Strictly From Nowhere: A Podcast Experiment by Cause of a Kind

In this episode of Strictly From Nowhere, host Justin Abrams welcomes Michael Rispoli and John Crickett, a seasoned entrepreneur and software engineer, to discuss the evolution of technology and entrepreneurship. The conversation begins with John sharing his early experiences in the tech industry, starting from the rudimentary internet of the late 90s to the rapid advancements that followed. He emphasizes the importance of being product-led and the necessity of understanding customer needs through direct engagement, which he learned during his time at an internet service provider. John recounts his journey from being a software engineer to starting his own consultancy, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way.As the discussion progresses, John shares valuable insights on networking and sales, stressing that successful entrepreneurship hinges on genuine curiosity and empathy towards potential customers. He advocates for the concept of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), explaining how quick iterations and customer feedback can validate business ideas without risking significant financial loss. The episode wraps up with John encouraging listeners to focus on solving real problems in existing markets rather than chasing novel ideas, reinforcing that execution and understanding customer pain points are key to building a successful business.Takeaways"Sales is just talking to people.""The real validation is when somebody gives you money.""You can build a significant business by solving boring problems.""Networking is about being curious and interested in others.""Don't chase novel ideas; focus on execution and customer needs.""Every 26 people I spoke to, we got a customer.""MVP is maximum of two weeks from idea to execution.""If nobody's interested, you need to pivot quickly.""Engage with your target customers on platforms like LinkedIn.""You don't need a following to start networking; just be genuine."Chapters00:00Introduction to the Episode01:17John Crickett's Early Experiences in Tech09:33Transitioning from Engineer to Entrepreneur11:53The Importance of Networking and Sales24:01Understanding Marketing and Customer Validation34:46The Value of Execution Over Novelty39:26Closing Thoughts and Where to Find John Cricketthttps://twitter.com/johncrickett/https://codingchallenges.fyi/Newsletter: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/And the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@codingchats

We applied for a $195K Treasury job using AI and got wildly different results.When Sam Corcos (@samcorcos) posted a government IT specialist position requiring applicants to write a 10 page Great Gatsby analysis using AI, translate it into Spanish and Mandarin, and condense it into 200 words... we saw an opportunity to show you two completely different approaches to the same ambiguous problem.Mike (CTO) took the engineering route: Claude Code in terminal, planning phases, validation agents, citation checking, and systematic translation with dialect considerations.Justin (CEO) went full marketing: scrollable website, Roaring Twenties aesthetic, personality woven throughout, and creative ways to stand out in a sea of AI generated submissions.The truth? They're both testing the same thing. How do you break down an ambiguous task? How do you demonstrate your thought process? How do you use AI as a tool while showing your unique problem solving approach?This isn't just about landing a government job. It's about the future of interviews in an AI world. Show your work. Demonstrate your thinking. Stand out with your approach, not just your output.🔗 Original Job Post: https://x.com/SamCorcos/status/2012291877786054930🔗 Job Listing: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/854817200🔗 Justin's V0 Webpage: https://v0.app/chat/gatsby-treasury-essay-txWtm2rF459?ref=PX2BN1Chapters:00:00 Intro: Applying for a $195K Government Job02:30 Breaking Down the Supplemental Assignment08:20 Mike's Technical Approach with Claude Code21:30 Planning Mode and Context Management32:00 Justin's Creative Marketing Approach46:00 Translation Challenges: Spanish and Mandarin54:00 Final Results: Engineering vs Marketing01:02:00 Key Lessons: Process Over OutputFollow Sam Corcos: @samcorcos on XForward to Extraordinary.#AI #JobSearch #ClaudeAI #CareerAdvice #AITools #TechJobs #MarketingStrategy

Sometimes the best way to serve your clients is to show up. In this episode, I'm broadcasting from Wellness First in Juno Beach, Florida, a concierge model integrative primary care practice that's doing something different in healthcare. We're on site doing content production, and this is what it looks like when you take a holistic approach to your clients and actually get out from behind the screen.Mike and I break down why being on the ground matters, especially when you're building software. The biggest mistake you can make? Building exactly what the CEO specs out without talking to the people who'll actually use it. We've seen it too many times: leadership has one vision of how the work gets done, and the team on the ground operates in a completely different reality.**Here's what being on site reveals:** You discover things you'd never know from a Zoom call. Walking through Wellness First's facility, I found out they have an entire apothecary with supplements, vitamins, and pharmaceuticals available to their patients. That's a marketing opportunity. That's content. That's value we can deliver because we showed up.**What we cover:**The value of day in the life observations when building softwareWhy user story mapping matters more than ever in the AI eraHow walking the facility reveals business opportunities you'd miss remotelyThe exhaustion of juggling multiple AI projects (real talk from Mike)Our 2026 conference plans and where you might catch usThis is agency life. This is bootstrap founder reality. Four hours of sleep, leaving at 4am, showing up for clients in person, and finding ways to provide more value than you originally scoped. It's not always glamorous, but it's how you build something real.When you're on site, you're not just a vendor. You're a partner who understands the full picture of their business. That's the difference between transactional work and building lasting relationships.**Learn more about Wellness First:**Website: https://wellnessfirstjunobeach.comLocation: 13901 US Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408Phone: (561) 491 4666We're looking at React Miami and Railsworld in Austin this year. Drop your conference suggestions in the comments if you think there's somewhere we need to be.**Forward to Extraordinary.**Strictly From NowhereNew episodes every weekSubscribe so you don't miss the next one

