Dare to Launch

Dan Walker, marketing lead on Jeff Walker's team, reveals exciting changes in the Product Launch Formula after two decades. He shares insights on the evolution of launch strategies, emphasizing relationship building over outdated promotional tactics. Discover why less truly is more, as they’ve halved course lengths without losing impact. Walker discusses his low-risk strategy for novice course creators and foresees a simpler future for launching. Plus, he reflects on invaluable lessons from his first course that still resonate today.

“Jeff, what if my product is just for fun? What If I teach ice skating courses? Or guitar lessons? How do I sell that service as truly transformational for my clients?”   I get this question all the time, and it’s one of my favorites. In this clip from our Launch Masterclass Q&A earlier this year, I offer my two cents. Lots of folks worry that marketing “fun” is a lot more difficult than marketing professional success courses or, say, physical health products. But in my opinion, that line of logic drastically underestimates the value of fun in today’s world. In explaining my point, I turn to the great work that our friend Amy Small has done with Knit Collage. She doesn't just sell yarn and designs… she sells her clients the ability to connect to their inner child through a tactile, communal crafting experience. So if your product can help someone become a more confident, happier, accomplished individual, you’re off to the races.    Key takeaways:  Entrepreneurs either bring joy to people or minimize pain… both are noble missions Helping someone improve at a craft, hobby, or sport may seem nonessential, but we have to think about how that improvement helps people on a deeper level  The world is pretty crazy right now… as entrepreneurs it’s our purpose to help folks feel happier and more fulfilled in life     Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://getyoulaunched.com Dare to Launch bonus content by going to https://DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Jeff’s Book, Launch - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/book  Jeff’s YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/@productlaunch  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!   THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.   Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.   Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

What seems like a crazy idea could revolutionize your industry and become the norm. For instance, when Michael Maidens’ team was tasked with marketing an exciting new documentary, he floated a revolutionary idea to the room: What if we premiered it online for 10 days… for free? That was the germ of the hugely successful marketing campaign behind “Hungry for Change.” And all these years later, dozens of documentaries have followed suit. In this excerpt from our conversation with Michael, he walks us through that decision – how he thought of it, why it was successful, and what he learned from the process. For more insight into Michael’s process, and his emphasis on harnessing your authenticity in marketing, check out the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRgJtTJYfpw Key takeaways:  Focusing on the process is key – outline your desired outcomes and then work backwards to map out the steps you’ll need to get you there. Your marketing needs to be valuable even for non-paying customers – you want to create content that people genuinely love and want to share. Don’t be afraid of risky marketing ideas. If you feel like a tactic will achieve your goal while staying in sync with the identity of your product, go for it!   Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at http://www.getyoulaunched.com  Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to http://www.DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco   More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Jeff’s YouTube channel -  https://www.youtube.com@productlaunch   Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes! THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.   Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them. Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

In this excerpt from our episode about the potential U.S. TikTok ban, Chris and I dive into what I think is one of the most common pitfalls of online entrepreneurship. Many content creators and online coaches out there rely solely on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to support their businesses. And with a potential TikTok ban looming, we have to remember that these platforms are ultimately out of our control. Even if TikTok doesn’t end up going away, you never know what kind of algorithm changes might affect your reach. In this clip, I urge online entrepreneurs to find a way to transfer their audiences over to an independent platform - like an email list – and I walk some of the younger folks through a bit of a history lesson of how the internet economy has changed over the last 25 years.    For more on how creators can build up their businesses without depending entirely on social media, check out the full episode here: https://youtu.be/vTd6g6PsR7Y?si=9mXmanHUvVxU2iQH   Key takeaways:  Social media platforms can disappear completely – you need to find a way to transfer your audience to a platform you can actually control Email lists are one of the most powerful tools in marketing…don’t listen to the naysayers  Social media is an incredibly valuable tool to direct traffic to your platform, but it can’t be your only source of business    Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco  More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Product Launch Formula - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/pr... Jeff’s Book, Launch - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/bo... Jeff’s YouTube channel -  http://www.youtube.com/@productlaunch  Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!   THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.   Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.   Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

