The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

We all know it’s smart to save and invest for retirement, right? But what happens if you reach 65, having sacrificed your health and relationships to hit an arbitrary number in your account? Here's the thing. The traditional idea of retirement might not work for you. In fact, the system might be broken and was never designed to truly reward you for your contribution in the first place. That's why we're challenging the norm in today's powerful episode with my guest, Derek Coburn. His book Let's Retire Retirement, co-authored with Sara Stibitz, offers a game-changing mindset shift for building a secure financial future without compromising your present. Derek has the numbers to back him up and makes an incredible case for designing a career knowing you'll probably work beyond the age of 65. Listen in because understanding this might free up your income and enable you to enjoy life right now! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session897.

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#896 If I were starting over today, how would I build an audience and business from scratch? Someone asked me this question at my Card Party event in Seattle, and it really got me thinking. If you're undecided about your first steps, join me for this episode to hear my answer and unlock a possible roadmap to success! So, what is the top opportunity for beginner creators right now? First, the biggest lesson is to pick a single strategy and run with it. That's because anything can work, but if you try doing everything at once, nothing will. That said, my tactic of choice would be focusing on creating and publishing short-form videos daily. I'll tell you exactly why this is an awesome way to fast-track learning and growth in today's session. So, listen in to get the blueprint I'd use on platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok to set myself up for major wins! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session896.

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#895 I'm a New York Times bestselling author! This is thanks to my new book, Lean Learning, and a massive pre-launch promotional effort. So, what's changed in my life since earning this prestigious badge? Almost nothing. But writing books is still worth it, and I'll tell you exactly why in today's episode. I'll also share the strategies to help you unlock the true benefits of becoming an author. Importantly, I also want to help you succeed without getting sidetracked by goals that won't move the needle for your brand and business! Listen in to hear what traditional publishers will and won't do for you and why I wouldn't go down this route again. I'll discuss the BILF, books-in-lieu-of-fee, tactic that enabled me to move copies and build relationships around this release. I'll also dive into the promotional methods I've been using since Superfans and Will It Fly? that are still delivering massive results today. Tune in! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session895.

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#894 Do you own your business, or does your business own you? As entrepreneurs, we're no strangers to long hours building our brands and serving others. But what if you could stop trading your time for money and start building true freedom instead? In this episode, I’m excited to dive into the ins and outs of becoming a lifestyle investor. My guest, Justin Donald, will define this term for us and share the top ways he's built wealth by focusing on niche assets. Listen in if you're stuck grinding because this chat will open your eyes to what's possible! Justin and I discuss finding and taking advantage of emerging trends, the types of opportunities to focus on as a beginner, why you should say no to most deals, and the entrepreneur mindset that can lead to trouble as an investor. Join us for an inspiring conversation on building truly passive income! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session894.

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#893 I used to doubt the value of short-form content for serious brand building, but I was way off. Diving in and giving it a real chance has completely changed my mind! In this episode, I'll share an awesome update on Short Pocket Monster. This is the experimental Shorts channel I started in the Pokémon space to see if this format was worth it for entrepreneurs. Millions of subscribers and hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue later, short-form content has been an incredible boost to my business! I'll break down my exact process to help you follow in my footsteps without all the trial and error. From building a series that keeps people coming back to repurposing videos across multiple platforms, I'll share all the strategies that worked. My editing time is down to twelve minutes per video, so you don't have to put in long hours for this to take off. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session893.

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#892 Our virtual fatigue has brought live events back in a big way. Whether it's a dozen people in a coffee shop or thousands in a convention center, you too can bring your followers together and foster real connections! In this episode, I break down everything I’ve learned from hosting events of all sizes. From mastermind meetups to Card Party, my massive Pokémon event, I share the numbers behind what worked and what didn’t. I've spent everything from $47 for coffee and pastries to six figures bringing people together, and all these events were worth it! That said, listen in on today's session to avoid the hosting mistakes that can cost you! I discuss how to start small and then scale to uplevel your brand and revenue. I dive into the logistics of face-to-face meetups and share my blueprint to help you succeed and unlock the hidden benefits of live events! Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session892.

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#891 I went from a terrified first-time speaker in 2011 to standing on over 350 stages. I've also earned more than half a million dollars in speaking fees and had priceless networking opportunities at these events. With live talks being more lucrative than ever in 2025, how do you build a career around your presentations? In today’s episode, I share what’s working right now if you want to get paid to speak. I'll cover landing your first gigs, building relationships with event organizers, and positioning yourself for high-paying opportunities. While I also share tips on crafting great talks, this episode is all about leveling up your income through public speaking! If you're just starting out, tune in to today's session to begin transforming your expertise into a public speaking business that serves others. Don't miss out on this opportunity that can open doors, grow your authority, and support your freedom! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session891.

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#890 Sponsorships and brand deals can change the game for you as a creator. Here's the key, though. You have to know your worth. If, like many, you say yes to bad offers, it can cost you big time! In this episode, I break down what’s actually working in sponsorships right now. From determining what you should charge and spotting red flags to landing deals with companies you respect, this session is a sponsorship blueprint for 2025! You'll learn why beginner creators get taken advantage of, how to find the right companies to work with, the requirements you might have to meet, and the campaign types that are the most lucrative. It's also important to remember your responsibility to your audience. So, finding and fostering long-term partnerships that enhance the experience you offer is ideal. Listen in today to find out how close relationships and storytelling play into an effective brand deal strategy. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session890.

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#889 In business and in life, we need connection to thrive. So what is the number one superpower for building deep relationships? The answer is communication! That said, it's not enough to become a great on-stage speaker. While leveling up your skills around prepared talks is great, what happens when something like a networking dinner requires you to be spontaneous? That’s where the true growth opportunities live. I'm diving into this topic with Tristan de Montebello, co-founder of Ultraspeaking and a finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking. Listen in on this episode because Tristan didn't start out as a "natural." Like many elite communicators, he has identified the bad habits holding him back and replaced them with the powerful skills that make speaking feel effortless. You'll hear Tristan and me run through a series of exercises meant to train and transform your on-the-spot thinking. Tune it to uncover blind spots and begin expressing yourself with ease! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session889.

Ultraspeaking is offering SPI listeners two free ways to level up as communicators:

• A free email course to learn the same techniques and games I tried on the podcast. Sign up to make your next video, podcast, or pitch 10x more impactful!
• Check out their free live class for a hands-on session from Ultraspeaking’s flagship Staying Calm Under Pressure course, designed to help you finally overcome speaking anxiety!

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