Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

It's that time of the year again. Well, it's the end of the year. That's why I want to take some time to talk about how it went. There have been wins and there have been losses. Some goals were met and others weren't. I hope that this will help you get some perspective on how 2020 went for you and set you up for an amazing year ahead. Key Takeaways The business and video landscape changed drastically this year. This meant that I had to shift my goals in real-time. Although there were many shortcomings, there were also many successes both expected and unforeseen. A Rocky Year Indeed As I imagine it was for you, this past year was a challenge. Plans went out the window pretty fast and we had to adapt very quickly. It's no surprise that we fell short of our revenue goals. There was even a point when I wasn't sure if my video production business would even survive. A Year of Pivots I'd spent years building my business on meeting and connecting new people. When everything went into lockdown, we had to get creative. That's when we pivoted to webinars and virtual summits. This became a success that exponentially expanded my email list. Upon reflection, I've come to understand that while the pandemic and shutdowns have certainly been negative, there are still many aspects for which I am grateful. While I enjoy the work that I do, I know I won't do it forever. One of my goals for this year was to become superfluous in the sales aspect of my video production company. That's why, from the start of the year, I worked to put all the pieces together so that my potential replacement could seamlessly come in and find new clients. This involved bringing on another virtual assistant to streamline the process and it has been totally worth it. New Goals for a New Year I've set some exciting goals going into the new year. We're going to do more consulting and build out our own marketing strategy. I want to create a digital course to help people make their own videos according to our process. I also want to create a paid online community for my studio where clients can get the guidance they need concerning all things video. These are passive income ideas that have me really excited. So stay tuned over the coming year to find out how it goes. What are some of your goals for 2021? What pivots did you need to make this year? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Why popularity is overrated [2:50] Getting creative with webinars, virtual summits, and course creation during the shutdown [9:00] How offering video blueprint workshops have led to greater customer satisfaction [19:00] Building a company where you can be replaceable [24:50] Adapting a schedule for greater satisfaction [34:10] New and exciting goals for 2021 [37:40] Quotes "Who cares if you're popular? If you're a business, you can be popular if that leads to more business. But if it doesn't lead to more business, then who the heck cares? Then it's all about ego." [8:25] "My goal and hope is not to be required to run our production business. I want our video production business to be able to run without me." [25:09] "If you're not blocking off your schedule, I would challenge you to do that. Look at your schedule. Look at all the things that you need to be doing and heavily consider blocking off your days. You could be more efficient if you're just thinking about one thing versus moving all over the place and trying to do all the things every single day."[37:22] Links: Join Grow Your Video Business on Facebook Get the free Budget Workshop Storyblocks Core The Video Blueprint Method SlingStudio Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Turning down opportunities can sometimes be a good thing for you and your business. It's not easy to say no to jobs and money. Yet, strategically doing so opens up doors to what you actually want to do. Today's guests have successfully built their studio around this idea. Key Takeaways It's natural to want to branch out your business into many fields. However, this will dilute your talent and energy. Instead, create a narrow focus on where your skills and passions intersect. About Joshua Martin Studios Joshua Martin Studios is a small production company based in the United States. It is co-run by founder Joshua Martin and business partner Cody Wales who focus on telling stories of the human condition. Lessons of Starting a New Studio From the very start, Joshua and Cody knew what type of studio they wanted to run. However, like any new small business, they had debts to pay. They tell how they learned very quickly to leave their egos behind and take the work they needed to get their business off the ground. While they feel driven as creatives to keep doing more and more, they realize that success in business means narrowing your focus and skills to excel at something in particular. Asking For the Impossible Now that they are working towards a clear vision for their studio, Joshua and Cody are able to take just the jobs they want. As a result, both they and their clients truly appreciate the videos that they make. A large part of their strategy involves asking for what they want and seeing what they can get from brands they want to work with. When the worst that can happen is getting no for an answer, these low-risk high-reward ventures have the potential to lead to great opportunities that otherwise would not happen. How have you narrowed your focus as you grow your business? What impossibilities would you like to ask for? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Building a studio around your interests with brand support [5:40] The challenge of ambition and how to overcome it [14:40] The unique advantage of knowing what you do and don't want to do [19:45] What happens when you leave your ego at the door when growing your business [28:00] Why you should ask other companies for things that seem impossible [30:46] Quotes "There's this constant desire to explore and do something new and if you're taking on too much of that and managing it yourself, there's a strong possibility that you're going to burn yourself out creatively and in life." [15:38] "I reach out to people where it might seem impossible because they're a big brand or company. I think people might be surprised. You should not have an expectation that they're going to say yes. That's the key." [32:28] "Whatever it is you're going to go do, make sure you're in the position to be very appealing to them. It's not like always throwing a 'hey, can we do this?' out of nowhere. It's more of like 'this will be beneficial to you because it's what we're already doing.'" [35:58] Links: Join Grow Your Video Business on Facebook Get the free Budget Workshop Storyblocks Core Find Joshua Martin Studios Online Follow Joshua Martin Studios on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Many of us get into this work to feed our creativity. We love to create and see our visions become reality. But we still have clients who have their own visions and ideas. It can be a tricky balance creating a business with the structure to satisfy both your clients and your own creative needs. Today's guest explains how he manages to do just that. Key Takeaways Your business is built on relationships. Getting them right from the start leads to better work down the road. Take the time to suss out the good relationships from the bad first thing in order to assure that you'll have a good working relationship as the project progresses. About Josh Emerick Josh is a DP and Producer from Zanesville, Ohio who leans on structure and planning to manifest what people perceive as creativity. He is mostly known for his work in music videos, but still actively shoots a lot of commercial work, weddings, and recently narrative films. Creating Systems for Efficiency and Creativity Systematized efficiency is a large part of how Josh structures his business. By automating as much as he can and preparing in advance when possible, Josh is able to maximize his efficiency while meeting or exceeding everyone's expectations. Josh also explains how his personal work fits into his business. By making his own work where he has complete creative control, Josh hopes to show potential future clients what he is capable of. Doing this not only feeds his own creative needs, it will attract exactly the types of clients he hopes to work with. Harnessing the Power of Referrals The challenge will always be finding new clients. Josh describes how referrals have been the boon of his business. There's no magic formula to getting referrals. Being easy and fun to work with while serving your client's needs is what it all comes down to. This can be done by setting the right expectations from the start and not backing down from them. Throughout this interview, Josh describes all the ways that he does just that. How do you manage client expectations? Do you have a lead magnet? Tell me about it in the comments on the episode page! In This Episode: Building a business that feeds your creativity while pleasing clients [10:04] How to get referrals by doing the right work and setting expectations [17:00] The power of an email list to grow interest in your work [22:30] Using blog posts to position yourself as an expert [28:30] Whether or not to post packages and pricing on your website [33:40] Quotes "Whether we're doing a personal project, whether we're doing a project for a client, I'm always trying to look at how we're using our time and how do we break that down and automate as many things as possible." [12:33] "I think it's easy as creators to be like let's make the most beautiful thing with the coolest lighting and the coolest camera. That plays a role, but how does that make your client feel? If I make someone feel good, they're going to want to come back to me and they're going to want to actually have a referral." [17:38] "I have no problem educating on how we make something possible. But I don't want to spend time educating you on what cinematography really costs and what a real production actually costs. Either you value it and you want to work with us or you don't and that's okay." [36:34] Links: Join Grow Your Video Business on Facebook Get the free Budget Workshop Storyblocks Core Find Josh Emerick online Follow Josh on Instagram | Facebook Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Your business will be made or broken on relationships. Building trust and being passionate is central to this. Whether it's your team, your clients, or your competition, these relationships are crucial. Today's guest has not only built an amazing business based on relationships but clearly loves what he does every day. Key Takeaways Finding opportunities to take on side-gigs will keep your skills sharp and allow you to do exciting work you otherwise couldn't. There's a lot of learning and inspiration that comes from branching out and trying new things that will help you constantly level-up as a filmmaker. When building a team, start with trust and passion. Knowing that your people will faithfully and enthusiastically get the job done whether you're there or not is central to a well-functioning business. About Chris Ray Chris is a filmmaker who got his start in action