Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

Apple launched the iPod in the wake of the dot-com bubble. Airbnb launched during the 2008 recession and housing crisis. In fact, half of all the Fortune 500 companies were created during a recession or economic crisis.
With the rise of AI, sociopolitical unrest, and the post-COVID landscape, what new ideas and businesses will emerge in 2026?
LINKS
The Age of Disclosure (https://www.amazon.com/Age-Disclosure-Dan-Farah/dp/B0FMF29BBJ)
Daniel Salzner: Goldman-Sachs to $40K MRR AI Agency (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/danielsalzner_i-quit-my-job-10-weeks-ago-today-i-bootstrapped-activity-7402723101932670976-rcGS/)
Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson (https://www.amazon.com/Never-Enough-Billionaire-Andrew-Wilkinson/dp/1637744765)
Meet location-independent founders inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/)
Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders in DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
CHAPTERS
(00:00:13) Change = Opportunity
(00:05:36) Idea #1: Solutions to AI Worry
(00:07:59) Idea #2: Address Digital Degeneracy
(00:12:42) Idea #3: Homesteading and Doomsday Prep
(00:20:34) Idea #4: Religious Revival
(00:23:58) Idea #5: Lifespan Optimization
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Your 2026 Business Plan in 36 Minutes (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/2026-business-plan) [FREE Resource]
TMBA 539: Weathering the Storm (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/entrepreneurs-survive-economic-downturn)
TMBA 546: Adjusting to the 'New Normal' (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/jim-huffman-new-normal)

What if 90 days from now, your business was sharper, more focused, and positioned for real growth? This simple but powerful 10-question framework is designed to help you identify your biggest challenge, clarify your team’s focus, and uncover new opportunities to stand out in your market.
LINKS
90 Day Business Clarity Worksheet (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_rGQy83JhYfmcbWhGWZredl43Ds-EAd-1gh1ulAYlg/edit?tab=t.0)
Meet location-independent founders inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/)
Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders in DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
CHAPTERS
(00:03:29) Biggest challenge and next steps
(00:06:33) Focus
(00:08:24) Understand your customer
(00:12:45) Positioning
(00:15:55) Innovation and unique advantages
(00:21:15) Network
(00:22:57) Business model
(00:25:06) Team
(00:26:38) Cadence & leadership
(00:28:34) Bonus
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Your 2026 Business Plan in 36 Minutes (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/2026-business-plan) [FREE Resource]
Don’t Write Another Landing Page Without This Framework (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/2026-email-funnels-playbook) [2026 Email Funnels Playbook]
These 7+ Figure Founders Refused the “Normal” Path to Wealth (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-figure-founders-refused-normal-path)

We’re back from a week of hanging out with rockstars in NYC. Not just figurative rockstars in the form of 25 DC BLACK members and Scott Heiferman of Meetup.com, but also literal rockstar Keith Murray of We Are Scientists.
From “friendly” acquisitions to hiring frameworks and thoughts on leadership, this is what’s top of mind for 7 and 8-figure location independent founders going into 2026.
LINKS
Meet location-independent founders inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/)
Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders in DC BLACK (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Leader’s Intent Framework (https://verticalperformance.us/develop-a-leaders-intent-to-transform-your-team/)
Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell (https://www.buybackyourtime.com/)
TMBA 528: The Brenwall Code (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/markbrenwall2)
CHAPTERS
(00:05:22) 7-Figures and Location Flexibility
(00:09:25) The Rise of “Friendly” Business Acquisitions
(00:14:12) What the Hell is Leadership?
(00:18:45) Buying Back Your Time with AI & Hiring
(00:22:40) Insights from Meetup.com’s Scott Heiferman
(00:28:10) Annual Planning: Working Backwards From the Goal
(00:31:25) The Crossover Between Artist and Entrepreneur
(00:39:46) Overcoming Challenges Through Innovation
(00:42:47) Rebranding “Asking for Help”
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Don’t Write Another Landing Page Without This Framework (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/2026-email-funnels-playbook) [2026 Email Funnels Playbook]
6-Figure Sales Expert Calls You Out (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/dont-keep-doing-this-2026) [Don’t Keep Doing This in 2026]
Your 2026 Business Plan in 36 Minutes (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/2026-business-plan) [FREE Resource]

With so many ways to make money online, many founders and creators have lost sight of the most powerful one: email marketing. John Ainsworth, founder of Data Driven Marketing, says you’re leaving tons of money on the table if you’re not doing it well.
John is back on the pod to share his best tips and tactics on landing pages, upsells, lead magnets, and more. You might want to take some notes for this one!
LINKS
Rolodex Marketing Resource (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jRV_ncgCWAMRB7tZZtnO7x0Tn5sE46-tYkwN6paVG3A/edit?tab=t.0)
Free Email Marketing Resources (https://datadrivenmarketing.co/resources/)
John’s Podcast: The Art of Selling Online Courses (https://www.youtube.com/@john_ainsworth/videos)
Meet John and other location-independent founders inside Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/)
Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Get 2 months of Perspective AI FREE with promo code TMBA (https://getperspective.ai/tmba)
Share your thoughts about the podcast (https://getperspective.ai/interview/tmba-feedback) [takes 2 minutes]
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
(00:02:11) Email Marketing: A Must-Have Money Maker
(00:11:50) 15 Steps to a High-Converting Landing Page
(00:19:18) Do Webinars Still Work in 2026?
(00:24:09) What Makes a Great Lead Magnet
(00:29:09) The Power of Order Bumps and Upsells
(00:36:58) How to Use AI to Improve Your Funnels
(00:40:45) How to Make Extra Money with Trip Wires
(00:44:37) Rapid-Fire Email Tips for 2026
(00:50:49) How John is Running His 7-Figure Agency
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Marketing to High-Dollar Clients (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/marketing-to-high-dollar-clients)
6-Figure Sales Expert Calls You Out (Don’t Keep Doing This in 2026) (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/dont-keep-doing-this-2026)
8 Simple Steps for Improving Your Sales Funnel (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/john-ainsworth-sales-funnel)

Sticking rigidly to your sales scripts, hiring and firing sales reps, and positioning yourself as a freelancer instead of the expert: these mistakes will cost you in 2026 if you don’t address them now.
6-figure fractional sales manager, Jeff Pecaro, joins us once again to reveal his best sales insights and call us out on the mistakes we need to leave behind in 2025.
Plus, we get into how he and other 6-7 figure businesses inside Dynamite Circle are scaling with just one human and multiple bots.
LINKS
How to work with Jeff (https://meetwingman.com/)
Jeff’s favorite microphone for sales calls (https://www.amazon.com/Shure-MV7X-Podcast-Microphone-Voice-Isolating/dp/B09BZZCGC8/)
Get 2 months of Perspective AI FREE with promo code TMBA (https://getperspective.ai/tmba)
Share your thoughts about the podcast (https://getperspective.ai/interview/tmba-feedback) [takes 2 minutes]
Connect with 6-, 7- & 8-figure founders in Dynamite Circle (https://dynamitecircle.com/dcbkk)
Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
(00:00:13) Today’s Guest: Jeff Pecaro
(00:01:44) The Biggest Challenge Holding Back Your Sales
(00:05:00) Start Positioning Yourself as the Expert
(00:14:31) Conversion Rate Benchmarks to Aim For
(00:18:59) How to Go From “Good Call” to $ in the Bank
(00:26:33) Sales Best Practices in 2026
(00:32:24) 2026 Bootstrapper Trends and Predictions
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Your 2026 Business Plan in 36 Minutes (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/2026-business-plan) [FREE Resource]
$400K in Points & 100% Vibe Coded Shopify Forecasting App with “SpyGuy” Allen Walton (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/400k-in-points-vibe-coded-app)
The Lifestyle Business Playbook (2025 Edition) (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-business-playbook-2025)