The Writing Secrets That Create Billionaires | David Perell

For this week’s episode, Eric Siu had Jason Cohen on the pod, the mind behind WP Engine which hosts 2.5% of the world's top domains. He reveals how he bootstrapped his company to billions and outsmarted tech giants like Google Cloud. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/Eqo-V_vMuKA  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Introduction and Background (10:09) Embracing Optionality in Business Strategies (31:18) Operating Like a Public Company (45:16) Continuous Customer Development (55:02) Creating a Company Culture for Personal Growth (01:03:34) Hiring and Accountability in Management (01:14:50) Finding a Niche in the AI Landscape Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on X or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on X Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Siu interviews Marie Forleo – a celebrated life coach, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, and host of YT channel MarieTV with over 930K subscribers. Marie shares her perspective on why focusing on one thing may not be the right fit for everyone, the importance of trusting your gut, and having a strong work ethic. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/Eqo-V_vMuKA  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Introduction and Dave's Background (08:48) Trusting Your Gut and Following Your Intuition (31:22) The Power of a Strong Work Ethic (38:47) Building a Coaching Business and Engaging with the Audience (55:18) The Challenges of Writing a Book Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on X or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on X Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Siu interviews David Perell, a writing teacher, Founder of “Write of Passage” school, and the host of ”How I Write” podcast. They discuss his passion for teaching writing and helping people clarify their thinking and structure their ideas. David shares the concept of American Idolatry, his own path to faith, how he came to believe in Jesus as the most influential figure in Western civilization, and the importance of reading and writing in personal growth and communication. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/Eqo-V_vMuKA  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Introduction and Dave's Background (09:38) Building an Audience through Unique Ideas and Intellectual Assets (31:16) The Influence of Faith on Philosophy and Work (44:02) The Pitfalls of American Idolatry (53:18) The Importance of Asking Big Questions (01:00:56) The Impact of Jesus on Western Civilization (01:08:06) The Power of Writing and Communication (01:19:18) The Importance of Reading and Writing Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on X or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on X Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode featuring Dr. Orion Taraban, Eric Siu delves into the complexities of dating and relationships. They tackle the dating challenges for successful people, how women's success affects dating dynamics, and the economics of finding love online. They also discuss monogamy and alternative relationship models, offering fresh insights and solutions for today's dating challenges. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/jEjPD_m0ecQ TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Introduction to Dr. Orion Taraban (01:23) Dr. Taraban's Background and PsychHacks (03:44) Relationships for Successful Individuals (05:11) The Impact of Women's Success on Relationships (06:37) The Concept of Men as Jobs (09:29) The Economics of Online Dating (11:19) The Ken and Barbie Doll Analogy (13:02) The All-or-Nothing Approach to Relationships (15:51) The Future of Relationships (23:34) The Adored vs. the Adorer (31:03) The Discount in Relationships (35:48) Common Relationship Problems and Patterns (37:15) Understanding the Different Desires of Men and Women (38:59) Defining the Red Pill and its Practical Strategies (39:56) Why Successful Women Date Mediocre Men (41:23) The Influence of Economic Realities on Hypergamy (48:14) The Difficulty of Negotiating Expectations in Relationships (49:04) The Ineffectiveness of Explicit Negotiations in Relationships (50:59) Understanding Relationships through Behavioral Economics (53:48) The Infinite Game of Relationships (55:44) Men's Greatest Enemy: Cowardice (56:45) The Importance of Men Taking a Leadership Role (57:43) The Fear of Women and the Need for Leadership (59:29) Women's Greatest Enemy: Pride (01:06:38) The Backlash of Ideological Feminism (01:12:15) The Transaction of Value in Relationships (01:12:44) The Problem and Solution of Relationships (01:13:44) The Importance of Having Things Others Want (01:14:14) Earning Optionality through Value (01:15:15) The Transactional Nature of Relationships (01:15:42) Different Levels of Transactionality (01:16:37) The Danger of Making Someone the Center of Your Universe (01:17:28) Using Instagram as a Dating App (01:19:54) Why Men Date Strippers and Prostitutes (01:20:24) The Business Model of Orion Taraban (01:24:40) Future Plans for the Business (01:31:00) The Vision for Helping People (01:38:48) The Definition of Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, Logan Lyles converses with Eric Siu in a discussion about scaling a digital agency. The conversation delves into strategic hiring, the importance of process optimization, and the art of pricing in agency success. Agency owners seeking to elevate their businesses will find this episode essential listening for actionable strategies and transformative perspectives. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Special Episode | Hiring Secrets from an 8-Figure CEO with Eric Siu | From Teamwork’s Agency Life Podcast (04:38) Eric emphasizes the need for agency owners to maintain responsibility in the hiring process (06:23) Balancing full-time employees and contractors in agency scaling (08:12) Lessons in hiring strategic roles and researching accomplishments (11:24) Creating role scorecards for clear hiring criteria (13:27) Using role scorecards and personality tests in hiring (15:21) Sourcing talent on social media and engaging with potential hires (18:23) Comparing EOS and Scaling Up for process improvement (19:10) Establishing a weekly cadence and accountability with EOS (20:23) Setting goals and using traffic lights to track progress (22:22) The benefits of focusing on one service and niche before expanding (26:06) Importance of pricing and advantages of value-based pricing (29:09) Delivering an offer that people can't refuse in pricing (31:31) Understanding weaknesses and building around them (38:41) Eric Siu's journey into SaaS with Clickflow and involvement in business Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on X or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on X Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I had Ryan Hashemi, known for building the successful media company Jubilee that has 10 million subscribers and 5 billion views on YouTube. We discussed the concept of creator-operators and the importance of long-form content. Ryan shares his insights on creating compelling thumbnails and titles, as well as the need for a strong storytelling approach. We also touch on the trend of creators building businesses outside of content creation. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/nGDHAhnbuc4 TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Introduction and Background (02:23) Mission-Oriented Approach and Content Formats (07:39) Creating Compelling Content and Holding Audience Attention (09:09) Experimentation and Learning from Failure (11:30) Collaborating with Influencers and Partnerships (14:41) Hiring and Developing Talent (29:00) Dealing with Copycats and Protecting Originality (37:44) Investing in Up-and-Coming Creators (39:11) Unlocking Value and Participation (41:06) Balancing Work and Family (47:19) Building an Agency for Freedom (52:12) The Power of Audience and Distribution (58:02) The Importance of Compelling Packaging (01:06:29) Asking Hard-Hitting Questions (01:09:48) Leveraging Pre-Existing YouTube Audiences (01:14:28) The Shift to Long-Form Content (01:15:52) The Rise of Creator-Operators Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on X or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on X Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pat Flynn and Eric Siu share key insights for entrepreneurial success, emphasizing storytelling, overcoming comparison, and building community. They highlight the evolution of income reports and the importance of delegation in scaling businesses. Their wisdom extends to parenting as entrepreneurs, emphasizing patience and continuous learning. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/Fcq5V2D-euI  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Introduction and deep pocket monster (02:22) Card party events (03:49) The fallacy of view chasing (06:28) Creating a community experience (09:31) Growing the event and world records (13:04) The cost and value of events (21:35) The power of long-form content (25:56) Gamifying the content experience (33:59) Building a story bank (38:38) The dangers of comparison and self-reflection (41:24) Overcoming scarcity mindset and taking risks (45:16) The success of the SwitchPod (51:56) The power of mastermind groups (56:02) Balancing time and priorities (58:25) Transitioning to community-powered courses (1:04:00) The benefits of community and recurring revenue (1:13:46) Driving webinar attendance through YouTube (1:17:57) The evolution of sharing income reports (1:19:21) Transitioning from income reports to case studies (1:20:12) The shift to a case study-based approach (1:21:38) Generating revenue from books and courses (1:24:58) The acquisition of Winning Edits (1:26:53) Creating partnerships and building a community (1:27:21) Equity and partnerships in business (1:29:12) The concept of Commander's Intent (1:30:09) Finding the balance between micromanaging and trust (1:31:06) Considering a rebrand for Smart Passive Income (1:34:53) The power of affiliate marketing (1:35:42) The importance of aligning affiliate products with audience goals (1:37:37) The value of advisors and partnerships (1:38:36) The importance of selectivity in speaking engagements (1:39:37) Parenting as an entrepreneur (1:51:52) Staying patient and focusing on the long game Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Espiritu, founder of Epic Gardening, shares his journey from starting a gardening blog to building a multi-million dollar business. He discusses the growth of his YouTube channel, the importance of SEO and content strategy, and the acquisition of other gardening blogs to expand his reach.  Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/dticDXdRuh8  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Wearing the hat: winning the biggest deal (01:01) Building epic gardening (03:47) The botanical interests deal (05:14) How wearing the hat made a difference (06:06) The angle of the botanical interests deal (09:28) Getting into gardening (10:54) Finding a hobby outside of business (12:44) Going all-in on epic gardening (20:33) Acquiring blogs for growth (25:48) The future of SEO (27:09) The importance of email marketing (28:49) Testing offers and opt-in rates (30:12) The role of a president in scaling (31:35) Finding the right operations guru (32:04) Recruiting and hiring 10X talent (33:00) The role of private equity in business growth (33:26) The benefits of executive recruiting and acquisitions (34:15) The value of learning from others in business (34:41) The parallels between poker and business (35:37) Why entrepreneurs should consider playing poker (36:07) Lessons learned from playing poker (37:27) Exploring mold toxicity and health (37:56) Getting into gardening and wood carving (40:12) The journey of epic homesteading (41:30) The beginner's approach to gardening (42:27) The benefits of growing citrus trees (43:30) The connection between gardening and business (43:59) The analogy of asparagus and long-term thinking (48:10) The importance of mental models in entrepreneurship (49:47) The need for action and real-world testing (52:23) The shift from reading to doing (53:46) The revolt against short-form content (54:45) The purpose of the personal YouTube channel (57:00) The importance of health and wellness for entrepreneurs (58:21) The value of long-form content and building relationships Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watch the Video Version on Greg Isenberg's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVqjPqPx3e8&t=171s Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss various business ideas, including the concept of pay-for-performance agencies and the potential for AI agents in customer service. They explore opportunities in different industries, such as finance and hospitality, where pay-for-performance models can thrive. Additionally, they delve into the role of smart contracts in marketing and the potential for gamification in various aspects of life. The conversation highlights the importance of focus and the potential for agency businesses to generate significant profits. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:01) Pay for performance agency business model (02:04) Potential industries for pay for performance (03:41) AI agents for customer service (06:09) Using AI agents to close deals and capture more value (08:03) Pay per performance conversion rate optimization agency (09:01) The role of smart contracts in marketing (10:04) Speculation and trust in smart contracts (12:07) Gamifying tasks and rewards (13:09) Gamifying household chores and incentives (13:42) The potential for building gamification platforms (14:13) Early adoption of spatial computing (15:31) The importance of taste in product design (16:01) Challenges with longevity practitioners and supplements (16:55) The growing interest in sleep and health (17:41) Accessibility of health experts and AI assistance (18:08) Greg Isenberg shares his idea for a less annoying nightguard that also whitens teeth. (19:06) Discussion about using mouth tape to force breathing through the nose while wearing a nightguard. (20:05) Conversation about creating anti-sweat slippers using bamboo materials. (21:30) Idea for creating community-focused organizations similar to EO and YPO. (22:35) Discussion on the potential of agency businesses and building generational wealth. (24:18) Greg Isenberg and Eric Siu discuss the benefits of focusing on agency businesses. (25:32) Opportunities in AI transformation agencies, programmatic SEO, and creative agencies. Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew  — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Siu interviews Greg Isenberg, the CEO of Late Checkout, delving into the nuances of community building. Greg, a master in this domain, shares insights on fostering online communities for substantial growth. They explore the future of programming, the importance of design skills, and the power of social media. Greg also discusses the role of AI in entrepreneurship and the challenges of diversity and inclusion. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/kdnX63OEP5I  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Greg Isenberg has built communities of various sizes, from dozens to millions of people. (06:24) Greg Isenberg shares a story of paying for an expensive dinner as a teenager. (08:41) Greg Isenberg recounts attending a party at a co-founder of PayPal's house. (10:02) Greg Isenberg talks about his experience with StumbleUpon and how it led to the sale of his company. (12:19) Greg Isenberg discusses his interest in AI and how it relates to his innovation agency, LCA. (14:44) Greg Isenberg explains his approach to starting businesses as Twitter accounts or Discord communities. (18:25) Greg Isenberg explains why solopreneurship may not work for everyone and the benefits of having a team. (20:28) Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the challenges and potential success of hiring CEOs and GMs for businesses. (22:23) Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the importance of experience and expertise in giving advice. (25:46) Eric and Greg discuss their approach to coaching and supporting the businesses they invest in. (27:26) Greg shares his perspective on the future of venture capital, emphasizing the value of adding more than just financing to startups. (33:53) Greg Isenberg explains why most digital communities fail. (35:04) Greg Isenberg compares building a community to building a religion and explains the need for a strong mission. (36:16) Greg Isenberg highlights the opportunity to build a product or service for the 50% of Gen Z who feel disconnected. (42:30) Greg Isenberg emphasizes the importance of paying community managers well and recognizing their value. (48:16) The power of DMs and reaching out to people you admire. (49:04) Meeting one of his heroes, Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, through Twitter. (1:01:37) Benefits of using School as a community platform (1:04:38) Greg Isenberg has met Sam Ovens. (1:09:26) Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the importance of brand and design in standing out. (1:13:10) Greg Isenberg advises against reading design books and instead encourages hands-on practice (1:17:42) Greg Isenberg shares his Twitter content creation process and the importance of genuine ideas (1:20:48) Greg Isenberg spends a few thousand dollars on content (1:32:19) Eric Siu asks Greg Isenberg about other ideas he's excited about (1:36:19) Greg Isenberg shares his website and social media handles Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube! — What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices