A podcast for people working on startup ideas. We have 15-minute tactical episodes and occasional interviews with people who did the early things exceptionally well. We've helped launch hundreds of startups worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and these are the building blocks. "This is, without a doubt, the best podcast for people trying to build startups out there." "If you aren't listening to this podcast and you're considering building a business (or you're already building one), what are you doing?" "Must listen for first-time entrepreneurs - excellent storyteller."
How to Think Bigger (feat. The Problems and Opportunities Method)
Today, we’ll teach you how to avoid sabotaging your startup. Most founders think the best way to build a startup is to mitigate risks - to optimize for worst case scenarios. But the actual way to build a successful startup is to optimize for tasks with the highest ceiling - to do the things that might give you asymmetric gains, if they work. This is unnatural and hard - the Problems and Opportunities Method, the second in our Method series, will help. TackleboxIdea to Startup NewsletterDay One AppThe Hail Mary Pass that Saved HingeLoss Aversion is Paralyzing Your StartupFeast of the Seven Fishes00:22 Problems and Opportunities02:26 Find Your Lobster Story08:10 Asymmetric Progress10:00 Smooth Jazz10:45 The To Do List Monster14:20 The Obstacle is the Way15:12 Ambiguity Aversion, Loss Aversion, and Magicians15:55 Helping Parents Plan Dates18:22 Scheduling and the Actual Downside
How to be Different, Part 1 (feat. The Personal Venn Diagram Method)
Today, we'll help you build a system to be different. We dive into the Persona Venn Diagram Method - a tool designed to help you identify and capitalize on your unique strengths - and we'll talk through how the path you might think holds the least risk actually guarantees the most. This is the first in a series of episodes on the Methods we use at Tacklebox to help our founders build differentiated businesses.TackleboxBeehiiv (Idea to Startup Newsletter)Day One Journal00:25 How to be Different02:16 Talk at Columbia Business School02:55 The Path to an Interesting Job06:35 Status and Happiness09:45 The Happiness Formula11:43 Smooth Jazz12:27 The Personal Venn Diagram Method13:29 Drawing and Adding Circles17:53 Implementation19:26 The End
Testing Another Startup Idea Live Part 1: Picking the Idea, Nudging the Boulder
Today, we'll kick off a new series where we'll start an idea live on the pod. Actually, we'll start two. One in the healthcare space, one in the AI space. The hope is that you've got an idea and can follow along with us. Today we'll cover when your idea is ready to start, how to structure the first couple of weeks, and how to think about the giant boulder sitting in front of you. Also, there's a brief Ruby cameo because she's been absent for a few weeks. TackleboxAI Brian4000 Weeks
The Quest for an Identity
Today we'll help you find an identity. An identity is something unique that you can organize your business beneath. A north star that can act as a lens for every decision you make. We talk through how to use category shifts and first principles to find and evaluate possible identities and when to stick with an identity vs when to jump ship. We use a bunch of examples - from an Italian restaurant to a skincare company called Jolie to the 1994 Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team. TackleboxJoliePerfect BarHow "40 Minutes of Hell" Became an Iconic Basketball Brand 00:27 An Identity Helps You Move Fast and Keep Momentum03:30 Black Friday - Lack of Clear Identities06:22 Smooth Jazz06:53 Categories09:11 Jolie12:12 First Principles12:42 Arkansas Basketball’s “40 Minutes of Hell” Identity15:50 Career Coach Identity17:40 Stay Disciplined19:42 Changing Too Quck vs. Staying Too Long20:34 Throw with Conviction21:11 Tacklebox
How to Find a Differentiator (ITS Classic)
Today we'll outline two frameworks that'll help you find a meaningful differentiator. We'll use a bunch of examples to show how Inversion + Before and After can change your business. A baseball academy, Krispy Kreme, and Nutrisystem help show us the way to a product your customers will happily overpay for.Tacklebox
Customers Speak Problem, But You’re Speaking Solution
Today, we'll talk about why so many entrepreneurs can't effectively explain what they're doing to their customers. The short answer is they speak the wrong language. Customers speak Problem, entrepreneurs speak Solution. It's like two people trying to have a conversation when one only speaks Latin and the other only speaks Dutch.We go through how to start speaking Problem, and show the power of Problem Language through a live idea test - two landing pages for an AI bot to help people get out of debt: one with Solution Language, one with Problem Language. TackleboxTwinbox - the Idea to Startup AI BotThe Brain Audit00:00 Tacklebox00:37 How to Speak Problem01:21 The Brain Audit01:55 Farm Stand Problem Language06:03 The Idea: AI to Get Out of Debt07:38 Smooth Jazz08:07 Why You Won’t Use Problem Language10:31 Signs in NYC15:00 AI for Debt17:41 Landing Page Test19:18 The End: This Is Everywhere - Cold Email Examples
