Inspire Your Success

If you're looking for some inspiration to quit your job and live your dreams, this episode is for YOU!

I got to interview Sean Ogle of Location Rebel to learn about his epic journey of entrepreneurship. He started blogging and freelance writing in 2009 and hasn't worked a normal job since.

Now, he spends his time writing, traveling, growing his brand Location Rebel, and golfing (his goal is to play the top 100 courses in the world). Plus, Sean is also the founder of Breaking 80, a golf membership site who helps connect like-minded golfers.

When it comes to making money online and living the laptop lifestyle, Sean is definitely one of the Godfather's so listen a few times and take notes.

In the episode, we talk about:

• Sean's epic journey
• What it's like to quit your job
• How to make money online in 2019
• How to start an online business with no experience
• What it takes to make money writing, blogging, and other side hustles like membership sites

If you found it inspiring &/or actionable, please share on Instagram by taking a screenshot and tagging @iammichaelleonard.

Check out Location Rebel here.

Resources to Start Your Online Business

Earn your first $1,000 writing: https://inspireyoursuccess1.lpages.co/freelance-to-1k-podcast/

*Teachable: https://www.teachable.com

*Bluehost (Website Hosting for Podcast): https://www.inspireyoursuccess.com/bluehost

*Convertkit (Email List): https://www.inspireyoursuccess.com/convertkit

And if you're ready to take your life or business to the next level, here are some ways that I can help you even more ...

1) Work with me 1-1

If you'd like some extra help starting a freelance writing business? Then let's talk!

Learn more at inspireyoursuccess.com/coach

2) JOIN Freelance to 5K

If you're ready to build an online business, freelance writing is a great place to start. With no experience or writing background, I was able to 10X my writing income in 12 months only working part-time. This one skill has allowed me to NEVER go back to a 9-5!

I've packaged up everything I've learned over the years to give you a step-by-step guide to launch a freelance writing business or side hustle.

LEARN MORE NOW: freelanceto5k.com

3) Follow me on Instagram @iammichaelleonard to get updates to new content, entrepreneurial advice, & motivation to help you create an epic life and business.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iammichaelleonard/

In this Writing Wednesday episode, I continue with part 2 of my new 4 part series based off my recent episode How I Made $20,050 in 30 days of Writing. During this series, I will talk about the 20 lessons I learned from that month. I recently wrote about this on Medium but wanted to dive deeper into each lesson on the podcast!

In September 2019, I had my best month of freelance writing! The tips I am sharing here are five writing tips that I learned to that helped me maximize my time and productivity to get the most out of that busy month.

5 More Lessons from My Best Month in Freelance Writing

In September of 2019, I had my best month of freelance writing! The tips I am sharing here are five writing tips that I learned to that helped me maximize my time and productivity to get the most out of that busy month.

1. Listen to Binaural BeatsThis type of music is comprised of different beats said to increase focus, concentration, and motivation.

2. Get out of the House Even a simple walk can help clear the mind and re-energize you!

3. Find Your Best Time of Day to Write This is key to getting more done in less time. For me writing early in the day is best, for you it might in the afternoon or evening, test different time periods out to find your ideal writing time.

4. Use the Pomodoro Technique Using this method, break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as Pomodoro and encourage people to work with the time they have – rather than against it.

5. Wear UV blocking glasses.These type of glasses filter blue light and can help avoid eye strain which is important when you stare at computer most of the day. Stay tuned for the next 5 tips and if you implement these I would love to know!

If you are ready to take the next step and launch your freelance writing career, I would love to help you build momentum!

I still have a few spots left in my coaching program, fill out an application to learn more 1/1 coaching.

www.inspireyoursuccess.com/coach

In this Monday with Michael episode, I share why freelance writing is the number one side hustle in 2020 and how you can easily get started! 5 Reasons Freelance Writing is the Best Online Job

In 2018, I had to face the harsh truth – the blog that I had quit my 9 – 5 to pursue wasn't growing, my side hustles were not generating income and my credit card doubt was racking up. I knew I had to pivot or I would end up back at my 9 – 5.

