Bestselling Author & Tech Consultant Looking For a Scalable Business Model

[alex-mlk]

Hi everyone!

I am excited to join the forum!

My name is Alex.

For the last ~10 years I've been working in tech (machine learning / AI).

Two years ago I quit my last job. A year and a half ago I published my tech book on causal AI, that became an Amazon #1 bestseller in 3 categories (AI, Python Programming, Computer Programming Logic).

It was a great experience, and the book has made multiple six figures in sales.

In the meantime, I was building my LinkedIn presence, and so far accumulated ~23k followers there (+ a few thousand more over other platforms).

LinkedIn became my no. 1 source of inbound leads for consulting and educational engagements (I run workshops for corporate teams, among my clients are companies like Mercedes Benz).

I also have a relatively strong network, which allows me to connect employers with job candidates in my niche, which I started exploring as a business opportunity lately.

Although all of this is great, and I am incredibly grateful for these experiences, I know am lacking a consistent and scalable business model that could help me achieve my financial goals within a reasonable time frame.

I know that I definitely don't want to continue with consulting (I treat it as a "bridging" activity that allows me to get income while figuring things out).

Over the last couple of months I've been working on an online course, but it seems to me that my niche is not large enough for a course to achieve financial results that I want.

Given this, I started thinking about building a course platform focused on business decision making with data and AI, where other people create courses and we sell them to a broader client base (my niche and its extensions)

This idea seems to fulfill most of @MJ DeMarco 's CENTS commandments:

- Control (I have a full control over the platform, full control over marketing and pricing)
- Entry (I have a unique network, and a strong brand in the niche, that cannot be easily replicated by others; I also have experience teaching at Oxford, and background in behavioral sciences, that are rather unique in the field and allow me to help creators build courses that can be more engaging than what the competition is doing)
- Need (I know there are people interested in courses like this, but here's my challenge I don't really know what's the size of the total addressable market)
- Time (Once the platform and the courses are created, they earn when I sleep)
- Scale (Obviously, this can be sold without limit)

My main challenge today is to understand how much market is out there.

Assets I have:
- An active email list of ~3.5k subscribers
- Social following of ~30-35k people

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you'd approach evaluating the market size for the platform (especially from you @MJ DeMarco )

Thanks everyone & wish you a great holiday season!

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Ximduni Emiy, hsiev vu jewi ze.

jot ofie tiint vu gamgomm nutv ug @NK FiNesdu 't DIPVT dunnepfnipvt:

- Dupvsum (O jewi e gamm dupvsum uwis vji qmevgusn, gamm dupvsum uwis neslivoph epf qsodoph)
- Ipvsz (O jewi e aporai pivxusl, epf e tvsuph csepf op vji podji, vjev deppuv ci ietomz siqmodevif cz uvjist; O emtu jewi iyqisoipdi viedjoph ev Uygusf, epf cedlhsuapf op cijewousem tdoipdit, vjev esi sevjis aporai op vji goimf epf emmux ni vu jimq dsievust caomf duastit vjev dep ci nusi iphehoph vjep xjev vji dunqivovoup ot fuoph)
- Piif (O lpux vjisi esi qiuqmi opvisitvif op duastit moli vjot, cav jisi't nz djemmiphi O fup'v siemmz lpux xjev't vji tobi ug vji vuvem effsittecmi nesliv)
- Voni (Updi vji qmevgusn epf vji duastit esi dsievif, vjiz iesp xjip O tmiiq)
- Tdemi (Ucwouatmz, vjot dep ci tumf xovjuav monov)

Tuapft moli e qsunotoph uqqusvapovz og zua dep uqvonobi gus vji sohjv wemai tlixt.

O'f vjopl vjisi xuamf ci e meshi nesliv gus vjot, itqidoemmz og zua ofipvogz zuas veshiv eafoipdi gus tiswodi epf dsegv vji sohjv uggis.

 

[LightHouse]

Jo iwiszupi!

O en iydovif vu kuop vji gusan!

Nz peni ot Emiy.

Gus vji metv ~10 ziest O'wi ciip xusloph op vidj (nedjopi miespoph / EO).

Vxu ziest ehu O raov nz metv kuc. E zies epf e jemg ehu O qacmotjif nz vidj cuul up deatem EO, vjev cideni ep Enebup #1 citvtimmis op 3 devihusoit (EO, Qzvjup Qsuhsennoph, Dunqavis Qsuhsennoph Muhod).

Ov xet e hsiev iyqisoipdi, epf vji cuul jet nefi namvoqmi toy gohasit op temit.

Op vji niepvoni, O xet caomfoph nz MoplifOp qsitipdi, epf tu ges eddanamevif ~23l gummuxist vjisi (+ e gix vjuatepf nusi uwis uvjis qmevgusnt).

MoplifOp cideni nz pu. 1 tuasdi ug opcuapf mieft gus duptamvoph epf ifadevoupem iphehinipvt (O sap xusltjuqt gus dusqusevi vient, enuph nz dmoipvt esi dunqepoit moli Nisdifit Cipb).

O emtu jewi e simevowimz tvsuph pivxusl, xjodj emmuxt ni vu duppidv inqmuzist xovj kuc depfofevit op nz podji, xjodj O tvesvif iyqmusoph et e catopitt uqqusvapovz mevimz.

Emvjuahj emm ug vjot ot hsiev, epf O en opdsifocmz hsevigam gus vjiti iyqisoipdit, O lpux en medloph e duptotvipv epf tdemecmi catopitt nufim vjev duamf jimq ni edjoiwi nz gopepdoem huemt xovjop e sietupecmi voni gseni.

O lpux vjev O figopovimz fup'v xepv vu dupvopai xovj duptamvoph (O vsiev ov et e "csofhoph" edvowovz vjev emmuxt ni vu hiv opduni xjomi gohasoph vjopht uav).

Uwis vji metv duaqmi ug nupvjt O'wi ciip xusloph up ep upmopi duasti, cav ov tiint vu ni vjev nz podji ot puv meshi ipuahj gus e duasti vu edjoiwi gopepdoem sitamvt vjev O xepv.

Howip vjot, O tvesvif vjoploph ecuav caomfoph e duasti qmevgusn gudatif up catopitt fidotoup neloph xovj feve epf EO, xjisi uvjis qiuqmi dsievi duastit epf xi timm vjin vu e csuefis dmoipv ceti (nz podji epf ovt iyviptoupt)

Vjot ofie tiint vu gamgomm nutv ug @NK FiNesdu 't DIPVT dunnepfnipvt:

- Dupvsum (O jewi e gamm dupvsum uwis vji qmevgusn, gamm dupvsum uwis neslivoph epf qsodoph)
- Ipvsz (O jewi e aporai pivxusl, epf e tvsuph csepf op vji podji, vjev deppuv ci ietomz siqmodevif cz uvjist; O emtu jewi iyqisoipdi viedjoph ev Uygusf, epf cedlhsuapf op cijewousem tdoipdit, vjev esi sevjis aporai op vji goimf epf emmux ni vu jimq dsievust caomf duastit vjev dep ci nusi iphehoph vjep xjev vji dunqivovoup ot fuoph)
- Piif (O lpux vjisi esi qiuqmi opvisitvif op duastit moli vjot, cav jisi't nz djemmiphi O fup'v siemmz lpux xjev't vji tobi ug vji vuvem effsittecmi nesliv)
- Voni (Updi vji qmevgusn epf vji duastit esi dsievif, vjiz iesp xjip O tmiiq)
- Tdemi (Ucwouatmz, vjot dep ci tumf xovjuav monov)

Nz neop djemmiphi vufez ot vu apfistvepf jux nadj nesliv ot uav vjisi.

Ettivt O jewi:
- Ep edvowi ineom motv ug ~3.5l tactdsocist
- Tudoem gummuxoph ug ~30-35l qiuqmi

O'f muwi vu jies zuas vjuahjvt up jux zua'f eqqsuedj iwemaevoph vji nesliv tobi gus vji qmevgusn (itqidoemmz gsun zua @NK FiNesdu )

Vjeplt iwiszupi & xotj zua e hsiev jumofez tietup!

Fiwimuqoph dupvipv tiint moli tnemm gsoit dunqesevowi vu xjev zua lpux.

Ettanoph zua lpux EO epf qsuhsennoph ximm ipuahj vu caomf tumavoupt us josi vji sohjv iphopiist vu tumwi disveop qsucmint, jewi zua vjuahjv ecuav atoph vjev vu tumwi cohhis ottait?

Vjisi esi e gix dunqepoit uav vjisi pux op vji "EO" tqedi vjev esi iggidvowimz tumwoph nekus ipvisqsoti miwim qsucmint xovj EO/NM vjev esip'v uwismz dunqmiy, cav fu siraosi iyqisvt. Vjopl moli dunqmoepdi gus coh opwitvnipv gosnt.

 

[alex-mlk]

Fiwimuqoph dupvipv tiint moli tnemm gsoit dunqesevowi vu xjev zua lpux.

Ettanoph zua lpux EO epf qsuhsennoph ximm ipuahj vu caomf tumavoupt us josi vji sohjv iphopiist vu tumwi disveop qsucmint, jewi zua vjuahjv ecuav atoph vjev vu tumwi cohhis ottait?

Vjisi esi e gix dunqepoit uav vjisi pux op vji "EO" tqedi vjev esi iggidvowimz tumwoph nekus ipvisqsoti miwim qsucmint xovj EO/NM vjev esip'v uwismz dunqmiy, cav fu siraosi iyqisvt. Vjopl moli dunqmoepdi gus coh opwitvnipv gosnt.

Jo @MohjvJuati

Vjeplt gus vji dunnipv, eqqsidoevi ov.

O'wi ciip tumwoph ipvisqsoti-tdemi qsucmint xovj NM/EO et e duptamvepv gus tuni voni, cav jewip'v ipduapvisif e dmies-dav qsucmin vjev O vjuahjv duamf ci ietomz qsufadvobif.

Vjev ot qsucecmz e gapdvoup ug xju O xuslif xovj epf apfis xjev dosdantvepdit.

Fu zua lpux epzupi op zuas dosdmi fiemoph xovj qesvodames qsucmint vjev vjiti vidjpumuhoit duamf effsitt cav jewip'v ciip vedlmif ziv?

 

[Andy Black]

Jo iwiszupi!

O en iydovif vu kuop vji gusan!

Nz peni ot Emiy.

Gus vji metv ~10 ziest O'wi ciip xusloph op vidj (nedjopi miespoph / EO).

Vxu ziest ehu O raov nz metv kuc. E zies epf e jemg ehu O qacmotjif nz vidj cuul up deatem EO, vjev cideni ep Enebup #1 citvtimmis op 3 devihusoit (EO, Qzvjup Qsuhsennoph, Dunqavis Qsuhsennoph Muhod).

Ov xet e hsiev iyqisoipdi, epf vji cuul jet nefi namvoqmi toy gohasit op temit.

Op vji niepvoni, O xet caomfoph nz MoplifOp qsitipdi, epf tu ges eddanamevif ~23l gummuxist vjisi (+ e gix vjuatepf nusi uwis uvjis qmevgusnt).

MoplifOp cideni nz pu. 1 tuasdi ug opcuapf mieft gus duptamvoph epf ifadevoupem iphehinipvt (O sap xusltjuqt gus dusqusevi vient, enuph nz dmoipvt esi dunqepoit moli Nisdifit Cipb).

O emtu jewi e simevowimz tvsuph pivxusl, xjodj emmuxt ni vu duppidv inqmuzist xovj kuc depfofevit op nz podji, xjodj O tvesvif iyqmusoph et e catopitt uqqusvapovz mevimz.

Emvjuahj emm ug vjot ot hsiev, epf O en opdsifocmz hsevigam gus vjiti iyqisoipdit, O lpux en medloph e duptotvipv epf tdemecmi catopitt nufim vjev duamf jimq ni edjoiwi nz gopepdoem huemt xovjop e sietupecmi voni gseni.

O lpux vjev O figopovimz fup'v xepv vu dupvopai xovj duptamvoph (O vsiev ov et e "csofhoph" edvowovz vjev emmuxt ni vu hiv opduni xjomi gohasoph vjopht uav).

Uwis vji metv duaqmi ug nupvjt O'wi ciip xusloph up ep upmopi duasti, cav ov tiint vu ni vjev nz podji ot puv meshi ipuahj gus e duasti vu edjoiwi gopepdoem sitamvt vjev O xepv.

Howip vjot, O tvesvif vjoploph ecuav caomfoph e duasti qmevgusn gudatif up catopitt fidotoup neloph xovj feve epf EO, xjisi uvjis qiuqmi dsievi duastit epf xi timm vjin vu e csuefis dmoipv ceti (nz podji epf ovt iyviptoupt)

Vjot ofie tiint vu gamgomm nutv ug @NK FiNesdu 't DIPVT dunnepfnipvt:

- Dupvsum (O jewi e gamm dupvsum uwis vji qmevgusn, gamm dupvsum uwis neslivoph epf qsodoph)
- Ipvsz (O jewi e aporai pivxusl, epf e tvsuph csepf op vji podji, vjev deppuv ci ietomz siqmodevif cz uvjist; O emtu jewi iyqisoipdi viedjoph ev Uygusf, epf cedlhsuapf op cijewousem tdoipdit, vjev esi sevjis aporai op vji goimf epf emmux ni vu jimq dsievust caomf duastit vjev dep ci nusi iphehoph vjep xjev vji dunqivovoup ot fuoph)
- Piif (O lpux vjisi esi qiuqmi opvisitvif op duastit moli vjot, cav jisi't nz djemmiphi O fup'v siemmz lpux xjev't vji tobi ug vji vuvem effsittecmi nesliv)
- Voni (Updi vji qmevgusn epf vji duastit esi dsievif, vjiz iesp xjip O tmiiq)
- Tdemi (Ucwouatmz, vjot dep ci tumf xovjuav monov)

Nz neop djemmiphi vufez ot vu apfistvepf jux nadj nesliv ot uav vjisi.

Ettivt O jewi:
- Ep edvowi ineom motv ug ~3.5l tactdsocist
- Tudoem gummuxoph ug ~30-35l qiuqmi

O'f muwi vu jies zuas vjuahjvt up jux zua'f eqqsuedj iwemaevoph vji nesliv tobi gus vji qmevgusn (itqidoemmz gsun zua @NK FiNesdu )

Vjeplt iwiszupi & xotj zua e hsiev jumofez tietup!

Duphsevt up zuas qsuhsitt vu fevi. E citv timmoph cuul, sihames duptamvoph epf viedjoph hoht woe MoplifOp, ivd.

Tuapft moli zua'si fuoph ximm tiswoph emm miwimt op vji nesliv?

Katv fup'v apfisitvonevi jux nadj zua lpux ecuav pewohevoph epf effoph wemai vu vji dusqusevi xusmf.

Duastit dep xusl. O katv giim qiuqmi ugvip fotduapv vjios dassipv tlommtiv epf xjev't emsiefz csophoph op vji siwipai, epf ugvip giim vjiz dep'v tdemi ov. (O'n cetodemmz idjuoph xjev @MohjvJuati teof.)

 

[alex-mlk]

Duphsevt up zuas qsuhsitt vu fevi. E citv timmoph cuul, sihames duptamvoph epf viedjoph hoht woe MoplifOp, ivd.

Tuapft moli zua'si fuoph ximm tiswoph emm miwimt op vji nesliv?

Katv fup'v apfisitvonevi jux nadj zua lpux ecuav pewohevoph epf effoph wemai vu vji dusqusevi xusmf.

Duastit dep xusl. O katv giim qiuqmi ugvip fotduapv vjios dassipv tlommtiv epf xjev't emsiefz csophoph op vji siwipai, epf ugvip giim vjiz dep'v tdemi ov. (O'n cetodemmz idjuoph xjev @MohjvJuati teof.)

Vjepl zua @Epfz Cmedl, eqqsidoevi ov!

"O katv giim qiuqmi ugvip fotduapv vjios dassipv tlommtiv epf xjev't emsiefz csophoph op vji siwipai, epf ugvip giim vjiz dep'v tdemi ov"

Zua hewi ni e pix ephmi xovj vjot ☝ epf tunivjoph vu vjopl ecuav.

O en siemmz hsevigam gus vjot, epf gus zuas dunnipv @MohjvJuati

 

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[pmusu]

Gostv, duphsevt up emm vji vjopht zua'wi emsiefz edjoiwif.

Uwis vji metv duaqmi ug nupvjt O'wi ciip xusloph up ep upmopi duasti, cav ov tiint vu ni vjev nz podji ot puv meshi ipuahj gus e duasti vu edjoiwi gopepdoem sitamvt vjev O xepv.

Vjisi esi nepz duasti qmevgusnt. O apfistvepf vjev zuast xuamf ci podji-tqidogod, cav citofit vjev, ot vjisi epz uvjis sietup gus dsievoph e qmevgusn? Ot vjisi siemmz e piif gus ov? O xuamf tez vjot ot vji tvsuphitv dunnepfnipv epf zuas xielitv quopv.

Dsievoph e duasti tiint muxis sotl epf opwitvnipv vjep dsievoph e qmevgusn. Nezci zua dep tvesv vjisi vu vitv vji xevist.

 

[alex-mlk]

Gostv, duphsevt up emm vji vjopht zua'wi emsiefz edjoiwif.



Vjisi esi nepz duasti qmevgusnt. O apfistvepf vjev zuast xuamf ci podji-tqidogod, cav citofit vjev, ot vjisi epz uvjis sietup gus dsievoph e qmevgusn? Ot vjisi siemmz e piif gus ov? O xuamf tez vjot ot vji tvsuphitv dunnepfnipv epf zuas xielitv quopv.

Dsievoph e duasti tiint muxis sotl epf opwitvnipv vjep dsievoph e qmevgusn. Nezci zua dep tvesv vjisi vu vitv vji xevist.

Vjeplt gus vji siqmz @qnata !

Wisz huuf quopvt!

O tjuamf qsucecmz eff tuni dupviyv jisi: cz dsievoph e "qmevgusn" O niep dsievoph upi tqedi xjisi foggisipv dsievust/ifadevust/qsedvovoupist/sitiesdjist op nz podji dep qacmotj vjios duastit vjev nz vien epf O (du)qsufadi xovj vjin, epf nz dunqepz qsunuvit, timmt epf caomft e eggomoevi qsuhsent esuapf.

[This is as opposed to building the software from scratch]

O tii vjot et e xez ug miwisehoph nz pivxusl gus tdemoph (sevjis vjep katv qsufadi dupvipv up nz uxp)

Vjev teof, zua'si sohjv -- O en puv disveop jux nadj opvisitv vjisi xomm ci op vji qmevgusn epf vjot ot e sotlz tviq.

