Today we're talking about problems vs. opportunities. It's easy for entrepreneurs to spend their time putting out fires - they're often the only ones who will. But it's far more important to block off time to identify and pursue opportunities that'll create asymmetric value. We discuss a framework for identifying, prioritizing, and pursuing opportunities. Also, Steph Curry and how to say "razorblades" with a flawless Australian accent. Tacklebox - Cohort 27 applications are open Tacklebox self-s...
Mar 03, 2021•19 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Three numbers and a story show the path for startups during a uniquely difficult but opportunity filled time. The goal of today's podcast is grounding and motivation. And pizza dough. We talk through opportunities for compound interest, knowledge growth, and the $32 trillion dollars that will change the startup market. Tacklebox Application (Cohort starts March 31) Tacklebox Self-Serve Amazzoni.us - use code "Tacklebox" at checkout for the best craft gin in the world (according to 2018)...
Feb 24, 2021•13 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast What do you do when you stumble upon, or get smacked in the face by, a competitor? How do you react? What do you focus on? What do you stop doing? Can you still... exist? We talk through exactly what to do with competitors and discuss the "Gift of Which." The goods: Tacklebox Application (March 31) Tacklebox Self Serve (whenever you'd like) Jojo Rabbit...
Feb 17, 2021•12 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast What if you've got a product and no customer? We go through an email from a listener who makes the world's best protein bars but has absolutely no idea who to sell them to. We use storytelling archetypes to find the best possible customer to catalyze the business. The goods: Tacklebox Application (March 31) Tacklebox Self Serve (whenever you'd like) Mindset Whopper Commercial...
Feb 10, 2021•15 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast The third in our mini-series where we're starting a startup live on the pod. Today, we take what we learned from customer interviews and synthesize it into tests in real life. Step by step on customer, channel, landing page, and call-to-action. Plus, why atheists don't sell their soul and York Peppermint Patties. The goods: Idea Resume Tacklebox Application (March 31) The Art of Doing Science & Engineering Carrd (Landing Page Builder) The Sasquatch Problem (Are You Passionate Enough) York Pepper...
Feb 03, 2021•20 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Episode Two of our miniseries "We're Starting a Startup" details our first seven days after we decided to pursue an idea live. We talk customer interview strategy and stack, get a bunch of lukewarm feedback, and play clips from some of the interviews we ran. We also talk about Baked By Melissa cupcakes an uncomfortable amount. Big thank you to the customers we interviewed, including: Happy Medium SoWell Health And a few other things we mention: The Mom Test Tacklebox (Cohort starts March 31) Tac...
Jan 27, 2021•24 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast It was bound to happen. We're starting a startup idea on... Idea to Startup. Someone reached out basically daring us to, and we couldn't say no. Today, we'll run three startup ideas through our Idea Resume framework that evaluates an idea at the earliest stages. Then, we'll pick the one we'll start over the next set of episodes. Idea Resume Framework Follow along on Instagram + Twitter - we'll post the ads, landing pages, etc. Start a Wine Company in 17 Minutes Cohort 26 + Self Serve Business Gu...
Jan 20, 2021•26 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Getting your first 1,000 customers is hard, particularly when you're thinking about it wrong. We talk through how Push for Pizza and Slice took different approaches to growth in the pizza space. * Tacklebox + Self-Serve Product Slice First 1000 Substack Tacklebox + Self-Serve Product...
Jan 13, 2021•20 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast We're told we need to be head over heels passionate about our startup for it to succeed. Is that... true? What if we haven't found something we're that passionate about - does that mean we shouldn't start it?How do you find something you're passionate enough about to build a company around? Is Sasquatch Real? The answers to these and more on this week's Idea to Startup Pod. Tacklebox Self Serve (and regular tacklebox accelerator ) Tacklebox Newsletter (get articles and the full content archive)...
Jan 06, 2021•15 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast We'll look back on 2021 as the best year to start a startup in the past 50. The world we're returning to will be a lot different from the one we left, and people will start meaningful companies to bridge that gap. Hopefully, one of those people is you. Here are three stories that'll help you position yourself and your startup to succeed in 2021. Show Notes Tacklebox Self Serve Tacklebox Cohort Pixar 22 Rules of Storytelling Madlib “I’m building X to capitalize on the confluence of these three tr...
Dec 30, 2020•20 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast That title is even spammier than last week. But it isn’t. Today, we’ll talk about how thinking through how to build a billion dollar business is actually a really useful exercise, too. Today, we’re going to fix Goodreads and drink a bunch of egg nog. Let’s see how that goes. Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve (and regular tacklebox accelerator ) Tacklebox Newsletter (get articles and the full content archive)...
Dec 23, 2020•20 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast That title sure does sound spammy. But it isn’t. Today, we’ll talk about how thinking through how you’d make $1,000 today is the best way to actually start a startup. This episode is for people who are stuck - people who want to start something but can’t figure out the best way to go about doing it. People who are overwhelmed by what starting a startup might entail. We make it easy for you. Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve (and regular tacklebox accelerator ) Tacklebox Newsletter (get articles a...
