Everything You Know About Passive Income Is Wrong
Creating a business that generates passive income has become the Holy Grail for many entrepreneurs. Everyone from coaches to bloggers is trying to cash in in a cottage industry that revolves around selling advice on how the make this happen. Unfortunately, the assumptions about what this means is almost always wrong – not to mention potentially dangerous. Today we put that bad advice to rest and show you how to really build a successful self-running business.
Topics include:
- A new way of looking at making money while you sleep.
- The problem with selling information products.
- What you can learn from Weight Watchers about building an empire
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Dan Sullivan Talks About What Makes Planning Work in Business
Dan Sullivan has personally transformed the lives and careers of thousands of entrepreneurs. A big part of his success has come from honing the ability to distinguish between effective planning and planning that actually increases complexity. In this episode, Dan dives deep into this distinction. He also discusses why community plays such a huge role in both the planning process and the success of every entrepreneur.
Topics include…
- Why entrepreneurs are more like entertainers than corporate executives.
- The 90-Day plan (and why it works).
- Why a community is the perfect source for inspiration.
- Coaching that actually works (and the kind you should avoid).
- The five-part learning process that builds great communities.
Dan Sullivan is the Co-Founder and Creator of The Strategic Coach Program. Since its inception in 1988, this lifetime focusing program has helped over 16,000 accomplished entrepreneurs reach new heights of success and happiness. A visionary, an innovator, and a gifted conceptual thinker, Dan has over 35 years experience as a highly regarded speaker, consultant, strategic planner, and coach to entrepreneurial individuals and groups.
Learn more about Dan at strategiccoach.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Overcoming The Tyranny of Planning
We all know the importance of a solid plan, but there comes a point when planning becomes overplanning. Between information overload and bad advice from so-called experts, many of us make plans we can’t execute or we overwhelm ourselves with too many. So how can we escape the tyranny of planning while still mapping out what’s necessary to achieve our goals?
Listen to find out.
Today we cover:
- The two endgames every plan should keep in mind.
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid to ask your customers for feedback.
- Mini-plans and manifestos.
- How to make plans you can implement now.
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What It Really Means To Win With Rick Duris
Star copywriter Rick Duris rarely makes public appearances (he would much rather be helping from behind the scenes), but today he returns to Smashing The Plateau with some of the most profound insight we’ve ever encountered. Not only does Rick reveal what’s really behind the coaching industry curtain, he questions why business leaders are so focused on their competition that they forget to concentrate on the wisdom they’re picking up along the way.
Topics include:
- The dangers of viewing business as a zero sum game.
- Coach worthiness and client readiness.
- The power of reciprocity.
- Why content has become the new commercial.
Rick Duris is the Founder of copyranger.com, and is one of the top “pay-for-performance” copywriters in the country. Behind the scenes, he’s responsible for some of the biggest Internet marketing campaigns and celebrities.
Learn more about Rick on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Winners and Losers
Here’s one version of the story…
In business, there are two types of people—winners and losers. There are leaders worth emulating, and there are those who are duly brushed aside. It’s simple, ruthless, and well…capitalism.
Really?
What makes a winner anyway? Don’t we all have different aspirations and principles? Money and acclaim can’t be the only ways to define success. Winning – like success itself – isn’t so absolute. And even for those to whom money is the ultimate goal – is playing the zero sum game truly the best way to get what you want?
It’s time to start focusing on more nuanced (and collaborative) ways to win, and today David shows you how.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How to avoid harmful shortcuts (and tricky psychology).
- The “do as I do” ideology and why it never works.
- Why success is all about the small pivots.
- The powerful connection between competition and community.
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Why You’re Probably Reading Business Books All Wrong
Maisha Walker has been working in digital media before most people had a modem, and she’s still breaking new ground. As Founder of Message Medium and as a Contributing Editor for Inc. Magazine, she always needs to be on the lookout for solutions to challenging problems. Many of the answers she finds comes from books, but she learned long ago that not all business books are created equal. In fact, choosing the wrong material can cause more headaches than they solve.
Maisha discusses…
- Her journey into programming at age 9 (and how it’s given her a unique perspective as both a digital marketer and leader).
- Why most businesses can’t tackle all digital platforms (and why that’s okay).
- The difference between effective and ineffective readers.
- Why having people in advisory roles is important to distinguishing and applying content.
Maisha Walker is the Founder & President of Message Medium, a digital marketing agency that helps successful brands harness the power of digital to achieve aggressive growth. She has toured the country with companies like Microsoft Bing, JP Morgan Chase, and Capital One, and has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Black Enterprise, Fox News and NBC News. Her featured column for Inc. Magazine became their highest trafficked blog in less than one year, and has been quoted and featured by Business Week, Guy Kawasaki (the former editor of Entrepreneur magazine), the American Marketing Association and even Perez Hilton.
Learn more about Maisha at messagemedium.com, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
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The Problem With Business Books
There are millions of business books out there, and they all claim to have the solutions to our most frustrating problems. It seems that every self-styled author-expert harps on some variation of the same themes – hard work, hustle, and discipline. What they often don’t tell you is how useless many of these ideas are if you don’t know how to implement them.
In this episode, we discuss…
- Where real business breakthroughs come from
- The importance of measurement (how to determine the right method for you).
- Why we fall for the same tricks every time.
- How business leaders should approach learning.
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Your Self Confidence Doesn’t Matter As Much As This Does
Even though Theresa Fette has always believed in herself, it was when she figured out how to instill that same confidence in her team she quickly became one of the most successful women in finance. In her second appearance on Smashing The Plateau, Theresa explains that personal empowerment may be the starting point, but without an incredible team and effective implementation, you’ll never turn your aspirations into reality.
Topics include:
- Stop overthinking and take some action.
- Why peer groups allow you to tackle the hard stuff.
- The value in turning to those with more experience.
- What group leaders can do to create an honest, judgment-free environment.
Theresa Fette is a Founder and CEO of Provident Trust Group, a leading self-directed retirement plan administrator and alternative-asset custodian. In seven short years, she has created exponential growth, increasing the organization’s assets under custody from $300M to more than $3B. Theresa was also named to Vegas Inc.’s 40 Under 40 List for 2015. Her unique managerial and entrepreneurial style has been recognized by Fortune, honoring her as one of its most powerful women entrepreneurs for 2012. She is also a board member of Venovate Holdings, Inc., which further establishes her role as a thought leader in the alternative asset space. Theresa holds a LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, a Juris Doctorate, a Masters in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, each from the University of Arkansas.
Learn more about Theresa at trustprovident.com and LinkedIn.
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Why Individual Success Is A Myth
There is no such thing as a solo success story. Unlike what we’ve been led to believe, every great leader is backed by a collaborative group of friends, family and colleagues who encourage them every step of the way. Nobody makes it alone.
So what if you’re having trouble finding the right support? What can you do to make it happen? That is what we explore on today’s episode.
Topics include…
- Why teamwork is the only means of gaining emotional and tactical support.
- Destructive “solo” solutions (and how to avoid them).
- How to take advice without offense.
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Finding Strength By Needing People With Vivek Tiwary
Entertainment entrepreneur, Broadway producer, and The Fifth Beatle creator says he’s happiest (and most successful) when part of a dynamic collaboration. During his second appearing on Smashing the Plateau, Vivek Tiwary talks about building masterpieces through supportive relationships and the power of asking for help.
Topics include…
- How Brian Epstein became Vivek’s mentor even though they never met.
- Why fear and desperation feed into the coaching phenomenon.
- What it took to get Raisin In The Sun off the ground (and how that applies to businesses of all kinds).
Vivek J. Tiwary is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, and the founder of the multi-platform arts and entertainment company Tiwary Entertainment Group. Vivek’s graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, based on the untold life story of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, received worldwide critical acclaim and won a number of prestigious literary awards. On Broadway, Vivek’s productions have won a combined 25 Tony Awards and over 44 Tony nominations. They include such groundbreaking work as Green Day’s American Idiot, A Raisin In The Sun, and Mel Brooks’ The Producers. Vivek is currently working with Alanis Morissette and Pulitzer and Tony Award-winner Tom Kitt to adapt Morissette’s breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill for Broadway.
Learn more about Vivek at Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Do You Need to Be a Jerk To Succeed?
Steve Jobs, Jack Welsh, Donald Trump…regardless of how you feel about them, there is no arguing that they’ve achieved worldwide cult hero status. We can’t get enough of these guys (and others like them). As business leaders, many of us even imitate their behaviors in the hopes of replicating their unfathomable success.
But did these icons really strike it big because they are rude and eccentric lone wolves? Host David Shriner-Cahn says no. While we can’t help but idolize those among us that are a little off the wall, true success depends on collaboration. In this episode, we learn why..
In this episode, we discuss:
- Lessons on teamwork from Costco and Moses
- The dark side of charisma
- Why finding good people is still so hard (and what to do about it)
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Find A Community And Grow Your Business With Debbie Kiederer
ChalkDust Consulting Founder Debbie Kiederer is a digital marketing and branding pioneer and innovator in the world of luxury and premium consumer products who attributes much of her success to being part of the right supportive communities. During today’s interview, Debbie discusses her thoughts on why business coaches often fail to see the big picture and why collective experiences are far more rewarding (and supportive) than any system or turnkey solution. She also shares some of the most significant group experiences that have shaped her career.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The key elements of an excellent business group.
- How to find groups with meaningful, in-depth conversations and advice.
- Participation versus facilitation.
- Advice for burgeoning entrepreneurs who are ditching their corporate careers.
Debbie Kiederer is a veteran of the retail industry with more than two decades of experience marketing and repositioning luxury and premium consumer brands in the digital space with a strong global sensibility. In 2001, she founded ChalkDust Consulting, a strategic online consulting practice with a client list of Fortune 500 companies including beauty, fashion, luxury consumer products, consumer electronics, media companies, not-for-profits and start-ups. Debbie is the co-author of Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls, chosen as one of Amazon’s Editor’s Picks for 2014, and was named one of the top 25 women to watch in luxury for 2015 by Luxury Daily.
Learn more about Debbie at chalkdustconsulting.com and LinkedIn.
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Our Disappearing Sense Of Community (And How To Get It Back)
Traditional community structures are vanishing by the day. To fill the void, business leaders are increasingly turning to business coaches. However, far too many of these self-styled gurus offer self-centered quick fixes and one-size-fits-all solutions. Today David explains why we need to return to our community roots and how you can improve yourselves by helping make it happen.
In this episode, we explore…
- The flaw in positive thinking as a cure-all
- Why people get intimidated by people
- What separates the fantastic implementers from all the rest
- The kinds of communities best suited for a new world
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Ditching Your Coach to Find a Specialist
As the Co-Founders and Managing Partners of a unique financial consulting firm, Brian Califano and Scott Margolin have uncovered firsthand evidence of how bad business coaches can damage their clients’ business. That’s why they relentlessly advise to seek out specialists rather than coaches when really in need of some serious problem-solving. They also explain what should take place in order to make coaching a more effective (and credible) industry.
In this episode, we talk about…
- The three catalysts that caused the coaching boom.
- Why you should be wary of the be-your-own-boss mentality.
- How to make the advice industry more quantifiable.
- What could be done to make business coaching more credible.
Before founding AcceleratingCFO, Brian provided senior finance leadership at organizations that include the McGraw-Hill Companies, Viacom, SFX, Kaplan, and the NHL, and Scott provided senior finance leadership to public companies worldwide, principally within the entertainment, media, and technology industries, such as Warner Music, Barnes & Noble, and Fox Television.
Learn more about Brian at LinkedIn and Twitter, and learn more about Scott at LinkedIn.
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Why You Should Fire Your Business Coach
It’s a new season of Smashing The Plateau, and our host David Shriner-Cahn is shaking things up a bit by tackling one of the small business world’s most controversial subjects.
Professional coaching has skyrocketed over past several years, but what do we really know about it? Not only are most coaches unqualified to help clients with their specific problems, there isn’t one set of certifications or controls in the coaching industry that everyone follows. During this episode, David tackles the coaching-industrial complex, revealing hidden facets of this multi-billion-dollar industry.
You’ll hear…
- Why most coaches fall short on helping you with how to achieve your goals.
- Why our self-help culture may do more harm than good.
- How many coaches take advantage of our emotional voids.
- Why relationships that can really help address your unique challenges are critical to smash the plateau.
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The Best of Smashing The Plateau (Part Two)
Today we continue our look back to some of Smashing The Plateau’s most powerful moments. In this episode, we receive some tremendous advice from life coach Alexander Dunlop, psychology professor Tracy Dennis, master storyteller Lisa Cron, digital marketing expert Kalynn Amadio, and top business coach Jason Treu. Topics include how to achieve your personal Zen, how to engage with influential people, and what you can learn about storytelling (and advertising) from teenage soap operas.
Highlights include:
- Why good health leads to better leadership.
- How to make positivity a daily habit.
- The power of story (and why there’s no such thing as mindless entertainment).
- How to overcome your fear of social media.
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The Best of Smashing The Plateau (Part One)
It’s been an illuminating year for Smashing The Plateau, and things are only getting brighter. This week, we’re looking back at our greatest moments from some of our most enlightening guests – financial radio host Ric Edelman, numbers expert Tony Rose, sales whiz Jack Daly, social media mogul Ted Coiné, and serial entrepreneur Tim Fargo. In today’s episode, our featured guests cover a range of topics such as how to grow a company in the “social-age,” what it takes to create (and sustain) a healthy business, and why simply being an expert in the field is no longer enough.
Highlights include:
- How to get people to trust your talents.
- Why people fail to discuss the interplay between social capital and structural capital (and how not to).
- How to model the masters.
- Why sports teams are better prepared for success than most businesses (and what we can learn from them).
- The only way to engage on social media that still works.
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How to Satisfy Your “Why” With Michelle Evans
“It was hard at first, but once I made the decision it was easy, because I knew that it was right.”
Michelle Evans always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur, so when her third child was on the way, she left her high-profile position at Microsoft and started her own business. Now she’s a coach, consultant and expert marketing strategist who helps other professionals gain extensive visibility and bigger clientele. According to Michelle, a successful business is all about the why. If you truly understand why you’re building the business you’ve chosen, you’ll be able to fight for the profession you want instead of the one you have.
Listen to discover:
- Why would, should, and could don’t belong in your vocabulary.
- The importance of investing in coaches, mentors and masterminds.
- The differences between coaching and consulting (and how you can benefit from both).
- How to make yourself more visible.
Michelle L. Evans walked away from her global marketing strategy role at Microsoft in 2012 after a successful 16-year corporate career spanning many industries. Now Michelle shows business owners how to develop simple and effective marketing strategies that deliver bottom-line results. Combining her proven business-building skillset with her ninja marketing skills, Michelle helps entrepreneurs and small business owners tame their marketing monsters and design results-based strategies that actually work.
Learn more about Michelle at MichelleLEvans.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and her free guide, From Secret To Sold Out.
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What It Means To Be An Authority (And How To Become One) With Goutham Bhadri
Everyone wants to be an “expert” these days, but why settle for mere expert when you can become an authority? As the self-proclaimed marketing samurai, Goutham Bhadri not only helps his clients elevate their brands, he transforms them into the top authorities in their fields. Today this seasoned entrepreneur reveals what you can do to make this happen for yourself.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why content creation is an authority’s trump card.
- The different types of revenue (and how to decide which one works for you).
- What to think about when you want to sell your company.
- The importance of strong marketing strategies.
Goutham Bhadri is a leader in building and growing recurring revenue for businesses. As the CEO of Marketing Samurai, a New York based digital marketing agency, he helps businesses build their authority, acquire new customers, and grow the value of their existing customers through memberships, subscriptions and licensing. After his last company was sold to FitBit, he began advising entrepreneurs as a Sounding Board member at his alma mater, Columbia Business School.
Learn more about Goutham at marketing-samurai.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and his blog.
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How To Reinvent Your Business (And Yourself) With Greg Hickman
“Fall in love with the problem, not the solution.”
Although Greg Hickman’s mobile marketing service found some success early on, the sales conversations weren’t quite connecting with customers. Realizing he needed to concentrate on the problem rather than his solution, Greg shifted his business from mobile to automated services and systems. Now his company is skyrocketing, and his customers couldn’t be more satisfied. Today he discusses how to shed old identities and successfully reinvent yourself.
Greg discusses:
- How to shift from one business to another (and make it work).
- Why it’s critical to have detailed operating procedures, guidelines, and systems.
- Why you need to hire people who are smarter than you (and be okay with it).
- The origins of his successful podcast, Zero To Scale, and what it’s done for his career.
Greg Hickman is the CEO and Founder of System.ly, a done-for-you sales funnel and marketing automation service for entrepreneurs and small businesses. His team works with clients such as Entrepreneur on Fire, Eventual Millionaire and many other top online entrepreneurs.
Greg’s work has been featured on Copyblogger, Social Media Examiner, Business.com, Target Marketing Magazine and more. Greg is the co-host of the Zero To Scale Podcast and he writes about entrepreneurship and business building on his blog.
Learn more about Greg at LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
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How To Create A Collaborative Culture With Matt Munson
Matt Munson has an untamed enthusiasm for building teams. With an expertise in talent acquisition, Matt challenges those around him to grow, seek innovation, and successfully adopt whatever comes next. Today he discusses the real meaning of collaborative culture and teaches you how to build one.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The benefits of having a company reading list.
- Why you need to actively create opportunities for professional development.
- The challenges of starting a services company (and how to overcome them).
- Why a delegation mindset and a complementary partnership are the keys to scalability.
Matt Munson is a serial entrepreneur with deep roots in the Seattle region and the technology industry. His passion is geared toward starting and building businesses that leverage culture and innovation.
Learn more about Matt at dev9.com, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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How To Cultivate A Truly Powerful Network With Judy Robinett
“I meet people everyday who either don’t have connections or they don’t leverage their connections, and so they can’t really get to their dreams.”
Judy Robinett is a networking powerhouse. During her impressive career as an author and keynote speaker, she has made valuable connections with some of the world’s biggest luminaries, which include billionaires, TV & film executives, and big-league CEOs. Now as the Founder and President of JRobinett Enterprises, she teaches entrepreneurs and business leaders how to attain their goals by connecting quality relationships with strategy. Today she tells us what she knows.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why your network equals your net worth.
- How to define a great network (and make it work for you).
- The importance of looking to who you already know.
- What scares most people about networking (and how to get over it).
In her career Judy Robinett has led both public and private companies as CEO, and served in management positions at Fortune 500 companies. She is on the advisory boards of Illuminate VC, Pereg VC, and Springboard Enterprises. Judy previously served as a managing director of Golden Seeds Angel Network, and as a member of the faculty of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business Program. Judy’s book, How to Be a Power Connector: the 5+50+150 Rule, was named the #1 Business Book of 2014 by Inc. She has been profiled in Fast Company, Forbes, CBS, The Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Learn more about Judy at judyrobinett.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Meshing Your Professional and Personal Goals With Matt Perlman
After reading the works of Robert Kiyosaki, Matt Perlman immediately jumped off the corporate ladder to build something special of his own. Over the course of his relatively short career Matt has already founded several successful advertising companies and Internet marketing companies. Today he discusses why your personal and business goals need to be in alignment in order to build a business that creates better revenue and more satisfaction.
Listen to discover:
- The importance of putting ironclad processes in place.
- How to establish a business when your niche is new to the market.
- Why you should be reverse-engineering your plans.
- How to surround yourself with sounding boards.
Matt Perlman has led seminars, training, and workshops for over a thousand people on topics ranging from how to leverage Internet marketing for business growth to personal development. He’s been skydiving twice (he has the video to prove it) and during his time living in South Florida, he was named a Top 30 Under 30 CEO by Atlantic Avenue Magazine.
Learn more about Matt at www.pathinteractive.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Getting Wise To What Works For You With Todd Heslin
“We make good decisions and bad decisions, but if you’re not clear about what you want, then you can never personally say, ‘is this right for me or not?’”
Todd Heslin has been building businesses since his teenage years. Now as a consultant, blogger, and angel investor, Todd helps other entrepreneurs hone in on their personal intent. Are they striving for passive income or building a business to sell? According to Todd, once your aspirations are realized, everything else will fall into place.
Todd discusses:
- Why the emergency mode mindset is detrimental to growth.
- Why you need to ask yourself startup questions.
- Is passive income actually passive?
- Why your personal goals need to be clear before you take on your business.
Todd Heslin is an Australian Entrepreneur who started his business life at the age of 15 selling crayfish from his parent’s farm about 2 hours south of Sydney. After a (relatively) short stint of working at the Big 4 accounting firm Ernst & Young, Todd wondered why many people don’t care about working on things that matter. In 2008, he co-founded Apathco Group, a boutique Sustainability Advisory practice helping businesses transition into a low carbon economy.
Learn more about Todd at beingremarkable.me, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
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Surrounding Yourself With Masterminds Featuring Aaron Walker
For the past twenty years, Aaron Walker has been an active member, advocate and facilitator of mastermind groups. Within these communities, thought leaders come together to share their ideas, problem-solve, and offer honest advice that can lead to game-changing business decisions. Today Aaron shares some of the group experiences that helped shape his career.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How to find a supportive community (that shares your motivation).
- In person groups versus online groups.
- The importance of staying true to yourself and designing a purposeful life.
Aaron Walker is a veteran entrepreneur with a passion for success. He started his first business at age 18, and sold it to a Fortune 500 company nine short years later. Unwilling to rest on past successes, he started, bought, and sold eight successful companies over the past 36 years. Today, Aaron spends the majority of his time helping men grow in success and significance as the President and Founder of View from the Top, a premier life and business coaching resource. He continues to strengthen his personal development in a weekly mastermind group with Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Ken Abraham, and seven other notable Nashvillians. Aaron has enjoyed a 35-year marriage with his beautiful wife, Robin.
Learn more about Aaron at viewfromthetop.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
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