The Untold Story of Nathan Barry's $30 Million Software Company
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- 10 years ago Nathan Barry started a web app challenge where he spent $5,000 of his own money to create a startup that would generate recurring revenue. The startup was ConvertKit. In 2022 ConvertKit generated $30MM+ in revenue. The road to profitability has been paved with peaks and valleys, and joy and pain. Join Nathan on his journey from creator to CEO in this episode of For Creators By Creators brought to you by ConvertKit: The Platform Helping Creators Make A Living. Start your free 14-day tral (no card required) at: convertkit.com/features
#creators #emailmarketing #convertkit #forcreatorsbycreators
0:00 Intro
0:53 Nathan says no to documentary
1:35 Growing up Barry
3:01 Nathan's first $50,000 as an author
4:05 A realization about email marketing
5:25 $5,000 Web App Challenge becomes ConvertKit
6:38 ConvertKit plateaus
7:34 Nathan reassesses ConvertKit and takes time away
8:11 Nathan gets sick unexpected diagnosis
8:54 Battling mental health
9:46 Depression and feelings of self harm
11:22 Getting help and bouncing back
13:03 Doubling down on ConvertKit
14:50 Nathan's decision-making framework
16:14 The choice to bootstrap ConvertKt
17:16 ConvertKit's inflection point
19:05 Taking ConvertKit to the next level
20:28 Helping creators make a living
21:55 Making the world a better place
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ABOUT CONVERTKIT:
ConvertKit's mission is to help creators earn a living online through our creator marketing platform. Get the inspiration you need to dream big, create more, and build your business right here.
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Развлечения
Thank you! My take-a-ways: 1) I don't have that skill....yet. 2) Shut it down or double down. 3) Do you still want this as much today as the day you started? 4) Have you given this every possible chance to succeed? Is this truly your best effort? 5) If I quit today I'm always going to wonder could I have made that work? Thank you for being so vulnerable, Nathan. I attended the first ConvertKit conference and will attend again next year, hopefully as a full time creator! I hope to meet you. A fellow Boisean, Kathleen
Thanks so much Kathleen!
Powerful story. Other than entrepreneurial struggle, hard work etc, this is a big lesson on mental health and the unsung hero, his wife, who supported him and had faith on him.
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I remember in Nathan’s ebook days when he first kickstarted the idea of ConvertKit. Watching him grow that idea into what it is today has been so amazing. Such an inspiring story!
You've been with us since the beginning Brent!
Wonderful story of perseverance and conviction, despite setbacks-which we all have. This is what really takes to build a successful business.
So glad you resonated with the film Maurizio! Maybe one day soon we’ll get to hear your story too 😉
Beautifully filmed and edited. I have been waiting for the release of this; well done! 😎
Thanks so much Shawn 🙏
fantastic Story I wish you all the best...
Appreciate it Raghavendraj!
Thanks for sharing. I am glad I joined ConvertKit several years ago! You certainly understand and appreciate the creator journey.
Glad to have you on board Clark!
Appreciate your vulnerability to share this! Congrats on all you've built and the way you've navigated all of this to put people and family first. The world needs more entrepreneurs like you.
Thanks so much ugmonkstudio ❤️
What a beautiful and inspiring start of an amazing company! "I am valuable because of what I contribute to the world to I am valuable." That really spoke to me. Thank you Nathan for sharing your story🙏
Really glad to hear that Linda ❤️
VERY inspiring, and brutally honest - I especially liked the vulnerability Nathan expressed, SO rare in this "hoorah, look how great I am, I am a winner" world we so often find ourselves in. Very impressed, so glad I watched it, will watch it several more times, I know I will, and so glad Nathan agreed to tell his story. It's actually very amazing. Thank you Nathan.
Thanks so much James 🙏
Best video in your channel. Thank you Nathan, for finally say “yes” to sharing your story 🙏
Thanks for the kind words MoMables!
This just made me even more loyal! Wow! So beautiful so inspiring God bless you and your family! Inspiring to see this story of overcoming and victory!
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Nathan, I'm glad you changed your mind because your story is important for everyone to hear. Your book, Authority was the first item I ever purhcsed on Gumroad on May 21, 2013. It's great to see how far you've come and it really shows how consistency and ahrd work pays off in the end.
Been with us since the beginning xinth23!
This is so well put together. Thank you for sharing your journey so openly!
Thanks so much Nancy ❤️
This was so inspiring. Thank you for your sharing!! I'm an artist, and sometimes it can be easy to get lost and second guess yourself, your skills, your vision, your value. Your mantra 'create everyday' has been a lovely compass to help find my way 🎨
Very inspirational and hits me right in the feels as well. Thanks for sharing this personal story!
Persistence, focus and belief. Congrats Nathan what a powerful journey!
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This is a truly powerful and inspiring story. I'm grateful that it has been shared. I could have heard a pin drop at Craft and Commerce when this was premiered. It was such a powerful moment. Nathan's heart for others resonates in all he does, including his courage and willingness to share this story with others. I am one of many very grateful creators. What lies at the heart of inspiration is when one person's courage to tell their story gives other people courage to in turn tell theirs. Thank you for the gift of courage and the example to share our stories as well.
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Amazing story! I really like you Nathan Barry!
I followed Nathan all the way back when he launched The App Design handbook, at that time I was trying to break into UX. The 1000 words a-day streak was very impressive as well. I remember I had doubts when he first mentioned the idea of Coverrkit, it seems crazy to me to compete in a market when giants like Mailchimp already existed, I am so happy that years later Coverkit has been doing so well. Way to go!
With us from the beginning Tim!
Thanks for sharing such a positive message. Nathan's effort and dedication to keep working on ConvertKit is truly admirable. It is heartwarming to see how a small company with humble and dedicated people can make a dent in the universe. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and your mission!
Appreciate the love Tomasz!
❤ Thank you for not giving up.
Thanks for joining us along the journey Vikki!
Loved this! Fantastic, motivational story for creators everywhere. Well done and thanks for sharing. 🙏
Thank you so much Helen 🙏
This was really great. Enjoyed this so much, especially seeing a bit more behind the scenes.
Thanks jnankin!
Thank you for sharing! Such an impactful video on so many levels!!!
Thanks so much Pat!
So inspiring! Amazing to watch your growth and also how humble you are despite growing this amazing company.
Appreciate that Benny 👍
Well done Mr Barry.
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Thanks for doing this Nathan. I truly admire the honesty and vulnerability. I've been following you and rooting for you since the very start and there's never been a doubt in my mind about whether you'd make ConvertKit work. Cheers to you and your family!
Appreciate that Rob ❤️
Very inspiring. Just what I needed today to keep pushing forward. Thanks!
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Really enjoyed every sec of this interview. Thank you Nathan for opening up and allowing yourself to be vulnerable, it has assisted me to reflect on my journey.
Thanks for watching Phemelo 🙏
Wow, thank you so much for finally sharing this story, Nathan-- what a journey! So much hope and positivity to be found in this message.
We are all inherently valuable, and I know so many (myself included) who can relate to tying our worth to our creative output. So inspired by what you've built and the example you set for business leaders and creators alike!
Thanks so much Jessica 🙏
This is so good. Wonderful to hear your story. Thank you for your honesty. And I love how you define "creator." Henry and Isa and the other collaborators all did a great job. Wow!
Thank you Courtney!
Beautiful story! So inspiring. Thank you for sharing this Nathan. 🙏
Thank you Lisa ❤️
Thank you, Nathan !!
Thanks azadshaikh!
@Nathan thanks for sharing your story. It is really inspiring to see that we all get those times when we go down in spirit, and then work ourselves out of it - though not easy. Glad that you persisted and here we are, we are all using it. Funny how I found CK, was me too having a hard time understanding MailC. The simplicity, yet powerfulness of CK, is what makes me stick with it. And more that it is being made better and better with time. Thank you!
Thank you Rachel ❤️
Thank you for sharing, Nathan. 🙏
Appreciate that Chris 👍
So inspiring! We really have to put ourselves 100% or more into something that we believe in. Your wife's pushing you to do it, really paved the way for you to go on and be successful. That was so heartwarming.
For sure Marita!
I appreciate Nathan's vulnerability in sharing his story, as so many have commented here. I think a lot of us have been through those crisis seasons, or may in the future. I have. Around 12 minutes into the video, Nathan was sharing a difficult moment about grappling with his worth and value as things weren't coming together as he hoped at that point of the timeline. The world tells you to chase money, a title, a validation from your peers, a name on social media, etc. But those things really have nothing to do with our worth and value. I realized too some years ago that having your ladder against that wall is a mirage and a deception. Honestly, I finally realized after a lot of years of heartache that my true value (and yours) is given by our Creator God. It's not your performance. It's not your fame or what people say in the comments or whether they follow you or like you or not. It's not the size of your bank account or how many impressive accolades you can list on your resume or important people you know. It's because He says you are valuable-so much that He gave His life for ours. We mess up-we're still valuable. Not to pick on Nathan one bit, but what if ConvertKit didn't work after his best efforts? What if he and his wife lost the investment and were starting from square one? That happens to people, to good people. But if it had, Nathan would be no less valuable. He and you are priceless in the sight of Jesus. We can feel truly secure and at peace when things hit bottom when we know the One who values us with an unconditional love, and will help us navigate through anything to recover if we invite Him in.
Appreciate you sharing imlistening2 👍
What an inspiration you are, Nathan! Thanks for sharing your story!
Thanks so much Joyce 🙏
I enjoyed this video 😊
Powerful story Nathan. 💥
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this is great man well done💯💯💯
Thank you!
Conertkit literally saved Nathan's life and now he saves the lives of creatives!
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inspiring story. thanks for sharing! 🙌
Our pleasure Khoi. Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Great story.Thank you for sharing
Our pleasure ❤️
So good
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Dude, you're the bomb
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I love this so much! I've felt this way most of my life, especially lately while following my relatively new dream of being a successful blogger and spending so much time on it. I have been on the free pain of ConvertKit for a while and this helps me know for sure that it's the place for me. I'm finally going to upgrade to the paid version!! Thank you Nathan for all that you do and for sharing your story!
That means a lot Nicole. We're glad to be able to support you on your journey. ❤️
You should make your ladders of wealth creation article into a video.
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Wow. Awesome and inspiring. Been feeling those lows lately and this story helped me realize that I had tied my own sense of value to my ability to produce... which in my defense, is certainly the message sent by the market... and by my ex-wife AMIRIGHTPEOPLE?!? No but seriously, thanks for sharing this. I am looking forward to learning more about Mr. Barry. I really appreciate his gift of patience and wisdom. Thanks for the PEP TALK!
Wow. 🥹 Thanks for sharing your story Nathan. 🙌🏼
Appreciation you watching.
I go for a 2+ mile run every week. I don't always manage to run the full distance without stopping, which can be discouraging. But for the past 4 weeks, I've listened to this inspiring documentary while running...and I've finished my run every single time. 🥲
Wow!! We’re so glad this film has been so inspiring for you Siew-Ann! Maybe we should compile our films into a workout playlist… 🏃🏻
Feel free to check out our I Am a Creator series if you need more running material! They come in RUclips documentaries or Spotify podcasts 🙏🏼😎