The Starters Club Podcast - Learn From Entrepreneurs - Get Your Business Started - Grow Your Current Business

Rock Thomas went from needing money to a successful real estate business.  How did he do it so quickly?  By finding someone who was exactly where he wanted to be, and finding out how they did it.  Then he created his own path using techniques that someone already taught him. He now not only does real estate, but has a successful seminar and mastermind business, where he teaches others to get to the seven-figure mark.  His story is truly an inspiration, and he teaches how to find your own path, while not re-inventing the wheel, and how to stay motivated, even when things might not be going as you hoped. To connect with Rock, visit: http://rockthomas.com/ (http://rockthomas.com/) Starting and growing your business?  Then make sure you join our Facebook Group: www.GetABizStarted.com

Jess Bahr is back, and this time we're talking Pinterest Ads, and why you shouldn't be ignoring them for your business.  In this podcast we go into the hows and whys of using them, and how to get the most from them in your business.  

In today's online world starting a service based business can feel like a pretty simple task.  However, most people get in and find it's not quite as easy as they think. Maggie and Brittany of Scoop Industries specialize in helping service-based companies grow.  They were kind enough to come by and give some tips and tricks for getting your service-based business discovered, and how to put the systems in place to grow! You can learn more about Scoop Industries at ScoopIndustries.com If you're looking for help in starting or growing your business, also be sure to join our Facebook at: GetABizStarted.com

Kasia Johnson of Merge Forward, helps some of today's biggest brands with their branding and marketing. We've had several conversations about branding, and what it really means for businesses. Yes, it's so much more than a logo, however, it also doesn't need to be the extensive crazy expensive thing that we all think of when we think of companies like Apple. Even if you're a solo shop, there are small things you can do now that make a huge difference in how your business is perceived by the world. Learn more about Kasia at http://MergeForward.com (MergeForward.com) Also, join us in our Facebook Group at GetABizStarted.com

Last year I ventured into my first live event, knowing absolutely nothing about doing one. I can't tell you it went off without a hitch, however, it was one of the best decisions I ever made for my business. I had no idea what would be on the other side for myself and my business by doing one. I share why I did one, the ins and outs of putting one together, and some basics you should know as to how to make this work for your business. For more info on my event visit: http://www.entrepreneursummitdallas.com

Afton Negrea works with some of today's biggest online brands, and she's teaching us how they utilize their networks and the power of social media to catapult their businesses. We're covering three tips that you can use right now to start getting people flocking to your business, simply by making a few small tweaks in the things you're already doing. And in true Afton form, she's giving us some amazing tips and resources to help make your business life even easier. You can find more about Afton at AftonNegrea.com Also, be sure to join us over in our Facebook Group at www.GetaBizStarted.com

I can speak from experience when I say writing a book can be a huge game changer in your business. It immediately positions you as an expert and shines a completely different light upon you. It can seem like a daunting task, and that's why I wanted Morgan of Paper Raven Books to talk about how to break down the process and use this to leverage your business. In this episode we talk about: How to be strategic with your book. How to get the thoughts from your head to a book format How to market your book  How and why to think long term P.S. Have you bought my book yet? If not, grab it now! bit.ly/masterthestart Morgan offers some of her best advice here: 12 Steps to Write a Book that Builds Your Business & Boosts Your Platform (even if you're "not a writer"): http://paperravenbooks.com/erin (http://paperravenbooks.com/erin)

Let's be honest, Snapchat got a bad reputation. Between inappropriate pictures and strange filters, it was the app made just for teenagers. Then marketers got a hold of it. Now it can be a great tool for your business, but let it be known it might not be the right medium for all businesses. Before you close down the potential for this app, make sure you listen to what Jed Record has to say about how you can utilize this tool for your business. Check out JedRecord at: www.JedRecord.com Make sure to join our Facebook Group at: GetABizStarted.com!  

