Work Less, Earn More

What’s the best thing for you to work on right now to move your business forward?   Well, to answer that question, start with this one: What stage of growth is your business in?   Confused? You’re not alone.   Quite possibly, you don’t know, because… nobody told you what your options are. Nobody broke down the stages of growth and gave you the big-picture for building a successful business.   Not your fault at all, but worth changing! Understanding where your business is in its growth makes it easy to know what your top priority (AKA the work that will actually move the needle) should be.   This week, on the podcast, I interviewed business designer Michelle Warner. Michelle has an MBA from a top business school, and years of practical experience working with small business owners to strategically grow their companies.   In the episode, Michelle walks us through the 5 stages of small business growth (don’t worry, they’re easily understandable!), how to know which one YOU are in right now, and what that means you should focus on to GROW fast and strong.   She also shares exactly what you need to do to move forward to the next stage from where you’re at right now.   If you want to get clarity on exactly what you should be working on right now to build your business, then this episode is a must-listen.   This interview is an eye-opener for sure. Don’t miss it!   Listen to the full episode to hear: How to figure out what you should work on next that will make the biggest impact on your business The five stages of growth in business and how to define them What stage the most significant part of initial product development happens How to know when you’re ready to move out of one stage and into the next When you might need to go back a stage (and what to look for)   Learn more about Michelle Warner: themichellewarner.com Instagram @michelle.warner   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! <!-- --> <!-- --> <!-- -->

  It's tough to explain something if you don't really understand it yourself.   I'm sure you wouldn't try to teach someone how to rewire their computer, bake the perfect soufflé, or correctly identify a genuine Picasso... unless you happen to have the necessary knowledge. :)   But that doesn't seem to stop anyone from trying to explain why someone should purchase a particular product... even if they have no idea why.     Who are these people? Entrepreneurs like us! We have great ideas and products that we want to share with the world.   So... we ask people to buy them and try to explain reasons they should.   But, too often, those reasons seriously miss the mark.   How can we solve this problem? How can we explain our product in a way that makes sense and helps people understand what it can do for them?   That’s what you’ll learn from today’s podcast!   My guest this week is Dallin Nead, a visionary marketer, brand builder, and messaging expert who has taught thousands how to grow their businesses using the Content Supply™ method.   And now, he's sharing that method with us.   In the episode, you'll learn how to create a simple brand story that helps people understand exactly WHY they should buy your product.   And that's the #1 thing that will increase your sales.   Listen to the full episode to hear: What exactly a brand story is and why we need one How a brand story helps us market our businesses A simple way to create a brand message that you can use no matter who you’re talking to (and why starting with the end in mind is key)   Learn more about Dallin Nead: contentsupply.com Follow Dallin on Instagram   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

“This is it. I’ve figured it out. I know exactly what I need to do now,” I told my husband one day in the fall of 2016.   I’d just returned from a women’s business conference in San Diego. It was the first “big” event I’d attended, and I’d learned a lot.   Including, as it happened, the “missing piece” I needed to finally start making money with my online business.   My puzzle seemed so complete, in fact, that for the next few weeks I struggled to feel motivated to work on my business at all. There was no more mystery to it. No more curiosity driving me forward.   Once I got over that, though, I took my business from earning $0 to over $10K/month in just 18 months.   Sometimes there really are secrets to success…   In this week’s podcast episode, I teach YOU this missing puzzle piece: what it was, why it mattered so much, and how I found and fitted it into my business puzzle to get the results I did.   If you’re wondering why you’re struggling to grow and get the results you’re looking for, this episode is for you.   Hope this lesson has as much impact on YOU as it did on me a few years ago. <3   Listen to the full episode to hear: How I started working 20 hours a week and making next to money at all to making $10K every MONTH Why getting visible to your target audience will dictate where and what platforms you should show up on Why YouTube was my key to getting visible—BUT there are plenty of other ways for YOU to get visible with your audience like using Pinterest Why Pinterest is one of the ways you can get visibility that has the least barriers to entry How podcasts play a huge role in visibility and growing your audience   Resources mentioned in this episode: EP 47: Demystifying SEO with Kim Herrington   Learn more about Gillian: YouTube Growth Workshop Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

  If you’re trying to grow your audience on social media, then you KNOW that there’s one thing that matters more than just about anything else…   Engagement.   It doesn’t matter what platform you’re on, the algorithm cares about the same thing: how much people engage -- or don’t -- with your content.   More engagement means people are paying more attention to your posts (good!) and the algorithm rewards that with more reach (good as well!). And that then results in more followers.   The GOOD news is that more people see your “best” posts.   The BAD news is… even if you’re sharing something valuable, important, and potentially impactful… if people don’t actively engage then your results will be lackluster (to put it gently).   Engagement. It’s the name of the game.   The big question is… how do you get more of it??   Well, that’s where my friend Kat Gaskin comes in.   She’s known around the internet as “The Content Planner,” because that’s what she helps entrepreneurs do: plan their social media content.   But when I reached out to her about coming on the podcast, there was something a little different I wanted to talk to her about:   HOW has she built such an incredibly engaged community of raving fans??   ‘Cause Kat doesn’t just have followers on Instagram.   Nope. Her audience is full of the hard-core, ride-or-die type.   And I wanted to know how she’d done it.   You’re welcome. ;)   Listen to the full episode to hear: How Kat developed an irresistible physical product and personal brand on Instagram—with 52K followers and counting Why Kat recommends picking only two social media platforms and her hashtag strategy for getting content in front of different audiences The struggles Kat went through with content planning—and why she developed the Content Planner to make it 100% easier to create content Why focusing on who her customer is becoming rather than focusing just on solving a problem creates an amazingly engaged fan base The four recurring content pillars that Kat uses to engage her Instagram followers (and teaches to all her students)   Learn more about Kat Gaskin: thecontentplanner.com @katgaskin on Instagram @katgaskin on Twitter the salty pineapple shop   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

First off, isn’t it so cool that we live at a time when information is so readily available?   The answer is out there to any question you might have… and it’s probably even just a Google search away!   But with more content created every day than you could ever possibly consume, this abundance of information can also be… overwhelming.   Information overload is real. And it can really hold you back.   You’re trying to build your business, but there are millions of articles, podcasts, and courses all giving you different [conflicting!] advice.   How can you possibly decide which advice to take or what’s your best next step?   If you’ve ever struggled with this, I can relate. And… I can also help.   Turns out, there’s a framework for exactly this. A simple, 2-step process for figuring exactly which aspect of your business you should work on next in order to reach the next level of growth… and I’m going to walk you through everything in this episode.   Listen to the full episode to hear: I walk you through the exact process of this helpful process so that you can figure out exactly what’s the weakest area of your business and decide what your next step should be How to use what you learned from the framework to be able to use your time and use your resources as efficiently as possible and make the biggest progress and reach the biggest results with your business Identifying where you’re struggling the most—or your weakest link—and what to do about it   Learn more about Gillian: Free Validate Checklist Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

One of the toughest parts about being “young and broke” is not having the money to do some of the responsible things you know you should be doing. Stuff like: buying (and eating) healthy food regular maintenance on your car extra insurance regular dental exams hiring a bookkeeper for your business   I hope you’re in a place right now where you can afford most of these things... because I know how tough it is to do without them. Both because they’re helpful basics, but also because you know you should be doing them, and it’s stressful to be “letting things slide” -- even when you don’t have much choice.   But if your business is still in its infancy, you might still be cutting a few corners, sticking to a tight budget, and DIY’ing, well… everything.   Kudos to you. Seriously.   The early stages of building a business are tough, but if you can stick them out (and I know you can!!) they will eventually be worth it.   But what’s to be done in the meantime??   Especially when it comes to managing your finances, you can’t just ignore that aspect of your biz until you’re earning enough to hire a pro.   Because let’s face it… if you do that, you might never get to that point at all.   Fortunately, you have options.   On this week’s podcast episode, I interview Mark Butler, CPA and the founder of Let’s Do the Books, a bookkeeping service for brand new companies.   In the episode, Mark shares exactly how to DIY your bookkeeping -- and how to do it right. So that when you eventually are ready to work with a pro, you’ll be PROUD to show them your books and there won’t be any awkward conversations.   shulaconsulting@gmail.com The biggest mistake new business owners make with their business finances Mark’s advice for opening your FIRST business checking account How to set up a SUPER simple spreadsheet to track income and expenses in your business The basics of bookkeeping and accounting that EVERY entrepreneur should understand—especially when you’re in a growth phase The difference between the business profit and the money you take from the business to pay yourself (and how it impacts your books)   Learn more about Mark Butler: letsdothebooks.com @letsdothebooks   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

One of the toughest parts of building a successful YouTube channel is just getting your first 1,000 subscribers.   Once you hit that coveted 4-figure mark, the algorithm takes over and (as long as you keep posting consistently...) practically grows your channel for you.   But how can you get those first thousand??   Everyone does it slightly differently, but hearing their stories can help you figure out the best path for YOU.   On today's podcast episode, I'm interviewing YouTube creator Marissa Romero, who's successfully grown a channel of 120,000+ subscribers in a competitive niche.   We'll talk a little about the strategies she's using to grow it these days... but we're going to focus mostly on how she got started.   After you listen, I'm sure Marissa would appreciate hearing what you got out of the episode! You can reach out to her @marissaeromero on Instagram.   Listen to the full episode to hear: What Marissa did to get her FIRST 1,000 subs The mistakes Marissa made when she was first getting started with YouTube The role really good keywords and affiliate links were to getting consistent traffic in the beginning-and what she's focusing on now with over 150K subscribers Why using the algorithm to your advantage right away is ESSENTIAL to growth Why Marissa has prioritized her thumbnail strategy (and how overall channel branding makes a HUGE difference)   Learn more about Marissa Romero: marissaromero.com Connect with Marissa on Instagram Marissa's YouTube channel     Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

As you’re likely aware, we’re currently in the process of guiding a group of 130 students through the VALIDATE accelerator program, helping them figure out whether or not there’s demand for their business ideas.   I shared a lot last month about why this process is so essential--including the fact that it protects you from possibly wasting countless hours (even years) of your life on an idea that never pans out.   I’ve seen one (or 100…) too many entrepreneurs wind up feeling like failures because they can’t turn their business idea into a success -- when, in reality, they aren’t the problem at all -- they’re just trying to build the wrong business.   What makes it even worse is that this problem is 100% avoidable.   I know not everyone was able to participate as a student in VALIDATE, so today on the podcast I’m doing something very special: offering a crash course on how to do the validation process for yourself!   If you’re a DIY’er then you’ll love this episode. Not only is it the “do it yourself” guide to testing your biz idea, but it’s also going to ensure that all your future business DIY projects have much greater chances of being successful!   Listen to the full episode to hear: The biggest mistake most people who want to become entrepreneurs make The 6 steps to validate your business idea Why you need to figure out if people actually WANT what you’re trying to sell… and why you need PROOF The difference between a business and a business idea   Learn more about Gillian: Free Validate Checklist Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!  

What's more profitable, online courses or self-published books?   A lot of people who are interested in making money by selling information (either as a course creator or author) consider these two options.   To some, the choice is obvious.   Of course it's online courses!   After all, everyone knows that "authors don't make anything."   And we've all heard plenty of stories of course creators who are killing it online.   Here's the thing -- while it's true that courses tend to be more profitable than self-published books, this question ("What's more profitable?") kind of creates a false dichotomy.   In other words: it makes it sound like you have to pick one or the other.   But, in reality, these two strategies can work together to create far better results than either typically does on its own.   (It's like asking, "What's better: YouTube or email marketing?" And the answer is, "Neither, they're just different. They serve different purposes in your marketing.")   This week, on the podcast, I interviewed my friend Chandler Bolt, founder and CEO of Self-Publishing School, a $15M Inc 5000 company.   Self-Publishing School primarily sells online courses -- and it's one of the biggest and most successful such companies out there!   So, how'd Chandler do it? Well... by practicing what he preaches: self-publishing books on Amazon!   Chandler's been a friend of mine for the past three years (I first met him in San Diego at Hal Elrod's "Best Year Ever" event) and it's been so cool to watch him scale his company so incredibly fast.   If you don't already know Chandler, I'm honored to introduce you. But, either way, I know there's a LOT we can all learn from his story.   Listen to the full episode to hear: The whole story of how he built his company from the ground up (starting with no connections, no credentials, and no capital) How he used self-published BOOKS as a big part of his growth strategy Exactly how you can copy his approach (even if you think you "don't have time" to write a book) to grow your own business   Learn more about Chandler Bolt: Receive a free copy of Chandler Bolt's bestselling book, Published self-publishingschool.com   Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Behind every successful entrepreneur… there is a team supporting them.   In my first few years of business, it was just me – wearing all the hats, doing all the things, and responsible for everything.   But, as my business grew, I knew that I needed help; both so that I could keep my sanity and to be able to continue to grow.   After several failed attempts to hire help (mostly VA’s that I didn’t know what to do with), I finally found a few contractors who supported me by editing my videos, taking care of tech work, writing content, and other small projects.   Then, in 2019, I knew it was time to get a new kind of help: management help. Otherwise, I was going to find myself working more than ever before, managing the people who were supposed to be reducing my work load.   Enter Cortni Loveridge.   I hired Cortni to be my project manager and “integrator” (a concept I explain in this episode) -- but she turned out to be so much more than I’d anticipated. She stepped into my business and immediately started organizing everything from top to bottom -- making it SO much easier to run things in far less time and take on more profitable projects than ever before.   In fact, the year that followed – 2020 – was our best year to date.   Today on the podcast, I’ve invited Cortni herself to join me in sharing exactly what we did in 2020 that had the biggest impact on the company’s bottom line.   I hope you find the episode very insightful and that you’re able to use these strategies to turn 2021 into your BEST year yet. Listen to the full episode to hear: What projects we took on that produced the most revenue Which marketing strategies we saw the most success with How we were able to increase efficiency, so that we could work less -- and (of course) earn more! The exact strategies that led to our half-million dollar year Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!