Business Models

Want To Survive The Next Recession? (Do This)

April 11, 2023 by Dan Lok

Back in 2020 when the pandemic threw the world economy into a tailspin…

Everyone thought we were in for a world recession…

And while there we did experience some economic turmoil…

Experts are saying that was nothing compared to what’s around the corner.

They say a depression is a very high possibility.

Because recessions tend to happen every 7 years, we’re long overdue for one…

As the last one was the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.

So in this week’s newsletter, I’ll share ways you can prepare and survive the next recession…

And if you’re savvy, make money and expand your business while others contract theirs.

Why Your Mindset is KEY In a Recession

To kick this off, click here to watch this YouTube shorts video to get into the right mindset going into a recession >>

You see, preparing for a recession is all about how you view it.

Most people see a recession as the end of the world, but there’s a small percentage of people who thrive and make more money in a recession.

How To Recession Proof Your Income and Business

In my career, I’ve been through many economic downturns.

And if you look throughout history, recessions actually get shorter and we bounce back faster.

There’s no telling how long the next recession will last, so here are 3 things you can do to prepare for it >>

I truly believe everyone can survive a recession if they’re well prepared.

But you must start as soon as possible.

Recessions affect everyone in different ways, and most people don’t think a recession will affect them, but they’re wrong.

It’s those people who panic when the recession hits, because they weren’t prepared.

They try to fix their situation, but it’s too late.

So let’s assume, you’ve done the things I mention in the video above.

You’ve got one or more skills you can use to make money…

You continue to stack cash and keep it on hand…

And you have a recession proof business.

Another thing you’ll want to do is pay off any outstanding debt.

As interest rates around the world continue to climb, any debt costs you more to service.

Doing these 4 things puts you in a great position to make money during a recession.

As Warren Buffett says “Bad news is an investor’s best friend”…

So, let’s dive into some ways you can take advantage of the upcoming recession and set yourself up for financial success.

How To Make Millions In The Next Recession

The more skills you have, the better chance your business has of surviving.

With the success of your business, ensure you stack as much cash as possible

They say “cash is trash” and normally I’d agree, but in a recession, cash is KING.

You always need cash in case of emergencies.

But when the time comes, you’ll need cash to invest in investments of your choice.

Most people make money from stocks and real estate in a recession.

Why those investments?

Because as people sell to get out of the market to salvage their net worth or pay back debt…

This is the best time to get a bargain.

DISCLAIMER: In no way is this financial advice. You must always do your due diligence before making any type of investment decision and never invest in anything you don’t understand.

Mark Tilbury is someone who’s lived through a few recessions and been very successful at profiting from them.

There are so many great YouTube videos out there on how to prepare and profit from the coming recession.

Feel free to do your own research if you want to dive deeper into this topic.

I’m going to leave you with a longer video, you may like to watch by Valuetainment.

Inside you’ll discover:

A history of the 10 worst American stock market crashes, and how to prepare for the next one…
Why a recession is a good time for you to start a business…
How to make millions in the next recession…
And so much more

Click here to get Patrick Bet David’s market crash strategies >>

To recap, develop your skills, pay off any debt, and stack cash, for emergencies and invest when the time is right.

Recessions come and go, and although they can be challenging, you’re more than capable of weathering this storm and emerging financially stronger.

Until next time, go high ticket,

Dan Lok

P.S. – Your business is one of your biggest assets in a recession.

I have expanded during these contractionary times, and the businesses that follow suit also go on to have major growth once the recession ends.

If you’d like to know how to have consistent $100K months in your business, then click here to watch the Advanced Expert Masterclass >>

You’ll get my 6 steps to 6 figures months and you also discover why most coaches and consultants will NEVER hit $100K per month and so much more.

See you there.

P.P.S. – High ticket mastery is fast approaching…

We go live for 3 full days on January 25-27.

During this event, you’ll get the 3-step process I used to sell over $100 million in coaching and consulting services.

To find out what the 3 steps are and for the full scoop on this phenomenal LIVE event, click here >>

Why Group Coaching Eats 1-on-1 For Breakfast

October 23, 2022 by Dan Lok

Today you’ll discover how to increase your revenue to hit your first $100K or add an extra $100K to your coaching/consulting business.

HEADS UP: If you already run group coaching sessions with amazing results, then the majority of this article won’t apply to you.

So, if you’re looking to scale your business to $100K/month…

Click here to find out why most coaches will NEVER hit $100K/month and how to ensure you do >>

How Group Coaching Saved My Business & My Sanity

When I first started in the coaching space, I’d already had a successful copywriting/consulting business.

So, it didn’t take me long to hit my first $10K month as a coach.

But, that’s where my coaching business stayed for years.

I couldn’t work out how to move beyond $10K.

I’d heard about group coaching before but I had my doubts.

My main concern was not being able to give my clients the attention they needed.

That’s when I discovered the 7 successful coaching and consulting secrets >>

Make sure you pay close attention to models 2 and 3 as they will be most relevant to you if you want to begin or take your group coaching to the next level.

After implementing group coaching into my business, I saw my revenue skyrocket.

That’s no exaggeration.

If you’d like a quick explanation as to why group coaching works so effectively, then click the link below to check out the short podcast episode where I break it all down.

Discover how to leverage your time and make more money with fewer hours and far less effort >>

Because contrary to popular belief, you can make or add $100K to your business without working harder.

And if you’re wondering how many clients you’ll need at your current price point to hit your business goals…

Then I reveal the best way to add $100K in 30 days as a coach or consultant here >>

Each of these links I’m giving you is different, but if you invest a small amount of time today to review them and implement the teachings, I promise you’ll see massive results in your business FAST.

7 Reasons Why Your Clients Will Love Group Coaching

Group coaching is one of the most powerful things you could ever install in your business, for many reasons.
People like being part of a group, even more so, they like being part of a like-minded group of people with similar goals and roadblocks.
Group coaching environments have a greater impact in less time.
Your clients learn the insights and “a-ha” moments of their peers.
It improves accountability.
It can make your services more affordable to a wider range of clients.
With individual coaching, each time you help solve a problem for one of your clients, another client goes through the same problem a few weeks later. You wish you could have had both clients in the same place at the same time.

This is why it makes sense to run group coaching sessions.

But what if you’ve never run group coaching calls before?

