Overview

On this episode of Build Your Network, Host Travis Chappell interviews Nathan Hirsch, an entrepreneur and expert in remote hiring and e-commerce.

Topics Discussed:

• About Nathan Hirsch:
  • Co-founder and CEO of freeeup.com a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted freelancers in e-commerce, digital marketing and much, much more.
  • His entrepreneurial journey started when he was 20.
    • Started a textbook business and then started up a drop-shipping business.
    • Ran a multi-million-dollar Amazon business from his dorm.
    • He was thrown into the hiring business using sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
    • All his time was spent interviewing and not enough on the work he needed.
      • He solved this problem with freeup.com.
    • Nathan’s most excited about a new software update they launched this month.
  • Tell us the difference between freeup.com and other similar sites?
    • On the other sites, the interviewing process is long and you still don’t know what you’re going to get.
    • If these freelancers decide to quit, you’re back to square one.
    • At freeup.com, they vet the freelancers and choose the top 1%.
      • Speed and vetting up-front and protection on the back.
    • What were you in college for and how did you e-commerce career come about?
      • His parents were both teachers, he thought he’d go down a similar path.
      • He was working 40 hours a week in college when others were out playing.
      • He didn’t like the idea of working for someone else, that’s when he started thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
      • He was an entrepreneurial major and built a business while he was learning business theory.
    • Was your college e-commerce experience your first taste of the business world?
      • In 2008 and 2009, e-commerce wasn’t understood like it is now.
      • His biggest failure:
        • He started drop shipping and finally got a break and was able to take a vacation.
        • He gets a call from a supplier saying they no longer want to work with him.
        • He lost his manager
        • His identity got stolen
      • Problem solving is everything as an entrepreneur, it’s how you handle those problems that determine whether you succeed or fail.
      • He invested all his money in diversifying and building back up.
      • Within 6 months they grew the business way bigger but were then protected.
    • Problem solving is one of the most underrated character traits, have you always been a problem solver?
      • Yes, ever since high school he was always looking to solve problems and find loopholes.
      • In business, you have to push the limits.
    • Do you believe that what you know or who you know is more important, and why?
      • He thinks it’s what you know, although he’s started to go in the other direction.
      • The ideas that make you the most money are the ideas that save you the most money, and most of those come from other people.
      • If you limit yourself to your ideas alone, you’re missing out on a lot of opportunities.
    • If you could talk to the young version of yourself, would you tell them to double down on knowledge and networking?
      • A lot of it depends on the person.
      • A lot of the time it’s who you know and not what you know, but it all depends on what you do with it.
    • Tell us about a time when a connection led to a moment of success?
      • Free up started out being geared toward Amazon sellers.
      • He had a client who connected him to a huge Amazon influencer and promoted him to his network.
      • He now has a ton of referral business from him and that was a game changer for his business.
    • Why do you think so many people don’t spend time building relationships?
      • You only have a certain amount of time and relationships don’t always have a short-term ROI.
      • You have to find the balance, so the business doesn’t suffer.
    • What are some of the ways you’ve been able to add value to others?
      • Be honest and offer your help whether it can be immediate or not.
    • Have you ever spent money on mentorships, masterminds, or coaching?
      • He recently bought his first mastermind.
      • He’s a big believer in these types of event.
      • 3-5% of the budget is spent on these things.
      • Not every opportunity has to be paid either.

The Random Round:

• • What profession other than your own do you think it would be fun to attempt?
    • Anything with sports, professional baseball player
  • If you could sit on a park bench with anyone for an hour who would it be, and why?
    • Jeff Bezos
    • He’s spent so much time on Amazon
  • How do you like to consume content best, books, blogs, podcasts, or videos?
    • Videos and audiobooks
  • What’s your favorite audiobooks?
    • The Power of Why
  • Give us a glimpse of your morning routine
    • Get up and get working within 15-30 minutes
    • Coffee
    • Go to the dog park
    • Get into email
  • What is your go-to pump up song?
    • Doesn’t get pumped up by music
  • What are you not very good at?
    • Golf
  • What is one place where we can find you online?
    • com – his calendar is at the top
    • Social media, Skype

Tweetable Quotes:

• There aren’t any entrepreneurs out there who haven’t experienced failure.
• Problem-solving is everything as an entrepreneur, it’s how you handle those problems that determine whether you succeed or fail.
• If you limit yourself to your ideas alone, you’re missing out on a lot of opportunities.

Resources Mentioned:

Buildyournetwork.com– Podcast website

BYN.media/fb – Facebook Group

Freeeup.com – Nathan’s company

The Power of Why – Book by Simon Sinek