Archive 3: 2018-2020
577: Work Hero: Stratch Your Own Itch, Innovate When There Is No Other Option, Be Persistent and Create Freedom with Kevin Koskella
Kevin Koskella from Work Hero is an online entrepreneur and digital nomad. He decided he wanted to be free of the corporate world when he lost his job after the dot com bubble burst.
With a history of competitive swimming, he returned to the water and started doing part time work as a swim instructor and personal trainer. In 2005, he turned Tri Swim Coach, his business teaching swimmers to become triathletes, into a full time, location independent, online business.
Today he works with entrepreneurs around what he teaches triathletes: you need experts so you can be the most successful. That’s why in 2017, Kevin founded Work Hero, a service that helps online entrepreneurs by accomplishing their design and technical tasks so they have the freedom to focus on the work they do best. For a flat monthly rate, teams of experts focus on the annoying and technical tasks that business owners should not have to deal with.
Quotes:
“I look at the options and decide that the only thing I truly want is to have a business that offers some level of freedom.” – Kevin Koskella
“If you have all day to complete a task, you end up being less productive because you think you have 8-10 hours, allowing you to spread the work out.” - Kevin Koskella
“Starting something on the side might be overwhelming when you're working eight or nine hours a day at a company, but it can push you to focus and avoid wasting time.” - Kevin Koskella
Takeaways:
05:14 Breaking down complex projects into smaller, manageable tasks helps overcome overwhelming challenges in business.
11:31 Creating a minimum viable product and gradually improving it is a smart strategy for entrepreneurs.
19:43 Persistence and patience are crucial when transitioning between different business models or product types.
22:06 Personal frustration with corporate work can be a powerful motivator for building your own business.
27:17 Starting a business on the side while working a full-time job can be an effective way to build momentum and learn without financial risk.
Resources
- Work Hero (Flat monthly fee for unlimited technical tasks and graphic design)
- Freedom Lovin' (Podcast)
- Tri Swim Coach (Triathlon Training for Beginners)
- Kevin Koskella (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:25 — 29.7MB) | Embed
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576: Locate Your Ideal Client Through Relationships, Pillars, and Mentor Moments with Lee Richter
Lee Richter is an award winning, dynamic business innovator and a visionary recognized again by the San Francisco Business Times as one of their Top 100 Women Business Leaders in 2017. For more than 25 years, she has launched a dozen successful businesses in the financial, education and lifestyle sectors. Her unique vision and drive revolutionizes business as her companies produce hundreds of jobs, educate tens of thousands of people and make millions in revenue.
Quotes:
“The more we build our relationships, the more we know like and trust each other and want to do business with each other.” – Lee Richter
“If we stay intensely focused on what we desire, the individuals in the room who align with that frequency will naturally and inevitably be drawn to us.” - Lee Richter
“Just take one step toward your goal—perhaps just the next step. It doesn’t have to be the entire goal at once.” - Lee Richter
Takeaways:
01:16 Focus on building relationships that create trust and open doors to new opportunities.
02:02 Pay attention to mentor moments that can provide critical insights for personal and professional growth.
06:08 Break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
09:19 Create a network of expert "pillars" who can guide people toward their specific goals.
26:40 Spend 80% of your time on marketing and high-level connections that can drive business success.
Resources
- Holistic Veterinary Care and Rehabilitation Center (Site)
- Go Ask Lee: Turn Your Business into a Multi-Million Dollar Business (Official Site)
- Richter Design Group: We Inspire Entrepreneurs (Site)
- Lee Richter (Facebook)
- Lee Richter (LinkedIn)
- Lee Richter (YouTube)
- Beyond Entrepreneurship: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company by James Collins (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:38 — 26.3MB) | Embed
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575: Turn Clicks into Customers: Voice Search, Position Zero Search Engine Optimization, and Artificial Intelligence with Duane Forrester
Duane Forrester is the Vice President of Industry Insights for Yext, leading industry outreach, evangelism and authorship for the company. He's here to talk to us about voice search, structured data, artificial intelligence, position zero, integrating your app (or website) into Alexa, and so much more.
Duane is is the author of two books: How To Make Money With Your Blog & Turn Clicks Into Customers. He's written for publications ranging from SearchEngineLand and DuctTape Marketing, to Entrepreneur Magazine, the New York Times and Inc. He actively advises startups and large corporations, and even spent time advising the staff who maintain the White House's websites.
Quotes:
“Human beings are lazy, so anything we can do that allows us to get more for doing less, we will adopt that. There's no question about it.” – Duane Forrester
“The technology is remarkable, but the real focus lies in how it is transforming consumer behavior, which directly impacts businesses across the board.” - Duane Forrester
“You cannot control the UI of the future. You can't control the artificial intelligence layer that's on those services, but you can control the data layer, and that's the critical point.” - Duane Forrester
Takeaways:
04:32 Voice search technology is rapidly evolving beyond basic commands like checking weather or time.
08:14 Smart home features solve practical problems, even if they seem like first-world conveniences.
15:11 Future consumers will judge businesses by their digital accessibility and online reputation.
21:46 Websites must focus on user experience and answering customer questions rather than complex design.
26:49 Businesses need to adapt to new technologies now or risk becoming obsolete.
Resources
- Yext: Control Your Brand Across the Digital Universe (Official Site)
- Duane Forrester (Blog)
- Duane Forrester (LinkedIn)
- Duane Forrester (Twitter)
- Turn Clicks Into Customers: Proven Marketing Techniques for Converting Online Traffic into Revenue (Book)
- How to Make Money with Your Blog: The Ultimate Reference Guide for Building, Optimizing, and Monetizing Your Blog (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:17 — 28.7MB) | Embed
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574: Live Long and Stay Productive At Any Age: Self-Care, Visualization, and Moderation with Serial Entrepreneur and Health Advocate Renee Balcom
Renee Balcom is the CEO of Renee & Company and has proven to be a serial entrepreneur. During her time in Oregon Renee found that her true passion and mission is to change the cultural point of view about aging. Often you will hear her exclaim that ageism is the last acceptable form of discrimination in our society. After working with hundreds of Elders, Renee came to realize that most of the information being provided to us about aging is wrong - most of our beliefs about getting older is wrong.
She's here to explain how to find a new calling, take care of your health, and stay motivated/productive at any age.
Quotes:
“As we age, there's this idea that we're all going to kind of go into wheelchairs and walkers and be sitting in corners, and that's absolutely not necessary. We can move through our life with vitality and energy.” – Renee Balcom
“When we get in front of the doctor, oftentimes we forget, or our mind goes into a different space. We have fear, and we deal with white coat syndrome, and we don't always articulate ourselves.” - Renee Balcom
“I'm not in the world of acquisition anymore, so I don't need to acquire any more stuff. I have what I need.” - Renee Balcom
Takeaways:
04:40 Health advocates can help patients navigate complex medical systems and reduce stress during challenging diagnoses.
12:15 Retirement isn't about stopping work, but finding new ways to contribute and stay purposeful.
20:30 Writing down key points before doctor appointments helps ensure clear and comprehensive communication.
26:50 Aging doesn't mean decline; with moderation and self-care, people can maintain vitality and clarity at any age.
33:40 Patients should feel empowered to pace their medical appointments and ask doctors to slow down and discuss concerns.
Resources
- Phone number: 541-661-2369
- Email address: renee@reneecompany.com
- Renee & Company (Official Site)
- Renee Balcom (LinkedIn)
- Renee Balcom (Facebook)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:49 — 34.7MB) | Embed
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573: How and When to Sell Your Business: Due Diligence, Deal Structure, and Diversification with Business Acquisition Consultant Ace Chapman
Ace Chapman is the ultimate authority when it comes to buying and selling businesses. He's back on the show to discuss creative deal-making and the latest developments in acquiring online businesses.
Quotes:
“If you have two very savvy people, the easiest people for me to do the best deal with is when I'm dealing with somebody who owns a $5 million business.” – Ace Chapman
“The last thing you want to do is change a bunch of things at once.” - Ace Chapman
“It's one thing to start at zero. It's another thing to start out behind, lower than zero, because you're losing money in a deal.” - Ace Chapman
Takeaways:
04:40 Successful business acquisitions require patience and minimal initial changes.
05:50 Internet businesses are becoming more stable and less risky investments.
17:00 Treat a new business like a franchise system - follow existing successful processes.
20:16 Change only one business factor at a time to accurately measure impact.
22:51 Spend the first 6 months learning the business before attempting any modifications.
Resources
- Ace Chapman: Business Acquisition Consultants (Official Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:42 — 30.0MB) | Embed
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572: Real Estate, Communication and Work Ethic: What Home Buyers and Sellers Need to Know with Dallas Realtor Chris Bentley
Chris D. Bentley is a Dallas Realtor with over 15 years of experience in selling real estate in multiple states. He is a member of the Rogers Healy team, widely recognized as one of the premier real estate companies in the Dallas and Fort Work areas, and the author of 2 books: 7 Home Buying Misconceptions: What Every Home Buyer Needs to Know, and 7 Tips to get the Highest Value for Your House: What Every Home Seller Needs to Know.
Since Chris began his real estate career in 2003, he has been committed to providing outstanding service and value to buyers and sellers. In that time he has closed over 40 transactions, all an enjoyable experience! He is highly passionate about client satisfaction and his goal is to educate his clients so that they make the best possible decisions and get a great deal.
Chris survived the Real Estate Market Collapse in 2008 as well as a bankruptcy and being broke on multiple occasions. He has since transformed his hardship into success and is now sought after for his expertise on the current real estate market, fix and flip investment properties, and assisting first-time home buyers by providing them with honesty and service that is unmatched.
Chris’s experience and knowledge offers your listeners valuable information that will benefit them in their future home buying, selling, and investing endeavors.
Quotes:
“I always recommend always being cash positive, and then go into the house, and then do whatever you want to do from there.” – Chris Bentley
“I deal with a lot of first-time homebuyers, so I come across all kinds of different scenarios, but the thing for me is that I tell everyone, just get in.” - Chris Bentley
“I'm in the game for long term. So even though I sold that person's house, I know they're going to be moving back at some point, and then they're going to rebuy the house. I want to be the first person that they think of.” - Chris Bentley
Takeaways:
02:09 First-time homebuyers should focus on getting into a home with minimal upfront costs while maintaining financial flexibility.
16:05 Always maintain a cash buffer of 6 months of mortgage payments to protect against unexpected financial challenges.
19:35 Real estate success depends more on understanding market dynamics and client needs than on flashy marketing.
25:14 Neutral home design and decor significantly improve resale potential and buyer appeal.
28:17 Prioritize long-term relationship building over short-term sales by providing exceptional, transparent communication.
Resources
- Chris D. Bentley (Official Site)
- Chris Bentley (Facebook)
- Chris Bentley (YouTube)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:50 — 27.4MB) | Embed
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571: Sound Through Music: Create a Product People Already Love, Proof of Concept, and Disclipined Persistence with Alicia Regyn Patterson
Alicia Reygn Patterson is the owner of Sound Through Music, a children's educational entertainment (edu-tainment) company that teaches science with the aid of musical theatre. She's a singer songwriter, play-write, local tv producer, and a mom of 5 as well as a NYC school bus driver. She's here to share her story about creating a YouTube series and public access show to teach science to kids in a fun way: how she developed the idea, marketed it, persisted and turned it into a reality.
Quotes:
“If you don't know what you're doing, put your money aside and get somebody that knows what they're doing.” – Alicia Patterson
“When you're doing things, you have to set a deadline. You can't simply say, I'm going to do this or that. You must always give yourself a specific deadline and say, I'm going to do this, and I'll have it done by this particular day.” - Alicia Patterson
“You have to be persistent in life. If it's something you truly want, you can't give up. You must keep going and never stop.” - Alicia Patterson
Takeaways:
03:57 Science and learning are endless opportunities for creativity and exploration.
11:01 Finding what kids already love and adapting learning to their interests makes education more effective.
22:58 Successful projects require disciplined persistence and a clear, focused vision.
30:48 Hire experts for tasks you don't understand, especially in digital marketing and online presence.
35:01 Choose work that feels enjoyable, so it doesn't feel like work at all.
Resources
- At The Wave: Sound Through Music (Official Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:50 — 33.8MB) | Embed
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570: Increase Cashflow Using Bitcoin with Cryptocurrency Expert Casey Stubbs
Casey Stubbs is an expert on digital cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin. He's here to talk about how to educate yourself, continually invest, and have the correct money mindset.
Quotes:
“Whenever you earn a profit, be grateful for it, and plan a new strategy to determine the source of your next investment.” – Casey Stubbs
“If you're just listening to one source, you're really missing the boat.” - Casey Stubbs
“I'm going to take this money and I'm going to invest it, because it's going to sow a fruit. I'm going to reap a harvest later on.” - Casey Stubbs
Takeaways:
11:03 Cryptocurrency is a digital-only currency that requires ongoing research and community involvement to understand and invest wisely.
14:48 Always invest only 90% of your income, using the remaining 10% to create additional revenue streams.
17:59 Choose investment paths that align with your existing knowledge and personal interests to increase your chances of success.
24:00 Surround yourself with people who are actively pursuing financial growth to expand your own opportunities.
31:28 Execution matters more than having multiple unfinished ideas or projects.
Resources
- Cashflow Hacking (Podcast)
- Finance and Markets (Official Site)
- Casey Stubbs (LinkedIn)
- The Richest Man in Babylon (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:06 — 32.2MB) | Embed
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569: Build Wealth Through Franchise Opportunities and Replace Your Income with Mariel Miller
Mariel Miller has 27 years experience in the franchise sector. She uses her rich background to provide franchise-related advice and coaching to potential entrepreneurs and educates them on thoroughly vetting franchise opportunities through her firm The Franchise Advisor. Her in-depth coaching is free of charge for the curious to the serious candidate. Popular with those seeking semi-passive, scalable and quality of life opportunities, she expertly guides clients through a personal yet efficient discovery process, education and franchise search.
Quotes:
“The worst thing, I believe, is living with regrets and reaching a point where you say, ‘If only I had paid attention to that.” – Mariel Miller
“Ninety percent of the time, people end up in a business they would never have uncovered or considered on their own, something they might have avoided or overlooked entirely.” - Mariel Miller
“Franchising is only a way to get somewhere. We need to know where you're looking to go.” - Mariel Miller
Takeaways:
01:35 Franchising offers a faster, more supported path to business ownership compared to starting from scratch.
04:43 Franchising can be financially accessible, with investment ranges from $75,000 to $750,000 and often requiring only 10-30% cash injection.
14:08 Successful franchise exploration requires understanding personal goals, lifestyle preferences, and potential income expectations.
28:11 The franchise selection process is methodical, involving personal assessment, objective research, and careful validation of business potential.
32:34 Franchise opportunities exist in over 70 different economic categories, far beyond traditional food and retail sectors.
Resources
- Contact Mariel directly: mariel@thefranchiseadvisor.com
- Phone number: 732-298-0900
- The Franchise Advisor (Official Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:22 — 36.1MB) | Embed
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568: The Income Incubator: Commit to Taking Action, Fill the Convenience Gap, and Fail Fast with Jeet Banerjee
Serial entrepreneur Jeet Bannerjee from The Income Incubator knows what it takes to commit and take action. He unpacks how to have fearlessness and foolishness, fail fast, find the disconnect gap that your business fills, discover your strengths and weaknesses, build a team that excels, stay uncomfortable, chunk out your day, and achieve massive online business success.
