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Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

indiehackers.com

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Re: Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

#11

Post by tyingq »

sova wrote: post #7
tyingq wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bill Gates is a good example of someone that gained a lot of success with a hard bluff: http://www.technoventure.eu/valuation/Bill-Gates-Microsoft.p... (perhaps not the best written retelling, but emphasizes the "bluff" part)

Or, you know, just stealing an interface he didn't create and marketing it as his own, but who's here to split hairs anyway? Despite the downvotes, I stand by my statement, as an interface designer that pours years of effort into perfecting the arrangement and composition of elements on the infinite canvas, it's not acceptable to me that such things are not protected or even noticed by others.

He did buy it, albeit without revealing the potential it had. I can see differing views on that tactic.

Re: Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

#12

Post by crablar »

gowld wrote: post #4
jackgolding wrote: post #3

I don't think there are many insights about operating a business you can get from this article but the business owner does have some interesting views on how to handle your personal and professional life. Also its very interesting that so many web entrepreneurs played poker so much in their early adulthood.

My theory is that entrepeneurship in general, and lean startups especially, relies a lot on "fake it till you make" and sales that rely on heavy bluffing, and poker players are the sort of people that can do that. In web tech, it's especially true, because "lean startup" theory means that you can sell your product before you build it, but you have to bluff to your customers that you have already built it and investor…

Bluffing was important to the extent that I had to convince the listener that I understood the topics being discussed when I did not.

In general, I would discourage bluffing in a business like SE Daily. I'm on display for 250 minutes per week. It would be very easy to get caught in a lie.

Re: Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

#14

Post by hawkice »

voltagex_ wrote: post #13

>(Work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week.) Jesus. I'm sure this is small business owner hours but still, this person musn't have a family or any other commitments.

This is a typical work commitment in China. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2016-09/13/content_2677...

It's not luxuriously easy, but it's not ridiculous, and is microscopically different from _average_ working hours 150 years ago.

Re: Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

#15

Post by scarface74 »

Slightly off topic, but he mentioned that he got his start from the software engineering radio podcast that's been around since 2006. I've been binge listening to that podcast for about two months and it re-enforced two things that I always suspected.

1. I made the biggest career mistake of my life by staying at one company from 1999-2008. I missed out on so much of state of the art technology that I spent the next 8 years trying to get caught up.

A lot of the things I was just learning in 2009 were already common place for years before then.

2. As much as people say "technologies change fast", a lot of the higher level fundamental concepts they discussed 10 years ago are still relevant today.

Now back on topic...

A daily podcast that lasts an hour? It's remarkable that he can keep up that pace. Could he make just as much money from having fewer podcasts? would the scarcity make the podcast more valuable to advertisers?

I think John Grubers talk show podcast charges about $7500 per spot with 3 spots during an average 2 hour show per week. There have to be more software developers who would want a high quality podcast than people willing to hear Gruber's ramblings (no offense - I listen to his podcast every week).

Re: Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

#18

Post by [deleted] »

hawkice wrote: post #14
voltagex_ wrote: post #13

>(Work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week.) Jesus. I'm sure this is small business owner hours but still, this person musn't have a family or any other commitments.

This is a typical work commitment in China. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2016-09/13/content_2677... It's not luxuriously easy, but it's not ridiculous, and is microscopically different from _average_ working hours 150 years ago.

[deleted]

Re: Making $60k a month from a podcast on software engineering

#19

Post by Spivak »

nardi wrote: post #16

How to make $60k/mo from a podcast: When I was 19 there was a month when I played poorly and lost ~$250k. I quit shortly after that. It took me awhile to recover my psychological bearings. Step 1: Be super rich.

Are you really surprised that starting a business requires upfront capital and an environment where financial risk can be absorbed?

Does this sentiment have to be echoed every time someone who comes from money talks about their business. There is a class system in the US, you're only wasting your breath trying to be snarky about it. Business is a mix of talent and chance and people with money can buy more chances where others might not even get one. It doesn't diminish this person's accomplishment.

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