Dec 16, 2020•17 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Today we take a bunch of questions from ITS listeners. We talk through startup ideas for 2021, founder superpowers, and hutzpah. Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve (and regular tacklebox accelerator ) Psychology of Money Upwork + Designhill The Books : Range , The Passion Economy , Essentialism , Boomtown , Three Body Problem , The Lost Man , Atomic Habits...
Dec 09, 2020•22 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast This episode focuses on the 4 best emails written on Black Friday, and the framework each used to break through the clutter. Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve Lolli Essentialism (read this) Contagious (read this, too)
Dec 02, 2020•21 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Entrepreneurs favorite questions all begin with “how will I know..” The real answer is, you never know anything for sure. This podcast is about the process of entrepreneurship - how to set up and run lightweight tests to get a unique perspective no one else does. Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve How Will I Know (🐐 ) How to choose the right customer (pod) Jobs to be Done Theory...
Nov 25, 2020•21 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast It’s easy to do everything but the thing that matters. Today we talk about how to identify the thing that matters and how to combat all of our instincts that tell us to push back against real reflection. We go through a few examples, including Ro.co, business school, and writing books, focusing on Motion vs. Action. Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve Atomic Habits + Range David Foster Wallace - This Is Water...
Nov 18, 2020•17 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Imposter syndrome kills more startups than not finding a cofounder, competition, or funding ever could. Today, we’re talking about whether you’re good enough to compete in the startup world. Can you really turn this into your livelihood? Can you thrive? What happens if you don’t? Show Notes: Tacklebox Self Serve
Nov 11, 2020•16 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Founders need to be resilient. It’s beaten into our heads over and over. But what resilience is - and how to be resilient - is misunderstood. Today we’ll talk about all the IOUs you consciously and unconsciously write all day, and how they’re sapping you of your best work. We’ll finish with tactics to combat these IOUs. Go get ‘em. Tacklebox Self-Serve Program Atlantic City - Bruce (🐐)...
Nov 04, 2020•16 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Meaningful differentiation is hard to come by. Most startups pay lip service to differentiation and pay the price through higher customer acquisition costs and lower retention rates. A truly differentiated product is necessary for a healthy funnel - acquisition, conversion, retention, referral. Today we talk through questions that’ll help you differentiate your startup with the help of On, an apparel company that leveraged business model innovation to create a truly differentiated product in a c...
Oct 28, 2020•18 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Not all ideas start with the level of insight needed to build a differentiated company. Today, we’ll take a run of the mill idea and show you how to build a differentiated product. Specifically, we’ll launch the Tuesday Wine Company, a D2C wine brand that sells half bottles to people with dogs. LeadPages Site Upwork...
Oct 21, 2020•17 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast If you ever find yourself whispering your startup idea at a coffee shop, this podcast is for you. We dig in on what a good startup idea actually looks like and how to find the right idea for you.
Oct 15, 2020•12 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast You’ve got startup ideas. You want to pursue them. You want to take them seriously. But what, exactly, does that mean? This episode dives into what it looks like to take your startup idea seriously. How to give it a fair shake and see if it’s worth investing some time into. We use an example of a Jackfruit company that’s out to make Jackfruit the plant-based alternative for people removing meat from their diet everywhere. Leadpages Unbounce Otter.ai...
Oct 08, 2020•18 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast On the first episode of season 3 we talk through the paradox of choice, how to facilitate decisions in your customers, how to build a brand, and bagels. We touch on Dan Ariely’s book Predictably Irrational, digging in on how architecting the environment for your customers will drastically increase your chances at conversion. We also talk about the two bagel shops that were next to each other in NYC, and why each wound up with a far stronger brand because the other existed.
Sep 30, 2020•15 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Health Ade
May 20, 2020•53 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Quibi Tacklebox Virtual Cohort 23 starts June 15th, apply at www.gettacklebox.com
May 13, 2020•24 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Startle
Apr 16, 2020•50 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast League of Legends Riot Games Lunya Lahgo Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder
Apr 08, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Christoph Bertsch, founder of Vejo among multiple other startups, stops by in what is one of my favorite conversations yet. He talks through what it really takes to start a company, the differences between b2b and b2c, fundraising vs. not, supply chain management, and team building. This is a wonderful, fun conversation that'll brighten your day. Heads up for some curses - they flow pretty freely from Christoph :)
Mar 25, 2020•40 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast "Chaos isn't a pit, chaos is a ladder." Coronavirus is an inflection point that will change all sorts of behavior and create all sorts of opportunity for startups. This podcast looks at the opportunities that'll be created and how you should approach them within the startup world.
Mar 18, 2020•14 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Agatha Kulaga - co-founder of Ovenly, an award-winning retail and wholesale bakery with a global footprint - stops by to talk through the early days. How do you turn your creative outlet into a business? How do you scale high quality? How do you build a distinct brand as a wholesaler? A great conversation with a very smart and talented founder.
Mar 11, 2020•56 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast 
