The Amy Porterfield Show

From making your first hire to expanding your team, here’s what you need to knowYour business is your baby. You nurture it, love it, and put a ton of time and energy into its growth. It’s no wonder that the thought of hiring your first employee (or expanding your team even more) makes you a little bit nervous.Not only can it be hard to let go of certain pieces of your business, but making a financial investment in someone else -- without a guarantee that they are going to add value -- can be pretty scary. Believe me, I’ve been there. It took me six years to make my first full-time hire because I was so afraid of giving up control – and let’s be real, I wasn’t exactly 100% sure of how I was going to pay the rent if she did not perform in the way that I needed her to. And yes, I’m talking about Chloe! ;) Luckily, Chloe added major value to my business immediately, and since bringing her on seven years ago I’ve expanded my team to over 20 people. In the process I’ve learned a TON about hiring and assembling a crew of talented people that work together like a well-oiled machine. I’ve gotten a lot of things right, just as many of them wrong, and in this episode I’m going to share them all with you. Tune in to hear: When the best time is to hire your first employee The one crucial role you should hire for first What I learned from my very first hiring blitz How to ensure that your new hire is a good fit  So if you have ever been curious about the hiring process, or think you might be ready to make your first full-time hire, go someplace you can focus and press play on this episode!Here’s a glance at this episode... [04:04] Waiting far too long for my first full-time hire. I struggled for a year and a half before hiring Chloe full-time. The lesson? Hire before you think you are ready. [06:31] Hire someone who is going to help you with traffic. As in, someone to help drive traffic to your business and will help you to convert.  [08:39] Virtual assistants give you space to think. They can help with social media, support, communication, proofreading, and more! [13:16] Hire one person at a time and give them 90 full days to learn what they need to learn. We have 30,60, and 90 day tasks and goals for new hires. [15:39] We do have an understanding that anytime during the first 90 days if the person isn't a great fit, we will let them know. It doesn't happen often, but it's an option. By hiring one person at a time that person also gets a lot more support.  [16:22] The best way to learn what works for you is to start hiring and see what works. Take action! [16:39] Don't wait too long to hire. Hire before you think you're ready. Hire early on and find someone who can help with traffic and conversions. Do hire one person at a time. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

Knowing your personality type can help you confidently move through a digital courseHave you ever purchased a digital course, and later felt guilty for one of these reasons? It took you longer than expected to complete the course You had great momentum in the beginning, but then gave up halfway through You never even started the course You bought it and then forgot that you had it If you answered “yes”, then read on, sweet friend, because I’m here to tell you that you should NOT feel guilty about any of those things – and here’s why:Number one: there is no right or wrong way to take a digital course. In fact, over the past 13 years in this industry, I’ve observed five personality types that move through digital courses in very different ways.Some of these personality types complete a course rather quickly, while others can take years. The point is, they all get through it and take action with their newfound knowledge.Number two: Just because you purchased a course and didn’t finish it (or heck, maybe you didn’t even start it), does not mean that you shouldn’t consider taking another one.Believe me, I know what it’s like to feel as if you’ve wasted money on something. But I also know what it’s like to have a digital course completely change your life, and everything about your business.That’s why I encourage you to stop feeling guilty about the past, and give digital courses another chance – because with the right action plan, you can get through it. If you do, chances are it’ll open up a whole new realm of possibilities in your business.In this episode, you’ll hear from some of my Digital Course Academy students who share what personality type they are, what it was like going through the course the way they did, and what they found along the way. And for those of you who are caught in an endless shame spiral -- don’t fret, because you’ll take away five strategies to ensure that you successfully work through your next digital course in a way that works with your life. So if you’re ready to let go of your guilt and rock your next digital course, then pop in your earbuds and tune in!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

Ready to learn exactly what your audience wants to hear and learn? Make content creation with this simple strategy that connects you directly with your audience members and hear (from their mouths) what content topics would peak their interest the most. This strategy is simple and great for entrepreneurs of all kinds! Enjoy!

5 questions to help you get really clear on what you wantGetting clear on what you want as a business owner sounds like it would be easy, but in reality, it can be pretty tough – especially if you’re a one-woman show in the early stages of business.I get it. When I first went off on my own, I felt the need to say ‘yes’ to everything because I didn’t want to leave any opportunities on the table. I had no idea where to spend my time or focus because everything felt equally important. But let me tell you, sweet friend -- giving your time and energy to things that do not serve you is a one-way ticket to some serious overwhelm. That’s why it’s so important to get really crystal clear on what you want now, so you don’t end up spinning your wheels on things that don’t bring value to your life or business.In this episode, I revisit a conversation I had with my dear friend and mentor, Marie Forleo, who’s done a lot of work in her own life to get laser-focused on what’s important, eliminate overwhelm, and manage her time like a boss.You’ll hear the two mantras that Marie lives by, as well as a series of questions that you can ask yourself to help identify what’s important and let go of what’s not.Here’s a glance at this episode... [04:01] When you know what's important, you can ignore what's not.  [06:07] Ask yourself: What do I want? Journal about what you want. Start writing whatever comes to you.  [06:54] Then ask: What do I want in the next 365 days? Journal this too.  [07:01] The final prompt is: What do I want in the next six months? Doing this exercise will create clarity. [08:26] Make an effort to say no to what is not going to serve you. This is one of the hardest lessons I've learned. [09:17] What are the top three to five projects that you need to focus on? No more than five. If you're a one-person show, no more than three. What do you need to let go of in this season to focus on what's most important. [13:20] “I don't do overwhelm.” Saying that you are overwhelmed does not serve you.  [16:42] When you're overwhelmed, confused, or stressed, put your head down and think what can I do to move forward in the direction that I want to move, and things will start to make more sense. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

How to go from being stressed about time to a time genius Have you ever felt like no matter how many hours you put into your business, you’re just not doing enough? You’re hustling from the beginning of your day until the very end, but despite the fact that you’re running on empty, you still feel like you’ve got to do more. If this sounds familiar, you sweet friend, are not alone. You’ve fallen into what my guest in this episode, Marie Forleo, calls the time stress trap, which is the belief that if you're not producing 24/7, you don't want your dreams bad enough.This, my friend, is extremely toxic -- and unfortunately as business owners, we are conditioned to believe that we’ve got to be going non-stop in order to achieve any sort of success. I know I’ve been there before, and so has Marie -- who once became so paralyzed by her own time stress that her body started to shut down. In this episode, Marie tells her story of overcoming time stress, and shares specific strategies that you can use to find freedom and spaciousness in your schedule. How to become a master prioritizer and better manage your time Ways to stay grounded and focused during your busiest times Different mantras to support you when things get really stressful … And so much more. So if you ever feel like you’ve been on the toxic time treadmill, pause -- take a deep breath -- and listen to this episode.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

Will you regret not going after this idea or goal in 10 years? That's a big question to ask yourself when you're making a decision, and we're going to dive into it today. This is called the 10-year test, and on today's Wisdom Wednesday, Marie Forleo is sharing the power of this test and how you can use it in your own life and business. 

After 2 years of being almost radio silent on TikTok, I’m giving it another goIf you’ve been with me for a while, you know that being in front of the camera has always been a challenge for me. It feels like there’s so much pressure to be ‘on,’ and being the perfectionist that I am, I often struggle being 100% satisfied with the content I record.So imagine how I felt in 2020 when TikTok absolutely exploded in the United States. Yes, I was excited to have a new platform that offered a HUGE opportunity to grow and nurture an audience. And yes, I was also loving the fun, fresh and exciting content.But… I’ve got to be honest. It just wasn’t a place that I wanted to show up -- literally and figuratively -- for a multitude of reasons. I can probably count on one hand the number of TikToks I’ve made over the past two years. Fast forward to today, and I’ve recommitted myself to the social media platform that has taken the world by storm -- and the good news is, I’m in a much better place this time around.But here’s the thing. I’m going to do TikTok my way because a) it has to work with my life, and b) if you commit to showing up, you’ve got to show up authentically if you want an audience that sticks with you for the long haul.In other words, you won’t see me dancing -- but you WILL see a more casual, less ‘prepared’ version of me. ;) I hope that by listening to this episode, you’ll be encouraged to do something that might scare you a little bit, but also excites you. Like I always say, getting outside of your comfort zone and doing something different is absolutely key if you want to grow your business.So if you’re in need of a little nudge, tune into this episode (and be sure to check me out on TikTok!)P.S. I’m giving away a FREE set of Airpods, so if you’re in the market for some fresh new ear gear, stay tuned until the very end to hear how to enter.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

A pharmacist turned entrepreneur shares her journey to ditching the golden handcuffsIf you have a 9 to 5 and you’ve been thinking about leaving it to start your own business, chances are you have some fear around taking the leap -- especially if you are in a profession that compensates you well, financially or otherwise.I can totally relate to that, because just over 13 years ago I was in a similar place. I was working full-time for Tony Robbins, in a position that so many people would have loved to have. I had a great salary, benefits, and the opportunity to travel the world. From the outside looking in, my job looked like a dream -- but I was tired of working long hours and time away from my loved ones, being stressed about someone else’s business, and I knew there was much more out there for me as a business owner. Once I made the decision to do my own thing, I quit my job and never looked back -- but in all honesty, arriving at that point wasn’t easy. Employers often make jobs really hard to leave, especially if you are highly paid, or work for a company that offers really great perks – like yoga classes throughout the day or heck, I’ve even heard of some offices that have a beer tap in the break room. These are all really great things, but what these businesses don’t offer is freedom. They’ve got you locked in golden handcuffs, and they’ve got the key.In this interview, I talk to my student, Rachel Gainsbrugh, who built up the courage to ditch her cushy job as a pharmacist to pursue her dream of being an entrepreneur. And guess what? She made over $40,000 in her very first launch, and went on to 3X her pharmacist salary. Yes, you read that right. She tripled her salary after she left her pharmacist career. So if you’re afraid of giving up the golden handcuffs, tune in to this episode because Rachel’s story is a very inspiring one. In it, you’ll hear: Rachel’s advice on how to make the leap into entrepreneurship A breakdown of her first launch that generated $41,000  The unique launch strategies she used that I think are sheer genius The hard lessons she’s learned along the way Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

This little clip of advice is such an important part of being an entrepreneur. When I started almost 14 years ago, doing this changed how quickly I found success -- not to mention it helped me to avoid tons of headaches. Tune in to find out this priceless tidbit of advice so that you can start using this as an entrepreneur, as well. 

What scares you AND lights you up is the key to rapid progressIs there something that scares you a little bit, but also lights you up when you think about doing it? Maybe the thought of leaving your 9 to 5 J.O.B. to pursue your side hustle full time or doing your first Instagram Live gives you the butterflies, but every time the idea pops into your mind you think, “Man, this could change my whole world!” I’m going to tell you something that I’ve learned over the past 13 years of being a business owner: Those butterflies in your stomach are a loud and clear message to shake things up a bit and do something different -- or DSD, as my friend says. DSD isn’t always comfortable -- because let’s be real -- it usually requires you to step outside of your comfort zone. But let me tell you, sweet friend, the biggest moments of growth are the ones where I’ve decided to DSD. My business, and my life in general, would be nowhere near where they are today without these leaps of faith, whether they’ve been really big or very small.Yes, it can be a little scary, and it’s not always easy. But I promise you that it’s totally worth it. In this episode, I share some of the life-changing, blind leap-of-faith, DSD moments that have made a major impact on my life and business, and some ways that you can shake things up, too.Enjoy! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Amy and Online Marketing Made Easy." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward the online life and business that they desire. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!