What would you do if you were starting today? To help, here are half-baked startup ideas, growth marketing tactics, and stories from founders and creators - including my own journey as a bootstrapped business owner. All of the content is centered around helping founders, creators, and investors starting today.
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Jim Huffman Podcasts
Published on the last Wednesday of every month, the Strategy Hero podcast delves into the world of business strategy and transformation. Each cast shines a spotlight on a Strategy Hero – inspirers, boundary pushers, and leaders of change from all walks of life – armed with practical advice on what it takes to achieve your goals. Episodes explore topics around operational excellence, Lean management, process improvement, change management, and much, much more. Available where all great podcas ...
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Readings and conversation with The New Yorker's poetry editor, Kevin Young.
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(Since 8/30/2005) What do tens of thousands of digital photos and hundreds of hours of digital video from Disney and other theme parks across America have to do with an audio-only Podcast? Not much, so here it is. Original audio ride thrus from Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions, and Iowa's Adventureland (Altoona). NEW VOICEMAIL: (515) 999-0227
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Perfect Your Positioning, Boost Your Online Sales - The Shopify Growth Show (#5)
24:35
24:35
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24:35Your traffic isn’t the problem. Your ads aren’t broken. Your positioning is off. And that’s why you’re stuck. In this solo episode, Jim Huffman shares a live coaching session that breaks down how to actually fix brand positioning — using case studies from Neat Apparel, GrowthHit, and breakout brands like Rocket Money, Warby Parker, and Figma. You’l…
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S3E5 - Ray Collis - Reframing Transformation with Super Projects
43:14
43:14
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43:14What drives a project to transform an organization? In this episode, Ray Collis, co-founder of Growth Pit Stop, shares his “super projects” formula—blending ambition, confidence, alignment, complexity, and collaboration. You’ll learn how successful leaders manage bold initiatives by embracing uncertainty and fostering seamless team alignment. Ray’s…
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UGC Is Shopify’s Secret Weapon - The Shopify Growth Show (#4)
27:30
27:30
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27:30What if the polished ads you spent thousands on were actually hurting your brand? In this episode, we explore how real, imperfect content is outperforming big-budget campaigns — and why most Shopify founders are still getting it wrong. Jim Huffman sits down with William Gasner, co-founder of Stack Influence, to unpack the real power behind UGC (use…
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Erika Meitner joins Kevin Young to read “What Work Is,” by Philip Levine, and her own poem “To Gather Together.” Meitner’s books include “Useful Junk” and “Holy Moly Carry Me,” which won the 2018 National Jewish Book Award in Poetry. She is currently a Mandel Institute Cultural Leadership Program Fellow, and she’s the director of the M.F.A. program…
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The Sold-Out Playbook: How Our Brand (Neat) Sold-Out in 30 Days - The Shopify Growth Show (#3)
33:44
33:44
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33:44We didn’t mean to sell out — but we did. Every. Last. Unit. In this episode, I break down the exact strategy that took our Shopify brand from launch to “sold out” in 30 days — and how you can steal it for your own store. This isn’t a flex. It’s a cautionary (and highly tactical) tale. After selling out of all inventory at our Shopify brand Neat App…
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Launching a Brand From Idea to Product with Liz Long - The Shopify Growth Show (#2)
37:37
37:37
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37:37Liz Long, co-founder of Nearshore.ai, shares her extensive knowledge on transforming innovative ideas into actual products. Liz discusses the critical steps in product design, manufacturing, and supply chain management, offering invaluable tips for startups and established businesses alike. With a background in launching successful brands and an ac…
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From concept to $24M in 2 years 🤑 - The Shopify Growth Show (#1)
52:16
52:16
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52:16What if your hardest season became your biggest breakthrough? Ming Zhao built a $24M skincare brand in just 2 years—while pregnant and going through Y Combinator. This isn’t just a startup story. It’s a story of pressure, clarity, and purpose colliding at once. In this raw and revealing episode, Ming Zhao, CEO and co-founder of PROVEN Skincare, sha…
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[ANNOUNCEMENT] Introducing The Shopify Growth Show
0:39
0:39
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0:39You've been asking for it, so we're delivering! The If I Was Starting Today podcast is refocusing our content on the things you've told us you want the most: tips, tricks, and stories to help you grow and succeed you businesses on Shopify. This new direction will see us talking with experts and successful Shopify business operators as well as conti…
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S3E4 – Jim Longshore – Strategy Execution Isn’t About Firefighting
1:05:10
1:05:10
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1:05:10In this episode, Jim Longshore, Vice President at SBTI and author of The ABCs of Strategy Execution, shares insights from over 25 years of driving Lean Six Sigma deployments across manufacturing, healthcare, and insurance. Jim reflects on his early career experiences at American Standard and Trane, where the integration of Lean and Six Sigma first …
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David St. John joins Kevin Young to read “Picking Grapes in an Abandoned Vineyard,” by Larry Levis, and his own poem “The Shore.” St. John is the author of many poetry collections and the recipient of honors including the Rome Fellowship and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the O. B. Hardison Prize from the Folg…
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S3E3 - Hensley Sejour - The Power of Curiosity
57:54
57:54
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57:54In this episode, Hensley Sejour, Principal at Black Tech Nation Ventures, shares how a mindset rooted in curiosity and community has guided his unconventional path—from PhD chemical engineer and 14-year BP veteran to AWS product manager and now venture capital leader. Hensley reflects on pivotal career moments, including how a move to Alaska unlock…
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Edward Hirsch joins Kevin Young to read, “96 Vandam,” by Gerald Stern, and his own poem “Man on a Fire Escape.” Hirsch's honors include a MacArthur Fellowship, a National Book Critics Circle Award, the Pablo Neruda International Presidential Medal of Honor, and a National Jewish Book Award. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…
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23 Steps to Scale Your Shopify Store to 7-8 Figures (#203)
31:45
31:45
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31:45In this episode, we explore the essential steps to take an idea and grow it to a seven or eight-figure brand, particularly focusing on Shopify and direct-to-consumer markets. Key points include optimizing product offerings, building a strong business model, creating a unique category, investing in conversion rate optimization, leveraging paid and o…
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How We Use Custom GPTs for Our Brand – Neat (#202)
30:08
30:08
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30:08Jim is joined by Craig Swanson as they delve into the world of custom GPTs and their applications. They discuss how to utilize AI for tasks like copywriting and strategy development, and learn about the advancements in AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. They also showcase practical implementations, from setting up knowledge bases to effective pro…
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S3E2 - Anthony Huffman - Mastering Industry 4.0
52:55
52:55
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52:55In this episode, Anthony Huffman, Enterprise Architecture Strategist at Koch Industries, discusses the transformation of manufacturing through Industry 4.0. With over 20 years of experience in operational excellence and smart manufacturing, Tony shares insights into lean principles, change management, and the integration of digital technologies suc…
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Jericho Brown joins Kevin Young to read, “When,” by Elizabeth Alexander, and his own poem, “Colosseum.” Jericho Brown, who received the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his collection “The Tradition.” He’s a 2024 MacArthur Fellow and a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…
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Become a Super-Powered CEO with Sherif Sakr (#201)
37:37
37:37
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37:37In today's podcast, we dive deep into the journey of high achievers with Sherif Sakr, the CEO and founder of CEOS (Chief Executive Operating System). Sharif shares invaluable insights on how mindfulness can significantly benefit business leaders, emphasizing the importance of being intentional and creating space between stimulus and response. He el…
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How to Make Ads That Convert (10+ Examples of High ROAS Ads) (#200)
36:55
36:55
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36:55In this episode, Jim and Jordan dive deep into creating ads that convert. Starting from asset essentials, they discuss product photography, lifestyle images, and UGC videos. They emphasize the significance of understanding customer personas and value propositions before creating ads. The video covers frameworks for ad testing, the importance of vis…
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11 AI Prompts and Tools to Supercharge Your Business Growth (#199)
25:22
25:22
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25:22In this live session, Jim delves into the buzzword of the year: AI and its growth potential. We explore 11 AI prompts and tools designed to help businesses grow by working faster and smarter. Jim discusses strategic uses of custom GPTs, text and image generation, video creation, analytics, reporting, and website performance. We also share our exper…
