Get Real About Business Podcast

No 1 international bestselling author and empowerment speaker Gina Gardiner discusses how to improve performance and productivity in your team through becoming an enlightened leader.

TV celebrity, digital marketer and winner of the Best Global Investment Lead Generation Agency, Johny Pach returns to the show to reveal his best tips on starting and growing a digital marketing agency.

Writing a book and becoming an author is one of the best ways to establish yourself as an expert. Learn how to get started and use your book to drive business to your door.

Want to know the ultimate business card is? Believe it or not, it's a book. More and more experts are writing these days as a way of demonstrating their expertise and positioning themselves as the go-to person in their industry. You can do it too! Just think about it for a moment... If you were considering hiring someone to give advice, consultancy or solve a problem, you want to hire an expert, right? There is no better way to show that you're an expert than being a published author (or perhaps speaking on stage or TV). While it takes time and effort to write a book, it's something most people can achieve and there's a lot of help and advice available. You've then got a killer business card you can give (or sell) to would-be clients and sky-rocket yourself up to the top of their list for who to hire. Even publishing isn't an issue these days with the ability to self-publish. My guest today is a friend of the show, Karen Williams. Karen appeared on the Get Real About Business Podcast back on episode 16. Her latest book Becoming an Authority is now out and I invited her back  Join the conversation As always, links mentioned in this episode such as Peter's book and website are available on our show notes page. If you'd like to continue the conversation about success in business or have something to say about today's podcast, join us on the Get Real About Business Podcast Community. This is our Facebook group. It's free to join and we'd love to welcome you there. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by my very own programme, Get More Clients 5-Day Challenge. The programme is completely free and aimed at anyone wanting to generate more leads in their business and learn to handle sales conversations more confidently and skillfully. To find out more or sign up for free visit our show notes page or join here directly. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have more world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

Ask just about any business and they'll probably tell you that they rely on referrals as a way of generating business. Referral marketing is possibly the easiest way to sell. Other people identify potential customers for you and make an introduction. The prospect has already been warmed up, their open to talking with you, and the deal is easier to close. Everybody gets referrals. There are networking meetings nearly every day of the week and some network events even reward their members for referrals given. So why then is it so damn difficult to get referrals?  The problem is that you don't have a strategy. Or if you've got a strategy, the strategy is weak or ineffective. My guest today is Steve Gordon. He is an expert in marketing and sales and the host of Unstoppable CEO Podcast.  Steve loves referral marketing and in today's podcast, he shares a masterclass on how to generate more referrals. Steve also shares his approach for business planning and how to get ahead in 2020. In today's podcast, you will learn: Four areas that most business owners struggle with and keep them from making more money Why many entrepreneurs fail to properly identify their niche and target market How to generate clients more easily through referral marketing Join the conversation As always, links mentioned in this episode such as Peter's book and website are available on our show notes page. If you'd like to continue the conversation about success in business or have something to say about today's podcast, join us on the Get Real About Business Podcast Community. This is our Facebook group. It's free to join and we'd love to welcome you there. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by my very own programme, Get More Clients 5-Day Challenge. The programme is completely free and aimed at anyone wanting to generate more leads in their business and learn to handle sales conversations more confidently and skillfully. To find out more or sign up for free visit our show notes page or join here directly. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have more world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

In our first episode of 2020, we take a look at how to start the year strong and then take a masterclass from Steve Gordon in Referral Marketing.

Learn how to create information products and use them as lead magnets or paid products, with the UK's most prolific information product creator, Peter Thomson

Modern marketing has changed. It's all about inbound traffic now which means creating value and building credibility and expertise so people call you rather than you call them. While it's not the only way to create inbound traffic, information products are the established lynchpin that makes everything work. During this episode, we dig deep on how to create information products. I'm joined in this episode by the UK's most prolific information product creator, Peter Thomson. Peter Thomson is regarded as one of the UK’s leading strategists on business and personal growth. With over 100 audio and 100 video programs written and recorded he is Nightingale Conant’s leading UK author.  Peter shares some of his best tips, straight from his new book, "How to Write Your Business Book in 5 Days or Less." In today's podcast, you will learn: Why information products work How to name your info product so people bite your hand off to get it? A simple but powerful technique to create your information products in the shortest time possible. There are some really useful strategies discussed in this podcast. In order to help you implement them, I've created a cheat sheet. This free download is available on our show notes page. Join the conversation As always, links mentioned in this episode such as Peter's book and website are available on our show notes page. If you'd like to continue the conversation about success in business or have something to say about today's podcast, join us on the Get Real About Business Podcast Community. This is our Facebook group. It's free to join and we'd love to welcome you there. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by my very own programme, Get More Clients 5-Day Challenge. The programme is completely free and aimed at anyone wanting to generate more leads in their business and learn to handle sales conversations more confidently and skillfully. To find out more or sign up for free visit our show notes page or join here directly. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have more world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!  

UK's #1 Motivational Speaker, Brad Burton talks about what it takes to be successful in business even if you start out broke and everyone around you thinks you'll never make it.

When successful author, entrepreneur and UK's #1 Motivational Speaker Brad Burton agreed to appear on the Get Real About Business Podcast I knew exactly what I wanted to ask him. Brad, if you don't know him, has had a very interesting story. He grew up in Manchester and financed his first business by delivering pizzas at £5.90 cash in hand. Since then he has built one of UK's largest and most successful networking organisations, 4Networking, written four books and built a solid reputation as one of the top speakers worldwide. As Brad will tell you, his journey was far from easy. Most of the people around Brad told him he'd never build a successful business. He had money trouble. He even had a mental health breakdown due to the pressures of starting his business. My ultimate question then was how the heck did he do it? How do you go from barely paying the bills to fast cars and speaking on stage to thousands? In today's podcast, I ask Brad: What does it take to really succeed in business? Why do so many people fail? What do you do if you're business is not where you want it to be? How do you build a powerful personal brand? How do you make good decisions in your business? As you can expect from Brad this is a fast-paced interview chock-full with great advice and inspiration to grow your business. Join the conversation As always, links mentioned in this episode such as Brad's books and website are available on our show notes page. If you'd like to continue the conversation about success in business or have something to say about today's podcast, join us on the Get Real About Business Podcast Community. This is our Facebook group. It's free to join and we'd love to welcome you there. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by own programme, Slipstream. My goal is to help you develop a sales pipeline and generate leads through the use of inbound marketing and social selling techniques that are carefully targeted to your ideal customer. I'll show you how to build your brand awareness and position yourself as an expert through the use of video and digital content. In doing so you'll trigger sales conversations with highly relevant, qualified prospects who are excited to speak with you. You get: 1-2-1 coaching/strategy calls Business mastermind Help to put your marketing materials together (I even do some of it for you!) Plus, I guarantee you a 5x return on your investment so you can be confident I'm as committed to your success as you are. Visit https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/slipstream and set up a call today. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have some world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

Discover the dangers of Random Acts of Marketing and how to combat it. In this podcast, you'll learn how to conduct your own market research which will remove the guesswork and improve your marketing effectiveness.

When Sarah McIntyre first mentioned to me "Random Acts of Marketing" I knew exactly what she meant.  We all get distracted, but I tend to think that entrepreneurs are worst than most. Many times have I gone down one rabbit hole after another, forever chasing the latest marketing idea - all at the expense of my long-forgotten marketing plan. I get little consolation in the fact that it's a common problem and one that many entrepreneurs experience. Sometimes we need to remember that just because a particular marketing approach is working well for one person, it doesn't mean it's the best approach for us. How do we figure out the best marketing approaches for our business? We have to discover the journey people go through before finding us and becoming our customers. (AKA Buyer's Journey) People don't just wake up one morning, decide to buy something and then go immediately to your website with their credit card in hand. There is a lot of activity before that.  By knowing your customer journey you can plan your content marketing accordingly. In today's podcast we explore: Random Acts of Marketing The Customer/Buyer Journey How to conduct research interviews with your customers How to leverage what you learn for your marketing plan As always, to find out more about the show do visit our show notes page. You'll find links to my guest, Sarah McDonald and a detailed breakdown of what's covered in the podcast (including timestamps). You can also join our mailing list and get new podcast episodes delivered directly to your inbox. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by own programme, Slipstream. My goal is to help you develop a sales pipeline and generate leads through the use of inbound marketing and social selling techniques that are carefully targeted to your ideal customer. I'll show you how to build your brand awareness and position you as an expert through the use of video and digital content. In doing so you'll trigger sales conversations with highly relevant, qualified prospects who are excited to speak with you. You get: 1-2-1 coaching/strategy calls Business mastermind Help to put your marketing materials together (I even do some of it for you!) Plus, I guarantee you a 5x return on your investment so you can be confident I'm as committed to your success as you are. Visit https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/slipstream and set up a call today. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have some world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

The best marketing strategies are usually the simplest. Steve Martile embraces this principle with an incredible 2-step framework designed for consultants, coaches and service provider experts.

