Welcome to "The Jim Kroft Podcast" where we explore the intersection between Entrepreneurship and the Arts.
In this week's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome legendary "Indie Bootstrapper" and author Arvid Kahl.
If I could synthesize the human embodiment of what a person might look like at the mysterious confluence between entrepreneurship and creativity, it would be Arvid.
Having secured a million-dollar exit for his business, Arvid pivoted towards creativity, so far releasing two best-selling books and amassing 120,000 Twitter followers along the way.
Today’s story however delves beyond the surface of the success and metrics. In the Podcast, we explore:
- Transitioning from million-dollar exit to bestselling author
- Overcoming social isolation and burnout
- Arvid's content creation system
- Effective message distribution across platforms
- Finding the right audience to serve
- Building in public as a Creative or Solopreneur
Arvid packs today’s Podcast with actionable steps, practical tips and hard-hitting life lessons.
I also want to say THANK YOU to everyone for the wonderful launch of the Podcast! Your support helped it enter the Apple Podcasting Charts, which is just so energising. If you have a moment to rate or review, it would be a massive help as I try to keep the momentum rolling.
OK, time to jump to today's episode!
Jim
ARVID KAHL LINKS
Website:
https://thebootstrappedfounder.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/arvidkahl
JIM KROFT LINKS
SUBSTACK
https://jimkroft.substack.com
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/jimkroft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/jimkroft
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
What is The Creative Life — with Jim Kroft?
🎙️ The Creative Life — with Jim Kroft
This podcast is for creatives who’ve chosen the long road.
Each week, I take one aspect of the creative life — a breakthrough, a challenge, or a tool that’s helping me — and share what I’m learning from the inside.
I started the show because I couldn’t find what I needed: a companion for the real challenges of making art while building a life around it.
The podcast swings between the psychological traps we face and the practical tools that keep me going. It moves between mindset and method — but always comes back to how we keep showing up.
I’m Jim, your host. I’ve lived a long life in the arts — full of meteoric highs and humbling lows.
Here are a few stops from the journey:
🎸 Released 7 records — from major labels to van tours
🎥 Filmed 6 feature docs, screened at 200+ festivals
🧠 Built a creative business in Berlin since 2013
✍️ Top 1% on Substack for weekly consistency
📈 Raised nearly €100K for refugee & Ukraine war efforts
🎧 The Creative Life has hit the Apple Podcast charts
Thanks for being here,
Jim
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