You Are The Brand

“Be thankful for what you have.” We’ve all heard that before, but what if being thankful is actually keeping you from what is best? Please allow me to explain. Life works because of tension. Light and dark. Good and evil. Pleasure and pain. I’m all for encouragement and positive reinforcement, but we can’t deny that conflict, tension, and pain are incredible motivators. Without friction between a tire and the road, your car isn’t going anywhere. Tension is necessary to move forward. But how do we navigate that when it comes to making a change as big as our residence, relationships, and especially our vocation? In this episode you’ll learn about the “Sadistic Selfie” -- something I used to navigate the balance between being grateful for the life I had vs. stepping into the life I really wanted. Free Resource: Get your copy of my Brand You Blueprint. This framework is the basis for my upcoming book, but you can use this distilled version right now to help you navigate some of the challenges and steps to creating a life you love and believe in. Go to: mikekim.com/brandyoublueprint   EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting:A Few More Podcasting BenefitsCheck it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

You may have heard of the idea of “practicing gratitude” - but how do you actually do it? One of the keys in recent years for me has been journaling. Why? The starting point to having the courage to be who you are, no matter the context, is being comfortable with yourself. You have to learn to spend time alone, to self-reflect, and to become increasingly self-aware. I’ve journaled for a long time, but in recent years (especially after starting my own business) I realized I needed a system that helped me ask better questions and reflect on my own emotions in a deeper way. Generally, I journal both in the morning and in the evening. In addition to free-writing, I use these two frameworks: Morning Journaling: Write 3 things I’m grateful for. Write 3 things that would make today great (things you can control). Write 3 personal affirmations. To keep things fresh, I use 4 sub-categories when documenting what I’m grateful for: An old relationship or friendship that helped you An opportunity, current or past Something great that happened yesterday Something simple within my sight Evening Journaling:   Write 3 amazing things that happened today. Write down 1 thing I could have done to make today better.   My Tools of the Trade:   Gallery Leather Desk Journal Moleskine Classic Hardcover Notebook Full Focus Planner Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pen EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting:A Few More Podcasting BenefitsCheck it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

Experiencing pain, loss, or grief sucks (that’s an understatement), yet it’s a normal part of life. In this episode I share some hard-learned lessons on moving through pain, loss, and grief.   Pain + Reflection = Progress   One of the most important capabilities you can develop in life is the ability to reflect on pain rather that react or avoid it. Most people can’t reflect on their pain while they are going through it. They focus so much on the pain that they aren’t able to consider what is happening, why they ended up in this situation, or how they are processing the pain.   Once the pain subsides, they simply move onto something else and never really address the core issues. They medicate, or cope, or distract themselves because it’s too painful to go back and address the core issue.   Here are 5 things I’ve learned in the school of hard knocks when it comes to managing and processing pain in order to produce progress:   Go to the pain rather than avoiding it. Write a psalm to God. Just do the next right thing. Stop running your tongue over your gums where the tooth used to be. Ask, “What does this make possible?”   If you are going through a difficult time right now, please don’t hesitate to reach out to friends and family. To isolate yourself is often the worst decision you can make when experiencing tremendous pain, loss, and grief.   If I can be of help, ping me directly via Instagram at @mikekimtv or email me at mike@mikekim.com.   EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting:A Few More Podcasting BenefitsCheck it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

In this episode, I share the approach to goal setting that I learned at Tony Robbins’ Date with Destiny seminar in West Palm Beach, FL.Date with Destiny was one of the most powerful and important events I’ve ever attended, and though I can’t do the impact justice through a podcast, I felt one of the best things I could share would be Tony’s approach to goal-setting.If you’re anything like me, goal-setting is a mixed bag. There are a lot of good goal-setting frameworks out there, but they’re also easy to get tired of. I found myself in that boat and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this one. The Tony Robbins Guide to Year-End Goal Setting: Set 4 categories: 1. Things & Stuff, 2. Experiences, 3. Treasure, 4. Contributions Write down 1, 3, 5, or 10 next to each goal to represent the years Write down your one-year goals and rank the top 4 Then ask 4 follow up questions for each goal The 4 Follow-Up Questions: Why to you want to accomplish this goal? What is the pain you will feel if you don’t accomplish this goal? What is the pleasure you’ll get from accomplishing this goal? How will accomplishing this goal contribute to others? EPISODE CREDITS:If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting:A Few More Podcasting BenefitsCheck it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

It's that special time of the year to look back, reflect on your year, and set your sights towards the next year ahead. I experienced a lot of changes this year: my marriage, major business decisions, and moving for the time being to Florida. Through these many transitions, I've learned: Life is short but the longest thing we’ll ever do. Eat good food, spend more time with loved ones, and never pass up a good adventure. You can influence almost anything, you control almost nothing. The greatest awareness is self-awareness. I connect far more with people over our vulnerabilities and vices than I do our victories. Victories are short lived. The battle over our vices and vulnerabilities rages everyday and this is why it’s so much easier to connect with others. Relationships are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. My hope is that these takeaways will help you head into the new year with grace, vision, purpose, and energy. If you'd like to help me support Love 146, please go to: mikekim.com/mmi-one. EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting: A Few More Podcasting Benefits Check it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

Josh Pies is a real-world video marketing expert. If you’re ready to learn how to use video to market your business and look good in the process, then you need to stay tuned to this episode.  I've gotten to know Josh over the past year because we're in the same mastermind group, and I asked him to come onto the show to share how you and I -- everyday non-video people! -- can use the tools at our disposal to share better content on social media video. It doesn't matter if you use video for fun or for a business, you'll get some great insight on best-practices for social media video. Some questions I asked Josh: What tools do I need? I feel so behind compared to all these in-home studios that these other creators have. Everyone talks about DSLRs or other high-end cameras. What are your thoughts on that? Where do I even shoot videos in my house? How do I know what to say in my videos? What is the best "roadmap" for video creation? Josh has a suite of resources available here: smbfilmschool.com Josh's recommended tools: Gorilla Pod Ulanzi Smartphone Video Rig Aputure Mini Light on Camera Phone EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting: A Few More Podcasting Benefits Check it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

Joseph Bojang’s kids would say he’s the best dancer in the world, but he says his best moves are creating PPC and Facebook ad campaigns that actually help businesses make money.  Joseph and I spent a few months in a mastermind group together, and I just knew that one day the time would come when he and I would work together. That time is now. Recently I took on a very large client contract and needed someone to steer the ship right when it came to Facebook and Google advertising. Joseph was my guy, and the results have been nothing short of amazing: a 90% decrease in spend for leads, way higher opt-in rates, and a happier client. I had to bring Joseph onto the podcast to track this journey I’m on with him in real-time. You may not do a lot of online advertising yet, but this episode is here to help you get some initial insight on how these platforms work. A few questions I asked Joseph in this interview: “How can a business or brand know whether Google Adwords or Facebook Ads is best for them?” “What are the elements that make a Google Ads campaign successful?” “When you are running a campaign, how do you determine the budget?” “What’s your process of creating search ads?” “What are some of the biggest mistakes you see in Google Ad campaigns?” FREE RESOURCE: Facebook vs Google Ads: Which Should You Use To Grow Your Business in 2019 Joseph’s website: https://webchamps.net FREE GIFT: Marketing Mastery Insider #1 As a thank you for tuning into the show, I’m offering you a free copy of the first issue of my paid newsletter Marketing Mastery Insider (retail $97 a month). To get your free copy: mikekim.com/list EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting: A Few More Podcasting Benefits Check it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

Liz Pineda helps online entrepreneurs transform their knowledge into recurring revenue by helping them building sales funnels and other high-performing lead generation systems.   I first met Liz in 2017 and contracted her to build evergreen funnels around some old products and the results were absolutely amazing. She was able to take a course I created years ago in a niche market and setup a Facebook evergreen funnel from A to Z -- to the tune of $7,000 in sales in the first 45 days.   In short, Liz made me a believer in this kind of marketing and I’m so excited to share this interview with you. I can’t say enough about her. Here are a few questions I asked Liz:   "How to know if your funnel will be profitable before you launch it?" “Where do I even start when building a sales funnel?” "What are the typical lead magnets that are most successful in putting a funnel together?" "When can you expect to make your money back from a funnel?" “Are there any secret ‘hacks’ that people use when building sales funnels?” “Where is the money really made in a funnel?”   This episode is absolute gold for anyone that wants to turn their online business into a recurring revenue machine.   FREE RESOURCE: For tuning in, Liz is giving you her amazing guide, The 5 Ingredients of Virtually Every Sales Funnel.   Download The 5 Ingredients of Virtually Every Sales Funnel here   She also mentioned a calculator so you can test against the benchmarks in your industry which you can find here.   Liz’s website: lizpineda.com FREE GIFT: Marketing Mastery Insider #1   As a thank you for tuning into the show, I’m offering you a free copy of the first issue of my paid newsletter Marketing Mastery Insider (retail $97 a month). To get your free copy: mikekim.com/list   EPISODE CREDITS:   If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting:   A Few More Podcasting Benefits   Check it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.  

