Archive 3: 2018-2020
552: Personalized SMS Text Messaging for Small Gyms Personal Fitness Trainers with Off Day Trainer David Pitts
David Pitts is the co-founder of Off Day Trainer, a text messaging platform built specifically to help fitness professionals better connect with their network and ultimately, grow their business.
As a former gym owner, a Fitness Sales Manager, and personal trainer, David knows fitness. More importantly, he knows how to make fit pros successful using technology to make their sales cycle faster and client retention last longer.
David's expertise with text messaging has evolved beyond the health and fitness space as he has helped hundreds of merchants across the country learn how to better connect with their network.
Quotes:
“Everything we do is designed with the intention to keep the experience completely personalized. I don't want to feel so much like it's an automated system. I want to feel like I'm engaging a human.” – David Pitts
“The question isn't really should I be texting versus email, it becomes a no brainer that we should be texting, the question becomes what do you text when and why.” - David Pitts
“Everyone does what they're supposed to when they're with their trainer. But not everyone is incredibly successful.” - David Pitts
Takeaways:
05:19 Personalized text messaging can transform client engagement by tailoring communication to individual goals and preferences.
08:25 Rapid response to potential leads is critical, with a narrow 15–45-minute window to maintain their initial interest.
19:33 Automated follow-up systems are essential for converting prospects, as over 90% of sales come through the follow-up process.
21:24 Personalized text reminders with specific details like address make communication more human and effective.
25:03 Focusing on a specific industry first allows for creating precise, high-quality solutions before expanding to other markets.
Resources
- Off Day Trainer: The Smartest Way for Fit Pros to Generate New Clients and Deliver Results (Website)
- Off Day Trainer (Facebook)
- David Pitts (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:05 — 26.7MB) | Embed
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551: Take Tactical Action, Become Personally Fulfilled, and Achieve Binary Stretch Goals with Legacy Coach Damon D’Amore
Damon D'Amore specializes in legacy coaching. By developing custom productivity systems for each individual client relating to their professional and personal development he enables C-Suite and senior executives to accomplish current tactical business goals that ultimately will facilitate their legacy.
He has more than fourteen years' experience working one-on-one with hundreds of the top CEOs, founders and executives in North America including high-profile entrepreneurs and Fortune 100 firms such as Walmart, PepsiCo, DirecTV, NASCAR, Subway and DreamWorks.
Mr. D'Amore is a serial entrepreneur, founder, board member and advisor to multiple international companies.
He also serves as a mentor and guest-lecturer to Top 25 MBA programs such as USC, NYU and Colombia, and acted as spokesperson and host for an American Express and Discovery Channel show promoting entrepreneurship.
Mr. D'Amore founded multiple startups after long careers deep in the media and entertainment sectors coaching C-Suite executives for programs such as Undercover Boss. He began his career in global finance building internal businesses for the market leading firm Cantor Fitzgerald.
Quotes:
“Everybody has the time. It's just a matter of what trade-offs you are willing to make.” – Damon D’Amore
“Before I die, hopefully a long time in the future, I want to have made a measurable impact on society that I can measure to a billion-dollar impact.” - Damon D’Amore
“Every goal that I set with clients has to be very, very specific, where we're constantly tracking it, and we know if we hit it or not.” - Damon D’Amore
Takeaways:
06:15 Most high-level executives want to create meaningful philanthropic impact after their corporate careers.
07:52 Plan your legacy early by dedicating small amounts of time consistently to your passion projects.
09:39 Personal fulfillment comes from making intentional trade-offs in your daily schedule to pursue meaningful goals.
13:34 Successful legacy planning requires strategic networking and becoming a thought leader in your chosen cause.
24:22 Set binary goals that are specific, measurable, and have clear outcomes you either achieve or don't.
Resources
- Legacy Mentor: Accomplish the Business Goals That Will Manifest Your Legacy (Website)
- Damon D'Amore (Official Site)
- Damon D'Amore (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:43 — 24.5MB) | Embed
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550: Succeed Faster, Make Money Work For You, Manage Your Time Wisely and Stay Consistent on Your Goals with House Hacker Diego Corzo
Diego Corzo is a Millennial entrepreneur from Austin, Texas. Diego was born in Lima, Peru and moved to the United States with his family when he was 9 years old. Diego's parents told him that America was the land of opportunity and that with hard work and determination all of his dreams would be possible.
Diego graduated in the top 1% from Florida State University with 2 bachelor degrees in less than 4 years and no student debt. He started working in corporate America as a software developer for General Motors and soon discovered that he wanted a career shift. After realizing that corporate America wasn't for him, Diego pursued his passion in real estate.
Now, Diego is a Realtor® for Keller Williams alongside an incredible team, and currently owns 8 rentals properties, both in Texas and in Florida. Diego is on a path to financial freedom and aspires to help others, especially millennials, become financially free and reach their full potential.
Diego's system of House Hacking helps Millennials realize their dream of financial independence. House Hacking has allowed Diego to build a portfolio of 8 properties in just 4 years since he bought his first house.
Quotes:
“95% of the population trades their time for money, and 5% of the population makes their money work for them.” – Diego Corzo
“Life is not a sprint, it's a marathon.” - Diego Corzo
“As long as you do everything with integrity and as long as you have inner peace, that is a lot more valuable than money.” - Diego Corzo
Takeaways:
02:51 Changing your mindset from trading time for money to making money work for you is crucial for financial success.
11:52 Surround yourself with a peer group that challenges you and thinks at a higher level to accelerate personal growth.
17:27 Trust the process and avoid comparing your early stages to someone else's advanced chapter.
23:23 Build systems and strategies to create financial freedom early, rather than waiting for traditional retirement.
25:39 You don't need a massive down payment to start investing in real estate; 3-5% can be enough to begin.
Resources
- House Hacking Club (Website)
- Diego Corzo (Facebook)
- Diego Corzo (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:54 — 26.5MB) | Embed
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549: Respectology: Separate Your Business From Your Competition and Beef Up Your Customer Support Interactions with Brian Baker
Brian Baker from Respectology is a motivational speaker -- more accurately, a social & emotional intelligence training coach. He's based in the Sacramento area and provides corporate training to help business run with civility, manners, courtesy, and respect. He helps to "debug the system" in your business.
Quotes:
“It's really about improving relationships and improving the world one interaction at a time.” – Brian Baker
“If you can get people within the company to treat folks like guests and not like customers, that kicks the experience level up a great deal.” - Brian Baker
“You can help individuals get better. You can't necessarily change them. But one of the things that you can do to help performance get better is that you can begin to change the environment.” - Brian Baker
Takeaways:
04:30 Treating customers like guests instead of transactions can dramatically improve business relationships.
08:44 Ongoing coaching after training ensures that learned skills become permanent workplace behavior.
20:32 Companies often set objectives that accidentally undermine their primary business goals, requiring external perspective to identify and correct.
25:29 Internal employee interactions directly reflect and predict external customer experiences.
27:03 Civility and respect are critical productivity tools that can differentiate a business from its competitors.
Resources
- Brian's phone number: 916-834-0292
- Respectology (Official Site)
- TedX AT&T Talk from Brian Baker: Manners and Civility (Youtube)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:07 — 27.6MB) | Embed
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548: Get More Momentum, Increase Your Revenue, and Grow Your Business Through Delegating with Audrey Isbell
Audrey Isbell from AVA Virtual Assistance is an International Speaker, and Author of "100 Simple Truths all Virtual Assistants Should Know". She is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Certified in Social Marketing and valued for her business consulting and project management contributions made to business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
In today's episode, Audrey talks about why your business needs to scale (and speed up) using a virtual assistant. She also goes into detail about the types of virtual assistants you should look into (generalists vs. specialists) as well as how you can make money becoming a virtual assistant if that business path suits you.
Quotes:
“If you're not succeeding, you're learning.” – Audrey Isbell
“The value is not always about being able to afford that person or not. The value is really in what it meant to you to be able to act in the moment on that creative thing that you were feeling so inspired about.” - Audrey Isbell
“We're creators. We keep moving forward and thinking of new things.” - Audrey Isbell
Takeaways:
04:40 Delegating tasks helps entrepreneurs focus on creative work and business growth instead of getting stuck in daily administrative duties.
12:30 Virtual assistants are not just about completing tasks, but about supporting business owners in achieving their bigger goals and purpose.
20:00 Inspiration and acting quickly on new ideas can open unexpected doors and create opportunities for business success.
27:50 Becoming a virtual assistant requires understanding whether you want to work for a VA firm or start your own business.
35:50 Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness, and is crucial for business development and personal growth.
Resources
- AVA Virtual Assistance (Official Site)
- International Virtual Assistants Association (Site)
- Audrey Isbell (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:57 — 42.1MB) | Embed
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547: Amplifr: Automatic, Track and Scale Your Social Media Content, Traffic and Conversions with Nate Gadzhibalaev
Nate Gadzhibalaev is the founder of Amplifr, which is a social media automation service for marketers, agencies, and brands. Listen in to hear about Nate's unique challenges in the marketplace, starting in Europe and expanding his social tracking platform worldwide, growing as a non-English speaking company, as well as differentiating his company and its solutions.
Quotes:
“If you spend half a year on each experiment, it might take a very, very long time to find something that actually works for you and your company.” – Nate Gadzhibalaev
“Always be measuring and experimenting. The worst thing that you can do is take zero risks.” - Nate Gadzhibalaev
“You cannot get your time back, but you can earn a lot of money if you do a lot of experiments.” - Nate Gadzhibalaev
Takeaways:
02:17 Social media scheduling alone won't guarantee business success; you need strategic marketing techniques.
10:44 Always track your social media performance through detailed analytics to understand actual business impact.
18:48 Maintaining an active social media presence requires minimal effort - just 5-10 minutes per week.
22:54 When expanding a business to a new market, you can't just translate content - you must understand cultural nuances.
24:52 Spending money on marketing experiments is more valuable than spending excessive time trying to figure things out.
Visit Amplifr: Automate & Track Your Social Media
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:27 — 28.0MB) | Embed
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546: Marketing the Invisible: Be Authentic and Strategic, Create an Amazing Client Experience and An Irresistible Offer with Tom Poland
Tom Poland from Leadsology started his first business at age 24 and has gone on to start and sell four others, taking two of them international. In that time he’s managed teams of over 100 people and annual revenue of more than 20 million. He’s the best selling author of Leadsology: The Science of Being In Demand. He’s also shared international speaking platforms with the likes of Michael Gerber of E-Myth fame, Richard Koch from the 80-20 Principle, Brian Tracy and many others.
Quotes:
“When we're marketing the invisible and coaching services, it's far more like proposing marriage than it is like selling a car. We can't just say to someone, ‘Do you want to buy?’” – Tom Poland
“Most people are doing the marketing as if they're Hugh Jackman, irresistible, without any dates, without any ‘let's get to know each other.’” - Tom Poland
“Everyone says people buy on emotion and justify it with logic. That's only half true. It is true that we often open up people's interest and curiosity with emotion, but most people are going to want to justify their purchase before the purchase in terms of the features.” - Tom Poland
Takeaways:
03:17 Highly qualified leads are more valuable than random contacts who simply opt into a list.
06:15 Focus on solving real problems and showing genuine understanding of client challenges.
11:27 Be transparent about what potential clients can expect, including the limitations of a single interaction or presentation.
23:44 Marketing services is more like dating than selling a product - build trust and connection before asking for commitment.
28:33 Create a persuasion sequence that establishes rapport, respect, relatability, and reciprocity with potential clients.
Resources
- Book a Chat with Tom (Site)
- Leadsology (Agency)
- Leadsology: The Science of Being In Demand (Book)
- Tom Poland (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:07 — 34.1MB) | Embed
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545: Become the Best Podcast Host You Can Be: Get Out of Your Rut, Deliver Ah-Ha Moments, and Create Better Story-Driven Content with Podcast Talent Coach David Farough
David Farough is a talent coach for podcasters and radio personalities across the U.S. and Canada. He helps hosts create more appealing content to grow larger audiences and make money. He tells us how to be a better podcast host (and guest) by having a roadmap and making entertaining use of origin stories. Listen right now if you'd like to "up your game" when it comes to podcasting.
