How Not to Start a Business: Lessons from our Journey

The Invention Junkies
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Can we launch our dream design business in just 3 months before the money runs out? We were unexpectedly pushed off a cliff when we were made redundant from our tech start-up jobs and decided to go all in our dream. Armed with a passion for creativity, deep-tech start-up know-how and a sheer determination we’re sharing our all-or-nothing journey in real time. Each week, we’ll share real-time wins, setbacks, and behind-the-scenes flashbacks to projects that led us here. Will we make it, or will the clock run out? Tune in to join the adventure and see if we can bring this dream to life!

  1. 12/17/2024

    Episode 12 - How to plan a last minute Christmas party with no budget!

    In our 2024 Christmas special we relive a past project where we crafted the ultimate Christmas party event. It involved launching flower pots with a one of a kind vertical rail gun launch system! The budget was small, the team needed a celebration and we took it upon ourselves to create a day which no one could forget. Links to stuff mentioned in this episode* ⁠⁠Never Split the Difference⁠⁠ - https://amzn.to/3YECEEE Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562376242834 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/theinventionjunkies/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.youtube.com/@TheInventionJunkies ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.tiktok.com/@theinventionjunkies?lang=en ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://x.com/inventionjunki ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-invention-junkies *Books we’ve recommended in the Podcast ⁠⁠The Really Good Idea Test⁠⁠ - https://amzn.to/4i6GY7c ⁠⁠Never Split the Difference⁠⁠ - https://amzn.to/3YECEEE ⁠⁠Sprint⁠⁠ - https://amzn.to/3Z3yS6S The 4 hour work week book - ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/49eMjoZ⁠⁠ Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  *Please note that some referral links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission on referring products which we are using.

    46 min

  2. 12/10/2024

    Week 11: Learnings from Paid Ads

    This week we talk about what to expect when using paid ads on LinkedIn, we discuss User Personas (what they are and how to use them) and we fight spiders, our most important problem of the week so far Links to stuff mentioned in this episode* Spider catcher: ⁠https://amzn.to/3Zn10lA⁠ Plus X: https://www.plusxinnovation.com/ BLOQS: https://bloqslondon.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA3sq6BhD2ARIsAJ8MRwVSqyXZIl9KxA7Hu7LHaZ84ZhV7ZkUqCjXuSCGgTJ3JHF9BETntFLkaArZYEALw_wcB Coyote Peterson Black Widow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5E4o0iRoPc PassivHause: https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/what_is_passivhaus.php Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *Books we recommend ⁠⁠- The Really Good Idea Test⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Never Split the Difference⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Sprint⁠⁠ The 4 hour work week book - ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/49eMjoZ⁠⁠ Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  *Please note that some referral links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission on referring products which we are using.

    50 min

  3. 12/03/2024

    Week 10: (not) Selling on Amazon

    This week we talk everything we found out about selling on Amazon, the problem with gift giving and we solve the issue with household bins. Links to stuff mentioned in this episode* The 4 hour work week book - https://amzn.to/49eMjoZ Rail based bin system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhYEOG9LOIk Switzerland underground bin system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA9FsJXU66w Amazon fee calculator https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/fba/profitabilitycalculator/index?lang=en_GB Martin Lewis article on gift giving https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/11/martin-lewis-christmas-gifts-help-or-hindrance/ Who Gives a crap video: https://www.instagram.com/whogivesacraptp/reel/DBPad33Cfjl/ Their website: https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *Books we recommend ⁠- The Really Good Idea Test⁠ - ⁠Never Split the Difference⁠ - ⁠Sprint⁠ - The 4 hour work week book - ⁠https://amzn.to/49eMjoZ⁠ Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠⁠  *Please note that some referral links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission on referring products which we are using.

    50 min

  4. 11/26/2024

    Week 9: Losing motivation.. "I can't do this"

    In this weeks episode we discuss a recent motivation black hole, why it happened, and how to get out of it. We cover proper planning, shooting from the hip as well as the balance between time, quality, and cost. Links to stuff mentioned in this episode* Sprint Book - https://amzn.to/3Z3yS6S Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ *Books we recommend - The Really Good Idea Test - Never Split the Difference - Sprint Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠   *Please note that some referral links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission on referring products which we are using.

    36 min

  5. 11/19/2024

    Week 8: How not to price your products. A lesson we learnt the hard way!

    Listen-in this week to find out how we're coping with our latest failure... pricing strategy - and how we've tried to fix it. We'll also cover a great new problem of the week and hopefully leave you looking for the brilliant or disastrous designs in your own life! Invention Junkies out! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠   Links Simone Giertz YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@simonegiertz Yetch Store https://yetch.store/en-gbp/ The mug that hits your eyes https://www.reddit.com/r/CrappyDesign/comments/b258xv/nothing_like_the_smell_of_coffee_and_a_good/?rdt=48514  Our Kallax insert storage solution  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheInventionJunkies?ref=dashboard-header⁠⁠⁠    *Books we recommend - The Really Good Idea Test - Never Split the Difference   Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠    *Please note that some referral links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission on referring products which we are using.

    37 min

  6. TRAILER

    The Trailer

    This is a quick into into who we are, what we're doing, and why you should listen to our journey!

    3 min

  7. 11/12/2024

    Week 7: Why everything breaks (and how we want to change that)

    This week, we’re taking on the world of breakable tech and sneaky business tactics! Ever wonder why your gadgets don’t seem to last? We’ve got stories from the lightbulb conspiracy to phone fails, all exposing how products are designed to keep you buying. But here’s the twist: we’re trying to change all that. Join us as we chat about our journey to creating products meant to last (and we'll maybe throw in a few rants and laughs along the way) Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠   Links The Google glasses prototype video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5_h1VuwD6g     Our Kallax insert storage solution  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheInventionJunkies?ref=dashboard-header⁠⁠⁠    *Books we recommend - The Really Good Idea Test - Never Split the Difference   Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠

    40 min

  8. 11/05/2024

    Week 6: We're broke!

    This week we explore our unfortunate financial situation, how to bring our your creativity and discuss everything wrong with scooters. Listen now!   Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Our Kallax insert storage solution  ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheInventionJunkies?ref=dashboard-header⁠⁠⁠⁠  *Books we recommend - ⁠The Really Good Idea Test ⁠ - ⁠Never Split the Difference⁠   Our course on modern leadership ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.udemy.com/course/a-crash-course-to-mastering-modern-leadership/?referralCode=0DA0574A5F7FAE07DC77⁠⁠⁠⁠    *Please note that some referral links are affiliate links where we earn a small commission on referring products which we are using.

    45 min
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Trailer

About

Can we launch our dream design business in just 3 months before the money runs out? We were unexpectedly pushed off a cliff when we were made redundant from our tech start-up jobs and decided to go all in our dream. Armed with a passion for creativity, deep-tech start-up know-how and a sheer determination we’re sharing our all-or-nothing journey in real time. Each week, we’ll share real-time wins, setbacks, and behind-the-scenes flashbacks to projects that led us here. Will we make it, or will the clock run out? Tune in to join the adventure and see if we can bring this dream to life!

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