I got you covered.

I recorded you a quick podcast episode where I teach you exactly how to run group coaching calls >>

How To Create A Group Coaching Program

Everything you know about creating a coaching program for a client can be applied to creating a group coaching program…

But if the idea of group coaching is new to you, or you already have a group coaching program but you feel it could be improved upon, then click here to watch this video >>

How To Sell Effortlessly By Leveraging “Irresistible Offers”

Group coaching is the holy grail for scaling your coaching business.

But to pull it off you need an irresistible offer.

It doesn’t matter how good your marketing or sales process is if your offer lacks punch.

Your offer must speak to your prospect’s problems.

You want them to think “it’s as if his offer was created just for me”.

Here’s a simple example.

No one can sell meat to a vegan.

It doesn’t matter how good the sales copy is, or how persuasive the salesperson is.

But when vegans see a sign that reads…

“Vegan Food Here” they know the offer was created for them.

The offer is very direct and if the food looks good, they’ll buy it on the spot.

If you want to know how to create an irresistible high ticket offer, then you’ll want to watch this video >>

Here’s another video for creating an irresistible offer that goes into more detail I think you’ll get a lot out of >>

Why It Pays To Have Less Offers In Your Business

I know people who have countless offers in their business.

This may seem like a good idea, but in my experience, it pays to keep things simple.

Now, although my business has evolved and I have many offers now, when you really break it down I’ve got front-end offers and back-end higher ticket offers.

That’s how I’ve always done things, and this video shows you how I built a million dollar coaching business with just two offers >>

The Best People To Sell To (That’ll Pay You $5k, $10k, even $25k)…

Once you’ve created your high ticket offer, and decided on a group coaching model, there’s ONE type of person who will buy from you.

They’ll happily pay you what you’re worth…

They’ll be easy to work with…

They’ll love everything you do and refer their friends to you.

These people won’t give you price objections or take weeks to think about it, and your sales calls will be effortless.

Once you start selling to this specific type of person, your business will NEVER be the same.

If you want to find out exactly who these people are then you’ll want to watch this video right now >>

So now you know how to build a business that pays you tens of thousands extra every year without any extra work, just making a few small tweaks to how you do things.

Even if you implement a fraction of it, you’ll be shocked at what you can accomplish.

Till next time,

Dan Lok

P.S. – If you already run group coaching sessions but want to scale your business to $100K per month and fast then click here to watch my Advanced Expert on-demand training >>

How Do You Know If Your New Business Idea Will Actually Work?

August 24, 2020 by Dan Lok

So you’ve got a big business idea. It could be something you’ve been stewing over for several years. Or it’s a spur-of-the-moment idea you feel you could actually commit to.

Regardless of the stage of your idea, you may be asking:

Am I willing to quit my job to pursue this?
Do I have to sacrifice any money to make this work?
Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

Many times, these fears can be summed up in one question:

How do I know my new business idea will actually work?

Life isn’t built on certainty, and the variables of success are too many to count. If you could ensure your ultimate success early in your entrepreneurial journey, wouldn’t you?

Of course you would.

These steps aren’t part of a mindless checklist. They require intensive research and effort. They’ll also call for a dose of introspection and plenty of thinking time. So if you’re looking for an easy checklist, you’ve come to the wrong place.

But if you’re willing to put in the work to follow through on your business idea, these action items are for you.

The first step is asking the right questions. If you can channel the questions you have in an effective way, you’ll learn to better understand yourself and get a stronger grasp on your business idea.

The second step is putting your business idea to the test. Technology enables you to test the concept behind your business before you go all-in. Using social media and other channels to test your business plan will let you know if you can succeed in the “real” world.

In this article, we’ll hand you the keys to both of these action items. First, we’ll cover some questions you should ask yourself as you think through your business idea. Second, we’ll share some of the best ways we’ve seen entrepreneurs put their ideas to the test.

5 Questions to Ask About Your New Business Idea

1. Why do I want to start this business?

We’re not talking about your business plan here. We’re talking about your why.

The biggest success factor for your new business idea is you. - Dan Lok Click To Tweet

Now is the time to realize if you care about the business or if you’re chasing something else – fame, money, or approval. Fame, money, and approval aren’t bad in themselves. But if you make them your focus, you’re digging a hole for yourself and the business.

Uncovering your “why” —your core business motivation —will be an advantage when you hit tough times. Your “why” will guide you through the challenges every entrepreneur is bound to face.

Take a look at the mission statement for the Disney company:

The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds, and innovative technologies that make ours the world’s premier entertainment company.

Everyone surrounding Walt Disney knew that he was an incredible optimist and a master storyteller. These core motivations haven’t changed since the company’s early days. They impact every movie Disney releases and add the spark of magic people experience at Disney World.

As the founder of your company, this is the same kind of impact that you can have on the lasting legacy of your business.

2. Am I willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen?

Successful businesses rely on a leadership team with total commitment to the company vision.

If you’re not willing to sacrifice a great job, free time, social life, or other things that are important, you may not be ready to launch your business.

There was once a man passionate about duck hunting. He was so passionate that he actually turned down a career in the NFL to follow his vision. He ended up inventing several duck calls, and that’s the beginning of the story of the Duck Dynasty. That man was Phil Robertson, and he and his sons still run this hugely successful company.

Does your business idea have to be your biggest passion? No.

But do you need the inner resolve to push through the hurdles that are sure to come your way? Unquestionably, yes.

Where there’s a will there’s a way, and this resolve increases the chances of your business succeeding.

3. What is the problem my business idea solves?

Let’s face it: not having a problem you can solve with your new business makes success less attainable. We call these pain points. Unless your customers see a way your product can improve their lives, they won’t buy it. Simple as that.

If you don’t know the problem you’re trying to solve or the way your company is making the world a better place, you’ll have no selling point for your product.

If your company is groundbreaking, there’s a chance you’ll have to show people a problem they didn’t know they have. Take Ford Motor company, for example. Henry Ford is famously known for saying

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

Another example of a company that solves a huge problem is GrubHub. The company was started by two developers working for Apartments.com. Working late, they were frustrated with the lack of food options and the constant issue of having to give credit card numbers over the phone.

So they built Grubhub—a directory for restaurants plus a service that allowed people to order food from the comfort of their homes.

