Lifestyle Business School – Details, episodes & analysis

To get sales, you need leads!

To get leads, you need traffic! 

So, how do you get it? 

What’s working now? 

[Read the full blog post here].

The truth is, times have changed. 

The landscape is crowded. 

Ads are costly. 

And getting attention feels about as easy as screaming to a band to pull you up on stage in the middle of a rock concert. 

So let me lift the lid on how I do it, and what’s working right now. 

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

So, you have big business goals – incredible!

What’s your plan to achieve them? 

Q4 is sneaking up on us, and as anyone in online business would know that means prime money-making season!

There is a lot of opportunity in the final three months of the year.

[Read the full blog post here].

Whether you’re well behind on your annual sales goal or you’re simply looking to maximise the opportunity that this time of year brings, preparation will give you the BEST chance of making this your biggest quarter of sales yet!

The best way to prepare? 

With a simple, actionable marketing plan. 

If you haven’t created yours yet, now is absolutely the time. 

Planning ahead will allow you to get strategic, and squeeze the most juice out of this prime time on the online business calendar. 

In today’s piece, we will walk through how to create a simple marketing to smash your Q4 goals, and set yourself up for a strong end to what has for many been a more trying year. 

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

Have you ever dreamed of jumping on a plane and running away?

[Read the full blog post here].

Wanting to live the laptop lifestyle and work from anywhere but unsure how to *actually* do it without your business burning down? 

Wonder how all of those people on Instagram every European summer actually afford to do it? 

In a week, I am jumping on a very last minute plane to Eurosummer, family (including a wild 2-year old and lively 4-year old) in tow. 

This hasn’t been something I’ve had on the planning list for a long time (please listen to last weeks podcast episode where I share about losing my Mum for more context on my snap decision). 

More than anything? 

This trip is an exhale. 

This trip is therapy. 

And, this trip is a complete disconnect from reality, to reflect, honour, enjoy and heal. 

At the same time, I know there will be some wondering how I can be so lucky or privileged to make this happen. Which, of course, I am. 

But, it’s not all that. And maybe, it could be possible for you too. 

If you’ve ever dreamt of an extended trip and feel compelled or inspired to make it happen, in today’s podcast episode I am going to share how I’ve done it, what it is costing, my thoughts, fears and nerve-citement around doing it with young children and all of the nitty gritty. 

Let’s dive in.

PS. Here's the link to the card I use (I get points if you use my code, my travel fund thanks you). 

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

If there was ONE thing that I would class as "constant" in the Online Education industry, it would be change. Digital education is a billion dollar industry at the forefront of the "move online" movement that we have experienced in fast-forward over the past two years. With more people comes more opportunity... And also, more competition. 

The things that might have worked a few years ago, the "leeway" you may have had to do things "half-assed"... they're both gone. And for those of us in or considering entering the online education industry you have two choices - adapt and up-level, or leave. 

In today's podcast episode, I will be sharing five BIG changes that I have noticed in the Online Business (and education) industry over the past little while. 

I have a unique viewpoint, with both five years of experience in my OWN business and access to hundreds of "online business back ends" through my students inside of our Launchpad program. 

So, here it is, what I've noticed and what YOU can do to navigate the ever-changing tides of the online education industry with confidence.

✔️ "Fast" Lead Generation is More Difficult
✔️ "Same Same" Offers Aren't Converting
✔️ Authority Matters More Than Ever
✔️ You Can't Rely (Just) on Social
✔️ Pricing Matters

Full show notes for this episode can be found at https://thecoursecartel.com/164

----------

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

Polarity is a word that I have used a lot lately.

It accurately depicts most of my days in business and in life.

Life as an online business owner, in my current season of business, requires navigating the mental load of hundreds of humans on a daily basis. Clients, team, prospects... all of it.

And with that comes polarity, which is the subject of today's podcast episode.

Polarity is the term that I now use to define the fluctuating experiences that often all converge into one, on any given day.

One client aces their launch.

One is struggling to see sales.

One is having an incredible experience and singing praises from the rooftop.

Another has defaulted on payment and hasn't replied to several follow-ups.

A team member or contractor is firing on all cylinders, kicking KPI goals and acting beautifully in accordance with the values of the company.

Another is distant, focused on other things.

You deliver a presentation and smash it.

Then, you sit down to prepare a podcast and stare at a blinking cursor for an hour.

You receive a compliment.

You receive a complaint.

They love you.

They don't.

All of it.

Often, in the same day.

As a business owner, I have been reflecting on the impact of the polarity of my days on my OWN mental load, and thought it might be helpful to share my experience with others.

I'm not the expert, but in today's podcast episode I am sharing some of the things I am learning.

✔️ Systematise Tough Decisions
✔️ Separate Business from Self
✔️ Take Action Based on Data, Not Emotion
✔️ Be Clear on What You Want
✔️ Don't Absorb Other's Emotions

Full show notes for this episode can be found at https://thecoursecartel.com/163

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

Asking for — and having the objective ability to hear — frank feedback from your clientele on your business and their experience with it is one of the BEST ways to improve and become the VERY best in class.

Is it always easy? No.

But is it oh so worth it? Abso-freakin-lutely.

Especially in small business — where we personally invest our blood, sweat and tears into our offers — there can be a tendency to take everything very personally.

One of the most freeing realisations though is that actually, nothing in your business is about you.

Your business is fundamentally about solving people's problems. If you are doing well, you will get positive feedback — which is great, but actually has nothing to do with you as a person.

Equally, if you get constructive feedback (or even downright criticism), again, it has NOTHING to do with you as a person. It means that there is a gap in your offer or in your processes that needs to be filled.

Treating it as such is critical especially if the feedback is delivered constructively.

In today's podcast episode, we're covering how to "operationalise" the collection of regular feedback from your clientele into your business to keep a pulse on their experience, to look for opportunities to improve and to, as we say inside of our OWN business, to be 1% better each and every single day.

Here's five things to think about when incorporating something similar:

✔️ Realise It's Not About You
✔️  Refine One Offer
✔️ Fight for Feedback
✔️  Action It!
✔️ The Client Isn't ALWAYS Right

Full show notes for this episode can be found at

https://thecoursecartel.com/162

----------

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

Babies, toddlers, business, oh my!

I’ve always said that running a business is the biggest lesson in personal development that you could ever undertake… but throw a 2-year old, a 4-month old, 100 clients and a founder with BIG dreams and high expectations of yourself, and you’ve got yourself a right ‘ol recipe for... well, a good time, actually!

Betcha didn’t expect me to say that, did you? Because the RHETORIC is that is kids and business is HARD... and sure, I wouldn’t call it a walk in the park.

But also? I’ve CHOSEN this, and I literally wouldn’t have it any other way.

In today’s podcast episode, I want to share with you my unique perspective on navigating this “early childhood” phase of business and life, and how I “manage it all”... or more accurately, how I DON’T (and how I’m completely okay with that).

How it’s wildly beautiful and how ADJUSTING my expectations down has actually been the catalyst for a sense of happiness and calm in this season that I didn’t think was possible for this little high achiever 👋

In the past few months, I have had SO many other mums reach out to me and ask “how I do it”, “how I juggle it all”, “how I manage”.

And so I want to share with you NOT my “expert guide to parenting and business”, because actually, I don’t really have it all figured out and I don’t really want to come at this from the place of an expert.

But instead, my honest account and thoughts on the best way I personally have found to navigate this beautiful, wild season of life... in case it helps you too.

If you’re a mum navigating business and babies — YOU ARE AMAZING, and I think it’s nice to know that! NO ONE has it all figured out (and that is totally okay).

✔️ Choose Your Hard (Why I Chose Digital Programs)

✔️ Everything is a Season / Choose Your Burners

✔️ Adjust Your Expectations

✔️ In 5 Years, What Will You Regret?

✔️ Guilt is a Useless Emotion

✔️ I Don’t Actually “Do It All”

✔️ Get Away


Full show notes for this episode can be found at https://thecoursecartel.com/161

----------

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

What do you do when you start to feel that your brand no longer reflects the evolution and growth of your business?

When you start to feel, dare I say it, self-conscious when you’re asked about your business at a party, sure that the name “Stevie Says Social” will diminish your authority or how seriously you’re taken at networking events?

When friends and family still ask you to try and help them get into their Instagram account, because your name still has “social” in it despite NOT teaching social media at all — “Don’t you have a little social media business — I only have 50 followers too, and I’m hoping you can help?!” they say, innocently.

And when that nagging feeling, deep down, suggests a growing disconnect between the time, effort and importance you place on your business, and the way it is viewed in the eyes of those hearing “Stevie Says Social” for the first time.

You re-brand, that’s what — and this year, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Right now? My brand kind of feels like I’m still getting around in the same outfit that I wore when I was a gawky teenager. I feel a sense of urgency to “grow up”, and for the vision that I have for my business, the importance that I place on it and the true impact that it has on so many lives through the people that we serve.

I’m tired of feeling silly saying “Stevie Says Social” when someone asks what my business name is.

I’m READY to step into bigger shoes and build a vision that doesn’t depend solely on me.

And, if I’m really honest? I feel held hostage by an identity that doesn’t fit anymore.

And so, as I embark on MY branding and business evolution (of which MUCH more will be shared later on in the year), today’s podcast episode is dedicated to five signs that might be an indication to YOU that it’s time to do the same.

Here’s five signs that it might be time to rebrand your business:

✔️ You’ve experienced a significant business evolution (but your brand hasn’t kept up)
✔️ You’re not proud to share your brand with strangers
✔️ Your mission has grown, and no longer fits the container of your brand
✔️ You no long want it to be just about you
✔️ A change is as good as a holiday


Full show notes for this episode can be found at https://thecoursecartel.com/160

----------

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

We’re not gonna lie — online business over the last year or two has required the navigation of some choppy waters, and it looks like the headwinds for ALL businesses (both online and offline, course-based and otherwise) are here to stay for a season or two.

And, when things in the online business landscape are more challenging (think IOS changes, increasing ad costs and increased competition for attention online amid declining attention spans, interest rate rises, inflation and accompanying economic shifts), there are always two ways to go.

One — wave the white flag, blame your results on market conditions, and give away your power to the “conditions that are”.

And two — realise that there will ALWAYS be something, adapt and evolve and become a better, stronger and more resilient business owner in the process.

Really, they are your options. And for the ones that choose B, there will be a real opportunity over the next couple of years to double down, build an incredibly strong business and lead whilst others retreat.

I choose to believe that there are some truly exciting times upon us right now, and to see the true OPPORTUNITY that these times will give business owners READY to make moves.

So, with all of that said, what sorts of things can we do as business owners to stay strong, both in mind and bottom line, in the face of the shift in online business and economic conditions?

That’s what I’m tackling in today’s podcast episode.

Here’s seven things tips to consider implementing as we all navigate more challenging business conditions:

1/ Don’t blame your results on tighter wallets

2/ Update Your Messaging

3/ Elevate your niche

4/ Offer optimisation

5/ Have fun

6/ Focus on increasing your CLV

7/ Be the leader in your space

----------

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_

“I don’t have TIME to start a podcast..”
“The tech is overwhelming, I don’t know where to start..”
“But what if I run out of topic ideas?”

If you’ve EVER considered starting a podcast, it’s likely that one of these “buts” have stopped you dead in your tracks. And, I get it.

In a world where we’re all frantically trying trying to run a business, maintain a social life, juggle family, drink enough water, text everyone back, stay sane, survive and be happy (PHEW); adding another ‘thing’ to the list can feel like the actual definition of insanity.

Plus, you need a mic, you need to learn how to edit, and sure you could probably Google it but every time you do? It feels like you’re drinking water from a fire house. Not to mention the imposter syndrome that creeps in every time it enters your mind — “Like, who am I to start a podcast?” says your mean girl/guy brain.

Why ME?! What if I run out of ideas? Do I even KNOW enough to create a podcast each and every week?

In today’s podcast episode, you’ll learn why you need to kick all of the “buts” currently holding you back to the curb and go all in on what will likely become the single biggest ROI marketing activity you do in your business.

It is for us — it nets us $8,300 an hour.

Here’s three reframes to help you kick the time and tech excuses to the curb and go all in:

✔️ Our Podcast SAVES Us Time (Our Three Hour/Month Podcast Workflow)
✔️ Podcasting Makes Social Media Easier
✔️ The Tech is Dead Easy


Full show notes for this episode can be found at
https://thecoursecartel.com/158

----------

👉 I’m hosting a brand new live class on October 24th called The Predictable 3-Part Operating System for Building a Simple, Time Leveraged, Online Course Based Business Model or Revenue Stream. To register, click here.

Want more?

📫 Subscribe to the Newsletter:
For Expertise-Based Founders ready to engineer a lifestyle business that passes the Monday Morning test with flying colours. Get one actionable step each day, and then weekly thereafter. Subscribe here.

🎧 Subscribe to the Podcast:
With 1m downloads, make sure you hit the follow/subscribe button right now.

🎓Join Lifestyle Business School:
Get the complete Operating System for starting or growing an expertise-based online business to the Lifestyle Business Sweet Spot. Click here to join today.

📲 Instagram:
Follow Stevie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/steviedillon_