TMBA589: Creating a Software Business Without Technical Expertise

Lessons From an 18-Month Trip Around the World on $100 a Day: This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Barry O'Brien, a global traveler, as he shares his 18-month journey to 15 countries on just $100 a day or less. Barry tells us stories about his experience in Vietnam, the most surprisingly underwhelming destination he visited, the most expensive and inexpensive destinations, how he saved, prepared, and what he learned in the end. He discusses his journey from following Dave Ramsey's steps to discovering the FIRE movement and combining the principles of both to pay off $51,000 of debt, and give him the financial freedom to pursue his dream trip. He talks about the importance of passive income, his philosophy of focusing on one thing that you can do well, the process of obtaining US citizenship, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [Our book: Before the Exit](https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628 by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

44 min listen

#752 The 1 Million Dollar Question: Crafting your value proposition into an irresistible offer is not an easy task. Andrew Jacoby, entrepreneur and visionary behind Growth Era, a thriving outbound sales company, knows this all too well. Andrew shares his journey, highlighting the pivotal role of Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) in driving business success. Discover the power of focusing on what you know best and building a business around recurring services as Andrew unveils the concept of risk reversal and its impact on skyrocketing conversion rates. From navigating the challenges of educating a market to the transition from CEO to operator, Andrew offers practical strategies for building a robust team and fostering deep community connections amidst a nomadic lifestyle. Tune in as Andrew delves into the core values of moral fiber and virtue in business, underscoring the true essence of freedom and happiness. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or seasoned business leade by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

45 min listen

#751 “The Death of the Follower” + How I’d Make $250K in 3 Days a Week: Is it possible to bootstrap a high-level business if you’re broke? Listen to Dan & Ian’s take on what kinds of businesses are best to start when you’re starting with basically nothing. Also, what the hell does a visionary do? Dan suggests that the best visionaries have integrator tendencies. They’ll consider how Kevin Kelly’s “100 True Fans” can lead to sustainable revenue through a concept called “The Death of the Follower”. Lastly, Dan pitches a business idea that requires zero startup cost, 3 days a week of effort, and could easily net you $250K. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [Our book: Before the Exit](https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books&sprefix=before+the+exit+dan+andrews%2Cstripbooks%2C by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

34 min listen

#750 What is the Most Simple OS for <$5M?: The hard part shouldn’t be how to implement an OS in your organization. The hard part is answering the question: Are the right people in the right roles at your company? In this episode, Dan and Ian share their own OS that’s extremely simple. It’s called GPS. They’ll explain how GPS helps you put a plan in place to meet your goals, and deliver on that plan. That’s it. Also, hiring for specific tasks, the impact of remote work on hiring, and more. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [Our book: Before the Exit](https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books&sprefix=before+the+exit+dan+andrews%2Cstripbooks%2C101&sr=1-1) [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dy by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

31 min listen

#749 Do Things That Don’t Scale: In this episode, Ian and Dan discuss the concept of doing things that don't scale, inspired by Paul Graham's influential article 'Do Things That Don't Scale.' They explore the idea of taking risks and gambling in entrepreneurship, and how it relates to increasing one's locus of control. The conversation covers various strategies for founders, including recruiting users manually, building something fragile, delighting users, focusing on experience, and niche marketing. In this conversation, Ian and Dan discuss Paul Graham's article 'Do Things That Don't Scale' and explore the principal themes and takeaways. They cover topics such as the idea of scaling, fabricating products yourself, consulting and acting as an anchor client, going manual and doing unscalable laborious tasks, the illusion of big launches and partnerships, vectors vs. scalars (ideas and execution), and the temptation to gamble and the importance of locus of control. [Our book: Before the by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

47 min listen

#748 Three Phases to 1 Million: Dan and Ian discuss the different phases of bootstrapping a business and the common challenges that arise at each stage. They walk through three phases: “The Mindset” (zero to $250k); “The Scalability Factor” ($250k to 1 million); and “The Enterprise” ($1 million +) to explore everything from adjusting the offer to the marketplace and developing a strong customer base to making a rule that the founder should be responsible for growth up to $5M. They also explore the crucial role that team composition plays in the professionalization of the company. Finally, they discuss the decision between maximizing profitability and scaling the business. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [Our book: Before the Exit](https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs/dp/1980628823/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E5PMCCM0TDZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GnIb36rltn6NgcjHBCs8zg.waeKvE3zKoAbCt6Adoo5o5vv7M4PDyOj9pMXE7dM82A&dib_tag=se&keywords=before+the+exit+dan+andrews&qid=1711510466&s=books& by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

42 min listen

#747 Quiet Crypto, The Demand Question, and Difficult Decisions ft. Jordan Gal: Dan talks to Jordan Gal, founder of Rally and co-host of the Bootsrapped Web podcast about challenges in the ecommerce space, product-market fit and demand, partnerships and veto power, the quietness of crypto, risking other people’s money, and more… There’s one thing that founders tend to really struggle with when it comes to growing their business and that’s getting the right team in place. Listen as Jordan shows Dan how and why he fires unfit team members. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

61 min listen

#746 “Full-Service Agencies Are Out” & Other Productized-Service Ideas: Dan & Ian talk to John Doherty, the founder of Editor Ninja, former owner of Credo, and cohost of the Working Sessions podcast about three major trends he’s seeing in the agency space that could impact your strategy and profitability for the year and beyond. John talks about the challenges of running a full-service agency, a shift towards specialization in productized services, the need for outsourced strategic layers, focusing on profitability, and more. Stick around for the guys to reveal six productized-service business ideas. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMB by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

54 min listen

#745 “3 Million in Revenue is a Death Zone" - Financial Strategy with Greg Crabtree: Transitioning through the death zone requires careful execution and a focus on profitability. The $3 million dollar mark is a critical milestone for businesses, and many struggle to push through it. In this episode, Dan talks to Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! about how founders can push through the death zone (otherwise known as the messy middle) and grow their profit far beyond that $3M mark. Some of the common mistakes made by founders include not understanding profit truth, not investing in finance and accounting, and not effectively managing labor efficiency. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https:/ by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

45 min listen

#744 How Transparent Should You Be? Thoughts on Queen Bee Roles & a Ticket Giveaway: This week Dan & Ian share a few thought experiments you can do to improve your business and reach your next breakthrough. They cover the value of a writing-first culture, the Queen Bee Role & how transparent should you be with your team? Plus, a ticket giveaway to one qualified founder. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show Notes - (00:01:04) Intro - (00:01:56) Business-changing events for by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

42 min listen

#743 Spotting Taboo Business Ideas Through the Overton Window: Going deeper on shiny object syndrome, Dan & Ian open the mailbag to read responses to last week’s episode. A listener shares his success story with shiny object syndrome, revealing how he pursues his entrepreneurial impulses without growing crazy. The listener emphasizes the value of muscle memory when it comes to going from zero to one successfully. Dan & Ian will also discuss how to use societal and scene shifts to gain traction on an idea and even build a successful business out of an idea that might seem a little stupid (to everyone else) at the time. Plus, we’re looking for our next TMBA team member! If you love reading and writing about business topics and think working alongside Dan & Ian might seem like fun (or a little stupid!), let's talk. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [G by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

54 min listen

#742 A Podcast About Shiny Object Syndrome: Dan & Ian delve into the complexities of combating shiny object syndrome, a challenge that plagues all entrepreneurs at one time or another (or all the time). They’ll talk about six strategies for tackling “the syndrome” and how to harness your skill of going zero-to-one to grow your business to the next level. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show Notes: - (00:00:33) Intro - (00:03:05) How to connect with other founders by the beac by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

65 min listen

#741 The Roadmap for Turning a Skill Into a 1M+ Productized Service: In this episode Dan uncovers what he is referring to as The Ultimate TMBA Business: a productized service business based on a skill set. Tom Kent started his business based on a very specific skill set of his: he was good at getting jobs. Now Tom is the founder and CEO of Career Nerds, a 7-figure productized coaching service that helps military academy grads land high paying jobs. Tom shares how he went from one client five years ago to over 200 clients paying for an $8K+ product and why he refuses to launch into other verticals just quite yet. Tom understands the power of “niching til it hurts” if you want to grow a successful business. All the while living in Prague, managing his US team, and traveling as he pleases throughout the year. It doesn’t get more TMBA than that. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https: by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

48 min listen

#740 The Anti-Agency Agency + High ROI Customer Acquisition: Vince Nguyen joins Dan to share how he resurrected his agency from semi-retirement and in the first month resumed making 5+ figures per client. He runs his agency solo and shares some of his biggest hacks for success. Vince essentially delivers a masterclass in running a successful solo-agency as well as how to improve Facebook Ads for your business (hint: it’s pretty simple!). But first, Dan & Ian have some fun catching up about some big company news and how to operate on a profit-first system from day one and why that’s actually critical for scale. They also talk about two trending ways for finding and connecting with customers that are leading to more sales, that you can implement as early as today. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [ by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

87 min listen

#739 The Three Horsemen Holding Your Business Back from Breakthrough with Mike Michalowicz: Dan interviews business author and entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz, delving into the transformative concepts from Mike's books — "Profit First," "The Pumpkin Plan," Clockwork", and more. They explore the power of prioritizing profit and why most small businesses are often “crushed” by the owner. Mike discusses his concept of the Queen Bee Role and advocates for specialization to scale effectively. Stick around as Mike reveals the three horsemen that keep businesses right on the brink of success, often never finding breakthrough. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Of by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

51 min listen

#738 Under the Hood of an 8-Figure Business + Million Dollar Weekend with Noah Kagan: “Noah’s new book, Million Dollar Weekend, has so many nuggets for aspiring and mature entrepreneurs alike. Specifically, if you’re launching a new product, starting a new business, or you want to keep things simple for your team, you’ll find tangible guidance in this book.” - Dan In this episode, TMBA host Dan Andrews sits down with Noah Kagan to talk about operating an 8-figure company at scale, something Noah does every day as the CEO of AppSumo. Noah dives into specific processes around leadership, managing team members, setting achievable goals, making room for creativity, personal growth habits, and a whole lot more. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [F by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

35 min listen

#737 Business Basics: Revenue Durability, “Small” Goals, & High-Leverage Meetings: Today Dan & Ian challenge you to consider: How durable is your revenue? They’ll explore the concepts of profit now vs profit later, investing profits to build durability, network effects, marginal profitability calculation, and more. But first, in some lighter conversation, Dan argues that setting smaller goals and reconfiguring your team meetings can lead to higher productivity and higher yield in your business. Plus, the 6 principles to a high-leverage meeting learned from running millionaire masterminds. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow o by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

34 min listen

#736 How to Have Your Best Year $$$Wise Ever: This week, Dan reveals a strategic approach to decision-making intervals for achieving top-line revenue and personal income goals. Join him as he explores how this decision-making cadence serves as a compass in navigating the challenging 'messy middle' of entrepreneurship. What’s the messy middle? You’ve found some type of product-market fit, customers are buying, and you've set revenue and profit goals. Yet, you lack an exit strategy, millions in your bank account, and an executive team running your company. In this episode, Dan invites you into his end-of-year meeting with co-founder Ian Schoen, unveiling the inner workings of their quarterly reviews. Discover the three key questions they always address and learn how this framework can guide you out of the messy middle, ensuring this is your best year money-wise ever. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/ by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

33 min listen

#735 An 8-figure exit and revisiting the 1,000-day principle: Can you make a life-changing decision based on assumptions that you pulled off the internet? This question and many others are answered in today’s fascinating interview with two of Dan’s mentors and longtime friends, Carrie & Dave McKeegan. They recently exited one of their businesses (they’re still running the other!) for 8-figures and they share the details of their process from deciding to sell, preparing for the sale, vetting acquirers, and what happens after. Hear how they spun up another business on the side and are maintaining the cash flow from that as they sit on the cash pile from the sale. But perhaps their biggest accomplishment of them all is raising three thoughtful, curious kids while running their two incredible businesses and living all over the world in places like Bali, Costa Rica, Spain, and more. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecir by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

52 min listen

#734 Non-Obvious Ways to Grow Your Business + Favorite Moments of 2023: As 2023 comes to a close, Dan & Ian reflect on how their business did in 2023 and share some of their favorite moments from the year. They’ll also talk about what makes a compelling offer, the “non-obvious ways” to grow your business in 2024, and why you should dream bigger than the numbers when goal setting. But first, Dan shares the top business books and podcast episodes that inspired him this year just in time for your holiday travels. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: The Newsletter “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Show Notes: - Intro - Dan’s favorite business books in 2023 - The podcast episodes that inspired business decisions this year - Gift list for entrepreneurs - An undervalued business-improving idea that anyone can do - Why did our tweet go viral? Our search for speakers and facilitators is turning into quite by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

56 min listen

#733 End-of-Year Brainstorming, Goal-Setting, and a Mexico Meltdown: Dan & Ian offer up some end-of-year thought experiments for founders, including how to re-visualize your business, capitalize on strategy, and ensure that you are in the right role in your business. Most founders assume they are the “executive” in the business, but more often than not, their daily behaviors are that of a director or manager. Understanding where you sit in your organization can make a huge difference in your ability to scale. Plus, explore the business diagnostic: what would a PE firm do with your business? A helpful exercise to get you thinking objectively about the decisions that need to be made in your business. Lastly, the guys relive the Mexico Meltdown, otherwise known as the DC Mexico launch. Tune in to hear what went down. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

37 min listen

Can Org Charts Be Sexy? + NYC Drinking Stories: Dan & Ian unravel the complexities of job titles and organizational frustrations post-DC Black event, offering solutions through org chart brainstorming, a new business idea, and how much you should be investing into networking strategies based on your income. Plus, see what UI and API score they give NYC after spending the weekend there. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show Notes - 0:00:59 Intro - 0:08:05 UI & API score for NYC by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

