TLP029: DECIDE: Applying the Right Efforts for the Right Priorities

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Jim Palmer, a marketing and business-building expert, and in-demand coach. The author of five books, Jim is best known internationally as The Newsletter Guru, and creator of No Hassle Newsletters, the ultimate done-for-you newsletter marketing program used by hundreds of clients in nine countries. Jan and Jim talk with Jim Palmer about how he became a business leadership thought leader, and what that means to him; how he grew up with a worker servant mentality, and how he applies it today; some of the principles Jim teaches in Decide and his other books; and what his four pillars are for business success. To end of the interview, Jim and Jan ask for and receive some coaching of their own! Listen in to learn more about getting past your fears, serving without monetary reward, and achieving growth by building on the four pillars.   Key Takeaways [3:27] If you put enough good information out there, with a servant attitude, giving value and helping people without expecting return, you get a reputation as a servant thought leader. [6:17] When Jim became an entrepreneur he remembered Sam Walton’s words about the customer’s power to fire everybody by deciding to spend somewhere else. In online marketing in 2006, everything was ‘free.’ If you are really giving, people gravitate toward you. Jim has a free download, “Serve First, How to Unlock a Life of Abundance and Purpose.” No email is needed. [10:32] Jim talks about his book, Decide. High achievers, when presented with a challenge or an opportunity, quickly assess the pros and cons, and then make a decision, yes or no, and act. They never go to ‘Squishyville,’ because business and life happen too quickly. [20:38] Jim’s four pillars of success are Knowledge, Environment, Mindset, and Habits, similar to the growth mindset sought for in special operators. In any field, there are the ordinary, and the high achievers. Very few qualify for the elite. You have to do things that others will not do. [22:45] Environment is space you create. To write, Jim picks the time, sits at his desk, and puts away all distractions. The only thing he wants to do is type what’s in his head. He can write for two or three hours. You have to be able to control the environment, in order to produce the result. [24:03] Mindset is much more important than perfecting your skill or talent. Some very top copywriters get 10 times what a normal copywriter gets. They don’t write 10 times better. Habits are self-evident. Rich people have big libraries, and poor people have big TVs. Have habits in place to make your priorities happen, and create and protect the environment to do it. [26:55] Knowledge for highly successful people means to own who they are; their strengths and limitations. They hire and delegate. To help his business, Jim joined a Mastermind. The leader asked, “What makes you think you’re entitled to the same level of success as these peers ... but you’re not willing to do the same things that they’re doing to grow their business?” [30:23] The idea of a multi-day live event petrified Jim for a few reasons: picking the right date; renting space with food and beverage and a number of guest rooms guaranteed; and fear of disappointing attendees by forgetting how to present. He kicked his fears to the curb, and found out he’s pretty good at it, with five sold out. That’s when he began to accelerate significantly. [31:38] Dan Kennedy is the person most influential on Jim’s development. Dan is a blue-collar guy who built a multi-million dollar business, because he understands people, he understands marketing, and he’s not afraid of hard work. He does something everyday that will bear fruit down the road. Jim learned much about writing from reading Dan Kennedy’s books. [33:40] Jim gave coaching for The Leadership Podcast, which stands in its own unique space. He likes the back-and-forth. His greatest advice to Jim and Jan is to avoid adhering to a strict format and schedule of questions, but to have a lot of conversation starters, and to follow up on answers of interest. Get people to tell stories. Always focus on the listener, not the downloads.    Quotable Quotes “I shot my first video in 2009, I had three watchers. I was one of them. My wife and my Mom, I think, were the other two.” “‘It’s no wonder he’s successful. Look at how much stuff he does.’ There’s a real nugget in there, if you think about it.” “We volunteer for three or four different local charities, which are near and dear to our heart.” “If you’re going to expect a big reward, you have to be willing to step up and risk.”  “I really think this year is going to be a banner year.”  “Rich people have big libraries, and poor people have big TVs.”   Books Mentioned on the Show   Bio Jim Palmer grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, learning to work, serve, and help people. Jim is the Founder of Dream Business Academy and Dream Business Coaching and Mastermind Program. He hosts Dream Business TV, the weekly web TV show watched by thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners. He’s also hosts Stick Like Glue Radio, a weekly podcast based on his unique brand of smart marketing and business-building strategies. Jim has been advising business owners for well over 20 years, and has been doing his weekly business videos for six years.    Website:      to learn about the upcoming event, February 8-10 in Orlando. Website:      Website:      for a free download on the servant mentality. Website:      for a free copy of the book, for only $6.95 S&H.