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Josh Schachnow
Follow Josh, an immigration lawyer-turned-tech cofounder, as he builds his businesses in Canada and shares stories/takeaways from his journey. Every week you’ll get an update and key lesson to help you build (or start) your business!
Total 101 episodes
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SG Podcast Episode 125: From Teacher to EdTech Entrepreneur with LeShawnda Fitzgerald

SG Podcast Episode 125: From Teacher to EdTech Entrepreneur with LeShawnda Fitzgerald

In this episode of the Solopreneur Grind Podcast, I talk to LeShawnda Fitzgerald about: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:13 Founding ReadyForSpanish.com 01:50 Challenges and Growth During COVID 03:35 Steps to Start a Business of your own 07:22 Balancing Work and Self-Care 10:29 Automation and Tools for Success 13:08 Final Thoughts and Contact Information And much more. --- Want to follow along on my solopreneur journey, never miss another podcast episode and get the first 3 chapters of my e-book: “Just Get Started: Key business lessons from 2 businesses, 5 years and 100+ podcast episodes”?  Make sure you're subscribed on our Substack here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ --- Where to find LeShawnda Fitzgerald: https://readyforspanish.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leshawndafitzgerald/
13:5424/11/2024
SG Podcast Episode 124: Breaking the silence and not-for-profits with ElsaMarie D'Silva

SG Podcast Episode 124: Breaking the silence and not-for-profits with ElsaMarie D'Silva

In this episode of the Solopreneur Grind Podcast, I talk to ElsaMarie D'Silva about: 00:00 Understanding the Economic Impact of Social Issues 01:30 Challenges in Starting an Organization and Breaking the Silence 14:28 Global Examples of Courageous Women 15:32 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 16:57 Closing Remarks and Contact Information And much more. --- Want to follow along on my solopreneur journey, never miss another podcast episode and get the first 3 chapters of my e-book: “Just Get Started: Key business lessons from 2 businesses, 5 years and 100+ podcast episodes”? Make sure you're subscribed on our Substack here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ --- Where to find ElsaMarie D'Silva: https://reddotfoundation.org/ http://www.elsamariedsilva.com/ SG Podcast Episode 124: Breaking the silence and not-for-profits with ElsaMarie D'Silva #sgpodcast  #solopreneur  #businesspodcast
17:2814/11/2024
Balancing Business and Life: Real Estate, Efficiency and More | Weekly Business Vlog #34

Balancing Business and Life: Real Estate, Efficiency and More | Weekly Business Vlog #34

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:53 Life Updates and New Property Purchase 01:35 Balancing Business and Personal Life 03:15 Lessons from Life Events 04:09 Efficiency and Productivity Insights 08:08 Book of the Week and Conclusion Balancing Business and Life: Real Estate, Efficiency and More | Weekly Business Vlog #34 #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
10:2720/09/2024
Workout routines for entrepreneurs | Weekly Business Vlog #33

Workout routines for entrepreneurs | Weekly Business Vlog #33

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and New Format 00:47 Entrepreneur Weekly Exercise Routines 01:42 Detailed Breakdown of Weekly Workouts 05:04 Importance of Morning Exercise 06:38 Weekend and Seasonal Activities 07:26 Incorporating More Walking 08:21 Conclusion and Book Update Workout routines for entrepreneurs | Weekly Business Vlog #33 #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
09:0823/08/2024
Business Strategies for Success and Visto Updates | Weekly Business Vlog #32

Business Strategies for Success and Visto Updates | Weekly Business Vlog #32

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Vlog Overview 00:54 Reflecting on a Busy Week 01:46 Key Business Strategies 03:23 Marketing and Sales Priorities 06:02 Upcoming Features and Developments 08:06 Exploring Business Acquisitions 09:12 Book Recommendation and Conclusion Business Strategies for Success and Visto Updates | Weekly Business Vlog #32 #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
10:4318/08/2024
Sales Update, Content Creation, and Social Media Strategies | Weekly Business Vlog #31

Sales Update, Content Creation, and Social Media Strategies | Weekly Business Vlog #31

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Update 00:19 Sales and Business Trends 01:28 Content Creation and Marketing Strategies 05:54 Leveraging AI for Content Repurposing 12:04 Book Recommendations and Personal Insights 14:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Sales Update, Content Creation, and Social Media Strategies | Weekly Business Vlog #31 #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
14:4511/08/2024
Summer long weekend and exploring AI innovations | Weekly Business Vlog #30

Summer long weekend and exploring AI innovations | Weekly Business Vlog #30

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:56 Canadian Weather and Geography 03:22 Business Updates and Summer Slowdown 04:46 AI Tool Free Trial Launch 09:49 Book of the Week: Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson 15:14 Conclusion and Substack Promotion Summer long weekend and exploring AI innovations | Weekly Business Vlog #30 #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
16:2205/08/2024
Summer Business Tips: Automating Legal Docs & Social Media Strategies | Weekly Business Vlog #29

Summer Business Tips: Automating Legal Docs & Social Media Strategies | Weekly Business Vlog #29

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Summer Vibes 01:15 Product Updates and New Features 03:54 Busy Week and Sales Insights 07:12 Social Media Strategy for Business 10:25 Book Recommendations and Reviews 14:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Summer Business Tips: Automating Legal Docs & Social Media Strategies | Weekly Business Vlog #29 #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
16:0622/07/2024
Summer Business Tips, Expectations & Personal Wellness Management | Weekly Business Vlog #28

Summer Business Tips, Expectations & Personal Wellness Management | Weekly Business Vlog #28

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 00:24 Summer Business Slowdown 02:10 Adjusting Expectations 02:51 Shifting Focus 04:10 Taking Time for Yourself 07:17 Weekly Updates and Book Talk 13:11 Conclusion and Call to Action Summer Business Tips, Expectations & Personal Wellness Management | Weekly Business Vlog #28 #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
14:2008/07/2024
Catching Up: My Japan Trip, Jet Lag Struggles and Busy Work Week | Weekly Business Vlog #27

Catching Up: My Japan Trip, Jet Lag Struggles and Busy Work Week | Weekly Business Vlog #27

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:22 Japan Trip Highlights 01:11 Jet Lag Struggles 02:39 Back to Work 03:21 Summer Slowdown 05:48 Book Review: Never Split the Difference 07:53 Conclusion and Future Plans Catching Up: My Japan Trip, Jet Lag Struggles and Busy Work Week | Weekly Business Vlog #27 #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
08:2703/07/2024
Navigating Tech Growth, Morning Routines, and My Favorite Reads | Weekly Business Vlog #26

Navigating Tech Growth, Morning Routines, and My Favorite Reads | Weekly Business Vlog #26

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Welcome to the Weekly Business Vlog 00:10 The Importance of a Morning Routine 01:28 Business Updates and Achieving Stability 01:55 The Journey to Product Market Fit 05:00 Vacation Planning and Entrepreneurial Self-Care 08:39 Revisiting Books: From Business Strategies to Biographies 12:14 Diving into the New Elon Musk Biography 14:39 Wrapping Up and Future Plans #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
15:1426/05/2024
Busy Weeks, Business Growth, and Conference Insights | Weekly Business Vlog #25

Busy Weeks, Business Growth, and Conference Insights | Weekly Business Vlog #25

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Welcome Back 01:06 The Hectic Life of a Tech Entrepreneur 02:55 Growing Pains and Hiring Decisions at Visto 03:59 The Importance of Customer Success in Tech 05:24 Networking and the Power of In-Person Connections 08:52 The Business Breakfast Revelation 10:19 Book Recommendations and What's Next 12:59 Signing Off and Looking Ahead Busy Weeks, Business Growth, and Conference Insights | Weekly Business Vlog #25  #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
13:3418/05/2024
Startup Success and Personal Energy Management | Weekly Business Vlog #23

Startup Success and Personal Energy Management | Weekly Business Vlog #23

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Welcome to the Weekly Business Update 00:12 Reflecting on a Busy and Rewarding Week 00:46 The Challenges of Scaling a Tech Startup 01:38 Celebrating Passover Amidst Global Concerns 03:29 The Importance of Downtime for Entrepreneurs 08:01 Navigating Business Growth and Personal Energy Management 13:17 Book Recommendations and Historical Reflections 17:19 Closing Thoughts Startup Success and Personal Energy Management | Weekly Business Vlog #23  #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
17:5928/04/2024
Navigating Growth and Customer Success at Visto: A Week in Review | Weekly Business Vlog #22

Navigating Growth and Customer Success at Visto: A Week in Review | Weekly Business Vlog #22

