Your willingness to start from scratch as a business owner is crucial to finding long-term success -- here’s why

If you’re considering starting a business, one of the things that you absolutely need to be prepared for is to start from the very bottom. 

I don’t say that to be negative -- I say it because all-too often, people go into entrepreneurship with rose colored glasses, and then get discouraged when they realize that they don’t have any social media followers or an email list that tumbleweeds could blow through.

When you’re first starting out in business, you’ve got to be OK with starting from scratch. And because you’re likely doing something that’s brand new to you, you’ve also got to be OK with not having the same clout that you might have had in your career. 

Sure, you might have a ton of experience on your resume and an excellent track record -- but you’ve probably never owned and operated a business before. And it’s a whole different ball game! 

So that’s why it’s so important that as an entrepreneur you have a strong capacity for zero. You’ve got to be willing to start with nothing, get in the trenches, and do the hard work.

Now here’s the good news, sweet friend. You won’t be in this place forever! With time, effort, and the right strategies, your business is sure to grow.

But when you start in the right frame of mind, and know in your heart that things don’t happen overnight, you’ll be much better equipped to handle all of the ups and downs that come along with the wildly exciting ride of entrepreneurship. 

In this episode, I’m diving into what it means to have a strong capacity for zero, and how you can strengthen yours. So pop in your earbuds, grab a beverage of your choice and enjoy!

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The step-by-step process I use to create and launch lead magnets – and yours to take!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again -- one of the very first things you need to have in your online business is a lead magnet. 

A lead magnet is essential to growing your email list, and can be anything from a checklist, a video series, a quiz, or another valuable resource that you offer up to your Ideal Customer Avatar in exchange for their email address. 

I can’t even tell you how crucial lead magnets have been for me in growing my business -- and needless to say, I’ve created my fair share of them over the past fourteen years of being an entrepreneur.

And because lead magnets are such a big part of my growth strategy, you guessed it -- I’ve come up with a documented system on how to create and promote them. 

In fact, I’ve boiled my process down to a checklist that you’re going to hear all about in this episode.

I cover every single step you need to take in order to effectively create and launch your lead magnet -- from how to establish your pre-launch approvals, to creating content, optimizing your landing pages, tracking your conversions, and so much more! 

So whether you’ve a lead magnet newbie or you have one that’s simply not performing, this is a great episode to listen to, and to bookmark for future reference. 

Enjoy! 

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Your perceived weakness can actually be your superpower -- here’s why

If you know me, you know that I can be a very sensitive person. I take what people say to heart, and when I feel any sort of negativity, or rejection, I internalize it.

Being sensitive has always been something I’ve looked at as a weakness, especially as a business owner -- and it certainly doesn’t help that our culture places a lot of emphasis on entrepreneurs being ‘tough.’ 

But through the help of my dear friend and mentor, Michael Hyatt, I’ve come to realize that being sensitive as a business owner isn’t actually a bad thing at all. In fact, my sensitivity allows me to be a better leader for my students, especially those who are just starting out.

So how did I unwind years of social conditioning and turn what I’ve perceived as a weakness my whole life into a strength? In this episode, you’ll find out.

You’ll also hear: 

• How to be more aware of negative self-talk, and stop it in its tracks
• Why the language you use to describe yourself is so important
• Real life examples of how my team members turned their weaknesses into superpowers
• An exercise you can do NOW to rewire the negative thoughts you have about yourself

After listening to this episode, you might have an entirely new perspective on how you think about yourself, and feel that much more confident as an entrepreneur. 

So if that sounds good to you, pop in your earbuds and press play on this episode!

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"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

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"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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The 3 questions I ask myself every time failure comes knocking at my door

It’s no secret that failure can be one of your greatest teachers in business. In fact, some of the world’s most brilliant entrepreneurs, people like Sara Blakely of Spanx, attribute their incredible success to failing over and over again. 

But here’s the thing. Even though we all know that failing helps you become a better, stronger entrepreneur -- why are we still so afraid of it? 

