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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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Make sure to like/subscribe for more!
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Find Josh at https://solopreneurgrind.com/
Find Chris at https://conversionalchemy.net/
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28:4429/01/2023
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.
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Want to learn my top 3 lessons from interviewing 100+ solopreneurs? Sign up to get the free PDF here: https://www.solopreneurgrind.com/join/
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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