A few months ago I changed the format of Coach Radio to what I thought would be more fun. In the past I’ve jumped right into content or teaching in the first few minutes of the show. While there are a lot of great shows that do that, I’ve realized that’s not exactly who I am.

Don’t get me wrong, I love great content. But even when I’m working, I love to have fun.

The other day I got this tweet and my heart sank:

A proper response might have been to apologize and immediately change back to the old way of doing things. That’s when I realized I was doing it exactly right.

Between various shows I’ve produced, I’ve released about 400 episodes. Most of those episodes haven’t received a single comment or reaction, good or bad. People were listening, but they didn’t care much. The content wasn’t bad (or I would have received complaints or lost subscribers) but it also wasn’t remarkable (or people would have shared it with their friends like crazy). Instead it was just another podcast in a sea of thousands of podcasts.

Contrast that tweet to these that have been pouring in over the past few weeks.

Pretty good, huh?

My point is that if you’re not getting complaints, there probably aren’t many people on the other end of the spectrum who love you. This is hard if you seek approval from everyone. Truthfully, it’s also hard for me.

But it’s a reality. If you’re getting complaints and praise, you’re doing the right thing. The worst scenario is getting neither. I’m off to record more entertainment now.

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Show Topics:

• Self-employed, but fed up with the job
• Selling 20,000+ eBooks
• Leveraging book deal to become a speaker

A few years ago Kimanzi Constable hated his job. It made him miserable and he didn’t know how to get out.

Kimanzi was an independent contractor as a delivery person. He says it’s awesome to be self-employed, but it grew to having five guys below him and $300,000 in revenue. He didn’t have a mentor so it was frustrating to figure out taxes and everything that comes with a business.

Kimanzi got fed up in 2011 and decided too take action, so he followed his passion and self-published an ebook. Tales of the Everyday Working Man and Woman has sold over 20,000 copies to date! This year Kimanazi landed a four book deal.

“People have to have a reason to buy your book. You need to connect with them.”
- Kimanzi Constable

In 2012, Kimanzi started speaking, which scares him. He’s pursued the engagements by leveraging his publishing deal.

Connect with Kimanzi Constable on twitter and facebook.

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This is my office yesterday. I hiked two miles to the Garden of Eden to spend a few hours working offline.

I used to be under the assumption that technology ruins the outdoor experience. I went hiking or climbing to get away from cell phone signals and WiFi coverage. No computers, no phones, barely a camera.

But I’ve changed my thinking recently. While I don’t like the distraction of ringing phones and the availability of email, I do love taking my laptop outside to write and be alone.

You know those computers that shut down your internet connection so you can focus on offline projects? As it turns out, you don’t need to buy them. You just need to charge your laptop and go for a hike.

Do you think technology ruins the outdoors?

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Show Topics:

• Multiple or single computer for podcasting
• The best computer setup for podcasting
• The Shark Tank podcast

Andy Traub joins me to talk about computers and podcasting. We’re covering these questions on the show.

Check out Shark Tank Fan Podcast.

Butch: Do you recommend a separate computer for nothing but podcasting if possible? Thanks for your input!

Tony: I am in the process of building out my office in the garage, and I want to simplify my computer life. I want to sell three computers that all serve different functions. The lowest price Mac is the Macbook Air. While it is more than enough for my technical specs, the small screen is a concern. I will be doing screen video tutorials and podcasting as well. Given your experience, and the fact that you own the Macbook Air, do you think you could do well with that laptop only? I know you have the Thunderbolt Display, but would that slow you down much if you didn’t have it? I would plan to add that later.

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Last week was a tiring travel week for me. I flew a red eye to New York, arriving at 6:30 am Tuesday.

Wednesday was spent with Seth Godin in Tribeca, then Thursday was a bit of walking around before flying back to arrive home around midnight. After spending part of Friday getting caught up on work, the last thing I wanted to do was drive 1.5 hours to Denver for a meetup.

My friend Chris Guillebeau was in town doing a book signing for the $100 Startup and since I haven’t seen him in about a year in a half, I jumped in the car and took off.

While it was fun getting deputized by Chris to help sign books (I added a cool stamp) the people I met were the icing on the cake. A couple visiting from New Zealand (both developers and she just quit her job), some FAA members (both who are becoming self-employed this year), a creative woman with a great idea to monetize her art, a photographer from Alaska, and the list goes on and on.

Yeah, I was tired by the time I got home, but I live for trips like this. I’m an introvert to the highest degree, but I constantly push myself to get out and meet new people. It’s not easy but I’m always energized when I push myself to do it.

If you’re not getting out and meeting people, you’re missing out and your business is probably not growing. Push yourself on this. Pick local events or those further away. In the next six months, attend six events.

Seriously. Sit down right now and find six events to attend. Put them on your calendar and don’t let anything get in the way of attending.

Are you going to an event or putting one one this year? List it in the comments so we can meet you there.

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Three publishing industry insiders have been working behind the scenes for the past several months in a secret author lab. Well, not really, but they’ve kept the secret since December. Thomas Unstated, Jeff Gerke and Mary DeMuth, and they’re really excited about it.

This is an unpaid post promoting what they’re doing, simply because I love what they’re up to.

These three created the bestseller society because they had a lot of folks asking how to write better, get published, and get noticed. For less than you’d spend on a yearly writers conference, you get coaching and instruction all year round. It’s pretty fun. Check out the main page.

The Society is made up of three academies: the Marketing Academy led by Thomas, The fiction Academy led by Jeff, and the Nonfiction Academy led by Mary. Each academy is $37 a month, but you can become a Mastermind by joining all three for $55.

Cool side note: If you sign up for the Nonfiction Academy, you get Mary’s nonfiction proposal tutorial (100+ pages, $25 value) free with sign up.

