One of the first questions Dan asks in his coaching sessions with 6 & 7-figure entrepreneurs is: would you re-hire your team today? Your team is likely your largest expense, so it’s critical that you know exactly how they’re driving revenue every step of the way. Dan goes through 10 questions that will help you make hard decisions with confidence and clarity.

Learn more at [dynamitecircle.com](dynamitecircle.com)

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

“$1.5 Million from LinkedIn: Strategies for Building Influence and Consistent Revenue”

“It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp

Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence

Dan and Ian reflect on their personal and business highlights from 2024, discussing parenting, travel, finance, making hard decisions in business and gaining clarity. They also dive into the systems and frameworks that have driven meaningful progress for them and their coaching clients over the past year.

Learn more at [dynamitecircle.com](dynamitecircle.com)

Chapters

(00:00:27) New Year Reflections and Personal Updates
(00:02:54) Exploring Relationships and Parenting Dynamics
(00:08:00) Travel Goals: Family and Wifi
(00:10:16) Year of Changing Views on Finance
(00:15:01) What people who are making progress have in common
(00:22:10) What those who are stagnating have in common
(00:23:50) Are you the best person for this job?
(00:25:14) Understanding your Ideal Customer Profile
(00:29:23) Scoreboard discipline (clarity)
(00:37:30) Crazy event schedule

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

“$1.5 Million from LinkedIn: Strategies for Building Influence and Consistent Revenue”

“It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp

Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence

A personal brand is all about perception—everyone has one, whether you like it or not. So why not take control and shape it to your advantage?
In this episode, Yota Trom shares actionable strategies for founders to overcome imposter syndrome, craft an authentic personal brand, and confidently integrate more of their true selves into their business.
Start growing your 7-figure business alongside other ambitious and interesting founders from around the globe. Submit your application to join Dynamite Circle at https://dynamitecircle.com/

Links: https://www.yotatrom.com/

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

“$1.5 Million from LinkedIn: Strategies for Building Influence and Consistent Revenue”

“It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp

Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence

Shane Hummus reveals his proven strategy for turning YouTube into a reliable source of new clients and millions in revenue, showing how entrepreneurs can succeed even with modest view counts.

Links:
https://www.youtube.com/ShaneHummus

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

“$1.5 Million from LinkedIn: Strategies for Building Influence and Consistent Revenue”

“It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp

Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence

Dan and lan break down 10 essential questions to help you reflect on the year, align your priorities, and set your business up for success-no new books or business coaches required (yet).

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

“$1.5 Million from LinkedIn: Strategies for Building Influence and Consistent Revenue”

“It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp

Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence

Dan welcomes back Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science, for his third appearance on the podcast. Jay has grown Creator Science into a thriving media company, including a YouTube channel with over 100,000 subscribers. In this episode, they discuss recurring vs. one-time products, effective marketing funnels, channel viability, and the difference between discovery and nurture content. Jay’s transparent approach to building his business is truly inspiring. Catch the second part of this conversation on the Creator Science podcast.

Links:

Part 2 of our convo on the Creator Science podcast

Connect with other entrepreneurs

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Brian Balfour, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/million-from-linkedin

https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/easier-10x-than-2x

https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/brick-by-brick

Dan talks to Matthew Newton, CEO of Leatherback Travel, about his radically unconventional approach to scaling an 8-figure business. They dive into why it’s crucial to ruthlessly select your opportunities, along with key lessons learned—including when to pivot, balancing flexibility with structure, and ensuring that running a business is always engaging and fun. Lean into some of these insights as you work on your goals for 2025.

Want to get in the company of other entrepreneurs to help you kickstart your 2025 goals? Submit your application to join Dynamite Circle at https://dynamitecircle.com/

Links:
Leatherback Travel

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Chapters

(00:00:30) Introduction to Leatherback Travel
(00:04:05) Building a House of Brands
(00:05:44) Operational Philosophy and Team Dynamics
(00:07:27) Scaling Challenges and Growth Management
(00:10:39) The Importance of Operating Principles
(00:13:23) Special Feeling: The Core Operating Principle
(00:16:55) Vision and Decision-Making Frameworks
(00:19:05) Navigating Political Opinions in the Workplace
(00:20:39) Industry Standards and Guest Expectations
(00:22:31) The K Principle: Balancing Flexibility and Policy
(00:23:58) Operational Rhythm and Continuous Improvement
(00:26:42) The CEO's Role: Captain of the Ship
(00:31:31) Top of Funnel Strategies for Customer Acquisition
(00:32:18) Finding Your Unique Selling Proposition
(00:34:07) Lessons from Struggles: The Importance of Quitting
(00:35:35) The Animal Zoo Principle: Making Business Fun

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

“$1.5 Million from LinkedIn: Strategies for Building Influence and Consistent Revenue”

“It’s easier to 10X than to 2X” + 8 Lessons from CEO Bootcamp

Building ‘Brick by Brick’: Goals, Plans, Scorecards, Cadence

If you’re sleeping on LinkedIn, let this episode be your wake up call. Dan sits down with Dr. Alex Barker, a pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur who 10X’d his business using LinkedIn. A real LinkedIn success story, proving how this often-overlooked platform can be a game-changer for B2B businesses. If you’ve ever doubted LinkedIn’s potential, this conversation might just change your mind.

Become a TMBA Insider and join thousands of entrepreneurs who’ve started, grown, and exited their businesses for life-changing sums. It all starts here. tropicalmba.com/subscribe

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Chapters
(00:02:48) Introduction to Alex Barker's Journey
(00:04:37) The Turning Point: Facing Business Challenges
(00:11:59) The Power of Focus: Simplifying for Success
(00:18:32) Leveraging LinkedIn: A New Opportunity
(00:31:41) Vision for the Future: Healing the Pharmacy Profession
(00:36:50) Lead Generation Strategies on LinkedIn

Useful links:

Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

How do you grow from 7 to 8 figures?

The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I’ve Learned From My Coaching Clients

Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do

Dan and Ian traveled to Barcelona with 12 other CEOs and founders to spend the week with Scaling Up author Verne Harnish. These are the 8 biggest takeaways from the week that you can apply to your own business.

Chapters:

(00:00:21) Introduction
(00:00:34) Insights from the Barcelona CEO Boot Camp
(00:07:52) The Job to Be Done Framework
(00:12:04) Using the Q4 Method for Customer Insights
(00:14:08) Finding a 10X Cost Advantage
(00:16:51) The Importance of Understanding Your Solution
(00:17:27) Thinking Big: The 10x Mindset
(00:23:27) Wealth Through Transactions
(00:24:54) The CEO's Role in Increasing Valuation
(00:27:29) Defining the Soul of the Company
(00:30:55) Triage for Overwhelmed Companies
(00:34:51) The Power of Scoreboards

Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

How do you grow from 7 to 8 figures?

The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I’ve Learned From My Coaching Clients

Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do

Does your business feel stuck in 'idea mode,' constantly jumping from project to project? If you’re ready to get on track and build a more focused, scalable strategy for 2025, this episode is for you.
Dan breaks down his proven 4-step framework for driving your next $1 million in revenue. These actionable steps can be implemented in just a few days, with results you’ll notice almost immediately.
Want to get in the company of other entrepreneurs to help you kickstart your 2025 goals? Submit your application to join Dynamite Circle at https://dynamitecircle.com/

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Chapters
● (00:00:25) Introduction
● (00:03:35) Financially grounded goals
● (00:06:46) Measured plans
● (00:12:52) Intentional cadence
● (00:14:46) Team alignment

Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

How do you grow from 7 to 8 figures?

The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I’ve Learned From My Coaching Clients

Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do

Dan revives his Re-Readables series with a discussion inspired by Frank Slootman's business book Amp It Up. He delves into the book's core arguments, such as the idea that execution trumps strategy, faster execution can drive better decision-making and growth, and the importance of building for investability.

Plus, how exactly to improve your execution and boost your business’s performance.

Amp It Up by Frank Slootman

Want to get in the company of other entrepreneurs to help you kickstart your 2025 goals? Submit your application to join Dynamite Circle at https://dynamitecircle.com/

Connect with us:
Dan: @TropicalMBA or [email protected]
Ian: @AnythingIan or [email protected]

Chapters
(00:00:33) Introduction to 'Amp It Up'
(00:04:07) Building a High-Performance Team
(00:11:02) The Case for Fast Growth
(00:15:14) Building for Investability

Useful links:
Connect with other entrepreneurs
Coaching for $250K+ founders
Community for 1M+ founders
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram

Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

How do you grow from 7 to 8 figures?

The 4 Most Eye-Opening Lessons I’ve Learned From My Coaching Clients

Only 3 Ways to Grow…What Would Plato Do