Nikonomics - The Economics Of Small Business podcast

Player FM - Internet Radio Done Right

Added forty-nine weeks ago

المحتوى المقدم من Nikolas Hulewsky. يتم تحميل جميع محتويات البودكاست بما في ذلك الحلقات والرسومات وأوصاف البودكاست وتقديمها مباشرة بواسطة Nikolas Hulewsky أو شريك منصة البودكاست الخاص بهم. إذا كنت تعتقد أن شخصًا ما يستخدم عملك المحمي بحقوق الطبع والنشر دون إذنك، فيمكنك اتباع العملية الموضحة هنا https://ar.player.fm/legal.

Squid Game: The Official Podcast

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Keys and Knives - S3 Ep 1 26:28

منذ 19 يومًا26:28

التشغيل لاحقا

قوائم

إعجاب

احب

26:28

Squid Game is back—and this time, the knives are out. In the thrilling Season 3 premiere, Player 456 is spiraling and a brutal round of hide-and-seek forces players to kill or be killed. Hosts Phil Yu and Kiera Please break down Gi-hun’s descent into vengeance, Guard 011’s daring betrayal of the Game, and the shocking moment players are forced to choose between murdering their friends… or dying. Then, Carlos Juico and Gavin Ruta from the Jumpers Jump podcast join us to unpack their wild theories for the season. Plus, Phil and Kiera face off in a high-stakes round of “Hot Sweet Potato.” SPOILER ALERT! Make sure you watch Squid Game Season 3 Episode 1 before listening on. Play one last time. IG - @SquidGameNetflix X (f.k.a. Twitter) - @SquidGame Check out more from Phil Yu @angryasianman , Kiera Please @kieraplease and the Jumpers Jump podcast Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts . Squid Game: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and The Mash-Up Americans.…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

منزل السلاسل•Feed

Welcome to Nikonomics—the show for entrepreneurs and Wantrapreneurs, ready to tackle the toughest roadblocks to their first million.
Nik brings firsthand experience, having bought and sold over a dozen businesses, achieved multiple 7-figure exits, and generated over $100 million in revenue.
Each week, he blends humor with real insights from successful entrepreneurs, sharing growth strategies, deal insights, and unique business ideas you won’t find elsewhere.
Ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality? Hit play and let’s get to work.

Follow me on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/CoFoundersNik or @CoFoundersNik

205 حلقات

#Entrepreneur #Business #Nikolas Hulewsky #Acquisitions #Business Deals #Scale #Hustle #Entrepreneurship #Million #Marketing #Growth

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

updated منذ يوم واحد

منزل السلاسل•Feed

Follow me on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/CoFoundersNik or @CoFoundersNik

205 حلقات

#Entrepreneur #Business #Nikolas Hulewsky #Acquisitions #Business Deals #Scale #Hustle #Entrepreneurship #Million #Marketing #Growth

كل الحلقات

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204 - Building an Eight-Figure Empire from a Window Washing Business with Brandon Vaughn 47:00

منذ 1 day47:00

47:00

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Brandon Vaughn , a true entrepreneurial force! We dive deep into his incredible journey, from starting a window washing business with his dad at just 13 to building an eight-figure empire with 12 companies . You'll hear how a life-changing event forced him to grow beyond the owner-operator mindset, leading to the rapid scaling of Wise Coatings from zero to seven figures in its first year and now 39 locations . Discover how Brandon channels his undying optimism to embrace being extremely uncomfortable as an entrepreneur. We also explore his latest venture, Hirebus , an AI recruiting company that’s transforming how businesses find and vet talent, and a mind-blowing AI-powered marketing app achieving an astonishing 40x ROAS ! Questions This Episode Answers: How can an owner-operator business scale to eight figures and 39 locations ? What is the concept of a "bus score" and how does it relate to building a stable business ? How are AI tools currently revolutionizing hiring , from candidate sourcing to final interviews? Can personalized marketing campaigns , like those using Google Street View and AI-generated video , achieve an incredible 40x return on ad spend ? What core mindset shifts and strategies, like embracing uncomfortable growth and delegation , are essential for serial entrepreneurs ? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 – From Window Washing to Entrepreneurship 02:49 – Buying His Dad’s Failing Business 07:33 – Scaling to 70 Employees 12:43 – Launching a Business on YouTube 14:48 – Wise Coatings: $1M in Year 1 19:35 – Building Teams While Working Full-Time 21:59 – Hiring with AI: Birth of Hirebus 36:15 – AI-Powered Postcard Marketing 41:04 – $100 CAC for $4K Jobs 43:24 – Fighting Serial Startup Syndrome…

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203 - The Four Entrepreneurship Types: Which Game Are You Playing? with Trenton Hughes 41:46

منذ 5 أيام41:46

41:46

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Trenton Hughes (https://x.com/trentjhughes)! Trenton has multiple successful exits under his belt and the founder of TRIBE, a peer group for entrepreneurs. We dive deep into why so many people are getting into entrepreneurship but often don't even know what game they're playing, which can be detrimental to their success. Trenton has identified four distinct types of entrepreneurship, which he frames as "Geos". We explore what each type truly means, from Main Street and Silicon Valley to Austin and Tomorrowland, and discuss why understanding your entrepreneurship type is critical for finding your lane and optimizing for your unique goals, whether that's chasing freedom, seeking VC funding, or leveraging new tech like AI. This conversation is a map to help you avoid getting lost on your entrepreneurial path. Questions This Episode Answers: Why is it crucial for entrepreneurs to understand their entrepreneurship type? What are the four distinct types of entrepreneurs (Main Street, Silicon Valley, Austin, Tomorrowland) and their core mindsets? How do Austin and Main Street entrepreneurs prioritize different aspects like freedom, lifestyle, and community? What are the high-risk, high-reward realities and goals for Silicon Valley and Tomorrowland entrepreneurs? How can identifying your entrepreneurship type help you define personal success and navigate the path of building a business? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Chasing Freedom: The New Entrepreneurial Mindset 02:50 Understanding Entrepreneurial Types: A Framework for Success 05:44 The Austin Type: Lifestyle and Freedom 09:06 The Silicon Valley Type: High Stakes and Big Dreams 11:59 Tomorrowland: Pioneers of Innovation and Risk 14:49 Main Street: The Heart of Traditional Entrepreneurship 20:58 The Allure of Quick Money in Gambling 21:55 Self-Assessment for Entrepreneurs 22:54 Understanding the Main Street Entrepreneur 24:48 Contrasting Main Street and Austin Entrepreneurs 27:15 Community Dynamics: Main Street vs. Austin 28:43 Self-Identification as an Entrepreneur 30:08 Shifting Perspectives on Business Success 32:30 Collaboration vs. Competition in Entrepreneurship 33:53 Current Sentiment Among Entrepreneurs 39:25 The Power of Peer Groups in Entrepreneurship…

