WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:05.369 --> 00:00:10.830 Raph: Hey folks, and welcome to this latest episode of the small tech podcast 00:00:10.830 --> 00:00:15.689 by EC I'm your host Raph And today we're going to be doing something that I've 00:00:15.689 --> 00:00:19.860 wanted to do for a while, but haven't been able to yet we're doing an interview. 00:00:19.860 --> 00:00:24.059 We're going to be talking to Sam Chan VP of programs at launch academy. 00:00:24.299 --> 00:00:29.070 Launch academy is a community here in Vancouver that has helped me out a lot 00:00:29.070 --> 00:00:31.650 has helped loads of local entrepreneurs. 00:00:31.949 --> 00:00:35.279 And people from around the world really, who are coming to Canada to set up their 00:00:35.279 --> 00:00:37.679 businesses and expand into north America. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:42.420 Sam has done so much work with so many of these people, I thought he would 00:00:42.420 --> 00:00:46.349 be a great person to talk to about how to launch a small tech product. 00:00:47.010 --> 00:00:49.230 So without further ado, let's get into it. 00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:51.269 My interview with Sam Chan. 00:00:52.861 --> 00:00:53.151 Yeah. 00:00:53.291 --> 00:00:53.791 Hi, Sam 00:00:54.091 --> 00:00:55.940 Sam: Awesome, Raph happy to be here. 00:00:56.178 --> 00:00:56.468 Raph: Yeah. 00:00:56.468 --> 00:00:58.328 Do you wanna introduce yourself launch and. 00:00:58.388 --> 00:00:59.048 Sam: My name's Sam. 00:00:59.048 --> 00:01:02.008 I've been around tech companies basically my whole career. 00:01:02.189 --> 00:01:05.596 Worked for a lot of names that you've never heard of worked remotely in 00:01:05.653 --> 00:01:09.671 2008, long before it was cool and then now back to being not cool. 00:01:09.812 --> 00:01:11.712 Worked for places like Blackberry. 00:01:11.792 --> 00:01:14.952 I worked in the mobile developer, scene for a couple years as well. 00:01:15.172 --> 00:01:17.192 And I think most known for these days. 00:01:17.192 --> 00:01:20.072 I've spent the last nine years at a nonprofit tech incubator in 00:01:20.072 --> 00:01:22.126 Vancouver, BC called Launch Academy. 00:01:22.352 --> 00:01:25.242 We've helped, grow, raise, fund, not directly fund. 00:01:25.242 --> 00:01:26.442 We're nonprofit, as I mentioned. 00:01:26.577 --> 00:01:30.227 But over, I think it's 3000 companies, $3 billion raised, in 00:01:30.227 --> 00:01:34.427 35 plus different countries as well, over the last year, 12 years. 00:01:34.567 --> 00:01:37.427 Now, I said 10 because I don't count the covid years like 00:01:37.687 --> 00:01:38.947 we, we were busy then too. 00:01:39.397 --> 00:01:39.687 Raph: Yeah. 00:01:40.417 --> 00:01:44.363 So yeah, I'm curious if you can, I don't know, talk to what is it that 00:01:44.363 --> 00:01:51.483 you see um, successful small, small tech companies do what, what are some 00:01:51.483 --> 00:01:55.603 commonalities, some patterns that, that you see in, in their products 00:01:55.703 --> 00:01:57.163 Sam: That's a loaded question 00:01:57.298 --> 00:01:58.428 Raph: very broad question. 00:01:58.833 --> 00:02:01.603 Sam: many thousands of hours of podcasts is spent time. 00:02:02.003 --> 00:02:04.763 Trying to derive and go what is the central way, 00:02:05.203 --> 00:02:05.493 Raph: Yeah. 00:02:05.643 --> 00:02:05.933 Yeah. 00:02:06.063 --> 00:02:08.843 Sam: How do you grow something from ideation into reality? 00:02:08.893 --> 00:02:12.743 And that's even the slogan on a lot of events, programs, et cetera, right? 00:02:12.913 --> 00:02:13.203 Raph: Yeah. 00:02:13.273 --> 00:02:17.753 Sam: I think at launch we've spent, again a very early part of the decade working 00:02:17.823 --> 00:02:19.873 with what we call ideation companies. 00:02:19.873 --> 00:02:24.333 And I don't know how, startup focused the listeners may be so feel free to 00:02:24.333 --> 00:02:28.053 just ignore me if I'm like explaining like your five or something like that. 00:02:28.193 --> 00:02:31.803 But I don't know who you are so I assume that, but . But like we spend 00:02:31.803 --> 00:02:35.563 a lot of our time working with folks that, that want to build something. 00:02:35.873 --> 00:02:39.053 Some of them technically know how, like in terms of Skillset 00:02:39.193 --> 00:02:41.093 to, to build some of them don't. 00:02:41.343 --> 00:02:46.163 And so like the programming and the courses that we have built for folks like 00:02:46.223 --> 00:02:48.053 really have to cater to both parties. 00:02:48.423 --> 00:02:50.883 And of course, like I'm non technical myself, right? 00:02:50.883 --> 00:02:53.793 Like I've lived my life surrounding around really technical people. 00:02:53.813 --> 00:02:57.353 And so I always joke like I'm always the dumbest person in any room I'm in. 00:02:57.813 --> 00:02:59.473 But somehow I'm in the room, right? 00:02:59.523 --> 00:03:03.563 So maybe I did something right, but like when someone originally comes to us and 00:03:03.563 --> 00:03:07.143 they're, we're talking about brand new, we also work with companies that are growing 00:03:07.193 --> 00:03:08.593 and in growth stages as well, right? 00:03:08.593 --> 00:03:10.313 So that's not the only thing we do at launch. 00:03:10.773 --> 00:03:15.583 But in terms of working with ideation companies, . It's always around focused 00:03:15.583 --> 00:03:17.663 around like problems versus solutions. 00:03:17.728 --> 00:03:22.708 And the biggest distraction I think is like when we go back to the origin 00:03:22.768 --> 00:03:25.788 of why someone starts to create something like, and you're digging 00:03:25.908 --> 00:03:29.998 a little bit deeper, usually it's, there's a pain somewhere, right? 00:03:30.068 --> 00:03:34.608 Like you either, it's a lot of times for founders, it's their own pain, 00:03:34.813 --> 00:03:37.683 Maybe I'm working at Microsoft my day-to-day job, and they're 00:03:37.683 --> 00:03:40.783 like, I have to do this thing over and over and over again. 00:03:41.043 --> 00:03:42.143 I'm tired of doing this. 00:03:42.583 --> 00:03:46.093 I could just create blank and I don't have to do this. 00:03:46.193 --> 00:03:46.483 Raph: Yeah. 00:03:46.828 --> 00:03:50.828 Sam: And so that, that is the problem that, that you're trying to solve. 00:03:50.968 --> 00:03:53.148 And immediately you go to how do I fix that problem? 00:03:53.548 --> 00:03:55.068 I could do this, I could scrape that. 00:03:55.388 --> 00:03:57.548 I could add in this plugin, so on, so forth. 00:03:57.908 --> 00:03:59.938 I can push that and then boom it's 00:03:59.938 --> 00:04:00.218 good 00:04:00.258 --> 00:04:00.938 Raph: Problem solved. 00:04:01.038 --> 00:04:02.283 Sam: Problem solved, right? 00:04:02.383 --> 00:04:06.363 And in many cases I think it does solve that original founder's problem. 00:04:07.098 --> 00:04:07.388 Raph: Yeah. 00:04:07.703 --> 00:04:10.533 Sam: but the difference between, and that, that's I think that's 00:04:10.543 --> 00:04:13.873 great use of your time in terms of keeping your brain fresh, right? 00:04:13.873 --> 00:04:15.473 Because I think a lot of us, I. 00:04:15.888 --> 00:04:19.758 Like when we start working and I'm talking more, it could, you could be a 00:04:19.758 --> 00:04:23.188 developer, you could be, you could be a business analyst, you could be a marketer. 00:04:23.188 --> 00:04:26.508 Like stuff starts to get mundane when you're doing like, monotonous work 00:04:26.728 --> 00:04:30.888 and I think creating new ways to, or more efficient ways to solve your I 00:04:30.888 --> 00:04:34.358 always joke that lazy people are the best because lazy people are willing to 00:04:34.358 --> 00:04:35.878 work themselves out of a job in theory. 00:04:36.363 --> 00:04:36.653 Raph: Yeah. 00:04:37.363 --> 00:04:37.653 Yeah. 00:04:37.668 --> 00:04:40.608 Sam: it, and but that means that they have to put that creative juice 00:04:40.608 --> 00:04:41.968 to work and that keeps you fresh. 00:04:42.418 --> 00:04:46.798 So I don't look down on lazy people that I think is the takeaway from this but yeah. 00:04:46.858 --> 00:04:48.298 And a lot of people leave it there, right? 00:04:48.298 --> 00:04:48.858 Problem solved. 00:04:48.908 --> 00:04:50.308 And then they go on with it in, and that's cool. 00:04:50.708 --> 00:04:55.928 Then maybe 5%, 1% of those folks are like, Hey, what if other 00:04:55.928 --> 00:04:57.368 people have that problem too, 00:04:57.883 --> 00:04:58.173 Raph: Yeah. 00:04:58.833 --> 00:04:59.053 Yep. 00:04:59.103 --> 00:05:04.053 Sam: And I think that's where the creation of a lot of things end up happening. 00:05:04.193 --> 00:05:05.553 I don't want to say by mistake, 00:05:05.663 --> 00:05:10.203 But because they recognize there's pain points and there's a market for that pain. 00:05:10.403 --> 00:05:15.703 And that pain is universal or more than just, it's very specific to my pain. 00:05:16.358 --> 00:05:19.962 Raph: How have you seen people deal with figuring out whether 00:05:20.022 --> 00:05:23.882 or not their pain is actually one worth solving for other people? 00:05:24.472 --> 00:05:27.242 Like whether it's a dollar value or just there's actually 00:05:27.242 --> 00:05:29.082 an audience there, or, yeah. 00:05:29.652 --> 00:05:31.632 Sam: I think that's the pivot point and like the first 00:05:31.662 --> 00:05:33.348 mistake that early founders make 00:05:33.673 --> 00:05:33.963 Raph: Yeah. 00:05:34.533 --> 00:05:35.943 Sam: They had a pain point. 00:05:36.213 --> 00:05:40.533 They solved it with whatever their solution is and going forward, when 00:05:40.533 --> 00:05:44.253 they start to create what they would consider their company, the focus is 00:05:44.273 --> 00:05:46.313 all about look at this thing I've made. 00:05:46.313 --> 00:05:47.833 Look at this solution I've created, 00:05:48.243 --> 00:05:49.433 Isn't this solution great? 00:05:49.453 --> 00:05:53.193 And Raph, you're a nice guy, so you'll be like, yeah, it looks pretty good, right? 00:05:53.533 --> 00:05:57.113 But actually for a founder, looks pretty good and not acting on it. 00:05:57.778 --> 00:05:59.678 Is like the worst feedback ever. 00:05:59.678 --> 00:06:00.038 Because 00:06:00.718 --> 00:06:01.008 Raph: Yeah. 00:06:01.158 --> 00:06:02.358 Sam: internally, you feel good 00:06:02.488 --> 00:06:03.448 Raph: I wanna know what's bad. 00:06:03.948 --> 00:06:04.238 Sam: Yeah. 00:06:04.298 --> 00:06:06.518 I'm like, I wanna know how to make it something that you would 00:06:06.518 --> 00:06:07.998 put your hard earned money for. 00:06:08.358 --> 00:06:08.648 Raph: Yeah. 00:06:08.878 --> 00:06:09.808 Give me a hundred bucks. 00:06:09.838 --> 00:06:13.908 Sam: know I'm, yeah I know I'm being very like, and you and I have had many inside 00:06:14.388 --> 00:06:19.118 conversation about this, but regardless of your focus on capitalism or whatever, 00:06:19.678 --> 00:06:22.588 Everything needs to be funded in one form or matter, 00:06:22.903 --> 00:06:23.193 Raph: Yeah. 00:06:23.688 --> 00:06:26.748 Sam: And that goes into a whole different conversation of customer versus user. 00:06:26.928 --> 00:06:28.708 And we can dive into that if you want. 00:06:29.438 --> 00:06:33.698 But just focusing back on, on the solution part is the mistake that people 00:06:33.728 --> 00:06:38.058 make is when they're solution oriented versus problem obsessed, I think is 00:06:38.058 --> 00:06:39.778 the fancy startup term that people 00:06:39.988 --> 00:06:41.148 Raph: I, that's funny. 00:06:41.188 --> 00:06:43.828 I don't think I'd actually come across that specific phrasing. 00:06:44.068 --> 00:06:44.548 I like that. 00:06:45.088 --> 00:06:45.568 what was it? 00:06:46.772 --> 00:06:46.972 Sam: Obsessed. 00:06:47.502 --> 00:06:47.792 Raph: Okay. 00:06:47.792 --> 00:06:48.003 Problem. 00:06:48.592 --> 00:06:50.192 Obsessed instead of solution. 00:06:50.222 --> 00:06:50.512 Yeah. 00:06:50.512 --> 00:06:50.712 Yeah. 00:06:50.912 --> 00:06:51.712 'cause you want to be, yeah. 00:06:51.742 --> 00:06:55.322 You want to be obsessed with what's the pain that, like if someone, 00:06:55.502 --> 00:06:59.022 if you're not solving someone's pain point then what's the point? 00:06:59.052 --> 00:07:01.102 Your product can be very shiny and, 00:07:01.382 --> 00:07:05.462 Sam: I think it's because we all start out with the problem, but 00:07:05.532 --> 00:07:10.892 once we find a solution, we've put all our focus and all our eggs in 00:07:10.892 --> 00:07:12.132 the basket on that solution, right? 00:07:12.182 --> 00:07:14.432 This watch app is gonna change everyone's life. 00:07:14.622 --> 00:07:18.952 Like this watch app is the best, not realizing that the core 00:07:18.952 --> 00:07:22.672 demographic of people who have this pain do not have smart watches. 00:07:23.422 --> 00:07:23.712 Raph: Yeah. 00:07:24.377 --> 00:07:27.857 Sam: So yeah, in theory it would solve their pain, but now you're not 00:07:27.857 --> 00:07:30.537 just selling them your watch app, you're also selling them the watch. 00:07:30.897 --> 00:07:33.717 And you're also selling them the data plan that comes with the watch. 