Why curiosity helps mitigate the fears that come along with entrepreneurship

Fear can be an excellent motivator in business, but it can also completely consume you -- if you let it. Unfortunately, all too many entrepreneurs fall victim to their own fears and as a result, become completely overwhelmed. 

If you can relate to this, then read on, sweet friend, because my guest on today’s episode (and former student!), Calan Breckon, has a really beautiful approach to business – and that’s through curiosity, not fear.

Calan is a Business Coach & Consultant, writer, educator and podcast co-host of Gay Men Going Deeper. 

His business is thriving -- but it hasn’t always been that way. In fact, it took a lot of curiosity, exploration, and a failed launch for Calan to land on a direction for his business that truly lit him up. But by staying curious and asking himself some really difficult questions, he was able to create the digital business of his dreams. 

Today, Calan teaches clients all over the world profitable action steps for creating a successful online business while also building a solid mental foundation -- something that is incredibly important. 

In this episode, Calan opens up about his own journey, and how being curious can help alleviate some of the fears that come along with entrepreneurship. You will also hear: 

• Calan’s step-by-step exercise on how to identify your 3 core values 
• How to create a business that is in alignment with your core values
• Why personal development is so important as an entrepreneur
• What it looks like to evolve as an entrepreneur (and why it’s okay to do so)

Plus, so much more. So if you’re ready to move from fear to curiosity, grab a pen and paper and get ready to identify your core values!

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [12:47] Your business grows at the rate that you are personally growing. You can never outperform your self-image and what you believe about yourself.
• [16:09] Calan defaulted to the things he loved in his business. He loves tech and brought all of those aspects to their new business. His colleagues prefer doing the forward-facing stuff.
• [18:31] Through his journey of curiosity Calan discovered what really lights him up and that's getting on calls and helping people. 
• [22:54] In every relationship communication is key. There needs to be an ability to have those difficult conversations and integrate your business with your core values.
• [28:39] Calan’s process for identifying your core values or the things that you feel are the most important in relation to how you live your life. 
• [31:23] Get a pen and paper and identify the following: a time in your life when you were happiest both personally and professionally, a time in your life when you were the most proud personally and professionally, times when you felt the most fulfilled and satisfied.
• [33:02] Make a list of your top 10 core values and compare them to one another. Once you discover your top core values use them as guideposts for making decisions in your life.
• [41:10] It's also important to take a step back and analyze what is working and what's not working and why it may not be working.

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Welcome to my first Wisdom Wednesday Episode!

Each week, I’ll be bringing you a short five to ten minute episode with some of my favorite bits of wisdom that have been shared on Online Marketing Made Easy in the past. 

With over 500 episodes, it’s easy to forget or recall strategies or mindset shifts you’ve learned along the way. 

Some clips will be from solo episodes… and others will be from interviews I’ve done. But they’ll both have something in common… they are invaluable tidbits of wisdom worth hearing over and over again. 

This week, I'm sharing one of my favorite content tips for course creators! We're also talking about the power of repetition and free content versus paid content. 

Wanna listen to the entire episode that this clip was pulled from? You can check it out here: Episode #297: Grow Your Business & Revenue: 6 MUST DO Action Items to Make Magic Between Launches

Enjoy six minutes of a knowledge packed episode!

Spoiler alert: You cannot win a game you do not play

Do you ever think back to when you were a kid playing sports, and what you felt like as you stood on the sidelines of the soccer field, or the ice skating rink, or basketball court? 

For me, it was cheerleading. 

If you were anything like me, you were probably a little bit nervous (ok… let’s be real -- a lot nervous). Your palms were sweaty, you felt your heart beating through your chest, and even though you had been practicing for weeks, you were afraid to get out there.

All of a sudden your coach looks at you and says, “Go.” She gives you a nudge, and just like that, game on – it’s go time.  

And somehow, once you’re in motion all your fear disappears. All of that nervous energy turns into adrenaline and you think to yourself, “I’ve got this.” 

You feel incredible because you’re doing it, and you didn’t think you could. 

Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m sharing sports analogies with you, and I’ll tell you, sweet friend -- it’s because if you want to be successful as an entrepreneur, you have to be able to get in the game, get into motion without hesitation. 

You have to be willing to take calculated risks, willing to fail, and willing to put yourself out there without feeling 100% ready. If I’ve learned one thing over the years, it’s that there’s power in being in the game, even if it’s imperfect. 

In this episode, you’ll hear about a recent experience where my own ability to take a calculated risk was put to the test. Yes, it was uncomfortable… and yes, I was afraid I was going to embarrass myself. But I did it, and let me tell you, it was totally worth it.

So if you’re ready to hear what it is, grab your favorite iced beverage, turn up the volume, and tune in. And I promise, no more sports analogies. ;)

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [02:25] You know that being an entrepreneur is so much more than owning a business or multiple businesses. Managing your mindset can be more difficult than any of the other tasks that we do.
• [03:10] Failure only gives you the opportunity to grow. It's hard to get in this frame of mind, when things aren't going well, but remind yourself that you're learning and growing. 
• [04:31] Hobie and I bought an NFT. When the auction happened, I realized that I didn't know what I needed until I got in the game and tried it. 
• [06:53] That night, I realized that I learned five things that I never would have learned by reading books or watching videos, or asking questions. I had to get off the sidelines and get into action!
• [10:42] You do not know what you need to know until you get in the game. Where are you standing on the sidelines? There's a point where you need to cut bait and get in the game.
• [14:21] If you're struggling in an area or chasing a goal or chasing a dream, and you're clear on what you want, then where do you need to get in the game now?
• [16:25] Remember, no time is going to be perfect. Getting in the game will be the best education that you could possibly imagine.

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Learn how to be intentional with how you organize and spend your time

If I could make a wild guess, I’d say that ‘entrepreneur’ is just one of the many hats that you wear. In fact, you probably have a laundry list of roles that you fill on a day-to-day basis -- mother, father, wife, husband, fur-parent, housekeeper, chef, chauffeur, personal shopper, gardener, accountant -- the list goes on. 

And with all that you’ve got going on in your life, I’m sure you’ve probably wondered, “How the heck do I keep up with everything and have a successful business?”

Sweet friend, if I had a dollar every time I asked myself that question, I’d be quite rich. And when I do, I remind myself that I don’t have to hustle through it all. Life is so much more fulfilling when you have more white space, more quiet time with loved ones, and more time for yourself. 

But like many things, that’s easier said than done. In order to achieve that sort of balance, you have to be intentional with how you organize and spend your time – and my guest on this episode is an expert when it comes to doing that. 

Her name is Shunta Grant, and she’s on a mission to help women live lives of intention, leading with self-awareness and self-love. Sounds pretty great, right? 

I loved this conversation with Shunta because I learned so much about how I can set habits and routines that compliment my life, and I won’t lie – her philosophy is a bit different from many others in this space.

So if you’re ready to stop going through the motions and start living in the present, tune in to hear: 

• The difference between being productive and being efficient
• Strategies on how to balance being an entrepreneur and a parent without falling victim to the hustle mentality
• How to create a routine that connects you to who you are and what you want

The philosophy behind her brand, Best Today

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [06:33] Shunta began her career as an attorney. She realized that she wanted to create resources that plan humanity first, as opposed to doing and doing.
• [07:25] She created Best Today to provide resources to help us center on our humanity. They help customers optimize their time focusing on mental, emotional, and physical well-being every day.
• [07:50] Everything they do is built on the four principles of proaction, intentionality, self-awareness, and self-love. We need all four to live an intentional life and grow an intentional business.
• [11:03] If you're clear on who you are and what you want, you will produce the things you want. Slow down and make sure the destination is the place where you want to be.
• [13:22] Who are you? What do you want? Sit down and write out the answers to these questions and give yourself the freedom to dream.
• [17:26] If you were worthy, what would you want? Dream every day for 10 minutes. Keep asking yourself what you want and reminding yourself that you are deserving of all of it.
• [19:06] It's okay to throw the idea of balance out the window. Ask yourself what you really want? Honor the season that you are in. It's a container, not a restriction. Caring for children is a season. 
• [24:06] 1. Honor the season you are in. 2. Stop comparing. 3. Take the time to prune those things that aren't feeding what's the most important.
• [30:00] We all have routines, they just may not all be healthy. We need to create healthy routines, so that when we feel triggers we know what positive action we'll take.
• [31:44] 1. Routines solve problems. 2. They help you to create harmony in your home. 3. They also help you create boundaries for what matters. 
• [35:03] A lot of people don't believe they are worthy to live an intentional life. You are worthy of the effort it takes to live an intentional life. You were born worthy.

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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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How time blocking has transformed my life, my business and my stress levels

Close your eyes and imagine this super dreamy scenario:

You wake up in the morning excited for the workday, and are crystal clear on what you have to accomplish.

You feel 100% prepared because you know exactly what’s expected of you.

You have all of the information you need to be successful at your fingertips.

You cruise through each task effortlessly, and even have time to take several breaks.

You end the day feeling productive, successful, and not the least bit overwhelmed.

This is not some sort of weird alternate universe. In fact, this exact workday is easily achievable, and I know that because I live and breathe it every. single. day. 

Yes, sweet friend. I have developed a very specific formula for structuring my workdays, and time blocking is a big part of it. It helps me stay clear and focused on what my outcomes are, and knock out my task list without context switching. 

Let me tell you, this little formula of mine has helped me immensely in my business, and I am so excited to share it with you. In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What time blocking is and why it’s been a game changer for my business
• The specific tools I use to block out my days, and how I go about it step-by-step
• How I’m able to take multiple breaks a day and still be productive
• How I use the Full Focus Planner alongside technology to stay on track

So if you’re ready to transform your work days for the better, pop in those earbuds and give this episode a listen. I promise, you’ll thank me.

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [02:38] There's an art and a science to how I block my time. It took me a few years to nail it down, but now I have a very specific formula to help me stay on track.
• [03:30] Time blocking is crucial to my business, because it helps me get really clear about the action items I'm going to be doing that day.
• [04:14] It all starts with Google Calendar and my project management tool Asana. You can even use it if you have a one-man or one-woman show. 
• [10:52] I also use my Full Focus planner to get the most out of my time blocks. I use it to identify my top three priorities for the day. Come rain or shine, these three things get done!
• [13:27] Recap: Schedule time blocks along with non-negotiables. Time blocks are assigned to me in Asana with more specifics. I write down my three priorities for the next day. If something doesn't get done, we reschedule.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"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!

Use these tried and true strategies if you want to make money quickly

How many times have you wanted to invest in yourself or in your business but you didn’t have the extra cash on hand to make it happen? 

Maybe you really wanted to learn how to create, launch and sell your digital course by taking Digital Course Academy, or finally hire that virtual assistant that you so desperately need. 

There’s nothing worse than having a resource at your fingertips (that you know will help take you to the next level) but not being able to spend money on it -- because let’s be real, life is pretty darn expensive. 

I get it, I’ve been there… many times.

And that’s why I’m so excited to share five different strategies you can use for a quick cash injection into your business. 

Sweet friend, I only wish I would have had these in my back pocket when I first got started and was super strapped for cash, because they’re just that good. And best of all, they’re really easy to implement.

So if you’re ready to learn how you can easily make a quick buck (or thousands) and provide value to your audience, then grab a notepad and tune into this episode that will certainly be a game changer for you and your business. 

Enjoy this step-by-step episode!

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [07:47] 1. Offer limited online or in-person one-on-one sessions. You have knowledge and know-how in a specific area, and other people would love to learn from you. 
• [11:33] 2. Offer limited group coaching spots. Follow the same steps as above but tweak some of your pricing.
• [13:06] 3. Audit your spending habits. Find hidden dollars and cut back a little on the pleasure spending. See how much you can save by temporarily eliminating some of your purchases. 
• [17:32] 4. Host a lower ticket challenge. Teach similar strategies or practices that you would teach in your group or one-on-one sessions. 
• [20:46] 5. Create a PDF guide or worksheet of something you already teach and you know your audience loves. Then sell this guide or worksheet for a low-cost. 
• [22:57] 6. Offer your insight through market research. Use legit online survey companies like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and User Interviews.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"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!

The unexpected gift I received from taking 5 weeks off.

I just got back from a five-week-long sabbatical, and holy smokes, sweet friend — it was so much different than I thought it would be.

Now, if you have been with me for a while (or listened to Sabbatical 101: How I’m Prepping for 30 Days Away From My Business), you know that taking an extended time away from my business is something that I have been wanting to do for years. It took a lot of preparation, hard work, and countless lattes — but I made it happen! 

Going into it I had some expectations about how things would go. I knew that I would have the time of my life at Chloe’s wedding in Mexico and that I’d create some really great memories with my family at our new lake house. I also knew that being away from my business might cause some anxiety, but heck, that’s what skinny margs are for, right? 

But something happened over the course of my sabbatical that I didn’t expect. As I got further and further away from my business, I realized A LOT about myself that I wasn’t necessarily ready to confront. There was an emotional and eye-opening component to my time away that I was not prepared for — and if you know me, you know I like to be prepared.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am SO glad that I took this sabbatical, and in the end, I walked away with a life-changing gift…

… But would I do it again? You’ll just have to tune in to find out.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• [03:01] I just finished my five-week sabbatical!
• [04:47] The good: I loved spending so much time with Hobie. I went at a slower pace and took the time to really take care of myself.
• [07:03] The bad: It was really difficult to disconnect. After Mexico, my head started to spiral around work. I had anxiety, which was alarming to me. 
• [09:26] The ugly: Was that I realized that my identity was in my work. I felt restless when not checking things off of a list. I started to get FOMO. 
• [11:23] The flip side of identifying with my work so strongly is that I really love my work and feel great about it. I love my team, my students, and all of you listeners!
• [12:33] The gift: I need to explore who I am beyond my work. I need to feel loved, supported, and accomplished even if I don’t have a thriving business. 
• [13:17] Would I take five weeks off again. No! Five weeks is too much. I’m thinking two weeks each quarter might be more fitting for me personally.
• [20:09] You might wonder how I was even able to take so much time off of my business. I’ve created a program called Systems That Scale which is all about how I run my business.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“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!

The must-dos to make sure your audience is ready for your digital course

Imagine this scenario: 

You’ve got a solid email list. You’ve built up your social media following. You’ve got an engaged audience, they’re resonating with your content, and they want more. You know that the next step would be to serve up a digital course…

But here’s the thing. You don’t have a course… yet! Not only do you not have a course, you don’t even have it mapped out.

This is a great problem to have -- and the good news is, you are about to learn how to bridge that gap until you have your digital course up and running. 

And let me tell you, this period of time -- when you have an audience who is genuinely excited and interested in your topic -- is very important, because the last thing you want to do is lose their attention. 

In this episode, you’re going to learn what you absolutely must do to make sure that you’re creating content that will set your audience up perfectly for moving into your digital course when the time comes. 

You’ll also take away five tangible ways that you can stay top of mind while you work diligently behind the scenes to bring your box office digital course to life.

I hope you have your listening ears on because this episode is jam packed full of my best tips and tricks -- so tune in and enjoy!

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [05:11] Before you launch, do a 30-60 day pre launch runway to build momentum and attract a bigger audience. 
• [08:38] Be mindful about what you're putting out there. Find your ideal customer avatar, and create content for them that aligns with your future course. 
• [11:16] Ask yourself: Where is my audience now and where do they need to be? What do they need to learn? What mindset shifts do they need to make?
• [12:17] Strategy 1: Tell stories about how you or other people have gotten results through your process.
• [12:57] Strategy 2: Take them behind the scenes. People love it when you share little tidbits about your life and business.
• [14:55] Strategy 3: Hint to your audience that you have a program coming their way. Have conversations that help them move forward towards your course.
• [18:21] Strategy 4: Create a waitlist landing page and segment the emails that come in through that page. Ask your audience to sign up to get the latest news.
• [20:12] During your pre-launch runway, create weekly content that's aligned with your upcoming course. Email your subscribers and share a lead magnet weekly.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"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!

If you’ve ever considered writing a book, here’s what you need to know

If you have been listening for the past few months, you’ve probably heard me mention that I’m writing a book. This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and with a lot of hard work and a little help from the universe, it’s happening. 

I have been in full-swing book writing mode, and as a ‘first-timer,’ I’m learning a lot. It’s been quite the process, and there’s much more to it than I initially anticipated -- but let me tell you, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see this little dream of mine come to life. 

Perhaps what I’m most excited about is the fact that I know this book is going to help so many women find the confidence to leave behind what’s no longer serving them, and move into what lights them up. To me, that makes all the latte-fueled early mornings worth it.

And because writing a book can be a game-changer for your content marketing strategy, I figured that I would give you the full report on what my experience has been like so far. In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• My inspiration for writing this book, and what pushed me to make it happen
• What was most important to me in a publisher, and how I chose one
• What the book writing process has been like and the challenges I’ve had
• My experience working with a book editor

If you’ve ever considered writing a book, you’re definitely going to want to check out this episode -- so grab your pen and paper, and tune in!

Here’s a glance at this episode...

• [05:09] The inspiration for my book comes from an avatar that I serve — a woman who is still in her 9 to 5 job, but knows there’s more out there for her.
• [08:53] It's my goal to give women (and men) permission to make a pivot in their life and leave whatever doesn't serve them anymore. 
• [09:24] I also wanted to show people how to launch and grow a successful online business once they take the leap into entrepreneurship. 
• [11:58] I have two agents who helped me navigate meetings with publishers. I ended up landing a deal with Hay House, who gave me a great advance. 
• [15:16] Rehashing stories from the past and digging up past experiences was a much bigger challenge than I thought it would be.
• [20:37] Get on the waitlist for Two Weeks Notice to get fabulous bonuses, the latest details, and be part of the launch.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"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!