What you get with membership:

• Hours and hours of un-boring, super exciting video instruction (and they introduce new content often)
• Upcoming podcasts on trends, craft, and marketing
• Printable resources
• A mastermind forum where they coach you, and you learn from other writers on the journey
• Freebies on proposals, queries, marketing plans, and character sheets
• Access to guest teachers–particularly top agents, editors and publishers
• Heavy discounts on products and tutorials created by industry insiders
• Curation of content. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out the best information and what will really help you get published and get noticed. They find the best, most success-producing content and deliver it to you.

You want to publish a book. They want to help you get there. Check out the Bestseller Society.

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Not long I posted an opening for a position at the Free Agent Academy and had over 60 people apply. I wrote about why many of the applicants didn’t make the initial few cuts but have had many request to share the process I used to find the person we did hire.

Today, Dan Miller at 48 Days ran a post titled, An Inside Look at How to Get Hired where I shared the ins and outs of what it took to make it through my process, along with some tips to get hired for anything.

If you found your way here from 48 Days, welcome. You can use this process for a traditional job, contract work for your business, or just to build great relationships full of opportunity.

For more, plug into the community. Subscribe to the newsletter for super insider stuff, and listen to the show where you’ll pick up motivation and ideas to take action.

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Photo by  Tess Aquarium

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It’s true, many people have had bad experiences when it comes to hiring and working with coaches. I’ve heard coaching has been the fastest growing work-at-home business in the US lately. Combine that with no requirements for training, and it’s easy to hire someone who won’t help much.

My friend David from The Rise to the Top interviewed me yesterday about whether coaches are worth the money they charge. You’ll find me both agreeing and disagreeing, along with making some other suggestions for getting a leg up on the competition. Working with a coach isn’t always the best fit for everyone.

Do you think coaches are worthless or helpful?

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Photo by opensourceway

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Show Topics:

• Come to BlogWorld
• Create a speaking and coaching brand
• Help with a new travel tips website

Are you going to BlogWorld?

Jason: I want to become a speaker, leader, helper, and coach, but I find myself looking at these goals in a few different areas. I need to figure how to make my ideas concise enough that I can be effective, however I am unable to find what one or two of these should go together or should I just find one and go all in? Am I able to be effective if I match up a few of the ideas together?

I feel like I lack the technological know how of where to begin and how to create my brand and start to make my presence known. Could you give me some advice and ideas?

Piotr: I want to create a website as a guide for people that want to visit Poland. I was born and lived there during the early years of my life.

My unique selling proposition will be to stay somewhere in the country. The visitors, instead of getting a room in one of the hotels, will stay on a farm or horse ranch, or other places with some kind of recreational offer. This will make the vacation even more worthwhile and more interesting than just sightseeing.

I’m currently writing about the most popular places to visit. This is what most of the sites have. After that I don’t know if I should add more content with other less popular places or I should start a blog talking about the life in the country. About the benefits, disadvantages, comparing and showing the differences in lifestyle in the country verses the big city.

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I just overheard a conversation where a new business owner was stressing over whether to use her real picture or a cartoon of herself on her website. While that may matter in her head, it’s one of the least important things she should be concerned about right now.

What you shouldn’t be worried about

• your brand
• your domain name
• what software you’ll use
• how you’ll charge

What you should be stressing about

• executing

That’s it. Most things don’t matter. What matters, is doing the work. The rest will work itself out.

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From the list of 101 Free and Low-cost ways to Grow Your Business is #88: start a podcast.

But isn’t it difficult and costly to start one? Not at all. I think anyone can do it and it shouldn’t cost more than $50.

One of my most popular blog posts (shared over 80 times) shows you how to start a podcast for just $50. That’s the cost of a headset you may already own.

Is starting a podcast something you want to do?

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Show Topics:

• Justin’s European trip and other summer travels
• 3 big mistakes in dealing with large contracts

I talked about speaking at BlogWorld (affiliate link and gets you 10% off with code: PodCoach10). Come to New York City and meet me in June.

Josh and I talked about traveling and then the three big mistakes he’s made lately while working on a big marketing contract. I learned a lot from talking to Josh about these mistakes.

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This is a guest post by my friend Dallon Christensen. Dallon has hired me and many others as coaches. He’s taken classes. He’s a member of the Free Agent Academy. We’ve become friends through all of this and today we’re celebrating his jump into Free Agency. Congratulations, Dallon!

If you judge me by appearance, I appear very normal. I have a wife and two young boys. I live in a normal house in a quiet neighborhood. I have common hobbies.

However, I am really far from normal.

I’m not normal because I commit myself to serving God and the three beautiful people you see in the photo above before everything else.

I’m not normal because I believe that I should fit my work around my life instead of jamming my life into the small corners around my work.

I’m not normal because I want to care more for my son, who is a Type 1 diabetic, than to care for a traditional J-O-B.

I’m not normal because I want my career to reflect the best of me instead of burying my dreams to support someone else’s vision.

I’m not normal because I want to ride my bike with my son to school before starting my work day.

I’m not normal because I want to create and ship work that highlights my creativity.

I’m not normal since I can now spend time with my son on his early-out school days instead of having him ride to daycare.

I’m not normal because I follow my calling instead of settling for what others expect of me.

I’m not normal because I want to work on my deck during a beautiful morning.

I’m not normal when I can go for a walk to the park at lunch instead of quickly eating lunch at my desk.

I’m not normal when I can write, speak, and create my own great work instead of taking direction from someone else.

Finally, I’m not normal because I gave up the American ideal of a “secure job” – a corporate finance job – to pursue my real passion of making a difference for small business owners.

For many years, I was normal. I’ve realized that greatness lies in what’s NOT normal. I don’t want to be normal anymore, which is why I am a free agent and in control of my professional calling.

Do not be normal. Live your dreams. Create your own story. Make your business happen!

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From the list of 101 Free and Low-cost ways to Grow Your Business is #57: send handwritten thank you notes.

When is the last time you received a handwritten note? Can you even remember?

It’s been a long time for me, too. If your business supports it, sending a card, even if short, is a nice way to win a new customer or retain a current customer.

If you send cards, what are your best tips? Is it scaleable for you?

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A quick look at the difference a good website design can make. I’ve been working with my new friend, Dylan, at Pikes Peak Mountain Bike Tours to overhaul his business and bring in more customers. When we started, Dylan’s home page looked like this.

None of what you see in this shot it text. It’s one big graphic and thus invisible to google. For a site that’s a number of years old, it’s actually pretty good though. Technology has come a long way in a short amount of time however.

Here’s the current site.

We kept great graphics throughout the site, but made it much more informative. Also, 99% of what you see here in text is actual text and not graphic based. That’s music to google’s ears.

What do you like in this change? Can you incorporate any of it into your own site?

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Show Topics:

• Dental insurance for self-employed
• Marketing a business that may harm a pet

Justin: I provide veterinary surgical procedures for veterinary clinics that are unable to provide these types of surgeries for their clients. I perform surgeries they normally have to refer out to specialty hospitals for lack of skills, equipment or the willingness to do them.

The benefit for the veterinary practice using our services are two fold:

1. Value added service for their clients
2. Additional revenue source they didn’t previously have available to them

The business has done very well since its inception 3 years ago with the aide of my business coach. One problem I face is keeping the clients on board longterm. Most veterinary clinics who begin using our services are very excited initially and use us a lot. With any surgery performed there is always risk for complications or failures. Occasionally we run into a postop complication that causes the clinic to shy away from using our services. We tackle these complications head on but despite doing so, the occasional clinic becomes gun shy and will turn to referring those cases out for surgery. 

Thoughts on how to address this issue a little better to insure continued working relationships?

###

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I’m at 30,000 feet as I type, flying to Pittsburgh to buy a car. I’ve been in the used car market for a few weeks now and it struck me how similar it is to the business you may be trying to build.

I’ve become a fan of the Ford Freestyle, a crossover SUV with it’s own fan club. Not unlike Saturn or Jeep fans, a few of the biggest supporters got together and created a website, devoted to just one of the many models that Ford makes.

So, why am I telling you not to buy a car that doesn’t have a fan club? Because, if you do, you’re just buying another car. There’s nothing special about it; it was probably practical and cheap. It’ll get you around for a bit, but it may not last long or be remarkable enough for people to care about.

What kind of business are you running. A practical one with low prices, or a remarkable one where fans have started their own online communities around it?

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Lately my time has been consumed with creating. I’m doing a lot of operations and marketing work for a number of companies and launching a few things as well. My posts have been short over the past few months since I haven’t had much time to create blog posts.

With rare exception, I’m also drawn to read shorter posts. This doesn’t mean a long post that’s great won’t draw me in, but you’ll have to work a lot harder to make it happen.

Wednesday’s post on inspiration was very short, yet spread well and garnered a lot of comments.

I’d like to know what you prefer. Long; short; pictures; media? If it’s too long or too short, will you still read it?

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photo by Earthworm

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I became a speaker about two months after I opened my business. I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but I ended up in one of the largest churches in Raleigh, NC (which I had never been in before) in front of seven people.

Yup, seven people.

So much good came of that meeting, it’s unbelievable. I helped a woman for half of my normal price. She referred someone whom I charged full price. That person also happened to lead a large group of people who needed my services. Three to four times per year I would speak to her group (still unpaid) and probably ended up with $15,000 – $20,000 of business over a two year period from that group.

All from speaking to a group of seven people.

Today, find a group you can speak to. You might not see results this week or month, but over time speaking will grow your business.

I’m leading a panel at BlogWorld (affiliate link and gets you 10% off with code: PodCoach10) in June. Want to join me to learn how to build a community around a podcast? You’ll learn that and much more.

Photo by Guillaume Paumier

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This is more an open forum than a blog post.

I’m wondering what you create when you’re stuck. What gets you unstuck and rekindles the fire you once had for your blog?

Better yet, what get’s you motivated to create? Is it music; a movie; a walk; or a break?

Give me your best stuff here and pick up more tips in the comments.

photo by Incessant Flux

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Show Topics:

• The best video camera for video blogging (I bet you already have one)
• Just ship it
• Guest appearance by Jon Dale

Josh and I had some surprises in today’s show, including a guest appearance by Jon Dale. After discussing domain names, we all gave our advice on the best video camera, and ironically landing on the same one.

Keith: I am in the market for a video camera for a blog that uses mini-documentaries as a platform. I’m not very tech savvy, but have some friends that can help. In your opinion, what would be a solid, economical camera? Where would you purchase it?

###

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I was browsing cars for sale on Craigslist last week, and I cam across a listing stating this:

“I am looking to get at least $15,000
because I owe more on it than that.”

I don’t think a dummer way exists to price a car than to figure out how much you owe and go from there. As a buyer, I could care less how much you owe on your car. Did you pick the slow payment plan over 10 years, or are you paying it off fast in two?

The most irrelevant thing to a buyer is how much you still owe on your car.

Unfortunately, many businesses also price their products this way. They figure out how much it costs to manufacture, then they price it from there.

Those numbers aren’t irrelevant and should be calculated, but the last thing a consumer cares about is how much it costs you to make your product.

At $120 a pair, you won’t find a single woman who buys Lucky Brand jeans and first calculates the cost of manufacturing. All they care about is how they look.

That’s how you price a product.

photo by The Car Spy

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We’re using a new meeting solution to lead classes at the Free Agent Academy called MeetingBurner (affiliate link). They have a great (and free) platform for up to 15 people, which is where I would start. This video walks you through how to use MeetingBurner as a participant.

More tutorials

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You can fix a problem by putting a bandaid over it and continue building, or you could blow it up and start building from scratch. Sometimes you realize that to get to where you want to be, you have start over.

37 Signals did this with their flagship product, Highrise. It had been like applying bandaids when they added new features. Now they’re starting over from scratch in order to do things that weren’t possible within the framework of their previous model.

