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Mike Michalowicz is the author of Profit First, which is used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit – Creator Science is one of those companies. Profit First has helped me develop sound financials for my business.
He’s also the author of Clockwork, a powerful method to make any business run on automatic, and seven other books as well.
With more than 500,000 book sales, all of Mike’s books have the same goal – to help small business owners and eliminate what he calls “entrepreneurial poverty.” Simon Sinek has called Mike “…the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs.”
This conversation is divided into halves:
The first half explores Mike’s unique model as an author. For each book Mike writes, he partners with a third party to license the frameworks from his books and serve as the done-for-you service provider. This is super uncommon and part of why he’s been so prolific while running a very lean team. So we dig into how that works (and what he’d do differently if he were starting over today).
The second half of the conversation is all about writing books. Mike has published nine books since 2008 – including 7 in the last 8 years. So we dig into how he determines what ideas to turn into books and how to write them so quickly.
Full transcript and show notes
Mike's Website / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #176: April Dunford – How self-publishing a book exploded her client service business.
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
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***
SPONSORS
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SAY THANKS
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Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special “Offline Recap” episode, host Jay Clouse takes us behind the scenes of The Lab’s very first in-person event—now officially dubbed “Lab Offline.” After years of thriving as an online community, this was a bold experiment to bring members together face-to-face in Boise, Idaho.
Jay walks us through every step—how he chose the event style based on direct member feedback, the unexpected venue logistics (including a nerve-wracking run-in with a $43,000 hotel contract), the financial ups and downs, and the nuts and bolts of thoughtful event design. He shares candid lessons on budgeting, planning, creating meaningful connections, and gathering feedback, with plenty of wins and a few honest hiccups along the way.
You’ll hear what made the event unforgettable for attendees, the feedback that will shape future editions, and Jay’s vision for making these gatherings a cornerstone of the Creator Science community. Whether you’re curious about community building, event planning, or just want inspiration for creating deeper connections in your own work, you’ll find a treasure trove of insights in this episode. So sit back and enjoy this honest, insightful look inside the evolution of Creator Science’s Lab Offline experience!
Join The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Event Planning Success Breakdown
05:28 Event Duration and Attendance Insights
07:11 Understanding Event Cost Drivers
10:13 Negotiating Group Hotel Rates
16:21 Last-Minute Event Adjustments Summary
18:32 Learning from Event Expenses
21:31 Event Planning for Meaningful Gatherings
26:46 Business Event: Sharing & Mastermind Activities
28:06 Facilitating Collaborative Interactions
33:16 Event Preparation and Dietary Feedback
37:25 "Event Planning Improvements"
40:08 Event Planning: Duration and Logistics
42:38 Event Prep: Lessons Learned
45:53 International Community Event Plans
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #221: Ryan Hawk – Anatomy of a $12,500 membership earning $400,000+ per year
→ #232: Dan Andrews – Secrets of building a 1300-member, international community (with in-person events)
→ #248: Justin Moore - Lessons from hosting his first 3-day event
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse pulls back the curtain on his business with a transparent look at his May Retro—an in-depth monthly review where he walks through key metrics, goals, wins, challenges, and behind-the-scenes decisions. You’ll get a firsthand listen to the kind of content usually reserved for The Lab community, as Jay shares real revenue numbers, growth strategies, creative experiments, and honest reflections about everything from team building to business structure to personal growth.
Whether you’re curious about what drives Creator Science or looking for inspiration and practical insights to apply to your own creative journey, this episode delivers a candid, actionable tour through the ever-evolving world of modern content entrepreneurship. If you enjoy going behind the scenes, you’ll love this one—let’s dive in!
Join The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Event Planning Amid Illness
05:41 Course Sales Surge with Email Automation
09:26 "X Content Repurposing Success"
10:15 Shifting Focus: YouTube Over Social Media
15:50 Family Vacation & Home Updates
18:43 Over-Budget Event: Trust Seminar Dilemma
20:31 Crafting Trust: A Vital Skill
24:39 "Expanding Offline Community Effectively"
26:17 Tool Upgrades and Membership Strategy
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #258: Q&A: Goals for our YouTube videos, determining when a new offer is a distraction, validating a product idea, and more
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse takes listeners behind the scenes of the The Lab’s vibrant community. Fresh off organizing The Lab’s first-ever major in-person event in Boise, Jay shares a candid update about creating real-world connections among full-time creators and what these gatherings mean for the future of The Lab membership.