Join Chris and me in welcoming Corey Poirier to the show this week! Corey is an author, multiple-time TEDx speaker, and seasoned interviewer with over 7500 interviews under his belt. He’s talked to acclaimed authors like Deepak Chopra and Zig Ziglar, motivational speakers like Lisa Nichols and Gary V, and eclectic celebrities like Tommy Chong and Stedman Graham. The goal of his work is to understand the secrets of these influential leaders and share them with the world, through his own books and lectures. In today’s chat, he walks us through the art of crafting good questions, the importance of staying completely present in each conversation, and he even shares some of his tips and tricks on how to book big guests. For folks out there looking to break into the interview game, this conversation is a goldmine. And I strongly encourage our entrepreneur audience to tune in as well. Corey has spent a lot of time thinking about the qualities and habits that encourage success. And he’s more than happy to pass that wisdom along.    Topics discussed:  Active listening during an interview: Corey shares some actionable strategies to help you stay in the moment, while still steering the conversation where you want it to go  Interview structure: He outlines the conversational flow that will help you get the best out of your subjects and foster an engaging conversation  Staying inspired: Every conversation is an opportunity to connect deeply with someone – interviewee and/or listener – and you should act accordingly    Key takeaways:  Don’t get too tied to a particular question – be ready to cut your losses  Do your research and try to ask questions your subject doesn’t usually answer  Listen to what the majority of your audience is saying, not just the few vocal critics    Let us help you get launched by going to www.GetYouLaunched.com Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco  More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Product Launch Formula - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs Jeff’s YouTube channel -  http://www.youtube.com/@productlaunch     Resources Referenced in the episode:  https://hunter.io https://coreypoiriermedia.com/   Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!   THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.   Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.   Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

This is an important clip from our interview with Mike Michalowicz, an expert on building unstoppable teams. We dive deep into one of his core passions: supporting employee dreams. Mike reveals a crucial insight from his career – the more you understand and support your employees’ personal goals, the more effective they become in their roles. He warns against assuming that everyone sees their job at your company as their dream job. Often, your business is a stepping stone on their personal journey. By fostering an environment that supports individual dreams, you’ll see a remarkable impact on their performance and your business success. Resources:  Learn more about Mike and access free resources at: MikeMotorbike.com Order Mike’s fantastic new book: All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams.    Let us help get you launched by going to www.GetyouLaunched.com Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco  More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Product Launch Formula - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/ Jeff’s Book, Launch - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/ Jeff’s YouTube channel -  www.youtube.com/@productlaunch     Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes! THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes. Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them. Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

On this week’s special episode of Dare to Launch, we’re sharing a live Q&A session from this year’s Launch Masterclass. The Launch Masterclass is my biggest launch of the year…we don’t hold anything back. In fact, it’s my best FREE launch training. (My best launch training is my Product Launch Formula Coaching Program.). The Launch Masterclass is a mixture of recorded video lessons, live Q&A sessions, and special bonus content. These Q&A sessions are one of the most crucial components of the Masterclass. I field as many entrepreneur questions as possible live on the air. In this particular session, the questions ran the gamut – Including finding your voice as an online creator, building a powerful offer, cultivating expertise, and how to market online in 2024…I covered it all. If you’re starting out as an entrepreneur, be ready to take down a few notes. And if you’ve already been around the block a few times, this session is a great way to double-check that you’re set on the right course.  Get a free copy of the 2024 Launch Guide here: https://productlaunchformula.com/masterclass24/guide/ Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco  More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Product Launch Formula - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/ Jeff’s Book, Launch - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/ Jeff’s YouTube channel -  www.youtube.com/@productlaunch   Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes! THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes. Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them. Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

Join Chris and me in welcoming Annie Hyman Pratt to the show this week! As the CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, she grew the company from a small family business into an international brand, overseeing its high-value sale. Today Annie is the founder of Leading Edge Teams, one of the top leadership and team development consulting firms in the world. She has also been a member of my Platinum Plus Mastermind for years, and I’ve brought her on board time and time again to improve the way my team communicates and operates. In today’s chat, she guides us through some of the key components of her approach. The central focus is how our survival instincts tend to cause problems in our businesses, and what we can do to mitigate those primal reactions. When it comes to conflict negotiation, team leadership, and organizational structure, Annie is the go-to expert.  Find more from Annie at: https://leadingedgeteams.com Book a Discovery Call: https://leadingedgeteams.com/schedule-a-discovery-call/  Key topics discussed:  Self-Protection: Annie explains why employees sometimes act from a place of self-protection, which negates much of their critical thinking capacity.  Building a Leadership Team: To ever have a chance of removing yourself from the day-to-day, you need to assemble a strong core of leaders across all departments..  Organizational Simplicity: As Annie sees it, many companies try to do too much too soon, which sabotages their profits.  Key takeaways:  Leadership starts at the top. As the founder of the company, you can’t operate from a place of emotional reactivity.  You can’t do everything yourself forever. You need to build up a team that can actually do everything themselves, without any micro-managing or hand-holding.  Give your employees an opportunity to impress you. If you’re micromanaging them, they’ll never be able to come into their own.   Access Dare to Launch bonus Vault by going to DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco  More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Jeff’s YouTube channel -  / @productlaunch   Resources Referenced in the episode:  “Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High” by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!  THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes. Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.  Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

