Ditching Hourly
For solo professionals who want to make more and work less without hiring.
Episodes
Joel Miller - Nine Years After Ditching Hourly
In 2017, Joel Miller came on Ditching Hourly episode 33 to talk about his recent switch to value pricing. Nine years later, Joel and his identical twin brother Alan still run The Sky Floor as a two-person shop. They do all the client work themselves, their average client has been with them for eight years, and they haven't hit a famine cycle in a long time, so they're not hungry for leads
Rob Walling - Stop Building Stuff Nobody Wants
Software entrepreneur, author, and investor Rob Walling joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain why faster software development does not remove the need to validate a software product idea before building it.We talked about the future of SaaS in the age of AI, the 2-20-200 validation framework, customer conversations, finding ideas, turning client work into a product, starting marketing e
Bob Rogers - Designing Experiences That Change Behavior
Experience designer and BRC Imagination Arts founder Bob Rogers joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain how to create experiences that change behavior instead of merely entertaining. His new book, Deep Story, is a practical guide to doing exactly that.We talked about defining the change before choosing tools, looking past requested deliverables, finding the emotional connection between a
Paul Giese - The Power of Triple Specialization
NetSuite data migration consultant Paul Giese joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how triple specialization helped him build a highly referable, fixed-price consulting business.Paul explains how his accounting background, NetSuite expertise, and data-migration focus combine into a defensible niche, plus how specialization supports referrals, delegation, and value-based fixed fees.00:00
Nick Richtsmeier - The Damn Rules
Growth consultant and author of The Damn Rules, Nick Richtsmeier joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about why internet-based inbound marketing systems have stopped working, aren't coming back, and what might work instead.00:27 Nick's Background and Work01:10 Why the Internet Is Toast03:09 What Distribution Means Now04:36 Inbound as Attention Arbitrage07:56 The Attention Economy Is a Cas
Jason Cohen - Hidden Multipliers
Double-unicorn founder (WP Engine and A Smart Bear), Jason Cohen, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about the ideas behind his new book, Hidden Multipliers.We talked about using AI as a facilitator rather than an answer machine, choosing ideal customers, differentiating a consulting business, how AI is changing SaaS and software work, and why writing can help you think in public.Chapte
Bill Sherman - Scaling Thought Leadership
Thought leadership expert Bill Sherman joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how experts can scale their ideas to create impactful thought leadership. Bill shares insights from his extensive experience in helping individuals and organizations codify and amplify their ideas.In this episode, we delve into the nuances of thought leadership, from defining it to exploring business models and
Shannon Mattern - Strategic Pricing for Service Providers
Pricing strategist Shannon Mattern joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how to present pricing options in a project proposal based on the mindset of the buyer: investment-minded, expense-minded, and hustle-minded. In this episode, we dive into Shannon's Package Matrix method, a framework she developed to offer clients different levels of service and pricing options. We explore how to i
Wes Wheless - The Expert's Privilege
”Expertise whisperer” Wes Wheless joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about turning corporate expertise into a solo consulting business. We talked about his new book, The Expert's Privilege, how corporate professionals can recognize transferable expertise, why visual IP helps consultants explain their work, and what to do before making the leap from employee to independent consultant.Cha
Brian Herriot - Time Freedom
Author, financial advisor, and former management consultant Brian Herriot joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about pursuing time freedom before financial freedom.Brian and I talk about his new book Time Freedom, the difference between time freedom and financial freedom, how flexible work can bridge the gap, and what he learned from using early readers, workshops, and hybrid publishing t
Jed Byrne - Self-Publishing Your First Book
Business development director and Raleigh commercial real estate enthusiast Jed Byrne joined me on Ditching Hourly to walk through the entire process of self-publishing his first book, Start Small Selling, from idea validation to Kickstarter funding to final production.We cover testing your book idea with real money, writing a first draft in 35 days, running a Kickstarter campaign to fund
