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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jared Kotter (https://x.com/Jaredkotter), the former middle school teacher who accomplished the seemingly impossible: launching a drywall business and scaling it to $1.7 million in revenue in just 10 months!

Jared shares the unorthodox approach he took, leveraging his background as a college athlete and LDS missionary to develop unique sales skills. Instead of buying equipment or hiring crews, Jared established a powerful model: acting as an account manager and commissioned salesman for his brother's company, Canvas drywall, earning a 50% split of the net profit.

He breaks down how he uses Construction Monitor to source high-end custom homes and reveals his secret method for closing deals at three times the average rate. This strategy involves doing things that don't scale, namely, showing up in person to measure jobs, which allows him to build immediate trust with the home builder.

We also discuss why he views this successful venture as a stepping stone and how leveraging your unfair advantage is crucial for entrepreneurial success.

Questions This Episode Answers:

How can you achieve $1.7 million in revenue with no experience in a trade industry?

What is the simple sales secret sauce that leads to a 3x closing rate in construction?

How do you find and approach high-quality, high-margin construction leads for new builds?

What is a fair net profit split when selling and managing fulfillment for a service business partner?

How does focusing on good fulfillment immediately create recurring revenue in the contracting world?

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 – Intro: From teacher to $1.7M drywall business

00:42 – What is a drywall business & how Jared earns 50% profit

02:30 – Leaving teaching to build financial freedom

05:40 – Early side hustles before launching drywall

07:05 – How the drywall model works with almost no labor

08:10 – Finding high-end clients through construction permits

10:30 – Cold-calling builders & landing first deals

12:55 – Managing projects and understanding the 50/50 split

15:15 – Using drywall as a stepping stone to bigger goals

22:30 – Prepping for launch & funding startup with Christmas lights

27:15 – Tracking leads manually and learning sales discipline

29:20 – Secret to closing 3x more deals: meeting clients on-site

39:10 – Final lesson: Find your unfair advantage and start

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Clayton Edrington. Clayton was making over $300,000 a year at Amazon but had an entrepreneurial itch. He explored everything from SaaS startups to buying existing businesses before landing on franchising.

We dive into why he left a high-paying tech job, how he evaluated different home services and sweaty businesses, and ultimately chose to buy multiple territories in a relatively new roofing franchise, Bumble Roofing.

Clayton shares the startup costs, his approach to financing, navigating the early months, and the crucial role of community and support.

Questions This Episode Answers:

Why choose a franchise over other paths?

What is the business model of a roofing franchise?

How do you pick the right franchise for you?

What are the real startup costs for a franchise?

What personal sacrifices come with starting a business?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:
00:00 The Journey Begins: From Tech to Roofing

03:10 Understanding the Roofing Business Model

05:56 Navigating the Franchise Landscape

09:13 Preparing for the Leap: Financial and Personal Considerations

12:04 The Launch: Early Days and Initial Challenges

14:53 Sales Success and Market Dynamics

18:10 Cash Flow Management and Financial Insights

20:52 Advice for Aspiring Franchisees

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) to master Claude AI automation and solve the two biggest AI productivity challenges: refamiliarizing every chat with context and accessing scattered data across Google Drive, Dropbox, and cloud storage without creating duplicates.

What You'll Learn: 

Claude AI Skills vs Projects – Simplify AI agents into universal templates you can invoke across any chat

AI Second Brain Setup – Build your personal operating system with persistent memory

Google Drive Integration – Connect Claude to thousands of documents without vector databases

Data Infrastructure Architecture – Organize files for AI automation and workflow optimization

Skill Creator Tutorial – Meta AI hack: Use Claude to generate custom skills automatically

Business AI Automation – Set up deal analyzers, email formatters, meeting note templates & more

AI Memory Management – Future-proof your LLM workflow with proper data structure

Claude Code Tutorial – Access MCP (Model Context Protocol) for advanced integrations

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, content creators, digital marketers, real estate investors, productivity hackers, AI enthusiasts, and anyone building their first million-dollar business with AI automation tools in 2025.

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Introduction to AI Pain Points

02:42 Understanding Skills vs. Agents

05:56 Creating and Utilizing Skills

08:46 Navigating GitHub and Skills Cookbook

12:08 Building a Personal Operating System

14:55 Integrating Google Drive with AI

17:44 Creating a Second Brain with AI

20:57 Practical Applications of AI Skills

23:47 Setting Up Your Data Infrastructure

27:04 Using AI for Meeting Summaries

29:52 Conclusion and Call to Action

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Shannon Jean (https://x.com/@ShannonJean), serial entrepreneur and auction reselling expert who has helped over 1,700 people in his $5/month mastermind start profitable reselling businesses from scratch.

Shannon reveals how to make money with auction reselling, liquidation pallets, and government surplus deals—what I believe is the most accessible entry point into entrepreneurship in 2024. Whether you're looking for side hustle ideas, want to quit your 9-5, or need a proven system to flip products for profit, this episode is your complete roadmap.

What You'll Learn:

• The TWO commandments for profitable reselling: "Never buy anything unless you already know what you can sell it for" and "Buy with math, sell with emotion"

• How to research auction deals on B-Stock, Costco liquidation, Gov Deals, and liquidation.com

• Why retail price is a lie (and how to calculate TRUE market value)

• Real examples: $206,240 MSRP sold for $4,200 | $1 investment turned into $5,000 profit | $3,200 products bought for $326

• The credibility funnel system you MUST build before buying your first pallet

• Why 95% of resellers fail (hint: it's not lack of capital or product knowledge)

• Seasonal arbitrage strategies for maximum profit margins

• How to avoid the $34,000 mistake that kills new flippers

• What NOT to buy: consumer electronics, vacuums, exercise equipment pitfalls

• Live selling strategies for Whatnot, Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace

• How a high school junior made $10K/month reselling furniture

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Stuart Draper about how to get your first customer and scale from $0 to $2M in 4 years.

I had a freaking treat talking to Stu Draper today. He's an incredible startup founder who just had an eight figure exit from his EdTech company, Stukent, which helped over a million people learn digital marketing. His companies have been on the Inc 5000 list ten times, and he knows exactly how to get your first customer when you're starting from zero.

We chat about his journey starting his first digital marketing agency, getfoundfirst.com, during the 2008 recession and why he prioritized being a family man by building a professional baseball field and indoor-outdoor pool over buying a Lamborghini.

Stu shares actionable insights on how entrepreneurs can secure their crucial first customer (hint: it might involve working for free) and explains why starting a service-based business is often the best low-risk way for first-time founders to learn entrepreneurship and get in the game.

We dive deep into why catching the early wave of AI automation agencies today is just like catching the digital marketing wave 15 years ago—and why AI agency opportunities mirror what made so many digital marketing agency founders millionaires by age 32.

Finally, he tells us why focusing on sales and marketing—not mastering your P&L or balance sheet—is the most important part of building a successful business, and how he scaled to eight figures without being a financial expert by hiring a great CFO.

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

QUESTIONS THIS EPISODE ANSWERS:

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Dr. Sandeep Palakodeti (https://x.com/DrDeepMD).

I was excited to welcome Dr. Sandeep Palakodeti, also known as Dr. Deep, to talk about his revolutionary company, Velocity Health.

This concierge precision medicine clinic is addressing huge macro trends, particularly the demand for better healthspan and longevity. We unpack why someone would leave a top institution like the Mayo Clinic to start a business aimed at solving the "sick care" problem of American healthcare.

Dr. Deep contrasts the standard transactional 7-minute primary care visit with Velocity Health’s functional medicine approach, which focuses on root cause medicine and objective diagnostics like VO2 max, DEXA scan, and the coronary artery calcium scan. We also dive deep into the business model, exploring how Velocity Health scales as a 50 state virtual practice, utilizes the MSO PC model for regulation, and maintains an attractive CAC to LTV ratio through its recurring revenue plans.

If you’re an entrepreneur who believes preserving health is as crucial as preserving wealth, this episode is a must-watch.

