First Class Founders: Creators | Solopreneurs | Personal HoldCo

Joe Casabona, host of 'How I Built It,' shares his S.M.A.S.H. framework for content creators, discussing monetization strategies, the effectiveness of sponsorships, using crossovers to build audience loyalty, finding lookalike audiences, the affiliate model of monetization, combining sponsorship and selling, and compartmentalizing content to promote services.

Yong-Soo Chung shares his journey of feeling isolated on Twitter to successfully monetizing his hobbies. Topics include audience engagement, building an audience from scratch, social media strategies, and the transformative power of micro-communities.

In this episode, the host discusses the benefits of setting up a Personal Holding Company (PHC) to save taxes and protect assets. They explain how PHCs allow individuals to pursue multiple interests while limiting liability. The chapter descriptions cover leveraging personal interests for income generation, building an audience and identifying target companies, launching Growthjet, and the importance of authentic storytelling and building PHCs.

E52:  In today's digital age, entrepreneurs need a strong personal brand. Hands down. But how do you actually go about building one? On today's episode, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a conversation with Clifton Sellers (@LegacyBuilder__) founder of Legacy Builder, a successful ghostwriting agency. He's the unseen hand behind some of the best content on the web. Clinton will share his insights on building a personal brand from scratch, his unique onboarding process for clients, and how he has harnessed the power of AI to grow his business.  On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Unlock the Power of AI- The Importance of Personal Branding- How to Master the Art of Audience Building - Content Creation Strategies for Business GrowthI promise you this episode is full of incredible insights that I just can't wait to share with you!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Gaining Traction on Social Media: "You're gonna wanna start finding large accounts that you respect in the area that you wanna be known for and you're gonna comment on their stuff." — Clifton Sellers (21:11)The Rising Importance of AI in Society: "It would be silly of us to ignore the existence of AI and try to bootstrap and not utilize it. It's a huge massive advantage for companies, agencies, and everybody to use."  — Clifton Sellers (28:55)*** LINKS: Legacy Builder GrowthJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

Discover the power of leverage and how it contributes to the immense wealth of successful entrepreneurs. Uncover the evolution of leverage in the digital age and its role in building successful businesses. Learn about personal holding companies and a climate-neutral logistics company. Explore the various ways the richest people in the world utilize leverage to create and grow their businesses, from social media to traditional leverages of capital and labor.

E50: Let's be honest, change can be a real challenge for us entrepreneurs. It's like trying to catch a fast-moving aircraft without a ticket - it's confusing and can make you feel like you're just reacting, not steering your ship. This can lead to burnout, frustration, and missed opportunities.On today's episode, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) chats with none other than the Master of Change and Best-Selling Author Brad Stulberg (@BStulberg). He shares some mind-blowing insights and frameworks to handle change like a pro in your business.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- The Power of Rugged Flexibility- The Powerful Four-Piece Framework- How to Master the Art of Responsive Mindset- The Importance of Having Multiple IdentitiesLet's get down to business!***SPONSORS: Swell AI - Want a production assistant 24/7? If you're a content creator, do yourself a favor and try Swell AI.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Embracing Change: "It's about skillful action. It's about knowing our values and what we stand for and then flexibly applying them. To meet the moment as things constantly and inevitably change." — Brad Stulberg (08:24)The Importance of Balancing Focus and Identity: "If you wanna be great at something, spend a lot of time, attention, and energy focusing on that. You need to spend a lot of time in that room of your house. I'm not arguing you need to spend equal amounts of time in equal rooms. What I am arguing is you never wanna shut the doors to the other rooms. And you can emphasize different parts of your identity at different parts of your life. And to me, that is not only the key to being happy, maintaining mental health, it's also the key to elite performance."  — Brad Stulberg (23:05)*** LINKS: Episode 26Brad Stulberg's WebsiteJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

The podcast discusses the importance of building a personal brand, building trust and connection, and refining content. It also emphasizes the power of networks and mentors in boosting content. The speaker shares their journey as a creator and reflects on their experiences of making mistakes in content creation and personal branding. They also highlight the importance of networking, distribution, and building credibility as a creator.

Nick Huber, founder of Bolt Storage & The Sweaty Startup, joins the podcast to share his tips for unsexy entrepreneurship. Topics discussed include running a holding company, leveraging a large audience, finding operators for businesses, and the importance of unsexy entrepreneurship.

Learn about the concept of flywheels and why they are crucial for building successful businesses. Discover the importance of building an audience before creating a product and how guests sharing the podcast episode can attract new listeners. Explore strategies for creating shareable podcast episodes and repurposing content across platforms to reach different audiences.

Film producer and author Daren Smith shares his journey from broke to successful creative entrepreneur. Topics include mastering the creative entrepreneurial mindset, the importance of owning your audience, and building a profitable creative business. Advice for creative entrepreneurs is also provided, focusing on mindset, desired outcomes, business optimization, and choosing the right type of business and audience.