1,036 episodes

Leveling Up is a weekly interview series with entrepreneurs and marketers on the latest in business and marketing. Learn actionable strategies & tactics on how you can make your business grow and mistakes to avoid during your journey. Learn from individuals who have founded billion dollar companies to best-selling authors. Entrepreneur and host Eric Siu also shares insights and learnings along the way.

Leveling Up with Eric Siu Eric Siu

    • Business
    • 4.8 • 294 Ratings

Leveling Up is a weekly interview series with entrepreneurs and marketers on the latest in business and marketing. Learn actionable strategies & tactics on how you can make your business grow and mistakes to avoid during your journey. Learn from individuals who have founded billion dollar companies to best-selling authors. Entrepreneur and host Eric Siu also shares insights and learnings along the way.

    How Your Business Can Stay Relevant in an AI-Run World (From Greg Isenberg's YouTube Video)

    How Your Business Can Stay Relevant in an AI-Run World (From Greg Isenberg's YouTube Video)

    Watch the Video Version on Greg Isenberg's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVqjPqPx3e8&t=171s

    Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss various business ideas, including the concept of pay-for-performance agencies and the potential for AI agents in customer service. They explore opportunities in different industries, such as finance and hospitality, where pay-for-performance models can thrive. Additionally, they delve into the role of smart contracts in marketing and the potential for gamification in various aspects of life. The conversation highlights the importance of focus and the potential for agency businesses to generate significant profits.

    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:


    (00:01) Pay for performance agency business model


    (02:04) Potential industries for pay for performance


    (03:41) AI agents for customer service


    (06:09) Using AI agents to close deals and capture more value


    (08:03) Pay per performance conversion rate optimization agency


    (09:01) The role of smart contracts in marketing


    (10:04) Speculation and trust in smart contracts


    (12:07) Gamifying tasks and rewards


    (13:09) Gamifying household chores and incentives


    (13:42) The potential for building gamification platforms


    (14:13) Early adoption of spatial computing


    (15:31) The importance of taste in product design


    (16:01) Challenges with longevity practitioners and supplements


    (16:55) The growing interest in sleep and health


    (17:41) Accessibility of health experts and AI assistance


    (18:08) Greg Isenberg shares his idea for a less annoying nightguard that also whitens teeth.


    (19:06) Discussion about using mouth tape to force breathing through the nose while wearing a nightguard.


    (20:05) Conversation about creating anti-sweat slippers using bamboo materials.


    (21:30) Idea for creating community-focused organizations similar to EO and YPO.


    (22:35) Discussion on the potential of agency businesses and building generational wealth.


    (24:18) Greg Isenberg and Eric Siu discuss the benefits of focusing on agency businesses.


    (25:32) Opportunities in AI transformation agencies, programmatic SEO, and creative agencies.


    Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew 






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    Growth Everywhere

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    • 29 min
    How I Built A 9 Figure Network At 17 Years Old

    How I Built A 9 Figure Network At 17 Years Old

    Eric Siu interviews Greg Isenberg, the CEO of Late Checkout, delving into the nuances of community building. Greg, a master in this domain, shares insights on fostering online communities for substantial growth. They explore the future of programming, the importance of design skills, and the power of social media. Greg also discusses the role of AI in entrepreneurship and the challenges of diversity and inclusion.

    Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/kdnX63OEP5I 

    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:


    (00:00) Greg Isenberg has built communities of various sizes, from dozens to millions of people.


    (06:24) Greg Isenberg shares a story of paying for an expensive dinner as a teenager.


    (08:41) Greg Isenberg recounts attending a party at a co-founder of PayPal's house.


    (10:02) Greg Isenberg talks about his experience with StumbleUpon and how it led to the sale of his company.


    (12:19) Greg Isenberg discusses his interest in AI and how it relates to his innovation agency, LCA.


    (14:44) Greg Isenberg explains his approach to starting businesses as Twitter accounts or Discord communities.


    (18:25) Greg Isenberg explains why solopreneurship may not work for everyone and the benefits of having a team.


    (20:28) Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the challenges and potential success of hiring CEOs and GMs for businesses.


    (22:23) Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the importance of experience and expertise in giving advice.


    (25:46) Eric and Greg discuss their approach to coaching and supporting the businesses they invest in.


    (27:26) Greg shares his perspective on the future of venture capital, emphasizing the value of adding more than just financing to startups.


    (33:53) Greg Isenberg explains why most digital communities fail.


    (35:04) Greg Isenberg compares building a community to building a religion and explains the need for a strong mission.


    (36:16) Greg Isenberg highlights the opportunity to build a product or service for the 50% of Gen Z who feel disconnected.


    (42:30) Greg Isenberg emphasizes the importance of paying community managers well and recognizing their value.


    (48:16) The power of DMs and reaching out to people you admire.


    (49:04) Meeting one of his heroes, Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, through Twitter.


    (1:01:37) Benefits of using School as a community platform


    (1:04:38) Greg Isenberg has met Sam Ovens.


    (1:09:26) Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the importance of brand and design in standing out.


    (1:13:10) Greg Isenberg advises against reading design books and instead encourages hands-on practice


    (1:17:42) Greg Isenberg shares his Twitter content creation process and the importance of genuine ideas


    (1:20:48) Greg Isenberg spends a few thousand dollars on content


    (1:32:19) Eric Siu asks Greg Isenberg about other ideas he's excited about


    (1:36:19) Greg Isenberg shares his website and social media handles


    Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!






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    Connect with Eric Siu: 
     

    Growth Everywhere

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    • 1 hr 38 min
    $200M Founder's Unusual Approach to Relationships

    $200M Founder's Unusual Approach to Relationships

    Patrick Campbell shares his entrepreneur's perspective on relationships and the parallels between business management and marital success. This episode packs in revelations about the value of alignment in relationships, the importance of a partner's shared vision, and practical approaches to nurture a deeply bonded partnership.

    Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/ew91lnFKYyI 

    Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:


    (00:00) Patrick Campbell's background and introduction to his expertise in relationships


    (03:12) Importance of weekly one-on-one meetings with your partner


    (04:08) Setting boundaries and shared vision in a relationship


    (07:00) Conducting off-site retreats to discuss goals and aspirations


    (10:01) Conclusion and benefits of implementing relationship frameworks


    (11:24) Importance of alignment and shared values


    (12:05) Finding peace and contentment in life


    (14:40) Money does not solve emotional problems


    (15:45) Cutting out toxic loved ones


    (18:18) Existential crisis after selling a company


    (19:37) Learning to navigate wealth and deploy capital


    (20:24) Anxiety around money even with significant wealth


    (23:09) The value of frugality for entrepreneurs


    (24:52) The importance of challenging hard and fast rules


    (27:05) Unconventional marketing strategies for awareness


    (30:06) Examples of marketing experiments that worked


    (31:50) Patrick Campbell shares the strategy behind their personalized email campaign.


    (33:14) Offering $250 Amazon gift cards as an incentive for a call.


    (33:45) Using creative tactics like offering a Peloton if the trial doesn't work.


    (34:10) Sending a box with earplugs and an AirPods box to grab attention.


    (34:39) Achieving a 25% count-to-call rate with the campaign.


    (35:21) The importance of focusing on the middle 60% of leads.


    (36:13) The danger of automating too early in the sales process.


    (37:07) Taking marketing budget out and focusing on demand generation.


    (39:42) Incentivizing BDRs by having them report to marketing.


    (42:05) Ran email sequences like a code base with controlled tests


    (45:01) Targeting the full spectrum of demand


    (46:59) Compensation structure for BDRs


    (49:35) Importance of early pitching for AEs


    (50:08) Philosophy on executives' first 90 days


    (51:36) Executives' process and framework for learning


    (52:27) Evaluating an executive's learning process during hiring


    (52:27) Referrals and challenges in the interview process


    (53:30) Importance of testing for specific skills in candidates


    (54:36) Using engineering challenges for hiring


    (56:04) The impact of chat as a channel


    (57:29) Patrick's plans for starting a new company in healthcare


    (58:55) Patrick's mindset and commitment to his new venture


    (59:00) Find more about Patrick Campbell online






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

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    Connect with Eric Siu: 
     

    Growth Everywhere

    Single Grain

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    • 1 hr 1 min
    Why Young People Are Poorer Than Ever | Humphrey Yang

    Why Young People Are Poorer Than Ever | Humphrey Yang

    Humphrey Yang discusses the financial challenges faced by younger generations and offers insights on building wealth. He highlights the significance of saving and investing, recommending a focus on index funds. He explains the compounding effect of wealth and the benefits of reaching $100K net worth. 

    Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/V4iPHetTgaI

    Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: 


    (00:00) Introduction to Humphrey Yang


    (03:04) Opportunities for making more money


    (04:56) The benefits of job hopping


    (06:47) Personal experiences with job changes


    (09:36) Building wealth through saving and investing


    (13:16) How to become rich


    (19:19) Strategies to reach $100K net worth


    (21:13) The importance of owning assets


    (23:40) Asset allocation and real estate


    (25:30) Diversification and portfolio concentration


    (28:18) The role of financial advisors


    (30:37) The number one wealth killer: new cars


    (31:59) Money-saving hacks


    (34:21) The influence of mindset on money


    (35:44) Taking risks and privilege


    (37:39) The benefits of living at home


    (38:38) The power of saving and investing


    (39:35) Evaluating the macro economy


    (41:25) The challenges of the middle class


    (43:12) The influence of gaming on life and business


    (45:32) The role of YouTube in financial education


    (49:45) The breakout of the YouTube channel


    (57:27) The challenges of YouTube and momentum


    (1:00:07) The business expansion and diversification


    (1:04:06) Growing a newsletter


    (1:05:01) Monetizing YouTube


    (1:05:57) Crypto experiences


    (1:08:15) Blind spots and risks


    (1:10:24) Personal finance YouTube community


    (1:11:47) Starting a business with minimal risk


    (1:13:10) Podcasting and content distribution


    (1:16:40) Charging for brand deals


    (1:17:37) Controversial takes on personal finance






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

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    Connect with Eric Siu: 
     

    Growth Everywhere

    Single Grain

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    • 1 hr 38 min
    How He Cracked the Money Making Secrets of Wordpress | Syed Balkhi

    How He Cracked the Money Making Secrets of Wordpress | Syed Balkhi

    Syed Balkhi and Eric Siu discuss the power of compounding and the importance of maintaining friendships with other high performers. Syed shares his philosophy of giving unconditionally and compounding goodwill, emphasizing the need to avoid the frustration coefficient that can hinder progress. He also shares insights on the power of compounding, the challenges of passing on generational wealth, and the value of learning from historical patterns. This conversation provides valuable lessons and perspectives for both aspiring and experienced investors.

    Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/O5VhhH0Aky8 

    Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:


    (00:00) Syed Balkhi defines himself as a blogger who helps people build better websites using WordPress.


    (01:18) Syed Balkhi discusses the concept of running a profitable business every year to achieve a continuous exit.


    (04:41) Syed Balkhi explains the value of masterminds and peer groups for personal and professional growth.


    (04:58) Syed Balkhi advises teenagers and young adults to start building a network by following people they admire.


    (06:03) Syed Balkhi discusses the different benefits he gains from various mastermind groups and forums.


    (08:49) Syed Balkhi introduces the concept of the frustration coefficient and warns about its negative impact on decision-making and relationships.


    (09:59) Syed Balkhi advises practicing radical candor and addressing frustrations directly to interrupt negative compounding.


    (13:29) The power of compounding goodwill and giving unconditionally.


    (14:43) Going deep instead of wide in networking and learning.


    (19:56) The driving forces of incentives and insecurities in human behavior.


    (20:47) Two driving forces shaping human behavior: insecurities and incentives.


    (24:59) The importance of empathy and aligning goals with team members.


    (26:07) Viewing acquisitions as a more lucrative alternative to paid media.


    (30:46) Being known enough to have influence while maintaining anonymity.


    (31:05) The story of Syed Balkhi's father working at a gas station.


    (33:22) Syed bought gas stations as a backup source of income.


    (36:40) Syed's negotiation philosophy: no emotional attachment.


    (38:17) Syed emphasizes the importance of staying frugal.


    (39:46) Syed Balkhi shares his strategy for offsetting new expenses with investments.


    (45:15) Syed Balkhi shares examples of investments he made to solve problems in his own businesses.


    (46:31) Eric Siu and Syed Balkhi discuss the potential rise of pay per task pricing models.


    (47:28) Syed Balkhi and Eric Siu talk about the adoption window for new technologies.


    (48:40) Syed Balkhi advises against overestimating one's ability to turn around businesses.


    (52:11) Favorite Mungerisms and Buffettisms.


    (58:41) Recommended books: "Psychology of Money," "Atomic Habits," "Same as It Ever Was," "Clear Thinking," and the Thompson trilogy.


    (1:00:02) Lessons from the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller families on passing down generational wealth.


    (1:02:35) Find more about Syed Balkhi online.







    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

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    • 1 hr 7 min
    The $300M Founder That Lives on a Farm and Flies Planes | Nathan Barry

    The $300M Founder That Lives on a Farm and Flies Planes | Nathan Barry

    Nathan Barry, founder of ConvertKit, shares his journey from software designer to content creator to software founder. With ConvertKit now sending 2.5 billion emails per month and generating $40 million in revenue, Nathan discusses the power of building an audience and leveraging it to create long-term enterprise value. He also delves into his passion for flying and the parallels between flying and entrepreneurship. Nathan emphasizes the importance of having goals outside of work and optimizing for the journey rather than just the destination. 

    Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/vuwfio0Uw4Y 

    Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!

    TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:


    (00:00) Nathan Barry introduces himself and his journey from software designer to software founder


    (02:57) Nathan Barry discusses his passion for flying and the process of getting a pilot's license


    (06:43) Nathan Barry expresses his goal of using flying for both personal and work-related purposes


    (08:14) Nathan Barry discusses the limitations and considerations of owning a larger plane


    (09:49) Eric asks Nathan about the payment structure for the pilot.


    (12:30) Nathan talks about his podcast and the journey of building an audience.


    (14:02) Nathan shares the story of Mark Sisson and the value of redirecting audience attention to a product.


    (15:08) Nathan explains the power of an audience in promoting and selling products.


    (16:03) Nathan discusses the success of Mark Sisson's Primal Kitchen and the value of an audience.


    (18:19) Nathan talks about the three rules for building an audience and creating enterprise value.


    (19:46) Nathan shares his experience building ConvertKit and its long-term enterprise value.


    (20:05) Nathan Barry and Eric Siu discuss the potential of agencies as successful businesses.


    (21:25) Nathan Barry shares his perspective on monetization options for creators.


    (25:52) Nathan Barry talks about the current growth and future potential of newsletters.


    (29:46) Nathan Barry shares a story about how having an audience can shortcut career paths.


    (31:24) Transitioning from personal brand to building a business


    (32:22) Using personal brand to drive attention to other businesses


    (34:21) Debate on the success of creator-led agencies


    (39:15) Strategies for growing Twitter following


    (42:09) Repackaging and reposting content for maximum reach


    (45:47) Nathan Barry is transparent about his financials to inspire others.


    (52:59) Nathan Barry discusses the flywheel strategy for growing a newsletter.


    (55:30) Advertising as a loop closer drives new subscribers for sponsorships.


    (57:54) Growing the newsletter audience leads to book sales and more opportunities.


    (59:59) Building network effects between creators through the Creator Network.


    (1:01:36) Convertkit's Creator Network and Spark Loop acquisition.


    (1:06:09) Nathan suggests using partnerships with other blogs to promote the subscription service and increase email sign-ups.


    (1:07:38) Eric asks Nathan about his quote "making money is a skill" and Nathan explains that building a successful business requires developing a range of skills.


    (1:11:37) Nathan shares where people can find him online, including his podcast and newsletter.





    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


    Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed


     
    Connect with Eric Siu: 
     

    Growth Everywhere

    Single Grain

    Leveling Up

    Eric Siu on Twitter

    Eric Siu on Instagram


    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 15 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
294 Ratings

294 Ratings

ovationboyyy ,

Such A Great Show!

I love how this show doesn’t hold back on delivering the quality by trying to make awesome people fit into a short timeframe. They actually take the time to share their story and get into details!

If you are wondering if you should listen go ahead and click play and Level Up with Eric Siu!

PaigeBPodcasting ,

Great Show!

The guests that Eric brings on are truly top notch. They are diverse and I learn something new every episode! I love the mini episodes that are mixed in too. Always a great nugget in a succinct format.

MooreMomentum ,

Gamifying done right

Eric truly knows how to level up your life in a fun and attainable way. Keep it up bro

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