Sandy Mann, Director of Marketing
SPI Media
[email protected]

Caleb Wojcik's acclaimed expertise in filmmaking enhances the Expert in Residence Program, offering entrepreneurs unparalleled insight and value.

SPI Media is thrilled to announce the latest addition to the Expert in Residence Program: filmmaker Caleb Wojcik. Joining the ranks of esteemed members Terry Rice, Jason Feifer, Pat Flynn, and Matthew Gartland, Wojcik brings a wealth of expertise to the SPI Pro community.

About Caleb Wojcik and the Expert in Residence Program

Caleb Wojcik is a seasoned video production expert with a career stretching back to 2010. He describes himself as a self-proclaimed “recovering camera gear addict” and runs his own video production company. With mastery in filming, editing, and strategic distribution, Caleb is a trusted authority in the industry. His entrepreneurial journey extends beyond video to include successful ventures in course launches, podcasts, YouTube growth, Kickstarter campaigns, and ecommerce brand management. He is also the co-founder of the wildly successful SwitchPod — a minimal handheld tripod that lets users quickly switch between handheld and tripod modes.

When asked about his goals within the SPI Pro community, Caleb emphasized his commitment to helping entrepreneurs overcome obstacles. He aims to empower those who feel stuck, guiding them toward success in the rewarding yet challenging world of entrepreneurship.

Caleb Wojcik's arrival marks a new chapter for SPI Pro's Expert in Residence Program, providing members with direct access to leaders in online entrepreneurship. The program encompasses key business domains such as leadership, sales and marketing, product development, and operational strategies. It offers exclusive insights and expert-led events designed to equip entrepreneurs with essential skills and foster continuous growth. Caleb's expertise adds depth to the program, further enhancing its value to SPI Pro members seeking guidance and inspiration on their entrepreneurial journey.

About SPI Media

SPI Media is a trusted learning and development ecosystem serving a global community of online entrepreneurs. Comprising two vibrant online communities — the All-Access Pass and SPI Pro — SPI Media caters to entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. The All-Access Pass is tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs, while SPI Pro is an application-based community tailored for established business owners seeking guidance for accelerated growth. SPI enables members to achieve their goals through top-tier educational content, community-building opportunities, and training experiences. To learn more about SPI Media and the Expert in Residence program, please visit SmartPassiveIncome.com.

The post SPI Media Welcomes Filmmaker Caleb Wojcik to its Expert in Residence Program appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/28/24

Sandy Mann, Director of Marketing
SPI Media
[email protected]

SPI Media's innovative Expert in Residence Program redefines entrepreneurial education, offering comprehensive mentorship within the online SPI Pro Community.

SPI Media proudly announces the launch of the Expert in Residence program, an exclusive offering within the SPI Pro online community. This program grants community members access to distinguished leaders in the online entrepreneurship space, including founding experts Terry Rice, Jason Feifer, Matthew Gartland, and Pat Flynn.

About the Expert in Residence Program

• The Expert in Residence Program covers business domains including leadership, sales and marketing, product development, and operational strategies.
• Members benefit from exclusive features such as quarterly roundtable discussions, monthly ask-me-anything sessions, weekly advice and insights, and expert-led events.
• The program is designed to equip members with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their entrepreneurial goals and foster continuous growth.

Matthew Gartland, CEO and Co-Founder of SPI Media and one of the founding Experts in Residence, highlights the program's significance: “Instead of indexing on one niche, we are building a network of business experts spanning the diverse aspects of small business. Where others provide incomplete experiences and expertise, we provide full coverage.”

This marks just the beginning of the Expert in Residence program’s visionary roadmap. SPI Media will continually expand its roster of experts and enhance program offerings. This initiative marks the start of an exciting journey toward comprehensive business education as SPI Media continues to support and empower the entrepreneurial community.

About SPI Media

SPI Media is a trusted learning and development ecosystem serving a global community of online entrepreneurs. Comprising two vibrant online communities — the All-Access Pass and SPI Pro — SPI Media caters to entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. The All-Access Pass is tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs, while SPI Pro is an application-based community tailored for established business owners seeking guidance for accelerated growth. SPI enables members to achieve their goals through top-tier educational content, community-building opportunities, and training experiences. To learn more about SPI Media and the Expert in Residence program, please visit SmartPassiveIncome.com.

The post SPI Media Launches Groundbreaking Expert in Residence Program to Empower Entrepreneurs appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

Brian Luebben had soared to the top of the corporate ladder, landing a prestigious position in a Fortune 500 Sales Organization in his mid-twenties and earning a substantial salary. 

But then, a startling truth hit him: he did not want this life.

He didn’t just want financial success, he wanted to quit his corporate job and travel the world full-time with the freedom to shape his life and career as his own boss. 

With the success of his podcast, which evolved into his growing media company, Brian turned his vision into reality. 

Today, he lives his dream, traveling the world, earning passive income, and pursuing projects close to his heart — like his Action Academy. Brian’s story epitomizes entrepreneurial success fused with personal fulfillment.
Brian recently sat down with Pat Flynn to share his story on The Smart Passive Income Podcast.

Determined to align his career with his ideal lifestyle, Brian transitioned from corporate life to full-time traveler by following this gameplan:

1. Determining his ideal vision for the future
2. Establishing a solid financial foundation
3. Creating content and collecting client data
4. Developing a product tailored to his audience’s needs
5. Pivoting his business strategy in response to customer feedback
6. Generating recurring revenue
7. Seeking out growth opportunities for the future

Planning Your Job Exit

Establish Your Ideal Vision for the Future

So how do you determine your next steps after quitting your job to travel? How do you even start to replace a corporate salary? With so many unknowns, there was one thing that Brian was certain of: instead of running away from something, he wanted to run toward something. 

This meant crafting a three-year “vivid vision” for both his personal and professional aspirations. By committing his dreams to paper, he gained a clear roadmap.

Here's the picture he painted: 

“I wake up in the morning and I can feel the hot cobblestones of this balcony on my feet and I look out and I can see the ocean. I don’t have calls all morning, but in the afternoon I’ve got meetings with my team. I can make money anywhere in the world with a Mac and a mic.”

A Financial Foundation for Full-Time Travel

Now that Brian had a clear destination in mind, he needed to map out the route to get there. His next step, which he calls “building a financial foundation,” involved investing in real estate. 

Brian developed a portfolio of single-family rentals, generating enough passive income to cover his living expenses and begin replacing his corporate salary.

Although Brian was able to essentially live for free, he aimed for something greater. Taking a bold leap, he decided to sell his properties, allowing him to “swing for the fences” and focus on his true passions: his podcast and online business.

“What is the worst possible case scenario that happens if you quit your job and you go all in on yourself, right? “You run out of money. Now what happens? You go and get another job. So your worst-case scenario is your present-day reality, right?”

Turning Your Side-Hustle into a Thriving Online Business

Start to Create Content

Now that you’ve established your vision for the future, built a financial foundation, and are willing to take risks to pursue your passions, it’s time to start building your online business. But where do you start? 

Brian explains that the first step is to simply start producing content in any format that showcases your skills and interests and see what resonates with your audience.

Brian accomplished this by hosting his podcast, The Action Academy, where he provides insights for people who share his desire — to build a business around their life, not the other way around.

Gather Client Data

To increase his revenue and better cater to his audience, Brian wanted to learn more about their needs. He offered 100 listeners a free 15-minute coaching session each. During these sessions, he asked them about the challenges and obstacles they were facing in achieving their business goals. This approach allowed him to collect a wealth of valuable customer data.

