What does it take to build a tech consultancy that thrives for 20+ years while staying small, nimble, and deeply human?
In this episode, Emmy award-winning technologist and product strategist Ming Chan shares his journey from being yelled at by Steve Jobs, to launching The1stMovement, to navigating the promise and peril of AI.
Ming reveals why he intentionally limits his client base, how he’s kept enterprise partnerships for decades, and the moral questions every technologist should ask about AI’s role in society.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- How early experiences with Apple shaped Ming’s vision for tech and creativity
- Why being a “lifestyle entrepreneur” can be a strategic choice
- The tolerance-of-risk gap between startups and enterprises when adopting AI
- Practical ways agencies can use AI to boost velocity without sacrificing quality
- How to build client relationships that last decades
Chapters
00:00 - The Morality and Perception of AI
01:54 - From Music to Tech: Ming’s Origin Story
04:53 - Getting Yelled at by Steve Jobs
08:17 - The1stMovement’s Mission and Evolution
10:49 - Client Base and Team Size Strategy
15:45 - Why Stay Small? The Lifestyle Entrepreneur Approach
17:15 - AI Adoption in Enterprises vs Startups
21:39 - Using AI for Speed and Efficiency
23:22 - Startup Clients and the Reality of MVPs
25:55 - Growing vs Staying the Course
28:42 - Building Without Outside Funding
31:54 - The One Piece of Advice to His Younger Self
Resources
The1stMovement: https://the1stmovement.com/
Connect with Ming Chan: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mingchan/
Big North Marketing: https://bignorthmarketing.com/
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view. You can also watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel