In this episode, host Kevin Griffin sits down with Tessa Kriesel to discuss her journey from being laid off at Snap to becoming a successful self-employed consultant in the developer relations (DevRel) space. Tessa shares her experience dealing with an unexpected job loss and navigating the challenges of finding her next steps. She elaborates on leveraging her network, the importance of super fans, and various revenue streams, including consulting, content creation, and sponsorships. Tessa also highlights the value of hiring a business coach early and the benefits of an open-handed approach to giving. Join this inspiring conversation to learn how to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and success.

Tessa on Twitter: https://x.com/tessak22
Tessa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessak22/
Built For Devs https://www.builtfor.dev/

00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Today's Special Guest
02:15 Tessa's Journey: From Snap to Self-Employment
03:21 Navigating Career Changes: The Layoff from Snap
07:15 The Path to Self-Employment: Strategies and Realizations
24:02 Leveraging Networks and Skills for Success
29:57 Leveraging Networks for Business Growth
31:11 Exploring Affiliate Marketing and Referral Programs
34:28 Content Creation: Strategies and Tools

36:56 Maximizing Revenue Streams and Efficiency

49:03 The Power of Coaching and Community in Business

Creators & Guests

• Kevin Griffin - Host
• Tessa Kriesel - Guest

In this episode, host Kevin Griffin addresses a question from his friend Sean regarding whether to opt for errors and omissions insurance or general liability insurance, the process of obtaining them, and their cost. The discussion covers the significance of insurance for consultants, freelancers, and contractors to mitigate risks like lawsuits for professional mistakes. Kevin elaborates on general liability and professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance, sharing personal experiences with client requirements and the aftermath of a challenging project. Additionally, the host recommends using techinsurance.com to find insurance quotes and concludes by emphasizing the importance of protecting one's business and personal assets.

Insurance: techinsurance.com

00:00 Introduction to Insurance Queries

00:26 The Basics of Insurance for Freelancers

02:08 Understanding General Liability and Professional Liability

03:20 The Importance of Errors and Omissions Insurance

05:27 Real-World Insurance Requirements and Negotiations

07:18 The Cost of Insurance and Its Value

07:57 A Personal Client Experience and the Safety Net of Insurance

11:55 How to Acquire Insurance for Technical Consulting

13:25 Conclusion and Invitation to Join the Community

This conversation with Clark Sell, founder of THAT Conference, delves into the intricacies of organizing community-driven tech conferences. Clark shares his journey from working in the tech industry to starting and running THAT Conference, along with another company called Unspecified. The discussion covers the challenges and changes in conference organization post-pandemic, including financial hurdles and attendee engagement. Through his story, listeners gain insight into the dedication required to run successful community events and the impact of such gatherings on personal and professional growth.

00:00 Opening and Guest Introduction

00:12 Conference Experiences and Accolades

01:56 Clark Sell: Beyond Conference Organizing

04:33 The Genesis of 'That Conference'

08:02 Navigating the First Event's Financial Challenges

10:55 The Intricacies of Conference Planning and Venue Negotiation

15:15 Sponsorships, Ticket Sales, and Financial Realities

24:58 Expanding to Texas: A New Frontier

27:58 The Unique Challenges of Event Planning

28:17 Innovating the Event Experience with Custom Tech

33:11 Exploring the Personal Journey: From Microsoft to Entrepreneurship

37:57 Navigating the Pandemic: Challenges and Adaptations

40:24 Envisioning the Future of Community Events

45:57 The Value of Community Conferences: A Call to Support

Creators & Guests

• Kevin Griffin - Host
• Clark Sell - Guest

In this episode of Multithreaded Income, host Kevin Griffin focuses on utilizing a Master Service Agreement (MSA) for freelancers and consultants, especially when dealing with clients. Kevin shares his experience and insights on why having an MSA is crucial for outlining the scope of work, setting expectations, and protecting both parties in a professional engagement. He discusses various sections of the MSA, including the statement of work, warranties, fees and payment, intellectual property ownership, term and termination, handling disputes and governing law. Kevin emphasizes the necessity of working with a lawyer to ensure that the MSA is legally solid and tailored to specific needs. He touches on the process of negotiating terms through redlining. The episode intends to provide listeners, including those new to freelancing or consulting like his friend Sean, valuable information on creating and managing contracts effectively.

