Lucy Bella Simkins

Considering a pivot to an online business but not sure where to start? A listener wrote in with the same dilemma, and we’re giving our best tips in this week’s episode of the pod. We also discuss a listener who exited for multi-7 figures, a new offer we’re working on for business owners, key learnings from Vercel’s journey to a $9B valuation, and some community news from Dynamite Circle. LINKS We’ve learned a lot from our listeners, and you can learn a lot from your customers. Try Perspective AI. This week’s sponsor: SPP.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” Tweet about $9B Vercel Amp It Up by Frank Slootman Connect with 6-, 7- & 8-figure founders in Mexico City Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December 22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs CHAPTERS (00:01:03) A Listener Who Exited for Multi 7 Figures (00:02:52) How Dan Had a Business Breakthrough in a Tuk-Tuk (00:07:24) DC Accelerator 2.0 [Beta] (00:11:45) Moving an In-Person Business Online: Listener Case Study (00:23:32) Sponsor Shout-Out: SPP.co (00:24:31) Simple Keys to a $9B Valuation in 5 Years CONNECT: Dan@tropicalmba.com Ian@tropicalmba.com Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: Our Lifestyle Business Non-Negotiables How 1 New Feature Can 10x Your Pricing + 4 More Insights From DCBKK Lucy Bella Simkins Built a YouTube Channel with 10,000,000 Subscribers

Tackling one of the biggest problems entrepreneurs struggle with: separating their business from their own narrative and looking at it with fresh eyes. This episode will uncover the simple but hard truths to every business and reveal the three (and only three) ways to grow any business. We talk about customer acquisition, order value, retention, risk-free offers, and more. TMBA email subscribers will get access to the platonic business calculator discussed on today’s show. Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. Connect with us: Dan: @TropicalMBA or dan@tropicalmba.com Ian: @AnythingIa n or ian@tropicalmba.com Chapters: (00:00:45) Introduction (00:02:24) The Platonic Ideal of a Business (00:04:18) Simplify, Focus, Execute (00:10:27) The 3 Essential Ways to Grow a Business (00:12:47) Understanding the Numbers (00:29:07) Better-Than-Risk-Free Offers (00:32:53) Conclusion Useful links: Connect with other entrepreneurs Coaching for $250K+ founders Community for 1M+ founders Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal The Secret Weapon to Pricing Power

We speak to hundreds of entrepreneurs every year through one-on-one coaching and live events. Many of those entrepreneurs have gone on to become very wealthy, and throughout our conversations with those people, we have found some common threads to the ways that wealthy people behave. This was one of our most popular episodes of 2019 so we’re bringing it back with updated thoughts. This week, newsletter subscribers will get Dan’s personal monthly budget template. Sign up for our newsletter to receive TMBA-exclusive business-building resources weekly. Chapters ● (00:02:20) Every Dollar Has a Job ● (00:09:30) Deals. People. Energy. Luck. ● (00:14:42) Strategic Identity Creation ● (00:21:22) Comprehensive Arbitrage ● (00:29:03) Old Man River ● (00:33:15) Shovel Stamper Connect with us: Dan: @TropicalMBA or dan@tropicalmba.com Ian: @AnythingIan or [ ian@tropicalmba.com ]( ian@tropicalmba.com ) Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers

In this week's conversation, Dan and Ian discuss 10 ideas that provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs looking to grow their revenue to $1 Million and beyond. From years of experience and countless coaching calls, Dan and Ian cover topics such as finding a product with a tailwind, getting out of delivery, hiring a key badass, understanding your business model, optimizing your marketing funnel, and much more… These strategies can provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs to focus on the most impactful areas of their business and make informed decisions to drive growth. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters: (00:00:49) Introduction and Setting (00:02:02) 10 Ideas for Reaching $1 Million in Revenue (00:03:46) Finding a Product with a Tailwind (00:11:11) Getting Out of Delivery (00:17:57) Hiring a Key Badass (00:23:48) Knowing Your Numbers (00:25:05) Understanding Your Numbers (00:29:27) Creating a Resident Offer (00:32:46) Optimizing Your Marketing Funnel (00:38:50) Identifying Key Metrics (00:40:51) Patching the Leaky Boat Links: Diagnostic & Goals | Plans | Systems Work sheet Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Winning and losing Millions with Nathaniel Eliason Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers

This week’s conversation revolves around the book 'Crypto Confidential' and explores author Nathaniel Eliason’s experience during the crypto mania. From the moment he decided to go all-in on crypto and the impact it had on their personal life, Nathaniel delves into the mechanics of farming and the process of launching decentralized exchanges. Enjoy insights deep insights from the crypto world including off-ramping, the risks and challenges of early wallets, the mindset of crypto whales, the experience of losing and making millions, the rise and fall of the Titan project, and the author's biggest win in developing a crypto game. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters: (00:16:41) Going All-In on Crypto (00:20:53) Exploring the Mechanics of Farming and Decentralized Exchanges (00:26:35) The Role of Social Media in Spreading Information and Attracting Investors (00:34:37) The Influx of Money into Crypto: Motivations of Investors (00:35:22) Challenges of Off-Ramping Crypto and Early Wallets (00:36:01) The Mindset of Crypto Whales (00:41:13) Lessons from Losing Money in the Crypto World (00:42:59) The Rise and Fall of the Titan Project (00:52:42) The Author's Biggest Win: Developing a Crypto Game (00:59:50) Choosing Fulfillment over Financial Success: The Decision to Focus on Writing Links: Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Less Than 5% of Businesses Get to 1MIL+ - A Process to Reach the Goal The 7 Most Common Money Mistake

Dan and Ian discuss the fundamental principles of change and how they apply to both weight loss and entrepreneurship. The conversation explores the three key components of successful change: knowledge, accountability, and identity. Listen in for how these principles are practical and applicable to your business growth, cause ass we know breakthroughs in our business don’t happen through epiphanies, they happen through small and consistent accumulations of change. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters ● (00:00:54) Introduction and Catching Up ● (00:02:42) The Need for Change in Business ● (00:04:40) The Pyramid of Change ● (00:10:34) The Three Components of Successful Change ● (00:10:53) The Power of Accountability ● (00:12:31) Changing Practices and Relationships ● (00:14:23) The Importance of Accountability ● (00:17:27) The Role of Knowledge in Change ● (00:18:01) Different Types of Knowledge ● (00:22:16) The Power of Identity ● (00:28:57) The Priority of Change ● (00:29:45) The Promise of Change Links: Dr. Layne Norton’s YouTube Channel Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: The 7 Most Common Money Mistakes for Bootstrappers Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency The Secret Weapon for Pricing Power

Dan and Ian discuss the biggest money problems they’ve seen in their own business and hundreds of other bootstrapped businesses. Learn how to craft a sustainable financial model, the importance of owner compensation, how to avoid being under-invested, and more. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters ● (00:00:45) Introduction and Setting the Stage ● (00:01:13) The Importance of Money Attitudes and Metaphors ● (00:16:08) The Startup Spending Mindset in Bootstrapped Businesses ● (00:29:39) Focusing on the Wrong Problems ● (00:31:25) Strategies for Affording to Start a Business ● (00:34:28) Starting Early and Investing in Yourself ● (00:38:18) The Importance of Owner Compensation ● (00:41:15) Setting a Salary Cap ● (00:45:12) Avoiding Being Under-Invested Links: Derek Sivers article “Shed Your Money Taboos” Venkatesh Rao article “Ancient Rivers of Money” Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Unlock Wealth Through Financial Fluency The Secret Weapon for Pricing Power How Healthy is Your Business?

Dan and Ian explore the concept of power in business and how businesses can transition from being a grind for the owner to having sustainable pricing power. Derived from the book 'Seven Powers' by Hamilton Helmer, they delve into the idea of cornered resources as a source of power and discuss examples of cornered resources such as patents, unique brain trust, and exclusive partnerships. You’ll be challenged to consider how you can identify and leverage counter positioning, networked effects, distribution, and brand to sustain margins and pricing power over time. This is an essential conversation for building and maintaining a competitive advantage in any industry. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters ● (00:01:07) Understanding Business Power and Transitioning Camps ● (00:09:44) The Importance of Cornered Resources in Business ● (00:19:59) Leveraging Distribution as a Source of Power ● (00:36:03) Unleashing the Power of Brand Links: The 7 Powers: The Foundation of Business Strategy Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: How Healthy is Your Business? The Million Dollar Service Business Playbook Run Any Business with Just Two Simple Things

In this week's episode Dan and Ian discuss the importance of the concept of Labor Efficiency Ratio (LER), to scale your business to a million dollars in revenue. They highlight the challenge of transitioning from being a craftsperson to a CEO and the importance of building a profitable business model that can operate without the founder's constant involvement. They continue this concept by focusing on the importance of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) in growing a business. Having someone to provide structure and make data-driven decisions can lead to some shocking discoveries and help you identify areas for improvement and optimize your business performance. The conversation concludes with a recap of the DC Mexico event and a call for referrals for future events! Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters ● (00:00:42) Introduction and Catching Up ● (00:01:40) DC Accelerator and Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) ● (00:07:28) Using Labor Efficiency Ratio (LER) to Scale ● (00:14:49) The Challenge of Transitioning from Craftsperson to CEO ● (00:21:50) The Importance of Profitability and Compensation ● (00:25:06) Building a Profitable Business Model ● (00:28:19) The Role of Hiring and Financial Planning and Analysis ● (00:29:20) Differentiating Financial Planning and Analysis from Bookkeeping and CPA ● (00:40:05) Recap of the DC Mexico Event Links: Books by Greg Crabtree Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Run Any Business with Just Two Simple Things Mastering Consistency with Adam Gilbert <a hre

Dan reflects on his trip to Mexico last week where he hung out with 200 founders and listeners of the pod. Vulnerability, lessons from exiting a business, and a secretive membership called “being parents” were common themes. Another major topic was the launch of our new coaching program, DC Accelerator. Dan talks about how getting to $1M and beyond takes not just willpower or desire, but most importantly, it takes discipline. He shares the two tools required to run a business of any size. Whether you’re a 1-person operation of have 1000’s of employees, these two tools remain the same. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters ● (00:00:48) Introduction and Simplifying Operations ● (00:04:54) The Transformative Journey of Parenthood ● (00:07:09) Vulnerability and Exiting a Business ● (00:15:37) The Nuts and Bolts of Our Coaching Program ● (00:22:35) Every Business Needs a Cashflow Forecast and a Plan Links: DC Accelerator Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Mastering Consistency with Adam Gilbert Lessons From an 18-Month Trip Around the World on $100 a Day The 1 Million Dollar Question

Health and wellness is the ultimate productivity hack, impacting every aspect of life. Adam Gilbert, founder of My Body Tutor, discovered that consistency is key, and accountability, mindset, and personalized plans help clients stay on track. It’s also what sets his business apart. My Body Tutor has been generating demand for their service for 17 years, having a flawless reputation, and obsessively focusing on getting clients results. In this episode Adam shares his strategies for pricing demand, how to handle client churn, and balancing family life with his passion. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters ● (00:06:29) The Impact of Health and Wellness ● (00:12:10) The Importance of Consistency ● (00:16:57) Evolving Pricing Based on Value ● (00:28:39) Recruiting, Training, and Retaining Coaches ● (00:33:10) The Importance of Regular Meetings ● (00:44:17) Caring and Mission-Driven Approach ● (00:45:30) Starting Small in Entrepreneurship Links: https://www.mybodytutor.com/ Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: Lessons From an 18-Month Trip Around the World on $100 a Day The 1 Million Dollar Question “The Death of the follower” + Make 250k in 3 Days a Week

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Barry O'Brien, a global traveler, as he shares his 18-month journey to 15 countries on just $100 a day or less. Barry tells us stories about his experience in Vietnam, the most surprisingly underwhelming destination he visited, the most expensive and inexpensive destinations, how he saved, prepared, and what he learned in the end. He discusses his journey from following Dave Ramsey's steps to discovering the FIRE movement and combining the principles of both to pay off $51,000 of debt, and give him the financial freedom to pursue his dream trip. He talks about the importance of passive income, his philosophy of focusing on one thing that you can do well, the process of obtaining US citizenship, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. Dan & Ian’s Stuff: Our book: Before the Exit The Newsletter “The DC” DC Accelerator DC Black Global events Hire remote talent Find a remote job Listen on YouTube Follow on Instagram @TropicalMBA @AnythingIan Chapters: (00:03:21) Your Ticket to One Million - DC Accelerator (00:14:59) Exploring Western Europe on a Budget (00:26:13) Indulging in Peru's Food and Culture (00:30:15) Managing Travel Costs to Extend the Trip (00:34:41) Finding Peace and Financial Independence (00:39:10) The Competitive Landscape of US Citizenship Links: DC Accelerator DC Black Dave Ramsey Solutions Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal Additional episodes you might enjoy: The 1 Million Dollar Question “The Death of the follower” + Make 250k in 3 Days