Ever feel stuck jogging through career oatmeal while others seem to effortlessly rise to the top? There's a reason 90% of experts never advance beyond "competent" - and it has nothing to do with talent.
In this episode, I sit down with Jim Cathcart, a 27-book author, Golden Gavel winner, and mentor to professional experts worldwide. Jim breaks down his 7 levels of expertise framework and reveals exactly what separates legendary professionals from those who stay average forever.
You'll discover:
◆ The 7 levels of expertise from incompetent to legendary status (and where you probably sit right now)
◆ Why "normal processes lead to normality" and what you must do differently to stand out
◆ The difference between being an expert and a "professional expert" who builds a career around themselves as the product
◆ Jim's 3-step formula that separates achievers from everyone else: Want → Decide → Continue (most people fail miserably at step 3)
◆ Why comparison is the thief of joy and how we always compare their strengths to our weaknesses
◆ The mindset shift that transformed Jim from a baby-faced 30-year-old to a legend in his field
◆ How to position yourself as a celebrity in your field (even if you're a coach, consultant, or "boring" industry expert)
Jim doesn't sugarcoat it - reaching the top "consumes your entire life" and requires you to be willing to be "a mutant," different from everybody else. But if you're tired of being just another expert in the crowd and ready to become THE go-to authority people seek out, this conversation gives you the complete roadmap.
About Jim Cathcart:CSP, CPAE, founder of Cathcart Institute LLC, 27-book author with a 28th in progress, and trainer/speaker for 3,500+ clients worldwide. Winner of every major speaking award including the prestigious Golden Gavel alongside legends like Tony Robbins and Zig Ziglar.
Connect with Jim: cathcart.com
About Be Known, LLC:We help expertise-driven businesses build predictable lead flow and scalable growth through proven marketing systems. No guesswork. No wasted ad spend. Just measurable ROI.
Ready to scale smarter? Visit beknownonline.com
Most coaching programs are built to make money for the creator. But what if the entire model was designed around actually getting members to seven figures and beyond?
Josh Nelson didn't start with a book, a massive following, or even a finished course. He started with a $1 million agency, a proven roadmap, and 12 weeks of live calls that he sold before creating a single module.
That decision became the foundation for 7 Figure Agency - a $6 million coaching business with 375 active members, $550K in monthly recurring revenue, and 181 agencies that have crossed seven figures.
This isn't theory. Josh walks through the exact playbook: how he validated demand before building content, evolved from a one-time product to a recurring model, and scaled support through 16 success coaches and 14 specialty coaches.
You'll hear the sales process (book funnel to webinar to live event), the "try before you buy" intensive that converts at 30%+, and why he's never been tempted by high-ticket one-on-one despite the industry push.
If you're an agency owner, consultant, or coach wondering how to build something that actually transforms clients while generating predictable revenue, this is the blueprint.
What You'll Discover
◆ The market gap Josh identified in 2011: Too much hype, not enough "here's how I actually did it and here's the roadmap to implement it"
▸ How to validate a coaching offer before building it: Sell live cohort delivery, create content in real-time with buyers, then productize what works
◆ The curse of knowledge - why agency owners who've done it for 10+ years need to spend time with people who haven't, or they'll create content that doesn't resonate with their ideal buyer
▸ The book funnel to webinar to live event model: A 90-minute webinar that tells the story and invites prospects to a "try before you buy" intensive where day one delivers massive value with zero risk
▸ Why recurring revenue beats high-ticket: Consistent income, price points that make financial sense for members, and ROI that's easier to justify and scale
▸ The "learn, do, teach" philosophy: Members who become specialty coaches develop mastery while earning supplemental income - 16 success coaches and 14 specialty coaches now support the community
✓ Josh's three non-negotiable rules for coaching success: Focus on client results first, don't default to one-on-one delivery, and market aggressively - you have a responsibility to get your great program in front of people
Learn more about 7 Figure Agency at https://sevenfigureagency.com/
If you're ready to scale your coaching or consulting business with a done-for-you marketing system that delivers measurable ROI, book a consultation at beknownonline.com/start
Be Known helps coaches, consultants, and course creators scale with done-for-you marketing systems that deliver measurable ROI.
Join Daniel Pope as he interviews Chad Durphy, founder of Project Icon, who reveals the counterintuitive business strategies behind building a podcast empire. Discover how a $97 "loss leader" creates $1,900+ lifetime customers, why paying per result beats hourly wages, and the "Blitzkrieg" scaling method that took one client from 10 to 130+ monthly retainers.
What You'll Learn:◆ The 20x ROAS business model that breaks traditional math◆ Why 100+ episode podcasters still make $0 (and how to fix it)◆ The "surfing" mindset for aggressive business scaling◆ Slack workflow systems that eliminate project bottlenecks◆ How to hire "company moms" from Facebook groups◆ The trust-building strategy that creates raving fans
Key Insights:Chad shares how Project Icon "engineers public perception" to position clients as industry experts, why long-form content cuts through the "fog of mediocrity," and the operational systems that support million-dollar ad spend goals. This isn't just about podcasting—it's about building authority, optimizing cash flow, and scaling with systems that actually work.
Perfect for: Coaches, consultants, and course creators with $500K-$5M revenue who want predictable lead flow and scalable growth systems.
Connect with Be Known, LLC: https://www.beknownonline.com
#BusinessScaling #PodcastStrategy #MarketingROI #BusinessSystems #EntrepreneurMindset
I thought I understood the info marketing game until Nick Loise walked me through the brutal realities that most entrepreneurs refuse to face.
Nick ran GKIC (Glazer Kennedy Insider Circle) as President, building it into an $18M powerhouse with 6,000+ members. He's witnessed the Dan Kennedy empire from the inside and seen the patterns that separate lasting businesses from the 90% that vanish without a trace.
This conversation pulls no punches. We dive deep into why customer acquisition costs are crushing businesses across ALL industries, why ROAS is a ghost metric that misleads entrepreneurs, and the strategic partnerships that smart business owners use when traditional advertising becomes too expensive.
What You'll Discover:
The Dan Kennedy lineage that created Russell Brunson, Alex Hormozi, and countless other success stories. Nick explains the direct response marketing principles that have lasted decades while trendy tactics come and go.
Why most info marketers treat their business like a personal piggy bank instead of building real systems. Nick shares the operational mindset that separates businesses with staying power from the overnight successes that disappear by month 13.
Alternative traffic sources beyond Facebook and Instagram that convert solution-seekers into buyers. We explore YouTube as the new book, Reddit as an underutilized goldmine, and international markets that generated 25% of GKIC's revenue.
The psychology plus math formula that Nick used to scale GKIC. It's not just about messaging or metrics - it's mastering both sides of the equation that most marketers get wrong.
Key Insights:
Strategic partnerships that slash customer acquisition costs without expensive ads. Nick breaks down the Jay Abraham approach to finding complementary audiences and building mutually beneficial relationships.
Why differentiation matters more than ever in a crowded marketplace. We discuss how to position yourself FOR specific people and AGAINST specific things, plus the core storytelling that makes businesses memorable.
The mentor selection process that can save you years of trial and error. Nick and I share how studying the mentors of your current influences can fast-track your education and help you avoid industry charlatans.
International market opportunities that most US-based entrepreneurs completely ignore. Nick shares stories from GKIC events in Milan, Japan, and Haiti that reveal global hunger for quality marketing education.
This isn't another surface-level marketing conversation. Nick brings decades of experience from the highest levels of the info marketing industry, plus the business acumen to separate what works from what sounds good in theory.
Whether you're a coach, consultant, or course creator struggling with inconsistent leads, rising ad costs, or competition from fake lifestyle marketers, this episode provides the strategic framework you need to build a business that lasts.
Connect with Nick Loise at salesperformanceteam.com for sales training and business development, or yoursalesrecruiter.com for his recruiting services.
Ready to build marketing systems that scale? Visit beknownonline.com to explore how we help expertise-driven businesses generate predictable lead flow and measurable ROI.
Join Daniel Pope as he sits down with Coach Allan Rojas, a leadership and sales coach from Costa Rica, for a powerful conversation about authentic storytelling, resilience, and career transformation. Allan shares the incredible success story of his client Rachel, who went from struggling factory worker to thriving data analyst using the "failing forward" method.
In this episode, you'll discover why your story is your biggest career asset and how to turn every setback into a stepping stone for success. Allan breaks down the mindset shifts that separate successful people from everyone else, including why he never calls mistakes "mistakes" and how to build unshakeable resilience.
What You'll Learn:
Allan's approach to coaching emphasizes self-belief, authentic storytelling, and viewing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles. Whether you're a job seeker struggling with rejections, an entrepreneur building your personal brand, or someone looking to help others through coaching or mentoring, this conversation offers practical insights and proven strategies.
Key Takeaways:
Perfect for entrepreneurs, coaches, job seekers, and anyone ready to transform their approach to challenges and unlock their potential through authentic storytelling and resilient thinking.
Discover how successful entrepreneurs break free from the Builder's Paradox - where your own success keeps you trapped in daily operations. Daniel Pope interviews Jen Eckhart of Entrepreneurial Freedom to reveal the exact framework for transitioning from owner-dependent to self-managed business.
In this conversation, you'll learn the 4 phases of entrepreneurial evolution (Founder to Builder to Ambassador to Investor), the Ops Flywheel Framework for operational independence, and why the "Friday Effect" exposes hidden business weaknesses. Jen shares real case studies, including how one client grew from $6M to $8.5M revenue while working less.
Perfect for business owners feeling stuck in their operations, this episode uncovers the systems, processes, and mindset shifts needed to build a business that thrives without you. Whether you're planning an exit or just want your life back, this framework creates freedom now and asset value later.
Topics covered include the "quiet truths" entrepreneurs won't admit about leadership transitions, how to use Kolbe assessments to optimize team dynamics, why visionaries and operators clash, and the personal transformation required for business growth.
Guest: Jen Eckhart - Entrepreneurial FreedomHost: Daniel Pope - Be Known, LLC
For show notes and resources, visit beknownonline.com
When a client stepped back from operations and complaints started rolling in, we could have panicked. Instead, we used the Voice of Customer (VOC) framework to transform those negative situations into business intelligence and referral opportunities.
In this episode, I break down the complete 3-phase VOC system that lets you systematically collect customer feedback while positioning yourself as the solution. You'll learn how to handle customers in "triage mode" without making things worse, the specific questions that unlock valuable market research, and why asking "What would you consider us the best at?" works like a defibrillator for angry customers.
This isn't just damage control. When done right, you're extracting insights that improve your advertising, email copy, and messaging while turning complaints into referrals. I've seen this framework pull clients out of refund requests and transform them into advocates.
The difference between good businesses and great ones? Great businesses know how to turn their biggest challenges into competitive advantages. This is that kind of work.
For more business growth strategies that actually work, follow the show and visit https://beknownonline.com/
Most businesses are doing automation completely backwards. They jump straight to automated LinkedIn outreach, evergreen webinars, and email sequences without validating anything first. Then they wonder why they're burning through thousands of dollars with nothing to show for it.
In this episode, I break down the exact framework successful businesses use: validate, automate, accelerate.
You'll learn:
Why the 30-180 day validation period isn't optional (and what factors determine your timeline)
How to establish baselines and controls before automating anything
The real client example of live webinars that actually convert
When you know you're ready to flip the automation switch
Why "what got you here won't get you there" applies to your team, not just your systems
Here's the thing. Automation sounds amazing. Set it and forget it, right? But if you haven't validated your campaign first, you're just automating failure at scale.
Whether you're thinking about automating your LinkedIn outreach, setting up evergreen webinars, or building email sequences, listen to this first. It'll save you time, money, and a lot of headaches.
Ready to build marketing systems that actually work for your business? This episode shows you exactly how.
#MarketingAutomation #DigitalMarketing #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #LeadGeneration
In this deep-dive conversation, David Bush interviews Daniel Pope, founder of Be Known LLC and self-proclaimed "Chief Storyteller," who's generating 5-12x returns on ad spend for consultants, coaches, and advisors.
What You'll Discover:
Key Takeaways:
Daniel shares his complete framework for turning "mess into message," including real client stories like the 58-year-old nurse who transformed her struggling online program by shifting from features to emotional transformation. You'll learn why data-driven decisions beat guessing every time, how to create irresistible offers with scarcity and urgency, and the future of high-touch, experiential business models.
Perfect For: Consultants, coaches, advisors, and expertise-driven business owners with $500K-$5M revenue who want scalable growth, predictable lead flow, and measurable ROI.
Guest: Daniel Pope, Founder & Chief Storyteller at Be Known LLC (beknownonline.com)
Host: David Bush, bdr.ai
Recorded September 2025 • Runtime: ~49 minutes
Struggling to find reliable, affordable remote talent? You're not alone.
Most business owners either overpay for mediocre help or get burned by cheap contractors who disappear. But what if I told you there's a systematic way to find rock-star remote workers for $5-15/hour who'll stick around long-term?
In this episode, I break down my proven multi-tier vetting process that's helped me hire dozens of overseas workers. And why they often outperform their US counterparts.
Here's what you'll learn:
The eliminate-automate-delegate framework that saves you from hiring the wrong people
Why time tracking is your secret weapon for identifying what you actually need to hire for
My favorite platform for finding remote talent (and the 3 non-negotiables I always filter for)
The psychology behind making candidates "jump through hoops" and why it works
How $5/hour in the Philippines equals $25-50/hour purchasing power in the US
My complete assessment process that weeds out 80% of applicants automatically
The reference check strategy that's landed me new clients
Bottom line: Stop playing hiring roulette. There's a logical, systematic approach to building your remote team, and I'm sharing every detail.
Perfect for coaches, consultants, and online business owners who need to scale without breaking the bank.
Ready to build your dream remote team? Let's connect. Search "Be Known LLC" and let's chat about putting these systems to work in your business.
This episode delivers the no-fluff, actionable insights you need to hire smarter, not harder.
Discover why launches, webinars, and email marketing aren't dead in 2025! Join host Daniel as he interviews Amber Miller, CEO of Smart to Finish, a boutique agency with two decades of experience rescuing entrepreneurs from launch disasters.
In this power-packed episode, Amber shares battle-tested strategies from 20 years in the trenches, including:
Amber's unique background, from managing IT networks during Y2K to becoming the "launch therapist" for stressed entrepreneurs—gives her unmatched perspective on what really works under pressure.
Whether you're planning your first launch or your fiftieth, this episode delivers actionable insights on client management, traffic generation, and the mindset shifts that separate successful launches from expensive failures.
Perfect for entrepreneurs, business owners, coaches, and marketers who want proven strategies, not empty promises.
Key Topics: Business launches, entrepreneurship, client management, email marketing, webinar strategy, Meta advertising, project management
#Entrepreneurship #BusinessLaunches #OnlineMarketing #EmailMarketing #WebinarStrategy #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset
Discover how Ben Gower scaled from door-to-door sales rep to building a $300K/month coaching business in just 6 months!
In this power-packed episode, sales veteran Ben shares his journey from managing 50+ Direct TV reps across three states to creating the game-changing financing platform ShiFi.
What You'll Learn:
Key Topics Covered:
Perfect for coaches, consultants, course creators, and anyone selling high-ticket programs. Whether you're doing $10K or $10M per year, Ben's proven strategies will transform how you approach sales and financing.
#SalesTraining #HighTicketSales #CoachingBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SalesStrategy #OnlineBusiness #InfoProducts
Jim Padilla, CEO of Gain The Edge, shares the critical mistakes that prevent consultants, coaches, and service-based businesses from scaling beyond 6 figures. In this interview, discover why singular focus beats multiple revenue streams, how to prioritize effectiveness over efficiency, and the #1 reason most sales strategies fail.
Key topics covered:
Perfect for business owners, consultants, coaches, and entrepreneurs looking to scale their expertise-driven businesses from $500K to $5M+ without burning out or sacrificing profitability.
Jim Padilla founded Gain The Edge to help visionary founders build legendary companies through intelligent sales processes, proper enablement, and human-centered approaches. His clients typically scale from 6 to 7 figures or prepare 7-8 figure businesses for strategic exits.
Connect with Jim:
https://www.gaintheedgenow.com/
or find him on social @GainTheEdge
#SalesStrategy #BusinessGrowth #Scaling #Entrepreneurship #ConsultingBusiness #CoachingBusiness #ServiceBusiness #SalesManagement #BusinessStrategy #Profitability
Are you building a business that will thrive for decades, or one that's destined to burn out? In this episode, Daniel Pope shares a recent uncomfortable business call that revealed two fundamentally different approaches to entrepreneurship: the "miner" vs "gardener" mindset.
After experiencing aggressive sales tactics disguised as collaboration, Daniel breaks down why some businesses extract quick value and disappear while others cultivate lasting success. He exposes the red flags in high-pressure consulting pitches and explains how to identify whether you're dealing with someone who wants to exploit your business or genuinely help it grow.
Key Topics Covered:
Whether you're a coach, consultant, or service provider, this episode will challenge you to examine your business practices and choose the path that leads to genuine impact and sustainable profits.
Perfect for entrepreneurs tired of "get rich quick" schemes who want to build something meaningful that stands the test of time.
Why do the best-known businesses consistently outperform the best?
In this episode, Daniel Pope, founder of Be Known LLC, breaks down the hard truth behind why most coaches, consultants, and course creators stay stuck in the growth rollercoaster, despite having great products.
Daniel shares how a single insight during a shower sparked a 7-figure business built on done-for-you marketing systems that generate qualified leads and real ROI.
If you're tired of launch burnout, inconsistent sales, and guessing at what works in your marketing, this conversation is your roadmap to becoming the go-to expert in your niche.
Perfect for:
Coaches, consultants, and service providers ready to scale with smarter systems and high-converting strategies.
