Luke Svasti’s Post

Both Shortlist, and NinjaOutreach, were started with people I had never met in person, and also whom I had known for less than a week. Of course, this might come across as pretty reckless. Supposedly 65% of high-potential startups fail due to founder conflict. So, how can you commit to building and growing a business with someone you barely know? It's a fair question, and, I definitely had concerns at the time. But the alternative, which was to wait and try to find someone I did know better who wanted to join me seemed even riskier. Years later and I can finally say that, yes, there have been challenges, but for the most part if two reasonable people come together, with the right expectations, and complementary skills - it can work. In The Accidental Founder Series, which we launched recently at Shortlist, I write about this aspect of Shortlist's history (among others) in more depth. My goal is to provide varying perspectives that aren't the traditional narrative for starting and growing a business. https://lnkd.in/eria4pNc

#ThrowbackThursday #behindthescenes🎬 13 January 2020 we were creating content from the bed. No desk, no chair - just a vision and a plan. When you have a mission to build a business, there is nothing that will get in your way of achieving what you set out to achieve. Building a business is not an overnight phenomenon and there are lots of business lessons to be learnt along the way. You have to be prepared to evolve along this entrepreneurial revolution. You might end up back on the bed, or in your humble beginnings, but it's important to always have the MACRO VISION in mind. THE PLAN. THE VISION. That's how you don't break! The small steps along the way are supposed to help build character and teach us massive life-changing lessons (which are only life-changing if they apply the lessons and don't allow them to crush you). For all our small business start-ups, keep going, don't quit, no matter what THEY SAY or even when YOU want to give up, never never never even think of it!! Making a difference in the world, in your own life, is entirely up to you not giving up. We still dream of an office with our team in the same building, however maybe that never happens and remote working is the future, but all we know is our mission is to help brands, businesses and start-ups build an online presence in all realms of digital marketing. It doesn't matter when and how you start your business, it's all about the growth and impact your products, services, skills and talents have made! That's always been the mission and it's never changed. We are grateful to share our skill set with the world. Keep the dream alive, and don't stop working on your plan BUSINESS MAN! To the business owners, and dreamers with their desires knocking on their hearts telling them to start!! Let's do this! Happy Thursday #socialmediahubza #thirsty4successthursday

😅 Now that it feels like midnight at 5PM, I know the end of the year is coming in hot. Which tends to trigger a familiar thought like clockwork: what the f*** even happened this year?! and how is it almost [insert next year here]? If you're anything like me, you're sprinting through goals like the energizer bunny, and constantly chasing the high of achieving the next thing. Getting sh*t done is cool and all, but what does it all mean if you can't stop to appreciate the process or results? Today, I refuse to race past this BIG milestone and share it with everyone on LinkedIn instead 😏 (show me another platform where you're supposed to humblebrag about work stuff.) My awesome cofounders and I are spinning up our THIRD email newsletter brand called FounderIV, a free weekly email meant to serve founders and entrepreneurs looking to... ⌛ Reclaim 10+ hours a week to focus on what matters most. 💪 Become your best self physically, mentally, and emotionally. 🚀 Create thriving 7-figure businesses with double-digit growth YoY. And we promise we won't just tell you to sleep less to get there 🙅🏻♀️. So if you're a founder, biz owner or entrepreneur (or soon to be) — 👉 Sign up for the free newsletter here to get on our early-bird list: https://get.founderiv.com/ 🗓️ First issue drops on Thursday Dec 7th! P.S. If you made it to this line (and signed up for the newsletter already), you're a real one. 🙏 I appreciate you, and I'm always here to talk shop or discuss other important matters like whether it's ok to put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. Sean Kelly Andy Mackensen Richard Fendler #emailnewsletter #founders #entrepreneurmindset #founderjourney #newsletterlaunch #newslettermarketing

We can have video calls, messaging apps, emails, phone calls & all the tech in the world. Nothing can beat in-person conversations 😎 I realized this again during Pushstart's casual meet-up last week. It's always fun to interact with fellow young entrepreneurs, share ideas, & brainstorm about the present & the future. I wasn't exactly surprised, but was surely glad to see the will to achieve something exceptional among the people gathered there. And of course, the coffee and the food helped us to connect quite easily. That always works. 😄 It was a fun event and truly a great platform for networking with like-minded individuals from multiple industries. Here's to more such events inn the future! #networkingevent #brainstorming #networking

I've founded 3 businesses by the age of 27. I've worked with hundreds of founders. Before exits, after exits, the lot. Here's 7 uplifting surprises ⤵ 1. I'm able to help more people, faster ↳ Lots have taught me, I've learned, now I can help more 2. Billionaires are insecure, too ↳ I thought they'd be invincible. They're not 3. Most people think they're driving. They're not ↳ Their ego is driving. They're in the back seat 4. I'm going to die one day. I've got one shot at life ↳ I'm incredibly grateful for each day I get 5. It costs nothing to make someone else's day ↳ Give nothing but a smile. That's all it takes 6. The meaning of money has changed ↳ My view as founder: Spend faster = earn faster 7. Shhhhhh. Stop talking. This isn't about you. ↳ They don't want advice. They just want to be heard. Hope that helps 😃 -- Invitation ⤵ Tomorrow I'm throwing the Personal Branding Event of the year. Perfect for Ambitious Marketers. I've got a few tickets left - link in comments - apply in 17 seconds then keep an eye on your emails 😇

