EP 56: Justin Esgar on Generating Ideas on the Fly, the Genius of Multiple Revenue Streams, and the Hard Climb to Profitable Conferences

Where are your blind spots?


 


Is there something you love doing anyway that could make you a
few extra dollars with minimal setup or maintenance costs? Can
you leverage your audience to support your passion project or
side hustle?


 


I tend not to think things are worth my time if they aren’t going
to produce significant revenue. That has served me well, of
course, but it may also close me off to new ideas that are
actually really good.


 


Today, I’m chatting with a badass business owner and entrepreneur
whose approach is almost exactly the opposite of mine.


 


Justin Esgar has more ideas than he has time to implement them
but he does it anyway, whether it’s parking a domain for later or
putting T-shirt designs on Threadless and being delighted by
every single $6 sale.


 


Justin originally built a successful IT consulting company over
10 years ago called Virtua Consulting Group, which he still runs
and owns. But like so many entrepreneurs, Justin has IDEAS.


 


First, running a successful IT company wasn’t enough, so he
started the ACES Conference to teach IT consultants how to build
better businesses. Fun fact, I actually spoke about branding at
the first ACES Conference in New Orleans!


 


But as you’ll hear it didn’t stop with the conference. Justin is
always looking for new ideas, creating new streams of income, and
enjoying himself in the process. I’m looking forward to catching
up with him and seeing what irons he’s got in the fire right now.


 


Tune into this episode to hear:


Why even if you can’t do the job, you can still do the work

The double-edged sword of responsibility and being a “fixer”

The challenges of building a conference from the ground up,
from hotel block fees to $85 coffees

How Jason has used add-on services and leveraged
relationships to build multiple income streams

How making T-shirts for fun has led to surprising connections
and opportunities



 


Learn more about Justin Esgar:


Virtua Consulting Group

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn



 


Learn more about Pia:


No BS Agency Owners Free Facebook Group

The Show Your Business Who's Boss Crash Course

Start reading the first chapter of my book

Piasilva.com



 


Resources:


ACES Conference

Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes

Managed Services in a Month: Build a Successful, Modern
Computer Consulting Business in 30 Days, Karl W. Palachuk

Paul Green’s MSP Marketing Podcast