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441: Website Optimization, A/B Split Testing and Heatmaps: How to Double Your Customers, Sales and Profits with Conversion Fanatic Justin Christianson
Justin Christianson is the #1 bestselling author of Conversion Fanatic: How to Double Your Customers, Sales and Profits with A/B Testing.
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The book is based on years of experience running thousands of split tests on hundreds of campaigns and is the definitive guide to getting more out of your marketing efforts. It's designed to help you find and test breakthrough marketing ideas faster and more adeptly than your competition can keep up with, so you convert more website visitors into paying customers faster and at a lower cost than they can.
He's the co-founder and President of Conversion Fanatics, a full service Conversion rate optimization company, member of the Forbes Agency council as well as the host of the weekly marketing podcast, CMO Roundtable. We talk today about Justin and his team's strategy, process, and mindset when it comes to increasing conversions, improving the website visitor experience, decreasing ad costs, and skyrocketing clicks & sales.
Quotes:
“At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you or I think of the website—it matters what the visitors think, because they're the ones who are your customers or potential customers.” – Justin Christianson
“The only way to really get and keep a competitive advantage is to constantly be testing to try to beat your high score.” – Justin Christianson
“Optimization never stops, because markets are constantly changing and evolving.” – Justin Christianson
Takeaways:
04:18 Always test website changes scientifically instead of making assumptions about what might improve conversions.
07:18 Companies need at least 30,000 monthly unique visitors to conduct meaningful A/B testing effectively.
12:09 Optimization is an ongoing process that requires constant analysis and adaptation to changing market conditions.
20:07 Focus on customer benefits rather than just listing product features when marketing.
27:04 Don't give up on testing and optimization efforts too quickly - patience and persistence are key to discovering significant improvements.
Resources
- Conversion Fanatics (Agency)
- Conversion Fanatic (Book)
- CMO Roundtable (Podcast)
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440: Meditation, Journaling, and Gratitude: Tap Into the Three Habits for High Performance State of Flow with Enthusiastic Clay Green
Clay Green, speaker, trainer, and expert. What do you want to do better, in both your business and your life? What ever that "thing" is, Clay can help you apply high performance principles to achieve, excel, and get more out of life. To break the usual destructive patterns blocking your way, have self-awareness and move forward, you need to apply the three fundamental principles: meditation (2-5 minutes a day), journaling, and gratitude.
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We also talk about getting into the flow state and its four stages:
- struggle: where you're focused on a problem
- release: get away from the problem and take a break
- flow: get inspired
- recovery: coming back to reality
Quotes:
“You cannot stay in a state of flow 24/7—you can't, because your body is burning energy. You have to fuel, you have to rest, and your brain has to recover.” – Clay Green
“Control your mind so that you can control your day.” – Clay Green
“My first and most important lesson that I teach people is: think—do not react.” – Clay Green
Takeaways:
02:31 High-performance habits like meditation, journaling, and gratitude form a foundational framework for personal and professional success.
13:02 Breaking complex goals into manageable daily practices helps overcome mental barriers and achieve long-term transformation.
22:21 The state of flow can be intentionally accessed through specific habits, allowing for heightened productivity and creativity without extreme risks.
32:41 Meditation is a powerful tool for controlling your mind and improving daily performance, requiring just 2-5 minutes of consistent practice.
38:56 Entrepreneurs often get stuck by reacting emotionally instead of thoughtfully processing challenges, which blocks their potential for growth.
Resources
- Clay Green (Official Site)
- Clay Green (LinkedIn)
- Custom Mastermind (Site)
- Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler (Book)
- The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler (Book)
- High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard (Book)
- Relaxation One (app)
- Insight Timer (app)
- Headspace (app)
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439: Grow Your Business Using Project Management Software, Systems, Flow, Documentation and Troubleshooting with Bryan Weinert
As the Founding Partner of Incipient, Bryan Weinert oversees product strategy, implementation, and client relations while spearheading an adept team that is determined to push the envelope in custom software technology. From funded startups to large-scale enterprise solutions in finance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and supply chain management industries, his foolproof solutions have benefited a wide range of clientele.
Quotes:
“As humans, we're all creatures of habit—especially when those habits are bringing good returns. But just because you're getting a return doesn't mean it's the return you should be getting.” – Bryan Weinert
“Reflection is key in any business for any business owner on a monthly basis. You should have processes that allow you to reflect on your progress.” – Bryan Weinert
“It's always easier for someone on the outside, with no preconceived expectations, to offer advice than for anyone involved who might just want to tell you what you want to hear.” – Bryan Weinert
Takeaways:
04:19 Prioritize scalable processes that can grow with your business without requiring complete system overhauls.
08:30 Build a knowledge database that captures recurring problems and their solutions to improve customer service and team efficiency.
12:54 Document your business processes to uncover hidden inefficiencies and create opportunities for technological improvement.
14:43 Seek outside perspectives to identify blind spots in your current business workflows and communication strategies.
15:30 Focus on time-consuming tasks as the primary starting point for business optimization and automation.
Resources
- Incipient (Product Growth Company)
- Incipient (Twitter)
- Bryan Weinert (LinkedIn)
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438: Be of Service and Value to Others: How to Network, Build Loyalty, Develop Relationships, and Express Gratitude with Meredith Bell
Meredith Bell has been an entrepreneur since 1982, and she's an expert in helping companies develop the people side of their business. Meredith is co-founder and President of Performance Support Systems, a global software company based in Virginia. Their products are used by leadership coaches and consultants as well as internal learning and development professionals to help managers become more effective leaders.
One of Meredith strengths is building strong relationships. She and her business partners have worked together for 25 years, and many of their clients and resellers have done business with them for 20 years. She understands what’s required to build the loyalty and commitment that lead to repeat business and referrals, and we talk today about how to help others, follow up, and actively listen to make sales easy again.
Quotes:
“The more I give, the more comes back to me.” – Meredith Bell
“Most people don't have enough others in their lives who show a genuine interest in who they are, what they're doing, and what's important to them.” – Meredith Bell
“When your attitude is focused on serving and being helpful, it makes a huge difference in the response you get.” – Meredith Bell
Takeaways:
02:29 Effective leadership hinges on clear communication, active listening, and genuine appreciation of team members.
11:07 Reaching out to authors, experts, or professionals can create unexpected opportunities through genuine curiosity and support.
17:51 Building strong relationships requires a mindset of serving others and finding ways to help them without expecting immediate returns.
24:57 Most people lack meaningful connections, so showing authentic interest in someone's work can create lasting professional relationships.
27:13 Expressing gratitude and providing small, thoughtful gestures can significantly impact professional interactions.
Resources
- Surveys for Small Business (Website)
- Strong for Performance (Site)
- Meredith Bell (LinkedIn)
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437: Fulcrum Investing and the State of Logic: How to Stand Out, Get Noticed, Build the Right Team, and Make Great Decisions with Kevin Van Eekeren
Kevin Van Eekeren started his career as a logistic officer for a SWAT team, which gave him insight into the criminal justice world, and he soon found that through training SWAT teams better he could reduce the use of force while bettering the national security of our country. Fulcrum Tactical was born out of that idea, and within 18 months he expanded it from a charity to a for-profit company. He started investing in startups on the side but focused on Fulcrum Tactical and his new venture, Fulcrum Farms a sustainable farm producing high-quality meat and eggs for families and restaurants in the Chicagoland area. After six years Kevin sold Fulcrum Tactical and moved on to investing in startups full-time by starting Fulcrum Investing. Kevin spends his free time co-hosting The State of Logic Podcast and has also continued his passion for farming.
Quotes:
“While we never want to hurt anyone's feelings, it's also important to give people our honest assessment of the possible ability for success of an idea or a company.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
“It is the investor's job to call an ugly baby an ugly baby when necessary, in order to be the best person you can be for that entrepreneur.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
“The CEO cannot be working in the business. He has to be working on the business.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
Takeaways:
03:12 Media and information sources often prioritize sensationalism over truth, making critical thinking and fact-checking essential.
06:33 Quick, honest feedback is more valuable to entrepreneurs than prolonged, sugar-coated responses.
09:18 Startup success depends more on the quality of the founding team than the specific industry or product.
09:49 Successful investing requires a rigorous, objective process that removes personal bias and focuses on the entrepreneur's potential.
15:00 Building a business means focusing on the big picture strategy while empowering a skilled team to handle execution details.
Resources
- The State of Logic (Podcast)
- Fulcrum Investing (Website)
- Kevin Van Eekeren (LinkedIn)
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436: Speaker Fulfillment Services: Avoid the Usual Mistakes Authors Make and Discover the ABCs of Selling Physical Products at Live Events with Bret Ridgway
Bret Ridgway is co-founder of Speaker Fulfillment Services, a company that works for speakers, authors and information marketers. His unique, behind-the-scenes perspective allows him to see what is working and not working in the industry. He is the author of 5 books in the niche, including the Amazon bestseller "Mistakes Authors Make" and most recently "The ABCs of Speaking." He stops by to tell us what we need to know about selling products from stage at events, what's working now, and what physical products we should be creating and selling in our businesses.
Quotes:
“It's really all about relationships. I mean, the people you know—when you get out to live events and meet others—you just never know where it's going to lead.” – Bret Ridgway
“Consumption is what it's all about. If you can't get them to read your book, watch your video, or listen to your podcast, the chance of them coming back to you for other products and services is almost nil.” – Bret Ridgway
“A good seller can make a lot more money selling at the back of the room than by getting paid for a keynote speech.” – Bret Ridgway
Takeaways:
01:07 Event selling strategies have shifted from pure pitch fests to more balanced content and sales approaches.
10:21 Successful speakers create multi-modal learning experiences that cater to different learning styles and preferences.
12:47 Physical products remain crucial in marketing, even in a digital world, as they provide tangible value and credibility to customers.
16:41 Offering personal access or coaching can significantly increase the perceived value and pricing of your products.
20:16 Books should be strategic marketing tools that guide readers to additional products and services, not just standalone revenue generators.
