December has arrived, and it's time to set our sights on what we hope to achieve in 2017. In this episode of SPI TV, I'll share the steps I'm taking to set myself up for success next year and take stock of what I accomplished in 2016.I'll be using Michael Hyatt's new ebook, Achieve More in 2017, to guide me through important steps in my planning process. Those steps include journaling, cataloging personal wins, planning when to say "no" in the coming year, and adding hard deadlines to my calendar. I'll share a few of my favorite tools for taking these actions, as well as the exciting projects I have in store for 2017.Follow along with me to get started on your own plans for the new year. Let's set ourselves up to achieve amazing things in 2017!Get your own copy of Michael Hyatt's Achieve More in 2017 at the link below:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/start-rightThanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

I had the pleasure of moderating a panel on November 17th, 2016 with some amazing online course creators including Regina Anaejiou, Troy Dean and Brennan Dunn. In this discussion, hosted by Teachable - an online platform to setup and host your own online courses, which I actually use myself - we get into a lot of great content around the idea of how we as course creators can help our students succeed. How do we set them up for success? How do we keep our students motivated throughout the coursework? What are the big mistakes course creators are making these days that we should be avoiding? This, and more, in this webinar replay that I had asked to get access to for you.

From November 10th through November 13th, I'll be hosting a FREE email list building challenge! Sign up here: http://www.100emails.com If you're just starting out, whether you already have a business or blog or not, and you need help and some motivation to start your email list, join me and thousands of others who will be participating in this challenge. Each day for 3 days (starting November 10th) I'll be sending you 1 email with specific instructions to help you achieve this goal. 3 lucky random participants will also be awarded a 1-year subscription to ConvertKit! Join for free at: http://www.100emails.com, and I hope you enjoy this video with me and my son, just hanging out after school :)

Today I realized that Smart Passive Income turns 8 years old today! Wow have we come a long way. Here's a quick video I recorded while walking around the block that looks back at how far SPI has come, the lessons I've learned, and what's coming next for you. It even includes an old video from 2009 recorded in a similar fashion, and what life was like back then.

For bloggers, nothing's more terrifying than that blinking cursor at the top of a blank page. That's why I've gathered ten tips for getting past that blank page anxiety and writing the perfect blog post. Running a blog for the past eight years has taught me what works, what doesn't, and the kinds of things readers crave from your writing. In this episode, I'm sharing my time-tested advice for common blogging hurdles like picking the perfect topic, letting go of writing insecurities, working with keywords, and leaving your readers better off than they were before. For more blogging tips, check out these posts from the Smart Passive Income blog: 5 “Five-Minute or Less” Blogging Tips That Yield Big Results The Content Pyramid: Healthy Portions of Posts for Your Blog Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

One of my podcast listeners asked me, "Now that your first self-published, print book has been out in the world for six months, how is it doing? What did you learn from the process of creating Will It Fly?" I thought I'd answer that question in this special episode of SPI TV and offer you guys my honest thoughts about what I learned from Will It Fly?. Will It Fly? surprised me. Though I'd been through the book writing process before with Let Go, this book required a whole new level of hard work and focus. I encountered some unexpected distribution roadblocks and production hiccups, and I was surprised by how many people became involved in the launch process. If you feel like you've got a book in you—and I believe almost everyone does—this episode is for you. I'll share all those surprising moments, unexpected challenges, successes, and lessons learned from writing Will It Fly?. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

The SPI Pro Theme is here! Smart Passive Income and StudioPress have partnered to create this beautiful, new theme based on the one I used on SmartPassiveIncome.com from 2013 to 2016. Today, I'm walking you through just how easy it is to use. So many people ask me, "What's the best WordPress theme for my website?" This is it, folks: the theme I recommend you use for your online business' website to establish your brand and grow your authority. Watch the video for a close look at SPI Pro's features, set up tips, and how you can get started installing it today. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

So many of you have asked me, "Pat, what's on your bookshelf? What books should I be reading right now?" In today's episode, I'm sharing my summer reading list: five books I'm reading (or can't wait to start reading) that cover everything from entrepreneurship and work/life balance to psychology and mental hacks. You'll get the skinny on my favorite new books from Jonah Berger, Richie Norton, Jonathan Fields, Dana Malstaff, and Joshua Foer. And if you want even more reading recommendations, join my book club! You'll receive a monthly email with a personal review of my top book for that month, plus exclusive giveaways and special offers. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

Meditation has transformed my life. It's improved my focus and well-being, and it's altered my productivity during my workday in a radical way. Today, I want to share how I made it a part of my daily routine and the tools that helped me do it. I used to be skeptical of meditation. I couldn't wrap my head around the value of sitting still for so long, thinking about nothing. But thanks to the advice of friends and an awesome system called Muse, I discovered a meditation style that works perfectly for me—one that holds me accountable to staying focused and gamifies the meditation experience. In this episode, I'll walk you through one of my meditation sessions using the Muse app and headset, which monitors my brain activity and rewards me for maintaining a calm, quiet headspace. It's an amazing system—check it out! Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

What I'm sharing with you today is a little embarrassing. I'm revisiting one of my very first attempts at podcasting from back in 2008, as well as all the mistakes—and there are plenty!—I made as a brand-new podcaster. When you're just starting out as a podcaster, there are a daunting number of unknowns: Am I any good at this? Will anyone listen? Will I be able to fill enough episodes with valuable material week after week? I hope this honest look at my early days addresses some of those unknowns. I'll guide you through the most important lessons I learned in my first years of podcasting, the insecurities I had to overcome, and where I turned for help. I also recommend checking out PodcastingTutorial.com, my step-by-step guide to getting started with podcasting. In it, you'll find even more tips for transforming your brand-new show into a professional podcast. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

Today's episode is a vital one for all you podcasters out there. I'm sharing my top tips for preparing for an interview, gathered from the hundreds of interviews I've done on the Smart Passive Income Podcast. Don't make the mistake of viewing interviews as an easy opportunity to kick back while your guest does all the work. While you should always let your guest do most of talking, you (as the interviewer) have a responsibility to prepare. It's your job to ensure the interview runs smoothly, stays on schedule, and provides value to your audience. In this episode, I'll share my tips for becoming a master interviewer. I'll cover crafting the perfect questions, preparing your equipment, avoiding scheduling roadblocks, putting your guest at ease, and lots more. I also recommend checking out PodcastingTutorial.com, my step-by-step guide to getting started with podcasting. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

In today's episode, I'm talking all about webinars, an incredibly powerful tool in your online marketing toolbox. I'll be demoing one of my favorite tools for running webinars, Webinar Ninja. The best way to do business will always be the old-fashioned way: in person, face-to-face. That's why I encourage online business owners to go to conferences, where you can shake hands and look potential customers in the eye. And for all the times when traveling to conferences is logistically or financially stressful, you've got webinars. Webinar Ninja is an easy, powerful platform that helps streamline the process of hosting an online webinar. I love it, and I'm so eager to give you guys this inside look. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

My guest today is SPI TV's very own producer, Caleb Wojcik, here to talk about all things live streaming video: where it's headed, how I use it, and how you can start using it in your own online business. Live video has become more accessible than ever before. Thanks to platforms like Meerkat, Periscope, Facebook Live, and YouTube, it's never been easier to live stream to friends and fans using equipment you already own. Today, Caleb and I share our tips for getting started with live streaming video and our advice for appearing on camera. You'll also get a peek at the video production corner of my office, where Caleb will show off equipment you can use for more polished-looking live streams. If you're curious about taking the first step into live streaming, or if you're an experienced live streamer wanting to up your production quality, tune in!

Today, I’m joined by none other than Gary Vaynerchuk! This business mastermind and author of the brand-new book #AskGaryVee is here to talk about what the future holds for online entrepreneurs. In this episode, Gary offers a peek at what's inside #AskGaryVee and how this book stands apart from his others. He also delivers super-actionable strategies and awesome insight into how new platforms (including Snapchat, podcasting, and even new virtual reality tech) affect his business and online presence. This is one episode you don’t want to miss. Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

Today, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how I manage the editorial side of SmartPassiveIncome.com. Lately, I've been getting a lot of great feedback about the quality of the content I've been producing for my blog, my podcasts, and SPI TV. That's all thanks to a new editorial system, my new Managing Editor Janna Maron, and a few crucial tools that make staying organized easy. Lately, I've been getting a lot of great feedback about the quality of the content I've been producing for my blog, my podcasts, and SPI TV. That's all thanks to a new editorial system, my new Managing Editor Janna Maron, and a few crucial tools that make staying organized easy. I'm going to give you a tour of the spreadsheets and calendars Team Flynn uses to plan content, track our progress, and even schedule social media posts. You can even try out my favorite tool, CoSchedule, for yourself with a 30-day free trial: http://coschedule.com/spi Thanks so much for watching SPI TV, and be sure to subscribe (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV delivered to you each week!

http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/projectwif It was a real shock to me that my self-published book, Will It Fly, became a Wall Street Journal Best Seller. I didn't even know that was possible! Now, I want to see what else is possible... With your help, we can potentially get a self-published book on the shelves of a Barnes and Noble. Here's how: Step 1: Visit a Barnes and Noble, or call and order Will It Fly. It's in their catalog and on their website, but it's not on the shelves...yet. (If you're international and/or don't have access to a Barnes and Noble, visit BarnesandNoble.com and just put a search in for Will It Fly by Pat Flynn instead - that will still help capture their attention!) Step 2: A couple of days later, you'll be asked to come in to pick up the book.  If you're one of the first 500 to submit their receipt, I'm actually going to reimburse you for your copy. This isn't about me selling more books, it's about seeing what's possible as a self-published author.  Step 3: Submit your receipt at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/ProjectWIF-Redeem Doing so lets me know you participated, helps me keep track, and also enters you into a random drawing to win a 1-hour coaching Skype call with me to help you with your business. This is all happening starting Saturday, April 30th, and goes until the end of day Monday May 2nd.  Let's see what happens! Thank you so much for your support, and I'll keep you posted if anything happens. Cheers!

In this very special episode of SPI TV, Wesley Chapman is here to share the moving story of his life as an entrepreneur and the personal journey that led him to create AHumanProject.com. A Human Project began after Wesley's visit to a troubled school as a motivational speaker and the life-changing experience he had with the students he met there. Wesley had been a lifelong entrepreneur and experienced overwhelming success at a very young age, but this powerful encounter opened a new door—one that offered an even more fulfilling path, supporting and empowering youth. In our conversation, Wesley explores how we get enticed by status symbols, how we can revisit what truly matters, and how we can get involved with projects enacting meaningful change. I hope you'll find it as inspiring as I did. Watch and enjoy.

Joining me today is the incredibly talented Sean McCabe, the man behind seanwes.com and the founder of an online course on the art of hand lettering. Sean has turned his passion for hand lettering—something he once pursued only in his free time—into a thriving business and online community. After spending 9,000 hours honing his skills, Sean realized he was in a unique position to teach other artists how to make a living doing the same thing he did. In this episode, he'll share what he did next to build his online course, how he marketed it, and how he continues to grow his business. It's an amazing story I can't wait for you to hear!

In this episode of SPI TV, I'm joined by entrepreneurial powerhouse Mike Dillard of MikeDillard.com. We're digging deep into some of the most common struggles entrepreneurs face, specifically when it comes to managing the money we make. Mike is passionate about financial education. He's interested in how we, as entrepreneurs, talk so much about how to make money and so little about what to do with the money we make. Today, he'll share his advice on smart investing strategies, preparing for the future, and knowing when to step away from business ventures. Watch the video to hear more of Mike's wisdom!

Joining me this week is my amazing friend Jaime Tardy! Jaime is the brilliant mind behind Eventual Millionaire, and she's here to offer her perspective on the habits that lead to business success. Through Eventual Millionaire and her many years of experience as an entrepreneur, Jaime's encountered a lot of millionaires, and she's seen how certain traits emerge time and time again. She'll share those habits and traits, plus strategies for networking, realistic goal-setting, and maintaining that all-important work/life balance. Watch the video to hear more of Jaime's expert advice for taking your career to the next level.

With Will It Fly launched and out in the world at last, I couldn't think of a better time to chat with Honorée Corder—a truly amazing "authorpreneur," speaker, and coach.Honorée has an incredible wealth of experience writing books, turning those books into sustainable income, and working with inspirational authors like Hal Elrod. In this episode, she shares why she chose authorpreneurship and where she stands in the traditional vs. self-published debate. She also weighs in on how to uncover the book within you, how to promote it, and why you shouldn't stop at just one book. Watch and enjoy!You can get your own copy of my latest book, Will It Fly, at the link below:http://smartpassiveincome.com/willitfly

My new book, Will It Fly, launches on February 1st! In this video, as I walk you through the various parts of the San Diego Air and Space Museum, I explain why I wrote this book, what's all inside, and what's different about it from all of the other business books out there. Order your copy today at: http://www.willitflybook.com

This week on SPI TV, I'm so pleased to introduce Jay Papasan, co-author of The One Thing—a book I consider a must-read for every business owner.The One Thing taught me so much about becoming a more productive, effective entrepreneur. It's a book that both inspires its readers and lays out concrete steps for us to act on—a difficult and rare achievement, as Jay explains in the video.As someone in the midst of launching my own book, Will It Fly?, I was so excited to sit down with Jay. He has such a wealth of wisdom and experience to share—everything from settling on that one, book-worthy idea to"killing your darlings" in the editing process.If you feel like you've also got a book in you, or if you're curious to learn what The One Thing is all about, listen in on what Jay has to say!

This week on SPI TV, I've got the amazing Noah Kagan with me for a very special live appearance. Noah is the founder of AppSumo, and he's here to share his incredibly valuable experience with vetting and testing business ideas.With the release of Will It Fly? just around the corner, I knew it was time to dig into this idea of product validation with you guys. As Noah says, it's so easy to become trapped in a state of "playing business"—spinning your wheels and avoiding risks rather than doing business. Noah relates his advice for getting out of those ruts and taking meaningful action on your business ideas.He also shares the great story behind one of his latest businesses, SumoJerky, and what that experience taught him—even as a seasoned entrepreneur. Take a look!

Happy New Year, everybody! I've got some big things planned for SPI in the coming year. Here's a sneak peek at what's in store.My latest book launches in just a few weeks, and I couldn't be more excited (or nervous!). In this new book, I dig deep into validating business ideas so you don't waste your time and money. Learn more by checking out http://WillItFlyBook.com.I'll also be rolling out an awesome new redesign of SmartPassiveIncome.com. After I surveyed you guys last July, I realized I could be doing more to serve you through my website. My hope with the redesign is to bring you an even better experience.The third exciting thing I've got coming out in 2016 is a brand-new standalone course. I learned a lot from my last course, Breakthrough Blogging, and I'm using those lessons this time around to create the best course possible for you all. 

As we come up to the end of the year, I thought it would be fun to share my top 5 favorite episodes of SPI TV from 2015. Here's the list below with links for your convenience:#5 - How to Write a Book - The Secret to a Super Fast First Draft (Episode 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWoYHAwzcpY#4 - Top 10 Places On Your Website to Include an Opt In Form (Episode 27): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKdARIyozvY#3 - How to Become Futureproof - Opening Keynote NMX '15 (Episode 13): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s43rVJn1SE#2 - Day 1 in Ghana, Africa - Pencils of Promise School Build and Site Visits (Episode 19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNOLKlakj8#1 - My Custom Home Office Tour and Setup (Episode 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6w38PxMlmMThank you all again for watching SPI TV, and please subscribe for more videos coming in 2016! Happy Holidays, and all the best to you!

This week, I want to say thank you.It's the season for giving thanks, so I'm taking this moment to share my sincere appreciation for this awesome community. Happy Turkey Day to those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, and remember to thank your audience, too!

Welcome back to Affiliate Marketing Month on SPI TV! This week, I'm super-excited to share a step-by-step demo of how I promote new products as an affiliate marketer.   In this screenflow, I'm inviting you to take a look the software I use to manage my affiliate programs, its features, everything I do when I start a new campaign. I'll be using ConvertKit as my example product, an email service provider I've recently fallen in love with.   You can check out ConvertKit for yourself at the link below:   http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/convertkit   Also, don’t forget to download my brand new eBook, Affiliate Marketing the Smart Way! It's my latest FREE guide that summarizes my own years of experience of what works for successfully integrating affiliate marketing into an online business and brand.   Download it for free today by visiting:   http://affiliatemarketingthesmartway.com/

November is Affiliate Marketing Month on SPI TV! In this episode, I'm talking all about finding the perfect product for your affiliate campaign.Choosing the wrong product is the biggest mistake an affiliate marketer can make when they're just getting started. That's why I'm going to share what I've learned about finding the right product, how to sell it, and the resources that will help you along the way. Watch the video to learn more.Also, don’t forget to download my brand new eBook, Affiliate Marketing the Smart Way! It's my latest FREE guide that summarizes my own years of experience of what works for successfully integrating affiliate marketing into an online business and brand.Download it for free today by visiting:http://affiliatemarketingthesmartway.com/

Last week, I wrapped up Email Marketing Month. Not to worry, though—the good stuff isn't over! Now that November is here, I'm kicking off a whole new series: Affiliate Marketing Month.The first thing I want to share is something I call the Soft Pitch Pipeline, a methodology I've created to help affiliate marketers achieve success that benefits them, their products, and their audience.This approach to affiliate marketing will help you "tee up" your product to your audience, so that your affiliate campaigns are a win for everybody. Watch to learn more.Also, don’t forget to download my brand new eBook, Affiliate Marketing the Smart Way! It's my latest FREE guide that summarizes my own years of experience of what works for successfully integrating affiliate marketing into an online business and brand.Download it for free today by visiting:http://affiliatemarketingthesmartway.com

We've come to our last episode of Email Marketing Month already! To finish off, I'll be talking all about email segmentation.Segmenting your email list is one of the most important things you can do to strengthen your email marketing strategy. To help you figure out how to do this with your own list, I'll be taking you step by step through my email system on ConvertKit to show you what's what.By understanding each audience segment's unique problems, as well as the specific language and content they respond to best, you'll be able to serve your audience in a bigger and better way.Also, don't forget to download my brand new eBook, Email the Smart Way! It's a FREE playbook of various types of email archetypes that you can use in your broadcasts and autoresponder series, so you never run out of GREAT emails to send to your list.Building an email list is half the battle - knowing what to send is the other. Download it free today by visiting:http://www.emailthesmartway.com

Have you heard? It's Email Marketing Month here on SPI TV, and this week, I'm covering the top third-party tools that just might change the game for you and your email list.Building your email list is a crucial, ongoing process for your growing business. Back in SPI TV 27, I shared my strategies for building your list via opt-in forms on your website. But an opt-in form isn't the only way to turn visitors into subscribers. You can also enlist the help of a few top-notch tools.The tools I'm covering today can help you build your list via mobile, prompt your site visitors to opt-in, create customized landing pages to engage potential subscribers, and more. They integrate easily with most email software, so you can add them to your email marketing strategy seamlessly.You can check out those tools individually here:LeadPages & LeadDigitshttp://smartpassiveincome.com/LeadPagesHelloBarhttp://hellobar.comSumoMehttp://smartpassiveincome.come/SumoMeOptinMonsterhttp://smartpassiveincome.com/optinmonsterAnd don't forget to download your email marketing guide so you know what kind of emails to send your list at http://www.emailthesmartway.com

Email Marketing Month is in full swing here at SmartPassiveIncome.com! Today, I'm giving you a quick demo of a brand new email service provider I've totally fallen in love with: ConvertKit.ConvertKit has so many excellent features. It's beautifully designed, ridiculously easy to use, and makes your analytics simple to understand. It also comes with higher-level features like segmentation and tagging, so it's perfect for users at all levels with all kinds of needs. You've got to see this.You can have a look at ConvertKit yourself at the link below:http://smartpassiveincome.com/convertkitAlso, don't forget to download my brand new eBook, Email the Smart Way! It's a FREE playbook of various types of email archetypes that you can use in your broadcasts and autoresponder series, so you never run out of GREAT emails to send to your list.Building an email list is half the battle - knowing what to send is the other. Download it free today by visiting:http://www.emailthesmartway.com

October is Email Marketing Month! Today, we're covering the major dos and don'ts.There's a right way and a wrong way to do things. I've been there—and I've learned a lot from my not-so-great decisions. Hopefully, after this episode, you won't have to make the same mistakes when it comes to your own email marketing.I'll be covering all the important stuff, including subject lines, segmentation, calls-to-action, and auto-responders. I'll also delve into reaching out to your audience, asking them the right questions, and knowing when to push a sale.And make sure you check out EmailtheSmartWay.com, a free guide with my favorite email marketing strategies and tactics that's perfect for anyone getting started with their email list. You can download that guide for free here:http://emailthesmartway.comWatch previous episodes from Email Marketing Month here:SPI TV 27: Top 10 Places On Your Website to Include an Opt-in FormSPI TV 28: ConvertKit Demo by Pat FlynnAnd please join my book club for monthly book reviews, special deals & promotions from authors by clicking on this link below:http://www.patsbookclub.com

My opening keynote presentation for Podcast Movement 2015. I look forward to seeing you all in Chicago at the next event, which you can learn more about at http://www.podcastmovement.comThis brand new talk is titled YOU vs. YOU, which deals with the struggle within ourselves when we try something new. For podcasters especially, this is something we all deal with, but this voice within our head lies in everyone.In this presentation, I incorporate a lot of new experimental stage performance techniques to drive home some of the important points about getting over that voice in our head.I welcome your constructive feedback as I'm always looking to improve my on stage presence. Thank you!

It's Email Marketing Month here at Smart Passive Income! This week, I'm going to show you the top 10 places to insert an opt-in form on your website.It's easy to overlook places where you could be collecting subscribers—believe me, I learned this the hard way. Now, it's my turn to help you guys locate those key spots that will increase your conversions and get more people subscribing to your list.Also, don't forget to download my brand new eBook, Email the Smart Way! It's a FREE playbook of various types of email archetypes that you can use in your broadcasts and autoresponder series, so you never run out of GREAT emails to send to your list.Building an email list is half the battle - knowing what to send is the other. Download it free today by visiting:http://www.emailthesmartway.com

Ask by Ryan Levesque is my #1 book recommendation for anyone in business, no matter what stage or what niche you're in:Get Ryan's book for free (plus shipping & handling): http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/ask-bookI recently used techniques in this book to conduct an eye-opening survey that I'm now using to guide the direction of my brand, and already I'm seeing a dramatic difference in how my audience responds to what I do. Ask is now a part of the few books I recommend as required reading for entrepreneurs, and it doesn't matter if you already have an email list or followers or not - you can still use the amazing advice and strategies in this book. Ryan was also featured in SPI Podcast Episode #178 (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session178) where you can hear more about his Ask Formula and take home strategies you can implement in your business right now. And please join my book club for monthly book reviews, special deals & promotions from authors by clicking on this link below:http://www.patsbookclub.com

The Art of Apprenticeship is a lesser known book in the business world that I'd like to bring to light today.http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/art-of-apprenticeshipIt is authored by my good friend Azul Terronez, who has spent most of his life as an educator and has shared his wisdom on learning here in this book, which is all about how to find an amazing mentor to help kickstart your success.Finding a mentor is one of the smartest and most important actions you can take, and although this book isn't super long like other books in the business aisle, Azul does a fantastic job of giving us exactly the information we need to move forward and find our ideal mentor or mentors. In this episode, I review certain sections of the book I feel are key, and if you have any other books to suggest I review in the future, please leave a comment below with your suggestion!Thanks for watching SPI TV, and look out for another book next week that I'll be reviewing (to continue book review month here on SPI!)

Join my book club where I review new books each month, and give you special deals and promotions when available:http://www.patsbookclub.comThis week on SPI TV, we are reviewing The ONE Thing by Gary Kellar and Jay Papasan, one of the most important books I've read over the past year, which is why I read it twice. This is mandatory reading for anyone trying to achieve anything (so, all of us!), and it gives us the low down on exactly why it's important to focus on one thing at a time, how, and also the consequences if you don't. I've been implementing The ONE Thing strategies ever since I've picked up this book, and it's been an absolute game-changer for me in terms of planning, productivity, general stress levels, and even happiness. You can check out the book here: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/theonething

On the final day of our trip to Ghana, we visit two schools that are experimenting with an e-Reader program, and the WASH program, which teaches hygiene and healthy hand washing habits. It was amazing to see what Pencils of Promise is doing beyond the schools that were built, and it made me think of what else I could to help besides just raising money for campaigns. Check out what else I have planned, and thank you again for watching SPI TV and coming along with me on this life-changing trip.Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNOLKlakj8Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vwWGAJUqVkDay 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isJgsbRXWkcHere is more information about why we were in Ghana:In December of 2014, I ran a campaign to build a school in Ghana, Africa through the Pencils of Promise organization. This was an idea that was inspired through my conversation with Adam Bruan, the founder of PoP, who I interviewed in Session #106 of the SPI Podcast:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session106Not only did the SPI community come together with a record-breaking number of donors during this campaign, but my family and I agreed to match up to $25,000 to build one additional school beyond what was already funded.Together, over $50,000 was raised, and I received notice earlier this year that me and one guest would be able to visit Ghana and see the schools that we built, meet the people in these communities and see first hand exactly what kind of impact we were making. Thanks to my trusty videographer, Caleb Wojcik, who came along with me to capture these moments for you, we were able to put together a series of 4 videos (1 for each day of the trip), that highlight the sights, sounds and feelings I experienced while on this journey.A big thank you goes out to everyone who donated to this campaign last year, and for all of the fans of SPI and people who have supported me in the past, thank you for letting me lead this journey for all of us, and I'm hoping these videos give you a taste of how I felt and how important this is to me.Giving is great, and I hope to always be an example of that. To my audience, to my kids especially, and hopefully to the world.Additionally, I'm proud to have recently been added to the Advisory Board of Pencils of Promise, to be able to help out even more. For more information about Pencils of Promise, please click the link below:http://www.pencilsofpromise.org

On day 3 in Ghana, we spent most of our day on one site in Adaklu Hli Have. Upon arrival, I saw that nearly 100 people were already working together to continue construction on a brand new school that was being built, and it was time to get our hands a little dirty and pitch in too. It was amazing to see the entire community - men, women, young and old pitching in to build this school. They make it look easy, but it definitely was not! Here is more information about why we were in Ghana:In December of 2014, I ran a campaign to build a school in Ghana, Africa through the Pencils of Promise organization. This was an idea that was inspired through my conversation with Adam Bruan, the founder of PoP, who I interviewed in Session #106 of the SPI Podcast:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session106Not only did the SPI community come together with a record-breaking number of donors during this campaign, but my family and I agreed to match up to $25,000 to build one additional school beyond what was already funded.Together, over $50,000 was raised, and I received notice earlier this year that me and one guest would be able to visit Ghana and see the schools that we built, meet the people in these communities and see first hand exactly what kind of impact we were making. Thanks to my trusty videographer, Caleb Wojcik, who came along with me to capture these moments for you, we were able to put together a series of 4 videos (1 for each day of the trip), that highlight the sights, sounds and feelings I experienced while on this journey.A big thank you goes out to everyone who donated to this campaign last year, and for all of the fans of SPI and people who have supported me in the past, thank you for letting me lead this journey for all of us, and I'm hoping these videos give you a taste of how I felt and how important this is to me.Giving is great, and I hope to always be an example of that. To my audience, to my kids especially, and hopefully to the world.Additionally, I'm proud to have recently been added to the Advisory Board of Pencils of Promise, to be able to help out even more. For more information about Pencils of Promise, please click the link below:http://www.pencilsofpromise.org

This is video 2 in a series of 4 videos documenting my recent field trip to Ghana, Africa. Day #1 from my trip is linked to below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNOLKlakj8Here on Day 2, we visit several schools that were being opened for the first time. Words cannot highlight what it was like, so I'm glad we were able to capture it all on video.Plus, for everyone in the SPI Community, there's an awesome surprise for you at the end :)In December of 2014, I ran a campaign to build a school in Ghana, Africa through the Pencils of Promise organization. This was an idea that was inspired through my conversation with Adam Bruan, the founder of PoP, who I interviewed in Session #106 of the SPI Podcast:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session106Not only did the SPI community come together with a record-breaking number of donors during this campaign, but my family and I agreed to match up to $25,000 to build one additional school beyond what was already funded.Together, over $50,000 was raised, and I received notice earlier this year that me and one guest would be able to visit Ghana and see the schools that we built, meet the people in these communities and see first hand exactly what kind of impact we were making. Thanks to my trusty videographer, Caleb Wojcik, who came along with me to capture these moments for you, we were able to put together a series of 4 videos (1 for each day of the trip), that highlight the sights, sounds and feelings I experienced while on this journey.A big thank you goes out to everyone who donated to this campaign last year, and for all of the fans of SPI and people who have supported me in the past, thank you for letting me lead this journey for all of us, and I'm hoping these videos give you a taste of how I felt and how important this is to me.Giving is great, and I hope to always be an example of that. To my audience, to my kids especially, and hopefully to the world.Additionally, I'm proud to have recently been added to the Advisory Board of Pencils of Promise, to be able to help out even more. For more information about Pencils of Promise, please click the link below:http://www.pencilsofpromise.org

In December of 2014, I ran a campaign to build a school in Ghana, Africa through the Pencils of Promise organization. This was an idea that was inspired through my conversation with Adam Bruan, the founder of PoP, who I interviewed in Session #106 of the SPI Podcast:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session106Not only did the SPI community come together with a record-breaking number of donors during this campaign, but my family and I agreed to match up to $25,000 to build one additional school beyond what was already funded.Together, over $50,000 was raised, and I received notice earlier this year that me and one guest would be able to visit Ghana and see the schools that we built, meet the people in these communities and see first hand exactly what kind of impact we were making. Thanks to my trusty videographer, Caleb Wojcik, who came along with me to capture these moments for you, we were able to put together a series of 4 videos (1 for each day of the trip), that highlight the sights, sounds and feelings I experienced while on this journey.A big thank you goes out to everyone who donated to this campaign last year, and for all of the fans of SPI and people who have supported me in the past, thank you for letting me lead this journey for all of us, and I'm hoping these videos give you a taste of how I felt and how important this is to me.Giving is great, and I hope to always be an example of that. To my audience, to my kids especially, and hopefully to the world. Additionally, I'm proud to have recently been added to the Advisory Board of Pencils of Promise, to be able to help out even more. For more information about Pencils of Promise, please click the link below:http://www.pencilsofpromise.org

We'll be taking a small break from SPI TV for the summer, but don't worry! Season 2 will come back in August of 2015 and will start with a series of videos captured while in Ghana, Africa during my visit to the schools we built together through Pencils of Promise for my birthday last year.Caleb, my videographer who is accompanying me to Africa, helped me shoot this quick video to finish off an amazing Season 1 of SPI TV, and let you know more about what's coming next.Thanks again for all of your support, and wishing you and your families an amazing and fun-filled summer!Thanks so much, and be sure to subscribe  (via YouTube or iTunes) to get new episodes of SPI TV when Season 2 comes out!

In this episode of SPI TV, I'm going to show you how to create an awesome slide deck for your next presentation, one that captivates your audience and supports your talk, not bores people to death and puts people to sleep.I've performed dozens of presentations myself, and I take great pride in how I approach my slide deck. I'm always getting complimented on my slides, and I want the same to happen to you.Creating great slides doesn't have to be difficult, and with a few simple rules and some guidelines to follow, you'll stand out as a top presenter the next time you're on stage or presenting in front of a group.Be sure to subscribe to SPI TV so you can get new episodes automatically delivered to you each week they become available! Thanks again for watching, I appreciate you!

I snuck into an empty room at New Media Expo to film 33 different public speaking tips to help you stop your audience from falling asleep. I've learned a lot of these tips by reading and watching as much as I could about the skills of public speaking, watching countless hours of TED talks and similar high-quality presentations, and of course, being on stage dozens of times myself.Each time I go onto the stage for a new event, I always try to focus on one new thing that I'm going to practice and incorporate into my presentation. Obviously you always want to do your best, but when you bring one new thing to improve each time, it'll help your speaking game tremendously, and stop you from being overwhelmed and trying too many new things at once. Take as many of these tips as you'd like into your next presentation, and you'll find that you'll have a more engaged, awake and appreciative audience, and you'll have a better time on stage too.Thanks for watching SPI TV - make sure you subscribe to get more content like this on your device every Friday!

This one has been a long time coming - the presentation I performed at New Media Expo in 2014 about how to turn your Casual Audience into Raving Fans! This was filmed in January 2014.I was originally going to publish this immediately after my presentation was over and I received the final video files, however because it got such a great response, I had to delay it a bit. And yes, for over a year! Here's why...You see, a few other conference directors heard about it and hired me to perform the same talk at their events later in the year. Because of this, I didn't want to publish the full presentation and ruin the surprises that I had in store for them in this talk. After performing this talk at those events, more people started to hear about it, and I got booked for a few more events after that for the same talk. Crazy!Beyond that amazing response, there was so much talk about the presentation, that it helped me land the opening Keynote for the event the next year (2015), which you saw in Episode 13 of SPI TV from two weeks prior.With standing room only, and my best bud Chris Ducker introducing me to the stage, I'm proud to finally share this with you today. Thank you for your patience, and I'd love to hear your comments at http://watchspi.tv/episode15Cheers, thanks so much, and I hope you'll subscribe to keep up to date on upcoming videos this month about public speaking!

