Author: Dan Giordano

In this episode of All-In, Daniel exchanges lessons applicable to both business and life with Sam Moss, a young entrepreneur navigating his niche in the world of B2B website development and design. The conversation touches on a number of themes that share one thing in common: the value of clarity. Whether it’s defining the clients that best suit your business goals or fully embracing being a dad, Sam and Daniel agree that successful visions are all about two things: keeping it simple and keeping it clear. The 1ClickAgency that Sam founded in upstate New York with his dad has taken a path that will be familiar to entrepreneurs from all industries. It involved a process of figuring out the rapport with small businesses versus a B2B orientation, learning how to discuss money head-on with clients and resisting the fear of losing clients by choosing to narrow the focus. Defining a niche is not self-limiting, says Sam. It’s liberating!

If there’s one word that defines powerhouse podcaster and entrepreneur Christopher Hines, it’s focus. In this episode of All-In, the dynamic host of The Personal Branding Playbook Podcast shares with Daniel his journey from a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles to successful, endlessly inspired startup innovator. Chris has developed not only his own personal stable of podcasts but has also pioneered a podcast network, helping to evolve and manage content in a whole new space. He has also lately moved into software innovation with his newest venture, Castocity – a platform to help podcasters monetize their work. Daniel explores what drives Chris and where he hopes to go as the world slowly emerges from pandemic isolation. High on the list is coaching and training young basketball players, evangelizing for the power of discipline and curiosity. Whatever it is? You can figure it out, according to Chris, who brings his can-do wizardry to clients looking to up their podcast content creation, editing, production and marketing game.

Join Daniel in a learning about how Chris went from being the kid who cut out the bottom of a crate to make his own basketball hoop to learning to play four instruments as a young student (in spite of generally not being a fan of conventional “school”) to getting out ahead of the pack in launching his high-profile podcasting career.

It’s not easy making the decision to abandon your status as a full-time employee with all the perks in order to pursue a the solopreneur venture of your dreams. But in this episode of The All-In Podcast Daniel invites his guest, podcast host and consultant David Shriner-Cahn, to share foundational steps you can take to make that leap a little easier. Their conversation not only illuminates questions to ask as you prepare to start up a business of your own, it also gives you practical considerations to factor into those first high-stakes months (sometime years) of transition.

Although he’s dedicated full-time to working with aspiring coaches and consultants, David’s professional experience started on a more traditional path. He went from college into the corporate world, assuming that hard work and talent would be repaid by promotions and security. While he received good reviews and feedback on his performance, he soon saw in 1980s downsizing the brutal truth that all employees were considered dispensable. He moved into the non-profit sector in search of work that felt like a better temperamental match and thrived, but a growing desire to run his own ship developed over time. David ultimately went out on his own, creating a very successful consulting business – learning a lot of valuable lessons along the way.

Daniel discusses with David some of the nuts and bolts of those lessons he has learned and incorporated in his successful podcast, Smashing the Plateau. They touch on a range of common challenges, from the unsettlingly risky element of going out on your own to the practical realities of timing, capital investment and networking.

And, of course, circumstances vary. David explains how his mentoring applies in different ways. Existing consultants and coaches may need to figure out how to increase revenue, reduce hours or alter their business model. Meanwhile brand new consultants and coaches with a long previous corporate history may need specific help making the initial pivot to a solo entrepreneurial venture. Either way, this conversation is full of real-world perspective and applicable tips for anyone running an independent business, including a list of emotions likely to emerge over the course of the transition:

1. Loss of identity and the ego associated with being a salaried employee.
2. Shame about a transitional stage that may look and feel like unemployment but in fact is just an inevitable part of going out on your own.
3. Fear that things won’t go as hoped or that assets will quickly erode.
4. Loss of the comfort that the perks of traditional employment can bring.
5. Grief in saying goodbye to one thing before being fully adjusted to or immersed in your new venture.

It can be hard to measure success and keep the momentum going as a solopreneur. But through their podcasts and hard-won experience, Daniel and David offer the kind of support and advice that makes the journey easier at every step of the way.

Enjoy being inspired and uplifted by this conversation between two “all in” entrepreneurs.