In this episode, Matt Watson and Ryan Dowdy discuss the importance and benefits of being recognized on the Inc 5000 list. They explore the motivations behind winning awards and the impact it has on company culture, employee morale, and recruiting. They also highlight the value of third-party validation and how it builds credibility and trust with customers and investors. The conversation emphasizes the significance of celebrating wins and the role of awards in showcasing a company's success.

Takeaways
Being recognized on the Inc 5000 list provides third-party validation and builds credibility and trust with customers and investors.
Winning awards can boost company culture, employee morale, and recruiting efforts.
Celebrating wins is important and often overlooked in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship.
Awards and accolades serve as a marketing tool and give companies a reason to reach out to existing customers and potential clients.
The Inc 5000 list is attainable for companies that have experienced significant growth over a three-year period.
Applying for awards and nominations can be a strategic play to position a company as an industry leader.


Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/


Sound Bites
"We don't stop enough and give credit to the team and the whole company. Let's stop and celebrate as a company. If we did this big thing as a team, this is a team sport."
"People want to do business with winners. We all have that bias. We all want to win."
"Recruiting is a huge issue. Good people want to be part of winning teams and winning companies."


Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:38 Celebrating Wins and Recognizing the Team
07:16 The Impact of Awards on Company Culture and Recruiting
09:45 The Value of Being Recognized as a Winner
11:30 The Role of the Founder as a Cheerleader
15:43 The Inc 5000 as a Favorite Achievement

In this episode, Matt Watson and Ryan Dowdy discuss the importance and benefits of being recognized on the Inc 5000 list. They explore the motivations behind winning awards and the impact it has on company culture, employee morale, and recruiting. They also highlight the value of third-party validation and how it builds credibility and trust with customers and investors. The conversation emphasizes the significance of celebrating wins and the role of awards in showcasing a company's success.
Takeaways Being recognized on the Inc 5000 list provides third-party validation and builds credibility and trust with customers and investors. Winning awards can boost company culture, employee morale, and recruiting efforts. Celebrating wins is important and often overlooked in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. Awards and accolades serve as a marketing tool and give companies a reason to reach out to existing customers and potential clients. The Inc 5000 list is attainable for companies that have experienced significant growth over a three-year period. Applying for awards and nominations can be a strategic play to position a company as an industry leader.
 Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/
Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/
 Sound Bites "We don't stop enough and give credit to the team and the whole company. Let's stop and celebrate as a company. If we did this big thing as a team, this is a team sport." "People want to do business with winners. We all have that bias. We all want to win." "Recruiting is a huge issue. Good people want to be part of winning teams and winning companies."
 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:38 Celebrating Wins and Recognizing the Team 07:16 The Impact of Awards on Company Culture and Recruiting 09:45 The Value of Being Recognized as a Winner 11:30 The Role of the Founder as a Cheerleader 15:43 The Inc 5000 as a Favorite Achievement

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.  With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond.  If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.   

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.&nbsp; With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond.&nbsp; If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Startups, Entrepreneurship and Business are Not Easy

Startup Hustle

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.  With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond.  If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.

Why the Inc 5000 is a Big Deal

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Andrew Plato, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of 'The Founder's User Manual.' They discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of differentiation in a competitive market, and the role of trust and credibility in business. Andrew shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the need for startups to establish a unique identity, navigate employee relationships carefully, and maintain a clear company culture. He also addresses the importance of avoiding controversial topics at work and the necessity of perseverance in the face of challenges.

Takeaways
Writing the book was a therapeutic process for Andrew.
Books can provide valuable insights but cannot replace real experience.
Startups must differentiate themselves to stand out in a crowded market.
Building trust is essential for successful business relationships.
Establishing boundaries with employees is crucial for effective leadership.
Company culture should prioritize safety and open communication.
Avoiding controversial topics at work can prevent division.
Choosing the right customers is vital for business integrity.
Perseverance is key to overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship.
Successful entrepreneurs refuse to give up and take ownership of their choices.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Find out more about Zenaciti here:
https://zenaciti.com

Check out Andrew Plato's book Founder's User Manual here:https://zenaciti.com/founders-user-manual/

Learn more about Andrew Plato:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewplato/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/