Code Is Cheap Now. Software Isn't. Where's The Real Premium?AI is changing everything about how we build software. But not in the way most people think.Mike brought this visual today: Waterfall vs Agile vs AI vs Vibe Coding. The classic methodologies we all know. Build incrementally. Ship fast. Get user feedback. But then there's this new AI scenario where you just build the entire spaceship because you can. You build everything the customer asks for because code is cheap now and you want to move fast.Problem is, your users just wanted a car.**What we dig into:**• Why engineers now need product management skills that used to belong to PMs and UX designers• The collapse of offshore development and what that tells us about where value really lives• Code is cheap, software isn't: understanding the business problem is the new premium• Why distribution and marketing are still the hardest parts of this entire equation• Feature bloat, UX bloat, and the trail of tears you leave behind when you build the spaceship first• What it means to be passionate about this work versus just doing it for the paycheck• Why someone with a $100 million exit is still shipping code every single dayThe playing field is leveling. AI gives everyone access to code generation. But building the right thing at the right time? Understanding the business problem deeply enough to translate loose dreams into viable software? That's where the real value sits.We used to hear about offshore development on every single call. Haven't heard it mentioned in six months. Why? Because the part people actually need is the translation of their vision into software. The writing of the code once you have the spec is what's cheap now. That's what you were getting for seven bucks an hour offshore. Now you're getting it in tokens.What you can't get from tokens is someone who fundamentally understands your business problem. Someone who sees your vision clearer than you do. Someone who knows when to build less instead of building the wishlist. That comes with experience. That reflects in your rate. I don't care where you live in the world.If you're a front end engineer asking how to stay relevant, broaden your skillset. Go full stack. Learn architecture patterns. Study how truly inspired products were built. Sharpen your product skills because that's the differentiator now.If you're building products for clients or yourself, resist the urge to build the spaceship just because you can. Build the skateboard. Ship it. Get real users on it. Learn what they actually need. Then build the car.The nature of software is to provide convenience. The art is knowing what convenience to build first.FinForecasting launches February 1st. Built for bootstrap founders who need to track what actually matters.Forward to Extraordinary.**Links:**• Original LinkedIn post with Waterfall vs Agile vs AI visual: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7417462014211710979?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAX7VawBiZRvmx4BpvwkHH_bDe5i5D32Tqw• "Code is Cheap Now, Software Isn't" article: https://www.chrisgregori.dev/opinion/code-is-cheap-now-software-isnt• Theo's video "What Happens Now": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28z6OjsNsUk• Peter Steinberger's GitHub (example of passionate builder): https://github.com/steipete• Connect with Justin on LinkedIn• Subscribe to Strictly From Nowhere Newsletter#SoftwareDevelopment #AIEngineering #ProductManagement #AgencyLife #Bootstrapped #ClaudeCode #BuildInPublic #SoftwareEngineering

Why Running a Business is Harder Than You Think: Healthcare Costs & Hidden ChargesSome days you wake up and the business just steals your peace. Today was one of those days.Got hit with a massive healthcare premium increase and a cluster of retroactive charges that nobody warned us about. $2,400 per month per family for coverage. No invoice. No explanation. Just charges hitting the account while we're trying to figure out if we're bleeding cash or if this is just the new reality.In this episode, Mike and I get real about the hidden costs of providing benefits to your team when you're bootstrapped. We're talking high deductible vs low deductible strategies, why PEOs are essential even though they can surprise you, and the stuff nobody tells you about being a business owner until you're in it.What we cover:The real cost of providing healthcare benefits (and why employees don't see it as a raise)How to actually navigate high deductible health plans and HSA accountsWhy only the owner can handle certain business problems, no matter how big you getThe importance of tracking every single dollar when you're building without outside moneyHow venture backed companies make benefits look easy (spoiler: it's someone else's money)If you're a bootstrap founder, agency owner, or thinking about starting a business, this is the reality nobody talks about. It's not sexy. It's not a growth hack. It's just the day to day grind of keeping the doors open and people employed.Also mentioned: FinForecasting is launching February 1st. Built this tool because of exactly the problems we're discussing in this episode. If you need help tracking expenses against contractor, employee, and project revenue to protect your margin, stay tuned.This is what building transparently looks like. Forward to Extraordinary.Timestamps coming soonLinks:FinForecasting: finforecasting.comConnect with Justin on LinkedInSubscribe to Strictly From Nowhere Newsletter#Bootstrapped #AgencyLife #Entrepreneurship #HealthcareCosts #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwner #StartupReality #BuildingInPublic

Demos Over Deadlines: Why Software Estimation Is Broken (And How We Fixed It)Software estimation doesn't work. At least not the way most agencies do it.In this episode, Justin and Mike break down why traditional estimation methods consistently fail and how they've built an entire agency around eliminating that problem.What We Cover:Why estimation in software is like estimation in rock climbing (and why experience doesn't always translate)How traditional agencies pad estimates and still lose money on projectsThe dirty secret of the RFP process and why those estimates are essentially guessesWhy "agile" shops that issue change orders aren't actually agileThe demos over deadlines methodology and how it eliminates scope creepWorking in vertical slices to show continuous progressHow to sell no estimates and win clients doing itThe three variables of every project: time, money, and scope (and why you need to fix one)When estimation actually IS possible (and when it's not)Key Takeaway: If your commercial model doesn't match your execution model, your business is at odds with itself. True agile means your pricing structure supports change, not fights against it.Shout out to ⁨@_ericelliott⁩ and ⁨@AllenHolub⁩ for the wisdom that shaped this approach.About The Stand UpReal talk about building software, running an agency, and navigating entrepreneurship. Hosted by Justin Abrams and Mike Rispoli, co-founders of Cause of a Kind.Forward to Extraordinary.Connect With Us:Cause of a Kind: http://www.causeofakind.com

Episode 8: We Are The Gods of This CreationIn this episode, I sit down with Mike to talk about something that's been on my mind while creating content every single day. What would our grandfathers have created if they had the mediums we have today? What legacy are we actually building?I pull out my grandfather's dissertation from Brooklyn College, the only business writing he ever left behind. 150 pages. That's it. That's everything. And it got me thinking about how we're documenting our entire journey in real time, creating archives that will outlive us by centuries.Mike and I dive deep into what motivates us to create content beyond just building an audience. We talk about the human experience versus what AI can replicate, the skills that can never be taken from you, and what it means to be gods of our own creation. We get into the real threats facing our kids (spoiler: it's not unemployment), why there will always be work, and how our actual lived experiences are the one thing AI can never have.This conversation goes from rock climbing to religion to what happens when AI masters everything we know. It's about owning your narrative before someone else does and understanding that the content we create today becomes the foundation for everything that comes after.If you're building something, creating something, or just trying to figure out what the hell matters in a world where AI is coming for everything, this one's for you.Topics Covered:Legacy and documentationContent creation philosophyAI versus human experienceThe future of work and skillsWhat our kids will actually faceBuilding businesses in the age of AIWhy your story mattersDrop a comment if you've ever thought about what you're leaving behind. And if this resonates, share it with another founder or creator who needs to hear it.Connect with us:Strictly From Nowhere PodcastCause of a KindSee you tomorrow.

SummaryIn this conversation, Mike and Justin reflect on the past, particularly the year 1999 and the Y2K phenomenon, while drawing parallels to the current technological landscape and the future of business. They discuss the importance of adaptability in the face of rapid technological changes, especially with the rise of AI, and emphasize the need for accountability and the human touch in business. The conversation highlights the significance of staying focused on one's own path while being prepared for the future.Takeaways1999 was a pivotal year with significant cultural events.Y2K was a moment of collective anxiety about technology.The internet has evolved dramatically since the late 90s.Adaptability is crucial in the ever-changing tech landscape.AI is transforming how we approach software development.Accountability remains a key aspect of business.Entrepreneurship may become more prevalent in the future.Soft skills and human interaction are irreplaceable.Fear of the future should not hinder present actions.Creating value in business is essential regardless of technological changes.Chapters00:00Nostalgia Trip: 1999 and Y2K09:41Navigating the Future: Business in an AI World18:44The Value of Accountability and Human Touch

Nick Paladino, technologist and sales engineer blending product and reliability know-how. Chuck Moxley, fractional CMO who builds marketing from the ground up. They dig into making user experiences frictionless. They cover podcasting as marketing, sales engineering’s role in trust-building, A/B testing and incremental UX wins. Practical tips on using familiar patterns, measuring performance, and iterating safely.

SummaryIn this episode, Mike and Justin share their experiences with some of the most memorable and bizarre sales calls they've encountered. They discuss the challenges of navigating bad business ideas, the humor found in unexpected client interactions, and the lessons learned from these experiences. The conversation highlights the importance of optimism in sales and the unique stories that come from the entrepreneurial journey.TakeawaysBusiness can be hard, and humor helps.Taking every sales call leads to interesting stories.Some business ideas can be hilariously bad.The personal pleasure industry has unique challenges.Navigating legalities can be a nightmare for startups.Optimism is key when dealing with unqualified leads.Every idea deserves a chance, even the wild ones.Client interactions can lead to unforgettable moments.Sales calls can be both frustrating and funny.The entrepreneurial journey is filled with unexpected twists.Chapters00:00Introduction to the Stand-Up01:59Top Three Worst Sales Calls05:16Exploring Bad Business Ideas08:26The Personal Pleasure Industry14:19Unforgettable Client Interactions18:54Reflections on Sales Calls and Ideas