Connect with Daniel at beknownonline.com or email dpope@beknownonline.com
#MarketingStrategy #OnlineBusiness #LeadGeneration #BusinessGrowth #CoachingBusiness
Struggling with no-show calls or unqualified prospects?
In this episode, Daniel Pope talks with Grant Eilertson, founder of Simple Check, about the low-cost tool that's helping coaches, consultants, and high-ticket businesses automatically prequalify leads - using just name, email, and phone.
You’ll discover how to:
Instantly qualify leads based on credit score, income, and spendable credit
Eliminate 75% of wasted sales calls with real-time data (no credit pull required)
Capture 30% more leads from abandoned forms using Smart Form tech
Feed prequalification data into Meta’s Conversion API to improve ROAS
Prioritize leads, boost team morale, and turn your sales process into a machine
Use faith, structure, and strategic thinking to build a business that lasts
Whether you're selling $3K+ offers or running a high-touch coaching funnel, this episode gives you the exact systems that are doubling close rates - without hiring more reps or burning through your ad budget.
Try the Smart Form: simplecheck.com/smartform
#SalesProcess #HighTicketSales #CoachingBusiness #LeadQualification #DigitalMarketing #MetaAds #FaithInBusiness #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship
In this episode, Daniel Pope interviews Cindy Padilla, co-founder of Gain The Edge, to unpack the real story behind her $1.6 million launch that almost fell apart behind the scenes.
Cindy shares how she and her husband Jim built a sales enablement company trusted by top names like Bill Baren, Danny Iny, and the Ziglar organization. From hiring their daughter to run live chat to leading 15 reps with no systems, this "phenomenally successful train wreck" became the launch that changed everything.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How they pulled off a $1.6M launch without polished systems
✅ The emotional and strategic power of live events
✅ Why most business owners wait too long to build a sales foundation
✅ How to hire, pay, and train salespeople who actually deliver
✅ What works in sales now that cycles are longer in 2025
✅ Why human connection beats AI every time
Perfect for coaches, course creators, consultants, and service providers ready to grow their revenue without sacrificing integrity or burning out.
📌 Resources
Gain The Edge → gaintheedgenow.com
Jim Padilla’s YouTube → Winning Sales Teams
Daniel’s Resources → beknownonline.com
In this episode, Daniel Pope sits down with Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolve Finance and author of Profit Pillars, to unpack why most online business owners never hit sustainable profitability.
Most entrepreneurs think bookkeeping is just for taxes.
But Parker explains how your financials are the clearest reflection of whether your business is built to grow—or built to stall.
Whether you run a coaching program, course business, or agency, this conversation will help you simplify your operations, track what actually matters, and grow without burnout.
What You’ll Learn
✅ Why most business owners rely on their bank balance instead of real data
✅ When to hire a bookkeeper and which tools make it easier
✅ Why chasing investors rarely makes sense for digital businesses
✅ How to build financial systems that support better decisions
✅ How much cash you really need in your business and personal accounts
✅ Why boring, repeatable business models are often the most profitable
📩 Want help growing your business with a clear marketing and growth system?
Connect with Daniel and the Be Known team → https://beknownonline.com/
📚 Resources
Evolve Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/
Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book/
Connect with Parker → https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkerstevenson/
In this episode, Daniel Pope sits down with Michelle Cunningham, a former done-for-you client turned multimillion-dollar entrepreneur.
From shy beginnings to bold business moves, Michelle shares her journey of launching a $5M brand with just $50 in Facebook ads, a homemade 70-page workbook, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
This is not just another success story...
It is a deep dive into the mindset, systems, and decisions that actually scale a digital business
What You’ll Learn
✅ How Michelle overcame imposter syndrome to own her voice
✅ Why over-delivering value created unexpected momentum
✅ The $50 ad test that changed everything
✅ How a simple workbook sparked a 7-figure product line
✅ When she knew it was time to hire and delegate
✅ Her heartfelt take on mentorship and sustainable growth
If you are building a business and want to grow without burning out
This conversation will show you what is truly possible
📩 Want to work with Daniel and the Be Known team?
Visit: https://beknownonline.com/
📚 Resources
Michelle's Website: https://michellecunningham.com
Michelle’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/directsalesmichelle
Small business owners and entrepreneurs often fall into a few common marketing traps due to a lack of experience or understanding of key marketing principles. By being aware of these pitfalls and actively seeking to avoid them, marketers can improve their strategies and garner better results. Tune in as Jakob Eliason dissects these common marketing traps so you can break free and boost your business success:
The key moments in this episode are:
00:01:41 - The Sin of Certainty
00:07:19 - Marketing to Yourself
00:11:16 - Product First Mentality