Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

Dan & Ian get real about what it takes to create and maintain a successful business. They’ll walk you through their Goals/Plans/Systems (GPS) worksheet that’s specifically designed to help you plan for business growth. They use it with their coaching clients on a weekly basis.
Newsletter subscribers can download and complete their very own GPS worksheet.
Through completing this worksheet, you will:
Discover key insights about the state of your business that you probably didn’t realize before
Define clear goals for your business moving forward
Develop a plan based on your historical data and a cadence for tracking your progress regularly
Plus:
Ian talks about his cool and expensive hobby.
We talk about a founder who doesn’t take meetings and still has a profitable business.
We share some insight on how we managed our business during a crucial operational tipping point.
Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIa (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan)n or ian@tropicalmba.com
Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/)
Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator)
Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/)
Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA)
Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/)
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, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal
Additional episodes you might enjoy:
$30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years)
“Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business)
Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/three-ways-grow-business)

“Manager mode is so tempting…” Dan & Ian discuss Paul Graham’s most recent essay titled “Founder Mode”, and how lifestyle bootsrappers can harness the power of founder mode to grow their businesses.
They’ll also address a question they get asked all the time: “But when is my LTV good enough?” How to figure out your LTV to CAC ratio and more in this week’s episode.
Subscribe to the newsletter to access Dan & Ian’s business resources used with their coaching clients. Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe)
This week’s episode brought to you by Remote First Recruiting (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/). Hire your next team member in 30 days or less.
From the episode:
Paul Graham’s Founder Mode (https://paulgraham.com/foundermode.html).
‘Old Man River’ reference from The 5 Approaches for Getting Rich + Budgeting for Wealth (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/5-approaches-getting-wealth)
Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIa (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan)n or ian@tropicalmba.com
Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/)
Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator)
Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/)
Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA)
Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/)
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, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal
Additional episodes you might enjoy:
$30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years)
“Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business)
Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/three-ways-grow-business)

Many founders think they have an operations problem - delivery, trust, staffing, leadership. But Dan thinks you might actually have a sales & marketing problem.
Dan & Ian also talk about becoming better leaders and how to fight against the erge to control your team.
Last but not least, Dan shares the invaluable relationship advice he learned from President Barack Obama and reflects on the benefits of owning a lifestyle business when it comes to parenting.
Want to work through your current challenges with Dan & Ian? TMBA listeners can apply to get business coaching from Dan & Ian live on the pod (it’s free). Apply here. (https://14sd8k3d6c1.typeform.com/to/aX9YfmGH)
Get access to Dan & Ian’s business resources that they use with their coaching clients when you sign up for the newsletter. Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe)
This week’s episode brought to you by Remote First Recruiting (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/). Hire your next team member in 30 days or less.
Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIa (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan)n or ian@tropicalmba.com
Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/)
Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator)
Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/)
Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA)
Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/)
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, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal
Additional episodes you might enjoy:
$30K a Month on Upwork in Less Than 2 Years (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/30k-a-month-2-years)
$100K MRR in 12 Months… Can They Do It? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/100k-mrr-12-months)
“Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business)
Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/three-ways-grow-business)

This founder started an Upwork agency less than 2 years ago and is making $30K a month… JUST on Upwork alone. We talk about how to take it to $80K a month and beyond in the next year.
In this week’s newsletter, we include our ICP exercise. Your next breakthrough in under 30 minutes.
TMBA email subscribers can also apply to get business coaching from Dan & Ian live on the pod (it’s free).
Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe)
Today’s guest is Phil Kuehnen, founder of Rev Gravy (https://hey.revgravy.com/welcome).
Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIa (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan)n or ian@tropicalmba.com
Chapters
(00:00:00) Introduction and Overview
(00:00:35) Current Revenue and Pricing
(00:05:11) Financial Goals and Challenges
(00:05:32) Strategies for Revenue Growth
(00:05:40) Acquiring and Retaining Customers
(00:07:11) Key Value Proposition and Benefits
(00:07:33) Identifying Obvious Growth Opportunities
(00:10:50) Creating a High-Ticket Front-End Offer
(00:12:37) Focusing on the Business Model
(00:19:33) The Importance of Sales Calls
(00:21:12) Building a Machine for Growth
Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/)
Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator)
Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/)
Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA)
Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/)
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, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal
Additional episodes you might enjoy:
“1,000 Customers from One Channel” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/1000-customers-one-channel)
“Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business)
Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/three-ways-grow-business)

These co-founders want to more than triple their revenue in the next 12 months. Despite stagnation the past few years, they believe they can get there.
Dan & Ian dissect their plans to achieve this goal and offer some counterintuitive advice.
They cover repackaging a product for a higher cost, focusing on your premium customers, and how to lead a sales call.
In this week’s newsletter, we include our favorite resources for getting started with sales calls.
TMBA email subscribers can also apply to get business coaching from Dan & Ian live on the pod (it’s free).
Subscribe to the TMBA newsletter. (https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe)
Today’s guests are Elburz Sorkhabi and Colin Gibson, founders of The Interactive & Immersive HQ (https://interactiveimmersive.io/).
Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA (https://twitter.com/TropicalMBA) or dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian: @AnythingIa (https://twitter.com/AnythingIan)n or ian@tropicalmba.com
Chapters
(00:00:00) Introduction and Overview
(00:04:40) Financial Goals and Challenges
(00:06:07) Current Revenue and Pricing
(00:07:51) Strategies for Revenue Growth
(00:10:13) Acquiring and Retaining Customers
(00:12:45) Key Value Proposition and Benefits
(00:14:36) Identifying Obvious Growth Opportunities
(00:16:06) Repositioning the Product for Customer Goals
(00:18:32) Repositioning and Repackaging for Revenue Generation
(00:24:17) Creating a High-Ticket Front-End Offer
(00:34:02) Focusing on the Business Model
(00:39:40) The Importance of Sales Calls
(00:44:00) Building a Machine for Growth
Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs (https://dynamitecircle.com/join-dc/)
Coaching for $250K+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-accelerator)
Community for 1M+ founders (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
Hire remote talent (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
Find a remote job (https://dynamitejobs.com/)
Listen on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialTropicalMBA)
Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/)
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, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal
Additional episodes you might enjoy:
“3 Million in Revenue is a Death Zone" - Financial Strategy with Greg Crabtree (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/3-million-death-zone)
“Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business)
Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/three-ways-grow-business)