Quotes:
“Life will never be perfect. As you grow older, challenges increase, so stop waiting for the ideal moment and start taking action right away.” – Jeet Banerjee
“Men lie, women lie, but numbers don't.” - Jeet Banerjee
“Some people really want to do something, but they just never end up taking action.” - Jeet Banerjee
Takeaways:
05:43 Hearing "no" repeatedly is part of the entrepreneurial process, and persistence is crucial to finding your first "yes".
11:28 Playing the numbers game means making enough calls and not getting discouraged by initial rejections.
15:23 Getting too comfortable with current success can stop business growth; always strive to push beyond current limits.
18:03 Waiting for perfect circumstances will prevent you from starting; the best time to begin is now.
33:33 Starting entrepreneurial efforts early provides invaluable experience and opportunities for learning.
Resources
- Jeet Bannerjee (Official Site)
- The Income Incubator (Business Building Academy)
- Jeet Bannerjee TEDx Talk: If Not Now, When? (YouTube)
- Limitless Thinking: How One Young Entrepreneur Found Success With No Degree, Experience or Money (Book)
- Jeet Bannerjee (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:18 — 32.4MB) | Embed
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567: Translate Your Message into Money: Automated Webinar Funnels, Strategy Sessions, and Serving Your Audience with Jeremy Slate
Jeremy Slate is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which helps entrepreneurs live the lives they know they were meant to. He studied literature at Oxford University, Specializes in using podcasting and new media to create celebrity and was ranked #1 in iTunes New and Noteworthy and #26 in the business category. After his success in podcasting, Jeremy Slate and his wife, Brielle Slate, found Command Your Brand to help entrepreneurs get their message out by appearing as guests on podcasts.
Quotes:
“You have to be willing to serve the audience. You have to be willing to serve in the way that that host needs you.” – Jeremy Slate
“You have to ensure, first and foremost, that you're niched down enough, as larger podcasts might not always be the best fit for you.” - Jeremy Slate
“As long as you have a great product and consistently deliver it, increased sales will allow you to hire more salespeople to manage those leads effectively.” - Jeremy Slate
Takeaways:
06:36 Podcast guesting requires a strategic approach with three key components: personal story, clear message, and a focused call to action.
17:11 Consistently appearing on podcasts (1-2 per week) increases your chances of being discovered and gaining visibility.
24:48 Smaller, niche podcasts often provide more engaged audiences than large, generic shows.
26:47 Always promote your podcast appearances to help both yourself and the podcast host.
28:11 Having a team or support system can help manage the podcast guesting process more effectively.
Claim Your Free Worksheet: Crack the Code and Translate Your Message into Money
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:34 — 30.8MB) | Embed
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566: Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Break the Hustling Habit, Pay Off Debt, and Get to a Place of Abundance with Cash Flow Expert Chris Miles
Chris Miles the Cash Flow Expert is BACK to tell us how to get our money right, as entrepreneurs. In order to achieve abundance, you must live below your means, model what works, pay off debt, and make your money work for you. Chris explains his insights about relaxing, being confident, playing the numbers game, and gratitude.
Quotes:
“Find your own unique voice—one that truly sets you apart and resonates with others, drawing them to appreciate and connect with you.” – Chris Miles
“Principles are eternal. They never change—creating value for people, focusing on adding value, and doing what's right remain constant.” - Chris Miles
“Abundance attracts money where scarcity repels it.” - Chris Miles
Takeaways:
03:53 Prioritize breaks and rest to maintain peak productivity, avoiding constant hustle.
10:31 Build your business while keeping your day job as a financial safety net.
33:06 Find and express your unique business voice instead of copying others.
42:42 Approach business with an abundance mindset, not from a place of desperation.
44:34 Focus on delivering genuine value to clients rather than forcing sales.
Resources
- The Science of Getting Rich (Book)
- The Chris Miles Money Show (Podcast)
- Money Ripples (Official Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:38 — 44.6MB) | Embed
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565: Embrace the Messy: Increase Your Funnel Traffic Through Retargeting with Facebook and Twitter Ad Expert Gavin Bell
Gavin Bell is a Facebook ad expert who's here to share his story about how he was able to build a huge following through content creation (weekly vlogs), retargeting, and creating shareable content. He also explains his ad strategy and thought process when it comes to setting ad goals, creating content, and targeting your audience.
Quotes:
“I'm a big fan of what I call embracing the messy. If you start creating videos now, you might not be great on camera, but you're accepting that. You're saying, ‘I’d rather have a few grammatical errors and still get something out there.” – Gavin Bell
“At the end of the day, it has nothing to do with Facebook ads. It’s all about human psychology, communication, and relationship building.” - Gavin Bell
“We engage through multiple touch points to understand people better and prefer to hear more from them before deciding to make a purchase.” - Gavin Bell
Takeaways:
06:47 Creating perfect content is outdated; getting something out quickly matters more than endless revisions.
11:18 Make content that strangers would want to share, not just content about yourself.
20:35 Facebook ads aren't magic; they still require understanding human psychology and building relationships.
23:46 Successful Facebook advertising starts with clear goals, targeted content, and knowing your audience.
27:51 A basic advertising funnel involves creating content, retargeting interested viewers, and nurturing leads through email sequences.Resources
- The Ultimate Facebook Advertising Blueprint (Free Report)
- Gavin Bell: International Speaker, Entrepreneur and Vlogger (Official Site)
- Gavin Bell (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:13 — 28.6MB) | Embed
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564: Task and Project Management Using Asana, PipeDrive and Slack with Business Productivity Consultant Paul Minors
Paul Minors has a lot to say about productivity, business, self-improvement, automation, optimising your time and income to live life on your own terms. He’s a “virtual consultant” and helps businesses setup and use tools like Asana, MailChimp, Pipedrive and Zapier. He's here to explain how to transition from an unorganized "slap-dash" email-based system into a tool like Asana, how to train your team to use it AND roll it out.
Quotes:
“When you have too many projects, it becomes much harder to track who is doing what, as you need to check more places.” – Paul Minors
“You’ll never have everything—like the structure or details—perfect from the start, so you might need to let things evolve as you go.” - Paul Minors
“Business productivity and efficiency increase when communication is integrated directly with the work that needs to be done.” - Paul Minors
Takeaways:
01:30 Communication should be tied directly to specific work tasks to improve overall business efficiency.
03:36 Rolling out new software requires a strategic plan, not just dumping tools on a team without guidance.
10:58 Project management tools like Asana can replace email communication, creating clear accountability and transparency.
18:05 Having an internal "tool champion" can help teams successfully adopt and use new productivity software.
24:14 Sales CRM tools like Pipedrive help businesses track lead conversion rates and understand their sales process more effectively.
Resources
- Paul Minors (Official site, Asana/PipeDrive/Zapier/MailChimp Consultant)
- Asana (Task Tracker)
- PipeDrive (Customer Relationship Management System for Sales)
- MailChimp (Email Marketing Platform)
- Zapier (Workflow Automation)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:06 — 24.9MB) | Embed
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563: Create an Unfair Advantage Over Your Competition By Being Uncopyable: Innovate, Disrupt and “Steal” Genius with Steve Miller
Steve Miller is the author of the Amazon #1 best seller, UNCOPYABLE: How to Create an Unfair Advantage Over Your Competition. He's the guy who teaches small to mid-size businesses how to get people to give them money, and he's here to tell us how to innovate and disrupt our industry by doing what others can't (and won't) do.
Quotes:
“Bad marketers are just marketers who look at their competition and copy what they're doing.” – Steve Miller
“The way to get new ideas is to force yourself to be observant of other experiences.” - Steve Miller
“A lot of success is through testing, but I certainly wouldn't bet on basically going off in a direction that is a complete 180 direction from where we've been.” - Steve Miller
Takeaways:
02:02 Lazy marketers compete on price, while innovative businesses create unique experiences that can't be easily copied.
05:25 Look outside your industry for marketing inspiration and "steal genius" from unexpected sources.
17:52 Focus on maximizing your current business lane before expanding into new areas.
31:20 Before making big changes, always ask your customers what they think to avoid confusion and potential backlash.
36:45 Writing a book is the best marketing tool to build credibility and open new opportunities.
Resources
- Uncopyable: How To Create An Unfair Advantage Over Your Competition (Kindle Book)
- Uncopyable The Book (Official Site)
- The Adventure (Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:59 — 40.3MB) | Embed
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562: Be Consistent: Branding, Work Ethic, Organization, and Management with WordPress Website Designer Colleen Keith
Colleen Keith is a Graphic Designer and WordPress Stylist that offers reliable and versatile creative design services to entrepreneurs, startups and growing companies. Truly believing that you must be the change you want to see, she only works with and supports clients that are making a positive change in society and the world. While now based in Germany, she's originally from Vancouver and started her business in Sydney, Australia.
Colleen tells us what we need to know about WordPress, especially how to make a website look great by starting with the "demo" in any theme. She also explains how to hire the right person to create your website, how to manage expectations, stay productive, focused, and on-track with our goals.
Quotes:
“I'm here to help you create any type of site you want. I'll do my best to ensure it looks great and show you how to maintain its appearance over time.” – Colleen Keith
“I work at the client’s pace. My goal is to simplify things for them, as my job is to make their lives a little easier.” - Colleen Keith
“As an entrepreneur and freelancer, I understand the costs faced by individuals working independently, so I strive to offer affordable solutions to my clients.” - Colleen Keith
Takeaways:
01:42 WordPress offers more control and flexibility compared to other website builders, allowing entrepreneurs to customize their sites easily.
11:30 Free consultations can be a low-risk way to get professional insights and potentially solve business challenges.
24:27 When hiring a web designer, have a clear vision of your website's end goal to save time and reduce costs.
36:01 Choose a designer who aligns with your business values and is committed to helping you understand and manage your website.
40:44 Consistency in branding, work ethic, and daily effort is crucial for entrepreneurial success.
Resources
Book a Free Consultation with Colleen
- Colleen Keith Design (Official Site)
- Best Self Journal (Bullet Journal)
- Toggl (Time Tracking Software)
- Salesflare (Customer Relationship Management tool)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:25 — 38.0MB) | Embed
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561: SEO Affiliate Domination and Content Stretching: Learn By Testing, Scale Up, Take Massive Action, Expand to High-Traffic Marketplaces and Earn Recurring Commissions with Serial Entrepreneur Greg Jeffries
Greg Jeffries from SEO Affiliate Domination describes himself as just a regular guy, who never made more than 20k a year before taxes. He spent years working nights and weekends, spending tens of thousands of dollars learning about online marketing. At first, he failed a lot but he didn't give up! He kept learning and trying and tweaking his methods until last year, when he had a major breakthrough! Last year, Greg pulled in 6 figures purely through affiliate commissions from his knowhow on SEO marketing.
Quotes:
“Looking back, pretty much every single thing I've ever tried, I've succeeded at. I just didn't give it enough time and focus to grow.” – Greg Jeffries
“You can use everything to your advantage. So even if it's kind of a dud course, and you may not make your full money back, maybe you can apply one element that you learned from that course to another strategy or another traffic platform in the future.” - Greg Jeffries
“I don't have some magical system to predict what new product is going to make me tons of money. Either I learn by testing, and then from there, I just scale up.” - Greg Jeffries
Takeaways:
00:00 Success in online marketing comes from taking massive action and building confidence through community interaction.
08:30 Every course or product has valuable nuggets, even if the entire resource isn't perfect.
17:09 Spreading content across multiple marketplaces increases income and audience reach.
31:01 Online business success requires experimenting widely, then focusing on what works best.
37:56 Building an online business can provide exponential income growth compared to traditional employment.
Visit SEO Affiliate Domination to Discover the Latest Passive Income Affiliate Marketing Strategies
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:47 — 36.5MB) | Embed
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560: The Salesman Who Doesn’t Sell: Rank, Convert and Tweak Your Traffic Through Smart Content Marketing Strategies with Brian Greenberg
Brian J. Greenberg has founded businesses in e-commerce, marketing, and financial services. He has generated over 50 million in revenue from his businesses, collected over 10,000 reviews and testimonials from customers, been named one of the most creative people in financial services, and has been called The Salesman Who Doesn't Sell. As a multi-faceted entrepreneur, Brian believes in building integrity into everything he does, operating a business for the long term with a strong reputation, and a commitment to exceptional customer service. Brian is the founder and president of True Blue Life Insurance, whose mission is to be transparent, honest and helpful to their customers without ever bugging or pushing them. Brian also runs e-commerce websites at Touchfree Concepts and Wholesale Janitorial Supply.
Quotes:
“If it's not something a real company would do, don't do it. I focus my energy on writing valuable content, doing PR, and writing the book to get links to my website so I can compete with the big guys.” – Brian Greenberg
“The number one thing to do for reviews is ask, and the time to ask is at the end, when you deliver the service and ask them a simple question: Are you happy? Are you satisfied?” - Brian Greenberg
“I wanted to differentiate myself, portray myself as the good guy in the insurance industry. I wanted to do it the honest, ethical, and transparent way.” - Brian Greenberg
Takeaways:
11:11 Writing quality content requires time and careful editing, not just quick production.
14:33 Marketing articles beyond your website increases their visibility and impact.
21:08 Smoothing out customer experience bottlenecks can significantly improve conversion rates.
25:13 Fewer, more qualified leads are better than a high volume of uninterested contacts.
27:00 Delegating mechanical tasks allows entrepreneurs to focus on marketing and growth.
Resources
- Brian J. Greenberg (Official Site)
- The Salesman Who Doesn't Sell: A Marketing Guide for Making Money While You Sleep (Book)
- User Testing (Test User Experiences)
- iWriter (Hire A Writer)
- Google Surveys (Create Surveys and Get Results)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:23 — 27.0MB) | Embed
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559: Interviews That Convert: Attract and Convince Your Ideal Target Buyer, Master Joint Ventures, and Up Your Networking Game with Nicole Holland
Nicole Holland from Interviews That Convert is a "Podcast Guesting" authority who has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and The Huffington Post, as well as countless podcasts and virtual productions. She is often called upon to share her expertise from the live stage with business owners across North America interested in leveraging modern marketing strategies in order to increase their visibility, likability, and credibility.
Quotes:
“I would much rather be in front of 100 people who absolutely are looking for the value that I deliver than 10,000 people who are not looking for me.” – Nicole Holland
“When you're dealing with a prospect in a sales situation, you need to spend time understanding what they want rather than what you want, so that you can propose something that they're already desiring.” - Nicole Holland
“I look for hosts with whom I can develop a relationship, so that when I have clients who could be a right fit, I can help connect them.” - Nicole Holland
Takeaways:
02:25 Be flexible with technology and communication tools when scheduling interviews.
08:35 Quality podcast guesting matters more than quantity of appearances.
15:46 Research your ideal audience and their podcast listening habits before pitching.
20:56 Build genuine relationships with podcast hosts instead of sending cold, generic pitches.
24:41 Create a dynamic podcast guest profile page that's easily updatable and informative.
Resources
- Interviews That Convert (Official Site)
- Nicole Holland (Twitter)
- The Nicole Holland Show (Podcast)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:30 — 25.3MB) | Embed
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558: Content Creation Strategy: Become an Authority Marketer, Create a Local Podcast, and Become a Blogging Master with Michael Greenberg
Michael Greenberg is the founder of Gentleman Of Technology LLC, a B2B venture creation and strategy consulting firm. Patrick Gusman, entrepreneur and former CIO for the National Urban League, has called him “A positioning guru extraordinaire and is one of those rare young geniuses,” and Alex Nichols referred to him as “A horse whisperer for marketers, business thinkers, business owners, and is a bit of a renaissance man; a jack-of-all-trades, master of many. Whether its emerging tech, community building, short and long-term strategy, or content building, I know that I can trust Michael's research and experience.”
Michael recently launched a new content marketing venture, and has just written a book entitled Authority Marketing Playbook. This recent publication focuses on helping small business owners, consultants, and executive coaches to position themselves with content. The Authority Marketing Playbook helps them find their voice and grow their businesses using a variety of tactics and strategies Michael has developed over his distinguished career.
Michael launched his newest venture under the GOT banner, Call For Content, in January of 2017 after almost two years of market research and process development and currently serves as Chief Strategist and Interviewer. Understanding that his knowledge and content development processes are unparalleled, he provides unique insight into growing businesses of all types. His expert proficiency has propelled both he and his clients by setting a new value standard in content marketing.
Quotes:
“Google wants to understand from what you type in, what you're thinking of, and then put it on the other end. Google's entire update scheme is to push closer and closer to that.” – Michael Greenberg
“As long as they know who I am and what I do, then the referrals will come.” - Michael Greenberg
“If you have one great piece of content and you promote it for six months, you'll get more leads than if you put out a mediocre piece of content every month and don't promote it at all.” - Michael Greenberg
Takeaways:
04:10 A hybrid human-machine approach can streamline content creation efficiently.
06:55 Creating content is more about expertise and intent than keyword tricks.
10:11 Small businesses don't need to compete with massive content producers like TechCrunch.
17:36 Local podcasting is an excellent networking strategy for building business relationships.
22:25 Promoting one great piece of content is better than creating multiple mediocre pieces.
Resources
- Call for Content (Content Marketing)
- St. Louis Business (Podcast)
- Michael Greenberg (LinkedIn)
- Michael Greenberg (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:45 — 25.5MB) | Embed
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557: Break Outside Your Comfort Zone, Move Faster, and Be Your Best: Run a Goal-Oriented, Self-Aware, Optimized Online Business with Philip Williams
Philip Williams has been learning about small businesses since the age of 8 at the family dinner table . Raised by a Barber Shop and Auto Salvage Yard owner, Philip climbed the corporate ladder outside the family business. He’s worked in several different industries helping companies solve the right problems first.
He's a 3-time Inc5000 honoree after becoming the CEO of a 17 year old cash strapped company and growing it at 50% per year for 5 straight years. That resulted in two nearly simultaneous acquisition offers from two publicly traded multi-national corporations. He accomplished it all by bootstrapping the business - no outside money.
He's bought and sold a couple companies and been through the highs and lows you can only experience through small business ownership. Today, he helps small business owners build profitable and well respected companies through his consulting firm.
Quotes:
“If you want your team to feel comfortable with sticking their neck out, then when they fall down, it's just like when your two-year-old falls down while learning to walk. You pick them up, hug them, dust them off, let them know it's okay, and we go for it again.” – Philip Williams
“Nobody comes to work to your company every day because they love your balance sheet. They come to work because they know that they love what you do.” - Philip Williams
“Don't worry about the competition. Focus on what you have to do to be your best on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If you run your business like that, in two or three years, you will be the apex predator in your market.” - Philip Williams
Takeaways:
05:25 Breaking out of your comfort zone requires logical planning and a systematic approach to understanding your business's true capabilities.
11:01 Creating an annual award that celebrates mistakes helps build a culture of learning, innovation, and team resilience.
21:43 Focus on being your best every day instead of constantly comparing yourself to competitors or getting distracted by external pressures.
25:27 Keep a personal record of past successes to remind yourself of your ability to overcome challenges and bounce back from setbacks.
28:59 Small businesses between 6-50 employees can benefit from an external perspective that analyzes both operational numbers and team dynamics.
Resources
- Philip Williams: Build a Successful Business (Official Site)
- Philip Williams (LinkedIn)
- PHILIP WILLIAMS : Philip's Business Coaching and Mentoring Products (Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:56 — 28.4MB) | Embed
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556: No More Mister Nice Guy: Overcome Fear of Success, Head Trash, Anxiety, and Be an Amazing Entrepreneur with Dr. Robert Glover
Dr. Robert Glover is the author of the bestselling book, No More Mr. Nice Guy. His website drglover.com features numerous online self-help courses, workshops, podcasts, groups, and trained coaches and therapists. Dr. Glover lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Today, Dr. Robert tells us how to overcome fear of success, what to do if we backslide, and how to be integrated/authentic in our business. He also explains how he was able to better leverage his time to create workshops and information products (courses) in order to increase his income and live the ideal lifestyle.
Quotes:
“Both the nice guy trying to please everybody and the jerk that bullies people are just trying to manage their anxiety.” – Dr. Robert Glover
“As we can learn to soothe ourselves, we can move forward in a more integrated or authentic way, without being in that fight, flight, freeze mode.” - Dr. Robert Glover
“Don't try to do this alone. Find somebody who can help you move through it.” - Dr. Robert Glover
Takeaways:
04:40 Building a support system is crucial for entrepreneurs to stay motivated and avoid falling back into old patterns.
12:30 Recognizing and understanding your anxiety triggers can help you make better business and personal decisions.
26:00 Creating a structured daily routine with clear goals can significantly improve productivity and focus.
32:38 Transitioning from a traditional job to entrepreneurship requires intentional networking and community building.
35:17 Online resources, courses, and podcasts can provide valuable guidance for personal and professional growth.
Resources
- Dr. Robert Glover: Where Intention Becomes Action (Official Site)
- Dr. Robert Glover (Facebook)
- No More Mr Nice Guy: A Proven Plan for Getting What You Want in Love, Sex, and Life (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:40 — 36.4MB) | Embed
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555: Goal For It and Bring Your A-Game: Imagine More Success By Following Your Intuition and Getting Out Of Your Own Way with Syndee Hendricks
Syndee Hendricks and her co-host Thomas Hydes run the Imagine More Success Podcast where they provide golden business and life nuggets to enhance your skills, fix current issues and manage new faces of your business. In this episode, Syndee talks about how to set yourself up for massive success, change your way of thinking, always do the right thing, and act without fear.
Quotes:
“It's not so important what falls in your lap, but what's most important is how you deal with it.” – Syndee Hendricks
“Whether it's life or whether it's business, there is only the solution. Without the solution, nothing changes.” - Syndee Hendricks
“If you can't keep yourself clear and unstuck, then you're not going to get to where you want to be.” - Syndee Hendricks
Takeaways:
04:40 Successful podcasts break up content, add engaging elements, and provide quick, useful tips to keep audience attention.
12:30 High self-esteem and low fear can be natural traits that help drive professional success.
22:33 Focus on finding solutions instead of getting stuck on problems, and give people chances to improve.
27:31 If you've been stuck for months, it might be time to find a different or additional coach who specializes in your specific challenge.
34:46 Trust your intuition when choosing resources, podcasts, or learning materials that speak directly to your needs.
Resources
- Imagine More Success (Podcast)
- Syndee Hendricks (LinkedIn)
- Syndee Hendricks (Books on Amazon)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:54 — 35.7MB) | Embed
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554: Master Your Customer Avatar, Scale Internal Processes, Scale an Agency, and Make Sales on Amazon Merch with Penji Founder Johnathan Grzybowski
Johnathan Grzybowski is the founder of Penji, an on-demand design service that gives marketing teams quality design at an affordable monthly cost. Penji uses the "service as a service" or "all you can eat" model -- which means you can get an UNLIMITED number of graphic designs for everything from social graphics to Amazon Merch designs for one monthly fee.
Quotes:
“If you're not able to speak their language, then you're not going to be able to sell to them.” – Johnathan Grzybowski
“Getting that data is so critical. It's monumental to the way that you should be building your business today.” - Johnathan Grzybowski
“Instead of copying them, find your own way to make their story or their experiences your own.” - Johnathan Grzybowski
Takeaways:
06:29 Unlimited design services can solve real business problems by providing flexible, quick graphic design solutions without the traditional hiring headaches.
13:05 Knowing your customer avatar deeply is more important than surface-level copying of market trends or competitors.
24:41 Successful entrepreneurs must be willing to forget past methods and pivot quickly to solve emerging market needs.
27:58 Seek advice from curated, high-quality sources like books and reputable podcasts instead of relying on low-quality online forum discussions.
31:37 Building a business can simultaneously solve customer problems and create social impact by providing job opportunities to local communities.
Resources
- Penji: Unlimited Graphic Design, Unlimited Revisions, One Flat Monthly Rate (Official Site)
- Johnathan Grzybowski (LinkedIn)
- Johnathan Grzybowski (YouTube)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:48 — 31.0MB) | Embed
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553: Chat Bot Nation: Have More Effective Customer Conversations, Increase Engagement and Build a Cutting Edge Sales Funnel with Peter Lisoskie
Peter Lisoskie is an accomplished Senior Executive and Innovator with more than 30 years of success across high-tech and product development. He holds 12 patents. Mr. Lisoskie has held leadership positions at companies as Division Manager for Hewlett Packard, VeriFone, and Nike he helped develop over 100 new products. While at Nike, he led the division in the development of one of the first Virtual Reality glasses in the world. Peter's industry experience includes bioscience, biomedical, consumer products, computer hardware, and test and measurement industries.
Peter currently runs inViral Business Incubator and is CEO of BOT//NATION, innovating a new technology called Active Attention Design (A2D™). His software and data science teams are developing AutoIntelligent Bots™ utilizing artificial intelligence, neuroscience, Webview technology, databases, progressive web applications, predictive modeling, blockchain, and microservices.
Quotes:
“I don't care what business you are, it's always about the person. The business that has the data has the power.” – Peter Lisoskie
“We got a platform shift coming, and now we're moving into messaging as the new platform. Conversation is the new currency.” - Peter Lisoskie
“What I have learned over the years from doing tests, studies, and research is that in your brain, people are identifying with characters as if they are real, even though they know they're not, and that's very powerful.” - Peter Lisoskie
Takeaways:
01:41 Chat bots are evolving from simple guided conversations to intelligent platforms that can provide personalized, interactive customer experiences.
10:07 Adding personality to chat bots makes them more relatable and increases user interaction.
22:16 Artificial intelligence in chat bots can significantly reduce customer service costs and improve user engagement.
30:31 Progressive Web Apps offer businesses more control and flexibility compared to platform-dependent messaging systems.
35:22 Data science and AI can predict customer sentiment and behavior, transforming sales and marketing strategies.
Visit Chat Bot Nation: Captivate Your Audience Using Interactive Conversational Chatbot Experiences
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:36 — 36.3MB) | Embed
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