'Tell People Your Goals!': The Secret To Accomplishing Anything - Cliff Weitzman

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Feb 29, 2024

Cliff Weitzman, the dynamic founder and CEO of Speechify, shares his remarkable journey from a Brown University student to leading a text-to-speech software company used by millions. He discusses overcoming dyslexia through innovation, how meaningful connections fuel entrepreneurial success, and the strategies that helped him build a thriving startup. Cliff emphasizes the importance of setting and sharing goals for accountability, and reveals how Speechify aims to challenge industry giants like Audible with its unique features and user-focused approach.

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ANECDOTE

Sneaking into Conference

Cliff, lacking conference funds, snuck into a dyslexia conference.
He demoed Speechify, securing school visits and user feedback.

ANECDOTE

Building the Mac App

After failed freelancer hires, Cliff coded the Mac app himself.
He involved Make School students and a friend, Chaitu, to help.

ADVICE

Startup Steps

To find startup ideas, identify problems and envision future solutions.
Validate your idea with pre-sales before building a product.

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Have you ever wondered how CEOs manage to pull off the impossible and achieve their wildest dreams? Do you have goals that seem so huge you don't think you'll ever accomplish them? Well today's guest is relentless about pursuing his goals, and along the way he has achieved some incredible things. Cliff Weitzman is the founder and CEO of Speechify, the text-to-speech software used by 25 million people worldwide and is growing to rival Audible. Cliff started this company as a student, with the simple mission of making reading more accessible for people with learning differences - and since then the company has gone from strength to strength. This is Cliff's second appearance on Deep Dive, and in this conversation you'll hear all about how Cliff built Speechify from scratch, how to found your own company, and how Cliff sets his goals - and achieves them. Enjoy x

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(00:00) Intro
(00:40) Cliff's journey
(13:37) Learning how to code
(20:15) How Cliff built his network
(41:00) Building Speechify
(56:13) Scaling Speechify
(1:02:49 How to found your own company
(1:11:55) Do you need a work-life balance when starting a business?
(1:20:11) Goal-setting
(1:33:00) Overcoming challenges
(1:33:42) Understanding ADHD
(1:44:36) Audiobook innovations
(1:58:37) The benefits of Speechify
(2:00:38) Fitness insights
(2:11:25) Cliff's relationship with money

🔗 CONNECT WITH CLIFF
🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 Twitter
📸 Instagram
💻 Website
👥 Linkedin

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI
📲 Join My Telegram Community
🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 Twitter
📸 Instagram
💻 Website
👥 Linkedin

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED
The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
Wealth by Ralph Waldo Emerson

📄SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

Deep Dive is the podcast that delves into the minds of entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people to uncover the philosophies, strategies and tools that help us live happier, healthier and more productive lives.

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