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    Business

    Just The Tips, with James P. Friel and Dean Holland

    Just The Tips is a business talk show for entrepreneurs and business owners who are tired of listening to the same old stodgy content. Interviewing (and sometimes roasting) top entrepreneurs from around the world, each episode is fun, witty and informative. It’s a must listen for anyone wanting to transform their marketing, sales and business while having a laugh instead of falling asleep. We, not so humbly, believe it’s the best business and marketing podcast in the world.

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    Latest Episodes:
    Finding The Right Business Partner with Damian Lanfranchi, Ep 204 Jul 15, 2021

    Something magical happens when you get the right business partner. Plus getting it right can add a lot of zeros to your bank account and eliminate a ton of stress.

    But getting that RIGHT person is not as easy as it sounds, because this topic isn’t discussed enough.

    This week’s guest, Damian Lanfranchi, is Todd Brown’s business partner, and they’ve been business partners for over seven years. Tune in to hear what makes their partnership successful and profitable as well as long-standing; and how to find the right business partner for you.

    Outline of This Episode
    • 4:29 The first try (and why it didn’t work)
    • 11:14 The glue that holds it all together
    • 18:58 How to tell whether you should have a business partner
    • 26:15 The visionary and the integrator
    • 31:14 Who’s who in the partnership?
    • 46:47 Successful implementation
    • 51:57 Don’t get “married” on day one
    What holds it all together?

    This might sound a little fluffy, but according to Damian, a business partnership cannot succeed without trust. Nobody’s perfect, and you may not always agree with your partner, but you’ve got to be able to trust them to do right by you and have your back. Damian and Todd have bumped heads during their partnership, but there was never any doubt they had each other’s backs.

    Don’t fill the same roles as your partner

    One top cause of conflicts between business partners is both of them trying to fulfill the same roles. It’s super awkward and inefficient, and leads straight to conflict. Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of each partner eliminates a lot of head butting; and of one partner feeling like they’re doing all the work. Tune in for an example of how this aspect of a successful business partnership works in Damian and Todd’s case.

    When NOT to bring on a partner

    Sometimes people bring on a business partner because they don’t want to do it alone. “It’s more fun to get lost in the woods with a buddy than to get lost in the woods with yourself,” as Damian says on the episode. But basing your business partnership on insecurity or loneliness isn’t a healthy reason to work with a business partner. Tune in to hear more on this, plus other bad reasons to team up with a business partner.

    Be strategic, not desperate

    When Damian and Todd teamed up for their second crack at a business partnership--the one that succeeded--it was strategic. Both were running their own businesses, and found they each had a need for the other person’s gifts. The partnership was strategic, not desperate, and definitely not based on insecurity or loneliness. A business partnership that doesn’t make sense, strategically, is unlikely to go well.

    Who’s the visionary and who’s the integrator?

    Damian can function as both visionary and integrator. But since Todd is pure visionary, Damian serves as the integrator in their partnership. Todd sends him ideas, Damian helps bring them to life. The most successful partnerships operate like this, because it’s unlikely two pure visionaries (unless they have identical visions) or two pure integrators will do well in a partnership together. In the case of two visionaries, what if one wants to sell marketing funnels and the other wants to sell sweaters to cats? The company’s unlikely to get far in that situation. If you want a business partner, look at partnering with someone who’s your opposite in this area.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • ToddBrown.me
    • https://www.instagram.com/toddbrown/
    • https://www.facebook.com/ToddBrownMarketing/
    • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlIIwel956xVecFuBC80BA
    • The Marketer’s Mind Podcast

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Signs You’re Ready To Scale, Ep 203 Jun 24, 2021

    “How do I scale my business?” is a question on many entrepreneurs’ minds, but there’s a lot more to scaling your business than most entrepreneurs realize.

    It’s not just about whether your business is growing and successful. It’s also about whether your business has all the pieces in place to scale without collapsing.

    In this episode, James and Dean share some telltale signs your business is ready to scale. They also reveal how to avoid the many potential pitfalls of trying to scale before you’re ready, and what being “ready” to scale actually means. (It’s not what most people think.)

    Outline of This Episode
    • 6:30 What does it actually mean to scale?
    • 10:15 Growth and scaling are not the same thing
    • 16:25 You’ve got a winner - what’s next?
    • 21:01 Find out what breaks
    • 25:02 Get your ducks in a row FIRST
    • 30:55 Scaling for the first time in a new business or industry
    • 33:59 The most dangerous traffic source
    Growing is not the same as scaling

    The word growing is often used interchangeably with scaling, but they aren’t the same thing. Growth is about getting traction in your business, creating predictable results from your sales, marketing, delivery, operations, and finances, and creating the infrastructure your business needs to be able to scale. Scaling is about adding more volume to what’s already there. Some overlap is expected, but don’t make the mistake of confusing growth with scaling.

    Success doesn’t mean you’re ready to scale

    Another mistake many entrepreneurs make is thinking that because their business is successful, it’s ready to scale, but there’s a lot more to being ready to scale than being successful. Scaling even a successful business without the right infrastructure in place is like putting up the walls of a house with no foundation under them. It’s only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. Tune into the episode to hear how to identify which areas of your business still need that infrastructure before you’re ready to scale.

    Find the breaking points

    Odds are excellent that if you tried to scale right now, some parts of your business would “break” because they’re not structured in a way that supports scaling. Before you try to scale, identify the breaking points, and a way to fix them. For example, if you’re getting 100 orders a day now, and want to scale to 500 orders a day, could you keep up with inventory and delivery, or would something break? If you’re a service-based business, do you have enough support and systems in place to serve all the people who want to work with you? These are the questions that have to be addressed BEFORE you try to scale.

    Beware scaling with one traffic source

    In light of the war between Apple and Facebook over who gets access to what data, along with other changes Facebook has made, business owners who depend on Facebook ads as their only source of traffic are experiencing rising ad costs and lower profit margins. The Google “slap” from years ago also illustrates the danger of depending on one traffic source. As you look to scale your business, make sure your plan includes additional sources of traffic.

    Simplicity equals scalability

    The simpler you structure every facet of your business, the easier it will be to scale. Look for ways you can make things simpler instead of more complicated. What that looks like for your business depends entirely on what you do and where you’re at. It could be you need more software, or it could mean you need LESS software. It could mean you need another team member, or it could mean you have too many because you’ve overcomplicated the way your business is set up. Look for ways you can simplify.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    The Hustle Detox, Ep 202 Jun 17, 2021

    Freedom, time, and the ability to make more money are the top three reasons most entrepreneurs will give as their reasons for becoming entrepreneurs.

    So how is it that so many entrepreneurs find themselves stuck in the hustle and grind, with LESS time and freedom than they want, instead of more?

    That’s exactly what James and Dean are diving into in this week’s episode.

    Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or already have a team, tune into this week’s episode to hear how to detox from the hustle by turning your business into an asset that works for you (instead of the other way around).

    Outline of This Episode
    • 2:54 Do you HAVE to “kill yourself” to grow your business?
    • 6:06 Busy is not the same as productive
    • 11:32 Unintended consequences of success
    • 19:31 Where to focus to get results
    • 23:59 Take action on the right things
    • 28:40 The efficiency trap
    • 35:47 Spread super thin
    You’re not doing it right

    A false perception has taken hold of the entrepreneurial space--that you HAVE to hustle and grind 24/7, lose sleep, alienate your loved ones, and destroy your health. If you’re not doing all those things, you’re not “doing it right” and you don’t want success badly enough. It’s true that hustling has a place, especially when you’re in a growth phase, but not how your business has to always and forever operate in order for you to become and stay successful.

    Think like a CEO, not like an employee

    Many entrepreneurs, without realizing it, think like an employee instead of like a CEO. It’s a huge part of why they end up shackled to their business, instead of their business becoming a vehicle to freedom, time, and unlimited income potential. Growing and scaling your business without 24/7 hustling and grinding requires making intelligent decisions at a high level, and that comes from thinking like an effective CEO.

    Productivity vs. activity

    A lot of people mislabel activity as productivity. Activity is “being busy,” which may or may not grow your business. Productivity is focusing on what will move your business forward NOW. If you’re active without being productive, you end up stuck in the grind with nothing to show for it. Make sure what you’re working on is the next best step to help your business grow.

    Focus, then execute

    Step one is to identify where your focus needs to be right NOW. Where that is depends on your business and how far into it you are. Once you’ve identified where to focus, step two is to execute...but not just on any old thing. It has to be focused. Mediocre execution focused on the right thing is always better than perfect action focused on the wrong thing. When things that are proven to work don’t work, always assume it’s because there’s a flaw in your execution. Then work on finding and removing that flaw.

    Are you efficiently doing the wrong things?

    Efficiency is not about doing more, better. It’s about doing the right things better. A mistake a lot of people make when trying to systematize their business is efficiently doing things that don’t need to be done at all. The quickest path to a more efficient business is to remove tasks that don’t need to be there.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Master the Art of Persuasion with Kenrick Cleveland, Ep 201 Jun 10, 2021

    Most people think of persuasion as selling a product or service. That’s one use for persuasion, but there’s so many more. If you’re a parent, you’re persuading your kids to take a bath and eat their vegetables. If you and a group of friends are deciding where to go to dinner, you may want to persuade them to choose your favorite restaurant.

    Plus law enforcement officers need to persuade people out of hurting themselves or other people. Doctors may need to persuade a patient to participate in a scary but life-saving surgery. The art of persuasion is not limited to selling something in your business.

    In this episode, persuasion master Kenrick Cleveland joins James and Dean to reveal his secrets to persuading people in a way that feels good to them--and to you--instead of resorting to outdated tactics like problem-agitate-solution and grinding away at pain points.

    Kenrick is known worldwide for his charismatic teachings in sales, including what’s known as conversational persuasion. If you want to get to Yes more often in your communications with other people--including your customers and clients--tune in to hear how to master the art of persuasion.

    Outline of This Episode
    • 4:20 How to use persuasion for good
    • 8:01 Why problem-agitate-solution is garbage
    • 14:23 You don’t have to grind people’s pain points
    • 18:24 What to do instead of “bring the pain”
    • 25:17 Leverage without negativity
    • 30:32 Help them realize it for themselves
    • 38:09 How to inspire people to buy in a way they feel good about
    Persuasion Is Not Evil, It’s Misused

    Like any tool, persuasion can be used for good or evil. Fire in the hands of an arsonist is dangerous, but to someone dying of hypothermia, fire is life-saving. A scalpel in the wrong hands can hurt people, but in the hands of a surgeon bypassing a clogged artery, it may allow you or a loved one to live for several more years. Use persuasion for good, and you can help a lot of people who might otherwise continue to suffer.

    Sooner Or Later, Pain Points Backfire

    In Kenrick’s extensive work with a neuroscientist, he discovered that when you get people into a negative, depressed state, their ability to see solutions shuts down. If someone’s not in a state to see or believe a solution exists, they’re not going to buy. Even if someone does buy while they’re in pain, they’re only motivated long enough to get away from pain. When avoiding that pain is no longer motivating, you’ll have to hit them with more to get them to stay. Eventually they’ll tire of being around someone who’s constantly reminding them of pain and suffering, and cut you (and your solutions) loose. Any way you slice it, grinding away at pain points will cost you the sale - either up front or in the long run.

    Ask The Right Questions

    Asking questions is a powerful way to persuade, but only if it’s done the way Kenrick teaches. A lot of salespeople ask irrelevant or obnoxious questions that make them seem disconnected, pushy, or both. For multiple examples of how to ask the right questions at the right time, in a way that leads to YES, tune into this episode. (Do this part right, and in most cases you won’t even need to close the sale, because your prospect is already persuaded.)

    Ditch The Scripts

    One of the worst examples of persuasion you’ll ever encounter is someone reading off a cookie cutter script. Companies often hand their employees a “sales script” and instruct them to follow it. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a sales call where someone’s reading from a script, you know how cringe-worthy it is. You don’t feel heard or understood, and you definitely aren’t inspired to buy. Ditch the sales scripts and instead do when Kenrick talks about in this episode.

    From Nice Guy To Creep

    One of the worst things you can do in persuasion is get needy and desperate. In this episode Kenrick shares a classic example of a guy trying to ask a girl out. The girl says no, she’s busy. The guy pushes, saying he’d really like to hang out with her, and she says she’s seeing somebody. The girl doesn’t want to go out and she’s trying to be nice in telling the guy no, while wondering what it’ll take for him to get the hint. In her mind, he’s gone from nice guy to creep pretty quickly. Many entrepreneurs resort to that same kind of behavior with their customers and call it persuasion, but it’s not. Tune into the episode to hear what to do instead of beg, plead, or push for the sale.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Kenrick Cleveland’s website: https://www.kenrickcleveland.com/
    • Kenrick Cleveland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenrick-cleveland-b243b423
    • Kenrick Cleveland on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamKenrickCleveland/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Our 200th Anniversary - Biggest Tips & Lessons Learned, Ep 200 Jun 03, 2021

    Four years and 200 episodes later, Just The Tips has moved from “arguably” the best business podcast in the entire world to THE best business podcast in the entire world (at least, according to its “humble” co-hosts).

    Seriously, Just The Tips was born after James P. Friel and Dean Holland met in the same mastermind and decided to host a podcast together. Both agreed that building a business could be fun AND profitable, and decided to bring that same mentality to a podcast.

    Tune into this 200th anniversary episode for the guys’ favorite tips, lessons, and insights from the past 200 episodes (along with plenty of jokes at each other’s expense...because it wouldn’t be a Just The Tips episode without them!).

    Outline of This Episode
    • 7:20 Why James and Dean created Just The Tips
    • 11:06 The difference between marketing and selling
    • 15:16 The $300,000 decision
    • 21:49 When thinking things through backfires (and what to do instead)
    • 25:27 How to make your social media ads more effective
    • 35:47 Why network marketing has such a bad rap
    • 38:10 Always this before you start a business
    Business Can Be Fun

    Somewhere along the line it was decided business had to be “serious.” A lot of misery and burnout have resulted from business owners being afraid or unable to enjoy the business they’ve created. All this was a factor in why James and Dean created Just The Tips. They wanted to show their fellow entrepreneurs and business owners that business can be profitable AND fun.

    Stop Mistreating Your Audience

    One of the guys’ favorite insights in 200 episodes came from direct response marketing master Brian Kurtz. Before email and the Internet, businesses had to mail their leads, and that cost a lot of money. For that reason, the most successful businesses put a lot of thought into every single piece of communication they sent out. To do otherwise was to lose six figures, easily. In today’s world, you can post on a social platform and send an email for a fraction of that. As a result, a lot of business owners take their leads for granted, and easily forget they’re talking to real people. Just because communication is on the Internet doesn’t mean you’ve stopped talking to human beings.

    Just Do The Thing

    One of James and Dean’s favorite mindset tips came from a guest who exploded his online presence over the last few years. There’s value in thinking things through, but thinking about things can also backfire. If there’s something you know you’ve got to do in your life, don’t think about it. Instead, just do it. Whether it’s pushups, making a sales call, writing and sending that email, just do it.

    It’s A Scrolling Platform

    Every social media platform is designed for a specific user experience. YouTube, for example, wants people to stay and watch. Facebook, on the other hand, wants people to stay and scroll. The mistake a lot of business owners make is taking a piece of content that does well on one platform and repurposing it to another, without taking that platform’s unique user experience into consideration. To get the most bang for your content buck on any given platform, take the platform’s specific user experience into account.

    Network Marketing’s Bad Rap

    There are people making millions of dollars in network marketing, and there are people going about it all wrong and giving network marketing a bad rap. Several networking marketing companies encourage them to do so! It’s a shame, because networking marketing can not only be insanely profitable, it can help you develop foundational business and relationship skills...IF you learn it from the right people doing it the right way. Tune into the episode to learn about network marketing from a guest who does it the right way.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    How to Scale Your Company Fast, with Brandon & Kaelin Poulin (Replay), Ep 199 May 27, 2021

    This episode was SO good, we’re re-airing it for you this week! If you’re ready to scale your company fast, tune in to hear how Brandon and Kaelin Poulin took LadyBoss Weight Loss from a startup to a company with 350,000 customers in just a few short years.

    Don’t miss this in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to grow and scale a successful company like LadyBoss, which helps women lose weight, transform their health, and love themselves and was named number 4 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States in 2019, in a few years instead of a few decades.

    The strategies, the mindsets, the vision, the customer relationships--you’ll hear it all.

    Everything you do starts with you

    Brandon and Kaelin started in network marketing separately, before they ever met, and both found their way into weight loss, health, and fitness. Network marketing taught them how important developing and maintaining relationships are to success. It taught them how to listen and find out what people really want. It also taught them how to face rejection, over and over and over. Finally, it taught them about personal development, something they now know is critical to both their early success and their ongoing success. Everything you do starts with you, and if you’re tripping over the same issues within yourself, it’ll trip up everything you try to do.

    Dig in and do it

    When Brandon and Kaelin were ready to start their own company, it wasn’t the ideal time to pull away from the company they’d been with for five years. They were two months behind on rent, on their car payment - basically everything - and in danger of sinking even further into a financial black hole. With their backs against the wall, they locked themselves away from the outside world for two straight months, and worked around the clock to launch their company. It didn’t take stars aligning, or a fairy godmother waving a magic wand. All it took was the commitment to dig in and do it.

    How to get off the shiny penny highway

    With no shortage of tools, training, and strategies available in the world, Brandon and Kaelin often found themselves cruising along the shiny penny highway. Look, another awesome software we need! Look, another “new” marketing strategy we have to try! There was always something new to try. To avoid getting stuck on the shiny penny highway, Brandon and Kaelin developed a litmus test to help them decide whether “the next thing” was worth their time and energy: Was it what their customers and their company needed at that exact time? If not, they steered clear, because it was a distraction, not a step on the path to fulfilling their vision. Saying no to what didn’t align with their vision also allowed them to simplify, while simultaneously (and quickly) growing their company and better serving their customers.

    Don’t neglect the customer relationships

    A lot of companies fall into the trap of being cool and aloof with their customers. Brandon and Kaelin’s experience in network marketing helps them see it differently. They know, from years of experience, how crucial the customer relationship is to their success, so rather than shut their customers out, they encourage communication with their customers. Without customers, you don’t have a business. Don’t neglect them.

    A must-have mindset for all business owners

    Once your success reaches a certain level, it’s all other people see. But Brandon and Kaelin have been kicked in the teeth, made mistakes, and have had to get very resourceful to make it where they are. And it’s likely to continue to be that way, because that’s just the nature of business. Brandon and Kaelin are successful not because they haven’t faced challenges, but because they know they have the power, always, to overcome any challenge. Believing and accepting that no matter what comes your way, you have the power to deal with it and find another way forward, is a must-have mindset for all business owners.

    Outline of This Episode

    • 05:29 Backs against the wall
    • 12:40 Trial by fire
    • 20:56 Why the shiny penny highway goes nowhere
    • 29:36 Never forget exactly who you’re serving
    • 34:01 Are you doing this to your customers?
    • 38:48 The secret to becoming and staying a team
    • 46:15 How to handle it when the hits keep coming
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • LadyBoss Weight Loss: https://ladyboss.com/
    • https://www.instagram.com/ladyboss/
    • https://www.facebook.com/LadyBossKaelin
    • https://www.youtube.com/c/LadyBossWeightLoss

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How To Sell Your Business For A Huge Profit with (Michelle Seiler Tucker), Ep 198 May 20, 2021

    Since the pandemic, a lot has flip-flopped including the fail rate of startup businesses vs. established businesses. Startup businesses went from having a 95% fail rate in the first five years to just 30% in the first five years. Businesses with a decade or more under their belt, on the other hand, are at a staggering 70% fail rate.

    To help business owners build a scalable and sellable business they love, and avoid becoming the next statistic, James and Dean welcome Michelle Seiler Tucker, a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and co-author of Exit Rich, as this week’s guest.

    With small businesses making up 80% of the American economy (which heavily influences the world’s economy), Michelle is on a mission to save as many American companies as she can, by teaching them how to become sellable.

    She’s personally sold over 500 businesses and her company has sold over 1,000! For more than 20 years, Michelle’s been in the trenches helping create a business that works for them, rather than the other way around. She’s helped thousands exit rich!

    Tune in to hear exactly how to make your business sellable, including why a sellable business is your best bet even if you have zero intention of selling it.

    Outline of This Episode
    • 4:01 Why established businesses are in more danger than startups
    • 9:33 The #1 reason 70% of established businesses are failing
    • 14:44 The most dangerous number of buyers
    • 23:51 This determines whether a business is sellable
    • 28:02 Where most companies go wrong with processes
    • 33:00 Branding for a sellable business
    • 43:21 Lack of profits is never the problem
    Premium Pricing For A Business That’s Not Premium?

    The number one reason most businesses don’t sell, according to Michelle, is probably not what you think: Denial! Business owners tell themselves, “It’s too much for me to do.” Then they burn out, or a catastrophic event hits (which is the worst time to try and sell), and they desperately need a premium price for their business. Yet they haven’t built their business to where buyers want to pay them a premium price. Businesses where the business is 1000% dependent on the business owner are a prime example of this. If you pull yourself out of your business, can it operate 100% independently? If not, you’re going to face buyer resistance to premium pricing.

    “This Is My Baby”

    A lot of business owners see their business as “their baby” instead of as an asset. When you treat it like “your baby” instead of like an asset, you’re going to miss things that would help you ensure it’s sustainable, profitable, and sellable, including the corporate veil. Even if you have no intention of ever selling your business, there are multiple benefits to structuring it like an asset instead of “your baby.” Tune in to hear these benefits (many will surprise you).

    You Don’t Build A Business, You Build This

    If you want your business to be sellable--or to continue if you need to step away for any reason--don’t build a business. Build people, because they will build the business. Michelle shares a story of a dentist, in business for 15 years, who approached her to sell his business. He was burned out and ready to be done. But because he was so mired in the day-to-day runnings and customer interaction, Michelle explained it would take two to three years before he could leave, because he built a business instead of building people.

    Blockbuster Or Amazon?

    Is your business going the way of companies like Blockbuster Video? Or is it in its prime, like Amazon? It’s really key to understand this, because if your business is going the way of Blockbuster and many other once-hugely successful companies, you’ll have a harder time selling it. Michelle shares three questions to ask yourself to help you identify whether your business, whatever its size or industry, is a Blockbuster (on its way out) or an Amazon (in its prime).

    The Customer Experience, Not Your Agenda

    Companies with the most long-term success design their business around the customer experience, not the owner’s agenda. McDonald’s is one of the most well-known examples of designing your processes around the customer experience. When they got started, the restaurant’s founders wanted to create a restaurant where a customer could get great-tasting food that’s fast and hot in under 30 seconds. Businesses who create processes around a customer experience are sustainable and sellable. Businesses that create processes around the owner’s agenda are not.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Exit Rich book: www.ExitRichBook.com
    • Michelle Seiler Tucker: https://seilertucker.com/
    • Michelle Seiler Tucker on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelletuckerinternational/
    • Michelle Seiler Tucker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleseiler
    • The Exit Rich Podcast: https://seilertucker.com/podcast/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Best of Marketing: Vol. 1, Ep 197 May 13, 2021

    In its nearly 200-episode (and counting) run, Just The Tips has welcomed several of the top marketing minds on the planet to share their best business-building marketing tips. In this week’s episode, James and Dean have gathered the best of the best of these marketing tips from recent episodes.

    You’ll hear about everything from email marketing, to Facebook ads, to affiliate marketing, to SEO, and MUCH more. Tune in and soak up all the gold (including from James and Dean)!

    Outline of This Episode
    • 0:10 How the “email marketing is dead” myth was born
    • 8:02 When your page isn’t converting from an ad, check this first
    • 14:26 How to use your competitors’ offer to your advantage
    • 20:01 Successful brand-building for entrepreneurs
    • 25:02 Are you making this huge email marketing mistake?
    • 30:04 Getting and keeping GOOD affiliates
    • 35:31 The single biggest online writing mistake
    Why People Incorrectly Assume “Email Marketing Is Dead”

    If you’ve ever gone fishing, you know the importance of the right hook and the right bait. You could be fishing in a lake full of fish, but with the wrong bait, you’re unlikely to get a bite. If you do, and your hook doesn’t work, you lose the fish. If that happened enough, you’d decide, “Fishing doesn’t work.” These days a lot of people try to do the same thing with email marketing. Their hook is ineffective or their bait is wrong. They send offers to their list, no one bites, and they decide, “Well, email marketing is dead.” No, it’s not. It’s that too many people are fishing with bad hooks and the wrong bait.

    Make Your Page An Easy Yes

    There are many reasons why a Facebook ad might not work. One of the top ones is lack of congruency. If there’s a disconnect between your ad and the page it sends people to--for example, it looks totally different, it talks about totally different things than your ad does, or it’s just so vague people can’t tell either way--your page will not convert. The goal of a page you send people to from an ad is to make the page an easy yes. Congruency is a key component of making that happen.

    Stand Out From Competitors With This

    People in today’s world have no shortage of choices, which means in order to stand apart from your competitors’ offers, your offer needs a unique mechanism. In other words, a unique way your offer solves your customer’s problems. One of the best ways to figure out your unique mechanism is to check out what your competitors are doing. Find the unique mechanism no one else is using, and make it yours.

    Make It As Easy Possible For Affiliates To Promote You

    Affiliate marketing, when properly utilized, is a proven and powerful way to bring more people into your business, and providing your affiliates with new products to offer is a powerful way to keep them coming back. Promoting the same offer over and over, with nothing else, ever, gets tiresome--for your affiliates and for their audiences. Creating three to five new offers a year gives your affiliates interesting new things to promote. New offers are just one way you can make it as easy as possible for people to promote you. Tune into the episode to hear other ways.

    The Single Biggest Mistake People Make When Writing Online

    According to legendary ad man, David Ogilvy, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy of written content. That means, if the headline doesn’t even get their attention, they’re certainly not going to read the body copy. As far as they’re concerned, they have no reason to. Spend some time on your headlines, including on your sales pages, social posts, blog posts, and email subject lines (which are the “headline” of your email).

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Creating The Perfect Sales Pitch Part 2, Ep 196 May 06, 2021

    Back in episode 193 of Just The Tips, James and Dean covered several foundational steps you need to have in place before you create a perfect sales pitch. They included: Who are you serving? Who are the RIGHT people for your offer? Why are they the right people?

    And, of course, why selling isn’t selfish--it’s a service.

    In this week’s episode the guys up where they left off, sharing their proven process to crafting a sales pitch your ideal buyer can’t resist, including: What to say first when you get on the phone with them, how to handle the conversation (and how NOT to), and how to ensure they never see you as “just trying to sell them something.”

    If you want to get better at selling, don’t miss this episode!

    Outline of This Episode
    • 5:15 Recap of part one
    • 9:10 Managing the sales call freakout
    • 13:13 Control the frame
    • 18:50 Go into fact-finding mode
    • 26:03 Ask questions, then keep your mouth shut
    • 30:05 When to start your pitch
    • 38:01 Leave them better than they found you
    Control The Frame

    The person who leads the conversation has the power. That’s why allowing your prospect to take the lead in a sales conversation is a huge mistake that can backfire in any number of ways. For example, if your prospect gets you telling them the price before they’re sold on the value, you could lose them. Prevent this from happening by controlling the frame, and keeping control of it for the entire conversation. Tune in for tips on how to do exactly that.

    Be The Investigator

    Your goal is not necessarily to make a sale on every call, and it’s not to force your offer on your prospect. Your goal is to find out if your offer is right for this person. To do that, go into fact-finding mode. Ask questions and listen to their answers. Show this person you’re paying attention and you actually care about helping them. One of the worst sales-killer mistakes you can make is to sound like you’re not listening. Ask your prospect questions about why they’re on the call and what they hope to achieve, and listen to the answers. You’ll need them!

    Speak As Little As Possible

    A common mistake James and Dean see in people new to selling is that they talk too much. It’s understandable. You’re nervous or excited, and you really want the sale. But your prospect, meanwhile, isn’t getting a word in edgewise, and isn’t feeling heard or understood. Remember that this person came to you because they have some sort of problem, and they’re hopeful you can solve it. The more they talk about their problem, the better. Ask questions, close your mouth, and let them tell you about their problem. In the episode you’ll hear exactly what kinds of questions to ask them.

    Don’t Sell What Won’t Help Them

    Once your prospect has talked about their problems, including other things they’ve tried, you can segue into explaining how you can meet their needs, and how your offer is different from the stuff they’ve tried that didn’t work. If you’ve done your job with the listening aspect, you’ll shine in this part. If you haven’t - if you just rattle off random benefits you think are great but have nothing to do with the problems they expressed - you’ll lose them.

    Find Out What They Want

    In addition to finding out what they’re struggling with, find out what they want. Find out their definition of success. Help them get really clear on that, so that even if they don’t buy from you this time, you’ll leave them better than when they started talking to you. You’ve served them even if you don’t end up working together, which puts you in a position of trust and authority. If they don’t buy, they’re SO much more likely to circle back and buy later. Plus they won’t be trashing you to everyone they know because they felt like you didn’t listen and “were just trying to sell them something.” Leave them in a better place for having spoken with you.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Mindset - An Entrepreneur’s Source of Power, Ep 195 Apr 29, 2021

    Ever have days you can’t wait to leap out of bed, and before you know it, 12 hours have passed and you realize you didn’t even eat?

    And how about days where, no matter how many hours you sit in front of the computer, nothing positive or productive happens?

    How far up the success ladder you climb is determined by your mindset. Mindset is something everyone agrees is important, yet it has a way of tumbling down the list of priorities.

    In this week’s episode, James and Dean are diving into what mindset means, exactly why and how it makes or breaks your success, and what you can do to start shifting yours if you still aren’t where you want to be.

    Outline of This Episode
    • 5:50 How important is mindset, really?
    • 9:20 The definition of mindset
    • 14:01 Getting a different outcome than the one you have
    • 20:05 Why a fixed mindset blocks success
    • 26:30 Keep looking for the solution
    • 32:10 It’s not a lack of resources, it’s a lack of resourcefulness
    • 35:03 If you don’t have the knowledge, go get it
    The “Surprising” Secret To Success

    On a recent coaching call with clients, a client asked James about one thing that’s enabled him to acquire the success he now enjoys. The client was expecting James to share a marketing tactic, like Facebook ads or this podcast. Instead, James remarked it was his mindset, because without the right mindset, even the best marketing tactics will fail you sooner or later.

    Change The Filter

    Your mindset is how you perceive and interpret what’s happening, and what you choose to do about it. It’s a collection of beliefs that filters data from the outside world. When your actions aren’t leading to results, the problem is rarely a specific tactic. Usually it’s a belief “hiccup” in your filter that’s leading you to either AVOID the action required to reach your desired outcome, or to take an action that will pull you away from your desired outcome. To change your actions, change your beliefs.

    Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset

    Dr. Carol Dweck wrote a book about the Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset. The fixed mindset is all about refusing to do things differently, or even believe there’s another way. The growth mindset is about finding that other way. The fixed mindset blocks results, and the growth mindset creates them. If you struggle with the fixed mindset, remember this: You’ve had to evolve to get to where you are. If you’re unwilling to continue evolving, you cannot obtain or keep results you don’t already have. Doing so requires growth. If it didn’t, you’d already have the results you want.

    There’s Always A Solution

    James shares a story about a group vacation on Lake Powell, where he and his family wanted to stay an extra week, but had no plan figured out to return to civilization. They also had no cell service in most of the area. Figuring out how to stay when the people they vacationed with wanted to return was the challenge, and multiple times his attempts at a solution didn’t pan out. But James kept exploring options until he found one that made everyone happy. The other travelers got to leave, and James and his family got to stay and had a way to return when they were ready to leave. This is an example of the growth mindset in action. Instead of believing there’s no solution and giving up, keep going until you find one.

    Lack of resources or lack of resourcefulness?

    When somebody doesn’t have the result they want, it’s common to blame a lack of resources. As in, I don’t have the time, the money, the willpower, the help, the training - whatever it is. But when you’re resourceful, you’ll find a way to get the resources you need. Not having results is never a lack of resources. It’s a lack of resourcefulness. When you’re presented with a challenge, are you willing to do what it takes to solve it? Are you willing to get outside your current comfort zone, knowledge, and skills to get the resources you need but don’t have? It’s a question you’ll face over and over in your journey as an entrepreneur.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Discover Your Leadership Style with Melanie Parish, Ep 194 Apr 22, 2021

    Most entrepreneurs don’t start out thinking of themselves as leaders. Besides an entrepreneur, you might see yourself as a product creator, service provider, coach, marketers, copywriter, or any other number of titles.

    Then your business hits a point where you can’t do everything yourself, you bring on a team, and next thing you know, people are coming to you with decisions that need to be made. Suddenly, you’re a leader.

    On this week’s episode James and Dean welcome Melanie Parish, author of The Experimental Leader, to break down what makes a good leader and how to discover your leadership style. If you feel like parts of your business aren’t operating as well as they could be, tune in to hear what you, as the leader of your business can do about it (and hear the leadership mistakes to avoid that could be contributing to the problem).

    Outline of This Episode
    • 4:50 Is leadership harder for entrepreneurs?
    • 8:30 Characteristics of a good leader
    • 13:03 The Experimental Leader
    • 19:01 What it means to be neutral as a leader
    • 22:02 How do we measure success?
    • 27:13 Don’t try to fix everything yourself
    • 33:02 Hiring and firing
    What makes a good leader?

    Melanie advocates a neutral leadership style, where you don’t react to what’s happening around you. It’s not that you shouldn’t have standards for your business and team. It’s that you stay neutral so that when your team brings you decisions that need made, you’re able to take things in, ponder them, ask questions, and send it back to your team. By approaching leadership in this way, you’re helping people move tasks forward vs. being a micromanager.

    Leaders are willing to experiment

    A lot of people get so attached to their ideas they’ll insist on sticking with the bad ones for months, even years, longer than they should have. Melanie, on the other hand, sees leadership as a willingness to experiment. Any time you want change to happen in your business, you’re trying something new to see whether it works. Whether it does or not, you have data you can use to conduct the next experiment. Approaching idea implementation as experimenting protects you from clinging to the bad ones and helps you flesh out the good ones.

    Pass the buckets to your team

    Think of the tasks your team members are assigned as buckets. For example: Scheduling out an email sequence. Your role as the leader isn’t to take charge of your team’s buckets (in this example, to schedule the email sequence). It might be to approve the sequence, or perhaps write it (if that’s something you handle in your business). But not to schedule it. When your team hands you a bucket, make the decision and pass the bucket back.

    Stop fixing everything yourself

    When someone on your team is responsible for certain tasks, and they aren’t fulfilling their duties in the correct way, it’s tempting to fix it yourself (i.e. put yourself in charge of the bucket). The problem with doing that is, your team member never learns how to solve the problem themselves. Remember: As the leader of your business, your job is NOT to collect buckets. It’s to make a decision and pass the bucket back. If a team member isn’t performing, they might need more training, more feedback, or it might just be they’re the wrong person for the job. Tune into the episode to hear where to draw the line between investing in more training for your team member and recognizing they aren’t the right person for the job.

    When firing someone is a gift

    In this episode Melanie shares a story about a job she once held that didn’t work out. She was good at the job and the money was good, yet she was miserable. Leaving the job was actually a relief. Firing someone on your team is uncomfortable, but if that person is miserable, and is bringing that energy to your entire business, you’re not doing them - or your company - any favors by holding onto them. Let them go so they can find a place where they are a good fit and enjoy what they do.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • The Experimental Leader physical book: http://book.experimentalleader.com/
    • The Experiment Leader digital book: http://digitalbook.experimentalleader.com/
    • The Experimental Leader podcast: https://www.melanieparish.com/podcast/
    • Melanie Parish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieparish/?originalSubdomain=ca

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Creating The Perfect Sales Pitch, Ep 193 Apr 15, 2021

    You’re probably all too familiar with both ends of the sales spectrum. On one end are people unwilling to sell anything, because they feel slimy at the thought of selling. At the opposite end are people willing to sell you swampland in Florida if it means they can make a quick buck.

    When you have something of legitimate value to offer--something you’re proud of that makes people’s lives better in a way that matters to them--it is your ethical and moral duty to learn how to sell.

    Selling is not tricking people, or twisting their arm, until they buy a product or service they don’t need or want. True selling is a service, and in this episode, James and Dean reveal how to create the perfect sales pitch so you can get your solutions into the hands of people who need AND want them.

    Outline of This Episode
    • 3:30 Two opposite ends of the sales spectrum
    • 9:15 Do you believe in what you’re selling?
    • 12:05 First, truly understand the problems you’re solving
    • 17:10 What needs are your prospects trying to meet?
    • 29:01 Putting your message together
    • 38:07 When the close actually starts
    • 43:02 Focus on selling on the right people, not to “everybody"
    Not Selling Is Selfish

    When you offer people something that genuinely improves their lives--where they’ll be better off with your product and worse off without it--withholding your solution because you “don’t like selling” is leaving them to suffer unnecessarily. It would be like you going to a pharmacy for cold medicine because you’re sneezing, coughing, and miserable, and the pharmacy staff not allowing you to buy because they “don’t like selling.” See selling as a service and get good at it so you can help people decide to buy your solution.

    Why Are You Selling That?

    Do you believe in what you’re selling? Are you excited about it? Do you care about the people your offer helps? If not, why are you selling it? It’s not that you can’t be successful at sales with a product you don’t believe in or a demographic of people you don’t care about. But selling is a lot more fun and effective when you believe in your offer and love the people it can help. We have more problems in the world than we do solutions, so if you’re not excited about a solution, find something you are excited about.

    Know The Problem You’re Solving

    No one buys your product. They buy the transformation your product creates for them. Remember that, because it’s SO easy to get focused on “having the best product.” Step one to creating an effective sales pitch is to become intimately familiar with the problem you’re solving. An example of this in action: Dean and his wife own a cosmetics company. It’s successful now, but it struggled initially because they focused on what a great product they had. Only after getting clear on the problems their cosmetics products solved did their company take off. Without clarity on which problems your product solves, your sales pitch isn’t going to land.

    Know The People You’re Serving

    Another must for an effective sales pitch is intimate knowledge of who you’re helping, and what needs they’re trying to get met. Knowing the problem you’re solving is critical, and so is knowing which needs your product helps your prospects meet. Only by listening and getting to know your prospects will you be able to hear their needs and pitch your product or service in a way that’s relevant to them. This episode is packed with examples from James and Dean on what kinds of needs people are trying to get met.

    Sell To The Right People

    Most people start out believing that if they do anything to filter out people who aren’t the best fit, they’ll lose money. The truth is, not everyone is your customer, and working with the wrong people wastes your time and money, as well as theirs. It’s also what leads to ticked off customers and poor results that can cause you to believe your offer doesn’t work. Not only do you owe it to your customers to sell them your solution, you owe it to them to make sure they really are a good fit for it. Remember, you’re not trying to trick people into buying. You’re here to get your solution into the hands of the right people. “Everyone” is not the right people. The right people are the right people.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Overcoming Today’s Entrepreneurial Epidemic, Ep 192 Apr 08, 2021

    There’s an epidemic facing today’s entrepreneurs--one that all struggle with at some point: Shiny object syndrome. You’ve heard of it and may even be intimately familiar with it.

    Considering human beings are hard-wired to seek out the fastest, easiest way to get the best possible results, it’s not a surprise shiny object syndrome is a problem IF it’s not properly managed.

    In this episode James and Dean break down exactly what motivates shiny object syndrome, then share simple tips to ensure it doesn’t come between you and hitting your goals.

    If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve battled shiny object syndrome, and probably always will. Tune in to hear how to keep it from pulling you off course.

    Why Do We Do It?

    Every entrepreneur James and Dean know struggles with shiny object syndrome, but some manage it and some do not. Tune in to hear the differences between the entrepreneurs who master shiny object syndrome and continue growing their business, and the ones who don’t and get stuck. The differences probably aren’t what you think.

    When Shiny Object Syndrome Is Useful

    Shiny object syndrome is only a problem when it distracts you. Properly managed, it may even be an asset. For example: Brand new business owners have to explore a lot of different areas to find their product-market fit. Otherwise, they can end up married to an idea that’s never going to work. Once you find your product-market fit, however, your focus shifts. You still experiment, but with different things. You say no to things that won’t help you advance to the next level. It’s all about where you need to focus. Anything that pulls you away from where you need to focus to reach your goals is shiny object syndrome gone wrong.

    No One Wants The Hard Way

    It’s ingrained in our DNA to seek out the fastest, easiest possible path to getting what we want. This wiring is responsible for some of humanity’s greatest inventions, but like anything, it can go too far. You can easily get so distracted hunting for the easiest possible path that you never get where you’re going. Parts of your journey will feel hard. Beware the urge to flee the hard parts at all costs.

    How To Stay Out Of The Rabbit Holes

    One way to prevent shiny object syndrome from distracting you is by answering this question: What’s your goal? It sounds so simple, but when you stay focused on your goal, anything that doesn’t move you closer to that goal is a distraction. The pull of shiny object syndrome is so strong you may still get sucked down a few rabbit holes. But reminding yourself of your goal will pull you back on track.

    What’s Your Driving Force?

    One reason shiny object syndrome is so alluring is the dopamine hit you get when you start something new and exciting. That new and exciting feeling is intoxicating, but eventually it wears off. When it does, having a real, raw driving force that motivates you even after the excitement of the new has worn off is critical to staying focused. Tune in to get the guys’ tips on identifying your driving force, along with their take on the myth of how motivated you have to be in order to succeed.

    Outline of This Episode
    • There is no silver bullet [5:05]
    • When you’re just starting out [11:01]
    • The easy way or the hard way [16:10]
    • Cure #1 for shiny object syndrome [22:25]
    • Cure #2 for shiny object syndrome [25:06]
    • Beware the entrepreneurial roller coaster [31:31]
    • What no one wants to hear [35:35]

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    3 Easy Ways To Boost Your Profits, Ep 191 Apr 01, 2021

    How is it possible to have a multi-million dollar business and not be making any money? Simple: Because sales are not the same thing as profits.

    Everywhere you turn are businesses boasting about making six figures, seven figures, and up, but when you peek behind the scenes, are these businesses actually profitable?

    If not--or even if they are--the best way to make them profitable may not be to simply make more sales. More sales can help, but only to a point. There are other key areas of your business influencing whether or not it’s profitable.

    Neglecting these areas in favor of “more sales” is exactly how your business can make millions a year yet not be profitable.

    Tune into this episode as James and Dean share three of these key areas, and how to use them to easily boost your profits.

    First, Reduce Expenses

    Here’s a little math to show you why “making more sales” in an effort to increase profits isn’t as always as effective as it seems. Let’s say you sell an item that grosses $100 per sale, but only $25 of that is profit because the rest goes to expenses and overhead. By selling two of that item instead of one, yes, your gross sales are up to $200 and profit is $50, but the percentage of profit--25%--is the same. That means the economics of your business haven’t actually changed. One way to change those economics is to first reduce expenses, so that, using our previous example, each $100 sale nets $50 in profit instead of $25. With a 50% profit per sale, you’ll get a lot more traction a lot faster than if you’d only focused on “making more sales.”

    How To (Potentially) Free Up Thousands A Month

    Pull up your bank and credit card statements and take a look at how many subscriptions and other products you’re buying or hanging onto “in case you might need them one day.” If you’re not even using them, odds are you can cut them and won’t even miss them. Even if it’s “just” $1,200 a year per subscription, those smaller expenses really add up when you’ve got a bunch of them. If you’re not using them, or can find an effective way to live without them, do it. You could potentially free up hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a month.

    Reduce The Most Expensive Cost

    Acquiring a new customer is typically among the most expensive parts of running a business. Many businesses lose money on customer acquisition on the front-end. It’s even expected. Even so, the lower your customer acquisition cost, the more customers you can afford to bring in. The best way to lower customer acquisition costs is to test, test, and test some more. Tune in to hear examples from James and Dean on which things you should test to reduce what it costs to acquire a customer.

    You’ve Got A Customer - Now What?

    So you’ve put in all this time and money to acquire a customer. Your customers have more problems to solve. If you aren’t solving them, they’ll find someone who will. Yet a staggering number of business owners do NOTHING once someone becomes a customer. We’ve already established that new customers are the most expensive to acquire. Instead of doing nothing, help your one-time customer become a repeat customer. Stay in touch with them, send more offers, and get a feel for what else they need help with. To do otherwise is miss out on potentially thousands upon thousands of dollars PER CUSTOMER.

    The Valuable Real Estate You’re Probably Not Using

    Yes, consistent followup is a must. Yet no matter how skilled of an email marketer you are, there will always be a percentage of people who rarely, if ever, open your emails. But nearly 100% of people who buy your offers will see the thank you page. Use that valuable real estate to keep people engaged, promote another offer, send people to your blog, or even watch a video. Give people who buy from you a compelling reason to stick around, even if they never open another email from you.

    Outline of This Episode
    • The difference between sales and profit [6:05]
    • The simplest way ever to increase profits [11:51]
    • Freeing up thousands of dollars a month [21:45]
    • Reduce customer acquisition costs [25:13]
    • Are you completely missing this valuable real estate? [34:45]
    • Deciding where to price your product [37:03]
    • After you acquire a customer, do this [40:04]

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    The 3-Point Marketing Method to Simplify and Scale in 2021 with Tim Fitzpatrick, Ep 190 Mar 25, 2021

    If something’s not working in your business, tactics are the first place a lot of entrepreneurs look. As in, if you tweak a headline, get more views, or change a button color, you’ll make more sales.

    If you’ve got your fundamentals in place, tactics like those might make a difference. If you don’t, focusing on tactics like those is like putting new hubcaps on a car that has no engine. New hubcaps won’t make the car run.

    In addition to wasting time and money, the tactics-only approach can add unnecessary and overwhelming layers of complication to your business, especially if you haven’t mastered the three fundamentals this week’s guest, Tim Fitzpatrick of Rialto Media, is going to share with you in his 3-Point Marketing Method to simplify and scale your business.

    Tim’s start in entrepreneurship came from partnering in a wholesale distribution company, where Tim and his team grew the company 60% in nine years before selling it. In that time, Tim learned exactly how critical the fundamentals are to success in business. Tune in to hear how Tim’s 3-Point Marketing Method can help you both simplify and scale your business.

    There’s Always Another Whizzbang

    One of the top mistakes Tim sees business owners make is focusing on tactics when they don’t have the fundamentals in place. Tactics like “weird tricks” to get your emails opened, headline tweaks, the latest social media platform, and so on, may be a lot sexier to talk about, but here’s the problem: Focusing on tactics without your fundamentals in place is like building a house by putting up walls and windows before the foundation’s been poured. It just doesn’t work. Tune in to hear what you need to have in place before tweaks and tactics are of any use to you.

    They’re The Hero, You’re The Guide

    It’s not enough just to have a product. It’s got to be something people want, and that they KNOW they want. To show a prospect how your offer or product can help them, Tim advocates a storytelling framework where you position your prospect as the hero, and your business as the guide. Show them how your product or service helps them win, and how working with you is the key to making that win happen. Tune in to hear how this framework not only helps you sell more, but also helps you avoid getting so cute and clever that you confuse instead of convince.

    Succeed At Planning By Keeping Things Simple

    Most people are aware they need a plan--for their marketing, their business, their email strategy, and so on. But when it comes to actually creating the plan, a lot of people freeze, or move forward without one anyway. The most common reason Tim sees this happen is a false belief your plan needs to be long-term and complicated. Not the case! Tune in to hear Tim’s simple 90-day plan framework, along with his take on why 90-day plans are superior to year-long plans.

    Product Not Selling? Trace It Back

    Dean and his wife own a cosmetics ecommerce company that features top of the line makeup brushes. For nearly two years their makeup brush sales were less than expected, and they couldn’t understand why more people didn’t want them. Turns out the problem wasn’t with the products, it was with one of the three fundamentals Tim talks about in this episode. Tune in to hear which fundamental Dean and his wife traced the problem back to, and how doing so skyrocketed sales.

    Why Tactics Without Fundamentals Are Expensive

    Let’s say you’re paying an SEO expert $2,000 a month to drive traffic to your site, and this expert gets you 100,000 views a month. Impressive, right? On the surface you might think so. But if none of those views are leading to opt-ins and sales, can you really call it a success? Vanity metric “results” like these are just one possible danger of focusing on tactics when your fundamentals aren’t in place. Tactics like views, likes, and headline tweaks will not fix targeting the wrong people or a product no one wants.

    Outline of This Episode
    • The marketing mistake holding you back [4:00]
    • Lessons from an artificial jellyfish tank [9:33]
    • Why cute and clever = confusing [17:10]
    • 90 days, six steps [22:01]
    • The cause of most marketing problems [29:03]
    • Math major to marketing consultant [32:02]
    • Berkshire Hathaway business lesson [40:01]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • https://www.rialtomarketing.com/
    • https://www.rialtomarketing.com/just.the.tips.show/
    • Tim Fitzpatrick on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timpfitzpatrick/
    • The Rialto Marketing Podcast: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-rialto-marketing-podcast-tim-fitzpatrick-ghE_paC4uXn/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Is Social Media Required For Success In 2021? Ep 189 Mar 18, 2021

    Social media’s been around long enough that more and more people are starting to view it as “required” for starting or growing a business.

    Multi-million dollar businesses are regularly built on social media, so there’s no denying its power as a business-building tool.

    Yet multi-million (and billion) dollar businesses existed long before social media did. There are also entrepreneurs with very successful businesses who do not rely on ANY social media platforms.

    So, do you need social media, or not? If you decide to utilize it, how do you go about it?

    In this episode of Just The Tips, James and Dean throw down the gauntlet with regard to how necessary social media is to build a successful business. And if you choose to utilize it, tune in to hear their tips on both how to get the most out of it, and how to avoid platform pitfalls that sabotage your business instead of build it.

    Nobody Cares About Your Business Card Collection

    The ability to network, engage with prospects and clients, and get your products and services in front of the right eyeballs is where social media really shines. You don’t even need to leave your house to do it. But just “being on social media” is no guarantee of business success, any more than collecting and having business cards means you have a successful business. Don’t use social media for the sake of using social media. Use it strategically, so it becomes an effective business-building tool instead of a time-sucking distraction.

    Is It Authentic For You?

    If you build a business doing things you hate, odds are you’re going to be miserable and more susceptible to burnout. Consider this when deciding whether to utilize social media. If you love going live on Facebook, or doing Instagram stories, or cranking out YouTube videos, then those social media platforms are probably great vehicles for you. But if social media just isn’t your thing, there are other ways to reach people.

    Pick The Right Platforms

    It’s true that visibility is key if you’re going to use social media correctly, but don’t make the mistake of trying to master every platform you can get your hands on “just because.” Research platforms, choose the ones your customers use, and get good at those one at a time. Being a “social media influencer” doesn’t help much if the people you’re trying to influence aren’t on the platform you’re devoted to.

    Be Strategic With Your Efforts

    James hired LinkedIn experts to build up his LinkedIn profile. But the posts the guys he hired created weren’t cutting it. These guys were also “liking” and interacting with random things James would never like or engage with. It all built up his presence, but not in a way that attracted his ideal clients. Being everywhere “just because” will not grow your business. Remember to be strategic.

    Get Your People Off The Platform

    Love him or hate him, Donald Trump had a huge Twitter following...UNTIL Twitter kicked him off. Whatever your opinion on that, make no mistake: You don’t have to be as polarizing as Trump to be banned from a platform. It can and does happen to anyone. Sometimes it’s as simple as a bot misunderstanding an algorithm. Relying only on social media is risking your entire business. Use social media to bring people into YOUR world--someplace you have control over, like an email list you can download and back up.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Colorado kiing mishaps [2:00]
    • Is social media required to be successful in business? [9:10]
    • Likes don’t pay for your house [15:05]
    • Where social media excels [22:01]
    • What not to do on LinkedIn [30:13]
    • Anyone can be de-platformed [34:06]
    • The mental pitfalls of our overly plastic world [39:02]

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    How to Increase the Valuation of Your Business with Aryeh Sheinbein, Ep 188 Mar 11, 2021

    “How can I make more sales” is top of mind for most entrepreneurs, but entrepreneurs can do even better in their business by focusing on valuation. Valuation has to do with the amount of money a willing buyer would spend to buy your business.

    Even if you never intend to sell your business, increasing its valuation gives you access to creative ways to increase profits and take money out of the business without focusing solely on sales.

    In this episode of Just The Tips, James and Dean welcome Aryeh Sheinbein for his second appearance on the show. This time Aryeh is sharing his best strategies for increasing the valuation of your business.

    Think of it like home equity

    Even if you don’t intend to sell your home, making improvements to it makes it more valuable. That may come in handy if you ever want to tap into its equity. It’s the same with your business. You may not intend to sell it, but making the kinds of improvements Aryeh reveals in this episode will make it more valuable (and more profitable).

    Raising prices isn’t the only way

    There are multiple ways to increase profit margins without raising prices. For example, making small tweaks to reduce expenses while maintaining quality and service can grow your cash flow without requiring customers to spend more money. Small reductions in expenses really add up. Tune into this episode for additional examples of ways you can increase profits without relying on product price increases.

    The power of recurring revenue

    Most people hear the phrase recurring revenue and think of subscriptions. Subscriptions are definitely the most common example, but they aren’t the only example. Any way you can inspire customers to spend money more frequently with you contributes to recurring revenue. It might be with ancillary products, bonuses, bundles, and any other number of strategies. Tune in to get more ideas of recurring revenue (plus hear why engaged customers, even if they aren’t your biggest spenders, still contribute to your business valuation).

    Scared of business debt?

    Reckless consumer debt and strategic business financing are often lumped into the “bad” category. But the truth is many of the world’s top entrepreneurs and real estate investors use strategic financing to their advantage and reap the rewards thousands of times over. Companies that sell physical products can especially benefit from strategic financing.

