Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

It’s another mixed bag of business topics on this week’s episode of the pod: X’s Head of Product shares the suspiciously simple playbook to getting rich on the platform, Google’s “Photoshop Killer” is officially on the loose, emerging thoughts on pivoting away from the Philippines for outsourcing remote talent, luxury lifestyle for a fraction of the cost in Thailand, and more. Quick reminder that we’ll be in Bangkok next month with Dynamite Circle for a week of sheer business nerdery. Details in the links below! LINKS Hang out with us at DCBKK in Bangkok this October (https://dynamitecircle.com/dcbkk) Connect with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) X’s Head of Product shares how to get rich on X in 6 months (https://x.com/nikitabier/status/1963498520805007470) Google’s “Photoshop killer” Nano Banana (https://gemini.google/overview/image-generation/) Nick Huber’s thoughts on outsourcing to the Philippines in 2025 (https://x.com/sweatystartup/status/1963588036102348943) Dan’s next read (https://www.amazon.com/100M-Money-Models-Make-Acquisition-com-ebook/dp/B0FMXTZ4MH) This week’s sponsor: https://spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (https://spp.co/) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) CHAPTERS Audio: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:29) How to Get Rich on X in 6 Months (00:04:51) How to Stay Consistent with Content (00:10:14) Google’s “Photoshop Killer”: Nano Banana (00:13:58) PH No Longer a Hotspot for Remote Recruiting?
 (00:18:29) Sponsor Shout-out: SPP.co
 (00:19:47) Luxury Location-Independent Lifestyle in Thailand
 (00:27:22) Hits of the Week: Hormozi, Feldman, DCBKK CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: Why $120K From Your Biz Beats $150K at a Job (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/balancing-wealth-freedom-mindset) The Content Flywheel Behind a 7-Figure Education Business ft. Timothy Moser (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/content-flywheel-behind-7-figure-business) Health Advice That Goes Against Everything You Know ft. Jay Feldman (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/health-advice-against-everything-you-know) The Freedom Line, 7+ Figure Founders, and Extended DCBKK Recap (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/dcbkk-recap-2023)

Why are so many chasing $10M exits when $3-4M plus a paid-off house might be the real freedom number? Should you be betting big on Bitcoin in 2025, and did we miss out on a massive opportunity 9 years ago? And if you’re “unemployable,” is that a badge of honor... or a red flag? This week, Dan and Ian crack open the reality behind location-independent entrepreneurship: from sipping wine in Europe (and still gaining weight) to navigating whether your side hustle cash flow can really replace that W-2 paycheck. LINKS Join Dynamite Circle and hang out with us in Bangkok in October (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Connect with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) The episode that could have made us $1.6 million (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/bitcoin) @levels.io’s investment portfolio (outperforming the S&P 500) (https://levels.vc) BowTied Bull’s article “Think Twice After You Make It” (https://bowtiedbull.io/p/think-twice-after-you-make-it) This week’s sponsor: spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (http://spp.co) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:44) What percentage of W-2 Income is Small Biz income worth? (00:13:48) This Week’s Sponsor: SPP.co (00:15:12)  Are Entrepreneurs Truly Unemployable? (00:18:34)  “Financially Cozy” Level of Wealth (00:26:18) Europe for the summer: overrated, underrated, or properly rated? (00:27:26) Company news CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: The Changing Landscape of SEO and the Influence Equation (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/changing-landscape-seo) What is the Michael Jordan of Business Models? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/michael-jordan-business-model) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough)

