Recent Updates
466: Better Relationships, Better Business: Reinvent Yourself in 30 Days (By Being a Nice Guy) and Strengthen Your Personal Connections with Doug Sandler
Doug Sandler is an entrepreneur and industry leader. His book, Nice Guys Finish First is a #1 ranked Amazon Best Seller.
As a podcast host of The Nice Guys, Doug has interviewed Gary V, Arianna Huffington, Dan Harris from Good Morning America, Ron Klain, White House Chief of Staff and dozens of celebs. Doug is a nationally recognized speaker, writer, and founder of TurnKey Podcast Company, providing podcast production, editing and launch services.
Doug has a lot of great advice about how to have a better business by having better relationships. He believes in the "simple stuff" such as showing up, returning phone calls, and texts. Doug is a fan of "catching people doing something right." He has a "24 seconds" concept where you can change your life by sending two text messages a day.
Quotes:
“If you return your phone calls, return your text messages, show up on time or early for your appointments, stop overpromising and underdelivering, and start to actually exceed expectations, you will succeed no matter what business you're in.” – Doug Sandler
“The difference between successful and unsuccessful people in life is the strength of the relationships they have.” – Doug Sandler
“You want people to always leave your company feeling better about themselves than they did before they met you.” – Doug Sandler
Takeaways:
02:37 Simple daily habits like returning calls, sending texts, and being punctual can dramatically improve business relationships.
04:22 Success isn't about complicated strategies, but consistent, kind communication with people in your network.
09:28 Building genuine connections means catching people doing things right and making them feel appreciated.
30:26 Podcasting can be a powerful business development tool when you carefully select guests who might become potential clients.
36:05 Micro-targeting your audience and engaging your community are critical for podcast and business success.
Visit: Turnkey Podcasting
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:42 — 36.4MB) | Embed
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465: Launch a Successful Coaching Business, Increase Your Monthly Income and Streamline Your Productivity with Coach Marc Mawhinney
Marc Mawhinney is a lifelong entrepreneur and business coach specializing in helping other coaches build successful businesses. Based in eastern Canada, he runs multiple coaching programs and platforms, including the Natural Born Coaches podcast and the Coaching Jungle Facebook group. Mark also publishes a print newsletter called Secret Coach Club and offers group and one-on-one coaching services for coaches looking to grow their businesses. He has extensive experience transitioning entrepreneurs from nine-to-five jobs into full-time coaching and is known for helping coaches increase their fees and develop effective business strategies.
Marc stops by to talk to us about how to take daily consistent action, stay consistent, batch your tasks, always be offering, get a clear idea of who you're serving, and sell coaching via discovery calls.
Quotes:
“Don't try to do things that you hate or you're just not going to stick with it.” – Marc Mawhinney
“People don't value what they get for free. And I absolutely hate seeing coaches say, ‘I'm going to coach for free for a while just to get experience.’” – Marc Mawhinney
“The more you charge, the more committed and invested the clients are in the relationship. They'll do more of the work and treat it more seriously.” – Marc Mawhinney
Takeaways:
04:40 Consistent content creation requires patience and commitment, with results often emerging weeks or months after initial efforts.
16:39 Building a coaching business while maintaining a day job helps develop critical time management skills and reduces financial pressure.
27:10 Coaching niches can be incredibly specific and unique, with opportunities in almost any area of expertise.
30:52 Increasing coaching fees is a simple process that can be done quickly and often leads to more serious, committed clients.
33:51 Treating your coaching business like a real professional venture, not a hobby, is crucial for long-term success.
Visit Marc Mawhinney's NaturalBornCoaches.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:48 — 33.7MB) | Embed
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464: Procrastinators Are People Too: How to Be Productive, Calm, Congruent, Anxiety-Free and Happy with Dr. Mary Lamia
Mary Lamia is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who practices in Marin County, California. Additionally, she is a professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. Her career-long passion to convey an understanding of emotions to the public is exemplified by her writing and media work.
She is the author of five books, including a recent publication, "What Motivates Getting Things Done: Procrastination, Emotions, and Success" and blogs for Psychology Today, Therapy Today, and Thrive Global websites.
Quotes:
“Our emotions motivate everything we do. They influence the style we have that drives us to get things done.” – Dr. Mary Lamia
“Emotions are designed to help us pay attention, and they motivate us to act—to do something.” – Dr. Mary Lamia
“When we look only at behavior without exploring the emotions that motivate it, we overlook the significant influences that create differences among people.” – Dr. Mary Lamia
Takeaways:
01:09 Procrastination isn't a weakness, but a valid motivational style that can lead to success.
06:03 Emotions are the primary driver behind how people complete tasks and achieve goals.
09:52 Understanding your personal emotional motivation style can reduce self-criticism and improve productivity.
19:33 Success is defined by meeting deadlines and producing high-quality work, not by when tasks are started.
21:32 Creating artificial deadlines through personal commitments can help deadline-driven individuals stay motivated.
Resources
- What Motivates Getting Things Done (Book)
- Dr. Mary Lamia (Official Site)
- Mary Lamia (LinkedIn)
- Mary Lamia (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:36 — 26.2MB) | Embed
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463: Plan with Purpose: Build An Amazing Lifestyle For You and Your Family Without Sacrificing Time, Money, or Fulfillment with Tom Sylvester
Tom Sylvester is a business strategist and firm believer in Lean Startup. He enjoys helping new entrepreneurs validate their ideas and follow proven principles when it comes to starting and scaling a successful business.
Additionally, Tom helps entrepreneurs navigate the personal journey that comes with being an entrepreneur, from overcoming mindset blocks, ramping up their productivity, growing as a person and becoming a great leader in their life and business.
Quotes:
“A lot of people build businesses backwards. They spend all their time creating the product, and then, when they go to sell it, they haven't actually done the market research to make sure it's something customers want.” – Tom Sylvester
“Let's spend the least amount of time and money early on, and really make sure that we understand who our customers are. Then, we give them the simplest solution that will work for them.” – Tom Sylvester
“We build successful businesses, but we make sure they actually support the life we're looking to build.” – Tom Sylvester
Takeaways:
02:06 Validate business ideas through minimal investment and customer feedback before full-scale development.
07:18 Design business goals that directly support your personal life objectives, not the other way around.
16:19 Break down big goals into smaller, measurable weekly and daily tasks to maintain consistent progress.
22:13 Focus on momentum and overall progress rather than getting discouraged by small goal shortfalls.
26:17 Use regular check-ins and accountability systems to track progress and make timely adjustments.
Plan With Purpose (free course on goal setting)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:17 — 26.8MB) | Embed
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462: The Art of Persistence: Grow Your Business By Leaps and Bounds, Find the Bottleneck, and Course Correct Your Way to Entrepreneurial Success with Sarah Shaw
Sarah Shaw is an entrepreneur, innovator and designer.
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From her two decades worth of experience in both Hollywood and fashion, Sarah has built a treasure trove of secrets for connecting with influencers and getting publicity in order to grow her companies quickly.
She's appeared in the pages of InStyle, Oprah, People, Lucky, ELLE, WWD, and Marie Claire magazines, appeared on Extra and E! Entertainment, and has be interviewed for Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com and American Express' OPEN Forum.
Sarah is now the Founder & CEO of Sarah Shaw Consulting, where she teaches online entrepreneurs of all stripes how launch, market and sell their products and services. Sarah's newest program will show you how to connect with influencers, get the publicity you've always dreamed of and use it to get massive exposure grow quickly grow your business.
Quotes:
“The linchpin of being an entrepreneur is the ability to pivot. A lot of entrepreneurs don't have that ability, and it becomes almost impossible to be an entrepreneur if you can't pivot on a dime.” – Sarah Shaw
“There aren't many truly new and innovative ideas anymore. A lot of people who create patents are building on existing ones—just improving on what already exists.” – Sarah Shaw
“Everything is solvable. There's always a workaround—you just keep going until you've exhausted every single possibility.” – Sarah Shaw
Takeaways:
07:49 Successful entrepreneurs can pivot quickly and adjust their strategies when initial plans aren't working.
11:21 Don't get stuck behind fears like needing perfect patents or business plans - just start and move fast.
18:34 The first attempt at a business idea is rarely the final product, so take action and learn from each step.
25:21 Skills learned in one career can unexpectedly help you succeed in future entrepreneurial efforts.
27:18 Building a business isn't always easy, but it can be fun if you approach challenges with the right mindset.
Celebrity Confidential: Get Celebrities to Promote Your Business
(use coupon code ROBERTP to claim your 50% discount)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:15 — 28.6MB) | Embed
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461: Your Retirement Game Plan and the American Dream Revisited: How to Plan for the Future and Pursue Your Ultimate Passion with Gary Sirak
Gary Sirak has been helping other people achieve their American Dream for the last 35 years. He is President of Sirak Financial Services in Canton, OH, a company founded by his father, Stan Sirak in 1957. The company will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.
Gary has written two books, the first, If Your Money Talked ... What Secrets Would It Tell? This book is about personal finance and the most common mistakes people make with their money. So many people make the same mistakes again and again with their money that Gary decided to do something about it. The second, The American Dream Revisited: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Results, is a deeply personal topic for Gary. While it’s true it was a serendipitous conversation at a coffee shop that spurred him on to write it, the ideas and beliefs of the book have been with him for his entire life.
Quotes:
“If people don't have purpose, if they don't have something they are really motivated to do, they become very lazy, and they also develop some health issues that seem to crop up quickly.” – Gary Sirak
“Everybody says, ‘Oh, the American Dream is this,’ but I disagree. It's whatever you want it to be.” – Gary Sirak
“Your dreams change as you mature, get older, have larger families, the kids move out of the house, or your business changes.” – Gary Sirak
Takeaways:
04:40 Having a clear retirement plan goes far beyond just managing money - it's about creating purpose and meaningful daily activities.
07:58 Successful retirement involves reconnecting with passions and interests you loved when you were younger, not just starting random new activities.
10:20 Without a sense of purpose, retirees risk serious health decline and potentially shortened life expectancy.
16:22 Creating a new daily routine is critical when transitioning from work life to retirement, just like adapting to any major life change.
23:58 Refusing to quit and staying relentless in pursuing your goals is a key trait of people who successfully achieve their personal dreams.
Resources
- Gary Sirak: The American Dream Revisited (Official Site)
- Sirak Financial Services (Site)
- The American Dream Revisited (Book)
- If Your Money Talked (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:30 — 26.1MB) | Embed
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460: Get Into the Coaching, Growth and Learning Mindset and Become Emotionally Intelligent with Caroline Stokes
Caroline Stokes is founder of FORWARD - an executive headhunting + coaching firm for innovation leaders AND The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter, designed to help evolve recruiters in the AI age.
Caroline started her career in consumer entertainment and technology marketing, brand and PR and decided it was the brain behind human decision making on company evolution that was more inspiring. She explains what we need to know about being emotionally intelligent, be productive in an optimal environment, and tap into your emotional responses in a timely manner.
Quotes:
“When you have to change, adapt, or shift your beliefs or the way your brain operates, it's a painful process, because all of a sudden, you realize that what you were doing actually wasn't very good.” – Caroline Stokes
“If they have a brain, they have emotional intelligence—if they want to develop themselves, they are able to adapt, grow, thrive, and be more successful.” – Caroline Stokes
“It's not necessarily about who has good emotional intelligence and who doesn't—it's really about being able to tap into your emotional responses in a very timely manner.” – Caroline Stokes
Takeaways:
02:58 Emotional intelligence is a skill everyone can develop, not a fixed trait you're born with.
04:44 Understanding and managing your emotional responses can dramatically improve professional relationships and performance.
10:02 Recruiters need more than just tech skills - they need strong emotional intelligence to succeed in the AI age.
19:10 Having a growth mindset and curiosity are critical for personal and professional development.
20:39 Personal growth requires weekly commitment, feedback, and coaching, similar to working out at a gym.
Resources
- The Emotionally Intelligent Recruiter (Free Download, 70 Tips For Recruiters)
- FORWARD (Executive Headhunting and Coaching Firm)
- Caroline Stokes (Twitter)
- Caroline Stokes (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:49 — 23.6MB) | Embed
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459: Grow a Huge Following on Social Media Through Consistent Customer-First Edutainment with Jasmine Star
Jasmine Star is a photographer and business strategist from Newport Beach, California. She dropped out of law school to pursue her dreams.
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Jasmine tells us how to get noticed on social media and how to sell with edutainment without being "salesy" ... content creation ideas (i.e. books you're reading), how to find time for social every day, and how Jasmine used social media to sell a $25/month monthly subscription "template" service.
After she built an internationally recognized and award-winning business, she began consulting with entrepreneurs how they could use social media to grow their businesses. She's amassed over 600,000 followers on all of her social platforms and believes others can do the same to grow their business and pursue their passion.
Quotes:
“I never aim to be popular or cool. I aim to live my best life.” – Jasmine Star
“If you don't know where you're going, you're never going to be thankful when you arrive.” – Jasmine Star
“A brand is a series of memories, expectations, and stories that, when connected, make a consumer choose one business over another.” – Jasmine Star
Takeaways:
04:40 Building a successful business requires aligning your passion with practical strategies for making money.
11:20 Social media marketing is about providing value through educational and entertaining content, not just selling products.
20:50 Consistent daily effort and resilience are more important to business success than any single breakthrough moment.
22:15 Treat social media like a garden that needs daily tending to grow your business effectively.
26:43 Start small by connecting with brands and creators through micro-commitments and free resources before investing.
Resources
- Social Curator: Captions and Images Curated For Your Feed (Monthly Membership)
- Insta180: Grow Your Business (Instagram)
- Jasmine Star (Official Site)
- Jasmine Star (Instagram)
- Jasmine Star (Facebook)
- Jasmine Star (YouTube)
- Jasmine Star (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:19 — 26.8MB) | Embed
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458: Productivity, Influence, and Leadership: Become a Better Communicator and Storyteller By Showing Vulnerability, Imagery and Authenticity with Colin Boyd
Colin Boyd from helps business owners become more influential. He loves to help them discover new levels of confidence and skill in how they communicate their ideas on any stage or platform.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:22 — 32.4MB) | Embed
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Colin talks to us today about what caused him to recently move his business from Australia to California, how to develop your signature story including these three components:
- vulnerability (challenge, difficult situation)
- tension (growing challenge, drama)
- victory
Whether you need to get in front of a client and pitch your product, speak at a conference or engage your followers on social media his strategies will help you do this.
Colin is a Certified speaking professional with the National speakers Association, qualified Performance Coach with the International Coaching Federation, Certified Trainer, NLP practitioner and also holds a Commerce Degree, Executive Coaching diploma and EDISC Behavioral certification.
The real reason he is qualified to help you is because he has done the journey with himself and thousands of clients around the world to go from fear and confusion to confidence and clarity when it come to presenting ideas persuasively.
Quotes:
“Your internal state, or the default emotion you experience in life, will be the defining factor in what you create in your life.” – Colin Boyd
“Average people value activity more than thinking. Exceptional people value thinking more than activity.” – Colin Boyd
“All of us have a next level of potential, a next level of income and influence that is already ours, but we are just holding ourselves back.” – Colin Boyd
Takeaways:
04:40 Your internal emotional state directly shapes your external reality and business success.
11:10 Exceptional people prioritize strategic thinking over mere activity and task completion.
17:40 Powerful storytelling requires vulnerability, tension, and a clear victory narrative that connects emotionally with the audience.
22:15 Most people have untapped potential they're holding back due to limiting self-narratives.
27:15 Effective stories become more compelling when they include specific sensory details and involve interactions with other people.
Resources
- Colin Boyd (Official Site)
- Signature Story Template (Free PDF Template, How To Craft Your Presentation)
- Daily Output Booster (Free Download, Cheatsheet To Make Your Day More Productive)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:22 — 32.4MB) | Embed
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457: Why Most Membership Sites Fail, and How to Create the Passive Income Money Site of Your Dreams
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456: How to Become a TEDx Stage Speaker and Get Over 1 Million Views with Elena Herdieckerhoff
Elena Herdieckerhoff is an ambassador for highly sensitive people (HSPs), Business Mentor for sensitive entrepreneurs and Motivational Speaker. She's on a mission to help spread positive awareness and inspiration for highly sensitive people around the world.
Elena's delivered a powerful speech on the TEDx Paris stage and generated over 1 million views on YouTube. We talk with Elena today about how she was able to land that TEDx gig, what TEDx is and what they want, how she planned and rehearsed, delivered and built up the snowball to make her presentation go viral.
Quotes:
“Every single person has at least one topic they know a lot about and really care about.” – Elena Herdieckerhoff
“For a winning TEDx talk, people don't want a perfect speaker. They want someone who's deeply passionate, excited, enthusiastic, and loves what they're talking about.” – Elena Herdieckerhoff
“Something will not go viral just by driving traffic to it; it will only pick up virality because people are genuinely moved by your message.” – Elena Herdieckerhoff
Takeaways:
05:41 Crafting a powerful TEDx talk requires a burning mission, deep expertise, and a unique angle that can change minds.
27:09 Memorizing your entire script allows you to connect authentically with your audience and deliver a more natural, passionate presentation.
31:29 Aggressive marketing within the first 24-48 hours of your talk going live is critical to jumpstarting potential virality.
34:42 A successful TEDx talk can open significant professional doors and create global impact beyond traditional speaking opportunities.
39:17 The real power of a TEDx talk lies in its potential to touch individual lives and spread meaningful ideas.
Resources
- Elena's TEDx Talk (YouTube, 1.3 Million Views)
- Journey To TEDx Speaker Coaching (Website)
- Entreprincess (Official Site)
- Elena (LinkedIn)
- Elena (Twitter)
- TedX Event Page and Elena's bio (Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:39 — 36.3MB) | Embed
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455: Speak Your Ideal Customer’s Secret Language, Rise Above the Noise, and Make Your Business Irresistible with Jeffrey Shaw
Jeffrey Shaw the host of the popular business podcast Creative Warriors, a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker, a business coach for entrepreneurs.
He's the author of the forthcoming book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer’s Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible. Having a keen eye isn’t just for what one sees, but also for what one senses. Having been one of the most sought after portrait photographers in the U.S. for more than three decades, Jeffrey Shaw, a.k.a. the Lingo Guy, uses this honed intuition to attract and maintain specific markets by speaking their Secret Language.
Quotes:
“What creates the tightest bond in business is when people feel like you really get them. If you feel like somebody gets you, it supersedes price.” – Jeffrey Shaw
“Good marketing has to compel people and draw them forward. The idea of self-identifying questions is posing a question in your marketing that completes a thought process in your ideal customer's head.” – Jeffrey Shaw
“Pricing creates perception, and any business can position itself anywhere in the market they choose based on pricing and the perception it gives.” – Jeffrey Shaw
Takeaways:
03:14 Your business should speak directly to your ideal customer's heart, not just their demographics.
10:25 The style and look of your brand instantly tells customers whether they belong or not.
19:02 Pricing isn't just about numbers - it creates a powerful perception of your business's value.
26:45 Create marketing questions that complete your ideal customer's unspoken thought process.
33:54 Build your business by first understanding who you are and then finding customers who would love what you offer.
Resources
- LINGO (Book)
- Jeffrey Shaw (Official Site)
- Creative Warriors (Podcast)
- Jeffrey Shaw (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:32 — 36.2MB) | Embed
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454: Whoa, Wow, Hmmm, Yes: Get Out of Your Own Way and Just Listen to Become a Mesmerizing, Purposeful, Agendaless Influencer with Dr. Mark Goulston
Dr. Mark Goulston stops by to help us all get out of our own way. We need to live to be of service and have conversations with neither a memory NOR an agenda. Mark is one of the world's foremost experts on empathic listening and how you can use that to increase your influence, marketing and get through to anyone.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:37 — 39.0MB) | Embed
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He's the author of seven books with his book, "Just Listen," becoming the top book on listening in the world. He provides workshops, one on one coaching and consulting and keynotes around the world. Dr. Mark joins us to tell us the secret formula that Elon Musk and Steve Jobs followed to create fanatical customers, clients and investors. It comes down to the four step unconscious formula:
- Whoa: "I can't believe what I'm seeing"
- Wow: "That's amazing"
- Hmmm: "This is too good not to use"
- Yes: "I can see where we can use it"
If you'd like to be a mesmerizing influencer, be remembered (by being different), get into the mind of your prospects, and stay ultra-relevant, then you'll want to tune-in to today's show.
Quotes:
“The purest form of communication is to listen without memory or desire.” – Dr. Mark Goulston
“Be more interested than interesting, be more fascinated than fascinating.” – Dr. Mark Goulston
“If you want to increase user experience, you need to provide something that's relevant to them—not something you love but no one is going to buy.” – Dr. Mark Goulston
Takeaways:
03:17 Trust is built by showing genuine interest in others without pushing an agenda.
20:41 Listening deeply means understanding people's emotions and unspoken needs, not just their words.
23:46 Creating content that sparks curiosity requires being spontaneous and responsive to your audience.
32:52 Successful communication happens when you help people feel truly understood.
41:09 Asking open-ended questions and encouraging people to share more can create powerful engagement.
Resources
- Just Listen (Book)
- Dr. Mark Goulston's books (Amazon)
- The Goulston Group (Discover How To Be More Compelling)
- Prison Letters with Dr. Mark Goulston (Podcast)
- Mark Goulston (Twitter)
- Mark Goulston (LinkedIn)
- Steve Jobs as Told By Mark Goulston (Youtube Video)
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453: Heatmaps, Scrollmaps, Analytics, User Testing, A/B Testing and Troubleshooting: Increase Your E-Commerce Website Profits with Conversion Consultant Nick Disabato
Nick Disabato is a designer & writer. He runs Draft, a small consultancy that focuses on research-driven A/B testing for online stores.
We talk with Nick about his strategy when it comes to improving the conversions of e-commerce storefronts, from Google Analytics, heatmaps, scrollmaps, behavior, user testing and vocalization. Your website's conversion rate might be low due to a factor you've never considered, such a slow load time, lack of mobile-first design, or the terms on your site (e.g. "shipping" or "trial").
Quotes:
“The whole point of optimization is to keep what works and throw away what doesn't.” – Nick Disabato
“You want the takeaways. You want to know what to do, because I don't just watch videos for a living—I watch videos in order to make design decisions.” – Nick Disabato
“If everything is stripped away except trying to create a positive economic impact for the business, you're going to focus on that really quickly.” – Nick Disabato
Takeaways:
09:13 Successful optimization isn't about quick fixes, but about understanding user motivations and throwing away bad ideas while keeping good ones.
14:22 Technical cleanup can dramatically improve website performance, potentially increasing revenue without running a single AB test.
20:37 Mobile traffic requires a completely different design approach, focusing on touch states, responsive design, and user-specific experiences.
26:11 Effective AB testing goes far beyond changing button colors - it requires deep research and understanding of customer objections and motivations.
27:59 A true consultant focuses on creating economic impact, not just running tests, and is willing to fire themselves if they can't deliver value.
Resources
- Draft Revise (Analytics Tear-Down And Service)
- Drafts Letters (Newsletter)
- Cadence & Slang (Book About Interaction Design)
- Nick Disabato (Official Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:43 — 28.1MB) | Embed
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452: Find Your Passion, Grow a Podcast, and Monetize It Using the Speaker Platform with Podcaster Rob Greenlee
Rob Greenlee has been podcasting for over 13 years and is the head of Partnerships at Spreaker.com and BlogTalkRadio.com.
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He's a 2017 Inductee into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame, Is former EVP/CTO at PodcastOne.com in Beverly Hills, CA and former Content and Business Manager, Podcasts/TV at Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Zune. He currently hosts the SpreakerLiveShow.com podcast, Weds at 3pm PST and co-hosts NewMediaShow.com/live Live Sat at 9am PST/Noon EST.
We talk today about why you should use the Speaker platform for podcasting, its unique features (Skype recording, mobile app, live shows, easy migration and more), the essentials of podcasting (name, format, how it fits into your life, where you'll podcast physically, format and topic ideas), how to grow your podcast traffic (social media, tell-a-friend, organic search optimization, podcast guesting, TV, and guest blog posts) as well as how to monetize your podcast (affiliate links and monetization tools).
Quotes:
“Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to think long term. If you want to be successful in podcasting, you need to think long term.” – Rob Greenlee
“Sometimes the audience of your show is more knowledgeable than the host. Getting feedback, questions, and contributions from the audience fuels the show and makes it better.” – Rob Greenlee
“Podcasting is, at its core, a technology-related medium. It's built on the same principles the World Wide Web was built on—it's about sharing.” – Rob Greenlee
Takeaways:
08:41 Building audience connection matters more than chasing quick listener numbers or perfect production.
13:26 Podcasting success comes from consistent passion and long-term commitment to your chosen topic.
16:37 Choose a podcast format and recording approach that genuinely fits your lifestyle and schedule.
28:20 Start monetizing early by using affiliate programs, even if earnings are small, to practice ad integration.
35:12 Podcasting grows through word-of-mouth sharing and authentic storytelling, not just marketing tactics.
Resources
- Spreaker (Site)
- Blog Talk Radio (Website)
- Speaker Live Show (Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:29 — 38.9MB) | Embed
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451: Visually Promote Your Business Using Photos, Videos and Live Streaming with Smartphone Marketing Guru Tabitha Carro
Tabitha Carro is the Smartphone Marketing Guru! She taught for 13 years as an elementary teacher while running her own curriculum design business. Her present passion is exploring how to visually promote businesses through an iPhone.
In May of 2016, she created the Smartphone Marketing School, a blog and membership site, to share her iPhone design techniques with fellow business owners. Through her course content, members are learning how to create professional videos, product photos, and social media designs without the need for camera equipment, desktop software, or outsourcing design work.
Quotes:
“People love to see people. I had my husband come on for no other reason than he's more of a tech buff than me, and it just makes it more entertaining when you have more human elements in your Facebook Live.” – Tabitha Carro
“Learn to do it on your phone, and you'll be able to keep up because you always have your phone with you. You can instantly create things in seconds and push them out.” – Tabitha Carro
“It's really about stopping people in their feed, grabbing their attention and then getting them to click.” – Tabitha Carro
Takeaways:
01:23 Modern smartphones are powerful enough to create professional-quality visual marketing content without expensive camera equipment.
11:34 Strategic giveaways can boost audience engagement by offering physical items directly related to your business niche.
19:09 Building a consistent photo and video library allows entrepreneurs to quickly repurpose content across multiple marketing platforms.
25:22 Mobile apps have evolved to provide complex editing capabilities that rival traditional desktop software, making content creation more accessible.
33:36 Focus on creating content and connecting with people rather than getting stuck on technical perfection or expensive equipment requirements.
Resources
- Tabitha Carro (Official Site)
- Tabitha's Courses (Site)
- Google Photos (Store Images Into Your Library)
- Gleam (Run Social Media Competitions)
- A Color Story (Basic Image Editing)
- SnapSeed on iTunes and Google Play
- DesignLab Studio (Graphics Editor)
- Adobe SparkPost (Social Media Image Editor)
- Quik (video editing app)
- VideoShop (Use In Conjunction With GIFShare)
- InShot on iTunes and Google Play
- iMovie (app)
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450: Amazon Analytics and Amazon Optimization: Do E-Commerce Right, Run Your Business on Systems, and Make Data-Driven Decisions with Reed Menssa
Reed Menssa from Advanced Amazon Consulting is a successful Amazon and online physical products seller who has developed many software tools and systems to help other Amazon sellers succeed. Reed's AZoptimizer and AZanalyzer software has produced profitable results for every type of seller and can be used for any skill level. He is an expert in his field and loves to share his knowledge and experience with others to help them succeed. Reed's software and consulting businesses help increase profits substantially for thousands of online sellers, every year.
Quotes:
“Data really drives this industry a lot. You should never be guessing, because that leads to uncomfortable situations where you have to then go back and try and figure those issues out.” – Reed Menssa
“I like to own my own thing. I like to be able to run it the way I want to run it, and I like not having to rely on someone else's good graces.” – Reed Menssa
“A lot of people have great ideas, but they don't know if it's actually going to sell or not, because they don't know where to look.” – Reed Menssa
Takeaways:
02:14 Accurate data is the backbone of successful Amazon selling, eliminating guesswork and reducing potential business risks.
12:13 Comprehensive product research means analyzing entire keyword pages, not just individual competitors, to understand market dynamics.
17:20 Using precise tracking methods like the 999 trick can provide real sales numbers, moving beyond unreliable best seller ranking estimates.
21:38 Amazon product indexing is critical - if you're not indexed for specific search terms, your product won't appear in relevant searches.
22:23 Successful business growth requires systematic approaches and informed decision-making, not random experimentation.
Visit AZAnalyzer to Claim Your Free Trial, Differentiation Worksheet & 30-Minute Skype Call
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449: Create Passive Income Membership Sites for Your Online Business
Quotes:
“If someone joins a course but doesn't log in and use it, and you don't give them a reason to and they're not motivated, they're not going to use your stuff.” – Robert Plank
“Find the overlap between what people are asking for and paying money for, and something you can deliver in a step-by-step, solvable, and complete format.” – Robert Plank
“Big dreams and goals are wonderful, but what's more important is hitting achievable milestones so you know your membership site is headed in the right direction.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
04:40 Creating a membership site isn't about complex packages or endless tips, but solving a specific problem people will pay to fix.
07:22 Design your membership site modules to give members a quick win in the first session, with clear, actionable results they can implement immediately.
12:15 Don't let technical details or perfect setup prevent you from launching your membership site - start simple and improve as you go.
16:30 Build your membership sites one at a time, focusing on making money with each project before expanding to multiple sites.
19:20 Your online business becomes more exciting and sustainable when you create sites that generate real income and provide genuine value.
Listen in to our episode to discover what you need to know about creating your membership site, keeping it simple and profitable. While you're listing, please check out this post on LinkedIn to leave a quick comment.
Leave a Like and Comment on LinkedIn
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448: Stop Being the Bottleneck, Change Your Habits, Escape Scarcity Thinking and Amplify Your Success with Melanie Benson
Melanie Benson from Rapid Cash Strategies is a Profit Amplifier, and has a gift for guiding fast-paced, mission-driven entrepreneurs to thrive in their small business. Melanie can quickly identify what derails you from productivity and progress – ultimately freeing you to scale your influence and income without overwhelm.
Melanie hosts the weekly podcast, Amplify Your Success, is author of Rewired for Wealth, coauthor of Entrepreneur.com's Start Up Guide to Starting an Information Marketing Business and has her success tips featured in magazines such as American Express OPEN Forum, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Woman's Day, Parenting Magazine, and University of Phoenix Alumni Magazine.