David Guttman - Delegating Outcomes to AI with OpenClaw
Principal at Superstruct and author David Guttman joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about using OpenClaw and AI agents to delegate outcomes instead of micromanaging code.We talked about AI employees, chat-based agents, why OpenClaw feels different from coding tools, how David qualifies repeatable tasks for delegation, secure setup choices like Tailscale, and what collapsing software co
Nikki Cross - The Private Podcast Book Club
Learning and development facilitator Nikki Cross joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how she turned business books into a private podcast book club that helps members apply what they read.Nikki explains the mechanics of her Inner Work Business Book Club, how she uses a private podcast to turn book ideas into implementation, and why structure matters when business books are trying to cha
Shawn Yeager - AI and the Billable Hour
Founder of Upshift, Shawn Yeager, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about how AI is killing the billable hour and what professional services firms can do about it. Jonathan and Shawn dig into judgment versus execution, what firms should commercialize after AI, why cost-cutting is only the first move, and how agent workflows change what small and midsize firms can do.00:00 - Introductio
Alain Chautard - Scaling Angular Certification
Angular expert Alain Chautard rejoined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he scaled his certification business through partnerships and automation.Jonathan and Alain talk about turning niche expertise into a certification business, reducing support demands, using expert partners across time zones and languages, negotiating a licensing-style partnership, and what happens when a soloist plu
Genevieve Hayes - Podcasting for Expertise-Based Businesses
Data science consultant and podcast host Genevieve Hayes joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about podcasting as a boost for an expertise-based business.Chapters00:00 - Genevieve Hayes and Value-Driven Data Science02:27 - Committing to Start a Podcast05:35 - Simple Production Is Good Enough07:02 - First Guests and Inbound Momentum11:46 - The 100-Episode Surprises15:07 - Relationships Bea
Carl Franklin - A Love Letter to Value Pricing
In this episode of Ditching Hourly, host Jonathan Stark welcomes Carl Franklin, co-host of the .NET Rocks podcast, to discuss the intricacies and benefits of value pricing. Listeners will gain insights into how value pricing can transform their business approach, moving away from the traditional hourly billing model.The conversation covers key topics such as the differences between fixed
An Insider's Perspective with Pranav Kale: Jonathan’s Productivity System for Soloists
Pranav Kale returns for another reverse interview — this time grilling Jonathan about his personal productivity and time management system.Jonathan walks through the system he's refined over two decades and used with his private coaching students: from consolidating all your to-dos in one place, to creating SOPs for recurring tasks, to the "event loop" that drives his day. The core idea:
Joe Pine - The Transformation Economy
Best-selling author, speaker, and management adviser Joe Pine joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss his new book, The Transformation Economy, why it applies especially well to consultants, coaches, and advisors, and gives some tips on how to price transformations.Joe's BioB. Joseph Pine II is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and management adviser to Fortune 500 companies a
Jason Staats - From Employee to Owner to Influencer
Jason Staats joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about his progression from being an employee in an accounting firm to running the top accounting community on the planet.LinksJason's websiteJason's YouTubeChapters
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sales conversations so the buyer tells you what the outcome is worth without feeli
Ben Kettle - Risk-Based Pricing Options
Rural planning advisor Ben Kettle joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his transition from hourly billing “nonsense” to risk-based project pricing. LinksBen's website » https://areteruralplanning.co.uk/Chapters(00:00) - Ben Kettle
(00:20) - Meet the Guest: Ben Kettle
(00:36) - Ben's Background and Career Journey
(02:57) - Challenges with Hourly Billing
(09:01) - Transition to Fixed Fee a
Zach Stevens - Year 3 of Growing a Subscription Business
Co-founder of Conversion Factory, Zach Stevens, rejoined me on Ditching Hourly to give us an update on how he's growing his subscription SaaS marketing agency in year 3. Links We MentionedConversion Factory WebsiteZach's partner Corey, on XThe Superstruct Manifesto by David GuttmanThe "If You're Such An Expert" Ditcherville ComicChapters(00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
(00:10) - Zach's
Charles Miller - What Is “Good” Taste And Why Would Anyone Want It?
Charles Miller of Platoon joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss “good” taste, how you get it, why you might want it, and what to do when your clients don’t have it. LinksCharles’ personal site » https://www.charlesmiller.com/Charles’ portfolio site » https://www.platoon.studio/Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:11) - Defining Taste
(00:19) - Charles Miller's Background
Alex M H Smith - Understanding Value
Author of No BS Strategy, Alex M H Smith, rejoined me on Ditching Hourly to help define a very important word that few business people understand correctly.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
(00:11) - Guest Introduction: Alex Smith
(01:30) - Understanding Business Strategy
(02:02) - The Misunderstood Concept of Value
(04:15) - Creating Value in Business
(07:55) - Innovating Beyond
Dr. J.J. Peterson - Finding the Balance Between Badass and Softie
Professor-in-residence at StoryBrand and host of the new podcast Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how to strike a balance between authority and empathy. And be sure to stick around to the end to hear J.J.'s take on AI's impact on professional services and how to avoid creating ‘louder garbage’ :-)Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00
Shachar Meir - How To Go Solo After 20 Years In Corporate (And What To Expect)
Solo data advisor Shachar Meir (ex-Meta, ex-PayPal) joined me on Ditching hourly to share the details of his transition from being a manager in massive corporate environments to becoming a successful solo consultant.Chapters (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(01:05) - Shachar's Professional Background
(03:47) - Transition to Solo Entrepreneurship
(13:51) - First Steps as a Solopren
Tim Dietrich - Lessons Learned from Decades of Surfing Tech Waves
(NOTE: this ep was recorded in October 2025, but I didn't get around to publishing it until March 2026. It was WILD listening to the AI portions of the conversation five months later - post OpenClaw.)Old friend and self-described “workaholic” developer Tim Dietrich joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his journey from FileMaker freelancer to the undisputed SuiteQL expert in the NetSuite
An Insider's Perspective with Pranav Kale: Jonathan Stark's Journey to Ditching Hourly
Big Idea archaeologist Pranav Kale joined me on Ditching Hourly for a reverse interview about my journey to the center of the solar system.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:39) - Pranav's Evolution and Current Focus
(03:01) - Jonathan's Epiphany on Hourly Billing
(06:26) - The Trust Fracture in Hourly Billing
(07:45) - Jonathan's Problem-Solving Journey
(16:59) - The Mo
Joel Clermont - The Pros And Cons Of Selling Software Development As A Subscription
Laravel expert Joel Clermont joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he and his co-founder run their successful dev subscription business. Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Introduction
(00:16) - Joel's Background and Business Model Transition
(01:54) - Launching the Dev Subscription Model
(04:47) - Marketing and Initial Success
(07:44) - Client Profiles and Demand
(11:19) - Mana
Eleanor Mayrhofer - Productized Web Design
Digital marketing strategist Eleanor Mayrhofer joined me on Ditching Hourly to describe exactly how she productized her web design services. Links:Eleanor's website » https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/ditchingEleanor's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanormayrhofer/Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:14) - Eleanor's Background and Business Model
(00:52) - Straigh
Erin Halper - Pro Tips for Building and Sustaining a Thriving Online Community
Founder of The Upside, Erin Halper, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share her pro tips on creating and sustaining a premium online community. Erin's Links:Erin's community » https://betheupside.com/Erin's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhalper/Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:19) - Erin Halper's Background and The Upside Community
(03:19) - Challenges and Ev
Coaching Call with Communications Consultant Lynn Safranek
Communications consultant Lynn Safranek joined me on Ditching Hourly to learn how to apply value pricing to an industry where the consultant can't control the outcome.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:11) - Understanding Upstream Contributions
(00:23) - Lynn's Background and Expertise
(01:05) - The Value Pricing Dilemma
(01:21) - Client Communication Challenges
(02:45) - Media
Diane Whiddon - Branding in the Age of AI
Brand strategist and founder of SwayRise Creative, Diane Whiddon, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about how adding a discrete - and legitimately useful - AI-based productized service to her branding business tapped into a longstanding demand in her client base. Diane's LinksSwayRise Creative » https://swayrisecreative.com/Content Creator Lab » https://aicontentcreatorlab.comChapters(
Alastair McDermott - The AI Powered Thought Leader