Quotes:
“People in your audience have a very short attention span. They can listen for 10-15, maybe 20 seconds. But if you're not getting to the point very quickly, their minds start to wander.” – David Farough
“If you're doing a podcast because you want to make a ton of money, I think you're starting in the wrong space. We all want to make money, but if your end goal is to make a lot of money, I'm not sure that's the right incentive.” - David Farough
“If you can figure out what keeps your target audience awake at three o'clock in the morning, then it becomes easy to build content that they're going to be highly interested in.” - David Farough
Takeaways:
05:56 Keep interview questions short, open-ended, and focused on getting quick, meaningful responses.
06:50 Start your podcast with a strong hook that immediately grabs the audience's attention.
17:18 Know your target audience by understanding their deepest fears and challenges.
18:44 Podcast hosts should create content because they love storytelling, not just to make money.
21:02 Ask "why" questions to encourage guests to tell compelling stories.
Resources
- Be a Better Podcaster (Official Site)
- David Farough (LinkedIn)
- David Farough (Twitter)
Visit: Be a Better Podcaster
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:45 — 27.3MB) | Embed
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544: AWeber Email Marketing Automation: Create Your Mix-Tape Autoresponder Sequence, Maximize Deliverability, Build Relationships and 10X Your Results with Tom Tate
Tom Tate is the Product Marketing Manager at AWeber. With almost a decade of professional experience in marketing and technology, he educates and engages small businesses owners and entrepreneurs on the incredible value and opportunity that email marketing and automation provides.
At AWeber, Tom manages product education, produces multiple webinars, presents at conferences and writes blog and website content. Outside of AWeber, he is an active member of the marketing community, teaching and guest lecturing at local colleges and universities.
Quotes:
“Email marketing is dying because marketers are approaching it the wrong way. I think when you boil it down to its simplest parts, it's actually a really easy medium to master.” – Tom Tate
“Write conversationally. Don't try to write super academically. Write like you're writing to a friend or writing a personal note, and don't be afraid to keep it short.” - Tom Tate
“If you continue to send engaging emails that people want and do that reliably and consistently, your emails will be read by the right people.” - Tom Tate
Takeaways:
02:04 Email marketing isn't dead; it's a powerful way to connect directly with your audience when done thoughtfully.
23:30 Consistent communication keeps your email list active and prevents your audience from forgetting about you.
26:40 Write emails like you're talking to a friend - keep them short, conversational, and focused on asking engaging questions.
30:42 Create a "Greatest Hits" welcome sequence that showcases your best content to new subscribers, helping them understand your value quickly.
38:13 Use click-based automation to send different email sequences based on subscriber interests and experience levels.
Sign with Aweber to Automate Your Business with Email Marketing
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:08 — 36.8MB) | Embed
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543: Stackify: Hard Work, Daily Persistence, Continuous Improvement, Constant Focus, and Brand Innovation with Matt Watson
Matt Watson is the Founder & CEO of Stackify. He has been a developer/hacker for over 15 years and loves solving hard problems with code. He sold his first startup, VinSolutions, for $150 million and started Stackify to solve the biggest challenge he had as the CTO of VinSolutions. Matt is skilled at SEO, blogging and content marketing. Stackify receives hundreds of thousands of monthly visits as a result of Matt’s successful content marketing.
Quotes:
“One of the best things somebody ever told me is to try to aim to get 1% better every day. And over the course of a month, you get 30% better.” – Matt Watson
“Business is tough, and so you just have to keep grinding through it.” - Matt Watson
“It's hard to be an entrepreneur. There's no doubt about it. It's just the daily persistence of chipping away at it.” - Matt Watson
Takeaways:
01:28 Daily 1% improvements compound into significant growth over time.
16:24 Content marketing is crucial for reaching hard-to-access professional audiences like software developers.
22:29 Entrepreneurs must focus on growth and be willing to work on tasks outside their comfort zone.
24:09 Simplifying complex data into an easy-to-understand score can be a powerful product differentiator.
26:33 Persistence and hard work are the most critical factors in entrepreneurial success.
Visit Stackify: Application Performance Monitoring for Developers
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:18 — 26.9MB) | Embed
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