Summary of Arvid And Tyler Catch Up Podcast Episode: Books, Antibiotics, and Dealing With Social Isolation
— Description —
Arvid Kahl, inspired by books like The Pathless Path and The SaaS Playbook, considers writing more books and debates involving a publisher or self-publishing He explores the concept of building in public and emphasizes the positive impact of sharing personal struggles Arvid shares his experience of feeling socially isolated while building a successful SaaS business, Feedback Panda, and stresses the importance of community and support
Tyler Tringas also shares his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges of gaining support Both emphasize the value of unconventional paths and building a supportive community They discuss the impact of societal narratives on entrepreneurship and encourage questioning traditional norms
Arvid and Tyler highlight the importance of sharing personal journeys, building in public, and seeking inspiration from diverse lifestyles.
Books, Antibiotics, and Dealing With Social Isolation
Key Takeaways
Arvid's Publishing Dilemma: Seek or Self-publish?
Share Personal Journeys for Support
Embrace Public Transparency for Trust
Overcoming Family Doubt for Success
Entrepreneurial Isolation: A Frustrating Reality
Navigating Social Interactions as an Entrepreneur
Partnership: Key to Success and Failure
Overcoming Skepticism in Entrepreneurship
Embrace Unconventional Entrepreneurship for Financial Freedom
Key Takeaways
- Arvid Kahl is inspired by Paul Millard's book, The Pathless Path, and Rob Walling's book, The SaaS Playbook, and is considering writing more books.
- Arvid is debating whether to involve a publisher or stick to self-publishing while exploring the concept of building in public.
- Tyler suggests that the topic of building in public might not be appealing to traditional book publishers, but Arvid believes it has wider applicability.
- Arvid emphasizes the positive impact of sharing personal struggles on strengthening bonds and garnering support from others.
- Arvid Kahl shares his experience of feeling socially isolated and unsupported while building a business, but eventually found success with Feedback Panda, a SaaS business that generated $20,000 a month.
- Tyler Tringas shares his experience of growing up in a family where entrepreneurship was normalized, providing him with a supportive environment.
- Both Arvid and Tyler stress the importance of building a community of like-minded individuals and seeking inspiration from others' unconventional paths.
Arvid's Publishing Dilemma: Seek or Self-publish?
- Arvid has been inspired by reading Paul Millard's book, The Pathless Path, and Rob Walling's new book, The SaaS Playbook, both of which he found highly inspirational and well done. He's considering writing more books and is contemplating whether to seek a publisher or continue self-publishing.
- Arvid is exploring the concept of building in public and debating whether to involve a publisher or stick to self-publishing. He's uncertain about the best approach and has sought advice from various individuals in the publishing industry.
- Tyler suggests that the topic of building in public might not be appealing to traditional book publishers, but Arvid believes it has wider applicability. They discuss the potential of the concept and its marketability.
- Tyler shares his recent health struggles and the positive response to his announcement about reducing team size at CompFund. He expresses gratitude for the supportive messages he received.
Embrace Public Transparency for Trust
- Building in public can create goodwill and trust from people by providing behind-the-scenes explanations and documenting decisions.
- Honesty and transparency can mitigate potential backlash and complaints, as seen in the positive response to the discussed example.
- The community's understanding of entrepreneurship and the acceptance of risk contribute to the positive reception of public communication about failures.
Overcoming Family Doubt for Success
- Arvid Kahl shared his experience of feeling socially isolated and unsupported while building a business, which resonated with many people at MicroConf and on Twitter.
- He recounted how his father-in-law was unsupportive of his decision to start a business with his wife, and how his grandmother also didn't understand or support his entrepreneurial pursuits.
- Despite facing skepticism and lack of support, Arvid persisted and eventually found success with Feedback Panda, a SaaS business that generated $20,000 a month, finally earning his grandmother's approval after years of frustration.
Entrepreneurial Isolation: A Frustrating Reality
- Tyler Tringas shares his experience of growing up in a family where entrepreneurship was normalized, which provided him with a supportive environment and a lack of pressure to pursue traditional jobs.
- He also discusses the isolation he felt as an entrepreneur, lacking a support network and struggling to relate to others in social situations due to differing priorities and interests.
- Arvid Kahl relates to this, expressing his frustration at being unable to contribute meaningfully to conversations on topics like AI and entrepreneurship, feeling isolated as a result.
Partnership: Key to Success and Failure
- Arvid Kahl reflects on the role of partnership in his successes and failures, emphasizing the impact of meeting his co-founder and life partner, Daniel, in the same building where he is recording.
- Their relationship faced early tests due to Arvid's half-remote work and long-distance commuting, but they started a business together in 2017, sold it in 2019, and moved to Canada in 2021.
- The story highlights the compatibility and shared desire to build between Arvid and his partner, shaping their journey of building a life and business together.
Overcoming Skepticism in Entrepreneurship
- Tyler Tringas discusses the challenge of gaining buy-in from skeptical partners or spouses, especially in the context of entrepreneurship.
- He also mentions the feeling of being behind peers on a traditional path, particularly in terms of financial success and achieving tangible milestones like buying houses or having kids.
- He invites others to share their stories and experiences related to these challenges.
Embrace Unconventional Entrepreneurship for Financial Freedom
- Arvid Kahl discusses how he never felt the need to compare his lifestyle with others, especially in terms of financial security. He reflects on his late exposure to financial education and the impact it had on his decisions, including selling his business to secure his life through diversifying investments.
- Tyler Tringas shares his experiences as an entrepreneur, emphasizing the benefits of embracing the unconventional aspects of entrepreneurship, such as the flexibility to travel and the avoidance of the hedonic treadmill. He encourages questioning societal narratives and finding inspiration from diverse lifestyles.
- Both Arvid and Tyler stress the importance of building a community of like-minded individuals and seeking inspiration from others' unconventional paths. They also give a shout-out to influential figures and podcasts that have motivated them in their entrepreneurial journeys.