How to Connect with a Large Audience Without Sacrificing Authenticity

Professional Growth

Professional Growth Archives

Professional Growth | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

It’s a noisy world out there.



There is a perpetual stream of propaganda and a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-eliminate-distractions/">barrage of distractions</a> all battling for our attention. Having your business or personal brand noticed is more difficult than ever these days.



That’s not to mention the fact that you (for the most part) live in a globally connected, instantaneously accessible network of competitors who all do something very similar to what you do.



So, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-stand-out-from-the-competition/">how do you stand out</a>? How do you “stop the scroll” and get your mission, your message or your method noticed?



It’s simpler than you might think, but you must first understand why it’s so easy to get absorbed into the masses and drowned out.&nbsp;



The reason businesses and people and marketing messages become indistinguishable is because most of us give very ambiguous, indistinct and vague descriptions of what we do. We speak in high-level terms, with lots of ambiguity and little emotion or connection. We literally sound like everyone else.



The key to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-that-breaks-through-the-digital-noise/">breaking through to your audience</a> is to instead convey your message from a place of power, vulnerability and authenticity. You need to speak in a way that makes them realize instantly that you understand them and their struggles and that you are there to help.&nbsp;



How do you do that?&nbsp;



The first step happens when you are able to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-ways-to-identify-your-ideal-client-and-prime-your-business-for-growth/">identify your ideal client</a>. And you shift your entire mindset from communicating to people to instead focusing on addressing one person. Whether it’s on video, in writing, on social media or in large presentations, you should resist the natural urge of addressing a large sea of people and instead treat it as if you are talking to one single individual person.



It’s very hard to assess and empathize with how an entire audience is feeling because they are so diverse and have so many different things going on in their respective lives. But it is very easy to understand and relate to how one individual might feel. After all, you are an individual and you have been there yourself.



That brings us to Step 2: Not only should you talk to a specific, individual person. You also should communicate from a profound emotional place that you personally have experienced and understand. They key is to market your product or service or brand or message in a way that is deeply personal.



You don’t want to communicate from a loosely associated connection to some faceless corporate entity or purpose. You will be far more successful and influential if you write and speak from your personal connection to the issue or topic or company or question at hand.



We tell our Brand Builders Group personal brand clients to remember, you are always most powerfully positioned to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/new-entrepreneurs-heres-how-to-get-your-business-started-on-the-right-foot/">serve the person you once were</a>. The reason you are powerfully positioned is because you understand what it feels like to be that person. You know the emotions and the struggles and the pain that someone in that situation is going through.&nbsp;



You can immediately relate with the challenges and frustrations they are experiencing right now as they try to navigate their way to finding the knowledge and processes they need to help them get past their current stage.



You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.&nbsp;



Speak to, write to, communicate to, and create products and services for the person you used to be. Reach back and help someone solve the problem that you once had. Provide for another the answers to questions you previously had to answer. Share your story of how you conquered the challenge that they are currently facing.



It’s incredibly difficult to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-tips-for-connecting-with-your-audience-from-the-woman-whos-worked-with-the-biggest-names-in-entertainment/">connect with a large audience</a> of people. But it’s profoundly simple—even spiritual—to speak directly to one other person about the shared trials and emotions of our human experience.



The great irony is that if you try to communicate to many, you will influence none. But if you focus on communicating to one, you will influence many. 



This article originally appeared in the November/December 2021 Issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photo by @Globetrotter/Twenty20

The key to breaking through to your audience is to instead convey your message from a place of power, vulnerability and authenticity. You need to speak in a way that makes them realize instantly that you understand them and their struggles and that you are there to help. 

The key to breaking through to your audience is to instead convey your message from a place of power, vulnerability and authenticity. You need to speak in a way that makes them realize instantly that you understand them and their struggles and that you are there to help.  | SUCCESS

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Authenticity and Audience Connection: Reaching a Large Following

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Rory Vaden

Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

I was so fired up by this week’s conversation on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a>. I talk to Mehdi, an ambitious young entrepreneur living in Iran. He has long dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur and recently quit his job in order to go all in on his new business.



He has a business idea, and he has a business partner. So now, how does he actually sell the product? How do you get prospective buyers to see the value in your product, especially when it’s costly?&nbsp;



In this conversation, Mehdi and I dive deep into the art of making sales, an art I’ve been practicing since I was 17 years old. If the thought of selling makes you nervous, read on for my top three takeaways for selling with ease. Remember: No one can buy your product if they don’t know it exists.



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/selling-customers-on-your-right-price-with-mehdi/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Selling Customers on Your Right Price with Mehdi"></iframe>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-pricing-is-relative-nbsp">1. Pricing is relative. &nbsp;</h2>



It is pretty much useless to talk about the price of your product or service. You should only share that information in the context of two things: the problem your buyers have that your product/service solves, or the pay off that your product could provide to your buyers.&nbsp;



The price of your item in and of itself doesn't matter. All that matters is the relation between the cost of your item and how much it either reduces buyers expenses or increases their profitability.&nbsp;



I know this to be true because I’ve sold just about everything under the sun—baseball cards, sunglasses, music albums, coaching programs, book proposals, and more. It is always the same conversation. It is not, “How much is it,” but rather, “How much is it worth?”&nbsp;



Furthermore, you can get almost any product to justify its own cost by simply extending the time horizon further. Will your product/service save and/or make this person money in five, 10 or 15 years? Lead with that. The price itself doesn’t matter—it is all about how you frame it.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Sales is a numbers game.&nbsp;</h2>



The reason most people fail is not because their product isn't good enough or they have the wrong team. The number one reason people fail or succeed is directly correlated to how many people they talked to. Did they talk to enough people who are the right fit for their product or service and tell them about it?



I’m sure you can name tons of crappy products that have succeeded because they found a way to get in front of a lot of people. And what is even more true and heartbreaking is that we know a lot of amazing products that failed because the team couldn’t figure out how to get their product in front of enough people.&nbsp;



Sales is simply a numbers game, and there is no shortcut around that. You need to increase your numbers and expand your reach in order to find success. At <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/">Brand Builders Group</a> we often say, “Results x reach = reputation.” The larger your reach, the more opportunities you will have to impress, help and serve future clients.&nbsp;



You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Expand your numbers and take more shots—you will reap the benefits in time.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Entrepreneurs find a way.&nbsp;</h2>



The entrepreneurship mindset is a rare mindset. In fact, most people are not built to be entrepreneurs. Most have a finite pain threshold; they can make five or so attempts before they reach a quitting point.&nbsp;



But entrepreneurs do not have a quitting point. They believe there is a way and they work until they find it.&nbsp;



If you’re wondering, “Well, Rory, just how many attempts do I need to make?” My answer is simple: however many it takes.&nbsp;



If you want to be an entrepreneur you need to be willing to do whatever it takes to make your business succeed. Have an honest conversation with yourself before you embark on this journey: Do you have the spirit of an entrepreneur in you? Because I do not know of a single successful entrepreneur who has had an easy road where everything worked out and fell into place. Every single entrepreneur’s story is filled with problems, setbacks, rejection and failure. But those problems are no match for the steely resilience, relentless perseverance and passionate commitment of an entrepreneur.&nbsp;



The problems, setbacks and failures are the job. If you want to be an entrepreneur, embrace the challenges and prepare to conquer them. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

I was so fired up by this week’s conversation on SUCCESS Line. I talk to Mehdi, an ambitious young entrepreneur living in Iran. He has long dreamed of

I was so fired up by this week’s conversation on SUCCESS Line. I talk to Mehdi, an ambitious young entrepreneur living in Iran. He has long dreamed of | SUCCESS

3 Tips to Sell Like a Pro

3 Tips to Sell Like a Pro | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

This week’s conversation on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a> meant a lot to me personally. I talk to Joseph, an entrepreneur who feels a calling to share his expertise and become a motivational speaker. I remember exactly what it felt like to have that dream, and I remember exactly how fun, exciting, and challenging the journey has been to get to where I am now.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/finding-the-right-time-to-make-your-move-with-jose/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Finding the Right Time to Make Your Move with Joseph"></iframe>



Joseph knows he has something worthwhile to share, but he isn’t sure where or how to begin. He had three specific questions that I think all entrepreneurs might recognize:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>What is the right path?&nbsp;</li>



<li>Is now the right moment?</li>



<li>What are the first steps I should take?</li>
</ul>



I believe it is never the wrong moment to chase after your dreams. In fact, if you wait for the “right” or “perfect” moment to appear, you will be waiting forever. Regardless of what dream you may be pursuing, read on for my top three tips to get in the game, break through the wall, and get your message heard.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Disregard the competition. &nbsp;</h2>



There are a lot of reasons why you might fail; deciding that someone else has already done it should not be one of them.&nbsp;



Instead, focus on your uniqueness. As my mentor<a href="https://larrywinget.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Larry Winget</a> says, “The goal is to find your uniqueness, and exploit it in the service of others.” If you are playing the game of uniqueness, you don’t need to worry about the competition because there will be no one else who does it quite like you.&nbsp;&nbsp;



For example, there has been an explosion of donut shops over the past few years. But there are still people opening more because each owner is doing it in a way that is uniquely exciting to them. If everyone said, “Well, there is already a Dunkin Donuts, why would I start a donut company,” we would have no donut shops at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Don’t give yourself the excuse that there are already too many people in your field—that is not a good enough reason to give up on your dream. In order to succeed, you need to pay little attention to what the competition is doing. You need all of your energy, attention, and resources focused on what you can be, not worrying about what other people already are.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Strive to forward the conversation.&nbsp;</h2>



If you want to be viewed as a thought leader, then you have to push the conversation forward.&nbsp;



It’s not enough to regurgitate what other people have said. Take the time to digest the wisdom of others, process it, critically evaluate it, and apply it to today. Consider:



<ul>
<li>What's missing from this?</li>



<li>What would make this more powerful?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What would make this more actionable?</li>
</ul>



This is part of the difference between dissolving into the noise from the hundreds of thousands of speakers out there and breaking through the wall. You break through the wall when you forward the conversation.&nbsp;