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202 - AI SERIES: 18 - Why Directories Are the New Gold Rush in Lead Generation with David Jaeger 37:41

منذ 6 أيام37:41

37:41

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview David Yeager (https://x.com/ppcguru), an entrepreneur who dropped a bombshell on X: "directories have already killed lead gen agencies." In this episode, David explains why he believes traditional agencies are a "rat race" being commoditized, especially with the rise of AI, while directories offer true brand ownership and massive revenue potential—like the $5 million+ driven by one of his own businesses! We dive deep into his strategic playbook for leveraging directories, including how he uses AI to scrape data, understand customer pain points, and automate lead follow-up with his incredible 2x14 system via his GrowNow.app platform. He even gives us a sneak peek into his new ABA directory, AutismCareFinder.com, and his plan to use it to identify acquisition opportunities and clients. Questions This Episode Answers: How are directories "killing" lead gen agencies? How can you monetize a directory for millions? How does AI automate lead follow-up and nurture leads for 14 days? How can you use a directory to generate client leads and acquisition opportunities? How is AI being used to uncover customer pain points from reviews? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Rise of Directories Over Lead Gen Agencies 09:51 Understanding Directories and Agencies 19:52 The Role of AI in Marketing 29:50 Building and Monetizing Directories 37:28 Automating Lead Responses and Customer Service…

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201 -Use AI to Cut 20% of Labor—Then Hire $1,500 VAs to Scale with Parker Cox 55:18

منذ 7 أيام55:18

55:18

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Parker Cox (https://x.com/carkerpox). Parker is a successful entrepreneur who has bootstrapped multiple businesses, including a property management company that scaled to over a thousand doors. Today, we're diving deep into his latest venture, Avago, which focuses on overseas talent. I ask Parker the burning question: why is everyone suddenly getting into overseas talent right now? We unpack how this is a nascent industry, experiencing a sort of gold rush driven by a brief market disconnect and facilitated by technology like Zoom. We discuss how these companies help small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) recruit global talent for a wide array of positions, from executive assistants and bookkeepers to salespeople (BDR/SDR) and even CFO roles. Parker shares insights into the ideal client profile (ICP) for Avago and who is best suited to leverage offshore talent. We break down the different business models in this space, including headhunter services (like Somewhere from Nick Huber), staffing models (like Growth Assistant by Jesse Pui or Near from Glee), and the unique hybrid model Avago is pioneering. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: Why is the overseas talent industry experiencing a "gold rush" right now? What types of roles are ideal for global talent, and who is the ideal client to hire them? What are the key differences between headhunting, staffing, and Avago's hybrid models for hiring offshore talent? How will AI impact the growth and adoption of overseas talent? What are the evolving perceptions and real-world benefits of hiring global talent from different countries? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 – Why Everyone’s Starting Offshore Talent Companies 02:57 – Easy Money & Huge Margins in Global Hiring 05:25 – What Roles Are Best for Offshore Hiring? 07:50 – Who Should Not Hire Offshore Talent 10:07 – Headhunting vs Staffing vs Pavago’s Hybrid Model 14:50 – The Risk Behind Traditional Staffing Companies 24:20 – How Pavago Works: Pricing, Support, and Margins 31:30 – Race to the Bottom vs Building Real Value 33:55 – Distribution, Twitter Growth & Key Man Risk 43:30 – Will AI Kill Offshore Jobs?…

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200 - Crucial Red Flags to Know When Buying and Selling Businesses with Clint Fiore 58:32

منذ 9 أيام58:32

58:32

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Clint Fiore (https://x.com/ClintFiore). Clint, the founder of Bison Business and the newly launched Dealonomy, brings immense experience from over 500 M&A deals, totaling over $100 million in enterprise value. We unpack the crucial red flags he looks for when sellers approach him, from their motive to sell to how their financials might be impacted by aggressive tax avoidance strategies. Clint explains why prioritizing tax deductions can actually be "stepping over dollars to pick up dimes" when selling your business. We also dive into the red flags to watch out for in buyers, emphasizing the importance of financial wherewithal, relevant experience, and a strong deal team. A significant part of our chat focuses on Dealonomy, Clint's innovative platform that aims to revolutionize the traditional brokerage model by being buyer-centric, offering services free for sellers with guaranteed offers, and providing buyers a membership model with a first mover advantage. Questions This Episode Answers: What are the biggest red flags you look for when a seller wants to sell their business? How does aggressive tax avoidance affect a business's valuation and sale? What red flags do you look for when a buyer shows interest in a business? Why is the traditional brokerage model "broken," and how does Dealonomy fix it? What's the most important advice for searchers struggling to close a deal? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Transforming the Brokerage Experience 06:10 Navigating Seller Dynamics 11:57 Understanding Business Valuation Metrics 18:10 Red Flags in Seller Behavior 26:08 Identifying Buyer Red Flags 29:31 Investor Credibility and Experience 32:53 Identifying Broken Processes in Business Brokerage 36:38 Innovating the Brokerage Model with Dealonomy 40:54 Navigating the Buyer-Seller Landscape 44:35 Creating Irresistible Offers for Sellers 49:00 Building a Buyer-Friendly Platform 54:44 Advice for Aspiring Business Buyers…

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199 - How to Capture After-Hours Leads with AI Call Agents with Austin Gray 43:01

منذ 12 يومًا43:01

43:01

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Austin (https://x.com/theownerop), the host of the Owner Ops Podcast! This episode is packed with insights on how AI is transforming the business landscape right now. We dive into the sexy and unsexy sides of AI, discussing everything from architecting AI systems that allow you to leverage AI more than ever before, using projects in LLMs like Claude and ChatGPT for context, to practical applications that can immediately impact your bottom line. We explore how businesses are leveraging AI for massive gains in sales, whether it's through after-hours lead capture with AI call agents from companies like Thynk AI by John Long, or scrubbing lead lists and performing deep research with tools such as Gemini and specialized software like Clay, and Browse AI for scraping website data. We also uncover the untapped potential of capturing daily conversations using AI pendants like Limitless Pendant or Plott, and AI note-takers such as Otter AI, Fathom, or Fireflies for meetings. If you're a business owner or an entrepreneur looking to implement AI as a vital tool in your belt, this episode is a must-listen! Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How early are we in AI adoption, and what does that mean for businesses? What is the number one best use case for AI in small businesses right now? Can AI call agents follow up on leads in the middle of the night, and how can they do it effectively? How can AI help with deep lead research, qualifying prospects, and scrubbing data lists for sales? What are the benefits of recording daily business conversations with AI pendants and note-takers for operations, management, and knowledge capture? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Rise of AI in Coding and Business 02:56 Maximizing AI's Potential: Early Adoption and Use Cases 05:51 AI in Sales: Capturing Leads and Enhancing Customer Service 08:46 Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency 12:09 Innovative AI Applications Beyond Sales 15:04 The Future of AI: Knowledge Management and Personal Assistants 17:59 Building a Knowledge Base with AI 20:53 The Role of AI in Business Education and Training 23:47 Healthcare Innovations through AI 27:06 Conclusion: The Future of AI in Business…