Author, speaker, and human-first AI strategist, Alastair McDermott, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about his new book and how experts can use AI to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning. (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:46) - Alistair's Background and Journey
(03:02) - The New Book: Use AI, Stay Human
(04:15) - AI as a Tool for Experts
(06:55) - Practical A
Jessica Lackey - Stop Betting On Tactics
Author of Leaving The Casino, Jessica Lackey, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the importance of understanding different business models, pricing strategies, and the concept of the 'zone of enoughness' in building a sustainable business.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:09) - Jessica Lackey's Background and Career Journey
(01:05) - Introduction to Jessica's Book
(03:13)
Robin Bonn - Market of One
Author Robin Bonn joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the importance of differentiation as described in his book Market of One. About RobinRobin Bonn is the CEO of Co:definery, one of the world's leading consultancies specialising in agency positioning. From renowned global networks to the world's top independents, he’s repositioned close to 150 agencies and coached dozens of senior l
Ed Kless - A Revelation for the Transformation Economy
Ed Kless joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about what he and his Threshold co-founder Ron Baker think is the next big thing (spoiler alert: transformations).Talking PointsThe Concept of the Experience EconomyProgression of Economic ValueTransformations and Their ImpactThreshold: Guiding TransformationsTransitioning from Service to Transformation EconomySkipping the Experience StageChar
Geraldine Carter - Melting The Pyramid
Geraldine Carter joined me on Ditching Hourly to give us a behind-the-scenes recap of what went into her pivot from selling one-time $9,500 mastermind programs to selling a $995/mo ongoing subscription model.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:34) - Defining 'Melting the Pyramid'
(04:38) - Transitioning Business Models
(08:54) - Challenges and Key Changes
(14:00) - New Program St
Craig Hewitt - The Current State and Potential Future of Podcasting
Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the current state and potential future of podcasting as a medium for building trust with your audience.AI SummaryIn this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark speaks with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, about the evolving landscape of podcasting. They discuss the shifting definitions and formats of podcasts, th
Jason Lengstorf - Navigating the Transformation of the Video Production Business
Jason Lengstorf, founder of Code TV, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he is successfully navigating the transformation of the video production business. Jason's Links: https://jason.energy/https://codetv.dev/AI Summary:In this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark is joined by Jason Lengstorf, founder of Code TV, to explore the current landscape of the video production indus
Martin Stellar - Sales Coaching for Nice People
Author/creator of Sales for Nice People, Martin Stellar, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about sticking to your guns in a sales meeting and how to build the confidence to do so. Martin's Links:https://martinstellar.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinstellar/https://salesfornicepeople.com/academy
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to st
Yuval Yeret - The Status of Agile as a Platform and Navigating Career Pivots
Yuval Yeret, founder of Yeret Agility and OG Agile expert, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the current state of Agile as a platform, how it has evolved over the years, and what practitioners should consider when pivoting their careers as the platform matures.About YuvalYuval Yeret is a Product/Scaling/Agility Coach focused on helping product/tech leaders scale their organizations
Barry van Someren - Good Business Advice From The IRS?
Ex-java developer and CoffeeSprout founder Barry van Someren joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about the surprising alignment between “Ditcherville ethos” and the government of the Netherlands.LINKS MENTIONEDBarry’s websiteBarry’s LinkedInCalifornia Law AB 5AI SUMMARYIn this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark speaks with Barry Van Someren about his transition from hourly work t
Louis Grenier - The Stand The F*ck Out Book Interview (explicit, obvs)
The handsome and talented Louis Grenier joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about the strategy behind writing, publishing, and launching his new book, Stand The F*ck Out. Links:Stand The F*ck OutBonuses for Ditching Hourly ListenersAI Summary:In this conversation, Jonathan Stark interviews Louis Grenier about his journey in marketing, the insights from his new book, and the strategies be
Dale Davidson - Solo Subcontracting For The Federal Government
The author of “Going 1099: How To Become Solo Federal Sub-Contractor”, Dale Davidson, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the journey of becoming a solo federal subcontractor.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:17) - Dale Davidson's Background
