Episodes

  • Whatā€™s up everyone! Weā€™re back this week with Joel Klettke, the founder of Business Casual Copywriting and Case Study Buddy. Joel has created very successful workshops and courses and heā€™s here to talk copywriting, course creation, and growing a client base.

    Joel launched Business Casual Copywriting in 2013, focusing on content marketing assets and website copy. Heā€™s worked with clients like HubSpot, WP Engine, Safelite, and Ion Interactive. Two years later, he started helping clients understand their customers better and improve their conversion rates with conversion copywriting.

    Tune in to hear Joelā€™s copywriting journey, how he created Case Study Buddy, his copywriting advice, and how you can write effective case studies. Enjoy!

    Episode Quotes

    "The best way to grow your client base is to network and make connections."

    "My strategy has always been to solve problems in public, be useful first, worry about selling later."

    "It's not about genius, it's about discipline and repetition."

    "Confidence is a byproduct of a solid process - when you know what you are doing and why you are doing it."

    "I donā€™t want to work to make a living. I want to work to build a life."

    Listen to Learn

    00:21 - Rapid 5 Questions

    04:45 - How Joel got into copywriting

    09:41 - Going freelance growing a client base

    13:14 - The shift to course creation

    18:17 - Marketing as a service-based business

    24:23 - How Joel started Case Study Buddy

    32:51 - Copywriting best practices & pitfalls

    40:36 - Leveraging audience feedback

    45:39 - Tips on copywriting for course creators

    47:52 - Exciting things coming up from Joel

    Connect with Joel

    BusinessCasualCopywriting.com

    CaseStudyBuddy.com

    Follow Joel on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 130

  • Hey family! I hope you are doing well. This week, weā€™re talking about another growth strategy: YOUTUBE.

    It actually took me six months to launch my YouTube channel. It wasnā€™t that itā€™s especially difficult, but I procrastinated. I found that I was stuck because of my own negative thoughts surrounding doing things that Iā€™m not comfortable with. I mean, Iā€™m really comfortable doing podcasts, but definitely not YouTube.

    There are things we procrastinate on because of this resistance within ourselves. I realized that the key to getting unstuck is taking time to reflect, acknowledging the negative loops, and acting anyway.

    Tune in to hear my YouTube experience, my advice for starting on YouTube from scratch, beginner tips, and DOs and DONā€™Ts.

    Learn how to create a solid YouTube strategy by visiting JanelleAllen.com/YouTubeGuide.

    Episode Quotes

    "It's not about the procrastination, it's about why are you procrastinating."

    "Procrastination is a symptom of something that we are resisting."

    "Video is a great way to connect with your audience and grow your business."

    "YouTube is great for discovery, authority, and list building."

    "YouTube is all about optimizing and improving over time."

    Listen to Learn

    01:56 - Recap on guest posting

    02:45 - Procrastination and patterns

    08:21 - My A-ha! moment

    11:19 - Pros and cons of video content

    12:42 - Why video on YouTube

    16:34 - My YouTube experience and beginner tips

    23:27 - YouTube DOs and DONā€™Ts

    Connect with Me

    JanelleAllen.com

    Follow Me on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 129

    Ready to rock YouTube for your business?

    Learn how to create a solid YouTube strategy!

    JanelleAllen.com/YouTubeGuide

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  • I shared something on Twitter recently:

    I donā€™t know who needs to hear this, but there is no magic genie that's going to help you start your thing. There is no moment when everything will feel easier. You just have to start. You are the magic.

    I believe this is so important for people who, for the longest time, have been wanting to start an online business or focus on something they love. I want to encourage you this week to start your thing. You and the actions you take are the magic. Stop waiting.

    In this weekā€™s episode, Iā€™m also sharing another growth strategy: GUEST POSTING. If youā€™re already running an online business, or you want to start building your audience online, this is an incredibly effective way to gain forward momentum. Tune in to hear me break down the key points of guest posting, the pros and cons, and DOs and DONā€™Ts you need to keep in mind.

    By the way, make sure youā€™re staying up to date with future episodes and getting growth strategies directly in your inbox. Sign up to be part of the family here.

    Episode Quotes

    "Everyone's roadmap is different... What works for someone else may not work for you."

    "The magic is not only you, but it's the action that you take."

    "You create your path, but you can only create it through action."

    "Guest posting is a flexible and effective strategy if you donā€™t have time to do podcast appearances."

    Listen to Learn

    02:21 - Do the thing. You are the MAGIC!

    08:41 - What is guest posting?

    11:41 - Pros and cons of guest posting

    16:23 - Guest posting DOs and DONTs

    27:59 - Updates and announcements

    Connect with Me

    JanelleAllen.com

    Follow Me on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 128

  • Hey family! How is everything going with you? Todayā€™s episode is a solo show. Iā€™m trying to do more of these so I can check in, especially as we all navigate how the pandemic is changing the landscape of our lives and businesses. Itā€™s nice to be able to touch base with all of you.

    In this episode, Iā€™ll chat about the COVID-19 situation, recap the big takeaways from recent interviews, discuss podcasting for your business, and dig into some lead generation tips. Make sure you stay tuned, because I also have a very exciting announcement that you donā€™t want to miss.

    Enjoy!

    Episode Quotes

    "If you're an online business owner, you were positioned to adapt better than if you have a brick and mortar business."

    "Podcasts are good for traffic, nurturing, and discoverability, but it's not great for lead generation."

    "Students do better when they have a community where they can connect and ask questions."

    Listen to Learn

    01:07 - COVID-19ā€™s impact on online course creators

    04:15 - Recap of previous episodes

    08:46 - Podcasting for your business

    12:36 - Effective lead generation channels

    16:01 - New and exciting things happening!

    Connect with Me

    JanelleAllen.com

    Follow Me on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 127

    Ready to start a podcast for your business?

    Learn how to start a podcast in three simple steps. No excuses!

    https://janelleallen.com/startyourshow

  • Hey, family! This week Iā€™m joined by Tara McMullin, the founder and CEO of What Works, a top business podcast and community centered on the number one question business owners want answered. Tara is here to talk about her pivot from 1:1 consulting to facilitating honest conversations about whatā€™s working in small businesses and discovering the real key: what works for you.

    Instead of thinking of podcasts as purely a marketing asset, think of it as part of your business model.

    One thing that works for Tara is podcasting. She has interviewed over 180 small business owners about systems for marketing, management, operations, product and personal development, sales, and productivity. Iā€™m so excited to welcome Tara for her second appearance on the show. Tune in and hear how sheā€™s making What Works work and her tips for course creators looking to add podcasting to their business model.

    Episode Quotes

    "Peer-to-peer learning was really, really important to me."

    "During the pivot we did our very best to communicate the change, walk clients through it, and allow them to feel really supported."

    "The very first step is demystifying the process because podcasting is not difficult at all, it is just opaque."

    "It is a mistake to create content for your podcast and just insert your pitch as an ad."

    "I believe in the power of small business owners to reshape our economy and our culture in positive ways."

    Listen to Learn

    02:00 - Rapid 5 Questions

    05:09 - Pivoting to a community-oriented business

    13:23 - How Tara started podcasting

    15:29 - Podcasting tips for beginners

    20:50 - The 3 different types of podcasts

    23:51 - Benefits of podcasting for businesses

    28:26 - Developing a content strategy

    33:40 - DOs and DONā€™Ts of pitching in podcasts

    37:48 - Importance of value propositions for podcasts

    41:25 - Exciting things coming up from Tara

    Connect with Tara

    Join the What Works Network

    Listen to the What Works podcast

    TaraGentile.com

    Follow Tara on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 126

  • Whatā€™s up everyone! This weekā€™s guest is Reuven Lerner, full-time Python trainer, computer scientist, and author of Python Workout.

    If you are doing courses because you have expertise and enjoy sharing it with other people, let that show.

    Reuven teaches developers and corporate engineers around the world to become fluent in Python. In his corporate training, he serves top tier tech companies like Apple, Cisco, IBM, and Intel, but he also offers Weekly Python Exercises, a set of 15-week courses to help learners become better Python developers. His online video courses consist of hands-on labs that empower his students to understand Python at a deeper level.

    Tune in to hear Reuvenā€™s Python journey, plus how he creates engaging online trainings, creates his evergreen newsletters, and drives traffic to his website. Letā€™s dig in!