Have you ever found yourself really excited about something, only to eventually talk yourself out of doing it with questions like 'who the hell are you?'  'Why would you think about doing something like this?' Or a statement of 'you're crazy to believe this will work.' The good news is that you're not crazy.  We all have that inner voice talking us out of greatness and doing amazing things.  There's just a difference between people who succeed and those who don't.  Those who succeed have learned to turn off the voice. Coach Jennie, has named this inner voice 'Hilda', and she's been using her with her coaching clients for years.  She has now published a book that talks about the four types of Hilda-isms that we seem to tell ourselves the most.   You can grab your copy here --> Copy of Hilda

Many companies don't focus marketing efforts on Pinterest because they feel it might not be the best fit for their business. However, Jess Bahr, of JessBahr.com, gives me so many reasons why you shouldn't be ignoring this social platform. It's almost as if Pinterest is the best of Facebook and Google all in one. Jess breaks down how to utilize this amazing platform for your business, and tells us how to get the best results for not just getting a pin up, but making it last for months! You're leaving money on the table if you're not using Pinterest in your business yet, and Jess gives us a ton of reasons why. Also, be sure to join us in our amazing community over at http://GetABizStarted.com (GetABizStarted.com)  

Shalon Ironroad was once a VA who now helps business owners get their business set-up to get the best return on their investment when hiring VA's.  Many times business owners are so overwhelmed, that they it doesn't end up being a great hiring decision.   As a business owner, you should always be looking for your best return on investment, and if you set your business up the right way, a VA will help you do just that....make you money. Shalon talks about how to set this up the right way, and how to not feel so overwhelmed, how to hire the right way, and how to set up your business for more profits by hiring.

Yes, I went away for a few weeks, and here's why.  Along with why as entrepreneurs we have to listen to our bodies and not try to be super human!

Joshua Dorkin was a teacher who decided to be a real estate investor.  After discovering the market was full of people more about making money than actually helping, he decided to do something about it. Using a little bit of web design experience from college he launched BiggerPockets.com.  Over the years, the site slowly grew until it became a full-time income for Joshua.  He shares how he got it rolling, some of the struggles he has faced, and what has made this such a successful site over 10 years later.

You find someone who has a similar audience, you love their message, and you think dang, we need to work on something together. You reach out to them, they love the idea, you love the idea, you put together a course, and all is rainbows and puppies. But then something goes wrong..... Now what? You're not officially in a business partnership because this course or event was created on a handshake. Who is responsible?Who gets the list of attendees?Who is liable?All of a sudden all of these questions come up, and you're left trying to figure them out far too late in the game. Yes, even affiliate marketing is an incredible way to build your business. However, you should set yourself up so you're protected and planning. So just in case if something goes wrong, you're covered. Tamsen and I had been asked to cover this topic, and I was excited to because I think it's really an important one. We talk about: What to think about before you jump into something that feels like a 'no-brainer'.How to protect yourself if you're being featured in someone's course.The questions to ask for your next joint course or event.And how to set-up your affiliate marketing to protect yourself and do what's right for your brand.

Carrie and Daniel Himel are not only entrepreneurs, but are married. About ten years ago, they started their first business venture together, which turned out to be a huge success. After doing separate things for a while, they decided to start an event called Middle School Match-up, which is a baseball tournament for Middle Schoolers.

Dr. Susan O'Malley's story is an incredible journey of beating the odds time and time again.  After dropping out of college, she worked as a secretary for 11 years.  When her life took a drastic change, she decided to go back to school.  It was then when she changed her major from being a nutritionist to being a doctor. After she was rejected from every medical school in the country, perseverance kicked in.  It took her that long to figure out what her dream was, and she wasn't going to be shut out of it.  She was accepted just a few weeks before school started. Times had changed, as she found herself pregnant and no husband.  However, she decided to follow through and go to school. She went from emergency room doctor to running her own extremely successful med spa, and now is an author and speaker.

