No Followers Podcast: for Inventors, Builders, Entrepreneurs

Hosted by No Followers

Business EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

124

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Digestible tidbits of practical application for entrepreneurs, inventors, and builders. Think of it as a condensed audio version of The First Strike Incubator, about 15-20 minutes The podcast is part of the First Strike Incubator program in the Albany, NY Capital Region. These are discussions and best practices from real world experience. With sponsorable product placement moments, you can get unique & original content for your business, coming from a team that applies unique brand strategies, development & solutions. Sponsor This Podcast: https://chrisjonesmedia.com/no-followers-podcast

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202620 min

DO YOU REALLY NEED A WEBSITE?

A very controversial discussion that is from our actual experiences.DO YOU REALLY NEED A WEBSITE?Or Are You Just Following the Crowd? Learn how to make that decision from your markets & clients.With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel and here on LinkedIn.What is your goal for the website?1:39 A website is like a living document. It takes work to maintain.1:58 Your website should be driving users to something.2:44 Why are we talking about this? It is a common topic with new incubator members.3:13 What if your actual company name domain is already taken? 4:11 Fabbro Industries web strategy.5:26 EDA Funding.6:24 If you can't put up relevant, cogent information about what you're doing, why have a website?6:35 What is your message and target market?7:29 Triggers, calls to action, SEO and the resources you have.8:07 Sometimes having a website does you a disservice.8:20 Know what channels your customers buy from.8:50 Don't just automatically assume you need a website.9:23 I know my market, so I took down my websites and doubled down on social media.10:20 You have to be an expert about your own company. 10:43 I don't sell on Etsy because I feel it would dilute my particular brand.12:16 Do your research for your particular product and market.12:31 Our products sell better in person because they are heirloom quality.13:43 Use proper intel to know your market.13:56 You must do your research specific to your own products and goals.14:34 Theories and books are great, but they are not 100% applicable to each specific case.15:03 One of our members came in with all the buzzwords but didn't know how to apply them.15:27 The Chinese restaurant we use doesn't have a website.15:43 Try it, test it, listen to the market and be willing to change.16:02 Know your business model and what your customers value and how to provide that value.16:23 Have the right resources at the right time to execute your web strategy.16:56 What is the journey you are taking your customers on?17:23 Observe your market first to see where you fit.17:53 It can pay off 10-fold to have your strategy properly mapped out.18:40 Founders and inventors can get frustrated by a lack of quick progress.19:07 Don't buy the hype, buy the journey, and other useful cliches.19:34 Listen to the market research and filter the information.

June 8, 202618 min

"FREE" is NOT always GOOD.

"FREE" is NOT always GOOD.The Hidden Cost of “Free” — And Why It’s Killing Your BusinessFree tools, free advice, free labor — they all cost really.This episode exposes the real cost of “free” and why serious operators invest instead of bargain‑hunt and why offering free is a loser game.With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel You need to understand your cost structure.2:05 Other incubators are not really free. Someone is paying and it's usually from tax dollars.3:16 If the product is developed for free, you have no idea of future costs.3:55 Where is the shared risk?4:45 Most people who reach out expect everything to be free.5:06 Nothing is ever really "free".5:50 Our knowledge and work have value.6:30 It's not a business model to expect everything for free.7:10 Our job is to help you take your product idea to market.7:53 Our culture of team is about always pushing each other to be better.8:15 I'm always happy to kick ideas around with people.8:41 You should pay for the skills and values people bring to the table.9:18 Business Relationships vs. Business Transactions.9:53 We want people who are fully committed to the process.10:33 You should not want the "free" model as a business owner.10:44 The value of your business at idea stage is zero.11:32 Building out a team is a different discussion.12:00 Your product will take years to bring to market and that is a long runway.12:50 I don't give up equity to cover expenses. Eventually you would run out of equity.13:35 At idea stage you only have an unvalidated product idea.14:25 Building a core team.15:07 We are a commercial shop and taking equity only is not a viable option.15:25 There are no guarantees. We frequently jump into the risk pool.15:44 Don't come here if you want free.16:01 Do your research on actual costs involved and have a proper budget to move forward.16:29 I can tell you every dollar I put into my business.16:40 How can you give equity when you don't have a proper valuation?17:57 Eggs and Fun Dip.

June 1, 202617 min

Process

'Process'With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel.

May 25, 202614 min

Inventory

Inventory: The Silent Truth About What’s Really Running Your BusinessMost founders think inventory is a spreadsheet. It’s actually a reflection of your business systems or lack of it.Inventory exposes your discipline, your cash flow reality and your operational blind spots.If you don’t know what you have, you don’t know what you can grow.With over 200 startups directly launched by this team, 100s of international firms grown and scaled, 400+ products/services commercialized plus mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow/subscribe on the In Focus Brands' YouTube Channel.

May 18, 202621 min

The "Secret" Formula

The Secret FormulaThere is no secret formula.1:45 It's hard work and takes a great team.2:05 T reads conspiracy theories.3:25 In my experience after 15 years, there is no secret formula.3:47 What gets the job done is good strategy, a good team, a clear direction and flexibility.4:11 They've done a great job of marketing the bs.4:47 Positively negative.5:15 There is no one size solution.5:33 It's a journey. How committed are you?5:59 If you learn something it is probably worth it, but it is not a solution for life.6:40 It's all just snake oil.7:09 Owning a business and taking an idea from start to finish is what I live for.7:20 Being realistic is not being negative.8:09 It's not a secret formula; it is just good business.8:34 Unicorns, rainbows and sprinkles.9:01 How badly do you want this?10:05 It's all consuming.10:42 It's the people that make it worthwhile.12:00 If you are doing this because you want to be rich, do something else.12:12 Why are you doing this?13:09 There is a good chance this is not going to work out. What is your plan b?14:00 The whole mentality of just believing in yourself is a bad plan.14:46 If this fails, will I be okay?15:24 What I do is linked to who I am.15:52 If you need to be sold a secret formula, you are on the wrong path.16:55 There is nothing wrong with not starting.17:30 You need clearly defined milestones.19:02 There is nothing wrong with having a lifestyle business where you are happy.19:21 What does success look like to you.19:56 The Secret Formula? Be true to yourself.20:21 Indian Larry.

May 11, 202619 min

Business Cliches & Bad Advice

BUSINESS CLICHÉS & BAD ADVICE from the NO FOLLOWERS PodcastThe Business Advice That’s Killing Your Momentum is All AroundThe internet, "experts', and AI are full of clichés that sound good and ruin companies. We break down the worst offenders and what real operators do instead.3rd week of 8 on learned business truths from the In Focus Brands' Portfolio and First Strike Incubator.

May 4, 202622 min

IDEA STAGE and Moving Forward

The Idea Stage: Stop Dreaming. Start Proving.Everyone has ideas. Operators have proof.We walk through how to move from “I think” to “I know,” and why momentum only starts when assumptions die.This episode of the NO FOLLOWERS Podcast walks through moving forward from the idea stage. With over 200 startups directly launched by this team and mentorship of over 5000 others; you should tune in, follow and subscribe. 2nd week of 8 on learned business truths from the In Focus Brands' Portfolio and First Strike Incubator.Podcast Video: IDEA STAGE and Moving Forward

April 27, 202621 min

Bite-Size Business Retrospective

Bite-Size Business RetrospectiveWhat 35+ Years of Building Companies Really Teaches You.A rapid‑fire breakdown of the patterns, mistakes and truths we’ve seen across hundreds of companies. Short lessons. Hard truths. Zero fluff.Start of a new themed series from ⁠NO FOLLOWERS Podcast⁠⁠Business Fundamentals⁠ & ⁠Business Realities⁠8 weeks of learned business truths from the ⁠In Focus Brands⁠' Portfolio and ⁠First Strike Incubator⁠.

April 20, 202627 min

Instant Traction Myth: LOUIS VUITTON

Everyone loves the story of the overnight success .Everyone wants instant traction. The myth gets louder the bigger you get.“ Just add more leads.” “Just hire more people.” "Use AI." “Just spend more on marketing... ” None of that is traction. That is noise disguised as progress. At scale, traction is not about doing more. It is doing less of the wrong things and more of the things that actually move revenue, retention and reputation. Traction at scale comes from: Systems that remove friction, not add layers.**Teams that are aligned, not just hired. Messaging that converts to inbound, relationships and sales. The truth: Scaling is: MATH, MESSAGE, MANAGEMENT repeated until it compounds. If you’re building for the long run, stop chasing the myth. Start studying the operators who built the reality.This is going to be another instant traction episode.1:26 I do like Sbarro Pizza.2:07 The World's Most Valuable Luxury Brand.2:36 Louis Vuitton.3:50 He left home at 13 and arrived in Paris at age 16.4:32 I'm not a mapmaker. I'm no cartographer.5:09 Why did it take him 3 years?5:39 You are destroying the French language.6:12 Louis didn't have MapQuest on his phone.7:00 He's not making packing boxes. He's making luggage.8:04 He was learning the trade and the industry.8:35 What is it Francie-Pants?9:16 At age 32 he was appointed official box maker to Eugenia, wife of Napoleon III.10:00 In 1854 he opened his own shop in Paris.11:00 His uvp was knowing how to make luggage to pack high fashions and fragile objects.11:27 In 1858 he introduced the rectangular shaped trunk.11:43 Did you say zoot case?12:20 Before this, trunks were dome shaped.13:16 Transportation was changing and there was more of a need for efficient packing.14:05 Locomotives democratized travel.14:19 Louis designed his luggage to be water and stain resistant.14:53 He's looking at trends and listening to the market and using that to design his products.15:38 Everything he is doing is very strategic.16:35 Another example of dedicating your entire life to what you are doing.17:45 I like his understanding of client habits.18:05 The Damier Pattern was created in 1883.18:30 Their success was not overnight. It was not instant.19:11 1892 Louis died. In 1893 the brand was introduced to America.19:40 1896 they created the LV monogram.19:53 Gaston Louis.20:34 Traditionally second or third generation businesses crater.20:55 Their network allowed them to get to the next level. 21:36 1987 they merged with Moet-Hennessey.22:52 We hear frequently that you just need "the one".23:15 Social Media and technology have created a different paradigm.23:55 Know what your uvp and value add is.25:11 He's the perfect example of an entrepreneur.25:56 It's not about Rolex or Louis Vuitton. It's about the fallacy of instant traction.26:55 We are different and live in reality. We are the anti-social media.

April 13, 202624 min

Instant Traction Myth: Dyson

Last Episode Drop on Business Relationships from the NO FOLLOWERS Podcast Themed Series: Dyson1:53 If you DM us, please follow us too.2:25 Another instant traction myth.2:42 Invented the Ballbarrow and Boat Launcher in the 1970s.5:20 It takes time to develop a quality product. 6:02 Vacuums lose suction from a layer of dust clogging the bag.6:44 Inspired by the centrifugal separator.7:58 Built a cardboard model and tested it.8:13 You may be working on one thing but be open to recognizing other opportunities.8:17 Listen to the market, find the problem and start small with a proof of concept.8:28 As creators we are also scientists and detectives looking at how things work.8:38 Dyson... Sir James Dyson.8:56 People often say that if the idea is so good someone else would have already done it.9:42 Network, funding, perseverance and having the right support system.10:59 In a shed behind his house he developed 5,127 prototypes. 11:21 It's very common for inventors and founders to get frustrated by a lack of progress.11:55 Know how your network comes into play.12:11 Rotork.13:19 Commercial success in Japan.14:29 "Say goodbye to the bag." A clear message of their unique value prop.14:48 A lot of listening to the market and iteration to find success.16:06 When major companies rejected his product, he opened Dyson Limited to make it himself.16:15 The alpha product, The Dual Cyclone Vacuum.17:03 They are true to their value of making digital electric motors.17:18 What is your strength? What is your uvp? Can you adapt into other products?17:33 It took a long time and that is the point.17:54 In our 3-phase process there can be no guarantees.19:06 "I made 5,127 prototypes of my vacuum before I got it right."19:25 You need emotional intelligence, the ability to withstand failure and to know when to stop.19:45 It's hard as a solo inventor to persevere, you need the power of a team.20:09 My product is my baby.20:54 I love the Dyson story.21:50 If you are an inventor working on an idea just keep going until you shouldn't anymore.22:03 Keep going but get honest feedback.22:34 You need to surround yourself with people that will tell you the honest truth.22:37 Sometimes at some point we do have to stop.22:40 It's not just grit. It's strategy, emotional intelligence and network.