Turn Procrastination Into Inspired Action — Ep. 159

Unstuck Podcast

Let’s be honest, we’ve all procrastinated a time or two in our lives. And, if you’re a business owner or wanting to start your own business, it might be a place you find yourself in on a regular basis, perhaps without you even realizing it. Maybe for you, it looks like perfectionism, busy-ness, or procrasti-learning, but one thing’s for sure…you’re putting off taking real, inspired action…not doing those things you know you REALLY need to do to move the needle in your business. In this episdoe, I’m sharing my tips to turn that procastination into inspired action stay tuned.

“In reality, you know enough. You already know what you need to do and you know you can take action with the knowledge that you currently have.” – Shawn Mynar

“The learning experience comes from doing…really get honest with yourself and see if you already actually know what you need to know.” – Shawn Mynar

“Perfectionism is a huge sign of procrastination. If you’re a perfectionist because you need everything to be perfect, you procrastinate.” – Shawn Mynar

“You will easily notice how much quieter the ego is when you are just focusing on the next step, it is obvious… It’s all about that organization and chunking things up and focusing on one step at a time.” – Shawn Mynar

“A lot of us have integrity with others, in our relationships and things like that. But what about with yourself? Are you staying committed to the dreams that you created?” – Shawn Mynar

Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram – @shawnmynar

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

0:00
Let’s be honest, we’ve all procrastinated a time or two in our lives. And if you’re a business owner or wanting to start your own business, it might be a place you find yourself in on a regular basis, perhaps without you even realizing it. Maybe for you, it looks like perfectionism, busyness, or that all too common procrastinate learning. One thing’s for sure, though, you’re putting off taking real inspired action, not doing those things you know, you really need to do to move the needle in your business. In this episode, I’m sharing my tips to turn that procrastination into inspired action. So stay tuned.

0:44
Hey there, I’m Sean miner, and this is unstuck entrepreneur. I’m a former nutritionist who turned a struggling stressful nutrition practice into a thriving, Freedom filled online business way work from home and my sweat pants while reaching and helping 1000s of people all at the same time. Now I’m obsessed with showing other heart centered coaches, practitioners and solopreneurs how to build a business and life they love. Consider this podcast your safe space to learn both the inner work and practical strategies required to build the impactful profitable business of your dreams, no hustle, grind, or long hours required. That’s right hustle culture. not welcome here. Let’s get into today’s session.

1:28
Hey, Hey there friends. Welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. Happy to have you here happy to have you checking out the show. So grateful for all of your support. As always, let’s get into talking a bit about procrastination a hot topic really, for everyone, I think, but especially for us business owners. Quickly before we do that, I want to give you one quick announcement, which is that the next five episodes of unstuck entrepreneur are going to be best of episodes, I’ve done this before. I like to do this once in a while. It’s good for a lot of reasons. First of all, I am taking a break, I’m taking a little bit of a staycation. And then also just taking some time to do some different things in my business. And it’s also great because I’m picking out hand selecting past episodes from the past 160 that are the most popular, the most talked about episodes and given them some additional airtime, bringing them back for another round. And obviously, they may be episodes that you missed that you haven’t listened to. Or maybe you’ve listened to them. And now you can kind of re listen from a new place a new time in your life, a new perspective, things that maybe you didn’t even catch the first time around the first episode. Now you catch those the second time around the second time you listen. So it’s a really great opportunity to do all of that. And so that will be the next five episodes that you listen to of unstuck entrepreneur, and then I will be back after that. With a fresh perspective. I’m feeling fresh, I’m feeling good. I just had a five weeks off. And we’re ready to dive into some new topics and some new episodes. So that will be coming up. Just wanted to make sure that you were aware, procrastination. Let’s chat about it. The definition is the action of delaying or postponing something, in this case that something is your business. And even more specific than that, it is that real inspired action in your business. That action that is like partially scary. But also partially exciting, actually is probably mostly scary, but also has that excitement to it of, oh, this thing is going to move the needle, it’s going to really do something, it’s going to provide some income, it’s going to help more people, it’s going to get my work out in the world, the stuff that really makes a difference. That’s the stuff that we’re talking about. We’re talking about the stuff that gets you out of your comfort zone. We’re talking about the stuff that gets you closer to your dreams. And like I said, that kind of action that really truly moves the needle for you and your business. We’re not talking about the busy work, my friends. We can do busy work all day and feel like we’ve actually done something with our lives. But at the end of the day, that actually is a sign of procrastination because

5:00
There’s really nothing to show for it. There’s nothing that has actually, like I said, move the needle, gotten you to the next step gotten you out of your comfort zone gotten you closer to your dreams, gotten your work out there. And so that’s where we kind of have to have this like criteria for our action steps that we take. And I don’t want to talk about those action steps. There are times and places to do busy work. Yes, it needs to get done. But that time and place is going to be once you already have created momentum in your business. Once you’ve already done the scary things, once you’ve already gotten some stuff out there, gotten some work going made some money, gotten some clients. And then we can take a little breather and maybe have a day or two where you do the busy work yet fumble with your website, you create some things on Canva, you do some stuff just as like a breather. And because you know that stuff’s fun, too. It’s fun to take a break and do that kind of thing. That’s not we’re talking about today, we’re talking about those big inspired action steps, not the stuff that you feel you need to take either not those things that five people told you to do. And so now you feel like you have to do it, the inspired stuff, the things that yes, are scary, but also gives you that tinge of excitement that you know will bring you closer, or get you to where you want to be the right moves for you. So just had to go on a little tangent there to really, really make sure you know what kind of action we are delaying or postponing when we’re talking about procrastination in this episode. We also know I think I think most of you listening, if you have even listened to another unstuck entrepreneur episode prior to this, most of you know about the ego. And that mental chatter voice that goes on in our head, most of the time. It’s the loud, obnoxious voice that is constantly telling you things that you cannot do, that you should not do. It’s warning you against things that are scary, it’s warning you against things that could happen and should or should not happen. It’s that like annoying chatter box in our heads that we all have. Procrastination is one of the telltale signs that your ego is in charge of the show here. And it has made itself in charge, because it wants to stall. Because there is something scary ahead. It is telling you out of fear, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of judgment, fear of being seen, all the fears, and specifically those fears that we face as business owners as people who are doing new things and putting their work out there and putting themselves out there, and being of service and making their own money making their own living creating their own lives. There’s some unknowns there. And those unknowns are scary to the ego, because your ego wants to keep you safe in your comfort zone. So anything that gets you outside of your comfort zone where there is risk of failing, succeeding judgment being seen any of the things that you have created in your mind as a story of things that could go wrong, that is going to keep you in this place of fear and stalling. And procrastination is that way of your ego stalling you.

9:06
And it looks like commonly, I’ve already mentioned one of the biggest ones busy work. And this is where like I said you’re spending hours designing things in Canva you’re spending weeks working on or tinkering with your website. You’re you’re just spending time on things that don’t directly contribute to your bottom line. And yes, those who procrastinate those who love doing busy work could say, Yeah, well I need these Canva designs to post on social media because without that, then you know that is how I get clients is by posting on social media, whether you have or have not actually done that. That’s what your ego will say your ego will say I need a website to get clients and to send people to an order

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or to, for them to learn what I do. And again, that’s an ego move that’s again, keeping you in this place of busyness. And the best part about this, if you are a procrastinator is that it doesn’t feel like it, you can easily convince yourself and this is coming from your ego can convince you that you are, quote, unquote, working, you are quote, unquote, building your business, because you are working on your website, you are designing things in Canva. And so you know, we have that kind of fall back to where it seems like you are doing things for your business. But at the end of the day, what we’re talking about here is real inspired action. And I can tell you with 100% certainty, that you do not need a website to make a lot of money to get clients to fill your group program to host a paid workshop. You don’t need a website to do any of that right now, everything that I’m doing as far as having free workshops, having landing pages, having freebies, getting people on my email, list, everything that you see, when you interact with my business, unless you go directly to Sean miner.com. Anything else that I am sending to you to like Sean miner.com/bundle, Sean miner.com/day, Sean miner.com/masterclass. So anything I’m doing that has a slash is not my website, it’s a landing page. And I create, it has nothing to do with my website. It’s not even connected. I have created a redirect, yes, but they’re not connected. So I don’t need a website. And you don’t need a website. And you don’t need it to be all fancy and flashy either, to start making money to start getting clients to start putting your work out there and to create a paid offer and have people sign up, or even to have people sign up for your freebie and start building your email list. You don’t need it. So that is that can be debunked, that is something that your ego is telling you. And yeah, they’re important. I’m not saying don’t ever have one. But that is definitely something I would recommend you work on once you are already making money, once you already have established a paid offer in your business, and a way to get people into that using a quick landing page. And you know, there’s all different platforms you can use for landing pages, I use Kajabi, you can use ConvertKit, too. I’ve used that before, most platforms that you use to either host your email list or host, your online programs and courses and workshops and things like that. We’ll also have landing pages for you to use and to make that experience really nice for your clients. So yes, all that to say that those are the kinds of things that can be done after you have started to generate revenue in your business. And so anything outside of that, I am going to consider busy work anything that is not time spent on revenue generating activities, like building your program, designing the slides for your paid workshop, creating your schedule to or your packages for your one on one clients. That stuff. Yes, work on that. And then put that out into the world. And once that’s been established, then you can like I said, have those days where you’re just like, I just want to do some busy work and that is what you’re doing. And that is not procrastination at that point. Procrastination can also show up like I mentioned in that intro as procrastinate learning. I first heard this term in the book chill printer by Denise Duffield Thomas and I believe the name of that book has since changed to chill and prosper. It’s a great book at least ShopRunner was I assume it’s the same book and just a different title now, really great. I really loved that. And you might too but when I heard this, I was like, Oh my gosh, yes. This is what so many people are doing. Yes, I was in this place at one point too. I get it. But it’s this thing where you know enough to take action. But you’re continuing to tell yourself that you need to learn more to take action. Like you’re stuck in this cycle where you’re like, oh, but then now there’s this course and this

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person’s hosting this thing. And oh, there’s this book here that I think would really help me. And it’s like you’re just constantly in this cycle of thinking that you need to learn more, when in reality, and this is all coming from your ego. In reality, you know, enough, you already know what you need to do. And you can take action with the knowledge that you currently have. And again, this is tricky, and is really easy to convince yourself that you’re not procrastinating. Because it feels like you’re doing something, it feels like you know, you’re going through the modules of this online course, or you’re reading the book, or you’re watching the recordings of the workshop and taking notes. So it feels like you’re doing something again, just like that busy work. But it is a point where you have to get real with yourself and gauge how much you actually already know. And is it enough to take action? And if you really get honest with yourself, the answer is probably yes. It probably is a case where you already know enough. No, you don’t have to be an expert. No, you don’t have to know everything under the sun before you start taking action. There is this thing. And maybe we can try it and see how it goes. Where you learn as you go. It’s this amazing thing where the learning experience comes from doing which you all know, I’m a fan of. So you can give that a try. If you find yourself in this place of procrastinate learning, really get honest with yourself and see if you already actually know what you need to know. The next way that procrastination can show up is in this place of overthinking common common place to be in. And what is really happening is like this mechanism of again, your ego out of this place of fear and out of this place of unknown, wanting to try to know everything and wanting to try to already determine what could and could not happen and try to get you out of any risk. Try to keep you away from anything that could possibly go wrong. Anything that could possibly have happened, anything that could possibly be scary. And so as you’re trying to figure that out, you overthink, and because you’re thinking constantly and trying to plan it all out and figure out which is the best and then reconsidering it and then reconsidering it again and going back and forth. And doing all of this thinking, that also means you’re not doing. And when you’re not doing well, then that means you’re safe, because you’re not doing. So the ego is working, it’s doing its job, it’s keeping you stuck, and it’s keeping you stalled out in this place of procrastination all because that mind is going a mile a minute trying essentially to keep you safe trying to keep anything bad from happening, trying to keep you from doing anything risky. And it comes across as overthinking. And then it is a byproduct, procrastination comes into play to

18:29
perfectionism is a huge, huge sign of procrastination be in it again, it’s this cycle where if you’re a perfectionist, then because you need everything to be perfect, you procrastinate, because it’s never going to be perfect. So that is a way of stalling. And then also if you are a procrastinator, then you can use that idea that need

18:58
to be perfect to continue on your stream of procrastination. So they work together very much go hand in hand. And it very much is one of those kind of quote unquote excuses that we can use to stay stalled out is because it’s not perfect, when you know, it will never be perfect. And so you can continue staying in that place. And then there’s also you know, I don’t love using the word excuses and I use air quotes when I say that, but you I’m talking about the things like using these stories of you don’t have the money you don’t have the time you don’t have the experience to actually take this real inspired, true honest. move the needle action in your business. And then but like think about it this way, why do you want or have a business? Isn’t it to get you more of all of those things for you to make more money?

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For you to have more time for you to get more experience. And so the only reason why you have those barriers is because you’re procrastinating. So it’s again, this cycle of, I don’t have the money, I don’t have the experience, I don’t have the time to make this all work. So I will use that to feed my procrastination. But then that procrastination will already always keep you from the things that you want. And it is even like, if this is gonna get kind of a little nutty, but stick with me here. You use those excuses, to not build your business, so that you can continue having those excuses.

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Think about it. It’s weird. Our ego does some crazy things. This is not you choosing to do any of this, it is your ego, based on your limiting beliefs based on your stories based on things that have happened in into your past, based on things you want to stay clear of and fears that you have. But you use the excuses of not having money, time, resources, experience, etc. To continue to not have money, time, experience, resources, etc. Mind blowing, just think about it. Okay, let’s move on to talking about more deeply why this happens. So yes, I’ve already brought up the ego that’s really 100% at play when you are in this place of procrastination. And why that is happening. More specifically, is because you’re looking too far ahead. This is like the plain and simple, how basic can we get this to really get to a point where we can get ourselves out of it. And it is because you’re looking too far ahead that this is why you are now here, you’re focused on steps two through 100. Versus just focusing on step one. Because if you focus on that step right ahead of you,

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you’ll first of all, get to step 10 2100. So much faster and without the ego really ever getting involved. And more importantly, you’ll actually do that first step. Because the first step isn’t scary. That first step is doable.

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It’s when the ego gets involved because of all the steps in front of you. It’s like there’s that much more material to feed off of. The more steps, the scarier it all gets. Step one, not so bad step 20. Super scary step 100. Impossible not going to happen. And when you’re looking at it from this big picture as a whole. And you’re really going down the line of all the things you have to do to actually make this thing happen to actually put your work out there to actually create a new paid offer to create a program to start a podcast to put up a YouTube channel when you’re thinking about all of the steps. Scary, impossible, so many things can go wrong, don’t want to go their ego gets involved makes it even scarier. And then you find yourself procrastinating. So if you actually want to turn that procrastination into inspired action, you’ve got to always stay focused on just the next step. So now in order to do that, and to do it in a way where you actually will turn those steps into the the outcome that you want, you do have to know all the steps. And I think this is another reason why we can turn to procrastination too, is because you haven’t really created an organized plan or an organized set of action steps that need to be taken to get where you want to go. So instead, it feels disorganized. It feels like a lot it feels bigger than it actually is. And it just feels like you’re biting off more than you can chew and right there is a reason to stay stalled out. But if we can actually sit down first, know your goal, like that inspired goal, that thing that you really want to do in your business that will directly move the needle for you. Pick one of those things. Create that goal and then sit down and break it up into actionable doable steps. That is your step one that should not hopefully be scary and that

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should not hopefully lead to you procrastinating. Because this is actually giving you more clarity around what you need to do. So sit down and write out all the steps, they don’t have to be an order yet, they don’t have to be, like perfectly figured out, you don’t have to know every single thing. But do some research, maybe ask some people as some friends or your coach, or you can DM me and ask me, ask some people and make sure that you’ve really figured out the entire flow of what you need to do to get to that end goal. Then look at that list, once you have it all figured out. And I want you to take out all of the things that aren’t essential, like, Did you accidentally put in some busy work type things that aren’t directly focused on getting that goal achieved, like some stuff that could be done afterwards, that isn’t of the highest priority that can kind of take a backseat, until you know, goal is already achieved. And you’re going back and refining or adding to or having a busy work session, then make sure that you have taken those tasks out and put them on a separate list, put them somewhere else. So we really want to make sure that this list of steps that you have is essential, inspired real action. Also, it should be doable. So if you have, you know this one step that’s like, create 20 videos for my YouTube channel, that might be overwhelming. Like, let’s chunk that down more. So instead of creating 20, create my first YouTube video, create my second YouTube video, create my third YouTube video, edit my first YouTube video, you know, like really chunk it down and make it doable, actionable reasonable, and directly related to getting that work out there to getting that goal complete.

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Now, you’re going to go back through that list of all of the essential things and figure out the order that you want to take, there will be some things that need to be done first, like you can’t start recording your podcast episodes before you have a mic. You can’t edit episodes before you record them. Okay, so now you have this list of action items that directly correlate and correspond with your one big inspired action goal. And there in order, there’s no fluff, it’s exactly what you need to do. And now you just focus on the one step that you are at, you do step one, cross it off the list, then you focus on step two, cross it off the list. Step three, step four, step five, until it’s done, just focus on that very next step, it can be a big step, it can be a small step, that doesn’t matter. Keeping it actionable, and doable is what really matters. And making sure you don’t start looking at number 10 and number 20 Number 30 down the list. And getting back into that place and getting the ego involved even more, you will notice, you will really easily notice how much quieter the ego is when you’re just focusing on that next step. It is obvious, like how much less chatter you have how much easier it is to get that step done to get the work done, and how much more focused you are and how much more excitement or flow you’re in when you are doing that work. It really does make a difference. It’s all about that organization, and chunking things up and focusing on one step at a time. It is amazing what this as a practical tool will do to help with your procrastination.

29:28
But now, we can’t end this conversation here. Because there’s something really big we still have to talk about. And that is the idea of commitment and integrity. Integrity, I think a lot of you actually would say that integrity is a big value of yours. integrity in your relationships in your friendships. You

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You know, for those that aren’t familiar, what I think of when I think of integrity is doing what you say you’ll do. That is important, right? That’s important in all of your relationships, and it’s important in careers.

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With your family, like that is a big deal. But what about doing what you say you’ll do to yourself, staying in integrity with yourself? A lot of us have integrity with others in our relationships and things like that. But what about with yourself? Are you staying in integrity? Are you doing what you say you’ll do? Are you staying committed to that list? Are you staying committed to the dreams that you created to that business that you really want to the people that you really want to help? If you’ve been here for a while, and if you’ve been in any of my programs, then you created a vision, for your business, for your life, for the life of your family, because of this business that you created, there is a path that you are going down. And as soon as you created that vision, it became a probability for you. And so when we have this procrastination, and the ego starts getting involved, that becomes kind of on the backburner. It’s a little fuzzier, I guess that vision becomes fuzzier, because our ego has gotten involved. But well, what will always bring it back is staying in integrity. And making self integrity, as important as integrity in your relationships, integrity in your family, Integrity with your partner, doing what you say, you’ll do. That’s important friends. And that is when this I like your commitment to what you want to create becomes so strong, that it will happen, that there’s nothing that could keep that from happening. So that’s one thing that yes, you know, started with the practical stuff of things you can do to help with your procrastination, but on another level, working on your integrity, and coming back to that, and making that a focal point in your life for yourself,

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as it is for others in your life. And then the next thing is just remembering to always be building and working on your awareness. Because, as I’ve mentioned, 100 times now, in this episode, the ego is responsible for your procrastination, and we have complete control over that ego, you, your inner you, your inner knowing your inner voice has more power has complete power over that inner chatter, that mental chatter in that ego voice. And so once you have built your awareness around that, then you can be fully aware of that voice that is luring you to that side of procrastination, wanting to hold you back. And you can choose whether you listen or not, you can choose in an instant, whether that is something that you do or don’t do, whether that is something you believe or don’t believe. And you can move from that place. And we’ve talked about this so much about inspired action comes from that inner knowing that inner voice, your intuition, and it’s being cut off by your ego, but it can just as easily be reversed. Like I said, in a flash in one instant. And it just comes from being aware and not just letting your mental chatter run the show without questioning it. You should always be questioning that voice. Because there’s another answer. There’s another way.

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And, you know, lastly, similar to the integrity thing, but also just always be reminding yourself of those goals that you have of those dreams that you want to create of that vision and that plan that you have for what could be what you want to happen, how you want your life to look how you are choosing to spend your time. Again, it’s that awareness thing we get so lost in the day to day that we lose sight of what we’re really trying to do and then that gives the ego that much more space to just take over. But if you stay in touch with

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If what you’re really doing here with those plans that you have for your life, well, it becomes a lot harder to for that voice to come through. Because you’re committed. And when you’re committed, and you’re in touch, and you know what you want, and you’re living in integrity with yourself. And you’re focusing on the awareness of, and just the ability to choose your thoughts and choose what you act on. Procrastination doesn’t stand a chance, does it? Right. So that is what I really wanted to end this conversation with. Guys, I procrastinate. We all do. It’s part of being human, it is okay, it’s going to happen. I’m not saying that you’re never allowed to procrastinate and talk yourself out of doing things. I do it for sure. But this is your reminder, this is your invitation to just continue taking action to stop doubting yourself to stop talking yourself out of what you really want to focus on what feels good and inspiring. And just makes you want to keep moving forward. All right, my friends, that will wrap it up for this episode. And like I mentioned, the next five will be past episodes you may or may not have already heard, but are back by popular demand. So definitely recommend re listening if you have already heard them. And just like I said, you will always pick up something new because you’re at a different moment in your life. And if you are interested in if part of this whole non procrastination that you are getting yourself into means that you are now ready to build your signature program and get your work out into the world and create a new revenue stream for your business. Then the signature program bundle is open right now, we have some extra special bonuses going on now and extra special pricing this week only. So if you want to do and you want the to do list the action steps already laid out for you. And basically everything I just told you to do in terms of like organizing, and focusing on the next step of your business. I do that all for you around your signature program in the bundle and take all the guesswork and really just give you a step by step do exactly this. And you will have a signature program out into the world that is creating income for you and your business. So if that is something you’re interested in, Shawnmynar.com/bundle That is your link to get the special pricing going on this week and the extra special bonuses. And that will be ending soon. So Shawnmynar.com/bundle, and until next time, take care. Hey friend, real quick before you go, don’t forget to head over to my website and take the quiz to find out your solopreneur personality type. I’ve created a super fun super informative two minute quiz that will show you which one of the four solopreneur personality types you fall into. Could it be the boss, the socialite, the visionary or the supporter? Which one are you? Not only is it just fun to know more about yourself, especially as it relates to your business, but it’s also really important information so you can be sure that you’re building a business that works for you, based on your energy, your personality, and your desires. Did you ever take those quizzes from the Cosmopolitan magazine back in the day? It’s kinda like that, but with actual solid questions and real helpful tips and advice at the end, you can find the What’s your solopreneur personality type quiz right on the homepage of my website at Sean miner.com head there now to take the quiz then let me know over on Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur, what your type is I’ll see you over there

How To Stand Out From The Crowd In A Saturated Industry — Ep. 158

Unstuck Podcast

Do you ever feel like there are SO many people doing what you’re doing or want to be doing that you’ll never be able to stand out from the crowd? Do you worry that your industry is saturated and your business will get lost in the sea of competitors? Knowing your industry, market, and competition is important as a business owner, but often, that knowledge also means we get worried about our place within that. So on this episode, I’m sharing a list of practical, simple things you can do to make sure you stand out in your industry and attract people to your work.

“There’s so many different personality traits… but being able to express that fully is what will get people attracted to you.” – Shawn Mynar

“Get specific, know and speak directly to your niche.” – Shawn Mynar

“When you have a program, no one is going to have anything like it, that is why it is signature because it also involves how you guide people, how you organize it, the journey that you’re taking someone on and most importantly the support and community that you build around it.” – Shawn Mynar

“You have to have a message and you need to bring it to the surface over and over again. It’s something that you really want your dream clients to know, and feel and realize themselves.” – Shawn Mynar

Signature Program In A Day FREE, LIVE Workshop – shawnmynar.com/day

Instagram – @shawnmynar

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

0:00
Do you ever feel like there are so many people doing what you want to be doing that you’ll never be able to stand out from the crowd? Do you worry that your industry is saturated and your business will get lost in this sea of competitors, knowing your industry market and competition is important as a business owner, but often that knowledge also means we start getting worried about our place within that whole thing. So on this episode, I’m sharing a list of practical, simple things that you can do today to make sure you stand out in your industry and attract people to your work. Let’s dive in.

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Hey, there, I’m Sean miner, and this is unstuck entrepreneur. I’m a former nutritionist who turned a struggling stressful nutrition practice into a thriving freedom build online business way work from home in my sweat pants while reaching and helping 1000s of people all at the same time. Now I’m obsessed with showing other heart centered coaches, practitioners and solopreneurs how to build a business and life they love. Consider this podcast your safe space to learn both the inner work and practical strategies required to build the impactful profitable business of your dreams, no hustle, grind, or long hours required. That’s right hustle culture. not welcome here. Let’s get into today’s session.

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Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur Podcast. I’m Shawn, your host on each and every episode of this show. Thank you so much for being here on this episode. And for every one that you check out. Your support means the world. Today we’re approaching a topic that I think is pretty relevant to a lot of you listening out there, and the industries that you might be in and feeling like they are saturated feeling like there’s just a lot of people doing what you want to or are doing, or something similar. And so how can you stand out in the crowd. And that is what we’re going to talk about today. I do want to let you know quickly before we get into it that I am hosting the signature program in a day free live workshop coming up next week, next Tuesday, August 9, if you’re listening to this, around the time when it airs, we have a free live workshop coming up for anyone who thinks they might want to add a signature program to their business. Or if you know you do but you’re still not doing it. This is the place for you to be because we are going to do it together. By the time you are done. With the workshop, you will have the clarity around your signature program, you’ll get a lot of questions answered, you will be able to move on to the next step of actually creating the thing because you’ve gotten all of the pieces of the puzzle in place. That is the goal. That is what we’re doing together. It is free, it is alive. It is interactive. It is one of those things where you come in and you do some work. And you brainstorm and you share and you get some ideas going and you see how it feels. It’s not one of these sit back. And just like watch this webinar where you don’t even actually learn anything or take anything away from it. This is an experience, if you want in head to Shawnmynar.com/day That’s d-a-y Shawnmynar.com/day. Again, it is happening August 9, at 11am. Mountain Time, you can do the math to figure out what that is where ever you are located in the world. If at all possible. It really is one of those opportunities that you want to be at live. If you can, if you can make it work. If you can rearrange your schedule, and fit that time in it is so valuable. watching a replay. Yeah, that’s works. And I will definitely provide a replay if you can’t be there live as long as you register, because that’s how I know that you want a replay. But it’s just one of those things where the energy, the vibe, and what we’re doing together really works best alive because you can do it right then and there. You can actually do the work at that time with everyone doing it together. So it’s really fun. I ran this a couple of months ago, it was such a blast. We had so much fun. And it was such a success, like so many people really really enjoyed it and really got a lot out of it. But I wanted to make sure to do it again relatively soon. So those that couldn’t be there the first time still had that opportunity and

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could really get going with this without having to wait even longer. So Shawnmynar.com/day, save your seat and I will see you there live, it’s going to be so much fun.

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Now, getting into the topic of an industry being saturated. First of all, let’s be clear on this one thing, the industry that you are in, isn’t saturated. Really, any industry and any business in any area only becomes saturated, when everybody who has the problem that your product or service solves has a resolution to that problem, when the problem no longer exists anymore, because everyone already has a product that helps or has gone through the service that helps. And now there is no more problem, which if you think about it, that’s actually very few industries, that is when we actually have a saturation in the market. And then you might need to start worrying about your business and your idea and if it really is viable at that point. So instead of saying saturated, we can say mature for sure which I still I think most of you that are in a service based business, and a lot of you are in a wellness industry, or some type of business where you help others that isn’t even mature, that isn’t even definitely not saturated, and isn’t even mature isn’t even there yet, it’s still a fresh new industry on so many levels. So let’s just say for example, that you are a nutritionist, does everyone have the knowledge and education they need on what they should and should not be eating for their specific health needs? Absolutely not, like 90% of people have no idea and don’t even know where to go to get that information. That is how I knew that kind of industry is the nutrition health coach kind of industry, like this didn’t wasn’t really a big thing in like, 1950, you know, so relatively speaking, very new, very young type of industry. Same thing goes for like a mindset coach, for example, is everyone walking around in like this state of peace, and they have total awareness, and they have no limiting beliefs, they can just glide through life with no problems. Of course not absolutely not, again, a very new young industry, and so much opportunity there for people who need and want your help, both now people that are aware of their needs and desires now, and years from now, as this becomes more and more and more well known as the industry progresses. So when we’re really thinking in terms of like, is the market I’m in saturated? Why are there so many people doing what I want to be doing? Instead of thinking in that regard, I want you to think about the number of people who still need your help the whatever, 7 billion I don’t even know what we’re at anymore people in this world that you could be of service to that your business could help. And when you start thinking of it that way, then it takes on a whole new meaning and a whole new level. And that’s really the beauty of having a service based business, which is what a lot of you out there listening right now have is because I don’t know that it’s really ever going to be possible to be in a completely saturated industry, in your area in what service you provide. Because there’s very few people if any, doing exactly what you do. There are obviously people who have studied what you have studied. There are people who help the people that you help, but no one is doing exactly what you do. And we’ll talk about that coming up in a way for you to stand out from the crowd. So that all being said, I still I know that it feels like there are a lot of people doing what you are doing or want to be doing. I think this is especially the case when you are you know, say you’re on social media or you’re listening to podcasts, you’re consuming content of other people who are doing something similar to what you

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are doing or want to be doing. So you create this environment, this bubble, where there’s lots of people, you’re getting lots of information, you’re seeing lots of content, you’re scrolling, and it’s like, mostly people doing what you want to be doing. And then it does feel saturated. I found myself in that place when I graduated as a nutritional therapy practitioner. And of course, I’m following everyone that was in my class and other people I know who are nutritionists and what they’re doing. And you start following and getting involved in their content in not like in like competitive way or anything, but just because they’re your friends are there people who are kind of in your spot and and have the same interest or passion as you and so you naturally follow those people. But when it is your business and what you want to be doing, then all of a sudden, it seems like your bubble is like the entire world, when really it’s just your bubble. And you take a step out and see what else is out there. And you realize that most people still have no idea what they’re supposed to eat what is considered healthy versus not healthy. And the ingredients to look out for know, most people do not know that most people don’t know anything about how to spot their limiting beliefs and transmute them and shift their energy and all the things that mindset coaches do. Right? So remember that just go back to focusing on the number of people that you can help with your services, with your expertise with your education, how many people out there still need you, if ever, it feels like you’re in this place of so many people are doing what I’m doing. Now, because of this, what I often see is that the saturation idea leads people to overthink things. second guess what they want to do, or what they are doing or if their business can actually work. Or if they can actually stand out from the crowd. And it becomes again, like in every episode that we talk about here on unstuck entrepreneur, it becomes a place for your ego to latch on to. And start telling yourself these stories. And keep keeps you from really doing what you want to do really putting yourself out there really having the business that you want to have. Because your ego has attached to this idea of there’s so many people already doing what I want to do. Is it saturated? Can I really make this work? And there we go with the mental chatter. So this is why we are having this conversation on this episode because I want to share with you some very practical ways that you can stand out from the crowd. Yes, this is an energy conversation. And we will talk about that just a bit. Because y’all know, we got to talk about it in every episode. But since we talked about it in every episode, I don’t think I need to like super expand on it today. But there are also very important, very practical, very easy things that you can be doing in your business to stand out and be known for the work that you do. So we have two kinds of categories here. The first category is you. And you all know this. We talk about this all the time. But even just without hearing any other unstuck entrepreneur episode. You know this, the thing that is going to make you stand out from everyone else who’s doing something similar to you, is you is how you show up by way of yes, your energy, those things that you cannot even put your finger on. But it’s the reason why people are attracted to you. It’s the reason why you are attracted to other people. It’s the vibe. And part of that vibe. And where that comes from, is how you show up as you how you share your story, how you showcase your personality, no matter what that is. You could be shy, you could be sweet, you could be funny, you could be quirky. There’s so many different personality traits. We all obviously have super unique personalities. But being able to express that fully is what will get people attracted to you. Whether it’s because they have a similar personality and so they really vibe with you, or they don’t but they really enjoy and appreciate those who do have those personality traits that you have like, I’m not super funny. So when I see your funny people I’m like Yes. I want to unfollow you

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I like hanging on every word because I love to laugh. And I think you’re hilarious. So that all contributes to the vibe, your relatability, you guys, your relatability is such an attraction point for your audience. And again, if we’re thinking in terms of yes, your personality, and how you kind of share that with the world, but also your story, and how that relates to your people to whoever you want to help, you have a story, we all have a story, we all have hundreds 1000s of stories. And so finding those stories that help you become relatable to the people that you want to help to the people in your audience, or those who you want to be in your audience, those you want to attract. That is also an energetic attraction point. But also a very practical attraction point like, oh, this person gets what I’ve been through, this person understands me, this person has been through something similar, or maybe not similar, but like their story just really resonates, and how they share it and how vulnerable they are, you know, like, that’s another really big piece of this is, can you be relatable? And can you be vulnerable? And, yes, we can have boundaries and should have boundaries, you’ll have to share every single piece of your life with the world and with the people that you want to attract and in your content. But are there pieces of your story that are not only relatable, but vulnerable? And are you willing to share that side of you, while also showcasing your personality? Now, can you see how everything we’re talking about is coming in to become this kind of like, ultimate stew of your energetic attraction point. It’s really how it works. And I’m sharing this because while I know that you know it, I wonder if you can get really honest with yourself, and really, truly agree that you are showing it. Are you actually doing it? And this shows up in Yes. Your social media, yes, your podcast, your blog posts, even just like the copy that you have on your website, when you’re sharing your about page and the story that goes there, even just on your homepage, and when you explain about what you do, is it showcasing your personality is there an actual vibe and the vibe that you want to be giving out in those words in that story on your website. So it’s simple things like that. And it can be in you know, where I really see this lacking if I’m being totally honest, I see this lacking in the captions of social media posts.

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That is such an amazing, amazing, amazing place to showcase your personality, to share your story, to be relatable to be vulnerable. And by way of that, really setting up this attraction point. And also on stories like could not be a better place to showcase your personality. And just share kind of behind the scenes stuff of like who you really are, there is really not a better place. Then, you know, Instagram Stories, for example, or Facebook stories or wherever else how stories, then, to take people really into your world because it’s so unedited. It’s just like whatever and share more about you and that becomes your attraction point that immediately sets you apart from everyone else. So really remember that and really get honest with yourself and see if you are actually there if you are actually doing that. And can you say with certainty that you are fully putting out your energetic attraction point that you’re fully sharing your story, that you’re really being relatable about the things in your life that other people can relate to maybe it’s happened to them or they just know exactly how that would feel whatever it is being relatable. And so this is under the umbrella of you really truly being this

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thing that will set you apart in your industry. And I think we all know that, but are you actually doing it? That is the question. Now the second piece here is in your positioning, and there are a few things to go over under this umbrella. So your positioning, this is a pretty well known marketing term in the business world. It’s just like, it sounds, how you position yourself, in your industry, really how you’re known. So like, for example, technically, Walmart and Target are both big box kind of like department stores, but not, you know, they’re both in the same kind of category. And yet Walmart really has positioned itself as the best prices, great for people on a budget kind of place. Whereas Target has really positioned itself as kind of this trendy, cool stuff has got this cool vibe, still great prices, but maybe not as good as Walmart, but you have this different experience with that brand. Right? So same industry, essentially, but very different positioning, and really different markets to different people that they are attracting, if you are into like trendy cool stuff, then you’re probably going to go to Target over Walmart. But if you’re on a budget, and you really just want to get the best price in town, you’re probably going to go to Walmart, right, so different people that they are attracting, and that is all based on their positioning. That is all very purposeful. So as a service based business, I want you to think about and consider when you’re kind of evaluating your positioning is do people say something like? Or would people say, maybe they don’t actually say it, but would they be able to say, Oh, they’re the one that does that. They’re the one who, and have something very specific after that. That is how you know that you are known for something even within your industry. Because without good positioning, you won’t have that you won’t have that thing that people know you by, you won’t stand out from the crowd. And you won’t be really known as a person that does anything specific. Another way to think about positioning is thinking about if you were in a lineup with others in your industry, I think you can probably if you really tried to get like five to 10 people that you would say are quote unquote, competitors, which I don’t like that word, I don’t think we even need to go there. They’re not competitors at all, which we now know because of this conversation, but people doing something very similar to what you are doing. Think about that. And say you’re all on this stage together lined up. What makes you stand out what makes you shine a little brighter. So like the lights are all on, they’re all on you. But for some reason, there’s a light that’s a little bit brighter on you. And what is it that is making that light shine brighter on you, so people are drawn to you. So probably a lot of you know that I like to dance. And not that I’m not good, or anything like that. But I like to dance. And so I watch Dancing videos on Instagram and Tiktok and that kind of thing. And when I am watching these dance videos, when there’s more than one person, I’m always drawn to watch one person, if there’s like three people dancing, I zoned in on one person for some reason. And it’s not always the person in the front either. For some reason I am naturally drawn to watch one. And it is usually because something about how they’re dancing, the dance moves, they’re doing how they look. It just seems really cool to me. So I’m drawn to that one person. Same thing goes for your clients in your industry and with the other people who are doing something similar to you so you can kind of think about it like that. Now here are three ingredients that we’re going to cover today that will help you with your positioning. The first one, you knew it was coming. It’s your niche, your niche, your dream client as we call it around here. It is knowing what that is

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Is who that specifically is that you work with that you want to help and what you want to do specifically. So knowing it is one thing. And then also speaking to it, sharing it really honing in all of your content towards that. And that is where it’s like a whole nother level, like, we’ll go through the process of figuring out our niche, and then still speak way too broadly, when it actually comes down to it. And you do start creating content, you’re just like all over the place, where you being super broad, and then nobody knows who you actually help, and what you specifically do for people. So knowing and speaking directly to your niche, if you’re in the wellness industry. And you’ve been thinking like, Man, I feel like everyone’s in the wellness industry. There’s so many health coaches and nutritionists and personal trainers, and mindset coaches and all these people. You’re right, the absolutely doesn’t mean it’s saturated. But yes, there are a lot of service based wellness businesses out there. But what happens when you know your niche and you narrow it down even further? So what about the nutrition for people with auto immune disease industry, or the pelvic floor therapy for new moms industry or the yoga poses for people with chronic pain industry, those are way smaller, right. And there’s probably not nearly as many people doing that thing that you want to do or you are doing, once you narrow it down even further, then you have a lot more that that light is shining brighter already on you. Because you’ve gotten much more specific. And because the people who are your dream clients that need what you have to offer, now know who you are and what you do. So now you’ve become, oh, they’re the person who helps people with their nutrition if they have autoimmune disease, or they’re the person who helps new moms get their pelvic floor back after birth. Or they’re the one who helps people with chronic pain into their yoga poses to help relieve it way more specific. And then that light is now on you. Because you are known for something very specific. So please, my friends, get a specific know and speak directly to your niche. If you have been in any of my programs, then you already have yours because it is the first thing that we do in every single thing that I’ve teach. We’ve also talked about it here on the show before there are specific episodes about niching down or not, you can go back and listen to that as well to get going on that. But again, put yourself up against that test of oh, they’re the ones who do. And then whatever you think is your niche, is that specific enough? So obviously, they’re the ones who do meal plans for anyone who asks, not going to really shine the light brighter in your direction, or they’re the one who trains anyone who wants to work out, not going to shine the light brighter in your direction. Do we get it? Cool. So that’s the first thing, the next thing to consider in your positioning that will make you stand out from the crowd is your paid offer. Something we talked about all the time here. So this is how you help people. It’s your unique approach your opportunity for guidance, or coaching, or whatever you do. It’s your unique framework. And this is one of the many, many, many reasons why I love signature programs and why I truly think honestly, like almost every service based business owner would do really well in having one, I really firmly believe that not just because I teach you how to do it. But that’s why I started teaching you how to do it because I see the opportunity for so many of you to really have a thriving business because of your signature program for so many reasons. But this is one of them because having that program will immediately set you apart from everyone else that’s doing something similar because no one has the exact same program or offer around that program as you It’s literally impossible. So yeah, there will be

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To other people who have one on one services like you, there might even be courses that are similar to a course that you want to offer, like how to do a handstand, or how to train for your first marathon, still not going to be exactly the same, but could be similar. And so you still find yourself feeling like you have quote unquote, competition, like how do I get them to buy my how to do a handstand course, versus their how to do a handstand course. So there’s still that idea when it comes to one on one services, courses, things like that. But when you have a program, no one is going to have anything like it. That is why it is signature, because it also involves how you guide people, how you organize it, what you included, the journey that you’re taking someone on, and most importantly, the support and the community that you build around it. All of that is truly unique. And in signature program lab, we build your signature framework and your signature statement that literally no one else will have, it is so unique to you. And that right there makes you stand out from everyone else. So no matter what you will always be the person who has XYZ program, that person who guides people through X, Y, Z framework, you know, you will always have that unique thing that is just yours just for your business. And not only does it automatically help you stand out from the crowd, but it also guides you through content creation that is different than anyone else’s, because it is coming from your own unique program, your own unique perspective that you have now put into this program. And now as you create content, it will automatically be different and unique from anyone else. So cool. So really think about that, not only do you need to have a very clear, defined specific niche, the person that you help, but you also need a clear defined specific paid offer. And what is that going to be for you and your business and doesn’t have to be the only one, but you need at least one unique paid offer.

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And then the last thing under this positioning piece, is your messaging. Again, something we talked about over and over and over again, something we do in every single program that I have, it is incredibly important. And I would say like 5% of people are actually doing it. So your messaging, we can think of it as like the words, phrases, things like that, that you are using to connect with your audience. And let them know they are a match for you and your services and what you have to offer. So the first two things we just talked about your niche and your paid offer those being specific and unique, already help with your messaging a ton. And really, you need those two things in place. First, in order to get your messaging down to a point where people really respond and get it get what you’re trying to say. And it will help you so much to to formulate your messaging when you already have that already in place. But my friends, you have to have a message, think about it. You need a message you need something that you are sharing, you need a stance, you need something you believe in something, you want to share something you really want to back up, and you need to like bring it to the surface over and over and over again. It’s something that you really want your dream clients to know and feel and realize in themselves. Because when you have that, then you have made that connection point. And when you have that connection point, you have a client, a paying client, no less. If you haven’t sat down and spent dedicated time working on your messaging. This is your reminder, your friendly reminder, your gentle nudge, to work on that now to make it a priority. I promise. Once you have that down, you will not be worried about any industry being saturated or how many people are doing what you want to do or how you’re going to stand out from the crowd. You will feel so competent in what you do for your clients, why they need you how you can help them and

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The role that you play in their journey. So all three of these things really do that for you. And what we really want here is competence. Because if you have this question of how am I going to stand out in a saturated industry, how am I going to stand out from the crowd, there’s so many other people doing what I want to do. What’s really behind that is a lack of competence. And these are the practical things that you can do to build confidence in yourself. And I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it over and over over again, it’s something we talked about in the signature program lab coaching call we had this week about how you have to take action, you have to do in order to feel confident, it’s one of those things we have to have backwards, where we’re waiting for that confidence in order to create our program, or post on social media, or write our blog posts or put out our first podcast episode, when in reality, those action steps are the things that will build confidence, it’s the other way around. So you have to do some things before you feel fully confident, knowing that that is what will come. And so to niche down to figure out your paid offer and really build that out so that you’re excited about sharing it. And then getting your messaging down, will build so much confidence in you that you really won’t even think about your industry at all, you’ll be so involved in what you’re doing and who you’re helping and how you’re helping them. And that’s all that really matters. And bonus points, all of these things also make it really, really super easy to sell your services to sell your program to sell your paid offer, it’s pretty much a done deal when you get all of this figured out. Which means you have a business that is making money, and will continue to make money as long as you continue to do these things. Now let’s get you started on your messaging, I’ll give you just some things to think about. If you are a member in any program, holistic business starter, signature program, lab, launch list accelerator, my three programs, you have access to the Magnetic Messaging workbook, do that. Take some time, it will change your life, for sure it will change your business, which also changes your life. So do that. If you are not yet, just know that that is something that is available to you inside any of the coaching that I do. So you will have access to that. But you can always just start by writing down in your clients words, in their verbiage. And what they would say to you, not what you want to say to them as the coach, the practitioner, the leader, where are they at right now? What are they experiencing? Obviously, they have a problem. They don’t want. They have symptoms. They don’t want they have things in their lives that are causing struggle. Where are they at right now? In their words? Like if they were talking to their bestie about their problems, specifically, the one that you solve? What would they say?

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And then where do they want to be? In their words? How do they want to feel? What did they want to experience? How do they want their life to be? So again, you’re writing that down? And then where will they be once they work with you? So once they go through your program? Once they go through your one on one client package, whatever it is that your paid offer is? What will they experience after? So what is the after the effect of working with you? What problems will be resolved? What symptoms will be gone? How will they feel now? How will life look for them now? So those are the three places that you can start and just do as much brainstorming on that as you can. And again in the Magnetic Messaging workbook. I break it down into 29 different questions to really guide you through that process. And once you have that, and you start speaking to that you start creating content around that. Your website talks about it, your sales page talks about your landing pages, your thank you pages, your Instagram posts, your podcast episodes, everything is surrounding your messaging. It will change the game for you and like I said most people aren’t doing this so automatically that means you have something that will make you super unique and really help you stand out because most people simply aren’t doing it and

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And that is how you will really create a unique experience a unique environment, a unique energetic expression, that will attract the people who are meant to be in your space, the people that are meant to be in your audience, the people that are meant to be your paying clients, that is how you can become that attraction point and have that glow around you and your work that others doing something similar, simply don’t have for that person, because you have done these things. And that’s what we’re really trying to do here is just make you feel competent and clear in what you have to offer in the uniqueness that you bring to the work that you do. And creating a business around that. That is the ultimate goal here.

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So before I wrap up, like I said, I very much believe that having your own signature program will be the thing that makes you stand out amongst your peers. Your signature program is packed with uniqueness. It is unique to you and your work. It has its own messaging, it has its own framework, it has its own specificity. So if you are someone who has been considering adding a signature program to your business, or maybe you already know you want one, but you just haven’t done it yet. Cool. That’s great. I’m here to help you with that. Let’s change that. Okay, let’s do that. Next week, I am hosting a free live masterclass for anyone who wants to get clarity around their signature program and actually start creating the thing. Like really, once you’re done with this workshop, you will be able to start creating your signature program because you will have all of the pieces of the puzzle in place. It is so cool. It’s so fun. It’s called signature program in a day. It is action oriented, it is interactive. Together, we are going to do all of this together as a group. We’re going to go through all of those pieces of the puzzle and work through them. And so that you have these ideas, you have these brainstorms, you get this clarity around each piece of that puzzle. So like I said, when you’re done, you can go off and create thing. Like how cool is that there are just so many, I think unknowns when it’s something you’ve never done before. And we’re going to take those unknowns, I’ve done this many time I created my own program many a time. So I know how to work through those unknowns for you, so that you can get that clarity. If you participated in the last one, and you want to go through it again. Totally cool. Please do so make sure you sign up if you signed up for the last one, and you couldn’t make it live. But now hopefully you can. As you know, summer is winding down and things are getting back to normal, then great. Please do that. And if this is your first time hearing about this thing, and it sounds like something you want or you need, then absolutely make sure you put it on your schedule, you can do so Shawnmynar.com/day, Shawnmynar.com/day. Again, if you can at all be there live, it really is one of those workshops that is best alive. This is not a webinar, where you can just kind of do like 800 other things. This is a workshop we are getting work done. This is time spent working on your business, and it is important. So take the time out. Be there live, I will see you there. I’m super excited. Can’t wait to help you create your signature program, Shawnmynar.com/day To save your seat. And until next time, take care. Hey friend, real quick before you go, don’t forget to head over to my website and take the quiz to find out your solopreneur personality type. I’ve created a super fun super informative two minute quiz that will show you which one of the four solopreneur personality types you fall into. Could it be the boss, the socialite, the visionary or the supporter? Which one are you? Not only is it just fun to know more about yourself, especially as it relates to your business, but it’s also really important information so you can be sure that you’re building a business that works for you, based on your energy, your personality and your desires. Did you ever take those quizzes from the Cosmopolitan magazine back in the day? It’s kind of like that, but with actual solid questions and real helpful tips and advice at the end. You can find the What’s your solopreneur personality type quiz right on the homepage of my website at Shawnmynar.com head there now to take the quiz then

45:00
Let me know over on Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur what your type is I’ll see you over there

“Do You HAVE To Be On Social Media To Build A Business?” Listener Q&A — Ep. 157

Unstuck Podcast

One of the biggest sticking points I see in most of my clients is social media. They don’t want to be on it, but they feel like they have to. So they post, they don’t get engagement, and they get frustrated, blame the algorithm, and give up, sure their business is doomed because of it. In this episode, I’m answering a question that came in from a listener that will resonate with anyone that’s not loving social media right now and not sure if it’s even worth the effort…and that question is…do you have to be on social media to build a business?

“Anything of these negative, low vibes thoughts that you’re having around social media, I would say 99.9% of them are coming from your ego.” – Shawn Mynar

“I will tell you that no, you don’t have to do everything for your business. You just have to do what feels right and best and fun for you and that is what comes from your inner voice, your inner knowing.” – Shawn Mynar

“Social media is the icing on your business building cake… it is not the end all be all to your business. It is certainly not what you should be relying on to make your income.” – Shawn Mynar

“The engagement that you do or don’t get on social media does not say anything about you or your business or your ability to be successful.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE Signature Program Masterclass – shawnmynar.com/masterclass Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram: instagram.com/shawnmynar

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

0:00
One of the biggest sticking points I see in most of my business coaching clients is social media. They don’t want to be on it, but they feel like they have to. So they post, they don’t get the engagement they want. They get frustrated, blame the algorithm and give up sure their business is doomed because of it. So in this episode, I’m answering a question that came in from a listener that I think will resonate with anyone that’s not loving social media right now. And not sure if it’s even worth the effort. And that question is, do you have to be on social media to build a business? Let’s find out the answer. Hey, there, I’m Sean miner, and this is unstuck entrepreneur. I’m a former nutritionist who turned a struggling stressful nutrition practice into a thriving freedom build online business, where I work from home in my sweatpants while reaching and helping 1000s of people all at the same time. Now I’m obsessed with showing other heart centered coaches, practitioners and solopreneurs how to build a business and life they love. Consider this podcast, your safe space to learn both the inner work and practical strategies required to build the impactful profitable business of your dreams, no hustle, grind, or long hours required. That’s right hustle culture, not welcome here. Let’s get into today’s session. Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. So happy to have you here tuning in, checking out the show. And of course, we’re so grateful for your support. This episode, I’m just gonna say right here is probably going to be just a social media tangent on so many levels, who knows where this is gonna go. But I love this question. And just based on what I’m hearing from you all, either as a client of mine, or just the conversations we’re having over on the DMS, of Instagram, social media, in general is like a sticking point. It’s like this thing in a lot of small business owners worlds that they don’t love, especially right now. And I feel like it’s just getting worse and worse, just with the changes that happen in social media and the environment and the algorithms and all that stuff. There’s a lot going on. And so to get this question, I think really summed up what a lot of you all are thinking and wondering and the conversations that I’m having. So I thought I would share it here on this show. And like I said, I will hopefully answer the actual question. But be prepared for this to go in all different directions, I cannot guarantee you what is going to come out of this conversation. Let’s get to the actual question, which is from Tasha. And she says, Hi, Sean, thanks so much for everything you share in the podcast, it has been so helpful for me as I build my coaching business, to keep me in the right headspace and do the right things. One thing I’m struggling with is social media. I just don’t want to do it. It feels time consuming. And which with such little engagement these days, kind of pointless. Do I have to be on social media for my business to grow? That came from Tasha. And just as a side note, this came as a direct message in my Instagram over at Sean miner, if you ever have any business questions at all, but even more importantly, a question that you think others might be having, too, that I can answer on the podcast, please feel free to send me those messages. And I’ll either reply directly to you if it’s just a specific question for you and your business, or I will let you know that it makes a great episode and that I’ll be answering it on the show. So that is always open to you at Shawn Mynar on Instagram. Tasha is not alone. First. Tasha, thank

4:09
you so much for this question. And for I think, really articulating what a lot of people kind of almost like business owner or not what a lot of people are feeling and thinking about social media right now. I think as business owners and as small business owners, solopreneurs, coaches practitioners, it has even more weight to it because we do wonder what will happen to my business? If I do or don’t do social media? Do I need a big following is that the only way that I can have this successful business and make the money that I want to make? What will happen if I just quit doing social media entirely? We have this connection between social media and our success and potentially our income Um, to be even more specific, the money that we’re going to make, we have that tied to what is happening on social media. And rightfully so that is a very known, you know, I say it all the time, too, that social media is an amazing marketing tool for your business. If you have not been living under a rock, and you have been logged into any social media platforms recently, you can see how people are using it, to build their business to make money to make sales, you see that happening. And it is an effective way to do that. It is not the only way, of course, talk about that all the time to hear. And with my clients really important, it shouldn’t be the only way and we’ll get into that a little bit more later. But it is definitely one of those things that can be triggering to you and your possibilities for success and your desires, because of what you’re seeing other people do. And then when it does or does not happen for you getting into some stories there. And that’s really what we’re going to talk about today. First and foremost, just so we’re all on the same page. When I talk about social media, I’m referring to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, LinkedIn, Twitter, clubhouse may or may not still be a thing. Not sure, I feel like that had a short lived time of popularity. And now I don’t hear about it like at all, so may not be there anymore. But anyway, these are the platforms that I am talking about. And thinking about when I say social media in general, everyone has a different platform that they are or are not using that is or is not good for their business that is or is not where their dream clients are hanging out at. So I don’t want to say just Instagram or just tick tock or just Twitter, this is all of them, we can kind of group them all into one. So for you just figuring out which one or ones that is for you, and kind of thinking about which ones potentially feel better than the others as we have this conversation, which ones maybe you do want to let go of versus which ones you want to keep around and maybe reinvigorate yourself around those ones that are one that is feeling better than the others. to directly answer the question that Tasha has about do you have to be on social media to build your business? Of course, my ultimate, if I only had one word, to answer this question, it would be no, of course not. You don’t have to do anything, especially if you’re feeling this major resistance towards it. We talked about resistance towards things in your business. In the last episode, Episode 156, I believe, please go back and listen to that episode. If you haven’t already, it very much ties in with our conversation that we’re having today. Really good to listen to them both together. And you’ll have a lot of clarity around what you need to be doing in terms of social media. So keeping in mind that you never have to do anything, you just need to do what is best and right for you. And so when we have these questions of do I have to?

8:45
What comes to mind? And really the biggest question that I have here is, Where’s that coming from? That idea, that question of do I have to is that coming from your ego, or your inner voice, your higher self. And just as a review, in case you’re new to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast, when I reference that ego, that ego voice, I’m talking about that mental chatter that’s kind of always going on in your mind. It’s the one that’s like, saying things that really to keep you safe is its ultimate goal, but it’s coming from that conscious mind that is warning you of things and making you rethink things, reconsider things making you overthink things. It’s that mental chatter. We all know it as soon as I say that was words, it’s like, oh, yeah, that thing, that voice that is constantly going on in my head, got it. And then we have the intuition that inner voice your higher self and that is that calm, knowing that calm feeling, that calm, potentially voice we all have different ways that we connect to On this side of us, and that has this whole different feel to it, as I mentioned, it’s calm, it’s this knowing. And that is kind of the opposite of your ego voice. We all have both, obviously. And so this conversation is really talking about getting in touch with both of those to figure out what is best for you. And so when I hear the question, do I have to XYZ could be anything after those words, my thought is que that is what the ego is telling you. That is where we are coming from that is that voice, that mental chatter coming through, and is really taking over this whole situation. So then the question becomes, why? Why is this a half two situation? Why don’t you want to use social media? What is becoming heavy about this? Why has your ego gotten involved in this situation? What is making it feel this way? And when the ego gets involved in something like this, really everything basically, it is because it is taking in all of these 3d surroundings, like what you are seeing what you are hearing what everyone’s telling you to do all this outside information. It’s taking in all of that, and making up a story about it. And then that story is how you are now seeing that thing, feeling about that thing and doing about that thing. So you have now made up a story, and are living in that story. And why when I say you, I mean your ego. And that happens in all areas of our lives. And social media is no different. And going back to what I said earlier about how we do log on to any platform these days. And we can see people who are being really successful in their business because of social media and having all this success and posting every day and having all this engagement and growing their following and all this stuff. So then your ego is taking that in creating a story around it, when that’s not happening for you. There’s another story around it. And we have this big huge fake reality that we’re now living in about ourselves, and about our business and about social media, and how it works for us. And so now you have this story, your ego is telling you that it’s hard, it’s pointless, it’s time consuming, that the algorithm is out to get you that no one sees your stuff anyway. So why bother? Anything that you are hearing yourself, say in that regard, any of these kind of negative, low vibe thoughts that you’re having around social media, I would say 99.99% of them are coming from your ego. And coming from that fake story, that fake reality that your ego has made up for you that you are now living in you are fully in that bubble. But then we also have that other piece of ourselves, your inner self, your intuition, your inner voice, your higher self, whatever you want to call it. It’s all the same thing. It’s that inner knowing that inner voice, what does that voice no to be true about you sharing on social media.

13:41
So when you quiet that chatter, when you get out of that fake reality, and you just sit with it, and you just dive into the truth. You don’t listen to that voice that’s on the top, I always see it as like surface level, and then deep inside, so you’re beyond the surface level chatter. And now you’re getting in touch with the deeper side of yourself, what their what is that voice saying or that knowing or that feeling what is there and you may very well have that inner feeling that nudge or that knowing that your place is not on social media, that that’s not the path to grow your business that you do not have to be there. To grow your business. You can use another platform, you can be somewhere else you can do other things. You have that knowledge of your business and yourself already within you. And that may be what comes up as soon as you get past that surface level mental chatter. But you may also have that inner feeling that knowledge or that knowing that sharing your work with the world through social media is a great way to reach and help even one more person That may be what your inner voice tells you, when you can connect with it. I don’t know the answer. Ultimately, I don’t have that answer, only you can know that, I will tell you that no, you don’t have to do anything for your business, you just have to do what feels right and best and fun for you. And that is what comes from your inner voice, your inner knowing. But what I can do since I don’t have the answer, what I can do is help you calm your ego down a little bit, so that you have better access to that own answer for yourself. And we’ll do that today, just by me kind of negating some of the stories that you may be experiencing. But ultimately, what I think is best to get you there, if you can’t tap into that, and you’re stuck in that surface level spot is meditation, deep breathing, journaling, all the things that I talk about all the time, when we’re talking about the mindset and energy work needed for our entire life, including our business, those tools will work to just get that surface level ego talk out of the way so that you can tap into that deeper knowing. But let’s chat about some kind of specific things that you might be or your ego might be telling you about social media. And let me also be clear right now on how I feel about social media. I think a lot of you already know this. I’ve done some episodes about social media, I talked about this a lot in my coaching programs. And this is coming from a straight like logical 3d strategic business perspective. I’ve said it before, I’ll keep saying it over and over again, social media is the icing on your business building cake. It is the cherry on top, it’s not the cake, it’s not the ice cream, it’s not the eggs and the flour and the sugar that go into that cake. It is not the end all be all to your business. It is certainly not what you should be relying on to make your income. And if you are that it’s time to branch out and create another platform that is in your control that you can use to make money in your business. And you should absolutely have your email list be one of those things.

17:43
And the reason I say this is because your following is not yours, you have absolutely zero control over what happens to the content that you put on social media. The second that you hit publish, it immediately becomes not yours, you have about point two seconds of every one that is shown to that the algorithm has decided to show it to you like point two seconds to capture someone’s attention before they scroll by there’s just a lot that is out of your control, literally everything that is out of your control. So leaving your income up to something like that sounds like a terrible idea. I think we can all agree on that. Not a good plan. Right? And I’m not going to get into how to strategically use social media to enhance your business here. But I have already done that on an episode not too long ago, Episode 140. It’s entitled creating your simplified marketing plan. Go back and listen to that I will explain in detail how you can use social media because it is the cherry on top it is the frosting. No one wants to eat a cake without frosting, right? Like you still want to have this as a piece of your business. But it is not everything. Like if you really had to. You could eat that cake plain without frosting, maybe even like plain cake, that’s fine. You would eat that and be fine. You’d still enjoy it still be good. It just wouldn’t be as good as if you had that frosting. That’s how we want to think about social media and I have your whole plan created for you over in Episode 140 not going to get into that here on this episode. I also want you to know that I totally get where you are at right now. If you’re someone that is struggling to show up on social media, I get it I get that they can feel heavy. I get that they can feel pointless. I get that they are changing literally every day that they aren’t what they used to be that engagement is down that it’s harder to get seen and get followers and all that stuff. I get it that is what is going on and that is is what your ego is using to create the story that you now have. I understand. I mean, remember I am also I just started a brand new Instagram account for my business last year. And that was after spending, I think, over nine years, probably building up my former account, having 25,000 engaged followers over there, and then starting this brand new business direction and brand new business account, and having to start from the bottom and work my way up. And I know what it feels like to not get engagement, I know what it feels like to share something on your stories, and I have anyone respond, I know how that feels. So I understand that story that your ego is trying to tell you. Now for me, just get it to get into kind of where I’m at with it, maybe this will help you. I also still intuitively know that social media is somewhere that I will keep showing up for. For my business. I know that that is still a part of my business plan from an inner knowing place, regardless of what my ego is trying to tell me right now, yes, I have those moments I have those days, I have those weeks, where my ego is kind of like having a fit. It’s like in this weird space. And I don’t want to do it. But I still know deep down that I actually do want to be there that I actually do want to be connecting with people in that way. And that it is a good use of my time, even if my ego is telling me exactly the opposite. So why how do I know that? Well, how did I get there? First of all, I know from a very like deep down soul purpose, that I have the mission of helping people. I know that, like every part of every cell in my body knows that.

22:06
And so if that means that’s one person that day, that post that week, great. That’s one person, that’s amazing. So I don’t need to have 1000s of followers for it to be, quote unquote worth it to post on social media, I don’t need to get hundreds of likes for it to be worth it. I don’t need to get all the engagement in the world. To know that I’m doing what my soul what my whole being is here to do, which is to help people, one person 10 people, 1000 people, 100,000 people, whatever it is, my goal is still being accomplished by me posting and getting one like, or getting 10 likes having one person comment or share, that’s still doing what I am here to do. So that is why I know from this very deep down perspective, no matter what my ego wants to tell me that I still need to be on there that I still want to be on there. Because that is me living out my purpose while I am here on this planet. And then the second thing, I found a way of posting to social media that I enjoy, my ego really wants to step in and start creating these stories and start being more, I guess, being louder. When I’m not enjoying something when I’m not doing anything. If it starts feeling heavy or hard that I don’t want to do it. That’s my ego getting involved in the only reason it’s getting involved is because I’ve stopped enjoying it. And I’ve stopped doing what’s fun. And so that is my sign, that’s my signal to go back to doing what I enjoy. As long as I’m enjoying myself, then I can stay in touch with my intuition. I know that feeling that inner knowing what I am connecting to there. It’s strong. It’s there, as long as I am enjoying myself when I’m not Hello mental chatter. And then the third thing is that I am secure in my business with or without social media. I have done the work I have had the consistency I have had the patience to build a business that works with or without social media. So I’m not relying on this one thing for anything other than to enhance what I’m already doing in my business and to create connections with people which is fun. And again, part of my purpose. If I were relying on social media for to get people on my email list or to get people to By for me to get people to sign up for something for my income, it would give it so much weight, so much pressure, it would make it mean something more than it should. And then once again, my ego would turn up it’s volume, start getting involved, and really create a gigantic story around it that I don’t know if I could ever get out of, because that’s just like a ton of pressure and expectation around something that shouldn’t have that. It’s that’s just not how it should be laid out for you and your business. So those are the three things that I do to make sure that I am able to stay connected to doing what’s right for me around the subject of social media. And I share this because I think that this is a good way for you to do your own ego check to see if your ego has potentially gotten in the way on the subject of social media also. So this is a really good journaling exercise, I would definitely get out some paper, get out your journal and spend some time here. First thing, what is your ego saying about social media? You should go to town on this. I want you to get out every single thought feeling experience annoyance grievance, whatever you have about social media, put it out onto paper, get it all out what is your ego saying about social media, you could have like pages, I think if we really get into it, we all probably have like pages of annoyances or grievances or whatever about social media. Next, once you’ve gotten that out, it’s called the ego dump. As I like to say, once you’ve gotten that done, now, why is it saying that? So what would make it freak out right now, knowing that everything you just wrote down all those emotions and those feelings and the reasons why you don’t want to be on social media are coming from your ego and coming from that false story that you’ve created. Why? Why did it go there? Why is it freaking out? I mean, is it saying that because you haven’t found a way to make it enjoyable? Like it’s not fun anymore? Are you saying that because you’re putting too much pressure on what happens there? Is it saying that because you’re making it mean something more than it actually does. Like those things that I just talked about, about why I can actually tap into and stay connected to what I really want to be doing with social media and why I want to be doing it. If you’ve lost that, then figure out why. And then once you figured out why, then you have something to work on, you have a focal point to change, you can change how you are approaching it, how you are thinking what else you’re doing in your business, that it can make it feel like less pressure, ways that you can show up that make it fun. And so really doing that exercise, so you can find out, like what’s getting in the way right now is so helpful, because then you have something to change, instead of just continuing to do something that feels off over and over and over again and expecting something else to come of it. That’s not going to happen. So a few things going back to me trying to potentially calm your ego a little bit. A few things I want to share. First of all, the engagement that you do or don’t get on social media does not say anything about you, or your business or your ability to be successful, or how much money you’re capable of making or anything like that. Your business is not doomed because you’re struggling with social media or you’re not getting the engagement that you want, or you’re not getting the followers that you want. None of that has anything to do with you or what you’re capable of, or what you’re worthy of or anything like that. If I’m being totally honest, and having some real talk, some true tough love, then what that means if you’re not getting engagement on social media, if you’re not gaining followers on social media, if your stuffs not being shown, like if the algorithm isn’t showing it to your people or to people outside of your audience to get them interested. It’s because you’re not creating content. That is interesting. That’s all there is to it. Your audience isn’t interested, potentially, that algorithm thinks your audience won’t be interested in it so it’s not showing it to people I mean, the reality is yes, reels are being prioritized on Instagram, for instance. And the reason is because those are the posts that people are interested in. I mean, we can talk all day about how we don’t like video, we wish it were just going back to a photo app and all this stuff. But at the end of the day, you’re probably watching some videos on Instagram as a consumer, we all are, because that’s what gets us to stop our scroll. And that is what Instagram wants. And so that is what the algorithm is prioritizing. If people didn’t watch the reels, if they weren’t getting that interest, they wouldn’t be prioritizing them, they would go back to prioritizing photos, if photos were capturing people’s attention, but they’re not. So that is not the algorithms fault. It’s not punishing you. Because you’re posting a square photo. It’s just that that is not what people are interested in your followers, or people that would become your followers, your dream clients that are out there not following you right now. They’re not engaging in the posts that you are creating. And so Instagram is not giving them the option to see them because they don’t think they’ll be interested in it. That’s all there is to it, I promise you, the algorithm is not out to get you if you actually work with the algorithm. And if you actually see it as something that could help you get more followers, it will do that it will reward you, the algorithm is way smarter than any of us than any human, it will help you it wants you to be successful. It wants everyone to be successful on social media, I mean, whether you’re on Instagram, or Tiktok, or Facebook, they all have their own algorithms, obviously, it wants you to do well, it wants everyone to do well. But you have to work with it, you have to be willing to change, willing to adapt, willing to grow and evolve along with what people want. And as I said, the algorithm is going to feed people what they are already engaging in. And right now that is video. And if I’m continuing on with some real talk, because this is where I just get really passionate, because I want you to succeed so deeply. That when I look at people who are struggling with social media, and they’re still posting, they’re still making an attempt, I see a couple things. First of all, I see people who are still doing what worked like seven years ago on Instagram, for example. And not adapting, not growing, not changing with what is happening with that social media platform with the environment of social media overall, they’re not adapting. And so that’s not working anymore. This isn’t this is something that is going to evolve over and over and over again, almost like by the day, if you are someone who is doing reels. And if you’re not, but you are willing to try and willing to get started, I’m going to do a whole episode. really soon, just on reels and potentially tick tock to maybe in the same episode, maybe two separate ones, I

33:42
haven’t decided yet. I have so much to say about both. But what you will see is that the trends and what is popular, and what is working, even with reels changes like weekly. It used to be like dancing and then pointing it at words. And then it became doing like lip synching type stuff. And then now it’s just like having almost like this B roll like this background footage with like, words over the top and that was you know, popular on Tik Tok a while ago and then now tick tock is changing. I mean, you just got to be willing to adapt and willing to grow and willing to change. And the cool thing is, that’s what’s fun, like if you’re actually seeing it for what it is and working with it. Instead of trying to do something that worked like five or seven years ago, and working with it and an understanding that when you work with it, it works with you. It’s kind of fun. It can I promise it can be fun. So I see people either doing that doing what worked, and hoping it will still work and it’s just not going to work anymore because that was so long ago. I mean, like five years in social media is like 25 years in regular life. You got to keep up with what’s going on, I see that or I see people who are clearly posting, because they have to, like, there is nothing more obvious to me than a post that is done out of having to, and a post that is done out of wanting to you guys, you know what I’m talking about, if you don’t just now, log on to whatever social media you consume the most log on and start scrolling, and you will be able to pick out the half twos versus the one twos. And the half twos are, there’s far more of them. And you can just tell, they’re like, the energy is not the same. They’re either like boring, or just like if it is someone that is on camera, like their energy isn’t right. It’s not there. It’s not genuine, something about it isn’t right. So I see those two things very, very, very often. And then you know, you do those kinds of things. And then you get frustrated when it’s not working. And you think the algorithm is against you. And you think there’s no point and all these things that your ego is telling you, when in reality, if you just got real with yourself,

36:12
you would see, yeah, it’s because what I’m posting really isn’t that interesting, it’s really not that engaging, people really aren’t going to stop their scroll to consume this, if I’m really being honest with myself. And it might take you that exercise, you might need to do that, in order to make it work start working for you and making it fun. When you stop coming from this place of having to and just going through the motions, and you really think how can I make this a fun part of my business, it is a promise it is it really can be an especially if you don’t have that attachment of, well, if this only gets three likes, then you know, I’m not gonna have fun with it anymore. If you can detach from that, then you really do have the chance of, of making it fun. And that’s my second point that I wanted to say is what would happen for you, if you were able to clear that whole giant fake story that you’ve been telling yourself around social media, and clear it out and move to a place of getting to getting to connect with people all over the world, and share what you love to do. Getting to help one person with the post that you shared that day, getting to market your business to your dream clients for free. Right? Wow, what an opportunity. There’s so many opportunities within that when you get out of that half, two plays, and move into that get two plays. And yeah, you know, all know probably by now that I love reels, I already talked about them in this episode. And I do think they can be really fun, and they are really engaging and people do watch them. Even if we’re all thinking we’re against video, people are watching them. And so they are a really great way to get engagement and to grow your audience when you do them correctly. I want to say like there is no right or wrong. But there are just some simple things that should be happening in your reels to really make them engaging with or without you in them. You don’t even have to be on the video for them to work for you. Again, whole episode coming about that. But you don’t have to do that. Maybe you love sharing inspiring quotes that are relevant to the work you do. Maybe you love showing your beautiful meals or your challenging workouts or your self care routine, or what you do in the mornings to prepare for the day. You don’t have to do these things these like outrageous posts every single time. You just have to show what you love and what you do and what could help someone else. And sharing that stuff is fun. It is helpful for someone else and it can be and should be fun for you. As soon as you get your ego out of the way. As soon as that whole environment that you’ve created. That story that you created is gone, then you can get back to doing what is fun and sharing what you enjoy knowing that it’s going to help someone else and do it in a way that feels good for you. And even if that’s not video, like even if you refuse to do a real to do a video to like show your plate of food in a video versus a photo which really is like the same thing, but works totally different in the social media world. But even if you refuse because you are in that place of get to and Want to and excited to, and you are willing to share what you love what you do and who you help with others out there in the world, it will show up differently, it will work differently. And I promise you, the algorithm will feed into that energy that you just put into that post, which is totally different than the half to the like should place totally different energy and it will work for you. And then my last point is to remember that this is the icing on the cake. Please, please, please remember to build a business that is fine with or without social media have at least one long term platform. Like I said, go back and listen to episode 140 to figure out what those are. But for example, it’d be like a podcast where you are getting in front of a new audience, a YouTube channel where you’re getting in front of a new audience, a blog where you’re using SEO to get in front of a new audience via Google, or Pinterest or something like that, that is a long term platform. Because that content that you’re creating for those platforms will go on to build your business for years and years and years and years to come. When done correctly. Of course, and that is a big caveat there is it’s not enough just to post you know, like a blog post and hope people will eventually find it, their strategy involved, there’s things you have to do, these are all things that we go over in a holistic business starter. If that’s something you’re interested in, you can check that out at Sean miner.com/business. But yeah, these are things that you have to consider. And you have to really put the energy into creating over the long haul for your business as it grows and thinking long term about it. And then social media is your short term platform.

42:02
It’s like, you know, what you share is good for like that day, pretty much if that. And then it goes into this never ending abyss of content on that platform. So that’s more short term that gets people interested in you and what you’re doing right away. So have that long term platform, learn how to do that thing really, really, really well. It takes the pressure off of thinking that you have to be on social media to grow your business, because then you really can see it as that icing on the cake. And when that pressure is gone, when you can see how your business is growing and developing. Even if you don’t post on social media that day or that week or that month, then it’s kind of amazing that shifts that can happen. And it all happens because your ego is quiet, you don’t have that story that you’re replaying in your head over and over again. Because one of those things that is a trigger for your ego is gone. You know, like that trigger of it being so important for your business and being like the thing that will grow your business or, you know, make your business fall apart, when you don’t have that pressure than your ego can take a backseat. And then you can just do what feels best for you and post what feels good and have fun with it and enjoy it. And that is when that inner knowing comes out. And it’s a totally different ballgame. So remember icing on the cake, find that long term platform as well. Lastly, to wrap this all up to go back to the actual question, because like I said, I told you I was going to probably do way more than answer that question. Because there’s just a lot that comes up with that idea of half to like this question could be, do I have to have a website? Do I have to have an email list? Do I have to have a podcast? You know, that could be anything? And the answer really is always the same? Like, go back and listen to this episode. And instead of social media put in any thing else that you’re wondering if you have to do and the answer is still the same? Because at the end of the day, if your intuitive answer is no, to having a social media presence, if you know from that inner knowing that social media isn’t right for you and your business and not needed. That is great. That is excellent. Yes, that’s amazing. If that is the answer that you got, then you can just as easily get the answer of what is right for you. Because you have that knowing now of what isn’t which means you just as easily Have that knowing of what is what is your path? How will you reach the right people? How will you make sales? What will you do? I mean, it could be, you know, just focusing on that long term platform, which works for tons of people. By the way, there are plenty of very successful business owners who do not use social media at all. So keep that in your back pocket for when that ego voice gets really loud. And you really truly know, with every fiber of your being that you are not meant to be on social media. There are other ways, that long term platform, it could be maybe using paid advertising, like Instagram ads, Facebook ads, Google ads, YouTube ads, something like that. It could be just doing more in person events, like conferences, and workshops and things like that, maybe in your area, or maybe virtually and attending those and then doing some networking around that. And that’s how you grow your audience. There are so many options beyond social media, but you just have to get that knowing for yourself one way or the other. All right, my friends. And with that, I will close out this episode about social media. But like I said, this will not be the last I’m in the works now on an episode about reels, and an episode on tic tac, which like I said, may or may not make the same episode, I have to see how much I have to share that those are coming up soon. And other than that, be sure to head over to Instagram, which is my main social media platform of choice and where I have the most fun and where I love to connect with all of you head over there at Shawn Mynar that is now my new instagram handle at Shawn Mynar. And just let me know what you’ve taken from this episode. If there’s any way that I can help. If you have any other questions, happy to do that over on the DMS there. And until next time, take care.

47:03
Hey friend, real quick before you go, don’t forget to head over to my website and take the quiz to find out your solopreneur personality type. I’ve created a super fun super informative two minute quiz that will show you which one of the four solopreneur personality types you fall into. Could it be the boss, the socialite, the visionary or the supporter? Which one are you? Not only is it just fun to know more about yourself, especially as it relates to your business, but it’s also really important information so you can be sure that you’re building a business that works for you, based on your energy, your personality, and your desires. Did you ever take those quizzes from the Cosmopolitan magazine back in the day? It’s kinda like that, but with actual solid questions and real helpful tips and advice at the end, you can find the What’s your solopreneur personality type quiz right on the homepage of my website at Shawn Mynar.com head there now to take the quiz then let me know over on Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur, what your type is I’ll see you over there

When It All Just Feels Like A Lot… — Ep. 156

Unstuck Podcast

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Do you ever have times when you’re trying to build your business where it all just feels like a lot? The platforms, the social media, the emails, the website pages, trying to be everywhere and do everything all at once…it’s all just a lot, am I right? If you at all resonate with this, then welcome to the club. You’re not alone, this is normal, and it’s OK. Because guess what? It IS a lot. In this episode, I’ll share with you what you can do when it all just feels like a lot and why feeling this way is actually a good thing and so stay tuned.

“Feeling like everything is a lot is a sign that you have turned course and you have started going upstream again.” – Shawn Mynar

“Things expand and we have more opportunities, but that does not need to mean that it becomes heavy or hard or complicated, they are just opportunities and you don’t have to take every single one especially if it doesn’t feel good to you.” – Shawn Mynar

“If you are in a time where you need a break or where you need to reset, then you’re in a cycle where that is actually going to serve you to get into the next phase of your cycle.” – Shawn Mynar

“Yeah, you do need to do some stuff to grow your business. You do have to show up, you do have to put yourself out there, you do have to share, educate, absolutely. Do you need to do it everywhere? No, of course not.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE Signature Program Masterclass – shawnmynar.com/masterclass Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram: @shawnmynar

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

0:00
Do you ever have these times when you’re trying to build your business where it all just feels like a lot? The platforms, the social media, the emails, the content, the website pages, trying to be everywhere and do everything all at once. It’s all just a lot. Am I right? If you’d all resonate with this than Hey, welcome to The Club. You’re not alone. This is normal. And it’s okay. Because guess what? It is a lot. There’s a lot to do a lot going on more and more so every day. In this episode, I’m going to share with you what you can do, when it all just feels like a lot, and why feeling this way is actually a good thing, especially for your business. So stay tuned. Hey, there, I’m Sean miner, and this is unstuck entrepreneur. I’m a former nutritionist who turned a struggling stressful nutrition practice into a thriving freedom build online business way work from home in my sweatpants while reaching and helping 1000s of people all at the same time. Now I’m obsessed with showing other heart centered coaches, practitioners and solopreneurs how to build a business and life they love. Consider this podcast your safe space to learn both the inner work and practical strategies required to build the impactful profitable business of your dreams, no hustle, grind, or long hours required. That’s right hustle culture. not welcome here. Let’s get into today’s session. Hey, hey there, friends.

1:32
Welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. Thank you so much for being here. So much gratitude to all of you for your support of this show, means so much. Today, I’m going to do my best to keep this episode short and sweet. We just came off this four part series all about launching, it was jam packed full of info. And I think all of those episodes were pretty darn long. So you may still be going through those, maybe my voice just needs a break. Who knows. But we’re gonna do our best here to keep the message I have for you. Short, sweet, and hopefully very resonant, hopefully, something that you can really take with you, not just for today or this week, but remind yourself of in the future, when this comes up for you again, could this probably going to today, we are talking about this whole feeling of things just being a lot. And this is a business podcast. So I’m going to gear it specifically towards things that you do in your business or feel like you need to be doing in your business. But you know, it’s also just everything. It’s a lot like life is a lot. The world is a lot, just so much going on. For so many of us. And you know, I think that compounds, and then we try to work on our business. And then all of that feels like a lot and it just is overload. So here’s where this idea to talk about this here originally came up. And I will tell you, it’s because I was in that place not too long ago, because I am part of a Business Mastermind. A few weeks ago, we had this big virtual retreat and the kind of theme for this retreat was expanding your audience. So over the course of two days to a jam packed days, we had presenters around podcasting and growing your podcast, YouTube starting and growing a YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook ads, Google ads, I’m missing some and like there were so many things. So basically, one person came and talked about, like an expert came and talked about all the different places and platforms that we could be using to expand our audience over the course of two days. Sounds great, right? And it was it was amazing, such a great experience and got a ton of really great ideas. And the whole time, the message was to find a few things that work for you and leave the rest. Like, it’s going to be tempting to feel like you need to do all of this, but don’t and you know, feel free to leave what doesn’t really resonate with you. That was like the theme and the message that our leader quote unquote, kept sharing with us, but still, the whole time. We’re all like, Oh, this is so great. I have so many good ideas. And also, oh gosh, there’s so much to do. And keep in mind that the people in this mastermind group are already people who have platforms and audiences and strategies and businesses and And a lot going on already, and they’re already doing so much. But yet, we all still felt like we barely scratched the surface after this very intense two days of learning and hearing from these experts. And so then we’re meeting a few days later after this retreat and talking about it. And one of the gals says something like, you know, I’m trying to incorporate all of this and trying to do all this and trying to show up on Tik Tok, and do more on Instagram, and do this with my YouTube channel, and show up here and there and change my messaging. And I really want to get this new offer out. But also, it’s summer, and my kids are home, and we’re going camping. And it all just feels like a lot. And I don’t think she meant it this way at all. But it came across in that moment, like camping with her family was adding to her stress, like adding to her to do list adding to that feeling of it all being a lot. And I know this is the case for pretty much all of us. And all of the people in this mastermind is that the point of having our own businesses is so that we can enjoy things like camping with our family, enjoy summer, be totally present when you’re out doing things in your life and not business stuff. And at that point, I think that person was not there, like the business had taken over. And all of the to dues of the business had taken over. And now it felt like the fun things in life, were also becoming a chore will be becoming a thing that has to happen. And that’s kind of the opposite of how we want it to go. Right. And so then myself also was having that moment after that retreat, where I felt like my there was so much on my shoulders. I spent several days after that digging myself out of this, it all feels like a lot hole that I think a lot of us can get into this is definitely not the first time I’ve been there. I think it all kind of ebbs and flows, which we’ll talk about in a second. That’s part of it. But I’ve been here before, I know how to get myself out of it at this point. But when you’re in that space where you’re hearing about and you’re learning about and you’re excited about all of these options for you and these opportunities for you. And especially when you learn that these opportunities will obviously grow your business, grow your audience, help you help more people help you make more sales have reached another income level. Like that’s all exciting, right, and you want to work on that stuff, and you want to integrate it into your business. And that’s when I think the feeling like a lot comes in because you can see what could be happening. If you do all the things. And, you know, the dreams that you have could be realized if you do all these things, or at least that’s what your brain is thinking, as you’re learning these things and, and realizing this, your brain then makes that connection of, okay, if I do all of these things, then I will make the money, help the people have the dream life, buy the dream car, like all these things, you know, that we’re kind of superficially thinking about, which is totally normal and fine and cool and great, and awesome to do. But then you make that connection, the ego, I guess, makes that connection of I gotta do this, to get that. And really, what we’ll all come to find out by the end of this is often the opposite is actually true. But it’s hard to remember that in that moment, or in those moments when you’re just finding out about more and more and more and more things you need to do to get to that level. So then after that retreat, I’m left thinking like, Okay, I gotta get on YouTube. I’ve been trying for like 10 years now, this is the time I’m finally going to do it. I gotta be posting on Tik Tok five times a day, which sounds insane. Like that is insane. But that is honestly, what a lot of people recommend. If you’re trying to make it quote unquote, on tick tock, which is asinine if you ask me, but that’s just me and that is, you know, but then here’s my mind, getting in the way my ego getting in the way and thinking like, Okay, well I’m going to post five times on Tik Tok, then, per day, I’m going to post more on Instagram. I’m going to show up more on stories. I’m going to do all this stuff. So I’m going to doo doo doo doo doo. That’s what happened as I’m leaving this retreat more and more and more things to do. And it didn’t take long for me to realize that that was a completely opposite of the business that I am building and what is important to me and how I want to show up in my business and my life. And so as I’m feeling that all the the to do list grows, and my overwhelm grows, and then on top of everything else going on in the US and the world, and just everything right now, it all just feels like a lot. Now, for me, when I get to that point, because I’ve been there a lot, like I said, and now I know what that means. For me, that is a sign and for you to probably assigned to. And when you feel that way, it is a form of resistance. So guess what happens when you try to push forward. When you’re up against resistance, when you’re now going upstream, it doesn’t go well, it’s a lot harder, there’s a lot more work, there’s a lot more effort, you’re like really, really pushing against the current to try to take make any progress. Whereas if you just turn the boat back around, and start going with the current again, get rid of that resistance, then you can float along flow along easily and effortlessly, and just go with the flow. So feeling like everything is a lot is a sign that you have turned course. And you have started going upstream again. And now that energy, that force is what you’re infusing into your work while you’re in that place. So yeah, you may be doing a lot more because you’re trying to check things off the to do list, you’re trying to be everywhere and everything to everyone all the time. And it’s coming from this place of resistance. So then that is what you are infusing into your work. And when it comes from that place, obviously, that’s like an energetic mismatch, right? It doesn’t feel good, it feels like pressure, it feels like that I have to like that force that grind that hustle, I’m supposed to, you know, we get the shoulds, Quds woods, all that stuff going on. That is your cue, my friend, that you’ve turned course you’re going upstream, that is a form of resistance, you got us to take a step back. And when you are in this place, where it’s like, yeah, I know that this is what’s happening. And also I’m trying to build a business here, I’m trying to make some money here. I can’t step back, I can’t take this time, I gotta keep pushing, because I need this business to work or I need this money, or I need to make it to this next level, I need to get a client. Hey, that is even more upstream. Thoughts, feelings, emotions, right? I promise you, if you take a sack, you can turn that ship around, and we can go downstream we can get back into the flow. So how do we do that? How do we dig ourselves out of this place and take that sign for what it is, and do something good with it. The first thing is that you need to accept it. Except that that is how you’re feeling except that it is bringing you down except that your mind isn’t in a good place about things right now, except that you’re trying to hustle and grind and push your way through something. Except that all of this is just the reality of having an online business these days. Like I said at the very beginning, you are not alone. That is something that we all face at various points throughout our business. I can guarantee you right now, the majority of people, again, we’re talking specifically about business, and we’ll talk even more specifically about online business are feeling this way to some degree, because there are just more and more and more things, places platforms, social media apps to be on. And it’s just going to be that way. I don’t think I can’t imagine it’s going to get any simpler as we progress here. I don’t think we’re going to go back to the times where it was just Facebook and posting ugly pictures on Instagram, I think we’re only going to move forward. Right. And when we do that, then that means there are going to be more and more and more opportunities, which is cool. And they are opportunities, they are not things that we have to do, that we have to get down about ourselves when we’re not doing and that are a must for your success. But how cool that we have these opportunities. And even just 10 years ago, when I started my business, like I said, we were Facebook and ugly pictures on Instagram. That was it weed and blog blogs, basically, podcasting got in real early, like seven and a half years ago now. But I was an early one, it was just like, things expand, and we have more opportunity. But that does not need to mean that it becomes heavy or hard or complicated. They are just opportunities. And you don’t have to take every single one, especially when it doesn’t feel good to you.

16:09
So this whole first step of acceptance, as you will see if you’re in this place now, or when you get to this place in the future, which like I said, will most likely happen, especially as we progress. When you accept it, it immediately softens it like it takes the edges off and just softens. And when you can do that, then you can actually allow it, like you’re allowing it, you’re feeling it, you’re accepting it, you’re not mad, you’re not sad, you’re not frustrated, you’re just accepting it, and letting it be what it is, and letting it be there. And it’s like that the energy shifts, it’s not as potent, it’s not as strong of a resistance. It’s like you have gone now from going upstream to this like on these rapids, to now being at a calmer part of the river where you’re still going upstream, but it’s calm. And so yeah, you don’t have to work as hard to make any progress. You’re just sitting in it. And maybe you’re just not even paddling anymore, you’re just kind of sitting where you’re at. So then after that, you need to remind yourself that this is temporary. It is just like everything else in life, it’s a cycle, you’re just in this moment, it’s not going to last forever, it comes and goes, there are times when you’re on top of the world, and you can do all the things and you feel good about them all and you’re having fun with them all. And it’s everything is just flowing, and it feels great. And then as you know, there are times when it doesn’t feel good, and it feels hard and it feels heavy. And it feels like a challenge. And you’re like you’re pushing against something, this is the case for everything in life and your business. And what you need to do for your business is no exceptions. And that is okay. So if you are at a time where you need a break, where you need to reset, then you’re in that period you are in that cycle, where that is actually going to serve you to get into the next phase of your cycle. Seasons, there are seasons in business, there are seasons in life, there are seasons, in the weather seasons, it’s okay to have different seasons in your business. And the last thing, that third step is really the most important. And this is where like I said at the beginning, this actually becomes a really good thing for you and your business. Because the thing is, within that list of things that feel like a lot, there are most likely things that still feel good that you still want to do. It’s just that the good feeling Got lost when they became part of this bigger to do list of things that you don’t actually want to do that aren’t in alignment with you and what feels good to you and aren’t the opportunity for you. So can you sift those things back out and refocus yourself on what you really love. And this is where now we go from that boat being in the calmer part of the river just kind of floating along kind of staying stagnant to going back down with the current downstream along with the flow you barely even have to paddle or anything like that for you to get to where you want to go because you are going with the flow. This is where it actually becomes a good thing because sometimes we need that resistance we need those times when we start going upstream to remember Are we want to be going the other direction. And the more and more and more things that get put onto your to do list again, specifically when it comes to business, it’s just going to become more and more options for you. But they don’t have to be absolute must do is when you get back to what you really truly want to do and love to do and feels good doing. That is when a lot can change or will change, I guess I should say, for you and your business. So for example, from that place that I was in a few weeks ago, after that retreat, I was able to take it back a few notches recenter myself refocus. And remember what I do love to do for my business. I love recording this podcast, I love shockingly recording short form videos. The thing is, I only love recording short form videos. Once a week, I give you a couple hours per week. And then I’m over it, I’m done. And I need like a break for a little while until the next week. It’s so weird, because if I’m in like the middle of the week, I’m like, Oh, I don’t have anything to post today, I should do a video and I just have so much resistance to it. I just don’t want to do it. But if I’m doing the videos in my allotted time of the week that I do videos, I love it. It’s super fun. And then bonus, I have my social media content done for the week. So I like doing that and it makes posting on Instagram and tick tock easy and fun and not a big deal. Am I posting five times? Absolutely not that is so against everything that I want to build and everything that I see in my future. Why would I do that? Now that makes no sense to me and I have a whole nother brewing episode in my mind right now all about my experience with Tik Tok, I got a lot of interest when I posted over on my social media if you wanted to hear about that. So that will probably be coming in the next few weeks, I’m still kind of gathering my thoughts and organizing them. But I’m excited about that. But no, I’m not posting five times a day on tick tock, if I get a couple posts a week. Cool. That’s great. If if whatever falls in that time that I am feeling good about recording videos. That is how many I do. And that’s that but yes, love, love the podcast and love my time spent here on the mic chatting with you guys. I love connecting with and messaging my clients and my future clients and those of you that I chat with over on the DMS of Instagram, these things all feel light and fun and easy. And good to me right now I can absolutely commit to doing these things without feeling like it’s a lot or without feeling like I’m taking on too much. And because I’m focusing just on what I love like that retreat, and what came out of it, for me was really that re centering and refocusing and putting myself back downstream that I needed. Because since then I’ve really just been focusing on doing what I love and what feels good, and just really, really committing to that only. And of course, my whole energy around these things has changed. And I’m infusing that now into the content that I am creating. And guess what it is showing up now in my business and the audience that I am attracting and the clients that I’m attracting. And so it’s just proof that it’s actually one of those cases where you know, in a way, it’s like, do less, but do it better. But instead it’s like do less, but do it with flow or do it because it’s fun or do it because it feels good. Do that and see what happens to your business, especially when you are in this place of feeling like you should be doing more, you’re not doing enough. You need to be everywhere. And it all just feels like a lot. And don’t be surprised as you focus and get back to those things that you feel good doing that you

24:27
really like to do that maybe you do suddenly get this urge to start a YouTube channel or post a few tic TOCs or whatever it is, because that too much quote unquote energy is gone. You’ve transmuted it, it has turned into a higher vibration. And you are now excited about working on things in your business because you started with that place or from that place of the things you love. And then eventually It expands. And it’s like, wow, I really have been loving posting Instagram reels. Now maybe I’ll like to try some tic TOCs. And it still feels good. You don’t feel like you’re coming at it from this place of I have to do this or this is what I should be doing. And then it’s like, no thanks don’t want to. And I guess to what I want to remind you of is that, yeah, you do need to do some stuff to grow your business. You can’t just, you know, sit on your back porch with a website up and hope that people find you, you do have to show up, you do have to put yourself out there you do have to share and help and educate? Absolutely. Do you need to do it everywhere? No, of course not. And is it helping anything or anyone, when you get overwhelmed, because you feel like you have to be everywhere? No, in fact, it’s harming you and your business and those people that you want to help, because then instead of just showing up in the places that you feel good about you just like cut yourself off entirely. And then those you want to help are still out there looking for Yeah, right. So take it back a notch, do a few things really well. Do a few things and make them fun, make them feel good. Less here is going to be more if it means that your mental and emotional health are in the tank. So start with a few things, and then move forward from there when it feels good. Not because you have to or you should or someone told you to, or everyone else is doing it. And if you’re feeling like everything feels like a lot right now, one more reminder, it is okay. It is normal, you’re not alone. And there are ways to make it feel a little less heavy. Alright, my friends, I will leave it at that for this episode. Just one quick thing I want to let y’all know, I finally changed over my instagram handle for my business account to my actual name, Shawn MYNA. This for a long time, years and years and years was the name of my personal account, which at one time was also my business account. I grew them kind of both together. And then when I started teaching this unstuck work, I started teaching about business and that kind of thing. Wanted to separate myself from that account, which was primarily nutrition and keto people that really didn’t have that much interest in business and mindset and energy work. So I started my new Instagram account not too long ago, maybe a year and a half ago and have since been putting so much of my time and energy into that account that I felt like it was a good idea to make that my name because it is now my primary account. So if you head over there at Shawn Mynar on Instagram, send me a message let me know if this message that I shared with you today resonated with you. If you feel like you can go through those three steps and get back to doing what you love. Let me know it means so much to get some feedback from you all on what your takeaways are from this show because it helps me know what else to include in later episodes of the show. All right, friends with that, until next time, take care.

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Hey friend, real quick before you go, don’t forget to head over to my website and take the quiz to find out your solopreneur personality type. I’ve created a super fun super informative two minute quiz that will show you which one of the four solopreneur personality types you fall into. Could it be the boss, the socialite, the visionary or the supporter? Which one are you? Not only is it just fun to know more about yourself, especially as it relates to your business, but it’s also really important information so you can be sure that you’re building a business that works for you, based on your energy, your personality, and your desires. Did you ever take those quizzes from the Cosmopolitan magazine back in the day? It’s kinda like that but with actual solid questions and real helpful tips and advice at the end, you can find the What’s your solopreneur personality type a quiz right on the homepage of my website at Shawnmynar.com head there now to take the quiz then let me know over on Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur, what your type is I’ll see you over there

6 Things To Do After A “Failed” Launch — Ep. 155

Unstuck Podcast

You did the work and launched your paid offer out into the world and well…things didn’t quite go as planned. The numbers you were hoping for didn’t happen and now you’re feeling disappointed and confused and left wondering, what went wrong. And more importantly, does this mean your business is forever doomed? In this episode, I’m going to share with you the 6 things you need to do immediately after a launch gone wrong to turn it into a success so stay tuned.

“What I don’t want you to do is to think that because this launch didn’t go as planned, that means that you shouldn’t do it again.” – Shawn Mynar

“You have the most significant, helpful, important learning opportunity on your hands right now, literally everything you need to know to make your business a success in the long haul is in this launch that you just did.” – Shawn Mynar

“Most of what you have done in this launch, even if it didn’t go as planned, you will keep. You do not need to completely redo your launch, as I talked about, you’re building the momentum.” – Shawn Mynar

“Your product is your product, your service is your service. Your offer is your environment around your product or service that makes it very compelling.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE Signature Program Masterclass – shawnmynar.com/masterclasss Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram: @unstuckentrepreneur

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

0:01
You did the work and launched your paid offer out into the world. And well, things didn’t quite go as planned. The numbers you were hoping for it didn’t happen. And now you’re feeling a little disappointed, a lot confused, and left wondering what went wrong? And more importantly, does this mean your business is forever doomed? What are you supposed to do now? In this episode, I’m going to share with you the six things you need to do immediately after a launch gone wrong, to turn it into a success. So stay tuned.

0:37
Hey, hey there, friends, and welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. Thanks so much for being here for checking out this episode. And every episode that calls to you means so much to me to have you supporting this show. We are rounding out our series all about launching with this episode. And what better way to do that than to talk about when these launches, don’t go as you hoped, when you have a quote, unquote, failed launch, I mean, sure, we can talk about what happens when your launch is a smashing success, and you totally over achieve your goals. But what fun would that be, let’s instead talk about what to do when things go wrong in your launch, to turn it around not only for that launch, but for the launches in the future. And just to give you a little bit of background on where we’ve been in case, you’ve missed some of this series, the past four episodes is the fourth episode in this series have all been about launching. And by launching, I mean putting out your paid offer into the world for people to purchase, which is when you have a business, when someone buys what you’re selling. Before you do that you have a hobby, when you start making money, you have a business. So launching is really important. If you think about any business that is out there in your world, they all have had some sort of launch like there’s, you know, the ribbon cutting, if it’s an actual brick and mortar business where people come out, and they actually legitimately cut a ribbon. And then there’s usually some sort of party, maybe some sort of sale or something like that going on to really like bring attention and excitement to that brick and mortar business being open. Same thing is going to happen with your business, even if it is a service based business. If it is an online business, you still are going to have kind of that ribbon cutting ceremony. Every single time you put out a paid offer, you have an opportunity for someone to work with you. That is the case, if it is a one on one coaching package, or a signature program, or a paid workshop, a membership, an online course, whatever it is, you’re going to launch. And so these this topic, this series of episodes is super important. Go back and listen to them all. So we started with episode 152. I took you behind the scenes of my most recent launch. But the most important part of that episode was breaking down all of the stages of a launch, there are different steps, you go through different periods of time that you’re working on different things for your launch, I break it all down for you. So that will make it a lot clearer on what needs to happen to have a successful launch. Then we went into the mindset and the energetics required for that launch to be a success. Because you can do everything I talked about go through all the motions of a launch that I talked about in episode 152. But if you don’t do what I talked about in episode 153, there’s a good chance things are gonna go awry and might potentially lead you to now needing this episode, which is what to do after a failed launch. So really important to listen to that too. There’s so much more to it than just going through the motions. And it will really help you be able to deal really with having this failed launch, which is what we’re going to talk about today. And then the third episode of this series, which was the last episode 154 was the difference between a live launch and an evergreen launch and which one is better for you to have it all automated or to do it live. What I’ll kind of go through the pros and cons of each so you can decide which is best for you. I give you some advice and what I think is best and it’s probably not what you think so head over there to that Episode also, and here we are wrapping it up with what to do, if things don’t go as planned. Let’s get into it, the very first thing I know, you know, that I am going to say to you is that there is no such thing as a failed launch seriously doesn’t exist. Yet, maybe things didn’t go as you hoped, maybe you set some goals and you didn’t reach them. Maybe the numbers were lower than expected, maybe no one signed up for your paid offer. Maybe the interest wasn’t there, even in the free stuff you were putting out prior to your launch. But none of that equates to failure. The only way that you can fail at a launch is to not do it. So you are already way ahead of the game. And already had such a successful moment. In your business, the moment you started putting your energy, attention and effort towards putting your work out into the world to doing this launch. And I understand like totally normal, totally valid, that you would have these feelings of being disappointed letdown, defeated, frustrated, confused, starting to feel like is this human ever going to happen for me? Is My Business doomed? Should I not be doing this? What am I doing wrong? That is normal. I think you could probably ask most entrepreneurs, most people with their own business trying to make their own money, money, be their own boss do their own thing, if they’ve ever had this experience? And I would say 99.9% of them will answer yes, this is part of it. Welcome to the world of business. And even more. So welcome to the world of online business where your potential clients, the people paying you money are all over the world you’ve never met in person, you don’t know what kind of relationship you have with them necessarily, because you’re on one end, they’re on the other end, it’s all kind of happening throughout, like the system that you have in place. And for some people, it might take a day for some people, it might take five years to get to that point where they’re ready to purchase. And it’s just a little bit different about dynamic when you are in this online business space. So it’s bound to happen. It you have every right to feel that way, it is totally valid, that you would have those feelings, I do want to give you a little bit of a tool that I think really, really, really helps. If you are ever in this space of disappointment, frustration, feeling defeated, feeling let down feeling confused. Business isn’t going as planned, whether you’ve just done a launch or not first, brain dump, emotion dump, I guess get out your journal and just let it all out.

8:15
Be very candid, because no one’s going to see it, no one’s going to read it. You can burn the pages later if you really want to, or rip them up and put them in the shredder or whatever. But it’s really important to get those feelings out onto paper. Like yes, they’re inside of you. You’re feeling these emotions, you’re having the thoughts, of course that are sparking those emotions inside of you. What are those thoughts? Like what is going on? In your mind right now? Get them out onto paper. And then once you feel complete there, ask yourself and write down the answer. What am I making this mean? Because the reason why you have those emotions of reason why you’re feeling like my business is doomed. What am I doing? Am I ever gonna make any money doing this is because you’re making it mean something and you’re feeling confused, and you’re feeling defeated, because you’re making it mean something, when in reality, it’s just something that happened, that event in and of itself doesn’t hold any emotion doesn’t hold any weight. It’s your reaction to that event that caused that, you know, but the event in of itself is like, just the same way you went to the park today, or you took a walk today. It’s just a thing that happened. So what are you making this mean? And then we can go back to Episode 153. When I talk about that mindset that is required for a successful launch. Part of that is that detachment, and I can tell you from experience that working on that detachment piece, it’s going to help a lot when you have maybe some goals that you don’t hit or you know, no one signed up or not as many people signed up as you had hoped and things start feeling like that. It’s never gonna happen, or it’s not what you expected or your business is doomed. That doesn’t happen. That feeling isn’t quite as intense if you started practicing detachment around your launches. So go back and listen to that as well. Okay, so beyond doing that journaling practice, I think that’s really important to do. What am I making this mean? Anytime you’re feeling those negative thoughts come up about your business. But specifically, we’re talking launches, specifically after a launch that didn’t go as you hoped. Now, let’s get into the six things that you need to do immediately following a launch that didn’t go as planned. The very first thing I want you to do, no matter what is to celebrate. And I know it may not feel like you want to celebrate, really, I guess, the first step really is what I just shared, which is to feel the feelings be okay with feeling those emotions and just work through them and kind of do some stuff, let’s call that the pre work, then we’ll move into step one, which is to celebrate, because you did the thing, you did something that honestly 99% of people in this world won’t or don’t do. And if we’re talking specifically, in terms of like business owners, majority of business owners won’t do, or will never get to, and will never actually become business owners because they won’t ever do what you just did. So that takes a lot of work, a lot of energy, and that decision to go for it. That decision to put yourself out there and to take that risk. And all of that deserves a full on celebration, I’m talking champagne, if that’s your thing, I’m talking dinner out, if that’s your thing, I’m talking about vacation, a social media break, whatever it is, that makes you feel like you are celebrating the work that you just did. Regardless of the outcome, the outcome is just what it is. But you still have the opportunity to celebrate you and your work and what you’re putting out into the world. So make sure you do that very first thing. The second thing, take a break, give yourself a much needed well deserved break that may go hand in hand with the celebrating that you’re doing. Give yourself some space around your launch and the content you put out and what you did and didn’t do. See if you can take a mind break from it to just get yourself maybe out into nature. Again, take a vacation, give yourself some space from your screens, and just take that space that you need around it, because it’s going to help a lot when you come back to it, which is the next step. And that is to do it again. Now, we’re not going to do it again,

13:14
immediately. What I mean by this is that you’re just scheduling out your next launch. What I don’t want you to do, please, please, please don’t do this, is to think that because this launch didn’t go as planned, that means that you shouldn’t do it again, or that you need to completely revamp everything and start over from scratch. And it’s going to take months and months and months before you can try this again, don’t think that because what really actually happened during this launch period, is that you build a massive amount of momentum. That is awesome. That is exactly where you want to be. So now you can ride that wave. keep that momentum going with the people that were a part of your special event or got on your email list because of your freebie. You have these eyes. Now on your work. They are interested, they just got a bunch of great information from you. And yeah, maybe they weren’t ready to take the next step and work with you in a paid context. But they’re still there. They’re engaged, they want more. And now is your time to ride that wave and do it again. And the more and more times you go through this process, the more and more people are going to be interested, they will start expecting it they will get the information they need. I mean if this was your first time launching this particular paid offer, then this the first time these people are hearing about it and it might take more than a week for someone to decide it’s what they need. So the more you put it in front of them, the more you continue to Give them valuable content, the more ready they become. And then the more times they get offered to become a part of your paid offer, the more time that is presented to them, the more times the more opportunities, they have to say yes. So we have to continue to go with that flow and build that momentum and gain that energy. And if you stop and start and stop and start and stop and start on and off this entire time, then you never gain that momentum. Because the people that were once interested, well, then they haven’t heard from you, and who knows how long, and you never re talked about that offer again, and they’ve lost interest, they forgot what that even was, they don’t think you’re interested anymore. And so now you’re starting over every single time. So do it. Again, I want you to look at your calendar, you just have celebrated, you’ve taken a little break, maybe it’s like a few weeks off, I’d say up to like a month off, then look at your calendar, and put your next launch on your calendar. Now, I would say ideally, if you especially if you’re again, working on that momentum, and you haven’t quite gotten to that point where people are super engaged, regardless, don’t go longer than three months before your next launch. So minimally once a quarter as you are starting out. So put that on your calendar again. Now step number four, now that you know that you have a launch coming up and maybe a month or two months, it’s time to figure out what you can potentially do differently. And what you will repeat during that next launch so that it can be even better than your last launch. And this is where that whole talk of it not being a failure of this not being a waste of time of this still being something so important for your business, even if no one signed up. Or even if only a few people signed up, and you thought it was going to be a lot of people. And so now you’re wondering what the heck to do, you have the most significant, helpful, important learning opportunity on your hands right now at your fingertips literally everything you need to know, to make your business a success for the long haul is in this launch that you just did. And really every single launch, every time you do one of these things, you learn something so valuable about your business that you can take into the next one. And that is why they keep getting better. That is why you keep getting more interest. That is when you start getting more and more people to sign up.

18:00
I mean, it’s really like to be totally honest, it’s not really that big of a surprise, if you’re just doing this for the first few times that you aren’t reaching these big massive goals because you have so much to learn. Like, if you just immediately had this amazing, successful launch, would you actually ever learn what you need to learn? It’s part of the process. It’s part of growing, it’s part of building a business. And that’s why I just think there’s so fun. Like, I love doing launches for so many reasons. But I really love recapping the launches, like putting in my detective hat. Looking at the numbers, and this is where you get really objective. And just seeing what worked seeing what didn’t work. Like what happened. What was were people interested in? What were people not interested in? What emails were open, what emails were not open, where could I switch some things up? I think it’s super fun. And I think you could too, once you realize like the amount that you can learn from this experience and what it will do for your business down the road because you had this opportunity now. Okay, so you’re gonna put on that detective hat and take a look at what went well and what didn’t go well from this. As I mentioned, objective standpoint, your emotions are set aside like what you think is set aside and you’re just looking at the data. So from this like you can look at how did your freebie do?

19:39
So the way that I teach how to do launches includes having a simple yet valuable freebie before you get into your special event. So this is kind of in the pre pre launch stage. You’re kind of always kind of promoting I guess we’ll say that freebie. How is that freebie doing our people Interested in it? Are people signing up? When you talk about it? Do you get a spike in interest? Does it seem like people are opening that welcome sequence and engaging in those emails? Do people download the workbook or whatever it is? Did they listen to the audio series? Whatever your freebie is? Are they engaging in it? So that’s one thing to look at. The next thing, how were the signups for your special event was their interest in that, what was your attendance rate. So for the amount of people that signed up, how many people engaged in that free event, whether it was a webinar type situation, a challenge, whatever it was, how was the engagement or attendance rate of that special event? Also, looking into your emails, and the open rates and click rates of the emails that you’re sending, this goes for the invitation emails to the special event, it goes for the emails afterwards, talking about your paid offer those sales emails, how was the engagement on those and you may even see, you probably will see that some emails do better than others. So then does that mean, maybe the subject line needs to be changed, or maybe just that wasn’t an interesting enough email for people to open. And maybe that email needs to be rewritten. But you’re looking at all of this. And just what I want to remind you real quick is that most of what you have done in this launch, even if it didn’t go as planned, you will keep you do not need to completely redo your launch, as I talked about, you’re building the momentum. And so keeping a lot of it, the same will actually help. So what you’re doing when you’re being the detective here is just figuring out those little things that you can tweak for next time, that will help and those learning opportunities that will help you really make the next launch even better and more exciting for your audience. And just really seeing those things that you can tweak, without needing to completely reinvent everything. Okay? Keep that in mind. So everything you’re looking at now are just finding those little things that you want to change. So other things to look at what was the engagement like on your social media posts, when you were talking about both the special event and your paid offer, and even your freebie, all of this is going to be so helpful to let you know that your paid offer is something that people are interested in, even if no one or very few people purchase right now. So if you’re getting good engagement, if people are downloading that freebie, that by the way is very specifically related to your paid offer, you know, it’s the same person that would be interested in your paid offer is the person downloading that freebie that shows you that there is interest if people signed up for your special event and were really excited about it, even if they didn’t attend, then that shows they’re still interest. Now, if the attendance rate was low, then that may mean that you need to do a little more work on your reminder emails and getting people excited in between the time they sign up and show up. And also keeping in mind that the like industry average of showing up to sign up is like 30%. So you know, if you have 100 people sign up, then you expect around 30 to actually show up live if you’re doing a workshop type event, just FYI. And another thing to look at as you’re being a detective in your business is the objections that you got. Maybe you did talk to some people that were potentially interested or maybe you got some emails or you just heard through the grapevine some things that people were saying and the objections that they may have had towards your paid offer, what were the reasons they were giving for why they couldn’t sign up? Was it a money issue, a time issue not being ready issue? You know, there’s very similar objections for pretty much every paid offer. And really knowing what specifically comes out for your paid offer will help again for next time, because that will then be infused into your messaging. And speaking of messaging, this is where we have to talk about messaging. Because now that you have done some of this work, you’ve looked at your numbers and gotten an idea of what went well and what needs to be changed or tweaked or improved for next time. We can dive into the specifics around that because there are some things to look at. As you figure out how to improve for next time, which happens to be step number five, prepare for next time, the things to look at. So specifically, if interest for your free stuff prior to your launch seemed lower than you were expecting, like there wasn’t as many people downloading your freebie and signing up for your freebie and getting involved in your special event and all the stuff that you’re putting out in your pre launch and pre pre launch, it’s most likely either a messaging problem, or a mismatch between the audience that you currently have. And the offer that you just put out. This is also assuming that you are talking about and sharing about your free stuff enough, obviously, people can’t sign up for it, if they don’t know that it exists. And if you’re only talking about it every once in a while, not enough to get that momentum going. And this is what we do in launch list accelerator so that you know exactly how often you need to post and exactly what you need to say. So it’s not just like, hey, here’s my free thing, but really getting the right messaging the right wording into it so that people are interested in it. So just as a side note, please make sure you’re actually talking about it enough. So that might be a whole nother reason why no one’s engaging in this free stuff is because they don’t know it exists. So another thing to look at, but let’s just assume that you have, and the interest was low than that, first, I would definitely look at your messaging. And then if there’s interest in your freebie and a special event, but not good conversion into your paid offer are not what you expected, then it is potentially a messaging problem again, and an offer problem. So let’s talk about all of these and what you can really look at. And again, before we do that, also, making sure and being really honest with yourself about if you talked about it enough. And again, if you are in the signature program bundle, and you have access to my entire launch strategy, and you follow it, then you can know for sure that you talked about it enough. So that’s a non issue if you have that. But if you don’t then, you know, quite often I see people, you know, say once or twice on their social media or in their emails, or whatever they have as their platform that they have something available. And it’s just not enough, you know, the rule of seven applies. It’s just like this unknown thing that people need to hear about something seven times before they take action. And so that applies to your launch as well. So it may absolutely be a case of you just not sharing about it enough. And then if if that’s the thing for both your free stuff and your paid stuff, then the real question is, why are you hiding? What are you afraid of? Why is self promotion an issue for you? I mean, that’s the reality. That’s like, the real hard of it is there is something blocking you from promoting what you have to offer. And since it is a service based business, most likely, that is usually yourself. So what is keeping you from promoting your offers promoting yourself promoting your services. But for the sake of this episode, and this conversation, let’s say that you followed the plan to a tee and you’re confident that your audience knew about the paid offer, and knew about the special event and knew about the freebie and have the opportunity multiple multiple opportunities to take action. And they didn’t in some capacity.

29:04
Messaging, the first thing to look at to improve for next time. I love you all. But I can guarantee myself included that you can improve your messaging because we all can I really don’t know, a whole lot of entrepreneurs out there, especially in the online business space, that have perfect messaging, there’s always room for improvement, because a lot of it changes you know, it changes day by day, what we really connect with what’s going on in the world that we can then infuse into our messaging and how we talk to people and what really intrigues us and causes emotion within us. So much of it changes as our world changes and it’s important to always have that stuff top of mind. In your launches in between launches. Anytime you put out any content. As a reminder, messaging in like the smallest little definition I could give, which, in reality is way bigger than this. But simplistically, it’s how you talk about your offer, the words that you use to communicate your offer, what you have for sale. It is how you sell it, how you get people to understand that they need it, that they want it, that it will help them that it will get them from point A to point B, that it will solve a problem that it will get to a solution, all of that stuff. So it is not just like the words you use in terms of like, there’s four modules. And week one, we do this, and we too, we do this, and it cost this much. And here’s this payment plan, that’s not messaging, it goes more into the emotion, the thoughts, the feelings, the vibe of our dream clients, and how we can essentially get them to a point where they know with certainty that we get them. Because the moment that someone really truly feels that deep within like, what you say resonates with them on a whole different level. That is when they are ready to purchase. That is when that connection has been made that is so strong, and they feel comfortable, confident and trust you enough to pay you. And that is why messaging is so important. And again, very rarely do I see that I always look at you know, my clients and my dream clients from this lens of what their clients see their dream clients see? And does it invoke that feeling. And it’s challenging, I mean, I don’t see it that often. It takes a lot of work and a lot of practice. And part of that practice is in doing these launches. Like that is the only way to get better at your messaging is to try some messaging, try some communication systems, try some words and phrases, and see if they resonate. And the best way to know if they resonate, is to try to sell, try to market, go through this process, and then evaluate afterwards, which is what we’re doing now. So go back through your content now your emails, your social media posts, what you said in your podcast episodes or your YouTube videos, what you did it through your out your special event, and really look at it in this lens of did I effectively communicate that I am the one that gets my clients will they know without a doubt through what I just shared in this launch, that I get them that I understand them, and that I can help them. That is what they want to know. They don’t care about how many modules are in your program. They want to know that you can help solve their problem. So did you effectively communicate that on a deep level, because remember, there are lots of other people saying some similar stuff. Let’s just be honest here. We’re not the only ones having an online business, we’re not the only ones selling what something similar to what we do. I mean, I’m not trying to be rude or harsh or mean or anything. But it’s true. There are other people doing what you do. All of us, myself included, there’s tons of other people doing what I do. And so for me to do what I do, and to attract the right people to my work, and for you to do what you do and attract the right people to your work, you have to find a way to communicate on a deeper level on a very unique level to you that no one else can do because no one else is in your brain. communicate that with your dream client. And did you do that? Can you say with certainty that you found a unique and different expression of the work that you do for your dream clients in this launch? And what can you tweak to try to reach them even more deeply? Like instead of using the word stress, can you find another word that is even more indicative of what they’re really going through even more of that connection point because everyone’s stressed everyone talks about stress. Every practitioner can deal with stress. They need someone who knows more deeply what it looks like and feels like in their lives. And that’s just an example. One example of many. So can you take it to the next level with your messaging With the words and phrases you use,

35:03
the second thing is the offer. So your offer. And this is where it can kind of get confusing because a lot of people think that their paid thing, whenever they have this product or this service is their offer. And that’s not true. Your product is your product, your service is your service. Your offer is that environment, around your product or service. That makes it very compelling. It’s just like creating this really awesome environment around it that essentially what you’re doing is you’re trying to make it a no brainer decision. You are with your offer, really showcasing your services your product in a way, that’s like, yes, sign me up, I don’t even know how much it costs. But I am in, I want this, I need this, this is for me. And your messaging is part of your offer, how you describe how you get people interested, and even getting to that offer point. It’s all part of that system. But when it comes to your actual offer two things that are important to consider.

36:22
Have you showcased the value of what they are getting? How can you increase that perceived value? Potentially? And can you lower the risk? Because those are really the two things that people consider like subconsciously, even you don’t even know you’re doing this, but we do it every time we buy anything like is the value there for this price point? And what kind of risk is involved? And especially like, we really have to consider that when you have an online business and you’re selling an online service because people potentially have never met you before. They don’t know a whole lot about you. You know, there is that risk of like when I pay this, what if I don’t get anything? What if this is a scam? What if this person isn’t real, you know, like there’s a lot involved there. So to lower the risk for someone is really important in the work that you’re doing. So there’s a few ways you can do this. The first is to add in some bonuses, some other special things that are a part of your service or your product. And when I say product, I don’t necessarily mean like physical product, it could be a digital product, like a course of program, a workshop, something like that. You can think about some bonuses, you can also do some pricing options, like payment plans or something like that, that again, it lowers the risk, it increases the value because it makes it more accessible to people. You can also do special pricing in terms of, you know, a special discount a special coupon code or something like that, that again, increases the value decreases the risk. Also adding in things like a refund policy, a guarantee, something like that, where, you know, refunds aren’t necessarily all that easy to do for a service based business, especially if it’s an online product where it gets immediately delivered, and they have access to the entire thing. But a guarantee is really helpful. So if someone does the work, and they don’t see improvement, it doesn’t work for them, then maybe they can get some of their money back all of their money backs. It just totally depends. And there are lots of options. And I’ll walk through all of this with you in the offer module of signature program lab, but lots of stuff involved in an offer. Beyond just the actual thing you’re selling, the more intriguing your offer is, the more sales you will get, obviously, I mean, there’s so many of us again without even consciously realizing it, but you buy something because you get a free something else. Like I do this with my skin products I’m using right now called Bioscience. I don’t know if anyone else uses this stuff. I love it. But pretty much every day they have some sort of bonus or sale or special and I’ve always sucked into it. So they will like the last time I ordered from them. I just wanted the face cream. But then they were doing this special where you got five other products like the sample size of five other products. And I was sold. I was like yes, I want to try these other products. It’s amazing. This is perfect. I’m excited. So I probably wouldn’t have purchased they didn’t quite need it yet, except that there was This special thing going on. So again, that is the offer, it’s not just that, that face cream, it’s the whole environment that was created around that face cream around the purchase of that face cream. And yes, they also have a guarantee. Like, if you don’t like it, if it doesn’t work for you, you just send it back. And that helps too, because then I’m out nothing if this face cream makes me break out or something. So this applies to your online business as well. Because no matter what people are buying, we’re all consumers. At the end of the day, we all have this consumer mentality. And you need to think about that in your business as well. And then the last thing in terms of how you can improve for next time, which this kind of goes into step six, is thinking about your audience. Because what I see happen a lot, and this is totally normal. And I went through this multiple times in my business too is as our business evolves, our work evolves, what we’re interested in evolves,

41:07
our audience kind of changes, like who we are talking to changes. And so you may be at that point where your old audience, the people that were following you on Instagram, or were on your email list or whatever, it’s not a good fit anymore, there’s just, there’s not a good match. And so the next thing to look at beyond messaging offer is really understanding more about your audience, are they still the right fit for what you are now working towards, for the launch that you just did? I mean, there, if that’s kind of the, what you’re seeing in your recap, is that there’s just not that much interest from your audience, then there’s the possibility that it’s just not the right audience anymore. Maybe you had them as an audience for years and years and years. And it’s just gone a little stale. And that happens. And so this is where we get into step six, the final thing to do right after your launch, which is to keep building your list, so you just took a break. And then you put the next launch on your calendar for a few months max out. So no, remember, we’re keeping the momentum going. So no more than a few months out. And in between that time, because now you’ve already done a lot of the work for your next launch, you know, your special event, yes, you may tweak some things, maybe you’ll even just like change the title to see if you get more interest, maybe you’ll add or subtract some slides to your webinar, it’s that kind of thing. Maybe you’ll turn it from a challenge into a webinar or a webinar or into a challenge. But unless you just like totally hated that special event, and you don’t want to do it ever again, then you can probably reuse it. And the same goes with a lot of the other content you created for this last launch, you can reuse it. And so this means that a lot of that energy that was going into that for the launch, you just completed. Now that energy can go into building your audience. And if you remember from Episode 152, when I talked about the different stages of launching, there’s that pre pre launch stage, which you’re kind of like almost always in like, there may be a little bit of a break here and there, which is normal. If you’re like, I don’t want to do this 365 days a year. That’s okay, you can take a break. But a lot of time is spent in that pre pre launch stage, especially if you’re really, really needing to build your audience to get more eyes on your work. This is kind of that point where the freebie is the main focus, and you’re getting people interested and involved in that freebie. Again, you may not need to change anything about your actual freebie, but instead of working on the messaging around that freebie, perhaps getting a new platform started that will get you in front of new people. So maybe now’s a good time to start a podcast. Because you know, that’s one of my favorite platforms, obviously, but something like that where you can then get into a new audience and reach new people and get them involved in your freebie. But the main thing that you should be focusing on in between launches, is getting people on your email list that are a good fit for that offer that you have going on during your launch. So this is super important because otherwise you’re going to stay stuck in this place where you don’t get a lot of attention. You don’t get a lot of engagement when you talk specifically about the things that you want to do. Fill in your paid offer, because it’s just not the right audience. And so having that freebie that is a perfect match is important. And again, that’s part of the launch list accelerator getting that all set up for you. Because a lot of it’s going on behind the scenes, you know, it’s not like this is something you have to focus on, all day, every day. But it is something that is always happening behind the scenes. And then you spend maybe a few days a week, where you do promote it, you do talk about it on social media, but you still have this automated system going on all the time. And of course, the more people that you have on your email list, every launch you do, the more conversions you will have, in each launch, it’s just a numbers game. It’s an attraction game, really working on getting the right people to know about you to see what you do to be interested in what you do. And those people being the right people for your paid offer. So that is number six, those are the six things that you need to do right after your launch. And really this you should be doing this, whether you had this complete smashing success of a launch or this what you perceive as failure of a launch doesn’t matter. Do this do this every time. Because again, there’s always going to be things that you can learn and improve and grow. It’s part of the process. It’s the fun part.

46:29
Honestly, I think what, how cool is it that we have so many learning experiences to be had at every stage of the game, I think it’s really cool, at least. And as a reminder, everything I talked about in all of these episodes around launching, and specifically today, too. If you would like help and guidance and a little more done for you type launch experience, then that is available for you inside the signature program bundle. Module Five, I’ll walk you through the entire process of creating that irresistible offer. All of the things included besides just like, hey, I have this program come by it, we will create that offer that makes it so compelling, and irresistible. And then in module six, literally everything I could possibly think of to make launching your program as easy as possible. As time saving as possible, to take out all the questions that you might have to take out all of the guesswork, and to make sure it is as successful as possible for you too. I give you the emails, I give you the templates, I give you the webinar templates, I tell you exactly what to do on what day and when I mean, like I really tried to make it as simple as possible. That’s all available for you inside the signature program bundle. And really, if you’re someone who knows that you want a signature program and your business or if you even think you might someday potentially be interested in having your own signature program as your paid offer. The best place to start is to go to my free masterclass. And I will walk you through the entire process I will show you what’s involved, how to do it, what steps to take, I will lay it all out for you so that you have the system that you need to make this possible for you and your business and it’s all free. So you can go to shawmynar.com/masterclass To schedule your session for when it works best for you. That’s shawnmynar.com/masterclass. That’s a really really good free place to start. All right, my friends. Thanks so much for checking this episode out. If you have any questions about launching or signature programs, or email lists or anything in your business, be sure to reach out on social media. I’m over at Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur, you can DM me over there and I’ll get back to you. Or if you just want to come hang out and watch some weird videos. I’m over on Tik Tok to now at unstuck entrepreneur over there. And until next time, take care

Live Launch vs. Evergreen: Which One Is Better? — Ep. 154

Unstuck Podcast

You’ve heard about this idea of making money while you sleep and it sounds pretty magical. So now you’re thinking, why both with a whole big live launch when you can just make your paid offer always available for people to purchase any time they want…including while you’re sleeping? It’s a question I get asked a lot as my clients get ready to put out their first or next paid offer. With everything that goes into a successful launch, it can seem like it would just be wayyyy easier to skip it all and go evergreen. So how about we create a pros and cons list for both options so you can decide which one would be best for you? As someone who has had many evergreen courses, ebooks, and workshops AND also done A LOT of live launches, I’ve got a lot to say about it, so let’s dive in!

“What it seems like and what I think a lot of people in the online space are making it appear to be, isn’t the reality for all people.” – Shawn Mynar

“Because of the environment, you will make more sales during a live launch than just by having it be evergreen and always available.” – Shawn Mynar

“If you want a live launch that is a success, planning ahead is going to be key.” – Shawn Mynar

“Do a live launch to create excitement and awareness.” – Shawn Mynar

Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram: @unstuckentrepreneur

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTS BELOW:

0:01
You’ve heard about this idea of making money while you sleep. And it sounds pretty great. So now you’re thinking, why bother with a whole big live launch? When you can just make your paid offer always available for people to purchase anytime they want, including while you’re sleeping? It’s a question I get asked a lot as my clients get ready to put out their first or next paid offer. With everything that goes into a successful launch, it can seem like it would just be way easier to skip it all and go evergreen. So how about we create a pros and cons list together for both options, so you can make the best decision for you and your business. As someone who has had many evergreen courses, ebooks and workshops, and also done a lot of live launches, I’ve got a lot to say about it all. So let’s dive in. Hey, hey there, friends.

0:59
Welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. So happy to have you here checking out the Show checking out this episode. It’s a it’s a big episode. It’s a loaded episode and a topic that I get asked about a lot. And I have a lot to say about this. I’ve been wanting to do this episode for a really, really long time. And it just didn’t ever seem like the right time, because we had a lot to discuss before we got to this point. And that’s why I did this whole series that we’re currently in the middle of all about launches, so that we could get to this point where I could talk about the difference between a live launch and an evergreen situation in your business and what the pros and cons are of each and how to decide which one is best for you. We had a lot to get to up until this point. So if you haven’t tuned in to the other episodes about launching prior to this, so it would be the two episodes before this one. This, it’s really important to kind of bring you up to speed to the point where you will understand everything that we’re going to talk about today. So this is episode three of this series all about launching in your business. Go back, listen to episode 152, I believe 153. And now this is 154. And you will be fully involved in this whole series we’re doing so super excited for today’s episode, because as I’ve mentioned several times already, we are going to talk all about the difference between doing this live launch versus having your paid offers be always available, kind of in this evergreen mode. So you can decide which one is best for you. I will also be sharing some examples of how all of this works in my business, both the Evergreen aspect, and doing these live launches and kind of how I decide what is going to happen when and what I really want to come out of this for you is for you to be able to make the best decision for you and your business, not based on emotion or thought or ego. But from this more strategic business perspective. And it’s not very often that I say that. But I think what is happening here for a lot of people is this. I honestly think a lot of of the decision that comes between evergreen and live launching is based around an ego type thought and emotion, maybe a fear, or an overthinking type situation or just something where I think the decision is being made in the ego capacity versus really thinking about what’s right for you and your business and your life and all that stuff. So that’s what I want you to understand by the time we get done with this episode is what really is right for you where your business is at right now what your goals are, what your needs are, and what you really think you can make happen. That is the goal. All right. So let’s get started here. First, an explanation of each. I’ll make this quick. We talked about the live launch a lot Two episodes ago, Episode 152, I believe where I shared behind the scenes of my most recent launch. It was a live launch, but a part of that was really showing all of the ingredients involved. and the processes and the flow involved, have a live launch. So go back and listen to that. But essentially what I am referring to when I say live launch is a specific launch period where there is an enrollment that is open and then enrollment closes. It’s usually kicked off by a special free event like a webinar, a workshop, a masterclass a challenge, a video series, an audio series, something like that, where that’s this extra special, usually free, doesn’t have to be but usually free event. There are also usually some special bonuses involved or special special pricing during that time, something again, where it’s building this excitement around the enrollment period that is opened on a specific day and closes on a specific day. So yes, exciting. It’s also a great time that builds a lot of awareness and a lot of momentum around your paid offer. Because you’re talking about it a lot. You’re promoting it, there’s just lots of energy behind it during that period of time. So a live launch is typically used for like your signature program where a group of people are going through a process together, it can be used for a course a membership, a live or pre recorded workshop, and even getting one on one clients, which I really truly do not think enough people are using a live launch strategy to fill up their calendars with one on one clients. And if that’s what you want to do, if that’s where you see your business, going, or being at right now, taking these one on one clients. I personally if I were to go back to that time, in my business, when I was trying to get clients, if I had to do it all over again, I would definitely go the live launch route and bring in a handful of clients all at one time. That’s personally what I would do, you can use this strategy for your one on one client work. And so go back again, if you didn’t listen to episode 152. I hope this is the right number because I keep saying it, it might not be that but the episode that is titled behind the scenes of my most recent launch, go back and listen to that and then listen to it with the idea of one on one client work in mind. And you will see how that can work for that too. Now evergreen, when you hear that something is evergreen, it means that that paid offer is always available, people can sign up at any time, like they can go on your website, they can click the link in bio or whatever it is, and purchase and get started with whatever that thing is. This is great for obviously DIY courses, pre recorded workshops. Like obviously, you can’t do this for live workshops, because you’re not going to be live 24/7. So they can’t, you know, buy it whenever they want and be live with you for self paced memberships. So if it’s just a membership thing where they can get access at any time and just pick up and do their own thing within that membership. Cool. And also possibly your signature program could be evergreen, when we’ll talk about that. Coming up. Having a paid offer. Be evergreen is a big, big, big talk in the online business space. kind of always has been. But I feel like it’s gotten even more and more. So lately. Everyone wants an evergreen product. Because you are told that you can make money while you sleep. You can have a completely hands off business and be traveling around the world and doing all these other things and just checking your bank account your bank account is growing without you really having to do anything. And to some degree that is true. That does come with having an evergreen situation, having something that is always available for purchase. You can make money while you sleep. It has happened to me a lot over the past 10 years. I guess I’ve had an evergreen product for probably eight years. And it really truly is great. You do make money while you sleep. But I think the way that this is presented in the online business space that makes it sound like it’s super easy. There’s very little time involved like non time consuming at all. And basically like your business runs without you. And all you have to do is create this thing Sit back, relax, go about your life and watch it blow up and sell like crazy. And all of a sudden you’re making a million dollars. And that is not how it works, my friends. So let’s clear that up right away. Now, like I said, there is some truth to the like making money while you sleep, maybe it is less time consuming. Maybe it is a little more hands off in some regards. But thing that isn’t really talked about a lot when people are trying to kind of, quote unquote, sell you on this evergreen situation in your business, is that you still have to sell the thing, whatever it is that you have available, 24/7 365 You still have to sell it. And because that excitement and awareness and like that whole thing, the whole vibe that happens during a live launch isn’t really there. It actually requires a whole different kind of strategy, something special, like this different energy to go into making that sale. And we’re gonna talk more about this too in a second. But I just wanted to put that out there now, for all of you that are going into this thinking, why would I ever do this alive launch thing that she talked about and sounds like so much work. And it sounds so hard when I could just sit back and make money every day. I just want to put it out there. Now again, we’ll talk about it. I have more to say on this topic. I just want to put it out there now that what it seems like and what I think a lot of people in the online business space are making it appear to be isn’t the reality for most people. Now, yes, there are those outliers, probably those people that you’re looking at that it’s so easy for them to make sales while they’re doing all these things and seems like they’re barely working. But they’re probably not showing you what they’re really doing or what their team is doing behind the scenes. And they’re probably not showing you what it looks like the first few years in their business, this is probably not what they started out being able to do with their evergreen product. Okay. Now let’s get into the pros and cons list. For each, I tried to be as thorough as possible. But like, every episode, I’m probably missing some things. But let’s go through what I was able to come up with as a start. So first, starting with the pros of a live launch. So having that doors open to doors closed enrollment period, where you are really putting in some energy, some time, some work, all the things into that, doors, open doors closed period. First pro, you have the ability to make a large chunk of income in like a week or two, whatever your live launch period is you will get a quick cash injection during that time. So that’s really great, especially if you are in a situation where you need some money. What better way than to do a live launch and have it all come in? In a week or two, even a couple of days. If you have a shorter launch period, whatever that is. So you have that ability. Of course yes, it depends on how you set everything up. It depends on your marketing strategy, your sales strategy, what you’re doing in that period of time to get to that point where you can make the income that you desire. But that is a strategic thing. That is something that you will learn over time and over launches. And of course I’m here to help you set all of that up which is what we do in the signature program bundle. Next, when you are providing value and connection during that special event which is what kicks off your live launch typically, you also have this excitement and hype during that launch because you’re spending extra energy and time really promoting what you have to offer. You have these extra special bonuses or pricing. You will have this limited time offer like they can sign up during this week. And then after that it’s gone. It makes it an easy sell. So if you are someone who has a hard time maybe has those blocks that we were talking about in the last episode around selling this all makes it easier having that special event having that specific time period period that entered Do you the excitement, the bonuses, the special pricing, whatever it is, all of that sets you up to not really have to do that much in terms of selling, besides just making it available, showing up having that excitement, that enthusiasm, that confidence about your offer, and just being available. So it is a really easy sell, when you have created that foundation, and that environment around your live launch period. And because of that environment, and excitement and energy and all that stuff, you will make more sales, you will make more sales during a live launch than just by having it be evergreen and always available, you will make more sales. Let me really drive that home. Because that’s important, you will make more sales, and everybody that does evergreen versus live knows that it’s a very common thing to know. And it makes a ton of sense, when we just talked about everything that all the hype involved in a live launch that isn’t really there, when it’s always available.

16:09
And all of your sales and marketing energy is concentrated into a few weeks. So yes, maybe there is, as you might see it, it may look like there is more quote unquote, work involved, but it’s all concentrated into a few weeks, and then you get a break. So if you have the like lifestyle that needs breaks, or the personality that needs a break, then a live launch situation is really great for that like if you need or want to take summers off to be there with your kids, or to go travel if you need and or want to take the holidays off to again be with your family travel, just take some time off to regroup. During the holidays, you have that ability when you are doing these specific periods of time where you are live launching, and then there’s a break live launching, and then there’s a break. So it may seem like potentially, there is more work. But it’s just concentrate it just focus work break folks who work break. So that may or may not be something that works for you. And then lastly, once you create the content for that while live launch, like maybe you do a workshop where you do a challenge or something like that, once you create that, and all the kind of marketing tools that go along with that, it’s done, you can reuse it for future launches. So the work load gets less and less and less. Every time you launch. Yes, you will make tweaks maybe there was an email that didn’t get opened. And so you change a few things about that email, or maybe you want to add or take away some slides for your workshop or something like that. But the vast majority of the work is done. Once you do one launch, you just keep repeating that launch and getting better and better and better at that, which is really great. So so much of the work is on the front end. And then you can kind of coast and just have those periods where yes, there is more excitement, more energy, you’re showing up more for your paid offer and your special event. And then you get a break. Really nice. Alright, let’s talk about the cons now of doing a live launch. I think that the biggest one that I personally don’t see as a con but from what I get from my clients is that you’re live, it’s not something that you can pre record and you know, add it and then put out and have the same vibe have the same energy have the same excitement around. Typically for a live launch, you’re gonna have to be live in some capacity. Even if you’re doing a challenge. And it’s a, like a five day challenge with five emails that go out one a day, you’re still probably going to have to show up live somewhere in like a Facebook group or on Instagram or something like that. Because that’s part of building that excitement, creating that energy and showing up during that period of time for your business in a different capacity than you do every other time of the year. So

19:50
yeah, you have to be live. You have to show your face you have to be okay with stumbling over your words, making mistakes and just being You and that is what will be the driver of your sales, the energy that you put into showing up live for people. And just being yourself, people don’t want to buy something or get the help they need from a robot, they want to see you, they want to know that you guys have a connection that you’re good working together, and not everyone will be, that’s okay. So being able and willing and excited to show up live is part of having a live launch. And that’s just honestly a mindset thing that you’ll have to work through. Again, do it, just commit to doing it, even though it’s uncomfortable, and scary, and all the things and after you get one, you’ll realize it’s actually quite fun. And and then you can do it again and again and again. And it just gets easier and easier every time. Another con i would say is that you can feel a little pressure to get everything done in time, like time pressure, because you’ve got to set a date for your live launch and let people know. So they have time to learn about it and to register and enroll and get excited for that special event and all that stuff. So you have to set a date in advance and you have to stick with that date. Now, I again think this is not a con. Because a lot of times we need that date, we need to share it, we need to talk about it well in advance, put it in our calendar and set it in stone and get other people to know about it for us to actually do the thing because it’s real easy, as we all know, to keep pushing things back and back and back. And back. When you don’t have that like set in stone, this thing is happening, I just told someone else kind of motivation. So again, it is something to consider, you may feel like and that’s why I shared the episode I did about behind the scenes of my launch. You may feel like there’s a lot to do in a short period of time. But if you take what I shared with you, and really plan it out in the way that I showed you, then you will have plenty of time and you don’t have to worry about that time crunch. When it comes close, you will have you know everything set your schedule set, you will know what you’re working on week by week. And it won’t feel like so much pressure, but it still is possible that it will come down to the wire. And you’ll be you know, writing emails and creating sales pages and slides and all that stuff towards the end, that’s okay. It just means you’re working on your business, you’re doing the thing, you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone. Cool, love it, but be prepared for that. So that goes into my last clamp con, which is that you need to plan ahead. If you want to have a live launch, that is a success, planning ahead is going to be key. Knowing your date, I would say at minimum a month out is going to be very, very helpful. So last minute stuff is going to be a challenge. So at least a month out. Preferably, I would say even up to three months out maybe even a year out depending on how you like to plan things you know when your launches will be. So just to wrap up the live launch info I want to share when it would be best to use a live launch. First of all, they are great, I would say essential for a group program type situation where the group is going through the material together. So they all start on a specific day or in a specific week they go through the weeks or the modules or the steps together. There’s this forum or community where they’re kind of sharing what they’re up to, and challenges and stuff. And doing all that together. There are calls with you coaching calls where you’re maybe adding something to the modules or what they’re going through that week, or you’re even just asked answering questions from that week or that module, whatever it is, but obviously if it’s cohort based, then you want to do a live launch for that you can’t have people just signing up at random if you want everyone to start and go through the process together. So that is where most signature programs are going to need a live launch.

24:40
And this will also work for like a membership or a course or anything like that where you do kind of want to build that excitement and have people start in a group together. Also, like I mentioned earlier, it’s great for getting several new one on one clients at once. especially if you have like a three month package or a six month package to offer your clients. And it’s just a really good way to again, build that hype, build that awareness, let people know they need to work with you, what will go into that process and all that stuff, it’s kind of nice to do that in a concentrated format, instead of just always being like, Hey, new, I’m taking new clients, hey, I’m taking new clients, it really helps to do that all at once. So that’s an option too, for these live launches. And again, if you prefer periods of work, with periods of arrest and downtime in your business, live launches are great. And then I would say lastly, anytime you have a brand new paid offer, like you’ve never talked about it before, people don’t know about this, you’re just now putting it out into the world, do a live launch to create excitement and awareness, it is very hard to launch something brand new out into the world, just by saying hey, this thing’s available go get it. That’s like super challenging to create the excitement and awareness that you need around that when most people don’t see your post. A lot people don’t potentially don’t read your emails or not every email. So doing it in this concentrated format, where you’re kicking it off with this special event. It’s just a big deal. I mean, think about it, anytime someone opens a restaurant, or there’s an new movie or something, there’s a premiere, right? Like there isn’t a big event, there’s a red carpet thing. That is what we need to do. For every single thing we launch in our business too. There’s a reason why all new things that come out into this world have a launch around it, excitement and awareness. So very hard to put out a paid offer that is brand new, and get the hype around it that you need by going straight to Evergreen. Speaking of evergreen, let’s chat about that. The pros of having something a paid offer something for sale, all the time, is that you have the potential to make money 24/7 365, which is obviously super cool, very enticing, very intriguing. We all want that. And along with that comes the potential to also have steady revenue coming in. Especially if you get down the road and you start being able to predict how many people buy this thing per week, per month per year, then you have more predictability in your business. And just as a note, in both of those cases, I say the potential to make money 24/7 365 and potential for steady revenue. Does this mean that it’s 100% proven? Your this is definitely going to happen. The second you put something out evergreen, absolutely not. It takes time, work attention, energy, all the things.

28:04
Next up, when you are evergreen, you will likely if you if it’s for a course or a membership or a program, it still will likely have a special event attached to it. It’s just that that also is automated and always available always going which means it is pre recorded. And for a lot of people that sounds very again, enticing, intriguing, amazing, I can do this thing, I don’t have to be live, I don’t have to be in front of an audience. I can edit it all to be exactly what I want, and then put it out and have people consume it. So that is a pro. And there’s also tons of other automations going on with in an evergreen situation to have someone go from, you know, being aware of this special event all the way to purchasing all of it’s basically automated. Which means yes, it is more hands off the actual process can be hands off. Now even at a live launch. Most things are also automated. So again, it is also hands off but more concentrated in the energy for that specific time. Now the cons of having something be evergreen. And this is something I don’t think a lot of people truly understand and really get almost until you do it. But let me save you doing this by telling you how it really is. You are constantly in marketing mode. You have to be either selling your offer or at least selling getting people interested in In your special event, if that is something you have, basically every day, like, you do not have a break, you do not have time off. I mean, yeah, sure you can take it, but then your chances of selling anything are zero. So you are constantly having that, in the back of your mind. Like, did I promote something promoted enough today? Did I do? Well, how many people signed up from my special event? Why didn’t anyone buy today? Why didn’t anyone sign up for my special event today? It is, it can get to be real madness in your brain. And then also kind of affects your energy around that as well like your vibration around that as well. So there is that constant pressure almost to sell, it’s always going on, it’s always in the back of your mind. And you’re always kind of looking at the analytics and the stats and trying to figure it out and wondering how else you can say it. And that means you have to post on social media that much more. And, you know, make sure you’re always talking about it in your emails and on your other platforms, all that stuff, like it’s always running in the back of your mind. And so this comes back to what I was talking about before where it can look like, it does look like in a lot of cases where people have these very evergreen hands off businesses, that they’re not doing anything, and they’re making sales every day without doing much. But again, what are they? Are they promoting their stuff every single day? Probably? Or is their team doing something behind the scenes every day to promote? Or, you know, like, what is their content creation schedule? Like? Is that something that you can do and are willing to do every day? And or are they spending a bunch of money on ads, maybe that’s the other way around it which is great. But again, it’s time or it’s money, which one are you going to put in every day, versus doing that in a concentrated period of time, and then being able to take a break, and rest and get ready for the next round. So that is I think, for me, the biggest con and again, it’s not something that you truly understand until you go through it. And you’re like, geez, I gotta post again about this thing. And again, and again and again. And it can feel a little daunting. Another big, big con, is that you’re going to get fewer conversions, you’re going to get fewer conversions, because going back to that live launch, that excitement, that whole like environment isn’t being created when it’s always available. And it’s all automated, someone watching your pre recorded webinar or workshop, they’re not going to have the same,

32:59
it’s just not going to be the same experience, as if you were live. And you were there right there with them answering their call their questions, chatting with them just being present in that same space, it’s not going to be the same. So no matter what the conversion rate is different. As an example, I have been running a pre recorded workshop and an evergreen situation for the signature program bundle for the past three months. I also just did a live launch for the same offer. I made the same number of sales in three days with a live launch that I made in three months with a an evergreen launch. And in both of those cases, my conversion rates were way higher than average for an online business. And that still is what the results were so do you want to make the sales in three months? Or do you want to make them in three days and obviously this flows right into my next con, which that is going to take longer to reach your income goals. Which is again something for you to consider when it comes to what is best for you and your business and your life and your financial situation.

34:30
Is it okay for it to take a you know 310 20 times longer to reach your income goals. So something to really look at in your business, when to use an evergreen flow. If you have a low ticket offer, like an ebook or a recorded workshop. When I say low ticket, I would say Uh, anything under like 100 bucks, that would be something that could be evergreen and could potentially do well for you. It’s obviously if it’s something that’s under $100 is probably not going to be the primary driver of your income in your business. So it’s kind of almost like this extra cherry on top type situation that is just kind of always available and as a next step, or probably actually a first step to someone getting involved financially with your business, after they have consumed some of your free content. And if it’s something like an ebook or recorded workshop, then that is also probably not going to have that free special event type situation. Again, it’s like they have consumed your free content, they’ve gotten your emails, through your freebies, they listen to your podcast, all that stuff. And then the next step is to buy this low ticket offer from you to get extra help in whatever area and from there, then they will be a part of your next live launch. And they will get more and more and more involved with you as you go. So it’s a really good starting point for people. The next time when you could potentially use an evergreen situation for your business is if you have a big, highly engaged audience, and or lots of evergreen content that gets high engagement. Again, if we go back to those people who really pushed the idea of having your business be on evergreen and your paid offers be on evergreen, if you go back and look at those people, if you’ve been no any, maybe you don’t, that’s cool, too. But from what I have seen over the past few years, when this has really started to become bigger and bigger. Guess what, those people all have gigantic audiences. And they are on all the platforms that Instagram but tick tock the YouTube the podcast that this that that like whatever it is there have really big, highly engaged audiences. And their only thing that they do is create content like content, content, content content, all day, every day. And part of that content all day, every day is promoting their evergreen situation, as I talked about, like something that’s always going on in your business every day. And so if that is something that you want to do, first of all, and have that beasts something going on, and you also have the audience for it, if you know that if you talk about it every day, someone new is going to see it, it’s never seen it before, then that is a situation where it could work and could work really well for you. But again, highly engaged large audience, or lots of evergreen content that gets high engagement. So that would mean something like if you do have a podcast that is you know, a really has a really great solid audience or a blog, that gets a lot of readers like Google, Pinterest, whatever, it’s getting traffic to your blog posts, that is an option, too. I’ll share how this works for me and my business in a second. But having that evergreen content works well, because you may get a podcast listener that listens to an episode two years down the road. And as long as you are talking about something related to that evergreen offer, they may be interested, same thing goes with a YouTube video or a blog post, having that evergreen content is really super helpful if you have also the offer to go with it. Also, if you don’t need to make money right away, and can play that long game, then sure, go ahead with the Evergreen situation, get that set up. And then really, really, really focus on creating the evergreen content that goes along with it that drives people into that situation in your business. So again, this is I’m talking years, if you have that if you don’t need the income coming in right away, and you want to just set that up over the long game for your business, then that’s an option as well. But again, I plan on it taking a few years to get that really set up. And lastly, if you’re willing to pay a decent chunk of change for Facebook ads, then this is also something that could work for you in an evergreen capacity. Again, we’ve got to decide do you want to spend the time and effort creating content all the time and talking about all the time or are you willing to spend them money to get the content and the traffic and get people in that way. And typically, with an evergreen type situation, you know, it depends on the price point of the offer. And whether or not you have a special event connected to that offer, it is a higher cost per lead, typically, to run a Facebook ads to like an evergreen webinar that’s free, that then goes into the paid offer, that is typically going to cost more. So you have to again be willing to put in the financial investment, knowing you will get a return on that investment, but being willing, and able to do that.

40:44
Alright, so that’s the pros and cons list that I was able to come up with. Now I want to share a little bit about my experience. And then I’m going to give you what I think is your best option. I have had, as I mentioned earlier, at least one evergreen offer going on in my business, since I created my very first ebook back, I believe in 2015. And it was called the 28 day real food jumpstart, it was $28. It was an ebook that I put together before Canva even existed, so it is very ugly. And what is so fascinating about that is I literally kicked off my evergreen passive income situation by making money in my sleep, the first sale I ever made of that $28 ebook was overnight while I was sleeping. And, you know, looking at my bank account the next day and seeing that it had increased, not decreased was like absolutely fascinating to me. Obviously, the first time that happens, you’re hooked. You don’t it only takes one time for that passive income to come in before you are hooked forever. And so obviously since then, I have had a workout program. That is an ebook as well. I’ve had pre recorded workshops, I’ve had DIY courses, all as evergreen opportunities. In fact, I think most of those, if not all of them are still available to this day, and I make sales on them to this day. In fact, just this past couple weeks, I

42:39
sold that workout program, which at this point, I think that was created in 2016. So obviously, a long, long time ago still holds up, I still think that it is an amazing program. It’s specifically for people with autoimmune disease or other illnesses that compromise their energy levels at times. So it’s a really niche workout program, which is great, and I love it. But I made a sale on that in the past couple of weeks at this point. It’s like $19 I think so you know, a little again, cherry on top kind of situation for my business. But I made that sale, because I have one blog post that is specifically related to that ebook. And I talk about the ebook in that blog post. And then people buy it. The people that buy it come from either Pinterest, I do have a few pins on that blog post, or Google. And then they get onto my website, they get on to that blog post, they read it if it’s something they think they need, they buy it. So that is how I think evergreen offers work really well, especially those lower priced options. And I regularly make sales on a past DIY course that I have, because I have content that points directly to that course. And this is content that I have created over years in my business that gets traffic through Google through Pinterest, people looking for and finding my past podcast episodes. Like for the DIY version of the fat burning female project, which is my past signature program that’s now on evergreen and as DIY. I have an entire podcast 130 episodes of an entire podcast dedicated just to that program. And I talk about that program in a lot of those episodes like directly talk about it, and reference it because it’s so closely tied with that content. And so people find my podcast, listen to these episodes. And I haven’t recorded a new episode of that show since 2019. It went from 27 teen I think to 2019. So it’s obviously been years since there’s been any new content on there. But people still find those podcast episodes, listen to it, hear about the fat burning female project, go to my website, go to the sales page and purchase it. So that is how I really think we can leverage the use of content, I guess evergreen content that rolls into evergreen offers, I think that is such an amazing thing to have going on in your business. Now, I obviously also do live launches for the programs that I’m currently running and supporting and, you know, have my attention and my energy and my business, I usually do one live launch per quarter, so four times a year. I love doing them. I love planning them, I love having them. I think they’re great. They are amazing. And I have done live launches for years, probably five, six years ever since I created the fat burning female project. For the first time. I’ve been doing live launches, and I really love them. But I also have the signature program bundle setup on evergreen as well, like I mentioned. And I decided to do this because it really is a program that doesn’t need to be done in groups. It’s more of a DIY course, that also includes support. But people can start at any time and still come in to those live calls, I host and be a part of the community, no matter what stage they’re in, it’s not something that everyone needs to go through, together.

47:08
And that kind of shows the ability for you to have a signature program that is on an evergreen situation, if there is that case where people don’t have to start together, and can still be a part of your support system, and be a part of the community and it won’t throw anybody off and it won’t take away from that experience, then that’s a situation where you could have your signature program be evergreen, but still have the support of a signature program instead of it being just a DIY course. And this all leads me to answering the question, which one of these is better?

47:52
My answer is the combo, I think you should do both. I am loving the combo. I think it really hits all the buckets when it comes to your business both wanting that cash injection of your live launch, but also wanting a steady stream of income coming in throughout the year. It also is really great to have the hype and the energy and the excitement of a live launch. It helps people get to know what you’re about and what you offer, and gets people involved to a greater degree when you have a live launch. But then also having this situation where there is still help available for people who want to start on a smaller scale or start when they’re ready, or something like that. So you can do this in a few different ways. You can create a few different paid offers. One that is specifically something that can be put on evergreen, and then one that is cohort based or would be better with a live launch. And more specifically, there’s going to be that one that’s on evergreen, that is a lower price point. It is a starting point for people it is something where you know people can come to a blog post or listen to a podcast episode and get interested and get started on that whenever they’re ready. So again, an ebook a mini course or workshop series or something like that where it’s in that you know under $100. And then you have that other thing that next step that is a higher price point has more connection with you isn’t DIY, maybe there is a group situation or it is working one on one with you or it’s part of your membership or something like that. So you can do that. Have those two offers and potentially more and more as you get further along in your business, we can start there with that, you know those two different ones. Or you can have that same offer, and have it be always available and do a live launch with it too, which is what I’m doing with the signature program bundle. So someone who wants that help right away and wants to get started right away and hears about it and knows, it’s what they need, and is ready and committed, can buy it whenever and get started. And to still have that community support and be a part of my live calls. But then also, having that live launch to help people make the decision to get more excitement and awareness built, and just have that environment around it too, is really great. And they really help feed into each other, which is also awesome. And you still have that ability to take a break. Because you know that live launches coming up, you know that that cash injection is coming up. And so if you want to take a week or two weeks or a month or three months off of talking about it and just have it be kind of running in the background for people that do find your long term content, your evergreen content that directs them to that program that’s still running in the background, but you don’t feel like you need to be on top of it every day, you can take a break if you need to. Now keep in mind that this can only be done with a program or course or membership, that doesn’t need to be done in a group format. If it’s really important to you and make sense for what you’re doing in your program, to have people go through it as a group. And this is the case for a lot of signature programs, especially in the wellness and health space. Because it just works so much better to have people go through it together as a group with you as their guidance support during that time, then obviously, having it always available isn’t going to work, you want to do that live launch to get people in and started at a specific time together. But then that would be the case where you could create like a mini version, or maybe a workshop that ties into what you do in that signature program. That then is your evergreen piece, your evergreen offer always available that really gets people primed and ready for that signature program,

52:43
the next time the doors open, but also is an opportunity for you to have a little bit of passive income and revenue coming in, in between launches. So I hope that makes sense. If you want to have a cohort based program, or course or membership, then your best bet is to create a different offer that is evergreen, a smaller offer a baby offer. All right, I think I will stop there for this episode. As you can see, there’s a lot to think about. It’s not just all about what kind of sounds the best and maybe the least out of your comfort zone for you. But what really makes sense for you and your business and your bank account and what you need your business to do for you. Think more about that and create the best system for you. As a reminder, if you want your live launch, to be basically all laid out and done for you, then that is available to you inside the signature program bundle. And spoiler alert, I’m currently working on a new module inside of that program, that’s going to be all about setting up that evergreen funnel so that you can be doing both of those things for your program that is potentially not cohort based. And I mean just to be totally honest, that does mean that the price of the bundle is going to increase when that is available because the value of that program is going to be astronomically higher when I add that information and how you can set all of that up and just making it so so so simple for you to do that. So if you are already inside the bundle, you are going to have access to that new module already that is going to be part of your lifetime access. Which means if you want to get in before that and before the price increase you can do so now and get in on that when it becomes available next month. And you can learn all about that at Shawn mynar.com/bundle All right, friends, I hope that gave you something to consider. I hope that really explained things from a very different perspective than you may have previously thought about live launches and evergreen launches. And I would love to know what you are planning to do and what your takeaway is from this episode. So head over to Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur, find me over there, send me a DM, let’s chat about it. And I’m happy to help you in any way I can with your next or first launch. All right, friends, until next time, take care

The Mindset Shifts Required For A Successful Launch — Ep. 153

Unstuck Podcast

Launching is an important part of every online business, and knowing what to do to make your launches a success is key to, well, having a successful online business. BUT, it’s not just enough to know the strategies, plans, and goals of a launch, it’s even more important to know the mindset required and energetic vibration needed to attract the launch results you desire. Today, we’re going to talk about the biggest mindset and energetic blocks I see online business owners make during launches and how you can shift your approach for your next launch.

