The Art of Passive Income

Practicing “Grategy” with Lisa Ryan. Join Mark and Scott as they welcome Lisa Ryan to the show to talk about Gratitude Strategies in the workplace. Lisa, who was referred to us by one of our own coaching clients—Jeff Dettmer, works with organizations who want to keep their top talent from becoming someone else's. She is an award-winning speaker and a bestselling author of ten books, her most recent being Manufacturing Engagement: 98 Proven Strategies to Attract and Retain Your Industry's Top Talent. Plus, Lisa has been featured as an expert in two films... The Keeper of the Keys with Jack Canfield of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame and the Gratitude Experiments. Is gratitude more than just a feel-good emotion? After attending a firewalk in 2009, Lisa started practicing gratitude and shares how her life changed for the better, both at home and at work. Was gratitude the reason behind these positive changes? Lisa researched the subject and was able to show that it does have a positive effect on us personally, so she sat out to bring that same message to the workplace. Listen in as we discuss: Where gratitude starts Gratitude on a large scale Starting with the apology approach Why you need to be specific And, so much more! Plus, can you be so appreciative that it loses its effect? Lisa has the answer for you and more on today’s episode of The Art of Passive Income. TIP OF THE WEEK Mark: Learn more about gratitude and Lisa Ryan and improving every aspect in your life at Grategy.com, now LisaRyanSpeaks.com. Scott:  Check out the phone app, AirCamera.com to automatically store videos to the Cloud. It also gives you links so you can share. Lisa: Read Lisa’s book, The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

We all make mistakes in the land investing business, the good news is they are fixable but they all come with valuable lessons! Today, Team Geek shares their biggest mistakes and the lessons that were learned. Scott Todd takes the controls for this week's Round Table as Mark is away visiting… this is where it becomes a little unclear because there seems to be some discrepancy between stories. If you ask Tate, Mark is off visiting Tate’s favorite factory where they make cheese. If you ask Scott T., Mark’s at the Cheesecake Factory. Either way he can’t go wrong and we hope he’s enjoying good quality time with his family! With Scott Todd in the pilot’s seat, this week’s crew includes: Scott Bossman Tate Litchfield Aaron Williams Mimi Schmidt Erik Peterson Listen in now as the team shares some of their biggest mistakes and the lessons that were learned. In short: Scott Bossman went into joint ownership with the deceased. Aaron sold a property that wasn’t his to sell. Erik bought 12 properties in bulk, 2 of which had been previously sold to someone else and one of those two Erik had pre-sold. He also shares a business strategy mistake he made in the beginning that kept him from scaling quicker. Tate double sold due to a data entry error on the APN. He also shares a big regret that moved Scott Todd to bring out the soapbox. Also, Mimi received an accepted offer for 1,175. The seller is a trucker who is never in town so he used a middleman to get everything done. Mimi paid the accepted offer of 1,175 and the middleman deeded the property over to her… deal done... wrong! She started getting harassing phone calls from the owner because he thought the offer was for 11,750, not 1,175! Ultimately, she ended up deeding the property back... but BEFORE she got her money back… this can’t end well. Find out how Mimi’s story ends and the details of all the deals gone wrong. Plus, Scott Todd shares a mistake that he is currently going through. It's a case of joint tenancy with rights of survivorship—the husband is deceased, surviving wife sells Scott the property but failed to disclose the prefix “EX” in front of her title of wife. Should that make a difference? It does, says the county. Find out the details now... TIP OF THE WEEK Mimi: Entrepreneurship is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice by Peter Drucker. So keep practicing!  Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

Vinnie Fisher—The Total CEO joins us on today’s episode of The Art of Passive Income. A lawyer by trade, Vinnie practiced tax and business law for 10 years before leaving the field in 2007 to pursue entrepreneurship. He went on to create four 8-figure businesses and is now on a mission to help men in leadership for life. Join us as we take a look inside the mindset of the Total CEO and why Vinnie believes that what you do at home is equally important as what you do in the office. We delve deep into: What it takes to go from a seven-figure to an eight-figure business What makes a great CEO Why motivation is a lie And, find out why Vinnie says that having “balance” is some of the worst advice he has seen given and why we should have nonnegotiable priorities and perspectives. Also, find out how Vinnie defines success, the three CEOs he would have over for dinner, and the one question he would ask them. All of this and more in today’s episode! TIP OF THE WEEK Mark:  Learn more about Vinnie Fisher at TheTotalCEO.com. Scott: Check out Draw.io to create flowcharts and more, for free! Vinnie: Take a nap before making big decisions. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

Growing pains are an inevitable part of any business, land investing included. You hit a plateau and growth halts until you make the necessary expenses to get your business climbing upward once again. Join Mark and team geek: Erik Peterson Aaron Williams Mimi Schmidt Tate Litchfield Scott Todd ...as they tackle the entrepreneurial dilemma of Growing Pains. Mimi, who is facing this dilemma now, shares her hesitancy towards spending the extra money for processes that she’s gotten by without until now. Processes and services that include: Switching to paid services Setting up the website to collect down payments Increase mailings New marketing platforms Mimi knows she needs to spend the money in order to get her business moving forward again, but the money sure looks good in her bank account each month. I’ve seen businesses where they try to grow but at the same they try to cut their expenses and you cannot grow while cutting expenses; the two do not go hand-in-hand. -Scott Todd Listen in as the team shares their thoughts and valuable advice that help Mimi overcome her growing pains and leave her feeling confident in how to move forward. TIP OF THE WEEK Mimi: For those who have property near the water, check out the FEMA Flood Zone GIS Map. You can put the address in there without a house number, and see where the flood zone is. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

Hunter Thompson—CashFlowConnections.com joins Mark and Scott on today’s episode of The Art of Passive Income. Cash Flow Connections is a real estate consulting firm that helps clients invest outside of the stock market in turnkey real estate investments. They specialize in assisting clients who are sick and tired of the headaches and uncertainty of the stock market and have a desire for a more stable approach to achieving their financial goals. Cash Flow Connections helps investors to turn their portfolio from a speculative gamble into a secure and reliable cash flow machine. Hunter starts us off with an interesting story about his Grandfather who made and lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the cotton industry. It’s the first time he’s told this story publicly and it comes with a valuable lesson in over-leveraging. Hunter used the lessons he learned from that catastrophic event as a motivator which ultimately led to his start in real estate. Listen in as we delve into: Recession resistant assets What an investor should look for in a crowded turnkey real estate market The top ingredients for making the perfect management stew Hunter also shares the worst advice he has seen given in his area of expertise, and so much more! Today's podcast offers a lot of great real estate advice and will have you looking at investments behind a whole new lens! TIP OF THE WEEK Mark: Learn more about Hunter Thompson at CashFlowConnections.com. Scott:  Check out MuteInter.com—a Chrome plug-in that makes that annoying sound on intercom go away. Hunter:  Really cognitively challenging tasks are important to do in the morning, the earlier the better. Two books that help make that clear are, Deep Work by Cal Newport and The Miracle Mornings for Entrepreneurs by Hal Elrod. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

One of the many advantages of this business is that you can do it from anywhere… even while snowboarding the slopes in Colorado. As was the case for Erik Peterson who shares details of the trip, his business, and the slope deal with an impressive ROI! How did his business hold up while he was away? Was he able to be present and enjoy his time away? In this week's Round Table, join Mark and team geek: Erik Peterson Scott Bossman Mimi Schmidt Tate Litchfield Scott Todd ...as they dig deep into snowboarding versus skiing! They also discuss the academy awards, The Bachelor, and more! How does this all relate to the land business? We can stretch and say: Lessons in productivity Building customer rapport The typical land customer's TV viewing habits But mostly, it just a team of geeks having a fun conversation! Listen in to the FUN that covers the perils of snowboarding and the time suck of the Oscars. And, be sure stick around for the bonus content that Scott Todd wanted us to edit out, but unfortunately our edit button is broken… sorry Scott Todd.  #LetsLoveOnScottBossman #EmbraceTheSilly TIP OF THE WEEK Mimi: Check out Colorado Hunting Atlas—a GIS map that shows what game is in the area of your property. Great for your marketing piece. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

Nancy Gaines join Mark & Scott in this one-up episode on Automation & Productivity! As each try to one-up each other, find out who will come out on top in an epic battle over systems and productivity tools. Nancy is an expert in productivity and as the CEO and founder of Gain Advantages Inc. she has been advising small businesses and Fortune 100 companies how to increase revenues through proven systems for almost two decades. She’s a best-selling author and international keynote speaker. And, Nancy was also named in the Top 100 Productivity Experts to follow on Twitter and has a global podcast downloaded in over 75 countries. Her passion is compressing the time it takes for entrepreneurs to get profitable because slow and inefficient drives her nuts. Today, Nancy shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship. Find out how a street light led to her system a-ha moment.   You put the effort in now to put in some structure and it’s going to compound over time and payback over and over. System, as Nancy tells us, stands for—Save Yourself Some Time, Energy, Money. But, do you know what the best system is to have? Find out Nancy’s mic drop answer that leaves both guys going “ahhhh”. Also, find out: Nancy’s newbie advice to entrepreneurs setting up their systems An entrepreneur’s magic number Nancy’s priority formula And, so much more! Scott took it in round 1, Nancy in round 2, but who was the overall winner in this epic battle? YOU, the listener! Listen in now... TIP OF THE WEEK Mark: Check out GetStation.com. It's one app to rule them all. Also, learn more about Nancy at NancyGaines.com. Scott:  Check out FileThis.com to automate your filing system. Nancy: Read the book, The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran. Tip two: "Stop multitasking because the more you try to do, the worse you're going to perform on every task. And this is scientifically proven. If you work on two tasks at one time, you lose 20% in mental switching between the two tasks. So, one task til' it's done will gain you back hours in your week." Isn’t it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

