Today I’m talking with my friend Christian Mickelsen, who is a #1 best-selling author, self-made multi-millionaire, business coach and healer. You’ll hear how Christian started from nothing and worked his way up to stardom in the coaching and personal growth world sharing the stage with Tony Robbins, Eben Pagan, Reid Tracy, Dan Millman, and many others. I can’t say enough about his latest book, Abundance Unleashed, in which he gives readers the applicable theories in which they too can achieve success. You’ll also find out how to get a free copy of the book, as Christian’s special gift to listeners. He’s on a mission to heal the world, and this episode is packed with fascinating insights!
In this episode you’ll learn:
Today I’m sharing with you my recent appearance on my good friend Anne Samoilov’s Fearless Launching Podcast. This episode is all about being an effective teacher and coach; so if you offer online products, run a team or just want to be a better role model for your family, there are lots of tips and strategies here for you!
In this episode you’ll learn:
As the twig bends, so grows the tree. In this special bonus episode, I share where this phrase came from and what it really means to me.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Aloha! Today my wife Chelsea and I are coming to you again from Hawaii. In this episode we share our experiences working together in the business, and we reveal what we’ve learned over the past few years of doing so. If you currently work with your spouse, or are thinking about it, you’ll both want to hear this episode!
In this episode you’ll learn:
Aloha! You’re now listening to The Mind Your Business Podcast: Hawaii Edition. Today we’re talking about signs and how to take meaning from them. What if The Universe is conspiring to help you achieve everything that you want? Are you willing to listen and follow the signs?
In this episode you’ll learn:
Today I’m joined by my wife Chelsea, and we’re coming to you from the big island of Hawaii to share our 7 strategies for achieving better self-care. Why is this so important (especially for entrepreneurs)? Stay tuned!
In this episode you’ll learn:
On today’s show I’m talking about why you need to stop caring so much, and how to start letting go by detaching from outcomes. I also give examples of how doing this has led to some of the greatest breakthroughs in my own life!
In this episode you’ll learn:
Today’s a very special episode; not only is it our 100th episode of The Mind Your Business Podcast, but I have the honor of speaking with a fellow member of my mastermind group, Mastin Kipp. Mastin is an author, entrepreneur, inspirational speaker and founder of The Daily Love. In this episode, he shares his thoughts on purpose and reveals how you can live a life and business that aligns with it.
In this episode you’ll learn:
I’m very excited for this episode, as I’m chatting with my friend Sunny Lenarduzzi about a very powerful book that we’re both reading at the moment – Eckhart Tolle’s, The Power of Now. We discuss the biggest lessons and takeaways we’ve gotten from it, and how we can use it as entrepreneurs in our daily lives. Ready to quiet your mind and find more peace and joy by living in the present? You’re going to get a lot out of this book and our conversation around it.
In this episode, I’m on the road in Toronto, Canada and speaking with my good friend Stu McLaren. Stu’s been in this industry for a long time, but he’s just getting started. You’ll hear how he’s launched and built his new business venture from zero to over $5 million in just 8 months! He’s adopted an extremely abundant mindset over the years and he shares how this has contributed to his amazing success. You’ll hear how it’s really just about getting clear on what’s important to you and aligning your life and business with those people and things. Do this and you’ll not only make more money, but you’ll make a much greater impact on the lives of others.
In this episode you’ll learn:
On this episode, I’m speaking with my good friend Laura Hames Franklin. You’ll discover why I’ve always referred to Laura as my “secret weapon”, and today she reveals fascinating details on how we can all think like Albert Einstein. Keep an open mind because we’re talking about how you can improve your own mind body connection in order to access your full potential!
In this episode you’ll learn:
Today I’m speaking with Annette Stepanian, a lawyer for entrepreneurs and creatives. The topics we’re talking about aren’t sexy or flashy, but they are absolutely essential for business owners to think about NOW, before something happens. This is about protecting you, and your business, and about how to be smart as you grow. Have no worries, Annette is breaking it all down on this episode of The Mind Your Business Podcast!
In this episode you’ll learn:
Today I’m joined by a listener of the podcast, and student of Business by Design, Kelli Wise. Kelli discusses her journey of how she got to where she is today in her business, and opens up about the tough times she’s had and how she was able to turn things around. She is a great example of how you don’t necessarily need to have a huge email list to have a successful launch, if you have the right mindset and take the right action steps.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Today I’m coming to you with a very special bonus episode, and sharing three things you can do to craft your perfect day. Not every day is going to go exactly to plan, but it all starts by setting the intention and getting clarity on what your perfect day looks like to you.
In this episode you’ll learn:
In this special bonus episode of The Mind Your Business Podcast, I’m showing you a better way for creating a vision for your life and business. My goal here is to prove that it is indeed possible to truly live your life and then make time for your business, and not the other way around.
In this episode you’ll learn:
In this special bonus episode, James talks about how you can take your goal and actually turn it into a tangible result – like cash in the bank! He shares why it’s so important to not just set big goals, and how you can create the specific action steps to get there.
It’s necessary to blend things such as manifestation and spirituality with the action steps and the right plan. For James, the more he balances and integrates these things together, the better the results.
For a long time, his goal number seemed so far off and he just didn’t know how he was going to actually accomplish it. However, when you do know how to accomplish your goals the right way, you can literally create money on demand.
Being in the right environment is critical for achieving the results you’re after. To accommodate his growing team, James just moved his team to a bigger office, complete with a deck and view of the ocean. The importance of your environment can’t be underestimated!
After moving to New York in 2012 and almost burning out, James returned to Laguna Beach and he now has a much deeper appreciation for his hometown and where he chooses to live and operate his business.
It’s also key to find your “sweet spot.” For him, video creation has always been a fun and inspiring way to grow his business. You too should be infusing your creativity into your daily life, both personally and professionally.
Remember that a goal is not something that defines you or something you should identify your self-worth with. You are not measured by the levels at which you accomplish your goals, because you are the one that created the goal in the first place!
Steps to Accomplish Your Goals
Redefine the word, “Goal”
A goal is simply the indicator for the game that you are going to create, and it just identifies the level at which you need to show up. It allows you to determine what you need to do to play that game. For example, a 7-figure launch will require more stepping up than would a $10,000 launch.
For James it wouldn’t matter if he hit his goal, but what would really matter is if he stepped up and did what he said he was going to do for the launch.
Make three goals
For your next launch or promotion, set three goals: an audacious one that will stretch you (and literally cause others to think you were insane!), a safe goal or minimum you’d need in order to still be happy, and finally, a goal that lands somewhere in the middle of the other two.
Identify what it’ll take
Who do you need to be, and what is it going to take, in order for you to show up and align with your goals? Consider what it would look like if you were unstoppable!
You can still do you manifestations and set your intentions, but you absolutely must have a plan because no result is possible without inspired action.
Whatever platform or strategy you are using for your launch, you’re going to need a launch plan. There is no one “right way,” but the problem is most people choose parts of multiple plans and then they don’t execute fully on any of them.
Begin with the end in mind and work backwards. You should start with the last steps, as these are the ones that are the 5% of activities which generate 95% of the results.
Before taking action you will need indicators of performance, as every phase or step has mini-goals within the plan that correlate the main goal.
A lot of times we just need to be shown exactly what to do and then focus on the right things to put us back in the driver’s seat of goal setting. As the CEO or visionary of your business, you need to not just set big goals, but also to create a plan from that goal on how you’ll get there. Identify the right action items to get you the results and don’t forget that goal setting is just about setting up the game that you are about to play. Don’t be afraid to fail and as you play bigger games, you’ll learn some big lessons!
LINKS:
On today’s episode, James talks with Online Business Strategist Zach Spuckler about the major mindset shifts he has made over the last year that’s enabled him to grow his business exponentially. Zach also shares an effective alternative to doing a really big launch, which you won’t want to miss!
When Zach first joined James’ Inner Circle Mastermind a year ago, he worked by himself and had just hit the 6-figure mark in his business. He now has a team made up of multiple people, but notes that it was the inner work he did that allowed him to expand to this.
Zach admits that he used to be a workaholic, and that his health started to suffer because of this. He had to step back and ask himself why he originally wanted to start the business, which was to have freedom. Here are just a few of his major breakthroughs:
Hire a team
Hiring his first VA helped give Zach the systems, and space to grow. During his last launch, he realized that hiring was never an external issue, but he was so busy working that he didn’t know internally what he really wanted.
He says that it’s not difficult to find exactly what you want when looking for someone to help; be clear about what you want and need, and put it out to your online community!
James believes it’s important to ask yourself what it’s costing you to not hire someone. How could you fill that time and space by doing something else that focuses on the big vision of your company and drives revenue?
The internal struggle may get quieter at the level you’re at, but it will start back up again at the next level and will always be there in some form or another. When you think that you’re ready to hire somebody, Zach recommends you trust yourself to take the risk and to handle the fallout if it doesn’t work out, or find people to support you if this should happen.
James feels it’s important to know that a lot of people have an illusion that they have to get rid of the fear around hiring or investing in themselves before doing it, but this just isn’t the case.
Entrepreneurs are rewarded for taking the risks
Remember that other people will love doing the tasks that you assign them, and you don’t have to feel guilty for giving them work. Zach says it was important for him to understand that his team wouldn’t resent him for this and they respect him for giving them work and paying them for their time. As an entrepreneur, you can actually enjoy your life and business, while at the same time empowering your team to grow with you! James likes to remind others that part of the “work” is actually resting so that you can recharge yourself.
Charge more money
As Zach has “levelled up,” he charges more so that he can create intimacy with his higher-level clients. By charging more, he also attracts the right clients. If you don’t increase your prices, he says that the only thing you’re doing is de-valuing yourself in the process.
James adds that so often people base their pricing on what people will pay for the product or service, which can be a mistake as there will always be people that can, or can’t afford it at every level.
Zach realizes that as his business grows, everything he does has an opportunity cost and his time is limited. He is careful not to undercharge so that he can continue to serve others through his business.
Pricing really comes down to valuing yourself and it’s important to have a logical conversation with yourself and know the true value of what you can offer.
There’s an easier (and lighter) way to launch
Zach notes that so many people get paralyzed by the thought of launching. Webinars can take many months to perfect, and video series can be expensive and time consuming. You don’t have to get overwhelmed though; by doing a challenge (or a “week long event” as Zach likes to call it), you don’t even have to charge people money for them to have the opportunity to see what it’s like to work with you.
When doing a challenge, you just have to show up, give them simple step-by-step tasks and let them prove to themselves, and you, that transformation is possible.
Remember, people want to be sold to on the last day of the event, just because you’ve shown them what’s possible. Show your audience what you can do for them and let them decide if you’re a great fit or not!
LINKS:
Are you marketing yourself online and feel like your message is falling flat? Maybe people aren’t getting your offer and you’re looking for a way to connect with your audience? On today’s show, James looks at how using surveys (the right way!) can lead to more effective messaging and more sales. He shares the right questions to ask, how to ask them so you’ll get people to actually fill out your survey, the software he recommends and most importantly, how to properly interpret the answers you receive.
Your online niche is most likely always evolving, and surveys are a powerful way to stay in touch with your marketplace.
When it comes to strategies to use with your surveys, Ryan Levesque has an excellent book, Ask. In his book, he talks about the “one question” survey, which simply proposes the following question:
When it comes to _________, what is the number one biggest struggle or frustration you have right now?
Your job is to get really specific on the topic when you ask this question. The more specific the phrasing is, the more specific answers you will receive.
When you give your audience specific instructions for completing the survey question, ask them to be as detailed as possible and try to deter one-word answers such as “time” or “money.”
By having this question by itself on a page, it’ll have the full attention of the reader. There are follow-up questions that James notes can be used effectively as well. If you ask for the person’s name, email and phone number, but make this optional. The people who do give you this information will be your more qualified prospects!
James’ six-question survey:
1. Have you ever tried _________? If no, why not?
Asking this will qualify the prospect, and the “why not” part gives you a list of the person’s objections.
2. What is the biggest obstacle or struggle that you are currently facing?
Here you are looking for the problem, or source of pain for him or her.
3. What are the negative consequences of this struggle?
By digging deeper, you will discover why it’s such a problem for them and what they are afraid will happen.
4. What is your ideal solution to this problem?
When this question is answered, they actually tell you what they’re looking for which is extremely valuable information for you to have!
5. What are the positive consequences and results of solving this problem?
This will tell you where they are heading, or what they are moving towards, in their own words.
6. If you had the chance to ask me one question, what would it be?
Towards the end of this podcast episode, James actually gives the one question that people ask him most often, as well as his answer…
You can use either the one-question survey, the six-question one or a combination of the both. It’s important though to only send whatever you decide to use to your own list or community. Asking another group of people to complete your survey might not lead to answers from your ideal client.
There are multiple software platforms you can use to create your surveys, including Google Forms, which is free. However, James’ recommends looking at Survey Monkey or Survey Funnel, which have more features and functions, as well as the ability to ask just one question per page.
How do you interpret all of the survey results? First, read them all. It helps to print them out and read the question each time out loud, followed by the answer. Better yet, you can have someone else read them to you. The important thing is not to judge the responses, and to just be present with the words. Someone might not be able to fully communicate what he or she is trying to say with just words, but you can still feel the energy or emotion behind the response.
It is helpful to tally the answers to see what’s the most popular problem that others are facing. James created a big poster board and explains how he used it to analyze the problems and possible solutions. Interpreting this information could lead you to your next offer, course, podcast episode, blog or email to your list!
Ultimately it’s not about the quantity of completed surveys received, it’s all about the quality of your interpretation and how you are able to use the information in your business.
LINKS:
Getting Started With Surveys – James’ Free PDF or text “survey” to 5202177548
Ask. by Ryan Levesque
Are you looking for inspiration to host your own live event, or do something different with the ones you are creating? In today’s special bonus episode, James talks with Sage Lavine, CEO of Conscious Women Entrepreneurs and host of the International Women on Purpose summits. Sage shares her expertise on how you can crush it from stage, regardless if you are an introvert or an extrovert!
For about the first 8 years, James’ entire business had been made up of online courses and digital training. In the last year he’s made an effort to make it more in-person with his community, and he and his team recently just hosted the largest live event that they have ever done.
Sage notes that bringing yourself to the people that you serve is nourishing, and the attendees are really looking for a sense of belonging. Leaders are also being called into their truth or message and they need support from other people that are up to big things in the world today.
Sage started her million-dollar business in her living room, with 12 other women sitting around on purple couches. She feels that it all comes down to desire, and if you want to be in front of your people she highly recommends doing it.
There’s feedback that you get from a live room that you’re not going to get online, and “connection is currency.” This feedback can include success stories from people that you have impacted.
In a room there is more judgement than there would online. This can be scary, but Sage explains how judgment doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.
When hosting an event, having a partner to “have your back” is important.
In order to drop the barrier when you get onstage, you need to be credible and then just be human and connect with the people that you’re speaking to.
You don’t have to be an extrovert to be on stage, and “hot seat” sessions and lunches allow for others to interact and form relationships. Unlike a lot of times online, relationships formed in-person can be deep and last a lifetime.
You have to flip the fear you feel when speaking and make it your friend. Sage says that when you feel the fear physically, such as in your throat or chest, it’s actually a reminder for you to connect with those that you are serving.
The fear that no one will show up to your live event is a common one, but live is a much different game than online. On a few occasions Sage had just one person show up for her speaking engagements, and in both cases she was hired by the person.
When you’re live, you don’t need many people to show up. Remember that leading events brings you credibility!
Her favorite ways to fill a room include plugging into groups that are already meeting or contacting places like day spas that can help get the word out to people you want to reach.
You don’t need to put together a full day of content when just getting started, and Sage recommends hosting two-hour events to start.
She believes that the world is hungry for more introverted leaders, like James, because they tend to be more connected to themselves and a deeper truth. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, your people will find you.
In her years of extensive study and training others, Sage has noticed three different types of leadership style: the facilitator, the stage/spotlight and a hybrid of both.
Once you know your type, you’ll be more easily able to market your workshops accordingly and the right people will come.
A live event can transform lives, and that also includes your own. Your clients are waiting for you and not just someone like you. Get out there and keep rocking it!
Submit Your Question!
LINKS:
Sage’s Workshop Leadership Quiz
In this solo episode, James reviews “The Code of the Extraordinary Mind” by Vishen Lakhiani and discusses some major concepts from the book, which can allow you to live the best life possible.
In his book, Lakhiani reveals how he built Mindvalley, but got to a breaking point and almost had to close the doors. After making a major shift, which he refers to as “Bending Reality”, the company grew revenue over 400% in just 8 months and started attracting their dream clients along with an amazing team.
He did this by bringing the powerful presence of gratitude and happiness into the present moment, and in the book he says:
“Be happy now. Your thoughts and beliefs do create your reality, but only when your present state is joyful.”
The second step was creating an excited anticipation for the future. James notes that as entrepreneurs, we already have goals, but often run into frustration, become impatient and burn out. He says there is a huge difference between going through the motions of gratitude and having an experience of truly feeling it.
“Gratitude is the vibration of receiving, and if you’re grateful for what you already have, it only invites more to come your way”
Lakhiani refers to Dan Sullivan’s theory of appreciating the “reverse gap.” We often beat ourselves up when we’re not where we want to be in life, but we can take a moment to reflect and look back at how far we’ve come. To do this, make a list of the results that you’ve created in your personal and work life. This can be one of the best things you can do to move forward when feeling overwhelmed.
Every day, as part of your routine, Lakhiani says to identify three to five things that you’re grateful for. You can start with the small things that make you happy and you smile about.
“We shouldn’t do things so we can be happy, we should be happy so we can do things”
To shed our past, one of the most powerful things we can do is to practice the act of forgiveness. First, make a list of people that you don’t feel 100% complete with in your life. Then, follow the next steps:
1) Set the scene
Close your eyes, get present and imaging the person standing before you. Then recreate the scene that has triggered your emotions.
2) Step into the anger and pain
Relive the situation while bringing up the emotions as much as you can.
3) Forgive and love
Take a moment to actually step into the other person’s shoes and imagine what life might be life for them. Then, intentionally forgive them and imagine them doing the same for you.
James adds that carrying around frustrations of the past will affect your productivity, intuition and creativity, and these steps will act as “detox” for your soul.
“Take a moment to forgive and move on; the past is done and this is about now”
The book also asks readers three important questions to consider:
1) If time and money were no object and I did not have to seek anyone’s permission, what kind of experiences would my soul crave?
2) In order to have these experiences, how do I have to grow? What sort of man or woman do I need to evolve into?
3) If I have the experience that I have listed above and I’ve grown in these remarkable ways, then how can I give back to the world?
Make sure that you don’t have an attachment to your big goals, and remember that the future doesn’t define you if things don’t happen to go your way.
LINKS:
“The Code of the Extraordinary Mind” by Vishen Lakhiani
Why Happiness is the New Productivity (Video)
“The Great Pain Deception” by Steve Ozanich
In this episode, James is joined by a special guest, Rick Mulready, to discuss how to overcome the mindset hurdles that all entrepreneurs face.
Rick shares that he himself, despite the success he has achieved, is still working on figuring out entrepreneurship. He says that mindset is the foundation, and it drives success in both business and life.
He used to have a scarcity and fear-based mindset of not know how to do what he wanted to do with his own business. Rick also wasn’t even sure if he could do what he wanted to do, and he says he “floundered” for 14 months. At one point, he even thought he might have to go back to the corporate world.
His mindset is now a lot different than it use to be, and he’s proved that he can help others in their businesses while also supporting his own family.
Along the journey, you’re always going to have setbacks and you’re going to hit plateaus. Your mindset will help you think in different ways and allow you to know you can get through the hard times.
James adds that you may need to rebuild your mindset to get to the next level you’re aiming for.
Rick’s three mindset hacks:
1) Success is actually in the process of getting to the end goal
Rick believes what’s important is what you learn along the way, although he admits that he use to get caught up in the end goal and would get upset if he didn’t hit it.
Focusing on the process, instead of the end goal, allows for more fun along the way and also helps you to realize that you’re choosing the things you want to do.
We hear that it’s the struggle that makes it all worthwhile when we reach our goal, but it really comes down to being grateful for achieving success with ease.
James says to look for the path of least resistance, or the one that offers ease and flow. Abraham-Hicks’ definition of success is how much just you can have in a day, and if you want to increase your revenue, you should work less and play more.
2) Watch your “but”
When we think of an idea, there’s often a “but” that comes up. Rick shares that the first idea you had before this is the real winner, and when you permit your doubts to become the story and gain momentum is when you get into trouble.
James notes that people will look to justify why they shouldn’t do something, but a lot of the things we’re creating nee to be crazy, not logical. He recommends replacing “but” with “and.” When you’re using “but,” you’re literally cancelling out the thing that you want.
3) Just do it and stop the worrying
The only control we have is over what we can do now, in this moment. You can’t worry about a future that hasn’t happened yet. James says that during launches is a common time for entrepreneurs to worry as they often attach their own identity to the results.
Remember, the goal set is only used to determine the process that you are going to use. Determine how you can change the meaning, or the goal, so you’re not worrying, because when you’re worrying, you can’t be empowered to take the proper actions.
LINKS:
“Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch