The Get Paid Podcast: The Stark Reality of Entrepreneurship and Being Your Own Boss

Joe Sanok started a podcast in 2013, when almost nobody in his niche was doing it. Today, Practice of the Practice generates close to a million dollars a year through podcast sponsorships, a membership community, consulting, and done-for-you podcast launch services. In this episode, Joe breaks down how he validated one of his highest-ticket offers by asking 15 people three questions, then sending a single email that brought in nearly $80,000 in signed contracts within 24 hours—before he had even built the delivery team. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: How Joe used 3 questions to validate a high-ticket offer and sell nearly $80K before building it How Practice of the Practice grew into a near-million-dollar business through sponsorships, membership, and consulting Why Joe's membership model removes extra buying decisions and lets clients level up without friction How Joe built a podcast system that lets him record and walk away while his team handles the rest Why he tracks positive exits and negative exits inside his membership How Joe structures his schedule so he mostly works Tuesday through Thursday About Joe Sanok: Joe Sanok is the founder of Practice of the Practice, a business that helps therapists in private practice grow through community, consulting, and education. He's a former marriage counselor, the host of a podcast with more than 1,300 episodes, and the author of Thursday Is the New Friday and Dating After Betrayal. Joe lives in northern Michigan and leads a team based across the U.S. and South Africa. Mentioned in this podcast: Practice of the Practice https://practiceofthepractice.com/ Podcast Launch School https://podcastlaunchschool.com/ Now it's time to GET PAID Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, andInstagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media.

If you hired an ad agency to save time and make more money… but you're still doing the creative, still managing the process, and still feeling unclear about what's actually working? This episode is for you. In today's episode, Claire shares five warning signs it might be time to cut ties with your ad agency or consultant — even if they've been with you for a while, even if you like them, even if they've "helped in past launches." Some of these red flags are obvious. One of them is hiding in plain sight inside Ads Manager. And one of them is the reason a lot of businesses end up paying for "support" that actually slows them down. If you want a faster, simpler, more profitable relationship with ads — this is the listen. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The un-subtle Ads Manager clue that tells you your agency is running an outdated setup The timeline standard that should never be missed when you're running ads for a live event The "quiet leak" that drains budget (and why it's a bigger deal than most people realize) The ROI question you should be asking (but probably aren't) The one factor that determines whether outsourcing ads is smart… or just expensive Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM): clairepels.com/waitlist Now it's time to GET PAID

If you've ever looked at one number in your ad dashboard, felt your stomach drop, and turned the whole thing off — this episode might sting a little. In this solo episode, Claire breaks down what she calls made up funnel math — the sneaky way smart business owners decide their funnel is "dead" or "not profitable" based on vibes, one scary metric, or incomplete tracking. The worst part? It usually kicks off the same cycle: panic, shut it down, buy another training, start from scratch… even when the funnel was already making money or one tweak away from it. Claire walks through the five most common places this shows up, shares real examples from her own ads and client funnels, and explains what to actually look at before you touch that off switch. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The "panic metric" that makes people shut off profitable ads — and what to track instead Why judging your funnel by front-end sales alone will mislead you every time The difference between a volume problem and a conversion problem (and why mixing them up changes your entire next move) Why "testing new audiences" is almost always the wrong answer right now Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM) — clairepells.com/waitlist Absolute FB Ads - https://clairepells.com/afa-evg Instagram: @clairepells - https://www.instagram.com/clairepells Crime 101 (movie — for the car chase girlies) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5y-cziwmMw Now it's time to GET PAID

Chris Donohoe went from blue-collar Florida to Cornell on a diving scholarship — and then into the world of corporate consulting, where he realized the people making great money weren't superhuman. They just had a profitable skillset and a repeatable way to sell it. Now Chris helps consultants, freelancers, and coaches create real cashflow in their businesses. But when he decided to walk away from corporate revenue and go all-in on a scalable coaching offer, the transition was anything but smooth. In this episode, he shares how he turned a "Frankenfunnel" into a real sales system inside Get Paid Marketing. We talk about his shift from guessing to testing, why he chose free workshops over paid ones (and the long-game math behind that decision), and what it actually looks like to sell with conviction when only 10 people show up to your live sales event This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: What corporate consulting actually is — and the "Wizard of Oz moment" that changed how Chris saw the whole industry Exactly how he he replaced 60% of his income when he walked away The emotional low point that led him to GPM — and what shifted after one conversation How he thinks about lead volume and conversions at the same time (long game + short game) How the GPM structure without rigidity allowed Chris to co-create a killer strategy instead of following a formula About Chris Donohoe: Chris Donohoe is a business coach and consultant who has sold over $2.5 million using word-of-mouth sales and marketing — everything from $19 workshops to $500,000 Fortune 100 consulting projects. Now he teaches consultants, coaches, and advisors to create cashflow in their businesses the simplest way possible so they can have the financial freedom to live life on their own terms. His podcast, Make Money as a Consultant, is where he talks openly about the lessons most coaches won't say out loud. Connect with Chris: Website: chrisdonohoecoaching.com Instagram: @chris_donohoe_ Podcast: Make Money as a Consultant Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM) — clairepels.com/waitlist Go Independent - chrisdonohoecoaching.com/go-independent-337075 Grow Independent - chrisdonohoecoaching.com/grow-independent-795949 Now it's time to GET PAID

