Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle Dan Andrews; Ian Schoen

Tackling one of the biggest problems entrepreneurs struggle with: separating their business from their own narrative and looking at it with fresh eyes.


This episode will uncover the simple but hard truths to every business and reveal the three (and only three) ways to grow any business.


We talk about customer acquisition, order value, retention, risk-free offers, and more.


TMBA email subscribers will get access to the platonic business calculator discussed on today’s show.


Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter.


Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIan or ian@tropicalmba.com


Chapters:



(00:00:45) Introduction
(00:02:24) The Platonic Ideal of a Business
(00:04:18) Simplify, Focus, Execute
(00:10:27) The 3 Essential Ways to Grow a Business
(00:12:47) Understanding the Numbers
(00:29:07) Better-Than-Risk-Free Offers
(00:32:53) Conclusion


Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram


Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal


Additional episodes you might enjoy:


Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason


Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal


The Secret Weapon to Pricing Power

We speak to hundreds of entrepreneurs every year through one-on-one coaching and live events.


Many of those entrepreneurs have gone on to become very wealthy, and throughout our conversations with those people, we have found some common threads to the ways that wealthy people behave.


This was one of our most popular episodes of 2019 so we’re bringing it back with updated thoughts.


This week, newsletter subscribers will get Dan’s personal monthly budget template.


Sign up for our newsletter to receive TMBA-exclusive business-building resources weekly.


Chapters
● (00:02:20) Every Dollar Has a Job
● (00:09:30) Deals. People. Energy. Luck.
● (00:14:42) Strategic Identity Creation
● (00:21:22) Comprehensive Arbitrage
● (00:29:03) Old Man River
● (00:33:15) Shovel Stamper


Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIan or [ian@tropicalmba.com](ian@tropicalmba.com)


Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal


Additional episodes you might enjoy:


Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason


Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal


The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers

In this week's conversation, Dan and Ian discuss 10 ideas that provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs looking to grow their revenue to $1 Million and beyond.


From years of experience and countless coaching calls, Dan and Ian cover topics such as finding a product with a tailwind, getting out of delivery, hiring a key badass, understanding your business model, optimizing your marketing funnel, and much more…


These strategies can provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs to focus on the most impactful areas of their business and make informed decisions to drive growth.


Dan & Ian’s Stuff:
Our book: Before the Exit
The Newsletter
“The DC”
DC Accelerator
DC Black
Global events
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow on Instagram
@TropicalMBA
@AnythingIan


Chapters:


(00:00:49) Introduction and Setting
(00:02:02) 10 Ideas for Reaching $1 Million in Revenue
(00:03:46) Finding a Product with a Tailwind
(00:11:11) Getting Out of Delivery
(00:17:57) Hiring a Key Badass
(00:23:48) Knowing Your Numbers
(00:25:05) Understanding Your Numbers
(00:29:27) Creating a Resident Offer
(00:32:46) Optimizing Your Marketing Funnel
(00:38:50) Identifying Key Metrics
(00:40:51) Patching the Leaky Boat


Links:


Diagnostic & Goals | Plans | Systems Work sheet


Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal


Additional episodes you might enjoy:


Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason
Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal
The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers

This week’s conversation revolves around the book 'Crypto Confidential' and explores author Nathaniel Eliason’s experience during the crypto mania.


From the moment he decided to go all-in on crypto and the impact it had on their personal life, Nathaniel delves into the mechanics of farming and the process of launching decentralized exchanges.


Enjoy insights deep insights from the crypto world including off-ramping, the risks and challenges of early wallets, the mindset of crypto whales, the experience of losing and making millions, the rise and fall of the Titan project, and the author's biggest win in developing a crypto game.


Dan & Ian’s Stuff:


Our book: Before the Exit
The Newsletter
“The DC”
DC Accelerator
DC Black
Global events
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow on Instagram
@TropicalMBA
@AnythingIan


Chapters:


(00:16:41) Going All-In on Crypto
(00:20:53) Exploring the Mechanics of Farming and Decentralized Exchanges
(00:26:35) The Role of Social Media in Spreading Information and Attracting Investors
(00:34:37) The Influx of Money into Crypto: Motivations of Investors
(00:35:22) Challenges of Off-Ramping Crypto and Early Wallets
(00:36:01) The Mindset of Crypto Whales
(00:41:13) Lessons from Losing Money in the Crypto World
(00:42:59) The Rise and Fall of the Titan Project
(00:52:42) The Author's Biggest Win: Developing a Crypto Game
(00:59:50) Choosing Fulfillment over Financial Success: The Decision to Focus on Writing


Links:
Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance


Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal


Additional episodes you might enjoy:


Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal


The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers


Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency

Dan and Ian discuss the fundamental principles of change and how they apply to both weight loss and entrepreneurship.


The conversation explores the three key components of successful change: knowledge, accountability, and identity.


Listen in for how these principles are practical and applicable to your business growth, cause ass we know breakthroughs in our business don’t happen through epiphanies, they happen through small and consistent accumulations of change.


Dan & Ian’s Stuff:
Our book: Before the Exit
The Newsletter
“The DC”
DC Accelerator
DC Black
Global events
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow on Instagram
@TropicalMBA
@AnythingIan


Chapters
● (00:00:54) Introduction and Catching Up
● (00:02:42) The Need for Change in Business
● (00:04:40) The Pyramid of Change
● (00:10:34) The Three Components of Successful Change
● (00:10:53) The Power of Accountability
● (00:12:31) Changing Practices and Relationships
● (00:14:23) The Importance of Accountability
● (00:17:27) The Role of Knowledge in Change
● (00:18:01) Different Types of Knowledge
● (00:22:16) The Power of Identity
● (00:28:57) The Priority of Change
● (00:29:45) The Promise of Change


Links:
Dr. Layne Norton’s YouTube Channel


Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal


Additional episodes you might enjoy:


The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers


Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency


The Secret Weapon for Pricing Power

Dan and Ian discuss the biggest money problems they’ve seen in their own business and hundreds of other bootstrapped businesses.


Learn how to craft a sustainable financial model, the importance of owner compensation, how to avoid being under-invested, and more.


Dan & Ian’s Stuff:
Our book: Before the Exit
The Newsletter
“The DC”
DC Accelerator
DC Black
Global events
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow on Instagram
@TropicalMBA
@AnythingIan


Chapters
● (00:00:45) Introduction and Setting the Stage
● (00:01:13) The Importance of Money Attitudes and Metaphors
● (00:16:08) The Startup Spending Mindset in Bootstrapped Businesses
● (00:29:39) Focusing on the Wrong Problems
● (00:31:25) Strategies for Affording to Start a Business
● (00:34:28) Starting Early and Investing in Yourself
● (00:38:18) The Importance of Owner Compensation
● (00:41:15) Setting a Salary Cap
● (00:45:12) Avoiding Being Under-Invested


Links:



Derek Sivers article “Shed Your Money Taboos”
Venkatesh Rao article “Ancient Rivers of Money”


Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal


Additional episodes you might enjoy:


Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency


The Secret Weapon for Pricing Power


How Healthy is Your Business?