Dan Simkins - Podcast Details

Shows

TechVibe PittsburghPittsburgh Startup Helps Businesses Make Sense of AI and Emerging TechnologiesIn a world where technology evolves faster than most businesses can adapt, discover how AI isn't about replacing workers, but empowering them to do more meaningful work. TechVibe welcomes Dan Simkins and Doogie Levine from the consultancy ATiiD to explain their approach to helping businesses integrate AI into their operations, emphasizing the importance of a strategic roadmap that considers both technology and human factors. They'll highlight a successful case where AI automation increased customer-facing time by 300% for a sales team. The conversation also touches on the importance of future-proofing systems to adapt to evolving AI t...2025-03-2322 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#796 Bigger Business = More Freedom?Dan sits down with Neel Parekh (CEO of MaidThis Franchise) to talk about the shifts that drive real business growth—why decision-making matters more than productivity, how time compression accelerates success, and why bigger businesses can create more freedom. They dive into the power of accountability, hiring smarter, and using personal branding to attract the right opportunities. Plus, Neel shares how he scaled through franchising—an unconventional path for a lifestyle business—balancing hustle, risk, and long-term rewards. What’s missing in your business that’s keeping you stuck? Connect with 1000+ global founders running profitable online businesses without sa...2025-02-2749 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder LifestyleBonus Pod: Inside the DC in 2025The team takes you inside the DC. Who we are, what to expect, and how you can grow your business with the support of other founders on the same journey. Connect with 1000+ global founders running profitable online businesses without sacrificing their unique lifestyles. Join Dynamite Circle. (https://dynamitecircle.com/) CHAPTERS (00:03:36) Introduction to DC (00:05:11) Genesis of DC (00:06:55) Culture & Composition (00:09:59) Application Process and Vetting (00:19:06) Events and Networking Opportunities (00:25:20) Support for High-Level Founders (00:29:14) Joining the Dynamite Circle CONNECT Email Dan “at” tropicalmba dot com Foll...2025-02-2531 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#795 "The Tailwind Index" & Dodging Business BlindspotsThe stories we tell ourselves shape our businesses—but how much of it is true? External validation, from market response to honest feedback, is key. Dan & Jeff break down common entrepreneurial mistakes, business strategy, product-market fit, sales, opportunity assessment, and why knowing your numbers (even without a finance background) matters. P.S. Still taking all the sales calls for your business? You need a wingman. CHAPTERS (00:02:43) Building entrepreneurial endurance (00:03:35) It's easy to be dishonest with yourself (00:06:49) Tailwind index helps assess market needs (00:15:43) Focus on solving immediate pain points (00:18:38) Communicate ef...2025-02-2041 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#794 Success Without Sacrifice?Dan breaks down five key mindset shifts for business owners in the thick of the growth grind. Inspired by Alex Hormozi’s tweet on sacrifice, he explores what it really takes to succeed—reflecting on courage, relationships, and balance—with actionable takeaways to stay productive and happy. Book referenced in the episode is The Power to be Disliked. Connect with 1000+ global founders running profitable online businesses without sacrificing their unique lifestyles @ dynamitecircle.com. CHAPTERS (00:00:35) Hormozi’s 10-year formula for success (00:04:29) “The Courage to Be Disliked” (00:11:01) Change your relationships (00:15:12) Accept your respons...2025-02-1326 min

