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Click here to Subscribe to the ‘New Business Podcast’ via iTunes! The world of online business is a tricky one. It’s filled with those that […]

Click here to Subscribe to the ‘New Business Podcast’ via iTunes! In the world of online video, the ‘Big Daddy’ of all video sharing sites, […]

Click here to Subscribe to the ‘New Business Podcast’ via iTunes! As we all know, social media is playing (or, rather should be playing!) a […]

Click here to Subscribe to the ‘New Business Podcast’ via iTunes! In the world of online business there aren’t too many people that truly stand […]

Click here to Subscribe to the ‘New Business Podcast’ via iTunes! Hi everyone – firstly, this is going out on Christmas Eve, so I want […]

Click here to Subscribe to the ‘New Business Podcast’ via iTunes! It is with great pleasure and excitement that today I publish the first ever […]

Episode 50 - WOW! Thank you, everyone. As I sat down to record this episode of the VBL Podcast (the last in a while - you'll find out why when you listen!), I must be honest, I felt extremely humbled by the success of the show and the way that its grown in popularity over the last year. There is not a day that goes by when I don't receive at least one email, tweet or Facebook message from someone saying how much they enjoy it. In this episode I discuss the following: The effect the podcast has had on the blog, my brand and my businesses. How grateful I am for all the wonderful guests that have been on the show. The reason why I am taking some time off from producing it. What's in store for the future... Plus, some more random rambling. I also mention the following: VirtualAssistanteBook.com - for my free eBook and AudioBook. VirtualStaffFinder.com - my VA match-making service. OutsourcingBootcamp.com - my focus for the beginning of next year. It's been a great run, and I've had some amazing guests, of whom I would like to say a special thank you to, and once again, this is NOT the end. It's just a break, so I can focus on a few other things. Be sure you check out and enjoy the VBL Podcast Archive in the meantime, and I look forward to continuing to converse with you here on the blog, via Facebook page, and Twitter, too.

I’ve been fortunate enough to know my special guest today for at least a couple of years. Although, saying that, it feels as if I’ve known David Siteman Garland for a lot, lot longer. We’ve spoken via skype a ton of times, I’ve been featured on his fantastic web TV show, The Rise to the Top not once, but twice (a feat he now repays, by being on this episode of the VBL Podcast!), and its safe to say, we’ve become good buddies. He even listed me on his’20 Unconventional Entrepreneurs Who Will Inspire You!’ run-down, along with guys like Tim Ferriss and Seth Godin (thanks again for that, dude!). David’s passion for business, life and entrepreneurship is infectious. Not every now and then, but ALL the time. He oozes affection and energy for what he does and shows the world, on his blog, TV show, as well asin his recent book ‘Smarter, Faster, Cheaper’. Throughout the course of our conversation, you’ll hear us discuss amongst other things, the following: David's amazing 7-day journey from 'discussion' to 'book offer'. Why most first time authors get around a year, but how David got his first draft together in just 4 months! David's 'writing schedule'... How he got shit done - from coffee shops, daily! How 4-6 hour writing sessions got the 'bulk' of 'Smarter, Faster, Cheaper' together, fast. Much, much more! This story just goes to show you that with perseverance, hard work and all-out passion, you can pretty much achieve anything. It might not have been your normal, run-of-the-mill first time author story, but lets face it – David is not your every day, run-of-the-mill kinda guy, is he..!!!? To find out more about David, his book, blog and fantastic web TV show, hop over to TheRiseToTheTop.com, and tell him that Chris Ducker sent ya! Then, sit back, relax and enjoy his online ‘show’. I can’t help but be inspired, excited and motivated every time I watch him. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way. Are you utilizing video on your blog? Podcasting? I’d love to hear from you if you are. And tell us how you got started, as well as some of the high’s and low’s, too! Comment below.

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting todays guest face-to-face yet, but I know that when we do eventually meet up in the flesh we'll just get on like a house on fire. Tyler Tervooren's thirst for life is clear to see, and the way he approaches community, networking and getting things done is an inspiration for all online entrepreneurs. Tyler's fantastic, popular blog, Advanced Riskology is a mouth-watering collection of inspiration, realization and bang-smack in-your-face advice as to why and how you need to be living your life, by taking risks and making things happen. However, what I wanted to talk to Tyler about was how he's mentioned to create a huge following of brand new blog readers and fans in a realitively short space of time. Throughout our conversation, you'll hear us discuss amongst other things: Tyler's secret behind getting that 'little bit further' than most out there online. The catalyst behind Advanced Riskology and why he focused in on the niche of 'taking risks'. His 1% Club and how important it is to him, and the tribe he's built. How he put together his first online product, by engaging his community, and why it was a raging success! Plus much, much more. Community is about as important to bloggers and online entrepreneurs as praying is to the Pope, lets face it! What I loved about this conversation was how free and open Tyler was with his advice, just like my buddy, Pat Flynn, who has also fermented a massive following over the last couple of years online. It's things like this that really inspire other people to go and do likewise. Thank you, my tribe, my community... for all the support you show me, too. If you'd like to find out more about Tyler, the risks he takes and what he has in store for the rest of the 1% Club, then hop over to his blog, and be sure to follow him on Twitter, too. What type of risks have you taken in the last few months to get your business or personal projects off the ground? Are you actively building your own community, or tribe? Let us hear all about it, below...

Today's podcast guest, Jonathan Mead is a guy that knows what he wants, and goes out to take it, on his own terms, every day. You have to love that! At his excellent blog, Illuminated Mind, his tagline reads "Live and Work on your Own Terms - Don't read if you want Ordinary!'. I love that even more! I first met with Jonathan last year at BlogWorld in Vegas. We enjoyed a dinner, together with his wife, and various other great minds that were at the same table, such as Corbett Barr, David Risley, Maren Kate to name a few. And I remember Jonathan because he had this sense of calmness about him. The rest of us were super pumped to be at the conference and were a tad over excited, I would say. But, Jonathan sat there with a smoothness about him that only a man living on his own terms would. This is a man I needed to get onto the VBL Podcast! In today's podcast session you'll hear me and Jonathan talk about, amongst other things: Why its so important to do what you truly love, and being creative. The difference between motivation and purpose and how to take the answer, and apply it to business. How he helps people align their passions to be able to live a life truly worth living. The focus that he had on wanting to work for himself, instead of just going through the motions of working for someone else. Much, much more! You'll enjoy this conversation with a real new age entrepreneur that is really carving out quite a following and solid niche for himself. Spend a bit of time getting to know him some more over at his blog, and be sure to follow him on Twitter, too. Tell him that Chris Ducker sent you, and he might, just might give you a free latte, or something. Then again, he might not! Are you living on your own terms? If not, why not? Whats in your way? Comment at will...

Myself and Sean Ogle have been online buddies for well over a year. And it’s taken us that long to get our schedules to match, so we could record this interview for the VBL Podcast! Why? Because the guy isn’t in one place for very long!!! Location independence is one of those topics that you see being discussed all over the Internet in a number of different ways, by a number of different people. However, from my observation very few of these lifestyle design types are really living a location independent lifestyle, I mean, REALLY do it. Sean is certainly not one of these guys. He IS living it, and living it very well, for that matter! In the process of my discussion with Sean, you’ll hear us talk about, amongst other things: What the catalyst was for Sean to break free from the hum-drum of the  ‘normal’ working lifestyle. What the biggest challenges have been working independently and in some remote countries. Why he loves the lifestyle so much and what he does to get the most out of it, from a business perspective. The different things that he is currently working on, as well as how he makes his ‘rent money’, so to speak. His new online course to help others live their optimum lifestyle, Location Rebel. Much, much more! My whole take on lifestyle design is perhaps a little different to Sean’s, or anyone else’s for that matter. My view is that ‘lifestyle design’ is simply designing a lifestyle that is right for YOU, and the people you love. For example, it would be very hard for me to travel around the world, because of my family and my brick ‘n mortar business. However, that doesn’t mean that I can design a 4-day work week, plenty of time with my family during the day and fantastic weekend getaways… It’s a long, long journey, and as Sean has discovered and most people in the lifestyle design / location independent sector have discovered alongside him, its also one that is forever changing, thanks to technology in general. Be sure to check out Sean’s great lifestyle design blog, and when you’re ready to take your own life design priorities to the next level, hit him up on LocationRebel.com and be sure to tell him the VBL sent ya! Have you spent any length of time ‘on the road’? What was it like? Struggles working seamlessly? We’d love to hear about it. Comment below, at will.

