From Architecture to Headhunting, A Million-Dollar Exit Story with Marshall Haas

05/22/24 • 47 min

Marshall Haas is the Co-founder of Shepherd (now Somewhere), who recently sold a majority stake in his company. Watch as we dive into the incredible journey from architecture to headhunting, leading to a million-dollar exit.

Marshall offers valuable insights from his diverse ventures, including selling iPhone cases, running an Airbnb business, and building Shepherd. He discusses the challenges of growing a company, working with influential partners, and the emotional aspects of selling a business.

Chapters
00:45 - Introducing Marshall Haas: From Architecture to Entrepreneurship
00:57 - Entrepreneurship Journey: First Businesses to E-Commerce Success
03:51 - Diving into Real Estate: The Airbnb Experiment
04:57 - Headhunting and Starting Shepherd
10:11 - Selling Shepherd Behind The Scenes
15:50 - What’s Next?
20:29 - Building a New Home
22:03 - Life After the Big Deal
23:49 - Finding Purpose Beyond Wealth
24:34 - Exploring Hobbies and Building New Connections
27:09 - The Power of Time Tracking and Delegation
28:39 - Books That Shape a Business Mindset
32:40 - Innovative Health and Productivity Hacks
33:36 - The Joy of Delegating Leadership
35:15 - Business Ideas and Future Ventures
41:10 - Essential Tools for Productivity and Creativity
42:37 - Exploring New Career Paths

🔗 Connect with Marshall:
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/marshal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallhaas/
Website: https://www.needwant.com
Website: https://www.somewhere.com/

🔗 Connect with Andrew:
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/awilkinson (exclusive monthly AMAs for subscribers)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awilkinson/
Website: https://www.neverenough.com/
Weekly recommendations: https://bit.ly/4bT6IRv

🔗 Connect with Marshall:
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/marshal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshallhaas/
Website: https://www.needwant.com
Website: https://www.somewhere.com/

Previous Episode

From Hot Dog Stand to Millions: The Untold Story of Sam Parr

Andrew sits down with Sam Parr, a serial entrepreneur known for his successful ventures like The Hustle and the My First Million podcast. Sam shares his unconventional journey, starting from his humble beginnings with a hotdog stand and moving on to building thriving businesses. He opens up about the lessons he's learned along the way, mistakes he has made, the importance of surrounding yourself with industry disruptors, and his latest focus on his latest venture Hampton, an exclusive community of high-growth founders.

Chapters
01:03 Sam's entrepreneurial journey and background
03:37 The psychology of success and motivation
04:34 Innovative approaches to leadership and delegation
19:53 Navigating fame, friendship, and trust as an entrepreneur
24:48 Personal transformation through fitness and self-improvement
27:09 The importance of routine and support systems
27:26 Overcoming mental health challenges
28:22 Inspirational figures and their impact
31:54 Productivity tips and daily routines
34:52 Mastering storytelling and continuous learning
42:53 Discovering game-changing products and habits
46:14 Fascinating people to follow and learn from
Follow Sam on:
Twitter/X: @thesamparr
Website: https://www.Joinhampton.com
Podcast: https://www.mfmpod.com
Find an accountant, bookkeeper, or Fractional CFO: https://samslist.co/
Follow Andrew on:
Twitter/X: @awilkinson

Next Episode

Building a Software Company and Saying 'No' to Millions with Jason Fried.

In world where we’re constantly encouraged to want more, how do you find the courage to say no?

Founder and CEO of 37signals (makers of Basecamp, HEY, and ONCE) Jason Fried joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation covering software products and services, saying ‘no’ to millions, learning drums, and more. Jason shares his unique perspectives on building and running a hugely successful software company while staying true to his values.

Join us as we explore Jason's story and learn about:

The motivation behind Basecamp's recent expansion into new products like email and calendar apps
How Jason and his co-founder have structured the company to maximize independence and avoid things they don't want to do
Thoughts on wealth and what he plans to do with the financial success of Basecamp
Current interests and passions outside of work, and what he would do if he couldn't run Basecamp anymore
Books and favorite products

Whether you're a tech entrepreneur or simply fascinated by the career of one of the industry's most unconventional and opinionated leaders, Jason's experiences and philosophies are sure to challenge and inspire you. Tune in for an honest and spontaneous discussion touching on the deepest questions in life and business.

Resources Mentioned

Drumeo
Decent Espresso Machine
1978 Porsche 928
Books: The Old Man and the Sea, The Overstory, Rabbit is Rich
Hey Calendar
Once
Campfire

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Chapters

00:00 - Introduction
2:20 - Inspiration Behind Hey Calendar
3:47 - Fantastical vs. Hey Calendar
4:55 - What Keeps Jason Going
7:24 - Why Hey Calendar Caps at $99
9:09 - Jason’s Commitment to Independence
12:59 - Limits to Improvement and Acceptance
15:56 - Jason’s Plans on Growing His Business
19:12 - Learning to Trust CEO Hires
20:59 - Why Jason Decided to Build New Products After 10 Years
24:21 - Changing Your Mind & Balancing Growth and Maintenance
28:06 - Keeping Businesses Simple
32:20 - What Jason Does With His Money
36:28 - The Courage to Close A Business
39:42 - The Burden of Wealth: Philanthropy and Responsibility
42:43 - Finding Joy in Spaces and Experiences
45:11 - Alternate Career Paths Jason is Drawn To
48:01 - The Future and Existential Worries
52:56 - Growing Old, the Younger Generation, and Life
59:27 - Things Jason Has Been Loving Lately
62:49 - Embracing Fiction: The Power of Storytelling