Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

Latest Episodes:

#716 Too Old for Basketball, Business Books, & Personality Disorders in Action Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Dan flies solo this week in a 3-part episode where he circles back to a few hot topics that caught some listener’s attention over the last few months.

Back in May, Dan shared insights from a book he read called the 5 Types of People Who Will Ruin Your Life. Today he’s sharing a recent story where this came into play.

He also shares lessons from the best business book he’s read in the past 6 months (of which he reads about 3 each week). And last but not least, he reaches into the mailbag to share a story from a listener about their Mexican Fisherman Moment.

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
(00:01:44) Too old for basketball
(00:04:33) Personality disorders
(00:11:07) Leadership
(00:24:30) Mexican Fisherman

Links:

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

TMBA 688: Mailbag: What Can Scorecards Do For You? And Equity Split Dilemmas
TMBA 695: The Money Theory of Location And Why Employee Scorecards Are So Helpful
TMBA 707: Deceptively simple ways to have a better business
TMBA 702: Millions for Podcasts and Jay Clouse on Memberships
TMBA 689: Re-visiting Our Conversation with Seth Godin

#715 3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Business Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

Dan raises the question: if you only had to implement one simple framework to improve your business, what would it be? In other words, what’s your minimum effective dose of operational practices? Sometimes–most of the time–one simple change can make a huge difference.

Today’s guest represents this line of thinking to a T. Lydia Machova talks about the ROI of spending a month implementing one simple idea, developing an integrator/visionary relationship, and the minimum effective dose of operational practices that improved her business.

Lastly, Dan & Lydia talk about how founders often confuse assistance with delegation and how Lydia built an operating system that empowers her team to take ownership, solve problems, and send fewer Slack messages.

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
(00:02:02) Systems are too complicated
(00:04:23) Scorecards, scorecards, scorecards
(00:07:20) Delegation vs assistance
(00:08:32) DCBKK updates
(00:13:42) Becoming an entrepreneur
(00:21:48) Perfect integrator
(00:27:07) ROI of process
(00:37:25) Meeting tempos
(00:39:09) Accountability chart
(00:42:46) The issues list
(00:48:05) Get out from under

Links:

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

#714 Profit vs. Revenue and the Inside Scoop on Events for Founders Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Dan and Ian give the inside scoop about their upcoming events strategy and the realization that prompted them to relaunch their hiring search not for an events planner but a business-minded community organizer.

In light of resetting the event strategy for 2024, Dan also chats with the DCx London hosts Seonaid Beckwith, Noel Andrews, and John Ainsworth about how they pulled off one of the best all-time DC events in London last month.

They also give their thoughts in response to a listener's email: should you optimize for revenue growth, profit growth, or both? Dan and Ian share frameworks for thinking about this and how they think about revenue and profit in their business.

Plus, stick around til the end for a first-timer's guide on how to max out your DCBKK experience if you're going (or thinking about going) for the first time.

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
(00:02:40) Profit vs revenue
(00:06:05) Revenue growth to exit
(00:06:35) Conflating profit with personal income
(00:07:21) The Bezos strategy
(00:08:19) Profit first
(00:12:35) Classic systems
(00:14:00) Superhero profitable
(00:15:50) ROI framework
(00:21:44) Our 2024 event strategy
(00:24:18) Join our team
(00:30:05) How to throw a great event
(01:05:53) First-timer’s guide to DCBKK

Links:

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

TMBA 688: Mailbag: What Can Scorecards Do For You? And Equity Split Dilemmas
TMBA 702: Millions for Podcasts and Jay Clouse on Memberships
TMBA 689: Re-visiting Our Conversation with Seth Godin
TMBA 711: “Money is Your Responsibility” + News Updates
TMBA 707: Deceptively simple ways to have a better business

#713 How to Build an AI Startup with Jodie Cook Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Dan Andrews (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) talks to Coachvox.ai founder Jodie Cook (https://twitter.com/jodie_cook) about her methods for building an AI startup from scratch, how to have the most productive and enjoyable month of your life and more. Jodie is full of experience and wisdom, and this was a fun one.

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
(00:09:42) The Lifestyle Design Game
(00:18:29) Being a Change CEO
(00:23:47) Building an AI coach
(00:28:19) Client Alignment
(00:35:16) Team User Manuals
(00:40:25) Work & Wellness Holiday
(00:45:36) Polarized Travel

Links:

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

TMBA 627: Building an Agency You Can Exit From
TMBA 702: Millions for Podcasts and Jay Clouse on Memberships
TMBA 678: Evolving An Agency, With SaaS Mistakes Along The Way
TMBA 712: Business Partnerships and 6-Figure Launches: A Conversation with Mark Webster
TMBA 707: Deceptively simple ways to have a better business

#712 Business Partnerships and 6-Figure Launches: A Conversation with Mark Webster Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Dan Andrews (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) talks to Authority Hacker co-founder Mark Webster (https://twitter.com/markwebster1) about successfully transitioning from an agency model to a multimillion-dollar course business. They talk about navigating 50/50 partnerships, why starting a course business isn’t for everyone, and what you can build with a laptop, a dream, and cheap accommodation.

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
(00:11:01) The audience is the hard part
(00:18:47) The start of authority sites
(00:28:52) Becoming business partners
(00:35:38) Outgrowing your agency
(00:44:59) Getting to 7-figures quickly
(00:50:40) 50/50 partnership pros & cons
(00:56:48) You made it, now what?

Links:

● Authority Hacker: https://www.authorityhacker.com/
● The Ultimate Product Launch Plan: https://videofruit.com/blog/product-launch/
● American Icon: https://www.amazon.com/American-Icon-Mulally-Fight-Company/dp/0307886069

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

TMBA 706: 5 Things Founders Often Misunderstand about Exiting Their Business
TMBA 702: Millions for Podcasts and Jay Clouse on Memberships
TMBA 695: The Money Theory of Location And Why Employee Scorecards Are So Helpful
TMBA 678: Evolving An Agency, With SaaS Mistakes Along The Way

#711 “Money is Your Responsibility” + News Updates Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Two months ago, Dan & Ian were limited by their lack of visibility into their business finances. They fired their bookkeepers, hired a financial professional, and with their financial house in order, they’re able to agree on top-level strategies and move with speed.

Plus, friend of the pod and financial expert Sam Hill (ecomcfo.co), shares what 7-figure agency owners should be paying for financial services and expertise.

“It's your responsibility as the owner, period. It's the management's responsibility for the numbers. And if you're not getting what you want from the person that you've hired, whether it's in-house or outsourced, it's your responsibility to fix it.”

#710 The Wheel of Despair and the Paradox of Growth Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

Dan and Ian have had hundreds of conversations with founders in 2023 so far. In today’s episode, they share two major challenges that are coming up for 6 and 7+ figure founders. They’re calling these challenges the Wheel of Despair and the Paradox of Growth.

Contrary to what the popular business literature says about overcoming these challenges, Dan and Ian offer some alternative frameworks for how you as the founder can address them.

“The secret is: that is not the question you need to answer. It is: where's the next million in revenue coming from? That is the question that needs to be answered. And I think that's where the bravery, the excitement, and the fear come in. You don't always know, and you’ve got to figure it out. That's your job as a founder.”

#709 How (Not) to Lose Money with Taylor Pearson Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

This week’s guest is a TMBA all-timer. Taylor Pearson is an entrepreneur, writer, and co-founder of Mutify Funds. He joins Dan to catch up on what he’s been up to lately, and shares five frameworks he’s adapting in his business after “messing up” over the last two years.

“...like many people, I've sat down and read the business book and thought about the principles of the business and what are important and written them down and had this very nice, you know, Google Doc, with examples of these principles being followed and these principles not being followed. And I have put that Google doc into my nicely organized standard operating folder, and then that Google doc has sat there for months or years without seeing the light of day.”

#708 The Path to 7-Figure Passive Ownership + We’re Hiring Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Today’s guest is one of Dan’s favorite people to talk business with. Justin Tan grew his productized video-editing agency to 7 figures in 2 years and “retired” in 4. Now he helps burnt-out mid-6-figure agency owners become 7-figure passive owners without the 60-hour workweek grind.

Join Dan and Justin as they geek out on the pumpkin plan, the trouble with blindspots, and some common mistakes business owners make.

Justin just so happened to give Dan and Ian some pro bono consulting last summer in Barcelona, so they’ll chat about how that advice is panning out…

Plus, we’re hiring an Events Manager to help us take our global community events to the next level. Head to dynamitejobs.com to apply or refer a friend.

“You keep on promoting people you are familiar with because you like that dynamic. You are familiar with that dynamic. I am their boss, I tell you what to do. But at some point, you need to make that mentality switch. And this goes back to the operator owner where I tell them what to do. Instead, it needs to be they tell me what to do or what is needed, and I am the one who enables them to do that.”

#707 Deceptively simple ways to have a better business Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, Dan talks with agency owner John Ainsworth about how implementing seemingly small, simple changes allowed him to take most of last year off, while his business still grew 30%.

They discuss the modern business philosophies of Traction and Scaling Up and how sometimes those books leave you feeling overwhelmed. Dan’s perspective is that sometimes the biggest ROI comes from the changes that are deceptively simple, maybe even boringly simple.

“People think of traction as a mechanical system that all works together and fits together. So, when you get to the end of the book, you think three things. Number one, I have to do it. Number two, I am definitely a visionary, not an integrator. And number three, I'm guilty relative to the percentage of all this that I've implemented. And so my philosophy is really just take one thing and do it, and your business will be better in the morning.”

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