And don’t assume that just because you learned something brilliant from someone else that you couldn’t add more to it. So much of what we come up with is based on things we’ve learned from our mentors that we’ve then adapted and applied to the current age. You can (and should) do the same thing!&nbsp;



If you want to be a leader in any field, forward the conversation and advance the thinking that has already been done.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-say-a-lot-about-a-little-nbsp">3. Say a lot about a little.&nbsp;</h2>



When you give multiple messages, you get diluted compliance.&nbsp;



This is a lesson we can all benefit from—speakers, team managers, leaders, even parents.&nbsp;



The hardest work is not running your mouth about every single thing you think. The hardest work is figuring out the one thing that needs to be said. Consider, “What is the one thing I need to get across to my team, audience, reader, or child?”&nbsp;



Don’t say a little about a lot, say a lot about a little. If you do that, I promise you’ll have much more success having your message heard and having your audience respond to that message enthusiastically. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

This week’s conversation on SUCCESS Line meant a lot to me personally. I talk to Joseph, an entrepreneur who feels a calling to share his expertise and

This week’s conversation on SUCCESS Line meant a lot to me personally. I talk to Joseph, an entrepreneur who feels a calling to share his expertise and | SUCCESS

The ‘Right’ Moment to Chase Your Dreams Is Now: 3 Tips to Get You Started

The Time Is Now: 3 Tips to Chase Your Dreams

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Ready to Launch Your Product? Read These 3 Tips First

On this week’s episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a>, I talk to the Money Editors at SUCCESS, Julien and Kiersten Saunders. They have built a brand teaching all things money, and their first book is coming out in 2022. So they came on the show to play the role of students, to learn a bit about how to successfully launch their book.



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/launching-a-bestselling-book-with-julien-kiersten/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Launching a Bestselling Book with Julien &amp; Kiersten Saunders"></iframe>



What I remind them is that it is not called the New York Times Best Writers list; it’s the New York Times Best Sellers list. In order to launch anything—a book, product or service—you need to tell the world that you are there, and you need to sell.&nbsp;



This was a powerful and inspiring conversation and can be valuable for any entrepreneur preparing for a launch. If you are looking to cross the finish line yourself, read on for my top three takeaways.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Everybody likes to market and nobody likes to sell.&nbsp;</h2>



It’s simple. If you want to be successful, you have to learn how to sell. Someone (re: you) has to raise their hand and say, “I am taking responsibility. I am making a personal commitment to sell.” It is not enough for people to simply hear about your book or product—you need to make sure actual financial transactions take place.



So many authors naively defer the responsibility to sell to their publishers, but publishers don’t actually know very much about selling. They make books, they edit books, and they distribute books. They don’t talk to consumers and convince them which books they should buy.&nbsp;



The responsibility is on you to generate demand. If you’re the author (or any type of entrepreneur), you need to say, “My success is up to me. I’m accountable and responsible for the results of my life and my business, and I’m not going to leave that up to chance.”&nbsp;



If&nbsp; you don't feel confident selling—and I’ll say this as humbly as I can—please go to my website and check out my <a href="https://www.roryvaden.com/blog-posts/the-secret-to-pressure-free-persuasion" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure free persuasion course</a>. In it, I help mission-driven messengers learn how to sell. Because you can’t help anyone if they don’t know you exist.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Prepare to leave it all on the table.</h2>



When you launch a book, product or service, you need to leave it all on the table. Realize that you are entering the “harvest season,” a concept I talk about in my first book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Take-Stairs-Steps-Achieving-Success/dp/0399537767/ref=asc_df_0399537767/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=312045581420&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=1734110602354941524&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9002089&amp;hvtargid=pla-435414496995&amp;psc=1&amp;tag=&amp;ref=&amp;adgrpid=62837065180&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvadid=312045581420&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=1734110602354941524&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9002089&amp;hvtargid=pla-435414496995" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Take the Stairs</a>.&nbsp;



The world operates on seasons. Farmers plant seeds in the spring and harvest their bounty in the summer. Baseball players train in the winter before entering the bright lights of the stadium in the summer. The season of the harvest is the time to decide to intentionally imbalance your time, energy and resources in one direction in order to see results.&nbsp;



If you want to create a breakthrough moment, you need to deliberately skew your attention for a short period of time, just like a farmer might work late into the night in August in order to harvest all of that season’s heirloom tomatoes. No farmer sits back and expects the tomatoes to magically pick themselves, and neither should you.&nbsp;



This is the conundrum of the starving artist. People assume that if their art is good enough, consumers will find it. That is baloney. It is not other people’s job to find you. Part of your art is making your work known; marketing is art. If you don’t market your work, then your artistry will be incomplete. No one will find you, and you put far too much effort into your creations to not have anyone hear about them. So when the harvest season comes, put in every last bit of effort you can muster to get your work out there. I promise it is worth it.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-leverage-your-relationships">3. Leverage your relationships.</h2>



There is one big and common mistake that people make when launching their book or product: They try to market their work to a bunch of strangers, thinking they’ll somehow get Oprah or Reese Witherspoon to talk about it.&nbsp;



Well, good luck with that.&nbsp;



You don’t want the success of your book or product to be reliant on a gamble. You cannot leave your life’s success up to chance. We all have these fantasies that someone else is out there who will help us. But there is no marketing fairy godmother waiting with a horse-drawn carriage and glass slippers to take you to the ball. You have to build your own momentum and, hopefully, some luck will get added on top.&nbsp;



How do you build that momentum? By leveraging the relationships you already have. A close relationship to someone with a small following is more powerful than a distant relationship with someone who has a large following. Ask your family members, friends and fans to activate. Write up some emails they can send out or create graphics they can share on social media. Start with the people closest to you, who already trust you, and ask them to help you promote your book or product. If they all activate their networks, the ripple effects will follow.&nbsp;



Remember, there is no single New York Times best-selling author. There is only a best-selling team. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, I talk to the Money Editors at SUCCESS, Julien and Kiersten Saunders. They have built a brand teaching all things

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, I talk to the Money Editors at SUCCESS, Julien and Kiersten Saunders. They have built a brand teaching all things | SUCCESS

Ready to Launch Your Product? Read These 3 Tips First | SUCCESS

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Referrals Over Customers and Other Key Insights All Bootstrapping Entrepreneurs Should Know

How do you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-start-a-business-in-a-day/">start a business</a> from complete scratch? This is the question this week's guest on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a>, Kailene, came on the show with and one that I suspect many of you have asked yourself.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/deciding-what-to-charge-for-coaching-with-kailene/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Deciding What to Charge for Coaching with Kailene"></iframe>



Starting a business is a daunting endeavor, especially if you don’t have investors or $1 million to finance it with. But if my wife and business partner and I are any indication, it is possible. We’ve built six businesses from the ground up, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-mistakes-smart-people-never-make-twice/">making mistakes</a>, learning lessons and amassing a wealth of tips and tricks along the way. If you, like Kailene, are a bootstrapping entrepreneur looking to start your own business, read on for my three key insights all fledgling entrepreneurs should know.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Don’t ask, ‘What should I be doing?’ Ask, ‘Whom should I be serving?’</h2>



This is the No. 1 mistake new entrepreneurs make. They focus on themselves, asking, “What should I do?” At Brand Builders Group, we tell our clients to ask, “Whom should I be serving?” If you can get clear on the “who” first, it automatically creates both <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/clarify-your-purpose-in-the-world/">purpose and clarity</a>. The “who” informs, instructs and designs your entire business model for you.&nbsp;



Once you answer who you serve, the next questions (and their accompanying answers) will begin to appear:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Whom do I serve?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What do they need?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What can I give them?&nbsp;</li>



<li>How much time and money will it take to give them that thing?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



All of this flows right out of that one simple question: whom should I be serving?&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. You need customers more than you need revenue.&nbsp;</h2>



Don’t get me wrong—It’s not that I'm against revenue or making money. But you need customers first. Your first customers provide a training ground. They give you the opportunity to practice and try out your service, product, or idea on them.&nbsp;



Most importantly, your first customers will (hopefully) provide testimonials. My wife, AJ, recently led a <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/new-study-landing-page/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> at Brand Builders Group that looked at the current trends in <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-9-tips-for-making-a-mark-that-lasts/">personal branding</a>.&nbsp; 62% of Americans said that the number one most influential factor in their decision to pay for a product or service was whether the brand or company had testimonials about their work. Even if you have to give your first customers free services, it will have been worth it if they are willing and able to speak to the quality of your work.&nbsp;



The early days of any business are simply practice; you need to time build systems, processes, content and confidence. Focus on finding customers and providing an excellent experience first, and then, in time, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-smart-money-moves-to-make-before-starting-a-business/">the revenue will come</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-you-need-referrals-even-more-than-you-need-customers-nbsp-nbsp">3. You need referrals even more than you need customers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



Although it is important to find customers, it is even more important to find referrals. For any entrepreneur without investors or millions of dollars, these referrals will likely come from your friends and family. However, in order to get these referrals, it is important that you don’t barrage your friends and family with endless sales pitches.&nbsp;&nbsp;



When you sell to your friends and family, you often burn out the tolerance within those relationships. It becomes almost awkward for you to approach them, “Here they go again, selling us their product.” It will be way more effective (and less damaging to your relationship) to ask your friends and family for referrals first.



Make a list of every person who trusts you. Then, call those people and explain what you’re doing. Say, “Hey, do you mind if I take a minute to update you on this new business I’ve launched?” If they say yes, tell them what you’re doing and ask if they would be comfortable introducing you to others. As a bootstrapping entrepreneur, referrals are so much more valuable to you than the single sale a friend or family member might provide. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

But if my wife and business partner and I are any indication, it is possible. We’ve built six businesses from the ground up, making mistakes, learning lessons and amassing a wealth of tips and tricks along the way.

But if my wife and business partner and I are any indication, it is possible. We’ve built six businesses from the ground up, making mistakes, learning lessons and amassing a wealth of tips and tricks along the way. | SUCCESS

Bootstrapping Insights: Referrals Over Customers and More

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Ready to Diversify Your Business? Read These Reminders First

I have such a heart for entrepreneurs who are <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/12-entrepreneurial-truths-working-parents-should-embrace/">raising families while starting businesses</a>. It is not an easy thing to do, and this week’s guest on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a> is in the thick of it. Brian is a Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur and a father of five. He is in the process of automating his current business and is now hoping to diversify and build a second service-based business.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/the-benefits-of-focus-with-bryan/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="The Benefits of Focus with Bryan"></iframe>



This is a point almost all small businesses arrive at: How do I know when I can diversify?&nbsp;



I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you have diluted focus, you get diluted results. So often, business owners will <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/side-hustles-simplified-from-idea-to-profit/">launch a new project</a> hoping it will simply add on top of their current work. In reality, it cannibalizes. The costs of the new business cancel out any profits from the old. You add complexity without adding profit.



Instead, try serving the same audience in a deeper way; squeeze more juice out of the same proverbial apple. If you’ve ever been distracted by the “next best thing,” read on for my top three reminders for all small business owners looking to diversify.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-double-down-on-your-focus-nbsp">1. Double down on your focus.&nbsp;</h2>



I have done enough one-on-one coaching and work with <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brand Builders Group</a> to know that every single small business owner, personal brand, and leader faces this same conundrum: should I keep doing the thing I’m doing now, or should I move on to the next thing that is shiny and exciting?



My answer is one that is not always popular: You need to double-down on your focus. I could lie to you and say, “Take a break, go follow your passion, find work-life balance etc.” But that's not the true story of success. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/work-life-balance-doesnt-exist-make-time-to-follow-your-passion-with-seasons-of-focus/">Nobody balances their way to success</a>.&nbsp;



When you’re ready to make your business scale, you need to go all in and double down on your focus. Why? Because, at the very least, you’re going to get extremely valuable information. Either you will break through the wall and find success, or you will know that you put everything you could into it and it didn’t work out—and that’s fine. I don’t consider that failure; I consider that feedback.



What's terrible is if you don’t double down, and the business doesn’t scale, you will never know the reason it didn’t work out. You’ll be left wondering, Is it because I don’t have it in me or it just wasn’t meant to be? All the while ignoring the more likely truth that it didn’t work out because you never gave it the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-sharpen-your-business-focus/">focus it deserves</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Identify the bottleneck in your business.&nbsp;</h2>



More than half the battle of solving a problem is clearly identifying the problem that you’re trying to solve.



In order to win, we must answer these questions:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>What is really the thing that is holding me back?&nbsp;</li>



<li>Where am I really stuck?</li>
</ul>



Often you will find that it is one small <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-steps-to-change-your-self-limiting-beliefs/">limiting belief</a> you cant let go of, or one technical skill you don't have.&nbsp;



Identify the bottleneck and then destroy the bottleneck. Put all of your creativity into asking the question, “How do we resolve this?” When you ask how, your brain will subconsciously focus on it, and one day, you will wake up to find the answer has appeared. The key is not coming up with the answer, it is simply asking the right question. The sooner you can pinpoint the exact bottleneck, the sooner your brain will process and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-problem-solving-4-creative-strategies-to-tackle-your-biggest-obstacles/">identify the solution</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Pay your people more money.&nbsp;</h2>



Look, I'm a capitalist, and I’ve got financial goals and visions, but you need to pay your people more money.&nbsp;



First, if your people are making money, then they are probably <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-happiness-and-why-is-it-important/">living a happier life</a>, which means they can show up to work better and stronger. Second, if they are making more money, they are less likely to leave you for someone who is offering more. And if they do leave, you’ve still got a pile of money to go hire the next excellent employee. But if your star player leaves, and you were paying them at the bottom of the market, you will be sent into a panic over how to replace them, and that’s a scary spot to be in.



As a startup entrepreneur, you may not necessarily have the capital to come out of the gates paying the top tiers. But the long-term goal shouldn’t be to pay people the least amount you can to get the most out of them. The goal is, “How can I get my people—my clients, my referral partners, and my team—making money as soon as possible?” If all these people are making money, so are you.



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

This is a point almost all small businesses arrive at: How do I know when I can diversify?

This is a point almost all small businesses arrive at: How do I know when I can diversify? | SUCCESS

Ready to Diversify Your Business? Read These Reminders First | SUCCESS

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Build Relationships First: How to Sell on Social Media

This week’s guest on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a> is an action taker. After my original guest fell through due to illness, Sammy responded to my call on Instagram for a spontaneous free coaching session on the podcast. I so appreciate anyone willing to dive in and put themselves out there for the sake of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-personal-development/">personal development</a>, and Sammy did just that.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/setting-up-a-podcast-to-drive-business-with-sammy/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Setting Up a Podcast to Drive Business with Sammy"></iframe>



Sammy is a 26-year-old millennial who just left corporate America to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-side-hustle-handbook/">pursue his side hustles</a>, and he is doing almost everything right. He’s podcasting, using social media and building his <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/coaching/#levels" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">private coaching</a> clients. However, the money, followers and clients are not yet flowing in. He wants to know how to more effectively funnel all three elements—his podcast, social media and coaching—into each other.&nbsp;



In our conversation, we focused on social media. In my opinion, that’s one of the most valuable funnels available. And although Sammy is a millennial and quite literate with social media, there is so much more to selling on it than we might think. If you’ve ever found social media a hard nut to crack, read on for the top three tips that are fundamental to the success of any entrepreneur or selling on social media.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Create fans first, customers later.&nbsp;</h2>



The power of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/becoming-a-digital-entrepreneur-5-lessons-from-viral-tiktok-star-london-lazerson/">digital marketing</a> is undeniable, but it is important to have the right mindset about it. You can’t think about online marketing as a way to reach into people’s pockets and steal their credit card—people can sense that. You won’t feel good about it, they won’t feel good about it and it just doesn’t work.



You need to think of it as building trust. Focus on building fans more than on building customers. Focus on adding real, tangible value to your followers' lives. People need to know, like and trust you before they will ever buy anything from you.&nbsp;



The wonderful thing about digital tools is that they are scalable—they allow you to automate trust as your business grows. But the only way to gain trust is to root your social media in adding value first.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-get-people-off-the-platforms-and-into-your-database-nbsp">2. Get people off the platforms and into your database.&nbsp;</h2>



The goal of social media is not to move people from platform to platform to platform. Especially because, given the unpredictable nature of algorithms, each post you make is only shown to a fraction of the people you are trying to reach.



The last thing you want to do is create another obstacle for yourself by moving the few people who did see your post onto another platform. That is a lateral move—it brings them no closer to you and your business. You want to pull them toward you and into your database. This is how you take the trust you’ve been building through social media and accelerate it. Bring them into your database and a more intense experience with you—a <a href="https://achieversallaccess.com/">one-hour training</a>, a video series, etc. It doesn’t matter exactly what it is. What matters is that they raised their digital hand for more time with you. Once that happens, you can focus on providing more value faster, thus accelerating trust and accelerating an eventual sale.&nbsp;



Don’t try to cross-pollinate on too many platforms. Get people off the platforms and into your database. Once they’re in your database, you are in control and are no longer at the mercy of a mysterious algorithm.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-the-dollars-are-in-the-dms">3. The dollars are in the DMs.</h2>



Selling on social media is just like dating in real life. You wouldn’t walk up to a stranger and say, “Hey let's get married!” But on social media, people think they can show up and immediately ask their followers to buy things from them. When that doesn’t work, they claim the platform isn’t worth it or the algorithm is against them. But it’s not the fault of the platform—the fault lies in their failure to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-tried-and-true-steps-to-building-trust/">build trust</a>. It is because they have forgotten the fundamental, foundational truths of human psychology. You need to add value—to give before you get.&nbsp;



Engage with people who comment on your posts and start building a relationship there. Then, move that conversation to the DMs where you can get to know them more intimately. Ask them, “What are <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-steps-to-manifest-your-goals-in-life-yes-it-really-does-work/">your goals</a>? What are you struggling with? What have you tried?” That then opens the door for you to offer to help them: “Did you know I help people with that? Would you like a free call to see if I can add value to your life and if we might be a fit to work together?” This is where the sale begins.&nbsp;



Selling on social media is about relationship building. It takes time and it takes showing up. If you show up enough and provide real value, people will eventually come to you and ask you out on that first date.



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

If you’ve ever found social media a hard nut to crack, read on for the top three tips that are fundamental to the success of any entrepreneur or selling on social media. 

If you’ve ever found social media a hard nut to crack, read on for the top three tips that are fundamental to the success of any entrepreneur or selling on social media.  | SUCCESS

Build Relationships First: How to Sell on Social Media | SUCCESS

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New Entrepreneurs: Here’s How to Get Your Business Started on the Right Foot

I have so much admiration for this week’s guest on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a>. I talk to Rudolph, an African-born immigrant who moved to the U.S. six years ago with almost no network. He has since been able to get a great job as a medical research professional and become an important member of his community. Now, he has started a business in the hopes of using his experience to help other African-born immigrants find their way in America&nbsp;



As we so often say at <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brand Builder’s Group</a>, you are most powerfully positioned to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-sharpen-your-business-focus/">serve the person you once were</a>, which is exactly what Rudolph is doing. However, he is finding himself spread thin on time and money as he invests in this exciting new project while still working a full-time job. He came on the show to ask, “How do you manage it all?”



Being an entrepreneur is hard work, and the path to success can often seem muddied and vague when you first start out. So how does one persevere through those tough, early days? Read on for my top three tips.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-do-100-reps-before-you-check-your-stats">1. Do 100 reps before you check your stats.</h2>



I spoke 304 times for free before I ever got paid. Now, I make a living from my speaking engagements. If&nbsp; I had evaluated my success after only speaking five, 10 or even 50 times, I would have thrown in the towel.&nbsp;



Everything new is a slow start. You need to do (at least) 100 reps before you check your stats. Publish 100 podcast episodes before you look at your downloads. Make 100 YouTube videos before you look at subscribers. Don’t worry about losing weight, just go to the gym 100 times.&nbsp;



You need to give yourself time to find your footing when you’re first starting out. It’s not about results, it’s about habits. It’s not about numbers, it’s about perseverance. It’s not about how many fans you have, it’s about the infrastructure you’re building that will carry you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-align-your-career-with-your-personal-definition-of-success/">forward in your career</a>. Habits, perseverance and infrastructure—these are the things that are important and the things you should focus on as a fledgling entrepreneur.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. The best business is a customer-financed business.</h2>



The safest, best way to guarantee growth is through a customer-financed business. It’s not investors, debt or even your own savings. If you want to write your own check for your own life and destiny, you cannot depend on someone else to show up and give you money.&nbsp;



What does a customer-financed business mean?