00:00 Questions from my friend, Sean

00:37 The Importance of Master Service Agreements

01:37 Breaking Down the Master Service Agreement

02:18 Key Sections of the MSA Explained

07:13 Intellectual Property and Termination Clauses

10:59 Navigating Legalities and Client Negotiations

12:48 Final Thoughts and Discord Invitation

Creators & Guests

• Kevin Griffin - Host

In this episode, host Kevin Griffin catches up with his old friend and special guest, Jamie Wright. They discuss their accidental meeting at THAT Conference in Austin and Jamie's Kalahari World Tour. The conversation then shifts to Jamie's experience and philosophy around creating multithreaded income through freelancing, consulting, and side projects. Jamie shares his journey from being employed to embracing freelancing since 2006, exploring employability challenges, venturing into SaaS, and dabbling in creating chatbots and productivity tools. He emphasizes the importance of working on projects to generate income. He reflects on the challenges of balancing consulting work with pursuing product development. Jamie recounts his experience acquiring and reviving the Kyber Slack app in his SaaS endeavors, discussing the transition and his strategy moving forward. Additionally, they touch on Jamie's past projects, failures, and successes in software development and the importance of freedom and enjoyment in work. The conversation concludes with insights on the value of trying new things, ignoring conventional 'expert' advice, and finding joy in the journey of creation.

Follow Jamie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwright

Follow Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brilliantfantastic/

Tatsu: https://tatsu.io/

Kyber: https://kyber.me/

Creators & Guests

• Kevin Griffin - Host
• Jamie - Guest

In this episode of Multithreaded Income, host Kevin Griffin is joined by Michael Rollins to discuss various topics, including the challenges and benefits of working from home, the concept of shedquarters for maintaining work-life balance, and navigating career transitions towards self-employment. Michael shares his journey from attempting to become a successful YouTuber to cofounding Engine Room Media, a company aimed at helping creators become better business persons. The conversation also covers the importance of having a diversified income, especially for creators reliant on platforms like TikTok, which face uncertainties. Additionally, Michael provides insights into financial planning, including dealing with unexpected unemployment, the pitfalls of debt, and the importance of not solely relying on traditional employment for income. The dialogue emphasizes building a network, not burning bridges, and exploring non-traditional paths to achieve financial freedom and happiness.

Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rollinsmichael/

Follow Michael on Instagram https://instagram.com/rollinsio

Engine Room Media: https://www.engineroommedia.com

In this podcast episode, host Kevin Griffin interviews Lukas Hermann, the founder of StageTimer.io, a web-based countdown timer software for video production and event organization. Lukas discusses his journey from being a developer in a startup to creating StageTimer as a side project, driven by the desire to solve a simple problem he observed in the event production industry. Initially intended as a learning experience, StageTimer grew into a viable product, earning significant monthly recurring revenue. Lukas shares insights on the importance of customer feedback, the challenges of working full-time on a personal project, and his strategies for growth, including SEO and engaging directly with the community. Additionally, he touches on the impact of choosing practical problems to solve, the misconceptions about needing a sizeable social following for success, and the value of starting simple. The discussion also covers Lukas's experiences with previous projects, advice for developers looking to launch their products, and the plans for StageTimer.

00:00 Welcome to the Show: A Special Guest from Deutschland

00:54 The Language Barrier: Navigating Pronunciation and Cultural Differences

02:35 The Genesis of Stage Timer: From Idea to Initial Development

08:13 Launching and Growing Stage Timer: Strategies and Customer Feedback

18:45 SEO and Content Strategy: Targeting a Niche Audience

20:10 Adapting to Customer Needs: The Evolution of Stage Timer

23:26 The Journey from Side Project to Full-Time Passion

25:01 The Leap of Faith: Going All-In on Stage Timer

26:34 Navigating the Challenges of Full-Time Entrepreneurship

27:59 Building a Support Network and Finding Work-Life Balance

30:21 Expanding the Team and Planning for the Future

33:11 Learning from Failures and Embracing Minimalism

38:57 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and the Importance of Community

Lukas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_lhermann

Lukas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-hermann/

https://stagetimer.io

https://lukashermann.dev

In this solo podcast episode, host Kevin Griffin shares personal experiences and insights about the importance of taking time off from work while detailing his current two-week vacation in Italy with their family. He discusses exploring various cities, including Venice, Florence, and Rome. He emphasizes the significance of stepping away from work to prevent burnout and improve mental health. The host also discusses feedback from the Multithreaded Income (MTI) community on vacation habits, the challenges of taking time off, especially for freelancers and independent consultants, and strategies for planning vacations. Quality time away from work is essential for personal well-being and better work performance.

00:00 Introduction and Solo Show Explanation

00:16 My Vacation to Italy

00:57 The Importance of Taking Time Off

01:44 The Dangers of Overworking

02:38 The Benefits of Taking Breaks

03:46 Community Responses on Vacation Frequency

05:56 The Challenges of Taking Time Off

09:06 Planning for Time Off

11:40 How to Spend Your Time Off

13:39 Conclusion and Call to Action

14:24 Outro and Podcast Wrap-up

Creators & Guests

• Kevin Griffin - Host