Jordan Harbinger is the host of a top 50 iTunes podcast (The Jordan Harbinger Show) with over 4 million downloads per month. This makes Jordan's show one of the most popular shows in the world. Today, I sit down with Jordan to discuss how he grew his podcast from scratch in such a short amount of time, how he was able to recover from a challenging business breakup, how he was able to reframe "starting over" as a positive, and tips and tricks you can use to grow your reach and influencer through a podcast.
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Since its founding in 2009, Uber has grown to be valued at more than $18 billion.
It's one of the fastest growing startups in the world.
Here's what that looks like, relative to other major tech startups (and their billions in value):
If you're not familiar with Uber, they're a ride-sharing company that allows people to easily grab a ride in most major cities across the United States (and abroad - I used an Uber in Amsterdam just a couple weeks ago).
But unlike a traditional taxi cab service that has a ton of overhead (the vehicles themselves, the structures to park and service the vehicles, the union workers, etc.), Uber simply uses technology and software to connect the dots between the owner of a car who wants to make some extra money and the the person who wants a simple, clean, painless ride to the airport.
Great idea, sure, but that doesn't explain the rapid growth rate.
What does begin to explain it is Uber's clever marketing and viral referral program...
(more…)
In February, I had the pleasure of speaking at The Game Changers Live event in Sydney, Australia.
I gave a presentation on how to start, finish, and ship any creative project (from business to blog to movement).
If you’ve read The Art of Instigating, you’re already familiar with my 3 step process for instigating anything:
1. Start
2. Finish
3. Ship
Simple right? Almost annoyingly simple…
But how many people do it?
How many people actually start, actually finish, and actually ship?
While this question is rhetorical, it shouldn’t have to be…
This is me on stage (sexy, right?)
The problem I see time and time again (and experienced in my own life, time and time again), is that we start with version 9.0 of our idea.
What’s version 9.0?
So what’s the problem with starting with version 9.0?
If you paid attention to those last three sentences, something should have stood out to you…something that wasn’t quite right.
You get the point.
Here’s the problem with version 9.0: it doesn’t exist and never will.
Not, at least, in the way you currently envision it…
I know what you’re thinking – what about Facebook and Harry Potter and all those other famous companies and products…certainly these things are “version 9.o’s.”
These ideas may not have started at version 9.0, but they got there over time, didn’t they?
Here’s the thing:
The current iterations of all of these ideas are not only different than when they started, but are entirely different than the perfect, idealized version the original creators envisioned at the start.
Zuckerberg: “I just really want to see everyone focus on college and make a really cool college directory product”
Rowling: “I began to write 'Philosopher's Stone' that very evening, although those first few pages bear no resemblance to anything in the finished book.”
And this is the dirty truth of version 9.0 that few founders, artists, and authors will admit (at least not at the outset):
The final version will never be the same as the original idea.
The alternative to starting with 9.0 is to start in beta: with version 1.0.
In software development, beta is the point at which some features have been added and are ready for testing…but there are still bugs and issues that need to be worked out, so it’s not “final” product code just yet.
With the advances in technology and connectivity over the past 10 years (see: faster computers and faster internet), some pieces of software spend years in beta - intentionally. Not because they wouldn’t be able to release a finished product sooner - they could - but because beta allows us to rapidly deploy and test code with users without worrying about things being perfect.
When we’re in beta, it’s a given that there will be bugs, problems, and rough edges. And this is okay.
There will be bugs, problems and rough edges no matter what you’re creating.
So what?
Start with beta.
For any idea – whether product, service, story, or art piece – there is a basic version, one without all the bells and whistles.
Start here.
If your idea only works if you have the perfect user interface connected to 10 million customers with 3d glasses…well, let’s be real: no one wants your idea anyway.
Start with beta.
This process is simple like starting, finishing, and shipping…and it can be equally uncomfortable.
Nobody wants to take a great idea they have and rip it apart so there’s nothing left that resembles the original idea.
Yet that is EXACTLY the process every single author, artist, and entrepreneur goes through on their path to product manifestation.
So why beat around the bush?
Tear your idea apart at the start and you’ll be much better off later on.
This process is called thrashing. It’s about reducing your idea down to its most basic, purest form. It’s about deleting the unessential. It’s about removing everything but the core.
It is not a comfortable process but it is essential.
Attached below is a free PDF to help you through this process of starting in beta with version 1.0.
Get the QUICK START Guide Free
This is the same document I had printed and given out to everyone who attended The Game Changers Live series in Sydney. The response was overwhelmingly positive. A couple people told me it was exactly the resource they were looking for.
I hope by sharing it here for free, I can help more people start the right way – and not waste another hour (month, year…) of their life building something no one wants.
My friend Jason Spencer and I are launching a new business incubator, and if you’re interested, we're still accepting applications.
It’s called The Flight Formula, and it’s the first of its kind in many ways:
1st – it’s the first EVER heart-centered business incubator.
This program is about building heart-centered businesses – the kind you deeply, passionately care about - not just another SaaS company that drains your creative and emotional energy for the hope of monthly reoccurring cashflow.
2nd – it’s the first EVER generosity-based business program.
Jason brought me on board as a teacher / coach for entrepreneurs on unconventional pricing techniques and gift economy business models…he also got me on board to help make The Flight Formula practice what it preached.
So I told him to get rid of price altogether and let people choose what they want to contribute back.
I’ve been told I’m crazy for doing this - that a model like this is stupid and it won’t work. That I’m ridiculous for even offering something like this (“What about costs?! You have to eat don’t you?”).
I don’t begrudge this attitude.
I actually understand it more than most could appreciate…
But all I can say is I’m confident the right people will find this program and their generosity will allow us to create something remarkable. Call me a dreamer if you’d like…
So if you’re interested in finding out more, check it out:
The Flight Formula Heart-Centered Business Incubator
* * *
So that’s it for this week.
I’m working on a number of big projects right now – The Flight Formula being one of them – and I apologize for the less than consistent posting schedule.
Insurgent Publishing is growing – the next issue of Bootstrapped is going to be bigger and badder than the first (with contributions from guys like Andrew Warner of Mixergy, among others) – so check it out if you’re interested…
I continue to offer PWYW consulting, and some people really like it:
Just had a consultation with @tmorkes to talk about my #smallbiz. SERIOUSLY, Y'ALL, HE'S AWESOME. (And worthy of all caps.)
— Punch Presence (@punchpresence) March 26, 2014
Note: I am booked out completely for consulting gigs into 2015. Will let you know when I open up more spots. If you're interested in getting notified, make sure to sign up for The Resistance Broadcast.
Thanks for your time and attention – it seriously means the world to me.
Keep creating and stay on the path.
Started, Finished, and Shipped in Big Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
Total Writing Time: 1 hr 56 minutes
Soundtrack: Repave by Volcano Choir
