The Builders

In this episode of The Builders, I’m excited to welcome back Per Sjofors, the renowned "Price Whisperer." Per shares profound insights into the art and science of pricing strategies, using compelling real-life stories to illustrate how businesses can harness pricing power to boost profitability and attract ideal customers. Throughout our conversation, Per explains the significance of understanding your market, adjusting pricing models, and the role of effective communication in justifying price changes. We delve into topics such as the psychology of pricing, the importance of customer segmentation, and how targeted marketing messages can make or break your pricing strategy. Per also highlights the often-overlooked impact of non-customers on business growth and the dangers of echo chambers. By drawing from his book, "The Price Whisperer: A Holistic Approach to Pricing Power," Per demonstrates how a holistic approach to pricing can drive sustainable growth and enhance financial performance. Whether you’re running a small business, launching a startup, or managing an established enterprise, this episode is packed with actionable insights that can transform your approach to pricing. Key Takeaways: Pricing Power: Discover how to increase prices without losing sales volume and why it’s crucial for your business’s success. Customer Targeting: Learn why targeting the right customer segments with tailored pricing is more effective than focusing solely on existing customers. Storytelling in Sales: Understand the importance of building a “story vault” to enhance sales and marketing efforts. Market Positioning: Explore how rebranding and repositioning can justify higher prices and attract better customers. Psychology of Pricing: Uncover the psychological impact of pricing and how small adjustments can lead to significant profitability. Loyalty Programs: Discover why paid loyalty programs like Costco’s are more effective than free ones and how they improve cash flow.

In this transformative episode of The Builders, I sit down with Joel Salomon, a finance and mindset expert, to dive deep into navigating turbulent economic times with a blend of practical strategies and powerful mindset techniques. Joel, a seasoned prosperity coach and best-selling author, shares actionable insights on how to thrive financially even when the market is volatile. Joel introduces us to the concept of money manifestation, explaining how members of his Money Miracles Membership have manifested over $2.1 million using his techniques. We explore the critical role of mindset in financial success, particularly the importance of combining visualization with “inspired action” rather than sheer effort. Joel emphasizes the value of gratitude and how it elevates your financial frequency, attracting more abundance into your life. Key themes include adapting business strategies during downturns, leveraging resources effectively, and the transformative power of delegating tasks to those who are passionate about them. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to scale your business or someone seeking to improve your financial health, this episode offers invaluable advice on blending mindset with actionable strategies for sustained success. Key Takeaways: Manifestation and Money Mindset: Joel reveals how visualization, coupled with inspired action, can lead to unexpected financial windfalls. Business Leverage: Learn the importance of creating leverage in your business to move beyond the trap of trading time for money. Visualization Techniques: Step-by-step guidance on how to visualize your financial goals effectively, including feeling the outcome and the power of consistency. Adapting Strategies: Practical advice on optimizing resources, cutting unnecessary expenses, and using tools like AI to increase business efficiency. Gratitude and Financial Energy: Understand money as energy and discover how gratitude can transform your financial life.

In this episode of "The Builders," I had the pleasure of speaking with Bob Taylor, founder of Copybean.co.uk and self-proclaimed "Persuasive Word Nerd." Bob’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience and determination it takes to carve out a successful career in an entirely new field. From his beginnings as an introverted insurance salesperson to becoming a thriving freelance copywriter, Bob's journey is filled with lessons on overcoming self-doubt, proving others wrong, and finding the intersection between passion and skill. We explore how Bob transitioned from a toxic work environment to building a business centered around his love for writing and persuasion. He shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, including how he used harsh criticism as fuel to push forward and succeed where others expected him to fail. Bob’s experience underscores the importance of staying true to yourself, even when faced with daunting challenges or negative feedback. Whether you’re at the start of your career, contemplating a major change, or simply looking for inspiration, Bob’s journey offers valuable insights on persistence, self-belief, and the art of blending past experiences with new passions to build something meaningful. Tune in to hear how Bob turned obstacles into opportunities and how you can apply these lessons to your own entrepreneurial journey. Key Takeaways: Resilience and Self-Belief: How Bob overcame criticism and self-doubt to succeed in a new career. Transition from Sales to Copywriting: Bob’s journey from an introverted insurance salesperson to a successful freelance copywriter. Building a Freelance Business: The challenges and strategies Bob used to establish himself as a copywriter, including the importance of having a website. Creative Portfolio Development: The innovative ways Bob built his portfolio, even before landing his first client. Psychological Impact of a Website: Why Bob believes having a website was crucial for his business legitimacy and self-confidence, plus Matt’s insights on the psychological benefits and structure it provides. Lessons in Persistence: How Bob’s experience in sales helped him navigate the early struggles of freelancing and eventually thrive in his new profession.

