Ditching Hourly

Double-unicorn founder (WP Engine and A Smart Bear), Jason Cohen, joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about the ideas behind his new book, Hidden Multipliers.

We talked about using AI as a facilitator rather than an answer machine, choosing ideal customers, differentiating a consulting business, how AI is changing SaaS and software work, and why writing can help you think in public.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:56 - AI Skills as Facilitators
04:16 - Choosing Your Best Customers
09:42 - Building Strategy Around Yourself
13:40 - Defining a Market
22:29 - Problems, Alternatives, and Categories
27:00 - Differentiating Consulting Services
33:58 - The Fear of Closing Doors
38:02 - Who Hidden Multipliers Is For
41:14 - AI and the Future of SaaS
49:33 - Why Expertise Still Matters
53:24 - Distribution and Fast Followers
59:13 - Worldview as Differentiation
61:03 - Writing to Think
68:28 - Where to Find Jason
Jason’s Links
The Book » https://shop.hiddenmultipliers.com/
The Skills » https://skills.asmartbear.com/
Jason’s Blog » https://longform.asmartbear.com/
Jason’s Podcast » https://smartbearlive.transistor.fm/
Jason’s LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncohen/

Thought leadership expert Bill Sherman joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how experts can scale their ideas to create impactful thought leadership. 
Bill shares insights from his extensive experience in helping individuals and organizations codify and amplify their ideas.
In this episode, we delve into the nuances of thought leadership, from defining it to exploring business models and the importance of a focused target audience. 
Bill also discusses the impact equation and how to effectively communicate ideas to create lasting influence.
00:00 - Introduction to Bill Sherman
00:19 - Journey into Thought Leadership
01:51 - Defining Thought Leadership
05:41 - Emerging Thought Leaders
08:44 - The Thought Leadership Handbook
13:09 - Business Models of Thought Leadership
16:49 - Target Audience Importance
21:49 - Licensing and Certification
25:09 - Alternatives to Writing a Book
33:39 - Impact Equation
43:47 - Final Thoughts
Guest bio

Bill Sherman is the COO of Thought Leadership Leverage and lead author of The Thought Leadership Handbook. For more than twenty years he's helped executives, authors, and experts take their ideas to scale — and he co-hosts the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast, now past 700 episodes.
Website » https://aha-moments.com/
Book » https://thoughtleadershiphandbook.com/
LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-sherman-aha-moments/
Podcast » https://thoughtleadershipleverage.com/thought-leadership-podcasts/

Pricing strategist Shannon Mattern joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss how to present pricing options in a project proposal based on the mindset of the buyer: investment-minded, expense-minded, and hustle-minded. 
In this episode, we dive into Shannon's Package Matrix method, a framework she developed to offer clients different levels of service and pricing options. We explore how to implement this strategy, manage client expectations, and ensure timely payments.
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Shannon's Background
01:24 Overcoming Pricing Challenges
02:24 Package Matrix Method
06:23 Implementing Package Matrix
10:58 Sales Process and Payment Terms
17:21 Handling Client Delays
20:58 Sales Cycle and Proposal Strategy
28:03 Presenting Proposals
39:51 Follow-up and Decision Deadlines
47:19 Final Thoughts and Resources
Shannon Mattern is a pricing strategist and the creator of the Package Matrix™ Method. She's also the host of the Profitable Web Designer and Anchor High podcasts, and founder of Web Designer Academy, where she helps women web designers move from undercharging to premium pricing. You can connect with Shannon at https://shannonmattern.com or on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/shannonmattern

”Expertise whisperer” Wes Wheless joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about turning corporate expertise into a solo consulting business. We talked about his new book, The Expert's Privilege, how corporate professionals can recognize transferable expertise, why visual IP helps consultants explain their work, and what to do before making the leap from employee to independent consultant.
Chapters
01:35 - From Corporate to Consulting
03:48 - Pivoting Toward Solo Consultants
06:16 - Daily Email, Authority, and Visual IP
11:46 - The Expert's Privilege
18:36 - Why Corporate Experts Undervalue Their Skills
23:23 - Excavating Your Expertise
27:18 - Finding Your Zone of Genius
32:44 - From Self-Examination to Market Validation
35:30 - What to Do Before You Leave Corporate
40:22 - A Book Is FOR Someone
44:23 - Writing the Book With Support
52:06 - Launch Strategy and Early Results
About Wes
Wes Wheless is an "expertise whisperer," founder of Develop My IP, and creator of The Lightbulb, a daily email for corporates-turned-consultants.
After two consecutive tech layoffs, Wes traded a 20-year corporate career spanning consulting, enterprise, and startups for a solo practice helping experts turn their knowledge into IP, frameworks, and "intellectual headshots."
Wes holds business degrees from The Wharton School and Kellogg School of Management and lives in Seattle, Washington. The Expert's Privilege is his first book.

Links
Resources & Services: weswheless.com
The Expert's Privilege: wesbook.com
Buy on Amazon: buywesbook.com
The Lightbulb email: lightbulbemail.com
Fen Druadin, Book Midwife: fendruadin.com

Author, financial advisor, and former management consultant Brian Herriot joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about pursuing time freedom before financial freedom.

Brian and I talk about his new book Time Freedom, the difference between time freedom and financial freedom, how flexible work can bridge the gap, and what he learned from using early readers, workshops, and hybrid publishing to turn his ideas into a book.
Chapters

(00:00) - Brian's Time Freedom Story

(02:58) - Why Brian Wrote the Book

(05:30) - Choosing Hybrid Publishing

(09:53) - Building the Business Behind the Book

(12:16) - Time Freedom vs Financial Freedom

(16:46) - Making Nine Months Cover Twelve

(19:47) - Remote Work and Flexible Work

(23:18) - Who Can Actually Do This?

(27:17) - Early Readers and Draft Feedback

(31:51) - Tools for Testing a Book

(33:32) - Testing Ideas Before Writing

(36:00) - Writing the First Draft

(40:26) - The Time Freedom Framework

(46:52) - Writing a Better Ending

(50:44) - Counterintuitive Money Advice

Resources We Mentioned
Time Freedom preorder page
Time Freedom Calculator
Time Freedom Podcast
Brian Herriot on LinkedIn
Write a Must-Read by AJ Harper
AJ Harper
Page Two Simplified
Mike Michalowicz
Mike Michalowicz on The Business of Authority
Write Useful Books / Rob Fitzpatrick
Help This Book
Heroic Public Speaking
Charlie Hoehn on The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
Guest Bio
Brian Herriot is the founder of Time Freedom and the author of Time Freedom: Rethink Your Work and Money to Create a Life You Love Now. He is an author, speaker, registered investment advisor, financial advisor, business consultant, and co-host of The Time Freedom Podcast. His professional background includes management consulting roles at Accenture and Point B, as well as a director position at UCSF Health. Learn more at https://timefreedom.life/.