Recent Updates
589: Reversing Burnout: How to Thrive, Find Courage to Pull the Trigger, Regain Focus, Be All-In and Have a Greater Impact with Peter Atherton
Peter Atherton is a consultant, speaker, and author of the book "Reversing Burnout. How to Immediately Engage Top Talent and Grow! A Blueprint for Professionals and Business Owners." Pete is the President of ActionsProve, LLC and works with high-achieving professionals and business owners to create greater growth and profits through more effective employee attraction, retention, impact, and branding. For more than 20 years prior, Pete was a very successful and accomplished professional civil engineer focusing on designing sophisticated water treatment facilities and major public infrastructure projects.
Pete sold his engineering firm ownership to focus on designing systems for professionals and organizations to grow and succeed in more relevant and effective ways. Pete has also served in multiple capacities in the non-profit sector to achieve both local and global impact, and is a co-founder of the 100 Men Who Care chapters for Southern Maine and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Quotes:
“Money will never fully satisfy. Having the best products and services in our organization will never fully satisfy. We're made for more than that.” – Peter Atherton
“We're not made just for provision and being productive in our life. We're going to want to have a sense of mission. We're going to want to be connected to our community.” - Peter Atherton
“When people achieve success, many of us get trapped—caught in the comfort, money, and momentum that make it difficult to push forward and grow.” - Peter Atherton
Takeaways:
04:36 Having the courage to make career changes requires careful planning and understanding your skills' transferability.
08:26 Burnout isn't just feeling tired; it's a complex mix of work overload, losing passion, and missing out on life.
17:07 Creating daily margin - even just 30 minutes - for self-reflection can help prevent and address professional burnout.
20:45 Successful professionals should expect and plan for career shifts, understanding that being "all in" doesn't mean staying in the same role forever.
31:40 Money and comfort can trap you in a career that no longer serves your personal growth and happiness.
Resources
- Reversing Burnout: How to Immediately Engage Top Talent and Grow (Book)
- Peter Atherton (LinkedIn)
- Actions Prove: Strategic Planning & Executive Coaching (Official Site)
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588: Your Big Idea: Take Massive Action, Launch a Podcast, Become the Thought Leader in Your Industry, and Stay Focused with Entrepreneur on Fire John Lee Dumas
John Lee Dumas is the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award winning podcast where he interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs every Monday and drops value bombs every Thursday. With over 2000 episodes, 1.3 million listens every month, and seven-figures of annual revenue, JLD is just getting started. Visit EOFire.com to set YOUR Entrepreneurial journey ON FIRE!
JLD tells us about his journey of publishing 2000 podcast interviews in 2000 days, the importance of focus and time management, PLUS why you need to build a following (influence) so that you can network (and collaborate) with others who have a huge following, and network your way to success.
Quotes:
“We're always going to be better off combining our forces than trying to just be in a silo and grow alone.” – John Lee Dumas
“If you find yourself getting bored with those kind of questions, then you're just in the wrong field, and that's not a bad thing.” - John Lee Dumas
“I want my guests to give me their best, and by giving me their best, they're giving the listeners their best.” - John Lee Dumas
Takeaways:
02:23 Maintaining personal health and wellness is crucial for sustaining high-energy professional performance.
05:29 Quality trumps quantity when creating content, especially in a crowded digital landscape.
07:46 Building strategic partnerships allows entrepreneurs to grow together by sharing audiences and expertise.
11:29 Preparing interview questions in advance helps guests provide more thoughtful and valuable responses. 13:01 Genuine curiosity and passion are key to avoiding burnout in repetitive professional tasks.
Visit Your Big Idea to Flesh Out Your Big Idea in Just 3 Hours
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587: Make Time for What’s Important: How to Get Motivated, Stay Organized, Time Block, Prioritize, Amplify Your Productivity and Hit All Your Goals with Robert Plank
Robert Plank from The Checklist Mindset is back with a solo episode to revisit your productivty, mindset, and goal setting!
