
In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, we explore the grind of building businesses with some practical insights and unfiltered takes. From why front-loading energy and pain is essential for success, to the controversial (if not disastrous) Jaguar rebrand, we cover the highs, lows, and lessons learned. We also dive into the game-changing potential of AI-powered video localization and how it could reshape content distribution. Plus, we share thoughts on the startup grind, ads vs. organic growth, and more. Intro & Branding Blunders
00:00 Ian’s boxing mishap and the Jaguar rebranding controversy 05:30 Classic cars vs. Jaguar’s modern misstep: The backlash and cultural tone-deafness 10:00 Porsche’s successful nostalgic campaign vs. Jaguar’s failure AI Localization & Video Content
14:00 YouTube’s AI localization: What it means for creators and brands 20:00 Global opportunities for multilingual content: Use cases in B2B SaaS 24:00 Opening new talent pools with seamless video and language tools The Concept of Front-Loading Energy
29:00 Front-loaded energy: Building momentum in daily life and business 35:00 Avoiding long-term inefficiencies by proactive preparation 40:00 Sprinting vs. consistent effort: How Ian and Wes handle momentum at NOCO Ads vs. Organic Growth
49:00 Balancing ads and organic growth in scaling businesses 55:00 Why organic proves value and ads amplify success Closing Reflections
01:02:00 Podcasting as a learning tool and refining ideas through conversations The WORK IN PROGRESS podcast hosted by Ian Piepenbrock and Wes Botman, two founders who are scaling and refining their businesses every day. Wes Botman is founder and CEO at Eli5 (https://eli5.io), a software studio making complex ideas simple and accessible. Ian Piepenbrock is CEO at Noco (https://noco.agency), an agency dedicated to helping B2B SaaS and tech companies grow through strategic web design and branding. Follow us on X for more raw insights, thoughts, and a good dose of founder reality: Wes: @wesbotman (https://x.com/wesbotman) Ian: @lamswolprins (https://x.com/lamswolprins)