Watch the full film & presentation in Episode 13 of SPI TV!Be sure to subscribe to SPI TV to get new episodes of SPI TV each Friday!On March 24th, 2015, I traveled to Puente Hills Mall in the City of Industry, which is located just south of Los Angeles. On this evening, from 6pm to 3am the next morning, I would be filming a short film that I would use to open my keynote presentation at New Media Expo in Las Vegas, just a few weeks later.It became so much more than I could ever dream of. This video - Episode 14 of SPI TV, is a behind the scenes look from filming that evening.Here's the backstory:I always go big when it comes to the presentations I do on stage. I try to be different, entertaining and memorable while also providing a ton of take home value too. The opening keynote at New Media Expo in Vegas was going to be my biggest presentation ever, so I decided to think BIG for this event.I started to plan this talk in mid-2014, after learning I was going to do this just a few months earlier. I gave myself almost a year to hone in on the message and figure out how to make it memorable, and I knew I had some time to do things that may have been a little more complicated to figure out and coordinate.I decided the talk was going to be about how to become "future-proof". In the world of media and online business, specifically this is about how to survive and thrive as technology and communication change so rapidly. What are the core principles and ideas that have always worked in the past that can keep us going into the future?Because this was about time, and I wanted to go big, I decided that I was going to enter the stage at New Media Expo in a Delorean - the time machine from my favorite movie of all time, Back to the Future. And because 2015 is the 30-year anniversary of the film and is also the year Marty and Doc travel to in Back to the Future Part II, it seemed like it would be the perfect fit.I couldn't just arrive on stage on a Delorean though without any sort of lead up, so I also decided to write the script for a short 3-minute film that I would star in, which would have me getting into a Delorean and after disappearing in the film, I would appear on stage at the event.It was a huge idea, but I was lucky to have a connection in Hollywood, my good friend Mitchell Peck, who hired me a while back to work on the website and social media campaign for an independent film. Mitchell works as a professional screenplay consultant. He has helped several others get their scripts turned into real Hollywood films and he was willing to help me fine-tune my script and connect me to a producer, Taylor Hart, who could gather the team together and make all of this happen.When I arrived at Puente Hills Mall, which is the same exact mall they filmed Back to the Future in (which is why I selected that location), I had no idea what I was in store for.What I thought was going to be a few guys with cameras and maybe a sound guy too, became this full-scale Hollywood production, including other actors, background people, make-up artists, and so many others who each played their own specific role in this film. Over 30 people were involved in the shooting and editing of my short film, which totally blew me away.So many amazing things happened that night. From being able to sit and drive in a real Delorean, to watching a Drone film us from high up above, to meeting all of these crazy people who love what they do - I couldn't be happier with the results of what we put together.Other Fun Facts About the Shoot!1. We were real close to getting the real Christopher Lloyd (who played Doc Brown) to being in the film. We were in contact with his agent for a couple of weeks, but it just didn't work out for financial reasons. I was very happy with Alan Murray, a look-alike who would have passed for the real thing!2. After learning that we were not going to get Christopher Lloyd, we tried to get Thomas F. Wilson, who played Biff in the Back to the Future series, to cameo in the short film. I wrote an entirely new script that had Biff's character in it. It involved him playing his real-life self, but going in and out of the "Biff" character and calling me a butt-head a few times, like he does in the film. 3. Our make-up artist, Katie Danza, is really Tony Danza's daughter!4. The Delorean is actually a very weak vehicle in terms of horsepower and speed. To grab some real hard-core engine sounds, the sound engineers recorded the engine of an Aston Martin going around the lot a few times, which was owned by one of the background actors! The sounds from the Aston Martin were put in place of the actual Delorean car sounds in the movie to give it some power in the film. 5. In real life, the Delorean's LED lights are white. In the film, however, they are blue. This is because when white LEDs are filmed using the camera we used, they turn blue. If they were blue in real life, then they would look purple in the movie, which wouldn't be right.6. A food truck (Woody's Grill Truck) catered our dinner, which was at midnight! We took an hour break, which is enforced by the actor's union. For about 15 minutes before the break ended, after we all ate, we were just sitting around doing nothing, but we were technically not allowed to film. 7. Randomly, a guy came out of the TGIF restaurant across the lot and looked at the entire production in surprise. When we asked him what was up, he said that he was in the same parking lot almost exactly 30 years ago, in March of 1985 when he saw the actual filming of Back to the Future. He watched Michael J. Fox tumble down the hill of "Lone Pine Mall" a few dozen times before they were finally happy with one of the takes. What an incredible coincidence!8. We had about 2 or 3 people on the crew who were assigned simply to keep people out of the taped-off parking lot. There's a 24 hour fitness in the mall and we had a lot of look-loos wanting to come by to see what was going on. Once they found out, man of them wanted to take pictures of the Delorean! I don't blame them, of course!9. There's a scene that we filmed about a dozen times that never got put into the final shot. After I am called on by the tour bus guide as the winner to drive the Delorean around the lot, I jump around in excitement and head off the bus. As I head down the stairs of the bus, I stop and pause to turn the lights on on my shoes. I thought it was really funny and increase the "dorkiness factor", but in post-edit they said that it totally stopped the flow of the story. Not a huge deal, but I was really excited to see what that would have looked like. 10. Besides the day I got was married and the days I had each of my children...BEST...DAY...EVER!Thank you to everyone who was involved. One more time, I'd like to share the cast and crew with you here below:PRODUCED BY:Taylor HardMitchell PeckWRITTEN BY:Pat FlynnDIRECTED BY:Maxwell AlbertPat Flynn - HimselfDoc Brown - Allan MurrayTour Guide - Charlie FarrellTour Guide - Angie SanchezStorm Trooper Fan - Brennan SchlooNinja Turtle - Nik GlazerTourist - Jeff JessamineTourist - Justin BaragliaTourist - Inger TudorTourist - Heidi SchoolerTourist - Angela PattersonTourist - Simone WassermanTourist - Nihan GurVan Couple Man - Van WhiteVan Couple Woman - Katie DanzaDirector of Photography - Neil FernandezProduction Manager - Van WhiteProduction Designer - Matthew Harvey1st AD - Will Lambe2nd AD - Justin Hopper2nd 2nd AD - Dean Schaller1st AC - Drey SingerSound Mixer - Ryan AgostinoGaffer - Ronnie GotchKey Grip - Marlon ObrienScript Supervisor - Evan HartCostume Designer - Camille CalvinHair & Make Up - Katie DanzaProduction Coordinator - Travis BerensCatering Woodys Grill TruckDelorean Provided by Adam KontrasEdited by Jeff OsborneSound, Color and VFX by ReAgent ProductionsAdditional Lenses Provided by PanavisionHollywood Tour Bus Provided by AmazingLATours.comVW Euro Van Provided by Mariana AbaroaCameras - Red / BlackmagicPost-Production Software - Adobe Creative CloudShot on location in Southern CaliforniaSpecial Thanks to SAG-AFTRA and Robert Zemeckis----

"To survive the future, we must go back to what has always worked in the past..." -Pat FlynnIt is my absolute pleasure to share the full version of my opening keynote at New Media Expo 2015. The theme is future proofing your business and brand. What does that mean? It means to be able to survive what's ahead - to absorb the shock of the inevitable stresses that will test all of us from this point forward.Whether you like it or not, the future is coming, and to be able to survive and thrive in the new business environments that are ahead, we must go back to the past and analyze what has always worked to serve our customers and audience. In this keynote, incorporating themes from my favorite movie of all time (Back to the Future), we travel into the past, present and future to get to the core of what really works, and how we can use those strategies and principles to make sure we stick around. We also explore "future traps" - dangerous business-killers that have stopped several people from finding long-term success in the past, and how you can avoid falling victim to those traps. Thank you to New Media Expo for giving me the freedom to do something completely brand new and out of the box during this presentation. Also, a special thanks to my good friend Mitchell Peck from http://www.hollywoodembassy.com for helping me put together the script and team for the short film that plays at the top of my keynote. Taylor Hart from Bipolar Propaganda for producing the film, and the entire cast and crew that made it all happen!This was truly a dream come true to put together. If you have found value in this presentation in one way, shape or form, please share this. I structured it in a way that it could be useful for anyone - not just those who are in business, but all of us who have a mission in life and want to make sure it gets accomplished. To the future...-Pat FlynnWebsite: http://www.smartpassiveincome.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/patflynn

My film crew and I are in preparation mode for a live event here in San Diego, but it worked out because just the other day I conducted a webinar (with Speical Guest Chris Ducker from ChrisDucker.com, who was in my home office with me) about how to form a winning mastermind group, and here is a replay of that live webinar. There is no traditional SPI TV intro, but this is officially Episode 12 of SPI TV to cap off a month of videos all about masterminds. This is a re-hash of the presentation I did at Social Media Marketing World in San Diego a month ago (March 2015). It had such a positive response, I wanted to share it with everyone because Mastermind Groups have been one of the most important factors in the success I've had in my businesses. After the live presentation, in fact, a number of people came up to me after lunch to tell me they already formed mastermind groups of their own right then and there at the event using the information provided in this presentation, which is the best compliment anyone can get. Whether you are in a mastermind group already or maybe you don't even know what a mastermind group is, this hour-long presentation with help you figure it all out with a ton of information you can use and take back to your group (current or future) to make sure everyone gets the most out of the time you spend together. Slides for this presentation are available here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4757882/mastermind-groups-replay-slides.pdfThanks, and wishing you all the best!

Mastermind groups are extremely helpful for your business, but only if you approach them with these tips in mind. Here are 7 tips to make the most out of your mastermind group, whether you have one already or are about to start one of your own. Visit http://www.watchspi.tv for more episodes of SPI TV which come out every Friday!

Continuing this month's dedication to mastermind groups, in this episode of SPI TV I breakdown the format and structure of a formal mastermind meeting. It's important to have a specific order and timing of what's discussed in a mastermind group meeting. I've been a part of groups without structure, and each of them have completely failed. Whether you attend your meetings in person, or remotely via tools like Skype, Google Hangouts or FreeConferenceCall, the structure I outline in this video can apply and will optimize everyone's time and results in the group. And as a reminder, if you're interested in a more detailed and complete presentation about mastermind groups, visit the link below to sign up for a replay of my Social Media Marketing World 2015 presentation which was all about mastermind groups. If you catch the re-do of the presentation live, you'll be able to ask questions live as well. Here's the link:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/mastermindreplayCheers, and best of luck!

I would not be where I'm at today if it was not for the mastermind groups that I've been a part of. I guarantee that I would not be as successful. I just wrapped up a live presentation about mastermind groups at Social Media Marketing World 2015 here in San Diego. While the topic is still fresh on my mind, I wanted to bring a little bit of what I talked about to you here in Episode 9 of SPI TV. In this episode, you'll see some behind the scenes at SMMW15, and you'll hear from a few of my friends at the event who share why they are in a mastermind group to begin with, and a tip for you if you're looking to get into one, or have a better experience with the one you're already in. This is a shorter episode than normal, however at the end I share a link for you (also below) where you can sign up for an upcoming live webinar re-do of my presentation about mastermind groups for you. Sign up before April 22nd to register and reserve a seat for the live webinar where you'll be able to see my presentation done again and also ask questions and interact - not only with me, but with a special guest who will be on the webinar with me as well. There are two to choose from so that I could cover all parts of the world, so that it would be somewhat convenient no matter what timezone you live in.Here's that link for you:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/mastermindreplay

There are several reasons why you may want to consider contacting an A-lister in your market. Perhaps you'd like to reach out to them to invite them to be a guest on your podcast. Maybe you'd like to pitch a guest post for their blog. Or, maybe you're likely to see them at an upcoming event and would just like to begin that conversation early. Whatever the case may be, it's never easy to reach the top people in your market who are in high demand. There are likely several other people who are asking for their time too, and it can be extremely challenging to get a reply.In this episode of SPI TV, I give you 6 tips to increase the likelihood that you'll be able to make contact with A-listers in your niche, plus a bonus tips that will make all of this a lot easier for you. Thanks again for checking out SPI TV, and make sure to subscribe and look out for another episode next Friday! 

One of the best things you can do to provide massive value for your audience is to conduct a free Q&A session using Google Hangouts on Air. Not only is it free for your audience to join, but it's practically free for you to run as well.While this is a good opportunity for your audience to ask questions and learn even more from you, it's an extremely golden opportunity for you as well.A Q&A session will help you become more authoritative in your niche. As someone who is fielding questions and answering them live, it puts you even more in the expert's chairAdditionally, it creates an "enhanced experience" for your audience - something above and beyond the normal reader/listener/viewers experience, like an event or a gig that your audience can look forward to. It becomes another touch point between you and those in your audience, and the more touch points you have, the more trust you build. Furthermore, you'll be able to hear directly from your audience, and even have a conversation with them to better understand their pains, problems, wants, needs and desires. If you're wondering exactly what to create content about, giving your audience a fun, open forum to ask questions can be the perfect way for you to understand what to do next. You may even discover your next product or course idea here as well!In Episode 7 of SPI TV, I'll walk you step by step how to setup your next Google Hangout on Air Q&A session, schedule it for a later date, start it and run it with some cool applications like the Q&A application, showcase, and more!Be sure to subscribe to get next week's episode of SPI TV as soon as it comes out! You could also visit and comment on the blog at http://watchspi.tv/episode7

Conference and event season is coming up - are you ready? In this episode of SPI TV, I share 10 mistakes to avoid at the next event you attend. If you're a newbie conference-goer, this will help you feel less overwhelmed and give you some great, practical tips that most people don't know the first time they go to an event. If you've been to conferences before - awesome. Then you'll know what I'm talking about. These tips will help you make sure that you're on top of your game to get the most out of your conference experience.Here's a full list of upcoming conferences and events I'll be attending:Smart Success Summit - March 15Social Media Marketing World - March 25-27 New Media Expo - April 13-161-Day Business Breakthrough - April 24Rock the Stage - June 26Podcast Movement - July 31 - August 2FINCON 2015 - September 17-20What conferences are you attending this year? Leave a comment below here on YouTube, or visit http://www.watchspi.tv/episode6 and leave a comment on the blog. Thanks, and please subscribe for a new episode of SPI TV every Friday!

One way to generate raving fans is to create "gigs", or special events - big or small - that go beyond the experience a normal reader or listener might have with your content. When you can bring people together and facilitate community like this, you can simultaneously become more authoritative and spread word about your brand. How?Because when there's something like an event, a webinar, a hangout, a meetup, a get-together of some sort with a specific date and a time, it creates anticipation. It creates buzz, which can not only get people excited, but that buzz can easily be shared leading up to your gig. Then, afterwards your gig becomes proof of community, accessibility, and that you go above and beyond for your audience.Even though these gigs are for just a small percentage of people in your audience, it can have a major impact on your brand for everyone who is a part of it. Chris Ducker and I put on an event called 1-Day Business Breakthrough, which you can find at http://www.1daybb.com/live, where we bring just a limited number of people together in San Diego to mastermind, brainstorm, and come up with killer ideas to break through the barriers that are holding every attendee back in their business. Truly, putting this mini-event together with Chris is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Now, we only serve a limited number of people each time, however we share that this event happens. We've created a podcast out of it. It enables us to use previous events to promote new ones, and easily the event has helped us grow our brand and increase our authority as thought-leaders in this space. Here in this video, you'll get a glimpse of the space that we are holding this year's event on April 24th, 2015 - and how it will be run. Like I said, you don't have to put on HUGE events like this - and they don't even have to be in person. Google hangouts, virtual conferences (see http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session151 for a step by step interview on how to create your own virtual conference), or even just a Twitter chat. Again - something with a date and time that's beyond the normal experience someone might have on your site. Do that, and you'll increase your brand recognition and authority much faster than if you just stuck with all you normally. do. So how are you going to serve your audience in this way in the future? What's one "event" or "gig" you can put on for your audience...and when are you going to do it?Head on over to http://www.watchspi.tv to find the 

Have you ever tried to start working on something you knew you had to do, but you just didn't have the energy to do it?Transition time - the time it takes us to truly get focused on something new after previously doing something else - surprisingly takes up a huge chunk of our day, and can be a total time waster. The quicker you can get into work mode, the better, which is why in Episode #4 of SPI TV I give you 9 things you can do before you jump into work mode, to make sure you have the energy to crush whatever it is you're about to do. A lot of these things I've learned through my own experience, and several I've seen and have heard other people do too. You don't have to do all of them, but incorporating even just one tactic that works for you can have a huge effect on your overall output. 

