Archive 1: 2012-2016
205: Branding: Strategically Focus Your Pricing, Content, Client Acquisition, Company Culture, Business Model, Customer Experience, and Identity with Natasha Davis
Natasha Davis is a branding expert and consultant who helps companies develop strategic visual, auditory, and emotional branding. She is the author of the book "Be Unleashed: Unleashing Millionaire Mindset and Build Your Brand," which she co-wrote with six other entrepreneurs. Natasha runs Impact Branding Consulting and has been in business for 11 years, specializing in working with healthcare, agencies, and service professionals. Her expertise focuses on helping micro and small businesses understand the critical differences between marketing and branding.
Natasha Davis from Impact Branding Consulting says that many business owners confuse marketing (psychological minutiae that let people know your business is present, i.e. t-shirts) with actual branding (pricing, content, client acquisition, culture, business model, expertise you have, identity).
Don't do so many things that you can't differentiate yourself in a unique way! Branding is the difference between being seen as a "Target" business or a "Dollar Store" business. Decide what type of client you want, and then develop a profile of what that ideal client looks like.
Identify that ideal client's commonalities and observable behaviors (business size, industry, where they hang out, social networks, how to get in touch, follow-up) and characteristics (what you can only identify by talking to them -- if they're ready to get started and how accountable and coachable they are).
Quotes:
“Branding transforms a company from merely being recognized to establishing true brand equity. Only by developing brand equity can a business scale effectively and be acknowledged as a well-suited company.” – Natasha Davis
“The foundation of any business is its clients. If your clients aren't happy, your business won't thrive, and your finances will struggle.” – Natasha Davis
“An ideal client is one who values your work and recognizes that they are investing in the solutions you have developed.” – Natasha Davis
Takeaways:
02:28 Branding goes far beyond logos and websites - it's a strategic approach to defining your business's core identity and value.
12:07 Pricing should be a strategic decision based on the type of clients you want to serve, not just matching competitors' rates.
15:23 Identifying your ideal client requires understanding both observable behaviors and hidden characteristics that make them a perfect match for your services.
17:49 Different industries require unique communication approaches, and understanding your target market's communication style is crucial for successful client acquisition.
21:25 Investing time in research and preparation before implementation can save significant money and increase business success.
Resources
- Impact Branding Consulting (Website)
- Be Unleashed (Book)
- The Difference Between Marketing and Branding (Blog Post)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:15 — 27.7MB) | Embed
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204: Solve a Problem with Non-Fiction or Entertain with Fiction: Sell More Amazon Books, Attract Reviews and Increase Book Sales with Jim Kukral
Jim Kukral is an experienced internet marketing professional with nearly 20 years of expertise helping small and large businesses grow online. He has worked with major companies like FedEx, Sherwin Williams, and Progressive Auto Insurance. Jim is an author who has published over 10 books, including a traditionally published book with Wiley and Sons. He runs Author Marketing Club, a website that provides tools and training for book authors looking to market their work effectively.
Publisher Jim Kukral from Author Marketing Club wants you to create a non-fiction book to solve a problem, or a fiction book to entertain. Jim lays out a scenario where he targeted a big group to solve a problem with a clear title, as in, "Social Media Marketing for Real Estate Agents." In the book, he explained what business owners should do, and provided a free 15-minute phone consultation in the back of the book to close clients.
Quotes:
“There are two main reasons people use the internet: first, to solve a problem, and second, to be entertained.” – Jim Kukral
“The greatest thing about Amazon and selling books online is that the market is controlled by the readers.” – Jim Kukral
“People prefer to hire individuals they feel comfortable with—those they know, like, and trust. A book helps establish and strengthen that trust.” – Jim Kukral
Takeaways:
02:39 People use the internet for two core reasons: to solve problems or be entertained, which directly maps to nonfiction and fiction book purposes.
05:45 Writing a book with a clear, direct title that describes exactly what it does can help attract the right audience and build credibility.
12:23 Revealing all your professional secrets in a book won't hurt your business - most people still want someone else to do the work for them.
18:52 Success in book publishing requires writing in a genre with a large market and creating multiple books to build a sustainable income stream.
20:50 Digital publishing allows authors to update and improve their books based on reader feedback, making the writing process more dynamic.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:43 — 23.5MB) | Embed
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203: Write a Book, Become a Bestseller, and Iterate Your Way to Kindle Publishing Success with Tom Corson-Knowles
Tom Corson-Knowles is an international best-selling author and entrepreneur who specializes in Kindle publishing. He founded TCK Publishing, an independent book publishing company, and created the Ebook Publishing School. Tom has written multiple books, including the Kindle Publishing Bible and a book about Facebook marketing for business owners. He helps authors write, publish, and market their books through his training courses and publishing services.
Tom Corson-Knowles from TCK Publishing and Ebook Publishing School has great news: it's easy to publish lots of content and scale your business by approaching Amazon publishing in a scientific, step-by-step mindset:
- Write down a list of 20-40 book ideas in a tool such as EverNote
- Research: find the marketplace gaps and see how similar books are selling
- Hook: narrow down one unique idea and craft a clear message
- Brainstorm: develop your promise and decide what readers want to know (these are more than just chapters, they include additional videos and checklists)
- Speak out the book (you can even use your smartphone)
- Editing/revision
Quotes:
“Business has never been easier than it is today. There has never been a time in human history when it has been simpler to start a business, make money, publish books, or write books.” – Tom Corson-Knowles
“You need to focus on what you can control in life, rather than dwelling on what you cannot control.” – Tom Corson-Knowles
“A great book is crafted by offering something uniquely valuable. It must stand out, as writing another generic "me-too" book won't make an impact.” – Tom Corson-Knowles
Takeaways:
06:24 Research market gaps and reader needs by carefully studying book reviews on Amazon to create unique, valuable content.
