The Solopreneur Hour Podcast with Michael O'Neal

The odds of creating a relationship with someone, whether it’s business or personal, often comes down to first impression. Humans are hard-wired to have first impressions of each other; often, we’re not even conscious of doing so. But we can consciously shift our behaviors to create a positive first impression, which can lead to deeper, more meaningful connections with others. Joining us for episode 124 to talk about how is Jordan Harbinger from The Art of Charm. More About This Show If you took two people and compared how they entered a room, you most certainly would make assessments and create your own impression of who that person is, how successful they are and whether or not you’d like to get to know them.  And Jordan Harbinger says we all do this, it's human nature. Because it's part of who we are, we can also use this to our advantage. We can all learn how to create great first impressions, and build on those impressions for stronger, more satisfying relationships. Helping people make the most of these tendencies is what The Art of Charm is all about. The business' origins are a direct result of his interest in the self-help arena. He read everything he could get his hands on and then began interviewing the authors behind these books. Sadly, he found many of them to lack authenticity and true personal charm. Many of them were flat out manufactured personalities, drawn up to pitch a concept and sell books. But he continued to read and meet with the authors he liked until he found who was the real deal and the secrets to connection, communication and authentic relationship rapport. And it was from those conversations, with the authors who walked their talk, that The Art of Charm was born. You'll also discover things like: Why your "it" is never "it". Jordan’s trick with a pencil to get you out of a bad mood. How to shift from “situational confidence” to confidence in every situation. Is there a Renaissance resurgence for men? The ATM Receipt Attraction project. And loads more!   Despite a great job on Wall Street, Jordan continued to grow the podcast’s audience. With his and his business partner’s fair share of hustle, Jordan grew The Art of Charm’s audience so large that Sirius (now Sirius XM Radio) took notice. And it was a good thing they did. When the real estate bubble burst, Jordan lost his Wall Street gig and poured everything he had into the podcast. There was such a high demand from their podcasting audience that they grew a coaching curriculum and developed a residential program in his Manhattan loft. Today The Art of Charm has multiple coaching programs, books, in-person trainings as well as thrice-weekly podcasts. Clearly The Art of Charm isn't just another smarmy podcast teaching guys how to pick up women (ala VH1’s The Pick-Up Artist). In fact, it’s far more than that. It’s about losing your insecurities and establishing habits that build powerful personal beliefs that serve you.  At its core, The Power of Charm is about becoming more authentic in all of your relationships, from business to personal. And it applies to both men AND women. Let’s show Jordan just how charming we Soloists are and thank him in the comments below and Tweet him! Episode Resources GoDaddy 28% Off GoDaddy $1.99 Domain Name The Art of Charm The Art of Charm Podcast The Art of Charm on Twitter JJ Collier on The Solopreneur Hour How To Make People Like You In 90 Seconds Or Less Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.

  As solopreneurs and entrepreneurs, we're on the front lines every day and every night. We don't have the luxury of punching a clock and being handed a paycheck every two weeks. We have to go out and kill our dinner every night - no one microwaves it for us. Joining us to talk about all that and more for episode 123 is designer/branding man and serial solopreneur, Dave Collier. More About This Show Dave Collier is the brother of one of my best friends, JJ. JJ joined us to talk men’s fashion in episode 24, which you can hear here. Dave and I met through JJ about five years ago and he’s got an entrepreneurial streak a mile wide just like his brother. His current path began when he followed his future wife to Charlotte after college, Dave worked a regular 9 to 5 gig for awhile. Even as an employee, he had always had a side hustle. But now it was time to go full throttle on his own with Saturday Skateboards. With a lot of hustle, ingenuity and elbow grease, Dave built his skateboarding business from the ground up. As a natural addition to Saturday Skateboards, he also started making T-shirts to sell and promote his boards at different events. The tees took off and from there, another company was born in Ink Floyd. You'll also discover things like: How does he recommend you turn your hobby into a business? When to move ahead and when to take more time to develop your brand. What would he do differently if he were to do things over again? The if, then trap we often fall into. And loads more! Today, Dave is resident ink master at Ink Floyd, which has grown into a full service company that began as a “just a humble t-shirt print shop” according to their web site. What started as a T-shirt line, a natural addition to the skateboards, has grown into a thriving business of its own. And when he isn’t at the helm of Ink Floyd, he is building his latest creation: Golf Slayer. Golf Slayer is a lifestyle brand that offers golf wear for golfers who hate typical golfing clothing. Dave is a solopreneuer if there ever was one! He takes an idea and runs with it, following the next step til the next one appears. Even if he doesn’t know the “how” of getting something done, he goes ahead and takes the next possible action. In this episode, he gives us the step by step process he went through to create Saturday Skateboards. Wherever you are in the progression of your business, you'll want to have a listen! Thank Dave for stopping by the show and send him some Unemployables love on Twitter and Instagram, or just drop a note in the comments below. Episode Resources GoDaddy 28% Off GoDaddy $1.99 Domain Name Ink Floyd Golf Slayer Ink Floyd on Instagram Saturday Skateboards Big Cartel Themes The E-Myth Revisited Zag JJ Collier on The Solopreneur Hour Podcast Movement Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

One of the MUST learn techniques right now is Facebook advertising. And who better to learn from than the woman engineering ads for people like John Lee Dumas and Nick Unsworth? Valerie Shoopman is the go-to woman for Facebook advertising campaigns and she joins the show for episode 122. We talk about how to construct a Facebook campaign, how to create a budget for it as well as her plans for her two podcasts. More About This Show Valerie’s Facebook know-how is rooted in two of her earlier careers: as a teacher and as a technical support customer contact for a surveying company. As a teacher, she discovered everyone relates and learns in different ways; she found how to connect and reach everyone in an audience, by whatever medium worked best for them. And as a technical support contact, she was constantly seeing the evolvement of the surveying company’s software as it reflected the requests and the needs of the company’s customers. She learned how to see and how to figure things out faster than other people. So when Nick Unsworth urged her to specialize in Facebook marketing, she took his advice, applied her experience and saw her business blossom. You'll also discover things like: How to spend a $1,000 to make $3,500. The critical need for tracking. Images, headlines, copy: in which order does Valerie test these? What it takes to write a great ad. Her ninja move for advertising to your opt-ins on Facebook. In this show, Valerie and I dive deep into what makes a Facebook ad a success and specific advice she has for creating a profitable campaign for your product. We talk about things like choosing the proper demographics for your ad: create a separate ad for people’s different likes. So for example if you are targeting people who have liked Pat Flynn and John Lee Dumas, create two different ads: one for Pat Flynn likers and one for John Lee Dumas fans. Valerie also gives us the keys to selecting the proper image for your ad: it’s vital to tap into people’s mindsets when they are on Facebook. In other words, don’t use a stock photo or an image of someone in a suit and tie! That’s not going to appeal to Facebook users because they’re there to connect with family and friends. I also share with Val a few pointers on producing and launching her upcoming podcasts: including my thoughts on audio vs. video, the four key areas to grow a podcast’s downloads after New & Noteworthy and the two trends I see in the industry right now. That gives you a glimpse of how much info is covered in this show - get your Evernote handy because you’re going to need it! After you jot down your barrage of notes, leave a comment here and thank Valerie for all she shared with us on the show. Episode Resources Val's Fan Page Watch Will Draw Solopreneur Hour Complete Podcast package Solopreneur Hour Deluxe Podcast package Vocal Booth To Go Get a complimentary audiobook Podcast Movement Leave an iTunes Review   Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Ever wonder how those people speaking on movie trailers, audio books and commercials get their work? Here to tell us the secrets of the voiceover world is the lovely and talented, Anna Vocino. Anna’s making her second appearance on the show, you can listen to her maiden voyage here. In episode 121, our chit-chat covers how to’s on everything from the best recording equipment to setting up an at-home studio. If you’re a podcaster, an interviewee or have an interest in the finer points of audio creation, this is YOUR show! More About This Show Anna has a long history in the performance world and today is a highly sought after voiceover artist who also co-hosts The Angriest Trainer podcast with Vinnie Tortorich. And if all that wasn't enough to keep her super busy, she’s also writing a book about a nutritional lifestyle with no sugars and no grains. Whether she has her voiceover or podcast cap on, Anna is the queen of audio. She knows the ins and outs of podcasting and voiceovers on everything from proper set up and gear to creating the ideal recording booth at home. You'll also discover things like: What are the four sections of my Life After Eight Weeks podcasting course? Her tips on how to get into professional voiceovers. To co-host or not to co-host? How to choose for yourself and your podcast. When and how to get an agent? How to double or triple your reading speed. Whether working for the United States Postal Service or The Young & The Restless, Anna has learned valuable lessons along the way. She has found how to recognize your best supporters and your strongest advocates and how to work with people who get you & what you’re out to accomplish, no matter what business you are in. These are all lessons you can benefit from, whatever your field. Because we’re both in the podcasting world and have such a strong commitment to the technical side of good audio, we go into great detail on the best audio equipment to use and how to use it so you sound as professional in your home studio as any other professional broadcaster out there today. Anna was generous enough to share her wisdom in this show; I hope you walk away knowing the nitty-gritty on the voiceover world and the finer points of audio equipment. After you listen, thank Anna for being on the show! Share in the comments below and send a shout out on Twitter. Episode Resources Anna's personal site Anna's voiceover site Solopreneur Hour Complete Podcast package Solopreneur Hour Deluxe Podcast package Vocal Booth To Go The Cerrone Show In A World Spritz Inc SoloLab: A Unique Mastermind Darren Roebuck Voicebank Block Fitness Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

What do congressional campaigns, The Apprentice and whiskey all have in common? Raj Bhakta, our guest for episode 120. Raj is the consummate solopreneur: he has recreated himself and his path several times over in the last decade and we talk about the ups, the downs and the merit it takes to reinvent yourself as he has done. More About This Show Raj is a Philadelphia-native whose early career days were in the family business of hotels. On a whim, a friend convinced Raj to apply to be on the second season of The Apprentice. Though he wasn’t interested in reality TV, Raj saw it as an opportunity to gracefully bow out of his family’s line of work and as a chance to learn from Donald Trump. After spending an interminable day waiting for his casting call, Raj made an impression on the people casting the show and he was brought on. Though he was fired during the course of the show, he learned a lot which he carried into the next stage of his career. You'll also discover things like: How WhistlePig Whiskey got its name. Character and smoothness: the lessons from whiskey that apply to people too. How quickly did he create WhistlePig after he had the idea? The necessity of adversity in business and in life. What did he do with an elephant and a mariachi band? And lots more! After The Apprentice, Raj gave politics a shot and ran for Congress. He was beaten soundly. On the heels of two defeats, he took off for the hills of Vermont and made his home on a large farm where he secluded himself to recover and regroup. With only books to keep him company, Raj had his share of “dark nights of the soul” in which he didn’t know what to do next. And when the economy tanked and his funds began to dwindle, he knew he had to do something and do it fast. His farmland made him think of grains and what comes from grains that is a solidly profitable product? Alcohol. Raj knew beer and wine were both over saturated markets. But whiskey wasn’t. He saw the opportunity to combine his two passions: whiskey and solopreneurship. With the help and guidance of a friend and other confidantes, Raj set about creating the finest rye whiskey possible. And today his efforts have yielded Whistle Pig Whiskey, which was given the highest rating of a whiskey clocking in at 96 by Wine Spectator. For those of you not into wine ratings, that’s phenomenal! With or without his latest success, Raj is a true solopreneur. He has faced adversity, lived through some dark times and reinvented himself time and time again to do what he loves. Join me in thanking Raj for being on the show! Share in the comments below and send a Tweet about what adversities you’ve overcome. Episode Resources WhistlePig Rye Raj's Farm Raj on Twitter The Apprentice Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Have you ever wondered what’s happened to all the reporters since the decline of the newspaper industry? Have they all fallen to the wayside or have they managed to reinvent themselves and find a new path? Our guest for episode 119 is the latter. Dorie Clark is a trained journalist turned branding expert and she’s here today to talk about her own process of rebranding and how it’s fueled her present day success. More About This Show Dorie Clark has been through a few ups and downs in her career and she’s rolled with the punches. In fact, she’s done it so well she’s turned it into her own brand and message. With a background in journalism, Dorie was hit hard by the economic recession that began in the early part of the 2000’s. The day before 9/11, Dorie lost her job as a newspaper journalist. For the next six months she took whatever freelance gig that came her way and waited on the verbal promises of newspaper publishers that they would hire her just as soon as she could. All of that changed when she was offered a role as the press secretary for Robert Reich’s bid for the governorship of Massachusetts. Her initial response to the offer was to turn it down, but she changed her mind when she realized her original plan was no longer going to work. She took the role and began a stint in politics with Reich and later with Howard Dean. You'll also discover things like: How to tell the story of your transition. The 3 major steps of the reinvention process. How to become an expert in your field according to Dorie. What comes first: the brand or the voice? Her experience giving a Google Talk. And lots more! Dorie later piggybacked off her political experience to teach at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, to blog for Entrepreneur magazine, the Harvard Business Review and Forbes. She’s also authored a book called Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future. And she’s done all of this by reinventing herself, pivoting when needed and creating relationships with the most successful people she could connect with. In this episode, Dorie and I talk about how to add value to those powerful people you want to emulate as well as the power of creating your own voice and your own brand. Dorie has done all of the above and she shares plenty of actionable steps you can take to follow in her successful footsteps. If you got as much out of this show as I did, drop Dorie a message on Twitter and let her know! Or leave a comment below and tell us if you’re in rebranding now or what it was like if you already have rebranded yourself. Episode Resources Dorie's web site Dorie's latest book, Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future Dorie on Twitter Dorie's Creative Live workshop: Personal Branding for Creative Professionals Creative Live Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Ever watched Donny Deutsch’s “Big Idea”, MSNBC’s “Your Business” or NPR’s “The Tavis Smiley Show”? If you have, you may have seen our guest for episode 118; he’s been on all three. Barry Moltz makes his living helping business owners deal with what it takes to actually be a business owner, not just self-employed. He helps small businesses get "unstuck".   He’s also a nationally-recognized speaker and five-time author who hosts his own radio show called “Business Insanity Talk Radio”. More About This Show Barry’s originally from the East Coast and went to college in Boston. After he graduated, he worked for IBM (aka “Big Blue”) for 10 years. He was there during the early development days of the first PC. After that decade with Big Blue, Barry went out on his own and discovered firsthand how challenging it is to run a successful business. His first business was about 20 years before it’s time, it failed. With his second business, he was ushered out and discovered where NOT to find business partners! But, like all great solopreneurs, Barry took his knocks, learned his lessons and applied them to future opportunities which has led to his present day success. You'll also discover things like: Why it's important to "turn off" for awhile. A few things to tell and NOT to tell your significant other about your small business His second business and the lessons he learned. What's in the DNA of a successful business owner? What would he do if he could no longer be a professional speaker? And so very much more! Today, Barry travels the country speaking with and listening to small business owners and other solopreneurs about their difficulties, opportunities and triumphs. While he always offers advice and support, he also learns a tremendous amount from all of them. And in this episode, he shares some of that knowledge with all of us. For example, we chat about the most common mistakes he sees small business owners making and how to avoid them. It’s clear Barry has a great deal to offer his audiences, his clients and all of us. Drop a comment below or send a Tweet and share what Barry taught you in this show! Show Our Sponsor Some Love! Get Yourself a $2.95 domain name from Godaddy with the promo code “solo295″ AND get 25% off new products from GoDaddy when you use promo code "solo25"   And visit Godaddy and use the promo code "PRESS6" for  $1/month managed WordPress. Episode Resources Barry's web site Barry on Twitter Barry's Course on Creative Live: 25 Ways to Jumpstart Your Business Rule Breaker Awards Episode 109: Mike Michalowicz on The Solopreneur Hour Episode 117: Grant Baldwin on The Solopreneur Hour Where's My JetPack? Creative Live Castmedic Designs Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Can you imagine making a living from speaking? Now how about speaking to teenagers? Either you’re horrified or intrigued by the thought. Whatever your response you’re going to love today’s guest, Grant Baldwin. Grant is a youth speaker and podcaster who travels the country talking to teens and college students about the next phase of their lives and how to prepare for it. More About This Show Today Grant speaks to students all over the country and also juggles a twice-weekly podcast called “How’d You Get Into That?” which interviews people in various professions, some entrepreneurs and some employees, on how they got into their unique profession. When he isn’t doing either of those things, he’s spending time with his wife and three children…or dreaming of the day he learns to play drums. Grant and I have plenty in common and loads to talk about in this episode, from the hustle involved in getting speaking gigs to drumming to comedy. We spent a great deal of time discussing the significant lessons comedy teaches us about public speaking and building a solopreneur business. You'll also discover things like: How long has it taken him to launch his podcast since he first thought of it? Who his coach is and how important she's been in his process. His advice for getting started as a speaker Why being top of mind is so critical as a speaker and in your business. What's the number #1 air drumming song of all time? And so very much more! Grant and I are in agreement on a number of things, including how to succeed in your profession. Whether you’re a musician, comedian or any other solopreneur, there’s one sure way to get to the top: find someone who is successfully doing what you want to do and then follow in their footsteps. Combine that with some hustle and you have the winning formula. Grant also talks about how many “at bats” he has had and how he’s done his reps to get to where he is today. He tells this when he speaks and when he interviews people on his podcast: you won’t be good when you start, but keep doing it and you will definitely get better. And his podcast is meant to serve as a motivator for you when you’re starting out and when you’re practicing to get better. By interviewing different people in a variety of different professions, Grant wants to expose his listeners who feel stuck and unhappy with where they’re at now. He aims to reach people experiencing a “quarter life crisis” and help them through that crisis by showing them what’s out and what they can do with their careers. If you’ve been inspired by Grant and learned something from today’s show, leave a comment below or send a Tweet sharing what you got out of today’s episode! Episode Resources Grant's web site Grant's podcast Grant on Twitter Sophie Slesinger on Grant's podcast Talking Funny Hilarious by Louis C.K. Rosie Tran on The Solopreneur Hour   I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Who actually makes it in network marketing? Are they simply lucky, did they have good timing, prior sales experience - what is it? And could it be at all relevant to your business? Returning for his second appearance to talk about success in direct sales, and a whole lot more, is Franco Gonzalez. Franco is one of the hardest working men in direct sales & online marketing today and he shares with us the keys to leading others in all he does. More About This Show Coming over from real estate, Franco brought what was working for him in that industry and applied it to network marketing. We go deeper into this on Franco’s first visit to show, which you can hear here. On this show, Franco and I have a catch up and talk about car racing, electric cars, how to get a primo camping spot anytime and the value in creating, serving and leading your tribe both online and offline in any industry you’re in. You'll also discover things like: Why your people are your most important asset. How to evaluate a network mktg company for optimal success, like Franco did. How to grow your tribe. The power of celebratory and congratulatory Facebook posts. The I vs the we energy: the power of teams and serving others. And so very much more! Franco is a wealth of knowledge on the online marketing, internet marketing and direct sales worlds. He knows what it’s like to invest everything in a company and lose it all. Consequently, he knows what it’s like to rebuild from the ground up. Teamwork and serving others is at the heart of all that Franco does and it shows. He is a reflection of the Zig Ziglar quote that says “You can get anything you want in life, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Having built a tribe of over 2,000 loyal members, Franco leads by example and he leads from the heart. Even if you aren’t in a network marketing company, what he does and how he does it are both inspiring and motivating. His advice for you as a leader will help ensure you create a tribe devoted to your services and to your business, whatever your niche. Join me in thanking Franco, leave a note in the comments below or send a Tweet and let us know how you’re going to serve your tribe! Episode Resources Franco's web site Franco's Facebook page Franco on Twitter Help DawnMarrs.com and her family Join SoloLab Sponsor The Solopreneur Hour Mini Cooper   VISIT OUR SPONSOR!  Visit Godaddy and use promo code "PRESS6" for - $1/mo. Managed WordPress Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Do you remember the days of Internet dial-up? Or even better, the days of the rotary telephone and landlines? Whether or not you do, we can all agree that technology as it stands today has made colossal strides and what we can do is simply amazing. From being able to communicate with someone in any part of the world at any given moment to holding thousands of songs in our pocket, all of these are incredible advances that weren't available 20 years ago. And joining us to share her insider’s perspective on where technology has been and where it’s going is the one and only Amber Mac. More About This Show Amber Mac is a TV host, best-selling author, blogger for Fast Company, and keynote speaker. She’s spoken at over 250 conferences and has interviewed some of the business elite, like Richard Branson. She’s considered an educator and a pundit, a true expert on the subject of technology. Amber’s pre-solopreneur days including working for Razorfish, one of the elite full-service digital agencies, Microsoft Canada and Citytv as Canada’s first new media reporter. But a personal loss made her realize she wanted to call the shots in her life; she wanted to choose when and where she worked. With that in mind, she struck out on her own and co-founded Konnekt. With Konnekt, she has worked with some well-known clients, like Tony Robbins. You'll also discover things like: What kind of content should you put out to have the best opportunities to grow your audience online? Will podcasts and YouTube shows make the transition to more traditional mediums like radio and TV? How the Internet has leveled the playing field. How and why she got into public speaking, even though she never wanted to do it! Her secrets to preparing for a speech. We had a great chat about working in the wee days of the Internet, what it was like to build million-dollar web sites and how much has changed since then. You'll hear how she made the transition from employee to business owner, and the hurdles she had to overcome along the way as well as what fueled her desire for success. Amber’s been in the online technology industry since its early days and she has garnered a reputation as an expert, with good reason! Our journeys have many parallels and we dove deep into her well of knowledge in this show. If you enjoyed having Amber on as much as I did, send her a Tweet or leave a comment below and tell her what a rock star she is! Episode Resources Amber's web site Amber on Twitter Vine Songza Penn Jillett's podcast Fail Army David Pogue   VISIT OUR SPONSOR!  Visit Godaddy and use promo code "PRESS6" for - $1/mo. Managed WordPress Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Life coach. What does the term mean and what exactly does a life coach do? There are a variety of people out there calling themselves life coaches, but one of the best I know who's really walking her talk is the lovely and vivacious Andrea Owen of Your Kick-Ass Life. Making her second appearance on The Solopreneur Hour, Andrea answers those questions and catches us up on how she's been, how her book is doing and what she has on tap for 2014. More About This Show Andrea is the owner of Your Kick-Ass Life, a coaching business for women who are committed to living kick ass lives. As a life coach and a published author, Andrea calls herself a "hard truth teller" and a "change agent". And in this episode you'll hear that's exactly who she is! For more on her background, check out her first appearance on The Solopreneur Hour. On this show, Andrea and I talk about numerous topics including how she published her first book using the Law of Attraction, what she thinks of the life coaching industry today and how to shift the stories we tell ourselves. You'll also discover things like: What she focused on before and during the process of writing her book. The five primary platforms to build your audience. How to set yourself apart in the life coaching world - and how this applies to anyone's business. How NOT to say you're sorry. Where you really get courage and confidence…here’s a hint: it's not found in a book or a course. As you listen, you’ll hear her personal stories of past challenges that have led to current triumphs. She has faced tremendous difficulties and always come out on the other side, having learned more and grown more as a person. She's living her own kick ass life as a result! And now she dedicates her work to helping others find their inner drive and create their own kick ass lives. Whether working with a client or speaking on a podcast, Andrea brings her experiences and shares her candid viewpoint on everything. She is authentically herself in all she says and does; it's one of the many reasons I was happy to have her back on the show. She was a blast to chat with and I hope you enjoyed listening! Leave a comment below or Tweet me and share one new thing you heard in this episode. Episode Resources Andrea's web site Andrea's book, 52 Ways To Live a Kick-Ass Life Andrea on The Twitter Fundraiser for DawnMarrs.com Mechanic to Millionaire The War of Art   Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

Neuro-linguistic programming or NLP as it’s commonly called: what is it and why the heck does it matter for your business and your life? You may have heard of it or perhaps you've even tried it, but do you know how impactful it can be on your solopreneurial journey? Our guest for episode 113, Andy Murphy, a master NLP practitioner and mental performance coach, gives us the goods on NLP and how it can make a difference in every aspect of our lives. More About This Show Andy first was introduced to NLP when he began working in sales in Australia about 12 years ago. As Andy describes it, NLP works by updating your internal software. Much like a computer’s software system, our brains are run by programming. And if that programming isn’t giving us the life we want, we can use NLP to upgrade our software. Neuro-linguistic programming can be used to strengthen our neurology, just like we strengthen our body's muscles. We all have about 50,000 thoughts a day and for a significant percentage of the population, most of those 50,000 thoughts are negative. By using NLP, we can retrain those thought patterns and begin producing new outcomes and new results in any (or every) area of our lives. You'll also discover things like: Why you have to learn the basics, no matter what you're doing. How he lost everything and why it was one of the best things that ever happened to him. If you're stuck, Andy gives you an exercise to do. What is anchoring and why is it relevant to your business? Andy's morning routine for success! And much, much more. In this episode, Andy shares with us background as a solopreneur and offers some practical NLP techniques we can use right now to alter our thoughts and change our behaviors - so we can produce the life we want. Though the bulk of our discussion is about NLP, Andy also introduced us to who he is and where he’s been. He shares his own story in a frank and personal way, about his professional and personal life. He talks about anxiety and being in the midst of a nervous breakdown, overcoming all of that to landing where he is today: designing his life and living it the fullest as a true solopreneur. Have a listen and then let us know in the comments or on Twitter, what  are you going to use NLP to change in your life? Episode Resources Andy's web site Andy on Twitter Episode 38: You're Probably In Sales, But Don't Realize It How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less SoloLab: A Unique Mastermind Jon Jones   Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

One of the hardest things about launching a solopreneur business is realizing that you possess the knowledge, support, and skillset to be successful.  We all have this habit of second-guessing ourselves, and then we suffer from “paralysis by analysis”, and we don’t end up doing anything. The key is learning when “enough is enough”, and you can launch. In this solo episode of the Solopreneur Hour, I cover: How to tell if you’re ready to launch. How much “runway” is enough? The future of podcasting How to market on Social Media The impact networking has on success What I use for time management In this show I answer a lot of questions from Facebook, tell you how the Mini is doing, and explain the “cough”. :) Please, do me a favor and visit our sponsor, Godaddy: $2.95 Domain Names: http://www.godaddy.com/?isc=solo295 25% off new products: http://www.godaddy.com/?isc=solo25 And if you wouldn’t mind, please visit PodSurvey and fill this sucker out:  http://podsurvey.com/solohour Thanks!

One of the largest groups of solopreneurs out there is those who are working in the beauty industry: hairdressers, massage therapists, aestheticians, etc. These people know what it’s like to hustle, how to build a client base and grow their business from the ground up. But how can you work in this field and NOT solely trade time for dollars? And what lessons can the rest of us learn that will also help us go from being self-employed and to being business owners? Our guest for episode 111, the lovely and talented Danielle Rae, sheds some light on all this and more. More About This Show Danielle Rae has accomplished a great deal for someone her age. She’s a mere 27 but is already running her very own day spa and is building another in her hometown of Monterey. As you might imagine, Danielle’s solopreneurial adventures began when she was young. By the age of 17, she was a massage therapist and by 18, she had set the foundation for what would become her spa today. She forged her own path and rigorously pursued her goals - which is exactly what has led to her continued success in the face of any obstacle. You'll also discover things like: How did she beat the system at age 14 to work twice as many hours as legally allowed? How did she know what path was right for her? Where does her drive come from? How narrowing her target market played a major factor in her success. Are franchising and creating her own private label products viable options for her business? And much, much more! Her relentless pursuit of growing her business bigger and bigger has given her the drive and the motivation to succeed no matter what; when she moved to San Diego from Monterey, she had to rebuild her customer base so she tried various social media platforms til she found the right ones that grew her business. On this show, we talk about the ins and outs of Danielle’s profession but also about her vision for her business’ future. As you hear her share about the possibilities of franchising and private labeling, you’ll hear how you can take her big picture mentality and apply it to your industry. Be sure to leave a comment below or Tweet me about this show - what’s your business and what takeaway are you going to apply to it thanks to Danielle? Show Our Sponsor Some Love! Get Yourself a $2.95 domain name from Godaddy with the promo code “solo295″ AND get 25% off new products from GoDaddy when you use promo code "solo25" Episode Resources GoDaddy: $2.95 Domain Name GoDaddy: 25% Off New Products Danielle's web site Danielle's Spa in San Diego Danielle's Spa in Monterey Garnet Day Spa on Facebook Garnet Day Spa on Twitter The E-Myth The Solopreneur Hour Survey The Proudly Unemployable Facebook Group Porsche Carrera GT Sound JJ Collier on The Solopreneur Hour Yelp Chris Ducker's Virtual Freedom Book Melanie Benson Strick on The Solopreneur Hour   Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!) 

If you’re a football fan, (especially Bears, Steelers, or Packers) have you ever wondered what it would be like to win the Super Bowl? For those of you non-football fans, winning the Super Bowl probably feels like the equivalent of a six-figure product launch: that incredible sense of “I nailed it; I’ve made it.” Our guest for episode 110 has won the Super Bowl, he knows what it’s like to reach the pinnacle of his profession and what it takes to make it there. We talk about all that and more on today’s show. More About This Show Mike Tomczak is a former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl winner who now plays on the field of entrepreneurship. He’s battled on many different fields and has taken lessons from all those experiences, which have helped him excel at everything he does. In this episode, we talk at length about the pivotal role his football journey has played in his solopreneur success; what he’s learned on the field that he has applied off the field and what his future plans are. You'll also discover things like: Why banking on your abilities is one of the smartest things you can do. Mike breaks down what those quarterback play calls on the field actually mean. The importance of multiple streams of income, for everyone. Timing: why it matters, in all areas of your life. How to use your left ear and your right ear: lessons from an NFL coach. Do you know what your best asset is? It may not be what you think... When you listen to this show, listen for a few themes including the importance of repetition and never giving up, no matter what. As Mike and I talk about, you don’t become great by just showing up. You have to put in the leg work, get your reps in and take your hits - that applies in business as well as sports. Like so many great athletes, Mike has the attitude and aptitude of  a solopreneur: be prepared for anything and know you’re going to get knocked down, all that matters is how often you get back up. It was an honor and a pleasure to have Mike on the show, both because he played for my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and because there is so much all of us as solopreneurs can learn from the wisdom he’s gained during his football and post-football life. He's taken his share of sacks, on the field and off. Because he's gotten up after every single one, he has learned how to stay focused on his goals and visions regardless of his current circumstances. Let’s hear from you in the comments below or on Twitter - what did Mike share that struck a chord with you? What are you going to do with that now? Episode Resources Mike's web site Mike on Twitter Mike on Facebook Mike's latest project: All-American Athletes HBO Real Sports Episode 99 with Dave Austin Would You Help Spread the Word About the Podcast? I’d be forever grateful if you helped share the podcast.  Click here for a pre-populated tweet to help spread the word to your friends on Twitter.  THANK YOU! Feedback on the Podcast If you have any suggestions for upcoming shows or a question for an upcoming episode, leave a comment below. If you enjoyed this podcast, I’d be extremely grateful if you would take a second and leave me a review and rating over on iTunes.  Your taking a minute to do this allows me to help more people with this podcast, so I really appreciate it (once on that page, simply click on the “View in iTunes” button to leave your review — thanks very much!)