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

The idea of the "self-made" man or woman is pretty appealing. But it's also a myth. None of us are born knowing everything there is to know. We learn what we need from experience, and most of that experience revolves around interacting with other people.

Given that it's the holiday season and a great time to reflect on what you're grateful for, James and Dean decided to devote this episode of Just The Tips to revealing some of the mentors and coaches who've made huge impacts in their businesses and lives. They'll also reveal the epic pitfalls they fell into as a result of avoiding quality coaching because it was "too expensive."

Building a successful business takes time no matter what. But there's still a fast way and a slow way. Check out this episode to discover why the right people at the right time--especially qualified coaches--are the fastest way to grow your business.

The slow way or the fast way

If Dean wanted to get from the U.K. to the U.S., which option makes more sense: Buy a plane ticket and fly, or build a 747 from scratch? It sounds obvious, but trying to figure your business out yourself with free information and the odd $27 ebook is like building the plane from scratch. It takes way more time and/or costs way more money than you think it's going to. Figuring it out yourself is the slow way to build a business. The fast way is to hire a coach who's gotten the result you want, and let them help you get that result for yourself.

You pay with time or you pay with money

Early in his entrepreneurial journey, Dean passed on an opportunity to invest in coaching because he thought paying $5,000-$10,000 for it was outlandish. That was money he could spend on ads and $37 training products, after all. But four years and $60,000 worth of training programs later, Dean's business not only hadn't grown, it went backwards. So Dean used his last bit of credit to buy coaching, and in 8 months was able to quit his job and go into business full-time. The whole experience taught him a very powerful lesson about the value of spending money on coaching NOW.

Make it harder to fail

Winning is never guaranteed, but you can stack the odds in your favor. The right coach, the right team, the right people in your corner, can elevate you to levels you'd never reach on your own. As appealing as the "figure it out on your own" fantasy is, the most successful people you know and respect had help getting where they are. They did the work, yes. But without the people they met and worked with along the way, they wouldn't be where they are.

What you don't know can hurt you

The biggest problem with figuring it out on your own is that there are things you don't know, and you don't know you don't know them. You go after what you THINK you need, not what you actually need. As an entrepreneur, you see this all the time with your customers. You offer them what they think they need, so you can get them in the door and offer them what they actually need to get the result they want. That's the power of working with someone who knows what you actually need to get where you want to be. They see the blind spots you would never see.

It's lonely, but you're not alone

One of the hardest parts of being an entrepreneur is how lonely it feels. Even people in your life who care about you don't always get it, and you often feel like the outsider. Having a network of people who do get it, who push you, who are there for you, makes the journey a lot less lonely and a lot more worthwhile. It's especially powerful on the days where you feel like quitting, or where you're facing something you really don't want to do. The people you connect with can mean the difference between giving up on your dream, or going all the way.

Outline of This Episode

• Why have a mentor? [4:30]
• You pay with time or you pay with money [9:45]
• Hire the best help you can currently afford [14:01]
• $60,000 in training programs and still nothing [17:17]
• Why "self-made" doesn't exist [24:01]
• Meeting the "Rich Dad" [33:23]
• You don't know what you don't know [40:10]

Resources & People Mentioned

• "Who Not How" by Dan Sullivan
• "Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferriss and Arnold Schwartzenegger

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

"Do I need to change the font in my order button? Do I need a better upsell? Do I need a better picture on my Facebook ad?"

Questions like these are often the first to pop into a new marketer's mind when their marketing campaign doesn't fill their bank account like they hoped, and here's why.

It's a lot easier and a lot sexier to focus on tactics, like order button colors and how many upsells you have, than it is to focus on what REALLY inspires customers to buy.

But when you've got a truly irresistible offer with a spot-on marketing message, the color of your order button is the last thing on your customer's mind.

In this week's episode, master marketer Todd Brown, the secret marketing weapon even marketing legends turn to, joins James and Dean to show you what it actually takes to nail your marketing campaign.

From presenting your offers in a way that leads to sales, to writing persuasive copy that converts, Todd's shining a light on the biggest mistakes he sees entrepreneurs make in their marketing campaigns.

If you're struggling with anything marketing - strategy, copy, campaigns, you name it - this episode will point you straight at the money-sucking holes in your campaign, and show you how to plug them.

Everything Comes From Your Market

Whether we're talking ice cold prospects or piping hot customers, EVERYTHING has to come from your market. It's not about you, it's not about your product or service, and it's absolutely not about what you believe your market wants or think they "should" want. This is 100% true even if you are your market. If your offers, and what you do and say to market them, are not rooted in what your market actually wants, your sales will never be as high as you want.

What Will NOT Improve Your Offer

If your product's a dud, it's a dud, and no amount of clever marketing or positioning can save it. If your hard back book isn't selling, making it paperback won't fix the problem. A new upsell won't turn an offer no one wants into a home run. Truly irresistible offers with mediocre copy and no upsells will outperform duds with slick copy and "killer upsells." Things like tweaking your copy and using different funnel software comes AFTER you've got a proven offer.

THE Top Two Ways To Make Your Offer Stand Out (And Which One To Focus On)

There are two ways to stand out in the marketplace. The first is your promise, i.e. the unique benefit you offer that competing products and services do not. For the average entrepreneurial marketer, differentiating based on promise, though it can be done, is very difficult, which is why Todd recommends most people differentiate based on mechanism. In other words, focus on making HOW your offer delivers the result in a way that's new and different.

Being Different Isn't Enough

Highlighting how you're different is how you get attention, but by itself it's not enough to create a perfect marketing campaign. That part comes from part proving to your prospect why your product's mechanism is superior. How will it get them there faster? Why will it work for them even if they've failed, or even if they have no experience? Remember, this isn't about features and benefits. It's about why the way your product delivers results is SUPERIOR matters to your prospects.

Choose Copy Clarity Over Copy Creativity

Clever, flowery copy is useless if your prospects have no idea what you're talking about, because confused people don't buy. Why would they, if they can't tell what they're getting and how it will help them? Instead of dreaming up slick, clever ways to talk about your offer, present it with clear, simple copy your prospect understands and relates. Clear, simple copy that proves your offer's superiority in a way your prospects care about outperforms "creative" copy every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Outline of This Episode

• Why anybody can be a good marketer [3:13]
• The difference between marketing and selling [8:01]
• Stop trying to save a dud [13:03]
• How to make your offer stand out [22:00]
• Skip this and you'll attract price shoppers [26:30]
• Show them why your offer is superior [30:15]
• How to write copy that actually converts [44:05]

Resources & People Mentioned

• Visit Todd Brown's website: https://toddbrown.me/
• Todd Brown on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddbrown/
• Todd Brown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToddBrownMarketing/
• Todd Brown on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlIIwel956xVecFuBC80BA
• The Marketers Mind Show Podcast: http://themarketersmindshow.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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Black Friday is a huge opportunity to give your bottom line a shot in the arm and get your message or product in front of your customers. People are already in buying mode and eager to spend money.

Yet a lot of businesses hesitate to give their business that influx of cash because they believe one of the following myths:

• My business isn't the 'right kind' for a Black Friday campaign
• An effective Black Friday campaign requires rock-bottom pricing
• I have to create a brand new offer

It's not as difficult as you may believe to craft an irresistible offer that compels people to buy. It doesn't need to be new. And you absolutely do NOT need to "race to the bottom."

This week's episode is jam-packed with strategies you can use to create Black Friday campaigns from your current offers; with ideas for quickly creating new offers; and with real-life examples to tease your Black Friday offer in a way that creates scarcity and builds excitement for that influx of cash on Black Friday weekend.

Whether you need fresh inspiration to create this year's Black Friday campaign, or just have no idea where to start with a Black Friday offer, find the answers you need in this week's episode.

Avoiding The Race To The Bottom

Slashing prices is the easiest way to create a Black Friday offer, but is it the best way? Not according to James! He actually calls it the WORST way. (What if you don't have the margins to discount your products?) Creating a juicy and profitable Black Friday offer comes down to choosing something your customers want so badly, price becomes a non-issue. Catch this episode for examples of what that an offer like that can look like.

Why There's Still Time

A killer Black Friday offer doesn't mean you have to create entirely new products. That's definitely a great option, but it's not the only option. Consider a valuable live training--such as a masterclass--for anyone who buys a certain product. That product can be digital, but online trainings work great for physical products, too.

Here's Where To Start With Your Offer

If you don't yet have an offer together, first, sit down (with your team if you have one) and look at all the offers you DO have. What can you do with them? And make sure that whatever you're doing, you're equipped to handle the volume. Start mapping things out NOW, so you're prepared for that influx. James and Dean go over this in more detail in the episode (including how to avoid aggravating your customers because you're not prepared).

Don't Censor Your Ideas

When you sit down to brainstorm, NEVER censor your ideas, or your team's. Even if they seem beyond insane, let them fly. The point of brainstorming isn't to share "the best" ideas. It's to turn the creativity faucet on full-blast, which cannot happen if you're judging your ideas. No, makeup brushes that include a hot pink zebra won't be your winner, but it might trigger the WINNING idea for your Black Friday offer. Bring on those ideas!

Build Excitement And Create Scarcity

Dean and his wife have their cosmetic ecommerce company's Black Friday campaign ready to go. It will be their third year running a Black Friday campaign, and they've got all sorts of strategies in play to create excitement and scarcity. There's a LOT of great ideas you can model for your Black Friday campaign. Take notes on this part of the episode.

Outline of This Episode

• When people are buying, they want to keep buying [5:15]
• Avoiding the "need" to discount [9:30]
• Combining physical with digital [15:15]
• Where to start [21:18]
• How to brainstorm ideas (and how not to) [24:45]
• Designing your campaign [34:49]
• Building excitement and scarcity [40:10]

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

When most business owners that this week's guest, Teresa Harding, has done a billion dollars in sales, they assume it's because of things like on-target marketing, "killer Facebook ads," and a great team.

Those are all factors, yes, but they're not THE reason. THE reason is because Teresa breaks the rules. When someone tells her, "you HAVE to do it THIS way," Teresa does it her way instead.

Tune into this episode of Just The Tips to get Teresa's billion-dollar strategies for breaking the rules and creating your own so you can take your business to its next level.

Two mindsets that sabotage both new and experienced business owners

Teresa's noticed the same sabotaging mindsets in both new business owners and experienced entrepreneurs: Limiting beliefs and fear of failure. These mindsets manifest in multiple ways, but the outcome's always the same: Success is delayed or never achieved. Listen to this episode to ensure these mindsets aren't holding you back. Their roots run deep.

When affirmations don't work

Most successful people swear by affirmations. Yet a lot of people use affirmations and still aren't experiencing the success they want. Since Teresa's all about breaking the rules of what "everyone says" you "have" to do, she was pretty skeptical of affirmations. Then she decided to try them HER way. You've got to hear what she did to create affirmations that actually WORK (and the results she got because of them).

Your biggest asset when closing the sale

"You are your biggest asset." We hear it a lot, but as far as Teresa's concerned, it's a lie when it comes to closing the sale. You are not your biggest asset--your confidence is. So what do you do if your confidence isn't rock solid? According to Teresa: You assume the sale. Before you even get on the phone, or sit down to write the copy, you assume the sale is a done deal. For Teresa's billion dollar tips on exactly how to do that, check out this episode.

How to eliminate buyer uncertainty

Fear of the unknown stops us in countless different ways, including making a purchase. That's why ensuring your prospects feel comfortable buying from you is a must. One way Teresa successfully closes sales is by eliminating buyer uncertainty with her "action items" strategy. It works in webinars, on sales copy, on the phone, in emails - wherever you're closing a sale. Tune in to hear exactly how you can implement Teresa's "action items" strategy in your business.

Why complication kills conversions

A confused mind doesn't buy, which is why Teresa advocates making it as easy as possible for people to buy from you. To drive this point home, James shares a story about a frustrating trend in one of his businesses. People ready to buy would add a lot of things to their shopping cart, yet few ever completed their purchase. After some digging, James figured out that the checkout process on this particular website was painfully complicated. That complication was costing him money in the form of lost revenue, because again, a confused mind doesn't buy. Tune into this episode to hear how you can avoid confusing your customers into NOT buying.

Outline of This Episode

• Why it's never too late to start [6:55]
• Two things that stop most people [11:00]
• Failing your way to success [14:03]
• What to look at first when your business hits a wall [18:30]
• How to get better at failing so you can succeed [24:31]
• Your biggest asset in closing the sale [33:03]
• Tell your prospects what to do next [39:10]
• Complication is the death of sales [45:10]

Resources & People Mentioned

• www.TeresaHarding.com/Masterclass
• Teresa Harding on Instagram
• Teresa Harding on Facebook
• Teresa Harding on YouTube
• The Teresa Harding Podcast

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Networking is still one of the most powerful ways to grow your business, yet a lot of people go about it the wrong way, or try to skip it altogether. The problem with that is, one person, when it's the right person, is all it takes to explode your business to the next level.

This week's guest, Jake Kelfer, has made a wildly successful career working with major brands like Adidas and the Los Angeles Lakers. He's also helped his clients use networking to achieve the results they want, whether it's to get booked on more podcasts, bring in experts for a summit, or create partnerships to grow their business to the next level.

In today's Internet-based world, it's easier than ever to connect with people. Jake will show you how to use that to your advantage in a way other people appreciate instead of run from.

Tune into this episode to discover exactly why your next level may be less about what's next, and more about who's next.

Plus get Jake's framework for successfully networking with the right people for you and your business.

I Want The Slow Path (Said No One Ever)

Without other people, you cannot have a business. People are who buy your products and services. People are who tell their family, friends, and peers about you. People are also who you learn from. It's true, you can slowly and tediously make all your own mistakes; or, you can learn from people who've already made them, and get where you want to be faster. Networking is another way to avoid the slow path and get where you want to be sooner rather than later.

Turn Your Style Into Opportunity

Successful networking is about connecting with the right people for YOU. Doing that means combining your style with the right intention for reaching out to a specific person. No matter what, you'll face rejection, but when you combine your style and personality with intention, it saves you a ton of time and energy reaching out to the wrong people. You'll also dramatically increase the likelihood of connecting with people who are a good fit for you.

Don't Be Spammy

No one appreciates a total stranger getting in touch only to say, "Hey, here's what you can do for me!" When reaching out to people for the first time, don't lead with offers and requests. Instead, play the long game by building the relationship. Care enough to get their name right. Study their profiles and content to find commonalities you can use to relate to them. Everyone wants to feel like they matter, and you can inspire that feeling by taking time to learn about them.

Always Follow Up

Just because someone doesn't respond to your first contact attempt doesn't mean they don't want to connect. It could be they're busy and they forgot. It could be they aren't sure if you're just another spammy drive-by, or if you're someone who's actually worth their time and energy. It could be a million other things. Instead of jumping ship if they don't instantly reply, give them a little time, then follow up. Remember that the point isn't to be a pest. It's to open the door so they can take a step through it. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt before they'll take that first step.

Focus on Quality, Not Quantity

You don't need a million followers to make a million dollars. You just need the right number of quality followers. It's the same with networking. You don't need to connect with everyone on the planet. You just need the right people. One right person will get you further than one hundred people who aren't right. Sometimes it can take one hundred attempts to find the right people, so it's important to keep reaching out. Just don't get hung up on the numbers. Go for quality.

