E75: Michael Girdley (@girdley) needs no introduction. He's a HoldCo legend. Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down with Michael to discuss how he has built a successful HoldCo. We talk about Michael's "Right People, Right Structure, Right Mission" framework, which he uses to build all of his businesses. Michael shares how to find the best people, set up your business the right way, and get everyone excited about the same goal.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- PHC Organization Structure- How to Propel the Business into Gear - How to Build Your Own Holdco of Multiple Businesses - 'Right People, Right Structure, Right Mission' Framework***SPONSORS: Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:The Journey: "And what I really discovered was that there's this interesting inflection points in people's lives to when they should sign up to be CEOs of different types of businesses." — Michael Girdley (06:24)Joyful Career: "I think what people should be doing is thinking about the life they wanna live and the things they wanna be doing, and then build companies around that... joy comes from getting to do things that you really love. So build your business around things that give you joy that you get to do." — Michael Girdley (36:40)*** LINKS: How to Hire the Best Operators for Your Personal HoldCoHoldCo MasterclassJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E74: Have you ever wondered how a person can flip their life's script from constant struggles to having a multi-million dollar business? Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a rich conversation with successful entrepreneur Tim Stoddart (@TimStodz), the proud owner of Copyblogger Media.  He discusses his incredible transition from a troubled youth in Philadelphia to a sober entrepreneur with a multi-million dollar Personal HoldCo portfolio.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Find Your Purpose- How to Effectively Write Online- Three Criteria for Choosing Businesses- How to Replicate Models to Build and Scale Businesses***SPONSORS: Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Foundation: "I write and I delegate. I write because I think being a good writer is the most valuable skill that you could ever really have. And I delegate because I've learned that as you grow a company, it's the most foundational thing you could ever do." — Tim Stoddart (04:03)Wealth Creation: "Here's where my head goes. I'm not bored at all. And there's a part of me that thinks you want to get out before you get bored. Right. Because then like you have leverage that you don't need to sell. Like I never want to get in a position where I need to sell something." — Tim Stoddart (21:45)*** LINKS: CopybloggerTimstodz.com stodzyinternetmarketing.comJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E73: Not many know it, but a lot of aspiring business owners run the risk of making expensive mistakes that could put their goals on hold before they ever take off. So, today, host Yong-Soo Chung  (@YongSooChung) shares eight important things he learned over eight years of building three businesses from the ground up. He shares how to have an exponential growth mindset, hire carefully, know when to switch between growth and preservation modes and build a strong environment for your company. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- Growth vs. Preservation- 8 Truths About Entrepreneurship- The Impact of Hiring the Right PeopleThis episode distills down many years of entrepreneurial experience into one short episode. Don't miss it!***SPONSORS: Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Business Ecosystem: "Your business exists to serve three different stakeholders, vendors, employees, and customers. These there are the critical components of your business ecosystem. And the most ideal scenario is when all three of them win." — Yong-Soo Chung (13:15)Business Growth Mindsets: "You can think of business growth as either incremental or exponential." — Yong-Soo Chung (14:46)*** LINKS: How to Hire the Best Operators for Your Personal HoldCoI – We – They Framework: How I Scale My Personal HoldCoJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E72: When is the right time to exit a business? Sounds like a simple question, but the answer... isn't as simple.Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down with accomplished entrepreneur Andrew Gazdecki (@agazdecki), the Founder and CEO of Acquire.com.  Andrew discusses the strategies behind successful exits and how to position your company to be sold for the highest valuation. He also discussed how startups can be bought in as few as 30 days. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Structure Your Deals- Strategic Buyer vs. Financial Buyer- How to Get Ready to Sell Your Business- How to Find the Right Buyer for Your BusinessLet's get down to business!***SPONSORS: Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Startup Valuations: "You can sell it for whatever you want. You can sell it whenever you want. You can sell for $10,000,000, all cash to a private equity firm with 90-day transition period, you're out, and then you just get to do whatever you want with your life. " — Andrew Gazdecki (05:51)Understanding Business Acquisitions: "So if you can structure, you know, an acquisition with favorable terms like that, that's the way to go. And that I'd say that's probably the most common is cash in close with some component of,  maybe a little bit of seller financing at the end, 80% cash in close, 20% seller financing with 3 to 6 month transition depending on the size of the business." — Andrew Gazdecki (19:14)*** LINKS: From Bankruptcy to Millionaire in 2 Years: How Tibo Louis-Lucas Built and Sold TweetHunter & Taplio for Multi-MillionsAcquire.comJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E71: How do you design a personal brand that truly reflects you, stands out, and captivates your audience?Do you find yourself lost in the sea of design choices? Not sure how to align your website elements with your personal brand values?Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is joined by talented designer, Nate Kadlac (@kadlac). Nate will guide us through the crucial elements of your personal brand identity: Logo, Font, Color, Elements & Motifs, and Visual Layout. Nate will also tell us how to make key design decisions that align with our brand values for each of these elements.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- The Four Key Elements- The G.E.O.S. Framework- How to Make Key Design Decisions- How to Design a Great Personal Brand WebsiteLet's get down to business!***SPONSORS: Riverside - If you have a podcast, do yourself a favor and check out Riverside. It's 100% free to start. Get 20% off using code FIRSTCLASS.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Choosing Fonts for Personal Branding: "They don't have to be the same. I think it's it's really about what appeals to you, what speaks to you. It's just one thing to kind of know about these things that people will feel a certain way. Not that you need to make a choice based on what people feel." — Nate Kadlac (19:04)Design Tips from Experts: "A designer's secret is that most of us never use pure black or pure white. Our eyes read better like text that's just slightly off that black end is is a little bit more readable because it's not high contrast. High contrast tires our eyes out and we want to use it for design to kind of like grab attention." — Nate Kadlac (28:31)*** LINKS: Don't Make The Same Mistakes I Did — What I Wish I Knew About Content Creation and Personal BrandingApproachableDesign.JOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E70: Who doesn't like free or cheap stuff? Imagine getting more customers without spending money. Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is joined by an expert in PR and earned media, Christina Nicholson (@ChristinaAllDay), an award-winning journalist.  Christina will discuss why small businesses should start with local media and why earned media's credibility is its most powerful asset. She also discusses how to obtain free (or affordable) PR and how to pitch the media to get coverage.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How To Do Effective PR for Free- The Power of PR for Businesses- How to Spot Scammy PR Pitches- How to Pitch the Media to Get CoverageDon't miss out on this game-changing episode that could redefine your approach to marketing!***SPONSORS: Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Strategic Business Approach: "You need to be patient, and you need to trust the process, and you need to be very focused on who your audience is and what you're putting out there, and then be ready to turn that publicity into profit because a lot of people think it just ends with the publicity." — Christina Nicholson (18:01)Monetizing Influence: "If you are somebody who is of influence and you wanna start charging to make money, there's nothing wrong with that. You just have to tell people why you're charging what you're charging when you do offer that to them." — Christina Nicholson (27:33)*** LINKS: The Art of Storytelling: How Parker Worth Went from Broke to a $22,000 Course LaunchBecome a Media Maven PodcastJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E69: Imagine creating a million dollar business in just 48 hours.  Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is joined by a special guest Noah Kagan (@noahkagan), the CEO of AppSumo.com.  Noah will discuss his new book "Million Dollar Weekend" and explain how he used these strategies and tactics to build AppSumo, a near 9-figure business.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Validate Your Ideas- The One-Minute Business Model- The Million-Dollar Weekend Framework- How to Scale Your Business SuccessfullyDon't miss out on this one!***SPONSORS: Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Principles of Business Growth: "You find a problem people really want, And you'd be patient to continually keep delivering for those people." — Noah Kagan (22:19)Strategic Approach to Business Expansion: "Have a very limited amount of experiments that you think will be your future growth. And then having a list of experiments you think you can do to find those people, doing them over literally 30 days after you have business success, finding the one that works and then continuing that one." — Noah Kagan (24:06)*** LINKS: How to Find Your Next Million-Dollar Business IdeaMillion Dollar WeekendJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E68: Ever wonder how to grow your business profits just by leveraging relationships and strategic partnerships?Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) is privileged to have a very special guest, Jay Abraham (@RealJayAbraham), the Owner of Abraham Group and America’s Highest Paid Marketing Consultant.  Jay will discuss the concept of Relational Capital, one of the most powerful, yet misunderstood concepts in business. Abraham shares anecdotes and real world examples of creative partnerships where both parties benefited mutually without exchanging money.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- The 8 Different Types of Deals- How to Pitch to Potential Partners- How to Leverage Relational Capital- Why Relational Capital is UnderratedDon't miss out on this one!***SPONSORS: Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:The Power of Endorsement: "When somebody has a hard-won credibility or trust with a target audience that you also want to reach, rather than going to the outside market and speculating money on advertising, if you can first find out who already has the relationship with that audience, who's already gone through all the credibility building. You can get the benefit of all of that accrued to you instantaneously for nothing and only pay for results." — Jay Abraham (06:58)Leveraging External Resources: "You're using everybody else's relationships with their audience, their distribution channels, their databases, their brand association, their salesforces, their retailers, their distributors, their assets, and you can get access to millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions of dollars for no investment or risk." — Jay Abraham (14:24)*** LINKS: From Bankruptcy to Millionaire in 2 Years: How Tibo Louis-Lucas Built and Sold TweetHunter & Taplio for Multi-MillionsJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E67: What if I told you hiring the right operator for your PHC could supercharge your business? But get it wrong, and it could all go up in flames. Even worse, it could get swiped right from under you. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But believe me, I've lived that story. I've spent the last four years taking notes, testing strategies, and refining my hiring process. On today's episode, I can finally say that I know how to hire the right operator. It's a delicate balance because you need someone who's fiercely independent, but at the same time, unwaveringly loyal to you. I will also share timeless lessons and tactical tips that will help you navigate the complex landscape of hiring an operator and building a successful business. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- Irony of Hiring a Great Operator- How to Identify a Great Operator- The Two Paths of Hiring an Operator- The Pros and Cons of Both Hiring Paths This episode is a real game-changer!***SPONSORS: Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Entrepreneurial Spirit in Business Operations: "Because I want the operator to feel a degree of ownership of the business they're handling. Yeah. I chose my words carefully there. I want them to feel a degree of ownership, but at the same time, I also want them to be fiercely loyal to me." — Yong-Soo Chung (05:03)Employee Profit Sharing and Loyalty: "I found that implementing a profit sharing program enhances the sense of autonomy, ownership, and loyalty almost instantly. Because I am, in fact, directly giving them a part of my business's success. Because I am, in fact, directly aligning incentives to benefit everyone involved in the business." — Yong-Soo Chung (08:35)*** LINKS: I – We – They Framework: How I Scale My Personal HoldCoJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E66: How did Assembly Ventures, from nothing but dreams and passion, pull in a crazy $10 million in less than six months?  Call it nuts. Call it ambitious. Call it a crazy result. But it happened, my friend, it happened.Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down and spills the beans with Hunter Hammonds (@_hunterhammonds), the CEO and Co-Founder of Assembly Ventures. Hunter shares his business flywheel—Strategy, Execution, and Amplification. Hunter also talks about focusing on quality over mere publicity, building long-term relationships with creators, and overall operation and HoldCo structuring strategies. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- The 3 Pillars for Teams Operation- How to Scale Businesses Successfully- The 3 Flywheel Components of a Business- How to Partner Up with Large Content CreatorsDon't miss out on this one!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Effective Strategy Approach: "So I think there's a lot of trust in what we're doing right now because of the approach we've taken and the people that we chose to partner with first vs. doing something that's more of the celebrity-driven kind of vast-market creator approach." — Hunter Hammonds (15:58)Building a Strong Brand: "So instead of us launching a new brand and that detracting from the quality, every time we launch a new brand, we're pulling that playbook into that new space, that new service, using the learnings from this new service, or how we perform this particularly new niche creative thing and using that to inform the rest of the operations." — Hunter Hammonds (17:47)*** LINKS: Mastering the Art of Unsexy Entrepreneurship with Hold Co Owner Nick Huber, Founder of Bolt Storage & The Sweaty StartupJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E65: In today's episode, I revisit and remake one of the popular episodes to date and to be honest, one of the most important concepts that all founders should know - the I – We – They Framework, which has accelerated my business growth and could do the same for yours.I'm sharing this framework that I developed to help me gain clarity on what I need to work on depending on the stage of my business. I wish that someone had taught me this framework 8 years ago when I first launched my first business. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Delegate Properly- 3 Stages of Growth for Every Business- How to Promote a Culture of Ownership- What Systems You Need to Scale Your Business This episode distills down many years of my own entrepreneurial experience into one short episode. Don't miss it!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Business Growth Phases: "In the 1st phase, you were a newborn, an infant, a toddler, flailing and grasping at everything and trying to gain a basic understanding of your business. In the 2nd phase, you're a child, making friends and allies and building relationships with the people around you, which means now it is time for you to grow, both literally and figuratively." — Yong-Soo Chung (18:28)Building an Ownership Culture: "Each employee should believe that they own a certain part of your business, and they are a 100% responsible for that part of the business. Just make sure that you aren't causing any decision making bottlenecks at the company when you do this." — Yong-Soo Chung (25:52)*** LINKS: Episode 25 - How To Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Million-Dollar Business as a CreatorJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E64: In the world of startups, everyone wants that magic formula to get their business off the ground and scaling fast.But all too often, business plans end up as complicated, unwieldy documents that feel overwhelming to create and follow.Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) goes behind the scenes with Brandon White (@BrandonCWhite). He generously shared his unique 11-slide business framework with us. Inspired by the simplicity of four baseline elements jotted down on a napkin, Brandon leads us through the ins and outs of his clever road map, unlocking the potential to simplify even the most complex of business concepts.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- 4 Key Ingredients of a Business- Importance of a Good Elevator Pitch- The 11-Slide Business Plan Framework- How to Clearly Define a Problem and SolutionDon't miss out on this one!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Efficient Business Planning: "If you can build this framework 11 slides, you basically are ready to build a new company or launch a new product or service. And you could be an intrepreneur and easily use this too. And that's sorta how it came up. It's a mix and match of all of my experience in failures and and what worked." — Brandon White  (01:08)The Four Principles: "We sit down and he pulls out a pen, flips the napkin over and he's like, writes down four things, product, people, market and financing. He said, let's build your plan right here. That was really my first lesson on the quote, air quotes for those of you listening, the modern business plan or framework." — Brandon White (05:05)*** LINKS: Unlocking the Power of the MAPS Framework: Mindset ➜ Audience ➜ Product ➜ ScalingJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E63: Happy Holidays! We're taking a one-week break from our regularly scheduled programming. But, we're not leaving you high and dry this week!I was fortunate enough to be invited to my friend and fellow entreprenuer Brandon White's (@BrandonCWhite) recording studio in Half Moon Bay a few weeks ago. If you can believe it, we talked for over 2 hours! We dove deep into several topics including the inflection points of my own entrepreneurial journey. We also went into depth about Personal Holding Companies and how Brandon essentially has one himself!This episode brings actionable insights on audience building, creating irresistible product offers, and achieving success in the midst of uncertainty.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- Importance of Networking in Business- The Importance of Building Trust Online- How to Build a Personal Holding Company- Social Media Strategies for Business GrowthThis episode is not to be missed!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Importance of Delegation in Entrepreneurship: "You're monitoring, but you and you're there in case they need to. They need you for something, but you're not in the day-to-day operations, and that's where you wanna be ultimately." — Yong-Soo Chung (38:14)Building Trust Online: "Building trust is probably the hardest thing to do online right now because there's a lot of crazy people out there, and, they're all saying crazy stuff. And if you can build trust, that will make it so much easier for you. It just open a lot of doors." — Yong-Soo Chung (01:51:20)*** LINKS: The Brandon White ShowJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E62: Ever scratch your head wondering what business you should start next? Yeah, we've all been there.Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) takes us on a solo flight as he unravels the simple decision-making process that led him to create his successful businesses. From his venture into startups after Wall Street to the unexpected success of Urban EDC. He shares his invaluable insights and practical advice on identifying micro and macro forces to help you succeed, validating business ideas, and creating your luck in entrepreneurship.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- Finding Your Niche- How to Turn Passion into Profession- How to Identify Micro and Macro Forces- Importance of Leveraging Social PlatformsThis episode is a real game-changer!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.Spotted by Humphrey - If you have a dog, sniff out the DEAL$ and wag-worthy finds at Spotted by Humphrey. Use code FIRSTCLASS15 to get 15% off your next order. ***EXCERPTS:Economic Forces and Personal Development: "Micro forces are internal motivations that add up over time and space to give you direction. Macro forces on the other hand are beyond your control and determine how much momentum your idea will have when you launch it." — Yong-Soo Chung (03:32)Identifying Personal Entrepreneurial Opportunities: "Because what you buy is often a pretty good indicator of what might make a good entrepreneurial venture for you... Money and time are the two resources that determine literally everything about our lives. So ask yourself, what do I spend my free time doing? Chances are the answer to this question will intersect a lot with your credit card statement."  — Yong-Soo Chung (06:07)*** LINKS: Episode 25 - How To Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Million-Dollar Business as a CreatorJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E61: Many entrepreneurs out there who are hustling to build their online presence often hit a roadblock in their creators journey.  Like, they're missing a trick that could change the game for them. Growing your audience? That's no walk in the park. So many creators end up feeling stuck.Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) sits down with the amazing Parker Worth (@worth_parker), who went from being dead broke to launching a storytelling course that earned him an amazing $22,000! He shared invaluable tips and tricks that are guaranteed to skyrocket your approach to building your brand's story.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- Art of Storytelling- Power of Personal Network- How to Use Storytelling for Business - How to Create Genuine Relationships OnlineTrust me, this episode is the real deal.***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Power of Storytelling: "So it's like this multicentral, multidimensional skill that not only applies to communication, but in business. It's in marketing. It's in education. It's literally everywhere and it's a skill that overlaps into everything." — Parker Worth (04:42)The Essence of Storytelling: "A story requires both a speaker and a listener, the storyteller and an audience."  — Yong-Soo Chung (23:02)*** LINKS: Episode 39 - $250 Million Dollars in Sales: Colin Chung's Copywriting Secrets RevealedParkerWorth.comJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E60: How did a simple credit-card 'trick' post lead to massive audience growth?It all started with my X post about living in San Francisco with a $0 salary. Yeah, you heard that right - a $0 salary in one of the most expensive cities. And guess what? People lost their minds over it. My socials were a wildfire of comments, DMs, and yeah, even some haters throwing shade. Here’s the fun bit: I know exactly why that post resonated.Today, I'm diving deep into the topic of finding your niche and how it can skyrocket your audience growth. I'll be sharing my journey and the three-step process I used to discover my niche, gain a 25% jump in my audience in just nine days, and establish myself as an authority in my field.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Find Your Niche- How to Leverage Your Expertise- Understand Niche Demand and SupplyThis episode is a solo journey of discovery!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Finding Your Niche: "It's one thing to build up expertise in a subject and another thing entirely to be acknowledged as the expert." — Yong-Soo Chung (08:54)Building Trust: "The secret ingredient here, and really isn't a secret to be honest, is trust."  — Yong-Soo Chung (09:33)*** LINKS: Episode 53 - The Rise of Personal Holding Companies: Exploring the Future of EntrepreneurshipJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E59: What does it really take to go viral on social media?In our digital era, choosing the right platform for your business can be overwhelming. Founders face immense pressure to build a substantial online presence and audience.  Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a special guest, Michelle Thames (@michellelthames), a renowned Marketing and Monetization Strategist. She is known for her influential work with giants like Toyota, Subway, and Lenovo. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Go Viral- Power of Quality Followers- Personal Brand vs. Business Brand- Master the Art of Emotional Marketing TechniquesThis episode is not to be missed!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.AppSumo - Search for "ContentBot.AI" and grab the Black Friday exclusive offer. Don't let this opportunity slip away!***EXCERPTS:Marketing Strategies: "I believe all marketing is the same across the board for all businesses. Right? Where it really comes into play is your specific niche and your specific target audience. Definitely, both ways of doing business, product based, service based, are successful, well, but it I think it really boils down to what platforms you're using." — Michelle Thames (06:22)Social Media and CEOs: "You should share things, maybe you smell a new fragrance that, you know, you're putting in your product or you went to a trade show and you're trying to get new materials, things like that a CEO would be doing that people would be interested in. You never know what will relate with people."  — Michelle Thames (30:30)*** LINKS: Michelle Thames - FacebookMichelle Thames - InstagramEpisode 55JOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E58: How do you get your podcast from 0 to 36,000 downloads in just a year? I did just that! Starting from scratch isn't easy, especially in the world of podcasting. I had zero listeners, a limited budget, and countless people saying I was doing it all wrong.Just to give you an idea... I spent $27,000 just on production costs!When I started my podcast journey, everyone around me had advice. Most said, "Save your money on production." But, call me crazy, I ignored them! I poured everything into 57 episodes, investing in the quality of the show.Today, I'm revealing 30 lessons I learned growing my podcast over the past year into 5 Pillars of Podcasting.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- The 5 Pillars of Podcasting- Paid Advertising vs. Organic Marketing- How to Choose the Right Guests for Your Podcast- Why 'Packaging' an Episode is More Important Than You ThinkLet's get down to business!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.AppSumo - Search for "SendNow" and grab the Black Friday exclusive offer. Don't let this opportunity slip away!***EXCERPTS:How I Create Content: "Writing my episodes helps me express my thoughts in a clear and concise manner.  Basically, write the script as if you're writing a screenplay, because you will essentially be using the script to perform it on the mic when you record it."  — Yong-Soo Chung (09:55)Power of Podcast Listeners: "In all this time I have been podcasting, I have noticed that podcast listeners are some of the most dedicated, loyal, and attentive listeners I've come across. They're incredibly tuned into everything you say." — Yong-Soo Chung (20:10)*** LINKS: How I Stacked 5 Growth Levers to Grow My Newsletter to 10,000 SubscribersJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E57: How did a man who declared bankruptcy turn into a multi-millionaire in just 2 years? Our guest today did just that. His incredible journey is one of resilience, innovation, and true entrepreneurial spirit.Today, host Yong-Soo (@YongSooChung) has a very special guest, Tibo Louis-Lucas (@tibo_maker), the genius behind TweetHunter and Taplio. Tibo reveals the secrets behind his meteoric rise. From understanding the market pulse, and relentless iteration of his products, to tapping into the right networks, he reveals the steps he took to sell his company for multi-million dollars after declaring bankruptcy just a few years prior.On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- How to Find Product-Market Fit- How to Grow By Acquiring Small Projects- How to Master the Art of Building in Public- The Power of MVP and User-Driven DevelopmentThis episode is not only an incredible story of resilience, it's a master class in product building!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:People Expect Reliability: "When you start having one foot on something like a Twitter or X scheduler, you need to provide awesome service. Like you need top quality products. You are not allowed to fail on posting content. Like people expect reliability." — Tibo Louis-Lucas (17:53)Pursuing Passion: "You need to build on something that you are deeply enjoying...So you need to be so passionate that you are truly enjoying what you are doing and you are willing to do it even if you have absolutely no guarantee that it's going to work out."  — Tibo Louis-Lucas (34:47)*** LINKS: Tweet HunterTaplioJOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...

E56: Growing a newsletter is no cakewalk.There's the initial phase where growth is slow, and every subscriber feels like a hard-fought battle. Not to mention, the emotional and physical toll of relentless hours, strategizing, and moments of utter despair and frustration. The market is crowded, and it's tough to stand out.How do you gain traction and grow your newsletter?In today's episode, there's no guest. It's just me (@YongSooChung)  and you. It's intimate, personal, and raw. A solo flight into the heart of what it takes to make a digital business succeed. I'll share with you the strategies I applied, the mistakes I made, and the key insights that you can take away. On today’s episode, you’ll learn:- The Power of a Referral Program- 5 Growth Levers of Digital Businesses- Mastering the Art of Cross-Promotions- How to Create Your Own Growth FlywheelLet's get down to business!***SPONSORS: Castmagic - Enjoy an exclusive 30% discount for your first 3 months with the code FOUNDERS30.GrowthJet - Work with a boutique third-party logistics provider (3PL) for your e-commerce brand that'll pick, pack, and ship your orders hassle-free.***EXCERPTS:Growth Lever Strategies for Digital Businesses: "The key is to know when to use which growth lever."  — Yong-Soo Chung (04:14)The Power of Incentives in a Referral Program: "Incentivizing your subscribers to bring in more subscribers is a great way to rapidly increase your subscriber numbers." — Yong-Soo Chung (20:34)*** LINKS: Episode 28Episode 44JOIN: First Class Founders Premium MembershipDOWNLOAD: Hyper-Visuals For Our Episodes (Free)***FOLLOW / REVIEW:- Follow - Leave 5-star review***CONNECT W/ YONG-SOO:- X- Threads- LinkedIn- Newsletter***First Class Founders is a show for indie hackers, bootstrapped founders, CEOs, solopreneurs, content creators, startup entrepreneurs, and SaaS startups covering topics like build in public, audience growth, product marketing, scaling up, side hustles, holding company, etc. Past guests include Arvid Kahl, Tyler Denk, Noah Kagan, Clint Murphy, Jay Abraham, Andrew Gazdecki, Matt McGarry, Nick Huber, Khe Hy, and more. Episode you might like:Future of Newsletters with Tyler Denk, Founder & CEO at BeehiivFrom Zero to 100K Subscribers: How to Grow Your Newsletter like a Pro with Newsletter Growth Expert Matt McGarry...