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198 - The Marketer's Playbook: Launching a Full Ad Funnel with AI with Matthew Mellinger 32:50

منذ 13 يومًا32:50

32:50

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Matt (https://x.com/MattMellie). In this episode, we tackle a wild challenge: building a complete landing page and ad creative for a lawn care business summer sale using AI—all in just 30 minutes! Matt, a marketer and SEO expert with zero development experience, demonstrates how to harness tools like Claude, Midjourney, and Lovable. We dive into crafting ad copy and visuals, using the Facebook Ad Library for inspiration, and explore how Meta Ads facilitates crucial split testing for optimal performance. You'll see how quickly you can get an interactive pricing calculator and even a live heat thermostat onto a landing page. It’s incredible to witness how an entire, fully functional ad funnel can be set up in about an hour and a half, allowing you to not just launch a campaign, but rigorously test a business idea with minimal investment. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How can AI tools help you build a complete landing page and ad creative in minutes? What AI tools are essential for rapidly generating ad copy, images, and landing pages? How do you use Meta Ads for split testing to optimize your campaigns? What's the process for setting up an interactive pricing calculator on an AI-generated landing page? How can an AI-powered ad funnel be used to test a business idea with minimal cost and time? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Launching a Business in Minutes 03:03 Building a Landing Page with AI 05:56 Creating Effective Ad Copy 08:49 Utilizing Facebook Ad Library for Inspiration 12:08 Designing the Landing Page 15:03 Split Testing Ad Variations 17:58 Optimizing for SEO and User Engagement 20:50 Finalizing the Campaign 23:45 Analyzing Results and Data 27:05 Testing Business Ideas with Minimal Investment…

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197 - How AI Legal Battles Are Reshaping the Tech Landscape with Elizabeth Knopf 30:55

منذ 14 يومًا30:55

30:55

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) for a packed episode on the latest in AI and tech. We dive deep into the alleged "divorce" between Johnny Ive and Sam Altman over the IO trademark dispute, revealing a deeper look at Sam Altman's "ruthless Machiavellian leadership". We also explore the intense "wars" between LLMs like OpenAI and Anthropic (Claude), including Claude's decision to cut data access for OpenAI's Windsurf acquisition. Plus, we discuss the evolving language in AI, from AGI to "superintelligence", and the crucial fair use rulings impacting Claude and Meta regarding copyrighted material used for AI training. In the second half, I get a personal walkthrough of Claude's new artifacts feature. This game-changing update makes it much easier to organize, find, and utilize your AI-generated documents, dashboards, and even interactive tools. You'll learn how to publish and share these artifacts, leverage "inspiration" templates, and even view the chat history that created them. We also explore how you can customize these artifacts as starting templates and, most excitingly, create "custom wrappers" that integrate with Model Context Protocol (MCP) for data retrieval from sources like Google Drive, and even potentially automate workflows with Zapier. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How are major AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic engaging in "wars" over data and acquisitions? What are the implications of fair use rulings on AI model training using copyrighted materials, and how might this affect industries like entertainment and news? How can Claude's new artifacts feature help you organize, share, and customize AI-generated content and tools? Can you leverage Claude's artifacts to create "custom wrappers" or interactive tools for specific workflows, integrating with data retrieval (like Google Drive) and automation (like Zapier)? What leadership style defines Sam Altman and OpenAI, particularly in light of recent controversies like the IO trademark lawsuit? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Controversial Partnership: Johnny Ive and Sam Altman 08:42 Navigating Fair Use in AI Training 12:54 Exploring Claude's Artifacts and New Features…

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196 - His Cold DMs Got Him GaryVee, Rick Ross & Larry King with Casey Adams 59:38

منذ 16 يومًا59:38

59:38

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Casey Adams (https://x.com/CaseyAdams). This episode dives into Casey's incredible journey, starting his podcast at just 17 years old after a football injury led to an unexpected identity shift. Discover how he transitioned from running a Facebook ad agency at 16 to becoming a serial entrepreneur, landing guests like Larry King and Rick Ross, and leveraging his show to raise $1.5 million for his company, MediaKits. We explore his unique strategies for cold outreach and securing high-profile guests, the power of founder-led content as a new form of SEO for businesses, and the vision behind his latest venture, Listener.com – an AI Listener Analytics platform set to revolutionize how podcasts measure their impact and value in a changing media landscape. listener.com Questions This Episode Answers: How can an early life setback like a sports injury become a pivotal moment for an entrepreneurial journey? What tactical approaches can you use for cold outreach to book high-profile guests or connect with influential people? How can a podcast act as a "flywheel" for business growth, attracting investors and creating new opportunities? Why is founder-led content becoming increasingly crucial for customer acquisition and brand differentiation in today's market? How can new AI-powered analytics tools help podcasters and businesses truly understand and monetize their audience beyond simple download numbers? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Journey of a Young Podcaster 02:54 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose 05:49 The Evolution of Podcasting and Networking 09:08 Building a Business from Passion 11:57 The Impact of Early Success 14:49 Lessons from Reaching Out to Influencers 18:06 The Role of Media in Modern Business 29:25 From Podcasting to Live Events 32:22 Building Relationships Through Events 35:15 The Art of Outreach and Connection 38:38 The Importance of Listening 40:06 Launching Listener.com 44:21 The Vision Behind Listener.com 50:56 The Future of Podcasting and Analytics…

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195 - How to Overcome Money Trauma with Clifton Sellers 41:07

