti joins us to shed light on the business and the importance of sleep more generally. We hear about Matteo’s background in cleantech and the pride he takes in running companies that aim to improve the world. Eight Sleep has a dual vision: To compress sleep so that customers get better sleep in fewer hours and to save lives through heart-rate monitoring and embedded sensors. We gain insights into some of the company’s product offerings and the specific ways they help clients. Matteo also shares his sleep and health routine and offers details about his thermal shock, fasting, and keto practices. We also touch on what life in Miami has been like so far and how Matteo and his wife, Eight Sleep’s other founder, Alexandra, work together. Tune in to hear it all!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
• [00:22] Get to know today’s guest, Matteo Franceschetti.
• [00:48] The impetus for founding Eight Sleep; leveraging technology to get better sleep.
• [01:20] Details about the cleantech businesses Matteo had before starting Eight Sleep.
• [02:02] What has driven Matteo to use tech to make the world a better place.
• [02:44] Insights into Eight Sleep’s two-pronged vision. 
• [03:16] Eight Sleep’s core product line and how they help people.
• [04:00] Sleep is the foundational pillar to health and longevity, more than nutrition and exercise.
• [04:30] The numerous adverse effects of poor sleep.
• [05:20] Matteo’s bedtime routine and some of the tools he uses to aid his sleep.
• [06:39] How Matteo’s restless leg syndrome has nearly disappeared.
• [07:20] Some of Eight Sleep’s numbers, including funds raised and products sold.
• [08:35] Matteo’s take on life in Miami and what he enjoys about living in his new hometown.
• [10:10] Some of Matteo’s nutrition and fitness habits that contribute to his healthy lifestyle.
• [11:23] What is working well for Eight Sleep’s customer acquisition. 
• [12:32] Resource recommendations to learn more about sleep. 
• [13:10] Some of the tools Matteo has incorporated into his life over the past year.
• [14:05] How Matteo and his wife, Alexandra, navigate working together.
• [16:00] A few of Matteo’s must-read books. 
• [16:23] The most compelling thing Matteo has read in recent time. 
• [17:08] Where to go to find Matteo online.

Resources From The Interview:

• Matteo Franceschetti
• Matteo Franceschetti on Twitter
• Eight Sleep
• Elon Musk

• Why We Sleep

• Levels
• Peter Attia
• Tonal
• Peloton
• Normatec
• Alexandra Zatarain

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

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• Growth Everywhere

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Today, we're going to talk about what's actually more important than Link Building. We learn that two of the most important things are Content and Links. But when you look at big and successful websites, they did not beg for links, the just created REALLY GOOD content, and went beyond just links.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:27] - Two Important Things
• [01:16] - Social Media As a Seed To Build A Relationship
• [01:40] - Eric's Experience On Clubhouse Connecting With Other People
• [03:19] - Foster The Relationship You’re Building
• [03:39] - Link is on the bottom of the list
• [05:09] - Should you focus on the smaller things?
• [05:42] - Think about the long term goals
• [06:27] - Relationships over links
• [06:37] - Outro

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

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Why Communities Are The Future of Business and Marketing with Greg Isenberg

Community is the cornerstone of any successful business. This special group of people serve many purposes: they’re your megaphone, humble servants, and most loyal customers. Today we talk to a community-building expert to find out the many whats, whys, hows, and whens of community building. Greg Isenberg is the Founder of Late Checkout, a product studio, agency, and fund, and he kicks off the episode by telling listeners more about Late Checkout. Following this short but concise introduction to his business, we find out why you should value your community. After discovering the not-so-straightforward method of tapping into your community, Greg boils community down to two simple pillars: retention and word of mouth. Later, Greg shares a few examples how community leads to business success. As our conversation draws to a close, Greg shares why he loves Miami, what his best business tools are, and what content has been most influential on him.

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:18] Introducing today’s guest, Greg Isenberg.
• [00:58] Greg tells listeners more about Late Checkout 
• [01:27] Hear about Late Checkout’s studio, agency, and acquisition fund.
• [02:15] Why Greg sees enormous value in communities.
• [03:10] Some good examples of community-first businesses. 
• [05:00] Building around community attention.
• [06:42] Late Checkout’s synergy with studio and agency and how this business model varies. 
• [08:39] How Greg intends on setting up his latest business.
• [09:38] Greg defines what a product studio is. 
• [11:51] Ways to delight customers once they have joined your community.
• [13:12] Which tactics listeners can take from Greg’s examples.
• [14:20] Greg’s take on the tech scene in Miami.
• [16:01] One business tool Greg can’t live without.
• [16:53] How Greg sources his communities. 
• [17:47] Hear about Greg’s favorite business book.
• [19:00] The most compelling content Greg has read, watched, or listened to recently. 

Resources From The Interview:

Greg Isenberg on LinkedIn

Greg Isenberg on Twitter

Late Checkout

Eight Sleep

Glossier

Casper 

WW

Public.com

TikTok

Nicebreak.fun

WeWork

FlyBy

StumbleUpon

The Social Network

Disney

Redditlist.com

Notion

The World Is Flat on Amazon

The Messy Middle on Amazon

My First Million Podcast

Clubhouse

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

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Connect with Eric Siu: 

• Growth Everywhere

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How To Create Relevant Touchpoints with Magazines & More for Cheap with ReminderMedia ($50M+ Revenue!)

A combination of strong approaches to marketing and sales is something that is rarer than you might think. Joining us on Leveling Up today to talk about ReminderMedia's fast rise and no-brainer offers are the company's founders Luke Acree and Josh Stike. ReminderMedia specializes in customizable marketing solutions for business professionals to stay top of mind with their clients, something that cannot be underestimated. In our conversation we cover some serious ground, talking about nurturing a database, how ReminderMedia's automation can make all the difference with this, the importance of being remembered, and how to approach strategic showcasing. Josh and Luke also unpack their 'FIT' framework of 'frequency, 'impact', and 'trust', showing how these three elements can really move the needle for your business. We do the usual round-up of useful information from our guests too, talking about their business numbers, growth, powerful tools, and much more, so make sure to level up with us today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast!
• [00:45] A little about Josh and Luke and how ReminderMedia operates.
• [01:23] Some of the important numbers from their business around clients, revenue and more! 
• [02:15] The task of building long-term relationships and converting this into revenue.
• [04:15] The three easy ways to build trust; showcasing accolades, testimonials, and educational content.
• [04:55] The business model at ReminderMedia and their current offers for clients.
• [06:34] Touchpoints that the company focusses on and the three components of their digital platform. 
• [08:36] The industries that ReminderMedia service and the foundation they built from real estate.
• [10:00] Prices for the company's services; set-up fees, digital components, and the magazine. 
• [11:24] Expanding on the value of print in an increasingly digital world.
• [12:09] The creative side of designing a company magazine through ReminderMedia. 
• [13:25] Thoughts on Oculus and the unique opportunities it represents for the future!
• [15:14] Approaches to growth for ReminderMedia; combining excellence in sales and marketing.
• [17:51] Reasons for the high retention rates that Josh and Luke have experienced.
• [18:47] How customer feedback led to ReminderMedia doubling down on local content and events.
• [20:22] Customization of the products offered; using templates and getting involved in the creative process.
• [21:44] Josh and Luke's aim of adding integrations to the range of current features.
• [22:39] Our guests' favorite business tools; the phone, Instagram, webinars, and Marketo!
• [25:31] Top business and marketing book picks from Josh and Luke.
• [27:40] How the vision and values for ReminderMedia have evolved since its founding.

Resources From The Interview:

• ReminderMedia
• Stay Paid Podcast

• Jim Collins 

• Must read books: Good to Great, Think and Grow Rich and The Bible

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

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Connect with Eric Siu: 

• Growth Everywhere

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Are Magazines Back As A Marketing Channel? Steve Olsher From Podcast Magazine Thinks So

Today we talk with Steve Osher, founder, and Editor-in-chief at Podcast Magazine. In this episode, Steve shares his career journey with us; one that has been filled with many highs and lows. He details how it affected his psyche, as well as the important lessons that came with failure. Expanding on this, Steve sheds light on the struggles he had with the dot-com crash, his battle to create success from liuor.com, and the important realizations that came with it. Later, we ask Steve about his book. Listeners will find out why he wrote the book, who it’s geared toward and why he hopes it’ll become his legacy piece. Steve’s book, What Is Your What? is filled with three main tenets: clarity on your core strength, understanding the primary vehicle that you will use to share your gift, and who you are most compelled to serve. In the second half of the show, Steve talks about Podcast Magazine, sharing information about its target market, how the magazine navigates tricky logistics, and its purpose. To hear more on why print is not dead, be sure to tune in today!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [00:34] Introducing today’s guest, Steve Osher from Podcast Magazine.
• [00:50] Steve shares some details about his background.
• [03:12] Steve explains how his psyche changed through each business blunder. 
• [03:55] How the real estate crash affected Steve.
• [04:09] Why it is important to always consider the “what-ifs”. 
• [04:40] Steve’s experience when the dot-com bubble burst.
• [08:17] How Steve’s experience with hardcore executives have shaped the way he builds teams today. 
• [10:13] Hear about steve’s book, What is Your What?

Resources From The Interview:

Steve Olsher on Twitter

Steve Olsher on LinkedIn

Podcast Magazine

Podcast Magazine Subscription

What is Your What?

Liquor.com

Brendon Burchard

Sports Illustrated

WIRED

Foundr Magazine

Jillian Michaels

Katie Couric

Dave Ramsey

Conde Nast

Madcast

Darren Hardy

Success Magazine

Guerilla Marketing on Amazon

Leave Some Feedback:

• What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below.

• Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here

• Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes

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Connect with Eric Siu: 

• Growth Everywhere

• Single Grain

• Eric Siu on Twitter