10:39 Don't get stuck in planning; take action quickly and iterate your book development process, treating it like climbing a mountain with changing perspectives.
18:47 Schedule dedicated time for book writing, treating it like a critical appointment that you cannot miss.
26:46 Success in publishing requires perfecting multiple elements: book title, cover, description, keywords, reviews, and branding.
29:28 Choose evergreen book topics that remain relevant over time, avoiding rapidly changing technical markets.
Resources
- TCK Publishing (Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:08 — 29.4MB) | Embed
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202: Use Free Social Media to Generate 11 Daily Leads in 15 Minutes with Terry Gremaux
Terry Gremaux is an entrepreneurial leader from Dallas, Texas, who trains business owners on using free social media strategies to grow their market presence and revenue. Originally from a small town in Montana, Terry struggled financially for years before breaking through and becoming a successful entrepreneur. He grew up on a ranch with limited resources and was making only $35,000 a year before transforming his business approach. Terry now helps entrepreneurs expand their online presence across platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Terry Gremaux, the Hashtag Hunter, only needs to spend about 15 minutes a day to get 10 new leads a day into his business as part of his daily routine. Here's his process:
- regularly check thought leaders' Facebook pages such as Gary Vee or Tony Robbins
- leave a thoughtful comment on their latest post (4-5 minutes)
- like all the comments left by others
- respond to friend requests and get to know them
- keep in touch with those prospects to find their problem/desire
- run Facebook live streams every day
Mindset tweak: Business is promoting a solution to a problem at a profit. Be interested in people and have a conversation.
Quotes:
“Business is about providing a solution to a problem while generating a profit. That’s the essence of it—end of story.” – Terry Gremaux
“A decision always happens in a moment. It wasn’t a seven-year decision—it happened in an instant. I was done, made a plan, and put it into action.” – Terry Gremaux
“I don't want you to think about sales. I want you to think about being interested in people and providing value.” – Terry Gremaux
Takeaways:
05:56 Success starts with choosing who influences your mindset and blocking out negative voices.
13:01 Taking action matters more than having a perfect plan - start small and grow from there.
19:12 Social media success is about building relationships and solving people's problems, not just selling.
24:53 Consistent daily actions on social media can generate significant business opportunities.
28:27 Your business reputation is built by consistently providing high-value solutions to customers.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:31 — 29.8MB) | Embed
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201: Podcast Guesting: Grow Your Audience, Get More Traffic, and Increase Your Digital Reach with Heather Havenwood
Heather Havenwood is an online business expert and entrepreneur who has been active in digital marketing since 1999. She successfully grew an information marketing publishing company to over $1 million in sales within 12 months. Heather runs multiple businesses, including Date Triggers, a dating education platform for men, and hosts her own podcast called "Win with Heather Havenwood". She is also the creator of Podcast 3030, a course teaching professionals how to effectively guest on podcasts. Her background includes overcoming significant personal challenges like bankruptcy and foreclosure, which she now uses as a powerful storytelling tool in her speaking and teaching.
Heather Havenwood has made a killing guesting on podcasts. She has tons of tips for you today on how to be a great podcast guest and an even better podcast host.
Quotes:
“Podcasting is not a presentation where I’m speaking to you; it’s a conversation. I share my story, provide value, offer tips and tricks, and people listen in to our chat.” – Heather Havenwood
“If I can do it, you can do it, no matter your situation—whether it’s divorce or something else. Everyone has their ups and downs.” – Heather Havenwood
“My job is to add value to you and your people. It’s about making you the star, not me, and offering as much value as I possibly can.” – Heather Havenwood
Takeaways:
01:58 Podcast guesting is a powerful way to share your story and connect with new audiences without the hassle of physical travel.
10:31 Successful podcast interviews are conversations, not presentations - focus on storytelling and creating an engaging dialogue.
25:48 Being open to appearing on diverse podcasts, regardless of the niche, can lead to unexpected opportunities and connections.
33:03 Creating a strategic media kit and approach can significantly increase your chances of being invited as a podcast guest.
37:35 Developing your storytelling skills through podcast appearances can help you communicate more effectively across different platforms.
Resources
- The Win: Podcast with Heather Ann Havenwood (Podcast)
- 30 Podcasts in 30 Days Course (Podcast)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:43 — 41.9MB) | Embed
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200: Side Hustles: Part-Time Entrepreneurial Ideas, The Sharing Economy, and Just-in-Time Learning with Nick Loper
Nick Loper is an entrepreneur and digital business expert known for his work in side hustles and online income strategies. He runs the popular Side Hustle Nation blog and podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs and shares insights about part-time business ideas. Nick is also the author of "Buy Buttons," a book that explores various online marketplaces and strategies for making extra money. He has built multiple online businesses, including a footwear comparison shopping site, and has become a respected voice in the entrepreneurial community for helping people explore alternative income streams.
Nick Loper from the Side Hustle Nation podcast is the king of side hustles: low-risk entrepreurship, for-profit hobbies. Thanks to marketplaces like iTunes, Fiverr, eBay, Craigslist, and other sharing economy sites, the universe has shrunk, and now is the time for you to jump in:
- Find a marketplace that uses the sharing economy (such as Uber, Airbnb, DogVacay, Turo for P2P car rental, Prosper for P2P loans)
- Use your unique skills (freelancing)
- Buy low and sell high
- Create your own products
Quotes:
“I think of side hustles as a lower-risk form of entrepreneurship. You don't have to quit your job, but if you have an extra 5, 10, or 20 hours a week and want to do something productive with that time, consider it like for-profit hobbies.” – Nick Loper
“We've underutilized assets in our lives—our car, spare bedroom, and even various platforms to generate money.” – Nick Loper
“Realistically, the biggest failure is often cash flow. Businesses fail because they don't bring in enough money or make enough sales.” – Nick Loper
Takeaways:
01:53 Marketplaces like Fiverr, Amazon, and Airbnb provide built-in audiences and easier entry points for new entrepreneurs.