(00:49) - Navigating Hourly Billing in Government Contracts
(01:39) - Transitioning to 1099 Subcontracting
(04:01) - Importance of Sec
Lauren Pearl - The Daily CFO Pricing Framework
Advisory CFO, daily emailer, and podcast host Lauren Pearl joined me on Ditching Hourly to unpack the nuances of the pricing framework she uses with her start-up and small business clients. CHAPTERS(00:00) - DH358 Lauren Pearl - The Daily CFO Pricing Framework
(00:09) - Lauren Pearl's Background and Role
(02:08) - Client Types and Fit
(04:18) - The Origin of the Pricing Framework
(07:23)
Andrew Croasdale - From Counter Terrorism to Leadership Consulting
Andrew Croasdale, a former police officer turned consultant, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss his transition from policing to consulting.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome
(00:18) - Andrew's Background in Policing
(01:05) - Transition to Consulting
(05:11) - First Steps in Business
(06:06) - First Client Experience
(09:37) - Challenges of Small Business Owners
(17:38) - Defin
Barry LaBov - The Power of Differentiation
Author, founder, and CEO Barry LaBov joined me on Ditching Hourly to geek out about niching down - while walking me through the five-step process he describes in his book The Power of Differentiation. Barry's Bio:Barry LaBov is the founder and CEO of LABOV Marketing Communications and Training. He is a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year recipient and an inductee into the
Russ Waddell - The “Secret” To Successfully Going Out On Your Own
Guest Russ Waddell joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain how he successfully went out on his own for the first time after more than a decade as a full-time employee. Guest Links:https://www.russwaddell.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-waddell/
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sales conversations so the buyer tells you w
Zach Stevens - Year Two of Running a Subscription-Based Service Business
Zach Stevens, co-founder of Conversion Factory, came back on Ditching Hourly to give an update about how things are going with his “all-you-can-eat” subscription-based service business after two years in business.Zach's LinksConversion FactoryZach's LinkedInZach's TwitterOther LinksMicroConfTiny SeedFreePikVisual ElectricSomewhere
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct
Shaun Jardine - Ditch The Billable Hour! Implementing Value-Based Pricing in a Law Firm
Author of Ditch The Billable Hour!, Shaun Jardine, joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain how he transitioned his 240-person law firm off the billable hour. Shaun's LinksShaun's BookShaun's WebsiteShaun's LinkedInShaun's TwitterThe book Shaun mentioned: Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sal
Alex M H Smith - No BS Business Strategy
The author of No Bullsh*t Strategy and founder of Basic Arts, Alex M H Smith, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss what business strategy is, why it matters, and how to get started.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background03:00 Defining Strategy and the Importance of Unique Value07:53 Trade-Offs: Creating Space for Unique Value13:36 Strategy vs. Being Better than the Competition19:26 A
An Insider's Perspective with Pranav Kale: How to LinkedIn
LinkedIn Ghostwriter Pranav Kale joined me on Ditching Hourly to do a reverse interview about what I've learned during my recent experiment of posting daily on LinkedIn. Pranav’s Links: Website: https://www.pranavkale.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranavkale120/
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sales conversations so
Matt Kerbis - Bridging the Justice Gap with Subscription Legal Services
Matt Kerbis, also known as the Subscription Attorney, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his novel approach to ditching hourly billing in the legal space with a subscription model.Matt's bio from his website: ”My name is Mathew Kerbis, I’m The Subscription Attorney, and I believe subscriptions can help bridge the access to justice gap and incentivize attorneys to modernize and scale th
Ben Zettler - Pricing Tactics For Digital Agencies
Ben Zettler, owner and founder of Zettler Digital, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss pricing tactics for agencies.Ben's Links:Zettler DigitalBen's LinkedInAI-Generated Stuff:SUMMARYBen Zettler, owner and founder of Zettler Digital, joins Jonathan Stark to discuss value pricing for agencies. Ben shares his background in sports and how he transitioned into building his agency. They di
Erin Austin - The Intersection of AI, Copyright, and Plagiarism
Strategic lawyer and IP expert Erin Austin joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about the intersection of plagiarism, copyright infringement, and generative AI. Erin's BioA graduate of Harvard Law School, Erin Austin is a strategic lawyer and consultant who uses her 25+ years of practicing law, including roles as COO and general counsel at large and small IP-driven companies, including W
Eden Vidal - Productizing Design Sprints and Converting The Hourly
