Askpat 2.0: A Weekly Coaching Call On Online Business, Blogging, Marketing, And Lifestyle Design

#1259 This Where Are They Now? episode is a perfect example of why I love this format. My returning guest, Hel Reynolds of Comms Creatives, has made absolutely amazing progress since we last spoke! Back in episode 1174, Hel was having trouble prioritizing her business opportunities. Squirrel syndrome is something I'm all too familiar with, so I shared a number of my most powerful time-management strategies with her. Hel has since implemented the 20% itch rule and structured her week so that she puts in impactful work at key times. As expected, the results in her business have been incredible! But while Hel's current scheduling approach is rife with tips we can all leverage, she's still struggling to rein in her weekends and take time off. In this session, Hel and I explore new tactics to help her disconnect from work and return feeling restored. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1259.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not

#1258 Today's Where Are They Now? session is one for the books. You see, the first time we heard from my returning guest was all the way back in episode 0132. That's crazy! When we last spoke in episode 1175, the pandemic had hit Sarah Donoghue's Alchemilla.co business pretty hard. But here's the thing. Something absolutely extraordinary happened right after our talk. It actually wasn't the advice I shared that led to it. It was you, the listeners, who made this happen! Joining us today is someone who has become an integral part of Sarah's business as a direct result of that episode. You'll hear from Ashton Cayce of SausageTreeLotion.com about how she's bringing Sarah's vision to a whole new market. This is a fantastic discussion about physical products and what can happen when you keep pushing in the face of adversity. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1258.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#1257 Today we're continuing our fantastic Where Are They Now? episode run. Emory Wanger, my returning guest, is someone who I often use as an example because of the incredible way he serves his niche. At ByLand.co, he provides backpackers at any level with the specific resources that make sense for them. As you know, we're deeply committed to online communities here at SPI. One thing we rarely talk about, however, is creating and running free Facebook groups. In fact, we've advised our listeners against that strategy here and on our Community Experience podcast. But are Facebook groups ever the right move for a business, and can we use them to attract and drive traffic to our offerings? Emory may have cracked the code! This chat is an inside look at how he runs his massive group of 30,000 members without it descending into chaos. Join us to find out more! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1257.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri

#1256 For this awesome Where Are They Now? session, we're reconnecting with The Antipreneur himself. Dan Bennett of VideoForEntrepreneurs.com is a wonderful member of SPI Pro, and that's exactly what we talk about today. You see, he has leveraged business communities to grow his brand in a very powerful way. I've mentioned this incredible strategy before, but Dan has been walking the walk and seeing massive results. If you want to stand out online, this is the perfect way to serve others and monetize your passion without coming across as spammy or salesy. At VideoForEntrepreneurs.com, Dan helps people look and sound great on camera. We heard all about his business in episode 1209 of AskPat and episode 029 of our Community Experience podcast. Anyone can follow in Dan's footsteps, so make sure you join us for another chat with him to find out how to do it! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1256.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priva

#1255 This is a very special Where Are They Now? session. You see, my returning guest was able to quit her full-time job just three months after our first AskPat call together. But she actually decided to go against my advice and follow her gut instead! Now, to be honest, that's not exactly the whole story. I'll let Dr. Kimmy of The Doctor Coach School share the twists and turns of her journey with you. Suffice it to say, she's serving more people than ever, and business is booming. I say it all the time—the riches are in the niches. By narrowing our focus, we're actually helping more people. This is a counterintuitive strategy that many beginner entrepreneurs struggle with. Dr. Kimmy was able to overcome this hurdle and take her business to the next level. In today's episode, we hear all about how she found her voice and is now helping women doctors of color transform their lives. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1255.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic

#1254 Today, we're bookending 2022 with an absolutely incredible Where Are They Now? session. Don't miss this one because my returning guest has accomplished something I genuinely didn't think was possible. Jackie Bolen of ESLspeaking.org has written and published over one hundred books in her niche. That's insane! I had to reconnect with her to learn about the systems she has in place that allow her to be so prolific. You'll hear all about that in this episode. What might surprise you is just how powerful and replicable these business basics can be. We've had Jackie on episodes 1003, 1046, 1147, and 1189. The evolution is incredible and a perfect example of what can happen if you apply the simple tactics we often discuss here. Jackie is now in a fantastic position where her business might be ready for sale. Listen in to find out exactly how she did it! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1254.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac

#1253 Today we're kicking off a Where Are They Now? episode run that's going to take us well into 2023. I love these conversations because we learn exactly how our AskPat coaching sessions impact entrepreneurs just like you. Today's returning guest is someone who's doing absolutely amazing work. Rose Griffin helps speech therapists and other professionals make meaningful progress with their autistic learners. She runs ABA Speech and hosts the Autism Outreach podcast, both of which are going so well that she's been able to leave her nine-to-five job. Rose has made great use of our courses and communities and is now transitioning away from one-on-one work to spend more time growing her brand. Today we talk about hiring help, using an email list to skyrocket your business, and video marketing on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Don't miss this inspiring chat because Rose is the perfect example of how serving others can lead to massively fulfilling results! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1253

#1252 This is a massive success story! David Young worked for the FBI before joining my first SPI Accelerator program in 2018. He credits that as the foundation on which he has since sold over $5 million in online courses! David helps his students learn the ins and outs of flying drones for commercial purposes. He has seen unbelievable growth in such a short time but wants to find additional ways to serve his niche. Many people are already taking his Drone Launch Academy courses, but how does he get them to stick around and form a community? Today I share the techniques that have given us the best results with SPI Pro. We discuss community events, spotlighting your members, and understanding the objections that stop people from joining your community. Listen in on this inspirational chat to find out more about applying these powerful strategies to your business! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1252.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.c

#1251 What is the number one way to grow your audience when you're just starting out? Before you can expect people to discover you, showing up and providing value through existing channels is key. In this coaching session, I'm joined by Paul Higgins of the Cloud Consultants Collective and PaulHigginsMentoring.com. He is an expert in his industry who runs a Slack community for fellow cloud consultants, a niche of about sixty thousand people worldwide. So how should Paul go about reaching a highly targeted group? With no one else attempting this, how does he become the de facto online resource in his domain? I always say that the riches are in the niches, so I walk Paul through several strategies that can help him build authority and scale his business. We explore leveraging ebooks, keynotes, LinkedIn, and existing product communities to create a personal brand while serving others. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1251.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy

#1250 Tim Ferriss once asked me a powerful question—what would this look like if it were easy? When we feel overwhelmed, it's often because we make our work more complex than it needs to be. Most of the time, the easy path can deliver the same or better results with less effort. This is what we zero in on in this coaching session with my guest, Chris Greer. He is a religious leader and author who wants to run retreats for people in need of a break from the craziness of day-to-day life. Today, I help Chris identify and focus on the essential elements that can help him shave years off of his launch dates. We talk about beta releases, in-person events, the best social network to use, building an email list, and much more. Chris and I cover a lot of ground, and we land on some great actionable tips that are applicable to any business. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1250.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my

#1249 This week on the show, we're back with another Where Are They Now? session. My guest, Chris Roy of Doobert.com, is doing amazing work connecting animal shelters with transportation for rescues, foster homes, and more. When we last spoke, we explored several options to help Chris generate funds for Doobert. He had his entire team listen in on our chat as a starting point for new ideas. We now get to learn about the exciting pay-it-forward model they landed on. Chris gives us an inside look at how Doobert leverages e-commerce and drop-shipping in a way that feels genuine to their mission. He's a tech guy, so he shares all about the software solutions working behind the scenes to make it all happen. We also get into what's next for Doobert and how they're able to use their know-how to expand globally. Listen in to learn more about how Chris has built an incredible business around his passion! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1249.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California

#1248 Many of you know I got laid off from my dream job in 2008 and started teaching architects how to pass the LEED exam as my first niche business. Luis Duque is now doing something very similar in the engineering space. He loves his job but also wants to share his knowledge and help others in his industry pass an exam. Luis hosts a podcast and shares resources and courses through his brand, Engineering Our Future. So, when you're not looking to build a massive audience, how do you engage people in your niche and find your superfans? With a full-time job and a family, what are the most efficient ways to grow a business? We discuss all that today. Luis and I explore paid advertising and other powerful avenues to help him reach targeted audiences. I also share some of the time-management tricks that help me stay productive. Listen in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1248.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-

#1247 What should you do when you don’t even know where to start in business? One thing you shouldn’t do is get so caught up with steps eight, nine, and ten that you lose focus of steps one, two, and three. Today, I’m chatting with Dr. Damaris Grossmann of Mindfully Integrative. She is a veteran who has overcome serious health issues and is now helping others do the same. But, with a lot of stuff going on, it’s easy to start worrying about the little things and forget the very real impact we have on people’s lives. In this coaching session, I help Dr. Damaris focus on the most effective strategies to grow her brand. We talk about why her small but targeted audience can be extremely powerful. I also share my tips for podcast guesting and book marketing to help her reach more people. Listen in on this chat for a strong dose of inspiration and motivation! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1247.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy

#1246 Getting to a point where there’s more demand for your services than you can handle is a dream come true, right? But what happens when you want to focus on building something bigger than yourself and have to turn down one-on-one clients to free up time? Today, I’m talking to Sybil Ackerman-Munson of Do Your Good. She works with philanthropists to help them figure out the most effective ways to donate money. We’re talking millions of dollars! But here’s the thing. Sybil’s expertise applies to donations of any size. She wants to take her business to the next level by creating resources for anybody looking to explore philanthropy. This means cutting back on client work and investing time into something that may or may pan out. In this coaching call, I share strategies that can enable her to halve her one-on-one work without losing any income. I also give her a new perspective on the risks she’s taking on. Often, these situations are not as frightening as we make them out to be in our heads! Show notes and m

#1245 I love sharing these Where Are They Now? episodes because the progress is often incredible. This session is no exception. Back in episode 1190, Gillian Tietz introduced us to her amazing podcast. Through Sober Powered, she helps people understand and overcome addiction. Her show is growing fast, but Gillian has her sights set on something even bigger. You’ll hear it from her, but she is building a legit empire. The Sober Powered Media Network brings podcasters in the addiction space together under one brand. The benefits in terms of marketing, monetization, and sponsor acquisition are unbelievable. We chat about all of that today. Of course, Gillian is under a lot of pressure. We also dive into how to manage the stress that comes with this level of responsibility and why transparency is key. This is an inspiring conversation for anybody looking to take their business to the next level! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1245.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri

The Business of Community Summit is a one-day virtual summit focused exclusively on the business thinking, decisions, and strategies needed to reach the economic potential of community for your business. You'll walk away with a clear roadmap for launching your own community this year! Visit SmartPassiveIncome.com/BCS to register for free.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#1244 Something powerful happens when we connect with a targeted audience using the right language. Our products start flying off the proverbial shelf when we niche down and articulate specific problems and solutions. Case in point, Julie Browne coaches people through unexpected identity loss. If that doesn’t paint a picture, think about unpredictable events like divorce, job loss, or maybe a health situation. Many people are left questioning who they are after losing a big part of their lives. I know I was when I got laid off in 2008. So how should Julie think about marketing her broad expertise? In this episode, we talk about targeted audiences, finding the right messaging, book and podcast marketing, and we even touch on building communities. There are plenty of takeaways for you today if you're struggling to find clarity and focus in business. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1244.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n

#1243 Often we create excuses for ourselves to mask the fear that’s actually holding us back. Azreer Gill lives in Cambridge Bay, Canada. He’s within the Arctic Circle, and, as you can imagine, that comes with some challenges. But are these obstacles a legitimate reason not to start a business that could save lives? Like many people in his community, Azreer has struggled with addiction. He is now seven years sober and wants to help people by sharing his recovery story, but he needs a push to get started. We discuss why podcasting is the perfect medium for him and how he can use it to build a targeted audience. Azreer does stand-up, so he’s already a great storyteller. When we use our experiences and define a problem better than our listeners, it’s natural for them to come to us for solutions. This episode is a great reminder to look under the hood and understand the source of your limiting beliefs. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1243.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor

#1242 What happens when you experiment with different tactics in your business to see what works? Usually, a few strategies pan out, while most don’t. But what do you do when suddenly everything you throw at the wall starts to stick? How do you zero in on the path that grows your business without taking up all your time? Bill Henry is an elementary music teacher and founder of Mr. Henry's Music World. He also co-hosts The Music Podcast for Kids, and runs an incredible music education YouTube channel! Bill serves multiple audiences, has courses for sale, affiliate marketing requests coming in, and even some very interesting franchising opportunities. We hop in the DeLorean today to help Bill get some clarity about what the future could look like. Saying yes to one opportunity often means saying no to others, so we need to know where our time is best spent. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1242.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv

#1241 As you know, I’ve written several books over the years. The support from readers has been phenomenal, and I’m massively grateful for it. Of course, it’s still important to look back at my book launches and think about what I would do differently now. That’s exactly what my returning guest, Jadah Sellner, wants to know. Jadah is an entrepreneur, business mentor, and host of the Lead with Love podcast. She has already released a recipe book but is now in the final stages of copy-editing her first business book! In this chat, we discuss the best tactics to get as many readers as possible. Jadah has brought her audience along for the writing process, which is crucial. I advise her on podcast guesting to promote the book and steer her away from strategies that haven’t worked for me. This is a great jam on book launches, and we also get into CTAs, lead magnets, and leveraging stories from beta readers. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/ap1241.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal