Tropical MBA: Entrepreneurship & Founder Lifestyle

From hating life on a Sydney construction site to building a $57K/month agency from Bali, Tom Richards—founder of PlumbElec Marketing—has lived the remote founder arc. In this episode, he shares how niching into plumbing and electrical businesses helped him scale fast, why Google Maps still dominates local SEO, and how he balances agency life with lifestyle design. You’ll hear Tom’s take on ChatGPT use cases, the best tools for founder efficiency, and whether he’s ready to scale or keep things lean and profitable. Plus, Dan breaks down what might be the most reliable location-independent income roadmap in 2025. LINKS: Connect with Tom [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-richards-au/] Daily Huddle template [http://bit.ly/4ea6MOf] The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss [https://fourhourworkweek.com/] Share your story/sponsor the pod [https://forms.gle/gKZFuwReHSvg8LD48] 22 free resources for founders [https://tropicalmba.com/resources] Connect with 1,000+ generous global entrepreneurs [https://dynamitecircle.com/] Read Dan’s book “Before the Exit” [https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B07BN2KD1J] CHAPTERS: (00:02:18) From Plumber to Agency Founder (00:04:07) How Tom Built His First Client Base (00:04:58) $57K MRR and the Current Team (00:07:23) Why Tradespeople Are the Best Clients (00:09:51) Transitioning from Daily Huddles to Weekly Calls (00:12:14) The Real Numbers Behind Tom’s Retainer Model (00:13:38) Hormozi’s 1-1-1 Model in Real Life (00:18:50) Surviving the SEO Upheaval in 2025 (00:19:25) Why Google Maps is Still Gold for Local SEO (00:23:34) How to Use Case Studies to Supercharge Cold Outreach (00:25:59) Should You Scale Your Agency or Stay Lean? (00:31:31) The Most Reliable Remote Income Roadmap (00:35:31) What Agency Life is Really Like (00:39:28) Tom’s Favorite ChatGPT and AI Tools (00:41:04) Bali vs Thailand: Which Is Better in 2025? CONNECT: Dan@tropicalmba.com [Dan@tropicalmba.com] Ian@tropicalmba.com [Ian@tropicalmba.com] Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Lucy Bella. PLAYLIST: The Changing Landscape of SEO and the Influence Equation [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/changing-landscape-seo] The Brutal Truth About Business Exits with Rob Walling [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/brutal-truth-about-exits] 1,000 Customers from One Channel [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/1000-customers-one-channel] The First 1,000 Days of Running an Agency [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/1000-days-running-agency?rq=agency]

Thinking of selling your business one day? Or never planning to? Either way, this conversation could change how you build. Rob Walling has seen it all. He’s exited his own SaaS company and helped thousands of founders grow and sell through TinySeed, MicroConf, and his podcast “Startups for the Rest of Us.” In this episode, he sits down with Dan to talk about what founders get wrong about selling, why most exits are emotionally brutal, and how to actually create a business that gives you freedom: whether or not you ever sell it. CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Why Exits Matter (Even If You Never Sell) (00:03:48) The Emotional Reality of Selling Your Business (00:08:35) What Your Business is Actually Worth (Valuation Benchmarks) (00:11:45) The $10M Dream: Who Gets There, Who Doesn’t (00:18:59) The SaaS Plateau: How to Know When You're Stuck (00:27:20) The 5 Marketing Channels Still Working in 2025 (00:30:23) Can Non-Technical Founders Still Win? (00:40:33) Two Traps Founders Fall Into When Selling a Business (00:46:50) Rob’s Book: “Exit Strategy” LINKS Rob’s book “Exit Strategy” [https://exitstrategybook.com/] Share your story/sponsor the pod [https://forms.gle/gKZFuwReHSvg8LD48] 22 free resources for founders [https://tropicalmba.com/resources] Connect with 1,000+ generous global entrepreneurs [https://dynamitecircle.com/] Read Dan’s book “Before the Exit” [https://www.amazon.com/Before-Exit-Thought-Experiments-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B07BN2KD1J] Dan Andrews is the co-founder of Dynamite Circle, author of Before the Exit, host of the Tropical MBA podcast, and an entrepreneur who has successfully launched and scaled multiple 7-figure businesses. CONNECT WITH DAN Email Dan@tropicalmba.com [Dan@tropicalmba.com] Follow on X [https://x.com/TropicalMBA] Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/] MORE EPISODES Our Lifestyle Business Non-Negotiables [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-business-non-negotiables] ‘I’m Fiscally Bitcoin and Socially Ethereum’ [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/greg-gerber-crypto-2020] Is Dropshipping Still a Valid Business Model? [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/dropshipping-valid-business-model] The Consultant’s Handbook - How to Make Location Independent Income Quickly [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/consulting] The Amazon Gold Rush [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/amazongold] “Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business]

Is the “lifestyle business” still alive in 2025? Dan chats with longtime friend Jeff Pecaro about the evolution of internet business, what today’s solopreneurs get right (and wrong), and how constraints can lead to clarity. They dive into pricing mistakes, the pressure to grow beyond your goals, and how to use tools like AI to think—not just automate. It’s a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes look at the business models most of us are actually running. Plus: how to join upcoming DC BLACK masterminds for 7+ figure founders. Links from the episode: Form: Share your story / sponsor the pod [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPXbgWniCDhLpt4QPvOvoXPHRRwDYw-izZszc92qAuMPnhhQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101528162047962210125] Connect with 7-figure founders [https://dynamitecircle.com/dc-black] CHAPTERS (00:00:24) What Lifestyle Business Means in 2025 (00:01:37) Early Days of Internet Money (00:03:03) Growth Isn’t Always the Goal (00:12:49) Why Some Founders Recreate Jobs by Accident (00:15:34) Pricing Problems = Perception Problems (00:22:13) Using AI as a Thought Partner (00:28:01) Optimizing for Audience vs. Revenue (00:37:21) Quiet Wins and Redefining Success CONNECT Dan “at” tropicalmba dot com Ian “at” tropicalmba dot com LINKS Join the DC [http://dynamitecircle.com] Subscribe to the newsletter [https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/] Free resources for business owners [https://tropicalmba.com/resources] MORE EPISODES Our Lifestyle Business Non-Negotiables [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-business-non-negotiables] ‘I’m Fiscally Bitcoin and Socially Ethereum’ [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/greg-gerber-crypto-2020] Is Dropshipping Still a Valid Business Model? [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/dropshipping-valid-business-model] The Consultant’s Handbook - How to Make Location Independent Income Quickly [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/consulting] The Amazon Gold Rush [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/amazongold] “Lifestyle Business” vs “Real Business” [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/lifestyle-vs-real-business]

Many founders hit $3M in revenue and stall out. In this episode, Dan and Greg Crabtree break down why—and how to fix it. They discuss “profit truth”, how to spot financial red flags, and what metrics to track to scale beyond the messy middle. Plus: we’re looking for listener stories. Have you implemented a system or framework that changed your business? Tell us about it. Your story could help 1,000s of entrepreneurs. Links from the episode: Form: Share your story / sponsor the pod [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPXbgWniCDhLpt4QPvOvoXPHRRwDYw-izZszc92qAuMPnhhQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101528162047962210125] Labor Efficiency Ratio Summary [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kuJAqNkX_qncqp3qYtT27z9R5IpJTYeMIZtzMRMSV7A/edit?usp=sharing] CHAPTERS (00:00:14) Introduction and the Death Zone 00:09:37) The Impact of Paying a Market-Based Wage (00:11:03) Behavioral Economics and Profit Truth (00:14:38) The Definition of a Fully Capitalized Business (00:16:49) Transitioning through the Death Zone (00:17:26) The Three Steps to Business Success (00:18:51) Remaining Profitable in the Death Zone (00:19:48) Different Capital Profiles and Cashflow (00:21:04) The Emotional Challenge of Spending in the Death Zone (00:24:03) The Executional Problem of Growth (00:24:24) Getting Through the Black Hole (00:27:02) The $3 Million Mark (00:28:25) The Worth of Going Through the Zone (00:31:32) Managing a Marketing Agency Past $5 Million (00:36:26) Common Mistakes Made by Founders (00:38:36) Understanding Profit Truth (00:45:33) Investing in Finance and Accounting CONNECT Dan “at” tropicalmba dot com Ian “at” tropicalmba dot com LINKS Join the DC [http://dynamitecircle.com] Subscribe to the newsletter [https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/] Free resources for business owners [https://tropicalmba.com/resources] MORE EPISODES The Roadmap for Turning a Skill Into a $1M Business [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-figure-productized-business] The Unexpected Downsides of Selling Your Business [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/exit-founders-disappointed] Success Without Sacrifice? [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/success-without-sacrifice] Shiny Object Syndrome [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/shiny-object-syndrome] The Anti-Agency Agency + High ROI Customer Service Strategies [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/anti-agency-high-roi]

What 160 founders taught us at DC Mexico—why deep customer engagement beats ads, how group workshops are replacing sales calls, what lifestyle entrepreneurs can learn from the FIRE movement, and how financial clarity and community still drive the biggest results. CHAPTERS (00:00:34) DC Mexico Recap (00:02:42) Why We Do This (Essay by Jeff Pecaro) (00:06:23) Deep Giveaways That Convert (00:12:31) High Ticket Offers (00:15:30) Lifestyle Business vs. FIRE Movement (00:19:07) Masterminds as Money Makers (00:21:08) The Real Challenge of Parenting? (00:24:49) Pivots and Resetting the Vision (00:25:58) Real AI Workflows Founders Are Using (00:26:31) Clarity, Courage, and Deal-Making (00:27:45) Nailing Your Best Marketing Channel (00:29:00) Know Your P&L CONNECT Dan “at” tropicalmba dot com Ian “at” tropicalmba dot com LINKS Join the DC [http://dynamitecircle.com] Subscribe to the newsletter [https://tropicalmba.com/subscribe] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmba/] Free resources for business owners [https://tropicalmba.com/resources] MORE EPISODES The Roadmap for Turning a Skill Into a $1M Business [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-figure-productized-business] The Unexpected Downsides of Selling Your Business [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/exit-founders-disappointed] Success Without Sacrifice? [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/success-without-sacrifice] Shiny Object Syndrome [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/shiny-object-syndrome] The Anti-Agency Agency + High ROI Customer Service Strategies [https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/anti-agency-high-roi]