Join Chris and I in welcoming Olivier Roland to the show this week. A blogger, author, and longtime member of our Platinum Plus Mastermind, Olivier is something of an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. After becoming obsessed with business books in his early years, he started a blog devoted to sharing all of the knowledge he was taking in. And later, he started a coaching business specifically for entrepreneurs, helping them optimize workflows and effectively delegate tasks. One of his greatest accomplishments in all of this work, however, has been the creation of a business that serves him – not the other way around. In this illuminating chat, Olivier recounts his journey from a high school dropout to a globetrotting business owner. He focuses on the tactics that have helped him the most, like creating a network of mentors and collaborators, testing small before going big, and following personal passion. Olivier is an encyclopedia of entrepreneurship, and we were thrilled to mine as many gems out of him as we could!  Key Topics:  Asking for Help: Olivier explains how swallowing his pride and asking for help has always been the best course of action in difficult times.  Self-Education: Devouring entrepreneurship books didn’t just help educate and motivate Olivier… his fascination with them inspired his most successful venture yet.  Delegating Tasks: Olivier offers up some tips and tricks to help busy entrepreneurs manage their time and effectively offload responsibility to their staff.  Key Takeaways:  Testing your idea on a small scale can be a smart way to ensure you have a viable product and a legitimate market niche to serve.  No matter what you’re looking to learn, there’s almost guaranteed to be a book or a course out there to help you learn it.  Your goal as an entrepreneur should be to delegate and manage your time so effectively that you’re able to work on your business instead of for it.    Olivier Roland’s book: “The Way of the Intelligent Rebel”  and his blog "Disruptive horizons"  Get the AI Playbook here Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco  More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com Product Launch Formula - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/pr... Jeff’s Book, Launch - http://www.jeffwalker.com/programs/bo... Jeff’s YouTube channel -  / @productlaunch   Resources Referenced in the episode:  “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Tim Ferriss “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries The Toggl time-tracking app  Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes! THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes. Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them. Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!  

I lost my first business in the blink of an eye. And in this episode, I’m sharing that story.    As some folks may know, I used to publish a premium newsletter for stock market investors in the late ’90s and early 2000s. I gradually built up a loyal following of over 800 people, pulling in hundreds of thousands in annual subscriptions. But the business relationship I had with my partner at the time just wasn’t a great fit, and poor communication slowly eroded our dynamic. One Monday, I got a phone call that shook me to my core: My partner was starting his own business and taking our subscribers with him. Just like that, everything I’d been building for 8 years evaporated.    This time period was one of the most difficult in my life. Yet now I look back on it with a smile. At that moment, I already had an inkling of what I might do next. But I had no idea just how much success – and mind-blowing impact – I would get the great privilege of experiencing in the years to come.   Key topics discussed:  My First Business: How I started my first business from scratch, and the nature of the dynamic between my partner and me at that time.  The Big Moment: One phone call was all it took to dissolve an 8-year working relationship and erase my entire working income. I unpack what that felt like.  The Next Chapter: The seeds of what was to come were wrapped up in that fateful moment, and I share how I strategically pivoted to the next stage of my career.    Key takeaways:  Business challenges big and small can be seen as opportunities to grow and adapt – if we approach them with a resilient, positive spirit.  My network of fellow entrepreneurs was my life raft, and there’s no way I’d have been able to push through without them.  Overcoming challenges is like lifting weights. The more reps we get in, the stronger those muscles get. And tackling small challenges prepares us for the big ones.     Access other Dare to Launch bonus content by going to http://DaretoLaunchShow.com/taco   More about Jeff Walker - http://www.JeffWalker.com  Jeff’s YouTube channel -  https://www.youtube.com/@productlaunch Learn how to build an email list and launch your own business online with Launch Quickstart – our free training at https://jeffwalker.com/  Got a question for us?  Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to send us a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!   THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.   Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.   Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even feature your review on the show!