Rocket Ship Founder

Steve August
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Rocket Ship Founder

Rocket Ship Founder is dedicated to supporting business Founders on their entrepreneurial journey. Created and hosted by Steve August, Founder Coach who helps Founders to become the CEO their company needs, and build a Rocket Ship Business. Steve took his first startup from idea to successful multi-million dollar exit. He's seen the journey from two guys in a startup accelerator room to being CMO of a $100M+ 400 person global company reporting directly to a private equity board.

  1. 12/19/2024

    Ep. 97 Why Having ADHD Doesn't Make You A Great Entrepreneur

    I've been a bit hesitant to push send on this one. You see, there's been a number of research studies* showing that ADHD brains are, depending on the study, between 2x and 5x more likely to become entrepreneurs. I often cite this research in things I put out in my content. But there's one question that I consistently get back, that deserves an answer: "Does ADHD make you a great entrepreneur?" Based on my research and my own experience, the answer is...yes and no. Yes, ADHD super powers can make you more likely to embrace doing your own thing and being an entrepreneur. But also, no because it's challenges can keep you from succeeding to the degree you know you can. In this week's Rocket Ship Founder podcast episode I go through the pluses and minuses of being an ADHD entrepreneur: How ADHD superpowers help you get launched Why those same superpowers can turn into entrepreneurial kryptonite. How to leverage the strengths and avoid the pitfalls to give you the best chance of success.

    12 min

  2. 12/05/2024

    Ep. 96 The 3 Offers Every B2B Business Needs to Thrive

    Key Takeaways from This Episode: • Core Idea: Customers don’t buy our product or service—they buy our offer. An offer is a promise to solve an urgent pain within a specific timeframe for a specific cost. Products and services? They’re just the tools we use to deliver on that promise. • Your Business as a Stack of Offers: A thriving B2B business only needs three key offers: 1. Core Offer – The cornerstone of your business, the main product or service you’re built around. 2. Hand Raiser Offer – A lead magnet or freebie valuable enough for someone with your target pain to share their contact info. 3. Customer ID Offer – Designed to identify those ready to take the next step with you. • Make Every Offer a No-Brainer: Success lies in creating offers that are stupidly compelling to the right customer. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 1. Why your Core Offer is the foundation of your business. 2. The essential element that ties all three offers together. 3. How to design a simple system to consistently get your offers in front of the right people daily. This quick 14-minute episode will give you a framework to simplify your business and grow strategically in 2025. 🔥 Friday After Black Friday Bundle 🔥 Get everything you need to build your 3 Offer Stack and a Daily Lead Machine. For $119 (today and tomorrow only), you’ll receive SEVEN core business growth trainings valued at over $3,000! 💡 These are the same tools that drive the success of the 2X Accelerator Program, designed to create a powerful customer flywheel for your business. 👉 Check it out and grab the bundle here!

    14 min

  3. 11/13/2024

    Ep. 95 3 Keys to Thriving in a Tough Market

    Episode Title: Thriving in a Tough Market: The 3 Keys to Business Growth When Money’s Tight Episode Description: In today’s episode, we’re tackling a challenge many entrepreneurs are facing: “People aren’t buying, and the ones who do are taking longer to decide.” It’s something I’ve been hearing across the board – from clients, fellow coaches, and entrepreneurs. The business environment has changed, and with inflation, a tighter money supply, and more selective spending, the boom has slowed, leaving many wondering how to keep growing. Here’s the truth: in tougher times, business fundamentals matter more than ever. When the rising tide no longer lifts all boats, it’s time to tighten up our approach, identify the right customers, sharpen our offers, and build dependable lead generation. In this episode, I break down three essential keys to thriving in challenging markets. Plus, I share a real-life success story from one of my 2X Accelerator participants, who achieved a 34% growth rate this year by following these strategies. What You’ll Learn: • The 3 Keys to Thriving in a Down Market: Discover the foundational steps that will help you build resilience and grow, even when the economy slows. • Designing Your Business as a Stack of Offers: A strategic approach to creating offers that speak directly to your ideal customer’s needs. • Breaking Through the Noise: How to create a message that cuts through the clutter and gets your business noticed. This 12-minute episode is packed with actionable insights for B2B entrepreneurs who want to thrive, even when times get tough. Tune in, take notes, and start implementing these steps today to build a business that endures in any market.

    11 min

  4. 10/25/2024

    Ep. 94 How neurodiverse brains can help your business level up

    It's been a minute or two since my last new Rocket Ship Founder podcast episode. During the podcast hiatus, I've been leaning in to my journey as a late diagnosed ADHD entrepreneur. Over the past two months, I've been reshaping my coaching practice. After focusing on helping Seed Stage to Series A Founders for the past seven years, I'm evolving my practice to supporting ADHD entrepreneurs and solopreneurs get out of overwhelm, harness their focus and 2X their business progress. Rocket Ship Founder podcast will be evolving as well - with a final form to be determined. For now, I will be putting out episodes from time to time that I think will be useful to every entrepreneur. Which brings us to today's episode... Recently, I was asked by a client to present to the leadership team on how to best support ADHD team members. It was a great conversation. ADHD team members can be your most brilliant and innovative problem solvers. ADHD brains are wired to constantly learn and create connections and possibilities. I walked them through the key differences between ADHD and neurotypical brains, especially the lower levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. How this results in lower reserves of executive function compared more neurotypical brains And how that expresses itself in things like time blindness, task initiation and prioritization challenges, rejection sensitivity and other facets of ADHD life But the biggest takeaway for this leadership team was that working with ADHD brains can actually help you level up your business. Because what helps ADHD team members prioritize, focus and execute is getting really good at operating like the best companies do. In this week's Rocket Ship Founder podcast episode I talk about how working with neurodiverse brains can actually help your business level up. I'll cover: Why the challenges of ADHD actually can help you operate better 3 specific areas to focus on that will drive better results

    13 min

  5. 08/08/2024

    Ep. 93 11 Lessons from 11 Exits

    This week, two of my past clients announced their companies were being acquired. Together they mark the 11th exit of Founders I’ve coached over the past seven years. I certainly can’t take credit for the outcomes of the clients I’ve coached. After all, they did the work. But I can say I’ve been part of the story in helping people along the path that got them to their exits. I learn something from every exit I've been a part of. So in this week's episode of The Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, I'd like to share 11 lesson I’ve learned from my own exits and those I’ve coached: The overwhelming emotion is RELIEF You realize how much you've been carrying when the weight of being "in the seat" comes off Don't compare, you can't judge exits from the outside If you have an earn out tied to revenue, become best friends with the sales team of the acquiring company If you have an earn out tied to revenue, make sure the sales team compensation plan is incentivized to sell your stuff It’s an ending and a beginning Be proud of what you’ve done, regardless of how it turned out Take a moment to appreciate how much you’ve grown and learned as a leader adn human Take a breath Get on that earn out, if you have one Regardless of the outcome, it turns out you are still you Private Founder Coaching Sprint (3 slots available)My 4-month private coaching program for Founders with at least $1M in revenue or funding. In a four month sprint, we work hand-in-hand on accelerating your biggest issue. Nail a thorny PMF/Sales problem. Level up your team. Confidently work through tough decisions. The biggest outcome is you being a more confident and centered Founder. It all starts with a breakthrough session. Book a your breakthrough session here. The 2X AcceleratorThis is my intimate and affordable Founder community, purely focused on adding your next $500k-$1M of revenue. Each week this amazing group of Founders works on building solid, consistent pipelines by crafting stupidly good offers and automated lead machines. Book a your breakthrough session here.⁠

    14 min

  6. 08/01/2024

    Ep. 92 Niches vs Tribes

    Episode Summary: In this episode, we explore the difference between marketing to niches and tribes, and why understanding this distinction can shape your entrepreneurial approach. After a provocative listener response to a previous episode on founder anxiety, I realized the importance of identifying your tribe—those who share your values and vision. Key Takeaways: • Niche vs. Tribe: A niche targets a specific market segment, while a tribe connects people through a shared mentality or purpose. • Why It Matters: Knowing whether you’re marketing to a niche or a tribe can transform your strategy and deepen connections with your audience. • Topics Covered: • How to market to tribes vs niches • How to reveal your tribe • Deciding when to focus on a niche vs a tribe Tune in for actionable insights that will help you maximize your impact and connect more authentically with your audience.

    13 min

  7. 07/25/2024

    Ep. 91 Why your warm network leads aren't buying

    In this week’s Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, we dive into a common yet perplexing scenario many founders face: having a great network and product, yet struggling to convert meetings into sales. Through a real-life example and personal insights, we explore the root causes and provide practical strategies to overcome this challenge. Episode Highlights: • A founder’s dilemma: great network, positive conversations, but no sales. • The hidden trap of relying on warm introductions without addressing pressing pains. • Importance of identifying and solving significant pain points for potential clients. Three Keys to Making the Most Out of Warm Network Conversations: 1. Treat Warm Network Meetings Like Cold Ones: • Approach each conversation with fresh eyes, focusing on the potential client’s needs and pain points. 2. Understand Why They Took the Call: • Clarify the motivations behind their interest and what they hope to achieve. 3. Adopt an Assess vs Impress Mindset: • Focus on understanding and addressing their problems rather than just showcasing your product. Additional Resources: If you want a step-by-step guide to enhancing your customer conversations, make sure to download my FREE 10-Minute Customer Breakthrough Training. It’s a valuable resource to help you navigate and succeed in your customer conversations.

    10 min

  8. 07/18/2024

    Ep. 90 Does Founder Anxiety Ever End?

    In this week’s Rocket Ship Founder Podcast, we tackle a pressing question that resonates deeply with every entrepreneur: “Does Founder anxiety ever end?” Inspired by a thought-provoking article shared in my 2X Accelerator community, we dive into the persistent nature of anxiety in the founder journey. Despite achieving significant milestones, the anxiety doesn’t seem to fade, but there are ways to manage it effectively. Episode Highlights: Discussion sparked by a 2022 article by Wil Shroter, “What if our startup anxiety never quits?” Real-life example of a thriving founder still facing anxiety after a major business win. Personal insights on the added intensity of anxiety for founders with ADHD. Exploring the inevitability of facing new challenges and “humps” in the founder journey. Embracing the uncertainty of founder life and continuously upskilling. Three Essential Techniques to Minimize Anxiety: Mind Your Health: Importance of sleep, diet, and exercise in managing stress. Reject the Fallacy of Your Future Self: Avoiding the mindset of “I’ll be happy when…” and finding contentment in the present. Use One Simple Phrase to Get in the Moment: Practical advice on staying present and reducing stress instantly. Additional Resources: Founder Survive and Thrive Bundle: Special offer on a bundle designed to help manage stress and anxiety, including three e-books and a video mini-course. Available at a discounted price this week. If you are dealing with stress and anxiety, make sure to check out the Founder Survive and Thrive Bundle for valuable resources to help you manage and thrive.

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Rocket Ship Founder is dedicated to supporting business Founders on their entrepreneurial journey. Created and hosted by Steve August, Founder Coach who helps Founders to become the CEO their company needs, and build a Rocket Ship Business. Steve took his first startup from idea to successful multi-million dollar exit. He's seen the journey from two guys in a startup accelerator room to being CMO of a $100M+ 400 person global company reporting directly to a private equity board.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve August
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Steve August
  • Show Website
    Rocket Ship Founder

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