1098. Why I'm Betting on Substack for the Future of Thought Leadership and Books

The way consumers buy has fundamentally changed (and, the businesses that win in 2026 will be the ones that understand why). In this episode, Kelly breaks down the five most important consumer trends shaping buying behavior in 2026 and beyond, and explains how to build your offers, marketing, and sales systems to match where the market is actually going.  This episode will give you insight into long-term shifts in trust, spending habits, personalization, community, and brand values, and how to use them to create predictable, sustainable growth. If you want to scale without burnout, stop chasing trends, and position your business to thrive in the next era, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – 02:20: Why understanding consumer behavior is the real competitive advantage in 2026 02:20 – 06:55:  How subscriptions can attract high-ticket buyers when done right 06:55 – 12:10: How ease of use impacts retention, utilization, and upsells (and, what most businesses are getting wrong about automation).  12:10 – 17:35: How paid communities create faster results and deeper trust... and what's resurging in the new year 17:35 – 23:10: Why personal brand will dominate in 2026 23:10 – 29:40: How personalization increases conversion and lifetime value 29:40 – 34:20: Building systems your team can actually run with The Virtual Business School RESOURCES: Join The Virtual Business School and master predictable sales in 2026: www.go.virtualbusinessschool.com/joinvbs    Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/ 

After a decade of watching platforms rise and fall, trends come and go, and algorithms work against creators, Kelly is breaking down Substack, the platform she didn't expect to love. In this episode, Kelly shares why Substack has quickly become one of the most exciting platforms she's seen for thought leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs who want to monetize depth, not trends. You'll hear the numbers that caught her attention, why smaller audiences are outperforming massive followings, and how Substack creates a rare combination of trust, reach, and ownership that most platforms no longer offer. Kelly also explains how she's using Substack to: Create momentum for her upcoming book, The Sacred Art of Selling Build a passive income stream managed entirely by her team Repurpose years of intellectual property without adding more work Go deeper into thought leadership without diluting core programs If you create long-form content, have years of IP sitting unused, or want a platform that rewards trust over aesthetics, this episode will open your eyes to a different way forward. TIMESTAMPS: 01:11 – 03:15 — Substack stats that actually matter  03:16 – 05:10 — Why smaller audiences are outperforming massive followings 06:51 – 08:40 — Immediate monetization and passive income potential 08:41 – 10:20 — How Kelly is structuring her own free, paid, and founding memberships 10:21 – 12:05 — Using Substack to support a future book launch 12:06 – 13:45 — Repurposing years of unused IP without adding workload 13:46 – 15:40 — Who Substack is best for and how to get started RESOURCES Follow Kelly's newsletter, The Sacred Art of Selling, on Substack: https://kellyroachofficial.substack.com/.  Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/

In this BONUS live training, Kelly Roach walks you through a 5-pillar mind mapping framework for creating your most aligned, impactful, and profitable year yet. You'll learn why time, not talent, money, or hustle, is the ultimate differentiator between where you are now and where you want to go. This training challenges the two extremes entrepreneurs often fall into: over-planning without execution or over-executing without strategy,  and shows you how to bring both into alignment. Kelly explains why congruence with your calling, intentional life architecture, and clarity of vision must come before business goals if you want sustainable growth without burnout. You'll also hear how faith, family, fulfillment, and finances can coexist, and why your business should fuel your life, not compete with it. This episode is a foundational listen if you're ready to stop grinding and start designing a business that supports your purpose, priorities, and your next million-dollar breakthrough. Timestamps:  03:31 – 07:45: The real constraint in business 07:46 – 12:30: Over-Planning vs Over-Executing (and, finding the sweet spot)  12:31 – 18:45: 5 pillars of million-dollar breakthroughs (overview) 18:46 – 27:30: Aligning Your Business with God's Calling, Your Gifts, and Your Identity 27:31 – 35:15:  The Five Fs: Faith, Family, Fitness, Freedom, Fulfillment, Finances 35:16 – 41:45: Clarity, Purpose, Priorities, and Values  41:46 – 47:30: Why Fewer Goals Create Bigger Results (And, The Power of the Big Three) 47:31 – 52:15: Daily Reps, Metrics, and Sustainable Momentum 52:16 – 56:00:  Invitation to Strategic Planning Intensive Resources:  Join me on Friday, December 19th for my live Strategic Planning Session to map out your million-dollar game plan for 2026 (and get your 2026 Unstoppable Business Planning Tool included with your purchase): https://thekellyroach.com/2026planner  Can't swing the session? Grab your 2026 Unstoppable Planner here: https://unstoppableplanner.myshopify.com/products/2026-unstoppable-planner  Follow Kelly on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/  

After running the Legacy Leaders Mastermind for over a decade, Kelly is making one of her boldest strategic evolutions yet.  In today's episode, Kelly pulls back the curtain on what's changing inside Legacy Leaders for 2026 and why these shifts reveal powerful lessons every entrepreneur can apply to their own offers, teams, and growth strategy. You'll hear how feedback loops from elite clients sparked the creation of a team-level mastermind for COOs, CMOs, and senior leaders — a move designed to accelerate growth, increase profitability, and eliminate founder dependency at scale. This episode is a masterclass in: Scaling through people, not pressure Using pilot programs to test innovation responsibly Designing offers that align with mission, not just market demand Whether you lead a million-dollar business or are building toward that level, this conversation will challenge how you think about masterminds, mentorship, team development, and long-term legacy. TIMESTAMPS 01:31 – 03:45: Why evolution is non-negotiable 03:46 – 06:10: The biggest mastermind problem elite entrepreneurs face 06:11 – 08:40: Your most underused growth asset in business 08:41 – 11:15: The new Team Leaders Mastermind: COOs, CMOs & right-hand leaders 11:16 – 13:30:  Breaking founder dependency 13:31 – 15:40: Using pilot programs to innovate without overcommitting 15:41 – 17:20: Aligning new offers with mission (and when to say no) 17:21 – 18:50: What you can't see when you're inside your own business 18:51 – 21:00: How to apply these lessons to your offers + next steps RESOURCES Watch the 2–10 Million Dollar Roadmap Training: https://accelerator.virtualbusinessschool.com/info-session  Legacy Leaders Mastermind program overview & Application: https://join.thebusinessadvisory.com/join  Grab your ticket and join us at the Legacy Leaders In-Person Mstermind Retreat, happening March 10th and 11th in Boca Raton, Florida: https://advancesociety.org/2026rsvp  Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/ 

In this episode, Kelly sits down with Maria Fontana, an integrative healing, mindset + lifestyle strategist and author who isdedicated to helping individuals elevate their lives, habits, and wellness. Maria has spent nearly four decades building businesses, reinventing herself, and helping others cultivate success while prioritizing faith, family, and personal fulfillment. In this episode, Kelly and Maria discuss:  How to stay grounded and aligned while scaling a business to 7-figures and beyond Lessons learned in 2025 to set yourself up for a successful 2026 The pitfalls of chasing shortcuts in business and the power of consistency The importance of faith, mindfulness, and soul-centered practices in leadership The Mindset and Alignment Collective, and how it's different from typical personal development programs This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, and high-achievers who want to grow their business without sacrificing purpose, wellness, or faith. Timestamps 01:09 – 02:40: Maria's faith-driven approach to entrepreneurship 02:40 – 05:30: Lessons from 2025: flexibility, grace, wellness, and self-care 05:30 – 08:13: Why longevity in business depends on mental, spiritual, and emotional health 15:15 – 18:16: The launch of Maria's new offer & community approach 18:16 – 21:46: Success with Virtual Business School & VBS Gold 21:46 – 26:14: Minimalism, freedom, and keeping the main thing the main thing 26:14 – 29:06: Maria's faith practices, connecting to God, and spiritual grounding Resources Claim your 7-day FREE trial of The Mindset and Alignment Collective at https://www.mariafontana.com. Learn Kelly's simple sales system inside The Virtual Business School Membership to build trust and close sales consistently and predictably, for just $97/month, no contract: https://go.virtualbusinessschool.com/joinvbs  For more business strategy directly to your inbox, oin Kelly's FREE weekly email newsletter: https://kellyroachinternational.kit.com/news  Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/    

In this episode, Kelly pulls back the curtain on what she's learned building a business alongside her 11-year-old daughter.  From reviving a dormant brand, to designing a simple, integrity-driven business model, to teaching Madison how to follow the Miracle Hour strategy and generate sales with a simple approach, this episode proves one thing: Your business is only as complicated as you make it. Kelly shares the behind-the-scenes process of growing The Courage Club organically without ads, funnels, launches, or complexity (while navigating a year of consolidation, white space, and spiritual obedience). You'll learn: • How to build a low-overhead, high-impact recurring revenue stream • The #1 place business owners lose the most money • How Madison is using the Miracle Hour to sell memberships herself • How to grow trust-building offers without launching If you're a busienss owner or leader craving a simpler and more profitable path, this episode offers the clarity you need going into 2026. TIMESTAMPS:  01:25 – 05:20: The origin story of Give Her Courage and the early years of building the brand 05:20 – 08:10: Why Kelly and her partner decided to pause and restructure the company 08:10 – 11:40: Reimagining The Courage Club alongside Madison and relaunching from zero 11:40 – 15:05: What The Courage Club teaches girls ages 7–14 and how the program works 15:05 – 18:20: Behind the scenes: Madison's leadership role, calls, and community building 18:20 – 21:50: Homeschooling, divine timing, and why Kelly created more white space in 2025 21:50 – 25:20: Revenue goals for the club and teaching Madison retention, belonging, and follow-up 25:20 – 28:40: The moment Kelly realized the Miracle Hour is so simple an 11-year-old can do it 28:40 – 31:30: Lessons learned from dissolving her outside sales team and returning to simplicity 31:30 – 33:45 Why trust-building offers don't require launches, ads, or funnels to scale 33:45 – 35:20: The power of follow-up and why entrepreneurs lose the most money here Resources:  Join The Courage Club: https://thecourageousbrand.com/  Check out The Courage Club's Sponsorship opportunities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XgsYmkmc7C5txLbbEY7QGG0D5LHpT5EO/view?usp=sharing  Learn Kelly's simple Dream 1000 and Miracle Hour sales system inside The Virtual Business School Membership for just $97/month, no contract: https://go.virtualbusinessschool.com/joinvbs  For more business strategy directly to your inbox, oin Kelly's FREE weekly email newsletter: https://kellyroachinternational.kit.com/news  Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/ 

In today's episode, Kelly tears down one of the biggest myths in the online business world: that revenue is the ultimate marker of success. She explains why revenue on its own is an incomplete (and often misleading) measure, and why retention, reconversion, revenue quality, and gross margin are the real drivers of a sustainable, profitable business. You'll learn how two businesses with the same revenue can have a 5× difference in take-home income, why so many entrepreneurs unknowingly sabotage their profitability in pursuit of "more," and how to set deeply aligned, purposeful income and impact goals for 2026. Kelly also breaks down "The Four R's," the levers that expert-level business owners use to increase margins without increasing workload, and why this is the path to more peace, more profit, and more purpose in the coming year. TIMESTAMPS: 00:28 – 02:30 — How revenue fixation developed & the missing conversation around revenue quality 06:10 – 07:12 — The danger of chasing external revenue benchmarks 07:12 – 09:00 — The wild variance in take-home income at the same revenue level 09:00 – 10:40 — The hidden cost of constant revenue pursuit & why margin matters 12:15 – 13:56 — The 5X income opportunity hiding in your existing business 13:56 – 15:15 — The Four R's: Retention, Renewals, Referrals & Reactivations 15:15 – 17:00 — Why new customer acquisition is the least profitable path 18:20 – 19:30 — Reconversions: your lifetime value multiplier 19:30 – 20:30 — How mature CEOs vs. novice CEOs think about growth 20:30 – 21:20 — Permission to take a "season of excellence" instead of constant scaling RESOURCES: Learn more about our Virtual Business School Gold program, where we teach our Multiplier Method to increase customer lifetime value and scale while growing profits: https://go.virtualbusinessschool.com/gold Have questions about the program? Email Nicole, our program director, at nicole@kellyroachinternational.  Join Kelly's FREE weekly email newsletter: https://kellyroachinternational.kit.com/news  Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/ 

In this short but powerful episode, Kelly breaks down the five most important ways you should be using client results, wins, and testimonials to drive authority, visibility, and sales in 2026. With a trust recession impacting every corner of the online business space, consumer confidence is at an all-time low, which means your clients' voices now matter more than your own. Kelly explains how the brands that continue to grow in 2026 will be the ones who put results front and center and use social proof intentionally across all channels. You'll learn: Why fewer online marketers shared wins in 2025 The core mistakes most businesses make with testimonials The 5 strategic placements to use wins for maximum impact How to operationalize social proof into weekly marketing How to turn books into passive funnels for trust-building offers Plus: Kelly shares how her team transformed their approach to social proof this year — and why doubling down on client results became one of the most profitable decisions they made. TIMESTAMPS 01:20–02:04 — Why many marketers struggled to produce client results this year 02:04–02:40 — Why your clients' voices carry more weight than your own 02:40–03:15 — The role online reviews play in visibility and discovery 03:15–04:10 — The 5 strategic opportunities to revive and use client stories 04:10–05:20 — Using stories to consistently show wins + case studies 06:36–08:00 — Various formats for showcasing social proof 09:10–10:15 — Testimonials and videos in launch countdown timer 10:15–11:48 — Using the half-day workshop framework with curated testimonials 11:48–13:42 —  Using UGC to sell books + why book sales are true passive income 13:42–14:58 — How book reviews fuel authority and trust-building offers 14:58–15:46 — Online reviews as an algorithm driver 15:46–16:10 — Join the free, live workshop on December 2nd to build your daily sales machine RESOURCES:  Join my free, live half-day workshop to build your daily sales machine for 2026: https://accelerator.virtualbusinessschool.com/register-b  Join The Virtual Business School membership for just $97/month, no contract: https://go.virtualbusinessschool.com/joinvbs  Grab a copy of one of Kelly's best-selling books: Unstoppable: 9 Principles for Unlimited Success in Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-Principles-Unlimited-Success-Business/dp/1530131154  Bigger Than You: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Building an Unstoppable Team https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Than-You-Entrepreneurs-Unstoppable/dp/172758726X  Audiobook version (on sale for $7!): https://books.thebusinessadvisory.com/audiobooksocial7  Conviction Marketing: https://www.amazon.com/Conviction-Marketing-Kelly-Roach/dp/B09S259DWK  Follow along behind the scenes of Kelly's 5th book, The Sacred Art of Selling: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/i9TP7QImQWj1R6UrLfM5 

In today's episode of The Kelly Roach Show, Kelly shares five powerful lessons about human behavior, motivation, ownership, and performance — inspired by helping her daughter Madison set up a Greenlight debit card for kids. What started as a financial literacy experiment quickly became a breakthrough in responsibility, autonomy, and goal achievement, and the lessons translate directly into leadership, compensation, team motivation, and business growth. Inside this episode, you'll learn: How ownership transforms motivation in both children and teams Why showing (not telling) accelerates buy-in and action How to create immediacy & momentum through small wins How to reset your team compensation/incentives for 2026 The leadership habits Kelly uses weekly to build a self-led, high-agency team If you want a team that takes ownership, stays motivated, performs at a high level, and drives results without constant oversight — this episode is your blueprint. Timestamps 01:00 – 01:57 — Introducing the Greenlight card and financial literacy 03:17 – 04:31 — Why teaching financial literacy matters more than giving gifts 05:56 – 07:14 — Why year-end compensation reviews matter 07:14 – 08:22 — Incentives, owner's pay, and resetting your own compensation 08:22 – 09:10 — 3 critical lessons I learned from the Greenlight card 11:28 – 13:00 — Madison's 400-member goal and sponsorship plan 14:15 – 15:30 — Designing roles based on profitable pursuits 15:30 – 17:00 — Linking goals to metrics: where most business owners go wrong 20:31 – 21:31 — The danger of letting things fall off the radar 24:45 – 26:22 — The "golden ticket" for 2026 success Resources The Greenlight Card, a financial literacy app and debit card for kids: https://greenlight.com/main/learn-more  Learn more about The Courage Club: https://courageclubforgirls.com/  Steal Kelly's Miracle Hour and Dream 1000 strategy inside The Virtual Business School: go.virtualbusinessschool.com/joinvbs Subscribe to Kelly's FREE weekly email newsletter: https://kellyroachinternational.kit.com/news Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/ Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/ Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/    

In this episode, Kelly breaks down how signature systems can transform your business into a scalable, high-authority brand that increases conversions, clarity, perceived value, and lifetime customer retention. She shares examples of how her own signature systems and key frameworks have evolved into books, programs, agencies, trust-building offers, and multi-seven and eight-figure revenue channels. In this episode, you'll learn: What a signature system actually is - and how they enable scale beyond what you can personally deliver Why buyers are more likely to purchase when they understand the process, and why consumers today want structure and personalization Why having a defined, branded methodology increases conversions - and 11 ways to monetize your signature systems. If you want to increase revenue and lifetime value without creating a ton of new products, this episode is your blueprint. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – 01:20: Why Kelly created this training and the problem many entrepreneurs face when the market doesn't "get" their offers yet. 03:10 – 05:45: Why signature systems increase sales: the psychology of consumer decision-making and the data behind it. 05:45 – 07:30: How a signature system simplifies your offer so the market understands it faster—leading to higher perceived value and price elasticity. 07:30 – 09:10: Modern buyers want customization + systemization (and a framework gives them both).  09:10 – 11:00: How signature systems differentiate you in a noisy market and elevate brand authority. 11:00 – 13:00: The four phases of defining, naming, visualizing, and structuring your system for delivery and scaling. 13:00 – 15:40: How signature systems help customers self-identify when it's time to move into your next offer. 15:40 – 18:00: The 11 ways to monetize a single signature system, from courses to corporate training to licensing. RESOURCES Purchase the Signature System mini-course replays for just $197 and learn how to turn your offer into a branded framework tah sells itself: https://go.virtualbusinessschool.com/signature   Learn more about working with Kelly's team: https://kellyroachinternational.com/  Join Kelly's FREE weekly email newsletter: https://kellyroachinternational.kit.com/news  Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyroachofficial/  Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.roach.520/  Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/