Leveling Up with Eric Siu

Today’s guest is Kevin David a software entrepreneur and content creator who started off in e-commerce and now owns multiple eight-figure businesses. He made his first YouTube video just over four years ago and has now been viewed more than a billion times across different social media platforms, where he shares his expertise on e-commerce and gaining financial freedom. Tuning in today, you’ll hear how he first achieved success in e-commerce, transitioned into e-commerce software, and how he started all three of his software companies from the ground up. He explains how he was able to shift his mindset by surrounding himself with good people and filling his head with great books, of which he provides a number of examples. In this episode, find out why Kevin pays his CEOs so much, how he developed his social media content strategy, and how he built up his email list. As someone who has perfected the art of leveling up, Kevin is full of profound advice, so tune in today!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:43] Kevin share’s his journey as an entrepreneur and the concept of ‘the second mountain’.  [02:30] How Kevin consolidated his e-commerce businesses so he could focus on software. [03:39] He talks about how he started all three of his software companies from the ground up. [05:14] How he made the transition from e-commerce to teaching, to software. [06:59] The books that helped him on his journey: The Lean Start Up, Measure What Matters.  [08:41] Why he pays his CEOs so well and the importance of incentivizing.  [10:52] How he adjusted his mindset through what he reads and surrounds himself with. [12:33] The importance of having a thick skin when it comes to creating online content. [13:47] A breakdown of his social media following across the different platforms, and the importance of a big email list. [15:07] Some insight into his content strategy and how he formulated it.  [16:17] How he has built his email list: Spending money on ads. [17:14] Thoughts on Miami vs Vegas for business: you want to live somewhere that makes you happy. [19:04] Kevin’s favorite business book and business tool.  [22:15] How you can contact Kevin and information about his podcast.    Resources From The Interview:     The Second Mountain    JungleScout   The Lean Start Up Must read book: Measure What Matters   Books by Paul Graham  Books by Sam Altman  Books by Andrew Chen    Shoe Dog   John Doerr Ted Talk: Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals Gary Vaynerchuk Basecamp The Kevin David Experience (Ninja Podcast) Kevin David on YouTube  Kevin David on Instagram Kevin David on Twitter Kevin David on Facebook  Kevin David on TikTok  Kevin David on Pinterest    Leave Some Feedback:   What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram

Today we are going to talk about what to look for in an M&A deal!

Today’s guest is Matt Gunnin, the CEO and Co-Founder of Esports One which is the first real-time fantasy platform that makes watching esports competitive. He explains how he came up with the ingenious idea to gamify watching esports, how Esports One works, and how it’s different from traditional fantasy platforms. Tuning in, you’ll hear how it makes money, why retention is high, and why the concept seems to be working so well. Find out how Matt is growing the business, the role SEO plays in this, and how Matt is using Clubhouse to open up new ways of innovation and help level up the industry. Matt also shares his views on NFTs, and how he sees them being incorporated into the arena of esports. For all this as well as a sneak peek into the future of the platform and its upcoming games, tune in today! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:36] Some background into the games Matt has played and is still playing. [01:12] What Esports One does, how it’s different from traditional fantasy platforms, and how it makes money. [03:03] How users put together their own lineups and the types of additional predictions they can make. [05:53] How the business is growing with the trend of esports. [08:52] Current and upcoming games on the platform.   [09:10] What they’re using to grow the business apart from word of mouth and Discord. [10:35] Matt’s experience of being an early user of Clubhouse.   [14:30] How Matt is using Clubhouse to connect with people outside of esports and help the industry grow. [16:43] Matt’s views on NFTs and the importance of their utility. [20:26] Where people can go to find out more about NFTs.  [21:23] Thoughts on buying CryptoPunks. [22:42] Matt’s favorite business books and business tools.  [25:21] How to find Matt online.  Resources From The Interview: Esports One Discord Esports on Clubhouse  Esports NFTs on Clubhouse Awesome NFT on Github CryptoPunks   Must read book: The Infinite Game The Hard Thing About Hard Things American Kingpin   Monday Notion Coda Protaton The Hacker News   Digit  Pitch  Raindrop Esports One on Twitter  Esports One on Instagram   Leave Some Feedback:   What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram    

Today we are going to talk about the questions you should be asking the other team!

Today we are going to talk about Simple 5-Step Mergers & Acquisitions Checklist!

Today’s guest is Garry Tan from Initialized, a company that focuses on investing in high potential software startups at the seed stage and earlier. From starting with $7 million in assets under management, his company has grown to the point where it currently has over $770 million, and they're starting to create over $100 billion in market value. He's invested in companies such as Coinbase, Opendoor, Flexport, Rippling, Patreon, Ro, and more. Even though Garry has established a name for himself as one of the world’s best venture capitalists, today on Leveling Up, he explains why he still thinks of himself as an engineer and designer first. As an investor and partner at Y Combinator, he discusses the influence of Paul Graham on his career and how he learned to be a founder. Tuning in, you’ll find out what questions Garry asks before he invests, how people who want to grow venture capital funds find him, and why angel investors should have a portfolio of at least 20 to 30 companies. Hear about how he chooses which companies to invest in, how he helps those companies level up, what the greatest achievements and failures of his career have been, and the importance of taking chances on things that are not ‘hot’! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:15] An introduction to Garry Tan and his background in investing.  [01:10] Why Garry sees himself as a creator first, not an investor. [02:45] Garry explains how he gets deal flow: Go after communities of people who are builders.  [04:25] The influence of Paul Graham and Y Combinator on Garry and how he learned to be a founder.  [07:21] What the typical breakdown is of the exits of Initialized’s standard funds. [09:58] How Garry chooses which companies to invest in: taking chances on things that are not ‘hot’.  [12:28] Garry talks about one of Initialized’s biggest wins. [13:25] The top questions Garry asks when deciding which companies to invest in. [14:22] How the company progressed from a fund of $7 million to a fund of $230 million. [15:47] Garry explains how people who want to grow venture capital funds find him. [18:33] How he looks at high valuations and why angel investors should have a portfolio of at least 20 - 30 companies.  [23:14] What his job as an investor looks like and how he helps the companies he’s invested in get to the next stage.  [25:12] How he creates content for his youtube channel. [27:26] Eric talks about his YouTube video creation process.  [28:07] How Garry gained 30,000 YouTube subscribers in November.  [29:06] How he structures his content and how often he posts. [30:00] How much time he spends on Clubhouse. [30:59] Insight into how his brand team works. [32:04] What Garry is currently reading and his favorite business book: Paul Graham: Hackers & Painters. [33:40] Garry’s favorite business tool: Frame and Around   Resources From The Interview:   Initialized  Y Combinator  Paul Graham   Brian Armstrong on LinkedIn Ro Garry Tan on YouTube Clubhouse    A Few Lessons for Investors and Managers From Warren Buffett   Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger  Must read book: Hackers & Painters  Zero to One  Founders at Work   Frame  Around  Garry Tan on Instagram Garry Tan on Twitter   Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram    

Today we are going to talk about 'How to Fail During an M&A Integration?'

Today we are going to talk about How to Source M&A Deals?

Today’s episode of Leveling Up is a little different as AdSkills Founder Justin Brooke and our host Eric Siu interview each other. Justin has a wealth of experience in the advertising industry, having run an agency for years. In addition to founding AdSkills, he is also known for generating millions of clicks in a day, and his crowning achievement of sourcing 17,000 leads in one day. Tuning in today, you’ll hear about AdSkills, how it is different from other marketing training companies, and how Justin uses book funnels to successfully acquire customers. Justin also provides some practical tips for anyone out there who wants to write a book and use the book funnel method. Eric talks about the concept of seeing life as a video game and discusses what he’s learned through the process of writing and publishing his book Leveling Up. Tune in to hear how he managed to generate $65,000 in book sales in a few hours and also provides a valuable growth hack tip for using Non-Fungible Tokens to grow your email list.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:41] Justin Brooke, Founder of AdSkills, introduces himself in 30 seconds. [01:18] Eric Siu introduces himself in 30 seconds. [02:16] Justin talks about AdSkills; how it is different from other marketing training companies and how the business model works. [04:23] How Justin uses book funnels to acquire customers. [05:17] Eric provides some background into self-liquidating offers. [05:40] Justin explains how he makes a profit using this method and how long it usually takes. [08:41] In response to coach and consultant pretenders being called out on Clubhouse, Justin explains some of his credentials and achievements that prove his authority in his field.  [10:57] Justin explains how someone who wants to use the book funnel method can get started. [12:07] Justin’s favorite marketing tools right now: Zoom, AdEspresso, Revealbot, and Flick. [13:47] Justin introduces Eric for his podcast audience. [14:51] Eric talks about the concept of seeing life as a video game and leveling up.  [15:40] Eric gives a growth hack tip for people building an email list: Non-Fungible Tokens as a giveaway.  [18:07] What Eric learned in the process of completing his book Leveling Up. [19:12] How Eric managed to generate $65,000 in book sales in a few hours. [20:37] The most impactful book Justin’s ever read: The Ultimate Sales Bible. [21:23] The most impactful book Eric’s ever read: The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Resources From The Interview:   AdSkills  48 Hour Books  ShipOffers Zoom AdEspresso Revealbot Flick   Leveling Up   Leveling Up Bulk    The Ultimate Sales Bible    The Hard Thing About Hard Things  Justin Brooke on LinkedIn Justin Brooke on YouTube   Leave Some Feedback:     What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed     Connect with Eric Siu:      Growth Everywhere Single Grain Leveling Up Eric Siu on Twitter Eric Siu on Instagram    

Today we are going to talk about M&A Transaction Structures: Asset Sale vs Stock Sale!