You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!
"You just have to ask."
"The magic is creating the container for relationships."
"If you talk to an outsource company and they can kick off development for you or kick off a project next week, that's a massive red flag for me."
"You're going to have to hire great people."
"I think you can do more with less these days."
"Let the market pull you. You have to be so nimble. You're lucky if you can block a punch in the beginning."
"Great writing starts from a great brief, which starts from great strategy."
"When you get clear on what a dream buyer looks like, now you have a filtering mechanism for who would I even entertain because it has to look like X."--
"I help Chick-fil-A operators sell more chicken!"--
"You need to first create an environment where they trust you. Second, create an environment where they know that you're going to work your butt off. And third, create an environment where you're actually helping them."--
"Intimacy is what we offer to our customers. We make them feel seen, heard, and felt."--
"What it means to be data-driven is to let 99% of the decisions be made for you so that you can focus on the high-leverage 1%."--
"If you're asking for swimming advice, you don't go and talk to someone who has never swum before. You go talk to an Olympic swimmer."Join Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) as they sit down with Cedric Chin, the genius behind Commoncog.com - an industry leading blog that helps founders accelerate business expertise.in this episode, Cedrics breaks down the concept of believability and its importance in decision-making, as well as the process of becoming data-driven in business. He also shares his insights on scaling businesses, working with data, and operations. After this episode you should improve your intuitive decision-making and learn how to truly embrace the data-driven decision-making in business.00:00 The Importance of Believability in Decision-Making06:32 Becoming Data-Driven: Understanding Routine and Exceptional Variation13:37 The Amazon Method: Statistical Process Control and WBR23:43 Building an Appreciation for Data-Driven Decision-Making28:33 Accelerating Revenue Growth and Pursuing Business Outcomes29:29 The Transition to Data-Driven Decision-Making32:22 The Process Control Worldview33:20 Debating Summary Metrics in Business57:31 The Role of Data Tools in Operational Excellence59:29 The Causal Model of Business Metrics01:01:55 The Importance of Knowledge in Business01:20:00 Understanding the Growth Loop and Iterative ImprovementCheck out Cedric on:➤ Commoncog: https://commoncog.com/➤ Twitter: https://x.com/ejames_c➤ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedchin/
“Who are you beyond your professional identity?”Join Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) as they sit down with Steve Schlafman, a former VC who traded the boardroom for the coaching couch. Steve now guides high-achievers, especially founders, through major life pivots and career crossroads.In this episode, Steve opens up about his own winding path from venture capitalist to life coach, sharing the "aha" moment that sparked his career shift. He goes deep into the fascinating world of "founders in transition," revealing the unique hurdles and unexpected opportunities that emerge when driven individuals decide to hit the brakesTune in to hear Steve's unique perspective on the intersection of high performance and intentional living.(01:17) - Steve's background(04:15) - The concept of "founders in transition"(07:50) - Embracing slowing down(11:48) - Transitioning concepts that also apply to builders(15:19) - Habits of founders behind successful transitions(19:31) - The power of internal monologues in high-performing founders(27:52) - The eventual necessity of slowing down(31:09) - How Steve helps shape new identities for founders(37:23) - The connection between a diversified identity and resilience(43:53) - Steve's "journey inventory" exercise(48:48) - The moment Steve realized his passion for helping founders transition(55:39) - Everyone is always going through micro cycles(58:23) - The concept of being above the line/below the line(01:05:55) - Living the undivided life(01:09:44) - The differences between transitioning and deceleration(01:16:42) - Building appreciation for deceleration(01:21:27) - VC-backed founders and the integrated lifeCheck out Steve on:➤ Personal website: https://www.schlaf.co/➤ Downshift: https://www.downshift.me/➤ Twitter: [](https://www.instagram.com/danielpriestley)https://x.com/schlaf➤ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schlaf/The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success - [](https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3MHWUE