    Don’t settle for “sounds good”

    The higher your business’s valuation, the more attractive it is to potential investors. Even if you’re not planning to sell the whole business, you may decide you want to bring on investors. If you decide to do that, absolutely do not use spoken agreements or back and forth emails as your “agreement.” Get official terms drafted up, in writing, by a qualified expert. Yes, it’s more work, but it’s also for your protection.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Even if you’re not going to sell, increase the valuation [8:01]
    • How to improve margins without raising prices [12:50]
    • Increase the average order value [21:55]
    • A billion dollar valuation without a dime of revenue [26:15]
    • How, why, and when to use financing [29:03]
    • You don’t have to sell ALL of your business [35:13]
    • Get it in writing [39:30]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • www.SolutionAdvisory.com
    • www.InsideTheLionsDen.com
    • On Instagram: @aryehthebusinessman
    • Guest on YouTube
    • Inside The Lion’s Den Podcast: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Managing the Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster, Ep 187 Mar 04, 2021

    If you judge the entrepreneur’s journey based on Photoshopped social media images, you’re getting only five percent (at most) of what it’s really like to be an entrepreneur..

    One moment being an entrepreneur feels like the best day of your life. Five minutes later you could easily be asking yourself, “Why am I putting myself through this?” and questioning whether to stick with it.

    Like anything else in life, being an entrepreneur has flip sides. Your ability to manage the rollercoaster of those flip sides determines how successful you not only become, but how successful you stay.

    In this week’s episode James and Dean share their real world tips for managing the entrepreneurial roller coaster. Learn how you can avoid mistakes they made, and get the exact tactics and mindset they use to manage their own entrepreneurial journeys.

    Stop comparing yourself to slivers

    Most people don’t post on social media about the day to day challenges of running a business - the disappointments, the struggles, the moments where you’re terrified and failing. All you’re shown are the triumphs. Success is part of the entrepreneur’s journey, but so are the struggles. Remember that the next time you start feeling inadequate after encountering someone’s post about their amazing results or a trip they took. You’re only seeing one little sliver of their life, and none of what they endured to get there. Instead of comparing yourself to other people’s slivers, remember that their journey is theirs, and yours is yours.

    Eliminate overwhelm with clarity

    Years ago James and Dean realized that when they felt the most overwhelmed, it was due to a lack of direction. Without clarity on where you need to be focusing, it’s all too easy to get swallowed up by the day to day grind, where you’re making decisions but not making progress. When you find yourself in that situation, a sure way to burn out is to hunker down and try to hold out. Instead of sticking your head in the sand, face the situation. Take an honest look at what’s going on. Only by doing that will you get the clarity you need to solve your situation.

    Hustling isn’t your savior

    The 24/7 hustle disease is rampant in entrepreneurship, and many entrepreneurs are under the mistaken impression that if they just hustle long enough, everything will be okay. But believing you can hustle your way to success is like believing that new tires and a new coat of paint will fix a car without an engine. Without an engine, that car’s going nowhere. James and Dean know people who’ve been hustling for 10, 15, 20 years, and are no better off now than when they started. Yes, effort is required to grow your business. But it has to be focused on the right things. Otherwise, you’ll be what’s called the busy fool - hustling away with nothing to show for it.

    Say yes to the right things

    Don’t feel like doing the things you know will bring you closer to success? Do them anyway. People who get the result they want say yes to what moves them closer to their goals, regardless of how they feel in the moment. If you want fitness, say yes to going to the gym instead of an ice cream binge. If you want to grow your business, say yes to emailing your list instead of watching another Netflix show. This isn’t to say you have to hustle 24/7 and never enjoy your life. Just get into the habit of saying yes to what moves you closer to your goals - especially since, each time you say yes, it gets easier to say yes next time. That’s true whether you’re saying yes to the right things, or the wrong things. Say yes to the right things!

    The world is created by people no smarter than you

    James and Dean are experimenting with a new feature on the show: What’s going on NOW in the world of business. Tune in to hear their take on Jeff Bezos stepping down as Amazon’s CEO, including lessons they share pertaining to this week’s topic of managing the entrepreneurial roller coaster. You’ll especially want to catch the part about avoiding the pitfalls that come with comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs.

    Outline of This Episode
    • You’re not seeing the whole story [7:10]
    • Eliminating overwhelm [15:31]
    • Don’t be a busy fool [25:22]
    • Hustling won’t fix it [29:01]
    • Your only REAL competition [34:00]
    • Know your why and power through [40:41]
    • What’s going on in the world of business [45:10]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • v2b.jamespfriel.com

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    Uncover Hidden Profits In Your Business With Brandon Fong, Ep 186 Feb 25, 2021

    Cold outreach is one of the most misunderstood methods of growing your business, which is why it’s also among the most feared and especially, the most mishandled.

    Whether it’s reaching out to get on a podcast or to start a conversation with a potential client, cold outreach has HUGE growth potential for your business. The key is doing it correctly, something Brandon Fong, our guest in this episode, is going to help you with.

    After three years managing a 100,000-plus person email list and sending millions of emails, Brandon’s discovered a formula that compels people to take action. He even used it to get himself booked on Just The Tips!

    Tune into this episode to get Brandon’s simple three-step cold outreach formula for inspiring even cold prospects to take action.

    Brandon’s also got an exciting free gift exclusively for Just The Tips listeners that you can start using IMMEDIATELY to uncover hidden profits in your business with the use of cold outreach (and do so without sounding like a stalker).

    Is It Really Success If You’re Miserable?

    One thing Brandon teaches his students is how to grow your business while also enjoying happiness, health, and relationships. There are a lot of people in the world who, from all appearances, are successful, yet hate everyone and everything. Having “all the things” doesn’t mean you’ll feel successful, so tune in to hear how to avoid ending up with a business and a life you hate.

    The #1 Cold Outreach Mistake Everyone Makes

    A painfully high percentage of cold outreach attempts start the same way: With the person reaching out talking about how great they are, how many employees they have, what they do, their years of experience, and so on. Leading with you and your qualification is a surefire way to get your email or social post ignored by cold prospects. Tune in to hear why this method is destined to flop, and learn an effective way to communicate with cold leads.

    No One Calls Me James P.

    James gets loads of cold outreach LinkedIn messages, and it’s very clear which ones are generic (probably copy and pasted or automated), vs. from people who’re truly serious about working with him. One dead giveaway is when they call him James P. Though he’s listed as James P. Friel, nobody calls him James P. Systems definitely have their purpose, but when it comes to cold outreach they often backfire. Instead of automating or being generic, use Brandon’s three-step cold outreach system (which he’ll tell you all about in the episode).

    A “Backwards” Way To Get A Yes

    Inspired by an FBI negotiator’s tactics, Brandon teaches his students how to get a Yes by getting a No. It’s called a no-oriented question. Saying yes requires us to give away our time, our energy, and our effort. We’re committing to something. Saying no, on the other hand, feels much safer and much more secure, instead of feeling like you’re being backed into a corner. Tune in to hear exactly what a no-oriented question is, and how to use it to make prospects feel safe agreeing to talk to you.

    You’re Dealing With Human Beings

    The normal rules of social interaction seem to go out the window when we’re communicating virtually vs. in person, and it leads to bland, desperate, forced attempts to inspire action. Never forget that even when you’re contacting “a business,” what you’re really doing is reaching out to a human being. Tune in for Brandon’s tips on how to connect like a human being, while still being professional, and finally get a Yes instead of ignored or turned down.

    Outline of This Episode
    • The Magic Connection Method [6:10]
    • How to be rich and miserable [10:51]
    • Overcoming your fear of cold outreach [16:01]
    • Make it easy to say yes [20:05]
    • Standing out in a sea of noise [23:58]
    • Use no-oriented questions [28:03]
    • Stop trying to force it [32:12]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • MagicConnectionMethod.com, use coupon code 7FM
    • Visit bfo.ng/tips for a free gift for Just The Tips listeners

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

    JTT Listeners Free Portal: www.JTTShow.com


    How To Grow And Monetize Your Email List With Yara Golden, Ep 185 Feb 18, 2021

    Nearly everyone in the internet marketing world is spending ridiculous amounts of money on ads. Yet after investing so much money and time bringing someone into their world, these same business owners turn around and give their leads the cold shoulder.

    Customer acquisition is a critical part of growing your business, but inspiring people to stick around is even more critical. New customers are the most expensive to acquire and the least likely to buy. When all you’re doing is chasing new customers, while ignoring the people you’ve already paid to acquire, you’re costing yourself obscene amounts of time, money, and energy.

    Tune into this episode to hear from Yara Golden, an email marketer working with some of the biggest names in the Internet marketing space (including Russell Brunson), as she joins James and Dean for her third appearance on Just The Tips to show you how to grow and monetize your email list in a way that you AND your followers feel good about.

    When done correctly and consistently, emailing leads you’ve paid to acquire can add several zeros to your bottom line. Check out this episode to hear the best way to get started, why list size matters less than you think, how NOT to grow your list, and much more!

    Invite Them To Dinner, Then Ignore Them

    Human interaction is often weirdly different online than it is in person. For example, most people don’t entice someone over for dinner only to completely ignore them. Yet that’s what a lot of business owners do online leads. You create lead magnets, tripwires, and other means of enticing someone onto your list, then ignore them. Instead of giving your leads the cold shoulder (and costing yourself a lot of money in the process), tune in to hear exactly how to start the conversation with your leads (just like you would if they were over for dinner).

    It’s Not What You Have, It’s What You Do With It

    One of the most common excuses Yara hears from people who aren’t emailing their leads regularly is, “My list only has XYZ people on it.” But the size of your list matters a lot less than you think. A small list of quality leads will outperform a giant list of leads who are “meh” about you and your products. If you have any doubts that quality trumps quantity when it comes to your list size, tune in for Yara’s story of a client who closed over $9,000 from a list of 500 people.

    Start With This Six-Email Sequence

    After someone opts-in, what do you do with them (after fulfilling whatever lead magnet or product they opted in for, of course)? Start with Yara’s six-email sequence that answers six questions anyone who opts into your list will have about you and what you do. Use these emails to build the know-like-trust factor, share how they can work with you, and set expectations right up front. It’s important to be yourself in these emails, so the people who are a good fit for you stick around, and the people who aren’t realize they’re better off elsewhere. Tune into to hear exactly what to write in these emails.

    Stop Climbing Mt. Kill-Them-With-Knowledge

    There’s endless talk in the internet marketing world about providing value, and when most people hear the world value, they think “I have to teach and show how knowledgeable I am!” But bowling your readers over with knowledge is rarely the best way to build a relationship with them and keep them coming back to your emails. Plus, if you share everything you know for free, why would they buy from you? Instead of trying to “Kill-Them-With-Knowledge” in your emails, build the relationship and increase engagement with the content strategy Yara describes in this episode.

    What If Your List Is Ice Cold?

    The thought of reaching out to a list you haven’t communicated with in months - maybe years - gets many an entrepreneur’s hackles up. But it’s not as challenging or terrifying as you think to re-engage a cold list. Tune in to hear a simple three-email sequence anyone can use to revive even an ice-cold list.

    Outline of This Episode
    • What to do with leads once they’re in the door [5:30]
    • Overcoming your fear of the unsubscribe [11:50]
    • Be who you really are [18:00]
    • They’ve opted in - now what? [24:01]
    • Get off of Mt. Kill-Them-With-Knowledge [28:21]
    • Start with this call to action [47:11]
    • Re-engaging an ice cold list [50:12]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • www.YaraGolden.com
    • Yara Golden on Instagram: theartofstoryselling
    • Yara Golden on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyCoachYara

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How To Catapult Your SEO Rank Fast With Robert Kanaat, Ep 184 Feb 11, 2021

    Robert Kanaat built a multi-million dollar business with one paid traffic source. Business was booming--so much so that Robert got complacent, as he puts it, “went off the deep end.” His customers started to complain, and that led to ALL of his ads getting shut down.

    With employees and commissions to pay, Robert scrambled to figure out what he could do to not only bring in customers, but do so without relying solely on paid traffic.

    His search sent him down the SEO rabbit hole, where he discovered the best ways to catapult your SEO rank fast. Robert’s since gone on to become one of the top SEO masters in the world, earning praise from Ryan Deiss, Roland Frasier, and many others.

    Whether you’re brand new to SEO or experienced and looking to further improve your SEO rank, tune in to hear Robert’s top three world-class strategies to catapult your SEO rank fast.

    Beware The One-Legged Stool

    Sooner or later, most entrepreneurs learn the hard way that relying on one traffic source, whether free or paid, is like sitting on a one-legged stool. Sooner or later you’re going down. When you’ve got one traffic source consistently pulling in qualified leads and sales, get to work on another. You don’t need every traffic source on the planet, but having only one puts your entire business in jeopardy. Tune into the episode to hear Robert’s tips for adding organic SEO to your rolodex of traffic sources.

    Reduce The Bounce

    Most people don’t have the patience to wait on slow websites, which means the faster your pages load, the less visitors bounce, and the better your organic traffic. Tune in for Roberts tips on setting up organic SEO without bogging your site down in mountains of links, banner ads, and other elements that drain your website visitors’ patience.

    Robert’s Top 3 Organic SEO Strategies

    As far as search engines are concerned, putting a new website onto the Internet is a lot like being a brand new business owner who wants a business loan from the bank. This is especially true if they don’t know you or have a relationship with you. If you don’t have a history of growing successful businesses, they’re going to be a lot more leary of lending you money. It’s the same with Google and other search engines. When your site first goes up, they’re waiting to see if you stick around, follow their rules, and prove yourself with quality content, and for most new sites it takes two years to hit that status. But Robert’s top three organic SEO traffic strategies can help you speed that process up. If your site’s already established, Robert’s strategies will improve your organic SEO even more.

    How To Use Videos For Organic SEO

    According to Robert, well-crafted, valuable written content is superior for organic SEO. That means a video with a blurb under it is unlikely to perform as well as a 2,000-plus word blog post. It doesn’t mean videos are useless for organic SEO. You just need to include one extra step (that you can affordably outsource if you don’t want to do it yourself) to ensure your videos pull their own SEO weight. Tune in to hear exactly what to do.

    Where Never To Put Your Blog

    A lot of free software, like WordPress, gives you a free subdomain to host your blog. The problem is, website subdomain URLs like blog.thebeardedwonder.com don’t perform well in search results. If you’re just starting out, spend a little extra cash for a real domain, so you can put your blog at, for example, the beardedwonder.com/blog. Otherwise, when you get around to buying a real domain to host your blog, you’re starting from scratch with your SEO ranking for that page. Do it correctly straight out of the gate and save yourself that frustration.

    Outline of This Episode
    • All about paid traffic, UNTIL… [5:15]
    • Instead of gaming Google, get better results with this [12:24]
    • Don’t buy domains, buy established websites [20:01]
    • SEO content dos and don’ts [26:10]
    • Get more SEO from your videos by doing this [33:03]
    • Never rely on one traffic source [38:05]
    • To mask or not to mask the domain [46:52]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • http://outrankfast.com/ to get a free website audit from Robert. Mention you heard Robert on Just The Tips and he’ll send you a book.
    • Robert Kanaat on LinkedIn
    • Robert Kanaat on Twitter
    • Robert Kanaat on YouTube

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Setting Up Your Year For Success, Ep 183 Feb 04, 2021

    Every year when January winds to a close, one of two things begins to happen: You dig in and surge forward on the goals you made at the start of the year, or your commitment to those goals starts slipping away.

    Simply having a goal and trying to attain it is not a recipe for success, which is why even the most committed action takers often struggle to reach their goals.

    Without clarity on what you want and a plan to get there, it’s inevitable you’ll spin your wheels at best, and give up at worst.

    Whether your new year goals have fallen by the wayside, or you’re still pushing toward them, tune into this episode to hear James’ and Dean’s personal strategies for setting up your year for success. They’ll also reveal the most common mistakes people make when striving for business goals, and tell you exactly what to do instead.

    Stop Making The Same Mistakes

    There are two ways to avoid mistakes. The first is to learn from other people’s. The second is, if you do make a mistake, learn from it and don’t repeat it. Not repeating your own mistakes requires being honest with yourself, and this is something that trips a lot of people up. Being honest with yourself is uncomfortable, especially if you confuse it with beating yourself up. If that’s how you see it, don’t beat yourself up. Just take an honest assessment at what happened, and use that information to avoid that mistake moving forward.

    Know Where You’re Going FIRST

    A lot of people plan their present without considering where they want to go. That’s like trying to use a GPS without putting in a destination. Step one is to look at where you want to be a year from now, three years from now, even a decade from now. Once you’re clear on that, reverse engineer the actions and outcomes it’ll take to get there. Map out the destination, then your milestones, which will help you plan effective immediate actions.

    WHO Do You Need To Be?

    Who you need to be to reach your goals is a step most people save until last (if they think about it all). Getting clear on your lifestyle, your business goals, who your customers are--all of that’s important. But who you need to be is most important of all, because it makes or breaks the creation of the life and business you map out. You can create a meticulous, step by step plan for getting your business and life exactly where you want them, but if you don’t believe you’re capable of following that path and having those outcomes, you’ll be right. If your business is stalled out especially, take a closer look at who you are now vs. who you need to be to hit and sustain that next level.

    Focus On What Makes The Biggest Difference

    One thing a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with is thinking THEY have to be the one to do everything in their business. But there’s only so much YOU can personally do, which is why it’s critical to focus your time on the things that’ll make the most difference in growing your business. The rest can be outsourced. Always remember that the answer to more business growth may be to do LESS, not more. There comes a point when adding more splits your focus so much that you’re doing 50 things poorly, instead of five things impactfully.

    Beware Aimless Execution

    Yes, you’ve got to take action on your plans, but it has to be the right action. Some entrepreneurs get hyper focused on just “taking action,” but they’re acting on the wrong things. That’s like trying to drive your car from here to the store by randomly turning the steering wheel instead of following a clear path. Clarity on where you get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to taking action is an absolute must. Put your effort into the 20% that moves the needle, not the 80% that keeps you spinning your wheels.

    Outline of This Episode
    • When goals start to slip away [4:20]
    • How to stop making the same mistakes [7:15]
    • Using the future to plan the present [12:50]
    • The entrepreneur’s two paths [16:10]
    • Identifying what’s holding things up [21:00]
    • Stop stacking chairs [26:30]
    • Check yourself before you wreck yourself [33:01]

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow


    How to Compete and Win Against the Giants in your Industry, with Tyler Ornstein, Ep 182 Jan 28, 2021

    Standing apart from your competition is something we hear a lot about as entrepreneurs, but it can be easier said than done. This is especially true when you’re in a market with heaps of competition from industry giants.

    Even so, there are people making it happen, including this week’s guest, Tyler Ornstein, founder of Tylers Coffees®. Coffee is the second largest industry in the world, second only to petroleum, so there’s no shortage of “giants” to compete against. Yet Tylers Coffees® has been around for sixteen years, is available in 500 retail locations as well as online, and now ships 40,000 units of coffee a month. Clearly, being the David in an industry packed with Goliaths didn’t prevent Tylers Coffees® from becoming a mass success.

    Tune into this episode to hear Tyler’s tips, lessons, and strategies that any entrepreneur in any industry can use to successfully wage war on a business battlefield full of “giants.”

    It’s Not The Coffee, It’s The Acid

    Tylers Coffees® were conceived when Tyler was just 14 years old. He and his father often bonded over coffee, until his dad was told, by his doctors, that he couldn’t drink coffee anymore. It was due to his stomach issues. The acid in the coffee was exacerbating those issues. Instead of simply rolling over, however, Tyler’s dad, a chemist, figured out a way to brew organic, acid-free coffee that he could drink.

    Validate Your Idea First

    Even at age 14, Tyler recognized that other people with stomach and digestive issues who had to avoid acidic foods might be interested in his dad’s acid-free coffee. So, he rode around the neighborhood on his bike, knocking on doors and offering free samples to neighbors. Tyler remembers following up with a particular little old lady, who told Tyler the coffee did not hurt her stomach. She asked how she could obtain more, and what it cost. Tyler continued to hear from people with similar experiences, which gave him proof of concept and inspired him to start selling Tylers Coffees®. What Tyler did--testing his offer’s viability--is a step new entrepreneurs often skip, to their detriment. In this episode, Tyler describes a simple, affordable way to test your product’s viability.

    How Do You Compete With Starbucks And Folgers? You Don’t!

    Attempting to directly compete with the “giants” usually leads to price wars, since there’s really nothing differentiating you from the competition. Instead of competing directly with the major coffee brands, Tylers Coffees® caters to health conscientious coffee drinkers--specifically, people with digestive issues who can’t tolerate the acid in normal coffee. As a result, Tyler can charge more for Tylers Coffees®, help people enjoy a beverage they may not otherwise be able to, and provide a superior product.

    You Don’t Need Money, You Need Customers

    When an aspiring entrepreneur tells Tyler they “need money,: his next question is usually, “Do you have customers?” These days there are lots of ways to acquire money for product creation, but what good is any product if there aren’t people willing to buy it? It may sound counterintuitive, but the more you focus on a market you can serve, the better your odds of creating a product people want to buy.

    Retail Is Dead...Or Is It?

    Because lockdowns and COVID restrictions make shopping at a retail location challenging, many retail sectors are suffering. Online shopping as a whole contributes to this dynamic as well. But that still doesn’t mean retail, as a whole, is dead. In this episode Tyler offers tips on getting your products into retail stores, including whether it’s currently worth the effort to do so with your particular product. He also shares what it took to get Tylers Coffees® into Natural Grocers.

    Outline of This Episode
    • How to tell whether you’re “entrepreneuring” correctly [4:01]
    • Why growing a business is like raising a child [7:24]
    • Shipping coffee from a bedroom [14:21]
    • The one question Tyler asks aspiring entrepreneurs [19:05]
    • An easy way to test your product’s viability [27:17]
    • The retail side of selling [37:17]
    • From sixty employees to two [49:18]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • https://tylerscoffees.com/
    • Tylers Coffees on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylersacidfreecoffee/
    • Tylers Coffees on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TylersCoffee/
    • Tylers Coffees on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tylerscoffees
    • Email Tylers Coffees at contact@tylerscoffees.com

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Best of 2020, Ep 181 Jan 21, 2021

    Though a wild year, 2020 brought dozens of inspiring experts and entrepreneurs onto Just The Tips. In this week’s episode, James and Dean pack the show with gold from some of their favorite 2020 episodes. Tune in for actionable tips you can implement in your business right now. You’ll hear about marketing, sales, Facebook ads, leadership, scaling your business, sales calls, and so much more.

    Your Funnel Is Not A Business

    There’s a weird belief in the online marketing world that the magic is in having funnels and opt-in pages. As in, if I just have a funnel, I’ll have a business and get rich. Or, if I want opt-ins, I’ll just throw up an opt-in page and get opt-ins. What people who believe that always find, however, is that it’s never that simple.

    Does your business have a mission? Does your team believe in it? Do you know exactly who you’re trying to serve? Do you have an offer people want AND are willing to spend money on? There’s more to business than funnels and opt-in pages. If you don’t have an offer or a market that wants it, no amount of funnels will help you.

    People Don’t Want Your Mechanism, They Want The Result

    It’s really easy to get so obsessed with your mechanism - the way you help people get results - that you lose sight of one simple fact: People are buying the result, not the mechanism. This isn’t to say the mechanism doesn’t matter. It absolutely does. For example, if it’s clunky or hard to understand, then that’ll turn people off. But even with an excellent mechanism for helping your clients achieve results, always remember that the results matter most. Talk about the mechanism when it makes sense, but talk more about the results.

    $30 Won’t Make You A Facebook Millionaire

    If you spend $30 one time on Facebook ads, then no, they don’t work. If you’re advertising a broken offer, they won’t help with that, either. Successfully advertising on Facebook is like successfully advertising anywhere else. You need the right offer in front of the right audience, and enough money to get some data so you can tweak, refine, and scale your advertising. Get all those elements in place, and yes, Facebook ads do work.

    How To Connect Without Being Spammy

    The right person may grow your business faster than the right offer. But how do you connect with total strangers online and not be creepy, lame, or spammy - especially if the person’s an influencer with a huge following, and is bombarded with private messages every day? One of James and Dean’s guests last year shared several simple tips on how to do exactly that. This guest also shared what to do once you’ve succeeded in connecting with the person you reached out to. Tune into the episode to hear his exact methodology!

    You Are Not There To Sell

    When you get on the phone with someone to have a sales conversation, the worst thing you can do is see it as “selling.” Not because it’s wrong or bad to sell - it’s NOT - but because it’ll set you up to be needy, desperate, and not listen to your prospect. The point of a sales call is to facilitate a powerful decision for the person you’re talking to. That decision is this: Whether or not to work with you. When you approach a sales call with the intent of listening and helping the other person facilitate a powerful decision, it eliminates cringe-worthy “selling” mistakes you’re going to make if you get on the phone with the intent to sell. Get on the phone with the intention of facilitating a powerful decision. It’ll change everything for you.

    Outline of This Episode
    • How to make selling unnecessary [1:19]
    • A funnel is not a business [6:19]
    • Don’t be an expert, be this instead [11:47]
    • When Facebook ads don’t work [17:21]
    • Rule number one for online networking [22:25]
    • What would happen to your business if you took a month off? [29:07]
    • The best mindset for sales calls [34:42]
    Resources & People Mentioned

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    A Year In Review & Lessons Learned, Ep 180 Jan 14, 2021

    Even at the end of a year as dramatic as 2020, James and Dean make a point to review their year, and the many power lessons learned.

    The year 2020 isn’t one most people will soon forget, which means it was packed with lessons you can use to move forward in both business and life.

    Tune into this episode to hear the biggest and best lessons James and Dean picked up during 2020. You’ll hear about better ways to accomplish goals, a product idea you may never have thought of, improving productivity, why James thinks Dean should self-isolate for life, and much more.

    The Journal Exercise For People Who Don’t Like Journaling

    Journaling is one of those things we’ve all heard is good for you, but not everyone sees the value in jotting their feelings down for half an hour. If this is a camp you fall into, tune into this episode to hear the two-sentence daily journal entry you can make every day, and the surprising results you get from doing it (including a product idea you may not have thought of).

    How To Accomplish Big Goals Without Freezing

    With all the talk of massive action, it’s easy to overlook the fact progress happens one small step at a time, too. Think of it like crossing a raging river. Yes, you can dive in and thrash your way across, but you’d get there a lot more smoothly with stepping stones.

    Even a stepping stone that seems too small to bother with is still a step in the right direction. For example, if you want to work up to 100 pushups a day, start with one a day. It may sound stupid, as though it’s not even worth the effort, but remember that effort compounds.

    Stepping stones also prevent you from freezing up when it comes time to take action on your goal, because they show you the path, and exactly how to get there.

    Your Car’s Going The Wrong Way

    You’ve set a goal, and you’ve put down your stepping stones. Your next step seems obvious, right? Follow those stones. Yet a crazy number of people don’t follow their own stepping stones, then turn around and complain that their goal is “unattainable.” It’d be like getting in the best, fastest car in the world, driving in the wrong direction, and complaining that the car’s a piece of junk. Focusing on the right things is how you get where you want to go. Tune in for tips on doing exactly that (including how James’ three-part productivity framework ensures you get where you’re going).

    Choosing The Right Partnerships

    Partnerships are a powerful and proven way to grow your business, but only when they’re the right ones for your business. When they’re not, then worst case scenario, your reputation and bank account take a serious hit. Best case scenario, you’re disappointed and waste your time.

    Before entering into your next joint venture, tune in to hear what to look for when considering who you’ll work with. You can’t fix crazy, but you can prevent yourself from doing business with it.

    When Your Expectations Aren’t Met

    Entrepreneurs see possibilities where others don’t. We don’t believe in glass ceilings, and we set big expectations for ourselves, our businesses, and even other people. When those expectations aren’t met, disappointment is a natural result. If you don’t properly manage disappointment, it can send you into an unnecessary spiral. Instead of going down that path, tune in for tips on evaluating and identifying why your big expectations aren’t always met.

    Outline of This Episode
    • A simpler, better way to journal [3:39]
    • Why to do the things that feel stupid [9:39]
    • What to do when big goals are overwhelming [15:00]
    • The three levels of productivity [20:31]
    • Picking the right people to partner with [30:55]
    • Identifying and managing unrealistic expectations [40:15]
    • Remember your backend sales [47:01]
    Resources & People Mentioned

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How To Get To 10K In Monthly Sales with Gina DeVee, Ep 179 Jan 07, 2021

    Hitting your first $10,000 a month is a huge milestone. Even once you’ve surpassed it, who wouldn’t want an extra $10K a month every month?

    In this episode James and Dean welcome Gina DeVee, entrepreneur and creator of Divine Living, to share her best tips for hitting your first $10K. She’ll also dispel the mindsets and myths getting in the way of that first $10K.

    Growing up, Gina was raised to believe you go to college and get a job, so that’s exactly what she did. She got her master’s degree, but also walked away with $75,000 in debt and hating what she was doing. To add insult to injury, she was 30 years old and living with her parents.

    Knowing there was more out there for her, Gina moved to Los Angeles to pursue her own dreams. Things weren’t going all that well until Gina accepted a friend’s invitation to attend an event where Bob Proctor took the stage and told everyone in the audience: There’s no shortage of money and there’s no shortage of clients.

    That statement, along with everything else Gina heard at the event, blew up everything Gina thought she knew about money and how to make it...so much so that days after the event ended, she sold SIX of her first $10K packages.

    Tune into this episode to hear how she did it, how you can do it, too, and MUCH more.

    Good And Broke Or The Devil’s Puppet

    The life-changing event Gina attended with her friend was called “The Science of Getting Rich.” Gina’s money beliefs at the time amounted to this: Be good and broke, or rich and sell your soul to the devil. What she learned at “The Science of Getting Rich,” however, profoundly transformed her mindset around money, to the degree that days after the event ended, she landed a $60,000 coaching gig. It really drove home that your mindset around money will limit you if you let it. Tune in to hear what Gina did to end her money mindset limitations.

    I’m Not Worth That Much

    Almost everyone who wants to grow their business battles imposter syndrome over and over. The same thoughts pop up each time, such as: “What I know isn’t worth that much. I don’t have enough experience. I’ll close clients. I won’t get clients. No one will pay that much.” If you’ve had thoughts like these about your prices, tune in to hear exactly why you ARE worth “that much,” and why there are people who’ll pay it.

    Why You Never “Over” Overdeliver

    Early-on, Gina felt she had to REALLY overdeliver when people paid her thousands of dollars at a time. This was especially true when she put together her first six-figure package. Even in this $100K package, where you’d expect the sun, the moon, and the stars, Gina stuffed so much into it that her clients felt overwhelmed. Tune into this episode to hear how to overdeliver to your clients without overwhelming them into inaction.

    How To Set And Raise Your Prices

    Most people have a comfort set point when it comes to their pricing, and the thought of charging more than that causes you to curl into the fetal position and procrastinate raising your prices. Gina’s got a simple tool to help you find your “financial frequency” and raise it. In this episode you’ll hear exactly what this tool is, how Gina used this tool to raise her own financial frequency, and the massive difference it made in her ability to reach her financial goals.

    Where Are The Clients?

    James and Dean get this question all the time, and in this episode you’ll learn Gina’s not-shocking answer, along with the one next step you need to take to bring in as many clients as you need. Gina will also reveal a huge social media marketing mistake to avoid, and dismantle the myth that more clients is always the answer to more money. (You’ll especially want to hear how many clients it took for Gina to make $1.2 million dollars from one offer.)

    Outline of This Episode
    • Did everything right, still got it wrong [5:30]
    • There’s no lack of money or clients [11:10]
    • Making money is easy, struggling is what’s hard [19:45]
    • $1.2 million from a 5,000-person list [26:45]
    • How overdelivering can backfire [29:13]
    • Where to find clients [36:35]
    • Why you don’t need hundreds of people [40:40]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • The Audacity to be Queen: The Unapologetic Art of Dreaming Big and Manifesting Your Most Fabulous Life (https://www.divineliving.com/book/)
    • www.DivineLiving.com/Audacity
    • Instagram: @ginadevee
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginadevee/
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ginadevee
    • Divine Living Podcast (https://www.divineliving.com/podcast/)

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Iceberg Effect - The Hidden Things You Need To Know About Scaling Your Business, Ep 178 Dec 31, 2020

    “How do I get new customers??” That’s what most people new to business focus on. It’s what a lot of business training focuses on, and what a lot of established businesses show to the world.

    What most people don’t tell you is that there’s a huge problem with focusing only on new customers: It’s not only expensive, it’s not sustainable. New customers are just the tip of the iceberg. Without a backend to your business, you’ll hit a wall and you won’t be able to get around it.

    In this episode, James and Dean dive into what has to happen below the surface of your business in order for you to grow it. Tune in to hear exactly why focusing only on new customers is a business death sentence, and what to put in place so you aren’t dependent only on new customers for every dime you earn. This episode will be especially helpful if you’re interested in affiliate marketing, but it applies to all business models.

    You Need The Whole Iceberg

    New customers are an important part of business; however, new customers are not enough to grow and sustain a profitable business. They can get you off the ground, but in order for you to stay off the ground AND go even higher, you need the rest of the iceberg. Tune into this episode to hear what to do once you’ve acquired a customer.

    Why The Tip Of The Iceberg’s Not Enough

    The cost to acquire a customer is going up all the time. James used to pay 30 cents when someone clicked on one of his Facebook ads. Now he pays $3.50. Costs in other marketing mediums are up, too. New customers are the most expensive to acquire. They don’t know you and they don’t yet trust you. When ALL your time and money are devoted to new customers--aka the tip of the iceberg--it’s only a matter of time before you end up spinning your wheels.

    The Break Even Point

    People new to business are often under the impression that if you’re not profiting from new customers, you’re failing. That’s simply not true. The tip of the iceberg--the front end of your business--is not about profit. It’s about getting customers in the door so you can offer them more solutions. If your front-end is profitable, it means you have room to scale your customer acquisition efforts.

    Keep Solving Problems

    Profit happens on the backend of your business. That’s why the worst thing you can do is abandon people after they buy from you one time. You’ve spent all this time and money to acquire a customer. Instead of dropping off the face of the earth in pursuit of new customers, create and offer more solutions to your buyers.

    When You Run Out Of Offers

    If you reach a point where you can’t solve any more problems for your customers--or they just need help with something you don’t know how to do and don’t care to learn--consider affiliate marketing and referral partnerships. Send your customers to people and products you use and believe in. Become your customers’ trusted guide, show you care about their success by doing what it takes to help them (including sending them to other people), and still make money.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Never focus on just the tip of the iceberg [5:45]
    • Who will fold up and who will grow their business [15:05]
    • Get to the break even point [21:30]
    • He who can pay the most, wins [26:25]
    • Money is made beneath the surface [30:05]
    • Keep solving your customers’ problems [37:40]
    • How to use affiliate marketing on the backend [45:03]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • The Iceberg Effect book: http://icebergeffectbook.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Achieve Impossible Goals with Jeff Griffin, Ep 177 Dec 24, 2020

    Jeff “Griff” Griffin calls himself the best unknown speaker you’ve never heard of. After a 40-foot fall from scaffolding crushed his spine, and his college football dreams along with it, Griff was faced with a decision: Stay down and wallow in self-pity, or dream new dreams.

    Griff chose to dream new dreams, and has since gone on to become a Paralympic silver medalist and world-renowned inspirational speaker who helps people achieve impossible goals.

    You don’t have to be paralyzed physically to be paralyzed by things like doubt, fear, and complacency.

    If achieving impossible goals still feels impossible to you, tune into this episode for Griff’s tips for taking what seems impossible and making it reality.

    Where Achieving The Impossible Starts

    Griff’s dream was to play college football. But after falling off a ladder while painting a barn, Griff lost the use of his legs, and found himself at a crossroads with two clear choices: Let his new reality stop him, or find a new way forward. Griff’s gone on to do things people told him were impossible for a man in a wheelchair to do, because he chose to believe there was another way. Making the “impossible” your reality starts with what you believe.

    The Problem Isn’t A Problem

    When challenges pop up, most people focus on the problem and the excuses about why they can’t solve it. For Griff, it would have been to focus on the problem of being in a wheelchair. Instead, he focused on finding solutions. If your goal seems impossible, it’s because you’re focusing your time and energy on the problem. Shift to focusing on the solution. And tune into this episode to hear about Griff’s simple solution framework to solving any problem.

    When Others Say You Can’t

    James’ grandfather once told him, “When someone tells you they can’t, what they’re really saying is that THEY can’t.” Griff not only agrees, he’s proven over and over again that other people’s limitations about him aren’t really about him. Listen to this episode and you’ll hear incredible examples of where other people--even Navy SEALS--put limits on Griff that he went on to bust.

    What You Don’t Want

    Because it’s often easier to get clear on what you don’t want than what you DO want, what you don’t want is where your focus goes. But when you put all your energy into focusing on what you don’t want, that’s exactly what you get more of. That’s why Griff developed a technique to use what you don’t want to identify what you DO want, so you can focus on that instead. Tune into this episode to hear how it works and start getting what you want instead of what you don’t.

    Holy Habits And A Righteous Routine

    Entrepreneurs and peak performers eager for results come to Griff asking for the tips, tools, and skills they think it takes to get where they want to be. But Griff says there are two critically important areas you’ve got to address before you can even begin to go after your results. Listen to this episode for Griff’s tips on what these two areas are, and why achieving that “impossible” goal without them may very well prove impossible.

    Outline of This Episode
    • The best unknown speaker you’ve never heard of [5:30]
    • When the moment to perform has arrived [13:05]
    • The P-Squared Mindset [16:30]
    • Don’t accept other people’s limitations about you [23:00]
    • The problem with not knowing what you want [28:31]
    • The Law of Harvest [37:40]
    • Freed by a prisoner [50:05]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Possibility Principle: Text POSSIBLE to 1+801-316-8689
    • GriffinMotivation.com (coupon code LOVE for 50% off “I’mPossible” and “Endless Possibilities” books)
    • Griff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffgriffin10/
    • Griff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griffinmotivation/
    • Griff on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmIzd5hYflS_1mzSlTl1J_A

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Overwhelm to Freedom: Dean’s Secret Weapon Revealed, Ep 176 Dec 10, 2020

    You have a dream: To serve people with your idea, make a lot of money doing it, and create the freedom to enjoy your family and favorite activities.

    You get your business up and running, and even get some traction. Next thing you know, you dread getting up in the morning to face the overwhelming nightmare that your business has become.

    Where’s the joy you expected to have? Where’s the freedom? How did you end up in this mess?

    This is exactly where Dean found himself three years ago. He was overwhelmed, overworked, and living on the edge of burnout.

    But after working with his secret weapon, Dean now enjoys the true freedom entrepreneurs expect to create when they start their business.

    Tune into this week’s episode to discover how Dean’s secret weapon, aka James P. Friel, helped him move out of overwhelm and into freedom; AND how you can do the same in your business.

    Your first mistake?

    You’d never build your dream house by dumping a bunch of lumber into your yard, grabbing a hammer and some nails, and randomly nailing everything together. You’d get a blueprint drawn up first. It just makes sense to do that. Yet when it comes to bringing our business ideas to life, too many entrepreneurs skip the blueprint step. Without a blueprint to help you grow, strategically, it’s only a matter of time before the aimlessness sends you into a sea of overwhelm. Excitement and implementation are great. So is having a plan.

    Going from solo-preneuer to CEO

    When you’re first getting your business off the ground, hiring a team, or even outsourcing one or two tasks, may not seem like an option. So, you learn to do a lot of stuff yourself that’s not a great use of your time, until you finally reach a place where you cannot possibly do everything yourself. Yet you resist outsourcing, because all you can think about is what it’ll cost you to do so. This episode is packed with James’ premium tips to help you move beyond your hiring resistance so you can get out of the weeds and actually grow your business.

    What should you focus on?

    James teaches a business strategy called The Big Five. It’s where you identify the five things in your business that are the highest and best use of your time. As in, if you spent 80% of your time doing these things, your business would grow faster and things would be moving along with less friction. Not everyone’s big five will be the same, so tune into this episode for James’ tips on identifying your Big Five.

    Don’t mistake activity for productivity

    If you want to drive from your house to the golf course, but you point your car in the wrong direction, it doesn’t matter how fast you drive your car, or how many hours you drive it--you won’t get there. It’s the same with the time and effort you devote to your business. How hard you work, and how much time you spend, won’t help your business grow if you’re not working on the right things. Check out this episode for help identifying where and on what you should spend your time and effort.

    Where to start eliminating overwhelm

    Until you know where you are with your business, you can’t know where you’re going, or how to get there. Think of it like getting lost in the woods. You could wander aimlessly for an indefinite amount of time. But if, on the other hand, you got to high ground and could see both where you are, and the destination you want to reach, you’d know exactly how to get where you want to go. Tune into this episode to hear how James’ Five Pillars of Business framework can give you that 30,000-foot view of your business (including a free resource to get you started).

    Outline of This Episode
    • From overwhelm to freedom [7:01]
    • The #1 biggest cause of business overwhelm [13:31]
    • When you don’t have the money to hire [16:55]
    • How to tell what to outsource [22:00]
    • The difference between activity and productivity [31:05]
    • Start with The Five Pillars [34:32]
    • You must pivot as you grow [46:40]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • https://audit.jamespfriel.com/free
    • Hiring Like A Boss: https://jamespfriel.com/hiring

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Thing That Will Make Or Break Your Facebook Campaign Profitability with Jessica Walman, Ep 175 Dec 03, 2020

    “Facebook ads don’t work!” is an opinion Jessica Walman, founder of the 5C Grow & Scale Method for digital marketing, knows is simply not true.

    Jessica’s done $20 million in ad spend for everyone from entrepreneurs and product companies to local businesses and software companies. She’s seen it all, including what it takes to correctly and profitably grow and scale your business with Facebook ads. Yes, they do work, when you go about them the right way.

    Tune into this week’s episode for Jessica’s tips on how to create a profitable Facebook ad. She’ll reveal how to tell you’ve got a winner, the variables that can make or break your ad’s success (it’s not just about the ad), and how to scale profitably when you do identify a winner.

    Jessica will also shine a light on the mental challenges that come with advertising on Facebook, so you don’t dive for the cancel button before your ad even has a chance to get traction.

    And, of course, discover the #1 thing that will make or break your Facebook campaign profitability.

    If you’re convinced Facebook ads don’t work, or have had some success and want tips on how to get even more, you’ve got to hear this episode.

    $30 Does Not A Millionaire Make

    When someone tells Jessica that Facebook ads don’t work, one of the first things she asks is how much they’ve spent. Very often it’s something like $30, and the person believed that was enough to make them a millionaire. If it were that easy, we’d all be multi-millionaires, right? It takes more than $30 to create and scale a profitable Facebook ad, but ad spend is only one piece of the pie. The messaging, the page your ad takes people to, the offer you’re sending people to, and many other factors play a role. Unless these other factors are all dialed in (and you’ve got more than $30 to spend on ads), your ad won’t work. Tune in to hear what does work.

    Be Willing To Experiment

    Because there are a lot of factors that go into a successful Facebook ad, you have to be willing to experiment. For example, maybe no one clicks on your ad to begin with. Or maybe you’re getting a lot of click-throughs, but those leads aren’t buying. It could be that your messaging isn’t dialed in. Jessica will walk you through each of these factors and reveal what could be wrong. She’ll also explain not only when to start experimenting, but how to experiment in a way that will actually help you identify the bottlenecks, vs. waste your time and money with random changes.

    It Has To Be The Right Audience

    Your ad and offer could be brilliant, but if your ad’s going to the wrong people, it won’t convert. Period. Tune in for Jessica’s tips to help you ensure you’re targeting the right people (including where to start if you’re brand new to Facebook advertising). Once you identify the right audience, the next step is to ensure your messaging is spot-on. Remember, it may not be one magic message that you need. People who profit from Facebook ads often have multiple messages to appeal to different needs and wants of their ideal audience.

    Why “Just Get The Click” Is Wrong

    If someone tells you the ad’s only goal is to get the click, run. The click is important, yes. But when you make ads only about getting the click, you’re much more likely to get clicks from people who don’t actually want your offer. They’re curious enough to click, but not sure what it is they’re clicking through to. Getting the click has to be balanced by a pre-frame in your messaging that draws in people who’ll actually buy your offer. Listen to this episode for tips on how to ensure you’re getting clicks from buyers instead of looky-loos.

    Scaling The Winners

    Once you’ve identified a winner, it’s time to scale. A lot of people make the mistake of trying to scale too quickly, which leads to financial stress and ads that stop working. That’s why Jessica recommends scaling realistically. Meaning, if you made $5,000, make your next goal $15,000 or $20,000, vs. $100K. Realistic scaling allows you to stay on top of ad spend, as well as any “leaks” that may spring up due to unexpected fluctuations in conversion rates (and other variables, like exactly who is clicking through). Once your ad’s proven it can handle this realistic level of scaling, and if you have the budget for it, then you can start scaling faster. But when you first start scaling, take it slowly.

    Outline of This Episode
    • What NOT to do with Facebook ads [4:45]
    • Who Facebook ads are good for [11:30]
    • Have the proper expectations [17:00]
    • The right (and profitable) way to set ad goals [24:50]
    • When to nurture your audience with content [30:10]
    • Why the pre-frame makes or breaks sales [34:30]
    • Once it’s working, here’s how to scale [37:10]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • www.JessicaWalman.com/adkit
    • www.JessicaWalman.com/agency
    • www.JessicaWalman.com/Podcast
    • Reset the Norm Facebook tribe: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1305397442969563/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, Ep 174 Nov 26, 2020

    The idea of the “self-made” man or woman is pretty appealing. But it’s also a myth. None of us are born knowing everything there is to know. We learn what we need from experience, and most of that experience revolves around interacting with other people.

    Given that it’s the holiday season and a great time to reflect on what you’re grateful for, James and Dean decided to devote this episode of Just The Tips to revealing some of the mentors and coaches who’ve made huge impacts in their businesses and lives. They’ll also reveal the epic pitfalls they fell into as a result of avoiding quality coaching because it was “too expensive.”

    Building a successful business takes time no matter what. But there’s still a fast way and a slow way. Check out this episode to discover why the right people at the right time--especially qualified coaches--are the fastest way to grow your business.

    The slow way or the fast way

    If Dean wanted to get from the U.K. to the U.S., which option makes more sense: Buy a plane ticket and fly, or build a 747 from scratch? It sounds obvious, but trying to figure your business out yourself with free information and the odd $27 ebook is like building the plane from scratch. It takes way more time and/or costs way more money than you think it’s going to. Figuring it out yourself is the slow way to build a business. The fast way is to hire a coach who’s gotten the result you want, and let them help you get that result for yourself.

    You pay with time or you pay with money

    Early in his entrepreneurial journey, Dean passed on an opportunity to invest in coaching because he thought paying $5,000-$10,000 for it was outlandish. That was money he could spend on ads and $37 training products, after all. But four years and $60,000 worth of training programs later, Dean’s business not only hadn’t grown, it went backwards. So Dean used his last bit of credit to buy coaching, and in 8 months was able to quit his job and go into business full-time. The whole experience taught him a very powerful lesson about the value of spending money on coaching NOW.

    Make it harder to fail

    Winning is never guaranteed, but you can stack the odds in your favor. The right coach, the right team, the right people in your corner, can elevate you to levels you’d never reach on your own. As appealing as the “figure it out on your own” fantasy is, the most successful people you know and respect had help getting where they are. They did the work, yes. But without the people they met and worked with along the way, they wouldn’t be where they are.

    What you don’t know can hurt you

    The biggest problem with figuring it out on your own is that there are things you don’t know, and you don’t know you don’t know them. You go after what you THINK you need, not what you actually need. As an entrepreneur, you see this all the time with your customers. You offer them what they think they need, so you can get them in the door and offer them what they actually need to get the result they want. That’s the power of working with someone who knows what you actually need to get where you want to be. They see the blind spots you would never see.

    It’s lonely, but you’re not alone

    One of the hardest parts of being an entrepreneur is how lonely it feels. Even people in your life who care about you don’t always get it, and you often feel like the outsider. Having a network of people who do get it, who push you, who are there for you, makes the journey a lot less lonely and a lot more worthwhile. It’s especially powerful on the days where you feel like quitting, or where you’re facing something you really don’t want to do. The people you connect with can mean the difference between giving up on your dream, or going all the way.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Why have a mentor? [4:30]
    • You pay with time or you pay with money [9:45]
    • Hire the best help you can currently afford [14:01]
    • $60,000 in training programs and still nothing [17:17]
    • Why “self-made” doesn’t exist [24:01]
    • Meeting the “Rich Dad” [33:23]
    • You don’t know what you don’t know [40:10]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • “Who Not How” by Dan Sullivan
    • “Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferriss and Arnold Schwartzenegger

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Creating The Perfect Marketing Campaign with Todd Brown, Ep 173 Nov 19, 2020

    “Do I need to change the font in my order button? Do I need a better upsell? Do I need a better picture on my Facebook ad?”

    Questions like these are often the first to pop into a new marketer’s mind when their marketing campaign doesn’t fill their bank account like they hoped, and here’s why.

    It’s a lot easier and a lot sexier to focus on tactics, like order button colors and how many upsells you have, than it is to focus on what REALLY inspires customers to buy.

    But when you’ve got a truly irresistible offer with a spot-on marketing message, the color of your order button is the last thing on your customer’s mind.

    In this week’s episode, master marketer Todd Brown, the secret marketing weapon even marketing legends turn to, joins James and Dean to show you what it actually takes to nail your marketing campaign.

    From presenting your offers in a way that leads to sales, to writing persuasive copy that converts, Todd’s shining a light on the biggest mistakes he sees entrepreneurs make in their marketing campaigns.

    If you’re struggling with anything marketing - strategy, copy, campaigns, you name it - this episode will point you straight at the money-sucking holes in your campaign, and show you how to plug them.

    Everything Comes From Your Market

    Whether we’re talking ice cold prospects or piping hot customers, EVERYTHING has to come from your market. It’s not about you, it’s not about your product or service, and it’s absolutely not about what you believe your market wants or think they “should” want. This is 100% true even if you are your market. If your offers, and what you do and say to market them, are not rooted in what your market actually wants, your sales will never be as high as you want.

    What Will NOT Improve Your Offer

    If your product’s a dud, it’s a dud, and no amount of clever marketing or positioning can save it. If your hard back book isn’t selling, making it paperback won’t fix the problem. A new upsell won’t turn an offer no one wants into a home run. Truly irresistible offers with mediocre copy and no upsells will outperform duds with slick copy and “killer upsells.” Things like tweaking your copy and using different funnel software comes AFTER you’ve got a proven offer.

    THE Top Two Ways To Make Your Offer Stand Out (And Which One To Focus On)

    There are two ways to stand out in the marketplace. The first is your promise, i.e. the unique benefit you offer that competing products and services do not. For the average entrepreneurial marketer, differentiating based on promise, though it can be done, is very difficult, which is why Todd recommends most people differentiate based on mechanism. In other words, focus on making HOW your offer delivers the result in a way that’s new and different.

    Being Different Isn’t Enough

    Highlighting how you’re different is how you get attention, but by itself it’s not enough to create a perfect marketing campaign. That part comes from part proving to your prospect why your product’s mechanism is superior. How will it get them there faster? Why will it work for them even if they’ve failed, or even if they have no experience? Remember, this isn’t about features and benefits. It’s about why the way your product delivers results is SUPERIOR matters to your prospects.

    Choose Copy Clarity Over Copy Creativity

    Clever, flowery copy is useless if your prospects have no idea what you’re talking about, because confused people don’t buy. Why would they, if they can’t tell what they’re getting and how it will help them? Instead of dreaming up slick, clever ways to talk about your offer, present it with clear, simple copy your prospect understands and relates. Clear, simple copy that proves your offer’s superiority in a way your prospects care about outperforms “creative” copy every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Why anybody can be a good marketer [3:13]
    • The difference between marketing and selling [8:01]
    • Stop trying to save a dud [13:03]
    • How to make your offer stand out [22:00]
    • Skip this and you’ll attract price shoppers [26:30]
    • Show them why your offer is superior [30:15]
    • How to write copy that actually converts [44:05]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Visit Todd Brown’s website: https://toddbrown.me/
    • Todd Brown on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddbrown/
    • Todd Brown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToddBrownMarketing/
    • Todd Brown on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlIIwel956xVecFuBC80BA
    • The Marketers Mind Show Podcast: http://themarketersmindshow.com

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Creating a Killer Black Friday Campaign, Ep 172 Nov 12, 2020

    Black Friday is a huge opportunity to give your bottom line a shot in the arm and get your message or product in front of your customers. People are already in buying mode and eager to spend money.

    Yet a lot of businesses hesitate to give their business that influx of cash because they believe one of the following myths:

    • My business isn’t the ‘right kind’ for a Black Friday campaign
    • An effective Black Friday campaign requires rock-bottom pricing
    • I have to create a brand new offer

    It’s not as difficult as you may believe to craft an irresistible offer that compels people to buy. It doesn’t need to be new. And you absolutely do NOT need to “race to the bottom.”

    This week’s episode is jam-packed with strategies you can use to create Black Friday campaigns from your current offers; with ideas for quickly creating new offers; and with real-life examples to tease your Black Friday offer in a way that creates scarcity and builds excitement for that influx of cash on Black Friday weekend.

    Whether you need fresh inspiration to create this year’s Black Friday campaign, or just have no idea where to start with a Black Friday offer, find the answers you need in this week’s episode.

    Avoiding The Race To The Bottom

    Slashing prices is the easiest way to create a Black Friday offer, but is it the best way? Not according to James! He actually calls it the WORST way. (What if you don’t have the margins to discount your products?) Creating a juicy and profitable Black Friday offer comes down to choosing something your customers want so badly, price becomes a non-issue. Catch this episode for examples of what that an offer like that can look like.

    Why There’s Still Time

    A killer Black Friday offer doesn’t mean you have to create entirely new products. That’s definitely a great option, but it’s not the only option. Consider a valuable live training--such as a masterclass--for anyone who buys a certain product. That product can be digital, but online trainings work great for physical products, too.

    Here’s Where To Start With Your Offer

    If you don’t yet have an offer together, first, sit down (with your team if you have one) and look at all the offers you DO have. What can you do with them? And make sure that whatever you’re doing, you’re equipped to handle the volume. Start mapping things out NOW, so you’re prepared for that influx. James and Dean go over this in more detail in the episode (including how to avoid aggravating your customers because you’re not prepared).

