457 - 5 Big Mistakes When Trying to Monetize with a Small Audience

As solopreneurs, so much of what we build is deeply personal. Our businesses are often born from the gaps in our own stories. In this solo episode, I reflect on the recent death of my father and the quiet grief that followed for the connection we never fully had. It made me confront how much of my business drive was rooted in fear and pain. This isn’t a business episode in the traditional sense, but it’s a human one. If you’ve ever built something to feel safe, seen, or in control, I think you’ll find something here. In this episode, I talk about: How grief can show up as ambition, productivity, or perfectionism Why many founders build strong brands from unresolved pain The hidden costs of being self-reliant for too long What it looks like to love someone through action, not nostalgia How to keep creating when the story doesn’t end neatly CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

Watch this talk on YouTube » Entrepreneurs and high achievers like to talk a lot about how to rewrite their life story, especially in the context of their external accomplishments. I've found that growth more happens in the unseen moments - the times of pain, heartache, and the decisions we face that require courage, forgiveness, and presence. When I got the call that my dad was dying, I knew I had to share this story—our story. This is a talk I gave at Growth Now Summit Live, and with special permission from host Justin Schenck, I’m sharing it here. It’s about reconciliation, grief, identity, and the raw, often ugly road to healing. Whether or not you’re navigating loss or family conflict, I hope this message invites you to reconnect—with yourself or someone else—before it’s too late. CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

There's been a lot going on lately, so I thought I'd pop in and give you an update. Sorry I've been missing my podcasts...

If you’re a solopreneur, you already wear every hat: marketing, sales, content, client delivery. But there’s one skill that ties it all together –– persuasion. In this episode, I sit down with Ellin Sidell, Fortune 500 leader-turned-author of The Influence Advantage. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why persuasion is a skill you can master—even if you're introverted or uncomfortable with sales How Ellen got her boss to complete her overdue review using nothing but humor and a fake invoice (true story) What solopreneurs can learn from Costco’s grassroots mentorship program and how to replicate it in your brand The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why both matter for your growth Why self-leadership is your greatest competitive edge in today’s content-heavy world Get Ellin's book, The Influence Advantage » Connect with Ellin: ellinsidell.com LinkedIn  YouTube

Want to build a network that actually works for you — without faking extroversion or burning out? Today, Selena Soo joins me to talk about what it really takes to build a million-dollar network in today’s world. From defining your inner circle to learning how to ask for help, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and hard-won insight. Why introverts can often be great relationship builders—and how Selena leveraged this to create a thriving network The 3-phase framework of building Rich Relationships: Align, Attract, Activate How to sort your network into 6 circles—and why this protects your time, energy, and values The vulnerable story of how Selena ended a million-dollar relationship with a mentor who crossed the line Don’t just listen—put this into action. Get Selena’s free scripts, preview the book, and enter to win $1,000: richrelationshipsbook.com/mikekim Get Selena's book, Rich Relationships, on Amazon here » Connect with Selena: Website - https://www.selenasoo.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selena_soo Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/selenasoo LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenasoo  

Jay Ferrugia has spent over 25 years transforming lives through strength — but not just in the gym. In this episode, we dive into the mindset, discipline, and raw honesty it takes to create real results in any field. Jay shares why playing nice often holds your clients back, how to build trust without people-pleasing, and why authenticity isn’t a brand strategy — it’s a lifestyle. Whether you’re in fitness, business, or the expert space, this conversation will challenge the way you lead and deliver value. Why "being nice" might be sabotaging your client relationships and diluting your authority How to build lasting trust through brutal honesty (delivered with care) What Jay looks for in the first five seconds of meeting a client — and how it predicts success The real difference between information and transformation (and how to create the latter) Why personality fit matters more than marketing when it comes to results and referrals Connect with Jay: Website Instagram Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

Heidi DeCoux is an entrepreneur, tech innovator, and financial literacy advocate. Heidi has successfully built and scaled four businesses with 50%+ profit margins and sold three of them, one of which resulted in a 7-figure exit. In this conversation, Heidi shares some of the most important principles for success. Her latest adventure is launching the tech startup, Cashflowy.ai — a bookkeeping, client invoicing, and cash-flow management smart AI software for small businesses that eliminates the need for a bookkeeper. Heidi is also the founder of Financial Titans — a nonprofit that teaches young people how to start businesses and make their first $500 while learning to think from a first principles, entrepreneurial perspective. 3:26 – You will never figure it out all in your head 4:22 – There is no end so enjoy the journey 6:18 – Everything is figureoutable 10:44 – The dark night of the soul is real 14:25 – Get good at letting go 18:52 – You will rarely make a mistake you won’t recover from 25:00 – Define your relationship with business, money, confrontation Connect with Heidi: Website Cashflowy.ai Instagram Connect with Me: Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

🧰 Get my book, You Are the Brand: https://amzn.to/40Ntc2O If you're a coach worried that AI is replacing human connection or will steal your clients, this is for you. There are two perspectives to what I'm sharing: From me to you, coach to coach: These are five reasons AI cannot replace you as a coach. From you to your clients: Use and adapt these points in your marketing to show why coaching can't be replaced by AI. This will help you position yourself stronger in your market—without giving away your agency and power in the minds of clients and prospects. TIMESTAMPS: 1:10 - Go deeper, not faster 2:55 - You hold space 4:54 - You teach clients how to think, not just what to do 6:57 - Lead with surprise and story 9:01 - Use AI to show up more fully CONNECT WITH ME Website Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook

AI isn’t coming — it’s already here, reshaping the coaching, consulting, and expert industry at a speed that’s catching many off guard. In this episode, I share an unfiltered look at how AI is changing the personal brand space and what you must do right now to stay relevant, trusted, and in demand. This isn’t a tech tutorial — it’s a wake-up call. You don’t need to fear AI… but you do need a plan. 0:57 - Connection is the differentiator 2:25 - The viral AI YouTuber who lost my trust 5:07 - The messenger is more important than the message 6:02 - Your output should be INCREASING 8:23 - U.S. presidential campaigns reveal where content is headed next 11:07 - Publish or perish If you’re a coach, expert, or creator who wants to stay ahead of the curve, this is the episode you can’t afford to skip. 🧰 Get my book, You Are the Brand: https://amzn.to/40Ntc2O CONNECT WITH ME Website: https://mikekim.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekim TikTok - https://tiktok.com/mikekimtv X - https://twitter.com/mikekimtv LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv Facebook - https://facebook.com/mikekimtv

Turning your expertise into real income doesn’t require a massive audience—yet so many people get stuck believing they need one. In this episode, I break down the five biggest mistakes people make when trying to monetize their skills, and I’ll share the simple shifts that can unlock your true earning potential. 0:50 - The single biggest mistake: pricing too low from the start 1:50 - The "traffic from hell" model for pricing 6:08 - Success Hack: always assume people want to work with you 10:05 - Grow your email or struggle forever 15:17 - The pitfalls of underdocumenting your business and life 19:34 - Small, high-caliber events are the best investments 21:36 - The first business I ever attended Connect with Me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Twitter YouTube Follow and Review: I’d love for you to follow me on Apple Podcasts if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Thanks!