We assume that if we offer our customers more choices, then they’ll be more likely to buy our products since it’s more likely that they’ll find something they’re looking for. That’s why most companies offer a large variety of products. But here’s the interesting thing about choice: if a prospect is presented with too many choices, they are actually less likely to buy. This was proven by Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper from Columbia and Stanford University in a study about jams. It was with great interest then that when I discovered Steve Martile's 2-step framework for creating predictable income I wanted to learn more. Steve's method isn't to just reduce the number of offerings his client promote, it's to slash them down to just one.  How would you feel about doing that? It's a brave decision, right? As it turns out, this is also a very profitable decision.  In this episode, Steve and I discuss: A 2-step framework for generating a predictable income Betting on one product Standing by your ROI Generating leads for your offer And much more! As always to find out more about the show do visit our show notes page where you will find an infographic explaining Steve's framework. You can also join our mailing list there and get new podcast episodes delivered directly to your inbox. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by the Get Real About Business Mastermind. Surround yourself with experts and get top-notch advice to increase profits in your business and scale it for greater impact. Apply today for a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how a business mastermind can help you take your business to new levels. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have some world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

In this episode, we look at four areas that if improved, will dramatically increase your productivity, performance and energy levels.

Inspiration and ideas are never far away when you're an entrepreneur. The trouble people have is finding the energy and focus required to meet their aspirations. Recently I was invited to be a guest on the Brain, Brawn and Business Podcast. The host of the show, Oliver Berquez is a tremendous guy with a zest for life and the energy to match. It got me thinking... Why do people like Oliver seem to get a whole week out of a day while others barely get a day out of a week? With that in mind, I invited Oliver to come on the show and explain how he does it. If you are one of those people who always feel like their playing catch up, despite how hard you seem to work, this episode is for you. Oliver and I discuss: 4 areas of personal performance Dealing with failure Improving your productivity Creating habits that stick How to improve your energy levels As always to find out more about the show do visit our show notes page where you can also find contact information for Oliver, join our mailing list and find out about anything else I do. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by the Get Real About Business Mastermind. Surround yourself with experts and get top-notch advice to increase profits in your business and scale it for greater impact. Apply today for a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how a business mastermind can help you take your business to new levels. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have some world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

Do you have a process, knowledge or information that will help others solve a problem or meet a need? If so you can create a profitable online course out of it. Tom Libelt and Clive discuss what courses work well, provide a basic format for your online course and factors to consider when marketing it.

Online courses have become an essential method for how people learn in modern-day. Therefore, creating and selling courses online can be very profitable with many professionals achieving 6- and 7-figure incomes. Whether you're looking to run a business purely based on online training or you're just looking for a new income stream, creating an online course could be a smart next step for your business. The thought of creating an online course can be daunting. There is, after all, a lot of work to be done before you can "open the doors" and start making money from your online course. There are also a lot of things to consider: What topic or knowledge do you have that can be turned into an online course? Will it be a course that people will want to buy? How will you structure the course so it helps the student achieve their goal and achieve positive reviews? How will you promote and market the course? For the answers to these questions and many more, I turn to online course marketing expert, Tom Libelt. As you'll discover, online courses can be very profitable, but it's also easy to make mistakes. For example, some topics don't transition well to online training and some courses can end up overly complicated. What I hope to do through this podcast episode is to inspire you to create a course of your own and do so in a way that avoids the pitfalls commonly associated with it. Join the Discussion If today inspires you to create an online course of your own be sure to visit my show notes page. You'll find links there to Tom Libelt and my free Facebook group, the Get Real About Business Podcast Community. You can even book time with me for a free discovery session. We'd love to hear from you! Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by the Get Real About Business Mastermind. Surround yourself with experts and get top-notch advice to increase profits in your business and scale it for greater impact. Apply today for a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how a business mastermind can help you take your business to new levels. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today so you never need to miss an episode. I have some world-class expert interviews coming up and there are more solo episodes from me. If you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

Kenda McDonald discusses what goes on in the brain when a person makes a purchase decision and how to leverage this information to increase lead generation and lifetime customer value of clients through content marketing.

Content is king, so they say but it's sure as heck not going anywhere unless you market it. Content marketing is one of the hottest topics in marketing these days but not everyone is getting it right. Content marketing is all about inbound traffic. Done well, content marketing can attract great clients and seamlessly ease them into your business in a way that feels natural, generous and helpful. Done incorrectly, content marketing can be a massive waste of time and resources. You can spend hours on a piece of content that nobody consumes and you're left wondering if this "content marketing thing" works at all. But content marketing does work! You wouldn't see top marketers use it every day if that wasn't the case. The trick to content marketing is understanding how people think and behave. It's all about human psychology. In this week's episode, I invite author and content marketing expert Kenda McDonald to talk on the subject. Kenda was a fun guest with lots to say on the subject.  We dive deep into the topic as we cover: How the brain makes purchase decisions Why content marketing works The Lifecycle Marketing Framework What to do when your content fails to generate interest Where to start if you're new to content marketing Note: We have a cheat sheet for today's podcast. You can pick it up here. Lifecycle Marketing Framework The Lifecycle Marketing Framework is an important part of the conversation in this episode. It helps us understand where people are in the buying cycle and what content you should be serving up.  By understanding this fully you'll know how to not only increase the quality and rate of lead generation in your business, but you'll also increase your lifetime customer value. Free Download To help you implement the strategies taught in this podcast I've put together a cheat sheet that you can download from our show notes page.  It covers the four stages of the Lifecycle Marketing Framework and crib notes of the various great tips shared by Kenda. I've also included some questions and space for you to start planning out your Lifecycle Marketing strategy so you can get to work right away. Download the cheat sheet here. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by the Get Real About Business Mastermind. Surround yourself with experts and get top-notch advice to increase profits in your business and scale it for greater impact. Apply today for a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how a business mastermind can help you take your business to new levels. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a ton of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

Johny Pach reveals why he stepped away from the world of TV and how he's using what he learnt in television to generate business for his customers and himself.

While most people may know Johny Pach as a TV Presenter and interviewer at Red Carpet movie events, Johny is fast making his name as a marketing expert specialising in lead generation for property, trading and investment companies. In today's podcast, I ask Johny why he stepped away from the world of TV and how he's using what he learnt in television to generate business for his customers and himself. My interview with Johny was enjoyable and high energy - something that I quickly realised was why he won a scholarship in Hollywood which began his TV career. It's also this energy and what he learned about the art of influence that helps make Johny a success.  In the show today Johny talks about his transition from TV presenter to marketer and CEO. We also dive into how to generate higher quality leads for your business. Plus, if you like randomnesses like Johny's best diva moment and lava salt lamps, this is definitely worth a listen. Show Notes and Links As always you can find more information about the episode together with links to Johny and details about our member community on our show notes page. Visit getrealaboutbusiness.com/51. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by the Get Real About Business Mastermind. Surround yourself with experts and get top-notch advice to increase profits in your business and scale it for greater impact. Apply today for a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how a business mastermind can help you take your business to new levels. Subscribe and Review on Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a ton of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

In this week's episode, Clive Maloney speaks with B2B sales expert Chad Sanderson about how to begin sales conversations that feel natural and authentic. Chad reveals a ValueSelling framework to confidently handle sales conversations that adds value to the customer and differentiates you from your competitors.

Understanding how to skillfully navigate conversations and move from a casual conversation to one that generates business is essential for any small business. Failure to develop these skills leads to one of two outcomes: Show up and Throw up - This is an outright pitchfest. You're so concerned with getting the sale and winning the business that you forget to act anything remotely resembling a normal human being. It's an "all about me" approach and a race to the bottom as you try to detail every product benefit and feature you can think of and convince the person they can't live without it. Nice but Ineffectual - Also a race to the bottom, but this time an "all about you" approach that is ineffectual and weak. You are so concerned about not coming across as pushy or "salesy" that you never really get down to business. You patiently wait for the person to ask you about your product but for some reason, they don't. The person could massively benefit from what you do but instead, they walk away thinking, "Nice guy but I probably won't do business with him." What you need to do is walk the line between those outcomes. Confidently engage with your prospect and lead the conversation into how you can be of service to them. It's not about sales. It's about being a solution provider. To discuss this topic today I turn to B2B sales expert, Chad Sanderson. Key takeaways from the show include: Why people have such an issue with handling sales conversations confidently The ValueSelling Formula Value Differentiation and more! Show Notes and Links During the episode, Chad discusses a framework for sales that is summed up in a simple graphic. To see that graphic, get the links mentioned on the show and leave a comment, visit our Show Notes Page at getrealaboutbusiness.com/50. Sponsored by This episode is sponsored by the Get Real About Business Mastermind. Surround yourself with experts and get top-notch advice to increase profits in your business and scale it for greater impact. Apply today for a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how a business mastermind can help you take your business to new levels. Subscribe and Review in Apple Podcasts Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a ton of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

There are two important numbers in your business. The first is your freedom number and the second is your dream number. Believe it or not, these numbers are achievable as an entrepreneur. It's just about knowing how to go about it. In this episode, we explore how to create financial freedom in your business by scaling it the right way.