“I just read the best fiction of my life and it was my pitch deck from two years ago.”Join Johnny Page (@johnnypage13) and Matt Verlaque (@mattverlaque) on a new episode of the SaaS Academy Podcast as they sit down with Maddie Bell, CEO of Scheduler.ai. Maddie's journey from Procter & Gamble to co-founding a thriving startup is packed with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.Discover how Maddie and her husband successfully balance the challenges of building a company while raising a family. Learn how they've leveraged AI to streamline scheduling and cater to a niche market, proving that technology and personal life can coexist harmoniously.Maddie opens up about the risks and rewards of leaving a stable job to pursue her passion, sharing her experiences from fundraising rounds and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way.But it's not just about the tech – Maddie delves into the importance of aligning AI with the core principles of customer connection and business growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and achieving a fulfilling work-life balance(05:40) - Maddie Bell's backstory(6:34) - Winning two Hackathons (Slack and Square)(10:32) - Unexpected expansion through 'niching down'(13:26) - De-risking and setting timelines to go all-in(21:35) - Expectations before leaving Procter & Gamble and feelings after the fact(24:30) - Fundraising rounds before and after the change of focus(26:50) - To patent or not to patent (ROI considerations)(31:26) - The right and wrong ways to leverage AI(35:20) - The entry point to start using AI(37:10) - The three phases of AI (including the two we've seen so far)(42:45) - Scheduler AI competing with basic ChatGPT wrapped tooling(47:48) - Intimately understanding the jobs to be done for your customer(51:40) - The rhythms and habits of Maddie and her co-founder Mike Bell(55:18) - Maddie's thoughts on 'founders are the ceilings of growth'(57:15) - The value of coaching(1:01:48) - "You were digging for oil and you were close but you stopped."(1:07:30) - What Maddie wants to be remembered forCheck out Maddie's LinkedIn and her website:➤ [LinkedIn] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddiebell)➤ [Website] (https://www.scheduler.ai/)
"There's a lot of fear and limiting beliefs and identity things that founders get tied up in."Join Johnny Page (@johnnypage13) and Matt Verlaque (@mattverlaque) on a new episode of the SaaS Academy Podcast AS they discuss the transition of leadership at SaaS Academy with Dan Martell. 00:00 - Intro / Setting the Stage01:04 - Reflecting on a Life Changing Hike03:27 - The Emotional Aspect of Leadership Transitions04:54 - Creating a Transition Plan08:02 - Fear and Limiting Beliefs in Relinquishing the CEO Spot09:27 - Trusting the Talent and Empowering Others10:24 - Learning to Let Go and Delegate13:10 - The Pains of a Transition Process14:08 - The Ego and Accepting Change21:12 - The Future of SaaS Academy23:03 - Getting thought leaders to events24:53 - Attracting Top Talent26:18 - Collaboration and Building together28:15 - Strong Infrastructure and Exceptional Customer Experience29:38 - Dan's future plans with Content Production, Books, and Portfolio of Companies42:35 - Helping Troubled Youth and Sharing Business Building Experiences
“You're standing on a mountain of value. You just can't see it."Join Johnny Page (@johnnypage13) and Matt Verlaque (@mattverlaque) on a new episode of the SaaS Academy Podcast as they explore the remarkable entrepreneurial journey of Daniel Priestley. From diving into $8000 of credit card debt at age 21 to start his first venture, to becoming the Co-founder and CEO of Dent Global—one of the world's leading business accelerators—Daniel's path is truly inspiring.He also founded ScoreApp, a tool that revolutionizes how businesses generate qualified, data-rich leads. Daniel's insights have been featured in prestigious publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur, and the Huffington Post, and he's recognized as one of the top 25 entrepreneurs in London. Drawing from his book "Key Person of Influence," this conversation is packed with valuable strategies for anyone looking to make a dent in the business world. Tune in and learn how Daniel scaled multiple 7 and 8 figure ventures.(1:14) - Importance of launching a waiting list(3:02) - Getting early insight about proper pricing(5:41) - Daniel's background in growing businesses(7:21) - Zeroing in on world-class feature sets(9:17) - Origins of ScoreApp(12:17) - Using scorecards to leverage SaaS growth(16:42) - Advertising works for fueling fires, less for starting(24:19) - How Daniel built an audience for his book ‘Key Person of Influence'(29:01) - What is a micro-niche exactly?(34:48) - Importance of sharing your personal insights publicly(43:19) - Building a personal brand is about the ideal client, not yourself(45:00) - What skillsets can be taught and what are the ones you're just born with?(51:04) - Biggest struggle that impacted Daniel's career(56:43) - Daniel's debt cycle into a growth cycle(1:01:55) - The importance of your team(1:04:55) - Developing assets to reduce dependence(1:12:27) - Daniel's thoughts on building a legacy(1:14:22) - Raising entrepreneurial-minded kidsCheck out Daniel on:➤ [Personal website] (https://danielpriestley.com/ )➤ [Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/danielpriestley➤ [LinkedIn] (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpriestley?originalSubdomain=uk)Key Person of Influence: The Five-Step Method to Become One of the Most Highly Valued and Highly Paid People in Your Industry - https://www.amazon.com/Key-Person-Influence-Revised-Five-Step/dp/178133109XEntrepreneur Revolution: How to Develop your Entrepreneurial Mindset and Start a Business that Works - https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneur-Revolution-Develop-Entrepreneurial-Business/dp/085708416XHow To Raise Entrepreneurial Kids: Raising confident, resourceful and resilient children who are ready to succeed in life - https://www.amazon.com/How-Raise-Entrepreneurial-Kids-resourceful/dp/1781334293
“The only difference between a really high performing team member and a high performing entrepreneur is their appetite for risk.”Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are joined by guest Dev Basu, CEO of Powered by Search, as they delve into Basu's entrepreneurial journey, starting from selling video games in high school to scaling SaaS companies through effective organic and paid traffic acquisition. He also shares valuable insights on scaling SaaS businesses, from balancing risk and reward to transitioning to a remote team. With a focus on conversions over traffic and the importance of a 'Who It's For' page, the episode provides actionable strategies for SaaS growth, making it a must-listen for SaaS founders and marketers targeting digital age business scaling.Timestamps:(0:40) - Introduction(1:40) - Dev's entrepreneurial journey(4:03) - The evolution of powered by search(6:35) - Building a high-performance team(8:46) - Navigating risks and opportunities(14:09) - Powered by search's approach to growth(21:48) - Aligning sales and marketing for success(24:20) - Unlocking the power of KPAs in marketing(26:56) - Creating a feedback loop: The secret to organizational success(28:02) - Revolutionizing compensation plans(30:54) - Optimizing marketing and sales strategies(34:57) - Leveraging compensation and flexibility for team success(37:53) - Building a world-class distributed team(43:12) - Empowering marketing strategies(48:54) - ConclusionCheck out Dev Basu on:➤ Instagram | LinkedIn | Powered by Search
“We understood the problem very well, and it was a very real problem in the market.”Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are joined by Marcel Petitpas, co-founder and CEO of Parakeeto as well as head strategic coach at SaaS Academy, as they explore Marcel's journey from a service business owner to a SaaS entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's business model and mastering operations for success. Marcel explores the transition from service to SaaS, emphasizing the importance of identifying real problems, strategic positioning, and efficient service delivery for profitability. The discussion offers valuable insights for SaaS founders on leveraging agency relationships, optimizing operations, and the long-term impact of content marketing for business success.Timestamps:(0:33) - Introduction(3:46) - Marcel's journey: from Apple store to SaaS CEO(7:41) - The art of transitioning from service to SaaS(11:22) - The pitfalls of skipping essential business steps(16:09) - Leveraging podcasts for business growth and authority(19:59) - Maximizing podcast appearances for lead generation(23:08) - The long-term impact of content marketing(25:13) - The journey from passion to expertise in business(26:59) - The ripple effect of improving service business models(28:49) - The challenge of agency profitability and client satisfaction(33:18) - Exploring performance-driven agency models(39:58) - Leveraging agencies for SaaS growth(43:36) - ConclusionCheck out Marcel Petitpas on:➤ Instagram | LinkedIn | Website | Parakeeto
“Your point of view will evolve and improve the more you socialize it to other people.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) share their insights on the importance of content creation for founders. They discuss how initially, they believed branding and market positioning were crucial, but realized that customers care more about their problems being solved. The conversation highlights how personal branding as a founder can significantly impact customer trust and confidence, more so than the organizational brand itself. They emphasize the power of sharing one's unique point of view and experiences to make a difference, encouraging founders to start creating content, no matter how intimidating it might seem initially.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(0:31) - The realization that changed our business perspective(1:28) - The future of founders: content creation as a necessity(4:41) - Inspiring founders and the power of building in public(8:52) - Overcoming the fear of content creation(16:31) - The impact of sharing your unique point of view(27:29) - Actionable steps to start your content creation journey
”I didn't want to fail at going off on my own because I was worried about what other people would think.”Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are joined by Kyle Vamvouris, CEO of Vouris, as he shares his journey from a stand-up comedian and gym membership salesperson to becoming a sales consultant for early-stage tech startups, emphasizing the importance of data-driven strategies, repeatable processes, and understanding product-market fit for sales success. They also delve into personal growth, confronting internal dialogues, and finding happiness and freedom beyond professional achievements. Kyle offers valuable insights on building a sales team, the significance of list management, the impact of AI on sales, and the pivotal role of mindset in entrepreneurship.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(0:52) - Introduction(2:20) - Kyle's journey: from stand-up comedy to sales mastery(5:29) - The art of building repeatable sales processes(12:33) - Unlocking the power of phone calls in sales(15:47) - Navigating the challenges of sales and rejection(23:34) - Embracing the journey: a new perspective on success(28:00) - The founder's dilemma: effort vs. outcomes(29:03) - The hard work and resilience needed for success(31:09) - The power of internal dialogue and self-reflection(39:00) - Navigating personal challenges and professional growth(48:28) - The importance of data and trends in sales and marketing(57:20) - ConclusionCheck out Kyle Vamvouris on:➤ Instagram | LinkedIn | Vouris | Check out his new book HERE!
”Transactionally they're actually more, a higher percentage of younger people volunteering than ever before. They just volunteer less time.”Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are joined by Mark Hopwood, President and Co-founder of VolunteerMatters, as they delve into the journey of a SaaS business dedicated to helping organizations manage their volunteer workforce, the conversation reveals how adopting a mindset for clarity, the positive impact of attending intensives for blind spot elimination, and the strategic shift to targeting larger clients significantly propelled the business forward. With VolunteerMatters experiencing substantial monthly recurring revenue growth and optimizing processes for volunteer onboarding, Mark shares the pivotal role SaaS Academy played in rethinking business strategies from pricing to packaging and beyond. He dives into the specifics of moving up-market, leveraging RFPs for growth, and personal evolution as a founder are also explored, showcasing the transformative journey of building a legacy in the nonprofit sector.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(0:38) - Introduction(1:21) - Unveiling business growth and mindset shifts(2:35) - A deep dive into business metrics and strategies(4:09) - Navigating the nonprofit sector(5:38) - RFPs and sole source contracts(10:18) - From tech solutions to nonprofit impact(14:13) - A journey of purpose and volunteering(18:10) - The future of volunteering: trends, challenges, and opportunities(21:22) - The power of streamlining volunteer onboarding(22:39) - Building a legacy through business evolution(25:23) - Leveraging executive assistants in sales processes(31:09) - Strategic shifts: moving up market for growth(34:03) - The transformative journey with SaaS Academy(38:52) - Conclusion
“It's a lot of how we go faster, but again, it's like counting the costs before you, you go into that channel.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) talk about how and when to hire an agency, and the benefits and pitfalls of doing so. They share personal experiences of working with over 40 agencies in the past decade and how to extract maximum value from a professional partnership. With insights on the agency selection process, tips for managing the relationship, and when to use agency support, this episode is packed with eye-opening truths about outsourced work, tackling common myths and misconceptions along the way.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(0:50) - The dilemma of hiring an agency(2:14) - The reality of working with agencies(4:14) - The importance of understanding agency's business(6:26) - The art of interviewing an agency(8:32) - The ideal scenario for hiring an agency(11:41) - The strategy of testing a channel with an agency(15:24) - Three scenarios of when to use agencies(23:26) - Managing relationships with agencies(24:05) - The importance of regular communication with agencies(27:35) - The responsibility of outcomes(28:47) - Key takeaways on hiring agencies
“The effect that doing content can have on recruitment is bonkers!” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss the importance of content production for every SaaS company founder. They delve into the reasons why every SaaS founder should be the expert in their field, helping others with in-depth knowledge and insight. They also address common objections and hesitations about creating content, including doubts about ROI, discomfort with being on camera or being the company's face, and fear of producing content that goes unnoticed. Additionally, they provide suggestions on how to start creating content and the minimum commitment required to see results.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:26) - The power of expertise and deep diving into topics(5:20) - The impact of content on trust building(9:09) - Overcoming limiting beliefs and getting started with content creation(15:46) - The influence of content on recruitment(24:19) - The role of content in sales and onboarding
“You gotta show them what winning looks like.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss key questions from their coaching communities and Facebook groups, offering insightful answers and practical tips on boosting sales rep performance, creating impactful case studies, calculating LTV, and implementing effective onboarding strategies for Account Executives. They also provide advice on fostering a customer success-oriented approach to fuel organizational growth.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(0:59) - Q1: Who do you need to invite during an annual planning?(4:18) - Q2: What is the process to create a really strong customer case study?(10:20) - Q3: How do you calculate for Lifetime Value (LTV)?(15:08) - Q4: How should an onboarding process look like for a salesperson?
“We got to make sure we're solving the root, not the fruit.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) deep-dive into strategies for solving churn in B2B SaaS companies. They detail the importance of refining the acquisition of customers, improving customer success, and enhancing the product to reduce churn. Particular focus is placed on defining the problem of churn and taking steps to resolve it before it impacts the overall business model negatively. The episode also highlights the importance of usage metrics to validate customers' feedback when they leave and the value of increasing customer commitment upon initial sale.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:02) - Understanding the importance of solving churn(3:50) - The three engines of a recurring revenue business(7:01) - The importance of measuring churn(10:52) - How to conduct exit interviews to understand churn(17:48) - The importance of usage metrics in diagnosing churn(20:11) - Early stage founders: plan your metrics(22:59) - Making informed decisions & studying your best clients(26:02) - The role of positioning in churn(27:44) - Increasing client commitments(30:30) - The handoff from sales to customer success(33:07) - The role of product in churn
“Life is too short to spend time in an organization where you don't have trust.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) share their experiences from annual and quarterly planning sessions, emphasizing the need for constructive discussions rather than arguing to be 'right'. They discuss concepts like 'positive intent', 'Assume Positive Intent (API)', and how to comfortably get ideas challenged. They also offer valuable tips to facilitate such an environment and share the significance of relationship-building within a team to foster trust and improve decisions.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:23) - The importance of trust in decision making(2:53) - The role of vulnerability in innovation(5:55) - The power of healthy conflict(9:20) - The impact of emotional intelligence on team dynamics(11:34) - The value of constructive feedback(16:30) - The role of trust in building high-performing teams
“This is not just a job. They are thrilled and obsessed with the mission, the customer, the problem, the ways we could solve it, etc…” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss the importance of attracting higher-caliber talent as your company matures. They further delve into the role of a Facebook community for lead generation and support, explaining how effectively managed communities can drive engagement and grow the business. The hosts also share their perspectives on what makes a great developer, highlighting the need for quality, speed, and context-oriented work.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(3:25) - Q1: Hiring Executive Assistants(18:52) - Q2: Managing Facebook Groups(27:45) - Q3: Qualities of a Great Developer
“You got to develop an appreciation for saying ‘no' and ‘not right now'”. Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss the negative impact of 'Shiny Object Syndrome' on business founders' decision-making. They offer insights on recognizing and addressing this behavior, emphasizing the importance of team balance, clear evaluation metrics, and effective communication for achieving shared goals.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:45) - The entrepreneur's mindset and its impact(3:00) - Consequences of shifting strategies(4:36) - Recognizing and overcoming shiny object syndrome(6:37) - The role of team members in overcoming shiny object syndrome(7:33) - Importance of awareness and communication(12:21) - The role of data in decision making(17:08) - Importance of staying the course
"You get to meet your future self through community. There's a new and better version of you, (…) a more fulfilled, and intentional version of you.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) talk about the importance of community and belonging in their personal and professional lives. They reflect on how being part of communities has helped them grow, challenge their beliefs, and achieve success. They emphasize the value of being in a room with like-minded people who can provide support, guidance, and inspiration.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:11) - Matt's journey into a community(3:11) - The challenges of building a community(4:13) - Overcoming limiting beliefs(6:32) - Role of a community in entrepreneurship(8:52) - Benefits of a community(12:51) - The impact of community on personal and business growth(16:53) - The power of giving in a community
“There's a thousand reasons we could say that this won't work, but I think there's something here…” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) explore the challenges of proposing new ideas and overcoming resistance. They highlight Jeff Bezos' insights on Amazon's effective six-page memo approach, emphasizing the importance of shared understanding and truth-seeking. The discussion delves into implementing this process based on company size, prioritizing truth-seeking over persuasion, and embracing vulnerability.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:33) - Bezos explains Amazon's meeting structure(4:28) - Analyzing benefits and challenges of Amazon's meetings(8:30) - Reflecting on vulnerability in presenting ideas(9:52) - Discussing potential of implementing memo system(13:08) - Commitment to test memo system
”You got to be good enough to know what's wrong, even if you don't know what's right.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) are answering questions from their SaaS community such as analyzing product usage metrics, building a customer support system, and making the first marketing hire. They provide insights, advice, and strategies based on questions from their community.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:23) - Question #1: Utilization Rate of Users and Benchmarks(12:13) - Question #2: Building Customer Success System in Early Days of a SaaS Company(21:12) - Question #3: Building a Marketing Team and Hiring the Right Talent
“All I know is you can't learn to surf reading a book and you're not going to find a co-founder behind your keyboard. You're going to have to go talk to some people.” Today, join Johnny (@johnnypage13), Matt (@mattverlaque), and special guest Dan Martell (@danmartell), founder and CEO of SaaS Academy, as they explore what it takes to attract a great co-founder and build successful business partnerships.They share personal experiences and discuss practical strategies such as seeking talent, maintaining frequent communication with potential partners, and developing a future-focused mindset. The trio also touches on the importance of getting to know each other's visions, values, and long-term goals before getting into a business relationship.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!➤ Follow Dan Martell on: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Apple | SpotifyTimestamps:(2:57) - The importance of trust in business partnerships(6:00) - The role of shared values in partnerships(10:38) - Maintaining relationships with business partners(13:12) -The importance of clear communication in partnerships(17:01) - Reflecting on a future-oriented conversation(20:07) - The importance of expressing preferences(24:04) - Understanding the impact of personal changes on business(30:36) - The role of self worth in business(33:43) - The dangers of overselling and underdelivering
“Happiness comes from living in alignment with your values.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss how their calendars reveal their deepest values and how they align their time with their priorities. They share their personal practices for managing their calendars and ensuring that they are living in alignment with their values. They also discuss the importance of setting boundaries, prioritization, and reflection in order to achieve personal and professional goals.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:06) - The role of calendars in skill acquisition(5:19) - Aligning time with values(10:31) - Prioritizing week by values(15:07) - Work constraints importance(20:34) - Living in line with values equals happiness(22:30) - Constraint theory in business
“The first thing we need to do is literally figure out who we need to hire. And that's not a job title.” Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss strategies for hiring the right candidate for a role. They stress on the importance of planning out the role and objectives in advance, going in-depth during interviews, and creating an efficient onboarding process. They also emphasize investing time in the hiring process, not compromising on standards, and learning from pitfalls.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:57) - The concept of a 'load bearing' new hire(2:49) - The shift in hiring approach(3:26) - The importance of hiring process(8:09) - The role vision survey(10:25) - The interview process(15:49) - The importance of test projects(21:12) - The onboarding process(28:09) - The importance of responsibility from day one
“They'll feel a level of ownership and authority over what they're doing”. Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss the importance of providing context to team members in order for them to thrive and make better decisions. The conversation revolves around the idea that transparency, teaching, and giving context are crucial for effective leadership and team collaboration.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(2:07) - The impact of transparency and context(2:57) - Struggles of working without context(6:00) - Power of providing context & transparency in leadership(7:47) - Dangers of information without knowledge(10:25) - The role of context in decision making(17:24) - The importance of communication in business(20:00) - Recap and summary of key points
"It shouldn't be this monumental effort to go measure the thing and see if the bet's working." Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) share stories of the bets they've made as young entrepreneurs and the key points to consider when making good bets in a company. They also discuss the importance of understanding the problem, measuring success metrics, evaluating the investment and timeline, and considering the opportunity cost.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:43) - Johnny's first bet: the SilverTrac story(4:09) - The importance of making good bets in business(5:40) - The challenge of measuring progress(10:19) - Key elements of making good bets(14:27) - Common challenges in making good bets(16:42) - The importance of writing down your bets(27:46) - The role of growth in making bets
Get instant clarity on what you and your team needs to focus on NOW to hit your growth goals. Get your copy of the Precision Scorecard HERE!"If everyone's working and you're not growing, it's your fault." Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss the importance of using a precision scorecard to drive growth in a SAS company. They emphasize the need to know your data and track key performance indicators (KPIs) on a regular basis.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:09) - The importance of knowing your data(2:07) - The role of a scorecard(5:17) - Defining and implementing a precision scorecard(7:07) - The importance of weekly measurement(13:56) - The role of a founder and CEO in a company(15:30) - Debunking excuses for not implementing a scorecard(20:50) - Conclusion
"It's like an emotional build-up of a loss of control, a loss of confidence, a loss of alignment." Today, Johnny (@johnnypage13) and Matt (@mattverlaque) discuss how they lead a team out of overwhelm. They share personal experiences and insights on recognizing early signs of overwhelm, strategies for managing it, and the importance of creating a supportive work environment.You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Timestamps:(1:18) - Understanding overwhelm in a SaaS startup(3:45) - Strategies to overcome overwhelm(6:06) - Personal experiences with overwhelm(9:53) - The role of leadership in addressing overwhelm(11:21) - Recognizing and addressing overwhelm early(18:51) - The role of mission and vision in overcoming overwhelm(21:32) - Building a team resilient to overwhelm
You are now tuned into the SaaS Academy Podcast. Join Matt Verlaque and Johnny Page as they take you behind the scenes of what it takes to become a great SaaS Founder, addressing the challenges, victories, and essential lessons learned in the pursuit of growing a successful business!Catch new episodes dropping every Tuesday!Check out SaaS Academy on:➤ YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter / X | Facebook | Website | Apple | Spotify➤ Follow Matt Verlaque on: Instagram | LinkedIn➤ Follow Johnny Page on: Instagram | LinkedIn
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