Noah Kagan Presents

I just had lunch with someone who sold a billion-dollar company. What stuck with me wasn't the money, it was how seriously he took standards. Not just in his work but through his entire life.
This month I talk about what standards really mean, why they're just values in action, and how raising them creates clarity instead of chaos. This is about doing better work, even when things feel messy, and coming out stronger on the other side.
In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:
How to set real standards instead of vague values

How to rebuild trust when customers check out

Why higher standards actually make decisions easier

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.
My book Million Dollar Weekend breaks down how to start a business in simple steps you can do in one weekend.
I also send brutally honest emails about business and life. Join 350k people reading them at noahkagan.com.

It's New Year's Eve, and I've been taking stock of everything 2025 threw my way and what I want 2026 to look like. There were plenty of ups and downs, but what didn't work has forced me to rethink how I lead.
In this episode, I talk honestly about what's changing at AppSumo, what I've learned by getting closer to the work again, and why leadership right now looks very different than it did.
In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:
Setting goals that actually change your behavior

Going easier on yourself when things don't work out

Resetting direction when you've drifted

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.
My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start something without overthinking it. I break the process down into simple steps you can actually do in a weekend.
I also send emails with my unfiltered thoughts on business, money, and life. People seem to like them. You can sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k+ readers getting the good stuff each month.

Today, I'm giving you part three of the AppSumo saga.
Black Friday was rough, targets got missed, and the team felt it. But I zoomed out and the signals actually looked way better than expected. Refunds are dropping, deal quality is rising, customer sentiment is improving, and we're finally stabilizing the business after a horrible year.
So in this episode I break down our simple three part plan to see out 2025, and talk about bundles, new partner offerings, the future of software, and how leadership really works when the scoreboard looks ugly. It's honestly the most exciting I've felt about AppSumo's horizon in a long time.
In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:
How to course-correct when your Black Friday deal flops hard

What I do when customers stop clicking

How to avoid repeating the same mistakes next quarter

Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.
My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.  
I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

The past few months at AppSumo have been brutal. People are voting with their wallets and return buyers are down 40%. We lost some of the trust we spent years building and drifted from what made us great. But the fire in my belly is back and I'm going to war for what we do best.
I'm turning the battleship back towards curating high-quality tools that people actually love and I'm taking you inside the war room. In this episode, I share what's working, what's not and what I'm learning.
 
If you've ever run a company or have just gone through a tough season, you'll love this one
 
In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:
Why simplicity and focus is the best strategy when things get messy.

How direct conversations with customers and partners can rebuild trust

Why curating truly great products (not just more of them) is key to winning back customers 

 
Enjoy these 3 things plus plenty of spicy behind-the-scenes stories along the way.
 
My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. 

I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend.  

After a year of paternity leave, I'm back as CEO at AppSumo… and holy moly, it's been challenging. 
In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes of stepping back into my company, where we've gone wrong in my absence, and what I'm doing to fix it.
From running a "listening tour" across the company, to rethinking our deal standards, this is me working in real time to bring AppSumo back stronger than ever. It's been exhausting but humbling. If you've ever faced chaos in your own business, I think you'll get a lot out of this one.
 
In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things:
• How getting clear on "who owns what" keeps teams from drowning
• Why true leadership beats management every time
• Why making a call (even if it's not the right one) is always better than sitting on the fence
Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way.
 
I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.