An SOP for Testing a Startup Idea
Today, we'll help you build an SOP for testing startup ideas. We'll use an example from a listener - a startup in the homeschooling space - as a guinea pig. The best way to have a great startup idea this time next year is to test out a bunch of ideas in the interim. This SOP will help you do it, and scale the process.TackleboxByldd00:00 Tacklebox00:30 Pros and Amateurs02:08 Homeschool Idea05:47 The Story of Future You06:16 Entrepreneur Pro Tactic Number One - Working Backwards from Dreams07:42 BYLDD08:50 SOPs14:19 An SOP for a Problem Worth Solving14:46 Customer Language15:55 SOP Problem Doc19:40 The Stakes23:00 The Startup Journal
Two Ways to Approach Your Startup Idea Like A Pro (ITS Classic)
Today, we'll talk about pros and amateurs. Pros build businesses that have a shot - amateurs never leave the starting gate. Unfortunately, most amateurs don't know they're approaching their idea the wrong way.We talk through your vision and your internal system - the internal process you'll build, automate, and scale to help you execute that vision. We do it with a little help from the best run solo business I've encountered (an interior designer), and the best tool for your internal system (Zapier).TackleboxFiverrZapier
Writing Persuasive Copy to Test an Idea
Today, we talk through how to write compelling copy. We go through a few counterintuitive archetypes you can use to dramatically increase the clarity of your messaging, which will allow you to increase your conversion rate and get more people involved earlier in the process. Copywriting is an idea-testing superpower. TackleboxAI BrianByldd00:00 AI Brian00:33 When Copy Becomes Important02:40 Why You’re a Bad Writer05:40 Is This Anything?06:50 Byldd07:55 The Big Misunderstanding10:45 Reverse Architect Copy13:45 The Attention Pie15:48 Cold Emails17:20 Write to One Person
How to Embrace Risk, Uncertainty, and Chaos
Today, we'll help you embrace risk, uncertainty, and chaos. The only way to get asymmetric results in life is to spend a lot of time in what we call the "chaos" zone - the uncomfortable place where you're finding things no one else has yet. This type of work (life) is uncomfortable and stressful, so people don't do it. But, it's where all the potential asymmetric value is. So, we go through tactics to make this stage feel safer, allowing you to spend more time in it and increasing the chances you pull a life changing business out of it. TackleboxLast Lecture Series: “How to Live an Asymmetric Life,” Graham Weaver MisbeliefMisogiThe Psychological Impact of Insolvency on Creativity Less Stressed Minds are Creative Minds00:00 Tacklebox00:30 Good Startups are Chaotic01:08 The Three Phases of Something New: Chaos01:48 The Three Phases of Something New: Organization02:40 The Three Phases of Something New: Clarity + Order03:45 Drop Shipping Cheap Sunglasses06:12 Last Lecture Series: “How to Live an Asymmetric Life,” Graham Weaver10:10 Smooth Jazz10:40 The Scarcity Mindset11:51Misbelief14:33 How to Reframe Chaos as Opportunity16:39 Misogi20:03 The Magic Comes Later
The Three Types of Problems Worth Your Time to Solve
Today we talk through the three types of problems that deserve a solution. We start off with a few higher level thoughts about problems and startups - specifically around achievement incentives and how some bad early decisions usually can't be salvaged by good decisions later on. Then we talk through Hole Problems, Teleporter Problems, and Status Level Jump Problems. BylddTackleboxGetting God at the Wrong ThingBad Early Decisions 00:40 The Types of Problems Customers Will Solve01:00 Manhattan in 200705:48 Achievement Incentives06:30 Be Careful What You’re Getting Good At07:37 Nat Eliason - Getting Too Good at the Wrong Thing08:21 Bad Early Decisions09:53 Byldd10:54 Problem Archetype 1: Hole Problems14:23 Baby Quip17:04 Problem Archetype 2: Teleporter Problems19:19 Problem Archetype 3: Status Level Jump
How to Find Your Wedge, feat. Bleeding Neck Problems (ITS Classic)
If you can't get traction, you likely need a wedge. Today, we talk through how to find one. We leverage a few frameworks we use at Tacklebox - the Bleeding Neck Problem, Productizing the First Step, and the 100 Character Landing Page. The goal is to solve an immediate, painful problem that'll build trust and allow you to pitch your bigger, North Star vision. Wedges get you started, and life is 100x harder without them. Tacklebox
Are you a Freelancer or an Entrepreneur?
