The First 10 Podcast

http://madebymatthews.com/

Matt Olpinski is a successful UI + UX designer and developer who teaches thousands of freelancers how to get more clients, raise their rates, and create a better life for themselves.

In this episode, Matt discusses in depth how to operate as a freelancer. Matt shares how he accidentally fell into the world of freelancing and how you can find clients through your personal network by letting people know what it is that you do. Matt also reveals how he transitioned from being a full-time freelancer to running his agency and how he built his own lively community – The Freelance Institute. Key points covered throughout the episode include:

Matt’s leap into full-time freelancing.
Communicating with clients and delivering value.
Learning from conversations and evolving through feedback.
Useful resources for operating your business.
Freelance transformation - the shift from freelancing to running an agency.
How to position yourself and scale your business.
Finding the right people to work alongside.
How to develop and grow a thriving community.
Advice on finding your first 10 customers.
Unlocking the power within your personal network.

Matt holds over ten years of industry experience and has worked with renowned world-class brands such as Facebook, Coca-Cola, PayPal, Porsche, and Google, to name but a few.

Matt’s Freelance Institute is a community for freelancers and remote workers, where you can receive the best freelancing advice by talking directly to experienced freelancers, including Matt in a private community focused on helping you learn the business of freelancing.

Connect with Matt Olpinski:

http://mattolpinski.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattolpinski/

The Freelance Institute – A community for freelancers and remote workers.

http://mattolpinski.com/community/

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

http://www.first10podcast.com

http://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod

http://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/

Resources:

The Blueprint by Brendan Dunn

http://brennandunn.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17607204-the-blueprint

Useful business tools:

A proprietary business communication platform:

http://slack.com/

A visual collaboration tool:

http://trello.com/

A community platform for creators:

http://circle.so/

Produced in partnership with podlad.com

How to think about value with Dave Parker [#36]

The First 10 Podcast

03/24/22 • 35 min

https://www.fearless.fund/

’If I don’t understand the cost of selling the product, how to price and how to monetize it, I’m kind of screwed. Right? And that’s why 70 to 90% of startups fail, they start with that first bucket, and they don’t look at the second bucket.’’ – Dave Parker.

Each week on the podcast, we are joined by inspiring business builders who openly discuss their entrepreneurial journey with us, sharing how they obtained their first customers and revealing what worked and what didn’t throughout the growing process. This week, listeners are in for a double treat as joining Conor on the show is tech guru and five-time founder, investor, coach, and author Dave Parker. Dave was formerly the VP of Programs at UP Global (Startup Weekend & Startup America) which Techstars purchased.

So much ground gets covered in this episode. We learn how to think about value, the importance of understanding your revenue model, and how to perfect your pricing. Dave has helped numerous founders across the globe achieve startup success and is a library of knowledge when it comes to launching a viable business. Not only does Dave offer golden advice for startups, but Dave also gives us the inside scoop of what it is like to reach the finishing line of exiting and selling a company. Key points throughout the discussion include:

An introduction to Dave Parker.
The first-time founder experience.
Leveraging salesforce to grow your business.
The reality of striking viral co-efficient.
Finding the lifetime value of a product.
What is a business model?
The role of maths in business.
Understanding revenue models and the importance of keeping your eyes on the numbers.
Scaling for exit: an insight to selling a business and why you should always seek help when selling.
The advantages of knowing your market and creating competition.
Establishing product market-fit and traction.
Dave’s advice for obtaining your first 10 customers.

Resources:

Book: Trajectory: Startup – Ideation to Product/Market Fit by Dave Parker.

https://www.dkparker.com/books/

Book: Mergers & Acquisitions – From A to Z by Andrew J. Sherman
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mergers-Acquisitions-Andrew-J-Sherman/dp/0814413838

Connect with Dave Parker:

https://www.dkparker.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveparker/

https://twitter.com/daveparkersea

https://www.facebook.com/DKParkerLLC/

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

Check out my podcast partners!

Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931

Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e

Produced in partnership with

10 things I wish I knew earlier about starting businesses.

