Advertise on podcast: Have An Online Business | Quit Your Job

Summary: In this episode, your host delves into the critical aspect of income goals in the entrepreneurial journey. Tom Clairmont underscores the importance of having clear income objectives to not only measure progress but also to prevent complacency. He emphasizes that setting income goals isn't an act of greed or selfishness but rather a necessary mindset for solopreneurs. Success hinges on consistently pushing forward, and this proactive approach can make all the difference in an ever-changing business landscape. Tom acknowledges the allure of a stable income once a business is established, recognizing it as a significant achievement. However, he urges caution, highlighting a potential pitfall. Suppose a solopreneur relies heavily on a single substantial client for their stable income. In that case, they might face a precarious situation if that client's circumstances change, jeopardizing their financial stability. Tom's message is clear: don't become complacent with a stable income; keep striving for growth. He encourages listeners not to rest on their laurels but to maintain their drive and urgency to secure new clients continually. To avoid the vulnerability of relying on a single client, Tom suggests considering the possibility of hiring a virtual assistant. Delegating lower-level tasks can free up time for solopreneurs to focus on higher-level strategic activities that propel their business forward. Tom shares his own experience working with a virtual assistant to maximize efficiency and expand his business. Tom emphasizes that growth should be a multi-faceted endeavor, not just financial but also emotional, health-related, and overall well-being. He encourages solopreneurs to constantly review, modify, and improve their goals while remaining in a state of continuous learning. Despite the potential challenges in finding the right virtual assistant, Tom underscores its worth in terms of relieving the solopreneur from tasks that hinder growth. He believes that this investment is instrumental in maintaining momentum and achieving consistent progress. In conclusion, Tom leaves his audience with a powerful message: to avoid self-sabotage and keep moving forward, solopreneurs must be conscious of maintaining momentum and constant growth, even during periods of financial success. This episode serves as a reminder that success is not only financial but also holistic, encompassing various aspects of life. www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Summary: In this episode, your host, Tom Clairmont, explores the challenges of being a solopreneur and the constant quest for making business operations easier without compromising quality. Tom introduces a lead magnet he created called "The Tools We Use," which provides valuable insights into online tools he personally uses in the business startup process. Tom acknowledges the perpetual need for new tools, especially in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. He shares his recent experiences with using Chat GPT, highlighting how it's become an indispensable tool for generating content and fulfilling various roles within his business. Tom goes on to discuss specific scenarios in which he has utilized Chat GPT. From transforming podcast transcripts into engaging summaries to crafting website content, generating lead magnet ideas, and even exploring children's book concepts, Tom showcases the versatile applications of AI-powered content generation. Additionally, he emphasizes the growing role of virtual assistants, made more efficient by AI tools, in small businesses. Tom encourages listeners to leverage these technologies to streamline their operations and enhance productivity. Throughout the episode, Tom emphasizes the importance of embracing AI tools, such as Chat GPT, as valuable resources to simplify and enhance business processes. He invites listeners to share their own experiences and questions related to AI tools by emailing him at [email protected]. As the episode concludes, Tom leaves his audience with a sense of empowerment, reinforcing that AI is a valuable ally in the entrepreneurial journey, simplifying tasks and expanding possibilities. www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Summary In this podcast episode, Tom Clairmont takes on the myths and misconceptions surrounding launching an online business later in life, sharing valuable insights and debunking common misconceptions. Here's a summary of the key points covered: • Age Is Just a Number: Tom emphasizes that age should not deter anyone from pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. Regardless of age, there's ample time to achieve success, and opportunities are not limited by a narrow time frame. • Risk and Financial Stability: Tom challenges the belief that starting something new later in life is riskier. He argues that having financial stability and resources accumulated over the years can actually reduce the risk associated with launching a new venture. • Tech Savviness Isn't a Must: Tom dispels the myth that one needs to be a tech guru to succeed online. With the abundance of tech resources, courses, and virtual assistants available, lack of tech expertise should not hold anyone back. • Cost of Starting: Tom highlights that starting an online business or podcast doesn't have to be costly. There are affordable options, including freelancers and AI tools, making it accessible to those on a budget. • Building Speed: The speed of building a business depends on available resources and goals. Tom emphasizes that it's possible to start small and grow over time, dispelling the notion that it will take too long to establish a business. • Action and Decision-Making: Tom encourages taking action and making decisions, emphasizing that the fear of making the wrong choice shouldn't deter aspiring entrepreneurs. Mistakes are part of the journey and provide valuable lessons. • The Right Mindset: Tom acknowledges that not everyone is cut out for entrepreneurship. It requires motivation, decisiveness, resilience, and belief in oneself. Without the right mindset, success can be elusive. Listeners are left with a clearer understanding that age should not be a barrier to pursuing entrepreneurial dreams. Tom's insights challenge common myths and offer a fresh perspective on starting an online business later in life. Website: www.tomclairmont.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasclairmont/ www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Summary In this episode, Tom Clairmont reflects on being 60 years old and facing the timeless struggle of having numerous ideas and dreams but limited time and focus to pursue them. He recounts a recent conversation with an old coach who shared similar struggles. Living in a land of opportunities and embracing capitalism can lead to the belief that success in one area can lead to success in all areas, which isn't necessarily true. Tom discusses the overwhelming influx of creative ideas and the challenges of being a solo entrepreneur with limited hours in a day. They touch on the fear of missing out when witnessing others' success in different areas. Tom emphasizes the importance of strategic prioritization, taming the creative mind, and focusing on one venture at a time while keeping other ideas in a journal for future exploration. He encourages listeners to enjoy the journey, recognize that success goes beyond wealth, embrace patience, and stay open to new opportunities. The key takeaway is that mastering one venture before moving to the next is often the path to genuine success and life fulfillment. Website: www.tomclairmont.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasclairmont/ www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Summary: We're talking about the crucial first step in building your online business foundation: having a clear vision. But you know what's equally important? Turning that vision into a reality. Why This Information Is So Important: Look, starting a business can be thrilling, but it's also packed with challenges, especially when you're taking the plunge later in life. Your vision is like your guiding star, but transforming it into a workable plan can feel like navigating uncharted waters. That's why this episode matters. Why You Should Absolutely Tune In: Setting Clear Goals: You'll discover why it's essential to break those big, audacious goals into manageable steps. I'll share how to prioritize them and even add a bit of urgency to keep you on track. Trust me; this can make all the difference. Overcoming Procrastination and Distraction: Who hasn't battled procrastination and distractions? I've been there too. I'll reveal some strategies to tackle these productivity killers head-on so you can stay focused and get things done. Lack of Planning: Planning is your roadmap to success. But not just any plan; it needs structure. I'll talk about why having daily and weekly goals, plus a to-do list that's actually doable, is crucial. Keeping it simple is my mantra, and I'll explain why. Information Overload: We're in the age of information overload. I recently did a little test with Google, and trust me, it can get overwhelming. I'll share how to cut through the noise, find reliable info, and avoid drowning in data. Maintaining Motivation: Let's face it, motivation can be sky-high when you start, but it often fizzles out. I'll talk about finding your "why" and keeping that fire burning, even when the going gets tough. It's all about visualizing your success. So, if you're thinking about launching a business, especially if you're a bit further down the road of life, this episode is your go-to guide. It's packed with real-world advice and solutions to help you navigate the tricky terrain of turning your vision into a thriving reality. Don't miss it! Website: www.tomclairmont.com Online Course: Solopreneur 90 Day Launch Plan Receive weekly tips and perspective emails from Tom on having a professional online business HERE. www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Summary Hey there, it's Tom Clairmont, and welcome back to the Small Business Startup Essentials show. Today, we're diving into a topic that's becoming increasingly challenging in the digital age: maintaining focus and productivity, especially for home-based businesses like mine. If I'm grappling with these distractions, chances are, you are too. As time goes on, we're bombarded with more and more distractions. Our phones, the internet, and social media are just a few culprits. I've found that to stay on track, I have to power down my phone or put it out of reach. I even have to close my email and limit TV time to meal breaks. Otherwise, productivity takes a nosedive, and my to-do list goes haywire, especially on Mondays. Social media deserves special mention because it's designed to be addictive. Even though I'm not a fan of many platforms myself, I know people who struggle with constant social media engagement. With a home-based business, discipline and focus are vital to staying productive because time flies, and if we're not careful, we'll wonder where it all went. I've started incorporating exercise into my routine, which, while great for health, adds an unexpected layer of fatigue to my day. But there are other reasons distractions creep in. When you work from home, there's a built-in distraction—the comfort of your surroundings. It's easy to get lost in the view or other non-essential tasks. Working from home also means less external structure and accountability. Procrastination can creep in, and it's tempting to put things off. Meetings with clients can sometimes spiral into unproductive discussions, and self-accountability often takes a back seat. It's not meant to be discouraging, but I wanted to share my struggles because I believe in keeping it real. Recognizing these challenges upfront can help you prepare better and establish the discipline and structure needed for a successful home-based business. Let's tackle these issues head-on because they're not likely to get easier in the future. Website: www.tomclairmont.com Online Course: Solopreneur 90 Day Launch Plan www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

Today I have with me author, co founder and Chief Technology Officer of Yembo, Zach Rattner. Zach recently wrote a book called Grow Up Fast. I recommend this book to anyone that’s thinking of launching a startup or maybe already launched one and need some guidance on how to navigate through the process. Zach currently lives in San Diego CA with his wife and family and has some good insight for us on making that transition out of the Corporate environment to having a successful business. www.tomclairmont.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/small-biz-essentials/exclusive-content

You’ve been waiting….months…years and for what? The Right time? The right economy? The right situation? And how’s the wait been going for you? Are things getting better for you, or worse? Like it or not, the clock is ticking. You don’t have unlimited time to do the things you want to do and to be the person you want to be. What are you waiting for? The what if’s we think are normally the negative thoughts of…what if I fail? What if it doesn’t work out? What if I don’t get the support? What if I run out of money? What if I never sell anything? What if I can’t do what I say I can do? There’s a never ending supply of negative ‘what if’ thoughts. Then there are the ‘why’s’. Why now? Why not later? Why should I listen to this person and not that person? But my question to you is: Why do the negative thoughts flow so easily, but you need to be convinced over and over again to try to think positively about your future and about your chances and how you too can be successful just like millions of other people…just like you are? Maybe you’re thinking that the economy is getting worse and that’s stopping you? Maybe the soundtrack in your head keeps playing the same negative tune and that’s stopping you? Stop living in the past and start living in the present. You be YOUR biggest fan. Don’t rely on others to give you the confidence that you need. Do I want all my family and friends to agree with me and fully understand and approve what I’m doing and why I do it? Yes. But I know that’s never going to happen, so I’m past that now. I don’t need everyone’s approval. Some people just don’t understand…and will never understand why you don’t get that degree THEY think you should get, and just go out and get a better job. Some people will never understand that entrepreneurial perspective that flows so easily inside of you. Is the economy going to ever provide you with the perfect time? No Will your confidence level ever be at the perfect level for you to believe in yourself? No Will you ever get ALL the support you think you need so you can start doing this ‘thing’ that you do so well? Probably not. The time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week; not when you’re feeling up to it. Not when you have a bigger bank account. Not when somebody else says it’s OK. It’s now. Why am I so sure it’s now when I don’t even know you? Well, if this is you…if You’ve waited long enough and you’ve come up with all the excuses that everyone else comes up with for why you can’t be successful, then that’s how I know that this is your time and that you are the person. There is only one of you on this planet. So whatever you’re telling yourself about how others can do the same thing better then you, that’s not true. Take your experiences and expertise and your talents and put them all together. The world needs you now. People need what you can do now. People need to know what you know now and they’re looking for someone just like you to help them. Take a look around, friend. Is the world getting better? Or is the world getting crazier? From my perspective, it’s getting crazier. That’s why I’m asking you…imploring you to speak up. Speak out. Do whatever you need to do. Even if you don’t have all the confidence you think you need. It’s time for you to finally take action. If you need help, there’s plenty of people out there that will help you; including me. You don’t need to be a superhero. You don’t need to act like a superhero. You don’t need to act like anybody other than who you are. You don’t need to change who you are. Can you accomplish all that you will ever hope to do? Probably not. I know I can’t. But I do what I can do. And that’s what I’m asking of you as well. Do what you can do. The time is now and you are the person. Whether it’s starting a business or starting a Podcast. Start something. Website: www.tomclairmont.com

New entrepreneurs get advice from a lot of different sources- There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of information. From YouTube, and Google searches, from Quora. The list goes on and on. We live in an information age now and we can pretty much talk. To our smartwatch. And ask at anything we need to know. Everybody has a slightly different perspective As well. And that doesn’t make it any easier to figure out. What we should do or shouldn’t do. What path to take? And how to take it. What works for one person may not work for someone else There’s no secret sauce. There’s no formula on success. I was just telling my daughter yesterday after she was telling me she wants to start a business that even the experts tell us. Try something. See if it works. If it doesn’t work, you try something else. What worked for me may not work for you. Now there are general principles in place that are sort of generic. And yes, there is a right and a wrong way to do some things for sure. But as far as what resonates with people. For your product or service and how you’re presenting it. And how that lines up with your experience. You may or may not be able to reach your target audience as effectively as somebody else who’s doing the same thing. Nobody wants to fail. We all want to succeed But success comes after. The failures Success comes after we’ve tried something. And it didn’t work. But we learned from that experience. And what not to do in order. To reach our target audience more effectively with a better pitch, a better angle. A different approach. A better product, a better service. Surely if we ‘do it the right way’ we’re more likely to succeed But what is the right way? What is ‘the right way’? How would you define ‘doing it right’? My rate might not be your right. It might be right for me and wrong for you. It might be right for you and wrong for me. It’s all subjective. There’s a low budget ‘right’ way and a big budget ‘right’ way. Both are totally different. I’ve found that. Most new entrepreneurs have the smaller budget approach at first until They are able to build their business. And along with that, build their bank account. But even while we’re still on that smaller budget even while we Still have that smaller bank account. We can get caught up in the mindset that others have that are on larger budgets in order to ‘do it right’ Now don’t forget. There’s A never ending supply of online tools for your toolbelt to help you on your path to success. Some are free, some are low cost and some are quite expensive the marketing tools seem to be the more pricier ones. Here are a few of the more popular ones and the kind of money you’ll shell out · Kajabi is a very popular online tool that will help you sell your products through funnels and landing pages, you can have a website developed, throw in email marketing…but it’s going to cost you between $150-$200/a month · Hubspot is another very popular source for not only launching but building your business with a wide range of online tools at your disposal, but that can cost you anywhere between $450 and $800/month · Clickfunnels is another very popular small business marketing site that offers sales funnels for your products. And this one is the cheaper option, if you really want to call it that. Clickfunnels will run you between $130-$160/month These tools are great if you have the structure, volume and staff in place to support it. You will need a team of marketing specialists to work these tools properly there’s a mountain of work to do to use these tools. But if you’re paying for them but need time to put the foundation in place, you’re paying for something you can’t even use for quite some time and time is not something you’ll have the privilege of wasting. Once you sign up for these services, the clock is ticking. Every month you will be charged. No doubt about that

Hey friend, welcome back to another episode of the Small business started essentials podcasts where I like to cover topics that are sometimes generic, but sometimes personal to me as well. In this episode, I’m going to talk a little bit about why I’ll never retire. But as I was thinking about this, it sort of got me wondering what retirement is anyway? You know what is retirement? Is it to stop all effective formal sort of work? Just do nothing but poke around all day long or play golf? Mow the yard over and over again? (like my retired neighbor does…don’t get me wrong, he’s a great guy, he’s just bored) I watched my father retire at a very early age because he spent 30 years at a manufacturing plant. And after he officially retired, he officially laid down in bed and stayed there most of the day. I see some of my neighbors that are in retirement and they spend most of the day trying to figure out what to do with their day. So I certainly don’t want to fall into that trap, but what would I retire from? You know: • learning? • Helping people? • making an impact? • having influence? I know that retirement means different things to different people, but I guess for the scope of this episode, we’ll just frame it in the context of ‘officially working’. Now if that meant that I’d never had a job again, that would be one thing. But when you’re self employed, or a soleopreneur, and you have a business, there is no job. But the mindset of the business being a job could still be there. That’s not me. And just as an extra side note, I’m also married to somebody who has the same perspective. She also said ‘I’m never going to retire.’ You know, it’s just she always wants to be involved in either learning or teaching or making an impact one way or another. Whether it’s creating online courses or tutoring people in higher education. So I’m only mentioning this because it’s also a significant source of influence as well. But some people say they’ll never retire because they need the financial security. They need extra income. They don’t want to rely just on Social Security or pensions that they may have. They want to continually create a source of income. And I get that. I’m not criticizing that. That’s a good goal. Some people say they’ll never retire because they have a passion for their work. They just don’t want to don’t want to stop doing what they love doing. And that’s me. I can relate to that. That’s a huge reason why I say I’ll never retire. You know, to some or even a lot of people, the work that they do in their business gives them a sense of purpose and growth and fulfillment. They see themselves as contributing to something meaningful. If you’re involved in a non nonprofit organization, you’ll get a good taste of that. For some people the concept of continual professional development fuels them to keep going no matter how old they are. They want to keep learning. They want to keep developing. They want to be relevant in their field or in their industry or to the community. For some just the social interaction is a big factor in why they’d like to continue to do what they do. Some people just fear being isolated from prior connections to networks that they built over the decades. Having that mental stimulation and staying active and engaged can really help keep the mind to stay sharp and prevent boredom every single day. But also, if we say we’re going to retire, which means we’re sort of ceasing to be involved in the things we were previously involved in then the impact that we used to have will be gone. The length of our legacy and the footprint on society will be impacted as well. Now, some…see this retirement time as a time to start over and really dig into their hobbies and interests like never before. This morning I was scanning some Podcasts on Spotify and came across some shows that exist just as personal projects based on their i

Hey friend welcome back again to another episode that I hope will give you a little bit more insight on not only the small business realm, but sort of the mindset of why I do what I do and how I do it. Today I’m going to talk about one specific decision that I made 20 years ago that had really paid off for me big time financially. You know, we can make a lot of decisions throughout the scope of our business. Sometimes you go with your gut when you’re not sure what to do. Sometimes you find out that your gut was wrong. Oh, well, you made a decision, and that’s what you needed to do. You gave it a shot. You’re going to find out if it either works or it doesn’t. You know, we’re flooded with ads about how to make a lot of money. And you don’t know who or what to believe. It’s real easy to be skeptical about these types of things. So maybe it’ll help if I give you a personal example of what did work for me. I’ve said a number of times that when I first started out, I really didn’t have a solid plan in place for what to do and how to do it. I worked on a business plan with very little guidance and back in the day, I went to some people at SCORE. And they were nice. They were friendly and helpful for the most part, but it was pretty much because they’re all volunteers. It was just a little conversation and they pointed me to some resources. Being that I was in the technology realm, it was a field that they weren’t familiar with anyway. But once I decided I was going to be providing web services, it occurred to me that I should form some sort of structure behind that concept and have a way to officially sell products and services and have people pay for those products and services in ways that would be easy for me to manage and maintain. So as I was looking at different companies that provided web services, I found that GoDaddy had an affiliate program that they referred to as a reseller because it’s really more than an affiliate program. In a typical affiliate program, you just refer another company with a special link that’s provided by them that distinguishes you, specifically so that when you refer people through this link, you get a small financial reward for it. But with the GoDaddy reseller program, they provide you with an independent dashboard, a way to pick and choose what products and services you want to offer with the pricing and what it’s going to be for each product, how you want to offer discounts based on the specific of time frames that you can determine or for other reasons. So it’s really a full blown way to have your own Web services business. But offer pretty much all or most of what GoDaddy has to offer. And through this dashboard that they provide you can present it as your individual company. And with a reseller fee of just $100 a year, I think that’s quite a bargain. Because I have made 10’s of thousands of dollars with just this one decision to be a reseller through GoDaddy. Now you might already be familiar with web services and what they are and how they work. But just to be clear when somebody wants a website, they’re going to need a domain name, hosting, they will probably want custom email. They may want SEO services. They may want a secure link for their domain name called SSL Secure socket layer (a little bit technical here) but they may want domain privacy protection you know pretty much the A to Z of what you need for a website hosting. I think I left that out hosting account the server that’s going to have the files for the website and offer it 24/7 to the Internet and when these products and services need to be renewed every year, and the customer does renew and pay for these products and services, you automatically get passive income. In the first ten years that I offered these products and services I acquired a good number of clients. Some people throughout the years come and go. Some businesses cease to exist. Some people move

Hey there, friend, welcome back…now, the title of this episode might confuse you because it’s in direct contradiction to the title of the previous episode, that I just aired recently. In the last episode, titled ‘Wanting More’, it was all about the benefits of wanting more and how achieving more can be morally OK as we take our wealth and use it as a redirect to help society or our community. But the title of this episode is ‘Wanting Less’. And even though the title contradicts the previous episode, that was called ‘Wanting More’, today’s episode really isn’t about financial gain. It’s about the lifestyle mentality of the benefits of wanting less. It’s about how life can be better and how we can be happier, with less. Less tasks, less staff, less commitments, less stress…and more free time. Now, some people are longing for a life with less; a life free from the overwhelming distractions and clutter that seem to surround us. Well, today we're going to explore the concept of wanting less and how having a business can sometimes lead to unintended distractions, pulling us away from our primary focus. In a world where more is often seen as better, the desire for less can be a seriously refreshing perspective. Wanting less is about decluttering our lives, both physically and mentally, and focusing on what truly matters. It's about stripping away the excess and finding clarity amidst the noise. Now, let's be honest. Having a business can be exciting, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of those challenges is the potential for distractions. When we're running a business, there are countless tasks, opportunities, and ideas vying for our attention. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement and lose sight of our main function. And as our business grows, we find ourselves wondering if we need to hire someone or maybe take on a virtual assistant or your freelancers. Do we need to build a team? But personally, now that I’m running my business later in life, I find that simplicity is the key to my personal happiness. In that remaining a solepreneur and not build a staff allows me to have the freedom and flexibility that I’ve always been shooting for in the first place. So, how can we strike a balance? How can we maintain focus on the core function of our business while navigating the tempting distractions that come our way? How do we build a business but still keep things lean and simple. Is it even possible? Well, I say it is. It is if we want it to be. It is if that’s what we determine it to be. Now I’m not saying that you have to do everything yourself. I’ve never promoted that as the concept of being a solopreneur. But overall, my goal is to be a company of one. So if I want to have a virtual assistant, that’s fine. If I want to hire a temp here and there as needed that’s fine. If I need to freelance a social media manager as needed that’s fine. But what helps to keep things simple and minimalistic are processes and systems. What systems can I put in place? What operating procedures can I build and use that makes the most of the limited time that I have and that doesn’t make being a solopreneur a burden? Creating content and scheduling it out for two months in advance for social media saves a lot of time. Using drip email marketing as much as possible, saves a lot of time. Having a VA do some labor intensive tasks saves me a lot of time. Batch processing the Podcast episodes again, saves me quite a bit of time. And then, I can take all this saved time and do with it whatever I want, right? But the point I’m trying to make here is that I have more free time. I get the same amount of work done, but I have less of a burden. Wanting less isn’t necessarily about being a minimalist, it’s about keeping things simple. Not overcomplicating what could be kept simple. Saying no to some things that you would normally say yes to. So, revisit the dream