If you’ve been living under a rock, you might have missed Alex Hormozi’s record-breaking launch of his latest book $100M Money Models (yep, reps from Guinness World Records were there to verify.) One of the most prominent internet business gurus of our time, Alex’s marketing and launch strategies paint a vivid picture of the power of “the influence equation.” Love him or hate him, his journey is inspiring for all entrepreneurs. Here are 5 takeaways from the launch, specifically for bootstrappers in the trenches. LINKS This week’s sponsor: spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (http://spp.co/) Alex Hormozi’s $100M book series (https://www.acquisition.com/books) Dan’s book “Before the Exit” (https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B07BN2KD1J) “The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial Life” by Nick Maggiulli (https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Ladder-Proven-Strategies-Financial/dp/0593854039) Nick Maggiulli’s interview on the Afford Anything Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/nick-maggiulli-the-wealth-ladder-has-six-rungs-and/id1079598542?i=1000719716621) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders like Allen inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:07) $87M in 8 Hours: Hormozi’s Record-Breaking Launch (00:06:05) Takeaway #1: The Power of the Influence Equation (00:11:53) Takeaway #2: Three Types of Media Strategy (00:14:35) This Week’s Sponsor: SPP.co (00:15:53) Takeaway #3: Choose Your Extreme (00:18:40) Takeaway #4: Aggressively Do the Hardest Thing (00:20:06) Takeaway #5: Risk - The Secret to Stratospheric Wealth (00:25:08) Final Thoughts: The Corner Office Test CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: The Changing Landscape of SEO and the Influence Equation (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/changing-landscape-seo) What is the Michael Jordan of Business Models? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/michael-jordan-business-model) “When is my LTV good enough?” + Founder Mode for Bootstrappers (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/ltv-good-enough)

In this week’s episode, Allen Walton (SpyGuy) shares how he’s using AI to build custom tools with almost zero coding experience, and how founders can turn everyday business spending into first-class flights. From AI-powered inventory forecasting to unlocking elite travel perks, this episode is packed with practical tips for bootstrapped entrepreneurs ready to work smarter and travel better. LINKS This week’s sponsor: spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (http://spp.co/) Connect with Allen on X (https://x.com/allenthird) Allen’s ecomm company (https://www.spyguy.com/) “The 4-Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferriss (https://fourhourworkweek.com/) “StoryBrand” by Donald Miller (https://storybrand.com/) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders like Allen inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) Today’s Guest: Allen Walton (00:07:35) How Allen is Using AI for Business & Personal Life (00:09:45) LLM Deep Research for Competitor Analysis & ICP Creation (00:12:58) Vibe Coding Apps with Zero Technical Experience (00:22:32) This Week’s Sponsor: SPP.co (00:23:50) How Airlines Actually Make Their Money (00:26:34) The Competition of Points and Rewards in 2025 (00:30:40) The Worst Way to Redeem Points (00:33:13) How to Maximize Points Accumulation (00:35:48) Why Business Owners Should Pay More Attention to Points (00:38:44) ‘Mozi Madness: Alex Hormozi’s Record-Breaking Launch CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: Top 5 SEO Tactics That Still Work in 2025 with Sean Markey (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/top-5-seo-tactics) TMBA 256: Making Sense of Awards Points and Business Class Upgrades w/ Erik Paquet (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/mileage) TMBA 540: Are You Generating Income or Wealth? w/ Nat Eliason (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/income-wealth-running-agency)