This is a problem most busy people had, but everyone just dealt with it. Grubhub posed a solution to a previously unsolved problem for many Americans.

4. How big is the market my business could reach?

Ask questions about the market you want to reach. This approach is simply an extension of the question “What is the problem my business idea solves?”

Let’s take it a little further:

Is this problem something only a certain group of people have?
Is this problem affected by where my customers live?
How many people have this problem?
Will my product be something anybody can access, or does the amount of money they make come into play?

Simply asking these questions means doing substantial market research.

Wouldn’t you want to dive into the research if it meant more money?

There are two ways to make a lot of money:

Sell a high volume of products at a reasonable price.
Sell fewer products at a higher price.

If your target market is small (i.e. entrepreneurs in Chicago with a net worth of over $2M) then your product needs to be worthy of and sell for a higher price point.

On the flip side, if the potential market for your company is large, you’ll need to find some way to convince that market of the value of your product.

5. What strengths and weaknesses do I bring to the table?

What do you think is the most important factor of success in your business?

YOU.

Start now and do some serious self-assessment. You won’t want a personal downfall to mean the demise of your business later on.

When it comes to entrepreneurship, many founders are really good at one or two things. Yet they lack ability in several others.

For example, some entrepreneurs are great at marketing and sales but are chronically disorganized. It pays for them to recognize this and to hire other people to manage the company operations.

Others may be technically skilled but have no concept of how to pitch their product.

If you correctly analyze your business strengths and weaknesses now, you'll do yourself a favor in the long run. - Dan Lok Click To Tweet

The success of Apple had to do with partners who complimented each others’ strengths and weaknesses. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs met while working a summer job.

At the time, Wozniak was building a computer. Jobs, on the other hand, saw its potential to solve a global problem.

Without the insight and business sense Jobs brought to the table, Wozniak probably would never have put the computer on the market. And of course, Jobs would never have had a product without Wozniak’s analytical and technical abilities.

6 Ways to test your New Business Idea

Now that you have gone through the big questions, it’s time to put your big idea to a potential test.

1. Use social media to test your ideas.

Isn’t it funny how one simple post asking a question on Facebook can get hundreds of comments? How quick are people to share their opinion on Twitter?

These are opportunities.

Start sharing the problem you’re solving with your friends. Ask them directly if they would buy the product you’re trying to sell. See if they’re willing to share details about the company you’re trying to build. Ask for their feedback on potential business models or marketing ideas.

If you’re extra adventurous, try starting a Facebook page and running some simple ads to a landing page that explains the product you want to develop.

Chances are if you can get engagement on social media around the idea you’re building a product around, there will also be people who want to invest money in it.

Social media is also a great way to get an idea of other perspectives as you build out your business plan. Just remember to take everything with a grain of salt: not everything people say on social media should be taken to heart.

2. Start a newsletter.

A newsletter about your business idea will have so many benefits. First, you’ll be able to test whether people are willing to make a commitment to your business.

An email is one of the most valuable things you can have when it actually comes time to launch your business. Email gives you direct access to a potential customer who is already invested enough in your idea to give you personal information.

Finally, it’s going to be incredibly valuable to you to regularly share the progress you’re making on your business as you figure out how to build it. You’ll be able to stay accountable to potential customers and get continual feedback as you test and implement your product.

3. Get yourself in front of investors.

What’s one of the best indicators of success? When someone is willing to commit to and invest in whatever you’re building.

You can look for potential investors by networking. You may have already been keeping your eyes open for potential partners in this business venture. If so, offer to take these people out for coffee or pay for their lunch and ask for their advice and ideas.

Use LinkedIn to pitch investors who have been involved in companies similar to yours. Make a point to connect to these people. This way, when you’re ready to ask for investments, you will have a network of people who already know and trust you.

If you don’t want to go the route of traditional investors, you could try crowdfunding. Kickstarter, SeedInvest, and Patreon are several options if you’re going for smaller investors.

Finally, maybe the best option for you will be to create an MVP (a minimum viable product) that you can test on the market for a lesser price than what you eventually want to charge.

This way, you’re already accountable to the market while you’re bringing in the first bit of money you’ll need to grow your business.

Regardless of how you choose to get your initial funding, the basic idea still stands: you won’t know your business can be successful until someone can put their money where their mouth is.

4. Create a survey.

Are you looking to do more market research and understand a bit more about your potential customers before you raise money? No problem.

You can create a quick survey using SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Google Forms, or FormAssembly where people can give you their true opinions about what you’re building.

Ask family and friends to complete the form as a favor to you. You’d be surprised how much they know about you! Then market your survey to a broader group of people.

5. Get an understanding of the financial side.

Do you have any idea how much it’s going to cost to create your product? Or if it’s even reasonable to think you can make money off of it?

How much of the work will you need to outsource? How many employees will you need st a minimum and how experienced do they have to be?

If you don’t feel equipped to do the research on this yourself, flesh out the idea with someone who can give you good advice.

If you can’t make money, your business will ultimately fail.

And it’s better to find that out now rather than to run into a hiccup you could have avoided by doing the proper legwork in advance.

6. Do some background research.

Most people like to call this “researching the competition.”

Know your competition and their successes. The time you invest in this research will be valuable when you’re assessing how to build your business.

Besides, it will let you know if your potential market is saturated or if you have the potential to create a true win.

Here are several tools you can use to research your competition:

Social media profiles. What does a product similar to yours do for an Instagram page? How active are the founding members and C-level employees on social media? Do they run ads on Facebook or Twitter?

Google. Search “Products for (Problem You’re Trying To Solve)” or “(Industry Name) Companies”. Take some time to assess the top pages that come up during your searches. Is your competition spending time creating content around the problem you’re solving? What are they doing to get noticed?

Keyword Tools. Want to know how your business can succeed? Study what people are searching for in your target industry. Keyword tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs allow you to study the analytics of certain search terms in your target industry. With these tools, you can see who consistently ranks for keywords in the space you’re targeting. The companies who are ranking for your target keywords are the ones you should begin to study.

If you’re interested in diving deeper, Dan goes into more detail about the idea in this video.

Wrapping it all up

In the end, you can’t determine the profit of your business by doing the same thing as another entrepreneur. You won’t have a guaranteed path to success by following a set of rules.

Your business will succeed because of your hustle. It’s going to make money because of your determination to keep going.

Finally, your business will power through difficulty with your ability to research, test, and adapt. You can start the process while your business is still in the idea phase.

If you start the process of research today, you’ll set your business up for long-lasting success.

How To Start A Successful Consulting Business

August 5, 2020 by Dan Lok

Thinking about how to start a successful consulting business? You’re not alone. The consulting business industry has been growing for the past several years. In 2017, the global consulting market was forecasted at around 262 billion U.S. dollars. The number of management consultants in the U.S. reached 709,750 in 2019. But how do you start a successful consulting business that stands out from the crowd?

There’s a secret to going from zero to $100,000 to making a million dollars a year. Dan Lok shares these strategies with his students in the High Ticket Closer® Certification Program. In this program, Dan shares all of his lessons learned over the past twenty years. To help you start off in the right direction, we will share one of the most important secrets with you in this article.

Watch this video about successful coaching and consulting secrets.

Relationships, Not Transactions

When thinking about how to start a successful consulting business, you first have to be clear about what it actually takes. What do you think consulting is? You see, consulting is not about transactions and your sales of services. One thing far more important than selling a service is relationship management. Your relationship with the client and how you make them feel is as important as what you sell.

Dan Lok always tells his students – people buy because of what you sell, but they stay with you because of who you are. This means that you need to nurture and strengthen your relationships with clients. This is what distinguishes you from your competition. It’s all about how you made them feel. Often it has way less to do with the quality of your work and much more with the quality of the relationship you built.

If you base your relationship with the clients on the transaction only, you will have a hard time generating consistent income. Money exchanged for service should not be the only thing connecting you with your client. You have to make your clients feel good to make sure they return and recommend you to others. If you only exchange your service for money, how will they get to know you? How will they connect with you?

How to Connect

If you want to know how to start a successful consulting business, you must cultivate transformative relationships. What does that mean? It means that you’re not being seen as a commodity where the client leaves the money and you do the work. Having a transformative relationship means enhancing the business in some meaningful way.

People buy because of what you sell, and they stay because of who you are. -Dan Lok Click To Tweet

But what if you provide technical support and your relationship is mostly transactional? Well, let’s imagine that you help people set up their automated webinars in their funnels. You provide the service and help them with the webinars. All of your interactions are business-related and online or over the phone. But how do you know if the relationship is transactional or transformational?

The tricky part is that you can’t communicate this difference. You can’t ask your client if they experienced a transactional or a transformational relationship. But let’s say you do a good job, and they pay you because they’re satisfied with the service. It’s a pretty good transactional relationship. But what would make this relationship transformational?

Well, as we already said, it’s how you make the client feel that changes the relationship. And how do you affect your client’s feelings? Create an important positive change in their business. If you transform their business in some significant way, you will transform their life and make them feel good.

Transforming A Man Using A Suit

A transformational relationship starts from day one. The first step is figuring out how you view what you do. What does this mean? Well, let’s take a look at a custom suit business.

Let’s imagine a customer comes into your store to get a custom made suit. You take measurements, choose the fabric, and make a suit. This is a very transactional process. However, you could do the same amount of work and get a different result.

Observe your client. Does your client show confidence? Or is there a strong sense of low self-esteem? If a man comes in with low self-confidence and low self-esteem, imagine what a good suit could do for him. You measure him, understand his personality, find out what he does and who he really is. If you do this, you can help bring out his best qualities through your suit.

If you know your client, you can choose the right shade of colors that match his skin tone to give him confidence. You could find the best fit for his form that makes him look confident. Ask him what occasion is the suit for. Is it for a meeting? Paint a picture of a successful meeting for him, and help him see himself differently. Use your experience and expertise to show him an image of his success and confidence in a new suit.

Now, think about what a good suit that makes him feel good could do. Maybe it will help him get promoted in his company? His confidence changes his performance. Your suit could change that man’s life in many other ways, too.

Attract People You Resonate With

It’s the same suit as the one you just measured and made, but this time, you changed someone’s life. You did not just give him a suit – you gave him an opportunity.

Do you see the difference? You don’t want to just make a suit and take the money. What you want to do is change your client’s life or business in some way. If you do this, you will also get a very different type of client. You will attract the people with whom you can resonate.

When thinking about how to start a successful consulting business, think about how you position yourself: are you a commodity or someone who can change a life and transform a business?

Changing Your Mindset

Let’s go back to setting up a webinar for a moment. If you’re setting it up for your client, it is likely transactional. But say that you don’t just set up a webinar. By making it automated, you are saving the client’s time. By saving time and helping the client to make more money, you also give them more time to spend with family or doing something else. This is likely life-changing.

It’s the same if you’re a realtor. You could sell a client a two-bedroom condo near parks and a school and hand over the keys to the new owner. Or you can sell a home – a place where the new owner can watch their kids grow up. It’s a different kind of responsibility to your client.

You see, you don’t even have to do anything different to create a transformational relationship. Your service can stay the same. But your attitude is different. You change your mindset and your belief about your own work.

When you’re still figuring out how to start a successful consulting business, your mindset is the key. In his High Ticket Closer® Certification Program Dan Lok dedicates the first few classes exclusively to mindset. This is because he knows that a person without the right mindset always stays a salesperson and never evolves into a powerful closer. If you don’t have the right mindset, you will not create the success you desire.

How Do You View What You Do?

So what you really need to do is to take a closer look at how you view your own work. How do you feel about what you do? Are you bored with making one suit after the other because it doesn’t make a difference? You might be tired of showing houses to endless potential customers. You could also just be bored with your daily routine and the type of client you work with.

If you feel uninspired, you are most likely forming exclusively transactional relationships. But when you have a different mindset, your client will sense the difference. As a service-based business, you want a long-term relationship, and your clients will sense that. They will feel that you care, and it will shift their attitude towards your business as well.

If you are a lawyer, for example, you’re aware that you don’t just offer trademarking services while filling out a bunch of paperwork. You’re actually protecting the client’s brand. As a realtor, you’re not just helping a client buy a house, you’re helping them find a future for their family. This is the mindset we talk about.

Painting The Picture

So as a transformational consultant, you demonstrate to your client that you care about them more than about money. Your focus is not profit alone. You’re interested in a lifelong relationship. You are interested in positive transformation and making a difference.

As a transformational consultant, you want to impart knowledge to your client, so they get the results they desire. This demonstrates that you care while being unattached to the transactional outcome of your relationship. This will also allow you to set healthy boundaries and not to take it personally if the client doesn’t respond as you imagined.

But how do you actually do this? One simple way that Dan teaches his closers to do this is by painting a picture. This would be the picture of improvements in their business and life after a certain solution is implemented. To figure out what picture to paint, you have to talk less and listen more. Listen to their needs and pain points. Help them imagine what their business will be like if you do something for them.

As you do this, make sure you distinguish between caring about your client’s progress and being attached to the outcome. There are many factors that contribute to their success or failure, and you cannot control that.

Many people can learn from the same mentor, yet each person will have different results. Everyone progresses at different speeds and different levels even if they are learning the same lessons from the same person.

Final Thoughts On How To Start a Successful Consulting Business

It’s easy to charge money for a product or service. That’s what most people do. But to make a high income from consulting, you need to build relationships and offer transformations.

Your client won’t have a transformation if you measure him and then bill him for the custom suit you just made. But if you take the time to make a suit that changes his confidence and changes his life, then you’ve opened the door to a lifelong relationship. You didn’t just create a suit, you created a feeling.

Start by changing your mindset. Show that you care about your client more than the product or service you are selling. When you can offer a transformation, the ripple effect will go beyond your service – it will impact your client’s personal and professional life.

To learn more about starting a successful consulting business, you should consider Dan Lok’s High Ticket Closer® Certification Program. This program is for people interested in evolving into transformational closers and leaders in their field. If you’re serious about creating change in your client’s lives and starting a successful business of your own, click here now.

What You Need To Know Before Starting A Franchise

April 26, 2020 by Dan Lok

Starting a franchise can be a good alternative to starting your own business. Given that most small businesses fail within their first 5 years, starting a franchise comes with a lot less risk. You don’t have to wonder whether or not your business will become successful when starting a franchise, because a well established franchise will already have a history of success. This means you can focus on running the operations of the business, instead of fighting to prevent it from going bankrupt.

However, not everyone is cut out to become a franchisee. Starting a franchise means owning a business that operates within certain boundaries and follows a set system. These guidelines restrict how much freedom and control you have in the business, and in certain cases, may actually harm how successful it will become. If you are the type of person that is more creative, wants to set their own prices or have a voice as to how things should be operated, starting a franchise may not be the best option.

As with all things, there are pros and cons when it comes to starting a franchise or starting your own business. To increase the odds that you will succeed, you need to understand what type of environment allows you to thrive in business. If you’re thinking about starting a franchise, here’s what you need to know before you make a commitment.

Starting a Franchise Allows You To Reduce Your Risk Dramatically

For many business owners, the idea of starting a franchise is an attractive option. Statistics show that 50% of small businesses fail in the first 2 years, with 95% of them failing in their first 5 years. This means that 9/10 businesses will fail in their first 5 years of doing business. As a result, starting a business from scratch is very risky and prone to failure.

This is why most entrepreneurs buy into a franchise and become franchisees. They are buying into an existing system that has a track record of success and is proven to work. And that is why it is so valuable. Because the franchise has already made it past those first few critical years, they’ve already established themselves as a company or brand with a proven reputation. There’s no need to guess whether or not the marketplace will be receptive to what you have to offer – the demand is already there.

On top of using an established company’s reputation as leverage, you’re also able to tap into the resources of the franchising company. Most franchisers have a team of highly trained experts that know what they’re doing and can offer you advice. If you’re new to the world of business or there are certain aspects of the business you’d rather not deal with, the franchise company has a team of people that will handle those tasks for you.

Starting A Franchise Means Buying Into A Proven System

Starting a franchise means buying into the systems that are in place and provided to you. Many entrepreneurs that become franchisers do so because they lack experience on how to operate the business. The offer of becoming a franchisee is enticing, because it allows them to bypass most of their shortcomings and get into what they love to do most – own a profitable business.

Another reason why starting a franchise is so beneficial, is because everything is already laid out for you. The franchise company has already made all the decisions for you ahead of time. These are decisions such as what prices to set your products at, how to run your marketing, and how to operate the business. All you need to do as a franchise business owner, is to follow the plan that’s already laid out for you.

Of course, this means that if you are someone who prefers to have more control over the business, starting a franchise isn’t the best option. You’re better off starting a business from scratch and building it from the ground up.

The Pros and Cons Of Starting a Franchise vs. Starting Your Own Business

For many business owners, the idea of starting a franchise is an attractive option. You dramatically reduce your failure rate, receive a proven system on how to run the business successfully and assistance to help you manage the operations. However, the benefits that make a franchise such an attractive choice are also some of it’s biggest downsides. Many franchises operate under a strict set of guidelines and regulations that do not give their franchisees any leeway. Business owners that want the freedom to run their business the way they want, will find these guidelines suffocating and difficult to follow.

If following rules and guidelines isn’t the type of environment that allows you to thrive, starting your own business is a much better choice. While you may not have access to all of the perks starting a franchise has, it provides you with complete control. This means you have the freedom to set your own prices, offer your own products and change things whenever you feel like it. It also provides you with the option to create your own franchise brand in the future, if your business becomes successful.

If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to minimize their risk, starting a franchise is a more attractive option. It means taking the role of an operator that focuses on executing a system that has been proven to work. However, if following a strict system isn’t what you resonate with, you’re better off starting your own business and being the business owner. Each side has its own pros and cons, which will affect how the business is run.

The Power and Influence Of A Reputable Franchise Brand

When you buy into a franchise and become a franchisee, you are immediately granted a lot of power and influence. A reputable franchise brand has a history of building their reputation and brand, and knows exactly who their audience is. By becoming a franchisee, it means you’re able to leverage the resources of the franchise company to your advantage.

For example, a McDonald’s franchise requires a fee of a million dollars to get started. This is because McDonald’s is literally a money making machine. There’s never a shortage of customers, because it’s a franchise brand that’s well known across the entire world. In fact, it’s so popular that in almost any country you go to, you’re almost guaranteed to find a McDonald’s.