    Don’t Censor Your Ideas

    When you sit down to brainstorm, NEVER censor your ideas, or your team’s. Even if they seem beyond insane, let them fly. The point of brainstorming isn’t to share “the best” ideas. It’s to turn the creativity faucet on full-blast, which cannot happen if you’re judging your ideas. No, makeup brushes that include a hot pink zebra won’t be your winner, but it might trigger the WINNING idea for your Black Friday offer. Bring on those ideas!

    Build Excitement And Create Scarcity

    Dean and his wife have their cosmetic ecommerce company’s Black Friday campaign ready to go. It will be their third year running a Black Friday campaign, and they’ve got all sorts of strategies in play to create excitement and scarcity. There’s a LOT of great ideas you can model for your Black Friday campaign. Take notes on this part of the episode.

    Outline of This Episode
    • When people are buying, they want to keep buying [5:15]
    • Avoiding the “need” to discount [9:30]
    • Combining physical with digital [15:15]
    • Where to start [21:18]
    • How to brainstorm ideas (and how not to) [24:45]
    • Designing your campaign [34:49]
    • Building excitement and scarcity [40:10]

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Build a Billion Dollar Business By Breaking All The Rules with Teresa Harding, Ep 171 Nov 05, 2020

    When most business owners that this week’s guest, Teresa Harding, has done a billion dollars in sales, they assume it’s because of things like on-target marketing, “killer Facebook ads,” and a great team.

    Those are all factors, yes, but they’re not THE reason. THE reason is because Teresa breaks the rules. When someone tells her, “you HAVE to do it THIS way,” Teresa does it her way instead.

    Tune into this episode of Just The Tips to get Teresa’s billion-dollar strategies for breaking the rules and creating your own so you can take your business to its next level.

    Two mindsets that sabotage both new and experienced business owners

    Teresa’s noticed the same sabotaging mindsets in both new business owners and experienced entrepreneurs: Limiting beliefs and fear of failure. These mindsets manifest in multiple ways, but the outcome’s always the same: Success is delayed or never achieved. Listen to this episode to ensure these mindsets aren’t holding you back. Their roots run deep.

    When affirmations don’t work

    Most successful people swear by affirmations. Yet a lot of people use affirmations and still aren’t experiencing the success they want. Since Teresa’s all about breaking the rules of what “everyone says” you “have” to do, she was pretty skeptical of affirmations. Then she decided to try them HER way. You’ve got to hear what she did to create affirmations that actually WORK (and the results she got because of them).

    Your biggest asset when closing the sale

    “You are your biggest asset.” We hear it a lot, but as far as Teresa’s concerned, it’s a lie when it comes to closing the sale. You are not your biggest asset--your confidence is. So what do you do if your confidence isn’t rock solid? According to Teresa: You assume the sale. Before you even get on the phone, or sit down to write the copy, you assume the sale is a done deal. For Teresa’s billion dollar tips on exactly how to do that, check out this episode.

    How to eliminate buyer uncertainty

    Fear of the unknown stops us in countless different ways, including making a purchase. That’s why ensuring your prospects feel comfortable buying from you is a must. One way Teresa successfully closes sales is by eliminating buyer uncertainty with her “action items” strategy. It works in webinars, on sales copy, on the phone, in emails - wherever you’re closing a sale. Tune in to hear exactly how you can implement Teresa’s “action items” strategy in your business.

    Why complication kills conversions

    A confused mind doesn’t buy, which is why Teresa advocates making it as easy as possible for people to buy from you. To drive this point home, James shares a story about a frustrating trend in one of his businesses. People ready to buy would add a lot of things to their shopping cart, yet few ever completed their purchase. After some digging, James figured out that the checkout process on this particular website was painfully complicated. That complication was costing him money in the form of lost revenue, because again, a confused mind doesn’t buy. Tune into this episode to hear how you can avoid confusing your customers into NOT buying.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Why it’s never too late to start [6:55]
    • Two things that stop most people [11:00]
    • Failing your way to success [14:03]
    • What to look at first when your business hits a wall [18:30]
    • How to get better at failing so you can succeed [24:31]
    • Your biggest asset in closing the sale [33:03]
    • Tell your prospects what to do next [39:10]
    • Complication is the death of sales [45:10]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • www.TeresaHarding.com/Masterclass
    • Teresa Harding on Instagram
    • Teresa Harding on Facebook
    • Teresa Harding on YouTube
    • The Teresa Harding Podcast

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Elevate Your Network With Jake Kelfer, Ep 170 Oct 29, 2020

    Networking is still one of the most powerful ways to grow your business, yet a lot of people go about it the wrong way, or try to skip it altogether. The problem with that is, one person, when it’s the right person, is all it takes to explode your business to the next level.

    This week’s guest, Jake Kelfer, has made a wildly successful career working with major brands like Adidas and the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s also helped his clients use networking to achieve the results they want, whether it’s to get booked on more podcasts, bring in experts for a summit, or create partnerships to grow their business to the next level.

    In today’s Internet-based world, it’s easier than ever to connect with people. Jake will show you how to use that to your advantage in a way other people appreciate instead of run from.

    Tune into this episode to discover exactly why your next level may be less about what’s next, and more about who’s next.

    Plus get Jake’s framework for successfully networking with the right people for you and your business.

    I Want The Slow Path (Said No One Ever)

    Without other people, you cannot have a business. People are who buy your products and services. People are who tell their family, friends, and peers about you. People are also who you learn from. It’s true, you can slowly and tediously make all your own mistakes; or, you can learn from people who’ve already made them, and get where you want to be faster. Networking is another way to avoid the slow path and get where you want to be sooner rather than later.

    Turn Your Style Into Opportunity

    Successful networking is about connecting with the right people for YOU. Doing that means combining your style with the right intention for reaching out to a specific person. No matter what, you’ll face rejection, but when you combine your style and personality with intention, it saves you a ton of time and energy reaching out to the wrong people. You’ll also dramatically increase the likelihood of connecting with people who are a good fit for you.

    Don’t Be Spammy

    No one appreciates a total stranger getting in touch only to say, “Hey, here’s what you can do for me!” When reaching out to people for the first time, don’t lead with offers and requests. Instead, play the long game by building the relationship. Care enough to get their name right. Study their profiles and content to find commonalities you can use to relate to them. Everyone wants to feel like they matter, and you can inspire that feeling by taking time to learn about them.

    Always Follow Up

    Just because someone doesn’t respond to your first contact attempt doesn’t mean they don’t want to connect. It could be they’re busy and they forgot. It could be they aren’t sure if you’re just another spammy drive-by, or if you’re someone who’s actually worth their time and energy. It could be a million other things. Instead of jumping ship if they don’t instantly reply, give them a little time, then follow up. Remember that the point isn’t to be a pest. It’s to open the door so they can take a step through it. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt before they’ll take that first step.

    Focus on Quality, Not Quantity

    You don’t need a million followers to make a million dollars. You just need the right number of quality followers. It’s the same with networking. You don’t need to connect with everyone on the planet. You just need the right people. One right person will get you further than one hundred people who aren’t right. Sometimes it can take one hundred attempts to find the right people, so it’s important to keep reaching out. Just don’t get hung up on the numbers. Go for quality.

    Outline of This Episode
    • One new connection can change your world [3:05]
    • The reason for our success [8:55]
    • Meeting the right people’s not about luck, it’s about this [14:30]
    • How to reach out (and how not to) [18:15]
    • Once you build the relationship, maintain it [32:45]
    • You don’t need quantity when you’ve got quality [38:30]
    • You can reach ANYBODY [44:00]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Visit Jake Kelfer’s website: www.JakeKelfer.com
    • Connect with Jake Kelfer on Instagram: @jakekelfer
    • Jake Kelfer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakekelfer
    • Jake Kelfer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakekelferjourney

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How To Crush The Fourth Quarter, Ep 169 Oct 22, 2020

    This has been a pretty ugly year for most people, and the temptation to write this year off and start fresh in January is stronger than usual.

    Curling up and riding it out is certainly one option, but another one is to put your foot on the gas and crush the fourth quarter.

    James and Dean have been on both sides of this mindset. They’ve had years where they slowed things down, and years where they dug in and made December their best month of the year.

    If this year hasn’t been your best year, and you’re thinking of curling up and hiding out, tune into this episode for James and Dean’s best tips on making the most of your fourth quarter, no matter what’s happened in your business this year.

    Be The Shepherd, Not The Dictator

    When Dean and his wife started their cosmetics e-commerce business, they held tight to the idea that they had to do what other cosmetics companies did. As a result, they struggled to even get a foothold, much less a profit. It was only after they stopped trying to dictate their idea to the market, so they could see what they were missing and fix it, that the business took off. Forcing your idea on the market NEVER works. You’ve got to be the shepherd of your idea, steering it where it needs to be based on market feedback.

    Instead Of Guessing, Ask

    The better you know your market, the better you get at reading between the lines and creating offers they want. But sometimes the fastest way to a profitable offer is just to ask your market. Remember to keep in mind that what people say they want, and what they’ll actually buy, are not always one and the same. But even if that’s the case sometimes, asking still provides invaluable intel on how you can serve your market. It could be that a significant percentage of your customers want help with the same thing, and aren’t sure how to articulate it to you. If you have no idea where to start amping up 4th quarter sales, start by asking your customers what they need.

    Develop Relentless Solution Focus

    Recently James took a vacation on Lake Powell with a big group of family and friends. Everyone was on a big houseboat with no cell service. During the trip, James received an invitation to extend his trip by a week. The problem was, everyone had carpooled to the lake with some friends who lived hours away, and would not be extending their trip. That meant the only way James and his family could stay an extra week was if they found a rental car, so they could drive themselves to their friends’ house after the second week. James’ first several attempts at procuring a rental car fell through, but James remained relentlessly focused on finding a solution until he found it. Thanks to that relentless focus, he and his family enjoyed an extra week on the lake. Finding the right offer takes the same relentless focus, and so will dominating the 4th quarter.

    Stop Predicting Your Own Failure

    “I’m just going to write this year off and start fresh in January.” That’s what several people have told James and Dean. That mindset is a symptom of mistaking yourself for a fortune teller, by predicting your own failure before you’ve even tried. It’s worth noting that the people who struggle most are masters at predicting their own failure, and it’s not because they try something and it doesn’t work. It’s because they assume it won’t work, so they don’t even try. Don’t fall into the fortune teller trap. Make your success inevitable by getting your ideas into the world and adopting relentless solution focus.

    Be Mindful Of “Reality”

    Everyone wants to start with tactics and strategies. They’re important, yes. But even the best tactics and strategies the world has ever known won’t help you if you don’t have the mindset to properly implement them. Mindset is the foundation of your success, and one of the best things you can do for your mindset is to be mindful of what you allow to shape your reality. Those private jet photos you see on Instagram are probably staged in a warehouse. Those supposed loner entrepreneurs with no supportive family in their life don’t have to become YOUR success reality. Be careful what you allow to shape your beliefs about what’s possible.

    Outline of This Episode
    • December, The Biggest Month Of The Year [3:46]
    • Why You Have To Experiment [8:38]
    • Avoiding A Race To The Bottom [16:30]
    • Ask Your Customers What They Want [24:21]
    • Have Relentless Focus On Finding A Solution [28:40]
    • You’re Not A Fortune Teller [38:12]
    • Mindset Before Skillset, Always [43:15]

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Identify a Real Opportunity in the Market with Jeremy Parker, Ep 168 Oct 15, 2020

    Success in business comes to those who can identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. The people who struggle most are both the ones who wouldn’t know an opportunity if it punched them in the face, and the ones who see opportunities everywhere, but struggle to identify and act on the profitable ones. Either they freeze, or they go down so many rabbit holes, they never get traction.

    Jeremy Parker, CEO and Co-Founder of promotional product website Swag.com, has been identifying and capitalizing on profitable opportunities for over a decade, including during the Great Recession back in 2007.

    Even with the pandemic happening, and companies cutting back on promotional product purchases, Swag.com had its best three months EVER. And it’s all because Jeremy understands how to identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. Tune into this episode to learn from Jeremy how you can do the same, because this is a skill that can ensure you succeed no matter how bad things seem.

    The rise of Swag.com

    Originally Jeremy wanted to be a filmmaker. But after realizing how difficult it was to make a living doing that, and discovering he wasn’t all that passionate about it, Jeremy started a t-shirt business. It seemed like an easy way to begin. Turns out it wasn’t as easy as he thought, but still, Jeremy was enjoying some success. Then the Great Recession hit, and stores he’d built relationships with stopped buying what he was offering. Instead of folding, Jeremy asked, where’s the opportunity with this? One of his ideas--which he describes “as gimmicky” got noticed by Mark Cuban, which paved the way for the rise of swag.com.

    Success during the pandemic

    The promotional industry is in shambles right now. Companies are letting people go instead of bringing them on, which means there’s far less need for branded company products. Yet Swag.com just enjoyed its best three months EVER. That is the power of identifying and following through with profitable opportunities. There are always problems that need solving, including some that are still coming down the pipeline. That is and always will be the case, no matter what’s going on in the world.

    Beware idea attachment

    Marrying your ideas is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Remove your ego from the situation, because it’s not about you. It’s about what the market needs. You cannot make them need or want something they don’t need or want. Get your minimum viable product together and get it into the world quickly. See how the market responds, and adjust accordingly. If the minimum viable product doesn’t get traction, you’ve just saved yourself vast sums of time, money, and energy.

    You’ve just got to start

    Where you start is rarely where you end up, which is why the most successful entrepreneurs in the world start fast. Another of the worst things you can do is drag out getting started. Whether you succeed or fail, you’ll learn from it. Very often, failing has more to teach us than success. No matter how good you are at identifying opportunities, you will not strike gold every single time. Get your ideas into the world quickly, get feedback, and learn and adapt. It may take several attempts to find your next (or first) big winner. But the only way you’ll ever find it is to just start.

    The right way to network

    Networking is a proven way to connect with the people and resources you need to grow your business. It’s also something people tend to overthink. Jeremy’s best advice to get the most out of your networking efforts is pretty simple: Put yourself out there. Get your lines in the water and see who bites. The first few people you meet may not be who you need, but they may be connected to the right people for you. Since you can’t know for sure, get as many lines in the water as you can. The more lines you have, the better your chances of getting the right bites.

    Remember the mission (and remind your team)

    A motivated, effective team can not only help you bring opportunities to life, they can help you identify more. And a team that believes in your company’s mission and vision is proven to perform better at even their day to day role. Reminding your team of your company’s mission is key to strong motivation, especially in tough times. Remember to stoke that fire.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Successful, but not excited about it [5:50]
    • What not to do when opportunity punches you in the face [10:45]
    • Why adaptation is key to success [14:02]
    • Your best shot at avoiding the duds [17:05]
    • What to do if you struggle to see opportunities [24:30]
    • Stop waiting for “that one big idea” [27:56]
    • How to create relationships that create success [31:10]
    • Motivating your team AND yourself [40:40]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Swag.com
    • Connect with Jeremy Parker on LinkedIn
    • Connect with Jeremy Parker on Twitter
    • Guest on YouTube
    • Check out his Podcast

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Scale Your Company Fast, with Brandon & Kaelin Poulin, Ep 167 Oct 08, 2020

    In just a few short years, Brandon and Kaelin Poulin took LadyBoss Weight Loss from a startup to a company with 350,000 customers. In 2019, LadyBoss, which helps women lose weight, transform their health, and love themselves, was named number 4 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States.

    Tune into this episode for a behind-the-scenes, comprehensive look at what it takes to grow and scale a successful company like LadyBoss - the strategies, the mindsets, the vision, the customer relationships, all of it - in a few years instead of a few decades.

    Network marketing’s most valuable lessons

    Before they ever met, Brandon and Kaelin started in network marketing, and found their way into weight loss, health, and fitness. They learned succeeding in network marketing requires developing and maintaining relationships. It requires listening to people, and finding out what they really want. And it requires facing rejection, over and over and over. Network marketing also taught them about personal development, something they know is critical to both their early success and their ongoing success. Everything you do starts with you, and if you’re tripping over the same issues within yourself, it’ll trip up everything you try to do.

    Dig in and make something happen

    After five years with another company, Brandon and Kaelin were ready to start their own company. They were two months behind on rent, on their car payment - basically everything, and in danger of sinking even further. With their backs against the wall, they locked themselves away from the outside world for two months and worked around the clock to launch their company. It didn’t take fairy dust or unicorns - just the commitment to dig in and do it.

    Get off the shiny penny highway

    With the abundance of tools, trainings and strategies out there, Brandon and Kaelin often found themselves tempted by the shiny penny highway. Oh, another cool software! Oh, another marketing strategy to try! The barrage of things to try was constant. To avoid getting trapped on the shiny penny highway, Brandon and Kaelin always brought it back to what their customers and their company needed at that time. If what they were looking at didn’t fit with their vision, it wasn’t right for their business. It meant saying no to a lot of things. It also allowed them to simplify, while simultaneously (and quickly) growing their company and better serving their customers.

    Don’t shut out your customers

    A lot of companies think being aloof with and too cool for their customers is the right way to be. Brandon and Kaelin see it differently. They know, from years of experience, how crucial the customer relationship is to their success. Rather than shut their customers out, they welcome communication with their customers. They’ll take customers by the hand, so to speak, and help them walk to that next level. It’s a powerful reminder that your customers are your best asset. Without them, you don’t have a business. Don’t shut them out.

    You always have the power

    Brandon and Kaelin point out something a lot of successful people come to realize: That once you get to a certain level, your success is all other people see. But they’ve been kicked in the teeth, made mistakes, and had to find different ways of doing things. And they know it’s likely to continue on that way, because that’s just the nature of business. The reason Brandon and Kaelin have been so successful isn’t because they haven’t faced challenges, it’s because they know they have the power, always, to overcome them. Believing and accepting that no matter what comes your way, you have the power to deal with it and find another way forward, is a must-have mindset for all business owners.

    Outline of This Episode

    • Backs against the wall [05:29]
    • Trial by fire [12:40]
    • Get off the shiny penny highway [20:56]
    • Remember who you’re serving [29:36]
    • Stop pushing your customers aside [34:01]
    • The secret to aligning as a team [38:48]
    • What to do when the hits keep coming [46:15]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • LadyBoss Weight Loss: https://ladyboss.com/
    • https://www.instagram.com/ladyboss/
    • https://www.facebook.com/LadyBossKaelin
    • https://www.youtube.com/c/LadyBossWeightLoss

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Cost of Indecision, Ep 166 Sep 17, 2020

    The ability to make decisions, and make them fast, is critical for any entrepreneur, because very often it’s the decisions you don’t make that will stall, or even destroy, your business.

    Uncomfortable, intimidating decisions are the ones most likely to trip you up. It seems easier to kick the can down the road than to make a decision that might be wrong, or may hurt someone’s feelings.

    But James and Dean will tell you, from difficult personal experience, that the cost of indecision is a LOT higher than you think.

    Tune in to hear their personal examples of when NOT making a decision cost them money and time, and even handicapped their businesses.

    Plus they’ll reveal how even a decision that turns out to be wrong is better for your business than indecision.

    If you find yourself avoiding or procrastinating decisions because the cost of making them seems too high, too nerve-wracking, or too uncomfortable, this episode is exactly what you need to stop spinning your wheels and make those business-building decisions, no matter how intimidating or difficult they seem.

    Outline of This Episode
    • What NOT making a decision costs you [6:00]
    • When the gift of problem-solving backfires [12:30]
    • The “perfect decision” myth [26:00]
    • How other people factor into your indecision [30:10]
    • The gift of wrong decisions [38:00]
    3 major points discussed
    • How to tell when it’s decision time. This one seems VERY counterintuitive. But if you’re 90% or more sure of your decision, it usually means you waited too long to make it. Surprising, right? But when it comes to your confidence in your own decisions, there’s a sweet spot to shoot for. While no guarantee your decision is “right,” this sweet spot will ensure you’ve given a decision enough thought, but not more than it needs for you to make it. Tune in to discover exactly how to tell when it’s time to pull the trigger.
    • Not all decisions are created equal. Some decisions aren’t worth the bandwidth we give them. For example, what to eat for lunch should be a much faster decision than whether to sell your company. Quickly identifying which decisions are worth the extra time and thought, and which ones are not, will skyrocket your decision-making speed. Tune in to get James and Dean’s tips for quickly discerning whether a decision is worth the extra consideration.
    • You’ll NEVER please everyone. Avoiding hurt feelings is one of the top reasons we avoid making decisions. But the reality is, it’s not possible to make everyone happy every time. Case in point: James shares a horror story about a meeting he attended where dozens of people weighed in on a design project. It really got out of hand, and made arriving at a decision impossible. Tune in to hear exactly what happened, and discover the critical decision-making lesson James took away from the project. If a desire to please others impedes your ability to make decisions, just wait until you hear this!
    Resources & People Mentioned

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    High Ticket Offers 101 with Tyler Kemp, Ep 165 Sep 10, 2020

    Most entrepreneurs salivate at the thought of high-ticket offers. Make more money working with fewer clients. A dream come true, right?

    But what does it REALLY take to create a high-ticket offer people want enough to pay a high-ticket price?

    That’s what Tyler Kemp, this week’s guest, is going to reveal.

    Tyler’s helped build multiple 7-figure companies, and he brings years of experience with both low-ticket and high-ticket offers.

    He figured out pretty quickly that low-ticket and high-ticket are two different animals that bring in two different types of customers, and require two different sets of systems to build and scale.

    So, if you’d love to create a high-ticket offer for your business, but you:

    1) Don’t know what to offer

    2) Are uncomfortable at the thought of charging more money

    3) Believe your customers won’t want it

    ...Then tune in to get the tactics and mindset you need to create and sell your high-ticket offer.

    If you already have a high-ticket offer, you’ll want to hear Tyler’s secrets to making that offer even more desirable, so you can charge more AND sell more, while getting your clients the epic results they need from you.

    Lead gen and high ticket sales. Acquiring more customers, one of the easiest ways is to raise the value of what you’re offering.

    Outline of This Episode
    • The #1 barrier to making high ticket sales [8:25]
    • Solve more problems to charge more money [16:00]
    • Once isn’t enough [27:00]
    • The perfect product-market fit takes time [33:00]
    • What to do after creating your offer [39:15]
    3 major points discussed
    • It starts with your mindset. If your mind’s already made up that your customers would never go for a high-ticket offer, or you’re uncomfortable charging more money, you’ve shot yourself in the foot before even starting. With rare exception, most businesses have the makings of a high-ticket offer. But in order to see the possibilities, you’ve got to be open to them.
    • Beware the low-ticket value trap. We all want to give our customers as much value as possible, including in our low-ticket offers. The problem is, there’s a limit to how much value you can realistically bring to that many people at once before it becomes unsustainable money-wise, and time-wise. High ticket offers set you free from those constraints. Your clients pay more, making it cost-effective and time-effective for you to provide them with more AND remain profitable.
    • Solve more problems. A lot of offers solve only one or two problems around the same topic, but most people have way more than one or two. That means, the more solutions you can provide to these additional problems, the more money the right clients will pay you to get those problems taken care of. Becoming someone’s all-in-one solution is your highway to profitable high-ticket offers.
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • https://www.leadroll.co/
    • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/tjkemp

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Find Your Flow, with Mike Liep, Ep 164 Sep 03, 2020

    Productivity and accomplishment--the double edged swords of entrepreneurship. Setting and hitting goals are an absolute must to build and grow a successful business. So is being productive.

    Yet it’s SO easy to become so focused on goals and being productive, you end up anxious and miserable, because you’re always thinking about “What’s next.” It doesn’t leave room for the happiness and freedom you expected when you started your business. You end up feeling more like a robot than like a person.

    But what if there was a way to make more and faster progress on your goals, AND feel satisfied as you go?

    That’s what this week’s episode guest, Mike Liep, is going to reveal.

    Mike fought his way back from Lyme disease, a traumatic brain injury, cancer, and panic and depression, and in the process, mastered the development of systems to help you get more done in less time, and actually feel GREAT doing it. Mike even developed the popular Panda Planner, a planner scientifically designed to help you become happier and more productive.

    So whether you’re accomplishing a lot but NEVER feel satisfied, or whether you’re just looking to become more productive, and improve your day to day, check out this episode for the secrets to finding your flow.

    Outline of This Episode
    • From brain injury to breakthrough [4:10]
    • The dark side of goals [7:30]
    • The battle for your attention [18:00]
    • End goals vs. process goals [22:15]
    • Non-negotiable habits for business owners [28:00]
    3 major points discussed
    • I’ll be happy “when.” Ever catch yourself thinking you’ll be happy and satisfied when you hit that next big goal, except when you get there, you aren’t? Instead, you kick the happiness can down the road in favor of achieving that next big goal. Hitting our goals rarely lives up to our expectations in terms of how good we feel getting there. Listen to this episode for the secret to being happy and fulfilled NOW, while still propelling yourself toward goal achievement.
    • Develop your focus. There’s SO much competing for your attention these days. Ads are everywhere. Plus we’ve got email, apps, notifications, and the people in your life. Let’s face it--the Internet trains you to be incredibly lazy while feeling incredibly busy. You sit on your ass, move one finger, and presto, your mind’s consumed. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve got the added dynamic of a zillion trainings, products, and services all competing for your belief that they’re the next business success silver bullet. Mike’s going to help you cut through all that noise, so you get traction instead of distraction.
    • Two tips for business owners. One reason we struggle with distractions is because an idea or to-do pops into our head, and we believe that if we don’t handle it right then, we’ll forget. Tune in to hear Mike’s tips for managing those moments without sacrificing your focus. Plus he’s got super simple productivity tips, and even a super simple morning routine framework you can quickly and easily implement to start the day off right.
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • PandaPlanner.com
    • Mike Leip’s Ted Talk: “How To Stay Happy When Life Is Punching You In The Face” - https://youtu.be/JDlU0sHmuhY
    • Mike Leip’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-leip-23a633b/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License


    Turning Things Around, With Greg Spillane, Ep 163 Aug 27, 2020

    A lot of businesses had to close their doors in the year 2020, and for some, those doors will never re-open. Even outside of this year’s events, plenty of companies close up shop because things go south, and they have no idea how to fix it.

    Sometimes throwing in the towel is the answer, but most of the time, a solution is out there, if only the business owner was aware of it. Most of the time, your problem isn’t a lack of resources, it’s a lack of resourcefulness (even in times like these).

    To help you see for yourself that closing up shop isn’t your only option, James and Dean welcome Greg Spillane, aka The Turnaround Guy.

    As his nickname suggests, Greg specializes in helping companies on the brink turn things around.

    Greg will show you exactly where to start if your business is on the rocks, how to identify and use the resources you DO have, and ways you can think outside the box and keep the doors open.

    Even if your company’s thriving right now, make sure you tune in for what Greg has to say. You may need these strategies at some point in your business journey. Plus, several of them apply even if your company’s not on the rocks. Apply them and watch your profits get even higher.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Where to start turning things around [5:15]
    • Why you need to be a survivor (and what that means) [11:00]
    • Lack of company culture = death of your company [19:00]
    • The characteristics to look for in people you hire [27:00]
    • How and where to get capital [31:00]
    3 major points discussed
    • Identify your assets. If you were stranded on a desert island, the first thing to do is focus on what you DO have. What’s available to you? What do you have to work with? Turning your business around works the same way. Look at the assets you do have, like a raving fanbase, your product, your employees--anything you can use. A lot of people want to focus on what they can create, and that’s important, but what you already have is equally important.
    • Create and clarify your company culture. Company culture may sound like foo-foo, but if so, it’s because you’ve got the wrong idea about it. True company culture gets everybody aligned with the company vision, mission, and values. When your team isn’t aligned in those areas, when they don’t believe in the same things, and aren’t working toward the same goals, it leads to drama, dysfunction, backstabbing, and poor productivity. Having a team who’s only there for the paycheck, and doesn’t care about your mission, makes it VERY difficult to be successful.
    • Investment opportunities are everywhere. The right investor(s) can help plug the leaks in your sinking ship. And investing in other businesses can create additional revenue and take some pressure off. If either of those options leave you feeling squeamish, don’t rule it out without listening to Greg’s take on this. There’s a lot of opportunities to acquire capital now that there didn’t used to be. Greg will share several of his favorites, including what he’s used to help his clients turn their companies around.
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Fancy.com
    • Twitter: @greg_spillane
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spillane/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Identifying Profitable Business Ideas, With Dr. Adam J. Bock, Ep 162 Aug 20, 2020

    When it comes to new ideas, entrepreneurs are like machine guns. We can spit them out as rapidly as a machine gun sprays bullets.

    But when we get so excited about an idea that we don’t properly put it through its paces, we end up wasting exorbitant amounts of time and money trying to fulfill an idea that’s never going to happen.

    Then we blame our customers for not seeing the value, leap to the next “sure thing,” and repeat the process again.

    This exact cycle is one of the top reasons 90% of startups fail, and why even established businesses can waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on “sure thing” business ideas.

    Instead of letting idea excitement run the show, tune into this episode of Just The Tips with guest Dr. Adam J. Bock to learn what to do (and what NOT to do) once you’ve got a new business or product idea.

    Adam is a serial entrepreneur and academic researcher who’s mastered the ability to structure sustainable business models that give you a competitive advantage.

    Adam’s not only started multiple companies, he’s also sold multiple companies, in the venture capital space, for eight figures. When it comes to profitable, sustainable business models, he knows what he’s doing!

    Adam will reveal the most costly mistakes entrepreneurs the world over make with their business ideas; plus show you how to identify when you actually DO have a winner.

    Outline of This Episode
    • What is a business model, REALLY? [10:20]
    • Cool ideas are the start, not the finish [16:50]
    • Avoid this expensive problem-solution blunder [23:00]
    • Choosing who to ask (and who not to ask) about your idea [39:30]
    • Don’t confuse valuable with profitable [48:02]
    3 major points discussed
    • When lighting strikes, give it space. Yes, entrepreneurs have to take risks in order to get anywhere. But there’s a big difference between taking a risk and allowing idea excitement to blind you. When your latest big idea strikes, document it, but give yourself space to get beyond that initial burst of excitement. That way you can evaluate your idea with a level head (and potentially save yourself years of wasted time and money).
    • It’s not your customers’ fault. When you test the waters with your product and don’t get the response you’re hoping for, it’s all too easy to decide you don’t have the right customers. Or that they’re clueless for not seeing the value in what you offer. Educating people who don’t yet understand the value in your idea is possible, but it works a LOT less frequently than most people think. If your solution isn’t a solution in their minds, no amount of educating them will change that.
    • Keep it lean when you test the waters. Instead of cannonballing into the water with your new idea, dip your toe in, especially when you’re gauging customer interest. Just because someone says they want it, doesn’t always make it so. It depends on who you’re asking, and whether you’re actually solving their problem, or just solving a problem you think they have. Keeping this phase lean is critical to stopping new idea excitement from running away with your time and money.
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • https://www.bizmodelbook.com/
    • The Business Model Book: Design, Build and Adapt Business Ideas That Drive Business Growth, by Adam J. Bock and Gerard George (available on Amazon)

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Developing The Leader Within, with Peter Montoya, Ep 161 Aug 13, 2020

    You’ve probably run head-first into the following leadership myth: “If you’re not born a great leader, you’ll never be one.” That statement couldn’t be further from the truth! Great leaders are made, not born, because great leadership is a skill that anyone willing to put in the time and effort can develop.

    To learn the truth about what makes a great leader, and get first-class tips for developing your own ability to lead, join James and Dean as they welcome world-renowned leadership expert, Peter Montoya, as this week’s guest.

    Many people’s definition of a leader is someone who’s arrogant, controlling, and has to be right no matter what. But behavior like that has nothing whatsoever to do with being a true leader.

    One way Peter defines a leader is simply this: Someone who does things differently. For example, back when most businesses were hung up on boring corporate branding, Peter became a pioneer in the world of personal branding. He even wrote a best-selling book on the subject (which you’ve no doubt heard of): The Brand Called You: Create A Personal Brand That Wins Attention And Grows Your Business.

    Leadership skills are essential for everyone, not just business owners, because we’re all leaders in multiple areas of our lives. Listen to this episode to get Peter’s top tips for becoming an inspiring leader who gets results.


    Million Dollar Business Systems with Dan Cuprill, Ep 160 Aug 06, 2020

    Growing your business without efficient systems in place is a disaster waiting to happen, because you can generate a lot of revenue and still end up broke.

    Having the right systems in place, on the other hand, gets you a fat bottom line, while also freeing up your time to focus on the best use of your time, in both your business and your own life. Plus you get to spend less time on the things that stress you out.

    Sounds great, right?

    But what is a “business system?”

    Which business systems do you need?

    Where’s the best place to start developing systems in your business?

    These questions, and many more, will be answered in this week’s episode of Just The Tips, where James and Dean welcome Dan Cuprill, founder of Renegade Advisor.

    Thanks to his contrarian and systematic approach to growing his financial advisor business, Dan’s developed a repeatable business system that consistently generates a million dollars (or more) in profits per year.

    If your business keeps hitting a wall, or falling short of your expectations in other ways, it’s probably a systems issue. Tune into this week’s episode for tips on identifying the profit-sucking leaks in your business systems.


    What’s Holding You Back, Ep 159 Jul 30, 2020

    Three action-packed years ago, James P. Friel and Dean Holland set out on a mission with one objective: Launch a fun, value-packed podcast full of cutting edge advice to help entrepreneurs take their business to the next level.

    The first few episodes of Just The Tips were rocky, as James and Dean, both podcast newbies, worked through the ins and outs and ups and downs of launching and growing a successful podcast.

    With three years of successful podcasting under their belts, you’d expect the guys’ podcasting experience to be smooth as silk. It’s definitely more efficient than it used to be, but technical fails and other issues still pop up, and do so for one unavoidable reason:

    Challenges are a part of life. If you want to get anywhere with anything, such as launch a product or grow your business, the ability to roll with the punches and find a way forward is a must. Yet an unfortunate number of people give up on their dreams when adversity swoops in.

    In this third anniversary episode, James and Dean reveal their top tips to keep going when your commitment to your dreams and goals is tested. Make no mistake: It will be tested. Not once, not twice, but over and over again. And each time, you’ll find yourself at a crossroads: Give up, or dig in your heels and keep going.

    If you want to be the person who digs in their heels and keeps going, check out this episode.

    Outline of This Episode
    • What stops people from achieving their dreams [5:05]
    • It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you’re doing [12:01]
    • Accidental selfishness is holding you back [13:30]
    • How to move beyond imposter syndrome [17:50]
    • When to zip your and lip and listen [24:03]
    3 major points discussed
    • Don’t know what you’re doing? You’ll learn! When James and Dean launched Just The Tips three years ago, they had no idea how to launch and grow a successful podcast. But they went for it anyway. Due diligence ahead of time is always a great idea, but some things you can only learn as you go. Waiting to move forward until everything is “perfect,” or until you finally feel qualified, means you’ll never move forward. You’re never going to feel fully qualified, and nothing will ever be “perfect.”
    • It’s not about you. There are people you can help NOW. By procrastinating, or even giving up on, your dreams, you’re depriving them of your help. Imagine if you called an ambulance because you were in excruciating pain, and when the EMTs arrived, they just stood outside and stared at you through your living room window. When you allow your own limiting beliefs to derail you, you’re doing to the people you could be helping what the EMTs did in this example scenario. Your message is too important for you to keep sitting on it!
    • What matters more than great products? Concern that your product’s no good is a giant roadblock for a lot of entrepreneurs. Yes, product quality is important, but there are ways you can ensure it’s a great product, and still get it into the world before hell freezes over. James and Dean share one must-do and one must-have for creating profitable products that get people results. Tune in to hear all the details.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Eliminate Team Meeting Tedium, Ep 158 Jul 23, 2020

    Due to social distancing measures, businesses the world over have unexpectedly found themselves forced to conduct virtual team meetings. What many quickly discovered is that virtual team meetings, like in-person meetings, can drag on and end up extremely unproductive - except even more so!

    Instead of getting to business and lining out next steps, virtual team meetings often turn into time-sucking social hours, feel pointless, or take three times longer than necessary, all because there’s no meeting framework in place.

    A recent study revealed that unproductive team meetings waste nearly $40 billion a year; and that regardless of company size, employees spent 15% of their time in meetings. That’s a lot of time and money down the drain!

    In this week’s new episode, James and Dean share simple, streamlined strategies to eliminate team meeting tedium, so you can get to business, get a plan in place, and get on with your day.

    Outline of This Episode
    • Why virtual team meetings take way longer than they need to [5:35]
    • What to have in place even before the meeting structure [10:40]
    • Know your definition of success [25:30]
    • What to do once everyone’s on the same page [37:27]
    • James’ three-step approach to team meetings [41:41]
    3 major points discussed
    • Why do team meetings often feel pointless? Because most team meetings consist of these two elements: Catching up, and checking in, neither of which move your company forward. Without a clear, focused structure based around a clear, focused goal, team meetings can easily get and stay off track. It doesn’t mean you have to be a drill sergeant, but no consistent structure and clear goal, your meeting will end up unproductive and feel pointless.
    • Setting your team meeting agenda. Before you even head into your team meeting, everyone’s got to be on the same page. For example, what are the big projects your company is focused on right now? What needs to happen in order for your team to complete those projects on time, and in a way that leads to the results you want? Once everyone understands what the focus of the meeting’s going to be, and the role each team member plays in creating that project outcome, it’s easy to get crystal clarity on your team meeting’s goal and agenda.
    • On-point, productive meetings don’t happen without a framework. James uses a three-step approach to team meetings. Step one is about solidifying company culture. This isn’t a free-for-all social hour, but rather, an opportunity for you and your team to check in with why you’re all doing what you’re doing. After that’s done, steps two and three are about getting down to business: Where are we, and where do we go from here? All the details for exactly how to follow James’ three-step team meeting approach are in this week’s episode!

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Infinite Info Product Income, Ep 157 Jul 16, 2020

    This year’s events have inspired more people than ever to seek out creative ways to earn more income. Whether it’s growing a side hustle, pivoting or expanding their existing business, or creating a business from scratch, online info products are a fantastic way to create a revenue stream, and do so without a lot of overhead costs.

    Doesn’t matter if you’re online-only or brick and mortar, established or brand new - you have something to offer. For example, there’s something you do well that other people don’t do well, and would love to get better at. There’s something you know that can help people solve a problem, challenge, or pain in their lives. And if you sell physical products, you can offer digital products to improve your customers’ experience with your physical product(s).

    You don’t have to know everything there is to know in order to have an info product. You just have to know more than someone else, and show them how to get a result they want.

    “Anybody can build a business around any knowledge they have.” - James P. Friel

    Outline of This Episode
    • Who can make money with info products [4:01]
    • What stops most people from having an info product [11:25]
    • There’s never been a better time to create an info product [17:20]
    • How to choose your product topic [21:15]
    • Validating and launching your info product [29:30]
    3 major points discussed
    • Don’t get ahead of yourself. Trying to micromanage every step of your info product from idea conception to launch will send you straight into paralysis by overanalysis. Whether or not your product is created is irrelevant if you don’t even have your idea nailed down. The software you use to create your info product is irrelevant until you’ve actually created it. Focus your time and energy on the step you’re currently on. THEN figure out the next step.
    • Even crazy ideas help with topic selection. Before you can launch, or even create an info product, you’ve got to choose a topic. That’s where a “Knowledge Inventory” comes in. James and Dean use and recommend this simple brainstorming method to help you see what you have to offer. While taking a Knowledge Inventory, it’s CRITICAL you do not judge your ideas. Even if the idea sounds iffy, or just plain nuts, write it down. Ideas lead to more ideas. The point of a Knowledge Inventory isn’t to come up with a million winners (because it only takes one). It’s to fully unleash your creativity and brainstorming, which won’t happen if you’re in judgment mode. If an idea pops into your head, write it down. Only once you’ve got that unedited list of ideas will you sort them based on factors like how much you know about them, whether there’s people looking to learn them, and whether those people will pay you for your knowledge.
    • Think you’ve got a winner? Then it’s time to validate it. Is there demand? Is that demand coming from freebie seekers, or from people who’ll spend money to get what you’re offering? Is your idea developed enough to help people? Your product doesn’t need to be “as good as it’ll ever possibly be” straight out of the gate, but it does need to be developed enough to help people get a result. There are a ton of ways to validate your idea, and James and Dean will share the best ones with you in this episode.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • BulletProof Business Program: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Overcoming Overwhelm, Ep 156 Jul 09, 2020

    As you make your way to success, you get this wave of overwhelm that takes you by surprise. You might try to think back and see if you’ve missed the signs, but it’s too late by then. Burnout is just around the corner! How do you avoid this monster of a situation? In this episode, James and Dean talk about their effective strategies to overcome overwhelm. It’s inevitable, but when you have the right systems in place, overwhelm is not as scary as you think!

    “We're human beings, not human doings.” – James P. Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - Juggling multiple projects at the moment

    - As cliché as it sounds, “Health is Wealth!” Play the long game.

    - Finding the balance between work, health, relationships, and everything else!

    - Writing, good habits, and saying “no.”

    - Delete, Automate, Delegate, and “Do It”

    Playing the Long Game

    You have to be prepared for the long game. Have strategies for getting things out of your head and prioritize your tasks accordingly. If you don’t take time to slow things down, you’re going to burn yourself out like an overheating car.

    A Literal Brain Dump

    The human mind is not designed for short-term storage. If it has too many things going on, there won’t be much room to process in real-time! Set some systems in place for you to offload from your mind (i.e., journals, planners, or simple notebooks”).

    The Magic of Automation

    Learn to avoid the things you hate doing the smart. Delete items that aren’t needed. Automate the simple activities that are a pain. Delegate more complex tasks. When you have all these in place, start doing your own thing!

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Connect with James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group (The Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Interested in being a guest on the show? - https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Fishing Without Hooks with Brian Kurtz, Ep 155 Jul 02, 2020

    With the marketing game becoming common, the way people do it starts to become saturated and repetitive. Not to mention, the internet’s rise to power has overshadowed some of the eternal truths to marketing with paid advertising and funnels. In this episode, James and Dean talk with the legendary Brian Kurtz as he dispels marketing myths and reveals the solid marketing principles that many forget to uphold. With so many more tools at your disposal, you have all the opportunity in front of you. It’s up to you to take it!

    “You can't think about ‘marketing is evil’. You’ve got to think about it as a way to present your product or service to an audience that is going to be receptive to it.” – Brian Kurtz

    Outline of This Episode

    - Something more than “Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am!”

    - What does “playing your bogey” mean? Remember the eternal truths!

    - Email is a killer app! It’s not dead yet.

    - Fishing without bait – make the people come to you.

    - The advertising opportunities are infinite! Use online and offline methods.

    Play Your Bogey

    Whether it’s creating a book or other marketing strategies, don’t be afraid to lose money to get more in the long run! Because you don’t know which of your investments will end up winning, see where you can spend without losing too much money.

    Email is a Killer App!

    You have to remember that email doesn’t work the same way as direct mail does. But emails are still an effective medium. Treat your list like family. Create free content, sell educational material (occasionally), or do a weekly blog! That’s fishing without bait.

    The Relationship Between Online and Offline Marketing

    If you drive on all the roads, you’ll be seen everywhere! If you have an excellent presence on Facebook or Instagram, you might want to expand into other areas like direct mail. Find the VIP’s from the people who buy from you and offer them a new product!

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Check out Brian’s book: Overdeliver: https://overdeliverbook.com/

    - Get Brian’s free resources here: https://www.thelegendsbook.com/

    - Brian’s Website: https://www.briankurtz.net/

    - Titan’s Marketing: https://www.briankurtz.net/xl/

    - Brian’s Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/brian.kurtz.121

    - Brian’s Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/briankurtzofficial/

    - Brian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kurtz-a1934/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Connect with James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group (The Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Interested in being a guest on thea show? - https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Who are You Serving in Your Business?, Ep 154 Jun 25, 2020

    There are so many keys to success when you’re building a business online. So many that no one even knows where to begin and some of them even contradict each other! If people in the fitness industry differ with loving and hating carbs (with others not even caring at all), it’s the same thing with business. In this episode, James and Dean help you zoom out and look at how all the pieces fit together. You’ll be surprised to know that the path to get results are the same fundamental things you’ve learned!

    “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – James P. Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:10] The value of the fundamentals

    - [14:07] Being clear on who you want to serve

    - [31:40] Helping people make decisions

    - [45:23] A market to message match and market into message mismatch

    - [47:55] Generating traffic and setting up affiliate networks

    Cut Away the Noise

    The late basketball coach John Wooden stresses fundamentals, even to the degree of putting your socks on! If you get blisters because you put your socks on wrong, you’re not going to be at your best. For your business, be a master of the simple things first!

    Understand Who You Want to Sell To

    How old are they? What do they do? Know the needs of the people you want to serve and figure out how they would feel good about buying from you.

    Solve People’s Problems

    When your offer is good enough that it meets the need your prospect has, there is very little selling involved. A person who accidentally ate a spicy pepper needs no sales talk for cold water!

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - John Wooden (Former UCLA Coach) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden

    - Competing Against Luck - https://www.amazon.com/Competing-Against-Luck-Innovation-Customer/dp/0062435612

    - Clayton Christiansen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Christensen

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Connect with James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group (The Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Power of “What If?” with Sean Castrina, Ep 153 Jun 18, 2020

    Why do most business plans fail? And what’s missing from every other business book out there? In this episode, James and Dean welcome Sean Castrina, an expert on planning for success in business. Sean is a speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author who devotes his time to equipping entrepreneurs for success. Today he shares why the 25 questions featured in his latest book, World’s Greatest Business Plan, are guaranteed to work. You’ll hear some of the actual questions and learn the one reason every failed business didn’t make it.

    “There is logic to starting a business, and you need to follow that.” – Sean Castrina

    Outline of This Episode

    - [11:13] Why other business books don’t work

    - [15:34] The value of creating a plan

    - [19:17] The 1 critical thing your business plan must achieve

    - [22:24] Why competition is good for you

    - [40:20] When Sean found a flaw in his own business plan

    Test your business plan first

    In his latest book, Sean lists 25 questions that need to be answered in order for your business plan to succeed. He’s structured it in such a way that if you can’t answer all the questions, you know your plan definitely won’t survive the market.

    Competition is good

    Everyone has competition, even if it’s indirect competition. Sean explains exactly why competition is good for your business plan.

    What if? So how?

    Every successful business started with the same question: “What if?” Sean walks you through the key to finding your “what if” and how to go from there to the “so how?” phase in which you make it a reality.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Sean’s website - https://seancastrina.com/

    - Download your FREE copy of Sean’s book, World’s Greatest Business Plan - https://seancastrina.com/wgbp-freebook-lp/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group (Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Effective Selling with Diane Helbig, Ep 152 Jun 11, 2020

    Do you have a hard time selling? Do you get awkward and uncomfortable when it’s time to close? In this episode, James and Dean welcome Diane Helbig, an international business and leadership consultant, trainer, author, award-winning speaker, and podcast host. She’s here to share her game-changing tips for effective selling. If you’re not excited about sales, you will be by the end of this episode. Tune in for Diane’s expert advice and scripts that will turn you into a master closer.

    “You have to actually listen to what people tell you and then respond based on that, and what you know about your solution.” – Diane Helbig

    Outline of This Episode

    - [7:30] Diane’s strategies for creating a connection with your prospect

    - [8:58] The importance of curiosity and staying in the moment

    - [12:57] Diane defines chasing revenue vs chasing profit

    - [24:28] Key questions you need to know about your prospect

    - [27:02] What James’s philosophy “You’re not there to sell” really means

    “Sales Mode Brain”

    What Diane refers to as “sales mode brain” is not effective. “Sales mode brain” comes into play when you are needy, desperate, obnoxiously confident, or arrogant. Diane tells you how to get out of that space for more effective selling.

    Getting Good Clients

    Should you take money from anyone willing to give it to you? Diane says you should only take money from someone you want to be “married” to. She shares key strategies for getting to know a prospect before building a relationship.

    Honesty is a Good Thing

    Even if you are not the best choice for your prospect, or they are not the best client for you, be honest. Diane has the exact script to use in order to turn that “no” into a potential future relationship.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Diane Helbig Enterprises: https://www.seizethisday.co/

    - Diane’s book, “Succeed Without Selling”: https://www.amazon.com/Succeed-Without-Selling-Think-About/dp/1642799920

    - Diane Helbig on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dhelbig

    - Seize This Growth on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/seizethisgrowth

    - Seize This Growth on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/seizethisgrowth

    - Seize This Growth on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/seizethisgrowth

    - 3-Step Prospecting Strategy: https://onlinecourses.eliteexpertsnetwork.com/course/3-step-prospecting-strategy/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean!

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?: https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Yara Golden on Being Yourself with Clients, Ep 151 Jun 04, 2020

    What does it mean to “be yourself” with your audience? James and Dean welcome Yara Golden, an expert in both online and offline marketing. This episode is packed with her tips for approaching your audience and increasing your open rates. Hint: Relationships with subscribers are a lot like personal relationships. Don’t miss this game-changing advice from a leading expert!

    “When somebody clicks on your ad, it’s them saying, ‘Hey, that thing you just talked about or just showed me is relevant to me, it’s interesting to me.’" – Yara Golden

    Outline of This Episode

    - Two things people do wrong with their lists [5:39]

    - Yara’s 4 types of people you see in marketing inboxes [10:00]

    - How Yara learned to approach her audience [15:42]

    - Making that leap to selling [20:57]

    - How to establish a real relationship with your clients [30:27]

    - Lara’s framework for sharing your stories [33:30]

    - Making space for the right people on your list [37:34]

    - Are you just “checking boxes” in a template? [45:13]

    - The 6 questions everyone has [50:05]

    Are you wasting ad money? Too often, people think an ad is meant to sell something. Yara shares how to make sure your ads are collecting information you need for your list.

    Why is it so hard to “be yourself"?

    It’s easier said than done. But what does it really mean? Yara has concrete strategies and advice for “being yourself” in your client and audience interactions.

    Make space for the right people

    Whatever you are selling won’t be right for everybody. In this episode, Yara helps you get over the idea that you need to be liked by everyone, and instead should aim to be liked by the right people for your list.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Connect with Yara Golden: https://yaragolden.com

    - Subscriber Reviver: https://subscriberreviver.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean!

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Power of Your Audience, Ep 150 May 28, 2020

    Are you ready to learn the real power of your audience? You need to start making the most of your list as an investment. In today’s episode, James and Dean will help you develop a list of ideal clients, grow your list the smart way, and leverage the people already paying attention. Plus, you’ll hear how to revive a cold list and the four types of campaigns you cannot skip in your business. You’ll want to grab a pen and a piece of paper because it’s time to take some notes.

    “If you have a list, you’re always going to have people to talk to. And that’s one of the insurance policies for having a great business.” – James Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - The importance of reaching out to your list today [11:15]

    - Ways to start or grow a list [16:45]

    - How James got a 50-60% conversion [25:25]

    - What’s most important to get people on your list [32:50]

    - The 4 types of campaigns every business owner needs [36:20]

    Starting a list

    How do you grow a list from nothing? Listen as James and Dean share what you need to do to make people want to hear from you. Learn how to establish credibility in your relationship with people.

    Once you have a list

    See your list as an investment. Now that you have it, what is your ultimate end goal? Hear how to develop a consistent communication strategy, and how it can build your business.

    Warming up an old list

    James explains why it’s absolutely vital to revive a cold list. He shares concrete advice for what to say and how to say it to get those leads warmed back up. Plus, you can check out his resource for stoking the fire.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Subscriber Reviver: https://subscriberreviver.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow


    Start From Zero with Dane Maxwell, Ep 149 May 21, 2020

    Most of us are going through turbulent times and working on major pivots in our businesses. If you’re in the same boat, this show is a must-listen. Dane Maxwell started with $123 in his pocket, and now he’s a multi-millionaire, author of the hit book Start from Zero, and serial entrepreneur teaching people how to start a business from scratch. How did he do it? He joins James and Dean in this episode to share his advice on building lucrative businesses over and over again -- even when times are tough. Find out his secrets to making equity every day, including what not to do when starting from zero.

    “Clarity crushes neediness.” – Dane Maxwell

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:05] Learn how Dane started from zero

    - [11:44] What do people get wrong when starting out?

    - [16:14] Step 1 of Dane’s “Learning Adventures”

    - [21:15] How to build equity

    - [23:41] What is Dane’s “Holy Grail” of business?

    - [28:15] The 6 steps you need to start a lucrative business

    What did Dane do right?

    Dane began by “flipping”, or buying and reselling, websites. Though he got taken advantage of, he was naïve enough to think that he could succeed. There’s a certain optimism that’s needed to successfully build a business. But first? Ask people what their problems are—and really listen.

    Passive and Equity Income

    Dane made the decision not to do anything that exchanged time for money unless he was learning something. Too many people start by doing a lot, rather than ruthlessly focusing on what they want to do. That laser focus is clarity, and it will help you start from zero.

    Crush Internal Arrogance

    Entrepreneurs are not experts; they hire experts. With clarity, know what you want to do and you’ll be surprised to find how much money you make! Dane shares the first 3 of the 7 “Learning Adventures” from his book, as well as the 6 steps any entrepreneur needs to start lucrative businesses over and over again…no matter how turbulent the times.

    Resources and People Mentioned

    - “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith J. Cunningham: https://keystothevault.com/the-road-less-stupid-advice-from-the-chairman-of-the-board/

    - Start From Zero: https://www.startfromzero.com/

    - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/startfromzerobuildyourbusiness/

    - Dane’s music on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaneMaxwell/

    - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danemaxwellmusic/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean!

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Make More Money By Creating a Funnel Hub With Mike Schmidt and AJ Rivera, Ep 148 May 14, 2020

    Today's topic can earn you a lot of money, but hardly anyone talks about it. James and Dean welcome Mike Schmidt and AJ Rivera of Anchor Wave, who will share the secrets of a "shadow sales funnel." You can capture all the traffic that's generated in the wake of your active sales funnel to make even more money.

