The Action Army Podcast

This is the final episode of the Action Army podcast... We laughed. We cried. We had tons of real-talk about working for yourself and trying to get more things done (in life and biz!). I can't thank you enough for being a listener of this show. While I'm sad to stop sharing my thoughts from my pod-closet, I'm excited to continue chatting with my wife on our BRAND NEW podcast (coming verrrry soon). In this episode we do a proper send off by sharing all the details of our next project: Wandering Aimfully. We'll be creating a new podcast with that business and you can find more about it at wanderingaimfully.com - Last but not least, I want to give a huge shout out to FreshBooks for sponsoring the last few episodes of this show. Be sure to snag that 30-day free trial using freshbooks.com/actionarmy and get your invoices, expense and time tracking, tax prep, and much more done with FreshBooks. Thanks for listening, now go take some action!

We are just one episode away from the Action Army podcast coming to an end... BUT FEAR NOT! Just because the Action Army is ending, doesn't mean you won't get your weekly podcast-fix. My wife joins me on this episode to take a look back on our businesses the past few years, as well as give a preview of what's coming in episode 100 (and beyond!) Have a listen and I hope you enjoy our detailed trips down memory road. Don't forget to check out FreshBooks.com/actionarmy to get a 30-day free trial of the invoicing software I use and love. Thanks for supporting this show for 99 episodes!

Not only does this podcast episode take you behind every curtain and velvet rope, but my wife Caroline and I share a handful of stories from the past year and a half's journey of writing my upcoming book, Do It Differently. We laugh. We cry. We share our (gentle) fights/arguments. If you wanted to know what all goes into writing and putting a book out into the world, you'll enjoy this podcast ep. Also, check out FreshBooks.com/actionarmy if you want to support the final sponsor of the Action Army podcast.

No matter what you're creating, one of the most important things you can do to succeed is to stand out from everyone else. Think of every successful person or business you revere, and there's always something unique or different about that person/company. Getting stuck in the Sea of Sameness will keep you trapped and wondering why you can't get any traction. And, make sure to check out FreshBooks.com/actionarmy if you need help with invoicing, tax prep, time tracking, and overall biz management.

What happens when you think you're making social responsible purchasing decisions, only to find out you've actually been giving money to a company/people who are the worst offenders? IT SUCKS! Hah. In this episode I explore the VW scandal, the Netflix show Dirty Money (that talks about it), and all my feelings that go along with it. Also discussed is how to think about adding social responsibility to your business. Don't forget to grab a 30-day free trial of FreshBooks with freshbooks.com/actionarmy - especially if you need help with last-minute tax prep :)

If you were to pick ONE thing to focus on in business, it should be the idea that whatever you're creating is incredibly useful. Everything else is a supporting tactic to showcase the usefulness you're putting out into the world. I'd argue that all the other supporting tactics you CAN use, aren't things you SHOULD use until you've discovered how you or your business can be useful to other people. And speaking of useful, check out FreshBooks if you need help with invoicing, time tracking, tax prep, and much more - freshbooks.com/actionarmy

If you were to pick ONE thing to focus on in business, it should be the idea that whatever you're creating is incredibly useful. Everything else is a supporting tactic to showcase the usefulness you're putting out into the world. I'd argue that all the other supporting tactics you CAN use, aren't things you SHOULD use until you've discovered how you or your business can be useful to other people. And speaking of useful, check out FreshBooks if you need help with invoicing, time tracking, tax prep, and much more - freshbooks.com/actionarmy

What in the world does me playing Nintendo Switch have to do with helping you take more action (and live the life you want)? Well, it's actually a pretty direct correlation. Have a listen to the episode to find out why I've been forcing myself to NOT feel guilty about my Nintendo Switch habits. Also, I share a few Switch game recommendations - hehe. Don't forget to check out FreshBooks and get a 30-day free trial using the link freshbooks.com/actionarmy

As a creative person, when a new idea hits you it can be all-consuming. This is both good and bad. It's good, because it means you have an idea you're excited about and could create new opportunities for you. But jumping into something new can also be a distraction from things you need to be focusing on. In this episode I explore a new idea that's nagging at me, but one I've been holding back for over a year while I get all my ducks in a row. Thanks to FreshBooks for sponsoring this episode, check them out at freshbooks.com/actionarmy

"Content" certainly seems like a buzz word these days. You have to create content! What's your content schedule? Do you have a content strategy?? Content, content, content. In this episode I thought I'd break down this large nebulous topic into tactical phases. Three specific content phases that I've seen throughout my career. And, make sure to check out freshbooks.com/actionarmy to get a 30-day free trial of FreshBooks - a rad company supporting the last few episodes of the Action Army podcast!

Piggybacking on episode 91 (3 phases of content), I wanted to explore the idea that you don't NEED social media to promote your business. I believe the majority of business owners are wasting valuable time posting on social media, when they could be spending that time directly helping customers or making their product/service great. This is a REAL- TALK episode, folks! Also, make sure to grab your 30-day free trial of FreshBooks, using the link freshbooks.com/actionarmy

This is not a podcast episode that explains cryptocurrency and Bitcoin, no no. This episode talks about my experience and my thoughts on if you should or should NOT invest in Bitcoin. I also share my real world experience as someone who has actually purchase Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin (after missing out on buying in 2013). Let the crypto convo begin!

I've been having some frustrations about the consistency of episodes of the Action Army podcast and then it hit me: Why am I so frustrated? I don't need to be as consistent with this podcast as I do with other, more important, things in my life. It's 100% okay to let certain projects/tasks be less consistent, if you need that time and willpower to get the right things done (at the right time). Hope this little lesson about consistency hits home for you!

I answered written interview questions about my habits and processes and decided to turn those Qs and As into this podcast episode! Because of the awesome response my weird habits and processes received I thought it would be fun to elaborate on them and share a bit more info here. Hope you enjoy! And, don't forget to join the Action Army if you want a weekly dose of awesome in your inbox: actionarmy.co

You, today, could get your next paying customer if you are willing to go the extra mile and do unsolicited (and unpaid) work. Does that sound scary? Does it sound like you’re wasting your time (or could be)? On the contrary, can you flip your thinking to seeing this as a marketing opportunity? A super-high-touch marketing opportunity that could impress the heck out of a potential customer or client. The same customer or client who is tired of being pitched the same way that everyone else lazily pitches them. Sure, it’s going to take time. Sure, you aren’t guaranteed to get paid for that time. *But… Aren’t you already spending un-guaranteed time on your business? Creating content? Writing updates/posts for social media?* Listen to a story about a young scrappy entrepreneur named Ilya, and how he thoroughly impressed me - which led to this podcast episode all about him! For more: jasondoesstuff.com/ilya

Once upon a time I focused on trying to get more fans and followers. What happened after all that work? I was left struggling to keep my business afloat. If you're running a business of any kind, you need to put your focus on customers first. Hear my story, as well as a story about someone I follow on social media who has a huge fan-base, but couldn't raise just $10,000.

I'm not usually big on the "5 steps..." or "12 tricks..." type headlines, but there are only so many characters in a podcast episode title! This one just made sense, and it's a process my wife Caroline and I have spent years honing. We go into detail about the five steps along with the products that can help accompany them in BuyOurFuture (which closes October 13). Hope this gives you some tangible nuggets for your next/existing business!

It's launch week around these parts! Caroline and I chat about what goes into launching a big project (BuyOurFuture). We discuss the good, the bad, the scary, the not-so-scary, and share stories from amazing entrepreneurs who've made huge changes in their businesses/lives thanks to the BuyOurFuture community. Have a listen as we pull back the ole entrepreneurial curtain! See if this community is right for you at http://buyourfuture.com

One of the things that I strive to NOT do is to sell the dream. But one of the things I'm realizing I need to do more is sell the reality. Selling the dream is selling someone unproven results. Selling the reality is selling someone actual experiences and proven results. It's incredibly hard to sell the reality in the beginning. You haven't helped anyone realize their goals or solve any of their problems. But that's part of our job as creators: We can't just hand someone something and hope it all works out. Business is an exchange in value. As I've learned the past few years, selling becomes so much easier when you are actually delivering REAL value, not just perceived value. Hope you enjoyed this episode from my psychological couch! Get ready for BuyOurFuture.com updates after the launch on Tuesday, September 26.

Listen, in the grand scheme of life, our email list getting attacked is not a big deal. Folks around the world are losing their homes, their livelihoods, and more. But... if you listen to the Action Army, you come around for the business chats. We like to keep it real around here, which is why I'm sharing our experience getting "listbombed" and having to unsubscribe 23,000 (yes, twenty three THOUSAND) subscribers. Some great lessons to learn in this episode, especially as it relates to perspective. Lezgo!