Outline of This Episode

• One new connection can change your world [3:05]
• The reason for our success [8:55]
• Meeting the right people's not about luck, it's about this [14:30]
• How to reach out (and how not to) [18:15]
• Once you build the relationship, maintain it [32:45]
• You don't need quantity when you've got quality [38:30]
• You can reach ANYBODY [44:00]

Resources & People Mentioned

• Visit Jake Kelfer's website: www.JakeKelfer.com
• Connect with Jake Kelfer on Instagram: @jakekelfer
• Jake Kelfer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakekelfer
• Jake Kelfer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakekelferjourney

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

This has been a pretty ugly year for most people, and the temptation to write this year off and start fresh in January is stronger than usual.

Curling up and riding it out is certainly one option, but another one is to put your foot on the gas and crush the fourth quarter.

James and Dean have been on both sides of this mindset. They've had years where they slowed things down, and years where they dug in and made December their best month of the year.

If this year hasn't been your best year, and you're thinking of curling up and hiding out, tune into this episode for James and Dean's best tips on making the most of your fourth quarter, no matter what's happened in your business this year.

Be The Shepherd, Not The Dictator

When Dean and his wife started their cosmetics e-commerce business, they held tight to the idea that they had to do what other cosmetics companies did. As a result, they struggled to even get a foothold, much less a profit. It was only after they stopped trying to dictate their idea to the market, so they could see what they were missing and fix it, that the business took off. Forcing your idea on the market NEVER works. You've got to be the shepherd of your idea, steering it where it needs to be based on market feedback.

Instead Of Guessing, Ask

The better you know your market, the better you get at reading between the lines and creating offers they want. But sometimes the fastest way to a profitable offer is just to ask your market. Remember to keep in mind that what people say they want, and what they'll actually buy, are not always one and the same. But even if that's the case sometimes, asking still provides invaluable intel on how you can serve your market. It could be that a significant percentage of your customers want help with the same thing, and aren't sure how to articulate it to you. If you have no idea where to start amping up 4th quarter sales, start by asking your customers what they need.

Develop Relentless Solution Focus

Recently James took a vacation on Lake Powell with a big group of family and friends. Everyone was on a big houseboat with no cell service. During the trip, James received an invitation to extend his trip by a week. The problem was, everyone had carpooled to the lake with some friends who lived hours away, and would not be extending their trip. That meant the only way James and his family could stay an extra week was if they found a rental car, so they could drive themselves to their friends' house after the second week. James' first several attempts at procuring a rental car fell through, but James remained relentlessly focused on finding a solution until he found it. Thanks to that relentless focus, he and his family enjoyed an extra week on the lake. Finding the right offer takes the same relentless focus, and so will dominating the 4th quarter.

Stop Predicting Your Own Failure

"I'm just going to write this year off and start fresh in January." That's what several people have told James and Dean. That mindset is a symptom of mistaking yourself for a fortune teller, by predicting your own failure before you've even tried. It's worth noting that the people who struggle most are masters at predicting their own failure, and it's not because they try something and it doesn't work. It's because they assume it won't work, so they don't even try. Don't fall into the fortune teller trap. Make your success inevitable by getting your ideas into the world and adopting relentless solution focus.

Be Mindful Of "Reality"

Everyone wants to start with tactics and strategies. They're important, yes. But even the best tactics and strategies the world has ever known won't help you if you don't have the mindset to properly implement them. Mindset is the foundation of your success, and one of the best things you can do for your mindset is to be mindful of what you allow to shape your reality. Those private jet photos you see on Instagram are probably staged in a warehouse. Those supposed loner entrepreneurs with no supportive family in their life don't have to become YOUR success reality. Be careful what you allow to shape your beliefs about what's possible.

Outline of This Episode

• December, The Biggest Month Of The Year [3:46]
• Why You Have To Experiment [8:38]
• Avoiding A Race To The Bottom [16:30]
• Ask Your Customers What They Want [24:21]
• Have Relentless Focus On Finding A Solution [28:40]
• You're Not A Fortune Teller [38:12]
• Mindset Before Skillset, Always [43:15]

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Success in business comes to those who can identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. The people who struggle most are both the ones who wouldn't know an opportunity if it punched them in the face, and the ones who see opportunities everywhere, but struggle to identify and act on the profitable ones. Either they freeze, or they go down so many rabbit holes, they never get traction.

Jeremy Parker, CEO and Co-Founder of promotional product website Swag.com, has been identifying and capitalizing on profitable opportunities for over a decade, including during the Great Recession back in 2007.

Even with the pandemic happening, and companies cutting back on promotional product purchases, Swag.com had its best three months EVER. And it's all because Jeremy understands how to identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. Tune into this episode to learn from Jeremy how you can do the same, because this is a skill that can ensure you succeed no matter how bad things seem.

The rise of Swag.com

Originally Jeremy wanted to be a filmmaker. But after realizing how difficult it was to make a living doing that, and discovering he wasn't all that passionate about it, Jeremy started a t-shirt business. It seemed like an easy way to begin. Turns out it wasn't as easy as he thought, but still, Jeremy was enjoying some success. Then the Great Recession hit, and stores he'd built relationships with stopped buying what he was offering. Instead of folding, Jeremy asked, where's the opportunity with this? One of his ideas--which he describes "as gimmicky" got noticed by Mark Cuban, which paved the way for the rise of swag.com.

Success during the pandemic

The promotional industry is in shambles right now. Companies are letting people go instead of bringing them on, which means there's far less need for branded company products. Yet Swag.com just enjoyed its best three months EVER. That is the power of identifying and following through with profitable opportunities. There are always problems that need solving, including some that are still coming down the pipeline. That is and always will be the case, no matter what's going on in the world.

Beware idea attachment

Marrying your ideas is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Remove your ego from the situation, because it's not about you. It's about what the market needs. You cannot make them need or want something they don't need or want. Get your minimum viable product together and get it into the world quickly. See how the market responds, and adjust accordingly. If the minimum viable product doesn't get traction, you've just saved yourself vast sums of time, money, and energy.

You've just got to start

Where you start is rarely where you end up, which is why the most successful entrepreneurs in the world start fast. Another of the worst things you can do is drag out getting started. Whether you succeed or fail, you'll learn from it. Very often, failing has more to teach us than success. No matter how good you are at identifying opportunities, you will not strike gold every single time. Get your ideas into the world quickly, get feedback, and learn and adapt. It may take several attempts to find your next (or first) big winner. But the only way you'll ever find it is to just start.

The right way to network

Networking is a proven way to connect with the people and resources you need to grow your business. It's also something people tend to overthink. Jeremy's best advice to get the most out of your networking efforts is pretty simple: Put yourself out there. Get your lines in the water and see who bites. The first few people you meet may not be who you need, but they may be connected to the right people for you. Since you can't know for sure, get as many lines in the water as you can. The more lines you have, the better your chances of getting the right bites.

Remember the mission (and remind your team)

A motivated, effective team can not only help you bring opportunities to life, they can help you identify more. And a team that believes in your company's mission and vision is proven to perform better at even their day to day role. Reminding your team of your company's mission is key to strong motivation, especially in tough times. Remember to stoke that fire.

Outline of This Episode

• Successful, but not excited about it [5:50]
• What not to do when opportunity punches you in the face [10:45]
• Why adaptation is key to success [14:02]
• Your best shot at avoiding the duds [17:05]
• What to do if you struggle to see opportunities [24:30]
• Stop waiting for "that one big idea" [27:56]
• How to create relationships that create success [31:10]
• Motivating your team AND yourself [40:40]

Resources & People Mentioned

• Swag.com
• Connect with Jeremy Parker on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jeremy Parker on Twitter
• Guest on YouTube
• Check out his Podcast

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

In just a few short years, Brandon and Kaelin Poulin took LadyBoss Weight Loss from a startup to a company with 350,000 customers. In 2019, LadyBoss, which helps women lose weight, transform their health, and love themselves, was named number 4 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States.

Tune into this episode for a behind-the-scenes, comprehensive look at what it takes to grow and scale a successful company like LadyBoss - the strategies, the mindsets, the vision, the customer relationships, all of it - in a few years instead of a few decades.

Network marketing's most valuable lessons

Before they ever met, Brandon and Kaelin started in network marketing, and found their way into weight loss, health, and fitness. They learned succeeding in network marketing requires developing and maintaining relationships. It requires listening to people, and finding out what they really want. And it requires facing rejection, over and over and over. Network marketing also taught them about personal development, something they know is critical to both their early success and their ongoing success. Everything you do starts with you, and if you're tripping over the same issues within yourself, it'll trip up everything you try to do.

Dig in and make something happen

After five years with another company, Brandon and Kaelin were ready to start their own company. They were two months behind on rent, on their car payment - basically everything, and in danger of sinking even further. With their backs against the wall, they locked themselves away from the outside world for two months and worked around the clock to launch their company. It didn't take fairy dust or unicorns - just the commitment to dig in and do it.

Get off the shiny penny highway

With the abundance of tools, trainings and strategies out there, Brandon and Kaelin often found themselves tempted by the shiny penny highway. Oh, another cool software! Oh, another marketing strategy to try! The barrage of things to try was constant. To avoid getting trapped on the shiny penny highway, Brandon and Kaelin always brought it back to what their customers and their company needed at that time. If what they were looking at didn't fit with their vision, it wasn't right for their business. It meant saying no to a lot of things. It also allowed them to simplify, while simultaneously (and quickly) growing their company and better serving their customers.

Don't shut out your customers

A lot of companies think being aloof with and too cool for their customers is the right way to be. Brandon and Kaelin see it differently. They know, from years of experience, how crucial the customer relationship is to their success. Rather than shut their customers out, they welcome communication with their customers. They'll take customers by the hand, so to speak, and help them walk to that next level. It's a powerful reminder that your customers are your best asset. Without them, you don't have a business. Don't shut them out.

You always have the power

Brandon and Kaelin point out something a lot of successful people come to realize: That once you get to a certain level, your success is all other people see. But they've been kicked in the teeth, made mistakes, and had to find different ways of doing things. And they know it's likely to continue on that way, because that's just the nature of business. The reason Brandon and Kaelin have been so successful isn't because they haven't faced challenges, it's because they know they have the power, always, to overcome them. Believing and accepting that no matter what comes your way, you have the power to deal with it and find another way forward, is a must-have mindset for all business owners.

Outline of This Episode

• Backs against the wall [05:29]
• Trial by fire [12:40]
• Get off the shiny penny highway [20:56]
• Remember who you're serving [29:36]
• Stop pushing your customers aside [34:01]
• The secret to aligning as a team [38:48]
• What to do when the hits keep coming [46:15]

Resources & People Mentioned

• LadyBoss Weight Loss: https://ladyboss.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/ladyboss/
• https://www.facebook.com/LadyBossKaelin
• https://www.youtube.com/c/LadyBossWeightLoss

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

The ability to make decisions, and make them fast, is critical for any entrepreneur, because very often it's the decisions you don't make that will stall, or even destroy, your business.

Uncomfortable, intimidating decisions are the ones most likely to trip you up. It seems easier to kick the can down the road than to make a decision that might be wrong, or may hurt someone's feelings.

But James and Dean will tell you, from difficult personal experience, that the cost of indecision is a LOT higher than you think.

Tune in to hear their personal examples of when NOT making a decision cost them money and time, and even handicapped their businesses.

Plus they'll reveal how even a decision that turns out to be wrong is better for your business than indecision.

If you find yourself avoiding or procrastinating decisions because the cost of making them seems too high, too nerve-wracking, or too uncomfortable, this episode is exactly what you need to stop spinning your wheels and make those business-building decisions, no matter how intimidating or difficult they seem.

Outline of This Episode

• What NOT making a decision costs you [6:00]
• When the gift of problem-solving backfires [12:30]
• The "perfect decision" myth [26:00]
• How other people factor into your indecision [30:10]
• The gift of wrong decisions [38:00]

3 major points discussed

• How to tell when it's decision time. This one seems VERY counterintuitive. But if you're 90% or more sure of your decision, it usually means you waited too long to make it. Surprising, right? But when it comes to your confidence in your own decisions, there's a sweet spot to shoot for. While no guarantee your decision is "right," this sweet spot will ensure you've given a decision enough thought, but not more than it needs for you to make it. Tune in to discover exactly how to tell when it's time to pull the trigger.

• Not all decisions are created equal. Some decisions aren't worth the bandwidth we give them. For example, what to eat for lunch should be a much faster decision than whether to sell your company. Quickly identifying which decisions are worth the extra time and thought, and which ones are not, will skyrocket your decision-making speed. Tune in to get James and Dean's tips for quickly discerning whether a decision is worth the extra consideration.

• You'll NEVER please everyone. Avoiding hurt feelings is one of the top reasons we avoid making decisions. But the reality is, it's not possible to make everyone happy every time. Case in point: James shares a horror story about a meeting he attended where dozens of people weighed in on a design project. It really got out of hand, and made arriving at a decision impossible. Tune in to hear exactly what happened, and discover the critical decision-making lesson James took away from the project. If a desire to please others impedes your ability to make decisions, just wait until you hear this!

Resources & People Mentioned

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/

Most entrepreneurs salivate at the thought of high-ticket offers. Make more money working with fewer clients. A dream come true, right?

But what does it REALLY take to create a high-ticket offer people want enough to pay a high-ticket price?

That's what Tyler Kemp, this week's guest, is going to reveal.

Tyler's helped build multiple 7-figure companies, and he brings years of experience with both low-ticket and high-ticket offers.

He figured out pretty quickly that low-ticket and high-ticket are two different animals that bring in two different types of customers, and require two different sets of systems to build and scale.

So, if you'd love to create a high-ticket offer for your business, but you:

1) Don't know what to offer

2) Are uncomfortable at the thought of charging more money

3) Believe your customers won't want it

...Then tune in to get the tactics and mindset you need to create and sell your high-ticket offer.

If you already have a high-ticket offer, you'll want to hear Tyler's secrets to making that offer even more desirable, so you can charge more AND sell more, while getting your clients the epic results they need from you.

Lead gen and high ticket sales. Acquiring more customers, one of the easiest ways is to raise the value of what you're offering.

Outline of This Episode

• The #1 barrier to making high ticket sales [8:25]
• Solve more problems to charge more money [16:00]
• Once isn't enough [27:00]
• The perfect product-market fit takes time [33:00]
• What to do after creating your offer [39:15]

3 major points discussed

• It starts with your mindset. If your mind's already made up that your customers would never go for a high-ticket offer, or you're uncomfortable charging more money, you've shot yourself in the foot before even starting. With rare exception, most businesses have the makings of a high-ticket offer. But in order to see the possibilities, you've got to be open to them.

• Beware the low-ticket value trap. We all want to give our customers as much value as possible, including in our low-ticket offers. The problem is, there's a limit to how much value you can realistically bring to that many people at once before it becomes unsustainable money-wise, and time-wise. High ticket offers set you free from those constraints. Your clients pay more, making it cost-effective and time-effective for you to provide them with more AND remain profitable.

• Solve more problems. A lot of offers solve only one or two problems around the same topic, but most people have way more than one or two. That means, the more solutions you can provide to these additional problems, the more money the right clients will pay you to get those problems taken care of. Becoming someone's all-in-one solution is your highway to profitable high-ticket offers.

Resources & People Mentioned

• https://www.leadroll.co/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/tjkemp

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:

• CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/
• Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/
• Site: www.jamespfriel.com
• Interested in being a guest on the show?

Dean Holland:

• Blog: www.DeanHolland.com
• FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ
• Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/

JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/