Class of Business

Wisdom
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Business
  • Updated Daily

Class of Business is the show for anyone who wants to understand how modern business really works—without the jargon, the fluff, or the boring lectures. Each episode breaks down real strategies, real stories, and real challenges from founders, creators, and builders who are figuring it out in the real world. If you’re building a business, growing a brand, or trying to turn your ideas into something that pays the bills, this is your weekly masterclass. Straight talk. Sharp insights. Zero intimidation. Come learn the lessons nobody teaches but everyone needs.

  1. Oct 5

    How a Simple Side Project Became a Profitable App—Shervin Koushan | Ep 28

    Join the Class of Business newsletter: https://classofbusiness.com/join What happens when you build a product simply because you need it yourself? In this episode of Class of Business, I sit down with Shervin Koushan, creator of AnyTracker, an app that monitors prices, stock availability, numbers, text, and other changes across websites. AnyTracker didn't begin with a grand startup plan. Shervin was learning programming while studying cybernetics and robotics when he became frustrated that he couldn't easily track the download numbers for an app he had built for his smartwatch. He created a tool to solve that one problem — and eventually realized the same technology could help people monitor changes across almost any website. That small experiment eventually attracted tens of thousands of downloads, grew through Reddit and unexpected YouTube exposure, and became a recurring-revenue software business. Shervin shares how he got his first users, why a feature-heavy first version was a mistake, what happened when a YouTuber with more than a million subscribers featured the app, and why organic distribution has worked better for him than paid advertising. We also talk about monetization, customer feedback, hiring a designer, deciding against giving away 50% of the business, building multiple small apps, balancing development with a full-time job, and what AI means for the future of software development. Connect with Shervin AnyTracker: https://anytracker.org You can also find Shervin Koushan on LinkedIn and Instagram. Chapters 00:00 Turning a Personal Frustration Into AnyTracker02:26 From Simple Tool to Bigger Product03:36 Letting Customers Shape the Product04:47 Getting the First 100 Customers05:47 Reddit, YouTube and Organic Growth07:05 Building an $800 MRR Side Business08:21 Creating More Apps From Personal Problems10:13 Balancing a Day Job and Building Products11:37 Building a Portfolio of Small Apps12:35 How Better Design Changed AnyTracker14:27 What Shervin Would Do Differently15:23 Why YouTube Beat Paid Advertising17:12 Revenue, Lifetime Deals and a €4,000 Month18:56 Can AI Build Apps Without Coding Skills?20:12 Where to Find Shervin

  2. Sep 9

    How Ambition Turns Into a Bottleneck—Lady Jen Du Plessis | Ep 27

    If you've ever wondered whether working harder is actually moving your business forward, this conversation is for you. On this episode, Wisdom sits down with Lady Jen Du Plessis, an expert in business scaling and sovereign leadership with decades of experience helping founders break free from their own bottlenecks. You'll pick up strategies for moving from "hustle" to real harmony, how to identify when you're holding your business back, and why delegation is less about trust and more about strong leadership skills. We also get into why founders often delegate the wrong tasks, the signs you're stuck in old habits, and practical ways to rethink your inputs to get the results you want. Plus, Lady Jen opens up about her personal journey from proving others wrong to believing in her own worth. Tune in and find a path toward leading a business that doesn’t run your life. Connect With Lady Jen Du PlessisWebsite: https://ladyjenduplessis.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenduplessis/ If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens. Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Chapters00:00 What Holds Businesses Back00:29 When the Founder Becomes the Bottleneck01:02 The Story Behind "Jenny Who Ain't Got a Penny"02:22 Family Labels and Breaking the Cycle03:05 Proving vs. Believing04:04 Hustle and the Cost of Success04:32 Building the Hustle to Harmony Framework05:27 A Combination Lock to Success06:11 Early Signs You’re Quietly Restricting Growth06:45 The “Soup With a Fork” Problem07:37 Inputs That Drive Outcomes08:04 Why “No One Can Do It Like Me”08:28 The Myth of Perfection and Systems09:05 When to Hire—And Why It Feels Impossible10:10 The Real Bottleneck: Founder Skills12:02 Motivation vs. Inspiration12:24 The Hedgehog Theory and What to Delegate13:36 The 3-Legged Stool Test14:48 Delegating Trust (and Letting Go)15:52 Diagnosing the Real Problem, Not the Symptom17:55 How Systems Change the Whole Room18:39 Are You Solving the Right Problem?19:44 Are You Avoiding What Matters?20:35 The Frog-in-the-Pot Trap21:15 What If You Don’t Know You’re Stuck?21:43 Counsel, Coaching, and Seeing Blind Spots22:26 The First Honest Decision to Make23:29 Six Discovery Questions for Clarity25:30 Leading With the Scepter, Not the Sword26:18 Rapid-Fire: Founder Mistakes and Freedom27:50 How to Connect With Lady Jen28:44 One Thing to Apply From This Episode

  3. Sep 9

    How the Individual Became the New Unit of Scale—Danny Carpio | Ep 26

    If you’ve ever wondered how today’s business builders break away from traditional career paths, you’re in good company. This episode features Danny Carpio, an organizational architect and author of "The Unfamed: The New Unit of Scale is You." You’ll pick up why old career playbooks are breaking down, what self-scale really means, and how to connect disciplines like law, venture, and crypto. We also get into risk, agency, and why certainty in business is often a myth. Plus, practical advice for taking action instead of just theorizing. Tune in for real talk around building, learning, and navigating the new world of work. Connect With Danny CarpioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-carpio-9703a043/ X: https://twitter.com/AugmentedThings If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens.Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Chapters00:00 Why Traditional Careers Feel Risky00:45 The Limiting Labor Trade-Off01:37 Choosing Uncertainty Over Comfort03:23 Seeing Only the Next Step04:28 Dynamic Feedback Loops05:48 Connecting Law, Crypto, and Venture07:13 Building a Cohesive Execution Stack07:26 Applying Constraint-Based Design Everywhere08:26 Skills Born from Necessity09:14 De-Risking Startup Execution09:47 Avoiding Self-Imposed Barriers10:47 New Possibilities for Team Building11:19 Challenging Old Operating Assumptions12:04 Builder vs. Theorist—What Business Books Miss13:03 The Humility and Risk of Doing14:29 Why Old Advice Has Less Value15:02 The “Unfirm” Framework Explained15:59 Outgrowing Traditional Hierarchies17:01 Applying Firm Lessons to New Realities17:43 Technology Shifts and New Hard Problems18:28 Building to Withstand Growth18:37 The Individual as the Unit of Scale19:43 Career Paths in a Changed World20:24 The Urgency and Impact of Self-Scale22:12 Why This Matters for Everyone23:16 What Self-Scale Means24:44 Understanding Scale as a Personal Goal25:46 Scale Now Starts With You25:57 A Challenge to the Listener26:58 Why You Have to Take Action28:00 Where to Find the Book and Connect

  4. Jul 31

    How Radical Transparency Wins in Luxury Jewelry Business—Troy Perkins | Ep 25

    If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes in the world of estate jewelry, this conversation is for you. Troy Perkins, founder of Platinum 1911, shares how he went from no industry knowledge to building a seven-figure operation handling high-value assets. You’ll pick up how trust and transparency work in a business fueled by reputation, the misconceptions around jewelry as investment, how to handle inherited assets, and the hard truths about starting a capital-intensive business. We also get into systemizing something as subjective as appraisals and why hard work still beats any shortcut. Tune in for grounded advice and stories that might make you look twice at your next jewelry purchase. Connect With Troy PerkinsWebsite: https://www.platinum1911.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/platinum.1911 If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens. Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Chapters00:00 What It Takes To Build A Business00:23 Meet Troy Perkins—Estate Jewelry Expert01:21 From Personal Trainer To Jewelry Sales02:30 Getting A Mentor And Entering Estate Jewelry03:34 Building Trust In A High-Stakes Industry05:09 The Truth About Jewelry As Investment06:43 Why Tangible Assets Still Matter08:33 Gold, Poverty, And Wealth-Building Myths09:47 Making Subjective Appraisals Systematic10:37 Navigating Misinformation In Jewelry12:00 Common Mistakes Selling And Buying Jewelry13:29 Lessons From The British Crown Jewels14:09 First Steps With Inherited Jewelry15:02 Reducing Estate Taxes On Valuables16:25 How Third-Party Labs Build Trust18:16 Scaling Without Sacrificing Ethics19:12 Going Solo—Leaving A Safe Paycheck20:23 Founders In Trust-Sensitive Industries21:07 The Realities Of The Jewelry Business22:15 Advice To New Entrepreneurs22:43 Use Technology To Solve Real Needs23:30 Where To Find Troy And Platinum 1911

  5. Jul 30

    How Publicity Really Builds a Business—Jill Lublin | Ep 24

    If you’ve ever wondered how to get your name out there without emptying your wallet on advertising, you’re in the right place. This episode features Jill Lublin, a renowned publicity expert and bestselling author who’s helped thousands boost their visibility and credibility. You’ll pick up a simple messaging framework, learn the clear difference between publicity and advertising, and hear hands-on tips for tracking results and getting started—even if you only have 30 minutes a week. We also get into how to position yourself as an expert and the underrated habits that lead to more real opportunities. Tune in to rethink what it takes to truly get noticed and grow your business. Connect With Jill LublinWebsite: https://jilllublin.com/start If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens. Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Chapters00:00 Breaking Down Real-World Publicity01:06 What Is PR Today?01:42 Biggest Publicity Misconceptions02:37 When to Start with Media03:17 Messaging That Moves the Market04:00 The “Problem Today” Formula04:23 Sample Business Message05:15 Soundbite Messaging in Practice05:31 Impact, Influence, and the “Heard of You” Effect06:13 Who’s Actually an Expert?07:20 Positioning Yourself as a Thought Leader07:49 Frameworks to Get Noticed08:18 Most Overlooked Networking Habit08:38 Conversation-Ready Messaging09:05 Can Publicity Actually Be Free?10:05 Publicity vs Advertising11:29 Practical Publicity Systems12:15 Measuring ROI on Publicity13:10 Publicity That Turns into Sales14:03 Tracking Media Results14:47 Thirty-Minute Publicity Habits15:28 Fast Action Steps for Getting Known15:38 Next Steps with Jill16:56 Wrapping Up and Takeaways

  6. Jul 29

    How Leaders Grow from Surviving to Thriving—Dr. Dorothy Martin Neville | Ep 23

    If you've ever wondered what truly changes when a founder needs to lead a bigger, more complex company, this conversation will give you a front-row seat. Dr. Dorothy Martin Neville brings a unique blend of science, psychotherapy, and executive coaching to unpack the internal shifts essential for leadership growth. You'll pick up practical ways to move from surviving to thriving as a leader, the common pitfalls that trip up founders, and how to build culture and teams as your business scales. We also get into why skill and identity are both critical, and why believing you can do everything alone quietly sabotages success. Plus, hear Dorothy's own journey from an orphanage to leading six organizations. Tune in for honest stories and insights you can actually use. Connect With Dr. Dorothy Martin NevilleWebsite: https://askdrdorothy.com/ If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot.There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens. Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Chapters00:00 The Journey That Shaped Dorothy00:45 Leadership From the Inside Out01:18 Why Leaders Must Evolve02:28 From Entrepreneur to Visionary03:26 When the Founder Doesn’t Grow04:32 Company Culture and Its Risks05:05 Lacking a Long-Term Vision05:56 Identity Versus Skill in Leadership07:00 Training Your Downline Well07:13 The Skills People Mistake for Leadership07:45 When to Hire a CEO08:40 Knowing Your Strengths—and Gaps09:30 The Power of Building the Right Team10:33 You Can’t Do Everything11:18 Survivor vs. Thriving Leadership11:48 Becoming a Servant Leader12:50 When and How to Let People Go13:08 If You’re Stuck, Ask This14:10 The Importance of Constant Vision15:07 Facing Unexpected Challenges15:41 Growth, Looking Back After a Year16:37 Lightning Round on Leadership17:28 Final Advice and Staying Connected17:53 Simple Actions After the Episode

