Company Of One With Dale Callahan

Ever thought of starting and online coaching business? Maybe if you are like Lauren Gaggioli you will. But her path to online coaching went through some unusual and disappointing turns. Did your first career move work out? Did what you planned to do in college make you a living? In today’s podcast we talk to Lauren Gaggioli about her career path and how it has led to her developing an online coaching service for students preparing for the SAT and ACT. BONUS: If you or your kids need her services, she is offering a 10% discount through our company with the code ASK10. Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep [/featured-image] Click to ListenNOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show. Actress to Online Coaching BusinessLauren has an interesting path to find her career.Started as an NYU Trained actress.Back in California, her education became a liability as she tried to break into acting.Started doing something she knew to make money - tutoring.

Recently I was asked this question by a client, “Do I need a business license to sell online?” If you go to the bookstore and pickup a book on how to start a business, you will invariably find that they tell you to first get a business license. This is a mistake in most cases. Today I will tell you when you might and might not need a license and when you should start trying to find out how to get one. And no, it is not when you think! This podcast is based on material from Discovering the Entrepreneur in You. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/SFB579 :) [/featured-image] Click to ListenNOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show. Business Licenses for Online BusinessesI am not a lawyer, so this is not legal advice, but common sense advise after having helped many start their business ventures. Just to get right to the point, you almost never need a business license to sell online information products or homemade products made in the USA.E

How do I know if my business idea is winner or a loser? Whether developing a new product, service, or entire business, we all wonder if it is a hit or a miss. And we should! The question is often answered with long and detailed product and market analysis. Larger companies may take months or even years to get an answer. But we can do this much faster by addressing 5 simple issues. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Ramunas Geciauskas [/featured-image]In todays episode I will provide a few short questions that you can quickly determine if you have a winner or a loser.Click to ListenNOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Five Questions to Determine - Is My Business Idea Good?Competition - Are other people selling similar products?Questions - Are people asking questions that your products and services answer?Books - Are there books or other information sources that address the problem you are solving?Buyers - Are there enough buyers for

In todays podcast I will tell you why you need to build an email list. And, why you need to start now. If you have created your website, as I described in establishing authority episode 52, now it is time to take this next step. Do not make the mistake I did, and so many others also did. Start now. I will tell you how and why. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Bart Everson [/featured-image]Click to ListenGrow Your Email List Using Aweber***Note: Since writing this post, I have changed from Aweber to Ontraport for more horsepower. However, I still prefer Aweber as a starting point. Ontraport expensive and not suited for the startup. The idea is pretty simple, but I waited for a long time to get started. And most people and companies do a TERRIBLE  job of getting emails from their tribe.What is a tribe? Those are the people who are attracted to your message and want to get your updates via email. (YES - I SAID THEY WANT YOUR EMAILS.)Many of you have subscribed to this email because the message is somet

I spent much of last week at The Launch Conference in Orlando. The conference was mentally challenging, and Disney with the family was physically challenging. It was worth it. John C. Morgan working as George Bush at Launch [/featured-image]For those not familiar with Launch, it is a conference put on by Michael Hyatt and Ken Davis to help speakers maximize their business. But, the principles that apply to speakers also apply to anyone who is trying to create products and services. So, I go to learn, mostly so I can teach. In today’s podcast, I give you my top 10 take-aways from Launch.Click to Listen My Top 10 Takeaways from The Launch ConferenceLaunch was amazing. It challenged all of us to act faster and listen more. Here are ten things I learned.I am not the product. People often tell me that they hate to sell themselves. So, they should quit trying. This was a very freeing thought. People do not buy you, they buy what you can do. You have to get emotionally unattached from your products. Whether doing a

There are two times you find yourself getting started in business and struggling: 1) When you are struggling with what to do because you have too many ideas or, 2) you have started a business and have income, but feel like you cannot grow. There is a lot of advice on what to do in both of these situations. But, I have found that often the advice is overwhelming. So instead, I like to focus on the simple next action that can propel me (and you) forward. Getting Started - Overwhelm of Information | Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/CR Artist [/featured-image]Over the next few episodes I will address simple orderly steps you can do to start or grow. Simple things focused on the main problem you will have in business - getting the word out and getting known.Click to ListenNOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Getting Started in Business - Start with a Web PresenceEvery business needs a website. Some of you may have one, and you may eve

I have learned to talk less and instead ask powerful questions. When I was in the corporate world, I realized quickly that I could not compete with those who spoke in corporate lingo. You know, those who say a whole bunch and sound smart but really they are saying nothing. It always seemed to me that people listened to them. It totally frustrated me, because many times I knew they were full of hot air. Then, one day in a meeting, I popped a question out of frustration which led me to an epiphany. I could control the conversation with simple questions. I spoke little and got just what I wanted. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Derek Bridges [/featured-image]I often find myself teaching people to ask questions. And, I have been told those questions have opened up doors, pierced to the core of strategies, and increased peoples salaries. So in today’s podcast, I wanted to share with you some of these questions and hopefully find interesting ways you have used them.Click to ListenNOTE: If you are reading

Finding your why? We might also say finding our mission or finding our purpose. But I like “finding your why.” The WHY gets to the core of things. Why do you do what you do? What would you do if you were really driven by your why? Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Colin_K [/featured-image]Two of the most commons statements I hear from those I have coached are:I do not have any special skills or abilities. This issue is addressed through the How to Find Your Calling ebook (see the right side of the webpage).I do not have anything I really want to do. This issue is addressed in today's podcastThese two statements, more than anything else, point to the emptiness of the corporate lifestyle and personal wealth many of us are experiencing today. But, how do you get out of this rut?..Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Finding Your Why - The ProblemAfter some point, money does not motivate us.Most people are empty l

I bet dealing with ineffective team members is something you struggle with constantly. Whether you are on a team, leading a team, or leading a group of teams, one of your greatest challenges is not getting the work done, but instead dealing with those team members who will not measure up. It may be teams at work or through some volunteer effort, but the results are the same. And sometimes, you and I might be that team member! Think about that. When you are the weak link, how would you like others to deal with you? Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/shawnzrossi [/featured-image]In today's podcast episode I will present some strategies for dealing with ineffective team members as well as the results from ignoring or improperly dealing with these team members.Click to ListenNOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Key Steps in Dealing with Ineffective Team MembersSymptoms of ineffective team members may include:Does not deliver on ti

Mastermind groups are the magic bullet for success. I have found the only people who do mastermind groups, and continue to do them over time, succeed. But, over the years I have struggled to find good groups. Most people do not want to commit or will bail out soon after we start. But, I have now found the secret - or at last the person who has the secret formula. In this interview with Jonathan Milligan, he will uncover how he runs a mastermind group that not only keeps going, but prospers.Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Topic of the Week: How to Create a Mastermind GroupIn this interview Jonathan shares how he got started in mastermind groups and the steps he has taken to keep the group working.Step 1 - Find the Right Group of ProspectsJonathan shares about how he went about methodically finding the right group of people. Like minded people, not only in their business objectives, but also in the values.Some of his ke

The other day I was in a coffee shop and ran into Kendall Davis. Kendall had attended a Career Focus class I help teach at my church. At the time of the class, Kendall was between jobs and trying to determine what to do next. So, naturally I asked him if he found a job. The answer was no. Do you know the feeling you get when you think you have failed to help someone? That is how I felt. But the rest of the story made me feel much better. Kendall and Linda Davis - Making  Living from Amazon FBA[/featured-image] Click to ListenKendall shared with me WHY he was no longer looking for work. Now, instead of a job, he does what he loves working from home (or coffee shops) and making his household living on his own terms. And when I found out what he was doing, my reaction was “you can make money like that?”So I had to have him on the show!Making a Living from Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)I will confess, I have no expertise in what Kendall and I discussed on the show. But I did want to provide you with this informatio

This is part 4 of the series called How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days where I promised to let you look over my shoulder as I create a product. Here is the final part, releasing and marketing the product. This is where the money starts to flow. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Patrick Hoesly [/featured-image]I will do this post in two parts. First is the transaction and product delivery. Second is some basic marketing to get noticed. Let’s get started!The previous posts can be found here:Intro of the topic - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 DaysPart 1 - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Finding Information Product IdeasPart 2 - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Writing the Sales CopyPart 3 - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Creating the ProductClick to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Topic of the Week: Ho

This is part 3 of the series called How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days where I promised to let you look over my shoulder as I create a product. Today I will actually go over the product creation process and offer you a simple guide to creating products fast. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/The U.S. Army [/featured-image]In case you are just joining in, I hope you too will take the challenge and create a product with me. I will walk you through it.The previous posts can be found here:Intro of the topic - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 DaysPart 1 - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Finding Information Product IdeasPart 2 - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Writing the Sales CopyClick to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show. Topic of the Week: How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Creating the ProductProduct creati

This is part 2 of the series called How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days where I promised to let you look over my shoulder as I create my own information product. At this point I have decided on the product I will create. Today I will write the sales copy, or at least most of it. And, in case you are just joining in, I hope you too will take the challenge and create a product with me. I will walk you through it.  Attention Getting Sales Copy - Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Brett Jordan [/featured-image]I will admit, this is the hardest part for me. Creating product is easy, writing sales copy is always my hangup, so I am ready to get this out of the way. Join me!Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.The previous posts can be found here:Intro of the topic - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 DaysPart 1 - How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days  | Finding Informat

Last week I started a series called How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 Days where I promised to let you look over my shoulder as I create an information product of my own. And, in case you are just joining in, I hope you, too, will take the challenge and create a product with me. I will walk you through it. Today we start by creating a list of information product ideas. First, I will do it for me. Then, I will lay out some steps to help you come up with your own information product ideas. Ready to watch it happen? Ready to generate a quick list for yourself and get started making money? Photo courtesy of Luna - our family dog (She receives dog biscuits for royalties) [/featured-image]As you will see below, one of my crazy ideas is about pets. Above is the photo of Luna, our Siberian Husky, who is the subject of the idea. Ideas can come from anywhere! Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show. What's Up with

Want to know how to create your first information product in 30 Days? I am going to show you how. Today I will give you the steps, and over the next few episodes I will let you behind the scenes as I create a product. I invite you to join me and create a product of your own. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Serge Saint [/featured-image] Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show. Topic of the Week: How to Create Your First Information Product in 30 DaysWhile it might not really take 30 days to create your first information product, I like the idea of a deadline. So, instead of telling you what and how to do this, I am going to show you how I did it. In the next few posts and podcasts, I will let you look over my shoulder to watch me create an information product in 30 days.First, the goal is not to get an information product that makes millions. Right now let us just focus on the idea of getting something done, getting

Passive income from information products is history. Or, as Jerry (a devoted listener) put it "In a world where the value of information appears to be in rapid decline due [to] the sheer volume of web-based information and the extent to which such information is free on the internet, what is the present viability of sharing information via the internet to make money as a business start-up?" In this episode I will address this and two other common questions and/or objections about information marketing. I will walk you through each of these objections, demonstrating how each one is a lie because these are the lies we hear from others as well as from ourselves. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/rossgram[/featured-image] In past episodes I have encouraged you to do two things to help you take control of your income and your career.1. Five Steps to Becoming a Paid Authority2. Why You Need to Start Your Own Business Now Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go

How can you make your goals actually happen? Setting goals is the easy part. You experience fun and excitement as you envision the things you will do and become. Yet, keeping your goals on track for the next year is the hard part. Between now and the arching of the goal is frustration, fatigue, and thoughts of putting it off till tomorrow - which never comes. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Trekking Rinjani [/featured-image]So, before you set off to make the goals, you first have to build in a process that works for you so that you can actually focus and get something done. On this podcast I will share the process I use. Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in email, you will need to go to Itunes or my blog to get access to this show.Works for Me: Tools and Tips for Productivity and ProfitGet too many business cards? Have an iPhone? Try Cardmunch. I found this tool (recommended by Ray Edwards) that is by LINKEDIN. I love it. You take a photo of your card and forget it. They MANUALLY read t

Merry Christmas!Years ago, someone asked me a question which I struggled with for some time, which I will now ask you:"Can you see light?"She wanted to know if we saw things with our eyes by using light, could we actually see light.What do you think? (I will answer this later.) Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/d arthur [/featured-image]Personally, I struggled with this question for days. Being an electrical engineering student who was studying the electromagnetic spectrum, I suddenly realized how little I knew about my field of study and how it applies to reality.But, later in life, another question brought me back to this issue. Today, I want to share both with you as we explore the light of Christ who is the light of the world.Click to ListenThe topic of the Week: Light of Christ | The Light of the WorldThis is a quick outline of the podcast.My first struggle with light: "Can we see light?"  Result: We can see NOTHING but light. The eye is the receptor of light but can be foole

When I was a teenager, my father decided we would build a A-Frame cabin on the lake. Over the next few years, I spent some mostly wonderful times heading up to a lake house every weekend morning. When we were not building, we were planning and preparing to build. One thing I learned as we went along, you cannot create something big without a plan. The better we planned, the easier the job was once we got down to doing the actual building. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons/Greg.Buri [/featured-image]This lake house lesson is one I have tried to apply to everything I do in life. Sadly, I have failed too often. While I have accomplished much, I find that most things I wandered into by accident. As I have looked back over the last year or two in my annual review, a lack of planning and acting on the plans has become painfully clear. I have now taken some serious time to explore and learn from others (and my own successes and mistakes) what really works. Click to Listen*NOTE: If you are reading this in em