I use a lot of productivity tools to help me push forward in my business. In fact, I use dozens, but here are my top 5 tools that will help you get the most out of the time you put into your work. Tools and Resources Mentioned...Distraction Free Writing:Writing is a very immersive and intensive activity, and the worst thing you can do is give yourself a chance to be distracted while writing your next book, blog post or article. Here are the tools I recommend to conquer that:http://www.bywordapp.com (Mac)http://www.ommwriter.com (Mac and PC)I also give some tips for crafting a blog post that reference episode 1 of SPI TV, which can be found here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWoYHAwzcpYCalendar Management:Have you ever tried to schedule something, like a podcast interview or even a simple 30 minute meeting, and the back and forth emails to find a date and time that aligns with both parties seem to never end?This is very common, and it's a time-suck! Here's the tool I use to make sure I keep control of my own time, batch processes certain events that are recurring in my business, and keep the correspondence with other parties short and to the point.http://www.calendly.comProject Management:Everyone should use a project management tool, and Trello is my top choice. Based on the scrum model, it makes everything from producing blog posts to managing full-scale software projects much easier and organized. http://www.trello.comSuper Easy Shareable Screenshots:Dropbox is a tool that I love, and for the cloud storage alone it's worth it for every entrepreneur. It makes sharing files easy, and creates a nice cloud backup for important files that can be accessed from any device at any location. There's an awesome trick, however, related to screenshots. With a couple hot keys, you can take a screenshot of anything on your computer which automatically places that screenshot into a dropbox folder, while simultaneously copying a link to your clipboard to that screenshot. It makes it super easy to share important elements of your screen with others, and also save certain items you come across that you want to keep handy for later. http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/dropboxSelf Control:And finally, probably one of the most important tools of all, are ones that can block you from viewing unproductive sites that you know you frequent. These tools restrict access to your own blacklist of sites, so if you catch yourself visiting Facebook, Twitter or other sites that you know aren't truly helping you move forward in that task you're supposed to be head down on right now, you can use this to stop yourself from going down those rabbit holes. http://www.selfcontrolapp.com (Mac)http://www.stopprocrastinatingapp.com (PC)Do you have a favorite tool you like to use to stay productive? Share it in the comment section over at http://www.watchspi.tvThanks again for watching SPI TV! A new episode comes out every Friday, so make sure to subscribe! Next week, I'll give you 9 tips for getting an immediate boost of energy for work...so stay tuned!

I've gotten so many requests to do a custom home office tour for you...so here it is!Last year, my wife and I became homeowners for the very first time. It was a truly a huge moment for us because we'd been renting ever since we were married (5 years), putting money aside each month so we could someday live in our dream home. It's not a mansion or anything like that, but it was a new build, and definitely an upgrade from where we came from.Our goals in selecting a new home were primarily related to the kids. A kid-friendly neighborhood with nearby parks and recreational areas, lots of other relatively young families, and a top-notch school district. Personally, it was a mandatory requirement to have a space that was to become my own office that I could build from scratch in a way that was best suited for the kind of work that I do. It was definitely a blank slate which was fun to work with, but that was also very challenging too. The main direction came from what I did for work and how I wanted the space to enhance that, which you'll see in the video. I definitely invested money into this space, comparable to that of buying a new car, however this is where my business is done within the home and I wanted to optimize my space and my work to become the most efficient person I could be. 'Invested' being the key word here. Additionally, I wanted the home office to look and feel entirely different from the rest of the home, so when I come in here I can truly check-in both physically and mentally to the work I need to do, and when I leave the office I can close the door and check-out as well. This was very important to me because I've had issues separating work and personal life in the past.It's definitely a contemporary, modern space as you'll see. Since working in this office for a little less than a year now, I can definitely say it's working for me and has paid off for sure.With that said, going back to 2009 when I filmed my first home office tour (link below) you definitely do not need to a huge fancy space and spend a lot of money in order to get work done and build a successful business. You just need to be able to have a space to take action and get what you need done, and at the very least be motivated when you get into that space and organized so you can focus less on cleaning up your area, and immediately get into the tasks you need to complete. For those of you interested, here are some elevations of the space which, if you know how to read architectural drawings, directly translate to what you see here in this video:West Facing Wall: https://www.dropbox.com/s/az5jxkubn235hol/Screenshot%202015-02-13%2002.52.00.png?dl=0North Facing Wall: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dzkmlma3ahgfv4d/Screenshot%202015-02-13%2002.53.20.png?dl=0It was quite a trip working on the "other end" of the architectural world this time around. For years it was my job as an architect and drafter to server clients who would hire us for design work, and this time around it was me who was hiring the designer. I think it made my designer's life much easier because I could speak the language and easily read the elevations and plans for the space. Here's who I worked with:CCH Design (I worked with Vanessa - she was awesome!): http://www.cchdesign.com/And finally, other helpful links mentioned in this particular episode:My Office Tour when I was in an apartment (October 16, 2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjvxcoa3iYUMic Flags: http://www.impactpbs.com (no affiliate program, but do mention that Pat sent you!)Audimute Soundproofing: http://www.audimutesoundproofing.comPrinter - HP LaserJet 1102w: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/1102wScanSnap Scanner: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/scansnap5-Minute Journal: http://www.fiveminutejournal.comMuse Brain Sensing Headband: http://www.choosemuse.comThanks again for watching SPI TV! Please subscribe to the channel for another episode coming at you next week. If you haven't noticed already, this month's SPI TV theme is all around productivity. Next week, you'll get my top 5 productivity tools and how I use them to maximize efficiency and increase overall output. 

Have you ever wondered how to write a book…fast? If you’re like me, then sometimes you have trouble with the hardest part - just getting started.Blog posts come easy for me, but when it comes to how to write a book, I used to be completely clueless. If you've ever stared at a blank screen wondering what to write next, you know what I'm talking about. That's how it used to be for me, which is why I have two books that I started which are now collecting virtual dust in my computer. Recently, however, I discovered a method to quickly produce that important first draft. Using the methods that I share with you in this video, I'll show you how to write a book in a way that has enabled me to achieve over 180 words per minute, and 36,000 words within two weeks! I've already completed the first draft of my next book, and I needed to share this method with you too.Of course, there are a lot more steps to take after that first draft, but getting started is the hardest part, and I hope this makes it a little easier for you. Make sure to visit the blog to leave a comment and let me know what the next book you're working on is. Here's the link below:http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/spitv1In next week's episode, you'll get a tour of my brand new home office, so make sure you subscribe! Thanks!

In the inaugural episode of SPI TV, Pat briefly discusses what to expect from the show, how often it will come out, and the best ways for you to get notified of new episodes. Make sure to subscribe to stay up to date with new content that comes out each Friday!