Startup Fuckup

Not giving campaigns enough time to succeed, the misconception that operating a purposeful business comes at the expense of reduced profit, impact storytelling, greenwashing, and inauthentic brand values are just some of the things we discuss in this episode. Chase Friedman shares his experience and lessons from transitioning his career in film to running a successful marketing agency for social i...

Firing a bad client, under pricing, and scope creep are just some of the things we discuss in this episode. Tune in to hear Jared Brookes share his experience and lessons learned getting his photography business off the ground. About Jared Brookes For over 6 years, I've been a content creator in Toronto. I've published work, started with Bars & Restaurants, grew The Porch from 5k to 15...

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: How to approach delegating tasks. Goal Setting (OKRs + SMART) Team Meetings.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Effective leadership vs. management. Servant leadership. How to motivate your team. Employee retention. Communicating & providing feedback.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Culture vs. Mindset vs. Skill fit. Behavioural vs. Situational Interview questions. STAR Framework for behavioural interviews. Understanding what to look/listen for. Reference checking.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Building your brand as an employer. Potential channels for talent acquisition. Advise around attracting the right talent.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: What constitutes company/organizational/workplace culture. Push vs. Pull values. Wrong and right ways of approaching Diversity & Inclusion. How to build an aligned team, and what to align for if you're pursuing diversity of thought and opinions.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: How to decide if something should be automated vs. delegated. How to approach automation while staying human. The Focus Funnel (by Rory Vaden)

Hiring the wrong people, AI and automation in recruitment, screening candidates, diversity & inclusion and more. Tanya Abbey and I discuss core concepts around attracting, engaging, and retaining the right talent for organizations. About Tanya Abbey Tanya Abbey is the CEO of Recruitcorp (National and International Permanent Recruitment) and the CEO/Founder of the Candidate and Career Consultin...

It's become easier than ever to start an eCommerce business. That said, a business that has to manage quality control, inventory, distribution, logistics, all whilst balancing customer satisfaction in an increasingly demanding market isn't without its own unique set of challenges. Join Irina and I in a discussion about eCommerce mistakes, hear her personal story of starting her first business in C...

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Types of competition. Approach to differentiation. Strategies to defend yourself from encroaching competitors.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: The difference between kindness vs. niceness. How to reject or say "no" supportively. Being authentic yet considerate in providing feedback/critique.

Hustle culture means well but is often implemented without the right checks and balances which result in a workplace that's unhealthy and toxic. Hear Say share her personal experience with burnout, what she's learned about managing stress, and how organizations should approach designing workplace culture to account for stress + burnout. About Sayata (Say) Gabriel I help businesses maximize the pow...

Step 1: Have a great product/service Step 2: Sell it Step 3? Too many businesses end up flopping despite nailing Step 1 & 2. Why? Because they fail to pay proper attention or lack proper financial education.  Tune in for a deep dive with Jacinthe where we discuss topics like: loans vs. line of credit, cashflow, budgeting, debt vs. investor capital, profit margins, and more. About Jacinthe...

It would be remiss to overlook the influence of an entrepreneurs personal life on business outcomes. In this episode, Tai and I discuss some observations and personal experiences around dating, characteristics we value in a good partner, work-life balance/harmony, managing a business amidst starting a family, and how they all intersect with our ability to stay motivated and disciplined in our busi...

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: What a normal sales cycle should be. Things to avoid that will lengthen your sales cycle. Methods to speed up conversion. Better qualifying your leads to properly define your sales cycle.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Understanding how people evaluate the decision to adopt a new solution or make a change. Cost of changing vs. Cost of staying the same. Adjusting your main offering or creating micro offerings to reduce the perceived risk of changing. Examples of different...

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Frameworks for coming up with initial pricing. A scientific approach to optimizing pricing. Cost-based vs. value-based pricing. Brand value vs. pricing. Calculating customer acquisition cost and lifetime value.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Metrics to track for retention. Tips for improving retention in a competitive marketplace. Retention campaign ideas for tech and non-tech companies.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: What is the Impostor/Imposter Syndrome. Recognizing it. Reframing failure. The role of luck in our success and how we can "create" luck. Perfectionism vs. Progress. Handling judgement and critique + escaping negative self-fulfilling prophecies. Authenticity...

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Elements that bolster credibility. How to position yourself as an expert. How to build rapport through common ground with people who share little in common with you.

Given the lack of historic data, pricing is often a difficult topic for companies in their early days. Tune in to hear Kevin and I discuss free vs. paid offerings, intentional pricing based on your intended audience, and experimenting + adjusting pricing. About Kevin Palmieri After hitting his goal of a six-figure income, Kevin realized that there had to be more. He had the car, the money, the typ...

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: How expectations affect the customer's experience. Identifying existing expectations and preconceptions. How to set and manage expectations.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Mediums for communication. Authentic communication. Empathizing with the recipient/listener + how to process feedback. How to approach communicating failure, setbacks, delays, complaints.

2X episodes are intense knowledge rich episodes where I do a deep dive into topics covered in our main interviews. In this episode, I discuss: Benefits of community for a business. How to foster a healthy and engaging community. Ideas on seeding engagement. Possible places to start building your community.