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Kevin Young and Deborah Garrison Discuss “A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker”
35:48
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35:48This year, The New Yorker turns one hundred years old, and, to celebrate the occasion, we’re publishing an anthology: “A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker, 1925-2025.” Deborah Garrison, a poet and an editor at Knopf, who worked closely with The New Yorker on this exciting project, joins Kevin Young to discuss the anthology. Learn about your ad ch…
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S3E1 - Roger Longden - The power of OKRs and cross-functional collaboration
1:19:13
1:19:13
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1:19:13Roger Longden, founder and chairman of the UK's leading OKR consultancy There Be Giants, brings a wealth of experience in helping organizations excel in strategy execution. From his corporate IT background to a coaching qualification at Henley Business School, Roger's journey has spanned leading project management at Fujitsu, coaching in the North …
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Season Three Trailer - 12 new guests and a new host
4:14
4:14
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4:14Featuring amazing guests such as Roger Longden of There Be Giants, Enterprise Architecture Strategist for Industry 4.0 at Koch Industries, Anthony Hoffman and Hensley Sejour, Investor at Black Tech Nation Ventures. Season Three also sees the departure of James Milsom as our host, with Simon Crowther coming in midway through the season as our new ho…
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How to Scale Facebook Ads from $10/Day to $1,000/Day (#198)
40:55
40:55
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40:55In this episode, Jim and Jordan dive deep into the essentials of scaling Facebook and Instagram ads effectively, from a budget of $10 a day to $1,000 a day. The discussion covers critical aspects such as product-market fit, optimizing your website for conversions, segmenting ad campaigns, the importance of creative content, and more. Jordan also sh…
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2025 Goals and a Look Back at My 2024 (#197)
19:27
19:27
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19:27Join me as I reflect on 2024, discussing the challenges of delegation, business growth, and personal development. I'll share my key takeaways from managing Growth Hit and Neat, including the importance of consistency and overcoming setbacks. Discover my top five mindset drivers, favorite books, and new strategies for achieving goals in 2025. From i…
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10 Leverage Points Hiding in Your Business That Can Double Sales Today (#196)
25:17
25:17
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25:17In this episode, we explore 10 powerful leverage points that can transform your business and double your revenue. From optimizing ad creative and pricing strategies to innovative marketing tactics and global expansion, discover actionable insights and real-world case studies that demonstrate the impact of pulling the right levers. Learn how compani…
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S2E12 - James Milsom - Behind the scenes of Strategy Hero
45:47
45:47
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45:47James Milsom, host of the Strategy Hero podcast, has spent two seasons uncovering the stories and strategies behind the world of business transformation, operational excellence, and strategy execution. As a seasoned marketer and thought leader at i-nexus, James has connected with practitioners, consultants, and unsung heroes to share their insights…
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Dobby Gibson joins Kevin Young to read “I have slept in many places, for years on mattresses that entered,” by Diane Seuss, and his own poem “This Is a Test of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Wireless Warning System.” Gibson is the author of five poetry collections, including, most recently, “Hold Everything.” He’s also the recipient of fel…
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How to 4x Traffic Without Wasting Money on Ads [LIVE EVENT](#195)
45:18
45:18
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45:18In this episode, Jim shares a recent webinar he hosted about the critical importance of understanding traffic to achieve aggressive growth goals. Discover the difference between demand capture and demand creation based on your business's seasonality. In this episode Jim provides a step-by-step guide to determine if you have a traffic problem, strat…
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Are AI searches serving up you or your competitors? Hack ChatGPT results with Mike Buckbee (#194)
43:38
43:38
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43:38In this episode, Jim interviews Mike Buckbee, a software and SaaS entrepreneur, to discuss the impact of AI-driven search on SEO and paid search strategies. Mike explains how AI is becoming more dominant in search results, potentially affecting traditional SEO and PPC efforts. They delve into Mike’s latest project, Knowatoa, which helps companies u…