Questions This Episode Answers:

1. Why did an institutional physician leave major hospitals like the Mayo Clinic to start a cash pay medical practice?

2. How does a concierge precision medicine approach fundamentally differ from a traditional 7-minute primary care visit?

3. What advanced diagnostics, like the VO2 max test, are the most critical KPIs for assessing longevity and health risk?

4. From a regulatory and business perspective, how does the MSO PC model work for healthcare startups raising outside capital?

5. How can a subscription-based healthcare service maintain an appealing CAC to LTV ratio using a longitudinal relationship model?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 The State of Healthcare Today

05:00 Emerging Trends in Concierge Medicine

10:09 The Shift to Preventive Care

14:46 Understanding Functional Medicine

20:05 The Role of Technology in Healthcare

24:55 The Business Model of Velocity Health

30:04 Patient Experience and Engagement

34:48 Future of Healthcare and Personalization

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I sit down with Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) to demystify OpenAI's newest creation, the Agent Builder.

We set the context by explaining the crucial difference between simple, static if-then automation and a true agent, which requires autonomy, memory, and decision-making capabilities in a workflow. This tool is designed to finally make building complex agentic workflows accessible to business owners who aren't technical experts.

Liz walks us through the platform.openai.com/playground interface and demos a real-world research agent in action. We dive deep into the cost structure, explaining why OpenAI charges based on a high-call usage-based model using API calls, which can "add up really quickly", instead of a flat monthly subscription like ChatTPT.We compare it head-to-head with competitors like N8n, Lindy, and Zapier. While the Agent Builder UI is "way less intimidating" and features like Guardrails are valuable for mitigating hallucinations and protecting sensitive data, Liz reveals that the execution is "not quite there yet". Questions This Episode Answers:

• What is the core difference between an Agent and a standard business Automation?

• Why does OpenAI use a usage-based model for Agent Builder instead of a flat monthly fee?

• How does OpenAI’s new Agent Builder compare directly to tools like Zapier, N8n, or Lindy?

• What are Guardrails, and how do they protect internal business documents and mitigate hallucinations?

• What are the most likely and best use cases for building business agents right now?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this ⁠brief survey⁠ with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284⁠

YouTube:⁠ https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT⁠

__________________________

This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to OpenAI's Agent Builder

03:05 Understanding Agents vs. Automation

05:48 Navigating the OpenAI Interface

09:09 Exploring Use Cases and Templates

11:57 Building a Research Bot with Agent Builder

14:49 Guardrails and Safety in Agent Workflows

18:04 Live Demo: Data Enrichment Use Case

20:55 Sentiment Analysis on Social Media

23:48 Challenges and Limitations of Agent Builder

27:05 Comparing Agent Builder with Other Tools

29:52 Future Potential and User Experience

33:03 Conclusion and Call to Action

Join me, Nik ( https://x.com/CoFoundersNik ), as I sit down with AI expert Elizabeth Knopf (⁠https://x.com/⁠leveragedupside) for a deep dive into Anthropic's Claude 4.5 Sonnet, the latest AI breakthrough for entrepreneurs and business automation in 2025.Watch as Elizabeth demonstrates game-changing features that transform Claude AI from static outputs into dynamic web applications through API integration and parallel tool execution. We explore extended AI thinking capabilities (up to 30 hours of processing), which delivers higher quality outputs for complex business tasks without constant iteration errors or AI hallucinations.The highlight? Claude generates a 22-page competitive analysis and content strategy for my YouTube channel versus Chris Koerner's "Corner Office"—complete with viral frameworks, audience insights, and growth recommendations. This deep AI research previously required specialized tools like Perplexity AI.We break down practical AI productivity strategies including building your AI second brain, prompt engineering libraries, context document management, and AI agent development for business operations. Elizabeth shares her framework for mastering AI tools like a fighter pilot—developing true AI literacy beyond basic prompting.QUESTIONS THIS EPISODE ANSWERS:What are Anthropic's key new updates for Claude 4.5 Sonnet and Claude Sonnet 4.5?How do dynamic AI artifacts and parallel tool execution speed up business workflows?How can extended AI thinking improve output quality for complex entrepreneurship tasks? What are the necessary components for building a functional AI second brain? How should entrepreneurs approach maximizing value from AI productivity tools? What's the difference between Claude AI and ChatGPT for business automation? How can first-time entrepreneurs use AI to build their first million-dollar business?What are the best AI tools for startup founders and small business owners? How do you create an AI operating system for personal productivity? What are practical AI use cases for entrepreneurs in 2025?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this ⁠brief survey⁠ with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: ⁠https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠Spotify: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y⁠Apple: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284⁠YouTube:⁠ https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT⁠__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Building Your AI Second Brain02:43 Anthropic's Claude Updates and Dynamic Artifacts06:07 Advanced Reasoning and Parallel Task Execution09:00 Enhanced Decision-Making and Contextual Awareness11:43 Creating Comprehensive Outputs and Research Strategies15:02 Navigating AI Technology and Personal Frameworks17:52 Managing AI Across Life's Pillars21:03 Building a Personal Operating System for AI23:54 The Future of AI in Organizations

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Craig Fuller (https://x.com/freightalley), CEO of FreightWaves and Sonar, for a critical update on the freight market collapse and what it means for small business owners and entrepreneurs in 2025.

Last time, I called Craig "Nostradamus" for his spot-on predictions about tariffs and supply chain disruptions—and this time, the data is even more alarming. We analyze the OTBI index (Outbound Tender Volume Index), which tracks trucking volumes and shipping activity across the US economy, and the numbers are flashing red: we've lost seven years of economic growth in the goods economy.

Craig breaks down how the collapse in critical sectors like manufacturing, construction, housing, energy, and transportation logistics—which together employ 35 million Americans—is being completely ignored by Wall Street, the Federal Reserve, and Congress. While AI stocks and the Magnificent Seven drive the stock market to all-time highs, the Main Street economy is showing clear recession warning signs.

This episode explains why freight data is the ultimate leading economic indicator, often predicting recessions 6-9 months before they hit (a principle known as Dow Theory). We discuss what the 2007-2008 financial crisis can teach us, why consumer spending is masking deeper problems, and most importantly—what you should do right now as a business owner or entrepreneur.

Questions This Episode Answers:

What's the disconnect between AI stock speculation (Mag-7) and the goods-producing economy?

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:
00:00 Economic Growth and Market Predictions

02:53 Logistics and Supply Chain Insights

05:45 The State of the Goods Economy

09:04 Job Market and Employment Trends

11:59 Small Business Strategies in a Downturn

14:55 Opportunities in a Recession

18:09 The Role of Government and Economic Policy

21:03 Future Market Predictions and Indicators

23:57 The Impact of Freight on the Economy

26:49 Understanding Supply Chain Dynamics

30:08 Cultural and Historical Context of Logistics

33:03 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) about the biggest AI tools updates of 2025.

I was incredibly excited to sit down with Liz this week because OpenAI just dropped massive updates, including ChatGPT 5, OpenAI Pulse, and the game-changing Sora 2 AI video generator. We dive straight into Sora 2, a revolutionary AI video generation tool and text-to-video AI platform that's disrupting content creation for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

We discuss how Sora 2 creates stunningly accurate AI digital clones and AI avatars of yourself from just five seconds of video—no expensive equipment or video editing software needed. This AI cloning technology is lightyears ahead of older AI video tools like HeyGen, Synthesia, and D-ID.

We analyze OpenAI's genius product launch strategy and growth hacking tactics, using an invite-only system and leaning on Sam Altman for founder marketing and personal branding, creating immediate scarcity marketing and viral growth that could launch a totally new AI social media platform and AI content platform to compete with TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Next, we switch gears to Anthropic's major updates for Claude AI. I was shocked to see the new Claude Chrome extension and Claude browser integration, which allows the AI assistant to analyze web pages, scrape data, automate browser workflows, and perform real-time automation tasks like a virtual assistant. This is perfect for business automation, data entry automation, and workflow optimization for first-time entrepreneurs building their online business.

