Streamlined Solopreneur: Helping simplify your tech stack and escape hustle

Learn the importance of research in product development from Becky Pierson Davidson. Discover how to simplify customer journeys and increase customer value through scrappy research methods. Understand the significance of diversifying data sources and creating personalized strategies for different customer segments. Gain insights on conducting user research interviews and identifying primary target audiences for product creation.

A few weeks ago, I ruffled some feathers on social media. I said, “Telling people you wrote your book with AI is like telling people you ran a marathon with your car.” Wow. People took umbrage with that statement. And while I stand by what I said, I thought it would be a good idea to talk to an AI expert. So I reached out to Bryan McAnulty of Heights Platform to see me (or everyone else) straight. And you know what he told me? We’re all doing it wrong. We shouldn’t use AI as a proxy for Google. We should use it as an actual assistant. And for that, we need to give it a ton of context.Top TakeawaysInstead of thinking of AI as a tool, think of it as an instrument. You need to learn how to play it and personalize it to play your kind of music. In the long run, you won’t be able to use AI to cheat, because what makes your content unique is your personal experiences. Since AI works on how you train it, You can have as many AI assistants as you want. It doesn’t just have to be one.Show NotesBryan McAnultyObsidianSmart ConnectionsCopilotCortex PodcastAll the News from Open AI's First Developer ConferenceHeights PlatformCreator ClimbSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Imagine that you’re going to give a talk on a topic you know really well. You spend time on the presentation, rehearse it 100 times, dial in the slides, and you’re feeling great. You get the conference, deliver the talk, and you think you nailed it. But when you ask for questions, one person raises her hand and says, “Nous ne parlons pas anglais.”That’s right. You just delivered your talk in English, and the entire audience speaks French. You made an assumption that you knew that audience. And the conference host made that same assumption. Now the effects, or embarrassment, may not be as strong if you guest on a podcast, but they can cut against your credibility, and potentially waste your time…and the audience’s time. That’s why you need to be prepared. And that’s exactly what public speaking coach (and fantastic guest) Adriana Baer is going to talk to us about today. We chat about everything from research to storytelling, and she even has a few bonus tips. Be sure to stick around until the end for a special bundled deal we’re offering. Top TakeawaysPodcast guesting is a gift. While the rest of the world lives in 5 second sound bites, podcasts give us the time and space to flex our expertise.To be an effective podcast guest, you need to do your research. Understand who you’re talking to, and how you can help them. You need to tell good stories – you do that but having some prepared, but also by actively listening to the host. Show NotesAdriana BaerWhy Podcast Interviews are a Content Goldmine with Tom SchwabThe Digital Storytelling Aspect of PodcastingThe Solopreneur's Gift GuideSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Recently, I sat down to dinner with my family when the doorbell rang. It was a door-to-door HelloFresh salesman, who wanted to make dinner easier for us (while ironically preventing me from eating dinner). I immediately got frustrated for two reasons: It was dinner time and the interruption was unwelcomedI had already told this guy’s partner “no” several hours earlier. It was a conversation that not only was unwelcome but was already flat-out rejected once before. This sort of tactic is what gives sales a bad name, and why folks like us hate sales. But today’s guest, Nikki Rausch, is here to tell us that’s not at all how sales should work – and what we should do instead. Top TakeawaysSales isn’t a one-way street. It’s a collaborative conversation that you have permission to enter into. And you get permission by asking. The person you’re speaking to has their own language – you need to tailor your offer to meet their needs and use their language. Never make assumptions! You can’t further a relationship without asking questions. Assumptions are driven by limiting beliefs. Questions lead to concrete answers.Show NotesNikki RauschWhat Prepared Plumbers Can Teach You About Winning BusinessThe Selling Staircase: Mastering the Art of RelationshipMastering the Sales ConversationSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Social media advice these days reminds me a bit of the parable of the Emperor with no Clothes. See, it's easy for anyone to display how smart and successful they are. They say things like, "Here's your content strategy for 2024: Post three times on X daily, post one thread on X daily. Create three LinkedIn posts per day and one LinkedIn carousel per week." People read that and think, "That's easy to understand," without realizing that just posting content is not a strategy at all. I often think about how people perceive me and my show because I consider myself a successful podcaster. But I also feel conflicted – I don't feel I've done a good job of leveraging this show to grow my audience. So, I've decided to have my friend, Zach Swinehart, come on to talk about how I can improve my conversions for this show.However, it almost feels a bit like the emperor has no clothes. Am I putting myself out there? Am I letting myself be too vulnerable? I guess you’re about to find out.Top TakeawaysWhen it comes to determining your lead magnet, you should test a few to see which resonates.When you're testing calls to action or lead magnets in a podcast, you should try a few different spots with a few different links.Know who you're talking to and try to understand your audience by looking at their pain points and objections.Show NotesDouble Your Email List Growth Rate in 29 minutesCheck out the full interview over on Zach's podcast, Full Time CreatorPersonalization is the Path Forward with Brennan DunnSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

How much help is too much help? When do you go from the actual worker to the visionary? And where does AI fit into all of this? Over on LinkedIn, I said using AI to write your book is like using a car to run a marathon. People took issue with that. So my friend Alastair MeDermott and I decided to have a good old fashioned debate. You’ll hear a nuanced discussion around:How to think about AI assistance in writing and content creationWhere AI can help versus replace in the creative processHow iterative prompting can shape the AI outputWhether AI will ever replicate truly original human ideasThe importance of the human editorial eye in approving AI-generated contentWhat we potentially stand to lose in fully outsourcing creative work to machinesIf you’re feeling uncertain about how to responsibly and effectively leverage AI tools like ChatGPT in your business and content creation, don’t miss this lively exchange of perspectives. Tune in now to help shape your own ethical framework.Check out Alastair's podcast over at https://therecognizedauthority.com/  ★ Support this podcast ★