منذ 19 يومًا41:07

41:07

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Clifton Sellers (https://x.com/LegacyBuilder__) In this episode, I chat with Clifton Sellers , a social media favorite who's built a business projected to hit $2-3 million this year. He shares his incredible journey from being deep in debt while working as a VP of development making $95K a year to a thriving entrepreneur. Clifton reveals how obsession and sheer endurance were his secret weapons, starting from a $29 Gumroad course . We dive into his pivot from "money Twitter" to establishing Legacy Builder.co as a legitimate, reputable content agency. He opens up about overcoming past money trauma that initially capped his business at under $1 million in revenue, and how investing in coaches was the key to unlocking rapid growth. We also discuss the power of professionalizing a business and the critical role of strong core values like "unreasonable hospitality" and "say the thing" in building a successful team and culture. Questions This Episode Answers: How did Clifton Sellers transition from significant personal debt to running a multi-million dollar business ? What role did obsession and endurance play in his journey to entrepreneurial success? How did he overcome money trauma to break past the $1 million revenue ceiling? Why does Clifton believe investing in coaches and mentors is essential for accelerated business growth? What does professionalizing a business entail, and why are core values critical for scaling? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 From Debt to Success: The Journey Begins 09:52 The Power of Obsession in Business 20:02 Navigating the Online Business Landscape 30:04 Building a Team: The Key to Scaling 39:38 Professionalizing Your Business for Growth…

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194 - AI SERIES: 17 - Directories Are Back: AI Makes Niche Goldmines Easier Than Ever with Kirill Zubovsky 45:33

منذ 20 يومًا45:33

45:33

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Kirill Zubovsky (https://x.com/kirillzubovsky) on an episode that will totally change how you think about building a business online. We dive deep into why directories are making a huge comeback as "the hottest thing" and how AI is making them easier than ever to build and monetize. Kirill walks us through his incredibly fast, AI-augmented development process at QED.AM, demonstrating how he built a live local services directory for plumbers using tools like Grok for brainstorming, Appify for data scraping, and Cursor for website creation. We also explore groundbreaking concepts like AI SEO (AISCO)—the future of getting your website recommended by AI models—and agentic workflows where multiple AIs collaborate on projects. Kirill shares his insights on automating everything from writing to video content, revealing how you can ship projects weekly with minimal human intervention. Questions This Episode Answers: How has AI made directories "the hottest thing" again? What is AI SEO (AISCO) and why is it the "next layer" of search optimization? How can you brainstorm business ideas using Grok's voice mode? What AI tools can non-technical users leverage to scrape data and build websites quickly? How are AI bots collaborating in "agentic workflows" to ship projects weekly? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Harnessing AI for Automation 02:45 The Power of Directories 06:03 Building a Directory Live 08:57 AI Tools and Automation 11:49 Creating a Local Services Directory 14:43 Optimizing for AI SEO 18:01 Developing with AI Assistance 20:58 Launching the Directory 23:54 Visual Content Creation with AI 26:42 The Future of Directory Services…

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193 - AI Psychology and the Quirks of Digital Minds with Elizabeth Knopf 33:38

منذ 21 يومًا33:38

33:38

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside), where we dive deep into the latest AI trends and their impact on businesses. This week, we explore the optimistic side of AI, including Andre Karpathy's fascinating vision for LLMs "eating software" and how his concept of "vibe coding" is empowering everyone to become a programmer using natural language. We also unpack surprising statistics on how small businesses are rapidly adopting AI, their top use cases from content creation to data analysis, and why so many still feel stressed by this transformative technology. I discuss why the market is pushing for AI tool consolidation and what becomes the most crucial factor when products become commoditized: the trusted distribution channel. Plus, Liz shows me how AI is tackling the "Turing test" of white-collar jobs by automating complex tasks like creating PowerPoint presentations with tools like Claude and Gamma, making it incredibly easy for anyone. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How are LLMs shifting the landscape of software development and making everyone a "vibe coder"? What are the top three AI applications that small businesses are prioritizing today? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Rise of Vibe Coding and AI Control 05:52 AI's Impact on Small Businesses 12:10 The Evolution of AI Tools and User Experience 17:44 AI in Presentation Creation 31:47 The Future of AI and Business Integration…

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192 - AI SERIES: 16 - Decoding the Tech Stack: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know with Ellie Daw 41:47

منذ 22 يومًا41:47

41:47

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Ellie Daw (https://x.com/ellieintech), a multiple-time founder who's built over 40 zero to one product builds! In this episode, we tackle the tech questions that keep business owners up at night. We demystify AI integration, clarify the roles of IT, CIO, and CTO, and discuss how to navigate dev shops without being taken advantage of. Ellie also introduces her new company, Yalla, designed to make your technical infrastructure visible and manage technical debt. If you're a founder or business owner with limited tech experience, this conversation is for you. Questions This Episode Answers: What's the difference between IT, a CIO, and a CTO? How can business owners avoid being taken advantage of by dev shops? What does it mean for a business to be "tech-enabled"? What is a "tech stack" and how can I track it? What is "technical debt" and why is it a problem for my business? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 – Intro & Ellie’s Background 02:30 – IT vs CIO vs CTO Explained Simply 09:30 – What Is a Tech Stack? 11:45 – How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by Developers 22:50 – What Is Technical Debt? 28:30 – What Is Yalla & How It Helps 33:00 – Why You Must Own Your GitHub 40:00 – Where to Find Yalla…

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191 - $1 Million Revenue, $250K Cash Flow: The Smash My Trash Franchise Model with Kevin Moyer 38:09

منذ 23 يومًا38:09

38:09

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Kevin Moyer (https://x.com/kevinjm). Kevin left the tech world, including a job at Salesforce where he was making up to $250K, seeking a tighter connection between his hard work and the reward. He swung to the other end of the spectrum and became a franchise owner of Smash My Trash. Starting with three territories and one truck, he now operates five territories and has built the business to about $1 million in top-line revenue annually. Despite the seasonal nature of his California location driven by agriculture, the business is now mostly passive, taking up only about an hour of his day. We discuss why he chose a franchise over starting a tech company or buying an existing business, the risks he didn't fully appreciate like minimum royalties and personal guarantees in the franchise agreement, and how he built a passive asset generating significant cash flow. Questions This Episode Answers: How did a tech founder transition from Silicon Valley to operating a trash franchise? What specific unexpected risks should potential franchise owners be aware of, like minimum royalties? How can a $1 million revenue business like Smash My Trash be structured to be mostly passive? How do you evaluate the viability and potential pitfalls of a franchise territory? What is the typical annual cash flow or SDE for a successful Smash My Trash franchise operating at $1M in revenue? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 From Tech to Trash: The Entrepreneurial Leap 10:07 Navigating the Franchise Landscape 20:14 The Financials of Smash My Trash 30:06 Lessons Learned and Future Plans…

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190- Inside the Wild West of Influencer Deals and Agency Life with Tom Stefaniuk 48:40

منذ 26 يومًا48:40

48:40

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Tom Stefanik (https://x.com/tomstefaniuk) about the wild world of influencer marketing. We dive deep into why over 50% of young people aspire to be influencers, the incredible growth of this multi-billion dollar industry, and how creators like Tom built massive businesses from their passion. Discover the different ways creators earn money, from early AdSense checks to selling their own products, and learn why some small, niche audiences can be far more valuable than millions of followers. Tom shares insights from his agency, Small Stream, explaining how they help creators and brands navigate this fast-changing landscape, negotiate deals, and measure success beyond just follower counts. It's a fascinating look at the future of marketing and how real businesses are being built on social media. Questions This Episode Answers: How big is the influencer marketing industry and how fast is it growing? What are the typical stages of monetization for a content creator? How do brands and businesses measure the return on investment from influencer campaigns? Is it possible for a creator to make a living with a relatively small but dedicated audience? How should creators determine their pricing for sponsorships and ad deals based on audience value? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Journey of a Social Media Influencer 02:56 The Evolution of Influencer Marketing 05:48 Building a Business Around Influence 09:09 Understanding the Influencer Economy 12:02 The Shift in Marketing Budgets 14:47 Measuring Success in Influencer Campaigns 18:01 Navigating the Influencer Landscape 20:44 The Value of Audience Engagement 24:31 The Value of Podcasting and Audience Engagement 27:25 The Importance of Passion in Content Creation 30:37 Pricing Strategies for Sponsorships 33:21 The Growth of Influencer Marketing Agencies 36:34 Navigating Brand Collaborations 37:28 Revenue Distribution Between Brands and Creators 38:28 The Role of Relationships in Influencer Marketing 39:25 Challenges in the Influencer Marketing Space 40:20 The Future of Influencer Marketing 41:43 Best and Worst Influencers to Work With 42:42 Equity Deals and Long-Term Partnerships 43:38 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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189 - How Meta's Major Moves are Shaping the AI Landscape with Elizabeth Knopf 36:35

منذ 28 يومًا36:35

36:35

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) to break down the massive shifts happening in AI! This week, we dive deep into Meta's aggressive strategy, including their surprising Scale AI acquisition and a colossal energy deal that could shape the future of AI data centers. We also explore the game-changing Model Context Protocol (MCP), explaining how it's poised to transform how you leverage AI in your business, making it feel like you have an executive assistant at your fingertips. Get ready to understand why Mark Zuckerberg is making these bold moves and what it means for the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Questions This Episode Answers: What major moves did Meta make this week to boost its AI capabilities? Why was the Scale AI acquisition, and its leader Alexander Wang, so crucial for Meta? How is AI's rapidly increasing energy consumption impacting the industry? What is Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how does it simplify AI integration? How can AI tools like Claude act as your ultimate executive assistant for daily business tasks? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Rise of Tech Valuations 03:07 Meta's Strategic Moves in AI 05:54 Acquisition of Scale AI and Its Implications 08:47 Energy Contracts and Future Planning 12:08 The Importance of Data in AI Development 15:01 MCP: The Future of AI Integration 17:52 Practical Applications of MCP 21:05 The Future of AI and Business Efficiency…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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188 - How to Become a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator with Tim Sweetman 48:58

منذ 30 يومًا48:58

48:58

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Tim Sweetman (https://x.com/timsweetman), a Chick-fil-A franchisee. I was fascinated to learn how Chick-fil-A consistently achieves such incredible business success, with average annual sales volumes double that of competitors like McDonald's. Tim reveals that it's less about the physical restaurant and more about their massive investment in people and culture. We dive into their unique franchise model, the rigorous process to become an owner-operator, the power of their shared language and hospitality, and what it's like to run a high-volume business that serves around 40,000 customers a month. We even talk about potential secret menu hacks and the heartwarming story behind the community tables! __________________________ Join Connor Groce here for a live webinar answering your franchise questions! __________________________ Questions This Episode Answers: How does Chick-fil-A achieve significantly higher average sales volumes compared to other major chains? What makes the Chick-fil-A franchise model unique compared to traditional franchises? How difficult is the process to become a Chick-fil-A owner-operator? Can someone in a leadership role at Chick-fil-A earn enough to support a family? What kind of investments can a Chick-fil-A operator have outside of their restaurant? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Chick-fil-A's Impact and Revenue 03:04 Hiring Practices and Employee Culture 05:53 The Importance of Language in Service 09:13 Shared Language and Company Culture 11:54 Leadership Structure and Career Opportunities 14:46 Understanding the Franchise Model 24:24 Understanding Chick-fil-A's Franchise Model 30:06 Profit Sharing and Financial Insights 34:25 The Rigorous Selection Process for Franchisees 36:47 Challenges and Opportunities in Ownership 40:57 Exploring Chick-fil-A's Secret Menu…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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187 - Building a Pickleball Club for Only $200 with Chris Koerner 33:11

منذ 5 weeks33:11

33:11

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), and Chris Koerner (https://x.com/mhp_guy) for another HoldCo Bros episode! We talk about some incredibly practical and high-potential business ideas. I share how I built my new pickleball club with just $200 in Facebook ads , using Meta Ads Manager and a detailed Typeform to validate demand and gather crucial customer data. We dive deep into the world of "sweaty" businesses, like the surprising success of bathtub refinishing , which is a non-sexy, AI -proof opportunity making hundreds of thousands annually with minimal competition and strong Google SEO . Check out PortaCourts https://nikonomics.info/PortaCourts We also explore the exciting future of consistency with an AI accountability app , designed to feel like a personal text conversation rather than a traditional app, tapping into the $8 billion wellness and productivity app market . Plus, we discuss how AI can significantly streamline operations for personal trainers and ponder the "Airbnb for courts" concept! Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Questions This Episode Answers: How can you effectively validate a business idea with only $200 in ads ? What makes "non-sexy" businesses like bathtub refinishing a highly profitable and AI -resistant opportunity? How can AI be uniquely leveraged to create an $8 billion accountability app that truly helps people? In what specific ways can personal trainers utilize AI to save an hour or more per client each week? What is the business model behind an "Airbnb for pickleball courts " and how could it be built? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Building a Pickleball Club: A New Venture 03:00 The Role of AI in Accountability 05:55 Exploring the Wellness and Productivity Market 08:49 Marketing Strategies for a Pickleball Club 11:45 Analyzing Lead Generation and Customer Interest 17:58 The Potential of Bathtub Refinishing Business 30:59 Innovative Ideas for Community Engagement…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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186 - How to Build a Business That Can Run Without You with John Seiffer 50:41

