The First 2 Weeks of My 90-Day-Comeback Challenge: Progress, Learnings and Valuable Insights

Julian Hosp
7 min readJun 16, 2024

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Welcome to my 2-week recap of the 90 Day Comeback Challenge! Since May 29th, I have been taking you on a journey full of challenges, insights and progress every day. In the last two weeks I have worked intensively to advance my company and my personal development. In this blog post I would like to give you an overview of the most important events and learnings of the last 16 days. Let’s look back together and review the highlights of this exciting time.

Take 1: The Gameplan

The start of the 90-day challenge was all about reorientation and goal setting. After a difficult eight months in which my business partner left, the rebuilding of my company began. It was about regaining customer trust and redefining our mission. These 90 days are a chance to rise like the phoenix from the ashesand to get our company back on the road to success.

You can find the entire day 1 here

Day 2: Just keep going!

On the second day the focus was on motivation and discipline. I shared my thoughts on why discipline is more important than motivation. Discipline means doing things even when you don’t feel like doing them. It’s about taking small daily steps that lead to big successes. A challenging morning where I got up early despite being tired showed me the power of discipline.

You can find the entire day 2 here

Day 3: Product Market Fit!

The third day was dedicated to the entrepreneurial concept of “Product Market Fit”. It’s about creating a product that customers will delight in and recommend. Our strategy over the next 90 days is to to offer a simple, transparent and attractive product that customers love. By adapting to market needs, we want to ensure that our product remains relevant and valuable.

You can find the entire day 3 here

Day 4: What new should we offer?!

On the fourth day we delved deeper into the topic of “Product Market Fit” and took Jeff Bezos’ principles for success at Amazon as our model. We focused on three key features: easy to use, attractive returns and transparency. Customer feedback played an important role in developing new product ideas and improving existing offerings.

You can find the entire day 4 here

Day 5: Take a break, but do it right!

The fifth day emphasized the importance of breaks and their proper use. I shared my experiences about which activities help me to switch off and recharge my batteries. Family time and interactive activities were in the foreground. Breaks are essential for mental and physical health and help you stay productive in the long term.

You can find the entire day 5 here

Day 6: MVP — quick start as an entrepreneur

The sixth day was about the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and its importance in entrepreneurship. An MVP is the simplest version of a product that has just enough features to attract initial customers and collect feedback. I showed how we use this approach to develop and improve products quickly and efficiently.

You can find the entire day 6 here

Day 7: Who is actually our target group?

Day seven was about identifying the target group. A clear understanding of the target group is crucial to the success of a company. I present the five-level concept, which helps to define the ideal target group and develop tailor-made marketing strategies. A clear target group makes it possible to better understand the needs of customers and respond to them in a targeted manner.

You can find the entire day 7 here

Day 8: MVP-Launch of the Customizable Smart Bundles

On the eighth day I quit Launch unserer Customizable Smart Bundles at. These bundles can be created and customized by users themselves, allowing them to share your own creations and earn money from them. The launch takes place as an MVP in a closed beta to collect feedback and continuously improve the product.

You can find the entire day 8 here

Day 9: How do I attack my to-do list every day?!

Day nine covered the topic of productivity and how to tackle my to-do list efficiently. A structured approach that categorizes and prioritizes tasks helps me stay on track and achieve my daily goals. Through a clear plan and the right balance between work and breaks, I increase my efficiency and achieve my long-term goals.

You can find the entire day 9 here

Day 10: Nothing works without teamwork!

The tenth day was all about teamwork. I explained the importance of establishing clear principles and enforcing them throughout the organization. Our seven team principles — Integrity, Extreme Ownership, Resourcefulness, Impact, Candor, Meritocracy and Customer Focus — help us to work effectively as a team and achieve big goals.

You can find the entire day 10 here

Day 11: My 3 types of hobbies

On the eleventh day, I talked about the importance of hobbies and introduced three types of hobbies that are essential in my life: hobbies for health, hobbies for mind, and hobbies for social interaction. These hobbies help me to lead a balanced and fulfilling life and offer me the necessary change from everyday business life.

You can find the entire day 11 here

Day 12: The recipe for happiness

The twelfth day was about happiness. I shared my thoughts and science about what makes people happy. Meaningful relationships play a central role. I emphasized the importance of spending time with family and friends and actively nurturing these relationships to find true happiness.

You can find the entire day 12 here.

Day 13: The art of the product launch

The thirteenth day was dedicated to the art of product launches. I shared my experiences and tips on how to successfully launch a product and what mistakes to avoid. It is important to start marketing early, address the right target group and continuously respond to customer feedback.

You can find the entire day 13 here

Day 14: OKRs — setting the right company goals

On the fourteenth day, I explained the importance of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and how to use them effectively in the company. Goals must be measurable and realistic. I explained how we set OKRs in our company and conduct regular performance reviewsto make sure we are on the right track.

You can find the entire day 14 here

Day 15: Holding productive meetings

On the fifteenth day, I shared insights on how to organize and run productive meetings. I emphasized the importance of clear structures and regular meetings to ensure transparency and efficiency. A good meeting culture is crucial to the success of a company.

You can find the entire day 15 here

Day 16: A day in my life as a CEO

Day sixteen offered a glimpse into my typical day as a CEO. I described my morning routine, my productive work phases, the importance of time management and the balance between work and family life. Structure and routine help me to cope with my tasks efficiently and at the same time have enough time for my family.

You can find the entire day 16 here

Kai, The Silent Listener

Hello, I’m Kai: the silent listener. I like to sneak into Julian’s meetings with the aim of listening in and sharing the most important insights with you. No matter whether Julian is talking to the compliance team, the marketing team, the developers or the lawyers… I always sneak in, especially when there is something to learn.

During the last two weeks of the 90 Day Comeback Challenge, I secretly sneaked into Julian’s office and picked up the most valuable tips and lessons. Here are my top 5 takeaways:

  1. Discipline over motivation: Discipline is the key to long-term success. Small, continuous steps lead to great success, even when motivation wanes.
  2. Customer focus and feedback: Products that delight customers are the goal. Customer feedback plays a central role in constantly improving and adapting products.
  3. The meaning of Regeneration: Breaks are essential for mental and physical health. Family time and fun activities help you stay productive and happy.
  4. Teamwork and clear principles: A strong team is crucial. Integrity, extreme ownership and customer focus are some of the principles that make Julian’s team strong and successful.
  5. Efficient goal setting with OKRs: Clear, measurable and ambitious goals are important. OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) help ensure that the whole team is on the same path.

I hope these tips and lessons help you as much as they did me. I’m going on the hunt again… see you!

Conclusion

The first 16 days of my 90-day comeback challenge were intense and educational. We made important progress, collected valuable feedback and developed new strategies. It will be exciting to see how the next few weeks will develop. Thank you for accompanying and supporting me on this journey. Together we can achieve great things!

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Julian Hosp
Julian Hosp

Written by Julian Hosp

CEO Cake Group, EU Blockchain Advisor, Angel Investor, Washington Bureau Speaker, 5x Bestselling Author, Ex-Pro-Athlete, Ex-Medical-Doc

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