04:13 Treating a side hustle like a real business, with persistence and willingness to learn from failures, is crucial to success.
22:17 Side hustles offer a low-risk path to entrepreneurship, allowing people to earn extra money and learn new skills without quitting their day job.
29:40 Small, incremental earnings can grow into significant income streams when approached with patience and strategic thinking.
37:39 Successful side hustlers focus on one platform or skill at a time, building momentum through consistent small actions.
Side Hustles Mentioned
- Turo (rent out your car)
- CuddleUp (charge money for cuddling -- yes, really)
- Fiverr (provide any service you want)
Resources
- Buy Button (Book)
- Side Hustle Nation (Podcast)
- The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson (Website)
- Steve Scott (Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:27 — 43.4MB) | Embed
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199: Financial Gravity: Lower Taxes and Higher Profits with John Pollock
John Pollock is the CEO of Financial Gravity and an expert in tax planning for entrepreneurs and small business owners. He is the author of a book about the 10 biggest tax mistakes small business owners make, which is available for free through his website or by text. John has also created a program to train accountants and financial professionals in tax-saving strategies.
John Pollock from Financial Gravity wants to help you save on your taxes, since accountants and bookkeepers aren't trained for that. He has some unique insights on how you can get a tax blueprint to proactively plan your finances.
Be sure to text "TAXBOOK" to phone number 33-4444 for a free bonus.
Quotes:
“If I can show you ways to save on federal and state taxes, you'll also gain savings on payroll taxes and sales taxes, leading to a compounding effect.” – John Pollock
“The tax code is not designed for the rich. It's actually designed for the small business owner.” – John Pollock
“The IRS is a collection agency. That's the stark reality, and collection agencies are going to go after people that don't know the tax code, not people that do know the tax code.” – John Pollock
Takeaways:
02:08 Many business owners are surprised by big tax bills, and most accountants are not trained to help lower taxes.
06:00 There are thousands of pages in the tax code that can help business owners save money, but most people don’t know about them.
08:32 Using legal tax rules does not make you more likely to get audited.
14:00 Changing how you handle your business taxes can save you a lot of money.
20:08 Having a clear tax plan, like a “tax blueprint,” helps you know what steps to take to pay less in taxes.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:24 — 27.8MB) | Embed
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198: Practice Happy Now: Tap into Your Subconscious Mind, Crack the Ego Code, and Discover Emotional Laws with Rene Brent
Rene Brent is a certified clinical hypnotherapist with over 25 years of experience as a registered nurse. She is an international speaker and faculty member at the Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy. Rene is the author of the international bestselling book "How Big is Your Butt," which offers practical exercises for understanding and overcoming mental blocks. Her work focuses on helping people tap into their subconscious mind and break through emotional barriers using scientific approaches to personal development.
Hypnotist Rene Brent, from Practice Happy Now, is a professional garage door opener. She believes that your brain is running an old program and can help you to get rid of false beliefs. She wants you to allow your subconscious mind to move you away from pain and towards pleasure.
Quotes:
“Hypnosis is like being a professional garage door opener—I help people open that garage door, hold the flashlight, and let them figure out what's blocking the door.” – Rene Brent
“The subconscious mind defines and runs about 95% of your day. So if you don't know what's going on in that garage, then someone else is driving the car, for sure.” – Rene Brent
“Your body acts as your emotional GPS, which is why we use expressions like gut-wrenching, sick to my stomach, or heartbroken—it's your body's way of communicating with you.” – Rene Brent
Takeaways:
01:46 Your subconscious mind runs 95% of your daily actions and can be redirected through specific mental techniques.
08:07 Breathing and accepting emotional sensations can help release stress and gain mental clarity.
12:09 Visualizing your desired day and emotional state before waking up can help set a positive mental framework.
16:06 False beliefs formed before age 10 can significantly impact your current perception and behavior.
20:23 Procrastination is often a protective mechanism driven by fear of failure.
Resources
- How Big Is Your BUT (Kindle Book)
- Practice Happy Now: 2 free meditations (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:30 — 24.3MB) | Embed
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197: Million Dollar Platform: Create a Dream Business, Find Your Specialty, and Scale Your Business with Newsletter Guru Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer is a marketing and business building expert who helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses. He is the founder of the Dream Business Academy and the Dream Business Coaching and Mastermind Program. Jim hosts Dream Business Coach TV, a web TV show, and Stick Like Glue Radio, a weekly podcast. He is also the author of the book Decide. Jim is known for creating No Hassle Newsletters, a program that helps businesses with their newsletter marketing.
Jim Palmer is the Newsletter Guru and Dream Business Coach. He believes marketers should setup a Million Dollar Platform that includes email marketing, ezines, newsletters, and more. Many people lack focus and aren't finding their best customers. You should also mail a 4-page physical newsletter once a month to your best customers to retain those customers and get yourself some repeat, high-ticket sales.
Quotes:
“Starting a question with ‘Can I just’ is a limiting thought, as it implies you're already doubting your ability to do it all or your willingness to take it on fully.” – Jim Palmer
“The largest cost that most businesses have is the cost of acquiring a new customer.” – Jim Palmer
“People don't necessarily want to read everything about your business and what you do. It's important to have a balance of what can be considered relevant and non-relevant material.” – Jim Palmer
Takeaways:
02:31 Many business owners struggle because they try to do too much and don’t focus on what works best for them.
09:01 Doing many types of marketing, like email, books, and video, helps reach more customers because everyone learns differently.
13:10 Outsourcing most tasks lets you spend more time on important work that grows your business.
20:41 Sending a printed newsletter every month helps keep your business in customers’ minds.
28:24 Spending money to keep your customers is important because it costs more to find new ones.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:08 — 29.4MB) | Embed
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196: Generate Targeted Leads and Put Sales in the Pipeline: Outbound Email Marketing, Phone Closing and Objection Handling with Dan Englander
Dan Englander is the founder of Sales Schema, a company that helps agency owners and project-based businesses get more clients and grow their accounts. He was the first employee at the animation studio Idea Rocket, where he played a key role in growing the business from the ground up. Dan is also an author, having written "Mastering Account Management" and "The B2B Sales Blueprint." He lives in New York and works with creative agencies, especially those offering services like websites and video production.
Dan Englander from SalesSchema.com has some great information for you about marketing funnels and automation. Dan lands many new clients using outbound email marketing, virtual assistants, and phone closing.
He also has used some unique strategies to land new business. For example, he's contacted up-and-coming tech companies mentioned on CrunchBase or checking job posting on sites like Indeed and AngelList, who needed services such as animation videos. He also walks us through his process of qualifying his process, getting those leads to the proposal stage, feeling them out with test closes, handling objects and feedback, and more.
Quotes:
“It's very hard to completely and to automate human empathy, and that's really what sales entails.” – Dan Englander
“Sales calls quickly reveal your position in the market, often much faster than any number of survey funnels can.” – Dan Englander
“If I can learn, teach, or sell something every day, I’ll progress much faster than if I isolate myself from the world.” – Dan Englander
Takeaways:
01:50 Using sales tricks like fake deadlines in one-on-one emails can hurt trust if you don’t have a real reason for them.
06:02 Building your own list of leads is better than buying a pre-made list because you learn more and get better results.
14:57 Personalizing emails, even with simple details like recent company changes, makes your outreach more effective.
18:27 It’s better to ask someone if they can chat before sending a calendar link, so it feels more personal.
21:52 On the first call, make sure the person has a real need, is a decision maker, has a budget, and is ready to start soon.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:26 — 30.6MB) | Embed
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195: Rock, Paper, Simple: Create a Marketing-Focused Website in Seven Easy Steps with Joshua Adams
Joshua Adams is the founder of Rock Paper Simple, a company that helps businesses create websites that focus on marketing and results. With over 14 years of experience in web design, marketing, and branding, Joshua works with business owners to make sure their websites do more than just look good—they help bring in customers. Joshua often speaks at events and colleges about web design and marketing.
Joshua Adams from Rock Paper Simple wants his agency to help you create a marketing-focused website that's them-centric, with clear navigation, that speaks directly to visitors and makes conversions. Be sure to claim his free self audit worksheet to find out how your website measures up.
Seven steps to creating a marketing-focused website:
1. Shut up and listen (know thyself, benefits, goals)
2. Plan for results (design, words, pages)
3. Direct traffic (differentiate value of pages, decide on three most important services, call-to-action on homepage/sidebar)
4. Them-centric copy (wording that's beneficial to them)
5. Convert (phone number, working form, less fields)
6. Simplify navigation
7. Rock the visuals
Quotes:
“People really don't care who you are or what you know until they know that you either care about them or have value for them.” – Joshua Adams
“If you don't plan, you're just not going to get to that end goal. If you don't have a destination, you'll never get there.” – Joshua Adams
“Marketing serves as the intermediary step leading to sales. While the ultimate goal is achieving sales, marketing is driven by the intention to fulfill a specific purpose.” – Joshua Adams
Takeaways:
01:16 Focusing on marketing when building a website helps businesses get better results.
05:31 Making your website about your customers, not just your business, is important.
19:31 Setting clear goals for your website is a key first step.
25:05 Make it easy for visitors to take action, like buying or signing up.
36:35 Simple and clear navigation helps people use your website without confusion.
Resources
- Web design agency: Rock Paper Simple
- Case study: Sorensen Moving & Storage
- Self Audit Worksheet
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:54 — 35.6MB) | Embed
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194: The Voice Formula: Captivate the Room and Become a More Interesting Speaker with Tracy Goodwin
Tracy Goodwin is a voice expert and the owner of Captivate the Room, where she helps people improve their speaking skills and confidence. With over 20 years of experience and two master’s degrees, Tracy has coached hundreds of clients worldwide. She hosts a podcast and offers a free video series called The Voice Formula, along with online courses and group programs.
Tracy Goodwin from Captivate the Room can help you become a better speaker by improving your voice. Tracy says that your voice's muscle memory can be trained. You can retrain those good speaking habits that you might have previously lost over time and rediscover your real voice.
Many people have incorrectly tempered their voice, leading to that "stuck in the back of your throat" speaking style with dropped endings on sentences. Others forget to have tempering variety and still others forget to breathe when speaking.
Tracy wants you to speak with a pattern of unpredictability, to show vulnerability and be authentic. Break down your speaking strengths and weaknesses into the five elements of variety:
1. pausing
2. elongation
3. pitch
4. volume
5. speed
Quotes:
“We are all essentially born speaking in our true voice, rich with beautiful nuances, but as we grow older and accumulate experiences, we tend to hold that back.” – Tracy Goodwin
“The voice is your most powerful tool, as it breathes life into your words and distinguishes you from others.” – Tracy Goodwin
“Research reveals that every 90 seconds, the brain signals us to disengage. When our vocal delivery becomes predictable, we inadvertently give our audience the green light to lose focus.” – Tracy Goodwin
Takeaways:
02:02 Many people hold back their real voice because of past experiences or fear of judgment.
07:50 Common problems with speaking include holding your voice in your throat, not using enough variety, and forgetting to breathe.
13:03 Setting a moderate pace, pitch, and volume helps make your speaking more interesting.
22:27 Using pauses, elongation, pitch, volume, and speed adds variety and keeps listeners interested.
32:54 Tracy offers a free voice assessment if you send her a short audio or video clip.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:36 — 37.2MB) | Embed
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193: Madly Chasing Peace: Use 3×3 Focused Meditation to Find Inner Peace and Wisdom with Dina Proctor
Dina Proctor is a life and business coach and the best-selling author of "Madly Chasing Peace: How I Went from Hell to Happy in Nine Minutes a Day." She created the 3x3 meditation technique, which means meditating for three minutes, three times a day. Dina’s work focuses on helping people use short, focused meditation to improve their lives, health, and mindset.
Dina Proctor, author of Madly Chasing Peace, wants you to meditate in short bursts: just three minutes, three times a day. Dina was battling clinical depression, planning her suicide and dealing with alcohol addiction when she began to sit still and focus on her breathing for just a few minutes a day.
After eight weeks, that nagging inner voice in her head was gone and she was able to focus on every activity at hand. She found that inner peace and wisdom, and wants to show you how to do the same.
Quotes:
“Anything we want to manifest in our external world starts within. We don’t always need to know exactly what we want, because our higher guidance already knows what will truly fulfill us.” – Dina Proctor
“I truly believe that meditation, for me, isn’t an activity—it’s a state of being.” – Dina Proctor
“If you’re playing full out, it works. But if you’re half texting and half meditating, it’s not going to be effective.” – Dina Proctor
Takeaways:
00:55 Using short, focused meditation several times a day can help change your mindset and life.
02:48 Giving your mind a simple task during meditation, like counting backwards, can help quiet busy thoughts.
08:31 Building a meditation habit is like building a muscle; it gets easier with practice over time.
19:31 Even a few minutes of meditation, done regularly, can lead to big changes in how you feel and think.
26:07 If you don’t take care of your inner self, outside achievements can feel empty.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:03 — 27.5MB) | Embed
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192: Create Fearlessly: Get a High Converting Website for Your Business with Stephen Christopher
Stephen Christopher is the founder of Sequest Digital Marketing, a company that helps businesses improve their online presence through services like SEO, pay-per-click advertising, and web design. He is also the host of the Business Revolution podcast, where he talks with entrepreneurs and shares advice about business growth. Stephen has experience running several businesses and is known for focusing on what his company does best, while also making sure his clients are well taken care of.
Stephen Christopher from Seequs.com wants to help you with your organic search results, pay per click advertising, and web design.
Choose the top one to three objectives for your website: that's usually for your hot, warm, and cold leads. For example, your hottest prospects who want to buy right now could be looking for a phone number, the warm leads might fill out a contact form to request service, and the cold leads might only want to signup for a video or short report.
Don't take anything for granted, be super persistent (failure leads to perspective). Change the "bad" things about your business.
Quotes:
“Client success is not optional. We’re committed to providing as much guidance as possible because their success—both within our work and overall—is essential to us.” –Stephen Christopher
“Never give up. There is always a way to make what you want happen. What you're doing right now might not be the right approach, so if you fail, it's time to shift your perspective.” – Stephen Christopher
“Sometimes you might be doing something with the potential to succeed, but it’s not aligned with who you are or who you’re truly trying to become.” – Stephen Christopher
Takeaways:
01:02 Focus on what your business does best and let go of the rest.
06:17 Make your website easy for visitors to take action, like calling or filling out a form.
12:32 Good communication and customer service are very important for keeping clients happy.
21:53 Learn from mistakes and use them to build a better business.
26:53 Set clear company values and use them to guide your decisions.
Resources: Seequs SEO agency, Business Revolution Podcast, Business Revolution Facebook Group
Case studies: Petri Plumbing and Hal Elrod
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:00 — 32.0MB) | Embed
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191: Power and Bliss: Find Clarity and Focus Through Self-Care, Meditation and Consistency with Avalaura Gaither
Avalaura Gaither is an intuitive consultant, life coach, and author with a background in psychology and social work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work from Howard University. Avalaura is the author of two books, "Power" and "Bliss," which focus on reclaiming personal strength and living a life filled with passion and purpose. She also runs Avalaura’s Healing Center and is active as a speaker and meditation guide.
Avalaura Gaither has a background in psychology and social work. She found herself trapped in her career and became an entrepreneur by becoming a guide for others in the areas of daily self-care, meditation, and stress relief.
Quotes:
“Get your mind right, your business will be tight.” – Avalaura Gaither
“The painful stuff—that’s where the magic is. It’s where you discover your true purpose and what will set you apart from everyone else.” – Avalaura Gaither
“People bring things out of you that you can't bring out of yourself.” – Avalaura Gaither
Takeaways:
01:37 It’s important to know yourself and your reasons before starting a business.
09:57 Doing personal work and asking yourself honest questions helps you figure out what kind of business fits you.
19:08 Reading about self-care is not enough; you have to take daily action to see real change.
20:01 Meditation can be adjusted to fit your schedule and needs, not just done one way.
25:27 Having a coach or guide can help you find the right approach for your personality, instead of just following a book.
Resources
- Avalaura's Healing Center (Website)
- Bliss: A Practical Guide to Living a Life of Purpose & Pleasure (Website)
- Power: Escaping the Fear from Within (Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:25 — 30.6MB) | Embed
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190: Love Yourself Successful: Network Using Offline Events, Profit from Social Media and Jumpstart Your Business with Katrina Sawa
Katrina Sawa is a business coach known as the "Jumpstart Your Business Coach." She is the author of the book "Love Yourself Successful" and the creator of the Jumpstart Your Biz in 90 Days system. Katrina helps entrepreneurs, especially those who are not tech-savvy, grow their businesses both online and offline by focusing on practical marketing strategies, networking, and building supportive relationships.