If you'd like to schedule a call with Robert to get a better handle on your time management, delegation, and technology, then reach out at: Robert@RobertPlank.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:35 — 40.9MB) | Embed
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Must Have Tools
- Second monitor
- LogMeIn (set a conversion job, check on upload)
- LastPass (plus iPhone app)
- Google Drive (share files)
- Learn a few keyboard shortcut
Tool of the Day: Permanent Clipboard for Chrome
Making the Time
- Rewrite goals, write them over and over
- iPhone notepad, set to lock screen wallpaper
- Wake up one hour earlier or stay up one hour later, dedicate the time
- Time block (chunk), automate and schedule
- Google Calendar (take it seriously, keep the connection strong)
- The X Factor: 50 days of consistent (small) progress
- Four Daily Tasks: plan tomorrow, today.
Motivation
- Record a podcast episode or Facebook Live as a sort of talk therapy
- Four Daily Tasks: don't lose momentum & adjust
- Accountability partner: YouTube video, Skype call, text, follow-up at the end of the day
- Countdown timer
- Camtasia Babysitter
- Google Calendar
- Set work hours
- Time blocking: batching/chunking
Quotes:
“If you ever look up the difference between people who are frustrated and don't make money versus people who are happy and make a lot of money. One of the biggest correlations is that the people that make money read instead of watching TV.” – Robert Plank
“Not having a plan is as absurd as driving across the country—or through unfamiliar streets—without a GPS, a map, or even paying attention to street signs.” - Robert Plank
“We often complicate things for ourselves and hide behind that complexity. We say, "I've got so much going on." But is that really true? Did you actually accomplish a lot today, or did you just move things forward without real progress?” - Robert Plank
Takeaways:
00:24 Cutting out time-wasting activities like live TV can dramatically improve personal productivity and free up hours for meaningful work.
18:24 Using a password manager like LastPass helps create strong, unique passwords while simplifying online security.
24:05 The X Factor technique of tracking daily progress with a 49-day grid can help maintain motivation and build consistent habits.
33:55 Focusing on just four critical daily tasks prevents overwhelm and ensures meaningful progress in your work.
41:50 Batching similar tasks together is more efficient than switching between different types of work throughout the day.
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586: Dare to Be Seen Using Podcast Guesting Campaigns: Win-Win Joint Ventures, Reputation Management, and Content Marketing with Kansas City Web Designer Phil Singleton
Phil Singleton is a web designer, an SEO expert and an award-winning author. Since 2005, Phil has owned and operated a digital agency based in Kansas City.
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In 2016, Phil and John Jantsch, of Duct Tape Marketing, co-wrote, SEO for Growth: The Ultimate Guide for Marketers, Web Designers & Entrepreneurs. SEO for Growth is an Amazon bestseller and has been listed as a top marketing book by Mashable, Oracle and The Huffington Post. It's also been featured on MSNBC and was named by Forbes as the #1 SEO book on its list of “Essential SEO Books for Every Startup to Read”.
Phil is also the author of a popular WordPress SEO plugin that has been downloaded over 100,000 times in the last year.
Phil's latest startup venture, Podcast Bookers, is a service that helps marketers and executives get booked on established podcasts as way to develop authority and personal branding, improve SEO, and most importantly, generate new leads and sales.
Quotes:
“I've never done anything that provides as much bang for the buck as getting booked on established podcasts.” – Phil Singleton
“If you’re into blogging, podcasting, or being a podcast guest, step back and analyze the entire process. Look for ways to optimize and unlock additional benefits—that’s how you can amplify its impact significantly.” - Phil Singleton
“I'm not a really good salesperson in terms of selling other people stuff, I only sell what's working for me.” - Phil Singleton
Takeaways:
01:37 Podcast guesting offers massive marketing benefits with minimal effort, providing SEO boosts, audience exposure, and reputation management.
17:32 Podcast appearances can help push down negative online content and improve personal branding.
20:14 Transcribe and repurpose podcast episodes as blog content to maximize SEO potential.
30:19 Always aim to deliver high-value content when appearing as a podcast guest, focusing on educating rather than direct selling.
34:47 Build your own podcast to capture subscribers and create a complete content marketing ecosystem.
Resources
- Podcast Bookers (Podcast Booking Service)
- SEO for Growth (Book)
- Kansas City Web Design & SEO (Service)
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585: Write Your Book in a Flash to Create the Paint By Numbers Big Business Card of Your Dreams, Apply Structured Creativity, Grow Your Confidence, and Land Your Ideal Clients with Dan Janal
Dan Janal helps leaders build their brands with books. He has written more than a dozen books. His latest book is called "Write Your Book in a Flash: The Paint-by-Numbers Systems for Writing the Book of Your Dreams - Fast!"
When Dan helps thought leaders and business executives write their books, he helps them take their businesses to the next level and exert greater influence.
Dan has spoken everywhere from Beijing to Budapest, from Brazil to Boston. He taught classes at Berkeley and Stanford.
He was president of his National Speakers Association chapter in Minnesota. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University.
Dan was an award-winning daily newspaper reporter and business newspaper editor who interviewed President Gerald Ford and First Lady Barbara Bush.
Quotes:
“Good is good enough and perfection is the enemy of done.” – Dan Janal
“The purpose of a book, especially for an entrepreneur, is a big business card. It's a way for your prospects to get to know, like and trust you, so they want to do business with you.” - Dan Janal
“No one wants to read the encyclopedia about a specific topic. The purpose of the book is to solve a problem. That's the only reason why anyone will read a book or buy a book is to solve a problem.” - Dan Janal
Takeaways:
04:18 Writing a book doesn't require being super motivated every single day; you can fill in outline pieces when inspiration strikes.
05:38 Overcoming mental blocks is crucial - writers shouldn't accept "writer's block" as a legitimate excuse to stop working.
17:29 A business book should solve a specific client problem and serve as a powerful marketing tool, not an exhaustive encyclopedia.
21:15 Books today are most effective when they're short, targeted, and quickly consumable by busy professionals.
26:55 You can write a book using existing materials like blog posts, quotes, and transcripts instead of starting from scratch.
Resources
- For Information About His Book Coaching, Developmental Editing Or Ghostwriting, Go To: Write Your Book In A Flash (Website)
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584: The CLICK Technique, 5-Day Launch Challenges and Local Podcasts: Create a Five-Figure Funnel Through Curiosity, Landing Pages, Irresistible Offers, Then Cultivate and Keep Going with One-Click Lindsey Anderson
One-Click Lindsey is a web strategy expert working with small business owners to help them utilize the web to produce more website traffic and leads.
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Lindsey is the founder and CEO TrafficAndLeads.com that specializes in driving traffic, getting leads and the art of nurturing leads to become lifelong clients. One-Click Lindsey is an expert in landing pages, email sequences, search engine ranking, newsletters, analytics, social media, pay-per-click ads, websites, blogging … the list goes on. She knows how to utilize the myriad of online marketing options to generate more traffic and leads which produces more paying clients.
One Click Lindsey is here to unpack the C.L.I.C.K. technique, which stands for:
- Curiosity (content)
- Landing Page (professional, mobile, Google Analytics, Facebook pixel)
- Irresistible Offer
- Cultivate (follow-up)
- Keep Going
She also explains the 5-day launch challenge and her strategy of creating a "local" city-based podcast to talk to potential clients.
Quotes:
“The more you email market, the better. What I don't want you to do is email three times in a week and then not email them for six months. That is not going to work.” – Lindsey Anderson
“Don't get caught up in the stats. It's all about relationships. Just focus on one-on-one relationships and your business will grow.” - Lindsey Anderson
“People do business with people, and not just dry, stuffy people sharing facts.” - Lindsey Anderson
Takeaways:
02:34 Consistent, simple content creation beats perfect, overthought marketing strategies.
06:50 Use multiple content pillars to keep your marketing fresh and personal.
24:01 Focus on steady, long-term marketing efforts rather than seeking instant results.
29:07 Create urgency and engagement through time-limited, interactive challenges.
36:05 Build genuine relationships by helping others without expecting immediate returns.
Resources
- The CLICK Technique (Book)
- Traffic and Leads (Podcast)
- PDX Small Business Network (Podcast)
- One Click Lindsey (Official Site)
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583: Beyond the Book: Embark on the Quest for Greatness, Never Stop Marketing, Fight Obscurity, Become Memorable Using an Audio Logo, and Get High Paying Clients with Trevor Crane
Trevor Crane is an 11 time #1 international bestselling author and the founder of Epic Author Publishing.
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He is the also host of the GreatnessQuest.com podcast and co-founder of SuperKidsBooks.com.
Trevor's mission is to help publish 1000 new authors and help people take their LIFE and their BUSINESS to the next level – no matter how successful they already are.
Since 2003, Trevor has been a trusted business adviser, coach and mentor. He is president of Step Up Strategies, Inc. and together with his team, they help companies outperform, outsell, and outlast the competition through systemic and strategic consulting, coaching, training, marketing and support. He helps his clients generate MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in bottom line profits.
Trevor leads mentoring and mastermind programs for service based professionals and entrepreneurs with his wife, Robyn Crane.
Trevor is also a sought after speaker, trainer and coach. His unique commonsense approach, along with his humor, wit, and infectious energy, allows him to connect with any audience.
Quotes:
“Money is simply a measure of the greatness, goodness, and contributions you provide to others. It is a privilege and an honor to receive it, and it becomes your moral duty and responsibility to seek substantial wealth to make a greater impact.” – Trevor Crane
“If all you do is try to stay within the lines and make everybody happy, you will lose. So, to have the courage, stick your head up and go out and get something.” - Trevor Crane
“The hero is the person that has the courage and the intelligence to ask for help, receive it, and then walk the golden brick road.” - Trevor Crane
Takeaways:
04:40 Your book must have a clear next step for readers, not just be a standalone product.
06:57 Success comes from understanding who your book is for, what problem it solves, and what results it delivers.
18:56 Build a platform and audience that grows with each book, creating a self-sustaining marketing cycle.
22:21 Craft a clear, concise audio logo that explains who you help, what problem you solve, and the results you deliver.
39:40 Stop hiding and start promoting; waiting for perfect conditions means missing opportunities to connect with your audience.
54:30 Have the courage to be seen and heard, even if it means being polarizing or facing potential criticism.
Resources
- High Paying Clients (Free Book)
- Big Money With Your Book without Selling a Single Copy (Free Book)
- Trevor Crane (Official Site)
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582: Niche Down and Play Bigger: Evangelize and Redesign the Problem, Market Differently, and Master Category Design with Christopher Lochhead
Christopher Lochhead, author of Play Bigger (and now, Niche Down) is THE person to listen to if you're looking for the courage to stand out (in your life and business) using what's called "category design."
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If you'd like to become LEGENDARY by carving out your own category -- in the same way Apple, 5 Hour Energy, CarMax, Goldiblocks, and The World's First Arcade Bar (Barcade) did -- then you'll need to market AND redesign the problem you're solving so you can't be compared to anyone else.
Teach the world to think in a different (NOT better) way!
Quotes:
“Legendary entrepreneurs are intuitive category designers. They realize that the way they're going to be successful is actually not marketing a product and its features, but marketing a problem and a point of view about why that problem matters.” – Christopher Lochhead
“Legends don't want to be compared to anyone else. They want everyone that comes after them to be compared to them. They want to break and take new ground.” - Christopher Lochhead
“The number one problem in business today is failure to niche down or set a different way. Nobody buys a solution without a problem.” - Christopher Lochhead
Takeaways:
03:24 The most impactful innovators don't compete in existing markets - they create entirely new ones by reimagining problems.
05:46 Stop trying to be better than competitors. Create a unique market category that solves problems differently.
12:03 Successful entrepreneurs evangelize a problem, not just sell a solution. They teach people to see challenges from a new perspective.
29:28 Niching down isn't just for big companies. Small businesses and individuals can carve out specialized spaces by focusing on specific problems.
35:30 Your unique difference is your greatest strength. Have the courage to stand out and create your own path.
Resources
- Legends and Losers (Podcast)
- Niche Down: How To Become Legendary By Being Different (Book)
- Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets (Book)
- Christopher Lochhead (LinkedIn)
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581: Passion Plus Commitment Equals Success: Love What You Do, Practice Gratitude, Challenge Yourself and Win with Elysia Stobbe
Certified Military Relocation Pro, Wonder Woman Adventurer, Speaker and Author of the #1 Best Seller How To Get Approved for the Best Mortgage Without Sticking A Fork in Your Eye.
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Elysia Stobbe has closed more than $250 million in residential mortgage loans during her career. Through diligence and great service to her clients, Elysia not only survived, but actually thrived during the mortgage crisis that began in 2006. Through a relentless and never-ending commitment to customer service and integrity as a core value, Elysia has built a successful mortgage business in the midst of the industry's tightening regulations. Elysia has moved 10 times and has a unique perspective that she brings to her real estate business. In addition, Elysia has bought and sold over 30 properties as a real estate investor.
She tells us how to maximize your potential, prevent stagnation, and challenge yourself to break through limits and reach new heights. Elysia shares her daily routine, tips on staying organized, and five secrets to money and business success:
- pay yourself
- build cash reserves
- get access to lines of credit BEFORE you need the credit
- create a SEP IRA
- know your exit strategy
Quotes:
“If you're not growing, you're dying. Sticking to the status quo leads to boredom, much like neglecting exercise causes muscles to atrophy.” – Elysia Stobbe
“Your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, and your actions become your reality.” - Elysia Stobbe
“There really is no easy street to becoming financially free. It is hard work, but you need the tools, and you definitely need the motivation to make that happen.” - Elysia Stobbe
Takeaways:
01:10 Technology is changing fast, and businesses must anticipate future trends to stay competitive.
06:57 Passion and commitment are essential for building a successful business that you truly enjoy.
18:57 Practice daily gratitude and create a morning routine that energizes and focuses you.
21:33 Break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps to maintain motivation and progress.
30:25 Always have a clear exit strategy when building a business to ensure long-term financial security.
Resources
- How to Get Approved for the Best Mortgage Without Sticking a Fork in Your Eye (Book)
- Elysia Stobbe ~ Mortgage Marketing Coach and Mentor (LinkedIn)
- Elysia Stobbe (Twitter)
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580: Convey Your Message Using Membership Sites, Gamify Learning for Your Customers, and Live Your Best Moments of Truth with Issac Tolpin
Isaac Tolpin is one of the Founders of ConveYour.com, the #1 Micro-Learning platform for influencers and companies.
He's a tech entrepreneur and futurist at heart, on a mission, enabling brands to authentically connect and inform at scale with over 105 million in combined revenues from the companies he's helped build. His success comes from understanding the relationships between human behavior, business and technology. This expertise has helped celebrity influencers and companies to transform their knowledge into humanized digital training. He refuses to waste his life achieving the world's definition of success that leave so many empty, but instead does what matters through the projects he's involved with, those he serves, and the family he leads.