POWER PlayersShowcase #4 - Daniel Simkins & Doogie Levin, Co-Founders of AtiidIn this interview, Dan Simkins and Doogie Levine, the founders of Atiid, discuss the role of artificial intelligence in the business world and how their company helps organizations implement AI technology effectively. They share their insights on the current state of AI in business, the potential it holds, and their plans for expanding their client portfolio in the coming year. The founders emphasize that businesses are beginning to recognize the impact of AI, but the biggest hurdles they face are a lack of understanding and unrealistic expectations about what AI can currently achieve. Atiid positions itself between tool creation and...2024-12-1638 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#780 How do you grow from 7 to 8 figures?Dan & Ian talk to Lucas Peters, founder of Journey Beyond Travel, about his plans to get to $10M in 5 years. They break down the business and shift thinking from a project-oriented mindset to an approach rooted in financial analysis: What are your gross margins? What does it take to aquire a customer? What is your rebuy rate and LTV? They consider the highest leverage paths to growth. Want to get in the company of other entrepreneurs to help you kickstart your 2025 goals? Submit your application to join Dynamite Circle at https://dynamitecircle.com/ 2024-11-0741 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#779 The 3 hats of bootstrapping + Insights from DCBKK 2024Dan and Ian discuss the importance of three key executive roles—CEO, COO, and CFO—within bootstrapped businesses, emphasizing the need for founders to embrace responsibilities beyond visionary tasks. They share insights from this year’s DCBKK and a sneak peek into the upcoming DC Black event in New York. (00:00:22) Welcome and Introduction (00:01:03) The Three Hats of Bootstrapping (00:09:51) Trends from DCBKK Event (00:12:34) The Importance of Financial Planning (00:19:30) LinkedIn as a Top Funnel Tool (00:22:50) Reflections and Future Events Useful links: Access our free business resources Connect with other entrep...2024-10-3128 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#778 - Agencies vs. Products + What Happened in the Amazon Aggregator Space?This week’s episode is for the business finance and idea nerds. We’re joined this week in a business breakdown session with Alexej Pikovsky of Alphawellbrands.com. Alexej raised 4MIL to build a CBD marketplace. They were forced to pivot and have currently acquired an Amazon FBA brand and started up a success agency in the process, the combined revenue of both is on track to be over 4MIL this year. We’ll dig into the Peter Paul problem– how to choose where to focus your energy when you have multiple businesses? We’ll al...2024-10-2452 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#777 Create and Communicate an Offer (That Doesn’t Suck) in 30 MinutesSelling your product or service requires using words to convey what you offer. But words alone don’t convert on-the-fence prospects into paying customers. Great conversion copy is a mix of persuasion, UX, and decision-making psychology. Sound hard? We promise it isn’t. Chris, the founder of Conversion Alchemy, takes us for a deep dive into all things copywriting and how the power of your messaging can impact your business growth, for better or worse. Plus, he shares a simple five-step copy audit process that transforms agency websites into lead generation machines, with principles you can...2024-10-1736 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#776 The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I’ve Learned From My Coaching ClientsDan and Ian talk to 100s of listeners a year via 1:1 coaching. In this episode they distill those calls into 4 breakthrough ideas that can change your quarter for the better. Newsletter subscribers will get our GPS (Goals/Plans/Systems) worksheet. Sign up for the newsletter. Takeaways ● Be sure you pack enough underwear for your next trip abroad. ● Getting aligned on goals is easy, but aligning on plans is hard. ● Hiring should be based on unique business needs, not generic roles. ● Confidence is essential for entrepreneurs, especially in challenging times. ● Discipline in financi...2024-10-1030 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#775 A Business Idea That Might Actually WorkDan considers why many of us are resistant to a certain type of business idea even when it’s been proved time and time again. He’ll also explore that often what stands between your business and positive change is some structured thinking. Lastly, we’ll hear from a listener who’s working to take his lifestyle brand to $1M and what his plans are to get there. Featured in this episode: Founder Robby McClung of the McClumsy lifestyle brand. This week’s episode brought to you by Smash Digital. They’ll bu...2024-10-0351 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#774 “You’re Gonna Mess It Up The Way Everybody Messes It Up”Dan paid big money for a business coach who only gave him one piece of advice. Listen to the episode to find out what it was and if it worked. Connect with us: Dan: @TropicalMBA or dan@tropicalmba.com Ian: @AnythingIan or ian@tropicalmba.com Chapters (00:00:22) The Perfect Storm for Entrepreneurs (00:03:41) Introducing the System (00:05:37) Implementing the System in Your Business (00:06:50) Defining Roles and Outcomes (00:09:51) The Hiring Process Revolutionized (00:11:01) Performance Conversations and Team Dynamics (00:12:53) Leveraging the System for Business Growth (00:16:37) Recap and Final Thoughts 2024-09-2618 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#773 6 Keys to a Successful Bootstrapped BusinessDan & Ian get real about what it takes to create and maintain a successful business. They’ll walk you through their Goals/Plans/Systems (GPS) worksheet that’s specifically designed to help you plan for business growth. They use it with their coaching clients on a weekly basis. Newsletter subscribers can download and complete their very own GPS worksheet. Through completing this worksheet, you will: Discover key insights about the state of your business that you probably didn’t realize before Define clear goals for your business moving forward Develop a plan based on your h...2024-09-1935 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#772 “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers“Manager mode is so tempting…” Dan & Ian discuss Paul Graham’s most recent essay titled “Founder Mode”, and how lifestyle bootsrappers can harness the power of founder mode to grow their businesses. They’ll also address a question they get asked all the time: “But when is my LTV good enough?” How to figure out your LTV to CAC ratio and more in this week’s episode. Subscribe to the newsletter to access Dan & Ian’s business resources used with their coaching clients. Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. This week’s episode brought to you by Remote First R...2024-09-1229 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#770 You Don’t Have an Operations Problem. You Have a Sales & Marketing Problem.Many founders think they have an operations problem - delivery, trust, staffing, leadership. But Dan thinks you might actually have a sales & marketing problem. Dan & Ian also talk about becoming better leaders and how to fight against the erge to control your team. Last but not least, Dan shares the invaluable relationship advice he learned from President Barack Obama and reflects on the benefits of owning a lifestyle business when it comes to parenting. Want to work through your current challenges with Dan & Ian? TMBA listeners can apply to get business coaching from...2024-09-0526 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#770 $30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 YearsThis founder started an Upwork agency less than 2 years ago and is making $30K a month… JUST on Upwork alone. We talk about how to take it to $80K a month and beyond in the next year. In this week’s newsletter, we include our ICP exercise. Your next breakthrough in under 30 minutes. TMBA email subscribers can also apply to get business coaching from Dan & Ian live on the pod (it’s free). Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. Today’s guest is Phil Kuehnen, founder of Rev Gravy. Connect with us...2024-08-2927 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#769 - $100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It?These co-founders want to more than triple their revenue in the next 12 months. Despite stagnation the past few years, they believe they can get there. Dan & Ian dissect their plans to achieve this goal and offer some counterintuitive advice. They cover repackaging a product for a higher cost, focusing on your premium customers, and how to lead a sales call. In this week’s newsletter, we include our favorite resources for getting started with sales calls. TMBA email subscribers can also apply to get business coaching from Dan & Ian live on th...2024-08-2246 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#768 “Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business”Go from being trapped in the job you’ve built for yourself to building a wealth-generating machine. Dan & Ian challenge service businesses to determine their LTV to CAC ratio so they can improve their cashflow and run a “real” business that gives them the lifestyle they want. Calculating the LTV to CAC ratio may sound hard (and boring), but it’s no harder than solving all those other things you’re struggling with in your business. Also, Dan’s hot take on the digital nomad ratio and being “relatively” wealthy. Plus, one lucky listen...2024-08-1537 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#767 “1,000 Customers from One Channel”Dan & Ian talk to a listener who’s running a SaaS business that within one year got to $8K MRR. The business is full of potential and opportunities, but the risks involved with having all of your customers come from one channel looms heavily in the background. They discuss topics like how to build relationships with customers, increase average cart value, how to grow your business when you’re not a sales and marketing expert, and more. Dan & Ian brainstorm ideas about how this founder can future-proof his business while still maintaining his ideal lifestyle. 2024-08-0848 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#766 “I’m Scared to Raise the Price”Dan & Ian talk to a listener who’s running a $1M D2C e-commerce business about the challenges and opportunities he faces as he plans for future growth and a potential exit down the road. They discuss topics like decreasing customer acquisition costs, increasing profit margins, the absolutely essential role of a CFO, and not letting your passion for the product get in the way of your growth. At the end of the call, Dan & Ian will recommend key next steps this founder should take in order to scale their business effectively and aggressively. ...2024-08-0136 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#765 Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato DoTackling 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.co...2024-07-2534 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#764 The 5 Approaches for Getting Rich + Budgeting for WealthWe 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...2024-07-1842 min

