The Startup Sessions with Michael Knouse

Sean Ogle went from working 60 hours a week as a financial analyst to operating his own business while traveling the world. In this episode, Sean will share his three-step process for building a lifestyle business – the same process he’s now taught thousands of other people.

“Is it riskier to stay in the job that you’re unhappy with or riskier to try something that could lead to your dream life?” – Sean Ogle

Sean Ogle is the Head Rebel at Location Rebel and his purpose is to help you build a small business that gives you the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere in the world.

Sean used to sit at a desk crunching numbers as a financial analyst. He thought having that desk, with his sweet views of the city and the prestige that went along with the title were exactly what he wanted in life. But a few years in, he quickly realized…it wasn’t.

Now, Sean enjoys his days as a lifestyle entrepreneur while traveling and sharing his proven three step process for crafting a lifestyle business.

“The goal is to allow people to enjoy more of the things that make them happy and increase the quality of their life in the process.”

– Sean Ogle

Have you ever wrestled with the idea that you’re not quite ready yet? Maybe you’ll “be ready” to sign the deal, say YES to the opportunity, write the book, start the organization when you’ve FINALLY got the degree, lost the weight, received the promotion, made the move, found the right partner…you can fill in your own blank here.

That’s your Impostor Complex talking and its throwing stall tactics your way. Clever stall tactics that prevent you from answering your calling and getting on with life.

Tanya Geisler is here to help you overcome the Impostor Complex so that you can step into your starring role and bring your dreams to life.

 “Asking for help means you’re serious about your success.” – Tanya Geisler

Tanya Geisler is Leadership Coach (CPCC) with a penchant for clarity and an abhorrence of the Impostor Complex. She’s coached hundreds of high-performers to combat the Impostor Complex so they can step into the starring roles of their lives and achieve their ultimate goals. She has written ‘The 12 Lies of the Impostor Complex’, ‘The Joy Pages’, created Board of Your Life and the transformational Step into Your Starring Role coaching program.

It is her indomitable belief that if everyone knew their own unique recipe for their personal brand of joy, they’d hold the key to shining in their life, in their work and in their life’s work.

“Our job is to be a model of possibility.”

– Tanya Geisler

Getting paid for your work the is one of the most important parts of your business, but it’s also one of the most challenging things you’ll have to do. In fact, it’s so damn hard for some people to sell their work that I was compelled to dedicate an entire episode JUST on this one part of your business.

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION, because a lot of the processes Kendrick Shope talks about are exactly the ones that I see so many people struggling with in their businesses. Things like testing ideas out before launching them (with literally hundreds of people), getting completely aligned with your value, and learning that selling is actually about helping.

Kendrick shares some absolute game changing strategies that you can begin using to generate more revenue in your business right now!

“If you don’t sell people, it means you’re not telling people. And if don’t tell people, then what’s the point?” – Kendrick Shope

Kendrick Shope is the Creator of Authentic Selling, a process designed to take the ick out of selling so that you can do more of what you love, make money, and make a difference. In her previous life, Kendrick worked for three Fortune 500 companies and was a top performing sales representative.

Kendrick is an author, media personality and one of the top sales coaches in the industry and understands that selling is a non-negotiable skill for every entrepreneur. Kendrick helps her clients transform their businesses, leading to happier, more abundant clients and more revenue.

“Sales is an absolute necessity if you’re going to make money and change lives.” – Kendrick Shope

Danny Iny joins me to talk about the future of online courses and how the Teach and Grow Rich opportunity will be life-changing, not just for those who teach but also for those who want to learn. We also discuss the ‘Information vs. Education’ divide that will leave some online entrepreneurs wondering what happened while opening up huge potential for those who are prepared.

“You as an entrepreneur have a responsibility to deliver meaningful outcomes to the people who are paying you money.” – Danny Iny

Danny Iny is the founder of Mirasee, host of the Business Reimagined podcast, best-selling author of multiple books including Engagement from Scratch!, The Audience Revolution, and Teach and Grow Rich, and creator of the acclaimed Audience Business Masterclass and Course Builder’s Laboratory training programs, which have together graduated over 5,000 value-driven online entrepreneurs. Danny has maintained a passionate commitment to learning and transparency, freely sharing lessons learned from great successes, major challenges, and even his personal life to support the online entrepreneurial community as a teacher, speaker, angel investor, and advisor to many of the top leaders in our industry, who have Danny on speed-dial when they need help with their business or strategy.

Every day is an invitation to show up fully and live an extraordinary life. However, most people settle for a life of mediocrity. In this episode, Kendra Wright shares practical strategies for facing your fears, embracing risk, and living an interesting and unconventional life.

 “People wildly underestimate the results they can get by doing small, tiny things every day.”

– Kendra Wright

Kendra Wright is a blogger, writer, speaker and location independent entrepreneur. Since creating the Year of Fear Project in 2013, she has completed over 700 self-assigned comfort zone challenges. Kendra specializes in teaching others how to break through fear and uncertainty, productivity slumps, and create better work-life balance.

“A great life starts with planning a great week.”

– Kendra Wright

There’s a new generation of business builders who are redefining what we traditionally think entrepreneurship means. This episode explores how to build a sustainable business that supports you while making an impact in people’s lives.

“High performance means achieving high levels of sustained energy.”  – Simone Janssen

Simone Janssen is on a mission to help entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses in a fun and sustainable way. A business leadership strategist and international speaker, Simone believes you can make more money, have more fun and make a bigger impact with your life. 

“Taking a nap is a better idea than trying to force your work.” – Simone Janssen

How often do you get in your own way? My guest this week is Marli Williams and we’ll be talking about all those little ways we get in our own damn way and how to reverse it so that you are showing up more fully alive than you ever imagined.

“We all have something to give, wherever we’re at on the journey.” – Marli Williams

Marli Williams is on a mission to support, encourage and inspire you to be the best version of yourself while creating and living a life you love. She is a speaker, facilitator, activation coach and an inspiration generator that helps people and organizations by delivering her energizing presentations, retreats, programs and one-on-one coaching.

“Clarity is not a requirement for action, it’s a result of action.” – Marli Williams

As an entrepreneur, you face many challenges every day. How you respond to those challenges often determines your level of success.

This week, Peter Shallard (aka the Shrink for Entrepreneurs) is here to guide you towards the mindset and action that it will take to perform consistently at a high level. We’ll also dig into Peter’s own business story and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

 “Entrepreneurship is the premier vehicle for human personal development and growth.” – Peter Shallard

Peter Shallard is The Shrink for Entrepreneurs – he works with some of the world’s highest achieving business owners as therapist and confidante. He is also the founder of Commit Action – a concierge goal setting and accountability service for small business owners.

You want to thrive, grow as an expert and make a big impact doing what matters. Instead, you are probably spending too much time trying to get noticed, without getting any big results. Lisa Princic calls this the hustle.

It’s time to stop doing what everyone else is doing and use your unique value and inner wisdom to align with the right clients.

 “Business is a conduit for doing our work in the world and growing as humans.”

– Lisa Princic

Lisa Princic helps impact-driven entrepreneurs develop practical strategies to create a profitable business while bringing meaning into the world. She is a business strategist, author and coach who helps move her clients from successful chaos into strategic flow.

“Stop chasing and start being.” – Lisa Princic

Every entrepreneur wants to be more effective, more efficient and get more of the important things done. This week’s guest is Mike Vardy of Productivityist and he’ll be sharing how he started a business on the side, juggled a full time job and family – all while establishing himself as a leading expert in a crowded market.

 “Being comfortable is great until it becomes complacency.” – Mike Vardy

Mike Vardy is a writer, speaker, podcaster and productivity strategist from Victoria, BC, Canada. His company is Productivityist and the company’s mission is to help people stop ‘doing’ productive and start ‘being’ productive.

Mike has served as the Managing Editor at Lifehack and has written for 99u, Lifehacker, SUCCESS Magazine, and more. Mike speaks all over North America at events like TEDx Victoria, South by Southwest Interactive, and creativeLIVE.

“You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you’re not paying attention, it’s directionless.”

– Mike Vardy