She is on the Executive Team for the Women Speaker's Association as well as is Council Chair for the Association of Transformational Leaders.
Quotes:
“The thought ‘I can't afford it’ is probably the single biggest bottleneck that exists. What we're doing is telling our mind that we can't. When we lead with ‘I can't afford it,’ it literally shuts our problem-solving brain down.” – Melanie Benson
“Success and comfort don't always hold hands. We have to be willing to step out on that ledge and not know how to do something in order to achieve things we've never achieved before.” – Melanie Benson
“Just because you don't know how to do something doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it.” – Melanie Benson
Takeaways:
04:50 Your mindset is the primary driver of business success, acting like a water hose that can either trickle or flow with opportunities.
11:34 Making a bold decision without knowing the entire path is more powerful than staying stuck in fear and uncertainty.
16:24 Avoiding failure can actually cause you to repeat failures by keeping you trapped in scarcity thinking instead of success energy.
20:41 Identifying your high-payoff business activity is crucial for quickly moving the income needle forward.
24:24 Building a team is essential for business growth, as you'll eventually hit a point where you cannot expand if you're working alone.
Claim Your Checklist: 10 Rapid Cash Strategies to Create a Quick Cash Infusion for Your Small Business
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:24 — 28.7MB) | Embed
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447: Level Up By Being a Direct Sales Troubleshooter, Amplify Your Strengths, and Scale Your Business Using the Five Sales Steps with Nathan Walker
Nathan Walker is a self-made millionaire, entrepreneur, direct sales expert, and business owner. With over 15 years of direct sales experience and business building he's changed the lives of many with his ability to 'Level Up' your life; regardless the industry!
Nathan is professionally affiliated with Brad Lea, Grant Cardone, Henry Kaminski, Akbar Sheik, and Arne Giske. He currently trains and educates sales teams within is businesses on a regular basis via calls, webinars, zoom, and live events. If Nathan is all about one thing, it’s this – Direct Sales! At the young age of 33, he’s built a few multi-million dollar companies all based around one thing, selling; more specifically selling in the home!
Along with that, he has several success stories under his belt. Success stories like Corey who was making $8.00 an hour at a Weber grill factory, and will now make over $200k this year alone. This is all due to Nathan’s sales process, and training. Stories like that is Nathan’s real passion in life.
Quotes:
“You've got to sell people on what they care about, not what you care about.” – Nathan Walker
“If they don't like me, don't trust me, or don't respect me, they're not going to do business with me. I could have the best product in the world, but if I don't like you—or if there's something missing—I'm probably not going to do business with you.” – Nathan Walker
“There's a lot of money going around in this world. There's a lot of opportunity in this world, and you get one shot. Your days are numbered, whether we want to admit it or not.” – Nathan Walker
Takeaways:
05:04 Focus on solving real customer problems they actually care about, not just pushing your product features.
11:20 Build sales teams around individual strengths instead of trying to make everyone a well-rounded performer.
20:24 Ask targeted questions to understand what specific problems matter most to the customer before presenting solutions.
25:02 Create a clear, step-by-step sales process that guides customers logically from initial contact to final purchase.
30:48 Maximize your potential and opportunities because life is short and you only get one chance to go all out.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:38 — 30.8MB) | Embed
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446: Attend the Right Networking Events, Lay the Groundwork for Better Joint Ventures, Land Clients, Become a Connector, and Follow Up with Lori Saitz
Lori Saitz from ZenRabbit started life as an extremely shy child. Her report cards regularly included, “Lori is very bright but she needs to learn how to speak up in class.” - Lori Saitz (pronounced Sites) has become a nationally recognized marketing expert, master networker and relationship-builder.
In 2003, she launched Zen Rabbit Baking Company and introduced the world to The Gratitude Cookie. In order to build that company, she had to overcome her hesitancy to talk to strangers, and learn how to network effectively to find clients and referral sources. Today, as a networking strategy coach and speaker, she works with quiet people on getting past the fear of networking, managing their energy, and feeling more comfortable connecting, so they can find success.
Her services are in demand by consultants, entrepreneurs, business owners, and business professionals who need to figure out which networking events are worth going to so they’re not wasting hundreds of dollars; what to say once they’re there so they don’t look foolish; and how to follow up afterward so their efforts aren’t wasted.
Quotes:
“We're naturally attuned to storytelling. Storytelling goes back centuries in human history. The storytelling part really cements and makes you more memorable.” – Lori Saitz
“Follow-up is the most important part. Where most people fall down is in the follow-up, because we all have the best of intentions.” – Lori Saitz
“If you can take control and make it more interesting by asking better questions of your conversational partners, it becomes easier and more enjoyable.” – Lori Saitz
Takeaways:
05:50 Strategic networking means choosing events with the right people, not attending every possible gathering.
06:32 Managing personal energy is crucial when attending networking events, especially for introverted professionals.
10:28 Preparing a clear, concise answer to "What do you do?" helps quiet professionals feel more confident and memorable.
17:01 Asking thoughtful, interesting questions transforms surface-level conversations into meaningful professional interactions.
25:36 Follow-up is the most critical part of networking, and setting specific calendar time for post-event communication ensures connections aren't lost.