Quotes:
“Technology has come so far that people building courses shouldn't create something that bores people to death. Whether it's in a company or you're selling your information, leveraging your content, the experience matters as much as the content matters.” – Issac Tolpin
“Money is a poor motivator because it'll motivate you for a while, but it doesn't necessarily motivate you to create the things that really matter.” - Issac Tolpin
“If you're not authentic in every aspect of your life, people will quickly sense it and be turned off, often without understanding why.” - Issac Tolpin
Takeaways:
04:40 Making online courses fun and interactive is more important than having perfect, polished video production.
07:20 Gamification works across all ages by tapping into people's natural desire for recognition and achievement.
16:50 Earning rewards through points creates a more meaningful learning experience and filters out less committed participants.
21:00 Being authentic in business and personal life is crucial for building genuine connections with people.
23:15 Chasing money alone will not sustain motivation; meaningful purpose is essential for long-term success.
Resources
- ConveYour (Gamified membership sites)
- Isaac Tolpin: Build More Than a Business (Official Site)
- Isaac Tolpin (LinkedIn)
- Isaac Tolpin (Twitter)
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579: Build Your Championship Company, Overcome the Seven Deadliest Employee Communication Sins, and Manage High Performance Teams with Workplace Communication Expert Skip Weisman
Skip Weisman, The Leadership & Workplace Communication Expert, spent the first 20-years of his career leading professional baseball organizations, 16 as CEO. That experience in professional sports allows him to connect championship performance in sports to championship performance small business, Bringing the Right People Into the Right Environment to Deliver the Right Results!
Skip’s powerful leadership communication strategies, combined with his Championship Game Plan and Playbooks, bring championship performance to work environments in every industry. Despite his sports background, Skip connects with every type of audience because his experiences, stories and lessons come from your typical office environment anyone can relate to.
Quotes:
“To achieve championship performance in sports, communication, trust, and respect among coworkers and colleagues are vital.” – Skip Weisman
“Every problem, frustration, upset, and success in business is ultimately rooted in some form of communication.” - Skip Weisman
“People want to do a good job; they care about you, as well as the present and future state of your company.” - Skip Weisman
Takeaways:
06:55 Preparation and early planning are critical for business success, even months before a major event or launch.
14:00 Employees want to contribute and care about the company when given trust and meaningful responsibilities.
16:49 Small businesses can benefit from neutral third-party assessments that help break down communication barriers.
22:47 Communication problems are the root cause of most workplace challenges and conflicts.
24:40 Creating a positive work environment requires listening to employees and giving them a genuine voice.
Resources
- The 7 Deadliest Communications Sins (Book)
- Skip Weisman Speaks (Official Site)
- Skip Weisman - Getting Employees to Think Beyond the Paycheck (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:42 — 27.2MB) | Embed
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578: Holistic Tax Planning: Save Money As an Entrepreneur Using Health Insurance, Life Insurance, and Income Strategy with Money Geek Michael Dinich
Michael Dinich is the founder of Your Money Geek and he helps people retire early by reducing taxes, fees and costs. He blogs about personal finance and he’s here to share the latest tactics, tips and strategies entrepreneurs need to know about regarding personal finance, tax planning, life insurance and health insurance.
Quotes:
“Dollars are not merely money; they represent moments you exchanged for a better future.” – Michael Dinich
“The tax code is more complicated than many people realize, with various phase-outs, exemptions, and factors based on your income.” - Michael Dinich
“Life often unfolds in the middle, but balanced and fair headlines don’t usually attract clicks.” - Michael Dinich
Takeaways:
01:39 Tax planning should be a year-round strategy, not just a once-a-year event during tax season.
03:56 Entrepreneurs need flexible financial strategies that adapt to changing income levels and business conditions.
14:05 Health insurance costs can be significantly reduced by carefully managing your modified adjusted gross income.
20:25 Finding the right financial professional requires research and understanding your specific business needs.
22:10 Life insurance offers more than just a death benefit - it can be a strategic financial planning tool for retirement and business financing.
Resources
- Wealth of Geeks (Financial Planning)
- Michael Dinich (Blog)
- Michael Dinich (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:05 — 26.7MB) | Embed
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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
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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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