We hire specialists. Deep knowledge in one field, not many skills in all the others. We value and celebrate specialists with promising career paths, titles, and promotions. Can generalists exist in a world of such intricate and complex work requirements? The person who made me realize that it's possible is Milly Tamati, a staunch defender and … Continue reading Milly Tamati — The Power and Potential of Generalists
Year: 2023
Monetizing Micro-Communities
Micro-communities are —ironically— becoming a big thing. How big? Life-changing amounts of money big. And it starts with the virtual world. The internet changed my life, in so many ways. And not just when I sold a software business. I remember from my childhood, the late 90s and early 2000s, just how paradigm-shifting it was … Continue reading Monetizing Micro-Communities
Aaron Francis — The Power of Sharing Expertise
Journey with me as we dive deep into Aaron Francis' transformation from a coder to a teacher. Discover the intricate dance of building in the open. Aaron lays bare his path, detailing how he crafted his screencasting masterclass and managed to balance his day job, side hustle, and family life, all while forging his unique … Continue reading Aaron Francis — The Power of Sharing Expertise
Proof of Work: How Indie Founders Build Defensible Businesses
I was recently talking to several indie founders about how cloneable their businesses are. Many of them have had to deal with copycats and have since developed methods of either engaging with them or not engaging at all, which is the more common response. They usually keep track of clones and copycats to ensure their … Continue reading Proof of Work: How Indie Founders Build Defensible Businesses
Brennan Dunn — This Is Personal
This is a masterclass in personalized marketing. Brennan even convinces me to ramp up my own efforts! Listen in as I uncover the power of personalized marketing with Brennan Dunn, author of 'This is Personal.' Brennan offers valuable insights into how indie hackers and solopreneurs can best learn about their customers and utilize that knowledge … Continue reading Brennan Dunn — This Is Personal
Pet Rock Projects (And Why They… Rock)
Tony Dinh, a well-known indie hacker, recently shared an article about his Indie Hacker journey that reached the top of Hacker News. As usual, some people reacted negatively to an indie hacker sharing their story. One common criticism was that these small projects, or "pet rock projects," aren't valuable. There was a strong sentiment in … Continue reading Pet Rock Projects (And Why They… Rock)
Aprilynne Alter — Behind the Scenes of a Successful YouTuber
Unearth the secrets of YouTube monetization and growth in our conversation with YouTube creator Aprilynne Alter. Prepare to be enlightened as Aprilynne reveals her journey, from retaking control of her editing process to experimenting with an array of content styles and formats. We dive into her daring exploration of NFTs and the groundbreaking transformation that … Continue reading Aprilynne Alter — Behind the Scenes of a Successful YouTuber
Focusing on Customer Retention Features
I read an article this week about the "Tyranny of the Marginal User." The author discussed how large companies focus more on attracting new customers than retaining current ones — primarily due to unit economics and internal company politics. It's a fascinating read from the perspective of a Google insider. And it talks about products … Continue reading Focusing on Customer Retention Features
Erica Schneider — Build Your Personal Platform (And Not Just a Brand)
Getting started often brings valuable lessons that shape our paths in life; my chat with Erica Schneider, an expert in building authentic personal platforms, is a testament to this. We navigated the terrain of creating an authentic personal brand, focusing on the courage it takes to do so and the power of authenticity in the … Continue reading Erica Schneider — Build Your Personal Platform (And Not Just a Brand)
What I Learned From 250 Podcast Episodes
This week, I celebrated the podcast reaching 250 episodes with my most recent interview with Amanda Goetz. Just last week, the podcast hit 250,000 overall downloads. These are numbers I never expected to reach. And here I am, still enjoying creating new episodes and interviewing people every week. Today, I want to reflect on the … Continue reading What I Learned From 250 Podcast Episodes