The OpenWorld Podcast: Live Without Limits

The ultimate playbook to Lifestyle Design for 2015 (and beyond) is here! The new genre-redefining book, "Buy Your Own Island" is now available on Amazon. Get it here!

Listeners can also download the audio book 100% free.

Learn How to Make Money Online with Nick Loper!

Today's guest, Nick Loper, is one of today's most active participants in the internet entrepreneurial space.

He’s self-published 4 books through Amazon, all within the entrepreneurial niche: including Work Smarter (which has 350+ Online Resources to increase your productivity), Treadmill Desk Revolution, Virtual Assistant Assistant, and The Small Business Website Checklist.

He’s also the chief behind the popular “digital nomad” blog, Side Hustle Nation, and host of “The Side Hustle Show.”

Spoke at TEDx Livermore on "The Entrepreneurial Generation"

In addition to the books, blog, and podcast, he’s also published several courses on Udemy - including a fantastic Kindle Launch course which I enrolled in.

What’s great about Nick is he’s been a sort of “experimentalist,” testing out all of the different ways to make money online. One of my favorite stories is his experience with Fiverr, where he actually earned $920 in just 10 days.

Truly, Nick is paving the way for milennials to learn how to become entrepreneurs and make money online. I've learned a lot from Nick personally, and he had even more valuable insights to share during this interview.

The path to your first $1

Productivity "hacks" to accomplish more

Nick's advice to make a living as a webpreneur

What to focus on in 2015 and beyond

And more...

Nick gives away a ton of valuable content for free - check out his blog at sidehustlenation.com.

The ultimate playbook to Lifestyle Design for 2015 (and beyond) is here! The new genre-redefining book, “Buy Your Own Island” is now available on Amazon. Get it here! Listeners can also download the audio book 100% free. Learn How to Make Money Online with Nick Loper! Today’s guest, Nick Loper, is one of today’s most active participants in the internet […]

The ultimate playbook to Lifestyle Design for 2015 (and beyond) is here! The new genre-redefining book, "Buy Your Own Island" is now available on Amazon. Get it here!

Listeners can also download the audio book 100% free.

Fred Perrotta is co-founder of Tortuga Backpacks, a company he started he created after a backpacking trip through Europe. The trip was excellent, but his backpack was not - and the idea stuck. Fred is also the host of a podcast called Power Trip Travel.

He started out his career, fresh out of college, recruited by Google - one of the top employers in the world to work with. It seemed like he had landed his "dream gig" - and had everything he wanted, yet he still felt uneasy. The inclination to be an entrepreneur, and never have to answer to anyone but himself, was too strong.

So, Fred did what many of us do - he left North America for the first time, looking to see the world and find his place in it. That his first backpacking experience changed his life - and provided the "aha" inspiration for his location-independent business. Named to Entrepreneur magazine’s "100 Brilliant Companies List," Tortuga Backpacks has grown into a highly profitable lean business. So I invited Fred on to the show to pick his brain about his experiences building his business from the initial idea to where he is today.

Things we discuss during this episode:

The top AdWords lessons and insider secrets that Fred learnt from his time working as a campaign manager at Google

The critical first step he took - once his idea had struck.

How Fred and his partner went from concept to production to their first sale, how much it cost, and how long it took. Fred also shares the mistakes he's made and lessons learned along the way.

The struggles Fred and his partner faced when it came to manufacturing their MVP (minimal viable product) - which set them back over a year - and how to avoid the same issues

The Top 3 business books that Fred recommends (besides the 4 Hour Workweek)

And much more!

Supplier website that Fred mentioned - ThomasNet.

The ultimate playbook to Lifestyle Design for 2015 (and beyond) is here! The new genre-redefining book, “Buy Your Own Island” is now available on Amazon. Get it here! Listeners can also download the audio book 100% free. Fred Perrotta is co-founder of Tortuga Backpacks, a company he started he created after a backpacking trip through Europe. The trip […]

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His name is Ben Finnigan. He's lived more lives and been through more in 26 years then most of us have in a lifetime.

