If I could encourage you with anything as you build your online business it would be this: you can break the rules. There is no one "right" way to build an online income stream that serves a ton of people and takes care of you and your family. You have way more freedom thank you think to ignore the gurus (myself included) and chart your own path. To drive this point home, today I'm going to share with you 3 classic online business "rules" or best practices that I intentionally break, explain why I break them, and show you how my business has only skyrocketed in revenue and reach in spite of it all. Here's to the freedom to build your business and life your way!

Pop quiz: Would you like to make more money in your business while working less? The answer should be YES! Well today I want reveal three normal everyday tasks I gave up that not only gave me my time back but actually allowed my business to skyrocket at the same time. And yes they are related! Full disclosure: one of these tasks is super controversial to quit, and another is so sneaky you don't even know you're doing it! Are you ready for permission to quit some stuff and make more money in the process? I thought so!

Membership sites are like the holy grail of passive income businesses. But they are also incredibly misunderstood. From all the students I've coached who have membership sites or want to build a membership site I've come learn there are a few huge myths out there that many online business owners are falling for. Today I want to break down the 3 big ones so you are in the know and can get the most out of your membership. Once you know the truth about what goes into a successful membership site I think you'll have a lot more fun and make a lot more money!

Do you know where your money goes the moment you make it? Do you have a plan for that money before it even hits your account? Are you keeping your money in the right place? If you're like most small business owners you are likely focused on just one side of the money equation - the making of the money. Rarely are we thinking about where to put that money once it's been made. Today I want to share with you the 5 types of bank accounts you should be putting your money in each and every month so that you can avoid tax issues, build wealth, and have peace of mind.

No, you don't need more customers, email subscribers, or money pumped into ads to increase your income. You likely are leaving money on the table with your current offerings. If you have only one tier/option for your product at one price you’re making a mistake. Some people will be glad to spend more with you if you only offered more value. Give people the option to give you more money! And when done right, tiered pricing can easily increase your average order value by 25-50% - all without lifting a finger! Let me show you how.

If you do any kind of email marketing then you likely pay close attention to an important stat called "open rate". And if your list is anything like mine (and everyone else's on planet earth) then you might be a bit disappointed to see that not everyone opens your emails. What the heck?! How could they not care about your awesome emails as much as you?!? I feel your pain. Here's the thing though - unopened emails aren't a waste. In fact there are 3 huge reasons why they are anything BUT a waste. In fact, they can be powerful tools for your business. Let's discuss.

Are you as productive as you'd like to be when working on your business? Or are you scrambling each week trying to get as much done as you can, stuffing as much into each work day as you possibly can? Been there done that. After running an online business for nearly 12 years now, I've tried just about every kind of work schedule you can imagine. Here's what I've learned: time blocking is the key. In that decade plus I've developed 4 simple time blocking strategies I use to stay productive without feeling rushed or stressed.

When it comes to online courses, you might be wondering: How much is too much to charge for your online course? How cheap is too cheap? The short answer is: it depends. I have a simple pricing framework I use to determine what I should be charging for my online courses and today I want to share it with you. Also at the end of this episode I give you a few other things to consider when it comes to online course pricing and finding that sweet spot.

What can a book published in 1926 based on an ancient civilization teach us about how to handle our money, grow our businesses, and see success in our lives today? If it's The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason - it can teach us a lot! Today I'm bringing back the book reviews, starting with one of my favorite little books of all time, The Richest Man In Babylon. In this episode I break down the 3 golden nuggets from the book and how you can apply them to your life and business right now, including: How to build true wealth The secret to goal setting And why some people seem to have more "luck" than others

Do you struggle to know how to sell to your email list when it's time to launch or promote a product? Have you ever stared at a blank email screen completely at a loss for what to say that won't sound too salesy, pushy, or generic? Today I want to help you out by giving you not one, not two, but FIVE email templates you can use to sell your products to your list. These email types work great for online courses, membership sites, or even online coaching.

If you're thinking about launching a membership site this year, that's awesome! Membership sites have been a huge source of income, growth, and fun for me and my business over the years. However HOW you launch and WHEN you launch a membership site is critical to its success. Today I want to break down some practical dos and don'ts of membership site launches so you can not only make as much money as possible but help as many people as possible over a long period of time.

Every year I play a little game. I try and maintain or grow my business while working fewer and fewer hours in it. Working less is a huge part of my business model (so I can live more fully and give myself to those around me) and today I want to share with you how to do it. Specifically I want to share 3 powerful rules you should follow if you want to work less while at the same time increase your income, impact, and enjoyment of your business!

If you build and sell online courses then I have some good news for you. 2021 will likely be a good year for you. If 2020 was any indication, online courses and membership sites are only growing in popularity and demand. There are a few global trends at play here that lead me to believe this will only surge in 2021. Today I break down my prediction for digital course creators like us and the two implications for you and your business!

Every year I get away for two nights and do some focused work ON my business (as opposed to just working IN my business). I look back at the previous year and look ahead to the next, planning out specific elements of my business, schedule, and goals. This year I decided to show you my process so you can get some ideas of how to implement your own year end planning retreat. Keep in mind that you can do this retreat ANY time you like. End of the year, beginning of the year, the middle of the year. It doesn't matter. Also, feel free to adopt some of what I'm doing and tweak it to fit your goals and needs.

Making money in your online business is one thing. Knowing what to DO with it is something entirely different! I've seen so many talented people who learn how to generate a good income online, lose it just as quickly because they make one or all of these 3 critical money mistakes. I don't want that to happen to you. So I'm going to get super practical today as I expose the biggest things to watch out for as you start growing your online business.

In 2015 I was hitting a plateau in my business. I had grown my income further than I could have ever dreamed, but I was at a ceiling. On top of that, I felt alone and burned out. But then I joined my first mastermind group changed all of that for me. I got new insights, was challenged in fresh ways, and was encouraged to dream bigger and try new things. And my business grew!  Instead of looking for new knowledge, I looked for like minded entrepreneurs who were committed to my success and held me accountable. I found these in one off friendships, people I met at conferences, and multiple paid mastermind groups. Today I want to explain to you what a mastermind is (and is not), what it can do for you and your business.

Do you struggle to complete tasks in your business or stay on top of your goals? Have you felt overwhelmed by #AllTheThings and feel like you put in the work but have little income to show for it? If so, then you might be in need of a system that helps you stay productive in your online business. And by system I don't mean paying for some fancy app. I mean having a process for getting stuff done. Personally I use a stupidly simple 4 part process that helps me achieve my business and income goals, while keeping my work hours manageable and free of stress.

Let's be honest, most of the gurus and "experts" in the online business space make you feel yucky inside. Just me?! With so much garbage out there it can be hard to discern what resources are really worth your time and which experts are truly for your success. Today I thought I would make that search a little easier for you. I want to share with you 3 of my favorite online business experts and specifically 6 things I've learned from their collective wisdom. After listening to this episode, do yourself a favor and go check out their content yourself!

I don't know much about the future but one thing is certain - 2021 is going to continue to see some economic challenges world wide. Now, I'm an optimist (and history would back me up on this) so I believe that things will get better. We've been through worse. But it might be rocky for a while. If that is the case, how will your business hold up? Will you make it through the fire so to speak and live to fight another day? Today I want to give you 4 ways to pandemic proof your online business for 2021 so that you can not only survive hard times, but thrive and position yourself for long term success!

What does it take to grow your YouTube channel and get more views? Well, short of taking your clothes off or doing something incredibly shocking, it seems that gaining traction on YouTube is all up to chance. Except it's not. There is a tried and true method for getting more views, watch time, and subscribers on YouTube. In fact there are 3 powerful types of videos that perform really well on YouTube and I'd like to share them with you today.

Do you want to know the secret to wealth and prosperity? Here you go: stop focusing on yourself! Instead focus on influencing others, inspiring change in their lives, and then my friend you can't help but prosper. It really is that simple. And today I want to speak from the heart. No notes. No script. Just what I truly believe will both help you reach your income goals and make the world a better place at the same time!

Tell me if you've ever had one of these thoughts: "Who am I to teach this?" "I’m not an expert." "I don’t have any credentials." Welcome to the club my friend. According to the Journal of Behavioral Science 70% of us struggle with this thing called Imposter Syndrome, no matter how successful we are. Part of being an expert is going to be a battle with your own fears and insecurities. No way around it. However, you can become an expert in your field. In fact it's a relatively straightforward process. So clear in fact that I've outlined it all in an easy to digest and follow 7 step formula. And today I'd like to teach you that formula.

Fun fact: I'm not the only online business owner in my house. My wife (a multi six figure CEO) has been running a version of her photography business ever since we got married 15 years ago this week. And I've learned a lot about business just by observing her. So to celebrate 15 years of marriage to this amazing woman I decided to share 15 powerful and practical lessons on business that I've picked up from her over the years in the hopes that even just one of them will encourage and inspire you today in your business!

Let's play a little game of True or False when it comes to online courses. TRUE: Anyone can build and launch an online course today. FALSE: Everyone who launches an online course will make hundreds of thousands of dollars. So what is the difference maker between just launching and actually making good money with online courses? Turns out there a FEW difference makers and today I want to share them with you. I want to unpack the 3 biggest online course myths I see floating around on the Internet so you can avoid them and get to making money!

I recently surveyed over 10,000 of my students asking what their biggest goal was this year. Do you know what most people said?   To launch their first online course.   And do you know how much money most of them wanted to earn from their course specifically? $1000 per month.   Seems like a reasonable goal to me. But they haven't achieved it yet.   I then asked in the survey what is their biggest frustration, holding them back from achieving that goal. And what stood out to me was a clear thread of 4 distinct reasons why my students hadn't launched yet.   Today I want to share those 4 reasons with you in the hopes that we can break down those obstacles and help you launch an online course this year!

If you're trying to make money on YouTube or become a YouTuber then I'm here to tell you "Stop!"   If you actually want to reach your financial goals there is a much better vehicle than trying to make money on YouTube - selling online courses!   Today I'm going to break down the pros and cons of running a YouTube based business and an online course based business, give you some real numbers, and help you figure out which business model makes sense for you!

Which is better for your online business, a membership site or a Facebook group?   Are they basically the same thing? If not, how different are they? And should they be free or paid?   Today I'm going to break down the pros and cons of both a membership site and a Facebook group (including a hybrid of both) and share with you what I think is the BEST route for you to actually make more money in your online business.

I launched my first membership site way back in 2012.   And while that became a multi-six figure a year product for many years, I made a ton of newbie mistakes along the way that held it back in the early years.   In fact there are 3 critical mistakes I made that I don't want YOU to make with your first (or 5th) membership site. If you can avoid these, you can not only grow bigger but grow faster.   I've since launched two more six figure membership sites and you better believe I do things a bit differently today.   Let's jump in and make sure you are launching (or growing) your membership site the right way.

What would an extra $500 to $1,000 a month do for your world?   For most of us, that is game changing money.   You could pay off debt faster, save for your kids’ college, give more to your church, or even replace a car with cash within a year!   Or maybe you’ve got all those financial goals covered but you’d just love to LIVE a bit more in the here and now. Maybe take a much needed vacation or have money for a regular date night (babysitters ain’t cheap these days!)   Whatever the reason - having a side business that could generate extra income like that might be a dream for you.   But for many of us it remains only that, a dream.   That’s because in order to have a business that makes $500, $1000, or even $4000 a month requires time - and that is unfortunately in short supply for the majority of us!   Work, school, kids, marriage, church, friends, community, exercise, eating, sleeping - it all takes time!   So today I want to break down the task of starting an online business into 3 simple steps you can follow - even if you only have 30 minutes a day!

For the first four years of my business I did absolutely everything myself. And it worked.   That was the problem. It worked a little too well.   While my income grew so did my audience and my customer base. It got harder and harder to keep up with all of the email inquiries (both good and bad) that I found myself spending 3+ hours a day in my inbox.   After a frustrating moment on vacation (laptop in hand) I broke down and made my first hire. Today I want to share the details of that story AND give you a step by step plan to make your first hire so that you can get out of your own way and grow your business.

A couple of years ago a team conducted the largest study of millionaires ever.   They surveyed over 10,000 millionaires (people who have a net worth of at least $1M) to see what the hard data showed these successful people had in common. Or IF they had anything in common.   The survey results, put together in the book Everyday Millionaires by Chris Hogan, are fascinating. And encouraging!   What I found most intriguing were 6 habits that the majority of millionaires have that are so insanely simple that you can I can copy them right now - and today I want to share those with you!

It used to be that the wealthy would flaunt their status by spending copious amounts of money on things like fancy purses, expensive cars, and massive mansions.   But have we as a culture become so sick and twisted that we now try and flaunt how hard we work as the new status symbol of choice?   Today I'm pulling back the curtain on a pervasive shift in what we take pride in as Americans, starting with three of the world's top CEOs - and then bringing it all the way down to you and me.

Have you ever felt stuck in your online business journey, unable to reach a consistent amount of income every month?   That's what one of my students, Stephen, told me in my Six Figure Coaching Community just the other day. He's been teaching guitar for 10 years and creating content online for a long time - and yet he's unable to reach $1000 a month in revenue.   He expressed discouragement that some people seem to make money easily online while others (like himself) struggle.   My response to him was straightforward. Making $1000 a month (or any amount) consistently and reliably comes down to two simple things. Today I want to break them down for you and do a case study on how Stephen (and you) can pull it off.

Oh Internet Marketers, what are we going to do with you guys?!   Today I've gotta rant about what I'm seeing as the worst Internet Marketing strategy right now and why you should do the opposite of what they tell you.   And it's not just the sleaze bags in this industry - some of the good guys and gals do this and it just drives me bonkers!   After I share what the strategy is and why I don't like (or use) it, I'll give you four reasons why doing the opposite of what they preach actually will help you grow your business faster!

I know I'm the guy always telling you to start an online business, build passive income, and launch a digital product, but I honestly don't want you to start down that path until you've heard what I'm about to say.   As much as everyone makes running an online business look glamorous, it has a dark side.   Actually, it has three dark sides. And today I want to share with you those three biggest negatives to online business. But that's not all.   I want to share with you three ways you can redeem those negatives and turn them into positives so you can start or run an online business that thrives!

Why would someone buy your course if there is so much information available for free?   This is probably the number one question I get from students. And it’s a logical one given how much amazingly helpful information is out there for free with just a single Google search.   It’s an even bigger question when you start to regularly give away a ton of your own great content for free. It’s almost as if your own free stuff is competing with your paid stuff.   But that’s simply not true.   Today I'm breaking down the 3 key reasons why people will happily pay for your premium online course or membership, even with the proliferation of solid free content.

If you are slowly building an audience through a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel but have yet to make good money from it, you might not be monetizing the right way (or at all).   While there are a lot of ways to make a living online, I find that most bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers who make a full time living use one (or all) of 6 core monetization models.   That's right - there are 6 ways to make money with your online audience and today I want to break down all them so you can decide which one(s) is right for you!

I believe the single most underutilized piece of real estate on your website is the "thank you" page that your people see when they opt in to your email list.   If you think about it, that page is the only thing 100% of your email subscribers see.   I hope a lightbulb just went off.   Because if it did, then you my friend are waking up to possible one of the simplest and easiest ways to increase revenue in your business right now.   It's something I call the Thank You Page Strategy and today I'd like to show you a few ways to make it work in your favor.

Have you ever felt icky about selling?   Has it been hard for you to form your thoughts clearly and have it come across as genuine and not too much like marketing speak?   Or maybe you're asking yourself these questions:   Does long form sales copy still work?   Do you need to be using it in your sales pages?   Today I'm going to give you my answer and speak to the 3 critical truths about sales copy - no matter what you're selling.

I always thought there was one defining quality of a successful entrepreneur - a high risk tolerance. To me, every successful business owner I had known or read about did something risky and seemingly was unafraid the whole time. So a scaredy-cat like me wasn't going to make it in business. I didn't like the unstable nature of freelance work when I tried it early on so I figured entrepreneurship wasn't for me. I couldn't have been more wrong. Turns out a high risk tolerance isn't necessary for being successful. And in fact, there are OTHER more important qualities that DO lead to success. Three to be exact. Today I'd like to share all three with you. And the good news? You can learn these qualities even if they don't come naturally.

In an ever growing ocean of content online, what is going to make yours stand out?   How can you ensure people not only checkout your videos, articles, or podcasts but also love them, engage with them, and more importantly take the next step of diving deeper in the relationship with you and your brand?   Well it's all in how you structure things.   Today I'm sharing with you my 5 part formula for crafting the piece of content that has served me well for over a decade.

It’s been almost 90 days since the official designation of this global pandemic.   Back in early March I had NO CLUE what was going to happen to my businesses in light of COVID-19. Now I do.   Specifically I see 4 key takeaways from this situation that have proven true in my businesses and I think can apply to yours.   My hope is that this episode will encourage you and give you wisdom as to how to navigate your business in the wake of our current economic climate.

It's been an intense week here in the US.   In the wake of the brutal killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis there has been a nationwide outpouring of anger and desperation in the form of protests. Including in my city, Tampa Florida.   I had some content pre-recorded for today but I felt the need to pause and address this horrific situation - and really the systemic racism that has been a part of my country for over 400 years.   Specifically I have 3 thoughts on the situation and I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen in.

I'm sick and tired of all the "gurus" online talking about passive income in front of a Ferrari. It just makes me feel icky and uncomfortable.   And I teach people how to build passive income too!   Today I want to cut through the hype and just give it to you straight. Passive income is a beautiful reality and there are 3 core ways to create it online.   I'm going to give you the truth about all 3 ways including pros and cons for each and I'll start by sharing two huge prefaces about passive income that you have to understand.   I hope you enjoy!

I'm a huge fan of passive income. Virtually 90% of my businesses are automated.   So you can imagine how I felt when a troll on YouTube recently left me this comment: "Living on passive income is immoral and does nothing to advance society."   Is he right?   Not by a long shot! Time to bust some myths and faulty assumptions !

So many online business owners are obsessed with getting that magical "k" at the end of their Instagram follower count.   Or hitting 10k and getting the all elusive "swipe up" feature!   The reason? They want to grow their business.   But does having a larger following/presence on Instagram really help you make more money?   Not really.   What most entrepreneurs should be focused on is putting out strategic YouTube videos instead. And in today's video I break down not only WHY YouTube is a better platform than Instagram if you actually want to make more money but HOW to do it right.

One of the best things you can do in life is to commit to creating more than you consume.   I know the economists want to label all of us humans as "consumers" and in some senses it's true - consuming doesn't have to define us.   But in reality it does.   Most people consume TV, video games, YouTube videos, and social media content FAR more than they create anything.   If you want to have a successful business, heck if you just want to have a happier and more fulfilling LIFE than you need to create MORE than you consume.   Today I breakdown four reasons why.