منذ 5 weeks50:41

50:41

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview John Seiffer (https://x.com/BetterCeo), author of Output Thinking. John is an experienced entrepreneur who knows what it takes to build a business that doesn't require you to be in the day-to-day grind. We dive into how to move past being a solopreneur and actually build a scalable business. We talk about different phases of SMBs, why relying just on revenue isn't the best way to think about growth, and how the owner's role shifts dramatically when you start building systems instead of just doing everything yourself. John shares his unique perspective using his Eight Buckets framework and explains how to start identifying outputs in your business to figure out what to delegate. Find out more below! Email: John@CEOBootCamp.com Website: https://ceobootcamp.com/ The Operator Accelerator: https://theoperatoraccelerator.com/ Free Coaching Session: https://john-3.youcanbook.me/ Questions This Episode Answers: How do you identify the first thing you should delegate in your business? What are John Seiffer's Eight Buckets of a business? How do you get tribal knowledge out of your employees' heads without making them feel threatened? What are the three different kinds of SOPs you should document? What's the best way for an overwhelmed entrepreneur to start systematizing? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Evolution of a Business Model 03:00 Understanding Entrepreneurial Phases 05:48 The Importance of Systematization 09:08 Output Thinking Explained 12:03 The Journey of Entrepreneurship 14:52 Identifying Business Outputs 17:48 The Seven Buckets of Business 21:08 The Owner's Perspective 25:30 The Role of a CEO: Beyond 40 Hours 27:55 Systematizing Business Operations 30:22 Effective Delegation and Communication 34:47 Types of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 39:05 Leveraging AI for Documentation 43:52 Extracting Knowledge from Employees 44:49 Creating Accountability for Entrepreneurs…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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185 - How to Build and Sell Apps with No Code with Billy Howell 40:20

منذ 5 weeks40:20

40:20

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Billy Howell (https://x.com/billyjhowell)! I'm so stoked to have Billy Howell back on the show! Billy is a prolific entrepreneur who has built over 60 apps with AI despite having no traditional tech background. His agency, Stupid Simple Apps, helps other entrepreneurs build their own custom AI apps. This episode, I challenged Billy to teach me how to build a chatbot specifically for my podcast, so I can easily query my extensive archive of 200 transcripts. We also dive into practical small business use cases for chatbots, from HR and onboarding to sales processes and internal SOPs. You'll hear us discuss the challenges of managing large data sets and context windows, exploring solutions like OpenAI's embeddings (also known as RAG) and document summarization. I even share a Google Apps Script I built to summarize my transcripts into a spreadsheet database, which we then use as the foundation for our chatbot. Billy walks me through using Replit and its powerful AI agent, leveraging ChatGPT to create a PRD (Product Requirements Document) and build a functional web app in minutes. We troubleshoot real-time issues, from CSV upload failures to database storage (shifting from in-memory to Postgres), and even touch on managing OpenAI API costs. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How can a small business use AI chatbots for internal processes? What's a cost-effective way to build a custom AI chatbot? How do you handle large data sets, like 200 podcast transcripts, for an AI chatbot's context? What's a PRD and how does AI use it to build an app in minutes? How can you manage AI API costs and avoid unexpected token spikes? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Building Apps with AI: A New Era 03:01 Chatbots: Revolutionizing Business Communication 05:50 Optimizing Context for AI Chatbots 09:11 Creating a Podcast Database for AI Interaction 12:09 Developing a Web App: Step by Step 15:03 Debugging and Enhancing the App Experience 17:52 Exploring AI's Role in Everyday Tasks 20:50 Managing Costs in AI Development 24:10 Finalizing the Podcast Q&A App 26:54 The Future of AI in Gaming and Learning…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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184 - How to Decide If Franchising is the Right Business Path for You with Connor Groce 45:04

منذ 5 weeks45:04

45:04

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Find out more at https://connorgroce.com/ Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Connor Groce (https://x.com/ConnorGroce), an expert in the franchising world. Connor shares his fascinating journey from operating a boutique fitness franchise and launching a Smash My Trash business to becoming a franchise consultant. We dive into how franchising fits into the entrepreneurship spectrum, sitting comfortably between starting a business from scratch and buying an existing one. We tackle common misconceptions, like the idea of franchising having "training wheels," and break down essential concepts like the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and why it's crucial to validate information directly with existing franchisees. Connor offers valuable insights on how to navigate the vast franchise landscape and find an opportunity that's the right fit for you, touching on capital, goals, and even personality traits. Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Find out more at https://connorgroce.com/ Join Connor Groce here for a live webinar answering your franchise questions! __________________________ Questions This Episode Answers: How does franchising compare to starting or buying a business? What is the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and why does it matter? How do you figure out which type of franchise is right for you (e.g., food, B2B, B2C)? Why is talking to existing franchisees essential due diligence? What are the different capital requirements for franchises? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Understanding Franchising: The Basics 02:50 Nikolas Hulewsky's Journey in Franchising 06:07 The Value of Franchising vs. Starting a Business 09:01 Franchise Structure and Economics 11:50 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Explained 15:08 Operational Standards in Franchising 17:55 Choosing the Right Franchise: Key Considerations 22:48 Understanding Franchise Financials 25:32 Navigating Franchise Acquisition Strategies 29:14 Evaluating Food vs. Non-Food Franchises 33:37 Identifying Key Success Factors in Franchising 37:44 The Franchise Discovery Process 40:11 The Value of Franchise Consultants…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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183 - Turning AI Ideas Into Real Income with Chris Koerner 37:19

منذ 6 weeks37:19

37:19

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), and my business partner Chris Koerner (https://x.com/mhp_guy) for HoldCo Bros! We dive deep into the practical and often "underrated" ways people are using AI to build and grow businesses. We discuss my new website, How do you use AI.com, and its unique "give-to-get" model for sharing AI use cases. Discover how AI is revolutionizing hiring by creating personality quizzes that match cultural fit, potentially saving massive recruiter fees. Learn about Perplexity Labs for generating incredible market research reports that can serve as valuable lead magnets. Plus, we share a "genius" prompt engineering trick to get LLMs to generate and improve your prompts for you. Questions This Episode Answers: What is the "give-to-get" model for sharing AI use cases? How can AI revolutionize hiring through personality-based assessments? What is the "most underrated" AI opportunity for automating pitch decks? How can AI-generated reports from tools like Perplexity Labs become powerful lead magnets? What advanced prompt engineering technique involves LLMs generating and evaluating their own prompts? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 - Underrated AI business idea 00:35 - “HowAreYouUsingAI.com” explained 05:22 - AI quiz to match tools with your business 10:16 - Personality-based hiring with AI 17:00 - Manus AI creates pitch decks automatically 24:35 -Genius AI prompt engineering method 29:25 - What Perplexity Labs can actually do 34:15 - $2K AI reports used as lead magnets…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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182 - How to Build Your Own AI Personal Assistant with Elizabeth Knopf 34:55