Co-founder and Head of Design at Under, Eden Vidal, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about productizing design sprints, optimizing your business to suit your personality, and convincing contractors to ditch hourly billing. Eden's Links:https://edenvidal.com/https://weareunder.design/https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenvidal/AI Summary:Eden Vidal, a designer and developer, shares his succe
Sam Browne - Growing Your Audience on LinkedIn
Sam Browne, lifestyle entrepreneur and LinkedIn expert with more than 100k followers joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his insights on growing your audience on LinkedIn.Sam’s Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-browne/Gumroad: https://sambrowne.gumroad.com/TakeawaysKnow what you want to be known for on LinkedIn and focus on educational content to build authority.Map out a
Kevin Freidberg - Need a Website? Start with Email
Long-time friend-of-the-show Kevin Freidberg joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he helps freelancers and consultants create effective websites by starting with email conversations. Kevin's Links:https://marketyourselffirst.com/AI-Generated Info:SummaryKevin Friedberg shares his approach to helping freelancers and consultants create effective websites by starting with email conversa
Coaching Call with Residential Architect Jason Comer
Residential architect Jason Comer joined me on Ditching Hourly to brainstorm how he might migrate from commodity labor to productized leverage with his expertise in home design. Even if you're not an architect, I think you'll find the discussion useful. Jason’s Website:https://www.jasoncomerarchitect.com/
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to
Jason Cohen - Why AI is Different, the Paradox of Niching Down, and Writing as Legacy
WP Engine founder Jason Cohen joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about why AI is different from other big tech advancements. We also discussed why niching down in a single ideal customer profile will bring you 10x more customers than you expect and how a regular writing practice makes the world a better place (and maybe even builds a legacy). Jason’s Links: A Smart BearAI is DifferentSe
Corey Quinn - The Benefits of Selling to Anyone, Not Everyone
Corey Quinn joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss his excellent new book, “Anyone, Not Everyone.” In it, Corey shares insights on deep specialization, selecting a target vertical market, and using gifts like cookies to transform outbound marketing. Corey's Links:Anyone, Not Everyone by Corey QuinnDeep Specialization podcast by Corey QuinnCorey's Website0:00 - Episode intro0:17 - About C
Why Niching Down Isn't Boring with Geraldine Carter
Geraldine Carter and I swapped interviews about why niching down doesn't lead to boredom. Geraldine's Links:Geraldine's websiteGeraldine's newsletterGeraldine's podcast
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sales conversations so the buyer tells you what the outcome is worth without feeling sleazy or trying to manipulate them.The li
JS on SuiteScript Stories with Tim Dietrich and Eric Grubaugh
Tim Dietrich and Eric Grubaugh invited me to join them on SuiteScript Stories to talk about the pros and cons of a platform specialization, the paradox of positioning, and, of course, the horrors of hourly billing. Tim and Eric were kind enough to let me post the interview here on Ditching Hourly, but if you're a NetSuite developer, you should check out their podcast at https://suitescrip
Joe Quadara - From Fighting Fires to Lighting the Way: How Expertise Creates Leverage in Consulting
Indie game consultant Joe Quadara (aka Joe Q) joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his journey from putting out fires for indie game studios to advising them to accurately scope and fund their projects.Joe's Links:Joe's website: RecurverJoe on LinkedIn AI Summary: In this episode, game developer turned consultant Joe Quidara shares his journey from putting out fires for game studios to h
Bryan Strawser - Breaking Seven Figures For The First Time
Bryghtpath CEO and Ditcherville lifetime resident Bryan Strawser joined me on Ditching Hourly to share the secrets behind his huge business wins in 2023. Bryan's Links:Website: https://bryghtpath.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BryghtpathPodcast: https://bryghtpath.com/resources/managing-uncertainty-podcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanstrawser/Summary (ai generated):
Jonathan on Everyone Hates Marketers with Louis Grenier
The handsome and talented Louis Grenier had me on Everyone Hates Marketers to go behind the scenes on how I run my business.Much to my delight (and true to form), he asked very specific and pointed questions so we could avoid the typical BS you hear on business podcasts.It's also on YouTube if you prefer to watch:Watch Now »Louis’ Links:https://www.everyonehatesmarketers.com/links
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Alexander Lapa - The Non-Profit Salesforce Guy
Alexander Lapa joined me on ditching Hourly for a tour-de-force journey through the paths available to tech folks operating with a post-hourly mentality. Talking Points:Setting fixed prices and sticking to them can result in profitable client relationships.Specializing in a specific target market, such as nonprofits, improves marketing efforts and increases client trust.Value-based pricin
