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Jon Matzner

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Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your SaaS Stack Is Bleeding You Dry | Lazy Leverage #97Peter and Jon go on a full-throated rant about "tapeworm companies", a term coined by Moses Kagan and adapted from Warren Buffett's original use of the phrase to describe healthcare costs. Here it applies to SaaS tools like Dropbox, Adobe E-Sign, and JotForm: products that embed themselves so deeply into your operations that ripping them out feels impossible, even as prices keep climbing. These companies bet you won't leave, and they've been right. There is an upside of sorts. The switching costs have collapsed. What used to require a six-figure engineering effort can...
2026-02-1241 minNikonomics - The Economics of Small Business
Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business276 - Best of 2025! How Government Backstopping Impacts the Entrepreneurial Landscape with Jon MatznerMY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jon Matzner (https://x.com/MatznerJon). In this episode, we dive into the "Matzner Mind" and Jon’s unique approach to satirizing business influencers and gurus without being malicious. We discuss why building a massive following is often a trap, and why niche communities defined by influence and affluence are far more valuable than broad attention.The conversation heats up when we get into a serious debate about the SBA (Sm...
2026-02-0548 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageEarly Thoughts on OpenClaw | Lazy Leverage #96ChatGPT proved that AI could think with you. OpenClaw shows what happens when it can act for you. Jon and Peter dig into this revolutionary AI that’s doing something fundamentally different. It’s not just answering questions, but taking action, remembering context, and is capable of orchestrating an entire digital life from a single text message. Jon breaks down what makes OpenClaw tick: persistent memory that builds a picture of you over time, the ability to tap into multiple AI models on the fly, and a communication layer that meets you wherever you already live...
2026-02-0459 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageLeadership is a Skill: Why Practice Beats Perfection Every Time | Lazy Leverage #95Leadership isn't a title you inherit. It's a muscle you build through deliberate practice. In this very special episode, Jon opens the doors to Sagan's Emerging Leaders meeting, a live session with Sagan team members that pulls back the curtain on how real leadership development happens in real time! Struggling with feedback doesn't mean you're bad at leadership. It just means you haven't practiced enough yet. Leadership is kind of like going to the gym. Nobody walks in on day one and expects to lift the heaviest weight. Yet too many emerging leaders...
2026-01-2947 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Death of AI Slop: Why Your Business Needs a Human Stamp | Lazy Leverage #94As a business operator in 2026, one of your top responsibilities is to ensure your team knows exactly when AI stops and human judgment starts. Jon and Peter tackle the confusing middle ground between "use AI for everything" and "never let AI touch our work”. Drawing from Peter's engineering background, they introduce the concept of "stamping the drawings". That’s a professional engineering practice where junior staff produces work, but a licensed engineer must review and approve anything load-bearing. Applying that to business, certain outputs demand human oversight. For other outputs, it may not be n...
2026-01-271h 00Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe End of the Full-Stack Salesperson: How Specialization Multiplies Output | Lazy Leverage #93Sales doesn't happen by magic. It happens through deliberately architected workflows. Jon sits down with John Seiffer, author of Output Thinking, who walks through his framework for sales process engineering for small businesses. He breaks down what most companies treat as a black box into discrete, measurable steps: research, marketing, selling conversations, proposals, fulfillment, and account management. Well-designed workflows are not an emergent phenomenon. Just as Henry Ford wouldn't have succeeded by putting talented mechanics in a room and saying "go make cars," modern companies can't rely on generalist salespeople to handle everything...
2026-01-2246 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Three Jobs Framework: Two CEOs Debate What Leadership Actually Means | Lazy Leverage #92What is the actual job of a CEO? Rather than treating leadership as a vague mix of hustle and charisma, Peter and Jon compare two competing frameworks that both come from highly successful operators. Peter argues the CEO’s job is to set the vision, build the team, and make sure the company never runs out of cash. Jon reframes the role as raising standards, increasing focus, and increasing pace. Truth is, there’s no “better” framework. It’s more so about uncovering the deeper principles beneath both models and adapting it to your organization’s current ne...
2026-01-2045 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy AI Adoption Isn't Driving Productivity | Lazy Leverage #91Have you ever bought new tech, spent months implementing it, and seen zero throughput improvement? You’re not alone. It's an age-old problem plaguing small businesses. Whether it's switching property management software or adopting ChatGPT company-wide, the result is the same. Lots of disruption yet no meaningful change. The culprit isn't the technology itself. It's how we deploy it. In the audiobook 'Beyond the goal', Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt identified four critical steps for technology rollout in the Theory of Constraints work, and most businesses overlook at least a couple of them. Step one is...
2026-01-1359 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageDashboards, Scorecards, and the Hidden Psychology Behind Manual Data Entry | Lazy Leverage #90The best operators in M&A make hundreds of millions because they "model deals elegantly," but billionaires "can barely do the math. They just only do deals where they can't lose." At least that’s what Jon and Peter believe. It's Warren Buffett's philosophy in action; that price is your due diligence. Metrics should be entered manually, not automated. The psychological weight of pulling numbers and inputting them weekly creates accountability that automated dashboards never achieve. It's the difference between ownership and passive observation. They distinguish between dashboards (lagging indicators like revenue) and sc...
2026-01-0657 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Barbell Approach to Everything: Business Operations, Media Consumption, and Life Changes | Lazy Leverage #89Peter admits he's stuck in patterns. He’s not quite burnt out, but feeling the weight of deeply grooved neural pathways at 40. Jon responds with what he calls his "wacko" idea: ketamine therapy as a tool for breaking mental ruts. Speaking metaphorically, he says that Ketamine fills in the snow tracks your mind has carved, giving you a chance to create new paths. But only if you do the work afterward, such as therapy, reflection, habit change. Without that follow-through, you slide right back into the same grooves. This leads to their "barbell strategy" for ch...
2025-12-3148 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageHow the 37% Rule Solves Hiring, House Hunting, and Life's Biggest Decisions | Lazy Leverage #88The secretary problem is one of mathematics' most elegant solutions to a universal challenge: how do you know when to stop looking and commit? Peter suggests interviewing 37% of your candidate pool without hiring anyone, then hire the next person who's better than everyone in that first group. It’s a pretty universal tactic, whether we’re talking house hunting, car buying, getting roofing quotes, or even picking a spouse! There are two critical limitations to this, though. First, you need to know the total number of options, whether that's 100 candidates or 25 houses on the market. When...
2025-12-2344 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Single Most Important Business Concept: Theory of Constraints Explained | Lazy Leverage #87The Theory of Constraints is arguably the most powerful framework for small business operations. Yet it's deeply counterintuitive. Jon opens by calling this "the single most interesting concept" he's wrestled with in years, one that sits at the heart of everything he does at Sagan. On a more practical level, Peter sees the concept as answering two critical questions every business owner has: "Why am I not achieving X?" and "What should I work on?" Eliyahu Goldratt's manufacturing classic The Goal might just have the answer: every system has exactly one constraint at any given...
2025-12-181h 15The WallStreetPapi Podcast
The WallStreetPapi PodcastEpisode 40: RIP Four Hour Work Week: The Blueprint to Hiring Top 1% Talent Overseas in 2026 | Jon MatznerEpisode 40! I learned more about hiring in this 30-minute conversation than I did in 4 years of trying to build teams.Jon Matzner went from stopping weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East to helping founders build elite global teams. The guy's built and sold multiple businesses. He knows what actually works.Here's what we cover:→ RIP Four Hour Work Week - why Tim Ferriss's VA model is outdated→ How to avoid getting JV talent when hiring (I've been there, it sucks)→ Smart, hungry, coachable - the only 3 attributes that matter→ Why "different countries are like different musical instruments"→ How Jon's...
2025-12-1622 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Death of Cover Letters: AI, Costly Signals, and the Broken Job Market | Lazy Leverage #86AI has fundamentally broken the traditional job application process. What’s an employer to do? Jon and Peter dissect an academic paper titled "Making Talk Cheap: Generative AI and Labor Market Signaling," which examines how large language models have disrupted markets that historically relied on writing as a costly signal of quality. Specifically, job applications and college admissions. Cover letters used to signal genuine candidate interest because they required significant time and effort to customize. But now, AI can generate personalized cover letters in seconds. Peter immediately connects this to property management, noting ho...
2025-12-1553 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageFloors & Ceilings: The Anti-Perfectionist Framework for Business Owners | Lazy Leverage #85Jon and Peter explore three frameworks that challenge conventional wisdom about running small businesses. They reveal why all-or-nothing thinking kills momentum, when authentic transparency becomes a liability, and how AI is forcing a reckoning with what real value looks like. They unpack what they call the “floors-and-ceilings” concept, which reframes habit building and business processes. Let’s say you’re onboarding a new team member. Your ceiling might be comprehensive task maps and week-long training, but your floor is simply defining what success looks like in six months. Never skip the floor, always aspire to the ceiling. Th...
2025-12-0942 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your Best People Are 8,000 Miles Away | Lazy Leverage #84According to Jacob Kline of Inkline Homes, his remote Filipino team members outperform his local American workers at a fraction of the cost, and they actually ask for more work on slow days. After seven years flipping 300 double wide mobile homes in Florida, Jacob's building something radical at Incline Homes: luxury construction quality at bottom-10% pricing. Think IKEA's disruption of furniture, but for housing. His secret weapon isn't cheaper materials or cutting corners. It's ditching the traditional overhead-heavy construction model for a lean operation powered by global talent and AI. Jacob shares how yesterday's leadership...
2025-12-0443 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageBuilding Internal Software That Actually Gets Used | Lazy Leverage #83Jon and Anna walk through Sagan's dramatic talent pool transformation. From clunky PDFs to a sophisticated searchable platform, they’re demonstrating what modern internal software development looks like in the AI era. The original concept, simply, is that candidates who didn't get hired were already vetted, interviewed, and qualified. Rather than let this "sawdust" go to waste, Sagan created a talent pool where members could hire these candidates for free. One member has made over 20 hires this way! But the initial execution was rough. PDFs scattered across Google Drive, static posts in Circle, an...
2025-11-2113 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Barnacle Problem: Why Your Business Keeps Slowing Down | Lazy Leverage #82Jon and Peter dive deep into a problem every growing business faces: team members saying "I'm too busy" and processes accumulating like barnacles on a ship's hull. More than just a matter of workload management, this issue is about the fundamental architecture of how work gets done. So what exactly makes up these "barnacles"? According to Jon, it’s threefold: outdated forms, irrelevant marketing copy, and processes that solved problems from three years ago but nobody remembers why they exist. Peter connects this with the principle of Chesterton's Fence. That is, never remove something until yo...
2025-11-2045 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageRadical Candor Across Cultures: High Care, High Honesty | Lazy Leverage #81Jon sits down with Sagan’s Head of Recruitment, Sofía Bravo, to talk about what American team leaders often overlook when working with people from Latin America. Sofía identifies the Latin American default: when something goes wrong, the immediate response is performative work: lengthy reports, detailed timelines, exhaustive documentation. These are all designed to prove effort was made. The fear, especially among junior employees, drives them to muddy the waters with complexity rather than deliver clear, confident analysis. Problems arising from this phenomenon often stem from a fundamental misunderstanding about what managers want. When...
2025-11-1420 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageSpecific, Shared, Supported: The Leadership Standard That Actually Works | Lazy Leverage #80Christian Ruf, special operations veteran turned executive search leader, delivers a masterclass in expectation-setting that exposes why most delegation fails before it begins. Effective leadership, according to Christian, rests on four pillars: feedback, accountability, consistency, and expectations. But expectations come first. Without clear standards, the other three collapse into subjective interpretation and frustration. Christian's three S's framework cuts through management theory bloat: Specific means zero room for interpretation. "End of week" becomes "Friday 3PM PST, PDF format, in my inbox." The rule of thumb is to ask, “Could a four-year-old understand it?” Shared understanding give...
2025-11-1117 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageCareer Transitions Without Burning Bridges | Lazy Leverage #79Jon and Peter tackle two challenges facing successful entrepreneurs: being truly present with family despite physical attendance, and navigating career transitions without severing valuable connections. Ever felt "a million miles away at work” when spending time with family? You’re not alone. It’s a common paradox that many an entrepreneur has to deal with. That “paradox” of being present in body when you’re out with family, but absent in mind because all you’re thinking about is work. The entrepreneurial personality that drives business success (obsessive, curious, relentless) becomes the enemy of presence. Entrepreneurs...
2025-11-0647 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageMilitary Leadership Meets Small Business Operations: Why Former Operators Make Perfect GMs | Lazy Leverage #78Jon sits down with Christian Ruf to discuss why labor-intensive small businesses need both affordable global talent and battle-tested leaders who thrive in chaos. Christian’s specialty is recruiting former military personnel. He’s not just thanking veterans for their service, but also solving a specific problem for lower-middle-market companies stuck between drowning in operations and being unable to  afford a $250K president. Christian personally experienced the ego death necessary to understand what small business operators actually need. After all, he’s flown helicopters in special operations and power-washing patios for country music stars, earning more th...
2025-10-3033 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Strategic Partnerships Beat Membership Drives | Lazy Leverage #77Jon and Peter tackle the hardest pivot for operator-minded entrepreneurs: recognizing when systematic optimization becomes a distraction from strategic leverage. Peter's consulting for AppFolio, a publicly-traded property management software company with thousands of customers in Crane's exact target market. He's speaking on stage with their CMO at conferences. Yet, up till recently, he was still grinding through membership drives like a bootstrapped startup. Jon's intervention is part confrontation, part masterclass in "deal guy" thinking. While Peter was perfecting his systems, Jon believed he was overlooking the partnership that could deliver more members in one email...
2025-10-2851 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe New Manager's Dilemma: Why You Can't Review Every Email | Lazy Leverage #76Jon coaches Priscilla, a first-time manager at Sagan, through one of management's fundamental challenges: being accountable for everything while not doing everything yourself. Priscilla manages six recruiters and struggles with the classic new manager trap: when something goes wrong, she pulls control back and starts reviewing every email. Jon introduces the Marine Corps concept of "directed telescopes," where managers selectively sample their team's work rather than monitoring everything. Instead of being CC'd on every email, he advises Priscilla to periodically dive deep into specific projects, checking calendars, reviewing select emails, and asking targeted questions during one-on-ones. This...
2025-10-2330 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageBuilding Software Your Team Actually Uses | Lazy Leverage #75Jon and Peter crack open the real opportunity in AI for small businesses (hint: it's not what most operators think). Forget personal productivity hacks that save you five minutes on email. Forget launching the next big SaaS product that becomes a customer support nightmare. The gold sits squarely in category two: internal tools for your team. Jon's built $50-100K of monthly value at Sagan using Replit and some API connections. Not by selling software, but by solving their actual constraint: screening 1,000 applicants for a single role. What used to take a week and a...
2025-10-2151 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Crane Break: Why Taking a Month Off Reveals Everything Wrong With Your Business | Lazy Leverage #74Jon and Peter explore how stepping away from your business acts as the ultimate forcing function for operational excellence. Peter's "Crane break" concept (taking a month off annually) isn't about vacation; it's about exposing every bottleneck, dependency, and broken process that keeps you chained to daily operations. By putting the break on the calendar five months out and announcing it to his team, Peter creates urgency around solving constraints. First it's password resets. Then payroll. Then exception handling. Each solved constraint buys more freedom. Jon introduces a crucial framework: businesses exist to serve their owners...
2025-10-1545 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe High-Pay Debate: When to Invest in Expensive Talent | Lazy Leverage #73Jon and Peter debate their contrasting approaches to building teams in small businesses. Jon champions a "build" philosophy - hiring entry-level talent, particularly global workers, and developing them into leaders over time. His approach is deeply influenced by Marine Corps culture, particularly when it comes to indoctrination, loyalty, and creating a distinct organizational ethos. He’s never hired a six-figure employee outside of commission-based salespeople, preferring to cultivate talent from within. Peter takes the opposite stance with a "buy" strategy, bringing in experienced professionals who command higher salaries but deliver immediate results. His engineering background sh...
2025-10-0142 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your Team's AI Tools Are Still Just Fancy Shovels (And How to Force the Bulldozer) | Lazy Leverage #72In this episode, Peter sits down with Jon Matzner to discuss the integration of artificial intelligence in small business operations. They begin by exploring the host’s day-to-day challenges and how to stay on top of AI implementation within his own company. Jon shares how Sagan uses AI to streamline processes and emphasizes the importance of founders being actively involved in meaningful AI adoption. They also discuss how to differentiate between tactical and strategic uses of AI to create real value. The conversation dives into the need for a strategic vision to guide AI projects an...
2025-09-121h 00Multiply Your Success with Dr. Tom DuFore
Multiply Your Success with Dr. Tom DuFore274. Using Global Talent to Outpace Competition—Jon Matzner, Co-Founder, SaganHave you thought about hiring help internationally in the past, but didn’t know how to do it? Or maybe you tried working through an international virtual staffing company and found it did not work out as you had hoped? Our guest today is Jon Matzner, and he shares how he helps business leaders hire top talent globally. TODAY'S WIN-WIN:The Bruce Matzner Ratio: dollars earn, to days in flip flops.LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:Schedule your free franchise consultation with Big Sky Franchise Team: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. You can...
2025-09-0832 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageFrom Wall Street to Water Heaters: The Counterintuitive Playbook for 4x Growth in 3 Years | Lazy Leverage #71Jon sits down with Aizik Zimerman, who bought J. Blanton Plumbing three years ago at $6 million in revenue and has since grown it to a $25 million run rate—without acquiring a single company. His secret? He doesn't think he runs a plumbing company at all. "We're a consumer sales and marketing business," Aizik says. "We just happen to install plumbing." This mindset shift explains why he has two full-stack developers, a fleet of overseas recruiters, and runs 10 marketing events per week across Chicago. Jon talks to Aizik about his unconventional approach to the skilled labor sh...
2025-09-0551 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Cold Calling Property Owners is Like Asking if Their Pipes are Leaking | Lazy Leverage #70Why do some businesses thrive on cold outreach and educational content while others find these tactics completely ineffective? Peter draws on his own recent experience where, despite running monthly webinars all year with heavy promotion across multiple channels, his property management company barely attracts 20 live attendees (half being employees). Meanwhile, a hastily organized webinar for his other audience of property management business owners pulled 250 attendees with minimal effort. "You can't cold call somebody and say, 'Hey, do you have any leaky pipes?'" Jon quips, making the point that property management marketing differs from other...
2025-08-2941 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your 100-Person Newsletter Beats a 100,000-Person Audience (And Commands 10x the Price) | Lazy Leverage #69Jon and Peter crack open one of the most perplexing puzzles in modern B2B marketing: why Peter's tiny 15,000-subscriber newsletter drives a significant fraction of what Daring Fireball makes with 2.5 million monthly visitors. And why Shaan Puri, with his top-10 business podcast, converted exactly 6 customers from 550 referrals to Somewhere. The conversation starts with their origin stories - Jon's 2009 CrossFit philosophy blog that got him flown places at 24, Peter's Twitter journey that Moses Kagan pushed him into -but quickly evolves into something more profound. They're seeing a fundamental shift in how skeptical business owners make purchasing decisions...
2025-08-1649 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageA Peak into Strategy - Good or Bad Idea? | Lazy Leverage #68Jon and Peter dive into one of those ideas that sounds crazy at first but might actually be brilliant: buying luxury vacation properties as a business expense that doubles as a killer member benefit. Jon's been noodling on this concept for months, and it's finally survived his brutal idea-filtering process (which involves annoying everyone from his CFO to random Twitter buddies until the bad ideas die off). Here's the pitch: Sagan would purchase several properties—think ski chalets, beach houses, maybe something in Mexico—and offer them to members at 50-75% below Airbnb rates. The kicker? Thanks to b...
2025-08-0939 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe StoryBrand Framework: Why Your Marketing Message Is Confusing Everyone | Lazy Leverage #67Jon sits down with Wes Gay, a StoryBrand certified consultant who's been living and breathing the framework for almost a decade. He’s here to break down why most business messaging falls flat (and how to fix it). The conversation dives deep into the seven-part StoryBrand framework, which treats your customer as the hero of their own story while positioning your business as the guide. Wes walks through each step: hero (your customer), problem (what they're struggling with), guide (you, with empathy and authority), plan (clear steps to success), call to action (what they should do next), an...
2025-07-311h 03Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your AI and Automation Projects Keep Failing (And How to Actually Make Them Work) | Lazy Leverage #66Jon sits down with Brian Wilson, a retired Marine Corps Major who now heads Sagan's Knowledge and Automation group, to break down why most business owners are terrible at implementing AI and automation (and it's not for the reasons you might think). Right off the bat, Brian gives us a reality check: most people creating content about AI and automation have never actually turned wrenches in a real business. They're content experts, not practitioners. He shares stories from live training sessions where it takes 23 minutes just to get someone to admit what their actual problem is, because...
2025-07-2443 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Reality of Small Business Litigation: Defense, Offense, and Everything In Between | Lazy Leverage #65Jon and Peter tackle one of the most stressful parts of running a business that nobody talks about: getting sued. Or threatened with lawsuits. Or dealing with angry lawyers sending nasty letters demanding ridiculous amounts of money. It happens to almost every business owner, but nobody shares war stories because of shame, legal settlements with gag clauses, and the general awkwardness of admitting you're in legal hot water. Jon and Peter break that silence with practical advice from the trenches. They cover how to tell the difference between someone who's actually dangerous (rich people who...
2025-07-221h 07Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageDon’t Just Solve the Problem - Solve It Forever | Lazy Leverage #64Peter unpacks what he learned from taking a full month off (his fourth annual sabbatical) including what worked, what didn’t, and how stepping back clarified his relationship with work, team leadership, and systems. Spoiler: nothing broke. The business ran just fine. And that’s the point. Jon and Peter dive into how structured time off isn’t just a luxury - it’s a leadership test. It exposes whether your team and systems are truly ready to stand without you. But it also creates clarity: Over time, through his yearly retreats, Peter rediscovered the joy of m...
2025-07-1747 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageLooking Beyond VAs: Building Leaders, Not Just Task-Doers | Lazy Leverage #63Hiring a VA is easy. Turning them into a leader? That’s where most founders stall out. Jon and Binsi unpack how to stop recycling task-doers and start developing talent, explaining why reframing roles is the first step toward long-term leverage. Jon breaks down the difference between delegation and development, while Binsi - Sagan’s newly minted managing director - shares firsthand what it looks like to grow from an assistant role into real leadership. Together, they walk through the cultural, structural, and emotional shifts that separate low-autonomy task-doers from high-impact operators. They explore why titl...
2025-07-0334 minFounder Secrets with Taylor and Flaviu
Founder Secrets with Taylor and FlaviuE103: Jon Matzner on scaling a global talent on demand with SaganJon Matzner shares his journey from government work to entrepreneurship, discussing the importance of building a global team and the innovative membership model of his company, Sagan. He emphasizes the challenges of scaling small businesses, particularly in the home services sector, and the role of AI and automation in transforming traditional business practices. Matzner also highlights the significance of co-founders, effective communication, and productivity hacks for entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of modern business.TakeawaysEntrepreneurs often come from diverse backgrounds, including government roles.Building a global...
2025-06-2743 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageArchitecting Work: The Blueprint for Scale, Sanity, and Leverage | Lazy Leverage #62Jon and Peter explore a deceptively simple but powerful concept: architecting how work gets done. Inspired by Profit Coach and shaped through years of trial and error, it’s more than systems and tools - it’s about intentionally designing workflows that enable scale, accountability, and freedom. They start by defining what “done” looks like, then dive into tools like swimlane diagrams, task maps, and online forms - essential for hiring, training, delegation, and AI. Leverage doesn’t begin with tech - it starts with basics, like removing your phone number from the website so work flows through sy...
2025-06-1942 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe 4-Level System That Lets You Take a Month Off Every Year | Lazy Leverage #61While a ton of business owners today are chasing the next AI hack or automation craze, Jon and Peter return to a foundational truth: leverage isn’t a tactic - it’s a philosophy. Today they’re talking about “Matt’s Hierarchy of Leverage,” a napkin-sketch turned mental model that redefines how small business owners should think about time, talent, and tools. Rather than obsessing over AI for AI’s sake, they explore leverage as a quiet system of compounding returns: replacing complexity with clarity, chaos with delegation, and brute effort with thoughtful structure. At its core, the...
2025-05-2855 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageTrust at Scale: How Content Compounds When You Do It Right | Lazy Leverage #60In a time where brands everywhere churn out content for clout, Jon and Peter make the case that there is power in focusing on niche over noise. They talk about the difference between running a media business—one dependent on clicks, views, and CPMs—and running a business powered by media. The latter isn’t chasing virality. It’s using content to build trust at scale, with the right audience. A single engaged viewer—one potential customer who finds real value—can be more powerful than 50 million passive scrolls. This mindset reframes media from a vanity metri...
2025-05-2248 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Hidden Power of Low Leverage (And How to Use It Strategically) | Lazy Leverage #59In an age obsessed with scale, speed, and leverage, it’s easy to forget that the best long-term advantage might come from doing the exact opposite. Call it the "Low Leverage Advantage." When you're early in your career—or launching something new—there’s a strong case for diving into the work yourself. Not delegating. Not automating. Just doing. Need to onboard a new sales team? Write the first 20 cold DMs yourself. Building a new ops process? Sit next to the team member buried in outdated workflows and fix it together. Why? Because high lev...
2025-05-1658 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your Business Problems Are Actually Leadership Problems (And How to Fix Them) | Lazy Leverage #58Most small business owners think leadership is instinctual—something you figure out once you’re “in charge”. But if your managers act like friends, choke on tough conversations, or drown their teams in bureaucracy—you've got a leadership gap that’s preventing you from taking your company to the next level.. Today, Jon and Peter break down why leadership is taught, not caught. Their message is simple: great companies don't just promote top performers and hope for the best. They train leaders the moment they’re knighted into management—and they make the expectations painfully clear. It’s not enou...
2025-05-0544 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy “Just Slack Me” Doesn’t Work Globally (and What to Do Instead) | Lazy Leverage #57Most business owners don’t think they have a “culture problem.” But if your team misses deadlines, seems afraid to speak up, or quits without notice—you’ve got one. This isn’t a vibes issue. It’s a systemic one. Today Jon sits down with Sagan’s Head of Product, Binsi Das, to break down the hidden culture traps that derail global teams. Here’s what’s happening: you’ve built a company with an egalitarian mindset—flat structure, open feedback loops, lots of autonomy. But half your team comes from hierarchical, low-context cultures. In many of these countri...
2025-04-2544 minAcquisition Collective
Acquisition CollectiveScaling to $5M Without U.S. Employees – Jon Matzner’s BlueprintLearn to leverage international talent to grow and scale your business, In this episode, John Matzner shares how he scaled multiple companies using a global talent, automation, and systems thinking.From replacing entire departments with international hires, to using automations that save hundreds of hours, to raising capital through immigration-linked investments—this conversation is a blueprint for founders who want to build real, scalable businesses instead of jobs that trap them.We talk about how to:✅ Hire smarter (not cheaper) from around the world✅ Systematize your company to reduce founder dependence✅ Use AI as yo...
2025-04-241h 00Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Notebook LM Might Be the Sleeper AI Tool of the Year | Lazy Leverage #56Google quietly dropped an AI tool that could replace half your tech stack. Its name? NotebookLM. Think ChatGPT, but with deep integration into your documents and a smarter memory. You can feed it PDFs, YouTube transcripts, Google Docs, or even random web pages. From there, it becomes like a supercharged research assistant that not only remembers what you’ve uploaded but cites it like a pro. Sure, there are a couple of downsides: as of now, sharing is limited to people on the same Google Workspace, and there’s no API. But the upsi...
2025-04-1844 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageStop Using AI to Make Horses Faster: Design for the Future Now | Lazy Leverage #55AI isn’t here to replace your team—it’s here to give them time back. Join Jon and Peter as they explore how the right interfaces and integrations can supercharge productivity across your org! Jon kicks things off by sharing his vision: every new client should get a completely customized front end tailored to their needs—think “cars, not faster horses.” He and Peter riff on the challenge of AI adoption at the ground level—how time-starved teams struggle to learn new tools—and the importance of delivering point solutions that are simple, embedded, and immediately...
2025-04-1046 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageHow Lovable Can Save You Hundreds of Hours on Your Web Development | Lazy Leverage #54Imagine having a fully-functional website or landing page created in seconds, simply by transcribing your thoughts, turning it into a prompt, then hitting Enter. Oh, and you don’t have to spend a cent to make it happen. Now stop imagining. Enter Lovable, your “superhuman AI full stack engineer”.  Today, Jon gives us a brief, yet life-changing overview of Lovable as he helps Peter build a custom CRM in real time.  Jon walks us through just a few of the outputs that Lovable can make possible, from mortgage calculators to hiking trail ap...
2025-04-0355 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageIdentifying Business Constraints: The Strategic Framework Behind Landy Leads | Lazy Leverage #53Ever wonder what happens when an entrepreneur stops trying to do everything and finds the right vehicle? Brandon Parker was juggling multiple businesses when he met Jon two years ago. Now he's running a team of 40+ and crushing it with Landy Leads. In this conversation, they break down exactly HOW that transformation happened. You'll learn why constraint-based thinking is the key to rapid growth, how to leverage global talent effectively, and the power of systems like Airtable for scaling operations. Plus, discover the "make errors visible" approach to building better processes and why your current tech stack might be...
2025-03-2652 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageRebuilding a Business with AI and Global Talent | Lazy Leverage #52From Northern Ireland to navigating a PE buyback, Cathryn Lavery brings her raw, unfiltered take on building businesses in 2025. Join Jon as they geek out over AI tools, debate the death of the traditional EA role, and reveal why 'smart, hungry, coachable' beats experience every time. Plus, learn why your $85k/year US marketer might be in trouble (and what to do about it). Pure value, zero BS. TIMESTAMPS (00:39) Introduction and Guest Welcome (01:20) AI in Personal & Professional Life (06:50) Voice Technology and Content Creation (10:35) Buying Back the Business (13:28...
2025-03-1851 minBeyond 8 Figures
Beyond 8 FiguresHow to Use Global Talent & Automation to Scale Your Business with Jon Matzner💡 Think hiring global talent means outsourcing to low-level VAs? Think again. Jon Matzner shares a game-changing approach to hiring and automation that can actually help you scale.🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: ✅ The biggest mistake founders make when hiring global talent ✅ How to structure your team for high-leverage growth ✅ Why media leverage (like Twitter & newsletters) is an untapped goldmine ✅ Jon’s personal journey from government work to business ownership ✅ The first step you should take TODAY to buy back your time🎙️ Listen now and start scaling smarter!📩 Get Jon’s newsletter → Lazy Lever...
2025-03-1242 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhen to Cancel Projects and Refocus Your Team | Lazy Leverage #51 What happens when you tell your entire executive team that all their projects are cancelled? Jon Matzner did exactly that, and the results were shocking. In this episode, Jon and Peter Lohmann dive deep into the art of extreme focus, why most businesses are working on the wrong things, and how to identify what actually moves the needle. Plus: fascinating insights on the Toyota Way, why some fires need to burn, and the infamous jazz cup jacket story you didn't know you needed to hear. Timestamps (00:31) Introduction  (01:20) Focusing on Constraints (03:33) The Importance of Prioritizing Ta...
2025-03-1144 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageRethinking Business Communities: What Makes Them Work in 2025 | Lazy Leverage #50Want to know what's really happening in the world of B2B communities? Jon and Peter pull back the curtain on how they're building multi-million dollar business communities that are making traditional trade associations obsolete. They reveal their strategy for using AI to circumvent legacy software, share insider tips on community building, and discuss how to use capital to accelerate growth. Warning: This episode might make traditional SaaS companies uncomfortable. Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to Lazy Leverage (02:27) Discussing AI in Business (04:33) Challenges with traditional SaaS (09:36) Innovative Solutions for Data Management (11:26) The Future of Vertical...
2025-03-041h 03Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageContent, Consulting, and Franchising: A Discussion with Patrick | Lazy Leverage #49In this candid conversation, Patrick (formerly known as Franchise Wolf) opens up about his evolution from anonymous content creator to co-founder of Frandawgs. Learn why he initially hid his identity, how he grew his audience through strategic storytelling, and the unexpected lessons he learned about monetization in the B2B space. A masterclass in pivoting from pure content creation to building a real business. Follow Patrick on X or FranDawgs.com TIMESTAMPS (00:25) Introduction and Background  (06:22) Launching Frandawgs: The New Vision  (10:20) Content Strategy Deep Dive (19:00) The YouTube Opportunity (27:25) The Journey from HV...
2025-02-2746 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your Best Hire Might Know Nothing About Your Industry | Lazy Leverage #48Ever hired someone with 'perfect experience' only to watch them fail? Justin Brown, Director of Operations at Zen Windows, shares how they transformed their hiring process by focusing on three key attributes instead of industry experience. Learn how they turned a guy with zero window knowledge into their Installation Manager superstar in just 7 days, and why their global talent strategy is crushing traditional hiring methods. Timestamps (00:26) Introduction to Justin Brown and Zen Windows (01:39) The "Smart, Hungry, Coachable" Hiring Philosophy (06:36) Fast Hiring vs. Slow Hiring Debate (11:06) Success Stories with Global Talent (16:01) Building...
2025-02-2129 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Daily Brief Method: Adapting White House Systems for Business | Lazy Leverage #47Ever wonder how the President stays on top of everything? Jon and Peter break down how to adapt presidential-style daily briefs for your business, plus share raw insights from their recent entrepreneur retreat. From brand building to managing global teams, they reveal what actually works (and what doesn't) in running a growing company. Timestamps (00:31) Welcome  (02:28) Customizing The Executive Brief (12:49) The One-Number Management Philosophy (17:17) Hiring for Specific Roles (21:03) The "Death Zone" in Business  (24:30) The Power of Branding in Business (29:19) Challenges and Reflections of Entrepreneurs (40:30) Chat GPT Integration Tips  (46:35) Wrap Up
2025-02-1447 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageOrganization Without Perfection: A Practical Look at GTD | Lazy Leverage #46This is a follow-up conversation from episodes #38 and #39. Stop drowning in your inbox and start taking control of your workflow. Jon and Neel tear down the myths around GTD and show you exactly how they implement it in their multi-million dollar businesses. They reveal their personal systems for managing everything from quick tasks to complex projects, and share why the traditional approach to productivity is killing your success. Whether you're running a global team or just trying to get your shit together, this conversation will completely change how you think about organization. TIMESTAMPS (00:20) Introduction...
2025-02-0454 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Power of Operational Efficiency in Modern Business | Lazy Leverage #45Think disrupting real estate is impossible? Amanda Orson, founder of Galleon, explains how being an outsider gives her the edge to challenge a 112-year-old industry. From military school lessons to ancient philosophy, discover how unconventional thinking drives innovation. Jon and Amanda dive deep into operational efficiency, the future of AI, and why most businesses miss obvious opportunities for transformation. Plus, get book recommendations that have shaped their entrepreneurial journeys and learn why sometimes the best qualification is having no industry experience at all.   Timestamps (0:00) Welcome and Introduction  (02:38) Military Background and Business Philosophy  (07:00) The...
2025-01-3050 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Role of Context in Remote Team Performance | Lazy Leverage #44Ever wonder why some businesses seem to run like clockwork while others are constantly putting out fires? Jon and Peter break down the real reason - it's not what you think. From customer avatars to remote team management, they share battle-tested strategies that actually work in the real world. Plus, they reveal a game-changing approach to building context in remote teams that could revolutionize how you run your business.   TIMESTAMPS (00:31) Show intro  (02:03) Defining the sweet spot: Between startup and Fortune 50  (03:30) Property management challenges  (07:09)  Trade-offs in business structures  (24:50) Breaking down context buildi...
2025-01-281h 08Lazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageHow This Youth Soccer Franchise Owner (Soccer Shots) Unlocked Global Talent | Lazy Leverage #43Discover how a Buffalo-based youth soccer program is revolutionizing their operations with global talent. Jon breaks down the journey from local to global teams, sharing practical strategies for elevating your senior staff while maintaining quality. Learn the 'Gordon Ramsay method' of letting your best people focus on high-value work.   Timestamps (0:22) Introduction to Mark and Soccer Shots background (6:33) Overview of global talent responsibilities (9:00) Discussion of global talent cost savings (11:55) Strategies for recruitment coordination (17:32) The "bang the gong" recruitment strategy (35:40) The journey of business systemization (37:23) Discussion of starting new v...
2025-01-2348 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageBuilding an Efficient DSO Through Global Talent with Dr. Dave Ensley | Lazy Leverage #42"We can't find enough dentists" is the cry echoing across the industry - but Dr. Dave Ensley's group is crushing it with a revolutionary approach to talent. In this episode, discover how his DSO grew to $70M by reimagining traditional roles, leveraging global talent, and embracing automation. Dave breaks down exactly how they built successful teams in Mexico, Pakistan, and the Philippines, reveals the costly mistakes most practices make with global hiring, and shares his blueprint for creating a sustainable dental business. Plus, learn why paying more could actually be the key to solving your hiring challenges.  
2025-01-1757 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageLeading Global Teams: Context Over Control | Lazy Leverage #41Think remote teams can't be as effective as in-office ones? Think again. Jon and Peter break down the counterintuitive strategies that have helped them build world-class remote teams, including the game-changing '10/80/10 framework' and why context matters more than control. Plus, they reveal the innovative ways they're using AI and rotational assignments to create unstoppable remote cultures. Whether you're managing one remote employee or fifty, this episode will transform how you think about remote leadership. Timestamps: (00:40) Show format and authenticity in podcasting (03:48) Media leverage and content creation (10:35) The 10/80/10 framework for content...
2025-01-1559 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageFinding Balance: A Year-End Reflection | Lazy Leverage #40What happens when you strip everything away except your top two priorities? Jon opens up about his year of extreme focus, sharing both the wins and uncomfortable sacrifices. Then, he and Peter geek out about the digital power tools revolutionizing business operations, including their secret weapons for automation and productivity. Whether you're struggling with work-life balance or hunting for tech solutions to scale your business, this raw and practical discussion delivers the insights you won't hear anywhere else. Timestamps (00:33) New Year kickoff (02:30) Dan Gable's influence on prioritization (04:00) The cost of extreme focus (08:50...
2025-01-0951 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Surprising Truth About Why Your To-Do List Isn't Working (And How to Fix It) [Part 2] | Lazy Leverage #39This is part 2 of a 2 part episode. Check out part 1 first! Ever wonder how top entrepreneurs manage dozens of projects without losing their minds? In this deep-dive episode, Jon Matzner reveals his secret weapon: the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. Watch as he transforms a chaotic email inbox into a streamlined system that actually works. Whether you're drowning in tasks or just tired of forgetting important details, this conversation will revolutionize how you think about productivity. Timestamps (0:26) Introduction  (0:39) Next Actions (To-Do) vs. Projects  (06:21) Creating Actionable Next Steps  (08:55) Building Your Mas...
2025-01-0242 minPeter Lohmann\'s Podcast
Peter Lohmann's PodcastThe Season 4 Finale with Jon MatznerIn this episode, I am joined by Jon Matzner. We discuss our new podcast, called Lazy Leverage!   We discuss: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:08) - Updates and announcements (00:03:28) - Introducing Lazy Leverage (00:06:55) - Twitter/X (00:20:31) - The Email disagreement (00:28:37) -Tool Recommendations Building your own yacht article: https://mailchi.mp/e2d02a4dcc8a/creating-your-own-yacht   ⁠Listen to the Lazy Leverage Podcast ⁠PLAUD.ai Learn more & connect with me here: ⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management...
2024-12-3033 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Surprising Truth About Why Your To-Do List Isn't Working (And How to Fix It) [Part 1] | Lazy Leverage #38From email overwhelm to project mastery - this episode is your roadmap to stress-free productivity. Join Jon Matzner as he breaks down the exact system he uses to manage multiple businesses while maintaining his sanity. You'll discover why your mind isn't for storing ideas, how to build a system you can trust, and the shocking truth about why your current to-do list is holding you back. This isn't just another productivity hack - it's a complete paradigm shift in how you manage your work and life. Timestamps (00:26) Introduction  (03:15) GTD Philosophy  (04:45) The Importance of Having a...
2024-12-2648 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThis Ex-MLB Player's Secret to Running his Thriving Koala Insulation Franchise (Without Being Trapped By It) | Lazy Leverage #37Meet Brandon Beachy, former Atlanta Braves pitcher turned successful business owner, who transformed his Koala Insulation franchise using global talent. Learn how he went from struggling with basic business operations to running a streamlined company by leveraging remote teams in Argentina and Colombia. Brandon shares practical insights on transitioning from professional sports to entrepreneurship, and how finding the right support system allowed him to build a business that serves his life, not the other way around. Timestamps (00:26) Introduction and Baseball Background  (02:16) The Decision to Leave Professional Sports  (09:34) Why Koala Insulation? Choosing th...
2024-12-1855 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageWhy Your Service Business Needs Manufacturing Principles (And How to Apply Them) | Lazy Leverage #36Sagan's Head of Operations Hugo shares how manufacturing principles can revolutionize remote work, why trust trumps experience in global teams, and how to empower (not just delegate to) your international workforce. Learn how he transitioned from traditional manufacturing to leading a 50-person global team in just 50 days.   Timestamps (00:22) Introduction and Hugo's background  (01:25) Hugo's passion for lean manufacturing  (04:36] Operational excellence as differentiation  (08:40) Quality control in service vs manufacturing  (11:25) Leading team transitions and respecting history (12:58) Building trust in remote teams  (15:47) Documentation and communication practices  (17:49) Rapid integration of new leaders...
2024-12-1131 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Boy Who Cried Deadline | Lazy Leverage #35When a key team member leaves, should you take it personally? Jon and Peter explore opposing views on employee loyalty, deadline management, and what it really means to build a sustainable business in today's environment.   Timestamps (00:34) Welcome and Show Introduction (01:05) Key Team Member Departure Discussion (04:06) Small Business Backup Systems (09:14) Remote Work Possibilities (13:11) Managing Employee Departures (21:53) The Deadline Discussion (27:20) EOS and Priority Management (31:00) Calendar Management Strategies (37:34) Business Competition Philosophy (40:18) YouTube Channel Recommendations   St...
2024-12-0444 minLaunch Today
Launch TodayLaunch Today Ep #31 with Jon MatznerWelcome back to another episode of Launch Today, the go-to podcast for early-stage entrepreneurs aiming for that coveted $1 million mark in annual revenue. This episode is particularly special as we tap into the wisdom of a seasoned expert in the field of startups, technology, and media.Guest Introduction: Jon Matzner• Co-Founder of Staken Passport• Serial Entrepreneur• Innovator in Global Hiring and Knowledge ManagementKey Topics Discussed:• Jon's fascinating career transition from working with the state departme...
2024-12-0341 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageStop Writing SOPs Before You Hire (and Other Uncomfortable Truths) | Lazy Leverage #34This is the raw, unfiltered conversation about what actually works in property management. Jon and Peter share their biggest revelations about leadership, systems, and why being 'fair' to all clients might be your biggest mistake. Plus: The uncomfortable truth about why your top clients keep leaving (and what to do about it).   Timestamps (00:00) Introduction and recent wins (02:00) Debunking the "you need an audience" myth (06:07) New approach to SOPs and documentation (11:40) Developing people vs. developing processes (00:19:22) Management dynamics (00:28:45) Premium service tiers discussion (32:00) C...
2024-11-2755 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageStop Trading Time for Money: A Consultant's Guide to True Leverage | Lazy Leverage #33Sick of trading hours for dollars in your consulting business? You're not alone. Join Jon Matzner and Dan Kirner as they rip apart the traditional consulting model and show you exactly how to build real leverage. Through real-world examples and zero-fluff strategies, they reveal how to spot golden opportunities in your market, transform your services into products, and scale without losing your mind. Whether you're just starting out or looking to break through your current ceiling, this episode is your blueprint for consulting that actually scales.   Timestamps: (00:00) Welcome and Dan's Background (00:32) From Time-for-Money t...
2024-11-1934 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Hidden Truth About Your Email Problem (And Why It's Not About Email) | Lazy Leverage #32Ever wonder why your inbox feels like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole? Join Peter Lohmann and Jon Matzner as they expose why email overload is actually a symptom of deeper business issues. Through candid conversation and real-world examples, they demolish common productivity myths and reveal their battle-tested system for taking control of your communication. From the controversial truth about quick response times to the game-changing difference between tasks and projects, this episode delivers actionable insights that will transform how you work. Whether you're drowning in notifications or just tired of email running your life, this is the wake-up call...
2024-11-1456 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageStop Having Your Best People Do Everything: A Guide to Work Design | Lazy Leverage #31Jon Matzner and Peter Lohmann break down the art and science of 'architecting the way work gets done' - a crucial skill for any business owner looking to scale. From handling employee resistance to identifying bottlenecks, learn how to design work systems that unlock growth while keeping your best people happy. Plus: sneaky tips for spotting AI responses in hiring, and game-changing iPhone features you didn't know existed.   Timestamps (00:00) Intro and casual catch-up  (04:15) Understanding "architecting the way work gets done"  (11:40) The Henry Ford approach to work design  (15:45) Why...
2024-11-0834 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageHow to Hire Global Talent Like a Pro with Anna Doshlygina | Lazy Leverage #30Ever wonder what happens when you mix Moscow State economics, Oklahoma middle school, and global talent acquisition? Meet Anna, Sagan's secret weapon in member success. In this no-BS conversation, she breaks down why some businesses crush it with global talent while others barely scratch the surface. From navigating cultural bridges to building trust-based partnerships, Anna shares the unfiltered truth about what makes global hiring work. Whether you're a startup founder or running a PE firm, this episode is packed with actionable insights that'll transform how you think about global talent integration.   Timestamps (00:00) M...
2024-11-0633 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageBreaking Free from the MORE MORE MORE Trap | Lazy Leverage #29Ever wonder how top performers actually work less while achieving more? In this episode, Jon Matzner and Peter Lohmann dive deep into the counterintuitive world of 'lazy leverage,' where working at 80% effort yields better results than grinding at 100%. From project management approaches using Slack to the power of seasonal thinking in business, they share battle-tested strategies for maximizing output while minimizing stress. Plus, discover why your best ideas might come while sitting in a hot tub (seriously). Whether you're a CEO looking to work smarter or a team leader seeking better systems, this episode is your blueprint for...
2024-10-3153 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Four Data Systems: A Framework for Scaling Team Communication | Lazy Leverage #28In this episode of Lazy Leverage, Jon and Binsi tackle the universal challenge of scaling team communication beyond the 30-person mark. They break down their revolutionary "four data types" framework - database, reference, ad-hoc, and project-based communication - while exploring how to effectively leverage tools like Slack, Airtable, and Notion. Through practical demonstrations and real-world examples, they show how to transform chaotic communication into streamlined project management, complete with insights on their preferred GTD-inspired workflow and an innovative approach to KPI-based team organization. Timestamps (00:00) Introduction and Greetings (01:28) Consolidating Information
2024-10-2432 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageHiring Hacks Unlocked: Debunking Recruitment Myths with Sofia Bravo | Lazy Leverage #27In this insightful and candid episode, Jon Matzner teams up with Sofia Bravo, Sagan's Head of Recruitment, to dissect and debunk common hiring pitfalls. They explore why traditional job titles and strict budgets might be holding companies back, emphasizing the power of clear role descriptions and the right attitude over rigid experience. Expect real talk about the recruitment process, from the importance of responsive hiring practices to innovative strategies that ensure top candidates don't fall through the cracks. And stay tuned for some fun discussions about potential off-sites in Mexico!(00:00) Introduction (01:10) Sophia's Background...
2024-10-2220 minOwned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast
Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast#148 - Using Global Talent to Outpace Competition with Sagan's Jon MatznerIn this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack are joined by Sagan’s Jon Matzner to talk about the use of global talent and hiring overseas to enhance business operations, beyond just saving costs. What is the importance of systemization and automation in building a high-leverage business model?Jon also goes through the evolution of the Sagan system, which starts with global talent as an entry point and extends to include automation and decentralized leadership. What are the dynamics of remote hiring, the role of AI in augmenting job roles, and the changing landscape of ta...
2024-10-2235 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageThe Hustler’s Handbook: Scaling, Sales, and Street-Smart Tactics with John Kelly | Lazy Leverage #26Get ready to dive into the real-talk playbook of entrepreneurship and scaling your business with Lazy Leverage! In this episode, we kick it with Jon Matzner and John Kelly to talk about nailing customer acquisition and converting leads in the power washing game. We’ll spill the secrets on remote sales hires, building a killer team from scratch, and sidestepping the common traps in hiring. Learn to streamline your operations, sharpen your sales structures, and deliver pricing presentations like a pro. Plus, get raw wisdom from Mike Costigan on showing up on time, reading body language, and mastering the do...
2024-10-1752 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageLeverage Like a Pro: From AI Tools to Client Hustle | Lazy Leverage #25Welcome back to Lazy Leverage! In this episode, Peter and Jon break down how to maximize your personal and professional life with killer strategies and AI tools. They dive into leveraging teams and systems to handle life's hiccups, boost productivity with Whisper Flow and Audio Diary, and even how limited-time offers can skyrocket your sales. Get the lowdown on engaging clients, personalized outreach, and maintaining exclusivity while expanding your community. Learn from real-life scenarios and high-value tactic, that can help you crush your goals and scale up smartly. Through...
2024-10-1527 minPeter Lohmann\'s Podcast
Peter Lohmann's PodcastThe Value of Pushing Work Down with Jon MatznerIn this special episode, I am joined by Jon Matzner, Cofounder of Sagan Passport   We discuss: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:43) - Jon’s background and career (00:03:12) - Jon’s barbell strategy for talent (00:08:00) - Matzner’s Hierarchy of how work gets done (00:14:12) - What have you learned about delegating from reading about the Marine Corps? (00:21:10) Sponsor: Property Meld (00:22:59) - Career learnings (00:38:32) - Investing approaches (00:41:11) - Sponsor: Second Nature (00:43:01) - What are the companies with the best global talent...
2024-07-311h 04Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business
Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business12 - When Insanity Meets Genius: A Wild Business Talk with Jon Matzner🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨In this episode of Nikonomics, host Nik, sits down with Jon Matzner, founder of Sagan, to discuss the innovative ways his company is disrupting the global talent market. From hilarious anecdotes about dog funerals to deep dives into business models, this conversation is packed with insights and humor. John shares his journey of building a $2.4 million ARR business in just 100 days using Twitter and his vision for the future of global talent hiring. Tune in to learn about the Costco model for hiring, the importance of ope...
2024-05-2337 minTalk Of The Trades
Talk Of The TradesWorld Wide Team Building for a Competitive Edge with Jon Matzner | Lead IN Podcast Ep.09Welcome to another episode of our transformative business podcast, where our guest Jon Matzner will guide us as we bridge the gap between borders and bring you insights from the frontlines of remote workforce integration. Today's episode is a deep dive into how small businesses can scale up by embracing a global talent pool. Join us as we navigate the strategies and stories of success that redefine what it means to be a modern small business. Episode Highlights: - 00:03:25) Global Talent vs Outsourcing:Uncover the crucial distinctions between traditional outsourcing and the...