Organic traffic is getting weird… and kinda looks like an alligator’s mouth (you’ll have to listen to the episode to see what we mean). SEO expert Sean Markey joins Dan to break down 5 strategies still working in 2025: from parasite SEO to aged domains and Reddit "hacks." If you’re trying to cut through the LLM noise, this episode is the ultimate SEO rabbit hole. LINKS Sean’s SEO newsletter for CEOs and founders that hate SEO newsletters (https://ranks.com/newsletter/) Sean’s SEO community (https://advise.so/) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Remote First Recruiting: Find your next best remote hire in 21 days (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Today’s Guest: Sean Markey (00:02:53) The State of SEO in 2025 (00:03:49) What SEO Leaders Are Doing (Instead of Panicking) (00:04:44) How to Own Page 1 Without Ranking (00:07:25) Buy Your Way Into the SERPs (00:09:23) The Reddit Mod Hack No One Talks About (00:12:58) How Small Channels Are Printing 60K MRR (00:14:46) Ranking in LLMs Without a Prompt Engineer (00:17:26) The Aged Domain Shortcut That Still Works (00:20:54) What Is Parasite SEO (And Why It Works) (00:22:50) The AI Prompt Stack SEO Founders Are Gatekeeping (00:25:25) Why Local SEO Still Wins in 2025 (00:26:45) Is SEO Even SEO Anymore? (00:29:36) Why Community > Courses in 2025 (00:33:03) The 1-1-1 Model: Simple, Scalable, Profitable CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: TMBA 588: Embracing Growth Through Setbacks w/ Sean Markey (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/sean-markey-growth-through-setbacks?rq=sean%20markey) From Struggling Plumber to $57K MRR w/ Tom Richards (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/from-struggling-numbers-to-57k-mrr?rq=tom) Why Founders Shouldn’t Delegate AI (Barcelona Recap) (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/why-founders-should-not-delegate-ai)

How are legit 7- and 8-figure founders leveraging AI in their businesses? Spoiler alert: they’re not just handing it off to their teams. From cutting high level consultants to redefining metrics and leadership, Dan shares 7 takeaways from our recent DC BLACK event in Barcelona for million-dollar founders. LINKS: The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss (https://fourhourworkweek.com/) Growth Levers and How to Find Them by Matt Lerner (https://www.amazon.com/Growth-Levers-How-Find-Them/dp/1738426203) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Remote First Recruiting: Find your next best remote hire in 21 days (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) CHAPTERS: Audio: (00:00:46) AI Is a Founder-Level Problem (00:01:16) Real AI Use Cases From 7-Figure Founders (00:05:15) Financial Freedom Starts Earlier Than You Think (00:07:45) Million-Dollar Nomads Are Rare (And That’s Powerful) (00:10:38) How to Hire For Less in Latin America (Quick Plug) (00:11:38) The Rise of the Lifestyle Business CEO (00:14:39) Why Fringe Curiosity Is a Superpower (00:16:21) What’s Your North Star Metric? (00:22:22) The Meta Takeaway: Define Your Constraint CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: The Brutal Truth About Business Exits with Rob Walling (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/brutal-truth-about-exits) The Content Flywheel Behind a 7-Figure Education Business ft. Timothy Moser (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/content-flywheel-behind-7-figure-business) Health Advice That Goes Against Everything You Know ft. Jay Feldman (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/health-advice-against-everything-you-know)

Timothy Moser, founder of LearnCraft Spanish, shares how he scaled a 7-figure education business in today’s fast-changing online landscape. From why SEO is collapsing to the surprising rise of YouTube as a high-converting channel, Timothy breaks down the strategies behind his content flywheel, email list growth, and powerful giveaway launches that turn listeners into paying customers. Dan and Timothy also discuss what founders really get from in-person Dynamite Circle events, how a 30-person remote team stays aligned, and the realities of carrying entrepreneurial responsibility—even when you “unplug.” LINKS: LearnCraft Spanish (https://www.learncraftspanish.com/) Contact Timothy to talk business (mailto:[email protected]) “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business” by Gino Wickman (https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Remote First Recruiting: Find your next best remote hire in 21 days (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) CHAPTERS: (0:00:13) Welcome & Today’s Big Question (00:01:48) Meet Timothy Moser & LearnCraft Spanish (00:07:38) How DC Events Unlock Growth (00:12:16) The SEO Collapse in 2025 (00:14:01) YouTube vs Podcasting in 2025: What Actually Works? (00:17:04) The Flywheel Effect of Great Long-Form Content (00:21:24) Timothy’s Counter-Culture Giveaway Strategy (00:29:50) Scaling and Delegating: Challenges for Bootstrapped Founders (00:36:24) Can Founders Ever Unplug? CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: Health Expert EXPOSES the "Eat Less, Exercise More" Movement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifN_JJdt5qo) Going Deep With Your Customers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-pNiE9WYzc) Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/entrepreneurial-leap-gino-wickman)

When Dan started training for an intense cycling season, he needed more energy... without wrecking his health. That led him to Jay Feldman, a health researcher who believes most mainstream advice is dead wrong. In this episode, Jay explains why “eat less, exercise more” backfires, and what to do instead. You’ll learn how metabolism really works, which foods help or hurt, and how to eat in a way that actually fuels your life. LINKS: FREE Energy Balance Food Guide (https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/) The Energy Balance Podcast (https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/podcast/) 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Remote First Recruiting: Find your next best remote hire in 21 days (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) CHAPTERS: (00:00:28) Why This Episode Matters (00:04:17) What Is the Bioenergetic View of Health? (00:08:02) Why ‘Eat Less, Exercise More’ Doesn’t Work (00:13:39) The Food Industry’s Role in the Diet Lie (00:20:15) What Should You Actually Eat? (00:22:30) Why Gut Health Affects Energy (00:27:24) Are Seed Oils Destroying Your Cells? (00:31:01) Why PUFAs May Accelerate Aging (00:35:52) What a Metabolism-Friendly Day of Eating Looks Like (00:38:49) How to Eat Like a Baby (and Why That’s Good) (00:42:59) Where the Research Is Heading CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: What is the World's Best Diet? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/diet?rq=health) The True Cost of Burnout, Anxiety, and Entrepreneurial Depression (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/benny-lewis-mental-health?rq=health) Talking Smart Drugs (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/smartdrugs?rq=health)

Dan and Ian respond to a series of spicy "unpopular opinions" about entrepreneurship, employment, digital nomadism, and lifestyle design, sourced straight from Reddit. They weigh in on whether boring businesses really win, if you can get rich working a 9-to-5, and whether meeting locals is overrated when traveling as a nomad. LINKS: 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Remote First Recruiting: Find your next best remote hire in 21 days (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:08) Unpopular Opinion #1: Boring Businesses Actually Win (00:05:26) Unpopular Opinion #2: A Job Can Make You Rich (00:11:22) Unpopular Opinion #3: Strategic Planning Is a Waste (00:13:49) Unpopular Opinion #4: Meeting Locals is Overrated (00:17:49) Unpopular Opinion #5: Entrepreneurship Isn’t All Sacrifice CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: “Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business) Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/entrepreneurial-leap-gino-wickman) A Game of Would You Rather ft. Noah Kagan (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/would-you-rather)

We’re halfway through 2025! This episode is a raw look at what’s working, what’s not, and the experiments we’re doubling down on. From running premium events at zero profit to building lean teams with talent from Latin America, we share the trade-offs and results behind every decision. Dan and Ian open the books on DC BLACK and DC Accelerator, plus they uncover how Remote First Recruiting quietly had one of its best quarters yet. LINKS: Dan’s Four Bricks presentation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZooQo760Ik&ab_channel=TropicalMBA) Meet the world’s most generous global entrepreneurs inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/) Connect with 7+ figure founders inside DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black) Remote First Recruiting: Find your next best remote hire in 21 days (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/) CHAPTERS: (00:00:42) Can You Break a Plateau Without Spending $200K? (00:01:45) Why Your Next Growth Phase Starts With You (00:06:45) What Happened When Our CFO Left (00:11:27) Why We Finally Launched a Premium Tier (00:16:01) The Real Results of Our $5K Coaching Program (00:22:03) Is Our Recruiting Arm About To Have Its Best Quarter Yet? (00:28:01) We’re Going to Bangkok This October CONNECT: [email protected] [email protected] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: “It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/easier-10x-than-2x) Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/brick-by-brick) 90-Day Growth Plan in 10 Questions (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/90-day-growth) The Wheel of Despair and the Paradox of Growth (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/wheel-despair-paradox-growth)