HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I discuss the world of controversial self-help gurus, specifically focusing on Dan Pena. We dissect Pena's background, from his early days in Florida to his claims of a massive oil empire and his now infamous $30,000 mastermind seminars. We analyze his aggressive persona and tactics, while trying to understand what makes him successful. We question the real value of his teachings, including his QLA principles, and if his advice is actually useful or just pure motivational hype. We also discuss the difference between gurus that just motivate you versus the ones that have a concrete business plan. Finally, we explore how AI is changing things and whether businesses can be created to protect consumers from all the spam that is going to come with the new technology.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Share your ideas with us:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Introduction to Controversial Gurus
00:58 Meet Dan Pena: The Trillion Dollar Man
02:09 Dan Pena's Predictions and Background
03:59 Dan Pena's Business Ventures
08:32 The QLA Principles Unveiled
12:55 A Personal Encounter with Dan Pena's Team
17:32 Unshakable Belief in Entrepreneurship
18:18 The Fyre Fest and WeWork Examples
19:33 Alex Hormozi's Tactical Approach
20:14 Sales Gurus and Their Strategies
21:38 Dan Pena's Podcast Invitation
24:36 AI and the Future of Outbound Marketing
26:53 AI Tools and Consumer Defense
35:15 PhD-Level Autonomous Agents
36:45 Productizing AI Prompts
39:20 Exploring Custom GPTs
40:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Get a free 30 day trial of HL with this link only! https://www.gohighlevel.com/chris-koerner

I'm back with another Q&A episode! I start by sharing viral marketing stunts for an escape room and emphasize finding a "Kirk" for business partnerships. Then, I explain how to grow a local newsletter using Facebook groups and ads, and monetize through AI and high-ticket services. I discuss why premium domain names aren't valuable for crypto and suggest focusing on trending niches, like AI. Finally, I advise on cloning content creators with AI chatbots, and selling this service to creators and community owners, as well as stressing the need to outsource weaknesses and double down on strengths.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
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---

00:00 Introduction
00:11 – Early Bird vs Night Owl Debate
02:53 – Creative Marketing Strategies for Escape Rooms
03:12 – Finding the Right Operational Partner
08:45 – Building a Local Newsletter and Monetization Strategies
13:09 – Exploring Crypto Domain Names and Their Value
18:04 – Creating AI Chatbots for Content Creators
21:53 – Conclusion

Get a free 30 day trial of HL with this link only! https://www.gohighlevel.com/chris-koerner

I sat down with podcast regular Sam Thompson (https://x.com/ImSamThompson), and we talked about how he's planning to launch an AI-powered recipe app using no-code tools and Facebook ads. We discussed his idea to become a free proposal consultant to get into the wedding business. He also shared his views on the importance of understanding business math like CAC and cash conversion cycle. We also touched on using affiliate marketing to generate revenue with a lead magnet created with ChatGPT and promoted using ads, and using tools like Creative OS and HeyGen to make ad creatives and videos.

This is part 1 of a two-part conversation with Sam. Be sure to tune in next week for part 2.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
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---

00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts on AI and Apps
00:49 Wedding Planning Business Strategy
02:29 Personal Reflections and Technology Evolution
04:15 Exploring No-Code App Development
05:42 Recipe App Concept and Monetization
07:52 Marketing Strategies and Business Models
14:11 Collaborations and Future Plans
16:07 Cold Audience Strategies
16:40 The Power of Facebook Ads
17:19 Optimizing Ad Campaigns
22:33 Affiliate Marketing Tactics
29:17 AI in Marketing
30:00 Viral Marketing Case Studies
32:35 Conclusion and Next Steps

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I discuss the world of sales and unexpectedly profitable business models, such as pest control, a field I have personal experience in. We examine how high incomes can be achieved through door-to-door sales, as well as the financial dynamics of the pest control industry. We also discuss the compensation structure of sales crews and the potential of renting out specialized licenses. We explore the idea of pest control as a convenience service rather than a necessity, and share the story of an entrepreneur who achieved remarkable success with a Christmas lighting business.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Share your ideas with us:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
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Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
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---

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes
03:37 The Economics of Pest Control
06:46 Insights on Sales Ethics and Practices
11:38 Personal Experiences in Pest Control
15:16 Questioning the Effectiveness of Pest Control
16:08 Revelation: Pest Control is a Scam
17:00 The Convenience Business Model
18:15 Success Story: Christmas Lighting Business
23:39 Entrepreneurial Spectrum: Different Approaches
25:55 Learning from Mistakes: The Importance of Knowledge

This is part 2 of a two-part conversation with Daniel. Be sure to listen to part 1 (aired Jan 27, 2025, Ep. #123) to hear how he got started, found the right niche, and set up the systems to grow and succeed.