Rod Aparicio - The Myth of Personal Brand
Fellow daily emailer and No-BS marketer Rod Aparicio joined me on Ditching Hourly to bust the myth of personal branding.Rod’s LinksTwitter ProfileEmail ListAI SummaryIn this episode, Jonathan Stark and guest Rod Aparicio discuss the concept of personal brand and its misconceptions. They emphasize that personal brand is more about influencing perceptions rather than controlling how one is
Zach Stevens - Going from Zero to $36k MRR with a Product-Marketing-as-a-Service Subscription Business
Graphic designer, product marketer, and co-founder of Conversion Factory, Zach Stevens, joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain how he and his co-founders went from zero to more than $36k MRR in one month with a productized subscription business that helps SaaS teams turn traffic into revenue. Zach's links:https://www.conversionfactory.co/https://twitter.com/zstvnshttps://www.designdive.c
David Shriner-Cahn - Helping Corporate Refugees Start, Run, and Grow Their Own Businesses
David Shriner-Cahn of Smashing the Plateau joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about how longtime corporate execs can increase the odds of going out on their own successfully. Key PointsTaking the leap into entrepreneurship can be daunting, but with the right support and mentorship, it is possible to build a successful business.It's important to decide whether you want to look for anothe
Luke Willis - $39k Launch
Our resident crypto/web3 expert and longtime friend of the show, Luke Willis, re-joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about how having a weekly podcast and daily mailing list contributed to a product launch that generated $39k in 24 hours. Luke’s Links:https://lukewillis.com/https://thekoinpress.com/https://kap.domains/aboutSummaryIn this episode, Luke Willis discusses the successful lau
Coaching Call with Data Engineer Denis Gontcharov
Denis Gontcharov joined me on Ditching Hourly for a coaching call to help brainstorm a positioning statement for his data consulting business targeting the aluminum industry.
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sales conversations so the buyer tells you what the outcome is worth without feeling sleazy or trying to manipulate them.T
John Grant - Streamlining Delivery Workflows for Lawyers
The Agile Attorney, John Grant, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he helps his clients transition from inefficient workflows, WAY too much work, and low margins, to efficient workflows, a comfortable amount of work, and higher profits.Key PointsExpectations for attention to detail and planning increase in high-dollar professional services like law practices.Many law practices lack
James Williams - Fractional CTO Masterclass
James Williams of Cofebe.com joined me on Ditching Hourly to give what amounted to a masterclass on how to avoid failure and delight clients as a fractional CTO.“The chance of failure increases proportionally with you accepting what the client tells you what to do.”“If you accept 100% of your client’s suggestions and three months from they can’t launch or it fails, guess whose fault that
Michael Zipursky - Selling Consulting Into Large Organizations in 2023
Guest BioMichael Zipursky – Michael has consulted for organizations and advised leaders throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East in over 30 industries, from service providers to billion-dollar multi-national corporations, including Panasonic, Dow Jones, Financial Times, Royal Bank and many others. Michael is an in-demand speaker and gives keynotes and
Ron Baker - Time’s Up!
Pricing legend Ron Baker joined me again (for a record-setting fourth appearance!) on Ditching Hourly to talk about the nuances of the subscription model for service business.Talking PointsSubscription pricing is becoming increasingly prevalent, with the subscription economy projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2025.Pricing tiers can be implemented based on the range of services offered, p
Ryan Golgosky - Productized Subscription Model for Web Design
180Sites.com founder Ryan Golgosky joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain in detail how his web design company manages to add and service more than 30 new clients per month!Ryan’s Links:180sites.com
----Sales Conversations That Don’t Feel Sleazy — live Oct 20 at noon ETLearn how to structure sales conversations so the buyer tells you what the outcome is worth without feeling sleazy or tr
The Song Of Significance with Seth Godin (TBOA #285)
Cross-post from The Business of Authority:Seth Godin joins us again, this time to answer the core question in his brand-new book “The Song of Significance”: What does it take to do work that matters?Talking PointsWhy right now is the best time ever to make a significant contribution to the change you want to see in your world.The importance of focusing on the smallest viable audience to a
Denis Čahuk - Building Autonomous Engineering Teams
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