Dare to Launch cover art

Dare to Launch

By: Jeff Walker
  • Summary

  • I’m Jeff Walker, creator of Product Launch Formula® – THE formula that has generated over $1 billion in online sales. I started my first online business in 1996 while I was a stay-at-home dad, and I’ve been teaching online marketing since 2003. Tens of thousands of students around the world – in hundreds of niches – have used my step-by-step methods to start and grow thriving online businesses. In Dare to Launch, Chris Saunders and I will be having in-depth conversations about what’s working – and what’s not working – in online business. Listen in and learn from amazing entrepreneurs who are in the trenches building incredible businesses – while living the #launchlife.
    Copyright Internet Alchemy
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Episodes
  • Marketing Humor: Stand-Up Comedy and Copywriting with Will Hamilton
    Jun 11 2024

    In today’s episode of Dare to Launch, Jeff Walker and Chris Saunders welcome the hilarious Will Hamilton to the show! Will is the founder of Fuzzy Yellow Balls, a hugely successful platform for online tennis classes taught by legends like The Bryan Brothers and Martina Navratilova. He’s also a bonafide stand-up comedian in Washington D.C., which is why today’s discussion centers around the connection between comedy writing and copywriting. In his experience, Will has found that humor can be a fantastic tool in copywriting when used correctly. He’s also found that joke structures mirror copywriting in a fascinating way, especially in terms of building and releasing tension. We also dive into the ways in which high-performance tennis mirrors high performance in the business world. And finally, Will shares a few golden nuggets he’s learned from churning out content over the years which we know you folks will really enjoy. As a skilled tennis player and entrepreneur, Will has tons of valuable insight into the mindset and discipline you need to put yourself out there and keep at it no matter what.

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    Key topics discussed:

    • Lessons from Tennis Pros: Working with tennis legends over the years has taught Will countless lessons about focus, discipline, and preparation.

    • Setting Goals: As Will started to find success as an entrepreneur, he found himself adjusting his goals and expectations to build the life he wanted to live.

    • Comedy and Copywriting: The craft of writing jokes is actually incredibly similar to the craft of writing copy. Will breaks down the similarities and differences.

    • The Content Grind: Will emphasizes that the only way to get better at making content is to keep at it, ignore the haters, and use the helpful comments to get better.

    Key takeaways:

    • Certainty is a Necessity: Starting out as an entrepreneur is tricky, but you have to believe in yourself extra hard to overcome those initial struggles.

    • Play the game you want to win. Running a billion-dollar business involves massive sacrifice, so make sure you set the bar at the right level for you and your goals.

    • Humor is Valuable: If you’re able to be appropriately funny in a presentation or in your marketing you’ll stand out from the crowd.

    • Nobody Cares About You: Be willing to not be the best in the world right away. If your content flops, nobody saw it. Keep trying, tweaking, and reframing your ideas.

    Got a question for us?

    Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!

    THANKS FOR TUNING IN!

    If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.

    Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.

    Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Cultivating Resilient Leadership
    Jun 4 2024

    Join your hosts Chris Saunders and Jeff Walker this week as they dive into an evergreen topic: mental resilience. Growing Product Launch Formula from a one-man operation to a robust 40-person team has taught Jeff countless lessons about leadership, communication, and organizational flow. And like any business venture, there have been peaks and valleys along the way. One of the biggest factors in Jeff’s success has been his ability to maintain a sense of mental resilience through thick and thin. Key to today’s discussion is a concept from the great Jim Collins book “Good to Great”: the Stockdale Paradox or “Stockdale Moment” as Jeff calls it. Collins believes that in difficult moments, great organizations and leaders thrive by maintaining unwavering belief in their mission and tackling challenges head-on. This idea has been a kind of north star for Jeff in times of struggle, with the COVID-19 pandemic serving as an important example. Jeff looks back on the hysteria and uncertainty of 2020, and how he tackled that moment of disorder and shepherded his company to the other side. He also offers up some other nuggets of wisdom he learned from traveling to Richard Branson’s island, from listening to Ex-Navy SEAL Jocko Willink’s podcast, and from reading Victor Frankl’s “The Man’s Search for Meaning.” Above all, Jeff explains that the key to resilient leadership is maintaining a progressive, forward-thinking perspective.

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    Key topics discussed:

    • The COVID-19 Pandemic: Jeff recalls the difficulties that Product Launch Formula went through in 2020 and how he was able to move forward.

    • Organizational Communication: In difficult times, Jeff believes strongly that we need to be able to emote and discuss freely within our organizations.

    • Jeff’s Love of Meditation: Jeff’s daily meditation practice has a ripple effect on how he acts in every situation throughout the day.

    • Perspective vs. On-the-Ground Knowledge: As the leader of the company, Jeff reflects on how he now has more perspective, but less information on the daily happenings of the company, and how leaders must be able to balance these two opposing forces.

    • The Stories We Tell Ourselves: We’re all constantly creating self-mythologies about our lives. Jeff believes that we have the choice to make these narratives solution-based instead of problem-focused.

    Key takeaways:

    • Mental resilience is experiencing a setback and understanding that it’s an event, it’s not who you are.

    • We need to address problems, but we can’t dwell on them. How do we move forward?

    • As you move higher up in a company, you’re responsible for less daily tasks, but you’re responsible for more time. You have to become a visionary.

    • We have to remain inspired and positive at all times. Then when adversity rears its head, we’re ready to take it on.

    • True leaders must adopt a servant mentality. How can we best serve our team and our company?

    Resources Referenced in the episode:

    “Good to Great” by Jim Collins

    “The Man’s Search for Meaning” by Victor Frankl

    Jocko Willink’s podcast “Jocko Podcast”

    Got a question for us?

    Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes!

    THANKS FOR TUNING IN!

    If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes.

    Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them.

    Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It only takes a few seconds, but your review makes all the difference in helping us get the show out to more business owners. And who knows… we might even read your review on the show!

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    35 mins
  • Marketing Your Authentic Self with Michael Maidens
    May 28 2024
    Join your hosts Chris Saunders and Jeff Walker in welcoming Michael Maidens to the podcast this week! Michael is an entrepreneur, educator, and lifestyle creator. He also happens to be an incredibly skilled tennis instructor, and you’ll see why that’s worth mentioning shortly! Over the years, Michael has shepherded over 90 successful launches, helping all kinds of businesses, projects, and products get off the ground. In today’s episode, Chris and Jeff dig into Michael’s specialty: authenticity online. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the boom of the online knowledge-based economy, flocks of coaches, specialists, and creators have turned to developing coaching platforms. And in this increasingly crowded space, the key to standing out is all about showing the world exactly who you are through authentic marketing. As Michael sees it, there’s a bit of bravery required. Being your true authentic self online can be intimidating, but at the end of the day, all you really have to distinguish yourself from the pack is...you! Sure, there might be 50 other folks offering coaching for your expertise, but none of them are exactly like you. Leaning into your authentic self, and infusing that individuality into your marketing copy and your offer, is the key. There will be some roadblocks and risks along the way. And with this self-revelation often comes a fear of rejection. “What if people don’t like my true self?” That’s where bravery comes in. You have to keep trying. If you don’t succeed right out of the gate, the timing could be off! Or perhaps your copy just isn’t fully aligned with your personality. The more time you spend refining your offer and your copy to reveal your authentic self, the closer you’ll get to where you need to be. Above all, Michael preaches the importance of focusing on outcomes in your offer. We can’t just tell people how many videos or workbooks they’ll get with our services. People need a promise of what they will become at the end of the process. And if you can make that promise so exciting that people genuinely want to share it, you’re on the right track. For the Bonus Discussion with Michael: Text: BONUS2 to 1(888)-530-0282 Key topics discussed: Michael’s’ Story: How he went from a tennis pro to a visionary entrepreneur and how the lessons he learned from tennis apply to his work today. The Current Online Landscape: How our online arena has become ultra-competitive and what we can do to stand out. The Product Launch Formula Effect: Jeff and Michael discuss how they met, how their relationship has grown, and how our live events and masterminds have impacted Michael’s journey. Michael’s First Huge Success: Michael explains how a hugely successful documentary launch taught him a million lessons about marketing and set him on the right path. Plus, Jeff and Chris remind him that he accidentally invented the standard for documentary marketing. Jeff’s Experience with Authenticity Online: Jeff walks us through the humble beginnings of his online newsletter in 1996 and how he learned the true value of authenticity. Key takeaways: Authenticity makes up for credentials. When you’re getting started, you might not have the necessary credentials to compete with other players. But what you do have is your personality and your individual perspective. Lean into that. Authenticity is the most sustainable mode of communication in marketing. When you’re not forcing anything, your marketing will feel natural. You’re not ending your livestream or your webinar feeling like a fraud or a trickster. You just continue being yourself! We don’t need to sell to everyone. No matter what your specific makeup might be as a person, there is an audience of people who want to hear from you. Imposter syndrome is healthy. It’s a sign that you have heart, empathy, and you’re not blinded by arrogance. Reframe it as a gift. Visualize the outcomes you want your customers to get, and then pull from your knowledge only the most essential bits of information. Don’t cram everything you’ve ever learned into your offer; curate a specialized experience. Where to find Michael Maidens: Learn all about Michael and his courses here: www.michaelmaidens.com Resources Referenced in the episode: PLF Platinum Plus Mastermind PLF Live JeffWalker.com Product Launch Formula - jeffwalker.com/programs/product-launch-formula Jeff’s book Launch - jeffwalker.com/programs/book-launch Got a question for us? Go to DaretoLaunchShow.com to submit a voicemail with your question, and you might hear the answer on one of our next episodes! THANKS FOR TUNING IN! If you enjoyed this week’s show, don’t forget to hit the “follow” button. Not only is it totally free, it guarantees you never miss out on future episodes. Think you know someone who would enjoy this episode? Do them a favor and share it with them. Also, please consider leaving us a quick review. It ...
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    1 hr and 13 mins

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