From Concept to Execution: Lessons from the Success of GetAhead. With Sam McNamara
In this episode of FlashCast by PDB, Phil talks to Sam McNamara, founder of GetAhead, a job-matching platform that operates like Tinder for jobs. Sam shares his journey in starting the business and offers insights on how to go from concept to execution.
The episode begins with Sam providing an overview of GetAhead. He explains that the platform matches job seekers with companies and vice versa based on their preferences and experience. Swiping left or right through jobs or job seekers creates a match on the platform. The tool is free for employers, adds value to their recruitment strategy, and targets a younger audience that is looking for a fast, transparent way to find a job.
Phil and Sam dive into the lessons from the success of GetAhead. They start with the importance of identifying a problem and building a product that solves it. Sam shares that he saw a problem in the job-seeking process and designed the app that would solve that problem. He identified a gap in the market for hospitality, retail, and other fast-hiring industries, and worked on solutions that fit those needs.
Another lesson that Sam shares is the importance of finding functional investors. Phil emphasizes the need to back yourself up first and put your own money in before seeking funding. Sam shares that he sold everything he had and committed entirely to the project. He then got functional investors on board who could open doors, make introductions, and accelerate growth.
The episode ends with Phil asking Sam about the recent exposure of GetAhead in various media. Sam attributes the success to the brand, the audience, and the product's fit to the market. He highlights the organic growth of the platform and the company's ability to attract big names such as Nike, Samsung, and Wyndham hotel groups.
Highlights:
Highlights:
- Mindset is crucial [0:11]
- Self-talk shapes our beliefs and emotions [0:26]
- Negative self-talk leads to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem [1:08]
- Positive self-talk increases confidence, motivation, and resilience [1:20]
- Limiting beliefs hold us back from achieving our goals and fulfilling our potential [2:25]
- Practice self-talk regularly to make it a habit and reinforce positive attitudes [2:45]
- Be aware of negative self-talk and replace it with positive, more realistic thoughts [3:03]
- Keep a diary to track negative thoughts and challenge them [3:20]
- Seek support from authentic friends, mentors, or therapists to overcome limiting beliefs [3:55]
- Surround yourself with people that tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear [4:14]
- Mindset is a choice - choose positivity [1:46]
Overall, the episode offers valuable insights to entrepreneurs on how to start a business, solve a problem, build a product, find functional investors, and execute well. The success of GetAhead is proof that following these steps can lead to business success.
As always, thanks for listening. Subscribe, rate and review the show, and send us your questions at our Facebook page Facebook.com/FlashCastByPDB or at ask@flashcastbypdb.com
Produced by The Podcast Boss thepodcastboss.com
As always, thanks for listening. Subscribe, rate and review the show, and send us your questions at our Facebook page Facebook.com/FlashCastByPDB or at ask@flashcastbypdb.com
Produced by The Podcast Boss thepodcastboss.com
Creators and Guests
Host
Phillip Di Bella
Entrepreneurship is a way of life and intelligence for me, not a title. Every project that I embark upon, my goal is to do it different or better than anyone else. It was this passion and entrepreneurial spirit that led me to start up my first business venture, a small coffee-roasting operation in the suburbs of Brisbane in 2002. I identified a gap in the coffee market. There was no local coffee company that successfully matched the quality of their products with excellent customer service and a strong brand, all at a reasonable price. This business grew from a start up to the largest of its kind in Australia before I sold it 12 years later. I strive to make my group of companies matter to customers. I want to ensure that I am relevant in the future am continually looking at innovative ways to do so. I am not limited by my available resources; I am continually looking to fill the void in the market to meet customer’s needs and solve problems. My mantra is ‘tomorrow better than today’. My goal is to continue building and improving and use our achievements to fuel our momentum and keep moving forward to bigger and better things. I never rest on the laurels of my success but continue to pursue new ventures through which to challenge myself, and seek opportunities to develop or share my skills. I continue to strive as a leader in my industry and as an entrepreneur, and am always challenging myself personally and professionally whilst ensuring to give back to community.