There are two important numbers in your business. The first is your freedom number and the second is your dream number. When you first start out it's your freedom number that is most important. You need to earn enough money to replace the income you had when you worked for someone else. It means you can give up your old job for good and focus on your business fulltime. Your dream number is the amount of money you must earn in order to have the lifestyle you really want to experience in your life. At this stage, you're doing the work you love but you're no longer needing to work every single day of your life. You can experience life in the way that few people do because most people are living paycheque to paycheque.  I expect we all at times dream about our ideal lifestyle, but few people really experience it. As a small business owner, you have a unique opportunity to do that - you just need to know how to go about it. My guest on today's podcast is the co-founder of Lifestyle Builders, Tom Sylvester. During the interview, we talk about creating financial freedom and whether such a thing is possible for small business owners. As you'll see, Tom firmly believes the answer is yes but to get there you need to know the various different plays you should make in your business depending on where your business is currently. In this podcast, Tom and I explore: The two most important numbers in your business What it takes to create financial freedom Taking a life audit Picking the right activities at the right time for your business Reviewing and planning in your business How to shift things off your plate to leverage your time better This is truly an excellent interview as Tom was generous with his advice and there is a lot to learn from him.  To help you implement these tactics, I've put together a cheat sheet summarising much of what we cover in the episode. Download the cheat sheet and get all the links mentioned in the show at getrealaboutbusiness.com/49.

Have you ever been asked if it is okay for someone to pick your brains? While it makes sense to share some information for free, if you make your money by selling your expertise at some point you're going to have to say, "No." In this episode, we explore what to say when people ask to pick your brains.

Have you ever been asked if it is okay for someone to pick your brains? It can feel nice when other people value your opinion and want to take advice from you. However, if you're a service provider business owner then your expertise and time are your most valuable commodities. Like me, you probably accept that it makes sense to share a certain amount of expertise for free. After all, how else can you demonstrate your experience and the value you bring? Your word alone is rarely enough. But there has to be a limit. There has to be a point in which someone should pay you for your hard earnt expertise. Most people are very respectful of your time, but every now and then you get someone who constantly wants to pick your brains and get as much free advice as possible. They often have no intention of paying for your services and excuse themselves by either saying that they would pay you but they can't afford you or it's just a quick question (as if...) they need help on. Letting someone constantly pick your brains is like allowing someone to eat everything on the menu at a restaurant and walk out without paying. Worse still, it's your restaurant! In this podcast, I explore: The real cost of letting someone picking your brains Giving your expertise (generously) on your terms What to say when people ask if it's okay to pick your brains To pick up a copy of the scripts I use via today's cheat sheet, visit our show notes page at getrealaboutbusiness.com/48.

With the best will in the world, every small business owner can lack self-discipline at times. Often we can put it down to technology or other people: Technology is an issue because we have so many alerts going off all the time from social media,...

With the best will in the world, every small business owner can lack self-discipline at times. Often we can put it down to technology or other people: Technology is an issue because we have so many alerts going off all the time from social media, emails, apps and more. Since most people struggle to go to the toilet without taking their phones, there's simply no getting away from one app or another that eats time into our day. People are the other issue. They place demands on us. They ask things or tell us they need something. Worst still, they do it in a way that makes their agenda feel so more important than your own. Try as we might, other people's agenda can easily climb to the top of our to-do list. A lack of self-discipline can cost you clients, revenue and ultimately, your business While it's nice to blame external forces for our lack of focus (because it prevents us from taking responsibility), the truth is that we ALLOW other things to take precedence even when we know better. Remaining a distraction junkie and failing to exercise greater self-control will mean your business will stagnate. In fact, it might just cost you your business. In this podcast, I discuss why you often lack self-discipline and how to find greater levels of focus and self-control. Specifically, you will learn: Why you lack self-discipline Three key areas for greater productivity and focus Four strategies for achieving greater levels of self-discipline For more information on the show sponsors, cheat sheet and links mentioned in today's show, visit our show notes pages at getrealaboutbusiness.com/47.

Collaborations and joint ventures are a wonderful way to get projects finished at a rapid pace. You get to share the load, pool your talents, ideas and creativity. The result is often an end product that's much better than what any individual could...

Collaborations and joint ventures are a wonderful way to get projects finished at a rapid pace. You get to share the load, pool your talents, ideas and creativity. The result is often an end product that's much better than what any individual could have done by themselves. Aside from the benefits of pooling talent to get a job done lickety-split, collaborations are a huge opportunity for personal growth. You get to work alongside people you respect and admire. You get to see how they tackle workflows and problems. It's a little like getting a window into their world. It opens up new possibilities and at the end of it, you have relationships that are much stronger and closer than you had before. Unfortunately, not all collaborations and joint ventures end up that way. Some are difficult, frustrating and can lead to broken relationships and resentment. In fairness, they tend to be fewer, but the sad truth is that some collaborations can be a huge time suck with little to no reward. The question is, "Why is that some collaborations succeed and others don't?" Best intentions aside (because no one sets out for a collaboration to fail), a lot of it has to do with how you set the collaboration up in the first place. You need a set of shared expectations - operating instructions if you will - that means everyone knows how to communicate and work together well. To help tackle this subject I turn to my old friend, Gill Tiney of BeCollaboration. Gill has worked as a business coach for many years and more recently partnered up with Erkan Ali to establish a set of workshops up and down the country that provide a platform for collaborations. If anyone knew how to set up the hottest collaborations it was sure to be Gill. In this episode, Gill and I discuss: Why you should say "yes" to collaborations and what you stand to gain. The faulty thinking that many people have about collaborations and how to think about them differently. Why some collaborations fail and others succeed. How to set up your collaboration the right way so the odds are stacked in your favour. What to do if something goes wrong and your fellow collaborators say or do something that's difficult. To help you get the very best from this episode make sure you also pick up my free cheat sheet:  Rules of Engagement for Collaborations and Joint Ventures It's twenty-five quick tips to help you get the most from every collaboration and joint venture. They're easy to implement and will help you avoid some of the nasty problems that ineffective working relationships can often cause. Click here to listen to the episode now.

There is no doubt about it, you have plenty of options for marketing your business, but which options are most likely to generate the biggest results?  It's difficult, isn't it? One minute everyone says to do the social media thing. The next...

There is no doubt about it, you have plenty of options for marketing your business, but which options are most likely to generate the biggest results?  It's difficult, isn't it? One minute everyone says to do the social media thing. The next minute they're saying build your list or content is king so go with content marketing. What about networking or any of the other hundred things you could do? With all this confusion and potential for overwhelm I turn to my new friend, Dr Tyson Franklin. You might not expect to hear marketing advice from a podiatrist... Yes, you read that right. He's a podiatrist so feet is his thing. As it happens Tyson has started, bought and sold over twenty different podiatry businesses so he really seems to have cracked the code on what it takes to make a business successful. In fact, he's authored two business books and starting his third. In this episode Dr Tyson Franklin reveals: The 6 essentials pillars for marketing your business How to build a network of referral partners (without having to constantly attend networking events) Some really great ideas for getting your foot in the door of bigger businesses And much more! Click here to listen to the episode now or check out our show notes.

You'll learn three tried and tested scripts for creating a great elevator pitch. Just fill in the blanks with your business details and you're away to go.

9 times out of 10 when someone asks me the number one way for marketing their young business, I'll always say networking. While there are plenty of other ways to market your business, attending networking events is one of the easiest things you can do to get your name out there and it's VERY affordable. But if you're a dyed-in-the-wool introvert attending a networking event can be a very scary thing and the thing that scares people most is usually the elevator pitch. It can be difficult enough to know what to say when you meet people, let alone having to stand for 60 seconds and give a pitch about your business. The question is: How do you pitch your services at a networking event without feeling awkward or pushy? In this episode, my guest (Nicoline Huizinga) and I share some tactics to put you on the right track: How to greet people at a networking event - what to say and what to do. The mindset shift that will help conquer your nerves and generate more leads and referrals. Three tried and tested scripts you can use for your elevator pitch. Just fill in the blanks with your personal details and you're away to go! Click here to listen to the episode now or check out our show notes.

I'm going to show you what's working with advertising on Facebook right now and how to get the most from your campaigns. You're also going to learn how social media strategist Janet E Johnson approaches split testing so you can drive down the cost of your ads.

It's fair to say that while Facebook Ads are among the best marketing opportunities available in modern day marketing, they can also be a little overwhelming when you're trying to get to grips with them. Sure, you might have boosted the odd post, but how do you get serious (I mean, really serious) about using Facebook ads for your business? In fairness to Facebook, they've done a pretty good job of making the process easier. After all, they want you to buy marketing space. They want you to use their platform. The trouble is that there is so much choice. There are different campaign goals. You have ad sets and the ads themselves to contend with. Then there's all this split testing to do. Have you heard about that? Well, I've been fascinated with Facebook ads for a long time now. We talked about Facebook ads back in episode 23 with Sam Bailey, but I wanted to take a deeper dive. That's where Janet E Johnson comes in. Janet is a social media strategist in Michigan, USA. I stumbled across her in a podcasting community I belong to and quickly realised she'd have a lot to say on the matter. In my interview with Janet, we take a look at what's going on with Facebook advertising right now and how to get the best results. We discuss Cambridge Analytica, Instagram (also owned by Facebook) and why Facebook ads are such a great opportunity right now. In addition to getting the lowdown on what's happening with Facebook ads we also get into the strategy. I ask Janet which ads are performing well right now and even get her to walk me through her process for split testing ads so you can use the data you gather along the way to continually fine-tune your ads and drive down your cost per click. After this episode, you'll have a better understanding of what's working with Facebook (and Instagram) ads right now. Most importantly, you'll be more confident when placing ads because you'll have a strategy for what to test and in which order; which ultimately means it's just a matter of testing and time until you hit on the winning formula for ultimate PPC success. For all the links mentioned in this episode or to join my mailing list visit my show notes page at https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/43. Are you ready to start making Facebooks ads work for your business? Subscribe and Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a ton of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! And if you’re feeling extra generous, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Each review helps other people find my podcast and I also LOVE reading them and finding out what you think about the show. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you so much in advance!

Of all the different forms of marketing and communications, public speaking builds the most trust and credibility in the shortest amount of time. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Whatever the case is for you, the chances are you're already...

Of all the different forms of marketing and communications, public speaking builds the most trust and credibility in the shortest amount of time. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Whatever the case is for you, the chances are you're already doing it and you're doing it more than you think. It might be in small ways and to only a few people, but however you do it, public speaking is simply about sharing a message and delivering it really well. My guest in today's podcast is public speaker extraordinaire, Kayla Conley. Kayla has been public speaking since she was 10 years old (it's a fascinating story) and she's been a member of Toastmasters for 11 years. In this episode, I get Kayla to share her top tips on how to connect with your audience, how to structure a short talk to give at a local networking event and the things you need to do in order to make the best possible impression. However much or little experience you have with public speaking, you're bound to pick up a tidbit or two. In fact, you might find it interesting as you listen to this podcast to pay attention to how Kayla uses stories as part of the conversation. She's really, really good at sharing stories, which is a mark of a great speaker. To get the links to the products Kayla mentioned in the episode for looking after your throat, or anything else that came up during the episode, head over to our show notes page at https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/42. While you're at it, don't forget to join us on my private Facebook group and tell us what you're doing with public speaking. The link for that is in the show notes page also. See you there!

Mindset is everything or so most people seem to say. 25+ years in the personal development world and I'm yet to prove otherwise. But what is the correct mindset when becoming an entrepreneur? Certainly, that mindset is very different from being an...

Mindset is everything or so most people seem to say. 25+ years in the personal development world and I'm yet to prove otherwise. But what is the correct mindset when becoming an entrepreneur? Certainly, that mindset is very different from being an employee in someone else's business. We have more responsibility. The buck stops with us. But it's more than that. When you set up as a freelancer or entrepreneur the biggest challenge you'll ever face is yourself. YOU are the major reason you're not as successful as you'd like to be. It's not so much that you don't have the strategies (although it helps). It's because your success is contingent on you doing the right things every single day even when you don't feel like doing them. At the risk of sounding like some kind of antiquated school teacher, it often boils down to discipline over short-term reward. We sacrifice the things we want to do today for the things we most want tomorrow. With this in mind, I turn to star of the West End stage and Musical Mentor, Sophia Ragavelas-Clutton. Sophia has the most interesting story to tell. More importantly, she's learnt how to master her inner demons and step into her true entrepreneurial self. Sophia shares insights about how she made that switch on the podcast today. She also breaks down her DMO - Daily Method of Operation. If you've never heard of it, a DMO is the set things you do every day to create success in your business. Your DMO may be different to Sophia's, but by understanding how Sophia breaks it down it will give you insights into what you need to do to set your business up for success. This is a great interview and I loved my time with Sophia. I'm sure you will too. For links mentioned in the podcast and to join our Facebook community visit our show notes page at https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/41.

With social video generating 1200% more shares than text and images combined (source: ) it doesn't take a genius to realise that including video in your content marketing strategy is a smart thing to do. Video as ads or to support a...

