
59 segments available
This episode will teach you everything you would learn in a business degree, saving you $200,000 and 10,000 hours Josh Kaufman is a renowned business expert and the author of the international best-selling book, ‘The Personal MBA’ which has sold over 900,000 copies worldwide. He is also the author of books such as, ‘The First 20 Hours’, and ‘How to Fight a Hydra’. 00:00 Intro 02:00 Why Did You Write The Personal MBA 04:32 What Is An MBA? 10:30 Should You Do A MBA? 14:19 How Difficult Is Starting And Running A Business? 16:57 First Steps To Setting Up A Business 19:29 Loads Of Business Are Finding Problems To Solve 27:49 How To Give Value To The End Consumer 35:47 How Do You Find Out If Your Idea Is Good? 39:11 This Is The Wrong Approach When Starting A Business 40:49 Why Should You Start With Value? 42:35 How To Market 44:04 Psychology & Marketing 46:06 Creating A Drive In The Marketing Strategy 48:23 Think Different 50:52 Be Brave To Do Something Completely Different 58:39 How To Become A Good Marketer 01:00:31 The Sales Piece In Any Business 01:04:38 Customer Service Matters 01:06:09 The Sales Framework 01:13:06 How Important Is Hiring? 01:14:50 What Role Does Competition Play? 01:19:09 Let's Talk Money 01:24:17 What Numbers Should I Pay Attention To? 01:26:35 Experimenting 01:34:55 Every Complex System Starts In A Simple Way 01:39:06 Mastering A Job 01:43:54 Ten Major Principles To Learn Anything 01:55:24 Removing Any Friction In The Process 02:01:38 Last Guest Question Are you ready to think like a CEO? Gain access to the 100 CEOs newsletter here: https://bit.ly/100-ceos-newsletter You can purchase Josh’s book, ‘How to Fight a Hydra’, here: https://amzn.to/4f1qJa4 Follow Josh: Twitter - https://g2ul0.app.link/SznbYyhi9Kb Follow me: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb Microphone shock mount sign up link: https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=QSijwy&g=UzaR3h You can purchase the The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: Second Edition, here: https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb Sponsors: Shopify: http://shopify.com/bartlett
Josh Kaufman introduces the five fundamental parts of every business, emphasizing the importance of understanding these components for anyone looking to create a business or advance in their career. He highlights value creation as the first step, focusing on unmet needs and the significance of marketing to attract customers.
"so every business from the smallest startup to the largest corporation in the world has five fundamental Parts if you want to create a business or interviewing for your first job or interviewing for y..."
Josh Kaufman shares the motivation behind writing 'The Personal MBA.' He discusses his personal journey of seeking business knowledge after struggling to find a comprehensive resource that explains business fundamentals, leading him to create a book that serves as a practical guide for anyone interested in understanding business.
"Josh why why why did you write a book called the personal MBA it's a world class Business book that sold almost a million copies so far it's a real iconic book in the category but why why did you feel..."
In this segment, Kaufman explains what an MBA (Master of Business Administration) is and discusses the growing popularity of business school programs. He argues that while an MBA can be beneficial, there are alternative ways to gain business knowledge without the high costs associated with formal education.
"be went from just this crazy side project that I that I did post undergrad into essentially a second full-time time job reading and research and and trying to to decide for myself what are the critica..."
Kaufman emphasizes the importance of understanding business fundamentals for early career professionals. He explains how this knowledge can empower individuals to analyze existing businesses, create value, and prepare for job interviews, ultimately enhancing their career prospects.
"explain business to someone who has no knowledge no experience no idea what's going on start from absolute Square zero and explain all of the different parts of a business how they work how they inter..."
Discussing the value of an MBA, Kaufman highlights that while many graduates pursue careers in management consulting or investment banking, the high cost of business school can lead to significant debt. He questions whether the promised outcomes of an MBA are truly delivered, suggesting that practical skills and knowledge may be more valuable.
"anything like the businesses that are happening in the world all around us it helps you understand them if you want to create a business this is the foundation of every business plan that has or ever ..."
Kaufman presents research indicating that there is no significant correlation between obtaining an MBA and long-term career success. He argues that skills, curiosity, and the ability to take action are more critical factors for achieving success in business than having a formal degree.
"they're being marketed I.E I guess the the promise is that you'll have a better career you'll earn more money if I go to university and do a business degree is that being delivered the answer to that ..."
In this segment, Kaufman addresses the common belief that business is complicated. He clarifies that while business involves many moving parts, the fundamental principles are straightforward and accessible. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on the essential questions of value creation.
"very unsure outcome at the end is there any correlation between getting an MBA and long-term Career Success uh it it's funny uh this has been asked by very many people and the answer is always no um s..."
Kaufman outlines the first steps for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of value creation. He encourages individuals to identify what customers want and need, and to focus on delivering that value effectively in their business ventures.
"business is complex in the sense of there are many moving Parts it's not just one thing they're interr relatednesses that you need to understand it's not complicated in the sense of the most important..."
Using the example of starting a candle business, Kaufman discusses the importance of understanding customer desires and making trade-offs in product offerings. He highlights the need to focus on specific attributes that will make the product appealing to consumers.
"try and navigate The Journey right I try and figure out where to start but this is going to be the first time I actually ask you if I am that person who has an idea in my head um or maybe I've got you..."
In this segment, Kaufman highlights the significance of observing customer behavior over relying solely on their words. He shares insights from his experience at Procter & Gamble, illustrating how understanding the psychological needs of consumers can lead to innovative product solutions. Kaufman stresses the importance of gathering real buying signals, such as pre-orders, to validate business ideas.
"or two of those things to focus on and then turn that dial all the way up to 9 10 11 and so for example you might be able to make the best smelling longest lasting candle using some complex chemistry ..."
Kaufman elaborates on the psychological aspects of product development, sharing a story about consumer research at Procter & Gamble. He explains how understanding consumer behavior can lead to the creation of products that meet both physical and psychological needs. This segment emphasizes the importance of addressing subtle consumer preferences to innovate effectively.
"can cause people you know because I'm on Dragon's St so people I'm halfway through filming at the moment so I've had 50 pictures so far and one of the most popular phrases I hear as a dragon on Dragon..."
In this engaging discussion, Kaufman encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to identify everyday frustrations and annoyances as potential business opportunities. He emphasizes that observing the world with a critical eye can reveal gaps in the market. Kaufman shares examples of how successful businesses, like Amazon, have capitalized on solving common problems to enhance customer experiences.
"need and I just love that because I remember remember growing up um watching my grandmother do laundry and she did the exact same thing for the exact same reasons and it's sometimes those subtle thing..."
Kaufman outlines the journey from conceptualizing a business idea to validating its viability. He discusses the importance of prototyping and gathering feedback from potential customers to refine ideas. This segment highlights the iterative process of entrepreneurship, where critical assumptions are tested to determine whether an idea can evolve into a successful business.
"in observing the world objectively and seeing how people are doing what they're doing and why they're doing what they're doing um I always wonder that I think you know if you're trying to think of a n..."
In this segment, Kaufman elaborates on the critical assumptions entrepreneurs must test when developing a business idea. He stresses the importance of understanding market demand and the urgency of the problem being solved, advising aspiring entrepreneurs to engage with potential customers to validate their ideas before investing heavily.
"this microphone challenge we've had one of the critical assumptions we're making is that it can be solved sure is that there's some way to kind of insulate the microphone from the vibrations of the ta..."
Kaufman critiques the common pitfalls of aspiring entrepreneurs who spend years preparing for a launch without validating their ideas. He advocates for a lean approach, emphasizing the need to test concepts quickly and gather customer feedback before committing significant resources to product development.
"that's where you talk to people and that's that's the this is where value creation and marketing tend to intersect and so it's can you identify people out in the world who have a very similar problem ..."
Kaufman highlights the necessity of providing real value to customers as the foundation of any successful business. He argues that businesses that fail to deliver value are essentially scams and emphasizes the generative nature of entrepreneurship, where solving problems leads to mutual benefits for both the entrepreneur and the consumer.
"this launch day where everything's riding on this big launch day they've raised I don't know $70,000 for their whatever sure why is that the wrong approach to take I think there's a difference between..."
In this segment, Kaufman explains the distinction between marketing and sales, focusing on the importance of attracting potential customers' attention. He discusses how effective marketing generates interest and engages consumers, setting the stage for successful sales.
"other people in a fundamental way you have no business um a venture that markets and sells something that does not deliver value to other people is a scam and so really like I think there's there's a ..."
Kaufman delves into the psychological aspects of marketing, referencing a framework of four fundamental human drives. He explains how successful marketing strategies tap into these drives to create compelling offers that resonate with consumers, enhancing the emotional appeal of products.
"of people who might be interested in the value that that you're creating and in an Ideal World making them curious wanting to learn more um asking for additional information engaging with what what it..."
Kaufman discusses the balance between emotional and logical appeals in marketing. He uses examples like Nike and Apple to illustrate how brands effectively engage consumers' emotions while also delivering logical benefits, emphasizing that a strong emotional connection can often outweigh purely logical advantages.
"offer is is going to be and so you could make a a a pretty straightforward argument that um one of the reasons that soci media has become so popular over the last decade is because it hooks into at le..."
In this segment, Kaufman explores the branding strategy of Liquid Death, a company that sells water in a unique can. He explains how their marketing approach has transformed a mundane product into a billion-dollar business by appealing to consumers' identities and affiliations. This discussion illustrates the significance of standing out in a crowded market through innovative branding and emotional connections.
"hooks to that sort of experience that you could argue that candles are sold almost all on emotion and that's great that's the value that's being delivered do you know a better example of that I've cam..."
Kaufman delves into the concept of counter-signaling, where brands position themselves as the antithesis of their competitors. He uses examples like BrewDog to illustrate how taking a bold stance can attract a dedicated customer base. This segment emphasizes the importance of being distinctive and the potential benefits of controversy in marketing strategies.
"customers that's valuable I've been thinking about this theory for a while last couple of months maybe six months now that Brands need to especially New Market entrance in saturated busy markets like ..."
This segment discusses how controversy can be a powerful marketing tool when used responsibly. Kaufman shares insights on how brands can leverage controversy to create buzz and attract attention, citing BrewDog's explosive marketing tactics as a prime example. He emphasizes that while controversy can be risky, it can also lead to significant brand recognition and customer loyalty.
"again and so that that's just like social signaling is a rabbit hole that you could spend decades going down and not get to the end of it but it's all about who am I presenting myself to be in the wor..."
Kaufman explains the concept of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) and its importance in business strategy. He illustrates how repeat customers are more valuable than one-time buyers and discusses strategies for retaining customers. This segment highlights the significance of customer satisfaction and the role of effective customer service in maximizing CLV.
"multi-billion dollar Indie beer brand with a fraction of the marketing budget but also that had been around a fraction of the time versus the incumbents really interesting Jane warring was on the podc..."
In this segment, Kaufman outlines key sales strategies that can enhance business success. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and creating a persuasive sales process. Kaufman also discusses the intersection of sales and marketing, highlighting how effective communication can lead to satisfied customers and repeat business.
"primary skill of marketing by far so if I'm if I'm running that if I'm thinking about starting my candle business what is step three in your sort of I think you said five-step framework of what really..."
Kaufman addresses the critical distinction between features and benefits in marketing and sales. He explains that while features describe a product, benefits resonate with customers' desires and motivations. This segment provides insights into how to effectively communicate the value of a product to potential buyers, ensuring that marketing efforts focus on what truly matters to consumers.
"give you money for it and so the customer understanding how how can how can we be persuasive in getting someone to say yes this is for me here's my money I would like one please there's also a part of..."
Josh Kaufman discusses the importance of happy customers in business, emphasizing that they not only provide repeat business but also serve as a primary source of word-of-mouth marketing. He introduces the concept of customer reactivation, explaining how reaching out to past customers can lead to additional sales with minimal cost, provided they had a positive experience.
"stick with you keep spending money with you they're also a primary source of marketing like Word of Mouth marketing is all happy customers telling other people who might benefit from your product that..."
In this segment, Kaufman explains the critical difference between product features and benefits. He illustrates how focusing on benefits—what the customer gains—rather than just features—what the product is—can significantly enhance sales effectiveness. He uses the example of candles to highlight how benefits resonate more with customers than technical specifications.
"place is there like a sales equation of sorts is there like a you know when I'm thinking about how to close a deal how to sell that candle is there a skill set or a framework or a model that I should ..."
Kaufman delves into the psychology of purchasing decisions, explaining how customers mentally simulate their lives with a product before buying. He emphasizes the importance of engaging customers' imaginations through storytelling and experiences, particularly in sales contexts like car sales, where getting customers into the driver's seat is crucial.
"interesting and a lot of people I guess are making the mistake of focusing on the features of their product yeah this is the the difference between um an iPod has one gigabyte High Drive hard drive an..."
This segment focuses on the fundamental components that contribute to a successful business. Kaufman outlines the five essential parts of every business and stresses the importance of hiring the right people who align with the company's mission and vision. He discusses how effective management should minimize barriers for skilled workers to maximize value delivery.
"really great and start to anticipate it get excited about it and like when you're selling a car on the sales side of the the Spectrum rule number one is get the potential customer in the driver seat o..."
Kaufman emphasizes the critical role of hiring in building a successful business. He discusses how the nature of the business—whether it's a small online operation or a large manufacturing entity—affects hiring needs. He advocates for hiring curious and engaged individuals who can contribute to the company's long-term objectives.
"possible managing the rest and so this is kind of the the flip side of of some of the common failure cases of bureaucracy paperwork busy work all of these things what level of management do you need u..."
In this segment, Kaufman addresses the role of competition in business. He argues that competition is not inherently negative; rather, it validates market demand. He warns against entering markets with no existing competition, as it may indicate a lack of consumer interest. He encourages entrepreneurs to learn from competitors to refine their own offerings.
"lot about that person who is you know again they're starting their candle business and they're trying to figure out what this game of business fundamentally comes down to in 10 years from now is it ho..."
Kaufman advises entrepreneurs to study their competitors closely. He suggests purchasing and analyzing competitors' products to gain insights into their strategies, packaging, and pricing. This market research can inform the entrepreneur's unique approach and help them carve out their niche in the market.
"place the markets you need to be really careful about are the brand new to the nobody has ever seen anything like this on the face of the Earth because not only do you need to educate and convince peo..."
Kaufman discusses the financial aspects of launching a business, emphasizing the importance of understanding costs, pricing, and profit margins. He explains how to make informed financial decisions and allocate resources effectively, especially for startups with limited budgets. He reassures aspiring entrepreneurs that financial concepts are manageable with basic arithmetic.
"way of of doing things what else do I need to be thinking about so I've done my market research on the candle business we've got the marketing done I'm I understand the the sort of sales framework tha..."
In this concluding segment, Kaufman introduces his book, 'The Personal MBA,' which aims to demystify business concepts like finance and profit margins. He emphasizes that the book provides accessible explanations of essential business principles, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
"um and then you know how much on the things that you have to spend um every month so in the case of an online business uh your website your shopping cart credit card processing all the way up to if if..."
In this segment, Kaufman discusses the importance of establishing a sustainable financial goal for entrepreneurs. He encourages listeners to identify the minimum income required to keep their business viable, emphasizing that understanding personal financial needs is crucial for long-term success.
"easy it's very straightforward yeah is there a a most important number or or a most important set of numbers in business when it comes to running my candle business if I was to really stay focused on ..."
Kaufman shares his insights on the value of experimentation in entrepreneurship. He explains how increasing the rate of experimentation can lead to greater success, encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace trial and error as a means of discovering effective strategies and solutions.
"Gmail account everything yep okay yep so what is what are my monthly outflows what are my monthly sales numbers and it's monthly because usually our modern expenses happen monthly rent payments happen..."
In this segment, Kaufman introduces the concept of the explore-exploit trade-off, explaining how entrepreneurs should balance exploring new ideas with exploiting known successful strategies. He emphasizes the importance of continuous exploration to adapt to changing market conditions.
"number first and then from there you have a lot of different options one of the mental models that I think we share is around this idea of experimentation yes absolutely and it's one of my favorite su..."
Kaufman highlights the necessity of collecting feedback during the experimentation process. He stresses that understanding customer responses to new products is vital for making informed decisions and improving business offerings.
"of like we kind of conflate certainty or over certainty with competence in a way that's not necessarily functional whereas we're all very imperfect oracles like we have anticipations based on our know..."
In this segment, Kaufman discusses practical methods for testing product ideas before launching. He suggests using blind tests to gather unbiased feedback on product scents, emphasizing the importance of systematic data collection to guide product development.
"certain what's going to happen if we try plan a or plan b or plan C then there are a couple of ways of approaching that one is is um by working through scenarios of like let's just imagine what would ..."
Kaufman introduces Gal's Law, which posits that complex systems evolve from simpler ones. He encourages entrepreneurs to start with a straightforward approach, building complexity only as necessary, to ensure that each addition serves a clear purpose.
"free each of the machines has a different payoff but you don't know which one your job is to find the very best one how do you go about figuring that out you try them all yeah you try them so you star..."
In this segment, Kaufman warns against the misconception that adding features increases product value. He uses the example of a fitness tracker to illustrate how unnecessary complexity can lead to misaligned customer expectations and potential failure.
"way of going about the like this is what early career early entrepreneurship looks like you're trying a whole bunch of very different things sometimes in in information about what works and what doesn..."
Kaufman discusses how platforms like Shopify have simplified the process of starting a business. He highlights the accessibility of e-commerce tools that allow entrepreneurs to launch their ideas with minimal effort, emphasizing the opportunities available in today's market.
"very beginning and you do small batches of each one and how do I test that in the context of a candle business how do I test which is the best scent yeah so um you could do all sorts of different thin..."
In this segment, Josh Kaufman discusses how the advent of platforms like Shopify has simplified the process of starting a business. He emphasizes that what once required significant effort and resources can now be accomplished with just a few clicks, making entrepreneurship more accessible than ever.
"simple from the beginning is is the way to go once upon a time if you had a business idea it was exceptionally difficult to get going but now in the age of Shopify it is exceptionally easy as many of ..."
Josh Kaufman introduces his concept from 'The First 20 Hours,' explaining how the initial hours of learning a new skill are crucial for rapid improvement. He highlights the importance of focused practice and how one can achieve significant proficiency in just 20 hours, challenging the common belief that mastery requires 10,000 hours.
"haven't spoken about this book though first 20 hours yeah the first 20 hours how to learn anything and you have a TED Talk don't you which was crazy yeah crazy crazy I don't know if it's hit 40 millio..."
In this segment, Kaufman delves into the psychology behind learning new skills, discussing how the first few hours can be the most challenging. He explains the importance of setting realistic goals and how understanding the learning process can help overcome initial frustrations.
"psychology research that I that I uncovered in the process of working on personal MBA which was all about learning new things and learning that the first few hours of acquiring or learning any particu..."
Kaufman emphasizes the need to deconstruct skills into smaller, manageable sub-skills. He illustrates this with examples from DJing, explaining how breaking down complex skills into their components can facilitate faster learning and mastery.
"much less time than than you would expect so in my experience that's about 20 hours of focused deliberate practice so call it 40 minutes a day for about a month but but the narrative out on the market..."
In this segment, Kaufman discusses the significance of focused practice and the need to prioritize learning specific sub-skills before moving on to more complex tasks. He stresses that understanding the foundational elements of a skill can lead to quicker and more effective learning.
"that's great um the type of skill acquisition that most of us do most often throughout our entire lifespan is figure out how to do something new for the first time like dejing for me exactly yeah so h..."
Kaufman addresses the common issue of procrastination in adult learners, explaining how discomfort and fear of incompetence can hinder progress. He shares insights on how to manage these feelings and encourages taking action despite initial challenges.
"you probably had some experience listening to music of this type knowing when things go well and when they when they don't go well so you had a little bit of like taste context perspective and so deci..."
In this segment, Kaufman introduces the concept of the 'frustration barrier,' describing how the early stages of learning can be emotionally taxing. He provides strategies for managing frustration and emphasizes the importance of persistence during the initial learning phase.
"music side of thing then there's the like the hardware itself which is knowing how you see two songs coming at the same time so you need to learn about the hardware before you can mix two songs togeth..."
Kaufman discusses the power of pre-commitment in learning new skills. He explains how committing to a specific amount of practice time can enhance accountability and motivation, making it easier to overcome initial hurdles in the learning process.
"nobody wants to wait yeah you know you know what I mean that's the thing like I think there's an element to which that's true there's also an element to waiting here going about it in a little bit mor..."
In this segment, Kaufman emphasizes the importance of selecting a project that resonates personally. He explains that choosing a 'lovable project' can significantly impact motivation and commitment, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective.
"that's where the skill is actually built the skill is not built in research a lot of people seem to get stuck on that research part because they are you know that people call them in culture procrasti..."
Kaufman explores how self-consciousness can impede learning, particularly in adults. He discusses the psychological barriers that arise from comparing oneself to others and how to cultivate a mindset that fosters growth and resilience in the face of challenges.
"artist every one of them answerers yes yeah I create art that's it's what I do and there's a certain threshold and it usually happens around like the the Middle grades uh junior highish where people w..."
In this concluding segment, Kaufman highlights the importance of emotional management in the learning process. He shares strategies for maintaining motivation and overcoming the emotional hurdles that often accompany the acquisition of new skills.
"you're really frustrated things make very little sense you're like I don't know what a key is let alone a key change what's a beat per minute and like all of those self-consciousness circuits are full..."
Josh Kaufman emphasizes the importance of selecting a project that resonates with you personally. He explains that without a genuine interest, it's challenging to commit time and energy to learning a new skill. This segment highlights the necessity of prioritizing projects that matter to you, ensuring that you are willing to invest the effort required to succeed.
"you said this matters to me enough yes that feels like it's a prerequisite something that we really need to be clear on before we even start yeah you know because without that part you you refer to it..."
In this segment, Kaufman discusses the significance of making learning accessible by removing obstacles. He uses the example of learning guitar, suggesting that keeping the instrument easily accessible encourages practice. This principle applies broadly to skill acquisition, emphasizing that reducing friction can lead to more consistent effort and progress.
"to to invest time and energy and in the first place we've been through most of them there so number one is choose a lovable project number two is focus your energy on one skill at a time we said that ..."
Kaufman argues that focusing on quantity and speed in the early stages of learning is more beneficial than striving for perfection. He illustrates this with examples from DJing and guitar playing, advocating for a diverse practice approach that fosters learning through exploration rather than fixating on perfecting a single skill.
"it right next to you know your living room chair or couch where it's visible Insight all you need to do is reach over grab it and start it just makes it more likely you're actually going to sit down a..."
This segment explores the idea that valuable skills and insights often come from unexpected places. Kaufman references Steve Jobs' calligraphy class as a pivotal experience that influenced Apple's design philosophy. He encourages listeners to embrace a wide range of experiences, suggesting that they can lead to unique insights and innovations in their primary fields.
"specific thing too quickly so like going back to the the playing guitar thing like get a bunch of tabs and learn how to play a whole bunch of different songs not super well because it's the commonalit..."
Kaufman reflects on the notion that no experience is truly wasted, as even seemingly trivial activities can provide valuable lessons. He discusses how insights gained from diverse experiences can enhance creativity and problem-solving in business contexts, reinforcing the idea that exploration and curiosity are essential for personal and professional growth.
"when you said the thing about Apple there in Steve Jobs going to that typography calligraphy class it made me it made me realize that in life there really is no such thing as a waste of time no there'..."
In this closing segment, Kaufman discusses the broader implications of understanding business principles. He argues that a solid grasp of business fundamentals empowers individuals, regardless of their career paths. This understanding enhances decision-making and provides greater optionality in life, making the case for why resources like 'The Personal MBA' are vital for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of the modern economy.
"acquire exists clearly outside of the bubble that we work in totally Josh we have a closing tradition on this podcast where the last guest leaves a question for the next guest not knowing who they're ..."