Imagine making $70,000…from your bedroom…in one night. That’s exactly what Matt “Dappz” McGuckin did with his online trading cards shop. He got his start “breaking” – that is, buying and opening boxes of cards live online, and selling the contents…all on TikTok. Sounds risky? It is! But today, Dappz Sports is the Live Shopping Company on TikTok in the U.S., making over $20 Million in gross sales. So the risks have paid off. Now maybe it seems like too far-fetched to say you’ll make $70K in one night, but it’s not too far-fetched to say that making calculated risks will elevate your business. It’s a proven strategy and Dappz, and today, he’s going to tell you how you can do it too. Top TakeawaysDon’t try to think about how you’ll go viral. Instead, be consistent and try different things. Experimenting can be low-stakes risk-taking. One of the biggest risks that pay off is hiring someone. They will take SO much off your plate. It sounds scary, but it’s a must for any business owner. Research is SO important with it comes to mitigating risk – remember, this is about calculated risks, not being a cowboy, and doing crazy stuff to see if it pays off. Show NotesMatt "Dappz" McGuckinMatt on TiktokThe Social Dilemma on NetflixSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Over the years, I’ve published a great many gift guides on my blog. From freelancers, to podcasters, to working from home, and even my hobbies — like pens and cigars. And this year is no different.But given my relatively new focus on helping solopreneurs (and the fact that the “Work from Home” guide is starting to feel a little stale), I’ve decided to change things up in 2023.That's why this year, I'm introducing the Solopreneur's Gift Guide. Enjoy! LinksThe 2023 Solopreneur's Gift GuideView on Casabona.orgRecording / Video Conference GearElgato FacecamElgato Facecam ProLive Stream kitSamson Q2U Sennheiser PC 8 USB Headset Podcaster’s Gift GuideHue LightsElgato Key Light | Key Light AirNeewer 2 PackLume Cube for Video ConferencingHome OfficeSteelcase HON ChairsRoller Blade Wheels for Office ChairsJarvis by FullyE7 by FlexiSpotMoft Sit-Stand Laptop DeskTwelve SouthLogitech MX Master 3 Keycron K2 Pro Mechanical KeyboardErgonomic keyboard from MicrosoftMonitor Arm by FullyAt Home TechWestern Digital My Book  BackblazeSynology 2 Bay Storage NAS +  some hard drivesWestern Digital Portable Hard DriveSamsung’s T7 portable SSDAirPods Pro IISkullcandy headphones Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Cancelling headphones Audio-Technica ATH-M50sStream Deck GaNPrime Hybrid Power Bank / Wall ChargerMagSafe 3-in-1 Charging Cube (perfect for travel)Nano USB-C Power BankStands by Lab22ProductivitySidekick NotebookSidekick NotepadWilliam Hannah A5 Classic NotebookCheck out my Pen guideAnalog from UgmonkTodoistMindNode  BearUlyssesApp Store Gift Card SetappComforts of HomeCometeerKru DoomcupReading Jazzy JavaRook NicaraguaNespressoOXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee GrinderMahabis SlippersTravel / Outside the HouseWaterField Designs Sling bag from NomaticTimbuk2.Kindle ScribeAirTagsAirFly by Twelve SouthAt Your BestForget the FunnelThis is PersonalMade to Stick Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you remember the most awkward moments of your life? One for me was definitely the day I was defending my master’s thesis. I was explaining a complex algorithm, when my advisor interrupted me and said, “Well…that’s not really how it works.”  In front of my classmates, other faculty, and a number of friends who showed up out of support.As you can imagine, I was mortified – until recovered, finished the presentation, and said, If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Unless it’s about that one algorithm. They you can ask Dr. Bishop.” That got laughs, and I finished strong. I learned an important lesson that day: awkwardness will happen. It’s how you handle it that has a lasting effect. And that’s exactly what Dr. Henna Pryor is going to talk about with us today. She’s a keynote speaker, and her best-selling book, Good Awkward, came out in September with endorsements from people like NFL Quarterback Russell Wilson. Top TakeawaysWe are living in a society that increasingly doesn’t need to use its “social skills” muscle. We don’t have to interact with as many people, and it’s making us feel worse. Awkward goes hand-in-hand with uncertainty. That means if you never want to feel awkward, you’ll never grow. In order to embrace uncertainty, and therefore awkwardness, we need to create more situations to “practice” than the current world gives us. Show NotesHenna PryorHenna Pryor BookHenna on LinkedinHenna on InstagramHow to Stand Out When Everything is Competing for Attention with Steve WoodruffSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

A family walks into a talent agency, and says, “Have we got the act for you…”If you’re familiar with this opening to a joke, you may have had a visceral reaction to it — either you think it’s hysterically funny, shamefully disgusting, or both. It’s the opening to the joke, The Aristocrats, and if you have a weak stomach, I don’t suggest you look it up.See, the point of this joke isn’t actually the punchline, which is right in the title. The point is to see how long you can improv a shocking, disgusting, offensive story.You can think about it as a secret handshake among comedians, that became not so secret after a 2005 documentary came out about it.It going me thinking about the importance of telling a story.This week, I got to speak to my friend Nick Benson’s college classes about Digital Storytelling.Don’t worry, I didn’t tell The Aristocrats.Instead, I spoke to them about why storytelling is so important in any content you create, especially podcasting.Read the article here: https://podcastliftoff.com/podcast-storytelling/  Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★