Resources
- Speaker Fulfillment Services (Official Site)
- Mistakes Authors Make (Book)
- The ABCs of Speaking (Book)
- View from the Back (Book)
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435: The Art of Kickstarter Crowdsourcing: Build Brand Awareness and Launch a Campaign to Get Funding for Your Business Idea with Roy Morejon
Roy Morejon is the president of Enventys Partners and host of the Art of the Kickstart podcast. . With over 20 years of experience in marketing services for B2B and B2C clients, Roy has become an expert in digital strategy, search marketing, and crowdfunding. He is the host of "Art of the Kickstart" podcast, where he shares insights about entrepreneurship and product launches. Roy's company is recognized as the world's first vertically integrated product development and crowdfunding digital marketing agency, helping entrepreneurs transform their ideas from initial sketches to market-ready products.
Quotes:
“We take brands from nothing to something. We're building out their brand, writing their story, and handling their social for them. These are entrepreneurs—they're makers. They know what the product is and how to make it, but they don't always know how to speak to their consumers.” – Roy Morejon
“The work you do before the campaign leads to almost 90% of the success after launch. The pre-campaign phase is critical to the overall success of getting a product out there and getting people excited about it.” – Roy Morejon
“We fail upwards. We gain insights, grow a community, a group of people who are passionate about the product we're launching.” – Roy Morejon
Takeaways:
04:40 Pre-campaign work drives 90% of a Kickstarter campaign's success, making early preparation critical for product launch.
11:20 Kickstarter offers entrepreneurs a unique platform to test product ideas and get direct customer feedback before full production.
17:50 Successful crowdfunding requires building anticipation, creating excitement, and generating a groundswell of interest before launching.
20:10 Not every campaign will succeed, but each attempt provides valuable insights and helps build a community around the product.
22:30 Hardware products, fashion, and design categories tend to perform best in crowdfunding platforms.
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434: Virtual Assistant Secrets: Focus on Growing Your Business and Build a Team That Runs on Autopilot with Andrea Rozman
Andrea Rozman from Your Gal Friday stepped out of the corporate IT and project management world ten years ago, and into small business where she works with people from all backgrounds – lawyers, digital marketers, business coaches, investment bankers and more. Andrea and her team of virtual assistants help relieve the stress of business ownership by doing all the odds and ends tasks needed so entrepreneurs and small business owners can focus on growing their businesses.
Quotes:
“Hiring a virtual assistant is a tough task. It's something that shouldn't be taken lightly.” – Andrea Rozman
“You have to be able to release tasks so you can focus on growing your business. You don't need to be answering the phone just to tell someone what your business hours are.” – Andrea Rozman
“If you're going to consider hiring a virtual assistant, start early—start early on and think about what you want them to do.” – Andrea Rozman
Takeaways:
04:34 Hiring a virtual assistant isn't just about cutting costs, but about freeing up your time to focus on growing your core business.
16:12 Start planning for a virtual assistant before you're desperate, giving yourself time to find the right match for your specific needs.
18:31 Trust is crucial when working with virtual assistants, but can be built through careful screening, background checks, and starting with small tasks.
22:33 The right virtual assistant becomes an integral part of your business, potentially working with you for years and understanding your operations deeply.
26:21 Virtual assistants can handle a wide range of tasks, from simple email management to complex project coordination, tailored to your specific business requirements.
Visit Your Gal Friday
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433: Improve Your Productivity and Enhance Your Sales Goals with Business Rehabilitator Maya Harrison
Maya Harrison from Wedding Consultant Services is a well known consultant for corporate executives who need to improve productivity and enhance sales goals. She has been featured on tv shows like "Get Your Face On The Air" and on major podcasts for small biz owners. Maya Harrison has years of experience in the consulting industry and because of her proven results her clients refer to her as the "Biz Rehabilitator.
Quotes:
“Recent statistics show that the average worker is disconnected from their job. They're not engaged, which reduces overall employee morale for the company because there's no motivation on their part.” – Maya Harrison
“Most companies are still behind the times. They're still using old practices, old policies, and old work ethics.” – Maya Harrison
“Flexibility is key. If companies would adopt mobile and digital data processes in their working environment, it would lead to more engaged employees.” – Maya Harrison
Takeaways:
04:40 Modern workers want flexibility, digital processes, and the ability to work remotely to stay engaged and motivated.
07:20 Before starting a new business, research multiple potential industries and understand what each role truly involves.
11:30 Creating a successful business means focusing on work you enjoy and finding help for tasks you don't like.
17:10 Don't assume career advancement is possible; ask questions early and understand your actual growth potential within a company.
20:25 Promoting yourself through interviews, web shows, and professional platforms can significantly increase your business visibility.
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432: Close More Deals and 10X Your Revenue with Sales Coach Jim Brown
Jim Brown has led two companies from $1 million to more than $10 million, and one from $1 million to $0. He now Hosts the SalesTuners podcast, and trains entrepreneurs who don't realize they're the VP of Sales how to 10x their revenue using a step-by-step sales formula. We talk today about Jim's monkey's paw evaluation concept, and how he turns cold call prospecting into discovery calls, then proposals.
Quotes:
“You will never get anything in life that you don't ask for. So start asking.” – Jim Brown
“A discipline is something I force myself to do because I know it's the right thing to do. A habit is something I do just because it feels natural.” – Jim Brown
“If people are willing to take money out of their pocket and give it to you, that's when you know you're working in a B2B setting.” – Jim Brown
Takeaways:
05:41 Breaking big sales goals into small, daily actionable steps makes massive revenue targets feel achievable and less overwhelming.
11:15 Testing different messaging in small call batches helps quickly identify what works and what needs improvement in your sales approach.
19:30 Cold calling isn't about hard selling, but about creating genuine conversation and understanding potential customer pain points.
23:20 Creating scarcity by scheduling discovery calls weeks out signals confidence and increases perceived value of your services.
Resources
- Sales Roadmap (Free Gift)
- Sales Tuners (Weekly Podcast)
- Jim Brown (Twitter)
- Email Jim: jim@salestuners.com
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431: Bridge the Gap Between Success and Relationships: Harness Your Inner Hero and Shift Your Thinking with Optimal Life Coach Laura Long
Laura Long is passionate about her business as a Life Coach, Energy Worker, and Teacher, however it does not define her, complete her or even drive her. That's been the download message from the universe that's been deleted a few times until it went into her hard drive so to speak. Now the power of "being" drives her more than the power of "doing", and doing and doing. From her own experiences - Laura works with open-minded driven professionals who’ve had success yet still feel there's something missing, and who are ready to bridge that gap between their outer success and their inner peace and relationship success.
Quotes:
“We have an external world, yet we often fail to recognize or align it with our internal world, leaving us constantly reliant on external influences.” – Laura Long
“If you can write down your goal, aspiration, or desire with the greatest possible clarity, you will have a greater chance of achieving it.” – Laura Long
“Our human body and mind are designed to allow us to experience ease. If we anticipate pain, we will naturally resist it.” – Laura Long
Takeaways:
06:26 External success means nothing if you're not aligned with your inner self and true values.
08:47 Breathing and meditation are powerful tools for understanding and stabilizing your inner emotional landscape.
14:29 Writing down goals with clarity significantly increases the probability of achieving them.
17:37 Building inner "muscles" through consistent practice helps you handle real-world challenges more effectively.
18:37 Resistance to change is a natural human response rooted in our body's protective chemistry.
Visit Laura's Site and Schedule a Call
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430: Live the Focused Driven Lifestyle: Remove Distractions, Set Profitable Priorities, Get More Organized and Be Intentional with Lyman Montgomery
Lyman Montgomery from Focused Driven Lifestyle missed out on some great business opportunities due to a lack of focus. He faced many setbacks until he decided to do something different. He learned to clear his mind and focus his energies on eliminating his debilitating beliefs and within a few weeks, he saw dramatic results; that was over twelve years ago.
The key to his success was having a life coach and learning how to build a long-term relationship that balanced work and family. He also helps others to recognize the difference between life counseling (uncovering emotional issues) and personal coaching. Life Coaching, Relationship Coaching, Wellness Coaching, and Career Coaching are designed to help you develop a plan to achieve focused-driven results.
Quotes:
“Never confuse activity with accomplishment. Just because you're busy doesn't mean you've accomplished anything.” – Lyman Montgomery
“If you fail, fall forward, push yourself back up—even if you have to crawl—but keep moving toward your destiny and never stop.” – Lyman Montgomery
“It's okay to make mistakes, but make sure to learn from them and grow because of them.” – Lyman Montgomery
Takeaways:
00:02 Breaking digital addiction requires setting clear family communication boundaries and creating phone-free zones.
09:39 Being physically present isn't the same as being psychologically present with your family or team.
17:13 Productivity isn't about completing 50 half-done tasks, but focusing on 2-3 meaningful accomplishments.
20:19 Implement a structured approach to task management using simple, actionable steps like the TURBO method.
24:03 Failure is not final - learn to fail forward by growing from mistakes and continuously moving toward your goals.
Resources
- Focused-Driven Lifestyle (Book)
- Focused-Driven Lifestyle (Official Site)
- Lyman Montgomery (Twitter)
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429: Lead the Way to Better Perspective, Success and Authenticity to Overcome Any Obstacle with Keynote Speaker Robb Holman
Robb Holman is an internationally recognized leadership expert, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author who has a heart for authentic relationships and a true talent for equipping people with the skills and the knowledge necessary for their success.
With passion and exuberance, Robb’s dynamic teaching style has successfully led countless business owners, executives, and leaders through his exclusive and proprietary method of Inside Out Leadership Coaching. In helping his clients learn how to connect with their unique life’s purpose, they are finding success in a way they never expected - from the inside out!
As a lifelong serial entrepreneur, Robb has founded numerous, highly influential organizations, both for-profit, as well as non-profit. His current endeavor is as founder and CEO of Holman International, a global leadership consultancy revolutionizing the way business leaders operate.
Quotes:
“The better we get to know ourselves, the more we can lead from that place. This allows us to lead with confidence and practice what we preach.” – Robb Holman
“If we begin to build a foundation in our lives by being intentional and consistent in maintaining a higher perspective, it can make all the difference.” – Robb Holman
“Everything always comes back to purpose. Knowing who you are will help you define why you are here and why your business ultimately exists.” – Robb Holman
Takeaways:
03:23 Personal leadership starts with understanding yourself deeply before trying to lead others.