It was book launch week!  Through hell, fears, questions, and pushing through, 'Master the Start' made it out and made it as a #1 Amazon Best Seller. In this podcast I share what worked, and what didn't work.  And why it took me so long to get it completed! You can buy your version at: bit.ly/masterthestart2

Speaking can be a very lucrative career, in addition to being a great way to build your business.  However, as Joleene describes it there are three levels to speaking and starting to pull yourself in the top two can be a difficult thing.   She gives some great tips on where to begin when you're ready to up your game and start getting paid.  So much valuable info in this one!

Facebook groups have become a popular way to build your business' community.  How it's typically done is where you have one group, and then you make comments, ask questions, connect people, etc.   Gary Leland has taken Facebook Groups to an entirely new level, and is using it as a way to build and connect the entire Fast Pitch Softball Community in the U.S.  He gives us some tips and tricks for how he manages it all, and how he is using them to build his business.

Facebook groups are the latest and greatest way to build a community for your business.  However, as great as they are, you also have to be sure to protect yourself from what legally could happen to you.   Yes, it's not a lot of fun to think about.  However, by putting precautions in place now, you could save yourself a lot of headaches down the line. Tamsen Horton of LaunchingLegal.com gives some great advice on what you need to think about, and how to protect yourself.

Live streaming is the newest rave in business, and I can speak from personal experience that it's a game changer!   There are many ways you can utilize the likes of Periscope and Meerkat to build your business, and I thought I would bring the Live Streaming Expert, Brian Fanzo to help break it all down.   We cover which one you should spend your time on, how often you should stream, and how to use this new incredible tool to transform your business. You can find Brian at isocialfanz.com

Sabina Hitchen has a long history of PR, and I was so excited when she agreed to come on the show to discuss how we should start pitching ourselves like the pros do. In this podcast, she teaches us how to dissect our favorite magazines, and how to pitch ourselves like the pros do. You can find more about Sabina at Sabinaknows.com

By now you should know that video can add tremendous value to your business.  However, there's so much to it than just posting a video on YouTube every now and then.  Video adds a personal touch, and allows people to feel more connected to you. Holly gave some incredible tips on how to dominate video in your business.  Get the full list here:  bit.ly/videoisthekey

I can't get enough of stories like this.  Cynthia Jamin had an idea and a dream.  There was no design experience behind it, but she knew what she wanted to build.  So she took a class, and started from there.  She met the contacts she needed and kept taking one step in front of the other! The story behind her business is pretty incredible too, as Cynthia suffered some pretty big pain in her childhood.  Going back to the main core that girls just want to feel beautiful, she formed Twirly Girl (http://TwirlyGirlShop.com (TwirlyGirlShop.com)) as a way to create dressed that make every girl beautiful (and now women too)!  

In only 30 days I have watched Periscope make an incredible difference in my business.  I'm sharing some tips and tricks of how you can use it for your business, how to get over the fear of video, and how to get the most from this incredible tool.

Daniele Hargenrader has an incredible story.  At 9 she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a diagnosis that completely rocked her family.  Then just three years later, her father died suddenly.   Daniele became depressed and let food take over as she grew to over 200 pounds.   Finally, at age 19 she decided to take back her life through diet and exercise.  She now teaches other how to reclaim their life through coaching, online programs, and an upcoming book.   You can find more about her book at: http://www.diabetesbook.com (www.diabetesbook.com)

I was so happy when The Audacity Coach, Jennie Mustafa-Julock joined me to talk about a topic that every entrepreneur suffers from, that nagging inner voice.  Jennie has kindly named her Hilda, and in this interview we talked about who Hilda is, why she always seems to show up, and what we can do to get rid of her once and for all! You can find more about Jennie over at http://coachjennie.com (CoachJennie.com)

Networking is one of the number one ways you can build your business, and it's honestly yours for the taking.   Whether you have a local or online business, this podcast is full of incredible tips to utilize your current networks, and build your new networks in order to grow your business.  Kisha Allen over http://www.kishalallen.com (http://kishalallen.com) gave some incredible info on how to stand out and grow your networks.