Katrina Sawa has a lot to say about networking, social media, landing speaking gigs, and making money doing what you love. She gets 60-65 speaking gigs per year. She says you should become a member of multiple speaker associations and private message prospects on Facebook and LinkedIn using her templates, and later move them off social media to help them and their businesses.
Quotes:
“Your website is your most important marketing tool—it should be the central hub of your business, where everything flows in and out.” – Katrina Sawa
“If you can meet people in person, it's often faster to build relationships and move them to the next step than if they’re just an online friend or follower.” – Katrina Sawa
“If you want to delegate, it might only cost a few hundred dollars a month to offload tasks, allowing you to be more consistent.” – Katrina Sawa
Takeaways:
02:01 If people around you are not supportive, you need to either communicate better, set boundaries, or move on.
06:48 You don’t have to learn every technical skill—hire someone to help with things like websites if it’s not your strength.
13:42 Every business website should have an opt-in box, a freebie, and some kind of email marketing.
16:00 Reaching out to people on social media and moving the conversation to a phone call can lead to speaking gigs and new business.
24:32 Being consistent with your marketing and getting help from a team, even if it costs a little, is important for business growth.
Resources
- Three Business-Building Gifts (Website)
- Love Yourself Successful (Free Gifts)
- Jumpstart Your Marketing (Katrina Sawa's Products)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:45 — 26.3MB) | Embed
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189: Live With Purpose, Overcome Limiting Beliefs and Focus on One Thing with Author, Entrepreneur, and Speaker Joe Apfelbaum
Joe Apfelbaum is the CEO and co-founder of Ajax Union, a digital marketing agency based in Brooklyn. He is a public speaker, certified Google trainer, and a published business author. Joe also hosts the CEO Mojo podcast and runs a weekly video show called GrowTime.tv. He is currently working on his book, "Average Joe to CEO."
Joe Apfelbaum, CEO of Ajax Union, has had quite an entrepreneurial journey and wants you to live a life of purpose, on purpose. Topics covered:
- how to get past the rough years, discover your reason, develop an abundance mindset
- the difference between being "satisfied" (a temporary solution to hunger which is a slow painful death) and being fulfilled (self aware and successful with perspective)
- how to focus on one thing: how Joe went from being spread too thin with seven side businesses, to making a lot of income in a short amount of time (less is more)
Quotes:
“Don't just have a purpose—live with purpose. Even when you breathe, do it with intention. Take a deep breath, fill your lungs completely, and breathe with purpose.” – Joe Apfelbaum
“Success looks different for everyone. Most people don’t actually know what success means for them because they’re too busy measuring it against someone else’s.” – Joe Apfelbaum
“People will either love you or hate you, but most are just stuck in mediocrity.” – Joe Apfelbaum
Takeaways:
00:58 Being passionate about your business is important for long-term success.
03:07 If you want to make money, focus on adding real value to others.
06:39 The people you spend time with can affect your mindset and success.
12:31 It’s good to feel fulfilled, but you should always keep your hunger to grow.
15:31 You need to find a balance between working hard and enjoying the moment.
Resources
- Ajax Union (Facebook)
- Joe Apfelbaum's (Blog)
- CEO Mojo (Website)
- Ajax Union(Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:20 — 33.3MB) | Embed
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188: Take Inspired Action and Use Boundaries to Create More Freedom with Petra Monaco
Petra Monaco is an author, entrepreneur, and coach who helps women build confidence, take action, and create the life they want. She is known for her book about dreaming, believing, and taking action, and she also runs a blog at PetraMonaco.com where she shares advice on mindset, boundaries, and self-care. Petra has experience as a single parent and has overcome personal challenges, which she now uses to guide others through coaching and online courses.
Petra Monaco from PetraMonaco.com wants to give you more confidence and a bigger vision, so you can push yourself further. She also provides coaching for authors to deal with mindset, accountability, and excuses. She sells a course about how to start an Etsy e-commerce store selling handmade goods.
Quotes:
“Boundaries are a form of self-care, not something that's going to constrict you or make you rigid.” – Petra Monaco
“If something is draining you, ask yourself: Is this really something I need to be doing, should be doing, or even want to be doing?” – Petra Monaco
“You can't change a habit or adapt to a new routine in just a week. It often takes two to three weeks to fully implement.” – Petra Monaco
Takeaways:
01:11 Everyone struggles with confidence and motivation, and it’s normal to have ups and downs.
03:08 Focusing on what you can do in the next 90 days helps keep goals realistic and manageable.
07:43 Building new routines takes time and commitment, and it’s important to decide what matters most.
09:37 Setting boundaries in your schedule is a form of self-care and helps prevent burnout.
20:00 Journaling about your fears can help you understand and challenge what’s holding you back.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:17 — 23.2MB) | Embed
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187: Blog Monetization and Inbound Marketing: Build a Library of Content to Gain Trust and Authority with Douglas Karr
Douglas Karr is the founder of the Marketing Technology Blog and the CEO of DK New Media, an agency that helps marketing technology companies with their inbound marketing strategies. He is also the author of "Corporate Blogging for Dummies," where he shares his expertise in the world of corporate blogging and online marketing.
Douglas Karr from The Marketing Tech Blog stops by to talk about monetizing a blog. The game has changed, and search engines now reward quality over quantity.
This means that to build trust and authority, you should spend more time on your content, republishing and update content as needed. Educate your customers early, and inform them about helpful tools or how something in your business was created. Create an editorial calendar with 12 subjects and 4 subtopics to keep your content marketing consistent.