00:07:33.897 --> 00:07:35.877 And guess what, now it's unaffordable, 00:07:36.262 --> 00:07:36.552 Raph: yeah. 00:07:37.007 --> 00:07:37.357 Sam: right? 00:07:38.057 --> 00:07:43.337 So I think the difficult part is not stopping, being obsessed with the problem 00:07:43.467 --> 00:07:45.777 after you have an initial solution. 00:07:46.177 --> 00:07:46.467 Raph: Yeah. 00:07:47.002 --> 00:07:52.142 Sam: So it might, the solution might work for you and maybe your small 00:07:52.142 --> 00:07:54.742 group of friends, does it scale, right? 00:07:54.962 --> 00:07:59.882 Do more people have this problem and enough me people to reach what 00:07:59.882 --> 00:08:04.592 you consider a critical mass that's worth pursuing as a business, right? 00:08:04.852 --> 00:08:08.777 And that's the journey that people . That's not a very enjoyable part of 00:08:08.777 --> 00:08:12.457 the journey, especially when you're basically going out asking people to 00:08:12.927 --> 00:08:15.017 tell you what you think is crap, right? 00:08:15.017 --> 00:08:16.937 Because that is the most helpful thing, right? 00:08:17.267 --> 00:08:20.437 If they're telling if you think of it as if it's a combination lock 00:08:21.097 --> 00:08:24.037 and everybody's telling you those numbers are good, but the lock is not 00:08:24.037 --> 00:08:27.177 unlocking all the advice that's been given to you is actually useless. 00:08:27.237 --> 00:08:29.697 You need people to tell you like that five is, it's wrong. 00:08:29.907 --> 00:08:30.687 It should be a four. 00:08:30.787 --> 00:08:31.567 It should be a three. 00:08:32.067 --> 00:08:34.127 And that's how you get closer to unlocking it. 00:08:34.177 --> 00:08:35.397 But everybody tells you it's good. 00:08:35.397 --> 00:08:35.917 It's useless. 00:08:36.612 --> 00:08:36.832 Raph: Yep. 00:08:37.452 --> 00:08:40.502 I'm curious with all of that in mind, do you have have you seen companies. 00:08:40.902 --> 00:08:45.262 I don't know, build out like frameworks or ways of thinking and working around, 00:08:45.262 --> 00:08:46.582 like gathering that information. 00:08:46.582 --> 00:08:47.502 Like how do you keep track? 00:08:47.562 --> 00:08:52.022 How do you make sure, like beyond just like seeing some dollars come in 00:08:52.122 --> 00:08:56.692 or not , how do you stay aware as a company of whether you are focused on 00:08:56.692 --> 00:09:01.772 the right problem and whether you do actually have the right audience like 00:09:01.892 --> 00:09:03.352 Sam: So there's a couple of things there. 00:09:03.672 --> 00:09:06.692 I think To start with, you need to have a little bit of self-awareness, 00:09:07.272 --> 00:09:07.562 Raph: Yeah. 00:09:07.712 --> 00:09:11.932 Sam: So you gotta know whether you're the guy or person that 00:09:12.622 --> 00:09:14.092 loves to build stuff, right? 00:09:14.152 --> 00:09:17.612 And you and I both know plenty of people that just love to build and there's 00:09:17.852 --> 00:09:18.732 absolutely nothing wrong with that. 00:09:19.412 --> 00:09:21.732 I don't call that a business, I call that playing with Lego. 00:09:22.392 --> 00:09:22.682 Raph: yeah. 00:09:23.182 --> 00:09:23.402 Yep. 00:09:23.442 --> 00:09:26.812 Sam: And it's a great thing to build and create and whatever, right? 00:09:26.872 --> 00:09:29.812 And I think if you're satisfied with that and that gives you 00:09:29.812 --> 00:09:31.012 fulfillment, that gives you joy. 00:09:31.012 --> 00:09:31.732 Keep doing it. 00:09:32.312 --> 00:09:33.772 Ignore, are we allowed to swear on this? 00:09:34.152 --> 00:09:39.002 Ignore all the BS of, startup land, raising money, like all that stuff. 00:09:39.092 --> 00:09:41.872 You don't need it and you can ignore all the advice that comes out, right? 00:09:41.872 --> 00:09:42.762 Just keep building, right? 00:09:42.762 --> 00:09:43.882 That's perfectly fine, 00:09:44.222 --> 00:09:44.512 Raph: Yeah. 00:09:45.142 --> 00:09:48.802 Sam: But if you think that you have an aspiration to do something 00:09:49.202 --> 00:09:52.852 larger, to run a business out of it, to maybe have it feed your family 00:09:53.112 --> 00:09:54.932 to whatever your goals are, right? 00:09:55.332 --> 00:09:57.902 Then you gotta recognize okay, what are my strengths? 00:09:57.902 --> 00:09:58.942 What are my limitations? 00:09:59.472 --> 00:10:03.172 If I'm the builder, that usually means I have a bias towards 00:10:03.172 --> 00:10:04.552 Hey, I want this thing to work. 00:10:04.952 --> 00:10:05.242 Raph: Yeah. 00:10:06.012 --> 00:10:09.672 Sam: but I may be less interested in making sure that it's 00:10:09.672 --> 00:10:13.472 affordable and it's accessible and it's reachable for the masses. 00:10:13.532 --> 00:10:15.252 Whatever, however you wanna define masses, right? 00:10:15.472 --> 00:10:17.582 So I think that's recognizing the first point. 00:10:18.002 --> 00:10:20.722 And then once you're honest with yourself and of course I'm giving a 00:10:20.722 --> 00:10:22.132 very stereotypical Hey, I'm a developer. 00:10:22.172 --> 00:10:23.252 I like building, I don't like selling. 00:10:23.712 --> 00:10:26.192 Raph: Feel like you're talking about me, Sam 00:10:26.742 --> 00:10:28.582 Sam: I am definitely not talking about you. 00:10:28.982 --> 00:10:30.922 But like I, that is a stereotype, right? 00:10:31.032 --> 00:10:34.252 But if you're a developer that also likes selling, like that's great, right? 00:10:34.252 --> 00:10:35.682 Don't, I don't wanna dismiss that. 00:10:35.682 --> 00:10:37.802 And tho those folks are absolutely out there. 00:10:38.342 --> 00:10:40.722 And the reverse is of course absolutely true too, right? 00:10:40.722 --> 00:10:43.282 Like people who just want to talk and never actually build anything. 00:10:43.732 --> 00:10:46.392 So there's all types of people out there, but I think the first point is like 00:10:46.712 --> 00:10:51.022 recognizing which one of those you are and then the second point is understanding 00:10:51.022 --> 00:10:54.707 Hey, if I'm not that other part, let's say I'm the builder, not the seller, 00:10:55.107 --> 00:10:58.567 am I willing to be the seller until I find a partner that can sell with me? 00:10:58.967 --> 00:11:02.027 And I don't mean a staff, somebody that's gonna walk alongside you that has the 00:11:02.027 --> 00:11:03.227 same vision and beliefs that you do. 00:11:03.947 --> 00:11:07.367 Raph: so if you are a seller and not a builder, then please come 00:11:07.367 --> 00:11:11.287 to ephemerecreative.ca, where we can be your builder, partner, 00:11:11.687 --> 00:11:13.367 Sam: I am getting the referral fee for that Right 00:11:13.612 --> 00:11:18.212 Raph: Yeah that's the plug is there because that is who we like to work with. 00:11:18.592 --> 00:11:22.732 People who have ideas and don't know how to make them work and who can sell them, 00:11:22.732 --> 00:11:24.202 but don't know how to materialize them. 00:11:24.652 --> 00:11:25.652 Sam: I feel like I set you up for that 00:11:26.052 --> 00:11:26.342 Raph: Yeah. 00:11:26.392 --> 00:11:26.752 Thank you. 00:11:27.392 --> 00:11:30.452 Sam: But yeah I think that is the first step and then depending on 00:11:30.452 --> 00:11:34.312 which role you end up playing keep in mind that if you're starting a 00:11:34.472 --> 00:11:36.352 business, yes, that is your strength. 