منذ 6 weeks34:55

34:55

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), and Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) for this week's AI updates! This week, the AI world is buzzing, even in what some consider a "slow" period! We dive into the incredible pace of AI development, where giants like Anthropic, Google, Proplexity Labs, and Manus are in a relentless race for feature parity. We discuss the controversial predictions from Anthropic's founder about AI eliminating entry-level white-collar jobs and how that contrasts with Sundar's views on management positions. Elizabeth and I explore whether calls for government intervention in AI might actually be a strategic move for regulatory capture. Plus, I share my personal journey setting up Claude as my AI personal assistant, integrating my email and calendar, and leveraging contextual documents for productivity. Questions This Episode Answers: How quickly are AI features developing, and what does feature parity mean for the market? What are the differing perspectives from Anthropic's founder and Sundar on AI's impact on white-collar jobs? Could calls for government intervention in AI be a strategic move by AI companies? What are practical first steps to leveraging AI as a personal assistant using tools like Claude? How do Claude and ChatGPT compare when building a comprehensive personal operating manual? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Highlights 00:20 The Current State of AI and Job Displacement 09:48 Integrating AI into Daily Life 19:49 Building a Personal Operating System with AI…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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181 - The Reality of Year One: Sales, Cash Flow, and Life as a Franchisee with Clayton Edrington 36:34

منذ 6 weeks36:34

36:34

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Clayton Edrington. Clayton was making over $300,000 a year at Amazon but had an entrepreneurial itch. He explored everything from SaaS startups to buying existing businesses before landing on franchising. We dive into why he left a high-paying tech job, how he evaluated different home services and sweaty businesses, and ultimately chose to buy multiple territories in a relatively new roofing franchise, Bumble Roofing. Clayton shares the startup costs, his approach to financing, navigating the early months, and the crucial role of community and support. Questions This Episode Answers: Why choose a franchise over other paths? What is the business model of a roofing franchise? How do you pick the right franchise for you? What are the real startup costs for a franchise? What personal sacrifices come with starting a business? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Join Connor Groce here for a live webinar answering your franchise questions! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Journey Begins: From Tech to Roofing 03:10 Understanding the Roofing Business Model 05:56 Navigating the Franchise Landscape 09:13 Preparing for the Leap: Financial and Personal Considerations 12:04 The Launch: Early Days and Initial Challenges 14:53 Sales Success and Market Dynamics 18:10 Cash Flow Management and Financial Insights 20:52 Advice for Aspiring Franchisees…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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180 - Can Laundromats Really Make You a Millionaire with Tyler Purcell 25:00

منذ 7 weeks25:00

25:00

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Tyler Purcell (https://x.com/TylerPurcell24). In this episode, I'm talking to Tyler who runs, what I think, is the quintessential small business: laundromats. You've likely heard about this kind of sweaty business from people like Cody Sanchez, but Tyler gives us the inside scoop on why it's an essential service that's considered recession proof. We dive into how his family got started in the laundry business, how they scaled their operation to multiple locations, and why they chose to build new stores from scratch rather than buying existing ones. Tyler reveals the surprising profit margins possible in the industry and explains their strategy of targeting areas with old, run-down "zombie mats". We also cover the specific demographics they look for when scouting a new location and their unique approach to marketing. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How profitable can laundromats really be? Why do you look for areas with "zombie mats" when finding a location? What demographics are key when choosing a site for a new laundromat? What's the secret sauce for attracting customers with grand openings? How much does it cost to get a new laundromat up and running? ___________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 02:28 Getting into the Laundromat Business 06:56 Choosing Locations and Metrics 11:56 Industry Profit Margins 16:39 Buying a Laundromat: A Step-by-Step Guide 21:07 Financial Insights and Future Plans 22:06 Rapid Fire Questions 24:15 Final Thoughts and Contact Information…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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179 - $6.5B for a Designer? OpenAI’s Wildest Move Yet, with Liz Knopf 39:32

منذ 7 weeks39:32

39:32

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 In this week’s convo with Liz, we unpacked the AI news that should’ve broken the internet: 🔹 $6.5B for Johnny Ive?! OpenAI “acquires” the legendary Apple designer’s agency in a full stock deal. No one knows what they’re building, but it’s probably wearable, creepy, and context-aware—and it’s a flex timed perfectly to steal headlines from Google I/O. 🔹 Google’s comeback attempt They’re finally rolling out AI-native search with ads—and it’s a big deal. $60B+ of ad revenue is on the line. We dig into what’s launching, how to use tools like Gemini, Flow, and VO, and why Google still feels like 27 startups duct-taped together. 🔹 VO3 is insane AI-generated video so good, you can’t tell it’s fake. We demo what it can do (photo-realistic balloon animals discussing AI??) and debate if it’s ready for real ad production. 🔹 Energy is the real bottleneck You want AGI? You better build power plants. Liz drops a chart that shows how far ahead China is in electricity generation—and why AI’s future might be limited by kilowatts, not compute. 🔹 Trades are about to boom If you can build a data center, wire a panel, or install cooling systems, the AI wave might make you rich. We riff on counterculture investments, labor shortages, and why electricians may beat coders in the next economy. 🔹 The privacy backlash is coming We debate whether AI wearables will be a privacy nightmare—or the best documentation tool ever (think body cams for healthcare). Liz shares surprising data that body cams reduced lawsuits. Mind blown. 🔹 Bonus: Anthropic teaser We didn’t even get to it—but next week we’re diving into Claude, Model Context Protocol, and tools normal people can use without needing a CS degree. __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Acquisition of Johnny Ive by OpenAI 05:10 The Future of AI and Wearable Technology 09:45 Privacy Concerns in AI and Wearable Devices 14:58 Google's Response to AI Competition 20:05 The Evolution of AI and Its Impact on Society 24:48 The Future of Energy and AI Infrastructure 29:55 The Role of Trades in the Future of AI…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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178 - How Facebook Ads Nearly Killed This $12.5M Brand with Hans Dose 45:07

منذ 7 weeks45:07

45:07

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Hans Dose (https://x.com/HansDose_Does) about his wild journey from a Shark Tank deal to building a $12.5 million business and now, launching a US manufacturing facility in California. Hans is a real-deal entrepreneur who saw the challenges coming for e-commerce brands relying on overseas production, especially with tariffs and geopolitical risks changing the landscape. He shares how his product, Tenikle, went from struggling at $10k/month pre-filming to a massive sales spike after the Shark Tank airing. We dive into the surprising reality of razor-thin margins in the e-commerce world, largely due to massive advertising costs. Hans explains the crucial difference between silicon and silicone, detailing why this flexible, non-toxic material is vital for countless consumer products. And he lays out his bold plan to "steal China's strategy" for efficient, small-scale production to make US manufacturing competitive again. Questions This Episode Answers: How did a Shark Tank deal lead to building a $12.5M business and a US factory? Why are e-commerce margins razor-thin despite high sales? What is silicone, and why do so many products use it? Can US manufacturing really compete on cost with China? Why build a factory in California instead of nearshoring? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 From Shark Tank to Manufacturing Success 02:59 The Importance of Silicone in E-commerce 05:56 Navigating the Challenges of Low Margins 08:50 The Shark Tank Experience: Risks and Rewards 12:11 The Rollercoaster of Business Growth 14:59 Unit Economics and Advertising Costs 17:47 Shifting Manufacturing Strategies in a Changing World 22:32 The Shift in Manufacturing Expertise 27:21 Learning from China's Manufacturing Model 30:43 Challenges of Domestic Manufacturing 36:28 Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape 42:48 The Future of American Manufacturing…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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177 - From Layoff to $250K: The 1-Person Agency Playbook with Zach Ashburn 41:11

منذ 8 weeks41:11

41:11

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Zach Ashburn (https://x.com/zachary_ashburn) about what I think is the most predictable way to get into entrepreneurship: building an agency business or becoming an independent consultant based on a specialized skill you already have from your corporate job. Zach works with people making this transition, often what we call accidental entrepreneurs, helping them make the leap. We dive into the crucial first steps, like mapping out your cash flow and personal finances, which Zach emphasizes is king. We also talk about the shift from an employee mindset to a business owner mindset, the power of realizing no one's giving you permission to start, and the importance of smart delegation and outsourcing when you're "bad at most things" except your core skill. Questions This Episode Answers: How can you turn your specialized skill from a corporate job into an agency business or consulting? What are the first financial steps to plan when making the leap to entrepreneurship? How do you shift from an employee mindset to a business owner mindset? What should you delegate or outsource when starting your consulting practice? How should consultants think about pricing their services and knowing their worth? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 The Entrepreneurial Switch: Finding Your Niche 03:00 The Accidental Entrepreneur: Navigating Unexpected Opportunities 05:52 Financial Planning for New Entrepreneurs 08:46 Building a Business Operating System 12:11 The Mindset Shift: From Employee to Entrepreneur 18:08 Principles of the Accidental Entrepreneur 20:33 The Light Bulb Moment in Entrepreneurship 23:24 Embracing the Role of Business Owner 25:45 The Importance of Delegation 28:41 Understanding Cash Flow and Pricing Strategies 32:57 Navigating Pricing Challenges 37:18 Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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176 - AI SERIES: 16 - The Non-Coder's Guide to AI App Building with Billy Howell 30:55

منذ 8 weeks30:55

30:55

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Billy Howell (https://x.com/billyjhowell). I was excited to have Billy on because he's prolific at building apps and tools using AI , despite not having a technical background. We dive into his journey from government consulting and TPS reports to starting agencies like OX Labs and Stupid Simple Apps , now focused on building AI -powered internal tools for startups. Billy shares his go-to AI models like OpenAI 4.0 ( ChatGPT ) and how he uses tools like Replit , Cursor , Claude , Make.com , N8n , and V0.dev to build apps quickly. We discuss how small business owners can leverage AI to automate processes, build useful internal tools , and even potentially replace expensive SaaS solutions by creating simple wrappers around a prompt . We also tackle the challenge of finishing AI -built apps , managing technical debt , and the importance of being disciplined with rollback using tools like Git . Billy gives practical advice on keeping things stupid simple and even advocates for running towards things that don't scale initially. Questions This Episode Answers: How can someone with no technical background build useful apps using AI tools? What are the best AI models and platforms like Replit or Lovable for non-technical users to start building apps ? How can small businesses use AI to automate processes and build custom internal tools ? What does it mean to build an app by creating a " wrapper " around an AI prompt ? How do you handle the debugging and finishing steps when AI builds most of the code for your app ? Enjoy the conversation! __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 Introduction to Automation and AI Tools 03:00 The Journey from Non-Technical to Coding 05:48 Building Apps for Business Needs 09:03 Leveraging AI for Small Business Solutions 11:54 Creating Processes through Automation 14:47 The Future of CRM and AI Integration 18:08 Overcoming Challenges in App Development 20:59 Final Thoughts on Building Simple Apps…

Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

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175 - How Big Tech Layoffs Signal the Future of AI Integration with Elizabeth Knopf 29:38

منذ 8 weeks29:38

29:38

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨 Join me, Nik ( https://x.com/CoFoundersNik ), as I interview Liz Knopf ( https://x.com/leveragedupside ) about the latest developments in AI and what they mean for boring businesses . This week was massive, and we're finally seeing real-world applications of AI that move beyond the hype. We dive into the recent layoffs at major tech companies like Microsoft , Meta , Google , Workday , Intuit , and CrowdStrike , discussing how they signal a shift towards prioritizing AI infrastructure and boosting efficiency. Liz shares insights on how companies like Duolingo and Shopify are going AI-first and seeing incredible results. We also explore why, despite automation and companies like Klarna automating roles, human skills and interaction are becoming even more critical. Plus, we get hands-on with Custom GPTs , discuss their "actions" feature for integrating with tools like Zapier via APIs , navigate the challenges of AI hallucinations , and look at tools like Notebook LM and Claude projects for extracting value from data using RAG12. Enjoy the conversation! Questions This Episode Answers: How are major tech companies using AI to become more efficient? Why are big tech companies having layoffs and shifting focus to AI infrastructure ? Are managers obsolete in the age of AI ? Why are human skills becoming more valuable as AI automates tasks? How can AI tools help you find specific information in large documents or transcripts? __________________________ Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________ MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT __________________________ This week we covered: 00:00 AI's Impact on Coding and Business Efficiency 03:05 The Role of AI in Workforce Changes 05:52 The Future of Management in an AI-Driven World 09:04 AI's Influence on Learning and Development 12:00 The Broader Implications of Tech Layoffs 14:53 Navigating AI Hallucinations and Custom GPTs…

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