I just had lunch with someone who sold a billion-dollar company. What stuck with me wasn't the money, it was how seriously he took standards. Not just in his work but through his entire life.

This month I talk about what standards really mean, why they're just values in action, and how raising them creates clarity instead of chaos. This is about doing better work, even when things feel messy, and coming out stronger on the other side.

In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:

• How to set real standards instead of vague values

• How to rebuild trust when customers check out

• Why higher standards actually make decisions easier

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.

My book Million Dollar Weekend breaks down how to start a business in simple steps you can do in one weekend.

I also send brutally honest emails about business and life. Join 350k people reading them at noahkagan.com.

It's New Year's Eve, and I've been taking stock of everything 2025 threw my way and what I want 2026 to look like. There were plenty of ups and downs, but what didn't work has forced me to rethink how I lead.

In this episode, I talk honestly about what's changing at AppSumo, what I've learned by getting closer to the work again, and why leadership right now looks very different than it did.

In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:

• Setting goals that actually change your behavior

• Going easier on yourself when things don't work out

• Resetting direction when you've drifted

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start something without overthinking it. I break the process down into simple steps you can actually do in a weekend.

I also send emails with my unfiltered thoughts on business, money, and life. People seem to like them. You can sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k+ readers getting the good stuff each month.

So in this episode I break down our simple three part plan to see out 2025, and talk about bundles, new partner offerings, the future of software, and how leadership really works when the scoreboard looks ugly. It's honestly the most exciting I've felt about AppSumo's horizon in a long time.

• How to course-correct when your Black Friday deal flops hard

• What I do when customers stop clicking

• How to avoid repeating the same mistakes next quarter

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.

I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

The past few months at AppSumo have been brutal. People are voting with their wallets and return buyers are down 40%. We lost some of the trust we spent years building and drifted from what made us great. But the fire in my belly is back and I'm going to war for what we do best.

I'm turning the battleship back towards curating high-quality tools that people actually love and I'm taking you inside the war room. In this episode, I share what's working, what's not and what I'm learning.

If you've ever run a company or have just gone through a tough season, you'll love this one

In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:

• Why simplicity and focus is the best strategy when things get messy.

• How direct conversations with customers and partners can rebuild trust

• Why curating truly great products (not just more of them) is key to winning back customers

Enjoy these 3 things plus plenty of spicy behind-the-scenes stories along the way.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.

I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.

After a year of paternity leave, I'm back as CEO at AppSumo… and holy moly, it's been challenging.

In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes of stepping back into my company, where we've gone wrong in my absence, and what I'm doing to fix it.

From running a "listening tour" across the company, to rethinking our deal standards, this is me working in real time to bring AppSumo back stronger than ever. It's been exhausting but humbling. If you've ever faced chaos in your own business, I think you'll get a lot out of this one.

In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:

• How getting clear on "who owns what" keeps teams from drowning
• Why true leadership beats management every time
• Why making a call (even if it's not the right one) is always better than sitting on the fence

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.

I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.

As summer wraps up and I pack for Austin, I've been reflecting on my time in Europe. One book I stumbled across in Portugal hit the mood perfectly and got me thinking about craftsmanship, curiosity, and what it really takes to build something you're proud of.

It's Always Summer on the Inside is the biography of Jack O'Neill, the surf pioneer who turned freezing San Francisco waves into a global wetsuit empire. His story is a sharp reminder that the best businesses are born from solving real problems and obsessing over quality.

I also did my first bookstore event and spoke at a local high school. Both reminded me that deep down most of us already know the answers to our big questions. The real challenge is showing up, putting in the reps, and creating work that lasts.

In this episode, you'll hear 3 BIG things:

• Why craftsmanship and quality always beat shortcuts
• How to stop waiting for permission and act on your intuition
• Why success hides in the boring, unglamorous repetitions

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.

I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.

So this summer was a wild sweaty mess. After a pretty uncomfortable RV trip with my wife and one-year-old across France, I booked one night at a $2,000 luxury resort in Bordeaux, and it blew my mind!

I'm not usually a baller-hotel guy (Bonjour Best Western, merci beaucoup), but this place nailed every little detail.

In this episode, I break down the customer experience lessons and how you can apply them to your own business. No matter what you sell, there's always a way to go that extra mile for your customers.

In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:

• How small, low cost touches can leave a big impact and wow your customers.
  
  

• Why consistency builds trust and long-term loyalty.
  
  

• How to turn around those unexpected complications should they arise in your business.

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.

I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

While watching my 10-month-old daughter sleep on the baby monitor, I found myself feeling something I didn't expect: fear. Not for me, but for her. The world feels messy right now… divided, chaotic, and moving fast.

But instead of letting it get me down, I'm focusing on what I can control. This episode is all about how I'm staying hopeful, making small changes, and how each one of us can choose to build a better future, regardless of global conflict, politics or A.I. layoffs.

3 Takeaways:

• Staying curious is one of the most powerful ways to move forward

• Making even a rough plan brings clarity when life feels directionless

• Filtering the noise protects your peace
  
  

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