Born into a family of entertainers, Ben has been a nomad since he could walk. He was trained in juggling, firebreathing, and fire eating at age 4. Then at 15, he went to live in a Shaolin monastery in Dengfeng, China, where he trained in Sanshou, and fought as a professional fighter in China for several years.

After a career-ending injury, he's traveled around the world taking on various roles from podcasting to videography to drop shipping.

Today, Ben is leading member of the digital nomad community in Thailand and an e-commerce business owner with seven employees working for him.

But Ben's story is one of resilience. Time and time again, he's picked himself up, fought back and become stronger even after one disaster after another.

At age 22, he became crippled with a severe case of Lyme's Disease and had to go undergo a year and a half of chemotherapy which completely destroyed his body. He was teetering on the edge, and had to say goodbyes to his family.

But Ben is a fighter, and thanks to inspiration from his brother, he was able to battle back and live to fight another day. 

All of Ben's experiences and trials have shaped who he is today. He's lived his entire life outside of his comfort zone. So I invited him on to the show to share his experiences with us.

In addition to his remarkable life story, Ben also shared some really valuable insights about how to set up a successful online business:

How Ben was able to increase his income through his dropshipping business by seven times in seven months

How to get your first sales, post a profit, and where to focus your marketing efforts

The future of e-commerce and how Ben creates a competitive advantage by being unique and different

How to systemize an online business and scale up quickly

And much, much more!

E-commerce course that Ben recommends: Drop Ship Lifestyle by Anton Kraly.

Hope you enjoy the interview. Please feel free to leave me a comment with your feedback!

Become a Friend of the Show: Please subscribe and review! It just takes a second and you can help our show increase its ranking on iTunes just by this simple and quick gesture. We’d be grateful for a review. Leave one here. His name is Ben Finnigan. He’s lived more lives and been through more in 26 years […]

In today's episode I’m excited to share a preview from the audio book of my new title, "Buy Your Own Island" (which I've been hard at work and just finished recording!)

What's the book about?

Several years ago, I dreamt day and night about the kind of life I wanted – the one I deserved – but reality painted a different picture. I was an unemployed college graduate, broke and alone. Then one day I gathered three friends in a coffee shop, and we wrote down a list of the craziest “dream goals” that we could imagine. Each of us made a vow that day to do whatever it took in order to make them reality.

It took a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but eventually I managed to make almost every single dream goal a reality. I have been traveling the world for the last 5 years, heading wherever the wind takes me. I spend about a month or two in each country. During that time I meet people from all over the world, form close friendships and relationships, and together we get in to all kinds of adventures.

"Buying an island" is an anecdote shared in the book that's synonymous with taking your craziest, lifelong "dream goals" - whatever they might be, and installing a plan and system in place to making them happen.

The book is broken into four parts: Part 1 (Inner Game), Part 2 (Travel and Lifestyle Hacks), Part 3 (How to Start a Location-Independent "Lifestyle Business"), and Part 4 (Real-world case studies and models).

Of all the sections of the book, I'm most proud of Part 3.

Why?

Part 3 was initially the basis for the whole book. What I found was that a lot of business books fell short when it came to actually providing tried-and-tested, actionable strategies and techniques that REAL people could use to start their own business, get their first customers, and make a living.

In the first chapter of Part 3, I also identify the critical distinctions which separate businesses that liberate their owners versus ones that entrap them.

I wanted to create the resource that I wish I had six years ago.

Here it is.

I spent several years reading one business and marketing book per week. Starting 4 companies (2 of which failed). Interviewing dozens of other entrepreneurs and consulting with hundreds more to help them reach the next level in THEIR businesses. Part 3 of my book identifies the common traits and X-factors that a true "lifestyle entrepreneur" needs to succeed today.

Some of the things discussed in this chapter include:

Why most "business books" fail to help us get the outcome we want

The critical difference between an "E.L.F." business and a "H.A.L.F." business - and why

8 different types of businesses you can start – for less than $50 – to change your life and create freedom for you now (based on real-world examples and case studies)

The tragic disaster story of two Las Vegas performers who built their business around them (and how to avoid the same outcome)

The 5 rules of highly-effective "lifestyle entrepreneurs"

The "Lazy Programmer" technique - and why it's the key to making your vision reality

And more...

And do me a favor! Let me know what you think. You can leave a comment, or e-mail me at: [email protected].

Thanks, and enjoy!

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It just takes a second and you can help our show increase its ranking on iTunes just by this simple and quick gesture. We’d be grateful for a review. Leave one here.

Alejandro Nuñez is the man.

It has only been about 8 months since Alejandro started his blog, Mi Viaje Por el Mundo, but he is already able to support himself with his blog and ebooks. In a short time, he has built a list of over 3,000 passionate subscribers, and 45,000+ Facebook followers.

Since most bloggers and many micro-preneurs often struggle to monetize their efforts, especially in the beginning, I invited Alejandro to share his experience and knowledge on the show. Alejandro has a ton of ideas when it comes to ways bloggers and online entrepreneurs can build their brand and earn more money.

This was a really fun interview.

A few of the many things we cover:

The number one reason why so many struggle when it comes to blogging (and self-employment)

The mindset and psychology needed to succeed

The "1,000 True Fans" approach to earning a living doing what you love

An important analogy and method to "start with the endgame" in mind

Why most entrepreneurs who pursue their passion fail to earn very much money

How to find great product ideas, and validate your ideas

An easy solution anyone can use to create their first product (such as travel guides) within a few weeks and begin earning monthly passive income

And a ton more!

This was a fascinating discussion that gave ME a bunch of different ideas, and hope it will inspire you too!

Become a Friend of the Show: Please subscribe and review! It just takes a second and you can help our show increase its ranking on iTunes just by this simple and quick gesture. We’d be grateful for a review. Leave one here. Alejandro Nuñez is the man. It has only been about 8 months since Alejandro started his […]

"Be a leader of 'yourself' and others will be inspired to do the same. And it's refreshing as hell to lead a life doing exactly what you want without influence from others. I suggest you try it and let me know how it feels." -Tim King

Want to know someone who inspires me? My friend Tim King.

We met in college, and since then I’ve been blown away by everything he’s accomplished since. Tim was the first person to introduce me to the concept of a “bucket list.” Years ago I would gaze in awe at photos him doing crazy things around the globe, like running with the bulls in Spain. Or staying at the IceHotel in Sweden and capturing the Northern Lights. Or lounging out at resorts in Bali.

As a freelance photographer, Tim is thriving at a time when many photographers are barely surviving. He has an uncanny knack for marketing and promotion. He's become an expert at creating content and videos that go viral. Some recent highlights:

For his birthday he held a mock secret society meeting and pizza delivery prank video for his birthday that went viral, generating over a million views, and got Tim featured on a number of media outlets, including the Huffington Post and the Today Show.

His “30 dates in 30 days challenge,” which landed him on Good Morning America and all local news outlets.

Capturing the “red tide” at two in the morning, another video which earned him major publicity.

It’s as though he has no perception of a “comfort zone.” In his own words:

“I can’t tell you how many times someone has told me I’m ‘the weirdest person they’ve ever met’.

I actually take that as a compliment, because it highlights exactly how predictable and average the person exact-opposite would be.  Do you think THAT person would be ’really interesting’ to hang around?

I’ll tell you one thing…consistently taking people by surprise and exposing them to new ideas NEVER gets old.  When I can break someone out of their comfort zone and show them a new way to REALLY have fun, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences in the world.”

In this interview he shares the details for some of his most successful promotions, and how Tim has done such a great job building his brand and freelance career.

Highlights from the interview:

How to build your brand and business by blogging, and enable your ideal lifestyle

How to create viral content that generates over a million views

How to engage people and connect with them on a human level

How to connect with connectors - industry leaders, movers and shakers, and people with broad reach. Tim tells his story of connecting with Michael Ellsberg (best-selling author of “Education of Millionaires), and how he got Michael to promote his work to his mailing list

The critical "key factor" why Tim succeeds in his industry while others don't

And a ton more!

If you're a freelancer, or want to learn about how to build your personal brand online through blogging and social media, then you won't want to miss this interview.