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Eric Siu interviews Greg Isenberg, the CEO of Late Checkout, delving into the nuances of community building. Greg, a master in this domain, shares insights on fostering online communities for substantial growth. They explore the future of programming, the importance of design skills, and the power of social media. Greg also discusses the role of AI in entrepreneurship and the challenges of diversity and inclusion.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Greg Isenberg has built communities of various sizes, from dozens to millions of people.
06:24 - Greg Isenberg shares a story of paying for an expensive dinner as a teenager.
08:41 - Greg Isenberg recounts attending a party at a co-founder of PayPal's house.
10:02 - Greg Isenberg talks about his experience with StumbleUpon and how it led to the sale of his company.
12:19 - Greg Isenberg discusses his interest in AI and how it relates to his innovation agency, LCA.
14:44 - Greg Isenberg explains his approach to starting businesses as Twitter accounts or Discord communities.
16:49 - Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the trend of influencer-led agencies and the importance of going deep into a business rather than starting new ones.
18:25 - Greg Isenberg explains why solopreneurship may not work for everyone and the benefits of having a team.
20:28 - Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the challenges and potential success of hiring CEOs and GMs for businesses.
22:23 - Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the importance of experience and expertise in giving advice.
25:46 - Eric and Greg discuss their approach to coaching and supporting the businesses they invest in.
27:26 - Greg shares his perspective on the future of venture capital, emphasizing the value of adding more than just financing to startups.
29:51 - Eric highlights Greg's background in design and computer science and how it contributes to his approach to growth.
31:16 - Greg introduces his ACP funnel framework for building communities, starting with building an audience and then transitioning to a community.
33:53 - Greg Isenberg explains why most digital communities fail.
35:04 - Greg Isenberg compares building a community to building a religion and explains the need for a strong mission.
36:16 - Greg Isenberg highlights the opportunity to build a product or service for the 50% of Gen Z who feel disconnected.
38:41 - Eric Siu talks about the value of forums in communities like YPO and EO.
42:30 - Greg Isenberg emphasizes the importance of paying community managers well and recognizing their value.
45:06 - Importance of meeting potential CEOs and GMs in person.
48:16 - The power of DMs and reaching out to people you admire.
49:04 - Meeting one of his heroes, Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, through Twitter.
54:52 - Structuring compensation based on profitability
1:01:37 - Benefits of using School as a community platform
1:04:38 - Greg Isenberg has met Sam Ovens.
1:07:07 - Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg talk about the challenges of being a solopreneur.
1:09:26 - Eric Siu and Greg Isenberg discuss the importance of brand and design in standing out.
1:10:15 - Greg Isenberg emphasizes the importance of thinking like a designer in the age of AI
1:13:10 - Greg Isenberg advises against reading design books and instead encourages hands-on practice
1:15:41 - Greg Isenberg compares social media algorithms to a slot machine, acknowledging the role of luck
1:17:42 - Greg Isenberg shares his Twitter content creation process and the importance of genuine ideas
1:20:48 - Greg Isenberg spends a few thousand dollars on content
1:22:30 - Greg Isenberg spends 5 hours per week on writing
1:24:50 - Greg Isenberg shares thoughts on DEI and equal opportunity
1:31:06 - Greg Isenberg talks about diversity in his team
1:32:19 - Eric Siu asks Greg Isenberg about other ideas he's excited about
1:36:19 - Greg Isenberg shares his website and social media handles