Streamlined Solopreneur: Helping Solopreneurs Take Time Off Worry-Free

Today we have a good old fashioned feed drop from my friends at The Podcast Host, and their show, Podcraft. What really makes someone a successful podcaster? Is it a certain number of episodes, downloads, or reviews? Is it whether content creation has become their full-time job? Or could it be because they’ve been recognised with a prestigious award?That's what they'll discuss on this episode, and every episode this season. I hope you enjoy! Check out Podcraft wherever you listen. Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

I love shuffling poker chips. In fact, I love playing poker…but there’s a fallacy in gambling that can get you into a lot of trouble. It’s the fallacy of sunk cost. Basically, you think you should continue what is ultimately a losing battle because you’ve already invested some amount of money in the pot.The same thing can be applied to lots of stuff. Have you ever finished a book or a movie you didn’t like just because you started it? That’s the fallacy of sunk cost.And I’m happy to say that 4 months into 2024, I successfully avoided that fallacy with something that, in January, I was all-in on: my “Be Everywhere” Strategy.Show NotesMy Experiment with Substack and Being “Everywhere”Taking a bet on Substack’s Network Effect with Nathalie LussierWhy I’m Killing my MembershipPodcast Workflows Sponsors: Check out Liquid WebMemberful: Get your free trial for at memberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

I remember touring a Murano Glass factory on my honeymoon to Italy. Basically as soon as we stepped foot into the place, a man giving us the tour had us pegged. So when it came time to sell us something, he didn’t just ask us if we wanted to buy some glass art. He painted us a picture of a unique conversation piece that we can put in our home, to help us remember this time at the beginning of our marriage. To turn into a family heirloom for when we have kids and grandkids. He wasn’t selling us glass. He was selling us a vision of our future. And it worked like gangbusters. So how can we do that for our customers? That’s what Georgiana Laudi is here to talk to us about. She is the co-author of Forget the Funnel, a book that had a profound effect on my business – and today, we’re talking all about jobs to be done, research, and capturing the voice of our customers. Top TakeawaysUnderstand the "Jobs to Be Done": Customers aren't buying products themselves, but rather the solutions the products offer. Identify the specific jobs your product or service helps customers accomplish. Capture the Voice of the Customer: Conduct customer interviews to capture actual language and patterns from customer conversations. Continuous Customer Research: Regularly conduct foundational research every 6-12 months and ensure it's continually validated based on industry shifts. Show NotesGeorgiana LaudiGeorgiana on Forget the FunnelWhat are Jobs to be Done?Demand Side SalesForget the FunnelHow to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson DavidsonCopyhackersForget the Funnel Podcast Sponsors: Check out Liquid WebMemberful: Get your free trial for at memberful.com/streamlined ★ Support this podcast ★

My grandfather came to the United States from Italy in 1949 and worked in New York City for much of his life — primarily in construction. For as long as I can remember, he had this big, metal toolbox. And when he passed away, he gave it to me, and I still have and use it to this day.Pop had that toolbox for decades. When he found something that worked for him, he held on to it and took care of it. There’s a hammer in there that has to be as old as I am.And when you think about it, the hammer is a pretty good analogy for our digital tools. It’s a basic device, but there are countless variations, purpose-built for specific tasks. Much like a task manager or notes app, you mostly know what you’re getting — but you may want something a little more specialized for your needs.While you don’t want to change tools all the time, it is good to evaluate your toolset from time to time. So I thought I’d check in and share the tools I’m using.Show NotesTools Check-in: What am I using so far in 2024?Tools for Podcasters (Podcast Workflows)When Do You Burn All of Your Processes Down and Start Over?My Stream Deck: How I’ve Configured it for Maximum Productivity and ProductionBecome a MemberTools mentioned: NotionRiverside.fmDescriptScreenFlowiZotopeCastmagicThings 3Bear NotesFantasticalCalendlyMimestreamTimeryArcChatGPTRaycast Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

I abhor hustle culture. Telling someone to work a full-time job, then go home and work more all for some goal that keeps changing is, in my opinion, how to lead an empty life. I’m worried that, even in 2024, we continue to fetishize making money and hustling. So I decided to take it to Khe Hy. Khe, if you don’t know, worked hard – as he puts it, he hustled for 10 years of his life. He worked on Wall Street, becoming the equivalent of a junior partner in a law firm, and earning a 7-figure salary. But he left that job, and he’s built a life he enjoys. But he makes it very clear: sometimes you do need to hustle. Life is full of seasons – and recognizing that seasonality is important. We cover a ton of topics in our short time. Top TakeawaysThere are seasons to life. It’s important to recognize that and adjust for the season you’re in. If you’re working to eventually gain more time, ask yourself if you can cut some costs and gain that time now. Sure, someone could pay you $10,000 for 5 hours of data entry – but do you want to do data entry, or would you rather have those 5 hours free?There’s a difference between revenue and profit. Most people share top line revenue, but what are they really taking home?Show NotesKhe HyRevenue Hub's interview with Tiago AraújoRadReadsThe magic of doing $10,000 per hour workAre you a Post-Achievement Professional? Sponsors: Check out Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

What do you want your life to look like? Last week I talked about how not being intentional is kind of like driving a car without the GPS. But goal setting without knowing what you want – that’s a bit like driving a car without having a destination in mind. Well, today, Tanya Alvarez is going to help us figure out the destination – you can think of her as your own GPS. And much like that Google Maps car, she’s well-traveled and has a ton of experience to back up her advice – from funding her first startup with credit cards to completing a Half Ironman and traveling to 42 countries, she’s done it all. And now she wants to help you do it too, by sharing her system for prioritizing your goals.Top TakeawaysTake the time to define and rank your personal values. Understand how these values shape your goals and prioritize them to ensure alignment with your desired outcomes.View your goals as hypotheses and break them down into manageable time frames. This approach provides flexibility for adjustments while promoting focused and effective work periods.When faced with multiple business ideas or tasks, evaluate them based on effort, impact, and activity categories. This can help you understand your capacity and prioritize tasks effectively.Show NotesTanya Alvarez Sponsors: Check out Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

Not being intentional in your business is a bit like getting in your car and driving without the GPS. Sure…you generally know where you’re going. But what if a road is closed? What if there’s avoidable traffic? A GPS can help you navigate around those things.When you’re intentional about your business, you go from wandering aimlessly, taking any work that makes ends meet, to setting and achieving your goals. And today, I’m going to talk about how I’m being more intentional in my business, and why that decision has led me to end my membership.Top TakeawaysTake the time to identify tasks that provide the best returns on your time investment. Focus on work that aligns with your income goals and brings you closer to achieving your business objectives.Take control of your schedule by tracking your time and evaluating the effectiveness of your tasks. Use tools like time tracking apps to make data-driven decisions and maximize your productivity.Reflect on your business goals and values, and make decisions that align with them. Ensure that your business endeavors are in sync with what matters most to you and contribute to your overall happiness and success. Sponsors: Check out Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you really need social media to build a following? To build expertise? To be successful? It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I think lots of creators are too. The rote advice that you see from the ultra successful people just doesn’t work for most of us. And it doesn’t have to. What if I told you there was a better way. As it turns out, today’s guest, my friend and Amazon best selling author of the book start a binge-worthy podcast, Krystal Proffitt, agree: starting a podcast is a great way to build your business. In today’s conversation, we talk about why podcasting is the best way to build expertise and trust, why there aren’t too many podcasts, and how you can start a successful one. Plus, in the pro show, we talk all about how to do interviews the right way. Top TakeawaysPodcasts are a great, intimate way to get your content in the hands of your ideal audience. And, as Seth Godin put it, they are the generous act of showing up. You differentiate your podcast by making sure your audience feels seen and heard. This could (and should) be through relatable stories, and by engaging with them through feedback. The first thing you should think about, before you every consider which mic to buy, is what’s your message? Without a message, you don’t have a podcast. Show NotesKrystal ProffittMy interview with Krystal on Podcast AutomationAmy Porterfield Sponsors: Check out Liquid WebGo to http://porkbun.com/HowIBuiltIt24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! ★ Support this podcast ★

During the pandemic, we were told one thing seemingly over and over again: You need to start a membership. You need a community. That’s the only way you can scale your business. And to be honest, I fed into it. I believed that a membership was the key to stop trading for hours for dollars. But the truth is I was trading more hours for fewer dollars. See, what most solopreneurs don’t realize (what I didn’t realize for a long time) is that you’re always trading hours for dollars. That’s what work is. The key difference is how many hours you're trading for how many dollars. And that’s what Maggie Patterson is here to talk to us about today. See, when the pandemic ended, we both noticed something: many of those people who were preaching the importance of basing your business off a community or membership were going back to one thing: services. Because when you do services right, you can make a lot of money. Today, Maggie, who has over 15 years of experience successfully selling client services, tells us the key to unlocking more income: selling strategy. Top TakeawaysIt’s important to understand what kind of business you want to run. 1-to-1 business is a lot different from a 1-to-many business. And they require different strategies.The key is in pricing. Don’t just price on gut feeling. Tether it to some reality (like how much money you need to make to pay yourself, and run the business), and then listen for feedback. The market will tell you if you’re priced correctly. Too many solopreneurs give the strategy away for free in their proposal. They say exactly what they’re going to do. Instead, hold paid strategy sessions (sometimes called Discovery projects) where you get paid to truly understand the scope, and give the client something tangible. Show NotesMaggie PattersonReverse Salary CalculatorThe Best Advice I Never Took Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Choosing the right platform can feel like an impossible task sometimes. There are so many options, from services to creating your own website and owning everything – how do you choose? Well, Nathalie Lussier and I have both been around the block. She owns a popular WordPress-based LMS called AccessAlly, and I’ve tried dozens of platforms for memberships, including ones I’ve built myself. So it was interesting timing when we both decided to start publishing on Substack in late November/early December. Today, we’re going to trade notes, going over why we decided to move there, what migration was like, and what we like and dislike about the platform. For members, we’ll discuss our timing to move within the context of a bigger controversy surrounding Substack. Top TakeawaysSocial Media for promoting and growing your work has been going downhill for a while now. But Substack has built in a number of features, like Notes and Recommendations, to incentivize sharing while also staying on the platform. One of Substack's best features is its interoperability. You can easily import email lists, content, and even paying subscribers through Stripe. And moving is easy too. Everything you can import, you can also export. The best way to leverage Substack’s network effect is to find your tribe – people who you can work with to restack, recommend, and follow on Notes. Just like any social network, don’t discount the “social” part. Show NotesThe Momentum MemoAccessAllyHow Knowing Your Customers Lets You Charge More with Nathalie Lussier Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

One of my favorite Disney+ shows is Loki. It’s a truly fascinating look at time travel, predetermined events, and controlling your own destiny.And now I’m going to give you a major (if not very simplified) spoiler, if you haven’t seen it.In the finale, Loki masters the ability to “time slip,” or transport to any time, any place, in any timeline (for all intents and purposes, a timeline is a parallel universe). This also allows him to relive events over and over again.So as all of existence faces eradication, he can take as much “time” as he wants to learn how to save everything and everyone, on every timeline.He continuously, over thousands of years, learns everything he needs to learn, and practices, through trial and error, to improve his process, and his odds of saving everything and everyone.And while we don’t have thousands of years, or the ability to time travel, we do have the ability to take a step back and consider the question, “What’s missing?”Read the full article here Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

It was Christmas Eve, and I was waiting in line for bagels.As someone who grew up in New York now living close to Philly, I’m admittedly a snob about the quality of the bagels I eat. But there’s a bagel shop not 5 minutes from my house that makes the best bagels I’ve ever had outside of NY/NJ.And they offer preorders for Christmas Eve. It’s become a bit of a tradition in our house to get those bagels and do a Christmas Eve brunch.They also have a select stock for people on a first come first serve basis. People who preorder can buy from this stock. The many preorders combined with the select stock creates a long line. After-all, these bagels are superb.So we waited.And during that wait, there were some people who complained about the wait1.But no one left the line or cancelled their order. After all, if all they wanted was bagels, they could have gone to the grocery store a few doors down and buy bagels immediately.But those are not even good bagels. And we wanted great bagels.See, there’s a dirty little secret that no one wants to hear these days:Great things require time. And they’re worth the wait.Read the full article hereIn the PRO show, I explain how I plan for conferences, and how I measure direct ROI from events. Join here. Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

I sweat bullets over finding the right tools. Some might say I am an Overthinker.And that is an asset to me. But occasionally, it causes crippling analysis paralysis. I’ve spent every day of this very young year, thinking about the implementation for my membership, even though I know the simplest solution is to use Substack. And last week, I would have told you that’s the end of the story. But it’s not.So today, I’m going to tell you about a journey that led me to Substack and grossly overcomplicating my publishing process. And why that could be a good thing.For members, we discuss how I’m managing multiple publishing places, why “Be Everywhere” is so important to me, and my goals for this experiment. Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

It was a wild year for social media in 2023. Twitter turned into X. Meta launched Threads. And LinkedIn started off the year as a promising platform for engagement and growth before tweaking the algorithm and tanking all of that. Matt Clark, founder of The Virtual Edge, host of the Rainmaker Show, and expert in sales argues that we shouldn’t treat LinkedIn like a social media platform because it’s not one. It’s a professional networking platform. That means we need to treat it more like a networking event if we want to make the most of it. And today, he’s going to tell us how. In the subscribers-only show, Matt and I talk more about building a lifestyle before you build your business. We touch on how people like Alex Hormozi oversimplify how they do things in order to push how "easy" it is to build a business. We also talk about the difference life choices we've made, and how our businesses support that — and what you should consider as well! Top TakeawaysLinkedIn wants you to be intentional. That means you need to know WHO you’re talking to, and HOW you help them. Make sure your profile is optimized for your client. Do some research to figure out their biggest problem, and how you can fix it for them. If you don’t know where to start, run a poll. This will re-engage your connections. Ask 3-4 questions that are targeted to your ideal client. Then for the people who DO engage, follow up and ask to get on a quick call.Show NotesMatt ClarkMatt on LinkedinStop doing “Sales” and Start Having Conversations with Nikki RauschWhy You Need to be on LinkedIn if You’re a Creator with Kathleen CelminsHow to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson DavidsonPower vs. ForceLeonardo Da VinciChris LemaSponsored by: Liquid Web Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

The word 'Control' evokes various thoughts and emotions, many of which are negative. Control is often associated with an excessive desire to dominate or dictate every aspect of a situation.The bad guys in movies and in real life desire control at almost any cost. Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars said the only way to improve life in the galaxy was for him to seize control. Thanos said the only way to save the universe was to control the population by controlling the infinity stones.Countless dictators and wannabe dictators have justified taking control because they’re the only ones who can save us.It sounds micro-managy, almost authoritarian when you say, “I want to be more controlling.”But Control at the right scale is super important. If you don’t control your car, bike, or other vehicle, for example, you will end up hurting yourself or someone else.In thinking about my next yearly theme, a recent conversation I had with my therapist was top of mind. I told her that I didn’t feel like I was in control of anything. Not my health. Not my money. Not my time or schedule.That's why my 2024 Yearly Theme is *The Year of Control.*For members, we discuss the themes I didn’t choose, how the membership will work in 2024, and the direction of the podcast in general. You can join here. LinksMy 2024 Yearly ThemeFavorites of 2023Cortex 2024 Yearly Themes Sponsored by Liquid WebJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Over the last few weeks, you’ve heard from multiple guests about the importance of research – Dappz talking about calculated risks and doing research for the actual calculation. Nikki Rausch talking about speaking your potential customer’s language. Adriana tells us to do research when we’re guesting on a podcast. But that begs the question: how? How do we make sure we’re doing the right kind of research to yield helpful information – especially if we’re not a huge company? We need to do scrappy research – which is why I brought in my friend, Becky Pierson Davidson. She’s an educator, speaker, and community-driven product strategist who’s focused on helping people like us simplify our customer journey, improve retention, and increase customer LTV. And she’s got the receipts, working with diverse clients, including personal brands, fortune 500 companies, creative service agencies, and startups.So I thought there was no better way to close out the year than to talk to her about scrappy research. Top TakeawaysResearch prevents you from building the wrong thing. Launches that flop are usually launches that have no research backing them up. Don’t just build something for you. It’s not about you. Sure, some people will tell you to dog food your own product – but your business won’t survive if you’re the only customer. You want quantitative and qualitative research. Look at all of your analytics, see what content performs well, but also survey your audience, and have real conversations with potential customers. You only need 5 to find a problem to solve. Show NotesBecky Pierson DavidsonBecky on InstagramBecky on LinkedinGet $100 off Journey Makers Live with code FRIENDOFJOESteve Woodruff "King of Clarity"Sponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