Sound Bites
"You can't go into a marketplace and say you're unique and special and different if you do what everybody else does or you sound like everybody else."
"Less is more. I get emails all the time and I get marketing all the time and it's like a wall of text. I don't care. I don't care that you have this guy on your board. I don't care that you know so-and-so. I don't care that you worked at Microsoft back in the 90s."
"You need to go out into the marketplace and speak about the things that are interesting to people. Don't talk about your product. Don't talk about your competitors. Talk about things that are relevant in your field."
"I wanted to be a likable person."
"The harder I tried to be everybody's friends kind of, the more it ultimately backfired on me."
"If you allow your business to become dominated by any or either of those sides, you are excluding a huge chunk of the population."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background of Andrew Plato
04:02 The Challenges and Learning Curve of Entrepreneurship
07:57 Standing Out in a Crowded Marketplace
11:56 The Power of Clear Messaging and Niching Down
14:49 Building Trust and Credibility
18:15 Building Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
20:28 The Challenges of Being a Leader
28:40 Setting Boundaries and Creating a Safe Space
30:33 The Impact of Discussing Controversial Topics
34:40 Focusing on Customer Needs and Avoiding Judgment
40:50 The Power of Perseverance

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Andrew Plato, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of 'The Founder's User Manual.' They discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of differentiation in a competitive market, and the role of trust and credibility in business. Andrew shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the need for startups to establish a unique identity, navigate employee relationships carefully, and maintain a clear company culture. He also addresses the importance of avoiding controversial topics at work and the necessity of perseverance in the face of challenges.
Takeaways Writing the book was a therapeutic process for Andrew. Books can provide valuable insights but cannot replace real experience. Startups must differentiate themselves to stand out in a crowded market. Building trust is essential for successful business relationships. Establishing boundaries with employees is crucial for effective leadership. Company culture should prioritize safety and open communication. Avoiding controversial topics at work can prevent division. Choosing the right customers is vital for business integrity. Perseverance is key to overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship. Successful entrepreneurs refuse to give up and take ownership of their choices.
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/
Find out more about Zenaciti here: https://zenaciti.com
Check out Andrew Plato's book Founder's User Manual here:https://zenaciti.com/founders-user-manual/
Learn more about Andrew Plato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewplato/
Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/
Sound Bites "You can't go into a marketplace and say you're unique and special and different if you do what everybody else does or you sound like everybody else." "Less is more. I get emails all the time and I get marketing all the time and it's like a wall of text. I don't care. I don't care that you have this guy on your board. I don't care that you know so-and-so. I don't care that you worked at Microsoft back in the 90s." "You need to go out into the marketplace and speak about the things that are interesting to people. Don't talk about your product. Don't talk about your competitors. Talk about things that are relevant in your field." "I wanted to be a likable person." "The harder I tried to be everybody's friends kind of, the more it ultimately backfired on me." "If you allow your business to become dominated by any or either of those sides, you are excluding a huge chunk of the population."
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background of Andrew Plato 04:02 The Challenges and Learning Curve of Entrepreneurship 07:57 Standing Out in a Crowded Marketplace 11:56 The Power of Clear Messaging and Niching Down 14:49 Building Trust and Credibility 18:15 Building Mutually Beneficial Partnerships 20:28 The Challenges of Being a Leader 28:40 Setting Boundaries and Creating a Safe Space 30:33 The Impact of Discussing Controversial Topics 34:40 Focusing on Customer Needs and Avoiding Judgment 40:50 The Power of Perseverance

Building Customer & Employee Trust

Adam Robinson, founder and CEO of Retention, discusses his new product RB2B and the importance of simplicity and profitability in building a successful business. He emphasizes the value of bootstrapping and achieving $10 million ARR before considering raising funds. Adam challenges the traditional venture-backed model and highlights the benefits of owning a profitable business that generates millions of dollars in revenue. He also shares his experience with scaling companies efficiently and the dangers of over-hiring and overspending. 

The conversation explores the challenges of outbound marketing and the importance of creating a disruptive offer to drive growth. It emphasizes the value of using satisfied customers to fund business growth through referrals and expansions. The concept of inbound-led outbound marketing is introduced, highlighting the need for strong, intense signals to capture attention. The conversation also delves into the power of thought leadership and organic social media content in driving demand. The discussion concludes with a focus on the benefits of engaging in public battles and the importance of building a personal brand and thought leadership to create a following and generate referrals.

Takeaways
Bootstrapping to $10 million ARR before considering raising funds can lead to a more profitable and sustainable business.
Simplicity and ease of use are key factors in building a scalable product.
Many SaaS companies struggle to achieve profitability due to over-hiring and overspending.
Focusing on long-term profitability and cash flow can be more rewarding than pursuing a quick exit.
The traditional venture-backed model may not be the best fit for all businesses, and alternative paths to success should be considered. Outbound marketing has become more challenging, making it important to create a disruptive offer to stand out.
Using satisfied customers to fund business growth through referrals and expansions is a sound way to run a business.
Inbound-led outbound marketing requires strong, intense signals to capture attention.
Thought leadership and organic social media content are powerful tools for driving demand.
Engaging in public battles, building a personal brand, and thought leadership can create a following and generate referrals.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Find out more about Retention.com here:
http://www.retention.com

Learn more about Adam Robinson here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/retentionadam/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/

Sound Bites
"The best free product I've ever heard of in my life."
"I will make millions of dollars a year, every year."
"Bootstrapping to $10 million ARR will make your product so good."
"Outbound has gotten so weird. Like it's just not as easy as it used to be."
"Using your customers, your satisfied customers to fund your growth."
"Inbound-led outbound, how do we do lead gen, identifying warm leads, and then reaching out to them."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship
02:20 Adam's Background and RB2B's Launch
04:19 The Value of RB2B's Free Version
07:09 The Billion Dollar Challenge and Realistic Expectations
10:09 The Importance of Simplicity in Product Development
13:07 Balancing Growth and Profitability
14:56 The Downside of Selling a Successful Business
16:51 The Challenges of Managing Rapid Growth
18:53 The Benefits of Owning a Profitable Business
21:14 The Challenges of Scaling Sales and Marketing
24:23 Inbound-Led Outbound Marketing
29:13 Driving Demand through Thought Leadership and Organic Social Media Content
35:22 Engaging in Public Battles and Building a Personal Brand

Adam Robinson, founder and CEO of Retention, discusses his new product RB2B and the importance of simplicity and profitability in building a successful business. He emphasizes the value of bootstrapping and achieving $10 million ARR before considering raising funds. Adam challenges the traditional venture-backed model and highlights the benefits of owning a profitable business that generates millions of dollars in revenue. He also shares his experience with scaling companies efficiently and the dangers of over-hiring and overspending. 
The conversation explores the challenges of outbound marketing and the importance of creating a disruptive offer to drive growth. It emphasizes the value of using satisfied customers to fund business growth through referrals and expansions. The concept of inbound-led outbound marketing is introduced, highlighting the need for strong, intense signals to capture attention. The conversation also delves into the power of thought leadership and organic social media content in driving demand. The discussion concludes with a focus on the benefits of engaging in public battles and the importance of building a personal brand and thought leadership to create a following and generate referrals.
Takeaways Bootstrapping to $10 million ARR before considering raising funds can lead to a more profitable and sustainable business. Simplicity and ease of use are key factors in building a scalable product. Many SaaS companies struggle to achieve profitability due to over-hiring and overspending. Focusing on long-term profitability and cash flow can be more rewarding than pursuing a quick exit. The traditional venture-backed model may not be the best fit for all businesses, and alternative paths to success should be considered. Outbound marketing has become more challenging, making it important to create a disruptive offer to stand out. Using satisfied customers to fund business growth through referrals and expansions is a sound way to run a business. Inbound-led outbound marketing requires strong, intense signals to capture attention. Thought leadership and organic social media content are powerful tools for driving demand. Engaging in public battles, building a personal brand, and thought leadership can create a following and generate referrals.
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/
Find out more about Retention.com here: http://www.retention.com
Learn more about Adam Robinson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/retentionadam/
Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/
Sound Bites "The best free product I've ever heard of in my life." "I will make millions of dollars a year, every year." "Bootstrapping to $10 million ARR will make your product so good." "Outbound has gotten so weird. Like it's just not as easy as it used to be." "Using your customers, your satisfied customers to fund your growth." "Inbound-led outbound, how do we do lead gen, identifying warm leads, and then reaching out to them."
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship 02:20 Adam's Background and RB2B's Launch 04:19 The Value of RB2B's Free Version 07:09 The Billion Dollar Challenge and Realistic Expectations 10:09 The Importance of Simplicity in Product Development 13:07 Balancing Growth and Profitability 14:56 The Downside of Selling a Successful Business 16:51 The Challenges of Managing Rapid Growth 18:53 The Benefits of Owning a Profitable Business 21:14 The Challenges of Scaling Sales and Marketing 24:23 Inbound-Led Outbound Marketing 29:13 Driving Demand through Thought Leadership and Organic Social Media Content 35:22 Engaging in Public Battles and Building a Personal Brand

Bootstrapping to $10M, The Future of Inbound Sales

Tyler Lieber, co-founder and CEO of Coconut VA, joins Matt Watson on the Startup Puzzle podcast to discuss the benefits and challenges of hiring virtual assistants (VAs) in the Philippines. They share their personal experiences with remote hiring and highlight the importance of trust and communication in working with VAs. Tyler explains that VAs can assist with a wide range of tasks, from email and calendar management to event planning and project coordination. They also discuss the unique advantages of hiring VAs in the Philippines, such as their strong work ethic, English proficiency, and cultural compatibility with US clients. 

Tyler emphasizes the importance of providing competitive pay and benefits to attract and retain top talent. In terms of sales and marketing, Tyler and his team rely heavily on referrals and content marketing to build trust and establish relationships with potential clients. They also discuss the value of strategic delegation and how VAs can help founders become more efficient and focus on high-value tasks. The conversation concludes with a reminder to prioritize work-life balance and take strategic vacations to assess task dependencies and delegate effectively.

Takeaways
Hiring virtual assistants (VAs) in the Philippines offers unique benefits, such as a strong work ethic, English proficiency, and cultural compatibility with US clients.
VAs can assist with a wide range of tasks, including email and calendar management, event planning, project coordination, and more.
Building trust and establishing relationships are crucial in the sales and marketing of VA services, with referrals and content marketing being effective strategies.
Strategic delegation is key to scaling a business and avoiding becoming a bottleneck as a founder.
Taking strategic vacations can help identify tasks that can be delegated to VAs and improve work-life balance.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fullscale.io/

Find out more about Coconut VA here:
https://www.coconutva.com/cva-linkedin

Learn more about Tyler Leber here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-leber/

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:
https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/

Sound Bites
"If you are hiring an executive assistant, or in this case, what we call a virtual assistant, you are hiring somebody that is just there to help you in whatever possible way that they can."
"The jobs that we are creating for these people are so important to them and so valuable to them, and they're by far some of the best opportunities and best jobs that they will find."
"Referrals are so important in this type of business because really just that trust building and that relationship building is the key to making any sales in this industry."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Starting a Business in the Philippines
06:18 Navigating Business Operations in Another Country
09:07 Training and Mentoring Virtual Assistants
10:50 The Role of Virtual Assistants
14:11 Why the Philippines for Virtual Assistants
18:03 Sales and Marketing Strategies for Virtual Assistant Services
22:43 Target Market and Geographic Reach
29:52 Tips for Hiring and Working with Virtual Assistants

Tyler Lieber, co-founder and CEO of Coconut VA, joins Matt Watson on the Startup Puzzle podcast to discuss the benefits and challenges of hiring virtual assistants (VAs) in the Philippines. They share their personal experiences with remote hiring and highlight the importance of trust and communication in working with VAs. Tyler explains that VAs can assist with a wide range of tasks, from email and calendar management to event planning and project coordination. They also discuss the unique advantages of hiring VAs in the Philippines, such as their strong work ethic, English proficiency, and cultural compatibility with US clients. 
Tyler emphasizes the importance of providing competitive pay and benefits to attract and retain top talent. In terms of sales and marketing, Tyler and his team rely heavily on referrals and content marketing to build trust and establish relationships with potential clients. They also discuss the value of strategic delegation and how VAs can help founders become more efficient and focus on high-value tasks. The conversation concludes with a reminder to prioritize work-life balance and take strategic vacations to assess task dependencies and delegate effectively.
Takeaways Hiring virtual assistants (VAs) in the Philippines offers unique benefits, such as a strong work ethic, English proficiency, and cultural compatibility with US clients. VAs can assist with a wide range of tasks, including email and calendar management, event planning, project coordination, and more. Building trust and establishing relationships are crucial in the sales and marketing of VA services, with referrals and content marketing being effective strategies. Strategic delegation is key to scaling a business and avoiding becoming a bottleneck as a founder. Taking strategic vacations can help identify tasks that can be delegated to VAs and improve work-life balance.
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/
Find out more about Coconut VA here: https://www.coconutva.com/cva-linkedin
Learn more about Tyler Leber here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-leber/
Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter: https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz/
Sound Bites "If you are hiring an executive assistant, or in this case, what we call a virtual assistant, you are hiring somebody that is just there to help you in whatever possible way that they can." "The jobs that we are creating for these people are so important to them and so valuable to them, and they're by far some of the best opportunities and best jobs that they will find." "Referrals are so important in this type of business because really just that trust building and that relationship building is the key to making any sales in this industry."
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:00 Starting a Business in the Philippines 06:18 Navigating Business Operations in Another Country 09:07 Training and Mentoring Virtual Assistants 10:50 The Role of Virtual Assistants 14:11 Why the Philippines for Virtual Assistants 18:03 Sales and Marketing Strategies for Virtual Assistant Services 22:43 Target Market and Geographic Reach 29:52 Tips for Hiring and Working with Virtual Assistants

Why the Inc 5000 is a Big Deal

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