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Rae Armantrout joins Kevin Young to read “Mother,” by Dorothea Lasky, and her own poem “Finally.” Armantrout’s many books include “Go Figure,” “Finalists,” “Conjure,” and “Wobble.” Her collection “Versed” won a National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…
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S2E11 - Wes Bush - Building a Strategy for Product-Led Success
1:00:15
1:00:15
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1:00:15Wes Bush is the founder and CEO of ProductLed. He is the bestselling author of Product-Led Growth: How To Build a Product That Sells Itself and is one of the most sought-after product experts in the world. After working for some of the world’s fastest-growing companies in the world, today he trains teams around the globe how to turn their products …
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How to Guarantee Your Website Conversions Will Go Up | LIVE EVENT (#193)
31:27
31:27
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31:27In this episode, Jim shares a recent live talk prepared for the launch of the Growth Marketing Operating System—a framework for identifying and overcoming growth blockers. This talk focuses on increasing conversions and improving your conversion rate, tackling common issues such as poor lead generation and low e-commerce sales. Jim delves into stra…
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S2E10 - Simon Wardley - The Power of Wardley Mapping
1:02:59
1:02:59
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1:02:59In this episode, Simon Wardley, creator of Wardley Maps, explores how mapping brings clarity to strategy and complex decision-making. Wardley shares how his frustration with vague corporate strategies led to his development of the Wardley Mapping methodology, inspired by a bookstore conversation about The Art of War. Wardley Maps visually map out a…
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Product Led Growth Masterclass with Wes Bush (#192)
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45:38
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45:38Today Jim is joined by one of the original masterminds of the product led growth strategy, Wes Bush of Productled.com. Wes and Jim get incredibly tactical as they go through step by step on how to decide if product led growth is a good match for your company and how to implement if it is. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE What is Product Led Grow…
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Jim Moore joins Kevin Young to read “I wonder if I will miss the moss,” by Jane Mead, and his own poem “Mother.” Moore has published eight poetry collections, including, most recently, “Prognosis.” He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and multiple Minnesota Book Awards. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…
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Perfect Your Positioning, Boost Your Online Sales [LIVE EVENT] (#191)
26:46
26:46
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26:46This week, Jim shares an excerpt from a recent live coaching event where he demonstrated how to unblock growth through better and more effective positioning tactics. Jim gets tactical and draws from real life examples through case studies and a look inside Neat Apparel and Growth Hit. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Understanding Positioning Ev…
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David Sacks - If Your Startup Was a Political Movement | Iconic Read (#190)
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25:37
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25:37Jim and Yonathan break down another Iconic piece of writing as they talk about David Sacks Substack article titled Your Startup is a Movement. They go over the main points and discuss what they agree and disagree with as well as contextualizing some of the ideas for new startup founders. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Marketing a Movement 13 S…
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Amber Tamblyn joins Kevin Young to read “The Dahlias,” by Didi Jackson, and her own poem “This Living.” Tamblyn, a writer, director, and actor, is the creator of the newsletter “Listening in the Dark” and the editor of an anthology of the same title. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…
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S2E9 - Grant Elder - Mastering Change Leadership
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46:45In this episode, we explore the 27-year career of Grant Elder, a seasoned change management leader, known for his expertise in fostering transformation through empathy and communication. Grant reflects on his experiences leading complex organizational change, emphasizing the critical role of strategic planning, environmental analysis, and the engag…
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The Black Friday / Cyber Monday Playbook for 2024 (#189)
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44:53Jim is joined by Jordan Summers during a Linkedin live stream where they discuss tactics and strategies for navigating the holiday season, including the all important Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They get tactical with strategies for companies at different stages of growth and provide a blueprint on how to make it through and meeting your goals. …