Today, we'll help you think through a deceptively tough question - are you a freelancer or an entrepreneur? Every decision you make needs to nest neatly below this core decision for your business to work, but tons of founders are either trying to do both simultaneously or think they're one when they're really the other.We clarify the difference between freelancer and entrepreneur, help you decide which will make you happier, and get you started on the path for whichever you choose. BYLDDTackleboxSeth Godin ConversationKurt VonnegutNo Lunging 0:30 Why Entrepreneurs are unhappy01:14 Do you want to be a freelancer or entrepreneur?04:12 Seth Godin Conversation04:58 Our definition of a freelancer07:28 Our definition of entrepreneurs09:07 Cuban’s Definition of Entrepreneurship11:24 BYLDD12:25 The Restaurant Startup15:15 Rivers and Dams19:19 No Lunging22:44 Don’t Pretend23:10 How do you want to spend your days?
How to Relish the Indispensable and Wildly Uncomfortable Stuff Successful Startups Require
Today, we help you become the type of founder who relishes uncomfortable things that lead to successful startups. There are no real secrets in the startup world - the hard, proactive, uncomfortable work leads to businesses that matter. This work doesn’t happen without a system.Today we help you build that system, using The Costanza Swap, The Three Levers of Resilience, and The Failure Case.Hoo ahh.Tacklebox00:24 Doing Things You Don’t Want To Do02:45 Why the Eisenhower Box Doesn’t Work for Entrepreneurs03:30 The Al Pacino Problem04:45 Creating Content08:00 Smooth Jazz08:30 The Costanza Swap10:15 One Out, One In11:20 The Three Levers of Resilience12:40 Scheduling13:24 Committing14:30 Dissecting17:40 The Failure Case21:15 Happiness
How to Identify and Kill Bad Startup Ideas Masquerading As Good Ones
Today, we'll lay out a framework to help you identify and kill bad ideas. It's hard to objectively evaluate your idea early on - this framework helps you rise above your idea to do it effectively. A side-effect is that the framework will help you find and pursue the good ideas.We talk through 1) Finding and Evaluating the Real Risk, 2) Predicting Organic Growth Potential, and 3) Predicting the Likelihood of Converting Early Customers, using a startup idea from a listener as an example. TackleboxKunal Shah Delta 4Dig out of a Hole Idea to Startup Episode - The Four Characteristics of Great Startup Ideas00:25 - Killing Bad Startup Ideas02:00 - The Three Pillars of the Will Your Idea Fail Framework02:45 - The Startup Idea - AI Messaging for Plumbers and Electricians03:15 - Dig out of a Hole Markets link to episode05:56 - Smooth Jazz06:24 - Part 1 - How to Find and Evaluate the Real Risk07:35 - Flipping your biggest risk to your biggest strength11:00 - Decisions aren’t made in a bubble13:45 - Part 2 - Predicting the Organic Growth Potential14:00 - Kunal Shah Delta 4 Scale17:41 - Part 3 - Predicting whether you’ll actually be able to get first customers to convert18:49 Managed by Q