Coaching as a Side-Hustle 

Better face the facts. It’s highly unlikely you’re going to retire at your current place of employment. This means your current day job is temporary. Some employees hear this and “go ostrich.” Fearfully, they stick their heads in the ground and ignore this truth. Other employees wake up to the fact it’s their responsibility to create a side hustle now, before their jobs are eliminated or outsourced. Coaching is one the fastest growing professions. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry producing incredible benefits for the coach and client.

Benefits of BEING a Coach

• You can work whenever from wherever, with just a laptop or phone.
• Convert your knowledge and experience into true value for others.
• Co-create visible results in the lives of others.
• Get paid to do what you love while invest in clients from around the world.

Benefits of GETTING Coached

• A Truth Teller pushing you to dream bigger and dig deeper.
• Regular accountability for personal and professional goal achievement.
• Wisdom and insight from someone not directly tied to the outcome.
• A confidential relationship that leads to more clarity and confidence.

In today’s podcast I share how to become a 6-Figure Earner as a Coach this Year. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher).

The Sponsor Of This Episode Is Igniting Souls Team

A few times per year we receive applications from quality candidates who have an interest in joining the Igniting Souls Team. If you’re interested in applying please click on the respective link below. And if you’d like to apply for all 3 simply fill out an application for one and we will consider you for all three.

* Your Secret Name

* The Deeper Path

* Dream Job

Check Out This Resource Mentioned

I help authors, coaches and speakers launch 6-figure businesses by crafting their message and mastering their marketing. Join me in this exclusive Master Class where I show you the 7 Essential Elements for Creating a Killer Coaching Business.

In this Master Class Experience you’ll discover:

1. The 7 essential elements for creating a killer coaching business
2. Why you’re 67% more likely to succeed starting coaching as side hustle
3. 9 Reasons why now is the best time to start a coaching business

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To share the Igniting Souls Podcast on Twitter quickly and easily, just click the box below. Your tweet will automatically be populated with this copy:

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Comment and Share

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and also leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher. This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. I am also mentioning the names of all who rate the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

We encourage you to join the Igniting Souls Tribe on Facebook. It’s a community of like-minded influencers as well as listeners of the Igniting Souls Podcast.

Furthermore, you can tell your friends on Twitter about the podcast by simply clicking this link and sharing the tweet you’ll find at the other end.

And, by all means, if you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page. Finally, thanks for listening and remember, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

Can you Unlock your Future?

Is there such a thing as a key that can unlock your future? Sure, but it’s not a magic bean or a Holy Grail. And it’s not 1 key, it’s actually 4 of them. Back in 2012, while still stuck in my day job, I stood on the threshold of my future with a ton of uncertainty.

Although I didn’t know what the future held, I knew it was much more than my current reality. I felt it deep in my bones and no one could convince me otherwise.

So what happened? I discovered 4 Keys that unlocked my future, and today—just 5 years later—my life is drastically different.

4 Keys To Success

Key #1: Clarity

My thoughts on clarity: Before we can get what we want, we must know what we want. Clarity attracts and confusion repels. Clarity only comes with action.

Key #2: Creativity

My thoughts on creativity: Today is a brand new chance to create the life you love. Rather than reliving the past, create a new future. Stop comparing and start creating. 

Key #3: Complexity

My thoughts on complexity: Complexity kills clarity. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

Key #4: Community

My thoughts on community: Without loving people there is no leading people. The quality of your soul is much more valuable than the quantity of your followers.

In today’s podcast I share how to use these keys to unlock your future. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher).

This Episode is Sponsored By Author Academy Elite

What do all these things have in common? Meeting and partnering with Hollywood celebrities. Going from day job to dream job. Being a guest on top-ranked TV, radio, and podcast shows. Creating global businesses that truly help people. All of these “doors” were unlocked with one single key: becoming an author and publishing the right way.

Author Academy Elite is the premium writing, publishing, and marketing experience. To start your author journey today enroll in our free 7 day course, My Book Hook.

Check Out This Resource Mentioned

If you want Become an Author | Unlock your Future—our newest eBook for FREE—then just click on the image below. It will also include a FREE ticket to our live author training.

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To share the Igniting Souls Podcast on Twitter quickly and easily, just click the box below. Your tweet will automatically be populated with this copy:[ctt template=”1″ link=”I5kFd” via=”no” ]Unlocking the door to your future requires using these 4 keys: Clarity, Creativity, Complexity, Community.[/ctt]

Comment and Share

Please consider rating the podcast with 5 stars and leaving a one- or two-sentence review in iTunes or on Stitcher. This helps tremendously in bringing the podcast to the attention of others. I am also mentioning the names of all who rate the podcast with 5 stars in future episodes.

We encourage you to join the Igniting Souls Tribe on Facebook. It’s a community of like-minded influencers as well as listeners of the Igniting Souls Podcast.

You can tell your friends on Twitter about the podcast by simply clicking this link and sharing the tweet you’ll find at the other end.

And, by all means, if you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons on this page. Finally, thanks for listening and remember, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”

The Truth about Conferences

Someone—who hosted his own conference—once warned me:

Doing your own conference is going to be one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences you’ll ever do. You’ll lose money, but you’ll also gain a community.

While there could be some truth to that comment, I disagree with several points:

• It doesn’t have to be hard. (If you assemble the right team.)
• It might not be rewarding. (If you don’t include certain essential elements.)
• You don’t have to lose money. (And making money doesn’t mean you need to score sponsors or settle for a pitch-fest.)
• You might not gain a community. (If the “main show” is on the stage, then community is much harder to build.)

After doing more than 100 live events over the past decade, I’ve discovered the good, the bad, and the beautiful of hosting your own conference. This post and podcast is dedicated to save you time and money and increase your chance of successfully hosting your own conference that is both memorable and profitable.

(Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

The Good about Conferences

=> Clear Theme:

I’ve said it a ton of times. Clarity attracts. Confusion Repels. This year we picked a clear theme: set fire to your business and brand.

Here’s what it meant for our conference and context:

FEEL THE FIRE: In the beginning all we see is ourselves. We feel the heat from our own fiery trials. The majority stays here forever. But our breakthrough is just on the other side of awareness—when we realize the obstacle is the way.

SEE THE FIRE: Looking outward, we now see others in need. Their struggle feels strangely familiar. Our former pain will become their future cure. With courage and clarity we do deep work so we can create deep impact.

BE THE FIRE: By leveraging our hurts into a helpful framework, we open a new way and a new world. Through serving and storytelling, people embrace the solution and experience success. As we show up filled up, we set fire to our business and brand.

As the conference host it’s your responsibility to set the theme. This is often the most important step. It’s something I do first and foremost before anything else.

=> Intentional Takeaways:

Don’t make your attendees guess what they’re going to get. We tell our people exactly what to expect. If they’re going to hop on a plane or into a car it’s up to you to create a culture of intentional takeaways. We told our people:

=> Dynamic Community:

We could have packed more people in the room—the business center told us so. They said if we put people in rows and not round tables we’d fit at least 100 more. It took us 2 seconds to come to a clear decision. Our answer? “No thank you.” Although we could have scored more cash, community is king at our event—not the other way around.

We call it the Igniting Souls Conference, but around each table of 8 people, a spark began to appear on day one. At the end of day 2 that spark was a fiery blaze. Friendships were forged. Collaborations were created. And in some cases partnerships were primed.

The Bad about Conferences

=> Confusing Benefits:

Too many times conferences brand themselves with unclear benefits. People don’t know why they’re showing up or what they’re going to get from attending. The reason why we have sold out events—year-after-year—is because we let people know ahead of time why coming will help them personally and professionally.

=> Disjointed Speakers:

Ever been to a conference that had zero alignment? Each session felt completely random and disconnected from the previous one? This type of conference is a liability, not an asset.

At igniting souls conference each speaker is completely aligned with the other speakers.

* We didn’t contradict each other. We built upon each other’s content.

* We didn’t compete with one another. We edified each other on and off stage.

* We didn’t sell the crowd. We served the attendees. 

=> Wasting Time:

I’m not a fan of wasting time. I don’t want to attend a conference to massage someone’s back, dance in the aisle, or listen to a 2-day pitch-fest. At our conference we don’t waste time in any of these obvious ways. But, we also don’t waste time in subtle ways too—like doing irrelevant exercises, prolonged table times, or even waiting in food lines. (Listen to the podcast above if you want more insider tips and tools.)

The Beautiful about Conferences

=> Life Change:

The stories of life change keep rolling in. Just when we think we’ve heard them all another one pops up. Besides the 20+ linked below, here’s an entire page of two dozen more recorded long after the conference ended.

If you’re looking for hype you won’t find it. Rather, you’ll find true transformation via our attendees and their new courses launched, retreats planned, books outlined, websites built, and businesses started. Watch them here.

=> Beautiful = Unplanned Magic:

We love to include a few surprises each conference. This year we invited Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion wrestler Kyle Synder. Besides being the best wrestler in the world, it turns out he’s an amazing speaker too. He shared what it takes to become a champion. He was joined by Tom Ryan the NCAA national champion coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Both men added a ton of value and our attendees enjoyed getting pictures with them.

Each year we have a photo booth. In the past attendees became boxers, swimmers, and this year firefighters. Besides creating laughs, this element also created a bonding experience for each of the tables.

=> Beautiful = Souls on Fire:

This year we launched 46 of our authors into the world. Each of them are graduates of Author Academy Elite. Not only do we help them write, publish, and market their books, but we also let them speak and sell their books in our bookstores. This is the program I wish I had when I first became an author back in 2004.

The authors did an amazing job on stage. Each talk literally blew me away. And their books are each a beautiful work of art—inside and out.

We’re looking for our next authors to publish. Although thousands will express interest and hundreds will apply, we can only accept 25. If you’d like to be considered please register for our live webinar on November 8th. When you do you’ll get my new e-book immediately: How to Turn your Book into 18 Streams Income.

This year over two dozen attendees wrote about their experience at the Igniting Souls Conference. I’ve included their unedited thoughts below. (A few of them settled for provocative titles and headlines—Thanks Mike Kim.)

Some were written with tears and others contain a ton of humor. Some include pics and others are text heavy or video based (some could load and some could not and need to be clicked).

All in all I think you’ll enjoy the variety and a 360 degree view of the event. If this post or podcast sounded intriguing, we’d love to have you join us at our next Igniting Souls Conference.

Attendee Reviews: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_5rkwgCC5Q&feature=youtu.be

• Comparison Can be Good (by Renee Vidor)
• Kary Oberbrunner, Exposed! Behind the scenes at the Igniting Souls Conference 2017 (by Karen Creamer)
• 3 Reasons Why Most First-Time Authors Will Fail (by Chris Borja)
• Kary Oberbrunner Revealed! (by Nanette O’Neal)
• The One Thing that Will Make the Difference in Your Affair Recovery (by Becky Hadaway)
• 5 things you need to know about Igniting Souls Conference 2017 (by Dennis Riley)
• Igniting Souls Conference (by Kathy Binner) {VIDEO}
• What to do when your dream has lost its fire…. (by Tony Colson)
• KARY OBERBRUNNER AND THE IGNITING SOULS TRIBE EXPOSED A BEHIND THE SCENES TELL ALL (by Daphne V. Smith)

• #Igniting Souls 17 (by Donna Reiners)
• Believing In Your Dream Changes the World: Don’t Hold Back (by Kirsten Samuel)
• Igniting Souls (by Joni Wolf)
• A Tribe is More than a Buzzword (by Brenda Haire)
• The Igniting Souls Conference: Go Again for Same Old—Same Old? (by Dvora Elisheva)
• Kary Oberbrunner Exposed! A Behind The Scenes Tell-All From His Igniting Souls 2017 Conference (by Becca Brinkman)
• IGNITING SOULS: MOVING FORWARD (by Angela Bonfante)
• Kary Oberbrunner’s Tribe Exposed (by Donna Shepherd) {Linkedin}
• Can We Really Trust Attending Conferences? – Like Igniting Souls Conference? (by Cardiff D. Hall)
• I struck gold (by Kelly Renee Baker)
• What Difference Can a Day Make? Try Adding Fire to Your Next Run (by Brian Wagner)
• Kary Oberbrunner Exposed (by Michelle Weidenbenner)
• BE THE FIRE (by Michele Stanford)
• How to shrivel up and die after a traumatic life event (by Laura J. Diehl) {VIDEO}
• What If Your Spouse Doesn’t Support Your Dreams? (by Tiffany Godfrey)
• My top 6 takeaways at the igniting souls conference (by Allison Kraft)
• 5 Healthy Benefits of a Soul On Fire (by Frances Capoccia)
• How to Ignite your Soul (by Catharine Freeman)
• Time to Fly (by Ruth Peirce)
• An Inspiring, Informative, Fun, and Fulfilling Igniting Souls Conference (by Trish Benedict)
• Igniting Souls Conference (by Debra Hayes)
• Igniting Souls Conference (by Lisa Moser)

View Conference Photo Album Here

Why a 6-Figure Author?

Trust me. It’s not about the money. Here’s what I mean…

I published my first book in 2004, The Journey Toward Relevance. The truth is, I didn’t know what I was doing. No one was mentoring me on the finer details of writing, publishing, or marketing. Naively, I thought I’d sell a million books and make a million dollars.

Why?

So I could do this writing thing as a full-time gig. Sure I loved being a pastor and serving in a church, but even back then I felt the pull between my day job and my dream job. Every once in a while I’d get a phone call or an email to go speak somewhere about my book. I’d literally have to tell the caller or sender, “Hold on. I’ll have to get back with you. I need to check with my boss.”

Then I’d bring up the request in my next weekly meeting with my Senior Pastor. He was a very generous leader, but rightfully so, I’d have to “sell” him on the idea. I’d explain why it was a good thing to leave my “job” for a couple days to go and talk to groups of people who needed to hear the message behind my book.

Sometimes he let me. Sometimes he didn’t. Sometimes I’d have to “sell” other people on the idea too like my director, other staff members, ministry leaders, elders, etc.

We feel imprisoned when we need permission to do our passion. (Tweet This)

I Needed Permission to do my Passion

When I didn’t get permission, I’d squeeze in a speaking gig here or there on the front end or back end of a vacation. In those days our vacations weren’t that glorious. It probably meant Kelly and I visiting her family in Michigan or my family in Wisconsin. Still, it always felt like speaking invitations were a stressful experience because I had to defend my rationale for wanting to take them.

And then there was the actual writing of the books.

I am a father of three kids. They are each two years apart. Imagine having a 5 yr. old, 3 yr. old, and 1 yr. old and trying to write as well. Since I was absolutely committed to be the best employee and father and husband, that meant writing a total of 4 books in the “margins” of life. These books were written at 12 am or 2 am or sometimes even 4 am, in between feeding the babies.

I’m not complaining.

I loved those moments of bonding with my son and daughters. And since I was up anyways, I thought rather then go back to bed I’d crank out a thousand words of the next book that loomed over my head. After all, my traditional publishers weren’t about to let me miss a deadline.

I Needed to Find a Better Way

Needless to say, the pressure of being a pastor, a daddy, a husband, a doctoral candidate, an author, and a speaker wore on me.

I tried to do it all…AND because I wasn’t a 6-Figure Author I needed to do it all.

Writing books was only a part-time job. It paid some bills, but it certainly didn’t pay ALL the bills. And because it didn’t, I needed to keep my day job. This reality created a growing internal tension.

I found a way to make it work, until the day they asked me to be the next Senior Pastor. Don’t get me wrong, I worked for an amazing church on so many levels. The people were unbelievable and the elders were extremely kind. I seriously considered being the next Senior Leader.

He was the catch. The church wanted to identify me as the next Senior Pastor and then begin a 10-year succession plan. As a young man in my mid 30’s I knew this wasn’t in the cards for me.

Although I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, I knew I didn’t want to sit on the bench for 10 years while in the prime of my life. And so I got incredibly focused. I told myself, I’d find a way to become a 6-Figure Author more out of necessity than out of desire.

 Becoming a 6-Figure Author isn’t about the money; it’s about the freedom. 

If I wanted to do what I loved full-time then I needed to provide for my family. I knew this meant replacing my income so I could pay for health insurance, mortgage, school, vehicles, food, clothing and the money required to start a business.

How a 6-Figure Author?

It’s been 5 years since I left my day job. Looking back, I wish I had a map or even a model. But I didn’t. Prior to leaving the church I had a ton of fear and it all centered around not being able to pay the bills and provide for my family.

David Branderhorst, my business partner today, told me I was a like a bird in a cage. The door finally swung open and I sat in the cage staring at freedom, wondering if I really wanted it after all.

I finally found my wings and a way to become a 6-Figure Author right out of the gate. I made three critical mental shifts. I also turned my books into 18 streams of income. We did this with Your Secret Name, then The Deeper Path, Day Job to Dream Job, and even my last book, a fiction one called Elixir Project.

This model worked so well, I began sharing it with other authors who also became 6-Figure Authors too. Fast-forward five years and today we have a Global 7-Figure Business. We’re helping hundreds of other authors achieve their financial goals so that they can have the freedom to do their passion full-time too.

You have a choice

What about you? Are you an author? Are you an aspiring author? Have you bought into the myth that you need to be a starving artist? Or do you believe it’s possible to write full-time?

You have a choice and the choice you make will make you. In today’s podcast I share more on this topic. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

I also invite you to join me in the FREE 6-Figure Author 5-Day Challenge. Here’s why…

Writing as a hobby or a part-time passion is a tough gig. I tried it for 8 years with my first 3 books. Then I discovered a system that helped me turn my passion into a full-time gig. I turned each of my next 4 books into 18 Streams of Income and 6-Figure Businesses. Join our FREE 6-Figure Author 5-Day Challenge facebook community and I’ll show you how.

You have a challenge

You can think about becoming a 6-Figure Author or you can take the first step toward becoming one. All it takes is one simple click. It’s FREE and it will connect you to a community, just like you.

Life change can happen in a moment. And when you prepare the for the moment, the moment is prepared for you.

Set Fire to your Business and Brand

==> 1. Feel the fire

In the beginning all we see is ourselves. We feel the heat from our own fiery trials. The majority stays here forever. But our breakthrough is just on the other side of awareness—when we realize the obstacle is the way.

==> 2. See the fire

Looking outward, we now see others in need. Their struggle feels strangely familiar. Our former pain will become their future cure. With courage and clarity we do deep work so we can create deep impact.

==> 3. Be the fire

By leveraging our hurts into a helpful framework, we open a new way and a new world. Through serving and storytelling, people embrace the solution and experience success. As we show up filled up, we set fire to our business and brand.

Does it work?

Do I want you to come too? Of course!

In fact, I believe if you don’t come you’ll waste years of your life and tens of thousands of dollars. Don’t take my word for it though. Listen to the podcast  you’ll see what I mean.

• Learn cutting edge tips, tools, and tactics from industry-leading experts getting real-time results.
• Connect and collaborate with a global community of authors, speakers, coaches, and entrepreneurs committed to your success.
• Discover the clarity and courage you crave to craft an action-oriented plan that achieves your ultimate dream.

“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
—Ferdinand Foch

Should you Start a Coaching Business?

Better face the facts. It’s highly unlikely you’re going to retire at your current place of employment. This means your current day job is temporary. Some employees hear this and “go ostrich.” Fearfully, they stick their heads the ground and ignore this truth. Other employees wake up to the fact it’s their responsibility to create a side hustle now, before their jobs are eliminated or outsourced.

I meet people nearly everyday who weren’t ready for this harsh reality.

Their jobs were secure one day and suddenly non-existent the next. Understandably, this creates panic in people that have what I call a “long-term contractor” mindset. Contrast that with what I call a “functional freelancer” mindset. These people don’t worry at all. Notice the differences below displayed in the chart I pulled from my book Day Job to Dream Job.

In today’s podcast episode I share 9 reasons why now is the best time to start a coaching business as your side-hustle. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher).

How to Create a Successful Side-Hustle

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting you go and quit your day job today. Quite the opposite. Actually, I’m encouraging you to keep your day job while you start your side-hustle. The odds of succeeding are actually in your favor. In fact, according to an extensive study, you’re 33% more likely to succeed in your start up if you don’t quit your day job cold turkey.

Check out this excerpt from the Harvard Business Review:

Entrepreneurs who give up their day jobs in stages are 33% less likely to fail in their start-ups than those who leave their jobs precipitously to run their new businesses full-time, according to a study of thousands of Americans by Joseph Raffiee and Jie Feng of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The staged approach, which allows entrepreneurs to gain important knowledge about their new businesses while phasing out their paying jobs, has become much easier with the rise of digital technologies that reduce the cost and time commitments of starting new companies, the authors say.

Earn Extra Income while in your Day Job

In 2011, while still in my day job, I saw the writing on the wall. Although I loved the people I worked with and the organization I worked for, I also knew I had untapped potential and unrealized dreams.

I began coaching a few clients on the side. After a few months of seeing clients become souls on fire, I knew I was hooked. The extra income helped me realize I could scale this side business and eventually leave my day job.

The model was so successful people began asking if I could teach them how to start a coaching business on the side. I took their requests seriously. I showed them how to use content from my book Your Secret Name content with their clients. In a short time, we certified over a dozen speakers, coaches, and trainers from all over the world. Today we have well over a hundred team members certified on 3 different programs:

* Your Secret Name

* The Deeper Path

* Dream Job

9 Reasons Why Now is the Best Time to Start a Coaching Business

These are the 9 benefits we provide for each of our coaches:

1. Worldwide Certification: The ability to speak, coach, and train, any individual or group anywhere in the world utilizing the curriculum (Your Secret Name OR Deeper Path OR Dream Job Coach), products, and content.
2. Total Profit: You keep 100% of the proceeds, honorariums, and income you receive from your services.
3. Daily Support: As a member of my private on-line coaching group, you are encouraged to ask questions about your business and brand. I’ll respond back with tips, tools, and tactics to help you create quantifiable success and significance as a team member.
4. Video Training: Take a front row seat and we’ll show you exactly how we run our own live events, coaching sessions, and programs. You’ll also receive videos of my keynote speeches. You’re welcome to customize these for your own speaking gigs.
5. Audio Training: Listen to over one hundred hours of coaching calls, each categorized for an ultimate audio educational experience.
6. Transformational Resources: I give you the exact same resources I use when I speak, train, and coach. This includes bumper videos, exercises, object lessons, slides, handouts, workbooks, and leader guides.
7. Marketing Tools: Digital downloads customizable for your own event.
8. Promotional Partnership: We list you and your bio on our website. Visitors are encouraged to contact and hire you through your branded email address we provide you.
9. Global Community: Lifetime access to the Igniting Souls Tribe, our global community committed to each other’s personal and professional success.

Apply to Join our Global Team of Speakers, Coaches, and Trainers

A few times per year we receive applications from quality candidates who have an interest in joining the Igniting Souls Team. We’ll open our teams on June 20th and close them on June 27th. If you’re interested in applying please click on the respective link below. And if you’d like to apply for all 3 simply fill out an application for one and we will consider you for all three.

* Your Secret Name

* The Deeper Path

* Dream Job

I look forward to helping you start your coaching business NOW.

Shiny Objects Steal Your Best From You

Shiny objects are simply dressed up distractions, designed to sabotage you and your success. They often arrive in your inbox appearing as “good” opportunities sent by sincere people.

Unfortunately, pursuing them demands a hefty price tag—measured in dollars and hours. If you’re not careful, they’ll suck you in. You’ll emerge months or years later bankrupt of energy and enthusiasm. They’ll rob you of your best ideas and leave you footing the bill.

In today’s podcast episode I share how to say no to these distractions.

(Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

Clarity Steers You Away From Shiny Objects

Can anyone resist shiny objects? After all, their “pull” is so strong. Besides distractions are a common coping mechanism we use when we feel overwhelmed with life. No wonder why so many of us crave them.

A life of distraction will never produce a life of meaning.

If you want your time to count then you must count your time. You must wake up to the fact that life is too short to chase shiny objects for too long.

Over a decade ago, I sought out distractions on a regular basis. Truth be told, I used them to numb my pain. Thankfully, I woke up to the fact that numbing my pain was also numbing my potential.

At that same time, I met a man named Chet Scott who helped me break free from my addiction to shiny objects. He showed me a process in which I authored my OPUS.

O = Over-arching Vision

P = Purpose

U = Unifying Strategies

S = Scorecard for Significance

I took that Deeper Path and put pen to paper. I emerged with clarity for the first time in my life. (Read my OPUS by clicking the image.)

Courage Helps You Say No to Shiny Objects

Dreams aren’t given to you; they’re given through you.
Your dream is a temporary trust and unless you take action, it will flee you as quickly as it found you.

Start Dreaming. Stop Doing

I want you to imagine a life you love. If you’re like most people then this isn’t your current reality…at least not yet. But turning points happen in an instant and this could be your defining moment. Change happens when we decide to think differently and then back that new thinking with new acting.

I just recently returned from a trip where I wrote, spoke, and coached some amazing men and women from all over the world. I taught 4 different times. I also connected with many industry leading colleagues at something called the Epic Breakfast Club. I didn’t pay for my housing, my travel, or my food on this trip. Every single place I went, my ticket in the door was simply my books.

Reflecting over this past week and over my last 15 years, I’ve discovered how to turn my books into a dream business.

Turn your Book into your Dream Business

Books are somewhat magic. They open doors you didn’t even know existed. Here’s what I mean.

D – Demystify: Books help you clarify your message.

R – Refortify: Books help you strengthen your brand.

E – Edify: Books help you build your business.

A – Amplify: Books help you increase your impact.

M – Magnify: Books help you expand your reach.

In today’s podcast episode I share how to turn your book into a business. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

Stop Dreaming. Start doing.

If this sounds interesting, I want to show you how to do the same. I want to teach you how to turn a Book into a Dream Business. This week I have a FREE webinar where you can discover:

—> 5 Reasons why your Book ISN’T a Business Card
Business cards don’t change lives. Books do! I’ll show you 5 reasons why your book is actually a business. Better yet, I’ll show you 1 simple step for turning your book into a dream business.

—> 3 Differences between Poor Authors and Smart Authors
Although I was traditionally published, I made 3 major mistakes with my first 3 books. As a result, I kept my day job. I’ll show you how I made the switch and turned my next 4 books into 4 separate 6-figure businesses.

—> How to Turn your Book into 18 Streams of Income
No hype…just hope. I’ll give you a roadmap for turning your current and future book into 18 streams of income. Sink your teeth into a proven model that gets results. I’ll unpack each model and give you one simple step to start your dream business today.

The webinar is free, but our spots are almost full.

Register now and get your free ebook immediately.

Visibility?

What would you give in exchange for more of it? Your reputation? Bank account? Friends or family? Your soul?

The quality of your soul is much more valuable than the quantity of your followers.

Your book, brand, and business doesn’t need more visibility. Rather, it needs more vision. When we lose our way—which we all do—we’re tempted to go after a quick fix…visibility. However, in these moments, what we truly need is something else…vision.

Vision over Visibility!

Bono, frontman for the band U2, tells his faith journey in a song called Moment of Surrender. Recently, my friend Chet Scott founder of Built to Lead, turned me on to the song and the meaning behind it. In the song he says:

At the moment of surrender. Of vision over visibility

Bono had a choice between vision OR visibility. Early in his career Bono chose vision over visibility. Let’s be honest. Most rock stars would do anything for more friends, fans, followers, and finances. The reality?  They “sell out.”

Ready for some more honesty? We’re not that different. Are we? As bloggers, authors, speakers, coaches, entrepreneurs, and humans…we have this same choice every single day of our lives.

In today’s podcast episode I share a proven strategy to help speakers, coaches, and authors regain their vision. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

Vision.

“When we lose our way, it’s because we’ve lost our why.” —Gail Hyatt

We may start out incredibly clear, but then life happens. You get that call. Or that email shows up in your inbox. Or your proposal gets rejected. And in a matter of minutes, your vision suffers.

I call this a hack. Just like phones and computers get hacked, people do too. I call it a hack attack, and losing your vision is just 1 of the 8 negative results of getting hacked.