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    MegaMaker

    For digital makers who want to earn a living from the things they create. Indie software developers, designers, writers, entrepreneurs, artists, and other creatives!
    en-ca58 Episodes

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    Episodes (58)

    E018 - Learning from the rock gods

    E018 - Learning from the rock gods

    Iron Maiden teaches us about creative success.

    And... Marty and Justin announce their second software project.

    The 5 lessons I've learned from Iron Maiden:

    1. Figure out what people want.
    2. Create things that are well-made.
    3. Be unique, surprising, and unexpected.
    4. Keep shipping more stuff.
    5. Be persistent and adaptable.

    Sponsor: Balsamiq.com

    Today our friends at Balsamiq asked us not to talk about their awesome wireframing tool that all of you should be using already, but instead share with you 3 makers that they love and they think you’ll love too. You should look them up on YouTube:

    • Colin Furze, an insane British maker that builds rocket-powered toilets and other crazy things.
    • James from XRobots.co.uk, another British maker that 3D-prints life-sized, working Star Wars droid and Iron man suits
    • Chris from ClickSpring, an Australian watch-maker whose videos are just totally addictive.

    Discount code: use code MEGAMAKER to get $10 off Balsamiq Mockups 3 for Desktop (normally $89). Code Expires May 1st.

    This week's maker project: RemoteWorkers.Club

    What's the main problem with being a remote worker? Finding another remote job is hard! What if you could get tasteful notifications whenever an employer was interested in you?

    That's the idea behind Justin and Marty's new project: www.remoteworkers.club

    Show notes

    MegaMaker
    en-caApril 10, 2016

    E017 - Perfection Pickle

    E017 - Perfection Pickle

    Marty and Justin try to get their first paying customer for their SMS app.

    Show notes

    Maker challenge

    If you could build a mobile app, what would it be? The easiest way to get started is to start small. Make a mockup!

    Design your dream app in Balsamiq and you could win 1 hour with Peldi. Get feedback on your business idea OR get him to wireframe your idea for you (this will be on Youtube).

    To enter go to: megamaker.co/dreamsmall

    1. See other entries here.
    2. Download Balsamiq (or use the web version)
    3. Create a mockup for your "dream" mobile app. It can be serious or funny.

    Contest ends April 9th!

    Balsamiq is free to use for 30 days.

    Discount code: use code MEGAMAKER to get $10 off Balsamiq Mockups 3 for Desktop (normally $89). Code Expires May 1st.

    MegaMaker
    en-caApril 06, 2016

    E016 - I made some mistakes in Barcelona

    E016 - I made some mistakes in Barcelona

    Justin recounts the story of a missed bus, and getting taken to the beach by strangers.

    Welcome back! It's time for Season 2 of MegaMaker!

    Show notes

    Maker challenge

    If you could build a mobile app, what would it be? The easiest way to get started is to start small. Make a mockup!

    Design your dream app in Balsamiq and you could win 1 hour with Peldi. Get feedback on your business idea OR get him to wireframe your idea for you (this will be on Youtube).

    To enter go to: megamaker.co/dreamsmall

    1. See other entries here.
    2. Download Balsamiq (or use the web version)
    3. Create a mockup for your "dream" mobile app. It can be serious or funny.

    Contest ends April 9th!

    Balsamiq is free to use for 30 days.

    Discount code: use code MEGAMAKER to get $10 off Balsamiq Mockups 3 for Desktop (normally $89). Code Expires May 1st.

    MegaMaker
    en-caApril 01, 2016

    Extroverted jackass

    Extroverted jackass

    Burdened by anxiety and self-doubt? Does self-promotion make you cringe?

    Let's talk about those issues, and how they affect creative people.

    Once you start focusing on the needs of others, all these insecurities kind of go away.

    Only a few weeks left - now's the time to leave an iTunes review for MegaMaker. Help us get into New & Noteworthy! megamaker.co/review

    Show notes

    Maker mission

    Go out and show gratitude for someone who has positively impacted your life.

    An encouraging word is like oxygen for creative people. (Tweet)

    Thanks to

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 27, 2016
    art
    making
    anxiety
    self-doubt
    introvert

    Uncomfortable with hobbits

    Uncomfortable with hobbits

    We're making the world's first open source band!

    At the same time, we're talking about the importances of "discomfort" in the creative life.

    And then it hit me: "Higher than Hobbits" would be a great name for a stoner metal band.

    Show notes

    Increasingly, I'm seeing discomfort as the key to the creative life. (tweet this)

    Thanks to...

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 24, 2016
    music
    open source
    makers
    creative
    band

    Launch when you're scared

    Launch when you're scared

    Bringing anything you've created into the world is scary. Last episode Justin was saying how anxious he was about the launch of his new project: The Secret Makers Society. How did he get over that?

    A good product is something that really connects with people.

    Plus: learn about Higher than Hobbits - the world's first open source band.

    Show notes

    Thanks to

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 19, 2016
    product
    society
    secret
    maker
    launch

    The guts to be original

    The guts to be original

    We want to make stuff. We want to live a creative life while still making a living.

    What's the best path to achieve that dream?

    So often we try to follow those that have gone before us. But if you've tried that, you know it doesn't work. To succeed, we really need to forge our own path.

    1. Our success is going to look different than those that have gone before us.
    2. Finding success is messy.
    3. The way to find success is to be unique; to do things differently than they've done before.

    Once you give up this idea that the path is set for you, it becomes freeing. Now you know it's up to you. You have the autonomy and the freedom to find your own way.

    Show notes

    Today's launch: a Secret Club for Makers

    The idea for us to have an outlet: to escape the monotony of serious work, and make fun things together.

    • You'll get a weekly maker mission (like this and this and this). It's like going on a creative coffee break.
    • You'll get access to member profiles. Connect & collaborate with other makers from all over the world.
    • You'll get secret maker society swag in the mail. This includes the exclusive SMS badge and stickers.
    • Plus tons of other goodies I can't talk about now.

    Have fun. Get help launching your serious projects.

    Want to be a part of the beta? There's 10 spots available.

    Go to: megamaker.co/secret

    Special thanks to...

    Striker-metal.com for our theme music (get Bad Decisions here). Simplecast.fm for podcast hosting + stats.

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 17, 2016
    web
    makers
    secret
    club
    weird

    Let's get weird

    Let's get weird

    The biggest risk to creative work is curated perfectionism. It's happening in music, art, film, and on the web. Everyone wants a flawless portfolio and will only publish perfect work.

    The challenge is that perfectionism can be restrictive. It can hold us back from experimenting, or putting out more work.

    To make better stuff, we're going to need to get weird.

    In this episode Justin talks about texting 150 strangers, and reveals how they replied.

    Show notes

    "Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed." - Ray Bradbury

    Thanks to

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 13, 2016
    podcast
    web
    makers
    challenge
    secret

    I walk the line

    I walk the line

    Creative work, by it's very nature is divisive. Our work can't be for everybody, but still has to appeal to some people.

    In this episode we explore this tension of being authentic without being alienating. This is also the last episode in our "self-publishing a book" series.

    Self-publishing notes

    Next week's mission: secret stuff

    To find out more, text "Hi Justin" to +1-424-247-5762.

    Show Notes

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 10, 2016
    book
    ebook
    making
    secret
    jackson

    Hard work; no guarantees

    Hard work; no guarantees

    Will everyone achieve their creative dreams, no matter what?

    This week's maker mission is to self-publish a book. But today's listener questions brought up broader issues, faced by all creatives.

    One myth that creative people believe is that if they build something that is of high quality, that people will just find it because it's well-made.

    Show Notes

    Callers

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 06, 2016
    book
    ebook
    making
    success
    publishing

    Can we run a warehouse out of our garage?

    Can we run a warehouse out of our garage?