2024-04-0332 minThe Freedom Formula Podcast: Achieving Financial, Location and Time Freedom
The Freedom Formula Podcast: Achieving Financial, Location and Time Freedom139. How to Test New Biz Ideas and Then Go All In, with Jon Matzner from Sagan PassportIn this episode, Neel sits down with Jon Matzner about his entrepreneurial journey and the launch of Sagan Passport. Jon emphasizes the importance of iterative experimentation and finding variations on a theme. He shares his mindset when testing new ideas and the value of being flexible and adaptable. Jon also explains the concept of Sagan Passport, which offers a suite of hard and soft benefits for hiring global talent. Neel and Jon discuss: Iterative experimentation and finding variations on a theme can lead to successful business ideas. ...
2024-03-2026 minBeyond 8 Figures
Beyond 8 FiguresUnlock Global Talent to Win Locally with Jon Matzner of Lazy LeverageSuccessful entrepreneurs, like our guest Jon Matzner, realize the power of stepping outside their local bounds to find and leverage global talent. Today, Jon sits down with A.J. to discuss how venturing beyond local boundaries can give your business a massive advantage at home. They also talk about Jon's experiences living and working abroad, his transition from government to Main Street business, and his approach to creating leverage in his businesses.About Jon MatznerJon Matzner is an accomplished business leader and former national security professional who divides his time between Dubai, UAE, and...
2024-03-2045 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageDigital Hustle: Mastering Marketing with Jon & Mike | Lazy Leverage #20Mike has taught me more about REAL entrepreneurship than anyone other than my Dad. Mike and I have worked together for almost 7 years, and talk pretty much every day. He's "never had a real job since he was 18", has had multiple exits, has tried to retire twice but got bored, and is a great friend and mentor. He has created a new retargeting service, that I am customer of, and has been crushing for us. Full disclosure - If anyone signs up off my twitter, he has to send me a Lou malnati's Pizza - so I am just...
2024-03-1441 minConstruct Your Life With Austin Linney
Construct Your Life With Austin LinneyGlobal Leadership for Business Growth with Jon Matzner | Construct your life #611EPISODE SUMMARY: Meet Jon, a man whose impressive pivot from the sphere of national security to the vibrant world of business growth is nothing short of remarkable. Sporting a mustache that rivals the greats, Jon captivates us with his tales of leveraging global talent to catapult sub-$50 million revenue businesses into a league of their own. With a knack for dispelling myths about international hires, he offers a fresh lens through which to view the collaborative potential that lies beyond our borders, proving that the world is indeed smaller than we think. JON'S BIO:
2024-03-0628 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageBuilding Business Leverage | Lazy Leverage #15In this episode, I connect with Peter Lohmann (@pslohmann), a significant figure in the SMB space known for his deep insights and influential presence. Our discussions on small and medium business (SMB) issues have always been enriching, prompting us to record our latest conversation for a broader audience. We dive into the concept of building business leverage, discussing everything from the nuances of high-leverage work to the practicalities of hiring and employee management across various business sizes. Through our conversation, you'll discover: 00:00 - Reconnecting and setting the scene for our discussion on...
2024-02-0541 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageDigital Operations | Lazy Leverage #14Join me in a fascinating conversation with Michael Greenberg (@gentoftech), a brilliant mind and frequent collaborator who often experiences the spontaneous "Jon treatment" — impromptu Zoom calls to dissect various business concepts. This time, we hit the record button on one of our dynamic discussions, covering the expansive terrain of digital operations and automation. We delve into how the digital operations toolkit, encompassing AI, automation, and the strategic use of global talent, is revolutionizing business practices from the core. Through our conversation, you'll discover: 00:00 - Kicking off with an introduction of my guest, Mi...
2024-02-0545 minLazy Leverage
Lazy LeverageOutput Thinking: Buckets (Part 3) | Lazy Leverage #8In part three of my insightful conversation with @BetterCeo, we dive into the final installment of our discussion celebrating the launch of his new book, "Output Thinking." The conversation takes an unexpected turn right from the start, as I find myself disagreeing with Jon within the first 30 seconds. Our focus on the 'buckets'—essential outcomes for any organization—reveals profound insights into aligning business strategies with the owner's ultimate goals. Through our conversation, you'll discover: 00:00 - We begin with an introduction and a light-hearted disagreement on the concept of 'buckets' in business. 00:00 - Expl...
2024-02-0534 minDavid C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMB
David C Barnett Small Business and Deal Making M&A SMBLIVE- Jon Matzner And The Boomer Bummer SmallBizJon Matzner and the Boomer Bummer SmallBiz! New Livestream guest- Jon Matzner I’m happy to have Jon join me on a live broadcast. Jon has bought a business, grown it to over 25 locations. He’s got a big social media following and speaks often about entrepreneurship through acquisition. Tune in and we'll be discussing The Boomer Bummer! AKA- What happens when you do a dumb deal in the SMB world. This is a ‘must see event’ for anyone who lacks real world business experience but still wants to pursue a highly-leveraged acquisition transaction. Find Jon online at https://twitter.com/Matz...
2024-02-051h 04The Easy Button Real Estate Podcast
The Easy Button Real Estate PodcastState Department to 7 Figures (Jon Matzner) - Pt 2This week's show is one of my favorites to date. I sat down on my floating "studio" with Jon Matzner, a friend & mentor whose years in the CIA & with the state department have helped him develop an understanding of people, processes, & systems. This is a two-part interview, I hope you enjoy Jon's perspective on scaling & overseas talent!👇🏻 Claim your FREE copy of the blueprint that allows us to generate 30-100 leads daily:https://www.offmarketoperator.com/join-group?el=pStay Connected: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson/https://twitter.com/coler...
2023-07-2728 minThe Easy Button Real Estate Podcast
The Easy Button Real Estate PodcastState Department to 7 Figures (Jon Matzner) - Pt 1This week's show is one of my favorites to date. I sat down on my floating "studio" with Jon Matzner, a friend & mentor whose years in the CIA & with the state department have helped him develop an understanding of people, processes, & systems. This is a two-part interview, I hope you enjoy Jon's perspective on scaling & overseas talent!👇🏻 Claim your FREE copy of the blueprint that allows us to generate 30-100 leads daily:https://www.offmarketoperator.com/join-group?el=pStay Connected: https://www.instagram.com/coleruudjohnson/https://twitter.com/coler...
2023-07-2433 minReal Estate Rockstars Podcast
Real Estate Rockstars Podcast1128: The Easy Way to Start a Property Management Company With Jon MatznerTired of relying on commissions for your livelihood? Listen to today’s podcast with Jon Matzner and learn how to add a new stream of reliable revenue to your real estate business with property management. In addition to sharing the easy way to get started in property management, Jon offers tips for streamlining any type of real estate business. Jon also gives advice on working with global talent, explains how to buy an existing business, and covers ways to ensure that every marketing dollar spent is put to good use.
2023-03-1750 minThe Cash Flow Contractor
The Cash Flow Contractor153 - Stay One Step Ahead with Jon MatznerBusinesses are constantly playing catch-up, but there is one that is always, inevitably, out in front: the business of being different. Listen in as Khalil talks with Jon Matzner about utilizing new tools and technology, capitalizing on specific niches, leveraging overseas talent, and staying one step ahead of the game.Time Stamps00:43 - ChatGPT as Magnifier of Human Output03:52 - Jon Matzner's Entrepreneurship Journey05:21 - Dubai's Business Culture11:01 - From Foreign Service to Home Improvement Business12:43 - Half Old Job, Half What You Want to Be Doing19:18 - Riches in the Niches21:39...
2023-03-031h 09