We’re doing this at the Free Agent Academy as well. Instead of applying bandaids on top of problems, we’re starting over, to deliver things that weren’t possible a few months ago.

The toughest part has been to get out of the mindset of how things are currently done. We know what’s possible and what isn’t, but when you’re starting over, everything is possible.

What project do you need to start over?

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“You don’t agree to do a job because you know it’s going to work. You agree because you think it’s going to lead to the next interesting thing.”
- David Rockwell

You don’t become a world famous architect by doing whatever job comes along. At 56 years old David Rockwell still doesn’t sit by the phone, waiting for it to ring. He goes after the most interesting work he can find.

What’s your approach to the next big thing? Or are you waiting for the phone to ring?

photo by  ZagatBuzz

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Show Topics:

• Marketing for free by using forums
• How to market using social media
• Coming up with a business idea

Joshua Gordon joins me again to answer your questions. Email them or call (919) 355-8275.

Jean: Do you know what kind of forums I could visit / participate in where people would be looking to have websites made? I have tried a few marketing ones but didn’t feel that they were worth continuing to pursue.

Joseph: I recently joined a national academic life coaching program and recently completed the training. As I explored the approach I wanted to take to gaining clients, I found that I love online social networking as a means to reach the greatest audience. In three months I have created two Twitter accounts, a Facebook page, a Pinterest business profile, a Youtube Channel, and my blog. It feels productive yet it is starting to feel like I am missing a crucial piece.

I am not converting many people into dedicated followers, and have zero coaching clients. I am nearly at a loss about what to do next because while it’s all over the news about changing the education paradigm, there has not been much inquiry into what I have to offer in that respect. Also, I have always wanted to write about empowering others but I am struggling to find a consistent voice….especially one that really clicks with an online audience.

This week I am nearly feeling frozen with ideas for next steps to improve the online presence. All of the advice and options as far as writing and marketing have my head spinning. And, what I’ve done thus far feels so scattered. I could definitely use some coaching of my own!

Steve: My biggest problem is coming up with the actual idea for my business. When I joined FAA, my thought was to help worship bands develop techniques for playing as a band. Many worship bands know their band does not sound like a “band,” but don’t know how to get beyond it (or perhaps even have a desire to).

I made a start at a web site just to have a place to work at writing. When it came to the place that my posts were more thoughts and not things I could see as being helpful to others, I put the writing on hold. I now have several posts in the beginning stages (using Need a Topic” ideas), with great pictures, but still find myself struggling with the “how-to” writing of useful information.

I feel like I’m stuck in the phase of constantly needing to know more, get new content (of my own) and don’t know how to move forward with the getting on to making a business of it.

I think the bottom line for me, at the moment anyway, is: Is there something I can and should be doing right now to actually be starting my business, even while I am working through classes and trying to decide what “it” will be? (Because, I feel like that whole process could take a long time…) Thanks for all your help!

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I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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I posted a position for a branding person this month and was quickly bombarded with resumes. While most of them were good to great, I thought I’d share the top reasons why I tossed people out of the running. I hope it sheds some light on why you’re not getting the great position you want.

Why I Won’t Hire You

1. Too many pages in your resume.
   There’s rarely a reason to go longer than a single page. Believe it or not, some of the resumes I received were up to four pages long. A resume gets you to the next step (interview, call back, or in our case, branding exercise). A resume does not get you a job. Four pages is too much for me, and no matter how great you are, I didn’t read it.
2. You don’t follow directions.
   Directions for submitting the required info fit into one sentence. Some people didn’t email me what I asked for (I only asked for one thing) and some didn’t email it like I asked. A few people responded directly in the post. One person replied this way, then sent it to me via Facebook, and then through the website I posted the job on. Never did he email it like I asked.
3. You’re self-employed and don’t have a website.
   This wasn’t a deal breaker, but it speaks volumes. A simple site with a great about page would have impressed me. It’s not difficult to create and can set you apart easily.
4. You have a website, but use a non-professional email address.
   Technology has come a long way. This is a pretty stupid thing to disqualify people over, but when you’re competing with hundreds of people for your dream job, you should take every opportunity to set yourself apart. Above all else, at least grab a gmail address. Yahoo just isn’t professional and hotmail never was. If you have a website, you should have email that goes along with it.
5. You submitted your resume in a non-PDF file.
   Again, not a deal breaker, but if you took the time to make your resume look pretty on your computer, don’t you also want it to look pretty on the computer of the person you sent it to? Sending it in Word format will ensure it looks almost nothing like it does on your computer. Take the time to search and learn how to do this. You don’t need to buy the full Adobe program to convert.
6. Your resume doesn’t include bullet points.
   Why bullet points? Because they’re easy to scan. The entire point of a resume is to get you to the next level. If your resume reads like a cover letter, you’re missing the point. The easier your resume is to scan, the quicker I find what I need and put you in the pile that moves on to the next level.

It’s not difficult to impress me. None of the above points take very long to do, but you must pay attention when creating and submitting. If you don’t make yourself stand out, you’re wasting your time.

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Since a great deal of my day is spent marketing my business and helping others market theirs, I pay attention to all the marketing around me. I had to chuckle when I saw this picture.

It looks like they couldn’t come up with a better description, so they just called it average. It reminds me of  the sign in front of the only hotel in my town. For months, they tried to lure vacationers by saying, “Last hotel for 75 miles.” Makes you want to stop, right?

Never mind the pool or breathtaking views, you have no choices for a while, so you might as well stay here.

Don’t make people settle for your product. Make them fall in love with it.

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If you’re like me, you have a hard time believing a Christian move can actually be good. They’re kind of like pornos: filled with bad acting and poor lighting. The message may be good, but “safe for the whole family” means there’s something cheesy at the end, under-toned with music reminiscent of an ending scene from the Full House TV series.

Action? Adventure? Emotion? Probably not.