    What happens when people do a Google search for your name? Are there things from your past that come up which will hurt your business? The solution is to build a funnel hub so that you control all those searches. A funnel hub will catch anybody that's searching for you and direct them where you want them to go.

    A funnel hub works by helping you push potential clients past the trust tipping point. Potential clients will overcome skepticism so that you can convert opportunities into more sales.

    "People want to buy from people they admire and have the success they want." – Mike Schmidt and AJ Rivera

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:51] Learn what a shadow sales funnel is and how it can help you

    - [10:04] Seal in the cracks between your online sites

    - [12:49] How a funnel hub can push your clients past the trust tipping point

    - [17:37] Steps you can take right now to build a funnel hub

    - [20:24] What are the key elements of a funnel hub?

    What a funnel hub is, and how it can make you more money

    A passive sales funnel is what happens when people hear about you and want to know more. A funnel hub takes those searches and pushes them back into your funnel. It's a way to connect all the things you're trying to do to all the people who want to know who you are. Building a funnel hub will catch anybody who's searching for you and direct them to your sales funnels.

    How to get your customers past the trust tipping point

    The trust tipping point is where you convert skeptics into clients. You need to convince people of what you do and why so that they will overcome their skepticism and become clients. A funnel hub gives people the secondary validation they need to become clients. It's more elegant than a landing page because it's more purpose-driven. Take control of the results that pop up when people search for you and direct them to your sales funnels.

    The difference between a landing page and a funnel hub

    A landing page is like a brochure, but you need a funnel hub to link all your online properties. Share your dream, your drive, your manifesto on your funnel hub so that potential clients will trust you. By doing this, you create transparency and trust. People will know who you are, including your hero's journey and lifestyle. By giving them this evidence, you help people overcome the trust tipping point. Creating a funnel hub gives people the validation they need, and makes you the money you're missing.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Funnelhub.com

    - Anchorwave.com

    - Agencycoach.com

    Examples of funnel hubs

    - Marketingsecrets.com

    - Garretjwhite.com

    - Bryandulaney.com

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean!

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Next Revolution: Marketplace Superheroes, Ep 147 May 07, 2020

    Where is the crest of the wave for entrepreneurs in all this waiting? Stephen Somers, co-founder of Marketplace Superheroes, chimes in for this interview with James and Dean to discuss how e-commerce and online service businesses are set for a quantum leap. Stephen co-founded an online education and services company that helps people learn to sell their own products globally via Amazon, completely from scratch. With over $12 million in products sold on Amazon, Stephen and his business partner Robert also grew an 8-figure coaching and training business aimed at helping people learn to start up a successful side hustle, even with minimal cash and experience.

    “When this started, I heard Russell (Brunson) say, ‘Now’s the time you have to be there for your audience.’ So I doubled down on streaming, and let people ask me ANYTHING about business, money, side hustles … anything you want.” – Stephen Somers

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:40] The coming wave of small, online service businesses and an e-commerce boom

    - [16:05] Stephen’s competitive angle and mindset for creating a successful Amazon business

    - [23:12] The gold mine waiting on the entrepreneur who knows how to leverage online traffic

    - [25:45] Amazon’s incredible, credibility-boosting inventory decisions in the age of COVID-19

    - [27:09] The gift that keeps giving – the quarantine’s positioning opportunity for entrepreneurs

    Amazing and unusual places to plant seeds on Amazon

    Don’t get greedy, and don’t get fooled by the latest trends where millions of people are trying to get in to compete for precious dollars. Stephen counsels clients to start their e-commerce side hustles with extensive research for products that have potential and an existing record of searchability. The path to success doesn’t lie where you think it does – learn the secrets of “farming” a living from multiple income streams.

    Online traffic’s potency to explode your side hustle growth

    How Stephen’s new side hustle of golf themed t-shirts led to a GOLDEN discovery – the price of online traffic is falling, and it remains the most powerful tool for automating orders and cashing in on the shuttered, blindsided terrestrial market. With fewer competitors than EVER, e-commerce side hustles and small, internet-based service companies for local communities are poised for a boom like no other.

    The biggest mistake you can make during the COVID-19 quarantine

    James, Dean and Stephen rap about the unique ripeness of the time for capturing your audience’s ATTENTION, which was almost impossible to do pre-COVID. Following an inspiring line from Russell Brunson, Stephen got on Zoom and began inviting anyone, client or otherwise, to ask him questions about business, success and growth. If ever there was a time for businesses to be generous, flexible and patient, we are riding that wave!

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Marketplace Superheroes https://marketplacesuperheroes.com/

    - Side Hustle Heroes https://sidehustleheroes.com/

    - Side Hustle Heroes on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/sidehustleheroes/

    - Stephen Somers on InstaGram https://instagram.com/stephenjsomers

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Explosive Power of Online Business Communities, Ep 146 Apr 30, 2020

    One of the best times to build an online business community is during a period of uncertainty. In this episode, James and Dean talk about the advantage of getting out in front of your tribe, with as much power-packed content as you can make, during the ongoing coronavirus quarantine.

    Groups are launched and abandoned on social media every day. They start up with hopes of something new and different, but the people leading them often get sidetracked seeking applause or engagement for posts that aren’t much help or use to the members.

    James launched the BulletProof Business group on Facebook, a platform where he’d previously not been active. It began to grow very quickly. In this discussion with Dean, you’ll zoom out to 30,000 feet to get a firm grip on the right attitude, intentions and some practical steps for creating YOUR highly engaged, profitable online community.

    The energy and intention you need to bring should always be, “How can I create a community of people who need my services?” – James Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - [07:55] Community, leadership and direction over isolation and confusion

    - [18:30] Mindset, sales, marketing, team, operations, systems … your BulletProof survival kit

    - [21:30] The top 3 counterintuitive strategies of an online group in the age of COVID-19

    - [28:28] The power of celebrating wins together – why they ratchet up engagement

    - [32:25] How engaging with your tribe totally sets you apart from the pack

    The top 3 strategies you wouldn’t think to use to get massive group engagement

    James started BulletProof Business with high-level knowledge to deploy, at a brisk pace. But he found that quarantines increase attendance for Facebook Live videos, even if they’re spur-of-the-moment and unannounced. He also flipped the script on chasing engagement, focusing only on what he can give that adds the most value to people. By violating every rule of direct response marketing, James’ group is both monetized and full of energy – even though he had no intention of making money or becoming a social media celebrity.

    The strength of the pack is in the “wins”

    From a mompreneur’s success getting her kids to bathe to an executive closing a $300k deal, winning is even more important during times of turmoil. When BulletProof Business does “Wins on Friday,” the comments section goes nuclear, and “your” economy becomes separate from “the” economy. Psychologically, this helps people keep their attention focused where it belongs – and OFF the daily news soap opera and rumor mill.

    Why we need to talk

    You just can’t outspend someone who is generous with their time, or make up the ground with paid advertising. James intentionally engages business owners and entrepreneurs in his group, and easily sidesteps the question of what makes him different from other thought leaders and experts. During a term of isolation and restriction, engagement is easily our most powerful asset as entrepreneurs.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - BulletProof Business with James P. Friel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    CROSSNET, the Game You Never Knew You Wanted, Ep 145 Apr 23, 2020

    Were you ever that person in high school that was just terrible at volleyball? Do you miss being a kid and playing four square at recess? Do you love going to the beach, but feel left out when you can't play beach volleyball? There is now a solution to that predicament: CROSSNET! It is a new game developed to solve all three problems.

    Today’s guest is the co-founder of CROSSNET, the world’s first four-way volleyball game. Chris Meade moved to Miami in 2017 to start the business with his brother and a childhood friend. Now, CROSSNET has swamped the market and is being distributed by retail giants like Walmart and Target.

    Chris joins James and Dean as they go over the progression of how an idea turned into a million-dollar company. They discuss tips for running a business, why it’s important to be patient and frugal, and so much more!

    We don’t surrender cash unless it’s going to bring us back money. If I spend $10, I better be getting $11 back. That’s been our whole mindset since we’ve started the company. - Chris Meade

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:49] CROSSNET, from idea to business

    - [09:26] The negotiation between the company and retailers

    - [15:27] The biggest challenge in owning the business

    - [17:40] Future plans for CROSSNET and the company

    - [20:29] What made Chris and his partners decide that the idea was worth it

    The inception of CROSSNET

    CROSSNET is a four-way volleyball game that merges traditional volleyball with the game four square. It divides the court into four quadrants, rather than in half. The rules combine traditional four square and volleyball elements in a competitive game.

    They started out advertising by going to the beach and playing the game every day until people caught on and got interested. Three years later, CROSSNET is now available at Walmart, Target, DICKS, Academy Sports, Amazon, and 20 other retailers.

    The biggest challenge of owning a business

    For Chris and his partners, the biggest challenge they faced was during the early days of the business. In their first year, the company only made $80,000. They did not make any profit from the money and all of it went back to the company. Chris mentions that they had to be super patient for the first year and a half before seeing any return on their investment.

    It may have taken them a longer time than what people would normally refer to as an “overnight success”. It took them two years of steady work before they paid themselves. Chris and his friends knew that they had the skill sets to bring in cash while their company was still starting out. So even if they thought about getting a bank loan to scale faster, they depended on their diligence to keep them afloat.

    How do you decide if an idea is worth the effort or not?

    Chris mentions that in deciding whether an idea is viable, it all comes down to numbers. He specifically talks about the conversion metrics paired with how much money it costs to get customers to the site when ads are run.

    It’s all about your growth strategy. If there is positive growth, then that is something you would want to continue working on even if there isn’t a sale made every day. On the other hand, if you are on a sale plateau for too long, then that becomes an issue. You can either pivot your marketing strategy or put a little more effort into it, but if there is no more effort to be put in, then that can be your cue to stop.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjmeade

    - CROSSNET'S Website: https://www.crossnetgame.com/

    - CROSSNET on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossnetgame/

    - CROSSNET on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossnetgame

    - CROSSNET on Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossnetgame

    - CROSSNET on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3_8Rgawrlg_YTqqN2rrsQw

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Create Opportunity Out of a Crisis, Ep 144 Apr 16, 2020

    Most of us are almost a month into being on lockdown because of the pandemic. Like most situations, things have to get worse before they can get good again. Even Dean wasn’t an exception to the virus; he was deemed to have been positive and was quarantined for ten days before coming back to the show.

    In today’s episode, James and Dean chat about how you can create opportunity out of a crisis. They share a four-step framework that you can take and apply in whatever business you are in right now. This process is applicable in any situation to help you figure out how to move forward.

    James also emphasizes that the way you can dramatically accelerate the growth of your business is when you see the opportunity in a crisis, you go through it, and figure out your way. Opportunity is everywhere, but you are going to have to go and catch it.

    How do you evolve with this situation? You adapt to the change. – James P. Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - [08:00] Opportunity is everywhere but you have to go and catch it

    - [11:31] The importance of evaluating where you are during a crisis

    - [13:34] Why you should stabilize your business

    - [21:52] Optimizing is your opportunity to unleash creativity

    - [29:40] The difference between optimization and disruption

    Why you should stabilize to the best extent that you can

    In times of a crisis, as a business owner, you cannot expect that things will be figured out for you. You have to make sure that you are not bleeding cash. Hence, you need to stabilize things yourself.

    The best way to approach it is by making a fast decision after you are done running different scenarios. You have to check the resources that are required to support your current level of income. It may either mean that you have to pivot your offers or let go of some employees, vendors, or contractors.

    How to unleash your creativity through optimizing opportunities

    Optimizing opportunities is when you add more value to your existing marketplace by giving out interesting offers or presenting more ways of helping people. If you feel stuck and don't know how to pivot, the best way to get out of a rut is to have conversations with other like-minded people.

    One of the things that is critical in optimizing is to understand that things can fall into one of three places - good, better or best. During a crisis, your ideal version of what should be out there should not prevent you from letting out something good that can meet people’s needs.

    The difference between optimization and disruption

    Optimization is when you improve or pivot the things that you already have. On the other hand, disruption is saying how you can go after a big player in the market who is having some challenges, and how you can come in on the low end to do something there. How you can serve a new market of people that are not able to get access to the things that the bigger businesses are unable to provide.

    The opportunity to capture a large amount of market share is available right now. Once you’ve gone through the first three steps, it would be smart to look at the marketplace and look for opportunities for disruption.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow


    Using Your Email List to Drive Revenue and More with Sully Sullivan, Ep 143 Apr 09, 2020

    Most businesses are currently constrained and are resorting to online interactions due to the pandemic. In today’s episode, James and Dean talk about how you can grow your business and have great relationships with your customers amid the crisis and challenging circumstances.

    Today’s guest is the founder of BombTech Golf, an e-commerce store with over $17 million sold online since 2012, Tyler “Sully” Sullivan. He believes that the best way to run a profitable e-commerce business is to have real conversations with customers and potential customers at scale. In addition to Bombtech, Sully also runs eCom Growers, which is a Gold Certified Klaviyo Agency.

    In this episode, they discuss how to appropriately use one’s email list to create lasting relationships with customers, drive revenue, and scale the business. They also give out tips on how you can make your email replies more natural and personal.

    As long as people are engaging, you are doing something right. – Tyler Sullivan

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:35] How to engage in conversations with your customers while building your business

    - [08:46] Reasons why entrepreneurs have a disconnect with their consumers

    - [13:50] Two ways of using your email to scale your business

    - [25:03] The tool for managing your email replies

    - [34:01] Why your email list and customer list are the biggest assets you can have

    Two-step process for getting your clients engaged in your business

    When Sully was still setting his business up, he had a process for getting his clients involved in the business so that he could serve them better. His first method was to document everything he was doing. Documenting your development allows you to look back and see what you can improve on.

    The second step was to ask his clientele genuine questions he wanted the answers to. You can ask them what they want to see in your product or business.

    Why there is a disconnect between entrepreneurs and their customers

    There are two main reasons why entrepreneurs have a disconnect with their patrons. The first reason is that entrepreneurs do not ask genuine questions. If you are not inquiring about what they want to see from your products or business, your company will suffer.

    The second reason is that people tend to forget that email is a two-way means of communication. Entrepreneurs focus on using email to drive revenue alone. When you create a conversation with your customers, you make them feel that they are part of the process, creating a long-term relationship with them.

    The importance of nurturing your client and email lists

    According to Sully, any e-commerce brand’s biggest assets are their email and customer lists. When the entrepreneur doesn’t nurture those lists, and they come out with a new product, it will not convert. People won’t have the same sense of loyalty to your brand.

    Plus, if social media went away or if Facebook Ads became too expensive to use, you can still exist and get traffic by using your email list. Never forget that through email, you can communicate with your consumers, and at the same time, drive revenue.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - BombTech Golf’s Website: https://www.bombtechgolf.com/

    - BombTech Golf on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BombTechGolf/

    - EcomGrower’s Website: http://www.ecomgrowers.com/

    - EcomGrower on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecomgrowers/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Maximize Business Opportunities with Aryeh Sheinbein, Ep 142 Apr 02, 2020

    Are you thinking of starting your own business but don’t know where to start? Are you interested in the idea of working for yourself, but you’re unsure of the whole concept? Do you think it would be more beneficial if you team up with someone else? For those who are eager to learn how to start a business, today’s episode is tailored just for you.

    Today’s guest is an expert on business valuation, value improvement, deal structuring, and financial understanding, to name a few. Aryeh Sheinbein is the founder of Results Advisory, which is a results-driven digital marketing agency that helps businesses build their digital marketing strategy.

    He joins James and Dean as they discuss how the foundation of a business should be built, the importance of knowing the difference between a joint venture and a partnership, and why it is fundamental to set up your business with a systemized process. Tune in to learn more about how you can maximize your opportunities and grow as an entrepreneur.

    In terms of structure, people just need to start realizing that there is no hard and fast rule that says, ‘It has to look like this’. Otherwise, it’ll never happen. - Aryeh Sheinbein

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:51] Where entrepreneurs go wrong when they are putting deals together

    - [09:53] The distinction between building a business and building a cash flow stream

    - [13:35] The differences concerning a partnership and a joint venture

    - [18:32] How typical licensing works

    - [27:38] Revenue sharing and how to structure your business

    Common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when starting a business

    When entrepreneurs are just starting out, they are less concerned with the nitty-gritty details of the business. The trouble comes from a place where the details, like legalities, are left out of the picture. Setting up the legal side of your business is important so that, when things go wrong, you don’t end up broke and back at square one.

    Another mistake is when people don’t do enough evaluation on the people they work with. Not doing your due diligence on getting to know your potential partners, workmates, or employees is a setback waiting to happen. Entrepreneurs need to see if the people they are going to work with fit the right position and not hastily team up for a business deal just because they have the same ideas about a prospective business.

    The difference between building a business and building a cash flow stream

    The main point that differentiates the two is centered on whether you are planning to exit the business on any level. When you are setting the business up to where you can sell it, that end will deem that you are building a business. On the other hand, if it’s going to be a constant hustle wherein the business cannot run without your presence, then that will lead you to a cash flow stream.

    In the early stages of a business, it will always need more involvement for it to progress. But if your venture is not set up with a process where, in the long run, it can run on its own, you are building a cash flow stream.

    Are you starting a partnership or a joint venture?

    These terms mean different things depending on the business level. In the entrepreneurial world, a joint venture is considered as a glorified affiliate relationship where one party has a product to sell, and the other has something of value to the audience. One brings the content, while the other brings the audience.

    In contrast, a partnership is where two people do complementary things that will build the business. It becomes a collaboration of activities, efforts, disciplines, and the like.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Aryeh Sheinbein’s Website: https://resultsdrivenadvisory.com/

    - Aryeh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryehthebusinessman

    - Aryeh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aryehsheinbein.public/

    - Aryeh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aryehsheinbein

    - Aryeh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryehsheinbein

    - Check out his Podcast: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/

    - FREE Book - The Iceberg Effect: https://www.icebergeffect.com/free

    - For Deal Structuring or Consulting with Aryeh: http://www.applytotheden.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    The Day Dean’s Facebook Ads Account Got Suspended, Ep 141 Mar 26, 2020

    If you are an entrepreneur who is currently using Facebook Ads or is planning to use them, this episode is one that you don’t want to miss. In today’s episode, Dean shares his personal experience on how one mistake cost the suspension of his account.

    He outlines the events that led to the suspension, the steps he took to appeal his case, and how he was able to get his account reactivated.

    He also gives his takeaway from the experience so you can avoid going through the trouble and not have the same effect on your business. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear from James about how you can increase the value of your business.

    You may not be doing anything wrong at all, but you can still face problems. – Dean Holland

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:45] What happened to Dean’s business

    - [12:45] The reason why Dean is still using Facebook Ads

    - [21:03] Getting the sales letter reviewed by a compliance company

    - [30:45] Takeaways from the whole ordeal

    - [35:15] Why you should begin with the end in mind

    Why Dean’s Facebook Ad account got deactivated

    A couple of days ago, Dean received an email from the Facebook Ads Team informing him that his account has made a violation of its policies, which lead to deactivation of his account. This wasn’t the first time that Dean’s account has gotten suspended because it occurred last December, where it was ruled as a mistake.

    Although it was never specifically stated which policy was infringed, Dean’s appeals were left on deaf ears, and his entire business management got terminated, preventing him from creating any ads for his business.

    What the compliance agency recommended

    Luckily, the employees that were handling Dean’s advertising had contacts with people who deal with compliance concerning written text, and Dean sent out a copy of the sales letter.

    The recommendation of the compliance agency was to avoid focusing on statements that mentioned either personal attributes or overpromising results. Either of these two instances may have been the cause of the violation. Dean suggests to anyone who uses Facebook Ads to avert from using these kinds of statements to prevent problems.

    Lesson from the whole experience

    Dean realized that he was far too dependent on only one channel for a source of new customers. Instead of investing in only one platform, he should not have stopped using other channels.

    Entrepreneurs should learn how to diversify their traffic sources, create redundancy in the systems that they currently have, and become aware of the climate that they operate in so they can understand the macro picture of things and be able to adjust accordingly to day to day things that may come up.

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How to Build Connections With David Gonzalez, Ep 140 Mar 19, 2020

    Today’s guest has come full circle, from selling Mexican candies to connecting people to entrepreneurs with global resources. He is the founder of the Internet Marketing Party, which hosts insider events where one can discover how to double their business while having a cocktail or two.

    David Gonzalez identifies himself as someone who is entrepreneurial. He works best with people who are already established in their niche of business.

    In today’s episode, David joins James and Dean as they sit down and talk about several tips for establishing connections, strengthening those connections, and using them for the improvement of your own business.

    Don’t think that you have to be a networker or connector to build relationships, you only have to be nice and complimentary. - David Gonzalez

    Outline of This Episode

    - [04:26] Establishing the difference between a true entrepreneur and being entrepreneurial

    - [11:37] How David became a super-connector

    - [21:57] The things that people get wrong when it comes to creating business relationships

    - [25:51] The first step in forming a relationship

    - [27:20] David’s FORD method for making connections

    How David made a career out of connecting people

    After a lot of self-reflection, David believes that he is entrepreneurial and not a true entrepreneur. Knowing that he is good at making connections, he made a company that focuses on people getting connected with the right resources for them to double their business.

    He started out making connections with people he didn’t need or want anything from. He then partnered with an integrator that was able to help him out by giving in-depth information about operations.

    Two big mistakes that people make when trying to create a business relationship

    The top two errors that most entrepreneurs make when they try to establish a relationship are understanding and curation.

    What business people need to recognize is that one should understand their audience. It is vital to know people’s interests, what drives them, and how they are wired. Also, it is necessary to talk about their interests or to connect them with the right people to further such pursuits.

    Why it’s important to have a genuine curiosity about the people you’re interested in

    If you want to start a relationship, do not ask them what they do. Instead, ask them through the FORD method where questions revolve around Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Dreams.

    David shares that he uses a particular framework to determine whether there’s good chemistry between him and the person he wants to create a relationship with. And if there’s no chemistry, he considers whether they’re a good match for someone in his network.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - David Gonzalez’s Website: https://internetmarketingparty.com/

    - Internet Marketing Party on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternetMarketingParty/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Effective Marketing Strategies with Bill Bice, Ep 139 Mar 12, 2020

    Today’s guest started his first tech company at the early age of 18. Joining James and Dean is Bill Bice, the CEO of Boomtime and Zebraworks. Bill was able to build an eight-figure business that became the market leader in the corporate legal industry. This venture led to an acquisition by Thomson Reuters, where he joined the management team of a $2B business.

    A programmer at heart, Bill tackled the problem of how one can create great marketing consistently. Thus, he created Boomtime by following the data and understanding what really works. Since then, Bill has founded and invested in 27 companies, always seeing the same correlation: the better you are at marketing, the more significant the success.

    In this episode, Bill shares the best marketing strategies to drive referrals to your business through word of mouth, the importance of effective marketing, and the impact of creating a great marketing foundation. Plus, Bill also goes over common mistakes that entrepreneurs are unaware of that lead to the downfall of their businesses.

    Before you spend a dollar on any form of paid advertising, you need to build the marketing foundation. – Bill Bice

    Outline of This Episode

    - [06:58] What brought Bill back to startups and entrepreneurship

    - [09:15] Why effective marketing is one of the biggest driving forces in any business

    - [15:10] The three core goals of creating a marketing foundation

    - [17:26] Two huge mistakes that businesses make

    - [21:12] Understanding the concept of amplifying the word of mouth to drive more referrals

    Marketing is a crucial part of any business

    Any entrepreneur knows that the presentation and promotion of his business are fundamental for it to grow. A determining factor to know if you are good at marketing is to look at the result or the solution you provide to your clients’ problems. One should be able to demonstrate that there is a return of investment as well.

    The most powerful thing about marketing is referrals. Considered a social currency, referrals are key to a business’s growth and expansion because you cannot possibly expect your business to develop without getting new and more clients.

    How to create a strong marketing foundation

    Equipped with over 30 years of knowledge and experience, Bill shares three core goals for any businessman to address in order to create a strong marketing foundation. He emphasizes the idea that you must be familiar with these goals to avoid making random acts of marketing, which causes inconsistency.

    These goals concentrate on creating and capturing leads, producing referrals, building market automation, and staying on top of your audience.

    Three channels that you can focus on to amplify referrals

    Driving referrals to your business is vital to keep the trade in existence. The most well-known concept in driving referrals is through word of mouth. When people give positive reviews about a certain business, more and more people will become interested, and this leads to the widening of an establishment’s audience.

    Utilizing the advancements of the internet, these three channels optimize the expansion of a business’s audience. This strategy in driving more referrals to your business is a must-know.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Bill Bice’s Website: https://www.boomtime.com/

    - Bill Bice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billbice

    - Bill Bice on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.bice

    - Bill Bice on Twitter: https://twitter.com/billbice

    - Check out his Podcast: https://boomtime.podbean.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Fishing With Corn Dogs With Rylee Meek, Ep 138 Mar 05, 2020

    Are you having a difficult time finding the right customers? Do you end up selling to the wrong crowd? Today’s guest offers a new tip for all entrepreneurs so you can start getting that return on your investment of time.

    From only having $600 in his bank account to generating over $100 million in sales in 9 years, Rylee Meek has turned dinner seminar marketing into a science. He is the founder and CEO of the Social Dynamic Selling System. After he was introduced to a new concept of selling, he perfected his model and is now sharing his knowledge to help you reach your revenue goals.

    In today’s episode, Rylee shares his remarkable breakthrough from sleeping on his sister’s couch after an investment went south to making $2.1 million in sales within six months. He explains how a dinner seminar is one way to attract potential clients where you end up with the ones best fit for your business.

    Money isn’t everything until you don’t have enough of it, then it becomes everything and it consumes you. – Rylee Meek

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:09] The event that changed his life

    - [06:36] A different concept of selling to customers

    - [14:21] Why conducting dinner seminars is effective in closing clients

    - [19:58] What happens during a dinner seminar

    - [26:00] Benchmark conversion rates from the dinner seminar

    Why it is strategic to host a dinner seminar

    Rylee mentions the corndog analogy, where you fish using corn dogs. Corn dogs cannot sustain a fish in the wild, but when you put a corn dog on the hook, the fish will still eat it. Once you’ve gotten the fish, that is when you develop the fish and nurture it.

    With this analogy, getting as many people as possible in one dinner seminar is the key. After you have presented your product or service, you can weed out and catch the right clients that will be the best fit.

    What transpires during a dinner seminar

    What happens during the dinner seminar depends on the goal of the one conducting it. There might be presentations, PowerPoints, and videos shown. You take your guests on an emotional journey where you can solve their problems.

    You build rapport as people start coming in, get a presentation going after the dinner has been ordered, and end the dinner with a question and answer portion. You have to let your personality shine through during the seminar to attract the right people.

    Conversion rates of guests becoming clients

    The conversion rate between the percentage of people invited to the percentage of deals closed after the event varies upon the product or service being offered. The numbers will always fluctuate, but you just have to trust the process.

    If the product or service targets individual needs, then that would lead to a higher percentage of closed deals in comparison to where the market is for families considering that some guests attend the seminar as couples.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Rylee Meek’s Website: http://socialdynamicselling.com/

    - Rylee Meek’s Personal Website: http://workwithrylee.com/

    - Rylee Meek on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRyleeMeek/

    - Rylee Meek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryleemeek

    - Check out his Book: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Thought-Marketing-Business-Possible/dp/1723873810

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Understanding Radical Relevance with Bill Cates, Ep 137 Feb 27, 2020

    With over forty years of experience as an entrepreneur, Bill Cates can tick off the boxes for having started, built, and sold two successful book publishing companies. He has devoted the last twenty-five years to the art and science of relationship marketing.

    In today’s episode, Bill joins James and Dean to explain how he creates exponential business growth through radical relevance. He shares how entrepreneurs can create magnetic value propositions for their clientele and discusses the strategies that entrepreneurs should take note of.

    These tactics include figuring out your niche, focusing on a specific market, and learning how to approach customers in a way that displays empathy for their situation. Get your pen and paper ready because Bill digs deep. If you’re an entrepreneur struggling to get or keep clients, you don’t want to miss any of these gems.

    The only differences that matter, matter. – Bill Cates

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:05] What is radical relevance?

    - [08:45] How you can create value proposition

    - [18:50] The upside of zeroing in on a specific type of clientele

    - [22:47] The different ways to reach out to your clients

    - [29:09] How to use the billboard test

    The two main challenges that entrepreneurs face

    Getting the word out about your business can be quite a challenging feat, especially when businesses open simultaneously with almost the same products or services. Sometimes trades get overshadowed by newer industries, and that can frustrate entrepreneurs.

    Bill discusses the two major challenges that businesses face today. With all the possibilities that come with the internet, some entrepreneurs don’t know how to take advantage of all the resources at their fingertips to get their businesses off the ground. Most people get overwhelmed and find themselves stuck doing what they’ve always known instead of adapting to the new changes.

    How to create value proposition

    For a business owner, the value you provide the moment you meet someone is crucial. Most entrepreneurs have no real target market and typically end up doing shotgun marketing which results in no customers.

    You have to taper the focus in on the target market in order for you to know your value proposition. The narrower, the better as long as certain criteria is met so that you can find the right fit client. Once you have figured out your target market, you can then continue communicating your value to attract the right people for your business.

    The tactical side of reaching out to clients

    Once you have decided on your target market, the next move is to know how to reach out to your potential clients. Bill emphasizes that it is pertinent to differentiate yourself from the competition without talking bad about others.

    He also highlights the importance of doing research about your clients before reaching out to them. Whether it be cold or warm research, once you know a little more about your market, you have a more in-depth context of who they are, which leads to more personalized connections.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Bill Cates’ Website: https://referralcoach.com/

    - Bill Cates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReferralCoach/

    - Bill Cates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bill_Cates

    - Check out his book, Radical Relevance: https://referralcoach.mykajabi.com/radical-relevance

    - Check out his Free Guide: http://www.exponentialgrowthguide.com/

    - Check out Biz Dev Done Right by Caryn Kopp and Carl Gould: https://www.amazon.com/Biz-Dev-Done-Right-Demystifying/dp/1599326795

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    SEO for Beginners with John McAlpin, Ep 136 Feb 20, 2020

    Search engine optimization is a methodology used to increase traffic to a website by obtaining high-ranking placement in search results pages. But all of the tools and strategies for SEO can be overwhelming to beginners.

    Today’s guest, John McAlpin, is the SEO Director at Cardinal Digital Marketing and writes for Search Engine Journal about strategies, concepts, and insights regarding search engine optimization and digital marketing.

    John joins James and Dean as they discuss the ins and outs of search engine optimization. From creating traffic, tracking the traffic and how to start using SEO, John shares his vast knowledge about how a business can use SEO as a cost-effective way of digital marketing -- even if you’re a beginner.

    See what your competitors are putting and then match it and do one more. Leave no room for them to close that competitive content gap. - John McAlpin

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:50] Short-term gains – link building

    - [09:04] Three ways to track traffic

    - [14:22] Page speed affects the traffic

    - [18:22] Two tips to drive customers through a funnel

    - [30:03] Where to begin with SEO

    Three ways to track traffic

    John mentions three ways a business can track the number of visitors a page or website receives. One is through referral traffic, second is through link building and the third is through Domain Authority developed by Moz.

    The first way is when one goes into Google Analytics and tracks the traffic from there, while Domain Authority has its own algorithm where it compares quality over quantity and it will give you an impression on how Google might view a business link profile.

    How to drive customers through a funnel

    The idea of a funnel is to create the journey for a customer that will eventually lead to a purchase of either a product or service being sold by the business. But how can businesses design their funnel to make that a success?

    John reveals a couple of ways to do so. One is focused on long-form content where the website must have on-page quick links. This helps people find and get the information they need.

    Where to begin with SEO

    If you are fairly new to the e-commerce setting and you’re still wondering how to go about using SEO, John shares how you can accomplish it.

    You can either do it in-house or go through an agency. They will be the ones to handle all that is needed to be done to optimize your website, manage the operations, and make sure that things are running smoothly.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - John McAlpin’s Website: https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/about/

    - John McAlpin’s latest article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/citations-local-seo-guide/347380/?ver=347380X2

    - John McAlpin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seocounseling

    - John McAlpin’s Company: https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/about/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Create Raving Fans with a Deliberate Customer Experience, Ep 135 Feb 13, 2020

    Have you ever seen something at a store, thought about buying it, but ended up leaving with nothing? There are a few factors that come into play when we’re making purchasing decisions. For example, we might not buy if the salesperson doesn’t explain the product clearly, or the packaging isn’t appealing enough.

    Today’s episode is inspired by a meeting with a client who was wondering how to improve customer experiences. Having the idea of what makes people buy your product or service will greatly improve your business.

    James and Dean both share their knowledge, expertise, and tips on how you can improve your customers’ experiences and get on the road to success. You won’t just have items flying off your shelves, but you’ll be able to retain customers and keep them coming back for more.

    Stop being afraid of talking with your customers. You’re in a relationship with them where they’re paying you money in exchange for value. Find out what they value. – James P. Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:47] How to deliberately create a customer experience

    - [08:50] Why the whole experience matters

    - [11:25] What is customer journey mapping?

    - [21:46] How to stand out from all the other businesses

    - [27:22] Dean’s tips to getting customers hooked

    Why you should create a great customer experience

    Customer experience is the result of the interaction a customer has with a business or brand. It is always present whether a customer purchases an item or not. Sometimes, it may not be deliberate. It’s important to be deliberate and intentional when it matters most.

    The way to plan deliberate experiences is to show that you care about your customers and establish an experience that surprises and pleases them. The more value that you add during your delivery, the more likely people are going to repurchase and recommend you to others.

    What is customer journey mapping?

    There is a 3 step-journey that a customer goes through when interacting with a business. It is a process, starting from when they decide to choose to buy from you, the actual purchase, and thereafter the consumption of the item or service.

    James shares his training video on how to properly map your customer journey and how you can effectively implement it in your business.

    The importance of talking to your customers

    Having conversations with your customers will not only lead you to create rapport with them, but it also gives you the advantage of knowing what they like and want. When you talk with them, you find out what they value.

    Once you know what they value, it will be easier for you to improve your business and stand out among the other businesses that might be similar.

    Resources Mentioned

    - Customer Journey Mapping - https://jpfriel.wistia.com/medias/x09zkot52y

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    E-commerce in the 21st Century, Ep 134 Feb 06, 2020

    For a while now, listeners have been asking James and Dean for updates on what they’ve been up to. Most of the time, they have guests who discuss their businesses. In this episode, your hosts share more about their own companies and what they’re doing when they aren’t recording the show.

    E-commerce has become a prevalent option for consumers, and the industry is still growing. People don’t need to leave the comfort of their homes when they want to purchase things, whether they’re shopping for themselves, their households, or even for gifts.

    Today, James and Dean tell you more about their e-commerce businesses and what they’ve learned through the years. They drop some business tips and strategies that you don’t want to miss.

    Use a funnel to acquire customers, use a store for repeat purchasers. - Dean Holland

    Outline of This Episode

    - [05:37] One of the fundamental things for your business to be successful

    - [09:47] A customer’s buying psychology

    - [14:33] The difference between using funnels and an online store for e-commerce

    - [20:32] The connection between a comfortable environment and how much customers are willing to pay for a certain product

    - [26:01] Having an order bump as an added option for customers

    Difference between using a funnel and a store

    As explained by Neil Patel, a funnel is the set of steps a visitor needs to go through before they can purchase a product. On the other hand, an online store is where customers go to so that they can acquire things they want or need.

    When businesses drive their customer traffic directly to their store, their conversion rate is lower as compared to when they drive them to a funnel. This is because when potential customers go through a funnel, they have time to learn about the product and decide whether they want to purchase.

    Why it is important to create a comfortable environment for your online customers

    People have different reactions to all sorts of situations. When it comes to buying things online, especially with all the uncertainties of online purchasing, people might hesitate in clicking that “purchase” button.

    Some customers would rather pay more when buying from a trusted or well-known website compared to an unknown one. That’s why businesses must ensure that their website is a secure place for customers to feel comfortable enough to let go of their money.

    What is an order bump and why should you have one?

    Most people who are accustomed to online purchasing will sometimes notice upon check out that there are additional product options that they can add to their order. These additional options are called order bumps.

    A great way for businesses to earn more is to offer order bumps to customers. As long as you can think of items that can be used as an add-on to the customer’s purchase, and those items add real value without costing you a fortune, you can create a successful order bump.

    Resources Mentioned

    - https://www.roseclubformen.com/

    - https://worldsbestroses.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Meditation 101, Ep 133 Jan 30, 2020

    Meditation is a practice where one uses a method to train attention and awareness in one’s self to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable condition. Successful people like Oprah Winfrey and Ray Dalio, among others, have been known to practice meditation and can create amazing results in their business and own lives.

    In today’s episode, James and Dean talk about their own experiences in trying their hand at meditation. Dean has a less fascinating encounter with mediation compared to James, who has been putting meditation into practice for over eight years now.

    Tune in to learn more about how meditation can be useful in your daily life, relieve you from stress and make you a happier individual altogether. Plus, join in on a quick guided meditation led by James towards the end of the episode.

    It’s not the idea of shutting out your thoughts, it’s the idea of observing your thoughts and then coming back to your center. – James Friel

    Outline of This Episode

    - [02:59] Dean’s experience trying out meditation

    - [10:49] How meditation has helped James and his outlook on life

    - [13:21] Why focusing your mind on the breathing is key to proper meditation

    - [18:45] The benefits of meditation

    - [27:56] James gives a beginner’s guide to meditation

    Learning to meditate was one of the most impactful things that happened to James in the past decade

    By the end of 2019, James was asked what things or events that happened to him in the past decade that made a big impact on his life. He answered that learning to meditate was on his top 3 list.

    Having discovered meditation to be a very useful way of training one’s mind, it became one of the most impactful things that occurred for him. He has been doing it for over 8 years now and it all started when he went to a meditation retreat.

    The way meditation works

    Whenever people hear about meditation, there is that misconception of the idea to shut off your mind. But how do you think about nothing?

    James mentioned that in the retreat, meditation was explained as going to gym for your mind at a higher level. When you go to the gym, you exert effort, recover, and redo the cycle. On the other hand, with meditation, you need to do some effort and bring your focus back. You need to have a centering mechanism and it can be as simple as focusing on your breathing.

    Why meditation is beneficial for your mind

    One of the major benefits of meditation is that you start training your mind to be able to observe what's going on around you and still remain centered. You are no longer bothered by all the fuss and distractions that may divert your focus from your goals.

    Another benefit is that you can feel happy for really no good reason. When you don’t feel all that stress from life and work, you just start to feel happier. Because of meditation, you can create a gap between stimulus and response and from this, you are less stressed.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Steven Covey: https://www.famousauthors.org/stephen-r-covey

    - The Art of Ascension: https://www.theishayafoundation.org/who-are-the-ishayas.html

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How To Protect Your Online Information with Brian Gill, Ep 132 Jan 23, 2020

    Do you have ideas that you think would make a great start-up business, or are you already in the early stages but still unsure of how to go about it? Today’s guest, Brian Gill, will give you a few pointers on how you can set yourself up for success.

    Brian is the founder and CEO of Gillware Inc., and for the past 15 years, his company has helped over 100,000 consumers and companies in resolving data-related disasters. For the last 3 years, Gillware has been primarily focused on assisting companies with their out of network breach and ransomware incidents.

    In this episode, Brian shares his expertise on positioning yourself for growth, ransomware, and how businesses can avoid getting hacked. He also gives out his company’s Ransomware Stress Test, which benefits mid-sized businesses. The test walks them through a free questionnaire about the state of their IT and gives out a score and remediation tips.

    You don’t want to start something that anybody else can do. – Brian Gill

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:10] What start-up entrepreneurs should do to position themselves for growth

    - [04:56] The process of narrowing ideas in choosing for an angel investment

    - [08:31] The common theme for the start-ups that became successful

    - [22:07] Why entrepreneurs should be aware of ransomware

    - [28:53] How not to get hacked as explained by Brian

    How to position yourself for growth

    As a seasoned tech CEO and board member that has co-founded 5 successful companies since 2004, Brian is experienced with early-stage fundraising, digital marketing, leading software teams, and project leadership.

    His advice for start-up entrepreneurs is to bootstrap as far as they can. This is to make sure that they have a large valuation and should take more money than they think they will need.

    You should not get stuck on a fundraising cycle. There should be a minimum of six months for a fundraiser to have any effect.

    The angel investing community

    Angel investors are typically individuals who have spare cash available and are looking for a higher rate of return than would be given by more traditional investments.

    In choosing which business to invest in, the community gathers during a pitch and decides if that idea is worth investing in. When at least 2/3 of the group think that the idea is good, then it is worth investing.

    What is Ransomware and how can it be avoided?

    Ransomware is an emerging form of malware that locks the user out of their files or their device, then demands an anonymous online payment to restore access. It is growing exponentially and is becoming at least a $6 billion problem for businesses and regular people alike.

    To avoid getting hacked, one’s user authentication should be complex, and you should never use the same password for everything online.

    Password vaults like Last Pass are helpful and become the first defense against ransomware. Brian also suggests using U2F, which uses two-factor authentication.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Brian Gill’s Website - https://www.gillware.com/

    - Brian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-gill-68997a38/

    - Take the Ransomware Stress Test - https://rst.gillware.com/

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    How To Grow Your Business, Ep 131 Jan 16, 2020

    Most of us want to be our own bosses so we don’t have to take orders from anyone. Many people try their luck in owning their own business, but only some come out as successful business owners.

    In today’s episode, Dean and James talk about a certain topic that every business owner should know, especially if they want to grow their business productively. James combines two sets of principles that will set you up for success.

    By the end of this episode, you will know how you can establish a good and solid foundation for your business and be ready to take on 2020.

    Outline of This Episode

    - [03:34] The three ways to grow the topline revenue of business

    - [06:05] What is an OKR (Objective and Key Results)?

    - [12:48] Why setting the context of what is to be accomplished is important

    - [19:35] Different kinds of objectives and ways to grow a business

    - [26:59] How to get yourself ready for 2020

    3 ways to grow your business

    There may be tons of things that you can do as a business owner to possibly expand and grow your business. J. Abraham has suggested the three core aspects on which a business owner should focus.

    James points out that these three levers of growth are helpful and essential tools for not only the business owner to know but for his team as well. As a business owner, you have to recognize that you and your team are dedicated to the right areas.

    Objective and Key Results

    OKRs create the laser focus that you need to drive your business to get more and growing more. Distinguishing your objective and knowing what the key results are and using them to measure whether the objective was met or not is vital in any business.

    When you set a goal for you and your business, you normally will come up with a plan on how to achieve that goal. Having an OKR, it will direct all of your time and energy to work towards that target.

    Combining the core levels of growth and OKRs

    Once you have established your objectives and key results, you incorporate that in executing the core levels to grow your business. When the two are combined, it creates a more solid foundation of focus, goals, and growth.

    As you move forward on your journey and as your team grows, setting the context for people to contribute towards the goals becomes more important. It is not necessarily by what they are doing to reach the goal but by how they’re showing up and what they’re thinking about.

    QUOTE: "EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL PURPOSE IN WHAT THEY DO."

    Resources Mentioned

    - Measure What Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Measure-What-Matters-Google-Foundation/dp/0525536221

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Rehumanizing Your Business with Steve Pacinelli, Ep 130 Jan 09, 2020

    Have you ever tried selling a product to someone face to face? Almost half the time, that person will most likely buy or at least be interested in whatever you’re trying to sell to him. But with the technology that we have today, most businesses have gone through the automated route and are sending out texts or emails to potential customers.

    Steve Pacinelli talks about the impact of making and sending videos to your potential clients. He discusses the importance of the making, timing, and overall concept of videos and why it is more advantageous to your business.

    Steve is a passionate storyteller by nature, who measures his success by helping people reach their potential. He is the chief marketing officer of BombBomb and co-authored a definitive guide to better business communication, Rehumanize Your Business.

    Quotes:

    - Stories are the Trojan horse into someone’s highly fortified mind. – Steve Pacinelli

    - Storytelling is woven into the fabric of the human being. – Steve Pacinelli

    Outline of This Episode

    - [04:48] Why Facebook ads did not work in closing sales

    - [10:33] The shinier something is, the less authentic it feels

    - [14:51] Why video beats text

    - [18:47] Different situations where you can send a video

    - [19:54] The reason why you should get over your fear of making a video

    - [28:10] Grab the Book at BombBomb

    When video beats text

    Steve mentioned that it is harder for people to say no to a smiling face as compared to saying no on a screen. During personal encounters, when people are left to decide, they are more likely inclined to not say no. As opposed to reading an email on their computers or phones which can make the connection a little less particular and will get them to say no easily.

    When you send a video and your client knows that it was made specifically for them, they recognize the effort. When you take the time to make a personalized video, it shows people that you are putting in the time and energy to reach out and that creates a different impact.

    Video communication

    Making videos may be done either for leads that may have gone cold or for other reasons where you would like to establish a connection with a potential client. Videos can be used to relay your message, create trust, and build rapport.

    If you’re trying to build that trust or create a connection, doing a video will be more effective as compared to sending a text or email. The latter may seem too generic and indifferent while sending a video will give a tailored touch.

    Getting over your fear of video

    The primary reason why most people do not make videos is that they hold themselves back. They stress too much on their physical appearance which ultimately holds them back from creating videos.

    Steve emphasizes that every time you choose not to send a video, you are saying no to a face to face meeting. But you should get over your own fear and look at the situation where you are going to benefit on the other end because the only person that cares what you look like is you.

    Resources & People Mentioned

    - Steve Pacinelli’s Website

    - Steve on Instagram

    - Steve on Facebook

    - Steve on Twitter

    - Check out his Book

    - Check out his Podcast

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/

    - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/

    - Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    - Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com

    - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Just The Tips Podcast:

    - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/


    Reflecting on the Past Leads to GREAT Planning, Ep 129 Jan 02, 2020

    Reflecting on the past is one of the best ways to plan for the future. Dean and I always take the time after Christmas to reflect on the previous year and set goals for the next. There are four questions we use to reflect, that drive the upcoming week, month, quarter, and year. To learn our strategy (and how we feel 2019 fared) listen to this episode of Just the Tips!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:20] Starting the new year off right
    • [4:00] Planning for an entire year is unrealistic
    • [7:15] Focus on what went right and celebrate
    • [9:30] Double-down on your strengths
    • [12:30] How to structure your team meetings
    • [17:50] Strategic planning activities
    • [19:15] What James did right in 2019
    • [22:15] What Dean is proud of from 2019
    • [25:50] 4 Questions to guide the process
    • [26:20] What could’ve been better for James?
    • [28:50] What could’ve been better for Dean?
    • [31:00] Planning, reflection, and course-correction
    Why an annual plan is unrealistic

    I’ll be honest, there needs to be a little give and take when you try and make a plan for the upcoming year. Time is complex and there is no way to truly foresee what could happen. Things will be thrown your way that you can’t prepare for.

    So make sure as you’re planning your expectations aren’t too rigid.

    Incorporate a measure of dynamic flexibility in your planning. Control what you can, but plan for the unexpected. Dean spent a chunk of his year working on his book—that he’s FINALLY completed—but didn’t expect the level of disasters that were thrown his way.

    What came up shifted his timeline, but he still accomplished what he set out to do.

    A strengths-based approach is always the right move

    I firmly believe that you need to stop focusing on improving your weaknesses. You will make the biggest strides in your life and business when you focus on your strengths and double down on what is working. You can go from being great at something to being the best.

    Wouldn’t you rather accomplish greatness instead of only becoming slightly less-than-mediocre at your weakness?

    We all have a superpower. Something that we excel at and do like no one else. So mitigate your weakness and stay in your zone of genius. Identify the strengths in others and build a team that leverages their strengths to make up for your weaknesses.

    How to structure reflective team meetings

    First of all, there is power in recognizing the fact that you cannot always be the smartest person in the room. It is beneficial to get input from 100% of your staff so you can hear everyone’s perspective about your year.

    I typically structure it by making a list of the questions I want my team to think over before the meeting. It gives them time to reflect and not put them on the spot. This allows for a more conversational—and less stressful—meeting.

    Above all, it’s important that everyone feels like they have a voice and that they’re contributing to the ongoing vision of the business. The meeting is extremely valuable for team-building and goal-setting.

    Keep listening to hear what our big wins were this year, and where we missed the mark and want to improve in 2020.

    The 4 questions that help you reflect on the past year

    There are 4 questions that we use to help guide the process both personally and in our businesses:

    1. What went really well? What am I proud of?
    2. What could’ve been better?
    3. What do we need to do more of?
    4. What do we need to do less of?

    If you continue to ask yourself these questions consistently, you’ll start to catch issues before they go too far. You’ll limit your risk. If you’re not constantly course-correcting as you are carrying out your plan for the year, you won’t reach your destination.

    The planning and reflection cycle can make a world of difference. Listen to the whole episode as Dean and I walk through the process.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Hiring Like a Boss
    • Managing Like a Boss
    • The Iceberg Effect: coming soon!

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    What’s your Superpower? With Joe Trodden, Ep 128 Dec 26, 2019

    What’s your superpower? What makes you tick as an entrepreneur and a human being? Entrepreneur’s in the early stages of building a business reach a “no man’s land” where they struggle to move forward and gain traction. Joe Trodden joins us in this episode of Just the Tips to talk about changing your mindset—and finding your superpower.

    After following a traditional path and getting a degree in Law, Joe Trodden changed his life and studied Psychology. Joe is now the CEO of Mindset Experts and specializes in helping entrepreneurs change their mindset and find their superpower. If you’re ready to level-up and scale-up your business, listen to this episode!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:30] Joe Trodden guest stars!
    • [3:50] You must focus inward
    • [7:15] You’re shaped by your beliefs
    • [10:45] What is mindset?
    • [14:15] Why is Dean Ebenezer Scrooge?
    • [17:55] Core strategies that help guide you
    • [22:40] Set an alarm to practice mindfulness
    • [25:55] It’s about knowing yourself
    • [27:10] Cognitive diversity: multiple valid perspectives
    • [30:35] Connect with Joe
    What’s your superpower?

    What is your unique ability? What sets you apart? What gets you in a state of flow? Joe spent years working with entrepreneurs working to launch their businesses. He found that it’s so much easier to identify strengths in other people, but hard to figure out your own.

    To create a strategy that will propel your business forward, you must leverage your superpowers. To do that, you need to know what they are. You need to focus on a couple of things that you do best—and build a team around you to handle the rest.

    Keep listening to hear some of Joe’s strategies for determining your superpower.

    Change your entrepreneurial mindset

    According to Joe, “Mindset is every cognitive function that goes on inside your head that is shaping your entire perception and lens on the world”. It is everything that makes you who you are. Joe points out that there are 100 trillion potential (neural) connections in your brain.

    You are actively shaping your perception of the world and how it works.

    I love the mantra “The world you live in is shaped by the beliefs you have. Change your beliefs and you’ll change your world”. What belief is holding you back? Is it motivated by fear?

    Are you afraid that if you step back from doing everything in your business that it will collapse?

    Or that you’ll never find qualified people to join your team?

    It’s not just a thought experiment. You need to shift the way you see the world and change your mindset to see progress in your leadership abilities and your business.

    Core strategies that help change your mindset

    I believe that multiple perspectives can be had in any given situation. Knowing your superpower gives you a deeper appreciation of what others see. So how do you begin to learn your superpower? And how to change your mindset? Here are a few tips from Joe:

    • What puts you in a state of flow? Joe points out when you’re in a state of flow you feel energized, focused, and lose track of time. You’re at the height of your ‘superpower’.
    • Take the Myers-Briggs test. Learn how you tick and what drives you.
    • Be hypervigilant. When emotions kick in, learn to take a step back and evaluate what is causing those emotions.

    Getting to know yourself on a deeper level is key to change your mindset and worldview. It allows you to focus on what you do best. Then you can focus on building a team and scaling your business.

    Learn how to counteract your triggers

    Joe points out that to become an effective leader you need to be mindful of your emotions. Do you feel yourself getting defensive? Take a moment to step back and identify what’s triggering you, and change the course of the conversation.

    Take progressive action to become more consciously aware of what’s going on. Joe knows himself well. He knows his triggers and has learned to take moments throughout the day to check his emotions, figure out what’s triggering those emotions, and move forward.

    In the end, a business is a group of people working together to reach the same goal. If you know yourself and know your superpowers, you are better equipped to help others find theirs. You’ll be primed and ready to become a better leader.

    Joe talks in detail about mindset, flow, cognitive diversity, and so much more. Be sure to listen to the whole episode of Just the Tips!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Joe Trodden’s Website
    • Joe’s LinkedIn
    • Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed
    • MBTI Personality Assessment
    • Steven Kotler on the basics of Flow

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    How to Launch a Business with THE Shopify Guy, Kurt Elster, Ep 127 Dec 19, 2019

    Are you trying to launch a business or sell a product, and need some tips to help you launch successfully? Are you wondering if you should engage in email marketing? What about offering subscriptions? Kurt Elster joins us to cover how to launch a business successfully and how to engage with and grow your customer base. Don’t miss this great episode of Just the Tips!

    Kurt is known in the industry as “The Shopify Guy”. Before he became the preeminent Shopify expert he spent years building websites. In 2011 he started working with Shopify and found success—and a passion. So he doubled down, made Shopify his primary focus, and branded himself. Alongside being a successful Shopify consultant, he is the host of the ‘Unofficial Shopify Podcast’ (with over a million downloads).

    Outline of This Episode
    • [0:45] Ecommerce Pro Kurt Elster joins us
    • [3:00] How to sell a product online
    • [5:20] Stop operating in stealth mode
    • [9:25] How Kurt became a Shopify consultant
    • [13:35] Successful Facebook advertising
    • [18:30] Should you offer subscriptions for your product?
    • [23:50] Strategies for gaining return customers
    • [27:30] Outsource when you’re doing well
    • [31:35] The process of building a brand
    • [33:10] Connect with Kurt
    How to launch a business successfully

    Kurt points out that the biggest mistake people make when launching an online business is doing it in “stealth mode”. They keep the product and website “hush-hush” and when they launch, nothing happens.

    The cornerstone of a successful launch is building an audience for your product. Share on social media the product you’re developing. Get them to sign up for emails on your website. See if they’re interested in pre-ordering!

    Kurt shares that the goal is to get a feel for who your customer is. Connect with them as a business owner and a person by sharing everything you’re doing. Only then should you build out a brand and your Shopify store.

    Are subscriptions effective or do they miss the mark?

    Dean and I have noticed that many subscriptions for products tend to completely miss the mark. Or they were a fad (i.e. box of the month) that are dying out. So we asked Kurt point-blank how to package subscriptions effectively. He has ONE rule: anyone who has a consumable good needs to do a subscription.

    Kurt also believes you shouldn’t try to sell a subscription to a new customer. However, once they’ve purchased a product enroll them in an email follow-up sequence. You could send them educational content or recipe ideas. Then, in the email sequence, you can offer a subscription for the item(s).

    Once they’ve gotten a chance to try your product, and your emails are timed correctly, they may very well become a return customer. Keep listening to find out why Kurt believes it’s hard to push subscriptions in other niches.

    A better way to run ads

    When big brands started taking Facebook ads seriously, they began dumping money into the ad medium. When Facebook tightened up ad placement, this drove ad costs up so big brands could easily still afford the cost, but it pushed small businesses out.

    You don’t want to waste ad budget and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make hundreds of thousands in revenue, only to have little to no profit margin. Kurt recommends tracking your ad spend and making sure you’re getting a 1.5x return on your investment.

    Instead of throwing money away in generic advertising, he notes that you must get to know your customers and increase the quality of your traffic to increase conversion rate.

    The immutable truth of digital marketing

    Instead of spending your marketing budget on cold traffic, Kurt recommends retargeting warm/hot audiences. If people have interacted with your posts or ads on Facebook or Instagram, target your ongoing ads to them. It’s far less expensive and a better return on your investment

    Kurt calls this concept the immutable truth of digital marketing: repetition builds trust. 10 touchpoints or interactions with a brand—or more—builds trust and makes the person more likely to become a customer.

    Another way to get them in your email funnel is by implementing a pop-up when they leave your site to subscribe to your emails. If your ads on Instagram and Facebook are targeting them AND they’re receiving emails from you, you can gain a new customer in as little as 6 days.

    Keep listening as Kurt, Dean, and myself chat about what to do when the business is thriving, the lifetime value of customers, and much more!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Kurt Elster’s Website
    • Kurt on LinkedIn
    • Kurt on Twitter
    • Kurt’s business: Ethercycle
    • Set up a Shopify store
    • The Unofficial Shopify Podcast
    • Gorgias app for Shopify
    • Klaviyo Growth Marketing Platform

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    How to Create and Cultivate an Online Community, with Lori Kennedy, Ep 126 Dec 12, 2019

    Creating an online community sounds easy in theory—but what does it take to build a thriving community? How do you interact with your group? What are some of the best ways to add value? If you’re struggling to answer these questions, Lori Kennedy is here to answer them.

    Lori is the founder of the Wellness Business Hub, a business consultant, and host of ‘The Business of Becoming’ podcast. She’s been in the health and wellness industry since 1999 and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs in alternative medicine learn how to run successful online businesses.

    Outline of This Episode

    • [0:40] How to build a community
    • [1:55] I introduce our guest, Lori Kennedy
    • [2:40] Lori’s background as an entrepreneur
    • [5:55] Why Lori created her first online community
    • [9:40] How do you cultivate a thriving community?
    • [18:40] Mistakes people make in FB groups
    • [20:25] You get to be the leader and the expert
    • [25:50] Where should you be most active?
    • [30:30] What holds people back?
    What is the ‘why’ behind your online community?

    Lori was completely honest in this episode: she launched her first online community because she felt alone. Her friends were school teachers or worked in an office. No one truly understood her entrepreneurial journey when she launched her nutrition practice in 2007. It was just her, diving into the unknown.

    When your path is so different from everyone around you, it’s important to find somewhere you belong. Her mission was to create a community where she could collaborate with clients as a leader and a peer. She wanted to help others in her industry not feel so alone. Of course, being able to learn from each other was an added bonus.

    You must be intentional about your community’s structure

    Lori pointed out to us that you must be intentional about your community. If you have your why in place, how do you want it carried out? She didn’t create her first group to make money or be a lead gen pool—even though it does do those things. But she wanted a judgment-free zone for colleagues and peers to come together. That’s pretty powerful stuff.

    So she recommends writing a vision statement. At the time, hers was to “Create a community of alternative health practitioners that are 100% supportive of each other (where they can) be totally and completely honest and vulnerable”. What vision do you have for your community? What is its purpose?

    Do human beings lack the ability to be real?

    Honesty and vulnerability are the cornerstones of what makes Lori’s Facebook community so successful. If you desire to have a community where people are real—then YOU have to be real. People see through false bravado, sales techniques, and know when you’re being fake. So Lori shares silly photos and embarrassing stories to create an atmosphere of playfulness and comfort.

    Whatever you do, be sure you’re being real with your group, even with ‘touchy’ subjects. Speaking of, Lori’s mission is to change the stigma around making money. She wants her group members to celebrate their milestones. To share their wins and show new members what is possible. You should be proud that your business is succeeding and making money.

    Be sure to listen as Lori chats with us about mistakes to avoid making!

    The balance between connecting and selling

    Even if the primary goal of your Facebook group is to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs in your space, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for selling. It IS your business after all. You get to be the leader and the expert—so share your expertise. Lori publishes high-quality teaching content and tutorials. She does Facebook Live rapid-fire coaching sessions.

    She always prefaces the ‘selling’ with a disclaimer but follows it with powerful content that compels you to work with her.

    It goes to show, if you are consistently offering value in a community that shares its successes and failures, you’re doing something right. If your job hinges on helping your community find success, do it! Everyone needs a little accountability and support. Don’t be afraid to dive in and give it a shot.

    To hear how Lori is active in her community and her tips for success, listen to the whole episode!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Lori Kennedy on Instagram
    • Lori’s LinkedIn
    • The Wellness Business Hub

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Diving Into the World of Professional Coaching, with Lucas Rubix, Ep. 125 Dec 05, 2019

    Are you interested in professional coaching, but worried you don’t have the necessary experience? Is it something you are passionate about, but you just don’t know how to market yourself? Lucas Rubix, a coach to the coaches, joins us to talk about coaching, how to get started, and mistakes to avoid.

    Lucas Rubix started his career working on oil rigs. After a dangerous bout of depression and self-medication, he hit a breaking point that almost led to suicide. But he stopped himself, and the next morning he woke happy to be alive. He hadn’t felt like that in ages.

    So he began to focus on his health and fitness, started reading personal development books, and began studying philosophy. He wanted to find his purpose. He developed a passion for marketing and coaching, which led him to where he is today—running a business to help coaches launch their careers.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:40] Why did Lucas Rubix choose to become a coach?
    • [7:50] What is Lucas’s coaching philosophy?
    • [12:25] Mistakes to avoid when growing your coaching business
    • [17:50] How to develop your skillset and market yourself
    • [25:05] Get in Touch with Lucas
    You don’t need years of experience to be a coach

    Lucas’s philosophy on coaching is this: just get started. If you’re passionate about it and believe that you can make an impact, do it. Lucas wasn’t certified when he started but was committed to answering any question his clients asked—even if it meant staying up all night doing research.

    You don’t have to represent yourself as having years of experience, but simply be honest and passionate.

    Everyone knows something that can help someone else. It’s a mistake to have the ability and drive to coach others, but not do it. If you know you’re the type of person who will find the answer no matter the time it costs you, you can learn and grow as you go.

    Mistakes to avoid when growing your professional coaching business

    If you’re diving into coaching because you think it will be a short-term “get rich quick” path, it’s time to reevaluate. Lucas points out that if you don’t see yourself coaching in 10 years, question why you’re doing it in the first place. The road will be full of obstacles and challenges and it is far from easy. You need to love and be passionate about what you’re doing.

    Secondly, Lucas notes that many coaches let their ego get in the way. You need to make what the client needs and wants the priority—not what you think they need or want. You also need to make sure that you’re not detached and that you’re focused on your clients. What do you need to create for them so that they’re 100% on board with the program?

    How to use social media marketing properly

    Stop making your marketing all about you. It comes naturally for Instagram or Facebook posts to be about yourself, what you’re doing, where you’re going, etc. That’s fine, but Lucas recommends taking every post you put online and flipping it: turn an event in your life into a lesson or a story that provides value.

    Your content can’t be so blatantly focused on you. It’s not about getting people to look at you and touting your success. An easy fix Lucas points out is to start removing “I” from your copy. Your social media will develop into a relationship-building tool. It can be a great way to connect with potential clients.

    How do you begin to market yourself?

    Lucas established that social media can be a great tool to boost your presence and connect with people. But how do you drive traffic to your website? The first thing Lucas has his coaching clients do is create videos. One video a day for 30 days. It allows you to develop how you deliver your message and pushes you out of your comfort zone.

    He also has his clients create 9 blog posts immediately. Not only do these practices allow you to develop your voice, but it begins to build content to gain organic traffic. Lucas also advocates for paid advertising as a great driver of traffic.

    Above all else, he wants you to create content, speak your truth, and in doing so it will speak to your ideal client. If you have the passion and drive necessary, the skills can be developed. Put yourself in uncomfortable circumstances that will help you grow—because comfort kills progress.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Lucas Rubix’s Website
    • Lucas on Instagram
    • Lucas on Facebook
    • Lucas on YouTube
    • Check out his Podcast!

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    How to Develop Mental Toughness, Ep. 124 Nov 28, 2019

    Mental toughness is something that can benefit every entrepreneur, but how do you develop it? Why is it important? Having the right mindset can be the difference between success and failure. To develop mental toughness, you must be prepared to focus on personal development. You have to remember that the foundation that your business is built on is you.

    Outline of This Episode

    • [2:05] The importance of mental toughness
    • [4:00] It’s not easy being an entrepreneur
    • [5:30] Business is an exchange of value
    • [7:00] Without stress it’s impossible to grow
    • [14:35] Where do you start?
    • [20:00] Nothing will beat practice
    • [23:20] Your mental diet is critical to mental toughness
    • [25:15] Top 3 strategies to develop mental toughness
    The life of an entrepreneur is not easy

    When you run your own business, everything begins and ends with you. You are the fixer of all things. What we want to point out is that you’ll be in no position to help others if you don’t help yourself first. We all hit points where we just want to run away from our problems instead of facing them head-on.

    The first principle we want to touch on is this: no one has it easy.

    We all have different challenges that we face, no matter who you’re looking at. The keys comes down to a quote by an unknown author that I love, “Don’t wish that it were easier, wish that you were stronger”. So how do you become stronger?

    Make like a lobster and break out of your shell

    Stress. Nobody loves stress, yet we are faced with it day in and day out. But Dean and I believe that without it, it’s impossible to grow. Without being faced with pressure and challenges, you stagnate. You coast. Running away from stress robs you of the opportunity to become stronger.

    Did you know in order to grow, lobsters must first break out of their shell?

    They can’t physically grow without going through pain. It’s the same for individuals. Going through tragedies, challenges, and difficult situations allow you to achieve a new level of growth. Stop backing down from challenges and become comfortable with being uncomfortable!

    Bring the struggle into conscious awareness

    If you’re struggling with dealing with stress and challenges being thrown at you, the best thing you can do is acknowledge it. Bring it to conscious awareness. If what you’re doing isn’t pushing you towards your intended result, it’s time for a change, right? Identify and confront what you’re facing.

    Secondly, you need to mitigate your stress levels. Stop taking on more than you can handle. A weight-lifter can’t start with heavy weights—they must condition themselves to withstand heavier and heavier weight. In the same way, you need to condition yourself to handle challenges. Start small and build your resistance.

    To hear more about our strategies for handling difficult situations and becoming mentally tough, be sure to listen!

    Top 3 Strategies to develop mental toughness

    It’s time for some tips! These are the top 3 strategies we recommend to build mental toughness:

    1. Practice meditation: It strengthens your mind and it builds mental resilience. We hope to cover this more in an upcoming episode!
    2. Focus on mental “nutrition”: Limit the “mind rot” that you consume. Focus on listening, watching, and reading things that lead to personal development and aren’t wasting your time.
    3. Who do you spend your time with? You become the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with. Are you spending time with people you want to be like?

    Implement these three things into your life immediately, and you will begin to see results. To hear all of the details about building mental toughness, listen to the whole episode!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Les Brown

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Creating a Collaborative Culture in the Workplace, with Jason Treu, Ep. 123 Nov 21, 2019

    A collaborative culture in the workplace is becoming a foreign concept. We all strive for innovation and creation, right? But we forget that building relationships with coworkers is an essential piece of a business's success. Jason Treu joins us to discuss the importance of building relationships within your team—and how to do it efficiently.

    Jason Treu has worked with some of the biggest names in business, from Mark Cuban to Steve Jobs. He has been a coach for over a decade, helping 30,0000+ people reach significant change and breakthroughs in their business. If you’re ready to build a more cohesive and thriving team, listen to this episode of Just the Tips!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:00] Jason Treu and the importance of relationships
    • [6:00] Every successful venture involves a team
    • [8:25] Building a relationship begins with trust
    • [10:35] Reliability, sincerity, competency, and caring
    • [16:35] Develop personal “manuals” to share
    • [19:15] Cards against Mundanity
    • [22:10] Why don’t people connect?
    • [23:40] How do you weave this into an organization?
    • [28:10] How do you introduce this to your team?
    • [32:00] Meaningful work and meaningful relationships
    • [32:30] Connect with Jason
    Any successful venture begins with a team

    “Team-building” is a phrase and practice that is thrown around but seldom understood. Many just roll their eyes, or shudder at the thought of team-building. Or it evokes a desire to call in sick to work that day. What people don’t understand is how important building relationships with your team truly is.

    You want to get the most out of your team to give your business a competitive advantage, right?

    To do that, you must cultivate a team of people that aren’t just indifferent coworkers—they need to care about each other. The reality is that you need your team working efficiently and effectively, which means working through disagreements and differences of opinion quickly.

    Jason talks about the importance of building teams who care about each other and shares some personal stories. Keep listening!

    What is the number one thing you must prioritize?

    Dean and I agree with Jason here—you need to build trust with your team. You have to build rapport and feel safe with each other. If you don’t completely trust someone, you can’t take a leap of faith together! Trust doesn’t happen accidentally. To build trust you must be sincere, reliable, competent, and caring.

    Jason believes that of all those qualities, caring is the most important.

    If you’re reliable and do your job well, but show no outward signs of caring about your coworkers, they won’t trust you. Building trust requires something that very few of us equate with the workplace: being vulnerable.

    We don’t know how to cultivate that in the workplace, don’t do it consistently, or don’t do it in groups. So how do you change that? Keep listening for some of Jason’s tips!

    Applying Arthur Aron’s research to build a collaborative culture

    Arthur Aron conducted some pioneering research in the field of intimacy and interpersonal relationships. He found that 36 questions discussed between two people in a 45 minute time period could accelerate intimacy—the type of intimacy usually developed over time in deep friendships.

    Jason took this research and began implementing it in his coaching process. What ensued was like watching a reality tv show.

    People began to open up in ways that he never expected. The experiment served to break down barriers and open up lines of communication. People discussed deeply personal issues and over a short period of time, built relationships that usually take years to develop.

    Jason pointed out that 66% of start-ups fail because of people-problems. So what if you could erase those problems by building teams that care about each other?

    How to introduce the concept into your company culture

    Many successful people have an innate ability to easily build relationships with other people. But they struggle with teaching others how to emulate their process. So what’s the secret sauce? What are some practical ways we can implement this in our own businesses?

    • “How to work with me” manuals: instead of trying to predict and analyze new additions to a team, who don’t we just ask questions? How do they communicate? What is the best way to approach them with hard conversations? What helps them get out of a bad mood? Develop 10-question “manuals” that help people get to know the basics about each other.
    • Cards against Mundanity: A fun play off of Cards Against Humanity that Jason developed utilizing Arthur Aron’s research. Get your team together, and ask some questions to foster a deeper understanding and connection with each other.

    Stop looking at your coworkers in a transactional way. If your teams are struggling to work together, perhaps they need to find some common ground. Implementing relationship-building activities is one of the best ways to build a collaborative culture.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Jason’s Website
    • Jason’s Book: Social Wealth
    • Cards Against Mundanity
    • Arthur Aron’s Research Study
    • Principles by Ray Dalio

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Master Customer Engagement Through a Personalized Content Experience, with Randy Frisch, Ep. 122 Nov 14, 2019

    What is a content experience? How does it apply to entrepreneurs? Customer engagement is a driving force that leads to sales and our marketing needs to be on-point to remain competitive. So how do we focus on customer engagement through the content we create? Randy Frisch joins us in this episode of Just the Tips to educate us on creating customer experiences through content.

    Randy is the CMO and Co-Founder of Uberflip and a best-selling author. He is an expert in content experience and using content to connect with customers, drive demand, and increase your revenue. His focus is on how to deliver content targeted to a specific audience to generate results. Don’t miss this evocative episode!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:30] I introduce our guest, Randy Frisch.
    • [3:30] Creating a Content Experience
    • [7:10] How did Randy get into this field?
    • [10:40] How to deliver personalized content
    • [14:30] Marketing is a balance between art and science
    • [16:35] Randy’s Content Experience framework
    • [24:30] Where do you focus your content?
    • [27:00] The best approach to curated content
    Great content doesn’t necessarily equate to great sales

    Great content is important, but it isn’t always a driving factor for sales. Everyone knows that valuable content is essential. Because of that, everyone and their mother are producing great content. The ‘If you build it they will come’ mentality is outdated and no longer a viable option to lean on.

    Customers expect that you will deliver content curated for them.

    Randy uses the example of Netflix—when you login, they propose suggestions just for you (based on your history). Spotify delivers the same user experience with playlist suggestions. Randy’s premise is that we need to stop creating content without a strategy. It needs to be hand-picked for a specific audience. We need to create an experience that feels like it’s just for them.

    Organize content based on how your audience is searching

    The needs and interests of your audience need to be taken into consideration. How do you answer their questions? What is their intent behind a Google search? We need to stop producing content and start producing stellar content based on what our audience desires.

    Randy points out that devices—such as Alexa—answer questions by pulling answers from the #1 search result.

    If all of these devices are excluding all results other than the #1 slot, it’s a huge problem. #2 is no longer good enough. So you need to begin to analyze buyer intent, what questions they’re asking, and how you can best answer those questions to rank #1 and sell your product.

    Randy’s Content Experience Framework

    Randy has a 5-step framework that he believes will help you narrow down your focus and deliver a quality content experience:

    1. Centralization: Blog posts, videos, infographics, etc. need to be able to be found in one location—your website. Not just scattered across social media platforms.
    2. Organization: Tag your content so that it can easily be found in a search, internally by your team and externally by users.
    3. Personalization: Build a user experience by creating collections of your content, with personalized messaging, images, and more. Build a customer journey.
    4. Distribution: How do you get in front of your audience? Email, ads, social media must link back to your binge-worthy content.
    5. Generate Results: If you’re distributing content that is valuable to your customer base, and you’ve engaged them, you should generate sales results.

    We talk about Randy’s framework in detail in this episode, be sure to listen to the whole thing! Further resources are linked below.

    Stop driving traffic away from your channels

    Obviously, you want to be on the channels where your audience is (Facebook, Instagram—you get the drift). Randy insists that you stop entertaining your customers on channels that you don’t own. For example, YouTube is designed to keep the user on their platform. Not only do they suggest videos to keep you watching, but they may even market the content of a competitor!

    What if you directed that traffic directly to your site and retained the audience?

    Do not direct traffic away from your website to a different platform. The customer will get lost in the social media funnel and in most cases, forget that they navigated to your site. If you utilize social media—you need to—have a strong call-to-action to drive customers to a content experience designed just for them.

    Randy, Dean and I continue to discuss where to focus your content, the best approach for content creation, and the difficulty of podcasts.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Randy’s Content Experience Framework
    • Randy’s Website
    • Randy on Twitter
    • Randy on LinkedIn
    • F#ck Content Marketing by Randy Frisch
    • Sirius Decisions
    • Salesforce CRM
    • Snowflake Data Warehouse
    • Content Marketing Institute

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Data-Driven Decision-Making: Implement it Now, Ep. 121 Nov 07, 2019

    Data-driven decision-making is something many entrepreneurs struggle with. Many of us aren’t adequately tracking and analyzing data. But If Shark Tank has taught us anything, it’s that you need to know your numbers. In this episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I discuss tracking the steps in your process, analyzing data, and taking action steps to solve problems. Don’t miss this solution-packed episode!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:15] Pugging holes in your sales process
    • [5:45] Dean’s experience tracking data
    • [11:30] Advertising to strangers is a different game
    • [14:00] Where is the customer finding you in their life cycle?
    • [16:20] James framework for data-driven decision making
    • [24:40] Tracking data over time becomes more significant
    • [28:05] Steps to take from here
    • [34:35] Don’t make it overcomplicated
    Why do you need to start tracking?

    Dean has operated for the last ten years simply on word-of-mouth and referrals for his business. Recently, he started spending time learning the ins and outs of Facebook advertising. He began spending 5 figures a month in ad budget and it has been a profitable move. So for the last 3 months, he’s been tracking whatever he can in the sales process: impressions, clicks, items added to the card, book purchases, and more.

    Tracking the data for this length of time allowed him to begin noticing trends.

    The metric that stuck out to Dean the most in this process was that of the people that purchased his book, only 11% filled out the application to work with Dean. That 11% did so within 12 days or less of ordering his book. No one started the application process after day 12. Tracking the data allowed him to pinpoint where their system was lacking and where changes needed to be made.

    You have to build a relationship to make sales

    Dean learned that it takes time to build relationships with strangers. His team would reach out in the first 7-10 days after a purchase was made—but they were lacking in systems and processes for 10 days and beyond. Fostering relationships and building trust needs to be done over time.

    You can’t expect to convert sales well when a customer knows nothing about your brand.

    He decided to focus on the 89% of people who didn’t show interest in his program by continuing to market, advertise, and follow-up with them. You have to build a bridge. Dean and I talk about the different factors that affect the process, so keep listening.

    My framework for data-driven decision-making

    I love creating and building out frameworks. It helps me make sense of the world in a meaningful and analytical way. I developed a pyramid for making decisions that helps you take actionable steps to optimize your business.

    1. The base of the pyramid is data. Put a tracking mechanism in place to track data that can put it into graphs, show trends, etc.
    2. Take that information in the form of graphs or reports and arrange it in a way that you can interpret the data.
    3. Take the data and your interpretation and turn it into actionable steps.

    The longer you track and the more things you track, the more will be revealed to you. You’ll begin to see where your process is thriving. Perhaps you’ll narrow down even more holes that you can go in and fix. But you’d never have known any of it if you hadn’t simply started tracking where your money is being spent.

    Where do you go from here?

    This episode is packed with information and we don’t want to overwhelm you with details. If you take away anything, we want it to be what is summarized below.

    1. Figure out the most important things you want to start tracking. Start with the one thing that drives the most sales or is a higher-ticket purchase and follow the sales process.
    2. Become familiar with the numbers. Analyze the data you’ve tracked. Are the trends that you’re seeing normal? Get a clear and complete picture of what needs to be done.
    3. Take actionable steps to rectify gaps or mistakes.

    Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. The goal is to work smarter, not harder. Tracking your data can be one of the easiest things you can do. It will give you a clear indicator of steps you can take to propel your business forward.

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com/hiring
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    The Psychology of Creative Design, with Ross Johnson, Ep. 120 Oct 31, 2019

    When you think of creative design, what comes to mind? Something visual? A design show on HGTV? What people don’t often realize is the depth of psychology and science that’s behind every aspect of design. Our guest today, Ross Johnson, turns everything you think you know about design upside down.

    Ross is the owner and CEO of 3.7 Designs, a full-service digital marketing company. His goal is to provide innovative solutions that incorporate his 6 layers of design. He’s an expert on web design, web development, SEO, and much more. Listen to this episode of Just the Tips for his utilization of psychology in design.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:00] We introduce Ross Johnson
    • [3:30] His background in design
    • [6:00] Why did he get into web-design?
    • [7:15] Does design matter and why?
    • [10:30] The 6 layers of design
    • [20:00] Applications in everyday life
    • [25:00] Everything you do needs to be by design
    Everything is by design, even if it’s not by design

    I’m not trying to be cryptic here, I promise. Ross pointed out that every decision you make—or don’t make—is the process of design. Waking up, brushing your teeth, scheduling appointments and doing your job is part of the process of designing your life.

    Ross defines design as intentionally taking steps towards a desired outcome.

    The process of design, then, is defining the steps you need to take to reach the desired outcome. If you’re building a website—what is the purpose of it? What do you want to get out of it? As you ask yourself defining questions it helps you reach your goal.

    The 6 Layers of creative design

    Most often, people think of creative design as just that—a creative process. Design is certainly the process of creation, but there is a science to it. Design isn’t just what something looks like. In fact, according to Ross, design mirrors the scientific process. You define a hypothesis, test it, and make changes to achieve your desired result.

    Ross defines 6 layers of design, which he refers to as the “design hierarchy of needs”. It’s based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

    1. Functionality: Does it function as it’s supposed to?
    2. Reliability: Does it produce the outcome I want?
    3. Usability: Is it easy to use?
    4. Proficiency: Does it provide something useful?
    5. Communication: Is it communicating what I need it to?
    6. Emotion: Does it evoke the emotion desired?

    Ross, Dean and I talk about his concept in-depth, so keep listening.

    What emotions do you want to evoke?

    The emotional layer of the hierarchy can be further broken down into three layers: Visceral, Behavioral, and Reflective. When designing a website, Ross breaks every piece of the process down by the 6 layers and dives deep into the emotional layer.

    1. Visceral: This is a “gut” response that you immediately have when you experience something. It’s a central nervous system response, such as fear, disgust, joy, etc.
    2. Behavioral: The emotional response when actively doing something—the sense of satisfaction you get when being productive.
    3. Reflective: This is a conscious reaction. How does your website create a sense of identity, prestige, nostalgia, etc.?

    Knowing what emotions you want to evoke as you’re creating your website affects every layer of the design process and what it looks like visually. This includes layout, color, wording and more.

    What do Fireball and Swedish Meatballs have in common?

    We chat about IKEA, and how they are a great example of using design to differentiate themselves in the industry. Their showroom is unique and one of a kind. But they could certainly benefit from applying the design hierarchy of needs to their business model. The instructions to build a piece of furniture leaves you wishing they sold Fireball with their furniture.

    But they’ve sure nailed their design process with their Swedish Meatballs!

    But if IKEA took their process and adjusted it ever so slightly to create detailed and understandable instructions it would positively impact their business. Everything you do has to be designed with the user experience in mind. There is always something you can do to tweak your designs to better meet people's needs.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • 3.7 Designs
    • 3.7 Designs Blog
    • Project Panorama
    • Abraham Maslow
    • Ross on LinkedIn
    • 6 Layers of Design
    • Kayak
    • ADT
    • Floyd
    • IKEA
    • The Power of Design by Richard Farson

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    The Entrepreneur's Secret Weapon, Ep.119 Oct 24, 2019

    Dean and I are strong advocates of attending events for entrepreneurs. It could be a mastermind group, a yearly conference, or any sort of entrepreneurial live event. You need to get out and mingle with some of the greatest minds in the business world—and learn from those who are next level businessmen and women. This episode of Just the Tips is dedicated to what we learned from the event we recently attended.

    Outline of This Episode

    • [2:00] Attend Events for Entrepreneurs
    • [5:30] Deans #1 takeaway from the week
    • [7:25] The benefits of social media
    • [14:30] Deliver an experience to remember
    • [18:45] Customer journey mapping
    • [21:10] Celebrate your accomplishments
    • [23:45] Sales funnel order bump tip
    • [27:30] Service as a service
    • [30:10] Choose key events to be a part of
    Why attending events for entrepreneurs can be so powerful

    Attending events with other like-minded individuals allows you to be around people who truly understand you. They’re on the same entrepreneurial journey as you are. You’re able to learn from the best of the best. You get a break from the day-to-day of your business, be creative, and focus time on thinking strategically.

    It could lead to some of your biggest breakthroughs.

    Dean struggled when he was building his business. It was an event he attended that helped him break through that struggle. Being surrounded by people on the same level as you and learning from each other—it’s powerful. We are putting on an event coming up in 2020, check out the link in our show notes!

    The importance of social media cannot be emphasized enough

    I’ll admit that I haven’t been on board with the social media craze. I’ve been hesitant to let it take over my life. I realized this week that I can create systems to leverage my time and find ways to serve my tribe—social media doesn’t have to consume all of it.

    The more visible you are the more you can help people come together to solve a common problem.

    Dean—amazingly—pointed out that you are doing a disservice to your market by not allowing them to find you and consume the content that you provide. Dean delivers a stunning example that demonstrates this concept well. Keep listening to find out what that is, and some examples of what you can do.

    Deliver the best experience possible

    Russell Brunson talked about how they go about planning their events, and how they delve into every minute detail in the process. Down to the mindset attendees are in when they arrive at their conference.

    Was their flight delayed?

    Did they leave a sick child at home?

    Did they take time off from work?

    What can you do—from the moment they arrive—to deliver the best experience they could possibly have? You want them to believe attending your event was the right move. This doesn’t just have to apply to an event—how can you deliver the best experience on your website? On social media?

    Keep listening as Dean and I chat about customer journey mapping and real-life examples of the strategy in play.

    Is it time for a Hustle Detox?

    We got to hear Stacy Martino speak on the topic of celebration. As entrepreneurs, we forget that we need to celebrate our accomplishments. We can’t just set them aside and continue hustling. Take time to detox from the hustle and truly celebrate reaching your goals.

    Also, you need to remember why you started your business in the first place.

    You probably didn’t become an entrepreneur to spend all of your time working. Maybe you wanted more time with your family. Or you wanted more time to focus on things you are passionate about. Think about what your goals were (and are) and make sure you’re still in alignment.

    This episode is packed with some of the best tips we gather. Listen to the whole episode for the full spectrum of stellar advice.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Russell Brunson
    • Stacey Martino
    • Dr. Anissa Holmes
    • Poop 911
    • Hustle Detox Live

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/
    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

    You Must Know Your Audience to Solve Their Problems, with Spencer Lum, Ep. 118 Oct 17, 2019

    To offer people something of value that solves a problem, you must know your audience. You can’t market correctly, offer the right solution, or adequately gauge how customers will react if you don’t know them. So what does that learning process look like? Listen in as Dean and I chat with Spencer Lum—The Big Vision Guy at ExtraBold—all about your audience.

    After years of being unable to hold down a steady job, Spencer found himself building websites. This morphed into helping people with branding. Eventually, Spencer realized he could help others best by solving their very specific problems. He understands how to create and market addictive content. Listen to this episode of Just the Tps for insight into his mind!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [0:45] We introduce our guest of the day, Spencer Lum.
    • [3:05] How he learned business the hard way
    • [6:00] Becoming his own boss
    • [10:20] Launching his first business
    • [12:20] Developing a framework
    • [15:40] Look at the symptoms to narrow down the problem
    • [20:20] What is the solution to the problem?
    • [24:00] Understanding practical and emotional pain
    • [26:30] How to build your unique mechanism
    • [29:40] Back to the basics: know your audience
    • [31:50] The part psychology plays
    • [36:30] Spencer’s special Just the Tips offer!
    There’s always a “but”...

    When Spencer was a teenager, his Dad told him “You can achieve anything you want...BUT I really don’t know if you’re going to”. It was meant to be a pep-talk and it fell miserably short (but luckily he can look back on it in a humorous light). After years of starting and quitting jobs and becoming a lawyer (it didn’t stick), he finally realized his dad was right. So what was the logical next step?

    Spencer became a serial entrepreneur.

    While he was working in an HR position, he started building a website for himself. He soon realized that there was a market for that kind of work, and his first business was born (and he subsequently quit his HR job). Keep listening as we chat about his transition from job-to-job and finally landing on something that stuck.

    Develop a framework that meets people’s needs

    We know if we offer something to the market that nobody needs, it’s not going to succeed. It’s simple: what you offer has to be something that is needed. Spencer lays it out like this:

    • Offer what people need.
    • Find the right way to convey your message.
    • Make sure you’re speaking to the right audience.

    He fully embraces Gary Bencivenga’s “persuasion equation”. The equation, in its simplest form, looks a little like this:

    Problem + Promise + Proof + Proposition = Persuasion

    There is a problem only you can solve that you promise to solve for your audience. You show proof that you can solve it (data and case studies) and propose how you shall do it. The simplest means of persuasion.

    Know your audience better than they know themselves

    To sell an idea and appropriately pitch to your audience, you need to understand who they are and what problems they need solved. Spencer points out that most audiences don’t actually know what their problem is. Your job, then, is to figure out their problems based on the “symptoms” and provide a solution.

    You need to be able to get in your audience’s head and offer to solve their very specific problem.

    Are their pages not ranking in google? Do they have low conversion rates? Do they have enough cash-flow from their conversions? Take their measurable problems and find a way to give voice to a solution.

    Once you’ve identified the symptoms of their problem, narrowed down the issue, and marketed the solution—then you develop the system to solve their problem. You must 100% understand your market before creating anything.

    Develop your own secret sauce

    You have to take everything that you’ve learned about your audience and their problems and develop your own unique and oh-so-special mechanism for solving that problem. You cannot attempt to solve “all the problems” for “all the people”. Spencer advises finding your niche—an audience that you connect with better than anyone else.

    Solve the problem in a way only you can accomplish.

    Everyone has something particular that works for them. Your vernacular won’t reach or speak to everyone and that’s okay. Every word you choose and every bit of what you do needs to match with your audience and how they want things done. Everything you do MUST align with who your audience is.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Special offer for Just the Tips Listeners: Free 8-day course!
    • Spencer’s website: https://goextrabold.com/
    • Spencer’s Twitter
    • Spencer’s LinkedIn
    • Spencer’s Photography site

    Make sure this “music” paragraph is intended in the Libsyn post

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Protect Your Brand with These Simple Tips, with Andrei Mincov, Ep. 117 Oct 10, 2019

    You know you need to protect your brand as you’re building a business—but where do you start? As an entrepreneur you need to protect your intellectual property and what you’re working so hard to build. It begins with choosing a brandable name and getting it trademarked. The process is lengthy and daunting, but Andrei Mincov is here to make it easier.

    In this episode of Just the Tips, we interview Andrei Mincov, founder of the Trademark Factory®. He began his career in Russia and had the opportunity to work with big names such as Apple and Microsoft. When he relocated to Canada he had to start from scratch and go through law school again. So he decided he wasn’t going to go the route of working for a major corporation. Instead, he took his love for trademark law and entrepreneurial spirit and started his own business.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [0:42] Protect the brand you’re working to build
    • [2:30] Andre’s journey in trademark law
    • [6:20] The journey from Russia to Canada
    • [7:10] Why he started his own business
    • [9:00] How do you protect your intellectual property?
    • [10:50] How to know you have a trademarkable brand
    • [14:50] When do you start the trademark process?
    • [19:40] Your trademark is your insurance policy
    • [22:50] Typical costs associated with the trademark process
    • [26:00] Dean’s personal story of having to re-brand
    • [30:40] Check out Andrei’s business: trademarkfactory.com/tips
    3 simple tips to make your business brandable

    The only way to compete in the industry is to have a brandable name that you strive to protect. Your business name is your intellectual property and you need to protect your ideas. To do so you need to build a protectable brand. So what does that look like?

    1. Your brand needs to be unique. Your name needs to be innovative and what you offer needs to be different than (or a better process than) everyone else.
    2. Your brand needs to be memorable among your target market. Getting a trademark for a brand that makes no impact is useless, right?
    3. Your brand needs to be well-protected. This is where trademark law comes into play.

    A small business doesn’t have the money to dispute a trademark issue. It’s far better to spend the money on the front end, then lose thousands of dollars in legal fees—or your business.

    Don’t DIY your trademark research: Hire a trademark attorney

    Look, there are ways that you can research a brand name and find out if you can claim it. You can find a domain name and snag it. Great. You can do a trademark search or pay a 3rd party website to help you through the process. Inevitably, they will let you down.

    You can search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) but the results tend to be pretty overwhelming.

    The bottom line is—it is not wise to do the legwork yourself. Even if you deem that the brand name is available, the back and forth process of getting your trademark registered is exhausting. So what does Andrei recommend? Hire a trademark attorney—or consider working with his company, The Trademark Factory®.

    Don’t wait for a sign from above—start the process now

    People often ask Andrei when to start the trademark process. His answer? Immediately. You can’t build a business and choose an arbitrary number and say “When the business is making (insert dollar amount here) then I will invest in the trademark”. There will be no good external validation.

    Uber filed a trademark application 2 months before launching the business. Now it’s worth over 50 billion.

    Jeff Bezos registered ‘Amazon’ and ‘Amazon books’ at the very beginning—he built an empire.

    Andrei said Coca-Cola started as a “lemonade stand with a dream”. Now it’s a soft-drink know world-wide.

    All of these brands started small but understood the importance of protecting what they knew they could build. A trademark is your insurance policy—you hope to never have to use it, but it’s there when you need it.

    Is it going to cost me an arm and a leg to hire a trademark attorney?

    If you’re doing the work yourself, it can cost a few hundred dollars (for specific numbers, check out USPTO.gov) but it will cost you a lot of time. It’s typically a 14-month process in the US and even longer in Canada—sometimes over 2 years! It’s worth your time to invest in a trademark lawyer.

    Andrei’s business gives you a unique alternative to working with a traditional trademark attorney. They charge a flat fee that is 100% refundable if they do not get you your trademark. If your desired name is taken and they cannot complete the process, there is no charge to you.

    Listen to the whole episode of Just the Tips as we chat about Andrei’s experience, how Dean had to rebrand his business, a unique mechanism system and so much more!

    Go to TrademarkFactory.com/tips to book a call with a strategy advisor and start the conversation about your business, brand, and trademark process.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Andrei Mincov on LinkedIn
    • Andrei Mincov on Facebook
    • The Trademark Factory®
    • TrademarkFactory.com/tips
    • Trademark Factory® on YouTube
    • United States Patent and Trademark Office
    • Todd Brown and the concept of a Unique Mechanism
    • Jeff Bezos Amazon Office
    • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Hiring Like a Boss, Ep. 116 Oct 03, 2019

    Are you ready to start hiring like a boss? Are you ready to grow your business but unsure what the process should look like? In this episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I unpack the hiring process. We cover what not to do, clarifying the position you’re hiring for, and asking the right kind of questions. This is one you don’t want to miss!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:40] Launching ‘Hiring Like a Boss’
    • [3:35] Transitioning to growing a team
    • [9:00] The wrong way to start
    • [13:50] Clarify the job description
    • [18:20] People don’t just know what needs to be done
    • [22:45] What next steps to take
    • [26:00] A resume paints an incomplete picture
    • [29:30] Craft an application that asks the right questions
    • [34:30] Does your vision of success line up?
    • [37:40] Create a magnetic hiring funnel
    • [39:15] Hire Like a Boss course
    Don’t wait until you’re desperate to start hiring

    How much will it cost you to hire the wrong person?

    Too often, entrepreneurs get to a place where they are desperate for help and ready to hire the first person they come across. Take it from me—I literally recruited a cashier from Bed Bath & Beyond—as I was checking out—to come work for me. Shocker, she didn’t work out in the long-term.

    On the flip-side, one of James’ first hires was a friend. Mid-conversation he was all “Hey, it would be fun if you came to work with me!”. While hiring friends can work out, it’s the easy way out—and it’ll either work really well or destroy your friendship.

    When you’re under pressure and hiring out of desperation you make the worst decisions. You can’t wait to hire until you’re hurting. Do not find yourself trapped in the ‘anyone will do’ mindset. Keep listening as we strategize what you should be doing instead.

    Hiring like a boss starts with clarifying the role

    It may seem like the logical approach but is surprisingly overlooked quite often. You need to take a few minutes and clarify the role you’re hiring for.

    What does it look like now and what will the role look like in the future?

    What type of person would be the best fit for the role?

    What type of company culture are you building?

    Clarify the exact job description and day-to-day tasks for the role because—guess what—you can’t expect someone to just know what they’re supposed to do. If you clarify someone’s job description well before hiring you’re setting yourself up for success. Want to hear more? You know what to do.

    A resume is only a snapshot of what you need to know

    So what does the next step look like? This one is easy! Take your job description that's properly laced with your clear expectations and send it out into the world. Let it be known on social media that you’re hiring. Post on sites like Indeed, Monster, or ZipRecruiter.

    Wait for those resumes to pour in!

    But realize you’re going to need so much more. Because a resume is an incomplete picture of what you need to know—you’re only seeing what the candidate wants you to see. A large number of people have admitted to lying (or stretching the truth) on their resume. So what do you do to better whittle down the pool of candidates?

    Create an application that asks the right questions

    So you’ve got your job description hashed out and the world knows you’re hiring. Now what? Your next very critical step is crafting an application that asks the right questions—to weed out the wrong people.

    Build non-negotiables into it. Choose questions where you know the answer you’re looking for. If the question is answered incorrectly—or below your standards—immediately discard that resume. This significantly speeds up the process of wading through hundreds of applications.

    Cover the questions you’d want to ask in a preliminary interview. What companies have they worked for? Does it fit your niche? Can they give you samples of their work? How do they handle project management?

    For more hiring tips, listen to the rest of the episode now! For some of my hiring secrets, check out my brand new course—Hiring Like a Boss!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Hiring Like a Boss course
    • ZipRecruiter
    • Indeed
    • Monster

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Podcast Production 101: Creating Top-Shelf Content, with Ginni Saraswati, Ep. 115 Sep 26, 2019

    Are you wanting to launch a podcast but have ZERO clue where to start with podcast production? Do you know what your primary focus should be as you’re getting started? Admittedly, when we started our podcast we had no idea what we were doing—we just knew it would be fun. In this episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I chat with Ginni Saraswati of Ginna Media.

    Ginni is not only a witty and personable award-winning journalist but also runs a podcast production company. She specializes in getting your voice heard and has worked with celebrities and influential organizations worldwide. She knows what it takes to create and market great content—listen to this episode for her top tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:20] How to create great content with Ginny Saraswati
    • [5:30] The Secret Sauce to creating great content
    • [11:20] Quality of Content trumps quality of audio
    • [15:45] Set a realistic schedule for episodes
    • [21:20] Why are you doing your podcast?
    • [25:20] Promoting your podcast
    • [30:00] Give people a way to search your podcast content
    • [33:15] How to connect with Ginni
    Podcast Production begins with being unapologetically yourself

    The key to great content? According to Ginni, it’s authenticity. Authenticity is the backbone of great content. Maybe you’ve heard it a million times and the word doesn’t hold the same meaning it used to—but it’s important. Podcasting is an intimate space, and people gravitate to podcasters who are unapologetically themselves.

    Share your message and be true to your means of communicating it.

    You don’t need to change yourself to get more followers or listeners. This could potentially be a way to lose listeners! Gary V is a great example of someone who is unapologetically himself—with no desire to change—and delivers great content. So Ginni’s #1 tip: Focus on being yourself and delivering quality content.

    Create a realistic schedule you can adhere to

    When you’re getting started you need to be realistic of what sort of schedule you can adhere to. From day one of podcast production, you set the bar for what your listeners expect.

    Will you produce content once a month? Bi-weekly? Every week?

    Make sure you set a realistic goal you can keep up with. As you’re growing your audience, they begin to expect content from you. Honestly, they incorporate you into their daily lives. Every time you miss your release date you begin to lose credibility in their eyes.

    Humans are quick to judge and quick to lose trust—so the promises you make mean everything. So deliver what you agree to deliver.

    Why are you doing a podcast?

    I’ll admit, Dean and I started this podcast because we thought it would be fun. Dean had never listened to a podcast before. But we know so many amazing people and knew we could create content that would resonate with people. Just the Tips was born with no real intention in mind. We are just now beginning to dive into our ‘why’ and really develop our marketing. Some things you want to consider:

    Are you trying to build an audience?

    Are you trying to build brand awareness?

    Do you want to leverage yourself as a brand expert?

    Are you concerned with download numbers?

    Do you want to entertain people or build relationships?

    What are you hoping to achieve with your podcast? When you narrow down and define your ‘why’ it helps give you a clear direction on how to move forward promoting your show.

    Promote your podcast by repurposing your content

    Ginni tells us one of the easiest ways to promote your podcast is by repurposing your content. This can be accomplished in many different ways. She suggests recording video as well as audio—so your content can go on YouTube and be split up into video clips.

    Another easy way to repurpose content? Transcribe your podcast and make it available as part of your show notes. Source key quotes from the transcript and use them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Take business quotes and use them on LinkedIn. You can take your content and create audiograms. The possibilities are endless!

    There are so many ways to leverage social media to market your content. What can you implement as part of your podcast production process?

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • The GaryVee Audio Experience
    • Ginni’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ginnisaraswati
    • Ginni’s Twitter: @theginnishow
    • Ginni’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/theginnishow
    • Ginni’s Instagram: @theginnishow
    • Business Website: http://www.ginnimedia.com
    • Ginni’s Blog: http://www.theginnishow.com

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Navigating E-commerce in the Beauty Space, with Robyn Holland, Ep. 114 Sep 19, 2019

    Creating a successful business in the beauty space can be intimidating. With many powerful brands to contend with, how do you set yourself apart in the niche? Where do you even begin? Our guest star today happens to be none other than Dean’s better-half, Robyn Holland. She’s here to walk us through her greatest challenges and successes—and living proof that a small business can succeed against powerhouse brands.

    Robyn originally attended beauty school intent on being a makeup artist. She realized that there wasn’t a lot of money in her field of choice and veered into telecommunications sales. After 10 years in sales as a top-performer, she quit and started her own business in the beauty industry, which is now exploding onto the scene. This episode of Just the Tips walks through her winding entrepreneurial journey, so don’t miss it!

    Outline of This Episode
    • [1:40] Robyn Holland guest stars!
    • [3:50] Where her focus is right now
    • [6:25] Running an e-commerce business in the beauty space
    • [17:00] Lessons she has learned along the way
    • [22:40] Challenges to overcome to scale your business
    • [27:10] Your business will never be problem-free
    • [30:40] Don’t be afraid to change and adapt
    Push beyond unrealistic expectations

    When Robyn finally had enough of her poor treatment at her sales job, she decided it was time to move on. Dean, being the husband that he is, encouraged her to consider starting her own business. Because of her experience in the beauty industry it was a natural choice to settle on that niche. So she dove in and began building her business.

    Everything she originally tried flopped completely.

    Selling her product on eBay didn’t succeed. Marketing on Facebook was a dud. She even hired models for her product, and their videos never gained traction. But her first paid ad exploded. With over 600,000 views and climbing, it catapulted her sales. But she could never get her continuing ads to reach the same success. Keep listening as we talk about what she was doing wrong, how her expectations needed to change, and what she did.

    Be the raw and real YOU

    Dean had helped Robyn build out this amazing studio with a green screen and all of the bells and whistles they could need for shooting ads. He even hired a videographer to help her produce high-quality videos. No matter what she did, the videos never found success. But they learned something important through this process.

    People want a human connection that is real and raw and lets them see who you are.

    After years of testing, their highest converting videos were of Robyn sitting at her vanity demonstrating the products—filming on her cell phone. The expensive highly produced ads made customers feel as if they were being sold to. Humans see through the fakeness. They desire connection. As an entrepreneur it is our job to recognize that!

    Scaling your business quickly

    Robyn’s product has taken off quickly in the last 6-8 weeks—so much so that they are completely out-of-stock. They’ve currently switched tactics from selling an in-stock product to allowing customers the option to pre-order. Here are a few tips she has to help you scale quickly (and avoid running out of stock):

    1. Her product takes a while to produce, package, and ship to their warehouse. She recommends having at least a couple of different production channels so that running out-of-stock never happens.

    2. To scale your business, you need to have a customer service and fulfillment team in place that doesn’t consist of just you. Your home can’t be a warehouse and distribution center forever!

    3. Build a relationship with your customers. Create content that they’ll love. Offer them something of value that only you and your product can give. Interact with them on social media platforms.

    While Robyn didn’t predict her spike in sales in the last few weeks, she now has a better idea of how to be prepared. Listen in as we chat about her experience.

    Just keep moving forward—solve problems as they come

    Something that entrepreneurs don’t necessarily realize in the beginning is that your business will never be easy. Ideas will fail. Sales vary. Every problem creates a new challenge to overcome. Problems can be a good thing—especially when it’s because your product is selling so well that your stock plummeted overnight.

    Just keep pushing forward.

    Don’t be afraid to change and adapt as the market is changing. Robyn learned that you cannot be overly attached to anything, especially if it isn’t working. Sometimes, you will need to rebrand and start over—and that’s okay. Overcome worrying about people will think, ask for help when needed, and keep moving forward.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Trey Lewellen

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    A Crash Course on Content Creation with Aaron Agius, Ep. 113 Sep 12, 2019

    Are you aware of the importance that content creation has in digital marketing? Though creating organic content takes time and doesn’t get the instant gratification that ad spend does, it’s one of the best ways to deliver value to your customers. Here to chat with us today about digital marketing is Aaron Agius of Louder.Online.

    12 years ago, Aaron was on an extended vacation in Thailand with his girlfriend (now wife). They realized they wanted to be able to travel and work remotely—for life. Neither were happy in the industries they worked in, so they did some research and scouted out options. shortly thereafter, they dove into the world of affiliate and digital marketing. Now they consult for other businesses, helping them reach the same success they found.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [1:45] I introduce Aaron Agius of Louder.Online
    • [3:45] How Aaron started in the digital marketing world
    • [6:30] SEO and affiliate marketing
    • [8:40] Understanding what people actually want
    • [10:20] How to craft great content
    • [14:50] Insight behind people taking action
    • [17:00] Email marketing is NOT dead!
    • [21:40] Meticulously plan out your content strategy
    Affiliate marketing is a great starting point

    Aaron started in the digital marketing world with affiliate marketing (Dean agrees, if you’re just getting started, affiliate marketing is the way to go). After 4 months of hard work and dedication, they made their first sale: a whopping 4 cents. But the next day, they made $400. For years, they traveled the world and continued to do affiliate marketing.

    Then, people took note of their success and started reaching out, asking them to consult and help scale their businesses.

    So Aaron and his partner made the shift into consulting for clients around the world. They specialize in content and social marketing—truly embracing search engine optimization (SEO). The great thing about SEO is that if you have ZERO money for marketing, you just need to invest your time and craft great content.

    How to craft really valuable content

    The best way to write content that gets readers on your site is to understand what they’re searching for. Put yourself in the mind of your customer. What questions are they asking? What answers are they looking for? You need to provide content that speaks to the problems people are trying to solve.

    Above all, become consistent at providing value.

    With this in mind, also remember that you need a clear content strategy. If you’re answering a particular question, decide what the goal of your piece is. Is it cornerstone content that will link to another article? Will there be a call to action in it? OR is the goal to have the reader opt-in to an email subscription? Be clear about your goals while providing the answers people search for.

    Want more insight into content strategy and getting customers to take action? Keep listening!

    Email marketing is NOT dead!

    Email marketing is a channel that gives you one of the highest returns on your investment. Many digital outlets claim that email marketing is a dying strategy—but don’t believe everything you read online. Aaron has access to analytics for all of his clients, so he sees its success on a daily basis.

    Email marketing ranks even higher than organic search.

    Aaron notes that while they do not specifically offer the service, they help their clients tie it into their content and guide their approach. Most people who are part of the email subscription database are loyal customers. They read the emails, click on the links and call to actions, and make purchases. Why not take advantage of the valuable tool it is?

    Content creation remains a core strategy for success

    In the digital marketing world, we are often asked if there’s anything shiny and new being offered. What is the most popular platform or new toy that can be tested? The simple answer—that people may not want to hear—is that the same things we’ve always done are still working. The same fundamental platforms are still the best route to take.

    Channels and platforms come and go: providing value to humans will always remain.

    The conversation always comes back to what are you doing to provide ongoing value to your tribe? Aaron points out that it’s important to meticulously plan out the content strategy for your website. You need to give yourselves a structure and know where things will fit. Want to hear more about content strategy? Listen to the whole episode of Just the Tips now!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Book: Faster, Smarder, Louder by Aaron Agius and Gián Clancey
    • Aaron’s website: Louder.Online

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    How a Clear Company Vision Will Transform Your Business, with Chris Yoko, Ep. 112 Sep 05, 2019

    Many people don’t realize the impact having a company vision will have on the success of the business. A clear vision helps dictate what clients you take on board, influences the company culture, and impacts the morale of your team. If you want to steer your company in the right direction—and have some fun along the way—listen to today’s tips from our guest Chris Yoko.

    Chris’s Grandma taught him how to use a computer as a child. Throughout the years he learned how to code and how to build websites. Fresh outta high school—after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad—he decided to get his real estate license. He built a website for his business and soon learned he preferred that over Real Estate—and Yoko Co. was born.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [0:42] What drives your vision of success?
    • [2:10] How Chris Yoko got started in web design
    • [5:00] Getting started building websites
    • [7:00] How an advisory board can influence your vision
    • [14:35] Be intentional about who you work with and why
    • [19:45] The importance of company culture
    • [23:00] Have criteria in place for choosing clients
    • [29:20] Connect with Chris Yoko!
    How an advisory board can help shape your business

    Chris started his company because he enjoyed the creativity and flexibility the business allowed. He looked forward to meetings with most of his clients. A few bad apples started to derail company morale and they were dangerously close to shutting down and moving on. So he created an advisory board to help change the direction of the company.

    And in 2015, they fired about 25% of their clients.

    Why, you might ask? Because their advisory board asked a couple of simple questions: What do you want to accomplish with your life on a personal level? How can your business reflect that? These simple questions helped Chris and his team form a unified vision for their company that allowed them to forge ahead. In order to do that the right way, they needed to let go of the wrong clients.

    Allow your company vision to be fluid

    As you are starting out as an entrepreneur sometimes you just have to take whatever work will bring in a paycheck. It’s not ideal but we all have bills to pay, right? You want your company to grow and continue to flourish—but you don’t want to end up rich and completely and utterly miserable.