Why offer this free service? According to Brian, many entrepreneurs encounter a common pitfall: they create solutions for problems that don't truly exist. To avoid falling into this trap, Brian aimed to connect directly with his audience to determine exactly what the market demands.

Ready to become your own boss like Brian?

Dive into SPI’s vibrant entrepreneurial communities where you can uncover courses on podcasting, online course creation, and community building — all skills that Brian used to achieve his freedom. Get the guidance and support you need to thrive on your business journey!

Explore SPI's communities of creators and entrepreneurs today.

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Create a Product that Your Audience Really Needs

Now equipped with this useful client data, Brian decided to create a course tailored directly to the needs of his audience. He developed a comprehensive 12-week, 52-hour program and reached out to the original 100 clients from the free coaching sessions, offering the course to them at $1,500 each.

Within just 48 hours, Brian made $100,000.

Pivot the Business for Growth

The business you envision for yourself might end up looking different in reality. This is because continued business growth relies on the ability to identify opportunities for expansion and to make adjustments when necessary.

Brian experienced this when he created a Facebook Group for his course participants to connect. Members began forming partnerships and making deals within the group. Eventually, discussions arose about the value of the group surpassing that of the course itself.

Brian recognized this as an opportunity and reassessed his strategy, embarking on a new phase for his business: community-building.

“The key is to just start step after step after step and iterate, change as you take customer feedback, and ask your customer, what do you want?”

Generate Recurring Revenue to Fuel Full-Time Travel

So, what came next for Brian after making this realization? He adjusted his business model to focus on building and monetizing the community. The course transformed into a 30-day onboarding process, now offered for free within the community.

This shift led to community members finding greater success by connecting with peers at similar stages as them or those who had overcome similar challenges. These connections provided valuable guidance and support, helping members navigate their journeys more effectively.

This business pivot also opened the door to recurring revenue for Brian, the key to unlocking full-time travel. Unlike the one-time transactions of individual course sales, the community's annual memberships promised ongoing financial stability and engagement.

Today, the community boasts around 200 active members and is overseen by Brian and a team of five. In its first year, Brian's business is projected to reach $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).

“The reason I made that pivot was the course material wasn’t the answer. People were the answer. People have always been the answer.”

Living Life as a Full-Time Digital Nomad

Looking Ahead

Brian's upcoming plans include preparing for membership growth by considering adjustments like expanding his team and distributing responsibilities among his employees to ensure sustainability.

He also plans to introduce a referral program within his community to encourage member engagement and stimulate organic growth. 

Additionally, Brian aims to increase his business's visibility and attract new members by creating short-form content. With an Instagram following of over 200,000 users, he demonstrates a strong ability to engage and retain a significant audience.

A Vivid Vision Realized

Brian is now living his initial “vivid vision,” traveling the world as his own boss while continuing to expand his online business. He states that his aim was never to retire and simply relax on a beach somewhere. Instead, he advocates for building a business around something you love: quitting your job to travel full-time, not wander.

When your business is enjoyable to run, revenue and profit become natural byproducts. It’s what he calls “passionate income” as opposed to passive income.

Brian’s central message is clear: there’s no need to postpone happiness. Joy and fulfillment are available now, and anyone can realize and achieve it with the right guidance and resources.

The post How to Quit Your Corporate Job and Travel Full-time appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

If you’re of a certain age—let’s say 35 or older — you probably remember the awe and immersion you felt the first time you spun up Netscape Navigator and visited your favorite brand’s business “website.”

Now fast-forward to this age of AI, Uber, Roblox, Meta, Snapchat, and so much more… And guess what? A website is still the best way to share your brand with the world.

That’s true whether you’re a mega brand or a humble creator, solopreneur, or small business owner. Decades on, a website still provides unparalleled creative flexibility and control over your brand. It’s a place where visitors can learn more about you on your terms. A great website helps you tell your story, build trust, and even create community and fans for life.

Today we’re sharing a primer on branding and website design for online creators and entrepreneurs. We’ll walk you through how to design a website for your brand, whether you’re a creator, solopreneur, or small business owner with a team of employees.

This article won’t function as a step-by-step guide to launching a website or go into too much depth on the topic of branding itself. (For that, The SPI Beginner’s Guide to Branding can help you define your brand’s mission, vision, and more, and decide if it should be a personal brand or a company brand.)

Rather, this is a field guide to designing a website that puts your brand front and center and connects with your target audience.

Why You Need a Branded Website

So why a branded business website? Along with your email list, a website is a must-have when you’re starting out building your brand. Like an email list, you have more creative and administrative control over a website than you do your presence on other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Etsy. And with the exception of rare service interruptions or security breaches, your site is much less likely to disappear the way a social media account can be banned or suspended.

Your branded website is like your home base, a focal place for shaping your brand image and narrative. At SPI, we recently revamped our website to focus on our core focus of community building and make it cleaner and easier to navigate.

Here’s what a well-crafted small business website can help you do:

• Control your brand: A website gives you full control over how you show your brand to the world, without the creative restrictions of third-party platforms. It also diversifies your online presence, reducing dependence on any single platform.

• Build trust: A well-designed website lends an air of professionalism and legitimacy to your brand, instilling trust.
• Own your content: You own and control the content on your website, reducing the risk that algorithm changes or platform shutdowns will hurt your content’s reach and visibility.
• Make money: You can use your website to promote and sell products and services or run ads.
• Build community: Websites offer a dedicated space for building a community and a following. You can capture newsletter and email-list sign-ups, and even link to your own membership community.
• Showcase your work: Use your website to share case studies, testimonials, and portfolios of your work with your audience.
• Understand your audience: Website analytics provide valuable data on user behavior, helping you better understand your audience and optimize your content to reach them.

Your Website Should Express Your Brand Personality

When a lot of people hear the word brand, they think logo. And true, a logo is a key part of your creator or online entrepreneur brand — but your brand is also a lot more than just a snazzy graphic. Since your website is your home base, it’s the best place to convey the essence of your brand through the following key elements:

• Clear purpose: Define your unique value and why you exist. At SPI, we’re upfront about our why — our mission, vision, and core values.

• Color scheme: Utilize a maximum of four brand-reflective colors. Align colors with professionalism; avoid mismatch. Explore color psychology—the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors—for guidance.

• Tone of voice: Beyond aesthetics, your branded business website needs a distinct voice — a tone that informs all your written content. Adapt your tone to your personality, niche, and audience, keeping it approachable and jargon-free.

• Tagline or motto: A concise, memorable tagline helps convey your brand identity and value in bite-size form. It’s a little detail that can matter a lot!

• Signature font: Choose one or two readable fonts that reflect your personality, for consistency across everything you write and to bridge your brand’s visual identity with its written one.

• Unforgettable logo: Last but not least, an eye-catching logo provides instant brand recognition. Consider enlisting a graphic designer for this one.

Optimizing the Visual Experience of Your Online Business Website

For the most part, visitors will experience your website visually, so there are a few more important considerations when it comes to your site’s visual assets. Make sure the images, background designs, and other visuals you use on your site are:

• Relevant to your brand and content: This may seem obvious, but your website visuals should make sense in the context of your brand and the surrounding content. Each visual asset should complement and enhance the content it accompanies and align with your brand's identity, reflecting its values, personality, and messaging. 
• Strategically placed: Place visuals purposefully to guide the user's journey and emphasize key messages. Consider the flow of the website and how visuals can enhance storytelling.

• Consistent in style: Maintaining a consistent visual style across all images creates a cohesive and harmonious look and helps with brand recognition. Use those brand colors!

• High quality: Use high-resolution, professional images; grainy or pixelated ones can detract from your brand's credibility.
• Accessible: Not all of your visitors will be experiencing your branded business website visually, so ensure that any visual assets are accessible by adding descriptive alt text to all of your images.
• Optimized and responsive: Visual assets should adapt well to various screen sizes, particularly on mobile devices. They should also be compressed to improve loading times (and search engine rankings).

• Legal: All images should be either original, properly licensed, or fall under fair use. Respect copyright laws, and get permission if you need to!
• Timeless: As much as possible, choose visuals that can evolve with your brand rather than trends that might become outdated.
• Human: Human faces and expressions can create a stronger emotional connection with the audience, so incorporate images that feature people.

By making sure the visual and written experience of your website is consistent, professional, and aligned with your brand identity and voice, you’ll foster a sense of familiarity and trust with your audience.

A Great Creator Website Needs a Great User Experience: Layout and Navigation

Your website isn’t just a static display; it's an interactive experience for your audience. Once you’ve established the key brand elements your website needs, from your brand’s purpose to its voice, tone, and visual identity, it’s time to start designing the actual site layout.

As you’re choosing a layout, think about what will best convey your brand identity and message while making things as seamless and intuitive as possible for your visitors to navigate and find what they're looking for. Here are some popular layout options to consider:

• Single-Column: Clean and straightforward, with a single column for easy navigation.

• Grid: Organizes content into a visually appealing grid structure, suitable for showcasing multiple items efficiently, like portfolios or product displays.
• Magazine or Blog Layout: Mimics a magazine or blog with multiple columns — well-suited for content-heavy websites.

• Hero Image or Video: Features a striking image or video at the top, capturing immediate attention and often used for product showcases or setting the brand tone.
• Split Screen: Divides the webpage into two distinct sections, providing a modern and visually appealing design with room for creative elements.
• Parallax Scrolling: Creates a dynamic scrolling experience with background elements moving at different speeds, adding depth and interactivity.
• Card: Presents content in modular and flexible cards, promoting visual hierarchy and easy organization, suitable for various types of information.

• Full-Screen Background: Incorporates a full-screen image or video background for a visually immersive experience.

A quick note on navigation: Whatever layout you choose, your users’ ease in navigating your site will determine how long they stick around and whether they’ll find what they need—or if they’ll get frustrated and give up. You can also help people navigate your branded website through careful placement and organization of menus and footers.

The Strategic Content Your Website Needs

You’ve figured out your brand’s visual identity and voice and chosen a layout for the site. Now you need to fill it with useful content that tells your visitors who you are, what you do, and how you can help them!

These are some of the key pages to consider for your branded business website—some are must-haves, while others will depend on your business and offerings:

• Home Page: The home page should offer a snapshot of your brand, enticing visitors to explore further, communicating your unique value proposition, and guiding users to key sections of your website.
• Blog: Beyond promoting your products or services, blogs are still a popular way to share valuable content that positions you as an authority in your niche.
• Podcast Page: If you have a podcast, you should definitely have a dedicated page for it on your site. Although your podcast can technically exist without a website, a podcast page can promote your show and help listeners learn more about your brand and offerings.
• Credibility Section: Testimonials, case studies, and press coverage showcase the positive experiences of others, establishing your brand's credibility and reliability and building trust. This content can live on its own page or be placed strategically at different places on your site.
• Product/Service Pages: Each product or service page should provide detailed information, benefits, and a compelling call to action (CTA). 
• Brand Story/About Page: Your audience connects with the people and the story behind your online business. Use this page to communicate your mission, values, and the journey that led to the creation of your brand.
• Shop Page: If you want to use your site to sell things, you’ll need a shop page with easy navigation, clear product categorization, and a streamlined checkout process.

Examples of Online Creator and Entrepreneur Branded Websites

For a little inspiration, here’s a selection of great branded business websites created by online creators and entrepreneurs just like you! These folks all happen to be members of our SPI Pro community, which you can learn more about at SmartPassiveIncome.com/community.

Gnome Angel

Ange Wilson’s quilting-based creator business website has a strong, vibrant visual identity based around a palette of pinks and blues and a playful header font. The Gnome Angel value proposition greets you as soon as you open the home page, and as you scroll you learn about Gnome Angel’s resources and products via a “patchwork” design style that evokes a quilt. The “sticky” navigation menu persists as you descend the home page, providing easy access to the rest of the site.

Piscari

The Piscari site is a company brand website with a simple, clean, functional home page that serves as an About page for the company and its founder, Mike Lander, with a link to join the Piscari email list at the bottom. A top nav menu that displays on every page makes it easy to learn more about the company, its services, and other resources. The “Contact Us” button, framed in bold green, highlights the main call to action visitors are encouraged to take.

Jette Stubbs

Career and business coach Jette Stubbs’ site introduces her offerings right off the bat, followed by a friendly photo of Jette that humanizes the brand. The simple single-column layout reduces distraction and guides you down the page as you encounter a happy client’s testimonial and learn more about Jette’s services. Graphic elements and images are interspersed throughout, along with subtle font color changes to spark attention. The parallax scroll effect with Jette’s face in the background adds more human dimension and a bit of novelty. A simple top navigation menu is duplicated at the bottom, with links to an About page, Jette’s podcast, and testimonials.

Still on the Fence about Building a Website for Your Small Business? 

We’ll end with a few reminders — and by debunking a few common misconceptions about creating a branded business website:

• Yes, you do need a website. Websites aren’t just for big companies, and social media isn’t enough.
• Your website doesn’t have to be complex or aesthetically stunning. Simple, user-friendly designs often perform better, so focus on clarity and functionality above all.
• A website needs attention. Your website isn’t just going to attract traffic on its own. You need to promote it and regularly populate it with fresh, SEO-rich content.
• You don’t have to go it alone. There are plenty of great designers out there who can help you craft a logo and build a professional-looking branded website. (We worked with the good people at Rockbase for our redesign.)

If you’re feeling daunted, don’t! We’ve got all the support you need to start building your brand and designing a killer website to show it off to the world. Check out our site’s Free Resources tab, where you’ll find content for entrepreneurs at any level. If you’re ready to take the next big step in your online business journey, head to SmartPassiveIncome.com/community to learn about our communities for online entrepreneurs. You can learn from others like you who have built their own branded websites, gain access to our full library of courses, participate in live events, and more.

The post How to Design Your First Branded Business Website appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

Meet Steve Huynh, a YouTuber, Principal Engineer, and self-proclaimed “productivity junkie.” In 2023, Steve combined all three specialties to engineer his first-ever course launch, opening up a world of new possibilities and reshaping his path in ways he never imagined.

Here’s how Steve made it happen. 

Finding Strength in Community

“The community and content are strong and give you confidence that you're doing the right thing.”

—Steve Huynh

Steve joined the All-Access Pass community in the summer of 2023 with a 100k subscriber head start on his YouTube channel, @ALifeEngineered. But he was looking for more than just incremental audience growth — Steve was aiming to start scaling and monetizing what he could offer his audience.

With 18 years in the tech industry as a software engineer, Steve’s mission is to nurture technology professionals like himself, fostering a growth mindset and accelerating their careers as quickly as possible.

Steve set out to create a course to further these aims and better serve his audience. But like many first-time course creators, he had concerns about the intricacies of launching successfully. What would the pricing structure be? How would he market the course and through what channels? Should he launch the course to a beta group first? Would his students have lifetime access or would he offer a subscription model?

Questions like these can be dizzying for entrepreneurs like Steve; in his search for answers, he found the All-Access Pass. “SPI provides clarity and a recipe for success in areas that are highly ambiguous and frankly scary to confront all by yourself,” he says. “The community and content are strong and give you confidence that you're doing the right thing.”

Ready to find join your people and level up?

Like you, we're online entrepreneurs who crave connection, direction, and support from people like us.

Join the SPI Membership Today

Leaving a Career at Amazon to Realize a Dream

Inside the All-Access Pass — SPI’s premiere community-led education platform specifically designed for early-stage entrepreneurs — Steve uncovered the answers he was looking for. The community provides its members with a library of courses, ways to connect, guided course accelerators, access to experts, and more.

“Without SPI I know for a fact that things would not have gone so smoothly,” Steve emphasizes. “SPI helped me set up the offer, structure the program, and with pricing.” He also mentions that A to Z Webinars, his favorite course, was key to his success.

Steve realized that his program was potentially lucrative for students — helping software professionals get promoted as quickly as possible, their earnings might increase by tens of thousands of dollars or more. Steve decided to design his course around a high-ticket model with two price points: $4,000 for standard access and $8,000 for premium access.

He marketed his course with a combination of YouTube content, an email list of 5k subscribers, and guest spots on other email lists. He then launched the course with a live-stream webinar on YouTube with 445 concurrent viewers at its peak.

“I grossed a healthy six figures in sales for my first cohort,” Steve says. “I can’t believe it still.”

But Steve didn’t stop there, planning to expand his offerings to include a community and more courses at lower entry points. Best of all, with more recurring income in sight, Steve finally realized one of his biggest entrepreneurial dreams: he left his 18-year career at Amazon to focus solely on his business.

After the initial cohort launch, Steve decided to run another. This time, he gave his audience a weekend to join—sales increased by 30 percent, concrete validation that leaving his day job was the right choice. (He released this video on his YouTube channel detailing the move.)

“This was not really concrete for me in 2023,” Steve admits. “After the successful launch, this has all changed. If I can do it so can you.”

Somewhat fortuitously, Steve ran into Pat at VidSummit in 2023, before the launch of Steve’s course. “He really helped calm my nerves,” Steve says. “It really helped give me the confidence I needed to launch the program. A million thanks to Pat and the team. This stuff works, guys.”

Looking Up

“If I can do it, so can you.”

—Steve Huynh

Steve emphasizes how powerful it is to have your own product to offer on your content, rather than relying on advertisers and ad-sense revenue. “It’s such a pain to maintain relationships and to produce content for needy advertisers,” he says. With the help of the All-Access Pass community, Steve is on the verge of further accelerated business growth.

When asked about the future, Steve says “I'd like to be time rich and not necessarily money rich. That too, but having the freedom to do what I want when I want to is priceless. This is not really an option with my corporate job.”

With his newfound wealth of time, the only way for Steve to go is up. And with a strong community behind him, the possibilities seem limitless.

Lightning Round:

Biggest takeaway or aha moment from All-Access Pass

The biggest challenges were emotional. It's a rollercoaster putting yourself out there. Once I got a handle on that the rest was easy in comparison.

Favorite course in All-Access Pass

A to Z Webinars.

Unexpected benefit of All-Access Pass

I still can't believe all of the courses are included for such a small price.

The post A Lifechanging Course Launch through the Power of Community appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

What is the meaning of life and the world around us?

This question could stop some in their tracks, fostering feelings of uncertainty or fear. However, for Amanda Parker, it serves as a spark, inspiring her to dive deeper and assist others in discovering the magic within themselves.

As the founder of AmandaParker.co and The Courage Factory, Amanda Parker channels her expertise into empowering leaders and entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of modern business using the wisdom of ancient practices.

With over 15 years of diverse professional experience, Amanda has honed a skillset that allows her to guide visionaries and rule-breakers worldwide.

In February 2023, Amanda had a vision for a podcast but was unsure how to bring it to life. Taking a decisive step, she joined SPI's All-Access Pass — an educational community tailored for entrepreneurs seeking connection, learning, and growth.

Here, she not only found the answers she needed but also gained invaluable insights and support, marking a turning point in her entrepreneurial journey.

From Vision to Reality

Amanda's dedication to personal development takes center stage on her podcast, Don’t Step on the Bluebells, where healing and growth are the core narratives. 

Back when Amanda's podcast was just an idea, she recalls the challenges she faced:

“I knew I could make an impact in helping people, but I felt overwhelmed by how much I didn't know — namely, where to begin to create, publish, and publicize a podcast.” 

Unsure of how to proceed, Amanda sought advice from a friend who recommended Pat Flynn’s Power-Up Podcasting® course. Rather than opting for the standalone course, she chose to sign up for the All-Access Pass, emphasizing that she “saw more value in having access to a community” along with the complete library of courses. 

Describing the decision-making process as a “no-brainer” due to the right price and undeniable value, she confidently moved forward.

Amanda’s next step was taking the Power-Up Podcasting course, designed for those in the early stages of creating a podcast. Seeking a successful launch, she diligently progressed through the content, allowing her ideas to grow with each module.

“I went from a good idea to a clear and actionable plan I could work my way through, one step at a time,” she says.

Amanda successfully launched Don’t Step on the Bluebells in August 2023, just six months after joining the All-Access Pass. The podcast now averages 100 downloads per episode, totaling over 900 downloads, with listeners tuning in from 34 different countries.

Ready to find join your people and level up?

Like you, we're online entrepreneurs who crave connection, direction, and support from people like us.

Join the SPI Membership Today

Building Confidence in Community

While initially drawn to the All-Access Pass for the Power-Up Podcasting course, Amanda emphasizes that the “backbone of support from SPI” gave her the confidence and courage to bring her vision to life. This support has not only positively impacted her brand but has also influenced her overall mindset.

“I had the confidence to launch and publicize my podcast, to make bold requests of high-level guests, and to steer my brand towards more unconventional practices,” Amanda says. “I knew that I had answers to my questions when I needed them and felt grateful for the continuous support from SPI.”

Amanda’s experience with the All-Access Pass has empowered her to redefine her professional identity, shifting her focus from corporate leadership to prioritizing the growth of her coaching practice and podcast. 

Reflecting on this transition, she expresses: “I have created my own stage to share wisdom and insight on personal transformation and healing — and am starting to become known for that field of work.”

The Road Ahead: Podcast and Community Vision

Looking ahead, Amanda is focused on the ongoing development of her podcast, aiming to attract a broader audience with a shared interest in personal growth and healing.

Amanda is currently participating in SPI’s Amp’d Up Podcasting Course Accelerator, designed for members who have successfully published their podcasts and are seeking exponential audience growth and monetization. The accelerator format allows Amanda to progress through the course alongside a cohort, with added support and accountability from the community and Team SPI.

Amanda's ultimate goal is to create a physical space that unites healers and seekers, fostering a community dedicated to profound and positive change. Meanwhile, she remains committed to growing her impact as a transformational catalyst for individuals and groups.

A Note to Fellow Entrepreneurs

To entrepreneurs considering joining SPI's communities, Amanda offers a resounding recommendation: 

“Don't hesitate to sign up — it's worth every penny! You get invaluable courses and support on your journey to grow your business and expertise — and you can rest assured you will be perceived as a professional in your craft.”

Amanda's success story with the All-Access Pass exemplifies the power of strategic learning, community support, and the confidence to pursue unconventional paths. 

Endless possibilities unfold when passion meets the right resources.

Lightning Round

Biggest takeaway or aha moment from the All-Access Pass

I love watching how Pat runs his business and the value he delivers. He is inspiring and has no B.S. — just practical, relatable, realistic advice and support to build out your vision. I am grateful that I had the backbone of support from SPI to launch this endeavor with confidence (and courage!)

Favorite course in the All-Access Pass

Power-Up Podcasting®.

Unexpected benefit of the All-Access Pass

I hadn't realized there was an active community when I signed up — I was primarily interested in the course. I am pleased to see how the offering is being built out to provide even more support.

The post A Successful Podcast Launch in Six Months with the All-Access Pass appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

For many entrepreneurs, the first step towards working for yourself full-time comes from necessity — more than just a light shove from the universe. And often — as in Katy’s case — the end results are more than worth the initial uncertainty and challenge.

Katy Widrick serves high-growth founders as a funnel fixer, recovering the biggest expenses in their businesses — lost sales — by using simple, effective systems to increase conversions and decrease top-of-funnel costs. 

An EMMY-nominated journalist and multimedia producer, Katy has worked in marketing and revenue expansion for more than 20 years, strategizing and implementing profit-first funnels that help visionary leaders maximize their impact, grow their top-line revenue, and scale their product and service lines to seven, eight, and nine figures.

Katy joined SPI’s All-Access Pass in March of 2023, and it was a turning point in her career.

“Pushed Off a Cliff”

Here’s how Katy describes her entrepreneurial leap:

“In November 2021, I suddenly and unexpectedly ended my corporate career. I’d been working at an extremely fast-growing company for three years, as a member of the executive team. While it was an experience that taught me so much about growth marketing, profitability, external and internal marketing, leadership, and more, it also left me severely burned out and, if I’m honest, fairly uncertain about my next steps.

I took a sabbatical from the job and only a few weeks into the break, was notified that my position was being eliminated… so now instead of taking a leap, it felt as though I was being pushed off a cliff.”

It turns out, though, that the push was exactly what Katy needed to “build wings on the way down,” as she put it.

Between November 2021 and March 2023, Katy re-entered the workforce but this time as her own boss. She had previously founded a company called Make Media Over, where she offered online business management, email marketing, and sales funnel designs.

When Katy closed Make Media Over to pursue her corporate career, she thought it would be for good.

“I never imagined that I would go back to entrepreneurship. I truly dismantled the business — I shuttered the website, let all of my software subscriptions lapse, notified all of my clients that I was unavailable, and went all-in on the traditional corporate experience,” Katy tells SPI.

But when her corporate career didn’t pan out, Katy turned to the one asset she’d held onto for all those years: her LLC. It was still active, and Katy decided to go back to self-employment with some big, bold goals.

Ready to find join your people and level up?

Like you, we're online entrepreneurs who crave connection, direction, and support from people like us.

Join the SPI Membership Today

A Bold Pivot: Enter the All-Acess Pass

After 14 months, Katy made another bold choice. To empower herself with even more education and skill-building — and to take her business to the next level — she decided to invest in SPI’s All-Access Pass.

“I initially joined so that I could take advantage of the Podcasting Pathway. I’d started my own podcast during those 14 months, and it was fun… but I knew it wasn’t quite what I wanted to bring to my audience. There’s nobody I trust more as a teacher than Pat Flynn, and for that pathway alone, I knew the investment would be worth it.”

Katy had been podcasting and blogging under the brand “Rising Tide Talents,” a nod to her mantra that a rising tide lifts all boats. Her podcast episodes were solo-hosted and focused on marketing funnels and leadership.

A good start, but it wasn’t nearly the show she knew it could be. All-Access Pass gave her the clarity and the confidence to pivot her podcast and take advantage of all of the other materials in AAP.

“I decided to significantly shift everything — from the format of the show to the platform I hosted it on. Once I mapped it out using All-Access Pass’ guides, I immediately felt a sense of alignment and purpose. The first time I interviewed a founder on Hard Costs, I felt magic in the air. Since then, it’s been one improvement after another: I optimized the podcast for advertising, used the email marketing course to amplify my listenership, and much more.”

Part Mastermind, Part MBA, Part Accountability Group

Katy has been very successful at helping visionaries through their own blind spots, even as she continues to lean on the support of the All-Access Pass for help with her own.

“What’s that saying? A cobbler’s kid has no shoes? That’s absolutely been my experience: what I’m very good at doing for others, I’m quite terrible at doing for myself! Joining All-Acess Pass and being part of the community has been part mastermind, part MBA, and part accountability group — and I’m so thankful for my membership.”

Lightning Round

Biggest takeaway or aha moment from All-Access Pass

The Hook/Story/Ending plans for videos that Pat teaches — they work for so many other things, too!

Favorite course in All-Access Pass

Tie with Power-Up Podcasting® and YouTube From Scratch.

Unexpected benefit of All-Access Pass

The member referral program!

The post Building Wings on the Way Down: An All-Access Pass Success Story appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

We clinked glasses. The event was finally over, and it was a massive success. 

At least on the surface.

Hours earlier, I delivered the closing keynote at a business conference and now, with a drink in hand, I was sitting at a bar with the founder who finally had time to take a breath after months of hard work.

We talked about the future: plans for a bigger and better event next year, revenue goals for our businesses, and the hiring spree he was on to grow his team 3x within 4 months.

He was meticulously detailed and knew exactly what was going to happen and when. Business goals on point. 

After about an hour, I was curious and changed the topic:

“What about outside of business? Any big goals with the family this year?”, I asked.

After a quick sip from his 3rd old-fashioned, he said, “Oh, you know. Just making sure we’re all happy and healthy.”

I nodded my head and raised my glass.

Clink.

We continued to chat about random things throughout the rest of the night, and close to midnight we said our goodbyes. He had a debrief with his team the next morning, and I had a flight to catch.

While getting ready for bed, I couldn’t help but think about his answer to my question from earlier and how ironic it actually was. 

Underneath the surface, I knew he wasn’t the healthiest of people. He slept poorly and ate worse. At home, things weren’t much better either. People close to his family knew that he and his wife were not doing well, and any relationship with his son was usually just what he could fit into his busy schedule. 

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon story in the world of entrepreneurship. We’re so focused on our businesses and their goals, that other parts of our lives take the backseat. 

We can become so specific with our business goals, yet when we’re asked about our personal life, it’s just a generically broad answer that’s more akin to “I’ll eventually get around to it, someday.”

That’s not how it should be.

Since 2011, ever since I caught myself falling into the same trap, I made sure to never let the business become the center of everything in my life again. 

Rather, the business is one important part of a much larger whole. Each part is equally important, and each part deserving of time and attention to real, specific, and measurable goals. 

[Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. You can read my complete disclosure statement here.]

The 6-Part Framework for Holistic Goal Setting

Inspired heavily by Michael Hyatt and his Best Year Ever program, I’ve created my own 6-step process that I run through every year to continue to up-level all aspects of my life, not just the business. 

I’ve taken Michael’s program every year since it launched in 2012. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available as an online course. However, I do recommend Michael’s The Full Focus Journal, which coincides with the teachings of Best Year Ever. It’s wonderful.

My framework is a light adaptation of his program, and he deserves full credit for it. 

Here’s the breakdown:

Part 1: What Do You Want?

Part 2: Why Do You Want it?

Part 3: Create Your Top 3 Goals for 2024

Part 4: Next Steps

Part 5: What’s the Trigger

Part 6: Who Will Support You?

—

To help you through this process, download our 2024 Goal Design Workshop Workbook. Feel free to download the worksheet, and please consider joining our All-Access Pass to get access to all of our courses, workshops, and a community to help support your work.

Part 1: What Do You Want?

The first step is to break down your life into more than just business, but other aspects of life that are important to you.

Emotional, intellectual, physical, relational, business, hobbies, and financial are a few categories you can add to the list, and you can add even more if you’d like.

From there, within each category, what might you hope to one day achieve within that category? 

It doesn’t have to be a goal that has to be achieved within the next year, and it doesn’t have to be specific either. You can write down more than one, too. 

This exercise simply gets you thinking about what you really want. Think deeply about these things, because they will influence the decisions you make later. 

What’s interesting is that each year I do this exercise, much of what I want has changed or morphed in some way. This is why doing this exercise is important every year because we change, circumstances change, and goals should change accordingly, too. 

Part 2: Why Do You Want It?

“Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” 
– Japanese Proverb

It’s important to know the WHY behind each of the aspirations you wrote for each category in Part 1. Without the WHY, there will be no drive.

Everything needs a purpose, or else why do anything?

This exercise helps you get to the root of what your actions will be, and can help motivate you when taking action is tough, or if you come across a hurdle. 

Part 3: Create Your Top 3 Goals for 2024

Let’s start with creating 3 specific SMART goals for the year that support 3 of the aspirations from above (from 3 different categories).

Why 3? 

We want to narrow our focus for now and move forward through the rest of the exercises sooner. After you finish with 3, go back and run through the rest of the exercises with more. 

For each one that you choose, convert each aspiration into a clearly defined SMART goal or habit to work toward this year. 

What is a SMART goal?

A SMART goal is:

S: Specific.

Get clear and as specific as you can. 

Bad example: I will go to the gym as much as I can.

Great example: I will go to the gym 3 days a week and exercise for at least 45 minutes each time. 

Bad example: Stop wasting time in my company. 

Great example: Reduce the number of meetings to just twice per week for my employees by the end of Q2, 2024. 

M: Measurable.

You cannot track and improve what cannot be measured. Tracking is an important part of goal setting so you can see how far you’ve come toward your goal and it enables you to adjust if needed. 

If you have a goal and you’re not quite sure how you’d be able to tell whether or not you’re on your way, then it should be reworked or re-worded.

A: Attainable.

Your goals need to be realistic and attainable. This may be the trickiest because you might lean toward making your goal a little easier so that you can ensure you can achieve it. 

Set your goals too low, however, and you aren’t going to achieve or grow much. 

Use common sense here.

I love basketball and use it as a sport to stay active, however, if I set a goal to join an NBA team this year, that’s realistically not attainable at this age, my height, and of course, my skill level. (The gentlemen I play with can definitely attest to that, lol.)

R: Risky

The ‘R’ in SMART goals usually stands for Relevant, which is an important one – you want to make sure these goals matter to you, obviously. And I think this is here so that we don’t just place random goals that don’t matter on our list, but in general, especially if you follow this framework, all goals you write down will be inherently relevant, so I decided to use one of Michael’s R’s here in its place: risky.

By risky, I don’t mean dangerous or super consequential. Risky is a word used to ensure you don’t include goals that are “too easy”. There is a risk that you might not achieve it. 

Adding a bit of risk makes your goal a little more interesting and potentially more rewarding, too.

T: Time-Based

Having a set day or time included with your goal is what ultimately makes this entire system work, and it can help you create a deadline that drives actions today. 

All goals must include a time, whether a month and date to achieve said goal, or a time frame to integrate a habit within. 

Part 4: Next Steps

This is simple but powerful.

For each of the goals or habits you’ve written down, write down what the next steps are. From where you’re at right now, what’s the one next thing you need to do to get on your way toward those goals?

For example, I have a hobby-related goal: to compete in four kayak bass fishing tournaments by the end of the year. My first step? Sign up for the SoCal Kayak Fishing Club so I can register my name and begin to add the tournament dates to my calendar. 

Once you do this, the momentum begins. 

Part 5: What’s the Trigger?

For each/goal or habit, write down a trigger that will activate that goal. This is a strategy exercise to give yourself the best chance to keep up with your goals throughout the year. 

For example, in James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, he says that if you want to get into the habit of running each morning, remove as much friction as possible to make that happen. Set your running clothes by your bedside the night before and make that a part of your bedtime routine. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll see the running shoes ready for you right there by your bedside. 

Steve Kamb from Nerd Fitness talked about something similar on his way to learning the guitar. Instead of just putting his guitar in the corner of his living room, he put a guitar on a stand at the end of his hallway between his bedroom and kitchen so that every day, for multiples times a day, he would be within arms reach of his guitar and be reminded to practice more. 

Perhaps it’s a sticky note next to your computer or an alarm on your phone. We all know life gets busy, so create a trigger to stack things in your favor and actually make them happen.

Part 6: Who Will Support You?

This one seems to hit home for many because we often don’t realize there are people in our lives that will champion us — people who will be there to root us on and hold us accountable. 

Write down someone who comes to mind who you can call on for support with each of the goals you’ve written. They don’t need to coach you through the process (although they could if they’re qualified), you just need to realize there are other people you can rely on when you might need help.

A business colleague, a member of a community you’re a part of, a friend, a co-worker, a spouse, or even one of your kids. Share the goal with them and ask them to just know that this is something you’re working toward. Tell them that you believe just them rooting for you will help. You’ll be surprised how well this will work. 

Sometimes they can provide direct help, but even the fact that they’re there to hold you accountable can get you to do the thing, whatever the thing may be.

—

I hope this has helped you start thinking about your goals differently, in a way that goes beyond your business and revenue goals — this is about you as a whole person. There are so many more aspects of your life that are important, and they deserve your time and attention, too.

If you’d like to connect with other entrepreneurs who are available to support you through your business journey, and if you’d like to get access to our library of business courses and training workshops, please consider joining the SPI All-Access Pass. Community-powered courses are where it’s at, and we’re taking the lead in this industry — we know this is the best way to offer service and help others.

Click here to check out the All-Access pass and join hundreds of entrepreneurs who are in it just like you, and for all the right reasons, too. 

Cheers, and best of luck to you. Here’s to an amazing 2024!

The post Designing Holistic Goals (The Best Framework to Avoid Burnout) appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

[Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. You can read my complete disclosure statement here.]

If you're just starting out with podcasting, it's super important to have the right gear. That's why we've put together a list of five fantastic equipment kits for beginners. These kits come with everything you need, like microphones, headphones, and recording software, to make sure your podcast sounds awesome.

We consulted our thriving community of entrepreneurs—many of whom have successful podcasts!—over at SPI Pro for this article.

While a lot of podcast gear guides will suggest mics and other equipment by price, this guide functions a little differently. Each of these kits represents an ideal podcast equipment list based on a certain persona. Is audio quality absolutely paramount to you, or do you need to sound good on a budget? Are you on the go a lot, or recording out of your office? Do you record in person, with more than one guest, or do you only record your podcast over the internet?

Whatever your “persona,” this article will give you, if not a shopping list, at least a good starting point.

Click a link below to jump to the kit that best describes you.

The Jetsetter
The Audiophile
The Frugal Podcaster
The In-Person Host
The YouTuber

Note — the price for each kit was calculated before tax and shipping. Prices are an estimate only and may have fluctuated since this article was written.

On Blue Yetis (A Resounding “No!”)

I have to get something out of the way before we continue. When I polled our SPI Pro community on their favorite podcasting mics, there was one throughline: definitely not a Blue Yeti.

If you’re unfamiliar with Blue Yeti microphones, their popularity is understandable at first glance. At under $100, they seem to offer an all-in-one solution, coming with a built-in stand and an attractive design (even in flamingo pink).

But the response from our Pros couldn’t be clearer.

The Yeti slamming ranged from phrases like “mine broke in under one year” to “I hate them” and “great advertising budget, cheap price point.” “It’s designed to bring the audience into a fun environment,” said one Pro, “which most people aren’t in… unless you’re in your backyard with your goats and chickens and talking about farm life.”

The Jetsetter: A Mic Kit for Podcasters in Motion

$450

For podcasters on the go, it's important to have lightweight, portable equipment that can easily be taken from place to place. Here’s the ideal kit:

Mic: The Rode VideoMic NTG is a shotgun mic made for cameras, but at 3.32 ounces, it’s the perfect microphone for on-the-go podcasting as well. You can connect it directly to your laptop or smartphone.

Stand: At 4 oz, the Rode Tripod Mini Stand is the perfect stand for an on-the-go podcast kit.

Headphones: The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones offer great sound quality and are also foldable, making them easy to pack and take on the go. As with any of these kits, having a solid pair of studio monitor headphones is critical so you can get a good idea of how your recording will sound in real-time.

Remote Recording Solution: A solution like Squadcast is essential for remote podcast recording, and both offer high-quality audio and video recording capabilities. There are some differences between both platforms which may or may not be negatable depending on your situation (if you want the sharpest-possible video, only Riverside can record simultaneously in 4k, for example). As the differences would be best covered in a second article, we’ll leave it to you to decide—both are excellent options at similar price points.

With this podcast kit, you'll be able to produce high-quality podcasts no matter where you are.

The Audiophile: A Podcasting Setup for Discerning Ears

$900

For podcasters who are serious about audio quality and have an unlimited budget, here are some high-end equipment options we recommend.

Mic: A toss-up between the Shure SM7B and the Heil PR40!

The Shure SM7B is popular for a reason: it has excellent sound quality and noise reduction design. It is a cardioid dynamic microphone that captures a warm, natural sound and has a pop filter and shock mount to reduce plosives and isolate the microphone from vibrations. Its performance is further enhanced with a bass roll-off and mid-range boost.

The Heil PR40 is also a great choice for audiophile podcasters, featuring a wide frequency range and low self-noise. It also has a unique design that helps reduce pops and plosives, making it a great choice for podcasters who are serious about audio quality. If you’ve tuned into any of Pat’s live streams or The Smart Passive Income Podcast, this is the mic you’re hearing!

(Note that either of these mics will require an XLR cable.)

Mount: The Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desk-Mounted Boom Stand allows you perfect, stable adjustment for your mic. Set your mic up on this stand, plug it in, and never look back.

Preamp: The Audient iD4 MKII is a great choice to pair with the Shure SM7B because it provides high-quality preamps and offers phantom power, which is necessary to power the SM7B. Additionally, the iD4 MKII has a low-latency headphone output, which is critical for real-time monitoring during recording sessions.

Headphones: The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio headphones are widely considered to be some of the best in the industry, offering superior sound quality and comfort. They are a classic option that have been used in recording studios for years and are a great choice for podcasters who want to ensure they can hear every detail.

Remote Recording Solution: Squadcast. 

With this setup, your podcast will sound as good as anything you hear on the radio!

The Frugal Podcaster: A Mic Kit for Budget-Conscious Podcasters

Under $100

If you're looking to start a podcast on a budget, there are a number of great equipment options available. Coming in at under $100, this kit will make your podcast sound great with minimal gear.

Mic/Stand: The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB — at $79 (as of March, 2023), not much beats this mic at this price point. It offers excellent sound quality and is versatile enough to work with both XLR and USB connections, plus it comes with a simple folding stand*. That means you can plug it directly into your computer and get down to business.

• You may find that you want a stand that adjusts a bit higher, which adds another $16.99 to this kit.

Pop Filter: The Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter — for about $11, it’s a no-brainer. A pop filter is used to prevent plosive sounds (such as “p” and “b”) from being picked up by the microphone. Without a pop filter, these sounds can be picked up as loud, unpleasant bursts of air, which can be distracting and make the recording more difficult to listen to. Don’t skip this piece.

Headphones: Whatever you already have! You likely have a pair of AirPods or other headphones and, since this is a budget kit, we’re not including a dedicated pair of studio headphones.

Remote Recording Solution: If you’re on a budget and need to record guests remotely, you may be tempted to use Zoom for remote recordings. We strongly advise against this though; the subscription cost of Squadcast is well worth the investment. Trust us, your editor (which is probably you) will thank you!

With this setup, you'll be able to produce high-quality podcasts without breaking the bank.

The In-person Host: A Podcast Kit for Eye-to-Eye Magic

$500 – $1600+ (depending on mic selection and number of guests)

For podcasters who record in person with guests, it's important to have equipment that can capture high-quality audio from multiple sources. Of course, you’ll want to tailor this package to your specific situation, depending on how many guests you usually record with.

Here are some equipment options to consider:

Interfaces

Zoom H6 Six-Track Portable Recorder: This recorder is perfect for recording in person, with its ability to record up to six tracks simultaneously. It also has four XLR/TRS inputs, making it easy to connect multiple microphones.

If you want something that’s a cut above the rest in this department, we definitely recommend the Rodecaster Pro II, which includes sound pads, phone connectivity, and a range of sound effects. It also has a large, easy-to-use touchscreen that allows you to control all of its features.

If your live podcast is exclusively a one-on-one situation, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a fantastic option. It’s an affordable, two-channel audio interface that offers excellent sound quality and is easy to use.

Mics

Any of the mics mentioned so far are great options for in-person recording, but here’s a little roundup:

High-end: Without a doubt, the Shure SM7B is your pick of choice. A couple (or more) of these puppies and your in-person recordings will sound about as good as they possibly could!

Medium: Shure’s MV7X is another solid option. With voice-isolating technology and an all-metal construction, the MV7x is designed with podcasters and vocalists in mind. And at less than half the price of the SM7B, they’re a bit more budget-friendly too. (Note—the MV7 is a slightly different design, as you can connect it via USB. However, at this price point, we recommend some MV7Xs combined with a solid preamp or audio interface.)

Budget: Again our pick is the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB. With a price point around $80, this is hard to beat for budget options.

Misc. Equipment

Monitor Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Headphones.

Cables: Pig Hog PHM10 8mm Tour Grade Mic Cable, XLR 10ft – 2-pack. (You may want longer cables depending on the space you’re recording in.)

Clamp-On, Boom Stands: Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desk-Mounted Boom Stand

Desktop Stands: InnoGear Desktop Microphone Stand (2-pack)

The YouTuber: An Add-On Kit for Video Podcasters

Add $850 to any of the above kits.

YouTube recently announced that they’re bringing podcasts to their YouTube Music streaming service. With the option to switch between video and audio-only consumption, lots of podcasters feel it’s necessary to record video with every episode too. This is our recommendation for a video podcasting add-on kit, the perfect compliment to your mic setup.

Camera: The Canon EOS M50 Mark II with 15-45mm lens offers great autofocus and high-quality video in one simple package.

Stand: The SmallRig Camera Desk Mount has an adjustable height of 13-35 inches, allowing the stand to clamp onto just about any desk.

Lighting: The Elgato Key Light Air is a great lighting option for YouTube podcasters. It’s a compact and lightweight lighting solution that can be adjusted using the Elgato Control Center app. It has a built-in diffuser for creating soft, even lighting, and comes with a desk mount for easy positioning. Plus, it’s portable.

Remote Recording Solution: Squadcast.

With this setup, your podcast will not only sound great, but it will also look great on your YouTube channel.

Pod-on!

No matter what your podcasting needs are, there is an equipment kit out there that is perfect for you. By investing in the right gear, you can ensure that your podcast sounds great and is enjoyable for your listeners. With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to find the perfect equipment kit to take your podcast to the next level. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start podcasting!

And if you’re new to podcasting and want to seriously up your game, the All-Access Pass might be your best move. Through community-powered learning, you can work alongside other podcasters, get access to our full course library (including the wildly popular Power-Up Podcasting), attend workshops, and much more.

The post 5 Podcast Kits for Any Type of Podcaster: The Ultimate Guide [Updated 2023] appeared first on Smart Passive Income.

Jette Stubbs

JetteStubbs.com

Instagram

What was your dream career as a kid?

As a kid, my dream career was to be a businesswoman who traveled with an art hobby. I didn't have many opportunities to travel as a child, growing up on a small island in The Bahamas where tourism was the main industry. I was always fascinated by the tourists I saw and wanted to visit the places they came from. Additionally, I had a passion for drawing and envisioned holding art exhibitions and having an art and woodworking studio at home.

Describe the moment you decided to become an entrepreneur.

First, I decided I wanted to be an entrepreneur. At 21 years old, I was an international student with 90 days to build a career or business or leave the country. I knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur. I explored job descriptions but couldn't find anything that resonated with me. For entrepreneurship, I faced the challenge of not knowing what to sell, where to start, and how to gain people's trust in my offerings. I also needed immediate financial stability.

Despite applying for over 100 jobs and receiving no responses, I discovered how to effectively sell myself. This resulted in 7 responses from 10 job applications. I started helping other people learn how to sell themselves and land higher-paying jobs, typically with $20,000 or more salary increases.

Then, I decided to become an entrepreneur. After 6 years of working and helping other people find jobs on the side, my dad was diagnosed with dementia and my brother and I moved countries to return home to caregive for him. Then, I realize making money cannot stop when life goes wrong and I need to build a career with more flexibility. This led me to transition into full-time career coaching and later into business coaching.

What drives the work that you do?

Client transformations. I help people restructure how they work, so they design their work and their income to fit their life goals. Designing your work is about planning how you fund your life and the time and energy you have left to spend with family and loved ones. Here are three examples:

Brittany — Brittany quit working in a family-owned daycare and built her dream career in publishing landing 50 clients in her first 18 months. She helps marginalized non-fiction writers go from just an idea to a compelling book with consistent sales. She moved countries with her partner and distanced herself from stressful relationships.

Mo — After helping Mo land a 39 percent salary increase, he was able to buy a car and pay for a mortgage so he could move his parents from Palestine. His father had been a political prisoner.

Recently, I had a client go from $70,000 to $210,000 salary with a bonus — this has made a huge difference in her life.

My favorite part is when clients discover career paths they never knew existed before.

What’s the most exciting thing you’re working on in your business right now?

Recently, I implemented a 4X ROI or Your Money-Back Guarantee. My clients make a 4X return on investment after working with me or their money back. I also became certified in the Trauma of Money, which helps unpack the fears and anxieties we have as we approach earning, using, and keeping money.

What does entrepreneurship mean to you?

Financial and lifestyle freedom, and being of service to others.

My favorite part is when clients discover career paths they never knew existed before.

What led you to SPI Pro?

I’ve been following Pat for about a decade. When he launched SPI Pro, I had some serious doubts and imposter syndrome about joining. I wasn’t sure if I was far enough along in my business growth to be with other entrepreneurs, but I’ve always found Pat’s approach to entrepreneurship grounded, honest, and welcoming.

Plus, I had gone through the phase of trying to get my friends, even the entrepreneurial ones, to be my “business besties.” I quickly realized instead of looking within my community, I needed to expand my community to include entrepreneurs who were actively seeking community.

SPI Pro offered a community around entrepreneurship and business growth. Over the last two years, it’s only improved by offering access to all of Pat’s online courses.

What’s the most powerful interaction or learning moment you’ve had in the community?

The riches are in the niches of the SPI Pro community. My most powerful interactions are definitely within masterminds! SPI did the heavy lifting of bringing the right people together so I could build community around business growth.

When I joined SPI Pro, I tried participating in masterminds led by other members and I wasn’t quite finding what I was looking for. I thought about leaving the community, but then I decided to lead my own mastermind. I put out a mastermind request specifically describing the small community I’d like to have and the support I’d want. This mastermind has been running for almost a year and we’ve all said we’re grateful and blown away by the knowledge, value, and support brought to the table.

I’m surrounded by so many diverse skill sets — lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, therapists, nutritionists, doctors. Since joining and running masterminds, I've launched a podcast, 3X’d my prices, been a podcast guest for an SPI member with over 60k downloads per month, and I’ve just felt supported. Now, with access to the SPI academy, SPI Pro is just an unbeatable value.

My mastermind gives me accountability and perspective when I’m feeling anxious or questioning my next steps in business growth.

What role has SPI Pro had in your business?

It’s given me an online community and expanded my knowledge base, network, and tools. My mastermind gives me accountability and perspective when I’m feeling anxious or questioning my next steps in business growth.

I started a podcast and used it as part of my lead generation to generate 10k in sales from it and podcast guesting in the first few months.

What do you love most about SPI Pro, and what sets SPI’s communities apart from other entrepreneurial communities?

It feels like wrap-around support. If you want community and accountability, create or join a mastermind. If you have specific questions on a topic, the forums are a space to get answers from people with diverse skill sets. If you want to learn about a skill, tap into all the courses in SPI Academy. There are so many resources online teaching you one thing, but SPI helps you unlock what feels like a little entrepreneurship-focused MBA with community.

What would you say to encourage entrepreneurs who aren’t involved in a community to join one?

You grow faster when you don’t do it alone, plus the journey is less lonely. I’ve heard so many people talking about turning to their spouses, partners, or friends who are working jobs to talk about all of their entrepreneurial goals and obstacles. It’s nice when you can talk to someone who has been through it or who is going through it, especially when you’re in an online group of people actively seeking community to talk these things through.

If you had to start a brand-new online business from scratch today, what would it be?

Career coaching. For me, I find it easy to get people to find work that aligns with who they are, and I’ve done it on 4 continents in over 40 industries. Business coaching takes a bit more time to niche down and build out clientele. I don't know if that would count as “from scratch.” If it doesn't then my second choice is a marketing agency. I love geeking out on marketing processes and writing sales copy.

If you had to start your current business over again from scratch today, what one thing would you do differently?

I'd focus on testing and taking action in community, instead of learning in solitude. I'd seek out community instead of endlessly listening to courses, podcast, YouTube. Then, set up sales channels and invest in marketing sooner. I’d access therapy sooner to support my shift in how I see the value of my work and money so I don't let imposter syndrome hold me back so much.

My community would consist of other entrepreneurs seeking community and accountability, courses/course instructors, and therapy for healing. It would have been radically different and cheaper in the long term than a do-it-all-yourself approach.

If you were given $1 million dollars today, no strings attached, what would you do with it?

I’d invest in new businesses and passion projects. I’d invest in $100,000 – $250,000 increments into new business ideas, allowing the rest of the money to sit. I’d focus first on marketing and testing the ideas. There are a lot of cool projects focused on social impact and social entrepreneurship that I’d get involved in.

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