{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"What Works","title":"EP 200: Weathering The Ups & Downs Of Entrepreneurship Over The Long Haul","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":4031,"description":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEven for successful entrepreneurs and small businesses, sometimes things don’t go to plan.\n\n\n\nThe longer you’re in business, the more times you’ll deal with projects that don’t work out, offers that don’t sell, or strategies that take you down the wrong path.\n\n\n\nIn many ways, staying in business over the long haul is a constant exercise in maintaining your heading—and navigating back when you inevitably veer off course.\n\n\n\nWhen we launched The What Works Network, I had a vision of small business owners who were frustrated with one-size-fits-all online courses flocking to our platform to work together on making their businesses better.\n\n\n\nI could see hundreds and then thousands of entrepreneurs sharing their challenges, offering their solutions, and deep diving into complex issues. I imagined leading the charge for more honest, open-minded, and sophisticated exploration of how we do business.\n\n\n\nThat didn’t happen.\n\n\n\nDespite years of experience and success, my new idea didn’t take off as planned.\n\n\n\nIt’s taken many experiments, mistakes, and a lot of frustration to finally feel like we’re gaining traction.\n\n\n\nDuring this time, though, I learned so much about building an exceptional product. I learned about building a community—and not merely an audience. I learned about leadership and earning others buy-in.\n\n\n\nI know that almost two years of heartache and frustration have taught me what I need to know to create something even better than what I dreamed of in the beginning. And, I know I wouldn’t be here now if I hadn’t been able to cope with those trials.\n\n\n\nOne of the benefits of being in business for over 10 years is that you know that you’re not alone in the dips. You know that others have suffered setbacks and created their own mistakes, too.\n\n\n\nToday, we’ve released our 200th podcast episode out into the world.\n\n\n\nAnd to mark this milestone, we wanted to share exactly these kinds of stories with you—so that you, too, know you’re not alone.\n\n\n\nI...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/AmfGeDL96-fhMaeOcqmX7TK_eWrvTLco6OJj2QpZtZI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80NGUx/OWY5ZDg1M2E5MmU3/ZjEwOWVmNDM3MWVh/ZjZlOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}