1688 – The Four Stages of Community with Traction Conf’s Lloyed Lobo

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Co-founder of Boast.AI & Traction, Lloyed Lobo.

Lloyed's story is a compelling one. Growing up in the slums of Mumbai, he experienced firsthand the power of community. He saw how people came together for safety during the Gulf War and how this sense of community was a lifeline in times of crisis.

His experiences with the community continued as he joined HubSpot's inbound marketing community and worked for startups. He learned the importance of surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals and how this can fuel personal and professional growth.

Lloyed's belief in the power of community didn't stop at personal experiences. He and his friend started their company, Boast, and had to build a community to grow their business. This community eventually rose to 120,000 subscribers and played a crucial role in their success, attracting customers, partners, and investors.

However, despite achieving financial success, Lloyed found himself feeling depressed. He realized that it was because he had lost his community. This realization led him to write a book about the power of community and its role in building iconic brands. He distilled his learnings into 13 rules for community-led growth, hoping to inspire others to embrace the power of community.

Lloyed emphasized the significance of community and its impact on individuals' well-being. He mentioned that loneliness is America's number one killer and shared his experience of feeling depressed when he lacked a sense of community.

Lloyed introduced the concept of "blue zones," five places where people live long and functional lives. He highlighted that belonging, social connection, and community are essential for a fulfilling life.

Key Points from the Episode:

Importance of community in personal and professional life
Lloyed Lobo's personal journey and experiences with community
Building a community for business growth
The role of community in achieving success and attracting customers, partners, and investors
The impact of losing community on mental health
Lloyed Lobo's book "From Grassroots to Greatness" and its focus on community-led growth
Avoiding common mistakes in building and maintaining a community
The significance of community for well-being and longevity
Starting with purpose, vision, mission, and values when building a community

About Lloyed Lobo:

Lloyed Lobo is a multifaceted entrepreneur, podcast host, and community leader with a remarkable journey. Having endured the Gulf War as a young refugee in Kuwait, he developed a profound appreciation for the power of community during times of crisis.

Lloyed's entrepreneurial prowess shines as the co-founder of Boast.AI, a fintech platform that achieved incredible success using the Community-Led Growth model. Under his leadership, Boast.AI reached eight-figure revenues and secured over $100 million in funding.

In addition to his fintech endeavors, Lloyed co-founded Traction, a dynamic community that empowers over 100,000 innovators through valuable connections, enriching content, and access to capital. His expertise extends to the written word, as he authored "From Grassroots To Greatness: 13 Rules to Build Iconic Brands with Community Led Growth," a book offering tactical insights from iconic community-led businesses like Apple, Nike, and HubSpot. This literary gem quickly rose to the top of Amazon's new release charts in various categories.

Lloyed's accomplishments have garnered media attention from Forbes, TechCrunch, Fox Business, and more. He's a sought-after speaker, having graced over 100 conferences and podcasts, sharing his wisdom and experiences with audiences worldwide. In summary, Lloyed Lobo's inspiring journey and entrepreneurial achievements underscore the immense impact of community-driven growth in today's business landscape.

About Boast.AI:

Boast.AI is a cutting-edge platform designed to supercharge innovation and enhance R&D intelligence for businesses. With Boast, organizations can tap into the vast pool of available R&D tax credits and funding opportunities to gain valuable insights and accelerate their growth.

The platform achieves this by seamlessly integrating financial, engineering, and project data, substantially boosting the speed, precision, and magnitude of eligible tax incentives. Boast.AI stands out as the sole solution that empowers businesses to maximize their claims while fostering a culture of rapid innovation.

In essence, Boast.AI acts as a catalyst for companies seeking to leverage financial incentives and optimize their research and development efforts. By harnessing the power of this platform, businesses can access the billions of dollars earmarked for R&D support, ultimately propelling their growth and competitiveness in today's dynamic marketplace.

About Traction:

Traction is a thriving global community that unites over 100,000 entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide. This dynamic network is a hub for thought leadership and knowledge exchange, offering various platforms such as webinars, podcasts, meetups, retreats, and conferences.

What sets Traction apart is its remarkable lineup of industry leaders and visionaries who participate in these events. Founders and CXOs from renowned companies like Atlassian, Shopify, Twilio, LinkedIn, Slack, HubSpot, MongoDB, and Y Combinator, among others, have graced Traction's stages and platforms, sharing invaluable business insights and experiences.

Through this impressive lineup and diverse engagement opportunities, Traction empowers its members to gain essential Traction in their entrepreneurial journeys. It provides a unique learning, networking, and collaboration space, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to accelerate their business growth and innovation.