Stop what you’re doing and completely unplug. More specifically, spend a weekend in a cozy cabin in the woods without WiFi. This is now easier than ever thanks to this week’s Wild Business Growth Podcast guest, Jon Staff. Jon is the Founder & CEO of Getaway. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast platforms.
Episode 172: Jon Staff – WiFi-Free Founder of Getaway
Jon Staff, the Founder and CEO of Getaway, joins the show to share his journey from looking for a place to unplug to creating cozy cabins for busy people to escape to nature. Hear what makes Getaway cabins special, the validation process looked like, how to get yourself to truly unplug, Jon’s dream Getaway cabin location, and how he prepared for Shark Tank. This episode covers everything from FroYo to saving marriages. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- What’s something about running a FroYo shop most people would be surprised by
- Where does Jon’s entrepreneurial spirit come from
- What makes Getaway different than Airbnb
- How does Jon get himself to stop thinking about the business when he visits Getaway sites
- What were the early days of Getaway like
- How did Jon prepare for Shark Tank
- What’s something unexpected from studying at Harvard
- Subway ads (not that Subway)
Connect with Jon at Getaway.House, Instagram at @GetawayHouse and @JonStaff, and LinkedIn.
Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.
Show Notes
- Intro & FroYo
- [0:32] Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
- [0:42] Connect with Jon at Getaway.House, Instagram at @GetawayHouse and @JonStaff, and LinkedIn
- [2:09] Shoutout Dana!
- [2:27] I can’t help being so mean all the time
- [2:51] Where does Jon’s entrepreneurial spirit come from
- [3:06] Startups
- [3:14] When was the first time Jon realized that restlessness
- [2:48] His FroYo shop
- [3:52] Credit
- [4:01] Pinkberry
- [4:24] Sweet spot. Didn’t even realize it
- [4:38] What’s something about running a FroYo shop most people would be surprised by
- The Getaway Story
- [5:49] Funding, Entrepreneurship
- [6:08] What makes Getaway different than Airbnb
- [6:30] Push Notification
- [6:55] Product
- [6:57] WiFi
- [7:20] Digital
- [8:13] A starch difference
- [8:25] Branding, Podcast
- [8:44] When did the tension reach a point Jon needed to get away
- [9:10] Kool-Aid
- [9:27] iPhone, Smartphone
- [9:37] Email
- [10:47] Tiny Houses
- [11:33] Oh, Max
- [11:44] What were the early days of Getaway like
- [12:21] Tobin Bridge
- [12:34] craigslist
- [12:44] Shoutout Peter!
- [13:38] Router Costs (or not)
- [13:50] Smart Locks
- [14:07] What else makes Getaway cabins special
- [15:46] S’mores
- [16:00] Brand
- [16:44] Those darn light switches
- [16:55] PR (Public Relations)
- [17:00] Shark Tank
- [17:14] What has been the biggest growth driver for Getaway
- [17:29] Mary Meeker, TechCrunch, Data
- [18:04] Screen Time
- [19:01] What did the validation process look like
- [19:25] Text Messages
- [19:57] Real Estate, Hospitality
- [21:14] Facebook Ads
- [21:20] Nonprofits
- [23:29] How does Jon get himself to stop thinking about the business when he visits Getaway sites
- [24:19] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
- Wild Business Shoutout of the Week
- [25:15] Creative Marketing
- [25:16] Subway Ads
- [26:09] Marketing
- [27:04] What made these ads stand out to Jon
- Rapid-Fire Q&A
- [28:00] Bazinga!
- [28:16] Superior Entry Beach
- [29:17] Skinny Dipping all around
- [29:28] What was Jon’s favorite part of studying in Amsterdam
- [29:40] Study Abroad
- [29:44] Euros
- [30:21] What’s something unexpected from studying at Harvard
- [30:50] Harvard Business School (HBS)
- [31:00] Harvard Square
- [31:38] 2008 Crash
- [32:05] What’s a weird talent Jon has
- [32:50] How did he prepare for Shark Tank
- [33:42] Pete Davis
- [34:32] Reed
- [35:02] Connect with Jon at Getaway.House, Instagram at @GetawayHouse and @JonStaff, and LinkedIn
- [35:34] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast
- [35:56] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on GoodPods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
- [36:01] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn at @MaxBranstetter
- [36:04] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
- Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo
What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?
Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur or innovator joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the crazy creative and unusual ways they grew their business, and provides tips for you to do it, too. Hear the woman who became the voice of Siri, the man who’s reinventing the sandcastle, how GaryVee’s partners are turning the wine world upside down, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.
How do you start a podcast?
Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.
Thanks for listening to Jon Staff on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. Then go spend some time in the woods with them in a beautiful Getaway cabin. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!
