Process of determining what a company will receive in exchange for its products
POPULARITY
Categories
#567 Dreaming of getting paid to travel the world? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we sit down with Ralph Velasco, a seasoned tour organizer who's spent over 17 years building a business leading unique travel experiences across six continents. Ralph shares how he turned his passion for photography and cultural exploration into a thriving career, why “travel deep, not wide” is his new motto, and the step-by-step process he uses to design and sell unforgettable trips. Whether you're curious about starting your own travel-based business or simply love hearing how others create freedom through entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration! What we discuss with Ralph: + Building a travel-based business + Leading tours on six continents + Shifting to “travel deep, not wide” + Turning photography into a niche + Finding your passion and focus + Creating retreats and unique experiences + Importance of picking a target audience + Using local tour operators effectively + Pricing strategies and profitability tips + Testing ideas locally before scaling Thank you, Ralph! Check out Continental Drifter at ContinentalDrifter.co. Follow Ralph on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join the Imagen Community on Facebook to continue the discussions between episodes.We're bringing you a hands-on masterclass for photographers and videographers who want to reclaim their time, streamline their business, and stay ahead of the game. If you're tired of getting lost in endless editing or want to know how pros balance creative quality with growing demands, this episode is for you.John Bunn is a wedding videographer and photographer, and also the host of the How To Film Weddings Podcast. With 19+ years of experience shooting weddings, he began How To Film Weddings in 2018 and has now taught tens of thousands of wedding professionals. John focuses on detailed business strategies, social media growth, and service. John Bunn joins Scott to share his secrets to thriving in today's videography market. With two decades of experience, John opens up about efficient workflows, outsourcing, and practical habits that set great businesses apart. John's worked through every stage, from editing hundreds of events himself to building teams and smart systems. He gives you a peek behind the curtain on using tools like Dropbox, Imagen, outsourcing partners, and even balancing life and admin work as a creative entrepreneur.“To me, if I can shave hours of time off of something, I'm going to do it. I don't find the joy in doing something that's monotonous that could be done with a click of a button.” - John BunnResourcesSmallHD MonitorsDropboxAtomic HabitsWhy You Should ListenDiscover proven workflows to save hours on editing and organization in photography and video.Learn how outsourcing can help you scale your creative business without sacrificing quality.Hear real-life stories from a thriving wedding photographer and filmmaker who's worked over 500 events.Pick up practical advice for balancing admin, creativity, and personal time as your business grows.Get inspired by professional habits and small changes that have a big impact, both in and out of the studio.Don't miss out—tune in to sharpen your photography workflow, find new ways to get your time back, and set yourself up for more creativity and growth in 2025 and beyond!(00:00) - 67 (02:59) - Defining Filmmaker Terminology (05:10) - John's Wedding Filmmaking Journey (06:07) - Outsourcing and Workflow Efficiency (11:25) - Balancing Work and Personal Life (14:03) - Creating Efficient Habits (15:05) - Imagen's Impact on Workflow (17:46) - The Art of Color Grading (18:48) - Challenges in Video vs. Photo (19:29) - Workflow Enhancements for Consistent Quality (24:41) - Pricing and Market Strategies (28:34) - Administrative Struggles and Solutions
In this special Season 10 teaser episode of the Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast, we revisit Season 8 — a deep dive into the timeless 4 Ps of marketing through a behavioral economics lens. We highlight the impactful episode: The Paradox of Choice in E-Commerce, which reveals how overwhelming options lead to decision fatigue and lost sales — and offers smart strategies to simplify customer choices. Then, we introduce a brand-new companion episode: Anchoring and Pricing: How First Impressions Shape Purchase Decisions. Discover how the first price your customers see sets their expectations and influences buying behavior. Learn how to craft powerful pricing anchors ethically to boost perceived value and conversion. Whether you're refining pricing strategy or streamlining the customer journey, this episode pairing will elevate your marketing with proven behavioral insights. Behavioral Economics in Marketing Podcast | Understanding how we as humans make decisions is an important part of marketing. Behavioral economics is the study of decision-making and can give keen insight into buyer behavior and help to shape your marketing mix. Marketers can tap into Behavioral Economics to create environments that nudge people towards their products and services, to conduct better market research and analyze their marketing mix. Sandra Thomas-Comenole | Host | Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading marketing and sales teams and a rigorously quantitative Master's degree in economics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Wat is eigenlijk de beste prijs voor je dienst of product? En hoe speel je slim met bundels, versies en kortingen om je marge en omzet te vergroten? Deze aflevering in het kort: ☑️ Veel ondernemers laten geld liggen met verkeerde prijsstrategieën ☑️ Pricing-hacks van Apple, Netflix en Ryanair die jij ook kunt toepassen ☑️ GreenPT, een ChatGPT-alternatief uit Nederland Een prijskaartje is nooit zomaar een getal. Het zegt iets over je merk, je kwaliteit en je positie in de markt. Toch maken veel ondernemers dezelfde fout: ze baseren hun prijs op kosten of op wat de concurrent vraagt. Daarmee laten ze veel geld liggen. In deze aflevering van schuiven Isabelle van Keulen en Ruben de Lange van Simon-Kucher aan. Dat is een internationaal consultancybedrijf, gespecialiseerd in strategie, marketing, sales en pricing. Zij weten beiden als geen ander hoe je met slimme pricing & packaging meer verkoopt. Luister ook | Nederlandse Airhub levert cruciale technologie voor drones We hebben het over de psychologie van prijzen, van ‘slechts 1 euro per dag' tot een premiumlabel dat vertrouwen uitstraalt. Ook bespreken we waarom A/B-testen onmisbaar zijn, hoe je met bundels en abonnementsvormen extra omzet kunt binnenhalen en waarom korting soms slim is, maar vaak juist funest. Aan de hand van voorbeelden van Apple, Netflix en Ryanair hoor je hoe grote merken hun strategie inzetten en hoe jij dat als ondernemer ook kunt toepassen. Het gesprek zit vol praktische hacks en inzichten, zodat je na het luisteren direct kritisch naar je eigen prijsmodel kijkt. Luister ook | De echo van de Draghi-rapport Remy Gieling bespreekt in zijn update het businessmodel van GreenPT. Dit is een duurzaam AI-chatplatform dat draait op Europese infrastructuur en zich richt op milieuvriendelijke kunstmatige intelligentie. Het maakt gebruik van de modellen Mistral mini en Qwen, die lokaal worden gehost op groene energie. Bijzonder is dat de restwarmte die vrijkomt bij AI-berekeningen wordt hergebruikt om onder meer woningen, zorginstellingen en zwembaden te verwarmen. Het platform wil zo krachtige AI-toepassingen mogelijk maken zonder onnodige energieverspilling en met een zo klein mogelijke ecologische voetafdruk.
Wat is eigenlijk de beste prijs voor je dienst of product? En hoe speel je slim met bundels, versies en kortingen om je marge en omzet te vergroten?Deze aflevering in het kort:☑️ Veel ondernemers laten geld liggen met verkeerde prijsstrategieën☑️ Pricing-hacks van Apple, Netflix en Ryanair die jij ook kunt toepassen☑️ GreenPT, een ChatGPT-alternatief uit NederlandEen prijskaartje is nooit zomaar een getal. Het zegt iets over je merk, je kwaliteit en je positie in de markt. Toch maken veel ondernemers dezelfde fout: ze baseren hun prijs op kosten of op wat de concurrent vraagt. Daarmee laten ze veel geld liggen. In deze aflevering van schuiven Isabelle van Keulen en Ruben de Lange van Simon-Kucher aan. Dat is een internationaal consultancybedrijf, gespecialiseerd in strategie, marketing, sales en pricing. Zij weten beiden als geen ander hoe je met slimme pricing & packaging meer verkoopt.
MOAT Method Episode Link Want to get on the show? APPLY HERE! Resume and LinkedIn profile optimization could be your next lucrative side hustle, giving people the chance to stand out in a crowded job market. So, how can you craft a digital presence that catches the eye of potential employers? Aaron Mann, host of the Sunday Hustle segment on the BP Daily podcast, walks us through the ins and outs of turning this service into a profitable business venture. In this show, you'll learn the key tools and strategies for crafting an outstanding resume and LinkedIn profile that both impress hiring managers and pass through ATS filters with flying colors. From the aesthetics of your resume to understanding application tracking systems, this episode covers it all with a blend of humor and solid advice. Whether you're looking to boost your own career or help others do the same, this episode is packed with valuable information. Plus, Aaron teases additional insights on turning this side hustle into a full-time gig, exploring potential upsells like career coaching and interview preparation. Don't miss out on the essential tips that could make your resume optimization service stand out! Topics Understanding the job market challenges and opportunities Essential tools for resume building and ATS optimization Tips for LinkedIn profile enhancement Targeting job switchers and recent college grads for clientele Pricing models for resume and LinkedIn services Exploring additional upsells such as career coaching and interview preparation Partnering with career coaches and HR professionals for referrals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If there's one question I get from almost every coach I coach, it's this: how do I know what to charge? That's why we've dedicated this episode to a topic that resonates with so many of us in the coaching, training, and speaking industries: Pricing Your Services. In this episode, we explore various pricing strategies and how they can impact your business. Of course, we also discuss the importance of aligning your pricing with your personal values and strengths. We also talk about the value of adding more to your offers instead of slashing prices, and how to scope down services to meet client budgets. Plus, we sprinkle in some fun anecdotes and practical tips to help you navigate your pricing journey. So, whether you're just starting out or looking to adjust your rates, this episode is packed with valuable nuggets to help you price with confidence!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored episode. Not advice. Educational purposes only. Not an endorsement for or against. Results not vetted. Views of the guests do not represent those of the host or show. Nir Zavaro reveals how professionals can master pitch to win through practical storytelling for business, proven public speaking tips, and building trust across the entire customer journey.If you've been searching for ways to:Deliver a confident three-minute pitch that keeps attentionStructure a discovery call agenda that sets clear expectationsDecide when to memorize your presentation vs. improvise naturallyReplace the weak “thank you” slide with something powerfulUse brand storytelling to connect emotionally and boost conversions…this episode gives you the answers and frameworks you need.With decades of experience at Streetwise agency and authoring F the Slides, Nir Zavaro explains how high-income professionals—executives, doctors, lawyers, and founders—can communicate with clarity, confidence, and consistency. His approach to emotion in branding, brand consistency, and practical presentation coaching helps align your message so your story isn't just heard, but remembered.By the end of this conversation, you'll understand how to use storytelling for business to create messaging that feels authentic, design a customer journey that builds trust, and apply public speaking tips that make your pitch unforgettable. This episode provides wisdom and practical solutions for anyone looking to win clients, grow their influence, and speak with impact.To check out Nir's book, "F*ck the Slides", visit Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mGsMUBTimestamps (24:03): 00:00 – Intro: Why storytelling matters more than slides01:00 – Nir Zavaro's journey: from snowboards to Streetwise03:00 – Why emotion beats data in branding05:45 – Writing intentional messaging before pitching07:30 – Framing the offer and creating excitement09:20 – Website hero copy: keeping visitors engaged10:20 – Applying your story across sales, stage, and boardroom11:30 – The three-minute pitch: your trailer, not the full movie12:10 – The discovery call agenda (25–30 minutes with small talk)14:10 – Memorization vs. improvisation: finding the balance15:40 – Slides are for them, not you (ditch the “thank you” slide)16:50 – Case studies: Shark Tank, Microsoft, and “clean isn't really clean”20:00 – Creating brand consistency across touchpoints22:10 – Pricing lift through storytelling and journey design23:15 – Nir's book, free guide, and wrap-up#NirZavaro #PitchToWin #StorytellingForBusiness #PublicSpeakingTips #CustomerJourney #BrandStorytelling #ThreeMinutePitch #PresentationSkills #FTheSlides #Entrepreneurship To check out the YouTube (video podcast), visit: https://www.youtube.com/@drchrisloomdphdClick here to join PodMatch (the "AirBNB" of Podcasting): https://www.joinpodmatch.com/drchrisloomdphdWe couldn't do it without the support of our listeners. To help support the show:CashApp- https://cash.app/$drchrisloomdphdVenmo- https://account.venmo.com/u/Chris-Loo-4Spotify- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/christopher-loo/supportBuy Me a Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chrisJxClick here to purchase my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PaQn4pFor audiobooks, visit: https://www.audible.com/author/Christopher-H-Loo-MD-PhD/B07WFKBG1FFollow our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/chL1357Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drchrisloomdphdFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereal_drchrislooFollow the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NkM6US7cjsiAYTBjWGdx6?si=1da9d0a17be14d18Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://substack.com/@drchrisloomdphd1Subscribe to our email list: https://financial-freedom-podcast-with-dr-loo.kit.com/Thank you to all of our sponsors and advertisers that help support the show!Financial Freedom for Physicians, Copyright 2025
#563 Ready to turn your passion into a seven-figure online business? In this episode, host Brien Gearin chats with Nathania Stambouli, founder of Yogi Flight School, who built a seven‑figure online business teaching people how to master handstands and arm balances. Nathania shares her inspiring journey from leaving a corporate marketing job to pivoting during the pandemic, launching her program online, and generating $60K in just three months. She breaks down the exact launch strategy she still uses today, lessons learned from pricing her offers, and how she grew her business with free masterclasses, email marketing, and community-driven coaching. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or growing your digital business, this episode is packed with actionable insights! What we discuss with Nathania: + Building a seven‑figure online business + Leaving corporate marketing for yoga + Pivoting from studio to online teaching + Launching Yogi Flight School during the pandemic + Generating $60K in three months + Free masterclasses as a growth strategy + Pricing strategies and mindset shifts + Using email marketing to drive sales + Growing a coaching-based community + Lessons learned from scaling a team Thank you, Nathania! Check out Yogi Flight School at YogiFlightSchool.com. Follow Nathania on Instagram and YouTube. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Patrick McKeever surveys retail earnings, from Five Below (FIVE) to Ulta (ULTA) and more. Department stores remain an area of weakness, but otherwise it has been a “surprisingly strong” 2Q. Athletics performance depends on brand, he continues, highlighting On Holding (ONON). He notes that there have been bankruptcies, including in large brands like Claire's; on the other hand, popular brands maintain price control.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about
The Investing Power Hour is live-streamed every Thursday on the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast YouTube channel at 5:00 PM EST. This week we discussed:(00:00) Introduction (01:27) Deep Dive into Nvidia's Earnings(10:34) The Importance of Federal Reserve Independence(21:50) Market Reactions and Future Predictions(29:06) Autodesk Earnings and Market Implications(31:38) Autodesk's Financial Performance and Management Challenges(35:29) New Bank's Growth and Market Positioning(40:47) Mercado Libre's Competitive Landscape and Growth Prospects(44:26) Corporacion America Airports: A Low-Risk Investment Opportunity(50:24) Boston Beer Company: Navigating the Alcohol Market(54:12) Identifying Companies with Pricing Power*****************************************************JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER AND CHAT COMMUNITY: https://chitchatstocks.substack.com/ *********************************************************************Chit Chat Stocks is presented by Interactive Brokers. Get professional pricing, global access, and premier technology with the best brokerage for investors today: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/ Interactive Brokers is a member of SIPC. *********************************************************************Fiscal.ai is building the future of financial data.With custom charts, AI-generated research reports, and endless analytical tools, you can get up to speed on any stock around the globe. All for a reasonable price. Use our LINK and get 15% off any premium plan: https://fiscal.ai/chitchat *********************************************************************Disclosure: Chit Chat Stocks hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and nothing they say on this show is formal advice or a recommendation.
In this episode, Jay Deady, President of Price Optimization at Zelis, discusses why fragmented pricing operations create inefficiencies for health plans and how integrated solutions, advanced technology, and personalization are paving the way for a more connected financial experience across healthcare.This episode is sponsored by Zelis.
In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Brent McCann, founder of the True North Retreat, to talk about the rising tide of men's retreats—and what it takes to make them successful and sustainable. Brent shares how he transitioned from corporate HR into the retreat space, the lessons learned from his first Sedona retreat (including the power of trusting the process), and how he's now crafting a profitable, aligned retreat business. They dive into: Why men book differently than women—and how to speak directly to them Pricing strategies that work (and how Brent raised his profit margin from 1% to 30%) How to design high-impact experiences that create transformation and build community What it looks like to scale retreats with intention, alignment, and purpose Brent's upcoming True North Men's Retreat in Austin (Oct 23–26) is designed for men at a crossroads—ready to step out of the noise, zip-line into clarity, and walk away reconnected to purpose. Connect with Brent: https://truenorthretreat2025.com/ The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide Free Top 11 Tips for Building an Email List Get your legal docs for retreats Join our private Facebook Group Join our LinkedIn Group Join me in London Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together! Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify --------------------------------------- Transcribed With Podsqueeze Shannon 00:00:00 Welcome to the Retreat Leaders podcast, your sanctuary with retreat experts. Where we spill the tea on retreat success. Here we dive into crafting transformational guest experiences. Talk about how to avoid pitfalls and unlock marketing secrets. Whether you're a seasoned guru or a budding enthusiast, we've got the inside scoop for you. Join us as we learn how to flourish in this magical world of retreats. Hey guys! Welcome to or welcome back to the Retreat Leaders Podcast at Shannon. I am super stoked about my guest today. Before we started recording, I told our guest that I don't have enough of them on my show or enough of them. You know that I see in the retreat space. So welcome Brent to the show. I'm so excited you're here. Brent 00:00:44 Thank you. Shannon, it's my pleasure to be here. I appreciate the time. Shannon 00:00:48 Yes. So Brent is a retreat host. And what I meant by there's not enough of them, or at least I don't see enough of them. And so maybe it's just not on my radar as much as it should be, is that there's not enough men hosting men retreats, in my opinion, and Brent hosts men retreats that look absolutely fantastic. Shannon 00:01:06 But I don't want to take away too much of your thunder, Brent. So why don't you just tell us all about who you are, what you do, and what brought you to where you are now? Brent 00:01:13 Absolutely. Thank you. So, I'm a previous corporate, employee. I was a, you know, a mid senior level HR leader for about ten years working in corporate America. Before that, I was in the car wash industry working as an operations leader. So for for like 15, 20 years, I was working for the man. And I got to the point where, last year, well, about two years ago, I went to an event out in Austin and I was really moved by it. And in that moment, sitting with 100 people, I looked to my friend and I said to him, I said, listen, man, I'm going to do this someday. I want to do this kind of thing. And I didn't know how it was going to happen. I didn't know what to expect. Brent 00:01:53 But, what ended up working out was that, you know, last year, you know, I made a pretty good deal on a real estate thing that I was doing on the side. And about Q3, Q4 of last year, I had this epiphany that like, if I wanted to, I could probably take a year, year and a half off and see if I could grow this, this retreat business into something. Shannon 00:02:15 And yes. Brent 00:02:16 Yeah. So it was really, it was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Right? You know, it's like, I have no idea what I don't know. yep. But I trust. Right? You know, I trusted and, I actually did a, I went to this breathwork, certification thing, and I came back from that in December of last year, and I was all of a sudden I was in a meditation after doing a breathwork. And it was like I felt like, you know, the universe just zapped into my head and was like, you should do a men's retreat. Brent 00:02:47 And I'm like, okay. Speaker 3 00:02:51 I didn't think about that. But, you know, I was like, all right. Like, let's, let's look at this. Brent 00:02:55 And, and but I didn't know where, you know, like I had coordinated things in corporate HR. Before, you know, corporate retreat type things, but not in this space. And I felt this, this urge to go to Sedona. And I had never been to Sedona before. I knew nothing about it. Literally had no idea where it even was. But I was like, okay, that's cool. Like, let's go. and, you know, six months later, you know, I had my first retreat. So, you know, it's been a journey. You know, it's, it's a it's a gift. It's really what it comes down to. So, you know, I don't wanna get too long winded on it, but I. Shannon 00:03:28 Know that this is great. Okay, so there's so many things that happened just in this first snippet. Shannon 00:03:34 the first thing is, is, like, you definitely received your download because for you to have a download that says, go to Sedona and you've never even been there or didn't even know where it is. that's definitely a download. It's not usually what I would recommend unless it's a download. Right. Because, you know, we we typically want to host at least our first retreat. and I'm even a fan of saying all retreats in places we've been to at least one time. However, there are definitely situations like this where something is speaking to you and you've just got to follow it. And I love this so much. Let's talk about the fact. Steve, here's the thing, guys. What we're going to talk about today is Brent's recap of his first retreat, and then now how he's going to learn from that retreat and go forward. Because I think a lot of people, Brent, they think my first retreat, I'm going to make $1 million and it's going to be knocked out of the park. Shannon 00:04:26 And I also think there are a lot of people out there making it sound like you can do that, like you can just all of a sudden be an instant success. But the truth is that there's no such thing in any industry. I don't care what it is. If corporate, small business, large business, it doesn't matter what it is. You're typically not an instant success unless you consider the learning, the success, which I do. Right? Because that's what those first few retreats are. At least the first 1 to 3 are learning experiences and their investments for future ones. So I would love, Brent, for you to tell us what happened on your first retreat and what was the biggest downloads and learnings you got from it? Brent 00:05:04 Yeah, yeah. Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, the the goal here was just to break even. You know, I, I, you know, I remember listening to episodes that you had shared and even in your book where it says like don't go too far away. Brent 00:05:16 And I'm like, oh my God. Like I live in Western New York. I'm going to this, this place I've never even been to. Right. So, you know, like, I booked a flight and I got out there two weeks later and I scoped it out, and and things just really aligned very well. but really, you know, what I learned from this was in the retreats, probably. And as with anything new, who you're coming up against is not the people that I was advertising to or, you know, my family. I was coming up against myself. You know. Shannon 00:05:47 This? Yes. Brent 00:05:49 Vulnerable space to be in, financially vulnerable, energetically vulnerable. And, you know, and to know that, like, not everybody catches the, you know, picks up what you're throwing down there. Right? Like, people are like, what the hell are you talking about? You're doing this, you know? So, yeah, I really I invested in a program. that was okay. Brent 00:06:11 Like, I spent a lot of money on it, but it was. It had a pretty good return for me, at least, to get me familiar, because I didn't have, like, an Instagram following. I didn't have a LinkedIn following. I, I'm not on Facebook that often. So how do you do this? Right? and that was part of facing off with myself is like overcoming this limit, these limiting beliefs that I need those things in order for that to happen. And, I'll be honest with you, I was going to I was going to throw it out, like I that got to be I had one person sign up. It was the end of March. the, the, the agreements that I signed were coming into the point were like, okay, you're you're within 90 days, you're within 45 days. You need to, you know, make sure you get a deposit. You're on the hook for this. And, I just didn't see it happening and I just totally I gave up, and I was going to take the website down. Brent 00:07:03 And I remember thinking, you know, I've got it. I'm going to take the website down, on like Thursday or no, it was like a week before. And then all a sudden I'm like, I'll just wait. I'll wait a little bit. I'm going to have this meeting with a friend and then we'll see what happens. Well, before this meeting with my friend, I'm making breakfast one morning and I get this text alert and I'm like, what the hell is this from? And I look, and somebody had actually registered for the event like a straight cold registration. And all of a sudden I had this moment and it's like, wait a minute, maybe that vision from a couple months ago is true. Maybe this like, maybe there is something out there that's matching what people need or what men need, and maybe I should try a different route. And so it brought up this sense of inspiration. and then I signed up, 4 or 5 other people within two weeks. Shannon 00:07:49 Like it just. Shannon 00:07:50 Wow. Brent 00:07:51 Yeah. Yeah, it was really powerful. so, you know, from that lens, like, I learned, like, if I try to force it, it's going to be way more difficult than if I just, you know, take the right action and allow it to kind of manifest or create itself and create the outcomes. Yes. And then also, you know, even just from the the overall experience, like I had a whole budget thing written out, I, I'm a numbers guy. So I was looking at a lot of that, and, and trusting the process that, you know, like I, I knew my numbers well enough so I could speak to things confidently. I knew it was going to be within like $500 plus or minus, so I was okay with that. and then and then really the, the self-efficacy of realizing, right, like in the midst of the retreat, realizing I'm doing it like, wow, this is really happening, right? Seeing other people's lives start to change in a matter of four days. Brent 00:08:44 And then afterwards, that feeling of, you know what? I can do this. And now after the response that I got from them, I'm like, I think I should do this more. And so that's what led me to to building into this second retreat now. Shannon 00:08:58 Okay, Brent. First of all, congratulations. You've done your first retreat and in my opinion, it was a huge success. Also, I want to harp on a little bit or not harp on. That's not the right word, but I want to just celebrate. I guess, again, this mindset shift that you had, because that's really what sounds like happened when you got that second, that second booking. I'm a big fan, I tell. I like to tell people who are who are new in the business that if you got one booking and it's an aligned booking, right, it's you got one aligned booking, then there's others out there. You're just either not speaking the right language, taking the right action, etc. and so forth. Shannon 00:09:37 I also like to say, now if you've got none, then we need to revisit what what your words are and who you're talking to and all the other stuff. But if you get one, at least aligned one. The other thing is you said something really powerful. My opinion is you can manifest and attract and allow all you want, but if it doesn't have action assigned with it, then it's just daydreaming to me. And daydreaming is fine, but it won't equate to what you just said happened in your mindset shift. So another congratulations, because that's really cool. So yay. First retreat. Nailed it. Nailed the mindset shift. Now coming out of that, and also, I am so glad that you got to see some of the transformation for other people through the space that you're holding, because that's what you're going to hold on to, Brent, as you continue to grow your business, because now you're going to based upon our conversation before we start recording, you're going to build this into a profitable machine. Shannon 00:10:37 And in order to do that, you're going to run into more obstacles. The mindset is going to get a little Willy Wonka. And we'll talk about that and and your plans. But but you're just you will naturally. That's what happens when we are on the precipice of growing big. But you're going to hold on to that whole like, I saw what this does. I know the value of what this is like. I'm just I'm a big believer that we can have impact and income. They don't have to be exclusive. And so anyway, so share with me now like what are we doing to make sure that it's profitable. What are some changes or what are some things that you're doing. Brent 00:11:15 100%. You know, like I there were things that we did in like Sedona, an inexpensive place to be. Like, I didn't know that. I know that now, you know, and there's there's times a year to be there and times of year that you don't want to be there. And, you know, so what I really took away from this, like I kind of did like what I call like an after action report. Brent 00:11:33 Right. So when I was in the military, after every mission, you look back and you say, okay, what was it that we did? What did we do? Well, what could we do differently? Right. So after doing this, what I really looked at was like some things were they didn't really have the impact, you know, like. so for example like we went on like this Jeep tour, like it was nice, it was fun. But like the guys weren't raving about it, it was just more of like nice to have now the zipline tour. Everybody loved it. Even those that were afraid of it and overcame themselves there. They loved it. So, you know, when I look at that, you know, I think about like, okay, because part of my modus operandi is every day we're going to do something off site. So like we go to hotels, I like to stay in nicer places. so we're going to stay at, like, a nice hotel. Brent 00:12:17 We're going to go out, we're going to do something off site. We're going to come back during the day. We're going to train, you know, have teachings, all that kind of thing. And then we're going to go out for nice dinners at the same time. And what I realized was like, as I, as I build into Austin, like, I don't need to, like we're going to do ziplines. Like for sure. Right. Like that's going to be awesome. But like I looked at like, oh, maybe we could do horseback riding and we could do this and we could do that. And I'm like, but does it need to happen? Right? So like when I look at it and I realize something's going to cost $2,000, but is it really going to align with what I'm teaching? Is it going to make an impact and help drive home what we're learning? Right? Or is it, you know, kind of like how, you know, you talk about like, yeah, people want to know like the activities, but they're looking for the feeling. Brent 00:13:02 They're looking for the transformation more than anything else. Right? So now as I look at it, what I'm looking for now is, is what what what are the critical few that are going to really land, right. And you know, for me ziplines that that's something that lands because even if you love them, you're still going to get a rush of adrenaline. There's still going to be some type of emotional response in our body. and you know just I like to have something a little bit. That's, that's specific to the area too. Right. So like when we go out to dinner we're not going to like KFC. We're not going to McDonald's. We're going to go to nice places that are in the area. and, and you know, one I want I want the guys to feel good. Right. So yeah, as I look at that now and then I look at how I'm pricing it, like I knew I was underpriced. I didn't know how much until I was actually on the retreat. Brent 00:13:52 And I remember, like, we rented like this big SUV and we're driving to this, I don't even know what we were doing, but I remember driving with all the guys in the truck, and and I'm like, this is like a $5,000 retreat. Like, they're like, I would pay. Not because I'm biased, but like, I would pay $5,000 for this. And I was charging, like 335. Yeah. So yeah, as I look at this now, now I've created, you know, the packages that range between 3500 to 5000. and then I'm adding the value. Right. Like, it's it's all dependent on what value you want out of it. And then also with what I've reduced from, from an expense standpoint. Now that margin went from really, like, maybe 1% to now I'm targeting more like 20 to 30% margin. And that. Shannon 00:14:38 Gives me, yeah. Brent 00:14:39 Bigger wiggle room and confidence to step into it because I know what it's worth. Shannon 00:14:44 Hey, retreat leaders, pause that retreat planning for just a second because I've got something you do not want to miss. Shannon 00:14:49 I'm headed to London this October to host a live event that's all about teaching you how to host a retreat that's not just transformational, but actually profitable. Imagine sipping tea or champagne with other like minded leaders while mapping out your next sold out retreat. It's happening at the gorgeous Waldorf Hilton in London. I'm spilling all the secrets from pricing to planning, marketing to mindset, and you'll walk away with a strategy you can actually use. No fluff, no BS, just results. So head to Retreat Mastermind training and come join me across the pond. Yes, yes, I noticed this. So Brent and I were talking before we started recording about. it's just my philosophy. Not all hosts are like this, but I'm not a discount person. I'm just. I absolutely am anti discount. And I love though, Brent. How you. I mean, I really loved how you built the value into each offering. So it's kind of like okay here's your first soft touch point you which includes this. And it's you know, 3500 or whatever it was. Shannon 00:15:54 This touch point includes these extra things, and it's 45, you know what I mean? Like, I just I absolutely love that I think that you are positioning yourself in such a way that it is going to be beautifully aligned for the guest to get what they want out of it, and then you to feel energetically aligned in a financial way for what you're offering. Right? Yeah, yes. Because the ones that are paying more, they're getting more from you. and so it's it's a really beautiful exchange. So it sounds like you're totally aligned. Tell me the difference about planning for Sedona, which, by the way, I'm really glad to hear that you at least went and visited the spot before you hosted there. Brent 00:16:33 So yeah. Shannon 00:16:33 Yeah, that really helps. And anybody who's listening, if you're planning a retreat and you've never been there, you've I'm telling you, you've got to make a site visit. It just makes all the difference in the world. and it just really does. But tell me the difference is in planning. Shannon 00:16:47 Now, your second retreat with a different location. like, what are some things that have come up for you in this process? Brent 00:16:54 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, what's nice now is I kind of know the recipe, right? Like, I kept everything the same. Like I'm looking like on my monitor to my right. Has everything written out different? Tabs on the worksheet. I know exactly what I'm looking at. And I've built this. I mean, you don't get to where. Not that I was, like, super high up, but like, you don't achieve success in air in corporate unless you know how to be a business partner, which means working with operations leaders, figuring out how to, you know, make money with the people. You have those kind of things. So when I looked at this and I'm like, okay, well, then I know what I need. I mean, I've done this with entrepreneurs, I've done this with fortune 500 companies. I need to do this for myself and in some ways kind of put myself in check, too, like if I'm dreaming, like I had a conversation with someone and they're like, oh, we're going to do this, and then we're going to have affiliate marketing and this and that. Brent 00:17:43 And I'm like, hang on a second. Like, let's get let's get up on our two feet first before we start thinking about this. You know, I love the energy, but let's just, you know, little reality check. so, you know, when I look at this now, I've got this the recipe. At the same time, I've been to Austin like 3 or 4 times in the last year, year and a half. So like, I'm familiar with where I want to go, I know that I don't want to take everybody out on sixth Street. If I want them to stay sober and have a really good, you know, experience besides having like a party until way late and feeling hungover. Right? So, yes, you know, so I know the spots where I want to go, you know, I know I knew the type of hotel we wanted to stay at. And so this time, it's a lot easier because I've been there, you know, and now and as I build into next year, I'm going to have several other retreats. Brent 00:18:31 And in some of these areas I've not been. So I look at it as it's an investment now I need to get out there. I need to to move and shake. I need to talk to people. You know, I've got three trips this summer to go to different places because I so firmly believe that that there's an energetic calling for this type of work, that it's just a matter of like where and when and how. So that how has become a lot easier now that I've gone through the one. Shannon 00:18:58 How, yes, yes to all of that. Well, We'll tell our listeners. Who is your ideal guest? And then tell us about your upcoming retreat. Brent 00:19:06 Absolutely. Thank you. So the ideal guest is obviously a man. it could be anywhere. you know, typically what I've seen, you know, in this last retreat was anywhere from their, their early 40s to their mid 60s, you know. for me, it doesn't really matter if the the key of what I look for is, are you at a crossroads in your life? Do you know that you want something different? Do you know what that is? And maybe it's just that you're not sure of how to get there. Brent 00:19:32 And if that's the case, then you're my ideal client. Because what I look at is, you know, I have a balance. I, I don't get super woo woo because especially as men, we don't typically want to get into that woo woo space. And you know, and I should also add that my ideal client is somebody who really hasn't been in this space before, that they haven't been to a retreat before. If they have been, maybe it's in a corporate background. So now what I'm doing is I'm giving them some of the neuroscience behind And change some of the things that have been found over the last ten, 15 years as it relates to meditation and breathwork, and then also tying that into a little bit of the woo woo just to get, you know, dab their dab their toes in it a little bit, but not shock the nervous system to. Shannon 00:20:15 Love. Brent 00:20:16 It. I don't want them walking out going like I'm never doing this again. You know I want. Shannon 00:20:20 I love it. Brent 00:20:21 You'll walk around, you know, walk out saying like, you know what? It was the the best balance of of opportunity. I learned some things. I tried some new things. And as a result, this is what's happened for me. Shannon 00:20:31 I love it. Awesome. So when is your next retreat? We know it's in Austin. When is that happening? Brent 00:20:37 Yeah, it's October 23rd through 26th of this year. and yeah, we're going to kick off. We're going to stay at this beautiful hotel just in the hill country, about 20 minutes south of Austin. and then we're going to kick off, like I said, ziplining all the fun stuff there. But more importantly than anything, we're going to have a strong sense of community. We're going to have anywhere from 8 to 12 guys that are going to get together, you know, from all over the country and they're here to. To better themselves. They're here to get through whatever's been blocking them. And that, to me is the most important part, is that transformation truly happens when you get people that are looking for it and are hungry enough to to sit at the table and see what happens. Brent 00:21:18 So I'm very excited for it. I think it's going to be incredible. Shannon 00:21:21 Well, hell yes Brent, all of that information will be linked in the show notes, so please check it out and share it with someone who you think might really benefit from this, because I can tell from the website, from your history, and from your energy that this is going to be an incredible retreat. So thank you so much, Brent, for sharing your history, your lessons, and your upcoming offerings. It is so appreciated. Brent 00:21:43 Thank you Shan, I really appreciate the opportunity. Shannon 00:21:45 Thanks for listening to The Retreat Leader's podcast. Learn more at The Retreat. See you next time.
LinksEStack: https://estack.reponestrength.com/RepOne Website: https://www.reponestrength.com/Jordan's LI Post: http://bit.ly/3JBWZp4Chapters00:00 Introduction to Jordan Burke and Rep One Strength02:18 The Journey of Open Barbell and Velocity-Based Training05:11 Transition from Engineering to Powerlifting Coaching07:47 The Birth of Squats in Science10:00 Understanding Velocity-Based Training10:20 Evolution from Open Barbell to Rep One Strength13:56 Current Products and Future Directions of Rep One Strength17:41 The Concept and Development of eStack22:20 The Vision Behind eStack27:25 Integration and Compatibility with Existing Equipment31:21 Comparing eStack with Competitors37:04 User Experience and Automation in Training41:24 Feedback from Early Adopters and Market Response44:59 Future of Digital Weight Technology57:39 Certification, Pricing, and Market Strategy
Do you ever feel like you're behind in your design business? Like you should already be further along, have more clients, or be making more money? That's the mindset trap that keeps so many interior designers from feeling confident and successful. In this episode of Resilient by Design, Rebecca Hay breaks down how to overcome this trap by shifting from focusing on “the gap” (where you think you should be) to “the gain” (how far you've already come). You'll walk away with tools to reframe your thinking, celebrate your progress, and finally stop holding yourself back from success. Episode Highlights: The biggest mindset trap interior designers fall into How to measure progress in a way that builds confidence Why your past wins are the key to future momentum A practical exercise to reset your mindset today Hit play and start seeing your growth for what it really is—success in action. Episode Resources: The Gap and The Gain Download our Free Resources ➡️ Pre-qualify your clients with my Discovery Call Script ➡️ Stay confident from beginning to end with my Consultation Checklist ➡️ Looking for a quick infusion of cash? Grab my 4 easy ways of increasing your revenue Looking to elevate your business? Learn more about our courses ➡️ Want the complete blueprint to calculate your design fee with confidence and ease? Learn more about my Pricing with Confidence course ➡️ Want to be the first to know when Power of Process is returning? Click to learn more about the business blueprint for interior design firm owners. ➡️Want to be the first to know when the next episode drops? Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Resilient by Design Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!
In this episode of The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, Lauren chats with Lindsay Schroeder about the realities of being a spiritual entrepreneur. They explore how to balance personal growth with professional responsibilities, the importance of self-care, and staying clear and aligned when holding space for others. Lindsay shares her insights on clear channeling, vibrational awareness, and creating a container for clients without losing your own energy. They also delve into pricing strategies, valuing your work, attracting high-vibe clients, and aligning your services with both your energy and business goals. This episode is packed with practical advice and reflective insights for healers, spiritual mentors, and anyone running a soul-led business. ----more---- Welcome to The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace, a spiritual podcast full of stories and conversations that prove we're never alone. Lauren Grace, host of The Afterlight Podcast, is a high-impact coach and medium dedicated to helping professionals deepen their connection to their soul so they can experience more freedom, fulfillment, and purpose. The Afterlight Podcast with Lauren Grace aims to inspire and educate. Remember, you are the authority on your own life. While we encourage you to take what resonates, we also urge you to do your own research and consult with qualified professionals for advice on your personal situation. The opinions shared by guests are their own, and any advice by our guests or Lauren Grace is not a substitute for professional guidance. Connect with Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations: Lauren on Social: @LaurenGraceInspirations Website: laurengraceinspirations.com Want to work with Lauren? Book a Free Discovery Call Free Offers: laurengraceinspirations.com/freeoffers The Afterlight Podcast: The Afterlight Podcast on Social: @theafterlightpodcast To be a guest, apply here: theafterlightpodcast.com Sign up for our newsletter: laurengraceinspirations.com/contact Disclaimer: Lauren Grace, Lauren Grace Inspirations, and The Afterlight Podcast are not licensed counselors, medical professionals, or financial advisors. Any information or advice provided during the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial, or psychiatric advice. Always seek the advice of qualified professionals regarding any specific questions or concerns you may have. Meet Lindsay: Lindsay Schroeder is a Professional Priestess, Spiritual Wellness Mentor, & Intuitive Business Coach. She is called to support those who are awakening in ascending into their divinity & descending into their delicious humanity. She believes in the marriage of the practical & the energetic, the scientific & the esoteric. Her work is here to support you on the pathway from unaware to conscious creator. Your outer world is just a projection of your inner reality, perception is everything and Lindsay is here to help you break that down, integrate it, and embody it. Lindsay is also the host of The Professional Priestess Podcast. Free gift: https://our-are.mykajabi.com/guided-more-than-a-meditation The Professional Priestess Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/23nkobLtO8LnjnKaAgqHGE?si=f034ec82e039495b MORE than a Guided Meditation: https://www.ourandare.com/guided-more-than-a-meditation
CRE Exchange: Commercial Real Estate, Property Valuations, Real Estate Analytics and Property Tax
We share insights from Altus Group's Q2 2025 Investment and Transactions Quarterly report. From multifamily's continued strength to industrial's surprising slowdown, we explore the quarterly and annual changes in investment volume, pricing, and deal trends impacting CRE today. Tune in for data-backed takeaways to help you navigate your investment strategy across major markets and sectors. Key Moments:00:52 Overview of Q2 2025 Investments and Transactions Report01:47 Investment Volume Highlights03:11 Pricing Trends Analysis04:44 Geographical Performance Insights06:12 Property Sector Trends07:51 Key Takeaways and Conclusions Resources Mentioned:Q2 2025 US CRE Investment and Transaction Quarterly reportNational transaction activity: https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-transactions/Pricing and pacing: https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-transactions/pricing-pacing/Property sectors: https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-transactions/property-sectors/Email us: altusresearch@altusgroup.comThanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property
This month's episode of the Alcohol Alert Podcast is a special cross-post from The Alcohol Debate Podcast, hosted by alcohol-freedom coach Tabbin Almond. In this episode, Tabbin is joined by Jem Roberts, Head of External Affairs at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, for a wide-ranging discussion on alcohol policy in the UK and Ireland.From Ireland's world-first alcohol labelling law and its recent delays, to the UK Government's 10-Year Health Plan and the omission of minimum unit pricing, Jem explains how political choices – and industry lobbying – shape the nation's response to alcohol harm.“Pricing policies have a really quick effect on saving lives. So if you want to be coming into the next general election showing tangible results from your policies, they're pretty good policies to introduce."Subscribe to Tabbin's podcast on Apple, Spotify, or most other podcast platforms. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com
In this Social Media Decoded episode, brand strategist and storytelling expert Jodi-Kay Edwards shares her proven blueprint for going from invisible to in-demand—without chasing hustle culture. We break down alignment over hustle, clarifying your message, building confidence to show up consistently, and turning visibility into real revenue with a simple, sustainable personal-brand strategy. What You'll Learn The “alignment over hustle” method to grow without burning out How to clarify your message, niche positioning, and brand promise A step-by-step plan to go from hidden gem to paid + booked Authority content that attracts ideal clients (and what to stop posting) Pricing and offer tips to charge your worth (and stick to it) The visibility routine: confidence, consistency, and conversion Guest Resources Website: jodikayedwards.com Programs: jodikayedwards.com/ceo, jodikayedwards.com/indemand Instagram: @jodikayedwards Let's Connect & Get Your Freebie! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE Ideal For Coaches, service providers, and creators who know they're great at what they do but aren't being seen, booked, or paid at the level they deserve—and want a clear, confidence-boosting path to consistent clients. personal branding for entrepreneurs, get seen get paid, hidden gem to in-demand, alignment over hustle, brand messaging clarity, authority content strategy, pricing your services, confidence to show up online, visibility routine, client attraction system, sustainable marketing, storytelling for brands, offer positioning, charge your worth, consistency for creators,
Ever wondered what the creatives pulling in $10k, $20k - even $30k+ a month are doing differently?How they justify the premium prices they're charging - and how their clients have no problem paying them?
One of the biggest challenges GenX escapees face after leaving corporate isn't expertise—it's business development. How do you find customers, create clarity in your message, and grow without getting stuck in trial-and-error mode?In this episode, I sit down with Tom Freedman, a lifelong entrepreneur who has built six businesses and now helps solopreneurs and small business owners design simple, effective growth strategies centered around relationships.We dive into: • Why most escapees waste time on “shiny” strategies that don't move the needle • The Three-Headed God of Growth—marketing, business development, and sales—and how solos should prioritize them • Tom's SAM framework (Solution, Audience, Message) and how it fuels growth • The 4 Cs of messaging: Clear, Concise, Compelling, and Consistent • How to handle the six questions you'll face on every discovery call • Pricing strategies that balance affordability for clients with sustainability for you • Why clarity and consistency in your message is the #1 growth driverTom doesn't just share theory—he lays out practical steps you can apply immediately to land clients faster, refine your message, and build a business you actually want to run.And yes, we already teed up Part 2—where Tom will come back to break down how to consistently get in front of the right people.Connect with Tom Freedman: •
In this episode of Durable Value, we dive deep into a real-world case study: the acquisition, turnaround, and rebranding of The Lofts at Stadium Square in Fresno. Join us as we break down the sourcing, negotiation, due diligence, and execution that turned a struggling student housing property into a thriving multifamily asset. Learn about the challenges, strategies, and lessons from one of our most successful investments to date.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction00:22 – The Lofts in Fresno: Background & Rebranding00:47 – Sourcing the Deal & Initial Challenges01:35 – Appraisal, Pricing, and Negotiation02:01 – Negative Cash Flow & Seller Motivation02:46 – Our Approach to Buying & Negotiating03:12 – Due Diligence: Process & Findings04:34 – Repairs, Discounts, and Final Purchase Price05:00 – Rebranding and Property Upgrades05:25 – Creating a Resort-Style Experience05:44 – Due Diligence: Uncovering Value06:28 – Insurance Hurdles & Solutions07:03 – Execution: Building the Right Team08:09 – Turning Around Occupancy & Performance09:04 – The Importance of In-House Management09:40 – Stabilizing and Repositioning the Asset09:59 – Value Creation & Broker Opinion10:27 – Results: Cash Flow, Upside, and Lessons Learned10:56 – Closing Thoughts
The Secret History of Gold comes out this week. Here for your viewing pleasure is a fim about gold based on the first chapter.“Gold will be slave or master”HoraceIn 2021, a metal detectorist with the eyebrow-raising name of Ole Ginnerup Schytz dug up a hoard of Viking gold in a field in Denmark. The gold was just as it was when it was buried 1,500 years before, if a little dirtier. The same goes for the jewellery unearthed at the Varna Necropolis in Bulgaria in 1972. The beads, bracelets, rings and necklaces are as good as when they were buried 6,700 years ago.In the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, there is a golden tooth bridge — a gold wire used to bind teeth and dental implants — made over 4,000 years ago. It could go in your mouth today.No other substance is as long-lasting as gold — not diamonds, not tungsten carbide, not boron nitride. Gold does not corrode; it does not tarnish or decay; it does not break down over time. This sets it apart from every other substance. Iron rusts, wood rots, silver tarnishes. Gold never changes. Left alone, it stays itself. And it never loses its shine — how about that?Despite its permanence, you can shape this enormously ductile metal into pretty much anything. An ounce of gold can be stretched into a wire 50 miles long or plate a copper wire 1,000 miles long. It can be beaten into a leaf just one atom thick. Yet there is one thing you cannot do and that is destroy it. Life may be temporary, but gold is permanent. It really is forever.This means that all the gold that has ever been mined, estimated to be 216,000 tonnes, still exists somewhere. Put together it would fit into a cube with 22-metre sides. Visualise a square building seven storeys high — and that would be all the gold ever.With some effort, you can dissolve gold in certain chemical solutions, alloy it with other metals, or even vaporise it. But the gold will always be there. It is theoretically possible to destroy gold through nuclear reactions and other such extreme methods, but in practical terms, gold is indestructible. It is the closest thing we have on earth to immortality.Perhaps that is why almost every ancient culture we know of associated gold with the eternal. The Egyptians believed the flesh of gods was made of gold, and that it gave you safe passage into the afterlife. In Greek myth, the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, which Hercules was sent to retrieve, conferred immortality on whoever ate them. The South Americans saw gold as the link between humanity and the cosmos. They were not far wrong.Gold was present in the dust that formed the solar system. It sits in the earth's crust today, just as it did when our planet was formed some 4.6 billion years ago. That little bit of gold you may be wearing on your finger or around your neck is actually older than the earth itself. In fact, it is older than the solar system. To touch gold is as close as you will ever come to touching eternity.And yet the world's most famous investor is not impressed.‘It gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or some place,' said Warren Buffett. ‘Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.'He's right. Gold does nothing. It does not even pay a yield. It just sits there inert. We use other metals to construct things, cut things or conduct things, but gold's industrial uses are minimal. It is a good conductor of electricity, but copper and silver are better and cheaper. It has some use in dentistry, medical applications and nanotechnology. It is finding more and more use in outer space — back whence it came — where it is used to coat spacecraft, astronauts' visors and heat shields. But, in the grand scheme of things, these uses are paltry.Gold's only purpose is to store and display prosperity. It is dense and tangible wealth: pure money.Though you may not realise it, we still use gold as money today. Not so much as a medium to exchange value but store it.In 1970, about 27 per cent of all the gold in the world was in the form of gold coinage and central bank or government reserves. Today, even with the gold standard long since dead, the percentage is about the same.The most powerful nation on earth, the United States, keeps 70 per cent of its foreign exchange holdings in gold. Its great rival, China, is both the world's largest producer and the world's largest importer. It has built up reserves that, as we shall discover, are likely as great as the USA's. If you buying gold or silver coins to protect yourself in these “interesting times” - and I urge you to - as always I recommend The Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Ordinary people and institutions the world over use gold to store wealth. Across myriad cultures gold is gifted at landmark life events — births and weddings — because of its intrinsic value.In fact, gold's purchasing power has increased over the millennia, as human beings have grown more productive. The same ounce of gold said by economic historians to have bought King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 350 loaves of bread could buy you more than 1,000 loaves today. The same gold dinar (roughly 1/7 oz) that, in the time of the Koran in the seventh century, bought you a lamb would buy you three lambs today. Those same four or five aurei (1 oz) which bought you a fine linen tunic in ancient Rome would buy you considerably more clothing today.In 1972, 0.07 ounces of gold would buy you a barrel of oil. Here we are in 2024 and a barrel of oil costs 0.02 ounces of gold — it's significantly cheaper than it was fifty years ago.House prices, too, if you measure them in gold, have stayed constant. It is only when they are measured in fiat currency that they have appreciated so relentlessly (and destructively).In other words, an ounce of gold buys you as much, and sometimes more, food, clothing, energy and shelter as it did ten years ago, a hundred years ago or even thousands of years ago. As gold lasts, so does its purchasing power. You cannot say the same about modern national currencies.Rare and expensive to mine, the supply of gold is constrained. This is in stark contrast to modern money — electronic, debt-based fiat money to give it its full name — the supply of which multiplies every year as governments spend and borrowing balloons.As if by Natural Law, gold supply has increased at the same rate as the global population — roughly 2 per cent per annum. The population of the world has slightly more than doubled since 1850. So has gold supply. The correlation has held for centuries, except for one fifty-year period during the gold rushes of the late nineteenth century, when gold supply per capita increased.Gold has the added attraction of being beautiful. It shines and glistens and sparkles. It captivates and allures. The word ‘gold' derives from the Sanskrit ‘jval', meaning ‘to shine'. That's why we use it as jewellery — to show off our wealth and success, as well as to store it. Indeed, in nomadic prehistory, and still in parts of the world today, carrying your wealth on your person as jewellery was the safest way to keep it.The universe has given us this captivatingly beautiful, dense, inert, malleable, scarce, useless and permanent substance whose only use is to be money. To quote historian Peter Bernstein, ‘nothing is as useless and useful all at the same time'.But after thousands of years of gold being official money, in the early twentieth century there was a seismic shift. Neither the British, German nor French government had enough gold to pay for the First World War. They abandoned gold backing to print the money they needed. In the inter-war years, nations briefly attempted a return to gold standards, but they failed. The two prevailing monetary theories clashed: gold-backed versus state-issued currency. Gold standard advocates, such as Montagu Norman, Governor of the Bank of England, considered gold to be one of the key pillars of a free society along with property rights and habeas corpus. ‘We have gold because we cannot trust governments,' said President Herbert Hoover in 1933. This was a sentiment echoed by one of the founders of the London School of Economics, George Bernard Shaw — to whom I am grateful for demonstrating that it is possible to have a career as both a comedian and a financial writer. ‘You have to choose (as a voter),' he said, ‘between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the Government… I advise you, as long as the Capitalist system lasts, to vote for gold.'On the other hand, many, such as economist John Maynard Keynes, advocated the idea of fiat currency to give government greater control over the economy and the ability to manipulate the money supply. Keynes put fixation with gold in the Freudian realms of sex and religion. The gold standard, he famously said after the First World War — and rightly, as it turned out — was ‘already a barbarous relic'. Freud himself related fascination with gold to the erotic fantasies and interests of early childhood.Needless to say, Keynes and fiat money prevailed. By the end of the 1930s, most of Europe had left the gold standard. The US followed, but not completely until 1971, in order to meet the ballooning costs of its welfare system and its war in Vietnam.But compare both gold's universality (everyone everywhere knows gold has value) and its purchasing power to national currencies and you have to wonder why we don't use it officially today. There is a very good reason: power.Sticking to the discipline of the gold standard means governments can't just create money or run deficits to the same extent. Instead, they have to rein in their spending, which they are not prepared to do, especially in the twenty-first century, when they make so many promises to win elections. Balanced books, let alone independent money, have become an impossibility. If you seek an answer as to why the state has grown so large in the West, look no further than our system of money. When one body in a society has the power to create money at no cost to itself, it is inevitable that that body will grow disproportionately large. So it is in the twenty-first century, where state spending in many social democracies is now not far off 50 per cent of GDP, sometimes higher.Many arguments about gold will quickly slide into a political argument about the role of government. It is a deeply political metal. Those who favour gold tend to favour small government, free markets and individual responsibility. I count myself in that camp. Those who dismiss it tend to favour large government and state planning.I have argued many times that money is the blood of a society. It must be healthy. So much starts with money: values, morals, behaviour, ambitions, manners, even family size. Money must be sound and true. At the moment it is neither. Gold, however, is both. ‘Because gold is honest money it is disliked by dishonest men,' said former Republican Congressman Ron Paul. As Dorothy is advised in The Wizard of Oz (which was, as we shall discover, part allegory), maybe the time has come to once again ‘follow the yellow brick road'.On the other hand, maybe the twilight of gold has arrived, as Niall Ferguson argued in his history of debt and money, The Cash Nexus. Gold's future, he said, is ‘mainly as jewellery' or ‘in parts of the world with primitive or unstable monetary and financial systems'. Gold may have been money for 5,000 years, or even 10,000 years, but so was the horse a means of transport, and then along came the motor car.A history of gold is inevitably a history of money, but it is also a history of greed, obsession and ambition. Gold is beautiful. Gold is compelling. It is wealth in its purest, most distilled form. ‘Gold is a child of Zeus,' runs the ancient Greek lyric. ‘Neither moth nor rust devoureth it; but the mind of man is devoured by this supreme possession.' Perhaps that's why Thomas Edison said gold was ‘an invention of Satan'. Wealth, and all the emotions that come with it, can do strange things to people.Gold has led people to do the most brilliant, the most brave, the most inventive, the most innovative and the most terrible things. ‘More men have been knocked off balance by gold than by love,' runs the saying, usually attributed to Benjamin Disraeli. Where gold is concerned, emotion, not logic, prevails. Even in today's markets it is a speculative asset whose price is driven by greed and fear, not by fundamental production numbers.Its gleam has drawn man across oceans, across continents and into the unknown. It lured Jason and the Argonauts, Alexander the Great, numerous Caesars, da Gama, Cortés, Pizarro and Raleigh. Brilliant new civilisations have emerged as a result of the quest for gold, yet so have slavery, war, deceit, death and devastation. Describing the gold mines of ancient Egypt, the historian Diodorus Siculus wrote, ‘there is absolutely no consideration nor relaxation for sick or maimed, for aged man or weak woman. All are forced to labour at their tasks until they die, worn out by misery amid their toil.' His description could apply to many an illegal mine in Africa today.The English critic John Ruskin told a story of a man who boarded a ship with all his money: a bag of gold coins. Several days into the voyage a terrible storm blew up. ‘Abandon ship!' came the cry. The man strapped his bag around his waist and jumped overboard, only to sink to the bottom of the sea. ‘Now,' asked Ruskin, ‘as he was sinking — had he the gold? Or had the gold him?'As the Chinese proverb goes, ‘The miser does not own the gold; the gold owns the miser.'Gold may be a dead metal. Inert, unchanging and lifeless. But its hold over humanity never relents. It has adorned us since before the dawn of civilisation and, as money, underpinned economies ever since. Desire for it has driven mankind forwards, the prime impulse for quest and conquest, for exploration and discovery. From its origins in the hearts of dying stars to its quiet presence today beneath the machinery of modern finance, gold has seen it all. How many secrets does this silent witness keep? This book tells the story of gold. It unveils the schemes, intrigues and forces that have shaped our world in the relentless pursuit of this ancient asset, which, even in this digital age, still wields immense power.That was Chapter One of The Secret History of Gold The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28.Hurry! Amazon is currently offering 20% off.Until next time,Dominic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe
Register here for my free masterclass: Unlocking Your Stylists' Potential: The key to boosting Productivity and Profits in Your Salon, or head to www.GrowMySalonBusiness.com/masterclassIn this week's episode, I'm joined by Australian salon owner and stylist, Mikki Auld. Earlier this year, Mikki left her Brisbane salon in the hands of her team and took a huge leap, moving to Los Angeles to start over from scratch.Within no time at all, she was fully booked, not because of luck, but because of hustle, grit, and sheer determination.We talk about why she made the move, how she built a client base in a new country with no connections, and the strategies she uses to keep her Brisbane salon thriving without her being there day-to-day. I love a bit of hustle and seeing people get out there, build their book from scratch and doing that in another country, when you don't have a social network, takes courage and a lot of self-belief.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:29] Mikki's move from Brisbane to Los Angeles [02:36] The O-1 visa process and making the leap[06:24] Why LA was the right fit and finding a salon space[09:55] Getting licensed in the US[12:13] The power of hustle: flyers, posters, and ads[15:44] Building clients through Meta ads and old-school marketing[19:17] Starting over: what it feels like to build again[22:20] Differences between the US and Australian salon industry[25:00] Pricing, tipping, and client expectations[26:00] Running her Brisbane salon remotely with systems and leadership[34:54] Lessons from building structure and management teams[37:51] Learning from US salon culture and service standards[44:00] Employee entitlements vs US benefitsWant MORE to help you GROW?
In this episode, Jacob sits down with Peter Deng, General Partner at Felicis and former Product Leader at OpenAI, Facebook, and Uber. Peter shares his insider perspective on building ChatGPT Enterprise in just seven weeks and leading voice mode development at OpenAI. The conversation covers everything from why traditional SaaS pricing models are broken for AI products to how evals became the new product specs, the "AI under your fingernails" test for founding teams, and why current agents are massively overhyped.They also explore how consumer AI will fragment across multiple winners rather than consolidate into a single super app, the coming integration between ChatGPT and apps like Uber, and why voice AI will unlock entirely new categories of applications. Plus, insights on the changing dynamics between foundation models and startups, and what it really takes to build defensible AI companies. It's a comprehensive look at AI product strategy from someone who's been at the center of the industry's biggest breakthroughs. (0:00) Intro(1:17) AI Business Models and Pricing Strategies(7:48) Product Development in AI Companies(18:36) The Role of Product Managers in AI(23:06) Voice Interaction and AI(26:43) AI in Education(30:39) Consumer and Enterprise Adoption of AI(33:36) The Impact of AI on Salaries and HR(40:37) The Role of Unique Data in AI Development(49:03) Challenges and Strategies for AI Companies(52:58) The Future of AI and Its Impact on Society(57:31) Reflections on OpenAI(58:38) Quickfire With your co-hosts: @jacobeffron - Partner at Redpoint, Former PM Flatiron Health @patrickachase - Partner at Redpoint, Former ML Engineer LinkedIn @ericabrescia - Former COO Github, Founder Bitnami (acq'd by VMWare) @jordan_segall - Partner at Redpoint
What does dairy farming look like in Canada, and what does it take to keep a farm thriving for over six generations? Find out with your host, Mike Howell, as he sits down with Jason Crozier, an Alberta dairy farmer whose family has been farming on the same land for almost 130 years. From growing their own feed and embracing innovations like robotic milking to managing costs and minimizing waste, Jason shares the thoughtful and steady approach that has kept their operation resilient, through COVID, rising input costs and labor shortages. Dive into Canada's unique supply-managed pricing system, how circular practices like manure management and growing your own rations support long-term sustainability and success and explore the realities of dairy farming in Canada. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics
Author, speaker, and human-first AI strategist, Alastair McDermott, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about his new book and how experts can use AI to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning. (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:46) - Alistair's Background and Journey (03:02) - The New Book: Use AI, Stay Human (04:15) - AI as a Tool for Experts (06:55) - Practical Applications of AI (10:00) - Technical Deep Dive: AI in Writing (16:58) - Organizing and Managing AI Outputs (23:40) - Ideal Reader and Learning AI (24:51) - Choosing Your AI Setup: DIY vs. Subscription (25:20) - The Importance of AI Expertise (27:16) - AI's Role in Business and Personal Productivity (28:25) - Challenges and Limitations of AI (30:59) - Effective Prompting Techniques (32:20) - Using AI for Coaching and Workshops (35:35) - Advanced AI Usage Tips (40:46) - Practical AI Tools and Resources (45:28) - Final Thoughts and Resources AI SummaryIn this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark interviews Alastair McDermott about his new book, 'Use AI Stay Human: A Survival Guide for Experts in the Age of AI.' They discuss Alastair's transition from a techie background to running his consulting business, Recognized Authority, and eventually rebranding to Human Spark.AI. The conversation dives into how AI can be used to enhance productivity, decision-making, and learning for subject matter experts. Alastair shares practical tips on setting up effective AI workflows, structuring prompts, and the importance of human judgment in leveraging AI for business purposes.Alastair's LinksBook: https://www.amazon.com/Use-I-Stay-Human-Indispensable-ebook/dp/B0FDQSKZRFWebsite: https://humanspark.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastairmcdermott/ ----Before you go!The next time someone asks you for your hourly rate, I want you to stop what you're doing and head on over to valuepricingbootcamp.com to sign up for my free value pricing email course.Hope to see you there!
How does pelvic health impact your travel experiences?In this episode of the Transform with Travel podcast, I'm joined by Susan Winograd, a pelvic health expert. This insightful discussion explored the often-overlooked connection between pelvic health and travel, providing valuable advice for travelers of all kinds.Susan emphasized the importance of a whole-body wellness approach, integrating various modalities to support clients comprehensively. This approach isn't just about addressing immediate health issues but ensuring long-term wellness. Susan's clinic offers a full spectrum of services, including nutrition and wellness programs, to help clients feel their best throughout life.Susan provided practical tips to maintain health while traveling. Simple practices like changing positions frequently, staying hydrated, and planning for potential constipation can make a big difference. Breathwork was also highlighted as a powerful tool for pelvic health, helping balance the body's systems with every inhale and exhale.Traveling across time zones often disrupts sleep patterns. Susan explained the importance of adjusting to local time as quickly as possible to help regulate bodily functions, including sleep and bladder control. Getting immediate exposure to sunlight upon arrival and integrating familiar routines can aid in this adjustment.Susan's overarching message is to be proactive and plan for your health. By modifying what can be controlled and embracing new experiences, travelers can enhance their well-being. For those looking to connect with Susan, her practice Pelvicore Rehab and Wellness in Boca Raton, Florida, offers a wealth of resources, and she can be found across various online platforms.We talk about:00:00 Intro06:12 Susan's Journey to Pelvic Health09:24 The Whole Body Approach to Wellness14:45 Travel's Impact on Health and Wellness24:41 Maintaining Health on the Road32:04 Exploring Bladder and Bowel Health32:28 Understanding Sleep and Bladder Connection36:02 Tips for Adjusting to New Time Zones41:27 Breathing Techniques for Pelvic Health44:24 Travel Tips and Personal Insights48:17 Final Thoughts and How to ConnectIn this episode:Episode 33: https://transform-with-travel.captivate.fm/episode/crossing-the-ocean-on-a-paddleboard-philanthropy-travel-with-romi-wallach Resources & Links:Ready for your next adventure? Click here to view our Trip Planning Packages & 2025 Pricing: https://transform-with-travel.captivate.fm/packages Connect with Susan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-winograd-8400bb156/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pelvicorerehabandwellnessYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelvicHealthWellness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pelvicorerehabandwellness
Your mid-week commentary is a day early this week because I am putting out a special film tomorrow all about everyone's favourite metal. Watch your inboxes.There is a shift of enormously significant proportions taking place. In magnitude it will prove as significant as Bretton Woods in 1944, when the dollar became the de facto global reserve currency, and the Nixon Shock of 1971, when the US abandoned the last vestiges of its gold standard.This shift is going to shape the global financial landscape over the next few years. You need to understand what is happening, so that you can position yourself and your family.You may even be able to profit handsomely from the transition.Today we explain US dollar policy: what is going on and, more importantly, where it is all going.Ready? Here goes.The Manufacturing Imperative and The Curse of the Reserve CurrencyAmerica wants to bring manufacturing back on shore. We all know this. US President Donald Trump has said it repeatedly, his VP JD Vance has said it, and so has his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who keeps reminding us that it is now time to prioritise Main Street over Wall Street.Part of the reshoring of US manufacturing involves tariffs, as we know all too well. Part of it involves weakening the US dollar to make US exports more competitive. Again Trump, Vance and Bessent have all said it.However, there is a problem, and that problem has a name: Triffin's Dilemma.You might think it's an advantage to issue the global reserve currency. You can issue dollars. Everyone else has to work for them. The French called it "America's exorbitant privilege." But this was a status the US engineered for itself during the Bretton Woods Agreement that determined the monetary order at the end of World War Two.What has happened, however, is that it has made the US fat and lazy, especially since 1971 when the US abandoned the ties of the dollar to gold.To supply the world with dollars, the US must run trade deficits. That is to say it must buy more than it sells. Persistent trade deficits have, over time, eroded its industrial base. Factories and jobs have gone offshore. Foreign nations have used their profits to invest in US capital markets and its debt. Meanwhile financial markets - aka Wall Street - have grown and grown, as America financialized.The Trump administration gets it in a way its predecessors did not. Vance has actually called the dollar's reserve status a "tax" on American producers.What's more, as this process has continued, the credibility of the dollar itself is being called further into doubt.Trump wants to revitalise America's Rust Belt. But there is more to it than that. As the curtains pulled back with Covid, the extent to which the US has been operating with its trousers down was exposed: an excessive dependence on China and its supply chains for too many strategically essential products, especially related to health, tech and the military. Then, during the Ukraine conflict, NATO found itself unable to match Russian production. The US, in short, is struggling to produce critical goods. It's why Trump keeps harping on about rare earth metals. It is vulnerable.The answer is to engineer a "managed decline" of the dollar as global reserve asset.The Golden Exit StrategyThis was already happening organically. China, for example, has been reducing its holdings of US treasuries for ten years now - quite gradually - although its US dollar holdings remain above $3 trillion.Meanwhile, China - and many other countries along the Silk Road besides - have been increasing their gold holdings, and quite dramatically. (In my view China has at least four times as much gold as it says it does. You can read more on this in my book). The process is known as de-dollarisation. Just a few months ago gold overtook the euro to become the second most held asset by central banks, while the dollar itself fell beneath 50% for the first time this century.We are not seeing a move towards any other national currency as global reserve, but towards the neutral but universal asset that is gold, as analyst Luke Groman points out. That suits all the main players. Gold is neutral, and both the US (supposedly) and China have lots of it.Indeed, a gold revaluation would be a "win-win" for both. A higher gold price would strengthen US fiscal flexibility while boosting Chinese consumers' wealth, encouraging domestic consumption and reducing trade imbalances.There is the potential to leverage the US's 261 million ounces (8,133 tonnes) of gold reserves, currently marked to market at just $42/oz. There are two ways this might be done. Economist Judy Shelton has proposed issuing Treasuries that are in part backed by gold to offset the inflation/debasement risk to make them more attractive to buyers. The other possibility (which has gone from, as Bessent put it, "we are not doing this" to "we are not doing this yet") is to revalue the gold from $42 to the current price of $3,300/oz, which would create over $850 billion of reserves without having to incur any extra debt. That would help with the US's current fiscal challenges: true interest expenses (including entitlements and veterans' affairs) currently exceed 100% of Treasury receipts.If you buying gold or silver coins to protect yourself in these “interesting times” - and I urge you to - as always I recommend The Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.In short, the US administration is leaning into a weaker dollar and neutral reserve assets like gold to rebalance trade and rebuild domestic industry, even at the cost of short-term economic pain.Your really should subscribe.Bitcoin's Digital Advantage and The Stablecoin BridgeBitcoin, as the world's best neutral digital currency, is going to have a role to play in all of this as well.The US is quite happy with that, as evidenced by its pro-bitcoin rhetoric. At the national, corporate and individual levels the US has a lot of bitcoin. The US itself has 198,000 coins, the most of any nation, Strategy (NYSE:MSTR) has 630,000 and many other companies besides also hold, and at least 15% of US citizens own bitcoin. Of the eventual 21 million supply, of which probably 15% has been lost and another 1.3 million are locked up by Satoshi Nakamoto and will likely never appear (he is almost certainly dead), the US has a hefty chunk.Which brings us to the recent Genius Act. This effectively nixed CBDCs just as the EU's Christine Lagarde was planning to phase them in (LOL). However, it supported stablecoins (that is coins backed by dollars). The more bitcoin grows the more the stablecoin market will grow. As the stable coin market grows so will its demand for treasuries. Today, roughly half the entire US dollar stablecoin market, estimated at $250 billion, is invested in US treasuries (maybe 2% of the overall treasuries market). Tether is the world's 7th largest buyer.The market is small, but growing rapidly. 2035 projections include $500 billion (J.P.Morgan's projection) to $2 trillion (Standard Chartered) and $4 trillion (Bernstein) by 2035."If the stablecoin market meets these growth projections," says the Kansas City Fed, "it could lead to a substantial redistribution of funds within the financial system."In other words the stablecoin market is going to help the US fund its debt, just as other nations move away from treasuries to gold and bitcoin.Gold might suit the US, but bitcoin suits it better, especially if there are complications surrounding the Fort Knox gold, which it seems there are. Why no audit yet?Tell people about this.Gold vs Bitcoin, Analogue vs Digital: The Coming ShowdownIt's likely a few years from now there is going to be some sort of showdown between gold and bitcoin in the battle for primary reserve asset status. It's unlikely to be both. Governments will favour gold, as they have lots of it. Tradition is on their side. Eternal gold has a track record that is unrivalled. But it is an analogue asset in a digital world. Bitcoin is much more practical. Which will win out? Practical digital or impractical analogue?This is a contest that is still a way off. For now all roads lead to gold and bitcoin as the world de-dollarizes.Own both is what I say.Needless to say the UK is absolutely clueless in all of this, having sold two-thirds of its gold in 1999, made it near impossible for UK citizens to buy bitcoin, now planning to sell its bitcoin holdings, now the largest holder of US treasuries in the world after Japan and making no attempt to buy any gold.With the threat of AI and automation to America's jobs - especially in driving where millions work - there is the risk of mass unemployment coming quite quickly, and with it plentiful defaults on mortgages and loans. This could force the U.S. to print money, driving inflation and providing yet another reason to own gold and bitcoin, which cannot be debased.From October 8th, UK citizens will finally be able to buy bitcoin ETNs.I was lucky enough over the weekend to find myself as a house guest under the same roof as Interactive Investor CEO Richard Wilson. We talked a lot. He knows how landmark the date October 8th is for UK investors and has made sure II are well positioned in a way that other brokerages are not. You might not be able to buy the US ETFs due to FCA nonsense, but anything listed in the UK will be available. So if you don't already have an account at II you might do well to open an account now. Click this link and the first year is free.In short, the dollar will weaken significantly over the next three years. The pound is a basket case. National currencies are not stores of wealth. Gold and bitcoin are. Own both as the Trump administration addresses Triffin's Dilemma through a managed dollar decline. They will use gold and potentially bitcoin to restore US industrial and military strength.You have been warned.Tell people about this post.Watch your inboxes. Tomorrow I'll be putting out a 15-minute film all about gold called The Eternal Metal. On which note, The Secret History of Gold is out now. Got yours yet?The Secret History of Gold is available at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops.Amazon is currently offering 20% off. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe
The ability for blind and visually impaired people to cast their vote privately and independently at elections is an issue we've followed closely on In Touch. We're joined by the head of guidance at the Electoral Commission, Charlene Hannon, who tells us about their research of the matter and how you can take part.Our reporter, Ian Hamilton visited the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to meet some of the visually impaired artists taking part. Ian discovers what themes they're covering and learns about efforts to make the arts more accessible.Listener input is an essential ingredient of In Touch, and this week's episode is no exception. In response to your reaction to last week's discussion about JAWS software pricing, we revisit the issue.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Fern Lulham Production Coordinator: David BaguleyWebsite image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.'
JAWS is a screen reader that allows visually impaired people to access information on their computers. It works by reading aloud information such as emails, financial information, documents and more. But the company who produce the screen reader have recently announced rises to the cost of the software, along with some of their other assistive technology products, and it has caused worry amongst its users. In Touch hears from Vispero, the parent company of Freedom Scientific who develop JAWS, Fusion and ZoomText, and to Sight and Sound who are the sole distributor of the softwares in the UK. They tell us what these new pricing models will look like for UK customers, why these changes are happening and what is the best course of action for current and new users of JAWS.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: Paul Holloway Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three separate white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch" and the Radio 4 logo (the word ‘radio' in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside of a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one is a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.
In this throwback episode, Alex (@AlexHormozi) shares his most brutally honest advice on pricing from using ultra-high-ticket “anchors” to testing prices 4–5x higher than you think you can charge. Alex explains why pricing is usually more flexible than you realize, how inflation quietly destroys your margins, and why fewer customers at higher prices is often the easier business to run.Welcome to The Game w/Alex Hormozi, hosted by entrepreneur, founder, investor, author, public speaker, and content creator Alex Hormozi. On this podcast, you'll hear how to get more customers, make more profit per customer, how to keep them longer, and the many failures and lessons Alex has learned and will learn on his path from $100M to $1B in net worth.Wanna scale your business? Click here.Follow Alex Hormozi's Socials:LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | AcquisitionMentioned in this episode:Get access to the free $100M Scaling Roadmap at www.acquisition.com/roadmap
In this week's episode of the Artist Academy podcast, we're diving into budget vs. luxury pricing language—and how the words you choose can either draw in high-value clients or unintentionally invite bargain-hunters. If you want to repel low-paying clients, avoid words like cheap, affordable, budget, quick fix. Replace them with words like investment, statement, signature, premium, transformative. What you don't want to use if aiming for high-paying customers: Quick and inexpensive way to add color. Murals are cheaper than professionally installed wallpaper! I can beat other artists' prices. Murals starting as low as $300. I'll make it work for you no matter what your budget is. We can keep it simple and affordable. Wording that positions you as a premium creative professional: Custom artwork designed to transform your space. Luxury murals that elevate environments and leave lasting impressions. One-of-a-kind, hand-painted murals tailored exclusively to your brand. A permanent investment in your space's identity and value. High-impact statement pieces that capture attention and admiration. Museum-quality finishes with durability that lasts for decades. Each design is created in collaboration with you, ensuring a truly bespoke result. Transform your blank walls into landmark destinations. I create immersive, large-scale art experiences that inspire and impress. This isn't just paint on a wall — it's an asset that adds cultural and financial value to your property. Instead of “cheap” → say “accessible entry point” (if you must talk about lower price).Instead of “affordable” → say “scalable depending on vision.”Instead of “decorate” → say “transform” or “elevate.”Instead of “price” → say “investment.”
In this episode of The Modern Hairstylist Podcast, host Hunter Donia and guest Jodie Brown dig into whether session package pricing still makes sense right now. If you keep hearing mixed advice about a la carte, hourly, parts and labor, or packages, this conversation gives you a clear way to decide what works for your business and your clients in 2025.Whether you want simpler menus, fewer surprises at checkout, or a model that better reflects transformations instead of line items, you will learn how to choose a structure that protects your time and margin while staying easy for clients to understand.Key Takeaways:
On this solo episode:Stacey dives into the psychology of pricing, explaining how both entrepreneurs and clients make emotionally-driven decisions about money before applying logic. Key Takeaways:-Vague value creates vague pricing.-Silence is a selling skill.-Discounts train your market to wait you out.Tweetable Quotes:"External pricing follows internal certainty. You can't out-charge your self-concept." -Stacey O'Byrne"Pricing is the most honest mirror in your business. It reflects who you believe you are and the future you're willing to claim." -Stacey O'Byrne"Treat pricing like a practice: audit your words, rehearse your number, lead with outcomes, anchor with contrast, and offer choice without pressure." -Stacey O'ByrneResources: Instagram: @pivotpointadvantageFree Strategy Session: text Success to 646.495.9867Schedule a 15-minute call with Stacey: http://pivotpointadvantage.com/talktostaceyIf you're ready to take yourself and your business to the next level and are interested in a coaching program that will get you there check out: http://pivotpointadvantage.com/iwantsuccess Join an interactive environment to help you build the success you've always wanted with other like-minded, success-driven entrepreneurs, business owners, and sales professionals: https://facebook.com/groups/sellwithoutselling
John Norkus is the founder of chiefpricingofficer.com and has led pricing transformation teams at several large consulting companies including Deloitte and KPMG. He started his career as an aircraft engineer before transitioning into business, bringing his analytical mindset to understanding the behavioral economics of pricing decisions. In this episode, John makes a compelling case for why pricing professionals deserve a seat at the executive table, exploring the disconnect between pricing's impact on enterprise value and its typical organizational placement. He discusses his new platform designed to unite senior pricing professionals and elevate the discipline to C-suite recognition. Why you have to check out today's podcast: Discover why pricing professionals are typically buried 2-3 levels below the CEO despite controlling one of four key profit drivers. Learn the difference between traditional pricing roles and true chief pricing officer responsibilities. Understand how to position pricing as enterprise value creation rather than just cost management. "Pricing may be part marketing, part analytics, part behavioral, part external, part internal, but it is the piece that aligns us on how we're actually squaring off against the market." – John Norkus Topics Covered: 01:43 – John's journey to pricing transformation: From aircraft engineer to behavioral economics and CRM to pricing strategy 05:18 – Positioning pricing as organizational connective tissue: Why pricing deserves equal footing with volume, cost, and mix initiatives 08:01 – The pricing control dilemma among departments: How sales, marketing, finance, and operations all claim ownership of pricing decisions 12:24 – Defining the Chief Pricing Officer's role: Executive alignment versus operational pricing work and transformation implementation 15:45 – Pricing strategies in business: Inside-out versus outside-in approaches and competitive intelligence versus customer willingness to pay 16:32 – Critical senior alignment in pricing projects: Why CEO buy-in as a top-3 initiative determines transformation success or failure 19:39 – Pricing and enterprise value analysis: Demonstrating 2-7% bottom-line impact within 12-18 months to justify executive investment 23:35 – The activist CFO and enterprise value: Finding CFOs who understand value creation beyond cost reduction and margin improvement 29:29 – Pricing as organizational alignment: How pricing serves as the ultimate test of market positioning and competitive strategy Key Takeaways: "If the pricing transformation of the pricing program isn't number one on the CEO's list of one, two, or three most important thing they can do this year... then quite frankly, it's not as important and it doesn't have the kind of alignment that you thought it did." – John Norkus "Organizations who get it are the ones that we should be engaging with... change comes from within. And if somebody believes that this is the right thing to do and they just need somebody to help them do it and somebody who has done it before, that's where people like you and I actually succeed." – John Norkus "I consider 20% of everything we do in pricing to be analytics or data and objective based, and the other 80% to be about behaviors, either internal behaviors or external behaviors that need to be captured and understood." – John Norkus People / Resources Mentioned: Professional Pricing Society (PPS): Established organization for pricing professionals and education Simon Sinek Four Drivers of Enterprise Profit: Volume, Cost, Mix, and Price - and their typical organizational reporting structures Connect with John Norkus: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmnorkus/ Email: john@chiefpricingofficer.com Website: https://www.chiefpricingofficer.com/ Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com
Negotiating with confidence isn't about having all the right words—it's about knowing your value, owning your ask, and holding your ground, even when it feels uncomfortable. In this episode, I'm joined by Carrie Gallant, leadership coach and negotiation strategist, who shares powerful insights on why so many women hesitate to negotiate—and what we can do to change that.We talk about shifting your mindset around Pricing, how to prepare for high-stakes conversations, and why silence after stating your price can be your most powerful move. If you've ever felt unsure about your rates or anxious about pushback, this conversation will help you step up with more clarity and strength.This episode is for you if…You feel nervous or uncertain when it's time to quote your priceYou tend to over-explain, discount, or avoid negotiation altogetherYou want to learn practical tools to speak up with more clarity and confidenceTune in now and learn how to start negotiating with confidence—so you can grow your business on your terms.Listen out for these highlights:07:04 The Pay Equity Commission & a Wake-Up Call14:29 Pricing & Value Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs18:29 Gender Dynamics & the Power of Preparation29:58 Setting Prices Without Apology34:34 Final Thoughts and Key TakeawaysThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
In this episode of China EVs & More, Tu (Sino Auto Insights) and Lei (former Editor-in-Chief of China Auto Review) dive deep into the latest developments in the global EV and mobility sector. From NIO's bold ES8 relaunch and pricing strategy to XPeng's surprising earnings and Leapmotor's raised sales forecasts, the conversation spans China's ultra-competitive EV market, Tesla's Model Y L update, and how foreign automakers like Ford, GM, Volkswagen, Audi, and Buick are fighting to stay relevant.The hosts also discuss battery swapping milestones, government price-cut scrutiny, global tariff shifts, and the EV retail channel wars (4S vs. D2C). To wrap, Tu shares his personal EV shopping experience in the U.S. (Cadillac Optiq, BMW i4, Chevy Blazer EV, Hyundai IONIQ 5).If you're tracking China's EV giants and their impact on the global auto market, this is a must-listen.Keywords:China EV market, NIO ES8 2025, Onvo L90, Tesla Model Y L China, Li Auto i8, XPeng P7, Leapmotor sales forecast, BYD Yangwang, Xiaomi SU7, Aito M8, Ford EV platform, CATL battery, Volkswagen XPeng partnership, Buick Electra, Audi E5 Sportback, AutoX robotaxi, Geely satellites, Tesla DeepSeek, EV price war China, battery swapping, NEV sales China, EV breakeven 2025Companies discussed:Chinese OEMs: NIO, Onvo, Li Auto, XPeng, Leapmotor, BYD (Yangwang, Denza, Fang Cheng Bao), Aito, Xiaomi Auto, Geely, Huawei (Momenta, Hesai)Global OEMs: Tesla, Ford, GM (Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet), Volkswagen, Audi, Hyundai, BMW, Lucid, Rivian, Stellantis, Volvo, PolestarSuppliers & Partners: CATL, DeepSeek, Doubao, SpaceX/StarlinkChapters:00:00 Introduction to the EV Landscape01:52 NIO's ES8 Launch and Market Impact09:21 Pricing Strategies and Market Dynamics18:46 Legacy Automakers and Their Adaptation28:09 Future Trends in the EV Market36:04 Tech Upgrades and Market Trends37:47 Pricing Strategies and Market Positioning39:38 Brand Differentiation and Consumer Perception42:33 Competition in the EV Market47:55 Consumer Preferences and Brand Loyalty49:42 Localization and Market Adaptation51:12 Profitability and Production Strategies55:15 Sales Channels: D2C vs. Traditional Models57:58 Future of EVs and Consumer Expectations
