Ep 000: Startup Life Hacks and the Host

Hello fellow entrepreneurs and welcome to Startup Life Hacks. This is Episode 000 and we are going to be discussing a few key points before listening to the actual show. In this special episode I will be introducing you to: who I am, the host; why I started a podcast; the format of the show; and most importantly to you, my listeners, why is this podcast for YOU?

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Hello fellow entrepreneurs and welcome to Startup Life Hacks. This is episode 000 and we are going to be discussing a few key points before listening to the actual show. In this special episode I will be introducing you to who I am, the host. Why I started a podcast. The format of the show. And most importantly to you, my listeners, why is this podcast for YOU?

To reiterate from the wonderful intro, my name is Rommel Cabal. I am a child immigrants. Born in the Philippines, but raised here in Sunny San Diego, and is arguably claimed to be “America’s Finest City.” I am currently a graduate student studying Electrical Engineering at San Diego State University and also work full-time at Qualcomm. I like to take long walks on short beaches, eat pizza after a workout, and experiment with new technology. But enough about me. Let’s get started on why I started a podcast.

I’ve been fascinated hearing about these inspiring entrepreneurs who started small companies that grew into ones large enough to be sold for millions of dollars. We tend to hear about these successes in the news and wondered, why not me? We forget that these companies started somewhere, having humble beginnings, in a dorm, a co-working space, or even in their parent’s garage. I’m here to tell their story. Talk about their successes, their failures, their reasons for even becoming an entrepreneur.

I started this podcast because I feel that their voice needed to be heard. I crashed an entrepreneurship class at SDSU, hoping to learn something fascinating and new. One of the projects was to interview an entrepreneur who started a business in San Diego. My entrepreneur of choice was my previous bosses from a startup I used to work for, ROBO3D. After listening to everyone present their findings from the interviews, I could see the student’s eyes around the classroom light up. I could tell that a fire has ignited within themselves for them to start something new as well. Fast forward a few months and I am here, doing the same project, but one that is meant for YOU, my listeners.

On my free time from work and studies, I will be publishing a podcast 3 days a week, typically on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I’ll begin by asking these startup founders, what there upbringing was like followed by who inspired them or looked up to. We then get into the journey of the startup when I ask how they initially funded the company, a success they had, as well as a failure. To dive deeper into the characteristics of the entrepreneur, I included a fun round, The SuperHero Round. Here they will explain a strength they have, and what makes them tick. Finally, I will conclude the interview by revealing what tools the founder recommends to our listeners, as well as actionable steps anyone can do now to get started. These interviews will last around 20-30 minutes and I can assure you, this is worth your time. Which bring me to my next bullet point. Why is this Podcast for YOU?

I will be doing a special introduction for the first 2 months of launch of what I like to call, my “POWER 30.” These are the first 30 interviews of Startup Life Hacks. Why are they special? We all know how important it is to make connections in business and in life and sometimes we are not equipped with the knowledge to even start finding these connections. These people that I am interviewing have some of the busiest lives I have encountered. Their time is valuable, as well as yours. So that’s why I will be going through each of these 30 interviewees and describing how we actually met and the steps I took...

Hello fellow entrepreneurs and welcome to Startup Life Hacks. This is Episode 000 and we are going to be discussing a few key points before listening to the actual show. In this special episode I will be introducing you to: who I am, the host; why I started a podcast; the format of the show; and most importantly to you, my listeners, why is this podcast for YOU?

Read Full Transcript

Hello fellow entrepreneurs and welcome to Startup Life Hacks. This is episode 000 and we are going to be discussing a few key points before listening to the actual show. In this special episode I will be introducing you to who I am, the host. Why I started a podcast. The format of the show. And most importantly to you, my listeners, why is this podcast for YOU?

To reiterate from the wonderful intro, my name is Rommel Cabal. I am a child immigrants. Born in the Philippines, but raised here in Sunny San Diego, and is arguably claimed to be “America’s Finest City.” I am currently a graduate student studying Electrical Engineering at San Diego State University and also work full-time at Qualcomm. I like to take long walks on short beaches, eat pizza after a workout, and experiment with new technology. But enough about me. Let’s get started on why I started a podcast.

I’ve been fascinated hearing about these inspiring entrepreneurs who started small companies that grew into ones large enough to be sold for millions of dollars. We tend to hear about these successes in the news and wondered, why not me? We forget that these companies started somewhere, having humble beginnings, in a dorm, a co-working space, or even in their parent’s garage. I’m here to tell their story. Talk about their successes, their failures, their reasons for even becoming an entrepreneur.

I started this podcast because I feel that their voice needed to be heard. I crashed an entrepreneurship class at SDSU, hoping to learn something fascinating and new. One of the projects was to interview an entrepreneur who started a business in San Diego. My entrepreneur of choice was my previous bosses from a startup I used to work for, ROBO3D. After listening to everyone present their findings from the interviews, I could see the student’s eyes around the classroom light up. I could tell that a fire has ignited within themselves for them to start something new as well. Fast forward a few months and I am here, doing the same project, but one that is meant for YOU, my listeners.

On my free time from work and studies, I will be publishing a podcast 3 days a week, typically on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I’ll begin by asking these startup founders, what there upbringing was like followed by who inspired them or looked up to. We then get into the journey of the startup when I ask how they initially funded the company, a success they had, as well as a failure. To dive deeper into the characteristics of the entrepreneur, I included a fun round, The SuperHero Round. Here they will explain a strength they have, and what makes them tick. Finally, I will conclude the interview by revealing what tools the founder recommends to our listeners, as well as actionable steps anyone can do now to get started. These interviews will last around 20-30 minutes and I can assure you, this is worth your time. Which bring me to my next bullet point. Why is this Podcast for YOU?

I will be doing a special introduction for the first 2 months of launch of what I like to call, my “POWER 30.” These are the first 30 interviews of Startup Life Hacks. Why are they special? We all know how important it is to make connections in business and in life and sometimes we are not equipped with the knowledge to even start finding these connections. These people that I am interviewing have some of the busiest lives I have encountered. Their time is valuable, as well as yours. So that’s why I will be going through each of these 30 interviewees and describing how we actually met and the steps I took to get their attention. One of the questions that I ask my guests is “Where do you see your organization 5 years from now?” Later down the path, I will be bringing back my POWER 30 on my show, and we’ll see how they grew as a person and as a business.

Hacker Nation…I hope that you are just as excited as I am on this journey. Let me know what your struggles are. Go to startuplifehacks.com and shoot me an email. I am open to feedback and will gladly do the best I can to solve your problems. I’m reminding you that it’s ok to fail, and it’s ok to struggle. Keep this motto with you. Say it to yourself when the going gets tough.

STAY POSITIVE. AND KEEP GRINDIN!