Think Big with Dan & QasimThe Natural Path to Success: A Conversation with Natural Way Food Group Co-Founder Austin SimkinsIn this enlightening episode of "Think Big with Dan & Qasim," we are thrilled to welcome Austin Simkins, the innovative Co-Founder of Natural Way Food Group. Austin shares his journey of creating a company dedicated to producing natural and healthy food products that cater to the growing demand for wholesome and sustainable options. Join us as Austin discusses the inspiration behind Natural Way Food Group, the challenges he faced in the food industry, and the innovative strategies that have driven the company's success. He delves into the importance of natural ingredients, sustainability, and meeting consumer needs in building a trusted...2024-07-1315 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#763 10 ideas for businesses seeking $1 Mil in RevenueIn 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 St...2024-07-1146 min

North Boros BeatLooking into the Future with the Avonworth Historical SocietyHave an idea or comment for North Boros Beat? Click here and let us know.Judy talks with Tracy Ferguson, Dan Simkins, and Lynn Evans of the Avonworth Historical Society about future plans. Long-time President Tracy will hand over the reigns to Dan. As plans for the new headquarters at 7119 Church Avenue move forward, we share memories of the former Elste’s Market, a centerpiece of Ben Avon life for many years.Avonworth Historical Society7119 Church AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15202Email - director@avonworth-history.orgWebsitewww.Avonworth-history.org...2024-07-1031 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#762 Winning and Losing Millions with Nathaniel EliasonThis 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...2024-07-041h 02

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#761 - Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the GoalDan 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 2024-06-2733 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#760 - The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for BootstrappersDan 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 ...2024-06-2051 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#758 - The Secret Weapon to Pricing PowerDan and Ian explore the concept of power in business and how businesses can transition from being a grind for the owner to having sustainable pricing power. Derived from the book 'Seven Powers' by Hamilton Helmer, they delve into the idea of cornered resources as a source of power and discuss examples of cornered resources such as patents, unique brain trust, and exclusive partnerships. You’ll be challenged to consider how you can identify and leverage counter positioning, networked effects, distribution, and brand to sustain margins and pricing power over time. This is an...2024-06-0642 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#757 - How Healthy is Your Business?Dan and Ian challenge listeners to answer five questions about your business that will help you evaluate how healthy your operations are. They cover everything from doubling down on what’s working best to effective resource allocation and working “on” your business instead of “in” your business. You’ll also be challenged to ask yourself: “What would a skilled entrepreneur do with my business?” Take out your pens and notepad (very important), and consider this episode a free coaching session and a little taste of DC Accelerator. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Befo...2024-05-3042 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#756 - The Million Dollar Service Business PlaybookIn this week's episode Dan and Ian discuss the importance of the concept of Labor Efficiency Ratio (LER), to scale your business to a million dollars in revenue. They highlight the challenge of transitioning from being a craftsperson to a CEO and the importance of building a profitable business model that can operate without the founder's constant involvement. They continue this concept by focusing on the importance of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) in growing a business. Having someone to provide structure and make data-driven decisions can lead to some shocking discoveries and...2024-05-2346 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#755 - Run Any Business With Just Two Simple ThingsDan reflects on his trip to Mexico last week where he hung out with 200 founders and listeners of the pod. Vulnerability, lessons from exiting a business, and a secretive membership called “being parents” were common themes. Another major topic was the launch of our new coaching program, DC Accelerator. Dan talks about how getting to $1M and beyond takes not just willpower or desire, but most importantly, it takes discipline. He shares the two tools required to run a business of any size. Whether you’re a 1-person operation of have 1000’s of employees, these two tools re...2024-05-1632 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#754 - Mastering Consistency with Adam GilbertHealth and wellness is the ultimate productivity hack, impacting every aspect of life. Adam Gilbert, founder of My Body Tutor, discovered that consistency is key, and accountability, mindset, and personalized plans help clients stay on track. It’s also what sets his business apart. My Body Tutor has been generating demand for their service for 17 years, having a flawless reputation, and obsessively focusing on getting clients results. In this episode Adam shares his strategies for pricing demand, how to handle client churn, and balancing family life with his passion. Dan & Ian’s St...2024-05-0947 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder LifestyleLessons From an 18-Month Trip Around the World on $100 a DayThis 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...2024-05-0244 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#752 The 1 Million Dollar QuestionCrafting 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...2024-04-2545 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#751 “The Death of the Follower” + How I’d Make $250K in 3 Days a WeekIs 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....2024-04-1834 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#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: Be...2024-04-1130 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#749 Do Things That Don’t ScaleIn 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...2024-04-0447 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#748 Three Phases to 1 MillionDan and Ian discuss the different phases of bootstrapping a business and the common challenges that arise at each stage. They walk through three phases: Zero to $250k “Mindset”; $250k to 1 million "We're seeking a reliable/repeatable source of new customers"; and $1 million + "We need to hire, fire, improve/change team members more effectively”. They 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 profes...2024-03-2842 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#747 Quiet Crypto, The Demand Question, and Difficult Decisions ft. Jordan GalDan 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events 2024-03-211h 01