But that’s just the beginning. This episode is a front-row seat to the magic that happens during The Lab’s monthly office hours. Jay and a panel of talented creators—including Tom Burden, Pat Gostek, Anna Reich, Travis Ference, Anais Cisneros, and David Fortin—engage in open, practical discussions about growing a creator business. They tackle real-world questions: how to think about the purpose behind each video, launching masterminds without losing focus, building community vs. courses vs. memberships, and the ever-elusive challenge of monetizing as a creator in today’s landscape. Plus, you’ll hear smart strategies for product validation, content creation during market research, and best practices for leveraging email marketing and CRM tools.
Whether you’re a growing creator or an established entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest insights, actionable ideas, and a glimpse into the supportive space that makes the The Lab unique. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be part of this community—or how to take your creator business to the next level—you won’t want to miss this one.
Join The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Lab Membership Events and Opportunities
05:13 Tailoring Content for Specific Goals
06:47 YouTube Audience Engagement Strategy
11:08 Mastermind Group Pricing Dilemma
14:41 Done-for-You Video Expertise
17:55 Mastermind Group Launch Strategy
21:31 Pricing Strategy Gap Analysis
25:47 LinkedIn Posting Frequency Insights
29:17 Courses vs. Community: Balance Concerns
33:05 "Assessing Membership Value Elements"
36:28 Monetizing Creator Business Strategies
40:37 Marketing Community Value to Busy Clients
42:19 "Sell the Map Via Social Proof"
47:36 Email Marketing Tools Compared
49:40 Organizing Ideas with Purpose
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #246: Planning for a recession, my approach to email, increasing customers, and finding your partner [Ask Creator Science]
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special Strategy Hour episode, host Jay Clouse flips the script as a guest on Abagail Pumphrey’s acclaimed podcast, Strategy Hour. Abagail, the founder and CEO of The Boss Project, dives into Jay’s fascinating journey from startup founder to creative entrepreneur—exploring how he built a thriving newsletter business, fostered an engaged community, and navigated the ever-evolving creator landscape.
Together, they break down what it really means to grow an audience with intention, why consistency trumps fleeting viral moments, and how creators can build businesses that last. Jay pulls back the curtain on his process, from his early days writing daily emails to building a sustainable business rooted in genuine connection and trust. You’ll also hear their takes on the future of courses, the role of AI and community in online business, and the importance of slow, steady growth.
If you’re craving real talk about surviving (and thriving) as a creator—plus actionable tips on how to treat your newsletter as your most valuable product—this episode is for you. Stick around for an insightful conversation that’s both inspiring and refreshingly honest, and be sure to check the show notes to subscribe to Strategy Hour for more entrepreneurial wisdom!
Subscribe to The Strategy Hour
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 "Exploring Uncharted Podcast Territory"
04:44 "Insights on Becoming a Creator"
07:10 Promoting Newsletter via Events & Email
11:58 Audience vs. Crowd: Content Focus
15:38 Newsletter: Business Stability Anchor
16:36 Social Media Engagement Challenges
22:32 Slow Path to Sustainable Business
26:10 "Coping with Online Fame's Pressure"
30:04 Twelve-Week Group Pricing Plan
30:34 Pioneering Cohort-Based Learning
33:53 AI's Impact on Online Courses
38:48 Innovate or Strategize for Success
40:31 "Invaluable Insights and Connections"
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #247: How you can plan for growth in 2025
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark Manson is an entrepreneur and author of the best-selling book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.
Mark's entrepreneur-first approach has enabled him to speed-run his YouTube success, gaining 2,600,000 subscribers in just two years.
In this episode, we break down Mark's approach to YouTube, from content strategy to setting up his channel for long-term success.
Full transcript and show notes
Mark's Website / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn / TikTok
***
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) YouTubers and Business
(01:13) Why Do YouTubers Suck at Business?
(10:14) Make Brainstorming Ideas Easy with 1of10
(11:50) How to Turn Your Channel into a Business
(15:55) When to Make the Transition
(24:43) When Maximizing Views is Bad
(27:31) The Case For Not Taking Brand Deals
(35:33) 1st Step to Take
(37:48) Futureproofing Your Channel
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #179: Justin Moore – A step-by-step strategy to get anyone sponsored, regardless of audience size
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Creator Science! In this solo episode, I’m inviting you directly into the whirlwind that is my mind these days. From the outside, it might look like I’ve got things under control—but as I share straight from my journal, the reality is a constant tug-of-war between where my energy wants to go and where my time needs to be spent.
I open up about the challenges of juggling my main business, the demands of being a new dad, and my excitement (and uncertainty) around a big experiment: writing a book proposal. You’ll hear my unfiltered reflections on feeling pulled toward deep, meaningful work—like research, writing, and evolving my community—while also handling the business operations that keep everything running.
In this episode, I walk through the practical framework I’ve developed—concentrate, eliminate, consolidate, automate, and delegate—that’s helping me re-evaluate how I spend my time and create space for what feels truly alive for me right now. I’ll break down the tough choices, the things I’m letting go of (goodbye, social media expectations!), and my vision for building a stronger, more connected Creator Science community.
If you’re grappling with too many competing priorities or searching for ways to prioritize your highest-energy projects, this episode is for you. Join me as I process all of this in real time—because I suspect, as creators, you might be feeling some of these same tensions too.
Full transcript and show notes
***
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Uncertain Book Proposal Journey
04:05 Balancing Book Project and Business
07:26 Balancing Time for Book and Lab
11:10 Follow Your Passion and Fitness
13:55 Focus on In-Person Experiences
19:24 "Reevaluating Social Media Dependency"
20:23 Rethinking Social Media Strategy
26:37 Community Coaching Sessions Live
27:32 "Hot Seat Podcasts Introduction"
31:06 Selective Sponsorship Criteria
35:52 Delegating Community Management Tasks
37:43 Sponsorship Strategy and Event Planning
40:53 "Embrace Trade-Offs and Compromises"
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dan Koe, Justin Welsh, and I joined Substack in the last couple of weeks.
In this episode, I explain what’s going on, my own motives, and why you should (or shouldn’t) consider making the same move.
→ Read Why I Joined Substack
→ Subscribe to my Substack
Full transcript and show notes
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #251: Behind the Scenes: What I’m quietly working on
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caleb Ralston is a strategist and brand builder for some of the biggest names in business. His breakthrough was back in 2018 when he grew GaryVee’s TikTok from 300k to 3.5 million followers in just 3 months. In 2022 he joined Alex and Leila Hormozi’s team as content employee #1, where he grew their audience from 1.2 million to 11.5 million. Caleb just doesn’t miss – and now that he’s out on his own, he’s here to help YOU.
In this episode, you'll learn the content strategy he used, how to improve your content, and where to start if you're feeling overwhelmed.
Full transcript and show notes
Caleb's Website / Twitter / LinkedIn / YouTube / Instagram
***
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) The Secret Man Behind GaryVee and the Hormozi’s
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #175: Angus Parker – Ali Abdaal’s right-hand man shares a YouTuber’s guide to hiring.
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will AI destroy our education businesses? In this video, I talk with Mark Shust. Mark has taught nearly 15,000 developers Magento through his education company M.academy. Mark is a member of The Lab and one of the first creators I saw locking arms with AI and implementing it into his business rather than running from it. We discuss the future of AI and creators, and how to stay ahead.
→ Join Mark and me in The Lab
Full transcript and show notes
Mark's Website / Twitter / LinkedIn / YouTube
***
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Should You Be Worried?
***
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
→ #184: Amy Porterfield – Her step-by-step process for MASSIVE product launches.
***
ASK CREATOR SCIENCE
→ Submit your question here
***
WHEN YOU'RE READY
📬 Creator Science Newsletter
🚀 Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system)
🧪 Join The Lab (private membership community)
🧞♂️ Get a Personalized Offer
***
CONNECT
🐦 Connect on Twitter
📸 Connect on Instagram
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
📹 Subscribe on YouTube
***
SPONSORS
💼 View all sponsors and offers
***
SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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