In this engaging solo episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into the critical importance of list building for online success. He shares personal anecdotes and lessons from his early days in internet marketing forums, emphasizing the need to capture customer details and build lasting relationships. Matt recounts a pivotal moment from 2005 where he realized the missed opportunities of not capturing buyer information and how it transformed his approach to online marketing. Throughout the episode, Matt outlines his current strategies and initiatives towards effective list building. He discusses his recent experiences and the innovations he’s adopted to ensure consistent engagement with his audience, including a year-long, carefully crafted email drip sequence inspired by guest Darrell Evans. This sequence, composed of 52 meticulously designed emails, aims to nurture subscribers, share valuable content, and softly pitch relevant services and products offered by Matt’s companies, Unified Web Design and Unified Plugins. Matt blends strategic advice with actionable steps, making this a must-listen episode for anyone eager to capitalize on email marketing and list building techniques. Key Takeaways: Importance of List Building: Capturing names and details of your audience is crucial for future engagements and sales opportunities. Automation and Consistency: Leveraging tools like Mailchimp to create automated and consistent email journeys can significantly enhance relationship-building efforts. Value-Driven Content: Ensuring your email content is predominantly value-driven and not just sales pitches can maintain subscriber interest and reduce churn. Strategic Segmentation: Segmenting lists based on subscriber actions and interests can personalize the content and make it more relevant. Personal Experience and Stories: Sharing personal success stories and case studies helps build authority and trust with your audience.

In this engaging episode of The Builders, host Matt Levenhagen interviews Nick Barrett, the founder of CordBrick. Nick candidly shares his entrepreneurial journey from humble beginnings to creating a successful cord management solution. He delves into the developmental challenges, early validation stages, and eventual market success of CordBrick. Listeners get a first-hand account of Nick's innovative thinking, his hands-on approach to creating a prototype, and how he navigated the hurdles of manufacturing and market entry. Nick elaborates on his philosophy of building businesses, emphasizing the importance of passion, solving specific problems, and incremental validation through true customer feedback. With a focus on practical insights and entrepreneurial strategies, this episode provides listeners with a clear roadmap to turning ideas into tangible products. Nick’s story is not only about product success but also about his mission to inspire and support other entrepreneurs through his "Build Something" initiative. Key Takeaways: Validation and Iteration: Nick emphasizes the importance of creating a minimum viable product and iterating based on genuine customer feedback. Manufacturing Lessons: Early mistakes with manufacturing guided Nick to a better understanding of prototyping, ultimately leading to a quality product and cost-effective solutions. Marketing Strategy: The success of CordBrick was significantly driven by personal sales strategies, including direct engagement with potential customers at markets. Building for Exit: Nick discusses his long-term goal of building his company for acquisition, a strategy that influences his business decisions and development processes. Philanthropic Mission: Alongside his business venture, Nick is committed to giving back by supporting recovery housing and encouraging other entrepreneurs through motivational speaking and mentorship.

In this enlightening episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen welcomes Umar Rana, a pioneering figure in the realm of e-commerce and technology solutions. Umar shares his dynamic journey from working for renowned companies to becoming a successful entrepreneur. His story is filled with strategic experiments, innovative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to solving problems, making it an inspiring listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and technology. Umar's entrepreneurial venture began in 2014 with the founding of Alchemative, and since then, he has made significant strides in the e-commerce industry. This episode delves into Umar's methodologies for nurturing organic growth, his passion for experimentation inspired by his upbringing, and his knack for identifying and solving complex problems ahead of the curve. Key topics include the successful implementation of Shopify in Pakistan, the creation of AI-driven payment solutions, and the development of logistics optimization tools. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI in eCommerce and how Umar integrates it into his solutions. Umar talks about his practical use cases for AI in enhancing logistics and customer interactions, as well as his optimistic view of AI's role in the future of technology. The episode is a must-listen for those looking to understand how to leverage technology for business growth and innovation. Key Takeaways: Experimentation and Organic Growth: Umar emphasizes the importance of a flexible, action-oriented approach to business, driven by constant experimentation and problem-solving. Focus on Core Competencies: Businesses should focus on their strengths and rely on experts for technology solutions, a principle that guided Umar's success with Alchemative. AI in eCommerce: The strategic use of AI can significantly optimize logistics, enhance customer interactions through conversational commerce, and improve operational efficiencies. Market Adaptation: Successful business models are those which can predict future market needs and develop solutions proactively. Global Expansion: Leveraging word-of-mouth and strategic partnerships can facilitate growth into international markets, as demonstrated by Umar's expansion into UAE and other countries.