40 min listen

Special Edition Pod: Meet us in Mexico: In this special Tuesday edition of the pod, Dan & Ian make the hard sell for listeners to meet them in Mexico. If you’re into five-star resorts, good food, frosty drinks, and nerding out about your business, consider this your official invite. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show notes: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:57) Meet us in Mexico Links: - Get your tickets to DC MEXICO 2024 Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier H by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

9 min listen

Cash Flowing Your Early Retirement (10K/mo+): This week, Dan continues delving into the world of coaching with a story about one company that provides highly paid professionals with a low-stress way to earn a living in the sunset phase of their careers. Dan also interviews Sarah Weaver, a real estate investor and entrepreneur, who has achieved an impressive monthly cash flow of over $10,000 from her real estate portfolio in under five years. Join us to glean insights from Sarah's journey, as she shares strategies for cash-flowing retirement through smart real estate investments. Sarah talks about how she bought 19 properties, the six metrics she evaluates before investing in a specific city, building a brand around her experience, and more. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

45 min listen

What is the Michael Jordan of Business Models?: All we can say is that it’s extremely powerful and extremely profitable. Dan and Ian nerd out on what might be the GOAT business model of all time. They analyze some of the best examples of said business model, and talk about ways that you can rip, pivot, and jam these ideas for your own business. Plus, two books you should pick up that Dan simply couldn’t put down. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show notes - 0:00:45 Intro - 0 by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

44 min listen

Mailbag: Hang-ups, Power-ups, and Cheat Codes for Entrepreneurs: Dan & Ian open up the metaphorical mailbag to answer some listener questions. They reveal cheat codes for bootstrappers and how to activate them, the top reasons people can’t scale to 7+ figures, and the difference between F U money and Freedom Line money. All that and more, including a big announcement regarding Ian’s car collection. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingIan) Show notes: (00:01:08) Intro (00:02:42) The ma by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

59 min listen

The Freedom Line, 7+ Figure Founders, and Extended DCBKK Recap: This week Dan & Ian talk about a topic that came up countless times at this year’s DCBKK: Whether to exit or stay in your business. They’ll revisit frameworks from their book Before The Exit and discuss how to figure out what's best for your business. After that, Dan chats with DCBKK Master of Ceremonies Adam Palmeter about his experience at this year’s event compared to years past. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) [@AnythingIan](https://twitter.com/AnythingI by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

66 min listen

Insights from DCBKK 2023: The UI vs API of a Location, How Bootstrappers Are Getting Wealthy, 2024 Business Strategy, and More: Dan & Ian are back in Austin and have fully recovered from what was the biggest event in DC history: DCBKK 2023. Over 400 entrepreneurs gathered in the world-class city of Bangkok to swap stories, participate in masterminds, and fuel each other to reach new business heights in 2024. In the episode, they covered many topics, including a framework for analyzing locations by their UI versus API, why Thailand's UI beats America, and what’s next for DC Black, a community for 7 & 8-figure founders. Dan & Ian also share their biggest conference takeaways, some of their business strategy for 2024, and three trends happening in the community and the industry at large. Stick around for some of their favorite stories from DCBKK 2023. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black] by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

54 min listen

How Anthony Fasano Built a 7-Figure Brand Around a Very Niche Audience: This week, Dan is joined by a listener who wrote in with some compelling insights on community, camaraderie, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Anthony Fosano, founder of Engineering Management Institute, built a 7-figure brand with a coaching business and a YouTube and podcast network that has garnered over 3 million downloads. They cover many topics like how to leverage skills and resources from your full-time job to start your own business, how to build a business around a very niche audience, and why many entrepreneurs might find themselves coming “full circle” in search of community. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynami by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

36 min listen

Hyper Niche Business Ideas with Big End Game Potential: This week Dan invites Dana Lindahl, founder of Legendary Podcasts, as a special guest on the pod. They’ll discuss how you can generate cash flow and demand for your product immediately using cold email and identify high-earning potential business ideas by seeking out hyper niches. They’ll also talk about the difficulties of running service businesses, plus the opportunities and the end games, including a strategy called the “Split and Sale.” Dan & Ian’s Stuff: [The Newsletter](https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe) [“The DC”](https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/) [DC Black](https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) [Global events](https://dynamitecircle.com/events) [Hire remote talent](https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) [Find a remote job](https://dynamitejobs.com/) [Listen on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/) [@TropicalMBA](https://twitter.com/Tropical by Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

49 min listen

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TMBA589: Creating a Software Business Without Technical Expertise

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