"Imposter syndrome isn’t just a moment of self-doubt — it’s all-encompassing. It prevents founders from taking action, from taking a risk in the first place."This week, Dr. Julie Gurner shares with me how high performers combat the challenges founders commonly face. She’s a performance coach and Doctor of Psychology. We’ll talk about dealing with imposter syndrome, burnout, how to deal with the avalanche of advice on Twitter, and why it is so hard for founders to cope with stress.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/dr-julie-gurner-founder-mental-health-101/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb3e42caThe video: https://youtu.be/RjIZ8g0sxZwYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - How common is Impostor Syndrome? (02:42) - How social media can impact your business (08:00) - Vulnerability is not just a means of sharing negative feedback (13:33) - Diversity & Building in Public (17:54) - How to avoid falling into the Impostor Syndrome (22:35) - The importance of taking incremental steps (26:29) - Optimizing your business (32:18) - The importance of meditation (37:15) - The importance of having a routine that you enjoy (44:02) - The problem with the word "expertise" (47:43) - The importance of confidence in entrepreneurship (51:07) - Incorporating philosophy into your own life

Sharing your journey as an entrepreneur can be scary, but it's a great way to connect with your audience and demonstrate your expertise. Let's explore the difference between sharing business insights and trade secrets, and construct a Share/Don't Share list to help you decide what to share with your audience.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/how-to-build-in-public-without-revealing-too-much/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ed43fa8The video: https://youtu.be/iq_DetrM-DEYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo at usepinto.com/learn

Joe Masilotti is the founder of RailsDev —a reverse job board— and a Turbo Native consultant. In this conversation, we explore Joe Masilotti's philosophy on entrepreneurship and his focus on empowering software developers to find work. Joe's approach to monetizing Open Source is particularly interesting: he gives away his product for free with an eventual revenue share. We delve into the various marketing strategies that Joe uses for his different business ventures, including cold emailing, content marketing, and live coding. The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/joe-masilotti-building-in-public-and-monetizing-open-sourceThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ebd473b8The video: https://youtu.be/uxfUZ31QYGYYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - Introduction (04:00) - B2B vs. B2C (08:12) - How to monetize? (14:24) - Reverse job boards (19:27) - Coding in public. (25:06) - Transparency (32:23) - Monetizing open source projects (37:57) - Selling the business (44:48) - The ideal future (49:25) - Overlap between marketing and cold email marketing (56:30) - Building in public and empowering people

If you're an entrepreneur looking to start a digital business, you might be tempted to aim for a "forever business" right from the start. However, pursuing this approach can be dangerous. Today, you'll learn how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of digital entrepreneurship, build successful businesses that serve your customers and owners, and avoid the pitfalls of pursuing a "forever business" from day one.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/why-entrepreneurs-are-choosing-short-lived-businesses-over-forever-businessesThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e1eb3929 The video: https://youtu.be/lzYc5ArzTsw You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo! 

In this episode, I interviewSimon Høiberg, an active software engineer, founder, and YouTuber. Simon shares his strategies for balancing his roles as a creator and maker, and discusses the importance of incorporating personal experience into his content. He also delves into the power of intrinsic motivation and joy in entrepreneurship, and how he gamifies his life to prioritize these elements. The conversation touches on topics such as productivity, mental health, team management, and burnout prevention.Join me and Simon for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, content creation, and personal growth. Be inspired by Simon's passion for empowering entrepreneurs, and learn how you can incorporate joy and intrinsic motivation into your own entrepreneurial journey.The blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/simon-hoiberg-building-a-saas-that-works-for-youThe podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/05f2d837The video: https://youtu.be/U0cUsvxHtn0You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - On not burning out (04:53) - Coding mindset for entrepreneurs (09:38) - How to pick the right social media management tool. (14:14) - THe power of community (21:18) - What does a good lifetime deal look like? (24:53) - Allow customers to leave your product. (31:58) - The funnel and the web. (37:24) - Sharing your journey and success. (42:07) - How long does it take to build a youtube channel? (45:38) - A day in the life of an entrepreneur without burning out. (50:52) - The importance of having an empty calendar.

Have you ever searched for the perfect resume to get hired? Or tried to create a product that appeals to everyone? This essay explores the logical fallacy of wishful reasoning and the importance of picking a niche. Discover why building a successful product means addressing a specific set of needs for a particular group of customers, and why a well-defined niche is the best place to start.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-dangerous-misconception-founders-have-about-their-market/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e22791e5The video: https://youtu.be/jRc37k7I46s You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo! 

Evelyn J. Starr is a brand-building expert. We talk about finding the right niche, having a community-centric long-term perspective, and how brands evolve —you might call it “grow up”— over time. Here’s Evelyn.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmEvelyn's Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynJStarrThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/evelyn-j-starr-the-evolution-of-a-brand/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/69cc34f4The video: https://youtu.be/CTKESAugLP8You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.com (00:00) - What’s the biggest misconception about building brands? (01:44) - Do other brands influence the perception of your brand? (06:26) - What is the core of your business’s brand? (10:11) - How to pick a niche that is just right. (16:34) - What is too big of a niche to start a business? (21:46) - The evolution of a brand over time. (27:53) - What’s the difference between a serious brand and an adult brand? (33:19) - Tips on how to find your fans. (37:30) - The importance of having a differentiator in the space. (40:26) - Most people want to help. Most of the time you’re going to get a yes. (47:13) - The importance of being relatable to your audience.

Building in public is a popular trend in entrepreneurship. However, it may not always be the best approach. Entrepreneurs should consider their personality traits, the nature of their business, and their competitive advantages before deciding whether to adopt this approach. Building in public is about generosity, transparency, and community, and can be a powerful way to gain customers' trust, build a brand, and grow a business if these values align with the business model and personal style — but not always.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-flip-side-when-not-to-build-in-public/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/815ae514The video: https://youtu.be/GoJB6ngrS1M You'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo! 

Today, I’m talking to Jack Ellis, the co-founder of Fathom Analytics, a privacy-conscious web analytics business that I personally use for all my web properties. The company that Jack co-founded with Paul Jarvis competes directly with Google on their linchpin advertising product. That’s a pretty high order. We chat about Jack's role in a growing successful software business and just how much he hesitates to go from coder to manager. We dive into choosing reliable dependencies to power an always-on SaaS business and how to deal with migrating customers from Google to Fathom.Here’s a deep dive into a successful technical SaaS business. Here’s Jack Ellis.Jack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackEllisMy new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/jack-ellis-taking-on-google-as-a-bootstrapper/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/cda46335The video: https://youtu.be/oGjrUs0JB8wYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comThis interview is sponsored by Acquire.com

People would rather sift through fake AI results than see yet another ad. Something is happening in advertising, and the creator economy is affected greatly.The shift towards trust-based advertising is a wake-up call for founders and creators when crafting their marketing strategy, as honesty, integrity, and trust are now essential components of a successful approach to outreach.Here are the steps that you need to take to keep up with this development.My new podcast project: Arvid & Tyler Catch Up / https://catchup.fmThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/in-pod-we-trust-how-creators-can-best-juggle-credibility-and-sponsored-content/The podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/7ff5761eThe video: https://youtu.be/AZFbKUSmq_IYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comFind me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/arvidkahl/This episode is sponsored by Pinto Financial. Check out their demo!