A few weeks ago Christine and I saw the premier of Blue Like Jazz. Rated PG-13, it’s definitely not safe for the whole family. Director Steve Taylor and writer Don Miller explained in a Q&A session after the movie, that the bible is most definitely not safe for the whole family either, and I agree.

Christine and I liked the Blue Like Jazz book, and loved the movie even more. The story behind bringing a Christian film to theaters involves being the largest crowd-funded movie in history, of which I’m proud to be a part.

If you’re looking for a great movie this weekend, check out Blue Like Jazz. You won’t be disappointed.

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I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life. I’ve hated some of them and many weren’t very professional. But I’ve always treated each one seriously, no matter how crummy it was.

I was justifying. I knew there was a learning experience in each, I just had to keep my eyes open.

At PetsMart I learned how to get along with different groups of people. We had guys that came to work for the Christmas season for extra gift money, and other people showed up because it was the only job they could find. I was a supervisor and learned how to management by doing.

Later, as an airline pilot, I learned how to work in a team. I also learned the value of following through on a promise and sticking to a schedule. If our flight was scheduled to depart at 8:55, we were late at 8:56. No exceptions.

Some lessons have come long after I’ve left the job. But they’ve always been there, as long as I’ve been open to learning them.

Are you learning lessons from your current or past jobs?

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photo by Michael Kappel

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Show Topics:

• Metric / English measurements (not sure how that got in here)
• How to market a product when you hate marketing
• Building an online community

Joshua Gordon joins me again to answer your questions. Email them or call (919) 355-8275.

Scott: OK Justin, you know me really well. And, you’re also a customer! People who’ve seen my apps love them. When I can get them to leave a review in iTunes, they use phrases like “great”, “awesome”, “wonderful”, “elegantly designed,” “delightful”, “really useful”, etc. My brick wall is this: I cannot get the word out. And my reason is this: I dread (and perhaps even despise) the process of getting the word out. If I had the proverbial $5 million in the bank and could do what I wanted to do all day, I would be creating the apps and throwing them OVER the brick wall to somebody else to go and market them for me. I have ZERO interest in the marketing research and selling aspects of the business, and try as I might, I can’t get myself truly interested or motivated to do so. I know the mantra that you must be able to sell, and I can give mental assent to it, but I just can’t make it happen. I get drained just thinking about it.

How to get powerful testimonials.

Erik: For the past 15 years, I have been coaching on-air radio talent to improve their content. I am now launching a business to coach podcast talent with their content and material. There are so many moving parts to creating an online community, I’m not really sure which to tackle first.

Michael: If you have time, I would like to know who I might go about SAFELY allow others to guest blog at my site. I think it is a good idea, but don’t know what precautions I would need to take to allow them access.

###

I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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While college may be worth the cost to attend now, at some point in the future it won’t be.

Consider the last stats I saw: college tuition is growing at 7% per year while inflation is growing around 4% per year. Wages are increasing, but not even close to the 7% that college costs rise each year.

Soon our kids will be leaving college, saddled with loads of debt, and working at entry-level paying jobs. The Wall Street Journal reports student loan debt to now be greater than $1 Trillion.

What do you think? Is college still worth the cost?

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This is a look around my friend’s detached home office. I stayed at Chris and Nicole’s house and wanted to show you his setup in the mountains.

If you haven’t seen my office tour, it’s worth checking out as well.

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Well, that’s not exactly true, at least in the active sense of looking. But I am open.

Yeah, I know, I’m not a big fan of the traditional job, but I also wouldn’t consider a job that required me in a desk from 8 to 5 Monday through Friday.

Why I’m Looking

Experience. I don’t know what I don’t know and I’m open to learning. Many of the lessons I’ve learned were on the job and not in a school.

Most of the work I do now is with businesses. While I’m rarely a traditional employee, I always work out an agreement with a business that gives me the flexibility to do the work around my schedule.

Keeping an open mind like this has put me in some interesting positions from marketing to director of operations. Many times I’m working a reduced schedule, leaving me time to work with more than one business at a time. It fulfills my desire to work in different areas and unique challenges, and keeps me plenty busy.

I’m a huge proponent of self-employment, but what I like best is the freedom. If you can find that in a job and get experience along the way, I say jump on it.

Are you looking for a job?

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photo by melodramababs

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TextExpander is a neat app for the Mac that has so far saved me over 10 hours of typing. See below to see how you can get a free copy of Text Expander.

Do you use a program to save time typing? Which one?

Smile Software has given me three copies of TextExpander Mac, along with three promo codes for TextExpander iOS to give a way. Leave a comment to enter and tell me how you’ll use your copy. I’ll choose six winner randomly on Monday, April 9th, so hurry and leave your comment.

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Show Topics:

• Blogging for two years but no community or audience, and few clients
• Get unstuck and find clients

Joshua Gordon joins me for the next few weeks to talk through a lot of questions that were recently submitted. It was great to get Josh’s take on the questions that have rolled in

Jon White: Justin/Josh I work with individuals and couples on improving their personal economy by giving them a new a perspective on their money. After blogging and podcasting for almost two years, I have created a lot of content but have not been able to build the community or gotten as many clients as I would have liked. In the past few months I have been questioning why I am continuing to do what I have been doing when it really has not worked out too well. I want to create content and products that will help people change their lives and allow them to live the life they want to, but I am having trouble determining what my target market wants and how to market it to them. Thanks for doing this and I am looking to the upcoming podcast. Should be a fun one!

Brian: I’ve owned and operated a music facility for the past 15 years. We make recordings, teach private music lessons, offer instrument repairs, and run clinics and workshops. I have about 3 teachers that work at the studio and I am trying to increase my student enrollment, but to no avail. I’ve been posting in social media sites, doing business to business advertising, running some advertising and of course, word of mouth. I want to take my business to the next level, but I feel like I’m stuck. Any advice would help. Thanks!

