Mastermind.fm

The European investor's favorite podcast.

Episode 52 – Growth, Processes, and Challenges

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This week, a Mastermind update, as Jean and James catch up on their personal businesses and side projects.

In this laid back core episode, many laughs await. Our hosts lead in by jesting about Jean’s pajamas, as James elaborates on potentially getting into the physical product space, with playing cards no less.

Topics Include:

  • Jean talks about his recent conference experiences.
    • AI, chat bots, customer and company ramifications.
    • Virtual Assistants
    • Self-driving Cars
    • Cryptocurrencies
    • Crowd Funding
    • James and Jean close out the topic with future conference plans.
  • On Growth
    • Break points, James’s switch from team growth to revenue being the determining factor.
    • Implementing Processes
    • The consideration toward outsourcing support.
    • The Pros and cons of growth.
    • Past, present, and future challenges.
  • Be aware of your product, processes, and revenue.
    • As you continue to grow, you have to be able to ensure things are being done appropriately, efficiency, and with care.

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Episode 51 – SEO, PR, & Influencer Marketing with Dmitry Dragilev

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This week Mastermind.fm is joined by content marketer and founder of JustReachOut – PR That Converts, Dmitry Dragilev. He’s here to talk in-depth about things that are sure to revamp your SEO game plan, get you headed in the right direction, and maximize your SEO potential!

Topics Include:

  • Getting to the top of Google search results
  • On advanced SEO strategies.
  • Becoming a SEO “hacker”.
  • PR Outreach & Content
  • What is Influencer Marketing?
  • What to look for to rank higher.
  • Finding holes in content.
  • Addressing topical depth.
  • Capitalizing on engagement.

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Episode 50 – All Things Codeable with Per & Tomaž

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We have a first this week on Mastermind.fm, with a full four cornered discussion.

James and Jean are joined by Per Esbensen and Tomaž Zaman, cofounders of Codeable.

Topics Include:

  • How Per and Tomaž met.
  • Conceptualizing Codeable.
  • How Codeable developed.
  • Addressing startup challenges.
  • Per on Elance and why he felt Tomaž was underselling himself.
    • Why paying your employees what they are worth is win-win.
  • Explaining the process of signing up and/or working from Codeable.
  • The ins and outs of the entire Codeable ecosystem.
  • How and why outsourcing is bleeding.
    • Codeable’s solution and strategy to fight that.
  • “Success is not determined by the projects you take on, but rather the projects you turn down.”
  • “Quality comes at a price.”
  • “Treat your business as a boutique.”
  • Combating clients poaching experts & experts poaching clients.
  • Coedable’s plans moving forward.

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Codeable

Episode 49 – Outsourcing, Ecommerce, & Blogging with Brian Jackson

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This episode Jean interviews Brian Jackson, director of inbound marketing at Kinsta

His methods of digital income are vast, a blogger of food & finance, Brian has worked with WordPress plugins, as a super seller on Flippa, and even as an eBay power seller.

Topics Include:

  • Brian’s Journey
  • How eBay introduced Brian to internet commerce.
    • CDs and DVDs were his gateway.
  • From there he jumped into web-hosting & building computers.
    • “When you do things online, you quickly find out where your time is best spent.” – Brian
  • How learning to outsource proved troublesome.
    • After selling the web-hosting company, Flippa was his gateway to flipping websites to make a living.
    • Followed by the creation of The IT Bros. blog, which was also sold through Flippa.
    • “The only way to learn on the internet, is by making mistakes.” – Brian
  • How Brian is always blogging, and hasn’t stopped.
  • On Brian’s cooperative business partnership with his brother.
    • Their philosophies and strategies.
  • Outsourcing content.
    • The value of a good writer.
  • Saving time on social media.
    • Tips to grow your traffic.
  • The key to success is research, before posting.
  • What drives Brian at Kinsta.
  • On WordPress web performance audits.
  • Brian’s favorite apps and plugins.
  • Plans for the future.

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Episode 48 – Podcasting, the Product Space, & SAAS with Dave Rodenbaugh

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Guest hosting this episode is Dave Rodenbaugh. Owner of Business Directory Plugin, AWPCP, and Recapture.io.

Dave has been a developer for 20 years, and has been working in the WordPress ecosystem since 2009. He also cohosts the Rogue Startups Podcast with Craig Hewitt, the man behind Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin and Podcaster Motor.

Topics Include:

  • James & Dave talk the how, when, and why of podcasting.
  • Rogue Startups Podcast anticipates their 1 year anniversary.
  • What makes a good podcast stand out against competition.
    • Why would you start/maintain multiple podcasts?
    • Weighing verbal communication vs written.
    • Why Dave believes podcasting has made him a “better business person.”
  • James and his mischief bringing.
  • Dave’s acquisition of Recaptured.io
    • Moving outside of WordPress.
    • Brief talk on Magento.
  • Comparing and contrasting running a WordPress business and running a SAAS (Software as a Service).
    • What lead Dave to the SAAS model.
  • How the search and acquisition process happened for Dave.
  • How dealing with legacy customers can be tricky.
  • Playing the numbers game, and veritably gambling on business.
    • Business is always risky.
    • Be smart about making the financial decisions that set you up for success.
  • How Dave balances managing plugins and his SAAS.
    • Spoiler: Believe it, or not, he’s not a wizard.
    • The key: a great team with diverse capabilities and tasks.
  • “As support goes, so does sales.” – James
  • Making sure your team isn’t bottled-necked by something they need from you, or someone else.
    • Juggling…in the literal and business sense.
    • Adjusting for when things go awry.
  • “As a CEO, I ask myself, how do I set my team up for success?” – James
  • Looking forward, Dave’s short-mid term focuses.

You can find Dave on Twitter @daverodenbaugh.

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