Explore every episode of the podcast The Den Lennie Show
Dive into the complete episode list for The Den Lennie Show. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
If a client spends hundreds of thousands on an event, why are so many video producers charging only $10K for the coverage?
In this episode, Den Lennie breaks down one of the biggest pricing mistakes production companies make when quoting event work.
You will learn:
• Why day rate pricing limits revenue • The difference between a cameraman's thinking and a business owner's thinking • Why event footage becomes a long-term marketing asset • The pricing benchmark used by high-performing production companies
If you want to stop underpricing your work and position your company as a premium provider, this episode will change how you think about event pricing.
In this episode, Den breaks down the "90-Day Ghost" phenomenon. If you're a video agency owner frustrated by radio silence after a great discovery call, you need to understand the structural and psychological reasons for the delay.
Den explores why the real sales cycle is 90 days, not 30, and how to build a follow-up system that converts without feeling desperate.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why the "pain of inaction" often wins over the "pain of action."
The 14-day value-based follow-up sequence.
Why organic content has a 90-day delay before hitting your bottom line.
The "Interview Question Hack" to reactivate cold leads.
How to move from a 25% to a 60% conversion rate using a CRM.
If you want more predictable revenue and fewer ghosted proposals, this episode will reset your approach.
In today's episode, we're going to discuss 5 ways that you can fail in your video business. Listen to this episode to learn how to avoid these common mistakes and master the art of growing your video business!
If you're looking to build a successful video business, you need to pay attention to these 5 ways to fail. By following these tips, you'll be on the path to success!
Are you looking for high-paying corporate video clients?
If so, you're in luck.
In today's episode, Den shares three simple strategies to help you find the best-paying clients.
So whether you're just starting out or you've been in the business for a while, these tips will help you land the best jobs and make more money. Listen up and check out these three simple strategies that you should embrace if you want to attract higher-paying clients this year.
Want to make your video business as successful as possible in 2023? Here are 5 tips to help keep you on track and avoid overwhelm. It’s time to get excited for a new year and make sure you are prepared for the best year of your business!
Before we wrap up 2022, Den shares how it has been amazing year for the VBA members.
The VBA Elite and Uplevel programs are designed to help you scale your video business to a new level.
If you are serious about growing your revenue then you’ll understand that there’s a limit on what you can do alone. If you want to be involved in a group of phenomenal business owners then we would love to talk to you in January!
In today’s video, Den discusses how you've gotten this far and what you can do differently next year to accelerate and build a meaningful business. Listen up and start changing your algorithm and watch your results skyrocket!
Den sits down with Chuckmedia's owner Stu Edgeworth. Mr. Edgeworth is one of those guys many video freelancers like to hate. Why? Because he's one of the few freelancers who's discovered the secret of having his cake and eating it too! Edgeworth runs a successful filmmaking business, has a wife and three kids under five, and still has the time and resources - thanks to his commercial video production business - to create short films, travel the world, and always be around for his family.
How's he managed to pull this off?
Well, listen to this episode, dear listener.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
Stu Edgeworth’s entire backstory told in two minutes. - 3:00
How do you come across as a big successful film company even though you're a one-man band operating out of a tiny garden shed? (Simple: You do what Mr. Lennie did in this exact situation. Hear this “keeping up appearances” story at 6:00)
Solid advice for freelancers looking to hire staff. - 10:00
Why hiring staff is like investing. - 11:15"
A "rotten to the core" fear that stops many freelancers from ever hiring staff. (This irrational thought process will stop a freelancer from ever hiring a team even though he's always busier than a one-armed baggage handler at Heathrow airport. - 11:30
Clever strategies to use when business is slower than rush hour traffic but payroll and other expenses still need to be met. - 12:00
Why video freelancers should think more like financial investors when running their businesses. -14:00
How video freelancers CAN have their cake and eat it too! Stu Edgeworth is living proof you can have the best of both worlds. (Edgeworth runs a successful commercial video production company, has a wife and 3 kids under 5, and still has the time and resources to make short films and travel the world. - 19:00)
The case for video freelancers indulging in passion projects. (Hear how doing this can benefit your commercial efforts. - 19:30
The “WAGs of videographers” episode. (This future interview may or may not be on the cards. We'll see... )
Edgeworth’s' shrewd reason to start a podcast. - 25:00
An obnoxiously good “How To Scale a Video Business” archive episode you should listen to. (If you want to systematize your video business, then you'll wanna hear this past episode mentioned at 27:00)
In today’s episode, Den shares a great overview of the Video Business Accelerator Mastermind. VBA is a great place to grow, learn and network with other video business owners. Listen in as Den announces how you can join to win one of the five VBA scholarships.
An insider's advice to freelancers who want to become the go-to videographer for ad agencies. (Follow this advice and you can potentially be on speed dial for multiple agencies. - 1:30)
An outreach marketing fallacy that keeps video freelancers from picking up new business. (Buying into this fallacy will castrate all your marketing efforts - 2:00)
How NOT to do outreach marketing. (If your outreach marketing sounds like the example given at 4:20, then you'll want to change that right quick. Here's how...)
A ridiculously simple way (yet overlooked by most people) to get on the radar of producers and directors of big agencies who hire video freelancers. - 5:00
Why video freelancers should think more like sleazy car salesmen. - 6:00
Key people to approach inside an ad agency if you're a videographer looking for work. - 11:00
Den's "how NOT to turn up to a corporate gig" story. (Megadeth were a great '80s metal band but rocking up to a corporate gig looking like one of the band members is probably not a great idea. - 13:00)
A crackbrained thing many video freelancers do to their fees when working for big agencies. Doing this will always backfire. - 16:30
The surprising power of being organized. (It ain't sexy. It ain't exciting, but by golly, this one attribute will get a videographer more work than just about anything else. - 18:00)
The pros and cons of working for an ad agency as a hired videographer. - 22:00
A classy way to deal with producers and directors who have the creativity of a house brick. - 24:00
In this episode, Den chats to an ex-ad agency employee who got bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, saw a gap in the creative freelance market and filled it! If you're a video freelancer looking for work, then don't miss this episode.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
What Create Crowd is, and... how it's helping videographers make more moolah. - 3:00
Attention all video freelancers, graphic designers, photographers, make-up artists, copywriters, and creative thinkers: looking for more work? Great. Here's a new way that can potentially bring you new business quickly and consistently. - 8:00
A little-known newsletter every video freelancer should subscribe to immediately. (This is one of those rare newsletters that can truly help you land new, high-quality clients. - 11:00)
An insider secret: there’s a little-known database that has cashed-up ad agencies looking to hire video freelancers right now! Here's where to access this database. - 13:00
How video freelancers can potentially get featured in a newsletter that gets read by ad agency owners looking to hire. - 14:00
No serious business owner would ever use TikTok to market their business... or would they? - 4:00
How TikTok's algorithm is different from other social media platforms, and what that means to content creators. - 5:30
Which social media platform can give you a shortcut way to building a big audience? Listen up at 6:00
Why lousy content creators should probably avoid TikTok and just stick with the other major social media platforms instead. - 7:00
Someone once said, "You can't polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter." Sadly, this turd of an approach is used by many business folks when creating their TikTok marketing videos. Here's how to avoid making that same mistake. - 8:50
A ridiculously simple way (yet overlooked by most people) to get the right people to watch your content marketing videos on TikTok. - 10:00
How to become almost “omnipresent” on social media. (Imagine your marketing videos consistently popping up in front of your market on every social media platform. Is this just a flight of fancy? Not so! Listen in at 11:00)
Insider tricks for pumping out marketing videos at breakneck speed. - 11:30
Californian engineer's secret to automated video marketing. - 14:00
Repurposing content secrets that will make you look prolific. -15:00
Why every boo-boo is always the business owner's fault, even if their team makes the mistake. - 18:00
Why filmmakers who don't systematize their business often come across as a-holes to their team. And, how not to be one of them. - 19:00
Advice for those looking to hire a social media manager. Here's what to look out for. - 26:00
The case for creating evergreen marketing content. - 28:00
A hardly ever-talked-about way to build rock-solid trust with your audience with video marketing. (If you're not doing what's mentioned at 28:40, then it's very likely your audience has doubts about you.)
A "2-second mindset" tweak towards video marketing that can make all the difference. - 28:50
Why “content marketing” is the good-looking cousin of advertising. - 29:00
FACT: nice people who always want to be liked tend to be horrible marketers. Here’s why... 33:00
If your cash flow feels tight, the problem started months ago. Most video businesses only think about sales when things go quiet, and by then, it is already too late.
In this episode, Den explains how the 90-day rule impacts your revenue, why most follow-ups fail, and how pricing based on hours keeps owners stuck.
You will learn:
Why your pipeline is the real problem
The follow-up line that revives stalled deals
How isolation leads to undercharging
Why value pricing changes everything
The discipline that prevents feast and famine cycles
If you want predictable revenue without discounting your work, this episode gives you the roadmap. Subscribe so you never miss a weekly coaching breakdown.
Dear listener, in this episode, you're going to hear some information that could potentially turn your video production business into one of the most sought-after businesses in your industry. Hyperbole? Don't be too sure. Look, at least hear the first 5-minutes before making up your mind, okay?
If you choose to listen...
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
Q. Why did the short-sighted videographer fall into the well? A. He couldn't see that well. Sorry, bad joke. Here's a more serious question: Q. Why did the videographer stop posting marketing videos online? A. Because after one week he hadn't landed a new client. Sound familiar? If so, you'll want to hear this... - 4:00
An ingenious (and very profitable) thing you can do with all your content marketing videos. (If you've been consistently creating marketing videos to promote your video services, but you're not doing what's mentioned at 3:40, then you've leaving piles of money on the table.)
The REAL power of video marketing. - 5:00
Video marketing vs Text marketing - who wins? Hear Den's story at 5:10 and you decide.