    The general consensus is that authors don't make much money:

    "My novel, “Broken Piano for President,” shot to the top of the best-seller lists. This is what it’s like, financially, to have the indie book publicity story of the year and be near the top of the bestseller list. Drum roll. $12,000." — Patrick Wensick

    But in 2012, a young designer named Nathan Barry figured out a better way. He realized that by teaching people something valuable, and self-publishing himself, he could earn more as an author. (You can listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of the 2013 interview here)

    "Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you’re doomed." — Ray Bradbury

    This week on the show we'll be exploring the world of writing and self-publishing.

    (You can see the book I'm working on here)

    Sarah's rules about living a creative life:

    1. It's always worth pursuing the things you love.
    2. Sometimes you're going to have to get creative about how the money works

    T-shirt update

    • 30 shirts sold far
    • I make $1 per shirt currently. ;)
    • 57% ordered a Men's medium
    • 29% ordered a Men's large
    • 7% ordered a Men's XL
    • 7% ordered a Men's XXL
    • 14% ordered a Women's shirt
    • There were only 2 shipping problems

    You can still order the MegaMaker shirt at a reduced price, plus get $5 off with the coupon code PODCAST until Feb 6, 2016. Go to store.megamaker.co.

    Show notes

    MegaMaker
    en-caFebruary 03, 2016
    book
    amazon
    author
    writing
    making

    Automated t-shirt deployment

    Automated t-shirt deployment

    In this episode, we launch our own custom t-shirt brand.

    Learn how to create your own t-shirt store, without spending thousands of dollars.

    You can now order the MegaMaker t-shirt online! Use the code PODCAST and get $5 off your order!

    How to make your own t-shirt brand

    1. Start with great artwork
    2. Choose a high quality garment
    3. Go to theprintful.com. They do print-on-demand t-shirts.
    4. Create a t-shirt using their tools. (Remember, logo placement is important)
    5. You can order t-shirt samples directly from theprintful.com
    6. When you receive the samples, look for 3 things: How does the logo look and garment feel? How well does it go through the wash & dry cycles? How do people react to the shirt when you wear it?
    7. Gather online feedback: post photos of you wearing the shirt on Instagram, Facebook, etc...
    8. You can also consider using crowdfunding platforms like Teespring and Cotton Bureau
    9. Your first production run: I recommend using theprintful.com. They'll do print on demand for every order that comes in. They'll also package and ship it for you. This means you don't need to hold inventory.
    10. Create your online store: I used WooCommerce for the MegaMaker store. You can also use Shopify. Using these platforms, whenever people order an item, it will automatically generate an order in Printful.
    11. What happens next? We'll find out!

    Are you going to sacrifice quality so you can increase your margins?

    I'll report back on Wednesday with sales numbers.

    Today is the official launch of the MegaMaker store

    "When can I order a MegaMaker t-shirt? I want one!"

    Right now! Go to store.megamaker.co. We're launching with a low price: $25 per shirt. Even better, use the coupon PODCAST and get $5 off your order!

    Contest

    The next 10 people who leave an iTunes review will get MegaMaker stickers sent to them in the mail. Just take a screenshot of your review and email it to: words@nerdnorth.com

    Go to megamaker.co/review

    Show notes

    Thanks to our patron: Vacord

    Need to do bigger screen printing runs? Vacord creates quality custom apparel. They print soft shirts and hoodies with soft ink.

    Visit them at vacord.com and tell them MegaMaker sent you! You can also thank Stuart on Twitter.

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 30, 2016

    What makes a great shirt?

    What makes a great shirt?

    Millions of shirts are made every year; but how can we make t-shirts that people actually want to wear?

    Learn how to make your own t-shirts, and watch Justin as he launches his own t-shirt brand.

    First three steps to making great shirts

    1. Great artwork - you need to have something compelling on the shirt. Whether it's your logo or artwork, make sure it's something people want to wear on their chest.
    2. Choose a high quality garment - cheap shirts feel cheap. They shrink over time, the cut looks funny, and the fabric feels itchy. Get something that feels good.
    3. Artwork placement is important - consider where you're putting your artwork! Especially on women's shirts.

    Check back on Saturday for the next steps: printing (ink) type, how to order samples, how to get feedback, how to do production runs.

    Show notes

    Patrons:

    • Leading Snowflakes - a book by Oren Ellenbogen, "Become the leader your engineers need."

    You can get a shout out on this Saturday's show by becoming a patron: megamaker.co/sponsor

    Thank you:

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 27, 2016

    Put a little maple syrup in it

    Put a little maple syrup in it

    A burrito descends on a small town in British Columbia, Canada. There was maple syrup involved.

    Show notes

    Photos and tweets from burrito mania

    Next week: apparel!

    If you've ever wanted to make your own t-shirts, clothing items, if you're into fashion; that is the theme for next week!

    How can you make your own clothing line without having to invest thousands of dollars? We'll be exploring that question, plus interviewing fashion makers.

    If you have a fashion brand, project or product, and you'd like to sponsor next week's episodes go to megamaker.co/sponsor

    Thanks to everyone who sponsored the burrito project

    • Productized Consulting Bootcamp - The opinionated guide to recurring revenue for freelancers and consultants. Use coupon code MEGAMAKER to get 30% off (expires Feb 14th, 2016).
    • Chart Blocks - Create and share charts in an easy to use web app.
    • Jason Zook
    • MyHeartyKid - A toy and a tool to teach children how to celebrate themselves and others.
    • WebinarNinja - The most compete & advanced webinar solution.
    • Lifestyle Business Weekly - A weekly curated email of useful links for people interested in lifestyle businesses and independent entrepreneurship.
    • Night Owl Action Plan - For makers who need to know how to burn the midnight oil productively.
    • Simplecast.fm - podcast hosting and stats.

    Theme music is by Striker.

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 23, 2016

    The world is creative

    The world is creative

    Justin reveals that the MegaMaker burrito is being added to the menu at a local restaurant.

    How is a cooking noob going to make something that people will order for a Friday lunch? Go behind the scenes and hear how a restaurant creates a new menu item. (Justin learned a lot about how a restaurant works).

    Show notes

    Thanks to

    Music

    My theme music is Bad Decisions by Striker. Visit them online: strike-metal.com

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 20, 2016

    #justinsburrito

    #justinsburrito

    Justin kicks off the weekly maker challenge. What's he's going to try to make in 7 days?

    If this podcast was Star Wars, the first two episodes would be "A New Hope" and this episode would be "Empire."

    Start with something small and silly.

    Update: MegaMaker just landed in iTunes! Please help by leaving a 5 start review at megamaker.co/review

    This week's MegaMaker project: a burrito

    Justin's goal this week is to make something that is both small and ridiculous. A burrito. Why?

    • Burritos are freakin' delicious.
    • I suck at cooking and wanted a challenge.
    • I love burritos.

    Why not take the pressure off ourselves, and create something just because it's fun?

    Who sponsored my burrito?

    I want to thanks these guys for believing in me. They were willing to take a chance on a crazy idea. Please give them your business!

    Do you want to sponsor my burrito?

    Show notes

    Thanks to

    Music

    My theme music is Bad Decisions by Striker. Visit them online: strike-metal.com

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 16, 2016

    What's really driving me?

    What's really driving me?

    "Fighting an obstacle to achieve a goal."

    In this mid-week bonus episode, Justin digs into our creative motivation. Can we express our creativity and make a living at the same time?

    A Maker's Manifesto

    Hundreds of people helped edit version 1.0 of the Maker's Manifesto. You can also find it on Medium.

    Show notes

    Thanks to

    Music

    My theme music is Bad Decisions by Striker. Visit them online: strike-metal.com

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 14, 2016

    Life is better when you make stuff

    Life is better when you make stuff

    "Life's better when you make stuff" - @theleviallen

    The new year is here. How can you make this year better than the last? For Justin the answer is to make 100 things.

    MegaMaker is a podcast for people who want to consume less and make more.

    It doesn't matter if you swing hammers, a keyboard and mouse, a paintbrush, a needle and thread, or a soldering iron. We're all makers here.

    Over 1,700 people have signed up for the 2016 Maker Challenge. You can sign up at megamaker.co/challenge.

    Show notes

    This week's patron's

    Special thanks to

    MegaMaker
    en-caJanuary 08, 2016
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