Kathy Cruz is the founder of Savvy Shopkeeper, where she helps brick-and-mortar retail owners grow with stronger systems, clearer decision-making, and real financial confidence. In this episode, Kathy shares what happened when she joined Get Paid Marketing and finally started running ads with a real plan — starting with a time-sensitive planner launch that became her best one yet. We talk about what made the ads work (even when the creative wasn't perfect), why she's willing to break even on a front-end offer, and how one product can quietly become the trust-builder that drives bigger conversions later. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The simple ad test that helped Kathy make this her best planner launch yet Why "perfect creative" isn't the goal — and what mattered more How she uses a planner as a trust-builder (not just a product) The membership decision that makes her community feel safe How her framework helps store owners stop making emotional decisions and start using real data About Kathy Cruz: Kathy Cruz is the founder of Savvy Shopkeeper, where she supports independent brick-and-mortar retailers through practical strategy, coaching, and education. She's also the host of the Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast and leads Master Shopkeepers, a mastermind and peer community for store owners who want to grow with stronger systems and smarter planning. Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM) clairepells.com/getpaid Savvy Shopkeeper (website) https://savvyshopkeeper.com/ Master Shopkeepers https://savvyshopkeeper.com/master-shopkeepers/ Savvy Shopkeeper Retail Podcast https://savvyshopkeeper.com/podcast/ Now it's time to GET PAID

Lindy Alexander avoided ads for years because they felt "icky"… until she joined Get Paid Marketing and realized her results didn't require more complexity — they required less friction. In this episode, Lindy shares what shifted when she simplified how people bought (including one tiny change that made a bigger difference than she expected), and how GPM is different from any other program she joined. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The belief Lindy had about ads that kept her avoiding them (and what changed her mind) The small funnel adjustment that helped increase low-ticket conversions What she did differently inside GPM that led to a $50K+ launch without a live webinar The behind-the-scenes reason she almost didn't join (and what surprised her once she did) Why GPM felt "like an iceberg" after she got inside About Lindy Alexander: Lindy Alexander is a multi-award-winning freelance travel writer who has written for major Australian and international publications including Travel + Leisure, AFAR, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Sydney Morning Herald. After 10 years as a social worker, she transitioned into freelance journalism and later specialized in travel writing. She's the founder of The Freelancer's Year, a blog and online writing course hub for aspiring and established freelance writers who want to break into travel writing and land regular commissions. Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM): clairepells.com/waitlist The Freelancer's Year (website): thefreelancersyear.com Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Instagram: @lindyalexanderwriter Travel Writer Accelerator (TWA): https://thefreelancersyear.com/courses-resources/ttwa-apply/ Now, it's time to go get yourself paid Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over toApple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

It's a very good time to be running Facebook and Instagram ads! And if you'd like to replace one of your launches this year — without losing out on the revenue — this episode is for you. Today, I'm breaking down four ways you can generate launch-level income using ads and evergreen funnels. Some require paid traffic. Some don't. All of them work — if you know what you're doing. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: Why the current ads algorithm is performing differently than in past years How to replace a $50K launch with a profitable evergreen funnel The simple math behind scaling ads without "risking it all" The overlooked strategy that can increase sales without increasing spend Mentioned in This Episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM): clairepells.com/waitlist The $50K 4-Part Funnel: Replace Launches with Ads, Funnels, and Copy that Converts: clairepells.com/replace Now, it's time to go get yourself paid Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over toApple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

Running ads is one thing. Scaling them without freaking out (or breaking what's already working) is another. In this episode, financial coach Gina Knox shares what changed when she stopped dabbling, got serious about her funnel, and used a weekly webinar rhythm to create more consistent revenue—without needing a giant launch every time. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: What clicked when Gina treated ads like a scaling tool (not "extra lead gen") The surprising part of scaling spend that almost makes people quit too early Why weekly webinars can beat the "big launch" model for the right business How being inside Get Paid Marketing changed what was possible for her funnel About Gina Knox: Gina Knox is a financial strategist for small business owners with inconsistent income. A former QuickBooks researcher turned coach, she's helped clients save over $9 million and build 6 and 7-figure wealth portfolios. Gina is the creator of Small Business Money School and the 7 Figure Wealth Mastermind, where she teaches entrepreneurs how to stop panicking about cash flow and start growing lasting wealth. Her approach blends design thinking, financial strategy, and behavioral coaching, rejecting outdated advice like "just budget" in favor of money systems that actually work for business owners. Mentioned in this podcast: Get Paid Marketing (GPM) Small Business Money School Gina Knox's free training Gina Knox: From a $200 Side Hustle to a $324K Launch Gina Knox Hit 7 Figures Thanks to Basic Image Ads Now it's time to GET PAID. Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Visit my website at clairepells.com for more strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

Claire was more than a little skeptical about AI for a long time. Now? She's ON BOARD! And for very specific purposes. In this episode, she's sharing the three underused ways she's now using ChatGPT and Claude—and none of them have to do with writing captions or copy. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The use case that helped Claire make a major business decision How she cut her monthly software expenses by hundreds of dollars The new way she's building sales pages (that used to take her ages) Mentioned in This Episode: FG Funnels / Funnel Gorgeous Elise Darma's Offer Vault https://theoffervault.co/ Brittany Long's AI Sales Page Design Workshop Brittany on IG: (@womenthrivewith.ai) Get Paid Marketing :https://clairepells.com/waitlist Now it's time to GET PAID Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media.

It's that time. Claire sat down to look at everything that happened in 2025—the numbers, the team, the launches, the decisions. Some of it was hard to say out loud. 😳 This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The full breakdown: revenue, expenses, what's left A team change Claire didn't see coming The pattern she finally broke Mentioned in This Episode: Millionaires of Color Conference (Claire is a speaker and sponsor): https://forthe23percent.com/event Now it's time to GET PAID Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media.