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Welcome to the Weekly Business Vlog and Navigating the Cloudy Weather of Toronto 00:32 Growing an Immigration Tech Startup: Challenges and Strategies 01:00 The Importance of Customer Success in SaaS 05:09 Feedback and Feature Prioritization: The Roadmap to Success 08:21 Upcoming Holidays and Personal Updates 10:00 Book Review: The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett 13:26 Diving into History: A Holocaust Story 16:13 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead Navigating Growth and Customer Success at Visto: A Week in Review | Weekly Business Vlog #22 #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
16:4821/04/2024
Navigating the Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship & Product Launches | Weekly Business Vlog #21

Navigating the Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship & Product Launches | Weekly Business Vlog #21

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Welcome to the Weekly Business Check-In 00:17 The Impact of Weather on Mood and Productivity 00:51 A Busy Week at Visto: Product Testing and Launches 01:51 The External Environment's Influence on Internal State 02:24 Control What You Can in Business and Life 05:55 The Challenges of Selling Legal Tech to Law Firms 10:07 Book Recommendations and Entrepreneurial Insights 13:37 Closing Thoughts and Next Week's Preview #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
14:2414/04/2024
Thoughts on pricing and a 50 Cent book | Weekly Business Vlog #20

Thoughts on pricing and a 50 Cent book | Weekly Business Vlog #20

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Welcome Back to the Weekly Update! 00:42 Diving Deep into Pricing Strategies at Visto 02:20 The Art and Science of Pricing: Insights and Adjustments 07:51 Grandfathering Early Clients: A Strategic Move 10:11 Book Review: Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by 50 Cent 14:36 Wrapping Up and What's Next #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
15:2907/04/2024
Balancing passion and business, and wearing lots of hats | Weekly Business Vlog #19

Balancing passion and business, and wearing lots of hats | Weekly Business Vlog #19

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Intro to Another Episode of Business Weekly Vlog 00:32 A Visit to the Barbershop: Lessons on Career Longevity 01:55 Reflecting on a Week of Wearing Multiple Hats 03:46 The Growth and Success of Our AI Product Launch 05:18 Expanding Our Immigration Software: A Full Solution 09:10 The Power of Marketing Over Cold Outbound Sales 14:40 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
16:3617/03/2024
The Impact of AI on Small Businesses and Customer Support | Weekly Business Vlog #18

The Impact of AI on Small Businesses and Customer Support | Weekly Business Vlog #18

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Update 00:37 Launch of Canadian Immigration AI 01:22 Impact of AI on Various Industries 04:40 The Role of AI in Customer Support 09:44 The Future of Small Companies and AI 12:07 Book Review: Made in America by Sam Walton 13:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
14:3510/03/2024
Vacation, Big Visto AI Launch and Book Recommendations | Weekly Business Vlog #17

Vacation, Big Visto AI Launch and Book Recommendations | Weekly Business Vlog #17

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: Vacation, Visto's AI Launch and Book Recommendations 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:54 My Trip to Florida and Its Impact 02:15 Big Launch at Visto: Canada's First Immigration AI Assistant 05:47 The Importance of Testing in Tech Product Launches 07:16 Initial Success and Future Plans for Visto 08:55 My Reading Habits and Recent Books 12:44 Conclusion and Looking Forward #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
13:3725/02/2024
Information overload, building tech products and bookkeeping | Weekly Business Vlog #16

Information overload, building tech products and bookkeeping | Weekly Business Vlog #16

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're on my Substack to get my top business story and tip of the week here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 00:45 The Power of Information in the Digital Age 03:38 The Double-Edged Sword of Information Overload 05:39 Product Development and Business Updates 07:35 The Importance of Wearing Multiple Hats in Business 10:28 The Value of Doing Your Own Bookkeeping 13:26 Book Recommendations and Reviews 16:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts #businessblog  #businessvlog  #cofounder  #lawyer
17:5104/02/2024
Rolling with the punches and making s**t happen | Weekly Business Vlog #15

Rolling with the punches and making s**t happen | Weekly Business Vlog #15

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're subscribed to my Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and audio hardware issues... 00:26 The importance of proper equipment usage 02:42 Business reflections and rolling with the punches 05:37 The grind of business and creating your own luck 08:09 The harsh realities of business and handling challenges 08:56 Engaging with the audience and content updates 09:45 Book recommendation and final thoughts #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
12:1221/01/2024
Key marketing and sales focuses for 2024 | Weekly Business Vlog #14

