Wed, 29 July 2015
On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I interview Rick Martinez, who is a veteran registered nurse, writer, and successful entrepreneur. Rick has been named by San Antonio Business Journal as one of the city’s 40 under 40. His first company was named as one of the US Small Business Administration’s top 100 companies. During the show, we discuss purpose hacking, the ‘bink’ moment, life pivots, and what Rick learned from his recent book launch.
Main Questions Asked: - How did you come to decide you wanted to help people discover their purpose in life? - Do people find their purpose in life through the work that they do? - What do you mean by the ‘bink’ moment? - How is Project Bink structured, and what does the business look like? - What is a purpose hack? - Tell us about the marketing for Project Bink, Purpose Hack, and Life Pivot. - What were some of the successes and lessons learned from your book launch?
Key Lessons Learned: Have you found your purpose in life? Do you recognize those moments that steer you towards it?
Purpose - Finding one’s purposes is often perceived as finding the meaning of life. Purpose is simply living the life of deeper meaning. - Rather than going through imposter syndrome and thinking ‘Who am I?’ instead make the choice of thinking ‘Why not me!’ and change the action to ‘I’m going to do these things.’ - Purpose isn’t a thing we have to go and find; it is something that is within and grows within us. - We shouldn’t go chasing after our purpose, but rather chase the things that mean the most to us. - Purpose doesn’t have an age limitation. There are younger people with their lives together, and older people who don’t. - You don’t have to be a monk or climb mountains to find meaning in your life. - Purpose isn’t about one thing, but about taking many things that fulfill us and make us whole.
The Bink Moment - This is essentially an “ah-ha” moment when you discover the purpose and reason for wholeness in life and the things that fulfill you. - Involves asking the question ‘What does this mean’ during critical and pivotal life moments. - Rick offers a simple systematic way for people to find their ‘bink moment’ and purpose quicker.
Purpose Hacking - Hacking is a way to do the things in your life that matter the most to you. - This is about a bigger picture and a way to create more meaning and value in your life. - People are into the ‘hacking’ lifestyle because they want to serve something bigger and greater than they are.
Marketing & the Book Launch - Rick approached his marketing efforts from a startup perspective and built a website, established a presence, and added an opt-ins, and pop-ups to capture leads to build the list. - The biggest mistake in his book launch was taking too long to get the book out, which was two years. - The book is self-published straight to Amazon and had a release that was pushed out to friends and people within the circle of influence for a free launch copy. - It’s important to decide on the goal of your book. Is it about being a bestseller or promoting the message? - The strategy was to allow people to get the book for free by using landing pages in order to promote the message. - Being a bestseller is an ego boost, but if your book is a marketing tool for your business, then it’s about getting into the hands of potential clients.
Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!
The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic
Links to Resources Mentioned The Power of Bink (Free book)
She Podcasts (Episode) |
Wed, 22 July 2015
On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I interview Joan Sotkin, who is an author, coach, and business woman, and has helped thousands of people understand why they do what they do with their money and how to alter their financial behavior. Joan is the founder of Prosperity Place and author of the award-winning book Build Your Money Muscles. Her passion is helping people improve their relationship with their money and themselves. During the show, Jessica and Joan discuss business and bookkeeping, why we do what we do, money, and shame.
Main Questions Asked: - What brought you into working on money issues with people? - Should everyone learn how to do his or her own bookkeeping and manage cash flow? - What are the characteristics or personality traits that cause some people to have better relationships with money?
Key Lessons Learned: Business & Bookkeeping - It’s possible to have someone in the bookkeeping role, but you have to know what the numbers mean. - The first step is to make a decision to take care of your business. - Business isn’t something you go into where you love everything you do every minute. - Taking care of your finances isn’t about knowing numbers; it’s about data entry. - Managing cash flow isn’t what a bookkeeper does. They just keep the books. - Mental math is a useful way to turn the left part of your brain on. - Your business is an extension of you, and if you’re still in financial fear, you won’t look at your numbers if you feel shame.
Why We Do What We Do - In the beginning stages it’s important to understand why you do what you do with your money now and how you can get to a point of being more functional. - Recognize the kinesthetic experience in your body when you talk about money. - Count your money and spend less than you earn.
Money, Shame, & Feelings - If you feel shame about your finances, it is never about money. It is about relationships and how you feel about yourself and your relationship with others. - Don’t stress and worry about the past; take action for what you want to happen in the future. - When you love, accept, acknowledge, and appreciate yourself, the world will mirror that back to you. - Our need for touch determines so much of our business and financial outcomes. We weren’t meant to ‘go it alone.’ - The longing for money is the same feeling as longing for touch.
Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!
The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic
Links to Resources Mentioned
Build Your Money Muscles (book) |
Wed, 15 July 2015
On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I interview Robert Mallon & Bill Watkins, who are the co-founders of the Rusty Lion Academy. Bill is a WestPoint graduate, army officer, and world-class athlete. Meanwhile, over the past 25-years, Robert has worked for several nationally known corporations as a leader and manager. During the show, Robert, Bill, and Jessica discuss training and developing virtual teams, how to have productive team meetings, leadership, on-boarding, and team building.
Main Questions Asked: - Talk about training and developing virtual teams. - What are examples of the behavioral questions you asked? - Talk about ‘Slack’ and how you’re using the platform in your team. - What are your tips for having productive team meetings? - What are your recommendations on motivating teams? - Talk about the difference between training somebody and coaching and motivating them.
Key Lessons Learned:
Interviewing & Core Competencies - In any organization, the process is recruit, hire, develop, and retain. - When developing a team, go to the place where people with the expertise you are looking for hang out. - Determine what the core competencies you are looking for. - Behavioral competency questions identify skills and expertise. - Robert and Bill narrow down core competencies to 8 per role and give each a score of 1-5. At the end of the interview, calculations are made, and whoever scores the highest gets the job.
Behavioral Questions - An example of a behavioral question is, “Everybody breaks the rules sometimes. Tell me about a rule that you broke recently and the company you last worked with.” - Behavioral based interview questions are, “Tell me about a time when you ______.” - Make your interview questions open-ended and ask the interviewee to tell you a story. - It is encouraged to have two interviewers, as they will each interpret differently. - Robert and Bill developed value-based questions that unpack the interviewee’s values without them knowing. - It is critical to understand the ‘shared values’ that the company revolves around.
Slack - Slack is a tool to anchor your team in the identity of the organization. - Having multiple communication channels mean that getting clarity quickly can be problematic. - Use Slack for communication, values, vision, and what the team is doing on an ongoing basis. - Slack is an effective tool for 7-minute daily standup meetings saying what you will achieve in that day. E.g. Daily and weekly goals, how I’m contributing, issues, and share relevant revenue metrics.
Productive Team Meetings - Meetings allow team members to have input and ownership. - Plan weekly meetings but don’t make them hour-long. - Be respectful of people’s time and always end the meeting on time. - Robert & Bill use Trello and have a standard meeting with a to-be-discussed checklist. Any team member can add talking points to the list prior to the meeting.
On-Boarding Process & Motivation - Have an on-boarding checklist, information folder, and communication channel such as Slack so new team members feel important when they start working. - Map out your expectations for the team members and ensure they are trained so they can do the job. - Feedback and motivation are incorporating LBs & NTs, which are ‘liked best’ and ‘next times.’ - Business owners need to set an example and not simply engage in a one-way conversation.
Training Vs. Coaching & Motivating - After a team member has been in the company for a 90-day period, Robert and Bill ask the following questions:
1) What should we continue doing that you think is valuable? 2) What do you think we should stop doing and that you don’t think is valuable[LN1] ? 3) What should we start doing that you know is valuable? 4) Are you satisfied now that the honeymoon is over, that you said yes to us?
- The above shows the person that you value their opinion as well as you’re not assuming that everything that is going on is the way it needs to be. - Allowing someone to work out a problem on their own makes them a better leader and own the process.
Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!
The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic
Links to Resources Mentioned Rusty Lion Academy (Free gifts)
[LN1]This should be indented to line up with the numbers, but word won’t let me. |
Wed, 8 July 2015
On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I explore the art and business of podcasting with Corey Coates, the co-founder of PodFly Productions. During the show, Corey and I have a conversation about the Podcast Producer series. We’ll discuss how and why we created the series, the topics covered, and what we came to learn about podcasting.
Key Lessons Learned:
Origin of Podcast Producers - The aim was for a chaptered approach and covering the bigger topics on podcasting. - Rather than interviewing a person on their opinion on a single topic, Corey wanted to have a topic and interview multiple people on it. - There are so many opinions and approaches to podcasting that there is no right or wrong way to podcast and use podcasting. - Corey was looking for a way to ‘soften’ the information, especially for rookies entering as new podcasters. - The long form of the series is a reminder to people of what podcasting is.
10 Hours of Podcast in 2 Months - Corey sent Jessica a one-sheet proposal of the show of what he wanted it to sound like along with a sample pilot. - The goal was to have open ended conversations about the industry as a whole, what people are doing within the space, brainstorm topics and ideas, then start arranging them in a story. - The constraint was set around the project before work started. - When parameters are decided, then a timeline can be built around that. - When you are overwhelmed by a project, it is easy to shut down, but if you have a timeline, it is much easier to trust in the system.
Establishing A Launch Date - Establish your launch date fast and stick to it. - Having a pre-determined launch date helped with the Podcast Producers workflow. - There was a chart that laid out the workflow so it was clear on when activities such as brainstorming, recording, and editing were going to happen. - A launch date is critical for being accountable to yourself, your team, and your listeners. - Knowing you have an end date is motivation for you to finish.
Passion & Power of No - The overarching theme has to be an enjoyment of the process. - If the process itself isn’t a reward, you might want to consider not launching a podcast. - It’s so easy to say yes to opportunities, but there is a lot of power in saying no. - Ask yourself what the ROI is and how making a podcast will improve your business. - Podcasts are evergreen and will continue to be discovered on a daily basis by new people. - The more interviews you do, the more you improve as an interviewer and host.
The Podcast Producers’ Ten Topics
1. Is anybody out there? - This episode is about podcasting from the perspective of the listener. - Who is actually out there listening to these shows?
2. Hobby or Business? - John Lee Dumas sparked a surge of entrepreneurs in podcasting.
3. The Podcasting Community - How open and friendly the community is in sharing information.
4. The Psychology of Podcasting - Why are we doing this in the first place? - What happens psychologically with the audience when people listen to a podcast? - Should people stop listening to experts? - If you become an expert, should you worry about the imposter syndrome?
5. Stats - Experts explain the facts about stats.
6. Isolation
7. DIY or Outsource - More people are entering the space and providing services to podcasters.
8. Podcast Networks - What goes into being in a network?
9. Monetization - The Dumas affect. - Do you understand what it means to make money in a podcast? - Knowing the expectation of advertisers. - Is it a viable source of income for you? - The CPM model.
10. Radio Migration
Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!
The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic
Links to Resources Mentioned |
Wed, 1 July 2015
On this episode of Rhodes to Success In interview Tom Schwab who has discovered a marketing strategy that converts traffic to leads at a rate of thirty percent. During the show Jessica and Tom discuss podcast guest best practices, how being interviewed as a podcast guest leads to results in business and why landing pages and making an offers are so important.
Main Questions Asked - What made you decide to invest your time and services in getting booked as a podcast guest? - Talk about the process of getting a listener to visit your site. - When you are being interviewed as a guest on a podcast, what do you have to think about and say to actually get someone to want to go to your website? - How should a landing page be set up to easily convert people onto a list? - How long does it take before you start seeing results? - What are your thoughts on getting someone’s first name during a list opt-in? - What is the appropriate way to make an offer in a podcast?
Key Lessons Learned Content - Content is king but context is God. You are what you publish. - Content is what drives the modern marketing engine online. - On average it takes 6-9 months to get traffic traction with a blog. - All content is aimed at getting the audience to know, like, and trust you. - Ensure you get the most out of your guest interview by creating a show transcript and repurposing it as multiple sources of content.
Podcast Interviews - Podcasts are a long term strategy and compounding effect - During a podcast people get 30 minutes or more to hear you. They either love you and go to your site to learn more or they move on. - The quality and quantity of context comes from listeners turning into visitors. - Continually promoting the podcast on a consistent basis helps keep you top of mind with the host. - Maintaining a good relationship with the host is the beginning of a long-term professional relationship and improves your chances of getting booked again. - After the interview consistently share the podcast on socials and keep it in mind as a resource to share with others.
Conversion - When listeners visit your site looking for the offer you made on the podcast and average of 25-50% convert. - The system needs to involve finding the right podcast, giving a clear message, providing an offer that drives the listener to your website then having a system that converts a visitor to a lead.
Landing Pages - During your podcast interview offer listeners something that gives them value, has context and is directly tied to what you are talking about. - Direct listeners to a specific landing page and provide a specific giveaway in addition to an opt-in list. - Ensure you include the logo from the podcast you were interviewed on to show the listeners that they are in the right place. - Focus on getting ideal customers not just growing and email list.
Metrics & Results - Results depend on the metrics used such as number of listeners, website visitors, emails received, and conversions. - If you are getting heard on good quality podcasts and listeners are not coming to your site then you have to figure out where the ‘leaks’ in your system are. - The reason listeners may not visit your site is that they don’t find value in visiting. - If listeners are coming to your site but not opting-in then your landing page could be confusing. - If people come to your site and opt-in but don’t become a customer then the problem may be in your nurturing sequence. - Every day customers are voting with their dollars, time, and actions. If you are not getting the results you want then you have to figure out why. - You don’t necessarily need a lot of traffic but rather the right traffic (target clients.)
The List - If you want to funnel down and segment customers from the beginning. - Ask for feedback via open ended or optional questions e.g ‘what is your biggest frustration about the product or service?’
Making An Offer - An offer shouldn’t feel like a pitch at the end. - Reference the offer during the podcast so it doesn’t feel like a surprise. - Make sure you offer two things and explain to the listeners where the offer is and what it is.
Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!
The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic
Links to Resources Mentioned Tom Schwab – Inbound Marketing (previous podcast) Adam Hommey (previous podcast) Decide - The Ultimate Success Trigger
tom@inboundforecommerce.com |
Monetize the Mic
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