In this episode of the Founder Problems Podcast, Sarah Schumacher, Lee Zuvanich, and Zach Oshinbanjo navigate the murky waters of differentiating freelancers from entrepreneurs. They explore how freelancing can be a starting point for business-building, the difficulties (and risk) of scaling and delegation. The team also takes a detour into the need for personal branding and networking to avoid 'top hat' gimmicks. Key takeaways include the soul-searching exercise of using personal goals to determine business structure, leveraging personality types for optimal business roles, and starting with a 'minimum viable business' mindset.

Timestamps:

00:56 Defining Freelancers

02:23 Transitioning from Freelancer to Entrepreneur

04:59 Personal Experiences and Definitions

09:24 Challenges and Goals in Business

11:45 Visionaries vs. Integrators

17:27 Scaling and Business Strategies

20:38 The Reality of Freelancing

21:14 Career Pivots and Changing Mindsets

22:06 The Importance of Saying Yes

22:11 Customer Pursuit: Freelance vs. Agency

23:16 Word of Mouth and Marketing Strategies

26:11 Personal Branding and Networking

30:03 Building in Public: Transparency in Business

32:25 Mistakes and Pivots in Business

39:58 Finding Your Zone of Genius

41:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
• Traction by Gino Wickman
• Enneagram
• Myers-Briggs
• Culture Index
• Zone of Genius

Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder’s journey is different, so take what works and make it your own.

Learn more at founderproblems.com.

In this episode, Zach Oshinbanjo, Lee Zuvanich and Sarah Schumacher share how to turn your biggest facepalms and 'oh-no' moments into stepping stones. From last-minute grant scrambles to learning to cultivate optimism, they dive into personal stories and practical tips on finding the silver lining in every screw-up. They also make a diversion into public speaking tips, and give examples of how to spot red flags in business referencing a certain weird book.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Hosts Introduction

00:45 Turning Disasters into Opportunities

01:29 Real-Life Examples of Finding Silver Linings

03:22 The Importance of Narrative and Progress

05:30 Survivorship Bias and Resilience

09:21 Personal Stories of Resilience

13:55 Public Speaking and Overcoming Fear

25:42 Recognizing Red Flags in Business

34:03 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Opportunity Recognition
• Survivorship Bias
• The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (a reference, not a recommendation…)
• How to Conduct a Premortem

Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder’s journey is different, so take what works and make it your own.

Learn more at founderproblems.com.

In this episode of the Founder Problems Podcast, Sarah Schumacher, Lee Zuvanich, and Zach Oshinbanjo discuss the idea of rented versus owned digital platforms. Because social media accounts are great until they decide to pull the rug out from under you. They break down the pros and cons, sprinkle in a few realistic warnings, and give practical tips on leveraging both types to boost your personal brand. They even discuss why having your own server in your basement is a terrible idea.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Founder Problems Podcast

00:30 Rented Platforms: Pros and Cons

00:55 Networking and Personal Branding on Social Media

07:40 The Importance of Owned Platforms

08:41 Risks and Strategies for Digital Ownership

14:33 Technical Aspects of Data Transferability

18:51 The Reality of Social Presence Management

19:19 Adapting to Changes in SEO and AI

19:48 Pros and Cons of Self-Hosted Websites

20:15 Marketing Your Website Effectively

20:56 Strategic Use of Social Media

26:29 The Importance of Control and Ownership

34:01 Final Thoughts and Practical Examples

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Stop Building Your Online Presence on Rented Internet Platforms - smschumacher.com
• 5 Reasons GoDaddy Is Terrible And You Should Run Now - cyclonepress.com

Founder Problems is a podcast by and for real-world, fed-up founders. Three entrepreneurs in the messy middle share hot takes, actionable steps, and resources to navigate the challenges of running a business—no promises of 10x growth or swooning investors. Every founder’s journey is different, so take what works and make it your own.

Learn more at founderproblems.com.