05:36 Your daily mindset and perspective can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
09:42 Success isn't about hitting financial targets, but about the meaningful impact you create in people's lives.
10:48 Comparing yourself to others drains energy and prevents you from discovering your unique strengths.
24:58 Practicing daily gratitude can fundamentally shift how you view yourself and the world around you.
Resources
- Robb Holman (Official Site)
- Lead the Way (Book)
- Robb Holman (LinkedIn)
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428: Practice Being Happy and Choose to Be Happy to Discover the Opportunities, Possibilities and Solutions You Deserve with Happiness and Success Coach Vernon Brown
Vernon Brown, happiness coach and speaker, has successfully coached over 10,000 people in the last 4 years and is not slowing down. He is focused on solutions and not problems, finding your happi gets you more clear, conscious and intentional. He's direct, fun and engaging as he coaches his clients to greater heights and happiness face to face or virtually, there is never any excuse why you can not be happier in any phase of your life. What's your happi?
Quotes:
“Happiness is not about constantly walking around with a smile on your face, but about understanding that, regardless of the circumstances, you have options, opportunities, possibilities, and solutions.” – Vernon Brown
“Your brain is designed to keep you alive. It is not designed to keep you happy.” – Vernon Brown
“Success becomes something to manage. If you achieve significant success, you'll need to maintain it, and that alone can make people very fearful.” – Vernon Brown
Takeaways:
04:44 Happiness is a deliberate choice you make, not something that happens by accident.
11:14 Writing down your goals and desires creates clarity and commitment to your personal happiness.
17:10 Changing your mental channel through music, exercise, or other activities can help silence your inner critic.
19:12 Conquering negativity frees up mental space to be more productive and successful.
22:10 Entrepreneurs should focus on being productive, not just busy, by simplifying their to-do lists.
Visit "What's Your Happi" to Claim Your Free Discovery Session with Vernon
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427: Think About Money Differently, Build Cashflow, and Optimize Like a Millionaire with Chris Miles
Chris Miles, the Cash Flow Expert and financial advocate for the entrepreneur, is a leading authority teaching entrepreneurs and professionals how to quickly free up and create cash flow TODAY spending time doing what they love most! He's an author and podcast host of the Chris Miles Money Show, and been featured in US News, CNN Money, Entrepreneur on Fire, and has a high reputation with his company, Money Ripples, getting his clients fast, life-altering financial results. In fact, his clients have increased their cash flow by over $100 Million in the last 7 years.
Quotes:
“If you engage in activities outside of your business that you love, they should be things you truly enjoy, regardless of whether they make you money or not.” – Chris Miles
“The highest-risk choices are often what most people do, such as putting your money into mutual funds and similar investments. That is likely the easiest path to guaranteed failure.” – Chris Miles
“If you want to elevate your money and your business, you need to elevate your team as well. You can't keep the same old people and expect to grow, as they may hold you back.” – Chris Miles
Takeaways:
07:54 Your business should be your primary investment and economic generator.
08:22 Cash flow creates options, and options create freedom for entrepreneurs.
10:32 Always seek financial strategies that provide immediate cash flow, not just long-term accumulation.
14:39 Traditional financial advice often fails; successful investors think differently about money.
19:52 Focus on creating multiple income streams instead of just saving money.
Resources
- Money Ripples (official site)
- The Chris Miles Money Show (podcast)
- Money Ripples (Facebook page)
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426: Get Stuff Done, Develop Your Team, Get Out More, and Scale with Advertising Professional Mike Arce
Mike Arce is the host of the top fitness business video podcast, The GSD Show. He is also the founder and CEO of Loud Rumor, a 7-figure advertising agency for small businesses in the fitness and wellness space. Mike has helped over 25 major brands like Orangetheory Fitness and his agency has worked with over 457 fitness and wellness companies throughout the world. As a husband and father of 4, he's created the time to do all of this while traveling to speak at many events across the country over the last 2 years.
Quotes:
“They do what they see you do. You can tell them all this stuff, but they don't do what you tell them—they do what they see you do.” – Mike Arce
“You want to be great, you want to study great people. It's as simple as that.” – Mike Arce
“You want to build your business as if you're going to sell it to someone else, and you're not going to be a part of it, and it's going to be just as valuable without you.” – Mike Arce
Takeaways:
03:32 90% of business success comes from understanding core business principles, not getting lost in industry-specific technical details.
07:33 Developing and empowering team members allows you to focus on high-level business strategy and personal growth.
11:50 Children learn more from watching what you do, not just from what you tell them to do.
20:25 Continuous learning and education are critical for business growth, especially reading books and attending conferences.
27:39 Build your business as if you're going to sell it, making it valuable and functional without your direct involvement.