When I discovered freelance writing, I dove in headfirst and this one choice helped me earn over $100,000 in two years and it kept my entrepreneur dream alive!

Freelance writing is the best online side hustle for these reasons:

1. Low Start Up Costs With freelance writing, you can get started for almost nothing. In fact, you could apply for jobs today on Upwork or job boards without even having a freelance writing website.

2. Low Barrier to Entry Another perk to freelance writing as a side hustle is that you can get started quickly. You don't need to learn endless new skills to launch your online writing business.

3. Easy to Scale With freelance writing, and only a few clients you can make a few thousand as a side hustle or go all-in as a full-time writer. In the last six months, I've averaged $10,000 while only working part-time with 3–5 clients!

4. Freedom to Pick Your Clients At the start of your journey you might take anyone, but as time goes on being able to pick people you like and trust as well as projects that interest becomes very appealing.

5. Get Paid Quickly With freelance writing, you choose our payment schedule. Each client is different but for the most part, you will always get paid the same month.

Check out Freelance to 5K now --> freelanceto5k.com

Are you tired of going to a job you hate only to live for the weekends and then do it all over again?

If you're tired of living for the weekends, this episode will help you get clarity on creating your dream life.

In this episode, I got to interview Sam Crowley of the "Everyday is Saturday" podcast which is one of the top motivational podcasts in the world!

We discuss why a job makes you broke, how to make money online, and how to live your dreams.

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Sam Crowley. If you found it inspiring &/or actionable, please share on Instagram by taking a screenshot and tagging @iammichaelleonard.

10 Online Business Ideas: https://pages.convertkit.com/6bb5abb980/a1a9b0f67b

Resources to Start Your Online Business

*ClickFunnels: https://www.inspireyoursuccess.com/clickfunnels

*Teachable: https://www.teachable.com

*Bluehost (Website Hosting for Podcast): https://www.inspireyoursuccess.com/bluehost

*Convertkit (Email List): https://www.inspireyoursuccess.com/convertkit

And if you're ready to take your life or business to the next level, here are some ways that I can help you even more ...

1) Work with me 1-1

If you'd like some extra help starting your podcast or launching a freelance writing business let's talk!

Visit inspireyoursuccess.com/coach

2) JOIN Freelance to 5K

If you're ready to build an online business, freelance writing is a great place to start. With no experience or writing background, I was able to 10X my writing income in 12 months only working part-time. This one skill has allowed me to NEVER go back to a 9-5!

I've packaged up everything I've learned over the years to give you a step-by-step guide to launch a freelance writing business or side hustle.

LEARN MORE NOW: http://bit.ly/2Q6QF9e

3) Follow me on Instagram @iammichaelleonard to get updates to new content, entrepreneurial advice, & motivation to help you create an epic life and business.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iammichaelleonard/

In this Writing Wednesday episode, I am starting a new 4 part series based off my recent episode How I Made $20,050 in 30 days of Writing. In this series, I will talk about the 20 lessons I learned from that month. I recently wrote about this on Medium but wanted to dive deeper into each lesson on the podcast!

In September of 2019, I made $20,050 as a freelance writer. That was an insane income month! Let's dive into the first five significant takeaways from that month.

1. Figure out your Hourly Rate. As you start to get clients and earn money writing, make sure to calculate your hourly rate and then anything that doesn't meet that hourly rate, outsource. This led me to outsourcing some items to a virtual assistant (VA).

2. Outline Before You Write. One of the biggest mistakes I have made over the years was not outlining my work ahead of time. Instead, I would try to research, write, and edit at the same time, which led to a lot of wasted time. I talk about having set days for writing tasks in this episode here.

3. Buy Grammarly Pro. Not editing can cost you your biggest client!

4. Eliminate Distractions On writing days, put the phone away! It's a huge productivity killer. Also, get rid of clutter on your desk.

5. Write and Edit Separately While outlining before writing helps, the same goes for editing and writing separately. If possible, I recommend writing one day and editing the next day or at least a few hour-long breaks in between the two sessions. Stay tuned for the next 5 tips and if you implement these tips I would love to know!

Get started with Freelance to 5K and use the exact strategy I used to earn over $100,000+ writing today and get a FREE 1:1 call: freelanceto5k.com

In this Monday's with Michael interview, I talk about how I overcame depression as an entrepreneur and give you seven actionable mental health tips to keep your well-being in balance.

Developing a positive mindset as an entrepreneur is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your business. I recently wrote about this on Medium and how mental health is more than money. It can be challenging to get into that mindset though, if you don't first face the person you've been running from – and by that person I mean yourself. Use these tips to do the work and learn who you are, what you want and why you are the way you are – challenge your old belief system and walk away with a renewed sense of purpose.

1. Hire a Transformational Coach I joined Jim Fortin's Transformational Life Coaching and began to change my life from the inside out.

2. Do Hypnotherapy Reprogram your subconscious by investing in hypnotherapy. Find a certified professional in your area.

3. Become a Student of the Mind Anxiety and depression start with your thinking! If you can learn to change your thoughts, you can change your life.

4. Quit Hustling Hustling can lead quickly to burn out. I follow the advice of James Wedmore "The less I do, the more I make".

5. Quit Comparing Yourself to Others Compare yourself to the previous version of yourself and not to someone else!

6. Begin Self – Care Rituals Invest in anything that makes you feel better mentally. This helps you show up better in the world!

7. Learn to Love Yourself Your business and results are a direct reflection of how well you treat yourself. The more you grow, the more your business will as well.

Liked the episode? Leave a review here: https://www.inspireyoursuccess.com/apple

Ready to start freelance writing? Join FREELANCE TO 5K NOW (and get a FREE 1:1 call w/Michael): freelanceto5k.com

In this guest interview, I had the opportunity to connect with Nick Wolny, a successful content marketer and freelance writer about how he pivoted from an education in classical music (he has two music degrees!) to his now successful content marketing business.

Why a Portfolio is Better than a Resume

Nick believes strongly in putting what your passionate about out in the world and letting the work show for itself. Creating an online portfolio has allowed him to create a network for himself, where as he tells in the interview, has led to many job opportunities where he has never even had to apply first for the job!

How He Discovered Digital Marketing and It Opened Up a Whole World of Opportunity

Nick found himself in position where he loved learning about digital marketing and content creation – but not only did he love it, he was able to apply those strategies to lead businesses to a higher ROI.

Nick niched his consulting business by helping business owners discover new prospect opportunities through email and as they say the rest is history.

His Thoughts on Copywriting vs. Content Writing

These two different types of writing are often confused one for the other. Copywriting is oriented to sales and the job of each sentence in your copy is to get the reader to the next sentence. Content writing on the other hand is educating people on why their problem is a problem and why they should seek a solution.

How Music Taught Him to Be a Better Writer

Having two degrees in classical music, might seem to some to have been a waste of time, but Nick attributes that to actually making him a better writer because it gave him a writing system that he can apply to each project: 1. Writing Fundamentals 2. Writing Repertoire 3. Write to Have Fun

How to Build Your Online Footprint and Pitch Publications

Nick believes in the ladder approach to building your digital footprint and this strategy has led him be featured in Entrepreneur and other huge media publications.

Start with smaller guest posts and outreach and build upon each successful pitch that then will lead to bigger publications and opportunities. When approaching editors, Nick advises first building a relationship with them and then offering to help them. It's also wise to think of each rejection as building your prospecting 'muscle', it is a numbers game and don't take it too personally if an editor brushes off your pitch.

Lastly, Nick gives these two pieces of advice to new writers: 1. Find your footing 2. Learn different types of writing

If you want to connect with Nick, find him at nickwolny.com or email him at [email protected]

If you want to connect with Michael - follow him on Instagram (@iammichaelleonard). To learn how to start your own freelance writing career, visit freelanceto5k.com

How I Had My Best Freelance Writing Month Ever

If you can cultivate and develop your writing skills, you can get paid very, very well as a writer. When I quit my nine to five, I had a goal to make $11,000 in one month. I was able to surpass that goal in September 2019, and make over $20,000 in a month. Here is how I did that:

1. Easy Webinar Client- $4,653 2. Golf Writing Client – $1,155 3. Golf Writing Client – $352 4. Financial Advisor Client – $320 5. Entrepreneur Client – $13,410 6. Affiliate Income on Medium– $160

What I Got Paid to Write

There is a variety of content that you can get paid to write! During my best month of freelance writing, it was all these pieces of content writing that led to success:

• Blog Post Writing
• E-Books
• Podcast Scripts
• Online Course Modules
• Website Copy
• Speech Writing

Where to Find New Writing Jobs

Freelance writing is easy to scale, but you must continually pitch new clients. Here are a variety of ways I have found writing clients:

1. Upwork 2. Writing Job Boards (Pro Blogger, etc.) 3. Cold Pitching 4. LinkedIn 5. Instagram

There are a variety of ways to make money writing, a variety of topics that people will pay you to write about and multiple ways to find clients. Freelance writing is the best way to make money writing online.

Ready to start your freelance writing career today?

Enroll in Freelance to 5K (my signature writing course) for only $97 today!

Learn more at www.freelanceto5k.com

Want a Freelance mentor?

If you are ready to take the next step and launch your freelance writing career, I would love to help you build momentum!

I still have a few spots left in my coaching program, fill out an application to learn more 1/1 coaching.

Learn more at inspireyoursuccess.com/coach

In this Monday with Michael episode, I want to take you behind the scenes to discover what a day in the life of a freelancer looks like. If you want to quit your job and work at home, you'll love this one.

The More Discipline You Have, the More Freedom You Have

As a freelancer it can be easy to fall into an employee mindset and not do the big stuff that moves the needle. When you put systems in place and stop jumping from one task to another you will be amazed how much more freedom you actually have! Having discipline allows you to: 1. Work smarter, not harder 2. Write more efficiently 3. Have more freedom to do the stuff you want to do

How I Structure My Week as a Freelance Writer

There is a lot of advice out there on how to structure your time as a freelancer, but at the end of the day you need to find what works for you! Here is how I structure my time:

1. Writing Days On writing days, all I do is write. I have already done my outlining usually the day before, so all I have to do is focus on writing content.

2. Inspire Your Success Days On these days I record podcasts or coach my one on one writing students.

3. Researching, Outlining and Editing Days I usually only spend half the day doing this and spend the other half working on my golf game.

4. Free Days It's important to schedule these days to recharge! Final tip: Plan out your schedule for the next day the night before! It really does shift the mindset when you know exactly what you need to do the next day when you wake up. You can hit the ground running!

Ready to start your freelance writing career?

Enroll in Freelance to 5K (my signature writing course) for only $97 today!

Learn more at www.freelanceto5k.com

In this episode, I got to interview Tommy Baker. Tommy is an entrepreneur, coach, author, and podcaster.

Watch the video version on Youtube --> https://youtu.be/RKVjaqjCcaE

Tommy Baker helps dreamers, visionaries and entrepreneurs bring those dreams to life —and create a life they can't wait to wake up for. As the author of UnResolution, The 1% Rule and The Leap Of Your Life, Tommy believes living up to our potential is what we're here for.

Through his writing, coaching and podcast —he's helped thousands of people take their next bold step and never look back. He's been featured in Entrepreneur, Influencive, Thought Catalog and more.

Here's what you will learn in this episode:

• How to find clarity in your life
• Why you should always bet on yourself
• How to make big changes in your life and push past fear
• The importance of self-care and reflection on a regular basis
• How morning routines can help you create space and listen to your intuition

To learn more about working 1:1 with Michael, visit www.freelanceto5k.com.