Travis Makes Money

Erin McGoff is an award-winning filmmaker, content creator, and career advice expert known online as the internet’s “big sister.” Through her Advice With Erin platform, she has built a massive audience of Gen Z and millennial professionals by sharing practical, no-nonsense guidance on careers, communication, and navigating the workplace. A Pulitzer Fellowship recipient and Forbes 30 Under 30 (2025) honoree, Erin’s work has been featured in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, and Business Insider. In this episode, Erin shares how she turned filmmaking skills into a thriving creator career, what professionals misunderstand about salary negotiations, and how mastering communication can dramatically increase your earning potential. On this episode we talk about: How Erin transitioned from filmmaking into becoming a viral career advice creator Why authenticity and simplicity helped her build millions of followers online The mindset shift that turns your salary into a “floor” instead of a ceiling Practical strategies for negotiating raises and increasing compensation Why written communication is one of the most valuable workplace skills today Top 3 Takeaways Your salary is the floor, not the ceiling. In today’s economy, professionals should think beyond their paycheck and look for ways to build additional income streams or leverage their skills in new ways. Value drives compensation. Raises don’t come from personal circumstances—they come from demonstrating measurable value to your organization and clearly communicating it. Visibility matters in your career. Many talented professionals go unnoticed because they don’t communicate their impact. Making your contributions visible to leadership can significantly improve career growth. Notable Quotes “Your salary is not the ceiling of what you can earn in a year—it’s the floor.” “Close mouths don’t get fed. If you want something in your career, you have to ask for it.” “The biggest mistake people make when asking for a raise is talking about themselves instead of the value they bring.” Connect with Erin McGoff: Book: The Secret Language of Work  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advicewitherin Other: https://advicewitherin.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, host Travis Chappell walks through five powerful questions from his “25 Questions to Ask Yourself to Live a Better Life” series, drawn from his own journey as a door-to-door salesman, founder, and creator. He opens up about evolving from chasing money to designing a life he actually wants, the role of environment in success, and how being a dad has reshaped his ambitions and self-talk. Travis’ mix of personal stories and practical reflection prompts makes this a concise but impactful episode for anyone serious about growth.​ On this episode we talk about:​ How your environment shapes who you become and what you achieve​ Why you must regularly revisit and update your aspirations and goals​ Spotting a learning plateau in your career or business and when to pivot​ Using your kids as a mirror: would you be okay if they turned out like you?​ Auditing your calendar to see if what you’re doing is actually moving you toward your goals​ Top 3 Takeaways​ Intentionally engineering your environment—content, relationships, and daily inputs—makes it easier to become the kind of person who can hit big goals.​ Your goals should evolve as you do; if you never revisit them, you might still be chasing the dreams of your 19-year-old self.​ Hitting a learning plateau is dangerous because it caps your earning power; continual learning and honest calendar audits keep you from drifting into a comfortable but stagnant life.​ Notable Quotes​ "You're sort of shooting yourself in the foot to see if you can walk, which doesn't really make much sense."​ "The day that you commit to not learning anymore is the day that you say, I think I'm good making this for the rest of my life."​ "Would I be okay if my kids ended up like me—same habits, same self-talk, same friends, same lifestyle?"​ Connect with Travis Chappell:​ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@travischappellclips Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Travis is joined in studio by his producer Eric for a laid-back but sharp conversation on popular money quotes, financial “gurus,” and what their advice really looks like in the real world. From Warren Buffett and Dave Ramsey to Ramit Sethi, Elon Musk, OnlyFans creators, and Andrew Tate, they unpack when these ideas are genuinely helpful—and when they fall apart once you factor in real life, kids, vacations, and small-business margins.​ On this episode we talk about: Whether “make money while you sleep or work until you die” is realistic advice for most people Dave Ramsey’s “debt is normal, be abnormal” philosophy and when leveraging debt can actually make sense The Belle Delphine bathwater story, frozen PayPal funds, and choosing the right payment processor for “weird” products How minimum wage hikes, automation, and robots could impact small businesses and low-skill jobs Why rich people focus on what they make (not just what they spend), and how to apply that mindset without delaying your whole life Top 3 Takeaways Building income that works while you sleep is a powerful goal, but most people need a practical bridge strategy that includes active income and intentional risk, not just slogans.