Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Nathan Barry, founder of ConvertKit, shares his journey from software designer to content creator to software founder. With ConvertKit now sending 2.5 billion emails per month and generating $40 million in revenue, Nathan discusses the power of building an audience and leveraging it to create long-term enterprise value. He also delves into his passion for flying and the parallels between flying and entrepreneurship. Nathan emphasizes the importance of having goals outside of work and optimizing for the journey rather than just the destination. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/vuwfio0Uw4Y Don’t forget to help us grow by subscribing and liking on YouTube!TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: (00:00) Nathan Barry introduces himself and his journey from software designer to software founder (02:57) Nathan Barry discusses his passion for flying and the process of getting a pilot's license (06:43) Nathan Barry expresses his goal of using flying for both personal and work-related purposes (08:14) Nathan Barry discusses the limitations and considerations of owning a larger plane (09:49) Eric asks Nathan about the payment structure for the pilot. (12:30) Nathan talks about his podcast and the journey of building an audience. (14:02) Nathan shares the story of Mark Sisson and the value of redirecting audience attention to a product. (15:08) Nathan explains the power of an audience in promoting and selling products. (16:03) Nathan discusses the success of Mark Sisson's Primal Kitchen and the value of an audience. (18:19) Nathan talks about the three rules for building an audience and creating enterprise value. (19:46) Nathan shares his experience building ConvertKit and its long-term enterprise value. (20:05) Nathan Barry and Eric Siu discuss the potential of agencies as successful businesses. (21:25) Nathan Barry shares his perspective on monetization options for creators. (25:52) Nathan Barry talks about the current growth and future potential of newsletters. (29:46) Nathan Barry shares a story about how having an audience can shortcut career paths. (31:24) Transitioning from personal brand to building a business (32:22) Using personal brand to drive attention to other businesses (34:21) Debate on the success of creator-led agencies (39:15) Strategies for growing Twitter following (42:09) Repackaging and reposting content for maximum reach (45:47) Nathan Barry is transparent about his financials to inspire others. (52:59) Nathan Barry discusses the flywheel strategy for growing a newsletter. (55:30) Advertising as a loop closer drives new subscribers for sponsorships. (57:54) Growing the newsletter audience leads to book sales and more opportunities. (59:59) Building network effects between creators through the Creator Network. (1:01:36) Convertkit's Creator Network and Spark Loop acquisition. (1:06:09) Nathan suggests using partnerships with other blogs to promote the subscription service and increase email sign-ups. (1:07:38) Eric asks Nathan about his quote "making money is a skill" and Nathan explains that building a successful business requires developing a range of skills. (1:11:37) Nathan shares where people can find him online, including his podcast and newsletter. — 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

Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo, discusses the importance of internal satisfaction, hiring elite advisors, reaching out to prefluencers, and balancing multiple projects. They also explore changes in team structure, strategies for promotion and goal-reaching, facing fears, and thinking in decades. They touch on content team structure and budget, recognizing advantages, creating platforms for success, and analyzing patterns among billionaires.

Jimmy Zhang, a successful content creator with 1.5 million subscribers, opens up about overcoming anxiety and addiction. He shares his immigrant upbringing, unique dating perspectives, and entrepreneurial ventures. Topics include personal growth, self-discovery, innovation in content creation, and recognizing children's strengths.

Chris Do, personal branding expert and mastermind scaler, discusses the power of personal branding, vulnerability, and storytelling. He shares insights on scaling his mastermind and finding the right mentor for personal growth. The podcast also touches on self-love, healthy relationships, and the importance of coaching.

Eric Wei, co-founder of Karat, discusses challenges creators face in the financial ecosystem. Karat provides tailored financial services for creators. They focus on organic marketing and trust-building. Karat aims to be a central ecosystem for creators' financial needs. They discuss monetization strategies, blurring lines between creators and businesses, and behaviors that separate successful creators. Importance of finding content market fit. They explore the inspiring journey of Alexandra Botez, a successful chess streamer. The hosts emphasize the importance of effective management and finding fulfillment in pursuing passions. Strategies to handle stress and make the most of what you have. They discuss their learning stack and the concept of freedom. They address equality, leadership stereotypes, and inspiring the next generation.

Vivian Tu, a personal finance expert, discusses the importance of increasing earning power, tax-saving strategies, investing in index-tracking ETFs, and the power of creators in the digital landscape. She shares tips on achieving financial independence and creating a better future for oneself. Vivian's goal is to help people build wealth and emphasizes the value of learning and being selfish in job choices.

Mark Moss, a content creator who made $1M in his first 20 days of YouTube, discusses his strategies for creating engaging content, the value of attention and personal branding in marketing, and the future of marketing. He also shares his experience of losing everything in 2008 and the power of organic testing audiences. The podcast covers topics such as long-form content, short-form content as a top-of-funnel strategy, transitioning to evergreen content, utilizing different platforms for different touch points, and the importance of embracing both direct response marketing and tech.

Sahil Bloom, a successful creator emphasizing authenticity and real-life experiences in content creation, shares his journey and the importance of long-term commitment. He discusses building relationships with influential figures, challenges of the creator economy, and the future of creator-led agencies.

Ali Abdaal discusses his journey from struggling YouTuber to successful entrepreneur. He emphasizes the importance of finding ways to make work enjoyable, shares advice for finding your style and niche on YouTube, and discusses strategies for growing your email list organically. Ali also talks about his unexpected success and revenue from live cohort courses, the structure and benefits of a high-priced program, and his plans to create a productivity course. He touches on his book 'Feel Good Productivity', the weekly vlog experiment, and the concept of simplifying productivity with GPS (goal, plans, and systems).

Discover the secrets to creating viral content and how to generate millions through a TikTok to Instagram funnel. Explore the shift in mindset towards content and business, the significance of focus in building something generational, and the potential of educational business models. Learn about the creator economy, real estate business, finding the right mentor, and giving away valuable content for free.