    Episode Quotes

    "There's a bunch of different ways to drive website traffic, so it's important not to put all of your eggs in one basket."

    "Narrowing down the service offerings on my website has been more effective."

    "If you are doing courses because you have expertise and enjoy sharing it with other people, let that show."

    "Informality is no longer seen as a bad thing, so be yourself and keep experimenting."

    Listen to Learn

    01:28 - Rapid 5 Questions, Reuven's business journey

    10:45 - Converting in-person to online training

    14:40 - Tips for creating engaging online training

    18:24 - How to build an evergreen newsletter

    22:26 - Ways to increase website traffic

    26:37 - Sales funnel and lead nurturing

    29:25 - Importance of a customer-centric website

    34:47 - The power of online courses during COVID-19 crisis

    41:10 - Advice for online course creators

    42:22 - Exciting things coming up from Reuven

    Connect with Reuven

    Check out Reuvenā€™s Weekly Python Exercise

    Read Reuvenā€™s book, Python Workout

    Check out Reuvenā€™s newsletter about the business, pedagogy, and logistics of training.

    Check out Reuvenā€™s free courses, Ace Python Interviews and Python for Non-Programmers.

    Lerner.co.il

    Follow Reuven on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 125

  • Hey family! This week brings you a special episode. Alex Hillman and I teamed up for a live podcast interview and Q&A as COVID-19 was starting to take a toll on business owners.

    This is a tough time for most of us. Some online entrepreneurs are seeing a decline in revenue while several industries have been shut down completely. What do we do when we're facing uncertainty, struggling to figure out our next move, and are trying to avoid thoughts of giving up completely?

    We pivot. We lean into our communities. We get resourceful.

    Alex is the founder of Indy Hall, a coworking community in Philadelphia, and the co-founder of Stacking the Bricks along with Amy Hoy. He joined me to dig into practical pivot strategies, tips for building online communities, and effective sales strategies for a down economy.

    Our live audience brought some great questions, so stick around after the interview for some more great advice about marketing during a pandemic, free vs. paid communities, and creating free content when your business is struggling.

    Episode Quotes

    "If we wait, there may be nothing... so let's be resourceful."

    "The difference between a group of people and a community is the direction that the support flows."

    "The value of the community gets bigger if the more people are in it and contributing."

    "The value of a community is the resiliency of your customers in their businesses."

    "Short term thinking is the thing that will kill a lot of businesses."

    Listen to Learn

    04:45 - Getting to know Alex Hillman, Rapid 5 Questions

    11:52 - Challenges small business owners are facing due to COVID-19

    18:06 - Marketing and pivot strategies

    26:40 - Product sales strategy in a down economy

    31:30 - Community building and management essentials

    40:07 - Community building during COVID-19 crisis

    43:59 - Q&A on finding the right marketing tone

    47:28 - Q&A on free content

    53:02 - Q&A on free vs. paid communities

    1:00:05 - Tools for online community building

    1:06:02 - Practical advice for business owners

    Connect with Alex

    DangerouslyAwesome.com

    IndyHall.org

    StackingtheBricks.com

    Follow Alex on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 124

  • Hey everyone! This week Iā€™m joined by Paul Minors, productivity expert, virtual consultant, and founder of PaulMinors.com. He is here to talk about his course, How to Become a Virtual Consultant, and how he helps businesses set up and use tools like Asana, MailChimp, Pipedrive and Zapier.

    Productivity is the vehicle by which you can have a great life.

    As someone who is passionate about productivity and automation, Paul understands that setting up efficient systems is the key to success in any business. His course, How to Become A Virtual Consultant, enables clients to learn the processes and tools he uses to be more organized and achieve more in both business and life. Paul has helped more than 400 clients create more effective businesses using the best tools to get them results.

    Tune in to hear Paulā€™s transition process from one-on-one work to an online course, plus his productivity and marketing hacks and how to build an online community.

    Episode Quotes

    "Surveying your audience is always a good idea."

    "Community is the X factor when building your business online." - Janelle

    "You're going to have a load of failure, so patience is really important."

    "You will always be rewarded for being consistent."

    "The success of a business comes down to how clearly you can communicate an idea."

    Listen to Learn

    01:43 - Rapid 5 Questions

    07:28 - Paul's career and business journey

    11:24 - Initial steps and transition to course creation

    16:28 - Ways to build an online audience

    18:41 - Course launching and audience survey

    25:42 - Creating the course structure

    27:51 - Marketing channels, why YouTube is worth it

    32:21 - How to build and personalize marketing funnels

    39:10 - LinkedIn, Google AdWords, and other marketing tips

    41:31 - How to price online courses

    45:50 - Paul's advice for online creators

    48:29 - Exciting things coming up from Paul

    Connect with Paul

    Check out How to Become a Virtual Consultant

    PaulMinors.com

    Follow Paul on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 123

  • Hey everybody! This week, Iā€™m joined by Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of Rent 2 Rent Success and HMO Heaven and creator of Rent 2 Rent Success Kickstarter.

    For your business to grow, you have to grow ā€“ dream bigger, be bolder, and be a game changer.

    Being a property investor, Stephanie believes in creating value for everyone she works with: tenants, landlords, investors, and partners. Her online course, Rent 2 Rent Success Kickstarter, helps people create and grow a profitable rent-to-rent business -- fast and stress free. With her system, you can kickstart your property business in no time, and with minimal experience.

    Tune in to hear Stephanieā€™s story, her marketing tips, and how to have the right mindset for success.

    Episode Quotes

    "You can presell your course. All you just need to do is be transparent about it."

    "In creating a course, just do it."

    "For your business to grow, you have to grow."

    "All you have to do to start is connect with people."

    "Our vision going forward is dream bigger, be bolder, and be a game changer."

    Listen to Learn

    00:40 - Rapid 5 Questions, Stephanie's entrepreneurial journey

    09:43 - What is rent-to-rent?

    12:51 - How Stephanie created Rent 2 Rent Kickstarter

    18:20 - Preselling and course goal

    24:32 - Lessons learned and stuck zones

    30:46 - Marketing funnels and channels, plus YouTube and Facebook tips

    35:58 - DIY vs. hiring a coach

    38:38 - Why mindset is vital for success

    43:33 - Online course essentials to get you started

    48:14 - Exciting things coming up from Stephanie

    Connect with Stephanie:

    Rent 2 Rent Success

    Get the Rent 2 Rent Guide

    See Stephanie over on YouTube

    Join the Rent 2 Rent Success Community

    HMO Heaven

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 122

  • Hey family! I'm so excited to be back with you. It's been three months since the last episode because I took a bit of a hiatus. Thank you for hanging out and giving me the leeway to take that break and come back.

    In this solo episode, Iā€™m going to report on what I did over these past three months, including finally launching my YouTube channel. Iā€™m happy to say that itā€™s been up for almost a month now. In line with that, Iā€™ll share my thoughts on YouTube for course creators. Is it really worth the effort?

    Then, on a serious note, letā€™s talk about COVID-19. Iā€™ll get into how itā€™s affecting online course creators and business owners, and what to do in terms of launching and marketing your course in these unprecedented times.

    Finally, weā€™ll wrap up with what you can expect going forward on the podcast. I was so encouraged during the hiatus by your kind notes, emails, and tweets, and Iā€™m excited to share whatā€™s coming up.

    Episode Quotes

    "Part of being a business owner is being able to adapt and be agile because there's always going to be uptimes and downtimes."

    "In this COVID-19 crisis, it's the time to double down on building awareness and serving your audience."

    "Be sensitive with your audience and be empathic. This is not the time to be using scarcity tactics on your marketing."

    Listen to Learn

    02:20 - What I did during my 3-month hiatus

    06:58 - Is YouTube worth it for course creators?

    13:22 - COVID-19: Business impact and what to do as course creator

    24:51 - What's coming up on the podcast

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 121

  • Hey family! This episode is going to be different because Iā€™m doing it solo. Itā€™s time for the annual review for 2019. I love doing this part because Iā€™m such a nerd in reflection and planning, and this is the time of the year where things slow down and I can get really intentional about what I want to do and also express gratitude. So listen up as I share with you what went well, what didnā€™t go well, lessons learned, and what Iā€™m focused on for 2020. Enjoy!

    Episode Quotes

    "Marketing isnā€™t a bad word. Marketing is just communicating your value to your audience."

    "Transformation is not about information; it comes through action"

    "Doing everything on your own is not the way to grow."

    "Growth requires investment (money, time, relationships)."

    "Focus on what you love to do, focus on what you're good at, and collaborate more."

    Listen to Learn

    02:09 - My wins for 2019

    12:28 - What didn't go well in 2019

    20:51 - Things I learned this year

    32:21 - Shoutouts to these amazing people

    36:34 - My focus areas for 2020

    41:00 - One more thing...

    Subscribe to My YouTube Channel!

    Iā€™m launching my very first YouTube channel in a few weeks and Iā€™d love to see you there.

    ā†’ Click here to subscribe so you donā€™t miss any videos! ā†

  • Whatā€™s up everyone! This week Iā€™m joined by Francesco D'Alessio, productivity expert, YouTuber, and founder of Keep Productive. Heā€™s here to talk about his course, Notion Made Simple, and how heā€™s helping people find the best productivity tools for their work and life.

    My mission is to help people find the right productivity software for their life and work.

    Francescoā€™s passion for tech and productivity tools paved the way for Keep Productive, a blog and YouTube channel that currently has 105K subscribers and more than 10 million views. His course, Notion Made Simple, is an 8-module program that teaches learners at beginner, intermediate, and advanced experience levels how to master Notion. The course is built to help people learn to use Notion effectively, from navigating the vast number of features to managing projects and databases.

    Tune in to hear Francescoā€™s tips about tech and productivity, and how he created Notion Made Simple.

    Episode Quotes

    "Just be patient. Good stuff comes a couple of years after, not next week."

    "There is so much more creative freedom when you are doing these individual courses."

    Listen to Learn

    00:54 - Getting to know Francesco D'Alessio, Rapid 5 Questions

    04:01 - How Keep Productive started, Keep Productive business model

    09:53 - What is Notion?

    12:01 - Notion Made Simple - Course goal and who it's for

    15:58 - Pros of using Notion

    18:12 - Notion Made Simple - Launching and lessons learned

    22:42 - Importance of timing with courses based on tools

    27:34 - Exciting things coming up from Francesco

    Connect with Francesco

    Keep Productive

    Keep Productive YouTube Channel

    Notion Made Simple

    Follow Francesco on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 119

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Francesco dives deeper into Notion and how he keeps his courses up-to-date.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra

  • Whatā€™s up everyone! In this episode, I am joined by Pamela Slim, speaker, business coach and award-winning author of Escape from Cubicle Nation and Body of Work. Pamela joins me to share her story and how her brick and mortar learning lab empowers diverse entrepreneurs.

    The core of everything is that we all need each other and we work together from our diverse ecosystems.

    For over 20 years, Pamela has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs to support them in launching and growing their businesses. Even with the evolution of online courses, many business owners are still stuck with the same problems Pam has been helping them solve for years. In 2016, she started the Kā€™Ć© Main Street Learning Lab in Mesa, Arizona, which is a community-based leadership development lab that supports and strengthens local small businesses. Since launching the Learning Lab, Pam has hosted over 200 events led by 38 community leaders for her more than 4,000 community members.

    Listen as Pamela shares her insights about building a community, being physically present with your members, and small business solutions.

    Episode Quotes

    "Never trust short term success and never assume that short term failure lasts forever."

    "There is huge power in physically being present."

    "Our problems as business owners are large and varied and they require a lot of solutions."

    "The core of everything is we realize that we all need each other and we work together from all different sectors of our communities. "

    Listen to Learn

    00:56 - Getting to know Pamela Slim, Rapid 5 Questions

    05:31 - Pamela's entrepreneurial journey

    12:23 - Impetus of creating The Main Street Learning Lab

    17:27 - Physical space vs. online courses

    28:49 - The power of interdependent ecosystems over empire culture

    35:36 - Practical tips for course creators

    46:34 - Awesome things coming up from Pamela

    Connect with Pam

    PamelaSlim.com

    The Main Street Learning Lab

    Learn more about Pamā€™s books

    Follow Pam on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 118

  • Whatā€™s up everyone! I am joined today by Ken Wallace, online course creator and the brain behind MastermindJam. Heā€™s here to share how he created MastermindJam and discuss the value of peer-led mastermind groups.

    Mastermind groups help you to have another set of eyes on the problems about your business.

    The idea for MastermindJam came after Ken joined the the 2015 MicroConf. After some some customer feedback and a few tweaks in pricing, Ken created MastermindJam in 2019. MastermindJam is a platform that helps people find a peer-driven mastermind group or create a new group from scratch without having to waste time cobbling together a bunch of different software. With MastermindJam, entrepreneurs can now easily join a business mastermind that can help them supercharge their business growth and move their business forward.

    Tune in to hear Kenā€™s take on value-based pricing, the benefit of peer-led versus guru-led communities, and the story behind MastermindJam.

    Episode Quotes

    "Always price based on the value of what it is you are bringing."

    "Mastermind can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, so you have to get clear on what you need."

    "As a course creator, it is important to get a feel for your customer - who they are and what they're struggling with."

    Listen to Learn

    01:24 - Getting to know Ken Wallace, Rapid 5 Questions

    03:36 - Value-based pricing

    08:57 - Building the mastermind group business

    21:53 - What is a mastermind group and why it is beneficial?

    25:05 - Guru-Driven Masterminds and Peer-Led Mastermind

    31:01 - Importance of visibility and matching in mastermind groups

    42:03 - Exciting things coming up from Ken

    Connect with Ken

    Check out MastermindJam

    Follow Ken on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 117

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Learn how to find the right community to supercharge your growth and get some practical tips for creating a mastermind of your own.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra

  • Hey family! This weekā€™s episode is the live interview from my workshop with Charlie GIlkey, logistics expert turned executive coach, author, and founder of Productive Flourishing. Heā€™s here to talk about his new book, Start Finishing, and how you can finally finish all of those projects youā€™ve been wanting to dig into.

    All great ideas don't matter. What matters is our execution, our ability to pull them into light, ship them in the marketplace, and make the difference that they are going to make.

    Before becoming an executive coach, Charlie worked in the Army as a Joint Force Military Logistics Coordinator, where he mastered the skills of planning and strategizing. In his book, Start Finishing, he shares his expertise and the 9-step method to re-align your life with the things that matters most. Charlie believes that weā€™re all meant to do our best work, and a core piece of that is finishing what we start. The strategies in his book help creatives work through three major emotions that hold them back (overwhelm, exasperation, and regret) so they can live the life they want, do the work they love, and start finishing.

    Episode Quotes

    ā€œThe main thing that we have to focus on as creatives is not tasks, but projects.ā€

    "For me, planning is a creative process; strategy making is a creative process."

    "In the entrepreneurial world, poorly using your creativity costs you money."

    "There's this very close tie between your creativity, your productivity, your focus and your revenue."

    Listen to Learn

    01:31 - Getting to know Charlie Gilkey, Rapid 5 Questions

    04:05 - Charlie's entrepreneurial journey

    08:06 - Why 'Getting Things Done' doesn't work for creatives

    12:23 - Logistics expert turned executive coach

    15:47 - Start Finishing - What it's about and who it is for?

    18:12 - Start Finishing - Genesis of the book

    20:13 - Coaching vs. Teaching

    24:56 - Awesome things coming up from Charlie

    Connect with Charlie

    Grab your copy of Start Finishing

    ProductiveFlourishing.com

    Follow Charlie on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 116

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Watch the complete workshop where Charlie lays out some actionable strategies from Start Finishing and shares exactly how to plan your next project.

    Grab it here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/charlie-gilkey-janelle-allen/register

  • Whatā€™s up everybody! This week Iā€™m joined by Gareth Pronovost, Airtable consultant, founder of GAP Consulting, and creator of Airtable Automation Machine. Heā€™s here to share his course creation story and how Airtable Automation Machine helps businesses build databases and automate their workflows.

    When we automate processes we can focus on doing the stuff that we love and work less.

    Having been a financial analyst in a billion-dollar public company, Gareth knows the burden of spending countless hours doing reports manually on spreadsheets. This slow and inefficient process prevented him from doing the work he should have been focusing on. Then, Airtable came to his rescue.

    With Airtable, Gareth was able to automate his workflow, organize data, and eliminate long hours of manual work. Now with GAP Consulting, heā€™s helped hundreds of business owners do the same. His course, Airtable Automation Machine, helps entrepreneurs optimize their Airtable setup, integrate business process, and train their team on Airtable on their own schedule.