    You must learn that it is okay for your company to shift and change as it grows.

    After they cut the clients who didn’t align with their ongoing vision, the business performed better. Not only did their business perform better but so did their clients! They were only working with organizations who had a passion and purpose beyond making a profit. This, in turn, impacted their morale and allowed them to personally connect with their projects.

    Be intentional about WHO you work with and WHY

    So how did his team make this instrumental shift? With the influence of the advisory board and input from the entire team, they decided to be intentional. They all wanted to invest their time into something that was meaningful. So they set out ground rules for what exactly this meant to them and made sure they were all on the same page.

    Their goal was to be able to amplify the impact their clients were making.

    As they onboard new clients they talk about who they are, what their impact is, and what their aspirations are. The clients they work with MUST be working to make a positive impact and be willing to take direction as they’re building their brand. Chris has learned throughout the last ten years in business that learning how to say ‘no’ to the wrong clients can have a positive impact.

    The Importance of defining your company culture

    You need to care about the people you’re working with and about cultivating a culture where this is clear. Chris and his partner strive to create a working environment that they would want to be immersed in if they weren’t the ones controlling it. You need to have clear expectations for your team but create an environment where they feel motivated and passionate.

    Your team needs to know that you trust them implicitly.

    Much of their team works remotely with the option to come into an office if they choose. In allowing this flexibility, Yoko Co. treats their company like the adults that they are. They are completely trusted to do their jobs. They still have feedback mechanisms in place to keep projects on track and know things are being completed but have cultivated a level of trust.

    To hear more about Chris’s story and building a vision for his company listen to the entire episode of Just the Tips now!

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Yoko Co.
    • Chris Yoko
    • Chris on Twitter
    • Chris on Facebook
    • Chris on LinkedIn
    • Principles by Ray Dalio
    • Built to Scale by Marissa Levin
    • Beartown by Fredrik Backman
    • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
    • Learning in Action Technologies - Alison Whitmire
    • Tim Ferriss

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Finding a Niche: The Key to Creating a Powerhouse E-commerce Business, Ep. 111 Aug 29, 2019

    Finding a niche can be one of the most difficult tasks you take on when you’re building a business. If you want to be in a space where you’re competing with billion-dollar companies, how do you set yourself apart? Dean and I talk about the cosmetics business that he and his wife started—and how they found success when they finally zoned in on a particular niche.

    If you are ready to take your business to the next level this episode of Just the Tips will be right up your alley.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:35] e-commerce lessons in cosmetics, with Dean.
    • [4:22] The story behind their start in cosmetics
    • [9:30] From the ground up: Alibaba and eBay
    • [14:15] How the proper mentorship is a kickstarter
    • [18:00] The importance of choosing a specific niche
    • [25:00] Don’t be afraid to embrace change
    • [26:45] How Facebook advertising catapulted their sales
    • [31:20] Every problem solved creates a new problem to overcome
    The evolution from internet sales to cosmetics

    Dean’s wife, Robyn, worked in internet sales and was killing it with her commissions. But as she became more successful her bosses took notice—and ended up funneling away profits she was supposed to get. She would call Dean daily over lunch in tears because of what they were doing to her. He repeatedly encouraged her to quit. One day when she came home he handed her an envelope and told her to hand it to her bosses. He had written her a letter of resignation.

    She mustered up some courage and the next day handed in that letter. She finished the month out at her company, and that was that. She was free to do whatever she wanted. After a conversation with Dean, she decided to take her experience with cosmetics and build an e-commerce business. Keep listening as we walk through their experience with Alibaba, selling on eBay, and the struggle of a start-up.

    Trying to compete with a billion-dollar brand? Start by finding a niche.

    Purchasing a product from Alibaba and selling it on Amazon wasn’t proving to be as successful as they hoped. When they first launched, they were only making 1-2 sales a day—definitely not enough to earn a profit. Robyn joined a mentorship program and began learning the ins and outs of selling a physical product. She built a website, created sales funnels, and began developing unique products. People loved the products and she was getting stellar reviews.

    But they had only progressed to making a couple thousand dollars a month.

    They weren’t truly competing with other successful brands and something needed to change. They took a step back and realized their niche was too broad. The business was selling something everyone else sold! So they shifted from being a cosmetics brand to a brand that only sold the greatest product for any skin conditions. As an entrepreneur you have to realize you aren’t just selling a product—your product is the pathway for someone to get their desired result. In their case, they realized they were selling confidence.

    Overcome discomfort and embrace ‘Ch-ch-changes’

    David Bowie anyone? You can’t be afraid to embrace needed changes. They may just be the turning point your brand needs! Robyn was hesitant to stop selling products that were getting good reviews and I don’t blame her. But Dean knew she would find more success narrowing down to a very specific niche.

    Being comfortable is the biggest reason you aren’t creating something spectacular.

    You have to be willing to abandon what is working just okay and constantly strive for excellence. There is never a finish line as an entrepreneur—every problem you solve creates a new challenge to overcome. This is the never-ending growth cycle that is business! And you know what? Once they chose their niche, things shifted for the better quickly.

    This year's success is ALL about the ads

    Robyn and Dean took her product line and began advertising on Facebook—the only ad medium they’re using right now—and watched product sales skyrocket. They had been averaging 30-50 customers a day and their peak sales day was approximately $600. Now? They’re averaging 200-300 customers a day. They spend $400 daily on advertising and are making a return upwards of $2,500 daily!

    They can barely keep up with the demand for their product!

    Robyn is making more in two days then she was during a good sales month at her previous job. They started at the bottom of the barrel but with three years of hard work and challenges to overcome they own a successful e-commerce business. So the thought we want to leave with you today is this:

    Figure out who you want to sell to and why. Then, find the ultimate solution for them, and find a way to get your product in front of them.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Trey Lewellen
    • Alibaba
    • eBay

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    How To Use Business Taxes To Chart A Course For The Future, with Anthony Mauriello, Ep. 110  Aug 22, 2019

    Business taxes. Do you feel the same feeling of dread that most people do when they hear those words? Taxes are one of those things most of us find difficult - and the guest we’ve invited to be with us on this episode wants to give us reason to think differently about the issue. He actually believes that a tax return is a thing of beauty, something to be used for assessment and planning. He also believes it's when accompanied by the counsel of a professional who can help you understand what your tax return means.

    How’s that for a new way of thinking?

    Join us for this episode, where we speak with Anthony Mauriello, a tax accountant who specializes in business returns, leads a team of 11 people, and processes around 4000 tax returns every tax season. And he loves it. You’ll want to hear this one - Anthony is a guy who is excited about taxes, and he just might get you excited about your taxes too (Dean was).

    Why do most entrepreneurs get lazy when it comes to their business taxes?

    We have to admit there’s a stigma about business taxes, a strange way of thinking that convinces us that it’s not fun and that we should avoid dealing with the issue. Anthony says there is lots of psychological baggage - guilt, fear, etc. - associated with money and taxes, but that most of it is inaccurate and none of it has to control the way we handle our finances.

    Listen to this episode and you’ll be amazed at how Anthony can not only make your taxes sound like something you don’t have to dread, he’s also got a seemingly magical ability to make your business tax return into a thing of beauty that helps you more than it scares you. His advice is golden, so be sure you listen.

    Why your business tax return is a beautiful piece of art

    Anthony loves business tax returns because they are like a snapshot, a by-product of what’s happened in the past so you can plan in the present to make a better future. Not only do you want to understand and know your net profit or loss, your tax return will also enable you to pinpoint the categories where mistakes and choices were made that have impacted whether you were profitable or not.

    Using your tax return, you can chart a course for the future where you don’t have to be afraid of what’s going to happen financially. You and your accountant can co-create a path to a better future (the next year). By assessing your business tax return together, you have the opportunity to be proactive, considerate, and act with integrity to legally minimize your tax liability going forward. That’s something ALL of us want, but can only be accomplished by seeing your tax return as the amazing tool and opportunity that it is.

    What should a business owner do to be more in touch with her taxes?

    OK, if you’re convinced that you need to pay more attention to your tax situation, what should you do? Anthony wisely points out that a one-time change to the path of a boat can bring it back on course. He applies that analogy to the reality that you need to be speaking with the people who handle your finances regularly. It doesn’t take much to ensure you know where your financial ship is headed, and if you maintain the discipline of quarterly conversations, the changes you’ll need to make will be minimal.

    Anthony says that the worst clients he works with (though he loves them all) are those who come in after the year ends looking for ways to minimize their tax liability - and more times than not they receive a huge shock when they learn what they owe. There’s nothing proactive about that - and Anthony loves helping business owners make the changes needed to BE proactive and avoid that sticker shock at the end of the year.

    What should you ask your accountant to understand your tax situation?

    It’s not uncommon for CPAs or other accounting professionals to be a bit challenged when it comes to explaining the various approaches to taxes. Anthony says that you should make a point to interview the people helping with your taxes. You want to discover their experience working on taxes related to your industry and take the time to get acquainted on a more personal level. The better you know and trust each other, the better you’ll work together in proactive ways... and the more likely you'll be to get the right people on your team.

    You can even do this with someone you’ve worked with for a long time. If you tell them that you’re taking a greater interest in your tax situation, they’ll honestly be very glad to help you. As you have those conversations, be sure you understand what the various figures mean and how you can modify your financial habits to minimize your tax liability.

    Join us for this episode. You’ll not only be amazed at how helpful your business tax return can be, but you'll also be surprised at how giddy with excitement Anthony is about helping you use it to its fullest potential.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:15] Anthony Mauriello - the tax-excited accountant
    • [7:47] The first entrepreneurial venture: a paper route that he carried through college
    • [11:03] Into accounting right out of college, becoming a CPA, then an enrolled agent
    • [15:23] What the average entrepreneur should be thinking when it comes to taxes
    • [24:50] Questions business owners should ask their CPA or Bookkeeper
    • [27:58] How Anthony helped a woman in dire need address her tax issues
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Get in touch with Anthony - www.MyTaxFella.com
    • Email Anthony at TheOldSchoolTaxFella@aol.com
    • On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyTaxFella/
    • Cy Simms

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com


    Explaining Explainer Videos with Colin Hogan, Ep. 109 Aug 15, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Colin Hogan, the managing director of Demo Duck, joins us to talk all things video production. Video is one of those things that every company wants to have, but few know how to make. On this week’s episode, we talk with Colin about what sorts of video a company should use for different purposes, how a production company works with a business to tell their story, and whether we’ll ever see the commercials Colin shot as a kid.

    What types of video should you do?

    Business owners know they should do video, they know they want to do video, but they’re not quite sure what video they should make. There are a billion types of videos you can do, so which one should you choose? Colin says businesses typically go for explainer videos first. Those videos do a great job of establishing your authority on a subject, and because it’s in your area of expertise, you’re not stretching too far to come up with a topic for the video. But there are loads of other types you can consider, and that companies like Demo Duck can help you make.

    So what makes a great explainer video?

    You’ve probably seen some great explainer videos you’ve learned a lot from, and you’ve definitely seen ones with roughly zero information. Colin says the key to a good explainer video is to be concise. Know what you want to say, present it directly, and avoid any sort of jargon or insider language. Know what your ideal viewer might be interested in, what problem you’re solving for them, and then go from there.

    When to make a video yourself

    You can hire a company to help you produce a video, or you can even just turn on your phone and go live on Facebook. But when should you do the latter, and when should you do the former? There’s no quick-and-easy answer, but a lot of times it has to do with your revenue. If you’re just starting out, you may want to do it yourself. But if you have a little bit of a marketing budget and you have a message you know you want to get out there, Colin says it’s worth the investment to have a professional production company make that video for you.

    How to get the most out of your explainer video

    So you make an explainer video. Now what? Colin actually recommends making several videos out of the one that you’ve written. In other words, say you make a 90-second explainer video. Then you want to share that on Twitter or Instagram. It’s best to budget in shorter clip versions of that video for your various social media platforms. That means you may have to re-script some things, but it’s worth it to make sure the video you’ve made aligns with the correct platform.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:28] How Colin got into video
    • [4:30] Why sales is actually great
    • [8:02] What sorts of video work for what
    • [10:00] What makes a great explainer video?
    • [12:40] Stay jargon-free
    • [17:04] You shouldn’t have to convince someone to buy
    • [18:30] Is there a bottom threshold in terms of production value
    • [23:32] Where do explainer videos live?
    • [25:46] Managing creative professionals

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Why Sales Is Actually Awesome, Ep. 108 Aug 08, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I field a listener request, and dive into the world of sales. Now sales gets a bad rap. Sometimes people view it as icky or something you just have to do. But that’s wrong! In fact, if you’re in business, you have to sell something, and when you’re selling something, you’re actually helping people with whatever problem they have. So you shouldn’t see sales as something you have to get through, you should see it as the reason you’re in business.

    How do you sell without being salesy?

    Everyone has had the experience of either being sold to by some lousy salesman, or having to sell something you don’t believe in. But if you believe in what you’re doing and what you’re selling, there’s no reason for you to be “salesy.” In fact, sales is a service. If you believe in what you’re doing, then you are doing a service to other people by selling them your product, which will help them with their problem. If you can reframe how you think of selling, then there’s no reason to put on your plaid blazer and try to work the sale. You’re actually doing people a service.

    Sales is not about you

    A lot of people go into a sales meeting and think about themselves. What do I have to say? How do I get this sale? But if you go into it thinking about the other person, it’s a completely different conversation. Now, instead of working to get the sale, what you’re doing is talking to them to figure out what they need and whether what you’re offering is right for them. And once you understand that, you can change how you have a conversation with prospects, and sales becomes a lot less about trying to convince someone of something.

    The best and worst sale I ever made

    When I used to sell for a water treatment company, I got sent to a house in rural Florida. This guy had kicked two salesmen from my company out of his house before, and now I had to go down there and try to sell him the same thing. And when I got there, I was not welcomed. But I did manage to close the sale, because I listened to him. I listened to what he was angry about, why he’d kicked out my colleagues, and what he needed. And once I was able to connect what I was selling to what he needed, he became a customer.

    People buy from you, you don’t sell to them

    If you adopt this mindset, then you aren’t selling to people, but people are buying from you. And what that means is that you listen to the person, and if your product is the right fit, then helping them see how it can work for them. Closing is not hammering someone into submission. The truth is that if you do that, if you apply that pressure, then they will almost always go back on that sale once the pressure is off. If you’re hitting a wall with sales, you need to listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:45] Selling without being salesy
    • [4:00] Why sales is actually great
    • [7:15] Sales is not about you
    • [9:00] A great sales story
    • [14:00] You don’t have to close every sale
    • [18:51] You shouldn’t have to convince someone to buy
    • [22:00] Closing is not hammering into submission
    • [26:12] Set expectations early on

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Direct Mail and Digital Marketing Joining Forces with Ryan Cote, Ep 107 Aug 01, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome Ryan Cote, a man who has done something truly unique in this day and age, and that’s combining digital marketing with old-school direct mail to create a marketing powerhouse. Ryan is the Director of Digital Services and Partner at Ballantine, a third-generation, family-owned direct mail and digital marketing company based out of Fairfield, NJ. Ballantine has been serving small-business clients since 1966, when it was founded by Ryan’s great-uncle. Ryan has been with his family’s agency since 2003, and today he manages the growing digital marketing division.

    Entering the family business

    Most of the entrepreneurs Dean and I speak with on Just the Tips have their entrepreneurial origin story. But Ryan didn’t start his first business as a kid: He worked in the family one. He started doing data entry and any other small jobs the business needed to get done when he was very young. And for a long time, he didn’t think he would land there permanently. But then he created Ballantine’s digital division, and really got things off the ground.

    Two heads are better than one

    For about two years, Ryan was the only member of the digital marketing department Ballantine. And while he was picking up clients here and there, he wasn’t making a big difference in the company in terms of revenue. It wasn’t until his brother joined his department and he had someone to bounce ideas off of that he started landing larger clients. This led Dean to share a story from his early days, in which he would pretend to be different people from his company, calling potential clients. You have to hear it to believe it.

    How to get started with direct mail

    As Dean says on this week’s episode, he’s always collected addresses of clients, but has never done anything with that information. Ryan says the minimum you want to do for direct mail is 10,000, because that’s enough to gauge the success of a campaign. But you can still start relatively small, sending out postcards where the printing and the postage won’t break the bank. And you can connect your direct mail to your email campaigns, so your message resonates with your customers or potential customers.

    Direct mail retargeting

    One of the things Ryan discusses on this week’s episode is a mind-blowing new marketing technology that Ballantine has, where they can actually capture a person’s mailing address when they visit your website. Creepy? A big. Effective? Definitely. It’s a whole new way to use your website to grow your mailing list. Ryan and Ballantine are total pros who have bridged the gap from the heyday of direct mail, to the current world of digital marketing and back again.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:30] How Ryan got into the family business
    • [6:00] Dean’s disgrace (this week)
    • [7:04] Ballantine’s famous clients
    • [8:42] Getting started with direct mail
    • [15:38] The benefits of direct mail
    • [19:30] Direct mail response rates
    • [23:20] Retargeting direct mail
    • [30:00] Ballantine’s offer

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Ballantine
    • Ballantine’s offer for Just the Tips listeners
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program:https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site:www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    How To Find A Superstar Online Personal Assistant The RIGHT Way, with Tim Francis, Ep. 106 Jul 18, 2019

    Every entrepreneur wants to find an amazing virtual personal assistant who can give them their time (and life) back. You know, the legendary superstar team member who rides a unicorn, disperses magical fairy dust, and transforms problems into profit!

    All joking aside, there are people out there who are not only qualified and capable of helping you maximize your business in this way, they will often work for what you can pay them just for the perk of working from home. This episode features Tim Francis, a guy who has been to a stress-induced state of poor health and back again - and was motivated by the experience to figure out the details of building a team that can support his business and move it forward. Listen to this one. It’s worth all the time you can give it.

    Your assistant will only provide the amount of value you pour into them

    There’s a myth out there in the entrepreneurial community: The right virtual assistant will take things on quickly and make a difference immediately. It’s simply not true. Your online personal assistant will only provide the amount of value that you put into them. That means training - clear direction - empowerment - and more. And all of that comes from you.

    Listen to hear how Tim likens the position you are in, to that of a Surgeon, a specialized position that requires help from other skilled individuals in order to make the “surgery” of what you do in your business a spectacular success. It’s a powerful image that can help you rethink your systems, understand what REAL delegation looks like, and build a team that sets you free from the worry, stress, and headache of running things all on your own.

    What does it take to delegate to an online personal assistant properly?

    After his health crisis, Tim took the time to understand what effective delegation looks like - and one of the most important things he discovered is that there are 4 levels - or 4 types of things - every entrepreneur can delegate. But it takes time and a systematic plan to enable you to get all four of them off your plate. Let’s walk through them...

    Simple tasks - these are the one-off items that anyone can do with a very small amount of instruction. As your virtual personal assistant does more of these, he/she will develop the capacity to handle more and figure things out on their own.

    Simple decisions - this category is not about tasks, but about making the call when a question or system-issue arises. As an entrepreneur, you want your assistant to be capable of handling these.

    Hard decisions - as you can tell by the name, this one is a step or two up the responsibility ladder from the one before. It’s a skill that has to be developed over time, and with your help.

    Outcomes - this one is essentially the first 3 types of delegation rolled into one, except that it also includes responsibility for the entire result of a process, event, or plan. Listen to hear how Tim describes it and you’ll get an idea of the amazing things a virtual personal assistant can accomplish.

    360 Delegation can help you train your virtual personal assistant properly and powerfully

    There are tons of things that you can and should pass off to an assistant, so having enough tasks for them to do is not the problem. Most entrepreneurs have issues when they don't properly train their assistant. That’s why Tim created his 360 Delegation framework. It involves 3 areas...

    • Vision (show them a sample of success)
    • Resources required (credentials, money, authority, etc.)
    • Definition of “done” (how do we know it’s complete? - sign-offs? etc.)

    Every time you delegate something to your assistant, you MUST include all three of these aspects of the task or project for them to be the superstar team member you need. It’s up to you to empower and equip them for success. Listen to learn how to do it!

    Once you delegate to your virtual personal assistant the RIGHT way, what should YOU be doing?

    Hiring an assistant and training them well is not so that you can sit back on a beach somewhere, sipping drinks. Its purpose is so that you can be released to do the high-level things that make a multiplied difference to your business. What is it that you should be doing?

    Strategy - YOU are the one responsible for determining the direction and approach for your business. This can’t and shouldn’t be delegated. It involves high-level skill and requires high-level access to people and resources. It’s YOUR domain as the leader.

    When you can free up your time to do THIS, things move forward exponentially - and a virtual personal assistant is the key you're missing. Don’t miss this episode - it’s full of practical, powerful advice from a guy who has learned it the hard way - Tim Francis.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:00] How Tim got started helping people optimize their time: he screwed up a lot
    • [10:27] What does it mean to delegate things properly? Start simple and graduate up
    • [17:43] How do you know if the time is right for an assistant?
    • [24:01] Lessons learned from being burnt by hiring assistants the wrong way
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • www.GreatAssistant.com/toolbox
    • Tim’s 360 Delegation
    • BOOK: The Four Hour Work Week
    • TV Show: Suits
    • Perry Marshall
    • Ryan LaVesque

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • www.JamesPFriel.com
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/
    Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

    Scaling Like a Maniac with Prady Tewarie, Ep 105 Jul 11, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome Prady Tewarie, a young entrepreneur who has really figured out a system for starting a business with very little capital, bootstrapping it, and then scaling it like crazy. On this episode we dive into Prady’s history as an entrepreneur, his method for determining whether a business is going to work, and how he’s found such success growing his companies.

    Prady’s first business

    Every entrepreneur has their “first business” story, but Prady’s is a memorable one. When he was a freshman in college, he began working out a lot and saw that his friends would carpool to GNC to pick up supplements. So he thought, “Why not get the supplements directly to them?” He called up a distributor, negotiated a deal, and filled his dorm room with supplements. Anytime anyone wanted to buy some, he hopped on his bike and brought them over. He ended up doing so well that as a sophomore he hired freshmen to ride their bikes while he went to class.

    Product-to-market poll

    One of the things Prady says on this week’s episode that may surprise some people is: “New businesses shouldn’t exist.” And what he means is that established businesses have the capital and the infrastructure to launch new products. A new business will always struggle. So if you’re going to start a new business, you need to know that your product is needed in the market. It can’t just be because you’re tired of your job and you want to do something different. You need a product-to-market poll, meaning you need to test the idea that the market is there for your product.

    Never compete

    Entrepreneurs are told all the time that they need to compete. They need to identify their competition, see what they’re doing and try to get the better of them. Prady says it’s the opposite. You should be looking for no competition. You should identify a problem that no one else is serving, and then serve that niche the best that you can. If you’re competing, then there’s always going to be someone who is out-fundraising you or out-spending you, etc. But if you have a monopoly in your market, then you just have to serve that need.

    Scaling isn’t just about adding people

    When we talk about scaling companies, a lot of times we have a very basic understanding of what that means.Usually that’s adding people. But what Prady says on this week’s episode is so great: Scaling is about implementing systems. So that means not just adding people, but instating systems that will allow anyone who comes in to pick up where the last person left off. And what that means is that you, as the founder or CEO, can focus on strategy while the system takes care of itself. This is a really enlightening episode of Just the Tips that you have to hear.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:30] How Prady scales
    • [6:04] Prady’s first business
    • [11:02] What is a product to market poll?
    • [13:50] How to tune into a market
    • [17:55] Prady’s nootropic business
    • [26:00] What does scaling really mean?
    • [30:05] Stop doing tasks
    • [38:29] How to connect to Prady

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Get Azoth newsletter
    • The Enlightened Millennial Podcast
    • AZOTH 2.0 Nootropic
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program:https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site:www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    How to Scale Your Business without Burning Out and Dying, Ep 104 Jul 04, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I sit down to discuss a very important topic, how to not burn out and throw everything into the river. Many entrepreneurs are very good at the one thing they do, or have a great idea and suddenly find themselves growing faster than they thought possible. But then, what do you do? How do you expand? Whom do you hire to help you expand? Today, we dive deep into the topic, because it’s an important one for a lot of business owners who are just getting started.

    Dean owes everything to James

    When Dean’s business was first starting to grow, he did what a lot of new entrepreneurs do, he hired his friends. But that’s not actually the best HR policy. And as Dean says, it was after we met at an event that we got to talking about how Dean needed to systematize the way he hires. And if you want to be a solopreneur, that’s totally fine, but remember that having people on your team frees up your time massively. And so many people go into business for themselves because they want that freedom, but then they devote all their time to their business, giving away all the freedom they had.

    How to begin looking for help

    I told Dean a story about how at one point, I was so desperate to hire someone, that I actually recruited a cashier at Bed, Bath & Beyond, because she seemed very professional. But before you get into the dire straits, you need to ask yourself what you’re doing. You need to identify what you don’t want to do, and what role you need to fill. If you can be crystal clear about everything you’re doing, then you can be crystal clear about what you need someone to do.

    Identify your big five

    Once you’ve identified what you need to do, and what you’re best at, that doesn’t mean you have to suddenly stop doing everything else. What I recommend to clients is to identify your “big five”: The top five things that you should be doing in order for your business to succeed and continue to grow. Then, below the big five, you write down everything you do in addition to those five things. And once you’ve done that, you look for the low-hanging fruit, what tasks you can peel off and give to someone else easily without much disruption.

    Time is your most precious commodity

    One thing you have to be most cognizant of as a CEO is time. Your time is incredibly valuable, and so is the time of the people who work for you. And so you can’t look at short-term gains in terms of money made. If you spend 10 hours chasing $100, that’s still money you could have lost in the grand scheme of things. This is just the first part of this topic that we’re going to dive into, and the big five is just the beginning of the framework that Dean and I are going to lay out for you in future episodes of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:05] James and Dean are the best of frenemies
    • [6:00] Realizing you need help
    • [7:35] How to get started
    • [13:54] Success creates the problem
    • [16:15] You can’t just flip a switch
    • [20:04] Time is your most critical resource
    • [27:05] This is just the beginning

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program:https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site:www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Affiliate Marketing Superpowers Part 2, Ep. 103 Jun 27, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we continue our deep, questionable dive into the life of Dean Holland. If you listened to episode 101, you know we peeled back the stinky onion of Dean’s life to reveal that he’s actually something of an affiliate marketing genius. If you’re interested in affiliate marketing, or Dean piqued your curiosity a couple weeks back, you’re going to want to listen to this week’s episode.

    Starting affiliate marketing from scratch

    When it comes to affiliate marketing, relationships matter. But what if you’re just starting to dip your toe into it, and you don’t have those relationships from years of selling online? Well, either Dean is going to break it down for you, or this is a very short episode. The trouble is people think they need to connect with high-profile people, or join expensive programs that connect them with influencers. But Dean has actually never done any of those things, and if he hasn’t had to buy friends, you should be good, too.

    Prove your offer before trying to get affiliates

    The very first thing you need to do, before you go out and try to get people to market a product for you, you have to prove that the product will sell. If you haven’t already proved the offer, and you ask this affiliate army to market your offer for you and it flops? It’s going to be really difficult to convince them to market your next offer. Take your proven products to your affiliates so that the relationship is mutually beneficial.

    Harvest your data

    If you have done a lot of paid traffic, and you’ve already proven your offer, you’re in good shape. But you need to collect that data, show all of that traffic, show your conversions, and take that to affiliates. Affiliates want to know what their earnings per click is going to be, and if you can already show them that the offer is working and selling, then they are going to be more likely to join up.

    Turning customers into affiliates

    It’s so simple, yet many companies don’t do it. If your customers have gotten results with you, then it makes total sense to go to them and ask if they’re interested in being affiliates. Chances are they have people in their network who could be helped by what you’re offering. All you have to do is make it as easy as possible for them to become an affiliate. Dean even has a way to automatically sign up his customers as affiliates. This is a no-brainer, and just one of the great tips Dean supplies on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:09] Starting from scratch with affiliate marketing
    • [6:30] You don’t have to do anything expensive
    • [09:29] How to prove the offer
    • [13:00] Make a test valuable for an affiliate
    • [15:45] What if you’ve been doing a lot of paid traffic?
    • [21:04] Turning customers into affiliates
    • [27:05] How to decide the commission

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Thriving with a younger workforce with Alex Membrillo, Ep 102 Jun 20, 2019

    Today on Just the Tips we have someone who has an amazing story to tell. Most people in marketing have figured out how to pitch themselves as having an amazing story, but Alex Membrillo is the real deal. Going from being on welfare to owning a booming marketing business and being named to a Top 40 Under 40 list by Georgia State University, Alex’s story is incredible. He’s a humble guy, but we got it out of him on this week’s episode.

    Building a strong culture

    Alex has created an amazing culture at his marketing company, Cardinal, by doing something some entrepreneurs feel uncomfortable doing: trusting people. As he says, their team is pretty small, so they have to trust that everyone is comfortable working autonomously. So he gives people a long rope and allows them the space to work, and as he says, if that’s not what they’re comfortable with, “they walk themselves out of here.” And because he can trust those people, he can be much more forthcoming about how the company works and what the financials look like.

    Working with millennials

    While many business owners complain that millennials are “lazy,” Alex says he’s found that working with younger employees just means understanding their values. And millennials want to be a part of something, they want to feel like they’re making a change, and they want to know that their work is meaningful. So if you understand that mindset, says Alex, then you don’t have to write off an entire generation. Also, you may need to be ready to have a flexible workspace, where employees can work remotely.

    Millennials are just more outspoken

    A lot of what Alex discusses on this episode about working with a younger workforce isn’t new. The things millennials want in a job: meaning, flexibility, respect; are things that nearly every worker wants but has never wanted to ask for. Millennials are just asking for it. Alex talks about how he met someone at a coffee coop and learned about their org structure and how that informed the creation of his own unique organizational structure at his company. You’re going to want to hear about how he set up his company on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Upending the org chart

    Alex has completely eschewed the standard org chart that most CEOs create, with a top-down structure. Instead, he says, he considers himself there to help and listen to the employees of his company. Of course, he has to make final decisions, but really he’s there to serve his employees. So how do you do that if you’re coming from a more typical structure? Alex says it’s all about slowing things down, and letting your employees know that you’re going to start listening more. You need to hear this episode of Just the Tips to hear how different Alex’s approach truly is.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:01] Alex’s incredible story
    • [5:03] Building a strong culture
    • [6:35] Working with millennials
    • [10:25] Alex’s unique approach to an org chart
    • [14:35] First steps to upending your org chart
    • [17:21] How the tribe self-selects
    • [19:00] Being transparent about the financials
    • [22:16] Dean asks an all-star question

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Cardinal Digital Marketing
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site:www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Affiliate Marketing Superpowers, Ep. 101 Jun 13, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we peel back the layers on the mystery, wrapped in an enigma, that is Dean Holland. I’ve known Dean for years and if you asked me what it is that Dean does, I couldn’t tell you. But over a recent visit, I realized what Dean’s superpower is: Creating affiliate programs so businesses don’t have to rely on paid traffic. That’s a bona fide superpower, and on today’s episode we dive into how Dean does it.

    Dean Holland: An Origin Story

    Dean has sold over $10 million in products online, and only just recently began using paid traffic. I think that if Facebook went away tomorrow, Dean would be perfectly fine (although he’d be a little angry, because he just learned how to use Facebook ads). But how Dean got into entrepreneurship and business more generally was through affiliate marketing. And so he looked at his history as an affiliate marketer, and he said, “Okay, what do the vendors do that make it easier for me as an affiliate marketer?” And he just started building from there.

    Affiliate marketing brings you the traffic

    The very basis of having an affiliate program is to have an army of people out there, trying to drive traffic to your business. Affiliates don’t get paid unless a customer buys something, so it’s like having a sales army out there that’s only paid by commission. As Dean says, it’s almost the perfect traffic source. The only trouble is: You don’t own that traffic. You can’t control it. So how do you get the most out of it? The Bearded Wonder provides the answers.

    Build the highest-earning affiliate program you can

    The big lesson that Dean took away from being an affiliate marketer is that you have to create the best-paying sales process that you possibly can. Affiliates will go where the money is. If I’m an affiliate thing, and I have 10 different offers that all fit my audience, which one am I going to choose? It’s the one that makes me the most money. Often, affiliates measure their performance by earnings per click. And so an affiliate is going to choose your product every time, if you offer them greater earnings per click.

    How to keep someone as an affiliate

    When Dean first started creating affiliate programs, they would be based around a product launch. So there would be a large push for, say, seven days, and then the program would be done. Since then, he’s switched it up so that he has an affiliate platform, where he’s trying to build long-term relationships with his affiliates. And there are a variety of ways to do that, because no one is going to push your products every day to the same audience. But luckily, Dean has lived and breathed the affiliate life, so he knows how to make it work.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:45] Dean’s superpower
    • [4:47] Dean’s beginning as an affiliate marketer
    • [8:52] What Dean learned and applied to his own business
    • [12:56] Get your baseline before you approach affiliates
    • [14:37] What are the affiliate models?
    • [17:51] How Dean creates his affiliate program
    • [22:00] Treating an affiliate like an exclusive partner

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    What We’ve Learned from 100 Episodes, Ep. 100 May 30, 2019

    This episode is a very special episode of Just the Tips. Despite not really enjoying each other’s company very much, Dean and I have made it through 100 episodes. And at a rate of one listener gained per episode, we have hit triple-digit listeners. In all seriousness, though, Dean and I have had a blast making this show, or else we wouldn’t do it. So today we’re taking a look at what decisions we’ve made and what we’ve learned on this long, strange trip.

    Podcasts let you build relationships

    The first thing we’ve learned in our time making this show is that you’re not going to become famous overnight making a podcast. You will, however, get to know people, and that’s really the amazing thing about a podcast. You can truly gain access and build relationship with people you want in your circle by putting together a professional podcast (or even one like this one). It’s amazing how the doors open if you have something you can invite someone to, like a podcast.

    If you want to be a good podcast guest, be prepared to give value

    So every now and then you get a guest who comes onto a podcast strictly to pitch their thing. And that’s fine, everyone is pitching something, but if you’re not there to add value, to help or teach people, then your guest spot is going to ring very hollow. And that’s what happened with an infamous episode of Just the Tips: The unaired “episode 101” that Dean and I killed because the guest only wanted to brag about themselves.

    Build the right team around you

    A big lesson in making a podcast: You’ll never do anything alone. Dean and I show up, we hit record, and then we have a small team of people who manage the podcast. I don’t think we would have hit 100 episodes if we didn’t have that team. If you’re not very interested in editing a podcast and producing everything around it, it’s going to become laborious for you. So like a lot of things we talk about on this show, you need to find what you love about it, and then get someone to do anything else.

    You need persistence

    Things never quite work the way you want them to. And sometimes it takes a long time for things to hit their stride, and if you don’t have the persistence to learn from your mistakes and adjust and test, you’re never going to make it. That advice goes beyond podcasts, of course, but you have to be ready to stick with it and persevere at the beginning until you figure out the best way to do it for you.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [5:15] What we’ve tried and tested
    • [8:15] Building relationships
    • [12:30] The notorious killed episode
    • [15:00] Build your team
    • [21:20] Persistence is key
    • [27:00] How we found our voice
    • [28:45] What’s next for the show?

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Secrets of a Drop-Shipper with Anton Kraly, Ep. 99 May 23, 2019

    Today on Just the Tips, Dean and I have a special treat for listeners. Our guest is Anton Kraly, a man who has started a ton of businesses, who knows the world of e-commerce better than just about anyone, and a man who literally has an award-winning course on e-commerce. Just one of his many talents is finding the maximum potential of drop-shipping. If you’re in the world of e-commerce, you need to listen to this episode.

    Why Anton is always thinking bigger

    When Anton got started in e-commerce, he started selling boxes of cookies for $20. But then he thought: If you can sell something for $20, why not go bigger? And so he looked on eBay to see what the highest-selling items were, and began to form a plan to sell high-ticket items. And as he said, he didn’t try to create a market. He figured out what people already wanted to buy, and sold those items to them. It may seem like common sense, but it’s a critical piece of e-commerce that a lot of entrepreneurs miss when starting out.

    Mistakes Anton made

    When Anton started, there wasn’t a lot of competition for what he was doing. And so he was able to make mistakes and recover quickly because his competition wasn’t jumping all over him. One of the things he did early on was not pay enough attention to tracking. Part of that was the tools that were available, but part of it was his naivete about how important it is to know where your traffic is coming from. He also says he should have bought more ads early on, so he could grow much faster. But at the time, he didn’t know that was necessary.

    Dealing with inventory issues

    One of the biggest problems with e-commerce can be inventory. How do you deal with all of the issues that come up with inventory. Maybe the problem is storing the items in your house, maybe the problem is keeping the items in stock at all. Anton recommends looking as far ahead as possible and keeping tabs on what you’re selling. So if something is selling well and the holidays are coming up, work with your suppliers to get more product. If a product is sold out, communicate that to your customers and let them know you will notify them as soon as it’s available. Anton has seen it all, and he shares his great insights on this week’s Just the Tips.

    How to gain an edge on your competition

    How do you compete with all of the different people and companies selling stuff online? Anton says he doesn’t even get into a market unless there are fewer than 10 sellers offering a particular brand online. And then from there it’s all about marketing and traffic, trying to dominate the category and brand in Google and Google Ads. And because customer service is practically absent online, Anton is able to distinguish his companies by offering solid service.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:07] How Anton got started into entrepreneurship
    • [6:00] How Anton started thinking big in e-commerce
    • [8:40] Mistakes Anton made
    • [10:12] Analytics first steps
    • [11:35] How do you handle inventory?
    • [16:10] Different e-commerce business models
    • [20:43] Customer service makes a huge difference
    • [23:50] How to offer service even if you’re not an expert
    • [30:05] How to get in touch with Anton

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Drop Ship Lifestyle
    • E-Commerce Lifestyle
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com
    • Interested in being a guest on the show?

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Busting outsourcing myths with Derek Gallimore, Ep 98 May 16, 2019

    Today on Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome Derek Gallimore, a serial entrepreneur who has really carved a niche helping businesses find savings via outsourcing. Derek came to outsourcing because he realized he couldn’t properly scale his business in London because of the salary costs. So he began looking around and found that he could save enormous amounts of money by sending work to the Philippines without seeing a dip in quality. Now he helps businesses do the same. This is a really fascinating episode of Just the Tips.

    When the bubble burst, Derek turned to outsourcing

    We started out hot, asking Derek, who’s been a serial entrepreneur for 20 years, about his highest high starting businesses. And he actually dipped into his roots buying and selling properties, and told us about selling one of his biggest properties, valued at $3 million, which now is a bit bittersweet. Soon after he sold that property, the financial crisis of 2008 hit, and suddenly it wasn’t as fun being in real estate anymore. But obviously Derek has bounced back and found a new path.

    How Derek got into outsourcing

    Juggling so many properties, Derek realized he needed to outsource his customer service. He ended up heading to the Philippines, and hiring one person there to help with customer service. But pretty soon his team was growing and growing, doing everything from customer service to web design to sales. He eventually built a team of 70 in the Philippines, and never looked back. And since then he’s discovered just how amazing outsourcing can be to scale your business, and has become passionate about helping others do the same.

    Busting myths about outsourcing

    Derek said that people often have a “polarized” view of outsourcing. One is that the people you’re outsourcing to are going to steal your ideas, or that it’s cheap labor that you can pay $2 an hour with no training. It’s either one or the other. But of course there are ways to protect yourself against the former and if you’re serious about outsourcing then you should have a plan for training to avoid the latter. As Derek says, if you do it right, you can save something like 70 to 80% of your salary costs by outsourcing.

    What sorts of jobs can you outsource?

    It used to be that entrepreneurs thought they could only outsource one function to another country: data entry. Maybe some customer service. But as Derek says, there are actually dozens of functions you can build a team around in the Philippines or elsewhere, and that many businesses have outsourced everything from graphic design to animation to artificial intelligence. The key is communication, and defining the role. And how do you find the right people? Derek has tons of advice and, dare we say, tips for how to get it done right.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:24] Derek’s highest high as an entrepreneur
    • [5:40] How Derek got into outsourcing
    • [7:12] Common pitfalls of outsourcing
    • [10:05] What sorts of jobs can you outsource?
    • [14:48] How do you find people?
    • [19:28] What about timezones?
    • [22:15] How to secure your information and intellectual property
    • [27:26] Derek built the TripAdvisor of outsourcing

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Outsource Accelerator
    • Ultimate Group Coaching Launch Checklist
    • Coaching for Impact Facebook group
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    The vital e-commerce step that everyone skips, Ep 97 May 09, 2019

    Fans all the way down from the cheap seats to the front row have been asking Dean and I for a solo episode of Just the Tips for a while now, and finally we’re giving the people what they want. Unfortunately, that does mean that Dean is also here, but we have a great topic we’re diving into this week. Even though both of us have built successful e-commerce businesses, we never actually talk about e-commerce! So today we’re dipping into our personal experience to provide just tips for listeners of Just the Tips.

    Entrepreneurs should marry Dean

    Dean told me about the e-commerce business he’s been building with his wife. She was working a job that she hated, and so he wrote her a resignation letter and told her she should turn it in the next day. And she did! Then they started building a business online around makeup tutorials, eventually offering products and informational products. And as Dean says, it has taken a while for it to grow, but in the last four or five months it’s really taken off. His story is a great case study for Just the Tips listeners.

    Narrow the scope of your market

    When Dean and his wife started her business, they just thought their clientele would be women. Women who use makeup. And the business did okay, but it never really took off. And then they decided to look at it and say “Who are we truly serving here? Is it every woman, or is there a slice of the market we could target?” And they discovered that if they changed all of their messaging and marketing to women with skin conditions, they could really hone in on a specific target market. And so that’s what they did eight weeks ago, and it’s really taken off since.

    The mechanics of e-commerce

    The profit margins on a lot of what you’re going to sell in e-commerce are going to be slim. And so it can be difficult to scale, because you want to do everything yourself in order to not outsource-away those profits. Dean and his wife faced that problem specifically, until fulfillment got to be so much work that it had to be outsourced. And a lot of times when people build e-commerce sites they may build a great front end but not a great back end. And it’s so important to have both in place. You need to be able to get your customer cost down low, so the profit margins are manageable.

    Go deeper to figure out what you’re selling

    As Dean says, you’re not selling a product, you’re selling a solution. So Dean and his wife aren’t selling makeup brushes, they’re selling confidence. In Dean’s information products, he’s not selling a way to make money, he’s selling financial freedom. That doesn’t mean you tell your customer that, but you need to know your why, so the person you’re selling to feels why they need what you’re selling.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:50] What has Dean been building?
    • [8:21] How they lost money early on
    • [11:00] Dean segments the market
    • [18:08] What is the reticular activating system?
    • [21:04] E-Commerce mechanics
    • [25:00] How the membership program fits in Dean’s business
    • [29:56] The big tip
    • [39:30] If you haven’t nailed it, it may not be the product

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    The brainy guide to group coaching with Mariana Ruiz, Ep 96 May 02, 2019

    Today on Just the Tips, Dean and I try to mend fences after the earth-shattering news that Dean has not seen Star Wars. But we get off to a rocky start when it’s revealed that our guest, Mariana Ruiz, also hasn’t seen the most important movies of our time! Luckily, Mariana (if not Dean) is still a true asset to the show, as she is an enormously successful business coach who actually coaches other coaches on how to scale her business. If helping entrepreneurs is your passion, this is a can’t-miss episode of Just the Tips.

    Connecting neurology to business

    Mariana came to marketing and to business coaching from a completely different path. She became fascinated with neurology at a very young age, and started reading about it. And then she went to nursing school and worked in an ICU, helping stroke victims recover. She then moved on to hospital administration and became fascinated with how not just the brain works, but how a business works. So she started a side hustle helping business owners in the healthcare industry and eventually made it her full-time gig.

    What mindset breakthroughs do you need to have as an entrepreneur?

    Because Mariana knows so much about the brain and psychology, I had to ask her what the major mental or mindset breakthroughs entrepreneurs need to have in order to be successful. And right off the bat, she said: You need to be okay selling. You need to know that you’re always going to be selling something, whether it’s goods or services, and you need to be comfortable having that conversation about money with potential clients or business partners. And, she says, a lot of people have trouble talking about money because they think about the money coming to them, rather than the value they’re providing to the customer. One of the really interesting things Mariana said about the money mental barrier is that entrepreneurs often want to undercharge, because they think more people may buy what they’re selling. But the truth is that when you undercharge, the customer actually suffers, because then they won’t value what you’re offering.

    How to scale a coaching business

    The biggest problem people have when they try to start a coaching business is that they don’t do the research. That could be pricing or competition research, but the big one is whether you’re solving a problem for people. When you’re selling to one person, you can customize your coaching services. But as Mariana says, when you’re pitching to a group, you have to be very dialed-into the problem you’re solving in order to scale it. You need to be very specific. You can’t say, “You’re going to love yourself.” Instead, you should say, “You’re going to learn how to survive the first three months as a parent,” etc.

    How to run a group coaching program

    Mariana is a total pro when it comes to running group coaching sessions. Her programs vary in number of participants and length of program, but the one thing she says you need to do is lay out the infrastructure. Figure out how you’re formatting your program (pre-recorded sessions, live sessions, etc.), and what solution you’re offering. If you do that, a lot of the other concerns fall into place. As she says, often when she does live sessions, by the time she gets to the fourth person to check in with them, she’s already answered their question, because she has clearly communicated what they’re all there to do. This is expert advice from one of the best.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:32] Is Mariana the biggest geek?
    • [7:04] How Dallin got into video and storytelling
    • [9:27] What are the mental breakthroughs you need to have?
    • [12:00] Why undercharging hurts customers
    • [15:10] How Mariana built her coaching business
    • [20:28] Running a group program
    • [23:34] Setting proper boundaries
    • [27:06] Can the main entrepreneur remove him or herself from the deliverables
    • [28:50] Who would use this sort of coaching program?

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Impact Driven Entrepreneur
    • Ultimate Group Coaching Launch Checklist
    • Coaching for Impact Facebook group
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    How to create video that matters with Dallin Nead, Ep 95 Apr 25, 2019

    Today on Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome a friend of mine who knows a thing or two about the one thing that every online business wants to use more of, but remains elusive: video. You hear constantly that you need to have more video on your website, on your Instagram, on a YouTube channel. But how do you cut through all the noise to make your videos stand out and connect with your audience? Dallin talks about how he created a story framework that helps business owners tell their stories to their audience in an authentic way. He’s traveled the globe working with entrepreneurs to make amazing videos, and we’re lucky to have him with us today.

    Why video is so important to businesses

    As Dallin says, the Internet today is lousy with video. Anyone with a smartphone and a Facebook account can go live at any moment. But there’s a big difference between throwaway or immediate video and what Dallin calls intent-based video. And being able to tell a story that compels an audience is a difficult but worthwhile venture for businesses. Using video to connect with an audience happens when there is the emotional connection between you and your audience. You want to create videos where your audience can see themselves in your video. And that, Dallin says, is where connection happens.

    What’s the number-one stumbling block for people with video?

    A lot of times people make excuses for why they’re not putting out more video. They may not have the right equipment, the right space or the time to put into it. But really, Dallin says, what holds people back most of the time is fear of judgment. Being willing to have open, honest conversations is a very difficult thing. But if you’re able to pinpoint what your story is, and you get comfortable telling your story, then taking that to video will be that much easier. As Dallin says, start small. Turn on your phone and go live, and you’ll soon get used to being on video.

    How to start making videos

    As Dallin says, making a video does not have to be a major production when you’re starting out. If you’re having trouble figuring out what to talk about, he says that every good video is some variation of hook, story, offer. So a lot of times all you have to do is talk about what you’re up to. And as he says, get away from the high points. People want you to be authentic, and if all you’re doing is getting on video and talking about how awesome everything is, you’re going to fail that test. So get on, talk about what you’re doing, what’s happening with your family, or if you’re like Dean, the fact that you haven’t seen Star Wars and you’re a heathen.

    Your video has to have a purpose

    When Dallin says to start recording in order to shake the jitters out, he’s not talking about doing it just to do it. As he says, you need to have a hook. You need to have a sense of what you’re going to talk about. So it might be as simple as declaring what the video is going to be about. Or it could be where you are geographically, and how that ties into your entrepreneurial journey. It doesn’t have to be scripted, but you should know where you want to go by the end of the video. Dallin is full of great advice for anyone who is interested in dipping their toes into video, and this is a can’t-miss episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:24] James comes on a little strong
    • [5:17] How Dallin got into video and storytelling
    • [9:34] Fear of judgment holds people back
    • [13:25] How to break the ice
    • [16:40] Starting out with video
    • [20:19] The hero’s journey
    • [22:24] Identify the purpose of your video
    • [25:20] Story therapy
    • [30:30] Be okay to be at the beginning

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Content Supply
    • Storyselling Challenge
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Forget social media vanity metrics with Elise Darma, Ep 94 Apr 18, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I get schooled completely in how to make social media work for small businesses. That’s because we have as a guest Elise Darma, an Instagram Jedi who runs the Canupy agency that has grown numerous 250,000-follower Instagram accounts, has brokered hundreds of deals between Instagram influencers and brands, and runs an Instagram Masterclass. Dean is still in Instagram pre-k, so this episode is full of amazing advice and counterintuitive insights that will help you get your social media on the right track.

    Quality over quantity on Instagram

    Sometimes social media can feel like a numbers game. You just want to get the most followers or the most likes on a post, etc. But as Elise tells us, those are just vanity metrics. And really what you want is even as low as 1,000 follower who really want your content, who are engaged with what you’re posting, and who share you content with others. When people buy followers or likes, you’re really just being “fake popular,” and you’re not growing your customer base. The number becomes meaningless.

    You’re not an influencer if you’re not actually influencing anyone

    Elise points out that for a lot of business owners, it’s an ego thing. They want to be seen as an influencer, so they buy a million followers and they can proclaim themselves an influencer. But really, if you’re not speaking to people who care about your content, are you really influencing anyone? Instead of trying to prove to the world how awesome you are, Elise says you should be using your Instagram to connect with your audience, to offer sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes content, things that are fun for your audience to see and are relatable.

    Think of Instagram as another funnel

    I have a couple thousand followers on Instagram and if I’m being honest, I don’t know how they found me and I don’t post all that often. Dean has never even downloaded the app before. So we asked Elise how she would help someone who is unfamiliar with Insta use it for their business. And she started speaking our language, showing us how we should treat Instagram like a funnel. She broke down what each line of the bio should say. You want to give people a reason to care, and a reason to click the link in your bio. So what sort of content you should post? Elias laid it all out.

    What should you post on Instagram?

    Elise says you should identify five themes for the type of content you publish on your Instagram that will appeal to your target audience. Now that doesn’t mean that those themes are all related exactly to what you’re selling, but they should at least attract your audience. So even though Instagram should be somewhat personal to connect with an audience, that doesn’t mean you should go off the deep end and go into your marriage trouble. Elise is a total pro about using Instagram, and she lays it all out in clear terms. If you’re looking to jumpstart your social media, this is the episode for you.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:03] When did Elias know she was going to do something different?
    • [5:45] Elise explains what Contiki is
    • [11:04] Elise’s focus on Instagram
    • [13:25] Are you really an influencer?
    • [17:20] Sneak peeks are the way to go
    • [19:45] Instagram is a funnel
    • [22:15] What sort of content you should focus on
    • [29:15] Dean has to get over his Instagram fears
    • [35:20] Connecting with Elise

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Elise Darma
    • Elise’s Masterclass
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Hitting the ground running with Patrick McKenna, Ep 93 Apr 11, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I get started on the right foot when he serenades me about how excited he is to be my co-host. And then, we have an absolutely amazing guest in Patrick McKenna. Patrick is the Founder and CEO of Strike Social, a global, technology-enabled digital advertising company. He has more than 30 years of experience in business development and technology consulting for major corporations. He literally helped build Microsoft into the juggernaut it is today, and with his new company, Strike Social, he’s worked with little mom-and-pop shops like Honda, Mattel and Lionsgate.

    How sales influenced Patrick’s approach to entrepreneurship

    Patrick told us that when he was in college, he was pre-law. And then junior year came around and he realized he didn’t want to be a lawyer anymore. So instead he dipped his toe into business, and got started selling phone service to businesses door to door. And as brutal a job as that was, it taught him a really valuable skill early on: You have to do your research. In order to sell, he had to understand what a business did, what their day-to-day looked like, etc. And that skill of learning about customers and what problems they have that need solving has served Patrick well as he’s advanced through his career.

    How to build a business out of an idea

    Patrick built an entire, successful division of Microsoft before going on to found Strike Social, one of the fastest growing companies in the country. So I asked him how his work at Microsoft helped him get to where he is today, and he said that what’s really helped him is that he can sell. And that doesn’t just mean selling to a customer, it also means selling something internally as well. And then by taking the feedback from those pitches and really learning to build something, Patrick has done something that not many entrepreneurs can claim as their own.

    How did Patrick build a company so quickly?

    One of the key tips Patrick picked up at Microsoft is the need to do high-quality market analysis. Before you even enter a market, you need to know who your competitors are, what their strengths are and what their weaknesses are. And you have to be able to build a case for why it would be a good idea to enter that market, and why you will be successful. And so the “homework” that Microsoft required him to do has ensured that when he started Strike Social, he did the homework, too. And that has allowed Strike Social to grow rapidly.

    What is Strike Social?

    When he was at Microsoft, Patrick was part of a leading-edge technology team, and that’s no different with Strike Social. The company works with huge businesses to grow their digital advertising using artificial intelligence. And Patrick was very candid about the company’s early days, which had the company hitting the ground running because of the sales team they had in place, but also hitting speed bumps because they didn’t have a strong technical team in place. If you’re just starting a business and wondering how the best get it done, you need to listen to this week’s Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:24] How Patrick got into business
    • [6:00] What Patrick learned from selling door to door
    • [11:09] Patrick’s history with Microsoft
    • [13:15] How to build a business out of an idea
    • [16:53] Strike Social
    • [19:19] How Strike Social hit the ground running
    • [22:27] How to hire a CTO
    • [26:44] Dean’s partnership issues
    • [31:45] Advice for starting a business

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Strike Social
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Design does sell with Cathy Olson, Ep 92 Apr 04, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I bury the hatchet and actually compliment each other at the start of the show. Maybe we’re on our best behavior because we have Cathy Olson on the show. Cathy is a pro at making funnels look pretty, rather than simply functional. Her company name, Funnel Gorgeous, says it all. And on today’s show, she talks with us about why marketing so often clashes with design, why focusing on design can really make your funnels stand out, and how good design does sell. You don’t want to miss this episode.

    Bridging design and marketing

    Cathy came from the design world to the marketing world, and has found that the two sides don’t always get along. In fact, as she says, there’s this idea out there that ugly things sell, and that if you’re creating a funnel the only thing that matters is whether it gets your lead to conversion as quickly as possible. But with her company Funnel Gorgeous, Cathy has been able to merge design and marketing to make funnels that convert because they are so beautiful, which allows them to really stand out.

    Design matters

    There’s an idea out there that “ugly sells.” If you look at a lot of top performing funnels, they’ll often put form way over function, and their creators may even tell you that the funnel performs better with an ugly design. But what Cathy has found is that the story you’re telling and the offer you’re presenting, it doesn’t have to trump design. In fact, if you work with a good designer, they will be able to highlight what makes your story sing, and you’ll get even better results.

    What makes a great design?

    I had to ask Cathy, what makes a good design? And she had a great, quick answer for me: A good design is something that reflects the quality of the person or product you’re designing for, and which appeals to the audience you’re attempting to reach. And she differentiates art and design by pointing out that design is really a solution-based art. It’s in service to the copy and to your offer, says Cathy, but it’s also the first thing a potential customer is going to notice.

    Principles of good design

    Cathy rejected out of hand my question to list off some good design principles. Something about her having to distill years of design school into two minutes on a podcast, but nevertheless she did offer up some great advice for listeners. The first rule, she said, is that the offer has to be immediately understandable and readable for the audience. They can’t wonder for half a second what they’re looking at or what your message is. You also have to think through the “cadence” of your content, how your potential customer is going to experience it and make sure it’s organized in a way that makes sense.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:16] Cathy cautiously wades into the podcast
    • [3:51] Bridging marketing and design
    • [5:17] How Cathy reconciles all sides
    • [10:47] Proper design principles
    • [13:27] A multi-million dollar case study
    • [16:10] How Cathy got into design
    • [20:05] What is Funnel Gorgeous?
    • [26:22] How much does color matter?

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Funnel Gorgeous
    • The Inspired Pro
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • CEO Quickstart Program: https://jamespfriel.clickfunnels.com/about-ceo-quickstart-program?utm_campaign=learnmore&utm_medium=aep&utm_source=homepage
    • Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Make your money problems disappear with Brie Sodano, Ep 91 Mar 28, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I pull your head out of the sand and make you think about the one thing no entrepreneur likes to consider: Money. And to do that, we have Brie Sodano on the show. Brie is a financial adviser and founder of From Sheep to Shark. Her goal is to help a million women manage their money and offer real-life advice that doesn’t come from a handbook. Brie has a great story and great advice. If you’re still struggling with money even if your income is rising, you need to listen to this week’s episode.

    Learning money management “on the job”

    Brie and her husband had a kid young, and by 23 she found herself a mom and a homeowner, with a husband who was an EMT. So managing the household budget became a matter of necessity. She then got into work at a nonprofit and realized that while she loved the work, she wasn’t making any money. So she taught herself how to trade stock options as a side hustle. And when it came time for the next thing, she realized that financial planning was the way to go. Her story will resonate with a lot of listeners, and if you listen to this episode, you can hear Brie’s advice for how life is really lived.

    How to get out of your financial comfort zone

    As Brie says on this week’s episode of Just the Tips, sometimes more income doesn’t actually change how we handle our money. Whether it’s habits you learned growing up or when you were struggling, it’s sometimes difficult to break out of our mindset around money. For instance, if you’re able to balance your income with your expenses, sometimes if your income goes up, your expenses do, too, because you’re not used to having the “extra” money. Brie works with clients all the time to get them out of those old habits, and walks listeners through one of the exercises she conducts to break you out of that mindset.

    Why budgets don’t work

    Brie works with clients for six months to tackle their financial problems, and the first thing she does is help them wrangle their cash flow. The first thing she does is get people out of thinking about “budgets.” It’s very difficult to think about your budget written on a piece of paper at home when you’re at Target buying toilet paper. So Brie came up with something called the “invisible method” to help people manage their cash flow without having to think about it at every step. And the first step is to create five bank accounts. Five. Why? Listen to this week’s Just the Tips to find out.

    Entrepreneurs: Keep it clean

    Brie works with a wide variety of clients, but she specifically works with entrepreneurs, too, on straightening out their finances. And as she says on this episode of Just the Tips: You have to keep it clean. You have to keep your personal finances separate from your business finances. That can be a very difficult thing to do, but Brie has been doing this a long time, and has great ideas for how entrepreneurs can achieve financial “cleanliness.” Sound like something you could use help with? Listen to this week’s Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:45] How Brie got into helping people with money
    • [5:44] What Brie learned as a financial planner
    • [6:55] Why people get into financial troubles
    • [8:46] How to break out of old habits
    • [12:12] Why budgets don’t work
    • [19:14] What about credit cards
    • [24:05] Entrepreneurs who need help with money
    • [26:08] Brie’s Sheep to Shark system

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Sheep to Shark
    • Sign up for the Invisible System
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Stop trying to write great copy with Ken “Spanky” Moskowitz, Ep 90 Mar 21, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome a mononymous icon in the world of advertising: Spanky. Ken “Spanky” Moskowitz has worked for some of the biggest brands in the world, including kicking off a huge campaign for Coca-Cola. On today’s episode, Spanky tells us how he got his nickname, why he embraced it, how story can transform advertising, and how you can tap into your own personal history to make your advertising connect with your audience. Spanky is such a great podcast guest, full of high energy and incredible insights.

    Literally a life spent in advertising

    Despite being saddled with a nickname he (initially) hated, Spanky always dreamed of carving out a spot for himself in branding. When he was 13, the very same uncle who gave him his nickname also gave him $500 in cash, and he was able to take that money and make himself a small recording studio. But instead of making music, Spanky made advertisements. He’d always been fascinated by radio ads, and so at 13 he hung out in his house while his family went to the beach and recorded high-quality ads that no one would hear. You know how they say you should do what you love and what you’re passionate about? It doesn’t get much more passionate than a 13-year-old kid making ads for fun.

    The key to writing great copy

    This show is called Just the Tips, so we asked Spanky to tell us exactly what the key to writing great copy is. And his answer is maybe a little counterintuitive: Stop trying to write great copy. And what he means by that is stop trying to make a pitch, or writing what you think is the greatest copy in the world. The key is to dig into your life experiences, try to tap into the pain and the joy of your intended audience, and write to that. Tell stories, because stories connect every one us. As Spanky says, if movies were written like ads, they’d bomb. But how do you convey a story in a short ad? Keep listening.

    How to make your ads story-based

    Spanky told us this story about a friend of his who owned a swim school. And the ad they were using was very pretty, showed happy kids swimming. But they weren’t getting any conversions. So Spanky dipped into his own childhood, when an incident in a pool almost led to him drowning because he couldn’t swim, and he crafted a 100-word ad that appealed to that fear in parents. He put together the ad and almost instantly they had six months of bookings. And that’s what Spanky has learned: Companies get caught up in what their offer is, but forget the why behind why their audience may even want that offer.

    Not every ad needs a story

    Even though Spanky is an evangelist for making your ads a story, he says that not every ad needs a story. An example of that may be when you’re working someone through a sales funnel. Maybe the story grabs them, but the second time they see an ad, it’s just a straight list of sales and benefits. Or maybe your first ad doesn’t have a story but the re-targeting ad does. You need to think through what works best for your company, but you should have the story in mind whenever you’re crafting your ads. Spanky is a true pro, and this is a must-listen episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [1:42] Why Spanky?
    • [4:35] How Spanky got into copywriting and branding
    • [8:32] Getting his start in radio
    • [10:00] The key to writing great copy
    • [17:35] Spanky shares an example of making a whiskey ad emotional
    • [23:23] Should every ad tell a story?
    • [25:29] Can anyone do this?
    • [31:10] Why Ken started Ad Zombies

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Ad Zombies
    • Use promo code TIPS15 to get 15% off
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    The Entrepreneur’s Mindset with Jack Gibson and Jeff Schechter, Ep 89 Mar 14, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome two business partners who have been incredibly successful for a number of years. Jack Gibson and Jeff Schechter (aka Shecky) have been killing it for years, and nowadays work together in real estate. But as they discuss in this week’s episode, they wouldn’t be anywhere if they didn’t get their mindset right. On today’s episode, we talk about why entrepreneurs need to be able to take a few lumps, how to build that resilience, and why Shecky celebrated turning 60 by starting a new company.

    The one key to success for entrepreneurs

    We don’t let up on Jack and Jeff on this week’s episode of Just the Tips, and so right from the get go I asked them for the one trait every entrepreneur needs to be successful. And Jack summed it up in one word: persistence. Shecky put it a little differently, demanding that entrepreneurs “don’t be a frickin’ baby.” As he said, “You’re going to get kicked in the teeth a lot, and you have to get used to it.” Still want to be an entrepreneur after that? Then keep on listening to this episode of Just the Tips.

    When Jack and Shecky had to dig down and find their resilience

    Jack and Shecky talked so much about resilience, I had to ask them for a time when they had to deal with some serious adversity, and how they overcame it. And Jack told us a whopper of a story about a time they were dealing with, as he put it, some “serious, serious fraud” from some former business partners. They had to go back to their investors and pay out several hundred thousand dollars to make them whole again. As they say, it’s been the hardest year for their business, but by keeping the right mindset and supporting each other, they’ve been able to plow through it.

    How to maintain your focus in the face of adversity

    So how do Jack and Shecky maintain that focus when everything is coming at them? As we’ve talked about before on this show, they emphasized the need to unplug. Whether it’s meditation or yoga or getting out in nature—or taking a vacation—Shecky reiterated that it’s necessary to withdraw from the business for even just a few minutes at a time. And as they both said, they always try to begin and end every meeting with an inspirational quote or some note of support so they know they have each other’s back even when they’re facing something very difficult.

    Diversifying your investments

    There’s no doubt that 98% of an entrepreneur’s energy goes into their business, and 98% of their income comes from that business. But that doesn’t mean that entrepreneurs should just accept that as the way. It’s really important to diversify, as Jack told us on this week’s episode of Just the Tips. You’re going to have ebbs in your business, and having investments in other areas that can bring return can not only stabilize your bank account, but allow you to continue to focus on your business without the stress of worrying about your balance. Jack and Shecky are two true pros, and you’re going to want to hear what they have to say on this week’s episode.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:05] Getting right into it
    • [8:22] Jack deals with some fraud
    • [10:56] How to maintain your focus in the face of adversity
    • [15:35] Why Shecky started a business at 60
    • [20:43] How important is it to diversify your investments?
    • [23:12] Advice for entrepreneurs starting out

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • High Return Real Estate
    • Extreme Ownership
    • The High Return Real Estate Show
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Why Bots Are the Present for Marketers with Stephanie Blake, Ep 88 Mar 07, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome Stephanie Blake to the podcast. Stephanie is at the forefront of Facebook Messenger bots, and how they can help marketers take the next step in their field. Stephanie has an amazing and relatable story, being a work-from-home mom with an affinity for taking online courses, and she’s used that to really place herself on the vanguard of bots. We talk with her about how she got into marketing, how she discovered bots, and how you can leverage bots to make your marketing sing.

    How bots work for your marketing

    Stephanie is the quintessential entrepreneur. She’s gone from getting laid off by her work-from-home job, to becoming a self-taught expert in a cutting-edge field. And she says bots are really at the forefront because they allow you to interact with your customer on a much more personal, individual level at a time when we’re seeing click-through rates and retention rates on emails and webinars decline. If this is all new to you, or you’re also worried about the effectiveness of your tried-and-true tools, you have to listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Bots are a revolution in communication

    Stephanie calls bots a communication revolution. And while she’s already seen how Facebook Messenger bots can change things for companies, it’s not stopping there. She told us about how tech giants like Google are asking phone companies to switch from SMS messaging to RCS messaging. And that change will make a seismic shift in how people communicate with their phones, so there will be much more opportunities for dynamic interactions (including buttons, links, etc.) that will be a marketer’s dream. So if you already know how to communicate well with a bot, you’ll be able to jump on when it expands so rapidly.

    With great bot power comes great bot responsibility

    Stephanie points to a company called Smart Moms Plan Disney as an example of someone who is using a bot effectively and, well, intelligently. According to Stephanie, the owner of Smart Moms makes her bot very interactive, including having visitors take quizzes or surveys so that she can help serve them better. And Stephanie has some great ideas for how to get people subscribed to a bot beyond simply asking someone to subscribe. This is truly a tip-filled episode of Just the Tips.

    Bots haven’t killed email lists

    As Stephanie told us on this week’s Just the Tips, if you have people subscribed to your bot, you don’t own that list. That’s why email lists will never truly be replaced by bots. But while she walks us through a lot of the similarities between bots and email, she says one of the worst things you can do is copy and paste email campaigns into bots. So what should you do instead? Listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips to find out.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:19] How Stephanie got into marketing
    • [7:48] What is a bot?
    • [10:51] How to make your bot look like it isn’t spam
    • [15:40] How to get someone subscribed to the bot
    • [18:10] Bots are saving entrepreneurs money
    • [21:37] Do you own the list of subscribers to your bot?
    • [24:54] Don’t copy and paste email campaigns
    • [28:30] How bots are like a Choose Your Own Adventure
    • [34:26] Getting in touch with Stephanie

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Smart Moms Plan Disney
    • Social Sparrow
    • BotBoss
    • BotBoss on Facebook
    • Social Sparrow on Facebook
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Secrets of a Closer with Randall Grizzle, Ep 87 Feb 28, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I dive into the much-misunderstood but vital piece of the selling puzzle, closing. And who better to talk closing with than the man who literally wrote the book on it (Closer Secrets), Randall Grizzle. Randall spent 15 years closing high-ticket deals for some of the top marketers in the world before he struck out on his own to helps closers level up their games. His company, Closer Secrets, has been around less than a year and is already closing multiple six-figure deals. Listen to this week’s episode to find out how Randall works his way through a sale, what’s in his pitch decks, and why Dean may have a leg up on other closers.

    If you want to close, you have to have a game plan

    Because Randall has had such tremendous success with closing high-ticket deals, I had to ask him what’s the one thing that everyone has to do, if they even dream of closing a sale. And while it may sound simple he says: You have to have a game plan. And that’s because things come up, opinions change, but if you have a game plan in place, then you can adapt and execute according to that plan. If you don’t have a game plan, then it gets awkward. And nobody likes awkward. Except for Dean. He’s all about it.

    The church of the game plan

    Randall is a unique thinker, and so when I asked him what a game plan looks like to him, he didn’t cite the titans of industry who have made millions on their sales. He cited Andy Stanley and Joel Osteen, two of the most famous ministers in the country. But he says if you look at those guys, who have build enormous communities, you can see the game plan. They come out every Sunday with their introduction, setting the right tempo. Then they switch to their investigation, where they probe and ask questions. Then they get into their “blast,” where they let the congregation know they have options, and then the pre-qualification commitment. You have to hear how he breaks it down on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Closing is all about the process

    A lot of times, when an entrepreneur is building a sales team, they’ll say, “I need a closer.” But as Randall says, that’s like building a tower from the spire down. Closing is all about the process. He walked us through what he sees as the ideal process for closing a sale, and it begins with the closer working with the person who booked a call with a potential client. He breaks down how the landing page should look, what you should be putting together for a complete pitch, and how to eliminate rejections before you even hear them.

    Closing begins in pre-qualifying

    One of the fascinating things that Randall says on this week’s episode of Just the Tips is that closing actually doesn’t happen at closing. Closing happens at pre-qualifying, getting that commitment at that point, so that once the proposal comes through (keep it simple), then you’ve already closed. It’s as simple as asking, “Is there any reason why we shouldn’t work together?” Randall really is on another level with closing sales, and Just the Tips listeners will gain incredible insight by listening to this week’s episode. Plus Dean’s there.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:24] How Randall got his start in sales
    • [5:20] Have a game plan
    • [10:05] Randall’s sales process
    • [17:30] Pre-qualifying a commitment
    • [19:10] Pitching the proposal
    • [24:45] What’s in a pitch deck?
    • [28:22] How Randall gets his potential clients prepared
    • [30:30] Getting in touch with Randall

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Closer Secrets
    • Randall on Instagram
    • Grateful Closers on Facebook
    • Closer Secrets on Facebook
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Making Magic from Small Email Lists with Rob and Kennedy, Ep 86 Feb 21, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, I am outnumbered by the Brits as Dean welcomes two friends of his from across the pond, Rob and Kennedy. The pair are unlikely entrepreneurs, to say the least, first dabbling in magic and hypnosis. But now they put their powers to good use as gurus of email marketing. On this week’s episode, we talk about how Rob and Kennedy made the switch to marketing, how they helped fellow entertainers learn the ropes of building email lists, and how to make small email lists work for your business. And don’t worry, we remember what happened the last time the Brits outnumbered the Yanks.


    Why Dean Went on Social Media Detox, Ep 85 Feb 14, 2019

    On today’s Just the Tips, it’s just Dean and I sharing a podcast episode for two for Valentine’s Day. This is actually the one place where I can tell Dean I love him, because he’s actually taken a hiatus from social media lately. At first I thought I wasn’t seeing his posts, but he tells me it’s been an intentional pullback from social media. Why? Find out on this very special, intimate Valentine’s Day episode.

    Dean goes dark

    Back in December, everything had been going well for Dean, when suddenly he got really sick. He tried to go into work, but had to turn back home and ended up spending about six days in bed, unplugged from the world. At that time, he’d also just dropped and smashed his phone, so his new phone had none of his contacts, none of his apps, etc. And what he realized was that he was always reaching for it, even though there was nothing to do on it. And it was then he realized he had an addiction to his phone.

    Taking a break

    After realizing that he had a habit of checking social media compulsively, Dean decided to go cold turkey. For three weeks he didn’t check his social media, barely checked his email and went online as little as possible. And what he found was that his head was feeling a lot clearer. What he realized was that he was just passively consuming “other people’s crap,” and not focusing on what he thought was important. If this sounds like you (it sounds like just about everybody), this episode is for you.

    You’re not good at multitasking

    One of the effects of leaving social media, Dean found, was getting a whole bunch of time back. All that time he wasted on social media, but then also all the time he lost by losing his focus. Humans are not good at multitasking, no matter what anyone says. Studies show that the human mind is better off focusing on one thing at a time in order to be most productive. And so by turning off his phone or by not checking his email or Facebook incessantly, Dean was actually able to get his focus back.

    Figure out what’s distracting you

    Now that Dean has found that he’s much more productive not going on social media or not picking up his phone every 20 minutes, his next step is to make a list of everything that causes a distraction. Phone calls, notifications, Slack notifications, etc. And he wants to figure out which of those are essential to him, and which he can remove so he can take his focus to the next level. It’s important to set expectations with people that you’re not always going to be available at the time, so you’re not ghosting your friends and family. But try removing some of the noise, and you’ll be amazed by how productive you can be.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:30] Why Dean has gone silent
    • [8:30] Dean realizes it’s just a habit
    • [10:00] Three weeks off social media
    • [11:41] Wrong metrics for success on social media
    • [17:36] How to get past your performance gaps
    • [21:20] Make a list of everything that creates a distraction
    • [26:55] Set expectations
    • [31:08] Dean’s making a comeback in the book challenge
    • [37:06] Abandon the good for the great

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page:
    • https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Raising Your Game with Alan Stein, Jr., Ep 84 Feb 07, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we welcome a top performance coach who has worked with some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including Kevin Durant, Alan Stein, Jr. But right off the bat, we learned one of the most mind-blowing facts about Alan, his middle name: Alan “The Ballbuster” Stein, Jr. Alan is a world-renowned coach, author and speaker. After a career working with NBA players, he now teaches audiences and clients how to utilize the same strategies in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level. Move over Dean “Bearded Wonder” Holland, the Ballbuster is here.

    The intersection of love and work

    Alan took a different path than pretty much any other business coach you know. He started playing basketball when he was a kid, and then played in high school and college. Once that was done, he transitioned to coaching, specifically focusing on performance training (running faster, jumping higher). Alan had a great mentor say to him one time: Find out what you love to do, find out what you’re good at, and work at the intersection of those two. And luckily Alan found that with coaching.

    Respect the process

    Alan had friends and colleagues in the corporate world, and began talking with them about the concepts of his training and coaching, and how they could apply off the court. And what he realized is that the mindset of the athlete actually has a lot in common with the mindset of the entrepreneur. You have to respect the process, you have to embrace change, having rituals and routines, and never getting bored with the basics. Alan is a top-notch communicator, and the connections he makes here will blow your mind.

    Have the humility to identify your performance gaps

    As Alan says even the most advanced athletes and performers have what he calls “performance gaps.” No one is elite at everything. So the first step is to have the humility to see that you have those gaps. Then, he has a three-step process to overcoming those gaps. The first step is to pick one gap, then work on it for 66 days, and the third step is to keep the spotlight on it. He says the number-one reason new years resolutions fail is because they try to change too many habits at one time. You pick the one habit you want to address, and you focus on successfully getting over that.

    Applying these concepts to organizations

    Alan is a man of process, and when I asked him about how to apply some of these habit-breaking concepts to larger organizations, he laid out a clear way for a company to foster a culture. The first step is to identify your core values, your north star, what the whole company is working towards. Once you have that, you set standards and processes that move your company toward the goal. Then you create accountability to ensure that all of those standards are upheld. Easier said than done, but Alan is a convincing guy. If you’re looking to establish some better habits, you have to listen to this week’s episode of Just the TIps.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:45] How Alan got into performance coaching
    • [6:20] Alan’s past as an entrepreneur
    • [11:02] How Alan transitioned to the corporate world
    • [14:01] Why athletes have difficulty with business after sports
    • [16:54] How to get past your performance gaps
    • [19:17] The three-step process to get rid of bad habits
    • [24:52] How do you pick the right habit to address
    • [28:33] Applying these concepts to organizations
    • [34:01] Active listening
    • [35:25] Alan’s book, Raise Your Game
    • [37:00] What Alan’s working on right now

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Raise Your Game
    • Atomic Habits
    • AlanSteinJr.com
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Embracing the Hustle with Joe Marfoglio, Ep 83 Jan 31, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, the Bearded Wonder Dean Holland and I welcome my good friend Joe Marfoglio to the show. Joe is an expert in creating engaging content and making YouTube work for businesses, but the really big news on today’s show is that this is the first time Joe’s been on a podcast. So I broke out all of my new fancy gear, and we talked about how Joe got into the entrepreneurship game, how he got into the palm-tree game, and how to break out of in-the-box thinking.

    Being the glue as an entrepreneur

    A lot of people say they’re self-made men, but Joe actually is. After barely graduating high school, Joe had a roommate who would repair vinyl car upholstery for good money, but wouldn’t teach Joe how to do it. So he went out to Montana from San Diego, got the training, came back and started doing the work himself. From there, he somehow got started importing glue from Italy (long story), wining and dining glue exporters from The Boot. And with that money he started investing in real estate around San Diego, and also sold palm trees for a while. Joe has done it all, and is a great storyteller, making this episode of Just the Tips a blast.

    How Joe (sorta) blackmailed his first client

    How did Joe go from being an importer, a real estate mogul and the palm tree king of San Diego and find his way to search engine optimization (SEO)? As he says, he had his fingers in so many pies, he eventually became way over-leveraged, and the bottom dropped out. He was looking around for a job, something, and a friend offered him a job at IBM. But instead, he decided to tackle marketing for small, local businesses. His first client was a guy who initially said no, but then Joe was able to get his video onto page one. And from there he knew he was onto something, and he closed his first $100,000 in sales in the next 60 days. When it comes to SEO, sales, all of that, no one knows it better than Joe.

    Think outside, outside the box

    Joe has always been hustling, always been an entrepreneur who has seen a need and done his best to fill it. And as he says, creativity is incredibly important for entrepreneurs. But when people say “think outside the box,” what do they really mean? Well, Joe has a theory about a new way we should look at creativity. As Joe says, from day one of your life you’re put into a box. At school, you’re told to memorize and to think a certain way. You’re chained to a work/reward system, where if you do a certain amount of work, you get rewarded. And that trend continues throughout your entire life. But if you can see that box for what it is, then you can step outside of it and figure out what actually brings you value or brings you closer to your goals.

    Learning to work as an entrepreneur is like learning a new language

    As Joe says, if you want to break out of the box, you have to reevaluate what’s holding you back, and then work toward the goal you want. Joe told us about how he met a guy who went to Harvard and claimed Joe had an advantage because he had been forged by his struggles coming from a blue-collar background. Yes, a guy from Harvard said the other guy had the advantage. That’s the type of thinking Joe wants to break people out of. I carry a coin in my pocket with the latin phrase amor fati inscribed on it. And it means: Play the hand you’re dealt like it’s the one you wanted.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [5:02] How Joe got into the game
    • [10:00] Selling palm trees in San Diego
    • [19:50] Joe’s first SEO client
    • [25:20] How to be more creative as an entrepreneur
    • [35:40] Where to begin with thinking outside the box
    • [45:20] It’s easy to learn, but you have to take action

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Joe Marfoglio
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Wrangling Freelancers with Nathan Hirsch, Ep 82 Jan 24, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, I welcome a new and improved Dean Holland. He hasn’t actually changed a thing, but I’m trying to spice things up a bit. And Dean and I together welcome Nathan Hirsch. Nathan started his first eCommerce business out of his college dorm room and has sold over $30 million online, and is now the co-founder and CEO of FreeeUp.com, a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted freelancers in eCommerce, digital marketing, and much more. We talk with Nathan about how he started FreeeUp, the pitfalls of hiring freelancers, and how his first business nearly put his college bookstore out of business.

    From cease and desist to rise and persist

    Nathan told us a great story on this week’s Just the Tips of how, when he was in college, he began selling books out of his dorm room and the trunk of his car, until the school sent him a cease and desist letter. But by then he had set his eyes on bigger pies, and he began selling products on Amazon. He tried to move beyond books, but no matter what he tried to sell, he kept failing, until at the age of 20, he sold the one thing that all 20-year-old, male college students think about: baby products. But it all took off for him, and taught him hard lessons about selling online.

    The number-one problem for entrepreneurs: That first hire

    When Nathan was in college as a business major, he remembers one talk by the woman who led his school’s entrepreneurship program. While all of the business professors were telling him to take economics or finance, she just got onstage and said, “If you want true financial freedom, be an entrepreneur.” And from there he was hooked. But I had to ask him, what was the one lesson he’s really learned out in the field that they never taught him in college. And sure enough: It was hiring. Luckily, there’s no one better to talk to about hiring than Nathan, and that’s why we got him on this week’s Just the Tips.

    How Nathan made his best and worst hire

    Nathan told us about how when he first started his business, the only people he knew he could hire were college students; not exactly the most reliable pool of workers. His first hire was a buddy in his business law class, and that ended up being his best hire ever. But it also gave him the false impression that hiring was easy. So he then made bad hire after bad hire, not really understanding what was going wrong. It took him years to figure it out, and that process is what led to FreeeUp.com.

    FreeeUp and solving the problem of freelancers

    FreeeUp receives hundreds of freelancer applicants each week to join its marketplace. Nathan’s team interviews and vets them, and takes the top 1% (based on skill, attitude and communication), and makes them available to their clients quickly whenever they need them. It’s a little different than, say, Fiverr, which is an open market. FreeeUp, because it was built by entrepreneurs, is build to solve entrepreneurs’ problems. They have 24/7 support and have a no-turnover guarantee covering replacement costs if the freelancer ever quits. Nathan really has hiring down to a science, and he gives us a ton of great advice on how entrepreneurs can improve their own hiring.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:45] How Nathan nearly put his college bookstore out of business
    • [8:45] When the entrepreneur seed was planted
    • [11:19] Why Nathan decided he had to hire his first person
    • [14:30] FreeeUp’s model
    • [21:35] How FreeeUp has mastered hiring
    • [23:30] Who uses FreeeUp

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • FreeeUp.com
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    The Subconscious Side of Marketing with William Leach, Ep 81 Jan 17, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I and Dean’s beard welcome William Leach to the show. If you want to know some Jedi mind tricks to get into the subconscious of your ideal customers or clients, Will is the guy you want on your side. Will is the founder of TriggerPoint, a leading Behavioral Research and Design consultancy specializing in System 1 marketing. TriggerPoint helps today’s largest brands understand and change consumer behavior through Behavioral Research and Design. Will has over 20 years of behavioral insights experience and is a behavioral design instructor at the Cox School of Business BLC at Southern Methodist University.

    How Will discovered the subconscious side of marketing

    Anyone who is interested in marketing and upping their sales game is going to have an interest in studying psychology and what gets people to buy things, but Will takes it to a different level. He took a look at the latest in neuroscience and behavioral psychology and learned how to apply those principles to marketing. As he says on this week’s Just the Tips, people make 35,000 decisions a day, and obviously not all of those are conscious decisions, a lot of them are operating below the surface. So rather than trying to change someone’s mind and convince them to buy something, Will looks at how those subconscious decisions impact sales decisions.

    The four factors that contribute to decision-making

    Will told us about behaviorally designed marketing on this week’s episode. He said there are four factors that get someone into the mode of “hot state decision-making,” which means they are emotionally and psychologically ready and wanting to make a decision (think about what Vegas does to you). The four factors that get someone into that hot state are goals, motivation toward those goals, what’s called regulatory fit (think approach vs. avoidance), and then finally triggers. Will clearly explains what each of those factors mean, but you’ll have to listen to this week’s Just the Tips to get the truly deep dive.

    How behavioral psychology works in action

    Will told a really fascinating story on this week’s Just the Tips about how he’s applied his four factors in the real world. When he was working for PepsiCo, his team had to figure out how to make a discount “bundle” of products (soda and chips, etc.), appealing to customers. So at first they discounted the whole bundle together, but that didn’t really work. And then they thought through what those customers in convenience stores are there for, what their goals are (to get through the next part of their day), and what their motivation is (to have a bit of a respite and get the fuel to get through their day). Mark walked us through all four factors, and how he came to a decision on how to re-market the products that boosted their sales by 20%. It’s fascinating stuff.

    Focus on the trigger

    So while you should consider how to apply all four factors to your full marketing approach, a quick tip Will told us about to quickly boost sales is to just focus on the last one: the trigger. Tell people what you want them to do and when to do it. “Buy now,” “sign up today,” etc. It may look ugly, but it will drive short-term sales. He also provides another quick-hit tip. One is to focus on promotion or prevention (i.e. talking about the benefits of a product or what the product removes negative impacts). It may be a simple technique, but it can really help change things for your marketing. All of this is in Will’s book Marketing to Mindstates, but you can hear it first in this week’s Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:24] How Will got interested in behavioral science
    • [6:45] Triggerpoint’s origin story
    • [9:51] The four factors
    • [14:17] An example of Will’s approach in action
    • [18:24] The easiest thing to do
    • [23:56] How to not overthink it
    • [28:30] How this applies to sales

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Marketing to Mindstates
    • Marketing to Mindstates website
    • Triggerpoint Design
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    The 411 on the 80/20 rule with Perry Marshall, Ep 80 Jan 10, 2019

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we have a guest who has been a mentor to me, someone who has been very instrumental in changing my thinking in terms of not just marketing but entrepreneurship in general. Perry Marshall is an accomplished and sought-after business coach who has been featured in Forbes and Inc. He’s also the author of the essential Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords. But today we’re talking with him about the biggest impact he’s made on not just internet marketing, but even NASA: the 80/20 rule for productivity. This is a can’t-miss episode of Just the Tips.

    How Perry drank the Kool-Aid but didn’t drown in it

    Perry discovered his love of entrepreneurship not by becoming an entrepreneur, but by becoming an engineer. In high school he got really into repairing and installing stereos and car stereos, and so the entrepreneur side just became the way he could do the thing that he loved. From there he hopped on the Amway train, and as he says drank the Kool-Aid. It took him a while to resurface, but when he did, he realized he wanted to do something on his own. Of course, once he went off on his own he ended up becoming a massive success and a huge influence on countless entrepreneurs, but you’ll have to listen to this week’s Just the Tips to get the whole story.

    Getting in early on direct-response marketing online

    Perry got his first job in internet marketing in 1997, before the Internet really took off. But he was able to figure out something that nobody really had up until that point: Direct-response marketing online was not that different from direct-mail marketing and sales, which he had already done. And so he gets a job with this company and starts working on their website and starts generating a healthy number of leads, even at the dawn of the Internet age. And then one night, not too long after he was fired from another job, his boss came over to ask Perry how they could keep him at the company. So Perry figured out something early on, and then grew it from there. So on this week’s Just the Tips you’re getting the best advice from literally a primary source on online marketing.

    You better understand what you bring to the table as a salesperson

    Perry tells this great story on this week’s Just the Tips about how he walked into a meeting at his work, and introduced himself as an electrical engineer, and his boss corrected him and said, “No, Perry is in sales, but sometimes forgets what his job is.” And that interaction led to a light bulb going off in Perry’s head. If you don’t know what type of salesperson or marketer you are, then you are going to get shoehorned into a type of marketing by someone else. And that led Perry to create a “Marketing DNA” test, which helps salespeople understand who they are and what their unique selling proposition (UPS) is.

    80/20 and gaining leverage

    Perry’s 80/20 rule says simply that 20% of what you do produces 80% of results (4x leverage), whereas 80% of what you do produces 20% (1/4x), and so the difference is enormous. As Perry says, 80/20 is a very counterintuitive process. What it teaches you is how to understand where you need to put in your effort, and when you need to quit something. Perry dishes all sorts of fascinating stories that illustrate the 80/20 rule on this week’s episode of Just the Tips, even (sssshh) when to fire your customers. Don’t miss it.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:43] Perry’s early days as an engineer
    • [8:15] Why do entrepreneurs quit?
    • [16:30] How Perry figured out how to make sales work
    • [22:13] The dawn of Internet marketing
    • [31:00] Marketing DNA
    • [36:55] How important is it to endure pain?
    • [39:39] 80/20 and leverage
    • [43:20] What people get wrong about 80/20

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • PerryMarshall.com
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/


    Entrepreneurship through Adversity with Jeff Hall, Ep. 79 Jan 03, 2019

    We all have adversity in our lives, and it’s really what we do to overcome that adversity that shows what kind of person we are. And some have more adversity than others. That’s the case with our guest on Just the Tips today. Jeff Hall talks to us about how he overcame a troubled childhood by learning to become an entrepreneur, and how that’s shaped him for the rest of his life and career. He’s also the founder of Overflow Café, a company that has changed over his career, but now gets amazing results for clients looking to boost their web presence. All along he continues to give back and if you’re looking for a little New Year’s inspiration, this is the episode for you.

    How the adversity Jeff faced as a kid made him an entrepreneur

    Growing up, Jeff’s parents were gainfully employed. But it was their management of money that really did them in. Both of his parents were careless with money and had gambling problems, and so they lived a very poor lifestyle, often getting evicted and dodging creditors, even though the revenue was coming in. Jeff saw this, and he knew there had to be a better way. So he started his own company when he was 7, selling candy to his classmates. Unfortunately, his mother saw how well he was doing and started taking his profits. But the desire for entrepreneurship was forged, and Jeff never let it go.

    The reality check of having an online business

    I asked Jeff what the number-one obstacle is for a company starting out online, and he said something that rang very true: Not having the patience to see something through. Many entrepreneurs want to see instant results online, but it can take a long time to bring your website up the Google rankings, and it can take years to build a customer base. Jeff actually said something that really surprised me: He said that he always asks clients who their competitors are, and 50% of potential clients say they have no competitors. So there’s a reality check coming for a lot of entrepreneurs, and Jeff gives great advice for how to dodge that check on this week’s Just the Tips.

    How to boost your conversions

    A lot of what Jeff says on this week’s Just the Tips is common sense, but it bears repeating and integrating. If you want to increase not just the number of people who visit your website, but the number of people who buy something from you, then you need to build what Jeff calls “credibility.” That means your company name needs to be prominent, your offerings need to be prominent, and everything on your site should contribute to the ease of your user’s experience (as he says, we don’t need to see pictures of your cats).

    Jeff’s best website horror story

    Jeff’s company, Overflow Café, has had thousands of customers, so he’s seen every kind of business come and go online. So I had to ask him, what was the biggest mistake/best horror story you have of a client that just didn’t get it. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but let’s say that it contains three elements of every great business story: 1) a clueless client 2) questionable purchases of *very* personal items and 3) an angry wife. If for nothing else you have to tune into this week’s episode of Just the Tips to hear this amazing story.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:51] Jeff’s tough childhood
    • [8:00] How Jeff moved out and focused on building his company
    • [10:54] Jeff’s advice for getting out of a bad situation
    • [12:02] The evolution of Overflow Café
    • [14:00] The reality check of the Internet
    • [18:30] Be very careful about how you spend your money
    • [24:57] How to improve your conversion rate
    • [30:20] Jeff’s best horror story

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Overflow.com
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Everything You Need to Know About YouTube Ads for Your Business with Tom Breeze, Ep. 78 Dec 27, 2018

    Today on Just the Tips, I make the huge mistake of being outnumbered by Brits, and immediately lose control of the show. But luckily, our guest, Tom Breeze, is such an insightful guy that the episode turned out to be more bangers than mash. Tom is the founder and CEO of Viewability, a company specializing in YouTube advertising, boasting an impressive client list of international, personal and corporate brands. Tom is also a speaker, author and consultant, teaching businesses around the world how to advertise successfully on YouTube. There are so many ways to leverage YouTube ads for your business that it can be daunting. Luckily, Tom is here to undaunt them for you.

    How did Tom get into YouTube ads?

    There are a lot of British things that happen in this episode of Just the Tips, but one story Tom tells about how he headed down the rabbit hole of YouTube ads was maybe the most British of them all. Tom had started dabbling in internet marketing for his own business, largely focusing on things like search engine optimization. And while the business was doing okay, he decided to make a video that potential clients could watch to learn about why they should work with him. He woke up the next day and saw that he’d had a lot more success overnight and thought, in that most British of ways, that something had gone wrong, and the data was bad. But in reality, he’d just discovered the power of YouTube ads.

    YouTube ads are not just for lead generation

    Tom notes that a lot of what users go to YouTube for is to learn something. Maybe it’s how to fix something wrong with their make and model of car, or maybe it’s how to lose weight, etc. But there is a huge user base of YouTube going there to learn every day. And so it’s no surprise that a lot of YouTube ads are designed to generate leads for educators. If you want to learn more about how to market your business, an ad promises, follow the link to download a PDF. But I asked him if you can do direct sales through YouTube and he told me about how you can go straight from an ad to an order page. If you’re new to YouTube ads, you have to listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    The different type of YouTube ads

    There are so many different types of ads that pop up when you watch a YouTube video, I had to ask Tom what the differences are and when you should use one over the other. He told us that the little banner ads you see pop up while watching a video are actually part of the Google display ad environment. But there are also bumper ads, the six-second ads you see before your video starts, but those are mostly for brand awareness, because there’s no link to click through to your site. Then there are the big, 20-second ads that a lot of big brands use. But what Tom says most businesses use are in-stream ads and discovery ads. Want to know more about those? Listen to this week’s Just the Tips.

    YouTube ads are a different marketing beast

    Tom broke down how to actually structure a solid ad, and it’s very counterintuitive for people use to common marketing principles. Tom says that within 30 seconds, you have to tell your audience that this is an ad, and there’s a call to action. You may lose viewers, but that’s okay, because the ones who stay are the ones who are going to click. It runs against the received wisdom of “sell them on a story first,” but Tom knows his stuff. If you’re interested in YouTube ads, Tom is offering tons of insights on how to make them work for you on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:00] How Tom got started with YouTube
    • [12:26] Are YouTube ads still unexplored territory?
    • [17:55] Are YouTube ads just for lead-gen, or can you sell directly?
    • [20:42] The different type of YouTube ads
    • [26:00] How to structure an ad
    • [35:58] How to connect with Tom

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Viewability
    • Viewability the book
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    The Secret Sauce of Getting Referrals for Your Business with Bill Cates, Ep. 77 Dec 20, 2018

    A lot of people talk about paid-ad traffic, and the various ways to make ads online work best for your business. But getting referrals can seem like a dark art, and so today on Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome Bill Cates, a master of these dark arts. People tend to separate their customer acquisition into two camps: the things they’re doing to actively acquire business (thinks like paid ads, events, etc.) and then the passive effects of doing good work, like referrals. As Bill says, people tend to think of getting referrals as just the “icing on the cake” of doing good work. But Bill breaks down how that’s bad thinking, and actually leads to people leaving money on the table, this week on Just the Tips.

    How a referral changed Bill’s business forever

    Bill told us on this week’s Just the Tips that his entry into the world of entrepreneurship came through book publishing. He wrote a book about referrals and marketing, and that led him to start a publishing company, which led him to literally selling his books to bookstores door to door. So he went into one store where the owner wasn’t interested, but he referred him to another store that sold the type of book Bill was putting out there (this one was called Hooked on Seafood). And then an executive walked into that store and loved the book, and long story short, a major company ordered 400,000 copies of that one book. You’ll have to listen to this episode of Just the Tips to hear the whole story, but it’s a doozy.

    What do we mean when we say referral business?

    Bill has been focused on accelerating referrals for businesses for 25 years, and as he says, a lot of people confuse getting referrals with networking or referencing a business. And certainly those are elements of referrals, but they’re not the whole picture. Bill boils it down to one important action: Introductions. He says it’s first about engagement, getting to know people, and then getting those people to introduce you to people who could use your help, and then forming a connection with those people. Bill has it all distilled down to a science, and you’ll want to hear about it on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    The super-referral: Getting referrals without having to ask them

    Bill says it’s important to keep an eye out for engaged clients or engaged customers. Those are the clients and customers who go beyond hiring you and who know and trust you. As he says, you let them know, “don’t keep me a secret.” In other words, without having to ask them, plant the seed that they could and should refer you. And Bill says something so key in this episode of Just the Tips: It’s about being authentic, not necessarily about being different. Sure, being different can help, but Bill says it’s most important to coach them in how to talk about your business, so they really make it click for a potential client.

    How referrals are a perpetual revenue machine

    Bill shares so much insight on this week’s Just the Tips about how to drum up referrals. He talks about what he calls “reputation marketing,” which is all about doing good work, and then making sure good people see that good work. If you can offer something of value to people who can help you back, then you’re really onto something. Bill talks about his principles of engagement that allow you to continually land more and more referrals, creating what Bill calls a “perpetual revenue machine.” That’s a pretty sexy name, and you have to hear how Bill makes it work on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:11] How Bill became fascinated with referral business
    • [4:34] Where Bill started his entrepreneurial journey
    • [9:00] The referral that changed BIll’s life
    • [12:50] What we mean when we talk about referrals
    • [21:37] Reputation marketing
    • [30:10] The perpetual revenue machine

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Multiply Your Best Clients
    • ReferralCoach.com
    • TheCatesAcademy.com
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    How to Create an Iconic Business with Scott McKain, Ep. 76 Dec 13, 2018

    Sometimes you have a guest with amazing credentials, and sometimes you have a guest with White House credentials. Our guest today is Scott McKain, an expert on how businesses distinguish themselves from the marketplace and win and retain customers. And he’s the author of ICONIC: How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain, and Regain the Highest Level of Distinction. But perhaps the coolest credit on his bio is the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger once saw him speak, and booked him a presentation at the White House in front of the president. You know we talk about that on this episode of Just the Tips, and you’re going to want to hear that story.

    How Scott was invited to the White House

    So one day Scott walks out to give a presentation, and there sitting in the audience is Arnold Schwarzenegger. After the talk, Arnold told Scott that one day they would work together, but this was during the first Bush presidency, and Scott didn’t expect to be in the next Terminator movie. But Schwarzenegger was named by President George H.W. Bush as the chairman of the president’s Office of Fitness and Sports and he invited Scott to give a talk. And as Scott says, everyone in the audience was famous, and he was the only one he’d never heard of. Scott is a truly in-demand speaker and full of incredible insight and anecdotes on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Helping companies stand out in the marketplace

    Scott is an expert at helping companies stand out, and the way he came about that is actually a funny story. Scott was working with speakers bureaus, but not landing many gigs. So he started researching how he could differentiate himself, and realized there wasn’t a lot of literature out there about how to stand out. So, he stepped in to fill the void. But sometimes that’s what it takes: a personal journey that discovers a universal problem. This is a really exciting episode of Just the Tips that’s full of great advice for helping your company stand out.

    The four cornerstones of becoming iconic

    Scott says there are four cornerstones to helping you get your business to stand out. The first is clarity. Scott says that’s especially tougher for a smaller company, because it’s so easy to just chase after money, no matter where it’s coming from, when you’re just starting out. But you have to focus and be ready to say “no.” As he says, if you can express in six seconds what you do, then you’re on the right path. And that’s not a slogan, cautions Scott. A slogan is what you try to sell someone on, but a focus is what you are. You can tell Scott has done the research, and you won’t find a more eloquent speaker on how to make your business stand out. And it’s all on this episode of Just the Tips.

    Creativity is key to standing out and becoming iconic

    Another cornerstone of standing out is creativity. Now that doesn’t mean you have to do something totally different from someone else, but it means you have to find a new way of doing it, or presenting it. The third cornerstone is communication. That may sound obvious, but Scott has a unique spin on it that you won’t hear anyone else. And what’s the fourth cornerstone? You’ll have to listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:22] How Scott got booked at the White House
    • [5:15] Scott helps companies stand out
    • [10:48] How to stand out and become iconic
    • [15:26] How Scott coaches businesses to achieve clarity
    • [19:15] The difference between a slogan and a focus
    • [25:05] You have to be creative
    • [31:05] How to improve your communication
    • [37:32] Scott's book ICONIC

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • ICONIC: How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain, and Regain the Highest Level of Distinction
    • Scott on Twitter
    • Scott on LinkedIn
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    What Does “Culture” Really Mean to a Business with Johnathan Grzybowski, Ep. 75 Dec 06, 2018

    Good graphic design can be the Achilles heel of any business. It’s hard to find a good designer, it’s hard to find one that is affordable and can work on tight deadlines. Enter Penji.co, Johnathan Grzybowski’s on-demand graphic design membership platform. But Johnathan has done so much more than create Penji, helping entrepreneurs in a million different ways, and hosting the popular Blind Entrepreneurship podcast. Johnathan is a truly insightful guy, and we dig deep into what makes a company’s culture, so you’re not going to want to miss this episode of Just the Tips.

    How to recognize when the problem you’re facing could lead to a business

    Johnathan told us that as he dove further and further into digital marketing, he realized that he was being slowed down by the need for good graphic design. It was hard to find reliable freelancers, sometimes he worked with students. But it never quite worked. That was the seed that led to him creating Penji, but I had to ask him: How did he know the problem he faced was something that wasn’t particular to just him and was big enough to be a problem that could lead to a business?

    What does “culture” really mean when it comes to business?

    A lot of entrepreneurs talk about the “culture” of their business, but what does that really mean? A lot of times companies will buy pizza for staff on Fridays and call it a day, but is that really creating a culture? Johnathan has a really interesting approach to fostering the culture of Penji: He did it from the ground up. He found common areas of interest and value among the early employees, and fostered community around those values. So there’s an open-door lunch time where employees can eat together and chat, and share things that they’re excited about. It’s a really refreshing take on what makes a “culture,” and you have to listen to this week’s Just the Tips to hear how Johnathan lays it out.

    What is the one question that determines your culture?

    Whenever Johnathan interviews a job candidate, he asks one important question that helps determine his company’s culture: What is your dream? And then the follow-up question is: What can we do to help you fulfill your dream? Johnathan says they place a high importance on the answer to that question, and what that person says helps determine if they have the same values and drive as Johnathan and his co-founder. You can tell when Johnathan talks about this stuff that he takes it very seriously and has carefully crafted his company’s culture. You’ll want to hear about how he does that on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    How cultural diversity strengthens the company

    On this week’s episode of Just the Tips, Johnathan talked about how his company has hired a lot of first-generation immigrants, and predominantly women as well. And that diversity helps bring in a diversity of perspectives and experiences, which has helped inform the company’s values and goals. There are a million small things that his staff is able to catch because it’s not just one type of person. If you’re assembling or growing a team, you have to listen to this week’s episode.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:46] How Johnathan is living his dream
    • [8:13] What triggered Johnathan to realize there was a big problem that needed solving
    • [11:34] What it means to be all about business culture
    • [14:40] The one question Johnathan asks prospective employees
    • [17:45] How cultural diversity strengthens the company
    • [21:20] Does the customer avatar inform Penji’s approach?
    • [23:55] How to communicate your ideas to a designer
    • [27:35] Revisions are a natural part of the design process
    • [33:05] Dean eating horror story

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Penji
    • Penji on Facebook
    • Penji on Instagram
    • Penji on Twitter
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Secrets of the Social Media Queen with Rachel Pedersen, Ep. 74 Nov 29, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome a good friend of ours, Rachel Pedersen, aka the Queen of Social Media, aka the woman who dethroned the previous Queen of Social Media, Dean Holland. Rachel is the founder of Social Media United and is a top social media marketer and consultant, and leading authority on storytelling through social media and Facebook ads. She’s so in-demand she’s doing this interview from the back seat of an Uber, and we’re so glad to have her.

    How to be more engaging on social media

    Rachel told us about how for a long time, she worked in a buttoned-up corporate job, and so when she discovered social media and began using it for marketing, one rule rose above all else: Be yourself. And that wasn’t easy for her at her corporate job. And as she says, even making that decision was so difficult—abandoning the safety net of corporate. But as you’ll hear on this episode of Just the Tips, Rachel is a natural when it comes to social media, and she’s especially talented at helping others leverage social media. You don’t want to miss this.

    How to find clients on LinkedIn

    According to Rachel on this week’s episode of Just the Tips, LinkedIn is highly underrated for entrepreneurs. It’s not sexy or fun with a lot of bells and whistles, but as she’s shown me in the past, LinkedIn can be a highly effective lead-generation tool. LinkedIn is all about building and expanding your network, which means you’re expanding your opportunities to find clients. So we use Dean as an example of someone who is vaguely aware of social media, and walk him through how he can get started using LinkedIn to grow his business. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

    Which social media platform should you focus on for your business?

    Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat—there are so many platforms these days that business owners are told they should be on. But really, what’s best for your business? Rachel says there isn’t as much of a demographic difference depending on the site (except Pinterest, which is about 70% women). This may surprise you, but Rachel suggests that Instagram is probably the most difficult platform to grow organically. As she says, unless you’re a celebrity, it’s very difficult to get people to care about your photos. Rachel tells us on this week’s episode of Just the Tips that you’re better off investing your time where your audience is.

    The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make on social media

    Here’s the thing: Even your customers who love you don’t want to hear about your product all the time. And that is the one big, major mistake that Rachel sees entrepreneurs making all of the time. If you’re supposed to be yourself on social media, you wouldn’t talk about your product to your friends and family all day long, right? Organic social media just isn’t about products, it’s about So how do you make people care about what you’re doing on social media? Rachel tells us all about it on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:46] How people can be more engaging on social media
    • [5:09] The fundamentals of making viral posts
    • [7:27] Why Rachel left her 9 to 5
    • [9:51] How Rachel got her business off the ground in six months
    • [15:30] How to get started on LinkedIn and generate leads with almost no effort
    • [22:30] Which social media platform should you focus on?
    • [23:40] How to invite people in on social media
    • [27:22] What are some strategies for social media ads?

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Rachel Pedersen
    • Rachel’s matchmaking service
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Making It Clicky and Sticky with Joseph Romm, Ep. 73 Nov 21, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Joseph Romm joins Dean and me to teach us in the art of persuasion. Joseph is Chief Science Advisor for "Years of Living Dangerously," which won the 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Series and now generates viral videos online seen by tens of millions a month. He is also the founding editor of ClimateProgress.org, which New York Times columnist Tom Friedman called an “indispensable blog.” Romm is also a senior advisor for New Frontier Data, the leading “big data” firm providing actionable analysis in cannabis, whose content reaches hundreds of millions of people a year. We chat today about Joseph’s extensive storytelling experience and expertise and how he uses that storytelling prowess to create viral content.

    Making it clicky and sticky

    Joseph first dipped his toe into blogging when it became a popular way for companies to connect with customers. And soon, he became a bit of a data junky, tracking performance metrics on his blog post, and really putting in the work to figure out what makes a post popular, what makes it really shareable for readers, etc. As he says, he was trying to figure out what makes something “clicky and sticky.” You’re going to want to hear what he has to say about that on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    The fundamentals of making viral content

    The first step to making a great piece of viral content, Joseph told us on this week’s Just the Tips, is writing a great headline and then delivering on the promise of that headline. So there is a lot of clickbait out there with catchy headlines to draw readers in, but then the post doesn’t deliver. Eventually, you’re not going to be able to build a good relationship with your readers if you’re pulling a bait and switch. And even then, you shouldn’t expect a headline to bring the entire Internet to your post. As Joseph says, a good post by him has about a 15% clickthrough rate. And it’s all about appealing to reader emotions. Listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips to find out how.

    How Jesus became the first viral content creator

    In Joseph’s book, How to Go Viral and Reach Millions, he talks about how Jesus is a great example of someone who knew how to reach lots of people with just how he crafted a story. As Joseph says, Jesus never traveled further than about 100 miles, but his story got out there because he knew how to tell a story in metaphor, various figures of speech, repetition, etc. But Joseph looks beyond historical figures to look at contemporary storytellers who have been able to connect with large audiences based on their storytelling techniques. And luckily Joseph is full of helpful advice on how they did it on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    The three A’s in storytelling

    One of the things that Joseph tells us in this week’s episode is that you have to grab your audience in the first seven seconds, or you’re going to lose them. And a big part of that is appealing to their emotions, which he breaks down as the three A’s: Anger, Awe and Anxiety. He really digs into the meat and potatoes on this episode, including how videos connect with an audience when that audience isn’t even listening to it (as many people online do). And that’s just the beginning of what Joseph has to say on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:23] How Joseph got into creating viral content
    • [5:09] The fundamentals of making viral posts
    • [10:21] Why Jesus is the most viral person in history
    • [12:10] The three-act structure
    • [17:57] The crucial first seven seconds
    • [23:17] What makes stories memorable
    • [30:15] Why short words sell

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • How to Go Viral and Reach Millions
    • Years of Living Dangerously
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Success without Sacrifice with Nicholas Bayerle, Ep. 72 Nov 15, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we have an amazing guest in Nicholas Bayerle. Nicholas is the founder of Billion Dollar Body, the Billion Dollar Brotherhood, and the Three-Dimensional Businessman. No one is more committed to helping people improve themselves not just through fitness, but in business and in relationships. He’s the total package. Nicholas is a good friend of mine, and a mediocre friend of Dean’s, and this a great episode for anyone looking for that extra boost to get them to take the next step in their lives or careers.

    The three-dimensional businessman

    Nicholas has individually coached 600 clients over the course of five years, so when he came up with the idea of the three-dimensional businessman, he didn’t pull it out of thin air. He looked at the clients he’d been helping and realized that “everything was out of order.” The top three priorities, he says, should be health, wealth and relationships. And many of the problems people run into come up because their fifth, sixth or seventh priorities are actually taking precedence over the top ones. We cover all the bases here at Just the Tips.

    Without human investment there is no human appreciation

    Nicholas told us about how when he was 13 he had a falling out with his father. And he had, up until that point in his life, mostly seen his own value as filtered through his dad’s approval. After that, he gained a lot of weight, started failing at school and after school continued to run into problems. But as he says, you can’t teach what you haven’t lived, and so he’s been able to get himself out of that bad mindset. His first step was getting his health in order, because the fact that he wasn’t taking care of himself was directly related to letting himself get overweight. As he says, without human investment there is no human appreciation. If you’re in need of a little inspiration, this is the episode of Just the Tips for you.

    #SuccessWithoutSacrifice

    We’ve talked on this show a number of times about periods in our lives when we were making a lot of money and were outwardly successful, but feeling incredibly unfulfilled. And Nicholas is right on that wavelength. As he says in this episode, if you’re pursuing wealth at the detriment of personal relationships, or if you’re building your social media presence while you’re sitting next to someone who feels neglected, you’re not necessarily being successful. That’s why Nicholas’s mantra is #SuccessWithoutSacrifice. You have to prioritize the most important things, health and relationships right alongside wealth accumulation. And luckily Nicholas is full of helpful advice on how to get there on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Find the person who has what you want

    I asked Nicholas to give us the first step for someone who knows they’re priorities are out of whack, but aren’t quite sure how to to get to the next level. And he said something we’ve discussed before on Just the Tips: Peer group. Find the person or people who are doing what you want to do, and surround yourself with them. If you can find those people and pick up their habits and skills, you’ll take that next step. And that’s just the beginning of what Nicholas has to say on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:23] Nicholas blows some sunshine
    • [4:40] How James improved his sleep
    • [10:45] Success without Sacrifice
    • [19:06] Why communication breaks down
    • [21:58] Find the person who has what you want
    • [29:11] How to expand your peer group, and get into the one you need
    • [35:45] Standoff with Dean
    • [41:10 How to connect with Nicholas

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Oura Ring
    • Billion Dollar Body
    • Billion Dollar Brotherhood on Facebook
    • Nicholas on Instagram
    • Pablo’s Instagram
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    How Storyselling is the Future of Marketing with Yara Golden, Ep. 71 Nov 08, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we “celebrate” Dean turning 34, and give a shout-out to our one true fan who bought him a Bond license plate for his birthday. And we celebrate having Yara Golden on the show. Yara is a storytelling expert who helps businesses up their communications game, build effective product launches and tell the right stories that will click with the right people. And speaking of clicking, she’s writing the entire indoctrination sequence for ClickFunnels. Yara knows stories inside and out, so today we’re talking with her about what goes into a good story, how entrepreneurs can leverage story, and what “storyselling” really means. And of course she gives Dean plenty of shit.

    What is Storyselling?

    Like so many of us, Yara gets offer after offer emailed to her by marketers, and as she says, so much of those offers just say “Buy my shit, buy my shit, buy my shit.” Which is not the most effective pitch. So she came up with this idea of storyselling, which wraps a story from the seller’s life around the product being sold. The audience then gets to know, like and trust the entrepreneur, and then the next obvious step is that the audience reaches out to that entrepreneur to help them with their problem. This is a foolproof method. Even if you’re as unlikable as Dean, if you have a cute puppy, you can just tell stories about the puppy. We cover all the bases here at Just the Tips.

    You don’t have a list, you have people

    Yara brings up a really important point on this week’s Just the Tips: You can’t treat your “list” as though it’s made up of numbers and not people. You may be tracking numbers and data, but that’s just an expression of people’s behaviors. People get into internet marketing as though you can throw out all the rules of normal human behavior, like you can just sell and market to people and they’ll opt in without you ever having to genuinely engage with them. But that’s only going to take you so far. As Dean says so many people behave as though they need to beat their list over the head with their message and get as much money out of them as possible, rather than trying to build a long-term relationship.

    How storytelling translates to selling

    Everyone is worried about their indoctrination sequence, but as Yara says, if you know the story you want to tell, and you tell it like your audience is comprised of people you want to hear it, then everything falls into place. You can tell that story for your indoctrination sequence, you can tell it in videos, you can tell it in emails, blog posts. Once you get that down, then you have loads of content you can use to connect with your audience. And Yara is full of amazing tips on how that all comes together, but you’ll have to listen to Just the Tips to get them.

    Familiarity mixed with curiosity

    Yara makes the great point in this episode of Just the Tips: The salutation that happens at the beginning of every email “Hi [YOUR FIRST NAME] is the fakest way to sound authentic, and it’s the first thing she edits out of any copy she edits. She drops the salutation and gets right into what she wants to talk about, the same way you would do if you were talking with a friend. The second thing she does is instill curiosity. Present a problem or a question to the audience that will make them want to click through. And from there, you have to make each sentence heighten the drama on the last sentence. This is a really great, meat-and-potatoes episode of Just the Tips that you have to hear.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:30] What does “storyselling” mean
    • [6:01] You don’t own the list
    • [9:30] Why nurturing your list is so important
    • [15:20] How to repurpose your story
    • [17:36] How to talk with your audience like their people
    • [24:10] How to educate without condescending
    • [25:53] How to find the right story
    • [33:15] The biggest mistake we make in running our businesses

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Yara Golden
    • Yara on Facebook
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    Why Hiring is the Entrepreneur’s Achilles Heel, Ep. 70 Nov 01, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean finally comes clean, months into our contest, that he’s just not going to get his book written. But that’s okay! I’m still in a groove with mine, and on today’s episode we dig into the subject of the chapter I’m currently writing, which also happens to be one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs. As you’ve probably heard me say on this show, systems are all about people, process and tools. So today we’re digging into people, how to recruit them and how to hire them. Also, I reveal the tentative title for my book, but you’ll have to tune in to find out what it is.

    The one thing every entrepreneur says about hiring

    How many times have you said, or heard another entrepreneur say: I’m terrible at hiring, or I’m just no good at managing people? It’s a constant refrain. And for some reason, entrepreneurs just chalk it up to some sort of innate deficit, rather than something they could improve upon. But there are skills you can develop, and there are ways of behaving when managing people that you can learn that can actually make you better at it. So if you find that recruiting or hiring or managing—or all three—is difficult for you, this is the episode of Just the Tips you need to listen to.

    Why is managing people the entrepreneur’s Achilles heel?

    Dean told a very revealing story about his own early struggles with hiring and managing people. His first foray into hiring came when he signed on a virtual assistant. But it quickly became clear that he had to spend a good deal of time training and then managing that assistant. And as he says, pretty soon he wasn’t able to do it anymore, and it even went so far as he stopped responding to the VA’s questions. And this leads into one of the root issues as to why managing people can be so hard: Conflict is difficult. There is going to be conflict, and you’re going to have to face it, but no one ever likes to. So we give you a few ideas for how you can address conflict before and after it happens on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Don’t be afraid to say what needs to be said

    A huge part of why conflict can seem so daunting to entrepreneurs is because a lot of people are scared of saying what needs to be said. That’s really what it boils down to. And that’s really what leadership is all about. Not every employee is going to be a diamond in the rough, but you can’t sit around and hope that someone reaches their potential. You have to set expectations and then help that person meet those expectations. This may be a bold thing to say, but I truly believe that poor leadership stifles people in their careers more than just about anything else. How do you avoid that? Listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips to find out.

    Do you need to recruit and hire the best?

    One great question that Dean raises on this episode of Just the Tips gets to the heart of the hiring issue: Do you need to hire the absolute #1 possible candidate for a job? The answer of course depends on the position, but often it’s no. What you need is someone who will be a good fit, who is a team player, who is enthusiastic about your mission, and who understands their objectives. Every hire is going to be different, but if you do the work ahead of time, before you even start looking to hire someone, then you’ll be in good shape.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:30] The single sentence every entrepreneur repeats
    • [10:45] Why hiring is so difficult
    • [13:30] People avoid hiring because they don’t want to lead
    • [16:32] What to think through before hiring someone
    • [18:46] Do you need to hire the top candidates
    • [24:00] We are the creators of our own worlds
    • [28:50] The number one thing you can do right away to improve your hiring
    • [33:15] The biggest mistake we make in running our businesses

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    Saving Your Financial Hide with Noura Salman, Ep. 69 Oct 25, 2018

    Today’s episode of Just the Tips starts off a little testy as Dean does his best to drive a wedge between me and today’s guest. But luckily, Dean’s best is still kind of the worst, and he’s unable to create any tension between me and Noura Salman, my former neighbor down in Miami and a woman who has arrived at entrepreneurship via an unusual path. Noura began her career as a CPA, but then transitioned to creating her own businesses, and now she’s bringing those sorely needed accounting skills to other entrepreneurs, helping them get their financial houses in order. On today’s episode, we talk about how entrepreneurs can sharpen their skills, hire the right person, and save their financial ass.

    Breaking free of the chain at her desk

    Noura’s story of how she got into accounting, and how she got out of accounting, is fascinating. Her parents struggled with money when she was a kid, and she watched that take a toll on their marriage. So she naturally gravitated toward getting ahold of her finances. But then, as she became more and more successful as a CPA, she realized that the only way she could make money was to be at her desk working, and whenever she wasn’t doing that, she wasn’t making money. So to free herself from the chain at her desk, she decided to take another path. This is a really great episode of Just the Tips for anyone who is wondering what their next step should be.

    The biggest financial mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting out

    As we’ve mentioned before on Just the Tips, and as Noura says on this episode, many entrepreneurs are great at their craft and at making money, but aren’t skilled in managing their money. As she says, it’s a lot like people who are trying to cut calories but afraid to step on the scale. So she recommends looking at your financial statements once a month, at least, as part of your routine, so you have a handle on what money is coming in and what money is going out. And you might just discover you’re still subscribed to that service you haven’t used in 15 months.

    How to read your financial statements if you’ve never done that before

    One of the problems entrepreneurs face isn’t just that they don’t look at their financial statements, it’s that they don’t know what they’re looking at when they finally do. No one actually taught them how to read their statements and how to glean the necessary information. Noura does a great job breaking down what reports you need to look at (yes, P&L is one of them), and how to read them to ensure you’re getting what you need. We also dive into net profits and what that really means, as opposed to simply money in the bank, and I promise it’s a lot more fun than all of that sounds. This is a bit of a 101 class for Just the Tips listeners, but it’s vital to running a successful business.

    How to hire and manage a CPA

    Not every entrepreneur is obviously going to want to spend their time keeping their books, so Noura and I do a deep dive into what you should look for in a CPA, how that person should present that information to you, and how you should work with that person to make sure you’re getting understandable information on a regular basis. We talk through how to hire someone, how to manage them, and even when to approach them with bigger projects (i.e. not around tax time). This is a really value-packed episode of Just the Tips, on a topic that can be scary for entrepreneurs, but in the end is very important.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:45] Dean tries to co-opt Noura’s friendship
    • [4:00] How Noura went from bean counter to entrepreneur
    • [8:40] What are the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when starting out?
    • [11:43] How to read your financial statements
    • [17:30] Why net profit isn’t actually how much money you’re making
    • [21:29] How to hire out your accounting
    • [29:02] What are the red flags that your bookkeeper isn’t doing their job?
    • [35:00] Ensure your costs and bills are categorized correctly
    • [37:40] Noura walks us through her course

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Save Your Financial Ass
    • Super Freshies
    • Lean Out Now
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

    How Time Chunking Can Make You More Productive, Ep. 68 Oct 18, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, it’s Dean and I flying solo again, and we start off by acknowledging Dean’s, um, contributions to the show, before discussing how I, for once in my life, am all talked out, having just made six months worth of video content. So on today’s episode, we check in on what we’re both working on, take note that Dean is still way behind on our book-writing contest, and discuss such matters as how to be more productive and how to send Dean subliminal messages. And believe it or not, despite all of that goofing around, we dig into some ways you can be more productive.

    Embrace change or face stagnation

    Early on in the episode, as we were checking in with each other on what’s new, Dean confessed a few things to me that I think a lot of entrepreneurs can relate to. Aside from the fact that I’m smoking him in the book contest, he also confided that despite 2018 being the year of simplicity, as we’ve agreed on this podcast, he’s getting ready to launch about seven new projects. And in doing so, he’s essentially reinvented himself and his company. It’s something a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with: To stay the comfortable course or veer off on a new path if that’s what your gut is telling you to do. The change can be painful, but as Dean says, he’s really excited for what’s coming next.

    When at first you don’t succeed just lower your standards

    Dean copped to being only about 600 words into his book, which is supposed to be done by the end of the month. But as we discuss on this episode, a lot of gurus and marketers like to pass off leaflets and collected blog posts as books. As Dean says, there was one “thought leader” teaching people how to transcribe webinars and call it a book. So really, anything could be a book in the end. As I tell Dean in this episode of Just the Tips, if at first you don’t succeed, just lower your expectations!

    How to make yourself more productive with time chunking

    As listeners of Just the Tips know, Dean and I always have a lot of things going on at once. So do you, because as entrepreneurs we tend to take on a lot. But one thing I’ve recognized as being very helpful for getting things accomplished is something called “time chunking.” Essentially, you want to lay aside chunks of time for one specific task. For instance, this week I’ve been working on my videos. And that time is set aside strictly for videos. If, instead, you “task switch,” meaning you’re working not only on different things but different kinds of things, you’re always going to be taking yourself out of the mindset needed to really focus and get one thing done. So you end up slowing yourself down a lot, and you’ll see a steep dropoff in your productivity.

    Batch your work together to make it stretch

    Peng Joon is the master of time chunking, and I learned a lot when I heard him speak. He says that he actually makes 90 days of content in just three days, and then he doesn’t have to worry about it for another three months. That inspired me for my approach to video and content making, so I had a video crew come in and record a ton of videos all at once, so I’ll have all of this content to roll out in various forms (video ads, social media videos, memes, etc.) Time chunking can not only force you to set aside the time to get work done, it can get you into the right frame of mind to be creative. I highly recommend this approach for any Just the Tips listeners out there who feel their productivity slipping.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:17] What is time chunking?
    • [6:46] Why Dean feels like he’s starting over
    • [14:02] What is a book?
    • [19:40] How time chunking can make you more productive
    • [27:35] How to plan your creative content
    • [33:00] How James’s lead magnets and funnels work

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Peng Joon
    • Time chunking
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    Solve the Problem in Front of You with Stackify’s Matt Watson, Ep. 67 Oct 11, 2018

    On today’s Just the Tips, we talk with Matt Watson, who had enormous success early in life as co-founder of Vinsolutions, and after selling that company for $150 million, started Stackify to solve the biggest problems he had at Vinsolutions. Matt tells us about his early days, how he sort of fell into work on Vinsolutions and how it went from side hustle to major hustle. And he shares his unique insights as a developer and an entrepreneur, and how his parents’ entrepreneurial spirit inspired him as a kid. He’s no Dean “Pigeon Man” Holland, but Matt has a great story to tell.

    The “back of a napkin” story come to life

    Matt’s story as an entrepreneur literally starts with the apocryphal “back of a napkin” at Applebees. Matt was selling computers at Sears in the early aughties when a customer came in and asked if anyone could help him with a software solution. Matt volunteered and became a de-facto cofounder. After two years of getting Vinsolutions off the ground, he was able to quit his job, and then after another six years sell it for nine figures. It’s something of a meteoric rise, but it also speaks to Matt’s work ethic and eye for solving a market’s problem. And one of the fascinating things he says on this episode of Just the Tips is how they never got into a “startup” mindset. They were just running a business.

    Solve the problem you see in front of you

    Matt’s time at Vinsolutions let him peak behind the curtain a bit, and see what problems both businesses and developers were wrestling with. And so that’s how he started Stackify, which essentially lets businesses see how well their applications are performing. In other words, if you go to a restaurant’s website and order food, and the application you’re ordering through is slow or crashes, you’ll likely lose that customers. So Stackify lets a business see how well an application is running, how satisfied customers are, etc. It’s a really savvy approach, one forged in the fires of running a large business.

    How do you decide when to add features and when to focus on stability?

    One of the interesting things about the software space right now is that there’s huge pressure to constantly add features and iterate. As Matt says, agile development is the name of the game right now, but it can be a difficult balance to strike between having a stable software solution and adding more bells and whistles to it. As Dean says, he’s dipping his toe into software development, and has really tried to focus on having the software just do one thing, so it stays as simple as possible. And as Matt says, that’s very important when you go to market.

    Why Matt invested in content marketing

    One of the problems Matt discovered with Stackify was that it was really difficult to reach his target audience. Senior software developers tend to use ad blockers and other means to avoid being marketed to. So his company released a free tool for developers that became popular and served as a calling card, and then he also turned to content marketing. And he has a very unique way of going about content marketing. He calls it a three-pronged approach. What are they? You’ll have to tune into this week’s episode of Just the (Prong) Tips to find out.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:00] How Matt got started with VinSolutions in 2003
    • [8:12] How Vinsolutions didn’t operate like a startup
    • [10:05] What is Stackify?
    • [12:48] How do you decide when to add features and when to focus on stability?
    • [15:30] Why Matt invested in content marketing
    • [18:34] Content marketing is a long game
    • [21:30] SEO is really about creating quality content
    • [24:20] Matt’s advice for people starting a business
    • [28:38] What Matt has learned not to do

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • VinSolutions
    • Stackify
    • Startup Hustle
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    What if you’re selling to the wrong customer?, Ep. 66 Oct 04, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, I’m in a much better mood, having adjusted to the keto diet, though Dean’s fitness advice could put me back over the edge. But in the meantime, Dean and I dive into something that has come up numerous times on the show, but we haven’t quite been able to take our time with the topic. It’s a question that nearly every business owner confronts at some point: What if I’m selling to the wrong customer? And if the answer is “no,” it’s a real turning point for entrepreneurs, because you can either continue selling to people you’re not excited about, or whom you aren’t really helping, or you can wrack your brain trying to get in front of the customers you do desire. So today, we break it all down for you, our loyal Just the Tips listeners.

    How to recognize when you’re selling to the wrong people

    As Dean says as we dip into the conversation, it took him a long time to even recognize the problem. At first he was just wondering why he hated his life, even though outwardly things were going well for him. And what he realized was that despite the fact that he was selling a lot and was making good money, the people he was selling to weren’t actually using what he was giving them. And so the impact he’d hoped to achieve wasn’t there, because the wrong people were taking what he was selling and letting it go to waste. It’s a really interesting distinction, and fascinating to hear Dean talk about it on this week’s Just the Tips.

    What is being an entrepreneur?

    Dean’s conundrum actually strikes at the heart of what it means to be an entrepreneur. I have a quote from Tony Robbins that I return to again and again that says: “Contribution is not an obligation, it’s an opportunity.” And I think that really is what drives entrepreneurs: You find a problem that people have and you try to solve it for them, and you make money as you do so. And so that’s really the first step to figuring out how to dig you out of this hole: Go back to the drawing board and figure out who you are selling to; what they need and how you can help them. It’s sort of back-to-basics approach, but it’s a great gut-check for entrepreneurs that we explore on this week’s Just the Tips.

    If you’re not in love with your customer, it’s just work

    One of the things that Dean says on this week’s episode of Just the Tips that sheds a light on a very common problem for entrepreneurs is that he never really went through and looked at who he was selling to when he first got started. He just started selling. And that’s often how people get started, but eventually that work is going to start to feel empty, and you’re going to need to figure out who the person is who you’re helping with your product or service. It’s like being in a relationship: If you’re just doing something because that’s what you do or you feel obligated, you’re going to start to resent the person you’re with. It’s the same thing with customers.

    If you’re serving the wrong customer, you have nothing to lose

    Dean told me about how, when he was feeling the most miserable, he was at his most successful. And that’s a very difficult faucet to shut off. People often feel scared that they’re going to lose everything if they change course. But the truth is, you’ve already lost. If you don’t have the desire to drive your business forward, then your business is already slipping away. And the way to get that back is to find your ideal customers and help them. You don’t have to burn everything to the ground to make this happen. This is a really great episode of Just the Tips that gives practical advice for a common, but somewhat difficult-to-pin-down problem. And unlike Dean, you don’t have to burn everything down to fix it.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:53] Introduction of the problem
    • [5:26] How to recognize when you’re selling to the wrong people
    • [8:43] What is being an entrepreneur?
    • [10:15] Going back to the drawing board
    • [19:45] Your business is like your own personal club
    • [24:13] If you’re serving the wrong customer, you have nothing to lose
    • [28:45] The scalpel over the sledgehammer
    • [35:15 How to fix things without burning everything down

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Magnus Unemyr’s blog
    • Magnus’s free book
    • Magnus’s latest book on marketing with AI
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    Artificial intelligence marketing for small businesses with Magnus Unemyr, Ep. 65 Sep 27, 2018

    As listeners to Just the Tips know, I am all about systems. You put a system in place and get it running smoothly and you open up hectares of time for high-value work. On today’s episode, we have a guest who puts my love of automation to shame. Magnus Unemyr has worked in software development and the Internet of Things for 25 years, and has really dedicated himself to marketing automation and marketing with artificial intelligence and the internet-of-things. Specifically, he’s figured out how to combine AI and IoT to create an automated, state-of-the-art marketing system. Hold onto your hats. We discuss what we mean when we say AI, how you can use it for your business, and some great AI-gone-wrong stories. This is some Spielberg stuff right here.

    Artificial intelligence marketing for small businesses

    So artificial intelligence sounds like a very expensive tool for small businesses to adopt, but as Magnus told us, there are cost-effective solutions for even smaller companies, like website chatbots or Facebook Messenger chatbots. But there are other options as well, including using artificial intelligence for email marketing, determining the optimal send time for emails to individuals. And there are already Google AdWords optimization tools to help you improve your ROI for your ads. This is truly cutting edge stuff, and I think Just the Tips listeners will be fascinated by these options.

    Artificial intelligence sounds great! What is it?

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, in the news, in various sales pitches. And there is a lot of fear of it, and questions of what it can and can’t do. So I had to ask Magnus how he defines AI, and he had a surprising answer. Magnus told us we don’t actually have artificial intelligence at the moment, what we really mean is machine learning and predictive analytics. The difference is that now what we have software that essentially uses advanced computing to solve problems. But what Magnus calls “strong AI” is more akin to a software robot who can learn to build things they haven’t been pre-programmed to do at all. We’re not there yet, but there are already a lot of applications for Just the Tips users in the “soft” AI currently available.

    How artificial intelligence marketing can help with lead generation

    Nearly every business is looking for quality lead generation, so I had to ask Magnus—after dipping into some scary AI stories—how artificial intelligence can facilitate lead-gen. Without even blinking he discussed options such as automated or semi-automated content generation and curation. Content curation tools can help a business save a lot of time to find content that’s worth sharing. But if you move a little further down into the marketing funnel, there are a lot of tools that can help with conversion rate optimization (CRO). For instance, there is a tool that can generate hundreds of thousands of different designs of a landing page, and assess a user’s preferences and show them the one that would work best for them. That’s just one instance of an extremely useful tool you’ll hear about on this episode of Just the Tips, the business podcast OF THE FUTURE.

    Lead generation and lead scoring through artificial intelligence

    One of the uses for artificial intelligence in marketing that really perked up my ears was using it to assist with lead scoring. Lead scoring is a very important piece of lead generation, but it’s also a very manual process. So selfishly, I asked Magnus what tools are out there that can help with this, and was surprised to find out there are a number of them already on the market. This is a really eye-opening episode of Just the Tips that proves the future is now. You can get ahead of the curve by listening to this episode and applying some of these solutions to your marketing today.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [3:00] How Magnus became obsessed with automation and AI
    • [5:04] Can small businesses use AI, or is it just a deep-pocket game?
    • [9:15] What do we mean when we say “AI”?
    • [10:57] What happened with Facebook’s AI. and why they shut it down
    • [14:24] How AI facilitates marketing
    • [19:38] Predictive lead scoring
    • [25:28] Is hardware the next step for marketers?
    • [27:29] How Amazon uses AI

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Magnus Unemyr’s blog
    • Magnus’s free book
    • Magnus’s latest book on marketing with AI
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    The Three False Beliefs Holding Entrepreneurs Back, Ep. 64 Sep 20, 2018

    Longtime listeners of Just the Tips know that Dean and I are in an epic race to see who can finish their book first. It was a challenge set by Ken Dunn, our guest on episode 44, and as of this recording, there’s no real easy way to put this, I’m mopping the floor with Dean. I may even be able to finish my book and come back and write his. But aside from the friendly competition (which isn’t that friendly and which I am winning), putting my thoughts down in a book has been great for me to help organize my ideas around why entrepreneurs hit roadblocks. So on today’s episode of Just the Tips, I’m talking about the ideas I’m working through in my book, and hopefully this sneak peek will help all of you if you encounter a roadblock.

    The three false beliefs

    Some entrepreneurs feel like they need to do everything themselves. And not only can they not do everything themselves, they shouldn’t do everything themselves. And there are three false beliefs that drive entrepreneurs to take on too much. The first is a sort of hero complex, where entrepreneurs can feel like they are the reason the company exists, and everyone else exists to take tasks off of their plates. But once you build a team, you need to identify people who have superpowers that cover your weaknesses. If this sounds like you, you need to tune into this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    What to do if you can’t afford to hire

    So let’s say you’ve convinced yourself that you are ready to delegate, what’s the next, inevitable roadblock? You’re not sure you can afford to hire anyone. I have a very detailed McDonald’s analogy in this episode that you just have to hear, but the short and long of it is that every hour you don’t have someone who can do something better than you can, you’re not making the money you think you’re making. You’re effectively losing money. It’s a difficult thing to wrap one’s brain around, and of course it doesn’t fix the problem of being cash-strapped, but I think this bit of advice could really help Just the Tips listeners.

    Buy back your own time

    When you’re thinking of hiring someone, don’t think of it as paying them for your time. Think of it as buying back your own time. Because every chance you have to buy back your time so you’re not working on low-value tasks frees you up to work on high-value tasks. And if that seems a little selfish to you, think of it this way: Anytime you are not optimizing your time and doing the highest-value work, you are restricting the flow of money to other people, too. As Dean and I discuss on this episode, payday is the best day for an entrepreneur, because you know you’re paying people who can then go on to have a good life

    Trust people to work for you

    So the third false belief, then, is that you can’t trust someone else to do a good job. And it’s not just that you’re a control freak and you want to do everything. It’s just that you don’t have a feedback loop set up so that you can verify that you’re spending your money well. You need to have accountability, and you need to have a way for both you and the person working for you to know they’re delivering value. If you have a system in place, then you can ease some of this anxiety. This week’s Just the Tips is all about the psychology of being an entrepreneur, and destroying Dean Holland in the book race. That too.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:00] Currently owning Dean in our book competition
    • [3:48] Why some people get stuck
    • [6:40] The first false belief
    • [13:10] The second false belief
    • [20:25] Buy back your time
    • [30:00] Stop being a control freak
    • [36:45] Doing stuff because it’s quicker than training someone else
    • [43:45] You’re a busy fool

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    How to Not Be a Donkey with Alex Dee, Ep. 63 Sep 13, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, we have a bit of a wildcard, who jumped into the show before I could introduce him, and then served as a Don King-style hype man for Dean and myself. But that’s Alex Dee, a man who brings enormous energy to everything he does. The origins of this episode may have come from an evening in a hot tub, but Alex actually has an amazing story of triumphing over adversity as he came to America, triumphing again when his life hit the skids, and then turning everything around to help entrepreneurs with his Success Hacks program. You need to listen to the whole episode to hear all about Alex’s online entrepreneur academy. Alex is the real deal, and as you can tell Dean and I have a lot of respect for and fun with this guy.

    Hired and fired within a week

    Alex moved from Iran with his family when he was 8 to escape fighting in the country, and moved into an apartment right next to one of the most prestigious high schools in the U.S. So right from the start, his parents valued and emphasized education and bettering yourself, a theme Alex would return to again and again. One of the funniest things that happened to him, though, was his first job straight out of college. He was hired and then fired by a major telecom company within one week. Of course Alex tells that story first, but we got him to tell the story about traveling 20 miles through the desert as his family smuggled him out of the country. As you can tell, Alex is a straight shooter, and this is just the beginning of his journey as an entrepreneur.

    Are you going to crumble, or climb back up?

    Like many entrepreneurs, Alex has had his ups and downs. But one down period in particular was rough for him. In 2008 when the financial crisis hit, he lost almost his entire net worth, and he and his wife got divorced. But his lawyer actually had some really great advice for him about how to turn his life around. So Alex started reading every book about entrepreneurship that he could get his hands on, and implementing every solid piece of advice he could grab. And that mindset is what allowed him to turn things around, and then begin to share what he learned with others. This is a really honest story on this week’s Just the Tips that you just have to hear.

    Don’t be a donkey

    Alex’s story is amazing, but we have him here on Just the Tips to provide one thing: Tips. And the first he serves up is a parable about a donkey that an entrepreneur once told Alex. We won’t try to recreate it here, but the thrust of it is that we all want to do everything, but we can’t. So we need to focus on one thing at a time and knock each of those out sequentially. This is truly a clinic in how to adopt a successful mindset, and one every entrepreneur needs to hear.

    How to be happy

    Read any book, ask any person, and you will get a billion different answers to the question: “How can you become happy?” Alex, though, breaks it down in a very simple and amazing idea: creation. Being able to wake up every morning and being able to create something that you really care about, whether it’s actually making something with your hands, or creating moments with your friends and family. Alex may be my partner in crime when it comes to pranking Dean, but he’s a seriously great guy, who has used all of his life experiences to really make an incredible life for himself. If you’re in a rut, you have to listen to Alex on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:34] Alex’s incredible story
    • [12:00] How perspective is important
    • [14:25] How Alex’s gratitude helped him weather tough times
    • [19:00] The donkey parable
    • [24:58] How to be happy
    • [34:42] My epiphany at the racetrack
    • [42:02] Alex’s online entrepreneurial academy
    Resources mentioned
    • Success Hacks on Facebook
    • Success Hack Nation on Instagram
    • Online Entrepreneur Academy

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    The Early Entrepreneurial Bug, Ep. 62 Sep 06, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I are reunited over the Internet after being together in person for Dean’s wedding! After admitting the entire ceremony was a ruse just to get me to the U.K., Dean and I talk about a little cake controversy after the wedding, and all of the podcast fodder that Dean’s groomsmen bestowed upon me during their speeches. So today’s episode is all about war stories from jobs and companies past. And of course, we kick it all off with Dean selling parakeets. Because he’s Dean Holland and that’s what he does.

    You say budgie, I say budget

    Because it was brought up in one of the speeches, I had to ask Dean about selling parakeets (or as they call them in the UK, budgies) when he was a kid. And so it turns out that young, entrepreneurial, 12-year-old Dean decided that he was going to turn his parents’ garden shed into a bird sanctuary of sorts. But Dean quickly realized he could make more money if he bought show birds, rather than common parakeets. But the story took a tragic turn, when he went out to the shed to discover the birds were killing each other. And the story gets even stranger from there! Trust me, there are tips here on this week’s Just the Tips beyond “don’t be an amateur bird breeder.”

    James’s first sale

    I told Dean about how I first dipped my toe into enterprise. When I was about 10 years old, my parents had left me home alone, and I was hanging out in front of my house when a neighbor pulled his pickup into my driveway. After a little chit-chat, he mentioned that he liked my swingset. And boom, I made him make me an offer, and a salesman was born. There’s more to the story than that, and this is a really fun episode of Just the Tips, where we tell the shaggiest of shaggy dog stories from our past.

    The early entrepreneurial bug

    As many of our guests have mentioned on the show, there’s something about entrepreneurs that gets them started at a young age But as Dean says on this week’s Just the Tips, the idea of seeking help, of appreciating mentorship or studying under a coach, didn’t really sink in with him early on. For the most part, he always wanted to figure things out himself. But it was a spark of curiosity in people and what made people do certain things that eventually led him to his current path.

    Follow your curiosity

    I told Dean this story about a time in college when I was delivering pizzas, and I saw this guy driving this really nice car. So I asked him about it, what he does and how he got to the point where he could afford the car. And not only that, I took a quick break from my work to go chat with the guy some more, and he ended up being someone who gave me a lot of good advice after that, as well. And so you never know unless you start talking to someone, just what you can learn from them. This was a super fun episode of Just the Tips, opening up the closet and seeing what budgie skeletons are in there.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [6:13] The value of vacation
    • [16:23] The early days of enterprise
    • [20:20] Learning to accept coaching
    • [22:30] Follow your curiosity

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/


    Keep the Money You Make with Bradley Gibb, Ep. 61 Aug 30, 2018

    For all of the many skills an entrepreneur applies to their work and life, often taking care of their financial well-being isn’t one of them. Planning for retirement and making sure you are “financially healthy” can be intimidating to think about. But on today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I talk with a guy who knows how to talk with entrepreneurs about money. Bradley Gibb is the co-founder of Atlas Wealth Solutions and CashFlow Tactics, and as he told us in this week’s episode, entrepreneurs often get into the field because they have a great idea or they love sales or business, but that doesn’t mean they’re great at managing their money. Bradley understands all of this, which is why you have to listen to this week’s episode.

    Transition out of hustle mode

    As Bradley says, he and his company step in to help entrepreneurs when they realize they’ve been hustling and grinding for five or ten years to build their business, and they’re looking around and realizing they need to be able to hang onto this money they’re making. So entrepreneurs either blindly trust whatever advisor is in front of them, or they put their heads in the sand and don’t think about it. If this sounds like you, if you think you land in one of those two camps, you need to tune into this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Financial advice is not one-size-fits-all

    One of the biggest problems with financial advice, Bradley told us, is that often we think a “cookie cutter” or “silver bullet” approach will work. But the fact is we all are in different stages of our lives and our businesses, and there’s no one piece of advice that’s going to work for everyone. The other thing we, as entrepreneurs, need to remember is that financial products are products. They have marketing budgets and customer avatars and they’re being sold to us whether or not they solve the specific problems we have. That’s not an evil thing, that’s what we all do, but that also means we have to be very selective in who we trust and what advice we take. But of course, you can trust everything I say, and about 30% of what Dean says, ons Just the Tips.

    The fundamental principles of strong financial health

    Because this show is called Just the Tips, we had to ask Bradley for some good, fundamental advice for entrepreneurs. His first answer was actually somewhat surprising: It’s that entrepreneurs should remember that they have a superpower that no one else has: They print money. They literally make money. And so step one is to re-invest in yourself and your business. And so if you have the mindset to do that, you have the mindset to make great decisions with your money. And as Bradley continues to roll out the advice, it’s so clear that he understands exactly the needs of entrepreneurs. This is a really great episode and one you have to listen to if you own a business.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [4:00] Transition out of hustle mode
    • [7:30] Financial advice is not one-size-fits-all
    • [11:30] Bradley’s story
    • [19:25] Fundamental principles of good financial health
    • [28:00] Best tips for investment strategies
    • [33:30] The playbook

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • The Atlas Wealth Solutions Playbook
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ

    Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/


    Why You Need to Take a Break, Ep. 60 Aug 23, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I chat about the importance of taking breaks, going on vacation, leaving the grind behind and resetting. This is a really important episode for anyone who is feeling the burnout, or who is eyeing an upcoming vacation with anxiety because they feel like they just can’t step away. Dean talks about how he sometimes realizes he’s a bottleneck in his business that’s unplugged once he’s unplugged, and I tell a story about an epic vacation decision that demonstrates how important it is to surround yourself with the best people.

    Take a vacation

    When we recorded this episode, I was just back from a vacation, and as I told Dean, even though I know it’s true, I’m always surprised by how good vacations are for me. It can take a few days to reset, but eventually I get there. And Dean agreed, saying that for a time, he wouldn’t allow himself to take vacations because he wasn’t happy with where his business was at the time. So he’d just plow through, not recognizing a break would do him good. This is all part of something we’ve been talking about: When you own a business, the goalposts are always moving, so there’s a good chance you’re always going to feel there’s “more work to be done.” If this sounds like you, you need to tune into this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Break out of your own system

    As you know, we’re all about systems here. But Dean brought up a good point. When you have everything running on systems, theoretically it should be easier to step away. But you also become systematized, and it can be difficult to unplug yourself from your work. For me, it’s less about feeling like I have to stick with the system, and more about the guilt I feel for not working. When you’ve been pursuing some sort of work for most of your life, the guilt is real when you take time away. And as Dean says, sometimes when he steps away, things progress rapidly and he realizes he was the one holding things back. That’s more a Dean thing than mine thing, but still, it’s a salient point. It’s a less-talked-about aspect of owning a business, and an important discussion on this week’s Just the Tips.

    The six-inch putt

    Dean and I chatted about how you empower people on your team both in your absence and in their day-to-day jobs. I told him this story of an executive coach I had early in my career who had a philosophy of a “six-inch putt.” And what he meant was that it was his job to make the final decision that something was ready. So in golf terms, it was the team’s job to drive the ball, chip it up onto the green, get it within six inches of the cup, and then when it’s a sure thing, he can tap it in. But if it’s not at that point, then it’s not his job, and it is someone else’s. So that’s how you empower people, you get them to see their role as important to getting to that six-inch putt.

    You are only as good as your peer group

    I told Dean this story about my vacation, where I was hanging out with a great group of friends who are all doing amazing things and really pushing boundaries. On the last night of the trip, we were in Albuquerque, and it was the birthday of one of the guys on the trip. So we were trying to figure out what to do for it, and I suggested something kind of crazy (Sorry, you have to listen to find out). Everyone quickly got on board, and we made an amazing few days happen. As Jim Rohn says, you will become the average of the five people you hang around with the most. This is a really great episode and fun conversation with a guy I try to limit my time with, Dean Holland. Check out this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [1:15] The value of vacation
    • [7:55] The dark side of systematizing
    • [14:14] Empowering your team
    • [19:30] The six-inch putt
    • [26:05] Hero syndrome
    • [29:37] The importance of your peer group

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    The Internet’s Legal Minefield with Richard Chapo, Ep. 59 Aug 16, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I punch above our weight a bit by having Richard Chapo, a lawyer specializing in internet law for businesses, on the show. Richard is a business lawyer in San Diego who has been practicing for 25 years and advises small and large online businesses on how best to comply with laws applicable to conducting business online. We dig into some pretty gnarly legal stuff this week, including GDPR, collecting sales tax, and what's up with Apple and its back taxes. This is a great episode of Just the Tips that you won’t want to miss.

    What is an Internet lawyer?

    Sometimes the Internet may feel like a lawless land, so I had to ask Richard what he means when he calls himself an Internet lawyer. And he said that when he started out, it was just a pretty simple thing, but it’s become increasingly complex over the years, including sophisticated privacy statutes like GDPR, shifting sales tax questions and copyright issues. If you have an online business, or even just an online component to your business (as many do), you need to listen to this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    What do business owners need to watch out for online?

    Richard, of course, watches the space closely for any legal issues that may pop up, and it’s fascinating to hear him run through examples big and small of mistakes people make online. He cited everything from Apple owing massive back taxes in Europe, to very small companies making mistakes early on that become huge problems as they scale, to casinos failing to properly disclose information in promotional videos. The legal world is, as always, a minefield, but luckily Richard knows where the mines are buried. This is truly a unique and fascinating episode of Just the Tips.

    What do businesses have to do with GDPR?

    Of course one of the most prominent laws impacting online businesses this year has been GDPR, the General Data Protection Regulation passed in the EU focused on data protection and privacy. As Richard says, the right to privacy in the EU is as valued as the right to free speech in the U.S., and GDPR is the enforcement of that right. As Richard says, a company’s decision to comply with GDPR should be based on the cost of compliance. If you have only 10 sales in the EU, but the cost of compliance is $10,000, maybe it makes more sense to not sell in the EU than comply with GDPR. We think of the Internet as a worldwide thing, but regulations like GDPR could actually segment it. Really interesting stuff from Richard on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    Supreme Court and the state sales tax

    One of the big decisions to impact businesses that sell online was South Dakota v. Wayfair, a case heard by the Supreme Court in June. As Richard says, the legal precedent on whether businesses in one state that sell to another state have to pay the sales tax in that other state came from the 1970s and was based on catalog sales. And it held that businesses did not have to pay that sales tax. But things have changed, in June the Supreme Court reversed that decision. What does that mean for your business? Well, Just the Tips is always here for the free legal advice, so you have to listen to this episode!

    Outline of This Episode

    • [3:28] What is an Internet lawyer?
    • [4:44] What do business owners need to watch out for online?
    • [7:39] What mistakes do people make?
    • [16:38] Complying with international law
    • [21:28] GDPR
    • [29:00] Supreme Court and the sales tax
    • [29:47] How Erik audits a company’s marketing
    • [38:36] Don’t let this stuff stop you from selling online

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Richard Chapo
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    How to Tell a Story with Your Marketing with Erik Stafford, Ep. 58 Aug 09, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome one of the best copywriters around, an award-winning designer, and a guy who knows his way around conversion rates and online marketing. Erik Stafford has won several AAF-ADDY Awards and ARDA Awards for his work, and now heads up Stafford Marketing, where he helps businesses define their brand, their tone of voice and all of the personality attributes a company needs to connect with their audience. This is a great episode of Just the Tips that you won’t want to miss.

    “Hey I bought a circus today.”

    Many of our guests start out in the corporate world and then get the bug to become an entrepreneur, but Erik has a truly unique background. His grandfather was a Russian immigrant who came over and worked his butt off and was the type of guy who would come home and tell his wife “Hey, I bought a circus today, or I bought a leather store today,” says Erik. So it was always in his blood. But growing up in Chicago, Erik took up graffiti art, and made money airbrushing jackets and more for gangs. But then he went to college as a fine art major, became a graphic designer, and eventually got into web design. All of this happens in the first five minutes of this episode of Just the Tips, so you know you’re in for a ride.

    Creating beautiful online brochures for no one to look at

    Erik did get a job as a web designer at an agency, and he learned quickly how to make beautiful websites and online content. But just as quickly he learned that he was making “beautiful online brochures” that would just sit there and no one would see. So he started digging around and learning about direct response marketing, and realized there was a better way to do things. So he was able to combine his experience doing brand strategy and brand voice, with the more action-driven angle of direct response, making him a Swiss Army knife of marketers.

    What is an empathy map?

    One of the fascinating things that Erik says in this episode is that he works with companies on building empathy maps. And what he means by that is creating an understanding of what motivates people, and what core emotions they’re looking to experience. And from there he builds a narrative that helps connect a company to that intended audience. The first step is building credibility, and from there it’s really fascinating how it all unfolds. Find out how on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    How Hollywood impacts your marketing

    Erik actually applies a Hollywood three-act structure to his clients’ work, meaning he tells them a story in a way that feels familiar to them, and ends with the action, the conversion, the company wants. It’s act one, the setup and the premise, act two is the climax or the confrontation, and then act three is the resolution. When you take an arc like that, that builds drama but has a payoff at the end, it’s something everyone recognizes even if they don’t realize they’re recognizing it. It’s a really fascinating breakdown, and the results speak for themselves. Listen to the episode!

    Outline of This Episode

    • [3:44] Erik’s origin story
    • [8:26] How he became a brand strategist
    • [10:35] What is an empathy map?
    • [12:33] How storytelling is important
    • [16:19] The three-act structure
    • [23:15] How story archetypes play out in marketing
    • [29:47] How Erik audits a company’s marketing
    • [40:21] Be an ethical marketer

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Stafford Marketing
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    Forget Funnel Hacking with Shawn Lynam, Ep. 57 Aug 02, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean grants me a new nickname that I actually earned back in the day when I worked in London, The Loud American, but I quiet down a bit to listen to a good friend of mine, Shawn Lynam, tell his story of how he went from the corporate world, to the real estate world, to internet marketing. Shawn really knows his stuff, and in this episode we talk about how to not complicate matters, how to model your success on others, and how to position your offer to make it really sing. This is a great episode of Just the Tips that you won’t want to miss.

    Jack of all trades, master of all trades

    Shawn’s story of how he got into entrepreneurship generally and internet marketing specifically may be one that’s familiar to you. He took a job out of college with Lockheed Martin, working up the corporate ladder. But when his sister handed him a book (no spoilers) that also changed my perspective at a similar point in my life, Shawn started getting into real estate. He eventually became so skilled at real estate investing that he quit his job, and then after 10 years of doing that, with a family on the way, he decided to switch it up and start down the path of internet marketing. Since then, he’s killed it in yet another industry. If you’re interested in getting into internet marketing, or looking to step up your business’s online effort, you have to listen to this episode of Just the Tips.

    Sell what’s already selling

    Sometimes someone says something so simple, you smack your head for not coming up with it first. But when I asked Shawn how to make a great offer, he said: “Sell what’s already selling.” And what he means by that is do your research: Know the market for what you’re selling, and analyze the demand for what you’re selling. You can’t come up with a successful product out of thin air and make people suddenly want it. Now, what exactly does that mean? Sell what someone else is already selling, or sell something slightly different? You’ll have to listen to this week’s Just the Tips to find out.

    Don’t use your cell

    Shawn and I actually conducted a really interesting experiment a couple years ago, right before the election, where we started selling election-related hats. We built a funnel and decided to see if anyone would buy, and then suddenly there was a deluge of sales. It was such an enormous rush that we actually had our account frozen for processing too many sales. So I had to open up a new account, and I made one rookie mistake that I’ll never make again: I put my cell phone number down as the contact info. It’s a funny story, but as Shawn says, it’s a legitimate problem that a lot of people run into. Find out how he gets around it on this week’s episode of Just the Tips.

    It’s funnel modeling, not funnel hacking

    Shawn says something so smart about halfway through this episode, during a discussion about not reinventing the wheel. As he says, “funnel hacking” isn’t really hacking at all, it’s funnel modeling. So you take something that works, and you take those fundamentals, and you apply them to what you want to do. You don’t have to dream up a new way to do it, you just have to model your success on others. We also dive into the importance of positioning and how that communicates the value of your offer to your customers. Listen to the episode!

    Outline of This Episode

    • [4:00] Shawn’s entrepreneurial origin story
    • [6:13] Sell what’s already selling
    • [10:33] Case study of what went wrong in a funnel
    • [14:45] Don’t reinvent the wheel
    • [18:00] Positioning is so important
    • [24:00] The red rose guarantee
    • [27:00] Do your homework
    • [31:30] Always be learning

    Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Shawn on Facebook
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    Everything You Know About Conversion is Wrong with Chris Dayley, Ep. 56 Jul 26, 2018

    Today’s episode of Just the Tips finds me recovering from an accidental 22-mile walk, but that doesn’t stop me from getting excited about our guest, Chris Dayley. Chris is a mastermind at conversion, having done more than 1,000 split tests in his time, and applying psychology to marketing to really help businesses dig into what makes customers convert. On today’s show we talk about the assumptions people make about websites, how most of them are wrong, and how to run a proper test to grow those conversions. This is a hugely valuable episode of Just the Tips that you won’t want to miss.

    Traffic rises, but conversions stay stagnant

    Chris’s story of how he got into conversion is a really great lesson for anyone out there trying to parse what analytics mean the most to their business. He was in-house at a company and focused on organic traffic. And in fact, his team tripled the company’s organic traffic in just six months, which is a phenomenal climb. But as the traffic rose, the conversions remained stagnant, and no one could tell Chris why that was. And as Chris says, if you’re getting lots of organic traffic but few conversions, there are basically two problems: Either you’re showing up for an irrelevant search term, or there’s a problem with the website. And so Chris created a split-test that looked worse than the current website, but worked better. Why? That question has fueled Chris’s career, and provides the launchpad for a fascinating episode of Just the Tips.

    What works best doesn’t always look best

    What Chris found so fascinating about his test is that the page he created looked, aesthetically, way worse than the current site. So much so that the designer said he would never put it on the site. But still, it converted better. We often make the mistake that the most important thing about a website is that it looks good. But really, you want something that works well. Chris tells a really interesting story about something he calls “an existence test,” which you’ll want to hear about. It’s really savvy stuff you’ll hear on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Pick and choose

    Chris told us about how he helped a client sell $25,000 more in one week through one of his split-tests. How? He says that businesses tend to make a lot of dangerous assumptions about their customers and websites. And sometimes there is data behind those assumptions, but the data doesn’t tell the whole story, or we read into the data the story we think is correct. The other assumption people make about websites is that they think they need to put everything on there: Dump everything onto the site so that there’s something for everyone. But as Chris says, his split-tests have shown that old theory is wrong.

    Run the test

    One thing that Chris said that really stuck with me is that you have to build the site that your audience wants. They need to tell you (through their behavior) what they want in your site. So even though simplicity is often good for a site, sometimes your audience may not want the site to be so simple. It’s all about throwing out the assumptions that we make without doing the hard work of split-testing. As Chris says, even customers may not know what they want. You can’t ask people what they want on the website. You have to run the test. Listen to the episode!

    Outline of This Episode

    • [5:15] How Chris got started studying conversion
    • [9:26] What looks best doesn’t always convert best
    • [12:45] An existence test
    • [17:41] The psychology of conversion
    • [24:45] Why our assumptions are so bad
    • [29:43] What’s a good conversion rate?
    • [32:50] Chris’s toolkit

    Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

    Resources Mentioned
    • Disruptive Advertising
    Connect With James and Dean

    James P. Friel:

    • AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
    • Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
    • Site: www.jamespfriel.com

    Dean Holland:

    • Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
    • FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
    • Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

    Strengthen the Offer Until They Can't Say No, Ep. 55 Jul 19, 2018

    On today’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean comes through with the promise of something he teased in an earlier episode, which is a hugely successful marketing strategy that he’s implemented for his own business. In the last episode, Dean said he was working on the strategy that had been crushing it, but then he turned it into an episode of Zero Tips and wouldn’t tell us what it actually was. Well, today the wait is over, and we can now hear about what Dean has been up to and how he’s been killing it lately. Dean apparently has been getting death threats since the episode aired for not saying what the strategy was, so we’re here to clear both the air and Dean’s good name (what’s left of it). And as a bonus, you get the inside scoop on a killer approach to marketing.

    Know your customers, serve your customers

    Dean told me about how he has a number of lists from all of the different projects he’s done over the years, and of course the most valuable of those lists is the customer list, the one comprised of people who have purchased something from his business. So he surveyed those customers and one of the most common bits of feedback he received was that business owners have invested all they can, and they don’t have more money to put into another offer. And rather than just accept the answer that they didn’t have the money to spend, Dean thought about how his offers could actually help these people. So he followed up, sending another survey, to figure out where these people were stuck. This is pretty remarkable, the amount of attention Dean is giving to his customers knowing full well that there may be nothing in it for him, in the end.

    Identify the pain points

    Dean spent a week poring over the answers to the survey questions, and looking for commonalities, what pain points his customers shared. The end goal was to sell a coaching program that could help them bypass those pain points. But people don’t want to hear they’re being sold a coaching program when they’re hurting for cash, even if that program could help them. So all he said was, “I’ve read over your feedback, and I’m considering putting together something that could help you. If you think I should do that and you’d be interested in it, reply to this email.” And what’s fascinating is that when he emailed the list saying he was going to create this, he had more people respond to that email, than to his initial email. And that is how you know you’ve hit on something. This is a really fascinating case study on this week’s Just the Tips, that you have to hear.

    Be systematic about it

    Now that he knew he had something people wanted, Dean had to create the something. So what he offered them was a day-by-day plan, where they could actually watch him tackle their problems as if he were in their shoes. So for one hour a day, he would act as though he were in their position, and show them exactly what he would do to get over the hurdles. Now how he got the people to sign up is a stroke of brilliance that includes lowering the offer price, creating exclusivity, and building an offer that sells out in just a couple of hours. This is truly a clinic in how to get people to buy into what you’re selling, and it’s a great story that Dean shares on this week’s Just the Tips.

    Track your soldiers

    One of the most important lessons Dean shares on this week episode of just the tips is that the important thing in any marketing campaign or any sales how about selling that initial service for initial product. It's about building a long-term relationship with a customer. And so after that initial offering Dean emailed the 50 people who had signed up and said “I'm thinking of continuing this program now that it's over, would you be interested?” And 35 said they were. Now that is a return and it shows how Dean and really created something of value to his customers. This episode is no exception and you have to hear it, to hear how Dean pulled it off.

    Outline of This Episode
    • [2:29] The basics of Dean’s approach
    • [11:54] The subtle offer
    • [15:55] How he got the sign-ups
    • [22:00] The real takeaway
    • [26:15] You must over-deliver
    • [35:00] Everyone is a buyer
    • [42:40] Everyone has a problem to solve
    • [46:30] Talk to your customers

    Music for “Just The