Episode Summary: Today, I'm excited to dive into a topic that's been on my mind lately: why I decided to hire a LinkedIn coach. You see, I've been on LinkedIn for years, but I never really tapped into its full potential until recently. It all started when I realized that despite my tech background and knack for DIY, there were certain areas where I could use some expert guidance. After researching various LinkedIn experts, I stumbled upon one whose content really resonated with me. I...

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of the Small Business Startup Essentials Podcast, Tom Clairmont dives deep into the vital topic of client acquisition and the essential systems for achieving it. Focused on streamlining processes, Tom shares his insights and personal experiences in incorporating effective systems into his business, aiming to guide listeners toward more efficient client acquisition strategies. Tom begins by demystifying marketing funnels for newcomers, explaining the "know,...

Summary: In this episode, your host delves into the critical aspect of income goals in the entrepreneurial journey. Tom Clairmont underscores the importance of having clear income objectives to not only measure progress but also to prevent complacency. He emphasizes that setting income goals isn't an act of greed or selfishness but rather a necessary mindset for solopreneurs. Success hinges on consistently pushing forward, and this proactive approach can make all the difference in an...

Summary: In this episode, your host, Tom Clairmont, explores the challenges of being a solopreneur and the constant quest for making business operations easier without compromising quality. Tom introduces a lead magnet he created called "The Tools We Use," which provides valuable insights into online tools he personally uses in the business startup process. Tom acknowledges the perpetual need for new tools, especially in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. He shares his recent...

Summary In this podcast episode, Tom Clairmont takes on the myths and misconceptions surrounding launching an online business later in life, sharing valuable insights and debunking common misconceptions. Here's a summary of the key points covered: • Age Is Just a Number: Tom emphasizes that age should not deter anyone from pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. Regardless of age, there's ample time to achieve success, and opportunities are not limited by a narrow time frame. • Risk and...

Summary In this episode, Tom Clairmont reflects on being 60 years old and facing the timeless struggle of having numerous ideas and dreams but limited time and focus to pursue them. He recounts a recent conversation with an old coach who shared similar struggles. Living in a land of opportunities and embracing capitalism can lead to the belief that success in one area can lead to success in all areas, which isn't necessarily true. Tom discusses the overwhelming influx of creative ideas...

Summary: We're talking about the crucial first step in building your online business foundation: having a clear vision. But you know what's equally important? Turning that vision into a reality. Why This Information Is So Important: Look, starting a business can be thrilling, but it's also packed with challenges, especially when you're taking the plunge later in life. Your vision is like your guiding star, but transforming it into a workable plan can feel like navigating uncharted...

Summary Hey there, it's Tom Clairmont, and welcome back to the Small Business Startup Essentials show. Today, we're diving into a topic that's becoming increasingly challenging in the digital age: maintaining focus and productivity, especially for home-based businesses like mine. If I'm grappling with these distractions, chances are, you are too. As time goes on, we're bombarded with more and more distractions. Our phones, the internet, and social media are just a few culprits. I've found...

Today I have with me author, co founder and Chief Technology Officer of Yembo, Zach Rattner. Zach recently wrote a book called Grow Up Fast. I recommend this book to anyone that’s thinking of launching a startup or maybe already launched one and need some guidance on how to navigate through the process. Zach currently lives in San Diego CA with his wife and family and has some good insight for us on making that transition out of the Corporate environment to having a successful...

You’ve been waiting….months…years and for what? The Right time? The right economy? The right situation? And how’s the wait been going for you? Are things getting better for you, or worse? Like it or not, the clock is ticking. You don’t have unlimited time to do the things you want to do and to be the person you want to be. What are you waiting for? The what if’s we think are normally the negative thoughts of…what if I fail? What if it doesn’t work out? What if I don’t get the support? What...

New entrepreneurs get advice from a lot of different sources- There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of information. From YouTube, and Google searches, from Quora. The list goes on and on. We live in an information age now and we can pretty much talk. To our smartwatch. And ask at anything we need to know. Everybody has a slightly different perspective As well. And that doesn’t make it any easier to figure out. What we should do or shouldn’t do. What path to take? And how to take it. What...

Hey friend, welcome back to another episode of the Small business started essentials podcasts where I like to cover topics that are sometimes generic, but sometimes personal to me as well. In this episode, I’m going to talk a little bit about why I’ll never retire. But as I was thinking about this, it sort of got me wondering what retirement is anyway? You know what is retirement? Is it to stop all effective formal sort of work? Just do nothing but poke around all day long or play golf? Mow...

Hey friend welcome back again to another episode that I hope will give you a little bit more insight on not only the small business realm, but sort of the mindset of why I do what I do and how I do it. Today I’m going to talk about one specific decision that I made 20 years ago that had really paid off for me big time financially. You know, we can make a lot of decisions throughout the scope of our business. Sometimes you go with your gut when you’re not sure what to do. Sometimes you find...

Hey there, friend, welcome back…now, the title of this episode might confuse you because it’s in direct contradiction to the title of the previous episode, that I just aired recently. In the last episode, titled ‘Wanting More’, it was all about the benefits of wanting more and how achieving more can be morally OK as we take our wealth and use it as a redirect to help society or our community. But the title of this episode is ‘Wanting Less’. And even though the title contradicts the...

Hey welcome back… this episode is about wanting more. Have you ever thought to yourself, you know, I wonder if things could be better someday? I wonder if I should rethink what I’m doing and how I’m doing it? Maybe there’s something else that I can do? Maybe there’s a way for me to turn this around and start over again? Have you ever felt that burning desire for something more out of life? That nagging feeling that just won’t go away to break free from the day to day grind and make a...

Hey welcome back! In this day and age of endless possibilities, we're constantly bombarded with choices on who to learn from, aren’t we? We don’t even have to search for people…the ads are so frequent, they can come to us! But with just a few taps on our devices, we have access to a wealth of information and insights from people we've never met or even heard of before. It's a blessing, for sure, but it can also be a bit overwhelming to figure out who's truly worth our time and attention and...

If You’re like me and have a mix of introvert/extrovert characteristics, you might be wondering, if that’s going to be an issue? If it’s going to hinder your success in starting a business? Are the successful people you see on TV or the Internet all extroverts? So if you've ever doubted whether your introverted nature could lead to entrepreneurial success, I'm here to tell you that it absolutely can. In a world that often favors the outgoing and extroverted, introverts bring unique...

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of the Small Business Startup Essentials Show! I'm your ever-enthusiastic host, and today we're going to dive into a topic that may ruffle some feathers. You've probably heard it before: "Just get started!" But is this advice really as golden as it seems? Well, my friends, today we'll explore why blindly jumping into something without a plan can often lead to wasted time and missed opportunities. Let's get started (ok no pun...

Welcome back, friend…so glad you’re here listening in. Please hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss any episodes. I’m Tom Clairmont and I’m going to dive into this topic that will hopefully stir the soul: Do you have a higher calling in life? Today, we'll explore the depths of this question and hopefully reveal how discovering your higher calling can transform your entrepreneurial journey. So, let's dive in! Have you ever felt a deep yearning within your heart, a sense that there's...

Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Small Business Startup Essentials Show! I'm thrilled to have you join me today as we explore a topic that many entrepreneurs face: "What should you do when there is too much opportunity?" Get ready to navigate these murky waters with me here today about the possibilities and opportunities we face and discover how to make the most of our situation without getting sidetracked with too many shiny objects. So, let's dive right in! You know, I...

Welcome back, my fellow entrepreneurs, to another episode of the Small Business Startup Essentials Show! I'm Tom Clairmont and I’m here to help you work through the issues of having an online personal brand business. And in this episode, I’ll be talking about one of the perpetual problems that we all seem to have from time to time… going through the motions and getting little results. So, if you've ever felt stuck in whatever situation you’re in…whether it’s through, the dream process, the...

Today, we're going to tackle this common challenge that many of us have had to deal with from time to time head-on and discover how to get past imposter syndrome to help unlock your true potential. So, let's dive in! Imposter syndrome—a very common and often paralyzing feeling that many of us experience at some point in our entrepreneurial journey. It's that nagging voice in our heads that tells us we're not good enough, that we're a fraud, because we’re doing something new and maybe...

So….you want to be a Solopreneur. Own your own business. Make money online by monetizing your expertise. Fantastic. I’m with you on that concept. But when I started out, I was under the impression that I had to do it all myself. You know, that ‘solo’ is in Solopreneur for a reason, right? And with that burden of doing it all myself, comes a bunch of stress and questions that don’t get resolved. The stress with the misconceptions of having to do everything myself (there are a lot of things...

In this episode, I was able to interview a long time LinkedIn favorite of mine, John Nemo. I first came across John three years ago and was a regular for his 'Noon with Nemo' webinar sessions. After buying a couple of his books on taking LinkedIn to another level and how to improve my marketing tactics, I started to see real results with my LinkedIn experience and productivity. When people reach out to me and hire me because of LinkedIn, I know that I'm doing something right, and I owe...