It means you sell. You get out there and talk to as many people as you can about what you’re up to. If you believe in what you’re doing and have created a product or service that provides real value to people’s lives, you need to be bold and tell everyone you know about it.



That is what it takes to be an entrepreneur. It is the price of admission to even get on the field. In order to be successful, you must be willing to tell people and to generate a sale. You need the customers, and you need their money to grow your business. Every single problem in business today can be solved by somebody making more sales. You want to invest and hire someone, but you can’t afford it? No problem—make a sale.&nbsp;



Write your own future. Be in charge of your own destiny. There are no shortcuts. The only way to succeed is by the hard, disciplined work of reaching out, finding good people you can help and making sales.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Don’t focus on making the right choice. Focus on making a good choice.</h2>



Don’t focus so much on making the right choice. Focus on making a good choice and then making it right.&nbsp;



The universe is not set up like a maze where there is only one way you can find the right path to be successful. It is more like a corn field—you can barrel your way through by simply moving forward. You just need to decide which direction you are going in and then start running.&nbsp;



The path to success is not dainty. You don’t achieve by sitting back and asking for everyone’s opinion and doing market research to find the perfect next step. The path to success is bold. You need to make the decision before you even start that you’re going to be successful and then put your head down and go all in.&nbsp;



It all starts with a decision in your own mind about what you believe is possible for your life. Pick a path, make it a good one and keep coming back. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Being an entrepreneur is hard work, and the path to success can often seem muddied and vague when you first start out. This is how to persevere through those tough, early days

Being an entrepreneur is hard work, and the path to success can often seem muddied and vague when you first start out. This is how to persevere through those tough, early days | SUCCESS

Successful Startup Launch: Essential Steps for New Entrepreneurs

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One of the most plaguing questions for top performers is, if I’m a high achiever then <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-happiness-and-why-is-it-important/">why am I not happier</a>?



We all know people who have been successful and yet they still seem to live with so much unrest, so much stress and so much anxiety. Perhaps, at times, you have been one of those people? So many of us achievers struggle to find peace, purpose and happiness in spite of the fact that we have been able to acquire money, status and influence.



Why is that?



As someone who has researched, written about and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Asuccess.com%3A+what+is+success&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS942US944&amp;oq=site%3Asuccess.com%3A+what+is+success&amp;aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i58.9235j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">pursued success</a> my entire career, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s because there is a pervasive misconception in the marketplace that success leads to happiness.



The truth is that achievement does not equal fulfillment.



If you’re familiar with <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maslow’s hierarchy of needs</a>, then you know that the top rung of his ladder—everyone’s ultimate greatest need—is “Self-Actualization.” But even though his framework has been so extraordinarily helpful and instructive in modern psychology, I believe Maslow missed it. I believe Maslow fell slightly short in his codification of human needs.



I believe there is a level beyond self-actualization that yields a higher calling on our lives, and it is “Others-Actualization.” It’s not about us pushing ourselves to achieve more; it’s about us <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/18-leadership-traits-that-should-define-your-legacy/">leading others to achieve</a>. Life is not just about me becoming the best I can be; the most righteous reward is knowing that my life has in some way contributed to helping someone else become the most they can be. The ultimate pursuit then isn’t success, but service.



Achievement is great, but there is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you enable another person to succeed. There is something magical about helping someone else—it is truly enriching. It is deeply satisfying. It is utterly fulfilling.



A life of achievement is a great life, but it is one that happens in a context that is all centered around me. Whereas a life of service happens inside the context of my life only in relationship to others. The best, most successful entrepreneurs live in service to others.



It’s good to achieve. It’s wonderful to achieve. It’s worthwhile to strive to achieve. There are so many rewards for achieving that are not available in any other way. But the reason there are so many unhappy achievers is because they keep pursuing achievement while not realizing that achievement does not equal fulfillment.



So many of us are missing the understanding that our highest self is to be our highest value to others. Until you gain clarity about the power of service, you will struggle with the obscurity of trying to define your life’s purpose.



Achievement is good. It requires a lot. It is only eventually available to the limited few.



But serving is also good. It requires only a little. And it is immediately available to the massive many.



When I am achieving, there are wins and losses. But when I am serving, there are only wins.



And so achievers and non-achievers alike often ask:



<ul><li>How can I be happy?</li><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">What is my purpose?</a></li><li>How can I find peace?</li></ul>



But those are the wrong questions. If you want to find true peace, purpose and happiness, you should instead ask:



<ul><li>How can I help?</li><li>How can I be of value?</li><li>In what ways can I serve?</li></ul>



And if you find that you are such a high achiever that you cannot bring yourself to ask those questions, then you should know that while you may be an incredible achiever, you will never be a great leader.



Because if serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. 



This article originally appeared in the September/October 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photo by @sarahwight93/Twenty20

The most fulfilled achievers put others first.

The most fulfilled achievers put others first. | SUCCESS

To Lead Is to Serve Others

To Lead Is to Serve Others | SUCCESS

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How to Get People to Care About (and Support) Your Business

This week’s conversation on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a> was an important one, and I am so grateful to my guest for her honesty and vulnerability in sharing her story. I talk to Sharon, a successful real-estate appraiser with more than 25 years of experience. She is also someone who has seen, personally, the havoc depression can wreak on someone’s life. After walking through her pain and surviving it, she started a nonprofit to help other women battling depression and anxiety get the help they need.



She came on the show with a question about how to find funding for her nonprofit but it quickly became clear that her question went much deeper than that. She knows, practically, where to find funding. What she is dealing with is the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/finding-courage-amid-uncertainty/">emotional uncertainty</a> all entrepreneurs face: the fear of rejection, apathy, and failure.



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/generating-non-profit-funding-with-sharon/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Generating Non-Profit Funding with Sharon"></iframe>



Regardless of whether you run a nonprofit, a personal brand or a company, you need to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-should-face-your-fears/">face your fears</a> head on. Put your feet to the fire, get your business out there and make people care.&nbsp;



Wondering how? Read on for my top three tips.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-fight-the-fear-of-rejection-nbsp">1. Fight the fear of rejection.&nbsp;</h2>



The biggest way to overcome the fear of rejection is not logically but emotionally. Fear is an emotional experience. It is, as the acronym puts it, False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is a figment of our imagination—our creativity working in the wrong direction. Our minds can craft an elaborate story of this horrible rejection that might happen—a story that is frankly unlikely to happen—in order to keep us stuck and safe.&nbsp;



I’ll let you in on the biggest secret to overcoming your fear of rejection: Remind yourself of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">your purpose</a>. Your purpose is to serve others; there are people out there you were designed to serve and who need your help. In order to fight the fear of rejection, you need to focus on them.



Although there may be some people who will not need you, you cannot let that group prevent you from finding the ones that so desperately do. Think of it like a giant Easter egg hunt. You have to wade through all the humans in the world who don’t need your help in order to find the ones who do.&nbsp;



Focusing on the people you serve will help you power through the setbacks, pain and rejection that inevitably come with a life lived boldly. There are people that need your help—you just need to get out there and find them.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-move-people-emotionally">2. Move people emotionally.</h2>



How do you actually get people to pay attention to and care about your business?&nbsp;



If you follow my work, you’ve seen me talk about personal development, sales, leadership and marketing. Why do I focus on those four things? These things all center on the art of moving people to action. That includes moving yourself, your team or the community to action. Influence is simply the art of moving people to action.&nbsp;



What I’ve found is that if you want to move people to action, you need to learn how to move them emotionally. The best and easiest way to do that is to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everyone-has-a-story-heres-how-to-make-yours-resonate/">tell stories</a>.&nbsp;



One technique, taught by award-winning speaker and trainer <a href="https://craigvalentine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Craig Valentine</a>, is to tell an “I-focused” story with a “you-focused” message. This technique builds a bridge between your own life and the listener’s, creating a connectivity point that wasn’t there before. Another is to tell the real-life story of just one person. We connect viscerally when we can put ourselves in the shoes of another person. One person’s true story is much more powerful than a broad, general story with no details for the listener to grab onto. Specificity, not generality, leads to connection.&nbsp;



Practice your storytelling techniques on your friends, family and mentors. Were they moved? The more skilled you can become at moving people emotionally, including yourself, the more influential you will be.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-consider-what-breaks-your-heart">3. Consider what breaks your heart.</h2>



When we’re working with entrepreneurs at <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brand Builders Group</a>, we start by asking them six specific questions, what we call the brand DNA helix. One of the most important is, “What are you passionate about?” But Sharon reminded me of another way to phrase that question: “What breaks your heart?”



We think of passion as simply what fires you up, but <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/9-ways-to-know-what-passion-you-should-pursue/">your passion</a> also comes from what makes you angry. The thing that makes you so mad you can’t sleep at night is what you were designed to be connected to and solve. We believe that your purpose, where you find a never-ending spring of motivation, is directly connected to the thing that breaks your heart. And the more you tap into that, the more likely you are to persevere.&nbsp;



What breaks your heart? Take some time to sit with that question today.



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Regardless of whether you run a nonprofit, a personal brand or a company, you need to face your fears head on. Put your feet to the fire, get your business out there and make people care.

Regardless of whether you run a nonprofit, a personal brand or a company, you need to face your fears head on. Put your feet to the fire, get your business out there and make people care. | SUCCESS

How to Get People to Care About (and Support) Your Business | SUCCESS

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Website Copywriting Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: 3 Tips for Selling Your Brand Through Words

On this week’s episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a>, I answer one of the most common marketing questions entrepreneurs have: How do I find and then communicate with my target audience?&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/persuading-using-passion-with-craig/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Persuading Using Passion with Craig"></iframe>



Almost all young entrepreneurs lack clarity around their position in the marketplace, and this week’s guest is no different. Craig is a young entrepreneur in Utah who, like me, got his start in door-to-door sales. But he has always loved coaching and teaching, and his dream is to become a public speaker and best-selling author. So how does he <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-that-breaks-through-the-digital-noise/">break through the noise</a> and get his message out there? And how does he know who most needs to hear what he has to say?