###

I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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I’m learning to backcountry ski, which is way different than skiing at a restort. This is a picture of me after I bit it in the trees a few weeks ago.

Business is like that too. Rarely will you succeed without falling. Multiple times.

But you get back up, you learn what you did wrong, you adjust, and you get after it again. That’s what separates the entrepreneur from the hobbyest.

You might be on the ground now. Perhaps you’ve been laying there for a while. As long as you’re not moving, you’re not making progress. Get up and do it again, or get a job. It’s much safer.

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If you’re a new podcaster having trouble getting your cover art to show up in iTunes or on an iPod, this tutorial will help. Even if you’re an established podcaster, you may be missing the crucial step of getting your ID3 tags set correctly.

What Are ID3 Tags?

ID3 tags contain all the info of your podcast. Things like the cover art, artist, album, run time, etc.

How to Edit ID3 Tags

Once your podcast is in MP3 format, right click on it in iTunes and select Get Info.

From there you’ll add your cover art to the artwork tab, optional lyrics, and this info on the info tab.

Following these steps will insure your cover art, along with podcast details, shows up where you need it to.

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This post was co-written with Joshua Gordon. We’re cooking up some ideas to help you with your business and ideas and we’re doing it for free. Read on…

We hit brick walls in business.

You know the feeling of spinning your wheels, of working hard and going nowhere. Perhaps you’ve been stopped in your tracks, halted by an unexpected challenge. In those situations, you (at best) feel winded, and have lost momentum. At worst, you’re knocked out of commission while you nurse a bloody nose.

There’s a simple way to get past those brick walls, you know. It’s an ancient secret, one you just might have heard about before. You ready?

Find help.

Seriously, it’s mission critical.

Getting the right help at the right time enables you to grow far more quickly than if you ploughed on alone. The right help at the right time reminds you you’re not an island. The right help at the right time injects a shot of enthusiasm into your business. The right help at the right time will always reveal the ‘Unseen Best’ – that elusive win-win-win solution.

The right help is from someone you trust.

That someone has built a track record of providing solutions, insights, and creativity. That someone listens carefully and pinpoints the real issue.

The right time is when you’re at a stand still.

Perhaps you’ve plateaued. Perhaps you’re facing a challenge that you can’t seem to get past. Perhaps you’re to starting a new endeavour. If you’re not moving, but you’re willing to do anything to start gaining ground again, then bingo.

You’re ready.

What to do: in the comments section of this post, leave a description of your business. Be sure to include a brief overview of where you are right now, and what you want to achieve.

Why: An upcoming Coach Radio show is going to be a special one. Josh and I are going to test-run an idea generation/problem solving experiment – live. We’ll select a few of the comments, put together a cohesive strategy for each of them, and go over them on the show.

Go on! Leave your comment already! What are you waiting for?

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I’m cheap. My wife will be the first to tell you that. I don’t like to spend money, but I do spend money when it matters, and I’m very quick to do so.

I especially spend money on the parts of my life that make me more productive, profitable, safe (especially outdoors), and comfortable (not a material comfortable; more like keeping me happier in bad mountain weather).

Would you spend $800 on an office chair? Why would you when you can get one at Office Max for $80?

While I didn’t pay full price for this chair, I did spend four times more than I’ve ever spent on an office chair. It’s where I sit many days to provide an income for my family. I want to be comfortable and in a good mood when I’m there. The chair is many years old now and still in new condition, just as comfortable as it was the day I bought it.

I just bought a $50 avalanche probe. I hope I never need it, but I didn’t think twice about spending the money.

When you have the opportunity to become more productive in your business, more efficient in your life, and safer in a potentially dangerous activity, buy yourself things that will help. You’ll have a better, safer, more productive, and more profitable day.

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photo by mcarpentier

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Show Topics:

• Stop spamming people in forums
• Automating social media
• It’s not about the skills but in how you market them
• Speakers get paid to market their business

I mentioned how I make money as a blogger.

Getting your message across by spamming is not the way to go. I’ve seen a lot of this as I’ve sat on the advisory board of 48days. I talk about it in this show and what to do instead.

Keith: Thank you for answering my question last week. My blog is released every Sunday. Once I do that, I would post a link to it on my Facebook business page which would automatically post it on Twitter & LinkedIn. Should I stop all of that and start some kind of newsletter so that the people who like to read it can still get it and all the others who don’t want it, won’t? Thanks again! I love the show & listen to it all the time. It has helped me out a LOT!

I’ve seen a lot of people asking the viability of certain skills like graphic or website design lately. It’s not about the particular skills but rather, in how you market them.

Growing your business through speaking. It’s something I’ve used a lot over the years and continue to do so. When you get paid to speak, you’re being paid to market your business in a sense.

###

I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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A permalink is a permanent URL of each blog post. By default, WordPress (and many other platforms) assign a number to each post. For instance: http://yoursite.com/?p=174. That means nothing to google.

To change it in WordPress and appeal more to the search engines, head to settings and click on permalinks.

I prefer a custom permalink structure. Instead of a random number, this custom structure gives the URL this: http://yoursite.com/title.

Choose custom structure and type /%postname% to change your settings. You’ll make more sense to people and google.

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A search for best ski resorts provides me with 4.1 million results. The stats tell us that 90% of the clicks for a search go to the top result on the page. Yes, it clearly pays to be number one.

The same is true for ideas floating in your mind. We all have great ideas, no doubt about it.

Just like a search result however, 90% of our time is devoted the idea at the top. I hope it’s a great idea.

Is your top idea worth 90% of your brainpower?

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Every weekday, and some weekends too, I have a goal to create two blog posts. The best way to become a better blogger is to continually create. I’ve been doing this for some time, so as you can imagine, I have quite a reservoir of posts scheduled.

Some of the posts are eventually thrown away, while others are pushed ahead for immediate release. I look to see what will run the next day and ask myself, “Is this the best post I can run tomorrow?” It sure beats sitting at the computer an hour before a post is due and cranking out something just because I have to.

