Networking is still one of the most powerful ways to grow your business, yet a lot of people go about it the wrong way, or try to skip it altogether. The problem with that is, one person, when it’s the right person, is all it takes to explode your business to the next level.    This week’s guest, Jake Kelfer, has made a wildly successful career working with major brands like Adidas and the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s also helped his clients use networking to achieve the results they want, whether it’s to get booked on more podcasts, bring in experts for a summit, or create partnerships to grow their business to the next level.   In today’s Internet-based world, it’s easier than ever to connect with people. Jake will show you how to use that to your advantage in a way other people appreciate instead of run from.   Tune into this episode to discover exactly why your next level may be less about what’s next, and more about who’s next.   Plus get Jake’s framework for successfully networking with the right people for you and your business. I Want The Slow Path (Said No One Ever) Without other people, you cannot have a business. People are who buy your products and services. People are who tell their family, friends, and peers about you. People are also who you learn from. It’s true, you can slowly and tediously make all your own mistakes; or, you can learn from people who’ve already made them, and get where you want to be faster. Networking is another way to avoid the slow path and get where you want to be sooner rather than later.   Turn Your Style Into Opportunity Successful networking is about connecting with the right people for YOU. Doing that means combining your style with the right intention for reaching out to a specific person. No matter what, you’ll face rejection, but when you combine your style and personality with intention, it saves you a ton of time and energy reaching out to the wrong people. You’ll also dramatically increase the likelihood of connecting with people who are a good fit for you.   Don’t Be Spammy No one appreciates a total stranger getting in touch only to say, “Hey, here’s what you can do for me!” When reaching out to people for the first time, don’t lead with offers and requests. Instead, play the long game by building the relationship. Care enough to get their name right. Study their profiles and content to find commonalities you can use to relate to them. Everyone wants to feel like they matter, and you can inspire that feeling by taking time to learn about them.   Always Follow Up Just because someone doesn’t respond to your first contact attempt doesn’t mean they don’t want to connect. It could be they’re busy and they forgot. It could be they aren’t sure if you’re just another spammy drive-by, or if you’re someone who’s actually worth their time and energy. It could be a million other things. Instead of jumping ship if they don’t instantly reply, give them a little time, then follow up. Remember that the point isn’t to be a pest. It’s to open the door so they can take a step through it. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt before they’ll take that first step.   Focus on Quality, Not Quantity You don’t need a million followers to make a million dollars. You just need the right number of quality followers. It’s the same with networking. You don’t need to connect with everyone on the planet. You just need the right people. One right person will get you further than one hundred people who aren’t right. Sometimes it can take one hundred attempts to find the right people, so it’s important to keep reaching out. Just don’t get hung up on the numbers. Go for quality.   Outline of This Episode One new connection can change your world [3:05] The reason for our success [8:55] Meeting the right people’s not about luck, it’s about this [14:30] How to reach out (and how not to) [18:15] Once you build the relationship, maintain it [32:45] You don’t need quantity when you’ve got quality [38:30] You can reach ANYBODY [44:00] Resources & People Mentioned Visit Jake Kelfer’s website: www.JakeKelfer.com Connect with Jake Kelfer on Instagram: @jakekelfer Jake Kelfer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakekelfer Jake Kelfer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakekelferjourney Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Just The Tips, with James P. Friel and Dean Holland

Elevate Your Network With Jake Kelfer, Ep 170

This has been a pretty ugly year for most people, and the temptation to write this year off and start fresh in January is stronger than usual.   Curling up and riding it out is certainly one option, but another one is to put your foot on the gas and crush the fourth quarter.   James and Dean have been on both sides of this mindset. They’ve had years where they slowed things down, and years where they dug in and made December their best month of the year.   If this year hasn’t been your best year, and you’re thinking of curling up and hiding out, tune into this episode for James and Dean’s best tips on making the most of your fourth quarter, no matter what’s happened in your business this year. Be The Shepherd, Not The Dictator When Dean and his wife started their cosmetics e-commerce business, they held tight to the idea that they had to do what other cosmetics companies did. As a result, they struggled to even get a foothold, much less a profit. It was only after they stopped trying to dictate their idea to the market, so they could see what they were missing and fix it, that the business took off. Forcing your idea on the market NEVER works. You’ve got to be the shepherd of your idea, steering it where it needs to be based on market feedback. Instead Of Guessing, Ask The better you know your market, the better you get at reading between the lines and creating offers they want. But sometimes the fastest way to a profitable offer is just to ask your market. Remember to keep in mind that what people say they want, and what they’ll actually buy, are not always one and the same. But even if that’s the case sometimes, asking still provides invaluable intel on how you can serve your market. It could be that a significant percentage of your customers want help with the same thing, and aren’t sure how to articulate it to you. If you have no idea where to start amping up 4th quarter sales, start by asking your customers what they need.   Develop Relentless Solution Focus Recently James took a vacation on Lake Powell with a big group of family and friends. Everyone was on a big houseboat with no cell service. During the trip, James received an invitation to extend his trip by a week. The problem was, everyone had carpooled to the lake with some friends who lived hours away, and would not be extending their trip. That meant the only way James and his family could stay an extra week was if they found a rental car, so they could drive themselves to their friends’ house after the second week. James’ first several attempts at procuring a rental car fell through, but James remained relentlessly focused on finding a solution until he found it. Thanks to that relentless focus, he and his family enjoyed an extra week on the lake. Finding the right offer takes the same relentless focus, and so will dominating the 4th quarter.   Stop Predicting Your Own Failure “I’m just going to write this year off and start fresh in January.” That’s what several people have told James and Dean. That mindset is a symptom of mistaking yourself for a fortune teller, by predicting your own failure before you’ve even tried. It’s worth noting that the people who struggle most are masters at predicting their own failure, and it’s not because they try something and it doesn’t work. It’s because they assume it won’t work, so they don’t even try. Don’t fall into the fortune teller trap. Make your success inevitable by getting your ideas into the world and adopting relentless solution focus.   Be Mindful Of “Reality” Everyone wants to start with tactics and strategies. They’re important, yes. But even the best tactics and strategies the world has ever known won’t help you if you don’t have the mindset to properly implement them. Mindset is the foundation of your success, and one of the best things you can do for your mindset is to be mindful of what you allow to shape your reality. Those private jet photos you see on Instagram are probably staged in a warehouse. Those supposed loner entrepreneurs with no supportive family in their life don’t have to become YOUR success reality. Be careful what you allow to shape your beliefs about what’s possible. Outline of This Episode December, The Biggest Month Of The Year [3:46] Why You Have To Experiment [8:38] Avoiding A Race To The Bottom [16:30] Ask Your Customers What They Want [24:21] Have Relentless Focus On Finding A Solution [28:40] You’re Not A Fortune Teller [38:12] Mindset Before Skillset, Always [43:15]   Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

How To Crush The Fourth Quarter Summary, Ep 169

Success in business comes to those who can identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. The people who struggle most are both the ones who wouldn’t know an opportunity if it punched them in the face, and the ones who see opportunities everywhere, but struggle to identify and act on the profitable ones. Either they freeze, or they go down so many rabbit holes, they never get traction.   Jeremy Parker, CEO and Co-Founder of promotional product website Swag.com, has been identifying and capitalizing on profitable opportunities for over a decade, including during the Great Recession back in 2007.   Even with the pandemic happening, and companies cutting back on promotional product purchases, Swag.com had its best three months EVER. And it’s all because Jeremy understands how to identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. Tune into this episode to learn from Jeremy how you can do the same, because this is a skill that can ensure you succeed no matter how bad things seem.   The rise of Swag.com Originally Jeremy wanted to be a filmmaker. But after realizing how difficult it was to make a living doing that, and discovering he wasn’t all that passionate about it, Jeremy started a t-shirt business. It seemed like an easy way to begin. Turns out it wasn’t as easy as he thought, but still, Jeremy was enjoying some success. Then the Great Recession hit, and stores he’d built relationships with stopped buying what he was offering. Instead of folding, Jeremy asked, where’s the opportunity with this? One of his ideas--which he describes “as gimmicky” got noticed by Mark Cuban, which paved the way for the rise of swag.com.   Success during the pandemic The promotional industry is in shambles right now. Companies are letting people go instead of bringing them on, which means there’s far less need for branded company products. Yet Swag.com just enjoyed its best three months EVER. That is the power of identifying and following through with profitable opportunities. There are always problems that need solving, including some that are still coming down the pipeline. That is and always will be the case, no matter what’s going on in the world.   Beware idea attachment Marrying your ideas is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Remove your ego from the situation, because it’s not about you. It’s about what the market needs. You cannot make them need or want something they don’t need or want. Get your minimum viable product together and get it into the world quickly. See how the market responds, and adjust accordingly. If the minimum viable product doesn’t get traction, you’ve just saved yourself vast sums of time, money, and energy.   You’ve just got to start Where you start is rarely where you end up, which is why the most successful entrepreneurs in the world start fast. Another of the worst things you can do is drag out getting started. Whether you succeed or fail, you’ll learn from it. Very often, failing has more to teach us than success. No matter how good you are at identifying opportunities, you will not strike gold every single time. Get your ideas into the world quickly, get feedback, and learn and adapt. It may take several attempts to find your next (or first) big winner. But the only way you’ll ever find it is to just start.   The right way to network Networking is a proven way to connect with the people and resources you need to grow your business. It’s also something people tend to overthink. Jeremy’s best advice to get the most out of your networking efforts is pretty simple: Put yourself out there. Get your lines in the water and see who bites. The first few people you meet may not be who you need, but they may be connected to the right people for you. Since you can’t know for sure, get as many lines in the water as you can. The more lines you have, the better your chances of getting the right bites.   Remember the mission (and remind your team) A motivated, effective team can not only help you bring opportunities to life, they can help you identify more. And a team that believes in your company’s mission and vision is proven to perform better at even their day to day role. Reminding your team of your company’s mission is key to strong motivation, especially in tough times. Remember to stoke that fire.   Outline of This Episode Successful, but not excited about it [5:50] What not to do when opportunity punches you in the face [10:45] Why adaptation is key to success [14:02] Your best shot at avoiding the duds [17:05] What to do if you struggle to see opportunities [24:30] Stop waiting for “that one big idea” [27:56] How to create relationships that create success [31:10] Motivating your team AND yourself [40:40] Resources & People Mentioned Swag.com Connect with Jeremy Parker on LinkedIn Connect with Jeremy Parker on Twitter Guest on YouTube Check out his Podcast Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

How to Identify a Real Opportunity in the Market with Jeremy Parker, Ep 168

In just a few short years, Brandon and Kaelin Poulin took LadyBoss Weight Loss from a startup to a company with 350,000 customers. In 2019, LadyBoss, which helps women lose weight, transform their health, and love themselves, was named number 4 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States.   Tune into this episode for a behind-the-scenes, comprehensive look at what it takes to grow and scale a successful company like LadyBoss - the strategies, the mindsets, the vision, the customer relationships, all of it - in a few years instead of a few decades. Network marketing’s most valuable lessons Before they ever met, Brandon and Kaelin started in network marketing, and found their way into weight loss, health, and fitness. They learned succeeding in network marketing requires developing and maintaining relationships. It requires listening to people, and finding out what they really want. And it requires facing rejection, over and over and over. Network marketing also taught them about personal development, something they know is critical to both their early success and their ongoing success. Everything you do starts with you, and if you’re tripping over the same issues within yourself, it’ll trip up everything you try to do. Dig in and make something happen After five years with another company, Brandon and Kaelin were ready to start their own company. They were two months behind on rent, on their car payment - basically everything, and in danger of sinking even further. With their backs against the wall, they locked themselves away from the outside world for two months and worked around the clock to launch their company. It didn’t take fairy dust or unicorns - just the commitment to dig in and do it. Get off the shiny penny highway With the abundance of tools, trainings and strategies out there, Brandon and Kaelin often found themselves tempted by the shiny penny highway. Oh, another cool software! Oh, another marketing strategy to try! The barrage of things to try was constant. To avoid getting trapped on the shiny penny highway, Brandon and Kaelin always brought it back to what their customers and their company needed at that time. If what they were looking at didn’t fit with their vision, it wasn’t right for their business. It meant saying no to a lot of things. It also allowed them to simplify, while simultaneously (and quickly) growing their company and better serving their customers. Don’t shut out your customers A lot of companies think being aloof with and too cool for their customers is the right way to be. Brandon and Kaelin see it differently. They know, from years of experience, how crucial the customer relationship is to their success. Rather than shut their customers out, they welcome communication with their customers. They’ll take customers by the hand, so to speak, and help them walk to that next level. It’s a powerful reminder that your customers are your best asset. Without them, you don’t have a business. Don’t shut them out. You always have the power Brandon and Kaelin point out something a lot of successful people come to realize: That once you get to a certain level, your success is all other people see. But they’ve been kicked in the teeth, made mistakes, and had to find different ways of doing things. And they know it’s likely to continue on that way, because that’s just the nature of business. The reason Brandon and Kaelin have been so successful isn’t because they haven’t faced challenges, it’s because they know they have the power, always, to overcome them. Believing and accepting that no matter what comes your way, you have the power to deal with it and find another way forward, is a must-have mindset for all business owners.   Outline of This Episode Backs against the wall [05:29] Trial by fire [12:40] Get off the shiny penny highway [20:56] Remember who you’re serving [29:36] Stop pushing your customers aside [34:01] The secret to aligning as a team [38:48] What to do when the hits keep coming [46:15] Resources & People Mentioned LadyBoss Weight Loss: https://ladyboss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ladyboss/ https://www.facebook.com/LadyBossKaelin https://www.youtube.com/c/LadyBossWeightLoss Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

How to Scale Your Company Fast, with Brandon & Kaelin Poulin, Ep 167

Longtime listeners of Just the Tips know that Dean and I are in an epic race to see who can finish their book first. It was a challenge set by Ken Dunn, our guest on episode 44, and as of this recording, there’s no real easy way to put this, I’m mopping the floor with Dean. I may even be able to finish my book and come back and write his. But aside from the friendly competition (which isn’t that friendly and which I am winning), putting my thoughts down in a book has been great for me to help organize my ideas around why entrepreneurs hit roadblocks. So on today’s episode of Just the Tips, I’m talking about the ideas I’m working through in my book, and hopefully this sneak peek will help all of you if you encounter a roadblock. The three false beliefs Some entrepreneurs feel like they need to do everything themselves. And not only can they not do everything themselves, they shouldn’t do everything themselves. And there are three false beliefs that drive entrepreneurs to take on too much. The first is a sort of hero complex, where entrepreneurs can feel like they are the reason the company exists, and everyone else exists to take tasks off of their plates. But once you build a team, you need to identify people who have superpowers that cover your weaknesses. If this sounds like you, you need to tune into this week’s episode of Just the Tips. What to do if you can’t afford to hire So let’s say you’ve convinced yourself that you are ready to delegate, what’s the next, inevitable roadblock? You’re not sure you can afford to hire anyone. I have a very detailed McDonald’s analogy in this episode that you just have to hear, but the short and long of it is that every hour you don’t have someone who can do something better than you can, you’re not making the money you think you’re making. You’re effectively losing money. It’s a difficult thing to wrap one’s brain around, and of course it doesn’t fix the problem of being cash-strapped, but I think this bit of advice could really help Just the Tips listeners. Buy back your own time When you’re thinking of hiring someone, don’t think of it as paying them for your time. Think of it as buying back your own time. Because every chance you have to buy back your time so you’re not working on low-value tasks frees you up to work on high-value tasks. And if that seems a little selfish to you, think of it this way: Anytime you are not optimizing your time and doing the highest-value work, you are restricting the flow of money to other people, too. As Dean and I discuss on this episode, payday is the best day for an entrepreneur, because you know you’re paying people who can then go on to have a good life Trust people to work for you So the third false belief, then, is that you can’t trust someone else to do a good job. And it’s not just that you’re a control freak and you want to do everything. It’s just that you don’t have a feedback loop set up so that you can verify that you’re spending your money well. You need to have accountability, and you need to have a way for both you and the person working for you to know they’re delivering value. If you have a system in place, then you can ease some of this anxiety. This week’s Just the Tips is all about the psychology of being an entrepreneur, and destroying Dean Holland in the book race. That too. Outline of This Episode [2:00] Currently owning Dean in our book competition [3:48] Why some people get stuck [6:40] The first false belief [13:10] The second false belief [20:25] Buy back your time [30:00] Stop being a control freak [36:45] Doing stuff because it’s quicker than training someone else [43:45] You’re a busy fool Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The Three False Beliefs Holding Entrepreneurs Back, Ep 168

How to consistently create offers your ideal customers find irresistible is a part of business that challenges even the most seasoned, successful entrepreneurs. And once you’ve got them in the door, how do you continue serving them, so they stick around, keep buying, and keep benefiting?   The one, the only, Bearded Wonder of the United Kingdom (aka Dean) discovered a powerful, profitable way to create an offer his customers bought, LOVED, and profited from, even after insisting they “didn’t have the money” to buy it! It was that irresistible!   Join James and The Bearded Wonder himself (aka Dean) for this week’s episode to get the inside scoop on Dean’s crazy-amazing and crazy-profitable offer creation strategy. Outline of This Episode Start with these basics [2:29] How Dean got the sign-ups [15:55] You must over-deliver [26:15] Everyone is a buyer [35:00] Talk to your customers [46:30] 3 major points discussed   Read between the lines. Your list of BUYERS is a massive gold mine when it comes to creating offers. Dean shares how he surveyed his buyers, and that they told him they’ve invested all they could, and didn’t have more money to put into yet another offer. Instead of assuming that was the real problem, Dean used this information to tailor his offers in a way that could truly help them. He also followed up with them to figure out exactly where they were stuck. WHY did they feel they didn’t have enough money for more offers that could help them? The right mix of reading between the lines and engaging with your customers allows you to serve them in the best possible way. Create the offer. Once you’ve discovered your customers’ real problems, get that solution created. It may be a training course, but there may also be a faster, more involved, more valuable way for you to serve them. After identifying his market’s need, Dean devised a fast AND powerful way to get his offer up and running and helping. Money loves speed, and so do your customers. Sometimes the best and most profitable way to help them is also the fastest way. Play the long game. We see it time and time again - businesses who value the long-term relationship with their customers over everything else are the ones that last. Most of your profits will come from your most loyal, long-term customers. Customers come and go, so new customers are essential, but neglecting your loyal, long-term customers is a guaranteed way to lose them, and miss out on staggering amounts of profit, both directly and from referrals. Tune in to hear how Dean served the people who took him up on his powerful offer, and used it to build a long-term, profitable relationship with them.   Resources & People Mentioned Guest’s Website Guest on Instagram  Guest on Facebook  Guest on YouTube Check out his Podcast Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Strengthen The Offer Until They Can’t Say No

The ability to make decisions, and make them fast, is critical for any entrepreneur, because very often it’s the decisions you don’t make that will stall, or even destroy, your business.   Uncomfortable, intimidating decisions are the ones most likely to trip you up. It seems easier to kick the can down the road than to make a decision that might be wrong, or may hurt someone’s feelings.   But James and Dean will tell you, from difficult personal experience, that the cost of indecision is a LOT higher than you think.   Tune in to hear their personal examples of when NOT making a decision cost them money and time, and even handicapped their businesses.   Plus they’ll reveal how even a decision that turns out to be wrong is better for your business than indecision.   If you find yourself avoiding or procrastinating decisions because the cost of making them seems too high, too nerve-wracking, or too uncomfortable, this episode is exactly what you need to stop spinning your wheels and make those business-building decisions, no matter how intimidating or difficult they seem. Outline of This Episode What NOT making a decision costs you [6:00] When the gift of problem-solving backfires [12:30] The “perfect decision” myth [26:00] How other people factor into your indecision [30:10] The gift of wrong decisions [38:00] 3 major points discussed   How to tell when it’s decision time. This one seems VERY counterintuitive. But if you’re 90% or more sure of your decision, it usually means you waited too long to make it. Surprising, right? But when it comes to your confidence in your own decisions, there’s a sweet spot to shoot for. While no guarantee your decision is “right,” this sweet spot will ensure you’ve given a decision enough thought, but not more than it needs for you to make it. Tune in to discover exactly how to tell when it’s time to pull the trigger. Not all decisions are created equal. Some decisions aren’t worth the bandwidth we give them. For example, what to eat for lunch should be a much faster decision than whether to sell your company. Quickly identifying which decisions are worth the extra time and thought, and which ones are not, will skyrocket your decision-making speed. Tune in to get James and Dean’s tips for quickly discerning whether a decision is worth the extra consideration. You’ll NEVER please everyone. Avoiding hurt feelings is one of the top reasons we avoid making decisions. But the reality is, it’s not possible to make everyone happy every time. Case in point: James shares a horror story about a meeting he attended where dozens of people weighed in on a design project. It really got out of hand, and made arriving at a decision impossible. Tune in to hear exactly what happened, and discover the critical decision-making lesson James took away from the project. If a desire to please others impedes your ability to make decisions, just wait until you hear this!   Resources & People Mentioned Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

The Cost of Indecision, Ep 166

Most entrepreneurs salivate at the thought of high-ticket offers. Make more money working with fewer clients. A dream come true, right?   But what does it REALLY take to create a high-ticket offer people want enough to pay a high-ticket price?   That’s what Tyler Kemp, this week’s guest, is going to reveal.   Tyler’s helped build multiple 7-figure companies, and he brings years of experience with both low-ticket and high-ticket offers.    He figured out pretty quickly that low-ticket and high-ticket are two different animals that bring in two different types of customers, and require two different sets of systems to build and scale.   So, if you’d love to create a high-ticket offer for your business, but you:   1) Don’t know what to offer 2) Are uncomfortable at the thought of charging more money 3) Believe your customers won’t want it   ...Then tune in to get the tactics and mindset you need to create and sell your high-ticket offer.   If you already have a high-ticket offer, you’ll want to hear Tyler’s secrets to making that offer even more desirable, so you can charge more AND sell more, while getting your clients the epic results they need from you. Lead gen and high ticket sales. Acquiring more customers, one of the easiest ways is to raise the value of what you’re offering.   Outline of This Episode The #1 barrier to making high ticket sales [8:25] Solve more problems to charge more money [16:00] Once isn’t enough [27:00] The perfect product-market fit takes time [33:00] What to do after creating your offer [39:15] 3 major points discussed It starts with your mindset. If your mind’s already made up that your customers would never go for a high-ticket offer, or you’re uncomfortable charging more money, you’ve shot yourself in the foot before even starting. With rare exception, most businesses have the makings of a high-ticket offer. But in order to see the possibilities, you’ve got to be open to them.   Beware the low-ticket value trap. We all want to give our customers as much value as possible, including in our low-ticket offers. The problem is, there’s a limit to how much value you can realistically bring to that many people at once before it becomes unsustainable money-wise, and time-wise. High ticket offers set you free from those constraints. Your clients pay more, making it cost-effective and time-effective for you to provide them with more AND remain profitable. Solve more problems. A lot of offers solve only one or two problems around the same topic, but most people have way more than one or two. That means, the more solutions you can provide to these additional problems, the more money the right clients will pay you to get those problems taken care of. Becoming someone’s all-in-one solution is your highway to profitable high-ticket offers.   Resources & People Mentioned https://www.leadroll.co/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/tjkemp Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

High Ticket Offers 101 with Tyler Kemp, Ep 165

Productivity and accomplishment--the double edged swords of entrepreneurship. Setting and hitting goals are an absolute must to build and grow a successful business. So is being productive.   Yet it’s SO easy to become so focused on goals and being productive, you end up anxious and miserable, because you’re always thinking about “What’s next.” It doesn’t leave room for the happiness and freedom you expected when you started your business. You end up feeling more like a robot than like a person.   But what if there was a way to make more and faster progress on your goals, AND feel satisfied as you go?   That’s what this week’s episode guest, Mike Liep, is going to reveal.   Mike fought his way back from Lyme disease, a traumatic brain injury, cancer, and panic and depression, and in the process, mastered the development of systems to help you get more done in less time, and actually feel GREAT doing it. Mike even developed the popular Panda Planner, a planner scientifically designed to help you become happier and more productive.   So whether you’re accomplishing a lot but NEVER feel satisfied, or whether you’re just looking to become more productive, and improve your day to day, check out this episode for the secrets to finding your flow. Outline of This Episode From brain injury to breakthrough [4:10] The dark side of goals [7:30] The battle for your attention [18:00] End goals vs. process goals [22:15] Non-negotiable habits for business owners [28:00] 3 major points discussed I’ll be happy “when.” Ever catch yourself thinking you’ll be happy and satisfied when you hit that next big goal, except when you get there, you aren’t? Instead, you kick the happiness can down the road in favor of achieving that next big goal. Hitting our goals rarely lives up to our expectations in terms of how good we feel getting there. Listen to this episode for the secret to being happy and fulfilled NOW, while still propelling yourself toward goal achievement. Develop your focus. There’s SO much competing for your attention these days. Ads are everywhere. Plus we’ve got email, apps, notifications, and the people in your life. Let’s face it--the Internet trains you to be incredibly lazy while feeling incredibly busy. You sit on your ass, move one finger, and presto, your mind’s consumed. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve got the added dynamic of a zillion trainings, products, and services all competing for your belief that they’re the next business success silver bullet. Mike’s going to help you cut through all that noise, so you get traction instead of distraction. Two tips for business owners. One reason we struggle with distractions is because an idea or to-do pops into our head, and we believe that if we don’t handle it right then, we’ll forget. Tune in to hear Mike’s tips for managing those moments without sacrificing your focus. Plus he’s got super simple productivity tips, and even a super simple morning routine framework you can quickly and easily implement to start the day off right.   Resources & People Mentioned PandaPlanner.com Mike Leip’s Ted Talk: “How To Stay Happy When Life Is Punching You In The Face” - https://youtu.be/JDlU0sHmuhY Mike Leip’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-leip-23a633b/   Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Find Your Flow, with Mike Liep, Ep 164

A lot of businesses had to close their doors in the year 2020, and for some, those doors will never re-open. Even outside of this year’s events, plenty of companies close up shop because things go south, and they have no idea how to fix it.   Sometimes throwing in the towel is the answer, but most of the time, a solution is out there, if only the business owner was aware of it. Most of the time, your problem isn’t a lack of resources, it’s a lack of resourcefulness (even in times like these).   To help you see for yourself that closing up shop isn’t your only option, James and Dean welcome Greg Spillane, aka The Turnaround Guy.   As his nickname suggests, Greg specializes in helping companies on the brink turn things around.   Greg will show you exactly where to start if your business is on the rocks, how to identify and use the resources you DO have, and ways you can think outside the box and keep the doors open.   Even if your company’s thriving right now, make sure you tune in for what Greg has to say. You may need these strategies at some point in your business journey. Plus, several of them apply even if your company’s not on the rocks. Apply them and watch your profits get even higher. Outline of This Episode Where to start turning things around [5:15] Why you need to be a survivor (and what that means) [11:00] Lack of company culture = death of your company [19:00] The characteristics to look for in people you hire [27:00] How and where to get capital [31:00] 3 major points discussed Identify your assets. If you were stranded on a desert island, the first thing to do is focus on what you DO have. What’s available to you? What do you have to work with? Turning your business around works the same way. Look at the assets you do have, like a raving fanbase, your product, your employees--anything you can use. A lot of people want to focus on what they can create, and that’s important, but what you already have is equally important. Create and clarify your company culture. Company culture may sound like foo-foo, but if so, it’s because you’ve got the wrong idea about it. True company culture gets everybody aligned with the company vision, mission, and values. When your team isn’t aligned in those areas, when they don’t believe in the same things, and aren’t working toward the same goals, it leads to drama, dysfunction, backstabbing, and poor productivity. Having a team who’s only there for the paycheck, and doesn’t care about your mission, makes it VERY difficult to be successful. Investment opportunities are everywhere. The right investor(s) can help plug the leaks in your sinking ship. And investing in other businesses can create additional revenue and take some pressure off. If either of those options leave you feeling squeamish, don’t rule it out without listening to Greg’s take on this. There’s a lot of opportunities to acquire capital now that there didn’t used to be. Greg will share several of his favorites, including what he’s used to help his clients turn their companies around. Resources & People Mentioned Fancy.com Twitter: @greg_spillane  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spillane/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Turning Things Around, With Greg Spillane, Ep 163

When it comes to new ideas, entrepreneurs are like machine guns. We can spit them out as rapidly as a machine gun sprays bullets. But when we get so excited about an idea that we don’t properly put it through its paces, we end up wasting exorbitant amounts of time and money trying to fulfill an idea that’s never going to happen. Then we blame our customers for not seeing the value, leap to the next “sure thing,” and repeat the process again. This exact cycle is one of the top reasons 90% of startups fail, and why even established businesses can waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on “sure thing” business ideas. Instead of letting idea excitement run the show, tune into this episode of Just The Tips with guest Dr. Adam J. Bock to learn what to do (and what NOT to do) once you’ve got a new business or product idea. Adam is a serial entrepreneur and academic researcher who’s mastered the ability to structure sustainable business models that give you a competitive advantage. Adam’s not only started multiple companies, he’s also sold multiple companies, in the venture capital space, for eight figures. When it comes to profitable, sustainable business models, he knows what he’s doing! Adam will reveal the most costly mistakes entrepreneurs the world over make with their business ideas; plus show you how to identify when you actually DO have a winner.   Outline of This Episode What is a business model, REALLY? [10:20] Cool ideas are the start, not the finish [16:50] Avoid this expensive problem-solution blunder [23:00] Choosing who to ask (and who not to ask) about your idea [39:30] Don’t confuse valuable with profitable [48:02] 3 major points discussed When lighting strikes, give it space. Yes, entrepreneurs have to take risks in order to get anywhere. But there’s a big difference between taking a risk and allowing idea excitement to blind you. When your latest big idea strikes, document it, but give yourself space to get beyond that initial burst of excitement. That way you can evaluate your idea with a level head (and potentially save yourself years of wasted time and money). It’s not your customers’ fault. When you test the waters with your product and don’t get the response you’re hoping for, it’s all too easy to decide you don’t have the right customers. Or that they’re clueless for not seeing the value in what you offer. Educating people who don’t yet understand the value in your idea is possible, but it works a LOT less frequently than most people think. If your solution isn’t a solution in their minds, no amount of educating them will change that.   Keep it lean when you test the waters. Instead of cannonballing into the water with your new idea, dip your toe in, especially when you’re gauging customer interest. Just because someone says they want it, doesn’t always make it so. It depends on who you’re asking, and whether you’re actually solving their problem, or just solving a problem you think they have. Keeping this phase lean is critical to stopping new idea excitement from running away with your time and money.   Resources & People Mentioned https://www.bizmodelbook.com/ The Business Model Book: Design, Build and Adapt Business Ideas That Drive Business Growth, by Adam J. Bock and Gerard George (available on Amazon) Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Identifying Profitable Business Ideas, With Dr. Adam J. Bock, Ep 162

You’ve probably run head-first into the following leadership myth: “If you’re not born a great leader, you’ll never be one.” That statement couldn’t be further from the truth! Great leaders are made, not born, because great leadership is a skill that anyone willing to put in the time and effort can develop.   To learn the truth about what makes a great leader, and get first-class tips for developing your own ability to lead, join James and Dean as they welcome world-renowned leadership expert, Peter Montoya, as this week’s guest.   Many people’s definition of a leader is someone who’s arrogant, controlling, and has to be right no matter what. But behavior like that has nothing whatsoever to do with being a true leader.   One way Peter defines a leader is simply this: Someone who does things differently. For example, back when most businesses were hung up on boring corporate branding, Peter became a pioneer in the world of personal branding. He even wrote a best-selling book on the subject (which you’ve no doubt heard of): The Brand Called You: Create A Personal Brand That Wins Attention And Grows Your Business.   Leadership skills are essential for everyone, not just business owners, because we’re all leaders in multiple areas of our lives. Listen to this episode to get Peter’s top tips for becoming an inspiring leader who gets results.

Developing The Leader Within, with Peter Montoya, Ep 161

Growing your business without efficient systems in place is a disaster waiting to happen, because you can generate a lot of revenue and still end up broke. Having the right systems in place, on the other hand, gets you a fat bottom line, while also freeing up your time to focus on the best use of your time, in both your business and your own life. Plus you get to spend less time on the things that stress you out. Sounds great, right? But what is a “business system?”  Which business systems do you need?  Where’s the best place to start developing systems in your business? These questions, and many more, will be answered in this week’s episode of Just The Tips, where James and Dean welcome Dan Cuprill, founder of Renegade Advisor. Thanks to his contrarian and systematic approach to growing his financial advisor business, Dan’s developed a repeatable business system that consistently generates a million dollars (or more) in profits per year. If your business keeps hitting a wall, or falling short of your expectations in other ways, it’s probably a systems issue. Tune into this week’s episode for tips on identifying the profit-sucking leaks in your business systems.

Million Dollar Business Systems with Dan Cuprill, Ep 160

Three action-packed years ago, James P. Friel and Dean Holland set out on a mission with one objective: Launch a fun, value-packed podcast full of cutting edge advice to help entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. The first few episodes of Just The Tips were rocky, as James and Dean, both podcast newbies, worked through the ins and outs and ups and downs of launching and growing a successful podcast. With three years of successful podcasting under their belts, you’d expect the guys’ podcasting experience to be smooth as silk. It’s definitely more efficient than it used to be, but technical fails and other issues still pop up, and do so for one unavoidable reason: Challenges are a part of life. If you want to get anywhere with anything, such as launch a product or grow your business, the ability to roll with the punches and find a way forward is a must. Yet an unfortunate number of people give up on their dreams when adversity swoops in. In this third anniversary episode, James and Dean reveal their top tips to keep going when your commitment to your dreams and goals is tested. Make no mistake: It will be tested. Not once, not twice, but over and over again. And each time, you’ll find yourself at a crossroads: Give up, or dig in your heels and keep going. If you want to be the person who digs in their heels and keeps going, check out this episode. Outline of This Episode What stops people from achieving their dreams [5:05] It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you’re doing [12:01] Accidental selfishness is holding you back [13:30] How to move beyond imposter syndrome [17:50] When to zip your and lip and listen [24:03] 3 major points discussed   Don’t know what you’re doing? You’ll learn! When James and Dean launched Just The Tips three years ago, they had no idea how to launch and grow a successful podcast. But they went for it anyway. Due diligence ahead of time is always a great idea, but some things you can only learn as you go. Waiting to move forward until everything is “perfect,” or until you finally feel qualified, means you’ll never move forward. You’re never going to feel fully qualified, and nothing will ever be “perfect.”   It’s not about you. There are people you can help NOW. By procrastinating, or even giving up on, your dreams, you’re depriving them of your help. Imagine if you called an ambulance because you were in excruciating pain, and when the EMTs arrived, they just stood outside and stared at you through your living room window. When you allow your own limiting beliefs to derail you, you’re doing to the people you could be helping what the EMTs did in this example scenario. Your message is too important for you to keep sitting on it!   What matters more than great products? Concern that your product’s no good is a giant roadblock for a lot of entrepreneurs. Yes, product quality is important, but there are ways you can ensure it’s a great product, and still get it into the world before hell freezes over. James and Dean share one must-do and one must-have for creating profitable products that get people results. Tune in to hear all the details.   Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

What’s Holding You Back, Ep 159

Due to social distancing measures, businesses the world over have unexpectedly found themselves forced to conduct virtual team meetings. What many quickly discovered is that virtual team meetings, like in-person meetings, can drag on and end up extremely unproductive - except even more so! Instead of getting to business and lining out next steps, virtual team meetings often turn into time-sucking social hours, feel pointless, or take three times longer than necessary, all because there’s no meeting framework in place. A recent study revealed that unproductive team meetings waste nearly $40 billion a year; and that regardless of company size, employees spent 15% of their time in meetings. That’s a lot of time and money down the drain! In this week’s new episode, James and Dean share simple, streamlined strategies to eliminate team meeting tedium, so you can get to business, get a plan in place, and get on with your day. Outline of This Episode Why virtual team meetings take way longer than they need to [5:35] What to have in place even before the meeting structure [10:40] Know your definition of success [25:30] What to do once everyone’s on the same page [37:27] James’ three-step approach to team meetings [41:41] 3 major points discussed Why do team meetings often feel pointless? Because most team meetings consist of these two elements: Catching up, and checking in, neither of which move your company forward. Without a clear, focused structure based around a clear, focused goal, team meetings can easily get and stay off track. It doesn’t mean you have to be a drill sergeant, but no consistent structure and clear goal, your meeting will end up unproductive and feel pointless. Setting your team meeting agenda. Before you even head into your team meeting, everyone’s got to be on the same page. For example, what are the big projects your company is focused on right now? What needs to happen in order for your team to complete those projects on time, and in a way that leads to the results you want? Once everyone understands what the focus of the meeting’s going to be, and the role each team member plays in creating that project outcome, it’s easy to get crystal clarity on your team meeting’s goal and agenda. On-point, productive meetings don’t happen without a framework. James uses a three-step approach to team meetings. Step one is about solidifying company culture. This isn’t a free-for-all social hour, but rather, an opportunity for you and your team to check in with why you’re all doing what you’re doing. After that’s done, steps two and three are about getting down to business: Where are we, and where do we go from here? All the details for exactly how to follow James’ three-step team meeting approach are in this week’s episode! Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

How to Eliminate Team Meeting Tedium, Ep 158

Just The Tips is a business talk show for entrepreneurs and business owners who are tired of listening to the same old stodgy content. Interviewing (and sometimes roasting) top entrepreneurs from around the world, each episode is fun, witty and informative. It's a must listen for anyone wanting to transform their marketing, sales and business while having a laugh instead of falling asleep. We, not so humbly, believe it's the best business and marketing podcast in the world.

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Just The Tips, with James P. Friel and Dean Holland

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