Luckily, these are problems I have spent my entire career learning how to solve.&nbsp;



The genesis of all marketing comes from your answers to these three questions:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>What problem do you solve?</li>



<li>Whom do you solve it for?</li>



<li>How do you solve it?</li>
</ul>



If you don’t know your answers to these questions, stop everything you’re doing and get out your notebook.&nbsp;



Once you have addressed these questions, the next step is to transform your answers into your marketing. Not sure how? Read on for my top three tips to craft compelling and impassioned marketing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-copywriting-is-selling-through-the-written-word-nbsp">1. Copywriting is selling through the written word.&nbsp;</h2>



For some reason, when people write copy for their business, they become boring, informational robots. But your marketing copy is not a news report; it is selling through the written word. Your <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-email-marketing/">copy should be persuasive</a>, compelling, and exciting—not just an emotionless ticker of facts and data.



Think of how you would tell your best friend about an awesome new movie or restaurant. What language would you use? Whatever you would say in a real life conversation to sell something is what you should write in your copy.&nbsp;



And I’ll share with you one of our greatest copy-writing shortcuts at <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brand Builders Group</a>: Pain moves people. One way to make readers experience pain is to describe their life as it exists today in the absence of your solution. That is possibly the most powerful thing you can include in your copy.&nbsp;



<div id="om-ne3wn9ggcxycpiqxarfx-holder"></div>



When you can prove to your readers that you know what they’re struggling with and that you can articulate it, they will immediately <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-tried-and-true-steps-to-building-trust/">trust you</a> and your ability to provide a solution to their problem.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-don-t-write-to-the-world-write-to-one-person">2. Don’t write to the world. Write to one person.</h2>



Whether you are doing a podcast, going live on Instagram, writing a book, doing a presentation, or copywriting, don’t write to the world; write to one person. Solve a real-life problem for one person and talk to them as if they are the only other person in the world.&nbsp;



If you do that, your material will be powerful, compelling, and visceral. It will hit every reader, listener or viewer as if you are talking directly to them because you are.



This goes back to the same <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mindful-mindset/">mindset problem</a> I discussed in my first point. When people prepare to go live or write marketing copy, they become news reporters and start broadcasting to the world as if they are on national TV. So many entrepreneurs think they need to sound different or more grand in their marketing when in fact it is the opposite.&nbsp;



Talk to one person as if you are having a real-life conversation and are solving a real-life problem. Your writing and speaking will be able to reach so many more people if you do.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-passion-is-what-persuades">3. Passion is what persuades.</h2>



In order to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-start-a-business-in-a-day/">start a business</a> or brand, you first need to connect to your passion, or your uniqueness. No matter if you are starting a nonprofit, selling a service, or launching a personal brand, the crux of it has to be the problem you’re passionate about solving.&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>What were you put on this earth to do?&nbsp;</li>



<li>Who were you meant to help?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What question have you answered?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What obstacles have you overcome?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



That is your uniqueness, what you can do that nobody else can do. And that energy and fire is what we need to bottle up and use.&nbsp;



If you’re disconnected from your passion, you are not likely to become a top performer. You can make a living, sure, but you will not fully experience your potential until you’re doing something that makes you feel alive and alert.&nbsp;



Once you find the thing that fires you up, there will be no competition, noise, or comparing yourself to others. With passion, none of it matters. It is simply about finding your uniqueness and putting it out into the world in a way that can break through the noise and truly transform the lives of others.&nbsp;



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, I answer one of the most common marketing questions entrepreneurs have: How do I find and then communicate with my

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, I answer one of the most common marketing questions entrepreneurs have: How do I find and then communicate with my | SUCCESS

Sell Your Brand with Ease: 3 Tips for Effective Website Copywriting

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Success

Success Archives

Success | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

I was so fired up by this week’s <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a> guest and her history, mission and drive. We crammed a lot into this episode, and you’ll hear that I am a bit tough on her—but only because I want to see people like her win and I know she can handle it.&nbsp;



Victoria served in the military, as a parole officer and now as an employee in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her passion, and what is on her heart, is the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-one-woman-is-helping-female-veterans-transition-to-life-after-incarceration/">nonprofit she founded for formerly incarcerated veteran women</a> and the speaking business she is building around that. In her dream world, her business would be profitable enough that it could become her primary focus.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/building-a-non-profit-with-victoria/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Building a Non-Profit with Victoria"></iframe>



But how? How does one turn a side hustle into a main hustle?&nbsp;



There are two sides to it:&nbsp;



<ol>
<li>Branding and positioning: whom you’re going to be and how you’re going to talk about it.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Marketing: how you’re going to get your message out there and tell the world you’re available.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



We dive into both sides. If you too are looking to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-side-hustle-handbook/">launch your side hustle</a>, read on for the three simple and actionable steps you can take to turn it into the profitable business of your dreams.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-market-the-destination-nbsp">1. Market the destination.&nbsp;</h2>



When <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-that-breaks-through-the-digital-noise/">marketing your business</a>, you need to understand the difference between selling the vehicle and selling the destination. So many entrepreneurs make the mistake of marketing their business’ vehicle—the process they take people through and how they provide their services—but that is not what you should put in your marketing.&nbsp;



What you should lead with is the destination—what shows up because of your process or service, and the starting point—the problem your clients are facing in absence of your solution. Successful marketing helps prospective clients understand where they are right now, and then it presents them with an image of the more productive, happy and successful place they could be if they use your service.&nbsp;



After they have hired you, you will reveal the vehicle that will take your clients to the advertised destination. Amateurs market the vehicle. Professionals market the destination.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-teach-for-free-nbsp">2. Teach for free.&nbsp;</h2>



If you’re just starting a business, the crappiest advice you will ever hear is to charge what you’re worth. The best advice? Provide your service for free until it is so good people will pay you for more of it.&nbsp;



Think about a grocery store. Whenever they release a new product, they stick a person in the front of the store with chicken on a stick, offering free samples. They want you to experience a small version of the product so you will salivate for more of it.&nbsp;



This is what you need to do with your own business. Give prospective clients the opportunity to try your chicken on a stick and find out what is so <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-market-your-uniqueness/">unique about you and your business</a>.&nbsp;



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Speaking and teaching for free is the fastest way to grow your business and the perfect arena within which to master your craft. Provide your service for free until it is so good people will not only be dying to pay for more for it but also refer their friends to you.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-sell-at-the-back-of-the-room-nbsp-nbsp">3. Sell at the back of the room.&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



Once you’ve taught for free, offer your audience the chance to buy in or offer them a free call. This is our entire business model at <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brand Builders Group</a>. We offer so much free content online in order to give our clients the chance to see how good we are before they ever have to open their wallets. Then, when we get them on the phone, we have the chance to work with them and customize a plan.&nbsp;



You don't have to be a professional speaker to work within this model. You can deliver webinars,  speak on social media, or teach a one-time course. But speaking for free is one of the shortest distances between someone viewing you as a total stranger and becoming a lifelong fan. Get out there and introduce yourself to people for free. Once they’ve met you and heard what you have to offer, the door is wide open for you to reach out and gain a new client. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Don't overcomplicate the side hustles. Start with three easy steps.

Don't overcomplicate the side hustles. Start with three easy steps. | SUCCESS

3 Simple Steps to Start Your Side Hustle

3 Simple Steps to Start Your Side Hustle | SUCCESS

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How to Drive Traffic to Your Website and Increase Brand Awareness

In this week’s episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a>, we get granular, diving deep into the fundamentals of branding, positioning and marketing.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/passing-the-i-want-test-with-gerald/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Passing The \" i="" want\"="" test="" with="" gerald"=""></iframe>



My guest, Gerald, is a consultant and speaker who uses his background as a musician to help companies ramp up their productivity and accomplish more every day. He came on the show to discuss the website he just launched—one of the five he manages. He is eager to learn how to drive traffic to his website and the products and services he sells through it.&nbsp;



First, Gerald is diluting his own traffic by having five distinct websites—and diluted focus yields diluted results. We first focused on which website he should pour energy into, and then I walked him through the tangible tools he can use to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-build-a-personal-brand-that-breaks-through-the-digital-noise/">market his brand online</a> and achieve consistent and predictable growth.&nbsp;



If you’ve ever struggled to drive traffic to your website or brand, take out a notebook and read on for my top three takeaways.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-clear-is-greater-than-clever-nbsp">1. Clear is greater than clever.&nbsp;</h2>



We compromise clarity when we try to be clever. We think a pithy title or line of copy will catch people’s attention, but it often just confuses them. Confused people never buy.&nbsp;



This is one of the most common marketing <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-mistakes-smart-people-never-make-twice/">mistakes I see entrepreneurs make</a> and one I’ve made countless times myself. Our instinct is to lead with what is clever or unique about our brand, but in doing so, we risk confusing our audience with a muddled message. Your marketing should make it crystal clear what your brand does and the problem you solve for your audience.&nbsp;



<div id="om-db3j9y5zb4yin1bvxsur-holder"></div>



The next time you write copy for your brand or compose a marketing message, ask yourself, does it need to be explained? If it does, you need to go back to the drawing board and simplify.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-use-the-i-want-test-nbsp">2. Use the ‘I want’ test.&nbsp;</h2>



Once your messaging is clear, the second filter you should run your marketing through is the “I want” test.&nbsp;



The greatest titles complete the sentence, “I want ____.” Plug your title or catchphrase into that sentence and see if it is something a member of your audience might genuinely say. I want to “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2X7c9TUQJ8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiply time</a>.” I want to “<a href="https://amzn.to/2SFTOTm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Think Like a Monk</a>.” I want to “<a href="https://amzn.to/3jpST4g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dare to Lead</a>.” If you find yourself nodding your head to these statements, it is because those titles are working.&nbsp;



Gerald had two titles he was workshopping: Workplace Jazz and Productivity Intelligence. If we put them through the “I want test,” the winner becomes immediately clear. “I want workplace jazz,” or “I want productivity intelligence.” Productivity Intelligence is concise, clear and enticing. We all want to be more productive.&nbsp;



What does your audience want, and how can you give it to them? Your answers to these questions should be immediately clear upon reading your marketing.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-paid-traffic-is-predictable-traffic-nbsp">3. Paid traffic is predictable traffic.&nbsp;</h2>



Many treat the fact that they don’t use paid traffic like a badge of honor. But paid traffic is the only traffic you can control; paid traffic is predictable traffic. If you rely on organic traffic alone, you will forever be at the mercy of an ever-changing algorithm and the whims of a mercurial audience.&nbsp;



It is impossible to measure the success (or lack thereof) of your messaging in an empirical and objective way when you rely solely on organic traffic. If a post goes viral, there is no way to know exactly why it worked. Every post or marketing push becomes a gamble. And although paid traffic is still a gamble (all things in the entrepreneurial life are), it is far less risky. You know you will get traffic because you paid for it, and you will be able to quickly see what is working and what is not. For every dollar spent on traffic, you can (and should) track the clicks that result from it.&nbsp;



Don’t be afraid of paid traffic—there is no medal for living at the mercy of algorithms and audience preferences. Paid traffic gives you the chance to take control of your own destiny and predictably grow your brand.