Key marketing and sales focuses for 2024 | Weekly Business Vlog #14

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're subscribed to my Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and when I record my vlogs 01:40 Updates coming off of the holidays 03:54 What we're working on moving forward at Visto 05:25 Marketing and sales strategies for 2024 07:20 Emergency Substack post for a new accountability group 11:39 Books for the week 14:19 Conclusion #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
15:0314/01/2024
Why hyper-segmenting your target audience is so important in business | Weekly Business Vlog #13

Why hyper-segmenting your target audience is so important in business | Weekly Business Vlog #13

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. And make sure you're subscribed to my Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 01:04 Update on the last week in business 02:09 New sales focus for the year ahead 03:20 The pros and cons to selling to different sized companies 05:09 On niching down and segmenting your target market 07:12 Why hyper-targeted selling and marketing is so powerful 08:54 Update on Visto and new features that are in the pipeline 10:42 Latest book I finished and what's up next from the bookshelf 11:59 Conclusion #businessblog #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
12:4807/01/2024
Weekly Business Vlog #12: 2023 year in review and goals for 2024

Weekly Business Vlog #12: 2023 year in review and goals for 2024

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. You can also follow on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and happy holidays 01:58 Agenda 02:38 Year in review for my company (Visto) 06:25 My last year of social media/personal branding and my biggest piece of advice 10:33 Big goals that we hit in 2023 11:06 Goals for 2024 13:11 Thinking about reading and books from 2023 15:03 Conclusion and wrap up #businessblog  #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
16:3224/12/2023
Weekly Business Vlog #11: What to do as an entrepreneur heading into the holidays

Weekly Business Vlog #11: What to do as an entrepreneur heading into the holidays

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. You can also follow on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Getting back into my routine after a vacation 02:00 Business update and what we're doing heading into the holidays 03:42 Thinking about sales during the holidays 07:22 The previous week of work and what I've been working on 08:51 What to expect as a business owner over the next few weeks and what to do about it 09:18 Thinking back on my social media progress from the last year and plans for next year 10:02 The last few weeks of my books/reading list 13:02 Conclusion and wrap up #businessblog  #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
14:0417/12/2023
Weekly Business Vlog #10: My 2 week vacation and when to take time off

Weekly Business Vlog #10: My 2 week vacation and when to take time off

Every week I share my business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along and drop any questions in the comments. You can also follow on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and catchup 01:49 Plans for moving forward on the socials 02:35 My honeymoon/vacation/unplug from work 03:21 Why we picked Belize and more details about the trip 06:31 How much work I did on the trip and why 07:45 Why taking a break is so important in business 08:49 Two key takeaways from my 2 weeks off 10:13 My suggestion on how many vacations to take and why (per year) 10:52 Final thoughts #businessblog  #businessvlog #cofounder #lawyer
12:1610/12/2023
Weekly Business Vlog #9: Legal tech and a huge personal update

Weekly Business Vlog #9: Legal tech and a huge personal update

Every week Josh goes live to share his business journey as an immigration lawyer and tech cofounder in Canada! Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Intro and musings on the year so far 01:06 General update from my previous week in biz 01:58 Two webinars I had this week and why they're good 03:41 Why I'm so bullish on AI 04:35 How all business owners or law firms should be using AI right now 05:37 Why companies using AI will beat those who don't 06:39 The experience of selling tech in the legal industry and why it usually lags behind other industries 07:51 Our early adopters, ideal customers and more AI features at Visto 09:44 Why my week is going to be hectic and a big personal update 11:19 Conclusion and thanks #businessblog  #businessvlog
12:5112/11/2023
Weekly Business Vlog #8: Posting content and tech founder combos

Weekly Business Vlog #8: Posting content and tech founder combos

Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and our crazy world 01:38 Recent updates and focus at Visto, and why you should be posting content 03:10 The ideal combo of cofounders for a tech startup 05:50 Why tech is so much harder than selling non-tech 07:49 Details on the Visto Show and live videos 09:09 Getting strategic with content creation as entrepreneurs 09:49 Pushing very hard for the next 2 weeks before some time off 10:42 Wrap up #businessblog  #businessvlog
11:3505/11/2023
Weekly Business Vlog #7: Onboarding and vacation planning

Weekly Business Vlog #7: Onboarding and vacation planning

Every week I record a short business vlog to update you on my previous week, updates, tips, book recommendations and more. Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and why I'm recording in the dark 00:45 Onboarding a new hire 02:15 Benefits of hiring and the future 03:49 Exciting life update and vacation 05:44 The focus for the next 3 weeks and company growth 08:01 Getting back to basketball and the importance of sports 09:35 Reading for the week 11:49 Conclusion and thoughts on creating great video content #businessblog  #businessvlog
14:1230/10/2023
Weekly Business Vlog #6: Back in busy-ness

Weekly Business Vlog #6: Back in busy-ness

Every week I record a short business vlog to update you on my previous week, updates, tips, book recommendations and more. Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction and why I think vlogging is cool 01:39 Why I missed the vlog last week and the Israel-Hamas war 05:23 Getting back into business and the focus these days 06:51 The pros and cons of being focused or not 08:29 Two different phases of being an entrepreneur 09:37 The key to being productive in business and why it's so important 11:42 Conclusion #businessblog  #businessvlog
13:0423/10/2023
Weekly Vlog #5: A sad long weekend

Weekly Vlog #5: A sad long weekend

Every week I record a short business vlog to update you on my previous week, updates, tips, book recommendations and more. Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 01:21 Sad world events from the weekend 03:45 The ups and downs of building a business 05:12 A short week in business and recent updates 05:56 Our focus for moving forward 06:59 Evolving in your business as an entrepreneur 08:37 Getting into a good content creation routine 10:49 Book of the week: No Rules Rules 11:37 Conclusion #businessblog  #businessvlog
12:4110/10/2023
Weekly Vlog #4: Our hiring process and why building an online brand makes it easier

Weekly Vlog #4: Our hiring process and why building an online brand makes it easier

Every week I record a short business vlog to update you on my previous week, updates, tips, book recommendations and more. Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Visto update on hiring 01:49 The hard part about hiring as a founder 04:15 Keys to hiring effectively 05:35 Switching over my email list to Substack 06:45 Our hiring process at Visto 09:20 Summary of the current situation and key takeaways
11:3701/10/2023
Weekly Update #3: A terrible start to the day but great week

Weekly Update #3: A terrible start to the day but great week

Every week I record a short business vlog to update you on my previous week, updates, tips, book recommendations and more. Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 00:41 1st world problem office rant 01:58 When the disaster strikes 04:42 Key takeaways from bad events 05:40 Business lessons 07:40 Business updates from the last week 10:45 One reason to build a personal brand 12:14 Conclusion and round up
14:0324/09/2023
Weekly Vlog #2: Visto updates, working from home struggles, video content and more

Weekly Vlog #2: Visto updates, working from home struggles, video content and more

Every week I record a short business vlog to update you on my previous week, updates, tips, book recommendations and more. Make sure to like/subscribe to follow along, and drop any questions in the comments! You can also follow me on Substack for my weekly updates here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ Agenda: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Visto update and exciting news 02:40 Problems with working from home and my solution 05:33 Exciting webinar I was on this week and why video is great 09:06 Book(s) of the week 10:54 Conclusion
11:4117/09/2023
Explaining the new focus and shift from SG

Explaining the new focus and shift from SG

Every Sunday I give a quick update on the last week growing my immigration tech company (Visto.ai), any lessons learned, key takeaways, book(s) I'm reading and more. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it! Watch the weekly vlog here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJoshSchachnow Follow on Substack: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/
06:4510/09/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 14

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 14

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - Etsy stores - landing pages - promotion services and products - podcasting and Youtube videos - cold calling and email cross promos - short video/snippet creation Resources we mentioned: Nobody's Perfect: Bill Bernbach and the Golden Age of Advertising by Doris WillensVidyo.ai Heygen.com syllaby.io https://elevenlabs.io/ d-id.com Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat Jack: Straight From the Gut by Jack Welch https://savewisdom.org/the-1000-word-save-wisdom-questions/ https://christophersilvestri.com/user-journey-test/ https://christophersilvestri.com/website-copy-and-ux-audit/ Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Follow Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/join Follow Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ Summary: 00:00 Josh and Christopher discussed their recent activities, including posting podcast episodes, reading books, and creating products for an Etsy store. They also mentioned their plans for the next two weeks, such as finishing a book and promoting the Etsy store on social media. 9:37 Josh and christopher discussed the importance of building trust with potential customers through various channels such as podcasts, email lists, and social media. They also talked about the need to drive traffic to their products and services and brainstormed ideas for promoting them effectively. 17:48 Josh and Christopher discussed their goals for the upcoming weeks, including promoting their podcast, posting a YouTube video, and scheduling an in-person meetup. They also talked about their strategies for cold calling and creating video snippets for social media. 26:38 Josh and Christopher discussed the use of AI avatars for generating content and the process of scheduling and posting snippets on TikTok and YouTube. They also mentioned their use of chat GPT for various tasks and shared their book recommendations. 35:01 Josh and Christopher discussed the books they have been reading, including "Rework" and an autobiography by Jack Welch. They also mentioned a cool contest on Twitter where people shared their wisdom and recorded it for future generations to learn from.
37:4920/08/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 13

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 13

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - getting a new podcast started - Etsy stores - productized service landing pages - cold calling - balancing growing pains - newsletter growth strategies - optimizing social media content strategies Resources we mentioned: Lettergrowth The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo Vipassana meditation Shoe Dog by Phil Knight Rework by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ Summary: 00:00 Christopher and Josh had technical difficulties while trying to livestream their podcast episode. Christopher successfully completed his goal of recording the first podcast episode and transitioning to a weekly email. 11:35 Josh and christopher discussed the challenges of recording a podcast episode and the benefits of doing so. They also talked about the importance of providing a brief introduction to the podcast and christopher's plans to create an Etsy store related to his podcast. 21:27 Christopher and Josh discussed various goals and tasks, including creating t-shirt ideas for an Etsy store, redesigning productized services landing pages, and increasing cold call outreach. They also talked about strategies for promoting their email lists and the challenges of fundraising. 30:51 Josh and Christopher discussed their morning routines and the importance of incorporating moments of silence and reflection into their day. They also shared book recommendations, including "The Power of Now" and "Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai." 39:06 Josh and christopher discussed various books they have read, including one by George Lucas and another by the founders of Basecamp. They recommended the books for their practical advice on entrepreneurship and managing a business, and found them to be easy and quick reads.
35:2809/08/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 12

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 12

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - email list cadences - Youtube and podcast content strategies - growing pains in sales - fundraising for tech companies - books and tools of the week Resources we mentioned: the real madmen ben settle the intention merchants the 48 laws of power shoe dog https://vidyo.ai/ https://www.opus.pro/ Chris' Youtube video: https://youtu.be/4QXfaO_69tA Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ Summary: 00:00 Josh and christopher discussed their recent trips to New York City and London, sharing their positive experiences and observations about the cities. They also talked about their plans for upcoming projects, including christopher's podcast about advertising and Josh's bachelor party. 07:40 Josh and Christopher discussed the possibility of starting a podcast and transitioning Christopher's daily newsletter into a weekly format. They also considered the benefits of focusing on digital products in the future for a more scalable business model. 13:55 Josh and Christopher discussed various topics including the success of Josh's cold calling efforts, the need for more time to do outreach, the possibility of raising funds, and the positive impact of switching to a weekly email format. 20:56 Christopher and Josh discussed their current readings, recommending "The Attention Merchants" and "Shoe Dog" as interesting books. They also mentioned using AI tools like Video and Opus for creating short snippets of videos for social media. 26:50 Josh and Christopher discussed their experiences with video editing software and the success of Christopher's latest video. They also talked about the importance of thumbnails and the potential for future improvements in their video content.
28:2525/07/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 11

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 11

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - FB and Youtube strategies - outsourcing versus automating for video editing - vacations - podcast experiments - growth pains in tech - community building - podcast/content consumption habits - updates on books - business and fiction - personal CRM tool Resources we mentioned: Founders podcast Podbean VidIQ Opus pro Win Bigly by Scott Adams The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene https://clay.earth/ Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ Summary: 00:00 Josh and christopher discussed their upcoming vacations and the scheduling of their future meetings. They also talked about christopher's YouTube channel and his decision to outsource video editing. 10:58 Christopher and Josh discussed Christopher's plans for the next two weeks, which included enjoying his vacation, trying a podcast video experiment, and restructuring his ClickUp project management setup. They also talked about Christopher's interest in David Senra's podcast and his potential opportunity to write for ClickUp. 19:52 Christopher and Josh discussed their listening habits for a podcast, their admiration for the host's ability to connect ideas from different books, and their experiences with social media engagement. They also talked about the growth of their business, the challenges they face, and the use of AI tools for video editing. 28:33 Christopher and Josh discussed their recent strategies and successes, including using long-form videos for social media, reaching out to immigration professionals through emails and a Discord community, and reading books on persuasion and power. They also mentioned their plans for future community building and their summer schedules. 37:43 Christopher and Josh discussed their current reading habits, with Christopher mainly listening to audiobooks in the morning and reading Kindle books during lunchtime and before bed. They also mentioned a personal CRM tool called Clay that Christopher was trying out to manage and keep in touch with his contacts.
39:4109/07/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 10

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 10

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - evaluating Facebook ads - new Youtube and content posting schedule and strategy - attending conferences - cross promotions for email lists - building communities Resources we mentioned: Lettergrowth https://www.opus.pro/ https://www.heygen.com/ My life in advertising by Claude C. Hopkins The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty  The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time: How Apple, Ford, IBM, Zappos, and others made radical choices that changed the course of business by Verne Harnish Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
39:3913/06/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 9

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 9

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - FB ad fixes and landing pages - Youtube channel update - testing AI - sales calling update and rant - email list cadences and marketing - catchup on recent books we've read Resources we mentioned: - Sparkloop - VidIQ - Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi - Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield - Winning by Tim Grover - The 4 Thoughts that Fuck You Up by Daniel Fryer - Driven by Robert Herjavec - The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty - Harpa.ai Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ Summary: 00:00 Josh and Christopher discussed their recent vacations and the benefits of taking time off. Christopher fixed his Facebook ads and pixel with the help of a professional on Fiverr. 09:36 Christopher discussed his recent testing of Facebook ads for his newsletter and the possibility of offering a free portion of his ebook as a newsletter giveaway. He also mentioned using Sparkloop to monetize his newsletter and breaking even with his ad spend. Josh provided advice on split testing and upselling the full ebook to his email list. 18:49 Christopher and Josh discussed their goals for the next two weeks. Christopher planned to post his second YouTube video and evaluate his Facebook ads, while Josh aimed to make 30+ cold calls per day, finish a new demo script, and do 10 letter growth outreach. They also talked about the challenges of sales outreach and the importance of not burning bridges with potential clients. 28:15 Christopher and Josh discussed their email strategies, with Josh recommending that Christopher keep his emails shorter and more focused on one key idea. They also talked about books they had recently read, with Christopher recommending "Never Eat Alone" for networking and Josh enjoying "Winning" for its motivational stories. 37:25 Josh and Christopher discussed their recent reading habits, with Josh recommending a fantasy book called The City of Brass and Christopher expressing his preference for movies over fiction books. They also briefly mentioned some AI tools they plan to test out in the future.
41:2628/05/2023
The Grind Mastermind Episode 8

The Grind Mastermind Episode 8

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: FB ad pixel issues New youtube strategy Cold calling Email list cross promoting Resources we mentioned: Dall-E Chat GPT Scott Galloway Skillshare Scott Adams: How to fail at almost everything and still win big Buffett: The making of an American capitalist by Roger Lowenstein The essays of Warren Buffett Make sure to like/subscribe or tune in live on Youtube or your favorite podcast platform for new episodes! Follow Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/join Follow Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
39:2014/05/2023
The Grind Mastermind Episode 7

The Grind Mastermind Episode 7

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. Resources we mentioned: Hotjar Auto GPT Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger Mastering Uncertainty by Matt Watkinson  Amazon Unbound by Brad Stone Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ 00:00 Christopher discussed his busy agency work and how his content creation efforts are paying off in building his social media audience. He also talked about launching Facebook ads for his info product, collecting data, and planning to test a new landing page. Josh provided updates on his recent holiday weekend and work schedule. 10:26 Josh and Christopher discussed reviewing Facebook ads data and testing and editing the landing page. Christopher also wanted to decide whether to pivot the product idea into the freelancer side and mentioned possibly outsourcing social media work. 19:52 Christopher and Josh discussed repurposing Christopher's daily emails into videos for YouTube and other social media platforms. They also talked about hiring a sales team in India and improving the join page for SG. Christopher planned to explore the idea of repurposing his emails and Josh aimed to continue cold outreach and improve the join page. 30:20 Josh and Christopher discussed various tools and books they have been using and reading, including a new auto GPT application and books on Arnold Schwarzenegger and Warren Buffet. Josh also talked about starting a small accountability group for like-minded individuals. 39:24 Christopher and Josh discussed various topics including books they have read, Facebook ads, landing page testing, and the potential impact of AI on jobs. They also mentioned a new web browser app for auto GPT.
37:0507/05/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 6