In this episode of the VBL Podcast I sit down with Sam Carpenter, author of 'Work the System', to talk about the importance of putting systems in place for your business to run properly, without huge amounts of involvement

PERSONAL NOTE: On hearing of the passing of tech innovator and Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs today, I grabbed my iPad and read all the great tributes people were paying to him and his legacy on Twitter. I suggest you do the same. There will never be another man like him. #SteveJobs Once in a while, you pick up a book and it smacks you right between the eyes. Instantly. This was the case when I picked up a copy of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur by Mike Michalowicz a couple of years ago. And, as I read it, I thought to myself, I want to chat with this guy one day… And here I am, doing exactly that, in this latest episode of the VBL Podcast. Mike is one of those personalities that I just know, even before I meet with them, that I’m going to get on with them, like a house on fire! His blog is excellent, his videos are great entertainment and full of brilliant content and his outlook as an entrepreneur screams nothing more, or less, than sheer passion! In today’s chat with Mike we discuss, amongst other things: How he landed a gig as the small business columnist at the Wall Street Journal. What makes a personality stand out online. Why you need to embrace and engage your audience like never before. The importance of being the ‘real you’ online. Much, much more! FYI, when I spoke of how to get past gatekeepers in this clip, and Mike said he was going to mention it on his show the following week… Guess what? He DID IT! That’s the kind of guy he is. Solid. I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with the man that is affectionately known as The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and I will heavily assume you will too! When you’re done, pop over to his blog for more of his antics, and enjoy… What have you done to grow your community recently? Are you already engaging your audience with video? Any other ideas? Let us all know what you think below…

I first met Robb Sutton when I was looking for a designer for this blog. The design you see before you today is very different to the initial VBL Blog. I've focused heavily on building a brand for the VBL Blog, and myself to a certain extent, over the last year. However, that first design was sweeet, and Robb was the man that crafted it all. Including the logo that you STILL see today! Robb is one of those guys that you instantly enjoy being in the presence of. Although we've not met in person yet, we've spent more than enough time hanging out on Skype for me to know that when we do finally get to meet, we'll instantly have a blast. The Journey of Blogging Recently I've been getting more and more emails and comments from people asking about blogging in general. How to get started, how to promote a blog, how to keep one updated properly (without killing yourself) and much more. I talked a little on this subject with Leo Babauta of ZenHabits fame, in VBL Podcast Episode 23, but always felt we just grazed the surface! I've got a solid couple of years under my belt blogging now, but I still class myself as a student of sorts. So, I figured I would have Robb on the show to fill in those missing gaps and to take everything to the next level..! Throughout the course of our conversation we touch on the following, and more: Why you shouldn't have a 'solid' blogging schedule. How focusing on quality content, more than anything else is what you should do from day one. How making your content easy to digest is paramount to making your content go viral. Why losing certain plugins is important to making sure your site loads fast. How making a checklist and sticking to it everyday is so, so important as a blogger. So, so much more...! Getting started in blogging is easier now than its ever been, thats for sure. With hosting and domain companies such as Bluehost (which I use), awesome, professional looking themes from providers such as WooThemes, and email list building providers like the phenominal AWeber, you can be up and running in as little as an hour. Literally. (Yes, those are affiliate links! Thanks in advance, if you end up clicking them) What Robb has done for himself is carve out great niches, and focus on them to the point of becoming well known, highly respected and considered a thought leader in those niches. You can do this, too. Be sure to check Robb's 'BloggingLabs' site out for more great free content on blogging, and if you have any questions for him (or me!), feel free to comment below, as always!

It feels as if I have been on such an awesome roll, when it comes to getting one phenomenal guest on the podcast after another, recently. And todays addition into the VBL Podcast Archive is absolutely no different, I can tell you! I have been a MASSIVE fan of best-selling author David Meerman Scott for so long. I came across him first of all via his book World Wide Rave, which prompted me to put together my first free ebook (which you can find on my Resources Page), and then picked up a copy of his New Rules of Marketing & PR (2nd Edition), and on it goes! Common sense, is the first thing that springs to mind when I read David's books and listen to him speak. He's just jam-packed full of it! We spoke about a lot of business and marketing related issues together on this call, but here are a few highlights that you certainly need to make sure you check out: How David looks at public speaking as not giving a speech, but instead 'entertaining'. How he poised a personal question to President Barack Obama, on live TV - by using Twitter! The fantastic story of one man and his guitar, and an airline... And what came of it. Why he makes it a priority to jump off the stage at his speaking engagements. What attending 426 live rock shows has taught him about being an influencer. How businesses are losing opportunities to make $$$ by not embracing REAL-Time Marketing Plus, much more! Spend some time getting to know David Meerman Scott a little more. Follow him on Twitter, check out his blog. Also be sure to consume his books, which are all available on Amazon.  He is one of the few people that I will literally read anything and everything that he puts out. And I cant say that about too many people nowadays - nobody can. Any questions, comments or feedback on this session are greatly appreciated, and I'll see if I can convince David to pop by and answer a few comments if he has time, too!