Finally, Liz demonstrates Claude Sonnet 4.5's ability to generate professional PowerPoint presentations, pitch decks for startups, and perfectly formatted CSV files and Excel spreadsheets directly from complex data sources and PDF documents. This eliminates tons of manual data entry and grunt work for any business owner, solopreneur, or content creator trying to scale to their first million dollars.

Questions This Episode Answers:

How did OpenAI use scarcity marketing and social media strategy to achieve a massive viral product launch for Sora 2 AI?

How does the Sora 2 Cameo feature create highly realistic AI digital clones and deepfake avatars faster than previous AI video generation tools like HeyGen, Runway ML, and Pika Labs?

How can small business owners and entrepreneurs leverage the new Claude Chrome extension for real-time browser automation, web scraping, data extraction, and workflow automation directly in Google Chrome?

What makes Sora 2's inversion of AI technology into an entertainment platform and social network a "paradigm shift" compared to traditional marketing-focused AI tools and B2B SaaS products?

How does the updated Claude AI model now generate high-quality PowerPoint decks, business presentations, and structured CSV data exports from complex PDF files and financial documents for business intelligence and data analysis?

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 The Rise of AI Automation

13:45 Sora: A New Era in Content Creation

24:00 Claude's New Features and Updates

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Taylor Jones (https://x.com/MrJonesSTRs), the founder of strsearch.com.

Have you ever wondered if short-term rentals (STRs) are as passive as they seem? I used to think so, but Taylor completely changed my perspective. He breaks down how he went from a sales guy to overseeing over $120 million in STR investments by treating it not as a real estate game, but as an operations business.

We dive into his first investment—a cabin in the North Georgia mountains that he bought having never owned real estate before—and how it generated $22,000 in cash flow its first year.

Taylor reveals the critical mistakes he made, the lessons he learned about market supply and demand, and how a single amenity like a pickleball court can add $40,000 to your annual revenue.

We also get into the incredible tax benefits and how STRs can offer active losses to offset your regular income, something I wish I'd known sooner.

Questions This Episode Answers:

• How can a single pickleball court add over $40,000 in annual revenue to an Airbnb?

• Why is a short-term rental business more about operations than real estate?

• How can you use short-term rentals to legally reduce your taxable income?

• What is the biggest mistake new STR investors make when choosing a property?

• Why are large-group rentals and small, romantic getaways the hottest trends right now?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:
00:00 The Allure of Short-Term Rentals

02:55 Understanding the Operations Behind STRs

05:42 The Journey into Real Estate Investment

09:00 Lessons from Early Investments

12:09 Scaling Up: From One to Multiple Properties

14:56 Market Dynamics and Supply-Demand Imbalances

18:11 Navigating the Real Estate Landscape

20:55 Investment Strategies for Success

26:00 Understanding Market Dynamics and Profitability

30:13 Revenue Estimation and Occupancy Rates

33:25 Tax Implications and Depreciation Strategies

40:27 Investment Strategies for Short-Term Rentals

47:31 Advice for New Investors in Short-Term Rentals

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Mike Hoffman (https://x.com/mrpassive). Ever wonder if you can actually create enough passive income to quit your job? In this episode, I talk with Mike, who went from being a college coach to living off the cash flow from his assets in just a few years.

He shares how an observation at an airport led him down the rabbit hole of unattended retail and the vending machine business. We get into the nitty-gritty of what "passive" really means. Mike explains how he started by servicing his first machine himself (literally buying snacks at Costco with his daughter in the shopping cart) and built the systems that allowed him to scale to over 60 machines.

He also reveals how the vending industry is being disrupted by new technology like micro markets and AI, creating huge opportunities for new entrepreneurs.

Questions This Episode Answers:

• How can a vending machine business generate enough income to replace a full-time job?

• What does it really take to make a "passive" income stream truly passive?

• How can you start a vending machine business with no money down?

• Where are the best, most profitable locations to place a vending machine?

• How is new technology like AI and micro markets changing the vending industry?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Highlights

01:02 Meet Mike Hoffman: The Passive Income Expert

02:36 Mike's Journey from Coach to Entrepreneur

03:27 Diverse Income Streams: Real Estate, Vending, and More

04:22 Challenges and Strategies in Crypto Mining

07:03 Building a Passive Income Empire

09:35 The Vending Machine Business Model

12:40 Scaling and Systematizing Vending Operations

18:59 Community and Coaching for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

20:29 The Disruption in the Vending Machine Industry

21:18 Real Estate and Vending Machines: A Parallel

21:48 Expanding Vending Routes in Chicago

22:41 Building a Vending Community

23:24 The Business Model and Revenue Streams

24:25 Challenges and Opportunities in Vending

33:34 Innovative Vending Solutions

37:12 Future of Vending and Micro Markets

37:44 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I sit down with Trenton Hughes and Chris Munn for a jam-packed episode where we cover everything an entrepreneur needs to know right now.

We kick things off by debating which AI tools are worth paying for, from ChatGPT and Claude to Grok, and discuss how AI might soon replace your doctor.

Then, we dive into the new "big beautiful bill" and what its tax changes mean for you. I'll share why the accelerated depreciation clause is a "massive boon" for entrepreneurs and how you can leverage it by investing in real estate like car washes or storage facilities to potentially pay zero in taxes.

We also break down the confusing new rules on tips and overtime and why we think tipping should be abolished altogether.

Finally, we explore why smart salespeople are ditching Zoom for in-person meetings to close bigger deals.

Questions This Episode Answers

1. Which AI tools are essential for business owners today?

2. How can entrepreneurs use accelerated depreciation to save big on taxes?

3. Will the new tax bill really eliminate taxes on tips and overtime?

4. Why are successful salespeople returning to in-person meetings?

5. Is it a good time for business owners to invest in real estate?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Exploring AI Services and Their Impact

10:19 Navigating the Big Beautiful Bill and Real Estate Investment

22:51 Understanding Tax Deductions on Overtime

29:05 The Complexity of Overtime Tax Deductions

35:35 The Shift Back to In-Person Sales

39:49 The Return of Business Travel

44:24 Growing the Podcast Audience

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Brad Smith (https://x.com/bradsmithcoach).

In this episode, I talk with Brad Smith, the co-founder of Automation Links, a business that helps other companies automate their marketing. Brad's company is doing an incredible $100k a month with 80% margins, and he shares the secrets behind his high-margin business model.

He explains the power of being omnipresent and why a customer needs to see you 24 times on four different channels before they trust you.

The most mind-blowing part? We dive deep into a marketing strategy involving pixels. Brad breaks down how these small pieces of code can track visitors to your website and social media posts, allowing you to retarget them with ads for a fraction of the cost. It’s a secret weapon for scaling your business!

Questions This Episode Answers:

• How can pixels help you track and retarget customers for a quarter of the cost?

• What is the "one action item" every business owner should do today, even if they aren't ready for ads?

• Why does staying small and profitable lead to a better quality of life than chasing massive top-line revenue?

• How can you get your ad to the top of Google Maps searches with zero competition?

• What is a simple "themed day" system for creating a consistent social media content calendar?

Enjoy the conversation!
__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

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__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Introduction to Brad and His Business

01:17 The Role of Automation Links

02:07 Revenue and Growth Insights

03:55 Investment Opportunities and Business Philosophy

10:57 Digital Marketing Channels Explained

14:19 The Power of Pixels in Marketing

17:17 Setting Up Pixels for Your Business

19:06 Targeting Your Audience Effectively

19:39 Setting Up Pixels for Better Ad Targeting

20:35 Using Ads to Boost Organic Growth

22:09 Leveraging YouTube and Google's Ad Network

22:52 Pixel Tracking for Small Businesses

24:05 Practical Examples and Tips for Businesses

26:39 Choosing the Right Channel and Content Strategy

33:36 SEO and AI: The Future of Search

35:57 Content Calendar Strategy

36:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Nick (https://x.com/mattressguy_). We dive deep into the surprisingly complex world of the mattress business. Nick, owner of Direct Outlet Mattress and part of a family with stores across North Carolina, shares his unique insights.

We discuss everything from the less glamorous side of old mattresses to the economics of running a mattress store, even comparing his approach to giants like Mattress Firm.

You'll be fascinated to hear how he's leveraging Twitter to build a successful brand and reach customers in unexpected ways.

Questions This Episode Answers:

How do these businesses (Mattress Firm) make money?

What other overhead expenses would you have besides lease?

 How do you acquire customers for your mattress store?

What is your approximate customer acquisition cost?

How much does it typically cost to start a mattress business?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 The Mattress Business Journey

03:05 Family Dynamics in Business

05:56 Understanding the Mattress Market

08:51 Customer Acquisition Strategies

11:47 Expanding Product Offerings

15:05 The Importance of Quality

17:58 Navigating Business Challenges

20:55 Building a Brand on Social Media

23:51 Future Plans and Online Expansion

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Justin Moore (https://x.com/justinmooretfam). Justin Moore is a legit master marketer, content creator, and the author of Sponsor Magnet, who has personally closed over $5 million in brand partnership deals and built a $600,000 coaching business teaching others how to get sponsorships and secure major brand deals. We track his journey from working in medical devices and corporate influencer marketing to pivoting alongside his wife April's early YouTube monetization side hustle, which eventually gave them time freedom and entrepreneurship success.

This episode is essential for any entrepreneur looking to make money content creator style, even if you hate the word "creator." We discuss why your personal brand and organic distribution are the last moat in the age of AI for first million dollar business owners. Justin breaks down his powerful R.O.P.E. method—a four-step sales formula and sponsorship email template system that can be applied to business outreach for any company, not just content creator sponsorships.

Plus, I put Justin's creator monetization systems to the test: he walks me through exactly how to get your first sponsorship deal and generate $10,000 sponsorship revenue in the next 30 days by gathering the right audience data and understanding the difference between a vitamin and a painkiller solution for your customers.

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:

00:00 Understanding the Importance of Distribution for Founders

02:45 The Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur

05:57 The Evolution of Influencer Marketing

08:47 The ROPE Method: A Framework for Successful Partnerships

12:07 Common Mistakes in Influencer Marketing

14:50 The Power of Customer Understanding and Personalization

18:02 The Importance of Clarity and Saying No

22:43 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Trading Time for Freedom

25:08 Architecting Your Life: Defining Success

26:07 Building Trust at Scale: The YouTube Focus

27:06 Analyzing Audience Engagement: The Importance of Feedback

30:23 Identifying Pain Points: Crafting Effective Surveys

34:07 Sponsorship Strategies: Aligning with Audience Needs

39:47 Proof of Influence: Validating Your Impact

43:35 Reframing Sponsorship: Serving Your Audience

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I discuss with Chris Munn and Trenton about the tough realities facing small business owners and entrepreneurs today. We dive deep into how business leaders are navigating increasing political polarization in business and the pressure to take a public stand on social issues, discussing case studies like the backlash against Bud Light and MyPillow, and whether sticking to company core values and business values is the best path for small business survival.

We also break down the latest economic shifts affecting small businesses, from Fed rate cuts and Federal Reserve policy, and their impact on small business asset prices, business valuations, and SBA loan delinquency rates, hitting a 20-year high. We explore the small business hiring crisis, challenges of employee retention, and talent acquisition amidst low unemployment rates and the rising cost of living for those not holding business assets or real estate assets.

Plus, we dive deep into the massive business opportunities and strategic shifts driven by AI automation, artificial intelligence implementation, and AI tools for small businesses, from boosting productivity and business efficiency to the rise of the solopreneur movement and one-person businesses. We discuss AI implementation strategies, business automation tools, and how AI consultants and automation engineers are becoming essential business roles.

Questions This Episode Answers:

• How should business leaders and entrepreneurs navigate the pressure to take a public stand on political issues and social issues while maintaining business growth?

• What do Fed rate cuts, interest rate changes, and high borrowing costs mean for small business valuations, business acquisitions, and SBA loan approval?

• How is the current economic climate and inflation impact affecting small business hiring, employee expectations, and wage demands for small businesses?

• What are the biggest AI opportunities and practical AI applications for small businesses, including AI automation tools and AI implementation strategies?

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Hector (https://x.com/ts_secrets). Hector reveals how he accidentally stumbled upon a little-known government grant and used it to build a multi-million dollar online trade school.

He teaches trades like HVAC, plumbing, and medical billing completely online, sometimes using VR goggles. He shares how the government pays him directly, up to $10,000 per student, for courses that are only 80-100 hours long.

We get into the nitty-gritty of how he finds students for free by partnering with nonprofits and sober living homes, achieving SAS-like margins without any traditional marketing.

Questions This Episode Answers:

How can you get the government to pay you $10,000 per student?

How do you start an online school with almost no startup costs?

What is the "secret" to getting unlimited students for free?

How do you automate a business to the point you only work two hours a day?

What is the WIOA grant and how does it work for entrepreneurs?

Enjoy the conversation!

__________________________

Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.

Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.

__________________________

MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98y

Apple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT

__________________________

This week we covered:
00:00 Introduction to the Online Trade School Model

03:07 Understanding the Grant System and Its Impact

05:56 The Evolution of the Business Model

08:51 Customer Acquisition Strategies

11:48 Curriculum Development and Accreditation

15:02 Operational Insights and Business Growth

17:55 Challenges and Future Aspirations

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Matthew Chang (https://x.com/MatthewAChang). This episode features Matthew Chang, a Georgia Tech engineer and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, who founded Chang Robotics and is a general partner of the $50 million Chang Robotics fund.

We dive deep into how his company designs and installs robotic systems for manufacturing automation, hospital robots, and autonomous vehicles to make the workforce more efficient, safer, and happier through healthcare automation.

Matthew shares the story behind America's first autonomous hospital initiative, where $200K hospital robots deliver supplies in 90 seconds with 18-month ROI. Discover why humanoid robots aren't ready for commercial robotics applications and how specialized robotics using collaborative robots (cobotics) are revolutionizing factory automation and healthcare robotics instead.

From driverless paper factories producing toilet paper during COVID to FAA-compliant electric vehicles six times more powerful than Tesla, Chang Robotics tackles the hardest engineering challenges in industrial automation. Learn about their breakthrough PFAS-free food packaging using graphene oxide and how they beat 700+ competitors to win the federal DOT grant for America's first driverless bus system in Jacksonville.

We explore Matthew's venture studio approach with the Chang Robotics Fund, requiring "Made in USA" manufacturing and proprietary engineering for robotics startups. Plus, hear about his upcoming book "Risk-Taking is Biblical" on faith-based entrepreneurship and Christian business principles.

Questions This Episode Answers:

• How do you ensure robotic automation is adopted by the existing manufacturing workforce and healthcare workers?

• What technical challenges prevent humanoid robotics from working in real-world applications?

• How does engineering consulting deliver end-to-end automation solutions from design to robotic system installation?

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Elizabeth Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) for an incredible dive into AI app building and no-code development tools transforming entrepreneurship. We explore Google's Nano Banana AI, their revolutionary Gemini Flash 2.5 image model with game-changing visual memory technology for precise editing and AI image generation.

Elizabeth demonstrates Google AI Studio live, showcasing the powerful Stream feature for real-time debugging and AI automation. She reveals how she used Claude Code tutorial methods to build custom RSS feed automation, replacing paid subscriptions, plus her personal AI assistant dashboard with AI agents for project management and task automation.

Questions This Episode Answers:

• What is Nano Banana AI, and why is visual memory revolutionary for AI image editing?

• How does Google AI Studio Stream enable real-time debugging during custom app development?

• How can entrepreneurs use Claude Code and AI automation tools to build apps without coding?

• What are the benefits of AI-powered project management with personal AI assistant agents?

• Where are the arbitrage opportunities in AI app building for non-technical entrepreneurs?

  
  

Tools Covered:

• Google AI Studio complete walkthrough

• Claude Code tutorial for beginners

• Nano Banana (Gemini Flash 2.5) AI image generation

• Custom dashboard creation with AI agents