Can your land business hold up if you need to step away from it? This business model is all about setting up the systems that will allow you to earn passive income so you can live a life beyond the business. And, with Tate just returning from a week in Hawaii, we thought it would be a good topic to explore in this week’s Round Table. Joining Mark are: Aaron Williams Mimi Schmidt Mike Zaino Tate Litchfield Scott Todd Any Profit Beats No Profit Aaron starts us off with a case study that the team geek all weigh in on. It’s a situation that raises the conversations of: Listening to the market Tire kickers What Does Unplugging Look Like In This Business? Tate shares how he prepared to getaway from his business, if he was able to go MIA 100%, and how his systems held up while he was gone. Did he uncover any hidden bottlenecks? For the most part, I spent my time on the beach running around, chasing fish, watching sunsets and just enjoying myself. That is what this passive lifestyle affords. Even when you have the systems in place and your business is fully sustainable, is it possible to completely disconnect and live in the moment or will you be compelled to check email or check on the business? Find out what team geek thinks. Plus, find the details of the all NEW Flight School LIVE! TIP OF THE WEEK Mimi: Check out AreaVibes.com and NeighborhoodScout.com to check the crime in your areas. With AreaVibes.com, you can compare the crimes of one county with another. With NeighborhoodScout.com, you could actually look at it like a heat map and it shows your property and how safe it is.  If you search for a little town and don't get anything, just go to the biggest town to give you information. There is also other information, besides crime. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

In today’s episode of The Art of Passive Income, Mark and Scott talk with Dr. Jason Brooks—DrJasonBrooks.com.   You know that saying, if you don’t like the way things are, then change it. Change is rarely that simple though. You first have to identify what's holding you back from making those life-altering changes by digging deep below the surface. Today, Dr. Jason Brooks is going to help us get to the root of our issues and put us on the path to finding purpose by asking three simple questions. Working 15 years as a corporate human resource manager for Cracker Barrel, Dr. Brooks shares the defining moment that was the pivotal force which took him in a different direction, leaving the corporate world for good. It was a moment that gave Mark the chills! Dr. Brooks now helps others change their lives by finding their purpose… whether it’s helping them grow as high-impact leaders from the inside out or helping people who are struggling with addiction, he helps them get to the root cause issue by asking them the deeper questions.  The decisions that you make today are not final for your entire life, it’s going to shift, it's going to change. So follow your heart, take that first step but then be flexible to where the road may lead - Dr. Jason Brooks Listen in now as Dr. Brooks shares his story and the questions he asks his clients that can have us all looking inward. TIP OF THE WEEK Mark:  Learn more about Dr. Jason Brooks at DrJasonBrooks.com. Scott: Check out the book, SPIN Selling: Situation Problem Implication Need-payoff by Neil Rackham. Dr. Jason Brooks: Read the book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it's about how to get the right things done. It doesn't mean just doing less for the sake of less either; it's about making the wisest possible investment in your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what's essential. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?

What is the best plan of attack when it comes to keeping up the health of your land business? Do you stretch it out over a week’s time, being consistent to show up every day? Or, do you only work only a few days a week and hit it hard? Join Mark and the panel of geeks as they take on consistency vs. batch working in this week’s Round Table. This week’s panel includes: Scott Bossman Aaron Williams Erik Peterson Mimi Schmidt Mike Zaino Scott Todd Listen in as everyone shares their routines and what they find to be the most productive. They offer great advice and make really good points that will give you a lot to think about when it comes to showing up in your own business. Plus, find out what mistakes will lead you to fail in this business! TIP OF THE WEEK Mike: If you are persistent, you will get it; if you're consistent, you will keep it. The idea of Flight School is consistency—that accountability creates a habit which brings discipline, which brings results. Isn't it time to create passive income so you can work where you want, when you want and with whomever you want?