In this conversation, Danielle and Casey explore the complexities of influencer marketing, particularly focusing on pricing standards, agency fees, and the challenges of transparency in the industry. They discuss the 'black box' nature of influencer compensation, the discrepancies in agency fees, and the emotional dynamics involved in negotiations. The conversation emphasizes the need for better understanding and standardization in influencer marketing practices, while also highlighting the role of agencies in navigating these challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 179: Automate Your Lead Generation with our FREE online course: https://go.digitaltrailblazer.com/auto-leads-course-freeMany online business owners struggle with pricing their services and offers, either pricing too low to compete on volume or jumping to premium prices without the foundation to support them. This pricing confusion leads to unsustainable businesses that can't afford to grow, acquire customers, or hire team members.In this episode, Marcel Petitpas teaches us how to price strategically using his objective approach to profitability. He breaks down the critical concept of direct delivery margin, explains how to calculate your true costs including future hiring needs, and shares his value-versus-risk quadrant for choosing the right pricing model.Marcel also reveals when it's time to raise prices and how to replace low-margin clients with higher-paying ones to scale profitably.About Marcel Petitpas: Marcel Petitpas is the CEO & Co-Founder of Parakeeto, a company dedicated to helping agencies measure and improve their profitability. In his work as a speaker, podcast host, and consultant, specializing in Agency Profitability Optimization, he's helped thousands of agencies, consultancies, and professional services firms worldwide measure the right metrics and improve their profitability. He's on a mission to help firms break free of the outdated management silos between finance, operations & new business, and master their profitability through Parakeeto's Integrated Profit Management System.In addition to his work at Parakeeto, Marcel is also a bestselling author, weightlifting and biohacking enthusiast and a part-time beekeeper.Download Marcel's Profit Toolkit here: https://parakeeto.com/toolkitConnect with Marcel:https://marcelpetitpas.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelpetitpas https://www.instagram.com/marcel.petitpas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkq1Fcy_x3ZcNjMZEaSvSpw https://parakeeto.com/Want to SCALE your online business bigger and faster without the endless hustle of networking, referrals, and pumping out content that nobody sees?Grab our Ultimate Ad Script for Coaches, Agencies, and Course Creators.Learn the exact 5-step script we teach our clients that allows them to generate targeted, high-quality leads at ultra-low cost, so you can land paying customers and clients without breaking the bank on ad spend. Grab the Ultimate Ad Script right HERE - https://join.digitaltrailblazer.com/ultimate-ad-script✅ Connect With Us:Website - https://DigitalTrailblazer.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/digitaltrailblazerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitaltrailblazerTwitter: https://twitter.com/DgtlTrailblazerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/DigitalTrailblazer
We welcome Julian Barnes of boutique fitness specialists BFS Network to discuss the most effective lead sources and the common traits of studio with more than 20% margin. SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram GUEST RESOURCES Julian Barnes on LinkedIn BFS Network Get Your BFS Report Take Part In Their Next Report
Brandon Zech, William Sarradet, and Nicholas Frank answer Glasstire readers' questions about pricing art, working with galleries, and exhibiting in alternative spaces. “Showing up to everything you can is the first step… talk to the galleries who show work that you like, ask them questions about their program, and learn what they're interested in. It's really about continuous engagement with people and building relationships, which doesn't happen over night. But, the more you focus on it, the more you start to see those results.” See related readings here: https://glasstire.com/2025/08/23/art-dirt-pricing-your-art-gallery-representation-alternative-spaces/ If you enjoy Glasstire and would like to support our work, please consider donating. As a nonprofit, all of the money we receive goes back into our coverage of Texas art. You can make a one-time donation or become a sustaining, monthly donor here: https://glasstire.com/donate
Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also - Digital pricing is popping up in more supermarkets. Clark discusses how this pricing works, and how the results are turning out to be quite different from his early predictions. Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Dynamic Grocery Pricing: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Amazon vs. Walmart: The Price War You're Probably Losing (and How to Win!) Subscription Services: Why Canceling Is So Hard (and a Solution) 4 Insurance Policies You Actually Need (And 4 You Don't) Clark Addresses Changes to One of His Favorite Travel Credit Cards Top 10 Perks of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Welcome to the Grocery Store Where Prices Change 100 Times a Day - WSJ What Can I Safely Use for Peer-to-Peer Payments? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com / Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week's episode, we discuss the launch of the Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more. The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek's YouTube channel. As a reminder, we'll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in. After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps: Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast Pocket Casts Castro RSS We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming. Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast: Tesla officially launches Model YL with 6 seats, starting at ~$47,000 Elon Musk says Tesla might never bring its new Model YL to US, and the reason is so stupid Tesla raises Model S/X prices, but bundles ‘Full Self-Driving' and brings back free Supercharging Tesla is under NHTSA probe for not properly reporting crashes involving Autopilot and FSD Tesla loses bid to kill class action over misleading customers on self-driving capabilities for years The 2026 Nissan LEAF is the most affordable EV with prices starting under $30,000 BYD undercuts rivals with low Atto 2 EV prices Kia just built its first EV in Europe Hyundai halts production of another luxury EV Here's the live stream for today's episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET: https://www.youtube.com/live/IfI_6QwK5VY
In this episode, Rory speaks with Loren Fogelman, founder of Business Success Solutions, and Mike Maksymiw, Executive Director of Aprio Firm Alliance, about how firms can adapt and thrive in a fast-moving profession. Loren explains why so many accountants undervalue their services and how shifting from hourly billing to value pricing can align firms more closely with client outcomes while boosting profitability. Mike shares ways practitioners can embrace vulnerability as a leadership strength and how to inspire teams to drive change. Want to know how to strengthen your value beyond compliance? Curious how to lead with empathy while preparing your firm for the future? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this conversation with Loren Fogelman and Mike Maksymiw.
Ron Steslow and Katherine Mangu-Ward discuss surveillance pricing, the role of government in data collection, the third-party doctrine that allows the government to buy personal data, and the marriage of corporate and state centralized power. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Related Reading: Vox - Delta is using AI to give you a personalized airfare. It could be the future of pricing. NBC News - This congressman wants to ban companies from using your search history to set personalized prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eoghan McCabe is the founder and CEO of Intercom, a customer service platform that has successfully pivoted to become an AI-first company with its agent product, Fin. After stepping away from the CEO role in 2020 due to health issues, Eoghan returned to find the company's growth had stalled. Just one month after his return, ChatGPT launched, and within six weeks, Intercom had a working prototype of what would become Fin. In this conversation, Eoghan shares the brutal reality of transforming a late-stage SaaS business valued at multiple billions into an AI-first company that's now growing faster than most public software companies.We discuss:1. Why Eoghan believes most late-stage companies won't survive the AI transition2. The “founder mode” transformation that required firing 40% of staff and resulted in 98% employee satisfaction3. Why having “nothing to lose” is the ultimate advantage in AI transformation (and why comfortable companies will fail)4. How Intercom transformed from a plateauing SaaS business to an AI-first company growing at 300%+5. How Intercom's pricing evolved from “the most hated in SaaS” to a model that charges just $0.99 per resolved ticket6. The cultural transformation required to compete with AI-native startups7. How 12 years of therapy and a period of “ego death” shaped Eoghan's leadership approach—Brought to you by:Great Question—Empower everyone to run great research: https://www.greatquestion.com/lennyWorkOS—Modern identity platform for B2B SaaS, free up to 1 million MAUs: https://workos.com/lennyDX—The developer intelligence platform designed by leading researchers: http://getdx.com/lenny—Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-intercom-rose-from-the-ashes-eoghan-mccabe—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/170710700/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Eoghan McCabe:• X: https://x.com/eoghan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoghanmccabe/• Website: https://eoghanmccabe.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Eoghan(05:00) The state of Intercom(09:53) The decision to pivot to AI(12:33) Why Eoghan is "anti-bot" in customer service(16:19) Pricing strategy evolution(19:26) Implementing the AI transformation(26:11) Cultural and organizational changes(31:18) Surviving a coup attempt(40:05) The future of AI and business(45:11) AI's impact on jobs(48:44) AI and human creativity(50:26) The importance of young AI talent(55:00) The cultural shift in AI adoption(58:00) Personal growth and leadership(01:04:34) Intercom's success in producing product leaders(01:11:05) Intercom's unique company culture(01:14:11) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/• Fin: https://fin.ai/• Des Traynor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destraynor/• The art and science of pricing | Madhavan Ramanujam (Monetizing Innovation, Simon-Kucher): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-art-and-science-of-pricing-madhavan• Pricing your AI product: Lessons from 400+ companies and 50 unicorns | Madhavan Ramanujam: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/pricing-and-scaling-your-ai-product-madhavan-ramanujam• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• Behind the founder: Marc Benioff: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-founder-marc-benioff• Anthropic co-founder on quitting OpenAI, AGI predictions, $100M talent wars, 20% unemployment, and the nightmare scenarios keeping him up at night | Ben Mann: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/anthropic-co-founder-benjamin-mann• Fergal Reid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fergalreid/• How Perplexity builds product: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-perplexity-builds-product• Yosi Amram's website: https://yamram.com/• (Nathaniel Russell) Ego Death Now: https://heythereprojects.shop/products/copy-of-nathaniel-russell-space-is-a-place• Daniel Kahneman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman• Palantir: https://www.palantir.com/• Stripe: https://stripe.com/• Revolut: https://www.revolut.com/en-US/• Paul Adams on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauladams• What AI means for your product strategy | Paul Adams (CPO of Intercom): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/what-ai-means-for-your-product-strategy• Which companies accelerate PM careers most: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/which-companies-accelerate-your-pm• N26: https://n26.com/en-eu• Notion: https://www.notion.so/• Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/• True Detective on Max: https://www.hbomax.com/shows/true-detective/9a4a3645-74e0-4e4d-9f35-31464b402357• 28 Years Later: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10548174/• Trainspotting: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117951/• 28 Days Later: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/• Fellow: https://fellowproducts.com/• Porsche 911: https://www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/• Making Meta | Andrew ‘Boz' Bosworth (CTO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/making-meta-andrew-boz-bosworth-cto—Recommended book:• Nuclear War: A Scenario: https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-War-Scenario-Annie-Jacobsen/dp/0593476093Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com
On today's episode of The Daily Windup, I sit down with Marsha, a seasoned professional who's been in the world of government contracting since 1981. She cut her teeth as a cost engineer on the historic Three Mile Island cleanup contract with Bechtel and later sharpened her expertise at McDonnell Douglas as a pricing specialist. With decades of experience spanning pricing, accounting, and contracts, Marsha reveals why understanding strategic pricing is the foundation of success in government work. We dive deep into the reality of pricing government contracts—breaking down cost-plus, fixed price, and time & materials—and expose the challenges that companies face when moving from commercial work into federal projects. If you think government money is “easy money,” think again. Marsha explains the hidden complexities, compliance burdens, and regulatory hoops that can make or break your success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to break into government contracting and avoid costly mistakes.
In this edition of How I Trended Your Mother, Jack and Miles discuss The White House joining TikTok (to zero fanfare), JD Vance & friends getting booed at Shake Shack, prices going up for the nearly EoL PS5, an ICE Goon/U.S. Concentration Camp update and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you've ever been stuck guessing measurements or spending hours on-site with a tape wheel, you're going to love this. Today, we're taking you under the hood with Attentive AI's AutoMeasure — the game-changing tool we're now using to measure lawns, snow lots, mulch beds, and more in minutes, not hours. Promo Code Brian50 saves 50% at signup booking link for a demo: https://attentive.schedulehero.io/meet/janani/book-a-meeting-with-janani