The Bootstrapped Founder

By Arvid KahlBusiness Entrepreneurship Marketing

The Bootstrapped Founder episodes

June 30, 2023 229: Utility, Pricing, and Entrepreneurship
Are you struggling to find the balance between the utility of your product and its perceived value? Let’s explore the biggest misconception in entrepreneurship and discover how to create a high-utility business at the intersection of your fields of interest. Find out what Swiss Army knives have to do with it, too!
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/utility-pricing-and-entrepreneurship/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d8b22900
The video: https://youtu.be/G4KZWbYutEs

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
8 min
June 28, 2023 228: Kevin McArdle — The Man Who Changed My Life (and Could Change Yours)
Kevin McArdle bought my SaaS. For millions. And now, I get to talk to him about all things acquisition. In our chat, we discuss the importance of annual exit planning for startup founders, we explore the mindset and framework necessary for building a successful and sellable business, as well as the benefits of stepping outside of your normal workplace to think strategically. With practical advice and personal anecdotes, this conversation is a must-watch for any entrepreneur looking to achieve long-term success — and a big life-changing check at the end.

Kevin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kevin_McArdle
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/kevin-mcardle-the-man-who-changed-my-life-and-could-change-yours/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d938c4ce
The video: https://youtu.be/Wx0hEK0zNPU
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

1 hr
June 23, 2023 227: Self-Censorship on Twitter
Join me on a thought-provoking journey as I explore the challenge of balancing authenticity and public opinion on social media. Discover the struggle faced by an entrepreneur and creator who wants to build a Twitter audience while staying true to themselves. Yours truly. I'll ask the tough question: how much of my "true self" should I reveal in the public domain?
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/self-censorship-on-twitter/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9216f800
The video: https://youtu.be/6Hk5qbjXZJk

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

11 min
June 21, 2023226: Paul Millerd — Walking The Pathless Path
Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed by societal expectations?
Today, I’m talking to Paul Millerd, author of “The Pathless Path.” We talk about hustle traps, the stories we tell ourselves about success, and our obsession with productivity. Learn how to connect with yourself, rediscover leisure as a positive force in your life, and find "the others."
Discover how to expand your horizons and find your own way in life, all while building and teaching in public.
Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd/
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/paul-millerd-walking-the-pathless-path/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/14e38471
The video: https://youtu.be/fqAN89v8DQ4
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
(00:00) - Introduction.
(00:52) - Finding the pathless path.
(07:04) - Taking action will lead to more action.
(11:01) - Goals and aspirations.
(17:08) - Leisure and Laziness.
(24:09) - Generosity and not focusing on numbers.
(27:57) - Why money doesn’t matter
(33:44) - How writing helped me make sense of life.
(38:28) - How to avoid bullshitting yourself.
(43:08) - How to live your life.
(50:34) - Finding Paul
53 min
June 16, 2023 225: Twitter Teardowns: 3 Low Hanging Fruit to Massively Improve Your Twitter Presence
Discover how to make your Twitter profile a promise of a fruitful long-term relationship with your future followers. Today,. let’s explore the biggest misconceptions surrounding Twitter profiles and how optimizing your profile can turn visitors into followers. From the purpose of your profile to the importance of using real estate wisely, you’ll find the common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.

My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/twitter-teardowns-3-low-hanging-fruit-to-massively-improve-your-twitter-presence/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/20b5a449
The video: https://youtu.be/_Ia8dnuXOg8

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn
10 min
June 14, 2023224: Dr. Julie Gurner — Founder Mental Health 101
"Imposter syndrome isn’t just a moment of self-doubt — it’s all-encompassing. It prevents founders from taking action, from taking a risk in the first place."
This week, Dr. Julie Gurner shares with me how high performers combat the challenges founders commonly face. She’s a performance coach and Doctor of Psychology. We’ll talk about dealing with imposter syndrome, burnout, how to deal with the avalanche of advice on Twitter, and why it is so hard for founders to cope with stress.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-julie-gurner-founder-mental-health-101/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb3e42ca
The video: https://youtu.be/RjIZ8g0sxZw
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
(00:00) - How common is Impostor Syndrome?
(02:42) - How social media can impact your business
(08:00) - Vulnerability is not just a means of sharing negative feedback
(13:33) - Diversity & Building in Public
(17:54) - How to avoid falling into the Impostor Syndrome
(22:35) - The importance of taking incremental steps
(26:29) - Optimizing your business
(32:18) - The importance of meditation
(37:15) - The importance of having a routine that you enjoy
(44:02) - The problem with the word "expertise"
(47:43) - The importance of confidence in entrepreneurship
(51:07) - Incorporating philosophy into your own life
58 min
June 09, 2023 223: How to Build in Public Without Revealing Too Much
Sharing your journey as an entrepreneur can be scary, but it's a great way to connect with your audience and demonstrate your expertise. Let's explore the difference between sharing business insights and trade secrets, and construct a Share/Don't Share list to help you decide what to share with your audience.
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-to-build-in-public-without-revealing-too-much/
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ed43fa8
The video: https://youtu.be/iq_DetrM-DE

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

17 min
June 07, 2023222: Joe Masilotti — Building in Public and Monetizing Open Source
Joe Masilotti is the founder of RailsDev —a reverse job board— and a Turbo Native consultant. In this conversation, we explore Joe Masilotti's philosophy on entrepreneurship and his focus on empowering software developers to find work. Joe's approach to monetizing Open Source is particularly interesting: he gives away his product for free with an eventual revenue share. We delve into the various marketing strategies that Joe uses for his different business ventures, including cold emailing, content marketing, and live coding.
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/joe-masilotti-building-in-public-and-monetizing-open-source
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ebd473b8
The video: https://youtu.be/uxfUZ31QYGY
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
(00:00) - Introduction
(04:00) - B2B vs. B2C
(08:12) - How to monetize?
(14:24) - Reverse job boards
(19:27) - Coding in public.
(25:06) - Transparency
(32:23) - Monetizing open source projects
(37:57) - Selling the business
(44:48) - The ideal future
(49:25) - Overlap between marketing and cold email marketing
(56:30) - Building in public and empowering people
59 min
June 02, 2023 221: Why Entrepreneurs are Choosing 'Short-Lived Businesses' Over 'Forever Businesses
If you're an entrepreneur looking to start a digital business, you might be tempted to aim for a "forever business" right from the start. However, pursuing this approach can be dangerous. Today, you'll learn how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of digital entrepreneurship, build successful businesses that serve your customers and owners, and avoid the pitfalls of pursuing a "forever business" from day one.
My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fm
The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/why-entrepreneurs-are-choosing-short-lived-businesses-over-forever-businesses
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e1eb3929
The video: https://youtu.be/lzYc5ArzTsw

You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/

This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!

11 min
May 31, 2023220: Simon Høiberg — Building a SaaS That Works for You
In this episode, I interviewSimon Høiberg, an active software engineer, founder, and YouTuber. Simon shares his strategies for balancing his roles as a creator and maker, and discusses the importance of incorporating personal experience into his content. He also delves into the power of intrinsic motivation and joy in entrepreneurship, and how he gamifies his life to prioritize these elements. The conversation touches on topics such as productivity, mental health, team management, and burnout prevention.

Join me and Simon for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, content creation, and personal growth. Be inspired by Simon's passion for empowering entrepreneurs, and learn how you can incorporate joy and intrinsic motivation into your own entrepreneurial journey.

The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/simon-hoiberg-building-a-saas-that-works-for-you
The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/05f2d837
The video: https://youtu.be/U0cUsvxHtn0
You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Podcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletter

My book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/
My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/
My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com
(00:00) - On not burning out
(04:53) - Coding mindset for entrepreneurs
(09:38) - How to pick the right social media management tool.
(14:14) - THe power of community
(21:18) - What does a good lifetime deal look like?
(24:53) - Allow customers to leave your product.
(31:58) - The funnel and the web.
(37:24) - Sharing your journey and success.
(42:07) - How long does it take to build a youtube channel?
(45:38) - A day in the life of an entrepreneur without burning out.
(50:52) - The importance of having an empty calendar.
58 min