If you want to be a better writer, schedule it into your day and create more than you’ll use. Do the same with audio and video if that’s what you want to produce. Give it a few months, and you’ll be better than most of your peers.

How to you create blog posts?

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Pinterest is a neat tool, not only for marketing your business (more on that soon) but also for keep track of business inspiration. Here’s how I’m using it to design packaging for a startup I’m working with.

More tutorials

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Show Topics:

• Do things outside your business for inspiration
• How to use google+ without pushing your stuff
• How to print your own workbooks
• The ideal length of a blogpost

It’s important to do things outside the realm of your business, whether you’re just starting or have been doing it a while. I spent three days learning about avalanches and ski touring the backcountry of northern Colorado. I came back with a list of ideas and blog posts.

Jessica: I listen to Coach Radio in the car to and from my full-time job as I aspire to start my own business. I loved hearing you use Evernote to write down blog ideas, as I use a similar app (Note Everything) to record, type, or draw ideas when necessary.

I haven’t touched my blog in a year, but I’m in the wee young days of starting an online business. Your podcasts have proved to be motivating and informative. Thank you for that!

Keith: I want to use Google+ more. I thought it would be a good idea to post links to past blogs fairly often until I’m caught up to date. I feel like by doing that, I might be ramming my blog down people’s throats. What do you think?

Mike: Hi Justin. I need to get some stuff printed for a class participant workbook. I would need something similar to your Past Due binders. So, I would actually need the binders, the cover printed in color, the spine printed in color, and the content for the middle printed in black and white. Do you have a suggestion on who to use? Thanks!

Resources I mentioned:

• Minuteman Press
• UPS Store
• Alpha Graphics
• Search for local printers
• Price shop for online printers
• Search around online for binders

###

I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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Steve Jobs didn’t wait long to start a new company after being fired from Apple in the 1980s. Steve was a very opinionated guy and decided to hire Paul Rand to design the logo for NeXT, a computer design company. For this, Paul charged a $100,000 flat fee.

Even more astonishing was when Steve asked for a number of options to consider. Paul replied to Steve and told him he did not create options for clients. At 71 years old, Paul had designed high end logos for some of the world best known businesses. “I will solve your problem and you will pay me. You can use what I produce, or not, but I will not do options, and either way you will pay me.”

Do you believe in your brand enough to spend the money it takes to represent it well? 

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Show Topics:

• Growing a company from $300k to $2.5 million
• Launching from a basement with no team
• When to bring investors onto your team

Zak Normandin started an organic baby food company a few years back and grew to $300,000 in revenue in 2011. Little Duck Organics is now on track for $2,500,000 in sales for 2012.

In 2009, Zak started with an idea and launched the business in 2010. He pursued funding and received an investment in June, 2011. shortly after he hired an amazing team to take the company to where it is now.

Zak’s background is in the Coast Guard. When he got out, he worked for an avionics company while also honing his design skills. He started a design consulting firm which lead him to design food packaging.

Little Duck Organics is sold in 3,000 stores nation wide. They have a personal relationship with every farmer that supplies them.

You’ll be amazed to hear how Zak and his team have grown Little Duck Organics so quickly in a short amount of time.

Connect with Zak Normandin on twitter and facebook.

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I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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Great businesses all have one thing in common. Somewhere, behind the scenes, lies a person who loves what he does so much, that he’d give it away for free if he could. But great businesses also make money.

Many coaches have a love for helping people. So much so that they end up giving away their services and they’re never able to make it a full time business.

Look at the your local ice cream shack, line wrapping around the corner. The owner might be your neighbor, but I bet you don’t get free ice cream whenever you want. I’m sure he helps people when he can, but if he’s not making money, he can’t help for long. Failing businesses aren’t in a position to help people.

Are you giving away your ice cream?

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photo by roboppy

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People around the country are showing their love for Coach Radio. This video was sent in from Kent Julian, on a speaking engagement in Louisville, KY. Join Need a Topic to learn how to make money from your blog, and I’ll send you your very own Coach Radio shirt.

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At Need a Topic you’ll get topics, tips, & techniques each week to help you stand out from the crowd and make money from your blog. I cover writing, audio, and video to help you become profitable. Try the 7 day free trial and get a free t-shirt.

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Show Topics:

• Create a viral video
• The best conferences
• Finding blogging traction
• Keeping your spouse on board
• Backup business plan

Last week I had the pleasure of launching a video for, Story Company, a startup I’ve been working with for the past few months. While it didn’t get millions of views in the first few hours, it did spread rapidly to many people I’ve not met or even heard of.

The amazing thing was that we launched the video at 11pm ET, when few people are online.

The best conferences to attend:

• Storyline - The catalyst for my family’s move to Colorado
• Speak it Forward – I’ve had the pleasure to speak at many of Kent’s Boot Camps for speakers and I always leave with great info (affiliate link)
• SXSW - I haven’t been, but if you can’t find something cool here, you shouldn’t go to conferences

What are your favorite events? Leave a comment below.

Sam: I’ve been blogging for six weeks but haven’t been able to find traction yet. I’m not getting much traffic, comments, or subscribers. What am I doing wrong?

Don’t write off blogging and connecting with people until you’ve been hard at it (almost a full time job) for at least six months. Create great content. If you need good blog ideas, join Need a Topic.

Don’t just write to write, instead, create remarkable content that people want to share. We spent about 25 hours creating the Story Company video. That could be one blog post. I prefer fewer quality posts than more average posts.

Share your posts socially, but before you spam people, build relationships on those networks. Comment on author’s posts if you want them to do the same and share your stuff. Be careful with asking people to share your content, but do be sure you are asking every so often.

Ted: My wife was on board with my business ideas 12 months ago, but I’m not getting as much support any more. Any ideas to keep her engaged and supporting me?