Resources
- Mike Arce (official site)
- The GSD Show (podcast)
- Loud Rumor (agency)
- Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
- Scaling Up by Verne Harnish
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
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425: Appify Your Book to Get the Perfect Branding and Attention on Your Business with Emergent Technology Specialist Seth Weinstein
Seth Weinstein from Appify Your Book is a young, innovative thinker with a passion for creating digital solutions that demand success.
A natural born tech geek, Seth uses his exstensive skills to build, design and maintain apps. Growing up with a professional stand-up comedian father and a teacher mother, Seth's thirst for joy and knowledge allow him to offer signature services to business owners. His rare abilities enable his clients to discover the best version of their company through strategy, design, and development. He revitalizes presence and positioning in any field and industry through the implementation of an unwavering brand strategy and superior online presence. An adventurer at heart, Seth will unearth and leverage your opportunities into profitability.
Quotes:
“Innovation doesn't wait for anyone—not you, not me, not even the people making it. So the question is: are you getting on the train, or are you getting left behind?” – Seth Weinstein
“We always pride ourselves on this: if you don't have time to sit down and give us all the information, we have a team that will figure it out.” – Seth Weinstein
“A lot of people see technology as a way to simplify and remove us from the equation, but I truly believe it's actually a way for us to get smarter and access new ways of helping people and changing the world around us.” – Seth Weinstein
Takeaways:
08:13 Technology isn't about removing humans, but about finding smarter ways to help people solve problems and improve their lives.
17:04 Creating interactive book apps can transform passive reading into an active learning experience with quizzes, achievements, and engagement tools.
23:24 Building a custom app doesn't have to be expensive or complicated when you work with the right team who understands your specific needs.
29:40 The future of technology lies in connecting different systems - software, hardware, and human experiences - in creative and meaningful ways.
31:45 Innovation moves fast, and businesses must choose to either jump on the technology train or risk getting left behind.
Visit "Appify Your Book" and Schedule a Call Now
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:34 — 30.7MB) | Embed
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424: Social Media Success: Build Your Presence, Engagement and Traffic on Facebook Using Reciprocity, Followup, and Marketing with Nikki Yeager
Nikki Yeager is an entrepreneur and startup coach based in NYC. Her first company, EHR Tutor, was profitable from day one and quickly reached a million dollars a year while she was leading the sales and marketing effort. She now runs a holistic products company, The Relievery, designs for a non-gendered children's clothing line, Every Bean Boutique, and spends her free time doing consulting for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Quotes:
“If I'm going to spend time on something, I want there to be a reason for doing it—especially when you're in those early stages, or even when you're starting to grow but don't have the resources to just hire willy-nilly.” – Nikki Yeager
“Social media is just a digital version of real life. I always imagine that if I'm going out to a networking event, I would change what I'm talking about based on the people who are at that networking event.” – Nikki Yeager
“The ones getting a lot of engagement and potentially sales from those pages are usually the people who provide a back and forth. It's not just them sharing information—it's them actively engaging with their audience.” – Nikki Yeager
Takeaways:
02:21 Social media success is about converting followers into meaningful business relationships, not just collecting large numbers.
07:35 Treat online interactions like real-world networking by engaging with people regardless of their current follower count.
13:49 Small, engaged audiences can generate more revenue than large, passive follower bases.
16:51 Strategic social media engagement can open doors to valuable business partnerships and opportunities.
33:00 Entrepreneurs must embrace sales skills as a core part of building a successful business.
Resources
- Nikki Yeager (official site)
- Nikki Yeager on Facebook
- Nikki Yeager on LinkedIn
- Nikki Yeager on Twitter
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:57 — 32.0MB) | Embed
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423: Escaping Darkness: End Self-Sabotage, Negative Self-Talk, and Hit Restart to Make Progress with Life Coach Marti Forrest
Marti Forrest Hicks is a life coach and here is her story in her own words: "I mentor/coach people on their journey into loving themselves from the inside out. After a series of monogamous abusive relationships, I learned how to reprogram the messages that sabotaged me in every relationship I entered, because I had no idea how to LOVE me first. How I love me dictates how I am in every single relationship outside of me. How I am with me is how I am with you."
Quotes:
“We're always co-creating with people. We get wounded when we're children by our environment, our parents, or whoever was our caretaker at that time.” – Marti Forrest
“If it's in my best interest, it is also in theirs. Because when I'm authentic and true to me, I'm taking a stand for myself—my esteem, my life, and my purpose.” – Marti Forrest
“We have this idea that at certain ages we should be at certain points, but if our emotional age isn't there, it doesn't matter what our chronological age is.” – Marti Forrest
Takeaways:
00:20 Recognizing destructive personal patterns is the first critical step toward meaningful life change.
19:10 Personal growth happens in a spiral, with each cycle bringing faster insights and shorter recovery times.
37:59 Self-improvement starts with planting seeds of awareness, even if immediate action isn't taken.
39:25 Healing is messy and requires walking through emotional challenges with supportive guidance.
41:03 Emotional maturity matters more than chronological age in personal development.
Resources
- Hello Extraordinary Life (official site)
- Hello Extraordinary Life Coach (Facebook page)
- Loving Yourself from the Inside Out (Facebook group)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:50 — 39.2MB) | Embed
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422: The Anticipatory Organization: Turn Disruption and Change into Opportunity and Advantage with Innovation Expert Daniel Burrus
Daniel Burrus is considered one of the world's leading technology forecasters and innovation experts. He is the CEO of Burrus Research, a research and consulting firm that monitors global advances in technology driven trends to help clients profit from technological, social and business forces that are converging to create enormous, untapped opportunities.
He is a strategic advisor to executives helping them to develop game-changing strategies based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology innovations. He is the author of seven books, including The New York Times bestseller Flash Foresight, and his latest book, The Anticipatory Organization. Daniel has a ton of interesting stories to share with us, as well as the three categories of hard trends that you should be looking for:
- demographics (i.e. baby boomers -> a smartwatch for seniors)
- government regulation
- technology
Quotes:
“If it can be done, it will be done. If you don't do it, someone else will.” – Daniel Burrus
“Take your problems and skip them. Use the hard trends that are shaping the future to gain confidence to make a bold move.” – Daniel Burrus
“Instead of trying to be successful, which is inwardly focused and measured by you, don't create a life of success. Why not create a life of significance?” – Daniel Burrus
Takeaways:
06:05 Skip problems that seem impossible and focus on innovative solutions.
14:59 Create a life of significance by helping others, not just pursuing personal success.
19:42 Solving real problems for specific demographics creates powerful business opportunities.
23:57 Make your business ideas newsworthy to gain free marketing and credibility.
28:12 Think bigger than your initial idea - there's always a "bigger big" waiting to be discovered.
Resources
- The Anticipatory Organization (get a free copy of the book)
- Daniel Burrus TedX Talk
- Daniel's books (Amazon author page)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:35 — 27.1MB) | Embed
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421: Profit First: Be Efficient Instead of Productive, Find Your Passion and Purpose with Mike Michalowicz
By his 35th birthday, Mike Michalowicz had founded and sold two multi-million dollar companies. Confident that he had the formula to success, he became an angel investor…and proceeded to lose his entire fortune.
Then he started all over again, driven to find better ways to grow healthy, strong companies. Among other innovative strategies, Mike created the “Profit First Formula”, a way for businesses to ensure profitability from their very next deposit forward.
Mike is now running his third million dollar venture, is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal; is the former MSNBC business make-over expert; is a popular keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial topics; and is the author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, which BusinessWeek deemed "the entrepreneur's cult classic."
Quotes:
“Efficiency's core mindset is to do less. Productivity's core philosophy is, ‘How do I get more done?’ And efficiency, as crazy as it sounds, is, ‘How do I get less done?’” – Mike Michalowicz
“When we become more productive, what that gives us is more time. You can increase your productivity, and as you do, more time becomes available. When you have more time, it means you can do more things.” – Mike Michalowicz
“Business, which used to be considered a marathon—where you keep pushing forward over the long haul—has become a sprint. But we're sprinting the entire distance of a marathon. It's exhausting and burning out owners, employees, and everyone else in between.” – Mike Michalowicz
Takeaways:
08:18 Efficiency trumps productivity by focusing on doing less and delegating smartly.
16:33 Profit should be prioritized first, not treated as an afterthought in business finances.
22:18 Challenging industry norms can spark innovative growth when resources are limited.
28:18 Business systems already exist in your head; the goal is to extract and simplify them, not create from scratch.
30:31 Entrepreneurs should align their passion with their work by asking two critical questions: What would you do with all the money? What would you do with no money?
Resources
- Profit First (book)
- Mike Michalowicz (official site)
- The Profit First Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:58 — 33.8MB) | Embed
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420: Online Advertising: Master Search Engine Optimization and Content Marketing on Pinterest and YouTube with Kellen Kautzman
Kellen owns Send It Rising Internet Marketing and manages a team of over 20 internet marketing professionals. He was the keynote speaker at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas strip and has spoken at Roseman University and the Lance Tamashiro podcast. His book "Everybody's Doing It" was the #1 New Release on Amazon.com in the SEO category.
Quotes:
“If you don't value your own expertise, you're kind of missing the point. What you do on a daily basis, for 99% of humanity, is absolutely outside of their norm—and it's a lot more interesting than you think.” – Kellen Kautzman
“Now is always the best time to start. Now has all the best opportunities. You're not missing out—you're missing out if you're not thinking about what you can do now.” – Kellen Kautzman
“If you don't think your industry is sexy or interesting, you're missing the point. You're probably a lot smarter and better at it than you think.” – Kellen Kautzman
Takeaways:
02:01 Pinterest can be a powerful link-building tool for businesses, even in seemingly mundane industries.
12:44 Google's AI understands content so well that educational, authentic videos are more important than perfect production.
14:53 Small business owners already have strong advertising skills - they just need to learn the digital tools.
19:35 Creating weekly video content builds a valuable web asset that grows in worth over time.
26:19 Don't fear making content - your first attempts will improve quickly, and something is always better than nothing.