A few weeks ago, I ruffled some feathers on social media. I said, “Telling people you wrote your book with AI is like telling people you ran a marathon with your car.” Wow. People took umbrage with that statement. And while I stand by what I said, I thought it would be a good idea to talk to an AI expert. So I reached out to Bryan McAnulty of Heights Platform to see me (or everyone else) straight. And you know what he told me? We’re all doing it wrong. We shouldn’t use AI as a proxy for Google. We should use it as an actual assistant. And for that, we need to give it a ton of context.Top TakeawaysInstead of thinking of AI as a tool, think of it as an instrument. You need to learn how to play it and personalize it to play your kind of music. In the long run, you won’t be able to use AI to cheat, because what makes your content unique is your personal experiences. Since AI works on how you train it, You can have as many AI assistants as you want. It doesn’t just have to be one.Show NotesBryan McAnultyObsidianSmart ConnectionsCopilotCortex PodcastAll the News from Open AI's First Developer ConferenceHeights PlatformCreator ClimbSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Imagine that you’re going to give a talk on a topic you know really well. You spend time on the presentation, rehearse it 100 times, dial in the slides, and you’re feeling great. You get the conference, deliver the talk, and you think you nailed it. But when you ask for questions, one person raises her hand and says, “Nous ne parlons pas anglais.”That’s right. You just delivered your talk in English, and the entire audience speaks French. You made an assumption that you knew that audience. And the conference host made that same assumption. Now the effects, or embarrassment, may not be as strong if you guest on a podcast, but they can cut against your credibility, and potentially waste your time…and the audience’s time. That’s why you need to be prepared. And that’s exactly what public speaking coach (and fantastic guest) Adriana Baer is going to talk to us about today. We chat about everything from research to storytelling, and she even has a few bonus tips. Be sure to stick around until the end for a special bundled deal we’re offering. Top TakeawaysPodcast guesting is a gift. While the rest of the world lives in 5 second sound bites, podcasts give us the time and space to flex our expertise.To be an effective podcast guest, you need to do your research. Understand who you’re talking to, and how you can help them. You need to tell good stories – you do that but having some prepared, but also by actively listening to the host. Show NotesAdriana BaerWhy Podcast Interviews are a Content Goldmine with Tom SchwabThe Digital Storytelling Aspect of PodcastingThe Solopreneur's Gift GuideSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Recently, I sat down to dinner with my family when the doorbell rang. It was a door-to-door HelloFresh salesman, who wanted to make dinner easier for us (while ironically preventing me from eating dinner). I immediately got frustrated for two reasons: It was dinner time and the interruption was unwelcomedI had already told this guy’s partner “no” several hours earlier. It was a conversation that not only was unwelcome but was already flat-out rejected once before. This sort of tactic is what gives sales a bad name, and why folks like us hate sales. But today’s guest, Nikki Rausch, is here to tell us that’s not at all how sales should work – and what we should do instead. Top TakeawaysSales isn’t a one-way street. It’s a collaborative conversation that you have permission to enter into. And you get permission by asking. The person you’re speaking to has their own language – you need to tailor your offer to meet their needs and use their language. Never make assumptions! You can’t further a relationship without asking questions. Assumptions are driven by limiting beliefs. Questions lead to concrete answers.Show NotesNikki RauschWhat Prepared Plumbers Can Teach You About Winning BusinessThe Selling Staircase: Mastering the Art of RelationshipMastering the Sales ConversationSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Social media advice these days reminds me a bit of the parable of the Emperor with no Clothes. See, it's easy for anyone to display how smart and successful they are. They say things like, "Here's your content strategy for 2024: Post three times on X daily, post one thread on X daily. Create three LinkedIn posts per day and one LinkedIn carousel per week." People read that and think, "That's easy to understand," without realizing that just posting content is not a strategy at all. I often think about how people perceive me and my show because I consider myself a successful podcaster. But I also feel conflicted – I don't feel I've done a good job of leveraging this show to grow my audience. So, I've decided to have my friend, Zach Swinehart, come on to talk about how I can improve my conversions for this show.However, it almost feels a bit like the emperor has no clothes. Am I putting myself out there? Am I letting myself be too vulnerable? I guess you’re about to find out.Top TakeawaysWhen it comes to determining your lead magnet, you should test a few to see which resonates.When you're testing calls to action or lead magnets in a podcast, you should try a few different spots with a few different links.Know who you're talking to and try to understand your audience by looking at their pain points and objections.Show NotesDouble Your Email List Growth Rate in 29 minutesCheck out the full interview over on Zach's podcast, Full Time CreatorPersonalization is the Path Forward with Brennan DunnSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

How much help is too much help? When do you go from the actual worker to the visionary? And where does AI fit into all of this? Over on LinkedIn, I said using AI to write your book is like using a car to run a marathon. People took issue with that. So my friend Alastair MeDermott and I decided to have a good old fashioned debate. You’ll hear a nuanced discussion around:How to think about AI assistance in writing and content creationWhere AI can help versus replace in the creative processHow iterative prompting can shape the AI outputWhether AI will ever replicate truly original human ideasThe importance of the human editorial eye in approving AI-generated contentWhat we potentially stand to lose in fully outsourcing creative work to machinesIf you’re feeling uncertain about how to responsibly and effectively leverage AI tools like ChatGPT in your business and content creation, don’t miss this lively exchange of perspectives. Tune in now to help shape your own ethical framework.Check out Alastair's podcast over at https://therecognizedauthority.com/ Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Imagine making $70,000…from your bedroom…in one night. That’s exactly what Matt “Dappz” McGuckin did with his online trading cards shop. He got his start “breaking” – that is, buying and opening boxes of cards live online, and selling the contents…all on TikTok. Sounds risky? It is! But today, Dappz Sports is the Live Shopping Company on TikTok in the U.S., making over $20 Million in gross sales. So the risks have paid off. Now maybe it seems like too far-fetched to say you’ll make $70K in one night, but it’s not too far-fetched to say that making calculated risks will elevate your business. It’s a proven strategy and Dappz, and today, he’s going to tell you how you can do it too. Top TakeawaysDon’t try to think about how you’ll go viral. Instead, be consistent and try different things. Experimenting can be low-stakes risk-taking. One of the biggest risks that pay off is hiring someone. They will take SO much off your plate. It sounds scary, but it’s a must for any business owner. Research is SO important with it comes to mitigating risk – remember, this is about calculated risks, not being a cowboy, and doing crazy stuff to see if it pays off. Show NotesMatt "Dappz" McGuckinMatt on TiktokThe Social Dilemma on NetflixSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Over the years, I’ve published a great many gift guides on my blog. From freelancers, to podcasters, to working from home, and even my hobbies — like pens and cigars. And this year is no different.But given my relatively new focus on helping solopreneurs (and the fact that the “Work from Home” guide is starting to feel a little stale), I’ve decided to change things up in 2023.That's why this year, I'm introducing the Solopreneur's Gift Guide. Enjoy! LinksThe 2023 Solopreneur's Gift GuideView on Casabona.orgRecording / Video Conference GearElgato FacecamElgato Facecam ProLive Stream kitSamson Q2U Sennheiser PC 8 USB Headset Podcaster’s Gift GuideHue LightsElgato Key Light | Key Light AirNeewer 2 PackLume Cube for Video ConferencingHome OfficeSteelcase HON ChairsRoller Blade Wheels for Office ChairsJarvis by FullyE7 by FlexiSpotMoft Sit-Stand Laptop DeskTwelve SouthLogitech MX Master 3 Keycron K2 Pro Mechanical KeyboardErgonomic keyboard from MicrosoftMonitor Arm by FullyAt Home TechWestern Digital My Book BackblazeSynology 2 Bay Storage NAS + some hard drivesWestern Digital Portable Hard DriveSamsung’s T7 portable SSDAirPods Pro IISkullcandy headphones Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Cancelling headphones Audio-Technica ATH-M50sStream Deck GaNPrime Hybrid Power Bank / Wall ChargerMagSafe 3-in-1 Charging Cube (perfect for travel)Nano USB-C Power BankStands by Lab22ProductivitySidekick NotebookSidekick NotepadWilliam Hannah A5 Classic NotebookCheck out my Pen guideAnalog from UgmonkTodoistMindNode BearUlyssesApp Store Gift Card SetappComforts of HomeCometeerKru DoomcupReading Jazzy JavaRook NicaraguaNespressoOXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee GrinderMahabis SlippersTravel / Outside the HouseWaterField Designs Sling bag from NomaticTimbuk2.Kindle ScribeAirTagsAirFly by Twelve SouthAt Your BestForget the FunnelThis is PersonalMade to Stick Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Do you remember the most awkward moments of your life? One for me was definitely the day I was defending my master’s thesis. I was explaining a complex algorithm, when my advisor interrupted me and said, “Well…that’s not really how it works.” In front of my classmates, other faculty, and a number of friends who showed up out of support.As you can imagine, I was mortified – until recovered, finished the presentation, and said, If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Unless it’s about that one algorithm. They you can ask Dr. Bishop.” That got laughs, and I finished strong. I learned an important lesson that day: awkwardness will happen. It’s how you handle it that has a lasting effect. And that’s exactly what Dr. Henna Pryor is going to talk about with us today. She’s a keynote speaker, and her best-selling book, Good Awkward, came out in September with endorsements from people like NFL Quarterback Russell Wilson. Top TakeawaysWe are living in a society that increasingly doesn’t need to use its “social skills” muscle. We don’t have to interact with as many people, and it’s making us feel worse. Awkward goes hand-in-hand with uncertainty. That means if you never want to feel awkward, you’ll never grow. In order to embrace uncertainty, and therefore awkwardness, we need to create more situations to “practice” than the current world gives us. Show NotesHenna PryorHenna Pryor BookHenna on LinkedinHenna on InstagramHow to Stand Out When Everything is Competing for Attention with Steve WoodruffSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

A family walks into a talent agency, and says, “Have we got the act for you…”If you’re familiar with this opening to a joke, you may have had a visceral reaction to it — either you think it’s hysterically funny, shamefully disgusting, or both. It’s the opening to the joke, The Aristocrats, and if you have a weak stomach, I don’t suggest you look it up.See, the point of this joke isn’t actually the punchline, which is right in the title. The point is to see how long you can improv a shocking, disgusting, offensive story.You can think about it as a secret handshake among comedians, that became not so secret after a 2005 documentary came out about it.It going me thinking about the importance of telling a story.This week, I got to speak to my friend Nick Benson’s college classes about Digital Storytelling.Don’t worry, I didn’t tell The Aristocrats.Instead, I spoke to them about why storytelling is so important in any content you create, especially podcasting.Read the article here: https://podcastliftoff.com/podcast-storytelling/ Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

In a way, the chaotic start to our interview, followed by a calm, cool conversation, is a metaphor for Jordan’s business journey this year. See, this isn’t just a story about how to hire good people for your business. It’s a cautionary tale, and proof that running a business is about always learning and adjusting. Jordan runs an agency of high-level remote assistants. Today, she’s telling us her own trials and tribulations with making what seemed to be the right hiring call but ended up plunging her business into a few chaotic months. Don’t worry though, through patience and vigilance, she came out on the other side in a much better position. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about what she’s doing for me…and why she’s contributed to me potentially leaving Airtable for Notion.Top TakeawaysYou need to share your mission with your team early on. This ensures that you’re both aligned on the same values – which will form a stronger bond than a paycheck. Know when to communicate. Jordan saw that through hiring contractors, they were taking on too much, and as a result, the quality of their work slipped. Clear communication could have prevented the worst outcome for her: loss of clients. Know when to cut ties. Jordan saw that for her agency, a contractor relationship would not work. So she pivoted and decided to hire full-time employees instead. It took several months to find the right fit, but she’s happy she didn’t rush into the decision. When you do bring on new employees, make sure to have a rock-solid, hands-on training program. This will allow them to start learning and doing, from day 1.Show NotesJordan EatonSponsored by: Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

It's podcast swap time! Except I'm telling you about another podcast of mine: Podcast Workflows. It's a daily podcast that focuses on how to help podcasters improve their processes. Every Wednesday, I do a deep dive into someone's process, and that's what I'm bringing you today. Learn more at https://show.podcastworkflows.com/Arielle Nissenblatt eats, sleeps, and breathes podcasts.Her main job is with a podcast company.Her newsletter is all about podcast curation.She runs a podcast community on Discord.She loves podcasts so much that she, along with her co-host Tim Villegas, produce a podcast about podcasts. Well really, about podcast trailers specifically. It’s called Trailer Park.You might think that this is too niche, but they got 10,000 downloads in just a few weeks. Their outreach process was crucial to achieving that goal. Read on to learn how they did it.IN THIS EPISODEWhy a super-niche podcast is the path to successSpending some time in the edit can greatly enhance your showPitching and direct outreach is still the best way to grow your podcastRead the full article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/trailer-park-podcast/ Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

If I wanted to cater to the current algorithm gods, I’d probably talk about how this interview is all about what AI can and cannot do for us. But it’s so much more than that. Much like the problem with leveraging AI to do all of the heavy lifting, me positioning this episode as “about AI,” would be inauthentic. And authenticity…well that’s really what this episode is about. Tom Schwab is someone who believes at his core that you’re just One Conversation Away from a profitable…and perhaps quite successful…business. So that’s what he helps people do. He helps them have conversations. And today, you’re going to learn how to get better at having the right conversations, as well as how to leverage those conversations to build your authority…authentically. Plus in the PRO show, Tom and I exchange podcast interview horror stories!Top TakeawaysMarketing is starting a conversation with someone who could be a great customer. But before you can do that, you need to get clear on what you do, and who you do it for. Obscurity is bad for business. When you go on podcasts, you’re having a conversation with potentially lots of people. This means you need to show up, be present, and make the host look like a genius for having you on! Go for quality over quantity. When I asked Tom about how to get on more podcasts he said, “More is not better. Better is better.” So use your time wisely, and show up fully for the listeners.Show NotesTom SchwabSponsored by: Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Take the 2024 Listener Survey! Did you know that Netflix is also a gaming platform now? That Apple make TV shows? That Disney own a number of YouTube channels without the Disney branding? It’s because they know what Steve Woodruff knows. If you’re a podcaster, you might think the competition is other podcasters. If you make movies, you might think the competition is another movie. You’d be wrong. See, what Netflix, Apple, Disney, and Steve know, is that the competition is everything. People are assaulted every day by stimuli, and if you want to cut through all of the noise, you need to stand out by being an effective communication designer. And there’s no better person to tell us how to do that than the King of Clarity himself. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about using AI to write books, and Steve’s process for writing his latest book, The Point. Top TakeawaysThe average American spends 7-10 hours per day in front of a screen. On top of that, we see 4,000-10,000 ads every day. In other words, there is a lot of stuff competing for our attention. You want to be pigeonholed! Instead of an “Elevator Pitch,” which sounds stuff and outdated, Steve prefers the term “Memory Dart.” What’s one sentence you can say to people so they know exactly what you do? If you’re not communicating clearly to an outsider, you’re not communicating clearly. You want to make sure your copy (website, LinkedIn profile, Twitter) makes sense to people who don’t know your work well.Show NotesSteve WoodruffSteve in LinkedinWant to be a Better Speaker? Do THESE Things with Mike PacchioneClarity Wins BookYou’re Writing Your Business Book Wrong with Josh BernoffSponsored by: Hostinger | Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Hostinger: Get 10% off + 2 months free with code BUILDLulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONA ★ Support this podcast ★

Take the 2024 Listener Survey! Imagine running a high 7-figure business with over 300,000 followers on social media, then launching a podcast. How many downloads would you expect? 100,000? 150,000? What about…10? We’ve all been there: we spend a TON of time pouring blood, sweat, and tears into a project just to have it launch to crickets. That’s exactly what happened to Yong-Soo Chung with his podcast. Despite the social following, no one cared about his show. But instead of wallowing in self-pity or shutting the show down, Yong-Soo took action. He reactivated his 12-year dormant Twitter account, and started basically from scratch, growing to 20,000 followers in less than a year. Now he has a great process for getting people from Twitter to his newsletter, to his podcast.We’ll cover his entire journey and more. Plus, in the PRO show, we exchange notes on our production processes!Life LessonsHave a clearly defined niche, and know how to reach people in that niche. Yong-Soo’s initial problem was a mismatch between his businesses and his show. Once he started to find people in the right niche, he started to find listeners. Share personal stories – these are the things that resonate with people, no matter what platform or niche. By being a little vulnerable, people will want to learn more about you and your story.Continuously hone your target avatar and make sure to grow your show to serve your audience and yourself. You need to be interested in the show – after all, that’s how you tell a good story. Show NotesYong-Soo ChungYong-Soo in TwitterYong-Soo in InstagramYong-Soo in LinkedinUsing AI to Craft a Listener AvatarWant People to Find Your Podcast? Do More Than Just Tweet with Deirdre TshienSponsored by: Hostinger | Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Hostinger: Get 10% off + 2 months free with code BUILDLulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONA ★ Support this podcast ★

Take the 2024 Listener Survey! Cohort-based courses are on the decline if the tastemakers are to be believed. And it makes sense. Now that people aren’t stuck at home, they probably don’t want to spend time interacting online when they can interact IRL. But that doesn’t mean that CBCs have no utility. In fact, I think that there’s a great way we can make CBCs even better, by employing a tactic that has been explored in the K12 and higher education settings: the flipped classroom. In the episode we’ll: Check out the flipped classroom model, a way to get students more involved and boost their learning.See how engaging teaching methods move past old school methods and foster better student participation.Learn some of the pitfalls of the flipped classroom in a practice.Measure the effect of customizing course material to suit students, a way to make education more personalized.See how the topic matters when considering the use of the flipped classroom model.Address how we can incorporate the flipped classroom model in cohort-based courses. Sponsored by:Hostinger: Get 10% off + 2 months free with code BUILDLulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONA ★ Support this podcast ★

Take the 2024 Listener Survey! I love Hibachi. I love the food. I love the experience. That seems a lot like building in public, right? After all, the chef is literally cooking in front of us, building our meal. But according to Kevon Cheung – a guy who’s built his entire community by building in public – Hibachi is entertainment. In order to build in public, you need to take your audience on a journey with you. That’s why he believes building in public is more like Omakase. This is where the chef will choose the foods for you, involve you in the process, and tell you a story about the food you’re eating. That’s what Building in Public truly is, and today, we’re going to learn how to leverage it to build great communities and better products.Top TakeawaysYou need to talk about something people care about, not just vanity metrics. No one cares what time you wake up to write. They want to know what you’re writing about, and why you chose to write about that topic. Only your competitors care about how you do something – your secret sauce. Your audience is invested in you, and they want to know about the journey…both the ups and the downs. You shouldn’t just announce something when you’re not sure it will do well. Instead, tell your audience you’re exploring an idea. Ask them about it, and involve them in the process. THEN, make a decision and share that with them, along with why you made the decision. Show NotesKevon CheungKevon in Twitter PublicLabMonica LentWhat Happened to WirecutterHow To Build a $1000/year Membership with Jay ClousePodcast Workflows bookhttp://helpthisbook.comSponsored by: Hostinger | Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Hostinger: Get 10% off + 2 months free with code BUILDLulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONA ★ Support this podcast ★

You need to tell a good story, no matter what kind of content you create. This is obvious in fiction, but it’s just as important in non-fiction. Don’t believe me? Take it from Emmy Award-winning producer, Cody Sheehy. He creates documentaries, and today he tells us why storytelling has been crucial to his work, and is crucial to yours too. In the PRO show, I couldn’t resist: I asked what it was like to win an Emmy. Top TakeawaysEverything comes down to having a good character. Your audience needs to associate with the character for them to feel connected to your content (this is why long-form> short-form). While Joseph Campbell’s formula is great in theory, it doesn’t fit perfectly in the real world. But you still need to take elements from it to craft something compelling. Finishing strong should feel like you’re running through a house, closing all the doors. Your character needs to grow and you need to close most, if not all, of the open threads.Show NotesCody SheehySponsored by: Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

If you think about social networks as people, LinkedIn is TikTok’s dorky older, more professional sister…that the younger, more hip sister needs to borrow money from. That’s how Kathleen Celmins sees it, and she’s very effective at selling on LinkedIn. In fact, she says that if you’re just trying to grow your follower count on LinkedIn, you’re doing it wrong. Instead, it’s all about the connections. How do you convert those connections into clients? That’s what we get into during this call. Plus, in the PRO show we talk about the danger of creating tools that rely on social media. Top TakeawaysWhile every other social network is super content-heavy, LinkedIn is different. If you post more than once a day, you’re competing with yourself. Followers on LinkedIn are a vanity metric. Your goal is to fill your calendar with calls…so create connections and see if those connections are a good fit. Your LinkedIn Profile is your sales page. Optimize it for your offer, and start connecting with people in your niche.Show NotesKathleen CelminsHow to NOT Burn Out While Using Social Media with Alex MarshallWaalaxySponsored by: Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

I used to think that promoting my podcast was a matter of tweeting it (Xeeting it?) and hoping for the best. And while I’ve learned a TON over the years about what to do, and what not to do, Deirdre Tshien still blew my mind as we talked about her traffic pyramid. As the co-founder and CEO of Capsho (an AI tool to help create promotional assets), she knows a thing or two about how to market and grow your podcast. We’ll get into that, plus podcast discoverability tips that change my approach to this very show, and my audits. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about what it’s like building niche commercial AI tools. Top TakeawaysLook for the 4 tiers of getting traffic to your content: passive, and active organic marketing, leveraging other audiences, and paid adsThere are lots of ways to improve podcast discoverability, including optimizing titles, descriptions, and even artist names for the words your niche is searching for.The name of the repurposing game is dripping out clips from your show and giving the episode a long life. That’s why Deirdre started Capsho in the first place! Show NotesDeirdre TshienMoPodPodpageCreative StudiosVoxalyzeMaking Money on Marketplaces with Maddy OsmanSponsored by: Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

It's the summer and I just came off a ton of travel, so this episode is a mishmash of things and a little rambly. Strap in! We’ll talk about a contract position I have, plus some new partnerships I’m excited about. Then we’ll move to my summer of travel and how I’m managing the workload before moving onto the main event: 5 tools I’m trying out this summer. In the pro show, I talk about what I’m using Notion for, more about my new position, Luma, and seeing a therapist. Show NotesArc BrowserVoxalyze AudioPenQuillbeeCapshoLumaRSS.comMy YouTube ChannelSponsored by: Lulu | Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

“I don’t need to write it down because I’ll remember” is hopelessly naive. Sorry if that stung, but it’s true. You need to write things down, as Andy Ayim MBE learned when he started his digital journal. He’s a father, husband, creator, thinker, investor, and founder of The Angel Investing School. He has invested in over 17 gap-closing startups. And he would be completely lost without what he calls his “Tracker” - a digital journal he keeps in Notion. In fact, he believes his Tracker is so crucial, that he considers it DIY coaching and counseling too. So let’s dive into why YOU need to keep a digital journal, and how to make it happen. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about investing, single-vs-multi-focus, and how Andy invented Spotify, and I invented Facebook…Top Takeaways“You’re never really failing if you learn from it.” Your digital journal is like the “Google Analytics of your life.” You can keep track of what you do, how do feel, and lots of other data points to help you learn.This can also be an eternal source of content. If you’re logging books, thoughts, and ideas, you can reference your digital journal when you’re feeling stuck to look for inspiration. Get started the way that works best for you. Andy started with a Google Doc before moving to Notion when he understood what he needed.Show NotesAndy AyimSmall World BooksCortex PodcastAtomic Habits Building a Second BrainSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Lulu: Sign up for free today and sell your book.Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

They say fortune favors the bold, and that’s definitely the case for Brooke Janousek. After decades in the marketing industry, she decided to strike out on her own and needed to take any opportunity she could get to help her business grow. So she took her shot by asking Sara Blakely’s (founder of SPANX) husband, during his talk, in front of 800 people, for a chance to meet her. According to Brooke, you need to be bold in your own business- “if you don’t have a seat at the table, you need to make one.” Those bold moves turned her into a successful fractional CMO. And if you’re wondering if this path is right for you, you need to listen! Top TakeawaysFractional leaders are becoming increasingly popular. They allow companies to bring on a high level of expertise without having to hire a 6-figure salary employee. You build credibility as a fractional leader by showing results. If you can clearly articulate results to a potential client, you’ll get hired. This all goes back to being bold. If there’s something you think you should do, and it makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably the right move. Brooke says, “ asking is overthinking” and I love that. Show NotesBrooke JanousekBrooke on LinkedinBrooke On The GrowSponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

If you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with something that’s been recently reintroduced into my life. It’s 2 am, and my 7-month-old son wakes up and is in need of a new diaper and bottle. So I get up and head into his room. I’m half asleep, I need to undo his PJs, change the diaper, and redo the PJs. And there is one type of PJ's that are head and shoulders above the rest: the reverse zip PJs. So good in fact, that I’m certain they were designed by parents that had the same exact experience I’ve shared.Link: What Baby Clothes Can Teach You About Understanding Your Customers Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Are you missing the boat on user-generated content? User-Generated Content (UGC) isn’t just for getting testimonials on social media. In fact, today’s guest, Tory Gray, says we can use it for almost anything: SEO, user research, social proof, FAQs, and so much more. And she should know! Tory is a highly experienced digital marketing consultant and the Founder of The Gray Dot Company. With more than 15 years of experience in SEO and growth strategy, Tory has helped numerous businesses achieve their goals through digital strategy with a focus on technical and strategic SEO. On top of the great advice, we walk through a scenario: building a landing page from scratch with UGC. Don’t miss it! Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about the mother of all UGC websites: Reddit.Top TakeawaysYou can create full pages of content from UGC, from photos to social proof to FAQs. Your process for collecting UGC doesn’t have to be complicated. You can have a Google Form or Doc with some pointed questions, or a swipe file. If you’re not sure where to start with a new product, look at UGC for similar brands and products. People are already asking questions online. Do a social media or Google Keyword search!Show NotesTony GrayTony on LinkedinHow to Get a Trademark with Rian KinneySponsored by: Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONACheck out Calm History at https://calmhistory.comJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

A few weeks ago Jay Clouse wrote about Experimentality on his blog. This is a concept I love because experimenting is the only way to know if what you're doing works as best as it can.I've been experimenting a lot with my podcast, content, and automation. I like writing about what I'm trying for my members...I think it's a big benefit of the membership.I thought I'd give you a little peek into two experiments I'm running now. Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

