Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

Chasing numbers can actually destroy what made your business great. In this episode, Dan and Ian unpack Goodhart’s Law — the idea that once a measure becomes a target, it stops being useful — and how founders accidentally turn smart goals into bad incentives. Plus, you’ll hear six ways to build healthier systems, lead better, and stop metrics from running your company off the rails.
LINKS
Share your thoughts about the podcast (takes 2 mins) (https://getperspective.ai/interview/tmba-feedback)
This week’s sponsor: SPP.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (https://spp.co/)
This week’s sponsor: Smash Digital “Scale your organic traffic with future-proof strategies” (https://smashdigital.com/)
Connect with 6-, 7- & 8-figure founders in person and online (https://dynamitecircle.com/)
Hang out exclusively with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
(00:01:16) The Hair-Dye Economy & Durable Businesses
(00:03:38) The Problem with Metrics
(00:07:44) Fix #1: Revisit Your Brand Promise
(00:09:12) Fix #2: Determine a Countervailing Metric
(00:12:17) Fix #3: Combine Input and Output Metrics
(00:13:12) Fix #4: Refresh Metrics Every 90 Days
(00:14:39) Fix #5: Pulse Discipline
(00:16:05) Fix #6: The Leadership Lens
(00:20:00) The Alt Business School
(00:25:42) When a Job Post Becomes a Marketing Hack
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
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, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Wealth Without a 7-Figure Exit: 5 Steps (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/wealth-without-7-figure-exit)
How to Instantly Improve Your Lead Pipeline by 20-50% (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/improve-your-lead-pipeline)
Growth vs. Optimization — 90% of Growth Comes from 10% of Activities? (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/growth-vs-optimization)

Dan and Ian share 5 money tips for bootstrappers—from prioritizing personal finance and investing to getting in the company of other entrepreneurs. Follow this playbook and you could build wealth without a 7-figure exit (spoiler: only about 5% of businesses achieve this.) Free resource below!
LINKS
Share your thoughts on the podcast (takes 2 mins) (https://getperspective.ai/interview/tmba-feedback)
This week’s sponsor: SPP.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (https://spp.co/)
This week’s sponsor: Smash Digital “Scale your organic traffic with future-proof strategies” (https://smashdigital.com/)
FREE RESOURCE: Personal Financial Dashboard for Bootstrappers (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Li7LuETq2k8tfXSC9WrB-xTwtm_YOkxZOFBOT-bk8CM/edit?gid=1717697031#gid=1717697031)
Olly Meaking’s musings on entrepreneurship and crossing 7 figures ARR: (https://x.com/helloitsolly/status/1971549899188580447)
Hang out with us at DCBKK this month (https://dynamitecircle.com/dcbkk)
Connect with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
Audio:
(00:00:50) How Dan Got Fired For Having Too Many Ideas
(00:02:07) 5 Money Tips for Bootstrappers
(00:03:00) Tip #1: Focus on Your Knowledge, Skillset, and Business Model
(00:04:14) Case Study: Olly Meakings, Founder of Senja.io
(00:07:13) Tip #2: Be Realistic About Your Liquidity Potential
(00:11:42) Tip #3: Keep Your Second Bottom Line Sacred
(00:16:47) Sponsor Shout-out: Smash Digital
(00:17:43) Sponsor Shout-out: SPP.co
(00:18:44) Tip #4: Be a Bull About 1 Non-Business Thing
(00:23:47) Tip #5: Surround Yourself With Other Entrepreneurs
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
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, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
How to Get Rich on X With a Fake Persona (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/get-rich-fake-persona)
How to Instantly Improve Your Lead Pipeline by 20-50% (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/improve-your-lead-pipeline)
Why $120K From Your Biz Beats $150K at a Job (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/balancing-wealth-freedom-mindset)

This week, Dan and Ian continue the “Get Rich on X” saga with fresh updates, and a reality check. From hiring $4K ghostwriters to creating a new online persona, is X really worth the hype for growing fast—and getting rich—in 2025?
LINKS
Hang out with us at DCBKK this October (https://dynamitecircle.com/dcbkk)
Connect with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
This week’s sponsor: https://spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (https://spp.co/)
Remote First Recruiting: Hire Your Next Remote Team Member in 21 Days or Less (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
X’s Head of Product’s projections for the algorithm (https://x.com/nikitabier/status/1969057240578748723)
LindyMan: an example of using a character or persona online (https://x.com/PaulSkallas)
Moving From A Solopreneur Mindset To An Operator Mindset with Leila Hormozi (https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/moving-from-a-solopreneur-mindset-to-an/id1663834553?i=1000681647344)
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
Audio:
(00:00:34) Business Lessons from the Lemonade Stand
(00:02:41) How to Get Rich on X: New Thoughts