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#746 “Full-Service Agencies Are Out” & Other Productized-Service IdeasDan & 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 “The DC...2024-03-1454 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#745 “3 Million in Revenue is a Death Zone" - Financial Strategy with Greg CrabtreeTransitioning 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.2024-03-0744 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#744 How Transparent Should You Be? Thoughts on Queen Bee Roles & a Ticket GiveawayThis 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Show Notes (00:00:41) Intro (00:01:33) Busine...2024-02-2941 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#743 Spotting Taboo Business Ideas Through the Overton WindowGoing 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. ...2024-02-2253 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#742 A Podcast About Shiny Object SyndromeDan & 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Show Notes: (00:00...2024-02-151h 04

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#741 The Roadmap for Turning a Skill Into a 1M+ Productized ServiceIn this episode Dan uncovers The Ultimate TMBA Business: a productized service business built 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 service that he’s doubling every year because of his precise lead generation strategies and very clear goals. In this episode, Tom gives us a roadmap for turning a skill into a powerful productized service business. Plus, how he avoids the distraction of other ta...2024-02-0847 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#740 The Anti-Agency Agency + High ROI Customer AcquisitionVince 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. Th...2024-02-011h 26

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#739 The Three Horsemen Holding Your Business Back from Breakthrough with Mike MichalowiczDan 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 “The DC” DC Black Global e...2024-01-2551 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#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 creati...2024-01-1835 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#737 Business Basics: Revenue Durability, “Small” Goals, & High-Leverage MeetingsToday 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire...2024-01-1133 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#736 How to Have Your Best Year $$$Wise EverThis 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...2024-01-0433 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#735 An 8-figure exit and revisiting the 1,000-day principleCan you make a life-changing decision based on assumptions 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. 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 p...2023-12-2851 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#734 Non-Obvious Ways to Grow Your Business + Favorite Moments of 2023As 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 H...2023-12-2156 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#733 End-of-Year Brainstorming, Goal-Setting, and a Mexico MeltdownDan & 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 abou...2023-12-1436 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#732 Can Org Charts Be Sexy? + NYC Drinking StoriesDan & 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Show Notes: ...2023-12-0740 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#731 Special Edition Pod: Meet us in MexicoIn 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Show notes: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:57) Meet us in Mexico Links: Ge...2023-12-0509 min

Movie Deputy REVIEWSAdventures In Babysitting (1987)Babysitting, the first job for many of us... has never been like this... Original Review: Babysitting is dangerous. Wait! What? This isn't Chris Parker's first rodeo when it comes to babysitting and yet this time it's a whole new ballgame. Originally Chris was supposed to go out on the town with her boyfriend until he canceled on her at the last minute. Instead, she agrees to babysit Sara and Brad Anderson which ends up being a different kind of night out on the town. Everything seems to be going well until Chris gets a call f...2023-11-3007 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#730 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...2023-11-3045 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#729 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote j...2023-11-2344 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#728 Mailbag: Hang-ups, Power-ups, and Cheat Codes for EntrepreneursDan & 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Show...2023-11-1658 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#727 The Freedom Line, 7+ Figure Founders, and Extended DCBKK RecapThis 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job...2023-11-091h 05

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#726 Insights from DCBKK 2023: The UI vs API of a Location, How Bootstrappers Are Getting Wealthy, 2024 Business Strategy, and MoreDan & 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 fo...2023-11-0254 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#725 How One Entrepreneur Built a 7-Figure Brand Around a Very Niche AudienceThis 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 sear...2023-10-2635 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#724 Hyper Niche Business Ideas with Big End Game PotentialThis 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 “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote...2023-10-1949 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#723 4 types of business coaches for 7+ figure founders and reflecting on our 15-year partnershipIan and Dan agree that partnerships can create polarized outcomes, either leading to a successful collaboration or a complete failure, depending on a few essential factors they’ve learned over the years. Find out whether they think business partnerships are a net positive or negative amongst the most successful businesses we've seen, and why every partnership would benefit from a business coach. Stick around for a free business idea ripe for the taking. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: The Newsletter “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent 2023-10-1234 min

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#721 Dissecting the American Dream & Business Lessons from the Elon Musk BioDan & Ian react to a viral article that asks the question: Does the American Dream still make sense in 2023? They point to the internationality of the concept, and muse about how the American Dream is changing and how it’s particularly relevant to digital nomads and founders. Dan also gives a rundown of the Elon Musk bio and extracts the business lessons he gleaned from the book. Lastly, with DCBKK less than a month away, Dan & Ian reminisce about why they started this event in Bangkok over 10 years ago, and why it’s still worth the trip. 2023-09-281h 03

Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle#718 Lucy Bella Simkins Built a YouTube Channel with 10,000,000 SubscribersYouTube creator, English teacher, and CEO Lucy Bella Simkins joins Dan on the pod to share some of the behind-the-scenes challenges, strategies, and reflections on turning a passion project into one of the world’s largest language learning YouTube channels and a thriving 7-figure+ business. She also shares the challenges and pitfalls of building an operation of 15 team members capable of turning viewers into customers. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: The Newsletter “The DC” DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagra...2023-09-0750 min

Oh! What a lovely podcastThe Contemporary Image of the Junior British OfficerWhat did it take to be a good junior officer in the First World War? This month, Chris, Angus and Jessica speak to Charles Fair about the development of junior officer training in the war. Along the way we discuss the significance of the Territorial Force, which schools had officer training corps and the definition of a 'temporary gentleman'. References Blackadder Goes Forth (1983) Charles Fair, Marjorie's War: Four Families in the Great War 1914-1918 (2012) Charles Fair, 'From OTC to OCB: The Professionalisation of the Selection and Training of Junior Temporary Officers During the Gr...2022-04-0158 min

Front Row: Archive 2012Antony Gormley; the man behind Angelos Epithemiou revealedWith Mark Lawson, including an interview with the The Angel Of The North sculptor Antony Gormley as a new exhibition, Still Standing, opens in London and a project about Beckett called Godot Tree is unveiled in Enniskillen.In an exclusive interview the creator of chat show host Angelos Epithemiou, Dan Renton Skinner, reveals for the first time the inspiration behind his comedy character.Jason Manford is currently starring as an Italian barber in Sweeney Todd yet despite having presented The One Show briefly, the programme does not appear in his credits. Actor Michael Simkins reflects...2012-07-1229 min

Front Row: Archive 2012The Boxing Day QuizIt's the Boxing Day Quiz, as question-master Mark Lawson poses cultural brain-teasers to test the knowledge of two teams.Historian Antonia Fraser, actor Dan Stevens and crime-writer Mark Billingham compete against playwright Roy Williams, comedy performer and writer Natalie Haynes and actor Michael Simkins.Producer Claire Bartleet.2011-12-2628 min

The Zicree Simkins PodcastEpisode 19 – Barbara Nance and Dan Truly (1:31:29)Barbara Nance (X-Files, Blade, Army Wives) and Dan Truly (Blade, Law and Order: SVU) have been slogging it out in the TV-Writer trenches for years. In this week’s discussion they unload a lot of personal history, insights and advice for anyone interested in the current state of dramatic television. http://homepage.mac.com/dleesim/episode19_dan_truly_and_barbara_nance.mp3 Download the mp3 Note: Right-Click in Windows or Control-Click in OS X. 2008-08-0300 min