One word, Ted: results. You need to show her results or she has little reason to buy into your plans an support you, especially if you’ve been after it for 12 months or more. Also, help her dream. Show her what your future looks like with your business doing well.

Brenda: Justin, what was your backup plan when you started your business? What were you going to do if it failed?

I had no plan B, Brenda. My only choice was to make my business work, which may have lent to the results.

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I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

Subscribe to Coach Radio:

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Marketers are focused on change and there’s no faster way to elicit change in a person than through emotion.

Fear, excitement, anger, rage, happiness; they all move people towards action. If you want your community to do something, bring out their emotion.

Here’s a video that Story Company, a new startup and my client, just published. I dare you not to be enraged and then excited to be able to help after watching it.

Visit the Story Company site to get your unique link. When you tell your friends and they visit, I’ll mail you a gift.

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My brother recently started a blog to share an adventure. He and his girlfriend packed up everything and now they’re driving from Colorado to Alaska to ski in the backcountry. They’re having fun with friends and skiing along the way, while doing things most people would never dream of.

As is the tendency with new bloggers, it’s easy to think no one is reading. If you’re interesting, and even remarkable, I guarantee people are reading. Most stats show less than 5% of readers ever leave comments, so if you’re not getting many, don’t give up.

Continue creating for those who are writing back. Make them fall in love with you.

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I’m changing a few things in my schedule for 2012. As I do every so often, I’ve taken a look at where I’m spending my time and asked myself whether or not it’s productive.

A few weeks ago I announced that I’m reducing the schedule of Your Story interviews. In the comments I received (hopefully sarcastically) a comment that I should consider working more hours every day.

My friend, Steve Smith, pointed out the Japanese word for busyness. It’s comprised of two characters which mean heart and annihilation.

When I see comments saying I should work more, I wonder how many people pride themselves on busyness. They’re proud that they get more done than other people, but at what cost?

Andy Stanley argues that if you’re busy, you’re cheating on something. What’s going to give? Your work? Your family?

I hope I always put family in that top spot. You?

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Are you crazy enough to change the world?

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Show Topics:

• My current blogging creation strategy
• How to run and stream a live podcast
• Should you add a compressor to your podcasting setup?
• Grassroots marketing for a startup

I started the show with an updated on my blog creation strategy. Ultimately I’d like to create 1.5 – 2 months of written posts and have them queued to publish. I use an editorial calendar to graphically see what’s running, so the day before a post will run, I’ll review it and ask myself if it’s the best piece I could release that day.

You’ll run bad posts if you try to write every day, under a deadline. Don’t do it.

Kyle: Hey, Justin thanks for answering my previous question about sound mixers. The option you gave me looks like it would work and I don’t use a compressor/limiter/gate. My question is what cables do I need to do a mix/minus for Skype to be able to play audio to my guests on the show while recording what they are saying and to stream the show live. I have a USB mic but don’t think it would work because you can’t plug it into the mixer. Do I need an XLR microphone? My overall goal is to have the ability to mix it all into one stream to play anything I need to over Ustream.

Yes, you’ll need an XLR mic to run everything live without post editing, Kyle. It’s more money, but you’ll save a lot of time and headache on the backend trying to pull everything together.

Phillip: Loved your video and tour of your studio. Looks Great. I have a question on mixers. I see you use the Mackie 1202-VLZ3. I also came across the Mackie ProFx12 which has an option for USB. I think I might not need a compressor cause it might be built in, but not 100% sure. I am limited in funds and space. What do you think?

You certainly don’t need a compressor, Phillip, so get started with your current setup. Most of your listeners won’t be able to tell the difference.

I also spent some time giving an update on a marketing campaign for Story Company. We began mailing gifts to people who refer their friends to a landing page we easily created. We used Kickoff Labs to create the site and collect the signups.

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I’ll help you turn your ideas into a business that changes the world (and your bank account). Here’s how.

Download the show | Leave a review on iTunes | Submit a question or call (919) 355-8275.

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In the War of Art, Steven Pressfiield says, “The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”

My only question today…

Are you scared?

I’m scared too. Join me at the Free Agent Academy and we’ll work it together.

photo by Paolo Margari

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Continuing on yesterday’s discussion about your thing, here’s a question that will help verify whether you’re on the right track or not.

When you figure out what you should be doing with your life, one of the best questions you can ask is, if you were the last person on earth, would you still be doing it? Ask that about everything you’re doing. TV, outdoor adventures, music writing, creating art.

Would you do it? If not, maybe it’s time to quit and find another job/hobby.

If you struggle with this, join me at the Free Agent Academy. You’ll join a small, growing, intense group of people who are figuring this out, and doing something about it. Life’s too short not to.

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Passion can’t be turned off. Many people are trying to find it so they can turn it on. True passion (excitement, thrill, calling) is already there and can’t be turned off.

If you’re putting all kinds of thought into it and struggling…stop. It’s there, right beneath your nose. It’s begging to come out every hour of the day and it keeps you awake at night.

What’s your passion? Art? Music? Outdoors? Growing ideas? Building things? Technology?

It’s there. Just waiting. Are you listening?

If you struggle with this, join me at the Free Agent Academy. You’ll join a small, growing, intense group of people who are figuring this out, and doing something about it. Life’s too short not to.

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I love studying magazine article headlines and woman’s magazines are usually the best.

How in the world do you measure prettiness and then how do you increase it exactly 98%? Who knows, and who cares. This cover headline sold a ton of magazines.

It doesn’t always matter if it makes sense or not. What matters is whether or not it drives readers to action. Purchasing a magazine, looking for this article inside, whatever it is, taking action is what the publisher is looking for.

Take a clue from the magazine world. Sexier headlines get readers to your content.

Blog to grow your business
At Need a Topic you’ll get topics, tips, & techniques three times a week to help you stand out from the crowd and actually make money from your time blogging. I cover writing, audio, and video to help you become profitable. Try the 7 day free trial and get a free shirt in the mail.

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