I’m back from NYC and I’m excited about the business! I talk about the process of designing and positioning the product/marketing for our new in-person training Why I didn’t enjoy running AJ&Smart Why I’m back running the “day-to-day” of the business after delegating everything for years
Thanks for the alternative perspective. All the other leadership and agile media tell me, as a product leader, that I am supposed to delegate and keep my hands out of the day to day. But the messy, markey part is what I love. Making something impressive out of nothing is a rare joy. Best of luck on your course!
Great episode Jonathan! Really cool that you've enjoyed getting back into the nitty gritty of projects! Nice to be in the position where you can do the bits you love and have talented people around you to take care of the stuff you don't enjoy as much. Interested to hear more about the strategy behind going back to in-person training! My guess would be it's a great chance to get more corporates involved to then sell in bigger training packages to them...? Assume as well there will be loads of amazing content generated by it as well....really I don't know though haha. Thanks for the recommendation to Founders - listened to the first 15 minutes and LOVE IT already.
It sounds a bit crazy, but I find it somehow comforting to listen to you. Your brutally honest. Do you ever bite your tongue afterwards? Anyway, I have found being able to give authentic compliments to be the best hack in working with employees. Not too much, but enough.
I enjoyed this episode. Your radical candor is refreshing.
It’s obvious you and the team are brilliant at “productization” and “starting”. Starting is such a big part of what and how you sell.
I’ve finally made it to corporate refugee status. It had to happen this way. WM/IC paved the way for my exit of the corporate world. I’m hoping my ability to sell myself to corporates aids me in selling my services to them soon. Nibbles of interest are coming in.
This is the only podcast I listen to on Substack ATM.
Dude this is my favourite podcast out of the 100+ I subscribe to. Never miss an episode. I think I like it because it has a good balance of funny / interesting/ useful. I might even get an eight sleep mattress - a guy I work with has one and says it’s the best thing he’s ever bought.
I’d like the Rodecaster to come back with the cheesy intro music.
Thanks for another inspiring podcast Jonathan. I like that you share insights on running AJ&Smart as well as personal insights in life. I'm a solo entrepreneur and listening to your podcasts does give me a sense of someone coaching me or at least pointing me in certain directions I have not looked into before.
What I'm curious about is if you struggle or have found great ways to balance micromanaging and leaving things (since you can't do everything by yourself right...). My challenge being 'solo' is balancing those things I'm interested in and find fun to do (right now I'm building e-mail marketing funnels) and hiring others to things for me. I recognize what you say about seeing things you would do differently and others who may not see or feel the importance of it.
Great if you keep on creating these podcasts sharing your opinions and perspectives on life in general (just like you recently did when sharing your thoughts about people living from vacation to vacation) and your 'adventures' being the CEO at AJ&Smart.
Always great to see an email coming in saying you uploaded a new episode.
Thanks for the alternative perspective. All the other leadership and agile media tell me, as a product leader, that I am supposed to delegate and keep my hands out of the day to day. But the messy, markey part is what I love. Making something impressive out of nothing is a rare joy. Best of luck on your course!
I always deeply appreciate the transparency and humility you speak with. Also the recos. Genuinely can't wait to listen to those episodes for example!
Immediate question that came to mind was, what do you wish you knew way sooner when you started as an entrepreneur?
Great episode Jonathan! Really cool that you've enjoyed getting back into the nitty gritty of projects! Nice to be in the position where you can do the bits you love and have talented people around you to take care of the stuff you don't enjoy as much. Interested to hear more about the strategy behind going back to in-person training! My guess would be it's a great chance to get more corporates involved to then sell in bigger training packages to them...? Assume as well there will be loads of amazing content generated by it as well....really I don't know though haha. Thanks for the recommendation to Founders - listened to the first 15 minutes and LOVE IT already.
It sounds a bit crazy, but I find it somehow comforting to listen to you. Your brutally honest. Do you ever bite your tongue afterwards? Anyway, I have found being able to give authentic compliments to be the best hack in working with employees. Not too much, but enough.
Founders is a great podcast, Jonathan. I’ll turn my focus to those episodes you mentioned.
I listen to this podcast!
Hahaha
I enjoyed this episode. Your radical candor is refreshing.
It’s obvious you and the team are brilliant at “productization” and “starting”. Starting is such a big part of what and how you sell.
I’ve finally made it to corporate refugee status. It had to happen this way. WM/IC paved the way for my exit of the corporate world. I’m hoping my ability to sell myself to corporates aids me in selling my services to them soon. Nibbles of interest are coming in.
This is the only podcast I listen to on Substack ATM.
Hey Jonathan,
Thanks for sharing your journey! It's highly valuable.
If you don't mind me asking,
You shared the story where you delegated everything to the team and then came back to operations.
I'm super interested to understand what the 2-3 key lessons you have from the process of delegating everything.
Is it about finding the right product and a predictable process to deliver to each customer?
P.S.
Love your podcast!
Dude this is my favourite podcast out of the 100+ I subscribe to. Never miss an episode. I think I like it because it has a good balance of funny / interesting/ useful. I might even get an eight sleep mattress - a guy I work with has one and says it’s the best thing he’s ever bought.
I’d like the Rodecaster to come back with the cheesy intro music.
Thanks for another inspiring podcast Jonathan. I like that you share insights on running AJ&Smart as well as personal insights in life. I'm a solo entrepreneur and listening to your podcasts does give me a sense of someone coaching me or at least pointing me in certain directions I have not looked into before.
What I'm curious about is if you struggle or have found great ways to balance micromanaging and leaving things (since you can't do everything by yourself right...). My challenge being 'solo' is balancing those things I'm interested in and find fun to do (right now I'm building e-mail marketing funnels) and hiring others to things for me. I recognize what you say about seeing things you would do differently and others who may not see or feel the importance of it.
Great if you keep on creating these podcasts sharing your opinions and perspectives on life in general (just like you recently did when sharing your thoughts about people living from vacation to vacation) and your 'adventures' being the CEO at AJ&Smart.
Always great to see an email coming in saying you uploaded a new episode.