“The best way to prove your limiting beliefs wrong is to just DO the thing.” – Shawn Mynar

“When you are too scared or overwhelmed with the selling aspect of being in business, you’re doing a disservice to the people who need your help, who want to work with you.” – Shawn Mynar

“Selling is actually the easy part and it’s fun… Just get out there and just do it.” – Shawn Mynar

“Set a big, amazing, fun, exciting goal. Yes, challenge those industry averages and the online business averages. Set it, make it big, and see it as a game to try and get there.” – Shawn Mynar

Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram: instagram.com/unstuckentrepreneur/

FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

0:02
launching is an important part of every online business. And knowing what to do to make your launches a success is key to Well having a successful online business. But it’s not just enough to know the strategies, plans and goals of a launch, it’s actually even more important to know the mindset required an energetic vibration needed to attract the launch results you desire. Today, we’re going to talk about the biggest mindset and energetic blocks I see online business owners make during their launches, and how you can shift your approach for your next launch. Stay tuned. Hey, hey there, friends.

0:42
Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur, so happy to have you here. So grateful to have you checking out the show. And a reminder to you, we are in the middle of a whole podcast series, a whole four part, at least maybe even five part podcast series, all about the idea of launching in an online business, and how we use that to really get the word out about our paid offers. So we started in the last episode, Episode 152, by taking a peek behind the scenes of my most recent launch. And I really wanted that episode to show everything that’s involved. from a strategy perspective, when it comes time to launch, I shared all of the ingredients, we’ll call them the ingredients needed in a launch and the different phases of the launch process. You know, we have the launch, we have the pre launch, we have the pre pre launch, there’s a lot to it. And I also wanted to use that episode to show how I personally organize my launch strategy, how I approach it in a way that is not stressful and is actually really fun and doesn’t feel like that much work either. Because I think that’s one of the biggest blocks a lot of people have to launching as they feel like it’s stressful. It’s a lot of work. And it kind of turns people off. So I wanted to share how I approach it that makes it actually really fun, and one of the least stressful weeks of my business really. And so if you haven’t listened to that episode, go back, you can do it after this episode. But make sure you go back to 152. And check that out too. Because it will really put everything together from what we’re going to talk about today. And in that episode into one big, nice launch package. Okay, and speaking of which, today, we’re talking all about the mindset required for a successful launch, and the vibration needed for a successful launch. Because I can tell you with 100% Certainty Been there done that you can do every single possible strategy and tactic and tip and trick and tool and follow every single business owners advice to a tee on how to launch in your business, and still not get the results you want from your launch. Simply because of your mindset and your vibration. So you can take everything that I just shared with you in Episode 150, to put it into practice in your business, and still not see any results. And it works the opposite way to if your head heart and energy are in the right place and stay in the right place it during your launch, you can make a ton of mistakes, you can do everything wrong, you can go totally off script, you can not follow really any strategy and still have a super successful launch again, been there done that both situations work. So in reality, what we’re going to talk about today is the most important and is the most powerful thing that you can do for your launch and for your business and for yourself. Now that all being said and coming back full circle really here. It’s going to be pretty hard to stay in the mindset and vibration that you want. If you are coming into your launch, being unprepared or feeling stress, flustered, not really wanting to do it or already believing it will be a failure all of these things that we can do subconsciously and we’ll talk about that today. It’s going would be really hard to maintain the vibe and the mindset, if you don’t kind of take what we talked about last episode, and put that into practice as well. Because how can you stay in this really great vibe and this really great place, when you’re doing everything last minute, and you’re deciding on all this stuff and things are going wrong because you haven’t planned in advance. So for me, and from what I have seen, both in my business and in my clients, it’s the combination of pre planning, working things out, getting into your calendar, really having this nice organization and flow with the strategy part with the actual ingredients of your launch, along with the mindset and energy requirements that we’re going to talk about today. And they really go hand in hand one kind of feeds into the other. All right, let’s dive into mindset stuff first, and then we’ll take a look at vibration and energy. After that. This mindset piece, man, I feel like I could and maybe I will do multiple episodes on this. But I really just wanted to focus on the big players here when it comes to mindset during a launch. So I think I really have two big pieces we’re going to talk about today. And I really think this makes up like the 90% of it. And then there’s, of course some other things floating around that I think are important to talk about. And maybe we’ll do that in the future. First is the mindset around selling. Probably the biggest one, I don’t know, the next one might be the biggest one. They’re both huge. But so many of you are coming into your launch. And just as a reminder, in case you haven’t listened to Episode 152, yet, your launch period is like your sales period, your enrollment period where you’re really showing up and showcasing what you have to offer in the paid perspective in your business. But you’re coming into that already having a fear of selling, you already have this subconscious programming that says that selling is sleazy, scammy pushy, annoying, you think back to this one time you went to buy a car and you felt like really weird about it, because they were really pushy towards you. And now you feel like you’re being that to the people that you want in your program. And it just really starts getting out of hand, you feel like maybe you’re bothering people by asking for money, which is not what you’re doing. And I asking for money, you are in a reciprocal relationship, where someone is giving you a form of energy in the way of money in order to receive something from you that is of equal value in the way of time, experience, expertise, education, whatever it is. So we have a reciprocal relationship going on. But you think of selling as asking for money as bothering people, you fear that you will look bad or that you’ll make people mad that you’ll be judged for selling. There’s a ton of stories of beliefs around selling and money that then we bring into our business and more specifically our launch. And it immediately blocks your success. Your flame is already dulled, you are already holding back, you’re already having fear. You’re not fully showing up and being proud and confident in what you have created and who you help and how you help them. And it’s all because you have these beliefs around selling these stories around money. And you’re actually putting your money stories on to now your future clients. And you’re taking how you feel about money and thinking they feel the same way about money. And it’s just this whole big cycle. And it will forever keep you blocking the income that you desire, the income that you could be making, because you’re not dealing with your money stuff. And you’re not dealing with your selling stuff. And yes, it takes more than listening to a few podcast episodes or reading a few books or blog posts or following some people on Instagram that do money mindset work or whatever it takes more than that. It takes your intentional commitment to really Doing that digging. And I actually feel like doing these launches in your business is one of the best ways to squash them, if you can just like put it on the back burner for just this week, or these couple of weeks that you’re launching, and just really commit to showing up and playing full out in this launch and really serving the people that you’re here to serve, then I think that’s one of the best ways to squash it. It’s you know, I am always saying this everywhere, but particularly on this show that the best way to prove your limiting beliefs wrong, is to just do the thing. Because the second that you do it, it’s like that fear dissipates, because it doesn’t come true. Nothing that you are afraid of, is actually the reality. So like, if you have this fear of selling, because you feel like people will judge you or think you’re annoying, or you’ll lose followers or whatever it is, then you start selling authentically and with passion and purpose, which is how I teach you to do so then you will see that people are actually really interested people are opening your emails and they’re checking out your sales page. Maybe they aren’t, it’s not the right time for them to buy yet, but they are interested and no one is thinking that you’re annoying. And sure, you may get a few on subscribers, who cares, they’re just not a good fit, that’s fine. But most people are really truly interested in what you have to offer. And that is really empowering and immediately squashes or starts to dissolve those beliefs that you have around selling and money and all that good stuff. And here is where I remind you that selling isn’t what you’re making it out to be in your head. It’s a service, it is simply you showing up for the people that want and need your help, and letting them know how they can get help. That’s all you’re doing. And when you don’t do that, when you are too scared or overwhelmed with the selling aspect of being in business, than what you’re doing is actually a disservice. That is a disservice to the people who need your help who want to work with you who are waiting for you to say you have something for sale, so that they can buy it and start getting the help they need. There are people out there waiting for you to make an offer to them. And so not selling is a disservice to that person. People need and want what you have to offer. They are looking for it, they’re waiting for it. And they want to know how they can get it and that’s all you’re doing when you are selling and you’re doing so in a way that is authentic to you and what you are offering and feels good to everyone involved. It feels good to you. It feels good to them. And there’s no slime Enos, there’s no sleaziness. There’s no really weird marketing tactics or anything like that. There yes may be some sales psychology within that just some buyer behaviors to be aware of that just makes it easier for people to make a decision for themselves. It’s not conning anyone into anything, or making false stories or anything like that. But it’s giving people the tools they need to make the best decision for them, which is all you’re ever doing when you sell. And now here’s the really, really cool thing about all of this. If you have approached your launch correctly and done everything we talked about in the last episode and everything I show you step by step how to do in signature program lab, you know the special event and the pre launch phase and even before the special event having a freebie which we do in launch list accelerator, again all part of the bundle. Selling is actually the easy part. It is like the super duper easy, no brainer part. And it’s fun because you’ve spent so much time serving and doing some extra special serving with that special event. And really showcasing who you are and what you do and how you help people and showcasing your personality and all these things within that whole launch event. And everything leading up to it and the pre launch and pre pre launch that people are ready to buy before you even offer them anything. It is a very natural easy step to the process when it comes time for you to let them know how to continue working with you. It’s so easy. And this is why really paying attention to the entire launch process. And really doing a special event that is unique and beneficial and valuable to your people is so important. Especially if you don’t like the idea of selling or if you have some stories about selling and money and all that stuff, make it super duper easy on yourself and do a special event, it is so helpful. And just get out there and just do it, do it, there’s nothing that will break those stories quicker than just doing the thing. Alright, let’s move on to the next a mindset shift, like I said, I think probably as important and prevalent, if not more, is that of detachment versus attachment. Oh, man, so many of you are putting so much pressure and weight on your launches, you have created this major attachment to the results to the outcome of that launch. And you’re making it mean something more than just hey, I did a launch. And this is what happened. You’re making it potentially mean that you’re not good enough that you’re not special enough that no one wants your help, that your business is doomed, that maybe you’re not cut out for business at all, that you’ll never be successful. Basically, a launch is like the perfect feeder for your ego for all of those limiting beliefs that you have stored in your subconscious mind right now. Your launch, if you let it by becoming attached to it will prove all of those right? Even if you have amazing result, and you totally blow your goals out of the water and everything’s incredible and you do a great job and everything, you will still find something to attach to that proves your ego, right? If you let it. And here’s how it usually plays out, you start by creating these goals that are like impossible to achieve or highly unlikely at best simply based on the math. And yes, there are just some pretty standard

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calculations for you to figure out how many people based on the number of people you get into your launch, how many people will then buy. And it’s just kind of like a standard calculation that I think most people in the industry of online business, I guess, US and a lot of people blow it out of the water. So it’s just kind of a baseline, I would say, but helpful to have. And I’m actually creating a kind of a calculator that does it all for you to put inside the signature program bundles. So that will be available probably by the time you’re listening to this, if you’re in it. So you can calculate so you know around what you can expect. And or work backwards and say, Okay, if I want this many people in my program or to sign up for whatever paid offer I have during this launch, that I need this many people to sign up for my special event and so on. But without that, then you’re left to the devices of just basically making up some random goals, which is fine. And I have nothing against making goals. I’ll explain how I set my goals in a minute. But what I see is just kind of this random making of goals where it doesn’t make sense. And it’s probably not going to happen just simply based on math and percentages and buyer behavior and just what we can expect there is a baseline there. And then you immediately attach an energy or emotion to hitting that goal or not hitting that goal. And all of this is happening subconsciously you don’t even realize you’re doing it. You may not even realize that you’re setting these goals. You may think okay, well, I have 10 people who signed up for my special event so then surely eight of them will buy and that’s not how it works. Right? So you’re doing all of this kind of subconsciously without giving it more thought. And yet you then attach that emotion to it which means it’s automatically He carrying a lot of weight for you. Even again, if you don’t realize it, and then you probably don’t hit those crazy goals. And as soon as you do whatever that emotion or that energetic expression that you attach to not hitting that goal comes up. And it is like you’re a failure, you get upset, you feel defeated, you want to give up, you want to call it quits, you start figuring out what job you can take, or what else you’re going to do other business, you’re gonna start to create, because you’re sure this one is doomed, you go into the depths of despair. As soon as you realize that you didn’t hit your crazy goal that actually, if you were to do a little more research and a little more thought and some again, strategy there, you would realize that that wasn’t a solid goal in the first place. So my biggest piece of advice, if you take anything away from this episode, let it be this when it comes to launching and really, most of your business, practice, detachment, how can you stay neutral about the outcome of your launch? And not make it mean anything more than what it actually means, which is just, that’s the result? What happened is what happened? That is it, but how you perceive it and feel about it is entirely up to you. And you have the power to decide, am I going to make this mean something about me or my business? Am I going to get my emotions involved? Or am I going to simply see it for what it is, which is, you know, an experience a learning experience, which we’re going to talk about in a second. And an opportunity for growth, an opportunity to get you out of your comfort zone, an opportunity to help someone else an opportunity to connect with someone new, there are so many amazing things happening in this lunch, beyond just those numbers, those results that you have decided to attach to when there’s so much else going on, that have so has so much more meaning than that actual result. So you can create goals, for sure. But if you do, then at least keep them within the realm of possibility. Based on your industry averages based on online business averages set a big, amazing, fun, exciting goal. Yes, challenge those industry averages and the online business averages, absolutely. Set it, make it big, and then see it as a game to try to get there. If you do great, if you don’t, great. It’s like I see so much of launching, and even all of online business kind of like video games. Basically, think of every launch as another level of the game. You have an idea what to expect in that level. But of course, there’s always new things to discover unexpected surprises, stuff, you got to learn stuff you got to get through that you just don’t know until you’re there.

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And getting through that level makes you better at the game overall,

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you just keep getting better and better and better at the game, the more levels you master, but like if you don’t make it through that new level on your first try. You don’t make it mean anything. Sure you might be like, upset for a second, but you don’t immediately quit the game forever. Call yourself a failure. You just try again the next day, you and it’s fun to keep trying. That’s why video games are so addictive is because it’s fun to keep trying keep mastering it to keep getting further along in the game to the next level and then the next level and the next level and to keep getting better and better. And the same goes for your business and launching. You don’t need to make it mean anything about you or your business or your success or your failure every time you launch because it doesn’t so here’s how I approached this with my launches. And it’s gonna be really hard to explain this in words, but I’ll do my best. So I create goals. Yes, absolutely. I have a goal like it would be cool to have this many yeses to have this many people join my program to have this many people in on the Special Event, I just use again, those calculators to create a pretty big goal, an achievable, but scary goal. So then once I know these numbers, and this is where it’s gonna get hard to explain, I kind of keep them off in the distance, like they’re there. But I’m not thinking about them or referencing them every day, all day all the time. I’m not worried about them. I don’t attach really anything to them, except that they are numbers. And I’ve just created those goals, almost like they’re guideposts. They are a reference point. For me, it helps me keep my expectations in check, it helps me know what to expect, it helps me know where we’re going. It helps me know if I need to adjust things here or there. They’re guideposts for my entire launch. And then I just go about setting up my launch and doing what I need to do to get people excited about my special event, provide a really great experience, let them know about the offer I have for them, I’m just going about what I already plan to do, regardless of what the numbers are saying. So if I’m not like giving up if it’s something’s not working, or I’m not seeing the numbers come in, like I thought they would, or I’m not trying harder or pushing more, because I want more, I’m also not getting scared or worked up or freaked out because I have more than I thought or really even excited because even that is attaching an emotion to an outcome. So yes, you are okay and allowed to be excited about your event. But you can be excited whether it’s crushing it, or you can be excited, even when it’s smaller than expected. It’s keeping that same emotion, energy, vibration, regardless, and we’re talking about that coming up. So that’s really where I stay, I stay with the emotion that I want to bring into my launch, regardless of those numbers. And that’s why I keep them kind of at a distance, they are more high level, they’re there. But I’m not being provoked by them emotionally in any way, I guess is the best way to say it. And then I just let whatever happens happen. I know the people that are meant to be in my program will join. I know the ones that need more time will take more time. I know the ones that aren’t interested at all, probably won’t ignore me that entire week. Totally fine. And that’s it, that’s all. And then guess what it becomes the world’s best learning experience, I now have so much that I can take from that launch experience, and tweak or change or add or subtract for next time. That’s the only thing that a launch means. It doesn’t mean anything about me or my success, or my abilities is just another learning experience. I’m just learning that level of the game, so that I can go up to the next level as soon as I master it. And it’s so fun. It’s so much fun to see how everything that you created this machine essentially that you’re creating, what worked and what didn’t, what needs tweaked, and what can be improved. What do you just want to keep as is because it worked really well. There’s so much to take out of this. And every single time you get better and better and better and better. And then you just keep mastering the game one level at a time, the whole game of online business, you’re mastering it one launch at a time. And this is really where you can see the growth mindset at work in your business versus the fixed mindset, which if you haven’t read the book Mindset by Carol Dweck, highly recommend great book on the growth versus fixed mindset. But this is how we can apply it into our business and see this as simply an opportunity for growth. You have the opportunity to learn to change to morph both you and your business based on this one experience. And every single time you do it, even if technically you’re not getting the results or the success by way of numbers by way of reaching your goals that you were hoping for. You still have this amazing opportunity at your fingertips, and you can really take that, and your next launch will be 1000 times better and 1000 times better and 1000 times better every single time you do it. And it will only lead to more and more and more results from you. But you cannot take that one experience that didn’t go as you thought or didn’t go as you planned. And you had all these emotions wrapped up in the results of this launch. You can’t take that, and then just stop, just take it to mean that you’re doing something wrong, or you’re never going to get this or you’re not right for this, you’re not cut out for it, your business is a doomed. That’s a fixed mindset. And that is not what we need here. So what can you do to shift that perspective and start seeing all of the opportunity there and take from it and try again, do it again, do it over and over and over again, you will get better every time and the results will show that. Okay, enough talk about mindset. Even though I said like there’s so much more I could talk about here. There’s a lot more to talk about just in the mindset that you have around you and your abilities and all of that stuff that I do want to get into. But maybe we’ll do another episode, before we wrap up this series because there’s more. So again, if you have any questions, or anything you want me to go over, as I’m going through these episodes, make sure to reach out to me on Instagram at unstuck entrepreneur, and send me a message with your question. And I will do a whole q&a episode at the end of this series. Okay, so anyway, back to this idea of the energetic expression that you can bring into your launch. First, I’m going to start this conversation. Really, that’s all I even need to do. And you’ll see why we’re gonna go over the possible options when it comes to your vibration or your emotion that you could bring in to your launch. And I want you to get honest with yourself here about where you have been potentially in past launches. Or if you have not launched anything yet, where you could see yourself potentially getting to in a launch, especially if you haven’t done the mindset work we just talked about. And really going back to that quickly. If you really look at what we just talked about when it comes to mindset. If you work on that stuff, then your vibration is naturally going to be sky high. When it comes time for your launch, because you are detached. You’ve released the beliefs and thoughts and emotions around everything, including selling and, and launching and money and all that stuff. Everything we just talked about is just going to automatically raise that frequency for you when it comes time to launch. And then I’ll give you some other tips as well. But first, let’s go over these options, I am going to read off the emotional vibration chart, the emotional frequency scale is what I call it, I’m going to start at the top with the highest frequency of vibration that you can have coming from an emotion. And I want as I’m reading these for you to consider how this would look when it comes time to launch something in your business. So now we’re really looking at these emotions as it relates to your launch when you’re actually in that place where you’re having the free special event where you’re getting people interested in that and then you’re selling and you’re getting people into your program or your workshop or whatever it is you’re selling right now. How can these approaches differ? So we’re up at the top with joy, love, freedom, and gratitude, then abundance and generosity. And just think about all of those instead of wishing and hoping and wondering if you could possibly get, you know, 100 people to sign up for your free event. Instead, can you show gratitude

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for the five that have? Can you feel abundant? Knowing that five people want to join you want to learn from you. So it’s all a perspective shift that comes from our thoughts and how we’re thinking about everything that’s happening as we’re going through this process. So just imagine what would happen and how things would change if instead of focusing on those numbers and those goals that you have, instead you focus on feeling grateful for everyone who is signing up as they sign up. And you obviously are working from this place of generosity you are about to really share A lot of free valuable information to these people. So you’re already in that vibration as well. So staying there and really feeling that. And then the next rung down, we have empowerment, and fun, and happiness and enthusiasm again, what would it look like to just make this fun? What if your whole business could just be fine? What would change for you? And how could you still approach the things that you need to do the strategy that you need to have a business, but from this place of it being fun, and being happy about it and feeling empowered about what you’re doing? So different. And then the next one is competence. Okay, friends, friends, friends, friends, I’m just going to be honest here, a lot of you based on what I see, are lacking confidence, when you have every reason to be outstandingly competent. And there is nothing more attractive to the people that you want to help, then being confident about how you can help them. Right, you even when you want help from somebody, you want to find that person that is confident in what they are teaching and why they are teaching and how it’s going to help you. You want to find someone with confidence to help you the same thing goes for the people that you want to help. That’s why confidence is way up there. In vibration, it is a very attractive emotion and attractive frequency. And just imagine how things would go for you. If you showed up for your launch. With so much confidence in everything that you’re doing, and everything that you are teaching and how you want to help people. You don’t have to be confident in like your webinar slides, or that your emails are perfect, or you’re showing up perfectly on social media, who cares, but you’re confident in what really matters. And that then oozes out to show up as being confident in the webinar, as you’re presenting even though your slides are imperfect, or in the actual message that’s being portrayed and conveyed in your emails, even though maybe you have a typo or two. Right? So what can you do to show up confidently because you are confident in what you are doing and who you’re helping and how you’re helping them. All right, the next few will go down optimistic trust, strong, hope, dedicated, motivated. And this is where we’re really we’re getting down the ladder a little bit. So these vibrations are slightly lower in their frequency still great. So would be awesome to show up in this way. Especially like if we talk about being dedicated and motivated. Can you put dedication and motivation into your launch? Can you show up in that way? Okay, now I’m going to jump down the ladder a little bit and get into some of these lower vibration places. And see if again, get real with yourself. Have you showed up for really any part of your business, but let’s continue on the topic of launches. Have you showed up in this way? Impatient, frustrate frustrated, irritated, overwhelmed. anxiety, doubt, worry. Now we’re getting even lower, discouraged. Difficult. Last lack jealousy

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and some of the lowest here insecure, depressed, stuck. Fear, powerlessness, unworthiness, shame, and those are the lowest. So I picked out some words that specifically I think relate to the emotions that we can have around a business. And first of all, I do not want you to think that you can’t or shouldn’t have these emotions as it relates to your business or when it comes down to your business or even your launch. That’s not the point here. You can and should experience every emotion fully that you are experiencing. And if those emotions are coming up, then experience then be compassionate with yourself. Let them flow through you. Let them be a part of your experience in that moment. And then what you’ll find if you will How it is that it can dissolve itself, it can resolve itself. And then you do have the option in that moment, once you’ve fully compassionately felt what you need to feel, to then perhaps choose a different emotion, because of the ability that you have to choose a different thought in that moment. So yes, experience those emotions. When you feel like it has been completed. What can you do from a thought perspective, to shift what you’re feeling and experiencing? When it comes to your launch? Again, this is like about all life, essentially. But talking specifically about launches, how are you showing up energetically? What emotion are you bringing forward as you prepare for your launch as you are in the launch, and as you are even reviewing your launch results? Where are you energetically and keeping in mind that the energy you bring into your launch will determine the outcome of that launch, simply because of what you’re attracting by Universal Law. What you are calling in it is going to your vibration is going to be your attraction point. And obviously, those emotions that felt even just saying them, they feel lighter, they feel higher. They feel like a really great energetic attraction point like to have this fun launch to have an exciting launch to feeling grateful for everything in your launch, feeling that freedom that this aspect of your business is bringing for you. Feeling all of that and really allowing that to be what holds you during your launch, regardless of what is happening, what is going on with the numbers and the signups and all the strategy and stuff and things happening or going wrong last minute and all that stuff, still finding yourself in this overall vibration of all of that goodness. What will you attract in versus being stressed, feeling anxious, being scared, feeling overwhelmed, being annoyed that no one’s are frustrated that no one’s signing up? Or things aren’t going as planned? Or all these last minute changes are happening? What are you going to attract. And this is precisely why during my launch weeks, I’m like outside taking hikes every day, I’m taking myself on solo coffee dates without my computer, I’m getting lunch with friends, I’m hanging out with my dogs, I’m relaxing, I’m taking naps. I’m doing all of the things that keep me in a high vibration. I am also which I don’t ever really show. But I do have a little gratitude practice that I do for everyone who signs up for my special event. And then everyone who signs up for my pay to offer. I’m having these gratitude rituals I have done that forever, will continue to do to do that. I’m really getting out all my crystals and doing that kind of thing. I’m meditating.

43:29
I’m journaling. I’m visualizing how the launch is going to go. I’m excited for all of the connections I’m making and the people that I get to help. And most importantly, I’m just trying to stay present. I’m not thinking about well, what happens if this happens? Or what will I do if this happens? I’m not trying to plan out a future that I don’t know. Like that is really easy to do when you’re in a launch phase is to kind of plan for the worst. But what if you just stayed present during that launch and focused on how you’re feeling about it and what you can do to feel better and better and better. Again, remembering a lot of that comes from your thoughts. And again, I’ll go back to this. The only reason that I’m really able to do all of that during my lunch is because I’ve planned and prepared and done things ahead of time, which again I talked about in the last episode, so go check that out if you haven’t already. One other thing to consider when it comes to your launch and your vibration or your energy during your launch is remember how you want your business to look and feel in the future. How do you want launchers to feel in the future? It is important that you Do that. Now. You need to approach your business the way you want it to be in the future. Now, so if you don’t want your future business or your future launches to be frantic, and messy and half assed and unprofessional, and just kind of like thrown together, then don’t do that. Now. If you want your business, if you see your future business, your future launches being smooth and fun and exciting and simplified, and enjoyable and relaxed. Well then do that now. Because otherwise, if you start building a business, on the vibrational back of what you don’t want, it’s just going to continue creating more of what you don’t want a business that you don’t want a launch plans that you don’t want or don’t like. So it’s important that you approach it the way that you see it going in the future, or you’re wanting to go in the future, or approach it that way. Now. All right, we are going to wrap it up with that, again, gosh, there’s so much that I could say on this topic. But we’ll leave it here for now. And I can always add on another episode in the future. Let me leave you with this. The last thing that I want to say is that it’s not going to be comfortable. It’s going to bring up all of your stories and beliefs and fears to do your first or third or fifth or 10th or a 100th launch. But my friend, do it anyway. Sure, yeah, you can spend another few months or years or whatever you need, going to therapy, working with a coach to try to get rid of those beliefs before you launch so that it does feel comfortable. But it’s probably not going to happen. And yes, still do. Go to therapy, work with your coach, do what you need to do. But also build your business and work on your business. Don’t wait until it feels comfortable for you to do this launch full out. Because it’s never going to happen no matter how many therapy sessions you have. So just commit to doing it once. That’s all I want you to do commit to the one full out launch, and just see what happens. Use it as a learning experience, which is all it really is. And what I think you will find is that it actually is the thing that quiet your ego that allows you to see what’s really possible, that takes all of those things that you were scared of, and all of that discomfort, and quiets it a little bit makes it a little less scary, a little less uncomfortable. And makes you realize that you really are powerful, that you really can create a business, that you really can do this, that that freedom and flexibility that you want is right there. But you just got to do it. You just got to do it once again,

48:14
I know it’s scary, I know it’s going to be uncomfortable, you’re probably going to be nervous, and all the things. But it won’t be the best way to move forward with your business and so many levels energetically mentally, emotionally. But also like even in the amount of audience members you have in the amount of money you’re making just so much rides on doing these launches. And so I want you to commit just to one right now. One full out everything planned out. real true special event launch. And like I said and I will continue to say if you need help with any of this, if any of really any the mindset work part of it or the strategy part of it. Then I am happy to help you. I lay it all out for you inside signature program bundle, which you can go check out and get involved at shawnmynar.com/bundle. And the last thing be proud of yourself regardless of what happens, be proud of yourself. You’re doing it you’re going after you got it done. You have so much to learn. You have so much growth going on. And that is something to be proud of. All right, my friends until next time, take care

Behind The Scenes Of My Most Recent Launch — Ep. 152

Unstuck Podcast

One of the biggest hurdles I see new and wannabe online business owners face is the fear of launching. Actually doing a proper, live, promotional period for their paid offer. As I’m recording this episode, I’m right in the middle of a live launch for my paid offer, the Signature Program Bundle, and I thought it would be fun and hopefully helpful to take you behind the scenes of this launch to show you how I plan, prepare, and execute a successful launch. Let’s dive in!

“You have the power to decide how your launch feels for you and goes for you.” – Shawn Mynar

“You need to entice people further to put their name and email address and commit to that event. It does take a little more than throwing something up.” – Shawn Mynar

“I know the right people will come into my paid offer when it’s the right time for them.” – Shawn Mynar

‘As you can see there’s a lot to it and not in a bad way or in a way that makes it stressful or scary or anything but there’s just stuff you gotta do, there’s stuff you need to plan out, there are things you need to know and it really does help to have that support and guidance along the way.” – Shawn Mynar

Episode 145 – How I Plan My Week So Everything Gets Done – shawnmynar.com/episode145

Signature Program Bundle – shawnmynar.com/bundle

Instagram: @unstuckentrepreneur 

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW (please note, transcript is auto-generated so expect errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling

0:01
One of the biggest hurdles I see most new and wannabe online business owners face is that fear of launching the big L word in the online business space, actually doing a proper live promotional period for your paid offer. And as I’m recording this episode, I’m right in the middle of a live launch myself for my paid offer the signature program bundle. And I thought it’d be fun, and hopefully helpful to take you behind the scenes of this launch to show you how I plan prepare and execute a successful launch. Let’s dive in.

0:40
Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur, so grateful for all of you. And the support you bring to the show means the world to me. So happy to have you here, especially today, because this is really going to kick off an entire series that we are doing on the podcast all about launching, there’s so much to talk about when it comes to doing a real proper launch, for your business and for your paid offers, that we cannot put it all into one episode, I would definitely lose my voice by then. And it just it’s going to be fun to do a little bit of a series and kind of chunk, everything we need to talk about up into specific topics. So just so you’re prepared. Here’s what you can expect today. This episode is going to be all about the mechanics, kind of the actual physical, what needs to be done to launch in your business. And I will show you how I plan everything out for my launches so that they go off smoothly. And also they’re not stressful, they’re actually really fun and something I look forward to doing in my business. So that is what is in store for this episode. And then next episode, we’re going to talk about the mindset and energy requirements have a launch, which is just as if not more important than what we’re going to talk about in this episode, because you cannot do one without the other. So that is one episode that you cannot miss. I have so much to say with that. And it is so incredibly important to how you feel during a launch, but also the success or not of it, it really does matter. So that’s coming up in the next episode. And then we’re going to do a mistakes episode, I also want to talk about the pros and cons between doing a live launch and an evergreen launch. And I’ll share the differences between the two. And also which one’s better, and which ones worse and pros and cons and all that stuff. And then a q&a episode. So if in going through this series, these podcast episodes coming up, you have a question about launching, make sure you let me know send me a direct message over on Instagram. I am at unstuck entrepreneur over there very easy to the same as the title of this podcast, head over there and just send me a message and let me know your question. And I can compile them all. And we’ll do a whole episode just on Q and A of doing a launch. Okay, so let’s get into what we’re talking about today, which is all about the mechanics of a live launch. And by the end of this episode, you’ll have a really good idea what that means a live launch, if you don’t already. And then like I said, I will be talking about an evergreen type situation coming up in a future episode, probably about two episodes away from this one. Okay, so now if you’re really fresh in the online business space, then you may not even really know what a launch is. I mean, I think it’s pretty obvious but it is such a loaded word in the online business phase. A lot of people equate it to like this big stressful situation, a lot of work, a lot of prep so much stuff going into it so much going on sleepless nights, all this stuff. And

4:27
it just always feels like when someone’s talking about launching in the online business space. It’s like this really big deal. And it is because that’s essentially how you are making income in your business and getting new people into your paid offer. So obviously yeah, it’s a big deal. It’s important to your business. But there’s just a lot of this emotion a lot of the energy behind it feels very like frenetic or stressful and it doesn’t have to be and for me, it’s not at all it’s actually something I look forward to in my business. I

5:00
I have a lot of fun with them. It’s a really good time. And so I enjoy launching. And yes, of course, it helps my business income. So why wouldn’t that be something that is fun and enjoyable, right? So it all is based on how you approach it. And I want to make sure that you have the option, you know, you have the option to decide how it goes for you and how you feel around the idea of launching. And I think another reason why it has a little extra weight for some people is because of the idea that it involves selling, like you actually have to market and sell something, you have to really put on that cap of yours and become the marketer. We’ve had lots of discussions on the podcast recently about becoming the marketer for your business, if you want to have a successful business. And so go back and listen to that episode, I’ll make sure it’s linked in the show notes, because I don’t remember the number of it right offhand. But that’s really important to

6:01
feel good about that situation and your business and be excited about it and have fun with it, instead of dreading it or thinking it’s this weird, awful, scary thing, or something that’s going to annoy people. And this is all getting into the mindset aspect of the launch, which we’re saving for next week. So I’m going to stop myself here and not get into it any more. But I do want to, again, remind you that you have the power to decide how this feels for you. And if you are going to be in this space, where so many people are in the online business world, where it’s like this super loaded word to say I’m launching or I have a launch coming up, or I’m working on my launch. Or if it’s just this really fun, light, exciting time for you and your business too. So you get to decide, okay, first, let’s get into the structure of a launch. So we have the actual launch period, which is the period of time from when enrollment is open, and enrollment is closed. So that period of time where people can sign up for your paid offer, whether this is your signature program, your workshop, your one on one offer, whatever it is, if you have a situation where doors open doors close, that is your launch period. And then if we work backwards, we have the pre launch. So this is the period of time where you are promoting and getting people signed up for your special event. So not for your paid offer for your special event. So the pre launch is totally dedicated to the special event where the launch is dedicated to your paid offer. And typically, that special event is what kicks off. It’s like the party that kicks off your launch or your enrollment period. So up until your special event it is in pre launch mode, you have your special special event that kicks off your launch. And then from there, it’s your launch period until doors close. And we’ll talk more about the special event in a moment. But then let’s move forward even sooner than that and talk about the pre pre launch. Now this is kind of what we are doing all the time when we’re in between launches. So not going to get into this a lot today because we talk about it. Really every time we’re talking about building your email list, building your audience, getting on to some platforms and making a nice environment for you to attract the right people into your world. That’s essentially what happens in the pre pre launch. It’s just probably for the few weeks two, I’d say a month prior to your pre launch, when you start talking about your special event in particular, prior to that you’re maybe spending a little more time specifically talking about your freebie that is related to your paid offer. Because then that is going to get more people on your list who are a really good fit for that paid offer. So once it comes time to promote your special event first which happens in the pre launch, you know they’ll be interested because they were already interested in the freebie that is all related. So everything is all related to each other from the freebie to the special event to your paid offer. And then you know the right people are coming onto your list and then getting involved in that special event and then getting interested in your paid offer. Cool, right so we’re really big

10:00
building this whole system, this really nice flow that works for everyone. So that pre pre launch is kind of basically what you’re already doing or should be doing in your business to build your audience and get people onto your email list. It’s maybe just a little more concentrated, like I said, two weeks to a month out from your pre launch. So those are the three segments of a launch the three different timetables of your launch. Now let’s put the ingredients into each of these segments. So for me, and what works for my launches, and how I teach you how to launch, the ingredients include, first for your pre pre launch, which again, we’re not going to get into the details of this here, because we talk about it a bunch on other episodes. And it’s what we do inside launch list accelerator, you are creating a freebie specific to your paid offer. That’s really what you need to include in your pre pre launch. And that’s as much as we’ll get into today here because we have a lot more to talk about when it comes to your pre launch, which is first a special event.

11:22
People want to try so hard to get around the special event. And it just doesn’t work. It is so important to the success of your launch. To have a special event this can be a webinar, a workshop, a masterclass a challenge, a live Instagram series, a recorded video series, a recorded audio series, something anything that is different than what you are already doing different than what they have seen come from you, it’s a little more involved, it’s a it’s special, it’s a special event, it’s something that you are putting on just for them just for those people who really want to take the next step with you. And yes, it is almost always free. Although you can especially if you have a really warm audience, you can do a very low ticket special event like under I’d say $100. For sure, I’d say probably even under $50 If you wanted to do that for your special event, and then lead into your launch from there. So that is an option. But most of the time, it’s a free special event. Key word special. And so I don’t know why people don’t want to do this and they try to get around it. I don’t know if it’s like the amount of work they think it’s going to take, or you know, I think a lot of people may have a block to doing a live kind of webinar type thing, or workshop type thing that could be something but it is worth the work, the energy, the time the effort, whatever it is that you think it’s going to take from you, it’s worth it because it is going to reap the rewards in new clients. It is the thing that will get you and your business and your paid offer to grow to make money.

13:24
I will say that for your beta launch, if you are in signature program lab and you are doing a beta launch of your program, you might already have a warm enough audience or a big enough audience that you don’t need a special event for your beta launch that very first launch when you are capping the number of participants anyway, you’re keeping it small because it is your test group. You may not need it for that. But you might if you don’t have a big audience, if you don’t have any audience, if you don’t have a group of people that already want into your work, then absolutely do a free special event for your beta group as well. There are a few really good things to remember about your special event that again, makes it worth any amount of time, effort, energy, or whatever you think it’s going to take to create it. First of all, when it’s done, it’s done. And you can keep repeating the same special event over and over and over again, every time you launch. Now, eventually it might get old or stale or whatever, you want to talk about something different, and you can switch it up. But you don’t have to redo a new special event every single time. In fact, I would encourage that you that you don’t instead just refine what you already have if you want to make some tweaks or whatever, and just do it again. Otherwise, I think that’s a big waste of time. So just do it again for your second, third, fourth, fifth 10th launch. The other really important thing to consider is that when someone

15:00
and sign up for that special event, they become a really, really warm if not hot lead. And while they may not purchase right away, those people who attend to that special event will attend again, and or will be ready automatically to sign up in the future, they are warm. And so not only does it help you build your list, because a lot of these people will come in from, you know, your social media or your podcasts or whatever you have as your platform. And we’ll get on your list because of that special event. So it’s an amazing list builder. But also those people even if they don’t sign up right then in there after that special event, that doesn’t mean that they’re not never going to it is not a no, it’s just a gnat right now. And so you will see that as you continue doing these launches, over and over, you will see people that have been coming to your special events, potentially for years, and then finally sign up. So it’s a momentum builder as well. And that’s really important to remember. Okay, so that’s enough about special events for now. Although now I’m realizing I could do a whole episode on special events, apparently. But let’s move on. Because now in order to get people interested and enrolled in that special free event, you needed to invite them. So you need to create an invite email sequence for that special event that you will send out to people already on your email list. So that is probably anywhere from two to four emails, inviting people into your special event. And then when you invite them to your event, you’re sending them to a landing page, where they can put in their name and email address and be registered for that event. So you need a landing page. And a thank you page, which will be the page that pops up as soon as they put in the name and email address with more information with getting them excited getting them prepared. So you need a landing page and a thank you page, your landing page needs to be a sales page for your free event. So it cannot just be a little blurbs and here sign up for this. You need to entice people further to put their name and email address and commit to that event. So it does take a little more than just throwing something up. Okay, so that’s another couple things you need. You then also need a reminder email sequence. So once someone has signed up for your special event, you then want to spend send them a couple reminders as it gets closer, reminding them that is coming up getting them excited, letting them know why they signed up in the first place, making sure that they show up. Because what can happen a lot of times especially without reminder emails, someone signs up, a week out, and then life happens or whatever. And they forget or they’re not as excited about it as they were and they don’t show up. So these reminder emails can really be the ticket that gets more people to show up for your event. And then you just need promo materials for that event, which would be potentially social media stuff, if you use social media to promote your business. Or if you have podcast episodes coming out or YouTube videos coming out, whatever it is, that is your platform for your business, making sure you have the promo materials for that pre launch time to get people into your special event. So those are the things you need. If you want to write this down. Go ahead, I will do a little quick thing here. So a special event number one, an invite email sequence for that special event. A landing page, a thank you page for the special event.

19:04
A reminder, email sequence and promo materials. I know it sounds like a lot but it’s it’s not I’m going to show you how I chunk everything up in a second.

19:15
But also think about if you ever are like unsure if you’re forgetting something which I just write this down and you’ll have it but just in case just think about like go through the process in your mind of like okay, what, what needs to happen next, okay, tell people to sign up for this event. And then what happens while they can’t just, they need something to sign up to so they need a landing page. You know, like you can really think about it you can go through the steps in your head and know exactly what to work on.

19:45
Now for the launch. The ingredients are in enrollment, email sequence,

19:54
a sales page, a checkout page, and then promo materials

20:00
For your paid offer, that’s it. So someone attends your special event, that’s what kicks off your launch. Now what needs to happen? Well, they need to be able to go somewhere, if they want to sign up. So they need that sales page, which gives them all the details, reminds them why they want to be in what they can experience, how it’ll be, and get them all excited. So it really take time with your sales page. Again, it’s not just something to throw up. Then once they click Yes, I wanted, they need to go to a checkout page where they can put in their credit card information or Pay Pal or whatever. And then if someone is interested, but doesn’t sign up right away, then you want to remind them more about the offer more about what they can expect, why they need it, who it’s for. And you know, the transformation that will happen as part of that paid offer. And you can do that through your email sequence, your enrollment email sequence. So those emails go out throughout the duration of your launch period, which could be anywhere from one day to two weeks, it totally depends on you and your offer and what you feel comfortable doing lots of different options there. So but you will be sending out emails throughout that period to people that have registered for that special event, because they are now warm, very warm, if not hot leads for this paid offer, and letting them know and giving them the option to join. And then yeah, you’re going to promote your paid offer, again on your platform. So you just need to have the promo materials ready for that, whether it’s social media, podcast, all the above. Okay.

21:46
Those are the ingredients. That is how a launch works as the timeline. That is what it looks like if it helps you to draw out like I have this all visually in signature program lab because it helps so much to have it a visual of what happens at every step from pre pre launch, pre launch to launch. But if you want to kind of sketch it out, that may help you too. All right now, let me take you behind the scenes of the launch that I am currently in, we are still going on. Right now doors have not closed. But I want to really use this episode to show you how I plan all of it out in a way that feels very light and fun. Because it has been a really fun week, I just posted on social media that I have spent more time outside this week than I have at my desk. And yes, it is still a launch week. But it’s because I have planned ahead. I’m not saving anything for the last minute and I’m not complicating it. I’m not making it any more complicated than it needs to be. I’m not adding any more steps or stuff that may or may not work like Yeah, could I do more? And maybe what I get sales? Maybe? Maybe not. And so instead, for me, it is always most important for my business to be fun and feel good. Because as soon as things get stressful and start not feeling good, and I start getting like wound up and I just I don’t want that for myself. That’s not the business that I want to create. So why would I even bring that energy into a launch? Even if it does mean there’s one more sale? I really want my business to be what it is right now. And that’s most important. And I know that the right people will come into my paid offer, when it’s the right time for them. Maybe it is this launch? Maybe it’s not. And that’s okay. And again, we’ll talk more about that in the next episode about the mindset and energy behind a launch. But we’re strictly trying to talk strategy, which as you can see, it’s very hard for me to do because it’s about so much more than this. Anyway, let’s go back to behind the scenes of what I’ve done to prepare for this launch. One other thing right now, yes, I am currently doing all of this myself. I am looking for an assistant to help me with some of this to make it even more light and fun. For me. It’s been like I haven’t had an assistant in like over a year now. And it’s been a long time and I do really miss that support but also waiting for the right person and the right time and not rushing that either. But anyway, I did want to share that with you so that you can see that you absolutely can do this. Even if it’s just you. You do not need a team of people behind you to launch. That’s great if you do use that to your advantage, but it is not required. So don’t let that stop you from or don’t let that

25:00
be like your story for why you can’t do a full out launch because it’s not true. Now, what I will say is that if you have not done a full out launch before and the way that I have described it in this episode, then there is probably a really, really, really good chance that you do need training and support for that launch situation. There are a lot of moving pieces, there’s a lot of stuff you’ve never done before, there are some things that can get overlooked. And there’s a lot of nuances, just things that would happen. Like if this happens, then this happens kind of thing that you really don’t know until you’ve been through it, or you have learned from someone who has. And that is why I took everything that I know about launching everything I’ve done with launching everything I’m talking to you about today, and put it inside the signature program bundle. I literally, well, not literally, but as literally as you can get without being literally take you by the hand and walk you through every single step of this process. And I take out all of the guesswork for you to the point that basically I just give you the emails to send like every email that I’m going to share with you that I wrote, I gave them to you so you can use them in your business as well. I give you the webinar template to use if you do want to have a live workshop or masterclass or webinar, as your special event, I give you the sales page designed to follow, I could not possibly make the launch situation any easier for you. And I did that on purpose. I like scoured my launch process, and made sure that every single step that I go through that I broke it down as simply as possible and gave you all the tools and resources you need to do it in your own business. That is how I built signature program lab. It is all included. So if you were going through this conversation right now, and you’re feeling like either this is a lot, this seems overwhelming, I don’t quite know how to do this, I could use some post support, well just know that it’s there for you, I am here for you, I take all of the weight off of the launch process for you inside the signature program bundle, let me tell you that one module in and of itself is worth probably double what you will pay to get into the signature program bundle, I just want you to know that I wanted to make it accessible for you. Because I know this can be a challenge. And I don’t want it to be I want it to be light and fun for you too. Alright, Shawn mynar.com/bundle, if you want in if you want the hand holding the nonliteral hand holding, and the support. So I decided I wanted to do this launch and special event about one month prior to me actually doing it, I usually have them a little bit more planned out. I know you’ll listen and hear from some entrepreneurs who have them planned out for years in advance. I always have an idea of what I want to do broken down into quarters. And I knew I wanted to do something for the signature program bundle. But I wasn’t sure what. And it was a complete intuitive nudge to do the signature program in a day workshop. I just got like immediately excited about the idea it popped up into my head, I loved it. And I decided to give myself a month to make it happen. So again, I want you to see that yes, you can plan it out your entire year, and all your launches. But also, if you feel like doing a launch and you feel like maybe your business needs a cash injection, then do a launch and you don’t need a ton of time. Now, yes, you need a paid offer. So you need to figure that out. First, if you want it to be a signature program, you need to at least have the structure in place you do not need to have all of the the content created. You can do that along the way once people are in and going through your program, but you need to at least know what it is and what’s included and your modules and that kind of stuff. Again, all stuff we do inside the signature program bundle. If your paid offer is a one on one type thing, then just get your package information ready like know all the details of the package that you’re going to be offering for one on one clients and then follow the same exact launch strategy that we’re talking about. You can absolutely

30:00
We really should do this full launch process. To get one on one clients, you really should, it will fill your calendar very quickly and you won’t have to worry about it, instead of just always kind of talking about how you’re taking clients. That’s exhausting. This is way better. Okay. And then, of course, if it’s like a paid workshop or whatever, you just just know that you have to have your paid offer, at least hashed out, does it need to be complete? No, but you need to know the details. So I officially started putting together this launch for signature program bundle in the middle of May, for a mid June launch. First step, I picked a date, I picked the date of my special event. And I put it into my personal calendar on my phone, and also in my Asana. And I will tell you a stop right here and tell you that the only reason that any of this gets done that I’m going to talk about next is because I use Asana, I put these tasks into my weeks as it approaches the launch. And then I know what to do each day and I don’t miss anything. And I can schedule it all out. So if you’re not already using Asana, I highly recommend it a s a n a.com, I have a free account, it works great for me as a free account, I don’t know that you would need much more than what I have in my account. So probably can keep it free for you, too.

31:35
So once I knew my date, then I kind of just started breaking up the things that I needed to do prior to the special event, and I had four weeks. So I chunked it up into four groups of things that I was going to focus on each week. And for me, that’s how it works best for me. And my schedule is to know what I need to do in a week. So by Friday, this needs to get done. And then I can be a little more fluid and flowy with it based on what’s going on in my personal life. What else I have going on in my business, how I feel energetically do I feel like writing emails or do I feel like designing a sales page, you know, like, it’s definitely a different headspace to be in. So I like to give myself the week like just get this done at some point this week. And that works for me, you based on your schedule, and how you work and what else you have going on, you may need to actually chunk it up into like days, like these hours, I’m working on this. And then these hours, I’m working on this totally up to you. So that first week, I did a really solid brainstorm. On my special event. Like I said, it popped in my head that I wanted to do a signature programming day thing as my special event. So then I just had to get really down and dirty with what I wanted it to look like what I wanted it to include how I wanted it to go. Because that is going to obviously determine how I talk about it everywhere else. So when you’re doing your brainstorm, not only is it so that you can actually create this special event, but also so that you can create your marketing. And that’s actually what it’s most important for at this stage. Because the other thing I had to do that week was to build my landing page. And thank you page for that special event. So I needed to have the details, I needed to know what it was going to include, so that I could do those two things. Now I didn’t have the actual special event and have all the slides planned out or anything like that. But I knew the outline really well. And that is how I could create the landing page and thank you page. And I went there first because I like to work on my launches in the order of how it will happen. Because obviously someone could go to the landing page two weeks before the actual special event and sign up. So that’s the really the very first thing that needs to be in place because people can be signing up well before I even have the special event created like the slides designed or created or anything like that. So that’s how I like to think about it is what needs to happen first in the flow for my future clients. And that is what I will work on first. So the landing page and thank you page probably took a day and a half ish to work on. And then I took one day that week also to write the three invitation emails, the three invite emails that will go out to my email list for that special event. So that first week I did a brainstorm that probably took a couple hours maybe. Then I took a day and a half ish to create the

35:00
Landing Page and thank you page. And then I took one day writing three invite emails. And if we go back to a few episodes of get go when I shared how I get everything done, when I say days, I don’t mean full like nine to five days because I have other stuff still going on, I’m still recording the podcast episode, I’m still writing other newsletters, I’m still showing up on Instagram and Tiktok. So these are really kind of like half days at most, because I also have a life and I spend time outside, especially now in the summer. So just so you know, these are like blocks of time. They’re not full days, but they’re really concentrated blocks of work time. Okay, so now let’s move on to week two, which is three weeks out from the special event that week is when I started working on the slides for the special event. And I wrote the three reminder emails. So once someone’s already signs up for the special event, those emails, they get the remind them to show up. But the majority of the time was definitely spent creating the special event. So working on those slides for the special event, which if you follow me on social media, I was complaining about it because designing slides is probably one of my least favorite things of my business and something I really would love to hire out. But I’ve had one bad experience. And now I’m scared to hire out again, look at all these limiting beliefs I have around slides. Can’t believe it. So working on that. But anyway, that really was the bulk of week number two. Now we’re in week three, which is two weeks out from the event and the launch, I’m still working on and tweaking this special event, those darn slides. But also, I’m now into writing the sales email sequence. And that definitely takes some time. So usually at least a couple blocks of time worth to write those sales emails, which in my case, were six emails going out over four days. So writing those and I did already have an outline of those because I they’re similar to ones I’ve sent out in the past. So didn’t have to start from total scratch, but was able to get those done in that week. And an important note here is that while all of this is going on, so during all of the these weeks, essentially the moment I realized that I was planning out this launch for a month out, I started heavily promoting a freebie that I had related to this free event. And then this paid offer. So I started talking about that freebie, a lot more than I do just on a regular day. And that really is the pre pre launch, I already had that freebie created. I already had the landing page and all that stuff created for the freebie, it’s just a matter of talking about it more. Now if you don’t have that freebie created, no worries, we do that in launch list accelerator, which is part of the signature program bundle, doesn’t have to take a lot of your time can be done really quickly. But is important to this whole situation to the whole launching situation because then there’s that many more people who are warming up to what you do and your teachings and how you help people that will then be interested in this special event.

38:43
Okay, now we are at the week before the special event, which means that invite emails are going out. And at this point, I’m just working on the promo materials. So for me, that’s Instagram posts and Instagram Stories, making sure I’m talking about it on the podcast here. And then other than that, I’m going over the slides for the events still tweaking them a little bit, spending more time on social media sharing about the special events. So for me, when it comes to social media and it comes to promo, I am much more heavily promoting the special event than I will with the paid offer during the actual launch. When I’m promoting during the launch. It’s pretty much just to remind the people that showed up for the special event that this is going on just in case they’re not getting the emails or not reading them or whatever. But if you can get people into your special event, you have a really good chance of a successful launch. It is so important to really really focus and really, really push that special event and it’s free and it’s going to be

40:00
Super helpful and super fun, it’s special people want to be involved in it. But often they just don’t know. Or they don’t sign up right away. So you have to talk about it a lot like every day leading up to the special event. And a lot of you aren’t doing that you’re talking about it once or twice, and then assuming nobody wants to be a part of it. And that’s not true, you got to keep going. And then we’re in launch week. So one last invitation, email goes out, I host the special event. But emails for the week are already scheduled and ready to go out for everyone that was part of the special event. So the only thing really I have left to do is to show up on social media. With the promo materials, I already created, maybe some extra promo materials as it goes. And just kind of seeing where launch week takes me and where I feel I need more energy.

40:57
But most of the time, it’s like social media, and then just taking care of my own energy and being there and available for anyone who needs help or has questions for the new people coming into the program, being there for them. And just making sure it’s a really great experience. And it’s fun. And then it’s done. And then I can wait however long I want to wait and do it all over again. But with pretty much all the same things, a few tweaks to emails, a few tweaks to maybe some sales page stuff or some something, you know, a slide or two in the special event, there will be some tweaking, but you don’t need to redo this entire thing. Every time you launch this paid offer. Now, if the different paid offer, then yes, you need a different everything. So it’s very wise to stick with one paid offer for a solid chunk of time. And just repeat this process over and over and over again. And your business will grow. I promise you, it will actually a few things. Now that I just said sales page, I realized and I want to make sure that you know, I already had a sales page laid out for this paid offer. I’ve run it before, I already had a checkout page, I already had all that stuff set up for this offer. If I didn’t, I would probably need to add another week to this schedule to do that stuff. And then I also decided not to run Facebook ads for this event I usually do. But I decided not to. It’s the first time I’ve ever done an event anywhere near like this, it was a very, very special event. And so I wanted to do it with a warmer audience first. So that took less time to again, if I were going to be doing some Facebook ad stuff, then I would add potentially another week to this as well. So it maybe would have been more like six weeks if I was starting totally over. But I did have some stuff already set up. And inside signature program lab, I do lay out this entire calendar for you. So if you want it to be eight weeks, if you want to be 12 weeks, 16 weeks, and that includes the actual building of your program as well. So you have a calendar for launching and you have a calendar for building. But it really can all be done. If you have the right organization, the right strategy, if you don’t try to make it more complicated than it needs to be. And you know what to do, like you have the actual resources to do it. And if you’ve never done it before, it you might not have that. And it’s again, it’s one of those things I say this all the time. Now it’s one of those things where people try to DIY something that shouldn’t be DIY, launching your paid offer, having this whole strategy laid out is really not something to DIY, because as you can see, there’s a lot to it and not in a bad way or in a way that makes it stressful or scary or anything. But there’s just stuff you got to do their stuff you need to plan out, there’s things you need to know. And it really, really does help to have that support and guidance along the way. And so here we are at the end, the launch is still going on as I record this. So I don’t have any official numbers or anything like that to report yet. But I will say that I had a blast this week. I absolutely loved the signature program in a day as my special event. I got a ton of great feedback and I’m excited to do it again. I also can say that I am seeing a much higher conversion rate than the industry average and a much higher earnings per lead than the industry average from that event. So excited for that and just to know that I was able to provide something that was so valuable

45:00
To all of you and made a lot of you realize that this is the next step for you and your business. And you want the help and support along the way. So really excited and and that’s all I can share with you as of now, because like I said, it’s still going on. But I really hope and really my goal in doing this episode was to break all of this down into doable actionable steps that you can take. So it doesn’t seem overwhelming. So it seems possible for you, and you can start taking action on launching your first or next paid offer. It doesn’t matter where you’re starting at right now, everyone needs to go through this process, this whole launch system, this whole launch process, and it will lead to something great, even if zero people actually sign up, you will get leads you will get leads that become warm leads, you will get warm leads that become hot leads, you will learn a bazillion things and you will make your next launch that much better. But you have to start here, you have to do this process, you have to go through every single step, you cannot cut corners. This is what we have to do. And I hope just showing you my schedule and how I really just chunked it up into different things that needed to happen and followed kind of the flow that people would go through. It makes it a lot easier and a lot more doable. And then when it comes time for the actual launch, everything is done. So you’re like cool. I’ll just go hang out my dogs while people sign up, which is really fun, too. All right, next week, we are going to talk about mindset and energy of your launch, which is what will really make this entire thing a success. You can go through the steps of this whole process but if your mind’s not right, and your energy’s not right, good luck. And that is what we’re gonna get into next week. So be sure to tune in then and until next time, take care

From Zero To Successful Beta-Launch In 3 Months With Rachel Martin — Ep. 151

Unstuck Podcast

If you want your own signature program but think you need an established business, a certain number of followers, or a big email list before that program will be a success, then this episode is for you. Today, we’re going to hear from my client, Rachel Martin, who went from zero to having a successful beta-launch of her signature program in under 3 months. And when I say zero, I mean zero. Zero list, zero following, zero business. We’ll hear how Rachel was able to start her business and build her program, even with another job and 3 children taking up her time, AND how she was able to attract 20 new clients into her program, even with a tiny audience. Let’s listen in.

“As soon as you get over the fear, the doubt, the uncertainty… on the other side of that as soon as you do it, you do have that confidence, you do it with clarity. It’s just on the other side of you taking that leap.” – Shawn Mynar

“That’s why I love having a signature program so much is because it is bigger than you and you are building a community for other people to have support from other people.” – Shawn Mynar

“There is nothing wrong with asking for help, especially in the beginning.” – Rachel Martin

“One of my core values is affordable functional medicine, having a group program is a way to do that. In this way, I can still share my gifts with those who need help.” – Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin’s website: https://www.rootandritualfxmed.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rootandritualfxmed

Signature Program Bundle: shawnmynar.com/bundle

FULL TRANSCRIPTS BELOW: (please note, transcripts are auto-generated so expect errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar)

Shawn Mynar 0:00
Hey, Rachel, thank you so much for coming on unstuck entrepreneur today.

Unknown Speaker 0:07
Yes, thank you for having me, Sean, I’m so excited.

Shawn Mynar 0:10
This is gonna be super fun. I know we have so much to talk about. And there’s just so much within your story that I think would apply to a lot of people listening today. And I know you were a listener prior to starting your business. And so it’s all going to come full circle. But first, tell everyone who you are and what you do.

Rachel Martin 0:31
So my name is Rachel Martin, and I’m a functional medicine nurse practitioner. I have Rutan ritual functional medicine, and I help busy professional people, my niche is mostly with caregivers, and service providers, you know, I take care of those who take care of others. And I help them you know, unwind their gut and hormone issues so that they can have energy wake up feeling good, and basically show up in a way that they feel proud of, so they can serve others.

Shawn Mynar 1:05
Hmm, so good. Now, to give everyone some perspective, what was the first like, when did you officially start your business?

Rachel Martin 1:14
Oh, gosh, I think it was the end of March, maybe like March, march 20. Something of this year?

Shawn Mynar 1:21
Yeah. So I know, March, and we’re now at the beginning of June. So a couple months ago, just to give everyone some perspective, it’s crazy to say crazy to say, now tell everyone, what were you doing before this and what kind of led up to you wanting your own business?

Rachel Martin 1:36
So I started my journey. I’m a six years in Family Nurse Practitioner, okay. So about maybe five years ago, I was introduced to the concept of functional medicine, that there was a path for me to become certified in it, and realize, like, Oh, I’ve already been interested in this for a few years. And now I have a name to it. And I can learn more about it. treat myself because that’s how most people come to functional medicine. And, and then, like, implement it in family practice. And I’ve had several kids in between, you know, now and then, and, or then and now. And so, I realized over the past many years, that it’s impossible to do it in this 15 minute model. And I have, I think the the quick version is my my third child, you know, 10 days old, we end up in the hospital in the ICU. She’s a big part of my story, because I already loved functional medicine. But she was diagnosed with a rare genetic illness. And essentially, she doesn’t breathe when she sleeps. So we have you know, for now, she has a trach and a ventilator, and I’m a caregiver at work and at home. And I realize, I’m saying like, when I eventually went back to work part time, I realized that I’m seeing the same people who are just like me, we have gut issues, because we have chronic stress. So I am seeing the same you know, these moms, mostly moms, or busy professionals, like really high achieving dads or other parents who have special needs kids, perhaps or, you know, kids with autism or anything like that, where even the mom they might be staying like a stay at home mom caring for their child, it doesn’t matter the flavor. It’s they’re burned out, and they’re putting themselves on the backburner using their kid as kind of an excuse to not take care of themselves instead of the reason to take care of themselves. And so they’re getting these like kind of weird, nonspecific symptoms of fatigue and bloating and waking up feeling achy, but they’re only like 35. And it just kind of be symptoms. They can’t put their finger on it, but they come in to see me and they’re like, Rachel, I feel stressed and anxious. But I don’t, I don’t think my life is matching my symptoms. And I’m trying to go to bed and work out. And I know they’re trying to do all the right things. They don’t understand that there’s this gut brain connection. And they don’t understand anything about cortisol. They don’t understand anything about their gut. And I was saying the same thing over and over and over and I kept saying like, I need to write this down. I need to like, honestly, up until maybe four months ago, starting my own business was not even on my radar. I’ve had a mentor for years and I just kind of assumed that I was going to work with him. So after in December of 2021, I finished I pushed through with at that point my daughter Parker is a year old and I’m just like I’m finishing my certification. I’ve been working on this I’m finishing finished in December approached him in like, you know January okay I’m finished, I’m certified, like, can I come work with you now? And he’s like, I don’t have room for you. And then the whole idea of like, well, maybe I can do this on my own, came up. And then by way of another friend who’s a nurse practitioner, she introduced me to the concept of like, group programs and a course and like, then I realized I can’t do this on my own. I try. I tried, like looking up things for a few weeks. And then you really get in the weeds. Like, I know how I know how to get you from A to B, but I don’t know how to like, turn that into lessons. I don’t know how to structure things. And Lord, like, I don’t know how to start a business. I was always in a practice where they marketed for me, they did everything. So I, I think I manifested you, Sean, I know I’ve like said that to you before. But I think I found you on Instagram, maybe I don’t really care for Facebook, but I think I found you on Instagram. And, and it was just this beautiful like meeting of the minds where you were speaking to like, not,

Rachel Martin 6:12
not overworking not being burned out. It was the business. If I if years ago, I would have thought, Oh, if I own my own business, it will be X, Y and Z. It was exactly what you were talking about. And I just needed someone to say, Do this, do this, do this. And so the first thing I did was sign up for holistic business starter. And that was very much like, Do this. Do this. And then I started doing my own I remember messaging you like, Okay, I’m trying to start my own course. But I don’t really and I ultimately was like, their signature program labs, Sonya because I can’t I can’t you’ve done this. You’ve done, what a dozen times. And and you need, it’s, it’s just like, I kept reframing it. A patient will try to heal their gut on their own. And they’re going to read books, right? They’re going to, like, follow Dr. Hyman on Instagram, and they’re going to buy books on healing your gut. And it just, it’s like, okay, how will I tell people? Invest in me to show you the way if I don’t invest in myself for somebody to show me the way?

Shawn Mynar 7:25
Hmm, oh, that’s such a good point. It was very backwards.

Rachel Martin 7:29
And then, and somewhere along the way, I had the other realization of like, it’s not all find the money and then hire a business coach, it’s, I’m gonna hire a business coach, so then I can make money and not just have a hobby. I’ll actually have a business.

Shawn Mynar 7:46
Yeah. So that’s what you need to do in order to make the money to have the business. You know.

Rachel Martin 7:54
It is it is a cycle. And it’s, it’s, I know, I say, people will come I want to lose weight. It’s like you don’t lose weight and then get healthy, you get healthy and weight loss is a byproduct of that. Right? So yeah, I mean, it was all mindset. So I mean, the first part of holistic business starter is all mindset. And things that I knew I had no idea, all these money blocks. I had no idea.

Shawn Mynar 8:21
Yeah, I remember when you were in the group, and you were saying, I didn’t realize I was signing up to get a therapist to

Rachel Martin 8:27
write because as I’ve been in this journey of becoming an entrepreneur, or solopreneur, I like to say that word to it. It does. The best therapy for you is to start your business.

Shawn Mynar 8:45
Oh my gosh, it syncs up everything, everything, every insecurity

Rachel Martin 8:51
and you have to address it. You can’t. I mean, to a degree, there is an impostor syndrome that you have to overcome. But the confidence that you get in three months, like sometimes when I’m feeling down on myself, I have to list it all out. Like I’ve started a website, I’ve recorded three podcasts which has yet to be launched, but should in the next few weeks, I have created a program that’s in the beta testing. I’ve started seeing 10 patients and like I had one apply on Friday one apply yesterday. It’s crazy. Even the tech that I’ve was so overwhelming and terrifying. But you do an amazing job of screen sharing and walking people through I mean that just the the tech handholding alone for creating a course and creating a website or anything like that has been invaluable. But yeah, it’s been a really concrete it’s been a confidence builder, for

Shawn Mynar 9:58
sure. Yeah, for sure. As soon as you Get over all of the fear the doubt the uncertainty, like what’s going to happen? What am I gonna do? I mean, we can stay. And I think a lot of people do stay in that headspace for so long. And they don’t realize that the second you just do it like you do it scared, you do it with uncertainty, you do it with the fear on the other side of that as soon as you do it, then you do have that confidence. And you do have that clarity. And all of that is just built up. But it’s just on the other side of you taking that leap. And Rachel to see you go through all of that stuff like you. It’s not like you weren’t scared. It’s not like you weren’t still scared. didn’t have those things. But you did it all anyway, and you were like, This is what I want to do. This is how I want my business to look, I’m gonna like, Yes, I have three kids, and I have a super busy life and you are working part time still, you were doing a ton of stuff. And you still made time to make your business happen in three months. Like that was right for me to see you go through because you wanted it. And you weren’t going to let all of that stop you.

Rachel Martin 11:02
And I will say full disclosure, I we had a nurse for a year who was our, you know, daytime nurse my my child will eventually switch to a facemask and she’ll just she’s fine when she’s awake. But for now with a trach. You can’t just send that kid to daycare. So she has a nurse with her will the nurse as I’m like, launch, creating this business, she puts in her four week notice. And she’s just like, I love I love Parker, but she I feel like I’m not. I’m not nerd, I’m not being a nurse, because really, she just needs a nanny, she’s fine when she’s awake. She just needs help, like, you know, getting hooked up to take her nap. And that terrified me. And I really think I might have Donald, I probably would have pushed everything out. And that really lit a fire of okay, I’m rolling this out, it’s not going to be perfect. But I don’t know, I feel like the universe was just like she needs a deadline. So I think that’s that’s huge picking a timeframe and sticking with it and being like it’s going to be messy. It’s you’re not going to have everything figured out. I still I’m still changing things. So I’m a still working in family practice two days a week. And for the foreseeable future, wink, wink. And I basically have assigned two or three days, which we’ve secured another nurse, obviously, because I’m able to do this, but I have two or three other days where I work on the business. And I think like even now I’m switching my electronic medical record, because I picked one, you just have to pick something, and then you figure out if you like it, or if you don’t, and I’m adapting things and changing things. Not all the time, but improving upon and adapting. And I think it’s really easy to be overwhelmed in, you know, Asana versus Trello, kartra vs Kajabi Active Campaign and all these things. I never even knew what they were what they meant, you know, four months ago. But I think just picking something and sticking with it until you’re giving it several months until you decide, is this working for me? Or is this not? But I feel like with your program, you did a really good job of maybe giving like your few choice options. And taking some of that decision fatigue out, I think, really easy to get decision fatigue, when you’re doing

Shawn Mynar 13:37
just even deciding on the software’s without any guidance, particularly like five years.

Rachel Martin 13:42
I’m ashamed to say my husband was early on the first few weeks he was he at some point, he was like, Are you still looking at colors? And I was like, Yes, I’m ashamed to say and and it’s funny, because in hindsight, nobody cares. No, nobody cared. But it’s your baby. So you care? Yeah. Really, it doesn’t matter, like the. So it’s the big things. And I think because you asked me maybe in a coaching call one time, like, how did you? How have you moved things along so quickly? And I think it’s because we’ll, I don’t even know where I saw this or read this. But I’ve gotten really into time management and strategy and planning my day out. Because I don’t have very many hours I’m limited on when I can get this stuff done planning my day out the night before and asking myself the question of what is truly going to move the needle. Like right Are you are you just playing because I will be I’m the queen of planning to do and not doing and you have said that before and it stuck with me and resonate with me. And so it was very much like no just do something and then see if it works. So that’s what I did. I was like okay, A newsletter writing it done. Like, it’s not going to be perfect. I’m probably accidentally sending it to everybody, even if they’re like in the middle of the nurture sequence, but it’s fine. I’m gonna like do it anyway, and making a blog, like publishing a blog post and creating the slides. I mean, it is ridiculous how long I spent just coming up with like picking in Canva, which can really be overwhelming, the perfect, like slide templates for the court. And none of that matters. If I can give anyone advice. It’s probably set a timer, like 15 minutes for little tasks that okay, in the next hour on picking Thank you told me that. I’ve been wondering, like, yeah, like, pick a timer be like, Okay, I’m picking my fonts in the next 30 minutes? Because it does, it matters, but it doesn’t matter that much.

Shawn Mynar 15:49
Yeah, I shouldn’t take days by any means. Because that’s not moving the needle. And if you really look at like you said, What is what in this limited amount of time that I have? What will actually move the needle will actually get my work in front of more people will actually make some income. What do I really need to do?

Rachel Martin 16:06
Like make a freebie just make a freebie just sit down for two hours and make a freebie?

Shawn Mynar 16:10
Yeah, exactly. Speaking of freebies, so I want to talk a little bit because like we mentioned, you started your business basically three months ago. And this is not one of those things where it’s like you already had this massive following. And you were already showing up on Instagram and doing all this business stuff. You just didn’t technically have a business, you were literally starting from zero, you didn’t have an email list. Your Instagram was like your kind of personal account, right? So this is not one of those stories, this is legitimately starting from scratch, right?

Rachel Martin 16:42
And, and I had been off of Instagram for like eight months, when when we came home from the hospital with Parker when she was maybe two and a half months old. I went like, I went dark, I got off. I’d been off Facebook forever. But I got off of Instagram for about eight months. And so I’d only been occasionally posting for like two months. And yeah, I had maybe I want to say started tracking it, maybe 650 followers. And I switched to a professional account for the insights and tracking and I started posting. But again, their strategy now there was no strategy, then it was just posting things, right. And I lost some followers probably because they were like, oh, somebody else posting about food and health. And that’s fine, like, but a lot of my family, my grandma’s both post, they like comment on my Instagram

Shawn Mynar 17:38
post, it’s so nice. But

Rachel Martin 17:41
part of I mean, part of my desire is to show functional medicine in real life, when you have you know, you’re a working mom with three kids. And one with that has some extra needs to show like, this is what I’m eating. This is how I’m you know, practicing mindfulness or working out or this is what is important. And to kind of live that and show this as a family affair. Not just me, you know, posting these concepts without living them. So yeah, I had nothing but I had nothing. Like I didn’t know what lead magnet meant. I googled it. I was like, What does lead magnet nurture what like I don’t zero marketing zero anything. And that’s why it it’s cute. The Rachel four months ago who thought she could do all this with? I don’t know, I don’t know, like googling are like, asking my friend who is two years into it and has spent a lot of money on business coaching, too. And it’s like, yes, she wants to help me, but she can’t, she doesn’t have the time to sit down and explain an email list or you know, how you attract people, and then get them to know like and trust you. Because the funny part about functional medicine is people don’t really know what it is. Most people don’t know what it is. So I’m marketing something that people don’t understand. And then I can’t guarantee them results, because I can’t do the work for them. So right. So the marketing aspect of it is very tricky. And getting and I know we you talked about that. And you have to show them the outcome because if you talk about just hormone problems or gut like what does that mean people you need to speak in their language

Shawn Mynar 19:33
that is so important. That

Rachel Martin 19:36
was a huge hump for me to to speak in the ways that people speak when they come to me, like they’ll say, I feel tired. I’m exhausted. I require caffeine to wake up and I need wine to wind down like and my hair is falling out and I don’t want to have sex anymore and can I Say that?

Shawn Mynar 20:00
Yes, absolutely.

Rachel Martin 20:02
But that’s yeah, like that’s huge. It was really, I guess it’s made me even more effective in, in as a family nurse practitioner when I see people.

Shawn Mynar 20:15
Mm hmm. Oh, absolutely, I can believe that for sure. Just knowing how to talk to these people who really the people you’re seeing it at your job are also potentially clients of yours on the outside and your business. And just getting that practice, you know, in both places, is so beneficial. So now, like you’ve mentioned, you have this program that you’re running, and it is a group program. And that’s really how you kind of kicked off your business, right? So tell people, what that looks like that process of building your program, which I know you kind of are doing it as you go, what you’re finding beneficial. So talk a little bit about that.

Rachel Martin 20:56
Yes, so I decided I was going to do a kind of, I’ve framed out everything for my 12 week program. And for those of you who don’t know anything about functional medicine, you know, the the mantra is definitely like all disease begins in the gut start in the gut, when in doubt, and there’s a five our framework for step by step how to heal someone’s gut. And I’ve always found it ironic that the fifth step is addressing the gut brain connection in that your cortisol and stress hormones, essentially, the relationship between stress and your gut, it’s at the very end. And I found I would try to get people, you know, as in whenever I was just a regular family practice, tried to get people on board with an elimination diet, and we’re going to do all these things. And they’re so in the weeds, that they can’t even wrap their head around, getting started. So in my method, I put that at the beginning. And we it’s just like five weeks of Well, the first part of it is habit and mindset. And I took that from you, I was like, as I’m going along, I realize you have to talk about mindset, you have to talk about how to have good habits, so that you can do this program once I don’t want people to have to do it 15 times, like you can you get lifetime access. But no, you don’t need to do it 15, you don’t need 15 elimination diets. So it’s very much fun and loading, to calm down the nervous system to you know, get your thyroid working again, decrease your cortisol and then work on the elimination diet and healing the gut. So I decided I would do kind of your hybrid model of getting everything framed out and filming the first lessons. And then as we go through it, I will continue. So I still have like in the next two weeks, I should have everything filmed. And, and then uploaded. And I’ve already it’s funny, I’ve already decided a whole module, I’m like redoing the entire thing. And I’ve shared that with my beta group to have like, I was trying to appeal to everyone instead of just speaking to, you know, quote, unquote, adrenal fatigue. And that is really what those are the people who are coming to me, they have cortisol issues that has led to them having gut issues. So I was trying to, like, just cater to too many people, but to anyone making a program, who’s out there, you just don’t know what’s going to work or what doesn’t until you do it. And then you get feedback. And that’s the beautiful part about a beta group. They, it’s discounted, so they don’t feel like they’re, they’re getting value, they know they’re getting value. And then they’re kind of part of the experiment and the fun of everything of being like do you like this? Do you not like this, and everyone has been so gracious, that was probably one of my big fears of am I gonna I’m a recovering people pleaser. And it’s are people going to be mad if I change things, but I found like, even yesterday, in my coaching call, it was, what do you guys think this is what I want to do. And I walked through the new framework for them. And they were like that, that makes a lot of sense. And because you guys had a lot of questions on Facebook, and I realized it wasn’t clear. And I mean, even another thing I’ve realized my some of my lessons are like 2025 minutes long, it’s too much. I need to like chunk it up into smaller lessons, but you just don’t. It’s fine. You can go and change all of the things eventually, but just get something out into the world.

Shawn Mynar 24:37
Yeah. So you just to clarify, so you did. You’ve framed it all out. You had everything planned out. You knew what you wanted your program to include. You recorded a few of those first lessons, and then you launched it, but the entire thing was not created.

Rachel Martin 24:54
No. And that’s like in hindsight, that’s frightening. But you know, the beauty of it was is already with the first few modules of being like, Man, I think people are dropping off with these 2025 minute lessons of okay, I still have a few more modules to record. I know now, I’m going to record those the way they should have been done in the beginning, and like chunk them into, you know, seven, eight minute lessons. So then I don’t have to redo those. If I would have done the entire program, the way I did the first few modules, I would have to redo the whole thing. Now I’m only gonna have to redo.

Shawn Mynar 25:30
Yeah, so that’s the benefit. Like, while it seems scary, and you’re like, What am I doing, I know, you’re kind of freaking out a little bit when you’re like, Okay, I have people who actually signed off. And now I know, I don’t have like this entire program laid out. But now you’re seeing how beneficial it is. And you’re able to take the feedback you’re getting every single week from these people to make it really great for them to you know ahead of time. And to make it what you actually want it to be.

Rachel Martin 25:57
I think my favorite thing so far. So I love I love the coaching calls there right now they’re once a month, which is which is fine. I think I want to do every two weeks. It’s just, I love I love them. And it’s just, I think they really enjoy talking to one another too. But my favorite has been watching people in the Facebook group, talk to one another. Yeah. Because then you realize this is taken on a life of its own. And it’s greater than me. And I think that’s what I never knew I always wanted in family practice. I wanted to support people to support one another and to make this like like minded community. It’s just still mind boggling to me that the Facebook group like they will like tag one another and speak to one another. And I mean, right now we are all in, in Virginia. Well, I think I think I have like one person in Ohio. But your first group is usually people you know, who are supporting you, which is great and fine. But I don’t know, the fact that it’s bigger than me already is so cool.

Shawn Mynar 27:03
And that’s why I love signature probe having a signature program so much is because it is bigger than you and you are building a community for other people to have support from other people, not just you. But like, and we all know, because we probably I’m assuming everyone listening has had some sort of health or wellness concern in their life and you feel really alone. Like if your family isn’t going through it, or your friends aren’t going through it, you’re like, oh my gosh, who do I talk to? Where do I turn and to be in this group of people who are experiencing something similar and going through this process together, it is in valuable and it is bigger than you You are the conduit to get people into building that community for them to have forever. So they will continue to build these relationships even after your program is done. You know is it goes so it’s so cool. I’m so glad you’re seeing that too. And this brings me to what I wanted to talk about too, which is the size of your program and how the launch went and how you got people in? Because like we just said you were starting pretty much from zero. So I think that’s a big concern is when people say they want their business, they want to have a program. But what if no one signs up? Like who’s going to be in this program? I don’t have this massive audience. I don’t have an email list yet. So what happened? How did your launch go? And how did you get these people in? And what was the end result?

Rachel Martin 28:29
So I like followed your advice. And I started just with, I created a book. Like as I knew I wanted to launch around the state, maybe four weeks before I was like, Okay, I need an email list. So I started with a lead magnet, I created a probiotics and prebiotics guide. I posted about it on Instagram to get some followers and that link tree thing is free. So I got one like link in my bio kind of thing. And I started attracting people that way. And then I got my family to kind of share about that I was just straight up with people. It’s funny, my photographer is kind of a friend and like she was sharing on her instagram about the guide. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help in the beginning of like, Hey, Mom share about my guide. It’s, you know, to get on the email list. And I I decided because I know I asked you like I’m not I do not have time. I’m going to do this differently next time. But I was like I don’t want to do I think I have enough of an audience to not do any kind of live webinar or live event or pre recorded I’m just going to send a newsletter and like an email sequence and then post on Instagram. Basically for my launch, there will be no kind of event or anything. And I ended up doing it that way I met my husband God love him. I was like please share on Facebook because he has a lot of friends. He was born and raised steer. And so one of his high school friends signed up for the program. And I recruited like one or two of our nurses to sign up and it just, I had 10 people sign up. But I also decided which I, I will say this is a mistake, I should not have done it because it was so overwhelming, I decided to also start seeing one on one clients. At the same time, I was launching my program. And I that was part of my, my offering, you also get to be in this program. So I have 20 people in it 10 of which are one on one. Functional Medicine patients and then 10 are just in the group. So I would say don’t do that, if you’re considering it. And you just started your business two months. That’s a bit much. But so it’s nice, because there’s 20 people in there, but I think 10 would have been fine. Yeah, for your beta group. And you can find 10 Like that’s like you can find out Absolutely. And you don’t need you don’t need a big following. I think the important thing is showing people connecting what their symptoms are with what’s going on and what could be their possible future. If they go through your program.

Shawn Mynar 31:21
Look at you talking about this messaging talk. Wow, this is amazing. You learned Wow. Whoa, thank

Rachel Martin 31:28
you. Thank you, I had a great tea. I have a great teacher. But it’s because it’s funny. I think one of my big one of my big humps is just I did not feel like I was a business person. I didn’t know anything about marketing. But I’m like Rachel, you for years, you’ve been practicing functional medicine, you know that. Take away all these impostor syndrome feelings, you have people that you have helped already. What are you good at. And I’m really good at telling women and men sort of, I don’t want to like pigeonhole myself with just, you know, feet, I considered it but I was like, but it is mostly women that you are putting yourself last. And because of that you feel terrible. And this is why and this is why you need my help. And I was like it, I’m great at helping people deal with adrenal fatigue and heal their gut. And I have like proven success. So get out of your head, about websites and social media and marketing, you will figure that out. But you have it a message. And I think I read somewhere. The longer that you don’t put your program out there, you’re really there people you’re not taking care of that you could be serving, and you could be helping those people and you could be changing their lives. So then they show up better for the person or people they’re caring for. So it was kind of that it was kind of like, you’re being selfish if you don’t do this.

Shawn Mynar 32:54
I mean, it’s true, it is true, because you have the ability, there are people out there right now that need your help, you have the ability to help them. And by you not putting yourself out there for fear of what might go wrong, or what you might look like, or people might judge you or whatever we’re saying in our heads, then those people are still out there looking for the help that you can give them. So when you put it into that perspective, and we’re all helpers, we all want to serve people and really bring that to light, then it just takes on a whole new meaning. And you did you realize that the business part really doesn’t matter that much. You know, like, figure it out, you’ll figure it out, you figure it out on the way. So one thing that you said that I really want to reiterate and make sure people understood is that when it came time for you to launch your business, and you started by way of the beta group of this program, and also taking one on one clients, that would be a part of that beta group, which I think is great. I think, you know, like you said, it’s a little overwhelming, maybe like making the numbers not so many or separating them a little bit. But well, there

Unknown Speaker 34:03
was definitely hustle

Shawn Mynar 34:07
maybe spreading them out a little bit or trying to make different woodwork. But when it came time you build your audience by way of the people you already knew. You’re not 100% Your family, your friends, hey, well, you shout this out for me on your social media. Hey, will you talk to your friends about this? Like that’s the cool thing about what we do, especially in the wellness world, is that everyone needs what we do, or they know someone who needs what we do. So building your network, building your audience is actually quite easy if you’re willing to use the people that you already know and get that out there. And then like you said, it is easy to find those 10 people that can be your first group. You don’t want to have a big group as your first group anyway, because you’re doing all of this. You’re kind of figuring things out. You want to get their feet If you want them to have a strong connection with each other, so it’s good to have a small group and you can get those people no matter what size you’re starting at right now. So someone in your network can build that relationship for you, or help you to get those 10 people. And so I just wanted to make sure that that was pointed out that, yeah, you talk to your photographer, who’s your friend, you had your mom talk about it, you had your husband talk about it, and it worked.

Rachel Martin 35:27
Your people, they want you to be successful. Yeah. Right. And they see how much joy it brings you. And that’s infectious that’s contagious. So I just, I’m so happy that I decided to do it. And I think one of my and I didn’t even use some things bounce around in your head. And you don’t necessarily put words to them until later. But one of my for years initial like things that bothered me about functional medicine, it seemed really expensive and inaccessible. A signature program helps you like and that’s one of my core values, I want people need this, and money shouldn’t be this, this big hurdle. But in this way, I can help people without seeing them one on one. And it’s more accessible to the masses. And you’re kind of you’re teaching them how to fish so to speak, and not making them feel like they need you right to get better one on one, right? Because you’re putting them in, you understand this from all of the programs you’ve done. If you’re trying to in the 21st century, lead a healthy lifestyle, you’re kind of a rebel. So to put these people together in a community is huge, because it’s not just every once a month, when they see me or once every three months, when they see me, it’s they have their community that they can go to at all times. Which I don’t know, I just feel like, I guess one of my core values is, you know, affordable functional medicine. Having a group program is a way to kind of feel like you’re helping people. And you don’t have to apologize for charging, because these are not astronomical fees that you’re you know, asking for you’re being compensated for your time and your energy. But it’s really cool, because once it’s done, then the automations are there. And you can show up, you know, every two weeks or once a week, if that’s something you want, or once a month, and then monitor your Facebook group. And I want to see patients one on one still, but that’s the beautiful thing, my life with the little kids and the you know, I’m at the mercy of Do we have a nurse or not, this program has allowed me to still I cannot multiply myself, I am just me. And me just seeing like, I have a cap on how many people I can see one on one. So in this way, I can still share my gifts with the world. So anybody who has a busy lifestyle, and they keep using that as an excuse for why they can’t do what they love. No, you can you just have to think outside the box totally and do your program,

Shawn Mynar 38:15
obviously. And it like you said it’s beneficial for everyone is beneficial for the people going through it, it makes it more accessible, it makes them feel more empowered in their own journey, because they’re learning instead of just relying on you. And it gives you back the time and the freedom that you need to be able to live your life and then you can be more choosy, I don’t want to say I don’t know what the right word is. But with the clients that you do take one on one and you can keep it at a cap, you can work with the people that really truly do need your one on one services and support and leave the group program for those that maybe are just getting started or, you know, have some not as high needs, I guess, to do the program. So it really worked out so well for everybody.

Rachel Martin 39:01
Yeah, and I’m thinking that I might, I’m thinking I might like require the program if you want to work with me, okay, but this is my foundational method that I’m going to do anyway. And instead of me, you know, saying it 15 million times, that’s literally why I’ve recorded it, you funnel in and then the beauty of the Facebook group and the group calls is that eventually you’ll have people who have completed it, and they just want the accountability. And they’re going to encourage and inspire the new people who are just beginning who are overwhelmed. So they like absolutely like even Okay, in your coaching calls me with you seeing all these people in who had already started their own businesses who are already being successful, inspired me to take action, because if it was just me and you or me watching your videos, yeah, I’m inspired, but not nearly to the degree as when you get all these like minded people on a live call. That’s like complete The only other next level and it’s one hour of somebody’s time.

Shawn Mynar 40:03
Yes, exactly. And it is, again, that community piece that you just can’t get in a one on one setting. And you can’t get with just a hands off DIY course, either you have to have that middle ground. And that’s why I love it. And obviously, you’re now an advocate to

Unknown Speaker 40:20
it, I’m addicted.

Shawn Mynar 40:22
Speaking of what are your plans? Now, this group is still kind of in the middle, but what do you foresee happening with your group program in the future?

Rachel Martin 40:32
So in July, I think the beginning of July I want to launch again, open to the public, because I have still, like one on ones haven’t decided how if I want to launch, you know, quarterly or do evergreen, I’m still bouncing things kind of around in my head, but I know I like the structure of the 12 weeks, I love the Facebook group. And I really like I think I’m going to start offering unstructured open office hours for like, where I teach for 30 minutes about different topics within the course. So it’s fine because once you have your your kind of structure your house in place, you can decorate your house however you want. Yep, it’s so true. So it’s like once you just but you have to have your your little house, your your core, your program. And then you can add different things. I’m considering a kind of membership with my program for additional offerings, like having a health coach once a month, come on and do a coaching call as well. And, and kind of build from there. Like almost like offerings at the gym or something.

Shawn Mynar 41:50
Yeah, yeah, that’s so cool. I love it. I’m just so your success and how you really took your idea and went with it, and you just made it happen, and you want it to be perfect, but you’re like, this isn’t gonna happen. So I’m just gonna put it out anyway. I love everything that you’ve done. I’m so proud of you. I think it’s just been so cool to watch. What final piece of advice you have for anyone listening who maybe is just starting their business? Or maybe it’s been in their business for a little while, and it’s not going the way they want. What do you have anything to offer?

Rachel Martin 42:29
Yeah, um, I think I have like two pieces of advice. So the first is just like, remember, this is fun. It’s fun learning new things. It’s fun having beginner’s mind. And I think it’s important to learn the back end of every single thing. So if you have zero help, you still know how to do all the things, but I just made it fun. And I think you you helped make it fun with the videos. And it was interactive. And there were worksheets, I think keep it light, keep it fun, keep it light, and my second piece of advice, establish boundaries for time. I wasn’t good at that. And it was really bad there for a little while with me pushing and pushing and like working all the time. And I realized I’m not beginning with the end in mind that because the business that I want is not what I’m doing right now. And I will accidentally become a workaholic. And then I’m missing the whole point what I’m working for. I’m like, I’m missing the entire point. So I would say pick a date that you want to launch or get things going. But like write that date down in pencil because things might come up. And if you know if you realize that you’re not spending as much time with the people you love, or you’re not pouring into yourself, and you’re getting kind of burned out, then be a little bit flex more flexible and adaptable. Because isn’t that what you would tell your your person that you’re trying to

Shawn Mynar 43:55
help? Totally, yes. Take your own advice.

Rachel Martin 43:58
Yeah, take your own advice. So I would say like keep it fun and keep it light but have have, you know, some some parameters you’re working within.

Shawn Mynar 44:08
So true. Yes, it’s so helpful. And it is I’m so glad you’re brought up to keep it fun because it is fun, and it should be fun. And we can really get bogged down with all the business stuff. And that makes it not fun a lot of times but if you get back to like what you started just do something, just start somewhere, just put it out and figure it out on your wet on the way. Let it be messy and let it be a learning experience then it can be fun again, and that’s what I think is the best. Like it’s not

Rachel Martin 44:41
even a chore it’s just there’s so many things you want to do. You got to pick one thing to do but it’s I’ve had a blast which is crazy because I remember years ago like hating going to work so this is like so different. So different, so

Shawn Mynar 44:56
different and it’s so much better. I’m so so happy for You Rachel, thank you so much for coming on in sharing where can people learn more about you and your business and what you do and follow along? Yeah, so

Rachel Martin 45:08
I am at WWW dot route and ritual FX med.com. And then on Instagram same thing at Route and ritual effects med

Shawn Mynar 45:20
Cool. All right, great. And you have a podcast coming out soon. I

Unknown Speaker 45:23
do good vibes only.

Shawn Mynar 45:25
Love it so cute. All right. Well, thank you so much for your time and for sharing everything that you learned along the way. And we will stay caught up with everything you’re doing in your business as well. So thanks, Rachel.

Unknown Speaker 45:39
Thank you, Sean.

6 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Business — Ep. 150

Unstuck Podcast

I’ve been in business for almost 10 years and let’s just say, it has been the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime. And while I have no regrets and wouldn’t change a thing, there are still some things that, looking back now, would’ve been great to know then. It would have been nice to learn them the easy way instead of the hard way. This episode is meant to be your easy way. I’ll share a few of the big things I’ve learned in the past 10 years that I wish I would’ve known from the start and maybe shine a light for you so you don’t have to go through the hard way too.

“Feel confident in the knowing that there is something to learn always.” – Shawn Mynar

“Don’t worry about being successful, work towards being significant and the success will naturally follow.” – Shawn Mynar

“You can only consume so much free content before you actually have to take the leap and invest in yourself and your business. I promise you, it will pay off.” – Shawn Mynar

“There are lessons to learn. We can’t learn those lessons when everything is going right. We have to learn them when things go wrong.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE “Signature Program In A Day” Workshop – shawnmynar.com/day.

Shawn’s Courses – shawnmynar.com/coaching.

Instagram: instagram.com/unstuckentrepreneur

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTS ARE BELOW (transcripts are auto-generated so expect errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar)

0:00
I’ve been in business for almost 10 years now. And let’s just say it’s been a roller coaster ride of a lifetime. And while I have no regrets and wouldn’t change a thing, there are still just some things that looking back now would have been great to know from the beginning, it would have been nice to learn them the easy way instead of the hard way like I did. And so this episode is meant to be your easy way, I’ll share a few of the big things I’ve learned in the past 10 years that I wish I would have known from the start, and maybe I can shine a light for you. So you don’t have to go through it the hard way, too. Let’s dive in. Hey, hey there, friends, and welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur, so grateful to have you checking out the show. And everything you do to support the show. It all just means so so much to me and glad to have you here. We’ve got some things to talk about some reminiscing to do maybe over the last 10 years of my business. And I just really want to share some things that looking back now would have been nice to know from the beginning. So if you are someone who’s maybe just starting their business or thinking about starting your business, or maybe you’re a couple years in and still feeling like there’s some stuff you just don’t know, this episode is for you. And even if you’ve been in business for a really long time, it’s always just nice to kind of hear what other people have gone through and what other people have learned along the way, just even to commiserate, because you have to and you’ve learned the hard way like I did. But really, I would love it. If this episode could be the easy button. For some of you. Maybe you can learn these things that it took me years to learn and trial and error and mistakes and all the things to finally figure out, maybe you could take some of this and learn it now. And it could be your easy button for your business, at least for some of the things, there’s still going to be plenty of things to happen in your business, that you’re unfortunately going to have to learn the hard way. But it is for a reason. But we’ll get into all that in just a second. First, I want to remind you, this is your final reminder, your final chance to get in on the signature program in a day free live workshop that I am hosting next week, next Tuesday, June 14. Again, this is only relevant for the people that are listening to this prior to June 14, if that is you and you want in this is an exclusive, interactive live event that is free. But it is also like I don’t want to say exclusive and like oh, you can’t come in this was a VIP thing. Not like that. But there are very limited seats because of the interactive nature of it. And so you know, once they’re gone, they’re gone, I have to put a cap on it. Just like basically Zoom is making me put a cap on it. And I want to have a nice interactive experience where everyone can really be a part of that experience. So smaller groups are best. If you want in you are going to learn you’re going to basically we’re going to workshop out your signature program, what you want to add as a program into your business. This is not a webinar, this is unlike any other workshop I have ever done. This will involve brainstorming and working and feeling and sharing, learning, interacting. Just really understanding and working through the process of building your program. In one day, you give me one afternoon, I’ll give you a program. Okay? So come ready to work, make some big decisions, do some brainstorming, share with the group, it’s gonna be really fun and it is totally free. Okay, and when you attend a live, you also have the opportunity to come on and get some one on one support and guidance from me as we do build out that signature program together. And no matter what by the end of that workshop, you will have a solidified signature program and clear next steps for you to get that program out into the world. And this is doesn’t matter what stage of business you’re in doesn’t matter how quote unquote ready you think you are for your signature program. This is a pretty unique opportunity and experience to really get it all hashed out so that you know what your next offer is going to be. So if you want in this is your chance, Shawn minor.com/de da y to save your seat if the website is down if you can’t

5:00
Are that page anymore, that means that it is already full. And I will potentially do this again, another time, we’ll see how it goes. But save your seat and get ready to work. And if you do want to be included in the workshop, but you can’t attend live, you can still do so you will have to email me and let me know you can’t be there live. So I save your seat for someone who can be and you will get the replay. But I want you to really stop and think about what you want for your business how you want this actually to go for you. And imagine having answers to questions like, am I truly ready for a signature program? What’s the best topic? Who’s the best client? What results? Am I promising these people? What’s the price? What am I going to include? How do I get people into my program? How do I sell this thing? Imagine having answers to that. And knowing that you have this offer, that is so awesome, so transformative for the right people on the right topic that you can now put out into the world confidently. That is a big deal. And I know, because I talked to a lot of you that one of the things you want the most in your business is, first of all, to have something that doesn’t directly take your time in order to make money. And number two, you want to help people in a meaningful way. And number three, you want something that you feel confident and proud about, you want an offer that you are excited to put out into the world. This is what we will do together, we will have those three things going for you by the end. So make sure you save your seat, Shawn minor.com/day, and I cannot wait to connect with you all live next week. It’s coming up so soon. All right, let’s move into these six things. I wish I knew when I started my business. If I had like a month to think about this topic, I probably could have come up with 36 things, probably 106 things, so many, but I want to just start here with what I kind of thought of over the past few days and just really thinking, you know, I I reminisce about my business a lot. It’s been almost 10 years, that is completely mind blowing to me, because, you know, in some ways, it feels like I started last year and in some ways it feels like I can’t even remember what it’s like to work for someone else. It’s one of those things where it feels like a long time and not very long, all at once.

7:37
And I really, truly can say that I don’t have any regrets. I mean, yes, I made some terrible decisions. I made a ton of mistakes. Some of these decisions and mistakes cost me lots of time, it cost me lots of money. But I can also very clearly see why those things needed to happen. I had something to learn. And you know, if you’re in this place right now, where you feel like you are making mistakes, you are doing things and they’re not working, you are having to make decisions, and you don’t know if they’re the right decision or the wrong decision. Welcome to Business, welcome to entrepreneurship. That’s how it goes. And also feel competent in the knowing that there’s something to learn always. It’s a constant learning experience. If you make a mistake, if you make a certain decision, no matter what move you make, there is something to learn there, you are going through that experience. For a reason you made that decision, you made that mistake for a reason. It is part of your journey, you are being guided towards what you want towards that business that you’re looking for, by way of your mistakes and by way of your decisions. And by way of things not working. Because it kind of takes things not working for you to go down the path towards what will work. You have to go through it all. And I guess Hey, maybe this right here is another bonus thing I wish I would have known is like you have to go through all of this. And so yeah, I’m going to share some things with you that I wish I would have known sooner in my business, but you’re still gonna go through the mock, you’re still going to have decisions to make, you’re still going to learn things the hard way. But maybe part of your journey is to listen to this episode to hear from me and learn from me. So at least these things that I’m going to share with you today. You can learn the easy way and then you’ll have even more space and even more energy to learn other things the hard way. What

10:00
which is inevitably going to happen if you want a business. Okay, so before I get into my list that I have for you, I also have a quote from Oprah. And it says, Don’t worry about being successful, work towards being significant, and the success will naturally follow. I think most of us know that I think most of us are doing so. But it is always a good reminder, because it’s easy when in business to start looking at the surface level things like the money you need to make. And that’s totally understandable. We all have bills to pay. And you do need to make a certain income. And you know, the vanity metrics, the followers and the subscribers and the this and that. And those things are important important in a way you do want to keep track of those. But they are vanity metrics, as we know. And when we can take a step back from those things, and start moving from a place of just wanting to be significant as Oprah states it, but in a way that is just you are doing something to help other people. That is what it means. And that’s what open means by saying work towards being significant. Doing something meaningful, helping another person, and putting yourself out there in a way that lets those people know that you can help. And not always focusing on these other things that can really grab our attention these days. But those aren’t really what’s actually important. Having a certain number of followers making a certain amount of money, and having a certain number of subscribers, all these things that we tend to really get wrapped up in. That comes as a byproduct of you focusing on doing meaningful, significant work for just one other person. You don’t have to try to be Oprah and have every single person on the planet know who you are. That’s not the case here, doing something meaningful for your people. For those people out there who want and need the services or the products that you provide. Don’t worry about being successful, work towards being significant and the success will naturally follow. It is law that success will follow it is how the universe works. Alright, first thing I wish I knew when I started my business, I wish I knew my worth and valued my time. I’ve talked about this quite a bit, I think here on the podcast about how I massively undercharged for my services. As a personal trainer, this was way back at the start of my business. 10 years ago, I massively under charged for the work that I was doing. For the time I was spending in a session with my clients, the time it took to drive their cars, I was in home personal training at the time. And I went above and beyond for my clients too. I would take clients pretty much at all hours of the day, like hey, you want to work out at 5am Sure I can wake up at four, no problem. I work six days a week because people wanted to work out on the weekends, I would allow last minute changes and cancellations. I did not value my time, I did not know how valuable the work that I was doing was for these people. And I think I’ve mentioned this before, too, that I specialized in doing personal training sessions for older adults. Now, not all of my clients were older, but the vast majority were 55 plus. And that is a super valuable, valuable thing for people of that age to have someone come to your home and train you make you stronger, make your more mobile, huge right. At the time, couldn’t see it. I just was so worried that if I stood up for myself, if I started valuing myself, if I started charging, what I was actually worth, that I would lose clients, my self worth and my value were so low in my mind that I lacked competence to know that my clients would stick with me even when I charged what I was worth and if they didn’t, then that wasn’t a good match.

14:54
And this went on for years. This didn’t change until I started working on

15:00
For myself, until I really got to the root of why I had that low self worth and value, which had nothing to do with my business, and everything to do with those darn limiting beliefs that I had been carrying around since childhood. And so at that point of my life, which was in my mid 30s, I was used to having to prove myself, I was used to being the underdog and having to work really hard.

15:32
And I also on top of that had a really poor relationship with money, which again, stemmed from childhood, and just like generational things, from my family. And that bled into my business too. And how I assumed other people thought about money. This happens a lot for all of us, we project our money, beliefs, our money mindset, on to our clients or on to other people, and then just assume like, oh, well, I wouldn’t pay this much for this. So they’re not going to or the I can’t afford this, so they won’t be able to. And so that’s where I was, I was projecting my money issues on to my clients, assuming they had the same stuff, and therefore not charging enough. So it really took me doing the work on myself inner work and figuring out these limiting beliefs that I had, doing that stuff, and then also working on my money mindset, to get to a point where I just know how valuable the work that I am doing is, and I charge based on that value, and what my time is worth both to the client, and to myself and to my life. And what’s important to me, this is something you know, learning how to set your prices, is this fluid thing that will be the case for all of you, you start somewhere you see how it feels for you, it’s so much of an intuitive process, like you have to see how you feel with things. And back then I was a super disconnected to my intuition. Like I wasn’t listening to that at all, because my head, my ego voice was so strong with those limiting beliefs that I couldn’t really tap into my inner voice. And, again, took me getting involved in doing the inner work before I could get to that place. So hopefully, you guys are a little more in tune with yourself than I was back then. And can now get to this point where you feel

17:55
what’s right, and feels good to you, and is the right spot to be and what doesn’t feel good to you. And you can think more about the value that you are providing for your clients. How valuable what you are doing for them is how much it is going to enhance or change or save their lives. And you can also charge based on that, but it will be fluid, it will take some time for you to find that sweet spot, you can always go up or down or whatever you need to do, I would recommend setting your prices and then continuing to go up. So you can do so in increments. But what I want you to know from the start is that you do something very valuable for someone else. And you are worthy of getting paid for that. That is what I want you to know. That is what I wish I knew from the start. Next, I wish I knew that investing in my business wasn’t a choice, but a necessity. Because the reality is, I wouldn’t have had to learn everything the hard way. If I would have just been willing to invest in my business from the start again, going back to that money mindset stuff that I had going on. I was afraid to spend money. I saw it as an expense, not an investment, which you really need to get to know the difference in your business ASAP. It will change everything for you. But if I would have started investing in my business from the beginning, I would have saved myself so much time and so much money. And I would have actually started making way more money much sooner.

19:52
I was that person that just consumed all the free content. There was not a

20:00
piece of free content from a business coach that I did not consume, all of the downloads, all of the ebooks, all of the podcast episodes, the blog posts, all the things that were free.

20:15
But there’s a reason why they are free. And we talked about having freebies here on the show and how important they are. And you know, because you are someone who is giving out free content for prospective clients, that you’re not giving it all in that free material, you’re giving enough to help them get started to help them get to a certain point to help them with one certain thing. But then you know, that there’s no possible way for you to put everything that you can do to help another person into one free thing, there’s just no way. And so everyone else is doing the same thing, the people that you are consuming their free content to help you with something in your life, your business, for example, they cannot put everything in to their free material that will help you succeed in your business, you have to invest in your business. So going back to the difference between an expense and an investment. The cool thing really is that when it comes to your business, almost everything that you pay for in your business is an investment. Yes, it’s also an expense, and you can write it off on your taxes. And that’s amazing. But also, it so much of it is an investment because it is there to get you a return on it. It might be by way of helping you make more money, or helping you save time, which is honestly even more valuable since it’s a non renewable resource. But I feel like almost everything in your business that you are putting money into, is helping you with one of those two things, both of which are really incredible investments, you either make your money back plus some or you get it back in time, which is, like I said, just immensely valuable, and will still come back to you making more money too. So just see it as that I know, it’s hard when you’re potentially not making any money in your business right now. Or you’re not making a lot of money. And it feels like why would I invest? Why would I spend money when I’m not making anything. But you have to understand the way that investing works, not spending investing, there’s a big difference, you can only consume so much free content, my friends, before you actually have to take the leap and invest in yourself and your business, I promise you, it will pay off.

23:09
I wish I would have known that. But again, took me several years to know that next, I wish I knew that 90% of my job would be to market myself. It’s really interesting when you start a business, especially as a service based business, and really proudly the same as a product based business to you want that business because you’re good at that service, or you have created this amazing product. And you’re so excited to get it out into the world. And you’re good at what you do. And you want to help people. And we have these really great hearts, and really service based mind. But then you get in business. And you realize that no matter what kind of business you have, no matter how good you are at your service, or how great your product is, you still have to market yourself. And you have to market yourself a lot. And that is why I say literally 90% of what I do today is Marketing, Marketing, my services, what I am good at doing what I love to do how I want to help people. And that’s great. And I’m glad that that is 10% of what I do. But right now 90% is getting the word out there is growing and building my audience. And I had no idea back 10 years ago, what that would look like today or how that would evolve over the 10 years or how much time that would take up. It would take years before

25:00
For I really truly learned about messaging about making an irresistible offer, about selling in a non sleazy salesy way, like true authentic selling, it took me a long time. And something again, I know, I’ve shared here before, about how I had these programs that I had created. And I didn’t get anybody to buy them. Because I didn’t know how to market myself, I didn’t know how to launch, I didn’t know what a launch was, I thought I could create this thing, tell a few people, and they’d buy it. And we could go about our business. And I could go back to doing the service that I love to do for people.

25:43
But you have to know, and I hope you can get this from the start or wherever you’re at today in your business. You are a marketer, we had a whole episode about this, a few episodes back, you are going to become a marketer, you’re going to make that choice to make that a big part of what you do. And it can be fun, it can be flowy, it can be easy. It can be simple. It doesn’t have to be complicated, or hard, or just something that feels uncomfortable, you can and will enjoy it. I enjoy it. Like for example, me right now here talking to you on a podcast episode. That’s considered marketing, I’m creating content that will help you get to know me and my services and what I do and what I offer and how I can help you. And I’ll invite you to join me. That’s marketing. And this is one of the most fun things that I do in my business, recording this podcast. So fun, I love it. And it can be the same for you. But you do have to learn what that looks like for you, you do have to learn what that takes and how you can become a marketer and what it means to launch and what it means to have messaging and an irresistible offer. And non salesy selling. You have to invest in yourself and your business and learn how to market and then make it enjoyable for yourself whatever that looks like for you. Next, I wish I knew that I needed a passive income stream as soon as possible. This one I really want you to work on in your business right away, it is so important for you to immediately find a way to on Ravel your time with your income. A lot of us think the first place to go is to take one on one clients, which is trading time for dollars. And that’s great, but it really can’t and shouldn’t be it, you also need to work on a more passive income stream a way for you to make money that doesn’t directly involve your time or your calendar, that is going to be really important moving forward. So even if you do take tons of one on one clients, no matter what you always have that other income stream coming in, as well. As I mentioned, right when I started, I was only focused on my one on one personal training clients, I did have a few groups, I taught a few classes, which was really helpful, but still required my calendar and my time in order to make the money for that group or that class. And that is really stressful. Even if you do have a decent client list and enough people on your calendar, there will be times when people cancel, there will be months where you don’t get as many clients or things happen. And when your income is directly tied to that, then you always feel a little concerned about the money that you’re going to make. Whereas if you work to set up another income stream right away, then you have that going on as well. And really one of the coolest things about the businesses that you are creating is that you don’t need just one income stream you really can and should build up to having multiple income streams so that you have that flexibility and you also have that knowing that comfort that security that maybe you’re looking for when it comes to your income. And so yeah, the first couple years of my business, not only was I undercharging my clients, but I also that was the only income stream I had, I did not immediately look to start adding other passive income stream

30:00
seems to my business, which just made it that much more stressful. And so it wasn’t until a couple years, like I said, I did create some programs. At first they didn’t sell because I didn’t know how to market myself. But then finally, number five, launched number five, I was able to get that passive income stream going and keep it going, and then start adding even more things, other programs, ebooks, affiliates, those kinds of things to where, by the 2018, I believe I had 19 streams of income. That was a little much that got a little confusing when it came time for taxes. And my accountant didn’t love it. But but it really cool. So you have the opportunity to do that for the type of business that you are building right now. So don’t wait to start thinking outside the box and thinking about other things that you want to add to your business besides just the one on one work. Or maybe you don’t want one on one clients at all, which is totally fine and normal. But definitely things to consider and know now instead of waiting years from now to figure out where your money is going to come from what other income streams you can add.

31:21
Alright, we’re getting down to the last few. Next, I wish I knew that entrepreneurship was a never ending rollercoaster ride. I think a lot of us know this. But I also think, you know, when I consider how I was approaching business back, when I started, I really did have this mindset of, if I can just get this, this and this, if I can make this much money, and do this thing and have this many clients, then I’ll be good. And I can just let it ride, let it flow, I’ll just stay there, I’ll be all good. And I can just coast along for the rest of my life in my business. That is not how it works. That is not ever how it works. I think we’ve all seen that drawing or that meme, where it says what we think business is going to be like and it’s just like straight line up. And then what it actually is, and it’s this like line that’s all over the place and a mess and curly and curvy, and all over. That’s what true. That is exactly what happens that it is what it is like to have a business. Again, I think a lot of you know this, at least deep down. But I think it is a mind game, we can play with ourselves of feeling like you just need to get to a certain place and then everything will be amazing forever. And you’re only struggling right now because you’re in this spot. But that will never happen again. And the reality is it is full of ups and downs all the time, like daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. It happens and it is going to continue to happen. Because that’s just how the journey plays out if we go back to what we were talking about at the beginning, because there’s lessons to learn. And sometimes we can’t learn those lessons when everything’s going right. We have to learn them by certain things going wrong. It’s just part of the process. And you know, I wish I would have known this from the beginning because then I would have known that when things were going wrong when it seemed like nothing good was ever going to happen. When it seemed like this was all doomed. It was just part of the journey. And pretty soon it would go back up. And I would be going up the roller coaster only to go back down again and then up again and then down again and curve around and go upside down and all of the things. It’s just an experience. And it’s an experience that we’re signing up for by being entrepreneurs. It is one that no one else will ever understand unless they are also an entrepreneur. And it is also very much worth it. It is so worth it to be on that roller coaster ride every day, every week, every month every year. The highs and the lows. It’s all good. All right, last one. I wish I knew that it would all turn out better than I could have imagined. Even on this roller coaster ride to still be able to look at where I’ve come what I’ve built what I’ve done. It’s I just couldn’t have imagined that what would happen 10 years ago when I first started this thing, I could not have dreamt of this. And I think the same will happen to you 10 years from now. You just have no idea what’s in store for you and how good it’s going to get. But I know that at the beat

35:00
Getting and even in the thick of it, it can feel like it’s never going to happen, that light at the end of the tunnel can seem really far away. And you can find yourself in this cycle of stress and struggle and only being able to see that.

35:18
But then that person, that business owner, that entrepreneur from 10 years down the road, is telling you that it’s all going to turn out better than you could have imagined. And then what does that do? Knowing that how does that shift things for you? How can you look at things differently? Knowing that, and I wish I knew that from the beginning, because for me, it would have made things a lot more fun, a lot less stressful, I would have had a lot less worry. And I would have just been able to enjoy the process a little more, not a little more, a lot more. Because I would know that it would all turn out better than I could have imagined. And the same is true for you. And what does that change for you knowing that.

36:12
And that’s it for what I wish I would have known when I started my business. But I do want to end with just one little thing here. And going back to it turning out better than I could have imagined. Why I believe that it turned out this way, why I believe that it did get this good in my business, even with the roller coasters and the ups and downs and all the craziness that has happened over the past 10 years, which is just to be expected. And I now know that. But from the beginning from day, one of me being a business owner,

36:53
I knew how to connect with my audience authentically. I knew how to be consistent.

37:04
I knew that done was better than perfect. And most importantly, I knew what I wanted. These were the things that yes, I did not know a lot. When I started my business like almost nothing. But I did know those four things. I knew how to connect with my audience. I knew how to be authentic, I knew how to be consistent. I knew that Dunn was better than perfect. And I knew what I wanted. And that is why I believe that I was able to make it through the ups and downs, the roller coaster ride, The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, all of the mistakes, and blunders and bad decisions I made, and still get to this point where it turned out better than I could have imagined because of those things. So the reality is, it doesn’t really matter what you don’t know right now, because you’re gonna learn it. And hopefully, I’ve made your journey to learn it a little less of a struggle by sharing with you this episode today. But no matter what, you’re going to learn what you need to learn. But then you can also take what you already know what you already do well, what you really want, and go for it and make it happen. And that’s what I really want you to embrace. No, you don’t know everything. Yes, you’re going to learn a lot. Yes, you’re gonna learn a lot the hard way.

38:40
But there are things that you already have right here right now today, that will build a thriving, significant if I’m going back to Oprah’s words, business, and you have that already, right now within you. So a good exercise to do would be not to figure out what you don’t know because you don’t know it. So that’s not going to go anywhere. But figure out what you do already know and what you are already good at in your business and just focus more on that. Just do that and see where it takes you. And yes, when all the stuff along the way. All right, friends, that’s gonna do it for this episode. Remember, if you want to be a part of signature program in a day, my free live interactive workshop for a small group of you all. I can’t wait to connect with you next week, June 14. So save the date, head to Shawn minor.com/day. Reserve your spot and I will see you there live and until next time, take care

What To Do If You’re Struggling To Grow Your Email List — EP. 149

Unstuck Podcast

So, you’ve gotten on board with this whole email list thing and are excited to start building your list and connecting with your subscribers. Except, nothing’s happening…or at least not as quickly as you’d like. Growing your email list is starting to feel daunting and you’re worried it’s never gonna happen. You can’t help but feel like you’re missing something or doing something wrong. Sound like you? If so, this episode is for you. Today, I’m going to share the 3 biggest reasons why you’re struggling to grow your email list and what you can change today to make it happen.

“You have to do the ‘niche work’ first before you build your email list.” – Shawn Mynar

“The best freebies are short, they are sweet, they are digestible, the person can go through them in 5-15 minutes and they are helpful.” – Shawn Mynar

“Don’t be afraid to scrap your freebie if you realize it’s not epic enough and try again. But also, please make sure that it truly is that. And if you really think that your freebie is epic enough already, keep it. Keep it and focus on building up your audience.” – Shawn Mynar

“Really get true to yourself and think about, is it my freebie or is it my audience? And which one really actually needs to be where you are putting your energy.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE “Signature Program In A Day” Workshop – shawnmynar.com/day.

Shawn’s Courses – shawnmynar.com/coaching

Instagram: instagram.com/unstuckentrepreneur

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW: (transcripts are auto-generated, expect errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar)

0:00
So you’ve gotten on board with this whole email list thing, and are excited to start building your list and connecting with your subscribers. Except nothing’s happening, or at least not as quickly as you thought it would grow on your email list is starting to feel daunting. And you’re kind of worried it’s never gonna happen for you. You can’t help but feel like you’re missing something or doing something wrong. Does this sound like you? If so, this episode of unstuck entrepreneur is for you, my friend. Today, I’m going to share the three biggest reasons why you’re struggling to grow your email list, and what you can change today to make it happen. So stay tuned.

0:43
Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur. So, so happy to have you here. So glad to be back. I don’t know if you all noticed. But I did take a week off of the podcast last week, because I had COVID. And it actually worked out that when I recorded the episode for the week prior, basically that day is when my wife found out that she had COVID, which meant I probably had it too. And it actually took another two days for me to get a positive test. But, you know, I still felt fine that day. And then basically the following week, was kind of a disaster in terms of how I felt. But then by Friday, which is when I normally record these episodes, I felt pretty good again, but my lungs didn’t. And my voice wasn’t quite there. And there was just still a lot of coughing. And my lungs were really struggling to keep up with air. And so it just didn’t make sense to record an episode because you guys wouldn’t have enjoyed hearing that. So I decided to take the week off and just really regain my energy and get my lungs back to where they are used to being and my voice and everything like that. So here I am. And yeah, feeling totally back to normal. I’ve been hiking this week and working out and, you know, obviously working and doing all that kind of stuff. So basically just took it easy for about a week, I still did work, I was working from bed a lot, which I like to do, even when I’m feeling great. It’s just fun to work from bed sometimes. So I did that. And you know, took it easy with obviously my workouts that wasn’t really happening. And just also with the amount of work I was doing, giving myself that space to rest and recover and just kind of be present. So now I’m back. And so grateful to be and so grateful for that experience and just being what it was and not, you know, bad for us. really grateful for that. So anyway, let’s talk about your email list. Yes, I know, we talk about email lists so much. But I still, you know, there’s still just so much to talk about, there really is, you know, it seems like something that’s really basic and really simple in your business. But I think you know, if you’ve listened to unstuck entrepreneur and the episodes that we have already discussed email lists on here, then you know, there’s a lot more to it, and you know how valuable it will be for your business. And that just brings with it a lot more to think about and some nuances that we need to go through. And you know, if you really want to make it this thing that really changes your business and your life, it can be that, but we got to talk about it a little bit more than maybe you think we need to or think we should, but it’s super important stuff. Now before we get into it, I have a super duper, crazy, exciting announcement. I want you all to mark your calendars for June 14 2022. That’s in just a few weeks, because on June 14, I am hosting a free live workshop called signature program in a day. This is unlike any other workshop I’ve ever done ever, ever, because it’s not a webinar. It’s not just this thing where I’m gonna be talking at you and you can kind of be paying attention while doing 1000 Other things and like have 1000 other tabs open all that stuff. That’s not what this is. This is an interactive workshop that will involve brainstorming, working feeling sharing, learning, getting coached, all of that so come ready to get down to business and make some big decisions and get to know and share with the other people that are there live these new like minded friends that you’re going to be making. It is in

5:00
An interactive coaching opportunity and is for anyone who wants to add a signature program to your business. Now, you can want this to be happening tomorrow, or maybe next year or in the next few years, you want to have a signature program. If that is at all in your future, this is for you. And when you attend live, you’re going to have the opportunity to get one-on-one support and guidance from me. Again, it’s a coaching opportunity, it is interactive, and we’re going to build out your signature program together. So by the end of our time together, by the end of that afternoon, you will have a solidified signature program. And you will have clear next steps on how to get it out into the world and make it part of your business, no matter what stage of business you’re in right now.

5:57
And also during this event, I’m going to really walk you through and take you step by step through the process of answering really the biggest questions, the eight biggest questions that come up about signature programs that quite frankly, keep most wellness business owners away from ever taking this step in their business. It keeps them shying away, it keeps him from ever doing this. And I don’t want that. I hate seeing that. That is not us. That is not what we’re doing here. That is not what I want for you. So I am taking the afternoon to not only answer these questions for you, but to do it with you to see you through them. So that you are there. You’re beyond that, and you’re ready to go. So imagine yourself and what will happen with your business? When you have answers to these questions like, am I truly ready for my own signature program? What’s the best topic for my program? Who is the perfect client for my program? What results will my clients get from my program? What’s the price? What am I going to include in my program? How do we build an audience of these clients that want my program? And how do I sell my program without feeling salesy. Just imagine, if you had the clarity, if you had the knowing if you had gone through and found the answers in your business specifically to those questions, it’s a big deal. And that would really take you to the next level pretty quickly. So that’s what we’re gonna do together in this live workshop. Now, here’s the deal, spots are super duper limited because of this interactive component. Because of the coaching aspect, I really can’t exceed a certain level I want to be, you know, I wanted to be a small group basically, is what I’m saying. And so when it’s full, it’s full, who this isn’t really something that you can procrastinate and just decide you know, at the last minute that you want to be at or not. If you know that this is something that you want to do in your business, then sign up now. And you can go to shawnmynar.com/day, that’s shawnmynar.com/day. And sign up for this live interactive workshop signature program in a day.

8:27
As long as you have the ability, as long as you can go to that site and sign up, then that means there’s still room, as soon as it’s full, that site is coming down. So you know, just keep that in mind super limited spots. And now if you want to get this information if you want to go through this process, but you can’t be there live, obviously the best experience is going to be you there live at the event, doing the interactive components. But if you can’t be when you still want the info, you can still sign up. But what I want you to do is and you’ll be prompted to do this once you sign up is to email my team and let us know that you can’t be there live so that we can then save that spot for someone who can. So that’s our way of kind of knowing when the amount of people that are going to be there live gets to the place where it’s the right amount, and then we’ll shut it down. Okay, so you can still sign up you will get a real replay. Everyone will get a replay again, if you really, if you think there’s any way that you can carve out the time to be there live that is how you’re going to get the absolute most out of this but totally understand if you can’t just let us know and we’ll keep that spot open and available for someone who can. All right so Shawn minor.com/day I as you can tell I’m absolutely thrilled to do this. This is going to just be such a fun

10:00
event and just so transformative for you, and fun at the same time, like, it’s just going to be so cool. So can’t wait to do that June 14. All right, let’s get back on the topic of email lists.

10:16
I am just so determined, I have this level of determination in me that I don’t have for a lot of things to be totally honest. But in this case, I have it. I want to help you make your email list work for you, and have it be something that you really truly love, and appreciate and value in your business, not dread. That is my goal, because it is so important. So today’s episode, we’re going to focus on the growth of your email list. Now, if you haven’t started an email list, if you’re still not sure that that’s something that you want, if you’re kind of dragging your feet on that, we have some episodes back in the past, I want to say episodes 126 through 129, I believe head back and listen to those first. And really commit to this decision and your business really understand what it’s going to do for you. And then come back and listen to this episode. And get yourself all set up for growth. This episode is really for the person that is already there already knows the power of the email list and is ready and willing to do that in their business has done some work to get it up and running. And it’s not happening in the way that you thought it would. You’re struggling to get people onto your email list to sign up for your freebie. And just the growth is a tough situation for you. So we’re going to spend some time today really troubleshooting, what may be happening, if you feel like you should be getting more people on your list. And you’re just not first are quote from Seth Godin, who is just one of my favorite marketing experts. His books are so good. So if you are someone who is really struggling to connect with the marketing aspect of your business, check out really any of his books, they’re all so good. One of my favorites is called this is marketing, by Seth Godin, obviously, really great book, so see if you can find that if you’re interested. But he says don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers. And we’re going to tweak this just a little bit for what we’re talking about today and say, Don’t find clients for your freebie. Find a freebie for your clients. Because it’s really all gonna come down to the very first thing you have to do is understand who you want on your list and then create something that is valuable to them that will entice them to put their email into that box. So don’t find customers for your products find products for your customers. Yes, that absolutely. So true. So true. But we can also extend it even into our free stuff, and how we can really attract the right audience, by way of really thinking in reverse of what do these people that I want to work with? What do they need. And we’ll get into that in just a second. Let me just say this right here at the very start so that I don’t have to keep repeating it over and over and over again, throughout this conversation, every single thing, everything. Every single thing that I am going to share with you today is covered in detail in immense detail in my course launch list accelerator. And that is available both on its own.

14:10
And also for free as part of the signature program bundle, both of which are available right now on my website at shawnmynar.com/coaching. So this if you if during any of this episode, you think, oh, I need a little more guidance on that I need help with that. I need to be coached through that. I need ideas on that. I need more help here. It is available to you. I have made it very, very available for you for every single thing that we’re covering today and that’s inside launch list accelerator. So again, you can check that out. shawnmynar.com/coaching. You get it either on its own or in the signature program bundle.

15:00
So first things first, before and I know most of you know this, and this is going to be review for a lot of you, you need an epic freebie, you need a freebie, please do not have just a generic signup form, like, hey, sign up for my newsletter, and I’ll email you with great tips every other week. That’s not enticing enough, these days, that actually worked. And kind of I must say, that kind of worked back when I was starting my business 10 years ago, because there wasn’t a lot of people doing it at this point. But now, 10 years later, everyone has a website, everyone has an email list, everyone has a newsletter, everyone has a signup form. And so it’s like, we constantly see it on every single website we go to, or everyone’s Lincoln bio that we go to. And it’s just, you don’t even notice it, you know, like, it’s just like, noise at this point. It doesn’t mean anything, except for maybe the very, very, very few super fans that you have, that don’t want anything from you, they just are more than willing to sign up for whatever you do. That’s going to be rare. I mean, it’ll happen, but it’s going to be rare. And so your, your growth is going to be very, very small. If you really try to focus on this generic situation. Instead, we create an epic freebie. Now what makes it epic, it is epic, because it’s addressing a pain point that your dream client is experiencing. And it gets them to the point where they think, Oh, my gosh, I need this, this is so helpful. I’ve been looking for something like this. And even to the point where they think I would pay money for this, I can’t believe they’re giving it away for free. That would be ideal, right? But it really is epic, because it’s specific. And it’s helpful. And it’s really dialed in to the one person that you want to work with. And connecting with them in a unique way that they understand that you really get them and you’re really doing work for them, and you have something that’s going to help them. So as you can see the specificity there is what makes it epic. which obviously means that you need to know who your dream client is and what they’re experiencing what they’re going through in a very intimate way. It is such important work. And not something I think enough of us are doing to the degree that you need to do in order to get that specificity and intimacy with the person that you want to work with. So that they are just magnetically drawn to your work that they really can’t help but put their name and email address in that box. Because they are so interested in what you do and who you help and how you help them because it’s them. And because you’re addressing something they’re going through, you have hit on a pain point that they’re experiencing that probably not a lot of other people have talked about with them yet. You know, they’re in that search mode. They’re in that place where they are looking for help. And then they find you and they see that you have a resource for them. And it’s like, Yes, this is so amazing. That’s what makes it epic. So you got to do that dream client work first. And what I commonly see is not that it’s like a very general freebie, it almost feels like that business owner created a really random freebie because you know, some business coach told them they needed to they heard that’s what the next step is, or the first step is, and they didn’t really think it through. They didn’t do that prior work. First that dream client work, that Magnetic Messaging work first. So they just kind of created this general freebie so they can say they have a freebie, but it’s not actually doing anything. It’s not attracting really anybody because it’s not enticing to anyone. It wasn’t created with one particular person or problem in mind. So it doesn’t really get the attention of anybody and doesn’t grow their list. And also in this situation. The few people that do sign up are going to be pretty random. They’re not actually going to be interested

20:00
and your paid offer down the road. Because your free offer wasn’t targeted enough, it wasn’t specific enough, and it wasn’t tied directly to that paid offer that you have. So there is that connection there between what you’re offering for free. And what your paid offer is, that then means the people that are getting on your list are the right people for your paid offer. And if you have just a more general, just kind of K checkbox done, I created a freebie thing going on, then you will not have the quality of email list that you want to have to really sell your services down the road. And the one thing that I think really trips people up here is that they think that when I say epic, I mean that it needs to be like super long, super detailed, that you just need to give all your stuff away for free. And that is not true. The best freebies are short, they’re sweet, they’re digestible, the person can go through them in like five to 15 minutes if it’s like a workbook or something, and helpful, but not overwhelmingly helpful not giving everything away. It’s just really focusing on one pain point perhaps, or maybe touching in on a few pain points, but not giving the whole plan or protocol away for free or anything like that. Okay, so you can easily create an epic freebie in like one or two work sessions. I mean, like the designing of it may take a little longer if you’re not a designer, like how it is for me. But really creating the content of that freebie can be done in one or two sittings. If you’re spending more time on it than that, then you may want to revisit it and see if there’s a way to simplify it even more. Remember, digestible is really important. Because if someone has to spend a really long time on it, or there’s a bunch of pages to read, these are people that don’t know you that well. And so the asking for that time commitment is probably not going to happen. We have a very short attention span for people that we don’t know. So having a short digestible thing that people can get through the entire thing, that means they’re going to connect with you even more, because they actually made it through your freebie, they actually did the work. They walked through the workbook, they read the thing. And now they feel like they actually have a connection with you, versus losing them halfway through and they never make it to the end, and you’ve lost them. Okay, so short, sweet, digestible, helpful. Now, let’s say that you already have an epic freebie you are super confident and excited about the freebie that you have ready to put it out into the world. You’re sharing about it, you put it on your website, you talk about on your podcast, whatever it is, and you’re still not seeing the number of people that you expected to sign up for it. So now what do we do? There are three big reasons why you are struggling to grow your email list, even with an epic freebie.

23:34
And there are more. There’s some one off some nuances, of course. But these are the three biggest reasons. First of all, your freebie isn’t epic enough. And or it is not enticing to your audience. So this really could mean two things, either. You need to tweak your freebie and make it more enticing for your audience. Or you need to work on building up an audience of your dream clients. And a lot of times, it’s actually the latter, you do have a really great freebie, but your audience isn’t full of your dream clients yet full of the people that you created that freebie for yet. And so maybe like, for example, you are using what used to be your personal Instagram, or Facebook as your now business account. And so some of those people aren’t your dream clients, they don’t care about what you do. They’re like your high school friends or your cousins or, you know, something like that. So there are people in your audience and this might actually make up a big chunk of your audience right now.

24:52
That aren’t your dream clients or maybe you pivoted, maybe you were talking about one thing and you had an offer about

25:00
One thing and you’re really focusing in on that, and you started to grow your audience based on that. And then you realize you had something else you were passionate about, you wanted to start working on something different or working with different people. And so you switch your content and your focus, and that’s totally fine. I’ve done it a million times, it’s fine. But that means that your audience now isn’t in alignment with that new freebie. And so now it’s time to evaluate, is it your freebie? Or is it your audience? And if it’s your audience, then the cool thing is that continuing to share about your freebie, like really, really dialing in and making your content very much in alignment to your freebie, and you continue to speak, speak directly to that person, than you are going to naturally attract them.

26:00
If you start getting in your head and thinking, Okay, well, I have this freebie and no one’s interested in it. So that means I must need to change up what I’m talking about, or I guess this isn’t epic enough or whatever. And then you start getting wishy washy, and you start sharing about things that aren’t directly related to that person or wouldn’t be for that person or wouldn’t be related to that topic, then that wishy washy Enos is going to stall your growth. I know, it seems like the opposite would be true. And you need to just start being more general, that is not the case. If you want to build your audience full of people who want your freebie, then you’ve got to stick with that. And stick with it and know that it takes time. But know that that is what works. And wishy washy, this doesn’t work. And, you know, if you realize you don’t have an epic enough freebie, then just create another freebie. And yeah, I know, it’s like, that seems so daunting. And that’s a lot of work and whatever. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a lot. It just needs to be epic, it needs to be very, very specific for that person. And if you don’t know who you who that person is, who you want to work with who your dream client is, then I have all kinds of resources available for you. That is something we do in basically every course that I have. So really make sure you figure that out right away. But don’t be afraid to scrap your freebie if you realize it’s not epic enough and try again. But also, please make sure that it truly is that. And you know, if you really think that your freebie is epic enough already, Keep it keep it in focus on building up your audience. Don’t use this freebie situation as just another like more busy work to keep you from doing what you actually need to be doing. Really, really get true to yourself and think about, is it my freebie? Or is it my audience, and which one really actually needs to be where you’re putting your energy.

28:15
And then also consider these next couple of things we’re going to talk about, because it may not be your audience. And it may not be your freebie it might be your landing page.

28:28
So often, basically, pretty much I’d say 90% of the landing pages that I see are not selling your freebie the way that they should be your landing page. And just for people that don’t know the landing page is that page that you send people to who want your freebie where they put in their name and email address. And your landing page is not just like a little pop up box asking for their email address or just this little thing that says, This is what you get sign up here. No, that does not work anymore. And again, it may have worked 10 years ago when I started, this does not work anymore. You have got to create a landing page that is a sales page for your freebie it needs to you need to use your Magnetic Messaging again, something that happens in every single one of my courses. Use your Magnetic Messaging to connect with your dream client and let them know that you get them and that you created something really valuable. That will help them from where they are now with this problem with this pain point to a solution for that problem. It needs to be clear, concise,

30:00
He’s non fluffy, not clever, there’s plenty of time for cleverness that you can do inside your freebie you can say all the jokes and have all the acronyms and do all the things. But on the page when we’re trying to get people to understand if it’s for them or not, if it’s worth it to put in their email address or not, we keep it clear, concise, and non fluffy. A good test is like a fourth grader should be able to read your landing page, and know what it is know who it’s for, what it’s going to help with, and how they can get it. Seriously, if you have a fourth grader in your network of people, your friends, your own kids, your nieces and nephews, whoever do the test seriously do it. It’s so helpful.

30:54
So clear, concise, non fluffy. And also not talking about the freebie. Like, oh, it’s a 15 page workbook, and you get this, this and this, and you’ll have this many things to go through. And it’s not that it’s talking about who this person is, what they’re currently experiencing, and what will happen because they download this freebie, what they’ll learn what will resolve how they’ll feel what they’ll experience, really painting the picture of the before, and the after, like paint that picture, remember, does my client understand that I truly, truly get them.

31:37
That is what you want on the landing page. This is not happening my friends, I love you all, I’ve seen a lot of landing pages because you know, I kind of spy on you guys, I’m not gonna lie, I just like to see what where you’re at, and what you’re doing and what I can help you with. And I go to the landing pages for freebies that are being offered, and they are not enticing. They the freebie themselves are great. But the landing page is not keeping my attention. And getting me excited to put in my email address, I already put my email address into tons of things, I don’t want it to have just another thing that I’m signed up for. And that’s not convincing me that I need this thing. Okay, so purely really spend time on your landing page, I cannot stress this enough.

32:35
And then the last thing, if you have all this going on, you really feel good about all these things. And even if you don’t, you’re still probably doing this, which is that you’re not talking about it enough. So just as often as I see landing pages that aren’t selling the freebie,

32:57
I’m also not seeing you talk about it enough. Like let me just tell you right now, you’re not sharing about your freebie enough, you’re not weaving it into your content enough. It’s not displayed enough on your website, you’re not sharing about it enough on your content channels, you’re not using all of these avenues that we have available to grow our email list, you’re not using them to their full advantage, like social media, for sure. That is something like the main goal of you spending time on social media is to Yes, of course build a connection with your audience. But doing so so that they’re ready to take the next step with you which in this case of social media, the next step is to get on your email list. And they have to know that’s even an option. They’re not just going to go looking like oh, this person, I love this person’s content I love when they post, they’re so great. I always learned so much I’m so entertained, or I just liked their energy. Let me go hop around and see if I can find a way to get on their email list. No one’s doing that. They have to know that you have something available that is made specifically for them. That will help them with a specific thing. They have to know that a lot of times not once, not twice, not 457 times they need to know about it like at least 10 times over and over again. Now that doesn’t mean you have to talk about it like every single day. But it should be something that is regularly a part of your content creation schedule. It is something you can easily weave in to you know the the caption you’re writing because you’re talking about something specific and you’re staying on topic with your content creation which means is very easily can

35:00
I roll into like for more help or download my freebie or whatever. So that can easily become a part of your social media content creation, but also your website. Again, when we are getting people on to our website by, you know, writing a blog post or telling them to check out a podcast episode and then sending them there, you are doing so with the intention of getting them onto your email list because you can’t control whether they go onto your website or not what they look at what they engage with, if they even read anything, but you can control whether they get your emails or not. And so to get them to take that next step with you,

35:47
and get them from your website, onto your email list is the goal. And there is all kinds of real estate that you can use on your website, to promote your freebies, in the header and the footer on them homepage, in every blog post on the sidebar of every blog post, they really can be all over. And there’s ways to do it, where they look really nice. They look like part of your website, you’ve created some graphics, they really flow well. And it’s just a natural part of that website experience that you’re giving people. So are really I just I not seeing enough people use their website to that advantage. Also Pinterest, definitely not enough people using Pinterest. And this is something that, you know, I think I’m gonna do probably a whole episode about because there’s just so much that I can talk about here. But if you’re not currently using Pinterest for your business, you’re going to want to it like why not, it’s free, it’s easy, it takes like, so little time, and can make a really big difference in your business. Especially if you have a blog or a podcast, or you know, several different freebies, you can really use Pinterest to help grow your email list. And then yeah, if you do have something like a podcast or a YouTube channel, a blog, using those, again as other avenues to build your email list, that is a main goal of those other platforms that you have. And really making that a focal point of what you do there.

37:34
Even your network, maybe colleagues or friends or people who went through your program together or just whatever using the network of people that you have. Here’s a really good example, inside holistic business starter, we had, I think it was at least 10 people in that group create a freebie bundle that they all put in their own freebie together and then shared it on their separate channels, and, you know, social media and platforms and things like that. And it was a huge success for them. Using people you already know, and putting your heads together and getting people to promote your stuff, you helping to promote other people’s stuff, creating a bundle a little network, gosh, how like just such a good idea and so valuable. And another really good way to build your email list quickly is with a an event, it could be a live event, it could be an in person event, you know, live virtual event. And it doesn’t have to be like tied to any sort of paid offer or anything like that. But just doing an event just to do it as a way to build your email list and get some valuable information out there. That is such a great way. And it is a pretty quick injection of subscribers, because anyone who obviously subscribes to become a part of that event also gets on your email list. So consider something like that as well.

39:08
But all in all, please, please, please, please don’t be afraid to share about your freebie. Often, it is a free resource that is going to help someone else in a pretty big way with a problem that they’re experiencing. And that is a big deal. So you want to make sure that that person knows they have something available that can help and they don’t have to pay for it. They can get some free help right now. That’s all you’re doing. And it takes a lot of reminding for people to get to that point where they remember to go over and grab your freebie. So it needs to be a constant continuous thing that you are doing in your content creation. So those are the three

40:00
biggest things that I want you to look at, really for, I guess, three, if you already have a freebie and four, if you don’t really look at and see what you can do, get honest with yourself and see what tweaks you need to make to get into a bigger growth strategy with your email list. Now, before I let you go, I just want to share a few reminders and words of encouragement, I guess I would say. First of all, remember, there is no magic number of subscribers that you need to have before your business is viable, or can be successful. Or you can make a certain amount of money that doesn’t exist. If you have one person on your list, then you have an email list, and you have an audience and you have a potential paying client. Don’t stress out about the number, don’t focus on the number, focus on the quality of the people on your list. That is way more important than the numbers. And that takes it all the way back to the beginning where the very first step to creating your Epic freebie is to understand who you want to attract. And the person that you want to attract is the person you want to work with. And the person that you have a paid offer for. And that is what guides your whole email list strategy in the first place. And when you have that in place, then the quality of the people on your list are going to be so much better. And that is what will really take your business to the next level, then you have an engaged audience of people that want what you have to offer both free and paid. And that is huge. So focus on getting the quality of your email list up versus us feeling like you need a certain number. Okay. Next reminder, don’t forget to continue communicating and connecting with those people that have signed up for your list, I don’t care if there’s five

42:15
doesn’t matter. Give them a warm welcome with your welcome sequence that’s all going to be automated, once you do it once it’s done, and you don’t have to worry about it. And you still know that

42:27
they’re going to get that experience from you. And they’re going to feel really good getting on your email list and getting to know you better. And then continue to connect with them regularly. So that is what Yes, you will have to do once a week or once every other week is to send valuable emails to them until they’re ready to take the next step with you and become a paying client. And even then they’re still getting your emails because they’re part of your community at that point. So just really don’t stop here at the point of building your email list. It continues, it’s an ever growing thing. And it’s something that continues to need your attention. And it’s worth it, it is so worth it to put your attention there and put your time and energy there.

43:17
And the last thing to remember, as words of encouragement, remember that this is a process. It is something that takes time, especially when you are focusing on the quality of the people coming onto your list. And that’s okay that it takes time.

43:38
The cool thing is with email lists is that it has this snowball effect, the first 100 people on your list, they’re going to be the hardest ones to get. It’s going to feel like the biggest challenge, I guess. But then, and I don’t really know exactly why this is, let’s just call it an energetic thing, because I don’t know if there’s any other more 3d explanation for this. Except maybe just time passing and you getting more comfortable. That’d be like the 3d explanation that I can think of. But anyway, it’s going to be that much easier to get to 200 and then even easier to get the next 500 And then even easier to get the next 1000 And the next 5000 The next 10,000 It just gets easier. The first 100 are the hardest and probably take the longest.

44:36
So it’s a process but in this process and the coolest thing if we go back to like what you’re doing on your website, what you do on Pinterest, what you do on your other platforms, social media, not so much because it has such a short lifespan but everything else has a long lifespan so someone could see your PIN that you posted six months ago and sign up for you

45:00
your freebie, someone could listen to a podcast episode or see a YouTube video that you posted two years ago and sign up for your freebie. So that’s another reason why the snowball effect happens. But yes, it takes time. And that is okay. But remember, you only need one person for you to have the opportunity to have a paying client. You only need like 30 people to fill up a signature program. You don’t need a big number when you have focused on getting the right people on your list.

45:36
All right, my friends, I’ll leave you with that. Remember, if you need help with any of this, shawnmynar.com/coaching, I literally walk you by the hand with every single thing we just talked about. And also don’t forget to register for June 14 signature program in a day, put it on your calendar, block it out and plan to spend the afternoon with me. We’re going to be live we’re going to do it together and you are going to be really truly working on your business and planning out your future. This is not just time, you’re just gonna lose. This is such a time well spent, especially for your business, and it’s gonna be fun and super transformational. So hope you can be there again, shawnmynar.com/day That’s day.  shawnmynar.com/day. That will be linked in the show notes and I can’t wait to hang out with you. And until next time, take care

What’s Really Keeping You From Putting Yourself Out There

Unstuck Podcast

What To Do To Make More Sales In Your Business — Ep. 147

Unstuck Podcast

So, you’re excited about your business goals and are ready to make them happen but there’s just one thing getting in the way…this whole marketing and selling thing. You feel like you’re doing what you’re supposed to do but no one’s biting and you’re definitely not making the number of sales you were hoping to make. And, honestly, it just feels awkward and unnatural to talk about what you have to offer constantly.

Have you ever been there? If so, then it’s time to reexamine your approach to marketing and selling and make it easier and more natural for you. Today, I’m sharing my best tips and reminders for how to make selling more straightforward and more fun.

“Having a business, any kind of business—requires you to be a marketer and requires you to learn how to sell.” – Shawn Mynar

“Take the time to re-connect with what you do and why you do it. Remember why you are here, remember the importance and remember your purpose.” – Shawn Mynar

“Lead with your heart and commit to this open and honest communication about what you have to offer, why it is needed, who it is for, what they’ll experience, all the good stuff.” – Shawn Mynar

“Just focus on conveying the importance. Focus on conveying the value that is within what you have to offer.” – Shawn Mynar

shawnmynar.com/list – Launch List Accelerator

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW: (transcript is auto-generated so you can expect errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar)

0:00
So you’re excited about your business goals and are ready to make them happen. But there’s just one thing getting in the way, this whole marketing and selling thing. You feel like you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, but no one’s biting, and you’re definitely not making the number of sales you’re hoping to make. And honestly, it just feels awkward and unnatural to talk about what you have to offer constantly. Have you ever been there? Does this sound like you? If so, then it’s time to re-examine your approach to marketing and selling and make it easier and more natural for you. Today, I’m sharing my best tips and reminders for how to make selling simpler, and actually even fun. Let’s dive in.

0:43
Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur. So happy to have you here and grateful for your support of this show. Today, we’re going to have a candid conversation about selling, I really just want to have some real talk with you and see kind of where it leads us. Yes, I also have some tips and tricks for you some reminders, some things to kind of hopefully reinvigorate you and provide some clarity around what you can do for your marketing and selling strategy. But also, we just got to have some real talk. So that’s on tap for today. But first, before we do that, I want to share something that’s been going on behind the scenes that I don’t think I’ve had a chance to talk much about yet on the podcast. And that is my brand new course, launch list accelerator.

So up until last week, launch list accelerator was only available bundled up along with signature program lab. And it’s kind of this full package experience so that you can build your signature program. But also then build your audience full of people who actually want your program and you’re doing all of that simultaneously. So that you know, when it comes time to launch your program, you have people who want in, you have people that are ready to buy. And it really makes for this magical experience this great combination that sets you up for success. But also, while I was creating launch list accelerator, I purposely created it to also work wonders as a standalone course, for the business owner who needs help getting their email list off the ground, or re ignited and really doing what their email list is supposed to do, which is to be a huge driver for your business. And I know for a fact because I talk to a lot of you out there that are listening right now. I know that a lot of you don’t have your email list started, or you maybe have gotten it started, but now you’ve kind of ghosted it, you’re not doing anything with it. You’re not sending emails, you have a couple emails that you have gathered, but you’re not doing anything.

And then there’s also just so many questions around the email list. Like how do I get people onto my email list? Why isn’t anyone signing up for my email list? Or for my freebie? What do I say in my emails? How do I get people to open my emails? How do I use my emails to get people to buy from me, there’s all these unknowns out there. And that is exactly why I put literally everything that you need to do and know to have a successful email list all in one place for you to go through and set up in your business and reference over and over again. As you grow as your business grows as your email list grows. It’s just this ongoing thing that will help and support you when it comes to your email list.

So launch list accelerator really is for the business owner who hasn’t even started their email list yet and really needs to get going like from scratch. Like how do I even set up my email service provider which one do I use all the way from that point but also then from the business owner who has started their email list and now it’s kind of gathering dust like you haven’t done much with it you haven’t emailed in a while you’ve ghosted it that’s what I call it you’ve ghosted your list and I will show you how to on Ghost your list in LoL A and then also for the business owner who has an active email list and maybe you are even emailing them but it’s not growing you’re not getting more people to join and or the people that are on your list aren’t taking the next step and working with you. So we cover it all in this program. and it is for all of those people. So whether you’re just starting out, or you know, you’ve ghosted or you have an email list that is active, but it’s just kind of stagnant. That is who this is for.

Now, friends, I know, you know this, I know, you know this, but let me just remind you, your email list is your most valuable business asset, it is one of the very few things that you actually own in your business and have complete control over unlike any other audience that you’re currently building, whether it’s through social media, or even on your podcast, that people that read your blog posts, whatever it is, that all is out of your control, it is not in your ownership, your email list is. So it is your most valuable business asset. And it is where the vast majority of your income will be made. You will make money via your email list. And, you know, we’re talking specifically about marketing and selling today, hey, guess what a huge chunk of your marketing and selling will be by way of your email list and those emails that you send out and what you say, in those emails, and not just about sending the emails. But what are you putting in those emails? And are people opening them? Are people reading them? Are people taking action on them? If the answer is no, there are some very simple solutions. And we cover that in ll a as well. And not only is your email list your most valuable business asset, where your money will be made in your business, it is also the very first thing that you need to do in your business.

The very first thing is to get your email list flow set up and working for you on auto pilot, that is the important thing, because once it’s on autopilot, you can take that off your plate, no, it’s working behind the scenes for you, and then do the other things in your business. Even like build your website, once you’ve started building your list, you do not need a website to start building your email list. Okay, you can do that, get that set up on autopilot, and then do the other things to get your business off the ground. So that when you’re ready to take clients or you have your program to launch, or whatever it is, that is your paid offer, you have someone to sell it to otherwise we’re in a little bit of a pickle because we have a business and we have no audience, we have no one that is knowing or interested in our work. And then you know, we get confused. We think that no one wants our stuff, all the things we’re going to talk about today when it comes to selling, we have a situation there. But if you start with your email list as the very first thing you do in your business, get it up and running on autopilot, which we’ll do together in LA, and then work on the rest of your business. So that you have that all set up and ready to go. The second you want to start taking clients or you want your program to be open. Literally no business owner has ever said I wish I would have waited to build my email list. That is not something that has ever come out of anyone’s mouth. Okay, so let’s not have that be you. Let’s get you started right here right now on building an email list that actually works for you and creates this really lovely ecosystem in your business regardless of social media. Regardless of your website traffic. Regardless of how many people listen to your podcast, you have an email list. Okay, so head over to shawnmynar.com/list. And check it out, learn more, see if it’s the right thing for you. There’s also a special introductory offer over there that will be up for the next two weeks. I cannot wait to support you and just see how your business grows. As your email list grows. on auto pilot, my friends, let’s not forget that part. It does not have to be time consuming either, which is just lovely.

Alright, let’s get into this episode and talking a little bit more about selling and marketing. We’ve actually had a few episodes over the past couple of weeks that have been specifically geared toward marketing and selling. I shared with you my plan for the week in order to get all of my marketing things done each week. And a lot of you really got a lot of value and tips out of that episode. So if you haven’t listened to that, be sure you go back two episodes ago. I believe it’s episode 145 and check that one out. I think it will help you plan your marketing strategy, especially after today’s episode. I want Start, usually I share a quote. And really this is a quote, but it’s not from any sort of book or anything like that. It’s actually from a another podcast that I listened to recently. And I like, as soon as I heard this, I was like, Oh my gosh, I need to share this on unstuck entrepreneur, because you need to hear this. And it is some real talk. And this podcast, it’s called the Jasmine star show, if you don’t know Jasmine star, she does social media strategy. And I followed her for a few years, I really liked her work. And I really love her real talk, she is not afraid to just tell it like it is. And so this is why I’m drawn to her podcast episodes, and just what she has to share. And so she recently had an episode, she doesn’t have them numbered, I don’t believe but it was titled you won’t have a successful business. If you won’t do this.

It’s a short episode, I want to say it’s like 15 minutes long, but it is very powerful. So I do recommend you go and listen to that episode once you’re done here. But in that episode, she said this, if you want to have a business, you have to make the conscious decision to also become a marketer. This hit me to the core, not only because I resonate with it so much, everything I’m going to share with you today is something that I had to go through to I struggled with as well. I think I’ve shared with you before here many times that the first few years of my business were a struggle, not making the income that I needed, barely able to cover the bills and going into debt. As soon as I had any medical expenses come up, that was all a difficult thing to deal with. And then trying four times to create an online program that nobody bought four times for different programs, no buyers, $0 in sales. And I had to finally come to the realization that it’s because I didn’t know how to market and sell myself. As you know, if you’ve listened to this show, I am very open that I am not a natural marketer, it does not come easy to me. Has it gotten significantly easier over the past 10 years of being in business? Yes, absolutely.

But for a long time, I did not make that conscious decision to also become a marketer, I was choosing to stay in the place of being a personal trainer of being a nutritionist who had their own business. And until I got real with myself and said, Yeah, I am a nutritionist. But I’m also an entrepreneur, I’m also a digital CEO, I’m also someone who markets and sells themselves. And I am going to put that hat on as well. I’m going to get over myself to get over my fear, to stop telling myself that that’s not who I am. And I’m going to make the conscious decision to become a marketer. And so when Jasmine said that it just so resonated, because I had to do that myself, it was a very conscious thing. It was flipping that switch and making that decision. And that’s why I wanted to do this episode. Because I think a lot of you might be there right now to you are. Prior to that flip being switched for you, you haven’t yet made the conscious decision to become a marketer. You have this amazing service or program or course, or membership to offer. And no one’s buying it. And so then you think you’re a failure, or you’re not cut out for this or no one’s interested, what you have isn’t valuable enough. You have all these things about what you have to offer, when in reality, you’re not being a marketer. You’re not putting on that hat, and you’re not selling what you have to offer. And yeah, you might be creating content and providing a lot of value, which is great.

And that’s definitely part of the marketing puzzle. It is important that you give your audience the space and time to get to know you and like you and trust you and you will do that through this content and by doing mean that then they will be ready to buy, but they still have to be marketed to, they have to know what you have to offer, they have to understand what your service is or what your product is, and that it is for them. And you’re not doing that. You’re just hoping that you know, by suggesting that maybe you have something to sell, that they’ll take you up on that. And that’s just not how it works. We as consumers want and need to be sold to, yes, we want to be sold to, because then we have the confidence to know that we’re making the right decision. And without that knowledge, no one’s going to buy, your customers aren’t going to buy from you, and you’re not going to buy from someone else. We’re all consumers, we all have a very similar brain when it comes to spending money. So you have to understand that that is part of being in business. And let me just be real with you right now.

And this may come off as harsh, I don’t want it to be please no, it’s out of love. Because I want nothing more than for every single one of you listening to have a super successful business, like, let’s all become millionaires, okay? I want you to know this. If you don’t want to market your business, then keep it a hobby, keep it a hobby, keep it something that you do on the side, because you’re passionate about it, and find another way to make money. So if you don’t like sharing about what you do, who you can help, why it’s important, why they need it, why you’re the right person for them, what they’ll experience with your help. If you’re not comfortable doing that over and over and over again, consistently, on a very regular basis, then keep it a hobby.

17:10
Again, not trying to be harsh, but wanting to save you the struggle if you’re not willing to make the conscious decision to become a marketer. Because having a business, any kind of business requires you to be that marketer and requires you to learn how to sell. Now notice I’m saying these words become I’m saying these words, learn how to, because it doesn’t mean that you have to be good at it. From day one, you have to know exactly what you’re doing from day one, you’re never going to struggle, you’re never going to make a mistake, you’re never going to feel uncomfortable. Again, you’re never going to say anything, something embarrassing. No, it is a process. These are all learned skills, they are things that improve and become more natural as you go. But you have to be willing and open and committed to this process, committed to learning and developing these skills. As you go, you can’t wait until you’ve got it all figured out before you start attempting to market and sell because that’s never going to happen, you’re going to be waiting for something that will never change, because the learning and growing is in the doing. And so today, I want this potentially to be the switch that flips for you. If you are someone that is struggling with marketing and selling yourself and your business, which if you’re in a service based business, then you’re marketing and selling yourself. If you’re struggling, then is it because you haven’t flipped that switch to make the conscious decision to become a marketer? And are you ready to do that now?

And if you’re not, then is it something that is better kept as a hobby and you find another way to make an income. And let me remind you this is coming from a place of knowing I have been there too. I have been in this place where I had to get real with myself and be like, this isn’t working I have to put on a different hat I have to do something different. I want this to work I want to make money doing this. I want to make a lot of money doing this. And that means I have to learn how to market and sell because just putting together a program and you know sharing about it a few times on social media and hoping someone will bite that’s not cutting it anymore. It made me exactly $0 So what can I do differently I am ready to learn. I am ready to try. I am ready to grow and I am ready to Just get messy with it, and just get started on doing something different. So if that is something you are ready to do, I want to give you some tips to make it feel a little, maybe simpler,

20:16
I guess I would say maybe a little more clear, a little less complicated, something like that I have some tips for you. Now, does this mean it’s not going to ever feel uncomfortable? It’s not going to be scary ever. No does this mean it will automatically start feeling natural and easy to you? Nope. But it will give you a new frame of reference, that is my hope, perhaps a new mindset around selling, and hopefully get you recharged and feeling more confident about what you’re really doing here, and why it’s important. And that really is the overall goal. So a few things for you to remember, as you get started on becoming a marketer. First of all, understand your blocks. If you find marketing and selling to be a real struggle, like you are majorly resistant to it not even majorly, if you’re just at all resistant to it, then you have a block. And as you know, if you have been a listener of the show for a while those blocks come from your ego voice, they are beliefs held in your subconscious mind that keep you stuck in a bubble based on what your subconscious programming has decided to be true, which isn’t actually true.

And so the first step, always, when you are struggling with something or you do feel the sense of resistance towards something, is to figure out what those blocks are. Because once you understand them, then you can actually work with them, instead of feeling blocked by them. And even just understanding what they are seeing them for what they are and why they’re there automatically makes them dissolve a little bit. It makes them a little less potent, I guess. And as you continue working alongside of them, they will slowly dissipate more and more and more. Does that mean they’re ever gone? No. Does that mean they won’t show up in other forms? Of course not. But knowing they’re there and being able to see that is so powerful in helping you get over it and move past that resistance. So a lot of times you know, we all have this muck when it comes to selling because there is this stigma around selling of it being like this used car salesman vibe, where you’re being slimy and sleazy and annoying.

And that’s not the case like you. I know. I know anyone listening to this show does not put off that vibe, no matter how hard you try, you just don’t. So you might though still have that thought that you will be annoying to your audience. You’ll look slimy or Spiel salesy, like people will judge you or dislike you if you start marketing and selling yourself. Or this is an important one. Is it because of what will happen once people buy? Like this is so big you guys, and I don’t know if enough of you are really exploring this idea, like, Are you afraid that people will buy because then there’s this chance that what you have to offer, whether it be you know, your one on one services, or a program or a course or a workshop or a membership or whatever it is, it won’t live up to their expectations, or that you won’t actually be able to help them or to deliver on the promise that you offered?

24:21
Do you put hunch li feel like you’re not good enough or qualified enough to have someone buy from you? Do you feel like you’re not worthy of someone actually paying you money to help them. These are all big, big blocks. I think that you can agree. And I think you probably have some exploring to do here and to see if any of that resonates. Of course this is where I always recommend getting out a piece of paper or your journal and just kind of letting yourself write about your resistance your thoughts to your fears around selling and marketing, and just get real with yourself, no one else is ever going to read that. But you have to get honest and real and do a little brain dump a little ego dump of what’s really going on as to why you don’t want to be a marketer, or you aren’t making that decision to become a marketer. This is where we can really get some answers. And, you know, like I said, just knowing that that exists, and that is something that you have working against you means that you can also make the decision to move through it or move alongside it or choose a different thought, we always have that option to choose a different thought and choose a new path, knowing that that thought is still there, but seeing it and allowing it to come through. Like I said, it automatically makes it dissipate.

Because you can understand you can prove to yourself that there is another way of thinking and being. So first thing, understand your blocks. Once you’ve done that, then we can start reminding ourselves what it really means to sell and market your services. So see it for what it really is, what you’re selling is important. It’s potentially life changing. It is not something that’s like As Seen On TV kind of gimmick thing here, you are selling something really extremely valuable to the person that needs it, which is your dream client or your your niche. This is your opportunity to help someone else. And so when you sell what you have to offer, you are being of service to that person or those people. And quite frankly, not selling is doing a disservice to that person that needs your help, because that means they’re still not getting the help they need. Because you are not putting out there, what will help them. So it is a disservice, not to sell. Which means in no way shape or form. Is that sleazy or slimy or annoying when you have something that will be life changing to someone else, and you openly communicate about that? There’s nothing sleazy or annoying about that. So here’s a really good example, at the beginning of this episode, I told you about a new paid offer that I have available to you. Did you think that I was slimy and sleazy? Did you feel pressured? or annoyed? Did you think oh, I’m never gonna consume anything else this person ever has to share with me for free? Because they took five minutes to share about something paid? Of course not. I really hope you didn’t. And if you did, please let me know. But I highly doubt it. And if there is someone that did, it wasn’t the right match. Anyway, it wasn’t a good fit for us to ever work together.

And so they’re gone. And that is fine, too. But for you to take some time to talk about something that you have that is super valuable and helpful to the right people amongst all of this free content that you are also providing. There’s nothing wrong with doing it, you are providing such a great service to the people that need your help by sharing what you have to offer. So see it for what it really is. Next up, get excited about your offer. I think this is something that seems so obvious. But I think a lot of this gets lost as you go about your business trying to get some sales, you should be proud of what you have to offer. Be proud of who you can help and how you can help them. That is something that should really shine through for you as you continue to share about it and if it’s not, then take the time to reconnect with what you do and why you do it. Remember why you are here. Remember the importance, remember your purpose and get reinvigorated around it. I just think this can really get lost in the shuffle when you are trying to sell something and nobody’s taking you up on that offer. or then like I said, those other thoughts come in like, nobody wants this. I’m not good at this, maybe this isn’t right for me, you know, we have all those thoughts. And it takes away from the initial excitement and pride of what you do, and why you do it. Whereas if you stay connected to that, and then move from that place and share about it from that place, there’s an entirely different vibe to it, a whole different energy around it.

And that is what will attract the right people. So remember, this, people aren’t buying, because you’re not selling, not because they don’t need or want what you have to offer. And not because it’s not a good offer, they just aren’t learning enough about it to make that decision, because you’re not selling it to them. And when you remember that, then you can reinvigorate yourself about your initial offer, and get that excitement back and then move from there. Next up, focus on who you’re helping, and why it’s important and not just in your head, like we just talked about, so that you can remind yourself, of why you do what you do and get reinvigorated around it. But also in your marketing. This is what I call Magnetic Messaging. It’s how you talk about what you do. And it’s really, it’s something I teach in every single one of my programs, because it really is that important, it really will guide you through all of your marketing, if you really put the time and energy into understanding your messaging, and it makes it 1000 times easier to do all of it. And when you work on your Magnetic Messaging, and you get back to who you help, and why it’s important, then you use those words and phrases to talk about your offer. And that is what will give people the information, they need to make the decision to hit that purchase button. And in this Magnetic Messaging, what you’re really doing is speaking to the transformation that before and after that will happen for the person that you want to help like where they are now in the struggle with the problems with the symptoms with the things that they can’t figure out that they want to get rid of. And then the after their point be when they have figured that out when the symptoms are gone, when they’re feeling better, when they’re reconnected and also what they’ll experience during that transformation, how it will feel, what they’ll do what they can expect. And then most importantly, why they need it. So what will happen, what their life will look like, when they’re at their point B when they’ve gotten rid of these problems or symptoms when they’re not struggling anymore with this certain thing, how that will improve their life and why it is needed. And once you’ve really gotten clear on all of this, and in my programs, I give you 29 questions that will really clear all of this up for you. And then you just take that exact language and use that in everything that you do when it comes time to market and sell your services.

And like I said, it makes it a total, no brainer way to talk about what you have to offer. So focus on who you’re helping, and why it’s important. When you talk about your offer when you are marketing and selling. You don’t need to focus on all of the modules and everything and they’re going to get and you know, the bonuses like that is all great. And you can definitely and should talk about that. But don’t do it before you talk about that transformation, because the transformation is what is going to sell them. So by the time they get to the point where they hear like, how many coaching calls they get or how many hours they get to work with you. They’re already sold. They already know that it’s for them. They already know they need it. They already know what they will get out of it and the transformation that’s going to happen. And that’s just icing on the cake. All right. So now we’re going to take all of this that we just went over and you’re going to commit to openly honestly communicate about what you have to offer. You’re going to come from the heart. There’s no need for your head to get involved here because that means your ego is going to chime in and then all those stories that you just found out that you have about selling about asking for money about having people go through your services, all that will start chiming in, and we just don’t need that here. So instead, lead with your heart and commit to this open, honest conversation or communication about what you have to offer, why it is needed, who it is for, what they’ll experience, why they need it. I think I just said that. But I’m saying again, because it’s so important, all the good stuff, just focus on conveying the important focus on conveying the value that is within what you have to offer.

35:44
And then the last thing, you are doing it more, doing all of this more and doing it consistently, more commitment that you’re going to have to make the conscious decision to do talk about it more and do it consistently. So a few reasons why. First of all, the rule of seven, I think I’ve said this like a million times here before, it never gets old. Remember this the marketing rule of seven, it takes someone seven times of hearing or seeing or reading about something, before they take action on it, this is a study, it has been shown to be true, on average, seven times of hearing seeing, reading about something before they actually take action. So you talking about your paid offer once or twice, or three times, isn’t gonna cut it, it needs to be consistent, it needs to be more frequent than you probably feel comfortable doing at this point, to be honest, because we still have those stories. But now you can go back and see what you’re doing for what it really is, which is this service. And you know, the blocks that you have around it, and you can work around that. And now you can do it more, you can stay in integrity, you can openly honestly communicate about what you have to offer from the heart.

And just do it more, I think that’s the biggest thing that I see is I hear from clients that they aren’t getting the sales they were hoping to get. And when it actually comes down to it, they’ve barely talked about it, you know, like a couple times, and then no one took action. And so they just assume that it’s a bad offer. When really, it just wasn’t enough, you have to do it more, you have to do it consistently, because of the rule of seven. But then also, the more you do it, the easier it gets. As I said at the beginning, these are learned skills, very few of us are natural marketers and sellers. Now there are some that are are and that’s great. And I am very envious of you. But this is not something that comes naturally to most of us. It is something that takes practice. And it is a learned skill that gets easier as you go and gets more refined as you go. Because not only do you just get more comfortable, but also you learn more about what works and what doesn’t, especially for your specific audience. Like okay, when I said said that, I got some response, I got some interest, people replied, and then when I said that, oh, that doesn’t really seem to resonate. So maybe I won’t continue on down that road, you just learn so much by doing but you really need to do and it again, I really want you to go back to what you are saying marketing is all about the words that you are or are not using. And if the words you’re currently using aren’t landing, then you gotta switch it up. And the only way to know that they’re not landing is because you try.

You’re not going to know that until you put it out there. And you get the data from that. But go back to what you are saying if you ever feel stuck, when it comes to getting sales. Remember your words people do not want to hear about the number of sessions they get and how long the last first they need to know that it is for them specifically, and that they will get the help they need and why they need that help. They really, really, really need to connect with that first and then they can find out how many sessions they get and you know the PDFs that are involved and all the other goodies that’s fine. But first you have to Use your words, to connect with them on a deeper level, and let them know the service that you provide. And do it from the heart. That is where you will really reach the people that you want to help. So I know that was a lot.

40:17
It’s a lot to take in, I do hope that you are in this place where you are ready to make that conscious decision to become a marketer to put that marketing hat on and have this dual purpose for yourself. Yes, you have a business to help other people with this really amazing thing. So you are that person, but you also have a business. And so you are the person that sells things, you are a marketer of yourself, you need to have this dual role to have the business that you want to have. All right, and with that, I will wrap it up. I hope this helped you please let me know. Send me a DM over on Instagram @unstuckentrepreneur. If this resonated with you, it really means a lot to me to hear from you and get to know you and your business a little better. And I’m happy to help with anything that I can head over there at unstuck Entrepreneur on Instagram at remember If you are ready to get your email list started, which like I said, You were ready like yesterday, you needed to do this yesterday. So if you didn’t do it yesterday, let’s do it today and we can get started over there at shawnmynar.com/list. All right, my friends. Until next time, take care

Make Sure Your Business Is Legally Legit with Sam Vander Wielen — Ep. 146

Unstuck Podcast

Does thinking about the legal side of your business send you into total panic mode? You know getting set up legally is something you have to do, and you need to make sure you do it right, but you also have absolutely no idea how to make that happen. At least not without it costing thousands of dollars to work with a lawyer or taking hundreds of hours for you to figure it out on your own. Listen, I get it. We’re helpers, coaches, healers, practitioners, service providers…not attorneys. We just want to help people, not spend all day trying to write contracts while being worried we’re going to get sued. All of this is exactly why I asked today’s guest, Sam Vander Wielen, to come on the Unstuck Entrepreneur podcast. Sam is here to calm your legal fears and set you up for legal success!

Listen to Sam’s podcast, On Your Terms:

https://www.samvanderwielen.com/podcast/ 

Watch Sam’s free workshop ‘5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business’ here: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/legal-workshop/ 

Sam’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/samvanderwielen 

Sam’s website: https://samvanderwielen.com

The Ultimate Bundle™: https://samvanderwielen.com/the-ultimate-bundle/ 

“I’m a big believer that there is space for everybody and for everybody to offer their unique spin on things.” – Sam Vander Wielen

“If you are a health coach and you are not an RD or you’re not a Physician of some sort, then there is a ton of room for you to help support people when they’re working alongside a medical professional.” – Sam Vander Wielen

“Create your actual programs and services to be within your scope of practice and then go all the way down and reverse engineer to your content.” – Sam Vander Wielen

“Even when you have an LLC, you need to know how to act like an LLC. You need to really treat it as a business, have your business money separate from your personal.” – Sam Vander Wielen

How I Plan My Week So Everything Gets Done — Ep. 145

Unstuck Podcast

While being your own boss is great, sometimes it can feel like there’s just too much to get done for one person, especially with all the marketing you need to do these days—posting on social media regularly, writing emails, creating content. For me, the key to getting it all done is organization and structure with a side of flow.

In fact, the more planned out I get with my action items for the week, the more ease and fun I have in my business. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my weekly schedule to show you how I get it all done.

“I’ve decided to be the kind of person that shows up and gets it done.”

“I find that I’m even more productive when I’ve already checked something really valuable off the list.”

“BURNOUT-PROOF YOUR BUSINESS” MASTERCLASS

More from Shawn: shawnmynar.com

Instagram: @unstuckentrepreneur

TikTok: @unstuckentrepreneur

FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW: (transcript is auto-generated so expect errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling)

While being your own boss is great, sometimes it can feel like there’s just too much to get done for just one person, especially with all the marketing you need to do these days posting on social media regularly writing emails creating content. For me, the key to getting it all done is organization and structure with a side of flow, of course, in fact, the more planned out I get with my action items for the week, the more ease and fun I have in my business. So today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my weekly schedule to show you how I get it all done. Stay tuned.

Hey, there, I’m Shawn Mynar, and this is unstuck entrepreneur. I’m a former nutritionist who turned a struggling stressful nutrition practice into a thriving freedom build online business, where I work from home and my sweat pants while reaching and helping 1000s of people all at the same time. Now I’m obsessed with showing other heart centered coaches, practitioners and solopreneurs how to build a business and life they love. Consider this podcast your safe space to learn both the inner work and practical strategies required to build the impactful profitable business of your dreams, no hustle, grind, or long hours required. That’s right hustle culture, not welcome here. Let’s get into today’s session. Hey, hey there, friends, welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. So happy to have you here, checking out the show. Thank you so much for your support.

Today, we’re gonna mix things up a little bit. And I’m just gonna have a real honest conversation with you, taking you behind the scenes of my business and how I plan out my schedule of everything that I need to do as a small business owner as a solopreneur. And how I make sure I get it all done, while still feeling like it’s fun, and it flows. And I don’t feel overwhelmed. Because I think that’s kind of the main vibe I get from a lot of you is like, the more we talk about the things that need to be done in your business to have a successful business, the more you start feeling overwhelmed, the more you start feeling like how am I going to do all of this, there’s not enough hours in the day, I’m still at another job or you know, I have a family and I care for my children and part of the day, how am I supposed to do it all. So that is what I want to break down for you today. And I thought really the best way to do that is to show you what I do. And obviously, this is what I have found that works really, really well for me, you may have something similar that you find works really, really well for you. Or it may be something totally different.

But the main goal here is for you to start considering how this can all look for you how you can really let this flow in your business to to where you’re doing the things that you need to do as a business owner, but it doesn’t feel forced or out of alignment. Or, like you’re just not doing it because you’re too overwhelmed and you’re pushing it away. That is the goal. So we’re going to go behind the scenes, and hopefully that will spark some interest and some thought for you in your own business. First, let me set the scene a little bit. As I think most of you know, my business is my full time gig. It’s my only thing. I don’t have another job. I don’t have children, I have four children that actually take up a lot of my time surprisingly, but I don’t have anything like that. And I know a lot of you work another job or you are doing something else besides your business right now. So that is one caveat that I wanted to say first and foremost. But what I do want you to see though is that the absolute essentials, the must dues of my day, don’t take that much time. Really even the most time consuming of the things we’re going to talk about today. only take a few hours at most. And I want to make sure you know that so that you can see how this style of business is still possible. If you do have another job if you do have children that you are taking care of part of the day. If you have something else going on in your life, this all can and will still happen for you. And again, I think most of you know this about me too.

I don’t work full time hours in my business not even close I would say I probably work 30 hours There’s max per week. And that’s during a time of like deep creation, like I’m building a program or something like that, that’s taking a lot of my energy and my focus, that will be a 30 hour week, when I’m in more of a, like I am right now everything’s built, and I’m just kind of getting it out into the world, then it’s even less hours per week by 25, let’s say. And that’s always been something that has been important to me, I don’t want to work 40 hours, 50 hours, 60 hours, I’ve done that. In the past, I’m not doing that, again, that is now not how I want to remember my life, when I’m 90 years old, that I just worked a bunch, I don’t want that I want to live. And I want time to do that. And not just the free time, but also the flexibility in my time, I want to be able to have time off in the middle of the day, if I want to, to do what I want to do or need to do for myself or my life or my family, which in this case is just for children. But I have to say my first children are extremely needy. And if they don’t get a hike, if they don’t get an adventure, then they are just sitting here staring at me while I’m trying to work. So it’s very important that they have their time as well. So I have always valued the free time and the flexibility that my business allows for me. And what I have found because in the past, I have been resistant to having a plan having a structure, kind of I wanted this place of flow. And so I resisted doing what I am now doing. But what I have found is that having this plan in place is actually creating even more free time, for me even more flexibility for me, and allowing me to get into my flow state even better.

So that I wanted to share for those of you who are also resistant to wanting structure, wanting organization wanting a plan. If you’re someone like me, who just really likes to go with what I’m feeling like for the day, just know that this could potentially work for you too. And in fact, it feels even better to have this sense of knowing each day, kind of what you’re going into. And then allowing the rest of the day to unfold, which you’ll find like with the plan that I have, so much of my day is still in flow. And even the parts of my day that are structured, are still in flow, because I have all of this setup. So we’ll get into talking about that too. All right, let’s get into my weekly plan that allows me to get everything done, while still having all of this time leftover, which you’ll see here shortly. You’ll notice the main thing that I’m sharing with you in this plan are the marketing tasks that I do each day. There’s a few reasons why, first of all, because I’m not a natural marketer. So if I don’t have a plan for what I’m going to do to market my business, then I will easily find other things to work on that are more kind of behind the scenes, like I am a very natural creator behind the scenes just like getting dirty, and just creating new things. But putting it all out into the world, that is something that I have to work on. And obviously I’ve been doing it for long enough that it is a lot more natural for me. But still, my tendency will be to stay behind the scenes, unless I make it so that it is part of my business. And obviously the second reason why the main things I’m sharing with you are marketing tasks, is because these are the most important tasks to my business. Because if I don’t market my business, well then I don’t have a business. So not only is it something that doesn’t come super natural to me, but it also is something that is the most important thing in order for me to keep doing what I’m doing, sharing my message and spreading my knowledge with the world and making money obviously and so I got to do it. So that is why the really the thing that I plan out to do each day in my business and I make it a priority to get done each day is in the marketing. Okay. So let’s start with Monday. Mondays. I love Mondays right now. I love this and you’re not going to believe it when I tell you what I Do on Mondays, but so much has changed because of this new plan that I have. So on Monday, it is 100% focused on Instagram, and now tick tock, crazy, crazy, right I spend an entire day of my business with all the space in the world to create my social media content. In the past, I have done social media, like I would just do an Instagram post per day.

And that would be part of my schedule for that day was to create an Instagram post. And I always felt rushed, or, like there was something else I should be doing, or wanted to do, instead of creating that post. And that vibe, then went into that post, and it wasn’t as good as it could have been. And so it really tarnished my thoughts and relationship with social media, like I just didn’t like it, I didn’t like doing it, I felt like I had to do it, which just made it feel even heavier and even more resistant. And so making this change to wear my entire day. Nothing else is on my schedule, but to create a week’s worth of Instagram content. And now I’m adding in tic tac, which this is still really new. So I’m not exactly sure how this is going to play out. It seems like tick tock is a little harder to create in advance, it seems like it’s more of a like in the moment kind of thing. So still working on that. But just in doing this with Instagram, it has changed the game. My relationship with social media is so much better. Because I have so much space. I’m not supposed to be doing anything else that day, I don’t have anything else on my schedule. So my only focus my only goal, all of my energy is going into my social media posts for the entire week, which is also great, because when they’re done, it feels so good to have a whole week’s worth of content done. And so this includes like right now I’m really into recording reels. So I record all the reels, I edit them, and then I write the captions. And I get them all saved in drafts. So then, you know, Tuesday, I just hit post Wednesday, hit post, there’s the hit post ready, hit post. And that’s it. That’s all I have to do for Instagram. And so yes, I give myself the whole day does it ever take the whole day, definitely not. It takes maybe two, three hours to do all of that, because I’m so much more in the flow, because that’s the only thing I need to focus on that day.

And I am not being torn and all these other directions. So that I feel like has just, it just made it fun. And honestly, it’s made doing social media so much more fun, because I’m being more intentional about it. And I’m giving myself the space like it’s not an afterthought anymore. It is a whole day and a Monday, which normally, you know is like the main productive day for a lot of people. And for me to go into the start of a week, knowing that my first day is just recording some reels and having fun with it. And getting all that done for the week feels so rewarding. From the get go like the rest of the week, I am all set up because of what I do on Monday. And so like I said, that takes me two to three hours of that. And then the rest of the day I have to flow and I’ll save what I do in the rest of my day is for the end, because every day, basically I have the entire afternoon to flow. Unless you know I don’t start work until noon or one which happens several days a week and then I have a shorter space of flow in the afternoon. All right. So now Tuesday, my main goal, my action item, my priority is to write my weekly email to my subscribers. That happens every Tuesday and it goes out on Wednesday. So doing it a day ahead of time. And it’s always the first thing I do when I sit down to work on Tuesdays, which sometimes might be at 9am sometimes might be at 1pm depending on if I go hike or not in the morning. So that’s it. Tuesday I read a newsletter. It takes maybe 45 minutes at most, and the rest of the day I can flow and then Wednesday is podcast promo day. Another really short, basic easy day in In terms of marketing, because the main goal here is to let you all know that there’s a new episode of the podcast out, which I do through Instagram stories and Pinterest. So I actually use Pinterest to promote every episode of the podcast, which I may or may not have shared here before, I’m not sure. But it is really effective at finding new listeners and super easy, really simple, I actually use tailwind to help me schedule them out. So my pins for each podcast episode go out over a five to six week span, I have three pins for each episode that kind of post sporadically on different boards. And so Wednesday is all about getting that ready. So I go into Canva, I create my images that I will use on both Pinterest and Instagram stories because fun fact they work on both, they’re almost the same size.

So you can create one image and use them on both. And I’ll post to Instagram sharing the new episode. And then I will also go into tailwind and schedule out my pins for that podcast episode. So all of that probably takes about 30 to 45 minutes, I will then spend sometimes another 30 minutes, sometimes another hour going through and kind of analyzing the numbers on Pinterest. I also use Pinterest to promote my blog posts that I have up on my website and freebies and things like that. So I’ll see how certain pins are doing. And if I need to redo any or schedule some more to have out, then I’ll do that. So I’d say in general, I’m doing like Pinterest maintenance, we’ll call it for let’s say maybe another hour at most on Wednesdays. So again, we’re talking total, I would say 90 minutes at the most where I am promoting the podcast. I also forgot to mention in that, that I’m making sure the podcast episode is up on my website, which again, takes 10 minutes. So doing that, then the rest of the day is for flow. And now we move on to Thursday, where this one, I’d say the entire day is a little more flow like I do reserve Thursdays for writing blog posts, or more social media stuff, especially now, I’m experimenting more regularly with tick tock which by the way, if you are on tick tock, make sure to find me. I’m at unstuck entrepreneur over there as well. Would love to see you over there. But I’m experimenting more with that. And so it’s kind of taking a little bit more time to understand like what I’m supposed to be posting how it all works and creating that content for Tiktok. So might be spent doing a little more social media work, especially the past few weeks. That’s what I’ve been doing. So one of the to a blog post or more social media stuff, whatever needs my attention more, I guess I would say, and the rest of the day after that is spent in flow. And then we move on to Friday, which is podcast day. That is the day that I write my notes and record my episode of the podcast for the following week. I used to batch record a podcast episodes and just realize that was a huge drain on my energy that day. And I just felt like the quality wasn’t as good or I wasn’t maybe as authentic as I would be if I just did it every week and just devoted my Friday mornings to the podcast. And so that’s what I’ve been doing lately, and really loving that. So every Friday morning, I write the notes, I then go right into recording. And then I do have a podcast editor Chris, who then takes it over from there. So I just make sure he has the file. He has whatever notes I want to include in the show notes and he takes it from there to be ready by the following Wednesday. So that is another activity that I would say takes up the most time of the activities I talked about between writing the notes for the episode and then actually recording it and then getting everything ready for the editor. That probably takes I’d say two to three hours also. So Monday’s are pretty heavy because I’m focused solely on My weeks worth of social media content. And then Fridays are heavy because of the podcast. The thing about Friday is that once the podcast has been recorded, and is ready to go for the week, then I call it good. I have a half a day, most of the day on Fridays, and I’ll go out hiking and just be done for the weekend after the podcast is all set up. Okay, so those are my non negotiables.

For each day, I hope this makes sense. These are the things that I am definitely getting done that day, and definitely getting done first thing that day, so that then the rest of the day is open, it’s free to either take some time off, if that’s what I need, or to do some work on the behind the scenes of my business. So let’s talk about what is involved in those hours of the day. Because, really, let’s go back, if I think about this, and I add all of this up, I can say that the marketing aspects of my business take me less than 10 hours a week. And as you can see, I’m doing quite a bit, I am on multiple platforms, I have a podcast, I write my email every week. So I’m doing a lot of things that maybe you wouldn’t do right away if you’re just starting a business. So this could potentially be even less for you. And that’s really what I wanted to show you with this episode is that the things that you think are going to take a ton of time, and maybe they to do take a lot of time right now. They don’t have to, and are they taking a lot of time, because you don’t have a committed schedule a plan, an organized way to make sure they get done. They are really, really important parts of your business. And they deserve that kind of attention. They deserve that organized routine that you know what you’re doing every single week. And when you do that, how much less time will it take you? And how much time are you spending in this place of what should I be doing right now? What am I supposed to do today versus just knowing because you have it planned out, you know, from the beginning of the week, what you need to do each day. So then I have this time for flow, which since that was under 10 hours, let’s say I have another 15 at least hours of flow in my week. And what I do in those hours varies a lot depending on what I currently have going on in my business at that time. So things like creating a new program and getting everything built and ready to go for that and getting ready to launch a new program working on sales emails, or sales pages, writing email sequences, designing Facebook ads, these are all kind of behind the scenes stuff like creation stuff that I would do now, once my marketing task is done for that day. And like I said, totally depends on what’s currently going on. Like, for example, this week, I designed a sales page for launch list accelerator, which I’ll share with you guys.

Next week, I did some Facebook ads stuff and some testing on that. I hosted a coaching call with HBs members, I wrote a few sales emails, all from this flow space, because here’s what happens. And maybe this is just me, I don’t know. But when I have already done something very productive, and very valuable for my business that day, then it’s like, the whole world opens up. It’s like I already feel so accomplished. I’ve already checked off that really important thing. And that just makes me even more productive. It’s like I’ve already gotten into this flow of productivity with the one thing I said I was going to do that day. Well, we might as well keep it going. And what I have found is that my flow zone is that much more productive as well because of this schedule. So now let’s talk about how I keep myself on this schedule. Well first of all, I put it into my Asana. If you guys have worked with me at all in any of my programs, then you know I I am obsessed with Asana, which is a task management software, a s a n a.com. If you’re interested, I’ve used Asana for many years. And it really is to the point where I just log on to my computer that day, the first place I go is Asana. It tells me what I’m doing that day, and I do it. And if you’re anything like me, then you love checking off the box when something gets done. So I put even the smallest stuff into my Asana, like, as soon as I think of something, it goes in my Asana, and then I get to check the box when it’s done. And that feels amazing, of course. But within Asana, you can have a task that just repeats itself. So you can set it up to be weekly, every two weeks, monthly, whatever you want it to be. And so I have all of the things I just went over with you what I do each day, I have all of those set up on a weekly recurring setting. So when I complete my Instagram posts, on a Monday, I click that it’s done, because best feeling ever. And then it populates into the next Monday. So then the next Monday, I log in, I know exactly what I’m doing. I mean, obviously, I already know that Mondays are for a Instagram post, but still putting it in a place where I have to click that it’s done. And if I don’t get it done, then it’s just going to be staring at me for the rest of the week, it’s still gonna be there on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, looking at me saying you didn’t get me done. So that is really helpful in terms of keeping me on track and on task and making sure I do what I say I’m going to do what my plan is for that day. And like I said, I do this for all of the non negotiables for each day, and also for everything else that I want to get done each day, each week each month in my business. And if you are someone who’s in signature program lab, then you know that we use that to plan out launches plan out, when you’re sending out emails, when you’re posting on social media, when you’re actually launching, when you’re going to build your program and what modules you’re working on that week. It is so powerful. So if you don’t have Asana or something like it a task management software, in your business, this is going to help keep you organized, and on track.

So I highly recommend it again, asana.com, it’s free, and really, really helpful. And really, other than that, it’s just knowing, and deciding and continuously evolving into the person that I want to be, which is the person that gets it done, the person that does what they say they’re going to do, the person that shows up for their business in the way they need to show up. Because I want my business to succeed. I want my business to grow every single day, I have big plans and goals for my business, and they don’t get done, they won’t get achieved if I don’t show up in this way every day. And if I don’t make those tasks a priority, like my one priority each and every day, are these marketing tasks that quite honestly, sometimes I don’t want to do, as I mentioned, I am not a natural marketer is something that takes me out of my comfort zone. And that just shows even more why I need to implement this plan, and how effective it has been for me to be able to prioritize this work and get it done and reap the benefits of getting it done in my business. So we just got into a little bit of a pep talk. Because, you know, I feel like so many people ask well, like, how do you make sure you do it? How do you keep yourself on schedule, and it’s simply a choice that you have to make every day and so many people are choosing to not. And that means you’re also choosing to turn your back on your dreams and goals and plans for the future. And I don’t want to do that. I’m not going to do that. That is not part of my plan of being on this planet and I don’t think it is for you either. So remember that and commit to that and try giving yourself a little bit of structure, organization and plan that you really truly commit to that you really Take the time to do every single day and you make it a priority. And quickly, I just want to go back because I know a lot of you are like, cool, yeah, but I don’t have every day of the week to work on my business. As I mentioned, we’re talking under 10 hours a week spent doing this really, really important marketing work for my business.

And that could all be done in like, two blocks of five hours. You know, there is definitely a way to get it done, where it doesn’t have to be every single day. But you have to make the time and commitment and make it a non negotiable part of what you do each and every week, no matter what your schedule looks like. And so I encourage you to just try it. See what happens when you create a little more schedule and structure to your marketing tasks. And what I think is going to happen, first of all, what I think you will find is that it really opens up the door to feel even more inflow in alignment, and less forced and more productive, not rushed, like all these things that we think we’re going to feel when we do these really hard, uncomfortable tasks, it actually ends up bringing even more ease and joy and fun into it. And also what I know is going to happen is your business is going to grow. And really isn’t that what it’s all about doing all of this, feeling good about it, finding ease and joy in it, and also reaching more people making more money, and actually working less. Pretty cool, right? All right, my friends, I will wrap it up with that. I hope that getting this peek behind the curtain of how I do things in my business opens the door for you to start thinking about how you do things in your business. And just a reminder, if you’re on Tik Tok head over there at unstuck entrepreneur and find me and we can connect if there. If you’re on Instagram, be sure to find me over there at unstuck entrepreneur I’m posting on both all the time these days because I finally made the space to do so in a way that feels good for me. And if you want to learn more about creating a truly freedom filled, flexible, burnout proof business, then make sure you head over to shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof and get in on my free one hour training where we’ll talk all about how you Yes, even you can add a group program to your business to really make it something that helps more people while creating a more free time and flexibility for you. And of course increasing your income. You can do it all simply by adding a group program to your business. So check it out. shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof. All right, my friends. Until next time, take care

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

“What’s The Difference Between A Group Program And An Online Course?” Listener Q&A — Ep. 144

Unstuck Podcast

You know you want to add a passive income stream to your business, but you’re not sure what it should be. You’ve heard people talk about online courses and group programs, but don’t know which one is best for your business and the people you want to help. And, really, what’s the difference between the two anyway? While there are some similarities between group programs and online businesses, they’re actually quite different and aren’t always the best option for every business. In this episode, we’ll talk about the difference between the two so you know what’s right for your business. Let’s dive in.

“Online courses teach participants ‘how to’, group programs guide participants through transformations.” – Shawn Mynar

“In the online course, it’s ‘learn how to do something’, whereas, in the group coaching program, it’s a go through this experience, get this transformation, have a coach or a mentor to guide you, be with a group of like-minded people.” – Shawn Mynar

“Most wellness businesses need a program, not a course… because you are providing such an incredibly valuable experience and transformation for your people.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE Masterclass “How To Burnout-Proof Your Business With A Group Program” – shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW (please allow for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation):

0:01
You know, you want to add a passive income stream to your business, but you’re not sure what it should be. You’ve heard people talk about online courses and group programs before, but don’t know which one is best for your business and the people you want to help. And really, what’s the difference between the two anyway? While there are some similarities between group programs and online courses, they’re actually quite different and are always the best option for every business. In this episode, we’ll talk about the difference between the two. So you know what’s right for your business. Let’s dive in.

Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur, as always, so grateful to have you here. So grateful for your support in the show. And just as a quick reminder, if you love this podcast, and you’ll get something valuable out of these episodes, would you be so kind and leave a review for the show you can do so on Apple, you can do so on Spotify. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it really does help the show get into the hands of other people who might need this guidance and support as well. You can think of it kind of as a virtual tip jar. Like if you’re a good tipper when you’re out getting some dinner, then you can also be a good virtual tipper. And simply leave a review for any podcast really, that you enjoy a really any product even it is such a great way to support the things and people and businesses that you love.

Okay, today we’re talking about the difference between online courses and group programs. I got this question it was put into the chatbox of the burnout proof your business masterclass that I have going on right now that you can still be a part of, if you head over to shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof, you can register and watch that free masterclass. But in the chatbox, I received this question and I thought it was such a good one. That I should probably take some time to answer it here on the podcast because I have a feeling that there are more of you that have this question than just this person who asked whose name was cat. And she asked, What’s the difference between a group program and an online course really basic question, but a really good one that actually has some nuance to it and deserves an entire podcast episode. Believe it or not. These are two phrases that are thrown around a lot in the online business space, I think. And a lot of times they’re used interchangeably, which is totally fine. But in my mind, and when I break it down for you today, I think you will really see that there is a big difference between the two. And so we really should be thinking about what is it exactly that I want to include in my business as another income stream or a passive income stream. Which one is right for me which one is best for what I want to do, and then know which direction you’re going in.

So let’s get into it. And just so you know, this is all just kind of like how I have always thought of it. There are no hard or fast rules to any of this. So you can take it or leave it, do what you will with it. But I just still want to talk about it. Alright, so first, an online course. It’s like a class. It’s where you have an instructor that is teaching on a concept. And usually, this will be in the form of like how-to content. So like how to speak Spanish, how to take professional photos with your iPhone, how to start and build an email list, how to hand letter, which is what I am taking right now and getting into. These are the kinds of things you can find on places like Udemy, or what’s the other one Skillshare is a big one. These are online courses, teaching you how to do something, you can start them anytime you can go through them at your own pace. And by the end, there is the promise that you will learn how to do it. A group program on the other hand is more of an experience.

There is a coach, a guide, a mentor, whatever they call themselves, and they’re taking participants through a transformation. Like during this program, you’ll experience To this, you’ll do this, you’ll go through this. And by the end of this program, you’ll feel you’ll have, you’ll be this. So, more so in terms of like, you know, we’ve seen, especially if you’re in the wellness space, then you see programs like heal your gut, balance your hormones, master your mindset to manifest your wildest dreams, these kinds of topics are programmed because there is a transformation involved. So if it were like, learn how to heal your gut, and then this person is just throwing out tips on healing your gut and not doing anything else, the now would be a course. But I think we all know that when it comes to something like healing your gut or balancing your hormones or anything like that, it is a process.

And there is a transformation that happens. And it takes a little more guidance than just like, watch this thing. And you’ll be good, you know, so it’s not really something you can how to your way through it in a course format. Right? That is the biggest difference in how you can decipher the two and really what you want to do for your clients in your business. So remember, where online courses teach participants how to group programs guide participants through transformations.

And obviously, then this means that group programs, they’re more detailed, they’re usually deeper, there’s potentially more hands-on activities, going through a group program versus just watching How to content in an online course. So group programs typically also have that coaching component to them, and usually a community component, also for this reason, so that there’s this level of support available as they go through the transformation. And also this sense of camaraderie kind of, of going through this process in a group of people that are doing the same thing, you know, like-minded people who have the same problem and want the same solution, and everyone is going through it together. So that’s where the community component comes in. That is typically really important for group programs. Now, as for that coaching component that could look like weekly live q&a calls, it could like look like bi-weekly, or monthly q&a coaching calls. But it could also just look like everyone getting together, live on a zoom chat and just talking, just talking things out having more of like, a happy hour type situation or just like a get-together type thing, Coffee Talk, where it’s just the group coming together and talking about their experiences. And you are simply the host as the guide, or the coach of that program.

So there are lots of different ways that you can do this, depending on your, obviously your topic for your program, and the needs of your participants to and then online courses are usually going to be a DIY type thing. They may potentially have like a Facebook group, where people can go in and ask questions. But that live coaching component is not going to be there because it’s more so just go through the trainings, go through the lessons, learn how to do this, and do this and you’ll be there you will know how to do the thing, which was the entire promise of this course. Now, most group programs are also cohort-based, which means there is a group that comes together, they go through their transformation all at one time together. They don’t have to be that way, you can definitely have more of an evergreen or open enrollment type program where people just kind of keep filtering into the group as they’re ready and the group is kind of always going so this could work well in a case where you always hold one monthly live coaching call. So once a month there is a call for everyone who has ever been through that program not just for one specific group but for anyone and so then someone who has been in going through the transformation that you offer for three months could join that coaching call and ask them questions and get feedback and guidance and support and everything they need, while also someone who just started three days ago could also join in on that live call and get what they need out of it too. So there is an option to make your group coaching program, Evergreen or open enrollment, but most of them are going to be cohort-based. And that means that you’re potentially hosting our group every other month, or once a quarter, or once every six months, that kind of thing.

And the cool thing about this style of group coaching program is that you can schedule your groups making sure that you have downtime in between, which is amazing. So for example, if your program runs for eight weeks, and you do one group every quarter, then that means you have an entire month off in between your groups. So you have downtime, you can Yes, prepare for the next group, but also take some time off, which is really nice in-between groups. And most importantly, as you can probably see, by now, online courses and group programs have different price points, which makes a ton of sense because the promise is so much bigger. With a program. It’s a, you know, an online course it’s a learn how to do something. Whereas in the group coaching program, it’s a go through this experience, get this transformation, have a coach or a mentor, to guide you be with a group of like-minded people, that is way, way, different and way, way more valuable to your clients. So typically, online courses are priced below $500, like probably well below $500. Whereas group programs will definitely be above $500. And probably well, well above $500. So all this to say, if you’re trying to decide between the two between, do I want to work on a group program for my business? Or do I want to build an online course for my business?

The thing to ask yourself is, Am I an instructor teaching someone how to do something, or am I a coach or a mentor, guiding someone through a process or transformation. That is how you know whether you should have an online course, or a group program. And now I want to talk to all the wellness professionals out there because I really, really think that most wellness businesses need a program, not a course. Because what you’re doing with your clients isn’t really a hands-off. This is how you do this kind of thing. I mean, if you have a course you could do a course on like how to meal prep healthy meals for your entire family, or how to get started with meditation or something like that, where it is a hands-off how to kind of thing and you can just pre-record all of the content, all the steps they need to go through and just let people go through it. That could definitely be a possibility.

But the vast majority of wellness-related things need to be a program because you are providing such an incredibly valuable experience and transformation for your people. And doing so in a way that they actually get more value than even working with you one on one in a lot of cases, because they’re also part of a group and not just any group but people that are going through the exact same thing that are having the exact same struggles that are feeling the exact same way have the same questions or maybe even questions they didn’t know they had. And so doing all of this in a group experience is so highly valuable for your clients even more so than working with you one on one because then they don’t know they have those questions or maybe they feel kind of alone, and they don’t want to bug you every single day with, you know, their complaints or just wanting to vent or anything like that. So they feel a little alone on this journey. Whereas when it is in a group program, they have the whole group to talk to and share their experiences with and just kind of commiserate a little bit and it is beyond it is absolutely invaluable to these people. So that’s where wellness businesses and a group programs become the perfect combination for whatever you’re doing in your business or with your people.

Now, here’s the cool thing. And one reason where online courses and group programs actually are similar. And that is the process of building, whether it be a course, or a program, the whole process of putting it together is actually really, really similar. They do both consist of recorded teachings and trainings and lessons, maybe there’s some audio, maybe there’s some video lessons, maybe there’s a workbook, some PDF guides, and things to help them with their experience. And that process is the same regardless of what you’re doing. And what’s different about it is, of course, the type of material that’s going into that content, and the other components of that course or program. So for a course, those recorded video lessons or audio trainings, that’s probably it, you’re just recording those in advance, putting them into your online portal, telling people to go get it, putting a low price tag on it, and and making it available. But with a group program, you have to consider those other components that you want to include in your program. So you’re gonna have the coaching calls, they’ll be done live, so nothing that you’d need to do ahead of time really, except figure out the schedule of those calls, put them on your calendar, and make sure you include that there are coaching calls that are live in your marketing material, because that will become incredibly valuable to the people that are coming into your program. And then the same thing for the community. That’s another component that’s typically included in group programs, whether that’s a Facebook group, or a Slack channel, or whatever, there’s tons of ways you can create communities these days.

And again, nothing really that you have to do prior to releasing your program, except take, you know, five minutes to create a Facebook group or a Slack group. And then also be sure to include that in your marketing material. So people know that’s included in their investment as well, which again, like I said, like in valuable to your program participants. So as you can see pretty similar the process of creating a course versus creating a program, the amount of time it takes to do one or the other pretty much the same. The difference will be obviously in the type of content that you’re putting into that program, or course and the extra components that you decide to include or not include. So that means once you know the process of how to create a program, you also know the process of how to create a course. So you can use this process over and over and over again in your business for multiple programs for a combination of a program and a course for multiple programs. Like there are so many ways that you can continue adding more passive income streams to your business. So you have that many more opportunities to increase your income to help more people and to add more flexibility to your business and your schedule on your time.

So if you would like to learn this process of how to build out a group program, first of all, we do that together step by step I will hold your hand through the entire process in signature program lab, but right now I will also break it down for you for free. Inside the group program masterclass that I have going on right now. It’s called burnout proof your business with your own group program. It is free, it is a one-hour training. In that training, you will learn my simplified foolproof process to bring your program to life in as little as eight weeks. You’ll also learn why creating your own group program is the best way to burn out proof your business by helping more people at one time on capping your income potential and creating more free time for yourself which are the three ingredients needed to burnout proof your business, you will also learn how to simultaneously grow an engaged audience full of Perfect Match clients while building out your program. So that you have a group of people that can’t wait to enroll in your program, once you have it ready. And that works even if you’re starting from zero right now. And we’ll look at if a group program is the right model for your business and how to make it come to life with the signature program bundles. So that is going on. Right now. Just head to shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof and you can get started really thinking and brainstorming on this program of yours and start getting it built.

There’s really no reason not to get started on this and work I’m building up this more passive income stream for your business no matter if you have been in business 10 years, 20 years, or 10 minutes, it doesn’t matter. Either way, it is a great way for you to build a business that works for you and helps the people that you want to help. So once again, shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof there are plenty of times available for you to check it out. Or you can watch it on demand whenever you have a free hour that you want to spend working on your dream business, which is actually really really fun. I think of it as me-time. So grab some Meantime, grab your favorite beverage grab your snacks, get comfy and join me shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof. Alright friends, I hope that helped clear up what the difference is between an online course and our group program and which one is right for your business and your clients. Until next time, take care

Key Signs Your Business Is Ready For A Group Program — Ep. 143

Unstuck Podcast

Let me come right out and say it…group programs aren’t for every business or every business owner. I have wellness pros come to me quite often questioning whether they’re ready to add a group program to their business. The truth is, there are certain key signs to look out for to know if you’re business is right for and ready for a group program. We’ll go over those together in this episode so you feel confident knowing when it’s the right time to create your own group program.

“The way to build that audience is by way of your group program. They are such a great way to attract the right people to your work.” – Shawn Mynar

“Having a group program does not mean that you don’t take one on one clients anymore.” – Shawn Mynar

“If you need or want more time in your life, please add a group program. It will change everything for you when it comes to time.” – Shawn Mynar

“It is so powerful, so fun, and cool to see as the creator bringing these people together that can all become friends and support each other. Honestly, if you need a reason to create a program, this will do it.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE Masterclass “How To Burnout-Proof Your Business With A Group Program” – shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: (expect errors in punctuation, spelling and grammar)

Let me come right out and say it…group programs aren’t for every business or every business owner. I have wellness pros come to me quite often questioning whether they’re ready to add a group program to their business. And the truth is, there are certain key signs to look out for to know if your business is right for and ready for a group program. We’ll go over those together in this episode, so you feel confident knowing when it’s the right time to create your own group program. Let’s dive in. Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to the unstuck entrepreneur podcast. So happy to have you here. Thanks so much for joining me as always, today, we’re going to dive deeper into the topic of this group program business model that you all know by now, I am obsessed with.

And more importantly, I want to really give you some ideas on how to know if you and your business are even ready for one or if it’s even the right idea for you. Because it’s not necessarily the best business model for everyone. Before we get into it, though, let me remind you if you have yet to watch the free masterclass that I have out right now, just for you, then this is your friendly reminder to get in on that one-hour free training, I’ve made it as easy as possible for you to go and check out and to really absorb all of this information that I have for you. This is like a jam-packed training. I don’t know how I fit it into an hour. But I’m really impressed with myself that I did. So many action steps that you can take and apply to your business today. And so you can find an hour of your own free time and watch it when it works best for you. You can go in and schedule it, you can watch it on-demand, it is totally up to you, whatever works for your schedule. But if you are at all interested in adding a group program to your business, especially after what we talked about today, then it’s something you need to check out.

I will be sharing in this one hour, I’ll be sharing why creating your own program is the best way to burnout-proof your business by helping more people at one time by uncapping your income potential and creating more free time for yourself. And that’s really, the three key ingredients to this burnout-proof business is to be able to help more people make more money, all while having more free time and flexibility for yourself. Also, we’ll be sharing my simplified foolproof process to bring your program to life in as little as eight weeks. The six steps you need to go through in order to start from zero and go out to launch this program into the world in eight weeks, I’ll go through every single step.

I’ll also share how to simultaneously grow an engaged audience full of Perfect Match clients that can’t wait to enroll in your program once it’s ready, even if you’re starting from zero right now. So this is really important how to simultaneously grow an engaged audience. So that’s already we have so many keywords in this simultaneously engaged audience and Perfect Match clients. I’m sharing the whole process on how to do that in this training. And I’ll also tell you a little bit about my newest offering called the signature program bundle, which as of right now, I’m only sharing to those people that join this free training because I have a special introductory offer that won’t be out into the world for a very long time. So keeping it kind of hush hush and only sharing about it in this free training. So you can head to shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof to watch on-demand or to save your time slot whatever works for you. And I will have that linked up in the show notes as well so you can access it easily. But again, shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof you gotta get in before it’s gone.

All right, let’s move on to our quote for the day before we get into talking about the signs you’re ready or not ready for a group program. And this quote comes from Amy Poehler and says great people do things before they’re ready. We’ve talked about being ready a lot on unstuck entrepreneur, or really the myth of the Getting ready because being ready in air quotes I’m using is one of those things that is like a mind game that our ego plays with us, that makes it like this excuse to not move out of our comfort zone to not do something that’s uncomfortable or new or scary, or something we haven’t done before, we can always fall back on the excuse of I don’t feel ready. And so I really love what Amy said, and just great people do things before they’re ready, because it is in that space of not being ready and doing it anyway, where great things happen. That is really what’s underneath that quote.

Alright, so let’s get into, first of all, we’re actually going to talk about when you are not ready, I really only I tried, I really, really tried to come up with reasons why you wouldn’t be ready for a group program. And I only came up with two. And the first one is that you don’t want to take your business online. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a brick and mortar business that you can’t do group programs in person. Absolutely, of course you can. And that is a great way to use your brick and mortar space and still create more freedom and flexibility in your business is to have a group come into your space and do the work together. Great use of that. But I would really say even in that case, you still would need to have an online presence for that group, like an online portal where they can get some extra lessons, extra guidance, some PDFs, some things to work on maybe a workbook or worksheets, something like that, I think it still is super beneficial to have an extra place for them to go besides just coming into your brick and mortar space, and only doing the program, then it’s just really nice to have this alternative, some things to do on their own. And I think we’re beyond the days of just handing out worksheets, like paper worksheets and workbooks. I think we’re just beyond that, as a community as a society.

And so having an online presence along with your in person work is important. And so if you don’t want to take your business online, if you want to remain an offline business, then having a group program in the capacity that I’m talking about today is probably not going to work for you. And then if you haven’t gotten certified in your field, your area of expertise yet, well, then you need to focus on getting certified first, and then you can be ready to have a group program. So focus on that. And in the process, I would say really see if there are some foundations that you’re learning that you could then put into a group program. So keep in the back of your mind. But let’s focus on getting certified first. I know I really did try to think of more reasons why you wouldn’t be ready for a group program. That’s all I got right now. I’ll let you know if I think of anything else. How about that. But let’s dive into what are some reasons that people think they’re not ready, that actually aren’t true. And this is what I see most commonly.

The first one is people think that because they haven’t taken enough or any one-on-one clients yet, then they’re not ready to host a group program. And there is no magic number of clients that you need to have taken before you’re ready for a group program. That’s just a something you’re absolutely making up in your mind, which is fine. And again, it’s one of those things kind of keeping us safe and out of the way of doing something scary and something we’ve never done before. And I think where it really comes from is that there’s this idea that you need to have a certain level of experience, and that for some reason, one on one clients are the way to get that experience. But really, I mean, if you think about it, if you’re looking for more experience, well then what better way than to get everyone together in a group and experience it all at the same time experience, their stories, their situations, what they need help with what they respond to what they don’t respond to doing that in a one on one setting.

First of all, it takes a long time, but there are a lot of nuances that you won’t ever experience or know until you get into a group program. So one on one is really aren’t a very efficient way time efficient way to get the experience that you’re looking for to suddenly feel like, Oh, I’m ready to do more. It really is one of those situations where you just need exposure to situations to new things. And that’s how you get your experience and what better way than to get everyone together in a group. And you’ll also get your experience of coaching a group at the same time look at that. The second thing that I hear a lot is that people think they need an audience, before you have a group program, like you need to have a certain number of followers or certain number of podcast listeners, something like that. But the reality is that the way to build that audience is by way of your group program, they are such a great way to attract the right people to your work and build that audience like you are going to get more Instagram followers.

When you have a group program, you’re going to get more people to listen to your podcast, when you have a group program, you’re going to get more people to watch your YouTube channel, when you have a group program, you’re going to get more people onto your website, when you have a group program, you’re going to get more people on your email list when you have a group program. So group programs are the way to build your audience because you actually have a specific direction, and topic that’s going to guide all of your content now. So if you’ve ever been in that place where you feel like you don’t know what to post, or what to share, or what to talk about, it’s simply because you don’t have like a specific enough topic or direction to guide you. And so having this group program already built will be the thing that really drives your content creation. And also, what’s the point of having an audience if you don’t have anything to offer them? Like the I don’t have an audience? So I can’t do XYZ yet is very flawed.

Because what are you going to do with that audience? What are you going to offer that audience? What’s the point of having it? Right? All right, the next reason why you would potentially think that you are not ready or you don’t have the right business for a group program is because you enjoy taking one on one clients. Let me remind you that having a group program does not mean that you don’t take one on one clients anymore, it can if you don’t want to take one on one clients. But if you like it, and you just don’t want to take as many or you want to be a little more discerning in who you take on as a one on one client, well, then that’s when a group program comes in. So you can have that group program going on. And then if someone needs additional help beyond what you do in the program, they can apply to work one on one with you. How cool is that, then you have a lot more freedom and flexibility in your one on one schedule as well, without it affecting your income at all. All right, now let’s move on to the clear signs that you are ready for a group program, I have eight of them.

Number one, you need or want more time. I think this is probably pretty obvious, but we’ll go through it anyway. Helping 20 people, each at their own time, is gonna take a lot more time than helping 20 people at one time. And if we’re really thinking about how the group program works, what’s actually happening is you’ve recorded the vast majority of the lessons and the content and the coaching and the teaching and everything they need ahead of time. So they are getting a ton of resources and teaching and lessons and coaching from you while you’re not doing anything and because you already did it. And so then helping those 20 people at one time, could actually look like having one group coaching call per month or every other week for six weeks or eight weeks. So you get a lot of time back when you add in a group coaching program. And so, like I said, if you need time, like maybe you have to be able to pick your kids up from school or be there for your family in some capacity.

Or maybe you do have another job or another commitment that you need to be available for or if you want more time if you value an open calendar and a flexible schedule so that you can kind of do what you want and need to do in each moment. If you need space To take care of yourself, you need some time to work on your own health or your own self care. I mean, that’s a real thing. And this was the case for me, because when I created my first group program, not only was I completely burnt out from my one on one clients schedule, but I was also going through treatment for mold illness, and I was feeling pretty terrible, I needed time for myself to like, literally take a nap, or go on a walk and get some fresh air or just like, heal, like I just needed some time to heal my body. And so that was a really helpful thing for me to add to my business at that time, so that I could have that space to heal myself. So if you need or want more time in your life, please my friend, add a group program, it will change everything for you when it comes to time. All right, next, number two, you need or want to make more money.

Again, this is pretty obvious, but let’s talk about it. Group programs are super easy to scale. And scale in the business world means that you can make more money, and in this case, help more people to which I know is so important to a lot of you, without it taking any more of your own time, or energy. So nothing really changes in your life in your schedule with what you’re doing in your business, even as your bank account grows. And even as the amount of people that you are reaching and helping and supporting grows, that is some cool stuff. So having 10 people in a group will be the same as having 20 people, or 30 people or 100 people. And I would say the biggest difference that it would take from you, as it grows, would be in the level of interaction that you have, if you have like a private Facebook group or slack group, you need to be in there a little more often answering questions. But then once you’re up until like 100 people going through your program at one time, and probably away sooner than that even you’re going to hire someone to help you in that community. So it still won’t take that much time from you. So really, I think that’s the biggest factor that would potentially change, when you start adding in more people to your group would be a little more time spent, you know, checking in on everyone, like I’d say, going from 10 minutes a day to 15 minutes a day to maybe 20 to maybe 30 minutes a day at the most.

That is what would change, everything else stays exactly the same. There is no more marketing that you need to do. There’s no more behind the scenes, there’s no like more paperwork or anything else that you need to do in order to scale. So if you want to make more money, it is highly possible it is going to happen, it’s kind of inevitable, because when you start your group program, so you start it, you get 10 people in that first time, well, then as you continue to talk about it, to create content around it, and to really hone in on this one thing that you do in your group program, then that audience builds. And you you know, you collect their emails, you have them listen to your podcast, or read your blog, or go to your YouTube follow you on social media. And then they’re ready for the next time you offer this program. And now you have more people to invite in. It just naturally happens as it progresses very much a snowball effect that goes on with your group program. All right, number three, and this one might surprise you guys. And by the way, my dog is snoring in the background. And so you’re just going to hear dog snoring for a little while she’ll get over it. She’s just having a dream. But anyway, just so you know, number three, you are not getting any, or very few one on one clients.

And this is specifically for those of you who are attempting to get clients you talk about it you do these free consultations to see if you’re a good fit for your clients. You’re offering all that stuff, but you’re not getting any or not very many. And believe it or not, then this is a sign that you might be better off with a group program because it could very well be a case where the people that you want to help like your niche your dream client They either don’t want to work one on one with someone, or they can’t afford to work one on one with someone, like, for example, if you’re kind of focusing on stay at home moms, there’s a pretty good chance that they don’t have their own disposable income, and maybe they are pressed for income. And so they may not feel like they can afford to work with you, one on one, but they still need that help, and they want that help.

So if you were to offer it in a group format, well, then that makes the price point lower for them, so they can work with you and get the help that they need. And this is one of the biggest benefits that I think people don’t realize. They’re just kind of in their bubble of thinking, like, is this the best thing for me, but also thinking about is this the best thing for your clients, and quite often it is because you can make it more affordable, you can make it more accessible to your clients. And they still get the same help the same transformation out of it. And they get to do it in a group of like minded people, which is so undervalued, like, I am going to talk about this later, too. But I cannot tell you how powerful it is, for your clients to do this work in a group of people that are also doing this work. It is so so beneficial for them, and so valuable. So there are things to consider beyond just like, is this the best thing for me? But also think about? Is this the best thing for your clients? And a lot of times the answer is yes.

So anyway, getting back to this, if you’re not getting any are very few, one on one and clients, it could honestly just be because a group program is a better offer for the people that you want to work with right now. So consider that. And then the next one, I think we’re on like number four or five, already lost track. Yeah, we’re on number four. If you have too many, one on one clients, I think this goes without saying, obviously, if you have too many one on one clients, please save your sanity, save your energy, save your time, and offer a group program to these people instead of putting them on a waitlist or turning them away or taking them and then really hating yourself for taking them on because you don’t have the time or energy. Save yourself, offer a group program. Next up number five, if working with one on one clients doesn’t excite you. If you don’t like or don’t want to do one on ones, there’s absolutely no rule anywhere in the universe of anything that says you have to if you are an introvert, if you’re an empath, if you are highly sensitive, and working with one person at a time is energetically draining or mentally exhausting, or you just don’t want to do it or don’t enjoy it, then don’t do it. It’s definitely not worth sacrificing your time, your energy, your joy, your happiness, your peace, whatever it is that it would be interrupting. It’s not worth it.

There are other options and our group program is the next place to still help those people and make an impact and do what you love to do without it impacting you in a negative way whatsoever. So if working with clients doesn’t excite you, then don’t, it’s that simple. And I will say I don’t know if anyone will relate to this. If you do, please message me and let me know. Because for me, this is so strange. But when I have things on my calendar, like I have to be at this place at this time, or I have to be doing this at this time. It disrupts my entire day. Like I don’t get anything done. If I have something at 10am. And then at 3pm My whole day is just shot like I can’t get anything done. Just I guess my brain doesn’t work that way or my energy doesn’t work that way. I don’t know what it is. But it really does hinder my ability to make progress and any other aspect of my life essentially, when I have things on my calendar, and for me that was a big reason why I wanted to switch to the group program and just have the one group call which at the time when I first started doing the fat burning female project was like once a month I did or a group call and that was it. That was really, really nice. So again, if any of this just is appealing to you, well then You’re ready for our group program. That’s really all it takes. But we’ll move on to the next one, which is if you have a framework or a system, or steps that you want to take every client through, this is important. I like to think of this as a foundational program.

And I can pretty much guarantee that every person listening to this who has gotten certified in their specialty, has a foundational program within them. And it’s probably pretty close to what you learned, when you were studying. It’s like, you know, there’s certain foundational steps that every client you work with will need to go through. For example, if you’re, say, doing like hormone balancing for women, well, everyone’s gonna need to do some work on their stress and their sleep, and their blood sugar, they’ll probably need a liver detox. So there’s these things that you can do with them as a group to get them started to kind of get them foundationally. Ready. And then if they need more after that, then they can apply to work with you one on one, or maybe you have a more advanced program after that. But there is that foundational program that you want to take everyone through. And if you are, or have worked with people one on one, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Because you get to a point where you’re doing the same things. And you’re saying the same things with every client, because there’s that foundational stuff that everyone needs. So you start there, and what better way to make it so that you don’t have to say the same things over and over again. But you can really get people the help they need in a much faster approach than with a group program that is that foundational piece, super, super helpful and really important, a really good way to get that work done with people.

Number seven, if you want to create a community, so you are ready for a group program, if you want to have a community, I mentioned this before, we’re going to talk about it again, your groups are going to become a community of like minded people, and they will all become friends, they will all become each other’s support system, it goes way beyond your program, especially if you have that private community aspect, like in a Facebook group, or a Slack channel, or whatever it is. It is so powerful, it is so fun and cool to see as the creator bringing these people together that can all become friends and support each other like it is so cool. So honestly, if you need a reason to create a group program, this will do it. This is all you really need. Just this powerful community of people that you will gather together that are like minded, they’re going through something similar.

That alone is the reason to create a group program in my mind. And then last sign that you are ready for a group program is if you want the aspect of creating content, and attracting people to your work to be easier, we talked about this before too. But let’s go over it. Again. Having a group program helps you build an audience, it helps you create content. And it is the thing that will build up your business 100% of the time. Because you now have this thing you have something super specific to talk about that is unique to you and your work, you’ve created something that will help your dream clients specifically. And when you have this as kind of like your anchor, or your guiding force, you’ll be able to create content around that that specifically relates to that program to what you do in that program, and who you help and how you help them specifically. And it just becomes way, way easier to create that content, whatever it is, be it on social media or on a podcast or on your website, whatever it is. And then the right people will be attracted to that content. And if they’re attracted to that content, that means that they are the right fit for your program. And as I He said, It’s a snowball effect. It keeps growing and growing and growing, as you stay true to your program to who you help specifically with that program to what you do specifically in that program, and you keep focusing in on that with your content, then it all just grows and builds naturally. And it all is so, so, so much easier.

So if you’re struggling with any of that in your business, well, then it’s time to look and think about why that is, what do you have as your anchor, and if you need something, then a group program could be the thing that will do that for you. So that does it for my list today. As you can see, I think the real message here is that pretty much everyone in a service-based type business that wants to help more people, without it taking more of your time and energy than a group program is really something for you to consider. As you can see, as you already know, I’m super passionate about it, it changed my life. So, so much. And I’ve seen it change so many other’s lives now to in so many ways, like the amount of people that you can help and attract and work with and change their lives. That is super cool. And of course the amount of money that you can make without it taking any more of your own time, the amount of time that you actually get back the amount of freedom and flexibility that you can have in your business. All because of this one change that is beneficial not just for you, but also for the people that you want to help they want this to they do. It is so valuable for them and you’ll be able to help more of them because it becomes more accessible to everyone. I will leave it at that before I get any further on my soapbox, I will get off and I will just give you one last quick reminder about the free masterclass burnout proof your business with your own group program that is going on now head over to shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof. I will link this up in the show notes and just spend an hour with me learning more about how to actually make this business model a reality in your business. You will get steps that you can take and apply into your business today to get started on your own group program. Alright, I will see you there and until next time, take care

Things To Remember When You’re Not Making The Money You Want To Make — Ep. 142

Unstuck Podcast

Are you not making the money you want to make in your business yet? Have you had failed launches, a lack of interest from your audience in your paid offers, or a hard time finding clients that are willing to pay you? You’re not alone, my friend. It’s a common place to be in as a new business owner or even someone with more business experience that’s branching out, shifting, or pivoting. Today, I have some important reminders for you when the money just isn’t coming in. so stay tuned.

“You are in charge of the amount of money that you make. You are the one that decides how much money you are calling in.” – Shawn Mynar

“If you really truly tapped in and connected and figured out what your inspired, aligned, action steps should be, there’s probably something that your ego voice is getting in the way of you doing.” – Shawn Mynar

“Are you showing up when it comes time to make money from a place of abundance or scarcity? From a place of knowing and expecting? Or from a place of worry and fear?” – Shawn Mynar

“It is really understanding what is keeping you from making the money you want to make because you are the one that determines that by way of your energy.” – Shawn Mynar

FREE Masterclass “How To Burnout-Proof Your Business With A Group Program” – shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT (transcript is auto-generated so expect errors in spelling, grammar, and word choice)

Are you not quite making the money that you want to or thought you’d make in your business? Have you had failed launches, a lack of interest from your audience in your paid offers, or a hard time finding clients that are even willing to pay you. You’re not alone, my friend. It’s a common place to be in as a new business owner, or even someone with more business experience that’s branching out shifting or pivoting what they’re offering. Today, I have some important reminders for you when the money just doesn’t seem to be coming in. So stay tuned. Hey, hey there, friends.

Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur. So so glad you are here. Thanks so much for tuning in. And for everything you do to support the show, the downloads, the shares, the comments, the reviews, everything means so so much to me and so, so much to this show. Today, we’ve got the big topic of money on tap to discuss. But first, I have a really big announcement, something I have been on the edge of my seat waiting to share with you. But I had some delays, things kept taking a little longer than expected, and so had to delay it a few weeks, but it is here it is ready for you.

My next free training is available for you. Right now. It is all about how to burnout proof your business with a group program. It is a pre-recorded one-hour masterclass. I asked all of you if you wanted me to go live, if you wanted me to pre-record it, if you wanted me to break it up into 20-minute chunks. And the vast majority of you just wanted me to pre-record it, do it all at once. But give you the option of when you can watch it based on your schedule, which makes a lot of sense instead of my schedule, which of course is probably not going to line up with yours. So instead, I just pre-recorded the whole thing. And you can now go in you have the option to select a time that will work for you sometime that you know you have an hour available. Or you can watch it on demand. Like you’re not doing much of anything, hey, I’ll just take out an hour and hang out with Shawn real quick. That is an option for you.

And this masterclass is extra super special because I’m teaching something I’ve never taught before. I am sharing with you my process of how you build a group program, while simultaneously building an audience that is a perfect fit for that program. So that when you are ready when the program is all built out and ready to go, you naturally have this organically built audience that is ready to buy from you, they want that program. And the best part is all of this is happening kind of behind the scenes automatically. So you’re not trying to you know spend all your time doing all of the things. This is happening behind the scenes as an automated process. And I’m sharing all of that with you. Inside this free training. I’m also going to be introducing a brand new program that I have just spent the past few months creating for you. I am super duper excited about this program, I can’t wait to put it out in the world and share it with you. And I will be showing you more and telling you more about that new program in this masterclass as well.

And because of that, I just want to be totally transparent with you. Because why not? This specific training is only going to be available for a limited time. Because in this training, I have an introductory offer because of this new program. That is like an insanely huge massive discount that I’m just simply not going to keep offering this is like a one-time thing, because it’s a new thing. And so I’m keeping it at about two weeks that it will be open and have that introductory offer. And then once those two weeks are up, I’ll be re-recording the lessons and the training because I think it’s a really good one. But I will have a different price point in there. So all of this to say if you want to not only get in on all of these free tips and tricks and advice that I’ll be sharing in this training, but then also get some potential massive savings. If you determine that this new offer is a good fit for you. Then you’re going to want to try to schedule out an hour to be there for that training. You In the next few weeks, and this is as of we’re talking, beginning of April 2022. And this will probably go through mid like I’d say the first two to three weeks of April 2022. So schedule out some time, head to shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof when you are ready when you know you have an hour on your calendar, and you can schedule it out and get cozy, put on your comfy sweats, grab your snacks, get some water, some wine, whatever you can do to make this experience a fun one because it will be we get to hang out for an entire hour.

And this masterclass, just so you know is specifically for that business owner or future business owner who really wants to help more people and increase their bank account that wouldn’t hurt you either have more free time. And you also are protective of your own time, your own energy, your health and your self care needs. That is who this is really for. Because we are going to learn how to burn out proof our business aka get our time, energy and our own self care and while also increasing our business goals and dreams and plans. That’s what happens in this masterclass again, Shawn minor.com/burnout Proof head there, save your spot. And when you do put it in your calendar as me time, don’t put it in as Oh, Shawn’s masterclass, put it in as me time. So that you can really truly take this out as your time for yourself to learn and grow and expand and step into the next level version of you.

All right, let’s move on to this chat about money that we’ve got here today, I want to gear this conversation specifically to the business owner who’s not quite making the money that they want to make in their business right now. And I know that a lot of you. And if you haven’t made any money in your business at all right now, then you will really want to listen to this episode, as well. And remember it as you do start putting your paid offers out there. And if you are someone who has a business and you’re making all the money right now, then first of all, you’re probably not listening to this. But if you are, then you’re going to be nodding your head in agreement with me throughout this entire episode. Because you know, what I’m about to share is true. You’ve been through it, you’ve you know how it goes. And so you can agree with all this advice I’m about to give, we’re going to kick it off with a quote from one of my favorite money mindset books out there, it’s called a happy pocket full of money by David Cameron Shikhandi, I highly recommend this book, I love it. I’ve read it two times already, I’ll probably read it a third here in the next few months. I love rereading books, especially ones like this, because you just cannot pick it all up in one read you there are different things that land differently for whatever season of life you’re in. And it is one of those books, the quote, I could have picked so many, I could have just read this whole book to you.

But instead one quote, to build external wealth, build internal value, and then exercise it. It’s that simple. To build external wealth, build internal value, and then exercise it. It’s that simple. And we’ll kind of come back to this idea towards the end of the episode today. Because they’re really that’s really it. That’s, that’s it really, truly is that simple. But I want to start because I have three things I kind of want to share with you today. And I want to start with some of the more practical, tangible reminders that I have for you that are really important. And I think a lot of people forget when they’re in the thick of things, and they’re trying to make things happen in their business and they just aren’t like the amount of sales aren’t what they thought they would be. They’re not getting the traction, they thought they would they’re not getting the client they thought they would. And it’s just it’s such an important conversation to have because I feel like there’s so much emotion connected to the money we make specifically in business. It’s like we are using that as our barometer of if we’re successful or not if we have a good idea or not if our business is valid or not, if we’re worthy or not, if we’re good enough or not. If we’re enough of an expert yet Hello, this is Ty ate into that one number and understandably so, that is something that we have been conditioned to feel and think and do in our business and specifically around money. So it is understandable that we would do that.

But then with all of this heightened emotion, for those that aren’t making the money they want to make, it then turns into like this spiral of disappointment and frustration, and confusion and just feeling like super defeated, feeling like it’s never going to happen. Maybe it’s just not meant to be, maybe I’ll just go back to my job, or I definitely now can’t quit my job. And especially when you feel like you’re doing everything, right, and you feel like it should be different, and it’s not. It’s super defeating. And it’s really disappointing. And those are real emotions that probably like the vast, vast, vast majority of business owners go through. And we all kind of go through it at some point, because of the things that I’m about to share. Because of these, just almost like I don’t want to say facts, because I’m sure there’s people out there that don’t have this stuff going on that literally start their business.

And the next day, they’re making millions, I mean, all these new Tiktok stars coming out, apparently make all this money. But I guess they’re more just like commonalities. They’re just things that are the more common trend and option. And so that’s what I really want to talk about today. So I have three things for you to remember, if you’re not making the money that you want to make. And I’ll be saving the best for last, of course, the first one is that it takes time, going back to an episode from a few weeks ago with the characteristics or the things that people know, as a successful entrepreneur. And that is that it requires patience. It just takes time. And so if it’s your first few times selling something, which for you, most of you out there is going to be kind of like selling yourself selling your services, your programs, your courses, your memberships, your ebooks, those kinds of things, you’re most likely not going to hit big revenue numbers right away. Now, yes.

Are there exceptions to this? Absolutely. But for most of you out there, for most of us as a service based business, it takes time for your audience, the people who already do know you and are familiar with what you do, maybe you have spent some time just building your audience. Those people still need time to understand what you’re selling. What are you offering to them? What is this service that you provide? What will I get out of it is it for me, those things need to be answered before someone feels ready to buy. And so it might not happen. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth time, it is not up to you to determine how quickly someone trusts you enough to take the next step and pay for your services. That is completely out of your control. But you can do the work to make it so that they have something to build that trust on. And that is your job to show up and help build that connection and establish that trust so that they can take the next step. But that takes time. And it takes time for you to know what your audience responds to as well.

The offer that you have out right now, let’s just say for instance, you have something that you’re offering, maybe it’s a one on one client package or a membership or a program or a course you’ve just created that may not actually be what your people want or need. There is a lot of times where service based business owners create a paid offer that they think would be good that they know their clients need, but it’s not what their clients want. It’s not what their clients find valuable enough to pay for. And it takes time to figure that out. It’s almost like you have to put out a bad offer like in by bad I just mean one that nobody wants in order to have that learning process of what they do want. And that takes time. It takes Time to know what your audience responds to what they really truly want, and then build a an offer for that. And like I said, you may have to go through one or two or three, not so great ones first. And it also takes time to grow your audience full of the right people. A lot of times, and by audience, I think you know, this, but let me remind you, I mean, anywhere that you have a business presence, where there are people listening to you learning from you getting your content, so this could be a podcast, it could be a YouTube channel, it could be social media, it could be a blog, it could be on Pinterest, there are a lot of ways, a lot of platforms that you can use to have an audience.

And you know, there’s going to be a combination of that, too, if you have more than one platform. So that’s what I mean when I say audience, and it takes time to grow that audience full of the right people, because you may just be kind of drawing people in from a more general place, as you have been maybe working to share content and build up this platform. And when you start having a more specific offer, then not everyone is going to be the right fit for you for your offer, because you haven’t built an audience specifically around that. And what’s cool about that is when you have a specific paid offer, like a group program, where you have, you know, this one topic you’re kind of really focusing on, it’s very specific than as you put out content related to that specific program, that specific topic, then your audience grows in accordance to that specificity, which then means that your audience is kind of organically morphing into an audience full of the right people for your paid offer. So the eyes that are on your content are actually the right eyes. And then the people who have been maybe following you just because they’re like lifelong friends, or they were interested in something you posted a year ago, but now things have changed, those people won’t be interested. And that’s fine, too. But it takes time to do all of that to kind of curate your audience into being the right one for the work that you do. And it’s all part of this beautiful, amazing process, exactly what you are doing here, why you have chosen the business model that you have chosen, there is a process to it, and you are in the process right now.

And I know you can probably see that what I’m talking about right now is also what we’re going to be talking about in the free masterclass, it’s available for you right now. It’s also what happens in the new offer I have for you, which is a bundle between signature program lab, and my new program launch list accelerator, these two combined, are really what I’m talking about here in trying to curate the audience that is the best fit for your program or for your paid offer, while having that paid offer available doing both simultaneously. So if you feel like you’re in this place right now, where part of the reason why you’re not making the money that you want to make is because you don’t have the right audience, you don’t have a big enough audience. You haven’t curated your audience specifically to what you do. And or you don’t have that specific offer to offer them, well, then you’re really not gonna make any money because you don’t have a paid offer out there. So if either of those and or both of those sounds like you, then be sure to catch that, that free training. But remember, friends, please, please remember, it takes time you are in a phase of learning. And everything you’re learning right now is just prepping you to absolutely crush it soon. Number two things to remember, if you’re not making the money you want to make is that it’s going to fluctuate, just like everything else in business, and life and every single thing because we’re all just energy fluctuating all the time. It’s not always going to be this straight line upward.

It’s not always going to be on this upward trend, this upward trajectory. And it’s not like just because you made a certain amount of money one month that you’re going to automatically make More than next month, and from here on out, or just because you had a launch of a program, and it made a certain amount that then the next launch is going to make more, it’s going to fluctuate. And when it does, that does not mean that you’re doomed, that doesn’t mean that things are going south, that doesn’t mean that it won’t skyrocket the next launch or the next month. Just remember that you are in a business, you have decided to take a path where your income fluctuates. And if you are coming off of yours of having a paycheck, that was the same every two weeks or every month, that may feel weird. I have been there, I understand that. But it is part of the process. And the cool thing, the best thing about that, and we’re going to talk about that next in just a second is that, yes, it could easily go down one month, or two months or three months or six months. But it could just as easily increase one month, two month, three months, six months. And that’s what’s really cool, you’re not stuck in one pattern.

But you can expect it to fluctuate, and that is totally fine and to be expected. And so next time or if you ever are in that place where maybe you had a decent month or a decent launch, and then the next month or the next launch isn’t as good, or you you know, had these goals set a lot higher, and you didn’t hit them. It’s okay. It’s just a fluctuation. And you don’t have to make it mean anything more than that. Although it would be a great time to get a little analytical with it. And see if you can figure out why. What did you do differently? Did you change anything that maybe ended up not going as well? Did you show up in the same way. And this is where we’re going to talk about the next one, the most important thing to remember, please, please remember this, you are in charge here, you are in charge of the amount of money that you make, you are the one that decides how much money you are calling in. First, we’ll go a little woowoo with it first by way of your energy. And this is something you really constantly need to be checking in with yourself around. And especially during a launch or especially when you’re really promoting your offers or your one on one sessions or whatever it is.

Are you showing up as the person that makes the kind of money that you want to make? Not from like, an external perspective? Not like, are you wearing fancy clothes and jewelry and makeup? Or whatever? I think most of you know I’m not into any of that. And that has nothing to do with how I show up from an energetic perspective, from a place of abundance. So how are you showing up? energetically? Are you showing up energetically as the person that makes the kind of money you want to make? Be honest with your self? Here really, truly? Are you? Are you doing everything that you are capable of doing to get there? Are you truly honestly taking all of the inspired action that you could take? I can tell you from my own personal experience, I always do this, I always check in with myself during launches, and ask myself this question. And it’s pretty much always no, there’s always more that I could be doing. There’s probably always more that you could be doing. If you really truly tapped in and connected and figured out what your inspired aligned action steps should be.

There’s probably something that your ego voice is getting in the way of you doing like, you know, from your heart that you could be showing up in this way. And yet your ego chatter that’s kind of doesn’t want to show up and or do anything out of the box or do anything that could cause someone to judge you or any of that is saying we don’t have the time for that. You can’t do that. You’ve got to go do this. That that’s not that doesn’t matter your ego He’s coming up with the stories about why you’re not doing it, why you’re not showing up.

So really come back and connect to the inner you, and what you really want to do from an aligned perspective? And are you really showing up as the person that makes the kind of money you want to make and doing everything that you’re capable of doing to get there? Are you acting out of abundance, or scarcity? And this isn’t just about acting like external actions? This is about your emotions. Are you showing up to your launches? Or when it’s time to sell or, you know, your free consultations where you talk about your offer your one on one sessions, whatever it is, are you showing up when it comes time to make money from a place of abundance, or scarcity from a place of knowing, and expecting or from a place of worry? And fear? That is a big difference, knowing and expecting the money to be there? Or being worried and fearful that it won’t? Are you in receiving mode? Are you able to graciously and competently receive the money that someone wants to pay you? And are you in asking mode? Are you able to competently graciously ask for money all of these lead into or really provide the energy that you are putting out when it comes to making money in your business. And so many times I see people launch their paid offers from this place of fear, worry, doubt, they lack confidence. And honestly, it’s like they’re almost kind of like shying away from their paid offer, they definitely do not seem confident about it. They definitely feel there’s there’s a block there, there’s something blocking it to where it doesn’t seem like this authentic energy that is being put out. And that is what will attract the paying client, first of all, and also the energy that is money.

So how can you really expect to make any money that way, if you’re like barely even talking about how you make money, you know, if you have this business, you have these offers, you have these services, but then you barely talk about them, that does not give out the energy, of confidence of receiving of asking of abundance. It’s just not. And so if we are energy if our thoughts, emotions, and actions are all energy, if money is energy, if everything is in a constant state of flow, and being drawn towards that, which is like itself. Fan, are you actually really truly embodying an energy that would attract the money that you want to make that would attract large sums of money. Are you showing up that way? In your business right now. And that is what we really have to get clear with ourselves on and honest and really do a deep dive and just see what’s blocking that. See what’s keeping you from showing up in that way. And you got to do the extra work there. It’s not just like, Okay, well, I’ll just, you know, talk about my paid offers more, or I’ll launch more. It’s not just that it’s not that at all, actually, it is really understanding what is keeping you from making the money you want to make because you are the one that determines that by way of your energy, but then let’s also now that we just got woo for the day.

Let’s also take a step out of that. And I want to talk about how you’re in charge here from a practical level to one of the things I love the most about having my own business is that I get to decide how much money I make. And as soon as I really like I it’s like I knew that from the beginning, but then I wasn’t acting that way at all. And I was obviously struggling financially for several years when I first started my business, and then when I really actually thought about that and really took that in and did something with that, then things changed. Because I mean, how cool is that, that is not something that a lot of people can say, if you’re someone who has a job with a salary, you’re making that salary, you know, and that’s that. So what a cool position to be in to decide how much money you’re going to make. So like really, in especially, you know, we’re talking service based businesses, specifically, in this case, but you know, you want to make more money, cool, then you can do another launch, you can create a new offer, you can get in front of new people maybe start a new platform, you can work on really building up your audience and putting your energy towards that and building relationships with them. You can run some paid ads, there are endless ways for you to make more money in your business, right? This very minute. How cool is that? It’s just a matter of you doing it, not thinking about it, and not planning it for months, not complaining about your lack of money, or what you have to do to make more money, not worrying about it, not overthinking it, just actually getting out there and doing it right now today. And I wouldn’t pay, let’s make this a challenge. If you haven’t talked about your paid offer in a while.

Let’s say you do take one on one sessions, and you haven’t talked about it a while, and you haven’t sent an email, specifically to the people on your email list. Even if that’s 10 people, I don’t care. But it’s 10 options. 10 ways for you to make more money today, send an email and let them know what you do in your one on one sessions, and have them book a free consultation. Or put out a post on social media, talk about it on your stories, go face to camera, on your stories and just share about what you do and your one on one sessions and offer that free consultation. Just put it out there, just do it, you can make money today. And if you don’t have a paid offer yet, or at least not one that you’re super proud of, then start working on that paid offer, create your program, create a workshop, a paid workshop, the sky is the limit, and you are in charge here. And so often we think about how bad it could go like what if no one buys, what if I don’t make any money this month or next month? Or this launch or next launch? But it could also be the opposite? It could be how much can I make? How much can I make today? How can I much can I make next month? How much can I make in the next launch and you have just as much opportunity for it to be a big fat goose egg as there is for it to reach your goals just as much possibility and opportunity there. Remember, you are the one that gets to decide how big your bank account is. And you do so by way of both your energy your energy first. And then with that energy, the actions that you take. So your energy first how you’re showing up, and the actions that come out of that energetic alignment with your abundance. So get into alignment with both and move from there.

Now my challenge for you because I think the biggest thing in this situation is like the massive, massive, massive money blocks that are keeping people and myself included. I still do money mindset work all the time, because I just have some generational blocks and trauma, I guess, around that, that I’m slowly uncovering layers of that onion, and releasing which has been a really phenomenal experience in my personal life. But I encourage you to start working on that too. And one of the best ways this is kind of a starter point to even get into or start recognizing I guess what energy you truly are in whether that is abundance or scarcity is to do this journal practice and I want you to do it for 30 days. I want you to write in your journal what life is like with you making a lot of money. I want you to give me all the specifics. It will probably change day by day like what would life look like that day if you were making all the money that you ever possibly wanted to make? I don’t care if it’s $50,000 A year $100,000 1,000,050 million. I don’t care what it is. That’s not important. But what is life? Like? What do you do with your time? How do you spend your time? Who are you with? Where are you? What are you wearing? What do you say? What do you spend your money on? And most importantly, how do you feel. So for 30 days do that, because what it shows is that first of all, especially day one, those first few days are going to feel potentially a little bit uncomfortable. And it may also kind of feel like you’re writing this like fairy tale story, like, Oh, this is ever even actually going to happen, I don’t believe this, this is just, I’m just kind of doing this. And then you know, you’re not actually showing up in an abundance mindset and the rest of your life, if that feels awkward, or it feels like it’s never going to happen, feels like you’re just writing out this fairy tale that isn’t going to be your real life, well, then, you know, you know where you’ve been. And then as you continue, then you can start really continuing to put your your energy into that, and start working to, when you’re writing it, you’re envisioning it, you’re creating this vision in your mind of yourself living that day, as someone who makes a lot of money and the energy start shifting, because your emotions get involved, you’re envisioning it, and then you’re embodying it. And even though you know, it’s something you’re writing down, you’re still getting into the energetic alignment with that version of you.

So that’s what I want you to do. This is kind of just a good starting point. But I also recommend if you really feel like you have money stuff that’s blocking you from showing up in the way you need to in your business to make the money you want to make. Definitely read the book that I read, talked about at the beginning, happy pocket full of money. It’s one of those books, like I mentioned, you’ll probably read like a few pages per day, and then you need to kind of sit with it. And that’s what I do at least and that really helps. It’s not one of those like quick reads by any means. And I also love the book, the illusion of money by Kyle sees, it’s a little more lighthearted. He’s like a comedian turned kind of like personal development. And so it’s a little lighter there. But both are talking about the energetic expression of money. And that is what we really need to get into here. If this is something that you’re struggling with, but I do want you to remember that patience, and that there’s fluctuations, it’s not going to be a steady rise upward, most likely, and that you are the one in charge here and that is a very, very cool place to be you get to decide how much money you call in how amazing is that? All right, my friends. Hopefully, I’ll see you over on the free masterclass going on right now on how to burn out proof your business with a group program. You can grab your spot at shawnmynar.com/burnoutproof. I’ll see you there and until next time, take care

Selling Out Your First Group Program with Anna Holtzman — Ep. 141

Unstuck Podcast

Do you have an idea or something you’ve been sitting on in your business, not putting it out there, because you feel blocked? Maybe you feel like you’re not ready, you’re missing a step, or maybe, it’s just out of fear. That was exactly the case for my guest today, Anna Holtzman. Anna is a member of my various programs and was a 1;1 client of mine as well. Just last week, Anna hit a big goal and milestone in her business…all because she moved past her fears, got unstuck, and put her work out into the world. Today, we’re going to break down what Anna did to make it all happen. Let’s dive in.

“You don’t have to do all the things… you can pick a few things and do them really well, continuously show up and it works.” – Shawn Mynar

“When you allow things to flow, that’s when the good ideas come.” – Shawn Mynar

“The knowledge is very important but the empathy and cheerleading just go a thousand million miles.” – Anna Holtzman

“Most business requires us to push ourselves. None of this is super comfortable at all… Once you realize while Im already out of my comfort zone, why not take it one step further.” – Shawn Mynar

Anna Holtzman’s Website

Anna Holtzman’s Instagram

FULL PODCAST TRANSCRIPT BELOW (transcript is auto-generated so expect errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling)

Shawn Mynar 0:00
Do you have an idea or something you’ve been sitting on in your business? Not putting it out there yet, because you feel kind of blocked. Like, maybe you feel you’re not ready, you’re missing a step. Or maybe it’s just out of fear. That was exactly the case for my guest today, Anna Holtzman. Anna is a member of my various programs and was a one-on-one client of mine as well. And just last week, Anna hit a big goal and milestone in her business, all because she moved past her fears, got unstuck, and put her work out into the world. Today, we’re going to break down what Anna did to make it all happen. Let’s dive in.

Hey, hey there, friends. Welcome back to unstuck entrepreneur. So, so happy to have you all here. For a very special episode. It’s not often that I bring guests on the show. Because there’s, there’s a lot that needs to happen, I need to feel a connection with that person, I need to know that person. I need to really think that it’s a good fit for the audience. There’s a lot that goes into it. And quite honestly, not that many people match that criteria. This person definitely does. This is a former client of mine, Anna Holtzman. She just did something incredible in her business that I really wanted to share with you all here, of course, to celebrate and really show what’s possible, but even more so to show the process of what Anna had to go through to get here.

And not just from the strategy perspective, but from the inner work to the fears that she had, and the blocks that were showing up that she had to move through in order to make it happen. And yes, she also has some amazing strategy going on behind the scenes, things that she’s doing to market herself, and her business. And now her course, before the doors ever even opened. And it all just works so seamlessly together. These are things we talk about here on the show a lot. We’ll continue to talk about here on the show a lot. But I think really being able to see it in action, and hear how someone was really able to take that knowledge, apply it, put it into place, and have it all actually work. It’s really powerful to be able to hear these other stories. And what I really want you to take away from what Anna is doing is how simplified it is. She’s not on all the platforms. She’s not doing all the things. She’s doing a few things really well. She has taken the time to set things up to be run automatically behind the scenes. And so there’s really not that much to continue to work through and to work on for Anna at this point. But she has made a really good system of what she does still do on a daily and weekly basis. And what is really working for her. And so I really want you to take that away from this episode. How simple it really can be. You can find Anna at Anna holtzman.com and on Instagram at Anna Holtzman. All right, without further ado, let’s hear from Anna

Shawn Mynar 0:04
Anna, thank you so much for coming on the unstuck entrepreneur podcast today.

Anna Holtzman 0:09
Thank you so much for having me, Sean, I’m super psyched to be here with you.

Shawn Mynar 0:13
This is a very, very special interview for both of us for so many reasons. But I guess we’ll just get it out of the way right now to let people know that you are a client of mine, we did some one on one coaching together, we had a great time. And some really great things came out of all of that. And just your whole journey of where you were from where you are now. And just everything that has happened in between is so cool. And it’s such a mix for such a good picture of what really actually needs to happen to create this business that you want. And it doesn’t have to be hard or overcomplicated. Let’s put it that way. And you created a really awesome simplified system that I want to talk about today. But first, let’s introduce you to everyone listening. Tell us a little bit more about who you are and what you do. Yes,

Anna Holtzman 1:07
my name is Anna Holtzman. I am a chronic pain recovery therapist and coach. I’m based in New York City. But I work with people all over through the beautiful internet. And I live here with my partner and our three or orange cats who are a big part of our lives.

Shawn Mynar 1:24
Okay, love it. That’s amazing. So paint the picture of where you were at in your business as much as you remember back when we first met.

Anna Holtzman 1:33
Yes. And it’s funny that you said as much as you remember, because like a lot of it feels like a blur. So much happened so much more quickly than I ever expected it to. So when I first reached out to you and took your program, I was in the progress of getting my hours toward licensure as a licensed mental health counselor, I’m actually going to be completing my hours this coming Monday. So yeah, thank you. And I’m and I had been working in the niche of chronic pain recovery as a therapist with one on one clients. But it’s already working on my plan, that as I was getting ready to complete my license, where I want to go next with it is to really go into the coaching field, because that’s a way I get to work with everyone everywhere and not be limited by geographic region. There’s such a huge need for chronic pain, recovery, help. And yeah, it’s just nice to be able to have Geographic Creative in that way. And I really, really wanted to have an online course. And I was already like, I’ve been working on it for a long, long time. But I was also kind of stuck at a particular point. And so I wanted to get unstuck and reaching out to you. And one of those pieces. I mean, it was really about like putting myself out there getting myself on camera to record videos for this course. For one thing. Also, I already started putting myself out there on social media through Instagram, but like getting my voice out there getting myself on video a little bit here and there. Like those are really intimidating things for me. And I had some ideas about how to start building an email list. Like I knew about lead magnets and I kind of had one it wasn’t that flashy, but I hadn’t actually put the pieces together and was just Yeah, I needed some guidance and also some cheerleading.

Shawn Mynar 3:52
Yes, absolutely. It’s always a combination of both when you are a coach for sure. So now let’s just spill the beans. Get it out of the way. Now tell everyone what has just happened in your business.

Anna Holtzman 4:05
Yeah, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to get this out smoothly because I’m still so so excited about it and

Shawn Mynar 4:12
should definitely be super Yeah, super proud. All the all the emotions will feel them with you along the way.

Anna Holtzman 4:19
Like riding those waves of adrenaline. So gosh, was it? I think it was just last week?

Shawn Mynar 4:26
I think it was Yeah,

Anna Holtzman 4:27
I think it was last week. It feels like a blur. So last Tuesday, I launched my it was my very very first in my life launch of my very first online course which is called Writing to release chronic pain. And I had planned with your like coaching during one of our coaching sessions I had planned I believe it was it was either a seven day or I think it was actually a 14 day email campaign. I A sales campaign it was going to be seven emails in two weeks that I would send out to my list to promote this course. And I was fully expecting that it would take that entire time, I was really, really hoping to sell 12 spots, because it’s a course that involves both self paced workshop, video workshop sessions, but also some live group coaching sessions. And I felt 12 was a number that I could handle for the first go round. And I was really, really hoping to fill it up. So here’s like the big drumroll. I can barely contain myself. So I I teased, like the pre launch for really like a couple days before, you know, I don’t know, a few days. And then I launched it on Tuesday morning, went into like a couple of clients sessions. And within four hours, it had actually oversold, and I had to shut the cart down. But like I couldn’t get it shut down fast enough to stick to my 12 person limit. So it’s 15 people in this first go round. The good to have. Yeah,

Shawn Mynar 6:08
yeah, I mean, that is just absolutely. Just incredible for hours. And you’re planning on it being two weeks and hoping you could get there. And all those emails that I don’t think you had written, right? I hadn’t written

Anna Holtzman 6:23
them yet. And I was feeling really bad about it. So I was like, oh, man, like, I really like to get things done ahead of time. I hate doing last minute on anything. But I didn’t need them. It turned out.

Shawn Mynar 6:34
Yeah, it was like the universe telling you, Hey, don’t worry about it actually need to do, it’s gonna sell out in four hours. That yeah, that is just amazing. And it is very much a testament to what you did leading up to the launch of this course and everything that you do on a very consistent basis. And that’s what I really want to dive into today. Because like I was saying, before we started recording, for my case, and for your case, and I know you are super special and amazing and absolutely awesome. But there’s nothing ultimately that special about us to make this happen that it couldn’t happen to anyone else. Right, like,

Anna Holtzman 7:16
yeah, I totally agree. Because like, I wasn’t making this happen, you know, four months before that, when I wasn’t like doing all the things that brought this all together?

Shawn Mynar 7:26
Absolutely, yeah. So really, what I noticed in you is you really started being intentional with what you were sharing, when you were sharing, you started being consistent, especially with your emails, and you already were consistent somewhat on social media, but that really took everything up a notch. So we’re gonna get into that, and I want to talk about it all. But first, I want you to share a little bit about those fears that you had, because every session that we had, we had to start the session by talking about the blocks that you were having, because there was always something that is the case for everybody. You’re doing new things, you’re doing things you never have before you’re doing things you don’t necessarily want to do or feel comfortable doing. And it brings up all these emotions, right. So can you talk a little bit about what you had to get through like those sticking points that you had?

Anna Holtzman 8:16
Oh my gosh, yes. And even just like talking about it, like I can feel it in my body right now. And it’s like there’s even like some of the same fears are present right now. Because we’re on a podcast together. And it’s being recorded. And like that was the big thing for me. And it’s not like, I mean, I think it’s important actually, it’s not like those fears have totally disappeared. And now I’m like, I have no problem being recorded. Like no, not at all. I still get nervous, I get a little tingly. Like I get a little bit of brain fog. But when I started getting coaching with you, I like it was I wasn’t even getting to that stage. I wasn’t getting to the now I’m being recorded and I feel nervous stage. It was just like full on freeze up just mental block. And I knew, like I was like, I need to get coaching because I was like I’ve been journaling about this plan for probably over a year. And yet, it’s like I haven’t put it into motion. So something is going on here. And when Yeah, just like thinking about recording myself on a video for the course. It just completely just made me want to pass out. And I remember like one of the things that was so so helpful for me to hear from you. And it’s just like in hindsight, it’s just the freaking simplest thing in the world. You were like well, you don’t have to be on video if you don’t want to you could do it all audio and I was like, right, like but but the perfectionist part of me says that you have to not only be on video but like have it be a beautiful video and professionally shot and all this And, you know, and then that was like helping me blocked myself because I’m like, Well, I don’t know if I want to put money into professional video. I mean, you can hear me like doing the things. Oh, yeah,

Shawn Mynar 10:09
making all the excuses. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So then once I said, Well, you don’t even have to do that if you don’t want to, if that’s what’s keeping you stuck, then just don’t do it. Just, yeah, put yourself on video, record the audio, make some slides, and just get the thing out there. And I know that it was like a big relief for you and really released something, but yet, you still showed up on video. So I did happen?

Anna Holtzman 10:33
Yeah, yeah, it’s funny. Well, I still I was, like, you know, I think I can push myself, I mean, recording myself at all was already pushing me way out of my comfort zone. And I’m like, if I’m gonna be feeling really uncomfortable, and I did, like, I may as well capsure capture some video while I’m at it. But I use one of your other tips, because you kind of like helped me with a menu of different options. So I was like, alright, having just like full on video, like, that’s good, just make me want to puke. But you told me about this option of using loom where it’s this app or whatever it is, where you can record your screen. So you’re recording, like your slideshow. And then there’s just a tiny little circle of video of you in the corner. So you know, it’s like, Alright, no one’s gonna scrutinize my every little eyeblink with my image, just this tiny little circle in the corner. So you think I can handle that for the intro portion. At least that’ll give, you know, students or participants some sense of my presence, and I think there’s value to that. But then it’ll just be for the intro. And then for like, the actual workshop modules, then I’ll just go to audio so that I don’t have to tax my nervous system that much by being on video for that long.

Shawn Mynar 11:58
Yeah, and that’s such a good combination of the two. Because in reality, once people are in that place, where they are fully learning, they are taking action, they are doing the things within your course, no one cares if they’re your face is there or not, you know, but like to have that intro, it’s like, okay, there’s a real person here, that voice that I’m going to hear through the rest of this is that face, you know, putting a face to a to a name a face to a voice kind of situation. That’s really all people need to feel that connection and to understand that and then also just, you are you recognize you’re already pushing yourself. So what’s one more notch. And most of business requires us to push ourselves. Like none of this is like super comfortable, really, at all, especially when you’re first getting started and you’re trying new things. And so once you realize, well, I’m already out of my comfort zone, like here. And now why not take one more step and do even more because now you were able to, I’m assuming and we can talk more about this. You kind of were able to squash that fear a little bit. So you’ve been on video, since I’ve seen you on Instagram lives I’ve played you’re doing other things. So you were able to kind of like, calm that fear a little bit and open yourself up to more opportunities because of it.

Anna Holtzman 13:23
Yeah. And you know, it’s interesting, because the instant Yeah, I have been doing a weekly Instagram live with this awesome person who I met through Instagram, you know, we found each other that way. And it’s like a similar thing to, you know, when you, you know, quote, unquote, gave me permission to do this in a way that, you know, was a little bit less scary to me. It was like, the relationship. You know, my trust in you was a huge part of what helped me feel safe enough to do it. You know, I was like, I trust Sean. I like Shawn, and she said, It’s okay, so like, that gives me some feeling of safety here. And it’s similar with this Instagram Live I’ve been doing I’m like, I’m doing it with someone that I like and that I trust and feel safe with. So that brings in a little bit more safety to an experience that otherwise was feeling like wildly unsafe to my lizard brain.

Shawn Mynar 14:16
Yes, absolutely. Anytime you have another person you trust in that situation with you, kind of holding you in that space with you. It helps so much, especially on things like Instagram lives. It’s so fun to do it with somebody you can’t even forget that you’re on video in front of people live, you know that are watching. So that is a really good point. So before we move on anything else, like thinking back to where you were before we started working together, anything else that you could see now was a block for you that you’ve been able to kind of move past because I know you were in that place where you had this idea for a course you had actually a lot of ideas. You had a lot of stuff that you wanted to do. But getting to that point where you were putting it out there and taking action was something you weren’t doing as well. So was there anything else there? Yeah,

Anna Holtzman 15:11
I mean, it was all just like, there were so many different flavors of fear, I could probably go on for hours and hours about how many different forms my fear took, like, because another form that it took was, oh, I don’t know if the course material is good enough, which was like, pretty ridiculous, not because like, I’m so great. And therefore, of course, it’s going to be great. But because the course the online course, was actually based on material aid already developed and run through in a live workshop, three times that had gone really, really well. So I knew the material was good. But you know, still those fear voices managed to twist it up and say, Well, sure it worked in the live workshop, but maybe it’s no good as an online course.

Shawn Mynar 15:59
Yeah, that kind of like impostor syndrome, kind of fear creeping in. And again, something super normal that probably most people go through, especially when they’re putting out new material, or, you know, something in a different capacity, like you were doing, and are still doing one on one sessions, but had never done, or you did it live, but not in this recorded format. So it was still something really new to you, and how was that all gonna go. So you’re stepping outside your comfort zone again. And that always comes with some fear. But I’m so glad that you, you really are someone that takes action. And that was really cool to see. Because fear will always be there. It can be something that is very freezing, like it freezes you in your tracks. But it can also be something that in a way is motivating. You know, like if I can just take one little step. And then once you take that one little step, well, I already took this step. So maybe I’ll take one more step. And that is what I noticed happening with you. And it was really cool to witness. So super proud of you for that. So let’s get into some of the practical strategy type things that you have been doing to prepare for this launch and this course, and to really get to the point where it’s sold out in four hours, because I can 100% credit, everything that you have been doing up until now for gosh, probably I don’t know, you’ll have to tell me the exact timeline, but it was six months, maybe even.

Anna Holtzman 17:35
Yeah, it was I have like some dates are in down here. But yeah, it was about six months.

Shawn Mynar 17:40
Yeah. So six months out, you’re already preparing for this to happen. So let’s start from the beginning. What I remember noticing about you right away, was that you were very specific, you have a very specific niche. And you only talk about that niche. So you are very good at posting to social media. And every single post refers to chronic pain. And, you know, like the mind body connection for chronic pain, like very specific. And that is something that people have a really hard time doing, first of all getting that specific. And then you know, for fear of like, well, then what if someone needs my help? And they’re not experiencing chronic pain? Yeah, you know, they, they don’t know that. So then they don’t follow me. Because they don’t know that that’s what’s going on, or they’re not ready for me or what I do. There’s a lot of that that can come up of like, Am I too specific? From the beginning? It felt to me like you were very comfortable and confident in being within your specific territory and staying there.

Anna Holtzman 19:00
Yeah, and you know, and that’s because that’s not because like, that was just easy for me. That’s because that’s a piece of the journey that I already went through a few years prior. Because I certainly did experience that phase some years ago of like, oh, I don’t want to niche down because I don’t want to exclude anybody, like what if they’re someone amazing I want to work with and like they have something completely different going on. I definitely spent a while in that place. And it was a, you know, a whole struggle to for me to commit to a niche. But when I did what I learned was like, that’s when my one on one client roster just like filled up and I had no problem getting clients. So I was like, Oh, that’s nice. And what I also discovered was that I still get a very, very diverse array of clients with a diverse array of things going on that you know, and then chronic pain happens to be like one of them.

Shawn Mynar 19:59
Yeah, absolutely. Literally, and what it does for people that don’t know you for that might be scrolling on social media, or doing some Googling, or whatever is that it really puts you in a spotlight of like, oh, this person gets me you have a story yourself about chronic pain and what you did to move through that, that is very enticing to the person that is also there right now or has been there, and you openly share about that, which is amazing. But it’s just, when you see someone that is so focused on one topic, it makes it very easy to grow. Yes. And you experienced that, especially in social media, I think, right?

Anna Holtzman 20:46
Definitely. And it’s not only, you know, potential clients that have found me that way. Because like, no one’s on there searching for a jack of all trades they’re searching for, like someone who’s speaking to their pain point. So clients, you know, potential clients, or potential people who want to buy my course have found me that way. But I would say maybe even more, so a lot of other practitioners in similar or complementary fields have found me that way, and have wanted to collaborate with me, have me on their podcast, just, you know, get to know each other and then refer to each other. So that’s been a really productive thing

Shawn Mynar 21:25
to. Yeah, that is another great aspect that I don’t think a lot of people consider when they first think of social media that like, well, I just gotta get followers or people that want to buy this thing from me, eventually, I need to get clients. But what’s even more exciting, and can be way more powerful for your business, is to use that as a place to start collaborations with other people can get in front of their audiences, that’s when things really take off. And again, you can’t do that or you won’t get the right eyes and the right interest if you aren’t really specific, because then they won’t see you as an expert in that one thing that they want to talk about or connect with. And so you really set yourself up really well in that regard. And I noticed that right away. So kudos to you for that. But then you mentioned that you did have a freebie you were kind of doing an email list thing, but it wasn’t really going super well. And your freebie wasn’t all that great. What was the case with that? Yeah, so

Anna Holtzman 22:29
like, like I said, I knew about I had learned years ago about the whole Lead Magnet System. So I knew, like I should set one up. And but I, it, whatever, I just hadn’t put a lot of bandwidth into it yet. So the freebie that I had, it’s all wasn’t, it wasn’t that bad. It I still have it up. And people still do download it. Sometimes it’s a list of the six, the six mind body healing resources that have helped me most on my own journey of healing from chronic migraines. And so I had that linked in my bio on my Instagram. And I would mention it now and again, in a post or two. I wasn’t that excited to promote it because I didn’t think it was such a flashy lead magnet or freebie. But yeah, that’s what I had.

Shawn Mynar 23:18
Okay, and then we did some work to figure out what else we could do to make that a little bit more enticing and get these people that were super interested in your work from social media, like you have a very engaged following. You’re following was growing, you’re getting invited to be on other people’s shows and things like that. So how could we really capitalize on that? Because it’s not enough to just have people following you on social media? It’s great. Sure, but it’s not enough. So what did you come up with? And how is it going?

Anna Holtzman 23:51
Yes. So yeah, this is another funny part, because I already had this kind of built out when I met you. So I had, you know, binge Marketing podcast. So I had heard a lot about quizzes, and like, what a high converting freebie they are. And I love taking quizzes. So I had already begun building out a quiz. But I just like, was a little bit blocked on getting it to completion and getting it out there. And I remember us kind of game planning about it and talking about, like, what’s the title going to be because no one’s going to take this quiz if it doesn’t have a grabby title. And I was a little bit shy to say because I’m coming from a background of like working as a therapist, and you’re supposed to sound very professional. But I really wanted to go into the more info in formal coaching realm. And I was thinking I kind of want to call this quiz. Why the EFF am I still in pain? Because that’s what I was freaking asking myself when, you know, I was further you know, earlier in my journey, but I was like a little shy to say it and when I said it to you, you’re like Yeah, that’s what it’s gonna be. Yeah, I’ve since changed it to why the bleep am I still in pain because Instagrams not crazy about allusions to curse words?

Shawn Mynar 25:10
Understandable, which is still equally as effective. And really, you know, grabby like you said, and that’s what you need when it comes to a quiz. And especially one where it could be, you know, potentially dry or, you know, just not exactly what you want to hear or whatever. But to really understand what what are these people asking like, what what is going on in their head right now you caught it. And you’ve got it so perfectly, that it became irresistible, this quiz that you had on the backburner? Most of it was already completed, which was so cool. And all you had to do was think of a way to get people in Tyst to take it and and put it out there. And so you got to that point, put it out there. How did it go?

Anna Holtzman 25:59
Yeah, so I and then I was like, way more excited to promote my freebie once it was a fun quiz. Because yeah, I was like, This is really fun. And I can’t wait to for people to take it. And in I promoted it on Instagram, that was my main way. And like at that point, I’d been posting regularly every single day in a very niche way for a while. So a bunch of people seem to be really excited to jump on this quiz when I promoted it. So I got like a huge spike. When I initially posted it, I got I can tell you numbers because I was started out with 67 leads when I first met you. And the first month that I posted the quiz, I added 55 new leads. The second month, I added 61 new leads. So there was a big spike in the initial posting of it, because people had been warmed up already from my daily posts.

Shawn Mynar 26:57
Yeah, that is amazing. And they were warmed up. And it was like, so intriguing. They wanted to know the answer to that question. And they knew that you were someone that could have that information for them. And now they get to take a quiz to find out like, how could you not want to take it that is so exciting.

Anna Holtzman 27:18
Yea