(00:10:16) Be Yourself… Or Create an Online Character?
(00:13:49) The Realistic Cost of Hiring a Ghostwriter for X
(00:16:46) Sponsor Shout-out: SPP.co

(00:17:47) Leila Hormozi’s Simple System for Delegation
(00:26:12) Location as Leverage: What if the USA Were More Affordable?
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
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, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
X’s Head of Product: How to Get Rich in 6 Months (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/outsourcing-shake-up)
How to Instantly Improve Your Lead Pipeline by 20-50% (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/improve-your-lead-pipeline)
Location Is Leverage: How Advanced Digital Nomads Build Faster (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/location-is-leverage)

Most founders are leaving money on the table without realizing it. Are you one of them?
This week, Dan and Ian break down how a tiny shift in how you handle leads can completely change your pipeline. Plus, a counterintuitive approach to networking and why big brands are paying founders to create content.
LINKS
Hang out with us at DCBKK this October (https://dynamitecircle.com/dcbkk)
Connect with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
This week’s sponsor: https://spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (https://spp.co/)
“Amp It Up” by Frank Slootman (https://www.amazon.com/Amp-Unlocking-Hypergrowth-Expectations-Intensity/dp/1119836115)
Harvard Business Review: “The Short Life of Online Sales Leads” (https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads)
MIT Lead Response Management Study (https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/25649/file-13535879-pdf/docs/mit_study.pdf)
“The 4-Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferriss (https://fourhourworkweek.com/)
Remote First Recruiting: Hire Your Next Remote Team Member in 21 Days or Less (https://remotefirstrecruiting.com/)
My First Million Podcast (https://www.mfmpod.com/)
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:01) Business Idea: “Lifestyle” Services for 7-Figure Businesses

(00:08:30) How to Improve Your Lead Pipeline 20-50% Overnight
(00:11:50) How Responding Faster to Leads Impacts Your Business
(00:16:46) Sponsor Shout-out: SPP.co
(00:17:47) Conference A or Conference B?
(00:19:38) Business Idea: Partner Podcast with Big Bucks Brand
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
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, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
The Outsourcing Shake-Up: LATAM vs. Philippines (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/outsourcing-shake-up)
Financial Traps, Profit Truths, and What’s Next at TMBA (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/financial-traps-profit-truths)
“Build It Like You’re Gonna Sell It” (Dan’s “Amp It Up” Review) (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/build-it-sell-it)

It’s another mixed bag of business topics on this week’s episode of the pod: X’s Head of Product shares the suspiciously simple playbook to getting rich on the platform, Google’s “Photoshop Killer” is officially on the loose, emerging thoughts on pivoting away from the Philippines for outsourcing remote talent, luxury lifestyle for a fraction of the cost in Thailand, and more.
Quick reminder that we’ll be in Bangkok next month with Dynamite Circle for a week of sheer business nerdery. Details in the links below!
LINKS
Hang out with us at DCBKK in Bangkok this October (https://dynamitecircle.com/dcbkk)
Connect with 7+ figure founders and join us in NYC this December (https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black)
X’s Head of Product shares how to get rich on X in 6 months (https://x.com/nikitabier/status/1963498520805007470)
Google’s “Photoshop killer” Nano Banana (https://gemini.google/overview/image-generation/)
Nick Huber’s thoughts on outsourcing to the Philippines in 2025 (https://x.com/sweatystartup/status/1963588036102348943)
Dan’s next read (https://www.amazon.com/100M-Money-Models-Make-Acquisition-com-ebook/dp/B0FMXTZ4MH)
This week’s sponsor: https://spp.co “Your billing, onboarding & projects in one client portal” (https://spp.co/)
22 FREE business resources for location-independent entrepreneurs (https://tropicalmba.com/resources)
CHAPTERS
Audio:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:29) How to Get Rich on X in 6 Months
(00:04:51) How to Stay Consistent with Content
(00:10:14) Google’s “Photoshop Killer”: Nano Banana
(00:13:58) PH No Longer a Hotspot for Remote Recruiting?

(00:18:29) Sponsor Shout-out: SPP.co

(00:19:47) Luxury Location-Independent Lifestyle in Thailand

(00:27:22) Hits of the Week: Hormozi, Feldman, DCBKK
CONNECT:
Dan@tropicalmba.com
Ian@tropicalmba.com
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, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella.
PLAYLIST:
Why $120K From Your Biz Beats $150K at a Job (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/balancing-wealth-freedom-mindset)
The Content Flywheel Behind a 7-Figure Education Business ft. Timothy Moser (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/content-flywheel-behind-7-figure-business)
Health Advice That Goes Against Everything You Know ft. Jay Feldman (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/health-advice-against-everything-you-know)
The Freedom Line, 7+ Figure Founders, and Extended DCBKK Recap (https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/dcbkk-recap-2023)