LinkedIn needs less of this: I won x amount of clients & generated X amount in revenue in 24 HOURS! Here’s how you can too…. And more; Here’s how you can hustle for 2+ years and still wake up feeling a little lost and confused every day. Truthfully, all this doom scrolling and reading about the overnight successes in my community makes entrepreneurship feel a bit like a limelight on moments of my failure. But then I remember… we’re all only posting our wins so it’s not really a fair fight. Let’s have more… I made x mistakes this week I struggled for revenue last month  I bailed on x networking calls this month So here’s my (honest) month so far No new email subscribers   3 quotes rejected  4th ad campaign flop But I’m still here 🙋♀️ What’s your month REALLY been like? Pic context; cuddles with my intern make a bad business day all that better 💕

I'm making a list, I'm checking it twice… As a salesperson juggling the hustle and a startup founder navigating the entrepreneurial maze, the holiday checklist seems never-ending. All the things to do before one switches off are quite overwhelming. Yes, the world will explode if I haven't done a Christmas Instagram post! Oh, to be able to let go...but then it's all part of this game. The combination of being a salesperson and starting my own business is a challenging one. As any salesperson will tell you, nothing kills a deal more than time. So an opportunity sitting in your inbox whilst you're chomping on a mince pie could easily be lost. And running a startup is like being in a perpetual brainstorming session. Even a simple sip of Baileys can trigger the next big idea for an upcoming event. It's a wild ride, but the exhilaration of creativity knows no bounds. Yet, with everyone posting about putting on their OOO, one can feel guilty about doing some work over the holidays. But each to their own. And sometimes instead of switching off, just dimming off is enough and can be the ultimate gift to oneself. May your holidays be filled with joy, successful deals and a sprinkle of spontaneous business brilliance! Cheers 🥂 PS - Peter Pan at The Palladium was brilliant!

Introducing the monthly SG Founders Shoutout! Join us monthly, on second Wednesday to introduce yourself and ask for help/ shoutout to someone who helped you on SG Founders Slack. Join us this Wednesday, 10th Jan at 3.30pm SGT on SG Founders slack! In 2020, Saptarshi Nath (Saps) had the vision of starting a safe space for entrepreneurs to ask question and fellowship with each other. Elise Yee Ling Tan and Saps joined forces and today, SG Founders Slack has grown to nearly 900 members! This year, we are inviting everyone back to slack. Because, together, we are stronger. Together, we can make a positive difference to each other's business. Be part of something bigger. This Wednesday, come to #general channel on slack and just send a message from 3pm SGT onwards: Introduce yourself in a sentence Ask for help! Or give a shoutout to someone who helped you. We can't wait to see everyone on Wednesday! Launch SG Founders Slack ➡️ SGFounders.slack.com

2 things I believe a founder should never fully delegate. 1. Website: this is the living-breathing face of your company. If you look at the website and don’t recognise your own baby, something has gone badly wrong. This is the best reflection of how your vision is understood internally, then projected to the market. 2. Social: want to grow your company LinkedIn page? Fine. But understand that your founder-brand is far more valuable than you realise, for far longer than you’d think. Customers LOVE founders. Be visible and maximise that boost for as long as possible. Do you this I’m impractical to suggest holding the reins on this a little longer?

🎉🏢 Happy National Small Business Day! 🏢🎉 Today, on May 10th, we join the chorus of celebration for small businesses everywhere! At The Machine Agency, we're not just observers; we're active participants in the small business community, working hand in hand with entrepreneurs to elevate their brands and drive growth. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and we're honored to play a role in their success. As a digital marketing agency, our mission is clear: to help small businesses thrive in the digital age. From crafting compelling brand stories to implementing strategic marketing campaigns, we're here to provide the tools and expertise needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of online commerce. At The Machine Agency, we specialize in growing brands' revenues on platforms like Amazon, Walmart.com, TikTok Shop, and beyond. Whether it's optimizing product listings to increase visibility, leveraging social media to engage with customers, or analyzing data to uncover new opportunities, we're committed to driving results for our clients. But our work goes beyond just boosting sales figures. We believe in the power of storytelling to connect with audiences on a deeper level. "Empowering small businesses isn't just a mission—it's our purpose. At The Machine Agency, we're not just growing brands; we're nurturing dreams and fueling the spirit of entrepreneurship." — Cash Riley Jr, CEO On this National Small Business Day, we want to express our gratitude to all the small business owners who trust us to help bring their visions to life. Your passion and dedication inspire us every day, and we're honored to be a part of your journey. So here's to you, the dreamers and doers, the innovators and risk-takers. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your story. Together, let's continue to build, grow, and thrive. Happy National Small Business Day! #SmallBusinessDay #SupportLocal #ShopSmall #TheMachineAgency #TheMachineNeverStops #TMA #NationalSmallBusinessDay #CashIsKing #Wow #Cash #Amazon #Walmart #TikTokShop #TikTok #eCommerceAgency #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness