Just The Tips, with James P. Friel and Dean Holland

On this week's episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome my good friend Trey Lewellen to the show, and it's safe to say that you are going to be blown away by the insights he shares. Trey is one of the most generous entrepreneurs out there, and also works harder on improving himself and investing in himself than almost anyone I know. Trey has made a huge name for himself as an e-commerce expert, and launched a fantastic podcast called Kommerce Kings. In our chat he talks about some of the mistakes he's made in business, some of the crucial pivot points when he's seen his success take off, and he shares a riddle that will have you thinking for days.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes, even ones that result in calls from the police

Trey told us some hilarious stories on this week's episode, two of which (two!) involved the police. One time they discovered their email was on a shared server with a local police station, and the station had to stop taking 911 calls because so many emails were coming in the servers were heating up. Another time a police officer walked into Trey's office and declared, "You're under arrest…nah I'm just kidding." A customer had bought something from Trey online and called the police to make sure it was a real operation. Even if the cops aren't knocking on your doors, you'll be able to learn a lot from what Trey says on this episode about overcoming obstacles.

Invest in yourself, be the $30 million racehorse

Trey is such a successful entrepreneur in part because he knows that he needs to continually grow. He told us about a mastermind class he once attended, where the speaker said a fateful sentence to him: "You're a $30 million racehorse." In other words: If you bought a racehorse, you would feed it right, train it right, take care of it around the clock to make sure it's performing. For Trey, the same goes for himself. In this week's episode of Just the Tips, Trey talks about a variety of life changes that are just little tweaks to how he goes about each day, but have made a huge impact on his life.

The riddle of success

Trey shares so many of his secrets to success in our conversation, from finding motivation to wake up early every morning (hint: treat yo'self) to investing in a proper mentor. But, in the middle of this week's episode, Trey sprung a brain teaser on us: Without using any of the resources you have now, how would start a million-dollar a year company on just one hour a week. This one stumped both Dean and I, and Trey admitted that he had to take some time to think it through. But once he did, he actually came up with an ingenious plan that is paying dividends for him now. Sorry, you'll have to listen if you want to hear it.

Trey answers the famous three questions

On his podcast, Trey asks each of his guests three questions: What is one book that changed your life; what is one event that changed your life; and who is one mentor who changed your life. So I flipped the script and posed the questions to Trey, and his answers were surprisingly personal, giving us some great insight into not only how Trey has become so successful, but how he thinks about his own work and the world around him. We'll tease you a bit and say that his favorite book is Think and Grow Rich, but his reasons for liking that book, along with so much of what he says in this interview, will likely surprise you.

Outline of This Episode

• [3:45] Introduction to Trey
• [9:47] The $30 million racehorse
• [15:41] Trey poses a riddle
• [20:41] How the advice he's received on Kommerce Kings has changed his life
• [22:02] What book changed Trey's life?
• [26:37] What event changed his life?
• [35:05] And finally, what mentor changed his life

Resources & People Mentioned

• Trey Lewellen
• Kommerce Kings
• Think and Grow Rich

Music for "Just The Tips" is titled, "Happy Happy Game Show" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Connect With James and Dean

James P. Friel:

• AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

On this week’s episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I welcome my good friend Trey Lewellen to the show, and it’s safe to say that you are going to be blown away by the insights he shares. Trey is one of the most generous entrepreneurs out there, and also works harder on improving himself and investing in himself than almost anyone I know. Trey has made a huge name for himself as an e-commerce expert, and launched a fantastic podcast called Kommerce Kings.

As you know, and as many of our guests on Just the Tips have said before, being a successful entrepreneur is difficult, consuming work. The same could be said about being in a successful relationship. That makes it all the more fascinating that the guests on today's show are doing both of those things so well. Masa Cemazar and Miguel Montero have launched dozens of successful businesses and two years ago embarked on their latest and largest endeavor, Pyjama Bosses, their software and training company for network marketers. Dean and I had a lot of fun talking with this power couple, and you're going to appreciate how open and honest they are not only about their business but how they make it work balancing startups and matrimony.

How "Desperation" turned a pilot and a geneticist into an entrepreneur couple

Dean and I enjoyed hearing how Masa and Miguel first met, on a plane ride to Australia. The international couple—she's from Slovenia, he's from Spain—decided to make that country their home. But Miguel had difficulty finding a job as a pilot due to visa issues, while Masa held down a six-figure job as a geneticist. But she told us that she was frustrated with her own job, too, discovering her work did more to benefit pharmaceutical companies than it did people. So the two of them decided to go into business by themselves, for themselves. On this episode of Just the Tips, You're going to be inspired by how thoughtful and mindful they are about how they made that transition and how they're always pushing themselves—and each other—to grow.

In Australia, if you argue with your wife, you sleep with the snakes

As I said, Masa and Miguel lay it all out for listeners of Just the Tips, so when I asked them what it's like when they have a disagreement, Miguel didn't hesitate to share a surprising story about how they make it work. One night, he and Masa were arguing, and Miguel felt he needed to take a breath and take a walk, so he ambled down the street to a park bench to cool off. He decided to lay down on the bench and, with the beautiful Australian weather providing a comfortable spot, decided to sleep off the fight. But then, he remembered that the poisonous snakes of Australia would have other ideas, so he hurried back to his wife, and made up. As Masa told us: "Certainly there have been very hard times. But you have to get your minds really clear and really together." You're going to want to hear how they do that.

What is work/life balance when work is your life?

Just like any entrepreneur, Masa and Miguel face the difficult task of separating their work from the rest of their life. It goes double for them since they are business partners and husband and wife. But you'll be able to learn a lot from how they toss aside the conventional wisdom that says you need that bright line between your work and your home life. As you hear Masa explain their routine of starting the day, walking the dog, discussing what's coming up for the day in their business and what they hope the outcomes will be, you'll see that if you're already living your passion, there's no need to compartmentalize them.

Being an entrepreneur "compresses a 40-year career into three months"

Masa and Miguel are so smart about starting a business and so focused on personal growth, it's no wonder that things have moved quickly for them. They started Pyjama Bosses two years ago and it's grown exponentially since. Masa talks about how it's important to not fall in love with your own idea and ensure there's a market for your product before pursuing it. She talks about one fateful conversation that kickstarted their new venture and set them on a path to success. You're not going to want to miss this episode of Just the Tips, which more than fulfills the promise of providing useful tips for any entrepreneur

Outline of This Episode

• [2:36] How Miguel and Masa met
• [6:52] The factors that led to their lives as entrepreneurs
• [10:38] How they started Pyjama Bosses
• [14:51] The good, the bad and the ugly of working as a couple
• [20:00] The stresses of growing a business together
• [26:53] Balancing work and life as an entrepreneur couple
• [32:16] Finding they're suddenly software developers

Resources & People Mentioned

• Pyjama Bosses
• Network Marketing
• Pyjama Bosses on Facebook
• Pyjama Bosses on Twitter

Music for "Just The Tips" is titled, "Happy Happy Game Show" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Connect With James and Dean

James P. Friel:

• AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs

Many of our guests on Just the Tips have said before, being a successful entrepreneur is difficult, consuming work. The same could be said about being in a successful relationship. That makes it all the more fascinating that the guests on today’s show are doing both of those things so well. Masa Cemazar and Miguel Montero have launched dozens of successful businesses and two years ago embarked on their latest and largest endeavor, Pyjama Bosses, their software and training company for network marketers.

When Dean and I invited Mike Arce, founder of Loud Rumor, onto the show, we knew were getting a dynamic guest. And when you have a guest like Mike, you never know where the conversation is going to go. As the founder of Loud Rumor and a leader in fitness and wellness marketing, Mike has an incredible story to share about how he got his start, the trials and tribulations of trying to get the company up off the ground while your own family is just starting out, and the key role coaches have played in his success. You're going to want to hear not only his story but the very practical, actionable tips he provides throughout the interview.

Forget the serial entrepreneur, how about the serial employee?

Mike's story is one that a lot of our listeners may relate to, but also one that doesn't get as much attention. While you'll hear a lot of entrepreneurs talk about being "serial entrepreneurs," Mike is actually more of a "focused entrepreneur": Aside from a small personal trainer business, he's started one business and grown it and expanded it in super-smart ways. Mike tells us how, before he started Loud Rumor, he worked 22 different jobs, often running sales floors for other companies. But then his wife, incredibly, was let go from two different jobs once her bosses found out she was pregnant. When that happened, he hired her as his first employee, making sales calls from their house. And that was what showed him he had a winning formula.

From the "Mac 'n Cheese Diet" to more than 400 clients

The work Mike's wife did for him as someone with no sales experience, landing eight clients in just a couple weeks through cold calls, showed him there was something there. So in 2010, he quit his job and started Loud Rumor, building websites for fitness and wellness companies. Mike tells the story of how for the first few years they ate mostly mac 'n cheese, had their car repossessed, and generally had a very difficult time growing their business and keeping the family afloat. It was years before he went on a vacation, but ironically, it was being told to go on a vacation that changed his fortunes forever. Find out how on this episode of Just The Tips.

How hiring a business coach transformed his business

On this episode of Just The Tips, Mike Arce told us about how he was able to find a mentor to help him solve some of his business's growth problems. One of those suggestions—aside from requiring him to take a vacation and get his mind off work—was to read more. Reading more led to Mike growing as an executive, but it was really when he went one step further and hired a coach that he took off. Mike stresses that although books may seem like an inexpensive way to improve, the ROI on a coach is infinitely greater because he can "implement the next day" what he's told by his coach. But you can't just hire a coach and boom: problem solved. It takes a bit more than that, and Mike has great advice for how to get the most out of your coaching experience.

Be your business coach's best client

Mike talked about how every time he hires a business coach, he tells him or her the same thing: I'm going to be your best client. He told us how he works openly and closely with his coaches and often ends up in testimonial videos for those coaches on their websites. He also provides very specific, fascinating tips for what he would do if he was starting all over again. You'll want to hear them.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:40] Mike Arce asks for his own personal trumpet player
• [3:30] Mike talks about how he actually didn't have the bug to be an entrepreneur
• [6:45] How Mike and his wife got started with Loud Rumor
• [9:40] The first three years of running the business
• [10:30] How a mentor changed his trajectory
• [13:43] The economics of hiring a business coach
• [17:20] Surround yourself with the best people
• [21:10] Getting the most out of a coach
• [27:30] Some of Mike's best, most practical tips for marketers

Resources & People Mentioned

• Loud Rumor
• Mike Arce
• Mike on Twitter

Music for "Just The Tips" is titled, "Happy Happy Game Show" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Connect With James and Dean

James P. Friel:

• AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

When Dean and I invited Mike Arce, founder of Loud Rumor, onto the show, we knew were getting a dynamic guest. And when you have a guest like Mike, you never know where the conversation is going to go. As the founder of Loud Rumor and a leader in fitness and wellness marketing, Mike has an incredible story to share about how he got his start, and the key role coaches have played in his success.

These days, you can sell products on Amazon or through your mailing list and either way, will work. But you'll get loads more immediate success if you follow a carefully devised product launch plan. Jeff Brewer has spent the past several years studying the most successful product launch marketers to learn exactly what that plan is - and on this episode of Just the Tips, he goes deep with Dean and me to explain it. What is a product launch? How does it work? What are the best strategies for positioning your launch and maintaining the attention spans of those who express interest? Jeff provides the answers to those questions and more - and this guy knows what he's talking about - his latest client realized over $300K in 3 days. Make sure you listen to hear how Jeff's system could help you.

Don't know what a product launch is? Jeff Brewer spells it out on this episode.

It's entirely possible that you're new to the internet marketing and product sales space, so you may not know exactly what it means to launch a product systematically. Dean and I have invited Jeff Brewer on the show to help you with that learning curve. Jeff's a guy who became intrigued with the concept of product launches and very quickly saw the power that a well-conceived product can have in a market when it's launched to the public effectively. So he made it his business to study every aspect of successful product launches and now serves many big name companies and clients by helping them successfully launch products multiple times per year. You'll hear Jeff tell his story and explain how a product launch plan could work for you, on this episode.

What would it mean for your business to get 6 figures of income in 3 days?

There are many people who are skeptical that it's even possible to make multiple 6 figures in just 3 days, but that's exactly what one of Jeff's newest clients just did. How did it happen? The client hired Jeff to help them create a product launch plan for their newest $900 product. And that kind of success is not only possible for people who already have products in place. He's even helped people and service businesses without a product build one and sell it with fantastic results in just 6 weeks. You've got to hear Jeff's story so you can understand that we're not blowing smoke, this stuff really works.

Is a product launch something that will work for you? Here's how you can tell.

One of the things Dean and I wanted to know from our guest, Jeff Brewer was whether or not certain kinds of businesses do better with product launches than others. In other words, is the success of this approach limited in any way? Jeff says he's seen his product launch plan work for product sales, online courses and communities, masterminds, and even service based businesses. That's a pretty wide swath of businesses - which leads us to believe this might even work for you. Listen to Jeff's explanation of how his process works to decide if you should consider an approach like this to increase your revenue.

Attention spans are diminishing. How can a multi-stage product launch plan still work?

Dean Holland is just the guy to bring a pertinent question to a discussion and on this episode, he was curious about how the diminishing attention spans of people are impacting the way product launches are being done. The typical product launch happens over a number of days and Dean's concern was that people simply wouldn't hang around to see the end of the launch and have the opportunity to make the purchase the launch was designed to produce. So he asked our guest Jeff Brewer, what impact he's seen attention spans have on product launches. Want to hear the answer to Dean's great question? You'll have to listen to find out.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:41] Why Jeff Brewer is on the show to talk about his product launch plan.
• [2:15] Jeff's experience in digital marketing and how he came to specialize in product launches.
• [3:41] Do you know what a product launch is? Jeff's about to tell you.
• [6:44] A case study to demonstrate the power of effective product launches.
• [12:45] How to know if a product launch is a good fit for you and your products.
• [19:44] Jeff's upcoming newsletter to explain how you can create effective launches yourself.
• [23:44] Working to keep attention spans over the course of a launch.
• [30:53] How you can connect with Jeff and Launch Hacker Lab.

Resources & People Mentioned

• www.LaunchHackerLab.com - Jeff's site
• Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula
• www.UpswingPoker.com

Music for "Just The Tips" is titled, "Happy Happy Game Show" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Connect With James and Dean

James P. Friel:

• AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

These days, you can sell products on Amazon or through your mailing list and either way, will work. But you'll get loads more immediate success if you follow a carefully devised product launch plan. Jeff Brewer has spent the past several years studying the most successful product launch marketers to learn exactly what that plan is - and on this episode of Just the Tips, he goes deep with Dean and me to explain it.

In this episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I become marriage counselors. Well, maybe not exactly. Expert house flippers, Eric and Theresa Sage from Sage Flipping Secrets join us to let us in on 15 years of house flipping secrets. Not only do they discuss the ins and outs of real estate, but they give us the lowdown on how to successfully work together and stay happily married. The Sages understand what qualities it takes to become a successful real estate investor and how those qualities apply to running any profitable business. They just created a fantastic course based on their experience buying and selling over 500 homes that can be used by even beginning investors. Listen in to see how their Sage advice can help you with your real estate investments.

What can 15 years of experience and over 500 sales teach you?

After a successful career as a financial advisor, Theresa Sage got sick of the ups and downs of the market and decided to join forces with her husband Eric and combine their unique innate qualities to start their own real estate investing business. They had a mentor teach them how to flip houses and once they understood the money that could be made in the business they were hooked. The Sages learned early on what their own unique abilities are and they use those strengths to work well as business partners. Together they have bought and sold more than 500 houses in the past 15 years!

The ups and downs of real estate may surprise you!

Every business has its ups and downs, including real estate. Let's just say that you'll be surprised to hear what people will steal out of vacant houses! Eric and Theresa use their expertise to navigate the landmines of the real estate business. The Sages are scaling their house flipping business by adding courses into the mix. Their extensive experience in the business has led them to pass their knowledge onto others by teaching their successful system of flipping houses. It doesn't have to take much money to get started in real estate and the Sages create a consistent cash flow with their Sage Flipping Secrets model. Sage Flipping Secrets is an excellent real estate course for even a novice real estate investor. If you are risk averse and want to make some money you should listen in on this episode and see if this course is right for you.

How can you attain marital bliss while running a successful business together?

After 15 years in business together the downside of working together as a couple is . . . well you'll just have to listen to find out! The Sages give us the lowdown on how to achieve success in both marriage and in business. Eric says that it may have something to do with knowing your place, but not in the way that you are thinking!

Are you wondering what the qualities necessary to entrepreneurship are?

There are so many experts out there that claim their expertise after watching some YouTube videos or reading some business books. The Sages 15 years of real experience has given them real expertise in the field. Eric and Theresa Sage give us some excellent advice not only about real estate, but about the qualities that make a successful entrepreneur in any field. Theresa believes that if you have ambition, drive, and a true desire to help people, you can be successful in business. These are a few tidbits of their wisdom, but you'll have to listen to get the juiciest bits!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:31] Who are Eric and Theresa Sage?
• [5:20] The not-so-joyful part of real estate.
• [9:03] The challenges of working together as a couple.
• [13:51] How the Sages are scaling their business.
• [17:32] The pro tips on flipping houses.
• [21:22] Skills needed to be an expert house flipper.
• [28:16] Where you can find the Sages.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Sageflippingsecrets.com
• [email protected]

Music for "Just The Tips" is titled, "Happy Happy Game Show" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Connect With James and Dean

James P. Friel:

• AutoPilot Entrepreneur Program: www.jamespfriel.com/autopilot
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autopilotentrepreneur
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Digital Business Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalBusinessEntrepreneurs/

In this episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I become marriage counselors. Well, maybe not exactly. Expert house flippers, Eric and Theresa Sage from Sage Flipping Secrets join us to let us in on 15 years of house flipping secrets. Not only do they discuss the ins and outs of real estate, but they give us the lowdown on how to successfully work together and stay happily married.