Want to come on The Rise To The Top and teach our community of passionate entrepreneurs something amazing?

Want to come on The Rise To The Top and teach our community of passionate entrepreneurs something amazing?

Putting out a VERY RARE call to guests for the new (and extremely popular) series on the show called “Learn How To Do Cool Stuff.” This new series has taken off like a (um something that takes off quickly). The focus is 30-minute, actionable-advice interviews to help our community of entrepreneurs/Internet Marketers/mediapreneurs, etc.

Maybe you are expert copywriter who can teach us how to avoid stupid copywriting mistakes.

Or you are a master at Pinterest who can show us how we can all dominate on Pinterest.

You might be the master of the world of teaching people how to get their book published.

Perhaps you are the warlord/goddess of positioning and can teach us how to position ourselves in the market.

Or…..the list goes on.

Bottom line is we are looking for knowledgeable, passionate experts who can rock out teaching something useful and actionable for our community and if you fit the bill, would love to hear from you.

The more interesting, specific useful the topic, the better. For example: “Sales Tips” or “Marketing Tips” or something like that is a bit broad; however, here are some examples of some “Learn How To Do Cool Stuff” shows that have ROCKED:

Jules Watkins came on and taught us super cool tips and tricks to shoot amazing videos with your iPhone

Amy Porterfield rocked out teaching actionable tips to dominate Facebook

Justin Brooke taught us how to buy web traffic really cheap

Think you are a fit? Sweet! Just fill out the form below:

(NOTE: Last time we put out a call for guests, we got about a zillion or so responses, which is awesome but please don’t be offended if we can’t respond to every one personally!)

Create Awesome Interviews Has Officially Launched (and the story behind it)

I was so excited last night I could barely sleep. Awesome…except for now I can barely see straight.

Today is the official launch of my big-freaking-badass online course: Create Awesome Interviews: Learn “The Rise To The Top” System for Creating, Promoting & Profiting from Online Interviews and I’ve got a free video series for ya!

As you know, I don’t come out with products extremely frequently because I’m a freak when it comes to over-delivering and have been working on this in a bomb-shelter for over 6 months. I never want to put something out to our community unless I’m 100% pumped about, know it will work for those that put the effort in and that can be make a big difference in your life.

The funny thing, is Create Awesome Interviews was actually your idea. Maybe not YOU individually, but RISE Nation as a whole. Let me explain.

#1: The most frequently asked questions that I get all the time (and I mean ALL the time) are in regards to peeps wanting to start their own interview show, series, etc. online. How to find guests (even without a rep). How to conduct an amazing non-boring interview. How to build a passionate fan base. How to shoot, edit and produce the show SIMPLY.  How to leverage the show into bling bling.

#2: I put out a short survey last year asking people if they were interested in doing their own interview show and if they had any questions about interviewing, the interviewing business, etc. I was expecting about 4 responses. I received nearly 1,000. Wow.

#3: The mission of The Rise To The Top is super simple: Help you turn your passion & expertise into a badass brand (especially online). What does it take to have a badass online brand?

Here are a few things:

• An online platform
• Credibility
• Reputation
• Great positioning and messaging in the marketplace
• A specific topic you rock out with
• Consistently getting the word out & helping others
• A raving fan base/community who loves you (they would make out with you if they could)
• Connections: A sweet network of people in your space (influencers, cool people, bloggers, etc.)
• A monetization strategy (yes, if you have a badass brand…it makes money. Bling bling.)

Now, there are many ways to skin a cat (worst phrase ever by the way. Who wants to skin a cat? And are there really multiple ways?). And there are many paths to get to the point where you have all of those things mentioned above including a profitable business, raving fans, awesome credibility and reputation in your space, etc.

But, I have to tell you, one of the most amazing ways to get there is by doing your own interview-based web show.

I knew I had an obligation to help those interested in doing this and avoid all the trial and error I had to go through over the past few years (including thousands of hours of “wasted” time and thousands of dollars of wasted cash money). This is exactly what I would have wanted when I was getting started and at times when I was just stuck.

And that is the reason Create Awesome Interviews was born.

Now a few things you can do:

#1: Check it out and nab the absolutely free video training series right here.

#2: Think your audience/peeps/family members/dog might be interested? We have a great affiliate program setup right here and if you do interviews, happy to come on your show/blog/podcast, etc.

And of course, it might not be for you and that is totally cool as well. You know I’m not gonna be a douche-a-saurus about it. You know if it is for you.

Finally, it goes without saying, I could not have done this by myself. A big thanks to you for being a part of RISE nation, my wife Marcie for putting up with me, our “web master” Brad Hogan for rocking out EVERYTHING, Natalie McGuire for her great design skills, Michael Zenga for countless hours talking things over, “Coach” Ryan Lee for his guidance and support, Marie Forleo for helping move things forward, Lewis Howes & Sean Malarkey for putting up with my endless questions (sorry fellas!), Daniel Morley at ClickBank, Srini Rao, Andrew Warner, Jonathan Fields, Rob Murgatroyd (and Kim of course), Scott Raab for all contributing to the course by being interrogated by me, Rachel Kersten who is our secret weapon, Jocelyn and the team at Citrix Online, Chris and the team at Wistia, Ian for rocking out with the CAI intro music and video, and VIPs who are already getting results from Create Awesome Interviews, my team (especially Lisa!), and everyone else I might have accidentally forgotten. You all rock.

-David

Super Cool Tips and Tricks to Shoot Amazing Videos with Your iPhone

Today on The Rise To The Top: Ready for some awesome tips on how you can shoot amazing videos with your iPhone? Jules Watkins, who is a long time video master (worked on Biggest Loser, Pimp My Ride, etc.), is teaching us some really cool tricks on how to create amazing high-quality videos with our iPhones. From video blogging to sales videos, these tips can be put to use in all kinds of ways to help your biz.

I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.

Audio Only Player:

Click here to download the audio file.

How Elliott Hulse Did It: From Passion to Badass Online Brand

Today on The Rise To The Top: From passion to badass brand. I bet like me you love real, living, breathing case studies. Someone who has taken a subject/topic/passion and turned it into a badass online brand. Enter today’s handsome guest, Elliott Hulse, who has done just that.

I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.

Audio Only Player:

Click here to download the audio file.

How to Make Others Feel Like Champions and More Keys to Entrepreneurial Success – with Lewis Howes

Today on The Rise To The Top: The #1 Non-Boring Business Show: One of the most popular reoccuring guests on The Rise To The Top is my buddy Lewis Howes. Lewis has already been on the show twice before. The first time, he told us his story about how he went from injured football star to LinkedIn expert with over 1 million in sales. The second time, he took us behind the scenes of his most recent product launch. And now he is back for a discussion on success and how you can apply it your business/life. Enjoy!

I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.

Audio Only Player:

Click here to download the audio file.

Learn How to Do Cool Stuff: How to Buy Traffic Really Cheap

Today on The Rise To The Top: The #1 Non-Boring Business Show: Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t know anything about buying traffic. Nothing. But as a business owner, the more we know about all kinds of cool stuff, the better  - and that is why I thought we could all benefit from some knowledge from today’s guest, Justin Brooke. Justin is a rock star when it comes to paid traffic (in fact, he started his first business with $60 in paid traffic) and is here to teach us the basics. Enjoy!

I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.

Audio Only Player:

Click here to download the audio file.

How Does a 28-Year-Old Single Guy Become the Authority on Fitness for Moms? Dustin Maher Shares His Secrets

Today on The Rise To The Top: The #1 Non-Boring Business Show: Think about that one for a second. How does a 28-year-old single guy become the authority on fitness for Moms? Meet today’s guest, Dustin Maher, creator of Dustin Maher Fitness & Fit Moms For Life. Not only does his story fascinate and inspire, but I bet you will get all kinds of ideas on marketing and promoting yourself online and off. Enjoy!

I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.

Audio Only Player:

Click here to download the audio file.

Can You Co-Create a Product with Your Community and Sell It BEFORE You Create It? Clay Collins Shows Us How

Today on The Rise To The Top: The #1 Non-Boring Business Show: Is it possible to co-create a product with your community (i.e. ask them what they want) and then sell the product to them before you even create it?! Imagine the confidence you would have (and “good” pressure) if you already had orders. Today we learn exactly how to do it, by the creator of the Interactive Offer and rock star marketer (and high energy awesome person) Clay Collins. Enjoy!

I use RISE partner Wistia for video hosting because they rock. Check ‘em out.

Audio Only Player:

Click here to download the audio file.

The Characteristics It Takes To Be A Successful Online Talk Show Host In 2012 & Beyond

The other day RISE viewer Paula sent me this question:

“David, is there a specific personality type/characteristics that works best for someone that wants to create their own online talk show interviews people like you do?”

Very good question. Because, like everything worth doing…it isn’t for everyone. That being said after 275+ episodes and 600+ interviews in all kinds of mediums, let me tell what I believe it takes to be a successful online talk show host NOW in 2012 (and beyond).

A Quick History Lesson:

Times have changed. Pre-Internet days, the way (super simplified for the sake of illustration) to become a talk show host was to work your butt off doing lower level jobs in TV production or at the local radio station, perhaps eventually getting a shot at local radio or TV or something if some old white dude in a suit thought you deserved one. From there, besides your own hard work, you needed luck and the right people to help you at the right time (probably some massive butt-kissing involved). In show-biz they call this “a break.” It might have taken years. It might have taken decades. It might have taken forever (as in it never happened).

Then, that Internet thing came along and in the Web 1.0 era, you could create your own break…sort of. *All* you needed was:

•      A massive understanding of tech (like, MASTER because there were no simple tools like there are now that are smarter, faster and cheaper and built for mere mortals like you and I).
•      Luck of timing. Meaning, as an early adapter you stuck out because there was unlimited real estate. IF you could figure out how to get your show up online (no easy task) there was little competition. In many cases, you didn’t have to do a ton of marketing because, essentially, you were the only store on the street.
•     Some kind of business model associated with your show (easier said than done in Web 1.0).

Fast-forward and bring us to present time. Call it whatever crazy name you want to call it. Web 2.0. Social Media Era. Some of the same qualities are the SAME that were required of talk show hosts of past eras and some are unique to the times we are living in now.

Here are the 7 key characteristics in my eyes. Some are personality-related. Some are drive-related. Some are hustle-related. Some are innate. Some are learned.

1. People Person: No BS on this one. If you don’t like people, it will be kind of hard to have a show where the idea is to interview and have conversations with people. Bonus points if you get along with others. Likeability matters.

2. Knowledgeable & Passionate About Your Topic: You don’t have be the be-all-end-all-master-expert-guy/gal, but you do have be knowledgeable on the subject(s) that you cover. If you don’t know anything about hockey and don’t like it, why in the world would you start a show about it? Sounds simple, but I’ve seen shows fail because people chose the topic they “think they should do” as opposed to what they want to do.

3. Can Share The Spotlight: This is important. If you have to always be the “know-it-all” expert and have the attention on you 100% of the time, there might be better mediums for you.

4. Love To Give & Promote Others: Self explanatory. You are throwing a party for your guests and spreading the love is key to success. If it is about you 100% of time, it just won’t work. This would be a good place for a joke on “self love” but I’m going to control myself.

5. Curious: The top interviewers in the world have revealed to me that their best questions always from their own personal curiosities. I totally agree. The more curious you are, the better. If you were a cartoon and your first choice would be Curious George, you get bonus points.

6. Organized: Old school talk show hosts didn’t have to be extremely organized. Other people did that for them and they just showed up and hosted. Not in this era. Most likely when you start you are going to be wearing all kinds of hats: Host, producer, promoter, community builder, fire put-er-outer, guest getter. If you aren’t organized, you will end up punching yourself in the face.

7. Willingness To Get Hands Dirty: This my friends is the secret sauce and unlike McDonalds it isn’t bad for you. If you think you will be successful by simply creating a show and popping it up on your website and then riding off into the sunset, you my friend have been smoking something. You are going to work your butt off. Networking, answering emails, building relationships, responding to comments, marketing, taking on multiple roles, putting your show on the map, getting in the trenches. Is it hard work? Sure. But, if this idea of creating your own online talk show resonates with you, you will never be freakin’ happier.

Is it possible to be successful without all seven characteristics? Maybe. But, I can tell you right now if you were nodding your head as you read this more than you were shaking it, you are going to be in good shape.

Think you have what it takes? I’m going to help you by teaching those that are serious EVERYTHING I know about creating, promoting and profiting from online interviews through Create Awesome Interviews. And I mean everything. Check it out the details right here.

Stu McLaren

In his own words:

I’m the co-founder of an online start-up called WishList Products and our best-selling membership plugin (WishList Member) is now powering over 25,000+ online communities and membership sites.

I love helping people build a thriving community around their product, passion or hobby and regularly teach people how to do it for themselves. For some examples, go check out our free Training Videos.

The rest of my time is spent with my beautiful wife (Amy) and daughter (Marla) as well as raising money for our charity World Teacher Aid.

I like running, indoor soccer, t-shirts and of course zipping around in my MINI Cooper.