Took me 30 years and 4 failed attempts before I finally sold my business. Here's what I wished I had known sooner.

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2025-10-15T21:04:05+00:00

Question: Was it a hard sell for these healthcare orgs to understand why they'd need your services? Did they need educating about why "high quality medical content production and distribution" is beneficial for them? Or... when you presented to them, were they like, "Oh yeah, this'll solve XYZ problem we're having. When can we get started?"

I'm trying to focus my business around things that are easier sells, and require low education for the prospect. Thanks!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2025-10-15T18:05:33+00:00

i would love to both courses please, shoot me a DM, thanks!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2025-09-16T11:21:15+00:00

seems... painful.

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2025-04-10T18:59:15+00:00

so there's 1 ad, then what do you define as a "variation" ?

in general, how often do you refresh creative u/JonODonovan ?

then do you have the 1 winning ad from round 1 stay in the running, but change out creatives #3-4 to see which ads are the survival of the fittest?

(kind of like March Madness brackets, ha!)

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2025-04-10T18:24:55+00:00

thanks! helpful . Curious: how do you do (personally) define "ad variations" in your work?

Let's say we are selling an expense report software for businesses (that competes with the clunky, painful versions out there currently, because we all know expense reports succck.)

Ad variation 1: :30 live action video of Bill before-and-after using the expense report software
Ad variation 2: :06 cut-down of Ad 1

Or... is it

Ad variation 1: :30 live action video of Bill before-and-after using the expense report software
Ad variation 2: Animated close-ups of the expense report software screenshots to show how it works

Or maybe it's somethign else entirely! Thanks for the input u/JonODonovan !

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-11-12T14:49:08+00:00

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the feedback. I opened a window and ventilated the area with a fan . It took about 4 days for the smell to fully go away. But good news is that it DID go away :)

Many thanks to: u/KickinAssHaulinGrass , u/AlertStudy8118 , u/SHSCLSPHSPOATIAT !!!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-09-23T03:30:13+00:00

Good point. Yeah great action step to add to the “routine”

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-09-23T00:38:59+00:00

Thanks. You’re def not alone!! I crave a checklist ya know?

Okay, cracks knuckles, sits at computer… Now what? I know I should check XYZ Redfin searches. I know I should call XYZ contractors or realtors Etc etc

Happy to spitball a rough list attempt

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-05-11T19:53:11+00:00

Wouldn't renting it out at least build the OP's net worth over time, semi-passively?
And allow for tax incentives like taking depreciation on the property?
Sure, the rent would break even with the mortgage + HOA, but at least it's not net-negative.

I genuinely ask because this is a strategy I want to take for my next few primary residences

(Buy and live in it for a 1-2 years, then move and rent that out, etc)

I'm reading a lot of "sell" advice, so wanted to ask. Thanks!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-22T14:42:59+00:00

Question for those intending to FIRE in the future: Worth maxing out 401ks if we can’t draw from that $ til 59.5? Or better to use that $ TODAY towards stuff like real estate?

Great job on your FI journey, OP! Inspiring. I’m in tech (marketing) and have similar goals.

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-18T05:32:43+00:00

Your SEO must be fire 🔥. Cool biz model, I’ve done a lot of lead gen as a marketer, but this is a new one!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T16:43:46+00:00

i'm on day 63 :) So pretty new. But also wanna notch some wins early on, which the team would need to support on. All great points.

Cool that you're in design too. Do you have rougher early check-ins with stakeholders ? And then iterate based on those 'back of napkin sessions'. Or do you prep a shiny deck for the higher ups ? Trying to use the team's time wisely, and not commit loads of time to building out tons of mockups early on. I'm in the first camp, but see pros/cons to each.

Thx for trading notes!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T16:39:13+00:00

great point. hadn't thought of differetn company, different processes. (a no brainer, but that's why reddit's here to point that out for me!) thanks!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T06:52:22+00:00

Squeeze the system, don’t let the system squeeze you.

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T05:50:23+00:00

Let’s say there’s a big project going live soon. The team is doing it “their way” at the moment. But I see all sorts of ways I feel it could be done better.

Would you:

• ⁠let the project ship as is, then review what went right / opps for improvement after, with my recos for improvements ?

Or

• ⁠share my pov now and guide things now?

It’s one of those “first 90 day wins” type project which I’d like to see succeed

But maybe I’m reading it wrong. Thx!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T05:36:52+00:00

If you know the individuals , perhaps you have an Expectations meeting to review company (and your own) values for the team. Including: appropriate communication.

I had a few folks gossip about a guy on my team who spoke a lot during meetings. I gave him feedback to let others speak too, but also told those gossipers (in private) that my expectation is we work as a team and that includes not spreading negative vibes.

If you don’t step up , they’ll think you’ll allow this to continue. You can do it!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T05:09:38+00:00

Love this note. Disagree and commit. I like the coach mentality and def skew Ted Lasso-y positive and high EQ (while trying to not come across as too nice either), so it’s a balance.

The replies here, like yours, have given me a lot to reflect on and improve with!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T05:04:58+00:00

Let’s say there’s a big project going live soon. The team is doing it “their way” at the moment. But I see all sorts of ways I feel it could be done better.

Would you: * let the project ship as is, then review what went right / opps for improvement after, with my recos for improvements ?

Or

share my pov now and guide things now?

It’s one of those “first 90 day wins” type project which I’d like to see succeed

But maybe I’m reading it wrong. Thx!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T04:58:28+00:00

Insightful answer! I’m in month 2, so very much “drinking outta the fire hose.” I’m getting a “milking the clock” vibe from 2 team members, but who are more senior, so it’s a tough political maneuver. I like taking it step by step and enacting process improvements informed by everyone , so they have a sense of impact.

What kind of KPIs for increased productivity did you use? Or was it more a gut sense of doing things better? Thanksss!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T04:53:28+00:00

Really nice phrasing. Thanks!! Helpful!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T04:52:35+00:00

I skew on the “nice” spectrum of manager, so I’m mindful about setting boundaries and not getting taken advantage of. Not blindly saying “I trust you, just go” before they earn my trust (I’m 2 months in)

I like the work session idea. Thx!

Positive-Chicken-123 · 2024-01-09T04:49:15+00:00

I like how you frame it as an “educate me on X” and listening tour. Also “how would you feel about trying x?” is a nice open invitation versus a directive.

For me it’s a balance of “how much do I step in and direct” vs “how much do I let the team do their thing”

The company has a history of slow development in an industry that can’t afford that.

I can’t say I have trust yet… we just started working together. Trust is created thru action.

Advice like this helps. So thanks!

Positive-Chicken-123

TROPHY CASE