With social video generating 1200% more shares than text and images combined (source: Small Business Trends) it doesn't take a genius to realise that including video in your content marketing strategy is a smart thing to do. Video as ads or to support a landing page is one thing but in my mind, where video prevails is in building community and positioning you as a thought leader and expert. Everyone calls themselves an expert these days. Fewer prove it by sharing their expertise, thoughts and experiences in a public place, completely free of charge. While you may not like the idea of giving away your expertise for free, it's often exactly what you need to do in order to build sufficient confidence with your audience to get them to buy from you. This is where YouTube comes in. YouTube allows you to share regular content that will be valuable to your target market in a way that people enjoy consuming it. Perhaps most importantly, it keeps you top of mind so that when your prospects are ready to make a purchase, they'll think of you and get in touch. With all this in mind, I turned to my client and friend, Luke Magnay of Clout Media. Luke is a videographer and has coached more people than he cares to remember through making it big on YouTube. As you might expect from the show by now, Luke shares lots of tips to help you get started on YouTube. Do make sure that you download the worksheet that I've drawn up to accompany this episode. I've included a complete 11-page guide taking you through the complete setup and coaching you through the most critical thinking in starting your YouTube channel. Download the guide, find links to low-cost equipment and of course to my guest Luke on my show notes page at https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/40.  If you're thinking about starting a YouTube channel for a business, or if you have one already, I want to hear from you. Join me in my private Facebook group Earning the Right. I'd love to hear about it and find out how you're getting along. I'd also love your feedback and thoughts on the episode. See you there!

The funny thing about being a small business owner is that opportunity always seems to come knocking. Perhaps it's because we're entrepreneurial by nature and we're alert to the next big thing that will catapult our lives forward. Perhaps it's...

The funny thing about being a small business owner is that opportunity always seems to come knocking. Perhaps it's because we're entrepreneurial by nature and we're alert to the next big thing that will catapult our lives forward. Perhaps it's because others see us as open to new ideas. Be that as it may, an opportunity is often around the corner. The trouble is that not all opportunities are worthy of our time, commitment and resources. If you're not careful you can get waylaid on new projects that never bare fruit. Worse still, many opportunities can steer you away from more profitable activities. It can cost you time, money and even reputation. So how do you evaluate an idea or an opportunity as worthy of your time? What you need is a way to validate ideas and work out whether they're right for you and your audience. This is where today's podcast comes in. We look at the key decision making in establishing whether an idea is right for you. That means validating it against your own personal goals, validating it against others and then testing the idea. Next time you have a great new idea or an opportunity comes along, test this decision making out. I'm confident it should put you on the right path. For everything relating to today's podcast - links, book recommendations, groups, etc., visit my show notes pages at https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/39.

You may not call them ‘customers.' They may be your clients, service users, patients, subscribers, volunteers, buyers, members, fans, students, colleagues… but they're all customers by another name. As business owners, understanding our...

You may not call them ‘customers.’ They may be your clients, service users, patients, subscribers, volunteers, buyers, members, fans, students, colleagues… but they’re all customers by another name. As business owners, understanding our customers (and prospective customers) is invaluable. My guest today is customer service expert and trainer, Rebecca Winn. Rebecca spent seven years working in a complaints handling center and it's fair to say she's picked up more than a thing or two. In this episode, Rebecca shares Three Customer Needs we simply must meet if we’re going to turn an unhappy customer's frown upside down. Better than that, by applying these principles, you're more likely to win REPEAT BUSINESS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND REFERRALS – the easiest way to grow our business and LOVE what we do. For all the links mentioned in today's show or to join my private Facebook group, Earning the Right; head over to our show notes pages at www.getrealaboutbusiness.com/38.

Sometimes things happen that throw you off your game. It makes you question yourself. You get frustrated and before you know it you end up making the whole situation worse. Today's pint-sized episode originated from a message I wanted to share in...

Sometimes things happen that throw you off your game. It makes you question yourself. You get frustrated and before you know it you end up making the whole situation worse. Today's pint-sized episode originated from a message I wanted to share in my Facebook group, Earning the Right. As I was editing the audio I realised the message was also relevant to you, my dear listener. As such, I share it with you here. Full disclosure here: My message if heavily influenced by one of my heroes, Robin Sharma. I've quoted him often. For links to him and my Facebook group, Earning the Right, visit my show notes page at https://getrealaboutbusiness.com/37.  We'll be back with our usual format next week. In the meantime, enjoy!

About 75% of the population are influenced by business awards. Of those people, 25% are heavily influenced by business awards and the remainder are moderately influenced by them. There is no doubt then that if you're in a crowded marketplace one of...