​ Debt is a tool that can either destroy you or accelerate you; used intentionally for high-probability outcomes, it can help, but mindless or emotional debt is almost always a disaster.​ Long-term financial health comes more from increasing your earning power than endlessly cutting expenses, but you still need to align your money strategy with the life you actually want to live now.​ Notable Quotes “You can use debt, just be as intentional and careful as you can about the debt that you incur because there are real life consequences that come from putting yourself in too much debt.”​ “If you’re sacrificing living life now for the pursuit of a better financial future, I think you might come to regret some of those decisions later.”​ “Your kids are only going to be six and nine once, so if you want to go on vacation with them, you have to figure out a way to do that without sacrificing your future financially—and the best way is to focus on increasing your income.”​ Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@travismakesfriends/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ivan Misner is widely known as the father of modern networking and the founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization. Since founding BNI in 1985, Ivan has helped build a global community with over 11,700 chapters across 76 countries, generating millions of referrals and billions of dollars in business for its members. A New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 books—including Networking Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint—Ivan has spent decades studying the science and strategy behind meaningful professional relationships. In this episode, he joins Travis to discuss how networking has evolved, why most people misunderstand it, and how building genuine relationships is still the most powerful business growth strategy. On this episode we talk about: Why networking has a bad reputation—and how to do it the right way The VCP process: Visibility, Credibility, and Profitability Why relationships outperform transactional networking strategies How social media has flattened communication hierarchies The surprising data on relational vs. transactional networking styles Top 3 Takeaways Networking is about relationships, not transactions. The most effective networkers focus on building genuine connections first—business opportunities follow naturally from trust and familiarity. Follow the VCP process. Before referrals and revenue come visibility and credibility. People must know who you are, understand what you do, and trust your expertise before real business opportunities appear. Networking success is a long-term game. Treating networking like a marathon instead of a sprint allows relationships to compound over time into referrals, partnerships, and lasting opportunities. Notable Quotes “Networking is more about farming than it is about hunting.” “It’s not about making contacts—it’s about making connections.” “When people treat networking as a transaction, it’s the reason so many people hate it.” "It's not what you know or who you know. It's how well you know them that really counts." Connect with Ivan Misner: Website: https://ivanmisner.com BNI: https://www.bni.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivanmisner  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this solo episode, Travis Chappell continues his series on “25 Questions to Live a Better Life,” drawing from years of door-to-door sales, entrepreneurship, and podcasting to unpack the exact prompts he uses to rethink beliefs, handle hard seasons, and choose better long-term outcomes. He walks through questions 5–10 of his list, mixing personal stories, mental models, and thought experiments you can steal to upgrade your thinking and your life. On this episode we talk about: Why “When was the last time I changed my mind about a belief?” reveals whether you’re actually growing Using “This sucks, but what’s the alternative?” to push through necessary hard things How to map out “What is the worst case scenario and is it really that bad?” so fear stops running the show The power of asking “Why am I feeling this emotion?” to shift from reactive to intentional “Who do I know that has the results I want?” and “What are our cigarettes?” as long-term filters for your environment and worldview Top 3 Takeaways If you’ve never changed your mind about a core belief, it likely means you’ve never truly examined where your values came from or whether they’re actually yours. Most “worst case scenarios” are far less catastrophic than we imagine, and clearly defining them makes it easier to take the risks required for a better life. Identifying people who already have the results you want—and humbly modeling what works for them—is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your own progress. Notable Quotes “If all of your core beliefs were passed down to you and you can’t articulate why you believe them, odds are they’re not your beliefs.” “This sucks, but what’s the alternative?” “What are our cigarettes—what do we view as normal now that people will vilify in 200 years?” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Travis is joined by his producer and co-host Eric for a lighter, story-driven conversation about how people find bizarre yet lucrative ways to make money. Together, they break down the real-life journey of a Zach Galifianakis/“Alan from The Hangover” impersonator who turned rock bottom into a high-earning Vegas hustle—and the steep personal costs that came with it.​ On this episode we talk about: How a down-on-his-luck restaurant manager became a top “Alan from The Hangover” impersonator in Vegas What it’s really like to party for a living with tourists, celebrities, and bachelor parties The dark side of street performing: territorial fights, pressure to drink and do drugs, and burnout Whether building your brand on impersonations (like Trump or Dr. Phil) is a smart long-term career move How to think about your own career identity, rock-bottom moments, and unconventional ways to make money Top 3 Takeaways You truly can make money doing almost anything—even impersonating a movie character on the Vegas strip—if you lean into an angle people find entertaining and memorable.​ Every unconventional money path comes with tradeoffs; in this case, constant partying, health risks, and dangerous street dynamics made the lifestyle unsustainable despite high income.​ Building a career off another person’s brand (like Trump or Dr. Phil impersonations) can work extremely well, but you have to be intentional about whether you want that to define your long-term identity.​ Notable Quotes "Playing Alan, everyone expects you to party. Everyone expects you to drink whatever they have and whatever they want you to do for a tip, you better do it."​ "I suffered a real life hangover. I couldn't do it anymore. Life got so hectic, I probably would have died if I continued down the path."​ "The real takeaway is: hit rock bottom, because you never know what's going to come out of it."​ Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ex2Vz6Jj9cTSiHy7KTICA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ ​ Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Maria Sophocles is a board-certified OB-GYN with over 30 years of clinical experience, a menopause expert, TED speaker, and author of The Bedroom Gap. Known for her ability to translate complex women’s health issues into practical, empowering insights, she has helped spark global conversations around midlife sexual health and wellness. In this episode, Dr. Sophocles joins Travis to discuss how medical professionals can expand beyond clinical practice—building businesses, partnering with startups, landing a TED Talk, and publishing a book that reaches millions. On this episode we talk about: How doctors and experts can pivot from traditional careers into entrepreneurship The rise of the femtech industry and new opportunities in women’s health innovation Why preventive health and consumer-driven healthcare are reshaping medicine The real process behind landing a TED Talk and transitioning into public speaking How to get a book deal with a major publisher and market it through podcasts and media Top 3 Takeaways Expertise can become a platform. Professionals who step outside traditional career paths can turn their knowledge into speaking opportunities, advisory roles, and large-scale impact. Healthcare is shifting toward prevention and consumer choice. Entrepreneurs are creating new products, platforms, and technologies that empower individuals to take control of their health. Visibility creates opportunity. A TED Talk, podcast appearances, and strategic partnerships can dramatically expand your reach and open doors to publishing deals and business ventures. Notable Quotes “Patients are becoming customers and consumers—and doctors need to recognize that shift.” “Instead of one-on-one conversations forever, I realized I could reach hundreds or thousands at once through speaking.” “If you want to publish a book, you don’t need the whole manuscript—you need a powerful proposal.” Connect with Dr. Maria Sophocles: Book: The Bedroom Gap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasophoclesmd Other: https://mariasophoclesmd.com/  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell is a former door-to-door sales pro turned top business podcaster and founder, who has recorded over 1,500 episodes and read more than 200 non-fiction books to level up his mindset and income. In this solo episode, he opens up his personal notes and “audio journal” to share the exact questions he asks himself to break out of stagnation, take bigger swings, and reset his thinking when life punches him in the mouth. On this episode we talk about: Why the quality of your life tracks the quality of the questions you ask yourself How “When was the last time I risked embarrassment?” exposes if you’ve been playing too small Connecting risk and reward with “When was the last time I got something I wanted?” Using the frame “It happened, now what?” to stop complaining and start solving The “No bullshit, what would it take?” question that turns “impossible” goals into concrete plans Top 3 Takeaways If you aren’t regularly risking embarrassment, you’re probably not putting yourself in positions where extraordinary outcomes are even possible. The biggest wins in your life usually follow periods where you willingly risk failure, rejection, or looking foolish—and that first big win becomes a confidence superpower for future risks. Shifting from blame to agency (“It happened, now what?” and “No bullshit, what would it take?”) trains your brain to look for solutions and opportunity instead of excuses. Notable Quotes “The quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions that you ask.” “If you’re not willing to risk embarrassment, then you’re probably not ever going to achieve anything outside of the ordinary.” “No bullshit, what would it take?” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell​ ​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell ​Other: https://travischappell.com ​  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Travis Chappell dives into the fascinating and rapidly growing world of micro dramas—a new form of short-form, vertical video storytelling that’s taking over platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Joined by his producer Eric for a co-hosted discussion, Travis explores how these bite-sized dramas are monetized, why audiences are hooked, and what this emerging industry means for creators, actors, and the attention economy as a whole. On this episode we talk about: The rise of micro dramas and their unique appeal in the streaming and social media landscape. How short-form content is monetized, including paywalls, in-app purchases, and subscription models. The challenges and experiences of actors working in micro dramas, including working conditions, pay, and script transparency. The cultural impact of micro dramas, from age-gap romances to “fantasy romance” content targeting women. How the attention economy and algorithm-driven storytelling are shaping modern media consumption. Top 3 Takeaways Micro dramas are more than a social media trend—they’re a growing global industry rivaling traditional streaming platforms in user engagement. Actors must set clear boundaries and get full scripts in advance to protect themselves when working in micro drama productions. Success in new media often comes from creating content that fits audience behavior and attention spans, not necessarily what creators think “should” exist. Notable Quotes "These bite-sized soap operas with sexy billionaires and age-gap romances are actually a giant industry that's rivaling traditional streaming apps." "Women will spend money on these fantasy romance stories the same way men spend on OnlyFans creators—it’s just a new generation soap opera." "You build the product for what people actually want, not for the ideal version of what you think it should be." Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Ross is the founder of the Subconscious Sales Advantage and a sales trainer with more than 30 years of experience helping entrepreneurs, founders, and sales teams dramatically improve their close rates. Known for his expertise in hypnotic language patterns and subconscious influence, Paul has helped organizations generate millions in additional revenue and achieve 30%+ sales increases in as little as 90 days. His unique approach blends neuroscience, psychology, and language frameworks to help sales professionals bypass resistance and guide prospects toward confident buying decisions. On this episode we talk about: How subconscious influence shapes buying decisions Why modern prospects have shorter attention spans and how that impacts sales The difference between rapport and true compliance in a sales conversation Powerful language patterns that create focus, trust, and authority Pattern interrupts and objection-handling techniques that reopen stalled conversations Top 3 Takeaways Sales is about engineering decisions. Instead of trying to convince people to buy, focus on creating the mental states—focus, trust, and curiosity—that help prospects make confident decisions themselves. Trust in themselves matters as much as trust in you. Prospects often hesitate because they don’t trust their own judgment. Helping them feel confident in their decision-making process can dramatically increase conversions. Pattern interrupts break resistance. When prospects default to common objections like “I need to think about it,” disrupting the expected response can create suggestibility and reopen the conversation. Notable Quotes "You're never selling a product or service—you’re selling decisions and good feelings about those decisions." "Focus is the currency of any kind of sale." "Language structures consciousness, consciousness shapes decisions, and decisions drive behavior." Connect with Paul Ross: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakerpaulross/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerpaul/ Other: https://sellwithsuggestion.com/travis Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices