Leadership

Stu McLaren – Stu.Me

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# Summary: In Episode

#166 Ari interviews [Stu McLaren](http://stu.me/), co-creator of the [WishList Member](http://member.wishlistproducts.com/), one of the most popular WordPress plug-ins of all time. During their conversation, Ari and Stu talk about getting clear on _real _wants, the nuances of entrepreneurship and the secret to running a _great _membership site.

**Special Announcements:

** ## Fuel the Fire Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank.

##[Rockefeller Roundtable](http://helmsociety.com/ari-meisel-ceo-roundtable-nc/) Come watch Ari regale a roundtable of avid [Helm Society](http://helmsociety.com/) listeners with the lessons of Less Doing on September 9th from 10AM to 2PM in New York City.

##Subscribe to the Podcast or [Leave Us a Review!](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ari-meisel-less-doing/id605938952?mt=2&uo=6) Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you’re not already a dedicated follower.

**Time Stamped Show Notes:**

– 16:00 – Introduction of [Stu McLaren](http://stu.me/), Co-Creator of the best-selling WordPress Plug-in [WishList Member](http://member.wishlistproducts.com/)

– 17:00 – Stu shares his story

– 18:00 – The first digital product Stu ever sold was an e-book

– 19:30 – The importance of buying ads and investing in traffic

– 19:59 – Stu’s #1 strength?—Positivity

– 20:44 – Stu’s first digital sale? $7.95

– 22:00 – That $7.95 cost Stu nearly $900

– 22:29 – Fast-forward a few years the truth comes out—Stu’s brother was actually responsible for that first sale

– 23:40 – One simple act can have lasting and majorly impactful consequences

– 24:05 – We all start somewhere

– 24:30 – The small things DO make a huge difference

– 25:37 – The profit margins with online business are greater than almost any other business someone can get into

– 26:45 – Stu started WishList out of personal necessity, not burning desire or passion

– 27:50 – See a problem, create a solution, a business is born

– 29:53 – Whenever you’re creating a product that is going to fulfill your needs, focus on what would make it “super awesome” for you—then find other people it can be adapted to

– 31:30 – [Essentialism](http://amzn.to/1HvY0rI) and [The One Thing](http://amzn.to/1dvp4t3)

– 32:06 – Whenever you’re looking at different opportunities, get clear on _how _you’re going to rank those opportunities—you need to clearly outline your criterion

– 33:55 – Mental bandwidth is your most valuable commodity

– 37:15 – If you have a big or even modest following, find a way to monetize it

– 39:09 – Stu shares his key advice for a membership site

– 39:34 – Get REAL clear on what your audience wants

– 41:25 – Batch create your content

– 41:33 – Do NOT provide your members with too much content

– 41:53 – Value isn’t in the volume of content, it is in content that can drive the results sought

– 43:18 – Do not avoid planning—if you do, everything will become _reactive_

– 44:17 – Stu’s _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_

– 44:27 – Get clear on what matters most

– 46:54 – Create and design your life _around _what matters most

– 47:43 – Be generous

**7 Key Points:**

1. Mental bandwidth is your most valuable commodity.

2. See a problem. Solve a problem. Now you have a business.

3. Everyone starts somewhere and it’s usually somewhere way down at the bottom.

4. The small things really can have the biggest impact.

5. STAY POSITIVE.

6. Focus on what your customers WANT and be mindful of how you provide it to them.

7. Do not avoid planning—Take the time to plan. It pays dividends.

**Resources Mentioned:

** – [Ztailo — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Josh Davis – Two Awesome Hours

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# **Summary:**

In Episode #164 Ari invites PhD and author of [Two Awesome Hours](http://www.twoawesomehours.com/), Josh Davis, on the Less Doing podcast. During this week’s interview, Ari and Josh go in-depth on the subject of brains, neural programming and why working for great lengths of time is far from being the _right _way to tackle a busy schedule.

**Special Announcements:**

## Fuel the Fire Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank. ## [Rockefeller Roundtable](http://helmsociety.com/ari-meisel-ceo-roundtable-nc/) Come watch Ari regale a roundtable of avid [Helm Society](http://helmsociety.com/) listeners with the lessons of Less Doing on September 9th from 10AM to 2PM in New York City.

Subscribe to the Podcast or Leave Us a Review!

Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you’re not already a dedicated follower.

**Time Stamped Show Notes:**

  • – 30:46 – Introduction of Josh Davis of [Two Awesome Hours](http://amzn.to/1HnFnX9)
  • – 31:05 – Josh defines the [NeuroLeadership Institute](http://www.neuroleadership.com)
  • – 32:47 – Josh’s background is varied but he eventually fell into psychology and research
  • – 34:15 – The genesis for Two Awesome Hours
  • – 34:30 – More and more—people are being _overwhelmed _with work and the natural response is to work harder, longer and more frequently—this is a terrible solution for a human being
  • – 35:15 – What we _can _do, is be very effective for short bursts of time—we’re sprinters
  • – 36:23 – You don’t need to be “ON” all day long
  • – 37:12 – People who brag about how much work they do or how little they sleep are (for lack of a better word) foolish
  • – 38:52 – The strategies Josh recommends
  • – 38:58 – There really are only a handful of moments throughout the day where we can make decisions about what task to do next
  • – 39:39 – Most of the time we’re rolling on auto pilot so recognize those few moments when you’re fully aware and present
  • – 40:39 – Do what’s important, not what’s urgent
  • – 41:12 – Time isn’t wasted during those moments we’re “in-between” tasks…time is wasted when we get started on the wrong task
  • – 41:30 – Josh’s routine
  • – 43:46 – Exercise has incredible short-term benefits
  • – 46:00 – Things that we need to do “well” are things where we need to be _fully present_
  • – 48:04 – The importance of environment and how we can improve _any _workspace
  • – 49:03 – ADD isn’t a problem—that’s how your brain, your attention system, is supposed to work
  • – 51:59 – Josh’s _Top 2 Tips to be More Effective_:
  • – 52:07 – Learn some self-compassion
  • – 52:48 – Understand that mind-wandering is completely healthy
  • – 53:30 – Check out the [NeuroLeadership Institute](https://www.neuroleadership.com) and [http://www.twoawesomehours.com/](http://www.twoawesomehours.com/)

**7 Key Points:**

  1. Enjoy the moments when your mind decides to wander—let it happen.
  2. Your brain is naturally wired to have what essentially amounts to ADD—it’s not a problem.
  3. Obtain self-compassion.
  4. You can’t be “ON all day and, more importantly, you don’t need to be.
  5. We can be incredibly effective for short periods of time.
  6. Time isn’t wasted in-between tasks, it’s wasted when the wrong task is started.
  7. Exercise has amazing and oft-overlooked short-term benefits.

**Resources Mentioned:**

[Warrant.ly](http://warrant.ly/?ref=producthunt) – Paper warranties are no more! Scan or snap a picture of your warranty and upload it to the app – [Ultradox](http://www.ultradox.com/?ref=producthunt) – Like IFTTT or Zapier but for documents – [Build Fire](http://buildfire.com/product-hunt/?ref=producthunt) – — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Mary Meckley – Sip and Om

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# Episode 163

**Summary:**

In Episode #163 Ari interviews his much-appreciated meditation teacher Mary Meckley of [Sip and Om](https://www.sipandom.com/). During the interview, Mary explains how her time working in corporate Japan led to her discovery of meditation, how that discovery led to a newfound love, and how that newfound love ultimately led to the birth of _Sip and Om_.

**Special Announcements:**

[Fuel the Fire]

(http://www.ippa.net/content/index.php?view=details&id=6%3A2015+IPPA+Business+Excellence+Conference&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=54)

Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank.

[Subscribe to the Podcast or Leave Us a Review!]

(https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewContentsUserReviews?id=605938952&type=Podcast&ls=1&mt=1) Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you’re not already a dedicated follower.

**Time Stamped Show Notes:**

  • – 10:25 – Introduction of Mary Meckley of [Sip and Om](https://www.sipandom.com/meditation-for-productivity/)
  • – 11:19 – Mary explains how she got into meditation
  • – 14:19 – Meditation creates new neural pathways in the brain
  • – 15:01 – Mary does not focus on one specific type of meditation
  • – 15:40 – Use whatever techniques you need to get there – there being a place of calm and mindfulness
  • – 16:17 – Have something to look forward to every day
  • – 16:40 – Meditation is about slowing downs and becoming self-aware
  • – 18:15 – How Mary lays out the weekly meditation schedule
  • -19:00 – Get outside and connect with the world…with nature…with your environment
  • – 20:26 – When one faces the elements everyday they become more capable of handling stress, anxiety, etc.
  • – 22:45 – The most important thing in meditation is to allow yourself to _transition_…you can’t just sit down and turn it on
  • – 25:20 – For most people, conducting a daily podcast would be a challenge but Mary enjoys it
  • – 25:28 – Make your meditation rough around the edges
  • – 26:23 – Consistency is important in meditative success
  • – 26:55 – The people that become the _best _meditators – that get the most out of mediation – are those with high-energy
  • – 28:16 – Mary’s sources of inspiration
  • – 30:14 – The more you learn, the more you’re obligated to do something with that knowledge
  • – 31:48 – [www.SimAndOm.com](www.SimAndOm.com)

**7 Key Points:**

  1. Find something to look forward to every single day.
  2. People need to adapt themselves to the seasons – to the outside world – rather than just create a false level of “comfort” all the time.
  3. Meditation needs to be rough around the edges.
  4. Become a master of transition.
  5. Consistent meditation has been proven to create new neural pathways in the brain.
  6. Everyone needs a source of inspiration, but that source need not be grandiose.
  7. Exposure to the natural world helps us better understand (and ultimately control) things like anxiety and stress.

**Resources Mentioned:**

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Dr. Jeff Spencer – The Champion’s Blueprint

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# Episode 162

**Summary:**

In Episode #162 Ari interviews [Jeff Spencer of The Champion’s Blueprint](http://drjeffspencer.com/). During the episode, Ari and Jeff discuss the secrets to success in all aspects of life and highlight the unheralded importance of a good cornerman.

**Special Announcements:**

[Fuel the Fire]

(http://www.ippa.net/content/index.php?view=details&id=6%3A2015+IPPA+Business+Excellence+Conference&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=54) Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank.

**Time Stamped Show Notes:**

  • – 11:39 – Introduction of [Dr. Jeff Spencer](http://drjeffspencer.com/) of _The Champion’s Blueprint_
  • – 13:27 – The less assuming tend to win in life
  • – 14:49 – In life or in sports, everyone needs a body that can _perform_
  • – 15:42 – Everyone needs a cornerman
  • – 16:37 – There are 9 areas of life
  • – 16:55 – The person with the most technical skill is not the champion—the champ is the person who’s ready for the 3-5 pivotal moments
  • – 18:26 – Identify the real obstacles standing in your way
  • – 19:14 – The punch you need to fear is the one you never see coming
  • – 20:29 – History does not lie—it’s an amazing reference point and predictor of the future
  • – 20:44 – Most people fail to prepare
  • – 21:49 – How a cornerman is different from a coach
  • – 23:00 – One good cornerman is better than 10 coaches
  • – 25:40 – Jeff’s original cornerman
  • – 27:13 – “My mentors saved my life”
  • – 27:28 – “You can’t win alone, it’s impossible”
  • – 30:00 – Sports are a great metaphor for life
  • – 31:20 – Success has less to do with the small details and more to do with having all the elements in the equation moving harmoniously
  • – 32:13 – Jeff’s _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_
  • – 32:24 – Will and talent cannot save you
  • – 33:11 – Find a cornerman and hold on to him
  • – 33:42 – No one wins alone
  • – 34:28 — [www.DrJeffSpencer.com](http://www.DrJeffSpencer.com)

**7 Key Points:**

  1. 1. Having a high-performance body is not just important for athletes, it’s important for everyone.
  2. 2. Everyone needs a cornerman.
  3. 3. Don’t go it alone—in life, business, sports, anywhere.
  4. 4. Always prepare for the 3-5 pivotal moments that determine success.
  5. 5. Know thy history, love thy history.
  6. 6. Understand that sports are a wonderful metaphor for life.
  7. 7. If you want to be successful, building a blueprint isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity.

**Resources Mentioned:**

**Credits:**

– Audio Engineering provided by [Chris Mottram](https://christophermottramaudio.wordpress.com/)

– Original Music provided by [Felix Bird](http://2014.felixbird.c —

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Steve Sims – The Blue Fish

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# Episode 161

**Summary:** 

In Episode #161 Ari interviews Steve Sims of [The Blue Fish](http://thebluefish.com/), the world’s leading provider of luxury concierge services. During their brief but powerful conversation, Steve outlines the method to his astoundingly successful customer-retention madness and explains why The Blue Fish is truly a concierge service unlike any other.

**Special Announcements:**

EO Vancouver On June 18th, join Ari at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in b-e-a-utiful Vancouver, B.C. as he takes the microphone for _EO Vancouver_. Enjoy this unique opportunity to watch Ari candidly discuss life as an Author, Speaker, Teacher and – most importantly – Achievement Architect.

## [EO Victoria](https://m.facebook.com/EOVictoriaChapter) Join Ari at one of the Entrepreneur Organization’s high-impact learning events in Victoria, B.C. Like EO Vancouver, this will undoubtedly be a unique opportunity to watch Ari candidly discuss life as an Author, Speaker, Teacher and – most importantly – Achievement Architect.

## [Fuel the Fire](http://www.ippa.net/content/index.php?view=details&id=6%3A2015+IPPA+Business+Excellence+Conference&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=54) Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank.

**Time Stamped Show Notes:**

  • – 10:56 – Introduction of Steve Sims, founder of [The Blue Fish](http://thebluefish.com/)
  • – 11:39 – The Blue Fish is a real-life wizard of Oz
  • – 12:12 – An unforgettable private dining experience in Florence…
  • – 17:18 – The “envelope in the hotel” tactic
  • – 19:24 – Only 7-12% of emails actually get through to and read by their intended recipient
  • – 20:15 – If you want an open rate that’s 100% you have to stand out, you have to be different, you have to be distinct—and you cannot use email
  • – 21:00 – Don’t send personal letters, notes, etc. just to friends and personal acquaintances—send them to people you’re trying to entice
  • – 21:35 – Show you care, show you have that personal touch
  • – 22:30 – The Blue Fish has just under 4,000 clients
  • – 22:48 – If you don’t like talking to clients, you had better like watching your bank account disappear
  • – 23:20 – Be hyper-observant when it comes to what your client ISN’T saying
  • – 24:16 – Find a way of connecting
  • – 25:00 – Don’t keep it in your head, write it down
  • – 25:33 – When you’re writing notes, personalize them and keep it short
  • – 26:24 – Try the snail mail, note-based system and _watch _your conversion rates skyrocket
  • – 27:22 – Steve’s _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_
  • – 27:31 – Be YOU
  • – 27:52 – Dumb it down—avoid airs and graces
  • – 28:25 – Be humble and respect other people
  • – 28:56 – The Blue Fish membership requires a $5K a year fee, an interview _and _an application
  • – 29:38 – [UglySims.com](http://www.uglysims.com/)

**7 Key Points:**

  1. Handwritten notes are the _only _way to leave a lasting impression on your clients.
  2. Find a way of connecting with your clients on a personal level—if you do, you’ll resonate.
  3. Don’t keep an idea, thought, or notion in your head. WRITE IT DOWN!
  4. Most people read less than 15% of their email and they respond to even less of it.
  5. Letters aren’t just for personal friends—they’re for business partners and customers you’re trying to court.
  6. Do more than just get to know your clients as their profession—get to know them as people.
  7. Master the art of personal touch and personal flair.

**Resources Mentioned:**

– [How to Stop Worrying](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/05/how-to-stop-worrying/) – From Barking Up the Wrong Tree, an article highlighting ways people can stop worrying

– [Join Send](https://www.joinsend.com/#pricing) – A company that will provide pick-up and drop —

– Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Ric Thompson – Done For You Solutions

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# Episode 160

**Summary:**

This week features a leaner, meaner Less Doing Podcast—no links, no special announcements, just a dynamite interview with Ric Thompson of [Done For You Solutions](http://doneforyousolutions.com/)—a game-changer of an organization within the virtual assistant space.

**Special Announcements:**

## EO Vancouver On June 18th, join Ari at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in b-e-a-utiful Vancouver, B.C. as he takes the microphone for _EO Vancouver_. Enjoy this unique opportunity to watch Ari candidly discuss life as an Author, Speaker, Teacher and – most importantly – Achievement Architect.

[EO Victoria](https://m.facebook.com/EOVictoriaChapter) Join Ari at one of the Entrepreneur Organization’s high-impact learning events in Victoria, B.C. Like EO Vancouver, this will undoubtedly be a unique opportunity to watch Ari candidly discuss life as an Author, Speaker, Teacher and – most importantly – Achievement Architect.

[Fuel the Fire](http://www.ippa.net/content/index.php?view=details&id=6%3A2015+IPPA+Business+Excellence+Conference&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=54) Come watch Ari light-up the Drake Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, August 5th as he delivers a rousing keynote speech for IPPA Business Excellence Conference: _Fuel the Fire_. This will be a great opportunity to watch Ari translate the lessons of Less Doing into terms business leaders can take to the bank.

**Time Stamped Show Notes:**

  • – 01:21 – Introduction of Ric Thompson, the founder of [Done For You Solutions](http://doneforyousolutions.com/)
  • – 02:02 – Ric defines Done For You Solutions as a _team_ of VA’s rather than an individual VA
  • – 03:10 – Ric has always surrounded himself with an excellent team, people always (jokingly) asked about hiring his team—an idea is born!
  • – 03:35 – More frequently than not, Ric’s team is hired to do web development because “that’s the stuff no one wants to do or learn”
  • – 04:01 – They’re also asked to do a lot of admin work—why?—because admin work is a time suck
  • – 04:20 – Content for your business _needs _to come from a professional writer
  • – 05:19 – If you’re an expert on something, outsource _everything _else
  • – 06:08 – Ric’s team follows the distributed model (his team is all over the world) and leverages modern technology
  • – 07:19 – The key to defeating outsourcing objections according to Ric?—clear communication
  • – 08:17 – Delegation is not something you can just wake up and do—like anything else, it’s a skill that needs development
  • – 08:20 – [Stephen Covey](https://www.stephencovey.com/) – The 5 Levels of Delegation
  • – 08:45 – Most people want to start at level 4 or 5 of delegation
  • – 08:57 – Delegation is a relationship
  • – 10:48 – Steve’s Top 3 Tech Tools for successful outsourcing
  • – 10:51 – Skype
  • – 11:06 – Basecamp and Trello
  • – 12:09 – DropBox
  • – 12:30 – Entrepreneurs and small business owners want to get stuff DONE, but they tend to skip thinking things through
  • – 13:30 – Ric is always focused on sales and hiring because he has outsourced all of his other tasks
  • – 14:22 – Ric’s _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_
  • – 14:28 – Own the proper mindset
  • – 15:32 – You are NOT your business—to your business, time is a scalable resource but YOU are limited to 24 hours in a day
  • – 15:52 – Keep dialing in your effective communication skills
  • – 16:21 – [DoneForYouSolutions.com](http://doneforyousolutions.com/)

**7 Key Points:**

  1. Effective communication is 100% critical to the success of any outsourcing effort.
  2. Surround yourself with a quality team and a quality business will quickly emerge.
  3. Leverage modern technology to make your life easier.
  4. Delegation is a skill that requires an investment of time and effort to master.
  5. Never forget that you are NOT your business.
  6. Content for your business needs to come from a professional writer.
  7. If you are an expert at something, outsource everything else so you can focus on what you — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

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