I coach founders

Brigitte Lyons of PodcastAlly - a wiiild ride of launching, scaling, shutting down and exiting (!?)

Wed, 28 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Brigitte Lyons shares her founder journey from running a PR agency to creating a productized podcast booking service. She discusses the challenges of adapting her business model to achieve a location-independent lifestyle, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her client relationships, and the importance of marketing and capacity in sustaining growth.

Brigitte emphasizes the need to trust her own process and the significance of maintaining integrity in business practices. Brigitte shares her journey of building and eventually shutting down her PR agency, discussing the challenges of team dynamics, client management, and the importance of one-on-one meetings.

She reflects on the economic downturn's impact on her business, her decision to sell, and her new venture, Ops Whisperer, aimed at helping agency owners streamline their operations and delegate effectively.

Takeaways:

Brigitte transitioned from a PR agency to a podcast booking service.
She aimed to create a productized agency for scalability.
Brigitte's journey includes closing and selling her agency.
Trusting her own process has been a key lesson for Brigitte.
Brigitte's approach to client onboarding evolved significantly.
The pandemic forced her to reassess client contracts and relationships.
She learned the importance of capacity and marketing in business growth.
One-on-ones help build trust and open communication.
Scaling requires delegating responsibilities effectively.
Economic downturns can significantly impact service businesses.
Transparency with the team during transitions is important.
Selling a business can be a complex process.
Accountability is key in achieving business goals.

Find Brigitte at theopswhisperer.com, on LinkedIn, or on Substack.

The Founder Coach podcast is brought to you by productize.co.

Sam Shepler aka Mr LTV | Founder of Testimonial Hero walks through scaling, acquiring and hard earned wisdom

Thu, 22 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

In this conversation, Sam Shepler discusses his journey from running a generalist video agency to founding Testimonial Hero, a productized service focused on customer storytelling through video testimonials and written case studies. He shares insights on navigating growth, adapting to challenges like COVID-19, and the importance of branding and talent retention. Sam also highlights the strategic acquisitions made to expand service offerings and the future direction of the company, emphasizing the need to embrace unpredictability and focus on cash flow management.

Takeaways:

Testimonial Hero focuses on customer storytelling through video testimonials and written case studies.
The transition from agency to productized services requires mindset shifts and a focus on efficiency.
COVID-19 forced innovation, leading to the development of remote video testimonials.
Branding plays a crucial role in establishing credibility and attracting clients.
Acquisitions can accelerate growth and expand service offerings.
Maintaining cash reserves is essential for navigating unpredictable revenue months.
A multi-brand strategy can increase customer lifetime value and retention.
Attracting and retaining top talent is vital for success in the service industry.
Understanding cash vs. accrual accounting is crucial for financial health.
Embracing unpredictability allows for better decision-making and strategic growth.

Chapters:

(00:00) Revisiting the Journey: From 2019 to Present
(03:08) The Evolution of Testimonial Hero
(06:03) Mindset Shifts: From Agency to Productized Service
(09:11) Navigating Growth: Major Milestones and Challenges
(12:03) Adapting to Change: The COVID Pivot
(15:07) Innovating for Success: Remote Video Testimonials
(18:09) Competition and Collaboration: Acquisitions in the Industry
(20:47) Financial Insights: Cash vs. Accrual Accounting
(23:53) The Rollercoaster of Rapid Growth
(27:06) Lessons Learned: The Importance of Timing and Market Conditions
(38:34) The Illusion of Recurring Revenue
(51:24) Strategic Acquisitions for Growth
(01:01:38) Balancing Ambition and Lifestyle
(01:02:45) Future Vision and Multi-Brand Strategy

The Founder Coach podcast is brought to you by productize.co.

Jake Jorgovan: my all-time favourite client on scaling from consultant to owning multiple companies

Thu, 15 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

My old pal and long-time former client, Jake Jorgovan, joins me to explore his journey of entrepreneurship, self-promotion, and the evolution of his business ventures.

We discuss the importance of personal branding, understanding customer needs, and the challenges of leadership in a growing business. We examine the emotional aspects of layoffs, the importance of resilience, and the necessity of risk management in business strategy. Jake shares insights from his experiences, emphasising the value of hiring competently and building skills to effectively manage teams and navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship.

Bonus — RESCUE(C) framework for scoring business ideas (each scored 1–3):

R — Recurring need
E — Emotion elicited
S — Scalability to income goals
C — Cost of not solving the problem
U — Urgency to solve
E — Excitement for you
C — Conviction you can do it

Chapters:

(00:00) Lessons Learned: The Importance of Documentation
(00:45) The Journey of Self-Promotion
(02:02) From Pseudo Therapy to Legitimate Coaching
(02:57) The Evolution of a Serial Entrepreneur
(04:27) Early Ventures and Lessons Learned
(06:39) Building a Personal Brand and Audience
(07:58) Navigating Market Validation and Customer Engagement
(10:00) The Importance of Market Research
(11:33) Understanding Platform Risks in Business
(14:48) Solving Expensive Problems
(15:54) Positioning and Client Profiles
(18:51) The Benefits and Challenges of Upmarket Sales
(21:00) A Day in the Life of a Multi-Business Leader
(22:57) Leadership Lessons from Personal Experience
(26:54) Navigating Layoffs and Emotional Resilience
(28:33) Building a Resilient Business Structure
(30:27) The Impact of Team Bonding and Personal Connections
(33:57) Creating Opportunities for Others through Creativity
(35:42) The Journey of Personal Growth and Resilience
(38:01) Understanding Risk Management in Business
(45:11) The Importance of Competency Before Hiring
(54:29) Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

The Founder Coach podcast is brought to you by productize.co.

Ray Corcoran: 10+ years of lessons learned from building his marketing agency Groe

Fri, 09 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Where Are They Now, a mini-series where I talk to former clients and friends from yesteryear to learn about their progress since we last talked business five years ago.

In this conversation, Ray Corcoran shares his journey from working in customer service to becoming a successful marketing agency owner. He discusses the importance of learning from failures, building a steady pipeline for business, and the strategies he used for content creation and audience engagement. Ray emphasizes the significance of consistency in marketing efforts and the need to focus on the right audience rather than chasing mass appeal.

Takeaways:

Ray transitioned from customer service to marketing after realizing his strengths aligned with marketing.
He learned more about marketing through self-employment than in formal education.
Building a business requires a steady pipeline of clients and consistent marketing activities.
Failure in early business ventures taught him valuable lessons about the importance of planning.
Content creation should focus on providing value to the right audience, not just seeking likes.
Networking and building referral relationships are crucial for business growth.
Consistency in posting helps maintain audience engagement and reduces performance anxiety.
Understanding the metrics that matter is key to assessing content performance.
Building the right audience is more valuable than having a large following.
Expanding services can lead to chaos; focus is essential for growth.
Specialization can lead to easier revenue generation and less stress.
Owning your value in pricing can significantly impact your business success.
Building trust with clients is crucial for long-term relationships.
A lifestyle business can still aim for high profits and meaningful work.
Accountability and motivation are key to maintaining productivity.
Energy management is vital to avoid burnout and stay focused.

The Founder Coach podcast is brought to you by productize.co.

Justin Tan from Video Husky on hiring a GM, scaling to 40+ people and life goals

Thu, 01 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Where are they now, Justin shares the journey of founding Video Husky, a video editing service, and the challenges faced during its growth, particularly during the COVID pandemic. He discusses the importance of branding, customer relationships, and the dynamics of managing a growing team. Justin reflects on his personal growth, the decision to hire a general manager, and the lessons learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey. He emphasizes the need to define success beyond just revenue and the importance of patience in business.

Takeaways:

Video editing was inspired by the rise of social media.
Paid acquisition was a key growth strategy for Video Husky.
COVID had a significant impact on business operations and revenue.
Branding and design are crucial for standing out in a competitive market.
Onboarding processes need to be tailored to customer skill levels.
The best customers are those who already create content.
Managing a growing team presents unique challenges.
Hiring a general manager can alleviate founder burnout.
Personal growth is as important as business success.
Success is defined by personal values, not just revenue.

The Founder Coach podcast is brought to you by productize.co.

Craig Hewitt, Founder of Castos on scaling service, lessons learned in SaaS and his dream exit multiple

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Where Are They Now, a mini-series where I talk to former coaching clients to learn about their progress since we last worked together five years ago.

I'm joined by Craig Hewitt, the experienced campaigner behind Castos, as he unpacks his journey from France back to the U.S. and through the ever-shifting podcasting landscape. Swapping European life for Boston to juggle family, taxes, and U.S. time zones, Craig shares the real reasons behind the move and what it meant for his business.

He dives into how Castos evolved from a service provider to a SaaS contender, tackling a market where YouTube reigns supreme and AI's rewriting the rules. Craig doesn't sugarcoat the hustle—raising close to a million, dodging shaky acquisition offers, and keeping podcasting's authentic edge in a noisy world. Curious about why churches are his top clients or how he's mulling a roll-up to shake things up? This one's packed with insights.

Craig gets honest about the grind: burnout, coaching gigs, and lessons from Alex Hormozi that flipped his thinking. From sidestepping middle management nightmares to running a seven-figure business, it's a raw look at what it takes to stay in the game.

Find Craig on X (@thecraighewitt) or YouTube.

For podcast hosting: castos.com

The Founder Coach podcast is brought to you by productize.co.