Studio Sherpas Podcast

It’s hard to believe it - 200 episodes! When I started this podcast, I never imagined that I’d make it to 200 episodes. But here we are. I know I’m here today because of you. I do this show on a weekly basis for you. Your countless messages of gratitude keep me going. This episode is going to be different. I have a bunch of really amazing and fun messages from listeners like you. It really is both a joy and honor to make this show and get to know so many of you. Some of you have been there from the beginning. Others have recently started listening. Either way, I really appreciate you coming along with me on this amazing journey. With that in mind, I’m turning the mic over to you. This episode is full of messages from my many listeners who share some takeaways from the show over the years. We’ve learned a lot together and I want to hear how you all have benefited over the last 200 episodes. If you weren’t able to send in a message for the episode but want to share how Studio Sherpas has helped you in your busi

Have you ever had a friend or family member ask you for a big discount or to make a free video? If it hasn’t happened yet, it’s only a matter of time. As a giving person, it’s tough for me to turn them down. However, as a business owner, it’s really hard to do the work that I do for free and bad for my business in the long-run. Key Takeaways It’s okay to say no to any project, even if that means turning down family or friends. Your priority is running your business. Once its needs are met, you can decide how and when you truly want to give back. You can turn down a request for discounts by saying you don’t have the time, or that you simply don’t do discounts. Adding value by providing more and going the extra mile will always be more rewarding than not charging enough for your work. The Great Power of Video Having met hundreds of people in this industry I know one thing to be true: we’ve got big hearts. We want to do good in the world by telling stories. Video is perhaps the most powerful medium for doing goo

There’s a lot to consider as your business grows. When I started my studio, I was my only employee. It wasn’t too long before I realized I needed to hire some people on to keep things running. I was hesitant. It costs a lot to take on employees. But what I soon realized was that a larger team led to more and better work in the long run. Key Takeaways There’s a cost in hiring employees. However, having a team allows you to focus on the work you need to. When done thoughtfully and intentionally, growing your team leads to more clients, higher quality work, and more overall satisfaction in the end. It’s important that clients understand how you build your budget. Itemizing the gear you use will help convey the value of the work they receive. It may be useful to ask them their budget from the start and let them know what you can realistically offer within that. Attitude is everything when working with clients. You’re there to help your clients achieve their goals. Staying positive and supportive while offering yo

This year has not gone as expected. That’s true for my business as much as anything else. The mechanisms that used to bring clients and projects my way don’t work like they used to. However, virtual summits and meetups have exploded. Today, I’m sharing how I’ve been harnessing the potential of these virtual events to grow my business. Key Takeaways In times of COVID, we need to shift how we build networks. Online summits, virtual meetups, and webinars are a great way to fill the gaps left by in-person events. Hosting one of these summits will even show you to be an authority in your field. Lessons of Running a Virtual Summit Over the last few months, I’ve been putting together a virtual summit for digital marketers. I’ve learned a lot in the process. Not only do I think this event will provide great value for those who attend, but it will also help grow and maintain a network of people who may become clients someday. Growing Your Network I’ve found that hosting these events I’ve positioned myself as an author

As a small business owner, you actually have a lot of flexibility. You can pivot what you do and make offers that big companies can’t. Especially during tough times like these, you can find opportunities that may not have existed before. As today’s guest is going to tell you, there’s a gift that lies in scarcity. Key Takeaways It’s important to keep priorities in mind when running a small business. Especially when times are tough, it’s a good idea to ask yourself what your goals are. By looking at what gives you the best return on investment, you can prioritize the most important parts of your business. Even if a client doesn’t want to move forward on a project quite yet, there is probably still something that you can do for them. Look back at past projects and share your ideas with them. Maintaining helpful lines of communication now will pay off later when the situation improves. No matter how amazing your work is, if you don’t market it, you won’t sell it. Marketing, when done with integrity, is not a slea

An emotional connection often exists between creatives and our creations. We want to have an influence and an impact with what we do. So it’s easy to take it personally when people either like or dislike our work. Yet there are many ways to stay in control when putting your creations out into the world. Key Takeaways When presenting early drafts to clients, the less you critique, the better. Second-guessing your work to your clients can lead down the wrong path of unnecessary revisions. Instead, focus on what you’re excited and happy about. As creatives, we’re trying to strike a balance between sharing what we do with the world while still turning a profit. To maintain that balance over the long-run, you need to constantly reassess your process. Sometimes it means growing a team. Other times, you’ll need to take on more roles yourself. About Josiah Moore Josiah Moore is a freelance director and editor from upstate New York. Josiah stays busy in all aspects of music video production, be it client communication

How do you set yourself apart by impressing your clients? Hopefully, it is something that can land you bigger and better jobs. If you can be remarkable, you’ll find yourself with bigger jobs than you thought possible. Key Takeaways You don’t need to be an expert in everything. Asking for help, building systems, and seeking out the expertise of others is essential for your business to thrive. Build a team if you can. Outsource when needed. True success is a collaborative effort.  Going out of your way to find opportunities to be excellent and unanticipated will set you apart. Being remarkable means doing more than what others expect from you. Going out of your way to build these positive relationships will result in a massive return on your time and effort. About Patrick Moreau and Rebecca Rapple Today, I’m joined by my friends at Muse Storytelling, founder Patrick Moreau and CEO Rebecca Rapple. Their mission is to create well-told stories that lead to positive change. Using the science of storytelling, Muse

If it hasn’t happened already, you’re going to deal with a difficult client. It’s that type of experience that will help you identify your ideal client. Key Takeaways The key to establishing a good working relationship with clients is good communication. Letting them know your process from the start helps avoid disappointment later on.  With the economy the way it is now, look for opportunities that may not have existed otherwise. Be creative. Without lucrative projects out there, work on ones that are enjoyable instead. These opportunities are out there. About The Hamil Bros I’d like to welcome Jacob and Ross Hamil back to the podcast. The Hamil Bros Studio has done incredible work for both small businesses and big brands. They get their creative juices flowing by making promotional video work, short films, and music videos. Serving Your Ideal Clients In this episode, we discuss what an ideal client looks like and how to best serve them. They may already know a thing or two about what they want. However, man

Having bigger budget clients and making more money sure seems like the thing to do. In reality, it’s not always the best thing for your business. That’s just one of the topics that came up during a recent coaching call with Kenny Morg. In fact, there were so many great nuggets of wisdom in this call that I want to share some of it with you. Deciding if it’s Best to Do a Big Budget Project It might seem logical to assume that bigger budget projects mean making higher quality films and more profit. I’ve found that that’s not always the case. It turns out that there are a lot of other factors to consider here such as the speed of production and the relationships you’ve cultivated. In reality, the quality of human interaction is much more important than the quality of the video. Additionally, you can often make more from a few small jobs with less overhead than a single big-budget project. Setting Expectations with Workshops We go over why I always workshop with clients at the start of any project. It helps estab

Do you feel like you’re running in place on a life-sized hamster wheel or are you living a life of delight? As a business owner and entrepreneur, it might feel like you have a never-ending to-do list to check off. But that’s not why you do what you do. Today, I’m thrilled to have a guest who will help us reframe why we got into this line of work, to begin with. About Amira Alvarez Amira Alvarez has created an amazing brand that makes a huge impact on people’s lives. She is the founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Woman, a global coaching company helping entrepreneurs, empire builders, and rising stars achieve their dreams and goals in record time. Your Business as a Source of Satisfaction Amira draws a direct connection between building and growing a business with personal satisfaction. While some days will naturally be more difficult than others, the goal of running your own business should be to have a good time. It should empower you to live the life you want. It’s easy to fall into the trap of the daily gri

Just because you have a great idea, it doesn’t mean that your customers are going to love it too. They have their own projects and are working on their own schedule. Understanding that your priorities are not the same as your customers’ is key to creating long-term relationships with them.  Jason Fried, a non-serial entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Basecamp. He’s co-authored several books including Getting Real, Rework, Remote, and It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work.  As someone who has always loved creating and designing things, Jason started making websites right out of college. Realizing that he preferred working for himself, Jason refocused his career path on creating businesses. He quickly discovered that organization is central to productivity and success, but the tools to make it happen didn’t exist. It was this realization that gave birth to Basecamp. Today, Jason shares some of his revelations from the workplace. A big one was coming to the understanding that not everything is as urgent as we

If you’re not working with the clients and budgets you’d like, the problem may lie in your website. What does the copywriting on it look like? Is it helping your ideal client find you? If not, it’s time to reassess the story you’re telling. Josh Cantrell is the founder of Signal Brandworks, a messaging and copywriting agency that helps people find the right words to sell more. Josh is also a certified Storybrand guide and a Ray Edwards Certified Direct Response copywriter. Josh and I discuss why you need to care about copywriting if your business is to thrive. Proper copywriting is what gets your message across and sets you apart from the competition. It comes down to having the right framework in place. With that established, the right ideas and words will follow. To achieve this, you need to identify what it is that makes you special. We’re each individuals with unique qualities. Making that your brand will automatically distinguish yourself. That being said, don’t focus on yourself. Instead, make the focus

Have you ever had a project become bigger than it’s supposed to? I know I have. It’s cost me time, money, and sanity. This is scope creep and it’s incredibly common. Fortunately, I’ve learned (the hard way) to avoid it. It's fine to go that extra mile for your clients. It’s great to give them more than they expect. But if you don’t have healthy boundaries, you risk getting taken advantage of. Your client should be honoring your time and effort by paying you for it, Supposed “small tweaks” and “just a little thing” become time wasters. Most of us can’t work for free. It can be tough to say no to a seemingly small ask. Yet, it’s crucial to respect yourself as well as your clients. Knowing when to do something extra for a client while also prioritizing your own needs is a difficult tightrope to walk.  Over the years, I’ve found ways to avoid scope creep. Being clear on who the project owner is and thoroughly explaining your process will help. Even explaining from the start that scope creep will mean extra charge

What would you choose to do if you had to completely shift your life? Would you focus on your true calling? All too often our jobs get in the way of our dreams. This is a shame because what you do for work has all the potential to align with your higher calling. But it’s up to you to intentionally create this. Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Ira Davis, one of the original Studio Sherpas students. As a former Marine Corps drill instructor, the founder and CEO of DreamDiver and IV I II Studios, Ira works to help people discover their stories and inspire others. His companies are designed to help aspiring pioneers, visionaries, and world-changers discover their purpose and dive into their dreams to impact the world.  As filmmakers, we are uniquely positioned to share our vision with the world. At the same time, we often get sidetracked creating for others. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. We all have to earn an income and keep our businesses running. However, ignoring your own visions means that y

We all want discipline in our lives, but it’s a lot of work. Discipline means doing what you’d rather not do to realize the goals you want to achieve. As a filmmaker who wants to stay in business for the long run, it will be discipline that gets you there.  On today’s solo episode, I want to talk about some of my hard-learned lessons in becoming profitable. It was developing a sense of discipline that allowed me to work smartly, efficiently, and effectively. Over the years, I’ve gained tools that allow me to profit more and keep my business sustainable. Central to this is creating target goals for your year. You need to know what you want to achieve. Then you can work backward from that goal to put in place the necessary actionable steps. I do this every year. It informs what I do every day. During this time, I’ve discovered and honed several other great tools and strategies to foster discipline. This means not looking at my phone until I’ve achieved something. I’ve created a quiet space for contemplation and

When this year started, no one expected it to turn out the way it has. Sadly, many small businesses have gone under as a result. Those that survive will be the flexible ones. If you can identify the opportunities that exist and pivot to take advantage of them, then this will be a storm you can weather.  Kenny Morgan is an agency owner who transitioned from branding and design to storytelling and video production. He’s worked with some great brands like Vans, Sony, the NFL, and more. His company, Counsel Creative strives to help businesses of all sizes tell their stories through web development, branding, graphic design, and video production.  Niching his business down from a full-service agency to video production allows Kenny to be very strategic in what he does. In the face of the COVID economy, this has allowed Kenny to be adaptable with his business. Unfortunately, he’s had to shrink the size of his workforce. However, he also sees the opportunities for growth that it presents in the end. As people consid

No one likes failing. But every failure hides an opportunity. In fact, what sets you above your competition may have been borne out of a failure. Combined with perspective, failure provides lessons for learning and growing. Nate Bailey is a leader and a speaker who knows how to impact and reach an audience. He recently fulfilled his long-time dream of selling his insurance agency to follow his dream of being a full-time coach. As a best-selling author of three books, Nate adheres to the simple philosophy of living what you teach. With the business landscape thoroughly impacted by COVID, Nate is busy supplying large doses of perspective. This is a time to focus on what you can control. We can’t predict how and when the situation might change, but we can be strategic in how we position our companies to respond.  Just because you may be stuck at home and conferences are canceled doesn’t mean you can afford to stop networking. There are still authentic ways to reach out to potential clients and partners. Nate exp

Every entrepreneur understands the challenge of managing their finances. Meeting financial goals, avoiding debt, and just keeping your head above water can be a struggle. Honestly, this is one of my least favorite topics, but it’s incredibly important. Andy Hill is the award-winning podcaster and blogger behind Marriage, Kids, and Money. He has helped countless young families build wealth so they can thrive. His writing has been featured in USA Today, Business Insider, and NBC News.  It used to be that crises were hypothetical to plan for. With COVID, it’s become a reality for most of us. Andy explains that the number one mistake that entrepreneurs make is not having funds set aside for times like these. With business for many at a standstill, the need for having financial reserves is as apparent as ever. That’s easier said than done, right? Andy recommends automating your process of creating your financial safety net from the start. If you put whatever you can spare aside each month, you’ll be much better po

We will all come across opportunities to change our lives. Recognizing and acting upon them is key. We have what it takes. Sometimes we need support to see that. Today’s guest shares how harnessing your greatness to do what is hard will ultimately lead to unimaginable success. Rock Thomas is the world’s number one whole life success expert. He is the host of the top-rated #IAmMovement Podcast, a bestselling author, and motivational speaker with over 30 years of experience in personal development and coaching. Rock has studied one on one with such legends as Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and more. Over 100 million people have watched his Goalcast video. Rock’s story involves some pivotal crossroads. His early years were full of hard work. Rock found ways to embrace the lessons he learned and develop his work ethic. It wasn’t something he could do on his own though. Rock credits finding the right support and advice as the most important part. Now he helps others the way others helped him.  As a c

My heart hurts and I decided to use my platform to share a little more about my story, my reaction to the tragedies unfolding around us, and how I’m choosing to respond.  I think I’ve ridden the line for a long time as a business owner by trying to make friends with everyone thinking that the most popular businesses are the most successful.  It’s taken me a long time to realize my definition of success needs to be revisited… and what that also means is that my brand is becoming more personal. And I’m finally realizing that I’m okay with that.  I’m thankful you’re on this journey with me and I appreciate you taking the time to listen.  How are you responding to what’s going on? What are you doing? I’d love for you to share in the comments on the episode page.   In this episode Identifying the wrong clients for your business Choosing your marketing language to better identify your ideal clients Why it is a good thing to be polarizing  Why you get to create the rules of your own business The power you have to u