In this episode of "The Builders," we explore the dynamics between makers and managers with executive coach Dave Bates. With a wealth of experience from IBM to venture capital, Dave sheds light on the importance of respecting each team member's deep work and how managing interruptions effectively can lead to better team communication and higher performance. We discuss the critical balance between focused, uninterrupted work and necessary communication, and how both makers and managers can harmonize their workflows to achieve success. Dave offers practical advice on implementing the Eisenhower Matrix, establishing communication protocols, and protecting strategic planning time for leaders. Whether you're a maker immersed in creation or a manager juggling multiple responsibilities, this episode provides valuable insights to enhance your team's productivity and cohesion. Key Takeaways: Executive coaching should be tailored to the individual, focusing on personal growth and specific business goals rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Makers vs. Managers: Recognizing and valuing different work styles and schedules is crucial for fostering a productive team environment. Effective communication is the backbone of high-performing teams, requiring clearly defined protocols and mutual respect for each role's contributions. Strategy work is deep, uninterrupted work that is essential for a founder's success and should be protected from unnecessary interruptions. Organizational success hinges on valuing all team members and their contributions, ensuring cohesive operations toward shared goals.

In this enlightening solo episode, Matt Levenhagen dives deep into the topic of business specialization in business; whether that's an agency or any business. He shares his experiences in refining his agency's services, highlighting the importance of finding a niche and sticking to it to achieve greater efficiency and higher quality results. Matt provides practical insights and recounts stories from his daily business operations, underlining the real-world applications of narrowing one's focus. Throughout the conversation, Matt emphasizes the benefits of specializing, particularly in web design and WordPress development, along with the significance of being clear about what your business does and doesn't do. He underscores how specialization has allowed his team to improve processes, efficiency, and overall client satisfaction. Matt also explains his strategy in dealing with CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization) tasks and shares his thoughts on maintaining passion and enjoyment in one's work. These insights are particularly valuable for agencies and businesses looking to hone their core strengths and deliver superior results to their clients. Key Takeaways: Specialization Benefits: Specializing in a particular area, like custom web development, allows a business to build expertise, improve quality, and enhance efficiency. Passion in Work: Passion and enjoyment in what you do are crucial for long-term success and quality improvement. Client Relationships: Clear communication of services and limitations is essential in building strong, trust-based client relationships. Process Improvement: Specializing helps streamline processes, allowing teams to become more productive and proficient over time. Learning from Experience: Each project, whether successful or not, offers valuable lessons that contribute to refining skills and services.

In this solo episode of The Builders Podcast, I’m diving deep into my latest ventures and sharing how all my digital projects interconnect. This episode is all about transparency—what I’ve been up to, how I envision the flow of traffic across my various sites, and the overarching strategy that binds them together. I discuss the intricacies of balancing multiple projects, from agency work to developing WordPress plugins, and how each piece of my digital puzzle complements the others. You’ll hear about my content creation strategies, the challenges of maintaining tech quality, and my personal journey of building a brand around diversified interests. Join me for an insightful look at the innovative journey of a multifaceted entrepreneur, and learn how you can enhance engagement through compelling content and strategic partnerships. Key Topics Technical Challenges: Overcoming podcast audio issues and navigating unscripted episodes. Unified Toolkit: Enhancing the WordPress admin experience with custom plugins. Content Strategy: Creating a cohesive content strategy for multiple blogs and websites. Brand Integration: Building products that align with agency services. Innovative Solutions: Developing and using custom plugins to solve practical problems. Affiliate Program: Insights into developing an affiliate program to boost plugin sales. Personal Insights: Sharing personal experiences and the roller coaster journey I envision my visitors taking. A fun roller coaster! 😀 Tune in to get a firsthand update on what’s been keeping me busy and how I’m strategically navigating the digital landscape to create a unified and engaging experience for my audience.

In this solo episode, Matt Levenhagen delves into the intricacies of building strong business relationships, focusing on his new lead magnet, "Outsourcing Fit." He kicks off the discussion by sharing the inspiration and process behind creating the guide, emphasizing the importance of developing a lead magnet that aligns with your passion and business vision. Matt transitions into a thorough exploration of the first pillar of successful outsourcing: Relationship Fit. He outlines the key elements that make a successful business partnership and stresses the significance of shared values, trust, and effective communication in fostering fruitful collaborations. Through various anecdotes and real-life case studies, Matt illustrates how strategic partnerships and strong relationship foundations have propelled his agency to new heights. Key Takeaways: Building Trust: Establishing long-term trust with clients and partners is crucial for navigating crises effectively. Transparency and Communication: Open and honest communication helps in resolving issues and fostering healthy business relationships. Importance of Alignment: Ensuring cultural and operational alignment is essential for successful outsourcing and collaboration. Staying Connected: Regular check-ins and personal touchpoints strengthen business relationships and create lasting bonds. Passion-Driven Success: Aligning your business efforts with your passions can enhance motivation and the likelihood of success.