EP22: Get some guts
Justin is trying to build and launch a product every 7 days.
This is the mid-week check-up: I had to do some hard stuff and actually call my customers, and hear what they thought of my product.
This week's project: Product People Club
Product People Club is a membership site for solopreneurs: people making their own stuff, by themselves.
Here’s the story: 2 years ago, I was fed up. I wanted to launch and validate something really quickly. So I put up a landing page for a chat room for entrepreneurs. I capped it at 10 members, and decided I’d charge $10 a month.
When I posted about it in Hacker News, it sold out in 30 minutes. The next thing I knew I had a waiting list of 200-300 people wanting to get in.
When I posted about it in Hacker News, it sold out in 30 minutes. The next thing I knew I had a waiting list of 200-300 people wanting to get in.
By the 5th month, I was making about $1,100 a month with the community.
Even better, early members started launching things and becoming successful:
- Ryan Hoover of Product Hunt was one.
- Samuel Hulick of Useronboard.com was another.
But I always felt like ProductPeople.club wasn’t a “big enough” idea. But, I was talking with Adam Clark about this today. And I realized, that a big reason I haven't promoted it more, is that I'm scared.
So, I decided to call one of my customers, Josh Doody, and ask him why he joined. He gave me a complete timeline of when he joined, and what his initial impression was.
My job this week is to talk to as many customers as I can, and figure out what job they're hiring Product People Club to do.
Show notes
- Check out Josh Doody's book: Take Control of Your Career
- Check out Adam Clark's podcast: The Gently Mad
- Thanks to Josh Michael and My Coffee Pub for sending me the coffee package!
- Follow me on Twitter: @mijustin
- Rate and review the show
- Join the newsletter
- Cover image by Hey Paul Studios
Podcast hosting provided by Transistor.fm.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
Update from 2021: A lot has happened since I recorded these episodes: I launched a podcast hosting company, Transistor.fm, with my friend Jon Buda! If you want to hear what I'm up to now go to transistor.fm/justin.
Creators and Guests
![Justin Jackson](https://img.transistor.fm/T2Kx9sa90eq0DeLL3g1sVl6n_ijunDgQcmZRzdrgrLw/rs:fill:400:400:1/q:60/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9wZXJz/b24vNGUxOWY3Y2Et/NDZkZi00NWVkLWJk/MjAtZTZlODUyYzIw/NzVhLzE2NjYyOTUy/MjYtaW1hZ2UuanBn.webp)
Host
Justin Jackson
⚡ Interested in bootstrapping, podcasting, calm companies, business ethics🎙️ Co-founder of @transistorfm (podcast hosting)
![EP22: Get some guts](https://img.transistor.fm/DMuoWfCCGTsUosLbaF5m7VQiZtWMStOguJDa4m_16z8/rs:fill:800:800:1/q:60/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lcGlz/b2RlLzQzMTgvMTUz/NDI3NjI1Ny1hcnR3/b3JrLmpwZw.webp)