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

If you’ve ever struggled to drive traffic to your website or brand, take out a notebook and read on for my top three takeaways.

If you’ve ever struggled to drive traffic to your website or brand, take out a notebook and read on for my top three takeaways. | SUCCESS

How to Drive Traffic to Your Website and Increase Brand Awareness | SUCCESS

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How to Turn Your Calling into Your Career

<p id="h-this-week-s-conversation-on-success-line-is-one-you-will-not-want-to-miss-i-talk-to-philip-a-man-who-has-experienced-unimaginable-loss-his-14-year-old-son-disappeared-at-sea-while-on-a-fishing-trip-with-a-friend-and-they-still-to-this-day-do-not-know-what-happened-it-is-a-loss-so-profound-that-i-am-not-sure-i-would-have-been-able-to-survive-it-myself-but-philip-has-and-his-perspective-on-life-is-one-that-is-truly-inspiring">This week’s conversation on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/id1562700048" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUCCESS Line</a> is one you will not want to miss. I talk to Philip, a man who has experienced unimaginable loss: his 14-year-old son disappeared at sea while on a fishing trip with a friend, and they still, to this day, do not know what happened. It is a loss so profound that I am not sure I would have been able to survive it myself. But Philip has, and his perspective on life is one that is truly inspiring.&nbsp;



<p id="h-now-he-wants-to-use-his-experience-of-grief-to-help-others-who-have-gone-through-a-traumatic-loss-he-came-on-the-show-to-discuss-how-to-build-his-speaking-business-and-create-meaningful-content-for-his-audience-he-feels-that-this-work-is-his-life-s-calling-but-wonders-how-does-one-turn-a-calling-into-a-business">Now, he wants to use his experience of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/grant-cardone-how-to-bounce-back-in-7-steps/">grief to help others</a> who have gone through a traumatic loss. He came on the show to discuss how to build his speaking business and create meaningful content for his audience. He feels that this work is his life’s calling, but wonders how does one turn a calling into a business?



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/using-pain-to-help-others-with-philip/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Using Pain to Help Others with Philip"></iframe>



If this is a question you’ve grappled with yourself, read on for my top three tips to align your career with your calling.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-hone-in-on-the-problem-you-solve-nbsp">1. Hone in on the problem you solve.&nbsp;</h2>



When building a business or brand, you need to figure out what problem you solve and you need to be able to state it in one word. This is the very first step we take with clients at <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brand Builders Group</a>, and it is also the most important.&nbsp;



I’ll put it bluntly: most entrepreneurs are lazy about this work. They don’t want to do the work of honing in on what problem they solve. It is much easier to throw up a bunch of random products and services and hope something will stick. But what these entrepreneurs will soon discover is that without clarity their business will go nowhere.



Try this exercise with your own business. First, identify and write down what problem you solve in one word. Then, write down how you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/grant-cardone-how-to-bounce-back-in-7-steps/">solve that problem in one sentence</a>. If you find yourself drawing a blank, you need to stop everything else you’re doing for your business and get clear on those answers first. Without pristine clarity on the problem you solve, you are going to end up with a random smattering of ideas and products that lack the laser focus required to get the job done.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-embrace-your-season-of-obscurity">2. Embrace your season of obscurity.</h2>



It is very possible to do the right thing at the wrong time. So many of us type-A personalities (aka, most entrepreneurs) want to skip straight to the end of the process where we get on the big stage or land the big book deal. But there is a process we need to follow before we get there to ensure we (and the products/services we offer) are ready. If you try to shortcut the process, you will end up piece-mealing a rickety boat that cannot withstand much pressure. There is no elevator to shoot you straight to the top; you need to <a href="https://amzn.to/3wOHLlv" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">take the stairs</a>.



It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from speaker and YouTuber <a href="https://www.seancannell.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sean Cannell</a>: “Use your season of obscurity to prepare you for your season of popularity.”&nbsp;



You’re not going to be famous right away. You must trust the process. Focus on helping people and creating something beautiful. Spend time developing your product or service and steadily grow and get better over time. If you do this, and you come back enthusiastically every day, then your season of popularity will come.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-pain-prepares-us">3. Pain prepares us.</h2>



I am in awe of Philip’s story of perseverance through loss and grief. His ability to use his experience to help others serves as a powerful reminder to us all.&nbsp;



The pain that we are going through prepares us to become the person we one day need to be for someone else. This perspective can help us endure all the difficulties that life throws at us. It is not about you, and it is not your fault. You are being strengthened, shaped and molded through every hardship.&nbsp;



Trusting there is someone who will need you and your unique perspective in the future will help you survive your pain. When you do survive, and you hear a little voice in your head calling you to serve, listen closely. The calling that you hear results from a signal being sent from someone else out there who needs your help.&nbsp;



<div id="om-ne3wn9ggcxycpiqxarfx-holder"></div>



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Most entrepreneurs are lazy about the work of honing in on what problem they want to solve.

Most entrepreneurs are lazy about the work of honing in on what problem they want to solve. | SUCCESS

How to Turn Your Calling into Your Career | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SLPod_Philip_Scom_Thumbnail_6_23_21.jpg

Willpower Isn't the Problem—Entitlement Is

The more I study ultra-performer business founders, the more I’m convinced of one thing.&nbsp;



I believe that 98% of success is the sheer result of one’s ability to keep pressing forward with a high degree of intensity regardless of the challenging circumstances. In a word, it’s perseverance. But the reason why most people don’t persevere is different than you might expect.



It’s not because <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-science-of-willpower/">they lack willpower</a>. It’s not because they’re destined to quit. And it’s not because other people are more capable.



It’s because most people struggle with entitlement. Entitlement is the belief that things shouldn’t have to be so hard—that it’s unfair for me to encounter so many challenges. Entitlement is the mindset that I’ve already gone through enough difficulty, and things should be easier.



Somewhere along the journey of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Asuccess.com%3A+successful+business&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS942US944&amp;oq=site%3Asuccess.com%3A+successful+business&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.4999j0j4&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">building a successful company</a>, every entrepreneur must conquer this disgusting disease. Entitlement destroys our ability to reach our dreams because it erodes our ability to activate our discipline.



We are all capable of continuing in the midst of the most difficult circumstances. We’ve all heard true stories of survival—people hiking to safety after a plane crash, cutting off their own arms or drifting helplessly at sea for weeks until being rescued. A Navy Seal friend of mine always says, “the human body can survive damn near anything. It’s the mind that needs conditioning.”



The reason most of us don’t endure is because of a much simpler reason than we often realize: We think we shouldn’t have to. We incorrectly assume that if someone else has something, it should be simple for us to have it too. In the worst cases of entitlement, we feel we are owed something and it’s someone else’s fault if we don’t yet have it.



&nbsp;But no matter the cause, we know for sure that the moment our entitlement engages is the exact moment our self-discipline disengages. Thus, our inability to persevere.



The power to persevere comes largely from realizing there’s no other option. It is not only understanding, but embracing that life is a series of struggles—a repeating set of difficulties no matter who you are. And it is knowing that each individual obstacle will either make you stronger or weaker.



This brings us to the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-practical-tips-to-achieve-a-positive-mindset/">most important mindset</a> that separates ultra-performers from everybody else. Ultra-performers know that success is never owned; it is only rented, and the rent is due every day.



Ultra-performers are not afraid of the idea that life is a continuous set of challenges. Instead, they are empowered by the notion that they have overcome in the past and will continue to overcome in the future. The best entrepreneurs don’t subscribe to the lie that, once they’ve achieved a certain amount of success, they have made it. They know they aren’t owed anything. They don’t waste time or energy complaining or being frustrated that things are hard.



<div id="om-ne3wn9ggcxycpiqxarfx-holder"></div>



They know it’s inherently part of the process because success is never owned; it’s only rented, and the rent is due every day. When I first published this rent axiom in my book Take the Stairs, I wondered if people would find it defeating because it erases the idea of a finish line. But it’s been embraced and shared by some of the highest performers in the world, including people like NFL megastar J.J. Watt.



In any field, the greats thrive on knowing that how successful or unsuccessful they were yesterday makes no difference. In either case, the only thing that matters is how you show up and what you do today. So if you’re a low achiever, your past does not matter and you must get started right now. If you’re a high achiever, your past does not matter and you must keep going right now.



All that matters is the choice you make today—to keep going, to persevere.



This article originally appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photos by Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Entitlement is the mindset that I’ve already gone through enough difficulty, and things should be easier.

Entitlement is the mindset that I’ve already gone through enough difficulty, and things should be easier. | SUCCESS

Sheer Willpower Isn't the Problem—Entitlement Is

Sheer Willpower Isn&#8217;t the Problem—Entitlement Is

Sheer Willpower Isn't the Problem—Entitlement Is | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Sheer-willpower-Isnt-the-Problem-Entitlement-Is.jpg

How to Scale Your Business While Kicking Self-Doubt to the Curb

This week’s guest on SUCCESS Line has already been on one of the biggest stages: Broadway. But with the theater shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our guest Bret, a Broadway actor, has spent the past year expanding his coaching business for creatives. Now what was once a side-hustle has become a full-time business he is ready to scale.&nbsp;&nbsp;



He came on this week’s SUCCESS Line with a two-part problem. The first was tactical: how does he scale his business in a way that is fair to his audience and fair to himself? The second was more emotional: how does he let go of that nagging voice in his head that fills him with self-doubt and leaves him comparing himself to others?&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/building-a-funnel-with-bret/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Building a Funnel with Bret"></iframe>



The secret is that we all face doubts and insecurities while growing a business, no matter how big or small of a stage. So how do we put those fears aside and focus on the work that matters? Read on for my top three tips.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-lean-in-to-your-passion">1. Lean in to your passion.</h2>



It is not enough to be good at something. In order to succeed, you must put yourself through the passion test. What fires you up? If it doesn’t fire you up, you won’t be able to sustain it; you’ll burn out in mere months.&nbsp;



When speaking with Bret, it quickly became clear that he is passionate about his business; he just needed help to articulate it. Give yourself permission to sit down and identify what you are truly passionate about doing, solving and curing. And remember that passion is not just sunshine and rainbows: What upsets off? What feels unfair? What breaks your heart? Your answers to these questions are clues to your uniqueness, and your uniqueness is the key to your success.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-know-your-numbers">2. Know your numbers.</h2>



Entrepreneurs have a tendency to panic when they find their business stagnating. But the reason most businesses stall is not because of the caliber of their product or service; it is almost always because they don’t have enough reach. Luckily for us, that is something we can now control (to a degree) through online advertising. With paid media you can purchase clicks and impressions, which leads to more eyeballs on your business and, eventually, more money in your pocket. It is the same concept as buying a Super Bowl ad, only much cheaper and easier.&nbsp;



However, in order to invest in a strategic online marketing plan you need to know your numbers. Calculate how much that first click is worth to you; this will tell you how much you can afford to spend on paid media. To identify this number, you need to know the percentages of conversion at each stage of your business’ funnel, aka the process you lead prospective clients through when asking them to take out their credit cards. Then, you can reverse engineer what each of those points of contact is worth, tracking each step all the way back to that first click.&nbsp;



The next time you find yourself in a panic that your business isn’t working, slow down and look at the data. Knowing your numbers can turn that panic into a simple pragmatic question: how much can I afford to buy clicks for and from where can I buy them? This is the fastest way to get more reach for your business.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-let-go-of-imposter-syndrome">3. Let go of imposter syndrome.</h2>



Imposter syndrome eats at us. So many of us run a constant tape in our mind that says, “I’m not good enough,” or, “I’m not smart enough.” When this happens, know that it is simply your brain functioning in a normal and healthy way to keep you safe. Your brain is designed for safety; it wants you to do what you have always done. But success is not about safety. It is about getting outside of your comfort zone and doing new things that are risky and scary.&nbsp;



Recognize that imposter syndrome is your brain trying to keep you safe and then work to reprogram it. Once you do, you’ll realize that nobody has the same uniqueness you do; nobody has the same experience, the same heartaches or the same passion.&nbsp;



We are lucky enough to live in a world where we all have the opportunity to build a platform and share our stories. Although this means there is a lot of noise in the digital world, it doesn’t matter. The more you step into being who you are and allow that to come through, the more you are going to stand out and win.&nbsp;



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Finally, you will feel fear only when you are thinking about yourself. There is no fear when your mission to serve is clear. Step outside of yourself and your personal hang-ups, and focus on the people you are uniquely positioned to serve. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

It is not enough to be good at something. In order to succeed, you must put yourself through the passion test.

It is not enough to be good at something. In order to succeed, you must put yourself through the passion test. | SUCCESS

How to Scale Your Business While Kicking Self-Doubt to the Curb | SUCCESS

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Have you ever felt disheartened by the entrepreneurial life? If you’ve worked as an entrepreneur for even a day, I have a feeling you have.&nbsp;



On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, I talk with Dawn, a mother of four hoping to transition from her job in real estate to a career as a coach, author and speaker. But she is feeling frustrated by her progress and unsure of where to go next—should she start a YouTube channel? Go live on Instagram? Write more blog posts? The options feel endless and overwhelming. Throughout our conversation, I help Dawn cut through the noise and crystalize her focus in order to set her up for the success she craves.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/focus-is-power-with-dawn/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Focus Is Power with Dawn"></iframe>



If you’ve ever felt discouraged as an entrepreneur, know that you are not alone. And luckily, we are here to help guide you. Read on for my top three tips to find your focus.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-you-are-most-powerfully-positioned-to-serve-the-person-you-once-were">1. You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.</h2>



If there is a shortcut for turning your personal brand into a scalable business, it is this: You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.&nbsp;



Ask yourself:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>What problem have I solved?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What challenge have I overcome?&nbsp;</li>



<li>What path have I walked down?</li>
</ul>



The person most likely to buy your products or services is the person you once were. Because you’ve been in their shoes, you not only know how to understand their challenges, but also how to articulate and resolve their challenges.



This is the No.1 accelerator when building a personal brand or business. Who were you in the past, and how can you serve that person from where you are now?&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-diluted-focus-yields-diluted-results">2. Diluted focus yields diluted results.</h2>



Finding multiple streams of income is bad advice for fledgling entrepreneurs. Why? Diluted focus yields diluted results. Power comes from focus; water streamlined enough can cut through glass. You only need one stream of income, but you have to pour all of your focus into it and dominate it.&nbsp;



Look at your current business model. Where are you experiencing momentum naturally? What is the fastest route to cash right now? Most wealthy entrepreneurs achieved success by identifying one stream of income that actually worked, and then, as their business grew, they diversified. Beware of the false temptation of multiple revenue streams. Pick one avenue and put all your effort into making it profitable. Remember: focus is power.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-grant-yourself-the-grace-of-patience-nbsp">3. Grant yourself the grace of patience.&nbsp;</h2>



When entrepreneurs like Dawn feel discouraged, it is usually for one of two reasons. The first is that they haven’t been doing it long enough. Entrepreneurship is a long and arduous game. I always say that I may be young in age, but I am old in stage time. I started speaking publicly when I was 17 years old, so I have been in this business for more than 20 years—and there is still so much I hope to accomplish. Grant yourself the grace of patience; there is no replacement for time.



The second reason is that they are not getting in front of enough new people. Go out in as many places as possible (online and offline) and speak to new audiences for free. Maybe that means going live with someone you admire on Instagram, getting on Clubhouse or joining our <a href="https://achievers.success.com/">SUCCESS achievers community</a>. But you can’t grow your business if you’re only talking to the same 500 followers on your Instagram. It’s as if you’re sitting in your living room, pitching your services to your family members over and over again. You need to leave the comfort of your own home and meet your neighbors.



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Finally, if you’re feeling discouraged, I’ll let you in on a little secret—I get discouraged all the time. It is a natural part of being an entrepreneur. The key to overcoming it is to use it as a guide. What’s not working? And where are you experiencing momentum? Follow the breadcrumbs that appear, however big or small they might seem. Those crumbs may lead you somewhere you’d never expect. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

Have you ever felt disheartened by the entrepreneurial life? If you’ve worked as an entrepreneur for even a day, I have a feeling you have.&nbsp; On this

Have you ever felt disheartened by the entrepreneurial life? If you’ve worked as an entrepreneur for even a day, I have a feeling you have.&nbsp; On this | SUCCESS

How to Sharpen Your Business Focus

How to Sharpen Your Business Focus | SUCCESS

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The 3 Most Important Financial Checkpoints of Your Life

Money

Money Archives

Achieve financial success and freedom

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to get trapped in the hustle cycle: work hard, stress, achieve a goal, immediately set a new one. We rarely sit back and consider what we are working toward or when we will stop.



On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line I talk to Justine, a young Australian entrepreneur who is stuck in this very cycle. She runs a boutique digital branding agency and is a quintessential hustler; she is hard on herself and never takes the time to slow down and celebrate her wins.&nbsp;



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/creating-the-finish-line-with-justine/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Creating the Finish Line with Justine"></iframe>



So how does an entrepreneur like Justine know when she’s “made it?” At what point does she grant herself the grace to slow down?



Everyone’s final destination is different, but I have found a tactical way to more precisely identify where you are trying to go. With our clients at <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/">Brand Builders Group</a>, we start with money. Although it’s true that money isn’t the end-all be-all, it is a concrete mechanism that we can all understand and one that helps us cement our goals.&nbsp;



If you’ve ever wondered how to measure your success, read on for my top three most important financial checkpoints.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-become-debt-free">1. Become debt free.</h2>



The biggest transformation in my personal life was not making more money; it was becoming debt-free. I didn’t realize how much stress my debt was causing me until I paid it off. Suddenly, the money I was making each month was entirely mine to do whatever I wanted with. It freed me from the constant stress, the feeling that I could never stop working and the thought that I would forever be playing catch up.&nbsp;



The financial freedom that so many of us are seeking does not necessarily come from a massive pile of money. It comes from breaking free of the shackles of debt.&nbsp;



Feeling wealthy happens more as a byproduct of being debt-free than it does as a result of accumulating more and more money. Figure out the shortest distance between your life now and a life that is debt-free. The financial freedom you desire might be much closer than you realize.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-find-your-retirement-number">2. Find your retirement number.</h2>



Most entrepreneurs have a budget for today, but you also need a budget for the future—a dream budget.



What do I mean by this?&nbsp;



If you were living your ideal life, how much money would you need to pay your monthly living expenses once you’ve retired? When you identify that number, you can calculate how much you need to have invested in order to earn that monthly amount based on interest alone. Now you have a tangible number to work toward in your career.&nbsp;



For example, if you had $5 million invested, and you earned an average of 10% interest on that money, then that would throw off $500,000 per year to you to use to pay your living expenses without ever decreasing your principal. Theoretically, that money would never run out and you could provide yourself a very nice lifestyle for the rest of your life.



Being an entrepreneur is hard work. We make short-term sacrifices to see long-term gains. But your career doesn’t have to be one long chaotic sprint. Finding your retirement number will give you endurance, help you make strategic decisions and tell you when it’s time to stop (or at the very least slow down).&nbsp;



You don’t have to run on an endless, looping treadmill to nowhere—find your retirement number and give yourself a final destination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-realize-the-power-of-infinite-service-nbsp">3. Realize the power of infinite service.&nbsp;</h2>



With that said, no amount of money will ever make you feel fulfilled. No amount of achievement will ever make you feel worthy. No amount of possessions will ever give your life meaning.&nbsp;



Purpose, meaning and fulfillment come from asking, how can I help?&nbsp;



Don’t get me wrong; I am not saying you shouldn’t work hard or strive to make money. What I am saying is that money will not be the ultimate source of meaning in your life. In order to find meaning, put your life in the context of your relationship with others.&nbsp;



The quickest way to the feelings we all seek—happiness, joy and fulfillment—is through helping other people. And it is something we all can do today, regardless of how much money we make or at what point in our career we are.&nbsp;



At some point, another dollar in your wallet will not bring you more peace or happiness. So instead of searching for purpose in dollar signs, ask yourself: Whom can I help? And how can I help them? 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to get trapped in the hustle cycle: work hard, stress, achieve a goal, immediately set a new one. We rarely sit back and

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to get trapped in the hustle cycle: work hard, stress, achieve a goal, immediately set a new one. We rarely sit back and | SUCCESS

The 3 Most Important Financial Checkpoints of Your Life | SUCCESS

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How (And Why) to Hire a Virtual Assistant

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, we dive into a process that is seemingly simple—hiring an assistant—but carries implications that go much deeper.



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/hiring-during-covid-with-devin/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Hiring During COVID with Devin"></iframe>



I talk to Devin, a successful real-estate practitioner who has been in the business for more than 30 years and whose local and national team includes hundreds. Recently, his executive assistant relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he is looking to hire someone new to become his “Chief Time Ninja.” I help him identify what he needs from an assistant (Remote or in-person? personal or executive?), how to best go about the hiring process, and why he should consider bringing in more help in all aspects of his life.&nbsp;



Hiring an assistant is a step that all entrepreneurs likely come to at some point, and your mindset surrounding the process is far more important than you might think. Keep reading to learn not only how to hire an assistant but also why doing so can be such a game-changer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-multiply-your-time">1. Multiply your time.</h2>



Raise your hand if you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I am overwhelmed, overworked, and falling behind, but… I can’t afford an assistant.” Sound familiar?



The thing is, you are already affording it. You can either pay someone else at their rate or you can pay yourself at your rate of pay. Anything taking your time—big or small—is costing you your rate of pay; you are charging yourself with opportunity costs.&nbsp;



So yes, you can afford to hire an assistant because you are already paying for it. Once you hire someone, you will find that you have exponentially more time to go out and work toward the results you are actually paid to achieve.



This is how you multiply time, a concept I coined in my second book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2S66WjI">Procrastinate on Purpose</a>, and spoke about in my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2X7c9TUQJ8">TED Talk</a>. There is nothing you can do to add more hours into a day; you multiply your time by spending time on things today that create more time tomorrow.&nbsp;



For Devin (and I suspect many of you) hiring an assistant today is an investment in his time going forward. Every day in the future that his new assistant completes a task for him is a return on that investment.&nbsp;



If you still think you can’t afford an assistant, I’ll say this: You don’t need another car; you need more time. You don’t need a bigger house; you need less stress. You don’t need a bigger bank account; you need more peace. What can you invest in today to create more time and less stress in the future?&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-start-with-your-sphere-of-influence-nbsp">2. Start with your sphere of influence.&nbsp;</h2>



Whether you are searching for an executive assistant like Devin or another member of your team, the best, fastest, and most affordable way to find a great candidate is to start with your sphere of influence. Reach out to your friends, family members and colleagues to let them know what you are looking for. By starting with your sphere, you accelerate trust with your potential new hire.&nbsp;



Plus, the No. 1 way to recruit new team members is by asking those already on your team. These are the people who support your mission, and they are likely to know people with similar values and passions that you can bring on board.&nbsp;



When hiring or recruiting for any position, start with your sphere of influence first and reach out to strangers second.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-grant-yourself-permission-to-be-imperfect-nbsp">3. Grant yourself permission to be imperfect. &nbsp;</h2>



This is one of the hardest and most important lessons all entrepreneurs must learn, and one that has taken me years to learn. It finally clicked for me while interviewing successful entrepreneurs during my research for Procrastinate on Purpose. I wanted to know: how do the most successful 1% think differently about time? I’ll never forget what one entrepreneur said in response: “Rory, you have to remember that 80% done right by someone else is always better than 100% done right by you.”



In order to advance from achiever to leader you have to give yourself the permission to be imperfect; you have to break free from the constraints of perfectionism.&nbsp;



This advice may feel counterintuitive for entrepreneurs. You’ve likely just spent your entire career aiming for 100% perfection, and that perfection is how you’ve achieved your current level of success. But what got you here as a performer won’t get you there as a leader.&nbsp;



Andy Stanley, an author, speaker and pastor says “Leadership is not always about getting things done ‘right.’ Leadership is about getting things done through other people.” Focus on where you excel and delegate the rest.



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If you want to break into the next level in your career and become a true leader, you have to release control and give yourself permission to be imperfect. 



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, we dive into a process that is seemingly simple—hiring an assistant—but carries implications that go much deeper.

On this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, we dive into a process that is seemingly simple—hiring an assistant—but carries implications that go much deeper. | SUCCESS

How (And Why) to Hire a Virtual Assistant | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SLPod_Devin_Scom_Thumbnail_5_19_21.jpg

In this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, our conversation goes global. I talk to Quine, a young entrepreneur in the Philippines who was formerly a certified public accountant and auditor. Now, he is trying to build a motivational speaking brand—a path I just so happen to know quite well.



<iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/the-success-line-with-rory-vaden/market-your-uniqueness-with-quine/embed?style=artwork" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="Market Your Uniqueness with Quine"></iframe>



Like many of our SUCCESS readers, Quine has big dreams for his business, but he is struggling to see the path out of obscurity and wondering how to build credibility at a young age. Throughout our conversation, I help Quine translate his youthful exuberance into actionable steps he can take toward building the unique business of his dreams.&nbsp;



Ready to build your own brand or business? Read on for my top four tips to get you started.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-allow-yourself-to-dream">1. Allow yourself to dream.</h2>



The first step toward realizing any goal is allowing yourself to dream it.&nbsp;



Many young entrepreneurs like Quine start out their career with a beautiful vision of their dreams. Over time, however, they allow negative self-talk to seep in and crush all hope of their dream coming true.&nbsp;



In order to succeed, you have to momentarily put aside the self-doubts and critiques and let your mind wander toward that crazy dream you’ve been too afraid to say out loud. Can you see it yet? The more you allow yourself to visualize the fantasy of your dream—even for a fraction of a second—the more you will see and take action toward the possibility of it coming true.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-narrow-your-niche">2. Narrow your niche.</h2>



At <a href="https://brandbuildersgroup.com/">Brand Builders Group</a>, we’ve developed a concept we call “Sheehan’s Wall.” It refers to the invisible wall that separates unknown entrepreneurs from the well-established thought leaders in any given field. New entrepreneurs often try to break through the wall by throwing everything and anything they have at it—constantly launching new products, new services and new branding. This enthusiasm comes with a catch: a diluted focus yields diluted results. You’ll never break down that wall if you spread yourself too thin.&nbsp;



What yields power is focus—the sun’s rays filtered through a magnifying glass create fire. In order to break through Sheehan’s wall, you must figure out what your magnifying glass is: You need to narrow your niche. What is the one small area you can become an expert on? What specific problem can you solve for others?&nbsp;



Identify your niche and put in the work to become an expert in it. Once you do this, you will no longer need to fight through a crowd in order to knock down the wall; you can simply walk right up and crush it.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-find-your-uniqueness">3. Find your uniqueness.</h2>



Identifying your niche is often easier said than done. My shortcut? You are most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were.&nbsp;



Your uniqueness lives at the intersection of whom you are called to be in the future and whom you have been in the past. If you can figure out where your passion, education and experience align, then you have found your niche.



For Quine, we discovered that he is uniquely positioned to serve as an expert in productivity by speaking to the organizational systems he used in his former career as a CPA. Are there problems you’ve had to overcome in your own career? Questions you’ve answered? What are you uniquely positioned to teach because you’ve lived through it?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-build-a-digital-network">4. Build a digital network.</h2>



Toward the end of our conversation, Quine asked a question that has been on the mind of many entrepreneurs over the last year: How does one network in this increasingly digital world?&nbsp;



To that I have two answers. The first is to engage with the content of individuals you admire. People notice those who comment on their posts or retweet their articles. If you’re a fan of someone’s work online, tell them. The best way to build a network is by supporting the work of the people you want to know.



My second answer is to start a podcast. I get it—there are more than <a href="https://mypodcastreviews.com/apple-podcasts-surpasses-1-million-podcasts/?utm_source=podnews.net&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=podnews.net:2020-04-20">1 million podcasts</a> in the world and you may feel it’s too late for you to enter the market. But you’re wrong. Podcasting is a tremendously powerful vehicle for networking. Even if your podcast doesn’t make money or build a large audience, the value of networking that comes from podcasting is still worthwhile. With a podcast, you have the opportunity to offer a media platform to influential figures, opening doors that would otherwise remain locked shut.&nbsp;



This is the power of digital networking for entrepreneurs: to make accessible what once was not. Comment on a post, send a direct message and start a podcast—your network is simply waiting to be built.&nbsp;



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Dreams are the fuel of entrepreneurship. But without actionable steps, a dream can quickly die. Let yourself dream, then do the work to make your greatest visions come to life.



The SUCCESS Line is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.

In this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, our conversation goes global. I talk to Quine, a young entrepreneur in the Philippines who was formerly a

In this week’s episode of SUCCESS Line, our conversation goes global. I talk to Quine, a young entrepreneur in the Philippines who was formerly a | SUCCESS

How to Market Your Uniqueness

How to Market Your Uniqueness | SUCCESS

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