Transitions can be some of the most crazy, awkward, and hurtful things in life. It doesn’t matter if you’re the transitioner, transitionee, or the bystanders; transitions can hurt. How can we do them better? First, we have to make sure we understand what kind of people we're dealing with during transitions. In his book Necessary Endings, Henry Cloud outlines three types of people: wise, foolish, and evil. We must understand that each of these people must be addressed differently: Wise people: use words Foolish people: use limits and consequences (words only make it worse) Evil people: to quote a country song, "guns, money, and lawyers." When it comes to transitions, there are always seem to be too many divorces and not enough weddings. I've always tried to model my transitions following a “wedding” paradigm so I could do it with honor. I’m going to speak from a guy’s point of view since well, I’m a guy. Here goes: Son = person wanting to transition Dad = boss, or current role Bride = new job, role, position, season of life This process usually follows 4 steps: Stage 1: ”I want to get married.” Son turns of age. He feels it’s time for him to settle down, maybe get married. He doesn’t know who the girl (job, next season of life) is, but he is looking. Essentially the son is saying, “Dad, I think I want to get married. Would you support me?” Stage 2: “I think I’ve found the girl.” Son finds a prospect, isn’t sure she’s the one but he really digs her. He can’t stop thinking about her. “Dad, I think she might be the one. Would you support me?” Dad is supportive, gives advice, provides short and long-term perspective. Stage 3. “We’re getting married.” Son believes this is the next step. He’s done his homework and gotten to know the prospect. The confirmation is there. “Dad, she said yes! She is the one! Would you keep supporting me? Stage 4. “It’s wedding time.” Weddings are bittersweet; there’s a leaving and a cleaving. But it should be celebrated.  I hope this episode encourages you to see transitions in a new light. FREE GIFT: Marketing Mastery Insider #1 As a thank you for tuning into the show, I’m offering you a free copy of the first issue of my paid newsletter Marketing Mastery Insider (retail $97 a month). To get your free copy: mikekim.com/list EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting: A Few More Podcasting Benefits Check it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.

Social Media has the potential to foster real relationships and make a lasting impact in the world, or it has the potential to manufacture superficial relationships and do real damage in the world. But where do we start? How do we do this intentionally, and how do we show consistency in our social posts so we’re “on brand”?   Sean Pritzkau is here to help. Sean provides simple, practical steps to help cause-driven organizations and advocacy groups get clear, communicate with confidence, and make a real impact using social media. He has handled social accounts for incredibly large yet agile organizations -- and the key to consistency is to have a calendar and strategy.   Here is a sneak preview of the topics we cover with Sean:   3 mindset shifts do we need to make to be really successful with our social media Clarity, consistency, and content: the 3 pillars of social media strategy The question you should ask yourself before posting anything on social media   FREE RESOURCE: For tuning in, Sean is giving you his amazing guide, 5 Social Media Templates to Save You Hours of Work Every Week -- and also added an exclusive bonus template to help helping you plan out your ‘Stories’ on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat so you can consistently show up and add value to your audience.   Download 5 Social Media Templates to Save You Hours of Work Every Week here   Follow Sean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanpritzkau   Sean’s website: https://seanpritzkau.com/ FREE GIFT: Marketing Mastery Insider #1   As a thank you for tuning into the show, I’m offering you a free copy of the first issue of my paid newsletter Marketing Mastery Insider (retail $97 a month). To get your free copy: mikekim.com/list   EPISODE CREDITS:   If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. Here’s an article he wrote about the benefits of podcasting:   A Few More Podcasting Benefits   Check it out and then schedule a FREE strategy call with him at the bottom of that page.