I read a book that was written with AI, and I enjoyed it it. What’s more, I’m going to recommend that you read it, too.

There’s something I never thought I’d hear myself say. I’ve been actively avoiding tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and rolling my eyes at those who claim their “Brand New AI App Creates Best-Seller Quality AI Courses And Automated Course Websites

In Less Than 60 Seconds” (yes, that is a quote taken from an actual sales page).

So when I came across a discussion of how Clarke Ching wrote his latest book with the help of AI… well, you can imagine my thoughts about it.

But I’ve read another of his books. He’s smart and entertaining, and I knew he wouldn’t let any AI tool lessen his impact, so I was intrigued. After reading his latest book, “The Bottleneck Detective,” I knew I had to get him on the podcast to talk about his process. It’s not what you might think, and the results really do speak for themselves.

Clarke Ching is known professionally as “The Bottleneck Guy.” He’s an author, speaker, mentor, and consultant who specializes in helping busy leaders and their teams identify and overcome bottlenecks to improve productivity and reclaim their time.

I’m happy to have him join me on this episode for a behind-the-scenes look at how—and why—he worked with two popular AI tools to write his latest book.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

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Visibility is a must in business. Without it, you can’t grow an audience, and without an audience, you’ll have no clients.

One of the best ways to be more visible is to get booked on podcasts. That lets you take advantage of the community someone else has built around your topic, so you can show up as the expert you are.

Getting interviewed on podcasts is something we talk about often in the Six-Figure Systems community, and the most common question I hear is, “How do I find shows to pitch?”

You can hire a podcast booking agency who will charge you thousands of dollars for a few interviews. You can work through a community matching platform and fill your days talking to new podcasters with few listeners.

Or you can take the advice of today’s guest, and get creative. With a 90% success rate on his interview pitches, the results speak for themselves.

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

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Would it surprise you to know that the topic of this podcast episode was planned out weeks ago? Or that I’ve known since last January what my promotion calendar would look like in December?

At the end of each year, I sit down with my calendar and my index cards and map out what the next several months will look like. I decide what training I’ll be creating, plan the workshops for Six-Figure Systems members, and I even choose the topics for this podcast, my blog (now a Substack account) and newsletter.

A few years ago, I didn’t appreciate the power of long-term planning. Today, I can’t imagine running a business without it.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “I don’t even know what I’m going to post next week, let alone eight months from now,” then I’ve got a system you can steal.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

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I wouldn’t start with a brand new website or an expensive course platform. I wouldn’t spend money on graphics or write a book. I wouldn’t even create a tripwire or build a funnel.

Instead, I’d keep it simple, and prioritize the three core elements of a sustainable online business:

These are the foundation pieces every business needs. Without them, those funnels and tripwires and course platforms are worthless.

Of course, there’s a bit more to it than this simplified checklist, so let’s talk about how you can make this work for you and your brand new business.

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

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I like to imagine an arm wrestling tournament. On one side of the table we have Gary Vaynerchuk, and on the other, Cal Newport.

Both internet superstars. Both prolific content creators. Both sharing their unique perspectives on what it takes to find success in the world of business. Yes, one is more business focused and the other more career oriented, but the message, in a lot of ways, is the same.

Here’s where they differ wildly though. Gary Vaynerchuk is the quantity guy. Be everywhere, all the time, is his motto. He’s the guy who taught us to create 64 pieces of content in a day. Newport, on the other hand, is the quality guy. Do less, but better might be his tagline.

So what does that mean for content creators like us? Do we follow Gary Vee down Burnout Road, or take the leisurely (if more intense) Perfection Parkway that Newport recommends?

In this episode, we’ll explore both options, consider the pros and cons of each, and (hopefully) find a solution that works for you unique business.

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Content is a critical part of your business success. Creating content is time-consuming.

Entire industries have sprung up as a result of these two conflicting statements, from private label (done-for-you) content you can purchase for pennies to generative AI solutions and costly freelancers who handle all your writing needs.

Honestly, I’ve tried all those solutions, and none of them worked for me. Done-for-you content didn’t sound like me (at least not without a lot of effort, and then what’s the point?). Generative AI is even worse. Ghostwriters—the good ones—are out of my budget.

Not only that, but I enjoy creating my own content. I don’t want to outsource it, I just need a way to be more efficient with my time. That’s where a content framework shines.

I use these simple frameworks to not only save time, but also to maintain consistency in my branding, ensure I’m not rambling or missing important bits (as I have a tendency to do when left unchecked), and they help me avoid the dreaded TMI trap.

In this episode, I’m sharing my podcast framework, plus a simple three-part system you can use to build your own reuseable content framework.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

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This summer, we decided to retire all of the existing courses at CindyBidar.com. That touched off a flurry of questions from Six-Figure Systems members and others:

Today, I’m answering those questions and more.

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Some days I sit down at my desk and I can barely sit still. I flit from email to my writing app to a video I’m editing to a course outline and back again, making no progress on anything.

I get up to get coffee, or take a shower, or eat breakfast, thinking that when I come back I’ll find my focus. Sometimes it works. Other times, I sit down just as distracted as I was before.

What the heck is going on? I decided to find out, and the research I found is disturbing.

While it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in my distraction battle, it’s concerning that distractions are such an issue—one that only seems to be getting worse.

If constant distractions are preventing you from growing your business, making a difference in the lives of your clients, or accomplishing the goals you have set for yourself, you’ll be glad to know I’ve uncovered 14 ideas to help.

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Just one more revision. Just one more fact check. Just one more chapter.

Then it will be ready to publish.

Or will it?

For content creators, perfectionism is a never-ending search for better, and the result is a backlog of content that’s never published. It’s never quite good enough.

How do you set aside your perfectionism and start putting content out in the world that serves your audience and helps your community achieve their goals? I’ve got four ideas for you in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

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Crowded. Saturated. Red ocean.

These are some of the words that might describe a difficult niche—one that’s so competitive it’s difficult for a new voice to gain traction.

If those are the words you’re using to describe your niche, it’s easy to feel defeated before you even begin. You might think there’s no point in creating content, because no one will ever see it, and if they do, it will just be more noise for them.

What if I said you have the power to stand out and make an impact even in the most competitive of niches? And what if I said it’s not even that hard to do?

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll give you three ways you can create standout content that grows your brand, no matter what niche you’re in.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

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