00:11:36.462 --> 00:11:38.952 Doesn't mean you don't work on your weaknesses. 00:11:39.012 --> 00:11:40.232 At least be in the beginning, right? 00:11:40.277 --> 00:11:40.517 Raph: Yeah. 00:11:40.852 --> 00:11:44.312 Sam: if you think that you're just gonna be just the technical guy or just the 00:11:44.312 --> 00:11:46.712 selling guy, don't think that you're not gonna be involved with product. 00:11:46.712 --> 00:11:49.512 There's only one person on the team, or two people on the team, right? 00:11:49.512 --> 00:11:52.808 Like you're gonna, you need to have a breadth of understanding 00:11:52.868 --> 00:11:54.685 of majority of the company, right? 00:11:54.862 --> 00:11:58.742 And so with that, once you get there, . In terms of talking about like 00:11:58.842 --> 00:12:02.218 how do you methodically find out if people have the same problem with you? 00:12:02.418 --> 00:12:04.358 Is you gotta go out and ask, right? 00:12:04.818 --> 00:12:08.338 And this is the even people who sell don't really like doing this, 00:12:08.598 --> 00:12:09.738 to be completely honest with you. 00:12:10.278 --> 00:12:13.678 Like nobody really likes doing this, I have met some personalities 00:12:13.678 --> 00:12:15.238 that enjoy going door to door. 00:12:15.308 --> 00:12:16.078 It's really strange. 00:12:16.528 --> 00:12:17.368 Like we've all been 00:12:17.523 --> 00:12:17.643 Raph: me. 00:12:17.748 --> 00:12:20.048 Sam: had our open our door and like they're selling chocolates, 00:12:20.048 --> 00:12:21.528 they're selling something, whatever. 00:12:21.638 --> 00:12:23.738 But there are some people that, that enjoy that. 00:12:23.848 --> 00:12:25.698 They don't mind just give them something to sell. 00:12:25.748 --> 00:12:26.648 But the majority of 00:12:26.883 --> 00:12:27.533 Raph: cold calling. 00:12:27.853 --> 00:12:31.125 Sam: exactly, the majority of people I've met don't, aren't really fond of that, 00:12:31.515 --> 00:12:33.685 what I would call like grunt grind work. 00:12:34.038 --> 00:12:38.108 But it has to be done so, when I talk to more, more successful 00:12:38.228 --> 00:12:40.788 founders, and success in that, their experience, they've, maybe they've 00:12:40.788 --> 00:12:44.188 built some products that have had millions of users or they've exited 00:12:44.188 --> 00:12:45.668 or however you want to define success. 00:12:45.668 --> 00:12:47.548 Like they've done this a couple times, right? 00:12:47.928 --> 00:12:51.468 It sounds ridiculously easy from their point of view. 00:12:51.888 --> 00:12:54.458 I was talking to the founder, I think it was Matt Smith, who's one of the 00:12:54.538 --> 00:12:56.428 founders of both later and Thinkific. 00:12:56.728 --> 00:13:00.798 Later, I think recently both our launch alumni later I think recently got acquired 00:13:00.968 --> 00:13:02.368 or they merged or something like that. 00:13:02.378 --> 00:13:03.168 Don't quote me on that. 00:13:03.168 --> 00:13:03.488 Sorry. 00:13:03.488 --> 00:13:04.888 Sorry Matt, if I said it wrong. 00:13:05.348 --> 00:13:08.335 . And then Thinkific is a public company so both they, he scaled 00:13:08.415 --> 00:13:09.575 a few things now and then. 00:13:09.625 --> 00:13:12.375 And . When he said it, I'm like, he's like, how do you find initial users? 00:13:12.485 --> 00:13:13.135 It's really easy. 00:13:13.475 --> 00:13:16.135 You find 10 people who have similar traits to the problem 00:13:16.135 --> 00:13:16.975 that you're trying to solve. 00:13:17.555 --> 00:13:19.375 And then you say Hey, do you want this? 00:13:19.435 --> 00:13:20.415 And do you wanna buy it? 00:13:20.875 --> 00:13:23.575 And some will, five will say yes, five will say no, that's fine. 00:13:24.075 --> 00:13:24.735 Go and tell you. 00:13:24.735 --> 00:13:25.855 Find 10 that say yes. 00:13:26.415 --> 00:13:26.635 Raph: Yep. 00:13:27.085 --> 00:13:28.245 Sam: Whatever method that is. 00:13:28.245 --> 00:13:31.525 Whether it's friends and family, maybe it's your LinkedIn, maybe it's cold 00:13:31.525 --> 00:13:33.215 calling, that part doesn't really matter. 00:13:33.375 --> 00:13:34.255 Just get to 10. 00:13:34.765 --> 00:13:37.935 Once you have those 10 yeses, then you go, great. 00:13:38.435 --> 00:13:40.375 Do you have 10 friends that you can recommend 00:13:41.090 --> 00:13:42.130 That can use my stuff? 00:13:42.550 --> 00:13:43.650 And so the way he describes, 00:13:43.715 --> 00:13:44.715 Raph: they're willing to recommend, 00:13:44.715 --> 00:13:44.955 then 00:13:45.170 --> 00:13:45.890 Sam: have a hundred users. 00:13:46.030 --> 00:13:48.600 That's more than 90% of startups out there Right? 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:51.560 And so when he says it like that, it sounds really easy, 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:54.600 Raph: getting those 10 and getting 10, who actually are like 00:13:55.010 --> 00:13:55.500 Sam: Exactly. 00:13:55.650 --> 00:13:56.840 Raph: ready to drop dollars. 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.510 Yeah. 00:13:57.575 --> 00:13:59.995 Sam: But the secret is there's no secret, right? 00:14:00.470 --> 00:14:00.760 Raph: Yeah. 00:14:01.070 --> 00:14:01.960 It's just hard work. 00:14:02.135 --> 00:14:04.115 Sam: you'll never get to a hundred without 10 00:14:04.330 --> 00:14:04.550 Raph: Yep. 00:14:05.250 --> 00:14:05.470 Yep. 00:14:05.610 --> 00:14:05.830 Yep. 00:14:06.155 --> 00:14:07.035 Sam: I am a math major 00:14:07.435 --> 00:14:11.035 Raph: Yeah, I think there's a previous video that I did on on, actually, it 00:14:11.035 --> 00:14:14.785 might have been on a different podcast, but but about keeping track of both 00:14:15.055 --> 00:14:17.015 quantitative and qualitative data. 00:14:17.485 --> 00:14:22.055 Like you want to talk to people, you want to get a sense of how they feel about 00:14:22.055 --> 00:14:26.005 what you're building and not just keep track of like your Google Analytics, 00:14:26.005 --> 00:14:28.985 because on some level the numbers can lie. 00:14:29.435 --> 00:14:29.725 Yeah. 00:14:30.065 --> 00:14:33.905 Sam: And, I think just be aware of your own biases, right? 00:14:33.935 --> 00:14:36.625 Like I think that's one of the most difficult things is like 00:14:37.025 --> 00:14:38.245 Raph: but I like my product. 00:14:38.710 --> 00:14:39.000 Sam: Yeah. 00:14:39.230 --> 00:14:39.520 Yeah. 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:41.710 And it's oh, only two out of 10 liked it. 00:14:41.710 --> 00:14:44.150 But the other eight, they're losers, so they don't really count. 00:14:44.170 --> 00:14:47.510 So really it's two outta two, which is a hundred percent, which is pretty great. 00:14:47.910 --> 00:14:48.200 Raph: Yeah. 00:14:48.550 --> 00:14:48.840 Yeah. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.530 Yeah. 00:14:50.030 --> 00:14:53.050 I'm curious with the stuff that you're doing at launch do you 00:14:53.050 --> 00:14:55.890 see any trends in the types of products that people are building? 00:14:56.170 --> 00:15:01.200 I don't know if that's you could talk about like LLMs and AI driven stuff. 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.320 Is there more and more of that? 00:15:02.970 --> 00:15:06.810 What kind of tools and, and products or are people building out there? 00:15:07.260 --> 00:15:07.480 Sam: Def. 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:10.600 So, So we also run something called Launch Builders, which I know you're a fan of. 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:12.320 You've been a great attendee for the last couple. 00:15:12.650 --> 00:15:13.630 Raph: It is so much fun, 00:15:14.030 --> 00:15:15.770 Sam: Yeah we do them two every two months. 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:19.430 So if you're interested I'm sure Raf can get you the details on this podcast, but 00:15:19.830 --> 00:15:23.330 What we do in those sessions is we do an open call and we ask for, for 00:15:23.330 --> 00:15:26.610 anybody who's building something cool and then we ask them to tell us why 00:15:26.610 --> 00:15:27.930 it's cool and why they should present. 00:15:28.230 --> 00:15:30.410 And then we pick what are the most interesting ones. 00:15:30.790 --> 00:15:31.970 And then they do the demo. 00:15:32.270 --> 00:15:33.583 Live once every two months. 00:15:33.913 --> 00:15:36.823 Right now we're only doing it in Vancouver, if you want me to come to your 00:15:36.823 --> 00:15:38.993 city, let's talk I'm super open to that. 00:15:39.270 --> 00:15:43.250 But yeah, the idea is being in Vancouver specifically we realize 00:15:43.250 --> 00:15:45.450 there's a lot of people building a lot of cool stuff, but there's not 00:15:45.450 --> 00:15:46.850 enough spaces for us to talk about it. 00:15:46.850 --> 00:15:50.810 There's a lot of space once you're ready to raise money and pitch and go through 00:15:50.810 --> 00:15:54.873 your projections and all that stuff, but in terms of tinkering with cool toys, 00:15:55.223 --> 00:15:59.433 beta toys, alpha toys, like I'm using this word very loosely here, right? 00:15:59.463 --> 00:16:02.203 We're I imagine if you're listening to this you're some degree of a nerd 00:16:02.833 --> 00:16:06.403 And I'm not even meaning that in a dismissive way like I am huge nerd. 00:16:07.063 --> 00:16:10.473 And so I like seeing cool toys, cool gadgets that I can 00:16:10.613 --> 00:16:11.833 get my hands around, right? 00:16:11.853 --> 00:16:16.773 And so really like builders is about Hey, if you could see the next five iPhones. 00:16:16.978 --> 00:16:17.938 Wouldn't you want to? 00:16:18.428 --> 00:16:21.208 And so at that same idea, it's okay, hey, if you could see the 00:16:21.208 --> 00:16:24.448 next five coolest products in Vancouver, wouldn't you want to, 00:16:24.848 --> 00:16:25.128 Raph: yeah. 00:16:25.528 --> 00:16:26.528 Sam: So that's the base of it. 00:16:26.588 --> 00:16:30.248 But back to your kind of original question, definitely there's a lot of ais. 00:16:30.708 --> 00:16:33.848 I'm super happy because I think we're starting to move past what 00:16:33.848 --> 00:16:35.928 I call the Chat-GPT skin products. 00:16:36.328 --> 00:16:36.618 Raph: Yeah. 00:16:37.008 --> 00:16:37.298 Yeah. 00:16:37.593 --> 00:16:41.023 Sam: Which are like, Hey, we're the Chat-GPT for bankers? 00:16:41.393 --> 00:16:45.093 We're the Chat-GPT for bankers that spend a lot of time in the washroom. 00:16:45.193 --> 00:16:48.993 So like it just, it gets more and more specific, but really the core of it is, 00:16:49.303 --> 00:16:49.913 Raph: This is just 00:16:49.993 --> 00:16:53.293 Sam: The user is prompting something and then chatGPT spits something out 00:16:53.433 --> 00:16:55.083 in a more organized manner, right? 00:16:55.103 --> 00:16:58.953 Raph: Yeah, so I'm just gonna, just because this came up yesterday. 00:16:59.113 --> 00:17:02.790 I went to Langara Volition Student Showcase, and they 00:17:02.790 --> 00:17:03.910 were showing their products. 00:17:03.910 --> 00:17:05.070 They were building real products. 00:17:05.490 --> 00:17:08.760 One of the things that I think is really interesting with regard to what 00:17:08.760 --> 00:17:12.960 you're saying right here is I saw this at this student showcase yesterday. 00:17:13.560 --> 00:17:18.710 This team built a product called Learnium and what they did is they 00:17:18.710 --> 00:17:21.670 built this system around open AI's APIs. 00:17:21.930 --> 00:17:26.397 And so it's using a large language model to do you input a PDF and it 00:17:26.417 --> 00:17:28.747 breaks it down into a learning plan. 00:17:29.147 --> 00:17:32.297 So if you're a student and you've got a book that you need to 00:17:32.297 --> 00:17:36.937 get through and learn it'll pull it apart and create flashcards. 00:17:37.317 --> 00:17:42.137 And you can ask questions about the book, but it'll also use the LLM to 00:17:42.137 --> 00:17:43.617 figure out what you should be learning. 00:17:44.277 --> 00:17:47.340 And basically check your answers as you do these flashcards. 00:17:47.590 --> 00:17:51.220 Really cool and like, you, I'm so happy that we're . We're 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.580 like moving past the oh yeah. 00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.660 It's like Chat-GPT. 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:53.820 But. 00:17:54.505 --> 00:17:58.535 With, I don't know a bit of data about like your specific I don't know. 00:17:58.565 --> 00:18:00.375 Your persona fed into it. 00:18:00.725 --> 00:18:01.325 It's yeah. 00:18:01.325 --> 00:18:02.325 Really exciting stuff. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.820 Sam: And I mean nothing against it. 00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:07.620 If you're building something like and, and that's why I go back to 00:18:07.670 --> 00:18:08.920 what is your intention, right? 00:18:08.950 --> 00:18:12.470 I think it's a great tool if it inspires you to learn and build something 00:18:12.470 --> 00:18:14.350 out, even if it's a clone, right? 00:18:14.350 --> 00:18:17.240 I don't actually think there's anything wrong with skins or clones 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.770 or how I'm describing them, right? 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:22.680 But I just think like in the long run, if you're trying to build 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:26.600 something that's really, truly like, exciting and scalable and sustainable, 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.980 I think is the most key word. 00:18:28.415 --> 00:18:30.995 It needs to have its own kind of value proposition. 00:18:31.515 --> 00:18:31.735 Raph: Yep. 00:18:32.175 --> 00:18:32.575 I agree. 00:18:32.895 --> 00:18:36.175 I feel like it, it does kind of go back to like toy versus product. 00:18:36.575 --> 00:18:40.215 'cause if it's just the layer on top of something else, then I don't know. 00:18:40.215 --> 00:18:42.135 Does it really have much value, like 00:18:42.495 --> 00:18:42.785 Sam: Yeah. 00:18:42.895 --> 00:18:43.375 Raph: the long run? 00:18:43.585 --> 00:18:46.075 Sam: are great, which is what I want people to take away is 00:18:46.175 --> 00:18:46.465 Raph: Yeah. 00:18:46.705 --> 00:18:51.035 Sam: just because it's not gonna go on the public markets doesn't mean it's not cool. 00:18:51.325 --> 00:18:52.125 Raph: Yeah, absolutely. 00:18:52.125 --> 00:18:55.555 Like a toy is fun, but you have to recognize that it's a toy 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:56.170 Sam: Yeah.. 00:18:56.565 --> 00:19:01.215 Raph: I'm kind of curious , if you could tell me what it's like being , on 00:19:01.215 --> 00:19:02.895 your end of this whole like process. 00:19:03.185 --> 00:19:06.505 You're supporting so many people who are building products 00:19:07.035 --> 00:19:08.395 building cool tech companies. 00:19:08.925 --> 00:19:09.485 What's it like? 00:19:09.782 --> 00:19:15.032 Sam: So I think most folks who work at incubators, program builders, I don't 00:19:15.032 --> 00:19:19.152 know what you wanna define, these kind of roles that support services for startups. 00:19:19.652 --> 00:19:20.652 They're all a little bit crazy. 00:19:21.102 --> 00:19:22.962 And I mean that in the kindest sense, 00:19:23.417 --> 00:19:23.707 Raph: Yeah. 00:19:24.102 --> 00:19:29.992 Sam: but like the emotion emotional kind of quotient, I don't know, EQ 00:19:29.992 --> 00:19:31.352 that comes with building a product. 00:19:31.462 --> 00:19:34.892 Like you're building something out from scratch and then for 00:19:35.002 --> 00:19:38.625 many founders you see the life and death of those things you create. 00:19:38.725 --> 00:19:41.465 And with support services, and someone in my position. 00:19:41.465 --> 00:19:44.445 And you and I have gone through this probably a couple times where it's 00:19:44.445 --> 00:19:48.445 like, we, we see, you get this idea, you're like, Hey, this is a problem. 00:19:48.515 --> 00:19:49.445 It's really interesting. 00:19:49.585 --> 00:19:50.805 I'm learning all these cool things. 00:19:50.925 --> 00:19:53.685 I plugged in all these cool SaaS's into the, into my product. 00:19:54.045 --> 00:19:54.335 Raph: Yeah. 00:19:54.655 --> 00:19:56.365 Sam: And then initial traction even, right? 00:19:56.415 --> 00:19:58.275 Hey, a couple people are using this, it's great. 00:19:58.655 --> 00:20:01.835 And then for whatever reason you hit a wall, maybe you have life circumstances 00:20:01.835 --> 00:20:05.995 that change, oh, I'm getting married, I'm moving to X, Y, Z, Zed for two years. 00:20:06.205 --> 00:20:07.155 Can't keep working on this. 00:20:07.875 --> 00:20:08.595 Microsoft gave me an offer. 00:20:08.635 --> 00:20:09.675 I can't refuse, whatever. 00:20:10.295 --> 00:20:11.635 And it dies, right? 00:20:11.815 --> 00:20:14.555 And, but like all of that, that has highs and lows. 00:20:14.555 --> 00:20:18.785 There's a lot of peaks, a lot of valleys and support services, if we're being 00:20:19.105 --> 00:20:23.105 negative on a negative day, I can just be like, I've seen this movie before. 00:20:23.265 --> 00:20:26.825 But that's not a very nice support service if no, they're not like, 00:20:26.825 --> 00:20:28.665 you wanna work with people that are as enthused as you are. 00:20:28.935 --> 00:20:29.225 Raph: Yeah. 00:20:29.805 --> 00:20:34.025 Sam: But the reality is when on those down and on those lows, 00:20:34.445 --> 00:20:36.265 you might feel low, right? 00:20:36.525 --> 00:20:39.705 But you feel low once or twice, or depending on how many products you 00:20:39.705 --> 00:20:40.785 make, you feel low that many times. 00:20:40.995 --> 00:20:41.285 Raph: Yeah. 00:20:41.685 --> 00:20:43.285 Sam: I will be working with a hundred different 00:20:43.325 --> 00:20:43.945 Raph: Oh man. 00:20:44.095 --> 00:20:45.025 Yeah, I hadn't 00:20:45.055 --> 00:20:47.515 Sam: If it's 50 lows every single time, 00:20:48.205 --> 00:20:48.425 Raph: God. 00:20:48.735 --> 00:20:49.025 Yeah, 00:20:49.735 --> 00:20:51.395 Sam: I'm gonna go outta my mind depressed. 00:20:51.445 --> 00:20:51.735 Raph: Yeah. 00:20:51.800 --> 00:20:54.140 Sam: And that's if I'm at maximum empathy 00:20:54.385 --> 00:20:54.675 Raph: yeah. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:58.750 Sam: maximum I really want this to work for you and so the healthy balance that, 00:20:58.750 --> 00:21:03.070 that my team and I have are forever continuing to try and work on is that 00:21:03.290 --> 00:21:06.660 how do we have the right amount of excitement for our founders when they 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:12.433 find initial success or that moments, but also not let the lows kick us in the nuts. 00:21:12.833 --> 00:21:14.903 Which they both are bound to happen, right? 00:21:15.553 --> 00:21:17.223 And so that is the tough part. 00:21:17.223 --> 00:21:20.740 And why, honestly when I talk about like having worked at launch for nine 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:24.280 years, people are generally surprised now because most folks in my position 00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:25.680 do not stay that long at one place. 00:21:26.365 --> 00:21:29.095 Raph: That, yeah, it does sound potentially exhausting. 00:21:29.485 --> 00:21:32.615 Also, I guess like exciting if got 50 lows, but you also 00:21:32.615 --> 00:21:33.975 have 50 highs, hopefully. 00:21:34.375 --> 00:21:36.405 Sam: It just depends on what's your latest thing, 00:21:36.685 --> 00:21:37.145 Raph: But yeah, 00:21:37.325 --> 00:21:41.325 Sam: depending on when you ask me like, some, something could be really exciting 00:21:41.345 --> 00:21:42.845 or something could be really down 00:21:43.290 --> 00:21:43.580 Raph: yeah, 00:21:44.105 --> 00:21:47.685 Sam: but I think to some degree, like you have to have a little 00:21:47.685 --> 00:21:49.365 bit of schizophrenia too, right? 00:21:49.445 --> 00:21:50.995 Again, I'm using this very loosely. 00:21:51.015 --> 00:21:51.755 I'm not trying to 00:21:52.370 --> 00:21:52.660 Raph: Yeah. 00:21:52.710 --> 00:21:54.590 Sam: Diminish medical conditions and things like that. 00:21:54.730 --> 00:21:59.210 But one, one end, I'll be talking about tech and talking to a company about, how 00:21:59.210 --> 00:22:00.890 to help the next generation of children. 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:05.290 Next thing I'll be talking to someone who had a product in Medicare and how to 00:22:05.290 --> 00:22:09.610 have people die honorably and, at peace and there's tech to support them with 00:22:09.610 --> 00:22:14.380 their last days . And so you jump around from place to place really quickly and 00:22:14.520 --> 00:22:18.100 all have their part in the world and all have their own version of meaning. 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:18.970 Raph: Yeah. 00:22:19.715 --> 00:22:21.735 Sam: but they're no way related to each other. 00:22:22.350 --> 00:22:22.570 Raph: Yep. 00:22:22.750 --> 00:22:23.930 Sounds like a wild ride. 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:31.190 Okay, so last little thing we're gonna wrap this up with, what is one small 00:22:31.190 --> 00:22:36.820 tech product, like a, a Google Docs or like a HubSpot, or even at this point I'm 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:38.730 gonna call Thinkific a big tech product. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:44.650 Yeah what's a neat small tech product that has significantly impacted 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.650 your life, the way you do things. 00:22:46.930 --> 00:22:47.370 I don't know. 00:22:47.370 --> 00:22:49.690 Something that's been good for you, 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:52.720 Sam: So you mean I can't say notion, here's my referral code 00:22:53.520 --> 00:22:53.810 Raph: Yeah. 00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.060 No. 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:56.710 Sam: What if I threw a curve ball and said notion Anyway? 00:22:57.330 --> 00:23:00.550 You know what's funny is don't use notion 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:04.910 Raph: You just want them, those sweet referral dollars from our 12 listeners 00:23:05.085 --> 00:23:05.375 Sam: yeah. 00:23:05.775 --> 00:23:09.335 I don't even know the, my referral code at this rate, but the tool 00:23:09.335 --> 00:23:11.845 that I was gonna mention is as you start out on your products, 00:23:11.865 --> 00:23:12.155 Raph: Yeah. 00:23:12.370 --> 00:23:15.070 Sam: Here's a persona that I'm imagining folks like listening 00:23:15.070 --> 00:23:16.070 to this might be on, right? 00:23:16.170 --> 00:23:20.020 Some of them will be working part full-time on their product, and so they 00:23:20.020 --> 00:23:21.450 have their own company like Raf, right? 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:26.780 Some of them will, maybe they do some consultants, some services maybe they 00:23:26.780 --> 00:23:28.700 have some things in the background. 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:32.840 They're working on top of their full-time job And then there's gonna be 00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:34.320 some that are just full-time working. 00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:35.360 Some they're enthusiasts. 00:23:35.550 --> 00:23:35.840 Raph: yeah. 00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:35.960 Yep. 00:23:36.215 --> 00:23:39.295 Sam: I'd say one of the first things that happens when someone creates a 00:23:39.295 --> 00:23:42.335 company, it's probably shouldn't be the first thing that happens, but we 00:23:42.335 --> 00:23:45.055 all know it happens, is they'll go buy a domain name, they'll get their own 00:23:45.145 --> 00:23:49.415 inbox, they'll go raf@newcompany.com and go Look at this, my shiny new email. 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:51.780 Raph: I feel called out 00:23:51.830 --> 00:23:53.190 Sam: I've done that more than a couple times. 00:23:53.330 --> 00:23:54.990 So you're not the only guilty one here. 00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:58.150 And then of course you start to take meetings or you start to have some 00:23:58.150 --> 00:24:00.830 of those cold calls that we talked about and all that kind of stuff. 00:24:00.890 --> 00:24:05.030 And so for me, like the tool that I've talked about definitely in, in our launch 00:24:05.170 --> 00:24:08.390 we have this series called Tool Time, where we share different tools within it. 00:24:08.970 --> 00:24:11.310 It's called Cron, so that's CRON. 00:24:11.815 --> 00:24:15.515 But I'm not actually promoting Cron 'cause I think there's other, it's a 00:24:15.635 --> 00:24:17.405 calendar app that's owned by Notion. 00:24:17.405 --> 00:24:20.325 Now they got acquired by Notion, so technically I'm saying notion. 00:24:20.725 --> 00:24:21.015 Raph: Okay. 00:24:21.215 --> 00:24:21.495 I see. 00:24:21.655 --> 00:24:21.935 I see. 00:24:22.005 --> 00:24:22.295 Yeah. 00:24:22.570 --> 00:24:24.790 Sam: but I don't care about the notes part at all. 00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:26.760 I think they're gonna have some integrations in the long run. 00:24:26.820 --> 00:24:29.720 So if you're already using Notion, I think it's a no brainer to use CRON. 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:33.040 But even within CRON, like it to me is just another calendar. 00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:35.440 So really it's which interface you prefer and all that kind of stuff. 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:39.960 The key feature that I wanna highlight is this one little feature that 00:24:40.040 --> 00:24:43.450 I have no idea what they call it, but now I can't live without it. 00:24:43.510 --> 00:24:47.920 And what happens is when you start a new project . You'll probably still have 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:50.800 a personal email, which is what you do when you go to Safeway and they ask you 00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:52.200 for your email to, to get the receipt. 00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:56.360 You'll have your work email at Microsoft or Apple or wherever the heck it is. 00:24:56.360 --> 00:25:00.280 You work and you have that inbox, and both of those will have calendars. 00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:03.080 And then now you're gonna have another calendar for this new venture with this 00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:04.680 new email that, that you just created. 00:25:05.130 --> 00:25:09.380 They have this one really nifty feature where if I book a call with 00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:13.520 RAF on my new company, it blocks off the time on my other calendars. 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:15.740 Raph: Oh, that is really practical. 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:16.430 Sam: Yeah. 00:25:16.610 --> 00:25:20.850 And so it's just that one feature, like I use it in CRON. 00:25:20.870 --> 00:25:23.430 Maybe you have another calendar app that uses it, and that's fine. 00:25:23.430 --> 00:25:24.550 Don't move to CRON, whatever. 00:25:24.830 --> 00:25:25.120 Raph: Yeah, 00:25:25.250 --> 00:25:26.990 Sam: But that has been a life changer. 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.120 Raph: that's too late. 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.880 I just signed up. 00:25:29.280 --> 00:25:29.680 Sam: It's fine. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.560 Just use it for that. 00:25:31.260 --> 00:25:31.480 Raph: Yep. 00:25:31.930 --> 00:25:34.470 Sam: And like really what it ends up being is like maybe you guys 00:25:34.470 --> 00:25:37.310 have kids or whatever and it's okay, I have to pick up the kids 00:25:37.330 --> 00:25:39.310 for 15 minutes from three to 50 15. 00:25:39.870 --> 00:25:42.550 I don't really wanna put that on my work calendar because 00:25:42.550 --> 00:25:44.110 that seems like kind of stupid. 00:25:44.730 --> 00:25:48.100 so what you do is you put pick up kids on your home calendar. 00:25:48.320 --> 00:25:49.140 On your work calendar. 00:25:49.190 --> 00:25:49.860 It'll say busy. 00:25:50.545 --> 00:25:50.835 Raph: Yeah. 00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:54.460 Sam: And that makes sure, because we all have Calendly and different things out 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:58.290 there that, like people can just sign up and book a meeting with me randomly, and I 00:25:58.290 --> 00:25:59.810 may not even know until I check it later. 00:26:00.470 --> 00:26:04.040 This allows those block offs to be actually blocked off. 00:26:04.490 --> 00:26:07.790 That aligns, that allows you to separate your work from your life in a way. 00:26:08.170 --> 00:26:11.430 But we all live in the same 24 hour like time sphere. 00:26:11.513 --> 00:26:13.853 So at the end of the day, if I'm doing something at three, I can't 00:26:13.853 --> 00:26:14.853 be doing something else at three. 00:26:15.263 --> 00:26:16.083 Or I shouldn't be 00:26:16.563 --> 00:26:16.853 Raph: Yeah 00:26:17.293 --> 00:26:18.813 Sam: so that, that's my key tip. 00:26:18.813 --> 00:26:19.893 Hopefully it's helpful. 00:26:20.453 --> 00:26:20.933 Raph: I love it. 00:26:20.953 --> 00:26:24.413 That's I literally just signed up while you were talking about it. 00:26:24.653 --> 00:26:28.973 'cause I was like, that is something that I have run into so often between 00:26:29.003 --> 00:26:31.333 like my personal and professional emails. 00:26:31.753 --> 00:26:33.123 That is fantastic. 00:26:33.573 --> 00:26:36.273 Sam: My wife signed up for CRON, just uses that feature. 00:26:36.373 --> 00:26:37.553 She never uses CRON 00:26:37.763 --> 00:26:40.013 Raph: Yeah, I was actually gonna ask, is it just kinda like a set 00:26:40.013 --> 00:26:41.133 it and forget it sort of thing? 00:26:41.133 --> 00:26:43.533 Like you set it up once and then you just kinda Yeah, 00:26:43.743 --> 00:26:44.033 Sam: Yeah. 00:26:44.523 --> 00:26:44.813 Raph: that 00:26:44.913 --> 00:26:45.133 is, 00:26:45.273 --> 00:26:45.473 Sam: breaks 00:26:46.003 --> 00:26:46.293 Raph: yeah. 00:26:46.693 --> 00:26:47.863 . That is fantastic. 00:26:48.403 --> 00:26:48.693 Cool. 00:26:48.693 --> 00:26:49.133 Awesome. 00:26:49.233 --> 00:26:52.343 Thank you so much for being on the podcast. 00:26:53.033 --> 00:26:55.683 Do you wanna plug, launch or plug something else or? 00:26:55.693 --> 00:26:55.983 Sam: Sure. 00:26:55.983 --> 00:26:56.263 Yeah. 00:26:56.283 --> 00:26:58.823 If you are working on a startup, feel free, we're friendly. 00:26:59.013 --> 00:26:59.903 Feel free to chat us. 00:26:59.903 --> 00:27:02.063 Uh, You can email me at sam@launchacademy.ca You 00:27:02.063 --> 00:27:03.023 can find me on Twitter. 00:27:03.063 --> 00:27:03.303 I think. 00:27:03.383 --> 00:27:07.213 I think our company, Twitter's Launch Academy HQ on pretty 00:27:07.213 --> 00:27:08.213 much every single platform. 00:27:08.373 --> 00:27:09.093 I think we're on all of them. 00:27:09.093 --> 00:27:12.483 If we're not on a platform email me and tell me we're not on that platform. 00:27:12.883 --> 00:27:13.663 and we'll go from there. 00:27:14.248 --> 00:27:14.738 Raph: Awesome. 00:27:15.148 --> 00:27:18.318 This has been another episode of The Small Tech Podcast. 00:27:18.488 --> 00:27:19.718 First one with a guest. 00:27:19.888 --> 00:27:25.095 Thanks to the amazing Sam Chan for being on board and, and chatting , with me, 00:27:25.712 --> 00:27:30.565 building small tech products and we all want to do something good in the world. 00:27:30.665 --> 00:27:35.445 So go out there and build something good folks, I will see you in the next episode. 00:27:35.825 --> 00:27:36.245 See ya. 00:27:36.645 --> 00:27:36.865 Sam: Bye.