Advice for those who struggle to come up with marketing content ideas. (Follow the advice given at 9:40 and your creative juices will start flowing like crazy.)
Why "How To" marketing videos aren't worth a damn... UNLESS... you do this first. - 10:20
What you must do in the first 5-seconds of your marketing videos. (Fail to do this and you're marketing video will be more ignored than the first piece of bread. - 11:00)
The “30-second mistake” most video marketers make when creating a marketing video. (Making this blunder all but guarantees people ignore your videos. - 11:30)
An unsexy video marketing tip that can dramatically boost audience engagement. - 12:30
A laughable simple way to turn one piece of marketing content into ten! - 12:40
How well-meaning content marketers shoot themselves in the foot. (Yes, giving valuable information in your videos is good, but not if you're doing it the way mentioned at 13:00)
Should you be on ALL the major social media platforms or focus on just one? (Hear Stephen's expert opinion at 15:00)
A neat little trick for knowing how to interact on social media sites so that you're treated seriously and not like a buffoon. - 17:30
Beautiful nonsense many highly creative videographers buy into that keeps their business in a constant cycle of feast or famine.
The “c-word” that makes all the difference when creating marketing content. - 21:40
Why being nervous in front of a camera is a good thing. (Are you self-conscious when making a video about your filmmaking business? That's great! No, really. Hear why at 22:10)
A weird (but very effective) trick for getting yourself out of a funk. (This is what the late Steve Jobs used to do to keep the black dog at bay. Next time you're feeling lousy and out of sorts, try doing this... - 23:00
Den drops a powerful marketing secret at 24:20. Don't get too excited, now. This takes some berries to do.
The case for being redundant in your marketing messages. - 28:00
What's the secret to unbreakable, unshakable, and unrelenting self-confidence? (If you know the secret, please, let us know. Until then, we'll offer this humble piece of advice (straight from Grant's mouth) that may help you boost your self-confidence a few notches. - 2:10)
The "Men's Shed" aspect of Den Lennie's VBA (a coaching program for serious videographers). - 4:00
The nervous salesman's guide to selling with great aplomb. (This is how Grant went from being shy, introverted, and nervous when talking with prospects to being a confident and effective salesperson. If you hate sales or think it's sleazy, listen in at 6:00 and you might change your tune.)
LinkedIn marketing secrets nobody told you about. - 8:00
The "ASK" marketing method (perfect for LinkedIn) that can sometimes get you an almost embarrassing amount of likes, shares, and comments. (Here's how it works... 8:30)
Clever content ideas for videographers wanting to promote their services on LinkedIn. These content ideas are what's working right now for Grant. - 9:00
A special kind of marketing video that always seems to get Grant a ton of engagement on LinkedIn. - 9:30
The hallmark of a great marketer. Having great ideas is one thing, but if you're not doing this thing mentioned at 10:10, your marketing efforts will be about as effective as a glass hammer.
A ridiculously simple (but oh-so effective) marketing strategy any filmmaker can start using today. (This is what Grant does routinely on LinkedIn and, well… you're welcome. - 12:00)
Is your LinkedIn marketing content more ignored than an 18+ warning? (If you're not getting that LinkedIn love, cheer up! It's not all bad news. Hear this insight into LinkedIn marketing from Den at 13:00 and you'll glad you did.)
A crafty (and laughably easy) way to expand your LinkedIn network and marketing exposure. (This is one of Den's LinkedIn marketing tricks. Pay attention now, listeners. - 15:50)
An ice-cold fact: most small business owners look at their client base through rose-colored glasses. Here's what they are NOT looking at. -19:00
An all-too-common mindset that keeps freelance videographers playing small.
A little-known business book that's so good, Den refers to as the Bible. - 24:00
Ever wonder what it really takes to go from a video freelancer to a business owner who has a smooth-sailing (and profitable) video production company that works with or without you? If so, you'll love this episode with guest Grant Jamison (cool name, eh?) Den and Grant talk about how to make the transition from freelancer to business owner, plus... there are marketing tips aplenty.
But first...
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
The curse of the video freelancer, and... how to break it. - 3:00
The frustrated videographer's guide to escaping the editing room. (Ever feel like you're living life inside an editing room? Listen, if you suspect your business could be more profitable if you weren't stuck in the editing room all day, you'd be right, Bubba. But how? Well, tune in at 4:30)
A dang good business book every video freelancer should read. (This book will help you start thinking like a business owner instead of a freelancer. - 6:30)
The yawning gap between “learning” and “execution.” (It's nice to "learn" about how to run a video production company, it's another thing entirely to do it! - 7:00)
Moronic things family members and friends say. Ever heard this one: "Hey, do people still hire videographers?" Hear Grant talk about this at 8:00
A shrewd way to sell clingy clients on your new outsourced help. (Do your clients get a little nervous when you tell them you're no longer on the tools and are outsourcing? Then simply say this to immediately put them at ease. - 12:30)
How to stumblebum your way into the perfect niche market. Here's how Grant did this at 15:00
Is LinkedIn a good place to market your video production business OR... is it a waste of time? - 18:00
Grant's “easy-peasy” 4-step marketing blueprint for landing new clients. - 21:00
Clever social media marketing tricks Grant uses to land new clients. - 22:30
An exact, word-for-word outreach script that warms up ice-cold prospects real good! (Perfect for any video production business or freelancer looking for a reliable and effective way to pick up new business. - 22:00)
The “chink” in the creative person's armour. (Fact: business is tough and not for the faint of heart. Here's how the average creative type can toughen up. - 24:00)
The "C & C" marketing method any video freelancer could start using today! It works like crazy... IF... you work it. - 24:30
Perhaps the single best habit any videographer to develop. - 26:00
Rock solid advice to filmmakers about CRM software. (Sadly, if you asked most filmmakers what CRM software they're using, they'll stare at you like a dog that's just been shown a card trick. - 2:00)
How Gen Y and Z have killed the phone call, and... how this could come back and bite them in the arse, especially when it comes to business. - 5:20
Exceedingly dumb mistakes many filmmakers make when would-be clients contact them. Den talks about the two biggest mistakes at 6:45
Den and Adam give the thumbs up to this particular CRM software. - 6:55
A quickie crash course in Customer Relationship Management. - 9:00
How to (ethically and 100% legally) spy on all your website visitors. And, how to use this “intel” to help turn these leads into happy paying clients. - 10:00
A ridiculously easy (and very effective) conversion strategy that probably less than 1 in 1,000 filmmakers are using. (If you want to get an easy leg up on your competition, simply start doing what's revealed at 14:30)
How to "rig" it so that you, and you alone, become the obvious choice for your prospects. - 16:00
You can lead a filmmaker to effective business follow-up, but you can't make them implement. - 16:30
The “n-word” that can bring video production businesses droves of new leads and new business. - 18:00
Why the "I don't have time to read" excuse is now just pure and unadulterated B.S.
Den unapologetically repeats his semi-famous “marketing mantra”. (Den says his clients always get a little confused and put off when they first hear this mantra - but those clients who try it have no issues with the results. - 20:00)
A surprise benefit of niching down your video production business. - 21:00
An ingenious “front-end marketing” strategy that probably less than 1 in 10,000 businesses know about. (If done correctly, this clever marketing strategy can quickly make your filmmaking business seem like the obvious choice to any website visitor looking to hire a video production company - 21:20
The absolute best time for non-profit businesses to (1) hire a video production business, and (2) when, how, and where non-profit businesses should use those videos. - 23:30
A secret way to market your filmmaking business to lawyers. Details at 27:00
A shockingly good insight into what filmmakers really are, and what they should really be doing. (HINT: it ain't just creating videos. Once you understand this, you'll be able to bring far more value to your clients, thus making your filmmaking business stand head and shoulders above the competition. - 31:00)
What clients really want when they hire a video production business. (Yes, they want great videos, of course, but this one thing mentioned at 31:00 is what they're really after.)
The simple (but effective) "60-Second Sales Pitch" any video production business could (and should) use. - 32:00
What Ben said. Listen in at 34:00 and hear this man's brilliant insight into sales and marketing. This eye-opening look into marketing a filmmaking business might just become the catalyst for better marketing.
In this episode, Den sits down with Adam Forgione, the founder of New York-based PennyLane Productions. Adam's one of those rare film production guys who's cracked the code to "working ON your business" instead of "working IN your business."
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
Adam's "3 Blocks" approach to running a video production business. (This approach will help video guys run their business instead of their business running them. In other words, it will give you the basic blueprint to avoid having a "tail-wagging dog" business. - 1:30)
Why the average video freelancer almost needs to have a brain lobotomy to overcome their hang-ups with sales and marketing. - 6:20
How to set and achieve your business goals without feeling like a one-eyed cat watching two mouse holes. (Here's Adam's methodology for doing just that... - 7:30)
A “quick and dirty” guide to social media marketing. (Hear about Adam's social media marketing strategy at 8:45)
The “3-letter word” that can bring your video business a swarm of online leads who are eager to hire your services. - 10:30
Instagram Reels vs Stories - which works best for marketing your video business? (Hear Adams's thoughts at 13:20)
A totally underrated social media platform that even pro marketers overlook. (If you're not promoting your film production business on this platform... you should be! - 14:00)
The video nerd's guide to social media marketing. - 15:00
A case for documenting your social media marketing. (Doing this can bring you a surprise benefit when talking to prospects. - 16:30)
2 “not-so-easy” (but very effective) marketing tips for getting far more likes, comments, and shares on your LinkedIn posts. (One tip will take some good ol fashioned work ethic. The other will take some serious stones. - 18:00)
A classy and dignified way to post provocative and controversial marketing content that will very likely get your video business mucho attention. - 20:00
Adam's fiery rant about today's companies and their almost non-existent customer service. - 22:00
Den's beef with one of Australia's prominent airlines. - 23:00
A raw and no B.S. look at customer service in a highly automated tech world. Here's how to keep that human touch. - 26:00
A little-known website for those who go nuts at automated customer service and just want to speak to a real human being. - 29:00
Stupid-simple ways to win over and retain clients. (This is overlooked by most video guys. - 32:00)
How to use your phone to impress the hell outta your prospects and clients. - 33:00
Imagine running a successful film production business where you're totally off the tools to the point where you don't even go on shoots. Wouldn't that be nice? (Well, that's Matt's situation now, thanks to Den's VBA coaching program which helped Matt put systems and procedures in place so Matt can work on... well... hear it from Matt himself at 2:00)
Matt's clever litmus test knowing which clients to take on and which ones to pass on. Taking on the wrong client can be a nightmare. (It's simply not worth the trouble, no matter how good the money is. Here's how Matt guards himself against nightmare clients. - 3:00)
Why you're already sitting on your next bunch of new business. (That's right. There is new business sitting right under your nose. This no-brainer (yet overlooked by most people) way to pick up new clients is revealed at 5:00)
The marketing noob's guide to online lead generation. - 7:00
A crafty marketing "tool" that can do all the sifting and sorting for you when looking for clients, so you only hear from the ones who are pre-sold and keen to hire you! - 9:40
What the "Marketing Triangle" is... and... how understanding it can make you a far more effective marketer. -11:00
What an "HVC" offer is, and... how to use it to turn ice cold leads into hot new business. Do this correctly, and you can get a horde of new clients rushing to your doorstep without even having spoken to them! - 10:00
A dignified way to repel tire-kickers, lookie-loos, and flaky prospects who love to waste your time. Not only does the method send the low-quality prospects running for the hills, but it has a way of attracting high-quality prospects. - 12:00
Attention All Film Production Companies: Are you saying this on your website's homepage? If so, you might wanna change that right quick! Hear the full story at 13:00
A secret way to turn one piece of marketing content into multiple pieces. - 14:00
A "just plain silly" mindset many video freelancers have when it comes to marketing their business. Thinking this way will undermine all your marketing and sales efforts. - 15:20
A little-talked-about reason why you should get your prospects on the phone. (And no, this is not so you can hard sell them on your services, although that's a possibility. Nope. There's another reason that's of immense value. -15:50)
Little-known psychological insights into today's online consumer, and how this affects those who promote their video production business online. - 18:00
A "stealth" online marketing technique that, when done right, can convert far more online leads into new paying clients. - 19:00
How to make your video business almost omnipresent so that no matter where your prospects go or how busy they get - there you are! - 23:00
A marketing goof almost all business owners make when they get new leads. Doing this is like throwing money away. But don't be too quick to scoff. There's a good chance you're making this blunder, too. - 24:00
In this episode, Den gets his guest, filmmaker, and founder of Balloon Tree Productions, Matt Smolen, to really let his hair down and give up many of his business secrets. If you want proven strategies and methods for running a smooth, efficient, and systems-based video production business, then you’ll probably like this one… a LOT!
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
A stupid obvious way (yet hardly anyone does) to avoid burnout in business. If you feel like you're working harder than a cat trying to bury a turd on a marble floor and you're under more stress than John Goodman's office chair, then listen in at 3:35 and hear how Matt overcame this feeling of overwhelm. (Not only has it helped him feel more in control and less stressed, but it also made his video production business more fun and more profitable.)
The secret to getting your hired-help or employees to (1) truly give a damn about your video business (2) work hard to impress you, and (3) willingly strain their brains to come up with strategies and systems for your business. Hear exactly how Matt achieved this with his team, - 4:20
The unglamorous secret to having a quick and smooth-sailing onboarding process for your video business. Do this correctly, and you'll be getting the very best out of your new hires almost immediately. (Bonus: not only will you love how quickly they'll find their feet, but they will find the whole experience rewarding and inspiring, too. - 6:30)
The "Balloon Tree" method that helps get your team fired up, feeling good, and all on the same page. - 10:00
A quickie crash course in project management for filmmakers.