Rose's story is incredible after dropping out of college to pursue her dream job.  She picked up and moved to another state, only to find it wasn't going to be as easy as she initially thought.   After landing what she thought was her dream job, but only being paid $400 a month doing it, Rose started venturing into other outlets.   She slowly found her calling working on Photography designs, and soon started helping photographers with their branding.  Just recently, she's been able to bring her husband on board, and together they've tripled their business in just a few short months.  Rose's story is about persaverance, knowing your passion, and discovering what you truly love doing by taking a chance and starting.

Deb Cantrell, may have the title of 'chef', but she's so much more.  She's an Executive Chef, Senior Certified Personal Chef, Dietary Consultant, author, speaker, and mentor, just to name a few. Her story started when her son was diagnosed with high functioning autism, but she refused to live with labels.  So she started with food, and found she was able to heal him through diet. She now not only helps other families eat better, she also teaches other chefs how to build their businesses. Her story is pretty incredible, and she tells us how she's built a thriving business from scratch!  

The 10 P's of Success are truly a roadmap to get you from discovering your purpose to positioning yourself in the marketplace.   Sherry Prindle goes in-depth on how you can take your experiences to dig deep into your customer's minds.  Then from there, how to set your marketing where you're hitting home their pains and setting yourself apart from the rest.  This is truly a can't miss.  You download the worksheet over at  http://www.thestartersclub.com/104

If you're looking for outside of the box marketing ideas to build your business, then you might want to consider speaking. No, this isn't about traveling the world getting on stages and speaking in front of thousands of people.   This is really about first tapping into your local market to work on a 20 minute, informative speech, and starting to build your business in ways you might not have thought of before. Jeff Klein of The Speaker Co-op stopped by to talk about the first steps of coming up with your speech, how to be prepared, and who to call to get in front of your next audience.

In this week's episode I'm talking about what it really takes to run a seamless business.  Just like with anything in life it requires mastering the fundamentals, and constant trials.

Meredith Hill has an incredible story of starting from a successful career on Wall Street.  She found herself as an analyst on Wall Street making really good money.  When a baby came in Meredith's life, she thought a lot about what she wanted while she was on maternity leave.  What she realized was that she loved working, but she just didn't love what she was doing. A year after that leave Meredith made the decision that she was going to follow her passion.  A year later, she decided she was going start her own travel business, and specifically travel to Africa. Meredith was able to sell that business, and has now started two other businesses all related to the travel industry.  She teaches people how to build a business around being a travel expert! You can read more about the interview over at http://www.thestartersclub.com/101 (http://www.thestartersclub.com/101)

Happy 100th Episode!   I'm getting open and honest about what I've learned as I approach a year in my business.   I go in depth about my 3 lessons learned, and what you need to do in order to get your business finally started, or make it grow to that level you always dreamed of!

As entrepreneurs, too many time we put our needs on the back burner, as we're in building mode.  However, that ends up back firing because sluggishness and being tired all of the time takes over, and suddenly we're not performing where we should be.   Adria DeCorte of AdriaDeCorte.com gave some great tips as to why it's so important to make sure you're eating your best, and how as a busy entrepreneur, you can make sure you don't slip.

My first marriage was a casualty to entrepreneurship.  I put my head down, and hoped things would get better as I built my business to massive success.  However, when it was time to sell, I was staring at a complete stranger.   Building a business is fun, but no matter what you're doing, you have to still remember those things that are most important to you, your relationships.   Susie Miller came by to talk about how we can keep our relationships going, even while in start-up mode, and the little things you can do so you don't make the same mistake I made in my first business and marriage!

In this Friday segment, I talk about changes being made in my business, and the podcast.  I also give a tip one single thing that has made the most tremendous difference in my life and business.

Logos can be an incredible way for you to represent your business.   However, with all the options of what you can get from $5 to thousands, it's hard to know where you should be spending your hard earned dollars.   In this podcast we break down the questions you should ask, what you should expect, and the difference in what you get in something like Fiverr than going to a designer.

It may feel like in order to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to be really busy.  However, most of the time we're making it way harder on ourselves than it needs to be.   Val Geisler of Aspire & Grow came by to talk about some great free tools to make your life just a little easier when it comes to being an entrepeneur.  She also gives some great tips on how to get the most use out of them!

Anthony Shetler has an awesome story about overcoming adversity to become a professional skateboarder.  After a successful career, he knew he needed to do something else, but wasn't willing to give up on his passion of skateboarding.  So he created another business where he builds his own skateboarding company.   Anthony talks about what drives him every day, his passion, and how he's built the successful business that he has.

Building your list is everything when you're building your business.  And in order to do that you need to have an opt-in page and offer that convert. Tim Paige of Leadpages came by to break down what makes a great offer, the things you should and shouldn't do, and how to bring in more customers with less effort. There are tons of great tips in this one! You can find more about Leadpages here --> http://link.leadpages.net/aff_c?offer_id=6&aff_id=9596 (Leadpages Info)

I can't stress enough how much entrepreneurship is truly a journey, but the key is you have to begin.   Carmen Perez of Effortless Living Online started as a travel agent who booked girlfriend getaway trips.  As she saw how difficult it was for people to get a way, her business evolved into so much more. She shares her journey and the things she has done to have a thriving business. 

Hiring can be one of the hardest decisions you make as a business owner.  You may not know when the right time is, where to begin, and even what to pay.   Amy Wright came by to talk about all of these questions, and gave some great points on when to start thinking about it, and how to approach it for the most success.

Claudia Harvey was a corporate mom, trying to juggle it all.  After climbing the ladder, but feeling like she was needed to recharge, she sat down one day and told her husband she was done. It was during this break when a conversation with a great friend sparked a business idea.  In no time they found themselves on the Dragon's Den (Canada's version of Shark Tank), and landed Kevin O'Leary as a partner. Since there, their business Dig-It has seen tremendous growth, and now Claudia travels the world speaking, and teaching others how to launch their products.   She tells her story, and how she has found so much success!

Confidence can make or break your business, and many times we don't realize it's a lack of confidence that we're really suffering from.   Jenn Scalia, talks about how to find out if it's confidence you're lacking, and what to do about it to make your business soar!

After starting and selling some successful businesses, Tim Gillette spent some time figuring out what to do next.   It was when just a little well known, Zig Ziglar, who happened to be a friend and former client, gave him some incredible adivce.  He first told him about the speaking and coaching industry, and told him Tim would be great at it.  However, he also told him that Tim being true to himself was what was going to propel his career.   Tim took that advice and hasn't looked back since, making a career out of his love of motorcycles and rock and roll!  

Facebook Ads can be hard to navigate, and you could end up wasting a lot of money trying to figure it all out.  I also feel like you can't really utilize all that Facebook Ads have to offer until you've reached the 2,000 like mark.   Mason Pelt, a digital strategist with Mason Pelt.com gave some incredible insights on how you can use this tool to start learning more about your customers, and in turn, building your business.  Loved the different spin he brought to a topic that everyone seems to be talking about.  

No one ever said entrepreneurship was easy, and that you will never make mistakes. What's important is that you start, keep moving, and learn from the things you may do wrong.   Lindsey Anderson had so much to share in this podcast, and it was awesome to learn how she turned her business around, lessons she learned to bring in more clients, and how she's now helping entrepreneurs make their businesses better.

Email marketing can be an incredible tool to build your business.  However, there is a strategy to it, and Brittany Becher of Foundation and Flow stopped by to break it all down for us. We talked consistency, formatting, trip wires, and nurture campaigns.

One thing I always love to tell people, is that you just because you may think you want to be an entrepreneur, doesn't mean you have to have it all figured out right away.   Joanie Connell has that exact story, where she just started moving on a journey in her career, solely by moving forward with things that interested her.  It all lead to starting her own job to follow a passion and allow her more flexibility with her child.  Years later, she now is a published author with a thriving business.