The reason a McDonald’s franchise is so costly, is is because they possess the best system in the world when it comes to selling fast food. Buying into a McDonald’s franchise means buying their reputation, brand name, track record and using it for yourself. They may not serve the tastiest burgers in the world, but they do have some of the best marketing and business operations worldwide.

Starting A Franchise Is A Good Way To Quickly Get Started In Business

A franchise isn’t just a business to help you generate money – it’s a brand that has a number of loyal followers. Becoming a franchisee means tapping into all of the resources that brand or company has to offer. That means you can use their customers, their marketing, their discounts, their coupons and advertisements. And you get access to it all for a monthly royalty. In reality, hiring your own marketing team, running advertisements and coming up with creative marketing campaigns would cost you much more than what you’re paying for.

This is why many entrepreneurs opt into starting a franchise. They understand that becoming a franchisee comes with many perks that they wouldn’t be able to leverage if they started their own business. Instead of waiting 2, 5 or even 10 years before the business picks up, they’re able to immediately tap into these resources and begin profiting as early as day one.

Starting a Franchise Can Come With Many Hidden Fees

Most franchise companies charge their franchisees a monthly royalty fee. This fee can either be a percentage of the profits on a monthly basis, or a flat fee. If you’re thinking about starting a franchise, you should take these fees into consideration as additional expenses.

For some entrepreneurs, the idea of paying a monthly fee is not worth the additional cost in their business. If they possess the skills and knowledge to run their own marketing campaigns and are aware of their market’s needs, there’s no reason for them to buy into a franchise. Most entrepreneurs that become franchisees do so because they want to reduce their risk and leverage the resources of the franchise company. They may not know how to run successful marketing campaigns to attract customers, or simply don’t want to deal with that side of the business. As a result, they don’t mind paying a monthly fee to have someone take care of all of that for them – which is why starting a franchise is an attractive option for them.

On top of a monthly royalty fee, some franchisers also require their franchisees to purchase certain goods or services from the franchiser or affiliated entities. This means that an entrepreneur who does not have a lot of starting capital, may quickly find themselves broke before they’ve even begun to generate profit from the business franchise.

Be aware of all the terms and conditions outlined in the contract when starting a franchise. If you are an entrepreneur who does not possess a lot of business experience, you may find yourself being taken advantage or even exploited by the members of a larger, more powerful corporation. Read the fine print and ensure you understand all of your responsibilities before making a commitment.

A Franchise Is Not Guaranteed To Be Successful

Even though becoming a franchisee comes with many perks, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to succeed. Contrary to what many people believe, even a wildly popular franchise like McDonald’s can fail. In fact, as a franchisee you could do everything by the book perfectly and still fail. This is because there are other variables that are outside of your control.

One of the main reasons why franchises fail is because of location. Just because a franchise is wildly successful in one city, does not necessarily mean it will generate the same results in another. The neighbourhood, the city, what their target audience is and the needs of the marketplace, are all factors you need to account for.

For example, a Chinese take-out franchise may do extremely well in an Eastern country, but do very poorly in a Western one. This is because the needs of the marketplace are different. There may not be that many people that like eating Chinese food in that geographic region. Or maybe Westerners aren’t able to read the menu because it’s all in Chinese – which is a guideline you are forced to follow. All of these factors impact the number of customers you’ll get, which ultimately affect how much revenue you’ll generate.

As with any sort of business opportunity out there, there will always be risks. This is why it’s important to do your research beforehand, and understand how things work before you go in. Don’t make the mistake of assuming a franchise is guaranteed to succeed, because it’s not. A franchise provides you with a proven system that you can leverage to operate your business. However, how successful you will ultimately become, depends on how well you can manage the business and account for the other variables that come into play.

Get Clear On Your Strengths, Weaknesses and Goals

If you’re struggling to decide between starting a franchise or starting your own business, analyze your own strengths and weaknesses. What kind of person are you? What type of environment allows you to thrive? When you are clear on what your strengths and weaknesses are, you’ll be much more likely to succeed. Even if the opportunity to own a McDonald’s franchise is presented to you, if you know that following rules and guidelines isn’t something you can tolerate, there’s no point buying into a franchise brand. Your heart isn’t in the business, which means you’ll start cutting corners and slacking off. And eventually, that’ll lead to your business failing.

Analyzing your own needs and desires is the first step when it comes to succeeding in business. Successful businesses know a business is only as successful as the person who is managing it, which is why billion dollar companies like Microsoft and Apple have competent CEO’s running the company. The founder may not have the skills to run the business, which is why they hire someone who is capable and possesses the skills to do so. Think about your business from the same perspective – whether it’s starting your own business or starting a franchise.

As well, you will also want to think about how your decisions will impact the future. If you have hopes of one day starting a family and passing your business down to your children, starting your own business is the better option. Instead of forcing your children to follow a set structure and guidelines in place, you can provide them with the freedom to run the business the way they want to, in place of your leadership.

Get clear on your strengths, weaknesses and goals, and you’ll dramatically increase your success rate in any business venture.

Your Invitation To The World’s Most Exclusive Advisory Board For Distinguished Entrepreneurs

Starting a business vs. starting a franchise has their own pros and cons. If you’re an entrepreneur who has capital and doesn’t mind following a system, starting a franchise can be very beneficial. Becoming a franchisee allows you to leverage the brand name, reputation and business systems that are provided to you. You’ll dramatically reduce your risk of failure, and do very little management in terms of how to run the business. All the decisions on how to run the franchise will be provided to you by the franchising company. You just need to listen and execute whatever they tell you to do.

However, if you’re the kind of person that doesn’t like being told what to do, you’re better off starting your own business from scratch. You won’t be able to leverage the resources and perks you would get by starting a franchise, but you will have control of the business. You can run it the way you want, set your own prices, and even take days off whenever you feel like it. If you do choose to become a business owner, be aware that the odds are against you.

This is why many entrepreneurs seek out coaches and mentors who have experience running a successful business. By tapping into the knowledge and experience of someone who’s been there and done it, they’re able to dramatically increase their chances of success and achieve results faster than if they did it alone.

Dragon 100 is the world’s most exclusive advisory board for entrepreneurs committed to their business success. Members receive personal mentoring and private lessons from Sifu Dan himself on how they can add 6 or 7 figures to their business in as little as 12 months. Click here to learn more about becoming a Dragon 100 founder today.

6 Things You Need To Know Before Starting A Personal Training Business

March 12, 2020 by Dan Lok

Are you thinking about starting a personal training business? Perhaps you have a passion for fitness. Everyone who knows you bumped into you at least once at your local gym. People trust you when it comes to working out. You’re an authority on the physical transformation process and health. You might find it rewarding to see people transform their bodies. But, is that really what it takes to be a personal trainer?

When thinking about personal training, most people think about fitness. Right? But personal training is a lot more than fitness. It’s about setting goals, providing motivation, giving feedback, and most of all, it’s about accountability. And without any of these, it may be hard to achieve practically anything, not just fitness. This is what you probably already know. Now, what does it take to start a personal training business?

To ensure that you’ll succeed in starting a personal training business, here are 6 things you need to know:

1. Starting Your Personal Training Business With A Plan Is a Must

Before you go ahead and jump right into telling people they should work with you; you need to have a business plan. There are a lot of people starting a personal training business. There’s a lot of competition in this industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts fitness training will grow to 8% by 2024. So what makes you different? Why should people pick you out of so many options?

You need to do your research–tons of it. You have to be as detailed as possible because having a good business plan is going to be the backbone of everything you do. It will give you competitive advantages if you do it right. To get you started, it might help to come up with a vision and mission statement. Think about the core values your business believes in. Identify your personal brand.

Some people might not think these are important when it comes to generating revenue. But others must know how you’re running your business. They want to see what you care about and if you align with their values. Maybe you have an emotional story on why personal fitness is important to you? You’ll gain more clients by sharing more about you and your brand.

“People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe” – Simon Sinek Click To Tweet

Why do you do what you do? What’s in it for them?

The most important topic you need to focus on when starting a personal training business is your clients. They’re going to be the reason you keep running.

You need to always have clients in your mind. Ask yourself:

What niche should you specialize in?
What services do you offer?
Who do you serve specifically?

You need to find out who your ideal clients are and why they would be the right fit for your business. You wouldn’t want to take in anyone (even if they can pay for your services). If you work with the wrong people, you might not meet their expectations. I’m sure you want to avoid complaints as much as possible.

When you find out who your target market is, you’ll know exactly who wants your services. You can refine your services to appeal to them more. It’ll be easier for you to get in front of the people looking for what you have to offer.

Your ideal clients should be people who you know best. You should know all their pain points and the real reason behind why they’re not satisfied with the way they look. When you understand a person well, they will immediately trust you and keep coming back for more.

The Specialties Your Clients Will Come Back For

It’s better if you specialize in some services instead of all things fitness. You can focus on getting great at specific skills so people will see you more as an expert.

When you’re dealing with older clients, there may be some workouts they can’t do that a younger client can. This is where you come in and educate them on what’s best for them. Here is where your specialties will shine. example, maybe you’d like to serve older clients? There are a lot of personal training businesses serving young clients already.

Or perhaps you can focus on helping adults who can’t find the time of the day to squeeze in a workout? This would be an advantage for you. You can learn more about what it’s like in the shoes of a professional athlete, a new mother who wants to stay in shape, or a divorced man who wants to get back into dating.

Another example of specialties could be a skill you’re good at. Maybe you want to teach people how to get the best out of a workout without any equipment–only pure body strength? This would help a lot of people who don’t have a gym membership or any equipment at home. And because of you, they’ll know how to get the most out of a workout with only their body.

Do you see why it’s crucial to specialize in a niche? You’ll be seen as an authority, and you will be able to demand higher rates down the road.

2. Plan on How to Prove Your Clients They Can Trust You

Have you ever had your middle school physical education teacher boss you around on the track field? He yells, “Give me a 1-mile run!” as he starts to blow his dollar store-bought whistle. It’s 8:30 AM on a Monday, and you are not in the mood. You’re only half awake, and it’s too cold to be outside. The sun barely got up, so why should you? You then think to yourself, Who is he to tell me to run? Has he seen himself? I’ve never seen him run. He’s not even in good shape.

This is exactly what goes through people’s minds when they see personal trainers who don’t follow their own advice. It’s harder for clients to trust you if you don’t physically look the part. I don’t mean you have to be the world’s strongest looking person. But if you at least know how to demonstrate the things you’re teaching, you’ll be trustworthy.

You can think of it as if you are your own advertisement.

Certification Is Verification When Starting A Personal Training Business

A great way to prove to people they can trust you is to get certified. Every fitness trainer and training business should have certification to show so that clients will have the ease of mind knowing you’re trained properly.

Find out what certification you should get when starting a personal training business–based on what you’d like to specialize in. You are seen as an expert in the field. Make sure you act like one. Start the relationship with your clients right from the very beginning – with them being confident in you. It proves to them that you have the knowledge and can help produce results.

Additionally, if you’re running your own business, you should learn more about the certifications that’ll help you avoid any lawsuits. There are always possible risks in the fitness industry since you’re dealing with other people’s health and safety. It’s best to protect yourself too.

Invest Time In Educating Yourself More

There’s never a time to stop learning. There’s always something new to gain even though you might think you already know it all. Although former education isn’t required, it’s always better if you want more clients. As a professional, you should never stop learning. Never stop reading and keeping up with the latest fitness trends and news. There will always be opportunities for you to grow.

For example, you can attend another personal trainer’s class. Perhaps there are some things you still need to work on, and other people can do it better? You can go to conventions and conferences. That’s where you’ll network and connect with like-minded people. Think of these as all investments for your business. It’ll make you and your business stronger.

3. Think About The Costs Of Starting A Personal Training Business

Costs and expenses are never easy to think about, especially when you’re starting out. That’s why you need to plan carefully to see what’s right for your budget.

These questions will help you find out how to estimate costs for starting a fitness business:

Will you purchase liability insurance?
Is there going to be another partner involved or other employees?
Are you going to open your own facility or meet with your clients somewhere else?
Do you have to buy any equipment and other supplies?
Have you set aside a budget for advertising and marketing?

You can plan out how you’re going to distribute your budget in these different categories. And depending on your answer, you might or might not have many overhead costs. It mainly depends if you’ll either have your own facility, go to a local fitness center, or work from a home-based gym. Let’s say you meet clients wherever they’d like to meet. You won’t have to spend on rent, utilities, equipment, maintenance, and staff. You’ll only need to spend on gas and liability.

4. Starting a Personal Training Business Shouldn’t Mean Working 24/7

You’ve probably been thinking about how much you should charge your clients. Usually, personal trainers charge clients for each session–an hourly rate. Perhaps you can charge clients more if you have to travel to them? Or you can offer a special promotion to clients if they decide to pay upfront for several sessions?

I can’t tell you exactly how much you should charge because I don’t know what you know. But I do know that the prices may vary depending on the location you’ll be training at. You can see what other personal trainers are charging in the area. If you want to charge clients more, you have to think about the value you’re going to give them. Are you going to provide them with the equipment? Are you going to teach them new skills? What makes you better than anyone else?

Don’t raise your prices without any change to your services. Always find ways to add more value. You can start by giving them advice about their diet or recommend what supplements to use. As you pick up more clients, you can also consider raising your prices. That means your time is more valued to many more people.

Are You A Full-Time Or Part-Time Personal Trainer?

You have to decide how much you’re willing to work without dealing with burnout.

You might be eager to take on as many clients as possible, but remember – you need time for yourself too. Try to get your clients to commit to a consistent schedule. This will allow you some time to operate and grow your business in other ways.

You’ll have to get used to working during hours that people don’t. When clients clock out of work, that’s the time you clock in. You might even have to work early in the morning–before clients get to work. You’ll have more free time in the middle of the day, but be prepared for less time with your family and social life.

Personal trainers may be able to make their own schedule, but if you’re starting a personal training business, you might find yourself committing too much time in hopes of more success. Don’t forget to block out time for your personal interests. I know you might feel guilty about doing it and not working. But taking some time off will improve your performance, and you’ll be able to give your clients your best.

All successful business owners that I personally know spend time reflecting–rejuvenating their minds and body too.

5. Don’t Just Strengthen Your Client, Strengthen The Relationship Also

I mentioned how important it is to learn about your clients earlier, but really, it deserves a whole section itself. Before you even think about taking on a new client, get to know them first. You can ask them:

What are your goals for these personal training sessions?
What do you hope to accomplish with a personal trainer?
How urgent is it for you to reach your goals?

Ask as many questions and get more clarity on what they want. They’ll appreciate you for listening as it shows them you care. Once you discover what your client needs, you’ll know exactly how to deliver your services. Not every client has the same body and goals. It’s your responsibility to find out who they are and what they want.

Sometimes a client wants to focus on gaining muscles instead of losing weight. Some clients might have an injury that you should know about. Some other clients just simply admire you and want to learn from you. When you understand your client’s goals, you can educate them on what to do next. You’ll find out if you’re the right fit for them or not. Sometimes what they’re looking for might be out of your services, and it’s fine turning them down. If you do well in connecting with the client, fewer objections will come up. It’ll be hard for them to say no to you.

Client Relationships Pay Well

Imagine you have 10 loyal clients who pay you well. That’s all you’ll need to at least pay the bills and more. Imagine if you have 10 inconsistent clients, though. You’ll probably be opening your availability to pick up more phone calls and hope you meet your sales goals every month.

There’ll never be a “bad month” if most of your clients are ongoing. You can show your appreciation to clients by checking in with them and see how they’re doing. Ask them if they have any questions or need additional help. You can even give them simple gifts if there’s an occasion.

What’s even better is that if clients like you, they might refer other people to contact you for your services. It won’t be a problem for you to ask them for testimonials either. If more people see how great you are with your clients, they’ll want to work with you.

6. Marketing is Everything When Starting a Personal Training Business

If you don’t have much of a budget for marketing when starting a personal training business, you’ll want to depend on client testimonials and referrals. In other words, word of mouth advertising is your best bet.

It costs almost nothing to do word of mouth. But there’s a trade-off–you have to keep clients happy and produce results. Does that sound fair enough? Another affordable way to market your services is through social media. It’s free to make an account on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Why not leverage it?

You can use social media to attract new customers by offering helpful information and value. Try not to sell. It’s better if you see social media as a place to answer questions and connect with your audience. You can share useful fitness tips and tricks. You’ll likely gain more attention that way. Also, you can offer free sessions at your local gym or community centers. That’ll create some buzz online and increase your profile’s visibility. It’ll even highlight your skills and you could gain new clients if people like what they see.

Networking is something your business can thank you for when you invest time in it. You can either host or attend public events and reach out to other personal trainers who’ve gone through what you’re going through. They might recommend you tools you need to help grow your business faster. Those who are already successful in the field are most likely willing to share some advice and guidance. You’ll avoid some mistakes and make better decisions.

Make Money With Your Website

Don’t just finish making your website and leave it in hopes people will find you. Your website is a powerful tool you can strategically make money with. It’ll require you to be active online and update it frequently. What any good websites need is quality content. The more valuable your content is, the more free traffic you’ll bring. People will start noticing your services if your content is interesting enough.

Even search engines will favor your website by ranking you higher if they see that visitors find your information helpful. Your website will become more accessible to anyone. This will give your business more credibility and authority. You can start by adding a blog to your website and consistently post engaging content. Your audience will feel connected with what you have to offer, and they’ll be more convinced to pay for your services. You’ll do less of the selling.

If you’ve set aside a marketing budget, you can consider running online ads–either through social media, Google, or both. That’ll help your business pop up right in front of your target audience.

Starting a new business is no easy task. If you focus on the right things, in the beginning, you’ll be set for success through the process. That’s why you need to avoid common mistakes other personal trainers make. Making the right decisions will help put your business forward and in front of others.

I want you to be aware that there are a lot of people starting a personal training business, and clients want to find out why they should choose you instead. A good business plan and a strong relationship with your clients will differentiate you. And with the right marketing, people will be familiar with your services across all online platforms. Whatever you do, the key thing to remember is – keep learning. Stay up to date with the latest fitness news and trends. See what other successful business owners are doing to dominate their industry.

If you are still lost in your business planning or need help scaling your business, you can turn to the High Ticket Influencer Program. This program gives business owners and coaches access to exclusive secrets and guidance on how to grow their business to 6-7 figures. You’ll be using the same system and strategies I used for my business too. If you’re really serious and ready to take your work to the next level, then the High Ticket Influencer Program might be for you.