I sat down with Daniel Cronauer (LinkedIn), to continue our conversation about his entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, Daniel shares his unique strategies for acquiring customers, using rock flyers and yard signs. Daniel also talks about how he expanded his business with Christmas lights, and discusses his experience building his own gym from the ground up. He also touches on his experience with permanent light installations and their drawbacks as a business.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
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---

00:00 Introduction: Acquiring Customers
01:06 The Power of Yard Signs
01:35 Handling Complaints and Mental Toughness
01:49 Success Stories and Testimonials
02:51 Rock Flyers: A Unique Marketing Strategy
03:54 Operation Carpet Bomb: Aggressive Marketing
05:33 The Importance of Visibility and Branding
11:27 Networking and Personal Connections
16:23 Gym Anecdotes and Personal Stories
18:50 Vigilante for Good: Sneaking into Gyms
19:48 Building a Gym from Scratch
20:06 Entrepreneurial Lessons and Challenges
23:46 Navigating Competition in the Gym Business
30:15 Expanding to Multiple Locations
33:33 Permanent Light Business Insights
36:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, I'm sharing my mind-blowing experience using OpenAI's new ChatGPT Operator, where I ran 10 AI agents simultaneously. I'll discuss how I used the Operator to perform 10 business tasks, like finding underpriced items and scraping product reviews. I’ll explain how the AI opened multiple tabs, and completed tasks like a human, and even how it learned from its mistakes, and how it was able to reverse Google image search to find a supplier. I'll share how it can watch videos on Instagram, and how I had ChatGPT talk to ChatGPT for me. I’ll also mention the glitches I found, but also why I'm so excited about the future of AI in business.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
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---

00:00 Introduction to AI Operator and Excitement
03:00 Exploring the Capabilities of AI Operator
05:53 Practical Applications and Results of AI Tasks
08:51 Challenges and Limitations Encountered
12:07 Innovative Uses and Future Implications of AI
14:59 Conclusion and Reflections on AI's Impact

HoldCo Bros are back! This episode, Nik and I explore how AI is changing the world and talk about cool AI business ideas. We talk about digital detox, po*nography addiction, and phone addiction - real issues that also present business opportunities. We cover creating info products and selling AI prompts on platforms like PromptBase.com, showing how a simple prompt can serve as the foundation for an entire business, including a SaaS product. We also discuss how prompts are becoming the new SEO and how AI wrappers can simplify complex tools. Lastly, we introduce the concept of a tool that helps entrepreneurs find business ideas by analyzing their data and personal experiences. 

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Links and Resources:

• https://promptbase.com - Buy and sell prompts for AI tools.
• https://replit.com - Make a chatbot.
• https://www.cursor.com - Tool that helps you coding and creating apps.

Share your ideas with us:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---
00:00 Exploring Business Opportunities in AI
02:51 Digital Addiction and Its Impact
06:08 The Role of po*nography in Modern Society
09:00 Creating Retreats for Digital Detox
11:54 Leveraging AI for Business Ideas
14:50 The Power of Prompts in AI
18:14 Building SaaS Products from Prompts
21:04 Understanding the Concept of Wrappers
23:57 Real-World Applications of AI in Business
26:46 Accountability and Idea Validation with AI

Check out the tools I use for my newsletter business:
➡ Beehiiv – Build and monetize your newsletter: [https://www.beehiiv.com?via=chris-koerner]
➡ SparkLoop – Grow your list with co-reg: [https://dash.sparkloop.app/signup?aff=b0c6f403]

Using these links gets you a discount and helps support this podcast. 🚀

I'm back with another Q&A episode! This week, I advise Dustin on recovering from business failure, suggesting he consider buying a business and exploring local opportunities. Then, I help Demetrius focus his many ideas, suggesting he validate them with online tools rather than launching them right away. I also talk about focusing on improving your current business and getting more customers. Finally, I discuss the power of newsletters with an anonymous listener, explaining the benefits of co-registration and using Facebook ads to drive traffic, as well as recommending Beehiiv and SparkLoop.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
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Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
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Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
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---
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Dustin’s $500K Business Vanished—What Now?
04:58 Demetrius’ ‘Uber for Trees’ Idea—Can It Work?
09:29 Newsletter Writer Goes Solo—Will It Succeed?
23:58 Conclusion

I sat down with Daniel Cronauer (LinkedIn), an entrepreneur who built his success by starting and scaling service-based businesses. In this episode, Daniel shares practical advice on getting started, finding the right niche, and setting up systems to grow and succeed. If you’re thinking about starting your first business, this episode is packed with clear, actionable steps to help you hit the ground running.

This is part 1 of a two-part conversation with Daniel. Be sure to tune in next week for part 2, where we explore advanced strategies for acquiring customers and other home service niches that really no one's talking about.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
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---
00:00 Introduction to Power Washing Business
01:29 Danny's Journey: From Gym Teacher to Entrepreneur
07:14 The Power of Marketing and Customer Acquisition
12:21 Diversifying Services: From Roof Cleaning to Commercial Power Washing
19:01 Niche Opportunities: HVAC Coil Cleaning
27:37 Scaling the Business: Predictable Revenue Streams
35:54 Christmas Lights: A Seasonal Revenue Stream

Get a free 30 day trial of HL with this link only! https://www.gohighlevel.com/chris-koerner

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I are diving into marketing with a look at the "OG" internet marketing guru, Frank Kern. We talk about his 8-step sales process, from overwhelming with value to creating scarcity, and explore how these methods remain relevant in the AI age. We also talk about how to reverse engineer successful marketing funnels and the importance of copying what works, adapting it to your unique experiences, and how Frank Kern learned from the likes of Gary Halbert and Claude Hopkins. Finally, we discuss two AI investment strategies - the "cigarette butt" approach and a long-term view focusing on human interaction and authenticity, while also discussing the concept of rebundling and how what’s old becomes new again.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
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---
00:00 The Origins of Internet Marketing and Frank Kern
10:10 Frank Kern's Eight-Step Selling Process
19:58 The Importance of Scarcity in Marketing
30:10 Investment Strategies in the Age of AI