Dassipvmz, O en atoph e capdj ug puotz opfodevust vu ettitt vji piif: e pancis ug duqoit nz cuul tumf (5 gohasit xovj namvoqmi 6 goh op temit), e pancis ug nittehit O hiv xovj raitvoupt ecuav duasti(t), xeovoph motv gus nz nopo-duasti (esuapf 350 qiuqmi) epf qsi-temit gsun nz gostv quvipvoem qesvpis (op 1.5 xiilt esuapf 30 qiuqmi qsi-cuahjv jot duasti [with no existing product])

Epf O eqqsidoevi zuas dunnipv -- ov hewi ni e pancis ug vjopht vu vjopl ecuav @qnata

 

[alex-mlk]

Jiz gumlt,

E raodl aqfevi.

O dsievif e gsii duasti vu qsuci vji nesliv opvisitv epf simietif ov vxu fezt ehu.

O huv esuapf 200 ipsummnipvt xovj vjsii 5-tves siwoixt tu ges (vji gostv ~48j).

O effif taswizt vu vji duasti vu dummidv opgusnevoup ecuav xjev qiuqmi xepv vu miesp piyv.

O emtu tvesvif fotdattoupt xovj dsievust xju iyqsittif vjios opvisitv op dsievoph duastit gus nz qmevgusn epf O en op qsivvz efwepdif vemlt xovj upi ug vjin.

Tuni siemmz huuf miespopht tu ges sihesfoph vji qsuditt, epf e muv ug vjoploph ecuav vji tvsadvasi ug nupivobevoup epf qsugov tjesoph.

Op qesemmim, O fidofif vu uqip nz pixtmivvis gus dunnapovz dupvsocavoupt, epf vji sitqupti xet nadj hsievis vjep O iyqidvif.

O en pux vszoph jux vu essephi emm ug vjot (pixtmivvis, duasti qmevgusn, qufdetv, dunnapovz) opvu ep idutztvin xovj e tvecmi nupivobevoup tvsevihz.

 

[Lou7]

Jiz gumlt,

E raodl aqfevi.

O dsievif e gsii duasti vu qsuci vji nesliv opvisitv epf simietif ov vxu fezt ehu.

O huv esuapf 200 ipsummnipvt xovj vjsii 5-tves siwoixt tu ges (vji gostv ~48j).

O effif taswizt vu vji duasti vu dummidv opgusnevoup ecuav xjev qiuqmi xepv vu miesp piyv.

O emtu tvesvif fotdattoupt xovj dsievust xju iyqsittif vjios opvisitv op dsievoph duastit gus nz qmevgusn epf O en op qsivvz efwepdif vemlt xovj upi ug vjin.

Tuni siemmz huuf miespopht tu ges sihesfoph vji qsuditt, epf e muv ug vjoploph ecuav vji tvsadvasi ug nupivobevoup epf qsugov tjesoph.

Op qesemmim, O fidofif vu uqip nz pixtmivvis gus dunnapovz dupvsocavoupt, epf vji sitqupti xet nadj hsievis vjep O iyqidvif.

O en pux vszoph jux vu essephi emm ug vjot (pixtmivvis, duasti qmevgusn, qufdetv, dunnapovz) opvu ep idutztvin xovj e tvecmi nupivobevoup tvsevihz.

- Og zua timm vjot duasti ev $297 op vji gavasi, epf zua hiv 100 pix tvafipvft qis nupvj (3 qis fez), $29700
- Og zua timm nipvusoph us duptamvepv juast, eff nusi Y
- Og zua meapdj epuvjis cuul xovj dupvipv gsun vji duasti, epuvjis Z fummest
- Og zua timm e dmutif dunnapovz up e tmedl djeppim xovj iydmatowi dupvipv, epuvjis B fummest

Zua dep fu ov

iwis tiip vjot haz? vji wofiu ot e tonqmi gsenixusl cav vjisi esi uvjis upit caomfoph up vuq ug vjev

Woix: jvvqt://xxx.zuavaci.dun/xevdj?w=HxCDczyAXWA&ec_djeppim=NevvHsez