Quotes:
“Everything we do online revolves around authority and trust. You need to establish authority first, and once you earn trust, people will be willing to do business with you.” – Douglas Karr
“If you have exceptional content, you'll consistently attract attention, no matter the source.” – Douglas Karr
“Stop focusing solely on constant production, as it can wear you down and lead to a decline in quality.” – Douglas Karr
Takeaways:
02:31 Good blog content should be updated and improved over time instead of just making new posts all the time.
05:36 Most conversations about your blog now happen on social media, not in blog comments.
08:43 Building trust and authority with your audience is more important than just posting a lot.
14:13 Updating old blog posts with new information can help them rank higher in search results again.
26:37 It’s important to have a clear call to action on your blog so readers know what to do next.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:58 — 30.2MB) | Embed
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186: Six Figure Writing and Virtual Assistant Secrets: How to Start and Scale Your Freelancing Income to Create the Lifestyle You Want with Laura Pennington
Laura Pennington is a former inner-city teacher who transitioned into a successful career as a freelance writer, virtual assistant, and project manager. She is the owner of Six Figure Writing Secrets and Your Way to VA, where she helps others build sustainable freelance businesses from home. Laura is also an author and course creator, offering resources and training for aspiring writers and virtual assistants.
Laura Pennington left her job as a 7th grade teacher to become a freelance writer and virtual assistant. She has advice about getting initial clients, scaling your business, and filling your schedule with nothing but your ideal clients.
1. evaluate your own experiences: you don't need to have been good in the past (office skills, data entry, phone calls)
2. work samples (logos, write a white paper, write blog posts)
3. marketing plan (job boards, contracts)
4. long-term marketing (cold calls, chamber of commerce meetings, trade shows conferences)
Quotes:
“The days of working at the same company for 30 years and retiring with a pension are gone. At this point, we don’t even know if Social Security and Medicare will be there when we retire.” – Laura Pennington
“The way you build your business and the clients you choose to work with play a crucial role in shaping your lifestyle.” – Laura Pennington
“Once someone finds a good freelancer, they have no reason to look elsewhere. Not only will they continue to order from you, but they’ll also refer to their friends.” – Laura Pennington
Takeaways:
04:42 Freelancing can start as a side job and grow into a full-time career if you want it to.
07:26 Picking the right clients and saying no to bad fits helps avoid burnout and low pay.
12:35 Focusing on repeat clients and steady work makes freelancing more stable.
15:07 Choosing a specialty or niche lets you charge more and stand out from other freelancers.
28:28 Raising your rates over time is important so you don’t get stuck working for too little.
Resources
- Your Way to VA (Website)
- Six Figure Writing Secrets (Website)
- Laura Pennington's Courses on Teachable (Courses)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:12 — 32.2MB) | Embed
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185: The Book Activation Method: Overcome the Fear of Publishing and Create the Perfect Book to Boost Your Business with Deborah Ager
Deborah Ager is the founder of Radiant Media Labs and creator of the Book Activation Method workshop. She is an author who has written and co-edited several books, and she helps experts turn their knowledge into published books to grow their businesses, gain visibility, and attract more clients. Deborah has a background in both marketing and writing, and she uses her experience to guide business owners through the process of planning, writing, and using a book as a business tool.
Deborah Ager from Radiant Media Labs and creator of The Book Activation Method wants you to embrace your fear and use it to move forward. She also wants to get a book out of you in the following steps:
1. master market and idea
2. align with mission: book sales, speaking, which publisher, authority
3. mining your material: blog posts, existing presentations, themes and ideas
4. mark out the tools: find the time/space to write, calendars, Evernote
5. map your mind: get messy with a mindmap
6. brain to book: break to-do list into do-able chunks, word count or time goal, schedule, write or speak
7. marketing
Quotes:
“We’re not fighting fear or trying to eliminate it. Instead, I’d rather embrace it because it’s going to show up no matter what.” – Deborah Ager
“When we're experts around our own topic, it's hard for us to see it with fresh eyes.” – Deborah Ager
“When you share stories, especially case studies, people feel more connected rather than feeling like they’re being sold to.” – Deborah Ager
Takeaways:
02:26 Many people are afraid to start writing a book, but taking small steps every day can help move past that fear.
05:02 Before writing, it’s important to know who your book is for and how it will help your business.
08:31 A book doesn’t have to be long; even a short book can be useful if it shares your main ideas clearly.
10:49 It’s normal to feel nervous as you finish your book, but looking back at your past work can help you feel more confident.
13:04 Using your old blog posts, talks, or presentations can make writing your book easier.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:50 — 23.6MB) | Embed
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184: Time Really is Money: Scale Your Business to $5,000 Per Hour with Rob Slee
Rob Slee is an author, investment banker, mentor, and business owner who specializes in helping entrepreneurs and freelancers increase the value of their time. He wrote the book "Time Really Is Money," which explains how people can scale their businesses and focus on higher-value activities to earn more per hour.
Rob Slee, author of Time Really is Money, wants to help you scale to a:
- $50/hour business (where you are the value proposition)
- $500/hour (where you manage employees)
- $5000/hour (where you only deal with the culture, niches, and business model)
- $50k/hour (changing industries)
- $5m/hour (changing the world)
Quotes:
“Working the hardest and putting in the most hours doesn’t necessarily equate to value—it often just leads to early heart attacks.” – Rob Slee
“The higher you go in the value ladder, the fewer hours you work, but the more value you create.” – Rob Slee
“We all settle at our comfort level, sticking to tasks we know how to do—sometimes better than anyone we could hire. As owners of our time, whether we run a business or manage our own schedules, we tend to fall into familiar routines.” – Rob Slee
Takeaways:
01:53 If you own your time, you should focus on the tasks that create the most value, not just work harder.
04:43 Spend your time on high-value activities and let others handle the lower-value tasks, even if they don’t do them perfectly.
08:24 Build simple systems or checklists for tasks you outsource so you don’t have to keep explaining things.
18:36 Write down how you spend your time for a week to see where you can make changes and focus on higher-value work.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:43 — 22.6MB) | Embed
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183: Scale, Build Your Team, and Outsource Remote Workers with Nathan Hirsch
Nathan Hirsch is a serial entrepreneur and expert in remote hiring and e-commerce. He is the founder and CEO of FreeeUp.com, a platform that connects businesses with reliable remote workers, and the co-founder and CEO of Portlight. Nathan started his entrepreneurial career by selling textbooks in college before building a successful $7 million Amazon drop shipping business.
Nathan Hirsch from Freeeup.com has several insights about outsourcing your team in the departments of biz-opp, e-commerce, marketing, and web development. Nathan began his entrepeneurial journey wiht a business that re-sold textbooks, and has since branched out to supplying workers for e-commerce businesses.
Quotes:
“If you can identify businesses that people rely on but that fail to satisfy the end consumer, that’s a great opportunity to step in and create change.” – Nathan Hirsch
“If you're not making your end customer happy, eventually someone else is going to find a way to do it.” – Nathan Hirsch
“I'm all about calculated risk. If this business is doing well, why not pursue it? I can always go back and apply for jobs later.” – Nathan Hirsch
Takeaways:
01:14 Starting a business by solving a problem you see around you can lead to success.
04:58 Making customers happy should be the main focus of any business.
06:21 Doing all the work yourself at first helps you understand your business before hiring others.
13:26 Hiring can take a lot of time, so finding a faster way to get good workers is important.
23:05 Always have training materials ready so you can easily replace team members if needed.
Visit the Freeeup Marketplace Page on Facebook
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:17 — 25.0MB) | Embed
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182: Strategic Social Media Marketing and Paid Traffic with Corinna Essa
Corinna Essa is an internationally recognized expert in social media marketing and the owner of Social Media Worldwide, a company that helps businesses grow their online presence without having to manage the day-to-day work themselves. She is known for her practical approach to social media, focusing on building real connections and providing value before making sales. Corinna is also an author and shares her knowledge through her blog and YouTube channel, both named Social Media Worldwide.
Corinna Essa from Social Media Worldwide wants to help you and your social media marketing efforts. She has a unique strategy when it comes to social media, which involves spending $1000 on an initial ad campaign to a free offer with no call-to-action, to then retarget (cookie) your best prospects and run ads to that already-engaged-audience.
Quotes:
“When everyone starts doing the same thing, then it stops working. Marketers destroy everything, because they overdo things and then it stops working for everyone else who jumped on it a bit too late.” – Corinna Essa
“Getting cold traffic is easy—almost every social network now offers advertising tools. Getting clicks and traffic isn’t the hard part; the real challenge is driving conversions.” – Corinna Essa
“People forget the importance of warm traffic, and they don't take the time to turn cold traffic into warm traffic.” – Corinna Essa
Takeaways:
00:52 Social media works best when you focus on giving value and building trust before trying to sell anything.
04:42 Paid ads should first send people to useful content, not straight to a sales page.
12:33 If you post for free, aim for about 80% helpful content and only 20% promotion.
16:01 Using retargeting lets you show sales ads only to people who already showed interest in your first ad.
21:49 Turning cold traffic into warm traffic takes time and money, but it leads to better results in the long run.
Resources
- Social Media Worldwide (Website)
- Social Media Worldwide (Blog)
- Social Media Worldwide (YouTube)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:58 — 21.9MB) | Embed
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Re-Take Control of WordPress Using the “Website Remote” Website Management Tool
What would you do if suddenly, tomorrow, you were no longer allowed or able to use WordPress for your websites? And you had to go back to HTML, FTPing files... sounds terrible, right?
Well... there is a secret "new frontier" for you and your WordPress sites and that's managing them remotely. You can see all your sites in one place, update all sites, 1-click login to any WordPress site, compare sites and add plugins...
I could never go back to NOT using a tool to manage all my WordPress sites in one place (such as Website Remote) -- it's like being without WordPress, or without GPS, or without a car to drive...
AND -- Lance, myself, and our team have been adding some cool new features to our Website Remote tool:
Website Remote: Manage Your WordPress Sites in One Place
1. Website Groups: you can now "bunch up" your sites and say... let me only update this group of my 10 client sites. Or install this one plugin on my 25 test sites...
2. Cloud Storage: we now give you 1GB of free storage with Website Remote so you can store your favorite plugins in one place (perhaps premium plugins or maybe free plugins that are hard for you to find, or you forget to find) -- and choose a plugin in that cloud storage and send it off to one, all, or some of your websites
3. Plugin Packages: you can also "bunch up" your plugins... and say, here are my 5 bare essential plugins for SEO and security... here are the 10 plugins I use for a membership site, here are the 20 plugins I use on a test site...
You can mix and match plugins in a package. You can choose 3 of your plugins from the cloud and combine them with 10 free plugins, for example...
So -- that means you can login to Website Remote today, click the "Essentials" and "Membership Plugins" packages (bunched up plugins that are some you uploaded and some free ones) -- and maybe click the "Client Sites" and "Membership Sites" groups you created...
And basically install 15 plugins on 35 of your WordPress sites, without having to login, remember passwords, or upload each and every time...
This is HUGE (yuuuuge), we believe this changes the way you'll use WordPress forever, and it's only 99 cents to get started today:
