7 Counter-Intuitive Lessons From 7 Years in Business

🏜 We're officially in a trust desert, people. Your future buyers still want to buy, sure. But, the times are a changin' and to keep up, we need to level up. Here's just a few of the changes in the online business landscape that have accelerated over the past 12 months: 🤠 We're all super aware that there are cowboys in the industry, and many of us have been burnt by them;💸 We don't have as much free cash to splash, and we're super wary of ensuring it goes to the right person for the job; 🤖 AI is advancing at a clip, and we're craving a unique perspective and a human to lead us; 💅🏼 The industry is becoming more sophisticated, and in a buyers market we're spoilt for choice; and📈 Buying cycles are getting longer, as people stop responding to direct response marketing and instead are taking their time to make sure a purchase is the right one for them. All of these changes have led to the "perfect storm"; one where the online business landscape is fast being split down the middle into two clear camps: The first? Those willing to do what it takes to develop trust. And the second? Those still clinging onto the old ways of doing business, and wondering why it isn't working anymore. In today's podcast episode, I'm breaking down what this trust desert is and five things to consider to ensure that you don't get left behind. Here's a summary of points covered: 1) Touchpoints: The need for more touchpoints to build rapport with audience prior to purchase. 2) Audience: The increasing importance of audience and community. 3) Middle of Funnel: The non-negotiable need for a middle of funnel content channel. 4) Thought Leadership: Why how to content no longer cuts it. 5) Catering to Longer Buying Cycles: Why multiple touchpoints are needed to achieve a benchmark CVR. If you need help with developing trust with a robust traffic system for developing traffic and building trust with them, you need Traffic Playbook! This is a full course included in Lifestyle Business School, and also able to be purchased separately. To check it out, click here. Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

In the past month, I experienced the “tipping point” in the leveraged business model I started building out from scratch 12 months ago.All leveraged expertise-based models have them, IF YOU KNOW TO STICK WITH IT LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO THE MAGIC ✨But, this isn’t always in line with the rhetoric online. We hear of “quick wins”, “six figure launches” straight out of the gate and unicorns who build their dream business in a year. And sure, with some business models, that may actually be possible. Take a service-based or freelancer business model for instance. You can build it in a day, book yourself out in a week and be making $10k in a month. The trade off? That the revenue comes at the expense of your time.. forever. When you’re creating a leveraged business model that ultimately gives you compounding revenue, high profit margins and MORE time back as time goes on, it’s different. There’s the decision to start.Then, the build.And then FINALLY, the tipping point. The tipping point is the inflection point where the work you have done up until that point starts to compound and snowball. Your revenue starts to really increase. Your time and the energetic lift starts to decrease. And all of the hard work starts to pay off.But, it’s a process, and it’s in NO WAY instant. I think being more honest about this is only going to serve people, because they might then have more realistic expectations, stay in it for the long run and actually start to see the fruits of their labour over time. In today’s podcast episode, I am going to share a little about that process. I’ve followed this exact same process now for three iterations of my business.. and it’s the SAME EVERY TIME.Podcast Episodes Referenced:Ep 185: ❤️‍🔥😍 Sexy Budgeting, Finances and PROFIT for Online Business OwnersEp 262: How to Make $500k Within 24 Months With a $2k Offer (Detailed Step by Step)Ep 253: Engineering Alignment: Building an Offer That Sparks Joy, Lights You Up and Brings Happy to Your DayWant more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

It’s official ONE WEEK until my 7th business birthday (and my ACTUAL birthday! 🎈), so I thought it a good time to reflect on 7 lessons I’ve learnt from 7 years in business. Here goes!1️⃣ It’s okay to leave money on the table. 2️⃣ Traditional business advice might not apply. 3️⃣ There isn’t one right way of doing business. 4️⃣ Everything is a solvable problem. 5️⃣ Take the action and the outcome will (eventually) take care of itself.6️⃣ On indecision. 7️⃣ Make your success a habit. Read the full blogpost here.Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

⏰ PSA: The price for Lifestyle Business School increases by up to $900USD in 24 hours, and we have just added a new super accessible payment plan. Click here. This is a business strategy podcast Q+A, where I am answering some JUICY questions. Let’s call it a big ‘ol business strategy sesh! I answer: ➡️ I am a creative and I want to expand my clients/audience with a leveraged offer like a digital course or products. What is the best way to do this?➡️ I want to create a low cost digital product, around $30. Can I be successful with this? ➡️ I have a specialised niche and I want to create something lower cost to serve them. Should I? ➡️ How much time do you need to dedicate each week to build a successful lifestyle business?And more!These are some of the questions that have been coming through as we prepare to close the doors on the current price, extended time bonus and all of the other special bonuses. Whether you are thinking about joining Lifestyle Business School, or you simply love a good strategy jam sesh – this is for you!Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

I’m launching this week (could you tell? 😆) In the lead up, I committed to something that I have been going back and forth on for literal MONTHS:Switching Lifestyle Business School from LIMITED TIME ACCESS (one year) to UNLIMITED ACCESS (for as long as the course exists). It’s a nuanced decision, and I still don’t know what the right answer is. But intuitively, I really felt a pull to test it — and so, a week ago I pulled the trigger. So in today's podcast I'll be talking about the pros and cons, why I’m testing it for this launch and why I’m actually not 100% committed that there is one “right” way — yet. I will test it, see what the data says, and decide from there. And PS — if you have been thinking about joining Lifestyle Business School, this MAY be the only time I offer unlimited access (it will depend on the outcome of my experiment offering it!) So, now is the time.---RIGHT NOW, in this launch, you can join Lifestyle Business School and get access to curriculum for as long as the program exists. So, now is the time to join if its been on your mind because this is ONE BIG EXPERIMENT that you will get to hugely benefit from. Join now before doors to this offer close and the price increases on 31 October. Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

Today, we are going to walk through the EXACT steps for growing a leveraged, expertise-based online offer to a very specific revenue amount. I want to make this really practical for you, so I will be specific with the numbers: The goal? Get to a replicable $500k year with a $2k offer. The first year is set up, the second year is going to be where we make it happen. Both are important – and I will explain why knowing THAT is important, too. And PS -- this isn’t even a hypothetical either, because this mock scenario closely mimics my EXACT path over the past 12 months of rebuilding my business. So, here goes! Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.Over the past two years, I have realigned, re-imagined and re-built my seven-figure business from the ground up to deliver high profits, working 5-hour days and with 400% more creative fulfillment on the daily.It’s not hype – it’s the truth. And, it seems that many are following suit. It’s nice to be a trailblazer, and at the same time I feel compelled right now to transparently share what I’ve learnt. I’m hosting a free class later this month that I have been working on for weeks, and in today’s podcast episode I am sharing with you:The shifts I have made in the last 12 months, and how it feels to be on the other side; The changes and price increase coming to Lifestyle Business School, and how you can get in before it happens;The five checkpoints to move through to build out the system for a leveraged business, and why you need them all in place prior to focusing on growth; My thoughts on multiple offers and when the right time is to expand; The system I used whilst traveling to simplify my growth and how it worked to focus my energy, effort and output and to achieve my goals without working more.All about my brand new masterclass on 24 October: The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

Want to retire early in 10 years, and live on $80k forever? With a lifestyle business, you can. [Read the full blog post here].People want a quick win, and the industry sells the pipedream of a gazillion dollars in two seconds.. but if you’re willing to develop the skill of being a course creator?A LOT can happen in 10 years ⌛️A. LOT.Here’s the cliff notes: Invest $10k a month from the profits of your high cashflow online course business for 10 years (instead of spending it on Gucci bags, a big team or lifestyle creep). At year ten, you can retire with $2m in the bank. You’ll take $80k a year for the rest of your life without depleting the balance. Here’s your road map for retiring in 10 years, if you start today 🗺️:1️⃣ Commit to developing the skill of being a course creator. Create one flagship course.2️⃣ Develop your skills to sell 300 a year at $1000 each. That’s $200 - $300k. Spend one third of that on expenses/tax, a third on your salary and set a third aside ($120k a year).3️⃣ Invest the one third you set aside into assets (eg stocks, property). In ten years assuming a 10% average annual return, you’ll have over $2million.4️⃣ At this point, you’ll have the option to retire early. Spend 4% a year each year after that forever and you’ll have $80,000 in annual income without depleting the balance (Google the 4% rule).5️⃣ But if you do it right? You’ll probably still be loving what you do so much you don’t even WANT to stop anyway.This, my friends, is what it means to build a lifestyle business.Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

In the past 12 months, I’ve created 8 online courses. That’s 680 lessons, according to my course platform. [Read the full blog post here].It’s all been part of a grand master plan I hatched in mid-2023 to build out the complete operating system for building a leveraged, expertise-based lifestyle business.The eight courses are designed with that specific endgame in mind. Here’s a summary: Lifestyle Business School Roadmap: This is the overarching roadmap for mapping and tracking your progress to your personal endgame. Dream and Design: Design the leveraged expertise-based business model that satisfies the Monday Morning test and feels just right for you. Create and Validate: Build a simple, leveraged expertise-based offer suite (and the engaged lead list to sell it) in 12-weeks. Deliver and Delight: The full delivery playbook for building out a stand out and streamlined online course, group program, membership or mastermind. Rinse and Repeat: The ultimate collective of every live launch and promotion under the sun. Traffic Playbook: Develop and execute a simple but sophisticated marketing plan to sell your scalable offers. Automate and Accelerate: Build out a fully automated system of cascading campaigns to sell your offers on autopilot.. while you sleep. [Not currently included in Lifestyle Business School] Operational Elegance: The full back end blueprint for running your online business including systems, structure and streamlined processes to simplify, scale.. or step back!Here’s why it was important to me, though. When I looked around, I saw too much piecemeal advice. “Implement this strategy for success!” – one course would say.“Do this and get your next 1000 followers!” – another would say.  The truth is, everything worked (if implemented). But, the advice was piecemeal.They were tactics, when ultimately what someone needs to build a successful leveraged lifestyle business is a simple, holistic strategy, and a clear map with all of the pieces laid out in order. That’s what I have created in Lifestyle Business School. Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

To get sales, you need leads!To get leads, you need traffic! So, how do you get it? What’s working now? [Read the full blog post here].The truth is, times have changed. The landscape is crowded. Ads are costly. And getting attention feels about as easy as screaming to a band to pull you up on stage in the middle of a rock concert. So let me lift the lid on how I do it, and what’s working right now. Want more?📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter: For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast: With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now. 🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today. 📲 Instagram:Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_