Business Tao with George Kao

If you can learn to love the process, you'll stick with it... and if you stick with it, you'll practice enough to succeed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Which marketing methods have been used on you, that turn you off? Take notice. Don’t use such methods. Authentic marketing is simply following the Golden Rule: (not) doing unto others what you (don’t) want done unto you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

In my courses, I resist being "too" step by step about everything. Some complain that they want exact detailed steps so that they don't have to be uncertain. With technical training, that may be true (although there's a joy in finding your own way there as well.) With strategy, formulas are questionable. If I teach you step by step, please feel free to rebel, and find your own way. That is the onl...

I’ve written a lot about the importance of creating and distributing content… it’s a great foundation for an authentic business. What I haven’t emphasized as much is the importance of having an offer rhythm, and that’s what this post is about. I encourage every client of mine — and you, if you are a small business and wish for consistent income — to have a consistent rhythm of offerings. Even if y...

How to keep your business growing when sales are slow, and to do it authentically? Connect more internally: with your deep source of security, compassion, creativity... Connect more externally: with friends, colleagues, acquaintances who have some interest in your work. The tougher the times, the more we need to connect. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

Dear soulpreneurs — you don’t need a “marketing funnel” to succeed in your business… May this video inspire you to align your marketing strategy with your heart and find authentic success :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

The accumulation of attention in the hands of a few will erode the diversity of creativity, true livelihood, and authentic business… Where is your attention going? :) Attention, like time, is limited. We ought to be more mindful of where it goes. I encourage us all to start giving 10% or more of our attention each day to small creators: bloggers, video makers, podcasts, websites, or social media p...

I see a lot of aspiring business owners doing this: You’re waiting until you’re “ready” before you take the leap. A dear client asked me about the “thin line between readiness and procrastination.” After coaching hundreds of business owners, I can tell you this: ​ Chances are, you are being fooled by your own brilliant mind. Feeling of “lack of readiness” is usually procrastination. ** Here’s the...

An audience member wrote the following to me, and maybe some of you can relate… “I long for the ability to create without any thoughts of money…to create because I love it… to take real time off when I need it… to try new things and build in more hobby time into my life. Everything I create is because I love it, but I tend to always have that background question: ‘Will it make me money?’ I want to...

A few years ago, I stopped marketing to the reptilian brain. My conscience could no longer tolerate it… By “lizard brain” I mean the parts within people that are governed by fear, greed, and impatience. To see a real example analyzed, see here: To get more sales, market to the “lizard brain”…? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

“I’m hoping that I can find a way to weave things together in a way that makes sense, resonates with buyers, feels enjoyable, and generates income.” — a client said. “That’s a lot of pressure on yourself,” I thought. Who says you need to weave all your interests together in a way that makes sense to anyone else, except for yourself? (You can have the most complicated vision of your work, as long a...

Trying to attract with visuals tends towards a shallower engagement with one's audience… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

When you create something and people don't get it, you shouldn't quit. You simply need to test more ideas. This is why I believe in the importance of the 3 stages of content creation: 1. casual, prolific, exploratory. 2. improve on what's liked. 3. integrate and productize. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit geo...

I don't believe your email list is your most important business asset... It's really about having a genuine connection with your audience and treating them with respect. That's why I don't use deceptive tactics like "lead magnets"... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

There's too much mercenary marketing advice out there. Even if it might get us a few more clients in the short-term, we don’t want to put more negativity into the world. Instead of selling to a client's "pain points", there is a better way. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

You don't need to prove yourself as #1 in your field, or best selling author or any kind of puffery. All those tactics will feed your "fixed mindset". Instead, demonstrate your real expertise by showing up consistently to talk about about what's working for you now, and what you're learning. When people see that you are consistently in the practice of improving in your field, you naturally gain tr...

Years ago, I championed the idea that all knowledge should be freely available online, aiming to accelerate humanity's progress. When I actually tried it, I learned two valuable lessons -- (1) free courses resulted in lower engagement and commitment from participants, and (2) my motivation waned without the reciprocal energy of paid exchanges. This experience, coupled with the disappointing experi...

My gentle launches are simple: Early bird for 1 week, then regular price for 1 week before the course begins :) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Watch/listen to this episode first… Follow-up question I received: "So let's say we have an offer like with your example, 3 're-works' over 6 weeks... once you've got the most response from whichever one... when would you actually then launch what you'd been talking about? Would that be your next offering? Or would it be a few months out? What do you typically do? " My response: I would go ahead a...

This principle has been essential to my success. How do I make great content? By making more content, and observing what spreads. How do I improve my skills? By working with more clients, and noticing who grows the most. True learning comes from action — we build muscles by doing things, not just reading about them. It takes *quantity* of action to develop quality of results. This is a public epis...

how to feel ready to put your work out there? begin, explore, publish, repeat. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Even if you haven't been actively posting on social media or creating content, don't let it stop you from gently launching new offers and services to your audience. I appreciate hearing from people I've hired, even if it's just a few times a year to let me know about their new programs or specials. In this video I also discuss how often to post content vs. how often to sell something on your socia...

In this video, I discuss a different perspective on pricing -- charging based on "enoughness" and compassion -- rather than the common advice to charge what you're worth or what the market will bear. It's important to consider our own lifestyle needs and determining what is "enough" for us. By minimizing our lifestyle costs, we can charge less, serve more people, and do so with less financial pres...

Get all the info here: https://www.georgekao.com/instagram If you have any questions about the course, ask it here . Wishing you a good day and weekend! 🌞 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit georgekao.substack.com

Of all the things that I do in my business, the most important thing—and I hope to inspire you to consider this for yourself as well—is to stay in a consistent rhythm of creating, both free content like this video, and paid offers as well. Just as our bodies rely on consistent rhythms to stay alive and thrive, our businesses need a steady flow of creativity to flourish. I've made nearly 2,000 vide...