Resources
- Everybody's Doing It: Advertising Redefined by an SEO Expert (book)
- Kellen Kautzman (official site)
- Kellen Kautzman on LinkedIn
- Kellen Kautzman on Twitter
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:37 — 30.8MB) | Embed
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419: From Stuck to Unstoppable: Get the Right Thoughts, Beliefs, Habits and Conditioning with Energy Expert Linda Binns
Linda Binns is an accomplished energy coach and author of seven self-help books, and numerous published articles. She has appeared on television, including her multiple encore guest appearances on Portland, Oregon's AM Northwest News Show, as well as, on the radio, podcasts, and on-line summits.
Being raised not to succeed, Linda discovered early on "you are rarely ready for what life brings." Where most people let life's obstacles stop them, Linda seized this recurring "lesson" and transformed it into her life's work and passion including playing competitive tennis.
Quotes:
“Everything is a lesson to me. Lessons are all around us all the time.” – Linda Binns
“If you're struggling, if it feels really hard, then it's not the right thing. You need to take a step back and ask yourself, ‘How could I make it easier?’” – Linda Binns
“The better you treat yourself, the more you actually accomplish.” – Linda Binns
Takeaways:
02:24 Your internal beliefs and energy directly shape your external life experiences and opportunities.
05:20 Personal transformation starts with understanding what you truly want, not what you think you should want.
09:53 Changing your approach from struggle to ease can unlock natural progression toward your goals.
23:18 High expectations are different from unrealistic self-bullying expectations that prevent personal growth.
26:51 Challenging personal narratives requires outside perspective and willingness to recognize self-imposed limitations.
Resources
- Linda Binns (official site)
- Linda Binns on YouTube
- Linda Binns on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:14 — 32.3MB) | Embed
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418: Grow Your Business and Help Others Using Referral Marketing with Mickey Griffith
Mickey Griffith from Asentiv Sacramento is an expert in referral marketing and he can help you discover what you want your business to do, what you want out of your business, and who you need to talk to in order to get there. He can help you attract the exact clients you want and get others to send business your way by helping others get what they want.
As an owner of the leading Asentiv franchise in the United States, Mickey has delivered thousands of hours of programs and presentations on the art of creating an amazing business and having a spectacular life. His clients report results such as increasing sales closing ratios by more than 40%, closing more business in one month than they did in an entire year, and having time to start a non-profit organization they've always wanted to do.
Quotes:
“Success lies outside of your comfort zone.” – Mickey Griffith
“If you show up with the mindset that you want to help somebody, you have a far better chance they'll remember you as someone they want to help back.” – Mickey Griffith
“Even if you're getting enough business, but you don't like the kind of work you're doing, then it's really about making sure you're getting better quality referrals.” – Mickey Griffith
Takeaways:
08:14 Referral marketing thrives on understanding your deeper life goals, not just business objectives.
12:04 Your most valuable referral sources are those who already send business your way - nurture those relationships intentionally.
19:44 Effective coaching goes beyond business tactics and addresses personal challenges that impact professional success.
22:44 Building strong referral relationships means meeting in person and staying on people's radars regularly.
28:59 Successful networking requires showing up consistently and focusing on helping others, not just selling.
Resources
- Asentiv Sacramento (formerly Referral Institute)
- Mickey Griffith YouTube channel
- Mickey Griffith on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:26 — 32.4MB) | Embed
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417: Influencer Marketing: Promote Your Brand on SnapChat, YouTube, and Amazon with Yogin Patel
Yogin Patel is the founder of an influencer marketing agency called YPSocial and works with large mobile games, some with over 100M MAUs. YPSocial has created campaigns with some of the largest female YouTube influencers in the Beauty/DIY, including Alisha Marie and Niki and Gabi. One particular campaign his agency ran did over 80,000 downloads for a mobile game in less than 6 days, having the game jump up 100 spots to #56 in the Top Charts across all apps on iOs.
Listen in as Yogin discusses influencer marketing (in a way, it's product placement using social media apps) -- connecting brands and businesses with "influencers" (celebrities, blogger moms, veterans, etc.) using SnapChat, geofilters, YouTube ads, and more. He also discusses the new Amazon Influencer program and how his 21 year old millennial built his business before the influencer trend was well known.
Quotes:
“Everyone's hearing about influencers—they're just not sure how to go about it. A lot of brands simply don't know, in the whole world of influencers, where to start.” – Yogin Patel
“Once influencers reach a point where every video or post is basically an integration or product placement, they're going to lose a bunch of followers.” – Yogin Patel
“Any category—your business could probably use influencer marketing. You just have to find the right influencer with your target audience.” – Yogin Patel
Takeaways:
01:24 Influencer marketing is a powerful alternative to traditional advertising, offering brands direct access to targeted audiences through social media personalities.
05:48 Successful influencer marketing requires strategic creativity to maintain follower trust and engagement.
10:58 Brands across multiple industries can benefit from influencer marketing, not just limited to millennial-focused products.
22:39 Finding the right influencer match means understanding their audience demographics and ensuring product alignment with their followers.
28:16 The influencer marketing industry is rapidly growing, expected to expand from $1 billion to $10 billion in the next five years.
Resources
- YPSocial
- Yogin Patel on Twitter
- Email yogin@ypsocial.co with subject line "Robert Plank sent me"
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:36 — 30.8MB) | Embed
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