sports filming skateboarding videos. Since then, he has done a wide range of work with companies such as DC Shoes, NFL Films, Ford, GoPro, ESPN, and many more. Imbuing Your Work With Passion Chris has a great perspective on everything that he does. For one thing, he doesn't view other filmmakers as competition. Instead, they're an inspiration and possible collaborators. Chris loves his work so much that he seldom passes up an opportunity to make videos. When he doesn't have a project, he makes one for himself. This passion to keep working on many different projects has allowed Chris to keep his skills well-honed as a filmmaker. Building an Amazing Team Chris doesn't do it all alone. He has built up a solid team of filmmakers to help make and produce their videos. I know many of us are hesitant to hire people, but it is an essential part of growing your video business. Chris knows that the most important place to start when taking on new people is trust. You need to be able to trust your people to get the job done without you. That's why you brought them on to begin with. When you find the right people who are passionate about the work, you're well on your way to building a winning team. Have you hired team members? What qualities do you look for in them? How do you build trust in your business? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The many sources of inspiration in filmmaking [4:45] Taking on side-gigs to refine your craft [7:30] The characteristics to look for when building a team [12:35] Learning to manage the work-life balance [13:40] The power of respect to make jobs run smoothly [17:30] Quotes "I get inspired by others. I'm inspired by other filmmakers. I'm inspired by my team. Those are the people I want to work with. I've definitely learned that you can't do everything by yourself. I try to surround myself with other filmmakers that are great because it makes me better." [5:30] "I still get scared every single time I get hit up for a freelance job. It's still scary every time and I think that's because I think I'm scared of failure. I just say yes and we go for it and we figure it out. That's always been my advice to people: just say yes. Just do it." [10:10] "Being respectful to people no matter what the role is, no matter what their level is, treating everybody with respect is a huge thing." [17:39] Links: Get free access to the Budget Workshop Storyblocks Core Find Chris Ray online Follow Chris on Instagram | Facebook Inovativ 10% discount code Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

As a freelancer or small business owner, buying gifts for your clients may feel frivolous and wasteful. The truth is, it can be a small investment with a huge reward. However, we often get it wrong when it comes to determining the best gifts to give. If you are hesitant to spend a little extra to treat your clients, this is the perfect episode to change your mind. Key Takeaways Showing up and giving with no strings attached attracts genuine reciprocity. Give these gifts at unexpected times. It leads to growth in relationships that may take time but will be stronger in the end. A world-class gift should focus on the recipient, not the giver. Thinking from the other person's perspective and trying to understand what they really want forms strong and lasting bonds. About John Ruhlin John is the world's leading authority in maximizing customer loyalty through radical generosity. He is the founder of and author of Giftology. John has been featured in Fox News, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., and The New York Times. The True Power of a Proper Gift We all have the power to make other people's lives better. John explains how going all-in on generosity creates the relationships to improve not only the recipient's life but your own too. People remember when you go out of the way to be generous. When generosity is genuine, people are eager to reciprocate. It may not happen right away, but eventually what you give others will come back to benefit you. During that time, relationships will grow in depth to last for a lifetime. A Story as a Gift As filmmakers, we are uniquely positioned to give the most meaningful gifts of all: stories. John says that a thing you give is just a token. But, if it has a story behind it, something that explains its meaning, then it becomes a cherished artifact. Use your power as a storyteller to imbue gifts with personal meaning. Give people gifts that are not only meaningful but that keep you top of mind. This is the stuff that forges bonds between you and clients that are valuable beyond words. How can you create moments for your clients that make a difference for them? What meaningful and memorable gifts have you given or received? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The power of radical generosity to change everything [4:30] What it means to invest in giftology [9:30] Why we need to make gifts about the people we give the gift to and not about ourselves [18:40] Why promotional products are not gifts [26:24] How to invest in something that makes you truly memorable [32:00] What you should do instead of wasting money on holiday gifts for your clients [36:03] Quotes "Every business, and really every life, rises and falls on relationships…. When you show up powerfully for people and are radically generous, no matter who they are, if they're human beings, relationships flourish if they show up powerfully and go all-in on things." [4:41] "Language and word choice matter….. Based upon how it's presented, it matters and makes somebody value it." [17:50] "A gift showing up just out of the blue says I was thinking of you, versus it's Christmas and I made money this year and feel like I should probably say thank you. Saying thank you the other ten months out of the year is way more effective. As a small business owner, that's how you can spend less money than your competition and have 100 times more impact." [38:41] Links: Join the Free Budget Workshop! Storyblocks Core Find John Ruhlin online Giftology System Giftology by John Ruhlin Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Those of us with a YouTube channel know this frustration. You put in a ton of work into creating amazing content, but no one sees it. It may be because of your naming strategy, scheduling, title, image, or something else entirely. With so much to keep in mind, wouldn't it be nice to have the right information on your side? Key Takeaways Even if you're busy with client work, find the time to shoot your own content. By showing people the behind-the-scenes of what you do, you are naturally and easily promoting your business. For best live streaming results, focus on having good audio by investing in a quality mic. Have a plan in place in case things go wrong, like losing a signal or connection. Investing in the right equipment will help ensure that everything goes smoothly once you go live. About Rob Balasabas Rob is a partnership growth manager at TubeBuddy. He is an active content creator on his own Linkedin, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook channels. Rob works hard sharing a lot of video and content creation strategies, live streaming tips, as well as software and tool reviews. Getting Noticed to Promote Your Business on YouTube This week, Rob explains many of the ins and outs of getting seen on YouTube and other platforms. Even if it doesn't feel like it, there are countless opportunities to make content to promote your business. It doesn't have to be much. Even a short explainer video or live stream goes a long way. By putting a little time away each week to make your own content and do your own marketing you'll stay relevant and discover new leads. The Power of Livestreaming Rob and I dive deep into the new role of live streaming in today's world of video. Just about every social media platform has this feature and it presents many opportunities to promote your business. Rob describes how live streaming is allowing creators to stay regularly engaged with their audiences. From weekly live shows to course creation, live streaming can build communities and grow an audience. As such a simple yet effective tool, live streaming is something any content creator should consider. What could you live stream on video today? How can that help you engage with an audience? How can you use YouTube to regularly engage with your audience? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Best practices for starting and growing your own YouTube channel [4:10] How collaboration with experts leads to more opportunities [13:10] Advice for the new role of live streaming [17:57] The best gear for live streaming [27:10] How to effectively schedule your uploads to YouTube [30:56] The most underrated feature on YouTube [34:00] Building a community rather than digging for clients [37:51] Quotes "As creatives, you need to treat your business as your best client." [7:43] "The main thing is your audio when it comes to live streaming. If you're limited on budget, I always suggest investing in a mic first because people need to hear you even if they can't see you very well." [27:56] "You want to put out as much content as you can so that you can build up your portfolio so that YouTube has some things to share and suggest to potential viewers." [31:59] "Don't use it as a commercial….People don't want to be sold. They want to be taught. Answer their questions. That's what people are searching for on YouTube; they're searching questions." [36:00] Links: Get Access to the Free Budget Workshop Storyblocks Core Follow Rob Balasabas on YouTube | Instagram | Linkedin | Facebook Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Tax planning. Just those words make me shudder. Over the last 17 years, I've learned some hard lessons on this subject. I really wish I knew what I know now when I got started. It would have saved a lot of worry and frustration. While this is not the most glamorous topic, this is the kind of stuff that makes or breaks a business. Key Takeaways It's well worth the upfront costs of having an expert do your books. Not only can they save you money at tax time, but they will help you avoid making costly mistakes in the first place. About Jeremy Doorn As a ten-year-plus employee of Core Wealth Management, Jeremy Doorn helps small businesses do a better job of tax planning. In addition to firm administration, he handles business advisory services and business succession planning for his clients. The Importance of Expert Help Jeremy tells us that you don't need to be a tax or accounting expert to run a successful business. But you might want to find one to help you out. Getting at least a basic education on how to run your numbers will save a lot of trouble further down the road. Furthermore, having an accountant or other tax expert on your side will help identify tax benefits that you may have otherwise missed and avoid costly mistakes. Bookkeeping as Business Strategy In some ways, proper bookkeeping is aligned with the strategy of your business. When your revenue and expenses are truly known, you can identify your profit. You can't make the best decisions for your company without this knowledge. This is your business that you've created. It's your responsibility to make the most informed decisions that you can to make it profitable. That doesn't mean you need to be an expert on all things. But you do need to find the right advice to make it a success. What has been the biggest lesson you've learned about taxes or bookkeeping since you started your business? Has a tax expert saved you money and helped you grow your business? Tell me about it in the comments on the episode page! In This Episode: The peace of mind that comes with having an expert look over your business' numbers [5:00] What a tax expert can offer that software can't [10:10] How to avoid tax planning mistakes before they become a problem [16:00] Common mistakes in overlooked tax savings opportunities [20:45] Software and apps to make your bookkeeping easier [26:32] The most important financial metrics to pay attention to [32:40] Quotes "It's about knowing where your business is at and not having to put all the work in yourself. It's this whole peace of mind that you have somebody looking at your numbers." [6:34] "A tax return is just a scoreboard for last year's score. That's fine, but you can't do anything with a tax return this year that's for last year. You gotta do it currently while you're going through it." [12:18] "You need to go do creative stuff. Go tell stories. Go do all that stuff. You don't need to be doing bookkeeping. Once you get to a certain point, you got to start looking into unloading that onto somebody else." [17:22] "Every business is different. You need to pick out what is most important for your business depending on what you're actually doing… and track those." [33:30] Links: Storyblocks Core Profit First by Mike Michalowicz QBO Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Making smart gear purchases can help grow your video business. It can also be an expensive distraction. With such a large variety of choices and features, it's easy to get lost down a rabbit hole of gear. To help shed light on this, I've brought on a true expert to this episode. If you are new to live streaming, make sure to test it out thoroughly before you go live. Get the right gear, but don't go overboard. Once you are comfortable with what you have, try it out and get familiar with all the settings. When it's time to do the real thing, you'll know what to expect and come off as a pro. Key Takeaways Be proactive with your customer service. Being quick to respond and communicate reduces anxieties and makes customers feel heard and valued. This is what ultimately leads to repeat business and referrals. About Chris Monlux Chris is the multimedia editor for Videomaker and their magazine. He conducts and writes all of their reviews and produces all of their learning videos content. This guy knows his gear! The Essential Gear for the Modern Videomaker Get ready to nerd out on a lot of gear in this episode. Chris describes why many different cameras are in his collection and why he enjoys them for their different features. However, just because a camera has all the bells and whistles doesn't mean it's a good investment. Before you get your hands on an expensive piece of equipment, you should consider whether or not your clients would actually benefit from it. For obvious reasons, live-streaming has become more popular than ever this year. There's a lot of tech to consider if you do live streaming and having the right stuff can really make a difference. Overall, Chris recommends keeping it simple. Just a couple of cameras and the right software should get the job done. Where you succeed or fail will hinge a lot more on your content and marketing than it will on the tech that you use. The Best Approach to Customer Service Of course, gear is only one part of being a successful filmmaker. Customer service is a huge part of the rest of it. Chris describes how being quick to respond to your customer's needs is central to this. Overall, your ability to anticipate their needs, communicate promptly and clearly and exceed expectations will keep them coming back for more. What is the most essential piece of gear in your collection? Have you ever regretted buying a piece of equipment? Tell me in the comments on the episode page! In This Episode: Why Chris doesn't have a favorite camera [4:28] Finding creative fulfillment in your work [8:40] How gear can both help grow or sidetrack your business [15:20] The best gear and strategies for live streaming [29:10] Anticipating the unpredictabilities when shooting live events [42:00] How good customer service can save the day when problems arise [43:45] Quotes "I'm getting my creative juices out at work. I'm getting paid to have fulfillment creatively and that was always so valuable to me." [9:22] "I like to get inspired by my equipment, but to covet those new features when there isn't a need is unfortunate" [17:27] "We want those things that look really neat, but if someone didn't tell you what it was shot in and it did the job, how much are you really going to care?" [26:46] "If you underpromise and overperform, your client is going to be so excited about what they get because it's more than they expected. All it is is setting expectations." [51:19] Links: Download the 30-day guide to jumpstart your video business! Storyblocks Core Find Videomaker online Follow Videomaker on Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | Twitter | YouTube The Videomaker Podcast Fuji X-T4 Review Cheapest live streaming setup for home professionals Liveview Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Seventeen years of running my own video business have taught me that success is not about getting the best shot, or having the best demo reel or the best gear. There's so much more to it. It boils down to your priorities and how you choose to focus your energy and time. In short, you need to become an essentialist. Key Takeaways Not everything is equally important. Start your day with the question of what is most important today and focus on that. That will set your priorities in order and help assure that you focus only on what is most essential to you. Set boundaries. It is up to you to decide what to do with your time. Stay in control of it and let others know when you are available and when you are not. This leads to efficiency and more overall satisfaction. About Greg McKeown Greg McKeown is the author of the amazing book and New York Times bestseller, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. He is also the founder of McKeown Inc., a company with a mission to teach essentialism to millions of people around the world. Their clients include Adobe, Apple, Airbnb, Cisco, Google, Facebook, and Pixar. Creating boundaries and clarity for success If you've ever felt busy without being productive (and who hasn't?), Greg has some advice for you. You need to create the right boundaries around your priorities and stick to them. If you ask yourself every morning what the most important thing to do today, you will be well on the path to becoming an essentialist. Being an essentialist certainly has its challenges. Even for Greg, it's an ongoing journey. Over time, he's developed a planning system that he continues to revise. Consciously and continuously developing clarity on goals and priorities takes effort. Without it though, necessary clarity will remain out of reach. Identifying what is essential to you Greg wants us all to identify essential parts of our lives that we are underinvesting in. When we realize why these things matter to us, and truly visualize what achieving it would be, we can start to reprioritize our daily lives and be one big step closer to essentialism. Becoming an essentialist is tough. It takes vulnerability. However, striving to build your life around only what is essential to you is the key to everything. What is something essential to you that you are currently under-investing in? How do you create boundaries to protect your priorities? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In This Episode: The role of community in implementing essentialism [7:20] Retaking control over your life through proper prioritizing [10:50] The struggles that come with being an essentialist [18:40] Strategies to get more done by doing less [22:02] Concrete ways to set boundaries to regain control over your time [26:45] Questions and actions to identify what is most essential in your life [33:00] Quotes "If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will." [11:52] "You have to create space to prioritize, plan, think, and reflect so that you can actually make thoughtful decisions. You become strategic." [22:52] "It's so vulnerable. It's so personal. Also, I think we think people know - but they can't know." [44:22] Links: Storyblocks Core Find Greg McKeown online Follow Greg on Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | YouTube Essentialism by Greg McKeown Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

It's hard to believe it - 200 episodes! When I started this podcast, I never imagined that I'd make it to 200 episodes. But here we are. I know I'm here today because of you. I do this show on a weekly basis for you. Your countless messages of gratitude keep me going. This episode is going to be different. I have a bunch of really amazing and fun messages from listeners like you. It really is both a joy and honor to make this show and get to know so many of you. Some of you have been there from the beginning. Others have recently started listening. Either way, I really appreciate you coming along with me on this amazing journey. With that in mind, I'm turning the mic over to you. This episode is full of messages from my many listeners who share some takeaways from the show over the years. We've learned a lot together and I want to hear how you all have benefited over the last 200 episodes. If you weren't able to send in a message for the episode but want to share how Studio Sherpas has helped you in your business and/or life, I'd love it if you left a comment on the episode page! What are some of your biggest takeaways from this show? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: My expressions of gratitude for the people who make this show possible [4:10] Key takeaways and messages of thanks from listeners [10:55] What's coming next on this podcast [46:18] Quotes "The biggest takeaway has been to really think about our business much more; to not just see ourselves as creatives but as business owners." - Matt [11:25] "I'm an informed entrepreneur who can still make art and having both of those is what's made me so successful." - Shyah [17:54] "Ryan is as raw and human as it gets which is awesome because it inspires everyone else to be the same way." - Maxwell [19:47] "We learn very quickly that clients have needs. Once you address your client's needs, the money will follow." - Jeff [33:07] "There are times when I've gone through difficulties. During those times it was really helpful to have Ryan's raw authenticity about struggles that he had gone through and how he's overcome them. It gave me hope that it was possible to get out of these things." [44:17] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Jumpstart Your Video Business Storyblocks Core Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!