  7. Jul 29

    How Relationship-Driven Leverage Builds Business Freedom—Jaben Makings | Ep 22

    If you’ve ever wondered why building your own business sometimes just feels like owning a very busy job, you’re not alone. Real estate investor Jaben Makings joins to share how he flipped the traditional wholesale model, prioritizing partnerships and systems over just chasing paychecks. You’ll pick up the difference between income and true leverage, how to build a team without losing your sanity, and simple ways to tell if you’re stuck in the grind. We also get into the power of accountability and why taking action beats overthinking. Plus, some practical automation insights for any founder. Tune in for real talk on making your work work for you. Connect With Jaben MakingsWebsite: https://onnixinvestments.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/jaben.makings If Class of Business speaks to you, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more people discover the conversations shared here. Your support truly means a lot. There's more to every story than what you hear on the episode. Join the Class of Business newsletter to receive thoughtful takeaways, episode extras, and personal notes that don't make it into the show. It's a quiet way to stay sharp between listens. Sign up here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Chapters 00:00 Building Beyond a Job00:39 Escaping the High-Paying Trap01:07 Income Versus Leverage02:01 The Moment Money Isn’t Freedom02:12 Hiring for Real Freedom02:56 Management and Milestones03:18 Breaking Down Real Estate Wholesaling03:29 Rethinking Acquisitions and Dispositions04:06 Partnering With Agents, Not Owners04:51 The Power of Business Focus05:35 Why Relationships Scale Better Than Ads05:58 Building a Systematic Foundation06:31 Agents as Deal-Multipliers07:19 Knowing When You’re Stuck07:30 Most People Quit Too Soon08:26 Pushing Through Business Roadblocks09:12 Early Leverage Before a Team09:27 First Hires and Early Lessons09:57 Setting Standards and Accountability10:40 Hard Conversations, Better Results11:13 Leadership Mistakes and Fixes12:21 Building Leverage This Year12:48 Why Taking Action Wins13:51 Beyond Team—Leveraging Systems14:50 Management as High-Leverage Work15:19 AI and Automation in Hiring16:31 Upgrading Leverage for the Future16:58 Advice for Hesitant Founders17:57 Three Paths With Big Goals19:06 How to Connect With Jaben19:43 Your Takeaway Challenge

  8. Jul 13

    How AI Can Turn Missed Calls Into Paying Customers—Laurent Cohen | Ep 21

    How much revenue could your business be losing every time nobody answers the phone? In this episode, I sit down with Laurent Cohen, founder and CTO of Getoblic, a voice-first AI platform helping local businesses answer customer questions, book appointments, and capture opportunities automatically. Laurent has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience across Europe and the United States. He has built e-commerce businesses, worked extensively in SEO and conversion optimization, and now focuses on practical voice AI applications for local businesses. Laurent believes voice will become one of the primary ways customers interact with businesses online. Instead of waiting for an email response, completing a form, or navigating a complicated website, customers will increasingly expect immediate, conversational answers. We discuss why missed calls are an underestimated revenue leak, particularly for businesses such as salons, clinics, repair companies, restaurants, and other appointment-based service providers. Connect With Laurent Cohen Website: https://getoblic.com/ Search for your business on Getoblic to explore its listing and test a voice AI agent. Join the Class of Business Newsletter Get practical business ideas, behind-the-scenes lessons, and useful strategies you can apply to your own business. Join here: https://classofbusiness.com/join Timestamp Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Class of Business 00:21 Introducing Laurent Cohen 00:59 Lessons from building online businesses since 2002 01:08 Why there is always another opportunity 02:16 How SEO shaped Laurent’s approach to AI 03:07 Creating useful AI-supported content 04:36 How voice AI may improve website engagement 05:39 Why missed calls are an underestimated revenue leak 06:54 How voice AI recognizes and responds to emotions 08:16 Building trust through automated conversations 08:38 Join the Class of Business newsletter 09:14 What missing ten calls a week could cost a business 10:00 Calculating the time and revenue lost answering calls 11:11 Serving customers after closing time 12:15 Does an AI receptionist replace employees? 13:15 The simplest way for a local business to test AI 14:08 Creating and testing a free voice AI agent 15:19 Adding voice AI to phone lines and websites 15:45 How quickly voice AI technology is advancing 16:08 Why AI startups should work with larger technology companies 17:23 How local businesses may operate differently in five years 18:40 Rapid-fire questions 19:00 Voice-first experiences and the future of websites 19:04 Automation versus delegation 19:09 Growth hacking versus long-term brand building 19:17 The most overrated belief about AI 19:34 One AI tool every business owner should understand 20:07 Where to test Getoblic 20:50 Final takeaway and newsletter invitation

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Class of Business is the show for anyone who wants to understand how modern business really works—without the jargon, the fluff, or the boring lectures. Each episode breaks down real strategies, real stories, and real challenges from founders, creators, and builders who are figuring it out in the real world. If you’re building a business, growing a brand, or trying to turn your ideas into something that pays the bills, this is your weekly masterclass. Straight talk. Sharp insights. Zero intimidation. Come learn the lessons nobody teaches but everyone needs.

Information

  • Creator
    Wisdom
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Wisdom
  • Show Website
    Class of Business