A “quick and dirty” rundown of workflow management software. And… which ones Matt fancies and the ones he doesn’t. - 14:00
The forgetful business owner's guide to running a seamless and effective business. - 16:00
Advice for filmmakers looking to hire. - 19:00
Untapped and overlooked places to find good employees for your video production business. Your next star employee may come from one of these normally ignored places. - 19:20
Simple tips for conducting an effective and elegant performance review. - 20:00
The video freelancer's guide to going from freelancer to business owner. - 1:56
Why you should master the art of failing. This totally counterintuitive business approach (used by Jeff Bezos when building Amazon) can help any video freelancer fast-track their transition from a one-man-band to a business owner leading an effective team. - 2:15
The case for outsourcing the editing of your videos. - 4:25
An "easier said than done” 3-step method for creating a business that operates with or without you. - 5:00
The Homo sapiens' great folly when thinking about time frames. (And, how to use this piece of knowledge to become far more productive, consistent, and strategic. - 5:40)
The “3 Bs” (beer, buddies, and business) of Den Lennie’s' Video Business Accelerator program. (Business is hard enough at the best of times and doing it alone can make it even tougher. But... that's the way it is, so… get used to it, right? WRONG! If you're in the video production industry, you may want to check out the VBA. Think of the VBA as a business mastermind group but without the usual stodginess and pretences. Hear an insider's account at 8:45)
A brilliant (but little-used) marketing strategy that "flips" the script so clients pursue you instead of you pursuing them. - 11:50
The almost "too-good-to-be-true" gig that landed in Chris's lap almost by dumb luck. (This gig would be any video production guy's wet dream. Hear this story at 12:30)
A ridiculously effective marketing strategy for film production companies. (However, most people are reluctant to follow this advice once they hear it. But if you can get passed the initial psychological resistance and execute this powerful marketing strategy, I don't think you'll have any hang-ups with the results. - 14:00)
Chris's strange (but effective) trick for keeping positive when you're having a stinker of a day. - 16:00
How to become even more resilient than Keith Richard's liver. (Hear how Chris overcame his own personal business shitstorms at 18:00)
Den interviews the man behind one of London's thriving film production companies - The Cleveland Agency.
Den, as always, gets his guest to spill the beans so his slavishly loyal listeners get to hear how Chris built his successful video production business from the ground up. Plus, Chris tells how he battled, overcome, and sometimes sidestepped his way to success.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
If you're wondering, “What's a good niche or market for your video production business?... then listen to the one mentioned at 3:40. (Not only is this a fun and exciting niche, but it's almost recession-proof, too.)
The Chinese have a strange phrase for good luck: dog shit luck. Well, what do you call it when someone has dog-shit-luck that suddenly turns to just dog shit? (Who knows? But that's exactly what happened to Chris's video production business a few years back. Hear this gut-wrenching tale at 4:00)
Chris's caveman simple (but profound) statement about change. (We all want certain things to change, but many people never see that change take place. Here's a major reason why... 5:00)
The myth of status quo in business. Many business owners foolishly believe they are maintaining their business, but are they really? (Hear this sobering truth from Den at 7:20)
Den's brilliant litmus test for knowing (almost instantly) if a prospective client will be a good fit or not. - 8:40
Prospective clients like to do business with service businesses they like, however…here's an even more important fact... 8:50
Leadership advice to video business owners who manage a team. - 10:00
Chris's dang good book recommendation for those who are serious about fulfilling their true potential in life and business. - 10:20
Chris's "better-late-than-never" success habit he's just started doing. (But don't be too quick to scoff, dear listener. There's a good chance you’re not doing this almost stupid-obvious success activity, either. - 15:00)
3 special questions (most business owners never think about) to ask yourself about your business that can potentially lead to breakthroughs, increased profits, and a more smooth-sailing business operation. Listen carefully at 17:40 or you'll miss it!
The video production guy's biggest time-suck ever! - 18:20
A "3-second mindset" tweak for those who hate selling. This 3-second shift in thinking can "flip" someone's hatred of sales into a newfound love... just as it did for Chris. (Hear the man himself at 19:10)
Communication secrets of an adman from the '60s Mad Men era. (Use these to win over clients and build rock-solid business relationships. - 20:00)
In today's episode, I’m excited to share that we've launched a brand new free business community that makes it easy for video businesses to find support and grow. Join us today to learn from the best in your industry and build your business together.
Feeling lost as you try to grow your video business? You are not failing, you are transitioning. In this episode, Den breaks down the kindergarten stage, the uncomfortable but essential phase where skilled filmmakers learn how to think and act like business owners.
In this episode:
Why talent makes the transition harder
The real problem behind overwhelm
The impact of the 90 day lag
What steps drive momentum
How action builds confidence
If you want to scale without burnout, this episode shows you where to focus.
Procrastination is one of the greatest enemies of productivity. Here's how to stop procrastinating, once and for all. This is the only guide you'll ever need to get rid of your procrastination and start doing what you're supposed to.
Are you someone that is anxious and fearful when it comes to selling? Here's what you've got to know about the Good, Bad, and Ugly of Habits and how they affect your sales. Remember, the easiest way to solve all business problems is to sell more. Listen up and start creating your system around sales!
In today’s episode, Den talks about how letting the fear of rejection hold you back in growing your business.
When you’re a “little known” business, people don’t know what you do and how your products/services can benefit them. But when you say that you can help them become profitable, increase sales, reduce costs, or whatever it is they may be struggling with—they will listen!
Are you looking far enough ahead? A lot of businesses worry about what's happening today but not enough time looking ahead. Successful businesses shine when they get away from the feast and famine by having a very clear idea of who to target and looking further down the track at what they want to achieve. Start looking at the big picture. Feel free to reach out if you're looking for someone to guide you.
It is very easy to curate content and publish it. Be careful not to believe. Be vigilant on those people who want to look successful and those that are successful. It's far better to be successful and blur in the background while helping clients achieve their goals than trying to look successful.
The first thing that a business mastermind will do is we'll get you to your result way faster than if you try to do it yourself. Being in a mastermind is an opportunity to work "on" your business as oppose to "in" your business. The group accountability within the mastermind allows you to observe others on the same journey or those who've been on the journey a bit farther than you, or those behind you. The connections made in the mastermind is life changing.
The real fear is success. It can hinder your growth as a business because you're not comfortable with what you perceive might happen if you become successful. Step out of your comfort zone of being the odd one out. Be comfortable with being different. Once you acknowledge the fear or discomfort of success, it's amazing what can start to shift after.
The primary goal of running a business is to make a profit with the least amount of effort. If you genuinely offer an incredible service then you should be fairly renumerated. Now is a great time to be reviewing your pricing making sure to explain why to avoid assumptions. Working hard to become successful is a myth. Instead, you need to be smart to become successful. Self-worth is what it really comes down to.
Can you run your week more effectively? You can manage your time better with a default diary. The bare essence of a default diary is creating themed days for every day of the working week. Create a day for growth which is for learning and implementation as well as a business development day intended for sales. Also, you need to get a system, be organized, be clear on what needs to be done and make sure to implement in order to achieve great outcomes.
When was the last time you genuinely took some time off? As a business leader, you need to optimize your health and performance. If you don't take time off, you're doing a disservice to your clients and your business and sometimes may lead you to make bad decisions. Having some time off gives you an opportunity to get creative again. It's hard to do this if it's only you in your business. Having a team for support and creating your own systems is critically important. Take a moment, breathe deeply, and be kind to yourself.
If you are broke right now, the cause is not this month. It is the result of what you did not sell 90 days ago. In this episode, we unpack the 90 day lag that runs your video business whether you know it or not.
You will discover:
The 3 phases of the 90 day lag
Why busy seasons lead to future cash flow problems
The real cost of inconsistent selling
How to build a weekly rhythm that prevents feast and famine
How to calculate your weekly sales targets
If you want predictable, stable revenue in your production business, this episode is essential listening.
The number one obstacle in growing a business is belief systems around what is possible, what you're capable of, and your ceilings. What makes it most challenging is acknowledging that you have it but then embracing the discomfort of the growth required to break it. You have to embrace the discomfort of growth. If you're not uncomfortable, you're not going to grow. The more uncomfortable you are, the more likely you are to follow through and make it work. Mindset is everything.
As a video production company, it's very easy to get burned out. Remove yourself from being the first point of contact and being the bottleneck of your own business. Create a system for how you deal and communicate with clients. Protecting your time and energy levels allows you to create a meaningful change in people's lives and their businesses.
How to be more effective with the time you have? As a creative, managing all of your thoughts can be overwhelming. You need to have different days for different themes so your brain can clearly engage in what's happening on a given day. Creating a default diary and having a team as your support can help take away some of the work that you shouldn't be focusing on as a business owner. It's far better to do things a little often than doing it all at once. The secret to productivity is consistency.
Den interviews a young whippersnapper coaching client named Josh Langmade whose video production company has skyrocketed to success in just a few short years. How'd he do it? Can you steal some of his secrets? Are there insider secrets to building a profitable video production business in record time?
All great questions...and all are answered inside this episode.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
The "R' word that is the backbone behind every service business that has a horde of happy and loyal clients and customers. - 0:30
How the "good old boy's club" in Josh's hometown has unwittingly helped Josh grow his business. - 1:30
How to turn your breakfast time into the most profitable and valuable time of your day. - 2:45
An eye-opening look inside the heads of successful entrepreneurs. (There is a huge belief dichotomy that's driving almost every highly successful entrepreneur. Here's what this... - 4:00)
The "Bust Arse" business philosophy. - 5:40
How to use an ancient Chinese philosophy to hire the best people for your business. - 10:00
The dangers of never having your business decisions questioned or challenged. (The truth is, most business owners never have their business ideas or strategies questioned or challenged, and it's probably why 50% of small businesses are on life support by their fifth year and almost 90% of all start-ups fail. - 15:40)
A totally counterintuitive (but very effective) mindset to achieving more in business with less effort. - 20:00
A laughably simple piece of business advice (often taught to kindergarten students, believe it or not) even experienced business people overlook. - 21:00)
Den interviews a young whippersnapper coaching client named Josh Langmade whose video production company has skyrocketed to success in just a few short years. How'd he do it? Can you steal some of his secrets? Are there insider secrets to building a profitable video production business in record time?
All great questions...and all are answered inside here in this episode.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
A special kind of "old" that's cool and beneficial in life and in business. - 1:40
An almost stupid obvious (but something almost nobody does) technique for quickly implementing goals, ideas, and strategies you keep putting off. - 4:00
Why Den's school wanted to expel him. This schoolboy shenanigans story explains why Den's a “gun” in business and why he's doing what he's doing now. - 6:00
A simple litmus test for knowing if you truly have entrepreneurial blood flowing through your veins. Listen in at 7:15
Sage advice from young Josh about how to approach business so that you're far more likely to (1) be innovative (2) creative (3) profitable, and (4) avoid getting stuck in the proverbial rut. - 8:50
A little-known business book that can help straighten out crooked thinking. (Josh credits this book as being the catalyst that propelled him into action at a time when he was sitting on his arse umming-and-ahing. - 9:20)
Quite possibly the greatest trait any leader could ever have. (If you don't have this trait as a leader, your underlings, contractors, and employees will never give you their complete trust, respect, or their best efforts. - 12:15)
What to say to a prospective client who says, "Nah, we don't need or want to use video for marketing", that could potentially get you new business from that very client. - 13:30
Could video freelances be the biggest marketing hypocrites in all of business? Hear this controversial topic at 14:20 and YOU decide.
A quickie crash course in video production marketing. - 16:30
Josh reveals his clever marketing strategy that has his clients pre-sold on hiring him and his company before they've even contacted him. - 19:00
Businesses in the VBA started from 300,000 to over a million in just two years. None of this comes easy. The VBA has a proven process that helps people systemize their process, get them into the right headspace, and do the steps in the right order whilst having a degree of accountability to their peers. VBA Mastermind is powerful and fun but can be exhausting in a way that it's supportive, helpful, lifts you up, and gets you focusing on the right things.
When it comes to selling, do you ever feel insecure and ashamed? In this episode, Den explains how to market your products and services without actually selling them. Listen up to learn some useful selling tips!
Do you set unrealistic goals for your business? In today’s shorty episode we are going to correct this because it’s really important to be aware where you are at in your journey and how you set your goals realistically.
In today's episode, we'll look back over the last 90 days and ask ourselves, "Did you meet your revenue targets?" Did you meet your strategic objectives? Are you on track to meet your financial objectives for the next year? It's critical that you have one to three clear strategic priorities when you set your priorities for the next quarter. You should also start tracking your company's performance each month to see how far you've come toward achieving your strategic goals.
Don't you know that it's in the midst of discomfort and pain that the most growth occurs? You may not like with what I'm about to say in today's episode, but it's critical that you hear it and see if it resonates with you.
Most video business owners work long hours and still feel stuck. Projects rely on them, clients rely on them, and growth stalls because everything runs through one person.
In this episode, I break down the seven systems that separate businesses capped at $100k from those scaling past $350k and beyond.
|These systems give you clarity, control, and the freedom to grow without burning out.
Here is what you will learn:
How to create predictable client acquisition
The project management flow that keeps every job on track
Why creative templates boost both quality and speed
How to track profit so you stop flying blind
The QC and training systems that keep your team consistent
The retention process that drives repeat business
If you want to scale with less stress and more control, these seven systems are the blueprint.
Do you recognize your business's constraints? It is essential to be able to identify your blind spots so that you can take action and address them head on. Listen to this episode for some useful advice.
Den interviews Ben Baldwin who is the founder of Chuffed Productions, long-time client, member of Den's VBA, and all-round top bloke. If you're in the video production industry, then listening to this is very likely to make you money.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
Why bad actors would be better off behind the camera than in front of one. - 2:15
Ben rattles off a laundry list of presenting jobs he had before launching his own business. - 4:00
How Ben bluffed his way into the video production industry. - 6:30
Why you should shake more hands if you want to go further in business. - 7:00
A clever thing Ben did as a video freelancer that helped him scale his business later on. (Best part: anyone video freelancer can do this immediately. - 9:45
Ben debunks a common videographer myth that is holding backing many videographers from scaling up their business. - 10:00
ATTENTION videographers: beware of the “editing trap”. - 11:00
The “5-letter word” that's considered a dirty word amongst videographers. (Hint: it starts with the letter "N" - 15:00)
How to win at business by saying "No" to more would-be clients. - 19:00
How to avoid pain-in-the arse clients. - 21:00
The timid business owner's guide to building smooth-sailing client-partner relationships. (And... doing it with brutal honesty. - 22:00)
A dirt simple way to jack up your fees (used by Google and other giant corporations) and have your clients not even raise an eyebrow. This can work just as well for the little guy, too. - 23:50
A profit-killing mindset that is keeping many video freelancers a day late and a dollar short. (If you are saying any of the things mentioned at 24:00, you might want to change that right quick.)
Wicked good business advice from Mr. Den Lennie. 24:30
The book every business owner should read at least twice per year. (This book is fast becoming the small business owner's Bible, and for good reason. - 37:20)
Why you should be concerned if you're always feeling comfortable in business. - 40:00
One big advantage business owners who attend masterminds have over those that don't. - 40:30
The secret behind Ben's dramatically improved business acumen. (And, how you can do the same. - 42:00)
How would you know if your efforts are being directed in the right direction? The majority of businesses are driving blind and have no idea that this is having a significant impact on their operations. After listening to this episode, start tracking your cash flow.