I’ll be honest, coming to terms with failure has been a big struggle for me as a business owner. I was brought up in an environment where failing at anything, whether it be school or sports, was just not acceptable.

Because of the way I was conditioned to avoid failure as a kid, I’ve had to take a real close look at my relationship with failure as an adult -- both personally and professionally. 

And for me, that means making a conscious effort to use failure to my advantage instead of letting it drag me down. 

In fact, there are three questions that I ask myself every time I fail – and although I’m very much a work in progress, I’ve found them to be incredibly helpful.

In this episode, I’m sharing those three questions with you, and it’s my hope that if you’ve also struggled with embracing failure, they’ll help you too.

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"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Pat Flynn shares his top strategies on how to generate a significant income through affiliate marketing

Have you ever been strapped for cash in your business? If you’re like most new business owners, the answer is probably HECK YES! 

I know I’ve been in a pinch before, and one of the greatest ways you can earn some extra money -- without having to create a new product -- is through affiliate marketing. 

I’ll be honest, affiliate marketing has been a big part of my business strategy. Not only has it helped me get through some of those months when cash was tight, but it’s also allowed me the ability to invest money back into my business. 

And one of the people that I’ve looked to over the years when it comes to all things affiliate marketing is Pat Flynn.

He’s a bestselling author, the creator of The Smart Passive Income Blog, and the host of the highly rated Smart Passive Income Podcast -- where he shares weekly interviews, strategies, and advice for building an online business through affiliate revenue.

In a nutshell, he’s the best of the best when it comes to affiliate marketing, and in this episode, he’s going to share the affiliate marketing campaigns that have really turned the needle for him over the years. 

These are strategies that go well beyond including links in a blog post, so if you’ve dabbled with affiliate marketing and are ready to take a deeper dive, then hit the play button on this episode and get ready to start earning some extra money.

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Sharing something you used to find embarrassing is now the norm -- here’s how it can benefit you in business

There’s an image that’s been circulating the internet that shows a picture of a cow with the caption “I am cringe but I am free.” Have you seen it?

While at first glance this appears to be your silly run-of-the-mill internet meme, its message is actually much deeper than that -- and I’ll be honest, I’m here for it.

This meme is all about embracing the things about yourself that make you want to cringe, all of the experiences you’ve been too embarrassed to share, and all of those little quirks and idiosyncrasies that have traditionally been looked at as ‘uncool.’

Yes, sweet friend. There’s been a huge cultural shift towards letting go of what other people think of you and learning to love those weird parts of yourself that you’ve been taught to shun by society. 

I can tell you from experience that there’s a huge sense of relief and freedom that comes from letting go of caring about what others think, especially when you’re the face of your business like I am. 

In this episode, I explore this idea of living alongside the cringe -- what it means, and the many ways that it can help you thrive in life, and in business. 

So if you’ve ever been afraid to show up as yourself and do what makes you happy, then this episode is for you, sweet friend. Happy listening! 

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Grab the freebie for this episode here! >>> The Perfect Email Template To Land Your Next Affiliate Partnership Pitch

A step-by-step breakdown on how to get started with affiliate marketing

Would you believe me if I told you that I make over one million dollars in affiliate revenue each year? 

It’s true – and believe me, I’m not telling you this to brag. I’m telling you this because you, too, can make substantial income through affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is when content creators earn a commission by promoting a product or service from another company using an affiliate link. When someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you’ll receive a payout. 

So if you’ve ever heard the phrase “make money while you sleep,” this is it, my friend. It’s one of the best ways out there to make passive income – but like anything in business, you’ve got to go into it with a plan.

Over the years, I’ve fine tuned my affiliate marketing strategy and I’m so excited to break it all down for you in this episode. 

You’ll hear: 

• How to identify the best brands for you to partner with
• What to say in your pitch email to potential affiliate partners
• Why relationships are key when it comes to affiliate marketing
• The best places to promote your affiliate links
• A breakdown of all the spreadsheets I use to stay organized

So grab your beverage of choice, something to take notes with, and press play on this incredibly informative episode.

P.S. To help you absolutely nail your pitch emails to potential affiliate partners, I’m giving you a FREE pitch email template -- click here to snag it! 

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [03:17] Affiliate marketing is a way to earn commissions by promoting affiliate programs or offers.
• [05:15] Identify the brands and companies that you could potentially partner with. Make a list of all of the software and tools that you use in your business.
• [07:09] Put everything into a spreadsheet and lean into the products and services that you use and that might benefit your audience. 
• [09:15] Go to each website and look for an affiliate link. You can also look for a contact and send them a pitch email. 
• [10:26]  Attach a media kit or a one sheet that states what you do, who you serve, and compelling stats about your business. Get on a call.
• [12:00] Relationships are really important when it comes to affiliate marketing. Think about courses you've taken, and people who you've worked with. 
• [15:18] Look for opportunities where you can add great value for your students and readers, and where you can benefit in your business monetarily.
• [21:59] Ask: Is this something I actually use? Is it something that my audience might use? Does the price point fit my audience? Do I have the space to promote this?
• [27:56] Documents to stay organized: Tab 1 - Affiliate Master Spreadsheet; Tab 2 - List of companies you've established a partnership with; Tab 3 - Incoming requests.
• [30:01] The Affiliate Revenue Spreadsheet tracks money coming in from your partnerships. Set a goal for each quarter or year. 
• [34:43] Action steps: Brainstorm a list of tools and resources that you've used to grow your business or to enhance your personal life.

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"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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Let go of your employee mindset and start thinking like the entrepreneur that you are

Congrats! You’re officially a business owner. You have the LLC, you’re making money, you’re setting your schedule, and the icing on the cake is that you can work from wherever in the world that you want.

You’ve ditched the golden handcuffs and have set out to create a life of your own design -- and on paper, it’s everything you’ve always wanted. 

The thing is, even though you’re technically your own boss, you still feel like you’re working for someone else because you feel obligated to answer those late-night text messages from your clients or ask for approval to take some time off. 

I get it, sweet friend, because I’ve been in this awkward “in between” stage of entrepreneurship, too -- where you have your own business, but feel like you have to be available for your clients at any given time. 

In fact, for a couple of years after I started my own business, I still felt like I was working for someone else because my clients had such a strong grip on me. Even though I was a business owner, I was operating with an employee mindset. 

Eventually, I hit a breaking point -- and it was then that I discovered a new way of thinking that helped me fully step into entrepreneurship.

In this episode, I share my experience of shifting from being self-employed with an employee mindset, to thinking like an entrepreneur -- and how it helped me grow my business while enjoying all the freedoms that entrepreneurship can bring. 

You’ll learn:

• The difference between being self-employed and an entrepreneur
• How to determine if you’re still thinking like an employee 
• What you can do to start thinking like an entrepreneur
• The difference between a scarcity mindset and an abundance mindset (& why it’s important)

This is a great listen for anyone in business, whether you’re just getting started or have been in the game for a while (and have yet to experience what it means to be a true entrepreneur). 

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [03:25] So many entrepreneurs feel like they still work for someone else even when they are working for themselves. 
• [04:37] It takes work to shift from being self-employed with an employee mindset to becoming a true entrepreneur.
• [05:43] When I first started as a business owner, it was difficult because my clients had extremely high expectations and unmanageable deadlines.
• [08:30] I realized I was done with client work when I was on a tarmac being screamed at by a client. 
• [09:23] Operating with a scarcity mindset is the quickest way to play small as an entrepreneur. Yousee limitations as opposed to opportunities.
• [12:43] After the tarmac incident, I started to unboss myself and make the mental shift from an employee to being an entrepreneur.
• [15:33] To live in abundance, start operating with the belief that there's enough money and enough success to go around. 
• [17:23] When you shift your thinking, you'll start to run your business and your life exactly how you want, and fully step into your own as an entrepreneur.
• [17:38] Homework: Open up your notebook and write down all the ways you are operating with an employee mindset. 

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"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!