Best Brian Scordato Tacklebox Podcasts (2024)

1
How to Not Screw Up Pricing For Your Startup 25:04

7h ago25:04

25:04

Today, we talk about how to price your startup. We touch on the four places to find margin, the Taco Bell pricing strategy, and using price to attract customers. We talk through pricing an AI assistant, basketball lessons, honey, and pilates. After this pod, you'll (hopefully) think about pricing your startup completely differently. Tacklebox Idea …

1
A Podcast Figuring Out Your Value (ITS Classic) 22:15

7d ago22:15

22:15

Today, we'll help you figure out how to find and position your startup idea's value. We'll talk through the Need/Gap/Swap framework, go through a few startups doing the value thing well and poorly, and we'll talk about a Magician on the Upper West Side. Tacklebox How to Make $1,000 Today Idea to Startup Newsletter Idea to Startup Bot 01:25 Intro 02…

1
How to Prioritize as an Idea-Stage Founder (ITS Classic) 23:57

22d ago23:57

23:57

A throwback to the 6th ever episode of Idea to Startup - an episode that’s been listened to thousands of times and has a consumption rate at nearly 100%. Entrepreneurs can do anything, but they can’t do everything. How do you prioritize early on? How do you differentiate? This episode presents a framework that’ll ensure you work on the things that …

1
Things That Always Work and Things That Never Work 21:28

29d ago21:28

21:28

Today, we dig into the Always Work and Never Work Lists - a method that'll help entrepreneurs make good decisions through the constant second guessing and self-doubt that a startup brings. We talk through examples from the lists and apply them to a moment Brian had to deal with recently. We get a little help from Goodfellas and Taylor Swift. Tackle…

1
How to Create Useful Content (for people who don't think they can create content) 21:31

1M ago21:31

21:31

Today, we'll talk about content. Two of the most asked questions we get are "should I create content?" and "if I should... what the heck should I say?" Creating content feels daunting until you realize the best way to create content is to not create content. We go through how to do that, leaning on a few examples and a content generating framework.…

1
A Mouse Pod (How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market) 24:20

1M ago24:20

24:20

One of my favorite episodes in a while. Today, we talk about how you can stand out in a crowded market by looking at an exceptionally successful exterminator. We'll pull out four lessons that make a framework to create contrast between your business and your competitors. We'll talk through Customer Journey Mapping, the Feature Fold, how to take you…

1
A Weekly Prioritization and Audit Framework for Entrepreneurs (ITS Classic) 26:51

2M ago26:51

26:51

One of the most listened to episodes in ITS history with an average consumption rate well over 100%. Today, we go through a Weekly Prioritization and Audit Framework for entrepreneurs. We'll hit on three giant shifts you'll likely need to make - ditching a to do list and moving to your calendar, weekly progress reports, and environment design. We g…

1
Running a Concierge MVP Live (feat. the four-step Concierge MVP framework) 24:17

2M ago24:17

24:17

Today, we'll run through a Concierge MVP example live on the pod. Brian chooses an idea specifically because someone wrote in and said it was "un-Concierageable," which isn't a word but is the reason this podcast exists. We go through the four-part framework that'll help you build a Concierge MVP - The Three Components of Wild Success, Acquiring Cu…

1
How to Start the Business You’re Not Quite Ready to Start 23:30

2M ago23:30

23:30

Today we talk through a system to help you start the business you don't feel ready to start. We do this because that's the only type of business there is. You're never going to feel prepared so you can't let that fear paralyze you. We talk through the three main gaps that keep founders from starting - the Knowledge Gap, the Network Gap, and the Pro…

1
How to Take Yourself Seriously feat. The Entrepreneurship Handbook (ITS Classic) 22:15

2M ago22:15

22:15

Most people's startup approach is haphazard. It's a combination of instincts and reactions and luck or happenstance. People who succeed are far more purposeful. Today, we'll help you take your idea and yourself seriously. We'll build your entrepreneurship handbook - the thing that'll let you make tough decisions at scale. Tacklebox Idea to Startup …

1
A Startup Storytelling Framework for Non-Storytellers 24:31

3M ago24:31

24:31

Today, we'll help all the non-storytellers tell a compelling story about their business. We've got a framework that'll walk you through the ingredients of a compelling story, and a mise en place-inspired approach that'll help you get to story market fit. We've got some rules, some variables, some accelerants, and an example about a service that hel…

1
When to Pivot and When to Stick (aka what to do with all your startup ideas) ITS Classic 23:47

3M ago23:47

23:47

Today, we'll talk about one of the most common hurdles entrepreneurs run into - getting tempted by a new idea a few months into working on their main idea. We lay out a framework to identify the first principles of the new idea fast so you can decide if it's worth a pivot. We also dig in on why the urge to pivot shows up, procrastination, and how t…

1
How to Pick Your Startup's First Customer 33:12

3M ago33:12

33:12

Today, we'll help you pick your startup's first customer segment. This decision dooms a huge percentage of first time entrepreneurs - if you don't understand what the job of your first customer segment is, you'll likely pick a customer incapable of doing it. Your first customer has a unique responsibility that no other customer will have - you need…

1
A System to Do Hard Things (ITS Classic) 23:29

4M ago23:29

23:29

Today, we help you become the type of founder who relishes uncomfortable things that lead to successful startups. There are no real secrets in the startup world - the hard, proactive, uncomfortable work leads to businesses that matter. This work doesn’t happen without a system. Today we help you build that system, using The Costanza Swap, The Three…

1
How to Build the First (Magical) Version Of Your Product This Weekend (ITS Classic) 28:45

4M ago28:45

28:45

Today's classic episode will help you get the first version of your product up and out this weekend. We use a three-part framework to help you focus in on the one core feature you've got to nail that can be built by someone with no technical or product building skills in an afternoon. We also find your customers inertia and ride that wave to make i…

1
A System to Generate Ideas (aka how to let your brain be a brain) 23:31

4M ago23:31

23:31

Today, we talk through a 4-part system to generate ideas - one that'll tap into your brain's natural ability to develop novel solutions rather than just waiting (hoping) inspiration will strike. We'll do it with a little help from a baseball training facility, a corked wine bottle, and an MRI startup. Tacklebox Idea to Startup Newsletter Fermenting…

1
20-ish Minute Skill: The Concierge MVP (ITS Classic) 26:00

5M ago26:00

26:00

Today's classic ITS episode discusses the Concierge MVP, an indispensable tactic early stage entrepreneurs can use to get the feedback of a full product without the money and time required to build one. We go through the 4-step method that'll get you data from customers you can use to raise funding, hire, or recognize the opportunity actually isn't…

1
How to Create a Strategy For Your Startup 22:31

5M ago22:31

22:31

Today, we'll talk about strategy - what good (and bad) strategy looks like for startups, and how most early-stage companies lack any strategy at all. Using a framework from Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, we'll explore the three core elements: diagnosis, guiding policy, and coherent action. We'll examine strategies from a stand-up comedian and GoPro as…

1
How to Build a "Skeptical Startup" - 8k per month in 10 hours per week 21:04

5M ago21:04

21:04

Today, we'll help you tackle the big question for entrepreneurs with startup ideas and jobs - when's it time to quit the job and focus on the startup full-time? You should think about this question the second you start working on an idea, and you should use the Skeptical Startup framework - a goal of $8k per month in 10 hours per week - as a guide.…

1
What if the problem you're solving isn't "painful" or "urgent"? What if it's just something you think people will want? Should you still pursue it? (feat. Linguini) 21:32

6M ago21:32

21:32

Today is an ITS classic - an episode that was listened to and shared a ton. It hits on a fundamental question for idea-stage entrepreneurs - what if the problem you're solving isn't an urgent, painful, bleeding neck problem? What if it's just something you think will improve people's lives? Should you still pursue it? How? Tacklebox Idea to Startup…

1
The Magic of One-Sentence Marketing 15:45

6M ago15:45

15:45

Today’s episode is for everyone who struggles to summarize their startup in a sentence. We lay out a framework to do this well with help from a sticker on the street, a hedge fund, and a Vietnamese coffee shop. Tacklebox Idea to Startup Newsletter Idea to Startup Bot 00:33 One Sentence Marketing 01:10 Train to NYC 03:04 The best marketing Brian’s s…

1
Designing a System to Actually Prioritize Your Startup This Year 17:10

6M ago17:10

17:10

Today, we dive into a practical, resilient system to help you carve out and hold time for your startup amidst the craziness of your life. Most startups fail because the founders lose momentum when predictable life things pop up - you were supposed to work on your startup but your kid was sick or your job gets busy. You need to build a system that a…

1
Seth Godin and Brian Go Through Startup Ideas (ITS Classic) 49:03

7M ago49:03

49:03

Seth Godin (!) and Brian go through startup ideas. Seth gives his opinion on how he’d start everything from a pasta truck to an updated CSA program. We dive into risk, emotion, tension and doing things that matter. Seth talks about the distinction between entrepreneurs and freelancers and the danger of thinking you’re one when you’re really the oth…

1
How to Think Bigger (feat. The Problems and Opportunities Method) 22:31

7M ago22:31

22:31

Today, we’ll teach you how to avoid sabotaging your startup. Most founders think the best way to build a startup is to mitigate risks - to optimize for worst case scenarios. But the actual way to build a successful startup is to optimize for tasks with the highest ceiling - to do the things that might give you asymmetric gains, if they work. This i…

1
How to be Different, Part 1 (feat. The Personal Venn Diagram Method) 20:22

7M ago20:22

20:22

Today, we'll help you build a system to be different. We dive into the Persona Venn Diagram Method - a tool designed to help you identify and capitalize on your unique strengths - and we'll talk through how the path you might think holds the least risk actually guarantees the most. This is the first in a series of episodes on the Methods we use at …

1
Testing Another Startup Idea Live Part 1: Picking the Idea, Nudging the Boulder 23:24

7M ago23:24

23:24

Today, we'll kick off a new series where we'll start an idea live on the pod. Actually, we'll start two. One in the healthcare space, one in the AI space. The hope is that you've got an idea and can follow along with us. Today we'll cover when your idea is ready to start, how to structure the first couple of weeks, and how to think about the giant …

1
The Quest for an Identity 21:26

8M ago21:26

21:26

Today we'll help you find an identity. An identity is something unique that you can organize your business beneath. A north star that can act as a lens for every decision you make. We talk through how to use category shifts and first principles to find and evaluate possible identities and when to stick with an identity vs when to jump ship. We use …

1
How to Find a Differentiator (ITS Classic) 18:35

8M ago18:35

18:35

Today we'll outline two frameworks that'll help you find a meaningful differentiator. We'll use a bunch of examples to show how Inversion + Before and After can change your business. A baseball academy, Krispy Kreme, and Nutrisystem help show us the way to a product your customers will happily overpay for. Tacklebox…

1
Customers Speak Problem, But You’re Speaking Solution 21:32

8M ago21:32

21:32

Today, we'll talk about why so many entrepreneurs can't effectively explain what they're doing to their customers. The short answer is they speak the wrong language. Customers speak Problem, entrepreneurs speak Solution. It's like two people trying to have a conversation when one only speaks Latin and the other only speaks Dutch. We go through how …

1
An SOP for Testing a Startup Idea 24:41

8M ago24:41

24:41

Today, we'll help you build an SOP for testing startup ideas. We'll use an example from a listener - a startup in the homeschooling space - as a guinea pig. The best way to have a great startup idea this time next year is to test out a bunch of ideas in the interim. This SOP will help you do it, and scale the process. Tacklebox Byldd 00:00 Tacklebo…

1
Two Ways to Approach Your Startup Idea Like A Pro (ITS Classic) 21:54

8M ago21:54

21:54

Today, we'll talk about pros and amateurs. Pros build businesses that have a shot - amateurs never leave the starting gate. Unfortunately, most amateurs don't know they're approaching their idea the wrong way. We talk through your vision and your internal system - the internal process you'll build, automate, and scale to help you execute that visio…

1
Writing Persuasive Copy to Test an Idea 18:33

9M ago18:33

18:33

Today, we talk through how to write compelling copy. We go through a few counterintuitive archetypes you can use to dramatically increase the clarity of your messaging, which will allow you to increase your conversion rate and get more people involved earlier in the process. Copywriting is an idea-testing superpower. Tacklebox AI Brian Byldd 00:00 …

1
How to Embrace Risk, Uncertainty, and Chaos 23:54

9M ago23:54

23:54

Today, we'll help you embrace risk, uncertainty, and chaos. The only way to get asymmetric results in life is to spend a lot of time in what we call the "chaos" zone - the uncomfortable place where you're finding things no one else has yet. This type of work (life) is uncomfortable and stressful, so people don't do it. But, it's where all the poten…

1
The Three Types of Problems Worth Your Time to Solve 23:39

9M ago23:39

23:39

Today we talk through the three types of problems that deserve a solution. We start off with a few higher level thoughts about problems and startups - specifically around achievement incentives and how some bad early decisions usually can't be salvaged by good decisions later on. Then we talk through Hole Problems, Teleporter Problems, and Status L…

1
How to Find Your Wedge, feat. Bleeding Neck Problems (ITS Classic) 20:11

9M ago20:11

20:11

If you can't get traction, you likely need a wedge. Today, we talk through how to find one. We leverage a few frameworks we use at Tacklebox - the Bleeding Neck Problem, Productizing the First Step, and the 100 Character Landing Page. The goal is to solve an immediate, painful problem that'll build trust and allow you to pitch your bigger, North St…

1
Are you a Freelancer or an Entrepreneur? 25:13

10M ago25:13

25:13

Today, we'll help you think through a deceptively tough question - are you a freelancer or an entrepreneur? Every decision you make needs to nest neatly below this core decision for your business to work, but tons of founders are either trying to do both simultaneously or think they're one when they're really the other. We clarify the difference be…

1
A System to Relish the Uncomfortable Stuff 22:22

10M ago22:22

22:22

Today, we help you become the type of founder who relishes uncomfortable things that lead to successful startups. There are no real secrets in the startup world - the hard, proactive, uncomfortable work leads to businesses that matter. This work doesn’t happen without a system. Today we help you build that system, using The Costanza Swap, The Three…

1
How to Identify and Kill Bad Startup Ideas Masquerading As Good Ones 23:15

10M ago23:15

23:15

Today, we'll lay out a framework to help you identify and kill bad ideas. It's hard to objectively evaluate your idea early on - this framework helps you rise above your idea to do it effectively. A side-effect is that the framework will help you find and pursue the good ideas. We talk through 1) Finding and Evaluating the Real Risk, 2) Predicting …

1
A System to Test and Build Your Startup (Part III - Implementing Your System This Weekend) 30:29

10M ago30:29

30:29

Today is the last episode in the three-part series on an internal operating system for people working on startup ideas. We talk through the core pillars - Projects, Areas, Inbox - and the multipliers (like Keystone Actions) that'll make sure you're focused on the things that could be differentiators for your business. After today, you'll have every…

1
An Operating System to Help You Move Faster By Focusing On Less - Part 2 (feat. a monkey reciting Hamlet) 28:24

11M ago28:24

28:24

Today is part 2 of our series helping you build an internal operating system. We identify the four things you'll need to have happen for your startup to gain momentum, then we organize those into a system that'll help you move fast based on inertia. Tacklebox Beehiiv Monkeys and Shakespeare 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think Delta 4 Stat…

1
A Weekly System to Keep Entrepreneurs With Jobs Moving Fast (Part 1 - Strategy) 16:48

11M ago16:48

16:48

Today, we'll kick off a series that'll help people with jobs and startup ideas build an internal system that'll help them track progress and build momentum. Too many founders have no strategy or measurement system around how they pursue and test an idea - this series will help you do it. In part 1, we go through what a strategy should look like and…

1
The One Thing That Matters - How to Find a Differentiator That'll Support a Business 24:01

11M ago24:01

24:01

Today, we'll help you find a differentiator powerful enough that it can support your business. We'll talk through what a differentiator actually allows you to do, five prompts to help you uncover and test one for your business, and Brian's favorite current differentiator - Popup Bagels. Tacklebox Beehiiv Popup Bagels 00:00 Beehiiv 00:33 Differentia…

1
How to Stop Being Your Startup's Bottleneck 21:28

11M ago21:28

21:28

Today, we'll help you get out of your own way. We subscribe to the Charlie Munger school of "instead of trying to be smarter, try to be less dumb," and this episode digs into three ways to simplify your startup so that you can move faster. We talk through how to actually implement jobs to be done, how to build systems to amplify your willpower 100x…

1
A Framework for Building Wildly Useful Startups 25:25

12M ago25:25

25:25

Today, we'll talk through a framework that'll help you evaluate whether you're building something useful enough to anchor a business. Most startups fail because the thing they built doesn't make a big enough dent in their customers lives. We'll make sure you don't make this mistake with help from Habit Kangaroo, a startup Brian ran back in 2014, an…

1
Four Characteristics of Great Startup Ideas 23:37

12M ago23:37

23:37

Today, we talk through four characteristics of great startup ideas (with a bonus fifth Brian thought of post-recording). We discuss organic growth, market innovation vs. product innovation, growing markets, product swaps, and happiness. The goal of this episode is to help shape fuzzy ideas and give you new ideas. Tacklebox Beehiiv 1:27 The Personal…

1
The Organic Growth Equation - Why People Share and How to Pick Ideas that'll Grow 28:08

12M ago28:08

28:08

Today we talk about organic growth. Your startup won't be successful if your first customers aren't compelled to tell people about how you've helped them. Luckily, organic growth is straightforward. There are ways to predict it and ideas better suited for it. We talk through an equation for organic growth and dig in on why people share. Tacklebox I…

1
A System to Help You Become Wildly Creative 21:51

1y ago21:51

21:51

Today, we'll help you build a system for creativity. We'll start by defining creativity as an equation to make it more accessible. Then, we'll develop a system that focuses on the inputs of the creativity equation. We talk through the Commonplace Book, Commencement Speeches, a sports writer and the movie Sahara. Then, we get into the weeds on how t…

1
Ep. 165 - Should You Niche? 23:49

1y ago23:49

23:49

Today, we'll talk about the big question - should you start with a focused niche? There are pros and cons to the approach, but the perceived cons - "what if I get tired of the niche in a few years?" , "what if the niche doesn't lead to a bigger market?" , "isn't a niche just hiding from the bigger problem I want to solve?" have gotten louder lately…

1
Why You Didn't Build a Product Last Weekend (feat. A Framework to Seek Out Discomfort) 23:01

1y ago23:01

23:01

Today, we'll talk through why you didn't get a product live last weekend despite an episode that walked you through a step-by-step process to do it. Last week, we ignored the emotional stuff. The inertia and discomfort that keep people from doing something new. Today, we tackle it. We give you a framework to lean into discomfort and answer the ques…

1
How to Build the First (Magical) Version of Your Product This Weekend 27:48

1y ago27:48

27:48

Today we'll help you get the first version of your product up and out. We use a three-part framework to help you focus in on the one core feature you've got to nail. We also find your customers inertia and ride that wave to make it easier to use your product than not. We get help from an airbnb for lawn equipment startup and move the ball forward o…

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Brian Scordato Tacklebox Podcasts

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