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Wait, Did AI Just Put My Agency Out of Business . . . (#188)
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24:13In this episode, Yonathan and Jim discuss the urgency of adopting AI in their agency to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market, and discuss the essential tools businesses need to succeed in the future. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE The Urgency of AI Adoption Insights from AI Experts Impact of AI on Business Models Balancing Strategy an…
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How to Unblock Your Growth [MY LIVE TALK] (#187)
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53:25In this episode, Jim shares a recent LinkedIn Live presentation he gave explaining tactics and advice on how to unblock growth for any business regardless of size. Jim gets into specifics using examples from best-in-class businesses as well a peek behind the curtain at what's happening in Growth Hit and Neat Apparel. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPI…
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S2E8 - Paul Niven - The evolution of the balanced scorecard
1:00:42
1:00:42
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1:00:42In this episode, we delve into the extensive career of Paul Niven, a renowned expert in strategy execution with a focus on the balanced scorecard and OKR (Objectives and Key Results) frameworks. Paul shares his journey from public accounting to pioneering the balanced scorecard in the early 1990s, leading to significant improvements in organization…
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Using Comedy to Hit 250M People & The 5 Rules of Humor When Advertising | Kleier Brothers (#186)
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43:33On this episode, Jim is joined by Ryan and Sean Kleier, two comedians who have taken their successes in show business and translated them into the world of marketing. They get tactical on how you can incorporate the art and science of comedy to improve your marketing campaigns. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Importance of authenticity Creative…
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How to Hit 7-Figures with One Killer Community and E-Products | Bossbabe (#185)
38:42
38:42
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38:42This week, Jim is joined by Natalie Ellis of Bossbabe to talk about how to grow an engaged community in 2023. Things get tactical as Natalie discusses the importance of focus and developing content systems. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Focusing on one channel: Youtube, Email, or Podcast The value of quality content Community building tactics…
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Grow, Sell, or Cashflow Your Business from a Guy with a 9-Figure Exit | Dominic Rubino (#184)
40:54
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40:54Jim talks with Dominic Rubino who has bootstrapped multiple businesses to successful exits including a 9 figure exit. Dominic talks about the scalability of trades businesses and gets tactical on his sales and hiring. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Bootstrapping stories Team building, hiring strategies Niching down Growth, Sale, or Cashflow Ma…
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Jim shares a fantastic LinkedIn Live conversation with Growth Hit's head of growth, Jordan Summers. They dive into a very tactical discussion about How to succeed (not get fired) as a newly hired Head of growth for a business, brand, or startup. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE The first 90 days Starting Strong Quick wins vs long term goals Mist…
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S2E7 - Jack Soos - Bridging the functional and the operational
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1:00:32In this episode, we explore the career of Jack Soos, whose diverse background spans sociology, biochemistry, and leadership. Jack has developed a keen understanding of the importance of empathy and active listening, which he applies to his leadership practices. He shares insights on fostering trust, promoting employee growth, and the necessity of o…
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You Can Do Hard Things - A letter to my 2 daughters (and Founders) (#182)
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14:35This week, Jim shares his insights from his experience being a Dad and teaching his kids important life lessons. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY’S EPISODE Parenting resilience Resilience in business Growth vs fixed mindset 10x thinking Asking the right questions Leveraging coaches and mentors Resources: Growth Marketing OS (Operating System) GrowthHit Ji…
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Valzhyna Mort Reads Victoria Amelina and Wisława Szymborska
43:31
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43:31Valzhyna Mort joins Kevin Young to read “Testimonies” by Victoria Amelina, which Mort translated from the Ukrainian, and “Map,” by Wisława Szymborska, which was translated, from the Polish, by Clare Cavanagh. Mort’s collection “Music for the Dead and Resurrected” won the 2021 International Griffin Poetry Prize and the 2022 UNT Rilke Prize. Her othe…
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