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 6

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - FB ads and optimization - landing page split testing - Chat GPT and concerns about AI - cold calling and demo strategies - email list growth strategies - books and how we listen to/read them (video guide from Chris on how he does it: https://youtu.be/_rL57tvnn5k) - tips to fall asleep quickly Resources we mentioned: AI letter signed by Elon: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/technology/ai-artificial-intelligence-musk-risks.html https://www.glideapps.com/ Principles by Ray Dalio (and the app of the same name) Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger Amazon Unbound by Brad Stone Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
39:0216/04/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 5

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 5

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - Facebook ad setup, visuals and testing - Chat GPT for your business - landing page improvements and redesign - cold calling strategies - email growth strategies Resources we mentioned: Never Finished by David Goggins Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet David The Everything Store and Amazon Unbound by Brad Stone A First Rate Madness by S. Nassir Ghaemi The Hypomanic Edge by John D. Gartner Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
42:2002/04/2023
The Grind Mastermind: Episode 4

The Grind Mastermind: Episode 4

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - Chris' giveaway results - Creating Facebook ads and funnels - Cross promotions and sales pages for info products - Cold calling and email campaigns - Website touch ups and re-design - Books: Crushing It! and So Good They Can't Ignore You Resources we mentioned: Josh's book review on Crushing It: https://youtu.be/MaPzl7Bi3lQ Chris' video on how he learns from books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rL57tvnn5k https://lettergrowth.com/ https://readwise.io/ https://www.swapstack.co/ Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
36:3919/03/2023
The Grind Mastermind Episode 3: Email giveaways, automating funnels and cold outreach

The Grind Mastermind Episode 3: Email giveaways, automating funnels and cold outreach

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discuss: - email giveaways - automating client intake and funnels - cold email and LinkedIn campaigns - cold calling Resources we mentioned: Lettergrowth.com Nothing Held Back Facebook group LinkedHelper Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc Crushing It by Gary V What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars Make sure to like/subscribe for more, or tune in live on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBV2UxOmv4n6RqCbOinrIUA Follow Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Follow Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
41:1905/03/2023
The Grind Mastermind Episode 2: Ebook funnels, sponsorships, giveaways and acquisition

The Grind Mastermind Episode 2: Ebook funnels, sponsorships, giveaways and acquisition

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. We discuss: - ebook funnels and landing pages - email sponsorships (Swapstack) - giveaways (Kingsumo) - b2b SaaS clients and acquisition - website design - The Everything Store and Grinding It Out Make sure to like/subscribe for more! Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
41:3619/02/2023
The Grind Mastermind Episode 1: Optimizing content creation, beta testing and VAs

The Grind Mastermind Episode 1: Optimizing content creation, beta testing and VAs

Josh and Chris go live every 2nd week to discuss their businesses, recent progress, struggles and focus for the next few weeks. In this episode we discussed: - optimizing content creation - newsletter and e-book funnels - beta and QA testing - virtual assistants and their benefits --- Make sure to like/subscribe for more! --- Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/ Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/ ---
28:4429/01/2023
Episode 123: Business journeys and branding with Shaun Sunderland

Episode 123: Business journeys and branding with Shaun Sunderland

In this episode of the Solopreneur Grind Podcast, I talk to Shaun Sunderland about: - How and why he started 2 different companies/partnerships after leaving a well paying job - The way he started these companies, found partners and improved from business to business - Great tips about business branding for new solopreneurs, entrepreneurs and common mistakes to avoid And much more. --- Want to learn my top 3 lessons from interviewing 100+ solopreneurs? Sign up to get the free PDF here: https://www.solopreneurgrind.com/join/ --- Where to find Shaun: https://www.yourbrandroots.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-sunderland-706803237/ https://www.instagram.com/yourbrandroots/
42:2415/01/2023