    Join us to hear how he turned his high-touch consulting process into a detailed course, and how heā€™s helping business owners focus on the work they love.

    Episode Quotes

    "Airtable is like a box of Legos. It is very modular application that allows you to craft your own database."

    "It is important to boil things down into as few touch points as possible."

    "If you provide value then there is invariably a large number of people that's going to hire you."

    "This idea that I need to sit at a desk for 8 hours in order to provide value is fundamentally wrong."

    Listen to Learn

    00:51 - Getting to know Gareth Pronovost, Rapid 5 Questions

    07:08 - How Gareth got into entrepreneurship

    12:05 - The Airtable business idea

    19:15 - Validation process and getting the first customers

    25:40 - Why value driven courses?

    28:13 - Airtable Automation Machine - What is it and who it's for?

    34:24 - Airtable Automation Machine - Course structure

    38:50 - Exciting things coming up from Gareth

    Connect with Gareth

    Airtable Automation Machine

    GAP Consulting

    Follow Gareth on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 115

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Get to know Airtable best practices, and why this database software is so much better than spreadsheets.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra

  • Whatā€™s up, everybody? This week, Iā€™m joined by Lydia Lee, founder of Screw the Cubicle and creator of 90 Day Launch. Sheā€™s here to share how she transitioned from the corporate world to living a life of purpose and doing work that matters, and how sheā€™s helping her students do the same.

    Stop trying to look good in your business, and start being good.

    Six years ago, Lydia had hustled her way up the corporate ladder and landed a comfortable six-figure job. Despite her success, she knew she wasnā€™t happy. After a realization that this wasnā€™t the life she wanted -- and a bit of a breakdown, some therapy, and coaching -- she quit and started her own business.

    Screw the Cubicle is all about helping people transition from corporate shackles to satisfying work, and the freedom to do it on their terms. Lydiaā€™s course, 90 Day Launch, guides her learners to map out their processes, craft the framework of their offer, and launch their next big thing that matters.

    Episode Quotes

    "Remember not to burn bridges when transitioning from employee to entrepreneur."

    "Sometimes staying small strategically, and making enough to afford the life you want, is enough."

    "The future of work is in small business, is in everybody in their communities creating an impacting change through what they do best."

    "The world is much bigger than our zip code... when you travel and are able to listen and learn from other cultures, you are a much better human."

    Listen to Learn

    00:53 - Getting to know Lydia Lee, Rapid 5 Questions

    06:14 - Lydia's entrepreneurial journey

    11:31 - How to safely transition from employee to entrepreneur

    17:43 - How Screw the Cubicle started, and customer discovery

    26:05 - 90 Day Launch - What it is and who it's for

    30:27 - 90 Day Launch - How it started and transition process

    42:08 - Scaling strategically

    44:00 - Awesome things coming up from Lydia

    Connect with Lydia

    90 Day Launch

    Sign Up for her Upcoming Webinar

    Check out her Coaching Experience

    Weekly #ScrewTheCubicleTV Episodes

    ScrewTheCubicle.com

    Follow Lydia on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 114

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Find out what it means to create a body of work, and how you can create a work vision that fulfills you.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra

  • Whatā€™s up, family! In this weekā€™s episode, Iā€™m joined by Louise Henry, web designer and founder of Solopreneur Sidekick. Sheā€™s also the Squarespace specialist behind Website that Wows, a course that helps ā€œnon-techieā€ entrepreneurs build their own website in as little as one week.

    Having a website is important because it is your digital home.

    Being a digital nomad herself, Louise knows how important it is to have a digital home that represents who you are and what you do. In Website that Wows, Louise teaches entrepreneurs how to take ownership of their online presence through step-by-step tutorials, templates, and high-touch tech support.

    Tune in to hear Louise and I talk about the digital nomad life, how she empowers business owners to build the website of their dreams, and some sales tips that drives results. Letā€™s do it!

    Episode Quotes

    "Having a professional website, and being clear about what you could offer, is an advantage."

    "As an entrepreneur, I realized that mindset comes first."

    "Sales is an exchange, and it's about delivering value."

    Listen to Learn

    00:54 - Getting to know Louise Henry, Rapid 5 Questions

    05:28 - Life as a digital nomad, how Solopreneur Sidekick started

    11:04 - Ways to find clients for your business

    12:57 - Importance of having a website, Creating Solopreneur Sidekick

    15:20 - Solopreneur Sidekick - Structure, modules, and learnersā€™ outcomes

    21:21 - Sales tips to drive effective results

    28:40 - Exciting things coming up from Louise

    Connect with Louise

    Website that Wows

    SolopreneurSidekick.com

    Follow Louise on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 113

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Hear practical tips from Louise about claiming your corner of online space and building your own website that wows.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra

  • Whatā€™s up everyone! Today I am joined by Alisha Robertson, founder of Living Over Existing and author of a book by the same title. Sheā€™s also the creator of Brand with Purpose, a ten-week mentorship program for women entrepreneurs.

    Know what it is you want to do - passion, skills, and interest - then build your brand on that.

    After all the pivots she made, Alisha finally said yes to her calling to write. For over 6 years, she has worked with women entrepreneurs teaching them how to gain clarity in their business. Her group program, Brand with Purpose, guides creatives to build their brand, create better content, and define their signature product.

    Listen as Alisha talks about how she handled those big life decisions, how she committed to her mission to write, and how she helps creative women build their life and business on purpose. Letā€™s get into it!

    Episode Quotes

    "Some days are really bad, but you have to keep going because the next day could be the day that changes your entire life."

    "People want accountability and structure and group programs are perfect for that."

    "We are in a season now where people crave community over information."

    "If what you are giving away for free doesn't make you want to slap a price on it, it is not good enough."

    "Don't be afraid to change... dwelling too much on making decisions makes you stuck."

    Listen to Learn

    00:50 - Getting to know Alisha Robertson, Rapid 5 Questions

    03:04 - Alisha's entrepreneurial journey

    07:53 - One-on-one coaching to group programs

    10:50 - The calling to write

    19:26 - Brand with Purpose - How it started and who it's for

    23:47 - Brand with Purpose - Program structure and learner's experience

    30:47 - Brand with Purpose - Creating the program content

    36:00 - Insights to achieve transformation

    37:07 - Awesome things coming up from Alisha

    Connect with Alisha

    Brand with Purpose

    LivingOverExisting.com

    TheAlishaNicole.com

    Join the Living Over Existing Community!

    Follow Alisha on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 112

    Grab the bonus segment!

    Alisha shares how she consistently pushes through fear and into greatness, and stays true to her commitment to write.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra

  • Whatā€™s up, family? In this episode, we have David Charrier, multi-instrumentalist, handpan enthusiast, and founder of the online school, Master the Handpan.

    I love watching my students blossom in their musical journey

    As a musician, David has always been passionate about rhythms and melodies. In 2004, he discovered a unique-looking percussion instrument called the handpan. After traveling to host handpan masterclasses, David created Master the Handpan to bring the joys of the handpan right into studentsā€™ homes. Heā€™s now taught more than 3,000 people with his online program. With easy-to-watch, easy-to-follow video lessons, students can now learn how to play the handpan in a simple and fun way. Tune in to hear how David created Master the Handpan, what heā€™s learned since its launch, and courses to check out to begin our own musical journey.

    Episode Quotes

    "The problem for learners is frustration."

    "Having course levels give learners something to aspire to. It motivates them to keep going."

    "Put yourself in your student's shoes."

    "Students get stuck if you are not good... We are more than just teachers, we are also coaches."

    "Time is something we cannot buy so we need to maximize the time we have.ā€

    Listen to Learn

    00:54 - Getting to know David, Rapid 5 Questions

    02:59 - What is a handpan? How did Master the Handpan start?

    13:32 - Pros of having course levels

    17:19 - First steps in course creation

    21:07 - Structuring the course content and David's teaching process

    29:58 - What to include as YouTube video vs. course video

    37:44 - Awesome things coming up from David

    Connect with David

    Master the Handpan

    HandpanDavid.com

    Follow David on Twitter!

    Looking for the Transcript?

    Episode 111

    Grab the bonus segment!

    We dig even further into Master the Handpan, and David graces us with with an incredible song on his handpan.

    Grab it here: https://get.zencourses.co/extra