The First 10 Podcast

11/12/21 • 11 min

It’s easy to look back at our mistakes and wonder how things might have gone differently, if only. There is only so much value to be had in that mode of thinking. The moment has passed, the decisions were made and paths were taken.
Here is a list of 10 things I’ve learned along the way that might help you improve your decision-making process.

Season 4 Finale

The First 10 Podcast

10/19/22 • 29 min

"The goal of this podcast is to help business builders learn some best practices when they go looking for their first 10, to expose the things worth doing and the things that might be dead ends and ultimately cost time and money. We should all be recycling these days, and when it comes to understanding your customers and how you talk to them, there's a ton of value that my guests have shared that is worth repeating." – Conor McCarthy.

Welcome to the final episode of season 4 of The First 10 Podcast, and what a season it has been! This season, we have heard from an array of inspirational serial entrepreneurs who have created multiple businesses who kindly took the time to openly and honestly share their biggest learnings, challenges and wins with us.

Helping business builders is at the heart of this podcast, and valuable golden nuggets of advice come with each new episode. So, to close off this season, we will be doing a re-cap with each of our guests to learn their top tips for someone just starting out and hoping to obtain their first ten customers. So, grab a pen and paper and let this refresher masterclass begin with our entrepreneurial experts Andy Mackin, Jakob Greenfeld, Shane Melaugh, Daniel Vassallo, Rob Walling, Dave Parker, Brian Casel, Brennan Dunn and Corey Haines.

Connect with the First 10 season 4 guests:

Andy Mackin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackinconsultancy

Jakob Greenfeld: https://jakobgreenfeld.com/

Shane Melaugh: https://ikario.com/about/

Daniel Vassallo: https://dvassallo.com/

Rob Walling: https://robwalling.com/

Dave Parker: https://www.dkparker.com/

Brian Casel: https://briancasel.com/

Brennan Dunn: https://rightmessage.com/

Corey Haines: https://www.swipefiles.com/Nick Loper: https://SideHustleNation.com

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

https://www.conormccarthy.me/work-with-me

Check out my podcast partners!

Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931

Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e

This podcast was produced in partnership with podlad.com

Being expert enough with Nick Loper [#40]

The First 10 Podcast

09/01/22 • 38 min

https://www.sidehustlenation.com/

Welcome back to the final episode of season four, and what a season it has been – but it’s not over just yet! Joining me to wrap up this serial-entrepreneur season is founder and chief side hustler of Side Hustle Nation, Nick Loper.

Have you ever had the itch to get a side hustle going!? If so, you will love this episode! If you have ever researched how to start your own side business, chances are high that you’ve come across Nick’s go-to website, www.sidehustlenation.com. Through his website and books, Nick guides start-up and seasoned entrepreneurs from all corners of the globe to make extra money, amplify their power and security, and create a business they love.

In this episode, Nick talks us through his impactful career throughout his college days, how he pivoted through business ventures and what it means to be expert enough when launching a business. Nick also shares his wine-ing road into the virtual assistance world, reveals his take on filtering through business ideas, and discusses whether social media is necessary when kickstarting your entrepreneurial journey. Key points throughout this episode include:

An introduction to Nick Loper.
Early pitching days and mastering door-to-door sales.
Entering the world of internet marketing.
Finding inspiration from failures and pivoting into a new career.
Standing out in a crowded space.
The beginning of Side Hustle Nation.
The ups and downs of an entrepreneurial journey.
How curiosity is key in business and the importance of gathering feedback.
Why entrepreneurs should focus on niching down.
Introducing sales and marketing to first-time entrepreneurs.
Do you know where your customers hang out?
Overcoming imposter syndrome sirens and embracing social media.
Nick’s business book recommendations.
Nick’s advice for finding your first ten customers.

Connect with Nick Loper:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickloper/

https://twitter.com/nloper

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

https://www.amazon.com/Nick-Loper/e/B009N31662

Resources:

Nick Loper Books:

The Go Giver by Bob Berg.

https://thegogiver.com/

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco.

https://www.themillionairefastlane.com/

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.

https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books

Check out my podcast partners!

Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931

Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e

Produced in partnership with podlad.com

Pro-Level SaaS Marketing with Corey Haines [#39]

The First 10 Podcast

07/15/22 • 43 min

https://www.coreyhaines.co/

"When people are actively looking for a product like yours, and you're not marketing it, you are actually doing an act of disservice. You are starving them of something that they need, that they could use. By not marketing, you're putting a ceiling on your potential." – Corey Haines.

Are you currently creating or marketing a product in the SaaS space? If so, you will love and learn so much from this week's episode with SaaS marketing expert Corey Haines. Corey is a marketer, entrepreneur, podcaster, investor, and soon to be an author who is on a mission to help people and their products, services, and content get the recognition that they truly deserve.

Corey is the mastermind and creator behind the popular Swipe Files and has consulted with numerous start-ups on growth and marketing, including SavvyCal, Evercast and Holloway, to name but a few. Throughout this episode, Corey shares his go-to research methods, the importance of live customer experience feedback, marketing cheat codes, and reveals his three tried and true methods guaranteed to bring your first customers through the door. Key points throughout include:

An introduction to Corey Haines.
Obtaining Swipe Well's first customers and the creation of Swipe Files.
Communicating with potential buyers on social media platforms.
Dripping marketing: striking the right amount of marketing ahead of product launching.
The key to mapping out appropriate marketing methods.
Overcoming the fear of marketing.
How avoiding marketing is an act of disservice.
Methods for understanding your customer's needs.
The power of asking why and the benefit of running polls.
Navigating through career challenges and failures.
Advertising conversion: does it really work?
Corey's business book recommendations.
Lessons to be learned from activating a landing page.
Corey's advice on obtaining your first ten customers.

"You do need marketing. You have to treat it as an investment, something that's going to pay dividends later." - Corey Haines.

COMING SOON! Join the waitlist to get your hands on Corey's forthcoming marketing handbook Founding Marketing HERE. We do not doubt that this book will feature on many guests’ recommended lists in future First 10 podcast episodes.

"Without promotion, something terrible happens. Nothing! – PT Barnum.

Connect with Corey Haines:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-haines/

https://twitter.com/coreyhainesco

https://www.swipefiles.com/

https://www.defaultalive.fm/

https://www.swipefiles.com/foundingmarketing

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

Resources:

The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick

Building with your audience with Brennan Dunn [#38]

The First 10 Podcast

05/26/22 • 42 min

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennandunn/

Wondering how best to grow your audience or perhaps, how to fund your next trip to Ireland? If so, this week's podcast is a must-listen for you! This week, joining Conor on the show is special guest and serial entrepreneur Brennan Dunn. Brennan is the co-founder of RightMessage, a platform for online businesses to enhance their automated segmentation and website personalisation. In this episode, Brennan walks us through his fascinating leap from consulting into SaaS, launching and selling his project management tool Planscope and the accidental beginning of his thriving community, Double Your Freelancing, where he advises 50K + freelancers and agencies across the globe.

Conor and Brennan unpack so much, including the secret to building with your audience, effective communication and truly understanding your customer's needs. Brennan also reveals what worked well when starting a new business from scratch. Main points throughout the discussion include:

An introduction to Brennan Dunn.
The rise of an accidental business.
Being personable and building connections with your customers.
The practice of creating evergreen content.
The art of conversational copywriting: write as you speak!
Utilising the voice of customer data.
Re-evaluating a career and starting a new venture from scratch.
What worked well: Brennan's proven business stepping-stone.
Why you should borrow an audience.
The key to real-time product positioning.
Communicating directly and effectively with customers.
How to elevate your customer testimonials to new heights.
Brennan's advice for obtaining your first ten customers.

Connect Brennan:

https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/

https://twitter.com/brennandunn

https://rightmessage.com/

https://createandsell.co/

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Audit-Customers-They-Dont/dp/0473175045

Resources:

https://copyhackers.com/

Book: The Brain Audit by Sean D'Souza

https://www.robfitz.com/home

Check out my podcast partners!

Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931

Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e

Produced in partnership with podlad.com

Building on what already exists with Shane Melaugh [#33]

The First 10 Podcast

03/03/22 • 43 min

https://activegrowth.com/about/

Are you ready to ignite an idea, fire up your business and transform your life!? If so, you will love soaking up today's episode with entrepreneur expert Shane Melaugh. Shane Melaugh has founded multiple seven-figure companies, including Thrive Themes, and is currently building his cultivating personal development community, ikario.

Shane's personal story is fascinating. His mission via ikario is to share his life experiences with as many people as possible to help them break free and transform their lives into beautiful success stories. In this episode, Shane openly shares how his life transitioned from constraints, struggles, and an overwhelming sense of failure to finding freedom, wonderful success, and ultimately, unlocking a better life. Throughout the discussion, Shane explores the importance of building on what already exists, reveals a brilliant tool for filtering through business ideas, and highlights why we shouldn't overlook self-care and personal development. Key points within this episode include:

How to organically grow a loyal customer base.
Understanding marketing techniques to reach new audiences.
The power of personal interaction when building a business.
How to identify and meet your customers needs.
Sell before you make it! The benefits of testing your existing audience.
A brilliant tool for filtering new business ideas.
Napkin Maths – how to determine the feasibility of a business plan.
Becoming comfortable with saying no.
The ikario story: unlocking potential through self-development.
Why self-care should never be overlooked.
A book recommendation for becoming a better entrepreneur.
Shane's advice on obtaining your first 10 customers.

"Hustle and grind 24/7 till you make it is the worst way to try and make it. If you don't have rest in your life and you're not strategic about having high-intensity focus and then deep rest, you're just basically cutting yourself off at the knees because you're hampering your own ability to learn and make progress." – Shane Melaugh.

Connect with Shane Melaugh:

https://activegrowth.com/podcast/

https://ikario.com/about/

https://twitter.com/actigrow

https://www.youtube.com/user/imimpact

https://www.linkedin.com/shane-melaugh

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

https://www.calnewport.com/books/so-good/

Resources:

Book: So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport.

Check out my podcast partners!

Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931

Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e

This podcast was produced in partnership with podlad.com

Taking shots on goal with Jakob Greenfeld [#32]

The First 10 Podcast

02/17/22 • 39 min

https://jakobgreenfeld.com/

Indie makers and marketplace shakers, this episode is a must-listen for you! Joining the podcast today is the prolific innovator and creator Jakob Greenfeld. Over the last two years, Jakob has successfully launched over fifteen software products and is the host of The Business Brainstorms podcast and creator of The Opportunities newsletter.

In this episode, we learn about Jakob’s journey from becoming a physicist to testing out the road of entrepreneurship with his bootstrapped products. Jakob gives us great insight into the early days of his workings, framework, and product launching tactics. Jakob also shines a light on taking shots on goal, the importance of authenticity, sharing your origin story and how to increase your business visibility. Key points within this episode include:

An introduction to Jakob Greenfeld.
The importance of hooking customers with your origin story.
Preparation and patience in business.
Building an online audience.
Market response and first product sales.
The downfalls of a product launch.
Why we should never underestimate newsletters.
The benefits of growing a sustainable community.
The power of authenticity and being personable.
Increasing your online visibility.
Jakob’s advice on obtaining your first 10 customers.

‘’In the long term, it all boils down to just putting your brain out there and hoping that like-minded people find you.’’ – Jakob Greenfeld.

Connect with Jakob Greenfeld:

https://twitter.com/jakobgreenfeld

https://businessbrainstorms.com/

https://indieopportunities.com/

Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy:

https://book.nathanlatka.com/

Resources:

Book: How to be a capitalist without any capital by Nathan Latka

Book:
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work by Michael E. Gerber
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses

Book: Superfans by Pat Flynn

https://patflynn.com/book/superfans/

Trends.vc Newsletter

https://trends.vc/

Andrew Wilkinson – Co-founder of Tiny
https://twitter.com/awilkinson

Harry Dry – The Kanye Story

https://thekanyestory.com/

Pieter Levels – 12 start ups in 12 months

https://levels.io/12-startups-12-months/

Produced in partnership with podlad.com
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Check out my podcast partners!

How to go above and beyond with Darrah Brustein [#29]

The First 10 Podcast

06/14/21 • 43 min