Resources
- Zen Rabbit: Networking Strategies for Quiet People (Website)
- Lori Saitz (LinkedIn)
- Lori Saitz (Twitter)
- Highrise HQ (Client Relationship Management tool)
- Insightly (Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:36 — 34.4MB) | Embed
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445: Online Entrepreneurs: Re-Frame Your Struggles, Stress & Failures of the Past to Create Everything You Want in the Present
Let's talk for a second about past failures, stress, and how to use the mistake of the past to get the future you want, as you listen in today's episode.
Quotes:
“Far too many people wait until it's too late to take any sort of action, and then they wish they had taken that action one to ten years ago.” – Robert Plank
“Many struggling internet marketers are currently having trouble with being spread too thin—too many projects, no deadlines, no sense of urgency, and no focus.” – Robert Plank
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
00:45 Your current struggles and frustrations will become fond memories when viewed from a future perspective.
01:30 Taking calculated risks is more valuable than playing it safe and never attempting anything meaningful.
02:15 Most people underestimate what they can accomplish in a decade by being too cautious in the short term.
02:45 Simple online business success requires focusing on three core elements: lead capture, offers, and traffic.
03:20 Half-done projects and scattered efforts prevent entrepreneurs from creating a functional online business.
Leave Us a Quick Like & Comment on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:57 — 6.4MB) | Embed
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444: Just Do One Push-Up: Get Yourself Out There and Stream Live on Facebook
Have you heard that you "need to take massive action" but you don't quite know how to get started? Do you find yourself overwhelmed, sometimes backsliding or struggling to stay consistent? If so, this is the most important podcast you'll listen to today. Listen below and when you're done, leave us a quick like and a comment over on LinkedIn.
Quotes:
“A year from now, everything you're stressing about won't even matter.” – Robert Plank
“Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right.” – Robert Plank
“Life is not fair, and you don't want it to be fair. Fair means average—one step below good, and even one step above poor.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
00:05 Small, consistent actions can transform your life, even if you start with just one push-up.
01:25 Fear and overthinking prevent most people from taking the first step towards their goals.
02:15 Success comes from being proactive and taking risks, not from waiting for perfect conditions.
03:45 Incremental improvement beats waiting for the perfect moment to start.
04:35 Envy and regret are poor substitutes for actual action and personal growth.
Visit the "One Push Up" Article on LinkedIn & Leave a Quick Comment
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443: Take More (Fast) Action, Follow-Through and Be Consistent Daily: How I Wrote a Book in a Day and Got Married in a Day
I got married today, Friday, November 17th, 2017. We hadn't planned it, just woke up and decided to knock it out today. I've also done the same thing with my business in several cases, most notably having an idea for a book in the morning and getting it published that afternoon. Listen to the story and if you'd like to leave a comment or "like", check out this post on LinkedIn.
Quotes:
“20 years from now, you'll be more disappointed about the things you didn't do than the things you did do.” – Robert Plank
“You should be committed to your outcome, but flexible in your results.” – Robert Plank
“Develop a habit of consistent completion, and you get instant gratification. You set yourself up for future patterns of turning ideas into reality.” – Robert Plank
Takeaways:
04:40 Fast action and consistent daily effort can transform your biggest dreams into immediate reality.
07:15 Breaking complex goals into smaller, manageable steps reduces anxiety and increases the likelihood of success.
08:30 Don't let perfect details stop you from starting - the first step is more important than having every single thing planned out.
09:20 Setting SMART goals with specific timelines helps you move from idea to execution quickly.
10:10 Developing a habit of instant completion creates powerful patterns of turning thoughts into tangible results.
Visit This Article on LinkedIn to Leave a Quick Comment
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442: Masterminds: The Secret Shortcut to Success, Focus, Clarity, Speed, and Action with Charlene Burke
Charlene Burke says that you shouldn't go it alone when it comes to your online business, so she founded Search by Burke. Charlene believes that a mastermind group is "the secret shortcut to success" and is an information professional and mastermind group expert, with a background in marketing and engineering. She provides small and medium sized businesses with research that answers their questions about market opportunities, industry trends, and what's working for their competitors.
We discuss the importance of you joining a mastermind, types of masterminds to join, what to avoid when you join one, and how to get the most from them.
Quotes:
“A mastermind group is designed to help you navigate through challenges using the collective intelligence of others.” – Charlene Burke
“If you are the one who caused your problem, and you are the one who has decided to come up with the answer, you are using the same thoughts and brain that actually caused the problem.” – Charlene Burke
“You can't be a taker. You can't just sit in on a group to check it out.” – Charlene Burke
Takeaways:
01:50 Mastermind groups are powerful tools for solving business challenges through collective intelligence and peer support.
10:25 Successful mastermind participation requires giving as much value as you receive, not just taking advice.
21:56 A strong group leader is crucial for maintaining group health, resolving conflicts, and ensuring productive discussions.
23:03 Joining a mastermind can help introverted professionals improve communication skills and build confidence.
29:45 When selecting a mastermind group, ask detailed questions about group structure, expectations, and conflict resolution.
Resources
- Search By Burke (Website)
- Charlene Burke (LinkedIn)
- No More Sabotage: Developing Your Success Mindset (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:05 — 32.1MB) | Embed
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