“I despise social media.” This was my first impression of Tim Stoddart, and I was hooked. If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged by the lack of engagement relying solely on social media posts, you are not alone! But you, like me, might be taking the wrong approach. Tim says long-form content is king, and he should know. He’s the CEO of Copyblogger and writes prolifically. If you’ve been struggling to make an impact through short-form content, this interview is a must-listen.Get the top takeaways, show notes, and transcript at https://howibuilt.it/323 Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Earlier this month I made two decisions about the newsletter that you may have noticed:I got rid of the “Quick Hits” section (which was mostly my own content) in favor of a 300-500 word section on some top-of-mind topic.I added a monthly digest of all the content I put out during the month, sent on the last weekday of the month.The two are related. I still want a way to let my newsletter subscribers know about the content I’ve put out, in case they missed it. But it also serves 2 other purposes:It allows me to promote the month’s podcast episodes one more time.The sponsors get one more mention in the newsletter each month.After putting it together manually, I knew there had to be a better way, so I built version one of a Monthly Digest Engine, designed to aggregate and format all of my links, which I can then add to ConvertKit.Here’s how I built it.Sign up at https://howibuilt.it/subscribehttps://casabona.org/2023/06/building-a-monthly-digest-engine/ Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

What do you get when you follow the pack instead of doing what’s best for you? A bad content strategy. A year ago, I decided to focus on short-form content because I saw all the “thread Bois” doing it and thought it would help my business. It didn’t. But luckily, you can course-correct your strategies. And thanks to some key talks and inspiration from CEX and Craft+Commerce, I’ve decided that long form is the best strategy for my business (and probably yours, too). Get the top takeaways, show notes, and transcript at https://howibuilt.it/322 Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAGapscout: ChatGPT insights, but for market researchJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Picture this: it's 2020. Your spouse is a nurse. You have one small kid with another on the way. You know child care will fall full to you for at least half the week.Oh, and you're trying to run a business. What would you do if your work week was effectively cut in half?I knew I needed to get help in my business, so I found a VA. Over a few episodes, I'll talk about working with my VA, starting with how I decided I needed one and where I found her. Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

We live in an age where everything needs to be fast, easy, and in high volume. I’ve seen people say, “I’m going to write 8 books this year.” Josh Bernoff thinks that’s a load of crap. See, if you want to write a good book, just like anything of quality, you need to spend time on it. Josh’s new book, Build a Better Business Book, is a master class on how to do that. And today, he’s giving us the best parts of that book. In the PRO show, things get real as we talk more about the charlatans of writing, as well as ghostwriting.Top TakeawaysTo write a good book, your idea has to be big, right, and new. This will make it distinguishable from everything else, and increase your impact and influence. A good business book consists of two things: answers to reader questions, and case studies. Your book is nothing if you don’t have case studies to back up your claim.Are you a planner, or a panter? Panters write by the seat of their pants, which creates a long, rambling, incoherent book. Planners start with what Josh calls a “fat outline,” so they know the story they’re telling before they ever put pen to page.Show NotesJosh BernoffJosh on TwitterJosh on FacebookJosh on LinkedinBuild a Better Business BookBlitzscalingSponsored by: Gapscout | Sensei Sponsored by:Sensei: Save 20% FOR LIFE with code JOECASABONAGapscout: ChatGPT insights, but for market researchJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

Apple is rarely the first to market with a product, and for good reason. Here are 4 lessons you can learn from Apple introducing the Vision Pro at the beginning of the month.Link: Thoughts and Lesson from the Apple Vision Pro Presentation at the WWDC Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Are you a “Field of Dreams” marketer? Someone who thinks, “If I build it, they will come.” I was for a long time. Sometimes it feels like I still am. That’s why I was excited to talk to Julian Garsdean. He blends psychology and business in a way I haven’t seen before to help business owners stand out and sell more. As creators, we can learn a ton from addressing the 6 basic needs in our own content and products. Listen for these top takeaways:Top TakeawaysBusinesses aren’t just transactions. They are run by people, for people. The sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll connect with your potential customers. Establish your identity. Being too general means you’re not connecting with anyone. Doing a deep dive into your identity, and the persona of your customers, makes them relate to your more. The key to negotiations is…you guessed it…understanding the needs of the person on the other side of the table. Do that, and you’ll be able to quantify your value in something other than numbers.Show NotesJulian GarsdeanJulian on LinkedinYou Need to Form Good Writing Habits with Dickie BushThe RIGHT Way to Pitch Sponsors for Your Content with Justin Moore$100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying NoSponsored by: Gapscout | TextExpander | Sendinblue Sponsored by:Brevo: Get 50% off your first 3 months with code JOETextExpander: Save 20% off your first year Gapscout: ChatGPT insights, but for market researchJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★

About a month ago I went on a quest to find the perfect webinar software. I create a spreadsheet and everything.But at CEX, I had a great conversation with Luria Petrucci of Live Stream Pros and I asked her, “What do you think is the best way to run a webinar?”Here's what she said, and why. Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

It would be a dream of mine to grow a newsletter from 0 to 8,000+ in less than 6 months. But that’s exactly what Chenell Basilio did. The way she did it? Deeply researched, super-helpful content. See, she teaches people how successful creators grew their newsletters to 50,000+ subscribers. And today, she’s going to tell us all about her process. And in How I Built It PRO, we talk about money and goals for the next 6 months.Top TakeawaysCreating unique, long-form content can be a boon to your website or newsletter; people want something good and helpful! Quick capture is important. Chenell uses Apple Notes because that allows her to quickly open and dictate notes while she’s listening to podcasts.Chenell will only do deep dives on creators who’ve built an audience since 2018. That way she can cover techniques that still work today, making the content relatable.Show NotesGrowth in ReverseChenell on TwitterChenell on LinkedinHow the best newsletter operators grow to 50K+ subscribersPodchaserListen NotesTweenMaxReadwiseGithub: Video Speed ControllerChrome Video Speed Controller Sponsored by: Brevo: Get 50% off your first 3 months with code JOE Gapscout: ChatGPT insights, but for market researchJoin my FREE Newsletter, Podcast Workflows ★ Support this podcast ★