December has arrived, and it's time to set our sights on what we hope to achieve in 2017. In this episode of SPI TV, I'll share the steps I'm taking to set myself up for success next year and take stock of what I accomplished in 2016. I'll be using Michael Hyatt's new ebook, Achieve More in 2017, to guide me through important steps in my planning process. Those steps include journaling, cataloging personal wins, planning when to say "no" in the coming year, and adding hard deadlines to my...

I had the pleasure of moderating a panel on November 17th, 2016 with some amazing online course creators including Regina Anaejiou, Troy Dean and Brennan Dunn. In this discussion, hosted by Teachable - an online platform to setup and host your own online courses, which I actually use myself - we get into a lot of great content around the idea of how we as course creators can help our students succeed. How do we set them up for success? How do we keep our students motivated throughout the...

From November 10th through November 13th, I'll be hosting a FREE email list building challenge! Sign up here: http://www.100emails.com If you're just starting out, whether you already have a business or blog or not, and you need help and some motivation to start your email list, join me and thousands of others who will be participating in this challenge. Each day for 3 days (starting November 10th) I'll be sending you 1 email with specific instructions to help you achieve this...

Today I realized that Smart Passive Income turns 8 years old today! Wow have we come a long way. Here's a quick video I recorded while walking around the block that looks back at how far SPI has come, the lessons I've learned, and what's coming next for you. It even includes an old video from 2009 recorded in a similar fashion, and what life was like back then.

For bloggers, nothing's more terrifying than that blinking cursor at the top of a blank page. That's why I've gathered ten tips for getting past that blank page anxiety and writing the perfect blog post. Running a blog for the past eight years has taught me what works, what doesn't, and the kinds of things readers crave from your writing. In this episode, I'm sharing my time-tested advice for common blogging hurdles like picking the perfect topic, letting go of writing insecurities, working...

One of my podcast listeners asked me, "Now that your first self-published, print book has been out in the world for six months, how is it doing? What did you learn from the process of creating Will It Fly?" I thought I'd answer that question in this special episode of SPI TV and offer you guys my honest thoughts about what I learned from Will It Fly?. Will It Fly? surprised me. Though I'd been through the book writing process before with Let Go, this book required a whole new level of hard...

The SPI Pro Theme is here! Smart Passive Income and StudioPress have partnered to create this beautiful, new theme based on the one I used on SmartPassiveIncome.com from 2013 to 2016. Today, I'm walking you through just how easy it is to use. So many people ask me, "What's the best WordPress theme for my website?" This is it, folks: the theme I recommend you use for your online business' website to establish your brand and grow your authority. Watch the video for a close look at SPI...

So many of you have asked me, "Pat, what's on your bookshelf? What books should I be reading right now?" In today's episode, I'm sharing my summer reading list: five books I'm reading (or can't wait to start reading) that cover everything from entrepreneurship and work/life balance to psychology and mental hacks. You'll get the skinny on my favorite new books from Jonah Berger, Richie Norton, Jonathan Fields, Dana Malstaff, and Joshua Foer. And if you want even more reading...

Meditation has transformed my life. It's improved my focus and well-being, and it's altered my productivity during my workday in a radical way. Today, I want to share how I made it a part of my daily routine and the tools that helped me do it. I used to be skeptical of meditation. I couldn't wrap my head around the value of sitting still for so long, thinking about nothing. But thanks to the advice of friends and an awesome system called Muse, I discovered a meditation style that works...

What I'm sharing with you today is a little embarrassing. I'm revisiting one of my very first attempts at podcasting from back in 2008, as well as all the mistakes—and there are plenty!—I made as a brand-new podcaster. When you're just starting out as a podcaster, there are a daunting number of unknowns: Am I any good at this? Will anyone listen? Will I be able to fill enough episodes with valuable material week after week? I hope this honest look at my early days addresses some of...

Today's episode is a vital one for all you podcasters out there. I'm sharing my top tips for preparing for an interview, gathered from the hundreds of interviews I've done on the Smart Passive Income Podcast. Don't make the mistake of viewing interviews as an easy opportunity to kick back while your guest does all the work. While you should always let your guest do most of talking, you (as the interviewer) have a responsibility to prepare. It's your job to ensure the interview runs...

In today's episode, I'm talking all about webinars, an incredibly powerful tool in your online marketing toolbox. I'll be demoing one of my favorite tools for running webinars, Webinar Ninja. The best way to do business will always be the old-fashioned way: in person, face-to-face. That's why I encourage online business owners to go to conferences, where you can shake hands and look potential customers in the eye. And for all the times when traveling to conferences is logistically or...

My guest today is SPI TV's very own producer, Caleb Wojcik, here to talk about all things live streaming video: where it's headed, how I use it, and how you can start using it in your own online business. Live video has become more accessible than ever before. Thanks to platforms like Meerkat, Periscope, Facebook Live, and YouTube, it's never been easier to live stream to friends and fans using equipment you already own. Today, Caleb and I share our tips for getting started with live...

Today, I’m joined by none other than Gary Vaynerchuk! This business mastermind and author of the brand-new book #AskGaryVee is here to talk about what the future holds for online entrepreneurs. In this episode, Gary offers a peek at what's inside #AskGaryVee and how this book stands apart from his others. He also delivers super-actionable strategies and awesome insight into how new platforms (including Snapchat, podcasting, and even new virtual reality tech) affect his business and online...

Today, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how I manage the editorial side of SmartPassiveIncome.com. Lately, I've been getting a lot of great feedback about the quality of the content I've been producing for my blog, my podcasts, and SPI TV. That's all thanks to a new editorial system, my new Managing Editor Janna Maron, and a few crucial tools that make staying organized easy. Lately, I've been getting a lot of great feedback about the quality of the content I've been...

http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/projectwif It was a real shock to me that my self-published book, Will It Fly, became a Wall Street Journal Best Seller. I didn't even know that was possible! Now, I want to see what else is possible... With your help, we can potentially get a self-published book on the shelves of a Barnes and Noble. Here's how: Step 1: Visit a Barnes and Noble, or call and order Will It Fly. It's in their catalog and on their website, but it's not on...

In this very special episode of SPI TV, Wesley Chapman is here to share the moving story of his life as an entrepreneur and the personal journey that led him to create AHumanProject.com. A Human Project began after Wesley's visit to a troubled school as a motivational speaker and the life-changing experience he had with the students he met there. Wesley had been a lifelong entrepreneur and experienced overwhelming success at a very young age, but this powerful encounter opened a new...

Joining me today is the incredibly talented Sean McCabe, the man behind seanwes.com and the founder of an online course on the art of hand lettering. Sean has turned his passion for hand lettering—something he once pursued only in his free time—into a thriving business and online community. After spending 9,000 hours honing his skills, Sean realized he was in a unique position to teach other artists how to make a living doing the same thing he did. In this episode, he'll share what he did...

In this episode of SPI TV, I'm joined by entrepreneurial powerhouse Mike Dillard of MikeDillard.com. We're digging deep into some of the most common struggles entrepreneurs face, specifically when it comes to managing the money we make. Mike is passionate about financial education. He's interested in how we, as entrepreneurs, talk so much about how to make money and so little about what to do with the money we make. Today, he'll share his advice on smart investing strategies, preparing for...

Joining me this week is my amazing friend Jaime Tardy! Jaime is the brilliant mind behind Eventual Millionaire, and she's here to offer her perspective on the habits that lead to business success. Through Eventual Millionaire and her many years of experience as an entrepreneur, Jaime's encountered a lot of millionaires, and she's seen how certain traits emerge time and time again. She'll share those habits and traits, plus strategies for networking, realistic goal-setting, and maintaining...

With Will It Fly launched and out in the world at last, I couldn't think of a better time to chat with Honorée Corder—a truly amazing "authorpreneur," speaker, and coach. Honorée has an incredible wealth of experience writing books, turning those books into sustainable income, and working with inspirational authors like Hal Elrod. In this episode, she shares why she chose authorpreneurship and where she stands in the traditional vs. self-published debate. She also weighs in on how to...

My new book, Will It Fly, launches on February 1st! In this video, as I walk you through the various parts of the San Diego Air and Space Museum, I explain why I wrote this book, what's all inside, and what's different about it from all of the other business books out there.  Order your copy today at: http://www.willitflybook.com

This week on SPI TV, I'm so pleased to introduce Jay Papasan, co-author of The One Thing—a book I consider a must-read for every business owner. The One Thing taught me so much about becoming a more productive, effective entrepreneur. It's a book that both inspires its readers and lays out concrete steps for us to act on—a difficult and rare achievement, as Jay explains in the video. As someone in the midst of launching my own book, Will It Fly?, I was so excited to sit down with Jay. He has...

This week on SPI TV, I've got the amazing Noah Kagan with me for a very special live appearance. Noah is the founder of AppSumo, and he's here to share his incredibly valuable experience with vetting and testing business ideas. With the release of Will It Fly? just around the corner, I knew it was time to dig into this idea of product validation with you guys. As Noah says, it's so easy to become trapped in a state of "playing business"—spinning your wheels and avoiding risks rather than...

Happy New Year, everybody! I've got some big things planned for SPI in the coming year. Here's a sneak peek at what's in store. My latest book launches in just a few weeks, and I couldn't be more excited (or nervous!). In this new book, I dig deep into validating business ideas so you don't waste your time and money. Learn more by checking out http://WillItFlyBook.com. I'll also be rolling out an awesome new redesign of SmartPassiveIncome.com. After I surveyed you guys last July, I...